IT fortuned, the Lady Listra, comming from her sumptuous house in the Countrey and going toward Corinth, accom­panied with two proper younge Gentlemen her Pages, she by chaunce, ouertooke a poore Pil­grime, clothed with a longe vesture of Sackcloth, and an vpper gar­ment of the same, with a large Felt Hat on his head: this Pilgrime was a man well growne in yeeres, as appeared, by his white head and longe beard, vnto whom the Lady sayeth as followeth.

Well ouertaken, father Pilgrime, and in good time.

Good Madam you are moste hartely welcome.

Father I pray you, whether doo you iour­ney this waye.

Forsooth Ma­dam [Page] now God willing I meane to passe to Corinth, and from thence into Asia Maior.

I perceyue your Pilgrimage hath bin longe, but when meane you to cease and take your rest.

Madam when my body is layed in Graue. For truely, al mankinde hath but a pilgrimage in this worlde: yea although they liue at home in their natiue Coun­trey and delectable houses, an ende they must haue of their pilgrimage. But I and suche other poore Pil­grimes doo often see by Lande and Sea, the admyrable workes of the almightie. The which to tell when I come home, the foolish wyll holde me for a lyar: yet I dooe dayly more and more, praise God, who is so great, and this is my only contenta­cion

But tell me father Pil­grime go you now to visit any mo­nument of the Goddesse Flora, here in Corinth.

No Madam I care not forsuch relikes. For my frend a [Page] Philosopher warned me by y^e waye a [...]ame, saying. Non licet omnibus adicere Corinthum: yea also he wi­shed me not to buye repentance too deare, among Dame Floras dames.

Well father, doo you meane to abide heere any long season?

No lenger Madam then I may amend my Shooes, Hose, and also prouide other furniture for my Scrippe and Bottell.

I pray you good father holde me not for importunate, to demaund of you a question or two.

Rather Madam you seeme so wise, that I receyue pleasure by your communication: therfore good Madam say on.

I will not re­quire of you to signifye vnto me the lawes, customes, rites, ceremonies, and strainge vsages of the Hethites, among whom you haue trauailed, for I know the same to be horryble and abhominable. But tell me I pray you, haue you bin among the Christians in East India.

Yea Ma­dam [Page] I abode a certaine time, in the famous Cittie called Crangalor, which standeth scituated neare the pleasaunt Riuer of Guadalquiuer. This Cittie is not onely adorned with beautie of sumptuous Tem­ples, Towers & costly Howses, ple­sant Orchards, & sweete Gardeins: but cheefely decked with notable gouernment and celestiall Iustice.

Hath this Countrey a kinge or a Prince for chiefe Lord and Ruler.

A Prince forsooth called Basha Haily.

Then I praye you tell what reuerence doth those subiects to their Prince.

O Madam true­ly exceeding great. But first they say yea and stedfastly beleeue, that theyr Prince, is the onely Deputie and Lutenaunt of God him selfe within his dominions, to execute and maintaine Iustice, yea such a one, that is not noted of any great crime, for say they God is pure and holy, euen so ought his Deputie to [Page] be in maintayninge right and Ius­tice. So that the subiects of this Prince, are wonderfull obedient, with life and goods, and other loy­all seruice.

Then must needes follow, that the Nobilitye are ver­tuous and prudent.

Yea Ma­dam, as members so necessarye to so godly a Prince, they are decked with humble harts, and farre from all corruption.

The Cleargye then should seeme, to liue according to the Gospell.

O Madam I can­not let, but highly cōmend y^e Clear­gye, for the ritchest Bishops & Pre­lats are not trimmed in sylkes, but clothed in honest decet attire. These men name themselues the Criers of God, and Steward of the poore. For saye they euen as the lawes of the Prince are Proclaimed, through his dominions to the intent his sub­iects should know his will, euen so say they, are we the Cryers of God to proclayme, preache and set foorth [Page] the lawes of the euerlasting God, as well in teaching, as in our liuing & behaueour: for if we do not so say they, the Prophet telleth vs that the bloud of our flock shalbe demaū ­ded at our hands.

