unwasschen in to the pot or cawdroun, with remenant of the flessche and of
the brothe, till thei wole eten azen. And the ryche men drynken mylk of
mares or of camaylles or of asses or of other bestes. And thei wil ben
lightly dronken of mylk, or of another drynk, that is made of hony and of
watre soden to gidre. For in that contree is nouther wyn ne ale. Thei lyven
fulle wrecched liche; and thei eten but ones in the day, and that but
lyttle, nouther in courtes ne in other places. And in soothe, o man allone
in this contree wil ete more in a day, than on of hem will ete in 3 dayes.
And zif ony straunge messagre come there to a lord, men maken him to ete
but ones a day, and that fulle litille.

And whan thei werren, thei werren fulle wisely, and alle weys don here
besynes, to destroyen hire enemyes. Every man there berethe 2 bowes or 3,
and of arwes gret plentee, and a gret ax. And the gentyles han schorte
speres and large, and fulle trenchant on that o syde: and thei han plates
and helmes, made of quyrboylle; and hire hors covertoures of the same. And
who so fleethe fro the bataylle, thei sle him. And whan thei holden ony
sege abouten castelle or toun, that is walled and defensable, thei behoten
to hem that ben with inne, to don alle the profite and gode, that it is
marveylle to here: and thei graunten also to hem that ben with inne, alle
that thei wille asken hem. And aftre that thei ben zolden, anon thei sleen
hem alle, and kutten of hire eres, and sowcen hem in vynegre, and there of
thei maken gret servyse for lordes. Alle here lust and alle here
ymaginacioun, is for to putten alle londes undre hire subieccioun. And thei
seyn, that thei knowen wel be hire prophecyes, that thei schulle ben
overcomen by archieres, and be strengthe of hem: but they knowe not of what
nacioun, ne of what lawe thei schulle ben offe, that schulle overcomen hem.
And therfore thei suffren, that folk of alle lawes may peysibely duellen
amonges hem.