THE ENGLISH POLICY 



English, and French, Lombards, Jennoyes, 



Catalones, thedre they take her wayes : 



Scots, Spaniards, Irishmen there abides, 



With great plenty bringing of sale hides. 



And I here say that we in Brabant bye, 



Flanders and Zeland more of marchandy 



In common use then done all other nations : 



This have I heard of marchants relations : 



And if the English ben not in the marts 



They ben feeble, and as nought bene her parts. 



For they byemore, and fro purse put out 



More marchandie then all the other rowte. 



Kept then the see, shippes should not bring ne fetch, 



And then the carreys wold not thidre stretch : 



And so those marts wold full evill thee, 



If we manly kept about the see. 



Of the commodities of Brabant and Zeland and 

 Henauld and marchandy carried by land to 

 the martes. Cap. 8. 



YEt marchandy of Brabant and Zeland 

 The Madre and Woad, that dyers take on hand 

 To dyen with, Garlike and Onions, 

 And saltfishe als for husband and commons. 

 But they of Holland at Caleis byen our felles, 

 And wolles our, that Englishmen hem selles. 

 And the chaffare that Englishmen doe byen 

 In the marts, that noe man may denien, 

 Is not made in Brabant that cuntree : 

 It commeth from out of Henauld, not by see, 

 But al by land, by carts, and from France, 

 Bourgoyne, Colein, Cameret in substance, 

 Therefore at marts if there be a restraint, 

 Men seyne plainely that list no fables paynt, 

 If Englishmen be withdrawen away, 

 Is great rebuke and losse to her affray : 

 As though we sent into the land of France 

 Ten thousand people, men of good puissance, 



A.D. 



c H37- 



Mader, 

 Woad. 



[I. I97-] 

 Garlicke, 

 Onions , salt- 

 fish. 



11 



129 



