1. Crist crucifyd for thy wound_es_ wide vs co_m_mons guyde which pilgram_es_ be thrughe god_es_ grace for to purchache olde welth & peax of the sp_irit_ualtie.
2. Gret god_es_ fame doith church p_ro_clame now to be lame and fast in bound_es_ robbyd spoled & shorne from catell & corne and clene furth borne of howsez & land_es_.
3. alacke alacke for the church sake pore comons wake & no m_er_vell for clere it is the decay of this how the pore shall mys no tong can tell.
4. for ther they hade boith ale & breyde at tyme of nede and succur grete in alle distresse and hevynes * * * * and wel intrete.
5. In troubil & care where that we were in man_er_ all bere of o_ur_ substance we founde good bate at churche me_n_ gate without checkmate or vary_au_nce[431].
Such were the complaints which arose among the country folk as a result of the suppression of the monasteries. And just at the moment that this intensely unpopular measure began to be carried out in earnest, and largely as a result of it, the veil which had hitherto prevented the people from recognizing the true author of the hated innovations was torn away, and a pretext was offered for a revolt, which had it been directed against the King, would have been no better than treason. The people fastened on Cromwell as the author of all their troubles; and the thought that a man whom they knew to be low-born, of no better or more noble origin than themselves, had been able to cause them such misery, was enough to kindle a smouldering fire of discontent into a brilliant blaze. A crusade against Cromwell, they argued, could not be regarded as a revolt against the royal authority. They had no complaint against the King, or even against any of the nobles, but they were determined to rid themselves at one blow of the plebeian minister whom they thoroughly detested and whom they had no cause to respect: with the destruction of Cromwell and his agents, they were certain that the good old days would return. The last verse of their war-song contained a frank avowal of their object:
‘Crim[432] crame[433] & riche[434] w_i_t_h_ thre lll[435] and _th_e liche[436] as sum me_n_ teache god theym amend And that aske may w_i_t_h_out delay here make A stay and well to end[437].’