L'Homme Armé

15^th Century

L'homme armé
L'homme armé doibt on doubter.
On a fait partout crier
Que chascun se viengue armer
D'un haubregon de fer.

Translation:
The armed man
The armed man is to be greatly feared.
Everywhere it has been proclaimed
That everyone should arm himself
With an iron coat of mail.

Notes by Mistress Fabienne l'Accusee:
    One of the best known and popular tunes of the renaissance was l'Homme Armé. It was such a staple to the European Top 40, that any composer worth his salt in the 15^th century would have composed at least on contrefact (filk) from it, including entire masses for church based on it. Needless to say, the Church was not fond of Top 40 pervading religious services, but it did ensure that the congregation could sing along, as the tune was well loved. Some claimed that the original words have a religious theme to them; others say it's purely about war (I say a maille maker wrote it as an advert...)