But why do they go so plaine appareled, being Lords and of great calling?

I of my selfe Madam, will say no more then I haue harde at their owne mouthes. They say that Christ wil­led his holy Apostels, to leaue their Nets and other worldly goods, and follow him, who in al the time, that his sacred Maiestie abode vpon earth, had neuer any great bodilye [...]: but continuallye like a good Shepheard went from valley to valley, from hill to hill, from pasture to pasture, to seeke his lost Sheepe, and being foūd, brought them home vpon his blessed shoulders, to his hierd and Sheepefolde, calling all­wayes synners to repentaunce: so say they we being his disciples must [Page] euery one of vs take vp his owne Crosse and followe him.

Way thē how can they dispend the great profit and reuenues of their bishop­rikes and other benefices.

Why Madam doo you maruell at that, Then harken I pray you. These good Prelats doo weekely go vnto the common Iaile, where a great number of prisoners are, some for debt, and some for other offence, and there doo they preache the worde of God amonge them, perswading them to repentance and to forsake their euill liuing, they doo not onely in this sort comfort the poore afflic­ted prisoners, but also do according to neede, cloath them which want clothing: yea and three times in the yeare, at the principal feasts, all such prisoners which lie in prison for the sum of twentye Markes or vnder, theese good religious men, doo pay the debt, and set the poore at liberty with great admonishion, how to [Page] flee from fallinge into daunger a­gaine. This liuely worke of faith springeth not alone in them, but al­so the poore Orphants and May­dens, which want dowries for ma­riage, are prouided out of theyr house of Mercy, yea euery sorte of poore people are wel remembred a­monge thē. And in this sort say they we are Stewarde of the poore ac­cording to Christ his commaunde­ment.

Why then they deale not in Vserye, or other like Marchandize.

O no good Madam those wicked vices, are farre from them, for true­ly I may boldly saye, that at the yeares end, all their great reuenues are consumed, in order aforesayde.

And is there no other sorte of religious persons, within the do­minion of Crangalor?

Yes Madam, there is an other sorte of Contemplatiues, who liueth by the labour of theyr handes, in the Mountaines, and these are Silke-weauers, [Page] which liue onely vpon that occupation, and at certayne tymes doo occupye themselues in prayer, calling vpon the name of Iesus.

Truely father Pil­grime I doo reioyce to heare of such vertuous and religious men, who are occupied daye and night in the lawe of God, for I would scarcely haue beleeued that any such had li­ued on earth, well good father proceede to the Ministers of the Lawe.

I I shoulde not seeme vnto you good Madam tedious: I would say some what of theyr be­hauoour.

Naye rather you doo me pleasure, and I geue you moste hartye thankes.

Firste their Iudges are excellent learned men, & such as are chosen out of the Vniuersity, by the Princes Coun­sell, for their excellency, grauitye and learning. These graue Iudges haue no kinde offees, for seales or reknowledging of writings, or such [Page] like, but are maintained with rea­sonable stipend at the Princes cost.

Why then there are no Iuries of twelue men to trye the right of any?

Alas no Madam would you w sh twelue simple men, with­out learning to decide the doubtfull and hard cases in lawe: no, God for­bid.

Will not those Iudges now and than take bribes?

No Ma­dam, for the punishment is gree­uous for such an offence: yea and the Prince to auoide that wickednesse, dooth yeerely make preuie enquiry of the administration of Iustice, to gratify the good Iudges and to pu­nish the wicked. But yet I doo re­member of one Iudge, that tooke a Goose stuffed with gold for a bribe. But when the case was knowen to the Prince, he commaunded the Iudges legge to be sawen off, with a woodden sawe, in the open Mar­ket place. And when the execution was doon, the Prince caused the [Page] Iudge to come before him, saying vnto him: sirra is the stuffing of a Goose good meate, but the Iudge answered not one word. Wel quoth the Prince receyue your office a­gaine, and looke well what meate you eate: who ruled afterward ex­ceeding well. The example where­of did so terrifie, that bribes were cleane banished.

