fol. 41vUltima pars urbes parat, obsidet atque tuetur,
Bello navali finit et ornat opus.footnotetextual note 1
[Proem]
This IIIde part, as long as othre tweyne,third other (first) two parts
line2225Halt providence of myghtiest bataile,Concerns the guidance
The morthereertextual note 2 to bringe undir the cheyne.explanatory note 1murderer chain
There al his olde craft shal nought availe,not help
But hate of ire and angush of travailehateful rage laborious anguish
To fynde. And aftir al that to descende
line2230To th’everlasting deth, if he n’amende.does not amend [his misdeeds]
In BrutisAlbionexplanatory note 2 is not to spende(i.e., England)
This myghti knyghthode and bataile alone.
To Normandie and Fraunce it is t’assende,explanatory note 3to rise
Til Cristis and the kyngis foos uchoneChrist’s king’s foes all
line2235Be dryven out or chastised, and noonetextual note 3
Alyve ylefte that wil not wel beleveLeft alive who
And uttirly the myscreaunt myscheve.punish the misdoers
Here ende I that, and to my werk relevereturn
The laste part, anoon to bringe an ende,
line2240And aftir in correctioun it preve.footnote
Criste truste I, that the kyng ittextual note 4 wil attende
And werreours to knowe it condescende.
That leve I there, and write as is th’availebelieve
To bilde and sette assege,textual note 5 and seetextual note 6 bataile.build lay siege
[Need for City Fortifications (Veg. 4.1)]
fol. 42rNature or art assureth a citee,artifice secures
line2246A dongeoun, a castel, or a tour.tower
In lake or in mareys or in the seemarsh
Sette it; that element is thi socour.
And if the lond shal betextual note 7 propugnatour,defender
line2250A mountayne or a clyef, a cragge,textual note 8 a rokcliff
Sette it uppon, and saf it is fro strok.attack
And in foreste, in feelde, or in champayne,open country
With craft or art it is to make a strengthe,
And if nature assiste, it is t’attayne
line2255Effect anoon, as when the brede or lengthetextual note 9at once
A rok, ryver, mareys, or see wil strengthe;
But art alone if noon herof availe,artifice none of these aids [you]
Shal make it stronge with wisdam and travaile.
[Layout of Walls (Veg. 4.2)]
Mak bosumy and angulous the wal,curvy and angled
line2260And so sette out therof the fundamentfoundation
With touris and turrettis overal,towers and turrets
That scale, engyne, ortextual note 10 rammer therto sentladder, [siege] engine, or ram
Be over sette, and faile of his entent,overtaken
When he is unbegon and al to-dongesurrounded destroyed
line2265With al that may be kesttextual note 11 fro wallis stronge.cast from strong walls
[Constructing Terraplein Walls (Veg. 4.3)]
In this manere a wal it is to make,to be made
To stonde antextual note 12 infallibil thing forever:impregnable
An intervalle of XXti feet be take,20 feet is measured
A wal on either side herof dissevre,build separately
line2270Caste in the moolde, sadde it with mal and lever,Throw earth, compress mallet
Out of the dich caste it bitwix the wallys,
And ramme it doun with punchonys and mallis.piles and mallets
fol. 42vMak the inner wal wel lower then withoute,explanatory note 4inner [part of the] wall than the outer
That esily, astextual note 13 by the clif, ascende
line2275Metextual note 14 may unto the loupis al aboute,Men embrasures
Or by an esi grice hem to defende.easy flight of steps
Thus mad a wal, the ramtextual note 15 may nat offende.
For thaugh he fronte awey this uttir cruste,textual note 16
The grounde is stronge ynough with him to juste.footnote
[Protecting Gates from Fire (Veg. 4.4)]
line2280For firing of the yatis make obstacle,Because burning gates
Cover hem with hidys and with iron plate,hides
And make aforn a myghti propugnacle,build in front defensework
A portcolys to plumpe adoun theratefootnote
Aftir thi foon. Atwixte it and the yateBetween gate
line2285Thei checked ar. The machcoling may thennemachicolations
Chastise hem that thei shal nat sletextual note 17 ner brenne.slay nor burn
[Constructing Ditches (Veg. 4.5)]
The dichis ar to make brode at alditches broad at all [points]
And deep at al, so that me may not fillemen
Hem in no wise, and renne uppon the wal.run [directly] against
line2290The myner is his labour heer to spille.his (miner’s) work waste
And rathesttextual note 18 if the watir hem fulfille:most ideal fills them (i.e., the ditches)
For now hath he twey grete impedymentys;two great impediments
Depnesse is oon, another th’element is.
[Protecting Men on the Walls (Veg. 4.6)]
The multitude of shot is to repelle
line2295With sheeld, pavice an here and duble say.footnote
Shot perceth not ther thorgh. Eek wittis felleAlso many wisemen
Han cratystextual note 19 fild with stoon at every bay,Have crates wall opening
And if th’assault come up, adoun go they
Out of the crate.textual note 20 At every loup is oonembrasure
line2300Of these. It quelleth ordynaunce and mon.textual note 21stops formations and men
[Insuring Food Supplies (Veg. 4.7)]
fol. 43rIn mony wise assault is and defense,footnote
And on manere is by enfameyinge.causing famine
Hoolde foode away, and watir, kepe it thens,keep it safe
And hem to honde anoon shal honger bringe.hunger
line2305But if we wite a seege on us comynge,know a siege
Anoon gete al the foode withintextual note 22 our wonysplaces [i.e., walls]
And faste have in the multitude of stonys
Corn everydel, larder, fisch, foul, forage.All the grain, salted meats
And that may not be brought in, is to brenne.And what is to be burnt
line2310Wyn, aysel, herbe, and fruyt and cariage,Wine, vinegar baggage
Logyng, let brenne it up, or cary it thenne.Lodgings
So bare it for our foon thattextual note 23 whenne thei renne,carry it from foes run (i.e., forage)
Thei fynde nought. And use we vitailetextual note 24victuals
With such attemperaunce, that it ne faile.
