❧ Lawes, Pains, and Penalties, set downe by Alexander Seuerus, to punish Offenders against the Weale-publique.

In primis For that the Tauarnes, Di­cing-houses, & the Stewes,Tauernes stewes anb dicing houses were y^e Nurses of all vices, and the Sanctuaries of vicious persons, he suppres­sed all such, as were of euyll fame: saying▪ That, if the Owners could not liue, but vpon th [...]ndoynge of others, it were reason, they should starue, by the necessytie of their idle bryngyng vp.

¶Item: He cōmaūded that in the Tauarns,Open bothes in Tauernes. there should be no other, thē open Boothes, y^t the Censors, might see the behauiors & cōditions of y^e people that haunted them.

¶Item: He cōmaunded, that no Gentleman,Gentlemen, for bidden, Tauernes Ro­mayne, should resorte to any of these Houses, vppon paine, to lose the name of a Gentleman.

¶Item: He cōmaunded, that no Senator, should haue more then fower Disshes at his Dinner▪ Glottony and Dronke­nes nor Gentleman, or Citizyn, more then three: And that, the Cōmon people, should feed (onely) of one Dish, of fish or flesh: saying, that Glotonie and Drunkenesse, not (onely) consumed the wealth of the Weale pu­blique, but also, the health of the people.

Limitation▪ of Apparell¶Item: He cōmaūded y^t no Gentlemā, Romain, shuld haue more then three Sutes of Apparel: one, for Ordinarie dayes: one other for Festiuall tymes: and the thyrd, for the entertainmēt of Ambassadors: alleadging, that all these were necessary, & what so euer was more, was superfluous. This Lawe was also set downe by Philip le Bel, to reforme the pride of Fraunce, and by Fardinando, King of Arra­on, to husbandry the smal pentions of the Knightes of the Lande, which order he hym selfe erected.

Dyce made bond slaues¶Item He enacted, if any Gentleman Romane, or Citizin [...]ome, by playing at Dice, haūting of Tauarns, or any other vnthrifrie exercise, had cōsu­med his patrimonie & substance, & was indebted more thē he was able to satisfie: that thē, it shuld be lawfull for the Creditor, to take the parte offēding, & to hold him as his bōd-slaue, so long as the seruice & labour of his body were thought sufficient for his debt. Were this a lawe in England, I feare mee, at this present, we shuld haue more Gentlemen bond-men, then Ye men trust [...]e [...].

Lymitation but vsurie¶Item, For that Vsury was the decay of a huge nūber, he enacted, y^t no Vserer, shuld take (after the cōputation of their money, more then y^e allowance, of .iii.li, i. s. for a. C. ii, for a yeare. And y^t he which refused to deliuer his monie at this rate, shuld from thēcefoorth, be held vnworthie y^e name of a Romain, or to take any benefit by the Weale-publique. But shuld, by y^e Cehso [...]s, be departed of y^e name of a Citi­zin, &, for euer, after [...]huld be [...] on the cryme of Ingratitude.

¶Item, From hence forth,Mony lent to dice players without hope to be reco­uered. no necessitie be con­sidered in them that consume their substaunce, in Dice playing, outragious expences or lechery: who so euer lendeth to them, let it be at his peril & with­out hope of remedie. But vnto him whom peruerse fortune, long sickenesse, seruice, frendeship, theeues,Assinement of Creditors for distressed persones. or oppressors haue brought vnto pouertie: If any such come vnto the Prouost of the Citie, and declare his necessitie, and whereof it proceeded, vppon the oath of one Sēator, and two honest Cōmoners, that his words are true, y^e Prouost shal assigne one rich man of the Citie to lend him a po [...]n of mony, ta­king assuraunce for the payment thereof, for the gayne before limited.

¶Item, He enacted, that if any Citizin of Rome, were found idle, by the space of one whole day, vn­lesse,Idle persons set a worke vpon a Festiuall. Day, hauyng no lawful nor approoued excuse: that then, he should be first whip­ped, and after, by the Conseruators, he should be set to the trade that he was of, and for euery day, that he was openly seene, to be idle, the person, to whom he was committed, for one month, should set him to what labour he pleased, as his slaue or bond-man, giuyng him, meat and drinke, onely.

¶Item: He commaunded,For Corrup-of victuales that the Controw­lers of the Markettes, should be honest men, and not coueitous: and (for the auoydyng of the Infec­tion) that they should diligently forsee, that the Vic­tualles, which were sould, should be sweete and hol­some for to be eaten.

Late sappors,¶Item: To auoide cause of Infection, and horrible Diseases, he prohibited Ingurgitations, Bankets, late Suppers and longe.

[...]aysome occupations.¶Item: He cōmaūded, that men of corrupt and noysome Occupations, should dwell out of the com­mon passage of the people: And that the streetes of the Cities, should be kepte very cleanly and sweete.

Sweete keep­ing of baynes¶Item, He cōmaunded that the Baynes, by dis­creete keepers, should be kept very neate and sweet, that neither the eye nor Nose, shuld find any thyng vnpleasant or noysome. By which cleanlinesse, Rome was preserued from sundry sicknesses which (vndoubtedly) do grow of corrupt exhalations, ven­ting out of mennes bodies.

Hospitals for poore people▪¶Item, Of his own charge, he builded three Hos­pitalles, to relieue the Aged, blind, decreaped, and other poore people, infected w^t vncureable Diseases

Cure for de­seased Vaca­bondes.¶Item: He commaunded, that vnto a nomber of yong diseased vacabunds, there shuld be ministred, a thin Diet, an excessiue labor, and cleanly lodging: saying that the contrarie, were the causes of their Diseases, and, therfore, this the most hopefull Medicine, to recouer their health.

Prouision of Corne,¶Item: He commaunded, that all the Forfay­tures which were leuied, vpon the Gooddes of Of­fenders against the Lawe, should be imployed vp­pon Corne for the prouision of the poore.

¶Item: He commaunded, that no man should weare in his Apparayle, no maner of Stuffe,A lawe for The setting of Poore people a worke. other then was made within the Cittie of Rome.

The lyke Statute was established in all the Cyt­ties of Italye: by meanes wherof, Rome and all the other Cyties were stoared of good Workemen, and the poore people, no excuse for Idlenes.

¶Item: He commaunded,Vitayling and bordell-houses that in vittailing and Bordel-houses, the Doores should not be open from the Sun-settyng vntyll the Sun-risyng: by which Pollycie, the Conseruators knewe, what manner of people repayred vnto them.

¶Item: Euery Cittizyn, was straightly forbid­den, to eate or drinke in any Tauerne,Cyttizyns for bydden. Tauernes. or vittayling House: whiche Houses, were (only) tollerated, for the intertainment of Straungers, which repayred vn­to the Cyttie about lawfull businesse,

¶Item: He cōmaunded, that all corrupt and de­ceitfull Bargayners,Corrupt and deceatfull Bargayners. Punished as Petty theaues should bee punished with the Whyp, as Theeues, that stole priuylie, without any violence: affyrming, that it was but a fantasie, and a laughyng-matter, to make a difference, betweene stealyng and deceitfull bargayninge. But, were this a Lawe with vs, we shuld haue more weeping in London, then laughynge in three of the greatest Shiers of Englande.

¶Item: He commaunded:vnequall comparysons that if any bace con­dicioned person, by the presumption of welth, should [Page] make any sawcie comparison with any Gentlemā Romayne: immediatly, the said Franklyne, should become the Gentlemans Bondslaue, with whome he compared, vntil the said Franklyn, had made the Gentleman his superiour, aswell in wealth, as dig­nytie: And this Lawe hindered many quarrelles, which (otherwise) would haue growen of vnequall comparysons.

