By JOHN LYDGATE.
To London once my steps I bent,
Where truth in nowise should be faint;
To Westminster-ward I forthwith went,
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 press 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.
But for lack of Money I might not speed.
Beneath them sat clerks a great rout,
Which fast did write by one assent,
There stood up one and cried about,
“Richard, Robert, and John of Kent!”
I wist not well what this man meant,
He cried so thickly there indeed.
But he that lacked Money might not speed
Unto the Common Pleas I yode [81] tho,
Where sat one with a silken hood;
I did him reverence, for I ought to do so,
And told my case as well as I could,
How my goods were defrauded me by falsehood.
I got not a mum of his mouth for my meed,
And for lack of Money I might not speed.
Unto the Rolls I gat me from thence,
Before the clerks of the Chancerie,
Where many I found earning of pence,
But none at all once regarded me.
I gave them my plaint upon my knee;
They liked it well when they had it read,
But lacking Money I could not be sped.
In Westminster Hall I found out one
Which went in a long gown of ray, [82a]
I crouched and kneeled before him anon,
For Mary’s love of help I him pray.
“I wot not what thou mean’st,” gan he say;
To get me thence he did me bede:
For lack of Money I could not speed.
Within this Hall, neither rich nor yet poor
Would do for me aught although I should die.
Which seeing, I got me out of the door
Where Flemings began on me for to cry,
“Master, what will you copen [82b] or buy?
Fine felt hats, or spectacles to read?
Lay down your silver, and here you may speed.”
Then to Westminster Gate I presently went,
When the sun was at highÉ prime;
Cooks to me they took good intent,
And proffered me bread with ale and wine,
Ribs of beef, both fat and full fine;
A fair cloth they gan for to sprede,
But wanting Money I might not then speed.
Then unto London I did me hie,
Of all the land it beareth the prize.
“Hot peascods!” one began to cry,
“Strawberry ripe!” and “Cherries in the rise!” [82c]
One bade me come near and buy some spice,
Pepper and saffron they gan me bede,
But for lack of Money I might not speed.
Then to the Cheap I began me drawn,
Where much people I saw for to stand;
One offered me velvet, silk, and lawn,
Another he taketh me by the hand,
“Here is Paris thread, the finest in the land!”
I never was used to such things indeed,
And wanting Money I might not speed.
Then went I forth by London Stone,
Throughout all Can’wick Street. [83]
Drapers much cloth me offered anon;
Then comes me one cried, “Hot sheep’s feet!”
One cried, “Mackerel!” “Rushes green!” another gan greet;
One bade me buy a hood to cover my head,
But for want of Money I might not be sped,
Then I hied me into East Cheap;
One cries “Ribs of beef,” and many a pie;
Pewter pots they clattered on a heap,
There was harp, pipe, and minstrelsie.
“Yea, by cock!” “Nay, by cock!” some began cry;
Some sung of Jenkin and Julian for their meed,
But for lack of Money I might not speed.
Then into Cornhill anon I yode,
Where was much stolen gear among;
I saw where hung mine ownÉ hood
That I had lost among the throng:
To buy my own hood I thought it wrong;
I knew it well as I did my Creed,
But for lack of Money I could not speed.
The taverner took me by the sleeve,
“Sir,” saith he, “will you our wine assay?”
I answered, “That cannot much me grieve,
A penny can do no more than it may.”
I drank a pint, and for it I did pay.
Yet soon ahungered from thence I yede,
And wanting Money I could not speed.
Then hied I me to Billingsgate,
And one cried, “Hoo! Go we hence!”
I prayed a barge man, for God’s sake,
That he would spare me my expence.
“Thou scrap’st not here,” quoth he, “under two pence;
I list not yet bestow any alms deed.”
Thus lacking Money I could not speed.
Then I conveyed me into Kent;
For of the law would I meddle no more,
Because no man to me took intent,
I dight me to do as I did before.
Now Jesus, that in Bethlehem was bore,
Save London, and send true lawyers their meed!
For whoso wants Money with them shall not speed.
