IN my last return from Edenbrough in Scot­land, comming homeward through York­shire: I traueled somewhat out of the com­mon high London way of purpose to sée the Countrie. And one day among others, to­ward euen: I chaunced to come to a little through fare Town called Rippon, where at the very en­tring into the town I met a poore olde Woman, of whom I asked if there were any good lodging in the town. She answe red me, that there was good lodging at the Signe of y^• Gréek Omega. The Gréek Omega (quoth I) What doo you mean by that? Nothing said she, but that there is good lodging and honest entertainment which (I suppose) is all that you re­quire. Then I asked her what was the Good mans name of the house. His name (quoth she) is Simon Certain, we call him commonly Sim Certain, Sim Certain (quoth I) surely these are very straunge names, and so bidding her farewell: I departed into the town ward, much more desirous to be come to my lodging, for the straungenes of the names, aswel of the Signe: as also of the Good man of the House. By that time I had entred a little way into the town: I was ware of a very faire Greek Omega, hanging foorth as a common Signe, euen as the olde Woman had tolde me befors. And thither I went, and entring into the house: I found in the Hall the Good man, his two Sonnes, his Chamberlain, and his Hostler singing the C iiij. Psalme of Dauid very distinct­ly and orderly. The Goodwife with her two Daughters sat spinning at their Whéeles a little distaunce from them. All which things when I behéeld: I thought with my self that these things were yet more straunge to beholde, then were [Page] either the Signe or els the Good mans name to heare. So I had them God spéed. The Hoste very courteously arose, and had me welcome, so did the wife also, and asked me whether I meant to tary all night. I answered yea. Then he asked me if I would sée my Chamber. No gentle Hoste (quoth I) I will not hinder so much you good exersise, for I am sure I cannot be lodged amisse in this house. Not so Sir (quoth he) but ye shall haue the best that we haue and welcome. I gaue him hartye thanks. Then he enquired of me, of whence I was, where I had béene, and whither I was bound. I tolde him I was a Southern man borne and dwelling, and that I had béene at Edenborough in Scotland, and was thus farre in my way homeward. In good time Sir (quoth he) and yée are hartily welcome into this part of Yorkshire. I thank you gentle Hoste (quoth I.

BY that time we had talked scant half an hou­re: there came in a Countrie man a Neigh­bour, a tolly olde fatherly man, bringing vn­der his arme a fardel of Bookes, as many as be might well holde vndernethe one of his armes, he gaue vs the time of the day. What Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoste) welcome from Londō. Sir (quoth he to me) this Neighbour of mine is lately come from where you are going God willing. Truely (quoth I) and this is happily met by grace of God, and as I verily sup­pose néere in the mid way betwéene Edenbrough and Lon­don. With that Neighbour [...]imon quoth this Pierce plow­man (for that was his name) I am come to desire your help. What is the matter Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoste?) [Page] Neighbour (quoth he) to lend me fiue pound for half a yéer, for truely (quoth he) I haue spent all my mony at London, and haue not left my self so much as to buy my séed Wheat, wherwith to sowe my land this season. No haue neighbour Pierce? (quoth he) that was very il handled, ye should alwa­yes so vse your matters that the main stock be saued whole. Fye neighbour Simon quoth ve, speak no more of that for y^• reuerence of God, for truely I am ashamed of my self, but what remedie now saue patience, and to learne to be wiser héerafter, What meanes all these paper Books (quoth our Hoste. Mary neighbour quoth Pierce they shalbe suretie vn to you for the [...]paiment of your fiue pound. With that they were vnbound, and béeing opened & looked vpon: they were Billes, Answers, Replications, Reioinders Copies of Depo­sitions, and such like. Some out of one Court, some out of an other. When our Hoste had séene them all: why Neighbour (quoth he) doo you think to méet with any mā that is so mad to lend v. pence vpon such trash? Trash neighbour quoth Pi­erce: they stand me in abooue fiftie pound. Peraduentnre so quoth our Hoste, but that prooueth not that they are woorth fiftie points, sauing vnto him that were as mad to buy them of you: as you bought them at their hands that solde them vnto you. But or you méet with any such chapmā: I beléeue you will be weary of kéeping them. With that Pierce began to be half offended. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste, fiue pound is a small matter betwéene vs twaine, you shall haue it vpon your woord. But as for your Books: héere dwelleth a Lady not far hence, cary them to her, for they are far f [...]t and déere bought, and such things (men say) are good for Ladyes.

NEighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) I can put vp that mock at your hands, for I knowe ya meane me no euill but good therby, but veri­ly me thinketh it standeth hardly with their existimation that will be holden and termed woorshipfull yea honorable, to take so extre­mely for things, wherof no better return is to be made, yet must we pay them with great attendaunce, with cap in hand and all reuerence. Great reason quoth our Hoste, for they are woorshipfull, and right woorthye of all those duties. Then haue I béene in an errour a long time (quoth Pierce) for I haue alwayes hitherto thought that woorship and honor had stood in giuing: I not in taking, in helping, reléeuing and doo­ing good: and not in their contraryes, and this séemeth vnto me bothe reasonable and also common experience, for we ho­nor God at whose hands we receiue all goodnes, and therfore properly vnto him is all honor and woorship due, and vnto men but so far foorth as they approchen vnto God in qualitie of vertue, iustice, mercy and other goodnes, wherfore in all reason he ought to be moste honorable and woorshipfull that dooth the moste good, and vnto the greatest number, for sure­ly in my discretion, the woorship and the gaine ought to be deuided, and he that gayneth, or is reléeued, and is holpen: ought to honor and woorship him by whom he gayneth, is hot pen and reléeued, for otherwise why dooth Seruant woor­ship his Maister & not e conuerso. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Noste, our honorable & reuerend forefathers with great wisdeme and discretion affessed these fées and charges, and that for the great zeale and looue which they bare vnto God­lines and vertue, and to the persons quallified therwith.

With that Pierce clapped his hand vpon y^e boord. I make God a vow (quoth he) what so euer he was that first praised a shéet of paper with twelue lines written therin at eight pence, nay at xij. pence, for I am sure I haue CC. that cost me after that rate, he was neither fréend to godlines ne vertue, to God neither to Good man or woman. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste, this is but the errour of your iudgement, [Page] and that shall appéere vnto you so euidently, that your self shall confesse that these fées and charges which you think so great and so excessiue had so great reason in their beginning: as that greater had neuer any ciuil ordinance or cōstitution. Whether yée wil regarde the honor and glory of God or the preseruation of the common Welth which chéefly dependeth therupon. That séemeth wunderful strange vnto mée (quoth Pierce) that in such extreame taking and so small rendring there should lye hidden so great mistery of good mea­ning and therfore gladly would I heare your reasons ther­vpon. Very wel Neighbour Pierce (quoth hée) then I will take in hand to prooue it vnto you, which I trust I shall doo sufficiently: if I can prooue these are no proper nor priuate gain or proffit, but a publique and a common treasure to the ease and reléef of the whole common Welth and of the best & godlyest Members of the same, yea verily (quoth Pierce) ve­ry wel (quoth our Hoast.)

FIrst I think yée wil graunt (quoth hée) that Magistrates and Officers are the Deputies and Leiutenaunts of GOD héer in Earth, high and honorable, for that they are in very déed the hand and mouth of the Law, and in fewe & plaine woords the speaking & woork­ing Law, for by them the law commaundeth and forbiddeth. So that their end and purpose is that God may be honored and glorified, good and godly People cherished, shortly that peace and concord may be maintained, I graunt you all this (quoth Pierce) you will graunt (quoth hée) that the way and mean to woork all these things is to punish and chastice the wicked and the vngodly, and to giue as little fauour vnto sinne as is possible, that is very true also (quoth Pierce.) Yée will graunt quoth our Hoast that the wayes and meanes to [Page] punish sinnes & wickednes are diuers, according to the qua­litie of the offence, as some by death, some by other punnish­ment of the body greater or smaller. And that there is also a pecuniall punishment by the pursse, as by fine and ransome, and such like. I graunt you all this quoth Pierce. You will graunt me also (quoth he) that all punishments are gréeuous vnto the sufferers therof, neither are or ought to be pleasant vnto the dooers and executors. That is very true also quoth Pierce, except they be wicked persons bothe the sufferer and the executor. Then quoth our Hoste, séeing all punishments are fear full and gréeuous vnto the sufferer therof, & no plea­sure, but rather sorowe and gréefe of hart vnto the erecutors therof: such and so must néeds be the first causes and occasi­ōs therof. That is very true quoth Pierce. You knowe quoth our Hoste, that the causes and occasiōs of punishment is sin, wickednes and misgouernment of life, for the woord of God telleth vs, that the reward of sinne is death. All that is very true quoth Pierce. Very well then quoth our Hoste, these Propositions which you haue graunted: doo suffise for the matter which I haue taken in hand to prooue, which is, that these great Fées and charges were neuer ment, nor yet are receiued or conuerted into priuate or proper vse. I pray you Neighbour quoth Pierce, let me heare how it is prooued, for I promise you faithfully for any thing I haue yet herd: your prooues are farther to fet.

You knowe quoth our Hoste, that the nature of the vn­gooly is to be quarelous and contencious, and dayly prouo­king one an other, and also to take no wrong & doo no right. That is very true quoth Pierce. You knowe quoth our Host that the common weapō wher with they wil be auēged vpon eche other is the Law, which indéed is the Magistrate, as ye haue already graunted, so that vpon the matter: he is made the executor of their wilfulnes and vengeaunce, which they will néeds doo vpon eche other, which thing you haue alredy confessed to be gréeuous and vnpleasant to euery good man. Therfore hath it euer béen, and yet is thought, and that very wisely and truely, that the likeliest way & meane to disswade [Page] their wilfulnes which no reason, looue nor feare of GOD could disswade was to make their wilfulnes as déere and as heauy vnto them as reasonably might be doon, to the end that they should not so lightly and for euery trifle ver and trouble bothe the Magistrate & one an other, which effect although it failed to woork, & that their madnes would not be restrayned therby: that yet their vngodlines might return to the profit and reléefe of others their Neighbours & Brethern that were better affected, & so by one self and same meane: the vngodly punished & fléeced, and the godly amended & inriched therby, & that this was their meaning y^• was the first assessors ther­of: common experience teacheth vs, for in néedfull and ne­cessary actions, as debt, detinew, and account and such like: the charges are so reasonable, as that no man would in con­science giue lesse.

The reason is, for that they are actions of common right, and such as must néeds day by day arise betwéene a man and his Brother, neither doo they dishonest either of the parties, which I dare not affirm vpon actions vpon cases, neither did they so iudge of them, as I verily beléeue, and therfore did they set double and treble charges thereupon, for greater is the charges in a brabble for a woord spoken: then for thrée hundred pound of honest det.

So that the Magistrate, who for such Ale house actions and brabbles: should otherwise neuer be at rest, except he should deny them his help, which might be slaunderous and perillous to the whole estate.

The Magistrate I say of pure pittie and compassion was forced to set great charges vpon them, for the small fauour that he bare vnto them, & vnto their first causes & occasions.

The greatnes of all which charges not withstanding, yet doo we dayly sée how the vngodly run togither by heaps like brute beasts, and yet I dare safely say, that by the greatnes of these charges, and the terrour therof: many a brabling matter hath béene and is dayly put vp without any reuenge sought therof, and many a one hauing pursued and recoue­red in his action, yet haue his charges so gallded him: that [Page] he hath béene easier to deale with all his life after. And so by this meane many a wilfull body brought to knowe him self, and to honor God therby.

I cannot tell Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce, but I my self haue had two or thrée brabbles that haue kept me dooing these seuen yéeres, in which time I am sure I haue spent a­booue fiftie pound, beside my charges to and fro, losse of time, and my hinderaunce at home. And what haue ye gotten for all this? quoth our Hoste. These papers quoth he. Wel woor­th fiftie points quoth our Hoste. I think verily quoth our Hoste if any honest Neighbour had néeded to haue borowed ten Pound therof: you would not haue it so ready to haue pleasured him withall. If I should say truely (quoth Pierce) I think the very same. What are you assessed vnto the poore in your parish quoth our Hoste? A peny a wéek quoth Pierce. And think you that enough quoth our Hoste? Yea verily quoth Pierce. Loe Sir quoth our Hoste, whether commeth this vnto my saying and maintenaunce of these great Fées and charges or not? Who can deny the excellency of this in­stitution? wherby the Couetous vngodly men are shot one against an other, and doo punish eche other, and wherby also so plentiful prouision is made for the godly poore at their charges, and yet no thank to them therfore, and that those things from the which they would depart vnto any Ho­nest or godly vse or purpose, with as good will as from their eyes to be plucked out of their heads, or their tripes out of their bellyes, by this meane vndesired of their owne accord, they bring it in by handfuls, & so as it hath béene sayd, plenti­ful prouision made for their godly Neighbours at their char­ges and yet no thank vnto them therfore.

