Page:An Inquiry into the Authenticity of certain Papers and Instruments attributed to Shakspeare.djvu/50

impoverishid and distroyyd, that they may unneth^[1] lyve. Thay drynke water, thay eate apples, with bred right brown made of rye. Thay eate no flesche, but if it be selden^[2], a litill larde, or of the entrails or heds of bests sclayne for the nobles and merchaunts of the lond. They weryn no wollyn, but if it be a pore cote under their uttermost garment, made of grete canvas, and cal it a frok. Their hosyn be of like canvas, and passen not their knee; wherfor they be gartrid, and their thyghs bare. Their wifs and children gone bare fote; they may in non otherwyse lyve. For sum of them, that was wonte to pay to his lord for his tenement, which he hyrith by the yere, a scute^[3], payyth now to the Kynge, over that scute, fyve skuts. Wher thrugh they be artyd^[4] by necessite, so to watch, labour, and grub in the ground, for their sustenaunce, that their nature is much wastid, and the kynd of them brought to nowght. Thay gone crokyd, and ar feble, not able to fyght, nor to defend the realme; nor they have wepon, nor monye to buy

1. Scarce.
2. Except or unless it be seldom.
3. Escus, or ecus d’or, a gold crown-piece of the value of 3s. 4d.
4. Coarcted, compelled.