In Northumberland þer first þei bigan,
& alle þat com tille hand, þei slouh & ouer ran
To Flandres tille Edward tiþinges men him sent,
þat Scottis com in hard, þe North is nere alle brent,
& more salle ȝit be lorn, bot if we haf socoure.
Nouht standes þam biforn, toun, castelle, ne toure.
þe kyng for þo tiþinges was noyed greuoslie,
To conseil þe lordynges he cald þat wer him bi.
Whan þei had alle cast þer conseil vp & doun, [De carta libertatis.]
þe kyng was at þe last avised on þis reson,
þat nede behoued him grante to clerke & baroun,
& hold þam þe conante of ilk peticioun.
Bi letter he þam sent, & grantid þer askyng,
Alle þat reson ment of ilk maner þing.
Bi letter & bi mouth he praied þam of socoure,
& þat he myght & couth, þat wer to þer honoure,
He granted at þer wille, if þei wild socoure him,
Ageyn þe Scottis ille, þat bere þam now so brim,
THE bisshop of Canterbire þerof payed was he,
For him and alle his schire þis gift gaf fulle fre,
To saue þe pape statute, þat þem bihoued defende,
Of holy kirke's frute he gaf þe kyng þe tende,
Gadred with clerkis hand, & kept to þat viage,
Wendand to Scotland, biteched it þe baronage,
þe lond forto saue, & holy kirke's dignite,
þis grantid he þam to haue Roberd of Wynchelse.
þe clergie of þe North þe fifte peny suld gyue,
Whan þe barons ferd forth, in pes þat þei mot lyue,
