Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn :: :: University of Virginia Library

Tears fit the song, which tells the wrong,
Of gentle Barons slayn.
Fayr peace to gaine they fought in vayn;
Their house to ruin gave,
And limb and life, to butcheryng knyfe,
Our native land to save.

CHORUS.

Now lowly lies the flower of pries,
That could so much of weir:
Erle Montfort's scathe, and heavy death,
Shall cost the world a tear.

“As I here say, upon Tuesdaye,
The battle bold was done;
Each mounted knight, there fell in fight,
For ayd of foot was none:
There wounds were felt, and blows were dealt,
With brands that burnish'd be,
Sir Edward stoute, his numerous route,
Have won the maisterie.

Now lowly lies, &c.

“But, though he died, on Montfort's side
The victorie remain'd;
Like Becket's fayth, the Erle's in deathe,
The martyr's palm obtain'd;
That holy Saint would never graunt,
The church should fall or slyde;
Like him, the Erle met deadly peril,
And like him dauntless dyed.

Now lowly lies, &c.

“The bold Sir Hugh Despencer true,
The kingdom's Justice he.
Was dom'd to die unrighteouslye,
By passynge crueltie;
And Sir Henry, the son was he
To Leister's nobile lord,
With many moe, as ye shall know,
Fell by Erle Gloster's sword.

Now lowly lies, &c.

“He that dares dye, in standing by
The country's peace and lawe,
To him the Saint the meed shall graunt
Of conscience free from flawe.

317

Who suffers scathe, and faces death,
To save the poor from wrong,
God speed his end, the poor man's friend,
For suche we pray, and long!

Now lowly lies, &c.

“His bosom here, a treasure dere.
A sackclothe shirt, they founde;
The felons there full ruthless were
Who stretched hym on the grounde.
More wrongs than be in butcherye,
They did the knight who fell,
To wield his sword, and keep his worde,
Who knew the way so well.

Now lowly lies, &c.

“Pray as is meet, my brethern sweet,
The maiden Mary's son,
The infant fair, our noble heir,
In grace to guide him on.
I will not name the habit's claym,
Of that I will not saye;
But for Jesus' love, that sits above,
For churchmen ever pray.

Now lowly lies, &c.

“Seek not to see, of chivalrye,
Or count, or baron bold;
Each gallant knight, and squire of might
They all are bought and sold;
For loyaltie and veritie,
They now are done awaye—
The losel vile may reign by guile,
The fool by his foleye.

Now lowly lies, &c.

“Sir Simon wight, that gallant knight,
And his companye eche one,
To heaven above, and joye and love.
And endless life, are gone.
May He on rood who bought our good,
And God, their paine relieve,
Who, captive ta'en, are kept in chaine,
And depe in dungeon grieve!

318

“Now lowly lies the flower of pries,
That could so much of weir;
Erle Montsort's scathe, and heavy death,
Shall cost the world a tear.”

University of Virginia Library

BALLAD ON THE DEATH OF SIMON DE MONTFORT, EARL OF LEICESTER, AT THE BATTLE OF EVERSHAM, 1226. [_] (Literally versified from the Norman French.)

CHORUS.

BALLAD ON THE DEATH OF SIMON DE MONTFORT, EARL OF LEICESTER, AT THE BATTLE OF EVERSHAM, 1226.
[_]

(Literally versified from the Norman French.)