[Insuring Supplies for the Wall (Veg. 4.8)]
line2315Glew, tar, and picch and oyle incendiary,oil
And sulphour herwithal to brenne engyne.explanatory note 5burn [siege] engines
Charcole and cole, and al thattextual note 25 necessarycoal
Is forto make armure and arowys fyne
And shelde and spere, hundirdys VIII or IX,explanatory note 6800 or 900
line2320And coggys, cogulys, and pibblis rounde,stones, cobbles pebbles
Fil up the wal with hem by roof and grounde.from top to bottom
Stoon of thetextual note 26 flood is saddesttextual note 27 and so best,river most dense
For fourneysinge a wal and every loupe,furnishing loophole
And outher with engynys to be kestothers cast
line2325On hegh,textual note 28 adoun to falle on hed or croupe,head or hindquarters
Or fro the scalyng forto make hem stoupeladders fall
And have of grene tymbour grete rollysgreen timber large cylinders
And loggys leyd to route uppon her pollys.logs hurl upon their heads
fol. 43vAndtextual note 29 beemys istextual note 30 to have of every sisesize
line2330And boord of every soort, and also nayl.board nail
Ayenst engyne, engynetextual note 31 is to devise,Against [an] engine
And that the stuf be prest, is thin availe.footnote
High if it be, pulle overtextual note 32 their topsail,explanatory note 7
And if thei come in touris ambulary,mobile siege towers
line2335Hem myghtily to mete is necessary.
[Insuring Supplies of Sinews (Veg. 4.9)]
Nerf is to have or senewis aboundaunce,Tendon sinews
The crosbowyng to stringe and bowe of brake.explanatory note 8crossbow
Hors her of mane and tail, if suffisaunceHorsehair
Therof ther is, therto good is to take.
line2340Of wymmen here tho stryngis eke thei make:women’s hair those strings also
With stryngys of their her Romaynys wyvisRoman wives
Saved her owne and her husbondis lyvis.explanatory note 9husbands’ lives
[Insuring Water Supplies (Veg. 4.10)]
Raw hidis ar to kepe, and every hornhides
The portcolis to covere, eek sheeld and targeportcullis also
line2345And mony a thing, it may not be forborn.thrown out
And if so be your watir be not large,
To synke a welle anoon it is to charge.to be ordered
For lak therof, theym that the water brynge,
With shot defende outward and hoom comynge.defend [them] coming back
line2350And if the welle is out of our shotinge,range
Make up a tour and putte archerys there,tower
For to defende tho that watir brynge.bring [from the distant watersource]
Cisternys who can make,textual note 33 it is t’enquere.
Make up of theym in placis everywhere.
line2355Rayn watir kepe in hem. When wellys faile,wells
Rayn watir in cisternys may availe.
[Insuring Salt Supplies (Veg. 4.11)]
fol. 44rA see citee this is, and salt is geson:footnote
Kest watre salt in vesselling that sprede;Cast saltwater spreads [it out]
Salt wil the sonne it make in litiltextual note 34 season.explanatory note 10sun
line2360But thus we dar not fettetextual note 35 it in for drede,But [if] fetch
The see gravel, gete it up in this nede,sea sand, gather
Fresh watir it, and let it drie in sonne,
And salt withoute doubtetextual note 36 herof is wonne.
[Defending a Wall Assault (Veg. 4.12)]
They that the wal assaulteth, bith terribilare a terrible
line2365A multitude, and trumpis proudly rynge.
The citee nystextual note 37 but simpil and paisibil,city[-folk] peaceful
And ferde thei are at this first counteringe,fearful
And in goth they. But if the spritis springego they (the enemy) spirited [men]
And putte hem off, in comth an hardinesse,them (the enemy)
line2370And egal is fro now forthtextual note 38 the congresse.equal conflict
[Names of Siege Weapons (Veg. 4.13)]
The tortoys or the snayl,explanatory note 11 the rammys grete,tortoise great rams
The sekel or the sitheexplanatory note 12 and vyneyerd,explanatory note 13sickle scythe vineyard
The cagys pluteal it is to getemobile screens
And tourys ambulary nere aferd,footnote
line2375The musculys eketextual note 39 with the pety berde —mantelets also little beard
Lo alle these wil this citee assailetextual note 40
With crafte, and yet with craft shal it prevaile.
[Constructing Ramming Weapons (Veg. 4.14)]
Of tymbir and of boord it is to make
A tortoys or a shelled snail,textual note 41 and so
line2380They name it.textual note 42 Whi? For when hem liste awakethey desire [to] awaken
It, out therof the hed and hornystextual note 43 go[ramming] head and horns
And in and out ayein. Oon horn or too,One two
Croked or streght, hath it, right as a snaile,
Right as it semeth hem theirtextual note 44 moost availe.explanatory note 14help
fol. 44vThe bak of this tortoys, snail, or testude,explanatory note 15testudo
line2386Wherof it hath figure and also name,gets its shape
With felt and heere and hidis rawe or crude,hair-mats raw hides
Lest theron fiertextual note 45 doun cast, brenne up the frame,burn
Wel covered is; the sidis beth the same.are
line2390Pendaunt theryn ther goth a beem alonge,
Therof the hed is iron-steeled stronge.footnotetextual note 46
Tweyne hornys if it have, it is a snaile.explanatory note 16
Streght may thei stonde, or the lifte horn may crokemay be crooked
Outher the right, as may be moost availe,Or most helpful
line2395The wal to breke and stonys out to rooke.to tear out stones
And if it havetextual note 47 but oon horn, and it hooketextual note 48
A croche, it is a sikel or a sithe,[Like] a crook scythe
It breketh and out bringeth stonys swithe.quickly
[Defending Against Ramming Weapons (Veg. 4.23)]
And when the frount is mad to breke andtextual note 49 brese,shatter
line2400It is a ram for that similitude,
To rushtextual note 50 uppon the wal and al to cresecrush
The stuf in it. Yet wil thei this delude,they (the defenders) hinder this
And with oontextual note 51 crafte thoo craftis III conclude:those three weapons
Of quylt and felt a trussetextual note 52 thei depende,quilt bundle
line2405Ther as the ram entendeth for t’offende.Where
Or by the hed they kecch ittextual note 53 with a gnaresnare
And hale it up, or by the wal endlonge,haul
Or turne it up-so-doun thei wil not spare.
