To a man of law to make complaint.

I said—‘For Mary’s love, that holy saint,

Pity the poor that would proceed!’

But, for lack of money, I could not speed.

And, as I thrust the crowd among,

By froward chance my hood was gone!

Yet for all that I stayed not long

Till to the King’s Bench I was come.

Before the judge I kneeled anon,

And prayed him, for God’s sake, to take heed!