Call you this a prouiding for the poore? Neighbour (quoth Pierce) I would I had giuen you the best horse in my Plou­gh to make this saying true, and I swere to you (quoth he) prooue it true: and you shall haue him yet or this day Seuen night, for that would case my hart if I might perceiue that any godly person hath fared the better or were amended by any parte of all my great expences. For then yet should I [Page] think that I haue doone some good with all the losse of my mo­ney. Why Neighbour Pierce (quoth Simon) doo you doubt that all these sommes or the greatest part therof: commeth not to the vse of the common welth, and to the reléefe and sustenaunce of the godly poore, and other easements of com­mon things in maintenaunce of the common Welth? Nay Neighbour Simon (quoth he) I dout it not, for I am fully perswaded the contrary. Truely Neighbour Pierce (quoth he) this is an vncharitable and a very erronious oppinion, and that I will prooue vnto you by reasons manifest and ap­parant, & such as your self haue alredy graunted & confessed. I pray you neighbour Simō (quoth Pierce) let me heare how:

WHosoeuer he be that Coueteth priuately to gaine and profit by any thing (quoth our Hoste) coueteth the thing wherby he gayu­eth and profiteth, this is so true (quoth he) that I will not desire you to graunt it vnto me, for it is a necessary argument from the effect vnto the cause, and therfore if ye will affirm that the Magistrate and officer coueteth these great fées and charges and priuately to thriue and wax rich therby: you must nece­ssarily conclude, that he fauoureth all the first & mean causes therof, which were a horrible & a fearfull conclusion; & yet as I haue said followeth necessarily vpon y^• premisses granted, & therfore is couetise so much more odious & detestable in a Magistrate then in a common person, for couetise as he excée­deth all other vices simply considered: euen so respectiuely he excéedeth him self, I say respectiuely to wit, qualified by the person in whom he dwelleth, for in a priuat person: he is but a priuat sin, & extēdeth vnto his M. only, but in a Magistrate he is a publique & gēerall corruptiō of all y^• people, for ther is no couetoꝰ person béeing but a priuat man or womā y^• wish­eth any other to be such as they thē selues are, the reason is, for that the Couetise of others: is nothing whereby they [Page] should gayne or be aduaunced, but rather lose therby.

Therfore could they be content that there were few or no o­thers such as they are, wherby it appéereth that couetise in a priuate Person neither woorketh nor wisheth any general corruption and yet fulfilleth the talent and habit of his sub­iect and so much the more. The very same is to be said of all other vices in all other persons without exception of degrée, as Whoordome, Pride, Gluttony, Drunkennes and all o­ther excesse in voluptuous plesure, in all which things what soeuer hath or euer had the greatest felicitie and enioyd most therof yet would they not that others did the like, or at the least no moe then they them selues must necessarily vse for for tha'ccomplishment of their pleasures which requireth some company. The reason is already shewed to wit for y^• other Folkes pleasures are not their pleasures, neither doo increase the same, but rather their paines and misery.

For the hunger, scarcitie and want of others giueth a good taste and sauour vnto the voluptuousnes and pleasures of y^• vngodly, and therfore could they be very wel content to en­ioy their owne wickednes thē selues, for pleasure haue they none nor gain in the lewdnes or the misgouernaūce of other. And if they had: yet want they power to corrupt others ther­by otherwise then by example which can not doo much in any one priuate man or woman, for that they haue but the lea­ding of their owne liues. But of Couetise in the Magistrat it is otherwise, for hée hath the leading and the fourming of other mens liues and therfore differeth from the cōmon and priuat person bothe concerning his wil and also concerning his habititie and power to execute the same.

¶ First concerning desire and will hée cannot wish that the common people should be godly and vertuous, for neither standeth his great gain, nor his Ambition therin, for why they are two things incompatible and contrary.

Then concerning his power to execute his wil and desire: it is so great and so mightie that the olde Proouers hath not douted to call the common People the Image of their Magistrates and officers for as certainly as this antecedent.

The man cateth and drinketh inferreth this consequent [Page] the man is a liue: euen so certainly this proposition the Magistrates & officers are couetous inferreth this cōclusion.

The People are vngratious and vngodly. The reason is peremptory for the Magistrate and Officer hath the Bridls rain in his hand either to giue libertie vnto vngodlynes and dissolution of life: orels to refrain the same.

Now all men may dayly sée by proof that there is no wilde Beast so very brute and barbarous as man will wax and bée through libertie and that for the excellencie of his nature booue all other Creatures and his great vnderstanding in good and euil.

¶ And therfore to admit in a Magistrate a couetise and a desire of priuate and proper gain, Namely by fées and char­ges arysing and growing as is alredy confessed: these were to conclude an odious and detestable Consequence against y^e Magistrate and Officer of whome wée are forbidden by God to speak or think saue all honor and reuerence.

¶ Wherfore I say it standeth not with the reuerend and honourable opinion that wée are bound to haue of the Magi­strate to say or to think that these great gains and fées doo re­turn to him in priuate and proper vse, but rather to Judge & think that the Magistrate & Officer receiueth them as thing [...] excommunicat and as a common Treasure dedicated vnto godly vses and purposes in ease and reléef of the whole com­mon welth.

¶ Would God this were true quoth Pierce, for I dare lay my life (quoth hée) that if all the sums of money that are leud­ly and shamefully spent in one Terme about vain sutes and brabbles were reserued and accounted in the end of y^• Term: they would amount to more then all the Collection for the Poore through out all the parishes in England for half a yéer, neuerthelesse many a one thinketh him self sore charged, namely my self God forgiue mée.

Truely Neighbour (quoth our Hoast) I am of no other Opinion, neither doo I Judge that all these great Fées and Reuenues are any other thing but a Collection for the pur­poses and intents aforesaid, neither that the Receiuers of y^• [Page] same doo differ from those other Collectors in Parish Church [...] sauing in the greatnes of their receit and also sauing that they are not forced to craue it at the parties hands and some time to conuent him before a Iusti [...]er of peace for a grote or six pence as the others oft times are, And also sauing that for their reuerend and honorable estemation they are not accoū ­table. Sauing vnto the Lord God the Author generall and vnto their owne Consciences.

NEighbour Simon quoth Pierce you haue al­leaged many fair and coulorable propositiōs and conclusions and haue gon about mée w^t this reason and with that.

I am no Schoole man, Neighbour quoth hée, but yet some reason I haue and some ex­perience I haue séen, and some héed I haue taken thereof, wherfore if you wil giue mée leaue to answere you: you shal hear mée as probably disprooue these your allegations as you prooued them, for I shall prooue all your propositions are pro­bable and not necessary, neither doo inferre a necessary con­clusion as you haue pretended, For the better dooing wherof: first for orders sake, I wil reherce your propositions, reasons and arguments, wherof the first is: that the Magistrate and Officer is to be had in all honor and reuerence because hée is the Law which is moste honorable and reuerend, this I con­fesse as an vndouted trueth, namely for that the end aswel of the one as of the other, is that God may be honored and glo­rified, godly People cherished. and maintain peace and con­cord strengthned and furthered, wherupon standeth the pro [...] ­peritie & the good estate of all Cuntries and common welths, their wayes and meanes you haue alleaged are these.

To punish and chastice the wicked and the vngodly, and to restrain their libertie as much as is possible. Yée haue fur­ther alleaged that punishments are diuers, some corporall, [Page] some pecuniall, and that that all punishments are gréeuous bothe vnto the sufferers, and also vnto the dooers therof, but that I will not graunt ye without distinction.

Very true it is that all punishments without exception, are greeuous vnto the sufferers therof, but vnto the executor therof: they are not all so, namely such as are pecuniall and the gaine therof returning vnto the executor. For although that to beat, burn, hang or whip any creature of God, name­ly a Christian man or woman: is an odious thing, & wher­in no good or Godly hart can haue pleasure: yet for aduaun­tage sake it is often otherwise, for otherwise there would not so many Oxen, Shéep and Calues be murthered, and so few Hogs, Dogs or Cats, their offences béeing only their good flesh.

Wherfore, although that in all Godly reason your ar­guments haue great necessitie: yet in humaine reason and experience it hath butb are probabilitie and is no more. But as if for example you wil say Women ought to be ashamed to be séene bibbing Wine in common Tauerns, or to be séen at common lasciuious and bawdie Stage Playes: therfore they are ashamed therof.

This is an argument gathered from posse to esse, to wit, from should or ought to be, to is simply, and hath not any necessitie nor firmitie, and that shall you sée if you will goe with me to London this next terme.

How be it, you séeme to inforce your antecedent, by the honorable existimation wherin I am bound to haue the Ma­gistrate and Officer, and therby you think that of dutie I ought to graunt it you for the shamefull consequence which necessarily ensueth vpon the denyall therof.

Truely that not withstanding, me thinketh all this but a very bare and naked proofe.

CAll you this a bare and naked proof Neigh­bour Pierce quoth our Hoast if you, denye this proof (quoth hée) you reuerse & ouerthrow all humain societie which is maintained and vpholdē by giuing vnto God y^• which is due vnto God, and vnto man y^e which is due vnto Man. But vnto God what can wée giue saue honor, prayse & glory, first and immediatly vnto him self, and secondly vnto his Deputies and Lieutenaunts, to wit, Magistrates & Offi­cers whose calling and appointing therunto as it is of God: so must and ought wée to think that it is for their godlynes and vertues, for God him self hath said them that honor mée I will honor, and they that dishonour mée I will dishonour, wherfore our wise and reuerend Elders and Forefathers in their assessing these great Fées and charges: did mean to ho­nor them whome God honoured. And therfore vnto their cal­lings appoited they great and honorable reuenues, knowing that their gain is the punishment of vice and the rewarde of Vertue, and that the part & portion of all the godly is therin, knowing also that there is not so great Incouragement vn­to Vertue and Godlynes: as the liberall rewarde therof, and that all vngodlynes and vnthankfulnes is measured by the greatnes of the goodnes and benefit receiued either at y^• handꝭ of God or man. Lastly knowing y^e they might not prosecute but persecute the causes & occasiōs of these gains as hath alre­dy béen prooued, and therfore I say abooue all common rea­son and discretion they assessed these Fées and [...]euenues that the gains might be great and yet the causes therof few, quite contrary to all other estates and faculties, for what other reason is there that one man shall labour fore a whole day & at night shall receiue twelue pence or eight pēce for his hire: An other for half or a quarter of an houres easie trauail shall [Page] receiue xx. shillings or sometime more, what is the cause of this diuersitie? euen this, the one is a hire and a price of a ser­uile labour and trauell, and is receiued in proper and priuat vse, the other is an honor doone vnto vertue, Godlinesse and knowledge: which doo receiue nor holde, or account any so base things proper or priuat, or can be so basely minded, as to ioy therin, further then they may glorify God therby.

What other reason is there, that one man in the return of a Reame of paper, shall gaine xij. pence or xvi. pence cléer, and yet where he layd out ij. pence: the other layd out x. shil­lings. And after the same rate in Wax, that one man shall sell more for vi. pence: then an other shall sell for viij. pound, which neuerthelesse bought as déere as he, within xy. pence at xx. shillings waring, and bothe layd out more mony, & lon­ger looked for the return therof. I say theris no reason other then is already made.

NEighour Simon (quoth Pierce) wheras you maintaine your assersion by the woorthines of the Magistrate and Officer, and doo insist therupon, alledging that they are called by God, and that for their godlines and vertue. The first part I greatly dout, for that many of them buy their offices, and pay very déerely therfore, yea some sell their very inheritaunces for that purpose, I mean to buy offices, now did I neuer read that euer God receiued Money for an office, how be it I refer my self héerein to my Maisters that are learned.

The next part that they are called for their Vertue and Godlines, surely then I verily suppose some of them are cal­led for the things that neuer were in them before, and then were the caller deceiued, which God cannot be, except you will say that God of his méere goodnes and mercy called them [Page] for the vertues and godlines which he meaneth to call them vnto, and in this order beginneth to woork, I meane in be­stowing vpon them so liberally, & by that meanes to charge them with his expectation, in respect of their great Talent committed vnto them, which thing you séeme to alledge, as no small cause and consideration of the high assessing of the fees and charges aforesayd, and that so great mercies & gra­ces bestowed vpon them by God, and so liberall reward ap­pointed vnto them by men: should suffise to make them god­ly and verteous from thence foorth: what so euer they were or had béene before. All which arguments, although they be godly and probable: yet as I sayd before they stand doutful, for the olde Prouerb, Honors chaunge maners. I beléeue the godly and the learned doo dout whether it be taken in the better part, or in the wurse, for I am very sure, that many are wurse disposed, and much more vngodly in high and ho­norable calling: then while they were in meane estate and degrée. Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoste) there is no ru­le so generall, that it admitteth not exception, albeit I [...]out not nor euer did, that honors chaunge maners, is and euer was meant in the better part. For the wise man saith. He that is vngodly in welth: how much more vngodly would he be in pouertie? The examples are many that doo prooue that honors chaunge men to the better, namely of Saule, of whom it is said that béeing called from a simple boy after his Inau­guration: he felt him self sudenly chaunged, and as the book saith: he felt a new hart in him.

