ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c - 1437- 



To keepe this Sea from Flanders and from Spaine, 



And from Scotland, like as from pety Britaine, 



Wee should right soone have peace for all her hosts, 



For they must needes passe by our English costs. 



Of the commodities of Pruce, and High Dutch 

 men, and Easterlings. The fifth Chapitle. 



NOwe goe foorth to the commodities, 

 That commeth from Pruce in two maner degrees. 

 For two maner people have such use, 

 That is to say, High Duch men of Pruse, 

 And Esterlings, which might not be forborne, 

 Out of Flanders, but it were verely lorne. 

 For they bring in the substance of the Beere, 

 That they drinken feele too good chepe, not dere. 

 Yee have heard that two Flemings togider 

 Will undertake or they goe any whither, 

 Or they rise once to drinke a Ferkin full, 

 Of good Beerekin : so sore they hall and pull. 

 Under the board they pissen as they sit : 

 This commeth of covenant of a worthie wit. 

 Without Caleis in their Butter they cakked 

 When they fled home, and when they leysure lacked 

 To holde their siege, they went like as a Doe : 

 Well was that Fleming that might trusse, and goe. 

 For feare they turned backe and hyed fast, 

 My Lord of Glocester made hem so agast 

 With his comming, and sought hem in her land, 

 And brent and slowe as he had take on hand : 

 So that our enemies durst not bide, nor stere, 

 They fled to mewe, they durst no more appeare, 

 Rebuked sore for ever so shamefully, 

 Unto her utter everlasting villanie. 



Nowe Beere and Bakon bene fro Pruse ybrought 

 Into Flanders, as loved and farre ysought ; 

 Osmond, Copper, Bow-staves, Steele, and Wexe, 

 Peltreware and grey Pitch, Terre, Board, and flexe : 



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