St. Edward. Moder of mekenes, dame Margarete, princes most excellent,
I king Edward wellcome you with affection cordial,
Testefying to your highnes mekely myn entent.
For the wele of the king and you hertily pray I shall,
And for prince Edward my gostly chylde, who I love principal,
Praying the, John Evangelist, my help therein to be,
On that condition right humbly I give this ring to the.
John Evangelist. Holy Edward, crowned king, brother in verginity,
My power plainly I will prefer thy will to amplefy.
Most excellent princes of wymen mortal, your bedeman will I be.
I know your life so vertuous that God is pleased thereby.
The birth of you unto this reme shall cause great melody:
The vertuous voice of prince Edward shall dayly well encrease,
St Edward his Godfader, and I shall prey therefore doubtlese.
St. Margaret. Most notabul princes of wymen earthle,
Dame Margarete, the chefe myrth of this empyre,
Ye be hertely welcome to this cyte.
To the plesure of your highnesse I will set my desyre;
Both nature and gentlenesse doth me require,
Seth we be both of one name, to shew you kindnesse;
Wherefore by my power ye shall have no distresse.
I shall pray to the prince that is endlese
To socour you with solas of his high grace;
He will here my petition, this is doubtlesse,
For I wrought all my life that his will wace.
Therefore, lady, when you be in any dredfull case,
Call on me boldly, therof I pray you,
And trust in me feythfully, I will do that may pay you.
In the next reign, as appears in the same book, fol. 221, another Prince Edward, son of King Edward IV., came to Coventry on the 28th of April, 14 Edward IV. 1474, and was entertained with many pageants and speeches, among which I shall observe only two; one was of St Edward again, who was then made to speak thus:—
Noble Prince Edward, my cousin and my knight,
And very prince of our line com yn dissent,
I St Edward have pursued for your faders imperial right,
Whereof he was excluded by full furious intent.
Unto this your chamber, as prince full excellent,
Ye be right welcome. Thanked be Crist of his sonde,
For that that was ours is now in your faders honde.
The other speech was from St George, and thus saith the book:—
"—— Also upon the condite in the Croscheping was St George armed, and a king's daughter kneling afore him with a lamb, and the fader and the moder being in a towre aboven beholding St George saving their daughter from the dragon, and the condite renning wine in four places, and minstralcy of organ playing, and St George having this speech underwritten"—
O mighty God, our all succour celestiall,
Which this royme hast given in dower
To thi moder, and to me George protection perpetuall:
It to defend from enimys fer and nere,
And as this mayden defended was here
By that grace from this dragons devour,
So, Lord, preserve this noble prince and ever be his socour.
Love. I perceive these holy matters consisted very much of praying; but I pity poor St Edward the Confessor who, in the compass of a few years, was made to promise his favour and assistance to two young princes, of the same name indeed, but of as different and opposite interests as the two poles. I know not how he could perform to both.