TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
The yogh symbol is denoted by Ȝ or ȝ; the eth symbol is denoted by ð;and the thorn symbol by Þ or þ. The Tironian et is denoted by ⁊.Some of these symbols may not display correctly onsome handheld devices.
The translation of each song has been placed alongside the song,if the screen window is wide enough to allow it. If not, the translationwill be found at the end of the song. The last song in the book‘POEM ON THE EVIL TIMES OF EDWARD II’, at page 323,is the only one without a translation.
‘Various Readings’ and ‘Glossary’ sections were inserted into eachpage of some of the songs in the original text. These have not beenmoved, because they contain references to specific line numbers ofthe song just above the inserted section.
There are no Footnotes in this book. The bracketed numbers in the text, forexample [70], refer to the line number of the relevant song.The bracketed numberin the right margin is the page number for the original text.
Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.
THE
POLITICAL SONGS
OF ENGLAND.
THE
POLITICAL SONGS
OF ENGLAND,
FROM THE REIGN OF JOHN TO THAT OF EDWARD II.
EDITED AND TRANSLATED
BY THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., &c.
OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY,
BY JOHN BOWYER NICHOLS AND SON, PARLIAMENT STREET.
M.DCCC.XXXIX.
COUNCIL
OF
THE CAMDEN SOCIETY,
ELECTED MAY 2, 1839.
President,
THE RIGHT HON. LORD FRANCIS EGERTON, M.P.
THOMAS AMYOT, ESQ. F.R.S. Treas. S.A. Director.
THE REV. PHILIP BLISS, D.C.L., F.S.A.,
Registrar of the University of Oxford.
JOHN BRUCE, ESQ. F.S.A. Treasurer.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A.
C. PURTON COOPER, ESQ. Q.C., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A.
RT. HON. THOMAS PEREGRINE COURTENAY.
T. CROFTON CROKER, ESQ. F.S.A., M.R.I.A.
THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE, B.A.
SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S., Sec. S.A.
THE REV. JOSEPH HUNTER, F.S.A.
JOHN HERMAN MERIVALE, ESQ. F.S.A.
JOHN GAGE ROKEWODE, ESQ. F.R.S., Director S.A.
THOMAS STAPLETON, ESQ. F.S.A.
WILLIAM J. THOMS, ESQ. F.S.A. Secretary.
THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ. M.A., F.S.A.
PREFACE.
Few historical documents are more interesting orimportant than the contemporary songs in which thepolitical partizan satirised his opponents and stirredup the courage of his friends, or in which the peopleexulted over victories gained abroad against theirenemies or at