The like examples we haue of many Kings & Prophets in the holy Scripture. But to come néerer, bothe for the time and also the place, in our English History we read of that no­ble King H. the fifth, who in his Fathers life was of euill go­uernment, and kept company with riotors and vnthrifts, so that there was small hope of him, but after the death of H. y^e fourth. when this yung man was placed in his kingdom: he sent for all his olde companions, who were not a little glad therof, but when they weare come into his presence: he sharply rebuked them, and giuing them small rewards, yet [Page] better then he thought them woorthy, he forbad them during their liues to come within xij. miles of the Court, and that vpon great penaltie. All these examples doo manifestly proo­ue, that liberall reward of vertue, and high and Honorable calling doo increase vertue in them in whom it is alredy, and causeth them in whom it is not saue only in apparaunce, yet for pure shame to imbrace it, séeing that otherwise hot coales are heaped vppon their heads, through their shamelesse vn­thankfulnes vnto them that haue so thorowly prouoked thē with the greatnes of their benefits.

And therfore against all these reasons and proofs, to say that the Magistrate and Officer should priuatly Couet and conuert so great summes of treasure: it were to shamefull and slaunderous, considered that they are the effects of so e­uill causes as hath already béene shewed. And considered also the horrible and wicked conclusion that would ensue therup­on, as also hath already béene prooued.

Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) neuer tell me what might or dooth insue therupon: but consider the trueth and the matter as it is in déed. And if these great fées and char­ges doo not come vnto their receiuers and takers in proper and priuate: what mean [...] they to make so great labour, sute, fréendship and cost to get those offices and callings. And how commeth it to passe that by the meanes of such offices: such as before were of small habilitie, come to purchase a Ba­rons liuing, yea twaine or thrée. Shortly, that their care is greater to heare and learne where any Land or Lordship is to be solde: then for the Money wherewith to purchase the same.

NEighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoast) all these matters are easily deuided, vnto the which thus I answere. To the first which is their great desire to be in such Offices of receit, I say you misiudge of their desire because you doo not vnderstād the meaning of this woord Office and doo think him to be an English man wheras in very déed his Father is an Italian, whose proper significati­on and meaning you doo not vnderstand, for in our English tung Office is no more to say nor nothing els but Seruice, so that whosoeuer desireth an Office hée desireth to doo ser­uice orles a place wherin to doo seruice, now all men knowe that a priuate man is not able to compare with the Magi­strate or Officer in abilitie and power. Therfore to desire an Office is to desire to be better abled, to expresse and de­clare the hartie goodwil and affection which hée hath to bée seruiceable vnto God and his common welth, for that in pri­uat estate his power answereth not vnto his goodwil therin, and therfore the better man the more desirous to be in O­ffice and in the more Offices, for the greater is his power to shew his good affection towards God who is the Giuer of all these things.

¶ Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce I cannot tel what Cun­trie mans Office is, neither doo I greatly force whether his Father be an Italian, Spaniard or Frenchman, but if he be the same in Latin that seruice is in English: I am sure that both in Latin, French, Spanish and English hée stinketh when he is to frely offered, and that (I am very sure) did Aesop mean in his Fable of the Sowe great with pig vnto whome (saith hée) there came a For who alleadging vnto her his great skil in the art of a Midwife profferd her his seruice toward her deliuerance, vnto whome shée answered, that the greatest and best seruice that hée could doo vnto her, was to kéep him far inough from her, which shee also prayed him to doo, wher­by you may gather what the Authors opinion was vpō this voluntary offer of seruice and yet hée dooth not alleage that the For offered any money, I suppose because hée had no mo­ney to offer. But Simō Magus offered money in y^• Acts of y^e [Page] Apostles, and what the holy Ghost thought therof: you may there vnderstand, Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast this is a colde reason and no Argument, to say that a mans earnest desire to haue an Office argueth his desire of priuate gaine & proffit, and so for his great desire to doo good: condemne him of euil without proof therof. Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) I doo not so barely reason neither so nakedly as you haue alleaged if you did mée right in repetition of my Argu­ment, not intercepting the same nor seuering the partes ther of as you haue doon, and so haue answered the first part by it self which is the weakest and haue said nothing to the second part which is their great purchase and the strength & effect of the first, for my Argument taken, wholly togither is thus much to say, that their great desire to haue the Offices, and their great purchase of Lands and liuing following the same, sheweth that from the beginning there was ment nou­ght els but priuate pouching, for euer the act that is last in exception: is the first in Imaginatiō in all mens dooings this is moste assured. Neighbour (quoth our Hoast) this Argu­ment of yours which you holde so forcible is of no force at all, whither the parties therof be considered iointly or seuerally, neither dooth this great desire to be in Office, neither y^e great purchase ensuing the same in any wise disprooue my first A­ssertion and maintenaunce of this great reuenues, fées and charges as you suppose, construing and taking my saying to néer vnto the letter. For wheras I haue alleadged the Magistrates and Officers to be the Patrons and Fathers of the common welth, and these great reuenues a publick trea­sure in their hands to the vses and intents abooue rehersed: yée alleadge against mée their great purchase of Lordships, Lands and Liuings as a repugnancie and dispraise therof, which it is not but the greatest & strongest confirmation ther­of that I my self haue alleaged, for although I haue made them receiuers yet haue I not charged them méerly as Re­ceiuers: but as Baylifs & Gardens of trust whose authoritie extēdeth to improoue for y^e benefit of their Cūtries. But a better Improouement can there not be made: then by al­tring of money which is transitory: into land which is per­manent, [Page] namely béeing deliuered vnto them at their yéeres of discretion vpon the account of their said Balifs or gardēs. And euen as it fareth betwéen the Garden and his pupil, y^e Balifs and him to whose vse he is put in trust. So fareth it betwéen these Magistrates and Officers and the common welth as touching these receits.

And therfore these purchases of lands & possessions the best and moste allowable discharge vpon their account that can possible be made vnto God, the greatest and highest aduaūce­ment of his honour and glory, the greatest and moste assured comfort and stay of his godly people and seruants vnto whōe the payment of the money from hand to hand had béen but a temporall and a short reléef, for euery man hath not the go­uernment ne right vse therof, to slipper is it and fugitiue.

But these Lands in the hands of these Landlords are a stay perpetuall and permanent wherunto the godly and ho­nest person is sure of preferment and that for reason for why the Owners are such in whome is no acceptaunce of Woor­ship, Fréendship, or of the greater offer, neither of other thig then vertue and godlynes, and therfore their rent must néeds be easie, for who should rate it by out bidding when the vn­godly is no chapman neither dare presēt him self in the place for the godly persō dooth if no not vnto the wicked much lesse vnto his godly Brother or Neighbour. This is no small commendation of Vertue and godlynes and no small encou­ragement therto, namely where a man may make as sure & a more sure account of his Farme: then some other can make of their Inheritaunce and patrimony, which thing although it séem straunge: yet is it commonly verified in the Farmers of such Landlords. For wée sée to often that diuerse honest & godly Men leaue their Inheritaunce vnto vngodly and vn­thriftie Children who (falling into the hands of th' executor doo little while inioy the same. The cause wherof is for y^e they came to their lands before they came to their Wit, and béeing Owners waxed therby proude and in state béeing vn­der no mans check and disdaining all mens councel & so for­getting God and them selues fall to follie and then (as the Prophet Dauid saith) Their table is made a snare to take thē [Page] and the things which should haue been for their proffit, ar [...] vnto them an occasion of falling, So fearfull and daunge­rous is the singuler and sole proprietie of great Lands and possessions, as that often times it not only bereaueth the ow­ners of their right wit and Iudgemēts: but also through their pride, vnthriftines and prodigalitie it hazardeth the sincere administration & execution of lawes and Iustice, procuring partialite and fauour to vngodlynes and dissolute liuing, whilste they (whose dutie were to rebuke such persons and to restrain their libertie) had rather enter into their large re­uenues and possessions and to take and vse the opportunitie of their wickednes and retchlesnes as the méetest occasion herto. But in these Farmers and in their posteritie other­wise it is and that for the reuerend and honourable regard [...] betwéen them and their Land Lords at whose hands and du­ring whose good wil and pleasure they holde their liuings & whose great liberalitie and benignitie chargeth them with no small expectation aswel of godly and honest conuersation of life, as also of hospitalitie and charitable dealing with their Bretheren and Neighbours béeing by their meanes very wel enabled therunto. These things (I say) are looked for at their hands and that by them whose expectation they dare not nor can not without great shame falsifie, which godly­nes, thriftines and liberalitie in them is of no small force to mooue others therunto, and so mutuall looue and charitie che­rished betwéen euery degrée, & where these things are, God hath promised to blesse that house, Town, Cittie or Cuntry.

It can hardly be spoken and much hardlyer written how greatly and how mightily this procureth and aduaunceth Learning, Godlynes and Vertue, how much it furthereth the desire of contemplation and godly exercises of the minde, against which there is no Impediment nor hinderaunce so great as either the destitution or want of a competent liuing and maintenaunce, orels the dayly feare to de supplanted or disapointed therof, and consequently the thoughts and cares either to prouide for a competent liuing orels to maintaine and defend the same against the dayly Allarmes and assault [...] of the Couetous and the vngodly against which the benigni­tie [Page] and goodnes of Owners and Land lords is the greatest yea the only protection. These are the effects and frutes of these purchases alleadged by you to be made by y^e gains, fees and reuenues aforesaid which doo far differ from the common purchasing of other priuate persons by whōe (through your Ignoraūce orels of malice) you doo Iudge and measure these which are in nothing like nor comparable, as the effects and frutes therof will euidently declare, namely in the purchase of the Merchant, the Chapm ā, the Grasier, the Clothier and such other like Artificer whatsoeuer, at y^e hands of all which persons no such thing is hoped or looked for. First for y^e they doo not sustain any such charge of expectation, neither is any reason that they should, except a Shoomaker bying an Oxe hide for thrée shillings & fourepēce, might sel shooes for twen­tie shillings a paire: for that would alter the case. Therfore as his calling is base and mean: so is his Iudgement as touching Vertue and the Felicitie and end of mans life, which hée Iudgeth to consist in getting and hauing, for that hée séeeth men accounted and estéemed therafter, and other or farther. Contemplation hath hée very little or none. So that in his Oppinion hée spéedeth his matters wunderful wel if hée re­turn his Chaffer to his gain, & the more and greater so much the better, be it land or lease of Farme or house, if he can sel it again for double or treble that it cost him or let it for thrée times the rent that hée payeth him self for it. All this hée ac­counteth honest gain and very wisely handled, so that when hée hath any thing to let or set vp goeth the Drum & as wel­come to him the Deuil of hel, yea Belzabub him self as the Godlyest person in England, yea as an Aungel of heauen, for godlynes, vertue or honestie is the last question that hée wil aske, onely Quid vultis mihi dare? Thus is the godly per­son sure to be put back orels to take the thing to his vtter de­triment, so that vpon the matter no question or difference whither of them spéed, for the euil man is made a great deale wurse, namely for that the greatnes of his rent stoppeth the mouth of him whose rebuke hée should moste feare & whome hée would and should moste reuerence and regarde, and ther­fore wil hée be as wicked and as vngratious and corrupt as [Page] many others as hée can and dare for feare of the lawes. The godly person although hée gladly would doo good: yet wanteth hée power therto being ouer set with the greatnes of his rēt, so that in conclusion whether the good or euil may spéed: they are forced to deale hardly with the world wherby aryseth little or no amitie, fréendship or charitable looue among men but euen all for the peny as among meer Straungers nor a­ny zeale vnto God nor to doo any good for his sake.

By all these Arguments, it appéereth manifestly how much it were to be wished and desired at the hands of Almightie God, that only or chéefly such were purchasers & Land lords whose very estates and callings and the manner of the get­ting of their gains wherwith they purchase doo charge them with a reuerend and fatherly regarde in letting and setting the same to the honor and glory of God who hath so mightily blessed them, yea so far abooue all that they euer could with out shame haue wished or desired, so heaping hot coles vpon their heds in their vnthankfulnes and dealing otherwise, which (as I haue alredy said) is not or at y^e least not so great­ly to bée hoped or looked for at their hands of bace and mean calling. And therfore Neighbour Pierce (quoth hée) admit­ting and confessing the greatnes of their purchase: yet can yée not conclude against mée the proper or priuate receit or im­ploying of Charges, Fées & reuenues aforesaid neither will I graunt it vnto you, for the slaunderous and shamefull consequence which it inferreth necessaryly as hath already béen duly prooued.

NEighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) yée haue made as your self dooth suppose many strong reasōs & conclusiōs to aprooue y^e first asessing and y^e now receiuig of eight pence or twelue pence for a shéet of paper, and other excessiue and vnreasonable Fées and charges of sutes as not only tollerable, iust and reasonable: but also godly and moste conducible vnto the common welth, and to the pros­perous and good estate therof, namely for that these Fées & charges were ment and yet are the punishment of vice and the rewarde of godlynes & vertne. And also y^e they were & yet are ment a publike treasure in the hands of the Receiuers therof, to all godly vses, intents and purposes.

