Notes on the Early Literature of Flodden Field. 519 



The second page contains thirty-one verses, the third page also 

 contains thirty-one, the last being 



It is not fyttyn^-e in tour nor towne, 

 and the fourth page contains the close of the ballad, as follows — 

 A somner to were a Kynges crowne 

 That noble Erie the whyte Lyon. 

 Your pompe and pryde hath layde a downe 

 His sone the lorde admyrall is full good. 

 His swerde hath bathed in the scottes blode 

 God save Kynge. Henry and his lordes all 

 And sonde the frensshe Kynge such another fall / 

 (Amen / for saynte ch9ryte= 

 And god save noble. 

 Kynge / Henry / 

 The. viij. 

 It is to be noticed that Skelton in this Ballad sneers several 

 times at King James for being a ' sumner' ; a calling which was 

 held in low estimation from the time of Chaucer. For example, 

 A kynge a somner it is wonder 

 Knowe ye not salte and sugar asonder 

 In your somnynge ye were to malaperte 

 And your harolde no thynge experte 

 Ye thought ye dyde it full valyauntolye 

 But not worth thre skppes of a pye /. 

 The allusion of course is to the letter which James sent to Henry, 

 and which the latter monarch received in his camp before 

 Terouenne. Indeed, the early date of this ballad is evident 

 from the fact that Skelton believed James to be still alive and a 

 prisoner in Norham Castle. He says, 



For to the Castell of Norham 

 I understonde to soone ye cam, 

 For a prysoner there now ye be 

 Eyther to the deuyll or the trinite. 

 In what may be termed the second edition this passage is 

 modified thus : — 



Unto the castle of Norram 

 I understand to sone ye cam 



The white Lyon, there rampannte of moode, 

 He raged, and rent out your hart bloude. 



Thus for your gurdon quyt are ye, 

 Thanked be God in Trinite. 



