  Source.—John Page's "Poem on the Siege of Rouen" in the Collections of a London Citizen. (Camden Society.) The Sufferings of the Inhabitants. Meat and drink and other victual In that city began to fail. Save clean water they had enow, And vinegar to put thereto, Their bread was full nigh gone And flesh, save horse, had they none. They ate dogs, and they ate cats They ate mice, horses and rats. Then to die they did begin, All that rich city within They died faster every day Than men might them in earth lay. There as was pride in ray before, Then was it put in sorrow full sore. There as was meat, drink and song, Then was sorrow and hunger strong. If the child should be dead, The mother would not give it bread. The Surrender. On the feast of St. Wulstan it fell, That was upon a Thursday. Our king then in rich array, And royally in his estate As a conqueror there he sate, Within a house of Charity. To him the keys of that city Delivered unto him in fee. There was neighing of many a steed, There was shewing of many a weed, There was many a jetton Much royalty and rich array. When the gates were opened there And they were ready in for to fare, Trumpetters blew their horns of brass, Pipes and clarions both there was, And as they entered they gave a shout With a voice, and that a stout, "St. George! St. George!" they cried on height, "Welcome to Rouen, our king's own right." |
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