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Difference between revisions of "Poem of the Pel"
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− | The so-called '''"Poem of the Pel"''' is a | + | The so-called '''"Poem of the Pel"''' is a segment of the [[century::15th century]] [[nationality::English]] [[war book]] ''Knyghthode and Bataile'' ("Knighthood and Battle"), written between 1458 and 1460 by [[John Neele]];<ref>Daniel Wakelin. [http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-129970406/the-occasion-author-and-readers-of-knyghthode-and "The Occasion, Author, and Readers of Knyghthode and Bataile".] ''Medium Aevum'', vol. 73 iss. 2. Fall 2004.</ref> this treatise is itself an elaborate verse paraphrase of [[Flavius Vegetius Renatus]]' treatise on warfare ''De re militari'' (ca. 390). The poem has often been misattributed to Robert Parker due to its many similarities to Parker's contemporary work ''On Husbondrie''. There are three known copies of the text, an archetype (the [[Knyghthode and Bataile (MS.243)|MS 243]]) and two 16th century copies (the [[Knyghthode and Bataile (Cottonian MS Titus A.xxiii)|Cottonian MS Titus A.xxiii]] and the [[Knyghthode and Bataile (Ashmole MS 45 II)|Ashmole MS 45, part II]]). |
− | The "Poem of the Pel" forms part of a longer passage in the text about individual martial training, one of the few texts from this period that treats this topic. The complete section is listed below; note that only the six stanzas beginning with the second on fol. 5v discuss the actual training of | + | The "Poem of the Pel" forms part of a longer passage in the text about individual martial training, one of the few texts from this period that treats this topic. The complete section is listed below; note that only the six stanzas beginning with the second on fol. 5v discuss the actual training of fencing, and these are what most practitioners recognize as the 'poem'. |
== Treatise == | == Treatise == | ||
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{{sourcebox | {{sourcebox | ||
| work = Translation | | work = Translation | ||
− | | authors = [[Benjamin "Casper" Bradak]] | + | | authors = [[translator::Benjamin "Casper" Bradak]] |
| source link = http://manytwol.blogspot.com/2010/07/poem-of-pell.html | | source link = http://manytwol.blogspot.com/2010/07/poem-of-pell.html | ||
| source title= Man yt Wol | | source title= Man yt Wol | ||
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== Additional Resources == | == Additional Resources == | ||
− | + | {{bibliography}} | |
− | |||
== References == | == References == |
Latest revision as of 17:07, 31 October 2024
Poem of the Pel | |
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Knyghthode and Bataile | |
"The Attack of the Pel, A.D. 1300" (1842) | |
Author(s) | John Neele |
Ascribed to | Robert Parker |
Patron | Viscount Beaumont |
Date | 1458-1460 |
Genre | Fencing manual |
Language | Middle English |
Manuscript(s) |
|
Concordance by | Michael Chidester |
Website | Digital Index of Middle English Verse |
The so-called "Poem of the Pel" is a segment of the 15th century English war book Knyghthode and Bataile ("Knighthood and Battle"), written between 1458 and 1460 by John Neele;[1] this treatise is itself an elaborate verse paraphrase of Flavius Vegetius Renatus' treatise on warfare De re militari (ca. 390). The poem has often been misattributed to Robert Parker due to its many similarities to Parker's contemporary work On Husbondrie. There are three known copies of the text, an archetype (the MS 243) and two 16th century copies (the Cottonian MS Titus A.xxiii and the Ashmole MS 45, part II).
The "Poem of the Pel" forms part of a longer passage in the text about individual martial training, one of the few texts from this period that treats this topic. The complete section is listed below; note that only the six stanzas beginning with the second on fol. 5v discuss the actual training of fencing, and these are what most practitioners recognize as the 'poem'.
Contents
Treatise
Cambridge Version (1458-1460) |
London Version (ca. 1500) |
Oxford Version (ca. 1500) | |
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[5r] Vegetius it is, that I entende |
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First is to lerne a chiualerys pace, |
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And wightly may thei go IIII Ml. moo, |
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Rennynge is also right good at the chace, |
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[5v] To swymme is eek to lerne in comer season ; |
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The discipline and exercise of the fight |
Of fight the disciplyne and exercise |
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This fan and mace, either of which are of double weight |
This fanne & mace, which either doubil wight is |
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Have each his pile or pole up-fixed fast |
Have vche his pile or pale vpfixed faste, |
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Impeach his head, his face, have at his gorge |
[6r] Empeche his hed, his face, have at his gorge, |
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And to thrust is better than to strike; |
And forto foyne is better then to smyte ; |
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In the cut, the right arm is open, |
Eek in the kerf, thi right arm is disclosed, |
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This fanne & mace ar ay of doubil wight, |
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[6v] And ouer this al, exercise in armys |
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Res publica right commendabil is, |
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Caton the Wise seith : where as men erre |
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But turne ageyn, Inwit, to thi preceptys ! |
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[7r] Of armys is the doctour heer tattende, |
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But bachilers, the thriddle or firthe part, |
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Set hert & eye vppon that pile or pale, |
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That archery is grete vtilitee, |
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[7v] Vse eek the cast of stoon with slynge or honde ; |
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And otherwhile in stony stede is fight, |
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The barbulys that named ar plumbatys, |
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The Chualers and werreourys alle, |
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[8r] And •LX• pounde of weght it hade to bere |
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And exercise him vche in his armure, |
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To warde & wacche an oste it is to lerne |
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
Work | Author(s) | Source | License |
---|---|---|---|
Translation | Benjamin "Casper" Bradak | Man yt Wol | |
Cambridge Version | Anonymous | Allpoetry.com | |
London Version | |||
Oxford Version |
Additional Resources
The following is a list of publications containing scans, transcriptions, and translations relevant to this article, as well as published peer-reviewed research.
- Strutt, Joseph (1876). The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England. Ed. by William Hone. London: Chatto and Windus. ISBN 978-1145708389.
- Vegetius Renatus, Publius Flavius (1935). Knyghthode and Bataile: A XVth Century Verse Paraphrase of Flavius Vegetius Renatus' Treatise 'De Re Militari'. Ed. by Roman Dyboski; Zygfryd Marjan Arend. Early English Text Society. ISBN 978-0859916943.
- Wakelin, Daniel (2004). "The Occasion, Author, and Readers of Knyghthode and Bataile." Medium Aevum 73: 260-272.
- Wakelin, Daniel (2005). "Scholarly Scribes and the Creation of Knyghthode and Bataile." English Manuscript Studies 1100-1700 14: 26-45.
References
- ↑ Daniel Wakelin. "The Occasion, Author, and Readers of Knyghthode and Bataile". Medium Aevum, vol. 73 iss. 2. Fall 2004.