Gervase the Poacher, of Little Fawning

Age 12: spent the best week of summer ploughing the lord's demesne.

Age 13: fever took both your parents in a season. The parish took you in, grudgingly.

Age 14: a late frost bit the blossom. A thin year ahead.

Age 15: the church-ale raised money for the steeple and the whole parish got magnificently drunk for God.

Age 16: a neighbour swore falsely against you at the hundred court. You remember his name.

Age 17: took the pox and kept the scars as souvenirs.

Age 18: a rotten tooth was pulled by the blacksmith, who charged less than the barber.

Age 20: caught with a hare and a story nobody believed. Fined.

Age 23: went hungry through a lean winter and lived, barely.

Age 24: the tax was counted twice and corrected never.

Age 25: a learned physician applied leeches, a horoscope, and a large bill.

Age 26: fell down the village well, which the village then had to re-dig.

Survived by no one. Even the pig looked relieved.