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diff --git a/13674-0.txt b/13674-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..832d47c --- /dev/null +++ b/13674-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14439 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13674 *** + + + + + +Produced by The PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team. Produced +from images provided by the Million Book Project + + + + + +[Illustration: _The Battle of Poitiers +from the painting by H. Dupray +(See page 52)_] + + +THE HARVARD CLASSICS + +EDITED BY CHARLES W. ELIOT, LLD + + + +CHRONICLE AND ROMANCE + +FROISSART--MALORY--HOLINSHED + + + +WITH INTRODUCTIONS, NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"DR ELIOT'S FIVE FOOT SHELF OF BOOKS" + + +1910 + +BY P.F. COLLIER & SON +NEW YORK + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE CHRONICLES OF FROISSART, TRANSLATED BY LORD BERNERS + EDITED BY G.C. MACAULAY + +The Campaign of Crecy +The Battle of Poitiers +Wat Tyler's Rebellion +The Battle of Otterburn + + +THE HOLY GRAIL BY SIR THOMAS MALORY + FROM THE CAXTON EDITION OF THE MORTE D'ARTHUR + + +A DESCRIPTION OF ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND +WRITTEN BY WILLIAM HARRISON FOR HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLES + +CHAPTER + + I. Of Degrees of People + II. Of Cities and Towns + III. Of Gardens and Orchards + IV. Of Fairs and Markets + V. Of the Church of England + VI. Of Food and Diet + VII. Of Apparel and Attire + VIII. Of Building and Furniture + IX. Of Provision for the Poor + X. Of Air, Soil, and Commodities + XI. Of Minerals and Metals + XII. Of Cattle Kept for Profit + XIII. Of Wild and Tame Fowls + XIV. Of Savage Beasts and Vermin + XV. Of Our English Dogs + XVI. Of the Navy of England + XVII. Of Kinds of Punishment +XVIII. Of Universities + + + + +THE CHRONICLES OF FROISSART + +BY + +JEAN FROISSART + +HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF MANY OF THE BATTLES OF THE HUNDRED YEAR'S +WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. + + +_INTRODUCTORY NOTE_ + +Jean Froissart, _the most representative of the chroniclers of the +later Middle Ages, was born at Valenciennes in 1337. The Chronicle +which, more than his poetry, has kept his fame alive, was undertaken +when he was only twenty; the first book was written in its earliest +form by 1369; and he kept revising and enlarging the work to the end +of his life. In 1361 he went to England, entered the Church, and +attached himself to Queen Philippa of Hainault, the wife of Edward +III, who made him her secretary and clerk of her chapel. Much of his +life was spent in travel. He went to France with the Black Prince, and +to Italy with the Duke of Clarence. He saw fighting on the Scottish +border, visited Holland, Savoy, and Provence, returning at intervals +to Paris and London. He was Vicar of Estinnes-au-Mont, Canon of +Chimay, and chaplain to the Comte de Blois; but the Church to him was +rather a source of revenue than a religious calling. He finally +settled down in his native town, where he died about 1410. + +Froissart's wandering life points to one of the most prominent of his +characteristics as a historian. Uncritical and often inconsistent +as he is, his mistakes are not due to partisanship, for he is +extraordinarily cosmopolitan. The Germans he dislikes as unchivalrous; +but though his life lay in the period of the Hundred Years' War +between England and France, and though he describes many of the events +of that war, he is as friendly to England as to France. + +By birth Froissart belonged to the bourgeoisie, but his tastes and +associations made him an aristocrat. Glimpses of the sufferings which +the lower classes underwent in the wars of his time appear in his +pages, but they are given incidentally and without sympathy. His +interests are all in the somewhat degenerate chivalry of his age, in +the splendor of courts, the pomp and circumstance of war, in tourneys, +and in pageantry. Full of the love of adventure, he would travel +across half of Europe to see a gallant feat of arms, a coronation, a +royal marriage. Strength and courage and loyalty were the virtues he +loved; cowardice and petty greed he hated. Cruelty and injustice could +not dim for him the brilliance of the careers of those brigand lords +who were his friends and patrons. + +The material for the earlier part of his Chronicles he took largely +from his predecessor and model, Jean Lebel; the later books are filled +with narratives of what he saw with his own eyes, or gathered from the +lips of men who had themselves been part of what they told. This fact, +along with his mastery of a style which is always vivacious if +sometimes diffuse, accounts for the vividness and picturesqueness of +his work. The pageant of medieval life in court and camp dazzled and +delighted him, and it is as a pageant that we see the Middle Ages in +his book. + +Froissart holds a distinguished place among the poets as well as the +historians of his century. He wrote chiefly in the allegorical style +then in vogue; and his poems, though cast in a mold no longer in +fashion, are fresh and full of color, and were found worthy of +imitation by Geoffrey Chaucer. + +But it is as the supreme chronicler of the later age of chivalry that +he lives. "God has been gracious enough" he writes, "to permit me to +visit the courts and palaces of kings, ... and all the nobles, kings, +dukes, counts, barons, and knights, belonging to all nations, have +been kind to me, have listened to me, willingly received me, and +proved very useful to me.... Wherever I went I enquired of old knights +and squires who had shared in deeds of arms, and could speak with +authority concerning them, and also spoke with heralds in order to +verify and corroborate all that was told me. In this way I gathered +noble facts for my history, and as long as I live, I shall, by the +grace of God, continue to do this, for the more I labour at this the +more pleasure I have, and I trust that the gentle knight who loves +arms will be nourished on such noble fare, and accomplish still more."_ + + + + +THE CAMPAIGN OF CRECY + +HOW THE KING OF ENGLAND CAME OVER THE SEA AGAIN, TO RESCUE THEM IN +AIGUILLON + + +The king of England, who had heard how his men were sore constrained +in the castle of Aiguillon, then he thought to go over the sea into +Gascoyne with a great army. There he made his provision and sent for +men all about his realm and in other places, where he thought to speed +for his money. In the same season the lord Godfrey of Harcourt came +into England, who was banished out of France: he was well received +with the king and retained to be about him, and had fair lands +assigned him in England to maintain his degree. Then the king caused a +great navy of ships to be ready in the haven of Hampton, and caused +all manner of men of war to draw thither. About the feast of Saint +John Baptist the year of our Lord God MCCCXLVI., the king departed +from the queen and left her in the guiding of the earl of Kent his +cousin; and he stablished the lord Percy and the lord Nevill to be +wardens of his realm with (the archbishop of Canterbury,) the +archbishop of York, the bishop of Lincoln and the bishop of Durham; +for he never voided his realm but that he left ever enough at home to +keep and defend the realm, if need were. Then the king rode to Hampton +and there tarried for wind: then he entered into his ship and the +prince of Wales with him, and the lord Godfrey of Harcourt, and all +other lords, earls, barons and knights, with all their companies. They +were in number a four thousand men of arms and ten thousand archers, +beside Irishmen and Welshmen that followed the host afoot. + +Now I shall name you certain of the lords that went over with king +Edward in that journey. First, Edward his eldest son, prince of Wales, +who as then was of the age of thirteen years or thereabout,[1] the +earls of Hereford, Northampton, Arundel, Cornwall, Warwick, +Huntingdon, Suffolk, and Oxford; and of barons the lord Mortimer, who +was after earl of March, the lords John, Louis and Roger of Beauchamp, +and the lord Raynold Cobham; of lords the lord of Mowbray, Ros, Lucy, +Felton, Bradestan, Multon, Delaware, Manne,[2] Basset, Berkeley, and +Willoughby, with divers other lords; and of bachelors there was John +Chandos, Fitz-Warin, Peter and James Audley, Roger of Wetenhale, +Bartholomew of Burghersh, and Richard of Pembridge, with divers other +that I cannot name. Few there were of strangers: there was the earl +Hainault,[3] sir Wulfart of Ghistelles, and five or six other knights +of Almaine, and many other that I cannot name. + + [1] He was in fact sixteen; born 15th June 1330. + + [2] Probably 'Mohun'. + + [3] The usual confusion between 'comté' and 'comte.' It means, + 'of the county of Hainault there was sir Wulfart of Ghistelles,' + etc. + +Thus they sailed forth that day in the name of God. They were well +onward on their way toward Gascoyne, but on the third day there rose a +contrary wind and drave them on the marches of Cornwall, and there +they lay at anchor six days. In that space the king had other counsel +by the means of sir Godfrey Harcourt: he counselled the king not to go +into Gascoyne, but rather to set aland in Normandy, and said to the +king: 'Sir, the country of Normandy is one of the plenteous countries +of the world: sir, on jeopardy of my head, if ye will land there, +there is none that shall resist you; the people of Normandy have not +been used to the war, and all the knights and squires of the country +are now at the siege before Aiguillon with the duke. And, sir, there +ye shall find great towns that be not walled, whereby your men shall +have such winning, that they shall be the better thereby twenty year +after; and, sir, ye may follow with your army till ye come to Caen in +Normandy: sir, I require you to believe me in this voyage,' + +The king, who was as then but in the flower of his youth, desiring +nothing so much as to have deeds of arms, inclined greatly to the +saying of the lord Harcourt, whom he called cousin. Then he commanded +the mariners to set their course to Normandy, and he took into his +ship the token of the admiral the earl of Warwick, and said now he +would be admiral for that viage, and so sailed on before as governour +of that navy, and they had wind at will. Then the king arrived in the +isle of Cotentin, at a port called Hogue Saint-Vaast.[4] + + [4] Saint-Vaast-de la Hogue. + +Tidings anon spread abroad how the Englishmen were aland: the towns of +Cotentin sent word thereof to Paris to king Philip. He had well heard +before how the king of England was on the sea with a great army, but +he wist not what way he would draw, other into Normandy, Bretayne or +Gascoyne. As soon as he knew that the king of England was aland in +Normandy, he sent his constable the earl of Guines, and the earl of +Tancarville, who were but newly come to him from his son from the +siege at Alguillon, to the town of Caen, commanding them to keep that +town against the Englishmen. They said they would do their best: they +departed from Paris with a good number of men of war, and daily there +came more to them by the way, and so came to the town of Caen, where +they were received with great joy of men of the town and of the +country thereabout, that were drawn thither for surety. These lords +took heed for the provision of the town, the which as then was not +walled. The king thus was arrived at the port Hogue Saint-Vaast near +to Saint-Saviour the Viscount[5] the right heritage to the lord +Godfrey of Harcourt, who as then was there with the king of England. + + [5] Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. + + + + +HOW THE KING OF ENGLAND RODE IN THREE BATTLES THROUGH NORMANDY + + +When the king of England arrived in the Hogue Saint-Vaast, the king +issued out of his ship, and the first foot that he set on the ground, +he fell so rudely, that the blood brast out of his nose. The knights +that were about him took him up and said: 'Sir, for God's sake enter +again into your ship, and come not aland this day, for this is but an +evil sign for us.' Then the king answered quickly and said: +'Wherefore? This is a good token for me, for the land desireth to have +me.' Of the which answer all his men were right joyful. So that day +and night the king lodged on the sands, and in the meantime discharged +the ships of their horses and other baggages: there the king made two +marshals of his host, the one the lord Godfrey of Harcourt and the +other the earl of Warwick, and the earl of Arundel constable. And he +ordained that the earl of Huntingdon should keep the fleet of ships +with a hundred men of arms and four hundred archers: and also he +ordained three battles, one to go on his right hand, closing to the +sea-side, and the other on his left hand, and the king himself in the +midst, and every night to lodge all in one field. + +Thus they set forth as they were ordained, and they that went by the +sea took all the ships that they found in their ways: and so long they +went forth, what by sea and what by land, that they came to a good +port and to a good town called Barfleur, the which incontinent was +won, for they within gave up for fear of death. Howbeit, for all that, +the town was robbed, and much gold and silver there found, and rich +jewels: there was found so much riches, that the boys and villains of +the host set nothing by good furred gowns: they made all the men of +the town to issue out and to go into the ships, because they would not +suffer them to be behind them for fear of rebelling again. After the +town of Barfleur was thus taken and robbed without brenning, then they +spread abroad in the country and did what they list, for there was not +to resist them. At last they came to a great and a rich town called +Cherbourg: the town they won and robbed it, and brent part thereof, +but into the castle they could not come, it was so strong and well +furnished with men of war. Then they passed forth and came to +Montebourg, and took it and robbed and brent it clean. In this manner +they brent many other towns in that country and won so much riches, +that it was marvel to reckon it. Then they came to a great town well +closed called Carentan, where there was also a strong castle and many +soldiers within to keep it. Then the lords came out of their ships and +fiercely made assault: the burgesses of the town were in great fear of +their lives, wives and children: they suffered the Englishmen to enter +into the town against the will of all the soldiers that were there; +they put all their goods to the Englishmen's pleasures, they thought +that most advantage. When the soldiers within saw that, they went into +the castle: the Englishmen went into the town, and two days together +they made sore assaults, so that when they within saw no succour, they +yielded up, their lives and goods saved, and so departed. The +Englishmen had their pleasure of that good town and castle, and when +they saw they might not maintain to keep it, they set fire therein and +brent it, and made the burgesses of the town to enter into their +ships, as they had done with them of Barfleur, Cherbourg and +Montebourg, and of other towns that they had won on the sea-side. All +this was done by the battle that went by the sea-side, and by them on +the sea together.[1] + + [1] Froissart is mistaken in supposing that a division of the + land army went to these towns. Barfleur and Cherbourg were + visited only by the fleet. According to Michael of Northburgh, + who accompanied the expedition, Edward disembarked 12th July + and remained at Saint Vaast till the 18th, and meanwhile the + fleet went to Barfleur and Cherbourg. The army arrived at Caen + on the 26th. + +Now let us speak of the king's battle. When he had sent his first +battle along by the sea-side, as ye have heard, whereof one of his +marshals, the earl of Warwick, was captain, and the lord Cobham with +him, then he made his other marshal to lead his host on his left hand, +for he knew the issues and entries of Normandy better than any other +did there. The lord Godfrey as marshal rode forth with five hundred +men of arms, and rode off from the king's battle as six or seven +leagues, in brenning and exiling the country, the which was plentiful +of everything--the granges full of corn, the houses full of all +riches, rich burgesses, carts and chariots, horse, swine, muttons and +other beasts: they took what them list and brought into the king's +host; but the soldiers made no count to the king nor to none of his +officers of the gold and silver that they did get; they kept that to +themselves. Thus sir Godfrey of Harcourt rode every day off from the +king's host, and for most part every night resorted to the king's +field. The king took his way to Saint-Lo in Cotentin, but or he came +there he lodged by a river, abiding for his men that rode along by the +sea-side; and when they were come, they set forth their carriage, and +the earl of Warwick, the earl of Suffolk, sir Thomas Holland and sir +Raynold Cobham, and their company rode out on the one side and wasted +and exiled the country, as the lord Harcourt had done; and the king +ever rode between these battles, and every night they lodged together. + + + + +OF THE GREAT ASSEMBLY THAT THE FRENCH KING MADE TO RESIST THE KING OF +ENGLAND + + +Thus by the Englishmen was brent, exiled, robbed, wasted and pilled +the good, plentiful country of Normandy. Then the French king sent for +the lord John of Hainault, who came to him with a great number: also +the king sent for other men of arms, dukes, earls, barons, knights and +squires, and assembled together the greatest number of people that had +been seen in France a hundred year before. He sent for men into so far +countries, that it was long or they came together, wherefore the king +of England did what him list in the mean season. The French king heard +well what he did, and sware and said how they should never return +again unfought withal, and that such hurts and damages as they had +done should be dearly revenged; wherefore he had sent letters to his +friends in the Empire, to such as were farthest off, and also to the +gentle king of Bohemia and to the lord Charles his son, who from +thenceforth was called king of Almaine; he was made king by the aid of +his father and the French king, and had taken on him the arms of the +Empire: the French king desired them to come to him with all their +powers, to the intent to fight with the king o£ England, who brent and +wasted his country. These princes and lords made them ready with great +number of men o£ arms, of Almains, Bohemians and Luxemburgers, and so +came to the French king. Also king Philip sent to the duke of +Lorraine, who came to serve him with three hundred spears: also there +came the earl (of) Salm in Saumois, the earl of Sarrebruck, the earl +of Flanders, the earl William of Namur, every man with a fair company. + +Ye have heard herebefore of the order of the Englishmen, how they went +in three battles, the marshals on the right hand and on the left, the +king and the prince of Wales his son in the midst They rode but small +journeys and every day took their lodgings between noon and three of +the clock, and found the country so fruitful, that they needed not to +make no provision for their host, but all only for wine; and yet they +found reasonably sufficient thereof.[1] It was no marvel though they +of the country were afraid, for before that time they had never seen +men of war, nor they wist not what war or battle meant. They fled away +as far as they might hear speaking of the Englishmen,[2] and left +their houses well stuffed, and granges full of corn, they wist not how +to save and keep it. The king of England and the prince had in their +battle a three thousand men of arms and six thousand archers and a ten +thousand men afoot, beside them that rode with the marshals. + + [1] Or rather, 'thus they found reasonably sufficient provisions.' + + [2] That is, they fled as soon as they heard their coming spoken + of. + +Thus as ye have heard, the king rode forth, wasting and brenning the +country without breaking of his order. He left the city of +Coutances[3] and went to a great town called Saint-Lo, a rich town of +drapery and many rich burgesses. In that town there were dwelling an +eight or nine score burgesses, crafty men. When the king came there, +he took his lodging without, for he would never lodge in the town for +fear of fire: but he sent his men before and anon the town was taken +and clean robbed. It was hard to think the great riches that there was +won, in clothes specially; cloth would there have been sold good +cheap, if there had been any buyers. + + [3] That is, he did not turn aside to go to it. Froissart + says, 'He did not turn aside to the city of Coutances, but went + on toward the great town of Saint-Lo in Cotentin, which at that + time was very rich and of great merchandise and three times as + great as the city of Coutances.' Michael of Northburgh says that + Barfleur was about equal in importance to Sandwich and Carentan + to Leicester, Saint-Lo greater than Lincoln, and Caen greater + than any city in England except London. + +Then the king went toward Caen, the which was a greater town and full +of drapery and other merchandise, and rich burgesses, noble ladies and +damosels, and fair churches, and specially two great and rich abbeys, +one of the Trinity, another of Saint Stephen; and on the one side of +the town one of the fairest castles of all Normandy, and captain +therein was Robert of Wargny, with three hundred Genoways, and in the +town was the earl of Eu and of Guines, constable of France, and the +earl of Tancarville, with a good number of men of war. The king of +England rode that day in good order and lodged all his battles +together that night, a two leagues from Caen, in a town with a little +haven called Austrehem, and thither came also all his navy of ships +with the earl of Huntingdon, who was governour of them. + + +The constable and other lords of France that night watched well the +town of Caen, and in the morning armed them with all them of the town: +then the constable ordained that none should issue out, but keep their +defences on the walls, gate, bridge and river, and left the suburbs +void, because they were not closed; for they thought they should have +enough to do to defend the town, because it was not closed but with +the river. They of the town said how they would issue out, for they +were strong enough to fight with the king of England. When the +constable saw their good wills, he said: 'In the name of God be it, ye +shall not fight without me,' Then they issued out in good order and +made good face to fight and to defend them and to put their lives in +adventure. + + + + +OF THE BATTLE OF CAEN, AND HOW THE ENGLISHMEN TOOK THE TOWN + + +The same day the Englishmen rose early and apparelled them ready to go +to Caen.[1] The king heard mass before the sun-rising and then took +his horse, and the prince his son, with sir Godfrey of Harcourt +marshal and leader of the host, whose counsel the king much followed. +Then they drew toward Caen with their battles in good array, and so +approached the good town of Caen. When they of the town, who were +ready in the field, saw these three battles coming in good order, with +their banners and standards waving in the wind, and the archers, the +which they had not been accustomed to see, they were sore afraid and +fled away toward the town without any order or good array, for all +that the constable could do: then the Englishmen pursued them eagerly. +When the constable and the earl Tancarville saw that, they took a gate +at the entry and saved themselves[2] and certain with them, for the +Englishmen were entered into the town. Some of the knights and squires +of France, such as knew the way to the castle, went thither, and the +captain there received them all, for the castle was large. The +Englishmen in the chase slew many, for they took none to mercy. + + [1] This was 26th July. Edward arrived at Poissy on 12th August. + Philip of Valois left Paris on the 14th, the English crossed the + Seine at Poissy on the 16th, and the Somme at Blanche-taque on + the 24th. + + [2] 'Set themselves for safety in a gate at the entry of the + bridge.' + +Then the constable and the earl of Tancarville, being in the little +tower at the bridge foot, looked along the street and saw their men +slain without mercy: they doubted to fall in their hands. At last they +saw an English knight with one eye called sir Thomas Holland, and a +five or six other knights with him: they knew them, for they had seen +them before in Pruce, in Granade, and in other viages. Then they +called to sir Thomas and said how they would yield themselves +prisoners. Then sir Thomas came thither with his company and mounted +up into the gate, and there found the said lords with twenty-five +knights with them, who yielded them to sir Thomas, and he took them +for his prisoners and left company to keep them, and then mounted +again on his horse and rode into the streets, and saved many lives of +ladies, damosels, and cloisterers from defoiling, for the soldiers +were without mercy. It fell so well the same season for the +Englishmen, that the river, which was able to bear ships, at that time +was so low, that men went in and out beside the bridge. They of the +town were entered into their houses, and cast down into the street +stones, timber and iron, and slew and hurt more than five hundred +Englishmen, wherewith the king was sore displeased. At night when he +heard thereof, he commanded that the next day all should be put to the +sword and the town brent; but then sir Godfrey of Harcourt said: 'Dear +sir, for God's sake assuage somewhat your courage, and let it suffice +you that ye have done. Ye have yet a great voyage to do or ye come +before Calais, whither ye purpose to go; and, sir, in this town there +is much people who will defend their houses, and it will cost many of +your men their lives, or ye have all at your will; whereby +peradventure ye shall not keep your purpose to Calais, the which +should redound to your rack. Sir, save your people, for ye shall have +need of them or this month pass; for I think verily your adversary +king Philip will meet with you to fight, and ye shall find many +straight passages and rencounters; wherefore your men, an ye had more, +shall stand you in good stead: and, sir, without any further slaying +ye shall be lord of this town; men and women will put all that they +have to your pleasure.' Then the king said: 'Sir Godfrey, you are our +marshal, ordain everything as ye will.' Then sir Godfrey with his +banner rode from street to street, and commanded in the king's name +none to be so hardy to put fire in any house, to slay any person, nor +to violate any woman. When they of the town heard that cry, they +received the Englishmen into their houses and made them good cheer, +and some opened their coffers and bade them take what them list, so +they might be assured of their lives; howbeit there were done in the +town many evil deeds, murders and robberies. Thus the Englishmen were +lords of the town three days and won great riches, the which they sent +by barks and barges to Saint-Saviour by the river of Austrehem,[3] a +two leagues thence, whereas all their navy lay. Then the king sent the +earl of Huntingdon with two hundred men of arms and four hundred +archers, with his navy and prisoners and riches that they had got, +back again into England. And the king bought of sir Thomas Holland the +constable of France and the earl of Tancarville, and paid for them +twenty thousand nobles. + + [3] Froissart says that they sent their booty in barges and + boats 'on the river as far as Austrehem, a two leagues from + thence, where their great navy lay.' He makes no mention of + Saint-Sauveur here. The river in question is the Orne, at the + mouth of which Austrehem is situated. + + + + +HOW SIR GODFREY OF HARCOURT FOUGHT WITH THEM OF AMIENS BEFORE PARIS + + +Thus the king of England ordered his business, being in the town of +Caen, and sent into England his navy of ships charged with clothes, +jewels, vessels of gold and silver, and of other riches, and of +prisoners more than sixty knights and three hundred burgesses. Then he +departed from the town of Caen and rode in the same order as he did +before, brenning and exiling the country, and took the way to Evreux +and so passed by it; and from thence they rode to a great town called +Louviers: it was the chief town of all Normandy of drapery, riches, +and full of merchandise. The Englishmen soon entered therein, for as +then it was not closed; it was overrun, spoiled and robbed without +mercy: there was won great riches. Then they entered into the country +of Evreux and brent and pilled all the country except the good towns +closed and castles, to the which the king made none assault, because +of the sparing of his people and his artillery. + +On the river of Seine near to Rouen there was the earl of Harcourt, +brother to sir Godfrey of Harcourt, but he was on the French party, +and the earl of Dreux with him, with a good number of men of war: but +the Englishmen left Rouen and went to Gisors, where was a strong +castle: they brent the town and then they brent Vernon and all the +country about Rouen and Pont-de-l'Arche and came to Mantes and to +Meulan, and wasted all the country about, and passed by the strong +castle of Rolleboise; and in every place along the river of Seine they +found the bridges broken. At last they came to Poissy, and found the +bridge broken, but the arches and joists lay in the river: the king +lay there a five days: in the mean season the bridge was made, to pass +the host without peril. The English marshals ran abroad just to Paris, +and brent Saint-Germain in Laye and Montjoie, and Saint-Cloud, and +petty Boulogne by Paris, and the Queen's Bourg:[1] they of Paris were +not well assured of themselves, for it was not as then closed. + + [1] Bourg-la-Reine. + +Then king Philip removed to Saint-Denis, and or he went caused all the +pentices in Paris to be pulled down; and at Saint-Denis were ready +come the king of Bohemia, the lord John of Hainault, the duke of +Lorraine, the earl of Flanders, the earl of Blois, and many other +great lords and knights, ready to serve the French king. When the +people of Paris saw their king depart, they came to him and kneeled +down and said: 'Ah, sir and noble king, what will ye do? leave thus +this noble city of Paris?' The king said: 'My good people, doubt ye +not: the Englishmen will approach you no nearer than they be.' 'Why +so, sir?' quoth they; 'they be within these two leagues, and as soon +as they know of your departing, they will come and assail us; and we +not able to defend them: sir, tarry here still and help to defend your +good city of Paris.' 'Speak no more,' quoth the king, 'for I will go +to Saint-Denis to my men of war: for I will encounter the Englishmen +and fight against them, whatsoever fall thereof.' + +The king of England was at Poissy, and lay in the nunnery there, and +kept there the feast of our Lady in August and sat in his robes of +scarlet furred with ermines; and after that feast he went forth in +order as they were before. The lord Godfrey of Harcourt rode out on +the one side with five hundred men of arms and thirteen[2] hundred +archers; and by adventure he encountered a great number of burgesses +of Amiens a-horseback, who were riding by the king's commandment to +Paris. They were quickly assailed and they defended themselves +valiantly, for they were a great number and well armed: there were +four knights of Amiens their captains. This skirmish dured long: at +the first meeting many were overthrown on both parts; but finally the +burgesses were taken and nigh all slain, and the Englishmen took all +their carriages and harness. They were well stuffed, for they were +going to the French king well appointed, because they had not seen him +a great season before. There were slain in the field a twelve hundred. + + [2] A better reading is 'twelve.' + +Then the king of England entered into the country of Beauvoisis, +brenning and exiling the plain country, and lodged at a fair abbey and +a rich called Saint-Messien[3] near to Beauvais: there the king +tarried a night and in the morning departed. And when he was on his +way he looked behind him and saw the abbey a-fire: he caused +incontinent twenty of them to be hanged that set the fire there, for +he had commanded before on pain of death none to violate any church +nor to bren any abbey. Then the king passed by the city of Beauvais +without any assault giving, for because he would not trouble his +people nor waste his artillery. And so that day he took his lodging +betime in a little town called Milly. The two marshals came so near to +Beauvais, that they made assault and skirmish at the barriers in three +places, the which assault endured a long space; but the town within +was so well defended by the means of the bishop, who was there within, +that finally the Englishmen departed, and brent clean hard to the +gates all the suburbs, and then at night they came into the king's +field. + + [3] Commonly called Saint-Lucien, but Saint Maximianus (Messien) + is also associated with the place. + +The next day the king departed, brenning and wasting all before him, +and at night lodged in a good village called Grandvilliers. The next +day the king passed by Dargies: there was none to defend the castle, +wherefore it was soon taken and brent. Then they went forth destroying +the country all about, and so came to the castle of Poix, where there +was a good town and two castles. There was nobody in them but two fair +damosels, daughters to the lord of Poix; they were soon taken, and had +been violated, an two English knights had not been, sir John Chandos +and sir Basset; they defended them and brought them to the king, who +for his honour made them good cheer and demanded of them whither they +would fainest go. They said, 'To Corbie,' and the king caused them to +be brought thither without peril. That night the king lodged in the +town of Poix. They of the town and of the castles spake that night +with the marshals of the host, to save them and their town from +brenning, and they to pay a certain sum of florins the next day as +soon as the host was departed. This was granted them, and in the +morning the king departed with all his host except a certain that were +left there to receive the money that they of the town had promised to +pay. When they of the town saw the host depart and but a few left +behind, then they said they would pay never a penny, and so ran out +and set on the Englishmen, who defended themselves as well as they +might and sent after the host for succour. When sir Raynold Cobham and +sir Thomas Holland, who had the rule of the rearguard, heard thereof, +they returned and cried, 'Treason, treason!' and so came again to +Poix-ward and found their companions still fighting with them of the +town. Then anon they of the town were nigh all slain, and the town +brent, and the two castles beaten down. Then they returned to the +king's host, who was as then at Airaines and there lodged, and had +commanded all manner of men on pain of death to do no hurt to no town +of Arsyn,[4] for there the king was minded to lie a day or two to take +advice how he might pass the river of Somme; for it was necessary for +him to pass the river, as ye shall hear after. + + [4] A mistranslation. The original is '(Il avoit) deffendu sus + le hart que nuls ne fourfesist rien à le ville d'arsin ne d'autre + cose,' 'he had commanded all on pain of hanging to do no hurt to + the town by burning or otherwise.' The translator has taken + 'arsin' for a proper name. + + + + +HOW THE FRENCH KING FOLLOWED THE KING OF ENGLAND IN BEAUVOISINOIS + + +Now let us speak of King Philip, who was at Sant-Denis and his people +about him, and daily increased. Then on a day he departed and rode so +long that he came to Coppegueule, a three leagues from Amiens, and +there he tarried. The king of England being at Airaines wist not where +for to pass the river of Somme, the which was large and deep, and all +bridges were broken and the passages well kept. Then at the king's +commandment his two marshals with a thousand men of arms and two +thousand archers went along the river to find some passage, and passed +by Longpré, and came to the bridge of Remy,[1] the which was well kept +with a great number of knights and squires and men of the country. The +Englishmen alighted afoot and assailed the Frenchmen from the morning +till it was noon; but the bridge was so well fortified and defended, +that the Englishmen departed without winning of anything. Then they +went to a great town called Fountains on the river of Somme, the which +was clean robbed and brent, for it was not closed. Then they went to +another town called Long-en-Ponthieu; they could not win the bridge, +it was so well kept and defended. Then they departed and went to +Picquigny, and found the town, the bridge, and the castle so well +fortified, that it was not likely to pass there: the French king had +so well defended the passages, to the intent that the king of England +should not pass the river of Somme, to fight with him at his advantage +or else to famish him there. + + [1] Pont-à-Remy, corrupted here into 'bridge of Athyne.' + +When these two marshals had assayed in all places to find passage and +could find none, they returned again to the king, and shewed how they +could find no passage in no place. The same night the French king came +to Amiens with more than a hundred thousand men. The king of England +was right pensive, and the next morning heard mass before the +sun-rising and then dislodged; and every man followed the marshals' +banners and so rode in the country of Vimeu approaching to the good +town of Abbeville, and found a town thereby, whereunto was come much +people of the country in trust of a little defence that was there; but +the Englishmen anon won it; and all they that were within slain, and +many taken of the town and of the country. The king took his lodging +in a great hospital[2] that was there. The same day the French king +departed from Amiens and came to Airaines about noon; and the +Englishmen were departed thence in the morning. The Frenchmen found +there great provision that the Englishmen had left behind them, +because they departed in haste. There they found flesh ready on the +broaches, bread and pasties in the ovens, wine in tuns and barrels, +and the tables ready laid. There the French king lodged and tarried +for his lords. + + [2] That is, a house of the knights of Saint John. + +That night the king of England was lodged at Olsemont. At night when +the two marshals were returned, who had that day overrun the country +to the gates of Abbeville and to Saint-Valery and made a great +skirmish there, then the king assembled together his council and made +to be brought before him certain prisoners of the country of Ponthieu +and of Vimeu. The king right courteously demanded of them, if there +were any among them that knew any passage beneath Abbeville, that he +and his host might pass over the river of Somme: if he would shew him +thereof, he should be quit of his ransom, and twenty of his company +for his love. There was a varlet called Gobin Agace who stepped forth +and said to the king: 'Sir, I promise you on the jeopardy of my head I +shall bring you to such a place, whereas ye and all your host shall +pass the river of Somme without peril. There be certain places in the +passage that ye shall pass twelve men afront two times between day and +night: ye shall not go in the water to the knees. But when the flood +cometh, the river then waxeth so great, that no man can pass; but when +the flood is gone, the which is two times between day and night, then +the river is so low, that it may be passed without danger both +a-horseback and afoot. The passage is hard in the bottom with white +stones, so that all your carriage may go surely; therefore the passage +is called Blanche-taque. An ye make ready to depart betimes, ye may be +there by the sun-rising.' The king said: 'If this be true that ye say, +I quit thee thy ransom and all thy company, and moreover shall give +thee a hundred nobles.' Then the king commanded every man to be ready +at the sound of the trumpet to depart. + + + + +OF THE BATTLE OF BLANCHE-TAQUE BETWEEN THE KING OF ENGLAND AND SIR +GODEMAR DU FAY + + +The king of England slept not much that night, for at midnight he +arose and sowned his trumpet: then incontinent they made ready +carriages and all things, and at the breaking of the day they departed +from the town of Oisemont and rode after the guiding of Gobin Agace, +so that they came by the sun-rising to Blanche-taque; but as then the +flood was up, so that they might not pass: so the king tarried there +till it was prime; then the ebb came. + +The French king had his currours in the country, who brought him word +of the demeanour of the Englishmen. Then he thought to close the king +of England between Abbeville and the river of Somme, and so to fight +with him at his pleasure. And when he was at Amiens he had ordained a +great baron of Normandy, called sir Godemar du Fay, to go and keep the +passage of Blanche-taque, where the Englishmen must pass or else in +none other place. He had with him a thousand men of arms and six +thousand afoot, with the Genoways: so they went by Saint-Riquier in +Ponthieu and from thence to Crotoy, whereas the passage lay; and also +he had with him a great number of men of the country, and also a great +number of them of Montreuil, so that they were a twelve thousand men +one and other. + +When the English host was come thither, sir Godemar du Fay arranged +all his company to defend the passage. The king of England let not for +all that; but when the flood was gone, he commanded his marshals to +enter into the water in the name of God and Saint George. Then they +that were hardy and courageous entered on both parties, and many a man +reversed. There were some of the Frenchmen of Artois and Picardy that +were as glad to joust in the water as on the dry land. + +The Frenchmen defended so well the passage at the issuing out of the +water, that they had much to do. The Genoways did them great trouble +with their cross-bows: on the other side the archers of England shot +so wholly together, that the Frenchmen were fain to give place to the +Englishmen. There was a sore battle, and many a noble feat of arms +done on both sides. Finally the Englishmen passed over and assembled +together in the field. The king and the prince passed, and all the +lords; then the Frenchmen kept none array, but departed, he that might +best. When sir Godemar saw that discomfiture, he fled and saved +himself: some fled to Abbeville and some to Saint-Riquiers. They that +were there afoot could not flee, so that there were slain a great +number of them of Abbeville, Montreuil, Rue and of Saint-Riquiers: the +chase endured more than a great league. And as yet all the Englishmen +were not passed the river, and certain currours of the king of Bohemia +and of sir John of Hainault came on them that were behind and took +certain horses and carriages and slew divers, or they could take the +passage. + +The French king the same morning was departed from Airaines, trusting +to have found the Englishmen between him and the river of Somme: but +when he heard how that sir Godemar du Fay and his company were +discomfited, he tarried in the field and demanded of his marshals what +was best to do. They said, 'Sir, ye cannot pass the river but at the +bridge of Abbeville, for the flood is come in at Blanche-taque': then +he returned and lodged at Abbeville. + +The king of England when he was past the river, he thanked God and so +rode forth in like manner as he did before. Then he called Gobin Agace +and did quit him his ransom and all his company, and gave him a +hundred nobles and a good horse. And so the king rode forth fair and +easily, and thought to have lodged in a great town called Noyelles; +but when he knew that the town pertained to the countess d'Aumale, +sister to the lord Robert of Artois,[1] the king assured the town and +country as much as pertained to her, and so went forth; and his +marshals rode to Crotoy on the sea-side and brent the town, and found +in the haven many ships and barks charged with wines of Poitou, +pertaining to the merchants of Saintonge and of Rochelle: they brought +the best thereof to the king's host. Then one of the marshals rode to +the gates of Abbeville and from thence to Saint-Riquiers, and after to +the town of Rue-Saint-Esprit. This was on a Friday, and both battles +of the marshals returned to the king's host about noon and so lodged +all together near to Cressy in Ponthieu. + + [1] She was in fact his daughter. + +The king of England was well informed how the French king followed +after him to fight. Then he said to his company: 'Let us take here +some plot of ground, for we will go no farther till we have seen our +enemies. I have good cause here to abide them, for I am on the right +heritage of the queen my mother, the which land was given at her +marriage: I will challenge it of mine adversary Philip of Valois.' And +because that he had not the eighth part in number of men as the French +king had, therefore he commanded his marshals to chose a plot of +ground somewhat for his advantage: and so they did, and thither the +king and his host went. Then he sent his currours to Abbeville, to see +if the French king drew that day into the field or not. They went +forth and returned again, and said how they could see none appearance +of his coming: then every man took their lodging for that day, and to +be ready in the morning at the sound of the trumpet in the same place. +This Friday the French king tarried still in Abbeville abiding for his +company, and sent his two marshals to ride out to see the dealing of +the Englishmen, and at night they returned, and said how the +Englishmen were lodged in the fields. That night the French king made +a supper to all the chief lords that were there with him, and after +supper the king desired them to be friends each to other. The king +looked for the earl of Savoy, who should come to him with a thousand +spears, for he had received wages for a three months of them at Troyes +in Champagne. + + + + +OF THE ORDER OF THE ENGLISHMEN AT CRESSY, HOW THEY MADE THREE BATTLES +AFOOT + + +On the Friday, as I said before, the king of England lay in the +fields, for the country was plentiful of wines and other victual, and +if need had been, they had provision following in carts and other +carriages. That night the king made a supper to all his chief lords of +his host and made them good cheer; and when they were all departed to +take their rest, then the king entered into his oratory and kneeled +down before the altar, praying God devoutly, that if he fought the +next day, that he might achieve the journey to his honour: then about +midnight he laid him down to rest, and in the morning he rose betimes +and heard mass, and the prince his son with him, and the most part of +his company were confessed and houselled; and after the mass said, he +commanded every man to be armed and to draw to the field to the same +place before appointed. Then the king caused a park to be made by the +wood side behind his host, and there was set all carts and carriages, +and within the park were all their horses, for every man was afoot; +and into this park there was but one entry. Then he ordained three +battles: in the first was the young prince of Wales, with him the earl +of Warwick and Oxford, the lord Godfrey of Harcourt, sir Raynold +Cobham, sir Thomas Holland, the lord Stafford, the lord of Mohun, the +lord Delaware, sir John Chandos, sir Bartholomew de Burghersh, sir +Robert Nevill, the lord Thomas Clifford, the lord Bourchier, the lord +de Latimer, and divers other knights and squires that I cannot name: +they were an eight hundred men of arms and two thousand archers, and a +thousand of other with the Welshmen: every lord drew to the field +appointed under his own banner and pennon. In the second battle was +the earl of Northampton, the earl of Arundel, the lord Ros, the lord +Lucy, the lord Willoughby, the lord Basset, the lord of Saint-Aubin, +sir Louis Tufton, the lord of Multon, the lord Lascelles and divers +other, about an eight hundred men of arms and twelve hundred archers. +The third battle had the king: he had seven hundred men of arms and +two thousand archers. Then the king leapt on a hobby,[1] with a white +rod in his hand, one of his marshals on the one hand and the other on +the other hand: he rode from rank to rank desiring every man to take +heed that day to his right and honour. He spake it so sweetly and with +so good countenance and merry cheer, that all such as were discomfited +took courage in the seeing and hearing of him. And when he had thus +visited all his battles, it was then nine of the day: then he caused +every man to eat and drink a little, and so they did at their leisure. +And afterward they ordered again their battles: then every man lay +down on the earth and by him his salet and bow, to be the more fresher +when their enemies should come. + + [1] 'Un petit palefroi.' + + + + +THE ORDER OF THE FRENCHMEN AT CRESSY, AND HOW THEY BEHELD THE +DEMEANOUR OF THE ENGLISHMEN + + +This Saturday the French king rose betimes and heard mass in Abbeville +in his lodging in the abbey of Saint Peter, and he departed after the +sun-rising. When he was out of the town two leagues, approaching +toward his enemies, some of his lords said to him: 'Sir, it were good +that ye ordered your battles, and let all your footmen pass somewhat +on before, that they be not troubled with the horsemen.' Then the king +sent four knights, the Moine (of) Bazeilles, the lord of Noyers, the +lord of Beaujeu and the lord d'Aubigny to ride to aview the English +host; and so they rode so near that they might well see part of their +dealing. The Englishmen saw them well and knew well how they were come +thither to aview them: they let them alone and made no countenance +toward them, and let them return as they came. And when the French +king saw these four knights return again, he tarried till they came to +him and said: 'Sirs, what tidings?' These four knights each of them +looked on other, for there was none would speak before his companion; +finally the king said to (the) Moine, who pertained to the king of +Bohemia and had done in his days so much, that he was reputed for one +of the valiantest knights of the world: 'Sir, speak you,' Then he +said: 'Sir, I shall speak, sith it pleaseth you, under the correction +of my fellows. Sir, we have ridden and seen the behaving of your +enemies: know ye for truth they are rested in three battles abiding +for you. Sir, I will counsel you as for my part, saving your +displeasure, that you and all your company rest here and lodge for +this night: for or they that be behind of your company be come hither, +and or your battles be set in good order, it will be very late, and +your people be weary and out of array, and ye shall find your enemies +fresh and ready to receive you. Early in the morning ye may order your +battles at more leisure and advise your enemies at more deliberation, +and to regard well what way ye will assail them; for, sir, surely they +will abide you.' + +Then the king commanded that it should be so done. Then his two +marshals one rode before, another behind, saying to every banner: +'Tarry and abide here in the name of God and Saint Denis.' They that +were foremost tarried, but they that were behind would not tarry, but +rode forth, and said how they would in no wise abide till they were as +far forward as the foremost: and when they before saw them come on +behind, then they rode forward again, so that the king nor his +marshals could not rule them. So they rode without order or good +array, till they came in sight of their enemies: and as soon as the +foremost saw them, they reculed then aback without good array, whereof +they behind had marvel and were abashed, and thought that the foremost +company had been fighting. Then they might have had leisure and room +to have gone forward, if they had list: some went forth and some abode +still. The commons, of whom all the ways between Abbeville and Cressy +were full, when they saw that they were near to their enemies, they +took their swords and cried: 'Down with them! let us slay them all.' +There is no man, though he were present at the journey, that could +imagine or shew the truth of the evil order that was among the French +party, and yet they were a marvellous great number. That I write in +this book I learned it specially of the Englishmen, who well beheld +their dealing; and also certain knights of sir John of Hainault's, who +was always about king Philip, shewed me as they knew. + + + + +OF THE BATTLE OF CRESSY BETWEEN THE KING OF ENGLAND AND THE FRENCH +KING + + +The Englishmen, who were in three battles lying on the ground to rest +them, as soon as they saw the Frenchmen approach, they rose upon their +feet fair and easily without any haste and arranged their battles. The +first, which was the prince's battle, the archers there stood in +manner of a herse and the men of arms in the bottom of the battle. The +earl of Northampton and the earl of Arundel with the second battle +were on a wing in good order, ready to comfort the prince's battle, if +need were. + +The lords and knights of France came not to the assembly together in +good order, for some came before and some came after in such haste and +evil order, that one of them did trouble another. When the French king +saw the Englishmen, his blood changed, and said to his marshals: 'Make +the Genoways go on before and begin the battle in the name of God and +Saint Denis.' There were of the Genoways cross-bows about a fifteen +thousand,[1] but they were so weary of going afoot that day a six +leagues armed with their cross-bows, that they said to their +constables: 'We be not well ordered to fight this day, for we be not +in the case to do any great deed of arms: we have more need of rest.' +These words came to the earl of Alengon, who said: 'A man is well at +ease to be charged with such a sort of rascals, to be faint and fail +now at most need.' Also the same season there fell a great rain and a +clipse[2] with a terrible thunder, and before the rain there came +flying over both battles a great number of crows for fear of the +tempest coming. Then anon the air began to wax clear, and the sun to +shine fair and bright, the which was right in the Frenchmen's eyen and +on the Englishmen's backs. When the Genoways were assembled together +and began to approach, they made a great leap[3] and cry to abash the +Englishmen, but they stood still and stirred not for all that: then +the Genoways again the second time made another leap and a fell cry, +and stept forward a little, and the Englishmen removed not one foot: +thirdly, again they leapt and cried, and went forth till they came +within shot; then they shot fiercely with their cross-bows. Then the +English archers stept forth one pace and let fly their arrows so +wholly (together) and so thick, that it seemed snow. When the Genoways +felt the arrows piercing through heads, arms and breasts, many of them +cast down their cross-bows and did cut their strings and returned +discomfited. When the French king saw them fly away, he said: 'Slay +these rascals, for they shall let and trouble us without reason.' Then +ye should have seen the men of arms dash in among them and killed a +great number of them: and ever still the Englishmen shot whereas they +saw thickest press; the sharp arrows ran into the men of arms and into +their horses, and many fell, horse and men, among the Genoways, and +when they were down, they could not relieve[4] again, the press was so +thick that one overthrew another. And also among the Englishmen there +were certain rascals that went afoot with great knives, and they went +in among the men of arms, and slew and murdered many as they lay on +the ground, both earls, barons, knights and squires, whereof the king +of England was after displeased, for he had rather they had been taken +prisoners. + + [1] Villani, a very good authority on the subject, says 6000, + brought from the ships at Harfleur. + + [2] A mistranslation of 'une esclistre,' 'a flash of lightning.' + + [3] These 'leaps' of the Genoese are invented by the translator, + and have passed from him into several respectable English + text-books, sometimes in company with the eclipse above + mentioned. Froissart says 'Il commencièrent à juper moult + epouvantablement'; that is, 'to utter cries.' Another text makes + mention of the English cannons at this point: 'The English + remained still and let off some cannons that they had, to + frighten the Genoese.' + + [4] The translator's word 'relieve' (relyuue) represents + 'relever,' for 'se relever.' + +The valiant king of Bohemia called Charles of Luxembourg, son to the +noble emperor Henry of Luxembourg, for all that he was nigh blind, +when he understood the order of the battle, he said to them about him: +'Where is the lord Charles my son?' His men said: 'Sir, we cannot +tell; we think he be fighting.' Then he said: 'Sirs, ye are my men, my +companions and friends in this journey: I require you bring me so far +forward, that I may strike one stroke with my sword.' They said they +would do his commandment, and to the intent that they should not lose +him in the press, they tied all their reins of their bridles each to +other and set the king before to accomplish his desire, and so they +went on their enemies. The lord Charles of Bohemia his son, who wrote +himself king of Almaine and bare the arms, he came in good order to +the battle; but when he saw that the matter went awry on their party, +he departed, I cannot tell you which way. The king his father was so +far forward that he strake a stroke with his sword, yea and more than +four, and fought valiantly and so did his company; and they adventured +themselves so forward, that they were there all slain, and the next +day they were found in the place about the king, and all their horses +tied each to other. + +The earl of Alençon came to the battle right ordinately and fought +with the Englishmen, and the earl of Flanders also on his part. These +two lords with their companies coasted the English archers and came to +the prince's battle, and there fought valiantly long. The French king +would fain have come thither, when he saw their banners, but there was +a great hedge of archers before him. The same day the French king had +given a great black courser to sir John of Hainault, and he made the +lord Tierry of Senzeille to ride on him and to bear his banner. The +same horse took the bridle in the teeth and brought him through all +the currours of the Englishmen, and as he would have returned again, +he fell in a great dike and was sore hurt, and had been there dead, an +his page had not been, who followed him through all the battles and +saw where his master lay in the dike, and had none other let but for +his horse, for the Englishmen would not issue out of their battle for +taking of any prisoner. Then the page alighted and relieved his +master: then he went not back again the same way that they came, there +was too many in his way. + +This battle between Broye and Cressy this Saturday was right cruel and +fell, and many a feat of arms done that came not to my knowledge. In +the night[5] divers knights and squires lost their masters, and +sometime came on the Englishmen, who received them in such wise that +they were ever nigh slain; for there was none taken to mercy nor to +ransom, for so the Englishmen were determined. + + [5] 'Sus le nuit,' 'towards nightfall.' + +In the morning[6] the day of the battle certain Frenchmen and Almains +perforce opened the archers of the prince's battle and came and fought +with the men of arms hand to hand. Then the second battle of the +Englishmen came to succour the prince's battle, the which was time, +for they had as then much ado; and they with the prince sent a +messenger to the king, who was on a little windmill hill. Then the +knight said to the king: 'Sir, the earl of Warwick and the earl of +Oxford, sir Raynold Cobham and other, such as be about the prince your +son, are fiercely fought withal and are sore handled; wherefore they +desire you that you and your battle will come and aid them; for if the +Frenchmen increase, as they doubt they will, your son and they shall +have much ado.' Then the king said: 'Is my son dead or hurt or on the +earth felled?' 'No, sir,' quoth the knight, 'but he is hardly matched; +wherefore he hath need of your aid.' 'Well,' said the king, 'return to +him and to them that sent you hither, and say to them that they send +no more to me for any adventure that falleth, as long as my son is +alive: and also say to them that they suffer him this day to win his +spurs;[7] for if God be pleased, I will this journey be his and the +honour thereof, and to them that be about him.' Then the knight +returned again to them and shewed the king's words, the which greatly +encouraged them, and repoined[8] in that they had sent to the king as +they did. + + [6] The text has suffered by omissions. What Froissart says is + that if the battle had begun in the morning, it might have gone + better for the French, and then he instances the exploits of + those who broke through the archers. The battle did not begin + till four o'clock in the afternoon. + + [7] 'Que il laissent à l'enfant gaegnier ses esperons.' + + [8] i.e. 'they repoined': Fr. 'se reprisent.' + +Sir Godfrey of Harcourt would gladly that the earl of Harcourt his +brother might have been saved; for he heard say by them that saw his +banner how that he was there in the field on the French party: but sir +Godfrey could not come to him betimes, for he was slain or he could +come at him, and so was also the earl of Aumale his nephew. In another +place the earl of Alençon and the earl of Flanders fought valiantly, +every lord under his own banner; but finally they could not resist +against the puissance of the Englishmen, and so there they were also +slain, and divers other knights and squires. Also the earl Louis of +Blois, nephew to the French king, and the duke of Lorraine fought +under their banners, but at last they were closed in among a company +of Englishmen and Welshmen, and there were slain for all their +prowess. Also there was slain the earl of Auxerre, the earl of +Saint-Pol and many other. + +In the evening the French king, who had left about him no more than a +three-score persons, one and other, whereof sir John of Hainault was +one, who had remounted once the king, for his horse was slain with an +arrow, then he said to the king: 'Sir, depart hence, for it is time; +lose not yourself wilfully: if ye have loss at this time, ye shall +recover it again another season.' And so he took the king's horse by +the bridle and led him away in a manner perforce. Then the king rode +till he came to the castle of Broye. The gate was closed, because it +was by that time dark: then the king called the captain, who came to +the walls and said: 'Who is that calleth there this time of night?' +Then the king said: 'Open your gate quickly, for this is the fortune +of France.'[9] The captain knew then it was the king, and opened the +gate and let down the bridge. Then the king entered, and he had with +him but five barons, sir John of Hainault, sir Charles of Montmorency, +the lord of Beaujeu, the lord d'Aubigny and the lord of Montsault. The +king would not tarry there, but drank and departed thence about +midnight, and so rode by such guides as knew the country till he came +in the morning to Amiens, and there he rested. + + [9] 'C'est la fortune de France': but the better MSS. have + 'c'est li infortunés rois de France.' + +This Saturday the Englishmen never departed from their battles for +chasing of any man, but kept still their field, and ever defended +themselves against all such as came to assail them. This battle ended +about evensong time. + + + + +HOW THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE BATTLE THE ENGLISHMEN DISCOMFITED DIVERS +FRENCHMEN + + +On this Saturday, when the night was come and that the Englishmen +heard no more noise of the Frenchmen, then they reputed themselves to +have the victory, and the Frenchmen to be discomfited, slain and fled +away. Then they made great fires and lighted up torches and candles, +because it was very dark. Then the king avaled down from the little +hill whereas he stood; and of all that day till then his helm came +never on his head. Then he went with all his battle to his son the +prince and embraced him in his arms and kissed him, and said: 'Fair +son, God give you good perseverance; ye are my good son, thus ye have +acquitted you nobly: ye are worthy to keep a realm.' The prince +inclined himself to the earth, honouring the king his father. + +This night they thanked God for their good adventure and made no boast +thereof, for the king would that no man should be proud or make boast, +but every man humbly to thank God. On the Sunday in the morning there +was such a mist, that a man might not see the breadth of an acre of +land from him. Then there departed from the host by the commandment of +the king and marshals five hundred spears and two thousand archers, to +see if they might see any Frenchmen gathered again together in any +place. The same morning out of Abbeville and Saint-Riquiers in +Ponthieu the commons of Rouen and of Beauvais issued out of their +towns, not knowing of the discomfiture of the day before. They met +with the Englishmen weening they had been Frenchmen, and when the +Englishmen saw them, they set on them freshly, and there was a sore +battle; but at last the Frenchmen fled and kept none array. There were +slain in the ways and in hedges and bushes more than seven thousand, +and if the day had been clear there had never a one escaped. Anon +after, another company of Frenchmen were met by the Englishmen, the +archbishop of Rouen and the great prior of France, who also knew +nothing of the discomfiture the day before, for they heard that the +French king should have fought the same Sunday, and they were going +thitherward. When they met with the Englishmen, there was a great +battle, for they were a great number, but they could not endure +against the Englishmen; for they were nigh all slain, few escaped; the +two lords were slain. This morning the Englishmen met with divers +Frenchmen that had lost their way on the Saturday and had lain all +night in the fields, and wist not where the king was nor the captains. +They were all slain, as many as were met with; and it was shewed me +that of the commons and men afoot of the cities and good towns of +France there was slain four times as many as were slain the Saturday +in the great battle. + + + + +HOW THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE BATTLE OF CRESSY THEY THAT WERE DEAD WERE +NUMBERED BY THE ENGLISHMEN + + +The same Sunday, as the king of England came from mass, such as had +been sent forth returned and shewed the king what they had seen and +done, and said: 'Sir, we think surely there is now no more appearance +of any of our enemies.' Then the king sent to search how many were +slain and what they were. Sir Raynold Cobham and Sir Richard Stafford +with three heralds went to search the field and country: they visited +all them that were slain and rode all day in the fields, and returned +again to the host as the king was going to supper. They made just +report of that they had seen, and said how there were eleven great +princes dead, fourscore banners, twelve hundred knights, and more than +thirty thousand other.[1] The Englishmen kept still their field all +that night: on the Monday in the morning the king prepared to depart: +the king caused the dead bodies of the great lords to be taken up and +conveyed to Montreuil, and there buried in holy ground, and made a cry +in the country to grant truce for three days, to the intent that they +of the country might search the field of Cressy to bury the dead +bodies. + + [1] Another text makes the loss of persons below the rank of + knight 15,000 or 16,000, including the men of the towns. Both + estimates must be greatly exaggerated. Michael of Northburgh says + that 1542 were killed in the battle and about 2000 on the next + day. The great princes killed were the king of Bohemia, the duke + of Lorraine, the earls of Alençon, Flanders, Blois, Auxerre, + Harcourt, Saint-Pol, Aumale, the grand prior of France and the + archbishop of Rouen. + +Then the king went forth and came before the town of +Montreuil-by-the-sea, and his marshals ran toward Hesdin and Brent +Waben and Serain, but they did nothing to the castle, it was so strong +and so well kept. They lodged that night on the river of Hesdin +towards Blangy. The next day they rode toward Boulogne and came to the +town of Wissant: there the king and the prince lodged, and tarried +there a day to refresh his men, and on the Wednesday the king came +before the strong town of Calais. + + + + +THE BATTLE OF POITIERS + +OF THE GREAT HOST THAT THE FRENCH KING BROUGHT TO THE BATTLE OF +POITIERS + + +After the taking of the castle of Romorantin and of them that were +therein, the prince then and his company rode as they did before, +destroying the country, approaching to Anjou and to Touraine. The +French king, who was at Chartres, departed and came to Blois and there +tarried two days, and then to Amboise and the next day to Loches: and +then he heard how that the prince was at Touraine[1] and how that he +was returning by Poitou: ever the Englishmen were coasted by certain +expert knights of France, who alway made report to the king what the +Englishmen did. Then the king came to the Haye in Touraine and his men +had passed the river of Loire, some at the bridge of Orleans and some +at Meung, at Saumur, at Blois, and at Tours and whereas they might: +they were in number a twenty thousand men of arms beside other; there +were a twenty-six dukes and earls and more than sixscore banners, and +the four sons of the king, who were but young, the duke Charles of +Normandy, the lord Louis, that was from thenceforth duke of Anjou, and +the lord John duke of Berry, and the lord Philip, who was after duke +of Burgoyne. The same season, pope Innocent the sixth sent the lord +Bertrand, cardinal of Perigord, and the lord Nicholas, cardinal of +Urgel, into France, to treat for a peace between the French king and +all his enemies, first between him and the king of Navarre, who was in +prison: and these cardinals oftentimes spake to the king for his +deliverance during the siege at Bretuel, but they could do nothing in +that behalf. Then the cardinal of Perigord went to Tours, and there he +heard how the French king hasted sore to find the Englishmen: then he +rode to Poitiers, for he heard how both the hosts drew thitherward. + + [1] 'En Touraine.' + +The French king heard how the prince hasted greatly to return, and the +king feared that he should scape him and so departed from Haye in +Touraine, and all his company, and rode to Chauvigny, where he tarried +that Thursday in the town and without along by the river of Creuse, +and the next day the king passed the river at the bridge there, +weening that the Englishmen had been before him, but they were not. +Howbeit they pursued after and passed the bridge that day more than +threescore thousand horses, and divers other passed at Chatelleraut, +and ever as they passed they took the way to Poitiers. + +On the other side the prince wist not truly where the Frenchmen were; +but they supposed that they were not far off, for they could not find +no more forage, whereby they had great fault in their host of victual, +and some of them repented that they had destroyed so much as they had +done before when they were in Berry, Anjou and Touraine, and in that +they had made no better provision. The same Friday three great lords +of France, the lord of Craon, the lord Raoul of Coucy and the earl of +Joigny, tarried all day in the town of Chauvigny, and part of their +companies. The Saturday they passed the bridge and followed the king, +who was then a three leagues before, and took the way among bushes +without a wood side to go to Poitiers. + +The same Saturday the prince and his company dislodged from a little +village thereby, and sent before him certain currours to see if they +might find any adventure and to hear where the Frenchmen were. They +were in number a threescore men of arms well horsed, and with them was +the lord Eustace d'Aubrecicourt and the lord John of Ghistelles, and +by adventure the Englishmen and Frenchmen met together by the foresaid +wood side. The Frenchmen knew anon how they were their enemies; then +in haste they did on their helmets and displayed their banners and +came a great pace towards the Englishmen: they were in number a two +hundred men of arms. When the Englishmen saw them, and that they were +so great a number, then they determined to fly and let the Frenchmen +chase them, for they knew well the prince with his host was not far +behind. Then they turned their horses and took the corner of the wood, +and the Frenchmen after them crying their cries and made great noise. +And as they chased, they came on the prince's battle or they were ware +thereof themselves; the prince tarried there to have word again from +them that he sent forth. The lord Raoul de Coucy with his banner went +so far forward that he was under the prince's banner: there was a sore +battle and the knight fought valiantly; howbeit he was there taken, +and the earl of Joigny, the viscount of Brosse, the lord of Chauvigny +and all the other taken or slain, but a few that scaped. And by the +prisoners the prince knew how the French king followed him in such +wise that he could not eschew the battle:[2] then he assembled +together all his men and commanded that no man should go before the +marshals' banners. Thus the prince rode that Saturday from the morning +till it was against night, so that he came within two little leagues +of Poitiers. Then the captal de Buch, sir Aymenion of Pommiers, the +lord Bartholomew of Burghersh and the lord Eustace d'Aubrecicourt, all +these the prince sent forth to see if they might know what the +Frenchmen did. These knights departed with two hundred men of arms +well horsed; they rode so far that they saw the great battle of the +king's, they saw all the fields covered with men of arms. These +Englishmen could not forbear, but set on the tail of the French host +and cast down many to the earth and took divers prisoners, so that the +host began to stir, and tidings thereof came to the French king as he +was entering into the city of Poitiers. Then he returned again and +made all his host do the same, so that Saturday it was very late or he +was lodged in the field. The English currours returned again to the +prince and shewed him all that they saw and knew, and said how the +French host was a great number of people. 'Well,' said the prince, 'in +the name of God let us now study how we shall fight with them at our +advantage.' That night the Englishmen lodged in a strong place among +hedges, vines and bushes, and their host well watched, and so was the +French host. + + [2] Or rather, 'that the French king had gone in front of them + (les avoit advancez) and that he could in no way depart without + being fought with.' + + + + +OF THE ORDER OF THE FRENCHMEN BEFORE THE BATTLE OF POITIERS + + +On the Sunday in the morning the French king, who had great desire to +fight with the Englishmen, heard his mass in his pavilion and was +houselled, and his four sons with him. After mass there came to him +the duke of Orleans, the duke of Bourbon, the earl of Ponthieu, the +lord Jaques of Bourbon,[1] the duke of Athens, constable of France, +the earl of Tancarville, the earl of Sarrebruck, the earl of +Dammartin, the earl of Ventadour, and divers other great barons of +France and of other neighbours holding of France, as the lord +Clermont, the lord Arnold d'Audrehem, marshal of France, the lord of +Saint-Venant, the lord John of Landas, the lord Eustace Ribemont, the +lord Fiennes, the lord Geoffrey of Charny, the lord Chatillon, the +lord of Sully, the lord of Nesle, sir Robert Duras and divers other; +all these with the king went to counsel. Then finally it was ordained +that all manner of men should draw into the field, and every lord to +display his banner and to set forth in the name of God and Saint +Denis: then trumpets blew up through the host and every man mounted on +horseback and went into the field, where they saw the king's banner +wave with the wind. There might a been seen great nobless of fair +harness and rich armoury of banners and pennons; for there was all the +flower of France, there was none durst abide at home without he would +be shamed for ever. Then it was ordained by the advice of the +constable and marshals to be made three battles, and in each ward +sixteen thousand men of arms all mustered and passed for men of arms. +The first battle the duke of Orleans to govern, with thirty-six +banners and twice as many pennons, the second the duke of Normandy and +his two brethren the lord Louis and the lord John, the third the king +himself: and while that these battles were setting in array, the king +called to him the lord Eustace Ribemont, the lord John of Landas and +the lord Richard of Beaujeu, and said to them; 'Sirs, ride on before +to see the dealing of the Englishmen and advise well what number they +be and by what means we may fight with them, other afoot or +a-horseback.' These three knights rode forth and the king was on a +white courser and said a-high to his men: 'Sirs, among you, when ye be +at Paris, at Chartres, at Rouen or at Orleans, then ye do threat the +Englishmen and desire to be in arms out against them. Now ye be come +thereto: I shall now shew you them: now shew forth your evil will that +ye bear them and revenge your displeasures and damages that they have +done you, for without doubt we shall fight with them.' Such as heard +him said: 'Sir, in God's name so be it; that would we see[2] gladly.' + + [1] That is, Jaques de Bourbon, earl of la Marche and Ponthieu. + + [2] 'Verrons': but a better reading is 'ferons,' 'that will we + do gladly.' + + +Therewith the three knights returned again to the king, who demanded +of them tidings. Then sir Eustace of Ribemont answered for all and +said: 'Sir, we have seen the Englishmen: by estimation they be two +thousand men of arms and four thousand archers and a fifteen hundred +of other. Howbeit they be in a strong place, and as far as we can +imagine they are in one battle; howbeit they be wisely ordered, and +along the way they have fortified strongly the hedges and bushes: one +part of their archers are along by the hedge, so that none can go nor +ride that way, but must pass by them, and that way must ye go an ye +purpose to fight with them. In this hedge there is but one entry and +one issue by likelihood that four horsemen may ride afront. At the end +of this hedge, whereas no man can go nor ride, there be men of arms +afoot and archers afore them in manner of a herse, so that they will +not be lightly discomfited,'[3] 'Well,' said the king, 'what will ye +then counsel us to do?' Sir Eustace said: 'Sir, let us all be afoot, +except three hundred men of arms, well horsed, of the best in your +host and most hardiest, to the intent they somewhat to break and to +open the archers, and then your battles to follow on quickly afoot and +so to fight with their men of arms hand to hand. This is the best +advice that I can give you: if any other think any other way better, +let him speak.' + + [3] The translation of this passage is unsatisfactory. It should + be: 'Howbeit they have ordered it wisely, and have taken post + along the road, which is fortified strongly with hedges and + thickets, and they have beset this hedge on one side (_or + according to another text_, on one side and on the other) with + their archers, so that one cannot enter nor ride along their road + except by them, and that way must he go who purposes to fight + with them. In this hedge there is but one entry and one issue, + where by likelihood four men of arms, as on the road, might ride + a-front. At the end of this hedge among vines and thorn-bushes, + where no man can go nor ride, are their men of arms all afoot, + and they have set in front of them their archers in manner of a + harrow, whom it would not be easy to discomfit. + +The king said: 'Thus shall it be done': then the two marshals rode +from battle to battle and chose out a three hundred knights and +squires of the most expert men of arms of all the host, every man well +armed and horsed. Also it was ordained that the battles of Almains +should abide still on horseback to comfort the marshals, if need were, +whereof the earl of Sarrebruck, the earl of Nidau and the earl of +Nassau were captains. King John of France was there armed, and twenty +other in his apparel; and he did put the guiding of his eldest son to +the lord of Saint-Venant, the lord of Landas and the lord Thibault of +Vaudenay; and the lord Arnold of Cervolles, called the archpriest,[4] +was armed in the armour of the young earl of Alençon. + + [4] Arnaud de Cervolles, one of the most celebrated adventurers + of the 14th century, called the archpriest because though a + layman he possessed the ecclesiastical fief of Vélines. + + + + +HOW THE CARDINAL OF PERIGORD TREATED TO MAKE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE +FRENCH KING AND THE PRINCE BEFORE THE BATTLE OF POITIERS + + +When the French king's battles was ordered and every lord under his +banner among their own men, then it was commanded that every man +should cut their spears to a five foot long and every man to put off +their spurs. Thus as they were ready to approach, the cardinal of +Perigord[1] came in great haste to the king. He came the same morning +from Poitiers; he kneeled down to the king and held up his hands and +desired him for God's sake a little to abstain setting forward till he +had spoken with him: then he said: 'Sir, ye have here all the flower +of your realm against a handful of Englishmen as to regard your +company,[2] and, sir, if ye may have them accorded to you without +battle, it shall be more profitable and honourable to have them by +that manner rather than to adventure so noble chivalry as ye have here +present. Sir, I require you in the name of God and humility that I may +ride to the prince and shew him what danger ye have him in,' The king +said: 'It pleaseth me well, but return again shortly.' The cardinal +departed and diligently he rode to the prince, who was among his men +afoot: then the cardinal alighted and came to the prince, who received +him courteously. Then the cardinal after his salutation made he said: +'Certainly, fair son, if you and your council advise justly the +puissance of the French king, ye will suffer me to treat to make a +peace between you, an I may,' The prince, who was young and lusty, +said: 'Sir, the honour of me and of my people saved, I would gladly +fall to any reasonable way.' Then the cardinal said: 'Sir, ye say +well, and I shall accord you, an I can; for it should be great pity if +so many noblemen and other as be here on both parties should come +together by battle,' Then the cardinal rode again to the king and +said: 'Sir, ye need not to make any great haste to fight with your +enemies, for they cannot fly from you though they would, they be in +such a ground: wherefore, sir, I require you forbear for this day till +tomorrow the sun-rising.' The king was loath to agree thereto, for +some of his council would not consent to it; but finally the cardinal +shewed such reasons, that the king accorded that respite: and in the +same place there was pight up a pavilion of red silk fresh and rich, +and gave leave for that day every man to draw to their lodgings except +the constable's and marshals' battles. + + [1] Talleyrand de Périgord. + + [2] The meaning is, 'Ye have here all the flower of your realm + against a handful of people, for so the Englishmen are as + compared with your company.' + +That Sunday all the day the cardinal travailed in riding from the one +host to the other gladly to agree them: but the French king would +not agree without he might have four of the principallest of the +Englishmen at his pleasure, and the prince and all the other to yield +themselves simply: howbeit there were many great offers made. The +prince offered to render into the king's hands all that ever he had +won in that voyage, towns and castles, and to quit all prisoners that +he or any of his men had taken in that season, and also to swear not +to be armed against the French king in seven year after; but the king +and his council would none thereof: the uttermost that he would do +was, that the prince and a hundred of his knights should yield +themselves into the king's prison; otherwise he would not: the which +the prince would in no wise agree unto. + +In the mean season that the cardinal rode thus between the hosts in +trust to do some good, certain knights of France and of England both +rode forth the same Sunday, because it was truce for that day, to +coast the hosts and to behold the dealing of their enemies. So it +fortuned that the lord John Chandos rode the same day coasting the +French host, and in like manner the lord of Clermont, one of the +French marshals, had ridden forth and aviewed the state of the English +host; and as these two knights returned towards their hosts, they met +together: each of them bare one manner of device, a blue lady +embroidered in a sunbeam above on their apparel. Then the lord +Clermont said: 'Chandos, how long have ye taken on you to bear my +device?' 'Nay, ye bear mine,' said Chandos, 'for it is as well mine as +yours.' 'I deny that,' said Clermont, 'but an it were not for the +truce this day between us, I should make it good on you incontinent +that ye have no right to bear my device.' 'Ah, sir,' said Chandos, 'ye +shall find me to-morrow ready to defend you and to prove by feat of +arms that it is as well mine as yours,' Then Clermont said: 'Chandos, +these be well the words of you Englishmen, for ye can devise nothing +of new, but all that ye see is good and fair.' So they departed +without any more doing, and each of them returned to their host. + +The cardinal of Perigord could in no wise that Sunday make any +agreement between the parties, and when it was near night he returned +to Poitiers. That night the Frenchmen took their ease; they had +provision enough, and the Englishmen had great default; they could get +no forage, nor they could not depart thence without danger of their +enemies. That Sunday the Englishmen made great dikes and hedges about +their archers, to be the more stronger; and on the Monday in the +morning the prince and his company were ready apparelled as they were +before, and about the sun-rising in like manner were the Frenchmen. +The same morning betimes the cardinal came again to the French host +and thought by his preaching to pacify the parties; but then the +Frenchmen said to him: 'Return whither ye will: bring hither no more +words of treaty nor peace: and ye love yourself depart shortly.' When +the cardinal saw that he travailed in vain, he took leave of the king +and then he went to the prince and said: 'Sir, do what ye can; there +is no remedy but to abide the battle, for I can find none accord in +the French king.' Then the prince said: 'The same is our intent and +all our people: God help the right!' So the cardinal returned to +Poitiers. In his company there were certain knights and squires, men +of arms, who were more favourable to the French king than to the +prince; and when they saw that the parties should fight, they stale +from their masters and went to the French host; and they made their +captain the chatelain of Amposte,[3] who was as then there with the +cardinal, who knew nothing thereof till he was come to Poitiers. + + [3] Amposta, a fortress in Catalonia. + +The certainty of the order of the Englishmen was shewed to the French +king, except they had ordained three hundred men a-horseback and as +many archers a-horseback to coast under covert of the mountain and to +strike into the battle of the duke of Normandy, who was under the +mountain afoot. This ordinance they had made of new, that the +Frenchmen knew not of. The prince was with his battle down among the +vines and had closed in the weakest part with their carnages. + +Now will I name some of the principal lords and knights that were +there with the prince: the earl of Warwick, the earl of Suffolk, the +earl of Salisbury, the earl of Oxford, the lord Raynold Cobham, the +lord Spencer, the lord James Audley, the lord Peter his brother, the +lord Berkeley, the lord Bassett, the lord Warin, the lord Delaware, +the lord Manne, the lord Willoughby, the lord Bartholomew de +Burghersh, the lord of Felton, the lord Richard of Pembroke, the lord +Stephen of Cosington, the lord Bradetane and other Englishmen; and of +Gascon there was the lord of Pommiers, the lord of Languiran, the +captal of Buch, the lord John of Caumont, the lord de Lesparre, the +lord of Rauzan, the lord of Condon, the lord of Montferrand, the lord +of Landiras, the lord soudic of Latrau and other that I cannot name; +and of Hainowes the lord Eustace d'Aubrecicourt, the lord John of +Ghistelles, and two other strangers, the lord Daniel Pasele and the +lord Denis of Morbeke: all the prince's company passed not an eight +thousand men one and other, and the Frenchmen were a sixty thousand +fighting men, whereof there were more than three thousand knights. + + + + +OF THE BATTLE OF POITIERS BETWEEN THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE FRENCH +KING + + +When the prince saw that he should have battle and that the cardinal +was gone without any peace or truce making, and saw that the French +king did set but little store by him, he said then to his men: 'Now, +sirs, though we be but a small company as in regard to the puissance +of our enemies, let us not be abashed therefor; for the victory lieth +not in the multitude of people, but whereas God will send it. If it +fortune that the journey be ours, we shall be the most honoured people +of all the world; and if we die in our right quarrel, I have the king +my father and brethren, and also ye have good friends and kinsmen; +these shall revenge us. Therefore, sirs, for God's sake I require you +do your devoirs this day; for if God be pleased and Saint George, this +day ye shall see me a good knight.' These words and such other that +the prince spake comforted all his people. The lord sir John Chandos +that day never went from the prince, nor also the lord James Audley of +a great season; but when he saw that they should needs fight, he said +to the prince: 'Sir, I have served always truly my lord your father +and you also, and shall do as long as I live. I say this because I +made once a vow that the first battle that other the king your father +or any of his children should be at, how that I would be one of the +first setters on,[1] or else to die in the pain: therefore I require +your grace, as in reward for any service that ever I did to the king +your father or to you, that you will give me licence to depart from +you and to set myself thereas I may accomplish my vow.' The prince +accorded to his desire and said, 'Sir James, God give you this day +that grace to be the best knight of all other,' and so took him by the +hand. Then the knight departed from the prince and went to the +foremost front of all the battles, all only accompanied with four +squires, who promised not to fail him. This lord James was a right +sage and a valiant knight, and by him was much of the host ordained +and governed the day before. Thus sir James was in front of the battle +ready to fight with the battle of the marshals of France. In like wise +the lord Eustace d'Aubrecicourt did his pain to be one of the foremost +to set on. When sir James Audley began to set forward to his enemies, +it fortuned to sir Eustace d'Aubrecicourt as ye shall hear after. Ye +have heard before how the Almains in the French host were appointed to +be still a-horseback. Sir Eustace being a-horseback laid his spear in +the rest and ran into the French battle, and then a knight of Almaine, +called the lord Louis of Recombes, who bare a shield silver, five +roses gules, and sir Eustace bare ermines, two branches of +gules[2],--when this Almain saw the lord Eustace come from his +company, he rode against him and they met so rudely, that both knights +fell to the earth. The Almain was hurt in the shoulder, therefore he +rose not so quickly as did sir Eustace, who when he was up and had +taken his breath, he came to the other knight as he lay on the ground; +but then five other knights of Almaine came on him all at once and +bare him to the earth, and so perforce there he was taken prisoner and +brought to the earl of Nassau, who as then took no heed of him; and I +cannot say whether they sware him prisoner or no, but they tied him to +a chare and there let him stand[3]. + + [1] The first setter-on and the best combatant. + + [2] That is, two hamedes gules on a field ermine. + + [3] They tied him on to a cart with their harness. + +Then the battle began on all parts, and the battles of the marshals of +France approached, and they set forth that were appointed to break the +array of the archers. They entered a-horseback into the way where the +great hedges were on both sides set full of archers. As soon as the +men of arms entered, the archers began to shoot on both sides and did +slay and hurt horses and knights, so that the horses when they felt +the sharp arrows they would in no wise go forward, but drew aback and +flang and took on so fiercely, that many of them fell on their +masters, so that for press they could not rise again; insomuch that +the marshals' battle could never come at the prince. Certain knights +and squires that were well horsed passed through the archers and +thought to approach to the prince, but they could not. The lord James +Audley with his four squires was in the front of that battle and there +did marvels in arms, and by great prowess he came and fought with sir +Arnold d'Audrehem under his own banner, and there they fought long +together and sir Arnold was there sore handled. The battle of the +marshals began to disorder by reason of the shot of the archers with +the aid of the men of arms, who came in among them and slew of them +and did what they list, and there was the lord Arnold d'Audrehem taken +prisoner by other men than by sir James Audley or by his four squires; +for that day he never took prisoner, but always fought and went on his +enemies. + +Also on the French party the lord John Clermont fought under his own +banner as long as he could endure: but there he was beaten down and +could not be relieved nor ransomed, but was slain without mercy: some +said it was because of the words that he had the day before to sir +John Chandos. So within a short space the marshals' battles were +discomfited, for they fell one upon another and could not go forth;[4] +and the Frenchmen that were behind and could not get forward reculed +back and came on the battle of the duke of Normandy, the which was +great and thick and were afoot, but anon they began to open behind;[5] +for when they knew that the marshals' battle was discomfited, they +took their horses and departed, he that might best. Also they saw a +rout of Englishmen coming down a little mountain a-horseback, and many +archers with them, who brake in on the side of the duke's battle. True +to say, the archers did their company that day great advantage; for +they shot so thick that the Frenchmen wist not on what side to take +heed, and little and little the Englishmen won ground on them. + + [4] 'Ne posient aler avant.' + + [5] 'Which was great and thick in front (pardevant), but anon + it became open and thin behind.' + +And when the men of arms of England saw that the marshals' battle was +discomfited and that the duke's battle began to disorder and open, +they leapt then on their horses, the which they had ready by them: +then they assembled together and cried, 'Saint George! Guyenne!' and +the lord Chandos said to the prince: 'Sir, take your horse and ride +forth; this journey is yours: God is this day in your hands: get us to +the French king's battle, for their lieth all the sore of the matter. +I think verily by his valiantness he will not fly: I trust we shall +have him by the grace of God and Saint George, so he be well fought +withal: and, sir, I heard you say that this day I should see you a +good knight.' The prince said, 'Let us go forth; ye shall not see me +this day return back,' and said, 'Advance, banner, in the name of God +and of Saint George,' The knight that bare it did his commandment: +there was then a sore battle and a perilous, and many a man +overthrown, and he that was once down could not be relieved again +without great succour and aid. As the prince rode and entered in among +his enemies, he saw on his right hand in a little bush lying dead the +lord Robert of Duras and his banner by him,[6] and a ten or twelve of +his men about him. Then the prince said to two of his squires and to +three archers: 'Sirs, take the body of this knight on a targe and bear +him to Poitiers, and present him from me to the cardinal of Perigord, +and say how I salute him by that token.' And this was done. The prince +was informed that the cardinal's men were on the field against him, +the which was not pertaining to the right order of arms, for men of +the church that cometh and goeth for treaty of peace ought not by +reason to bear harness nor to fight for neither of the parties; they +ought to be indifferent: and because these men had done so, the prince +was displeased with the cardinal, and therefore he sent unto him his +nephew the lord Robert of Duras dead: and the chatelain of Amposte was +taken, and the prince would have had his head stricken off, because he +was pertaining to the cardinal, but then the lord Chandos said: 'Sir, +suffer for a season: intend to a greater matter: and peradventure the +cardinal will make such excuse that ye shall be content.' + + [6] The original adds, 'qui estoit de France au sentoir (sautoir) + de gueulles.' + +Then the prince and his company dressed them on the battle of the duke +of Athens, constable of France. There was many a man slain and cast to +the earth. As the Frenchmen fought in companies, they cried, +'Mountjoy! Saint Denis!' and the Englishmen, 'Saint George! Guyenne!' +Anon the prince with his company met with the battle of Almains, +whereof the earl of Sarrebruck, the earl Nassau and the earl Nidau +were captains, but in a short space they were put to flight: the +archers shot so wholly together that none durst come in their dangers: +they slew many a man that could not come to no ransom: these three +earls was there slain, and divers other knights and squires of their +company, and there was the lord d'Aubrecieourt rescued, by his own men +and set on horseback, and after he did that day many feats of arms and +took good prisoners. When the duke of Normandy's battle saw the prince +approach, they thought to save themselves, and so the duke and the +king's children, the earl of Poitiers and the earl of Touraine, who +were right young, believed their governours and so departed from the +field, and with them more than eight hundred spears, that strake no +stroke that day. Howbeit the lord Guichard d'Angle and the lord John +of Saintré, who were with the earl of Poitiers, would not fly, but +entered into the thickest press of the battle. The king's three sons +took the way to Chauvigny, and the lord John of Landas and the lord +Thibauld of Vaudenay, who were set to await on the duke of Normandy, +when they had brought the duke a long league from the battle, then +they took leave of the duke and desired the lord of Saint-Venant that +he should not leave the duke, but to bring him in safeguard, whereby +he should win more thank of the king than to abide still in the field. +Then they met also the duke of Orleans and a great company with him, +who were also departed from the field with clear hands: there were +many good knights and squires, though that their masters departed from +the field, yet they had rather a died than to have had any reproach. + +Then the king's battle came on the Englishmen: there was a sore fight +and many a great stroke given and received. The king and his youngest +son met with the battle of the English marshals, the earl of Warwick +and the earl of Suffolk, and with them of Gascons the captal of Buch, +the lord of Pommiers, the lord Amery of Tastes, the lord of Mussidan, +the lord of Languiran and the lord de Latrau. To the French party +there came time enough the lord John of Landas and the lord of +Vaudenay; they alighted afoot and went into the king's battle, and a +little beside fought the duke of Athens, constable of France, and a +little above him the duke of Bourbon and many good knights of +Bourbonnais and of Picardy with him, and a little on the one side +there were the Poitevins, the lord de Pons, the lord of Partenay, the +lord of Dammartin, the lord of Tannay-Bouton, the lord of Surgieres, +the lord John Saintré, the lord Guichard d'Angle, the lord Argenton, +the lord of Linieres, the lord of Montendre and divers other, also the +viscount of Rochechouart and the earl of Aunay;[7] and of Burgoyne the +lord James of Beaujeu, the lord de Chateau-Vilain and other: in +another part there was the earl of Ventadour and of Montpensier, the +lord James of Bourbon, the lord John d'Artois and also the lord James +his brother, the lord Arnold of Cervolles, called the archpriest, +armed for the young earl of Alençon; and of Auvergne there was the +lord of Mercoeur, the lord de la Tour, the lord of Chalençon, the lord +of Montaigu, the lord of Rochfort, the lord d'Acier, the lord d'Acon; +and of Limousin there was the lord de Melval, the lord of Mareuil, the +lord of Pierrebuffiere; and of Picardy there was the lord William of +Nesle, the lord Arnold of Rayneval, the lord Geoffrey of Saint-Dizier, +the lord of Chauny, the lord of Helly, the lord of Montsault, the lord +of Hangest and divers other: and also in the king's battle there was +the earl Douglas of Scotland, who fought a season right valiantly, but +when he saw the discomfiture, he departed and saved himself; for in no +wise he would be taken of the Englishmen, he had rather been there +slain. On the English part the lord James Audley with the aid of his +four squires fought always in the chief of the battle: he was sore +hurt in the body and in the visage: as long as his breath served him +he fought; at last at the end of the battle his four squires took and +brought him out of the field and laid him under a hedge side for to +refresh him; and they unarmed him and bound up his wounds as well as +they could. On the French party king John was that day a full right +good knight: if the fourth part of his men had done their devoirs as +well as he did, the journey had been his by all likelihood. Howbeit +they were all slain and taken that were there, except a few that saved +themselves, that were with the king.[8] There was slain the duke Peter +of Bourbon, the lord Guichard of Beaujeu, the lord of Landas, and the +duke of Athens, constable of France, the bishop of Chalons in +Champagne, the lord William of Nesle, the lord Eustace of Ribemont, +the lord de la Tour, the lord William of Montaigu, sir Grismouton of +Chambly, sir Baudrin de la Heuse, and many other, as they fought by +companies; and there were taken prisoners the lord of Vaudenay, the +lord of Pompadour, and the archpriest, sore hurt, the earl of +Vaudimont, the earl of Mons, the earl of Joinville, the earl of +Vendome, sir Louis of Melval, the lord Pierrebuffiere and the lord of +Serignac: there were at that brunt, slain and taken more than two +hundred knights.[9] + + [7] Le conte d'Aulnoy,' but it should be 'visconte.' + + [8] 'Howbeit they that stayed acquitted them as well as they + might, so that they were all slain or taken. Few escaped of those + that set themselves with the king': or according to the fuller + text: 'Few escaped of those that alighted down on the sand by the + side of the king their lord.' + + [9] The translator has chosen to rearrange the above list of + killed, wounded or taken, which the French text gives in order + as they fought, saying that in one part there fell the duke of + Bourbon, sir Guichard of Beaujeu and sir John on Landas, and + there were severely wounded or taken the arch-priest, sir Thibaud + of Vodenay and sir Baudouin, d'Annequin; in another there were + slain the duke of Athens and the bishop of Chalons, and taken the + earl of Vaudemont and Joinville and the earl of Vendome: a little + above this there were slain sir William de Nesle, sir Eustace de + Ribemont and others, and taken sir Louis de Melval, the lord of + Pierrebuffière and the lord of Seregnach. + + + + +OF TWO FRENCHMEN THAT FLED FROM THE BATTLE OF POITIERS AND TWO +ENGLISHMEN THAT FOLLOWED THEM + + +Among the battles, recounterings, chases and pursuits that were made +that day in the field, it fortuned so to sir Oudart of Renty that when +he departed from the field because he saw the field was lost without +recovery, he thought not to abide the danger of the Englishmen; +wherefore he fled all alone and was gone out of the field a league, +and an English knight pursued him and ever cried to him and said, +'Return again, sir knight, it is a shame to fly away thus.' Then the +knight turned, and the English knight thought to have stricken him +with his spear in the targe, but he failed, for sir Oudart swerved +aside from the stroke, but he failed not the English knight, for he +strake him such a stroke on the helm with his sword, that he was +astonied and fell from his horse to the earth and lay still. Then sir +Oudart alighted and came to him or he could rise, and said, 'Yield +you, rescue or no rescue, or else I shall slay you.' The Englishman +yielded and went with him, and afterward was ransomed. Also it +fortuned that another squire of Picardy called John de Hellenes was +fled from the battle and met with his page, who delivered him a new +fresh horse, whereon he rode away alone. The same season there was in +the field the lord Berkeley of England, a young lusty knight, who the +same day reared his banner, and he all alone pursued the said John of +Hellenes. And when he had followed the space of a league, the said +John turned again and laid his sword in the rest instead of a spear, +and so came running toward the lord Berkeley, who lift up his sword to +have stricken the squire; but when he saw the stroke come, he turned +from it, so that the Englishman lost his stroke and John strake him as +he passed on the arm, that the lord Berkeley's sword fell into the +field. When he saw his sword down, he lighted suddenly off his horse +and came to the place where his sword lay, and as he stooped down to +take up his sword, the French squire did pike his sword at him, and by +hap strake him through both the thighs, so that the knight fell to the +earth and could not help himself. And John alighted off his horse and +took the knight's sword that lay on the ground, and came to him and +demanded if he would yield him or not. The knight then demanded his +name. 