Wherunto I answered, alleadging the grrat purchase of Lands and Lordships by the Receiuers of the same as a thig repugnant and contrary to your Assertion, wherunto you haue replied that their great purchase is not only contrary to your first Assertion but a confirmation of the same.

For you say that their purchase of lands is a prouision w^t out comparison more assured and permanent then were or could haue béen the distribution of the money or any parte therof from hand to hand, and also that the effects and frute [...] therof are moe and greater and doo stretch farther and more generally and vniuersally doo procure the honor and glory of God, and the publique welth, peace and quietnes.

To prooue that these things are so: you haue alleadged the honorable calling of the Magistrate and Officer, and y^e great expectation that hée susteineth bothe before God and Men, & also the reuerend oppinion y^e wée are bound to haue of him.

Yée haue also alleadged that the first causes of all these gre­at gains and proffits are such as of dutie hée is bound to per­secute and not to prosecute, namely for that they are vngod­lynes, wickednes and all kinde of vice, by the gain wherof (say you) no honest nor godly person can without great shāe thriue and wax rich, much lesse the Magistrate and Officer vpon whose great expectation héerin you doo so greatly insist.

Truely Neighbour (quoth hée) all these are goodly and al­so godly reasons and doo very wel prooue how things either [Page] haue béen orels how things ought to be.

But that they are so presently: these are either no prooues at all or very small and so your argument gathered and con­cluded from posse to esse as I haue said already, and as I wil further prooue by Arguments gathered from the cause vnto the effect and from the effect vnto the cause euen the very same that you haue alleadged, tying them togither in the same maner and fourme as your self haue alleadged them.

First you say that the originall cause of these grreat gains, Fées and reuenues was the hate that the first Assessors ther­of bare vnto vngodlynes, wickednes and all kinde of vice, the fauour and good affection which they bare vnto Vertue, and godlynes, and therin they ment the punishment of the one and the preferment and aduauncment of the other, and so you conclude lewdnes, vnthriftines and vngodlynes to haue béen and yet stil to be the first cause of these great gains, Fées and reuenues, and these great Fées and reuenues their effect, the effect of these fées, proffits and reuenues yée haue alleadged or rather I my self haue alleadged, and you haue confessed and iustified to be the great perquisition and pur­chase of Lordships, lands and possessions by the Magistrates and Officers Receiuors of the same.

The effect of their great purchase is by you aleadged to be a prouision, a stay of liuing and patrymony for the Godly and honest People of the common welth, and for their assu­raunce, peace and quietnes. The effect of so good a prouision for the Godly: you haue alleadged to be the increase of them, and the decrease of the wicked, vnthriftie and vngodly, the effect of the increase of godly people you haue alleadged to be mutuall looue & charitie and all good affection bothe towards God and also one to an other, the effect wherof you haue al­leadged to be the manifolde blessings of God according to the saying of the Prophet in the hundred thrée & thirtie Psalme.

Thus haue you argued from the first causes producing their effects, and from those effects as from causes of their e­ffects very orderly and very probablie but not necessarilye as I haue alreadye alleadged, and as I dout not héerafter [Page] I shall prooue vnto you so directly and so euidently that you shall either confesse your owne prooues fallible and falls: or­els you must and shal say that causes produce no effects orels clean contrary effects, which is to reuerse and to ouerthrow the order of Nature and all the law and rule of reason as to say there can be a Father or a Mother without a Sonne or a Daughter or that betwéen a man or a woman there should be begotten a dogge or a cat. And for proof héerof I wil allea­dge bothe reason as strong as you haue alleaged any: and also myne owne experience which I my self haue déerly bought and paid for. I pray you Neighbour let mée hear that (quoth our Hoast.)

AT my béeing in London this last terme (quoth Pierce) it fortuned one after noone hauing lit­tle or nothing to doo, as God knoweth what I­dlenes and vngodlynes commeth of our idle wayting and attending vpon our dayes of hea­ring as they tearm them, when in the mean time wée run vp and down in the stréets, and if happily wée méet with any Fréend or acquantaunce it is holden great humanitie to off­er him the curtesie of Londō, which is as much to say to haue him to the Tauern & there to sit bibbing vntil neither of thē can scant finde the way foorth again. So as I was about to tel you, one day amongst all others wee met a company of Neighbours and Fréends togither in Poules six in number all Cuntrie men and Neighbours, saue one that was a Lon­doner a Neighbour borne of ours, who was our Leader to many a good place dout you not, so on Gods name néeds wée must to the Tauern, and so wée went to the Tauern, there fast by, wherby that time wée cāe foorth again: our heds were better laden with heare then with Wit, so on Gods name [Page] when our heds were wel fraughted: wée must néeds go to see some pleasures of the Cittie that were straunge and noueltie vnto vs of the Cuntrie, and so on Gods name wée went into a dauncing Schoole not very far thence, now was there one man of our Company that was as deaf as a doore naile.

¶ When wée weare come into the Schoole: the Musitions were playing and one dauncing of a Galiard, and euen at our entring hée was beginning a trick as I remember of six­téens or seuentéens, I doo not very wel remēber but wunder­fully hée leaped, flung and took on, which the deaf man be­holding, and not hearing any noyse of the Musick, thought verily that hée had béen stark mad and out of his wit, and of pure pittie and compassion ran to him and caught him in his armes and held him hard and fast. The Dauncer not know­ing his good meaning and taking it to the wurst, and hauing a Dagger drew it out and smot the man a great blowe vpon the hed, and brake his hed very sore.

The man sore mooued and gréeued therwithall, and bée­ing a man of great strength: threw him from him with all his strength among the Musitiōs, and bée lighting vpon one of the greatest and fairest Vialles, brake it all in péeces.

Therwithall vp start the Musitions for him and wée for to help the other béeing our Fréends and Neighbours, and then went out Daggers, vp went Pantotles, all the rest of the In­struments in the the throng w [...]re all to trodden and broken, and but that Neighbours hearing the noise & bustling came in and parted vs: surely some of vs had béen in grea daunger to haue béen slain.

I lost my Cloke and had my hed broken and so had thrée of my Neighbours moe, and hardly the Musitions and their part takers went not scotfrée. But shortly to end & come to my purpose: you shall heare what followed.

First and formoste wée were all arrested and committed to Prison for a fraie and bloodshed, where I think you may make no question if it cost vs any thing before wée gat out a­gain. But hauing paid our Fées there, and thinking veri­ly that the wurst had béen past: euen at our comming foorth from thence wée were all newly arrested by latitates and re­mained [Page] vntil wée had put in Suretiee to appéere at the day of the return of the writ in the Kingsbench. So wée laid our purses togither and went to a woorshipful and learned Law­yer that had béen of our councel aforetime, and shewed him the declarations that were against vs, wherof the first was at the sute of the Owner of the scoole, wherin hée alleadged that with force and armes wée had entred into his house and beaten, wounded and euil intreated his Seruants, by reasō wherof hée had lost their seruice by the space of right dayes, to his hinderaunce and damage sixpound, and also then and there thrée Instruments of Musick commonly called Vialls did spoile and break to his losse and hinderaunce sixpound.

Besides this, euery of his Seruants the parties thēselues seuearlly declared against vs all iointly of an assault and bat­tery made vpon them, and that wée had beaten, wounded & euil intreated them to their seuerall damages fortipence, the Dauncer himself declared seuerally against the deaf man for assaults and battery, vpon all which matters wée prayed his councel and aduise, his answere was shortly y^e in his opini­on the law was against vs in all & euery of our cases wher­of hée gaue vs the causes & reasōs as I shall reherse vnto you.

To the first point of the first delaration for forcible entrye wée praied his reason, how or by what reason our entrie mi­ght be said forciblo séeing the doores were open, and if they had béen shut our cōming in was but to hear & sée, & our mea­ning not hurtful to any man. His answere therunto was that a mans meaning that commeth into my house shalbe cō ­strued and taken to haue béen such from the beginning as is his act there doon after he is entred, for y^e shalbe taken for his meaning & the declaratiō therof, namely where hée entreth w^tout speciall cōmaundemēt or licēce of the party, & because (saith hée) that after your entry into y^• house yée did there cō ­mit a force & an vnlawful act: therfore your first entry & com­ming into the house shalbe déemed & iudged vnlawful & forcible. Then wée asked how or by what reason our act could be said vnlawful which was but y^• taking of a man in his arme [...] of very goodwill to stay him thinking that he had béen mad & out of his wit and might haue mischeiued him self. His aun­swers [Page] therunto was that therin the act was not lawful nor iusticiable but a Trespassers although no farther harme had ensued therupon, which yet (by your confession) there did, for to speak generally: it is not lawful to imbrace or strain any man against his wil, for if him list to take it to the wurst (es­pecially if there ensue any euil vnto the partie therby) it shal not help the party to say that hée ment him good or at y^• least no euil therby, for although that in felony the intent doo qua­lifie the fact it is not so in Trespassers wherfore your act was not lawful nor Iusticiable except yée had béen Officers or o­therwise y^e yée had come in & found thē dooing some felonious or vnlawful act, by means wherof yée had had sufficiēt coul­lour to haue laid yourhāds vpon thē, for euery man is an O­fficer for peace sake & for the preseruaciō therof, & then (quoth hée) your case had béen otherwise, vnto this wée aunswered that our act in all reason séemed more lawful and tollerable then theirs, for that in their exercise there is little good pur­pose or none at all, nor better end or purpose then to induc [...] such euil and vnhappy euents and consequents as hapned in this case of ours, and that therfore their cause ought not to haue fauour against vs as if wée had hindred or interrupted their honest or lawful exercise in any godlynes or in any thig tending vnto vertue, to the glory of God or to the proffit of the common welth. His aunswere vnto that was that we are not to dispute of that which the reuerend and honorable Magistrates haue established yea & holden in no small repu­tatiō, it falleth for y^• Magistrates, Rulers & Officers to beare with them in all incidents & casualties otherwise should they disalowe their owne Acts and be contrary vnto them selues, which were inconuenient. Then wée demannded of him why for the first Viall that was broken: the Maister should not bring the action against the Dauncer who in very déed was the breaker therof, and not the other man. His aunswer therunto was that in very déed wée were bothe Trespassers vnto him alike, & he at his libertie & election to take his re­medy aginst vs bothe or against any of vs for (quoth hée) al­though y^e daūser were y^e materiall cause yet was y^• other man y^• efficiēt cause therof, asfor proof, if a carter wilfully driue his cart ouer [Page] a man, woman or Childe, bothe the cart, the horses, and the Carter are guiltie of the fact wherof the deaf man is not excusable neither can plead not guiltie to the fact, be­cause hée was the first and chéef efficient cause, therupon wée mooued vnto him this question, why the Musitions them selues should not be said to be the first efficient cause séeing y^t without their noise the Daūcer would not so haue fared nor taken on, neither the deaf man haue taken him for a madde man, as bothe you and wée would haue doon if wée had béen in his case, and had heard no more then hée heard.

Vnto that his answere was, that whatsoeuer it séemed vnto him or vnto vs, it is (quoth hée) at your peril, and at all mens perils els that resorte & haunt to such places to put on all our Sences, wits and vnderstandings, and also to desire God to giue them wisdome and his grace to Iudge wisely & wel to digest such things as they heare and sée therin, and y^e wée be not snared in euil thorugh ignorant appetite of our sences vnto our hinderaunces more then wée our selues are able of our selues to Iudge or think, for (saith hée) séeing wée are not able, neither is our authoritie to blame or cha­lenge the places; neither to disalowe the things there pro­fessed, which were to derogate from the Magistrate.

Yet if wée haue so much grace of God as to be Magistrates vnto our selues and in such cases to blame and reprooue our selues, and our owne sences, and inordinat desires, either in due time before wée are fallen, orels in some reasonable time, and with our reasonable losse and hinderaunce it may suffice for answere vnto vs by them vnto whome otherwise wée must créep and pray our redresse neither able to craue it at their hands without an inconuenience aforesaid, which is condemn and disalowe the things by them selues allowed and established.

Wée asked him what reason there was that wée should be charged in seuerall actions and vnto seuerall Persons, for one trespasse, as namely vnto the Maister and also to the ser­uants. His answere thervnto was that the Maister hath a speciall interest in his seruant for y^e proffit hée is to receiue by his seruice for which seruice hée is to recouer & not for the [Page] hurt doon vnto the person for the partie him self recouereth for that. To be short, his resolution was that for all our ha­rmes and losse that wée had gotten: wée weare so far from all hope of redresse or amends, that wée were in the wurse case in our defēce against thē & very like to yéeld amends by iudge­ment of law. And thus you sée (quoth Pierce) how poore guilt­lesse & simple men in a far honester cause are put to y^e wurser end. Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoast) as for y^e, be as bée may. But truely Neighbour you had but euil successe in go­ing to sée pleasure and to heare Musick, and yet trust mée if yée wil, I suppose y^e you sped a great deale better then a nū ­ber spéed in such like places, who think neuerthelesse them selues to haue sped there wel, and come away right wel con­tented, which in very déed is the only cause why in my fan­tasie they spéed wurse then you, for why you are hurt and féel it, but they are hurt but haue no féeling therof vntil their hurt be past all cure, for a man is neuer so daungerously sick or sore as when hée hath lost the sence and féeling of the sore or of the sicknes. So fareth it in such persons as these, for al­though they féel no euil that they contract, and yet in such places, yet doo they carry thence with them the séeds and ra­dicall causes of great Infortunes as the woful and lamenta­ble end of many a good mans Childe hath witnessed dayly, dooth & wil. But truely Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoast) you are waxen more then half a Lawyer by these meanes.

