So trouthe to telle . as toune-men said, Ffor on that ye merkyd[190] . ye myssed ten schore Of homeliche hertis[191] . that the harme hente. Thane was it ffoly . in ffeith, as me thynketh To sette siluer in signes . that of nought serued I not what you eylid[192] . but if it ese[193] were; Ffor frist at youre anoyntynge . alle were youre owene, Both hertis and hyndis . and helde of non other; No lede[194] of youre lond . but as a liege aughte,[195] Tyl ye, of youre dulnesse . deseuerance made, Thoru youre side[196] signes . that shente all the browet, And cast adoun the crokk . the colys amyd.[197] FOOTNOTES: [102] Prayer. [103] Priests. [104] Borough. [105] Bristol. [106] In the middle of. [107] Named. [108] Arose (Lat. _surgere_). [109] Wonderful. [110] Might. [111] Doubts. [112] Think. [113] Sayings. [114] Made war in. [115] Entered. [116] Rapidly. [117] Disturbed. [118] Very much. [119] Also. [120] Surpassed. [121] Power of perception. [122] Experience. [123] Pity. [124] Continued in. [125] Pity. [126] Little. [127] My whole heart. [128] Because I did not know for certain. [129] Give. [130] Guide. [131] A writing. [132] To show. [133] More probably "preie" = pray. [134] Not to grumble a groat--namely, not to grumble at all. [135] God's visitation. [136] Devoid of counsel (_cf._ Ethelred the _Unready_). [137] Have pity. [138] That lawless _led_ your life and _ruled_ your people. [139] You were lightly lifted from that you thought dear. [140] Your indulgence and rest were taken away. [141] Cares. [142] Covetousness has cracked. [143] Cupidity is the root of all evils. [144] Blows. [145] Unjust judgments. [146] By borrowing of coin for fraudulent contrivances. [147] Pillaging. [148] Ruthless gangs. [149] Appraising by means of the King's officers. _Polaxis_ (= pole-axes) here denote the men who used them--_i.e._, the King's officers. [150] The writer asks the King how is allegiance best promoted among subjects--by dread, blows, unjust judgments, bad coinage, pillage of the people, self-will of the King, taxes imposed in time of peace and exacted by pitiless plunderers, and "by debts thou contractest in dice-playing, judge as thou findest," or by guidance of the law, well tempered with love? [151] Spirits. An allusion to the King's favourites--De Vere, De la Pole, etc. [152] Deceivers. [153] That never wore harness, nor felt showers of hail. [154] Wallowed in their wills. [155] Pampered. [156] They saw no kind of sight, save amusement and ease. [157] But sorrowed for their pleasures of lordship once enjoyed. [158] Their trespasses. [159] One tear would they let fall. [160] The author is here inveighing against the King's servants, particularly against their wearing badges. [161] I marvel. [162] Livery. [163] Men. [164] Liberally gave. [165] Unless fraud hindered.