Thomas of Erceldoune

“ Then falsehood is ready his friend to beguile,
With hunger and hirship over all the broad lands;
Then shall the poor people be spilled full near,
The leed with the lucken hand is brought out of days,
Subtilly his life shall lose, and many another,
And many doughty shall die for that deed:
And many leed in the North shall their life lose,
For covetous and treason them loses the land:
Many a wife and maiden shall wring both their hands,
Before this wicked wars be brought to an end. ”

“ For love of their dear friends lies looking on hills,
That it shall be woe for to tell the teind of their sorrow,
Then shall be wasted their chief lands,
Where God curses with his mouth, dead must follow. ”

“ Hudge and hideous on every side high;
These three shall rake and rave in the wild north:
There shall none other ride these ryotons beasts.
A cock with a keen comb shall compass them with
All whole the wayes where the land lyes. ”