Now assured­ly, this Prince may welbe called the Deputie of God, but sythens the Iudges are so vpright in Iustice, than what say you to the Counsel­lers and other ministers of the law?

I must needes commend them Madam, for there the good Law­yers haue very fayre and large stu­dies, and beset with many fayre Chayres, so that the client when he commeth is commaunded to sit him downe in one of those chayres, and to put on his bonet. Then he ope­neth his case, if it appeare a iust and lawfull sute: then the sayd Lawyer [Page] deuiseth his Plea, and his Clarke penneth the same, with the lines neare together, for they know not what great spaces betwixt lines after eight pence a sheete, meaneth. Now the Plea being drawen, and contayne a large sheete of paper, written as aforesayde, the Clyent paieth to his Lawier two shillings and three pence for the Clarke, wherewith they are well satisfied. But if the cause apeareth not good and iust, then the Lawyer perswa­deth the party, not to deale any fur­ther: and so alwayes wronge is thrust out of the dores. These Lawyers abhorre couetousnesse, and know not what Golden An­gels meane. The Iudges syt dayly through the yeare in iudgement, the Festiual dayes excepted, so that there is no issue or tryall vpon one point or braunch of a matter, but rather by those learned Iudges, a whole matter is ended at once, [Page] which is a good and godly waye. The Counsellers in Lawe, sit on each syde of the Iudges: I meane not on the same benche where the Iudges syt, but rather on each syde of the iudiciall place, and the Iud­ges at the vpper end. So there is no strise who shal come to the Bar: But when any ple is related. Then it is lawfull for euery Lawyer to exclaime the meaning of the words on his Clyents behalfe: but with very fewe wordes.

But may not the party agreeued, appeale of any sentence?

Yes, if the cause amount aboue the sum of one hun­dred pounde, the partie agreeued may appeale to the Princes Coun­sell: where alwayes two synguler Counsellers attendeth such causes, euen as a Chauncery to mittigate extremity of Law.

Then how dooth the poore folke obtaine Ius­tice against the riche and mightye.

O Madam wounderfull well. [Page] For the poore shall haue rather more fauour then the ritch, it is so Madam that the most famous lear­ned man within the precynt of the whole Cittie, he I say is appointed for Aduocate of the poore, and hath a great stipend of the Cittizens for his paynes. And thinke you Ma­dam that he is the basest office in a Common weale? No: for this aduo­cate is had in greatest honour, next vnto the Princes Councell, & chiefe Iudges. And againe when the com­plaint of the poore commeth before the Iudges in the iudicial Hall, then saith the Attorny of the poore, who hath also his wages of the Citizens. My Lords, it may please you to heare a poore mans cause. This voyce is no sooner heard, when the Iudges staieth all matters, except it touch the estate, and incontinent the poore man ssute is dispatched: for if it should not be so, then many times would it happen, as once a [Page] sute depending betweene a poor Poticary and a Butcher, for when their Plea is determined by the in­ferior Iudge: the Poticary caried priuely to the Iudge a little Pot of Conserua, beseeching him to remē ­ber his matter against the butcher. The Iudge tooke it and sayde he would prouide Iustice. But when the Butcher heard of the presenting of this bribe, he went and killed a good fat Hog and brought it to the Iudge, requesting his fauor against the Poticary: y^e Iudge also receiued it, and bad him depart. It so fell out, that the sentence passed on the But­chers syde. But whē the poore Po­ticary had notice thereof, he came railing to the Iustice house, saying to the Iudge: syr how chaunst you remembred not both my right & pot of Conserua. Yes quoth the Iudge, I remember them bothe, but as for your Conserua, there came a Hog & threw down your pot, ye & spilt it, so [Page] that I neuer found any sweetenes therein. Mary sir quoth y^e Poticary a murraine and a pestilence take such a Hog that spilt both my Ius­tice and Conserua. So that Ma­dam I tell you this merry tale, to the ende that you may know how in this happy Lande, it preuaileth not for the ritch to say I haue a fat purse: for why, the good Iudges, hath so great a feare of God and the Prince, that no cor­ruption can auaile. And certainely the godly Diuines, are a great cause thereof, for they will not let to tell all estates their faultes, by some honest meanes: by reason whereof, they doo well know, that they thēselues, shall come to iudge­ment, and be Iudged, so that accor­ding to the oppinion of S. Ierom, they haue dayly the sounde of the Trumpet in their eares, that shall call to Iudgement. And this is the principall cause, that they do liue in [Page] the feare of God, and are blessed.

