Text 77: From Thomas Usk's Appeal, 1384

Page 240. Freeborn.

ORIGINAL TEXT

Also, atte Goldsmithes halle, when al the people was assembled, the mair, John Norhampton, reherced as euel as he koude of the eleccion on the day to forn, & seyde that truly: "Sirs, thus be ye shape for to be ouer-ronne, & that," quod he, "I nel noght soeffre; lat vs rather al be ded atones than soeffre such a vylenye." & than the comunes, vpon these wordes, wer stered, & seiden truly they wolde go to a-nother eleccion, & noght soeffre thys wrong, to be ded al ther-for attones in on tyme; and than be the mair, John Norhampton, was euery man boden gon hom, & kome fast a yein strong in to Chepe with al her craftes, & I wene ther wer aboute a xxx craftes, & in Chepe they sholden haue sembled to go to a newe eleccion, &, truly, had noght the aldermen kome to trete, & maked that John Norhampton bad the poeple gon hoom, they wolde haue go to a Newe eleccion, & in that hete haue slayn hym that wolde haue letted it, yf they had myght; and her of I appele John Norhampton.

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Also, at Goldsmith's hall, when all the people were assembled, the Mayor, John Northampton, related in as evil a way as he was able the election on the previous day, and said that truly: "Sirs, this sets the scene for us to be trumped under feet, and that he said, "I will not allow suffer; let us rather die here and now than suffer such mischief. And then the common people, upon, these words, were stirred, and said truly they would go to another election, and not tolerate this injustice, to be there all die together on time; and then is the Mayor, John Northhampton, was told to go home and came back quicly in strength. There were about thirty fellow-craftsmen, and they were meant to assemble in Cheapside to go to a new election, and, truly, if the eldermen hadn´t came to negociate and persuaded John Northampton to tell the people to go home, they would have held a new election, anyone that would try to stop them if they had strength, and of this I accuse John Northampton.

Text 76: From Thomas Usk's Appeal, 1384 (i)

Page 240. Freeborn.

ORIGINAL TEXT

I Thomas Vsk… knowleched thes wordes & wrote hem with myn owne honde.
...Also, that day that Sir Nichol Brembre was chose mair, anon after mete kom John Norhampton to John Mores hows, & thider kom Richard Norbury & William Essex, & ther it was accorded that the mair, John Norhampton, sholde sende after the persones that thilk time wer in the comun conseil of craftes, & after the wardeyns of craftes, so that thei sholde kome to the goldsmithes halle on the morwe after, & ther the mair sholde speke with hem, to loke & ordeigne how thilk eleccion of Sir Nichol Brembre myght be letted; &, nad it be for dred of our lord the kyng, I wot wel eueri man sholde haue be in others top. And than sente he Richard Norbury, Robert Rysby & me, Thomas Vsk, to the Neyte, to the duk of lancastre, to enforme hym in thys wyse: "Sir, to day, ther we wolden haue go to the eleccion of the mair in goddes peas & the kynges, ther kom jn an orrible companye of criers, no man not whiche & ther, with oute any vsage but be strength, chosen Sir Nichol Brembre mair, a yein our maner of eleccion to forn thys vsed; wherfore we preye yow yf we myght haue the kynges writ to go to a Newe eleccion." And the duk seide: "Nay, certes, writ shul ye non haue, auise yow amonges yowr selue." & her of I appele John Norhampton, John More, Richard Norbury, & William Essex.

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

I Thomas Usk...knowledged these words and wrote them with my own hand.

