Middle English Literature

British Academy 74: 171–202.
Ranulf Higden. St. John’s College, Cambridge, MS 204. In C. Babington and J. R. Lumby
(eds.) (1869) Polychronicon, vol. 2, trans. J. Trevisa. London: Longman, 165–75.
Language: English (Southwestern)
Manuscript date: ca. 1400
De gentibus huius moribus. Capitulum sexagesimum.
1
Giraldus in Itinerario.
2
For the maneres and the doynge of Walsche men
and of Scottes beeth to fore honde somdel declared, now of the maneres
and of the doynges of the medled
3
peple of Engelond nedeth forto telle. But
the Flemynges that beeth in the westside of Wales beeth now by torned
4
as though they were Englische by cause of companye with Englische men,
and they beeth stalworthe and stronge to fighte, and beeth the moste
enemyes that Walsche men hath, and useth marchaundyse and clothynge,
and beeth ful redy to putte hem self to aventures and to peril in the see and
in the lond, by cause of greet wynnynge, and beeth redy for to goo somtyme
to the plowgh and somtyme to dedes of armes whan tyme and place axeth.
Hit semeth of this men a grete wonder that in a boon
5
of a wethres right
schuldre, whan the flesche is aweye i-sode
6
and nought i-rosted, they knoweth
what hath be do, is i-doo, and schal be doo, and as hit were by a spirit of
prophecie and a wonderful craft, they telleth what me doth in fer contrayes,
tokens of pees and of werre, the staat of the reeme, sleynge of men, and
spouse-breche; soche they declareth certeynliche by schewynge of tokenes
and of synnes
7
that beeth in suche a schulder boon.
1
Concerning the character of the people. Chapter Sixty.
2
Higden here notes his source, Gerald of Wales (ca. 1146–1222), Itinerarium Cambriae
(Journey through Wales).
3
mixed.
4
become.
5
bone.
6
boiled.
7
signs.

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Ranulf says: But the Englische men that woneth in Engelond, that beeth
i-medled in the ilond, that [beth] fer i-spronge from the welles that they
sprong of first, wel lightliche with oute entisynge of eny other men, by here
owne assent tornen to contrary dedes. And also unesy, also ful unpacient of
pees (enemy of besynesse) and wlatful
8
of sleuthe (Willelmus de Pontificibus,
libro tertio),
9
that whan they haveth destroyed here enemyes al to the grounde,
thanne they fighteth with hem self and sleeth everiche other as a voyde
stomak and a clene worcheth in hit self.
[Ranulf says:] Notheles, men of the South beeth esier and more mylde;
and men of the North be more unstable, more cruel, and more unesy; the
myddel men beeth somdele partyners with bothe; also, they woneth hem to
glotonye more than other men, and beeth more costlewe
10
in mete and in
drynke and in clothynge. Me troweth that they took that [vyce] of Kyng
Hardeknute that was a Dane,
11
for he sette twyes double messe and also at
soper. These men been speedful bothe on hors and on foote, able and redy
to alle manere dedes of armes, and beeth i-woned to have the victorie and
the maistrie in everich fight wher no treson is walkynge; and [beth] curious,
and kunneth wel i-now telle dedes and wondres that thei haveth i-seie. Also
they gooth in dyvers londes; unnethe beeth eny men richere in her owne
londe othere more gracious in fer and in straunge londe. They konneth
betre wynne and gete newe than kepe her owne heritage; therfore, it is that
they beeth i-spred so wyde and weneth that everich other londe is hir owne
heritage. The men beeth able to al manere sleithe
12
and witte, but to fore
the dede blondrynge and hasty, and more wys after the dede, and leveth
ofte lightliche what they haveth bygonne. Polycraticon, libro sexto.
13
Therfore,
Eugenious the pope
14
seide that Englisshe men were able to do what evere
they wolde, and to be sette and putte to fore alle othere, nere that light
with letteth.
15
And as Han[nibal] saide that the Romayns myghte nought
be overcome but in hir owne cuntray, so Englische men mowe not be
overcome in straunge londes, but in hir own cuntray they beeth lightliche
overcome.
8
full of loathing.
9
William of Malmesbury (ca. 1090–1143), Gesta pontificum Anglorum (History of the Bishops