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ANCIENT POEM S. 3

In the 5th ft. the writer regrets the efcape of the Earl of Warren, and in the 6th and 7th fts. infinuates that if he and Sir Hugh Bigot once fell into the hands of their adverfaries, they should never more return home. A circumftance, which fixes the date of this ballad; for in the year 1265 both thefe noblemen landed in South Wales, and the royal party foon after gained the afcendant. See Holing shed, Rapin, &c.

The following is copied from a very ancient MS. in the British Museum. [Harl. MSS. 2253. 23.] This MS. is judged, from the peculiarities of the writing, to be not later than the time of Richard II.; th being every where expreffed by the character b; the y is pointed after the Saxon manner, and the 1 bath an oblique ftroke over it.

Prefixed to this ancient libel on government is a small defign, which the engraver intended fhould correspond with the fubject. On the one fide a Satyr, (emblem of Petulance and Ridicule) is trampling on the enfigns of Royalty; on the other Faction under the mafque of Liberty is exciting Ignorance and Popular Rage to deface the Royal Image; which ftands on a pedestal infcribed MAGNA CHARTA, to denote that the rights of the king, as well as thofe of the people, are founded on the laws; and that to attack one, is in effect to demolish both.

ITTETH alle ftille, ant herkneth to me;

SITTE

The kyng of Alemaigne, bi mi leaute,

Thritti thoufent pound afkede he

3

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Richard of Alemaigne, whil that he wes kying,
He spende al is trefour opon fwyvyng,

Haveth he nout of Walingford oferlyng,
Let him habbe, afe he brew, bale to dryng,
Maugre Wyndefore.

Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.

The kyng of Alemaigne wende do ful wel,
He faifede the mulne for a caftel,

With hare sharpe fwerdes he grounde the stel,

He wende that the fayles were mangonel

To helpe Wyndefore.

Richard, thah thou be ever, &o.

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The kyng of Alemaigne gederede ys hoft,
Makede him a caftel of a mulne poft,
Wende with is prude, ant is muchele boft,
Brohte from Alemayne mony fori goft

To ftore Wyndefore.

Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.

By God, that is aboven ous, he dude muche fynne,
That lette paffen over see the erl of Warynne:
He hath robbed Engelond, the mores, ant th fenne,
The gold, ant the felver, and y-boren henne,

For love of Wyndefore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.

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Sire

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Be the leef, be the loht, five Edward,
Thou shalt ride (poreles o thy Pyard
al the rihte way
Shalt thon never more breke foreward;

to Dovers-ward,

Ant that rewath

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Edward, thou dudest as a shreward, 50
Beef Forloke thyn emes love it
Richard, &e.

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NVer. 45. This Stanza was omitted in

the former Editions, having sharped the Editor's attention, from to occurring in the MS. at the head of a new Page and the Letters bring marked with st ink like the beginning of a rew

ANCIENT POEMS.

Sire Simond de Mountfort hath fuore bi vs chŷn,
Hevede he nou here the erl of Warỳn,

Shuld he never more come to is yn,

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Ne with sheld, ne with spere, ne with other gỳn,
To help of Wyndefore.

Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.

Sire Simond de Montfort hath fuore bi ys

35

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Hevede he nou here Sire Hue de Bigot:
Al he fhulde grante here twelfmoneth scot,
Shulde he never more with his fot pot

To helpe Wyndefore.

Richard, thah thou be ever trichard,
Tricthen fhalt thou never more,

Ver. 40. g'te here. MS. i. e. grant their. Vid. Glofs.
A note to come in

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** The fatirical Ballad on RICHARD OF ALMAIGNE will rife in its importance with the curious Reader, when be finds, that it is even believed to have occafioned a Law in our ftatute Book, viz. "Againft flanderous reports or tales, "to caufe difcord betwixt king and people.' (WESTM. PRIMER, C. 34. anno 3. Edw. I.) That it had this effect is the opinion of an eminent Writer: See" Obferva"tions upon the Statutes, chiefly the more Ancient, &c.” 4to. 2d Edit. 1766. p. 71.

If this very ined and ingenious Antiquary would-exawine the original MS in the Harl. Collection, bence-sus Ballad awer extracted, be awould, I believes find other fatirical and defamatory rhymes of the fame age, that might have their fhare in contributing to this first Law against Libels.

B 3

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II. ON

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However in the Harl. be found other sahrical

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