A Song of Lewes

Any of you that have read Sharon Kay Penman may enjoy this: I squeaked when de Montfort was mentioned. Odd looks abounded all round.


A Song of Lewes

Sit still now and hearken to me!
The King of Allemagne, by my loyalty,
Thirty thousand pounds asked he
For to make peace in the country,
And so he did more.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

Richard of Allemagne, while he was king,
He spent all his treasure upon swyving.
He gets himself not from Wallingford a farthing;
Let him have as he brew, sorrow to drink,
In spite of Windsor.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

The King of Allemagne thought to do well;
He seized upon the mill for a castle.
With their sharp swords they ground the mill;
He thought the sails were mangonel
To help Windsor.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

The King of Allemagne gathered his host,
Made him a castle of a mill post;
Puffed by his pride and by his great boast,
Brought from Allemagne many a sorry ghost
To store Windsor.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

By God that is above us, he did much sin
That let pass over sea the Earl of Warenne;
He has robbed England, the moor and the fen,
The gold and the silver, and taken them then
For love of Windsor.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

Sir Simon de Montfort has sworn by his chin,
If he had here now the earl of Warenne,
He should never more come to his inn,
Nor with shield, nor with spear, nor other engine,
Come to aid Windsor.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

Sir Simon de Montfort has sworn by his top,
Had he now here Sir Hugh de Bigot,
He'd pay him back his twelve-month scot
So he'd never more cast in his lot
To help Windsor.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!

Be thee lief, be thee loth, Sir Edward,
Thou shalt ride spurless on thy lyard
All the right way to Doverward;
Shalt thou nevermore break forward,
And that reweth sore.
Edward thou didst as a shreward,
Left thine uncle's lore.
Richard, though thou be ever trichard,
Trick shalt thou nevermore!