a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c - H37- 



That pen and paper may not me suffice 

 Him to describe : so high he was of price 

 [I. 196.] Above marchants, that set him one of the best : 

 I can no more, but God have him in rest. 



Now the principal matter. 



WHat reason is it that we should goe to oste 

 In their countries, & in this English coste 

 They should not so ? but have more liberty 

 Then we our selves now also motte I thee. 

 I would to gifts men should take no heede 

 That letteth our thing publicke for to speede. 

 For this we see well every day at eye, 

 Gifts and fests stopen our policie. 

 Now see that fooles ben either they or wee : 

 But ever we have the worse in this countree. 

 Therefore let hem unto oste go here, 

 Or be we free with hem in like manere 

 In their countrees : and if it will not bee, 

 Compell them unto oste, and yee shall see 

 Moch avantage, and moch profite arise, 

 Moch more then I can write in any wise. 



Of our charge and discharge at her marts. 



COnceive wel here, that Englishmen at martes 

 Be discharged, for all her craftes and artes, 

 In Brabant of her marchandy 

 In fourteene dayes, and ageine hastily 

 In the same dayes fourteene acharged eft. 

 And if they bide lenger all is bereft, 

 Anon they should forfeit her goods all, 

 Or marchandy : it should no better fall. 

 And we to martis in Brabant charged beene 

 With English cloth full good and fayre to seene : 

 We ben againe charged with mercerie, 

 Haburdasher ware, and with grosserie : 

 To which marts, that English men call fayres, 

 Ech nation oft maketh her repayres : 



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