() is a song found in the Bayeux Manuscript,Gérold, Théodore (1921). Le Manuscrit de Bayeux, texte et musique d'un recueil de chansons du XVe siècle. Librairie Istria: Faculty of French Literature and Language of the University of Strasburg. p. 103. read online a collection of more than a hundred songs compiled at the start of the 16th century AD by Charles III de Bourbon and written at the end of the 15th century AD, some dozens of years after the end of the Hundred Years' War.
The song contains numerous historical errors due to the fact that its composition took place close to half a century after the events it recounts. The English King Henry V is said to have died in Saint-Fiacre in Brie, while in reality he died in Vincennes. "Captain Prégent" is Prigent VII de Coëtivy, one of the victors, along with Jean de Clermont, of the Battle of Formigny, on 18 April 1450 (3,500 dead on the English side, 500 on the French side). The Middle French word used for "tails" (couez), bears a resemblance to the word "couard", meaning "coward". The word "Godon" was a French ethnic slur for English people, which may be the result of a corruption of "God-damn".
Lyrics Original lyricsNormalised Middle French orthographyEnglish translationLe Roy engloys ſe faiſoit appeller Le roy de frãnce ꝑ ſappellation lL a voullu Hors du pais mener Les bons frãçoys hors de ler nation
Or eſt il mort a ſainct fiacre en brye Du pais de frãce ilz ſont tous deboutez Il neſt pls mot de ces ẽgloys couez Mauldicte ſoit treſ toute la lignye
Ilz ont charge Lartillerie ſur mer Force biſcuit et chaſcuns vng bidon Et par la mer juſquen biſquaye aller Pour couronner leur petit roy godon.
Maiz leur effort neſt rien que moq̄rie Cappitaine pregent Lez a ſi bien frotez Quilz ont eſte eſters et en mer enfondrez Que mauldicte en ſoit treſtoutte la lignyeLe Roi Anglois se faisoit appeller Le Roi de France par s'appellation. Il a voulu hors du païs mener Les bons François hors de leur nation.
Or est-il mort à Sainct-Fiacre en Brie, Du païs de France ils sont tous déboutez. Il n'est plus mot de ces Anglois couez. Mauldite en soit trestoute la lignée !
Ils ont chargé l'artillerie sur mer, Force biscuit et chascun un bidon, Et par la mer jusqu'en Biscaye aller Pour couronner leur petit roi godon.
Mais leur effort n'est rien que moquerie : Capitaine Prégent lez a si bien frottez Qu'ils ont esté terre et en mer enfondrez. Mauldite en soit trestoute la lignée !The English King named himself The King of France by his own designation. He wanted to throw out The good Frenchmen out of their nation.
But he died at Saint-Fiacre in Brie, From the country of France they've all been thrown. No more is spoken of these English cowards. May their whole lineage be cursed!
They have charged the cannons at sea, Lots of biscuits and a bottle for each of them, And by the sea up to Biscay they go, To crown their little goddamn king.
But their effort is nothing but a mockery: Captain Prigent fought them well And on land and sea they've been buried. May their whole lineage be cursed!
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