Nay soft (quoth Pierce) I haue an other matter to tel you and that almoste as straunge as this, and that chaunced to my self in a mischaunce about a foure yéeres past, I pray yée let vs heare it quoth our Hoast, marry quoth Pierce, thus it hapned, A Fréend of mine would néeds giue mée my din­ner at an Ordinary table where wée fared very daintily, but I promise you for myne owne parte I haue thought my self better at ease many a time & oft with bread & chéese in other Company. So Sir in the name of God when dinner was doon: in stéed of grace to y^e dice they went on euery side vpon proper square tables fit I warrāt you for y^e purpose, & there to the hazard they go xx. s. xl, s. v. l. vi. l. a cast, I stood by and beheld. Anon there came a Straunger a plain homely fe­lowe of the Cuntrye much like my self and hée séeing such [Page] sums of money vpon the boorde, and the dice trotting to & fro, and that now one snatched a heap and now another snatch­ed an heap, and ther withall such deuout swearing, hée came is mée and rowning mée in the eare, asked mée whose weare all those heaps of money that weare laid foorth, mary (quoth I) his that can get them, get them (quoth hée) how? Marry (quoth I) by hazard, say you so (quoth hée) claime they no farther propertie in their money but by hazard whether them selues shall haue their money or an other man? no veri­ly (quoth I.) What are those white things full of black spots that are so chaced to and fro? Those (quoth I) are called dice vpon whome standeth the hazard, & ther withall my Fréend and I hauing dined and dispatched: went our way foorth to­ward the Temple, and before wée had gon so farre as a man might shoot a Bird bolte: there arose an outery behinde vs, stop the théef, stop the théef, and ther withall I looked behinde mée: and loe the fellowe of whome I tolde you, came running with bothe his hands ful of money and after him ran the ru­ler of the Ordinary and thrée or foure of his seruants as fast as euer they could run with hue & cry, wée turned not back neither made vs to doo therin. So they followed him vntill they came as farre as Saint Dunstanes Church, and there the fellowe béeing out of breath, turned again and catching y^• Maister of the dicing house in his armes: cryed I haue him I haue him, this is y^• théef (quoth hée) Now was y^e thrōg so gre­at that a man could not know which was which vntil at the last the Officers came and took them bothe and knowing the Maister of the dicing house: asked him what the matter was.

Mary (quoth hée) this Villain Théef hath robbed diuers Men of Woorship my Guests of great summes of money and I haue followed him for hée ded vpon the selony. And there-hée had sp [...]ed mée in the Cōpany & bad thē lay holde vpon mée for this knaue (quoth hée) gaue him y^e coūcel & is as false théef as hée: There was no more to say, I was & laid holde vpō ap­prehended, and bothe hée and I caried before a Iusticer of pe­ace the Fellowe and I, my Fréend would not leaue mée but went with mée to sée and heare the end. So Sir, when wée were come before the Iusticer: hée laid fore to the Fellowes [Page] charge that hée had broken his house forciblie and burglarlie and had feloniously robbed foure Gentlemen of woorship his Guests of diuers summes of money feloniously and against the Quéens lawes and peace. Sirra (quoth the Iustice) what saist thou to this? Sir quoth the fellowe I beséech you to slād my good Fréend and Maister and let mée haue but law & rea­son at your hands, I trust it appéereth vnto your discretion (quoth hée) that this matter alleadged against mée is not su­fficient to put mée to answere therunto. First for the for­cible entrie into his house and burglarye supposed: I say his house was open, and daily is and to long hath béen and vnto to many if it pleased God and the Magistrate such as your Woorship is, for I vndertake hée that hath any thing to lose and cast away: néed neither break doore nor wall to leaue it behinde him there, and somuch for mine answere vnto that part. As to the money supposed to be stolne: hée declareth no certaintie therof, neither conueieth to him self any property therin, and so no felony of y^e thing wherto no man claimeth propertie, very true it is (quoth hée) that I came into his house and séeing a company standing about a square Table & diuers greet heaps of money laid foorth therupō: I asked this honest man that was a stander by meaning (mée) what was ment therby, and also by two white square things full of black spots that were chased to and fro vpon the boord, hée answered mée that they were playing at the dice, for that is quoth hée the name of those square bones, and said farther y^e the name of their game was hazard. When, I had heard him say so: I considered with my self that there might be good to be doon for mée among them, for hauing wel marked their order: I found them the moste indifferent People to gain by that euer I met withall in my life, for I perceiued that hée that laide the money downe: the rest meant that hée sho­uld neuer take it vp again, and for his part hée ment aswell vnto them and that all this stood in the fauour of hazard, and so often time it chaunced accordingly, to wit that the box bée­ing the third persō: caught a share and by no other nor better title then mée thought my self to haue, for mée thought I was as indifferent to euery of them as was the box or as any of [Page] them was to osver, for I verily thought and yet doo that if neither of them euer fingered that laid down either had his de­sire against other, moreouer quoth hée, when I beheld such lewde and shameful mispending of y^e time, such horrible swea­ring and blaspheming & knew not where neither vnto whōe to complain for reformation therof & thought in Conscience I ought not to suffer it as farfoorth as were in my might, & I saw no way so likely to redresse it as to take away y^e cause which I perceiued was the money: I thought that bothe by law and good Consciēce I might doo it and ought also, and in this deliberation I awaited my time and snatched vp al that I could lay holde vpon and came my way, wherupon I pray your discretion and whether this be fellony wherin there is title or at y^e least cullour of title. A Sirra quoth the Iusticer, you are a cūning théef indéed, it is time to look to such knaues as you are. Sir quoth the poore fellowe, I beséech you be good to me, I am a poore man and I trust, sauing against them y^e lost the money the money is mine against all men and as vn­to thē whē they demaūd me: let me answere. And as touch­ing that honest man quoth hée, by me, I neuer delt with him nor neuer saw him before, to be short the Fellowe was com­mitted to Newgate, and I was fain to finde suretie by recog­nisaunce to appéer at the next sessions there to make answer to such mater as should then and there be laid to my charge, and that cost mée fiue shillings and this was all that I got by hauing my dinner giuen mée.

And what said your Lawyer to you for this said our Hoast, what comfort dooth hée giue you of a mends against the par­tie that thus misused you, truely (quoth Pierce) hée vtterly discourageth mée to stur or meddle farther therin, and all vp­on the same reasons that hée made before orels the very like in effect, Truely Neighbour quoth our Hoast, that Lawyer was no Counceller neither for your purpose and much lesse for his owne. Why so Neighbour (quoth Pierce?) marry quoth our Hoast, for there is no courage in him, neither hath he y^e way to help him self, & to keep you in dooīg, in y^• he giueth such coūcel to peace & quietnes, vnto such fellowes as you y^e would gladly cut hi out woork if him self were not his owne hinderāce. Nay surely Neighbour ꝙ Pierce, what councel [Page] soeuer he had giuen me therin, or what councel he or any o­ther of them all shall héerafter giue me in such matters: I am taught alredy though to my cost, while I liue to looue peare & ensue it, & to looue mine owne house, my honest labour & tra­uel and chéefly & abooue all other things to serue God, wherin I finde the only stay and comfort of mans life to rest, & that when all is sought and tried: there is none other rule ne le­uel wel and surely to guyde & order our affaires & dooings.

AHa, very wel said then (quoth our Hoste) I am glad that yet at the last ye are come to y^• point whereunto I haue all this while laboured to bring you, which is to cōfesse that these great and excessiue charges and expences haue refor­med and changed you from an vngodly & troublesome man: to a godly, wise and prudent man, able to giue councell not only priuatly and to your owne fréends and family: but also to beare office and authoritie in your Parish, yea in y^• whole Shire where we bothe dwel, so that I hope from hencefoorth we shall haue great store of you, and that of the greatnes of such fées and charges of sutes in Law, and of the first Asse­ssors and the now receiuers therof ye are vtterly concluded & estopped to speak or think saue in all honor & reuerence, Doo you think so Neighbour (quoth he?) Yea verily quothe he, for you haue confessed all this your reformation & amendmēt to haue comen thence, & look what effect it hath wrought in you: ye are of charitie bound to think that it hath wrought, woorketh & wil woork in a number moe then you, & the mo­ny that you haue or rather think that haue departed frō: is in their hands who are treasurers therof, as I haue alleaged towards the good and godly vses, intents & purposes y^e may or shall arise héerafter in cōmon benefit, to wit, seruice of the whole common welth, wherin your parte is as far foorth as theirs. Doo ye call this a mending Neighbour Simon quoth Peirce? In very déed quoth he, I must néeds confesse, that these great and excessiue Charges and large Expences haue [Page] rebuked me, haue chastised and amended me, but to say that I think or iudge it thank woorthy vnto them that haue re­ceiued my money: I say the Deuill kisse his arse that so a­mendeth me or any fréend of mine, for verily such amend­ing in my iudgement, deserueth asmuch and the very like thanks as did the Wife, who gaue her husband two strong poysons, meaning to spéed him in déed, but the poysons bée­ing of contrary natures: wrought one vppon an other, and destroyed either others force, wherby the man béeing hard­ly handled for a season, yet béeing driuen into a lax by their extremetie: auoyded them bothe and with them much cor­ruption, so that where before he was a very corrupt body: he was by their clensings the better xx. yéeres after. Thus she did him good by accident, but far from her intent or pur­pose, and vtterly against her will. And surely they that take so excessiuely of me and of others our money, & by that kinds of punishment amend and refourme vs: I holde them woor­thy as much thank therfore as was this Wife at her hus­bands hand for his amendment which was wrought by her meane. For I dare safely vndertake, that for our affliction and punishment, or for the dishonor of God and other vn­godlines that dependeth therupon: they are as sorowfull as was the parish Clark of a Town that was sore visited with the Plague, who said vnto his wife vpon a day. Wife (quoth he) if there come two corpses to day: we will haue a shoul­der of Mutton and a quart of Sack to supper, & if there come but one: we will haue a shoulder of Mutton and but a pinte of Sack. Content husband (quoth she). And veryly I think that as hartily as this good man & his Wife prayed for their recouery that were visited: so hartily pray these for peace, quietnes and the honor and seruice of God, and the Godly & charitable dealing and liuing of their Neighbours and Bre­theren.

NEighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoste) I pray you let me further vnderstand what yée doo meane by this History, for it should séeme y^• ye haue alleadged it against me, not with standing that it maketh for me by the wun­derfull effect which you your self are forced to confesse, that it hath wrought vpon you. I knowe what I haue confessed Neighbour (quoth Pierce) and also in what maner I haue confessed it, far enough from your purpose or any confirmation therof. And where in maintenance of these great fées and reuenues you haue alleaged that they are pub­lique, & also how many and how good and godly are the'ffects and frutes therof: without proofe made of them or of any one of them, either by your owne experience or by other necessa­ry demonstration. There in proofe of the contrary to wit, y^• they are proper and priuate, and therfore excessiue and vn­reasonable which is my assertion, I haue brought you this proofe of mine owne experience, wherby I haue sufficiently shewed that the first causes of all these great gaines and pro­fits are prosecuted as I haue affirmed and not persecuted as you pretend. For I haue partely shewed you héere what leaue & libertie the cōmon people namely youth hath to followe their owne lust and desire, in all want [...]nnes and dissolution of life. For further proofe wherof: I call to witnesse the The­aters, Courtaines, Heauing houses, Kissing boothes, Bow­ling alleyes and such places where the time is so shamefully mispent, namely the Sabaoth dayes vnto the great dishonor of God, and the corruption and vtter destruction of youth. All which (I say) are either the causes or the effects of these great gaynes and reuenues, or els bothe causes and effects interchaungeably. For I dare vndertake that if either these gaynes and profits were publique as you pretend, or els if there were as great gayn and profit to the Magistrates and Officers, in the godly liues and honest conuersation of the common people as there is in the cōtrary: these harbours of vngodlines & misnurture, would haue lesse fauour and main­tenaunce then they haue, and godlines, Sobrietie and mode­stie [Page] of liues & maners: would be in greater estimation then they are, and the honor and glory of God more aduaunced therby. But alas that the honor and glory of God and the vaine glory, pomp and maiestie of man cannot stand togi­ther, & that one of them must néeds fall in the others exalta­tion, for certainly the more libertie vnto wickednes & sinne, and the more falling from God through the same: and the more humbly complainings vnto your good Lordships, and vnto your good Woorships. The more Recognances for the peace and good a bearing, aswell by the Godly as by the vn­godly, the one inuading and the other defending: the more praying, paying, waiting, attending, dowking, crowding, & courtesying, procuring of fréendship by meanes, bribing of his flatterer, & bribing of her flatterer, this driueth y^e great welth and abundance into fewe mens hands. For where the vngodly through misgouerment is fallen into daunger of the Law, what will he not giue to redéeme his life or his infa­mye? yea euen vnto them who were the first causes and oc­casions of his fall into such folly and mischaunce through li­bertie and not restraint of the contempt of God, his Lawes, and seruice, which he will not fayle to measure and fully to reward vnto all libertines, contemners and despisers of his maiestie and will, giuen then ouer into a reprobate minde, from vice vnto vice, vntill he hath fully brought him to na­ught. So dangerous and fearful a thing is libertie and not restraint of y^e beginning of euill, which although they appéer not such at the first: yet when they are come to their ripenes and haue brought foorth their increase to wit, Fellonyes, Thefts, Man slaughter, Murder and such like: there is not so ignorant a person that will not say, the man or woman was neuer like to come to better end, namely for his euil and dissolute life in the beginning.