I doo most highly praise this godly rule and order. But how are Criminall matters decided.

For­soothe Madam the Iudges which haue the charge of Criminall mat­ters, doo likewise sit all the whole yeare in the iudiciall place: but as I sayde before, festiuall dayes excep­ted. These Iudges vse great polli­cye to searche out the troth, against any accused of crime, and the troth manifestly knowen, the offence is corrected with greeuous punish­ment: but otherwise they haue great feare of shedding innocent bloud, by reason whereof euery pri­soner is permitted to haue an ad­uocate, & make exceptions against his accusers. And when any offen­der is condemned to suffer paines of death, he hath three dayes respite to repent his former life, they also haue good men that neuer leaueth perswading them earnestly to re­pent, [Page] and only to stick vnto the mer­cy of our Lord Iesus. Truely Ma­dam I haue seene some dye, with such penitent & humble harts, that any good Christian would haue cō ­mended their constant faith.

Sure, this is a charitable act.

I must needes confesse Madam, that the people in this Country are fully perswaded, that there are but two wayes of eternitye, the one leadeth vnto perpetual ioy and euerlasting, felicity, and the other to euerlasting, horrible and vnquenchable hell sier, the which bothe places, shall haue no end, whilest God is God, and y^t is infynite.

The name of Iesus be praised for such a Country and people.

Also Madam whilest I abode in Crangalor, I saw three persons punished, the one was a woman, and she was conuicted of Sorcery & Witchcraft, but no hurt doone by her to either man or beast, approoued: yet for her dealing in [Page] that arte, she was condemned. The execution was, she was set vpon an Asse, her body naked vnto her Na­uill, and annoynted all ouer with Honny, the which was beset full of small Feathers of Downe, with a Miter on her head, of a yarde long, and in this sorte she rode about the streets accustomed, with a Trum­pet blowen before her, and a Cryer manifesting her offence. An other was punished for periury, this man rode likewise vpon an Asse, about the accustomed streetes: but not na­ked. And in the Market place, there was a Barbor attending for hym, with his Instruments, and there he was foreced to open his mouthe, and all his teeth being accoumpted, the Barbor drew out euery fifthe toothe, in such sort Madam, that neither money, nor friendship can redeeme any punishment in that Countrey. The thyrde person that [Page] I saw punished, was a wittoll and he I say, rode vpon an Asse about the sayd streetes, with a Hartes horne on his head ful of small Bels, and his wife rode alter whipping him, and then followed the hange­man, whipping them bothe.

O moste happy Land, where vice is so punished. But I pray you say father the poore Prisoners that are impri­soned for det, are they put in yrons?

No Madam, for there they hold opinion, that none ought to were Yrons, but such as hath cōmitted o­dious crimes, for otherwise say they y^e Iaile is no other thing but onely a safe custody.

Yet they pay fees for their Yrons.

Alas Madā God forbid: for thinke you, that it were a iust cause, that a poore man, who hath fallen into debt by sundry mis­haps, should now in prison be puni­shed with fees of Yrons, and incurre into a new debt: nay they hold such vsage for abhominable extorcion, [Page] and a thinge odious in the sight of God.