...Also, that day Sir Nichol Brembre was chosen mayor, soon after dinner comes John Northampton to John Mores' house, and Richard Norbury and William Essex, and there it was agreed that the mayor, John Northhampton, should send for persones who at that time were in the common council of traits, and for the wardens of traits, so that they should come to the goldsmith's hall the morning after, and there the mayor should speak with them, to consider and order how that election of Sir Nichol Brembre might be prevented; and had it not been for danger of our lord the king. I know well every man would have been attacking each other. And then sent he Richard Norbury, Robert Rysby and me, Thomas Usk, to the Neyte, to the Duke of Lancaster, to inform him in this way: "Sir, today we want to participate in the election of the mayor in God's and the King's peace, there come a horrible crowd of hecklers, no-one knew who they were, and there without any custom but strength, chosen Sir Nichol Brembre mayor, against our manner of election used before this. Where for we ask you to give us a rite for the king to go to a New election”. And the Duke said: "No, certainly, take counsel amongst yourselves", and here of I charge John Northampton, John More, Richard Norbury, and William Essex.

TEXT 75: The travels of Sir John Mandeville (ii) (facsimile)

Page 239. Freeborn.

ORIGINAL TEXT

Egipt is a strong contre 7 manye plious hauenys ben therin for there lith in eche hauene toū gret ryches in the entre of the hauene / Towarð the est is the reðe se that renyth right to the cete of costantyn the noble / The contre of egipt is in lenthe v jornes / but not bt iij in breðe for desert that aryn there / Betwy egipt andthe lond that is callyd / Nuðynea arn xii iouneis in ðesertis the folk that wonyðe in that contre arn cristene men but thy ary blake of colo for the ou gret hete that is there and brennynge of the sonne.

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Egypt is a harsh country, where many perilous havens because of the great rocks are found in the entrance. Towards the East, is the Red Sea, that runs into the city of Constantinoble; the country of Egipt it is a five days journey in length but it is three a days journey in largeness because of the deserts that are there. And between Egypt and Nubia it has well a twelve days journey of desert. Men of Nubia are Christian, but they are black in colour because of the excessive heat and the burning of the sun.

Text 74: The Boke Of Mawndevile

Page 238. Freeborn.

ORIGINAL TEXT

…That bereth applis grete plente
And who þat cleueth an appul atwyn
A litille beest he fyndith thereyn.
To a litille beest lombe liche it ys
Of bloode and bone and eke of flessh
And welle shapen ate folle
In al thinge saufe it hath noo wolle
And men and women þere meest and leest
Eten of þat frute so with þat beest.

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

…That bore apples great plant, and the person who cut an apple in two a little criature he found there, like a little lamb. Of blood and bone and also of flesh, and well shaped in every way. In all
things say it has no wool. And men and women there most and least eat that fruit so with that creature.

Text 73: The travels of Sir John Mandeville (i)

Page 238. Freeborn.

ORIGINAL TEXT

Now schall I seye ʒou sewyngly of contrees and yles þat ben beʒonde the contrees þat I haue spoken of. Wherfore I seye ʒou, in passynge be the lond of Cathaye toward the high Ynde,and toward Bacharye, men passen be a kingdom þat men clepen Cald ilhe, þat is a full fair contre. And þere groweth a maner of fruyt, as þough it weren gowrdes; and whan þei ben rype, men kutten hem ato, and men fynden withinne a lytyll best, in flesch, in bon, and blode as þough it were a lytill lomb,withouten wolle. And men eten bothe the frut and the best: and þat is a gret mervueylle. Of þat frute I haue eten, allþough it were wondirfull: but þat I knowe wel, þat god is merueyllous in his werkes.


MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Now shall I tell you in what follows, of countries and isles that are beyond the countries that I have spoken of. Wherefore I tell you in passing by the land of Cathay toward the high Ind, and toward Bacharia, men pass by a kingdom that men call Caldilhe, that is a full fair country. And there grows a manner of fruit, as though it were pumpkins. And when they are ripe, men cut them in two parts, and men find within a little creature, in flesh, in bone, and blood as though it were a little lamb, without wool. And men eat both the fruit and the criature: and that is a great marvel. Of that fruit I have eaten, although it was wonderful: but that I know well is that God is marvellous is his works.