Hem semeth it to hurte it is no wronge.It seems to them
line2410And other have a wulf,explanatory note 17 this ram to fonge:wolf grab
That wulf is astextual note 54 a payre of smythis tongys,pair of smith’s tongs
Toothed, that in a wayt alway to honge is.weight always to hang [down]
fol. 45rThat wulf gooth on the ram, and by the hed
Or necke anoon pulde is he up-so-doun,
line2415Or so suspended that his myght is deed.dead
And other fro the wallis of the town[the] other [defense is]
Or out oftextual note 55 tourys hye or of dongeounhigh towers
Wil caste an huge ston or a pilerepillar
Of marbil, and so breke it al yfere.shatter it (a ram) completely
line2420And if the wal be thorled therwithal,pierced
As happeth ofte, or doun it gooth anoon:goes at once
Awey with everytextual note 56 hous, and mak a walmake a [new] wall
Withinne that of planke or lyme and ston;mortar
And if thin adversayris come uppon,
line2425Conclude theym bitwixt the wallis tweyne,End them between two
And so be quyte of thistextual note 57 perile and peyne.explanatory note 18finished with peril and danger
[Constructing Siege Screens (Veg. 4.15)]
The vyneyerdeexplanatory note 19 is lighter tymburynge,vineyard
VIII foote brode, VI footys high, XVI8 6 16
Footys in length, and dubil covertinge[a] double covering
line2430Hath it of boord and fleyk. Of twyggis greneboards and hurdles (interwoven frame)
The sidis are, and fier forto sustene,to survive fire
With felt and hidis grene it coveretextual note 58 they,raw hides
So that to brenne or breke it, is no wey.burn
And made ynowetextual note 59 of these, ar sette yferefootnote
line2435Unto the wal, as summe sette a vyne,Up to vine
And tre pilers upsetting heer and there,setting up wooden posts
To make it falle, undir the wal thei myne,mine
That, puld away the stulpis VIII or IXne,8 or 9 supports
Doun go the wal, this vyneyerd remeved,[having been] removed
line2440Lest it and al ther undirtextual note 60 be myscheved.explanatory note 20all those
fol. 45vThe cage pluteal of twiggis plat,mobile screens pleated twigs
Of heerys hath covert and hidis grene.hair-mats raw hides
Not over high the roof ner over flatte,nor too flat
That shot and fier suffice it to sustene.
line2445On whelis IIItextual note 61 to go thei thise demene,textual note 623 wheels guide
As goth a cart. And fele herof thei makemany
With mony a wit the wallis forto awake.assail
[Constructing Mantelets (Veg. 4.16)]
The muscle shelle is but a smal engyne,mantelet
Mightily mad on whelis forto go,
line2450And bere away the wallis when thei myne.carry they mine [them]
Thei bringe stuf the dich to fille also.
And on the werk it may go to and fro
And sadde it up, that tourys ambularyfill it up mobile siege towers
May men ynowe uppon the wallis cary.
[Constructing Mobile Siege Towers (Veg. 4.17)]
line2455The muscul eke is good,textual note 63 the way to mende,mantelet also path to construct
For enytextual note 64 thing. Of tourys ambulary,
To se the crafte is now to condescende,
Th’artificeer it nedeth not to vary.The constructor
Make hemtextual note 65 like other housing necessary,
line2460A XXXti foote or XL foote square,30 40
And otherwhile of Lti feet thei are.other times 50
Of bemys and of boord be thei compacte,constructed
And competent, the brede hath altitude,in breadth as needed for height
With hidis grene or felt sadly coacteraw hides pressed together
line2465The robinge and the sidis are enclude.shell covered
Their apparaile ashameth wallys rude,workings simple walls
At every lyme herof ar huge whelyslimb (i.e., axle’s end) wheels
And brood withal the sole of every whel is.broad rim
fol. 46rPresent perile is, if this tour ammoevetower is moved
line2470Unto the wal. The place is in a doubte,textual note 66
Antextual note 67 impossibil is it off to shove,impossible [thing]
Of myghtieste theryn is mony a route,[the] mightiest [men] a number
And briggis in, to renne on from withoute,bridges inside run
And scalis of al maner farsioun,ladders manner of construction
line2475From eny part to renne on up and doun.any part [of the tower]
The rammys are alongh as first engyne,along [the side]
And not a fewe, a wal to overthrowe.
And undir as a vyneyerd they myneunder [the tower]
And briggis intextual note 68 the myddis are a rowe,
line2480And fro the toppe they shote and stonys throwe.
Thus undir and above and everywhere
The wall besette. Who dar abide there?Who dares stay there [besieged]
[Defending Against Siege Towers (Veg. 4.18)]
Yet here ayenst is divers medycyne.footnote
First, if the chivalers with confidence
line2485Go myghti out and fire this engyne,[set] fire [to]
First pulde away the firys resistence.First [having] pulled fire
And if thei ha not this magnificence,
Shote at hem molliols, alsotextual note 69 fallayrys.explanatory note 21malleoli fire-spears
But what thei ar, to knowe ittextual note 70 necessayir is.
line2490A malliol, a bolt of wilde fier is.fire-dart (malleolus) Greek fire
A fallary, a shafte is of the same.textual note 71fire-spear (falaricus)
Thorghtextual note 72 felt and hide hem shoote: al on a fier is.
But shoote hem thorgh into the tymber frame.
With myghti alblastris go to thistextual note 73 game,ballistae
line2495Brymston, rosyn, glewe, oyle incendiaryrosin, glue, burning oil
With flax doon on this shafte is necessary.
fol. 46vOr prevely with fier out of the tounsecretly
Over the wal, whil this tour is asclepe,asleep
A feleship of fewe is let adoun,small company of men
line2500That fiere it, as noo watir may it kepe.set fire to
And triced up at hoom thei skippe and lepegathered up at home
To se this ambulary touris brenne.
This hath be doon, and yet ful seelde whenne.footnote
[Adding Height to City Walls (Veg. 4.19)]
And otherwise is doun, the wal t’arise,
line2505And over-go the touris altitude.footnote
Yet thertextual note 74 ayenst is used to deviseagainst this practice
A subtiltee, tho wallis to delude:to take down
In the utter tour, an inner tour t’enclude;outer [siege] tower
And when thei sette uppon this wallis blyndewalls [with the inner siege towers] hidden
line2510With gabils and polifs hem overwynde.footnote
[Defending Against Siege Towers (Veg. 4.20)]
And beemys otherwhile, yetextual note 75 overlonge,beams very long
Ordeyne thei, and sette on iron hornys,They construct horns (i.e., hooks)
And as a rammys hed thei make hem honge.like a battering ram
This tour with hem forbeton and throghtextual note 76 born is,batter and beaten through
line2515And sette ofiere, and utturly forlorn is.set aflame
Yet otherwise, out of the toun a myne,
Undir the way therof, slethtextual note 77 this engyne.slays
When this engyne on that concaviteetextual note 78excavation
Goth with his wight uppon his myghti whelis,textual note 79Goes weight wheels
line2520Doun gothtextual note 80 it, into helle as it wold fle.