'Sir,' said he, 'I hight John of Hellenes; but what is your +name?' 'Certainly,' said the knight, 'my name is Thomas and am lord of +Berkeley, a fair castle on the river of Severn in the marches of +Wales.' 'Well, sir,' quoth the squire, 'then ye shall be my prisoner, +and I shall bring you in safe-guard and I shall see that you shall be +healed of your hurt.' 'Well,' said the knight, 'I am content to be +your prisoner, for ye have by law of arms won me.' There he sware to +be his prisoner, rescue or no rescue. Then the squire drew forth the +sword out of the knight's thighs and the wound was open: then he +wrapped and bound the wound and set him on his horse and so brought +him fair and easily to Chatelleraut, and there tarried more than +fifteen days for his sake and did get him remedy for his hurt: and +when he was somewhat amended, then he gat him a litter and so brought +him at his ease to his house in Picardy. There he was more than a year +till he was perfectly whole; and when he departed he paid for his +ransom six thousand nobles, and so this squire was made a knight by +reason of the profit that he had of the lord Berkeley. + + + + +HOW KING JOHN WAS TAKEN PRISONER AT THE BATTLE OF POITIERS + + +Oftentimes the adventures of amours and of war are more fortunate and +marvellous than any man can think or wish. Truly this battle, the +which was near to Poitiers in the fields of Beauvoir and Maupertuis, +was right great and perilous, and many deeds of arms there was done +the which all came not to knowledge. The fighters on both sides +endured much pain: king John with his own hands did that day marvels +in arms: he had an axe in his hands wherewith he defended himself and +fought in the breaking of the press. Near to the king there was taken +the earl of Tancarville, sir Jaques of Bourbon earl of Ponthieu, and +the lord John of Artois earl of Eu, and a little above that under the +banner of the capital of Buch was taken sir Charles of Artois and +divers other knights and squires. The chase endured to the gates of +Poitiers: there were many slain and beaten down, horse and man, for +they of Poitiers closed their gates and would suffer none to enter; +wherefore in the street before the gate was horrible murder, men hurt +and beaten down. The Frenchmen yielded themselves as far off as they +might know an Englishman: there were divers English archers that had +four, five or six prisoners: the lord of Pons, a great baron of +Poitou, was there slain, and many other knights and squires; and there +was taken the earl of Rochechouart, the lord of Dammartin, the lord of +Partenay, and of Saintonge the lord of Montendre and the lord John of +Saintré, but he was so sore hurt that he had never health after: he +was reputed for one of the best knights in France. And there was left +for dead among other dead men the lord Guichard d'Angle, who fought +that day by the king right valiantly, and so did the lord of Charny, +on whom was great press, because he bare the sovereign banner of the +king's: his own banner was also in the field, the which was of gules, +three scutcheons silver. So many Englishmen and Gascons come to that +part, that perforce they opened the king's battle, so that the +Frenchmen were so mingled among their enemies that sometime there was +five men upon one gentleman. There was taken the lord of Pompadour +and[1] the lord Bartholomew de Burghersh, and there was slain sir +Geoffrey of Charny with the king's banner in his hands: also the lord +Raynold Cobham slew the earl of Dammartin. Then there was a great +press to take the king, and such as knew him cried, 'Sir, yield you, +or else ye are but dead.' There was a knight of Saint-Omer's, retained +in wages with the king of England, called sir Denis Morbeke, who had +served the Englishmen five year before, because in his youth he had +forfeited the realm of France for a murder that he did at +Saint-Omer's. It happened so well for him, that he was next to the +king when they were about to take him: he stept forth into the press, +and by strength of his body and arms he came to the French king and +said in good French, 'Sir, yield you,' The king beheld the knight and +said: 'To whom shall I yield me? Where is my cousin the prince of +Wales? If I might see him, I would speak with him.' Denis answered and +said: 'Sir, he is not here; but yield you to me and I shall bring you +to him. 'Who be you?' quoth the king. 'Sir,' quoth he, 'I am Denis of +Morbeke, a knight of Artois; but I serve the king of England because I +am banished the realm of France and I have forfeited all that I had +there,' Then the king gave him his right gauntlet, saying, 'I yield me +to you,' There was a great press about the king, for every man +enforced him to say,[2] 'I have taken him,' so that the king could not +go forward with his young son the lord Philip with him because of the +press. + + [1] This 'and' should be 'by,' but the French text is responsible + for the mistake. + + [2] 'S'efforçoit de dire.' + +The prince of Wales, who was courageous and cruel as a lion, took that +day great pleasure to fight and to chase his enemies. The lord John +Chandos, who was with him, of all that day never left him nor never +took heed of taking of any prisoner: then at the end of the battle he +said to the prince: 'Sir, it were good that you rested here and set +your banner a-high in this bush, that your people may draw hither, for +they be sore spread abroad, nor I can see no more banners nor pennons +of the French party; wherefore, sir, rest and refresh you, for ye be +sore chafed.' Then the prince's banner was set up a-high on a bush, +and trumpets and clarions began to sown. Then the prince did off his +bassenet, and the knights for his body and they of his chamber were +ready about him, and a red pavilion pight up, and then drink was +brought forth to the prince and for such lords as were about him, the +which still increased as they came from the chase: there they tarried +and their prisoners with them. And when the two marshals were come to +the prince, he demanded of them if they knew any tiding of the French +king. They answered and said: 'Sir, we hear none of certainty, but we +think verily he is other dead or taken, for he is not gone out of the +battles.' Then the prince said to the earl of Warwick and to sir +Raynold Cobham: 'Sirs, I require you go forth and see what ye can +know, that at your return ye may shew me the truth.' These two lords +took their horses and departed from the prince and rode up a little +hill to look about them: then they perceived a flock of men of arms +coming together right wearily:[3] there was the French king afoot in +great peril, for Englishmen and Gascons were his masters; they had +taken him from sir Denis Morbeke perforce, and such as were most of +force said, 'I have taken him,' 'Nay,' quoth another, 'I have taken +him': so they strave which should have him. Then the French king, to +eschew that peril, said: 'Sirs, strive not: lead me courteously, and +my son, to my cousin the prince, and strive not for my taking, for I +am so great a lord to make you all rich.' The king's words somewhat +appeased them; howbeit ever as they went they made riot and brawled +for the taking of the king. When the two foresaid lords saw and heard +that noise and strife among them, they came to them and said: 'Sirs, +what is the matter that ye strive for?' 'Sirs,' said one of them, 'it +is for the French king, who is here taken prisoner, and there be more +than ten knights and squires that challenged the taking of him and of +his son.' Then the two lords entered into the press and caused every +man to draw aback, and commanded them in the prince's name on pain of +their heads to make no more noise nor to approach the king no nearer, +without they were commanded. Then every man gave room to the lords, +and they alighted and did their reverence to the king, and so brought +him and his son in peace and rest to the prince of Wales. + + [3] 'Lentement.' + + + + +OF THE GIFT THAT THE PRINCE GAVE TO THE LORD AUDLEY AFTER THE BATTLE +OF POITIERS + + +As soon as the earl of Warwick and the lord Cobham were departed from +the prince, as ye have heard before, then the prince demanded of the +knights that were about him for the lord Audley, if any knew anything +of him. Some knights that were there answered and said: 'Sir, he is +sore hurt and lieth in a litter here beside.' 'By my faith,' said the +prince, 'of his hurts I am right sorry: go and know if he may be +brought hither, or else I will go and see him thereas he is.' Then two +knights came to the lord Audley and said: 'Sir, the prince desireth +greatly to see you, other ye must go to him or else he will come to +you.' 'Ah, sir,' said the knight, 'I thank the prince when he thinketh +on so poor a knight as I am.' Then he called eight of his servants and +caused them to bear him in his litter to the place whereas the prince +was. Then the prince took him in his arms and kissed him and made him +great cheer and said: 'Sir James, I ought greatly to honour you, for +by your valiance ye have this day achieved the grace and renown of us +all, and ye are reputed for the most valiant of all other,' 'Ah, sir,' +said the knight, 'ye say as it pleaseth you: I would it were so: and +if I have this day anything advanced myself to serve you and to +accomplish the vow that I made, it ought not to be reputed to me any +prowess.' 'Sir James,' said the prince, 'I and all ours take you in +this journey for the best doer in arms, and to the intent to furnish +you the better to pursue the wars, I retain you for ever to be my +knight with five hundred marks of yearly revenues, the which I shall +assign you on mine heritage in England.' 'Sir,' said the knight, 'God +grant me to deserve the great goodness that ye shew me': and so he +took his leave of the prince, for he was right feeble, and so his +servants brought him to his lodging. And as soon as he was gone, the +earl of Warwick and the lord Cobham returned to the prince and +presented to him the French king. The prince made lowly reverence to +the king and caused wine and spices to be brought forth, and himself +served the king in sign of great love. + + + + +HOW THE ENGLISHMEN WON GREATLY AT THE BATTLE OF POITIERS + + +Thus this battle was discomfited, as ye have heard, the which was in +the fields of Maupertuis a two leagues from Poitiers the twenty-second +day of September the year of our Lord MCCCLVI. It begun in the +morning[1] and ended at noon, but as then all the Englishmen were not +returned from the chase; therefore the prince's banner stood on a bush +to draw all his men together, but it was well nigh night or all came +from the chase. And as it was reported, there was slain all the flower +of France, and there was taken with the king and the lord Philip his +son a seventeen earls, beside barons, knights and squires, and slain a +five or six thousand of one and other. When every man was come from +the chase, they had twice as many prisoners as they were in number in +all. Then it was counselled among them because of the great charge and +doubt to keep so many, that they should put many of them to ransom +incontinent in the field, and so they did: and the prisoners found the +Englishmen and Gascons right courteous; there were many that day put +to ransom and let go all only on their promise of faith and truth to +return again between that and Christmas to Bordeaux with their +ransoms. Then that night they lay in the field beside whereas the +battle had been: some unarmed them, but not all, and unarmed all their +prisoners, and every man made good cheer to his prisoner; for that day +whosoever took any prisoner, he was clear his and might quit or ransom +him at his pleasure. All such as were there with the prince were all +made rich with honour and goods, as well by ransoming of prisoners as +by winning of gold, silver, plate, jewels, that was there found: there +was no man that did set anything by rich harness, whereof there was +great plenty, for the Frenchmen came thither richly beseen, weening to +have had the journey for them. + + [1] 'Environ heure de prime.' + + + + +HOW THE LORD JAMES AUDLEY GAVE TO HIS FOUR SQUIRES THE FIVE HUNDRED +MARKS OF REVENUES THAT THE PRINCE HAD GIVEN HIM + + +When sir James Audley was brought to his lodging, then he sent for sir +Peter Audley his brother and for the lord Bartholomew of Burghersh, +the lord Stephen of Cosington, the lord of Willoughby and the lord +Ralph Ferrers, all these were of his lineage, and then he called +before him his four squires, that had served him that day well and +truly. Then he said to the said lords: 'Sirs, it hath pleased my lord +the prince to give me five hundred marks of revenues by year in +heritage, for the which gift I have done him but small service with my +body. Sirs, behold here these four squires, who hath always served me +truly and specially this day: that honour that I have is by their +valiantness. Wherefore I will reward them: I give and resign into +their hands the gift that my lord the prince hath given me of five +hundred marks of yearly revenues, to them and to their heirs for ever, +in like manner as it was given me. I clearly disherit me thereof and +inherit them without any repeal[1] or condition. The lords and other +that ere there, every man beheld other and said among themselves: It +cometh of a great nobleness to give this gift.' They answered him with +one voice: 'Sir, be it as God will; we shall bear witness in this +behalf wheresoever we be come.' Then they departed from him, and some +of them went to the prince, who the same night would make a supper to +the French king and to the prisoners, for they had enough to do +withal, of that the Frenchmen brought with them,[2] for the Englishmen +wanted victual before, for some in three days had no bread before. + + [1] 'Rappel,' i.e. power of recalling the gift. The word + 'repeal' is a correction of 'rebel.' + + [2] 'Who was to give the king of France a supper of his own + provisions; for the French had brought great abundance with + them, and provisions had failed among the English,' etc. + + + + +HOW THE PRINCE MADE A SUPPER TO THE FRENCH KING THE SAME DAY OF THE +BATTLE + + +The same day of the battle at night the prince made a supper in his +lodging to the French king and to the most part of the great lords +that were prisoners. The prince made the king and his son, the lord +James of Bourbon, the lord John d'Artois, the earl of Tancarville, the +earl of Estampes, the earl Dammartin, the earl of Joinville and the +lord of Partenay to sit all at one board, and other lords, knights and +squires at other tables; and always the prince served before the king +as humbly as he could, and would not sit at the king's board for any +desire that the king could make, but he said he was not sufficient to +sit at the table with so great a prince as the king was. But then he +said to the king: 'Sir, for God's sake make none evil nor heavy cheer, +though God this day did not consent to follow your will; for, sir, +surely the king my father shall bear you as much honour and amity as +he may do, and shall accord with you so reasonably that ye shall ever +be friends together after. And, sir, methinks ye ought to rejoice, +though the journey be not as ye would have had it, for this day ye +have won the high renown of prowess and have passed this day in +valiantness all other of your party. Sir, I say not this to mock you, +for all that be on our party, that saw every man's deeds, are plainly +accorded by true sentence to give you the prize and chaplet.' +Therewith the Frenchmen began to murmur and said among themselves how +the prince had spoken nobly, and that by all estimation he should +prove a noble man, if God send him life and to persevere in such good +fortune. + + + + +HOW THE PRINCE RETURNED TO BORDEAUX AFTER THE BATTLE OF POITIERS + + +When supper was done, every man went to his lodging with their +prisoners. The same night they put many to ransom and believed them on +their faiths and troths, and ransomed them but easily, for they said +they would set no knight's ransom so high, but that he might pay at +his ease and maintain still his degree. The next day, when they had +heard mass and taken some repast and that everything was trussed and +ready, then they took their horses and rode towards Poitiers. The same +night there was come to Poitiers the lord of Roye with a hundred +spears: he was not at the battle, but he met the duke of Normandy near +to Chauvigny, and the duke sent him to Poitiers to keep the town till +they heard other tidings. When the lord of Roye knew that the +Englishmen were so near coming to the city, he caused every man to be +armed and every man to go to his defence to the walls, towers and +gates; and the Englishmen passed by without any approaching, for they +were so laded with gold, silver and prisoners, that in their returning +they assaulted no fortress; they thought it a great deed if they might +bring the French king, with their other prisoners and riches that they +had won, in safeguard to Bordeaux. They rode but small journeys +because of their prisoners and great carriages that they had: they +rode in a day no more but four or five leagues and lodged ever +betimes, and rode close together in good array saving the marshals' +battles, who rode ever before with five hundred men of arms to open +the passages as the prince should pass; but they found no encounters, +for all the country was so frayed that every man drew to the +fortresses. + +As the prince rode, it was shewed him how the lord Audley had given to +his four squires the gift of the five hundred marks that he had given +unto him: then the prince sent for him and he was brought in his +litter to the prince, who received him courteously and said: 'Sir +James, we have knowledge that the revenues that we gave you, as soon +as ye came to your lodging, you gave the same to four squires: we +would know why ye did so, and whether the gift was agreeable to you or +not.' 'Sir,' said the knight, 'it is of truth I have given it to them, +and I shall shew you why I did so. These four squires that be here +present have a long season served me well and truly in many great +businesses and, sir, in this last battle they served me in such wise +that an they had never done nothing else I was bound to reward them, +and before the same day they had never nothing of me in reward. Sir, I +am but a man alone: but by the aid and comfort of them I took on me to +accomplish my vow long before made. I had been dead in the battle an +they had not been: wherefore, sir, when I considered the love that +they bare unto me, I had not been courteous if I would not a rewarded +them. I thank God I have had and shall have enough as long as I live: +I will never be abashed for lack of good. Sir, if I have done this +without your pleasure, I require you to pardon me, for, sir, both I +and my squires shall serve you as well as ever we did.' Then the +prince said: 'Sir James, for anything that ye have done I cannot blame +you, but can you good thank therefor; and for the valiantness of these +squires, whom ye praise so much, I accord to them your gift, and I +will render again to you six hundred marks in like manner as ye had +the other.' + +Thus the prince and his company did so much that they passed through +Poitou and Saintonge without damage and came to Blaye, and there +passed the river of Gironde and arrived in the good city of Bordeaux. +It cannot be recorded the great feast and cheer that they of the city +with the clergy made to the prince, and how honourably they were there +received. The prince brought the French king into the abbey of Saint +Andrew's, and there they lodged both, the king in one part and the +prince in the other. The prince bought of the lords, knights and +squires of Gascoyne the most part of the earls of the realm of France, +such as were prisoners, and paid ready money for them. There was +divers questions and challenges made between the knights and squires +of Gascoyne for taking of the French king; howbeit Denis Morbeke by +right of arms and by true tokens that he shewed challenged him for his +prisoner. Another squire of Gascoyne called Bernard of Truttes said +how he had right to him: there was much ado and many words before the +prince and other lords that were there, and because these two +challenged each other to fight in that quarrel, the prince caused the +matter to rest till they came in England and that no declaration +should be made but afore the king of England his father; but because +the French king himself aided to sustain the challenge of Denis +Morbeke, for he inclined more to him than to any other, the prince +therefore privily caused to be delivered to the said sir Denis two +thousand nobles to maintain withal his estate. + +Anon after the prince came to Bordeaux, the cardinal of Perigord came +thither, who was sent from the pope in legation, as it was said. He +was there more than fifteen days or the prince would speak with him +because of the chatelain of Amposte and his men, who were against him +in the battle of Poitiers. The prince believed that the cardinal sent +them thither, but the cardinal did so much by the means of the lord of +Caumont, the lord of Montferrand and the captal of Buch, who were his +cousins, they shewed so good reasons to the prince, that he was +content to hear him speak. And when he was before the prince, he +excused himself so sagely that the prince and his council held him +excused, and so he fell again into the prince's love and redeemed out +his men by reasonable ransoms; and the chatelain was set to his ransom +of ten thousand franks, the which he paid after. Then the cardinal +began to treat on the deliverance of the French king, but I pass it +briefly because nothing was done. Thus the prince, the Gascons and +Englishmen tarried still at Bordeaux till it was Lent in great mirth +and revel, and spent foolishly the gold and silver that they had won. +In England also there was great joy when they heard tidings of the +battle of Poitiers, of the discomfiting of the Frenchmen and taking of +the king: great solemnities were made in all churches and great fires +and wakes throughout all England. The knights and squires, such as +were come home from that journey, were much made of and praised more +than other. + + + + +WAT TYLER'S REBELLION + +HOW THE COMMONS OF ENGLAND REBELLED AGAINST THE NOBLEMEN + + +In the mean season while this treaty was, there fell in England great +mischief and rebellion of moving of the common people, by which deed +England was at a point to have been lost without recovery. There was +never realm nor country in so great adventure as it was in that time, +and all because of the ease and riches that the common people were of, +which moved them to this rebellion, as sometime they did in France, +the which did much hurt, for by such incidents the realm of France +hath been greatly grieved. + +It was a marvellous thing and of poor foundation that this mischief +began in England, and to give ensample to all manner of people I will +speak hereof as it was done, as I was informed, and of the incidents +thereof. There was an usage in England, and yet is in divers +countries, that the noblemen hath great franchise over the commons and +keepeth them in servage, that is to say, their tenants ought by custom +to labour the lords' lands, to gather and bring home their corns, and +some to thresh and to fan, and by servage to make their hay and to hew +their wood and bring it home. All these things they ought to do by +servage, and there be more of these people in England than in any +other realm. Thus the noblemen and prelates are served by them, and +especially in the county of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Bedford. These +unhappy people of these said countries began to stir, because they +said they were kept in great servage, and in the beginning of the +world, they said, there were no bondmen, wherefore they maintained +that none ought to be bond, without he did treason to his lord, as +Lucifer did to God; but they said they could have no such battle,[1] +for they were neither angels nor spirits, but men formed to the +similitude of their lords, saying why should they then be kept so +under like beasts; the which they said they would no longer suffer, +for they would be all one, and if they laboured or did anything for +their lords, they would have wages therefor as well as other. And of +this imagination was a foolish priest in the country of Kent called +John Ball, for the which foolish words he had been three times in the +bishop of Canterbury's prison: for this priest used oftentimes on the +Sundays after mass, when the people were going out of the minster, to +go into the cloister and preach, and made the people to assemble about +him, and would say thus: 'Ah, ye good people, the matters goeth not +well to pass in England, nor shall not do till everything be common, +and that there be no villains nor gentlemen, but that we may be all +united together, and that the lords be no greater masters than we be. +What have we deserved, or why should we be kept thus in servage? We be +all come from one father and one mother, Adam and Eve: whereby can +they say or shew that they be greater lords than we be, saving by that +they cause us to win and labour for that they dispend? They are +clothed in velvet and camlet furred with grise, and we be vestured +with poor cloth: they have their wines, spices and good bread, and we +have the drawing out of the chaff[2] and drink water; they dwell in +fair houses, and we have the pain and travail, rain and wind in the +fields; and by that that cometh of our labours they keep and maintain +their estates: we be called their bondmen, and without we do readily +them service, we be beaten; and we have no sovereign to whom we may +complain, nor that will hear us nor do us right. Let us go to the +king, he is young, and shew him what servage we be in, and shew him +how we will have it otherwise, or else we will provide us of some +remedy; and if we go together, all manner of people that be now in any +bondage will follow us to the intent to be made free; and when the +king seeth us, we shall have some remedy, either by fairness or +otherwise.' Thus John Ball said on Sundays, when the people issued out +of the churches in the villages; wherefore many of the mean people +loved him, and such as intended to no goodness said how he said truth; +and so they would murmur one with another in the fields and in the +ways as they went together, affirming how John Ball said truth. + + [1] The true text is, 'Mais ils n'avoient pas cette taille,' + 'but they were not of that nature.' The translator found the + corruption 'bataille' for 'taille.' + + [2] Froissart says 'le seigle, le retrait et la paille,' 'the + rye, the bran and the straw.' The translator's French text had + 'le seigle, le retraict de la paille.' + +The archbishop of Canterbury, who was informed of the saying of this +John Ball, caused him to be taken and put in prison a two or three +months to chastise him: howbeit, it had been much better at the +beginning that he had been condemned to perpetual prison or else to +have died, rather than to have suffered him to have been again +delivered out of prison; but the bishop had conscience to let him die. +And when this John Ball was out of prison, he returned again to his +error, as he did before. + +Of his words and deeds there were much people in London informed, such +as had great envy at them that were rich and such as were noble; and +then they began to speak among them and said how the realm of England +was right evil governed, and how that gold and silver was taken from +them by them that were named noblemen: so thus these unhappy men of +London began to rebel and assembled them together, and sent word to +the foresaid countries that they should come to London and bring their +people with them, promising them how they should find London open to +receive them and the commons of the city to be of the same accord, +saying how they would do so much to the king that there should not be +one bondman in all England. + +This promise moved so them of Kent, of Essex, of Sussex, of Bedford +and of the countries about, that they rose and came towards London to +the number of sixty thousand. And they had a captain called Water +Tyler, and with him in company was Jack Straw and John Ball: these +three were chief sovereign captains, but the head of all was Water +Tyler, and he was indeed a tiler of houses, an ungracious patron. When +these unhappy men began thus to stir, they of London, except such as +were of their band, were greatly affrayed. Then the mayor of London +and the rich men of the city took counsel together, and when they saw +the people thus coming on every side, they caused the gates of the +city to be closed and would suffer no man to enter into the city. But +when they had well imagined, they advised not so to do, for they +thought they should thereby put their suburbs in great peril to be +brent; and so they opened again the city, and there entered in at the +gates in some place a hundred, two hundred, by twenty and by thirty, +and so when they came to London, they entered and lodged: and yet of +truth the third part[3] of these people could not tell what to ask or +demand, but followed each other like beasts, as the shepherds[4] did +of old time, saying how they would go conquer the Holy Land, and at +last all came to nothing. In like wise these villains and poor people +came to London, a hundred mile off, sixty mile, fifty mile, forty +mile, and twenty mile off, and from all countries about London, but +the most part came from the countries before named, and as they came +they demanded ever for the king. The gentlemen of the countries, +knights and squires, began to doubt, when they saw the people began to +rebel; and though they were in doubt, it was good reason; for a less +occasion they might have been affrayed. So the gentlemen drew together +as well as they might. + + [3] 'Bien les trois pars.' i.e. 'three-fourths.' + + [4] 'Les pastoureaulx.' The reference no doubt is to the + Pastoureaux of 1320, who were destroyed at Aigues-Mortes when + attempting to obtain a passage to the Holy Land. + +The same day that these unhappy people of Kent were coming to London, +there returned from Canterbury the king's mother, princess of Wales, +coming from her pilgrimage. She was in great jeopardy to have been +lost, for these people came to her chare and dealt rudely with her, +whereof the good lady was in great doubt lest they would have done +some villany to her or to her damosels. Howbeit, God kept her, and she +came in one day from Canterbury to London, for she never durst tarry +by the way. The same time king Richard her son was at the Tower of +London: there his mother found him, and with him there was the earl of +Salisbury, the archbishop of Canterbury, sir Robert of Namur, the lord +of Gommegnies and divers other, who were in doubt of these people that +thus gathered together, and wist not what they demanded. This +rebellion was well known in the king's court, or any of these people +began to stir out of their houses; but the king nor his council did +provide no remedy therefor, which was great marvel. And to the intent +that all lords and good people and such as would nothing but good +should take ensample to correct them that be evil and rebellious, I +shall shew you plainly all the matter, as it was. + + + + +THE EVIL DEEDS THAT THESE COMMONS OF ENGLAND DID TO THE KING'S +OFFICERS, AND HOW THEY SENT A KNIGHT TO SPEAK WITH THE KING + + +The Monday before the feast of Corpus Christi the year of our Lord God +a thousand three hundred and eighty-one these people issued out of +their houses to come to London to speak with the king to be made free, +for they would have had no bondman in England. And so first they came +to Saint Thomas of Canterbury, and there John Ball had thought to have +found the bishop of Canterbury, but he was at London with the king. +When Wat Tyler and Jack Straw entered into Canterbury, all the common +people made great feast, for all the town was of their assent; and +there they took counsel to go to London to the king, and to send some +of their company over the river of Thames into Essex, into Sussex and +into the counties of Stafford and Bedford, to speak to the people that +they should all come to the farther side of London and thereby to +close London round about, so that the king should not stop their +passages, and that they should all meet together on Corpus Christi +day. They that were at Canterbury entered into Saint Thomas' church +and did there much hurt, and robbed and brake up the bishop's chamber, +and in robbing and bearing out their pillage they said: 'Ah, this +chancellor of England hath had a good market to get together all this +riches: he shall give us now account of the revenues of England and of +the great profits that he hath gathered sith the king's coronation.' +When they had this Monday thus broken the abbey of Saint Vincent, they +departed in the morning and all the people of Canterbury with them, +and so took the way to Rochester and sent their people to the villages +about. And in their going they beat down and robbed houses of +advocates and procurers of the king's court and of the archbishop, and +had mercy of none. And when they were come to Rochester, they had +there good cheer; for the people of that town tarried for them, for +they were of the same sect, and then they went to the castle there and +took the knight that had the rule thereof, he was called sir John +Newton, and they said to him: 'Sir, it behoveth you to go with us and +you shall be our sovereign captain and to do that we will have you,' +The knight excused himself honestly and shewed them divers +considerations and excuses, but all availed him nothing, for they said +unto him: 'Sir John, if ye do not as we will have you, ye are but +dead,' The knight, seeing these people in that fury and ready to slay +him, he then doubted death and agreed to them, and so they took him +with them against his inward will; and in like wise did they of other +counties in England, as Essex, Sussex, Stafford, Bedford and Warwick, +even to Lincoln; for they brought the knights and gentlemen into such +obeisance, that they caused them to go with them, whether they would +or not, as the lord Moylays, a great baron, sir Stephen of Hales and +sir Thomas of Cosington and other. + +Now behold the great fortune. If they might have come to their +intents, they would have destroyed all the noblemen of England, and +thereafter all other nations would have followed the same and have +taken foot and ensample by them and by them of Gaunt and Flanders, who +rebelled against their lord. The same year the Parisians rebelled in +like wise and found out the mallets of iron, of whom there were more +than twenty thousand, as ye shall hear after in this history; but +first we will speak of them of England. + +When these people thus lodged at Rochester departed, and passed the +river and came to Brentford, alway keeping still their opinions, +beating down before them and all about the places and houses of +advocates and procurers, and striking off the heads of divers persons. +And so long they went forward till they came within a four mile of +London, and there lodged on a hill called Blackheath; and as they +went, they said ever they were the king's men and the noble commons of +England:[1] and when they of London knew that they were come so near +to them, the mayor, as ye have heard before, closed the gates and kept +straitly all the passages. This order caused the mayor, who was called +Nicholas Walworth,[2] and divers other rich burgesses of the city, who +were not of their sect; but there were in London of their unhappy +opinions more than thirty thousand. + + [1] 'That they were for the king and the noble commons (or + commonwealth) of England.' + + [2] Froissart calls him John: his name was really William. + +Then these people thus being lodged on Blackheath determined to send +their knight to speak with the king and to shew him how all that they +have done or will do is for him and his honour, and how the realm of +England hath not been well governed a great space for the honour of +the realm nor for the common profit by his uncles and by the clergy, +and specially by the archbishop of Canterbury his chancellor; whereof +they would have account. This knight durst do none otherwise, but so +came by the river of Thames to the Tower. The king and they that were +with him in the Tower, desiring to hear tidings, seeing this knight +coming made him way, and was brought before the king into a chamber; +and with the king was the princess his mother and his two brethren, +the earl of Kent and the lord John Holland, the earl of Salisbury, the +earl of Warwick, the earl of Oxford, the archbishop of Canterbury, the +lord of Saint John's,[3] sir Robert of Namur, the lord of Vertaing, +the lord of Gommegnies, sir Henry of Senzeille, the mayor of London +and divers other notable burgesses. This knight sir John Newton, who +was well known among them, for he was one of the king's officers, he +kneeled down before the king and said: 'My right redoubted lord, let +it not displease your grace the message that I must needs shew you, +for, dear sir, it is by force and against my will.' 'Sir John,' said +the king, 'say what ye will: I hold you excused.' 'Sir, the commons of +this your realm hath sent me to you to desire you to come and speak +with them on Blackheath; for they desire to have none but you: and, +sir, ye need not to have any doubt of your person, for they will do +you no hurt; for they hold and will hold you for their king. But, sir, +they say they will shew you divers things, the which shall be right +necessary for you to take heed of, when they speak with you; of the +which things, sir, I have no charge to shew you: but, sir, it may +please you to give me an answer such as may appease them and that they +may know for truth that I have spoken with you; for they have my +children in hostage till I return again to them, and without I return +again, they will slay my children incontinent.' + + [3] That is, the grand prior of the Hospital. + +Then the king made him an answer and said: 'Sir, ye shall have an +answer shortly.' Then the king took counsel what was best for him to +do, and it was anon determined that the next morning the king should +go down the river by water and without fail to speak with them. And +when sir John Newton heard that answer, he desired nothing else and so +took his leave of the king and of the lords and returned again into +his vessel, and passed the Thames and went to Blackheath, where he had +left more than threescore thousand men. And there he answered them +that the next morning they should send some of their council to the +Thames, and there the king would come and speak with them.[4] This +answer greatly pleased them, and so passed that night as well as they +might, and the fourth part of them fasted for lack of victual for they +had none, wherewith they were sore displeased, which was good reason. + + [4] 'Les quatre pars d'eux,' 'four-fifths of them.' + +All this season the earl of Buckingham was in Wales, for there he had +fair heritages by reason of his wife, who was daughter to the earl of +Northumberland and Hereford; but the voice was all through London how +he was among these people. And some said certainly how they had seen +him there among them; and all was because there was one Thomas in +their company, a man of the county of Cambridge, that was very like +the earl. Also the lords that lay at Plymouth to go into Portugal were +well informed of this rebellion and of the people that thus began to +rise; wherefore they doubted lest their viage should have been broken, +or else they feared lest the commons about Hampton, Winchester and +Arundel would have come on them: wherefore they weighed up their +anchors and issued out of the haven with great pain, for the wind was +sore against them, and so took the sea and there cast anchor abiding +for the wind. And the duke of Lancaster, who was in the marches of +Scotland between Moorlane and Roxburgh entreating with the Scots, +where it was shewed him of the rebellion, whereof he was in doubt, for +he knew well he was but little beloved with the commons of England; +howbeit, for all those tidings, yet he did sagely demean himself as +touching the treaty with the Scots. The earl Douglas, the earl of +Moray, the earl of Sutherland and the earl Thomas Versy, and the Scots +that were there for the treaty knew right well the rebellion in +England, how the common people in every part began to rebel against +the noblemen; wherefore the Scots thought that England was in great +danger to be lost, and therefore in their treaties they were the more +stiffer against the duke of Lancaster and his council. + +Now let us speak of the commons of England and how they persevered. + + + + +HOW THE COMMONS OF ENGLAND ENTERED INTO LONDON, AND OF THE GREAT EVIL +THAT THEY DID, AND OF THE DEATH OF THE BISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND DIVERS +OTHER + + +In the morning on Corpus Christi day king Richard heard mass in the +Tower of London, and all his lords, and then he took his barge with +the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Warwick, the earl of Oxford and +certain knights, and so rowed down along the Thames to Rotherhithe, +whereas was descended down the hill a ten thousand men to see the king +and to speak with him. And when they saw the king's barge coming, they +began to shout, and made such a cry, as though all the devils of hell +had been among them. And they had brought with them sir John Newton to +the intent that, if the king had not come, they would have stricken +him all to pieces, and so they had promised him. And when the king and +his lords saw the demeanour of the people, the best assured of them +were in dread; and so the king was counselled by his barons not to +take any landing there, but so rowed up and down the river. And the +king demanded of them what they would, and said how he was come +thither to speak with them, and they said all with one voice: 'We +would that ye should come aland, and then we shall shew you what we +lack.' Then the earl of Salisbury answered for the king and said: +'Sirs, ye be not in such order nor array that the king ought to speak +with you.' And so with those words no more said: and then the king was +counselled to return again to the Tower of London, and so he did. + +And when these people saw that, they were inflamed with ire and +returned to the hill where the great band was, and there shewed them +what answer they had and how the king was returned to the Tower of +London. Then they cried all with one voice, 'Let us go to London,' and +so they took their way thither; and in their going they beat down +abbeys and houses of advocates and of men of the court, and so came +into the suburbs of London, which were great and fair, and there beat +down divers fair houses, and specially they brake up the king's +prisons, as the Marshalsea and other, and delivered out all the +prisoners that were within: and there they did much hurt, and at the +bridge foot they threat them of London because the gates of the bridge +were closed, saying how they would bren all the suburbs and so conquer +London by force, and to slay and bren all the commons of the city. +There were many within the city of their accord, and so they drew +together and said: 'Why do we not let these good people enter into the +city? they are your fellows, and that that they do is for us,' So +therewith the gates were opened, and then these people entered into +the city and went into houses and sat down to eat and drink. They +desired nothing but it was incontinent brought to them, for every man +was ready to make them good cheer and to give them meat and drink to +appease them. + +Then the captains, as John Ball, Jack Straw and Wat Tyler, went +throughout London and a twenty thousand with them, and so came to the +Savoy in the way to Westminster, which was a goodly house and it +pertained to the duke of Lancaster. And when they entered, they slew +the keepers thereof and robbed and pilled the house, and when they had +so done, then they set fire on it and clean destroyed and brent it. +And when they had done that outrage, they left not therewith, but went +straight to the fair hospital of the Rhodes called Saint John's,[1] +and there they brent house, hospital, minster and all. Then they went +from street to street and slew all the Flemings that they could find +in church or in any other place, there was none respited from death. +And they brake up divers houses of the Lombards and robbed them and +took their goods at their pleasure, for there was none that durst say +them nay. And they slew in the city a rich merchant called Richard +Lyon, to whom before that time Wat Tyler had done service in France; +and on a time this Richard Lyon had beaten him, while he was his +varlet, the which Wat Tyler then remembered and so came to his house +and strake off his head and caused it to be borne on a spear-point +before him all about the city. Thus these ungracious people demeaned +themselves like people enraged and wood, and so that day they did much +sorrow in London. + + [1] This is called afterwards 'l'Ospital de Saint Jehan du + Temple,' and therefore would probably be the Temple, to which + the Hospitallers had suceeded. They had, however, another house + at Clerkenwell, which also had been once the property of the + Templars. + +And so against night they went to lodge at Saint Katherine's before +the Tower of London, saying how they would never depart thence till +they had the king at their pleasure and till he had accorded to them +all (they would ask, and) that they would ask accounts of the +chancellor of England, to know where all the good was become that he +had levied through the realm, and without he made a good account to +them thereof, it should not be for his profit. And so when they had +done all these evils to the strangers all the day, at night they +lodged before the Tower. + +Ye may well know and believe that it was great pity for the danger +that the king and such as were with him were in. For some time these +unhappy people shouted and cried so loud, as though all the devils of +hell had been among them. In this evening the king was counselled by +his brethren and lords and by sir Nicholas Walworth, mayor of London, +and divers other notable and rich burgesses, that in the night time +they should issue out of the Tower and enter into the city, and so to +slay all these unhappy people, while they were at their rest and +asleep; for it was thought that many of them were drunken, whereby +they should be slain like flies; also of twenty of them there was +scant one in harness. And surely the good men of London might well +have done this at their ease, for they had in their houses secretly +their friends and servants ready in harness, and also sir Robert +Knolles was in his lodging keeping his treasure with a sixscore ready +at his commandment; in like wise was sir Perducas d'Albret, who was as +then in London, insomuch that there might well (have) assembled +together an eight thousand men ready in harness. Howbeit, there was +nothing done, for the residue of the commons of the city were sore +doubted, lest they should rise also, and the commons before were a +threescore thousand or more. Then the earl of Salisbury and the wise +men about the king said: 'Sir, if ye can appease them with fairness, +it were best and most profitable, and to grant them everything that +they desire, for if we should begin a thing the which we could not +achieve, we should never recover it again, but we and our heirs ever +to be disinherited,' So this counsel was taken and the mayor +countermanded, and so commanded that he should not stir; and he did as +he was commanded, as reason was. And in the city with the mayor there +were twelve aldermen, whereof nine of them held with the king and the +other three took part with these ungracious people, as it was after +well known, the which they full dearly bought. + +And on the Friday in the morning the people, being at Saint +Katharine's near to the Tower, began to apparel themselves and to cry +and shout, and said, without the king would come out and speak with +them, they would assail the Tower and take it by force, and slay all +them that were within. Then the king doubted these words and so was +counselled that he should issue out to speak with them: and then the +king sent to them that they should all draw to a fair plain place +called Mile-end, whereas the people of the city did sport them in the +summer season, and there the king to grant them that they desired; and +there it was cried in the king's name, that whosoever would speak with +the king let him go to the said place, and there he should not fail to +find the king. Then the people began to depart, specially the commons +of the villages, and went to the same place: but all went not thither, +for they were not all of one condition; for there were some that +desired nothing but riches and the utter destruction of the noblemen +and to have London robbed and pilled; that was the principal matter of +their beginning, the which they well shewed, for as soon as the Tower +gate opened and that the king was issued out with his two brethren and +the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Warwick, the earl of Oxford, sir +Robert of Namur, the lord of Vertaing, the lord Gommegnies and divers +other, then Wat Tyler, Jack Straw and John Ball and more than four +hundred entered into the Tower and brake up chamber after chamber, and +at last found the archbishop of Canterbury, called Simon, a valiant +man and a wise, and chief chancellor of England, and a little before +he had said mass before the king. These gluttons took him and strake +off his head, and also they beheaded the lord of Saint John's and a +friar minor, master in medicine, pertaining to the duke of Lancaster, +they slew him in despite of his master, and a sergeant at arms called +John Leg; and these four heads were set on four long spears and they +made them to be borne before them through the streets of London and at +last set them a-high on London bridge, as though they had been +traitors to the king and to the realm. Also these gluttons entered +into the princess' chamber and brake her bed, whereby she was so sore +affrayed that she swooned; and there she was taken up and borne to the +water side and put into a barge and covered, and so conveyed to a +place called the Queen's Wardrobe;[2] and there she was all that day +and night like a woman half dead, till she was comforted with the king +her son, as ye shall hear after. + + [2] The Queen's Wardrobe was in the 'Royal' (called by Froissart + or his copyist 'la Réole'), a palace near Blackfriars. + + + + +HOW THE NOBLES OF ENGLAND WERE IN GREAT PERIL TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, +AND HOW THESE REBELS WERE PUNISHED AND SENT HOME TO THEIR OWN HOUSES + + +When the king came to the said place of Mile-end without London, he +put out of his company his two brethren, the earl of Kent and sir John +Holland, and the lord of Gommegnies, for they durst not appear before +the people: and when the king and his other lords were there, he found +there a threescore thousand men of divers villages and of sundry +countries in England; so the king entered in among them and said to +them sweetly: 'Ah, ye good people, I am your king: what lack ye? what +will ye say?' Then such as understood him said: 'We will that ye make +us free for ever, ourselves, our heirs and our lands, and that we be +called no more bond nor so reputed.' 'Sirs,' said the king, 'I am well +agreed thereto. Withdraw you home into your own houses and into such +villages as ye came from, and leave behind you of every village two or +three, and I shall cause writings to be made and seal them with my +seal, the which they shall have with them, containing everything that +ye demand; and to the intent that ye shall be the better assured, I +shall cause my banners to be delivered into every bailiwick, shire and +countries.' + +These words appeased well the common people, such as were simple and +good plain men, that were come thither and wist not why. They said, +'It was well said, we desire no better.' Thus these people began to be +appeased and began to withdraw them into the city of London. And the +king also said a word, the which greatly contented them. He said: +'Sirs, among you good men of Kent ye shall have one of my banners with +you, and ye of Essex another, and ye of Sussex, of Bedford, of +Cambridge, of Yarmouth, of Stafford and of Lynn, each of you one; and +also I pardon everything that ye have done hitherto, so that ye follow +my banners and return home to your houses.' They all answered how they +would so do: thus these people departed and went into London. Then the +king ordained more than thirty clerks the same Friday, to write with +all diligence letter patents and sealed with the king's seal, and +delivered them to these people; and when they had received the +writing, they departed and returned into their own countries: but the +great venom remained still behind, for Wat Tyler, Jack Straw and John +Ball said, for all that these people were thus appeased, yet they +would not depart so, and they had of their accord more than thirty +thousand. So they abode still and made no press to have the king's +writing nor seal, for all their intents was to put the city to trouble +in such wise as to slay all the rich and honest persons and to rob and +pill their houses. They of London were in great fear of this, +wherefore they kept their houses privily with their friends and such +servants as they had, every man according to his puissance. And when +these said people were this Friday thus somewhat appeased, and that +they should depart as soon as they had their writings, every man home +into his own country, then king Richard came into the Royal, where the +queen his mother was, right sore affrayed: so he comforted her as well +as he could and tarried there with her all that night. + +Yet I shall shew you of an adventure that fell by these ungracious +people before the city of Norwich, by a captain among them called +Guilliam Lister of Stafford. The same day of Corpus Christi that these +people entered into London and brent the duke of Lancaster's house, +called the Savoy; and the hospital of Saint John's and brake up the +king's prisons and did all this hurt, as ye have heard before, the +same time there assembled together they of Stafford, of Lynn, of +Cambridge, of Bedford and of Yarmouth; and as they were coming towards +London, they had a captain among them called Lister. And as they came, +they rested them before Norwich, and in their coming they caused every +man to rise with them, so that they left no villains behind them. The +cause why they rested before Norwich I shall shew you. There was a +knight, captain of the town, called sir Robert Sale. He was no +gentleman born, but he had the grace to be reputed sage and valiant in +arms, and for his valiantness king Edward made him knight. He was of +his body one of the biggest knights in all England. Lister and his +company thought to have had this knight with them and to make him +their chief captain, to the intent to be the more feared and beloved: +so they sent to him that he should come and speak with them in the +field, or else they would bren the town. The knight considered that it +was better for him to go and speak with them rather than they should +do that outrage to the town: then he mounted on his horse and issued +out of the town all alone, and so came to speak with them. And when +they saw him, they made him great cheer and honoured him much, +desiring him to alight off his horse and to speak with them, and so he +did: wherein he did great folly; for when he was alighted, they came +round about him and began to speak fair to him and said: 'Sir Robert, +ye are a knight and a man greatly beloved in this country and renowned +a valiant man; and though ye be thus, yet we know you well, ye be no +gentleman born, but son to a villain such as we be. Therefore come you +with us and be our master, and we shall make you so great a lord, that +one quarter of England shall be under your obeisance,' When the knight +heard them speak thus, it was greatly contrarious to his mind, for he +thought never to make any such bargain, and answered them with a +felonous regard: 'Fly away, ye ungracious people, false and evil +traitors that ye be: would you that I should forsake my natural lord +for such a company of knaves as ye be, to my dishonour for ever? I had +rather ye were all hanged, as ye shall be; for that shall be your +end.' And with those words he had thought to have leapt again upon his +horse, but he failed of the stirrup and the horse started away. Then +they cried all at him and said: 'Slay him without mercy.' When he +heard those words, he let his horse go and drew out a good sword and +began to scrimmish with them, and made a great place about him, that +it was pleasure to behold him. There was none that durst approach near +him: there were some that approached near him, but at every stroke +that he gave he cut off other leg, head or arm: there was none so +hardy but that they feared him: he did there such deeds of arms that +it was marvel to regard. But there were more than forty thousand of +these unhappy people: they shot and cast at him, and he was unarmed: +to say truth, if he had been of iron or steel, yet he must needs have +been slain; but yet, or he died, he slew twelve out of hand, beside +them that he hurt. Finally he was stricken to the earth, and they cut +off his arms and legs and then strake his body all to pieces. This was +the end of sir Robert Sale, which was great damage; for which deed +afterward all the knights and squires of England were angry and sore +displeased when they heard thereof. + +Now let us return to the king. The Saturday the king departed from the +Wardrobe in the Royal and went to Westminster and heard mass in the +church there, and all his lords with him. And beside the church there +was a little chapel with an image of our Lady, which did great +miracles and in whom the kings of England had ever great trust and +confidence. The king made his orisons before this image and did there +his offering; and then he leapt on his horse, and all his lords, and +so the king rode toward London; and when he had ridden a little way, +on the left hand there was a way to pass without London.[1] + + [1] Or rather, 'he found a place on the left hand to pass + without London.' + +The same proper morning Wat Tyler, Jack Straw and John Ball had +assembled their company to common together in a place called +Smithfield, whereas every Friday there is a market of horses; and +there were together all of affinity more than twenty thousand, and yet +there were many still in the town, drinking and making merry in the +taverns and paid nothing, for they were happy that made them best +cheer. And these people in Smithfield had with them the king's +banners, the which were delivered them the day before, and all these +gluttons were in mind to overrun and to rob London the same day; for +their captains said how they had done nothing as yet. 'These liberties +that the king hath given us is to us but a small profit: therefore let +us be all of one accord and let us overrun this rich and puissant +city, or they of Essex, of Sussex, of Cambridge, of Bedford, of +Arundel, of Warwick, of Reading, of Oxford, of Guildford, of Lynn, of +Stafford, of Yarmouth, of Lincoln, of York and of Durham do come +hither. For all these will come hither; Baker and Lister will bring +them hither; and if we be first lords of London and have the +possession of the riches that is therein, we shall not repent us; for +if we leave it, they that come after will have it from us.' + +To this counsel they all agreed; and therewith the king came the same +way unware of them, for he had thought to have passed that way without +London, and with him a forty horse. And when he came before the abbey +of Saint Bartholomew and beheld all these people, then the king rested +and said how he would go no farther till he knew what these people +ailed, saying, if they were in any trouble, how he would rappease them +again. The lords that were with him tarried also, as reason was when +they saw the king tarry. And when Wat Tyler saw the king tarry, he +said to his people: 'Sirs, yonder is the king: I will go and speak +with him. Stir not from hence, without I make you a sign; and when I +make you that sign, come on and slay all them except the king; but do +the king no hurt, he is young, we shall do with him as we list and +shall lead him with us all about England, and so shall we be lords of +all the realm without doubt.' And there was a doublet-maker of London +called John Tycle, and he had brought to these gluttons a sixty +doublets, the which they ware: then he demanded of these captains who +should pay him for his doublets; he demanded thirty mark. Wat Tyler +answered him and said: 'Friend, appease yourself, thou shalt be well +paid or this day be ended. Keep thee near me; I shall be thy +creditor.' And therewith he spurred his horse and departed from his +company and came to the king, so near him that his horse head touched +the croup of the king's horse, and the first word that he said was +this: 'Sir king, seest thou all yonder people?' 'Yea truly,' said the +king, 'wherefore sayest thou?' 'Because,' said he, 'they be all at my +commandment and have sworn to me faith and truth, to do all that I +will have them' 'In a good time,' said the king, 'I will well it be +so.' Then Wat Tyler said, as he that nothing demanded but riot: 'What +believest thou, king, that these people and as many more as be in +London at my commandment, that they will depart from thee thus without +having thy letters?' 'No,' said the king, 'ye shall have them: they +be ordained for you and shall be delivered every one each after other. +Wherefore, good fellows, withdraw fair and easily to your people and +cause them to depart out of London; for it is our intent that each of +you by villages and townships shall have letters patents, as I have +promised you.' + +With those words Wat Tyler cast his eyen on a squire that was there +with the king bearing the king's sword, and Wat Tyler hated greatly +the same squire, for the same squire had displeased him before for +words between them. 'What,' said Tyler, 'art thou there? Give me thy +dagger.' 'Nay,' said the squire, 'that will I not do: wherefore should +I give it thee?' The king beheld the squire and said: 'Give it him; +let him have it.' And so the squire took it him sore against his will. +And when this Wat Tyler had it, he began to play therewith and turned +it in his hand, and said again to the squire: 'Give me also that +sword.' 'Nay,' said the squire, 'it is the king's sword: thou art not +worthy to have it, for thou art but a knave; and if there were no more +here but thou and I, thou durst not speak those words for as much gold +in quantity as all yonder abbey.'[2] 'By my faith,' said Wat Tyler, 'I +shall never eat meat till I have thy head': and with those words the +mayor of London came to the king with a twelve horses well armed under +their coats, and so he brake the press and saw and heard how Wat Tyler +demeaned himself, and said to him: 'Ha, thou knave, how art thou so +hardy in the king's presence to speak such words? It is too much for +thee so to do.' Then the king began to chafe and said to the mayor: +'Set hands on him.' And while the king said so, Tyler said to the +mayor: 'A God's name what have I said to displease thee?' 'Yes truly,' +quoth the mayor, 'thou false stinking knave, shalt thou speak thus in +the presence of the king my natural lord? I commit never to live, +without thou shalt dearly abye it.'[3] And with those words the mayor +drew out his sword and strake Tyler so great a stroke on the head, +that he fell down at the feet of his horse, and as soon as he was +fallen, they environed him all about, whereby he was not seen of his +company. Then a squire of the king's alighted, called John Standish, +and he drew out his sword and put it into Wat Tyler's belly, and so he +died. + + [2] The full text has, 'for as much gold as that minster of + Saint Paul is great.' + + [3] 'Jamais je veux vivre, si tu ne le compares.' + +Then the ungracious people there assembled, perceiving their captain +slain, began to murmur among themselves and said: 'Ah, our captain is +slain, let us go and slay them all': and therewith they arranged +themselves on the place in manner of battle, and their bows before +them. Thus the king began a great outrage;[4] howbeit, all turned to +the best: for as soon as Tyler was on the earth, the king departed +from all his company and all alone he rode to these people, and said +to his own men: 'Sirs, none of you follow me; let me alone.' And so +when he came before these ungracious people, who put themselves in +ordinance to revenge their captain, then the king said to them: 'Sirs, +what aileth you? Ye shall have no captain but me: I am your king: be +all in rest and peace.' And so the most part of the people that heard +the king speak and saw him among them, were shamefast and began to wax +peaceable and to depart; but some, such as were malicious and evil, +would not depart, but made semblant as though they would do somewhat. + + [4] 'Outrage' here means 'act of boldness,' as elsewhere, e.g. + 'si fist une grant apertise d'armes et un grant outrage.' + +Then the king returned to his own company and demanded of them what +was best to be done. Then he was counselled to draw into the field, +for to fly away was no boot. Then said the mayor: 'It is good that we +do so, for I think surely we shall have shortly some comfort of them +of London and of such good men as be of our part, who are purveyed and +have their friends and men ready armed in their houses.' And in the +mean time voice and bruit ran through London how these unhappy people +were likely to slay the king and the mayor in Smithfield; through the +which noise all manner of good men of the king's party issued out of +their houses and lodgings well armed, and so came all to Smithfield +and to the field where the king was, and they were anon to the number +of seven or eight thousand men well armed. And first thither came sir +Robert Knolles and sir Perducas d'Albret, well accompanied, and divers +of the aldermen of London, and with them a six hundred men in harness, +and a puissant man of the city, who was the king's draper,[5] called +Nicholas Bramber, and he brought with him a great company; and ever as +they came, they ranged them afoot in order of battle: and on the other +part these unhappy people were ready ranged, making semblance to give +battle, and they had with them divers of the king's banners. There the +king made three knights, the one the mayor of London sir Nicholas +Walworth, sir John Standish and sir Nicholas Bramber. Then the lords +said among themselves: 'What shall we do? We see here our enemies, who +would gladly slay us, if they might have the better hand of us.' Sir +Robert Knolles counselled to go and fight with them and slay them all; +yet the king would not consent thereto, but said: 'Nay, I will not so: +I will send to them commanding them to send me again my banners and +thereby we shall see what they will do. Howbeit, other by fairness or +otherwise, I will have them.' 'That is well said, sir,' quoth the earl +of Salisbury. Then these new knights were sent to them, and these +knights made token to them not to shoot at them, and when they came so +near them that their speech might be heard, they said: 'Sirs, the king +commandeth you to send to him again his banners, and we think he will +have mercy of you.' And incontinent they delivered again the banners +and sent them to the king. Also they were commanded on pain of their +heads, that all such as had letters of the king to bring them forth +and to send them again to the king; and so many of them delivered +their letters, but not all. Then the king made them to be all to torn +in their presence; and as soon as the king's banners were delivered +again, these unhappy people kept none array, but the most part of them +did cast down their bows, and so brake their array and returned into +London. Sir Robert Knolles was sore displeased in that he might not go +to slay them all: but the king would not consent thereto, but said he +would be revenged of them well enough; and so he was after. + + [5] 'Qui estoit des draps du roy.' He owned large estates in + Essex and also shops in London. He became one of the councillors + of Richard II. + +Thus these foolish people departed, some one way and some another; and +the king and his lords and all his company right ordinately entered +into London with great joy. And the first journey that the king made +he went to the lady princess his mother, who was in a castle in the +Royal called the Queen's Wardrobe, and there she had tarried two days +and two nights right sore abashed, as she had good reason; and when +she saw the king her son, she was greatly rejoiced and said: 'Ah, fair +son, what pain and great sorrow that I have suffered for you this +day!' Then the king answered and said: 'Certainly, madam, I know it +well; but now rejoice yourself and thank God, for now it is time. I +have this day recovered mine heritage and the realm of England, the +which I had near lost.' Thus the king tarried that day with his +mother, and every lord went peaceably to their own lodgings. Then +there was a cry made in every street in the king's name, that all +manner of men, not being of the city of London and have not dwelt +there the space of one year, to depart; and if any such be found there +the Sunday by the sun-rising, that they should be taken as traitors to +the king and to lose their heads. This cry thus made, there was none +that durst brake it, and so all manner of people departed and sparkled +abroad every man to their own places. John Ball and Jack Straw were +found in an old house hidden, thinking to have stolen away, but they +could not, for they were accused by their own men. Of the taking of +them the king and his lords were glad, and then strake off their heads +and Wat Tyler's also, and they were set on London bridge, and the +valiant men's heads taken down that they had set on the Thursday +before. These tidings anon spread abroad, so that the people of the +strange countries, which were coming towards London, returned back +again to their own houses and durst come no farther. + + + + +THE BATTLE OF OTTERBURN + +HOW THE EARL DOUGLAS WON THE PENNON OF SIR HENRY PERCY AT THE BARRIERS +BEFORE NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, AND HOW THE SCOTS BRENT THE CASTLE OF +PONTLAND, AND HOW SIR HENRY PERCY AND SIR RALPH HIS BROTHER TOOK +ADVICE TO FOLLOW THE SCOTS TO CONQUER AGAIN THE PENNON THAT WAS LOST +AT THE SCRIMMISH + + +When the English lords saw that their squire returned not again at the +time appointed, and could know nothing what the Scots did, nor what +they were purposed to do, then they thought well that their squire was +taken. The lords sent each to other, to be ready whensoever they +should hear that the Scots were abroad: as for their messenger, they +thought him but lost. + +Now let us speak of the earl Douglas and other, for they had more to +do than they that went by Carlisle. When the earls of Douglas, of +Moray, of March, and Dunbar[1] departed from the great host, they took +their way thinking to pass the water and to enter into the bishopric +of Durham, and to ride to the town and then to return, brenning and +exiling the country and so to come to Newcastle and to lodge there in +the town in the despite of all the Englishmen. And as they determined, +so they did assay to put it in use, for they rode a great pace under +covert without doing of any pillage by the way or assaulting of any +castle, tower or house, but so came into the lord Percy's land and +passed the river of Tyne without any let a three leagues above +Newcastle not far from Brancepeth, and at last entered into the +bishopric of Durham, where they found a good country. Then they began +to make war, to slay people and to bren villages and to do many sore +displeasures. + + [1] George, earl of March and Dunbar: the text gives Mare, but + there was at this time no earl of Mar. + +As at that time the earl of Northumberland and the other lords and +knights of that country knew nothing of their coming. When tidings +came to Newcastle and to Durham that the Scots were abroad, and that +they might well see by the fires and smoke abroad in the country, the +earl sent to Newcastle his two sons and sent commandment to every man +to draw to Newcastle, saying to his sons: 'Ye shall go to Newcastle +and all the country shall assemble there, and I shall tarry at +Alnwick, which is a passage that they must pass by. If we may enclose +them, we shall speed well.' Sir Henry Percy and sir Ralph his brother +obeyed their father's commandment and came thither with them of the +country. The Scots rode burning and exiling the country, that the +smoke thereof came to Newcastle. The Scots came to the gates of Durham +and scrimmished there; but they tarried not long but returned, as they +had ordained before to do, and that they found by the way took and +destroyed it. Between Durham and Newcastle is but twelve leagues +English and a good country: there was no town, without it were closed, +but it was brent, and they repassed the river of Tyne where they had +passed before, and then came before Newcastle and there rested. All +the English knights and squires of the country of York and bishopric +of Durham were assembled at Newcastle, and thither came the seneschal +of York, sir Ralph Lumley, sir Matthew Redman, captain of Berwick, sir +Robert Ogle, sir Thomas Grey, sir Thomas Holton, sir John Felton, sir +John Lilleburn, sir Thomas Abingdon, the baron of Hilton, sir John +Coppledike and divers other, so that the town was so full of people +that they wist not where to lodge. + +When these three Scottish earls who were chief captains had made their +enterprise in the bishopric of Durham and had sore overrun the +country, then they returned to Newcastle and there rested and tarried +two days, and every day they scrimmished. The earl of Northumberland's +two sons were two young lusty knights and were ever foremost at the +barriers to scrimmish. There were many proper feats of arms done and +achieved: there was fighting hand to hand: among other there fought +hand to hand the earl Douglas and sir Henry Percy, and by force of +arms the earl Douglas won the pennon of sir Henry Percy's, wherewith +he was sore displeased and so were all the Englishmen. And the earl +Douglas said to sir Henry Percy: 'Sir, I shall bear this token of your +prowess into Scotland and shall set it on high on my castle of +Dalkeith, that it may be seen far off,' 'Sir,' quoth sir Henry, 'ye +may be sure ye shall not pass the bounds of this country till ye be +met withal in such wise that ye shall make none avaunt thereof,' +'Well, sir,' quoth the earl Douglas, 'come this night to my lodging +and seek for your pennon: I shall set it before my lodging and see if +ye will come to take it away.' So then it was late, and the Scots +withdrew to their lodgings and refreshed them with such as they had. +They had flesh enough: they made that night good watch, for they +thought surely to be awaked for the words they had spoken, but they +were not, for sir Henry Percy was counselled not so to do. + +The next day the Scots dislodged and returned towards their own +country, and so came to a castle and a town called Pontland, whereof +sir Edmund of Alphel was lord, who was a right good knight. There the +Scots rested, for they came thither betimes, and understood that the +knight was in his castle. Then they ordained to assail the castle, and +gave a great assault, so that by force of arms they won it and the +knight within it. Then the town and castle was brent; and from thence +the Scots went to the town and castle of Otterburn, an eight English +mile from Newcastle[2] and there lodged. That day they made none +assault, but the next morning they blew their horns and made ready to +assail the castle, which was strong, for it stood in the marish. That +day they assaulted till they were weary, and did nothing. Then they +sowned the retreat and returned to their lodgings. Then the lords drew +to council to determine what they should do. The most part were of the +accord that the next day they should dislodge without giving of any +assault and to draw fair and easily towards Carlisle. But the earl +Douglas brake that counsel and said: 'In despite of sir Henry Percy, +who said he would come and win again his pennon, let us not depart +hence for two or three days. Let us assail this castle: it is +pregnable: we shall have double honour. And then let us see if he will +come and fetch his pennon: he shall be well defended.'[3] Every man +accorded to his saying, what for their honour and for the love of him. +Also they lodged there at their ease, for there was none that troubled +them: they made many lodgings of boughs and great herbs and fortified +their camp sagely with the marish that was thereby, and their +carriages were set at the entry into the marishes and had all their +beasts within the marish. Then they apparelled for to assault the next +day: this was their intention. + + [2] Froissart says 'eight English leagues.' In the next chapter + the distance becomes 'seven little leagues,' and later on, 'a + six English miles,' where the original is 'lieues.' The actual + distance is about thirty miles. The translator gives the form + 'Combur' here, but 'Ottenburge' in the next chapter, as the + name of the place. It is remarkable indeed how little trouble + he seems to have taken generally to give English names correctly. + In this chapter we have 'Nymyche' for 'Alnwick' and 'Pouclan' + for 'Pontland,' forms rather less like the real names than those + which he found in the French text, viz. Nynich and Ponclau. + + [3] Froissart says, 'if he comes, it shall be defended.' The + translator perhaps means 'he shall be prevented.' + +Now let us speak of sir Henry Percy and of sir Ralph his brother and +shew somewhat what they did. They were sore displeased that the earl +Douglas had won the pennon of their arms: also it touched greatly +their honours, if they did not as sir Henry Percy said he would; for +he had said to the earl Douglas that he should not carry his pennon +out of England, and also he had openly spoken it before all the +knights and squires that were at Newcastle. The Englishmen there +thought surely that the earl Douglas' band was but the Scots' vanguard +and that their host was left behind. The knights of the country, such +as were well expert in arms, spake against sir Henry Percy's opinion +and said to him: 'Sir, there fortuneth in war oftentimes many losses. +If the earl Douglas have won your pennon, he bought it dear, for he +came to the gate to seek it and was well beaten:[4] another day ye +shall win as much of him or more. Sir, we say this because we know +well all the power of Scotland is abroad in the fields, and if we +issue out and be not men enow to fight with them, and peradventure +they have made this scrimmish with us to the intent to draw us out of +the town, and the number that they be of, as it is said, above forty +thousand men, they may soon enclose us and do with us what they will. +Yet it were better to lose a pennon than two or three hundred knights +and squires and put all our country in adventure,' These words +refrained sir Henry and his brother, for they would do nothing against +counsel. Then tidings came to them by such as had seen the Scots and +seen all their demeanour and what way they took and where they rested. + + [4] i.e. 'well fought with.' + + + + +HOW SIR HENRY PERCY AND HIS BROTHER WITH A GOOD NUMBER OF MEN OF ARMS +AND ARCHERS WENT AFTER THE SCOTS, TO WIN AGAIN HIS PENNON THAT THE +EARL DOUGLAS HAD WON BEFORE NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, AND HOW THEY ASSAILED +THE SCOTS BEFORE OTTERBURN IN THEIR LODGINGS + + +It was shewed to sir Henry Percy and to his brother and to the other +knights and squires that were there, by such as had followed the Scots +from Newcastle and had well advised their doing, who said to sir Henry +and to sir Ralph: 'Sirs, we have followed the Scots privily and have +discovered all the country. The Scots be at Pontland and have taken +sir Edmund Alphel in his own castle, and from thence they be gone to +Otterburn and there they lay this night. What they will do to-morrow +we know not: they are ordained to abide there: and, sirs, surely their +great host is not with them, for in all they pass not there a three +thousand men,' When sir Henry heard that, he was joyful and said: +'Sirs, let us leap on our horses, for by the faith I owe to God and to +my lord my father I will go seek for my pennon and dislodge them this +same night.' Knights and squires that heard him agreed thereto and +were joyous, and every man made him ready. + +The same evening the bishop of Durham came thither with a good +company, for he heard at Durham how the Scots were before Newcastle +and how that the lord Percy's sons with other lords and knights should +fight with the Scots: therefore the bishop of Durham to come to the +rescue had assembled up all the country and so was coming to +Newcastle. But sir Henry Percy would not abide his coming, for he had +with him six hundred spears, knights and squires, and an eight +thousand footmen. They thought that sufficient number to fight with +the Scots, if they were not but three hundred spears and three +thousand of other. Thus they departed from Newcastle after dinner and +set forth in good order, and took the same way as the Scots had gone +and rode to Otterburn, a seven little leagues from thence and fair +way, but they could not ride fast because of their foot-men. And when +the Scots had supped and some laid down to their rest, and were weary +of travailing and assaulting of the castle all that day, and thought +to rise early in the morning in cool of the day to give a new assault, +therewith suddenly the Englishmen came on them and entered into the +lodgings, weening it had been the masters' lodgings, and therein were +but varlets and servants. Then the Englishmen cried, 'Percy, Percy!' +and entered into the lodgings, and ye know well where such affray is +noise is soon raised: and it fortuned well for the Scots, for when +they saw the Englishmen came to wake them, then the lord sent a +certain of their servants of foot-men to scrimmish with the Englishmen +at the entry of the lodgings, and in the mean time they armed and +apparelled them, every man under his banner and under his captain's +pennon. The night was far on, but the moon shone so bright as an it +had been in a manner day. It was in the month of August and the +weather fair and temperate. + +Thus the Scots were drawn together and without any noise departed from +their lodgings and went about a little mountain, which was greatly for +their advantage. For all the day before they had well advised the +place and said among themselves: 'If the Englishmen come on us +suddenly, then we will do thus and thus, for it is a jeopardous thing +in the night if men of war enter into our lodgings. If they do, then +we will draw to such a place, and thereby other we shall win or lose.' +When the Englishmen entered into the field, at the first they soon +overcame the varlets, and as they entered further in, always they +found new men to busy them and to scrimmish with them. Then suddenly +came the Scots from about the mountain and set on the Englishmen or +they were ware, and cried their cries; whereof the Englishmen were +sore astonied. Then they cried 'Percy!' and the other party cried +'Douglas!' + +There began a cruel battle and at the first encounter many were +overthrown of both parties; and because the Englishmen were a great +number and greatly desired to vanquish their enemies, and rested at +their pace[1] and greatly did put aback the Scots, so that the Scots +were near discomfited. Then the earl James Douglas, who was young and +strong and of great desire to get praise and grace, and was willing to +deserve to have it, and cared for no pain nor travail, came forth with +his banner and cried, 'Douglas, Douglas!' and sir Henry Percy and sir +Ralph his brother, who had great indignation against the earl Douglas +because he had won the pennon of their arms at the barriers before +Newcastle, came to that part and cried, 'Percy!' Their two banners met +and their men: there was a sore fight: the Englishmen were so strong +and fought so valiantly that they reculed the Scots back. There were +two valiant knights of Scots under the banner of the earl Douglas, +called sir Patrick of Hepbourn and sir Patrick his son. They acquitted +themselves that day valiantly: the earl's banner had been won, an they +had not been: they defended it so valiantly and in the rescuing +thereof did such feats of arms, that it was greatly to their +recommendation and to their heirs' for ever after. + + [1] In French, 'ilz se arresterent,' without 'and.' + +It was shewed me by such as had been at the same battle, as well by +knights and squires of England as of Scotland, at the house of the +earl of Foix,--for anon after this battle was done I met at Orthez two +squires of England called John of Chateauneuf and John of Cantiron; +also when I returned to Avignon I found also there a knight and a +squire of Scotland; I knew them and they knew me by such tokens as I +shewed them of their country, for I, author of this book, in my youth +had ridden nigh over all the realm of Scotland, and I was as then a +fifteen days in the house of earl William Douglas, father to the same +earl James, of whom I spake of now, in a castle of five leagues from +Edinburgh in the country of Dalkeith;[2] the same time I saw there +this earl James, a fair young child, and a sister of his called the +lady Blanche,--and I was informed by both these parties[3] how this +battle was as sore a battle fought as lightly hath been heard of +before of such a number; and I believe it well, for Englishmen on the +one party and Scots on the other party are good men of war, for when +they meet there is a hard fight without sparing, there is no ho +between them as long as spears, swords, axes or daggers will endure, +but lay on each upon other, and when they be well beaten[4] and that +the one party hath obtained the victory, they then glorify so in their +deeds of arms and are so joyful, that such as be taken they shall be +ransomed or they go out of the field, so that shortly each of them is +so content with other that at their departing-courteously they will +say, 'God thank you'; but in fighting one with another there is no +play nor sparing, and this is true, and that shall well appear by this +said rencounter, for it was as valiantly foughten as could be devised, +as ye shall hear. + + [2] 'Which is called in the country Dalkeith.' The French has + 'que on nomme au pays Dacquest,' of which the translator makes + 'in the countrey of Alquest.' + + [3] 'By both sides,' i.e. Scotch and English. + + [4] 'When they have well fought.' + + + + +HOW THE EARL JAMES DOUGLAS BY HIS VALIANTNESS ENCOURAGED HIS MEN, WHO +WERE RECULED AND IN A MANNER DISCOMFITED, AND IN HIS SO DOING HE WAS +WOUNDED TO DEATH + + +Knights and squires were of good courage on both parties to fight +valiantly: cowards there had no place, but hardiness reigned with +goodly feats of arms, for knights and squires were so joined together +at hand strokes, that archers had no place of nother party. There the +Scots shewed great hardiness and fought merrily with great desire of +honour: the Englishmen were three to one: howbeit, I say not but +Englishmen did nobly acquit themselves, for ever the Englishmen had +rather been slain or taken in the place than to fly. Thus, as I have +said, the banners of Douglas and Percy and their men were met each +against other, envious who should win the honour of that journey. At +the beginning the Englishmen were so strong that they reculed back +their enemies: then the earl Douglas, who was of great heart and high +of enterprise, seeing his men recule back, then to recover the place +and to shew knightly valour he took his axe in both his hands, and +entered so into the press that he made himself way in such wise, that +none durst approach near him, and he was so well armed that he bare +well off such strokes as he received.[1] Thus he went ever forward +like a hardy Hector, willing alone to conquer the field and to +discomfit his enemies: but at last he was encountered with three +spears all at once, the one strake him on the shoulder, the other on +the breast and the stroke glinted down to his belly, and the third +strake him in the thigh, and sore hurt with all three strokes, so that +he was borne perforce to the earth and after that he could not be +again relieved. Some of his knights and squires followed him, but not +all, for it was night, and no light but by the shining of the moon. +The Englishmen knew well they had borne one down to the earth, but +they wist not who it was; for if they had known that it had been the +earl Douglas, they had been thereof so joyful and so proud that the +victory had been theirs. Nor also the Scots knew not of that adventure +till the end of the battle; for if they had known it, they should have +been so sore despaired and discouraged that they would have fled away. +Thus as the earl Douglas was felled to the earth, he was stricken into +the head with an axe, and another stroke through the thigh: the +Englishmen passed forth and took no heed of him: they thought none +otherwise but that they had slain a man of arms. On the other part the +earl George de la March and of Dunbar fought right valiantly and gave +the Englishmen much ado, and cried, 'Follow Douglas,' and set on the +sons of Percy: also earl John of Moray with his banner and men fought +valiantly and set fiercely on the Englishmen, and gave them so much to +do that they wist not to whom to attend. + + [1] 'No man was so well armed that he did not fear the great + strokes which he gave.' + + + + +HOW IN THIS BATTLE SIR RALPH PERCY WAS SORE HURT AND TAKEN PRISONER BY +A SCOTTISH KNIGHT + + +Of all the battles and encounterings that I have made mention of +herebefore in all this history, great or small, this battle that I +treat of now was one of the sorest and best foughten without cowardice +or faint hearts. For there was nother knight nor squire but that did +his devoir and fought hand to hand: this battle was like the battle of +Becherel,[1] the which was valiantly fought and endured. The earl of +Northumberland's sons, sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy, who were chief +sovereign captains, acquitted themselves nobly, and sir Ralph Percy +entered in so far among his enemies that he was closed in and hurt, +and so sore handled that his breath was so short, that he was taken +prisoner by a knight of the earl of Moray's called sir John Maxwell. +In the taking the Scottish knight demanded what he was, for it was in +the night, so that he knew him not, and sir Ralph was so sore overcome +and bled fast, that at last he said: 'I am Ralph Percy.' Then the Scot +said: 'Sir Ralph, rescue or no rescue I take you for my prisoner: I am +Maxwell.' 'Well,' quoth sir Ralph, 'I am content: but then take heed +to me, for I am sore hurt, my hosen and my greaves are full of blood,' +Then the knight saw by him the earl Moray and said: 'Sir, here I +deliver to you sir Ralph Percy as prisoner; but, sir, let good heed be +taken to him, for he is sore hurt.' The earl was joyful of these words +and said: 'Maxwell, thou hast well won thy spurs.' Then he delivered +sir Ralph Percy to certain of his men, and they stopped and wrapped +his wounds: and still the battle endured, not knowing who had as then +the better, for there were many taken and rescued again that came to +no knowledge. + + [1] Or, according to another reading, 'Cocherel.' + +Now let us speak of the young James earl of Douglas, who did marvels +in arms or he was beaten down. When he was overthrown, the press was +great about him, so that he could not relieve, for with an axe he had +his death's wound. His men followed him as near as they could, and +there came to him sir James Lindsay his cousin and sir John and sir +Walter Sinclair and other knights and squires. And by him was a gentle +knight of his, who followed him all the day, and a chaplain of his, +not like a priest but like a valiant man of arms, for all that night +he followed the earl with a good axe in his hands and still +scrimmished about the earl thereas he lay, and reculed back some of +the Englishmen with great strokes that he gave. Thus he was found +fighting near to his master, whereby he had great praise, and thereby +the same year he was made archdeacon of Aberdeen. This priest was +called sir William of North Berwick: he was a tall man and a hardy and +was sore hurt. When these knights came to the earl, they found him in +an evil case and a knight of his lying by him called sir Robert Hart: +he had a fifteen wounds in one place and other. Then sir John Sinclair +demanded of the earl how he did. 'Right evil, cousin,' quoth the earl, +'but thanked be God there hath been but a few of mine ancestors that +hath died in their beds: but, cousin, I require you think to revenge +me, for I reckon myself but dead, for my heart fainteth oftentimes. My +cousin Walter and you, I pray you raise up again my banner which lieth +on the ground, and my squire Davie Collemine slain: but, sirs, shew +nother to friend nor foe in what case ye see me in; for if mine +enemies knew it, they would rejoice, and our friends discomforted.' +The two brethren of Sinclair and sir James Lindsay did as the earl had +desired them and raised up again his banner and cried 'Douglas!' Such +as were behind and heard that cry drew together and set on their +enemies valiantly and reculed back the Englishmen and many overthrown, +and so drave the Englishmen back beyond the place whereas the earl +lay, who was by that time dead, and so came to the earl's banner, the +which sir John Sinclair held in his hands, and many good knights and +squires of Scotland about him, and still company drew to the cry of +'Douglas.' Thither came the earl Moray with his banner well +accompanied, and also the earl de la March and of Dunbar, and when +they saw the Englishmen recule and their company assembled together, +they renewed again the battle and gave many hard and sad strokes. + + + + +HOW THE SCOTS WON THE BATTLE AGAINST THE ENGLISHMEN BESIDE OTTERBURN, +AND THERE WAS TAKEN PRISONERS SIR HENRY AND SIR RALPH PERCY, AND HOW +AN ENGLISH SQUIRE WOULD NOT YIELD HIM, NO MORE WOULD A SCOTTISH +SQUIRE, AND SO DIED BOTH; AND HOW THE BISHOP OF DURHAM AND HIS COMPANY +WERE DISCOMFITED AMONG THEMSELVES + + +To say truth, the Englishmen were sorer travailed than the Scots, for +they came the same day from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a six English miles, +and went a great pace to the intent to find the Scots, which they did; +so that by their fast going they were near out of breath, and the +Scots were fresh and well rested, which greatly availed them when time +was of their business: for in the last scrimmish they reculed back the +Englishmen in such wise, that after that they could no more assemble +together, for the Scots passed through their battles. And it fortuned +that sir Henry Percy and the lord of Montgomery, a valiant knight of +Scotland, fought together hand to hand right valiantly without letting +of any other, for every man had enough to do. So long they two fought +that per force of arms sir Henry Percy was taken prisoner by the said +lord of Montgomery. + +The knights and squires of Scotland, as sir Marc Adreman,[1] sir +Thomas Erskine, sir William, sir James and sir Alexander Lindsay, the +lord of Fenton, sir John of Saint-Moreaulx,[2] sir Patrick of Dunbar, +sir John and sir Walter Sinclair, sir John Maxwell, sir Guy Stuart, +sir John Haliburton, sir Alexander Ramsay, Robert Collemine[3] and his +two sons John and Robert; who were there made knights, and a hundred +knights and squires that I cannot name, all these right valiantly did +acquit themselves. And on the English party, before that the lord +Percy was taken and after, there fought valiantly sir Ralph Lumley, +sir Matthew Redman, sir Thomas Ogle, sir Thomas Gray, sir Thomas +Helton, sir Thomas Abingdon, sir John Lilleburn, sir William +Walsingham, the baron of Helton, sir John of Colpedich,[4] the +seneschal of York and divers other footmen. Whereto should I write +long process? This was a sore battle and well foughten; and as fortune +is always changeable, though the Englishmen were more in number than +the Scots and were right valiant men of war and well expert, and that +at the first front they reculed back the Scots, yet finally the Scots +obtained the place and victory, and all the foresaid Englishmen taken, +and a hundred more, saving sir Matthew Redman, captain of Berwick, who +when he knew no remedy nor recoverance, and saw his company fly from +the Scots and yielded them on every side, then he took his horse and +departed to save himself. + + [1] Perhaps 'Malcolm Drummond.' + + [2] The true reading seems to be 'Sandilands.' + + [3] Perhaps 'Coningham.' + + [4] Either 'Copeland' or 'Copeldike.' + +The same season about the end of this discomfiture there was an +English squire called Thomas Waltham, a goodly and a valiant man, and +that was well seen, for of all that night he would nother fly nor yet +yield him. It was said he had made a vow at a feast in England, that +the first time that ever he saw Englishmen and Scots in battle, he +would so do his devoir to his power, in such wise that either he would +be reputed for the best doer on both sides or else to die in the pain. +He was called a valiant and a hardy man and did so much by his +prowess, that under the banner of the earl of Moray he did such +valiantness in arms, that the Scots had marvel thereof, and so was +slain in fighting: the Scots would gladly have taken him alive, but he +would never yield, he hoped ever to have been rescued. And with him +there was a Scottish squire slain, cousin to the king of Scots, called +Simon Glendowyn; his death was greatly complained of the Scots. + +This battle was fierce and cruel till it came to the end of the +discomfiture; but when the Scots saw the Englishmen recule and yield +themselves, then the Scots were courteous and set them to their +ransom, and every man said to his prisoner: 'Sirs, go and unarm you +and take your ease; I am your master:' and so made their prisoners as +good cheer as though they had been brethren, without doing to them any +damage. The chase endured a five English miles, and if the Scots had +been men enow, there had none scaped, but other they had been taken or +slain. And if Archambault Douglas and the earl of Fife, the earl +Sutherland and other of the great company who were gone towards +Carlisle had been there, by all likelihood they had taken the bishop +of Durham and the town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I shall shew you how. +The same evening that the Percies departed from Newcastle, as ye have +heard before, the bishop of Durham with the rearband came to Newcastle +and supped: and as he sat at the table, he had imagination in himself +how he did not acquit himself well to see the Englishmen in the field +and he to be within the town. Incontinent he caused the table to be +taken away and commanded to saddle his horses and to sown the +trumpets, and called up men in the town to arm themselves and to mount +on their horses, and foot-men to order themselves to depart. And thus +every man departed out of the town to the number of seven thousand, +two thousand on horseback and five thousand afoot; they took their way +toward Otterburn, whereas the battle had been. And by that time they +had gone two mile[5] from Newcastle tidings came to them how their men +were fighting with the Scots. Therewith the bishop rested there, and +incontinent came more flying fast, that they were out of breath. Then +they were demanded how the matter went. They answered and said: 'Right +evil; we be all discomfited: here cometh the Scots chasing of us.' +These tidings troubled the Englishmen, and began to doubt. And again +the third time men came flying as fast as they might. When the men of +the bishopric of Durham heard of these evil tidings, they were abashed +in such wise that they brake their array, so that the bishop could not +hold together the number of five hundred. It was thought that if the +Scots had followed them in any number, seeing that it was night, that +in the entering into the town, and the Englishmen so abashed, the town +had been won. + + [5] The word 'lieue' is translated 'mile' throughout. + +The bishop of Durham, being in the field, had good will to have +succoured the Englishmen and recomforted his men as much as he could; +but he saw his own men fly as well as other. Then he demanded counsel +of sir William Lucy and of sir Thomas Clifford and of other knights, +what was best to do. These knights for their honour would give him no +counsel; for they thought to return again and do nothing should sown +greatly to their blame, and to go forth might be to their great +damage; and so stood still and would give none answer, and the longer +they stood, the fewer they were, for some still stale away. Then the +bishop said: 'Sirs, all things considered, it is none honour to put +all in peril, nor to make of one evil damage twain. We hear how our +company be discomfited, and we cannot remedy it: for to go to recover +them, we know not with whom nor with what number we shall meet. Let us +return fair and easily for this night to Newcastle, and to-morrow let +us draw together and go look on our enemies.' Every man answered: 'As +God will, so be it.' Therewith they returned to Newcastle. Thus a man +may consider the great default that is in men that be abashed and +discomfited: for if they had kept them together and have turned again +such as fled, they had discomfited the Scots. This was the opinion of +divers; and because they did not thus, the Scots had the victory. + + + + +HOW SIR MATTHEW REDMEN DEPARTED FROM THE BATTLE TO SAVE HIMSELF; AND +HOW SIR JAMES LINDSAY WAS TAKEN PRISONER BY THE BISHOP OF DURHAM; AND +HOW AFTER THE BATTLE SCURRERS WERE SENT FORTH TO DISCOVER THE COUNTRY + + +I shall shew you of sir Matthew Redman, who was on horseback to save +himself, for he alone could not remedy the matter. At his departing +sir James Lindsay was near to him and saw how sir Matthew departed, +and this sir James, to win honour, followed in chase sir Matthew +Redman, and came so near him that he might have striken him with his +spear, if he had list. Then he said: 'Ah, sir knight, turn; it is a +shame thus to fly: I am James of Lindsay: if ye will not turn, I shall +strike you on the back with my spear.' Sir Matthew spake no word, but +strake his horse with the spurs sorer than he did before. In this +manner he chased him more than three miles, and at last sir Matthew +Redman's horse foundered and fell under him. Then he stept forth on +the earth and drew out his sword, and took courage to defend himself; +and the Scot thought to have stricken him on the breast, but sir +Matthew Redman swerved from the stroke, and the spear-point entered +into the earth. Then sir Matthew strake asunder the spear with his +sword; and when sir James Lindsay saw how he had lost his spear, he +cast away the truncheon and lighted afoot, and took a little +battle-axe that he carried at his back and handled it with his one +hand quickly and deliverly, in the which feat Scots be well expert, +and then he set at sir Matthew and he defended himself properly. Thus +they tourneyed together, one with an axe and the other with a sword, a +long season, and no man to let them. Finally sir James Lindsay gave +the knight such strokes and held him so short, that he was put out of +breath in such wise that he yielded himself, and said: 'Sir James +Lindsay, I yield me to you.' 'Well,' quoth he, 'and I receive you, +rescue or no rescue,' 'I am content,' quoth Redman, 'so ye deal with +me like a good companion.' 'I shall not fail that,' quoth Lindsay, and +so put up his sword. 'Well, sir,' quoth Redman, 'what will you now +that I shall do? I am your prisoner, ye have conquered me. I would +gladly go again to Newcastle, and within fifteen days I shall come to +you into Scotland, whereas ye shall assign me.' 'I am content,' quoth +Lindsay: 'ye shall promise by your faith to present yourself within +this three weeks at Edinboro, and wheresoever ye go, to repute +yourself my prisoner,' All this sir Matthew sware and promised to +fulfil. Then each of them took their horses and took leave each of +other. Sir James returned, and his intent was to go to his own company +the same way that he came, and sir Matthew Redman to Newcastle. + +Sir James Lindsay could not keep the right way as he came: it was dark +and a mist, and he had not ridden half a mile, but he met face to face +with the bishop of Durham and more than five hundred Englishmen with +him. He might well escaped if he had would, but he supposed it had +been his own company, that had pursued the Englishmen. When he was +among them, one demanded of him what he was. 'I am,' quoth he, 'sir +James Lindsay,' The bishop heard those words and stept to him and +said: 'Lindsay, ye are taken: yield ye to me.' 'Who be you?' quoth +Lindsay. 'l am,' quoth he, 'the bishop of Durham.' 'And from whence +come you, sir?' quoth Lindsay. 'I come from the battle,' quoth the +bishop, 'but I struck never a stroke there. I go back to Newcastle for +this night, and ye shall go with me,' 'I may not choose,' quoth +Lindsay, 'sith ye will have it so. I have taken and I am taken; such +is the adventures of arms.' 