This libertie is in the hands of Magistrates and Officers to bid or to forbid, euen after as they will prefer the honor and glory of God, or els their owne welth, pomp and vayn­glory. And therfore how hartily were it to be desired at the hands of GOD, that such as are Magistrates and Officers: [Page] should not be couetuoꝰ, orels such as are couetoꝰ should not be Magistrates, for héerof lethro did warne Moyses in y^• xviy. of Exodus, talking w^t him cōcerning y^e electiō & choise of Magi­strates & Officers, & bad him choose such as hated couetise, & spake of no other vice. The cause wherof is apparant, to wit least y^e wickednes & vngodlynes of y^e people came to be valua­ble let and set, rēted & farmed, bought & solde, for what other thing is valuing, letting & setting, rēting, buying & selling of offices whose value is more or lesse accordīg to y^e state of the people & their dishonournig of God therby. And where you maintain these great gains by their godly & woorthy effects, y^e first wherof you alleadge to be their great purchase of Lord­ships, Lands & possessiōs & the effect therof you alleadge to be a prouisiō & patrimony for y^e good & godly, the effect wherof yée say is y^e increase of them, & the decrease of y^e cōtrary, the effect wherof you say is godlynes, vnanimitie, looue, charitie & be­nignitie one towards an other. And last of all y^• effect therof be the manifolde graces & blessings of God, promised by God in y^e Psalmes to the house, town, Cittie or Cūtrie where these things are. From y^e first cause to his effect I graūt your argumēt, y^e these great gains are cause of great purchase, but frō y^• purchase to his effects yée shew not how it is: but how it ought to be, for in stéed of y^e effects wherof you haue spokē, I sée ma­ny gay houses ful of gay chineis, costly bāquetig houses, Gal­leryes, bowling Alleis, straunge toies of point deuise & woork­manship, but within I finde no man dwellig saue Pride, who hath chased thēce hospitalitie & charitie, & as for other prefer­mēt y^e the godly haue at their hād [...] in any of their purchases: I sée none but euen who will giue moste, & can make migh­tiest fréends, & who those are in our daies: y^e vngodly, vnfaith­ful & vncharitable dealing so vniuersally, doo plainly declare.

The people so euil giuē bothe yung & olde, so vngodly in li­uing so vnciuil, yea so rude & barbaroꝰ in manners, wherin me thinketh they haue preuailed & increased more & more all after as these office? haue waxē more gaīful & y^e desire to haue thē greater. And therfore your distincton betwéen the in pur­chase & y^e Merchāt, Chapmā, & other cōmon persons whatso­euer (sauing his probabilitie) vain & ridiculoꝰ to y^• purpose.

Therfore Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) your reasōs are weak, and to maintaine the greatnes of their fées vna­ble. Abide Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste, giue me leaue to answere you vnto these matters, and first because that in very déed probable reason giueth place to necessary proof and demonstration, wherin ye suppose that ye haue gon beyond me, because that against my bare and naked reasons as you terme them, ye haue alleaged authoritie, and that of your owne experience: I will answere you with the like, & that of mine owne experience also, and more direct vnto my mat­ter then any of yours, which are indéed indirect and stand in different, and I will prooue that the Magistrate and Officer in the beginning was and yet is such as I haue alleaged, and also the first assessing of the said fées and reuenues, and their great vtilitie and necessitie, namely for the vses, intents and purposes aforesaid. For proofe wherof I will rehearse vnto you a matter which I my self did bothe heare and sée.

ABout two yéeres agon it was my fortu­ne to be beyond London in Kent, at the house of a woorshipfull Officer towards the Law, who not past a Moneth before my comming thither: had purchased a Lordship, wherin were diuers good Far­mes, & their leases to expire at Michel­mas then to come twelue Moneths. It came to passe one day of my béeing there: thither came a rich man dwelling not very far thence, whose sute was to this Gentleman to take one of his said Farmes in reuertion, and comming to him thus he began. Sir quoth he, I vnderstand ye haue bought such a Lordship, God giue ye ioy therof. Ve­ry true it is (ꝙ he.) Sir quoth this rich man, I pray you let me be your tenaunt of such a Farm, giuing more then any o­ [...]her man wil giue for a fine. The rent of the Farm was v. [...]

What wil ye giue me for a lease for xxi. yéeres quoth this Gentleman? Sir quoth he, I wil giue ye an C. l. & vnto our Mistresse a Veluet gown, & xx. Angels to buy her pinnes be­sides. You haue bidden like a chapman said the Gentleman, giue me leaue to be aduised vnto Munday next said he, and then I shall giue you an answere héerin, so causing him to tary dinner he let him depart, and this was vpon a Thursday.

The next day béeing Friday: this Gentleman sent for the Farmer of the same péece of land, who came thither, & with him thrée hansome young men his sonnes. So when he was by the Landlords commaundement brought before him: he asked him of what age he was. He answered lxxv. yéeres. He asked him how long he had dwelled in that Farm. He answe­red that he had dwelt there all his life for he was borne in it and his father before him. You knowe quoth the Gentleman that I am now become your Landlord. I knowe it very wel quoth he, and I beséech you of your fauour. What will you giue for a new lease of xxi yéeres quoth the Gentleman? for you knowe your olde lease is néer an end. Sir quoth y^• poore man, let me giue you reason, only that I may be able to dooe my Prince and your woorship seruice, & to reléeue my poore neighbours as hitherto I haue doone, and haue béene wel a­ble. Very wel quoth the Gentleman, be héere againe vppon Munday next and then ye shall vnderstand more. The poore man (his duty doon) departed. The next Munday béeīg Mū ­day next before Bartholmew day: the poore Man was come again, and brought with him a couple of fat Capōs, & about an houre or twaine after came this Churle very wel moun­ted his Gelding not déere of x. I. and behinde him was truss­ed a fat Buck, which he presented vnto the Gentleman by one of his seruants. To be short: he was willed to come in to the M. into a close little Parlor, whither were called also this olde Farmer & I my self, whom it pleased him to vouch safe all courtesie and humanitie bothe in this and also in o­ther matters, so that only wée foure were there, sauing a young man attendant vpon his person. This doon: the Gen­tleman began, fréend quoth he, what accusatiō doo you bring [Page] against this poore man pointing him to the Farmer. Sir ꝙ. be none, I doo not knowe the man. No quoth the Gentlemā? except ye can accuse him of euil: ye haue alredy condemned your self therof, & would doo me. Why so Sir quoth he? Ma­ry Sir quoth the Gentleman, for he cannot be guiltlesse of e­uill: that séeketh the destructiō and death of a guiltlesse man.

Sir quoth the fellowe, ye charge me wrongfully, I neuer sought any mans death. Sir quoth the Gentleman, he that seeketh to take away the sustenaunce of a mans life, y^• man say I, séeketh his death, & that by so much a more cruel mean as it is a more cruell and fearfull death to starue of hunger or colde: then it is to be quickly and readily dispatched and murthered, and so soone rid out of payne. Ye haue quoth he, desired to take this poore mans Farm from him, béeing his only stay, and haue so bidden for it: that I know he may not liue but in extreme misery if he take it at your hands. Sir ꝙ. be, yée are the first great purchaser y^• euer I heard of this opinion. I haue six Farmes quoth he, takē all after this ma­ner at their hands that doo think them selues bothe wise and woorshipfull, yet was there neuer put vnto me such a prob­lem as this by any of them, yet drink I a C. l. a yéer by them abooue all charges. Fréend quoth y^• Gentleman, other mens dooing are no president vnto me, further then they stand w^t my dutie vnto God, and with the discharging of my calling, for he hath bidden vs by his prophet to stand vp and enquire after the olde wayes, and if they be good: then to goe in them or els not, which béeing spoken generally vnto all estates: how much more vnto them of my calling, and therfore ad­mitting that such hard & extreme dealing might stand w^t the dutie of euery priuat person, either vnto God or vnto their Countrye & common Welth, or els with their owne assura­unce which I vtterly deny, yet could it not stand with my du­tie, nor of any man of my calling. First for the priuat person, & to prooue that such extrēe dealing standeth not with his du­tie towards God, all his cōmandemēts doo manifestly prooue wherin be so straightly cōmandeth vnto vs charitie, looue & [...]enignitie one towards an other, w^tout the which a mā dare [Page] not say that he looueth God whōe he neuer saw, neither that he hath any faith, now what looue or charitie is there in him that letteth vnto his Neighbour a lease of hunger, want & all misery & calamitie, & so molesteth y^e man, which God forbad to doo vnto the Dxe? The next, to wit, it standeth not w^t his dutie to the common welth, the very woord common welth, dooth sufficiently showe, for if a man liue in the cōmō welth: he must haue some of the ioyes & frutes therof, or els it is to him no common welth, namely traueling & labouring fore therin, neither will be that a man bear any good wil toward that common welth wherin the ioyes & sorowes, welth and woe are so vnequally deuided, & this standeth not with the assurance of the common welth, which increaseth by the vni­tie, looue & concord, & falleth & decayeth by their contraryes.

These the two first béeing prooued, it resteth me to prooue y^• such extreme taking & exacting standeth all with thassurance of the very partie him self in euery priuat mans case, & this séemeth straunger & harder to prooue: then the residue hath béene, but it is not so, namely vnto him that goeth with the Prophet Dauid into the house of God & there inquireth ther­of, for there he shall plainly vnderstand that all is not cléerly gotten that is put into the purse, for I my self haue knowen a number quoth he, that haue raised iitj. times double y^• reue­nues that their ancesters liued welthily & woorshipfully vpō, yea & before their death would fayne haue solde land if they had had any.

The cause wherof is for that God who is not present nor called to councell in such extreme taking: wil neuer be pre­sent nor giue councel or aduise in the bestowing & spending of the same, either to his honor & glory: or els to their owne benefit, but giueth them ouer to delight in vile and vayne pleasures, and to be gainfull and beneficiall vnto the Mini­sters of voluptuousnes and sensualitie and flatterers, whose fréendship endeth when the tap leaueth running, and when a mans owne liuing is gon and spent: there is nothing to be had at their hands but a mock or a flout.

But the Landlord that dealeth wel with his tenant hath of him an assured and vnfained Fréend, and that is prooued by the very duties and seruices which by our ancient lawes are incident vnto tenures. For what Fréend or what Ser­uant shall a man finde that wil so abace him self as (knéeling vpon his knées, his hed vncouered, his waste vngirded, (hol­ding his hands ioynt betwéen the hands of his fréend or Mai­ster) wil say I become your man and faith wil beare you, sauing the faith which I owe vnto God and to my Prince. All which the homager dooth vnto his Lord, what may not a man hope at his hands that is thus allied vnto him, this al­so is farther veryfied by the said honorable and anciēt Lawe of this Land which dooth giue vnto the Lord a writ of aid Pour file marier aid pour fair son fitz Cheualier. and doo binde the Tenaunt to serue his Landlord in the warres either in his person or by sufficient Deputie. In all which things the Law hath an honorable consideration to deliuer the Landlord from careful and heathenish desire, and care to gather for the preferment of his Children, béeing already a­ssured where to leaue the same and neither charged with the gathering in or with the daungerous kéeping therof, either from the Théef or from his owne misgouernment or intem­peraunce of life in apparail or in diet, which are moste per­rillous théeues. Also for the seruice of his Prince and his owne defence. It is not to tel what a masse of treasure is spent vpon how few men that are but hirelings and come but for their hire for the which they euer think they doo to much and are alwaies ready to finde occasion of quarrel bea­ring (as I haue said) no looue to the man nor seruing there­fore but for the hire.

But of the Tenaunt it is and hath béen wel prooued to be other wise and that in many a famous and memorable Iour­ney happily atchieued by our Auncestors to their great com­mendation. Shortly this fréendship dyeth not, but with the parties, except it be through the Landlords great default ei­ther selling the land and ther withall his déerest and moste a­ssured Fréends, orels by extream couetise and crueltie tak­ing from him all mean to liue able to be a Fréend.

