Laboreres that han no londe . to liven on bot here hands[25] Deyned noght to dyne a-day . night-old wortes.[26] May no peny ale hem paye .[27] ne a pece of bacon, Bote hit be freesh fleesch other fysh . fried other ybake; And that _chaud_ and _pluschaud_ .[28] for chilling of here mawe. Bote he be heylich yhyred .[29] elles wol he chide, That he was a werkman ywroght . waryen the tyme.[30] * * * * * And thenne he corseth[31] the king . and alle the kynges Justices, Suche lawes to lere .[32] laborers to greve. Ac while Hunger was here mayster . wolde none chide, Ne stryve agens the statute . he lokede so sturne. FOOTNOTES: [25] Have no land to live on, but (work with) their hands. [26] "No longer deign to dine on the stale vegetables of yesterday." [27] Penny-ale will not satisfy them. [28] Hot-and-hotter. [29] Highly paid. [30] Bewail the time. [31] Curseth. [32] For making such laws. FIRST STATUTE OF PROVISORS (1350). SOURCE.--Statute, 25 Edward III., Statute VI. CAP. III.-- ... That the free election of archbishops, bishops and of all other dignitaries and benefices elective in England, shall hold from henceforth in the manner as they were granted by the King's progenitors, and the ancestors of other lords founders of the said dignities and other benefices. That prelates and other people of holy Church which have advowsons of any benefices ... shall have their collations and presentments freely to the same in the manner as they were enfeoffed by their donors. And in case that reservation, collation or provision be made by the Court of Rome of any archbishopric, bishopric, dignity, or benefice, in disturbance of free elections, collations, or presentations aforenamed, that at the same time of voidance ... our Lord the King and his heirs shall have and enjoy for the same time the collations, etc., which be of his advowry, such as his progenitors had before that free election was granted. CAP. IV.--And in case that the presentees of the King or the presentees of other patrons of holy Church ... be disturbed by such provisors, so that they may not have possession of their benefices by virtue of the presentments or collations to them made, or that they which be in possession of such benefices be impeached upon their said possessions by such provisors, their procurators, executors and notaries, shall be attached by their body, and brought in to answer. And if they be convict they shall abide in prison ... till they have made fine and ransom to the King ... and before that they be delivered they shall make full renunciation, and find sufficient surety that they shall not attempt such things in time to come.... CAP. V.--And that meanwhile the King shall have the profits of such benefices so occupied by such provisors, except abbeys, priories, etc., which have colleges or convents and in such houses the college or convent shall have the profits.