If there lies a locket by ear or eye,—that may with worse be wet, for lack of other lye; the but and the barbel with frontlet shall quarrel;—if she have a false fillet, she holds her head high,—to show—that she is famous and well known—for a strumpet in the ribalds’ ranks.
Another song, written apparently about the same period, is a satire upon the smaller Ecclesiastical Courts, and the vexation which they caused to the peasantry.
A SATYRE ON THE CONSISTORY COURTS.
[MS. Harl. No. 2253, fol. 70, vo; of reign of Edw. II.]
Ne mai no lewed lued libben in londe,
Be he never in hyrt so haver of honde,
So lerede us bi-ledes;
Ȝef ich on molde mote with a mai,
Y shal falle hem byfore ant lurnen huere lay,