May  God,  for  the  sake  of  his  holy  name,  confound  errors, — and  those  who
meditate  treason,  and  the  disturbers  of  the  peace  ! — and  take  vengeance  on  such
tormentors ! — and  confirm  and  grant  love  between  the  kings  I — May  he  lose
consolation  who  breaks  the  peace  !  Amen,


Although  the  English  people  were  grieved  by  the  King's
expensive  and  ill-conducted  foreign  wars,  yet  they  were  not
wanting  in  commiseration  for  the  Flemish  burghers  in  their
struggle  against  France.  The  song  which  follows  was  com-
posed soon  after  the  battle  of  Courtrai,  in  which  the  Comte
d'Artois  and  his  army  were  defeated  and  destroyed  by  the
Flemings  in  1302.
SONG    ON  THE    FLEMISH    INSURRECTION.
[MS.  Harl.  No.  2253,  fol.  73,  v°.  of  reign  of  Edw.  II.]

Lustneth,  lordinges,  bothe  3onge  ant  olde.
Of  the  Freynsshe-men  that  were  so  proude  ant  bolde,

Hou  the  Flemmysshe-men  bohten  hem  ant  solde

TRANSLATION, — ListcD,  Lordings,  both  young  and  old, — of  the  Frenchmen
that  were  so  proud  and  bold, — how  the  Flemmish  men  bought  and  sold  them —


188  POLITICAL    SONGS.
upon  a  Wednesday.
Betere  hem  were  at  home  in  huere  londe,
Then  for  te  seche  Flemmysshe  by  the  see  stronde,
Wharethourh  moni  Frenshe  wyf  wryngeth  hire  honde,

ant  singeth,  weylaway  !

The  Kyng  of  Fraunce  made  statuz  newe

In  the  lond  of  Flaundres,  among  false  ant  trewe,

That  the  commun  of  Bruges  ful  sore  con  a-rewe,

ant  seiden  amonges  hem,
"  Gedere  we  us  togedere  hardilyche  at  ene.
