[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Sim. Dun._] "Most noble Englishmen, and ye
right valient Normans, of whose courage the Frenchman is afraid, by you
England is kept vnder, by you Apulia dooth flourish, and vnto you
Jerusalem and Antioch haue yéelded their subjection. We haue at this
present the rebellious nation of Scotland (which of right ought to be
subiect to the crowne of England) come into the field against vs,
thinking for euermore to rid themselues of their submission, and to
bring both vs and our countrie into their bondage and thraldome. Now
albeit I see in you courage sufficient, to beat them backe from any
further attempt; yet least when you shall come to the triall, by any
manner of chance, you should loose any péece thereof, I lamenting the
state of my countrie (whose gréeuances I wish you should redresse) doo
meane to vse a few words vnto you, not for that I would exhort you to
doo any man wrong, but rather to beat them backe which offer to doo you
iniurie. Consider therefore that you shall here fight with that enimie,
whom you haue oftentimes vanquished, and oftentimes offending in
periurie, haue oftentimes most worthilie punished: whome also (to be
bréefe) raging after the maner of cruell robbers, wickedlie spoiling
churches, and taking awaie our goods, you did latelie constreine to
lurke in desert places and corners out of sight. Against this enimie (I
say) therefore worthie of reuengement for his so manifold outrages, shew
yourselues valiant, and with manlie stomaches driue him out of our
confines. For as far as I can perceiue, the victorie is yours, God
surelie will aid you, who cannot longer abide the sinnes of this people.
Wherefore he that looseth his life in so iust a quarell (according to
the saieng of our sauiour) shall find it. Let not their rash and
presumptuous boldnesse make you afraid, sith so manie tokens of your
approoued valiancie cannot cause them to stand in doubt of you. You are
clad in armour, and so appointed with helmet, curase, greiues, and
target, that the enimie knoweth not were to strike and hurt you. Then