Duryng the tyme of this sesoun _ver_ I meene the seson / of my yeerys greene Gynning fro childhood / streechithe up so fer to the yeerys / accountyd ful Fifteene bexperience / as it was wel seene The gerisshe seson / straunge of condicions Dispoosyd to many / unbridlyd passiouns Voyd of reson / yove to wilfulnesse Froward to vertu / of thrift gaf litil heede loth to lerne / lovid no besynesse Sauf pley or merthe / straunge to spelle or reede Folwyng al appetites / longng to childheede lihtly tournyng wylde / and seelde sad Weepyng for nouht / and anoon afftir glad For litil wroth / to stryve with my felawe As my passiouns / did my bridil leede Of the yeerde somtyme / I stood in awe to be scooryd / that was al my dreede loth toward scole / lost my tyme in deede lik a yong colt / that ran with-owte brydil Made my freendys / ther good to spend in ydll I hadde in custom / to come to scole late Nat for to lerne / but for a contenaunce With my felawys / reedy to debate to jangle and jape / was set al my plesaunce wherof rebukyd / this was my chevisaunce to forge a lesyng / and thereupon to muse Whan I trespasyd / my silven to excuse To my bettre / did no reverence Of my sovereyns / gaf no fors at al Wex obstynat / by inobedience. Ran in to gardyns / applys ther I stal To gadre frutys / sparyd hegg nor wal to plukke grapys / in othir mennys vynes Was moor reedy / than for to seyn matynes My lust was al / to scorne folk and jape Shrewde tornys / evir among to use to skoffe and mowe / lyk a wantoun Ape Whan I did evil / othre I did accuse. My wittys five / in wast I did abuse Rediere chirstoonys / for to telle Than gon to chirche / or heere the sacry belle. Loth to ryse / lother to bedde at eve With unwassh handys / reedy to dyneer My _pater noster_ /, my _Crede_, or my beleeve Cast at the Cok /, loo this was my maneer Wavid with eche wynd / as doth a reed speer Snybbed of my frendys / such techchys for ta mende Made deff ere / lyst nat / to them attende. ABRIDGED TRANSLATION. During the years of my boyhood, up to fifteen, I was void of reason, prone to wilfulness, and loved no work but play and mirth. I loved to fight, but stood in awe of being scored by the rod. Loth towards school, I lost my time like a young colt without bridle. I came to school late, and was always ready to talk, and lied to get off blame. I mocked my masters, and was always disobedient. I stole apples and grapes. My delight was to mock and play tricks on people. I liked counting cherry stones better than church. I disliked getting up and going to bed: came to dinner with unwashed hands, and threw my _Pater noster_, etc., at the cook. I was deaf to the snubbings of my friends. BEGGAR'S BRATS ARE BOOK-LEARNED. SOURCE.--Langland's _Pierce the Ploughman's Crede_ (ed. Skeat), ll. 744-764.