'Whom have ye taken?' quoth the bishop. +'Sir,' quoth he, 'I took in the chase sir Matthew Redman.' 'And where +is he?' quoth the bishop. 'By my faith, sir, he is returned to +Newcastle: he desired me to trust him on his faith for three weeks, +and so have I done,' 'Well,' quoth the bishop, 'let us go to +Newcastle, and there ye shall speak with him.' Thus they rode to +Newcastle together, and sir James Lindsay was prisoner to the bishop +of Durham. + +Under the banner of the earl de la March and of Dunbar was taken a +squire of Gascoyne, called John of Chateauneuf, and under the banner +of the earl of Moray was taken his companion John de Camiron. Thus the +field was clean avoided, or the day appeared. The Scots drew together +and took guides and sent out scurrers to see if any men were in the +way from Newcastle, to the intent that they would not be troubled in +their lodgings; wherein they did wisely, for when the bishop of Durham +was come again to Newcastle and in his lodging, he was sore pensive +and wist not what to say nor do; for he heard say how his cousins the +Percies were slain or taken, and all the knights that were with them. +Then he sent for all the knights and squires that were in the town; +and when they were come, he demanded of them if they should leave the +matter in that case, and said: 'Sirs, we shall bear great blame if we +thus return without looking on our enemies,' Then they concluded by +the sun-rising every man to be armed, and on horseback and afoot to +depart out of the town and to go to Otterburn to fight with the Scots. +This was warned through the town by a trumpet, and every man armed +them and assembled before the bridge, and by the sun-rising they +departed by the gate towards Berwick and took the way towards +Otterburn to the number of ten thousand, what afoot and a-horseback. +They were not gone past two mile from Newcastle, when the Scots were +signified that the bishop of Durham was coming to themward to fight: +this they knew by their spies, such as they had set in the fields. + +After that sir Matthew Redman was returned to Newcastle and had shewed +to divers how he had been taken prisoner by sir James Lindsay, then it +was shewed him how the bishop of Durham had taken the said sir James +Lindsay and how that he was there in the town as his prisoner. As soon +as the bishop was departed, sir Matthew Redman went to the bishop's +lodging to see his master, and there he found him in a study, lying in +a window,[1] and said: 'What, sir James Lindsay, what make you here?' +Then sir James came forth of the study to him and gave him good +morrow, and said: 'By my faith, sir Matthew, fortune hath brought me +hither; for as soon as I was departed from you, I met by chance the +bishop of Durham, to whom I am prisoner, as ye be to me. I believe ye +shall not need to come to Edinboro to me to make your finance: I think +rather we shall make an exchange one for another, if the bishop be so +content.' 'Well, sir,' quoth Redman, 'we shall accord right well +together, ye shall dine this day with me: the bishop and our men be +gone forth to fight with your men, I cannot tell what shall fall, we +shall know at their return.' 'I am content to dine with you,' quoth +Lindsay. Thus these two knights dined together in Newcastle. + + [1] Or rather, 'very pensive leaning against a window,' and + afterwards the expression 'came forth of the study to him' + should be 'broke off his thought and came towards him.' + +When the knights of Scotland were informed how the bishop of Durham +came on them with ten thousand men, they drew to council to see what +was best for them to do, other to depart or else to abide the +adventure. All things considered, they concluded to abide, for they +said they could not be in a better nor a stronger place than they were +in already; they had many prisoners and they could not carry them +away, if they should have departed; and also they had many of their +men hurt and also some of their prisoners, whom they thought they +would not leave behind them. Thus they drew together and ordered so +their field, that there was no entry but one way, and they set all +their prisoners together and made them to promise how that, rescue or +no rescue, they should be their prisoners. After that they made all +their minstrels to blow up all at once and made the greatest revel of +the world. Lightly it is the usage of Scots, that when they be thus +assembled together in arms, the footmen beareth about their necks +horns in manner like hunters, some great, some small, and of all +sorts, so that when they blow all at once, they make such a noise, +that it may be heard nigh four miles off: thus they do to abash their +enemies and to rejoice themselves. When the bishop of Durham with his +banner and ten thousand men with him were approached, within a league, +then the Scots blew their horns in such wise, that it seemed that all +the devils in hell had been among them, so that such as heard them and +knew not of their usage were sore abashed. This blowing and noise +endured a long space and then ceased: and by that time the Englishmen +were within less than a mile. Then the Scots began to blow again and +made a great noise, and as long endured as it did before. Then the +bishop approached with his battle well ranged in good order and came +within the sight of the Scots, as within two bow-shot or less: then +the Scots blew again their horns a long space. The bishop stood still +to see what the Scots would do and aviewed them well and saw how they +were in a strong ground greatly to their advantage. Then the bishop +took counsel what was best for him to do; but all things well advised, +they were not in purpose to enter in among the Scots to assail them, +but returned without doing of anything, for they saw well they might +rather lose than win. + +When the Scots saw the Englishmen recule and that they should have no +battle, they went to their lodgings and made merry, and then ordained +to depart from thence. And because that sir Ralph Percy was sore hurt, +he desired of his master that he might return to Newcastle or into +some place, whereas it pleased him unto such time as he were whole of +his hurts, promising, as soon as he were able to ride, to return into +Scotland, other to Edinboro or into any other place appointed. The +earl of March, under whom he was taken, agreed thereto and delivered +him a horse litter and sent him away; and by like covenant divers +other knights and squires were suffered to return and took term other +to return or else to pay their finance, such as they were appointed +unto. It was shewed me by the information of the Scots, such as had +been at this said battle that was between Newcastle and Otterburn in +the year of our Lord God a thousand three hundred fourscore and eight, +the nineteenth day of August, how that there were taken prisoners of +the English party a thousand and forty men, one and other, and slain +in the field and in the chase eighteen hundred and forty, and sore +hurt more than a thousand: and of the Scots there were a hundred +slain, and taken in the chase more than two hundred; for as the +Englishmen fled, when they saw any advantage they returned again and +fought: by that means the Scots were taken and none otherwise. Every +man may well consider that it was a well fought field, when there were +so many slain and taken on both parties. + + + + +HOW THE SCOTS DEPARTED AND CARRIED WITH THEM THE EARL DOUGLAS DEAD, +AND BURIED HIM IN THE ABBEY OF MELROSE; AND HOW SIR ARCHAMBAULT +DOUGLAS AND HIS COMPANY DEPARTED FROM BEFORE CARLISLE AND RETURNED +INTO SCOTLAND + + +After this battle thus finished, every man returned,[1] and the earl +Douglas' dead body chested and laid in a chare, and with him sir +Robert Hart and Simon Glendowyn, then they prepared to depart: so they +departed and led with them sir Henry Percy and more than forty knights +of England, and took the way to the abbey of Melrose. At their +departing they set fire in their lodgings, and rode all the day, and +yet lay that night in the English ground: none denied them. The next +day they dislodged early in the morning and so came that day to +Melrose. It is an abbey of black monks on the border between both +realms. There they rested and buried the earl James Douglas. The +second day after his obsequy was done reverently, and on his body laid +a tomb of stone and his banner hanging over him. Whether there were as +then any more earls of Douglas, to whom the land returned, or not, I +cannot tell; for I, sir John Froissart, author of the book, was in +Scotland in the earl's castle of Dalkeith, living earl William, at +which time he had two children, a son and a daughter; but after there +were many of the Douglases, for I have seen a five brethren, all +squires, bearing the name of Douglas, in the king of Scotland's house, +David; they were sons to a knight in Scotland called sir James +Douglas, and they bare in their arms gold, three oreilles gules, but +as for the heritage, I know not who had it: as for sir Archambault +Douglas, of whom I have spoken before in this history in divers +places, who was a valiant knight, and greatly redoubted of the +Englishmen, he was but a bastard. + + [1] That is, 'After the battle was over and every man had + returned,' but it should be, 'After all this was done and + everything was gathered together.' + +When these Scots had been at Melrose abbey and done there all that +they came thither for, then they departed each from other and went +into their own countries, and such as had prisoners, some led them +away with them and some were ransomed and suffered to return. Thus +the Englishmen found the Scots right courteous and gentle in their +deliverance and ransom, so that they were well content. This was +shewed me in the country of Bearn in the earl of Foix's house by a +knight named John of Chateauneuf, who was taken prisoner at the same +journey under the banner of the earl of March and Dunbar: and he +greatly praised the said earl, for he suffered him to pass in manner +as he desired himself. + +Thus these men of war of Scotland departed, and ransomed their +prisoners as soon as they might right courteously, and so returned +little and little into their own countries. And it was shewed me and I +believe it well, that the Scots had by reason of that journey two +hundred thousand franks for ransoming of prisoners: for sith the +battle that was before Stirling in Scotland, whereas sir Robert of +Bruce, sir William Douglas, sir Robert Versy, sir Simon Fraser and +other Scots chased the Englishmen three days, they never had journey +so profitable nor so honourable for them, as this was. When tidings +came to the other company of the Scots that were beside Carlisle, how +their company had distressed the Englishmen beside Otterburn, they +were greatly rejoiced, and displeased in their minds that they had not +been there. Then they determined to dislodge and to draw into their +own countries, seeing their other company were withdrawn. Thus they +dislodged and entered into Scotland. + +Now let us leave to speak of the Scots and of the Englishmen for this +time, and let us return to the young Charles of France, who with a +great people went into Almaine, to bring the duke of Gueldres to +reason. + +When the French king and all his army were past the river of Meuse at +the bridge of Morsay, they took the way of Ardennes and of Luxembourg, +and always the pioneers were before, beating woods and bushes and +making the ways plain. The duke of Juliers and his country greatly +doubted the coming of the French king, for they knew well they should +have the first assault and bear the first burden: and the land of +Juliers is a plain country; in one day the men of war should do much +damage there, and destroy and waste all, except the castles and good +towns. Thus the French king entered into the country of Luxembourg and +came to an abbey, whereas Wenceslas sometime duke of Brabant was +buried. There the king tarried two days: then he departed and took the +way through Bastogne, and lodged within a league whereas the duchess +of Brabant lay. She sent word of her being there to the duke of +Burgoyne, and he brought her into the field to speak with the king, +who received her right honourably, and there communed together. Then +the duchess returned to Bastogne, and thither she was conveyed with +sir John of Vienne and sir Guy of Tremouille; and the next day the +king went forward, approaching to the land of his enemies, and came to +the entering into Almaine, on the frontiers of the duchy of Juliers. +But or he came so far forward, Arnold bishop of Liege had been with +the king and had greatly entreated for the duke of Juliers, that the +king should not be miscontent with him, though he were father to the +duke of Gueldres; for he excused him of the defiance that his son had +made, affirming how it was not by his knowledge nor consent, +wherefore, he said, it were pity that the father should bear the +default of the son. This excuse was not sufficient to the king nor to +his uncles: for the intent of the king and his council was, without +the duke of Juliers would come and make other manner of excuse, and to +yield himself to the king's pleasure, his country should be the first +that should bear the burden. Then the bishop of Liege and the lords of +Hesbaing and the councils of the good towns offered to the king and +his council wholly the bishopric of Liege for his army to pass and +repass paying for their expenses, and to rest and refresh them there +as long as it pleased them. The king thanked them, and so did his +uncles, and would not refuse their offer, for he knew not what need he +should have after. + + + + +THE HOLY GRAIL FROM THE BOOK OF KING ARTHUR + +BY + +SIR THOMAS MALORY + + +_INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +The earliest extant form of the story of the Holy Grail is the French +metrical romance of "Perceval" or "Le Conte du Graal" of Chrétien de +Troies, written about 1175. Chrétien died leaving the poem unfinished, +and it was continued by three other authors till it reached the vast +size of 63,000 lines. The religious signification of the Grail is +supposed to have been attached to it early in the thirteenth century +by Robert de Boron; and, perhaps a little later, in the French prose +"Quest of the Holy Grail," Galahad takes the place of Perceval as the +hero of the story. The later history of the various versions of the +legend is highly intricate, and in many points uncertain. It was from +a form of it embodied in the French prose "Lancelot" that Sir Thomas +Malory drew the chapters of his "Morte d'Arthur" which are here +reprinted, and which, more than the earlier versions, are the source +from which the legend has passed into modern English poetry. + +Until a few years ago Malory himself was little more than a name, our +information about him being limited to the statement in Caxton's +edition of the "Morte d'Arthur" that he was the author. It now appears +probable, however, that Sir Thomas Malory was an English knight born +about 1400, of an old Warwickshire family. He served in the French +wars under Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, "whom all Europe +recognized as embodying the knightly ideal of the age" and may well +have owed his enthusiasm for chivalry to his association with this +distinguished nobleman. He died in 1471. + +Malory's book is a compilation from French and English sources. These +are chosen without much discrimination, and put together without great +skill in arrangement. But the author's whole-hearted enthusiasm for +chivalrous ideals and the noble simplicity and fine rhythm of his +prose have combined to give his work a unique place in English +literature. In it the age of chivalry is summed up and closed. It is +not without reason that the date of its publication by Caxton, 1485, +should be conventionally accepted as the end of the Middle Ages in +England. Romance had passed under the printing press, and a new age +had begun._ + + + + +THE HOLY GRAIL + +BEING BOOKS XIII, XIV, XV, XVI and XVII OF THE BOOK OF KING ARTHUR AND +OF HIS NOBLE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE + + + + +THE THIRTEENTH BOOK. + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW AT THE VIGIL OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST ENTERED INTO THE HALL +BEFORE KING ARTHUR A DAMOSEL, AND DESIRED SIR LAUNCELOT FOR TO COME +AND DUB A KNIGHT, AND HOW HE WENT WITH HER + + +At the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table +were come unto Camelot and there heard their service, and the tables +were set ready to the meat, right so entered into the hall a full fair +gentlewoman on horseback, that had ridden full fast, for her horse was +all besweated. Then she there alit, and came before the king and +saluted him; and he said: Damosel, God thee bless. Sir, said she, for +God's sake say me where Sir Launcelot is. Yonder ye may see him, said +the king. Then she went unto Launcelot and said: Sir Launcelot, I +salute you on King Pelles' behalf, and I require you come on with me +hereby into a forest. Then Sir Launcelot asked her with whom she +dwelled. I dwell, said she, with King Pelles. What will ye with me? +said Launcelot. Ye shall know, said she, when ye come thither. Well, +said he, I will gladly go with you. So Sir Launcelot bad his squire +saddle his horse and bring his arms; and in all haste he did his +commandment. Then came the queen unto Launcelot, and said: Will ye +leave us at this high feast? Madam, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well +he shall be with you tomorn by dinner time. If I wist, said the queen, +that he should not be with us here tomorn he should not go with you by +my good will. Right so departed Sir Launcelot with the gentlewoman, +and rode until that he came into a forest and into a great valley, +where they saw an abbey of nuns; and there was a squire ready and +opened the gates, and so they entered and descended off their horses; +and there came a fair fellowship about Sir Launcelot, and welcomed +him, and were passing glad of his coming. And then they led him unto +the Abbess's chamber and unarmed him; and right so he was ware upon a +bed lying two of his cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and then he +waked them; and when they saw him they made great joy. Sir, said Sir +Bors unto Sir Launcelot, what adventure hath brought you hither, for +we weened tomorn to have found you at Camelot? As God me help, said +Sir Launcelot, a gentlewoman brought me hither, but I know not the +cause. In the meanwhile that they thus stood talking together, therein +came twelve nuns that brought with them Galahad, the which was passing +fair and well made, that unnethe in the world men might not find his +match: and all those ladies wept. Sir, said they all, we bring you +here this child the which we have nourished, and we pray you to make +him a knight, for of a more worthier man's hand may he not receive the +order of knighthood. Sir Launcelot beheld the young squire and saw him +seemly and demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that he +weened of his age never to have seen so fair a man of form. Then said +Sir Launcelot: Cometh this desire of himself? He and all they said +yea. Then shall he, said Sir Launcelot, receive the high order of +knighthood as tomorn at the reverence of the high feast. That night +Sir Launcelot had passing good cheer; and on the morn at the hour of +prime, at Galahad's desire, he made him knight and said: God make him +a good man, for of beauty faileth you not as any that liveth. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HOW THE LETTERS WERE FOUND WRITTEN IN THE SIEGE PERILOUS, AND OF THE +MARVELLOUS ADVENTURE OF THE SWORD IN A STONE + + +Now fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will ye come with me unto the court +of King Arthur? Nay, said he, I will not go with you as at this time. +Then he departed from them and took his two cousins with him, and so +they came unto Camelot by the hour of underne on Whitsunday. By that +time the king and the queen were gone to the minster to hear their +service. Then the king and the queen were passing glad of Sir Bors and +Sir Lionel, and so was all the fellowship. So when the king and all +the knights were come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of +the Round Table all about, written with golden letters: Here ought to +sit he, and he ought to sit here. And thus they went so long till that +they came to the Siege Perilous, where they found letters newly +written of gold which said: Four hundred winters and four and fifty +accomplished after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this +siege to be fulfilled. Then all they said: This is a marvellous thing +and an adventurous. In the name of God, said Sir Launcelot; and then +accounted the term of the writing from the birth of our Lord unto that +day. It seemeth me, said Sir Launcelot, this siege ought to be +fulfilled this same day, for this is the feast of Pentecost after the +four hundred and four and fifty year; and if it would please all +parties, I would none of these letters were seen this day, till he be +come that ought to achieve this adventure. Then made they to ordain a +cloth of silk, for to cover these letters in the Siege Perilous. Then +the king bad haste unto dinner. Sir, said Sir Kay the Steward, if ye +go now to your meat ye shall break your old custom of your court, for +ye have not used on this day to sit at your meat or that ye have seen +some adventure. Ye say sooth, said the king, but I had so great joy of +Sir Launcelot and of his cousins, which he come to the court whole and +sound, so that I bethought me not of mine old custom. So, as they +stood speaking, in came a squire and said unto the king: Sir, I bring +unto you marvellous tidings. What be they? said the king. Sir, there +is here beneath at the river a great stone which I saw fleet above the +water, and therein I saw sticking a sword. The king said: I will see +that marvel. So all the knights went with him, and when they came to +the river they found there a stone fleeting, as it were of red marble, +and therein stuck a fair rich sword, and in the pommel thereof were +precious stones wrought with subtil letters of gold. Then the barons +read the letters which said in this wise: Never shall man take me +hence, but only he by whose side I ought to hang, and he shall be the +best knight of the world. When the king had seen the letters, he said +unto Sir Launcelot: Fair sir, this sword ought to be yours, for I am +sure ye be the best knight of the world. Then Sir Launcelot answered +full soberly: Certes, sir, it is not my sword; also, Sir, wit ye well +I have no hardiness to set my hand to it, for it longed not to hang by +my side. Also, who that assayeth to take the sword and faileth of it, +he shall receive a wound by that sword that he shall not be whole long +after. And I will that ye wit that this same day shall the adventures +of the Sangreal, that is called the Holy Vessel, begin. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HOW SIR GAWAINE ESSAYED TO DRAW OUT THE SWORD, AND HOW AN OLD MAN +BROUGHT IN GALAHAD + + +Now, fair nephew, said the king unto Sir Gawaine, essay ye, for my +love Sir, he said, save your good grace I shall not do that. Sir, said +the king, essay to take the sword and at my commandment. Sir, said +Gawaine, your commandment I will obey. And therewith he took up the +sword by the handles, but he might not stir it. I thank you, said the +king to Sir Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, now wit +ye well this sword shall touch you so sore that ye shall will ye had +never set your hand thereto for the best castle of this realm. Sir, he +said, I might not withsay mine uncle's will and commandment. But when +the king heard this he repented it much, and said unto Sir Percivale +that he should essay, for his love. And he said: Gladly, for to bear +Sir Gawaine fellowship. And therewith he set his hand on the sword and +drew it strongly, but he might not move it. Then were there more that +durst be so hardy, to set their hands thereto. Now may ye go to your +dinner, said Sir Kay unto the King, for a marvellous adventure have ye +seen. So the king and all went unto the court, and every knight knew +his own place, and set him therein, and young men that were knights +served them. So when they were served, and all sieges fulfilled save +only the Siege Perilous, anon there befell a marvellous adventure, +that all the doors and windows of the palace shut by themself. Not for +then the hall was not greatly darked; and therewith they abashed both +one and other. Then King Arthur spake first and said: By God, fair +fellows and lords, we have seen this day marvels, but or night I +suppose we shall see greater marvels. In the meanwhile came in a good +old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no knight +knew from whence he came. And with him he brought a young knight, both +on foot, in red arms, without sword or shield, save a scabbard hanging +by his side. And these words he said: Peace be with you, fair lords. +Then the old man said unto Arthur: Sir, I bring here a young knight, +the which is of king's lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph of +Aramathie, whereby the marvels of this court, and of strange realms, +shall be fully accomplished. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW THE OLD MAN BROUGHT GALAHAD TO THE SIEGE PERILOUS AND SET HIM +THEREIN, AND HOW ALL THE KNIGHTS MARVELLED + + +The king was right glad of his words, and said unto the good man: Sir, +ye be right welcome, and the young knight with you. Then the old man +made the young man to unarm him, and he was in a coat of red sendel, +and bare a mantle upon his shoulder that was furred with ermine, and +put that upon him. And the old knight said unto the young knight: Sir, +follow me. And anon he led him unto the Siege Perilous, where beside +sat Sir Launcelot; and the good man lift up the cloth, and found there +letters that said thus: This is the siege of Galahad, the haut prince. +Sir, said the old knight, wit ye well that place is yours. And then he +set him down surely in that siege. And then he said to the old man: +Sir, ye may now go your way, for well have ye done that ye were +commanded to do; and recommend me unto my grandsire, King Pelles, and +unto my lord Petchere, and say them on my behalf, I shall come and see +them as soon as ever I may. So the good man departed; and there met +him twenty noble squires, and so took their horses and went their way. +Then all the knights of the Table Round marvelled greatly of Sir +Galahad, that he durst sit there in that Siege Perilous, and was so +tender of age; and wist not from whence he came but all only by God; +and said: This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved, for there +sat never none but he, but he were mischieved. Then Sir Launcelot +beheld his son and had great joy of him. Then Bors told his fellows: +Upon pain of my life this young knight shall come unto great worship. +This noise was great in all the court, so that it came to the queen. +Then she had marvel what knight it might be that durst adventure him +to sit in the Siege Perilous. Many said unto the queen he resembled +much unto Sir Launcelot. I may well suppose, said the queen, that Sir +Launcelot begat him on King Pelles' daughter, by the which he was made +to lie by, by enchantment, and his name is Galahad. I would fain see +him, said the queen, for he must needs be a noble man, for so is his +father that him begat, I report me unto all the Table Round. So when +the meat was done that the king and all were risen, the king yede unto +the Siege Perilous and lift up the cloth, and found there the name of +Galahad; and then he shewed it unto Sir Gawaine, and said: Fair +nephew, now have we among us Sir Galahad, the good knight that shall +worship us all; and upon pain of my life he shall achieve the +Sangreal, right as Sir Launcelot had done us to understand. Then came +King Arthur unto Galahad and said: Sir, ye be welcome, for ye shall +move many good knights to the quest of the Sangreal, and ye shall +achieve that never knights might bring to an end. Then the king took +him by the hand, and went down from the palace to shew Galahad the +adventures of the stone. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW KING ARTHUR SHEWED THE STONE HOVING ON THE WATER TO GALAHAD, AND +HOW HE DREW OUT THE SWORD + + +The queen heard thereof, and came after with many ladies, and shewed +them the stone where it hoved on the water. Sir, said the king unto +Sir Galahad, here is a great marvel as ever I saw, and right good +knights have essayed and failed. Sir, said Galahad, that is no marvel, +for this adventure is not theirs but mine; and for the surety of this +sword I brought none with me, for here by my side hangeth the +scabbard. And anon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it +out of the stone, and put it in the sheath, and said unto, the king: +Now it goeth better than it did aforehand. Sir, said the King, a +shield God shall send you. Now have I that sword that sometime was the +good knight's, Balin le Savage, and he was a passing good man of his +hands; and with this sword he slew his brother Balan, and that was +great pity, for he was a good knight, and either slew other through a +dolorous strode that Balin gave unto my grandfather King Pelles, the +which is not yet whole, nor not shall be till I heal him. Therewith +the king and all espied where came riding down the river a lady on a +white palfrey toward them. Then she saluted the king and the queen, +and asked if that Sir Launcelot was there. And then he answered +himself: I am here, fair lady. Then she said all with weeping: How +your great doing is changed sith this day in the morn. Damosel, why +say you so? said Launcelot. I say you sooth, said the damosel, for ye +were this day the best knight of the world, but who should say so now, +he should be a liar, for there is now one better than ye, and well it +is proved by the adventures of the sword whereto ye durst not set to +your hand; and that is the change and leaving of your name. Wherefore +I make unto you a remembrance, that ye shall not ween from henceforth +that ye be the best knight of the world. As touching unto that, said +Launcelot, I know well I was never the best. Yes, said the damosel, +that were ye, and are yet, of any sinful man of the world. And, Sir +king, Nacien, the hermit, sendeth thee word, that thee shall befall +the greatest worship that ever befell king in Britain; and I say you +wherefore, for this day the Sangreal appeared in thy house and fed +thee and all thy fellowship of the Round Table. So she departed and +went that same way that she came. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +HOW KING ARTHUR HAD ALL THE KNIGHTS TOGETHER FOR TO JOUST IN THE +MEADOW BESIDE CAMELOT OR THEY DEPARTED + + +Now, said the king, I am sure at this quest of the Sangreal shall all +ye of the Table Round depart, and never shall I see you again whole +together; therefore I will see you all whole together in the meadow of +Camelot to joust and to tourney, that after your death men may speak +of it that such good knights were wholly together such a day. As unto +that counsel and at the king's request they accorded all, and took on +their harness that longed unto jousting. But all this moving of the +king was for this intent, for to see Galahad proved; for the king +deemed he should not lightly come again unto the court after his +departing. So were they assembled in the meadow both more and less. +Then Sir Galahad, by the prayer of the king and the queen, did upon +him a noble jesseraunce, and also he did on his helm, but shield would +he take none for no prayer of the king. And then Sir Gawaine and other +knights prayed him to take a spear. Right so he did; and the queen was +in a tower with all her ladies, for to behold that tournament. Then +Sir Galahad dressed him in middes of the meadow, and began to break +spears marvellously, that all men had wonder of him; for he there +surmounted all other knights, for within a while he had defouled many +good knights of the Table Round save twain, that was Sir Launcelot and +Sir Percivale. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HOW THE QUEEN DESIRED TO SEE GALAHAD; AND HOW AFTER, ALL THE KNIGHTS +WERE REPLENISHED WITH THE HOLY SANGREAL, AND HOW THEY AVOWED THE +ENQUEST OF THE SAME + + +The the king, at the queen's request, made him to alight and to unlace +his helm, that the queen might see him in the visage. When she beheld +him she said: Soothly I dare well say that Sir Launcelot begat him, +for never two men resembled more in likeness, therefore it is no +marvel though he be of great prowess. So a lady that stood by the +queen said: Madam, for God's sake ought he of right to be so good a +knight? Yea, forsooth, said the queen, for he is of all parties come +of the best knights of the world and of the highest lineage; for Sir +Launcelot is come but of the eighth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ, +and Sir Galahad is of the ninth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ, +therefore I dare say they be the greatest gentlemen of the world. And +then the king and all estates went home unto Camelot, and so went to +evensong to the great minster, and so after upon that to supper, and +every knight sat in his own place as they were toforehand. Then anon +they heard cracking and crying of thunder, that them thought the place +should all to drive. In the midst of this blast entered a sunbeam more +clearer by seven times than ever they saw day, and all they were +alighted of the grace of the Holy Ghost. Then began every knight to +behold other, and either saw other, by their seeming, fairer than ever +they saw afore. Not for then there was no knight might speak one word +a great while, and so they looked every man on other as they had been +dumb. Then there entered into the hall the Holy Greal covered with +white samite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it. And +there was all the hall fulfilled with good odours, and every knight +had such meats and drinks as he best loved in this world. And when the +Holy Greal had been borne through the hall, then the Holy Vessel +departed suddenly, that they wist not where it became: then had they +all breath to speak. And then the king yielded thankings to God, of +His good grace that he had sent them. Certes, said the king, we ought +to thank our Lord Jesu greatly for that he hath shewed us this day, at +the reverence of this high feast of Pentecost. Now, said Sir Gawaine, +we have been served this day of what meats and drinks we thought on; +but one thing beguiled us, we might not see the holy Grail, it was so +preciously covered. Wherefore I will make here avow, that tomorn, +without longer abiding, I shall labour in the quest of the Sangreal, +that I shall hold me out a twelvemonth and a day, or more if need be, +and never shall I return again unto the court till I have seen it more +openly than it hath been seen here; and if I may not speed I shall +return again as he that may not be against the will of our Lord Jesu +Christ. When they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say so, they +arose up the most part and made such avows as Sir Gawaine had made. +Anon as King Arthur heard this he was greatly displeased, for he wist +well they might not again say their avows. Alas, said King Arthur unto +Sir Gawaine, ye have nigh slain me with the avow and promise that ye +have made; for through you ye have bereft me the fairest fellowship +and the truest of knighthood that ever were seen together in any realm +of the world; for when they depart from hence I am sure they all shall +never meet more in this world, for they shall die many in the quest. +And so it forthinketh me a little, for I have loved them as well as my +life, wherefore it shall grieve me right sore, the departition of this +fellowship: for I have had an old custom to have them in my +fellowship. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HOW GREAT SORROW WAS MADE OF THE KING AND THE QUEEN AND LADIES FOR THE +DEPARTING OF THE KNIGHTS, AND HOW THEY DEPARTED + + +And therewith the tears filled in his eyes. And then he said: Gawaine, +Gawaine, ye have set me in great sorrow, for I have great doubt that +my true fellowship shall never meet here more again. Ah, said Sir +Launcelot, comfort yourself; for it shall be unto us a great honour +and much more than if we died in any other places, for of death we be +siccar. Ah, Launcelot, said the king, the great love that I have had +unto you all the days of my life maketh me to say such doleful words; +for never Christian king had never so many worthy men at his table as +I have had this day at the Round Table, and that is my great sorrow. +When the queen, ladies, and gentlewomen, wist these tidings, they had +such sorrow and heaviness that there might no tongue tell it, for +those knights had held them in honour and charity. But among all other +Queen Guenever made great sorrow. I marvel, said she, my lord would +suffer them to depart from him. Thus was all the court troubled for +the love of the departition of those knights. And many of those ladies +that loved knights would have gone with their lovers; and so had they +done, had not an old knight come among them in religious clothing; and +then he spake all on high and said: Fair lords, which have sworn in +the quest of the Sangreal, thus sendeth you Nacien, the hermit, word, +that none in this quest lead lady nor gentlewoman with him, for it is +not to do in so high a service as they labour in; for I warn you +plain, he that is not clean of his sins he shall not see the mysteries +of our Lord Jesu Christ. And for this cause they left these ladies and +gentlewomen. After this the queen came unto Galahad and asked him of +whence he was, and of what country. He told her of whence he was. And +son unto Launcelot, she said he was. As to that, he said neither yea +or nay. So God me help, said the queen, of your father ye need not to +shame you, for he is the goodliest knight, and of the best men of the +world come, and of the strain of all parties, of kings. Wherefore ye +ought of right to be, of your deeds, a passing good man; and +certainly, she said, ye resemble him much. Then Sir Galahad was a +little ashamed and said: Madam, sith ye know in certain, wherefore do +ye ask it me? for he that is my father shall be known openly and all +betimes. And then they went to rest them. And in the honour of the +highness of Galahad he was led into King Arthur's chamber, and there +rested in his own bed. And as soon as it was day the king arose, for +he had no rest of all that night for sorrow. Then he went unto Gawaine +and to Sir Launcelot that were arisen for to hear mass. And then the +king again said: Ah Gawaine, Gawaine, ye have betrayed me; for never +shall my court be amended by you, but ye will never be sorry for me as +I am for you. And therewith the tears began to run down by his visage. +And therewith the king said: Ah, knight Sir Launcelot, I require thee +thou counsel me, for I would that this quest were undone an it might +be. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, ye saw yesterday so many worthy knights +that then were sworn that they may not leave it in no manner of wise. +That wot I well, said the king, but it shall so heavy me at their +departing that I wot well there shall no manner of joy remedy me. And +then the king and the queen went unto the minster. So anon Launcelot +and Gawaine commanded their men to bring their arms. And when they all +were armed save their shields and their helms, then they came to their +fellowship, which were all ready in the same wise, for to go to the +minster to hear their service. Then after the service was done the +king would wit how many had undertaken the quest of the Holy Grail; +and to account them he prayed them all. Then found they by tale an +hundred and fifty, and all were knights of the Round Table. And then +they put on their helms and departed, and recommended them all wholly +unto the queen: and there was weeping and great sorrow. Then the queen +departed into her chamber so that no man should apperceive her great +sorrows. When Sir Launcelot missed the queen he went into her chamber, +and when she saw him she cried aloud: O Sir Launcelot, ye have +betrayed me and put me to death, for to leave thus my lord. Ah, madam, +said Sir Launcelot, I pray you be not displeased, for I shall come as +soon as I may with my worship. Alas, said she, that ever I saw you; +but he that suffered death upon the cross for all mankind be to you +good conduct and safety, and all the whole fellowship. Right so +departed Sir Launcelot, and found his fellowship that abode his +coming. And so they mounted upon their horses and rode through the +streets of Camelot; and there was weeping of the rich and poor, and +the king turned away and might not speak for weeping. So within a +while they came to a city, and a castle that hight Vagon. There they +entered into the castle, and the lord of that castle was an old man +that hight Vagon, and he was a good man of his living, and set open +the gates, and made them all the good cheer that he might. And so on +the morrow they were all accorded that they should depart every each +from other; and then they departed on the morrow with weeping and +mourning cheer, and every knight took the way that him best liked. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW GALAHAD GAT HIM A SHIELD, AND HOW THEY SPED THAT PRESUMED TO TAKE +DOWN THE SAID SHIELD + + +Now rideth Sir Galahad yet without shield, and so he rode four days +without any adventure. And at the fourth day after evensong he came to +a White Abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led +to a chamber, and there he was unarmed; and then was he ware of two +knights of the Round Table, one was King Bagdemagus, and that other +was Sir Uwaine. And when they saw him they went unto him and made of +him great solace, and so they went to supper. Sirs, said Sir Galahad, +what adventure brought you hither? Sir, said they, it is told us that +within this place is a shield that no man may bear about his neck but +if that he be mischieved or dead within three days, or else maimed for +ever. Ah sir, said King Bagdemagus, I shall it bear to-morrow for to +essay this strange adventure. In the name of God, said Sir Galahad. +Sir, said Bagdemagus, an I may not achieve the adventure of this +shield ye shall take it upon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail. +Sir, said Galahad, I agree right well thereto, for I have no shield. +So on the morn they arose and heard mass. Then King Bagdemagus asked +where the adventurous shield was. Anon a monk led him behind an altar +where the shield hung as white as any snow, but in the middes was a +red cross. Sir, said the monk, this shield ought not to be hanged +about no knight's neck but he be the worthiest knight of the world, +and therefore I counsel you knights to be well advised. Well, said +King Bagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight of the +world, but yet shall I essay to bear it. And so he bare it out of the +monastery; and then he said unto Sir Galahad: If it will please you I +pray you abide here still, till ye know how I shall speed. I shall +abide you here, said Galahad. Then King Bagdemagus took with him a +squire, the which should bring tidings unto Sir Galahad how he sped. +Then when they had ridden a two mile and came in a fair valley afore +an hermitage, then they saw a goodly knight come from that part in +white armour, horse and all; and he came as fast as his horse might +run, with his spear in the rest, and King Bagdemagus dressed his spear +against him and brake it upon the white knight. But the other struck +him so hard that he brake the mails, and thrust him through the right +shoulder, for the shield covered him not as at that time; and so he +bare him from his horse. And therewith he alighted and took the white +shield from him, saying: Knight, thou hast done thyself great folly, +for this shield ought not to be borne but by him that shall have no +peer that liveth. And then he came to King Bagdemagus' squire and +said: Bear this shield unto the good knight Sir Galahad, that thou +left in the abbey, and greet him well from me. Sir, said the squire, +what is your name? Take thou no heed of my name, said the knight, for +it is not for thee to know nor for none earthly man. Now, fair sir, +said the squire, at the reverence of Jesu Christ, tell me for what +cause this shield may not be borne but if the bearer thereof be +mischieved. Now sith thou hast conjured me so, said the knight, this +shield behoveth unto no man but unto Galahad. And the squire went unto +Bagdemagus and asked whether he were sore wounded or not. Yea, +forsooth, said he, I shall escape hard from the death. Then he fetched +his horse, and brought him with great pain unto an abbey. Then was he +taken down softly and unarmed, and laid in a bed, and there was looked +to his wounds. And as the book telleth, he lay there long, and escaped +hard with the life. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW GALAHAD DEPARTED WITH THE SHIELD, AND HOW KING EVELAKE HAD +RECEIVED THE SHIELD OF JOSEPH OF ARAMATHIE + + +Sir Galahad, said the squire, that knight that wounded Bagdemagus +sendeth you greeting, and bad that ye should bear this shield, +wherethrough great adventures should befall. Now blessed be God and +fortune, said Galahad. And then he asked his arms, and mounted upon +his horse, and hung the white shield about his neck, and commended +them unto God. And Sir Uwaine said he would bear him fellowship if it +pleased him. Sir, said Galahad, that may ye not, for I must go alone, +save this squire shall bear me fellowship: and so departed Uwaine. +Then within a while came Galahad there as the white knight abode him +by the hermitage, and every each saluted other courteously. Sir, said +Galahad, by this shield be many marvels fallen? Sir, said the knight, +it befell after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ thirty-two year, +that Joseph of Aramathie, the gentle knight, the which took down our +Lord off the holy Cross, at that time he departed from Jerusalem with +a great party of his kindred with him. And so he laboured till that +they came to a city that hight Sarras. And at that same hour that +Joseph came to Sarras there was a king that hight Evelake, that had +great war against the Saracens, and in especial against one Saracen, +the which was King Evelake's cousin, a rich king and a mighty, which +marched nigh this land, and his name was called Tolleme la Feintes. So +on a day these two met to do battle. Then Joseph, the son of Joseph of +Aramathie, went to King Evelake and told him he should be discomfit +and slain, but if he left his belief of the old law and believed upon +the new law. And then there he shewed him the right belief of the Holy +Trinity, to the which he agreed unto with all his heart; and there +this shield was made for King Evelake, in the name of Him that died +upon the Cross. And then through his good belief he had the better of +King Tolleme. For when Evelake was in the battle there was a cloth set +afore the shield, and when he was in the greatest peril he let put +away the cloth, and then his enemies saw a figure of a man on the +Cross, wherethrough they all were discomfit. And so it befell that a +man of King Evelake's was smitten his hand off, and bare that hand in +his other hand; and Joseph called that man unto him and bade him go +with good devotion touch the Cross. And as soon as that man had +touched the Cross with his hand it was as whole as ever it was tofore. +Then soon after there fell a great marvel, that the cross of the +shield at one time vanished away that no man wist where it became. And +then King Evelake was baptised, and for the most part all the people +of that city. So, soon after Joseph would depart, and King Evelake +would go with him whether he would or nold. And so by fortune they +came into this land, that at that time was called Great Britain; and +there they found a great felon paynim, that put Joseph into prison. +And so by fortune tidings came unto a worthy man that hight Mondrames, +and he assembled all his people for the great renown he had heard of +Joseph; and so he came into the land of Great Britain and disinherited +this felon paynim and consumed him; and therewith delivered Joseph out +of prison. And after that all the people were turned to the Christian +faith. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOW JOSEPH MADE A CROSS ON THE WHITE SHIELD WITH HIS BLOOD, AND HOW +GALAHAD WAS BY A MONK BROUGHT TO A TOMB + + +Not long after that Joseph was laid in his deadly bed. And when King +Evelake saw that he made much sorrow, and said: For thy love I have +left my country, and sith ye shall depart out of this world, leave me +some token of yours that I may think on you. Joseph said: That will I +do full gladly; now bring me your shield that I took you when ye went +into battle against King Tolleme. Then Joseph bled sore at the nose, +so that he might not by no mean be staunched. And there upon that +shield he made a cross of his own blood. Now may ye see a remembrance +that I love you, for ye shall never see this shield but ye shall think +on me, and it shall be always as fresh as it is now. And never shall +man bear this shield about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the +time that Galahad, the good knight, bare it; and the last of my +lineage shall have it about his neck, that shall do many marvellous +deeds. Now, said King Evelake, where shall I put this shield, that +this worthy knight may have it? Ye shall leave it there as Nacien, the +hermit, shall be put after his death; for thither shall that good +knight come the fifteenth day after that he shall receive the order of +knighthood: and so that day that they set is this time that he have +his shield, and in the same abbey lieth Nacien, the hermit. And then +the white knight vanished away. Anon as the squire had heard these +words, he alit off his hackney and kneeled down at Galahad's feet, and +prayed him that he might go with him till he had made him knight. If I +would not refuse you? Then will ye make me a knight? said the squire, +and that order, by the grace of God, shall be well set in me. So Sir +Galahad granted him, and turned again unto the abbey where they came +from; and there men made great joy of Sir Galahad. And anon as he was +alit there was a monk brought him unto a tomb in a churchyard, where +there was such a noise that who that heard it should verily nigh be +mad or lose his strength: and Sir, they said, we deem it is a fiend. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF THE MARVEL THAT SIR GALAHAD SAW AND HEARD IN THE TOMB; AND HOW HE +MADE MELIAS KNIGHT + + +Now lead me thither, said Galahad. And so they did, all armed save his +helm. Now, said the good man, go to the tomb and lift it up. So he +did, and heard a great noise; and piteously it said, that all men +might hear it: Sir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not +nigh me, for thou shalt make me go again there where I have been so +long. But Galahad was nothing afraid, but lifted up the stone; and +there came out so foul a smoke, and after he saw the foulest figure +leap thereout that ever he saw in the likeness of a man; and then he +blessed him and wist well it was a fiend. Then heard he a voice say: +Galahad, I see there environ about thee so many angels that my power +may not dare thee. Right so Sir Galahad saw a body all armed lie in +that tomb, and beside him a sword. Now, fair brother, said Galahad, +let us remove this body, for it is not worthy to lie in this +churchyard, for he was a false Christian man. And therewith they all +departed and went to the abbey. And anon as he was unarmed a good man +came and set him down by him and said: Sir, I shall tell you what +betokeneth all that ye saw in the tomb; for that covered body +betokeneth the duresse of the world, and the great sin that our Lord +found in the world. For there was such wretchedness that the father +loved not the son, nor the son loved not the father; and that was one +of the causes that our Lord took flesh and blood of a clene maiden, +for our sins were so great at that time that wellnigh all was +wickedness. Truly, said Galahad, I believe you right well. So Sir +Galahad rested him there that night; and upon the morn he made the +squire knight, and asked him his name, and of what kindred he was +come. Sir, said he, men calleth me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of +the king of Denmark. Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith that ye be come +of kings and queens, now look that knighthood be well set in you, for +ye ought to be a mirror unto all chivalry. Sir, said Sir Melias, ye +say sooth. But, sir, sithen ye have made me a knight ye must of right +grant me my first desire that is reasonable. Ye say sooth, said +Galahad. Melias said: Then that ye will suffer me to ride with you in +this quest of the Sangreal, till that some adventure depart us. I +grant you, sir. Then men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear +and his horse, and so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all that week or +they found any adventure. And then upon a Monday in the morning, as +they were departed from an abbey, they came to a cross which departed +two ways, and in that cross were letters written that said thus: Now, +ye knights errant, the which goeth to seek knights adventurous, see +here two ways; that one way defendeth thee that thou ne go that way, +for he shall not go out of the way again but if he be a good man and a +worthy knight; and if thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not lightly +there win prowess, for thou shalt in this way be soon essayed. Sir, +said Melias to Galahad, if it like you to suffer me to take the way on +the left hand, tell me, for there I shall well prove my strength. It +were better, said Galahad, ye rode not that way, for I deem I should +better escape in that way than ye. Nay, my lord, I pray you let me +have that adventure. Take it in God's name, said Galahad. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF THE ADVENTURE THAT MELIAS HAD, AND HOW GALAHAD REVENGED HIM, AND +HOW MELIAS WAS CARRIED INTO AN ABBEY + + +And then rode Melias into an old forest, and therein he rode two days +and more. And then he came into a fair meadow, and there was a fair +lodge of boughs. And then he espied in that lodge a chair, wherein was +a crown of gold, subtily wrought. Also there were cloths covered upon +the earth, and many delicious meats set thereon. Sir Melias beheld +this adventure, and thought it marvellous, but he had no hunger, but +of the crown of gold he took much keep; and therewith he stooped down +and took it up, and rode his way with it. And anon he saw a knight +came riding after him that said: Knight, set down that crown which is +not yours, and therefore defend you. Then Sir Melias blessed him and +said: Fair lord of heaven, help and save thy new-made knight. And then +they let their horses run as fast as they might, so that the other +knight smote Sir Melias through hauberk and through the left side, +that he fell to the earth nigh dead. And then he took the crown and +went his way; and Sir Melias lay still and had no power to stir. In +the meanwhile by fortune there came Sir Galahad and found him there in +peril of death. And then he said: Ah, Melias, who hath wounded you? +therefore it had been better to have ridden the other way. And when +Sir Melias heard him speak: Sir, he said, for God's love let me not +die in this forest, but bear me unto the abbey here beside, that I may +be confessed and have my rights. It shall be done, said Galahad, but +where is he that hath wounded you? With that Sir Galahad heard in the +leaves cry on high: Knight, keep thee from me. Ah sir, said Melias, +beware, for that is he that hath slain me. Sir Galahad answered: Sir +knight, come on your peril. Then either dressed to other, and came +together as fast as their horses might run, and Galahad smote him so +that his spear went through his shoulder, and smote him down off his +horse, and in the falling Galahad's spear brake. With that came out +another knight out of the leaves, and brake a spear upon Galahad or +ever he might turn him. Then Galahad drew out his sword and smote off +the left arm of him, so that it fell to the earth. And then he fled, +and Sir Galahad pursued fast after him. And then he turned again unto +Sir Melias, and there he alit and dressed him softly on his horse +tofore him, for the truncheon of his spear was in his body; and Sir +Galahad start up behind him, and held him in his arms, and so brought +him to the abbey, and there unarmed him and brought him to his +chamber. And then he asked his Saviour. And when he had received Him +he said unto Sir Galahad: Sir, let death come when it pleaseth him. +And therewith he drew out the truncheon of the spear out of his body: +and then he swooned. Then came there an old monk which sometime had +been a knight, and beheld Sir Melias. And anon he ransacked him; and +then he said unto Sir Galahad: I shall heal him of his wound, by the +grace of God, within the term of seven weeks. Then was Sir Galahad +glad, and unarmed him, and said he would abide there three days. And +then he asked Sir Melias how it stood with him. Then he said he was +turned unto helping, God be thanked. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HOW SIR GALAHAD DEPARTED, AND HOW HE WAS COMMANDED TO GO TO THE CASTLE +OF MAIDENS TO DESTROY THE WICKED CUSTOM + + +Now will I depart, said Galahad, for I have much on hand, for many +good knights be full busy about it, and this knight and I were in the +same quest of the Sangreal. Sir, said the good man, for his sin he was +thus wounded; and I marvel, said the good man, how ye durst take upon +you so rich a thing as the high order of knighthood without clene +confession, and that was the cause ye were bitterly wounded. For the +way on the right hand betokeneth the highway of our Lord Jesu Christ, +and the way of a good true good liver. And the other way betokeneth +the way of sinners and of misbelievers. And when the devil saw your +pride and presumption, for to take you in the quest of the Sangreal, +that made you to be overthrown, for it may not be achieved but by +virtuous living. Also, the writing on the cross was a signification of +heavenly deeds, and of knightly deeds in God's works, and no knightly +deeds in worldly works. And pride is head of all deadly sins, that +caused this knight to depart from Galahad. And where thou tookest the +crown of gold thou sinnest in covetise and in theft: all this were no +knightly deeds. And this Galahad, the holy knight, the which fought +with the two knights, the two knights signify the two deadly sins +which were wholly in this knight Melias; and they might not withstand +you, for ye are without deadly sin. Now departed Galahad from thence, +and betaught them all unto God. Sir Melias said: My lord Galahad, as +soon as I may ride I shall seek you. God send you health, said +Galahad, and so took his horse and departed, and rode many journeys +forward and backward, as adventure would lead him. And at the last it +happened him to depart from a place or a castle the which was named +Abblasoure; and he had heard no mass, the which he was wont ever to +hear or ever he departed out of any castle or place, and kept that for +a custom. Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain where he found an old +chapel, and found there nobody, for all, all was desolate; and there +he kneeled tofore the altar, and besought God of wholesome counsel. So +as he prayed he heard a voice that said: Go thou now, thou adventurous +knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and there do thou away the wicked +customs. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW SIR GALAHAD FOUGHT WITH THE KNIGHTS OF THE CASTLE, AND DESTROYED +THE WICKED CUSTOM + + +When Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God, and took his horse; and he +had not ridden but half a mile, he saw in a valley afore him a strong +castle with deep ditches, and there ran beside it a fair river that +hight Severn; and there he met with a man of great age, and either +saluted other, and Galahad asked him the castle's name. Fair sir, said +he, it is the Castle of Maidens. That is a cursed castle, said +Galahad, and all they that be conversant therein, for all pity is out +thereof, and all hardiness and mischief is therein. Therefore, I +counsel you, sir knight, to turn again. Sir, said Galahad, wit you +well I shall not turn again. Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that +nothing failed him, and then he put his shield afore him; and anon +there met him seven fair maidens, the which said unto him: Sir knight, +ye ride here in a great folly, for ye have the water to pass over. Why +should I not pass the water? said Galahad. So rode he away from them +and met with a squire that said: Knight, those knights in the castle +defy you, and defenden you ye go no further till that they wit what ye +would. Fair sir, said Galahad, I come for to destroy the wicked custom +of this castle. Sir, an ye will abide by that ye shall have enough to +do. Go you now, said Galahad, and haste my needs. Then the squire +entered into the castle. And anon after there came out of the castle +seven knights, and all were brethren. And when they saw Galahad they +cried: Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee nothing but death. Why, +said Galahad; will ye all have ado with me at once? Yea, said they, +thereto mayest thou trust. Then Galahad put forth his spear and smote +the foremost to the earth, that near he brake his neck. And +therewithal the other smote him on his shield great strokes, so that +their spears brake. Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword, and set upon +them so hard that it was marvel to see it, and so through great force +he made them to forsake the field; and Galahad chased them till they +entered into the castle, and so passed through the castle at another +gate. And there met Sir Galahad an old man clothed in religious +clothing, and said; Sir, have here the keys of this castle. Then Sir +Galahad opened the gates, and saw so much people in the streets that +he might not number them, and all said: Sir, ye be welcome, for long +have we abiden here our deliverance. Then came to him a gentlewoman +and said: These knights be fled, but they will come again this night, +and here to begin again their evil custom. What will ye that I shall +do? said Galahad. Sir, said the gentlewoman, that ye send after all +the knights hither that hold their lands of this castle, and make them +to swear for to use the customs that were used heretofore of old time. +I will well, said Galahad. And there she brought him an horn of ivory, +bounden with gold richly, and said: Sir, blow this horn which will be +heard two mile about this castle. When Sir Galahad had blown the horn +he set him down upon a bed. Then came a priest to Galahad, and said: +Sir, it is past a seven year agone that these seven brethren came into +this castle, and harboured with the lord of this castle, that hight +the Duke Lianour, and he was lord of all this country. And when they +espied the duke's daughter, that was a full fair woman, then by their +false covin they made debate betwixt themself, and the duke of his +goodness would have departed them, and there they slew him and his +eldest son. And then they took the maiden and the treasure of the +castle. And then by great force they held all the knights of this +castle against their will under their obeisance, and in great service +and truage, robbing and pillaging the poor common people of all that +they had. So it happened on a day the duke's daughter said: Ye have +done unto me great wrong to slay mine own father, and my brother, and +thus to hold our lands: not for then, she said, ye shall not hold this +castle for many years, for by one knight ye shall be overcome. Thus +she prophesied seven years agone. Well, said the seven knights, sithen +ye say so, there shall never lady nor knight pass this castle but they +shall abide maugre their heads, or die therefor, till that knight be +come by whom we shall lose this castle. And therefore is it called the +Maidens' Castle, for they have devoured many maidens. Now, said +Galahad, is she here for whom this castle was lost? Nay sir, said the +priest, she was dead within these three nights after that she was thus +enforced; and sithen have they kept her younger sister, which endureth +great pains with more other ladies. By this were the knights of the +country come, and then he made them do homage and fealty to the king's +daughter, and set them in great ease of heart. And in the morn there +came one to Galahad and told him how that Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, +had slain the seven brethren. I suppose well, said Sir Galahad, and +took his armour and his horse, and commended them unto God. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HOW SIR GAWAINE CAME TO THE ABBEY FOR TO FOLLOW GALAHAD, AND HOW HE +WAS SHRIVEN TO A HERMIT + + +Now, saith the tale, after Sir Gawaine departed, he rode many +journeys, both toward and froward. And at the last he came to the +abbey where Sir Galahad had the white shield, and there Sir Gawaine +learned the way to sewe after Sir Galahad; and so he rode to the abbey +where Melias lay sick, and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawaine of the +marvellous adventures that Sir Galahad did. Certes, said Sir Gawaine, +I am not happy that I took not the way that he went, for an I may meet +with him I will not depart from him lightly, for all marvellous +adventures that Sir Galahad achieveth. Sir, said one of the monks, he +will not of your fellowship. Why? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said he, for +ye be wicked and sinful, and he is full blessed. Right as they thus +stood talking there came in riding Sir Gareth. And then they made joy +either of other. And on the morn they heard mass, and so departed. And +by the way they met with Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, and there Sir Uwaine +told Sir Gawaine how he had met with none adventure sith he departed +from the court. Nor we, said Sir Gawaine. And either promised other of +the three knights not to depart while they were in that quest, but if +fortune caused it. So they departed and rode by fortune till that they +came by the Castle of Maidens; and there the seven brethren espied the +three knights, and said: Sithen, we be flemyd by one knight from this +castle, we shall destroy all the knights of King Arthur's that we may +overcome, for the love of Sir Galahad. And therewith the seven knights +set upon the three knights, and by fortune Sir Gawaine slew one of the +brethren, and each one of his fellows slew another, and so slew the +remnant. And then they took the way under the castle, and there they +lost the way that Sir Galahad rode, and there every each of them +departed from other; and Sir Gawaine rode till he came to an +hermitage, and there he found the good man saying his evensong of Our +Lady; and there Sir Gawaine asked harbour for charity, and the good +man granted it him gladly. Then the good man asked him what he was. +Sir, he said, I am a knight of King Arthur's that am in the quest of +the Sangreal, and my name is Sir Gawaine. Sir, said the good man, I +would wit how it standeth betwixt God and you. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, +I will with a good will shew you my life if it please you; and there +he told the hermit How a monk of an abbey called me wicked knight. He +might well say it, said the hermit, for when ye were first made knight +you should have taken you to knightly deeds and virtuous living, and +ye have done the contrary, for ye have lived mischievously many +winters; and Sir Galahad is a maid and sinner never, and that is the +cause he shall achieve where he goeth that ye nor none such shall not +attain, nor none in your fellowship, for ye have used the most +untruest life that ever I heard knight live. For certes had ye not +been so wicked as ye are, never had the seven brethren been slain by +you and your two fellows. For Sir Galahad himself alone beat them all +seven the day tofore, but his living is such he shall slay no man +lightly. Also I may say you the Castle of Maidens betokeneth the good +souls that were in prison afore the Incarnation of Jesu Christ. And +the seven knights betoken the seven deadly sins that reigned that time +in the world; and I may liken the good Galahad unto the son of the +High Father, that light within a maid, and bought all the souls out of +thrall: so did Sir Galahad deliver all the maidens out of the woful +castle. Now, Sir Gawaine, said the good man, thou must do penance for +thy sin. Sir, what penance shall I do? Such as I will give, said the +good man. Nay, said Sir Gawaine, I may do no penance; for we knights +adventurous oft suffer great woe and pain. Well, said the good man, +and then he held his peace. And on the morn Sir Gawaine departed from +the hermit, and betaught him unto God. And by adventure he met with +Sir Aglovale and Sir Griflet, two knights of the Table Round. And they +two rode four days without finding of any adventure, and at the fifth +day they departed. And every each held as befel them by adventure. +Here leaveth the tale o£ Sir Gawaine and his fellows, and speak we of +Sir Galahad. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HOW SIR GALAHAD MET WITH SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR PERCIVALE, AND SMOTE +THEM DOWN, AND DEPARTED FROM THEM + + +So when Sir Galahad was departed from the Castle o£ Maidens he rode +till he came to a waste forest, and there he met with Sir Launcelot +and Sir Percivale, but they knew him not, for he was new disguised. +Right so Sir Launcelot, his father, dressed his spear and brake it +upon Sir Galahad, and Galahad smote him so again that he smote down +horse and man. And then he drew his sword, and dressed him unto Sir +Percivale, and smote him so on the helm, that it rove to the coif of +steel; and had not the sword swerved Sir Percivale had been slain, and +with the stroke he fell out of his saddle. This jousts was done tofore +the hermitage where a recluse dwelled. And when she saw Sir Galahad +ride, she said: God be with thee, best knight of the world. Ah certes, +said she, all aloud that Launcelot and Percivale might hear it: An +yonder two knights had known thee as well as I do they would not have +encountered with thee. When Sir Galahad heard her say so he was adread +to be known: therewith he smote his horse with his spurs and rode a +great pace froward them. Then perceived they both that he was Galahad; +and up they gat on their horses, and rode fast after him, but in a +while he was out of their sight. And then they turned again with heavy +cheer. Let us spere some tidings, said Percivale, at yonder recluse. +Do as ye list, said Sir Launcelot. When Sir Percivale came to the +recluse she knew him well enough, and Sir Launcelot both. But Sir +Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a wild forest, and held no +path but as wild adventure led him. And at the last he came to a stony +cross which departed two ways in waste land; and by the cross was a +stone that was of marble, but it was so dark that Sir Launcelot might +not wit what it was. Then Sir Launcelot looked by him, and saw an old +chapel, and there he weened to have found people; and Sir Launcelot +tied his horse till a tree, and there he did off his shield and hung +it upon a tree. And then he went to the chapel door, and found it +waste and broken. And within he found a fair altar, full richly +arrayed with cloth of clene silk, and there stood a fair clean +candlestick, which bare six great candles, and the candlestick was of +silver. And when Sir Launcelot saw this light he had great will for to +enter into the chapel, but he could find no place where he might +enter; then was he passing heavy and dismayed. Then he returned and +came to his horse and did off his saddle and bridle, and let him +pasture, and unlaced his helm, and ungirt his sword, and laid him down +to sleep upon his shield tofore the cross. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT, HALF SLEEPING AND HALF WAKING, SAW A SICK MAN BORNE +IN A LITTER, AND HOW HE WAS HEALED WITH THE SANGREAL + + +And so he fell on sleep; and half waking and sleeping he saw come by +him two palfreys all fair and white, the which bare a litter, therein +lying a sick knight. And when he was nigh the cross he there abode +still. All this Sir Launcelot saw and beheld, for he slept not verily; +and he heard him say: O sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow leave me? +and when shall the holy vessel come by me, wherethrough I shall be +blessed? For I have endured thus long, for little trespass. A full +great while complained the knight thus, and always Sir Launcelot heard +it. With that Sir Launcelot saw the candlestick with the six tapers +come before the cross, and he saw nobody that brought it. Also there +came a table of silver, and the holy vessel of the Sangreal, which +Launcelot had seen aforetime in King Pescheour's house. And therewith +the sick knight set him up, and held up both his hands, and said: Fair +sweet Lord, which is here within this holy vessel; take heed unto me +that I may be whole of this malady. And therewith on his hands and on +his knees he went so nigh that he touched the holy vessel and kissed +it, and anon he was whole; and then he said: Lord God, I thank thee, +for I am healed of this sickness. So when the holy vessel had been +there a great while it went unto the chapel with the chandelier and +the light, so that Launcelot wist not where it was become; for he was +overtaken with sin that he had no power to rise ageyne the holy +vessel; wherefore after that many men said of him shame, but he took +repentance after that. Then the sick knight dressed him up and kissed +the cross; anon his squire brought him his arms, and asked his lord +how he did. Certes, said he, I thank God right well, through the holy +vessel I am healed. But I have marvel of this sleeping knight that had +no power to awake when this holy vessel was brought hither. I dare +right well say, said the squire, that he dwelleth in some deadly sin +whereof he was never confessed. By my faith, said the knight, +whatsomever he be he is unhappy, for as I deem he is of the fellowship +of the Round Table, the which is entered into the quest of the +Sangreal. Sir, said the squire, here I have brought you all your arms +save your helm and your sword, and therefore by mine assent now may ye +take this knight's helm and his sword: and so he did. And when he was +clene armed he took Sir Launcelot's horse, for he was better than his; +and so departed they from the Cross. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HOW A VOICE SPAKE TO SIR LAUNCELOT, AND HOW HE FOUND HIS HORSE AND HIS +HELM BORNE AWAY, AND AFTER WENT AFOOT + + +Then anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set him up, and bethought him what +he had seen there, and whether it were dreams or not. Right so heard +he a voice that said: Sir Launcelot, more harder than is the stone, +and more bitter than is the wood, and more naked and barer than is the +leaf of the fig tree; therefore go thou from hence, and withdraw thee +from this holy place. And when Sir Launcelot heard this he was passing +heavy and wist not what to do, and so departed sore weeping, and +cursed the time that he was born. For then he deemed never to have had +worship more. For those words went to his heart, till that he knew +wherefore he was called so. Then Sir Launcelot went to the cross and +found his helm, his sword, and his horse taken away. And then he +called himself a very wretch, and most unhappy of all knights; and +there he said: My sin and my wickedness have brought me unto great +dishonour. For when I sought worldly adventures for worldly desires, I +ever achieved them and had the better in every place, and never was I +discomfit in no quarrel, were it right or wrong. And now I take upon +me the adventures of holy things, and now I see and understand that +mine old sin hindereth me and shameth me, so that I had no power to +stir nor speak when the holy blood appeared afore me. So thus lie +sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls sing: then somewhat he +was comforted. But when Sir Launcelot missed his horse and his harness +then he wist well God was displeased with him. Then he departed from +the cross on foot into a forest; and so by prime he came to an high +hill, and found an hermitage and a hermit therein which was going unto +mass. And then Launcelot kneeled down and cried on Our Lord mercy for +his wicked works. So when mass was done Launcelot called him, and +prayed him for charity for to hear his life. With a good will, said +the good man. Sir, said he, be ye of King Arthur's court and of the +fellowship of the Round Table? Yea forsooth, and my name is Sir +Launcelot du Lake that hath been right well said of, and now my good +fortune is changed, for I am the most wretch of the world. The hermit +beheld him and had marvel how he was so abashed. Sir, said the hermit, +ye ought to thank God more than any knight living, for He hath caused +you to have more worldly worship than any knight that now liveth. And +for your presumption to take upon you in deadly sin for to be in His +presence, where His flesh and His blood was, that caused you ye might +not see it with worldly eyes; for He will not appear where such +sinners be, but if it be unto their great hurt and unto their great +shame; and there is no knight living now that ought to give God so +great thank as ye, for He hath given you beauty, seemliness, and great +strength above all other knights; and therefore ye are the more +beholding unto God than any other man, to love Him and dread Him, for +your strength and manhood will little avail you an God be against you. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT WAS SHRIVEN, AND WHAT SORROW HE MADE, AND OF THE +GOOD ENSAMPLES WHICH WERE SHEWED HIM + + +Then Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said: Now I know well ye +say me sooth. Sir, said the good man, hide none old sin from me. +Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that were me full loth to discover. For +this fourteen year I never discovered one thing that I have used, and +that may I now wyte my shame and my misadventure. And then he told +there that good man all his life. And how he had loved a queen +immeasurably and out of measure long. And all my great deeds of arms +that I have done, I did for the most part for the queen's sake, and +for her sake would I do battle were it right or wrong; and never did I +battle all only for God's sake, but for to win worship and to cause me +to be the better beloved, and little or nought I thanked God of it. +Then Sir Launcelot said: I pray you counsel me. I will counsel you, +said the hermit, if ye will ensure me that ye will never come in that +queen's fellowship as much as ye may forbear. And then Sir Launcelot +promised him he nold, by the faith of his body. Look that your heart +and your mouth accord, said the good man, and I shall ensure you ye +shall have more worship than ever ye had. Holy father, said Sir +Launcelot, I marvel of the voice that said to me marvellous words, as +ye have heard toforehand. Have ye no marvel, said the good man, +thereof, for it seemeth well God loveth you; for men may understand a +stone is hard of kind, and namely one more than another; and that is +to understand by thee, Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not leave thy sin +for no goodness that God hath sent thee; therefore thou art more than +any stone, and never wouldst thou be made neysshe nor by water nor by +fire, and that is the hete of the Holy Ghost may not enter in thee, +Now take heed, in all the world men shall not find one knight to whom +Our Lord hath given so much of grace as He hath given you, for He hath +given you fairness with seemliness, He hath given thee wit, discretion +to know good from evil. He hath given thee prowess and hardiness, and +given thee to work so largely that thou hast had at all days the +better wheresomever thou came; and now Our Lord will suffer thee no +longer, but that thou shalt know Him whether thou wilt or nylt. And +why the voice called thee bitterer than wood, for where overmuch sin +dwelleth, there may be but little sweetness, wherefore thou art +likened to an old rotten tree. Now have I shewed thee why thou art +harder than the stone and bitterer than the tree. Now shall I shew +thee why thou art more naked and barer than the fig tree. It befel +that Our Lord on Palm Sunday preached in Jerusalem, and there He found +in the people that all hardness was harboured in them, and there He +found in all the town not one that would harbour him. And then He went +without the town, and found in the middes of the way a fig tree, the +which was right fair and well garnished of leaves, but fruit had it +none. Then Our Lord cursed the tree that bare no fruit; that +betokeneth the fig tree unto Jerusalem, that had leaves and no fruit. +So thou, Sir Launcelot, when the Holy Grail was brought afore thee, He +found in thee no fruit, nor good thought nor good will, and defouled +with lechery. Certes, said Sir Launcelot, all that you have said is +true, and from henceforward I cast me, by the grace of God, never to +be so wicked as I have been, but as to follow knighthood and to do +feats of arms. Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such penance +as he might do and to pursue knighthood, and so assoiled him, and +prayed Sir Launcelot to abide with him all that day. I will well, said +Sir Launcelot, for I have neither helm, nor horse, nor sword. As for +that, said the good man, I shall help you or tomorn at even of an +horse, and all that longed unto you. And then Sir Launcelot repented +him greatly. + +_Here leaveth of the history of syr launcelot. And here followeth of +sir Percyvale de galys which is the xiiii book_. + + + + +THE FOURTEENTH BOOK + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE CAME TO A RECLUSE AND ASKED COUNSEL, AND HOW SHE +TOLD HIM THAT SHE WAS HIS AUNT + + +Now saith the tale, that when Sir Launcelot was ridden after Sir +Galahad, the which had all these adventures above said, Sir Percivale +turned again unto the recluse, where he deemed to have tidings of that +knight that Launcelot followed. And so he kneeled at her window, and +the recluse opened it and asked Sir Percivale what he would. Madam, he +said, I am a knight of King Arthur's court, and my name is Sir +Percivale de Galis. When the recluse heard his name she had great joy +of him, for mickle she had loved him tofore any other knight, for she +ought to do so, for she was his aunt. And then she commanded the gates +to be opened, and there he had all the cheer that she might make him, +and all that was in her power was at his commandment. So on the morn +Sir Percivale went to the recluse and asked her if she knew that +knight with the white shield. Sir, said she, why would ye wit? Truly, +madam, said Sir Percivale, I shall never be well at ease till that I +know of that knight's fellowship, and that I may fight with him, for I +may not leave him so lightly, for I have the shame yet. Ah, Percivale, +said she, would ye fight with him? I see well ye have great will to be +slain as your father was through outrageousness. Madam, said Sir +Percivale, it seemeth by your words that ye know me. Yea, said she, I +well ought to know you, for I am your aunt, although I be in a priory +place. For some called me sometime the queen of the Waste Lands, and I +was called the queen of most riches in the world; and it pleased me +never my riches so much as doth my poverty. Then Sir Percivale wept +for very pity when that he knew it was his aunt. Ah, fair nephew, said +she, when heard ye tidings of your mother? Truly, said he, I heard +none of her, but I dream of her much in my sleep; and therefore I wot +not whether she be dead or on live. Certes, fair nephew, said she, +your mother is dead, for after your departing from her she took such a +sorrow that anon, after she was confessed, she died. Now, God have +mercy on her soul, said Sir Percivale, it sore forthinketh me; but all +we must change the life. Now, fair aunt, tell me what is the knight? I +deem it be he that bare the red arms on Whitsunday. Wit you well, said +she, that this is he, for otherwise ought he not to do, but to go in +red arms; and that same knight hath no peer, for he worketh all by +miracle, and he shall never be overcome of none earthly man's hand. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HOW MERLIN LIKENED THE ROUND TABLE TO THE WORLD, AND HOW THE KNIGHTS +THAT SHOULD ACHIEVE THE SANGREAL SHOULD BE KNOWN + + +Also Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness of the +world, for by the Round Table is the world signified by right, for all +the world, Christian and heathen, repair unto the Round Table; and +when they are chosen to be of the fellowship of the Round Table they +think them more blessed and more in worship than if they had gotten +half the world; and ye have seen that they have lost their fathers and +their mothers, and all their kin, and their wives and their children, +for to be of your fellowship. It is well seen by you; for since ye +have departed from your mother ye would never see her, ye found such +fellowship at the Round Table. When Merlin had ordained the Round +Table he said, by them which should be fellows of the Round Table the +truth of the Sangreal should be well known. And men asked him how men +might know them that should best do and to achieve the Sangreal? Then +he said there should be three white bulls that should achieve it, and +the two should be maidens, and the third should be chaste. And that +one of the three should pass his father as much as the lion passeth +the leopard, both of strength and hardiness. They that heard Merlin +say so said thus unto Merlin: Sithen there shall be such a knight, +thou shouldest ordain by thy crafts a siege, that no man should sit in +it but he all only that shall pass all other knights. Then Merlin +answered that he would do so. And then he made the Siege Perilous, in +the which Galahad sat in at his meat on Whitsunday last past. Now, +madam, said Sir Percivale, so much have I heard of you that by my good +will I will never have ado with Sir Galahad but by way of kindness; +and for God's love, fair aunt, can ye teach me some way where I may +find him? for much would I love the fellowship of him. Fair nephew, +said she, ye must ride unto a castle the which is called Goothe, where +he hath a cousin-germain, and there may ye be lodged this night. And +as he teacheth you, pursue after as fast as ye can; and if he can tell +you no tidings of him, ride straight unto the Castle of Carbonek, +where the maimed king is there lying, for there shall ye hear true +tidings of him. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE CAME INTO A MONASTERY, WHERE HE FOUND KING EVELAKE, +WHICH WAS AN OLD MAN + + +Then departed Sir Percivale from his aunt, either making great sorrow. +And so he rode till evensong time. And then he heard a clock smite; +and then he was ware of an house closed well with walls and deep +ditches, and there he knocked at the gate and was let in, and he alit +and was led unto a chamber, and soon he was unarmed. And there he had +right good cheer all that night; and on the morn he heard his mass, +and in the monastery he found a priest ready at the altar. And on the +right side he saw a pew closed with iron, and behind the altar he saw +a rich bed and a fair, as of cloth of silk and gold. Then Sir +Percivale espied that therein was a man or a woman, for the visage was +covered; then he left off his looking and heard his service. And when +it came to the sacring, he that lay within that percloos dressed him +up, and uncovered his head; and then him beseemed a passing old man, +and he had a crown of gold upon his head, and his shoulders were naked +and unhilled unto his navel. And then Sir Percivale espied his body +was full of great wounds, both on the shoulders, arms, and visage. And +ever he held up his hands against our Lord's body, and cried: Fair, +sweet Father, Jesu Christ, forget not me. And so he lay down, but +always he was in his prayers and orisons; and him seemed to be of the +age of three hundred winter. And when the mass was done the priest +took Our Lord's body and bare it to the sick king. And when he had +used it he did off his crown, and commanded the crown to be set on the +altar. Then Sir Percivale asked one of the brethren what he was. Sir, +said the good man, ye have heard much of Joseph of Aramathie, how he +was sent by Jesu Christ into this land for to teach and preach the +holy Christian faith; and therefore he suffered many persecutions the +which the enemies of Christ did unto him, and in the city of Sarras he +converted a king whose name was Evelake. And so this king came with +Joseph into this land, and ever he was busy to be thereas the Sangreal +was; and on a time be nighed it so nigh that Our Lord was displeased +with him, but ever he followed it more and more, till God struck him +almost blind. Then this king cried mercy, and said: Fair Lord, let me +never die till the good knight of my blood of the ninth degree be +come, that I may see him openly that he shall achieve the Sangreal, +that I may kiss him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE SAW MANY MEN OF ARMS BEARING A DEAD KNIGHT, AND HOW +HE FOUGHT AGAINST THEM + + +When the king thus had made his prayers he heard a voice that said: +Heard be thy prayers, for thou shalt not die till he have kissed thee. +And when that knight shall come the clearness of your eyes shall come +again, and thou shalt see openly, and thy wounds shall be healed, and +erst shall they never close. And this befel of King Evelake, and this +same king hath lived this three hundred winter this holy life, and men +say the knight is in the court that shall heal him. Sir, said the good +man, I pray you tell me what knight that ye be, and if ye be of King +Arthur's court and of the Table Round. Yea, forsooth, said he, and my +name is Sir Percivale de Galis. And when the good man understood his +name he made great joy of him. And then Sir Percivale departed and +rode till the hour of noon. And he met in a valley about a twenty men +of arms, which bare in a bier a knight deadly slain. And when they saw +Sir Percivale they asked him of whence he was. And he answered: Of the +court of King Arthur. Then they cried all at once: Slay him. Then Sir +Percivale smote the first to the earth and his horse upon him. And +then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once, and the +remnant slew his horse so that he fell to the earth. So had they slain +him or taken him had not the good knight, Sir Galahad, with the red +arms come there by adventure into those parts. And when he saw all +those knights upon one knight he cried: Save me that knight's life. +And then he dressed him toward the twenty men of arms as fast as his +horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote the foremost +horse and man to the earth. And when his spear was broken he set his +hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left hand +that it was marvel to see, and at every stroke he smote one down or +put him to a rebuke, so that they would fight no more but fled to a +thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them. And when Sir Percivale +saw him chase them so, he made great sorrow that his horse was away. +And then he wist well it was Sir Galahad. And then he cried aloud: Ah, +fair knight, abide and suffer me to do thankings unto thee, for much +have ye done for me. But ever Sir Galahad rode so fast that at the +last he passed out of his sight. And as fast as Sir Percivale might he +went after him on foot, crying. And then he met with a yeoman riding +upon an hackney, the which led in his hand a great steed blacker than +any bear. Ah, fair friend, said Sir Percivale, as ever I may do for +you, and to be your true knight in the first place ye will require me, +that ye will lend me that black steed, that I might overtake a knight +the which rideth afore me. Sir knight, said the yeoman, I pray you +hold me excused of that, for that I may not do. For wit ye well, the +horse is such a man's horse, that an I lent it you or any man, that he +would slay me. Alas, said Sir Percivale, I had never so great sorrow +as I have had for losing of yonder knight. Sir, said the yeoman, I am +right heavy for you, for a good horse would beseem you well; but I +dare not deliver you this horse but if ye would take him from me. That +will I not do, said Sir Percivale. And so they departed; and Sir +Percivale set him down under a tree, and made sorrow out of measure. +And as he was there, there came a knight riding on the horse that the +yeoman led, and he was clene armed. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW A YEOMAN DESIRED HIM TO GET AGAIN AN HORSE AND HOW SIR PERCIVALE'S +HACKNEY WAS SLAIN, AND HOW HE GAT AN HORSE + + +And anon the yeoman came pricking after as fast as ever he might, and +asked Sir Percivale if he saw any knight riding on his black steed. +Yea, sir forsooth, said he; why, sir, ask ye me that? Ah, sir, that +steed he hath benome me with strength; wherefor my lord will slay me +in what place he findeth me. Well, said Sir Percivale, what wouldst +thou that I did? Thou seest well that I am on foot, but an I had a +good horse I should bring him soon again. Sir, said the yeoman, take +mine hackney and do the best ye can, and I shall serve you on foot to +wit how that ye shall speed. Then Sir Percivale alit upon that +hackney, and rode as fast as he might, and at the last he saw that +knight And then he cried: Knight, turn again; and he turned and set +his spear again Sir Percivale, and he smote the hackney in the middes +of the breast that he fell down dead to the earth, and there he had a +great fall, and the other rode his way. And then Sir Percivale was +wood worth, and cried: Abide, wicked knight; coward and false-hearted +knight, turn again and fight with me on foot. But he answered not, but +passed on his way. When Sir Percivale saw he would not turn he cast +away his helm and sword, and said: Now am I a very wretch, cursed and +most unhappy above all other knights. So in this sorrow he abode all +that day till it was night; and then he was faint, and laid him down +and slept till it was midnight; and then he awakened and saw afore him +a woman which said unto him right fiercely: Sir Percivale, what dost +thou here? He answered, I do neither good nor great ill. If thou wilt +ensure me, said she, that thou wilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, +I shall lend thee mine own horse which shall bear thee whither thou +wilt. Sir Percivale was glad of her proffer, and ensured her to fulfil +all her desire. Then abide me here, and I shall go and fetch you an +horse. And so she came soon again and brought an horse with her that +was inly black. When Percivale beheld that horse he marvelled that it +was so great and so well apparelled; and not for then he was so hardy, +and he leapt upon him, and took none heed of himself. And so anon as +he was upon him he thrust to him with his spurs, and so he rode by a +forest, and the moon shone clear. And within an hour and less he bare +him four days' journey thence, until he came to a rough water the +which roared, and his horse would have borne him into it. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OF THE GREAT DANGER THAT SIR PERCIVALE WAS IN BY HIS HORSE, AND HOW HE +SAW A SERPENT AND A LION FIGHT + + +And when Sir Percivale came nigh the brim, and saw the water so +boistous, he doubted to overpass it. And then he made a sign of the +cross on his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged he shook off +Sir Percivale, and he went into the water crying and roaring, making +great sorrow, and it seemed unto him that the water brent. Then Sir +Percivale perceived it was a fiend, the which would have brought him +unto his perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed Our +Lord to keep him from all such temptations; and so he prayed all that +night till on the morn that it was day; then he saw that he was in a +wild mountain the which was closed with the sea nigh all about, that +he might see no land about him which might relieve him, but wild +beasts. And then he went into a valley, and there he saw a young +serpent bring a young lion by the neck, and so he came by Sir +Percivale. With that came a great lion crying and roaring after the +serpent. And as fast as Sir Percivale saw this he marvelled, and hied +him thither, but anon the lion had overtaken the serpent and began +battle with him. And then Sir Percivale thought to help the lion for +he was the more natural beast of the two; and therewith he drew his +sword, and set his shield afore him, and there he gave the serpent +such a buffet that he had a deadly wound. When the lion saw that, he +made no resemblant to fight with him, but made him all the cheer that +a beast might make a man. Then Percivale perceived that, and cast down +his shield which was broken; and then he did off his helm for to +gather wind, for he was greatly enchafed with the serpent: and the +lion went alway about him fawning as a spaniel. And then he stroked +him on the neck and on the shoulders. And then he thanked God of the +fellowship of that beast. And about noon the lion took his little +whelp and trussed him and bare him there he came from. Then was Sir +Percivale alone. And as the tale telleth, he was one of the men of the +world at that time which most believed in our Lord Jesu Christ, for in +those days there were but few folks that believed in God perfectly. +For in those days the son spared not the father no more than a +stranger. And so Sir Percivale comforted himself in our Lord Jesu, and +besought God no temptation should bring him out of God's service, but +to endure as his true champion. Thus when Sir Percivale had prayed he +saw the lion come toward him, and then he couched down at his feet. +And so all that night the lion and he slept together; and when Sir +Percivale slept he dreamed a marvellous dream, that there two ladies +met with him, and that one sat upon a lion, and that other sat upon a +serpent, and that one of them was young, and the other was old; and +the youngest him thought said: Sir Percivale, my lord saluteth thee, +and sendeth thee word that thou array thee and make thee ready, for +tomorn thou must fight with the strongest champion of the world. And +if thou be overcome thou shalt not be quit for losing of any of thy +members, but thou shalt be shamed for ever to the world's end. And +then he asked her what was her lord. And she said the greatest lord of +all the world: and so she departed suddenly that he wist not where. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF THE VISION THAT SIR PERCIVALE SAW, AND HOW HIS VISION WAS +EXPOUNDED, AND OF HIS LION + + +Then came forth the other lady that rode upon the serpent, and she +said: Sir Percivale, I complain me of you that ye have done unto me, +and have not offended unto you. Certes, madam, he said, unto you nor +no lady I never offended. Yes, said she, I shall tell you why. I have +nourished in this place a great while a serpent, which served me a +great while, and yesterday ye slew him as he gat his prey. Say me for +what cause ye slew him, for the lion was not yours. Madam, said Sir +Percivale, I know well the lion was not mine, but I did it for the +lion is of more gentler nature than the serpent, and therefore I slew +him; meseemeth I did not amiss against you. Madam, said he, what would +ye that I did? I would, said she, for the amends of my beast that ye +become my man. And then he answered: That will I not grant you. No, +said she, truly ye were never but my servant syn ye received the +homage of Our Lord Jesu Christ. Therefore, I ensure you in what place +I may find you without keeping I shall take you as he that sometime +was my man. And so she departed from Sir Percivale and left him +sleeping, the which was sore travailed of his advision. And on the +morn he arose and blessed him, and he was passing feeble. Then was Sir +Percivale ware in the sea, and saw a ship come sailing toward him; and +Sir Percivale went unto the ship and found it covered within and +without with white samite. And at the board stood an old man clothed +in a surplice, in likeness of a priest. Sir, said Sir Percivale, ye be +welcome. God keep you, said the good man. Sir, said the old man, of +whence be ye? Sir, said Sir Percivale, I am of King Arthur's court, +and a knight of the Table Round, the which am in the quest of the +Sangreal; and here am I in great duresse, and never like to escape out +of this wilderness. Doubt not, said the good man, an ye be so true a +knight as the order of chivalry requireth, and of heart as ye ought to +be, ye should not doubt that none enemy should slay you. What are ye? +said Sir Percivale. Sir, said the old man, I am of a strange country, +and hither I come to comfort you. Sir, said Sir Percivale, what +signifieth my dream that I dreamed this night? And there he told him +altogether: She which rode upon the lion betokeneth the new law of +holy church, that is to understand, faith, good hope, belief, and +baptism. For she seemed younger than the other it is great reason, for +she was born in the resurrection and the passion of our Lord Jesu +Christ. And for great love she came to thee to warn thee of thy great +battle that shall befall thee. With whom, said Sir Percivale, shall I +fight? With the most champion of the world, said the old man; for as +the lady said, but if thou quit thee well thou shalt not be quit by +losing of one member, but thou shalt be shamed to the world's end. And +she that rode on the serpent signifieth the old law, and that serpent +betokeneth a fiend. And why she blamed thee that thou slewest her +servant, it betokeneth nothing; the serpent that thou slewest +betokeneth the devil that thou rodest upon to the rock. And when thou +madest a sign of the cross, there thou slewest him, and put away his +power. And when she asked thee amends and to become her man, and thou +saidst thou wouldst not, that was to make thee to believe on her and +leave thy baptism. So he commanded Sir Percivale to depart, and so he +leapt over the board and the ship, and all went away he wist not +whither. Then he went up unto the rock and found the lion which always +kept him fellowship, and he stroked him upon the back and had great +joy of him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE SAW A SHIP COMING TO HIM-WARD, AND HOW THE LADY OF +THE SHIP TOLD HIM OF HER DISHERITANCE + + +By that Sir Percivale had abiden there till mid-day he saw a ship came +rowing in the sea as all the wind of the world had driven it. And so +it drove under that rock. And when Sir Percivale saw this he hied him +thither, and found the ship covered with silk more blacker than any +bear, and therein was a gentlewoman of great beauty, and she was +clothed richly that none might be better. And when she saw Sir +Percivale she said: Who brought you in this wilderness where ye be +never like to pass hence, for ye shall die here for hunger and +mischief? Damosel, said Sir Percivale, I serve the best man of the +world, and in his service he will not suffer me to die, for who that +knocketh shall enter, and who that asketh shall have, and who that +seeketh him he hideth him not. But then she said: Sir Percivale, wot +ye what I am? Yea, said he. Now who taught you my name? said she. Now, +said Sir Percivale, I know you better than ye ween. And I came out of +the waste forest where I found the red knight with the white shield, +said the damosel. Ah, damosel, said he, with that knight would I meet +passing fain. Sir knight, said she, an ye will ensure me by the faith +that ye owe unto knighthood that ye shall do my will what time I +summon you, and I shall bring you unto that knight. Yea, said he, I +shall promise you to fulfil your desire. Well, said she, now shall I +tell you. I saw him in the forest chasing two knights unto a water, +the which is called Mortaise; and they drove him into that water for +dread of death, and the two knights passed over, and the red knight +passed after, and there his horse was drenched, and he, through great +strength, escaped unto the land: thus she told him, and Sir Percivale +was passing glad thereof. Then she asked him if he had ate any meat +late. Nay, madam, truly I ate no meat nigh this three days, but late +here I spake with a good man that fed me with his good words and holy, +and refreshed me greatly. Ah, sir knight, said she, that same man is +an enchanter and a multiplier of words. For an ye believe him ye shall +plainly be shamed, and die in this rock for pure hunger, and be eaten +with wild beasts; and ye be a young man and a goodly knight, and I +shall help you an ye will. What are ye, said Sir Percivale, that +proffered me thus great kindness? I am, said she, a gentlewoman that +am disherited, which was sometime the richest woman of the world. +Damosel, said Sir Percivale, who hath disherited you? for I have great +pity of you. Sir, said she, I dwelled with the greatest man of the +world, and he made me so fair and clear that there was none like me; +and of that great beauty I had a little pride more than I ought to +have had. Also I said a word that pleased him not. And then he would +not suffer me to be any longer in his company, and so drove me from +mine heritage, and so disherited me, and he had never pity of me nor +of none of my council, nor of my court. And sithen, sir knight, it +hath befallen me so, and through me and mine I have benome him many of +his men, and made them to become my men. For they ask never nothing of +me but I give it them, that and much more. Thus I and all my servants +were against him night and day. Therefore I know now no good knight, +nor no good man, but I get them on my side an I may. And for that I +know that thou art a good knight, I beseech you to help me; and for ye +be a fellow of the Round Table, wherefore ye ought not to fail no +gentlewoman which is disherited, an she besought you of help. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE PROMISED HER HELP, AND HOW HE REQUIRED HER OF LOVE, +AND HOW HE WAS SAVED FROM THE FIEND + + +Then Sir Percivale promised her all the help that he might; and then +she thanked him. And at that time the weather was hot. Then she called +unto her a gentlewoman and bad her bring forth a pavilion; and so she +did, and pyght it upon the gravel. Sir, said she, now may ye rest you +in this heat of the day. Then he thanked her, and she put off his helm +and his shield, and there he slept a great while. And then he awoke +and asked her if she had any meat, and she said: Yea, also ye shall +have enough. And so there was set enough upon the table, and thereon +so much that he had marvel, for there was all manner of meats that he +could think on. Also he drank there the strongest wine that ever he +drank, him thought, and therewith he was a little chafed more than he +ought to be; with that he beheld the gentlewoman, and him thought she +was the fairest creature that ever he saw. And then Sir Percivale +proffered her love, and prayed her that she would be his. Then she +refused him, in a manner, when he required her, for the cause he +should be the more ardent on her, and ever he ceased not to pray her +of love. And when she saw him well enchafed, then she said: Sir +Percivale, wit you well I shall not fulfil your will but if ye swear +from henceforth ye shall be my true servant, and to do nothing but +that I shall command you. Will ye ensure me this as ye be a true +knight? Yea, said he, fair lady, by the faith of my body. Well, said +she, now shall ye do with me what so it please you; and now wit ye +well ye are the knight in the world that I have most desire for. And +then two squires were commanded to make a bed in middes of the +pavilion. And anon she was unclothed and laid therein. And then Sir +Percivale laid him down by her naked; and by adventure and grace he +saw his sword lie on the ground naked, in whose pommel was a red cross +and the sign of the crucifix therein, and bethought him on his +knighthood and his promise made toforehand unto the good man; then he +made a sign of the cross in his forehead, and therewith the pavilion +turned up so down, and then it changed unto a smoke, and a black +cloud, and then he was adread and cried aloud: + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE FOR PENANCE ROVE HIMSELF THROUGH THE THIGH; AND HOW +SHE WAS KNOWN FOR THE DEVIL + + +Fair sweet father, Jesu Christ, ne let me not be shamed, the which was +nigh lost had not thy good grace been. And then he looked into a ship, +and saw her enter therein, which said: Sir Percivale, ye have betrayed +me. And so she went with the wind roaring and yelling, that it seemed +all the water brent after her. Then Sir Percivale made great sorrow, +and drew his sword unto him, saying: Sithen my flesh will be my master +I shall punish it; and therewith he rove himself through the thigh +that the blood start about him, and said: O good Lord, take this in +recompensation of that I have done against thee, my Lord. So then he +clothed him and armed him, and called himself a wretch, saying: How +nigh was I lost, and to have lost that I should never have gotten +again, that was my virginity, for that may never be recovered after it +is once lost. And then he stopped his bleeding wound with a piece of +his shirt. Thus as he made his moan he saw the same ship come from +Orient that the good man was in the day afore, and the noble knight +was ashamed with himself, and therewith he fell in a swoon. And when +he awoke he went unto him weakly, and there he saluted this good man. +And then he asked Sir Percivale: How hast thou done sith I departed? +Sir, said he, here was a gentlewoman and led me into deadly sin. And +there he told him altogether. Knew ye not the maid? said the good man. +Sir, said he, nay, but well I wot the fiend sent her hither to shame +me. O good knight, said he, thou art a fool, for that gentlewoman was +the master fiend of hell, the which hath power above all devils, and +that was the old lady that thou sawest in thine advision riding on the +serpent. Then he told Sir Percivale how our Lord Jesu Christ beat him +out of heaven for his sin, the which was the most brightest angel of +heaven, and therefore he lost his heritage: And that was the champion +that thou foughtest withal, the which had overcome thee had not the +grace of God been. Now beware Sir Percivale, and taken this for an +ensample. And then the good man vanished away. Then Sir Percivale took +his arms, and entered into the ship, and so departed from thence. + +_Here endeth the fourtenthe booke, whiche is of syr Percyval. And here +followeth of syre Launcelot, whiche is the fyftenth book_. + + + + +THE FIFTEENTH BOOK + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT CAME TO A CHAPEL, WHERE HE FOUND DEAD, IN A WHITE +SHIRT, A MAN OF RELIGION, OF AN HUNDRED WINTER OLD + + +When the hermit had kept Sir Launcelot three days, the hermit gat him +a horse, an helm, and a sword. And then he departed about the hour of +noon. And then he saw a little house. And when he came near he saw a +chapel, and there beside he saw an old man that was clothed all in +white full richly; and then Sir Launcelot said: God save you. God keep +you, said the good man, and make you a good knight. Then Sir Launcelot +alit and entered into the chapel and there he saw an old man dead, in +a white shirt of passing fine cloth. Sir, said the good man, this man +that is dead ought not to be in such clothing as ye see him in, for in +that he brake the oath of his order, for he hath been more than an +hundred winter a man of a religion. And then the good man and Sir +Launcelot went into the chapel; and the good man took a stole about +his neck, and a book, and then he conjured on that book; and with that +they saw in an hideous figure and horrible, that there was no man so +hard-hearted nor so hard but he should have been afeard. Then said the +fiend: Thou hast travailed me greatly; now tell me what thou wilt with +me. I will, said the good man, that thou tell me how my fellow became +dead, and whether he be saved or damned. Then he said with an horrible +voice: He is not lost but saved. How may that be? said the good man; +it seemed to me that he lived not well, for he brake his order for to +wear a shirt where he ought to wear none, and who that trespasseth +against our order doth not well. Not so, said the fiend, this man that +lieth here dead was come of a great lineage. And there was a lord that +hight the Earl de Vale, that held great war against this man's nephew, +the which hight Aguarus. And so this Aguarus saw the earl was bigger +than he. Then he went for to take counsel of his uncle, the which +lieth here dead as ye may see. And then he asked leave, and went out +of his hermitage for to maintain his nephew against the mighty earl; +and so it happed that this man that lieth here dead did so much by his +wisdom and hardiness that the earl was taken, and three of his lords, +by force of this dead man. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OF A DEAD MAN, HOW MEN WOULD HAVE HEWN HIM, AND IT WOULD NOT BE, AND +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT TOOK THE HAIR OF THE DEAD MAN + + +Then was there peace betwixt the earl and this Aguarus, and great +surety that the earl should never war against him. Then this dead man +that here lieth came to this hermitage again; and then the earl made +two of his nephews for to be avenged upon this man. So they came on a +day, and found this dead man at the sacring of his mass, and they +abode him till he had said mass. And then they set upon him and drew +out swords to have slain him; but there would no sword bite on him +more than upon a gad of steel, for the high Lord which he served he +him preserved. Then made they a great fire, and did off all his +clothes, and the hair off his back. And then this dead man hermit said +unto them: Ween you to burn me? It shall not lie in your power nor to +perish me as much as a thread an there were any on my body. No, said +one of them, it shall be essayed. And then they despoiled him, and put +upon him this shirt, and cast him in a fire, and there he lay all that +night till it was day in that fire, and was not dead, and so in the +morn I came and found him dead; but I found neither thread nor skin +tamyd, and so took him out of the fire with great fear, and led him +here as ye may see. And now may ye suffer me to go my way, for I have +said you the sooth. And then he departed with a great tempest. Then +was the good man and Sir Launcelot more gladder than they were tofore. +And then Sir Launcelot dwelled with that good man that night. Sir, +said the good man, be ye not Sir Launcelot du Lake? Yea, sir, said he. +What seek ye in this country? Sir, said Sir Launcelot, I go to seek +the adventures of the Sangreal. Well, said he, seek it ye may well, +but though it were here ye shall have no power to see it no more than +a blind man should see a bright sword, and that is long on your sin, +and else ye were more abler than any man living. And then Sir +Launcelot began to weep. Then said the good man: Were ye confessed +sith ye entered into the quest of the Sangreal? Yea, sir, said Sir +Launcelot. Then upon the morn when the good man had sung his mass, +then they buried the dead man. Then Sir Launcelot said: Father, what +shall I do? Now, said the good man, I require you take this hair that +was this holy man's and put it next thy skin, and it shall prevail +thee greatly. Sir, and I will do it, said Sir Launcelot. Also I charge +you that ye eat no flesh as long as ye be in the quest of the +Sangreal, nor ye shall drink no wine, and that ye hear mass daily an +ye may do it. So he took the hair and put it upon him, and so departed +at evensong-time. And so rode he into a forest, and there he met with +a gentlewoman riding upon a white palfrey, and then she asked him: Sir +knight, whither ride ye? Certes, damosel, said Launcelot, I wot not +whither I ride but as fortune leadeth me. Ah, Sir Launcelot, said she, +I wot what adventure ye seek, for ye were afore time nearer than ye be +now, and yet shall ye see it more openly than ever ye did, and that +shall ye understand in short time. Then Sir Launcelot asked her where +he might be harboured that night. Ye shall not find this day nor +night, but tomorn ye shall find harbour good, and ease of that ye be +in doubt of. And then he commended her unto God. Then he rode till +that he came to a Cross, and took that for his host as for that night. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF A VISION THAT SIR LAUNCELOT HAD, AND HOW HE TOLD IT TO AN HERMIT, +AND DESIRED COUNSEL OF HIM + + +And so he put his horse to pasture, and did off his helm and his +shield, and made his prayers unto the Cross that he never fall in +deadly sin again. And so he laid him down to sleep. And anon as he was +on sleep it befell him there an advision, that there came a man afore +him all by compass of stars, and that man had a crown of gold on his +head, and that man led in his fellowship seven kings and two knights. +And all these worshipped the Cross, kneeling upon their knees, holding +up their hands toward the heaven. And all they said: Fair sweet Father +of heaven, come and visit us, and yield unto us every each as we have +deserved. Then looked Launcelot up to the heaven, and him seemed the +clouds did open, and an old man came down, with a company of angels, +and alit among them, and gave unto every each his blessing, and called +them his servants, and good and true knights. And when this old man +had said thus he came to one of those knights, and said: I have lost +all that I have set in thee, for thou hast ruled thee against me as a +warrior, and used wrong wars with vain glory, more for the pleasure of +the world than to please me, therefore thou shalt be confounded +without thou yield me my treasure. All this advision saw Sir Launcelot +at the Cross. And on the morn he took his horse and rode till midday; +and there by adventure he met with the same knight that took his +horse, helm, and his sword, when he slept when the Sangreal appeared +afore the Cross. When Sir Launcelot saw him he saluted him not fair, +but cried on high: Knight, keep thee, for thou hast done to me great +unkindness. And then they put afore them their spears, and Sir +Launcelot came so fiercely upon him that he smote him and his horse +down to the earth, that he had nigh broken his neck. Then Sir +Launcelot took the knight's horse that was his own aforehand, and +descended from the horse he sat upon, and mounted upon his own horse, +and tied the knight's own horse to a tree that he might find that +horse when that he was arisen. Then Sir Launcelot rode till night and +by adventure he met an hermit, and each of them saluted other; and +there he rested with that good man all night, and gave his horse such +as he might get. Then said the good man unto Launcelot: Of whence be +ye? Sir, said he, I am of Arthur's court, and my name is Sir Launcelot +du Lake that am in the quest of the Sangreal, and therefore I pray you +to counsel me of a vision the which I had at the Cross. And so he told +him all. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW THE HERMIT EXPOUNDED TO SIR LAUNCELOT HIS VISION, AND TOLD HIM +THAT SIR GALAHAD WAS HIS SON + + +Lo, Sir Launcelot, said the good man, there thou mightest understand +the high lineage that thou art come of, and thine advision betokeneth. +After the passion of Jesu Christ forty year, Joseph of Aramathie +preached the victory of King Evelake, that he had in the battles the +better of his enemies. And of the seven kings and the two knights: the +first of them is called Nappus, an holy man; and the second hight +Nacien, in remembrance of his grandsire, and in him dwelled our lord +Jesu Christ; and the third was called Helias le Grose; and the fourth +hight Lisais; and the fifth hight Jonas, he departed out of his +country and went into Wales, and took there the daughter of Manuel, +whereby he had the land of Gaul, and he came to dwell in this country. +And of him came King Launcelot thy grandsire, the which there wedded +the king's daughter of Ireland, and he was as worthy a man as thou +art, and of him came King Ban, thy father, the which was the last of +the seven kings. And by thee, Sir Launcelot, it signifieth that the +angels said thou were none of the seven fellowships. And the last was +the ninth knight, he was signified to a lion, for he should pass all +manner of earthly knights that is Sir Galahad, the which thou gat on +King Pelles' daughter; and thou ought to thank God more than any other +man living, for of a sinner earthly thou hast no peer as in +knighthood, nor never shall be. But little thank hast thou given to +God for all the great virtues that God hath lent thee. Sir, said +Launcelot, ye say that that good knight is my son. That oughtest thou +to know and no man better, said the good man, for thou knewest the +daughter of King Pelles fleshly, and on her thou begattest Galahad, +and that was he that at the feast of Pentecost sat in the Siege +Perilous; and therefore make thou it known openly that he is one of +thy begetting on King Pelles' daughter, for that will be your worship +and honour, and to all thy kindred. And I counsel you in no place +press not upon him to have ado with him. Well, said Launcelot, +meseemeth that good knight should pray for me unto the High Father, +that I fall not to sin again. Trust thou well, said the good man, thou +farest mickle the better for his prayer; but the son shall not bear +the wickedness of the father, nor the father shall not bear the +wickedness of the son, but every each shall bear his own burden. And +therefore beseek thou only God, and he will help thee in all thy +needs. And then Sir Launcelot and he went to supper, and so laid him +to rest, and the hair pricked so Sir Launcelot's skin which grieved +him full sore, but he took it meekly, and suffered the pain. And so on +the morn he heard his mass and took his arms, and so took his leave. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT JOUSTED WITH MANY KNIGHTS, AND HOW HE WAS TAKEN + + +And then mounted upon his horse, and rode into a forest, and held no +highway. And as he looked afore him he saw a fair plain, and beside +that a fair castle, and afore the castle were many pavilions of silk +and of diverse hue. And him seemed that he saw there five hundred +knights riding on horseback; and there were two parties: they that +were of the castle were all on black horses and their trappours black, +and they that were without were all on white horses and trappours, and +every each hurtled to other that it marvelled Sir Launcelot. And at +the last him thought they of the castle were put to the worse. Then +thought Sir Launcelot for to help there the weaker party in increasing +of his chivalry. And so Sir Launcelot thrust in among the party of the +castle, and smote down a knight, horse and man, to the earth. And then +he rushed here and there, and did marvellous deeds of arms. And then +he drew out his sword, and struck many knights to the earth, so that +all those that saw him marvelled that ever one knight might do so +great deeds of arms. But always the white knights held them nigh about +Sir Launcelot, for to tire him and wind him. But at the last, as a man +may not ever endure, Sir Launcelot waxed so faint of fighting and +travailing, and was so weary of his great deeds, but he might not lift +up his arms for to give one stroke, so that he weened never to have +borne arms; and then they all took and led him away into a forest, and +there made him to alight and to rest him. And then all the fellowship +of the castle were overcome for the default of him. Then they said all +unto Sir Launcelot: Blessed be God that ye be now of our fellowship, +for we shall hold you in our prison; and so they left him with few +words. And then Sir Launcelot made great sorrow, For never or now was +I never at tournament nor jousts but I had the best, and now I am +shamed; and then he said: Now I am sure that I am more sinfuller than +ever I was. Thus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of +despair, till that he came into a deep valley. And when Sir Launcelot +saw he might not ride up into the mountain, he there alit under an +apple tree, and there he left his helm and his shield, and put his +horse unto pasture. And then he laid him down to sleep. And then him +thought there came an old man afore him, the which said: Ah, Launcelot +of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore is thy will turned so lightly +toward thy deadly sin? And when he had said thus he vanished away, and +Launcelot wist not where he was become. Then he took his horse, and +armed him; and as he rode by the way he saw a chapel where was a +recluse, which had a window that she might see up to the altar. And +all aloud she called Launcelot, for that he seemed a knight errant. +And then he came, and she asked him what he was, and of what place, +and where about he went to seek. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT TOLD HIS VISION UNTO A WOMAN, AND HOW SHE EXPOUNDED +IT UNTO HIM + + +And then he told her all together word by word, and the truth how it +befell him at the tournament. And after told her his advision that he +had had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it +might mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said +she, as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were the most +marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous. Now, said the lady, +sithen ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if +adventure fell thee contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, +for that tournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord. And not +for then there was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were +earthly knights. The tournament was a token to see who should have +most knights, either Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the +son of King Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and Argustus +was covered in black, the which were come. All what this betokeneth I +shall tell you. The day of Pentecost, when King Arthur held his court, +it befell that earthly kings and knights took a tournament together, +that is to say the quest of the Sangreal. The earthly knights were +they the which were clothed all in black, and the covering betokeneth +the sins whereof they be not confessed. And they with the covering of +white betokeneth virginity, and they that chose chastity. And thus was +the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld the sinners and the good +men, and when thou sawest the sinners overcome, thou inclinest to that +party for bobaunce and pride of the world, and all that must be left +in that quest, for in this quest thou shalt have many fellows and thy +betters. For thou art so feeble of evil trust and good belief, this +made it when thou were there where they took thee and led thee into +the forest. And anon there appeared the Sangreal unto the white +knights, but thou was so feeble of good belief and faith that thou +mightest not abide it for all the teaching of the good man, but anon +thou turnest to the sinners, and that caused thy misadventure that +thou should'st know good from evil and vain glory of the world, the +which is not worth a pear. And for great pride thou madest great +sorrow that thou haddest not overcome all the white knights with the +covering of white by whom was betokened virginity and chastity; and +therefore God was wroth with you, for God loveth no such deeds in this +quest. And this advision signifieth that thou were of evil faith and +of poor belief, the which will make thee to fall into the deep pit of +hell if thou keep thee not. Now have I warned thee of thy vain glory +and of thy pride, that thou hast many times erred against thy Maker. +Beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly knights I have most +pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not thy peer of any earthly +sinful man. And so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner. And after +dinner he took his horse and commended her to God, and so rode into a +deep valley, and there he saw a river and an high mountain. And +through the water he must needs pass, the which was hideous; and then +in the name of God he took it with good heart. And when he came over +he saw an armed knight, horse and man black as any bear; without any +word he smote Sir Launcelot's horse to the earth; and so he passed on, +he wist not where he was become. And then he took his helm and his +shield, and thanked God of his adventure. + +_Here leveth of the story of syr launcelot. And speke we of sir +gawayne, the whiche is the xvi. book_. + + + + +THE SIXTEENTH BOOK + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW SIR GAWAINE WAS NIGH WEARY OF THE QUEST OF THE SANGREAL, AND OF +HIS MARVELLOUS DREAM + + +When Sir Gawaine was departed from his fellowship he rode long without +any adventure. For he found not the tenth part of adventure as he was +wont to do. For Sir Gawaine rode from Whitsuntide until Michaelmas and +found none adventure that pleased him. So on a day it befell Gawaine +met with Sir Ector de Maris, and either made great joy of other that +it were marvel to tell. And so they told every each other, and +complained them greatly that they could find none adventure. Truly, +said Sir Gawaine unto Sir Ector, I am nigh weary of this quest, and +loth I am to follow further in strange countries. One thing marvelled +me, said Sir Ector, I have met with twenty knights, fellows of mine, +and all they complain as I do. I have marvel, said Sir Gawaine, where +that Sir Launcelot, your brother, is. Truly, said Sir Ector, I cannot +hear of him, nor of Sir Galahad, Percivale, nor Sir Bors. Let them be, +said Sir Gawaine, for they four have no peers. And if one thing were +not in Sir Launcelot he had no fellow of none earthly man; but he is +as we be, but if he took more pain upon him. But an these four be met +together they will be loth that any man meet with them; for an they +fail of the Sangreal it is in waste of all the remnant to recover it. +Thus as Ector and Gawaine rode more than eight days. And on a Saturday +they found an old chapel, the which was wasted that there seemed no +man thither repaired; and there they alit, and set their spears at the +door, and in they entered into the chapel, and there made their +orisons a great while, and set them down in the sieges of the chapel. +And as they spake of one thing and other, for heaviness they fell on +sleep, and there befel them both marvellous adventures. Sir Gawaine +him seemed he came into a meadow full of herbs and flowers, and there +he saw a rack of bulls, an hundred and fifty, that were proud and +black, save three of them were all white, and one had a black spot, +and the other two were so fair and so white that they might be no +whiter. And these three bulls which were so fair were tied with two +strong cords. And the remnant of the bulls said among them: Go we +hence to seek better pasture. And so some went, and some came again, +but they were so lean that they might not stand upright; and of the +bulls that were so white, that one came again and no more. But when +this white bull was come again among these other there rose up a great +cry for lack of wind that failed them; and so they departed one here +and another there; this advision befell Gawaine that night. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OF THE VISION OF SIR ECTOR, AND HOW HE JOUSTED WITH SIR UWAINE LES +AVOUTRES, HIS SWORN BROTHER + + +But to Ector de Maris befell another vision the contrary. For it +seemed him that his brother, Sir Launcelot, and he alit out of a chair +and leapt upon two horses, and the one said to the other: Go we seek +that we shall not find. And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot, +and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array, the which was all +full of knots, and set him upon an ass, and so he rode till he came to +the fairest well that ever he saw; and Sir Launcelot alit and would +have drunk of that well. And when he stooped to drink of the water the +water sank from him. And when Sir Launcelot saw that, he turned and +went thither as the head came from. And in the meanwhile he trowed +that himself and Sir Ector rode till that they came to a rich man's +house where there was a wedding. And there he saw a king the which +said: Sir knight, here is no place for you. And then he turned again +unto the chair that he came from. Thus within a while both Gawaine and +Ector awaked, and either told other of their advision, the which +marvelled them greatly. Truly, said Ector, I shall never be merry till +I hear tidings of my brother Launcelot. Now as they sat thus talking +they saw an hand showing unto the elbow, and was covered with red +samite, and upon that hung a bridle not right rich, and held within +the fist a great candle which burned right clear, and so passed afore +them, and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away and they +wist not where. And anon came down a voice which said: Knights of full +evil faith and of poor belief, these two things have failed you, and +therefore ye may not come to the adventures of the Sangreal. Then +first spake Gawaine and said: Ector, have ye heard these words? Yea +truly, said Sir Ector, I heard all. Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto +some hermit that will tell us of our advision, for it seemeth me we +labour all in vain. And so they departed and rode into a valley, and +there met with a squire which rode on an hackney, and they saluted him +fair. Sir, said Gawaine, can thou teach us to any hermit? Here is one +in a little mountain, but it is so rough there may no horse go +thither, and therefore ye must go upon foot; there shall ye find a +poor house, and there is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest man +in this country. And so they departed either from other. And then in a +valley they met with a knight all armed, which proffered them to joust +as far as he saw them. In the name of God, said Sir Gawaine, sith I +departed from Camelot there was none proffered me to joust but once. +And now, sir, said Ector, let me joust with him. Nay, said Gawaine, ye +shall not but if I be beat; it shall not forethink me then if ye go +after me. And then either embraced other to joust and came together as +fast as their horses might run, and brast their shields and the mails, +and the one more than the other; and Gawaine was wounded in the left +side, but the other knight was smitten through the breast, and the +spear came out on the other side, and so they fell both out of their +saddles, and in the falling they brake both their spears. Anon Gawaine +arose and set his hand to his sword, and cast his shield afore him. +But all for naught was it, for the knight had no power to rise against +him. Then said Gawaine: Ye must yield you as an overcome man, or else +I may slay you. Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but dead, for God's sake +and of your gentleness lead me here unto an abbey that I may receive +my Creator. Sir, said Gawaine, I know no house of religion hereby. +Sir, said the knight, set me on an horse tofore you, and I shall teach +you. Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he leapt up behind him for +to sustain him, and so came to an abbey where they were well received; +and anon he was unarmed, and received his Creator. Then he prayed +Gawaine to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his body. Then +Gawaine asked him what he was that knew him not. I am, said he, of +King Arthur's court, and was a fellow of the Round Table, and we were +brethren sworn together; and now Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me, and +my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son unto King +Uriens, and was in the quest of the Sangreal; and now forgive it thee +God, for it shall ever be said that the one sworn brother hath slain +the other. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HOW SIR GAWAINE AND SIR ECTOR CAME TO AN HERMITAGE TO BE CONFESSED, +AND HOW THEY TOLD TO THE HERMIT THEIR VISIONS + + +Alas, said Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen me. No +force, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of a much more +worshipfuller man's hand might I not die; but when ye come to the +court recommend me unto my lord, King Arthur, and all those that be +left on live, and for old brotherhood think on me. Then began Gawaine +to weep, and Ector also. And then Uwaine himself and Sir Gawaine drew +out the truncheon of the spear, and anon departed the soul from the +body. Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a +king's son, and made write upon his name, and by whom he was slain. +Then departed Gawaine and Ector as heavy as they might for their +misadventure, and so rode till that they came to the rough mountain, +and there they tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage. +And when they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside the +chapel a little courtelage, where Nacien the hermit gathered worts, as +he which had tasted none other meat of a great while. And when he saw +the errant knights he came toward them and saluted them, and they him +again. Fair lords, said he, what adventure brought you hither? Sir, +said Gawaine, to speak with you for to be confessed. Sir, said the +hermit, I am ready. Then they told him so much that he wist well what +they were. And then he thought to counsel them if he might. Then began +Gawaine first and told him of his advision that he had had in the +chapel, and Ector told him all as it is afore rehearsed. Sir, said the +hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the fair meadow and the rack therein ought to +be understood the Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be +understood humility and patience, those be the things which be always +green and quick; for men may no time overcome humility and patience, +therefore was the Round Table founded; and the chivalry hath been at +all times so by the fraternity which was there that she might not be +overcome; for men said she was founded in patience and in humility. At +the rack ate an hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in the +meadow, for their hearts should be set in humility and patience, and +the bulls were proud and black save only three. By the bulls is to +understand the fellowship of the Round Table, which for their sin and +their wickedness be black. Blackness is to say without good or +virtuous works. And the three bulls which were white save only one +that was spotted: the two white betoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale, +for they be maidens clene and without spot; and the third that had a +spot signifieth Sir Bors de Ganis, which trespassed but once in his +virginity, but sithen he kept himself so well in chastity that all is +forgiven him and his misdeeds. And why those three were tied by the +necks, they be three knights in virginity and chastity, and there is +no pride smitten in them. And the black bulls which said: Go we hence, +they were those which at Pentecost at the high feast took upon them to +go in the quest of the Sangreal without confession: they might not +enter in the meadow of humility and patience. And therefore they +returned into waste countries, that signifieth death, for there shall +die many of them: every each of them shall slay other for sin, and +they that shall escape shall be so lean that it shall be marvel to see +them. And of the three bulls without spot, the one shall come again, +and the other two never. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW THE HERMIT EXPOUNDED THEIR VISION + + +Then spake Nacien unto Ector: Sooth it is that Launcelot and ye come +down off one chair: the chair betokeneth mastership and lordship which +ye came down from. But ye two knights, said the hermit, ye go to seek +that ye shall never find, that is the Sangreal; for it is the secret +thing of our Lord Jesu Christ. What is to mean that Sir Launcelot fell +down off his horse: he hath left pride and taken him to humility, for +he had cried mercy loud for his sin, and sore repented him, and our +Lord hath clothed him in his clothing which is full of knots, that is +the hair that he weareth daily. And the ass that he rode upon is a +beast of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor upon no +palfrey; so in ensample that an ass betokeneth meekness, that thou +sawest Sir Launcelot ride on in thy sleep. And the well whereas the +water sank from him when he should have taken thereof, and when he saw +he might not have it, he returned thither from whence he came, for the +well betokeneth the high grace of God, the more men desire it to take +it, the more shall be their desire. So when he came nigh the Sangreal, +he meeked him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the holy +vessel, for he had been so befouled in deadly sin by the space of many +years; yet when he kneeled to drink of the well, there he saw great +providence o£ the Sangreal. And for he had served so long the devil, +he shall have vengeance four and twenty days long, for that he hath +been the devil's servant four and twenty years. And then soon after he +shall return unto Camelot out of this country, and he shall say a part +of such things as he hath found. Now will I tell you what betokeneth +the hand with the candle and the bridle: that is to understand the +holy ghost where charity is ever, and the bridle signifieth +abstinence. For when she is bridled in Christian man's heart she +holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly sin. And the candle +which sheweth clearness and sight signifieth the right way of Jesu +Christ. And when he went and said: Knights of poor faith and of wicked +belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence, and truth; +therefore ye may not attain that high adventure of the Sangreal. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OF THE GOOD COUNSEL THAT THE HERMIT GAVE TO HIM + + +Certes, said Gawaine, soothly have ye said, that I see it openly. Now, +I pray you, good man and holy father, tell me why we met not with so +many adventures as we were wont to do, and commonly have the better. I +shall tell you gladly, said the good man; the adventure of the +Sangreal which ye and many other have undertaken the quest of it and +find it not, the cause is for it appeareth not to sinners. Wherefore +marvel not though ye fail thereof, and many other. For ye be an untrue +knight, and a great murderer, and to good men signifieth other things +than murder. For I dare say as sinful as Sir Launcelot hath been, sith +that he went into the quest of the Sangreal he slew never man, nor +nought shall, till that he come unto Camelot again, for he hath taken +upon him for to forsake sin. And nere that he nys not stable, but by +his thought he is likely to turn again, he should be next to achieve +it save Galahad, his son. But God knoweth his thought and his +unstableness, and yet shall he die right an holy man, and no doubt he +hath no fellow of no earthly sinful man. Sir, said Gawaine, it seemeth +me by your words that for our sins it will not avail us to travel in +this quest. Truly, said the good man, there be an hundred such as ye +be that never shall prevail, but to have shame. And when they had +heard these voices they commended him unto God. Then the good man +called Gawaine, and said: It is long time passed sith that ye were +made knight, and never sithen thou servedst thy Maker, and now thou +art so old a tree that in thee is neither life nor fruit; wherefore +bethink thee that thou yield to Our Lord the bare rind, sith the fiend +hath the leaves and the fruit. Sir, said Gawaine, an I had leisure I +would speak with you, but my fellow here, Sir Ector, is gone, and +abideth me yonder beneath the hill. Well, said the good man, thou were +better to be counselled. Then departed Gawaine and came to Ector, and +so took their horses and rode till they came to a forester's house, +which harboured them right well. And on the morn they departed from +their host, and rode long or they could find any adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +HOW SIR BORS MET WITH AN HERMIT, AND HOW HE WAS CONFESSED TO HIM, AND +OF HIS PENANCE ENJOINED TO HIM + + +When Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a religious man riding +on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him. Anon the good man knew him that +he was one of the knights errant that was in the quest of the +Sangreal. What are ye? said the good man. Sir, said he, I am a knight +that fain would be counselled in the quest of the Sangreal, for he +shall have much earthly worship that may bring it to an end. Certes, +said the good man, that is sooth, for he shall be the best knight of +the world, and the fairest of all the fellowship. But wit you well +there shall none attain it but by cleanness, that is pure confession. +So rode they together till that they came to an hermitage. And there +he prayed Bors to dwell all that night with him. And so he alit and +put away his armour, and prayed him that he might be confessed; and so +they went into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed, and they +ate bread and drank water together. Now, said the good man, I pray +thee that thou eat none other till that thou sit at the table where +the Sangreal shall be. Sir, said he, I agree me thereto, but how wit +ye that I shall sit there. Yes, said the good man, that know I, but +there shall be but few of your fellows with you. All is welcome, said +Sir Bors, that God sendeth me. Also, said the good man, instead of a +shirt, and in sign of chastisement, ye shall wear a garment; therefore +I pray you do off all your clothes and your shirt: and so he did. And +then he took him a scarlet coat, so that should be instead of his +shirt till he had fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal; and the good +man found in him so marvellous a life and so stable, that he marvelled +and felt that he was never corrupt in fleshly lusts, but in one time +that he begat Elian le Blank. Then he armed him, and took his leave, +and so departed. And so a little from thence he looked up into a tree, +and there he saw a passing great bird upon an old tree, and it was +passing dry, without leaves; and the bird sat above, and had birds, +the which were dead for hunger. So smote he himself with his beak, the +which was great and sharp. And so the great bird bled till that he +died among his birds. And the young birds took the life by the blood +of the great bird. When Bors saw this he wist well it was a great +tokening; for when he saw the great bird arose not, then he took his +horse and yede his way. So by evensong, by adventure he came to a +strong tower and an high, and there was he lodged gladly. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HOW SIR BORS WAS LODGED WITH A LADY, AND HOW HE TOOK UPON HIM FOR TO +FIGHT AGAINST A CHAMPION FOR HER LAND + + +And when he was unarmed they led him into an high tower where was a +lady, young, lusty, and fair. And she received him with great joy, and +made him to sit down by her, and so was he set to sup with flesh and +many dainties. And when Sir Bors saw that, he bethought him on his +penance, and bad a squire to bring him water. And so he brought him, +and he made sops therein and ate them. Ah, said the lady, I trow ye +like not my meat. Yes, truly, said Sir Bors, God thank you, madam, but +I may eat none other meat this day. Then she spake no more as at that +time, for she was loth to displease him. Then after supper they spake +of one thing and other. With that came a squire and said: Madam, ye +must purvey you tomorn for a champion, for else your sister will have +this castle and also your lands, except ye can find a knight that will +fight tomorn in your quarrel against Pridam le Noire. Then she made +sorrow and said: Ah, Lord God, wherefore granted ye to hold my land, +whereof I should now be disherited without reason and right? And when +Sir Bors had heard her say thus, he said, I shall comfort you. Sir, +said she, I shall tell you there was here a king that hight Aniause, +which held all this land in his keeping. So it mishapped he loved a +gentlewoman a great deal elder than I. So took he her all this land to +her keeping, and all his men to govern; and she brought up many evil +customs whereby she put to death a great part of his kinsmen. And when +he saw that, he let chase her out of this land, and betook it me, and +all this land in my demesnes. But anon as that worthy king was dead, +this other lady began to war upon me, and hath destroyed many of my +men, and turned them against me, that I have wellnigh no man left me; +and I have nought else but this high tower that she left me. And yet +she hath promised me to have this tower, without I can find a knight +to fight with her champion. Now tell me, said Sir Bors, what is that +Pridam le Noire? Sir, said she, he is the most doubted man of this +land. Now may ye send her word that ye have found a knight that shall +fight with that Pridam le Noire in God's quarrel and yours. Then that +lady was not a little glad, and sent word that she was purveyed, and +that night Bors had good cheer; but in no bed he would come, but laid +him on the floor, nor never would do otherwise till that he had met +with the quest of the Sangreal. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OF A VISION WHICH SIR BORS HAD THAT NIGHT, AND HOW HE FOUGHT AND +OVERCAME HIS ADVERSARY + + +And anon as he was asleep him befel a vision, that there came to him +two birds, the one as white as a swan, and the other was marvellous +black; but it was not so great as the other, but in the likeness of a +Raven. Then the white bird came to him, and said: An thou wouldst give +me meat and serve me I should give thee all the riches of the world, +and I shall make thee as fair and as white as I am. So the white bird +departed, and there came the black bird to him, and said: An thou +wolt, serve me to-morrow and have me in no despite though I be black, +for wit thou well that more availeth my blackness than the other's +whiteness. And then he departed. And he had another vision: him +thought that he came to a great place which seemed a chapel, and there +he found a chair set on the left side, which was wormeaten and feeble. +And on the right hand were two flowers like a lily, and the one would +have benome the other's whiteness but a good man departed them that +the one touched not the other; and then out of every flower came out +many flowers, and fruit great plenty. Then him thought the good man +said: Should not he do great folly that would let these two flowers +perish for to succour the rotten tree, that it fell not to the earth? +Sir, said he, it seemeth me that this wood might not avail. Now keep +thee, said the good man, that thou never see such adventure befall +thee. Then he awaked and made a sign of the cross in middes of the +forehead, and so rose and clothed him. And there came the lady of the +place, and she saluted him, and he her again, and so went to a chapel +and heard their service. And there came a company of knights, that the +lady had sent for, to lead Sir Bors unto battle. Then asked he his +arms. And when he was armed she prayed him to take a little morsel to +dine. Nay, madam, said he, that shall I not do till I have done my +battle, by the grace of God. And so he lept upon his horse, and +departed all the knights and men with him. And as soon as these two +ladies met together, she which Bors should fight for complained her, +and said: Madam, ye have done me wrong to bereave me of my lands that +King Aniause gave me, and full loth I am there should be any battle. +Ye shall not choose, said the other lady, or else your knight withdraw +him. Then there was the cry made, which party had the better of the +two knights, that his lady should rejoice all the land. Now departed +the one knight here, and the other there. Then they came together with +such a raundon that they pierced their shields and their hauberks, and +the spears flew in pieces, and they wounded either other sore. Then +hurtled they together, so that they fell both to the earth, and their +horses betwixt their legs; and anon they arose, and set hands to their +swords, and smote each one other upon the heads, that they made great +wounds and deep, that the blood went out of their bodies. For there +found Sir Bors greater defence in that knight more than he weened. For +that Pridam was a passing good knight, and he wounded Sir Bors full +evil, and he him again; but ever this Pridam held the stour in like +hard. That perceived Sir Bors, and suffered him till he was nigh +attaint. And then he ran upon him more and more, and the other went +back for dread of death. So in his withdrawing he fell upright, and +Sir Bors drew his helm so strongly that he rent it from his head, and +gave him great strokes with the flat of his sword upon the visage, and +bad him yield him or he should slay him. Then he cried him mercy and +said: Fair knight, for God's love slay me not, and I shall ensure thee +never to war against thy lady, but be alway toward her. Then Bors let +him be; then the old lady fled with all her knights. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW THE LADY WAS RETURNED TO HER LANDS BY THE BATTLE OF SIR BORS, AND +OF HIS DEPARTING, AND HOW HE MET SIR LIONEL TAKEN AND BEATEN WITH +THORNS, AND ALSO OF A MAID WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISHONOURED + + +So then came Bors to all those that held lands of his lady, and said +he should destroy them but if they did such service unto her as longed +to their lands. So they did their homage, and they that would not were +chased out of their lands. Then befel that young lady to come to her +estate again, by the mighty prowess of Sir Bors de Ganis. So when all +the country was well set in peace, then Sir Bors took his leave and +departed; and she thanked him greatly, and would have given him great +riches, but he refused it. Then he rode all that day till night, and +came to an harbour to a lady which knew him well enough, and made of +him great joy. Upon the morn, as soon as the day appeared, Bors +departed from thence, and so rode into a forest unto the hour of +midday, and there befel him a marvellous adventure. So he met at the +departing of the two ways two knights that led Lionel, his brother, +all naked, bounden upon a strong hackney, and his hands bounden tofore +his breast. And every each of them held in his hands thorns wherewith +they went beating him so sore that the blood trailed down more than in +an hundred places of his body, so that he was all blood tofore and +behind, but he said never a word; as he which was great of heart he +suffered all that ever they did to him as though he had felt none +anguish. Anon Sir Bors dressed him to rescue him that was his brother; +and so he looked upon the other side of him, and saw a knight which +brought a fair gentlewoman, and would have set her in the thickest +place of the forest for to have been the more surer out of the way +from them that sought him. And she which was nothing assured cried +with an high voice: Saint Mary succour your maid. And anon she espied +where Sir Bors came riding. And when she came nigh him she deemed him +a knight of the Round Table, whereof she hoped to have some comfort; +and then she conjured him: By the faith that he ought unto him in +whose service thou art entered in, and for the faith ye owe unto the +high order of knighthood, and for the noble King Arthur's sake, that I +suppose that made thee knight, that thou help me, and suffer me not to +be shamed of this knight. When Bors heard her say thus he had so much +sorrow there he nyst not what to do. For if I let my brother be in +adventure he must be slain, and that would I not for all the earth. +And if I help not the maid she is shamed for ever, and also she shall +lose her virginity the which she shall never get again. Then lift he +up his eyes and said weeping: Fair sweet Lord Jesu Christ, whose liege +man I am, keep Lionel, my brother, that these knights slay him not, +and for pity of you, and for Mary's sake, I shall succour this maid. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW SIR BORS LEFT TO RESCUE HIS BROTHER, AND RESCUED THE DAMOSEL; AND +HOW IT WAS TOLD HIM THAT LIONEL WAS DEAD + + +Then dressed he him unto the knight the which had the gentlewoman, and +then he cried: Sir knight, let your hand off that maiden, or ye be but +dead. And then he set down the maiden, and was armed at all pieces +save he lacked his spear. Then he dressed his shield, and drew out his +sword, and Bors smote him so hard that it went through his shield and +habergeon on the left shoulder. And through great strength he beat him +down to the earth, and at the pulling out of Bors' spear there he +swooned. Then came Bors to the maid and said: How seemeth it you? of +this knight ye be delivered at this time. Now sir, said she, I pray +you lead me there as this knight had me. So shall I do gladly: and +took the horse of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon +him, and so brought her as she desired. Sir knight, said she, ye have +better sped than ye weened, for an I had lost my maidenhead, five +hundred men should have died for it. What knight was he that had you +in the forest? By my faith, said she, he is my cousin. So wot I never +with what engyn the fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me from +my father privily; for I nor none of my father's men mistrusted him +not, and if he had had my maidenhead he should have died for the sin, +and his body shamed and dishonoured for ever. Thus as she stood +talking with him there came twelve knights seeking after her, and anon +she told them all how Bors had delivered her; then they made great +joy, and besought him to come to her father, a great lord, and he +should be right welcome. Truly, said Bors, that may not be at this +time, for I have a great adventure to do in this country. So he +commended them unto God and departed. Then Sir Bors rode after Lionel, +his brother, by the trace of their horses, thus he rode seeking a +great while. Then he overtook a man clothed in a religious clothing, +and rode on a strong black horse blacker than a bear, and said: Sir +knight, what seek you? Sir, said he, I seek my brother that I saw +within a while beaten with two knights. Ah, Bors, discomfort you not, +nor fall into no wanhope, for I shall tell you tidings such as they +be, for truly he is dead. Then showed he him a new slain body lying in +a bush, and it seemed him well that it was the body of Lionel; and +then he made such a sorrow that he fell to the earth all in a swoon, +and lay a great while there. And when he came to himself he said: Fair +brother, sith the company of you and me is departed shall I never have +joy in my heart, and now he which I have taken unto my master, He be +my help. And when he had said thus he took his body lightly in his +arms, and put it upon the arson of his saddle. And then he said to the +man: Canst thou tell me unto some chapel where that I may bury this +body? Come on, said he, here is one fast by; and so long they rode +till they saw a fair tower, and afore it there seemed an old feeble +chapel. And then they alit both, and put him into a tomb of marble. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOW SIR BORS TOLD HIS DREAM TO A PRIEST, WHICH HE HAD DREAMED, AND OF +THE COUNSEL THAT THE PRIEST GAVE TO HIM + + +Now leave we him here, said the good man, and go we to our harbour +till to-morrow; we will come here again to do him service. Sir, said +Bors, be ye a priest? Yea forsooth, said he. Then I pray you tell me a +dream that befell to me the last night. Say on, said he. Then he began +so much to tell him of the great bird in the forest, and after told +him of his birds, one white, another black, and of the rotten tree, +and of the white flowers. Sir, I shall tell you a part now, and the +other dele to-morrow. The white fowl betokeneth a gentlewoman, fair +and rich, which loved thee paramours, and hath loved thee long; and if +thou warne her love she shall go die anon, if thou have no pity on +her. That signifieth the great bird, the which shall make thee to +warne her. Now for no fear that thou hast, nor for no dread that thou +hast of God, thou shalt not warne her, but thou wouldst not do it for +to be holden chaste, for to conquer the loos of the vain glory of the +world; for that shall befall thee now an thou warne her, that +Launcelot, the good knight, thy cousin, shall die. And therefore men +shall now say that thou art a manslayer, both of thy brother, Sir +Lionel, and of thy cousin, Sir Launcelot du Lake, the which thou +mightest have saved and rescued easily, but thou weenest to rescue a +maid which pertaineth nothing to thee. Now look thou whether it had +been greater harm of thy brother's death, or else to have suffered her +to have lost her maidenhood. Then asked he him: Hast thou heard the +tokens o£ thy dream the which I have told to you? Yea forsooth, said +Sir Bors, all your exposition and declaring of my dream I have well +understood and heard. Then said the man in this black clothing: Then +is it in thy default if Sir Launcelot, thy cousin, die. Sir, said +Bors, that were me loth, for wit ye well there is nothing in the world +but I had lever do it than to see my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, to +die in my default. Choose ye now the one or the other, said the good +man. And then he led Sir Bors into an high tower, and there he found +knights and ladies: those ladies said he was welcome, and so they +unarmed him. And when he was in his doublet men brought him a mantle +furred with ermine, and put it about him; and then they made him such +cheer that he had forgotten all his sorrow and anguish, and only set +his heart in these delights and dainties, and took no thought more for +his brother, Sir Lionel, neither of Sir Launcelot du Lake, his cousin. +And anon came out of a chamber to him the fairest lady that ever he +saw, and more richer bysene than ever he saw Queen Guenever or any +other estate. Lo, said they, Sir Bors, here is the lady unto whom we +owe all our service, and I trow she be the richest lady and the +fairest of all the world, and the which loveth you best above all +other knights, for she will have no knight but you. And when he +understood that language he was abashed. Not for then she saluted him, +and he her; and then they sat down together and spake of many things, +in so much that she besought him to be her love, for she had loved him +above all earthly men, and she should make him richer than ever was +man of his age. When Bors understood her words he was right evil at +ease, which in no manner would not break chasity, so wist not he how +to answer her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOW A DEVIL IN WOMAN'S LIKENESS WOULD HAVE TEMPTED SIR BORS, AND HOW +BY GOD'S GRACE HE ESCAPED + + +Alas, said she, Bors, shall ye not do my will? Madam, said Bors, +there is no lady in the world whose will I will fulfill as of this +thing, for my brother lieth dead which was slain right late. Ah Bors, +said she, I have loved you long for the great beauty I have seen in +you, and the great hardiness that I have heard of you, that needs ye +must lie by me this night, and therefore I pray you grant it me. +Truly, said he, I shall not do it in no manner wise. Then she made him +such sorrow as though she would have died. Well Bors, said she, unto +this have ye brought me, nigh to mine end. And therewith she took him +by the hand, and bad him behold her. And ye shall see how I shall die +for your love. Ah, said then he, that shall I never see. Then she +departed and went up into an high battlement, and led with her twelve +gentlewomen; and when they were above, one of the gentlewomen cried, +and said: Ah, Sir Bors, gentle knight have mercy on us all, and suffer +my lady to have her will, and if ye do not we must suffer death with +our lady, for to fall down off this high tower, and if ye suffer us +thus to die for so little a thing all ladies and gentlewomen will say +of you dishonour. Then looked he upward, they seemed all ladies of +great estate, and richly and well bisene. Then had he of them great +pity; not for that he was uncounselled in himself that lever he had +they all had lost their souls than he his, and with that they fell +adown all at once unto the earth. And when he saw that, he was all +abashed, and had thereof great marvel. With that he blessed his body +and his visage. And anon he heard a great noise and a great cry, as +though all the fiends of hell had been about him; and therewith he saw +neither tower nor lady, nor gentlewoman, nor no chapel where he +brought his brother to. Then held he up both his hands to the heaven, +and said: Fair Father God, I am grievously escaped; and then he took +his arms and his horse and rode on his way. Then he heard a clock +smite on his right hand; and thither he came to an Abbey on his right +hand, closed with high walls, and there was let in. Then they supposed +that he was one of the quest of the Sangreal, so they led him into a +chamber and unarmed him. Sirs, said Sir Bors, if there be any holy man +in this house I pray you let me speak with him. Then one of them led +him unto the Abbot, which was in a Chapel. And then Sir Bors saluted +him, and he him again. Sir, said Bors, I am a knight errant; and told +him all the adventure which he had seen. Sir Knight, said the Abbot, I +wot not what ye be, for I weened never that a knight of your age might +have been so strong in the grace of our Lord Jesu Christ. Not for then +ye shall go unto your rest, for I will not counsel you this day, it is +too late, and to-morrow I shall counsel you as I can. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF THE HOLY COMMUNICATION OF AN ABBOT TO SIR BORS, AND HOW THE ABBOT +COUNSELLED HIM + + +And that night was Sir Bors served richly; and on the morn early he +heard mass, and the Abbot came to him, and bad him good morrow, and +Bors to him again. And then he told him he was a fellow of the quest +of the Sangreal, and how he had charge of the holy man to eat bread +and water. Then said the Abbot: Our Lord Jesu Christ showed him unto +you in the likeness of a soul that suffered great anguish for us, syne +He was put upon the cross, and bled His heart blood for mankind: there +was the token and the likeness of the Sangreal that appeared afore +you, for the blood that the great fowl bled revived the chickens from +death to life. And by the bare tree is betokened the world which is +naked and without fruit but if it come to Our Lord. Also the lady for +whom ye fought for, and King Aniause which was lord there tofore, +betokeneth Jesu Christ which is the King of the world. And that ye +fought with the champion for the lady, this it betokeneth: for when ye +took the battle for the lady, by her shall ye understand the new law +of Jesu Christ and Holy Church; and by the other lady ye shall +understand the old law and the fiend, which all day warreth against +Holy Church, therefore ye did your battle with right. For ye be Jesu +Christ's knights, therefore ye ought to be defenders of Holy Church. +And by the black bird might ye understand Holy Church, which sayeth I +am black, but he is fair. And by the white bird might men understand +the fiend, and I shall tell you how the swan is white without forth, +and black within: it is hypocrisy which is without yellow or pale, and +seemeth without forth the servants of Jesu Christ, but they be within +so horrible of filth and sin, and beguile the world evil. Also when +the fiend appeared to thee in likeness of a man of religion, and +blamed thee that thou left thy brother for a lady, so led thee where +thou seemed thy brother was slain, but he is yet on live; and all was +for to put thee in error, and bring thee unto wanhope and lechery, for +he knew thou were tender hearted, and all was for thou shouldst not +find the blessed adventure of the Sangreal. And the third fowl +betokeneth the strong battle against the fair ladies which were all +devils. Also the dry tree and the white lily: the dry tree betokeneth +thy brother Lionel, which is dry without virtue, and therefore many +men ought to call him the rotten tree, and the wormeaten tree, for he +is a murderer and doth contrary to the order of knighthood. And the +two white flowers signify two maidens, the one is a knight which was +wounded the other day, and the other is the gentlewoman which ye +rescued; and why the other flower drew nigh the other, that was the +knight which would have befouled her and himself both. And Sir Bors, +ye had been a great fool and in great peril for to have seen those two +flowers perish for to succour the rotten tree, for and they had sinned +together they had been damned; and for that ye rescued them both, men +might call you a very knight and servant of Jesu Christ. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HOW SIR BORS MET WITH HIS BROTHER SIR LIONEL, AND HOW SIR LIONEL WOULD +HAVE SLAIN SIR BORS + + +Then went Sir Bors from thence and commended the abbot unto God. And +then he rode all that day, and harboured with an old lady. And on the +morn he rode to a castle in a valley, and there he met with a yeoman +going a great pace toward a forest. Say me, said Sir Bors, canst thou +tell me of any adventure? Sir, said he, here shall be under this +castle a great and a marvellous tournament. Of what folks shall it be? +said Sir Bors. The Earl of Plains shall be in the one party, and the +lady's nephew of Hervin on the other party. Then Bors thought to be +there if he might meet with his brother Sir Lionel, or any other of +his fellowship, which were in the quest of the Sangreal. And then he +turned to an hermitage that was in the entry of the forest. And when +he was come thither he found there Sir Lionel, his brother, which sat +all armed at the entry of the chapel door for to abide there harbour +till on the morn that the tournament shall be. And when Sir Bors saw +him he had great joy of him, that it were marvel to tell of his joy. +And then he alit off his horse, and said: Fair sweet brother, when +came ye hither? Anon as Lionel saw him he said: Ah Bors, ye may not +make none avaunt, but as for you I might have been slain; when ye saw +two knights leading me away beating me, ye left me for to succour a +gentlewoman, and suffered me in peril of death; for never erst me did +no brother to another so great an untruth. And for that misdeed now I +ensure you but death, for well have ye deserved it; therefore keep +thee from henceforward, and that shall ye find as soon as I am armed. +When Sir Bors understood his brother's wrath he kneeled down to the +earth and cried him mercy, holding up both his hands, and prayed him +to forgive him his evil will. Nay, said Lionel, that shall never be an +I may have the higher hand, that I make mine avow to God, thou shalt +have death for it, for it were pity ye lived any longer. Right so he +went in and took his harness, and mounted upon his horse, and came +tofore him and said: Bors, keep thee from me, for I shall do to thee +as I would to a felon or a traitor, for ye be the untruest knight that +ever came out of so worthy an house as was King Bors' de Ganis which +was our father, therefore start upon thy horse, and so shall ye be +most at your advantage. And but if ye will I will run upon you there +as ye stand upon foot, and so the shame shall be mine and the harm +yours, but of that shame ne reck I nought. When Sir Bors saw that he +must fight with his brother or else to die, he nist what to do; then +his heart counselled him not thereto, inasmuch as Lionel was born or +he, wherefore he ought to bear him reverence; yet kneeled he down +afore Lionel's horse's feet, and said: Fair sweet brother, have mercy +upon me and slay me not, and have in remembrance the great love which +ought to be between us twain. What Sir Bors said to Lionel he recked +not, for the fiend had brought him in such a will that he should slay +him. Then when Lionel saw he would none other, and that he would not +have risen to give him battle, he rushed over him so that he smote +Bors with his horse, feet upward to the earth, and hurt him so sore +that he swooned of distress, the which he felt in himself to have died +without confession. So when Lionel saw this, he alit off his horse to +have smitten off his head. And so he took him by the helm, and would +have rent it from his head. Then came the hermit running unto him, +which was a good man and of great age, and well had heard all the +words that were between them, and so fell down upon Sir Bors. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW SIR COLGREVANCE FOUGHT AGAINST SIR LIONEL FOR TO SAVE SIR BORS, +AND HOW THE HERMIT WAS SLAIN + + +Then he said to Lionel: Ah gentle knight, have mercy upon me and on +thy brother, for if thou slay him thou shalt be dead of sin, and that +were sorrowful, for he is one of the worthiest knights of the world, +and of the best conditions. So God help me, said Lionel, sir priest, +but if ye flee from him I shall slay you, and he shall never the +sooner be quit. Certes, said the good man, I have lever ye slay me +than him, for my death shall not be great harm, not half so much as of +his. Well, said Lionel, I am agreed; and set his hand to his sword and +smote him so hard that his head yede backward. Not for that he +restrained him of his evil will, but took his brother by the helm, and +unlaced it to have stricken off his head, and had slain him without +fail. But so it happed, Colgrevance, a fellow of the Round Table, came +at that time thither as Our Lord's will was. And when he saw the good +man slain he marvelled much what it might be. And then he beheld +Lionel would have slain his brother, and knew Sir Bors which he loved +right well. Then start he down and took Lionel by the shoulders, and +drew him strongly aback from Bors, and said: Lionel, will ye slay your +brother, the worthiest knight of the world one? and that should no +good man suffer. Why, said Lionel, will ye let me? therefore if ye +intermit you in this I shall slay you, and him after. Why, said +Colgrevance, is this sooth that ye will slay him? Slay him will I, +said he, whoso say the contrary, for he hath done so much against me +that he hath well deserved it. And so ran upon him, and would have +smitten him through the head, and Sir Colgrevance ran betwixt them, +and said: An ye be so hardy to do so more, we two shall meddle +together. When Lionel understood his words he took his shield afore +him, and asked him what that he was. And he told him, Colgrevance, one +of his fellows. Then Lionel defied him, and gave him a great stroke +through the helm. Then he drew his sword, for he was a passing good +knight, and defended him right manfully. So long dured the battle that +Bors rose up all anguishly, and beheld Colgrevance, the good knight, +fought with his brother for his quarrel; then was he full sorry and +heavy, and thought if Colgrevance slay him that was his brother he +should never have joy; and if his brother slew Colgrevance the shame +should ever be mine. Then would he have risen to have departed them, +but he had not so much might to stand on foot; so he abode him so long +till Colgrevance had the worse, for Lionel was of great chivalry and +right hardy, for he had pierced the hauberk and the helm, that he +abode but death, for he had lost much of his blood that it was marvel +that he might stand upright. Then beheld he Sir Bors which sat +dressing him upward and said: Ah, Bors, why come ye not to cast me out +of peril of death, wherein I have put me to succour you which were +right now nigh the death? Certes, said Lionel, that shall not avail +you, for none of you shall bear others warrant, but that ye shall die +both of my hand. When Bors heard that, he did so much, he rose and put +on his helm. Then perceived he first the hermit priest which was +slain, then made he a marvellous sorrow upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HOW SIR LIONEL SLEW SIR COLGREVANCE, AND HOW AFTER HE WOULD HAVE SLAIN +SIR BORS + + +Then often Colgrevance cried upon Sir Bors: Why will ye let me die +here for your sake? if it please you that I die for you the death, it +will please me the better for to save a worthy man. With that word Sir +Lionel smote off the helm from his head. Then Colgrevance saw that he +might not escape; then he said: Fair sweet Jesu, that I have misdone +have mercy upon my soul, for such sorrow that my heart suffereth for +goodness, and for alms deed that I would have done here, be to me +alygement of penance unto my soul's health. At these words Lionel +smote him so sore that he bare him to the earth. So he had slain +Colgrevance he ran upon his brother as a fiendly man, and gave him +such a stroke that he made him stoop. And he that was full of humility +prayed him for God's love to leave this battle: For an it befel, fair +brother, that I slew you or ye me, we should be dead of that sin. +Never God me help but if I have on you mercy, and I may have the +better hand. Then drew Bors his sword, all weeping, and said: Fair +brother, God knoweth mine intent. Ah, fair brother, ye have done full +evil this day to slay such an holy priest the which never trespassed. +Also ye have slain a gentle knight, and one of our fellows. And well +wot ye that I am not afeared of you greatly, but I dread the wrath of +God, and this is an unkindly war, therefore God show miracle upon us +both. Now God have mercy upon me though I defend my life against my +brother; with that Bors lift up his hand and would have smitten his +brother. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HOW THERE CAME A VOICE WHICH CHARGED SIR BORS TO TOUCH HIM NOT, AND OF +A CLOUD THAT CAME BETWEEN THEM + + +And then he heard a voice that said: Flee Bors, and touch him not, or +else thou shall slay him. Right so alit a cloud betwixt them in +likeness of a fire and a marvellous flame, that both their two shields +burnt. Then were they sore afraid, that they fell both to the earth, +and lay there a great while in a swoon. And when they came to +themself, Bors saw that his brother had no harm; then he held up both +his hands, for he dread God had taken vengeance upon him. With that he +heard a voice say: Bors, go hence, and bear thy brother no longer +fellowship, but take thy way anon right to the sea, for Sir Percivale +abideth thee there. Then he said to his brother: Fair sweet brother, +forgive me for God's love all that I have trespassed unto you. Then he +answered: God forgive it thee and I do gladly. So Sir Bors departed +from him and rode the next way to the sea. And at the last by fortune +he came to an Abbey which was nigh the sea. That night Bors rested him +there; and in his sleep there came a voice to him and bad him go to +the sea. Then he start up and made a sign of the Cross in the middes +of his forehead, and took his harness, and made ready his horse, and +mounted upon him; and at a broken wall he rode out, and rode so long +till that he came to the sea. And on the strand he found a ship +covered all with white samite, and he alit, and betook him to Jesu +Christ. And as soon as he entered into the ship, the ship departed +into the sea, and went so fast that him seemed the ship went flying, +but it was soon dark so that he might know no man, and so he slept +till it was day. Then he awaked, and saw in middes of the ship a +knight lie all armed save his helm. Then knew he that it was Sir +Percivale of Wales, and then he made of him right great joy; but Sir +Percivale was abashed of him, and he asked him what he was. Ah, fair +sir, said Bors, know ye me not? Certes, said he, I marvel how ye came +hither, but if Our Lord brought ye hither Himself. Then Sir Bors +smiled and did off his helm. Then Percivale knew him, and either made +great joy of other, that it was marvel to hear. Then Bors told him how +he came into the ship, and by whose admonishment; and either told +other of their temptations, as ye have heard toforehand. So went they +downward in the sea, one while backward, another while forward, and +every each comforted other, and oft were in their prayers. Then said +Sir Percivale: We lack nothing but Galahad, the good knight. + +_And thus endeth the syxteenth book, whiche is of syre Gawayne, Ector +de marys, and syre Bors de ganys, and sir Percyval. + +And here followeth the sevententh book, whiche is of the noble Knyghte +syre Galahad._ + + + + +THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW SIR GALAHAD FOUGHT AT A TOURNAMENT, AND HOW HE WAS KNOWN OF SIR +GAWAINE AND SIR ECTOR DE MARIS + + +Now saith this story, when Galahad had rescued Percivale from the +twenty knights, he yede then into a waste forest wherein he rode many +journeys; and he found many adventures the which he brought to an end, +whereof the story maketh here no mention. Then he took his way to the +sea on a day, and it befel as he passed by a castle where was a wonder +tournament, but they without had done so much that they within were +put to the worse, yet were they within good knights enough. When +Galahad saw that those within were at so great a mischief that men +slew them at the entry of the castle, then he thought to help them, +and put a spear forth and smote the first that he fell to the earth, +and the spear brake to pieces. Then he drew his sword and smote there +as they were thickest, and so he did wonderful deeds of arms that all +they marvelled. Then it happed that Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris +were with the knights without. But when they espied the white shield +with the red cross the one said to the other: Yonder is the good +knight, Sir Galahad, the haut prince: now he should be a great fool +which should meet with him to fight. So by adventure he came by Sir +Gawaine, and he smote him so hard that he clave his helm and the +coiffe of iron unto his head, so that Gawaine fell to the earth; but +the stroke was so great that it slanted down to the earth and carved +the horse's shoulder in two. When Ector saw Gawaine down he drew him +aside, and thought it no wisdom for to abide him, and also for natural +love, that he was his uncle. Thus through his great hardiness he beat +aback all the knights without. And then they within came out and +chased them all about. But when Galahad saw there would none turn +again he stole away privily so that none wist where he was become. Now +by my head, said Gawaine to Ector, now are the wonders true that were +said of Launcelot du Lake, that the sword which stuck in the stone +should give me such a buffet that I would not have it for the best +castle in this world; and soothly now it is proved true, for never ere +had I such a stroke of man's hand. Sir, said Ector, meseemeth your +quest is done. And yours is not done, said Gawaine, but mine is done, +I shall seek no further. Then Gawaine was borne into a castle and +unarmed him, and laid him in a rich bed, and a leech found that he +might live, and to be whole within a month. Thus Gawaine and Ector +abode together, for Sir Ector would not away till Gawaine were whole. +And the good knight, Galahad, rode so long till he came that night to +the Castle of Carboneck; and it befel him thus that he was benighted +in an hermitage. So the good man was fain when he saw he was a knight +errant. Then when they were at rest there came a gentlewoman knocking +at the door, and called Galahad, and so the good man came to the door +to wit what she would. Then she called the hermit: Sir Ulfin, I am a +gentlewoman that would speak with the knight which is with you. Then +the good man awaked Galahad, and bad him: Arise, and speak with a +gentlewoman that seemeth hath great need of you. Then Galahad went to +her and asked her what she would. Galahad, said she, I will that ye +arm you, and mount upon your horse and follow me, for I shall show you +within these three days the highest adventure that ever any knight +saw. Anon Galahad armed him, and took his horse, and commended him to +God, and bad the gentlewoman go, and he would follow there as she +liked. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HOW SIR GALAHAD RODE WITH A DAMOSEL, AND CAME TO THE SHIP WHEREAS SIR +BORS AND SIR PERCIVALE WERE IN + + +So she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till that she came +to the sea, the which was called Collibe. And at the night they came +unto a castle in a valley, closed with a running water, and with +strong walls and high; and so she entered into the castle with +Galahad, and there had he great cheer, for the lady of that castle was +the damosel's lady. So when he was unarmed, then said the damosel: +Madam, shall we abide here all this day? Nay, said she, but till he +hath dined and till he hath slept a little. So he ate and slept a +while till that the maid called him, and armed him by torchlight. And +when the maid was horsed and he both, the lady took Galahad a fair +child and rich; and so they departed from the castle till they came to +the seaside; and there they found the ship where Bors and Percivale +were in, the which cried on the ship's board: Sir Galahad, ye be +welcome, we have abiden you long. And when he heard them he asked them +what they were. Sir, said she, leave your horse here, and I shall +leave mine; and took their saddles and their bridles with them, and +made a cross on them, and so entered into the ship. And the two +knights received them both with great joy, and every each knew other; +and so the wind arose, and drove them through the sea in a marvellous +place. And within a while it dawned. Then did Galahad off his helm and +his sword, and asked of his fellows from whence came that fair ship. +Truly, said they, ye wot as well as we but of God's grace; and then +they told every each to other of all their hard adventures, and of +their great temptations. Truly, said Galahad, ye are much bounden to +God, for ye have escaped great adventures; and had not the gentlewoman +been I had not come here, for as for you I weened never to have found +you in these strange countries. Ah Galahad, said Bors, if Launcelot, +your father, were here then were we well at ease, for then meseemed we +failed nothing. That may not be, said Galahad, but if it pleased Our +Lord. By then the ship went from the land of Logris, and by adventure +it arrived up betwixt two rocks passing great and marvellous; but +there they might not land, for there was a swallow of the sea, save +there was another ship, and upon it they might go without danger. Go +we thither, said the gentlewoman, and there shall we see adventures, +for so is Our Lord's will. And when they came thither they found the +ship rich enough, but they found neither man nor woman therein. But +they found in the end of the ship two fair letters written, which said +a dreadful word and a marvellous: Thou man, which shall enter into +this ship, beware thou be in steadfast belief, for I am Faith, and +therefore beware how thou enterest, for an thou fail I shall not help +thee. Then said the gentlewoman: Percivale, wot ye what I am? Certes, +said he, nay, to my witing. Wit ye well, said she, that I am thy +sister, which am daughter of King Pellinore, and therefore wit ye well +ye are the man in the world that I most love; and if ye be not in +perfect belief of Jesu Christ enter not in no manner of wise, for then +should ye perish the ship, for he is so perfect he will suffer no +sinner in him. When Percivale understood that she was his very sister +he was inwardly glad, and said: Fair sister, I shall enter therein, +for if I be a miscreature or an untrue knight there shall I perish. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +HOW SIR GALAHAD ENTERED INTO THE SHIP, AND OF A FAIR BED THEREIN, WITH +OTHER MARVELLOUS THINGS, AND OF A SWORD + + +In the meanwhile Galahad blessed him, and entered therein; and then +next the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bors and Sir Percivale. And when +they were in, it was so marvellous fair and rich that they marvelled; +and in middes of the ship was a fair bed, and Galahad went thereto, +and found there a crown of silk. And at the feet was a sword, rich and +fair, and it was drawn out of the sheath half a foot and more; and the +sword was of divers fashions, and the pommel was of stone, and there +was in him all manner of colours that any man might find, and every +each of the colours had divers virtues; and the scales of the haft +were of two ribs of divers beasts, the one beast was a serpent which +was conversant in Calidone, and is called the serpent of the fiend; +and the bone of him is of such a virtue that there is no hand that +handleth him shall never be weary nor hurt. And the other beast is a +fish which is not right great, and haunteth the flood of Euphrates; +and that fish is called Ertanax, and his bones be of such a manner of +kind that who that handleth them shall have so much will that he shall +never be weary, and he shall not think on joy nor sorrow that he hath +had, but only that thing that he beholdeth before him. And as for this +sword there shall never man begrip him at the handles but one, but he +shall pass all other. In the name of God, said Percivale, I shall +essay to handle it. So he set his hand to the sword, but he might not +begrip it. By my faith, said he, now have I failed. Bors set his hand +thereto and failed. Then Galahad beheld the sword and saw letters like +blood that said: Let see who shall essay to draw me out of my sheath, +but if he be more hardier than any other; and who that draweth me, wit +ye well he shall never fail of shame of his body, or to be wounded to +the death. By my faith, said Galahad, I would draw this sword out of +the sheath, but the offending is so great that I shall not set my hand +thereto. Now sirs, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well that the drawing +of this sword is warned to all men save all only to you. Also this +ship arrived in the realm of Logris; and that time was deadly war +between King Labor, which was father unto the maimed king, and King +Hurlame, which was a Saracen. But then was he newly christened, so +that men held him afterward one of the wyttyest men of the world. And +so upon a day it befel that King Labor and King Hurlame had assembled +their folk upon the sea where this ship was arrived; and there King +Hurlame was discomfit, and his men slain; and he was afeard to be +dead, and fled to his ship, and there found this sword and drew it, +and came out and found King Labor, the man in the world of all +Christendom in whom was then the greatest faith. And when King Hurlame +saw King Labor he dressed this sword, and smote him upon the helm so +hard that he clave him and his horse to the earth with the first +stroke of his sword. And it was in the realm of Logris; and so befel +great pestilence and great harm to both realms. For sithen increased +neither corn, nor grass, nor well-nigh no fruit, nor in the water was +no fish; wherefore men call it the lands of the two marches, the waste +land, for that dolorous stroke. And when King Hurlame saw this sword +so carving, he turned again to fetch the scabbard, and so came into +this ship and entered, and put up the sword in the sheath. And as soon +as he had done it he fell down dead afore the bed. Thus was the sword +proved, that none ne drew it but he were dead or maimed. So lay he +there till a maiden came into the ship and cast him out, for there was +no man so hardy of the world to enter into that ship for the defence. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +OF THE MARVELS OF THE SWORD AND OF THE SCABBARD + + +And then beheld they the scabbard, it seemed to be of a serpent's +skin, and thereon were letters of gold and silver. And the girdle was +but poorly to come to, and not able to sustain such a rich sword. And +the letters said: He which shall wield me ought to be more harder than +any other, if he bear me as truly as me ought to be borne. For the +body of him which I ought to hang by, he shall not be shamed in no +place while he is girt with this girdle, nor never none be so hardy to +do away this girdle; for it ought not to be done away but by the hands +of a maid, and that she be a king's daughter and queen's, and she must +be a maid all the days of her life, both in will and in deed. And if +she break her virginity she shall die the most villainous death that +ever died any woman. Sir, said Percivale, turn this sword that we may +see what is on the other side. And it was red as blood, with black +letters as any coal, which said: He that shall praise me most, most +shall he find me to blame at a great need; and to whom I should be +most debonair shall I be most felon, and that shall be at one time. +Fair brother, said she to Percivale, it befell after a forty year +after the passion of Jesu Christ that Nacien, the brother-in-law of +King Mordrains, was borne into a town more than fourteen days' journey +from his country, by the commandment of Our Lord, into an isle, into +the parts of the West, that men clepyd the isle of Turnance. So befell +it that he found this ship at the entry of a rock, and he found the +bed and this sword as we have heard now. Not for then he had not so +much hardiness to draw it; and there he dwelled an eight days, and at +the ninth day there fell a great wind which departed him out of the +isle, and brought him to another isle by a rock, and there he found +the greatest giant that ever man might see. Therewith came that +horrible giant to slay him; and then he looked about him and might not +flee, and he had nothing to defend him with. So he ran to his sword, +and when he saw it naked he praised it much, and then he shook it, and +therewith he brake it in the middes. Ah, said Nacien, the thing that I +most praised ought I now most to blame, and therewith he threw the +pieces of his sword over his bed. And after he leapt over the board to +fight with the giant, and slew him. And anon he entered into the ship +again, and the wind arose, and drove him through the sea, that by +adventure he came to another ship where King Mordrains was, which had +been tempted full evil with a fiend in the port of perilous rock. And +when that one saw the other they made great joy of other, and either +told other of their adventure, and how the sword failed him at his +most need. When Mordrains saw the sword he praised it much: But the +breaking was not to do but by wickedness of thy self ward, for thou +art in some sin. And there he took the sword, and set the pieces +together, and they soldered as fair as ever they were tofore; and +there put he the sword in the sheath, and laid it down on the bed. +Then heard they a voice that said: Go out of this ship a little while, +and enter into the other, for dread ye fall in deadly sin, for and ye +be found in deadly sin ye may not escape but perish: and so they went +into the other ship. And as Nacien went over the board he was smitten +with a sword on the right foot, that he fell down noseling to the +ship's board; and therewith he said: O God, how am I hurt. And then +there came a voice and said: Take thou that for thy forfeit that thou +didst in drawing of this sword, therefore thou receivest a wound, for +thou were never worthy to handle it, as the writing maketh mention. In +the name of God, said Galahad, ye are right wise of these works. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW KING PELLES WAS SMITTEN THROUGH BOTH THIGHS BECAUSE HE DREW THE +SWORD, AND OTHER MARVELLOUS HISTORIES + + +Sir, said she, there was a king that hight Pelles, the maimed king. +And while he might ride he supported much Christendom and Holy Church. +So upon a day he hunted in a wood of his which lasted unto the sea; +and at the last he lost his hounds and his knights save only one: and +there he and his knight went till that they came toward Ireland, and +there he found the ship. And when he saw the letters and understood +them, yet he entered, for he was right perfect of his life, but his +knight had none hardiness to enter; and there found he this sword, and +he drew it out as much as ye may see. So therewith entered a spear +wherewith he was smitten him through both the thighs, and never sith +might he be healed, nor nought shall tofore we come to him. Thus, said +she, was not King Pelles, your grandsire, maimed for his hardiness? In +the name of God, damosel, said Galahad. So they went toward the bed to +behold all about it, and above the head there hung two swords. Also +there were two spindles which were as white as any snow, and other +that were as red as blood, and other above green as any emerald: of +these three colours were the spindles, and of natural colour within, +and without any painting. These spindles, said the damosel, were when +sinful Eve came to gather fruit, for which Adam and she were put out +of paradise, she took with her the bough on which the apple hung on. +Then perceived she that the branch was fair and green, and she +remembered her the loss which came from the tree. Then she thought to +keep the branch as long as she might. And for she had no coffer to +keep it in, she put it in the earth. So by the will of Our Lord the +branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and was as white as +any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves: that was a token a maiden +planted it. But after God came to Adam, and bad him know his wife +fleshly as nature required. So lay Adam with his wife under the same +tree; and anon the tree which was white was full green as any grass, +and all that came out of it; and in the same time that they medled +together there was Abel begotten: thus was the tree long of green +colour. And so it befell many days after, under the same tree Cain +slew Abel, whereof befel great marvel. For anon as Abel had received +the death under the green tree, it lost the green colour and became +red; and that was in tokening of the blood. And anon all the plants +died thereof, but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and it +was the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might behold +and see; and so died the plants that grew out of it tofore that Abel +was slain under it. So long dured the tree till that Solomon, King +David's son, reigned, and held the land after his father. This Solomon +was wise, and knew all the virtues of stones and trees, and so he knew +the course of the stars, and many other divers things. This Solomon +had an evil wife, wherethrough he weened that there had been no good +women, and so he despised them in his books. So answered a voice him +once: Solomon, if heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne reck thou +never; for yet shall there come a woman whereof there shall come +greater joy to man an hundred times more than this heaviness giveth +sorrow; and that woman shall be born of thy lineage. Then when Solomon +heard these words he held himself but a fool, and the truth he +perceived by old books. Also the Holy Ghost showed him the coming of +the glorious Virgin Mary. Then asked he of the voice, if it should be +in the yerde of his lineage. Nay, said the voice, but there shall come +a man which shall be a maid, and the last of your blood, and he shall +be as good a knight as Duke Josua, thy brother-in-law. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +HOW SOLOMON TOOK DAVID'S SWORD BY THE COUNSEL OF HIS WIFE, AND OF +OTHER MATTERS MARVELLOUS + + +Now have I certified thee of that thou stoodest in doubt. Then was +Solomon glad that there should come any such of his lineage; but ever +he marvelled and studied who that should be, and what his name might +be. His wife perceived that he studied, and thought she would know it +at some season; and so she waited her time, and asked of him the cause +of his studying, and there he told her all together how the voice told +him. Well, said she, I shall let make a ship of the best wood and most +durable that men may find. So Solomon sent for all the carpenters of +the land, and the best. And when they had made the ship the lady said +to Solomon: + +Sir, said she, syne it is so that this knight ought to pass all +knights of chivalry which have been tofore him and shall come after +him, moreover I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go into Our Lord's +temple, where is King David's sword, your father, the which is the +marvelloust and the sharpest that ever was taken in any knight's hand. +Therefore take that, and take off the pommel, and thereto make ye a +pommel of precious stones, that it be so subtilely made that no man +perceive it but that they be all one; and after make there an hilt so +marvellously and wonderly that no man may know it; and after make a +marvellous sheath. And when ye have made all this I shall let make a +girdle thereto such as shall please me. All this King Solomon did let +make as she devised, both the ship and all the remnant. And when the +ship was ready in the sea to sail, the lady let make a great bed and +marvellous rich, and set her upon the bed's head, covered with silk, +and laid the sword at the feet, and the girdles were of hemp, and +therewith the king was angry. Sir, wit ye well, said she, that I have +none so high a thing which were worthy to sustain so high a sword, and +a maid shall bring other knights thereto, but I wot not when it shall +be, nor what time. And there she let make a covering to the ship, of +cloth of silk that should never rot for no manner of weather. Yet went +that lady and made a carpenter to come to the tree which Abel was +slain under. Now, said she, carve me out of this tree as much wood as +will make me a spindle. Ah madam, said he, this is the tree the which +our first mother planted. Do it, said she, or else I shall destroy +thee. Anon as he began to work there came out drops of blood: and then +would he have left, but she would not suffer him, and so he took away +as much wood as might make a spindle: and so she made him to take as +much of the green tree and of the white tree. And when these three +spindles were shapen she made them to be fastened upon the selar of +the bed. When Solomon saw this, he said to his wife: Ye have done +marvellously, for though all the world were here right now, he could +not devise wherefore all this was made, but Our Lord Himself; and thou +that hast done it wotest not what it shall betoken. Now let it be, +said she, for ye shall hear tidings sooner than ye ween. Now shall ye +hear a wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A WONDERFUL TALE OF KING SOLOMON AND HIS WIFE + + +That night lay Solomon before the ship with little fellowship. And +when he was on sleep him thought there come from heaven a great +company of angels, and alit into the ship, and took water which was +brought by an angel, in a vessel of silver, and sprente all the ship. +And after he came to the sword, and drew letters on the hilt. And +after went to the ship's board, and wrote there other letters which +said: Thou man that wilt enter within me, beware that thou be full +within the faith, for I ne am but Faith and Belief. When Solomon +espied these letters he was abashed, so that he durst not enter, and +so drew him aback; and the ship was anon shoven in the sea, and he +went so fast that he lost sight of him within a little while. And then +a little voice said: Solomon, the last knight of thy lineage shall +rest in this bed. Then went Solomon and awaked his wife, and told her +of the adventures of the ship. Now saith the history that a great +while the three fellows beheld the bed and the three spindles. Then +they were at certain that they were of natural colours without +painting. Then they lift up a cloth which was above the ground, and +there found a rich purse by seeming. And Percivale took it, and found +therein a writ and so he read it, and devised the manner of the +spindles and of the ship, whence it came, and by whom it was made. +Now, said Galahad, where shall we find the gentlewoman that shall make +new girdles to the sword? Fair sir, said Percivale's sister, dismay +you not, for by the leave of God I shall let make a girdle to the +sword, such one as shall long thereto. And then she opened a box, and +took out girdles which were seemly wrought with golden threads, and +upon that were set full precious stones, and a rich buckle of gold. +Lo, lords, said she, here is a girdle that ought to be set about the +sword. And wit ye well the greatest part of this girdle was made of my +hair, which I loved well while that I was a woman of the world. But as +soon as I wist that this adventure was ordained me I clipped off my +hair, and made this girdle in the name of God. Ye be well found, said +Sir Bors, for certes ye have put us out of great pain, wherein we +should have entered ne had your tidings been. Then went the +gentlewoman and set it on the girdle of the sword. Now, said the +fellowship, what is the name of the sword, and what shall we call it? +Truly, said she, the name of the sword is the Sword with the strange +girdles; and the sheath, mover of blood; for no man that hath blood in +him ne shall never see the one part of the sheath which was made of +the tree of life. Then they said to Galahad: In the name of Jesu +Christ, and pray you that ye gird you with this sword which hath been +desired so much in the realm of Logris. Now let me begin, said +Galahad, to grip this sword for to give you courage; but wit ye well +it longeth no more to me than it doth to you. And then he gripped +about it with his fingers a great deal; and then she girt him about +the middle with the sword. Now reck I not though I die, for now I hold +me one of the blessed maidens of the world, which hath made the +worthiest knight of the world. Damosel, said Galahad, ye have done so +much that I shall be your knight all the days of my life. Then they +went from that ship, and went to the other. And anon the wind drove +them into the sea a great pace, but they had no victuals: but it +befell that they came on the morn to a castle that men call +Carteloise, that was in the marches of Scotland. And when they had +passed the port, the gentlewoman said: Lords, here be men arriven +that, an they wist that ye were of King Arthur's court, ye should be +assailed anon. Damosel, said Galahad, He that cast us out of the rock +shall deliver us from them. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HOW GALAHAD AND HIS FELLOWS CAME TO A CASTLE, AND HOW THEY WERE FOUGHT +WITHAL, AND HOW THEY SLEW THEIR ADVERSARIES, AND OTHER MATTERS + + +So it befell as they spoke thus there came a squire by them, and asked +what they were; and they said they were of King Arthur's house. Is +that sooth? said he. Now by my head, said he, ye be ill arrayed; and +then turned he again unto the cliff fortress. And within a while they +heard an horn blow. Then a gentlewoman came to them, and asked them of +whence they were; and they told her. Fair lords, said she, for God's +love turn again if ye may, for ye be come unto your death. Nay, they +said, we will not turn again, for He shall help us in whose service we +be entered in. Then as they stood talking there came knights well +armed, and bad them yield them or else die. That yielding, said they, +shall be noyous to you. And therewith they let their horses run, and +Sir Percivale smote the foremost to the earth, and took his horse, and +mounted thereupon, and the same did Galahad. Also Bors served another +so, for they had no horses in that country, for they left their horses +when they took their ship in other countries. And so when they were +horsed then began they to set upon them; and they of the castle fled +into the strong fortress, and the three knights after them into the +castle, and so alit on foot, and with their swords slew them down, and +gat into the hall. Then when they beheld the great multitude of people +that they had slain, they held themself great sinners. Certes, said +Bors, I ween an God had loved them that we should not have had power +to have slain them thus. But they have done so much against Our Lord +that He would not suffer them to reign no longer. Say ye not so, said +Galahad, for if they misdid against God, the vengeance is not ours, +but to Him which hath power thereof. So came there out of a chamber a +good man which was a priest, and bare God's body in a cup. And when he +saw them which lay dead in the hall he was all abashed; and Galahad +did off his helm and kneeled down, and so did his two fellows. Sir, +said they, have ye no dread of us, for we be of King Arthur's court. +Then asked the good man how they were slain so suddenly, and they told +it him. Truly, said the good man, an ye might live as long as the +world might endure, ne might ye have done so great an alms deed at +this. Sir, said Galahad, I repent me much, inasmuch as they were +christened. Nay, repent you not, said he, for they were not +christened, and I shall tell you how that I wot of this castle. Here +was Lord Earl Hernox not but one year, and he had three sons, good +knights of arms, and a daughter, the fairest gentlewoman that men +knew. So those three knights loved their sister so sore that they +brent in love, and so they lay by her, maugre her head. And for she +cried to her father they slew her, and took their father and put him +in prison, and wounded him nigh to death, but a cousin of hers rescued +him. And then did they great untruth: they slew clerks and priests, +and made beat down chapels, that Our Lord's service might not be +served nor said. And this same day her father sent to me for to be +confessed and houseld; but such shame had never man as I had this day +with the three brethren, but the earl had me suffer, for he said they +should not long endure, for three servants of Our Lord should destroy +them, and now it is brought to an end. And by this may ye wit that Our +Lord is not displeased with your deeds. Certes, said Galahad, an it +had not pleased Our Lord, never should we have slain so many men in so +little a while. And then they brought the Earl Hernox out of prison +into the middes of the hall, that knew Galahad anon, and yet he saw +him never afore but by revelation of Our Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW THE THREE KNIGHTS, WITH PERCIVALE'S SISTER, CAME UNTO THE SAME +FOREST, AND OF AN HART AND FOUR LIONS, AND OTHER THINGS + + +Then began he to weep right tenderly, and said: Long have I abiden +your coming, but for God's love hold me in your arms, that my soul may +depart out of my body in so good a man's arms as ye be. Gladly, said +Galahad. And then one said on high, that all heard: Galahad, well hast +thou avenged me on God's enemies. Now behoveth thee to go to the +maimed king as soon as thou mayest, for he shall receive by thee +health which he hath abiden so long. And therewith the soul departed +from the body, and Galahad made him to be buried as him ought to be. +Right so departed the three knights, and Percivale's sister with them. +And so they came into a waste forest, and there they saw afore them a +white hart which four lions led. Then they took them to assent for to +follow after for to know whither they repaired; and so they rode after +a great pace till that they came to a valley, and thereby was an +hermitage where a good man dwelled, and the hart and the lions entered +also. So when they saw all this they turned to the chapel, and saw the +good man in a religious weed and in the armour of Our Lord, for he +would sing mass of the Holy Ghost; and so they entered in and heard +mass. And at the secrets of the mass they three saw the hart become a +man, the which marvelled them, and set him upon the altar in a rich +siege; and saw the four lions were changed, the one to the form of a +man, the other to the form of a lion, and the third to an eagle, and +the fourth was changed unto an ox. Then took they their siege where +the hart sat, and went out through a glass window, and there was +nothing perished nor broken; and they heard a voice say: In such a +manner entered the Son of God in the womb of a maid Mary whose +virginity ne was perished ne hurt. And when they heard these words +they fell down to the earth and were astonied; and therewith was a +great clereness. And when they were come to theirself again they went +to the good man and prayed him that he would say them truth. What +thing have ye seen? said he. And they told him all that they had seen. +Ah lords, said he, ye be welcome; now wot I well ye be the good +knights the which shall bring the Sangreal to an end; for ye be they +unto whom Our Lord shall shew great secrets. And well ought Our Lord +be signified to an hart, for the hart when he is old he waxeth young +again in his white skin. Right so cometh again Our Lord from death to +life, for He lost earthly flesh that was the deadly flesh, which He +had taken in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary; and for that cause +appeared Our Lord as a white hart without spot. And the four that were +with Him is to understand the four evangelists which set in writing a +part of Jesu Christ's deeds that He did sometime when He was among you +an earthly man; for wit ye well never erst ne might no knight know the +truth, for ofttimes or this Our Lord showed Him unto good men and unto +good knights, in likeness of an hart, but I suppose from henceforth ye +shall see no more. And then they joyed much, and dwelled there all +that day. And upon the morrow when they had heard mass they departed +and commended the good man to God: and so they came to a castle and +passed by. So there came a knight armed after them and said: Lords, +hark what I shall say to you. