[fol. 2v]

<Chaunter> mestut <mun quer> *** <dure langage>

Tut enplurant fu fet le chant de nostre barnage

Qui pur la pes si loins apres se lessa detrere

Sun cors trencher pur ben saver la gent de Engletere.

Ore est occis la flur de pris ke tant saveit de guere

Li quens Munfort sa dure mort enplura Engletere.

Si cum qui par un mardi fini la bataylle

Tut a cheval firent le mal san ren de petaylle.

Ore est apert cum sire Edeward cunquit la mestrie

Mes pur sa mort li quens Munfort cunquit victorie.

Atort est tue e demembre ore ad Deu la vie aye

Cum li martyr de Canterberi se finist sa vie.

Ne voleit pas seint Thomas ke perist seinte eglise

Li quens ausi cumbaty e murut sen fayntise.

Pur nus saver e deliverer de males leys enterre

Se cumbatist e mort suffrit. Tut arme sur la †bere†

Pres de sun cors li bon tresors une here truverent

Li faus ribaus \tant/ firent maus ke si li tuerent.

Mult fu pite quant demembre remistrent li prudume

Ke de gerrer pur nus sauver si ben saveit la sume.

Huge Despenser li noble ber la dreiturel justise

Ore est atort livre a mort ne sey en quele guyse.

Chaunter mestut (205)

Dublin, Trinity College, MS 347, fols 2v–3r

*** harsh words must I sing, my heart *** All made tearfully was the song about our barons,

who let themselves be destroyed for the sake of a peace so far off and let their bodies be slashed to protect well the people of England.

[5] Now is slain that precious flower, Montfort the earl, who knew so much about war. The land will deeply lament his cruel death.

[7] It was on a Tuesday, so I believe, that the battle ended. The calamity was that it was all on horseback, without any infantry.

[9] Now is it clear how Sir Edward's side won the day. But in spite of his death Montfort the earl won the victory.

[11] He was wrongly killed and dismembered. Now God has protected his life. He ended his life like the martyr of Canterbury.

[13] Saint Thomas did not wish holy church to perish. The earl, too, fought and died without relenting.