Alaas! that lordes of the londe · leveth swiche wreechen, And leveth swych lorels · for her lowe wordes. They shulden maken [bichopes[64]] · her owen bretheren childre, Other of som gentil blod · And so yt best semed, 4 And fostre none faytoures[64] · ne swich false freres, To maken fat and fulle · and her flesh combren. For her kynde were more · to y-clense diches Than ben to sopers y-set first · and served with sylver. 8 A grete bolle-ful of benen · were beter in hys wombe, And with the bandes[A] of bakun · his baly for to fillen Than pertryches or plovers · or pecockes y-rosted, And comeren her stomakes · with curiuse drynkes 12 That maketh swyche harlotes · hordom usen, And with her wikkid word · wymmen bitrayeth. God wold her wonyynge · were in wildernesse, And fals freres forboden · the fayre ladis chaumbres; 16 For knewe lordes her craft · treuly I trowe They shulden nought haunten her house · so ho[m]ly[64] on nyghtes, Ne bedden swich brothels · in so brode shetes, 20 But sheten her heved in the stre · to sharpen her wittes. [Sidenotes (by line number): [1] Lords [3] should make gentlemen Bishops, [5] and set these scamps [7] to clean ditches, [9] and eat beans and bacon-rind instead of peacocks, [13] and having women. [17] If Lords but knew their tricks, [20] they’d turn these beggars into the straw.] [Textnote A: ? randes. Sk.] [Headnote: EDUCATION OF FIELD LABOURERS.] There is one side of the picture, the workman’s son turned monk, and clerk to a lord. Let us turn to the other side, the ploughman’s son who didn’t turn monk, whose head _was_ ‘shet’ in the straw, who delved and ditched, and dunged the earth, eat bread of corn and bran, worts fleshless (vegetables, but no meat), drank water, and went miserably (_Crede_, l. 1565-71). What education did he get? To whom could he be apprenticed? What was his chance in life? Let the Statute-Book answer:-- A.D. 1388. 12º Rich. II., Cap. v. _Item._ It is ordained & assented, That he or she which used to labour at the Plough and Cart, or other Labour or Service of Husbandry _till they be of the Age of Twelve Years, that from thenceforth they shall abide at the same Labour_, without being put to any Mystery or Handicraft; and if any Covenant or Bond of Apprentie (_so_) be from henceforth made to the Contrary, the same shall be holden for none. A.D. 1405-6. 7º Henri IV., Cap. xvii.