No flessh ne wyste offence of egge or spere
No coyn ne knewh man which is fals or trewe [20]
No ship yit karf the wawes grene and blewe
No Marchaunt yit ne fette owt-landissh ware
No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewe
Ne towres heye and walles rownde or square [24]
¶ What sholde it han avayled to werreye
Ther lay no profyt ther was no rychesse
But corsed was the tyme .I. dar) wel seye
Þat men fyrst dede hir swety bysynesse [28]