The most needy aren oure neighbores, and we nime good heede,
As prisones in pittes, and poure folke in cotes,
Charged with children and chef lordes rente:
That they with spinninge may spare, spenen hit in hous-hire;
Bothe in milk and in mele to make with papelotes,
To aglotie with here gurles that greden after foode.
Also hemselve suffren muche hunger,
And wo in winter-time with wakinge a nightes
To rise to the ruel to rocke the cradel,
Both to carde and to cembe, to clouten and to washe,
To ribbe and to reli, rushes to pilie,
That reuthe is to rede othere in rime shewe
The wo of these women that wonieth in cotes;
And of meny other men that muche wo suffren,
Bothe afingrede and afurst to turne the faire outwarde,
And beth abashed for to begge, and wolle nat be aknowe
What hem needeth at here neighbores at noon and at even.
This ich wot witerly, as the worlde techeth,
What other bihoveth that hath meny children,
And hath no catel bote his crafte to clothy hem and to fede,
And fele to fonge therto, and fewe pans taketh.
Ther is pain and peny-ale as for a pitaunce ytake,
Colde flesh and cold fish for veneson ybake;
Fridayes and fasting-dayes a ferthing-worth of muscles
Were a feste for suche folke, other so fele cockes.