Playes abo­lyshed Item: He commaunded, that the Playes, called Florales and Luberalos, and the beastly Ceremonies of Isis, shuld be banished and abolished, as the most venymous Alectiues and styrrers of Lecherie,

¶Item: He ordayned, y^t if any man were founde playing at the Dice,Diceplayers. he shuld be taken, for a frantick or a natural foole, which could not gouerne himselfe and his gooddes and lande, should be committed to sage and discreete Gouernours, vntyll he were a­gaine enabled by the Senate.

Vnto these Lavves, vvas added this Confyrmation.

¶These Lawes, decreed by the Senate, enacted by the people, comfirmed by the imperiall Maiestie, be (for euer) established: and (neuer) by anye other Lawe, Custome or Ordinance, be abolyshed. And who, that with violence, resisteth against them, let him be taken for a Rebell and Ennemie vnto the Weale-publique.

Of the great VVisdome of ALEXANDER, in electyng of Graue Counsellers, Officers, and Admy­nistrators of Iustice.

THE Noble and vertuous Emperour (prudently) forsawe, that the se­uerest lawes, were (without ex­ecution) but like vnto painted Fire, which giueth no heat: or (as the Phylosopher, Cleanthes sayth:) Lyke vnto Cobwebs, through which, the Hornets breake when the small Flies are intangled. And (truely) without due Administration, law is like to a Back­swoorde, the edge wherof, smiteth the poore, and the blunt backe, the higher powers. But to auoyd this parcialytie: the good Alexander, made choyce of such worthy Maiestrates, as (playnly) refuted this Ma­xime of Aristotle.

None of these Affections, could (neyther) blinde their eyes, nor binde their handes: They measured Iustice, neither by the mightinesse nor meanenesse of the Person, but by the equitie of the cause: and it stoode them in hande, to deale thus vprightly: for if any corruption were founde in their Iudgements, the Emperour himselfe, did (seuere) Iustice vppon the vniust Maiestrate, that abused his Auctorytie, [Page] and iniured the people: let Vetronius Turinus; be ex­ample, for many.

This Turinus, was a man of much Honour, great learning and wisdome: and for many vertues, was of the Emperour (singularly) fauoured: but, abusing the Emperour and his own good fortune, vnder co­lour of often and familiar conference w^t Alexander, he receiued many Brybes to obtaine great sutes, a­boue his power to compasse: whiche beyng prooued agaynst him, the Emperours sentence was: That in the Market place, he should bee bownde vnto a Stake, and with a Smoake of greene Stickes and wette Stubble, should be smoothred to death: And duryng the tyme of his Execution, he commaunded a Beadell to crye: ‘With Fume let him die, that Fumes hath sould.’

Thus, no knowen Offender, escaped the venge­ance of his seuerytie: and (which won him as much loue, as his Iustice did feare,) he incouraged & com­forted good & vertuous men, with many great gifts and fauours.

¶ That Rome might prosper, by the confusion of vice:Conseruators and their chardge. First, he ordayned (accordyng to the counsell of PLATO,) three-score graue persons, which were named, CONSERVATORS of the Weale-publique: Education of children. for euery Tribe had two: Roome beynge deuided into thirtie Tribes: whose Office, was (chiefly) to see, that the children of the Romains, were well brought vp and instructed, accordyng vnto the capacities of their wits, from the Age of .vii. yeres, vnto .xvi. yeares: & that, in their Pastimes, playes and recreations, were nothyng dishonest.

¶ Item: That the Maidens, duryng the said Age,Education of maydens were brought vp in shamefastnes, humblenes, and the exercise of Huswifrye: and that they should not be seene foorth of their Fathers-houses, but (only) in the Temples.

¶ Item: their charge was,Riotous house holders to controwle Howse-houlders of euery degree, if there were fownde any excesse in their fare, or cost vpon their owne, or their Wyues Apparayle, more then by the Lawes, was limitted: or if they were Company-keepers with any riotous or dishonest person.

¶ Item: Twice (by the weeke) they were bownd to make Presentment of the Disorders whiche they fownd, vnto the Prouost of the Cittie,Presentation, twice by the weeke. reseruing vn­to them-selues, the education of the Children: which they-them-selues reformed, by giuing of sharpe Ad­monytion vnto their Parentes.

¶ The Prouost punished suche,Prouost of al the Citty. as offended in o­ther Articles, against the Statutes and Ordinaun­ces, in suche cases prouided.

¶ Item: The Emperour augmented the nomber of Praetors and Questors, Pretores and Questors but appoin [...]ted euerye one a seuerall Charge.

¶ Item: He made choyce,Puruiours of grayne of very honest men to be Purueiours for grayne, but changed them euery yeare, least, continuance corrupted their cōsciences.

¶ Item: He apoincted Baylyffes, Receiuers, Sur­ueiours, and such like Officers, but fauoured them not, saying: they were necessarie euils: And if they hastilie gathered much riches, he would take away al that they had. Telling them. Let it suffice, that you haue taken so long pleasure with my goodes: and be­ware that you take not from other men vniustly, least I be more angrie with you.

¶ Item: To be Iudges of these Officers, as also of the behauiours of all the people of Rome, Censors, and their office. sauing the common people, were they Senatores, Gentlemen or Citizens. This prudent Emperour appointed two of his priuie Counsel, worthy and graue Senators, to be Censors in Rome, whose names were Fabius Sabinus, and Catillius Seuerus. The office of the Cen­sors, were to note the manners of euerie person, a­boue the degree of the common people.

So that if a Knight, Iudge, or Senator, did any thing vnseeming the Honour of their Degree, their charge was, to degrade hym of his office, or Dig­nitie. In whiche, they vsed suche rigour, as no man might (lawfully) boast of fauor. In so much, as y^e Emperors Pallace was not free from their iuris­diction. For they meeting with Aurelius Philippus, (who was sometime the Emperours shoolmaster, and after wrote his life) riding in a Chariot, looking to be saluted as a Senatour, they foorthwith execu­ted an auncient law vpon the said Philippus: which was, that no bond-man, although hee were manu­missed, should be a Senatour: And at that time, it was lawful for no person vnder the degree of a Se­natour [Page 20] to ride in a Chariot. Philippus was sometime a bond-man, and therefore, for breach of this lawe, the Censors sent him first to prison, and after, forbad him to come to the Emperors pallace, but (onelie) a foot, and his copped Cappe vpon his head: which fashiō was onelie vsed of them that were enfranchised. Some of the Noble-men thought, the Censors dealt verie sharplie with Philippus, considering, that hee was a man of much honestie, and great learning, and so certefied the Emperour. But the Emperour approoued their Iustice, and answered:

If the common wealth may euermore haue such offi­cers, in short space, there shall be found in Roome more men worthie to be Emperours, than I (at my first com­ming) found good Senators.

And vndoubtedlie, where the offences of the best are neuer pardoned, the worst will amend for feare of extreeme vengeance. The proofe appeareth in A­lexanders gouernment: who (by the seuere executiō of the lawes, so brideled the dispositions of the wic­ked, that it may be saide, they grew to be vertuous rather by custome, then good inclination. Yea, it is written, that his seueritie thus much profited: As leading a great armie against Artaxerses, the Persi­ans, said, he had brought an armie of Senatours, ra­ther than of Soldiours, when at his comming to y^e Empire, the Senatours (manie of them) were as dissolute as common Soldiers.A wise polli­cie of Alex­ander. And one especiall cautle hee vsed in the searche of mens behauiours, hee woulde manye tymes in disguysed habyte, with diuers others by hym especiallye elected, [Page] [...] [Page 20] [...] [Page] take vpō him the Office of the Censors: and in euery corner, he had (secretly) suche faythfull Explorers, as mens proper Houses, were no Couerts for naugh­tie practises, nor the Senat-house, for partial Iudgementes. And (by this Pollycie) he discouered many naughtie matters, besides cōmon trespasses: as the Treason of Oninius, the false accusation of Gemi­nus, by his Lybertines, or Copyholders: as (also) of the mortall mallice of Duillius and Gotta, towardes the said Geminus. In so much, as the people, seyng nothyng that was euyl, could escape his vengeāce, al men indeuored to do well, to purchase his fauour.