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW THEY WERE DESIRED OF A STRANGE CUSTOM, THE WHICH THEY WOULD NOT +OBEY; AND HOW THEY FOUGHT AND SLEW MANY KNIGHTS + + +This gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid? Sir, said she, a +maid I am. Then he took her by the bridle and said: By the Holy Cross, +ye shall not escape me tofore ye have yolden the custom of this +castle. Let her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what +place she cometh is free. So in the meanwhile there came out a ten or +twelve knights armed, out of the castle, and with them came +gentlewomen which held a dish of silver. And then they said: This +gentlewoman must yield us the custom of this castle. Sir, said a +knight, what maid passeth hereby shall give this dish full of blood of +her right arm. Blame have ye, said Galahad, that brought up such +customs, and so God me save, I ensure you of this gentlewoman ye shall +fail while that I live. So God me help, said Percivale, I had lever be +slain. And I also, said Sir Bors. By my troth, said the knight, then +shall ye die, for ye may not endure against us though ye were the best +knights of the world. Then let them run each to other, and the three +fellows beat the ten knights, and then set their hands to their swords +and beat them down and slew them. Then there came out of the castle a +three score knights armed. Fair lords, said the three fellows, have +mercy on yourself and have not ado with us. Nay, fair lords, said the +knights of the castle, we counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be the +best knights of the world, and therefore do no more, for ye have done +enough. We will let you go with this harm, but we must needs have the +custom. Certes, said Galahad, for nought speak ye. Well, said they, +will ye die? We be not yet come thereto, said Galahad. Then began they +to meddle together, and Galahad, with the strange girdles, drew his +sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left hand, and slew what +that ever abode him, and did such marvels that there was none that saw +him but weened he had been none earthly man, but a monster. And his +two fellows halp him passing well, and so they held the journey every +each in like hard till it was night; then must they needs depart. So +came in a good knight, and said to the three fellows: If ye will come +in to-night and take such harbour as here is ye shall be right +welcome, and we shall ensure you by the faith of our bodies, and as we +be true knights, to leave you in such estate to-morrow as we find you, +without any falsehood. And as soon as ye know of the custom we dare +say ye will accord. Therefore for God's love, said the gentlewoman, go +thither and spare not for me. Go we, said Galahad; and so they entered +into the chapel. And when they were alit they made great joy of them. +So within a while the three knights asked the custom of the castle and +wherefore it was. What it is, said they, we will say you sooth. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE'S SISTER BLED A DISH FULL OF BLOOD FOR TO HEAL A +LADY, WHEREFORE SHE DIED; AND HOW THAT THE BODY WAS PUT IN A SHIP + + +There is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this castle is +hers, and many other. So it befell many years agone there fell upon +her a malady; and when she had lain a great while she fell unto a +measle, and of no leech she could have no remedy. But at the last an +old man said an she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and a +clene virgin in will and in work, and a king's daughter, that blood +should be her health, and for to anoint her withal; and for this thing +was this custom made. Now, said Percivale's sister, fair knights, I +see well that this gentlewoman is but dead. Certes, said Galahad, an +ye bleed so much ye may die. Truly, said she, an I die for to heal her +I shall get me great worship and soul's health, and worship to my +lineage, and better is one harm than twain. And therefore there shall +be no more battle, but tomorn I shall yield you your custom of this +castle. And then there was great joy more than there was tofore, for +else had there been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding she +would none other, whether they would or nold. That night were the +three fellows eased with the best; and on the morn they heard mass, +and Sir Percivale's sister bad bring forth the sick lady. So she was, +the which was evil at ease. Then said she: Who shall let me blood? So +one came forth and let her blood, and she bled so much that the dish +was full. Then she lift up her hand and blessed her; and then she said +to the lady: Madam, I am come to the death for to make you whole, for +God's love pray for me. With that she fell in a swoon. Then Galahad +and his two fellows start up to her, and lift her up and staunched +her, but she had bled so much that she might not live. Then she said +when she was awaked: Fair brother Percivale, I die for the healing of +this lady, so I require you that ye bury me not in this country, but +as soon as I am dead put me in a boat at the next haven, and let me go +as adventure will lead me; and as soon as ye three come to the City of +Sarras, there to achieve the Holy Grail, ye shall find me under a +tower arrived, and there bury me in the spiritual place; for I say you +so much, there Galahad shall be buried, and ye also, in the same +place. Then Percivale understood these words, and granted it her +weeping. And then said a voice: Lords and fellows, to-morrow at the +hour of prime ye three shall depart every each from other, till the +adventure bring you to the maimed king. Then asked she her Saviour; +and as soon as she had received it the soul departed from the body. So +the same day was the lady healed, when she was anointed withal. Then +Sir Percivale made a letter of all that she had holpen them as in +strange adventures, and put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a +barge, and covered it with black silk; and so the wind arose, and +drove the barge from the land, and all knights beheld it till it was +out of their sight. Then they drew all to the castle, and so forthwith +there fell a sudden tempest and a thunder, lightning, and rain, as all +the earth would have broken. So half the castle turned up so down. So +it passed evensong or the tempest was ceased. Then they saw afore them +a knight armed and wounded hard in the body and in the head, that +said: O God, succour me for now it is need. After this knight came +another knight and a dwarf, which cried to them afar: Stand, ye may +not escape. Then the wounded knight held up his hands to God that he +should not die in such tribulation. Truly, said Galahad, I shall +succour him for His sake that he calleth upon. Sir, said Bors, I shall +do it, for it is not for you, for he is but one knight. Sir, said he, +I grant. So Sir Bors took his horse, and commended him to God, and +rode after, to rescue the wounded knight. Now turn we to the two +fellows. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOW GALAHAD AND PERCIVALE FOUND IN A CASTLE MANY TOMBS OF MAIDENS THAT +HAD BLED TO DEATH + + +Now saith the story that all night Galahad and Percivale were in a +chapel in their prayers, for to save Sir Bors. So on the morrow they +dressed them in their harness toward the castle, to wit what was +fallen of them therein. And when they came there they found neither +man nor woman that he ne was dead by the vengeance of Our Lord. With +that they heard a voice that said: This vengeance is for blood +shedding of maidens. Also they found at the end of the chapel a +churchyard and therein might they see a three score fair tombs, and +that place was so fair and so delectable that it seemed them there had +been none tempest, for there lay the bodies of all the good maidens +which were martyred for the sick lady's sake. Also they found the +names of every each, and of what blood they were come, and all were of +kings' blood, and twelve of them were kings' daughters. Then they +departed and went into a forest. Now, said Percivale unto Galahad, we +must depart, so pray we Our Lord that we may meet together in short +time: then they did off their helms and kissed together, and wept at +their departing. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT ENTERED INTO THE SHIP WHERE SIR PERCIVALE'S SISTER +LAY DEAD, AND HOW HE MET WITH SIR GALAHAD, HIS SON + + +Now saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to the water of +Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in great peril, and so he +laid him down and slept, and took the adventure that God would send +him. So when he was asleep there came a vision unto him and said: +Launcelot, arise up and take thine armour, and enter into the first +ship that thou shalt find. And when he heard these words he start up +and saw great clereness about him. And then he lift up his hand and +blessed him, and so took his arms and made him ready; and so by +adventure he came by a strand, and found a ship the which was without +sail or oar. And as soon as he was within the ship there he felt the +most sweetness that ever he felt, and he was fulfilled with all thing +that he thought on or desired. Then he said: Fair sweet Father, Jesu +Christ, I wot not in what joy I am, for this joy passeth all earthly +joys that ever I was in. And so in this joy he laid him down to the +ship's board, and slept till day. And when he awoke he found there a +fair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead, the which was Sir +Percivale's sister. And as Launcelot devised her, he espied in her +right hand a writ, the which he read, the which told him all the +adventures that ye have heard tofore, and of what lineage she was +come. So with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and more. If +ye would ask how he lived, He that fed the people of Israel with manna +in the desert, so was he fed; for every day when he had said his +prayers he was sustained with the grace of the Holy Ghost. So on a +night he went to play him by the water side, for he was somewhat weary +of the ship. And then he listened and heard an horse come, and one +riding upon him. And when he came nigh he seemed a knight. And so he +let him pass, and went thereas the ship was; and there he alit, and +took the saddle and the bridle and put the horse from him, and went +into the ship. And then Launcelot dressed unto him, and said: Ye be +welcome. And he answered and saluted him again, and asked him: What is +your name? for much my heart giveth unto you. Truly, said he, my name +is Launcelot du Lake. Sir, said he, then be ye welcome, for ye were +the beginning of me in this world. Ah, said he, are ye Galahad? Yea, +forsooth, said he; and so he kneeled down and asked him his blessing, +and after took off his helm and kissed him. And there was great joy +between them, for there is no tongue can tell the joy that they made +either of other, and many a friendly word spoken between, as kin +would, the which is no need here to be rehearsed. And there every each +told other of their adventures and marvels that were befallen to them +in many journeys sith that they departed from the court. Anon, as +Galahad saw the gentlewoman dead in the bed, he knew her well enough, +and told great worship of her, that she was the best maid living, and +it was great pity of her death. But when Launcelot heard how the +marvellous sword was gotten, and who made it, and all the marvels +rehearsed afore, then he prayed Galahad, his son, that he would show +him the sword, and so he did; and anon he kissed the pommel, and the +hilt, and the scabbard. Truly, said Launcelot, never erst knew I of so +high adventures done, and so marvellous and strange. So dwelt +Launcelot and Galahad within that ship half a year, and served God +daily and nightly with all their power; and often they arrived in +isles far from folk, where there repaired none but wild beasts, and +there they found many strange adventures and perillous, which they +brought to an end; but for those adventures were with wild beasts, and +not in the quest of the Sangreal, therefore the tale maketh here no +mention thereof, for it would be too long to tell of all those +adventures that befell them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HOW A KNIGHT BROUGHT UNTO SIR GALAHAD A HORSE, AND BAD HIM COME FROM +HIS FATHER, SIR LAUNCELOT + + +So after, on a Monday, it befell that they arrived in the edge of a +forest tofore a cross; and then saw they a knight armed all in white, +and was richly horsed, and led in his right hand a white horse; and so +he came to the ship, and saluted the two knights on the High Lord's +behalf, and said: Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough with your +father, come out of the ship, and start upon this horse, and go where +the adventures shall lead thee in the quest of the Sangreal. Then he +went to his father and kissed him sweetly, and said: Fair sweet +father, I wot not when I shall see you more till I see the body of +Jesu Christ. I pray you, said Launcelot, pray ye to the High Father +that He hold me in His service. And so he took his horse, and there +they heard a voice that said: Think for to do well, for the one shall +never see the other before the dreadful day of doom. Now, son Galahad, +said Launcelot, syne we shall depart, and never see other, I pray to +the High Father to conserve me and you both. Sir, said Galahad, no +prayer availeth so much as yours. And therewith Galahad entered into +the forest. And the wind arose, and drove Launcelot more than a month +throughout the sea, where he slept but little, but prayed to God that +he might see some tidings of the Sangreal. So it befell on a night, at +midnight, he arrived afore a castle, on the back side, which was rich +and fair, and there was a postern opened toward the sea, and was open +without any keeping, save two lions kept the entry; and the moon shone +clear. Anon Sir Launcelot heard a voice that said: Launcelot, go out +of this ship and enter into the castle, where thou shalt see a great +part of thy desire. Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and so +went to the gate and saw the lions. Then set he hand to his sword and +drew it. Then there came a dwarf suddenly, and smote him on the arm so +sore that the sword fell out of his hand. Then heard he a voice say: O +man of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore trowest thou more on thy +harness than in thy Maker, for He might more avail thee than thine +armour, in whose service that thou art set. Then said Launcelot: Fair +Father Jesu Christ, I thank thee of Thy great mercy that Thou +reprovest me of my misdeed; now see I well that ye hold me for your +servant. Then took he again his sword and put it up in his sheath, and +made a cross in his forehead, and came to the lions, and they made +semblant to do him harm. Notwithstanding he passed by them without +hurt, and entered into the castle to the chief fortress, and there +were they all at rest. Then Launcelot entered in so armed, for he +found no gate nor door but it was open. And at the last he found a +chamber whereof the door was shut, and he set his hand thereto to have +opened it, but he might not. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT WAS AFORE THE DOOR OF THE CHAMBER WHEREIN THE HOLY +SANGREAL WAS + + +Then he enforced him mickle to undo the door. Then he listened and +heard a voice which sang so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing; +and him thought the voice said: Joy and honour be to the Father of +Heaven. Then Launcelot kneeled down tofore the chamber, for well wist +he that there was the Sangreal within that chamber. Then said he: Fair +sweet Father, Jesu Christ, if ever I did thing that pleased Thee, Lord +for Thy pity never have me not in despite for my sins done aforetime, +and that Thou show me something of that I seek. And with that he saw +the chamber door open, and there came out a great clereness, that the +house was as bright as all the torches of the world had been there. So +came he to the chamber door, and would have entered. And anon a voice +said to him, Flee, Launcelot, and enter not, for thou oughtest not to +do it; and if thou enter thou shalt forethink it. Then he withdrew him +aback right heavy. Then looked he up in the middes of the chamber, and +saw a table of silver, and the holy vessel, covered with red samite, +and many angels about it, whereof one held a candle of wax burning, +and the other held a cross, and the ornaments of an altar. And before +the holy vessel he saw a good man clothed as a priest. And it seemed +that he was at the sacring of the mass. And it seemed to Launcelot +that above the priest's hands were three men, whereof the two put the +youngest by likeness between the priest's hands; and so he lift it up +right high, and it seemed to show so to the people. And then Launcelot +marvelled not a little, for him thought the priest was so greatly +charged of the figure that him seemed that he should fall to the +earth. And when he saw none about him that would help him, then came +he to the door a great pace, and said: Fair Father Jesu Christ, ne +take it for no sin though I help the good man which hath great need of +help. Right so entered he into the chamber, and came toward the table +of silver; and when he came nigh he felt a breath, that him thought it +was intermeddled with fire, which smote him so sore in the visage that +him thought it brent his visage; and therewith he fell to the earth, +and had no power to arise, as he that was so araged, that had lost the +power of his body, and his hearing, and his seeing. Then felt he many +hands about him, which took him up and bare him out of the chamber +door, without any amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming +dead to all people. So upon the morrow when it was fair day they +within were arisen, and found Launcelot lying afore the chamber door. +All they marvelled how that he came in, and so they looked upon him, +and felt his pulse to wit whether there were any life in him; and so +they found life in him, but he might not stand nor stir no member that +he had. And so they took him by every part of the body, and bare him +into a chamber, and laid him in a rich bed, far from all folk; and so +he lay four days. Then the one said he was on live, and the other +said, Nay. In the name of God, said an old man, for I do you verily to +wit he is not dead, but he is so full of life as the mightiest of you +all; and therefore I counsel you that he be well kept till God send +him life again. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT HAD LAIN FOUR AND TWENTY DAYS AND AS MANY NIGHTS AS +A DEAD MAN, AND OTHER DIVERS MATTERS + + +In such manner they kept Launcelot four and twenty days and all so +many nights, that ever he lay still as a dead man; and at the +twenty-fifth day befell him after midday that he opened his eyes. And +when he saw folk he made great sorrow, and said: Why have ye awaked +me, for I was more at ease than I am now. O Jesu Christ, who might be +so blessed that might see openly thy great marvels of secretness there +where no sinner may be! What have ye seen? said they about him. I have +seen, said he, so great marvels that no tongue may tell, and more than +any heart can think, and had not my son been here afore me I had seen +much more. Then they told him how he had lain there four and twenty +days and nights. Then him thought it was punishment for the four and +twenty years that he had been a sinner, wherefore Our Lord put him in +penance four and twenty days and nights. Then looked Sir Launcelot +afore him, and saw the hair which he had borne nigh a year, for that +he forethought him right much that he had broken his promise unto the +hermit, which he had avowed to do. Then they asked how it stood with +him. For sooth, said he, I am whole of body, thanked be Our Lord; +therefore, sirs, for God's love tell me where I am. Then said they all +that he was in the castle of Carbonek. Therewith came a gentlewoman +and brought him a shirt of small linen cloth, but he changed not +there, but took the hair to him again. Sir, said they, the quest of +the Sangreal is achieved now right in you, that never shall ye see of +the Sangreal no more than ye have seen. Now I thank God, said +Launcelot, of His great mercy of that I have seen, for it sufficeth +me; for as I suppose no man in this world hath lived better than I +have done to achieve that I have done. And therewith he took the hair +and clothed him in it, and above that he put a linen shirt, and after +a robe of scarlet, fresh and new. And when he was so arrayed they +marvelled all, for they knew him that he was Launcelot, the good +knight. And then they said all: O my lord Sir Launcelot, be that ye? +And he said: Truly I am he. Then came word to King Pelles that the +knight that had lain so long dead was Sir Launcelot. Then was the king +right glad, and went to see him. And when Launcelot saw him come he +dressed him against him, and there made the king great joy of him. And +there the king told him tidings that his fair daughter was dead. Then +Launcelot was right heavy of it, and said: Sir, me forthinketh the +death of your daughter, for she was a full fair lady, fresh and young. +And well I wot she bare the best knight that is now on the earth, or +that ever was sith God was born. So the king held him there four days, +and on the morrow he took his leave at King Pelles and at all the +fellowship, and thanked them of their great labour. Right so as they +sat at their dinner in the chief hall, then was it so that the +Sangreal had fulfilled the table with all manner of meats that any +heart might think. So as they sat they saw all the doors and the +windows of the place were shut without man's hand, whereof they were +all abashed, and none wist what to do. And then it happened suddenly +that a knight came to the chief door and knocked, and cried: Undo the +door. But they would not. And ever he cried: Undo; but they would not. +And at last it annoyed him so much that the king himself arose and +came to a window where the knight called. Then he said: Sir knight, ye +shall not enter at this time while the Sangreal is here, and therefore +go into another; for certes ye be none of the knights of the quest, +but one of them which hath served the fiend, and hast left the service +of Our Lord: and he was passing wroth at the king's words. Sir knight, +said the king, sith ye would so fain enter, say me of what country ye +be. Sir, said he, I am of the realm of Logris, and my name is Ector de +Maris, and brother unto my lord, Sir Launcelot. In the name of God, +said the king, me forthinketh of what I have said, for your brother is +here within. And when Ector de Maris understood that his brother was +there, for he was the man in the world that he most dread and loved, +and then he said: Ah God, now doubleth my sorrow and shame. Full truly +said the good man of the hill unto Gawaine and to me of our dreams. +Then went he out of the court as fast as his horse might, and so +throughout the castle. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT RETURNED TOWARDS LOGRIS, AND OF OTHER ADVENTURES +WHICH HE SAW IN THE WAY + + +Then King Pelles came to Sir Launcelot and told him tidings of his +brother, whereof he was sorry, that he wist not what to do. So Sir +Launcelot departed, and took his arms, and said he would go see the +realm of Logris, which I have not seen these twelve months. And +therewith he commended the king to God, and so rode through many +realms. And at the last he came to a white abbey, and there they made +him that night great cheer; and on the morn he rose and heard mass. +And afore an altar he found a rich tomb, the which was newly made; and +then he took heed, and saw the sides written with gold which said: +Here lieth King Bagdemagus of Gore, which King Arthur's nephew slew; +and named him, Sir Gawaine. Then was he not a little sorry, for +Launcelot loved him much more than any other, and had it been any +other than Gawaine he should not have escaped from death to life; and +said to himself: Ah Lord God, this is a great hurt unto King Arthur's +court, the loss of such a man. And then he departed and came to the +abbey where Galahad did the adventure of the tombs, and won the white +shield with the red cross; and there had he great cheer all that +night. And on the morn he turned unto Camelot, where he found King +Arthur and the queen. But many of the knights of the Round Table were +slain and destroyed, more than half. And so three were come home +again, that were Sir Gawaine, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel, and many +other that need not to be rehearsed. Then all the court was passing +glad of Sir Launcelot, and the king asked him many tidings of his son +Galahad. And there Launcelot told the king of his adventures that had +befallen him syne he departed. And also he told him of the adventures +of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors, which that he knew by the letter of +the dead damosel, and as Galahad had told him. Now God would, said the +king, that they were all three here. That shall never be, said +Launcelot, for two of them shall ye never see, but one of them shall +come again. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HOW GALAHAD CAME TO KING MORDRAINS, AND OF OTHER MATTERS AND +ADVENTURES + + +Now saith the story that Galahad rode many journeys in vain. And at +the last he came to the Abbey where King Mordrains was, and when he +heard that, he thought he would abide to see him. And upon the morn, +when he had heard mass, Galahad came unto King Mordrains, and anon the +king saw him, which had lain blind a long time. And then he dressed +him against him, and said: Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, whose +coming I have abiden so long, now embrace me and let me rest on thy +breast, so that I may rest between thine arms, for thou art a clene +virgin above all knights, as the flower of the lily in whom virginity +is signified, and thou art the rose the which is the flower of all +good virtues, and in colour of fire. For the fire of the Holy Ghost is +taken so in thee that my flesh which was of dead oldness is become +young again. When Galahad heard his words, then he embraced him and +all his body. Then said he: Fair Lord Jesu Christ, now I have my will. +Now I require thee, in this point that I am in, thou come and visit +me. And anon Our Lord heard his prayer: therewith the soul departed +from the body. And then Galahad put him in the earth as a king ought +to be, and so departed and came into a perilous forest where he found +the well the which boileth with great waves, as the tale telleth +tofore. And as soon as Galahad set his hand thereto it ceased, so that +it burnt no more, and the heat departed. For that it brent it was a +sign of lechery, the which was that time much used. But that heat +might not abide his pure virginity. And this was taken in the country +for a miracle. And so ever after was it called Galahad's well. Then by +adventure he came into the country of Gore, and into the Abbey where +Launcelot had been toforehand, and found the tomb of King Bagdemagus, +but Joseph of Aramathie's son was founder thereof; and the tomb of +Simeon where Launcelot had failed. Then he looked into a croft under +the minster, and there he saw a tomb which burnt full marvellously. +Then asked he the brethren what it was. Sir, said they, a marvellous +adventure that may not be brought unto none end but by him that +passeth of bounty and of knighthood all the knights of the Round +Table. I would, said Galahad, that ye would lead me thereto. Gladly, +said they. And so they led him unto a cave. And he went down upon +gretys, and came nigh the tomb. And then the flaming failed, and the +fire stanched, the which many a day had been great. Then came there a +voice that said: much are ye beholden to thank Our Lord, the which +hath given you a good hour, that ye may draw out the souls of earthly +pain, and to put them into the joys of paradise. I am of your kindred, +the which hath dwelled in this heat this three hundred four and fifty +winter to be purged of the sin that I did against Joseph of Aramathie. +Then Galahad took the body in his arms and bare it into the minster. +And that night lay Galahad in the abbey; and on the morn he gave him +service, and put him in the earth afore the high altar. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HOW SIR PERCIVALE AND SIR BORS MET WITH SIR GALAHAD, AND HOW THEY CAME +TO THE CASTLE OF CARBONEK, AND OTHER MATTERS + + +So departed he from thence, and commended the brethren to God; and so +he rode five days till that he came to the maimed king. And ever +followed Percivale the five days, asking where he had been; and so one +told him how the adventures of Logris were achieved. So on a day it +befell that they came out of a great forest, and there they met at +traverse with Sir Bors, the which rode alone. It is none need to tell +if they were glad; and them he saluted, and they yielded him honour +and good adventure, and every each told other. Then said Bors: It is +more than a year and an half that I ne lay ten times where men +dwelled, but in wild forests and in mountains, but God was ever my +comfort. Then rode they a great while till that they came to the +castle of Carbonek. And when they were entered within the castle King +Pelles knew them; then there was great joy, for they wist well by +their coming that they had fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal. Then +Eliazar, King Pelles' son, brought tofore them the broken sword +wherewith Joseph was stricken through the thigh. Then Bors set his +hand thereto, if that he might have soldered it again; but it would +not be. Then he took it to Percivale, but he had no more power thereto +than he. Now have ye it again, said Percivale to Galahad, for an it be +ever achieved by any bodily man ye must do it. And then he took the +pieces and set them together, and they seemed that they had never been +broken, and as well as it had been first forged. And when they within +espied that the adventure of the sword was achieved, then they gave +the sword to Bors, for it might not be better set; for he was a good +knight and a worthy man. And a little afore even the sword arose great +and marvellous, and was full of great heat that many men fell for +dread. And anon alit a voice among them, and said: They that ought not +to sit at the table of Jesu Christ arise, for now shall very knights +be fed. So they went thence, all save King Pelles and Eliazar, his +son, the which were holy men, and a maid which was his niece; and so +these three fellows and they three were there, no more. Anon they saw +knights all armed come in at the hall door, and did off their helms +and their arms, and said unto Galahad: Sir, we have hied right much +for to be with you at this table where the holy meat shall be +departed. Then said he: Ye be welcome, but of whence be ye? So three +of them said they were of Gaul, and other three said they were of +Ireland, and the other three said they were of Denmark. So as they sat +thus there came out a bed of tree, of a chamber, the which four +gentlewomen brought; and in the bed lay a good man sick, and a crown +of gold upon his head; and there in the middes of the place they set +him down, and went again their way. Then he lift up his head, and +said: Galahad, Knight, ye be welcome, for much have I desired your +coming, for in such anguish I have been long. But now I trust to God +the term is come that my pain shall be allayed, that I shall pass out +of this world so as it was promised me long ago. Therewith a voice +said: There be two among you that be not in the quest of the Sangreal, +and therefore depart ye. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HOW GALAHAD AND HIS FELLOWS WERE FED OF THE HOLY SANGREAL, AND HOW OUR +LORD APPEARED TO THEM, AND OTHER THINGS + + +Then King Pelles and his son departed. And therewithal beseemed them +that there came a man, and four angels from heaven, clothed in +likeness of a bishop, and had a cross in his hand; and there four +angels bare him in a chair, and set him down before the table of +silver whereupon the Sangreal was; and it seemed that he had in middes +of his forehead letters the which said: See ye here Joseph, the first +bishop of Christendom, the same which Our Lord succoured in the city +of Sarras in the spiritual place. Then the knights marvelled, for that +bishop was dead more than three hundred years tofore. O knights, said +he, marvel not, for I was sometime an earthly man. With that they +heard the chamber door open, and there they saw angels; and two bare +candles of wax, and the third a towel, and the fourth a spear which +bled marvellously, that three drops fell within a box which he held +with his other hand. And they set the candles upon the table, and the +third the towel upon the vessel, and the fourth the holy spear even +upright upon the vessel. And then the bishop made semblant as though +he would have gone to the sacring of the mass. And then he took an +ubblye which was made in likeness of bread. And at the lifting up +there came a figure in likeness of a child, and the visage was as red +and as bright as any fire, and smote himself into the bread, so that +they all saw it that the bread was formed of a fleshly man; and then +he put it into the holy vessel again, and then he did that longed to a +priest to do to a mass. And then he went to Galahad and kissed him, +and bad him go and kiss his fellows: and so he did anon. Now, said he, +servants of Jesu Christ, ye shall be fed afore this table with +sweetmeats that never knights tasted. And when he had said, he +vanished away. And they set them at the table in great dread and made +their prayers. Then looked they and saw a man come out of the holy +vessel, that had all the signs of the passion of Jesu Christ, bleeding +all openly, and said: My knights, and my servants, and my true +children, which be come out of deadly life into spiritual life, I will +now no longer hide me from you, but ye shall see now a part of my +secrets and of my hidden things: now hold and receive the high meat +which ye have so much desired. Then took he himself the holy vessel +and came to Galahad; and he kneeled down, and there he received his +Saviour, and after him so received all his fellows; and they thought +it so sweet that it was marvellous to tell. Then said he to Galahad: +Son, wotest thou what I hold betwixt my hands? Nay, said he, but if ye +will tell me. This is, said he, the holy dish wherein I ate the lamb +on Sher-Thursday. And now hast thou seen that thou most desired to +see, but yet hast thou not seen it so openly as thou shalt see it in +the city of Sarras in the spiritual place. Therefore thou must go +hence and bear with thee this holy vessel; for this night it shall +depart from the realm of Logris, that it shall never be seen more +here. And wotest thou wherefore? For he is not served nor worshipped +to his right by them of this land, for they be turned to evil living; +therefore I shall disherit them of the honour which I have done them. +And therefore go ye three to-morrow unto the sea, where ye shall find +your ship ready and with you take the sword with the strange girdles, +and no more with you but Sir Percivale and Sir Bors. Also I will that +ye take with you of the blood of this spear for to anoint the maimed +king, both his legs and all his body, and he shall have his health. +Sir, said Galahad, why shall not these other fellows go with us? For +this cause: for right as I departed my apostles one here and another +there, so I will that ye depart; and two of you shall die in my +service, but one of you shall come again and tell tidings. Then gave +he them his blessing and vanished away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOW GALAHAD ANOINTED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SPEAR THE MAIMED KING, AND +OTHER ADVENTURES + + +And Galahad went anon to the spear which lay upon the table, and +touched the blood with his fingers, and came after to the maimed king +and anointed his legs. And therewith he clothed him anon, and start +upon his feet out of his bed as an whole man, and thanked Our Lord +that He had healed him. And that was not to the world ward, for anon +he yielded him to a place of religion of white monks, and was a full +holy man. That same night about midnight came a voice among them which +said: My sons and not my chief sons, my friends and not my warriors, +go ye hence where ye hope best to do and as I bad you. Ah, thanked be +Thou, Lord, that Thou wilt vouchsafe to call us, Thy sinners. Now may +we well prove that we have not lost our pains. And anon in all haste +they took their harness and departed. But the three knights of Gaul, +one of them hight Claudine, King Claudas' son, and the other two were +great gentlemen. Then prayed Galahad to every each of them, that if +they come to King Arthur's court that they should salute my lord, Sir +Launcelot, my father, and of them of the Round Table; and prayed them +if that they came on that part that they should not forget it. Right +so departed Galahad, Percivale and Bors with him; and so they rode +three days, and then they came to a rivage, and found the ship whereof +the tale speaketh of tofore. And when they came to the board they +found in the middes the table of silver which they had left with the +maimed king, and the Sangreal which was covered with red samite. Then +were they glad to have such things in their fellowship; and so they +entered and made great reverence thereto; and Galahad fell in his +prayer long time to Our Lord, that at what time he asked, that he +should pass out of this world. So much he prayed till a voice said to +him: Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and when thou askest the +death of thy body thou shalt have it, and then shalt thou find the +life of the soul. Percivale heard this, and prayed him, of fellowship +that was between them, to tell him wherefore he asked such things. +That shall I tell you, said Galahad; the other day when we saw a part +of the adventures of the Sangreal I was in such a joy of heart, that I +trow never man was that was earthly. And therefore I wot well, when my +body is dead my soul shall be in great joy to see the blessed Trinity +every day, and the Majesty of Our Lord, Jesu Christ. So long were they +in the ship that they said to Galahad: Sir, in this bed ought ye to +lie, for so saith the scripture. And so he laid him down and slept a +great while; and when he awaked he looked afore him and saw the city +of Sarras. And as they would have landed they saw the ship wherein +Percivale had put his sister in. Truly, said Percivale, in the name of +God, well hath my sister holden us covenant. Then took they out of the +ship the table of silver, and he took it to Percivale and to Bors, to +go tofore, and Galahad came behind. And right so they went to the +city, and at the gate of the city they saw an old man crooked. Then +Galahad called him and bad him help to bear this heavy thing. Truly, +said the old man, it is ten year ago that I might not go but with +crutches. Care thou not, said Galahad, and arise up and shew thy good +will. And so he essayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was. +Then ran he to the table, and took one part against Galahad, And anon +arose there great noise in the city, that a cripple was made whole by +knights marvellous that entered into the city. Then anon after, the +three knights went to the water, and brought up into the palace +Percivale's sister, and buried her as richly as a king's daughter +ought to be. And when the king of the city, which was cleped +Estorause, saw the fellowship, he asked them of whence they were, and +what thing it was that they had brought upon the table of silver. And +they told him the truth of the Sangreal, and the power which that God +had set there. Then the king was a tyrant, and was come of the line of +paynims, and took them and put them in prison in a deep hole. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +HOW THEY WERE FED WITH THE SANGREAL WHILE THEY WERE IN PRISON, AND HOW +GALAHAD WAS MADE KING + + +But as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the Sangreal, +through whose grace they were alway fulfilled while that they were in +prison. So at the year's end it befel that this King Estorause lay +sick, and felt that he should die. Then he sent for the three knights, +and they came afore him; and he cried them mercy of that he had done +to them, and they forgave it him goodly; and he died anon. When the +king was dead all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be +their king. Right so as they were in counsel there came a voice among +them, and bad them choose the youngest knight of them three to be +their king: For he shall well maintain you and all yours. So they made +Galahad king by all the assent of the holy city, and else they would +have slain him. And when he was come to behold the land, he let make +above the table of silver a chest of gold and of precious stones, that +hylled the holy vessel. And every day early the three fellows would +come afore it, and make their prayers. Now at the year's end, and the +self day after Galahad had borne the crown of gold, he arose up early +and his fellows, and came to the palace, and saw tofore them the holy +vessel, and a man kneeling on his knees in likeness of a bishop, that +had about him a great fellowship of angels as it had been Jesu Christ +himself; and then he arose and began a mass of Our Lady. And when he +came to the sacrament of the mass, and had done, anon he called +Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the servant of Jesu Christ, and +thou shalt see that thou hast much desired to see. And then he began +to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh began to behold the +spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward heaven and said: +Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been my desire many a +day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it might please +thee, Lord. And therewith the good man took Our Lord's body betwixt +his hands, and proffered it to Galahad, and he received it right +gladly and meekly. Now wotest thou what I am? said the good man. Nay, +said Galahad. I am Joseph of Aramathie, the which Our Lord hath sent +here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and wotest thou wherefore that +he hath sent me more than any other? For thou hast resembled me in two +things; in that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, in that +thou hast been a clene maiden, as I have been and am. And when he had +said these words Galahad went to Percivale and kissed him, and +commended him to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed him, and +commended him to God, and said: Fair lord, salute me to my lord, Sir +Launcelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him remember of +this unstable world. And therewith he kneeled down tofore the table +and made his prayers, and then suddenly his soul departed to Jesu +Christ, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to heaven, +that the two fellows might well behold it. Also the two fellows saw +come from heaven an hand, but they saw not the body. And then it came +right to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so bare it up to +heaven. Sithen was there never man so hardy to say that he had seen +the Sangreal. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +OF THE SORROW THAT PERCIVALE AND BORS MADE WHEN GALAHAD WAS DEAD: AND +OF PERCIVALE HOW HE DIED, AND OTHER MATTERS + + +When Percivale and Bors saw Galahad dead they made as much sorrow as +ever did two men. And if they had not been good men they might lightly +have fallen in despair. And the people of the country and of the city +were right heavy. And then he was buried; and as soon as he was buried +Sir Percivale yielded him to an hermitage out of the city, and took a +religious clothing. And Bors was alway with him, but never changed he +his secular clothing, for that he purposed him to go again into the +realm of Logris. Thus a year and two months lived Sir Percivale in the +hermitage a full holy life, and then passed out of this world; and +Bors let bury him by his sister and by Galahad in the spiritualities. +When Bors saw that he was in so far countries as in the parts of +Babylon he departed from Sarras, and armed him and came to the sea, +and entered into a ship; and so it befell him in good adventure he +came into the realm of Logris; and he rode so fast till he came to +Camelot where the king was. And then was there great joy made of him +in the court, for they weened all he had been dead, forasmuch as he +had been so long out of the country. And when they had eaten, the king +made great clerks to come afore him, that they should chronicle of the +high adventures of the good knights. When Bors had told him of the +adventures of the Sangreal, such as had befallen him and his three +fellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale, Galahad, and himself, there +Launcelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he had seen. All +this was made in great books, and put up in almeryes at Salisbury. And +anon Sir Bors said to Sir Launcelot: Galahad, your own son, saluted +you by me, and after you King Arthur and all the Court, and so did Sir +Percivale, for I buried them with mine own hands in the city of +Sarras. Also, Sir Launcelot, Galahad prayed you to remember of this +unsyker world as ye behight him when ye were together more than half a +year. This is true, said Launcelot; now I trust to God his prayer +shall avail me. Then Launcelot took Sir Bors in his arms, and said: +Gentle cousin, ye are right welcome to me, and all that ever I may do +for you and for yours ye shall find my poor body ready at all times, +while the spirit is in it, and that I promise you faithfully, and +never to fail. And wit ye well, gentle cousin, Sir Bors, that ye and I +will never depart in sunder whilst our lives may last. Sir, said he, I +will as ye will. + +_Thus endeth thistory of the Sancgreal, that was breuely drawen oute +of Frensshe in to Englysshe, the whiche is a story cronycled for one +of the truest and the holyest that is in thys world, the which is the +xvii. book_. + + + + +A DESCRIPTION OF ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND + +WRITTEN BY +WILLIAM HARRISON + +FOR + +HOLINSHED CHRONICLES + + + + +_INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +Near the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, Reginald Wolfe, the Queen's +Printer, with the splendid audacity characteristic of that age, +planned to publish a "universal Cosmography of the whole world, and +therewith also certain particular histories of every known nation." +Raphael Holinshed had charge of the histories of England, Scotland, +and Ireland, the only part of the work ever published; and these were +issued in 1577, and have since been known as "Holinshed's Chronicles." +From them Shakespeare drew most of the material for his historical +plays. + +Among Holinshed's collaborators was one William Harrison, chaplain to +Lord Cobham, and later Rector of Radwinter in Essex and Canon of +Windsor. To him was allotted the task of writing the "Descriptions of +Britain and England" from which the following chapters are drawn. He +gathered his facts from books, letters, maps, conversations, and, most +important of all, his own observation and experience; and he put them +loosely together into what he calls "this foul frizzled treatise." +Yet, with all his modesty, he claims to "have had an especial eye to +the truth of things"; and as a result we have in his pages the most +vivid and detailed picture in existence of the England into which +Shakespeare was born. + +In 1876 Dr. Furnivall condensed Harrison's chapters for the New +Shakspere Society, and these have since been reprinted by Mr. Lothrop +Withington in the modern dress in which the most interesting of them +appear here. No apology is needed for thus selecting and rearranging, +since in their original form they were without unity, and formed part +of a vast compilation. + +Harrison's merit does not lie in the rich interest of his matter +alone. He wrote a racy style with a strong individual as well as +Elizabethan flavor; and his personal comment upon the manners of his +time serves as a piquant sauce to the solid meat of his historical +information._ + + + + +A DESCRIPTION OF ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND + + + +CHAPTER I + +OF DEGREES OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 4; 1587, Book II., Chapter 5.][1] + + + [1] These references are to the first two editions of + Holinshed's _Chronicles_. The modernization of the spelling, + etc., follows that of Mr. L. Wilkington, whose notes are signed + W. + +We in England, divide our people commonly into four sorts, as +gentlemen, citizens or burgesses, yeomen, and artificers or labourers. +Of gentlemen the first and chief (next the king) be the prince, dukes, +marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons; and these are called +gentlemen of the greater sort, or (as our common usage of speech is) +lords and noblemen: and next unto them be knights, esquires, and, last +of all, they that are simply called gentlemen. So that in effect our +gentlemen are divided into their conditions, whereof in this chapter +I will make particular rehearsal. + +The title of prince doth peculiarly belong with us to the king's +eldest son, who is called Prince of Wales, and is the heir-apparent +to the crown; as in France the king's eldest son hath the title of +Dauphin, and is named peculiarly _Monsieur_. So that the prince is so +termed of the Latin word _Princeps_, since he is (as I may call him) +the chief or principal next the king. The king's younger sons be but +gentlemen by birth (till they have received creation or donation from +their father of higher estate, as to be either viscounts, earls, or +dukes) and called after their names, as Lord Henry, or Lord Edward, +with the addition of the word Grace, properly assigned to the king and +prince, and now also by custom conveyed to dukes, archbishops, and (as +some say) to marquesses and their wives.[2]... + + [2] Here follow etymologies of the terms "Duke," "Marquess," + and "Baron."--W. + +Unto this place I also refer our bishops, who are accounted +honourable, called lords, and hold the same room in the Parliament +house with the barons, albeit for honour sake the right hand of the +prince is given unto them, and whose countenances in time past were +much more glorious than at this present it is, because those lusty +prelates sought after earthly estimation and authority with far more +diligence than after the lost sheep of Christ, of which they had small +regard, as men being otherwise occupied and void of leisure to attend +upon the same. Howbeit in these days their estate remaineth no less +reverend than before, and the more virtuous they are that be of this +calling the better are they esteemed with high and low. They retain +also the ancient name ("lord") still, although it be not a little +impugned by such as love either to hear of change of all things or can +abide no superiors. For notwithstanding it be true that in respect of +function the office of the eldership[3] is equally distributed between +the bishop and the minister, yet for civil government's sake the first +have more authority given unto them by kings and princes, to the end +that the rest may thereby be with more ease retained within a limited +compass of uniformity than otherwise they would be if each one were +suffered to walk in his own course. This also is more to be marvelled +at, that very many call for an alteration of their estate, crying to +have the word "lord" abolished, their civil authority taken from them, +and the present condition of the church in other things reformed; +whereas, to say truly, few of them do agree upon form of discipline +and government of the church succeedent, wherein they resemble the +Capuans (of whom Livy doth speak) in the slaughter of their senate. +Neither is it possible to frame a whole monarchy after the pattern of +one town or city, or to stir up such an exquisite face of the church +as we imagine or desire, sith our corruption is such that it will +never yield to so great perfection; for that which is not able to be +performed in a private house will be much less be brought to pass in a +commonwealth and kingdom, before such a prince be found as Xenophon +describeth, or such an orator as Tully hath devised.[4]... + + [3] 1 Sam. ii. 15; 1 Kings i. 7.--H. + + [4] Here follows a long paragraph on the character of the clergy + which is more appropriate to the chapter on "The Church."--W. + +Dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons either be created of +the prince or come to that honour by being the eldest sons or highest +in succession to their parents. For the eldest son of a duke during +his father's life is an earl, the eldest son of an earl is a baron, or +sometimes a viscount, according as the creation is. The creation I +call the original donation and condition of the honour given by the +prince for good service done by the first ancestor, with some +advancement, which, with the title of that honour, is always given to +him and his heirs males only. The rest of the sons of the nobility by +the rigour of the law be but esquires; yet in common speech all dukes' +and marquesses' sons and earls' eldest sons be called lords, the which +name commonly doth agree to none of lower degree than barons, yet by +law and use these be not esteemed barons. + +The barony or degree of lords doth answer to the degree of senators of +Rome (as I said) and the title of nobility (as we used to call it in +England) to the Roman _Patricii_. Also in England no man is commonly +created baron except he may dispend of yearly revenues a thousand +pounds, or so much as may fully maintain and bear out his countenance +and port. But viscounts, earls, marquesses, and dukes exceed them +according to the proportion of their degree and honour. But though by +chance he or his son have less, yet he keepeth this degree: but if the +decay be excessive, and not able to maintain the honour (as _Senatores +Romani_ were _amoti à senatu_), so sometimes they are not admitted to +the upper house in the parliament, although they keep the name of +"lord" still, which cannot be taken from them upon any such occasion. + +The most of these names have descended from the French invention, in +whose histories we shall read of them eight hundred years past.[5]... + + [5] Here follows a learned disquisition upon "Valvasors."--W. + +Knights be not born, neither is any man a knight by succession, no, +not the king or prince: but they are made either before the battle, to +encourage them the more to adventure and try their manhood; or after +the battle ended, as an advancement for their courage and prowess +already shewed, and then are they called _Milites_; or out of the wars +for some great service done, or for the singular virtues which do +appear in them, and then are they named _Equites Aurati_, as common +custom intendeth. They are made either by the king himself, or by his +commission and royal authority given for the same purpose, or by his +lieutenant in the wars.[6]... + + [6] Here follows a discourse upon _Equites Aurati_.--W. + +Sometime diverse ancient gentlemen, burgesses, and lawyers are called +unto knighthood by the prince, and nevertheless refuse to take that +state upon them, for which they are of custom punished by a fine, that +redoundeth unto his coffers, and (to say truth) is oftentimes more +profitable unto him than otherwise their service should be, if they +did yield unto knighthood. And this also is a cause wherefore there be +many in England able to dispend a knight's living, which never come +unto that countenance, and by their own consents. The number of the +knights in Rome was also uncertain: and so is it of knights likewise, +with us, as at the pleasure of the prince. And whereas the _Equites +Romani_ had _Equum Publicum_ of custom bestowed upon them, the knights +of England have not so, but bear their own charges in that also, as in +other kind of furniture, as armour meet for their defence and service. +This nevertheless is certain, that whoso may dispend forty pounds by +the year of free land, either at the coronation of the king, or +marriage of his daughter, or time of his dubbing, may be informed unto +the taking of that degree, or otherwise pay the revenues of his land +for one year, which is only forty pounds by an old proportion, and so +for a time be acquitted of that title.[7]... + + [7] Here is a description of dubbing a knight.--W. + +At the coronation of a king or queen, there be other knights made with +longer and more curious ceremonies, called "knights of the bath." But +howsoever one be dubbed or made knight, his wife is by-and-by called +"Madam," or "Lady," so well as the baron's wife: he himself having +added to his name in common appellation this syllable "Sir," which is +the title whereby we call our knights in England. His wife also of +courtesy so long as she liveth is called "my lady," although she +happen to marry with a gentleman or man of mean calling, albeit that +by the common law she hath no such prerogative. If her first husband +also be of better birth than her second, though this latter likewise +be a knight, yet in that she pretendeth a privilege to lose no honour +through courtesy yielded to her sex, she will be named after the most +honourable or worshipful of both, which is not seen elsewhere. + +The other order of knighthood in England, and the most honourable, is +that of the garter, instituted by King Edward the Third, who, after he +had gained many notable victories, taken King John of France, and King +James of Scotland (and kept them both prisoners in the Tower o£ London +at one time), expelled King Henry of Castille, the bastard, out of his +realm, and restored Don Pedro unto it (by the help of the Prince of +Wales and Duke of Aquitaine, his eldest son, called the Black Prince), +he then invented this society of honour, and made a choice out of his +own realm and dominions, and throughout all Christendom of the best, +most excellent, and renowned persons in all virtues and honour, and +adorned them with that title to be knights of his order, giving them a +garter garnished with gold and precious stones, to wear daily on the +left leg only; also a kirtle, gown, cloak, chaperon, collar, and other +solemn and magnificent apparel, both of stuff and fashion exquisite +and heroical to wear at high feasts, and as to so high and princely an +order appertaineth.... + +The order of the garter therefore was devised in the time of King +Edward the Third, and (as some write) upon this occasion. The queen's +majesty then living, being departed from his presence the next way +toward her lodging, he following soon after happened to find her +garter, which slacked by chance and so fell from her leg, unespied in +the throng by such as attended upon her. His grooms and gentlemen also +passed by it, as disdaining to stoop and take up such a trifle: but +he, knowing the owner, commanded one of them to stay and reach it up +to him. "Why, and like your grace," saith a gentleman, "it is but some +woman's garter that hath fallen from her as she followed the queen's +majesty." "Whatsoever it be," quoth the king, "take it up and give it +me." So when he had received the garter, he said to such as stood +about him: "You, my masters, do make small account of this bule garter +here," and therewith held it out, "but, if God lend me life for a few +months, I will make the proudest of you all to reverence the like." +And even upon this slender occasion he gave himself to the devising of +this order. Certes, I have not read of anything that having had so +simple a beginning hath grown in the end to so great honour and +estimation.[8]... + + [8] Long details are given of Garter history, very inaccurate, + both here and in the last omitted passage.--W. + +There is yet another order of knights In England called knights +bannerets, who are made in the field with the ceremony of cutting away +the point of his pennant of arms, and making it as it were a banner, +so that, being before but a bachelor knight, he is now of an higher +degree, and allowed to display his arms in a banner, as barons do. +Howbeit these knights are never made but in the wars, the king's +standard being unfolded.[9]... + + [9] Derivations of "Esquire" and "Gentleman" are given.--W. + +Moreover, as the king doth dub knights, and createth the barons and +higher degrees, so gentlemen whose ancestors are not known to come in +with William Duke of Normandy (for of the Saxon races yet remaining we +now make none accounted, much less of the British issue) do take their +beginning in England, after this manner in our times. + +Whosoever studieth the laws of the realm, whoso abideth in the +university (giving his mind to his book), or professeth physic and the +liberal sciences, or beside his service in the room of a captain in the +wars, or good counsel given at home, whereby his commonwealth is +benefited, can live without manual labour, and thereto is able and will +bear the port, charge, and countenance of a gentleman, he shall for +money have a coat and arms bestowed upon him by heralds (who in the +charter of the same do of custom pretend antiquity and service, and +many gay things), and thereunto, being made so good cheap, be called +master (which is the title that men give to esquires and gentlemen), +and reputed for a gentleman ever after, which is so much less to be +disallowed of for that the prince doth lose nothing by it, the +gentleman being so much subject to taxes and public payments as is the +yeoman or husbandman, which he likewise doth bear the gladlier for the +saving of his reputation. Being called also to the wars (for with the +government of the commonwealth he meddleth little), whatsoever it cost +him, he will both array and arm himself accordingly, and shew the more +manly courage, and all the tokens of the person which he represented. +No man hath hurt by it but himself, who peradventure will go in wider +buskins than his legs will bear, or, as our proverb saith, "now and +then bear a bigger sail than his boat is able to sustain." + +Certes the making of new gentlemen bred great strife sometimes amongst +the Romans, I mean when those which were _Novi homines_ were more +allowed of for their virtues newly seen and shewed than the old smell +of ancient race, lately defaced by the cowardice and evil life of their +nephews and descendants, could make the other to be. But as envy hath +no affinity with justice and equity, so it forceth not what language +the malicious do give out, against such as are exalted for their +wisdoms. This nevertheless is generally to be reprehended in all +estates of gentility, and which in short time will turn to the great +ruin of our country, and that is, the usual sending of noblemen's and +mean gentlemen's sons into Italy, from whence they bring home nothing +but mere atheism, infidelity, vicious conversation, and ambitious and +proud behaviour, whereby it cometh to pass that they return far worse +men than they went out. A gentleman at this present is newly come out +of Italy, who went thither an earnest Protestant; but coming home he +could say after this manner; "Faith and truth is to be kept where no +loss or hindrance of a future purpose is sustained by holding of the +same; and forgiveness only to be shewed when full revenge is made." +Another no less forward than he, at his return from thence, could add +thus much: "He is a fool that maketh account of any religion, but more +fool that will lose any part of his wealth or will come in trouble for +constant leaning to any; but if he yield to lose his life for his +possession, he is stark mad, and worthy to be taken for most fool of +all the rest." This gay booty got these gentlemen by going Into Italy; +and hereby a man may see what fruit is afterward to be looked for where +such blossoms do appear. "I care not," saith a third, "what you talk to +me of God, so as I may have the prince and the laws of the realm on my +side." Such men as this last are easily known; for they have learned in +Italy to go up and down also in England with pages at their heels +finely apparelled, whose face and countenance shall be such as sheweth +the master not to be blind in his choice. But lest I should offend too +much, I pass over to say any more of these Italianates and their +demeanour, which, alas! is too open and manifest to the world, and yet +not called into question. + +Citizens and burgesses have next place to gentlemen, who be those that +are free within the cities, and are of some likely substance to bear +office in the same. But these citizens or burgesses are to serve the +commonwealth in their cities and boroughs, or in corporate towns where +they dwell, and in the common assembly of the realm wherein our laws +are made (for in the counties they bear but little sway), which +assembly is called the High Court of Parliament: the ancient cities +appoint four and the borough two burgesses to have voices in it, and +give their consent or dissent unto such things as pass, to stay there +in the name of the city or borough for which they are appointed. + +In this place also are our merchants to be installed as amongst the +citizens (although they often change estate with gentlemen, as +gentlemen do with them, by a mutual conversion of the one into the +other), whose number is so increased in these our days that their +only maintenance is the cause of the exceeding prices of foreign +wares, which otherwise, when every nation was permitted to bring in +her own commodities, were far better, cheaper, and more plentifully +to be had. Of the want of our commodities here at home, by their +great transportation of them into other countries, I speak not, sith +the matter will easily betray itself. Certes among the Lacedæmonians +it was found out that great numbers of merchants were nothing to the +furtherance of the state of the commonwealth: wherefore it is to be +wished that the huge heap of them were somewhat restrained, as also +of our lawyers, so should the rest live more easily upon their own, +and few honest chapmen be brought to decay by breaking of the +bankrupt. I do not deny but that the navy of the land is in part +maintained by their traffic, and so are the high prices of wares kept +up, now they have gotten the only sale of things upon pretence of +better furtherance of the commonwealth into their own hands: whereas +in times past, when the strange bottoms were suffered to come in, we +had sugar for fourpence the pound, that now at the writing of this +Treatise is well worth half-a-crown; raisins or currants for a penny +that now are holden at sixpence, and sometimes at eightpence and +tenpence the pound; nutmegs at twopence halfpenny the ounce, ginger +at a penny an ounce, prunes at halfpenny farthing, great raisins +three pounds for a penny, cinnamon at fourpence the ounce, cloves at +twopence, and pepper at twelve and sixteen pence the pound. Whereby +we may see the sequel of things not always, but very seldom, to be +such as is pretended in the beginning. The wares that they carry out +of the realm are for the most part broad clothes and carsies[10] of +all colours, likewise cottons, friezes, rugs, tin, wool, our best +beer, baize, bustian, mockadoes (tufted and plain), rash, lead, +fells, etc.: which, being shipped at sundry ports of our coasts, are +borne from thence into all quarters of the world, and there either +exchanged for other wares or ready money, to the great gain and +commodity of our merchants. And whereas in times past their chief +trade was into Spain, Portugal, France, Flanders, Danske (Denmark), +Norway, Scotland, and Ireland only, now in these days, as men not +contented with these journeys, they have sought out the East and West +Indies, and made now and then suspicious voyages, not only unto the +Canaries and New Spain, but likewise into Cathay, Muscovy, and +Tartaria, and the regions thereabout, from whence (as they say) they +bring home great commodities. But alas! I see not by all their travel +that the prices of things are any whit abated. Certes this enormity +(for so I do account of it) was sufficiently provided for (Ann. 9 +Edward III.) by a noble statute made in that behalf, but upon what +occasion the general execution thereof is stayed or not called on, in +good sooth, I cannot tell. This only I know, that every function and +several vocation striveth with other, which of them should have all +the water of commodity run into her own cistern. + + [10] Kerseys. + +Yeomen are those which by our law are called _Legales homines_, free +men born English, and may dispend of their own free land in yearly +revenue to the sum of forty shillings sterling, or six pounds as money +goeth in our times. Some are of the opinion, by Cap. 2 Rich. 2 Ann. +20, that they are the same which the Frenchmen call varlets, but, as +that phrase is used in my time, it is very unlikely to be so. The +truth is that the word is derived from the Saxon term, _Zeoman_, or +_Geoman_, which signifieth (as I have read) a settled or staid man, +such I mean as, being married and of some years, betaketh himself to +stay in the place of his abode for the better maintenance of himself +and his family, whereof the single sort have no regard, but are likely +to be still fleeting now hither now thither, which argueth want of +stability in determination and resolution of judgment, for the +execution of things of any importance. This sort of people have a +certain pre-eminence, and more estimation than labourers and the +common sort of artificers, and these commonly live wealthily, keep +good houses, and travel to get riches. They are also for the most part +farmers to gentlemen (in old time called _Pagani, et opponuntur +militibus_, and therefore Persius calleth himself _Semipaganus_), or +at the leastwise artificers, and with grazing, frequenting of markets, +and keeping of servants (not idle servants, as the gentlemen do, but +such as get both their own and part of their masters' living), do come +to great wealth, insomuch that many of them are able and do buy the +lands of unthrifty gentlemen, and often setting their sons to the +schools, to the universities, and to the Inns of the Court, or, +otherwise leaving them sufficient lands whereupon they may live +without labour, do make them by those means to become gentlemen. These +were they that in times past made all France afraid. And albeit they +be not called "Master," as gentlemen are, or "Sir," as to knights +appertaineth, but only "John" and "Thomas," etc., yet have they been +found to have done very good service. + +The kings of England in foughten battles were wont to remain among +them (who were their footmen) as the French kings did amongst their +horsemen, the prince thereby shewing where his chief strength did +consist. + +The fourth and last sort of people in England are day-labourers, poor +husbandmen, and some retailers (which have no free land) copyholders, +and all artificers, as tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, brickmakers, +masons, etc.[11] + + [11] Capite censi, or Proletarii--H. + +As for slaves and bondmen, we have none; nay, such is the privilege +of our country by the especial grace of God and bounty of our +princes, that if any come hither from other realms, so soon as they +set foot on land they become so free of condition as their masters, +whereby all note of servile bondage is utterly removed from them, +wherein we resemble (not the Germans, who had slaves also, though +such as in respect of the slaves of other countries might well be +reputed free, but) the old Indians and the Taprobanes,[12] who +supposed it a great injury to Nature to make or suffer them to be +bond, whom she in her wonted course doth product and bring forth +free. This fourth and last sort of people therefore have neither +voice nor authority in the commonwealth, but are to be ruled and not +to rule other: yet they are not altogether neglected, for in cities +and corporate towns, for default of yeomen, they are fain to make up +their inquests of such manner of people. And in villages they are +commonly made churchwardens, sidesmen, aleconners, now and then +constables, and many times enjoy the name of head boroughs. Unto this +sort also may our great swarms of idle serving-men be referred, of +whom there runneth a proverb, "Young servingmen, old beggars," +because service is none heritage. These men are profitable to none; +for, if their condition be well perused, they are enemies to their +masters; to their friends, and to themselves: for by them oftentimes +their masters are encouraged unto unlawful exactions of their +tenants, their friends brought unto poverty by their rents enhanced, +and they themselves brought to confusion by their own prodigality and +errors, as men that, having not wherewith of their own to maintain +their excesses, do search in highways, budgets, coffers, mails, and +stables, which way to supply their wants. How divers of them also, +coveting to bear an high sail, do insinuate themselves with young +gentlemen and noblemen newly come to their lands, the case is too +much apparent, whereby the good natures of the parties are not only a +little impaired, but also their livelihoods and revenues so wasted +and consumed that, if at all, yet not in many years, they shall be +able to recover themselves. It were very good therefore that the +superfluous heaps of them were in part diminished. And since +necessity enforceth to have some, yet let wisdom moderate their +numbers, so shall their masters be rid of unnecessary charge, and the +commonwealth of many thieves. No nation cherisheth such store of them +as we do here in England, in hope of which maintenance many give +themselves to idleness that otherwise would be brought to labour, and +live in order like subjects. Of their whoredoms I will not speak +anything at all, more than of their swearing; yet is it found that +some of them do make the first a chief pillar of their building, +consuming not only the goods but also the health and welfare of many +honest gentlemen, citizens, wealthy yeomen, etc., by such unlawful +dealings. But how far have I waded in this point, or how far may I +sail in such a large sea? I will therefore now stay to speak any more +of those kind of men. In returning therefore to my matter, this +furthermore among other things I have to say of our husbandmen and +artificers, that they were never so excellent in their trades as at +this present. But as the workmanship of the latter sort was newer, +more fine, and curious to the eye, so was it never less strong and +substantial for continuance and benefit of the buyers. Neither is +there anything that hurteth the common sort of our artificers more +than haste, and a barbarous or slavish desire to turn the penny, and, +by ridding their work, to make speedy utterance of their wares: which +enforceth them to bungle up and despatch many things they care not +how so they be out of their hands, whereby the buyer is often sore +defrauded, and findeth to his cost that haste maketh waste, according +to the proverb. + + [12] The Ceylonese. The Greek name for the island of Ceylon was + Taprobane, which Harrison used merely as a classical scholar.--W. + +Oh, how many trades and handicrafts are now in England whereof the +commonwealth hath no need! How many needful commodities have we which +are perfected with great cost, etc., and yet may with far more ease +and less cost be provided from other countries if we could use the +means! I will not speak of iron, glass, and such like, which spoil +much wood, and yet are brought from other countries better cheap than +we can make them here at home; I could exemplify also in many other. +But to leave these things and proceed with our purpose, and herein (as +occasion serveth) generally, by way of conclusion, to speak of the +commonwealth of England, I find that it is governed and maintained by +three sorts of persons-- + +1. The prince, monarch, and head governor, which is called the king, +or (if the crown fall to a woman) the queen: in whose name and by +whose authority all things are administered. + +2. The gentlemen which be divided into two sorts, as the barony or +estate of lords (which containeth barons and all above that degree), +and also those that be no lords, as knights, esquires, and simple +gentlemen, as I have noted already. Out of these also are the great +deputies and high presidents chosen, of which one serveth in Ireland, +as another did some time in Calais, and the captain now at Berwick, as +one lord president doth govern in Wales, and the other the north parts +of this island, which later, with certain counsellors and judges, were +erected by King Henry the Eighth. But, for so much as I have touched +their conditions elsewhere, it shall be enough to have remembered them +at this time. + +3. The third and last sort is named the yeomanry, of whom and their +sequel, the labourers and artificers, I have said somewhat even now. +Whereto I add that they may not be called _masters_ and _gentlemen_, +but _goodmen_, as Goodman Smith, Goodman Coot, Goodman Cornell, +Goodman Mascall, Goodman Cockswet, etc., and in matters of law these +and the like are called thus, _Giles Jewd, yeoman; Edward Mountford, +yeoman; James Cocke, yeoman; Harry Butcher, yeoman_, etc.; by which +addition they are exempt from the vulgar and common sorts. Cato +calleth them "_Aratores et optimos cives rei publicæ_," of whom also +you may read more in the book of commonwealth which Sir Thomas Smith +some time penned of this land. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN ENGLAND + +[1577, Book II., Chapter 7, 1587, Book II., Chapter 13.] + + +As in old time we read that there were eight-and-twenty flamines and +archflamines in the south part of this isle, and so many great cities +under their jurisdiction, so in these our days there is but one or +two fewer, and each of them also under the ecclesiastical regiment of +some one bishop or archbishop, who in spiritual cases have the charge +and oversight of the same. So many cities therefore are there in +England and Wales as there be bishoprics and archbishoprics.[1] For, +notwithstanding that Lichfield and Coventry and Bath and Wells do seem +to extend the aforesaid number unto nine-and-twenty, yet neither of +these couples are to be accounted but as one entire city and see of +the bishop, sith one bishopric can have relation but unto one see, and +the said see be situate but in one place, after which the bishop doth +take his name.[2]... + + [1] If Harrison means to give us the impression that a city has + any direct connection with episcopal affairs, he is quite in + error. Cities are distinctly royal and imperial institutions. + The accident of the number of cities and sees being the same + comes from the natural tendency of the two institutions to drift + together, though of distinct origin--W. + + [2] Here follows a long and learned disquisition upon the Roman + and other early towns, especially about St. Albans, a portion of + which will be found in the Appendix.--W. + +Certes I would gladly set down, with the names and number of the +cities, all the towns and villages in England and Wales with their +true longitudes and latitudes, but as yet I cannot come by them in +such order as I would; howbeit the tale of our cities is soon found by +the bishoprics, sith every see hath such prerogative given unto it as +to bear the name of a city and to use _Regaleius_ within her own +limits. Which privilege also is granted to sundry ancient towns in +England, especially northward, where more plenty of them is to be +found by a great deal than in the south, The names therefore of our +cities are these: London, York, Canterbury, Winchester, Carlisle, +Durham, Ely, Norwich, Lincoln, Worcester, Gloucester, Hereford, +Salisbury, Exeter, Bath, Lichfield, Bristol, Rochester, Chester, +Chichester, Oxford, Peterborough, Llandaff, St. Davids, Bangor, St. +Asaph, whose particular plots and models, with their descriptions, +shall ensue, if it may be brought to pass that the cutters can make +despatch of them before this history be published. + +Of towns and villages likewise thus much will I say, that there were +greater store in old time (I mean within three or four hundred years +passed) than at this present. And this I note out of divers records, +charters, and donations (made in times past unto sundry religious +houses, as Glastonbury, Abingdon, Ramsey, Ely, and such like), and +whereof in these days I find not so much as the ruins. Leland, in +sundry places, complaineth likewise of the decay of parishes in great +cities and towns, missing in some six or eight or twelve churches and +more, of all which he giveth particular notice. For albeit that the +Saxons builded many towns and villages, and the Normans well more at +their first coming, yet since the first two hundred years after the +latter conquest, they have gone so fast again to decay that the +ancient number of them is very much abated. Ranulph, the monk of +Chester, telleth of general survey made in the fourth, sixteenth, and +nineteenth of the reign of William Conqueror, surnamed the Bastard, +wherein it was found that (notwithstanding the Danes had overthrown a +great many) there were to the number of 52,000 towns, 45,002 parish +churches, and 75,000 knights' fees, whereof the clergy held 28,015. He +addeth moreover that there were divers other builded since that time, +within the space of a hundred years after the coming of the Bastard, +as it were in lieu or recompense of those that William Rufus pulled +down for the erection of his New Forest. For by an old book which I +have, and some time written as it seemeth by an under-sheriff of +Nottingham, I find even in the time of Edward IV. 45,120 parish +churches, and but 60,216 knights' fees, whereof the clergy held as +before 28,015, or at the least 28,000; for so small is the difference +which he doth seem to use. Howbeit, if the assertions of such as write +in our time concerning this matter either are or ought to be of any +credit in this behalf, you shall not find above 17,000 towns and +villages, and 9210 in the whole, which is little more than a fourth +part of the aforesaid number, if it be thoroughly scanned.[3]... + + [3] Here follows an allusion to the decay of Eastern cities.--W. + +In time past in Lincoln (as the same goeth) there have been +two-and-fifty parish churches, and good record appeareth for +eight-and-thirty, but now, if there be four-and-twenty, it is all. +This inconvenience hath grown altogether to the church by +appropriations made unto monasteries and religious houses--a terrible +canker and enemy to religion. + +But to leave this lamentable discourse of so notable and grievous an +inconvenience, growing as I said by encroaching and joining of house +to house and laying land to land, whereby the inhabitants of many +places of our country are devoured and eaten up, and their houses +either altogether pulled down or suffered to decay little by little, +although some time a poor man per adventure doth dwell in one of them, +who, not being able to repair it, suffereth it to fall down--and +thereto thinketh himself very friendly dealt withal, if he may have an +acre of ground assigned unto him, wherein to keep a cow, or wherein to +set cabbages, radishes, parsnips, carrots, melons, pompons,[4] or such +like stuff, by which he and his poor household liveth as by their +principal food, sith they can do no better. And as for wheaten bread, +they eat it when they can reach unto the price of it, contenting +themselves in the meantime with bread made of oats or barley: a poor +estate, God wot! Howbeit, what care our great encroachers? But in +divers places where rich men dwelled some time in good tenements, +there be now no houses at all, but hop-yards, and sheds for poles, or +peradventure gardens, as we may see in Castle Hedingham, and divers +other places. But to proceed. + + [4] The old and proper form of the modern pumpkin.--W. + +It is so that, our soil being divided into champaign ground and +woodland, the houses of the first lie uniformly builded in every town +together, with streets and lanes; whereas in the woodland countries +(except here and there in great market towns) they stand scattered +abroad, each one dwelling in the midst of his own occupying. And as in +many and most great market towns, there are commonly three hundred or +four hundred families or mansions, and two thousand communicants (or +peradventure more), so in the other, whether they be woodland or +champaign, we find not often above forty, fifty, or three score +households, and two or three hundred communicants, whereof the +greatest part nevertheless are very poor folks, oftentimes without all +manner of occupying, sith the ground of the parish is gotten up into a +few men's hands, yea sometimes into the tenure of one or two or three, +whereby the rest are compelled either to be hired servants unto the +other or else to beg their bread in misery from door to door. + +There are some (saith Leland) which are not so favourable, when they +have gotten such lands, as to let the houses remain upon them to the +use of the poor; but they will compound with the lord of the soil to +pull them down for altogether, saying that "if they did let them +stand, they should but toll beggars to the town, thereby to surcharge +the rest of the parish, and lay more burden upon them." But alas! +these pitiful men see not that they themselves hereby do lay the +greatest log upon their neighbours' necks. For, sith the prince doth +commonly loose nothing of his duties accustomable to be paid, the rest +of the parishioners that remain must answer and bear them out: for +they plead more charge other ways, saying: "I am charged already with +a light horse; I am to answer in this sort, and after that matter." +And it is not yet altogether out of knowledge that, where the king had +seven pounds thirteen shillings at a task gathered of fifty wealthy +householders of a parish in England, now, a gentleman having three +parts of the town in his own hands, four households do bear all the +aforesaid payment, or else Leland is deceived in his _Commentaries_, +lib. 13, lately come to my hands, which thing he especially noted in +his travel over this isle. A common plague and enormity, both in the +heart of the land and likewise upon the coasts. Certes a great number +complain of the increase of poverty, laying the cause upon God, as +though he were in fault for sending such increase of people, or want +of wars that should consume them, affirming that the land was never so +full, etc.; but few men do see the very root from whence it doth +proceed. Yet the Romans found it out, when they flourished, and +therefore prescribed limits to every man's tenure and occupying. Homer +commendeth Achilles for overthrowing of five-and-twenty cities: but in +mine opinion Ganges is much better preferred by Suidas for building of +three score in India, where he did plant himself. I could (if need +required) set down in this place the number of religious houses and +monasteries, with the names of their founders, that have been in this +island: but, sith it is a thing of small importance, I pass it over as +impertinent to my purpose. Yet herein I will commend sundry of the +monastical votaries, especially monks, for that they were authors of +many goodly borowes and endwares,[5] near unto their dwellings +although otherwise they pretended to be men separated from the world. +But alas! their covetous minds, one way in enlarging their revenues, +and carnal intent another, appeared herein too, too much. For, being +bold from time to time to visit their tenants, they wrought oft great +wickedness, and made those endwares little better than brothel-houses, +especially where nunneries were far off, or else no safe access unto +them. But what do I spend my time in the rehearsal of these +filthinesses? Would to God the memory of them might perish with the +malefactors! My purpose was also at the end of this chapter to have +set down a table of the parish churches and market towns throughout +all England and Wales; but, sith I cannot perform the same as I would, +I am forced to give over my purpose; yet by these few that ensue you +shall easily see what I would have used according to the shires, if I +might have brought it to pass. + + [5] The first is a variant on a Keltic, the second on a Saxon + word, both relating to matters sufficiently indicated in the + text.--W. + +Shires. Market Towns. Parishes. + +Middlesex 3 73 +London within the walls and without 120 +Surrey 6 140 +Sussex 18 312 +Kent 17 398 +Cambridge 4 163 +Bedford 9 13 +Huntingdon 5 78 +Rutland 2 47 +Berkshire 11 150 +Northampton 10 326 +Buckingham 11 196 +Oxford 10 216 +Southampton 18 248 +Dorset 19 279 +Norfolk 26 625 +Suffolk 25 575 +Essex 18 415 + +And these I had of a friend of mine, by whose travel and his master's +excessive charges I doubt not but my countrymen ere long shall see all +England set forth in several shires after the same manner that +Ortelius hath dealt with other countries of the main, to the great +benefit of our nation and everlasting fame of the aforesaid parties. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF GARDENS AND ORCHARDS + +[1587, Book II., Chapter 20.] + + +After such time as Calais was won from the French, and that our +countrymen had learned to trade into divers countries (whereby they +grew rich), they began to wax idle also, and thereupon not only left +off their former painfulness and frugality, but in like sort gave +themselves to live in excess and vanity, whereby many goodly +commodities failed, and in short time were not to be had amongst us. +Such strangers also as dwelled here with us, perceiving our +sluggishness, and espying that this idleness of ours might redound to +their great profit, forthwith employed their endeavors to bring in the +supply of such things as we lacked continually from foreign countries, +which yet more augmented our idleness. For, having all things at +reasonable prices (as we supposed) by such means from them, we thought +it mere madness to spend either time or cost about the same here at +home. And thus we became enemies to our own welfare, as men that in +those days reposed our felicity in following the wars, wherewith we +were often exercised both at home and other places. Besides this, the +natural desire that mankind hath to esteem of things far sought, +because they be rare and costly, and the irksome contempt of things +near hand, for that they are common and plentiful, hath borne no small +sway also in this behalf amongst us. For hereby we have neglected our +own good gifts of God, growing here at home, as vile and of no value, +and had every trifle and toy in admiration that is brought hither from +far countries, ascribing I wot not what great forces and solemn +estimation unto them, until they also have waxen old, after which they +have been so little regarded, if not more despised, amongst us than +our own. Examples hereof I could set down many and in many things; +but, sith my purpose is to deal at this time with gardens and +orchards, it shall suffice that I touch them only, and show our +inconstancy in the same, so far as shall seem and be convenient for my +turn. I comprehend therefore under the word "garden" all such grounds +as are wrought with the spade by man's hand, for so the case +requireth. + +Of wine I have written already elsewhere sufficiently, which commodity +(as I have learned further since the penning of that book) hath been +very plentiful in this island, not only in the time of the Romans, but +also since the Conquest, as I have seen by record; yet at this present +have we none at all (or else very little to speak of) growing in this +island, which I impute not unto the soil, but the negligence of my +countrymen. Such herbs, fruits, and roots also as grow yearly out of +the ground, of seed, have been very plentiful in this land, in the +time of the first Edward, and after his days; but in process of time +they grew also to be neglected, so that from Henry the Fourth till the +latter end of Henry the Seventh and beginning of Henry the Eighth, +there was little or no use of them in England, but they remained +either unknown or supposed as food more meet for hogs and savage +beasts to feed upon than mankind. Whereas in my time their use is not +only resumed among the poor commons. I mean of melons, pompons, +gourds, cucumbers, radishes, skirets,[1] parsnips, carrots, cabbages, +navews,[2] turnips, and all kinds of salad herbs--but also fed upon as +dainty dishes at the tables of delicate merchants, gentlemen, and the +nobility, who make their provision yearly for new seeds out of strange +countries, from whence they have them abundantly. Neither do they now +stay with such of these fruits as are wholesome in their kinds, but +adventure further upon such as are very dangerous and hurtful, as the +verangenes, mushrooms, etc., as if nature had ordained all for the +belly, or that all things were to be eaten for whose mischievous +operation the Lord in some measure hath given and provided a remedy. + + [1] A vegetable something like a carrot. + + [2] A kind of turnip. + +Hops in time past were plentiful in this land. Afterwards also their +maintenance did cease. And now, being revived, where are any better +to be found? Where any greater commodity to be raised by them? Only +poles are accounted to be their greatest charge. But, sith men have +learned of late to sow ashen kexes in ashyards by themselves, that +inconvenience in short time will be redressed. + +Madder hath grown abundantly in this island, but of long time +neglected, and now a little revived, and offereth itself to prove no +small benefit unto our country, as many other things else, which are +now fetched from us: as we before time, when we gave ourselves to +idleness, were glad to have them other. + +If you look into our gardens annexed to our houses, how wonderfully is +their beauty increased, not only with flowers, which Columella calleth +_Terrena sydera_[3] saying, + + "_Pingit et in varios terrestria sydera flores_,"[4] + +and variety of curious and costly workmanship, but also with rare and +medicinable herbs sought up in the land within these forty years: so +that, in comparison of this present, the ancient gardens were but +dunghills and laistowes,[5] to such as did possess them. How art also +helpeth nature in the daily colouring, doubling, and enlarging the +proportion of our flowers, it is incredible to report: for so curious +and cunning are our gardeners now in these days that they presume to +do in manner what they list with nature, and moderate her course in +things as if they were her superiors. It is a world also to see how +many strange herbs, plants, and annual fruits are daily brought unto +us from the Indies, Americans, Taprobane, Canary Isles, and all parts +of the world: the which, albeit that in respect of the constitutions +of our bodies they do not grow for us (because that God hath bestowed +sufficient commodities upon every country for her own necessity), yet, +for delectation sake unto the eye and their odoriferous savours unto +the nose, they are to be cherished, and God to be glorified also in +them, because they are his good gifts, and created to do man help and +service. There is not almost one nobleman, gentleman, or merchant that +hath not great store of these flowers, which now also do begin to wax +so well acquainted with our soils that we may almost account of them +as parcel of our own commodities. They have no less regard in like +sort to cherish medicinable herbs fetched out of other regions nearer +hand, insomuch that I have seen in some one garden to the number of +three hundred or four hundred of them, if not more, of the half of +whose names within forty years past we had no manner of knowledge. But +herein I find some cause of just complaint, for that we extol their +uses so far that we fall into contempt of our own, which are in truth +more beneficial and apt for us than such as grow elsewhere, sith (as I +said before) every region hath abundantly within her own limits +whatsoever is needful and most convenient for them that dwell therein. +How do men extol the use of tobacco in my time, whereas in truth +(whether the cause be in the repugnancy of our constitution unto the +operation thereof, or that the ground doth alter her force, I cannot +tell) it is not found of so great efficacy as they write. And beside +this, our common germander or thistle benet is found and known to be +so wholesome and of so great power in medicine as any other herb, if +they be used accordingly. I could exemplify after the like manner in +sundry other, as the _Salsa parilla, Mochoacan_, etc., but I forbear +so to do, because I covet to be brief. And truly, the estimation and +credit that we yield and give unto compound medicines made with +foreign drugs is one great cause wherefore the full knowledge and use +of our own simples hath been so long raked up in the embers. And as +this may be verified so to be one sound conclusion, for, the greater +number of simples that go unto any compound medicine, the greater +confusion is found therein, because the qualities and operations of +very few of the particulars are thoroughly known. And even so our +continual desire of strange drugs, whereby the physician and +apothecary only hath the benefit, is no small cause that the use of +our simples here at home doth go to loss, and that we tread those +herbs under our feet, whose forces if we knew, and could apply them to +our necessities, we would honour and have in reverence as to their +case behoveth. Alas! what have we to do with such Arabian and Grecian +stuff as is daily brought from those parties which lie in another +clime? And therefore the bodies of such as dwell there are of another +constitution than ours are here at home. Certes they grow not for us, +but for the Arabians and Grecians. And albeit that they may by skill +be applied unto our benefit, yet to be more skilful in them than in +our own is folly; and to use foreign wares, when our own may serve the +turn, is more folly; but to despise our own, and magnify above measure +the use of them that are sought and brought from far, is most folly of +all: for it savoureth of ignorance, or at the leastwise of negligence, +and therefore worthy of reproach. + + [3] Earthly stars. + + [4] "And paints terrestrial constellations with varied flowers." + + [5] Refuse-heaps. + +Among the Indians, who have the most present cures for every disease +of their own nation, there is small regard of compound medicines, and +less of foreign drugs, because they neither know them nor can use +them, but work wonders even with their own simples. With them also the +difference of the clime doth show her full effect. For, whereas they +will heal one another in short time with application of one simple, +etc., if a Spaniard or Englishman stand in need of their help, they +are driven to have a longer space in their cures, and now and then +also to use some addition of two or three simples at the most, whose +forces unto them are thoroughly known, because their exercise is only +in their own, as men that never sought or heard what virtue was in +those that came from other countries. And even so did Marcus Cato, the +learned Roman, endeavour to deal in his cures of sundry diseases, +wherein he not only used such simples as were to be had in his own +country, but also examined and learned the forces of each of them, +wherewith he dealt so diligently that in all his lifetime he could +attain to the exact knowledge but of a few, and thereto wrote of those +most learnedly, as would easily be seen if those his books were +extant. For the space also of six hundred years the colewort only was +a medicine in Rome for all diseases, so that his virtues were +thoroughly known in those parts. * * * + +For my part, I doubt not if the use of outlandish drugs had not +blinded our physicians of England in times past, but that the virtues +of our simples here at home would have been far better known, and so +well unto us as those of India are to the practitioners of those +parts, and thereunto be found more profitable for us than the foreign +either are or may be. This also will I add, that even those which are +most common by reason of their plenty, and most vile because of their +abundance, are not without some universal and special efficacy, if it +were known, for our benefit: sith God in nature hath so disposed his +creatures that the most needful are the most plentiful and serving for +such general diseases as our constitution most commonly is affected +withal. Great thanks therefore be given unto the physicians of our age +and country, who not only endeavour to search out the use of such +simples as our soil doth yield and bring forth, but also to procure +such as grow elsewhere, upon purpose so to acquaint them with our +clime that they in time, through some alteration received from the +nature of the earth, may likewise turn to our benefit and commodity +and be used as our own. + +The chief workman (or, as I may call him, the founder of this device) +is Carolus Clusius, the noble herbarist whose industry hath +wonderfully stirred them up into this good act. For albeit that +Matthiolus, Rembert, Lobell, and others have travelled very far in +this behalf, yet none hath come near to Clusius, much less gone +further in the finding and true descriptions of such herbs as of late +are brought to light. I doubt not but, if this man were in England but +one seven years, he would reveal a number of herbs growing with us +whereof neither our physicians nor apothecaries as yet have any +knowledge. And even like thanks be given unto our nobility, gentlemen, +and others, for their continual nutriture and cherishing of such +homeborne and foreign simples in their gardens: for hereby they shall +not only be had at hand and preserved, but also their forms made more +familiar to be discerned and their forces better known than hitherto +they have been. + +And even as it fareth with our gardens, so doth it with our orchards, +which were never furnished with so good fruit nor with such variety as +at this present. For, beside that we have most delicate apples, plums, +pears, walnuts, filberts, etc., and those of sundry sorts, planted +within forty years past, in comparison of which most of the old trees +are nothing worth, so have we no less store of strange fruit, as +apricots, almonds, peaches, figs, corn-trees[6] in noblemen's +orchards. I have seen capers, oranges, and lemons, and heard of wild +olives growing here, beside other strange trees, brought from far, +whose names I know not. So that England for these commodities was +never better furnished, neither any nation under their clime more +plentifully endued with these and other blessings from the most high +God, who grant us grace withal to use the same to his honour and +glory! And not as instruments and provocations into further excess and +vanity, wherewith his displeasure may be kindled, lest these his +benefits do turn unto thorns and briers unto us for our annoyance and +punishment, which he hath bestowed upon us for our consolation and +comfort. + + [6] Probably _cornels_. + +We have in like sort such workmen as are not only excellent in +grafting the natural fruits, but their artificial mixtures, whereby +one tree bringeth forth sundry fruits, and one and the same fruit of +divers colours and tastes, dallying as it were with nature and her +course, as if her whole trade were perfectly known unto them: of hard +fruits they will make tender, of sour sweet, of sweet yet more +delicate, bereaving also some of their kernels, other of their cores, +and finally enduing them with the savour of musk, amber, or sweet +spices, at their pleasures. Divers also have written at large of these +several practices, and some of them how to convert the kernels of +peaches into almonds, of small fruit to make far greater, and to +remove or add superfluous or necessary moisture to the trees, with +other things belonging to their preservation, and with no less +diligence than our physicians do commonly show upon our own diseased +bodies, which to me doth seem right strange. And even so do our +gardeners with their herbs, whereby they are strengthened against +noisome blasts, and preserved from putrefaction and hindrance: whereby +some such as were annual are now made perpetual, being yearly taken +up, and either reserved in the house, or, having the ross pulled from +their roots, laid again into the earth, where they remain in safety. +With choice they make also in their waters, and wherewith some of them +do now and then keep them moist, it is a world to see, insomuch that +the apothecaries' shops may seem to be needful also to our gardens and +orchards, and that in sundry wise: nay, the kitchen itself is so far +from being able to be missed among them that even the very dish-water +is not without some use amongst our finest plants. Whereby, and sundry +other circumstances not here to be remembered, I am persuaded that, +albeit the gardens of the Hesperides were in times past so greatly +accounted of, because of their delicacy, yet, if it were possible to +have such an equal judge as by certain knowledge of both were able to +pronounce upon them, I doubt not but he would give the prize unto the +gardens of our days, and generally over all Europe, in comparison of +those times wherein the old exceeded. Pliny and others speak of a rose +that had three score leaves growing upon one button: but if I should +tell of one which bare a triple number unto that proportion, I know I +shall not be believed, and no great matter though I were not; howbeit +such a one was to be seen in Antwerp, 1585, as I have heard, and I +know who might have had a slip or stallon thereof, if he would have +ventured ten pounds upon the growth of the same, which should have +been but a tickle hazard, and therefore better undone, as I did always +imagine. For mine own part, good reader, let me boast a little of my +garden, which is but small, and the whole area thereof little above +300 foot of ground, and yet, such hath been my good luck in purchase +of the variety of simples, that, notwithstanding my small ability, +there are very near three hundred of one sort and other contained +therein, no one of them being common or usually to be had. If +therefore my little plot, void of all cost in keeping, be so well +furnished, what shall we think of those of Hampton Court, Nonsuch, +Tibaults, Cobham Garden, and sundry others appertaining to divers +citizens of London, whom I could particularly name, if I should not +seem to offend them by such my demeanour and dealing. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +OF FAIRS AND MARKETS + +[1577, Book II., Chapter 11; 1587, Book II., Chapter 18.] + + +There are (as I take it) few great towns in England that have not +their weekly markets, one or more granted from the prince, in which +all manner of provision for household is to be bought and sold, for +ease and benefit of the country round about. Whereby, as it cometh to +pass that no buyer shall make any great journey in the purveyance of +his necessities, so no occupier shall have occasion to travel far off +with his commodities, except it be to seek for the highest prices, +which commonly are near unto great cities, where round[1] and +speediest utterance[2] is always to be had. And, as these have been in +times past erected for the benefit of the realm, so are they in many +places too, too much abused: for the relief and ease of the buyer is +not so much intended in them as the benefit of the seller. Neither are +the magistrates for the most part (as men loath to displease their +neighbours for their one year's dignity) so careful in their offices +as of right and duty they should be. For, in most of these markets, +neither assizes of bread nor orders for goodness and sweetness of +grain and other commodities that are brought thither to be sold are +any whit looked unto, but each one suffered to sell or set up what and +how himself listeth: and this is one evident cause of dearth and +scarcity in time of great abundance. + + [1] Direct. + + [2] Market. + +I could (if I would) exemplify in many, but I will touch no one +particularly, sith it is rare to see in any country town (as I said) +the assize of bread well kept according to the statute; and yet, if +any country baker happen to come in among them on the market day with +bread of better quantity, they find fault by-and-by with one thing or +other in his stuff, whereby the honest poor man (whom the law of +nations do commend, for that he endeavoureth to live by any lawful +means) is driven away, and no more to come there, upon some round +penalty, by virtue of their privileges. Howbeit, though they are so +nice in the proportion of their bread, yet, in lieu of the same, there +is such heady ale and beer in most of them as for the mightiness +thereof among such as seek it out is commonly called "huffcap," "the +mad dog," "Father Whoreson," "angels' food," "dragon's milk," +"go-by-the-wall," "stride wide," and "lift leg," etc. And this is more +to be noted, that when one of late fell by God's providence into a +troubled conscience, after he had considered well of his reachless +life and dangerous estate, another, thinking belike to change his +colour and not his mind, carried him straight away to the strongest +ale, as to the next physician. It is incredible to say how our +malt-bugs lug at this liquor, even as pigs should lie in a row lugging +at their dame's teats, till they lie still again and be not able to +wag. Neither did Romulus and Remus suck their she-wolf or shepherd's +wife Lupa with such eager and sharp devotion as these men hale at +"huffcap," till they be red as cocks and little wiser than their +combs. But how am I fallen from the market into the ale-house? In +returning therefore unto my purpose, I find that in corn great abuse +is daily suffered, to the great prejudice of the town and country, +especially the poor artificer and householder, which tilleth no land, +but, labouring all the week to buy a bushel or two of grain on the +market day, can there have none for his money: because bodgers, +loaders, and common carriers of corn do not only buy up all, but give +above the price, to be served of great quantities. Shall I go any +further? Well, I will say yet a little more, and somewhat by mine own +experience. + +At Michaelmas time poor men must make money of their grain, that they +may pay their rents. So long then as the poor man hath to sell, rich +men bring out none, but rather buy up that which the poor bring, under +pretence of seed corn or alteration of grain, although they bring none +of their own, because one wheat often sown without change of seed will +soon decay and be converted into darnel. For this cause therefore they +must needs buy in the markets, though they be twenty miles off, and +where they be not known, promising there, if they happen to be espied +(which, God wot, is very seldom), to send so much to their next +market, to be performed I wot not when. + +If this shift serve not (neither doth the fox use always one track for +fear of a snare), they will compound with some one of the town where +the market is holden, who for a pot of "huffcap" or "merry-go-down," +will not let to buy it for them, and that in his own name. Or else +they wage one poor man or other to become a bodger, and thereto get +him a licence upon some forged surmise, which being done, they will +feed him with money to buy for them till he hath filled their lofts, +and then, if he can do any good for himself, so it is; if not, they +will give him somewhat for his pains at this time, and reserve him for +another year. How many of the like providers stumble upon blind creeks +at the sea coast, I wot not well; but that some have so done and yet +do under other men's wings, the case is too, too plain. But who dare +find fault with them, when they have once a licence? yes, though it be +but to serve a mean gentleman's house with corn, who hath cast up all +his tillage, because he boasteth how he can buy his grain in the +market better cheap than he can sow his land, as the rich grazier +often doth also upon the like device, because grazing requireth a +smaller household and less attendance and charge. If any man come to +buy a bushel or two for his expenses unto the market cross, answer is +made: "Forsooth, here was one even now that bade me money for it, and +I hope he will have it." And to say the truth, these bodgers are fair +chapmen; for there are no more words with them, but _"Let me see it! +What shall I give you? Knit it up! I will have it--go carry it to such +a chamber, and if you bring in twenty_ seme[3] _more in the weekday to +such an inn or sollar[4] where I lay my corn, I will have it, and give +you ( ) pence or more in every bushel for six weeks' day of payment +than another will."_ Thus the bodgers bear away all, so that the poor +artificer and labourer cannot make his provision in the markets, sith +they will hardly nowadays sell by the bushel, nor break their measure; +and so much the rather for that the buyer will look (as they say) for +so much over measure in the bushel as the bodger will do in a quarter. +Nay, the poor man cannot oft get any of the farmer at home, because he +provideth altogether to serve the bodger, or hath an hope, grounded +upon a greedy and insatiable desire of gain, that the sale will be +better in the market, so that he must give twopence or a groat more in +the bushel at his house than the last market craved, or else go +without it, and sleep with a hungry belly. Of the common carriage of +corn over unto the parts beyond the seas I speak not; or at the +leastwise, if I should, I could not touch it alone, but needs must +join other provision withal, whereby not only our friends abroad, but +also many of our adversaries and countrymen, the papists, are +abundantly relieved (as the report goeth); but sith I see it not, I +will not so trust mine ears as to write it for a truth. But to return +to our markets again. + + [3] Horse-loads. + + [4] Loft. + +By this time the poor occupier hath sold all his crop for need of +money, being ready peradventure to buy again ere long. And now is the +whole sale of corn in the great occupiers' hands, who hitherto have +threshed little or none of their own, but bought up of other men as +much as they could come by. Henceforth also they begin to sell, not by +the quarter or load at the first (for marring the market) but by the +bushel or two, or a horseload at the most, thereby to be seen to keep +the cross, either for a show, or to make men eager to buy, and so, as +they may have it for money, not to regard what they pay. And thus corn +waxeth dear; but it will be dearer the next market day. It is possible +also that they mislike the price in the beginning for the whole year +ensuing, as men supposing that corn will be little worth for this and +of better price the next year. For they have certain superstitious +observations whereby they will give a guess at the sale of corn for +the year following. And our countrymen do use commonly for barley, +where I dwell, to judge after the price at Baldock upon St. Matthew's +day; and for wheat, as it is sold in seed time. They take in like sort +experiment by sight of the first flocks of cranes that flee southward +in winter, the age of the moon in the beginning of January, and such +other apish toys as by laying twelve corns upon the hot hearth for the +twelve months, etc., whereby they shew themselves to be scant good +Christians; but what care they, so that they come by money? Hereupon +also will they thresh out three parts of the old corn, towards the +latter end of the summer, when new cometh apace to hand, and cast the +same in the fourth unthreshed, where it shall lie until the next +spring, or peradventure till it must and putrify. Certes it is not +dainty to see musty corn in many of our great markets of England which +these great occupiers bring forth when they can keep it no longer. But +as they are enforced oftentimes upon this one occasion somewhat to +abate the price, so a plague is not seldom engendered thereby among +the poorer sort that of necessity must buy the same, whereby many +thousands of all degrees are consumed, of whose death (in mine +opinion) these farmers are not unguilty. But to proceed. If they lay +not up their grain or wheat in this manner, they have yet another +policy, whereby they will seem to have but small store left in their +barns: for else they will gird their sheaves by the band, and stack it +up anew in less room, to the end it may not only seem less in +quantity, but also give place to the corn that is yet to come into the +barn or growing in the field. If there happen to be such plenty in the +market on any market day that they cannot sell at their own price, +then will they set it up in some friend's house, against another on +the third day, and not bring it forth till they like of the sale. If +they sell any at home, beside harder measure, it shall be dearer to +the poor man that buyeth it by twopence or a groat in a bushel than +they may sell it in the market. But, as these things are worthy +redress, so I wish that God would once open their eyes that deal thus +to see their own errors: for as yet some of them little care how many +poor men suffer extremity, so that they fill their purses and carry +away the gain. + +It is a world also to see how most places of the realm are pestered +with purveyors, who take up eggs, butter, cheese, pigs, capons, hens, +chickens, hogs, bacon, etc., in one market under pretence of their +commissions, and suffer their wives to sell the same in another, or to +poulterers of London. If these chapmen be absent but two or three +market days then we may perfectly see these wares to be more +reasonably sold, and thereunto the crosses sufficiently furnished of +all things. In like sort, since the number of buttermen have so much +increased, and since they travel in such wise that they come to men's +houses for their butter faster than they can make it, it is almost +incredible to see how the price of butter is augmented: whereas when +the owners were enforced to bring it to the market towns, and fewer of +these butter buyers were stirring, our butter was scarcely worth +eighteen pence the gallon that now is worth three shillings fourpence +and perhaps five shillings. Whereby also I gather that the maintenance +of a superfluous number of dealers in most trades, tillage always +excepted, is one of the greatest causes why the prices of things +became excessive: for one of them do commonly use to outbid another. +And whilst our country commodities are commonly bought and sold at our +private houses, I never look to see this enormity redressed or the +markets well furnished. + +I could say more, but this is even enough, and more peradventure than +I shall be well thanked for: yet true it is, though some think it no +trespass. This moreover is to be lamented, that one general measure is +not in use throughout all England, but every market town hath in +manner a several bushel; and the lesser it be, the more sellers it +draweth to resort unto the same. Such also is the covetousness of many +clerks of the market, that in taking a view of measures they will +always so provide that one and the same bushel shall be either too big +or too little at their next coming, and yet not depart without a fee +at the first so that what by their mending at one time, and impairing +the same at another, the country is greatly charged, and few just +measures to be had in any steed. It is oft found likewise that divers +unconscionable dealers have one measure to sell by and another to buy +withal; the like is also in weights, and yet all sealed and branded. +Wherefore it were very good that these two were reduced unto one +standard, that is, one bushel, one pound, one quarter, one hundred, +one tale, one number: so should things in time fall into better order +and fewer causes of contention be moved in this land. Of the complaint +of such poor tenants as pay rent corn unto their landlords, I speak +not, who are often dealt withal very hardly. For, beside that in +measuring of ten quarters for the most part they lose one through the +iniquity of the bushel (such is the greediness of the appointed +receivers thereof), fault is found also with the goodness and +cleanness of the grain. Whereby some piece of money must needs pass +unto their purses to stop their mouths withal, or else "My lord will +not like of the corn," "Thou art worthy to lose thy lease," etc. Or, +if it be cheaper in the market than the rate allowed for it is in +their rents, then must they pay money and no corn, which is no small +extremity. And thereby we may see how each one of us endeavoureth to +fleece and eat up another. + +Another thing there is in our markets worthy to be looked into, and +that is the recarriage of grain from the same into lofts and cellars, +of which before I gave some intimation; wherefore if it were ordered +that every seller should make his market by an hour, or else the +bailey or clerk of the said market to make sale thereof, according to +his discretion, without liberty to the farmers to set up their corn in +houses and chambers, I am persuaded that the prices of our grain would +soon be abated. Again, if it were enacted that each one should keep +his next market with his grain (and not to run six, eight, ten, +fourteen, or twenty miles from home to sell his corn where he doth +find the highest price, and thereby leaveth his neighbours +unfurnished), I do not think but that our markets would be far better +served than at this present they are. Finally, if men's barns might be +indifferently viewed immediately after harvest, and a note gathered by +an estimate, and kept by some appointed and trusty person for that +purpose, we should have much more plenty of corn in our town crosses +than as yet is commonly seen: because each one hideth and hoardeth +what he may, upon purpose either that it will be dearer, or that he +shall have some privy vein by bodgers, who do accustomably so deal +that the sea doth load away no small part thereof into other countries +and our enemies, to the great hindrance of our commonwealth at home, +and more likely yet to be, except some remedy be found. But what do I +talk of these things, or desire the suppression of bodgers, being a +minister? Certes I may speak of them right well as feeling the harm in +that I am a buyer, nevertheless I speak generally in each of them. + +To conclude therefore, in our markets all things are to be sold +necessary for man's use; and there is our provision made commonly for +all the week ensuing. Therefore, as there are no great towns without +one weekly market at least, so there are very few of them that have +not one or two fairs or more within the compass of the year, assigned +unto them by the prince And albeit that some of them are not much +better than Louse fair,[5] or the common kirkemesses,[6] beyond the +sea, yet there are divers not inferior to the greatest marts in +Europe, as Stourbridge fair near to Cambridge, Bristow fair, +Bartholomew fair at London, Lynn mart, Cold fair at Newport pond for +cattle, and divers other, all which, or at leastwise the greatest part +of them (to the end I may with the more ease to the reader and less +travel to myself fulfil my task in their recital), I have set down +according to the names of the months wherein they are holden at the +end of this book, where you shall find them at large as I borrowed the +same from J. Stow and the reports of others. + + [5] The ancient London counterpart of the more modern "Rag + Fair" known to literary fame.--W. + + [6] The Kermess, or literally, "Church mass," so famous in + "Faust."--W. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OF THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT ESTATE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND + +[1577, Book II., Chapter 5, 1585, Book II., Chapter 1.] + + +There are now two provinces only in England, of which the first and +greatest is subject to the see of Canterbury, comprehending a part of +Lhoegres, whole Cambria, and also Ireland, which in time past were +several, and brought into one by the archbishop of the said see, and +assistance of the pope, who, in respect of meed, did yield unto the +ambitious desires of sundry archbishops of Canterbury, as I have +elsewhere declared. The second province is under the see of York. And, +of these, each hath her archbishop resident commonly within her own +limits, who hath not only the chief dealing in matters appertaining to +the hierarchy and jurisdiction of the church, but also great authority +in civil affairs touching the government of the commonwealth, so far +forth as their commissions and several circuits do extend. + +In old time there were three archbishops, and so many provinces in +this isle, of which one kept at London, another at York, and the third +at Caerleon upon Usk. But as that of London was translated to +Canterbury by Augustine, and that of York remaineth (notwithstanding +that the greatest part of his jurisdiction is now bereft him and given +to the Scottish archbishop), so that of Caerleon is utterly +extinguished, and the government of the country united to that of +Canterbury in spiritual cases, after it was once before removed to St. +David's in Wales, by David, successor to Dubritius, and uncle to King +Arthur, in the 519 of Grace, to the end that he and his clerks might +be further off from the cruelty of the Saxons, where it remained till +the time of the Bastard, and for a season after, before it was annexed +to the see of Canterbury. + +The Archbishop of Canterbury is commonly called the Primate of all +England; and in the coronations of the kings of this land, and all +other times wherein it shall please the prince to wear and put on his +crown, his office is to set it upon their heads. They bear also the +name of their high chaplains continually, although not a few of them +have presumed (in time past) to be their equals, and void of +subjection unto them. That this is true, it may easily appear by their +own acts yet kept in record, beside their epistles and answers written +or in print, wherein they have sought not only to match but also to +mate[1] them with great rigour and more than open tyranny. Our +adversaries will peradventure deny this absolutely, as they do many +other things apparent, though not without shameless impudence, or at +the leastwise defend it as just and not swerving from common equity, +because they imagine every archbishop to be the king's equal in his +own province. But how well their doing herein agreeth with the saying +of Peter and examples of the primitive church it may easily appear. +Some examples also of their demeanour--I mean in the time of popery--I +will not let to remember, lest they should say I speak of malice, and +without all ground of likelihood. + + [1] Overcome. + +Of their practices with mean persons I speak not, neither will I begin +at Dunstan, the author of all their pride and presumption here in +England.... + +Wherefore I refer you to those reports of Anselm and Becket +sufficiently penned by other, the which Anselm also making a shew as +if he had been very unwilling to be placed in the see of Canterbury, +gave this answer to the letters of such his friends as did make +request unto him to take the charge upon him-- + + _"Secularia negotia, nescio, quia scire nolo, eorum námque + occupationes horreo, liberum affectans animum. Voluntati sacrarum + intendo scripturarum, vos dissonantiam facitis, verendumque est né + aratrum sancta ecclesia, quod in Anglia duo boves validi et pari + fortitudine, ad bonum certantes, id est, rex et archepiscopus, + debeant trahere nunc ove verula cum tauro indomito jugata, + distorqueatur a recto. Ego ovis verula, qui si quietus essem, + verbi Dei lacte, et operinento lanæ, aliquibus possèm fortassis + non ingratus esse, sed si me cum hoc tauro coniungitis, videbitis + pro disparilitate trahentium, aratrum non rectè procedere,"_ etc. + +Which is in English thus-- + + "Of secular affairs I have no skill, because I will not know them; + for I even abhor the troubles that rise about them, as one that + desireth to have his mind at liberty. I apply my whole endeavour + to the rule of the Scriptures; you lead me to the contrary; and it + is to be feared lest the plough of holy church, which two strong + oxen of equal force, and both like earnest to contend unto that + which is good (that is, the king and the archbishop), ought to + draw, should thereby now swerve from the right furrow, by matching + of an old sheep with a wild, untamed bull. I am that old sheep, + who, if I might be quiet, could peradventure shew myself not + altogether ungrateful to some, by feeding them with the milk of + the Word of God, and covering them with wool: but if you match me + with this bull, you shall see that, through want of equality in + draught, the plough will not go to right," etc. + +As followeth in the process of his letters. The said Thomas Becket was +so proud that he wrote to King Henry the Second, as to his lord, to +his king, and to his son, offering him his counsel, his reverence, and +due correction, etc. Others in like sort have protested that they owed +nothing to the kings of this land, but their council only, reserving +all obedience unto the see of Rome, whereby we may easily see the +pride and ambition of the clergy in the blind time of ignorance. + +And as the old cock of Canterbury did crow in this behalf, so the +young cockerels of other sees did imitate his demeanour, as may be +seen by this one example also in King Stephen's time, worthy to be +remembered; unto whom the Bishop of London would not so much as swear +to be true subject: wherein also he was maintained by the pope.... + +Thus we see that kings were to rule no further than it pleased the +pope to like of; neither to challenge more obedience of their subjects +than stood also with their good will and pleasure. He wrote in like +sort unto Queen Maud about the same matter, making her "Samson's +calf"[2] (the better to bring his purpose to pass).... + + [2] A fool or dupe. + +Is it not strange that a peevish order of religion (devised by man) +should break the express law of God, who commandeth all men to honour +and obey their kings and princes, in whom some part of the power of +God is manifest and laid open unto us? And even unto this end the +cardinal of Hostia also wrote to the canons of Paul's after this +manner, covertly encouraging them to stand to their election of the +said Robert, who was no more willing to give over his new bishopric +than they careful to offend the king, but rather imagined which way to +keep it still, maugre his displeasure, and yet not to swear obedience +unto him for all that he should be able to do or perform unto the +contrary.... + +Hereby you see how King Stephen was dealt withal. And albeit the +Archbishop of Canterbury is not openly to be touched herewith, yet it +is not to be doubted but he was a doer in it, so far as might tend to +the maintenance of the right and prerogative of holy church. And even +no less unquietness had another of our princes with Thomas of Arundel, +who fled to Rome for fear of his head, and caused the pope to write an +ambitious and contumelious letter unto his sovereign about his +restitution. But when (by the king's letters yet extant, and beginning +thus: _"Thomas proditionis non expers nostræ regiæ majestati insidias +fabricavit"_[3]) the pope understood the bottom of the matter, he was +contented that Thomas should be deprived, and another archbishop +chosen in his stead. + + [3] "Thomas, not innocent of treason, has intrigued against + the majesty of our court." + +Neither did this pride stay at archbishops and bishops, but descended +lower, even to the rake-hells of the clergy and puddles of all +ungodliness. For, beside the injury received of their superiors, how +was King John dealt withal by the vile Cistertians at Lincoln in the +second of his reign? Certes when he had (upon just occasion) conceived +some grudge against them for their ambitious demeanour, and upon +denial to pay such sums of money as were allotted unto them, he had +caused seizure to be made of such horses, swine, neat, and other +things of theirs as were maintained in his forests, they denounced him +as fast amongst themselves with bell, book, and candle, to be accursed +and excommunicated. Thereunto they so handled the matter with the pope +and their friends that the king was fain to yield to their good +graces, insomuch that a meeting for pacification was appointed between +them at Lincoln, by means of the present Archbishop of Canterbury, who +went off between him and the Cistertian commissioners before the +matter could be finished. In the end the king himself came also unto +the said commissioners as they sat in their chapterhouse, and there +with tears fell down at their feet, craving pardon for his trespasses +against them, and heartily requiring that they would (from henceforth) +commend him and his realm in their prayers unto the protection of the +Almighty, and receive him into their fraternity, promising moreover +full satisfaction of their damages sustained, and to build an house of +their order in whatsoever place of England it should please them to +assign. And this he confirmed by charter bearing date the +seven-and-twentieth of November, after the Scottish king was returned +into Scotland, and departed from the king. Whereby (and by other the +like, as between John Stratford and Edward the Third, etc.) a man may +easily conceive how proud the clergymen have been in former times, as +wholly presuming upon the primacy of their pope. More matter could I +allege of these and the like broils, not to be found among our common +historiographers. Howbeit, reserving the same unto places more +convenient, I will cease to speak of them at this time, and go forward +with such other things as my purpose is to speak of. At the first, +therefore, there was like and equal authority in both our archbishops, +but as he of Canterbury hath long since obtained the prerogative above +York (although I say not without great trouble, suit, some bloodshed, +and contention), so the Archbishop of York is nevertheless written +Primate of England, as one contenting himself with a piece of a title +at the least, when all could not be gotten. And as he of Canterbury +crowneth the king, so this of York doth the like to the queen, whose +perpetual chaplain he is, and hath been from time to time, since the +determination of this controversy, as writers do report. The first +also hath under his jurisdiction to the number of one-and-twenty +inferior bishops; the other hath only four, by reason that the +churches of Scotland are now removed from his obedience unto an +archbishop of their own, whereby the greatness and circuit of the +jurisdiction of York is not a little diminished. In like sort, each of +these seven-and-twenty sees have their cathedral churches, wherein the +deans (a calling not known in England before the Conquest) do bear the +chief rule, being men especially chosen to that vocation, both for +their learning and godliness, so near as can be possible. These +cathedral churches have in like manner other dignities and canonries +still remaining unto them, as heretofore under the popish regiment. +Howbeit those that are chosen to the same are no idle and unprofitable +persons (as in times past they have been when most of these livings +were either furnished with strangers, especially out of Italy, boys, +or such idiots as had least skill of all in discharging of those +functions whereunto they were called by virtue of these stipends), but +such as by preaching and teaching can and do learnedly set forth the +glory of God, and further the overthrow of anti-Christ to the +uttermost of their powers. + +These churches are called cathedral, because the bishops dwell or lie +near unto the same, as bound to keep continual residence within their +jurisdictions for the better oversight and governance of the same, the +word being derived _a cathedra_--that is to say, a chair or seat where +he resteth, and for the most part abideth. At the first there was but +one church in every jurisdiction, whereinto no man entered to pray but +with some oblation or other toward the maintenance of the pastor. For +as it was reputed an infamy to pass by any of them without visitation, +so it was no less reproach to appear empty before the Lord. And for +this occasion also they were builded very huge and great; for +otherwise they were not capable to such multitude as came daily unto +them to hear the Word and receive the sacraments. + +But as the number of Christians increased, so first monasteries, then +finally parish churches, were builded in every jurisdiction: from +whence I take our deanery churches to have their original (now called +"mother churches," and their incumbents, archpriests), the rest being +added since the Conquest, either by the lords of every town, or +zealous men, loth to travel far, and willing to have some ease by +building them near hand. Unto these deanery churches also the clergy +in old time of the same deanery were appointed to repair at sundry +seasons, there to receive wholesome ordinances, and to consult upon +the necessary affairs of the whole jurisdiction if necessity so +required; and some image hereof is yet to be seen in the north parts. +But as the number of churches increased, so the repair of the faithful +unto the cathedrals did diminish; whereby they now become, especially +in their nether parts, rather markets and shops for merchandise than +solemn places of prayer, whereunto they were first erected. Moreover, +in the said cathedral churches upon Sundays and festival days the +canons do make certain ordinary sermons by course, whereunto great +numbers of all estates do orderly resort; and upon the working days, +thrice in the week, one of the said canons (or some other in his +stead) doth read and expound some piece of holy Scripture, whereunto +the people do very reverently repair. The bishops themselves in like +sort are not idle in their callings; for, being now exempt from court +and council, which is one (and a no small) piece of their felicity +(although Richard Archbishop of Canterbury thought otherwise, as yet +appeareth by his letters to Pope Alexander, Epistola 44, Petri +Blesensis, where he saith, because the clergy of his time were +somewhat narrowly looked unto, _"Supra dorsum ecclesiæ fabricant +peccatores," etc._),[4] they so apply their minds to the setting forth +of the Word that there are very few of them which do not every Sunday +or oftener resort to some place or other within their jurisdictions +where they expound the Scriptures with much gravity and skill, and yet +not without the great misliking and contempt of such as hate the Word. +Of their manifold translations from one see to another I will say +nothing, which is not now done for the benefit of the flock as the +preferment of the party favoured and advantage unto the prince, a +matter in time past much doubted of--to wit, whether a bishop or +pastor might be translated from one see to another, and left undecided +till prescription by royal authority made it good. For, among princes, +a thing once done is well done, and to be done oftentimes, though no +warrant be to be found therefore. + + [4] "Sinners build on the back of the church." + +They have under them also their archdeacons, some one, divers two, and +many four or more, as their circuits are in quantity, which +archdeacons are termed in law the bishops' eyes; and these (beside +their ordinary courts, which are holden within so many or more of +their several deaneries by themselves or their officials once in a +month at the least) do keep yearly two visitations or synods (as the +bishop doth in every third year, wherein he confirmeth some children, +though most care but a little for that ceremony), in which they make +diligent inquisition and search, as well for the doctrine and +behaviour of the ministers as the orderly dealing of the parishioners +in resorting to their parish churches and conformity unto religion. +They punish also with great severity all such trespassers, either in +person or by the purse (where permutation of penance is thought more +grievous to the offender), as are presented unto them; or, if the +cause be of the more weight, as in cases of heresy, pertinacy, +contempt, and such like, they refer them either to the bishop of the +diocese, or his chancellor, or else to sundry grave persons set in +authority, by virtue of an high commission directed unto them from the +prince to that end, who in very courteous manner do see the offenders +gently reformed or else severely punished if necessity so enforce. + +Beside this, in many of our archdeaconries, we have an exercise lately +begun which for the most part is called a _prophecy_ or _conference_, +and erected only for the examination or trial of the diligence of the +clergy in their study of holy Scriptures. Howbeit, such is the thirsty +desire of the people in these days to hear the Word of God that they +also have as it were with zealous violence intruded themselves among +them (but as hearers only) to come by more knowledge through their +presence at the same. Herein also (for the most part) two of the +younger sort of ministers do expound each after other some piece of +the Scriptures ordinarily appointed unto them in their courses +(wherein they orderly go through with some one of the Evangelists, or +of the Epistles, as it pleaseth the whole assembly to choose at the +first in every of these conferences); and when they have spent an hour +or a little more between them, then cometh one of the better learned +sort, who, being a graduate for the most part, or known to be a +preacher sufficiently authorised and of a sound judgment, supplieth +the room of a moderator, making first a brief rehearsal of their +discourses, and then adding what him thinketh good of his own +knowledge, whereby two hours are thus commonly spent at this most +profitable meeting. When all is done, if the first speakers have +shewed any piece of diligence, they are commended for their travel, +and encouraged to go forward. If they have been found to be slack, or +not sound in delivery of their doctrine, their negligence and error is +openly reproved before all their brethren, who go aside of purpose +from the laity after the exercise ended to judge of these matters, and +consult of the next speakers and quantity of the text to be handled in +that place. The laity never speak, of course (except some vain and +busy head will now and then intrude themselves with offence), but are +only hearers; and, as it is used in some places weekly, in other once +in fourteen days, in divers monthly, and elsewhere twice in a year, so +is it a notable spur unto all the ministers thereby to apply their +books, which otherwise (as in times past) would give themselves to +hawking, hunting, tables, cards, dice, tippling at the alehouse, +shooting of matches, and other like vanities, nothing commendable in +such as should be godly and zealous stewards of the good gifts of God, +faithful distributors of his Word unto the people, and diligent +pastors according to their calling. + +But alas! as Sathan, the author of all mischief, hath in sundry +manners heretofore hindered the erection and maintenance of many good +things, so in this he hath stirred up adversaries of late unto this +most profitable exercise, who, not regarding the commodity that riseth +thereby so well to the hearers as speakers, but either stumbling (I +cannot tell how) at words and terms, or at the leastwise not liking to +hear of the reprehension of vice, or peradventure taking a misliking +at the slender demeanours of such negligent ministers as now and then +in their course do occupy the rooms, have either by their own +practice, their sinister information, or suggestions made upon +surmises unto other, procured the suppression of these conferences, +condemning them as hurtful, pernicious, and daily breeders of no small +hurt and inconvenience. But hereof let God be judge, unto the cause +belongeth. + +Our elders or ministers and deacons (for subdeacons and the other +inferior orders sometime used in popish church we have not) are made +according to a certain form of consecration concluded upon in the time +of King Edward the Sixth by the clergy of England, and soon after +confirmed by the three estates of the realm in the high court of +parliament. And out of the first sort--that is to say, of such as are +called to the ministry (without respect whether they be married or +not)--are bishops, deans, archdeacons, and such as have the higher +places in the hierarchy of the church elected; and these also, as all +the rest, at the first coming unto any spiritual promotion do yield +unto the prince the entire tax of that their living for one whole +year, if it amount in value unto ten pounds and upwards, and this +under the name and title of first fruits. + +With us also it is permitted that a sufficient man may (by +dispensation from the prince) hold two livings, not distant either +from other above thirty miles; whereby it cometh to pass that, as her +Majesty doth reap some commodity by the faculty, so that the unition +of two in one man doth bring oftentimes more benefit to one of them in +a month (I mean for doctrine) than they have had before peradventure +in many years. + +Many exclaim against such faculties, as if there were more good +preachers that want maintenance than livings to maintain them. Indeed +when a living is void there are so many suitors for it that a man +would think the report to be true, and most certain; but when it +cometh to the trial (who are sufficient and who not, who are staid men +in conversation, judgment, and learning), of that great number you +shall hardly find one or two such as they ought to be, and yet none +more earnest to make suit, to promise largely, bear a better shew, or +find fault with the stage of things than they. Nevertheless I do not +think that their exclamations, if they were wisely handled, are +altogether grounded upon rumours or ambitious minds, if you respect +the state of the thing itself, and not the necessity growing through +want of able men to furnish out all the cures in England, which both +our universities are never able to perform. For if you observe what +numbers of preachers Cambridge and Oxford do yearly send forth, and +how many new compositions are made in the Court of First Fruits by the +deaths of the last incumbents, you shall soon see a difference. +Wherefore, if in country towns and cities, yea even in London itself, +four or five of the little churches were brought into one, the +inconvenience would in great part be redressed and amended. + +And, to say truth, one most commonly of those small livings is of so +little value that it is not able to maintain a mean scholar, much less +a learned man, as not being above ten, twelve, sixteen, seventeen, +twenty, or thirty pounds at the most, toward their charges, which now +(more than before time) do go out of the same. I say more than before, +because every small trifle, nobleman's request, or courtesy craved by +the bishop, doth impose and command a twentieth part, a three score +part, or twopence in the pound, etc., out of the livings, which +hitherto hath not been usually granted, but by the consent of a synod, +wherein things were decided according to equity, and the poorer sort +considered of, which now are equally burdened. + +We pay also the tenths of our livings to the prince yearly, according +to such valuation of each of them as hath been lately made: which +nevertheless in time past were not annual, but voluntary, and paid at +request of king or pope.[5]... + + [5] Here follows a story about the bootless errand of a pope's + legate in 1452.--W. + +But to return to our tenths, a payment first as devised by the pope, +and afterward taken up as by the prescription of the king, whereunto +we may join also our first fruits, which is one whole year's commodity +of our living, due at our entrance into the same, the tenths abated +unto the prince's coffers, and paid commonly in two years. For the +receipt also of these two payments an especial office or court is +erected, which beareth name of First Fruits and Tenths, whereunto, if +the party to be preferred do not make his dutiful repair by an +appointed time after possession taken, there to compound for the +payment of his said fruits, he incurreth the danger of a great +penalty, limited by a certain statute provided in that behalf against +such as do intrude into the ecclesiastical function and refuse to pay +the accustomed duties belonging to the same. + +They pay likewise subsidies with the temporalty, but in such sort that +if these pay after four shillings for land, the clergy contribute +commonly after six shillings of the pound, so that of a benefice of +twenty pounds by the year the incumbent thinketh himself well +acquitted if, all ordinary payments being discharged, he may reserve +thirteen pounds six shillings eightpence towards his own sustentation +or maintenance of his family. Seldom also are they without the compass +of a subsidy; for if they be one year clear from this payment (a thing +not often seen of late years), they are like in the next to hear of +another grant: so that I say again they are seldom without the limit +of a subsidy. Herein also they somewhat find themselves grieved that +the laity may at every taxation help themselves, and so they do, +through consideration had of their decay and hindrance, and yet their +impoverishment cannot but touch also the parson or vicar, unto whom +such liberty is denied, as is daily to be seen in their accounts and +tithings. + +Some of them also, after the marriages of their children, will have +their proportions qualified, or by friendship get themselves quite out +of the book. But what stand I upon these things, who have rather to +complain of the injury offered by some of our neighbours of the laity, +which daily endeavour to bring us also within the compass of their +fifteens or taxes for their own ease, whereas the tax of the whole +realm, which is commonly greater in the champagne than woodland soil, +amounteth only to 37,930 pounds ninepence halfpenny, is a burden easy +enough to be borne upon so many shoulders, without the help of the +clergy, whose tenths and subsidies make up commonly a double, if not +treble sum unto their aforesaid payments? Sometimes also we are +threatened with a _Melius inquirendum_, as if our livings were not +racked high enough already. But if a man should seek out where all +those church lands which in time past did contribute unto the old sum +required or to be made up, no doubt no small number of the laity of +all states should be contributors also with us, the prince not +defrauded of her expectation and right. We are also charged with +armour and munitions from thirty pounds upwards, a thing more needful +than divers other charges imposed upon us are convenient, by which and +other burdens our ease groweth to be more heavy by a great deal +(notwithstanding our immunity from temporal services) than that of the +laity, and, for aught that I see, not likely to be diminished, as if +the church were now become the ass whereon every market man is to ride +and cast his wallet. + +The other payments due unto the archbishop and bishop at their several +visitations (of which the first is double to the latter), and such +also as the archdeacon receive that his synods, etc., remain still as +they did without any alteration. Only this I think he added within +memory of man, that at the coming of every prince his appointed +officers do commonly visit the whole realm under the form of an +ecclesiastical inquisition, in which the clergy do usually pay double +fees, as unto the archbishop. + +Hereby then, and by those already remembered, it is found that the +Church of England is no less commodious to the prince's coffers than +the state of the laity, if it do not far exceed the same, since their +payments are certain, continual, and seldom abated, howsoever they +gather up their own duties with grudging, murmuring, suit, and +slanderous speeches of the payers, or have their livings otherwise +hardly valued unto the uttermost farthing, or shrewdly cancelled by +the covetousness of the patrons, of whom some do bestow advowsons of +benefices upon their bakers, butlers, cooks, good archers, falconers, +and horsekeepers, instead of other recompense, for their long and +faithful service, which they employ afterward unto the most advantage. + +Certes here they resemble the pope very much; for, as he sendeth out +his idols, so do they their parasites, pages, chamberlains, stewards, +grooms, and lackeys; and yet these be the men that first exclaim of +the insufficiency of the ministers, as hoping thereby in due time to +get also their glebes and grounds into their hands. In times past +bishoprics went almost after the same manner under the lay princes, +and then under the pope, so that he which helped a clerk unto a see +was sure to have a present or purse fine, if not an annual pension, +besides that which went to the pope's coffers, and was thought to be +very good merchandise. + +To proceed therefore with the rest, I think it good also to remember +that the names usually given unto such as feed the flock remain in +like sort as in times past, so that these words, _parson, vicar, +curate_, and such, are not yet abolished more than the canon law +itself, which is daily pleaded, as I have said elsewhere, although the +statutes of the realm have greatly infringed the large scope and +brought the exercise of the same into some narrower limits. There is +nothing read in our churches but the canonical Scriptures, whereby it +cometh to pass that the Psalter is said over once in thirty days, the +New Testament four times, and the Old Testament once in the year. And +hereunto, if the curate be adjudged by the bishop or his deputies +sufficiently instructed in the holy Scriptures, and therewithal able +to teach, he permitteth him to make some exposition or exhortation in +his parish unto amendment of life. And for so much as our churches and +universities have been so spoiled in time of error, as there cannot +yet be had such number of able pastors as may suffice for every parish +to have one, there are (beside four sermons appointed by public order +in the year) certain sermons or homilies (devised by sundry learned +men, confirmed for sound doctrine by consent of the divines, and +public authority of the prince), and those appointed to be read by the +curates of mean understanding (which homilies do comprehend the +principal parts of Christian doctrine, as of original sin, of +justification by faith, of charity, and such like) upon the Sabbath +days unto the congregation. And, after a certain number of psalms +read, which are limited according to the dates of the month, for +morning and evening prayer we have two lessons, whereof the first is +taken out of the Old Testament, the second out of the New; and of +these latter, that in the morning is out of the Gospels, the other in +the afternoon out of some one of the Epistles. After morning prayer +also, we have the Litany and suffrages, an invocation in mine opinion +not devised without the great assistance of the Spirit of God, +although many curious mind-sick persons utterly condemn it as +superstitious, and savouring of conjuration and sorcery. + +This being done, we proceed unto the communion, if any communicants be +to receive the Eucharist; if not, we read the Decalogue, Epistle, and +Gospel, with the Nicene Creed (of some in derision called the "dry +communion"), and then proceed unto an homily or sermon, which hath a +psalm before and after it, and finally unto the baptism of such +infants as on every Sabbath day (if occasion so require) are brought +unto the churches; and thus is the forenoon bestowed. In the afternoon +likewise we meet again, and, after the psalms and lessons ended, we +have commonly a sermon, or at the leastwise our youth catechised by +the space of an hour. And thus do we spend the Sabbath day in good and +godly exercises, all done in our vulgar tongue, that each one present +may hear and understand the same, which also in cathedral and +collegiate churches is so ordered that the psalms only are sung by +note, the rest being read (as in common parish churches) by the +minister with a loud voice, saving that in the administration of the +communion the choir singeth the answers, the creed, and sundry other +things appointed, but in so plain, I say, and distinct manner that +each one present may understand what they sing, every word having but +one note, though the whole Harmony consist of many parts, and those +very cunningly set by the skilful in that science. + +Certes this translation of the service of the church into the vulgar +tongue hath not a little offended the pope almost in every age, as a +thing very often attempted by divers princes, but never generally +obtained, for fear lest the consenting thereunto might breed the +overthrow (as it would indeed) of all his religion and hierarchy; +nevertheless, in some places where the kings and princes dwelled not +under his nose, it was performed maugre his resistance. Wratislaus, +Duke of Bohemia, would long since have done the like also in his +kingdom; but, not daring to venture so far without the consent of the +pope, he wrote unto him thereof, and received his answer inhibitory +unto all his proceeding in the same.... + +I would set down two or three more of the like instruments passed from +that see unto the like end, but this shall suffice, being less common +than the other, which are to be had more plentifully. + +As for our churches themselves, bells and times of morning and evening +prayer remain as in times past, saving that all images, shrines, +tabernacles, rood-lofts, and monuments of idolatry are removed, taken +down, and defaced, only the stories in glass windows excepted, which, +for want of sufficient store of new stuff, and by reason of extreme +charge that should grow by the alteration of the same into white panes +throughout the realm, are not altogether abolished in most places at +once, but by little and little suffered to decay, that white glass may +be provided and set up in their rooms. Finally, whereas there was wont +to be a great partition between the choir and the body of the church, +now it is either very small or none at all, and (to say the truth) +altogether needless, sith the minister saith his service commonly in +the body of the church, with his face toward the people, in a little +tabernacle of wainscot provided for the purpose, by which means the +ignorant do not only learn divers of the psalms and usual prayers by +heart, but also such as can read do pray together with him, so that +the whole congregation at one instant pour out their petitions unto +the living God for the whole estate of His church in most earnest and +fervent manner. Our holy and festival days are very well reduced also +unto a less number; for whereas (not long since) we had under the pope +four score and fifteen, called festival, and thirty _profesti_, beside +the Sundays, they are all brought unto seven and twenty, and, with +them, the superfluous numbers of idle wakes, guilds, fraternities, +church-ales, help-ales, and soul-ales, called also dirge-ales, with +the heathenish rioting at bride-ales, are well diminished and laid +aside. And no great matter were it if the feasts of all our apostles, +evangelists, and martyrs, with that of all saints, were brought to the +holy days that follow upon Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, and +those of the Virgin Mary, with the rest, utterly removed from the +calendars, as neither necessary nor commendable in a reformed church. + +The apparel in like sort of our clergymen is comely, and, in truth, +more decent than ever it was in the popish church, before the +universities bound their graduates unto a stable attire, afterward +usurped also even by the blind Sir Johns. For, if you peruse well my +Chronology ensuing, you shall find that they went either in divers +colours like players, or in garments of light hue, as yellow, red, +green, etc., with their shoes piked, their hair crisped, their girdles +armed with silver, their shoes, spurs, bridles, etc., buckled with +like metal, their apparel (for the most part) of silk, and richly +furred, their caps laced and buttoned with gold, so that to meet a +priest in those days was to behold a peacock that spreadeth his tail +when he danceth before the hen, which now (I say) is well reformed. +Touching hospitality, there was never any greater used in England, +sith by reason that marriage is permitted to him that will choose that +kind of life, their meat and drink is more orderly and frugally +dressed, their furniture of household more convenient and better +looked unto, and the poor oftener fed generally than heretofore they +have been, when only a few bishops and double or treble beneficed men +did make good cheer at Christmas only, or otherwise kept great houses +for the entertainment of the rich, which did often see and visit them. +It is thought much peradventure that some bishops, etc., in our time +do come short of the ancient gluttony and prodigality of their +predecessors; but to such as do consider of the curtailing of their +livings, or excessive prices whereunto things are grown, and how their +course is limited by law, and estate looked into on every side, the +cause of their so doing is well enough perceived. This also offended +many, that they should, after their deaths, leave their substances to +their wives and children, whereas they consider not that in old time +such as had no lemans nor bastards (very few were there, God wot, of +this sort) did leave their goods and possessions to their brethren and +kinsfolks, whereby (as I can shew by good record) many houses of +gentility have grown and been erected. If in any age some one of them +did found a college, almshouse, or school, if you look unto these our +times, you shall see no fewer deeds of charity done, nor better +grounded upon the right stub of piety than before. If you say that +their wives be fond, after the decease of their husbands, and bestow +themselves not so advisedly as their calling requireth (which, God +knoweth, these curious surveyors make small account of truth, further +than thereby to gather matter of reprehension), I beseech you then to +look into all states of the laity, and tell me whether some duchesses, +countesses, barons' or knights' wives, do not fully so often offend in +the like as they? For Eve will be Eve, though Adam would say nay. Not +a few also find fault with our threadbare gowns, as if not our patrons +but our wives were causes of our woe. But if it were known to all that +I know to have been performed of late in Essex, where a minister +taking a benefice (of less than twenty pounds in the Queen's books, so +far as I remember) was enforced to pay to his patron twenty quarters +of oats, ten quarters of wheat, and sixteen yearly of barley (which he +called _hawks' meat_), and another let the like in farm to his patron +for ten pounds by the year which is well worth forty at the least, the +cause of our threadbare gowns would easily appear: for such patrons do +scrape the wool from our cloaks. Wherefore I may well say that such a +threadbare minister is either an ill man or hath an ill patron, or +both; and when such cooks and cobbling shifters shall be removed and +weeded out of the ministry, I doubt not but our patrons will prove +better men, and be reformed whether they will or not, or else the +single-minded bishops shall see the living bestowed upon such as do +deserve it. When the Pragmatic Sanction took place first in France, it +was supposed that these enormities should utterly have ceased; but +when the elections of bishops came once into the hands of the canons +and spiritual men, it grew to be far worse. For they also, within a +while waxing covetous, by their own experience learned aforehand, +raised the markets, and sought after new gains by the gifts of the +greatest livings in that country, wherein (as Machiavelli writeth) are +eighteen archbishoprics, one hundred forty and five bishoprics, 740 +abbeys, eleven universities, 1,000,700 steeples (if his report be +sound). Some are of the opinion that, if sufficient men in every town +might be sent for from the universities, this mischief would soon be +remedied; but I am clean of another mind. For, when I consider +whereunto the gifts of fellowships in some places are grown, the +profit that ariseth at sundry elections of scholars out of grammar +schools to the posers, schoolmasters, and preferers of them to our +universities, the gifts of a great number of almshouses builded for +the maimed and impotent soldiers by princes and good men heretofore +moved with a pitiful consideration of the poor distressed, how +rewards, pensions, and annuities also do reign in other cases whereby +the giver is brought sometimes into extreme misery, and that not so +much as the room of a common soldier is not obtained oftentimes +without a _"What will you give me?"_ I am brought into such a mistrust +of the sequel of this device that I dare pronounce (almost for +certain) that, if Homer were now alive, it should be said to him: + + "Tuque licet venias musis comitatus Homere, + Si nihil attuleris, ibis Homere foras!" + +More I could say, and more I would say, of these and other things, +were it not that in mine own judgment I have said enough already for +the advertisement of such as be wise. Nevertheless, before I finish +this chapter, I will add a word or two (so briefly as I can) of the +old estate of cathedral churches, which I have collected together here +and there among the writers, and whereby it shall easily be seen what +they were, and how near the government of ours do in these days +approach unto them; for that there is an irreconcilable odds between +them and those of the Papists. I hope there is no learned man indeed +but will acknowledge and yield unto it. + +We find therefore in the time of the primitive church that there was +in every see or jurisdiction one school at the least, whereunto such +as were catechists in Christian religion did resort. And hereof, as we +may find great testimony for Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, and Jerusalem, +so no small notice is left of the like in the inferior sort, if the +names of such as taught in them be called to mind, and the histories +well read which make report of the same. These schools were under the +jurisdiction of the bishops, and from thence did they and the rest of +the elders choose out such as were the ripest scholars, and willing to +serve in the ministry, whom they placed also in their cathedral +churches, there not only to be further instructed in the knowledge of +the world, but also to inure them to the delivery of the same unto the +people in sound manner, to minister the sacraments, to visit the sick +and brethren imprisoned, and to perform such other duties as then +belonged to their charges. The bishop himself and elders of the church +were also hearers and examiners of their doctrine; and, being in +process of time found meet workmen for the Lord's harvest, they were +forthwith sent abroad (after imposition of hands and prayer generally +made for their good proceeding) to some place or other then destitute +of her pastor, and other taken from the school also placed in their +rooms. What number of such clerks belonged now and then to some one +see, the Chronology following shall easily declare; and, in like sort, +what officers, widows, and other persons were daily maintained in +those seasons by the offerings and oblations of the faithful it is +incredible to be reported, if we compare the same with the decays and +oblations seen and practised at this present. But what is that in all +the world which avarice and negligence will not corrupt and impair? +And, as this is a pattern of the estate of the cathedral churches in +those times, so I wish that the like order of government might once +again be restored unto the same, which may be done with ease, sith the +schools are already builded in every diocese, the universities, places +of their preferment unto further knowledge, and the cathedral churches +great enough to receive so many as shall come from thence to be +instructed unto doctrine. But one hindrance of this is already and +more and more to be looked for (beside the plucking and snatching +commonly seen from such houses and the church), and that is, the +general contempt of the ministry, and small consideration of their +former pains taken, whereby less and less hope of competent +maintenance by preaching the word is likely to ensue. Wherefore the +greatest part of the more excellent wits choose rather to employ their +studies unto physic and the laws, utterly giving over the study of the +Scriptures, for fear lest they should in time not get their bread by +the same. By this means also the stalls in their choirs would be +better filled, which now (for the most part) are empty, and prebends +should be prebends indeed, there to live till they were preferred to +some ecclesiastical function, and then other men chosen to succeed +them in their rooms, whereas now prebends are but superfluous +additiments unto former excesses, and perpetual commodities unto the +owners, which before time were but temporal (as I have said before). +But as I have good leisure to wish for these things, so it shall be a +longer time before it will be brought to pass. Nevertheless, as I will +pray for a reformation in this behold, so will I here conclude my +discourse on the estate of our churches. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OF THE FOOD AND DIET OF THE ENGLISH + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 1; 1587, Book II., Chapter 6.] + + +The situation of our region, lying near unto the north, doth cause the +heat of our stomachs to be of somewhat greater force: therefore our +bodies do crave a little more ample nourishment than the inhabitants +of the hotter regions are accustomed withal, whose digestive force is +not altogether so vehement, because their internal heat is not so +strong as ours, which is kept in by the coldness of the air that from +time to time (especially in winter) doth environ our bodies. + +It is no marvel therefore that our tables are oftentimes more +plentifully garnished than those of other nations, and this trade hath +continued with us even since the very beginning. For, before the +Romans found out and knew the way unto our country, our predecessors +fed largely upon flesh and milk, whereof there was great abundance in +this isle, because they applied their chief studies unto pasturage and +feeding. After this manner also did our Welsh Britons order themselves +in their diet so long as they lived of themselves, but after they +became to be united and made equal with the English they framed their +appetites to live after our manner, so that at this day there is very +little difference between us in our diets. + +In Scotland likewise they have given themselves (of late years to +speak of) unto very ample and large diet, wherein as for some respect +nature doth make them equal with us, so otherwise they far exceed us +in over much and distemperate gormandise, and so ingross their bodies +that divers of them do oft become unapt to any other purpose than to +spend their times in large tabling and belly cheer. Against this +pampering of their carcasses doth Hector Boethius in his description +of the country very sharply inveigh in the first chapter of that +treatise. Henry Wardlaw also, bishop of St. Andrews, noting their +vehement alteration from competent frugality into excessive gluttony +to be brought out of England with James the First (who had been long +time prisoner there under the fourth and fifth Henries, and at his +return carried divers English gentlemen into his country with him, +whom he very honourably preferred there), doth vehemently exclaim +against the same in open Parliament holden at Perth, 1433, before the +three estates, and so bringeth his purpose to pass in the end, by +force of his learned persuasions, that a law was presently made there +for the restraint of superfluous diet; amongst other things, baked +meats (dishes never before this man's days seen in Scotland) were +generally so provided for by virtue of this Act that it was not lawful +for any to eat of the same under the degree of a gentleman, and those +only but on high and festival days. But, alas, it was soon forgotten! + +In old time these north Britons did give themselves universally to +great abstinence, and in time of wars their soldiers would often feed +but once or twice at the most in two or three days (especially if they +held themselves in secret, or could have no issue out of their bogs +and marshes, through the presence of the enemy), and in this distress +they used to eat a certain kind of confection, whereof so much as a +bean would qualify their hunger above common expectation. In woods +moreover they lived with herbs and roots, or, if these shifts served +not through want of such provision at hand, then used they to creep +into the water or said moorish plots up unto the chins, and there +remain a long time, only to qualify the heats of their stomachs by +violence, which otherwise would have wrought and been ready to oppress +them for hunger and want of sustenance. In those days likewise it was +taken for a great offence over all to eat either goose, hare, or hen, +because of a certain superstitious opinion which they had conceived of +those three creatures; howbeit after that the Romans, I say, had once +found an entrance into this island it was not long ere open shipwreck +was made of this religious observation, so that in process of time so +well the north and south Britons as the Romans gave over to make such +difference in meats as they had done before. + +From thenceforth also unto our days, and even in this season wherein +we live, there is no restraint of any meat either for religious sake +or public order in England, but it is lawful for every man to feed +upon whatsoever he is able to purchase, except it be upon those days +whereon eating of flesh is especially forbidden by the laws of the +realm, which order is taken only to the end our numbers of cattle may +be the better increased and that abundance of fish which the sea +yieldeth more generally received. Besides this, there is great +consideration had in making this law for the preservation of the navy +and maintenance of convenient numbers of seafaring men, both which +would otherwise greatly decay if some means were not found whereby +they might be increased. But, howsoever this case standeth, white +meats, milk, butter, and cheese (which were never so dear as in my +time, and wont to be accounted of as one of the chief stays throughout +the island) are now reputed as food appertinent only to the inferior +sort, whilst such as are more wealthy do feed upon the flesh of all +kinds of cattle accustomed to be eaten, all sorts of fish taken upon +our coasts and in our fresh rivers, and such diversity of wild and +tame fowls as are either bred in our island or brought over unto us +from other countries of the main. + +In number of dishes and change of meat the nobility of England (whose +cooks are for the most part musical-headed Frenchmen and strangers) do +most exceed, sith there is no day in manner that passeth over their +heads wherein they have not only beef, mutton, veal, lamb, kid, pork, +cony, capon, pig, or so many of these as the season yieldeth, but also +some portion of the red or fallow deer, beside great variety of fish +and wild fowl, and thereto sundry other delicates wherein the sweet +hand of the seafaring Portugal is not wanting: so that for a man to +dine with one of them, and to taste of every dish that standeth before +him (which few used to do, but each one feedeth upon that meat him +best liketh for the time, the beginning of every dish notwithstanding +being reserved unto the greatest personage that sitteth at the table, +to whom it is drawn up still by the waiters as order requireth, and +from whom it descendeth again even to the lower end, whereby each one +may taste thereof), is rather to yield unto a conspiracy with a great +deal of meat for the speedy suppression of natural health than the use +of a necessary mean to satisfy himself with a competent repast to +sustain his body withal. But, as this large feeding is not seen in +their guests, no more is it in their own persons; for, sith they have +daily much resort unto their tables (and many times unlooked for), and +thereto retain great numbers of servants, it is very requisite and +expedient for them to be somewhat plentiful in this behalf. + +The chief part likewise of their daily provision is brought in before +them (commonly in silver vessels, if they be of the degree of barons, +bishops, and upwards) and placed on their tables, whereof, when they +have taken what it pleaseth them, the rest is reserved, and afterwards +sent down to their serving men and waiters, who feed thereon in like +sort with convenient moderation, their reversion also being bestowed +upon the poor which lie ready at their gates in great numbers to +receive the same. This is spoken of the principal tables whereat the +nobleman, his lady, and guests are accustomed to sit; besides which +they have a certain ordinary allowance daily appointed for their +halls, where the chief officers and household servants (for all are +not permitted by custom to wait upon their master), and with them such +inferior guests do feed as are not of calling to associate the +nobleman himself; so that, besides those afore-mentioned, which are +called to the principal table, there are commonly forty or three score +persons fed in those halls, to the great relief of such poor suitors +and strangers also as oft be partakers thereof and otherwise like to +dine hardly. As for drink, it is usually filled in pots, goblets, +jugs, bowls of silver, in noblemen's houses; also in fine Venice +glasses of all forms; and, for want of these elsewhere, in pots of +earth of sundry colours and moulds, whereof many are garnished with +silver, or at the leastwise in pewter, all which notwithstanding are +seldom set on the table, but each one, as necessity urgeth, calleth +for a cup of such drink as him listeth to have, so that, when he has +tasted of it, he delivered the cup again to some one of the standers +by, who, making it clean by pouring out the drink that remaineth, +restoreth it to the cupboard from whence he fetched the same. By this +device (a thing brought up at the first by Mnesitheus of Athens, in +conservation of the honour of Orestes, who had not yet made expiation +for the death of his adulterous parents, Aegisthus and Clytemnestra) +much idle tippling is furthermore cut off; for, if the full pots +should continually stand at the elbow or near the trencher, divers +would always be dealing with them, whereas now they drink seldom, and +only when necessity urgeth, and so avoid the note of great drinking, +or often troubling of the servitors with filling of their bowls. +Nevertheless in the noblemen's halls this order is not used, neither +is any man's house commonly under the degree of a knight or esquire of +great revenues. It is a world to see in these our days, wherein gold +and silver most aboundeth, how that our gentility, as loathing those +metals (because of the plenty) do now generally choose rather the +Venice glasses, both for our wine and beer, than any of those metals +or stone wherein before time we have been accustomed to drink; but +such is the nature of man generally that it most coveteth things +difficult to be attained; and such is the estimation of this stuff +that many become rich only with their new trade unto Murana (a town +near to Venice, situate on the Adriatic Sea), from whence the very +best are daily to be had, and such as for beauty do well near match +the crystal or the ancient _murrhina vasa_ whereof now no man hath +knowledge. And as this is seen in the gentility, so in the wealthy +communalty the like desire of glass is not neglected, whereby the gain +gotten by their purchase is yet much more increased to the benefit of +the merchant. The poorest also will have glass if they may; but, sith +the Venetian is somewhat too dear for them, they content themselves +with such as are made at home of fern and burned stone; but in fine +all go one way--that is, to shards at the last, so that our great +expenses in glasses (beside that they breed much strife toward such as +have the charge of them) are worst of all bestowed in mine opinion, +because their pieces do turn unto no profit. If the philosopher's +stone were once found, and one part hereof mixed with forty of molten +glass, it would induce such a metallical toughness thereunto that a +fall should nothing hurt it in such manner; yet it might peradventure +bunch or batter it; nevertheless that inconvenience were quickly to be +redressed by the hammer. But whither am I slipped? + +The gentlemen and merchants keep much about one rate, and each of them +contenteth himself with four, five, or six dishes, when they have but +small resort, or peradventure with one, or two, or three at the most, +when they have no strangers to accompany them at their tables. And yet +their servants have their ordinary diet assigned, beside such as is +left at their master's boards, and not appointed to be brought thither +the second time, which nevertheless is often seen, generally in +venison, lamb, or some especial dish, whereon the merchantman himself +liketh to feed when it is cold, or peradventure for sundry causes +incident to the feeder is better so than if it were warm or hot. To be +short, at such times as the merchants do make their ordinary or +voluntary feasts, it is a world to see what great provision is made of +all manner of delicate meats, from every quarter of the country, +wherein, beside that they are often comparable herein to the nobility +of the land, they will seldom regard anything that the butcher usually +killeth, but reject the same as not worthy to come in place. In such +cases also jellies of all colours, mixed with a variety in the +representation of sundry flowers, herbs, trees, forms of beasts, fish, +fowls, and fruits, and thereunto marchpane wrought with no small +curiosity, tarts of divers hues, and sundry denominations, conserves +of old fruits, foreign and home-bred, suckets, codinacs, marmalades, +marchpane, sugar-bread, gingerbread, florentines, wild fowls, venison +of all sorts, and sundry outlandish confections, altogether seasoned +with sugar (which Pliny calleth _mel ex arundinibus_, a device not +common nor greatly used in old time at the table, but only in +medicine, although it grew in Arabia, India, and Sicilia), do +generally bear the sway, besides infinite devices of our own not +possible for me to remember. Of the potato, and such venerous roots as +are brought out of Spain, Portugal, and the Indies to furnish up our +banquets, I speak not, wherein our mures[1] of no less force, and to +be had about Crosby-Ravenswath, do now begin to have place. + + [1] Sweet cicely, sometimes miscalled myrrh. Mure is the Saxon + word. At one time the plant was not uncommon as a salad.--W. + +But among all these, the kind of meat which is obtained with most +difficulty and costs, is commonly taken for the most delicate, and +thereupon each guest will soonest desire to feed. And as all estates +do exceed herein, I mean for strangeness and number of costly dishes, +so these forget not to use the like excess in wine, insomuch as there +is no kind to be had, neither anywhere more store of all sorts than in +England, although we have none growing with us but yearly to the +proportion of 20,000 of 30,000 tun and upwards, notwithstanding the +daily restraints of the same brought over unto us, whereof at great +meetings there is not some store to be had. Neither do I mean this of +small wines only, as claret, white, red, French, etc., which amount to +about fifty-six sorts, according to the number of regions from whence +they came, but also of the thirty kinds of Italian, Grecian, Spanish, +Canarian, etc., whereof vernage, catepument, raspis, muscadell, +romnie, bastard lire, osy caprie, clary, and malmesey, are not least +of all accompted of, because of their strength and valour. For, as I +have said in meat, so, the stronger the wine is, the more it is +desired, by means whereof, in old time, the best was called +_theologicum_, because it was had from the clergy and religious men, +unto whose houses many of the laity would often send for bottles +filled with the same, being sure they would neither drink nor be +served of the worst, or such as was any ways mingled or brewed by the +vinterer: nay, the merchant would have thought that his soul should +have gone straightway to the devil if he should have served them with +other than the best. Furthermore, when these have had their course +which nature yieldeth, sundry sorts of artificial stuff as ypocras and +wormwood wine must in like manner succeed in their turns, beside stale +ale and strong beer, which nevertheless bear the greatest brunt in +drinking, and are of so many sorts and ages as it pleaseth the brewer +to make them. + +The beer that is used at noblemen's tables in their fixed and standing +houses is commonly a year old, or peradventure of two years' tunning +or more; but this is not general. It is also brewed in March, and +therefore called March beer; but, for the household, it is usually not +under a month's age, each one coveting to have the same stale as he +may, so that it be not sour, and his bread new as is possible, so that +it be not hot. + +The artificer and husbandman makes greatest account of such meat as +they may soonest come by, and have it quickliest ready, except it be +in London when the companies of every trade do meet on their quarter +days, at which time they be nothing inferior to the nobility. Their +food also consisteth principally in beef, and such meat as the butcher +selleth--that is to say, mutton, veal, lamb, pork, etc., whereof he +findeth great store in the markets adjoining, beside sows, brawn, +bacon, fruit, pies of fruit, fowls of sundry sorts, cheese, butter, +eggs, etc., as the other wanteth it not at home, by his own provision +which is at the best hand, and commonly least charge. In feasting +also, this latter sort, I mean the husbandmen, do exceed after their +manner, especially at bridals, purifications of women, and such odd +meetings, where it is incredible to tell what meat is consumed and +spent, each one bringing such a dish, or so many with him, as his wife +and he do consult upon, but always with this consideration, that the +lesser friend shall have the better provision. This also is commonly +seen at these banquets, that the good man of the house is not charged +with anything saving bread, drink, sauce, house-room, and fire. But +the artificers in cities and good towns do deal far otherwise; for, +albeit that some of them do suffer their jaws to go oft before their +claws, and divers of them, by making good cheer, do hinder themselves +and other men, yet the wiser sort can handle the matter well enough in +these junketings, and therefore their frugality deserveth +commendation. To conclude, both the artificer and the husbandman are +sufficiently liberal, and very friendly at their tables; and, when +they meet, they are so merry without malice, and plain without inward +Italian or French craft and subtlety, that it would do a man good to +be in company among them. Herein only are the inferior sort somewhat +to be blamed, that, being thus assembled, their talk is now and then +such as savoureth of scurrility and ribaldry, a thing naturally +incident to carters and clowns, who think themselves not to be merry +and welcome if their foolish veins in this behalf be never so little +restrained. This is moreover to be added in these meetings, that if +they happen to stumble upon a piece of venison and a cup of wine or +very strong beer or ale (which latter they commonly provide against +their appointed days), they think their cheer so great, and themselves +to have fared so well, as the Lord Mayor of London, with whom, when +their bellies be full, they will not often stick to make comparison, +because that of a subject there is no public officer of any city in +Europe that may compare in port and countenance with him during the +time of his office. + +I might here talk somewhat of the great silence that is used at the +tables of the honourable and wiser sort generally over all the realm +(albeit that too much deserveth no commendation, for it belongeth to +guests neither to be _muti_ nor _loquaces_[2]), likewise of the +moderate eating and drinking that is daily seen, and finally of the +regard that each one hath to keep himself from the note of surfeiting +and drunkenness (for which cause salt meat, except beef, bacon, and +pork, are not any whit esteemed, and yet these three may not be much +powdered); but, as in rehearsal thereof I should commend the nobleman, +merchant, and frugal artificer, so I could not clear the meaner sort +of husbandmen and country inhabitants of very much babbling (except it +be here and there some odd yeoman), with whom he is thought to be the +merriest that talketh of most ribaldry or the wisest man that speaketh +fastest among them, and now and then surfeiting and drunkenness which +they rather fall into for want of heed taking than wilfully following +or delighting in those errors of set mind and purpose. It may be that +divers of them living at home, with hard and pinching diet, small +drink, and some of them having scarce enough of that, are soonest +overtaken when they come into such banquets, howbeit they take it +generally as no small disgrace if they happen to be cupshotten, so +that it is a grief unto them, though now sans remedy, sith the thing +is done and past. If the friends also of the wealthier sort come to +their houses from far, they are commonly so welcome till they depart +as upon the first day of their coming; whereas in good towns and +cities, as London, etc., men oftentimes complain of little room, and, +in reward of a fat capon or plenty of beef and mutton largely bestowed +upon them in the country, a cup of wine or beer with a napkin to wipe +their lips and an "You are heartily welcome!" is thought to be a great +entertainment; and therefore the old country clerks have framed this +saying in that behalf, I mean upon the entertainment of townsmen and +Londoners after the days of their abode, in this manner: + + "Primus jucundus, tollerabilis estque secundus, + Tertius est vanus, sed fetet quatriduanus." + + [2] Neither "silent" nor "garrulous." + +The bread throughout the land is made of such grain as the soil +yieldeth; nevertheless the gentility commonly provide themselves +sufficiently of wheat for their own tables, whilst their household and +poor neighbours in some shires are forced to content themselves with +rye, or barley, yea, and in time of dearth, many with bread made +either of beans, peas, of oats, or of altogether and some acorns +among, of which scourge the poorest do soonest taste, sith they are +least able to provide themselves of better. I will not say that this +extremity is oft so well to be seen in time of plenty as of dearth, +but, if I should, I could easily bring my trial. For, albeit that +there be much more ground eared now almost in every place than hath +been of late years, yet such a price of corn continueth in each town +and market without any just cause (except it be that landlords do get +licences to carry corn out of the land only to keep up the prices for +their own private gains and ruin of the commonwealth), that the +artificer and poor labouring man is not able to reach unto it, but is +driven to content himself with horse corn--I mean beans, peas, oats, +tares, and lentils: and therefore it is a true proverb, and never so +well verified as now, that "Hunger setteth his first foot into the +horse-manger."[3] If the world last awhile after this rate, wheat and +rye will be no grain for poor men to feed on; and some caterpillars +there are that can say so much already. + + [3] A famine at hand is first seen in the horse-manger, when + the poor do fall to horse corn.--H. + +Of bread made of wheat we have sundry sorts daily brought to the +table, whereof the first and most excellent is the manchet, which we +commonly call white bread, in Latin _primarius panis_, whereof Budeus +also speaketh, in his first book _De asse_; and our good workmen +deliver commonly such proportion that of the flour of one bushel with +another they make forty cast of manchet, of which every loaf weigheth +eight ounces into the oven, and six ounces out, as I have been +informed. The second is the cheat or wheaten bread, so named because +the colour thereof resembleth the grey or yellowish wheat, being clean +and well dressed, and out of this is the coarsest of the bran (usually +called gurgeons or pollard) taken. The ravelled is a kind of cheat +bread also, but it retaineth more of the gross, and less of the pure +substance of the wheat; and this, being more slightly wrought up, is +used in the halls of the nobility and gentry only, whereas the other +either is or should be baked in cities and good towns of an appointed +size (according to such price as the corn doth bear), and by a statute +provided by King John in that behalf.[4] The ravelled cheat therefore +is generally so made that out of one bushel of meal, after two and +twenty pounds of bran be sifted and taken from it (whereunto they add +the gurgeons that rise from the manchet), they make thirty cast, every +loaf weighing eighteen ounces into the oven, and sixteen ounces out; +and, beside this, they so handle the matter that to every bushel of +meal they add only two and twenty, or three and twenty, pound of +water, washing also (in some houses) their corn before it go to the +mill, whereby their manchet bread is more excellent in colour, and +pleasing to the eye, than otherwise it would be. The next sort is +named brown bread, of the colour of which we have two sorts one baked +up as it cometh from the mill, so that neither the bran nor the flour +are any whit diminished; this, Celsus called _autopirus panis_, lib. +2, and putteth it in the second place of nourishment. The other hath +little or no flour left therein at all, howbeit he calleth it _Panem +Cibarium_, and it is not only the worst and weakest of all the other +sorts, but also appointed in old time for servants, slaves, and the +inferior kind of people to feed upon. Hereunto likewise, because it is +dry and brickle in the working (for it will hardly be made up +handsomely into loaves), some add a portion of rye meal in our time, +whereby the rough dryness or dry roughness thereof is somewhat +qualified, and then it is named _miscelin_, that is, bread made of +mingled corn, albeit that divers do sow or mingle wheat and rye of set +purpose at the mill, or before it come there, and sell the same at the +markets under the aforesaid name. + + [4] The size of bread is very ill kept or not at all looked + unto in the country towns or markets.--H. + +In champaign countries much rye and barley bread is eaten, but +especially where wheat is scant and geson. As for the difference that +it is between the summer and winter wheat, most husbandmen know it +not, sith they are neither acquainted with summer wheat nor winter +barley; yet here and there I find of both sorts, specially in the +north and about Kendal, where they call it March wheat, and also of +summer rye, but in so small quantities as that I dare not pronounce +them to be greatly common among us. + +Our drink, whose force and continuance is partly touched already, is +made of barley, water, and hops, sodden and mingled together, by the +industry of our brewers in a certain exact proportion. But, before our +barley do come into their hands, it sustaineth great alteration, and +is converted into malt, the making whereof I will here set down in +such order as my skill therein may extend unto (for I am scarce a good +maltster), chiefly for that foreign writers have attempted to describe +the same, and the making of our beer, wherein they have shot so far +wide, as the quantity of ground was between themselves and their mark. +In the meantime bear with me, gentle reader (I beseech thee), that +lead thee from the description of the plentiful diet of our country +unto the fond report of a servile trade, or rather from a table +delicately furnished into a musty malt-house; but such is now thy hap, +wherefore I pray thee be contented. + +Our malt is made all the year long in some great towns; but in +gentlemen's and yeomen's houses, who commonly make sufficient for +their own expenses only, the winter half is thought most meet for that +commodity: howbeit the malt that is made when the willow doth bud is +commonly worst of all. Nevertheless each one endeavoureth to make it +of the best barley, which is steeped in a cistern, in greater or less +quantity, by the space of three days and three nights, until it be +thoroughly soaked. This being done, the water is drained from it by +little and little, till it be quite gone. Afterward they take it out, +and, laying it upon the clean floor on a round heap, it resteth so +until it be ready to shoot at the root end, which maltsters call +_combing_. When it beginneth therefore to shoot in this manner, they +say it is come, and then forthwith they spread it abroad, first thick, +and afterwards thinner and thinner upon the said floor (as it +_combeth_), and there it lieth (with turning every day four or five +times) by the space of one and twenty days at the least, the workmen +not suffering it in any wise to take any heat, whereby the bud end +should spire, that bringeth forth the blade, and by which oversight or +hurt of the stuff itself the malt would be spoiled and turn small +commodity to the brewer. When it hath gone, or been turned, so long +upon the floor, they carry it to a kiln covered with hair cloth, where +they give it gentle heats (after they have spread it there very thin +abroad) till it be dry, and in the meanwhile they turn it often, that +it may be uniformly dried. For the more it be dried (yet must it be +done with soft fire) the sweeter and better the malt is, and the +longer it will continue, whereas, if it be not dried down (as they +call it), but slackly handled, it will breed a kind of worm called a +weevil, which groweth in the flour of the corn, and in process of time +will so eat out itself that nothing shall remain of the grain but even +the very rind or husk. + +The best malt is tried by the hardness and colour; for, if it look +fresh with a yellow hue, and thereto will write like a piece of chalk, +after you have bitten a kernel in sunder in the midst, then you may +assure yourself that it is dried down. In some places it is dried at +leisure with wood alone or straw alone, in others with wood and straw +together; but, of all, the straw dried is the most excellent. For the +wood-dried malt when it is brewed, beside that the drink is higher of +colour, it doth hurt and annoy the head of him that is not used +thereto, because of the smoke. Such also as use both indifferently do +bark, cleave, and dry their wood in an oven, thereby to remove all +moisture that should procure the fume; and this malt is in the second +place, and, with the same likewise, that which is made with dried +furze, broom, etc.: whereas, if they also be occupied green, they are +in manner so prejudicial to the corn as is the moist wood. And thus +much of our malts, in brewing whereof some grind the same somewhat +grossly, and, in seething well the liquor that shall be put into it, +they add to every nine quarters of malt one of headcorn (which +consisteth of sundry grain, as wheat and oats ground). But what have I +to do with this matter, or rather so great a quantity, wherewith I am +not acquainted? Nevertheless, sith I have taken occasion to speak of +brewing, I will exemplify in such a proportion as I am best skilled +in, because it is the usual rate for mine own family, and once in a +month practised by my wife and her maid-servants, who proceed withal +after this manner, as she hath oft informed me. + +Having therefore ground eight bushels of good malt upon our quern, +where the toll is saved, she addeth unto it half a bushel of wheat +meal, and so much of oats small ground, and so tempereth or mixeth +them with the malt that you cannot easily discern the one from the +other; otherwise these latter would clunter, fall into lumps, and +thereby become unprofitable. The first liquor (which is full eighty +gallons, according to the proportion of our furnace) she maketh +boiling hot, and then poureth it softly into the malt, where it +resteth (but without stirring) until her second liquor be almost ready +to boil. This done, she letteth her mash run till the malt be left +without liquor, or at the leastwise the greatest part of the moisture, +which she perceiveth by the stay and soft issue thereof; and by this +time her second liquor in the furnace is ready to seethe, which is put +also to the malt, as the first woort also again into the furnace, +whereunto she addeth two pounds of the best English hops, and so +letteth them seethe together by the space of two hours in summer or an +hour and a half in winter, whereby it getteth an excellent colour, and +continuance without impeachment or any superfluous tartness. But, +before she putteth her first woort into the furnace, or mingleth it +with the hops, she taketh out a vessel full, of eight or nine gallons, +which she shutteth up close, and suffereth no air to come into it till +it become yellow, and this she reserveth by itself unto further use, +as shall appear hereafter, calling it _brackwoort_ or _charwoort_, +and, as she saith, it addeth also to the colour of the drink, whereby +it yieldeth not unto amber or fine gold in hue unto the eye. By this +time also her second woort is let run; and, the first being taken out +of the furnace, and placed to cool, she returneth the middle woort +unto the furnace, where it is stricken over, or from whence it is +taken again, when it beginneth to boil, and mashed the second time, +whilst the third liquor is heat (for there are three liquors), and +this last put into the furnace, when the second is mashed again. When +she hath mashed also the last liquor (and set the second to cool by +the first), she letteth it run, and then seetheth it again with a +pound and a half of new hops, or peradventure two pounds, as she seeth +cause by the goodness or baseness of the hops, and, when it hath +sodden, in summer two hours, and in winter an hour and a half, she +striketh it also, and reserveth it unto mixture with the rest when +time doth serve therefore. Finally, when she setteth her drink +together, she addeth to her brackwoort or charwoort half an ounce of +arras, and half a quarter of an ounce of bayberries, finely powdered, +and then, putting the same into her woort, with a handful of wheat +flour, she proceedeth in such usual order as common brewing requireth, +Some, instead of arras and bays, add so much long pepper only, but, in +her opinion and my liking, it is not so good as the first, and hereof +we make three hogsheads of good beer, such (I mean) as is meet for +poor men as I am to live withal, whoso small maintenance (for what +great thing is forty pounds a year, _computatis computandis_, able to +perform?) may endure no deeper cut, the charges whereof groweth in +this manner. I value my malt at ten shillings, my wood at four +shillings (which I buy), my hops at twenty pence, the spice at +twopence, servants' wages two shillings sixpence, with meat and drink, +and the wearing of my vessel at twenty pence, so that for my twenty +shillings I have ten score gallons of beer or more, notwithstanding +the loss in seething, which some, being loth to forego, do not observe +the time, and therefore speed thereafter in their success, and +worthily. The continuance of the drink is always determined after the +quantity of the hops, so that being well _hopt_ it lasteth longer. For +it feedeth upon the hop, and holdeth out so long as the force of the +same continueth, which being extinguished, the drink must be spent, or +else it dieth and becometh of no value. + +In this trade also our brewers observe very diligently the nature of +the water, which they daily occupy, and soil through which it passeth, +for all waters are not of like goodness, sith the fattest standing +water is always the best; for, although the waters that run by chalk +or cledgy soils be good, and next unto the Thames water, which is the +most excellent, yet the water that standeth in either of these is the +best for us that dwell in the country, as whereon the sun lieth +longest, and fattest fish is bred. But, of all other, the fenny and +marsh is the worst, and the clearest spring water next unto it. In +this business therefore the skilful workman doth redeem the iniquity +of that element, by changing of his proportions, which trouble in ale +(sometime our only, but now taken with many for old and sick men's +drink) is never seen nor heard of. Howbeit, as the beer well sodden in +the brewing, and stale, is clear and well coloured as muscadel or +malvesey, or rather yellow as the gold noble, as our pot-knights call +it, so our ale, which is not at all or very little sodden, and without +hops, is more thick, fulsome, and of no such continuance, which are +three notable things to be considered in that liquor. But what for +that? Certes I know some ale-knights so much addicted thereunto that +they will not cease from morrow until even to visit the same, +cleansing house after house, till they defile themselves, and either +fall quite under the board, or else, not daring to stir from their +stools, sit still pinking with their narrow eyes, as half sleeping, +till the fume of their adversary be digested that he may go to it +afresh. Such slights also have the ale-wives for the utterance of this +drink that they will mix it with rosen and salt; but if you heat a +knife red-hot, and quench it in the ale so near the bottom of the pot +as you can put it, you shall see the rosen come forth hanging on the +knife. As for the force of salt, it is well known by the effect, for +the more the drinker tippleth, the more he may, and so doth he carry +off a dry drunken noll to bed with him, except his luck be the better. +But to my purpose. + +In some places of England there is a kind of drink made of apples +which they call cider or pomage, but that of pears is called perry, +and both are ground and pressed in presses made for the nonce. Certes +these two are very common in Sussex, Kent, Worcester, and other steeds +where these sorts of fruit do abound, howbeit they are not their only +drink at all times, but referred unto the delicate sorts of drink, as +metheglin is in Wales, whereof the Welshmen make no less account (and +not without cause, if it be well handled) than the Greeks did of their +ambrosia or nectar, which for the pleasantness thereof was supposed to +be such as the gods themselves did delight in. There is a kind of +swish-swash made also in Essex, and divers other places, with +honeycombs and water, which the homely country wives, putting some +pepper and a little other spice among, call mead, very good in mine +opinion for such as love to be loose bodied at large, or a little +eased of the cough. Otherwise it differeth so much from the true +metheglin as chalk from cheese. Truly it is nothing else but the +washing of the combs, when the honey is wrung out, and one of the best +things that I know belonging thereto is that they spend but little +labour, and less cost, in making of the same, and therefore no great +loss if it were never occupied. Hitherto of the diet of my countrymen, +and somewhat more at large peradventure than many men will like of, +wherefore I think good now to finish this tractation, and so will I +when I have added a few other things incident unto that which goeth +before, whereby the whole process of the same shall fully be +delivered, and my promise to my friend[5] in this behalf performed. + + [5] Holinshed. This occurs in the last of Harrison's prefatory + matter.--W. + +Heretofore there hath been much more time spent in eating and +drinking than commonly is in these days; for whereas of old we had +breakfast in the forenoon, beverages or nunchions[6] after dinner, +and thereto rear suppers generally when it was time to go to rest (a +toy brought into England by hardy Canutus, and a custom whereof +Athenaeus also speaketh, lib. 1, albeit Hippocrates speaks but of +twice at the most, lib. 2, _De rat vict. in feb ac_). Now, these odd +repasts--thanked be God!--are very well left, and each one in manner +(except here and there some young, hungry stomach that cannot fast +till dinner-time) contenteth himself with dinner and supper only. The +Normans, misliking the gormandise of Canutus, ordained after their +arrival that no table should be covered above once in the day, which +Huntingdon imputeth to their avarice; but in the end, either waxing +weary of their own frugality, or suffering the cockle of old custom +to overgrow the good corn of their new constitution, they fell to +such liberty that in often-feeding they surmounted Canutus surnamed +the Hardy. For, whereas he covered his table but three or four times +in the day, these spread their cloths five or six times, and in such +wise as I before rehearsed. They brought in also the custom of long +and stately sitting at meat, whereby their feasts resembled those +ancient pontifical banquets whereof Macrobius speaketh (lib. 3, cap. +13), and Pliny (lib. 10, cap. 10), and which for sumptuousness of +fare, long sitting, and curiosity shewed in the same, exceeded all +other men's feasting; which fondness is not yet left with us, +notwithstanding that it proveth very beneficial for the physicians, +who most abound where most excess and misgovernment of our bodies do +appear, although it be a great expense of time, and worthy of +reprehension. For the nobility, gentlemen, and merchantmen, +especially at great meetings, do sit commonly till two or three of +the clock at afternoon, so that with many it is a hard matter to rise +from the table to go to evening prayer, and return from thence to +come time enough to supper.[7]... + + [6] This word is not obsolete. South coast countrymen still + eat _nuntions_ and not _luncheons_.--W. + + [7] Here follows a disquisition upon the table practices of + the ancients.--W. + +With us the nobility, gentry, and students do ordinarily go to dinner +at eleven before noon, and to supper at five, or between five and six +at afternoon. The merchants dine and sup seldom before twelve at noon, +and six at night, especially in London. The husbandmen dine also at +high noon as they call it, and sup at seven or eight; but out of the +term in our universities the scholars dine at ten. As for the poorest +sort they generally dine and sup when they may, so that to talk of +their order of repast it were but a needless matter. I might here take +occasion also to set down the variety used by antiquity in their +beginnings of their diets, wherein almost every nation had a several +fashion, some beginning of custom (as we do in summer time) with +salads at supper, and some ending with lettuce, some making their +entry with eggs, and shutting up their tables with mulberries, as we +do with fruit and conceits of all sorts. Divers (as the old Romans) +began with a few crops of rue, as the Venetians did with the fish +called gobius; the Belgres with butter, or (as we do yet also) with +butter and eggs upon fish days. But whereas we commonly begin with the +most gross food, and end with the most delicate, the Scot, thinking +much to leave the best for his menial servants, maketh his entrance at +the best, so that he is sure thereby to leave the worst. We use also +our wines by degrees, so that the hostess cometh last to the table: +but to stand upon such toys would spend much time, and turn to small +profit. Wherefore I will deal with other things more necessary for +this turn. