[BNP/E3, 77 – 52^r]

Old Castle.

Men by a natural perversity

Bite the hand that caresses them and caress

The hand that strikes them. Potentates know this

As to priests and {…} and who being wrongly great

Are pests and tortures to the weak and small

It is a natural slavery and sad

That makes to fail all noble toils and plots

And void and small the ache for liberty.

[52^v]

Men by a natural perverseness bite

The hand that doth caress them and caress

The hand strikes them. ‘Tis a natural vileness

And normal as the sun. Kings know it well

As priests and all {…} potentates

More truly hunting good is the weak spent of men.