King Henry the seuenth, Imitator of Alexanders gouernment.THE (most Noble and prudent) Kynge, Kynge HENRY, the seuenth, the Queenes (most ex­cellent Maiesties Graundfather, and Roote of Eng­landes happinesse, was a true imitator, of this (most worthy) Emperours gouernmēt: by whose singular wisdome, England, which at the beginning of his Raigne: was a deformed, and decreped Common­wealthe, by reason of the longe tyme of the Cyuyl­warres which durynge syx Kinges Raignes made barrayne feildes, and fatt Churche-yardes) before his deathe, repossessed her Auncient Vertues, re­nown and prosperytie. So that it is a questiō, whi­ther this famous Realm is more bownd to eternize his glorious Memorie, in regarde of his Prowesse, or Pollycie: when by the one, he planted Peace in her bowelles, and by the other, banished warre frō the Terrytories. He knew, that to reforme so dis­ordered an estate, it was more needefull to execute, then to make Lawes: and (therfore) not trustyng [Page 21] the corruption of common Informers, who, for lucre or gain, attemptyng many vexations against poore men, and for feare, seeke to please the ritche:Inclynation of Common Informers he com­mitted the execution of the Penall Lawes, to the charge of these two worthie Coūsellers, fir Richard Empson, Knight, and Richarde Dudley, Esquier: who so seuerely chastened the rich and great Offenders, as they stirred the inconstant cōmunaltie, after the death of the vertuous Henrie the seuenth, to seeke their lyues: who had their willes, for feare of Com­motion, thease two worthie Maiestrates weare beheaded: And (vndoubtedly) their deathes, is a te­stimonie of as great vertue, as their liues, a Monu­ment of Iustice: for the multitude,The lewde affections, of Common people. are the mortall E­nemies of their owne welfare, and frendes and fol­lowers of their owne confusion. One said to An­tisthenes: The people speaketh much good of you: Why? saide he: what hurt haue I done? As who should say: they seldome praise, but suche as do euil: No Ethnicke, deserued to lyue, better then Socrates, yet the people would haue hym dead. The Atheni­ans had a Lawe, euerie yeare, by the most voyces of the people, for ten yeares, to banysh two of their principall Maiestrates: On a tyme, a poore man, came with a white Paper in his hande to Aristides, the iust, and willed him to write: Banish Aristides. Why? (quoth he:) doest thou know Aristides? No: (quoth the other:) Hath Aristides done thee or any of thy friendes, hurte? Neither (quoth he) but I wyll haue Aristides banished. The worthy Scipio was banished by the people, whome he oft had saued.

I omyt Themistocles, Photion, & many mo, whome [Page] Histories record, to shewe the light Iudgementes of Cōmons, Danté, the Italian Poet, saithful truely of them: it is seldome seene, that the people crye not:

Viua la mia morte, innoia la mia vita: Let liue my death: let die my lyfe: Yea, those great estates, that seek to please the people, for the most parte, haue had the endes of enemies to their Countrey.

When Cicero sawe that Caesar was in hye fauour with the people of Rome, he cryed out: It is great pitie, that the affabilitie of Caesar, should be the ouer­throw of the Weale-publique. And (truely) Cicero, prophesied rightly: for, by their fauour, Caesar iudged the Iudgementes of the Senate, and sent the good and graue Cato to Prison, whose vertues, obtay­ned reuerence of the woorst liuers.

But (notwithstandyng) the Affections of the mul­titude, coueiteth their owne vndoynges, yet their incouragement proceedeth of greater capacyties:

And (therfore) the redy way to keepe them in awe, is (seuerely) to punysh their Chief-taynes.

In all tumultes, it is (euidently) seene, that if their Captaynes yelde, they ronne away: if their Incou­ragers be dismayde, they sing, Peccaui: do Iustice vpon the great Offenders, and the meaner wyll soone amend: Alexander (in his Gouernment) found it true: who, in the Execution of the Lawes, made no difference of persons: saue, that, to the inferiour people, he was (euermore) most mercifull.

MAIESTRATES OF CITIES. The dangerous Mischiefes, that the DICING-HOVSES, and other lyke Sanctuaries of iniquitie, do breede in the Cittie of LONDON.

IT is sufficiently ex­pressed, that, by the vertue, diligence, and wisdom, of the right Noble Em­perour, Alexander: Rome, (the most ouglye, and monsterous Common-wealth of the world, so was she deformed, with horrible & beastly vices, fostered by Heliogabalus, & other wicked Em­perours,) was brought vnto such perfection, as she might (lawfullye) bee intituled: The Temple of the Goddes: The Fowntayne of Vertue, and, The Nurce of Learnyng: so free was the Exercise of Pietie,The woundes of a Comon wealth Iu­stice, Temperance, and all other Deuine, Morall, and Heroycall vertues. In curyng of which daun­gerous Infirmyties of the Cōmon-wealth, Alex­ander perfourmed the Offices of a skylfull Phisiti­on and Surgion: he did not (ignorantly) apply Me­dicine, to the outwarde sore, vntyll he had searched the inward cause: He founde, the outwarde woun­des of the Weale-publique, was Pride, Prodigaly­tie, Dicynge, Drunkennesse, Lecherie, Vsurie, Co­ueitousnes &c. The suppressing of which Passions, consisted not (alone) in chastisment of Offenders: He (prudently) foresawe, that y^e Boatman lost much labor, that with a Dish, stoode all day ladyng out of water, when a quarter of an howres worke, wold [Page] mende the breache of his Boate, whiche was the cause, althoughe the water were the annoyance: he knew, that euery Ryuer had a Spryng, euery Dis­ease, a nooryshing Humour, and euery vice, a special succour: Reason instructed him, that no Thiefe wold be so bould, as to rob by the hye waye, if he had no Couert to shrowd hym: If there were no Brothell Houses, Shame wold delay Lechery. But for Ta­uerns and tiplyng Boothes, Drunkardes should be sober against their wils: But for Ordinarie tables, Dicers should (many times) be idle, or better occu­pied, then in swearyng and consumyng their Patri­monie: These causes beynge stopped, the vicious (perforce) must change their course. And therfore, the good Emperour, as the best remedie for the mala­dies of the Cōmon-wealth, purged Rome, of thease Sanctuaries of lewd and dishonest persons, as the perfect meane to cure their vile and naughtie dispo­sitions. And (certaynly) his Gouernment, Order, and Discipline, may be, A Myrrour for Magistrates of all Citties: who are lyke to finde no lacke of Dis­orders, to exercise his Politique Orders: for, in the heart of the best gouerned Citties, Vice hath her Mansion, as a Core in the inward substance of the sowndest Quince. But, leauyng the Discouerie of the Infyrmities of Forreigne Citties, London, the Capitol Cittie of Englande (and at this day, the Pa­ragon of Christendome,) prowdely beareth many a daungerous Infyrmytie, whiche, the Wisdome of the Maistrates, must (speedely) heale, or els, ouer­shortely, the wickednesse of her people, wyll abate her prosperytie.

A Remembrance, of the Disordered State of the Common-wealth, at the Queenes Maiesties commyng to the Crowne.

THE Queenes most Excellent Maiestie, (euen our Grati­ous Queene Elizabeth) by Gods grace Soueraigne Ladye of this famous Cittie, and of Englande, Fraunce and Irelande (in aduauntage,) sole Princesse of Peace, and second to no annoincted kyng, in the exercise of all the Capitol Vertues: let Gods blessinges bee my Testimonie, (plentifullie) heaped vpō her Exellencie, and (for her Holinesse sake) vpon her true Subiectes, and many a hungrye Nation, besides: Her sacred Maiestie, (I saye) at suche time, as she was crowned with the Soueraigntie of these Realmes, fownd ENG­LANDE, and (speciallie) LONDON, farre out of temper, (besides Cardinall Superstition) with carnall and vnchaste infections of Rome, as (also) puffed or half poysoned, with the pryde of Spayne.