And this to se, the toun in joy and wele is.town happiness
But th’ooste withoute al in dolourtextual note 81 and deel is,sorrow and despair
Al desperate of help by their engyne,
And al by witty makyng of a myne.clever construction
[Taking the Walls from a Tower (Veg. 4.21)]
fol. 47rBut if this tour sauf sette uppon the wallissits safe
line2526With every shot of dart, of shaft, of spere,
And dynt of axe, of swoord, billys, and mallys,blow bills, and mallets
And caste of stoon theitextual note 82 ley on everywhere,they (the besiegers) lay on
That fro the wal awey they fle for fere.they (the defenders) fly away for fear
line2530Now to the wal, the briggis forto avale is,bridges are brought to help
And mony oon goth doun anoon by scalys.many men go scaling ladders
Thei trice in other with the tollenon:hoist tolleno (swing-beam)
The tollenon a tymbir pece on ende[is] a wood pole on end (upright)
Is sette, another twye as long theron.planted twice [balanced] on its top
line2535The lighter ende of it adountextual note 83 thei bende.
A cageful of men therwith thei sende
Uppon the wal, when they with cordis drawe
Adoun that othertextual note 84 ende, as is the lawe.
[New artillery (Veg.4.22)]
Sumtyme ayen this werk, the bowe of brake,footnote
line2540Carribalistys, and arcubalistis,Carroballistae arbalests
Onagris and fustibulis wer take,Onagers (catapaults) fustibali
And mony a dart that uncouth and unwiste isunfamiliar and unknown
Amonge us heer. The taberinge of the fistisdrumming fists
Uppon the bowe, and trumpyng of the gunnethundering of the gun
line2545Hath famed us as fer as shyneth sonne.footnote
Thei trumpe adoun the tourys ambulary.thunder down [siege] towers
Thei overthrowe as wel ram as tortoys.rams as well as tortoises
The cage and vyneyerd therby myscary.screen and vineyard
The muscul may not with his dynt and voys.mantelet cannot [contend]
line2550And countir as it goth, ther is noo choys,
But deed ortextual note 85 quyt. For and it onystextual note 86 touche,
It goth for al that hangeth in the pouche.footnote
[Defending Against Attacks from Mines (Veg. 4.24–25)]
fol. 47vA conynger, that now they calle a myne,rabbit burrow, what
Goth undir erth unwist. By that caverneGoes underground unknown
line2555Come in t’a toun, ye, tourmys VIII or IXne,into a town 8 or 9 troops [of men]
And prevely they rise in sum taverne
Ortextual note 87 desolat hous, so noo wight hem werne.no [towns]people warn [about] them
And sodenly by nyght uppon the yategate
They hewe, and leet their frendis in therate.explanatory note 22attack there
line2560And ther ayenst, if that the dwellers beagainst this townspeople
In touris, on the wal, or housys hyehigh houses
Uppon the strete, is ther yit comfort? Ye!Yes
So stonys out of numbir on hem flye,As stones beyond number hurl
As thaugh the buldir hailed from the skye,boulder
line2565They wil anoon retrete outtextual note 88 at the yatis.at once gates
Now steke hem out, and stynted this debate is.explanatory note 23drive ended
And if thei do not thus, anoon their fooat once their foe
Of providence her yatis may lete stonde,their gates
Until as fele as fle, wil been ago,many as will have fled
line2570And thennetextual note 89 in ease have hous and toun and londe.
But God defende us that wetextual note 90 be not fondefound
Aslepetextual note 91 so that foon lede us away
Withoute strook, or seide hem onys nay!said once to them no
Lo, man, womman, and childe may keste stooncast stones
line2575Uppon his foo from every place o lofte.aloft
And therto redy sone are everychontextual note 92ready at once
By day and nyght; this holpen hath full ofte.has helped very often
Ha stonys out of flood or feeld or crofte,Have [ready] river enclosed farmland
Store hem on high, that in a sodeyn ferefright
line2580Fynde hem ye may, and on your foo bewere.textual note 93
fol. 48rThis conynger hath eek another gise:footnote
Undir the wal to crepe pryvely,
And sette up postistextual note 94 heer and ther by sise,supports here and there
And pike away the fundament wightly,pick foundation
line2585Ramayle it wel,textual note 95 the postis by and by.Shatter
And when their ooste was redy, make it brenne.burn
Doun goth the wall; in and uppon hem thenne!
[Defending Against Besieger Stratagems (Veg. 4.26)]
Peraventure ther is a countir-myne,If by chance countermine
So that thei faile, and feyneth a dispayre,feign despair
line2590And hem remeveth mylys VIII or IXne,retreat 8 or 9 miles
Now best bewar, at market or at fayre,you must beware
Or day or nyght. Thei thinketh to repayre,They (the besiegers) return
If there appere among hem negligence.them (the defenders)
Therfore now do grettest diligence.
line2595Now se the wacch abide uppon the wall,see [that] the watch stays
And houndis wisetextual note 96 and grete is good to kepe.watch-dogs
Eek gees is good to have in special,geese are
For thei wil waketextual note 97 folke that ar aslepe,people who are asleep
The foo comynge her welth away to repe.seize
line2600The mavlard in the dich and in the wallis,mallard ditch
The martilet at scaling wont to calle is.explanatory note 24martin (European swift) climbing [men]
[Defending the Siege with Breastworks (Veg. 4.28)]
The toun eke on th’assege sodenlythe besieging army
Is wont to falle, if it be negligent.
Therfore a dich thei make up myghtily,
line2605Without shot of everych instrument,Out of reach
And stake it, pale it, toure it to th’entent,post build it up
Ther to be sure hemself and holde hem inne.
Thus wayteth uch on othertextual note 98 forto wynne.footnote
[Naval Warfare (Veg. 4.31)]
fol. 48vThe craft t’assaulte a citee and defende
line2610By myght and wit of knyghthode and bataile,
Honour to God, therof is mad an ende.
Now go we forth unto this fight navaile,naval warfare
That is fight on the see, no light travaile,sea, no simple labor
And not o londe. As there is so grete drede,
line2615Therfore of governaunce hath it gret nede.explanatory note 25
[Shipbuilding (Veg. 4.34)]
To make an hous, good stuf it is to take:materials
Goodtextual note 99 farsioun, and good stuf is the hous.design
Buttextual note 100 rather he that shippis is to make,
Se that his stuftextual note 101 ne be nat vicious.inferior
line2620A feebil hous nys not so perilousfeeble is not
As is a feebil ship, other a barge.
