Chaunter mestoit (204)

Summary

[fol. 59r]

Chaunter mestoit / mon cuer le voit / en un dure langage.

Tut enploraunt / fust fet le chaunt / de nostre duz baronage

Qe pur la pees / si loynz apres / se lesserent detrere,

Lur cors trencher / e demenbrer / pur salver Engletere.

Ore est ocys / la flur de pris / qe taunt savoit de guere,

Ly quens Mountfort. / Sa dure mort / molt enplorra la terre.

Sicom je qui / par un mardi / firent la bataile.

Tot a cheval / fust le mal / sauntz nulle pedaile

Tresmalement / y ferirent / de le espie forbie

Qe la part / Sire Edward / conquist la mestrie.

Ore est ocis, etc.

Mes par sa mort / le cuens Mountfort / conquist la victorie.

Come ly martyr / de Caunterbyr / finist sa vie.

Ne voleit pas / li bon Thomas / qe perist seinte eglise.

Ly cuens auxi / se combati / e morust sauntz feyntise.

Ore est ocys, etc.

Sire Hue le fer / ly Despencer, / tresnoble justice,

Ore est atort / lyvre a mort / a trop male guise,

Sire Henri / pur veir le dy, / fitz le cuens de Leycestre,

Autres assez, / come vus orrez, / par le cuens de Gloucestre.

Ore est ocis, etc.

Qe voleint moryr / e mentenir / la pees e la dreyture

Le seint martir / lur fra joyr, / sa conscience pure,

Chaunter mestoit (204)

London, British Library, Harley MS 2253, fols 59r–59v

With harsh words must I sing; my heart is aware of that. All made tearfully was the song about our gentle barons, who let themselves be destroyed for the sake of a peace so far off and allowed their bodies to be slashed and dismembered to protect England.

Now is slain that precious flower, Montfort the earl, who knew so much about war. England will lament his cruel death.

[7] It was on a Tuesday, so I believe, that they fought the battle. The calamity was that they were all on horseback. Without any infantry, they fought there so forlornly with their burnished swords that Sir Edward's side won the day.

Now is slain, etc.

[12] But by his death Montfort the earl won the victory. He ended his life like the martyr of Canterbury.