Classic Poem

Of the commodites of Scotelonde, and drapynge of her wolle in Fflaundres. The iiij. chapitle.

Moreovere of Scotlonde the commoditees
Ar ffelles, hydes, and of wolle the ffleesse.
And alle thesse muste passe bye us aweye
Into Fflaundres by Englonde, sothe to saye.
And alle here wolle was draped for to selle
In the tounes of Poperynge and of Belle,
Whyche my lorde of Glowcestre wyth ire
Ffor here ffalshede sett upon a ffyre.
And yett they of Belle and Poperynge
Cowde never drapere here wolle for any thynge,
But if they hadde Englysshe woll wythalle.
Oure godely wolle that is so generalle
Nedefulle to hem in Spayne and Scotlande als,
And othere costis, this sentence is not fals.
Ye worthi marchauntes, I do it upon yow,
I have this lerned, ye wott wele where and howe;
Ye wotte the staple of that marchaundye
Of this Scotlonde is Fflaundres sekerlye.
And the Scottes bene chargede, knowene at the eye,
Out of Flaundres wyth lytyll mercerye,
And grete plentee of haburdasshers ware,
And halfe here shippes wyth carte whelys bare,
And wyth barowes, are laden as in substaunce.
Thus moste rude ware be in here chevesaunce;
So they may not forbere thys Fflemysshe londe.
Therefor if we wolde manly take on honde
To kepe this see fro Flaundres and fro Spayne,
And fro Scotelonde, lych as fro Pety Bretayne,
Wee schulde ryght sone have pease for all here bostis;
Ffor they muste nede passe by oure Englysshe costis.