The Minor Poems of John Lydgate edited from all available mss. with an attempt to establish The Lydgate Canon: By Henry Noble MacCracken |
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| 37. | 37. OF THE SODEIN FAL OF PRINCES IN OURE DAYES. |
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 | The Minor Poems of John Lydgate |  |
660
37. OF THE SODEIN FAL OF PRINCES IN OURE DAYES.
Here folowen seven balades made by Daun Iohn
Lydegate of þe sodeine fal of certain Princes
of Fraunce and Englande nowe late in oure dayes.
1
Beholde þis gret prynce Edwarde þe Secounde,Which of diuers landes lord was and kyng,
But so governed was he, nowe vnderstonde,
By suche as caused foule his vndoying,
For trewly to telle yowe with-oute lesing,
He was deposed by al þe rewmes assent,
In prisoun murdred with a broche in his foundament.
2
Se howe Richard, of Albyon þe kyng,Which in his tyme ryche and glorious was,
Sacred with abyt, with corone, and with ring,
Yit fel his fortune so, and eke his cas,
Þat yvel counseyle rewled him so, elas!
For mys-treting lordes of his monarchye,
He feyne was to resigne and in prysone dye.
3
Lo Charles, of noble Fraunce þe kyng,Taken with seknesse and maladye,
Which lefft him never vnto his eonding,
Were it of nature, or by sorcerye,
Vnable he was for to governe or guye
His reaume, which caused suche discencyon,
Þat fallen it is to gret destruccion.
661
4
Se nowe þis lusty Duc of Orlyaunce,Which floured in Parys of chiuallerie,
Broþer to Charles, þe kyng of Fraunce:
His yong[e] hert[e] thought[e] never to dye,
But for he vsed þe synne of lecherye,
His cosin to assent[e] was ful fayene,
Þat he in Parys was murdred and foule slayne.
5
Of Edward þe Thridde Thomas his sone,Of Gloucestre Duc, Constable of England,
Which to love trouth was ever his wone,
Yet not-with-stonding his entent of trouthe,
He murdred was at Caleys, þat was routhe,
And he to God and man moste acceptable,
And to þe comvne profit moste fauorable.
6
Lo here þis Eorlle and Duc of Burgoyne boþe,Oon of þe douspiers and deen of Fraunce,
Howe fortune gan his prosparite to looþe,
And made him putte his lyff in suche balaunce
Þat him navayled kyn nor allyaunce,
Þat for his mourder he mortherd was and slayne,
Of whos deth þErmynakes were fayne.
7
Þis Duc of Yrland, of England Chaumburleyn,Which is plesaunce so he ledde his lyff,
Tyl fortune of his welthe hade disdeyn,
Þat causeles he parted was frome his wyff,
Which grounde was of gret debate and stryff,
And his destruccion, if I shal not lye,
For banned he was, and did in meschef dye.
| The Minor Poems of John Lydgate | |