For the saluynge of which, and all other Infirmy­ties, of the Common-wealth, her Godly wisdome, with the Publique assent of her Subiectes, esta­blished many Medicinable Lawes, whereby, all the priuye Maladies of the Cōmon-wealth, might receiue perfect cure, if the Penall Lawes were as seuerely punished, as they be (prudētly) established.

Negligence in Maiestrates causeth bouldenes in euill lyuers.But, the (onely) lacke of this Admynistration is, the Maiestrate punissheth, but what is presented, and the Iniured (in many wronges) sustayne their losses without complaynt: Thus, lacke of dili­gence, bouldneth the euyll lyuers to offende, with Halters about their neckes.

The godly Diuines, in publique Sermons, and others, in printed Bookes, haue (of late) very sharp­ly inuayed against Stage playes (vnproperly cal­led, [...]nvaying against stage playes. Tragedies, Cōmedies, and Moralles,) as the Sprynges of many vices, and the stumblyng-bloc­kes of Godlynesse and Vertue: Truely, the vse of them vpon the Saboth day, and the abuse of them at al times, with scurilytie and vnchaste cōueiance▪ ministred matter sufficient for them to blame, and the Maiestrate to reforme.

Playinge at dice invented by the deuillBut, there are in the Bowels of this famous Ci­tie, farre more daungerous Playes, and little repre­hended: that wicked Playes of the Dice, first inuen­ted by the Deuyll (as Cornelius Agrippa, wryteth,) and frequented by vnhappy men: The detestable Roote, vpon which, a thousand villanies growe.

Ordinarie Tables Nurses of IniquitieThe Nurses of thease (worse then Heathnysh) Hellish exercise, are Places (called) Ordinary-tables: Of which, there are, in London, more in nomber, to honor the Deuyll, then Churches to serue the liuing God: neither are they (improperly) named: for, in ve­rye trueth,Difference of ordinarie Tables they are the Ordinarie Intertayners of naughtie persons, and the Sinckes of all abhomy­nation. But some wyll holde it conuenient, that I make a Difference of Ordinarie Tables, because, of the ciuill vsage & Orders of some of the keepers, [Page 25] as in respect of the Honourable and worshipfull re­payre vnto them. In very trueth, in some of these places, Vice is so modestly quallyfied, as they may well be called: tollerable euylles. And (although) Socyetie be a pleasing Affection, I hope, (as occasi­on will fall out) to satisfie the better sorte of Gentle­men, that, the refraynynge of the best of these badde Houses, wyll be more profitable, Honorable & plea­sant, then the frequentyng of them.

The namyng of the ciuiller sort, of these Houses, I omyt: because, in reportyng of the viler sort, and hor­rible vices that they foster, is farre from my intent: either in name, or figure, to discipher any persō that keepeth them, or eny Guest that haunteth them:This worke is not made particulerly to blame any person, but generally to blason abuse. pro­testyng before God and man, that my labour sear­cheth the roote of this fowle ympostume, which vo­miteth a nomber of seuerall filthy coloured Corrup­tions: onely, to admonish the greener sort of Gentle­men, who are aptest to receiue the Infection, and to laye before the Magistrate, the Poyson of thease Vlcers: to whose wisdomes, the cure belōgeth: and in this trauell, I suppose, I deserue wel of the worst liuers, in that I (charitably) admonysh them, to re­forme the euylles, that Time may discouer, by their vndoyng: And so to my purpose,

THere are within the Sub­vrbes of London, diuers worthie Houses,Innes of the Court, places of much reuerence. cal­led, Innes of the Court and of the Chaūcerie: Places, where the Lawes of this Realme, are (publiquely) read, studied and learned: Places, of much Honour, [Page] and Reputation, aswell, in respect of the Reuerent­nesse of the Personages, whiche gouerne them, as (also) for the exercise of the Lawes) whiche are the strength and Ornamentes of euery wel gouerned Cōmon-wealth,) euery Gentleman, and (almost) Yeman of Abylitie, sendeth the ripest witted of his Children, vnto some one of thease Houses, to study the common Lawes of Englande. And (truely) the good Father, in this charge, dischargeth the loue of a Father towardes his Sonne, and the duetie of a frende, towardes his Countrey: for by suche as are learned in the Lawes (if they abuse not their knowledge) besides an especial benefit & reputati­on, which they (priuatly reape) vnto them-selues, the Ignorance of their Neighbours where they dwell, [...]ng houses in a hinderāce to the stud e of the lawe is (profitably) instructed: But, by reason of Dicyng-howses; and other Alectiues too vnthriftinesse, the good Father, which is at charge, to make his Sonne a Lawier, to do his Countrey seruice, throughe the loosenesse of the Sonne (many times) spendeth his money to the vndooyng of his posterytie.One scabbed sheepe in­fecteth a hole flocke

The swarme of Vnthriftes, whiche lyue vpon Shiftes, in, and within the Cittie of London (first seaze vpon these Yonglynges: by their lewde con­uersation, they drawe them from Studdie, and doo acquaint them with these wicked Ordinaries:

Wheare, the Brauerie of the Companie, the glee and Reuell that they keepe,Dye ing houses, causes of pride were able to brynge a stayde man vnto their Societie, but are sure to in­chaunt a light yongman, which cōmeth (rawly) out of y^e coūrey. What foloweth? Pride (straightwayes) infecteth him with desire to be as braue as the best:

Well: if he haue liuyng, either in possession or possy­bilitie, he shall finde sweete Baites to choake him. Moste of these wicked places,Three dange­rous gwestes belonging to ordinarie tables noorish three Guestes that will soundly bowrd this vnexperienced yonge Gentleman, and of his abylitie wyl maintain them selues. These be the names of their facultie.

The braue Shifter: the Bawde, and the Broaker.

¶The braue Companion, who in Apparayle,Description of braue shyfters coun­tenaunce, and bouldnes, wyll cheacke-mate with men of right good worshyp, and lyuing, when he (perhaps) in a Greene Thycket getteth a Masked face, a Pystoll, and a Whypcorde, and hath Inheri­taunce in the Ile of Snatch: Aduentureth to Cape Gripe: I know not by what conning shiftes. But if I did, I thinke it necessary to conceale them, least the instruction wold prooue more hurtful to the euill inclined, then the Admonition, profitable, to the wel disposed: But this, I am assured, and many a Gen­tlemans vndoyng, witnesseth as muche: that these expert Shifters, by falce Dice, slipperie castynge, or some other nice Sleight: althoughe all the Daye, they dallye with younge Nouices.Braue shiff­ters lyue vp on the cose­nage of play as a Catte doeth with a Mouse: yet, before Bedde tyme, they wyll make their Purses as emptie of Money, as the Catte the Mouses headde of Braynes.

If a man had none other Flie suckynge of hym, he should finde, a fewe of Ordinarie Dinners would suppe a greate deale of Substaunce. But, as a slayne Carckase, in an open Fielde, is a Pray [Page] pray, for many kyndes of vermyn. Euen so, a plaine minded man vsing these deceitful houses, is an assu­red praye for al sortes of shyfters.

