The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
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Iam Romany venerunt, & fiery fecerunt Murum de
Thurlwal. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Iam Romany venerunt, & fiery fecerunt Murum de Thurlwal.
Þys Romayns dide þem conseyl take,
A wal vpon a dik to make
ffro þe est se vnto þe west,
Agayns þer foos to saue þem best.
Ston þey dide gadere & graue,
& masons alle þat þey myghte haue;
Ouer-þwert þe lond, þat ys, þe brede,
Þey made þe wal ar þat þey ȝede,
A wal vpon a dik to make
ffro þe est se vnto þe west,
Agayns þer foos to saue þem best.
Ston þey dide gadere & graue,
& masons alle þat þey myghte haue;
Ouer-þwert þe lond, þat ys, þe brede,
Þey made þe wal ar þat þey ȝede,
ffor by þe northe ende come alle þo
Þat to þe lond broughte werre or wo.
Þat contre hight þat tyme Deyre,
Of þis half þe wal in ȝork-schire;
On þat oþer half, y vnderstande,
Men caldit þenne þe Peytes lande.
When þys land was al dight,
& wardeyns set boþe day & nyght
þat wal for to defende & lok,
Þat þey namore scaþe ne tok,
Toward þe southe gan þey wende
Whan þe wal was brought to þe ende.
At Londone þey sette a Parlement;
Þe heye folk of alle, þyder þey went,
Þorwout þe lond ilka lordynge;
And þus þey seyde at þer sampninge:
“We wole wende fro ȝow to Rome,
“& neuere hider sende ne come.
“Be ȝe doughty, & lereþ of armes,
“& quykly defende ȝow fro harmes,
“ffor we ne mowe come so fer viage,
“Ne endure þe grete costage.”
Þe Bretons seyde alle þer geynes.
Þenne stirte vp on of þe Romayns,
A wys man & a wel spekande,
& seyde, “Lordynges of þys land,
“Lystneþ now til y haue seyd;
“Þe Romayns reson on me ys leyd.
Þat to þe lond broughte werre or wo.
Þat contre hight þat tyme Deyre,
Of þis half þe wal in ȝork-schire;
236
Men caldit þenne þe Peytes lande.
When þys land was al dight,
& wardeyns set boþe day & nyght
þat wal for to defende & lok,
Þat þey namore scaþe ne tok,
Toward þe southe gan þey wende
Whan þe wal was brought to þe ende.
At Londone þey sette a Parlement;
Þe heye folk of alle, þyder þey went,
Þorwout þe lond ilka lordynge;
And þus þey seyde at þer sampninge:
“We wole wende fro ȝow to Rome,
“& neuere hider sende ne come.
“Be ȝe doughty, & lereþ of armes,
“& quykly defende ȝow fro harmes,
“ffor we ne mowe come so fer viage,
“Ne endure þe grete costage.”
Þe Bretons seyde alle þer geynes.
Þenne stirte vp on of þe Romayns,
A wys man & a wel spekande,
& seyde, “Lordynges of þys land,
“Lystneþ now til y haue seyd;
“Þe Romayns reson on me ys leyd.
| The Story of England | |