'Dyspoylleth [[dispoylyn St.]] pylgrymes est and west,
Bothe in woode and in fforest,
With-outen any excepcïon: [folio 249a]
Thys ys my condycïon,
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To robbe and reue with al my myght.
'I cleymë al thyng myn off ryht;
Myn hand ys lyk vnto [[lyk to C., lyke to St.]] a kyte:
I takë chykenys that be lyte;
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Wher I ham fyndë, fer or ner,
I ber hem hoom to my dyner.
Gret robbery, on folk I make;
Hors and cartë, bothe I take,
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With porvyaunce and wyth vytaylle.
And off malys I wyl nat faylle:
Yiff a pore man haue a kowh,
Oxe or mare that draweth hys plowh,
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I make hem selle hem by duresse,
ffor to staunche my gredynesse,
Wher any swych I kan espye.
And as an yreyne sowketh the flye, [prose cap xvi]
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And hyr entroyllës [[entralls St.]] draweth oute,
Evene lyk I renne aboute,
And cesse nat, whan I ha be-gonne,
Tyl that I my pray ha wonne.
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'The tother hand, to do gret wrak,
Ys set behynden at the bak, [prose cap xvii]
That no man ne sholde espye
The maner off my roberye.
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So secretly I kan yt vse,
Outward my falsnesse to exeuse.
Thys hand ful hih vp-on A tre
Maketh many on enhangyd be; [Stowe folio 307b]
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And with hys ffeet (wych ys nat fayr,)
ffor to waggen in the hayr [[ayre St.]]
fful hih a-loffte, yt ys no dred.
'Thys hand, fro many manhys hed,
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Causeth the Erys be kut away;
And thys hand, fro day to day,
Ys the hand off gret dyffame, [folio 249b]
Callyd Cuttëpurs by name,
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