The man that is inticed to be a Dicer, of his owne accorde wil be a Horemaster: But (say you) if he haue not acquaintance, the banishment of the Ste­wes wyl kepe hym chast. But say as the Prouerbe is. Monie will hyre a guide to go to the Deuile: And (certes) as dailie gheasts at ordinarie Tabls, a man shal fynde neate Bawdes,Brokers of Bawdry. haunters of Dycing hou­ses▪ that onely lyue vppon the brocage of loue, fellowes that wyl procure ac­quaintaunce for a dumbe man. These be no bashful Besogniers, but such as glory in their facultie. Their cōmon talke shalbe Ribaldry, and matter of their profession. To conclude, he that hath aduantage, sli­ly bloweth a meeting of faire women into my yong maisters eares: His company needeth not to be de­sired. Incontinent desire maketh him wood of their societie. Gods blood, lets goe, straight he cryeth, and with more haste, then good speede, they goe to some blind brothel-house wher (peraduēture) for a Pottle or two of wyne, the imbracement of a paynted Har­lot, and the French Pockes for a reckoning, the Pu­nie payeth fortie shillings,Cossonage of [...]awdes. and yet my braue Besog­nier hath a more costly reckoning to geue hym. He wyl accompanie him familierly vp and downe the Citie, and in the ende wyll come vnto a Mercers or a Gold-smythes shop, with whome he had before set his matche, he wyl cheapen, Veluet, Satten, Iuels, or what hym lyketh, and tender his owne & companions credit for payment: He wyll with so boulde a countenaunce aske this frendshyp of the [Page 27] Gentleman, as the other shalbe to seeke of excuse to denie him: Well, although the peniworthes of the one, be not verye good, the payment of the other, is sure to be currant: thus, by vnsatiable Ryot, wher­of, Dicyng Houses are the Fowntaynes, the wel­thiest of our yong Gentlemen, are soone learned to synge.

¶But (without doubt) the infection of thease Ta­bling Houses, is so pleasant, that a man which hath lost all his money, by the exercise of them, euen, in the place of his vndoyng, he wyll (moneylesse) be an idle looker on, of other mens vnthriftinesse.

Then seazeth the third of thease Gheastes vpon this needie Gentleman, which is: The Broaker: Brokers for mony and their Cosso­nage. who is (either) an olde Bāckrupt Citizin: or som smoothe condicioned vnthriftie Gentleman, farre in debte: some one of these wyll help him to credit, with some of their Creditors, w^t a single protestation of meere courtesie: But (by your fauour) vppon this double vzance: the Citizyn Broaker, after deduction for his owne paynes, consideration for the time giuen, and losse in sellyng of the wares considered: wyll bryng him. L V. pounds, currant money, for a. C-pownds good debt: The Gentleman Broaker, will deale more Caualiero-like: he will be bownde with hym for a.C, pownds, shaarynge the Money betweene them, not without solempne protestation, faithfully [Page] to discharge his owne fiftie powndes, and (if neede be) the whole hundred powndes: Assuraunce (trust mee) as good as a Statute Staple, and a measure of his foote, as sure as eyther. But, let all this mis­chiefe go: here is want supplied, whiche breaketh Brasen walles: and Money receyued, whiche be­trayeth Kynges. blindeth Iudges, and iudgeth Iu­stice: and for the same, but Incke, Waxe and Par­chement, deliuered: Mary (sir) a merye exchange: a mery Exchange (in deed) if a man shuld (alwayes) be so busied in receiuyng, as there might be no lea­sure fownde for repayment:A good lesson for younge Gentlemen. But (vnhappy young Gentlemā) what so thou bee that art thus matched: thoughe thy coueitous loue of Money is (lightly) suche, as thou haddest rather become Debter for fortie powndes, then to spare fortie shyllynges out of thy own Purse: yet learn this Lesson (as a sound Counsel:) that thou weart better giue one of these Franions, ten pownds, then to be bound for fiftene: for, what so remaineth, thou sauest, when all that thou venturest, thou loosest: and be thou sure, though thou wilt finde no leasure to satisfie thy couenaunt, thy Creditor wyll worke thee an Arrest, that shall giue thee little ease, and lesse Lybertie, vntyll he be fully contented & paid.Prodigalitie a passion vn­curable. But al in vain Medicine is applied to vncurable Maladies: as smallie auay­leth good Counsell giuen vnto the Prodigall.

[...]ib. de liberalit Prodigalytie & Coueitousnesse, are two extreame Passions, and as violent are their cures: Begerie, is the ende of Prodigalytie, & Death, of Coueitousnesse:

Yet, as Iouius Pontanus saith, the Coueitous man is the worst of both: for he doth no man (not so much as himself) good w^t his goods: when the Prodigal, by [Page 26] the vndoing of himself, inricheth many. Thus, what may be best said of Prodigalyte, concludeth an vndo­yng of him-self & posterytie. The famous Lawier Vlpianus saith: the prodigal man, neither obserueth time, nor maketh end of riot, vntil riot hath, both cō ­sumed him & his Patrimony. The sage Solō, made a law, to defame prodigal men. The Areopagites, and criminal Iudges of Athens, punished prodigall mē, as idle, vagrant & vnprofitable mē. The .x. Go­uernors of Rome, made a law, y^t prodigal mē, should neither haue y^e gouermēt nor dispositiō of their own goods: but vnto him shuld be giuē a Curator, by y^e appoinctmēt of y^e Iudge. By the cōmaūdement of Q. Pompeius, Pretor, Q, Fabius, y^e Son of Q. Fabius, Vale. Max. li 3. Cha. 5. the great (surnamed) Allobrogique for y^e riotous dispen­ding of his Patrimonie, was indited by this law, & cōmitted vnto y^e gouernment of a Tutor. Were this law executed in England, we shuld haue more War­des, of .xxxv. then .xv. yeares of Age. The Gretians, had a law, y^t whosoeuer had vnthriftily cōsumed his patrimony, shuld not be buried in y^e sepulchre of his Auncestors, for y^t he was held vnworthie the Honor of his Auncestors, y^t dishonoreth himselfe, & robbeth his posterytie. The ancient, graue & politique Cō ­mō-wealth mē, thus seuerely chastned Prodigalytie: though prodigal men had no care of thē-selues, they tendered the posterytie of their posterytie: they (like vnto careful Phisitions, that prouide preseruatiues because the infection of the Plague is daungerous) sought y^e meanes, y^t Prodigalytie might not be noo­ryshed: fore-seeyng that prodigall men, neyther re­uerenced good Counsayle, nor feared Disciplyne.

And (surely) it is a worke of greater Iustice, merci­fullie, to find a way to preserue men from offending then (seuerely) to punish euery offence.

Suppresse these vnthriftie Houses, and you shall keepe many a mans Landes from sellyng, many a mans neck from the Halter, & the Cōmon-wealth, (perhaps) from a more daungerous mischiefe.

I haue (but yet) begun, to anatomize the Head, of this villanous Sanctuarie of Iniquitie, a heape of euilles followe. The deceipt of Dice, the charge of Lecherie, Cosonage and Brocage, is all that I haue yet layde vpon our vnhappy Gentlman:

These (onely) pray vpon Gould, Siluer, and suche light carraidge. These be but suckyng Flies, the bityng Scorpions come after. A Byrde that hath but one feather limed, by striuing, fetreth her whole body: Euen so, the vnfortunate Gentleman, thrust behinde the hande, by the hazard of Dice, through a vaine hope, to redeeme himselfe, followeth his mis­chiefe, to the spendynge of the last payment of his Lande, And to helpe him forwarde, some one Spie or Pettifogger of the Lawe (the reuerence done vn­to the Law and good Lawiers reuerenced,A Petifogger a most daun­gerous bro­ther.) I may iustly saye, the Scum of all villanie, is (euer-more) sneakyng in these Ordinarie Houses: This nota­ble Companion, keepeth an Alphabet, of all the rich Gentlemens names, that frequenteth the Ordina­ries:Exercyse of ordinarie Table pety­foggers. his eyes are settled vpon their dispositions, and his exercise is, dayly, to search the Rolles, and the Office of the Statutes, to learn what Recogni­zances, Morguages and Statutes do charge their Landes: This is the most pernitious Broaker, the [Page 29] other helped the needie gentleman to money at fiftie in the hundred losse, but he helpeth him to sell free land at fiue yeres purchase.

