A.D. 

 C 1437 



D'ic'it Chro- 

 nica, prcepar- 

 averat naves 

 robustissimas 

 numero tria 

 millia sex- 

 centa : in 

 qu'ibus re- 

 deunte testate 

 omnem insulam 

 ad terrorem 

 extraneorum, 

 15 ad suorum 

 excitationem 

 cum maximo 

 apparatu cir- 

 cumnavigare 

 consueverat. 



[I. 204.] 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



And men of might in citie nor in towne 

 Should to the poore doe non oppression. 

 Thus was hee wont in this Winter tide 

 On such enforchise busily to abide. 

 This was his labour for the publike thing, 

 Thus was hee occupied : a passing holy King. 

 Nowe to purpose, in the Sommer faire 

 Of lusty season, whan clered was the aire, 

 He had redie shippes made before 

 Great and huge, not fewe but many a store : 

 Full three thousand and sixe hundred also 

 Stately inough on our sea to goe. 

 The Chronicles say, these shippes were full boysteous 

 Such things long to kings victorious. 

 In Sommer tide would hee have in wonne 

 And in custome to be ful redie soone, 

 With multitude of men of good array 

 And instruments of werre of best assay. 

 Who could hem well in any wise descrive ? 

 It were not light for eny man alive. 

 Thus he and his would enter shippes great 

 Habiliments having and the fleete 

 Of See werres, that joyfull was to see 

 Such a navie and Lord of Majestee, 

 There present in person hem among 

 To saile and rowe environ all along, 

 So regal liche about the English isle ; 

 To all strangers terrours and perile. 

 Whose fame went about in all the world stout, 

 Unto great fere of all that be without, 

 And exercise to Knights and his meynee 

 To him longing of his natall cuntree. 

 For courage of nede must have exercise, 

 Thus occupied for esshewin of vice. 

 This knew the king that policie espied ; 

 Winter and Somer he was thus occupied. 

 Thus conclude I by authoritee 

 Of Chronike, that environ the see 



140 





