THE ENGLISH POLICY 



If they wold fro the Staple full. 

 Receive againe three thousand pound in woll. 

 In Cotteswold also they ride about, 

 And all England, and buy withouten doubte 

 What them list with freedome and franchise, 

 More then we English may gitten many wise. 

 But would God that without lenger delayes 

 These galees were unfraught in fortie dayes, 

 And in fortie dayes charged againe, 

 And that they might be put to certaine 

 To goe to oste, as we there with hem doe. 

 It were expedient that they did right soe, 

 As we doe there. If the king would it : 

 Ah what worship wold fall to English wit ? 

 What profite also to our marchandie 

 Which wold of nede be cherished hertilie ? 

 For I would witte, why now our navie fayleth, 

 When manie a foe us at our doore assayleth. 

 Now in these dayes, that if there come a nede, 

 What navie should we have it is to drede. 

 In Denmarke were full noble conquerours 

 In time past, full worthy warriours : 

 Which when they had their marchants destroyed, 

 To poverty they fell, thus were they noyed : 

 And so they stand at mischiefe at this day. 

 This learned I late well writon, this no nay. 

 Therefore beware, I can no better will, 

 If grace it woll, of other mennis perill. 

 For if marchants were cherished to her speede, 

 We were not likely to fayle in any neede. 

 If they be rich, then in prosperitee 

 Shalbe our londe, lords, and commontee, 

 And in worship. Now thinke I on the sonne 

 Of marchandy Richard of Whitingdon ; 

 That load sterre, and chiefe chosen floure : 

 What hath by him our England of honour, 

 And what profite hath bin of his riches, 

 And yet lasteth dayly in worthines ? 



127 



A.D. 



c 1437- 



Note dili- 

 gently. 



A zvoful com- 

 plaint oflacke 

 of navie if 

 need come. 



A storie of de- 

 struction of 

 Denmarke for 

 destruction of 

 their mar- 

 ckants. 



The prayse of 

 Richard of 

 Whittingdon 

 marchant. 