I must here digresse from the prodigalitie of the gentleman, vnto the couetousnesse and vsurie, I can not properly say of the Citizen, although he dwelleth in y^e Citie: for the true Citizen (wher­of London hath plentie) liueth vpon his trade, be he an aduenturer abroade, or a mecanicall crafts man at home.Couetous Ci­tizens hunt ordinarie ta­bles to vndoe Gentlemen. But these shames of good Citizens tradeth but to a dycing house, or at the furthest trauaileth to a bowling alley, and with ease & safetie getteth wealth as fast as the other doe with great hazard and trauell. They come not to play the vnthrifts, but to pray vpon vn­thrifts: and yet for companie, and to auoide sus­pition, they wil sometime play the good fellowes. All the rest are but instruments for these daunge­rous catchers. These neede not too greedily seeke for purchases, the necessitie of the gentlemen maketh them faire offers: and their spies, the pe­tifogger and others giueth them knowledge where there is sound dealing. Among them there is such deceit coloured with such cleanly shifts, as many gentlemen are for a trifle shifted out of their liuings without hope of remedie.The extreme dealing of co­uetous Citi­zens haue set­led a deadly enuie be­tweene Gen­tlemen and merchaunts. The extremi­tie of these mens dealings hath beene and is so cruell, as there is a natural malice generally im­pressed in the hearts of the gentlemen of England towards the citizens of London, insomuch as if they odiously name a man, they foorthwith call him A trimme merchaunt. In like despight the [Page] Citizen calleth euery rascall A ioly Gentleman.

And truely this mortall enuie betweene these two woorthie estates, was first engendred of the cruell vsage of couetous merchaunts, in hard bargaines gotten of Gentlemen, and nourished with malitious words and reuenges taken of both parties.Tim. 1. cap. 6. The [...] of couetous­nesse. S. Paul by good warrant saith, That couetousnesse is the roote of all mischiefe. S. Augu­stine saith, that the couetous man is subiect to all euils, for that all euils come of couetousnesse. He moreouer saith, that wilde beasts haue mea­sure, for being hungrie they pursue their praies, and being full are satisfied: but the couetous man is neuer satisfied. He neither feareth God, nor re­uerenceth man, pardoneth not his father, nor ac­knowledgeth his mother, maketh merchandize of his children, regardeth not his brother, nor yet keepeth faith w^t his friend, beareth false witnesse, offendeth the widow, & destroyeth the Infant. O how great is y^e follie of our vnderstanding, to lose life, to seeke death, & to banish ourselues from hea­uen:Foure wheeles of the chariot of couetous­nesse. The two horses. The waggo­ner. The two whippes. S. Bernard saith, y^t the accursed chariot of coue­tousnesse, is drawen with foure disloyall wheeles of vices, vz. Pusalanimite, Crueltie misprising of God, and forgetfulnesse of certaine death. The two horses are named Theft, & Hardnesse. The waggo­ner is Earnest desire to haue, who vseth two sharpe whippes: the one called Disordered appetite to get, the other, Feare to loose. The opinion of Apuleius in his first booke of Magicke is woorthy to be read, who writeth thus. The Philosopher So­crates had not so much riches as Lelius, nor Lelius somuch as Scipio, nor Scipio so much as the rich [Page 30] Crassus, nor Crassus so much riches as he desired. The Emperour Pertinax was so couetous,Pertinax Em­perour. as he would inuite his friends vnto two small slyces of meate and a dish of apples, and when he would seeme most sumptuous and magnificent, he ad­ded the two genitories of a cocke. Iouian Pontanus saith, that Pope Martin was so couetous,Pope Martin. as he would steale euerie night the burning tapers in S. Peters Church. The same Pontanus saith, that a Cardinal named Angel, Cardinall An­gell. euerie night would steale away from his own horses bottels of hay, and sel them to other ostlers, vntill his horsekeeper one night (taking of him tardy) swinged him cur­rantly.Couetousnes a dangerous e­nemie to the common wealth. To conclude the euils of couetous­nesse, with the daungers it bringeth the com­mon wealth vnto. Men that haue licentiously spent their substance, and finde no liberalitie to supplie their wants, wish straight wayes an alteration of the estate, and what in them lieth practiseth the sam. They fawne vpon ambitious men which are in authority, & betweene whom of the noble men is enuie, disdaine, or priuat displea­sure, they help forward y^e faction, they seeke mat­ter of sedition, which being not wisely suppressed, ciuil commotions, battell, & destruction of people oftentimes followeth. Reade y^e histories of Rome, & you shal find, that couetousnesse and vsurie haue begun many commotions, and could not be ended vntil the instruments & bonds of debt were can­celled. We need not search so farre, England & al o­ther nations cary a large testimony in their own Chronicles of this fowle matter, and therefore [Page] Thucidides saith not vnproperly, That couetous­nesse is the nurse of murther, theft, periurie, trea­son & all abhominations: not for that couetous men practise these villanies, but for that by ex­treme necessitie they driue men to these wicked shifts.

I heard a Frenche Gentleman resolue a pro­bleme very pleasauntly and pithily.A probleme pithily aun­swered by a Frenche Gen­tilman. An English­man demaunded the cause, That the young gen­tilmen of Fraunce flourished more than they of England, considering that the one were consumed with daily warre, when the other had continuall peace to strengthen them. O quoth the Frenche Gentleman, The quietnesse of your peace inter­rupteth not the deceit of your Citizens, who with the feeding of your pride, deuoureth your li­uings: when with vs the troubles of warre so feare them, as to saue the sworde from their throtes, they giue vs the golde in their chests. Fowle fall couetousnesse and vsurie which prooueth his saying true, and more grace or fewe daies happen vnto couetous wretches, who with the vndooing of many in the ende vndoe them­selues.

Socrates common wealth poore. Socrates found that aboundance of wealth was the ouerthrowe of many common wealthes, and therefore in his owne common wealth, he would haue the common people poore, and the rest not to haue too much: saying that wealth bred pride, and pride all mischiefes, when pouertie brought foorth Science, and all good Arts, and Science all maner of earthly happinesse. Thus one mis­chiefe [Page 32] draweth on an other, and dyeing houses are the fountaines.

These wicked houses first nusleth our young gentlemen in pride, and acquainteth them with sundrie shifting companions, whereof one sort couseneth him at dice and cardes, an other sort consume him with lecherie, an other sort by bro­cadge bringeth him in debt, and out of credit, then awayteth couetousnesse and vsurie to sease vpon his liuing, and the vnciuill Sergeant vpon his li­bertie. To ruine is thus brought the gentleman, a great estate and strength of this Realme, prin­cipally by the frequenting of dicing houses.

Let vs searche deeper into this vlcer, there is more fowle matter behinde, we haue but yet spo­ken of the better sort of dicing houses, which are chiefelie for intertainement of Courtiers and o­ther Gentlemen, which by reason of their atten­daunce and businesse keepe no certaine houses. If ordinarie tables be tollerated for their necessitie, what warrant haue the ordinarie table-keepers within the heart of London, Ordinaries for Citizens and the in­conuenience. (which are common­ly called dicing houses) for Citizens? In euerie Citie, Citizens haue houses of their owne, haue wife, children and families to care for: and sure the inconuenience cannot but be great, when a man leaueth his owne house, and the companie of his wife and familie, and dineth at a dicing house. In many well gouerned common wealths, Citi­zens by especiall Lawes were forbidden to eate and drinke out of their owne houses, vnlesse one neighbour inuited an other: but sufferance hath [Page] brought this mischiefe to such a custome, that if there were many more Citizens ordinaries, they should not need to fawn vpon the inferior sort for want of companie of substantiall Citizens. But before we enter further into this mischiefe,Keeper of these houses shame [...] y^e con­dition of the keepers of these places is to be consi­dered, for the most part the masters of these hou­ses, in times past haue beene bankrouts, & what may be expected of men of their dispositions? ma­ry a continuance of their facultie, to liue vpon the goods of other men. Hither repaire al y^e close shif­ters, here many notorious cousinages are smo­thered, y^e masters of these houses want no guests, for where carrion is, crowes will be plentie, and where money is sturring, cheters will not be idle. Yoūg citizens for y^e most part depend vpon their credit, & therfore are loath that there should be an open testimony of their vnthriftines. Al the better for y^e biting cheter. Close in a chamber a cogging knaue getteth more money in an houre, than ma­ny an honest man spendeth in a yere. And this one thing is much to be lamented, the vnthrifty citi­zens cōsume other mens goods, who perhaps la­boured painfully to get thē (when gentlemen al­though they vndoe their posterite) spend but their own goods & lands. The eares of the magistrate are daily ful of the breaking of yong merchants, & here I lay before their eies the causes therof, euen these wicked ordinaries. They be places vnto which magistrates come not, & therefore the abu­ses vnknowen vnto them. But I think it a work of much honesty to reueale them, and in the magi­strate a work of more iustice to reforme them, and [Page 32] vndoubtedly although this be true that I write, & the euils far more than I discouer, yet in disco­uering of the faults & faultie men, I find my con­science so free from their shiftes, as in writing my name to this booke, I presume, that no man (as faultie in that part of reprehension) will say, ‘Turpe est doctori, cum culpa redarguit ipsum.’

