Classic Poem

Of oure charge and discharge at her martis.

Conseyve welle here that Englysshe men at martis
Be discharged, for alle her craftes and artes,
In the Braban of her marchaundy
In xiij. dayes, and ageyne hastely
In the same dayes xiiij. are charged efte;
And yf they byde lenger alle is berefte,
Anone they schulde forfet here godes alle,
Or marchaundy, it schulde no bettere falle.
And wee to martis of Braban charged bene
Wyth Englyssh clothe, fulle gode and feyre to seyne,
Wee bene ageyne charged wyth merceyre,
Haburdasshere ware, and wyth grocerye.
To whyche martis, that Englisshe men call feyres.
Iche nacion ofte maketh here repayeres,
Englysshe and Frensh, Lumbardes, Januayes,
Cathalones, theder they take here wayes,
Scottes, Spaynardes, Iresshmen there abydes,
Wythe grete plente bringinge of salte hydes.
And I here saye that wee in Braban lye,
Fflaundres and Seland, wee bye more marchaundy
In comon use, then done alle other nacions;
This have I herde of marchaundes relacions.
And yff the Englysshe be not in the martis,
They bene febelle, and as noughte bene here partes;
Ffor they bye more, and fro purse put owte,
More marchaundy than alle othere rowte.
Kepte than the see, shyppes schulde not bringe ne feche,
And than the carreys wolde not theder streche;
And so tho martes wolde full evel thee,
Yf wee manly kepte aboute the see.