Bothe which things are now of late yéeres waxen to com­mon, the more pittis. Thus it appéereth quoth hée, that such hard and extreame dealing standeth not with the dutie of a­ny priuate person either toward God and his cōmon welth, nor with his owne assuraunce and countenaūce. Now much lesse with our duties which excelleth theirs as far as heauen excelleth the earth, namely towardes God and our Country before whome wée sustain so great an expectation of godlines vertue and all benignitie, so largely and so liberally rewar­ded vnto a desire of priuate gaine and lucre from the begin­ning, which desire would like wise detect vs of all impietie of percialitie and fauour vnto all vngodlynes & wickednes, béeing the first causes of all our great gaine where through wée become Purchasers.

And therwithall he made an end and putting his hand in to his pocket: hee drew foorth two Déeds indented, and causing his Clark to read the one parte which was a lease for one and twentie yéeres after the olde rent, he sealed & sub­scribed it, and in [...] our presence deliuered it as his déed vnto the olde Farmer. The rich Fellow beholding this, took him to be very glad and praysed God therfore, so great & reuerēd is the mistery of godlynes (as saith Saint Paule) that euen they who in their déeds and woorks haue denyed the power therof, yet are they touched with remorce to reuerence it in others and to haue their déeds in admiration.

This matter thus ended the rich Fellowe tooke his leaue and the next day I my self hauing ended my busines came a way also. A A A A A A Amen quoth Pierce Plowman.

What meane you by such a very long Amen Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast? Beati qui audiunt. quoth Pierce, what mean you Neighbour quoth our Hoast? Nam miranda canunt quoth Pierce, I trow the man doteth quoth our host, Nay Neighbour quoth Pierce I am affraid least you doate your self, why? quoth our Hoast, dooth this matter séeme so straunge and maruelous vnto you? I will tell you another matter which is as true as this and of myne owne exerience also. I pray you let mée heare Neighbour quoth Pierce.

IT fortuned an other time I was in Rent al­so at the house of an other great and rich O­fficer towardes the Lawe, where I had oc­casion to soiourn certain dayes, during whi­ch time there came thether a yung Gentle man to offer his Land to sel, and made an o­ffer therof, vnto this man in my presence, vnto whome this Woorshipful Lawyer spake in this maner.

Wherfore will you sel your Lands (quoth hée) béeing an auncient possession and a fair liuing? Sir (quoth this yung man) I am fallen into great det comming to my Lands be­fore I was wise, and haue morgaged my Land for two hun­dred pound, which except I come with in these ten dayes: I vtterly lose my Land.

You haue brought your self into great extremitie (quoth this Gentle man) how be it, to sel your Land: mée think a ve­ry hard remedie therof, and great pittie if any other way mi­ght be taken, for hée that selleth away his Land: selleth a­way his best and moste assured Fréend. Besides that to sel a­way namely his auncient Patrimony and which hée neuer bought: is bothe shameful and slaunderous as to haue dishe­rited & destroyed his name, house & familie, which is an odi­ous thing & the thing which the good Naboth the Iesraelite de­nyed euen vnto the King of Israel, for when Achab demaun­ded of him his Vinyard for as much as it was woorth, God forbid said the poore man that I should sel thée my Fathers Inheritaunce, béeing yet but a poore Vinyard: yet did hée de­fend it to the losse of his life. Wée may read in the olde Te­stament how greatly God himself fauoured the maintenāce and preseruatiō of Inheritaunce & possession in their Tribes houses, names & families. For hée commaunded by Moyses [Page] expresly that if any man solde his Inheritaunce béeing Land or house: it should return vnto him again in the yéere of Iubi­le which was euery fiftie yéeres. Also that Women vnto whōe Lands and Inheritaunce were deuolute in default of heires males should not marry into any other Tribe. Wher­fore (ꝙ hée) I wish you to haue a great regarde in departing from your Inheritaunce so great a blessing of God, for it is a great infamie & reproche to be said, an vnthrift and y^e first de­caier of a house & famely whether it were greater or smaller.

Alas Sir (quoth this yung man) I am in greater distresse yée knowe these Merchaunts of London are harde dealcts with whome there is no mercie but for ready paiment, wel quoth the Gentleman, I will doo thus much for you, I my self wil lend you an hundred pound which you shall repay by fourtie pound a yéere, and that I suppose you may easely doo ordering your self wisely, take that quoth hee & offer it to the Merchaūt if happily he may be intreated to giue you a yéer or twain for the rest vpon reasonable consideratiō, y^e yung man gaue him hartie thanks, y^e money was fetched down, coūted & deliuered & y^e assuraūce made accordīgly, which béeing doon: y^• yungmā took his leaue & hartily desired me (although a méer straūger vnto him, (yet because I was present & a witnes of so great curtesie & humanitie) to go with him to London vn­to this Merchants house, which I also was content to doo, and hauing dispatched the occasion of my there béeing, and hauing like wise taken my leaue: to London wée came and to to the Merchants house wée went, when wée came before this Merchaunt the yung Gentleman began to intreat him as fair as hée could & telling him of this good & godly Lawyer and of his great compassion, his good councell and perswasi­on: desired him to accept this C. I. in part of payment, & to giue him a yéere or twaine for payment of the rest. This Merchant hauing heard all the matter: now GOD forbid (quoth he) that euer a Lawyer should heap coales vpon Mer­chants head, or that a Merchant should not be as willing and as ready to doo a godly déed as a Lawyer, hauing receiued at the hands of God the like habilitie therto. And there withall hauing receiued the C. l. he tooke his owne bond for the rest [Page] to be paid by x. l. a yéere, his first pay to begin after the Gen­tlemans C. l. ful paid, and deliuered vnto him all his Inden­tures and other assurances of the Mortgage, and making vs great chéere he let vs depart. Now when I would haue ta­ken my leaue of this young Gentleman: I could by no mea­nes forbid him to bring me on my way hitherward, as farre as Ware xx. miles on this side London, where he paid all my charges for that night, and the next day we tooke leaue eche of other and departed either of vs toward his owne. Thus ye sée how frutefull was the good & gratious déed of one man, and how it prouoked the zeale of an other to doo the like.

A A A A A A A Amen (quoth Pierce.) Well quoth our Hoste, because you doo so hardly receiue my proofes: I will bring you more store of them, and such as I am ready to ve­rifye against whom soeuer will deny their trueth.

I Was (quoth he) in Buckingham Shire not very long sithence, at the house of rich Offi­cer toward the Law whom I could name if néed required, who during the time of my bée­ing there, made vnto all his Tenants leases of their Farmes, wherof I my self am wit­nes, present at their Sealing and deliuerye. The leases are for li. yéeres from the day of the date therof, the rent refer­ued as followeth. Yéelding and paying vnto the said Leassor and his heires yéerely during so many of the said li. yéeres as thinheritaunce shall remaine in him or them, not solde, ex­chaunged, mortgaged, forsaited, leased in reuertion or other­wise estraunged v. l. currant money of England, and yéeld­ing and paying from and immediatly after any such act doone by him or them or any of them v. s̄ yéerly of like currant mo­ny, and so after the rate of other rents were they greater or [Page] smaller. Prouided allwayes, that the tenaunt shall not sell­set nor let their said Farme or any percel therof, without the assent and licence of the said Leassor or his heires, of which reseruation I asked him a reason, whereunto his answere was this. Sée (quoth he) how hard a matter it is for young Gentlemen vnto whō it falleth by the grace and gift of God to be Landlords and owners, wisely to order & gouern either their possessions, lands and reuenues or them selues. I know also (quoth he) that in the wisdome, prudency and good go­uernment of such: standeth the happy and prosperous estate of a common welth, and her misery in the contrary, and therfore in my iudgement ought all men generally to wish, yea and to endeuour that the greatest lands and possessions may be in their hands who bothe can and will order and dispose the same to the honor and glory of God, and to the profit of y^e common welth, wherin me thinketh sauing reformation, the to often and to common translation of possession, is not the least matter nor last to be considered, as well for the causes therof which are euill: as also for the effects thereof which are wurse. The causes that make men to sell their patrimo­nyes and to spoile their inheritance, who knoweth not to be these, riot, game, whordome, delight in all vngodly pleasures and pastime of sensualitie, shortly the not fearing ef God, nor seruing him, and the not caring to knowe his will and com­mandements, nor to liue therafter, these are the causes. The effects are these, first the spoyle of the land and the making it barren and bare of all the commodities therof, secondly the dislodging and disapointing of the honest Farmers and good house kéepers, for their sakes that will bid more then they, without any other respect, and those are commonly the wic­ked and vngodly, and from thence ariseth infinit sutes and controuersies, maintenaunces, champerties and such like.

This causeth lands often to chaunge their tenaunts and inhabitants, and by that meanes breacheth & dissolueth one of the greatest and surest bonds of looue and fréendship that is or euer was, namely, coeducation, conuersation and acquain­taunce, which hatcheth, nourisheth and confirmeth looue and [Page] fréendship, not only betwéene men: but euen betwéene the brute and vnreasonable beasts, who hauing béene [...]tered long togither in one place, will not only looue and defend one an other: but also euen the very place wherin they were bred and nourished, and they will very hardly be sundred or dri­uen there from. And this is the very law of kinde, which can not effectually woork among neighbours, of whom some are dayly or yéerly flitting and giuing place vnto new, namely such as will bid more the which commonly are the wurser sorte as hath béene already alleaged. These are two effects. The third is the sinceritie of Iustice & also of discipline, bothe which it greatly hazardeth, namely for y^• buyers and sellers are Corelatiues, and that the one cannot be without the o­ther, and for that also the causes of selling & spoyling of pa­trimonies are such as I haue alredy declared. These things are right perillous in a common welth, and yet doo almoste necessarily followe the to often and common translation of possession and inheritaunce, namely where it is by peny purchase, against the which neuerthelesse it is meruelous hard to foresée and to prouide, I meane for heires and inheritors of Lordships, lands and possessions to continue in the same, béeing things that so many desire to haue, yea often times such as haue in their hands the bridle of libertie, or restraint of good and euill, and of the liues and manners of men, for what is there in all this earth so much desired as houses, landes, Lordships and possessions, and to commaund ouer peo­ple? What els is the end of all so many and so great trauels, watch, studie, so many and so great hazards by Sea & land, so many shifts, sleights, deceite and oppressions, of all which this world hath béene, is & euer wil be full, against all which who so will holde a thing of so great value: he must be well prouided and of great defence, and hath néed to haue in him self the strength, wisdome, councell and iudgement of many, and so much the rather by how much his possession is y^e greater, & that for two causes. First for that in his errour of life, fall and misgouernment: lyeth the fall, ruin and decay of a number, what of his owne blood, what of his tenaunts, faith [Page] full fréends and seruants, Secondly for that his estate is subiect vnto many enemyes, of whom the greatest & moste dan­gerous is the flatterer the olde enemye of all man kinde, as the story of our father Adam and mother Eue and the Ser­pent dooth well declare. This mooued Iuno as Ouid fableth to commit Io her Cow vnto Argus to kéep, which Argus had an hundred eyes in his head, and therfore much a dooe had Mercury to deceiue him with all his swéet songs & Musick, for when he had brought one of his eyes a sléep, yea diuers of them, yet waked diuers others and stood vpon their ward, and whether his face or his back were toward Io: yet he all way behéeld her.

ANd surely in mine oppinion this mooued the wise and honorable fathers and Magistrates of olde time to incorporat so great liuings and possessions, and also to erect and establish in Lordships so many coppy holdes and custum­mary tenures, as the moste souereign remedy against pride and surcuydrie, which commonly accompanieth the priuate, singuler & sole proprietie, in lād, possession, office or any other thing whatsoeuer, & also a way and meane to furnish the common welth with many bothe able to deserue wel and to doo good also glad and willing therto, vnto the which pride is ei­ther the only lot and impediment: or els of all other the grea­test as he vpon whō flatterie attendeth, yea and in such sorte that he leadeth him by the nose vp and down the house, ma­king him to beléeue of him self any thing, causing him also to delight no while in any one thing, whether it be apparail or the fashion therof, place, person, dyet, fréend, seruaunt, Te­naunt or other thing whatsoeuer, and this as dayly experi­ence [Page] teacheth, is the high and ready way to the Vsurers house, and from thence to the Extorcioner, who dwelleth hard by, of which twain by that time he hath takē foorth his lesson kindely: I dare be his suretie he will not be hasty to doo good to any good body, neither if he would shall he haue wherwith all, for either shall he haue no lands lest him at all: or if he haue any, he shall be glad to let thē déerer then y^e any honest man shall doo good thereon, so that in conclusion, bothe the Landlord and the Tenaunt shalbe miserable.

The cause héerof is Pride moste and chéefly, as I haue said, and often times youth, good nature, or peraduenture excesse of Pleasure and Sensuall delights, where through young Gentlemen are often snared through euill company, béeing ouertaken sometime by giuing their woord, sometime through bribe of a little present mony, sometime by one de­ceit, sometime by an other, wherin men are soone pampred, uamely such as are of small experience and iudgement, and knowe not the false lures of the wicked and vngodly, aga­inst all which these Corporations and customes are of great force and a great defence, for in bothe these cases: hardly can they be assaulted, much lesse inuaded by any of the enemies aforesaid.