But as one that meaneth not to complaine his losses, to ioyn my owne example with admonitiō I cōstantly determine to crosse the streets where these vile houses are planted, to blesse me from the inticements of thē, which in very deed are many, & the more dangerous in that they please with a vain hope of gain.A dicers opi­nion of the fi st making of dice & cards. Insomuch on a time I heard a distemperate dicer solemly sweare, y^t he faithfully beleeued, y^t dice were first made of the bones of a witch, & cards of her skin, in which there hath e­uer sithence remained an inchantment, y^t whosoe­uer once taketh delight in either, he shall neuer haue power vtterly to leaue them, for quoth he, I a hundred times vowed to leaue both, yet haue not y^e grace to forsake either. But for al his iudge­ment, if Socrates alterd his natural inclination of insolencie by philosophie: if the wise Vlisses could eate of the herb called Lotos, & yet by the pleasant­nesse therof would not be inchanted to remaine in that countrie, when his companions & seruants (forgetting their natural land) coueted to remain stil in y^t region where that herb grewe, & but only by violence they could not be brought back again to their ships: if heathen men only by philosophie could master their dispositiōs, christians by praier & philosophy may ouercome an inticing mischiefe. [Page] But vnto this possibilitie of reformation, wise men are to giue light credence. Olde Iudge Chomley euermore aunswered naughtie liuers that sued for mercie, desiring him to regard the frailtie of young men, by the bolde and vnlaw­ful actions of his owne youth, and by the testimo­nie of his grace, good fortune, and present autho­ritie, to conceiue hope of their amendement: O my friendes, [...]udge Chom­l [...]ys aunswere [...]o theeues that sued for mercie. quoth the Iudge, I tel you plainly, that of twentie that in those dayes were my com­panions, I onely escaped hanging: and it is very like, that some one of your fellowship is by Gods goodnesse reserued to be an honest man, but you are found offenders by the Lawe, and truely iustice (whose sentence I am sworne to pro­nounce) commaundeth me to commend your soules to Almightie God, and your bodies to the Gallowse. This notable Iudge in his aunswere was not short and sweete, but round and seuere. Great is the pitie that of twentie offenders there should but one become a good man. Howe high a worke were it then of charitie and mercie to pre­serue men from notable offences? Certainly farre greater, than to pardon offēders. For by the wis­dome of the first, vice shall be driuen to her shifts, when the mildenesse of the seconde many times breedeth presumption. If the good magistrates of this Citie, vsed the diligence of the fore reported Censors of Rome, in short space the case would be altered, and in time custome would make men honest, which without discipline can haue no be­ginning. There is an olde prouerbe, The eye of [Page 33] the master, doth as much worke as the handes of the seruant. If the magistrats surueide but these vile houses by honest conseruators, you should finde the painefull trauels of capital Magistrats much eased, many mens liues shalbe saued, Gentleman shall haue more lande, and Citizens greater store of money: which mettall is the greatest strength of a Citie, for where mony is not scarce,Citizens for­bidden to pur­chase lande. traficke is plentie, which chiefly supporteth al Cities. And therfore in many wel gouerned cōmon wealthes, Citizens (to the ende they should onely imploie their money in traficke) were forbidden to pur­chase lande, other than a garden for recreation. But to my purpose, these deuellish houses are cau­ses that merchants haue so much lande, and Gen­tlemen so litle vertue.

It is alreadie showen, to what extremitie the better sort of these houses bring a great number of our flourishing Gentlemen. To what miserie the seconde sort (called ordinaries for Citizens) bring a great number of young merchauntes. Nowe remayneth the discouerie of the thirde sort of these hauntes, which are placed in Allies,Ordinaries for masterles mē, shifters, &c. gar­dens, and other obscure corners out of the com­mon walks of the Magistrate. The dayly guests of these priuie houses, are maisterles men, needy shifters▪ theeues, cutpurses, vnthriftie seruants, both seruing men, and prentises. Heere a man may picke out mates for all purposes, saue such as are good. Heere a man may finde out Brauoes of Rome and Naples, who for a pottle of wine, will make no more conscience to kill a man, than a Butcher a beast, heare closely lie good fellowes, [Page] that with a good Northren Gelding, will gaine more by a halter, than an honest yeoman will with a teame of good horses. Heare are they, that will not let to deceaue their father, to robbe their brother, and fire their neighbours house for an aduauntage. These frannions will not sticke to spende frankely, although they haue neither landes nor goods by the dead, nor honestie by na­ture. But how will this hould out? fire will con­sume wood without maintenance, and ryot a weake purse without supply. The Gentlemen (for the most haue landes to make money, and young marchants waies to get credite, but the most of these idle persons haue neither landes nor credite, nor will liue by an honest occupation: forsooth they haue yet handes to filch, heades to deceiue, and friendes to receiue: and by these helpes, shift meetely badly well. The other vpon currant assurance, perhaps get money, for twen­tie markes or twenty poundes in the hundred. But these that worst may hould the candle they vpon their owne, or maisters apparell, brasse, pewter, sheetes, shirts, &c. finde Brokers, or frip­perers, that for a shilling in the pounde, for euery moneth, will bouldly, for halfe the vallue take these paunes. Certainely it seemeth that London is sore charged with these makeshiftes, for that almost in euery streate and lane there dwelleth two or three of these pettie brokers, or cherish-theeues. [...] cal­led cherish­ [...] [...]. And I pray to God, that in Cheape side, and other principall streates, although gould, sil­uer, silkes and other costly merchandise be open­ly in the shops, that in many mens cofers there [Page 34] lie not Cardinall Campeius sumpter riches.Learne this Cardinals name. Fiftie or sixtie in the hundred is sweete gaine, and a double par [...]ne taketh away all feare of the statute. A Iuish vsurie, high time to bee rooted out of a Christian gouernement. By ouer long sufferaunce howe much London hath blemished her auncient vertues, and indaungered her peace and prosperitie, is not to be recounted. In the time of King Henrie the third, the good citizens of London in one night slew fiue hundred Iewes for that a Iewe tooke of a Christian a pennie in the shilling vsurie: and euer after got them bani­shed the Citie: if the like Iustice were done vp­on Iuish Christians, London would haue manie houses emptie, and her Churches and Church­yeardes would he too scant to receiue dead car­rions. Truely these Atheists deserue worse than Iewes, for they more sharply execute the trade of Iewes. The Iewes spoile not one another, but Christians, whom they esteeme as dogges, when these counterfets make no difference of per­sons. The good Maiestrates must ouerlooke this euill, or else the euill will ouerrule their pro­speritie. It is a great miracle (but that God is mercifull) that this Citie is not alwaies gree­uously afflicted with the plague, when sacred is the authoritie that sayth, The plague shall not de­part the house of the swearer. I imagaine that di­sers cure one poyson with an other, who gape so wide to blaspheme God, as they swallowe the Deuil into their bowels, vpon whom no plague but hell fire will fasten. How needefull a thing is it to looke vnto these places where this outrage [Page] is [...]one vnto God. Thirde you they may not he made instruments to nourish traiterous prac­tises? The conspiracie of Madder and Barloe, was hatched in a tabling house, in the white fryers. Where is the currant of newes but in tabling houses, forraine explorers and faulse subiectes, there heare much matter intreated at counsell bordes. Where is a desperate Athiest like vnto harebraine Someruile so ready to be found, as in a tabeling house? Obstinate Papists that dare not liue in the countrey for feare of the statute, monethly shift their lodgings, and without sus­pition heere dayly receiue their dyet. Launce an olde feastred sore, and you are like to finde corrup­tion more than of one humour. But admit they proue no baites for such purposes: they are the sinkes of the fore reported mischiefes. The vndo­ing of many, and the honest gaine of no man. The Gentleman excuseth his repaire to them, be­cause he keepeth no certaine house, and likewise alleadgeth conuersation of equals: but as he fin­deth no thrift in the first, so he is often deceiued in the seconde. A tabling house is like vnto a strum­pet, who is readie to receiue euery mans money. And many times men of great worshippe, are hearded, and braued, with inferiours to some of their seruantes. The Gentleman of Naples is highly to be commended, for this honorable dis­position, how meane so euer his liuing be, yet he will furnish his owne table:The honora­ble disposition of the Napo­ [...]ion gentle­man. so he both auoydeth the controulement of superiours, and the cheeke­mate of inferiours. Would our English gentle­men did the like, they would like very well of the [Page 35] change. By this frugallitie, the Napolitane liueth Cauelie [...] like with a 100. trownes a yeare, and our ryot maketh no showe of so much a moneth. But you will say they starue themselues: but did euer any see a man to die of hunger, where meate was to be sold, if he had gaie clothes to his backe, it seemeth he contenteth nature, which is plentie ynough, we for our glutonie are euerie where cal­led English bellies. Very few of our gentlemē die old men by inordinate feading, our memorie, wit, and minde, which is immortall, is daylie dulled, weakened and almost slaine by surfets. Let vs excuse the matter as we please, wee receiue no better remedie by our excuse, than Mahomet had for the fawling sicknesse, by coloring his disease, in giuing out that his passion proceeded of the brightnesse of an Angell, which in those fittes re­uealed heauenly matters vnto him. But if men will deceiue them selues by deluding others, they shall finde had I wist a bitter pill to digest. I neede shewe no other examples than the daylie falles of young Gentlemen that trust to the for­tune of these intising dicing houses, where ver­tue is shut in the cole seller, and vice and all co­soning villanies, set in the chiefe places of the hall. And therefore happie is he, that is either aduised by good counsell, or warned by other mens harmes.

