AN erle þer was of Bare, he werred fast on France,
þe Walsh with him war ȝere, forto do mischance.
þer markettis & þer faires & þer castels reft,
Now alle þe cuntre peires, vnneþis ouht þei left.
Philip on his partie did þe erle grete tene,
Alle þat he mot com bie, he robbed alle bidene.
þe bisshop of Durhem trauailed day & nyght,
Of strife to felle þe stem, þe pes to mak alle right.
Bot Philip was ay hard, his ansuer euer so light,
His wist þat Edward had bot litelle myght.
Has he had his erles, his barons with him lad,
Of alle þe Frankis cherles þe maistrie suld he haf had.
¶ A man þat beris him stoute, whan þat he suld bowe,
In chance if þat he loute, he findes foos inowe.
Listnes now þis pas, why þat I þus said,
In wham defaut was þat þertille may be laid.
GESTES þat er olde writen of many man, [Exemplum verum.]
þritti reames men tolde, þat kyng Arthur wan.
He parted his wynnyng tille his men largely,
þat nouþer erle ne kyng wille withsitte his cry.
þei were at his wille, were he neuer so hie,
Boþe of gode & ille at alle his nede redie.
¶ Oure kyng Sir Edward ouer litille he gaf,
Tille his barons was hard, ouerhipped þam ouerhaf.
He wild not be so hende, so large, no so fre,
þerfor þei lete him wende alon ouere þe se.
þorgh þat wendyng alon, nere he had bien schent,
It was to mak of mone, þat non erle with him went.