But yet I thinke they paye eighteene pence a day for their meate, and a groate for their bead, or at the least twelue pence a day, and a groate for their bead.

That also Madam is holden for an abo­minable vse. But troth it is that any Prisoner for debt, may bring his bead, his meate and drink from whence he wil. And if he be so poore that he hath nothing wherewith to maintaine himselfe. Then the house of charitie prouided for such a one.

What fees hath the Iayler then?

Forsooth syxe pence for e­uery Prisoner, and also a yearely stipend of the Cittizens, sufficient to mainetaine an honest man.

I haue father Pilgrim throughly vnderstood all your talke. But now I pray you how dooth the Notaries, Skriueners, and such like officers vse themselues.

Madam I must also commend their vsage: for why [Page] you shall vnderstand, that euery Notary, Scriuener or suche like officer, concerninge either tempo­rall or ecclesiasticall affaires haue their offices from the Prince, for a certayne summe of money vnder the Princes Seale: the which offices each one dooth enioye for terme of life, except he make resig­nation thereof to his sonne, or some other friend, fifteene dayes or more before his death and for wante of suche resignation the of­cie commeth againe to the Prince: but in effect, euer such officer geueth sufficient Sureties to the Prince, for the true and faithfull executing of his office, by meane where of all false wrytinges, and abhominable deceipts are vtterly banished. More euer euery such Notary or Scriue­ner hath his bookes of Recordes, wherein the parties obliged dooth set their firmes and seales, with two or three witnesses, which testifye [Page] that they do know, that the parties so obliged, are the very selfe same men, to auoide all collusion. This doon the Scriuener vnder his firme and sygne, geueth the partie creaditor the copye of the Bonde, which is auaileable, and pleadeable in Lawe: the cause hereof is to auoide all subtutie, for many times poore men by some sinister meane or casualty, hath his writings stol­len, enbesseled, burned, or loste: yet were it not iust, that those men should lose their right and title. In consideration whereof the ori­ginall matters remayneth aliue in the sayde Scriueners bookes, in order aforesayde. Euery Ob­ligation contayneth a sheete of Paper, neere written, for the which the Scriuener is to haue syxe pence and no more, and o­ther syxe pence for the Copye if the partye wyll haue it. But thys muste I saye vnto you [Page] Madam the cause of this godly go­uernment is, that once in two or three yeeres, the Prince sendeth se­cret visitors: who taketh all these Scriueners or Notaries Recorde's into theyr power, and commaunde to Proclaime through the Cittye, that if any person or persons, know any falshood in the sayde Officers, concerning their Offices, that then they come and manifest the same: and the offence or offences knowen, some hath their hands cut off, other some depriued from their offices, and others condemned to the Gally for slaues: yea the Lawe is that if any writing chaunce to be enterly­ned, then must the Scriuener recite the same words at the foote of the writing, before the partie or par­ties seale thereto.

But is this order throughout all the Princes dominions, in Citties, Viliages, and Townes?

Yea truely Ma­dam, and all other writings of no [Page] effect, except some Billes or writing made in extreme necessity, which are afterward recknowleged before the Iudge, or els remaine of none ef­fect.

This godly order must needes be profitable to the Prince.

Nay Madam much more profi­table I say to the common weale, for the auoyding of many brabling and wicked sutes attempted in law.

Father Pilgrim, I am well sa­tisfyed in these pointes. But how dooth Maiors or other gouernours of great Citties behaue thēselues?

