odly thing:
6 +There+ gates to all were open euermore,
That by the wearie way were traueiling,
8 And one sate wayting euer them before,
To call +in commers-by+, that needy were and pore.

6 There > Their _1609; cf. 202.30:1, 206.27:9, 211.21:8, 304.41:7,
312.28:1_
9 in commers-by > in-commers by _1590, 1596_

1 Eftsoons to a holy hospital,

Eftsoons > Forthwith, soon
hospital > {Charitable institution for housing and aiding the needy;
place of lodging}

2 That was forby the way, she did him bring;

forby > hard by, near

3 In which seven beadsmen (that had vowed all

beadsmen > holy men; "men of prayer"

4 Their life to service of high heaven's King)
5 Did spend their days in doing godly things:
6 Their gates to all were open evermore

Their > Their; _or, conceivably:_ there (see Textual Appendix;
though even among the educated the two spellings were
occasionally used indifferently)
evermore > constantly

7 That by the weary way were travelling,

travelling > (Here, especially, includes the sense of "travailing",
= "toiling")

8 And one sat waiting ever them before,

waiting > keeping watch

9 To call in comers-by that needy were and poor.

comers-by > passers-by

110.37

The first of them that eldest was, and best,
2 Of all the house had charge and gouernement,
As Guardian and Steward of the rest:
4 His office was to giue entertainement
And lodging, vnto all that came, and went:
6 Not vnto such, as could him feast againe,
And double quite, for that he on them spent,
8 But such, as want of harbour did constraine:
Those for Gods sake his dewty was to entertaine.

1 The first of them, that eldest was and best,

best > most kind

2 Of all the house had charge and government,
3 As guardian and steward of the rest:
4 His office was to give entertainment

office > duty, function
entertainment > hospitality

5 And lodging to all that came and went:
6 Not to such as could him feast again,

again > in return

7 And doubly requite for that he on them spent,

that > [that which]

8 But such as want of harbour did constrain:

harbour > shelter
constrain > distress

9 Those for God's sake his duty was to entertain.

110.38

The second was +as+ Almner of the place,
2 His office was, the hungry for to feed,
And thristy giue to drinke, a worke of grace:
4 He feard not once him