Sire Simon de Montfort hath suore bi ys cop,
Hevede he nou here Sire Hue de Bigot:
Al he shulde grante here twelfmoneth scot
Shulde he never more with his sot pot
To helpe Wyndesore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.
Be the luef, be the loht, Sire Edward,
Thou shalt ride sporteles o thy lyard
Al the ryhte way to Dovere-ward,
Shalt thou never more breke foreward;
Ant that reweth sore
Edward, thou dudest as a shreward,
Forsoke thyn emes lore
Richard, &c.
***This ballad will rise in its importance with the reader, when he finds, that it is even
believed to have occasioned a law in our Statute Book, viz. "Against slanderous
reports or tales, to cause discord betwixt king and people."--Westm. Primer, c. 34.
anno 3. Edw. I. That it had this effect, is the opinion of an eminent writer. See
"Observations upon the Statutes, &c." 4to. 2d. edit. 1766, p. 71.
However, in the Harl. Collection may be found other satirical and defamatory
rhymes of the same age, that might have their share in contributing to this first law
against libels.