O Madam exceeding well. For each ruler of a famous Citty deligh­teth not in Glottony, and Belly cheere, but rather is very vigilant and carefull for the benefyt of the Citty: he I say, commeth not vpon dayes appointed, to visyt the Ba­kers and other Vittellers, but ra­ther followeth the order that Christ hath prescribed, which is how his comming shalbe when he is not loo­ked [Page] for: euen so dooth this good Ruler of Crangalor, come at suche tymes to visyt the Cittizens, that some dooth reioyce, but others doo tremble at his sodaine comming, ye in the night season when others sleepe at quyet rest, he wandereth round about the Cittie, personally in all blinde lanes, and solitary pla­ces, to see what watch is kept, to harken for bibbers and dronkerds, to searche out Hoores, and Hoore­mongers, and to examine suspiti­ous guestes. I am sure Madam that the Gouernour of Crangalor, hath expulsed a number of such vi­cious persons, out of that Cittye, yea it seemeth now a terrenall pa­radice: but wot you what is the cause of this? Forsoothe at the time of the terme of expiration of the sayde Gouernours charge, the Prince appointeth a new Gouer­nour, who commaundeth the for­mer Gouernour and al his officers, [Page] to keepe their owne houses as pri­soners for the space of fortye dayes: and then Proclaymeth through­out the Cittye, that if any per­son or persons, poore or ritche, can laye any extorcion, bribes, or other offence, against the sayde Gouernour or Officers, that then they come and complaine, and shall haue present remedy and satisfac­tion. But when those fortye dayes are expired, and no offence founde: O what great Honour receyueth such a Gouernoure: yea and how highly is he esteemed of his Prince?

Truely father Pilgrime that is a blessed Lande: but what can you saye of all such officers, which hath the receite and dealinges a­boute the Princes reuenues?

Once in three yeare Ma­dam secret enquyrye is made of theyr dealinges, and theyr bookes narrowlye searched, so that the Prynce cannot bee deceyued.

O father Pilgrime, the sunne declyneth apace, and loth I am to leaue your godly conuersation: but yet I pray you say, how dooth wo­men behaue themselues in that con­trey.

Very honest and vertu­ous they are Madam. For in that Citty, you shall not see neyther Wi­ues, nor Maydes with hand Bas­kets, or otherwise wander about the Citty, because the Husbands and theyr men slaues do prepare all necessaries, for their houses and Families: so that the women straye not abroad, except on the Sabboth day, or other Festiuall dayes, when they go to the Temple, or els when they go abroade in their Husbands company to recreate themselues: for otherwise the Husbandes feare that they should haue some euill wares brought home in those hand baskets.

I haue yet many other things to enquire of you: but I pray you tel me, haue you bin at any time [Page] in England?

Neuer but once Madam, and then I came to the fa­mous Cittye of London, to take Shipping into Scithia.

But that Lande?

Forsoothe Ma­dam at that time Raygned, and I hope yet dooth, a vertuous May­den Queene, whose beautye and rare vertues, whose wisdom and synguler learning: yea her wonder­ful knowledge in sundry languages: the like, I neuer heard nor knewe in in any parte of the worlde where I haue traueiled into: And yet haue I byn in some part of Asia, in some part of America, and in some parte of Eu­ropia.

This is beleeue me the straungest thinge that as yet you haue tolde mee. God preserue her, and if I were as younge as I haue byn, I would gladly go see so gra­cious a Lady and Maiden Queene. But I perceyue consydering you went that way to take Shipping [Page] into the Lande of Scithia, you had no leysure to enquire of the commo­ditie of that Lande.

No true­ly Madam, tyme would not permit me: for I was no sooner come to London, but the shippes were rea­dye to hoyse vp sayles and depart.

I feare father Pilgrime, the shutting in of Corinth Gates, be­cause night approcheth on so faste: Wherefore good father, let vs now make the more haste, and sythe you are a strainger here, you shall abide this night with me, with such poore cheare as I may make you.

God reward you good Madam, I wyll not refuse your gentle offer.

Now the Lady Listra, and the Pilgrim enter into Corinth, where the Pilgrim was well entertayned and lodged: yea and at his depar­ture from thence, the Ladye gaue him spending money, for his ior­ney, with faithfull promise made by the Pilgrime at his returne, to ma­nifest [Page] vnto that Lady, all strainge things, that he should heare or see in his pretended Iorney.