PEASANT REVOLTS in 



" Song of the Husbandmen " : — 



" I heard men on the earth make much lamentation. 

 . , . They keep here no saying and sing no song. 

 He who hath any goods expects not to keep them, but 

 even the dearest we lose at last. It is grievous to 

 lose where there is little. . . . The bailiff causes us 

 to know evil. . . . The woodward has woe in keeping 

 for us. . . . There may not arise with us or remain 

 with us riches or repose. . . > Thus they rob the poor 

 man who is of little value ; he must needs in sweat 

 and labour waste away. . . . Thus they rob the poor 

 and pick him full clean — the rich lord it without any 

 right. . . . Thus we are hunted from hall to corner. 

 ... I must lay my pledge well if I will, or sell my 

 corn while it is green grass. . . . Yet I shall be a foul 

 churl, though they have the whole. . . . To seek 

 silver for the king I sold my seed, wherefore my land 

 lies fallow and learneth to sleep. . . . Since they 

 fetched my fair cattle in my fold, when I think of my 

 weal I nearly weep. „ . . As good to perish at once 

 as so to labour." ^ 



" Song of the Venality of Judges " : 



" There are judges whom partiality and bribes 

 seduce from justice ; that pay toll to the devil and 

 serve him alone. . . . The ushers say to the poor who 

 follow the Court, * Poor man, why do you trouble your- 



^ The following is a specimen of the English language in those 

 days : — 



" Ich herde men upo mold make muche mon." 

 (I heard men on the earth make much lamentation.) 

 " He kepeth here no sawe ne no song sing." 

 (They keep here no saying and sing no song.) 

 "Thus me pileth the pore that is of lute pris." 

 (Thus they rob the poor who is of little value.) 

 " Nede in swot and in swynk synde mot swo." 

 (He must needs in sweat and labour waste away.) 

 " Forthi mi lond leye lith and leorneth to slepe." 

 (Wherefore my land lies fallow and learneth to sleep.) 