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF OUR APPAREL AND ATTIRE + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 2; 1587, Book II., Chapter 7.] + + +An Englishman, endeavouring sometime to write of our attire, made +sundry platforms for his purpose, supposing by some of them to find +out one steadfast ground whereon to build the sum of his discourse. +But in the end (like an orator long without exercise), when he saw +what a difficult piece of work he had taken in hand, he gave over his +travel, and only drew the picture of a naked man[1], unto whom he +gave a pair of shears in the one hand and a piece of cloth in the +other, to the end he should shape his apparel after such fashion as +himself liked, sith he could find no kind of garment that could +please him any while together; and this he called an Englishman. +Certes this writer (otherwise being a lewd popish hypocrite and +ungracious priest) shewed himself herein not to be altogether void of +judgment, sith the phantastical folly of our nation (even from the +courtier to the carter) is such that no form of apparel liketh us +longer than the first garment is in the wearing, if it continue so +long, and be not laid aside to receive some other trinket newly +devised by the fickle-headed tailors, who covet to have several +tricks in cutting, thereby to draw fond customers to more expense of +money. For my part, I can tell better how to inveigh against this +enormity than describe any certainty of our attire; sithence such is +our mutability that to-day there is none to the Spanish guise, +to-morrow the French toys are most fine and delectable, ere long no +such apparel as that which is after the high Almaine fashion, +by-and-by the Turkish manner is generally best liked of, otherwise +the Morisco gowns, the Barbarian fleeces, the mandilion worn to +Colley-Weston ward, and the short French breeches make such a comely +vesture that, except it were a dog in a doublet, you shall not see +any so disguised as are my countrymen of England. And as these +fashions are diverse, so likewise it is a world to see the costliness +and the curiosity, the excess and the vanity, the pomp and the +bravery, the change and the variety, and finally the fickleness and +the folly, that is in all degrees, insomuch that nothing is more +constant in England than inconstancy of attire. Oh, how much cost is +bestowed nowadays upon our bodies, and how little upon our souls! How +many suits of apparel hath the one, and how little furniture hath the +other! How long time is asked in decking up of the first, and how +little space left wherein to feed the latter! How curious, how nice +also, are a number of men and women, and how hardly can the tailor +please them in making it fit for their bodies! How many times must it +be sent back again to him that made it! What chafing, what fretting, +what reproachful language, doth the poor workman bear away! And many +times when he doth nothing to it at all, yet when it is brought home +again it is very fit and handsome; then must we put it on, then must +the long seams of our hose be set by a plumb-line, then we puff, then +we blow, and finally sweat till we drop, that our clothes may stand +well upon us. I will say nothing of our heads, which sometimes are +polled, sometimes curled, or suffered to grow at length like woman's +locks, many times cut off, above or under the ears, round as by a +wooden dish. Neither will I meddle with our variety of beards, of +which some are shaven from the chin like those of Turks, not a few +cut short like to the beard of Marquess Otto, some made round like a +rubbing brush, others with a _pique de vant_ (O! fine fashion!), or +now and then suffered to grow long, the barbers being grown to be so +cunning in this behalf as the tailors. And therefore if a man have a +lean and straight face, a Marquess Otton's cut will make it broad and +large; if it be platter-like, a long, slender beard will make it seem +the narrower; if he be weasel-becked, then much hair left on the +cheeks will make the owner look big like a bowdled hen, and as grim +as a goose, if Cornells of Chelmersford say true. Many old men do +wear no beards at all. Some lusty courtiers also and gentlemen of +courage do wear either rings of gold, stones, or pearl, in their ears, +whereby they imagine the workmanship of God not to be a little +amended. But herein they rather disgrace than adorn their persons, as +by their niceness in apparel, for which I say most nations do not +unjustly deride us, as also for that we do seem to imitate all nations +round about us, wherein we be like to the polypus or chameleon; and +thereunto bestow most cost upon our arses, and much more than upon all +the rest of our bodies, as women do likewise upon their heads and +shoulders. In women also, it is most to be lamented, that they do now +far exceed the lightness of our men (who nevertheless are transformed +from the cap even to the very shoe), and such staring attire as in +time past was supposed meet for none but light housewives only is now +become a habit for chaste and sober matrons. What should I say of +their doublets with pendant codpieces on the breast full of jags and +cuts, and sleeves of sundry colours? Their galligascons to bear out +their bums and make their attire to fit plum round (as they term it) +about them. Their fardingals, and diversely coloured nether stocks of +silk, jerdsey, and such like, whereby their bodies are rather deformed +than commended? I have met with some of these trulls in London so +disguised that it hath passed my skill to discern whether they were +men or women. + + [1] (COS.) + + "I am an English man and naked I stand here, + Musying in my mynde what rayment I shall were; + For now I will were thys, and now I will were that; + Now I will were I cannot tell what. + All new fashyons be plesaunt in me; + I wyl haue them, whether I thryve or thee." + + From Andrew Boorde's _Introduction_ (1541), and _Dyetary_ (1542), + edited by F.J.F. for Early English Text Society, 1870, p. 116. (A + most quaint and interesting volume, though I say so.)--Furnivall. + +Thus it is now come to pass, that women are become men, and men +transformed into monsters; and those good gifts which Almighty God +hath given unto us to relieve our necessities withal (as a nation +turning altogether the grace of God into wantonness, for + + "Luxuriant animi rebus plerunque fecundis,") + +not otherwise bestowed than in all excess, as if we wist not +otherwise how to consume and waste them. I pray God that in this +behalf our sin be not like unto that of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose +errors were pride, excess of diet, and abuse of God's benefits +abundantly bestowed upon them, beside want of charity towards the +poor, and certain other points which the prophet shutteth up in +silence. Certes the commonwealth cannot be said to nourish where +these abuses reign, but is rather oppressed by unreasonable exactions +made upon rich farmers, and of poor tenants, wherewith to maintain +the same. Neither was it ever merrier with England than when an +Englishman was known abroad by his own cloth, and contented himself +at home with his fine carsey hosen, and a mean slop; his coat, gown, +and cloak of brown, blue, or puke, with some pretty furniture of +velvet or fur, and a doublet of sad tawny, or black velvet, or other +comely silk, without such cuts and garish colours as are worn in +these days, and never brought in but by the consent of the French, +who think themselves the gayest men when they have most diversities +of jags and change of colours about them. Certes of all estates our +merchants do least alter their attire, and therefore are most to be +commended; for albeit that which they wear be very fine and costly, +yet in form and colour it representeth a great piece of the ancient +gravity appertaining to citizens and burgesses, albeit the younger +sort of their wives, both in attire and costly housekeeping, cannot +tell when and how to make an end, as being women indeed in whom all +kind of curiosity is to be found and seen, and in far greater measure +than in women of higher calling. I might here name a sort of hues +devised for the nonce, wherewith to please fantastical heads, as +goose-turd green, peas-porridge tawny, popingay blue, lusty gallant, +the devil-in-the-head (I should say the hedge), and such like; but I +pass them over, thinking it sufficient to have said thus much of +apparel generally, when nothing can particularly be spoken of any +constancy thereof. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OF THE MANNER OF BUILDING AND FURNITURE OF OUR HOUSES + +[1577, Book II., Chapter 10; 1587, Book II., Chapter 12.] + + +The greatest part of our building in the cities and good towns of +England consisteth only of timber, for as yet few of the houses of +the communalty (except here and there in the West-country towns) are +made of stone, although they may (in my opinion) in divers other +places be builded so good cheap of the one as of the other. In old +time the houses of the Britons were slightly set up with a few posts +and many raddles, with stable and all offices under one roof, the +like whereof almost is to be seen in the fenny countries and northern +parts unto this day, where for lack of wood they are enforced to +continue this ancient manner of building. It is not in vain, +therefore, in speaking of building, to make a distinction between the +plain and woody soils; for as in these, our houses are commonly +strong and well-timbered (so that in many places there are not above +four, six, or nine inches between stud and stud), so in the open +champaign countries they are forced, for want of stuff, to use no +studs at all, but only frankposts, raisins, beams, prickposts, +groundsels, summers (or dormants), transoms, and such principals, +with here and there a girding, whereunto they fasten their splints or +raddles, and then cast it all over with thick clay to keep out the +wind, which otherwise would annoy them. Certes this rude kind of +building made the Spaniards in Queen Mary's days to wonder, but +chiefly when they saw what large diet was used in many of these so +homely cottages; insomuch that one of no small reputation amongst +them said after this manner--"These English (quoth he) have their +houses made of sticks and dirt, but they fare commonly so well as the +king." Whereby it appeareth that he liked better of our good fare in +such coarse cabins than of their own thin diet in their prince-like +habitations and palaces. In like sort as every country house is thus +apparelled on the outside, so is it inwardly divided into sundry +rooms above and beneath; and, where plenty of wood is, they cover +them with tiles, otherwise with straw, sedge, or reed, except some +quarry of slate be near hand, from whence they have for their money +much as may suffice them. The clay wherewith our houses are +impannelled is either white, red, or blue; and of these the first +doth participate very much of the nature of our chalk; the second is +called loam; but the third eftsoons changeth colour as soon as it is +wrought, notwithstanding that it looks blue when it is thrown out of +the pit. Of chalk also we have our excellent asbestos or white lime, +made in most places, wherewith being quenched, we strike over our +clay works and stone walls, in cities, good towns, rich farmers' and +gentlemen's houses: otherwise, instead of chalk (where it wanteth, +for it is so scant that in some places it is sold by the pound), they +are compelled to burn a certain kind of red stone, as in Wales, and +elsewhere other stones and shells of oysters and like fish found upon +the sea coast, which, being converted into lime, doth naturally (as +the other) abhor and eschew water, whereby it is dissolved, and +nevertheless desire oil, wherewith it is easily mixed, as I have seen +by experience. Within their doors also, such as are of ability do oft +make their floors and parget of fine alabaster burned, which they +call plaster of Paris, whereof in some places we have great plenty, +and that very profitable against the rage of fire. In plastering +likewise of our fairest houses over our heads, we use to lay first a +line or two of white mortar, tempered with hair, upon laths, which +are nailed one by another (or sometimes upon reed of wickers more +dangerous for fire, and make fast here and there saplaths for falling +down), and finally cover all with the aforesaid plaster, which, +beside the delectable whiteness of the stuff itself, is laid on so +even and smoothly as nothing in my judgment can be done with more +exactness. The walls of our houses on the inner sides in like sort be +either hanged with tapestry, arras work, or painted cloths, wherein +either divers histories, or herbs, beasts, knots, and such like are +stained, or else they are ceiled with oak of our own, or wainscot +brought hither out of the east countries, whereby the rooms are not a +little commended, made warm, and much more close than otherwise they +would be. As for stoves, we have not hitherto used them greatly, yet +do they now begin to be made in divers houses of the gentry and +wealthy citizens, who build them not to work and feed in, as in +Germany and elsewhere, but now and then to sweat in, as occasion and +need shall require it. + +This also hath been common in England, contrary to the customs of all +other nations, and yet to be seen (for example, in most streets of +London), that many of our greatest houses have outwardly been very +simple and plain to sight, which inwardly have been able to receive a +duke with his whole train, and lodge them at their ease. Hereby, +moreover, it is come to pass that the fronts of our streets have not +been so uniform and orderly builded as those of foreign cities, where +(to say truth) the outer side of their mansions and dwellings have +oft more cost bestowed upon them than all the rest of the house, +which are often very simple and uneasy within, as experience doth +confirm. Of old time, our country houses, instead of glass, did use +much lattice, and that made either of wicker or fine rifts of oak in +checkerwise. I read also that some of the better sort, in and before +the times of the Saxons (who notwithstanding used some glass also +since the time of Benedict Biscop, the monk that brought the feat of +glazing first into this land), did make panels of horn instead of +glass, and fix them in wooden calmes. But as horn in windows is now +quite laid down in every place, so our lattices are also grown into +less use, because glass is come to be so plentiful, and within a very +little so good cheap, if not better than the other. I find obscure +mention of the specular stone also to have been found and applied to +this use in England, but in such doubtful sort as I dare not affirm +it for certain. Nevertheless certain it is that antiquity used it +before glass was known, under the name of _selenites_. And how glass +was first found I care not greatly to remember, even at this present, +although it be directly beside my purposed matter. In Syria Phenices, +which bordereth upon Jewry, and near to the foot of Mount Carmel, +there is a moor or marsh whereout riseth a brook called sometime +Belus, and falleth into the sea near to Ptolemais. This river was +fondly ascribed unto Baal, and also honoured under that name by the +infidels long time before there was any king in Israel. It came to +pass also, as a certain merchant sailed that way, loaden with nitrum, +the passengers went to land for to repose themselves, and to take in +some store of fresh water into their vessel. Being also on the shore, +they kindled a fire and made provision for their dinner, but (because +they wanted trevets or stones whereon to set their kettles on) ran by +chance into the ship, and brought great pieces of nitrum with them, +which served their turn for that present. To be short, the said +substance being hot, and beginning to melt, it mixed by chance with +the gravel that lay under it, and so brought forth that shining +substance which now is called glass, and about the time of Semiramis. +When the company saw this, they made no small accompt of their +success, and forthwith began to practise the like in other mixtures, +whereby great variety of the said stuff did also ensue. Certes for +the time this history may well be true, for I read of glass in Job; +but, for the rest, I refer me to the common opinion conceived by +writers. Now, to turn again to our windows. Heretofore also the +houses of our princes and noblemen were often glazed with beryl (an +example whereof is yet to be seen in Sudeley Castle) and in divers +other places with fine crystal, but this especially in the time of +the Romans, whereof also some fragments have been taken up in old +ruins. But now these are not in use, so that only the clearest glass +is most esteemed: for we have divers sorts, some brought out of +Burgundy, some out of Normandy, much out of Flanders, beside that +which is made in England, which would be so good as the best if we +were diligent and careful to bestow more cost upon it, and yet as it +is each one that may will have it for his building. Moreover the +mansion houses of our country towns and villages (which in champaign +ground stand altogether by streets, and joining one to another, but +in woodland soils dispersed here and there, each one upon the several +grounds of their owners) are builded in such sort generally as that +they have neither dairy, stable, nor brew-house annexed unto them +under the same roof (as in many places beyond the sea and some of the +north parts of our country), but all separate from the first, and one +of them from another. And yet, for all this, they are not so far +distant in sunder but that the goodman lying in his bed may lightly +hear what is done in each of them with ease, and call quickly unto +his many if any danger should attack him. + +The ancient manors and houses of our gentlemen are yet and for the +most part of strong timber, in framing whereof our carpenters have +been and are worthily preferred before those of like science among +all other nations. Howbeit such as be lately builded are commonly +either of brick or hard stone, or both, their rooms large and comely, +and houses of office further distant from their lodgings. Those of +the nobility are likewise wrought with brick and hard stone, as +provision may best be made, but so magnificent and stately as the +basest house of a baron doth often match in our days with some +honours of a princes in old time. So that, if ever curious building +did flourish in England, it is in these our years wherein our workmen +excel and are in manner comparable in skill with old Vitruvius, Leo +Baptista, and Serlo. Nevertheless their estimation, more than their +greedy and servile covetousness, joined with a lingering humour, +causeth them often to be rejected, and strangers preferred to greater +bargains, who are more reasonable in their takings, and less wasters +of time by a great deal than our own. + +The furniture of our houses also exceedeth, and is grown in manner +even to passing delicacy: and herein I do not speak of the nobility +and gentry only, but likewise of the lowest sort in most places of +our south country that have anything at all to take to. Certes in +noblemen's houses it is not rare to see abundance of arras, rich +hangings of tapestry, silver vessels, and so much other plate as may +furnish sundry cupboards to the sum oftentimes of a thousand or two +thousand pounds at the least, whereby the value of this and the rest +of their stuff doth grow to be almost inestimable. Likewise in the +houses of knights, gentlemen, merchantmen, and some other wealthy +citizens, it is not geson to behold generally their great provision +of tapestry, Turkey work, pewter, brass, fine linen, and thereto +costly cupboards of plate, worth five or six hundred or a thousand +pounds to be deemed by estimation. But, as herein all these sorts do +far exceed their elders and predecessors, and in neatness and +curiosity the merchant all other, so in times past the costly +furniture stayed there, whereas now it is descended yet lower even +unto the inferior artificers and many farmers, who, by virtue of +their old and not of their new leases, have, for the most part, +learned also to garnish their cupboards with plate, their joined beds +with tapestry and silk hangings, and their tables with carpets and +fine napery, whereby the wealth of our country (God be praised +therefore, and give us grace to employ it well) doth infinitely +appear. Neither do I speak this in reproach of any man, God is my +judge, but to shew that I do rejoice rather to see how God hath +blessed us with his good gifts; and whilst, I behold how (in a time +wherein all things are grown to most excessive prices, and what +commodity so ever is to be had is daily plucked from the communalty +by such as look into every trade) we do yet find the means to obtain +and achieve such furniture as heretofore hath been unpossible. + +There are old men yet dwelling in the village where I remain which +have noted three things to be marvellously altered in England within +their sound remembrance, and other three things too too much +increased. + +One is the multitude of chimneys lately erected, whereas in their +young days there were not above two or three, if so many, in most +uplandish towns of the realm (the religious houses and manor places +of their lords always excepted, and peradventure some great +personages), but each one made his fire against a reredos in the +hall, where he dined and dressed his meat. + +The second is the great (although not general) amendment of lodging; +for, said they, our fathers, yea and we ourselves also, have lain +full oft upon straw pallets, on rough mats covered only with a sheet, +under coverlets made of dagswain or hopharlots (I use their own +terms), and a good round log under their heads instead of a bolster +or pillow. If it were so that our fathers--or the good man of the +house had within seven years after his marriage purchased a mattress +or flock bed, and thereto a stack of chaff to rest his head upon, he +thought himself to be as well lodged as the lord of the town, that +peradventure lay seldom in a bed of down or whole feathers, so well +were they content, and with such base kind of furniture: which also +is not very much amended as yet in some parts of Bedfordshire, and +elsewhere, further off from our southern parts. Pillows (said they) +were thought meet only for women in childbed. As for servants, if +they had any sheet above them, it was well, for seldom had they any +under their bodies to keep them from the pricking straws that ran oft +through the canvas of the pallet and rased their hardened hides. + +The third thing they tell of is the exchange of vessel, as of treen +platters into pewter, and wooden spoons into silver or tin. For so +common were all sorts of treen stuff in old time that a man should +hardly find four pieces of pewter (of which one was peradventure a +salt) in a good farmer's house, and yet for all this frugality (if it +may so be justly called) they were scarce able to live and pay their +rents at their days without selling of a cow, or a horse or more,[1] +although they paid but four pounds at the uttermost by the year. Such +also was their poverty that, if some one odd farmer or husbandman had +been at the ale-house, a thing greatly used in those days, amongst six +or seven of his neighbours, and there in a bravery, to shew what store +he had, did cast down his purse, and therein a noble or six shillings +in silver, unto them (for few such men then cared for gold, because it +was not so ready payment, and they were oft enforced to give a penny +for the exchange of an angel), it was very likely that all the rest +could not lay down so much against it; whereas in my time, although +peradventure four pounds of old rent be improved to forty, fifty, or a +hundred pounds, yet will the farmer, as another palm of date tree, +think his gains very small toward the end of his term if he have not +six or seven years' rent lying by him, therewith to purchase a new +lease, beside a fair garnish of pewter oft his cupboard, with so much +more in odd vessel going about the house, three or four feather beds, +so many coverlids and carpets of tapestry, a silver salt, a bowl for +wine (if not a whole neast), and a dozen of spoons to furnish up the +suit. This also he takes to be his own clear, for what stock of money +soever he gathereth and layeth up in all his years it is often seen +that the landlord will take such order with him for the same when he +reneweth his lease, which is commonly eight or six years before the +old be expired (sith it is now grown almost to a custom that if he +come not to his lord so long before another shall step in for a +reversion, and so defeat him outright), that it shall never trouble +him more than the hair of his beard when the barber hath washed and +shaved it from his chin. + + [1] This was in the time of general idleness.--H. + +And as they commend these, so (beside the decay of housekeeping +whereby the poor have been relieved) they speak also of three things +that are grown to be very grevious unto them--to wit, the enhancing +of rents, lately mentioned; the daily oppression of copyholders, +whose lords seek to bring their poor tenants almost into plain +servitude and misery, daily devising new means, and seeking up all +the old, how to cut them shorter and shorter, doubling, trebling, and +now and then seven times increasing their fines, driving them also +for every trifle to lose and forfeit their tenures (by whom the +greatest part of the realm doth stand and is maintained), to the end +they may fleece them yet more, which is a lamentable hearing. The +third thing they talk of is usury, a trade brought in by the Jews, +now perfectly practised almost by every Christian, and so commonly +that he is accompted but for a fool that doth lend his money for +nothing. In time past it was _sors pro sorte_--that is, the principal +only for the principal; but now, beside that which is above the +principal properly called _Usura_, we challenge _Foenus_--that is, +commodity of soil and fruits of the earth, If not the ground itself. +In time past also one of the hundred was much; from thence it rose +unto two, called in Latin _Usura, Ex sextante_; three, to wit _Ex +quadrante_; then to four, to wit, _Ex triente_; then to five, which +is _Ex quincunce_; then to six, called _Ex semisse_, etc. As the +accompt of the _Assis_ ariseth, and coming at the last unto _Usura ex +asse_, it amounteth to twelve in the hundred, and therefore the +Latins call it _Centesima_, for that in the hundred month it doubleth +the principal; but more of this elsewhere. See Cicero against Verres, +Demosthenes against Aphobus, and Athenaeus, lib. 13, in fine; and, +when thou hast read them well, help I pray thee in lawful manner to +hang up such as take _Centum pro cento_, for they are no better +worthy as I do judge in conscience. Forget not also such landlords as +used to value their leases at a secret estimation given of the wealth +and credit of the taker, whereby they seem (as it were) to eat them +up, and deal with bondmen, so that if the lessee be thought to be +worth a hundred pounds he shall pay no less for his new term, or else +another to enter with hard and doubtful covenants. I am sorry to +report it, much more grieved to understand of the practice, but most +sorrowful of all to understand that men of great port and countenance +are so far from suffering their farmers to have any gain at all that +they themselves become graziers, butchers, tanners, sheepmasters, +woodmen, and _denique quid non_, thereby to enrich themselves, and +bring all the wealth of the country into their own hands, leaving the +communalty weak, or as an idol with broken or feeble arms, which may +in a time of peace have a plausible shew, but when necessity shall +enforce have a heavy and bitter sequel. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OF PROVISION MADE FOR THE POOR + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 5; 1587, Book II., Chapter 10.] + + +There is no commonwealth at this day in Europe wherein there is not +great store of poor people, and those necessarily to be relieved by +the wealthier sort, which otherwise would starve and come to utter +confusion. With us the poor is commonly divided into three sorts, so +that some are poor by impotence, as the fatherless child, the aged, +blind, and lame, and the diseased person that is judged to be +incurable; the second are poor by casualty, as the wounded soldier, +the decayed householder, and the sick person visited with grievous +and painful diseases; the third consisteth of thriftless poor, as the +rioter that hath consumed all, the vagabond that will abide nowhere, +but runneth up and down from place to place (as it were seeking work +and finding none), and finally the rogue and the strumpet, which are +not possible to be divided in sunder, but run to and fro over all the +realm, chiefly keeping the champaign soils in summer to avoid the +scorching heat, and the woodland grounds in winter to eschew the +blustering winds. + +For the first two sorts (that is to say, the poor by impotence and +poor by casualty, which are the true poor indeed, and for whom the +Word doth bind us to make some daily provision), there is order taken +throughout every parish in the realm that weekly collection shall be +made for their help and sustentation--to the end they shall not +scatter abroad, and, by begging here and there, annoy both town and +country. Authority also is given unto the justices in every county +(and great penalties appointed for such as make default) to see that +the intent of the statute in this behalf be truly executed according +to the purpose and meaning of the same, so that these two sorts are +sufficiently provided for; and such as can live within the limits of +their allowance (as each one will do that is godly and well disposed) +may well forbear to roam and range about. But if they refuse to be +supported by this benefit of the law, and will rather endeavour by +going to and fro to maintain their idle trades, then are they adjudged +to be parcel of the third sort, and so, instead of courteous +refreshing at home, are often corrected with sharp execution and whip +of justice abroad. Many there are which, notwithstanding the rigour of +the laws provided in that behalf, yield rather with this liberty (as +they call it) to be daily under the fear and terror of the whip than, +by abiding where they were born or bred, to be provided for by the +devotion of the parishes. I found not long since a note of these +latter sort, the effect whereof ensueth. Idle beggars are such either +through other men's occasion or through their own default--by other +men's occasion (as one way for example) when some covetous man (such, +I mean, as have the cast or right vein daily to make beggars enough +whereby to pester the land, espying a further commodity in their +commons, holds, and tenures) doth find such means as thereby to wipe +many out of their occupyings and turn the same unto his private +gains.[1] Hereupon it followeth that, although the wise and +better-minded do either forsake the realm for altogether, and seek to +live in other countries, as France, Germany, Barbary, India, Muscovia, +and very Calcutta, complaining of no room to be left for them at home, +do so behave themselves that they are worthily to be accounted among +the second sort, yet the greater part, commonly having nothing to stay +upon, are wilful, and thereupon do either prove idle beggars or else +continue stark thieves till the gallows do eat them up, which is a +lamentable case. Certes in some men's judgment these things are but +trifles, and not worthy the regarding. Some also do grudge at the +great increase of people in these days, thinking a necessary brood of +cattle far better than a superfluous augmentation of mankind. But I +can liken such men best of all unto the pope and the devil, who +practise the hindrance of the furniture of the number of the elect to +their uttermost, to the end the authority of the one upon the earth, +the deferring of the locking up of the other in everlasting chains, +and the great gains of the first, may continue and endure the longer. +But if it should come to pass that any foreign invasion should be +made--which the Lord God forbid for his mercies' sake!--then should +these men find that a wall of men is far better than stacks of corn +and bags of money, and complain of the want when it is too late to +seek remedy. The like occasion caused the Romans to devise their law +_Agraria_: but the rich, not liking of it, and the covetous, utterly +condemning it as rigorous and unprofitable, never ceased to practise +disturbance till it was quite abolished. But to proceed with my +purpose. + + [1] At whose hands shall the blood of these men be required?--H. + + +Such as are idle beggars through their own default are of two sorts, +and continue their estates either by casual or mere voluntary means: +those that are such by casual means are in the beginning justly to be +referred either to the first or second sort of poor aforementioned, +but, degenerating into the thriftless sort, they do what they can to +continue their misery, and, with such impediments as they have, to +stray and wander about, as creatures abhorring all labour and every +honest exercise. Certes I call these casual means, not in the respect +of the original of all poverty, but of the continuance of the same, +from whence they will not be delivered, such is their own ungracious +lewdness and froward disposition. The voluntary means proceed from +outward causes, as by making of corrosives, and applying the same to +the more fleshy parts of their bodies, and also laying of ratsbane, +spearwort, crowfoot, and such like unto their whole members, thereby +to raise pitiful and odious sores, and move the hearts of the +goers-by such places where they lie, to yearn at their misery, and +thereupon bestow large alms upon them. How artificially they beg, +what forcible speech, and how they select and choose out words of +vehemence, whereby they do in manner conjure or adjure the goer-by to +pity their cases, I pass over to remember, as judging the name of God +and Christ to be more conversant in the mouths of none and yet the +presence of the Heavenly Majesty further off from no men than from +this ungracious company. Which maketh me to think that punishment is +far meeter for them than liberality or alms, and sith Christ willeth +us chiefly to have a regard to Himself and his poor members. + +Unto this nest is another sort to be referred, more sturdy than the +rest, which, having sound and perfect limbs, do yet notwithstanding +sometime counterfeit the possession of all sorts of diseases. Divers +times in their apparel also they will be like serving men or +labourers: oftentimes they can play the mariners, and seek for ships +which they never lost. But in fine they are all thieves and +caterpillars in the commonwealth, and by the Word of God not +permitted to eat, sith they do but lick the sweat from the true +labourers' brows, and bereave the godly poor of that which is due +unto them, to maintain their excess, consuming the charity of +well-disposed people bestowed upon them, after a most wicked and +detestable manner. + +It is not yet full threescore years since this trade began: but how +it hath prospered since that time it is easy to judge, for they are +now supposed, of one sex and another, to amount unto above 10,000 +persons, as I have heard reported. Moreover, in counterfeiting the +Egyptian rogues, they have devised a language among themselves, which +they name "Canting," but others, "pedler's French," a speech compact +thirty years since, of English and a great number of odd words of +their own devising, without all order or reason, and yet such is it +as none but themselves are able to understand. The first deviser +thereof was hanged by the neck--a just reward, no doubt, for his +deserts, and a common end to all of that profession. + +A gentleman also of late hath taken great pains to search out the +secret practices of this ungracious rabble. And among other things he +setteth down and describeth three and twenty sorts of them, whose +names it shall not be amiss to remember whereby each one may take +occasion to read and know as also by his industry what wicked people +they are, and what villainy remaineth in them. + +_The several disorders and degrees amongst our idle vagabonds_. + + 1. Rufflers. + 2. Uprightmen. + 3. Hookers or anglers. + 4. Rogues. + 5. Wild rogues. + 6. Priggers or pransers. + 7. Palliards. + 8. Fraters. + 9. Abrams. +10. Freshwater mariners or whipjacks. +11. Drummerers. +12. Drunken tinkers. +13. Swadders or pedlers. +14. Jarkemen or patricoes. + +_Of the women kind_. + +1. Demanders for glimmar or fire. +2. Bawdy-baskets. +3. Mortes. +4. Autem mortem. +5. Walking mortes. +6. Doxies. +7. Dells. +8. Kinching mortes. +9. Kinching cooes. + +The punishment that is ordained for this kind of people is very sharp, +and yet it cannot restrain them from their gadding: wherefore the end +must needs be martial law,[2] to be exercised upon them, as upon +thieves, robbers, despisers of all laws, and enemies to the +commonwealth and welfare of the land. What notable robberies, +pilferies, murders, rapes, and stealings of young children, burning, +breaking, and disfiguring their limbs to make them pitiful in the +sight of the people, I need not to rehearse; but for their idle +rogueing about the country, the law ordaineth this manner of +correction. The rogue being apprehended, committed to prison, and +tried in the next assizes (whether they be of gaol delivery or +sessions of the peace), if he happen to be convicted for a vagabond, +either by inquest of office or the testimony of two honest and +credible witnesses upon their oaths, he is then immediately adjudged +to be grievously whipped and burned through the gristle of the right +ear with a hot iron of the compass of an inch about, as a +manifestation of his wicked life, and due punishment received for the +same. And this judgment is to be executed upon him except some honest +person worth five pounds in the queen's books in goods, or twenty +shillings in land, or some rich householder to be allowed by the +justices, will be bound in recognisance to retain him in his service +for one whole year. If he be taken the second time, and proved to have +forsaken his said service, he shall then be whipped again, bored +likewise through the other ear, and set to service: from whence if he +depart before a year be expired, and happen afterwards to be attached +again, he is condemned to suffer pains of death as a felon (except +before excepted) without benefit of clergy or sanctuary, as by the +statute doth appear. Among rogues and idle persons, finally, we find +to be comprised all proctors that go up and down with counterfeit +licences, cozeners, and such as gad about the country, using unlawful +games, practisers of physiogonomy and palmestry, tellers of fortunes, +fencers, players, minstrels, jugglers, pedlers, tinkers, pretended +scholars, shipmen, prisoners gathering for fees, and others so oft as +they be taken without sufficient licence. From among which company our +bearwards are not excepted, and just cause: for I have read that they +have, either voluntarily or for want of power to master their savage +beasts, been occasion of the death and devouration of many children in +sundry countries by which they have passed, whose parents never knew +what was become of them. And for that cause there is and have been +many sharp laws made for bearwards in Germany, whereof you may read in +other. But to our rogues. Each one also that harboureth or aideth them +with meat or money is taxed and compelled to fine with the queen's +majesty for every time that he doth succour them as it shall please +the justices of peace to assign, so that the taxation exceed not +twenty, as I have been informed. And thus much of the poor and such +provision as is appointed for them within the realm of England. + + [2] Law of the Marshal.--Furnivall. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OF THE AIR AND SOIL AND COMMODITIES OF THIS ISLAND + +[1577, Book I., Chapter 13; 1587, Book I., Chapter 18.] + + +The air (for the most part) throughout the island is such as by +reason in manner of continual clouds is reputed to be gross, and +nothing so pleasant as that of the main. Howbeit, as they which +affirm these things have only respect to the impediment or hindrance +of the sunbeams by the interposition of the clouds and of ingrossed +air, so experience teacheth us that it is no less pure, wholesome, +and commodious than is that of other countries, and (as Caesar +himself hereto addeth) much more temperate in summer than that of the +Gauls, from whom he adventured hither. Neither is there any thing +found in the air of our region that is not usually seen amongst other +nations lying beyond the seas. Wherefore we must needs confess that +the situation of our island (for benefit of the heavens) is nothing +inferior to that of any country of the main, wheresoever it lie under +the open firmament. And this Plutarch knew full well, who affirmeth a +part of the Elysian Fields to be found in Britain, and the isles that +are situated about it in the ocean. + +The soil of Britain is such as by the testimonies and reports both of +the old and new writers, and experience also of such as now inhabit +the same, is very fruitful, and such indeed as bringeth forth many +commodities, whereof other countries have need, and yet itself (if +fond niceness were abolished) needless of those that are daily +brought from other places. Nevertheless it is more inclined to +feeding and grazing than profitable for tillage and bearing of corn, +by reason whereof the country is wonderfully replenished with neat +and all kind of cattle; and such store is there also of the same in +every place that the fourth part of the land is scarcely manured for +the provision and maintenance of grain. Certes this fruitfulness was +not unknown unto the Britons long before Caesar's time, which was the +cause wherefore our predecessors living in those days in manner +neglected tillage and lived by feeding and grazing only. The graziers +themselves also then dwelled in movable villages by companies, whose +custom was to divide the ground amongst them, and each one not to +depart from the place where his lot lay (a thing much like the Irish +Criacht) till, by eating up of the country about him, he was enforced +to remove further and seek for better pasture. And this was the +British custom, as I learn, at first. It hath been commonly reported +that the ground of Wales is neither so fruitful as that of England, +neither the soil of Scotland so bountiful as that of Wales, which is +true for corn and for the most part; otherwise there is so good +ground in some parts of Wales as is in England, albeit the best of +Scotland be scarcely comparable to the mean of either of both. +Howbeit, as the bounty of the Scotch doth fail in some respect, so +doth it surmount in other, God and nature having not appointed all +countries to yield forth like commodities. + +But where our ground is not so good as we would wish, we have--if +need be--sufficient help to cherish our ground withal, and to make it +more fruitful. For, beside the compest that is carried out of the +husbandmen's yards, ditches, ponds, dung-houses, or cities and great +towns, we have with us a kind of white marl which is of so great +force that if it be cast over a piece of land but once in threescore +years it shall not need of any further compesting. Hereof also doth +Pliny speak (lib. 17, cap. 6, 7, 8), where he affirmeth that our marl +endureth upon the earth by the space of fourscore years: insomuch +that it is laid upon the same but once in a man's life, whereby the +owner shall not need to travel twice in procuring to commend and +better his soil. He calleth it _marga_, and, making divers kinds +thereof, he finally commendeth ours, and that of France, above all +other, which lieth sometime a hundred foot deep, and far better than +the scattering of chalk upon the same, as the Hedui and Pictones did +in his time, or as some of our days also do practise: albeit divers +do like better to cast on lime, but it will not so long endure, as I +have heard reported. + +There are also in this island great plenty of fresh rivers and +streams, as you have heard already, and these thoroughly fraught with +all kinds of delicate fish accustomed to be found in rivers. The +whole isle likewise is very full of hills, of which some (though not +very many) are of exceeding height, and divers extending themselves +very far from the beginning; as we may see by Shooter's Hill, which, +rising east of London and not far from the Thames, runneth along the +south side of the island westward until it come to Cornwall. Like +unto these also are the Crowdon Hills, which, though under divers +names (as also the other from the Peak), do run into the borders of +Scotland. What should I speak of the Cheviot Hills, which reach +twenty miles in length? of the Black Mountains in Wales, which go +from ([1]) to ([1]) miles at the least in length? of the Clee Hills +in Shropshire, which come within four miles of Ludlow, and are +divided from some part of Worcester by the Leme? of the Crames in +Scotland, and of our Chiltern, which are eighteen miles at the least +from one end of them, which reach from Henley in Oxfordshire to +Dunstable in Bedfordshire, and are very well replenished with wood +and corn, notwithstanding that the most part yield a sweet short +grass, profitable for sheep? Wherein albeit they of Scotland do +somewhat come behind us, yet their outward defect is inwardly +recompensed, not only with plenty of quarries (and those of sundry +kinds of marble, hard stone, and fine alabaster), but also rich mines +of metal, as shall be shewed hereafter. + + [1] Here lacks.--H. + +In this island the winds are commonly more strong and fierce than in +any other places of the main (which Cardane also espied): and that is +often seen upon the naked hills not guarded with trees to bear and +keep it off. That grievous inconvenience also enforceth our nobility, +gentry, and communality to build their houses in the valleys, leaving +the high grounds unto their corn and cattle, lest the cold and stormy +blasts of winter should breed them greater annoyance; whereas in other +regions each one desireth to set his house aloft on the hill, not only +to be seen afar off, and cast forth his beams of stately and curious +workmanship into every quarter of the country, but also (in hot +habitations) for coldness sake of the air, sith the heat is never so +vehement on the hill-top as in the valley, because the reverberation +of the sun's beams either reacheth not so far as the highest, or else +becometh not so strong as when it is reflected upon the lower soil. + +But to leave our buildings unto the purposed place (which +notwithstanding have very much increased, I mean for curiosity and +cost, in England, Wales, and Scotland, within these few years) and to +return to the soil again. Certainly it is even now in these our days +grown to be much more fruitful than it hath been in times past. The +cause is for that our countrymen are grown to be more painful, +skilful, and careful through recompense of gain, than heretofore they +have been: insomuch that my _synchroni_ or time fellows can reap at +this present great commodity in a little room; whereas of late years +a great compass hath yielded but small profit, and this only through +the idle and negligent occupation of such as daily manured and had +the same in occupying. I might set down examples of these things out +of all the parts of this island--that is to say, many of England, +more out of Scotland, but most of all out of Wales; in which two last +rehearsed, very other little food and livelihood was wont to be +looked for (beside flesh) more than the soil of itself and the cow +gave, the people in the meantime living idly, dissolutely, and by +picking and stealing one from another. All which vices are now (for +the most part) relinquished, so that each nation manureth her own +with triple commodity to that it was before time. + +The pasture of this island is according to the nature and bounty of +the soil, whereby in most places it is plentiful, very fine, batable, +and such as either fatteth our cattle with speed or yieldeth great +abundance of milk and cream whereof the yellowest butter and finest +cheese are made. But where the blue clay aboundeth (which hardly +drinketh up the winter's water in long season) there the grass is +speary, rough, and very apt for bushes: by which occasion it becometh +nothing so profitable unto the owner as the other. The best pasture +ground of all England is in Wales, and of all the pasture in Wales +that of Cardigan is the chief. I speak of the same which is to be +found in the mountains there, where the hundredth part of the grass +growing is not eaten, but suffered to rot on the ground, whereby the +soil becometh matted and divers bogs and quickmoors made withal in +long continuance: because all the cattle in the country are not able +to eat it down. If it be accounted good soil on which a man may lay a +wand over night and on the morrow find it hidden and overgrown with +grass, it is not hard to find plenty thereof in many places of this +land. Nevertheless such is the fruitfulness of the aforesaid county +that it far surmounteth this proportion, whereby it may be compared +for batableness with Italy, which in my time is called the paradise +of the world, although by reason of the wickedness of such as dwell +therein it may be called the sink and drain of hell; so that whereas +they were wont to say of us that our land is good but our people +evil, they did but only speak it; whereas we know by experience that +the soil of Italy is a noble soil, but the dwellers therein far off +any virtue or goodness. + +Our meadows are either bottoms (whereof we have great store, and +those very large, because our soil is hilly) or else such as we call +land meads, and borrowed from the best and fattest pasturages. The +first of them are yearly and often overflown by the rising of such +streams as pass through the same, or violent falls of land-waters, +that descend from the hills about them. The other are seldom or never +overflown, and that is the cause wherefore their grass is shorter +than that of the bottoms, and yet is it far more fine, wholesome, and +batable, sith the hay of our low meadows is not only full of sandy +cinder, which breedeth sundry diseases in our cattle, but also more +rowty, foggy, and full of flags, and therefore not so profitable for +store and forrage as the higher meads be. The difference furthermore +in their commodities is great; for, whereas in our land meadows we +have not often above one good load of hay, or peradventure a little +more in an acre of ground (I use the word _carrucata_, or _carruca_, +which is a wain load, and, as I remember, used by Pliny, lib. 33, +cap. 2), in low meadows we have sometimes three, but commonly two or +upwards, as experience hath oft confirmed. + +Of such as are twice mowed I speak not, sith their later math is not +so wholesome for cattle as the first; although in the mouth more +pleasant for the time: for thereby they become oftentimes to be +rotten, or to increase so fast in blood, that the garget and other +diseases do consume many of them before the owners can seek out any +remedy, by phlebotomy or otherwise. Some superstitious fools suppose +that they which die of the garget are ridden with the nightmare, and +therefore they hang up stones which naturally have holes in them, and +must be found unlooked for; as if such a stone were an apt cockshot +for the devil to run through and solace himself withal, while the +cattle go scot-free and are not molested by him! But if I should set +down but half the toys that superstition hath brought into our +husbandmen's heads in this and other behalf, it would ask a greater +volume than is convenient for such a purpose, wherefore it shall +suffice to have said thus much of these things. + +The yield of our corn-ground is also much after this rate following. +Throughout the land (if you please to make an estimate thereof by the +acre) in mean and indifferent years, wherein each acre of rye or +wheat, well tilled and dressed, will yield commonly sixteen or twenty +bushels, an acre of barley six-and-thirty bushels, of oats and such +like four or five quarters, which proportion is notwithstanding oft +abated toward the north, as it is oftentimes surmounted in the south. +Of mixed corn, as peas and beans, sown together, tares and oats +(which they call bulmong), rye and wheat (named miscelin), here is no +place to speak, yet their yield is nevertheless much after this +proportion, as I have often marked. And yet is not this our great +foison comparable to that of hotter countries of the main. But, of +all that I ever read, the increase which Eldred Danus writeth of in +his _De imperie Judaeorum in Aethiopia_ surmounteth, where he saith +that in the field near to the Sabbatike river, called in old time +Gosan, the ground is so fertile that every grain of barley growing +doth yield an hundred kernels at the least unto the owner. + +Of late years also we have found and taken up a great trade in +planting of hops, whereof our moory hitherto and unprofitable grounds +do yield such plenty and increase that there are few farmers or +occupiers in the country which have not gardens and hops growing of +their own, and those far better than do come from Flanders unto us. +Certes the corruptions used by the Flemings, and forgery daily +practised in this kind of ware, gave us occasion to plant them here +at home; so that now we may spare and send many over unto them. And +this I know by experience, that some one man by conversion of his +moory grounds into hopyards, whereof before he had no commodity, doth +raise yearly by so little as twelve acres in compass two hundred +marks--all charges borne towards the maintenance of his family. Which +industry God continue! though some secret friends of Flemings let not +to exclaim against this commodity, as a spoil of wood, by reason of +the poles, which nevertheless after three years do also come to the +fire, and spare their other fuel. + +The cattle which we breed are commonly such as for greatness of bone, +sweetness of flesh, and other benefits to be reaped by the same, give +place unto none other; as may appear first by our oxen, whose +largeness, height, weight, tallow, hides, and horns are such as none +of any other nation do commonly or may easily exceed them. Our sheep +likewise, for good taste of flesh, quantity of limbs, fineness of +fleece, caused by their hardness of pasturage and abundance of +increase (for in many places they bring forth two or three at an +caning), give no place unto any, more than do our goats, who in like +sort do follow the same order, and our deer come not behind. As for +our conies, I have seen them so fat in some soils, especially about +Meall and Disnege, that the grease of one being weighed hath peised +very near six or seven ounces. All which benefits we first refer to +the grace and goodness of God, and next of all unto the bounty of our +soil, which he hath endued with so notable and commodious +fruitfulness. + +But, as I mean to intreat of these things more largely hereafter, so +will I touch in this place one benefit which our nation wanteth, and +that is wine, the fault whereof is not in our soil, but the +negligence of our countrymen (especially of the south parts), who do +not inure the same to this commodity, and which by reason of long +discontinuance is now become inapt to bear any grapes almost for +pleasure and shadow, much less then the plain fields or several +vineyards for advantage and commodity. Yet of late time some have +essayed to deal for wine (as to your lordship also is right well +known). But sith that liquor, when it cometh to the drinking, hath +been found more hard than that which is brought from beyond the sea, +and the cost of planting and keeping thereof so chargeable that they +may buy it far better cheap from other countries, they have given +over their enterprises without any consideration that, as in all +other things, so neither the ground itself in the beginning, nor +success of their travel, can answer their expectation at the first, +until such time as the soil be brought as it were into acquaintance +with this commodity, and that provision may be made for the more +easiness of charge to be employed upon the same. + +If it be true that where wine doth last and endure well there it will +grow no worse, I muse not a little wherefore the planting of vines +should be neglected in England. That this liquor might have grown in +this island heretofore, first the charter that Probus the Emperor +gave equally to us, the Gauls, and Spaniards, is one sufficient +testimony. And that it did grow here (beside the testimony of Beda, +lib. 1., cap. 1) the old notes of tithes for wine that yet remain in +the accounts of some parsons and vicars in Kent, elsewhere, besides +the records of sundry suits, commenced in divers ecclesiastical +courts, both in Kent, Surrey, etc., also the enclosed parcels almost +in every abbey yet called the vineyards, may be a notable witness, as +also the plot which we now call East Smithfield in London, given by +Canutus, sometime king of this land, with other soil thereabout, unto +certain of his knights, with the liberty of a Guild which thereof was +called Knighton Guild. The truth is (saith John Stow, our countryman +and diligent traveller in the old estate of this my native city) that +it is now named Portsoken Ward, and given in time past to the +religious house within Aldgate. Howbeit first Otwell, the archovel, +Otto, and finally Geffrey Earl of Essex, constables of the of London, +withheld that portion from the said house until the reign of King +Stephen, and thereof made a vineyard to their great commodity and +lucre. The Isle of Ely also was in the first times of the Normans +called Le Ile des Vignes. And good record appeareth that the bishop +there had yearly three or four tun at the least given him _nomine +decimæ_, beside whatsoever over-sum of the liquor did accrue to him +by leases and other excheats whereof also I have seen mention. +Wherefore our soil is not to be blamed, as though our nights were so +exceeding short that in August and September the moon, which is lady +of moisture and chief ripener of this liquor, cannot in any wise +shine long enough upon the same: a very mere toy and fable, right +worthy to be suppressed, because experience convinceth the upholders +thereof even in the Rhenish wines. + +The time hath been also that woad, wherewith our countrymen dyed +their faces (as Cæsar saith), that they might seem terrible to their +enemies in the field (and also women and their daughters-in-law did +stain their bodies and go naked, in that pickle, to the sacrifices of +their gods, coveting to resemble therein the Ethiopians, as Pliny +saith, [lib. 22, cap. 1]), and also madder have been (next unto our +tin and wools) the chief commodities and merchandise of this realm, I +find also that rape oil hath been made within this land. But now our +soil either will not, or at the leastwise may not, bear either woad +or madder. I say not that the ground is not able so to do, but that +we are negligent, afraid of the pilling of our grounds, and careless +of our own profits, as men rather willing to buy the same of others +than take any pain to plant them here at home. The like I may say of +flax, which by law ought to be sown in every country town in England, +more or less; but I see no success of that good and wholesome law; +sith it is rather contemptuously rejected than otherwise dutifully +kept in any place in England. + +Some say that our great number of laws do breed a general negligence +and contempt of all good order, because we have so many that no +subject can live without the transgression of some of them, and that +the often alteration of our ordinances doth much harm in this +respect, which (after Aristotle) doth seem to carry some reason +withal, for (as Cornelius Gallus hath)-- + + _"Eventus varios res nova semper habet."_[1] + + [1] "An innovation, has always mixed effects." + +But very many let not to affirm that the greedy corruption of the +promoters on the one side, facility in dispensing with good laws and +first breach of the same in the lawmakers and superiors and private +respects of their establishment on the other, are the greatest causes +why the inferiors regard no good order, being always so ready to +offend without any faculty one way as they are otherwise to presume +upon the examples of their betters when any hold is to be taken. But +as in these things I have no skill, so I wish that fewer licences for +the private commodity but of a few were granted (not that thereby I +deny the maintenance of the prerogative royal, but rather would with +all my heart that it might be yet more honourably increased), and +that every one which by fee'd friendship (or otherwise) doth attempt +to procure ought from the prince that may profit but few and prove +hurtful to many might be at open assizes and sessions denounced enemy +to his country and commonwealth of the land. + +Glass also hath been made here in great plenty before, and in the +time of the Romans; and the said stuff also, beside fine scissors, +shears, collars of gold and silver for women's necks, cruises and +cups of amber, were a parcel of the tribute which Augustus in his +days laid upon this island. In like sort he charged the Britons with +certain implements and vessels of ivory (as Strabo saith); whereby it +appeareth that in old time our countrymen were far more industrious +and painful in the use and application of the benefits of their +country than either after the coming of the Saxons or Normans, in +which they gave themselves more to idleness and following of the +wars. + +If it were requisite that I should speak of the sundry kinds of mould, +as the cledgy, or clay, whereof are divers sorts (red, blue, black, +and white), also the red or white sandy, the loamy, roselly, gravelly, +chalky, or black, I could say that there are so many divers veins in +Britain as elsewhere in any quarter of like quantity in the world. +Howbeit this I must need confess, that the sand and clay do bear great +sway: but clay most of all, as hath been and yet is always seen and +felt through plenty and dearth of corn. For if this latter (I mean the +clay) do yield her full increase (which it doth commonly in dry years +for wheat), then is there general plenty: whereas if it fail, then +have we scarcity, according to the old rude verse set down of England, +but to be understood of the whole island, as experience doth confirm-- + + "_When the sand doth serve the clay, + Then may we sing well-away; + But when the clay doth serve the sand, + Then is it merry with England_." + +I might here intreat of the famous valleys in England, of which one +is called the Vale of White Horse, another of Evesham (commonly taken +for the granary of Worcestershire), the third of Aylesbury, that +goeth by Thame, the roots of Chiltern Hills, to Dunstable, Newport +Pagnel, Stony Stratford, Buckingham, Birstane Park, etc. Likewise of +the fourth, of Whitehart or Blackmoor in Dorsetshire. The fifth, of +Ringdale or Renidale, corruptly called Kingtaile, that lieth (as mine +author saith) upon the edge of Essex and Cambridgeshire, and also the +Marshwood Vale: but, forsomuch as I know not well their several +limits, I give over to go any further in their description. In like +sort it should not be amiss to speak of our fens, although our +country be not so full of this kind of soil as the parts beyond the +seas (to wit, Narbonne, etc.), and thereto of other pleasant bottoms, +the which are not only endued with excellent rivers and great store +of corn and fine fodder for neat and horses in time of the year +(whereby they are exceeding beneficial unto their owners), but also +of no small compass and quantity in ground. For some of our fens are +well known to be either of ten, twelve, sixteen, twenty, or thirty +miles in length, that of the Girwies yet passing all the rest, which +is full sixty (as I have often read). Wherein also Ely, the famous +isle, standeth, which is seven miles every way, and whereunto there +is no access but by three causies, whose inhabitants in like sort by +an old privilege may take wood, sedge turf, etc., to burn, likewise +hay for their cattle and thatch for their houses of custom, and each +occupier in his appointed quantity throughout the isle; albeit that +covetousness hath now begun somewhat to abridge this large +benevolence and commodity, as well in the said isle as most other +places of this land. + +Finally, I might discourse in like order of the large commons, laid +out heretofore by the lords of the soil for the benefit of such poor +as inhabit within the compass of their manors. But, as the true +intent of the givers is now in most places defrauded, insomuch that +not the poor tenants inhabitating upon the same, but their landlords, +have all the commodity and gain. Wherefore I mean not at this present +to deal withal, but reserve the same wholly unto the due place, +whilst I go forward with the rest, setting down nevertheless by the +way a general commendation of the whole island, which I find in an +ancient monument, much unto this effect-- + + "Illa quidem longè celebris splendore, beata, + Glebis, lacte, favis, supereminet insula cunctis, + Quas regit ille Deus, spumanti cujus ab oro + Proffuit oceanus," etc. + +And a little after-- + + "Testis Lundoniurntibus, Wintonia Baccho, + Herefordia grege, Worcestria frugeredundans, + Batha lacu, Salabyra feris, Cantuarin pisce, + Eboraca sylvis, Excestria clara metallis, + Norwicum Dacis hybernis, Cestria Gallis, + Cicestrum Norwagenis, Dunelmia præpinguia, + Testis Lincolnia gens infinita decore, + Testis Ell formosa situ, Doncastria visu," etc. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF SUNDRY MINERALS AND METALS + +[1577, Book III., Chapters 16 and 18; 1587, Book III., Chapters +10 and 11.] + + +With how great benefits this island of ours hath been endued from the +beginning I hope there is no godly man but will readily confess, and +yield unto the Lord God his due honour for the same. For we are +blessed every way, and there is no temporal commodity necessary to be +had or craved by any nation at God's hand that he hath not in most +abundant manner bestowed upon us Englishmen, if we could see to use +it, and be thankful for the same. But alas! (as said in the chapter +precedent) we love to enrich them that care not for us, but for our +great commodities: and one trifling toy not worth the carriage, +coming (as the proverb saith) in three ships from beyond the sea, is +more worth with us than a right good jewel easy to be had at home. +They have also the cast to teach us to neglect our own things; for, +if they see that we begin to make any account of our commodities (if +it be so that they have also the like in their own countries) they +will suddenly abase the same to so low a price that our gain not +being worthy our travel, and the same commodity with less cost ready +to be had at home from other countries (though but for a while), it +causeth us to give over our endeavours and as it were by-and-by to +forget the matter whereabout we went before, to obtain them at their +hands. And this is the only cause wherefore our commodities are oft +so little esteemed of. Some of them can say, without any teacher, +that they will buy the case of a fox of an Englishman for a groat, +and make him afterwards give twelve pence for the tail. Would to God +we might once wax wiser, and each one endeavour that the commonwealth +of England may nourish again in her old rate, and that our +commodities may be fully wrought at home (as cloth if you will for an +example) and not carried out to be shorn and dressed abroad, while +our clothworkers here do starve and beg their bread, and for lack of +daily practice utterly neglect to be skilful in this science! But to +my purpose. + +We have in England great plenty of quicksilver, antimony, sulphur, +black lead, and orpiment red and yellow. We have also the finest alum +(wherein the diligence of one of the greatest favourers of the +commonwealth of England of a subject[1] hath been of late egregriously +abused, and even almost with barbarous incivility) and of no less +force against fire, if it were used in our parietings, than that of +Lipari, which only was in use sometime amongst the Asians and Romans +and whereof Sylla had such trial that when he meant to have burned a +tower of wood erected by Archelaus, the lieutenant of Mithridates, he +could by no means set it on fire in a long time, because it was washed +over with alum, as were also the gates of the temple of Jerusalem with +like effect, and perceived when Titus commanded fire to be put unto +the same. Besides this, we have also the natural cinnabarum or +vermillion, the sulphurous glebe called bitumen in old time, for +mortar, and yet burned in lamps where oil is scant and geson; the +chrysocolla, copperas, and mineral stone, whereof petriolum is made, +and that which is most strange, the mineral pearl, which as they are +for greatness and colour most excellent of all other, so are they +digged out of the main land and in sundry places far distant from the +shore. Certes the western part of the land hath in times past greatly +abounded with these and many other rare and excellent commodities, but +now they are washed away by the violence of the sea, which hath +devoured the greatest part of Cornwall and Devonshire on either side; +and it doth appear yet by good record that, whereas now there is a +great distance between the Scilly Isles and the point of the Land's +End, there was of late years to speak of scarcely a brook or drain of +one fathom water between them, if so much, as by those evidences +appeareth, and are yet to be seen in the hands of the lord and chief +owner of those isles. But to proceed. + + [1] The Lord Mountjoy.--H. + +Of coal-mines we have such plenty in the north and western parts of +our island as may suffice for all the realm of England; and so must +they do hereafter indeed, if wood be not better cherished than it is +at this present. And so say the truth, notwithstanding that very many +of them are carried into other countries of the main, yet their +greatest trade beginneth now to grow from the forge into the kitchen +and hall, as may appear already in most cities and towns that lie +about the coast, where they have but little other fuel except it be +turf and hassock. I marvel not a little that there is no trade of +these into Sussex and Southamptonshire, for want thereof the smiths +do work their iron with charcoal. I think that far carriage be the +only cause, which is but a slender excuse to enforce us to carry them +into the main from hence. + +Besides our coal-mines, we have pits in like sort of white plaster, +and of fat and white and other coloured marble, wherewith in many +places the inhabitors do compest their soil, and which doth benefit +their land in ample manner for many years to come. We have saltpetre +for our ordinance and salt soda for our glass, and thereto in one +place a kind of earth (in Southery; as I ween, hard by Codington, and +sometime in the tenure of one Croxton of London) which is so fine to +make moulds for goldsmiths and casters of metal, that a load of it +was worth five shillings thirty years ago; none such again they say +in England. But whether there be or not, let us not be unthankful to +God, for these and other his benefits bestowed upon us, whereby he +sheweth himself a loving and merciful father unto us, which +contrariwise return unto him in lieu of humility and obedience +nothing but wickedness, avarice, mere contempt of his will, pride, +excess, atheism, and no less than Jewish ingratitude.[2] + + [2] Here ends the chapter entitled "Minerals," and the one + on "Metals" begins.--W. + +All metals receive their beginning of quicksilver and sulphur, which +are as mother and father to them. And such is the purpose of nature in +their generations that she tendeth always to the procreation of gold; +nevertheless she seldom reacheth unto that her end, because of the +unequal mixture and proportion of these two in the substance +engendered, whereby impediment and corruption is induced, which as it +is more or less doth shew itself in the metal that is produced.... + +And albeit that we have no such abundance of these (as some other +countries do yield), yet have my rich countrymen store enough of both +in their purses, where in time past they were wont to have least, +because the garnishing of our churches, tabernacles, images, shrines, +and apparel of the priests consumed the greatest part, as experience +hath confirmed. + +Of late my countrymen have found out I wot not what voyage into the +West Indies, from whence they have brought some gold, whereby our +country is enriched; but of all that ever adventured into those +parts, none have sped better than Sir Francis Drake, whose success +(1582) hath far passed even his own expectation. One John Frobisher +in like manner, attempting to seek out a shorter cut by the northerly +regions into the peaceable sea and kingdom of Cathay, happened (1577) +upon certain islands by the way, wherein great plenty of much gold +appeared, and so much that some letted not to give out for certainty +that Solomon had his gold from thence, wherewith he builded the +temple. This golden shew made him so desirous also of like success +that he left off his former voyage and returned home to bring news of +such things as he had seen. But, when after another voyage it was +found to be but dross, he gave over both the enterprises, and now +keepeth home without any desire at all to seek into far countries. In +truth, such was the plenty of ore there seen and to be had that, if +it had holden perfect, might have furnished all the world with +abundance of that metal; the journey also was short and performed in +four or five months, which was a notable encouragement. But to +proceed. + +Tin and lead, metals which Strabo noteth in his time to be carried +unto Marsilis from hence, as Diodorus also confirmeth, are very +plentiful with us, the one in Cornwall, Devonshire, and elsewhere in +the north, the other in Derbyshire, Weredale, and sundry places of +this island; whereby my countrymen do reap no small commodity, but +especially our pewterers, who in times past employed the use of +pewter only upon dishes, pots, and a few other trifles for service +here at home, whereas now they are grown unto such exquisite cunning +that they can in manner imitate by infusion any form or fashion of +cup, dish, salt bowl, or goblet, which is made by goldsmiths' craft, +though they be never so curious, exquisite, and artificially forged. +Such furniture of household of this metal as we commonly call by the +name of _vessel_ is sold usually by the garnish, which doth contain +twelve platters, twelve dishes, twelve saucers, and those are either +of silver fashion or else with broad or narrow brims, and bought by +the pound, which is now valued at six or seven pence, or peradventure +at eight pence. Of porringers, pots, and other like, I speak not, +albeit that in the making of all these things there is such exquisite +diligence used, I mean for the mixture of the metal and true making +of this commodity (by reason of sharp laws provided in that behalf), +as the like is not to be found in any other trade. I have been also +informed that it consisteth of a composition which hath thirty pounds +of kettle brass to a thousand pounds of tin, whereunto they add three +or four pounds of tin-glass; but as too much of this doth make the +stuff brickle, so the more the brass be, the better is the pewter, +and more profitable unto him that doth buy and purchase the same. But +to proceed. + +In some places beyond the sea a garnish of good flat English pewter +of an ordinary making (I say flat, because dishes and platters in my +time begin to be made deep like basins, and are indeed more +convenient both for sauce, broth, and keeping the meat warm) is +esteemed almost so precious as the like number of vessels that are +made of fine silver, and in manner no less desired amongst the great +estates, whose workmen are nothing so skilful in that trade as ours, +neither their metal so good, nor plenty so great, as we have here in +England. The Romans made excellent looking-glasses of our English +tin, howbeit our workmen were not then so exquisite in that feat as +the Brundusians, wherefore the wrought metal was carried over unto +them by way of merchandise, and very highly were those glasses +esteemed of till silver came generally in place, which in the end +brought the tin into such contempt that in manner every dishwasher +refused to look in other than silver glasses for the attiring of her +head. Howbeit the making of silver glasses had been in use before +Britain was known unto the Romans, for I read that one Praxiteles +devised them in the young time of Pompey, which was before the coming +of Caesar into this island. + +There were mines of lead sometimes also in Wales, which endured so +long till the people had consumed all their wood by melting of the +same (as they did also at Comeriswith, six miles from Stradfleur), +and I suppose that in Pliny's time the abundance of lead (whereof he +speaketh) was to be found in those parts, in the seventeenth of his +thirty-fourth book; also he affirmeth that it lay in the very sward +of the earth, and daily gotten in such plenty that the Romans made a +restraint of the carriage thereof to Rome, limiting how much should +yearly be wrought and transported over the sea.[3] + + [3] Here follow two stories about crows and miners.--W. + +Iron is found in many places, as in Sussex, Kent, Weredale, Mendip, +Walshall, as also in Shropshire, but chiefly in the woods betwixt +Belvos and Willock (or Wicberry) near Manchester, and elsewhere in +Wales. Of which mines divers do bring forth so fine and good stuff as +any that cometh from beyond the sea, beside the infinite gains to the +owners, if we would so accept it, or bestow a little more cost in the +refining of it. It is also of such toughness, that it yieldeth to the +making of claricord wire in some places of the realm. Nevertheless, it +was better cheap with us when strangers only brought it hither; for it +is our quality when we get any commodity to use it with extremity +towards our own nation, after we have once found the means to shut out +foreigners from the bringing in of the like. It breedeth in like +manner great expense and waste of wood, as doth the making of our pots +and table vessels of glass, wherein is much loss, sith it is so +quickly broken; and yet (as I think) easy to be made tougher, if our +alchemists could once find the true birth or production of the red +man, whose mixture would induce a metallic toughness unto it, whereby +it should abide the hammer. + +Copper is lately not found, but rather restored again to light. For I +have read of copper to have been heretofore gotten in our island; +howbeit as strangers have most commonly the governance of our mines, +so they hitherto make small gains of this in hand in the north parts; +for (as I am informed) the profit doth very hardly countervail the +charges, whereat wise men do not a little marvel, considering the +abundance which that mine doth seem to offer, and, as it were, at +hand. Leland, our countryman, noteth sundry great likelihoods of +natural copper mines to be eastwards, as between Dudman and Trewardth, +in the sea cliffs, beside other places, whereof divers are noted here +and there in sundry places of this book already, and therefore it +shall be but in vain to repeat them here again. As for that which is +gotten out of the marchasite, I speak not of it, sith it is not +incident to my purpose. In Dorsetshire also a copper mine lately found +is brought to good perfection. + +As for our steel, it is not so good for edge-tools as that of Cologne, +and yet the one is often sold for the other, and like talc used in +both, that is to say, thirty gads to the sheaf, and twelve sheaves to +the burden. + +Our alchemy is artificial, and thereof our spoons and some salts are +commonly made and preferred before our pewter with some,[4] albeit in +truth it be much subject to corruption, putrefaction, more heavy and +foul to handle than our pewter; yet some ignorant persons affirm it to +be a metal more natural, and the very same which Encelius calleth +_plumbum cincreum_, the Germans _wisemute, mithan_, and _counterfeie_, +adding that where it groweth silver cannot be far off. Nevertheless it +is known to be a mixture of brass, lead, and tin (of which this latter +occupieth the one-half), but after another proportion than is used in +pewter. But alas, I am persuaded that neither the old Arabians nor new +alchemists of our time did ever hear of it, albeit that the name +thereof do seem to come out of their forge. For the common sort indeed +do call it alchemy, an unwholesome metal (God wot) and worthy to be +banished and driven out of the land. And thus I conclude with this +discourse, as having no more to say of the metals of my country, +except I should talk of brass, bell metal, and such as are brought +over for merchandise from other countries; and yet I cannot but say +that there is some brass found also in England, but so small is the +quantity that it is not greatly to be esteemed or accounted for. + + [4] Some tell me that it is a mixture of brass, lead, and + tin.--H. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF CATTLE KEPT FOR PROFIT + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 8; 1587, Book III., Chapter 1.] + + +There is no kind of tame cattle usually to be seen in these parts of +the world whereof we have not some, and that great store, in England, +as horses, oxen, sheep, goats, swine, and far surmounting the like in +other countries, as may be proved with ease. For where are oxen +commonly made more large of bone, horses more decent and pleasant in +pace, kine more commodious for the pail, sheep more profitable for +wool, swine more wholesome of flesh, and goats more gainful to their +keepers than here with us in England? But, to speak of them +peculiarly, I suppose that our kine are so abundant in yield of milk, +whereof we make our butter and cheese, as the like any where else, and +so apt for the plough in divers places as either our horses or oxen. +And, albeit they now and then twin, yet herein they seem to come short +of that commodity which is looked for in other countries, to wit, in +that they bring forth most commonly but one calf at once. The gains +also gotten by a cow (all charges borne) hath been valued at twenty +shillings yearly; but now, as land is enhanced, this proportion of +gain is much abated, and likely to decay more and more, if ground +arise to be yet dearer--which God forbid, if it be His will and +pleasure. I heard of late of a cow in Warwickshire, belonging to +Thomas Breuer of Studley, which in six years had sixteen calves, that +is four at once in three calvings and twice twins, which unto many may +seem a thing incredible. In like manner our oxen are such as the like +are not to be found in any country of Europe, both for greatness of +body and sweetness of flesh or else would not the Roman writers have +preferred them before those of Liguria. In most places our graziers +are now grown to be so cunning that if they do but see an ox or +bullock, and come to the feeling of him, they will give a guess at his +weight, and how many score or stone of flesh and tallow he beareth, +how the butcher may live by the sale, and what he may have for the +skin and tallow, which is a point of skill not commonly practised +heretofore. Some such graziers also are reported to ride with velvet +coats and chains of gold about them and in their absence their wives +will not let to supply those turns with no less skill than their +husbands: which is a hard work for the poor butcher, sith he through +this means can seldom be rich or wealthy by his trade. In like sort +the flesh of our oxen and kine is sold both by hand and by weight as +the buyer will; but in young ware rather by weight especially for the +steer and heifer, sith the finer beef is the lightest, whereas the +flesh of bulls and old kine, etc., is of sadder substance, and +therefore much heavier as it lieth in the scale. Their horns also are +known to be more fair and large in England than in any other places, +except those which are to be seen among the Paeones, which quality, +albeit that it be given to our breed generally by nature, yet it is +now and then helped also by art. For, when they be very young, many +graziers will oftentimes anoint their budding horns or tender tips +with honey, which mollifieth the natural hardness of that substance, +and thereby maketh them to grow unto a notable greatness. Certes it is +not strange in England to see oxen whose horns have the length of a +yard or three feet between the tips, and they themselves thereto so +tall as the height of a man of mean and indifferent stature is scarce +equal unto them. Nevertheless it is much to be lamented that our +general breed of cattle is not better looked unto; for the greatest +occupiers wean least store, because they can buy them (as they say) +far better cheap than to raise and bring them up. In my time a cow +hath risen from four nobles to four marks by this means, which +notwithstanding were no great price if they did yearly bring forth +more than one calf a piece, as I hear they do in other countries. + +Our horses, moreover, are high, and, although not commonly of such +huge greatness as in other places of the main, yet, if you respect the +easiness of their pace, it is hard to say where their like are to be +had. Our land doth yield no asses, and therefore we want the +generation also of mules and somers, and therefore the most part of +our carriages is made by these, which, remaining stoned, are either +reserved for the cart or appointed to bear such burdens as are +convenient for them. Our cart or plough horses (for we use them +indifferently) are commonly so strong that five or six of them (at the +most) will draw three thousand weight of the greatest tale with ease +for a long journey, although it be not a load of common usage, which +consisteth only of two thousand, or fifty foot of timber, forty +bushels of white salt, or six-and-thirty of bay, of five quarters of +wheat, experience daily teacheth, and I have elsewhere remembered. +Such as are kept also for burden will carry four hundredweight +commonly without any hurt or hindrance. This furthermore is to be +noted, that our princes and the nobility have their carriage commonly +made by carts, whereby it cometh to pass that when the queen's majesty +doth remove from any one place to another, there are usually 400 +carewares, which amount to the sum of 2400 horses, appointed out of +the countries adjoining, whereby her carriage is conveyed safely unto +the appointed place. Hereby also the ancient use of somers and sumpter +horses is in manner utterly relinquished, which causeth the trains of +our princes in their progresses to shew far less than those of the +kings of other nations. + +Such as serve for the saddle are commonly gelded, and now grew to be +very dear among us, especially if they be well coloured, justly +limbed, and have thereto an easy ambling pace. For our countrymen, +seeking their ease in every corner where it is to be had, delight very +much in those qualities, but chiefly in their excellent paces, which, +besides that it is in manner peculiar unto horses of our soil, and not +hurtful to the rider or owner sitting on their backs, it is moreover +very pleasant and delectable in his ears, in that the noise of their +well-proportioned pace doth yield comfortable sound as he travelleth +by the way. Yet is there no greater deceit used anywhere than among +our horsekeepers, horsecoursers, and hostlers; for such is the subtle +knavery of a great sort of them (without exception of any of them be +it spoken which deal for private gain) that an honest-meaning man +shall have very good luck among them if he be not deceived by some +false trick or other. + +There are certain notable markets wherein great plenty of horses and +colts is bought and sold, and whereunto such as have need resort +yearly to buy and make their necessary provision of them, as Ripon, +Newport Pond, Wolfpit, Harboro', and divers others. But, as most +drovers are very diligent to bring great store of these unto those +places, so many of them are too too lewd in abusing such as buy them. +For they have a custom, to make them look fair to the eye, when they +come within two days' journey of the market to drive them till they +sweat, and for the space of eight or twelve hours, which, being done, +they turn them all over the backs into some water, where they stand +for a season, and then go forward with them to the place appointed, +where they make sale of their infected ware, and such as by this means +do fall into many diseases and maladies. Of such outlandish horses as +are daily brought over unto us I speak not, as the jennet of Spain, +the courser of Naples, the hobby of Ireland, the Flemish roile and the +Scottish nag, because that further speech of them cometh not within +the compass of this treatise, and for whose breed and maintenance +(especially of the greatest sort) King Henry the Eighth erected a +noble studdery, and for a time had very good success with them, till +the officers, waxing weary, procured a mixed brood of bastard races, +whereby his good purpose came to little effect. Sir Nicholas Arnold of +late hath bred the best horses in England, and written of the manner +of their production: would to God his compass of ground were like to +that of Pella in Syria, wherein the king of that nation had usually a +studdery of 30,000 mares and 300 stallions, as Strabo doth remember, +lib. 16. But to leave this, let us see what may be said of sheep. + +Our sheep are very excellent, sith for sweetness of flesh they pass +all other. And so much are our wools to be preferred before those of +Milesia and other places that if Jason had known the value of them +that are bred and to be had in Britain he would never have gone to +Colchis to look for any there. For, as Dionysius Alexandrinus saith in +his _De situ Orbis_, it may by spinning be made comparable to the +spider's web. What fools then are our countrymen, in that they seek to +bereave themselves of this commodity by practising daily how to +transfer the same to other nations, in carrying over their rams and +ewes to breed and increase among them! The first example hereof was +given under Edward the Fourth, who, not understanding the bottom of +the suit of sundry traítorous merchants that sought a present gain +with the perpetual hindrance of their country licensed them to carry +over certain numbers of them into Spain, who, having licence but for a +few, shipped very many: a thing practised in other commodities also, +whereby the prince and his land are not seldom times defrauded. But +such is our nature, and so blind are we indeed, that we see no +inconvenience before we feel it; and for a present gain we regard not +what damage may ensue to our posterity. Hereto some other man would +add also the desire that we have to benefit other countries and to +impeach our own. And it is, so sure as God liveth, that every trifle +which cometh from beyond the sea, though it be not worth threepence, +is more esteemed than a continual commodity at home with us, which far +exceedeth that value. In time past the use of this commodity +consisteth (for the most part) in cloth and woolsteds; but now, by +means of strangers succoured here from domestic persecution, the same +hath been employed unto sundry other uses, as mockados, bays, +vellures, grograines, etc., whereby the makers have reaped no small +commodity. It is furthermore to be noted, for the low countries of +Belgie know it, and daily experience (notwithstanding the sharpness of +our laws to the contrary) doth yet confirm it, that, although our rams +and wethers do go thither from us never so well headed according to +their kind, yet after they have remained there a while they cast there +their heads, and from thenceforth they remain polled without any horns +at all. Certes this kind of cattle is more cherished in England than +standeth well with the commodity of the commons or prosperity of +divers towns, whereof some are wholly converted to their feeding; yet +such a profitable sweetness is their fleece, such necessity in their +flesh, and so great a benefit in the manuring of barren soil with +their dung and piss, that their superfluous members are the better +born withal. And there is never a husbandman (for now I speak not of +our great sheepmasters, of whom some one man hath 20,000) but hath +more or less of this cattle feeding on his fallows and short grounds, +which yield the finer fleece. + +Nevertheless the sheep of our country are often troubled with the rot +(as are our swine with the measles, though never so generally), and +many men are now and then great losers by the same; but, after the +calamity is over, if they can recover and keep their new stock sound +for seven years together, the former loss will easily be recompensed +with double commodity. Cardan writeth that our waters are hurtful to +our sheep; howbeit this is but his conjecture, for we know that our +sheep are infected by going to the water, and take the same as a sure +and certain token that a rot hath gotten hold of them, their livers +and lights being already distempered through excessive heat, which +enforceth them the rather to seek unto the water. Certes there is no +parcel of the main wherein a man shall generally find more fine and +wholesome water than in England; and therefore it is impossible that +our sheep should decay by tasting of the same. Wherefore the hindrance +by rot is rather to be ascribed to the unseasonableness and moisture +of the weather in summer, also their licking in of mildews, gossamire, +rowtie fogs, and rank grass, full of superfluous juice, but especially +(I say) to over moist weather, whereby the continual rain piercing +into their hollow fells soaketh forthwith into their flesh, which +bringeth them to their baines. Being also infected, their first shew +of sickness is their desire to drink, so that our waters are not unto +them _causa aegritudinis_, but _signum morbi_, whatsoever Cardan do +maintain to the contrary. There are (and peradventure no small babes) +which are grown to be such good husbands that they can make account of +every ten kine to be clearly worth twenty pounds in common and +indifferent years, if the milk of five sheep be daily added to the +same. But, as I wot not how true this surmise is, because it is no +part of my trade, so I am sure hereof that some housewives can and do +add daily a less portion of ewe's milk unto the cheese of so many +kine, whereby their cheese doth the longer abide moist and eateth more +brickle and mellow than otherwise it would. + +Goats we have plenty, and of sundry colours, in the west parts of +England, especially in and towards Wales and amongst the rocky hills, +by whom the owners do reap so small advantage: some also are cherished +elsewhere in divers steeds, for the benefit of such as are diseased +with sundry maladies, unto whom (as I hear) their milk, cheese, and +bodies of their young kids are judged very profitable, and therefore +inquired for of many far and near. Certes I find among the writers +that the milk of a goat is next in estimation to that of the woman, +for that it helpeth the stomach, removeth oppilations and stoppings of +the liver, and looseth the belly. Some place also next unto it the +milk of the ewe, and thirdly that of the cow. But hereof I can shew no +reason; only this I know, that ewe's milk is fulsome, sweet, and such +in taste as (except such as are used unto it) no man will gladly yield +to live and feed withal. + +As for swine, there is no place that hath greater store, nor more +wholesome in eating, than are these here in England, which +nevertheless do never any good till they come to the table. Of these +some we eat green for pork, and other dried up into bacon to have it +in more continuance. Lard we make some, though very little, because it +is chargeable: neither have we such use thereof as is to be seen in +France and other countries, sith we do either bake our meat with sweet +suet of beef or mutton and baste all our meat with sweet or salt +butter or suffer the fattest to baste itself by leisure. In champaign +countries they are kept by herds, and a hogherd appointed to attend +and wait upon them, who commonly gathereth them together by his noise +and cry, and leadeth them forth to feed abroad in the fields. In some +places also women do scour and wet their clothes with their dung, as +other do with hemlocks and nettles; but such is the savour of the +clothes touched withal that I cannot abide to wear them on my body, +more than such as are scoured with the refuse soap, than the which (in +mine opinion) there is none more unkindly savour. + +Of our tame boars we make brawn, which is a kind of meat not usually +known to strangers (as I take it), otherwise would not the swart +Rutters and French cooks, at the loss of Calais (where they found +great store of this provision almost in every house), have attempted +with ridiculous success to roast, bake, broil, and fry the same for +their masters, till they were better informed. I have heard moreover +how a nobleman of England not long since did send over a hogshead of +brawn ready soused to a Catholic gentleman of France, who, supposing +it to be fish, reserved it till Lent, at which time he did eat thereof +with great frugality. Thereto he so well liked the provision itself +that he wrote over very earnestly, and with offer of great recompense, +for more of the same fish against the year ensuing; whereas if he had +known it to have been flesh he would not have touched it (I dare say) +for a thousand crowns without the pope's dispensation. A friend of +mine also dwelling some time in Spain, having certain Jews at his +table, did set brawn before them, whereof they did eat very earnestly, +supposing it to be a kind of fish not common in those parts; but when +the goodman of the house brought in the head in pastime among them, to +shew what they had eaten, they rose from the table, hied them home in +haste, each of them procuring himself to vomit, some by oil and some +by other means, till (as they supposed) they had cleansed their +stomachs of that prohibited food. With us it is accounted a great +piece of service at the table from November until February be ended, +but chiefly in the Christmas time. With the same also we begin our +dinners each day after other; and, because it is somewhat hard of +digestion, a draught of malvesey, bastard, or muscadel, is usually +drank after it, where either of them are conveniently to be had; +otherwise the meaner sort content themselves with their own drink, +which at that season is generally very strong, and stronger indeed +than it is all the year beside. It is made commonly of the fore part +of a tame boar, set up for the purpose by the space of a whole year or +two, especially in gentlemen's houses (for the husbandmen and farmers +never frank them for their own use above three or four months, or half +a year at the most), in which time he is dieted with oats and peason, +and lodged on the bare planks of an uneasy coat, till his fat be +hardened sufficiently for their purpose: afterward he is killed, +scalded, and cut out, and then of his former parts is our brawn made. +The rest is nothing so fat, and therefore it beareth the name of sowse +only, and is commonly reserved for the serving-man and hind, except it +please the owner to have any part thereof baked, which are then +handled of custom after this manner: the hinder parts being cut off, +they are first drawn with lard, and then sodden; being sodden, they +are soused in claret wine and vinegar a certain space, and afterward +baked in pasties, and eaten of many instead of the wild boar, and +truly it is very good meat: the pestles may be hanged up a while to +dry before they be drawn with lard, if you will, and thereby prove the +better. But hereof enough, and therefore to come again unto our brawn. +The neck pieces, being cut off round, are called collars of brawn, the +shoulders are named shilds, only the ribs retain the former +denomination, so that these aforesaid pieces deserve the name of +brawn: the bowels of the beast are commonly cast away because of their +rankness, and so were likewise his stones, till a foolish fantasy got +hold of late amongst some delicate dames, who have now found the means +to dress them also with great cost for a dainty dish, and bring them +to the board as a service among other of like sort, though not without +note of their desire to the provocation of fleshly lust which by this +their fond curiosity is not a little revealed. When the boar is thus +cut out each piece is wrapped up, either with bulrushes, ozier, peels, +tape inkle,[1] or such like, and then sodden in a lead or caldron +together, till they be so tender that a man may thrust a bruised rush +or straw clean through the fat: which being done, they take it up and +lay it abroad to cool. Afterward, putting it into close vessels, they +pour either good small ale or beer mingled with verjuice and salt +thereto till it be covered, and so let it lie (now and then altering +and changing the sousing drink lest it should wax sour) till occasion +serve to spend it out of the way. Some use to make brawn of great +barrow hogs, and seethe them, and souse the whole as they do that of +the boar; and in my judgment it is the better of both, and more easy +of digestion. But of brawn thus much, and so much may seem sufficient. + + [1] Tape. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF WILD AND TAME FOWLS + +[1577, Book III., Chapters 9 and 11; 1587, Book III., Chapters +2 and 5.] + + +Order requireth that I speak somewhat of the fowls also of England, +which I may easily divide into the wild and tame; but, alas! such is +my small skill in fowls that, to say the truth, I can neither recite +their numbers nor well distinguish one kind of them from another. Yet +this I have by general knowledge, that there is no nation under the +sun which hath already in the time of the year more plenty of wild +fowl than we, for so many kinds as our island doth bring forth, and +much more would have if those of the higher soil might be spared but +one year or two from the greedy engines of covetous fowlers which set +only for the pot and purse. Certes this enormity bred great troubles +in King John's days, insomuch that, going in progress about the tenth +of his reign, he found little or no game wherewith to solace himself +or exercise his falcons. Wherefore, being at Bristow in the Christmas +ensuing, he restrained all manner of hawking or taking of wild fowl +throughout England for a season, whereby the land within few years was +thoroughly replenished again. But what stand I upon this impertinent +discourse? Of such therefore as are bred in our land, we have the +crane, the bitter,[1] the wild and tame swan, the bustard, the heron, +curlew, snite, wildgoose, wind or doterell, brant, lark, plover (of +both sorts), lapwing, teal, widgeon, mallard, sheldrake, shoveller, +peewitt, seamew, barnacle, quail (who, only with man, are subject to +the falling sickness), the knot, the oliet or olive, the dunbird, +woodcock, partridge, and pheasant, besides divers others, whose names +to me are utterly unknown, and much more the taste of their flesh, +wherewith I was never acquainted. But as these serve not at all +seasons, so in their several turns there is no plenty of them wanting +whereby the tables of the nobility and gentry should seem at any time +furnished. But of all these the production of none is more marvellous, +in my mind, than that of the barnacle, whose place of generation we +have sought ofttimes as far as the Orchades, whereas peradventure we +might have found the same nearer home, and not only upon the coasts of +Ireland, but even in our own rivers. If I should say how either these +or some such other fowl not much unlike unto them have bred of late +times (for their place of generation is not perpetual, but as +opportunity serveth and the circumstances do minister occasion) in the +Thames mouth, I do not think that many will believe me; yet such a +thing hath there been seen where a kind of fowl had his beginning upon +a short tender shrub standing near unto the shore, from whence, when +their time came, they fell down, either into the salt water and lived, +or upon the dry land and perished, as Pena the French herbarian hath +also noted in the very end of his herbal. What I, for mine own part, +have seen here by experience, I have already so touched upon in the +chapter of islands, that it should be but time spent in vain to repeat +it here again. Look therefore in the description of Man (or Manaw) for +more of these barnacles, as also in the eleventh chapter of the +description of Scotland, and I do not doubt but you shall in some +respect be satisfied in the generation of these fowls. As for egrets, +pawpers, and such like, they are daily brought unto us from beyond the +sea, as if all the fowl of our country could not suffice to satisfy +our delicate appetites. + + [1] The proper English name of the bird which vulgar acceptance + forces us to now call _bittern_.