Forthy therof thetextual note 102 more it is to charge.Therefore pay attention to
Fir and cipresse and the pynappul trecypress pine tree
Therfore is good, as seyn the bookys olde,
line2625And ook is holden goodtextual note 103 in this cuntré.oak
The nayles are of brastextual note 104 wel better holdebrass
Then iron. Whi? For ruste thei wil and oldethey (iron nails) will rust age
And kankertextual note 105 and consume. There as bras,corrode Whereas
Consumed al the ship, is as it was.[Even if] the whole ship is destroyed
[When Timber Should Be Cut for Shipbuilding (Veg. 4.35–36)]
line2630Fro unto the KalendeJuly 1
Of , that is by monthis sixeJanuary 1
The seson is, tymbur to falle an ende,on end
Th’umour dryinge in treen. Now sad and fixefootnote
Is every pith.textual note 106 But fallinge is bitwixefelling is [best] between
line2635textual note 107 and ti, when the monethe 15th and 22nd moon
Is wanyng; dayis VII is this to done.7 days
fol. 49rIn other tyme or seson if me falle,I fell [them]
Worm-eton wil it ben, eek it wil rote.Worm-eaten be, also rot
The tymbourmen of craft this knoweth alle.woodcutters
line2640Of rynde or bark is rende away the cote
And dryed thorgh, er it be put to note,dried through, before use
For tymbir weet, so wroght, wil aftir shrynkewet
And ryve and with right grete disconfort drynke.tear apart drink [seawater]
For if the shippe unto the maryner
line2645Drynke of the see, sone aftir of the same
Thei drinketh al, and are of hevy cher.
Forthi, the carpenter is wurthi blameTherefore
That into shippis wil weet tymbour frame,wet
And wurthi thonk is he, that frameth drye,
line2650So that in his defaulte no men deye.error die
[Types of Warships (Veg. 4.33, 37)]
The namys of the shippis as for werre
Myn auctour writeth not, save a liburneliburna (a small galley)
He writeth of as myghtiertextual note 108 and herrehigher
Of boord, and wight of foote, and light to turne.sideboard swift
line2655As to the wastom of this shippis sturne,textual note 109size ship’s stern
Thei hadde V or IIII ordris of ooris,orders of oars
Or fewer, as thetextual note 110 vessel lesse ortextual note 111 more is.
And every grete liburne a balyngerbalinger (i.e., a small ship)
Hath had, and that a scafe exploratoryscouting skiff
line2660Was named, forto aspie fer and neer.scout far and near
Of oorys hadde that nottextual note 112 but oon story.one
But wight it was to go for a victory.textual note 113swift
The seyl, the maste, and every maryneretextual note 114mariner
With see colour wer clad forto unnapere.textual note 115sea-blue were covered to disappear
[Names of the Winds (Veg. 4.38)]
fol. 49vA navey and an oost that wil governe[whoever] will lead
line2666Uppon the see, him nedeth forto knowe
The wyndis. And the wedir to discerne,weather
He moste ha wit, leste he be overthrowe.must have knowledge
And first the foure cardinals arowetextual note 116cardinal directions
line2670Be knowe, as Est and West and North and South,
How thei amongetextual note 117 hemself discorde, is couth.
Th’eest cardinal is called Subsolan,East [wind] (Latin: Subsolanus)
And on his lifte hond hath he Sirtextual note 118Vulturne,left East-southeast (Latin: Vulturnus)
And Colchyas is on his right hond tan,textual note 119East-northeast (Latin: Caecias) located
line2675Septentrion, that cardinal so storneNorth [wind] (Latin: Septentrio)
Out of the Northtextual note 120 the see wil overtorne,
Thocastias his right, and his lift sideNorth-northwest (Latin: Thrascias)
Halt Aquylo, what se may theim abide.North-northeast (Latin: Aquilo)
Auster is cardinal meridian,South [wind] (Latin: Auster)
line2680Nothus fol grymly goth on his right side,South-southeast (Latin: Albus notus)
And Chorus on the liftetextual note 121 hond forth thei han,South-southwest (Latin: Corus)
And Zephirus that cardinal, abideWest [wind] (Latin: Zephyrus)
Wil in the west, and whentextual note 122 him list to ride,when it pleases him
Grete Affricus shal ride on his right honde,West-southwest (Latin: Africus)
line2685And Duk Favonius on his lift honde.West-northwest (Latin: Favonius)
If III or oon or tweyne of these up blowe,3 or one or two
Tethis, oftextual note 123 hir naturetextual note 124 that is tranquylle,textual note 125Tethys (i.e., the sea)
Thei lenetextual note 126 uppon, oppresse, and overthrowe,
And causeth altextual note 127 crye out that wold be stille.
line2690Thei roretextual note 128 ayeyn, of her thei have her wille.roar
The shippe that thistextual note 129 conflict seeth and hereth
(Heryn beleve me!)textual note 130 his hert ittextual note 131 fereth.heart is afraid
fol. 50rSum varyaunce of tyme will refreyne
Her cruelous and feers rebellioun,
line2695Anothir helpith hem to shake her cheynechain
As all the firmament shuld falle adoun
And Occian lepe over Caleys toun.Ocean leap Calais
And after in a while it is tranquylle
And playne and calme, as whos seith, “Husht,textual note 132 be stille!”explanatory note 26
line2700Therfore a storme is whisedom to prevyde,foresee
And good it is for se serenyté,to see serenity
And fro the storme abide or stopp atide,stop for a time
And with meanabil wynd sette on the see.[more] amenable
Ful hard it is intextual note 133 peril hym to se,to see him imperilled
line2705That of the wyndes had inspeccioun,Who
Is raysonabil in direccioun.[And] is reasonable
[When to Set Sail (Veg. 4.39)]
Thenne is to se the monthis and the dayes
Of navygaunce. Forwhy? Not al the yerenavigation year
The wyndis on the shippis make affrays,textual note 134
line2710Sum monthis ever are of mery cheer,Some months
And summe loure a while, and after cleersome frown (become overcast)
Ynough they loke, and summe ar intractabiltextual note 135
And ragy wood, ancour to breke and gabil.raging mad, anchor cable
The VIth, when Pliades(i.e., 27 May) Pleiades
line2715Appereth — what is that? the sterrys VII — Appears 7 stars
The wyndes alle ar bounden to the pees,bound to peace
So that ther nys nootextual note 136 truble undir heven,there is no trouble
Until the berth of Arcture al is even,explanatory note 27rising of Arcturus
That is of the XVIIIth kalende.(i.e., 14 September)
line2720Seecraft plesaunttextual note 137 hath at this day an ende.