A care to continue y^e prosperitie of this famous Citie, will no doubt cause her Capitall magi­strates shortly to looke into the behauiours of ri­otous Citizens, their vnthriftinesse consumeth more than their owne goods, and vndoeth many, [Page] that trauaile painefully for their liuing. The ex­ample of monethly iustice, sufficeth to dismay the third sort of vnthriftie liuers. There are more ex­ecuted from Newgate and the Marshalsies, than in three of the greatest Cities of Fraunce, and yet I truely say, that more offenders are fauou­rably quitted, and pardoned in London in one moneth,The excee­ding [...]ercie of y^e Queenes Maiestie e­terni [...]ed by [...]. than in Paris in a whole yere, so exceeding great is the mercie of our most good Queene Eli­zabeth, the remembraunce whereof may not passe without zealous thankes vnto God for her thrise excellent Maiestie, least straungers condemne her naturall subiects of ingratitude, who to eternize this pretious vertue of mer­cie, rooted in the magnanimous heart of her ex­cellencie, in commemoration thereof, haue writ­ten many learned bookes. Others haue raised disputationn, whether it be a vertue more holy, in her Maiestie, or daungerous for her true sub­iects: for feare least her clemencie extend vnto persons of the disposition of the frosen snake, which the pitifull husbandman cherished by the fire, vntill she offered to sting his children: and truely whether presumption or necessitie were the cause, I leaue to iudge: but I craue Gods wrath as iustice, if I speake not the trueth: In Rome, euen in that Rome, where the Pope and her woorst enemie raigneth, among English fugitiues, not woorthie of the benefite of her good subiects, plentie, peace and prosperitie. There was (which with mine owne eares I heard) that wished impri­sonment in the Fleete at the Queenes mercie, rather than libertie in Rome. It is apparant that her [Page 36] Highnesse mildenes exceedeth, and it seemeth that the Popes bountie is not verie plentiful, saue vnto such, as rather carrie sedition than zeale in their counte­nance. When such as cannot be contented to be good subiects, affie more in her clemencie (if shame held thē not backe) than in the Popes holinesse, for all his gol­den showes. In my booke entituled, The blessings of Peace, this digression shall be liuely set foorth. In the meane space & many happy yeres after, I humbly be­seech Almightie God to forget our vnworthinesse, by remembrance of her worthinesse, that she may in al fe­licitie still raigne among vs as the image of his glorie, and the comfort of all true Christians. Amen.

Againe to my purpose: Though there cannot be too much good spoken of her Maiesties gratious & sweet mercie, yet seueritie may no wayes be termed cruel­tie, so that no more than Lawe be ministred to nota­ble malefactors. London is so plentifull of notorious couseners, cheters, and dishonest liuers, and withall so blemished with heynous cousenages and deceites, as a young man, vnlesse he haue an olde mans expe­rience, can hardly auoide their snares.

Many newe kinde of shiftes, which none but the Deuill could inuent, and verie Atheistes execute, by the wisedome of graue Maiestrates haue beene syf­ted foorth: wherein reuerent personages were in danger of dishonour, and innocentes in hazarde of death. It is a matter of fresh memorie. The pub­licke mischiefe that of late yeares was hatched in these wicked houses, and growento the great losse, hinderance, and halfe vndoing of more than two hun­dred Gentlemen, honest citizens and yeomen, yet God which is iust, hath rewarded many of the decei­uers [Page] according to their euill deseruings.

No man was euer assaulted with a more daunge­rous strategeme of cosonage than my selfe, with which my life & liuing was hardly beset. No man hath more cause to thanke God for a free deliuery than my selfe, nor anie man euer sawe, more suddaine veligeance in­flicted vpon his aduersaries, than I my selfe of mine­as liuely appeareth in the ende of my booke intituled The rocke of regarde, imprinted many yeares past.

And although to cure the extremitie I then fared as a man sore scalded with fire, which in hope of ease leapeth into colde water, which presently stripeth off his skin. So I that had experience of strangers huge [...]eceite, thought that the pleasing perswasion of neare friendes, would turne to a comfortable remedie, but I finde the olde Larkes song true: There is no trust in faire words, nor assurance in natures obligations. But af­ter three yeares & more of costly sute my greeuous op­pression (God be therfore praysed) hath pearsed the in­clining eares, of the right Honorable, and Gracious Iudge, the L. Chauncelor of Englande: by whose wisedom & graue iudgement, I constantly beleeue, for he releued & released of the toile of Law: vpon whose commaundement, with all humilitie, reuerence and dutie I attend, beseeching Almighty God to preserue the blessed estate of y^e Queenes most excellent maiestie here vpon earth, the lieuetenant of his diuine graces: the right honorable Lordes of the priuie Counsell, the true images of wisedome: and all other Capitall and good Magistrates, the strong pillers of this happie gouernement. And to the friendly readers of this booke, I wish the benefit of my trauels, and to the re­prehenders amendment of life.