First for that a corporation is neuer vnder age, as for example, Maior and Comminaltie, Deane and Chapter, Wardens and Fellowes and such like, whose succession is by election, their proprietie is ioint and in common, neither can one dooe any thing without the rest, and therfore to flatter any one of them vaine, and to flatter them all very hard, namely mens Natures, Wit, Iudgements and Affections béeing diuers, and euery man willing to maintaine and prefer his owne oppinion or his fréends. Pride atteinteth them not, for who is proud, or at the least so proud of any thing, wherein a number hath to commaund as much as he, and without whō he can doo nothing, then béeing armed against Pride the Father of necessitie and néed: they are better fréely to afforde their good woord or déed, and therfore in vayne were it to bribe them.

But admit that any of them would be bribed, it were also in vain and would procure the euel wil of all the rest with­out bribing them all which were heauie and harde to doo.

So that in any competition made vnto such persons against any olde Fréend, Tenaunt, Officer or seruaunt: it is verie harde to preuaile except it be through his owne great misbe­hauiour. And where it is betwéen méere Sraungers one of them against an other, there the best and moste woorthie is sure to spéed, for certainly and infallibly there is nothing in all this world so amiable, so belooued and fauoured as hone­stie, vertue and godlynes are. Where priuate flatterie or briberie stand not in their light, as in the case of priuate O­wners and proprietaries: I haue alleadged that it both may and often dooth. And thus much of the Corporatiōs & of their effects. Now to speake of y^e customes of Manours the very sāe or like in effect may be said, for y^e Inheritour of customary Land although hée be seased therof to him and to his heires: yet can hée not sel it without licence of the Lord and that so­lemnly graunted by his Steward in open Court and there entred, nay hée cannot set or let the same or otherwise impaire the wood or other commodities therof without the licence a­forelaid.

So great an entresse and commaundement hath y^e Lord, therin and yet not to the hinderaunce or preiudice of y^e Inheritaunce but econtra, namely that the selling, setting or o­ther gouernment of such a royall possessiō as land is: should stand in y^e Iudgemēt & discretiō of diuers, & those of y^e ripest & best aduised, and not to be solde, wasted or spoiled through the intemperaunce of one foolish or vngodly man or woman ei­ther for néed or necessitie or other wise for flatery or other fōd or foolish affection what soeuer, wherin the Lord and his lerned Stuard and the homagers of the Court are Iudges. In all which cases it may euidently appéer how great a care those honourable and reuerend Forefathers had to enact and establish the greatest possessions in the hands of such as were not like to misregarde so great and high a blessing of GOD, the effects and frutes wherof haue béen many and great as from time to time proof hath verified and yet dooth, for it hath [Page] alwaies béen accoūted & yet is a right happy thing to be tenaūt or Farmer to a corporation or enioy any commoditie vnder them. For woorshipful & honorable haue alwaies béen their d [...]aling in ordering and gouernment of their Lands, liuingꝭ and poss [...]ssions, and of their Tenaunts and Farmers of the same. But chéefly and abooue all others to be Tenaunt vn­to the Prince, who indeed is a Corporation, for from the Prince there can passe nothing but by writing vnder seale, neither dooth or can w^tout the conseut of diuers of the moste honorable and best aduised. These (quoth hée) are the cau­ses and the reasons that haue mooued mée to make these lea­sses, and therin these reseruations which vnto you doo séeme so very straunge. For I suppose this to be a strong meane to vnite the Landlord and his tenaunt togither, and to coun­terballaunce the one of them against the other in fourme of a corporation, orels as néer vnto the Nature therof as I could deuise. For by this meanes, if my heires or any of thē chaūce at any time héerafter to prooue vnthriftie: his vnthrif­tines shall not be so gainful vnto any man y^• in hope to pur­chase his lands would therfore strengthen his hands therein and by these meanes I haue left them mo Frends and fewer Flaterers. For hée that shall by his Lands without the con­sent of the Farmer: hée shall for the time make as good a purchase as dooth hée that purchaseth of a Woman her Husbāds lands while hée is [...]et aliue, or as hée that goeth to the Poultrie and buying there a Capon for two shillings putteth him into his bag, and when he commeth home he findeth there nothing but a Capons leg, for in this case of mine: the buyer buyeth lesse then the Seller selleth by xix. parts, which me think should kéep them from agréement vpon the price whi­lest either of them would fain make the best bargain for him self, as the maner of all chapmen is. And for which reason Iesus Sirach saith of them, that sinne sticketh betwéene the bier & the seller as fast as dooth a naile stick betwéen two sto­nes in a wall.

This way haue I thought to be stronger and better assu­red then any entaile generall or speciall, bothe which priuat [...]ouetise hath found a way to destroy to the disherison of ma­ny [Page] a good kindred and to the great decay of vertue and godly­nes, and héerin (quoth hée) I haue doon my heires no wrong, for vpon this rent I haue liued content & doo, & if they prooue honest and vertuous: so may they doo, and then I haue left them inough, and if they prooue otherwise: then haue I left to much and yet to little to serue them also.

Moreouer (quoth hée) I haue héer by prouided against the malice of such tenaunts as abuse the liberalitie of good Land­lords setting and letting ouer vnto the third and fourth hand racking and enhaunsing the things vnto excessiue and vnreasonable, rents and such as the Landlord him self would ne­uer haue doon for pure shame and pittie, which neuerthe­lesse béeing raysed to his hand by others: is a perrillous pre­sident vnto him at his return vnto the possession therof.

Thus you haue heard (quoth our Hoast) what a godly and Fatherly care this good and vertuous Magistrate had to preferre the hononur and glory of God and also the common welth of his Cuntrie and People, whereby it may appéere how hartilye to be desired is the purchase of such Personnes whose riches is the Treasurie and Storehouse of the com­mon welth, aswel for the sustenaunce of the same concer­ning worldly and bodily prouision of transitorie things: as also for the furtheraunce and increase of Vertue, Godlynes and Pietie, Looue and Concorde.

Hoe (quoth Pierce) lay a strawe there for Gods sake, marry Sir héer is stuffe indéed (quoth hée) héer hath béen a long discourse indéed, and euen as true as all the rest, with that I enterrupted their talke and spake vnto him.

FAther Pierce (quoth I) these matters are not so straūge nor so incridible as you weene, for proof wherof I wil (if it please you to giue me leaue) reherse a thing which Imy self did see and that no longer a go then Easter Tearme last. It fortuned that I went into a Lawyers Chamber in Sergeants Inne with a Fréend of mine who was Plaintiffe in a Repleuin in Bedfordshire, & béeing come into this Law yers Chamber and hauing staied there awhile about our bu­sines: there came in an ancient Gentleman of the Cuntrie, whome I know very wel by sight and haue doon long, whōe when the Maister had espied comming vp euen at the top of the staires: hée spake to him as followeth. I knowe wherfore you come, go down again to my man and bid him come vp to mée, which the Gentleman did, his Seruant béeing come: hée took foorth of his Cubbord (which was vnder the square table that stood before him) a bagge wherin was ten pound and deliuering it vnto his man bad him go down and pay it vnto the Gentleman, and if any of the golde lack weight chaunge it for him. The seruant went down and did accordingly. I thought verily it had béen the rent of some house or land that he had holden of him. But euen while I was in this thought: the Gentleman comming vp again gaue him humble & har­tie thanks and that in the name and behalfe of a whole Cun­trie yea of diners Shires. Wherupon I takeing occasion to enquire farther of the matter: vnderstood that he gaue that ten pound fréely towards the erecting & building of a bridge, and that such charitable déeds as this are no new things vn­to him. I sooner wil beléeue this (quoth Pierce) béeing of a man learned in the lawes and whome Vertue and Learning haue preferred, then of the others that fishen for Offices w^t the golden hook and neuer wist what learning ment.

WIth that our Hoast took holde again, saying y^• hée had yet one other matter to tel, and ther­with hée would conclude. I was another time (quoth hée) at the house of an other rich Officer toward the Law, who dwelleth in Kent also and is a man of great welth, and one time of my béeing at his house as (I thank him) I haue béen very many times. There were two of his Tenaunts come to take new leases of their Farmes the lands béeing of equall rent & value, but yet the Farmers not equall in welth: the one hauing béen blessed (as it should séeme) abooue y^• other, for the one of them was very welthie and vpheld his Tena­ment in very good repair & offered the Lord at the first woord fortie pound for a fine for one and twentie yéeres. The o­ther was poore and yet his Tenament in decay, neither was hée able to giue fiue pounds for a fine, wherof the Landlord hauing challenged him and warning him to looke to it theraf­ter: willed the other to lay down his fourtie pounds, which hée did without delay. The Gentleman when hée had coun­ted it: put it into a bagge and fréely gaue it vnto the poor man, with these woords, (One of you beare an others burdē) wher with the other was so farre from béeing all content, that hée humblie praised God, and gaue the Gentleman right hartie thanks therfore: and so hée sent them away bothe very well contented. Since which time I heare of the poor man that hée is growen to great welth and of such benignitie and hos­pitalitie as are not many Owners or Landlords dwelling néer him. Thus (quoth our Hoast) I haue confirmed my first Assertion and haue sufficiently auoided your reasons and ex­amples alleadged in disproof of the same, and these haue I doon by Example and demonstrations bothe moe in number then yours are: and also more euident, apt and proper vnto y^• purpose. That is not so Neighbour (quoth Pierce) for ad­mitting that your Examples were all or any of them true, which for the moste parte I wil not graunt, yet are they perticuler and cannot make any generall Couclusion, besides y^• you tender mee an issue vpon two affirmatiues which is a­gainst the grounds of law as I haue learned by mine owne [Page] experience deerly bought. For I have alleadged against you the generall Corruption of liues and manners beeing the e­ffect of libertie vnto excesse and dissolution which I also haue alleadged & prooued to be an effect of priuate desire to pouch, to purchase and to wax rich, from all which causes & effects conuertly my Argument is nescessary and infallible & ther­fore béeing alleadged affirmatiuely it demaundeth a direct & generall trauerse to the effects, which effects béeing not dis­prooued: y^• causes therof cannot be denyed, against all which matters you haue answered in the affirmatiue also, allead­ging the examples of some good men, which whether they be true or not, I doo not greatly force without a generall denyal of that which I haue alleadged, although that for euery ex­ample alleadged you had brought fiftéen, and so is my first Assertion maintained and standeth fast, and yours vtterly disprooued.

BY this time it was waxen euen dark night & our Hoast speaking vnto Pierce said vnto him Neighbour Pierce (quoth hée) wée haue rea­soned so very long to and fro that the night is stolen vpon vs, and the purpose of your comming hither vtterly forgotten through our earnest disputation in these matters.

Truely Neighbour (ꝙ Pierce) I cannot think this time ill spent, I would I had neuer spent time wurse if it had plea­sen God, and therfore quoth he, if it please you to lend me this v. l. I will be gon home, for I knowe the way at mid­night. Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoste) your v. l. is re­dy, and ye shall haue it with you but not to night, for hence shall ye not depart before to morowe God willing, and namely for this straungers sake, whom I wil desire you to accompany for this night, for in his countrye I haue receiued ma­ny [Page] folde humanitie, as partly ye haue heard, and therfore I gladly would doo him some héere to my power, and therefore this night or a conuenient part therof we will indeuour our selues to spend togither in honest mirth and exersises. And therwithall I spake, and giuing our Hoste harty thanks: desired Pierce that it might so ve. Who at my request did soone condiscend, and was very well contented therwithall.

Then quoth I, seeing that we haue so well spent the fore part of the night wherin I my self haue doon nothing but harkened: let vs agrée vpon some meane to passe the time with all after supper vntill bed time, no wurse then we haue doon the time before.

Now verely Gentleman (quoth our Hoste) and that is very well spoken, I beshrewe him that disagréeeth therunto, if it be my self. Amen quoth Pierce Plowman if it be I. Very well then quoth I, this is my order if it may please you. Af­ter Supper euery man shall put his question and tel his tale in order, & by course wherunto eche of the others shall speak to wit vnto the question shall giue an aunswere of dissolutiō of the saying and vnto the tal [...] shall shew their good or il like­ing, and hée that telleth the best and wisest tale to wit of highest and best sentence and putteth the sharpest and wisest que­stion moste tending to vertue and edyfying of the hearers or giues the wisest and best solution: hée shall haue his breakfast héer to morrow at the charges of the other twain. Content with all my hart quoth our Hoast. Content quoth Pierce Plowman. But to whose Iudgemēt shall wée stand heerin ꝙ hée? Truely ꝙ I, euen to the doome of our Hostesse if it please her to take it vpon her, whervpon shée béeing called very willingly vndertook it, so was the matter fully agréeed and our hands giuen theruppon. And then was the table couered for supper & (our Hoast hauing him self first giuen thāks to God) to supper wée went where wée fared right wel & were mery, and when wée had supped: the Cloth béeing remooued, and thanks likewise giuen. After wée had sitten stil and reposed our selues a little while: I my self began as followeth.