fol. 50vTho dayis ever are of mery cheer,Those days (i.e., 27 May to 14 September)
And thenne unto the IIIde Idetextual note 138 of (i.e., 11 November)
The dayis wil now loure and now be cleer.be gloomy clear
For unto now, as bookys me remembre,textual note 139
line2725Arcture, as from the first ,(i.e., 13 September)
His reigne he hath, and in this meanewhiletextual note 140
The firmament wil loure amonge and smyle.at times
Novembir in tempest is al to shake,
And aftir unto ,(i.e., 10 March)
line2730Viage thenne on seetextual note 141 nys noon to take,Voyage sea is not to be taken
But in the woose it is t’abide fixe.mud (i.e., water’s edge) to await
Also by londe unused is betwixe
and to goon or ride,textual note 142All Hallow’s Day (i.e., 1 November)
But if atextual note 143 grete necessitee betide.Unless
line2735Short is the day, the nyght istextual note 144 overlonge,
Thicke is the myst, and thestir is the mone,dim is the moon
And aftir in ther comth of wynde a thronge,gale
That forto stonde he hath ynough to done,[just] to stand
That is o londe.textual note 145 A strom is aftir soneWho is on land storm
line2740Of leyt,textual note 146 of wynd, of rayn, of hail, of thondir,lightning
That woful is the wight that gothtextual note 147 therundir.
And, ovir this, in , , and ,this [being] over
Antiquytee of navigatiounAncient authorities
Dyvers sollennyteetextual note 148 and grete arayDiverse festivals
line2745Was usedtextual note 149 have in high devotioun,
And eke of artetextual note 150 exercitatiounpractice
To kepe in honde. And as for feat of werre,hand war
Thei bood until the sonne ascended herre.waited sun here
[Signs of the Weather (Veg. 4.41)]
fol. 51rAnd tokenys of tranquille and tempeste,signs
line2750Of wynde and rayn, thei hadden in the moone.moon
Of tokenys this was surest and best:
Reed is the mone, it wil be wynde right sone,Red moon soon
To take see theryn istextual note 151 good to shone.take sail shun
The pale mone is lyke to have a rayn.
line2755The pale rede is wynde and storm, thei sayn.pale red [moon]
And when the mone ariseth glad and bright,clear
And namely the day that is the pryme,first appearance of the new moon
Withoute humour, in hornys sharpe and light,clouds crescent
To take a grete viage is right good tyme.long voyage
line2760But if the sonne telle of eny cryme,crime (i.e., bad weather)
As is if he arise undir a cloude,
That day in rayn and wynd is wont to croude.likely to be full
His bright arisithtextual note 152 is like a merytextual note 153 day,
His rede arisith is like a breef to blowe,footnote
line2765And maculous, is shour or cloudis ay,variegated
And pale arisith wil reyn or ellis snowe.textual note 154
A tokyn eke of rayn is the raynbowe.
In wynde and ayer,textual note 155 in fish and foule,Virgileair fowl
The signys seyth that may no man begile.explanatory note 28Records the signs beguile
[The Tides (Veg. 4.42)]
line2770The maryners, thei sayn, have al this artmariners
Of wydiringe. And thei be wedir wise,weather-reading. If weather
By discipline of it ha thei no part,schooling
But of a longe usage or exercise.
Wel knowe thei, the reume if it arise,tide (Greek, rheuma)
line2775An aker is it clept, I undirstonde,current called
Whos myght ther may no ship or wynd withstonde.
fol. 51vThis reume in th’Occian of propur kyndethe Ocean
Withoute wynde hath his commotioun.
The maryner therof may not be blinde,
line2780But whenne and where in every regioun
It regneth, he moste have inspectioun.It occurs be mindful of it
For in viage it may both hast and taryspeed and slow
And unadvised therof al myscary.[those] ignorant of it
The marinere, er he come at congressebefore he comes to strike
line2785Or counturinge, uppon the see bataile,sea battle
Wil his navey so for the reume adresse,tide prepare
As may beentextual note 156 his adverser dissavaileenemy
And hindiraunce, and also his availe.help
This may be doon anoon, for a liburneliburna (a small galley)
line2790With wynde or oorys, as me wil,textual note 157 may turne.oars
[Navigators (Veg. 4.43)]
The maister marynere, the governour,explanatory note 29master mariner
He knoweth every cooste in his viage
And port saluz. And forthi grete honourwelcome ports
He hath, as worthi is, and therto wage.wages accordingly
line2795The depper see, the gladder he. For ragedeeper [the] sea
Of wynde or of bataile if ther abounde,
The surer he, the ferre he be fro grounde.further he is from land
He knoweth every rok and every race,rock current
The swolewys and the starrys, sonde and sholde,whirlpools depths and shallows
line2800And where is deep ynough his foo to chace.
And chese a feeld he can, bataile to holde,choose a field
And myghtily sette on liburnys bolde,liburnae
First with the frounte al undir see to route,forward underwater ram destroy
And, as a thought, anoon be brought aboute.
fol. 52rThe maister of the shippe, he muste be wyis.
line2806The mariners most be ful diligent,
And myghti rowing up at point devicerowing in perfect order
Is to been had at his commaundement,
That storne and ooris go by oon assentstern and oars one
line2810Forth right to sette uppon, and light to turne,
Ful gret avauntage haldeth this liburne.
[Tactics in Naval Warfare (Veg. 4.45)]
And as o londe an oost may be preventon land fleet
And leyde awayt uppon, right so by seelaid wait upon (i.e., ambushed) sea
At ilis or in streytys pertynentisles suitable straits
line2815A bushement to falle uppon may be.An ambush
Rathest out of aray is good to seMost especially out of order see
When that thei be. The reume and strem and wyndetide current
With you and countour hem is good to fynde.against
Or wayte on hem, for wery or aslepe,weary
line2820Or when thei leest of thi comynge suppose,least
Or in a rode as is no wey to crepeanchorage creep
Away, but that yetextual note 158 must been in their nose.(i.e., in front of them)
Al that is you to wynne, is hem to lose,
And if thei can avoyde alle your cautelis,avoid strategems
line2825Thenne uch his right, the feeld and fight to dele is.footnote
Thenne in a feelde a frounte of this liburnysthese liburnae
It is to sette, and not as ontextual note 159 the londenot [in straight lines] land
An oost. And whi? For inward it to turne is,
The hornys as atextual note 160 sharp cressaunt to stonde,sharp crescent
line2830A bosomynge amyddis to be founde,curving in the middle
That umbego ye may your adversarysurround
And close hem enviroun, and with you cary.close around them
[Naval Battle Described]
fol. 52vBut on the hornys be liburnys sturnewings liburnae stout
With myghtiest and booldest men of werre,
line2835Aboute our foon of myscreaunce to turne,our foes
With confidence hem for to seyn: “Yetextual note 161 erre!You err!
