Quote
"But the Englische men that woneth in Engelond, that beeth i-medled in the ilond, that beeth fer i-spronge from the welles that they spronge of first, wel lightliche withoute entisynge of eny other men by here owne assent tornen to contrary dedes....These men been speedful bothe on hors and on foote, able and redy to alle manere dedes of armes, and beeth i-woned to have the victorie and the maistrie in everich fight wher no treson is walkynge; and beeth curious, and kunneth wel inow telle dedes and wondres that thei haveth i-seie. Also they gooth in dyvers londes; unnethe beeth eny men richere in her owne londe othere more gracious in fer and in strange londe. They konneth betre wynne and gete newe than kepe her owne heritage; therfore it is that they beeth i-spred so wyde and weneth that everich londe is hir owne heritage. The men beeth able to al manere sleithe and witte, but tofore the dede blondrynge and hasty, and more wys after the dede, and leveth ofte lightliche what they haveth bygonne...These men despiseth hir owne, and preiseth other menis, and unnethe beeth apaide with hir owne estate; what byfalleth and semeth other men, they wolleth gladlyche take to hemself; therfore hit is that a yeman arraieth hym as a squyer, a squyer as a knyght, a knyght as a duke, a duke as a kyng."
J
John Trevisa
