Princes qu'en mains tenez [English translation]

Ye who hold your people in hour hand,

plundering in summer and winter as well

Ye who hold your people in your hand,

see how wretched it has been.

(chorus)

While robber princes hold court in Brittany,

haughty princes have peasants flogged.1

Neither do peasants hold court nor robbers get flogged

It's through hardships, hunger and cold

that many a poor folk dies

It's without hardships, hunger nor cold

that the lords fight among themselves.

(chorus)

Ye lords who hold us for rebels

for daring raise our voice

Ye lords who hold us for rebels

you know no justice but the stick.

(chorus)

Ye people in charge of justice

too many prelates stand among you

Ye people in charge of justice

I've had enough debate with you2

(chorus)

You hold for senseless a woman

selling herself to the highest bidder

You hold for senseless that woman

and yet do much worse yourselves.

(chorus)

Still a single revolt is enough

for the king to end up in prison.

Still a single revolt is enough

the king will die without fail.

1. "princes of Brittany have courts for robbers, peasants get beaten if princes despise them"2. "I am very tired of speaking [of justice] with you"