--W. + +Our tame fowl are such (for the most part) as are common both to us +and to other countries, as cocks, hens, geese, ducks, peacocks of Ind, +pigeons, now a hurtful fowl by reason of their multitudes, and number +of houses daily erected for their increase (which the boors of the +country call in scorn almshouses, and dens of thieves, and such like), +whereof there is great plenty in every farmer's yard. They are kept +there also to be sold either for ready money in the open markets, or +else to be spent at home in good company amongst their neighbours +without reprehension or fines. Neither are we so miserable in England +(a thing only granted unto us by the especial grace of God and liberty +of our princes) as to dine or sup with a quarter of a hen, or to make +as great a repast with a cock's comb as they do in some other +countries; but, if occasion serve, the whole carcases of many capons, +hens, pigeons, and such like do oft go to wrack, beside beef, mutton, +veal, and lamb, all of which at every feast are taken for necessary +dishes amongst the communalty of England. + +The gelding of cocks, whereby capons are made, Is an ancient practice +brought in old time by the Romans when they dwelt here in this land; +but the gelding of turkeys or Indian peacocks is a newer device, and +certainly not used amiss, sith the rankness of that bird is very much +abated thereby and the strong taste of the flesh is sundry wise +amended. If I should say that ganders grow also to be gelded, I +suppose that some will laugh me to scorn, neither have I tasted at any +time of such a fowl so served, yet have I heard it more than once to +be used in the country, where their geese are driven to the field like +herds of cattle by a gooseherd, a boy also no less to be marvelled at +than the other. For, as it is rare to hear of a gelded gander, so is +it strange to me to see or hear of geese to be led to the field like +sheep; yet so it is, and their gooseherd carrieth a rattle of paper or +parchment with him when he goeth about in the morning to gather his +goslings together, the noise whereof cometh no sooner to their ears +than they fall to gaggling, and hasten to go with him. If it happen +that the gates be not yet open, or that none of the house be stirring, +it is ridiculous to see how they will peep under the doors, and never +leave creaking and gaggling till they be let out unto him to overtake +their fellows. With us, where I dwell, they are not kept in this sort, +nor in many other places, neither are they kept so much for their +bodies as their feathers. Some hold furthermore an opinion that in +over rank soils their dung doth so qualify the batableness of the soil +that their cattle is thereby kept from the garget, and sundry other +diseases, although some of them come to their ends now and then by +licking up of their feathers. I might here make mention of other fowls +produced by the industry of man, as between the pheasant cock and +dunghill hen, or between the pheasant and the ringdove, the peacock +and the turkey hen, the partridge and the pigeon; but, sith I have no +more knowledge of these than what I have gotten by mine ear, I will +not meddle with them. Yet Cardan, speaking of the second sort, doth +affirm it to be a fowl of excellent beauty. I would likewise intreat +of other fowls which we repute unclean, as ravens, crows, pies, +choughs, rooks, kites, jays, ringtails, starlings, woodspikes, +woodnaws, etc.; but, sith they abound in all countries, though +peradventure most of all in England (by reason of our negligence), I +shall not need to spend any time in the rehearsal of them. Neither are +our crows and choughs cherished of purpose to catch up the worms that +breed in our soils (as Polydor supposeth), sith there are no uplandish +towns but have (or should have) nets of their own in store to catch +them withal. Sundry acts of Parliament are likewise made for their +utter destruction, as also the spoil of other ravenous fowls hurtful +to poultry, conies, lambs, and kids, whose valuation of reward to him +that killeth them is after the head: a device brought from the Goths, +who had the like ordinance for the destruction of their white crows, +and tale made by the beck, which killed both lambs and pigs. The like +order is taken with us for our vermin as with them also for the +rootage out of their wild beasts, saving that they spared their +greatest bears, especially the white, whose skins are by custom and +privilege reserved to cover those planchers whereupon their priests do +stand at mass, lest he should take some unkind cold in such a long +piece of work: and happy is the man that may provide them for him, for +he shall have pardon enough for that so religious an act, to last if he +will till doomsday do approach, and many thousands after. Nothing +therefore can be more unlikely to be true than that these noisome +creatures are nourished amongst us to devour our worms, which do not +abound much more in England than elsewhere in other countries of the +main. It may be that some look for a discourse also of our other fowls +in this place at my hand, as nightingales, thrushes, blackbirds, +mavises, ruddocks, redstarts or dunocks, larks, tivits, kingfishers, +buntings, turtles (white or grey), linnets, bullfinches, goldfinches, +washtails, cherrycrackers, yellowhammers, fieldfares, etc.; but I +should then spend more time upon them than is convenient. Neither will +I speak of our costly and curious aviaries daily made for the better +hearing of their melody, and observation of their natures; but I cease +also to go any further in these things, having (as I think) said +enough already of these that I have named.[2]... + + [2] Here ends the first chapter of "fowls," that which follows + being restricted to "hawks and ravenous fowls."--W. + +I cannot make as yet any just report how many sorts of hawks are bred +within this realm. Howbeit which of those that are usually had among +us are disclosed within this land, I think it more easy and less +difficult to set down. First of all, therefore, that we have the eagle +common experience doth evidently confirm, and divers of our rocks +whereon they breed, if speech did serve, could well declare the same. +But the most excellent eyrie of all is not much from Chester, at a +castle called Dinas Bren, sometime builded by Brennus, as our writers +do remember. Certes this castle is no great thing, but yet a pile +sometime very strong and inaccessible for enemies, though now all +ruinous as many others are. It standeth upon a hard rock, in the side +whereof an eagle breedeth every year. This also is notable in the +overthrow of her nest (a thing oft attempted), that he which goeth +thither must be sure of two large baskets, and so provide to be let +down thereto, that he may sit in the one and be covered with the +other: for otherwise the eagle would kill him and tear the flesh from +his bones with her sharp talons, though his apparel were never so +good. The common people call this fowl an erne; but, as I am ignorant +whether the word eagle and erne do shew any difference of sex, I mean +between the male and the female, so we have great store of them. And, +near to the places where they breed, the commons complain of great +harm to be done by them in their fields; for they are able to bear a +young lamb or kid unto their nests, therewith to feed their young and +come again for more. I was once of the opinion that there was a +diversity of kind between the eagle and the erne, till I perceived +that our nation used the word erne in most places for the eagle. We +have also the lanner and the lanneret, the tersel and the goshawk, the +musket and the sparhawk, the jack and the hobby, and finally some +(though very few) marleons. And these are all the hawks that I do hear +as yet to be bred within this island. Howbeit, as these are not +wanting with us, so are they not very plentiful: wherefore such as +delight in hawking do make their chief purveyance and provision for +the same out of Danske, Germany, and the eastern countries, from +whence we have them in great abundance and at excellent prices, +whereas at home and where they be bred they are sold for almost right +nought, and usually brought to the markets as chickens, pullets, and +pigeons are with us, and there bought up to be eaten (as we do the +aforesaid fowl) almost of every man. It is said that the sparhawk +pryeth not upon the fowl in the morning, that she taketh over even, +but as loath to have double benefit by one seelie fowl doth let it go +to make some shift for itself. But hereof as I stand in some doubt. So +this I find among the writers worthy the noting: that the sparhawk is +enemy to young children, as is also the ape, but of the peacock she is +marvellously afraid, and so appalled that all courage and stomach for +a time is taken from her upon the sight thereof. But to proceed with +the rest. Of other ravenous birds we have also very great plenty, as +the buzzard, the kite, the ringtail, dunkite, and such as often annoy +our country dames by spoiling of their young breeds of chickens, +ducks, and goslings, whereunto our very ravens and crows have learned +also the way: and so much are ravens given to this kind of spoil that +some idle and curious heads of set purpose have manned, reclaimed, and +used them instead of hawks, when other could not be had. Some do +imagine that the raven should be the vulture, and I was almost +persuaded in times past to believe the same; but, finding of late, a +description of the vulture, which better agreeth with the form of a +second kind of eagle, I freely surcease to be longer of that opinion: +for, as it hath, after a sort, the shape, colour, and quantity of an +eagle, so are the legs and feet more hairy and rough, their sides +under their wings better covered with thick down (wherewith also their +gorge or a part of their breast under their throats is armed, and not +with feathers) than are the like parts of the eagle, and unto which +portraiture there is no member of the raven (who is almost black of +colour) that can have any resemblance: we have none of them in England +to my knowledge; if we have, they go generally under the name of eagle +or erne. Neither have we the pygargus or grip, wherefore I have no +occasion to treat further. I have seen the carrion crows so cunning +also by their own industry of late that they have used to soar over +great rivers (as the Thames for example) and, suddenly coming down, +have caught a small fish in their feet and gone away withal without +wetting of their wings. And even at this present the aforesaid river +is not without some of them, a thing (in my opinion) not a little to +be wondered at. We have also osprays, which breed with us in parks and +woods, whereby the keepers of the same do reap in breeding time no +small commodity; for, so soon almost as the young are hatched, they +tie them to the butt ends or ground ends of sundry trees, where the +old ones, finding them, do never cease to bring fish unto them, which +the keepers take and eat from them, and commonly is such as is well +fed or not of the worst sort. It hath not been my hap hitherto to see +any of these fowl, and partly through mine own negligence; but I hear +that it hath one foot like a hawk, to catch hold withal, and another +resembling a goose, wherewith to swim; but, whether it be so or not +so, I refer the further search and trial thereof unto some other. This +nevertheless is certain, that both alive and dead, yea even her very +oil, is a deadly terror to such fish as come within the wind of it. +There is no cause whereof I should describe the cormorant amongst +hawks, of which some be black and many pied, chiefly about the Isle of +Ely, where they are taken for the night raven, except I should call +him a water hawk. But, sith such dealing is not convenient, let us now +see what may be said of our venomous worms, and how many kinds we have +of them within our realm and country.[3] + + [3] This on "venomous beasts" will be found included in the + "savage beasts" of the following. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OF SAVAGE BEASTS AND VERMIN + +[1577, Book III., Chapters 7 and 12; 1587, Book III., Chapters +4 and 6.] + + +It is none of the least blessings wherewith God hath endued this +island that it is void of noisome beasts, as lions, bears, tigers, +pardes, wolves, and such like, by means whereof our countrymen may +travel in safety, and our herds and flocks remain for the most part +abroad in the field without any herdman or keeper. + +This is chiefly spoken of the south and south-west parts of the +island. For, whereas we that dwell on this side of the Tweed may +safely boast of our security in this behalf, yet cannot the Scots do +the like in every point wherein their kingdom, sith they have grievous +wolves and cruel foxes, beside some others of like disposition +continually conversant among them, to the general hindrance of their +husbandmen, and no small damage unto the inhabitants of those +quarters. The happy and fortunate want of these beasts in England is +universally ascribed to the politic government of King Edgar.[1]... + + [1] Here follows an account of the extermination of wolves, + and a reference to lions and wild bulls rampant in Scotland of + old.--W. + +Of foxes we have some, but no great store, and also badgers in our +sandy and light grounds, where woods, furze, broom, and plenty of +shrubs are to shroud them in when they be from their burrows, and +thereunto warrens of conies at hand to feed upon at will. Otherwise in +clay, which we call the cledgy mould, we seldom hear of any, because +the moisture and the toughness of the soil is such as will not suffer +them to draw and make their burrows deep. Certes, if I may freely say +what I think, I suppose that these two kinds (I mean foxes and +badgers) are rather preserved by gentlemen to hunt and have pastime +withal at their own pleasures than otherwise suffered to live as not +able to be destroyed because of their great numbers. For such is the +scarcity of them here in England, in comparison of the plenty that is +to be seen in other countries, and so earnestly are the inhabitants +bent to root them out, that, except it had been to bear thus with the +recreations of their superiors in this behalf, it could not otherwise +have been chosen but that they should have been utterly destroyed by +many years agone. + +I might here intreat largely of other vermin, as the polecat, the +miniver, the weasel, stote, fulmart, squirrel, fitchew, and such like, +which Cardan includeth under the word _Mustela_: also of the otter, +and likewise of the beaver, whose hinder feet and tail only are +supposed to be fish. Certes the tail of this beast is like unto a thin +whetstone, as the body unto a monstrous rat: as the beast also itself +is of such force in the teeth that it will gnaw a hole through a thick +plank, or shere through a double billet in a night; it loveth also the +stillest rivers, and it is given to them by nature to go by flocks +unto the woods at hand, where they gather sticks wherewith to build +their nests, wherein their bodies lie dry above the water, although +they so provide most commonly that their tails may hang within the +same. It is also reported that their said tails are a delicate dish, +and their stones of such medicinal force that (as Vertomannus saith) +four men smelling unto them each after other did bleed at the nose +through their attractive force, proceeding from a vehement savour +wherewith they are endued. There is greatest plenty of them in Persia, +chiefly about Balascham, from whence they and their dried cods are +brought into all quarters of the world, though not without some +forgery by such as provide them. And of all these here remembered, as +the first sorts are plentiful in every wood and hedgerow, so these +latter, especially the otter (for, to say the truth, we have not many +beavers, but only in the Teisie in Wales) is not wanting or to seek in +many, but most, streams and rivers of this isle; but it shall suffice +in this sort to have named them, as I do finally the martern, a beast +of the chase, although for number I worthily doubt whether that of our +beavers or marterns may be thought to be the less. + +Other pernicious beasts we have not, except you repute the great +plenty of red and fallow deer whose colours are oft garled white and +black, all white or all black, and store of conies amongst the hurtful +sort. Which although that of themselves they are not offensive at all, +yet their great numbers are thought to be very prejudicial, and +therefore justly reproved of many, as are in like sort our huge flocks +of sheep, whereon the greatest part of our soil is employed almost in +every place, and yet our mutton, wool, and felles never the better +cheap. The young males which our fallow deer do bring forth are +commonly named according to their several ages: for the first year it +is a fawn, the second a pricket, the third a sorel, the fourth a +soare, the fifth a buck of the first head, not bearing the name of a +buck till he be five years old: and from henceforth his age is +commonly known by his head or horns. Howbeit this notice of his years +is not so certain but that the best woodman may now and then be +deceived in that account: for in some grounds a buck of the first head +will be as well headed as another in a high rowtie soil will be in the +fourth. It is also much to be marvelled at that, whereas they do +yearly mew and cast their horns, yet in fighting they never break off +where they do grife or mew. Furthermore, in examining the condition of +our red deer, I find that the young male is called in the first year a +calf, in the second a broket, the third a spay, the fourth a staggon +or stag, the fifth a great stag, the sixth a hart, and so forth unto +his death. And with him in degree of venerie are accounted the hare, +boar, and wolf. The fallow deer, as bucks and does, are nourished in +parks, and conies in warrens and burrows. As for hares, they run at +their own adventure, except some gentleman or other (for his pleasure) +do make an enclosure for them. Of these also the stag is accounted for +the most noble game, the fallow deer is the next, then the roe, +whereof we have indifferent store, and last of all the hare, not the +least in estimation, because the hunting of that seely beast is mother +to all the terms, blasts, and artificial devices that hunters do use. +All which (notwithstanding our custom) are pastimes more meet for +ladies and gentlewomen to exercise (whatsoever Franciscus Patritius +saith to the contrary in his _Institution of a Prince_) than for men +of courage to follow, whose hunting should practise their arms in +tasting of their manhood, and dealing with such beasts as eftsoons +will turn again and offer them the hardest, rather than their horses' +feet which many times may carry them with dishonour from the +field.[2]... + + [2] Here follows a discourse on ancient boar hunting, exalting + it above the degenerate sports of the day. This ends the + chapter on "savage beasts."--W. + +If I should go about to make any long discourse of venomous beasts or +worms bred in England, I should attempt more than occasion itself +would readily offer, sith we have very few worms, but no beasts at +all, that are thought by their natural qualities to be either venomous +or hurtful. First of all, therefore, we have the adder (in our old +Saxon tongue called an atter), which some men do not rashly take to be +the viper. Certes, if it be so, then is not the viper author of the +death of her[3] parents, as some histories affirm, and thereto +Encelius, a late writer, in his _De re Metallica_, lib. 3, cap. 38, +where he maketh mention of a she adder which he saw in Sala, whose +womb (as he saith) was eaten out after a like fashion, her young ones +lying by her in the sunshine, as if they had been earthworms. +Nevertheless, as he nameth them _viperas_, so he calleth the male +_echis_. and the female _echidna_, concluding in the end that _echis_ +is the same serpent which his countrymen to this day call _ein atter_, +as I have also noted before out of a Saxon dictionary. For my part I +am persuaded that the slaughter of their parents is either not true at +all, or not always (although I doubt not but that nature hath right +well provided to inhibit their superfluous increase by some means or +other), and so much the rather am I led hereunto for that I gather by +Nicander that of all venomous worms the viper only bringeth out her +young alive, and therefore is called in Latin _vipera quasivivipara_, +but of her own death he doth not (to my remembrance) say anything. It +is testified also by other in other words, and to the like sense, that +"_Echis id est vipera sola ex serpentibus non ova sed animalia +parit_."[4] And it may well be, for I remember that I have read in +Philostratus, _De vita Appollonii_, how he saw a viper licking her +young. I did see an adder once myself that lay (as I thought) sleeping +on a molehill, out of whose mouth came eleven young adders of twelve +or thirteen inches in length apiece, which played to and fro in the +grass one with another, till some of them espied me. So soon therefore +as they saw my face they ran again into the mouth of their dam, whom I +killed, and then found each of them shrouded in a distinct cell or +pannicle in her belly, much like unto a soft white jelly, which maketh +me to be of the opinion that our adder is the viper indeed. The colour +of their skin is for the most part like rusty iron or iron grey, but +such as be very old resemble a ruddy blue; and as once in the year (to +wit, in April or about the beginning of May) they cast their old skins +(whereby as it is thought their age reneweth), so their stinging +bringeth death without present remedy be at hand, the wounded never +ceasing to swell, neither the venom to work till the skin of the one +break, and the other ascend upward to the heart, where it finisheth +the natural effect, except the juice of dragons (in Latin called +_dracunculus minor_) be speedily ministered and drunk in strong ale, +or else some other medicine taken of like force that may countervail +and overcome the venom of the same. The length of them is most +commonly two feet, and somewhat more, but seldom doth it extend into +two feet six inches, except it be in some rare and monstrous one, +whereas our snakes are much longer, and seen sometimes to surmount a +yard, or three feet, although their poison be nothing so grievous and +deadly as the others. Our adders lie in winter under stones, as +Aristotle also saith of the viper (lib. 8, cap. 15), and in holes of +the earth, rotten stubs of trees, and amongst the dead leaves; but in +the heat of the summer they come abroad, and lie either round in heaps +or at length upon some hillock, or elsewhere in the grass. They are +found only in our woodland countries and highest grounds, where +sometimes (though seldom) a speckled stone called _echites_, in Dutch +_ein atter stein_, is gotten out of their dried carcases, which divers +report to be good against their poison.[5] As for our snakes, which in +Latin are properly named _angues_, they commonly are seen in moors, +fens, loam, walls, and low bottoms. + + [3] Galenus, _De Theriaca ad Pisonem_; Pliny, lib. 10, cap. + 62.--H. + + [4] "The adder or viper alone among serpents brings forth not + eggs but living creatures." + + [5] Sallust, cap. 40, Pliny, lib. 37, cap. 2.--H. + +As we have great store of toads where adders commonly are found, so do +frogs abound where snakes do keep their residence. We have also the +slow-worm, which is black and greyish of colour, and somewhat shorter +than an adder. I was at the killing once of one of them, and thereby +perceived that she was not so called of any want of nimble motion, but +rather of the contrary. Nevertheless we have a blind-worm, to be found +under logs, in woods and timber that hath lain long in a place, which +some also do call (and upon better ground) by the name of slow-worms, +and they are known easily by their more or less variety of striped +colours, drawn long-ways from their heads, their whole bodies little +exceeding a foot in length, and yet is their venom deadly. This also +is not to be omitted; and now and then in our fenny countries other +kinds of serpents are found of greater quantity than either our adder +or our snake, but, as these are not ordinary and oft to be seen, so I +mean not to intreat of them among our common annoyances. Neither have +we the scorpion, a plague of God sent not long since into Italy, and +whose poison (as Apollodorus saith) is white, neither the tarantula or +Neapolitan spider, whose poison bringeth death, except music be at +hand. Wherefore I suppose our country to be the more happy (I mean in +part) for that it is void of these two grievous annoyances wherewith +other nations are plagued. + +We have also efts both of the land and water, and likewise the noisome +swifts, whereof to say any more it would be but loss of time, sith +they are all well known, and no region to my knowledge found to be +void of many of them. As for flies (sith it shall not be amiss a +little to touch them also), we have none that can do hurt or hindrance +naturally unto any: for whether they be cut-waisted or whole-bodied, +they are void of poison and all venomous inclination. The cut or girt +waisted (for so I English the word _insecta_) are the hornets, wasps, +bees, and such like, whereof we have great store, and of which an +opinion is conceived that the first do breed of the corruption of dead +horses, the second of pears and apples corrupted, and the last of kine +and oxen: which may be true, especially the first and latter in some +parts of the beast, and not their whole substances, as also in the +second, sith we have never wasps but when our fruit beginneth to wax +ripe. Indeed Virgil and others speak of a generation of bees by +killing or smothering a bruised bullock or calf and laying his bowels +or his flesh wrapped up in his hide in a close house for a certain +season; but how true it is, hitherto I have not tried. Yet sure I am +of this, that no one living creature corrupteth without the production +of another, as we may see by ourselves, whose flesh doth alter into +lice, and also in sheep for excessive numbers of flesh flies, if they +be suffered to lie unburied or uneaten by the dogs and swine, who +often and happily present such needless generations. + +As concerning bees, I think it good to remember that, whereas some +ancient writers affirm it to be a commodity wanting in our island, it +is now found to be nothing so. In old times peradventure we had none +indeed; but in my days there is such plenty of them in manner +everywhere that in some uplandish towns there are one hundred or two +hundred hives of them, although the said hives are not so huge as +those of the east country, but far less, and not able to contain above +one bushel of corn or five pecks at the most. Pliny (a man that of set +purpose delighteth to write of wonders), speaking of honey, noteth +that in the north regions the hives in his time were of such quantity +that some one comb contained eight foot in length, and yet (as it +should seem) he speaketh not of the greatest. For in Podolia, which is +now subject to the King of Poland, their hives are so great, and combs +so abundant, that huge boars, overturning and falling into them, are +drowned in the honey before they can recover and find the means to +come out. + +Our honey also is taken and reputed to be the best, because it is +harder, better wrought, and cleanlier vesselled up, than that which +cometh from beyond the sea, where they stamp and strain their combs, +bees, and young blowings altogether into the stuff, as I have been +informed. In use also of medicine our physicians and apothecaries +eschew the foreign, especially that of Spain and Pontus, by reason of +a venomous quality naturally planted in the same, as some write, and +choose the home-made: not only by reason of our soil (which hath no +less plenty of wild thyme growing therein than in Sicilia and about +Athens, and maketh the best stuff) as also for that it breedeth (being +gotten in harvest time) less choler, and which is oftentimes (as I +have seen by experience) so white as sugar, and corned as if it were +salt. Our hives are made commonly of rye straw and wattled about with +bramble quarters; but some make the same of wicker, and cast them over +with clay. We cherish none in trees, but set our hives somewhere on +the warmest side of the house, providing that they may stand dry and +without danger both of the mouse and the moth. This furthermore is to +be noted, that whereas in vessels of oil that which is nearest the top +is counted the finest and of wine that in the middest, so of honey the +best which is heaviest and moistest is always next the bottom, and +evermore casteth and driveth his dregs upward toward the very top, +contrary to the nature of other liquid substances, whose grounds and +leeze do generally settle downwards. And thus much as by the way of +our bees and English honey. + +As for the whole-bodied, as the _cantharides_, and such venomous +creatures of the same kind, to be abundantly found in other countries, +we hear not of them: yet have we beetles, horseflies, turdbugs or dors +(called in Latin _scarabei_), the locust or the grasshopper (which to +me do seem to be one thing, as I will anon declare), and such like, +whereof let other intreat that make an exercise in catching of flies, +but a far greater sport in offering them to spiders, as did Domitian +sometime, and another prince yet living who delighted so much to see +the jolly combats betwixt a stout fly and an old spider that divers +men have had great rewards given them for their painful provision of +flies made only for this purpose. Some parasites also, in the time of +the aforesaid emperor (when they were disposed to laugh at his folly, +and yet would seem in appearance to gratify his fantastical head with +some shew of dutiful demeanour), could devise to set their lord on +work by letting a flesh fly privily into his chamber, which he +forthwith would eagerly have hunted (all other business set apart) and +never ceased till he had caught her into his fingers, wherewith arose +the proverb, "_Ne musca quidem_" uttered first by Vibius Priscus, who +being asked whether anybody was with Domitian, answered "_Ne musca +quidem_" whereby he noted his folly. There are some cockscombs here +and there in England, learning it abroad as men transregionate, which +make account also of this pastime, as of a notable matter, telling +what a sight is seen between them, if either of them be lusty and +courageous in his kind. One also hath made a book of the spider and +the fly, wherein he dealeth so profoundly, and beyond all measure of +skill that neither he himself that made it nor any one that readeth it +can reach unto the meaning thereof. But if those jolly fellows, +instead of the straw that they must thrust into the fly's tail (a +great injury no doubt to such a noble champion), would bestow the cost +to set a fool's cap upon their own heads, then might they with more +security and less reprehension behold these notable battles. + +Now, as concerning the locust, I am led by divers of my country, who +(as they say) were either in Germany, Italy, or Pannonia, 1542, when +those nations were greatly annoyed with that kind of fly, and affirm +very constantly that they saw none other creature than the grasshopper +during the time of that annoyance, which was said to come to them from +the Meotides. In most of our translations also of the Bible the word +_locusta_ is Englished a grasshopper, and thereunto (Leviticus xi.) it +is reputed among the clean food, otherwise John the Baptist would +never have lived with them in the wilderness. In Barbary, Numidia, and +sundry other places of Africa, as they have been,[6] so are they eaten +to this day powdered in barrels, and therefore the people of those +parts are called _Acedophagi_: nevertheless they shorten the life of +the eaters, by the production at the last of an irksome and filthy +disease. In India they are three foot long, in Ethiopia much shorter, +but in England seldom above an inch. As for the cricket, called in +Latin _cicada_, he hath some likelihood, but not very great, with the +grasshopper, and therefore he is not to be brought in as an umpire in +this case. Finally, Matthiolus and so many as describe the locust do +set down none other form than that of our grasshopper, which maketh me +so much the more to rest upon my former imagination, which is that the +locust and the grasshopper are one. + + [6] See Diodorus Siculus.--H. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OF OUR ENGLISH DOGS AND THEIR QUALITIES + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 13; 1587, Book III., Chapter 7.] + + +There is no country that may (as I take it) compare with ours in +number, excellency, and diversity of dogs. + +The first sort therefore he divideth either into such as rouse the +beast, and continue the chase, or springeth the bird, and bewrayeth +her flight by pursuit. And as these are commonly called spaniels, so +the other are named hounds, whereof he maketh eight sorts, of which +the foremost excelleth in perfect smelling, the second in quick +espying, the third in swiftness and quickness, the fourth in smelling +and nimbleness, etc., and the last in subtlety and deceitfulness. +These (saith Strabo) are most apt for game, and called Sagaces by a +general name, not only because of their skill in hunting, but also for +that they know their own and the names of their fellows most exactly. +For if the hunter see any one to follow skilfully, and with likelihood +of good success, he biddeth the rest to hark and follow such a dog, +and they eftsoones obey so soon as they hear his name. The first kind +of these are often called harriers, whose game is the fox, the hare, +the wolf (if we had any), hart, buck, badger, otter, polecat, +lopstart, weasel, conie, etc.: the second height a terrier and it +hunteth the badger and grey only: the third a bloodhound, whose office +is to follow the fierce, and now and then to pursue a thief or beast +by his dry foot: the fourth height a gazehound, who hunteth by the +eye: the fifth a greyhound, cherished for his strength and swiftness +and stature, commended by Bratius in his _De Venatione_, and not +unremembered by Hercules Stroza in a like treatise, and above all +other those of Britain, where he saith: "Magna spectandi mole +Britanni;" also by Nemesianus, libro Cynegeticón, where he saith: +"Divisa Britannia mittit Veloces nostrique orbis venatibus aptos," of +which sort also some be smooth, of sundry colours, and some +shake-haired: the sixth a liemer, that excelleth in smelling and +swift-running: the seventh a tumbler: and the eighth a thief whose +offices (I mean of the latter two) incline only to deceit, wherein +they are oft so skilful that few men would think so mischievous a wit +to remain in such silly creatures. Having made this enumeration of +dogs which are apt for the chase and hunting, he cometh next to such +as serve the falcons in their time, whereof he maketh also two sorts. +One that findeth his game on the land, another that putteth up such +fowl as keepeth in the water: and of these this is commonly most usual +for the net or train, the other for the hawk, as he doth shew at +large. Of the first he saith that they have no peculiar names assigned +to them severally, but each of them is called after the bird which by +natural appointment he is alloted to hunt or serve, for which +consideration some be named dogs for the pheasant, some for the +falcon, and some for the partridge. Howbeit the common name for all is +spaniel (saith he), and thereupon alluded as if these kinds of dogs +had been brought hither out of Spain. In like sort we have of water +spaniels in their kind. The third sort of dogs of the gentle kind is +the spaniel gentle, or comforter, or (as the common term is) the +fistinghound, and those are called Melitei, of the Island Malta, from +whence they were brought hither. These are little and pretty, proper +and fine, and sought out far and near to falsify the nice delicacy of +dainty dames, and wanton women's wills, instruments of folly to play +and dally withal, in trifling away the treasure of time, to withdraw +their minds from more commendable exercises, and to content their +corrupt concupiscences with vain disport--a silly poor shift to shun +their irksome idleness. The Sybaritical puppies the smaller they be +(and thereto if they have a hole in the fore parts of their heads) the +better they are accepted, the more pleasure also they provoke, as meet +playfellows for mincing mistresses to bear in their bosoms, to keep +company withal in their chambers, to succour with sleep in bed, and +nourish with meat at board, to lie in their laps, and lick their lips +as they lie (like young Dianas) in their waggons and coaches. And good +reason it should be so, for coarseness with fineness hath no +fellowship, but featness with neatness hath neighbourhood enough. That +plausible proverb therefore versified sometime upon a tyrant--namely, +that he loved his sow better than his son--may well be applied to some +of this kind of people, who delight more in their dogs, that are +deprived of all possibility of reason, than they do in children that +are capable of wisdom and judgment. Yea, they oft feed them of the +best where the poor man's child at their doors can hardly come by the +worst. But the former abuse peradventure reigneth where there hath +been long want of issue, else where barrenness is the best blossom of +beauty: or, finally, where poor men's children for want of their own +issue are not ready to be had. It is thought of some that it is very +wholesome for a weak stomach to bear such a dog in the bosom, as it is +for him that hath the palsy to feel the daily smell and savour of a +fox. But how truly this is affirmed let the learned judge: only it +shall suffice for Doctor Caius to have said thus much of spaniels and +dogs of the gentle kind. + +Dogs of the homely kind are either shepherd's curs or mastiffs. The +first are so common that it needeth me not to speak of them. Their use +also is so well known in keeping the herd together (either when they +grass or go before the shepherd) that it should be but in vain to +spend any time about them. Wherefore I will leave this cur unto his +own kind, and go in hand with the mastiff, tie dog, or band dog, so +called because many of them are tied up in chains and strong bonds in +the daytime, for doing hurt abroad, which is a huge dog, stubborn, +ugly, eager, burthenous of body (and therefore of but little +swiftness), terrible and fearful to behold, and oftentimes more fierce +and fell than any Archadian or Corsican cur. Our Englishmen, to the +extent that these dogs may be more cruel and fierce, assist nature +with some art, use, and custom. For although this kind of dog be +capable of courage, violent, valiant, stout, and bold: yet will they +increase these their stomachs by teaching them to bait the bear, the +bull, the lion, and other such like cruel and bloody beasts (either +brought over or kept up at home for the same purpose), without any +collar to defend their throats, and oftentimes there too they train +them up in fighting and wrestling with a man (having for the safeguard +of his life either a pikestaff, club, sword, privy coat), whereby they +become the more fierce and cruel unto strangers. The Caspians make so +much account sometimes of such great dogs that every able man would +nourish sundry of them in his house of set purpose, to the end they +should devour their carcases after their deaths thinking the dog's +bellies to be the most honourable sepulchres. The common people also +followed the same rate, and therefore there were tie dogs kept up by +public ordinance, to devour them after their deaths: by means whereof +these beasts became the more eager, and with great difficulty after a +while restrained from falling upon the living. But whither am I +digressed? In returning therefore to our own, I say that of mastiffs, +some bark only with fierce and open mouth but will not bite; but the +cruelest do either not bark at all or bite before they bark, and +therefore are more to be feared than any of the other. They take also +their name of the word "mase" and "thief" (or "master-thief" if you +will), because they often stound and put such persons to their shifts +in towns and villages, and are the principal causes of their +apprehension and taking. The force which is in them surmounteth all +belief, and the fast hold which they take with their teeth exceedeth +all credit: for three of them against a bear, four against a lion, are +sufficient to try mastries with them. King Henry the Seventh, as the +report goeth, commanded all such curs to be hanged, because they durst +presume to fight against the lion, who is their king and sovereign. +The like he did with an excellent falcon, as some say, because he +feared not hand-to-hand match with an eagle, willing his falconers in +his own presence to pluck off his head after he was taken down, saying +that it was not meet for any subject to offer such wrong unto his lord +and superior, wherein he had a further meaning. But if King Henry the +Seventh had lived in our time what would he have done to our English +mastiff, which alone and without any help at all pulled down first a +huge bear, then a pard, and last of all a lion, each after other +before the French king in one day, when the Lord Buckhurst was +ambassador unto him, and whereof if I should write the circumstances, +that is, how he took his advantage being let loose unto them, and +finally drave them into such exceeding fear, that they were all glad +to run away when he was taken from them, I should take much pains, and +yet reap but small credit: wherefore it shall suffice to have said +thus much thereof. Some of our mastiffs will rage only in the night, +some are to be tied up both day and night. Such also as are suffered +to go loose about the house and yard are so gentle in the daytime that +children may ride on their backs and play with them at their +pleasures. Divers of them likewise are of such jealousy over their +master and whosoever of his household, that if a stranger do embrace +or touch any of them, they will fall fiercely upon them, unto their +extreme mischief if their fury be not prevented. Such a one was the +dog of Nichomedes, king sometime of Bithynia, who seeing Consigne the +queen to embrace and kiss her husband as they walked together in a +garden, did tear her all to pieces, maugre his resistance and the +present aid of such as attended on them. Some of them moreover will +suffer a stranger to come in and walk about the house or yard where he +listeth, without giving over to follow him: but if he put forth his +hand to touch anything, then will they fly upon them and kill them if +they may. I had one myself once, which would not suffer any man to +bring in his weapon further than my gate: neither those that were of +my house to be touched in his presence. Or if I had beaten any of my +children, he would gently have essayed to catch the rod in his teeth +and take it out of my hand or else pluck down their clothes to save +them from the stripes: which in my opinion is not unworthy to be +noted. + +The last sort of dogs consisteth of the currish kind meet for many +toys, of which the whappet or prick-eared cur is one. Some men call +them warners, because they are good for nothing else but to bark and +give warning when anybody doth stir or lie in wait about the house in +the night season. Certes it is impossible to describe these curs in +any order, because they have no one kind proper unto themselves, but +are a confused company mixed of all the rest. The second sort of them +are called turnspits, whose office is not unknown to any. And as these +are only reserved for this purpose, so in many places our mastiffs +(beside the use which tinkers have of them in carrying their heavy +budgets) are made to draw water in great wheels out of deep wells, +going much like unto those which are framed for our turnspits, as is +to be seen at Roiston, where this feat is often practised. Besides +these also we have sholts or curs daily brought out of Ireland, and +made much of among us, because of their sauciness and quarrelling. +Moreover they bite very sore, and love candles exceedingly, as do the +men and women of their country; but I may say no more of them, because +they are not bred with us. Yet this will I make report of by the way, +for pastime's sake, that when a great man of those parts came of late +into one of our ships which went thither for fish, to see the form and +fashion of the same, his wife apparelled in fine sables, abiding on +the deck whilst her husband was under the hatches with the mariners, +espied a pound or two of candles hanging on the mast, and being loath +to stand there idle alone, she fell to and eat them up every one, +supposing herself to have been at a jolly banquet, and shewing very +pleasant gesture when her husband came up again unto her. + +The last kind of toyish curs are named dancers, and those being of a +mongrel sort also, are taught and exercised to dance in measure at the +musical sound of an instrument, as at the just stroke of a drum, sweet +accent of the citharne, and pleasant harmony of the harp, shewing many +tricks by the gesture of their bodies: as to stand bolt upright, to +lie flat on the ground, to turn round as a ring holding their tails in +their teeth, to saw and beg for meat, to take a man's cap from his +head, and sundry such properties, which they learn of their idle +roguish masters, whose instruments they are to gather gain, as old +apes clothed in motley and coloured short-waisted jackets are for the +like vagabonds, who seek no better living than that which they may get +by fond pastime and idleness. I might here intreat of other dogs, as +of those which are bred between a bitch and a wolf, also between a +bitch and a fox, or a bear and a mastiff. But as we utterly want the +first sort, except they be brought unto us: so it happeneth sometimes +that the other two are engendered and seen at home amongst us. But all +the rest heretofore remembered in this chapter there is none more ugly +and odious in sight, cruel and fierce in deed, nor untractable in +hand, than that which is begotten between the bear and the bandog. For +whatsoever he catcheth hold of he taketh it so fast that a man may +sooner tear and rend his body in sunder than get open his mouth to +separate his chaps. Certes he regardeth neither wolf, bear, nor lion, +and therefore may well be compared with those two dogs which were sent +to Alexander out of India (and procreated as it is thought between a +mastiff and a male tiger, as be those also of Hircania), or to them +that are bred in Archadia, where copulation is oft seen between lions +and bitches, as the lion is in France (as I said) between she wolves +and dogs, whereof let this suffice, sith the further tractation of +them doth not concern my purpose, more than the confutation of +Cardan's talk, _De subt._, lib. 10, who saith that after many +generations dogs do become wolves, and contrariwise, which if it were +true, then could not England be without many wolves: but nature hath +set a difference between them, not only in outward form, but also +inward disposition of their bones, whereof it is impossible that his +assertion can be sound. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF THE NAVY OF ENGLAND + +[1577, Book II., Chapter 13; 1587, Book II., Chapter 17.] + + +There is nothing that hath brought me into more admiration of the +power and force of antiquity than their diligence and care had of +their navies: wherein, whether I consider their speedy building, or +great number of ships which some one kingdom or region possessed at +one instant, it giveth me still occasion either to suspect the +history, or to think that in our times we come very far behind +them.[1]... + + [1] Here follows an account of Roman and Carthaginian galleys + which "did not only match, but far exceed" in capacity our ships + and galleys of 1587.--W. + +I must needs confess therefore that the ancient vessels far exceeded +ours for capacity, nevertheless if you regard the form, and the +assurance from peril of the sea, and therewithal the strength and +nimbleness of such as are made in our time, you shall easily find that +ours are of more value than theirs: for as the greatest vessel is not +always the fastest, so that of most huge capacity is not always the +aptest to shift and brook the seas: as might be seen by the _Great +Henry_, the hugest vessel that ever England framed in our times. +Neither were the ships of old like unto ours in mould and manner of +building above the water (for of low galleys in our seas we make small +account) nor so full of ease within, since time hath engendered more +skill in the wrights, and brought all things to more perfection than +they had in the beginning. And now to come unto our purpose at the +first intended. + +The navy of England may be divided into three sorts, of which the one +serveth for the wars, the other for burden, and the third for +fishermen which get their living by fishing on the sea. How many of +the first order are maintained within the realm it passeth my cunning +to express; yet, since it may be parted into the navy royal and common +fleet, I think good to speak of those that belong unto the prince, and +so much the rather, for that their number is certain and well known to +very many. Certainly there is no prince in Europe that hath a more +beautiful or gallant sort of ships than the queen's majesty of England +at this present, and those generally are of such exceeding force that +two of them, being well appointed and furnished as they ought, will +not let to encounter with three or four of those of other countries, +and either bowge them or put them to flight, if they may not bring +them home. + +Neither are the moulds of any foreign barks so conveniently made, to +brook so well one sea as another lying upon the shore of any part of +the continent, as those of England. And therefore the common report +that strangers make of our ships amongst themselves is daily confirmed +to be true, which is, that for strength, assurance, nimbleness, and +swiftness of sailing, there are no vessels in the world to be compared +with ours. And all these are committed to the regiment and safe +custody of the admiral, who is so called (as some imagine) of the +Greek word _almiros_, a captain on the sea; for so saith Zonaras in +_Basilio Macedone_ and _Basilio Porphyriogenito_, though others fetch +it from _ad mare_, the Latin words, another sort from _Amyras_, the +Saracen magistrate, or from some French derivation: but these things +are not for this place, and therefore I pass them over. The queen's +highness hath at this present (which is the four-and-twentieth of her +reign) already made and furnished, to the number of four or +five-and-twenty great ships, which lie for the most part in Gillingham +Road, beside three galleys, of whose particular names and furniture +(so far forth as I can come by them) it shall not be amiss to make +report at this time. + +_The names of so many ships belonging to her majesty as I could come +by at this present_. + +The Bonadventure. White Bear. +Elizabeth Jonas.[2] Philip and Mary. +Triumph. Aid. +Bull. Handmaid. +Tiger.[3] Dreadnought. +Antelope. Swallow. +Hope. Genet. +Lion. Bark of Bullen. +Victory. Achates. +Mary Rose. Falcon. +Foresight. George. +Swiftsure. Revenge. + + [2] A name devised by her grace in remembrance of her own + deliverance from the fury of her enemies, from which in one + respect she was no less miraculously preserved than was the + prophet Jonas from the belly of the whale.--H. + + [3] So called of her exceeding nimbleness in sailing and + swiftness of course.--H. + +It is said that as kings and princes have in the young days of the +world, and long since, framed themselves to erect every year a city in +some one place or other of their kingdom (and no small wonder that +Sardanapalus should begin and finish two, to wit, Anchialus and +Tarsus, in one day), so her grace doth yearly build one ship or other +to the better defence of her frontiers from the enemy. But, as of this +report I have no assured certainty, so it shall suffice to have said +so much of these things; yet this I think worthy further to be added, +that if they should all be driven to service at one instance (which +God forbid) she should have a power by sea of about nine or ten +thousand men, which were a notable company, beside the supply of other +vessels appertaining to her subjects to furnish up her voyage. + +Beside these, her grace hath other in hand also, of whom hereafter, as +their turns do come about, I will not let to leave some further +remembrance. She hath likewise three notable galleys: the Speedwell, +the Try Right, and the Black Galley, with the sight whereof, and the +rest of the navy royal, it is incredible to say how greatly her grace +is delighted: and not without great cause (I say) since by their means +her coasts are kept in quiet, and sundry foreign enemies put back, +which otherwise would invade us. The number of those that serve for +burden with the other, whereof I have made mention already and whose +use is daily seen, as occasion serveth in time of the wars, is to me +utterly unknown. Yet if the report of one record be anything at all to +be credited, there are one hundred and thirty-five ships that exceed +five hundred ton; topmen, under one hundred and above forty, six +hundred and fifty-six; hoys, one hundred; but of hulks, catches, +fisherboats, and crayers, it lieth not in me to deliver the just +account, since they are hard to come by. Of these also there are some +of the queen's majesty's subjects that have two or three; some, four +or six; and (as I heard of late) one man, whose name I suppress for +modesty's sake, hath been known not long since to have had sixteen or +seventeen, and employed them wholly to the wafting in and out of our +merchants, whereby he hath reaped no small commodity and gain. I might +take occasion to tell of the notable and difficult voyages made into +strange countries by Englishmen, and of their daily success there; but +as these things are nothing incident to my purpose, so I surcease to +speak of them. Only this will I add, to the end all men shall +understand somewhat of the great masses of treasure daily employed +upon our navy, how there are few of those ships, of the first and +second sort, that, being apparelled and made ready to sail, are not +worth one thousand pounds, or three thousand ducats at the least, if +they should presently be sold. What shall we think then of the +greater, but especially of the navy royal, of which some one vessel is +worth two of the other, as the shipwrights have often told me? It is +possible that some covetous person, hearing this report, will either +not credit it at all, or suppose money so employed to be nothing +profitable to the queen's coffers: as a good husband said once when he +heard there should be a provision made for armour, wishing the queen's +money to be rather laid out to some speedier return of gain unto her +grace, "because the realm (saith he) is in case good enough," and so +peradventure he thought. But if, as by store of armour for the defence +of the country, he had likewise understanded that the good keeping of +the sea is the safeguard of our land, he would have altered his +censure, and soon given over his judgment. For in times past, when our +nation made small account of navigation, how soon did the Romans, then +the Saxons, and last of all the Danes, invade this island? whose +cruelty in the end enforced our countrymen, as it were even against +their wills, to provide for ships from other places, and build at home +of their own whereby their enemies were oftentimes distressed. But +most of all were the Normans therein to be commended. For, in a short +process of time after the conquest of this island, and good +consideration had for the well-keeping of the same, they supposed +nothing more commodious for the defence of the country than the +maintenance of a strong navy, which they speedily provided, +maintained, and thereby reaped in the end their wished security, +wherewith before their times this island was never acquainted. Before +the coming of the Romans I do not read that we had any ships at all, +except a few made of wicker and covered with buffalo hides, like unto +which there are some to be seen at this present in Scotland (as I +hear), although there be a little (I wot not well what) difference +between them. Of the same also Solinus speaketh, so far as I remember: +nevertheless it may be gathered from his words how the upper parts of +them above the water only were framed of the said wickers, and that +the Britons did use to fast all the whiles they went to the sea in +them; but whether it were done for policy or superstition, as yet I do +not read. + +In the beginning of the Saxons' regiment we had some ships also; but +as their number and mould was little, and nothing to the purpose, so +Egbert was the first prince that ever thoroughly began to know this +necessity of a navy and use the service thereof in the defence of his +country. After him also other princes, as Alfred, Edgar, Ethelred, +etc., endeavoured more and more to store themselves at the full with +ships of all quantities, but chiefly Edgar, for he provided a navy of +1600 _aliàs_ 3600 sail, which he divided into four parts, and sent +them to abide upon four sundry coasts of the land, to keep the same +from pirates. Next unto him (and worthy to be remembered) is Ethelred, +who made a law that every man that hold 310 hidelands should find a +ship furnished to serve him in the wars. Howbeit, as I said before, +when all their navy was at the greatest, it was not comparable for +force and sure building to that which afterward the Normans provided, +neither that of the Normans anything like to the same that is to be +seen now in these our days. For the journeys also of our ships, you +shall understand that a well-builded vessel will run or sail commonly +three hundred leagues or nine hundred miles in a week, or peradventure +some will go 2200 leagues in six weeks and a half. And surely, if +their lading be ready against they come thither, there be of them that +will be here, at the West Indies, and home again in twelve or thirteen +weeks from Colchester, although the said Indies be eight hundred +leagues from the cape or point of Cornwall, as I have been informed. +This also I understand by report of some travellers, that, if any of +our vessels happen to make a voyage to Hispaniola or New Spain (called +in time past Quinquegia and Haiti), which lieth between the north +tropic and the Equator, after they have once touched at the Canaries +(which are eight days' sailing or two hundred and fifty leagues from +St. Lucas de Barameda, in Spain) they will be there in thirty or forty +days, and home again in Cornwall in other eight weeks, which is a +goodly matter, beside the safety and quietness in the passage, but +more of this elsewhere. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +OF SUNDRY KINDS OF PUNISHMENT APPOINTED FOR OFFENDERS + +[1577, Book III., Chapter 6; 1587, Book II., Chapter 11.] + + +In cases of felony, manslaughter, robbery, murder, rape, piracy, and +such capital crimes as are not reputed for treason or hurt of the +estate, our sentence pronounced upon the offender is, to hang till he +be dead. For of other punishments used in other countries we have no +knowledge or use; and yet so few grievous crimes committed with us as +elsewhere in the world. To use torment also or question by pain and +torture in these common cases with us is greatly abhorred, since we +are found always to be such as despise death, and yet abhor to be +tormented, choosing rather frankly to open our minds than to yield our +bodies unto such servile haulings and tearings as are used in other +countries. And this is one cause wherefore our condemned persons do go +so cheerfully to their deaths; for our nation is free, stout, haughty, +prodigal of life and blood, as Sir Thomas Smith saith, lib. 2, cap. +25, _De Republica_, and therefore cannot in any wise digest to be used +as villains and slaves, in suffering continually beating, servitude, +and servile torments. No, our gaolers are guilty of felony, by an old +law of the land, if they torment any prisoner committed to their +custody for the revealing of his accomplices. + +The greatest and most grievous punishment used in England for such as +offend against the State is drawing from the prison to the place of +execution upon an hurdle or sled, where they are hanged till they be +half dead, and then taken down, and quartered alive; after that, their +members and bowels are cut from their bodies, and thrown into a fire, +provided near hand and within their own sight, even for the same +purpose. + +Sometimes, if the trespass be not the more heinous, they are suffered +to hang till they be quite dead. And whensoever any of the nobility +are convicted of high treason by their peers, that is to say, equals +(for an inquest of yeomen passeth not upon them, but only of the lords +of parliament), this manner of their death is converted into the loss +of their heads only, notwithstanding that the sentence do run after +the former order. In trial of cases concerning treason, felony, or any +other grievous crime not confessed, the party accused doth yield, if +he be a noble man, to be tried by an inquest (as I have said) and his +peers; if a gentleman, by gentlemen; and an inferior, by God and by +the country, to wit, the yeomanry (for combat or battle is not greatly +in use), and, being condemned of felony, manslaughter, etc., he is +eftsoons hanged by the neck till he be dead, and then cut down and +buried. But if he be convicted of wilful murder, done either upon +pretended malice or in any notable robbery, he is either hanged alive +in chains near the place where the fact was committed (or else upon +compassion taken, first strangled with a rope), and so continueth till +his bones consume to nothing. We have use neither of the wheel nor of +the bar, as in other countries; but, when wilful manslaughter is +perpetrated, beside hanging, the offender hath his right hand commonly +stricken off before or near unto the place where the act was done, +after which he is led forth to the place of execution, and there put +to death according to the law. + +The word felon is derived of the Saxon words _fell_ and _one_, that is +to say, an evil and wicked one, a one of untameable nature and +lewdness not to be suffered for fear of evil example and the +corruption of others. In like sort in the word _felony_ are many +grievous crimes contained, as breach of prison (Ann. I of Edward the +Second), disfigurers of the prince's liege people (Ann. 5 of Henry the +Fourth), hunting by night with painted faces and visors (Ann. I of +Henry the Seventh), rape, or stealing of women and maidens (Ann. 3 of +Henry Eight), conspiracies against the person of the prince (Ann. 3 of +Henry the Seventh), embezzling of goods committed by the master to the +servant above the value of forty shillings (Ann. 17 of Henry the +Eighth), carrying of horses or mares into Scotland (Ann. 23 of Henry +Eight), sodomy and buggery (Ann. 25 of Henry the Eighth), conjuring, +forgery, witchcraft, and digging up of crosses (Ann. 33 of Henry +Eight), prophesying upon arms, cognisances, names, and badges (Ann. 33 +of Henry Eight), casting of slanderous bills (Ann. 37, Henry Eight), +wilful killing by poison (Ann. 1 of Edward the Sixth), departure of a +soldier from the field (Ann. 2 of Edward the Sixth), diminution of +coin, all offences within case of premunire, embezzling of records, +goods taken from dead men by their servants, stealing of whatsoever +cattle, robbing by the high way, upon the sea, or of dwelling houses, +letting out of ponds, cutting of purses, stealing of deer by night, +counterfeits of coin, evidences charters, and writings, and divers +other needless to be remembered. If a woman poison her husband, she is +burned alive; if the servant kill his master, he is to be executed for +petty treason; he that poisoneth a man is to be boiled to death in +water or lead, although the party die not of the practice; in cases of +murder, all the accessories are to suffer pains of death accordingly. +Perjury is punished by the pillory, burning in the forehead with the +letter P, the rewalting of the trees growing upon the grounds of the +offenders, and loss of all his movables. Many trespasses also are +punished by the cutting off of one or both ears from the head of the +offender, as the utterance of seditious words against the magistrates, +fraymakers, petty robbers, etc. Rogues are burned through the ears; +carriers of sheep out of the land, by the loss of their hands; such as +kill by poison are either boiled or scalded to death in lead or +seething water. Heretics are burned quick; harlots and their mates, by +carting, ducking, and doing of open penance in sheets in churches and +market steeds, are often put to rebuke. Howbeit, as this is counted +with some either as no punishment at all to speak of, or but little +regarded of the offenders, so I would with adultery and fornication to +have some sharper law. For what great smart is it to be turned out of +hot sheet into a cold, or after a little washing in the water to be +let loose again unto their former trades? Howbeit the dragging of some +of them over the Thames between Lambeth and Westminster at the tail of +a boat is a punishment that most terrifieth them which are condemned +thereto; but this is inflicted upon them by none other than the knight +marshall, and that within the compass of his jurisdiction and limits +only. Canutus was the first that gave authority to the clergy to +punish whoredom, who at that time found fault with the former laws as +being too severe in this behalf. For, before the time of the said +Canutus, the adulterer forfeited all his goods to the king and his +body to be at his pleasure; and the adulteress was to lose her eyes or +nose, or both if the case were more than common: whereby it appears of +what estimation marriage was amongst them, since the breakers of that +holy estate were so grievously rewarded. But afterward the clergy +dealt more favourably with them, shooting rather at the punishments of +such priests and clerks as were married than the reformation of +adultery and fornication, wherein you shall find no example that any +severity was shewed except upon such lay men as had defiled their +nuns. As in theft therefore, so in adultery and whoredom, I would wish +the parties trespassing to be made bond or slaves unto those that +received the injury, to sell and give where they listed, or to be +condemned to the galleys: for that punishment would prove more bitter +to them than half-an-hour's hanging, or than standing in a sheet, +though the weather be never so cold. + +Manslaughter in time past was punished by the purse, wherein the +quantity or quality of the punishment was rated after the state and +calling of the party killed: so that one was valued sometime at 1200, +another at 600, or 200 shillings. And by a statute made under Henry +the First, a citizen of London at 100, whereof elsewhere I have spoken +more at large. Such as kill themselves are buried in the field with a +stake driven through their bodies. + +Witches are hanged, or sometimes burned; but thieves are hanged (as I +said before) generally on the gibbet or gallows, saving in Halifax, +where they are beheaded after a strange manner, and whereof I find +this report. There is and has been of ancient time a law, or rather a +custom, at Halifax, that whosoever does commit any felony, and is taken +with the same, or confesses the fact upon examination, if it be valued +by four constables to amount to the sum of thirteenpence-halfpenny, he +is forthwith beheaded upon one of the next market days (which fall +usually upon the Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), or else upon the +same day that he is so convicted, if market be then holden. The engine +wherewith the execution is done is a square block of wood of the +length of four feet and a half, which does ride up and down in a slot, +rabbet, or regall, between two pieces of timber, that are framed and +set upright, of five yards in height. In the nether end of the sliding +block is an axe, keyed or fastened with an iron into the wood, which +being drawn up to the top of the frame is there fastened by a wooden +pin (with a notch made into the same, after the manner of a Samson's +post), unto the midst of which pin also there is a long rope fastened +that cometh down among the people, so that, when the offender hath +made his confession and hath laid his neck over the nethermost block, +every man there present doth either take hold of the rope (or putteth +forth his arm so near to the same as he can get, in token that he is +willing to see true justice executed), and, pulling out the pin in +this manner, the head-block wherein the axe is fastened doth fall down +with such a violence that, if the neck of the transgressor were as big +as that of a bull, it should be cut in sunder at a stroke and roll +from the body by a huge distance. If it be so that the offender be +apprehended for an ox, oxen, sheep, kine, horse, or any such cattle, +the self beast or other of the same kind shall have the end of the +rope tied somewhere unto them, so that they, being driven, do draw out +the pin, whereby the offender is executed. Thus much of Halifax law, +which I set down only to shew the custom of that country in this +behalf. + +Rogues and vagabonds are often stocked and whipped; scolds are ducked +upon cucking-stools in the water. Such felons as stand mute, and speak +not at their arraignment, are pressed to death by huge weights laid +upon a board, that lieth over their breast, and a sharp stone under +their backs; and these commonly held their peace, thereby to save +their goods unto their wives and children, which, if they were +condemned, should be confiscated to the prince. Thieves that are saved +by their books and clergy, for the first offence, if they have stolen +nothing else but oxen, sheep, money, or such like, which be no open +robberies, as by the highway side, or assailing of any man's house in +the night, without putting him in fear of his life, or breaking up his +walls or doors, are burned in the left hand, upon the brawn of the +thumb, with a hot iron, so that, if they be apprehended again, that +mark betrayeth them to have been arraigned of felony before, whereby +they are sure at that time to have no mercy. I do not read that this +custom of saving by the book is used anywhere else than in England; +neither do I find (after much diligent enquiry) what Saxon prince +ordained that law. Howbeit this I generally gather thereof, that it +was devised to train the inhabitants of this land to the love of +learning, which before contemned letters and all good knowledge, as +men only giving themselves to husbandry and the wars: the like whereof +I read to have been amongst the Goths and Vandals, who for a time +would not suffer even their princes to be learned, for weakening of +their courage, nor any learned men to remain in the council house, but +by open proclamation would command them to avoid whensoever anything +touching the state of the land was to be consulted upon. Pirates and +robbers by sea are condemned in the Court of the Admiralty, and hanged +on the shore at low-water mark, where they are left till three tides +have overwashed them. Finally, such as having walls and banks near +unto the sea, and do suffer the same to decay (after convenient +admonition), whereby the water entereth and drowneth up the country, +are by a certain ancient custom apprehended, condemned, and staked in +the breach, where they remain for ever as parcel of the foundation of +the new wall that is to be made upon them, as I have heard reported. + +And thus much in part of the administration of justice used in our +country, wherein, notwithstanding that we do not often hear of +horrible, merciless, and wilful murders (such I mean as are not seldom +seen in the countries of the main), yet now and then some manslaughter +and bloody robberies are perpetrated and committed, contrary to the +laws, which be severely punished, and in such wise as I have before +reported. Certes there is no greater mischief done in England than by +robberies, the first by young shifting gentlemen, which oftentimes do +bear more port than they are able to maintain. Secondly by +serving-men, whose wages cannot suffice so much as to find them +breeches; wherefore they are now and then constrained either to keep +highways, and break into the wealthy men's houses with the first sort, +or else to walk up and down in gentlemen's and rich farmers' pastures, +there to see and view which horses feed best, whereby they many times +get something, although with hard adventure: it hath been known by +their confession at the gallows that some one such chapman hath had +forty, fifty, or sixty stolen horses at pasture here and there abroad +in the country at a time, which they have sold at fairs and markets +far off, they themselves in the mean season being taken about home for +honest yeomen, and very wealthy drovers, till their dealings have been +betrayed. It is not long since one of this company was apprehended, +who was before time reputed for a very honest and wealthy townsman; he +uttered also more horses than any of his trade, because he sold a +reasonable pennyworth and was a fairspoken man. It was his custom +likewise to say, if any man hucked hard with him about the price of a +gelding, "So God help me, gentlemen (or sir), either he did cost me so +much, or else, by Jesus, I stole him!" Which talk was plain enough; +and yet such was his estimation that each believed the first part of +his tale, and made no account of the latter, which was truer indeed. + +Our third annoyers of the commonwealth are rogues, which do very great +mischief in all places where they become. For, whereas the rich only +suffer injury by the first two, these spare neither rich nor poor; +but, whether it be great gain or small, all is fish that cometh to net +with them. And yet, I say, both they and the rest are trussed up +apace. For there is not one year commonly wherein three hundred or +four hundred of them are not devoured and eaten up by the gallows in +one place and other. It appeareth by Cardan (who writeth it upon the +report of the bishop of Lexovia), in the geniture of King Edward the +Sixth, how Henry the Eighth, executing his laws very severely against +such idle persons, I mean great thieves, petty thieves, and rogues, +did hang up threescore and twelve thousand of them in his time. He +seemed for a while greatly to have terrified the rest; but since his +death the number of them is so increased, yea, although we have had no +wars, which are a great occasion of their breed (for it is the custom +of the more idle sort, having once served, or but seen the other side +of the sea under colour of service, to shake hand with labour for +ever, thinking it a disgrace for himself to return unto his former +trade), that, except some better order be taken, or the laws already +made be better executed, such as dwell in uplandish towns and little +villages shall live but in small safety and rest. For the better +apprehension also of thieves and mankillers, there is an old law in +England very well provided whereby it is ordered that, if he that is +robbed (or any man) complain and give warning of slaughter or murder +committed, the constable of the village whereunto he cometh and crieth +for succour is to raise the parish about him, and to search woods, +groves, and all suspected houses and places, where the trespasser may +be, or is supposed to lurk; and not finding him there, he is to give +warning unto the next constable, and so one constable, after search +made, to advertise another from parish to parish, till they come to +the same where the offender is harboured and found. It is also +provided that, if any parish in this business do not her duty, but +suffereth the thief (for the avoiding of trouble sake) in carrying him +to the gaol, if he should be apprehended, or other letting of their +work to escape, the same parish is not only to make fine to the king, +but also the same, with the whole hundred wherein it standeth, to +repay the party robbed his damages, and leave his estate harmless. +Certainly this is a good law; howbeit I have known by my own +experience felons being taken to have escaped out of the stocks, being +rescued by other for want of watch and guard, that thieves have been +let pass, because the covetous and greedy parishioners would neither +take the pains nor be at the charge, to carry them to prison, if it +were far off; that when hue and cry have been made even to the faces +of some constables, they have said: "God restore your loss! I have +other business at this time." And by such means the meaning of many a +good law is left unexecuted, malefactors emboldened, and many a poor +man turned out of that which he hath sweat and taken great pains +toward the maintenance of himself and his poor children and family. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +OF UNIVERSITIES + +[1577, Book II., Chapter 6; 1587, Book II., Chapter 3.] + + +There have been heretofore, and at sundry times, divers famous +universities in this island, and those even in my days not altogether +forgotten, as one at Bangor, erected by Lucius, and afterward +converted into a monastery, not by Congellus (as some write), but by +Pelagius the monk. The second at Caerleon-upon-Usk, near to the place +where the river doth fall into the Severn, founded by King Arthur. The +third at Thetford, wherein were six hundred students, in the time of +one Rond, sometime king of that region. The fourth at Stamford, +suppressed by Augustine the monk. And likewise other in other places, +as Salisbury, Eridon or Cricklade, Lachlade, Reading, and Northampton; +albeit that the two last rehearsed were not authorised, but only arose +to that name by the departure of the students from Oxford in time of +civil dissension unto the said towns, where also they continued but +for a little season. When that of Salisbury began I cannot tell; but +that it flourished most under Henry the Third and Edward the First I +find good testimony by the writers, as also by the discord which fell, +1278, between the chancellor for the scholars there on the one part +and William the archdeacon on the other, whereof you shall see more in +the chronology here following. In my time there are three noble +universities in England--to wit, one at Oxford, the second at +Cambridge, and the third in London; of which the first two are the +most famous, I mean Cambridge and Oxford, for that in them the use of +the tongues, philosophy, and the liberal sciences, besides the +profound studies of the civil law, physic, and theology, are daily +taught and had: whereas in the latter the laws of the realm are only +read and learned by such as give their minds unto the knowledge of the +same. In the first there are not only divers goodly houses builded +four square for the most part of hard freestone or brick, with great +numbers of lodgings and chambers in the same for students, after a +sumptuous sort, through the exceeding liberality of kings, queens, +bishops, noblemen and ladies of the land; but also large livings and +great revenues bestowed upon them (the like whereof is not to be seen +in any other region, as Peter Martyr did oft affirm) to the +maintenance only of such convenient numbers of poor men's sons as the +several stipends bestowed upon the said houses are able to +support.[1]... + + [1] Here follows a paragraph about the legendary foundation + of the universities.--W. + +Of these two, that of Oxford (which lieth west and by north from +London) standeth most pleasantly, being environed in manner round +about with woods on the hills aloft, and goodly rivers in the bottoms +and valleys beneath, whose courses would breed no small commodity to +that city and country about if such impediments were removed as +greatly annoy the same and hinder the carriage which might be made +thither also from London. That of Cambridge is distant from London +about forty and six miles north and by east, and standeth very well, +saving that it is somewhat near unto the fens, whereby the +wholesomeness of the air is not a little corrupted. It is excellently +well served with all kinds of provisions, but especially of fresh +water fish and wild fowl, by reason of the river that passeth thereby; +and thereto the Isle of Ely, which is so near at hand. Only wood is +the chief want to such as study there, wherefore this kind of +provision is brought them either from Essex and other places +thereabouts, as is also their coal, or otherwise the necessity thereof +is supplied with gall (a bastard kind of mirtus as I take it) and +seacoal, whereof they have great plenty led thither by the Grant. +Moreover it hath not such store of meadow ground as may suffice for +the ordinary expenses of the town and university, wherefore the +inhabitants are enforced in like sort to provide their hay from other +villages about, which minister the same unto them in very great +abundance. + +Oxford is supposed to contain in longitude eighteen degrees and eight +and twenty minutes, and in latitude one and fifty degrees and fifty +minutes: whereas that of Cambridge standing more northerly, hath +twenty degrees and twenty minutes in longitude, and thereunto fifty +and two degrees and fifteen minutes in latitude, as by exact +supputation is easy to be found. + +The colleges of Oxford, for curious workmanship and private +commodities, are much more stately, magnificent, and commodious than +those of Cambridge: and thereunto the streets of the town for the most +part are more large and comely. But for uniformity of building, +orderly compaction, and politic regiment, the town of Cambridge, as +the newer workmanship,[2] exceeds that of Oxford (which otherwise is, +and hath been, the greater of the two) by many a fold (as I guess), +although I know divers that are of the contrary opinion. This also is +certain, that whatsoever the difference be in building of the town +streets, the townsmen of both are glad when they may match and annoy +the students, by encroaching upon their liberties, and keep them bare +by extreme sale of their wares, whereby many of them become rich for a +time, but afterward fall again into poverty, because that goods evil +gotten do seldom long endure.[3]... + + [2] Cambridge burned not long since.--H. + + [3] Here follows an account of Oxford and Cambridge castles, and + the legend of the building of Osney Abbey by Robert and Edith + D'Oyley.--W. + +In each of these universities also is likewise a church dedicated to +the Virgin Mary, wherein once in the year--to wit, in July--the +scholars are holden, and in which such as have been called to any +degree in the year precedent do there receive the accomplishment of +the same, in solemn and sumptuous manner. In Oxford this solemnity is +called an Act, but in Cambridge they use the French word +_Commencement_; and such resort is made yearly unto the same from all +parts of the land by the friends of those who do proceed that all the +town is hardly able to receive and lodge those guests. When and by +whom the churches aforesaid were built I have elsewhere made relation. +That of Oxford also was repaired in the time of Edward the Fourth and +Henry the Seventh, when Doctor Fitz James, a great helper in that +work, was warden of Merton College; but ere long, after it was +finished, one tempest in a night so defaced the same that it left few +pinnacles standing about the church and steeple, which since that time +have never been repaired. There were sometime four and twenty parish +churches in the town and suburbs; but now there are scarcely sixteen. +There have been also 1200 burgesses, of which 400 dwelt in the +suburbs; and so many students were there in the time of Henry the +Third that he allowed them twenty miles compass about the town for +their provision of victuals. + +The common schools of Cambridge also are far more beautiful than those +of Oxford, only the Divinity School of Oxford excepted, which for fine +and excellent workmanship cometh next the mould of the King's Chapel +in Cambridge, than the which two, with the Chapel that King Henry the +Seventh did build at Westminster, there are not (in my opinion) made +of lime and stone three more notable piles within the compass of +Europe. + +In all the other things there is so great equality between these two +universities as no man can imagine how to set down any greater, so +that they seem to be the body of one well-ordered commonwealth, only +divided by distance of place and not in friendly consent and orders. +In speaking therefore of the one I cannot but describe the other; and +in commendation of the first I cannot but extol the latter; and, so +much the rather, for that they are both so dear unto me as that I +cannot readily tell unto whether of them I owe the most good-will. +Would to God my knowledge were such as that neither of them might have +cause to be ashamed of their pupil, or my power so great that I might +worthily requite them both for those manifold kindnesses that I have +received of them! But to leave these things, and proceed with other +more convenient to my purpose. + +The manner to live in these universities is not as in some other of +foreign countries we see daily to happen, where the students are +enforced for want of such houses to dwell in common inns, and taverns, +without all order or discipline. But in these our colleges we live in +such exact order, and under so precise rules of government, as that +the famous learned man Erasmus of Rotterdam, being here among us fifty +years passed, did not let to compare the trades in living of students +in these two places, even with the very rules and orders of the +ancient monks, affirming moreover, in flat words, our orders to be +such as not only came near unto, but rather far exceeded, all the +monastical institutions that ever were devised. + +In most of our colleges there are also great numbers of students, of +which many are found by the revenues of the houses and other by the +purveyances and help of their rich friends, whereby in some one +college you shall have two hundred scholars, in others an hundred and +fifty, in divers a hundred and forty, and in the rest less numbers, as +the capacity of the said houses is able to receive: so that at this +present, of one sort and other, there are about three thousand +students nourished in them both (as by a late survey it manifestly +appeared). They were erected by their founders at the first only for +poor men's sons, whose parents were not able to bring them up unto +learning; but now they have the least benefit of them, by reason the +rich do so encroach upon them. And so far has this inconvenience +spread itself that it is in my time a hard matter for a poor man's +child to come by a fellowship (though he be never so good a scholar +and worthy of that room). Such packing also is used at elections that +not he which best deserveth, but he that has most friends, though he +be the worst scholar, is always surest to speed, which will turn in +the end to the overthrow of learning. That some gentlemen also whose +friends have been in times past benefactors to certain of those houses +do intrude into the disposition of their estates without all respect +of order or statutes devised by the founders, only thereby to place +whom they think good (and not without some hope of gain), the case is +too too evident: and their attempt would soon take place if their +superiors did not provide to bridle their endeavours. In some grammar +schools likewise which send scholars to these universities, it is +lamentable to see what bribery is used; for, ere the scholar can be +preferred, such bribage is made that poor men's children are commonly +shut out, and the richer sort received (who in time past thought it +dishonour to live as it were upon alms), and yet, being placed, most +of them study little other than histories, tables, dice, and trifles, +as men that make not the living by their study the end of their +purposes, which is a lamentable hearing. Beside this, being for the +most part either gentlemen or rich men's sons, they often bring the +universities into much slander. For, standing upon their reputation +and liberty, they ruffle and roist it out, exceeding in apparel, and +banting riotous company (which draweth them from their books unto +another trade), and for excuse, when they are charged with breach of +all good order, think it sufficient to say that they be gentlemen, +which grieveth many not a little. But to proceed with the rest. + +Every one of these colleges have in like manner their professors or +readers of the tongues and several sciences, as they call them, which +daily trade up the youth there abiding privately in their halls, to +the end they may be able afterward (when their turn cometh about, +which is after twelve terms) to shew themselves abroad, by going from +thence into the common schools and public disputations (as it were +"_In aream_") there to try their skill, and declare how they have +profited since their coming thither. + +Moreover, in the public schools of both the universities, there are +found at the prince's charge (and that very largely) fine professors +and readers, that is to say, of divinity, of the civil law, physic, +the Hebrew and the Greek tongues. And for the other lectures, as of +philosophy, logic, rhetoric, and the quadrivials (although the latter, +I mean arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy, and with them all +skill in the perspectives, are now smally regarded in either of them), +the universities themselves do allow competent stipends to such as +read the same, whereby they are sufficiently provided for, touching +the maintenance of their estates, and no less encouraged to be +diligent in their functions. + +These professors in like sort have all the rule of disputations and +other school exercises which are daily used in common schools +severally assigned to each of them, and such of their hearers as by +their skill shewed in the said disputations are thought to have +attained to any convenient ripeness of knowledge according to the +custom of other universities (although not in like order) are +permitted solemnly to take their deserved degrees of school in the +same science and faculty wherein they have spent their travel. From +that time forward also they use such difference in apparel as becometh +their callings, tendeth unto gravity, and maketh them known to be +called to some countenance. + +The first degree is that of the general sophisters, from whence, when +they have learned more sufficiently the rules of logic, rhetoric, and +obtained thereto competent skill in philosophy, and in the +mathematicals, they ascend higher unto the estate of bachelors of art, +after four years of their entrance into their sophistry. From thence +also, giving their minds to more perfect knowledge in some or all the +other liberal sciences and the tongues, they rise at the last (to wit, +after other three or four years) to be called masters of art, each of +them being at that time reputed for a doctor in his faculty, if he +profess but one of the said sciences (besides philosophy), or for his +general skill, if he be exercised in them all. After this they are +permitted to choose what other of the higher studies them liketh to +follow, whether it be divinity, law, or physic, so that, being once +masters of art, the next degree, if they follow physic, is the +doctorship belonging to that profession; and likewise in the study of +the law, if they bend their minds to the knowledge of the same. But, +if they mean to go forward with divinity, this is the order used in +that profession. First, after they have necessarily proceeded masters +of art, they preach one sermon to the people in English, and another +to the university in Latin. They answer all comers also in their own +persons unto two several questions of divinity in the open schools at +one time for the space of two hours, and afterward reply twice against +some other man upon a like number and on two several dates in the same +place, which being done with commendation, he receiveth the fourth +degree, that is, bachelor of divinity, but not before he has been +master of arts by the space of seven years, according to their +statutes. + +The next, and last degree of all, is the doctorship, after other three +years, for the which he must once again perform all such exercises and +acts as are before remembered; and then is he reputed able to govern +and teach others, and likewise taken for a doctor. I have read that +John of Beverley was the first doctor that ever was in Oxford, as Beda +was in Cambridge. But I suppose herein that the word "doctor" is not +so strictly to be taken in this report as it is now used, since every +teacher is in Latin called by that name, as also such in the primitive +church as kept schools of catechists, wherein they were trained up in +the rudiments and principles of religion, either before they were +admitted unto baptism or any office in the Church. + +Thus we see that from our entrance into the university unto the last +degree received is commonly eighteen or twenty years, in which time, +if a student has not obtained sufficient learning thereby to serve his +own turn and benefit his commonwealth, let him never look by tarrying +longer to come by any more. For after this time, and forty years of +age, the most part of students do commonly give over their wonted +diligence, and live like drone bees on the fat of colleges, +withholding better wits from the possession of their places, and yet +doing little good in their own vocation and calling. I could rehearse +a number (if I listed) of this sort, as well in one university as the +other. But this shall suffice instead of a large report, that long +continuance in those places is either a sign of lack of friends, or of +learning, or of good and upright life, as Bishop Fox[4] sometime +noted, who thought it sacrilege for a man to tarry any longer at +Oxford than he had a desire to profit. + + [4] This Fox builded Corpus Christi College, in Oxford.--H. + +A man may (if he will) begin his study with the law, or physic (of +which this giveth wealth, the other honour), so soon as he cometh to +the university, if his knowledge in the tongues and ripeness of +judgment serve therefor: which if he do, then his first degree is +bachelor of law, or physic; and for the same he must perform such acts +in his own science as the bachelors or doctors of divinity do for +their parts, the only sermons except, which belong not to his calling. +Finally, this will I say, that the professors of either of those +faculties come to such perfection in both universities as the best +students beyond the sea do in their own or elsewhere. One thing only I +mislike in them, and that is their usual going into Italy, from whence +very few without special grace do return good men whatsoever they +pretend of conference or practice, chiefly the physicians[5] who under +pretence of seeking of foreign simples do oftentimes learn the framing +of such compositions as were better unknown than practised, as I have +heard often alleged, and therefore it is most true that Doctor Turner +said: "Italy is not to be seen without a guide, that is, without +special grace given from God, because of the licentious and corrupt +behaviour of the people." + + [5] So much also may be inferred of lawyers.--H. + +There is moreover in every house a master or provost, who has under +him a president and certain censors or deans, appointed to look to the +behaviour and manners of the students there, whom they punish very +severely if they make any default, according to the quantity and +quality of their trespass. And these are the usual names of governors +in Cambridge. Howbeit in Oxford the heads of houses are now and then +called presidents in respect of such bishops as are their visitors and +founders. In each of these also they have one or more treasurers, whom +they call _bursarios_ or bursars, beside other officers whose charge +is to see unto the welfare and maintenance of these houses. Over each +university also there is a several chancellor, whose offices are +perpetual, howbeit their substitutes, whom we call vice-chancellors, +are changed every year, as are also the proctors, taskers, masters of +the streets, and other officers, for the better maintenance of their +policy and estate. + +And thus much at this time of our two universities, in each of which I +have received such degree as they have vouchsafed--rather of their +favour than my desert--to yield and bestow upon me, and unto whose +students I wish one thing, the execution whereof cannot be prejudicial +to any that meaneth well, as I am resolutely persuaded, and the case +now standeth in these our days. When any benefice therefor becometh +void it were good that the patron did signify the vacation thereof to +the bishop, and the bishop the act of the patron to one of the +universities, with request that the vice-chancellor with his +assistants might provide some such able man to succeed in the place as +should by their judgment be meet to take the charge upon him. +Certainly if this order were taken, then should the church be provided +of good pastors, by whom God should be glorified, the universities +better stored, the simoniacal practices of a number of patrons utterly +abolished, and the people better trained to live in obedience toward +God and their prince, which were a happier estate. + +To these two also we may in like sort add the third, which is at +London (serving only for such as study the laws of the realm) where +there are sundry famous houses, of which three are called by the name +of Inns of the Court, the rest of the Chancery, and all built before +time for the furtherance and commodity of such as apply their minds to +our common laws. Out of these also come many scholars of great fame, +whereof the most part have heretofore been brought up in one of the +aforesaid universities, and prove such commonly as in process of time +rise up (only through their profound skill) to great honour in the +commonwealth of England. They have also degrees of learning among +themselves, and rules of discipline, under which they live most +civilly in their houses, albeit that the younger of them abroad in the +streets are scarcely able to be bridled by any good order at all. +Certainly this error was wont also greatly to reign in Cambridge and +Oxford, between the students and the burgesses; but, as it is well +left in these two places, so in foreign countries it cannot yet be +suppressed. + +Besides these universities, also there are great number of grammar +schools throughout the realm, and those very liberally endowed, for +the better relief of poor scholars, so that there are not many +corporate towns now under the Queen's dominion that have not one +grammar school at the least, with a sufficient living for a master and +usher appointed to the same. + +There are in like manner divers collegiate churches, as Windsor, +Winchester, Eton, Westminster (in which I was some time an +unprofitable grammarian under the reverend father Master Nowell, now +dean of Paul's), and in those a great number of poor scholars, daily +maintained by the liberality of the founders, with meat, books, and +apparel, from whence, after they have been well entered in the +knowledge of the Latin and Greek tongues, and rules of versifying (the +trial whereof is made by certain apposers yearly appointed to examine +them), they are sent to certain special houses in each university, +where they are received and trained up in the points of higher +knowledge in their private halls, till they be adjudged meet to shew +their face's in the schools as I have said already. + +And thus much have I thought good to note of our universities, and +likewise of colleges in the same, whose names I will also set down +here, with those of their founders, to the end the zeal which they +bare unto learning may appear, and their remembrance never perish from +among the wise and learned. + +OF THE COLLEGES OF CAMBRIDGE WITH THEIR FOUNDERS + +Years of the +Foundation Colleges Founders + +1546 1 Trinity College King Henry 8. + +1441 2 The King's College King Henry 6, Edward 4, Henry 7, + and Henry 8. + +1511 3 St. John's Lady Margaret, grandmother to Henry 8. + +1505 4 Christ's College King Henry 6 and the Lady Margaret + aforesaid. + +1446 5 The Queen's College Lady Margaret, wife to King Henry 6. + +1496 6 Jesus College John Alcock, bishop of Ely. + +1342 7 Bennet College The brethren of a Popish guild + called _Corporis Christi_. + +1343 8 Pembroke Hall Maria de Valentia, Countess of Pembroke. + +1256 9 Peter College Hugh Balsham, bishop of Ely. + +1348 10 Gundewill and Caius Edmund Gundevill, parson of +1557 College Terrington, and John Caius, + doctor of physic. + +1354 11 Trinity Hall William Bateman, bishop of Norwich. + +1326 12 Clare Hall Richard Badow, chancellor of Cambridge. + +1459 13 Catherine Hall Robert Woodlark, doctor of divinity. + +1519 14 Magdalen College Edward, Duke of Buckingham, and + Thomas, lord Audley. + +1585 15 Emanuel College Sir Walter Mildmay, etc. + + +OF THE COLLEGES AT OXFORD + +Years of the +Foundation Colleges Founders + +1539 1 Christ's Church King Henry 8. + +1459 2 Magdalen College William Wainfleet, first fellow of + Merton College, then scholar at + Winchester, and afterwards bishop + there.[6] + +1375 3 New College William Wickham, bishop of Winchester. + +1276 4 Merton College Walter Merton, bishop of Rochester. + +1437 5 All Souls' College Henry Chicheley, archbishop of + Canterbury. + +1516 6 Corpus Christi College Richard Fox, bishop of Winchester. + +1430 7 Lincoln College Richard Fleming, bishop of Lincoln. + +1323 8 Auriel College Adam Broune, almoner to Edward 2. + +1340 9 The Queen's College R. Eglesfeld, chaplain to Philip, + queen of England, wife to Edward 3. + +1263 10 Balliol College John Balliol, king of Scotland. + +1557 11 St. John's Sir Thomas White, knight. + +1556 12 Trinity College Sir Thomas Pope, knight. + +1316 13 Excester College Walter Stapleten, bishop of Excester. + +1513 14 Brasen Nose William Smith, bishop of Lincoln. + +1873 15 University College William, archdeacon of Duresine. + + 16 Gloucester College John Crifford, who made it a cell + for thirteen monks. + + 17 St. Mary's College + + 18 Jesus College, now Hugh ap Rice, doctor of the civil + in hand law. + + [6] He founded also a good part of Eton College, and a free + school at Wainfleet, where he was born. + +There are also in Oxford certain hotels or halls which may right well +be called by the names of colleges, if it were not that there is more +liberty in them than is to be seen in the other. In my opinion the +livers in these are very like to those that are of the inns in the +chancery, their names also are these so far as I now remember: + +Brodegates. St. Mary Hall. +Hart Hall. White Hall. +Magdalen Hall. New Inn. +Alburne Hall. Edmond Hall. +Postminster Hall. + +The students also that remain in them are called hostlers or halliers. +Hereof it came of late to pass that the right Reverend Father in God, +Thomas, late archbishop of Canterbury, being brought up in such an +house at Cambridge, was of the ignorant sort of Londoners called an +"Hostler," supposing that he had served with some inn-holder in the +stable, and therefore, in despite, divers hung up bottles of hay at +his gate when he began to preach the gospel, whereas indeed he was a +gentleman born of an ancient house, and in the end a faithful witness +of Jesus Christ, in whose quarrel he refused not to shed his blood, +and yield up his life, unto the fury of his adversaries. + +Besides these there is mention and record of divers other halls or +hostels that have been there in times past, as Beef Hall, Mutton Hall, +etc., whose ruins yet appear: so that if antiquity be to be judged by +the shew of ancient buildings which is very plentiful in Oxford to be +seen, it should be an easy matter to conclude that Oxford is the elder +university. Therein are also many dwelling-houses of stone yet +standing that have been halls for students, of very antique +workmanship, besides the old walls of sundry others, whose plots have +been converted into gardens since colleges were erected. + +In London also the houses of students at the Common Law are these: + +Sergeant's Inn. Furnival's Inn. +Gray's Inn. Clifford's Inn. +The Temple. Clement's Inn. +Lincoln's Inn. Lion's Inn. +David's Inn. Barnard's Inn. +Staple Inn. Newmann. + +And thus much in general of our noble universities, whose lands some +greedy gripers do gape wide for, and of late have (as I hear) +propounded sundry reasons whereby they supposed to have prevailed in +their purposes. But who are those that have attempted this suit, other +than such as either hate learning, piety, and wisdom, or else have +spent all their own, and know not otherwise than by encroaching upon +other men how to maintain themselves? When such a motion was made by +some unto King Henry the Eighth, he could answer them in this manner: +"Ah, sirra! I perceive the Abbey lands have fleshed you, and set your +teeth on edge, to ask also those colleges. And, whereas we had a +regard only to pull down sin by defacing the monasteries, you have a +desire also to overthrow all goodness, by subversion of colleges. I +tell you, sirs, that I judge no land in England better bestowed than +that which is given to our universities; for by their maintenance our +realm shall be well governed when we be dead and rotten. As you love +your welfares therefore, follow no more this vein, but content +yourselves with that you have already, or else seek honest means +whereby to increase your livelihoods; for I love not learning so ill +that I will impair the revenues of any one house by a penny, whereby +it may be upholden." In King Edward's days likewise the same suit was +once again attempted (as I have heard), but in vain; for, saith the +Duke of Somerset, among other speeches tending to that end--who also +made answer thereunto in the king's presence by his assignation: "If +learning decay, which of wild men maketh civil; of blockish and rash +persons, wise and goodly counsellors; of obstinate rebels, obedient +subjects; and of evil men, good and godly Christians; what shall we +look for else but barbarism and tumult? For when the lands of colleges +be gone, it shall be hard to say whose staff shall stand next the +door; for then I doubt not but the state of bishops, rich farmers, +merchants, and the nobility, shall be assailed, by such as live to +spend all, and think that whatsoever another man hath is more meet for +them and to be at their commandment than for the proper owner that has +sweat and laboured for it." In Queen Mary's days the weather was too +warm for any such course to be taken in hand; but in the time of our +gracious Queen Elizabeth I hear that it was after a sort in talk the +third time, but without success, as moved also out of season; and so I +hope it shall continue for ever. For what comfort should it be for any +good man to see his country brought into the estate of the old Goths +and Vandals, who made laws against learning, and would not suffer any +skilful man to come into their council-house: by means whereof those +people became savage tyrants and merciless hell-hounds, till they +restored learning again and thereby fell to civility. + +_Planned and Designed at The Collier Press +By William Patten_ + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13674 *** |