That same evening, Betty had another reminder of London in the Middle Ages. In the library at home, when she was looking for something to read, she found a book full of poems about London. Some were by new poets and some by writers of long ago. A rather long one was called London Lackpenny, and though the spelling and some of the wording was curious, she could make out its sense. It seemed to be about a poor young man who long, long ago came to London, and found it was a difficult place to live in unless one had plenty of pennies.
“Why, he’s talking about the very Chepe I saw!” she thought as she came to a certain verse.
“Then to the Chepe I began me drawne
Where mutch people I saw for to stand.
One offered me velvet, sylke, and lawne,
And other he taketh me by the hande,
‘Here is Paris thred, the fynest in the lande.’
I never was used to such thyngs indede
And wanting mony I myght not spede.