Clerks it becometh

for to serve Christ,

And for folk unordained

to cart and work,

And no clerk should be tonsured

save he be the son

Of frankleyns and free men

and of wedded folk

Bondmen and bastards

and beggars children

These are the sons of labour,

these are to serve lords,

To serve God and the good

as their station asketh.

But since then bondsmens sons

are made into bishops,

And bastard bairns

are made archdeacons,

And soap-makers and their sons

are knights for silvers sake,

And lords sons be their labourers

and have mortgaged their rents

And to support this realm

have ridden against our foes

To comfort the Commons

and honour the king,

And monks and nuns

that should support the poor

Have made their own kin knights

and paid fees for it,

Popes and patrons

refuse poor gentle blood,

And take the sons of Mammon

to keep the Sanctuary