Com undir us, and knowe your over-herreBe obedient [to] us overlord
Moost gracioux, knowe him your souverayne.
And wil ye not? At youre perile and peyne!”pain
line2840The beemys, up thei goth out of the trumpeplanks trumpets
And every brayn astonyeth their reson.footnote
The firmament, lo! clariounys crumpecurved horns
To crye uppon, and lo! it comth adoun
With angelis, ye,textual note 162 mony a legioun,
line2845To countour perjurie and myscreaunceperjury
And surquydrye and disobeyssaunce.pride
In every man thei setteth fortitudethey (the angels) bolster strength
And high magnificence and confidence,
Perseveraunt for trouth to conclude
line2850With adiuvaunce of myghti patience,assistance
And on the part adverse, an impotenceopposing party
With couwardise and diffident dispayredespair lacking in confidence
Wil ferdfully with trembelyng repayre.fearfully
The canonys, the bumbard, and the gunne,cannons bombard gun
line2855Thei bloweth out the voys and stonys grete,sound of battle and large stones
Thorgh maste and side and othertextual note 163 be thei runne.mast hull propelled
In goth the serpentyne aftir his mete.explanatory note 30serpentine target
The colveryne is besy forto geteculverin
An hole into the top. And the crappaudetop [of the ship] crapaudeau
line2860Wil in. The fouler eek wil have his laude.veuglaire also praise
fol. 53rThe covey fleeth as foulis thorgh thetextual note 164 sayle.footnote
The pavice are accombred with coventys,footnote
Yet on thei come, and us thei wil assaile.
The bowe unnumerabil redy bent is,innumerable bows
line2865The shaft fro th’ere anende it goth. Apprentys
Th’onagirexplanatory note 31 is and the carribaliste,footnote
The fundubal and the manubaliste.explanatory note 32slinger manuballista
The catafract,explanatory note 33 plumbate, and scorpioun,cataphract, lead balls
The dart and arpagoun in dayis oldegrappling-hook
line2870Were had. And are amonge us leyde adoun
Crosbowys yet. And crankelons ar bolde,crank-bows
With wildefier to brenne al in the folde:Greek fire to burn
The malliol goth out with the fallary,fire-dart (malleolus) fire-shaft
The wildefier to bere our adversary.
line2875Yet on they come. Awaite uppon the toppetop [of the ship]
Good archery. The storm of shot as hail
So rayketh on. Thei dar not shewe her croppetheir heads
Ner in the mastys topp, ner undirtextual note 165 sail.mast’s top, nor
Yet haile hem in a myghti voys: “Hail, hail!
line2880Come undir your Kyng Harry!textual note 166 Fy! O pride!”
Thei wil not th’rof, attonys on hem ride.explanatory note 34will not do it, at once
Bende up, breke everych oore in the mytsidePull break every oar midships
That hath a rash. Help hem, lo! thei goth undir.has action
To this mysaventure hemself thei gide.they lead themselves
line2885Lo, how thei cracke on every side asondir!asunder
What tempest is on hem! What leyt and thondir!lightning and thunder
On grapesinge anoon, let se their fleete,grappling
What hertys are in hem with us to mete!hearts to meet [in battle]
fol. 53vArmure and axe and spere of over wightof exceeding strength
line2890Is over light. As sparkelys in rede,Are shining bright sparks in red [flames]
So sparkel they on helm and herneys bright.harness
The rammys and twibil the side out shrederams two-bill axe
Of ship and mast. Doun goth the sail in dede!indeed
Up goth our hook! Now it istextual note 167 on their gabil.[grappling] hook rigging
line2895Lo! ther it lyeth! This batail is notabil.lies
Summe into se go, fisshes forto fede,explanatory note 35[the] sea to feed
Summe undir hacch ar falde adoun for fere,under hatches are fallen down
And summe above, her hert blood to bleede,textual note 168[remain] above decks, their heart’s
And summe seke hemself they wote ner where.footnoteexplanatory note 36
line2900And summe crye: “Alas, that we come there!
Mischefetextual note 169 upon mysgovernaunce betide!
Lo! pride hath us betrapped!textual note 170 Fy, O pride!”
“Com on! With us ye shal go se the kyng,
The gracious. Have of anoon this gere!Take off at once this gear
line2905Ye muste have on another herneysing:harnessing
A gyngeling of jessis shal ye were.jingling of fetters wear
Ye shal no lenger stondyn in this fere.stand in this company
O Silver Bere, O Lilial Lioun,Bear Lily-white Lion
O Goldon Eagle! Wheretextual note 171 is your renoun?”explanatory note 37explanatory note 38textual note 172
line2910Thus may be doon, if that it be forseyntextual note 173foreseen
Of our meryte in souverayn providence.in the sovereign’s providence
Forthi forwithtextual note 174 do every wight his peynehis effort
Sleuthtextual note 175 out to holde, and have in diligenceSloth diligently
Sette up the werk. And spare noon expense
line2915Of Goddis honde. Althoughtextual note 176 ye have victory,
Yet in the knotteexplanatory note 39 is al th’onourtextual note 177 and glory.knot [of the Trinity]
fol. 54rKnytte up the werk, and say: “Hail, !Holy Day
The werre intraneous of al this londeinternal war
Is at an ende!” Here nys no more affray.is nothing more to fear
line2920Justice is heer peasibilly to stonde.peacefully
And al the world shal telle of Engelonde
And of the kyngis high magnificence,king’s
And been adred t’attempte it with offense.afraid
[Naval Weapons (Veg. 4.46)]
But forto knytte a knotte uppon this book,compose a conclusion
line2925That is to sey, therof to maketextual note 178 an ende,
What is the ram, this twibil, and this hook,two-bill axe
Thattextual note 179 helpeth us this shippis thus to shende?these ships destroy
The ram, a beem is, by the mast suspende,beam
That as a saylis yerde is smal and longe,like a yard-arm
line2930On eithertextual note 180 ende an iron hed to fonge.fasten
A rammys or a snailis hed theronram’s or snail’s head
Ther may be sette, with streght or caumber horn.angled horn
On either side it may sette on our foon,side [of our ship] beset foes
With myghti hand adoun that thei be born.
line2935Ther nys nothing may stonde ther beforn.before [it]
For of the shippe it breketh out the side,
Unnethe may the mast his myght abide.Scarcely strength
The hook of iron kene istextual note 181 and of strengthe,sharp iron
And like a sithe uppon a myghti sperre,scythe
line2940And not to gret, but of an huge lengthe,too large
And polissed to bace and make it herre.explanatory note 40on pulleys to lower higher
The gabelis that in a ship of werrecables war
Bere up the sail, herwith may be fordone,cut
So may the stay and shroudis everychone.shrouds (rigging ropes)
fol. 54vThe twibil is an axe with double bite.two-bill double edge
line2946And therwithal in myddis of the mastewith that, in the middle
What maryneris dede, is hard to wite,explanatory note 41mariners did know
But fele it hurte. And fele it made agaste.many afraid
Now faste until an ende I wil me haste,quickly to the conclusion
line2950Yet first th’onagir and carribaliste,onager carroballista
What thing it was, it were good we wiste.it would be good for us to know
[Naval Weapons (Veg. 4.22)]
Th’onagir was an huge and myghti bowe,
Strynged with nerf. Therwith the stonys grete,sinew great stones
In maner of a thonderynge were throwe.like a thundering
line2955And for defaute of nerf, hors heer was geteif lacking sinews, horse hair
To strynge hem with, and rather then forletetextual note 182abandon
The help therof, their heer Romaynys wyvis,the hair of Roman wives
Kitte of, to stryngetextual note 183 hem with, and save her lyvys.Cut off lives
Theim lever was to have her goode husbandisTheir preference
line2960With honestee, and withtextual note 184 their hedis bare,
Then dishonest be led to straunge londys,
Dispareged, hertextual note 185 mariage forfare.forfeit
O, mony oon of yontextual note 186 goode wyvys are,
That charge more vertue and honesteecare more about
line2965Then worldly good or bodily beautee.explanatory note 42
In carris had for hem, carribalistiscarts built carroballistae
Wer sette. Thei weretextual note 187 as bowis are of brake:like crossbows
Oon more of hem thentextual note 188 X manubalistis,explanatory note 43
Of nerf or heer stringistextual note 189 for hem wer take.footnote
line2970Their myghti shot made hertetextual note 190 and herneys quake.heart harness
They and th’onagre bowys myghtieste:[are the] mightiest bows
Tymbir that oon, stonys that other keste.explanatory note 44that other (the onager) cast
[Epilogue]
fol. 55rOf th’olde world the brightest herneysinge,ancient harnessing
Best ordinaunce and myghtieste mad were.
line2975O chivalers, to you this istextual note 191 to bringe,this (the old ways)
The beste yetextual note 192 chese. And yet a pointtextual note 193 go nerre:footnote
O Lady myn,textual note 194Maria, lode-sterre,Mary, lodestar
Licence metextual note 195 toward the lond. Beholde!Guide
See-seke am I.textual note 196 Ful fayn o lande I wolde!Sea-sick Very glad on land
line2980Hail, porte saluz! With thi pleasaunt accesse,happy port
Al hail Caleis! Ther wolde I faynesttextual note 197 londe.textual note 198Calais most gladly land
That may not Joon!textual note 199 Whi so?explanatory note 45 For thei distresseJohn (i.e., a fellow)
Alle, or to deye, or with her wrongtextual note 200 to stonde.either to die their wrong
That wil I not totextual note 201 wynne al Engelonde![even] to win all England
line2985What myght availe? A litil heer totextual note 202 dwelle,result here
And world withouten endeexplanatory note 46 abide in Helle!
O litil case, O povere hous, my poortpoor house
Saluz thou be, until that ayertextual note 203 amende,explanatory note 47Happy heir
That is to sey, until another soort
line2990Governe there, that by the kyng be sende.
Yit let me se, what waytextual note 204 my wit is wende.mind is turning
In this tretys, first is th’electiountextual note 205the selection
Of werreours: as for the legioun,legion [they should be]
Yonge, and statured wel, of up o londe
line2995And laborers,explanatory note 48 be taught to pace and rennerun
And lepe and shote, and with a dart in hondeleap and shoot
Shakyng uppon the Sarrasins that grenne,Saracens snarl
To shote quyk, and to swymme over whenne
The ryver is to deep. There every gisemeans
line3000Of hosteyinge and fight hath exercise.warfare practice
fol. 55vThe part secounde hath the divisioun
Of al an oost, wheryn is tolde of th’aide,the auxiliary
That subsequent is to the legioun,
Wherin t’everych office his part is leyde.discussed
line3005Theer of a feeld al ordinannce is seyde,
With evitatioun of al perile.avoidance
Who redeth it, therate among wil smyle.reads smile
The IIIde part, provideth and vitailethprovides supplies
And paeseth th’ooste, and voydeth al myschaunce,pacifies
line3010And al that in the journeyinge availeth,
Is here to rede, and what feeld may avaunceto [be] read
An ooste to fighte, and every ordinaunce
How is to sette, and in conflicte how VIIfighting how 7
Weyisexplanatory note 49 ther ar the quyckest undir heven.Ways
line3015The firthe part in crafte and in naturefourth
Strengtheth a place and techeth it t’assaile,teaches [how] to assail it
Engynys eek to make and putte in ure,put into action
And to resiste hemselftextual note 206 to disavaile,disadavantaging himself
And on the see to make a strange bataile,sea strong
line3020Where every feat of werre it is to spende —
And of this werktextual note 207 theryn is mad an ende.
Go, litil book,explanatory note 50 and humbilly besechehumbly beseech
The werriourys, and hem that wil thee rede,read you
That where a fault is or impropur speche,textual note 208
line3025Thei vouchesafe amendetextual note 209 my mysdede.
Thi writer eek, pray him totextual note 210 taken hedewriter (i.e., copyist) also heed
Of thi cadence and kepe ortographie,textual note 211orthography (spelling)
That neither he take of ner multiplye.take away from it nor