Nevves from Malta written by a gentleman of that iland, to a friend of his in Fraunce. Shewing the desperate assault and surprising of two castles of the Turkes, by the Italians forces, vpon the eight day of September last past. Translated according to the Italian copie. 1603 Approx. 184 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 45 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2014-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A72861 STC 17215 ESTC S125021 99898539 99898539 173301

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Early English books online text creation partnership. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A72861) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 173301) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 2033:1) Nevves from Malta written by a gentleman of that iland, to a friend of his in Fraunce. Shewing the desperate assault and surprising of two castles of the Turkes, by the Italians forces, vpon the eight day of September last past. Translated according to the Italian copie. [2], 3, [1]; [88] p. printed by Thomas Creede, for Iohn Hippon, and are to be sold at his shop in Watling-streete, adioyning to the Red Lyon Gate, London : anno. 1603. Caption title from A2r second series: To the right honorable and his singular good Lord Sir Henry Sidney knight of the most honorable Order of the Garter, Lord President of Wales, and matches of the same. Running title reads: News from the north. Last leaf blank. Signatures: A⁴; A-L⁴ (missing A1). Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library.

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Nevves from Malta, written by a Gentleman of that Iland, to a friend of his in Fraunce.

Shewing the desperate aſſault and ſurpriſing of tw Caſtles of the Turkes, by the Italians Forces, vpon the eight day of September laſt paſt.

Tranſlated according to the Italian Copie.

Thomas Creede's device

TC

VIRESS T VV NERE VERITAS

LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede, for Iohn Hippon, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Watling-ſtreete, adioyning to the Red Lyon Gate. Anno. 1603.

To my very louing and much beloued Couzen, Signior M. P.

MY good Couzen, I know you expect from me ſomewhat touching the occurrents of this place, the haſte of this bearer makes me briefer then I would be, yet as time would giue me leaue, I haue written you the truth of a peece of ſeruice lately done by our Cauelires and Souldiers, vppon two Caſtles of the Turkes, by the helpe of a Greeke: the maner whereof, and the meane whereby, I haue truly, though briefely ſet you down: in which I know you wil reioyce with vs in Chriſt, vnder whoſe banner we fight, and to whome wee giue the glory of our victories.

Malta the 9. of October. 1603. Your very louing Couzen, P. M.
News from Malta, writen by a Gentleman of that Iland, to a friend of his in France.

IN the moneth of September. 1603. about the eight day, the great maſter of our Iland, ſéeing the neceſſitie of Corne in this place, and determining by all meanes he could to make prouiſion for the ſupply of ſuch want, had intelligence of a Grecian (who for ſome priuate diſcontentment in his boſome concealed, hauing ſtollen from the Turkes came vnto our Iland) that there was in two Caſtles of the ſaide Turkes great ſtore of Corne, lately laide in; and very ſhortly were two veſſels more of great burthen loaden with corne expected to come to them: all which if it would pleaſe our Gouernour to followe his aduiſe, he would not doubt to deliuer into his hands; who noting all circumſtances by him deliuered, and vpon the nature of his diſcontentment, the rather giuing credit to his report, did forthwith man out foure gallies with foure hundreth mē o Armes, and two Galleons with two hundreth ſouldiours in the G diies, were a hundreth Knights of greate valor, and reſolution: who hauing put to ſea, with a proſperous winde, fell within a few dayes vpon the mouth of the Gulf, which brought thē vnder one of the Caſtles of the Turkes called Panto, about the twelfth hower of the night, where the Greeke with a better in his hand counterfaited for the purpoſe, being a ſhore with fifty of the Knights, and a hundreth and fifty ſouldiours, was deſcried by a Scintinell, ſtanding vpon the walls of the Caſtle: who cried out, Solinga, chi va la? who goes there? was anſwered by the Gréeke, here is one come from ye Baſſa to your Gouernor, who hath ſent me vnto him with this letter, and certaine ſouldiours to doe a ſodeine exploit of importance, ſo with a long ſpeare gaue him the letter: the watche, not miſtruſting the cōming of any enemy, hauing drunke heard, and ſo fallen a ſléepe, the Scintinell carries the letter vnto the Gouernour, willing him to ſtaie, and he ſhould preſently haue his anſwer: which Scintinell, was no ſooner gone off the walls, but they hauing ſet vp their engines and ladders, ſcaled the walls, entred the Caſtle, and hauing taken the ordinance, bent them againſt the houſe of the Gouernour, who vpon the ſhot of one Cannon, finding himſelfe betraied, came forth and ſubmitted himſelfe with all his people into the hands of our Caualierio, ſome fewe of the ſouldiours leaping ouer the walls, fledde away, in which time the other fifty Knights with a hundreth and fifty ſouldiours going on ſhore vnder the other Caſtle, called Petractio, cauſing the Galleons to diſcharge a Bullet or two vpon the walles, the ſouldiers ſéeing the fifty of the other from the other caſtle, and hearing them crie, Treaſon treaſon, as men amazed, & ſtrooken with a ſodain feare, left the caſtle, and made all the ſpéed they could to be gone to a cittie diſtance two miles or more from that place: ſo that our men entred the caſtle without reſiſtance: in which they found greate ſtore of corne, and other riches of good value: in the other Caſtle likewiſe they tooke beſides. Corne and other riches, the Gouernour, his Lady, and their children, women of great beawty: all which, they with foure hundreth other ſouldiours, and other people, they brought home and ſolde for ſlaues to their great commodity: they tooke further, a hundreth great pieces of Artillery, of which were forty of Braſſe, full Cannons, and fit for battry: in theſe Caſtles they ſtaied foure dayes, expecting the cōming of the greate ſhippes with corne, in which time the Turks fallying out of the Citie, made a brauado vpon our people, who encountring with them, ſlue ſome fifty of their vangard, and ſo draue them to retire: the next day following they made away our two Galleons brought with corne and ſpoile, beſide the foure hundreth ſlaues, which they ſent home, before them, the galleies ſtaying ſome halfe a day or more after them, putting out to Sea, met with the two ſhips loaden with corne, whom they tooke, with forty pieces of Ordinances, ten of them of braſſe, and foure Cannons, in the ſhippes they had a hundreth ſlaues, other wealth more then corne was little in them, but the veſſels were good and of good burthen: all which, with the loſſe but of one Caualierio, and ten ſouldiours, our men with great Triumphe brought home vnto our ports, to the greate glory of God, and the comfort of all Chriſtians. Had not the haſt of this bearer hindred me, I would more at large haue written vnto you of other points, as of the nature of the Gréekes diſcontentment, his reward from our Gouernour for his ſeruice, who hath here a yearely penſion, and hath here ſet downe the ende of his daies amonge vs: God increaſe vs in theſe and other of his bleſſings, and ſend vs more ſuch good intelligence, for our comforts, and proſper vs in all ſuch and other enterpriſes, to his glory.

FINIS.
To the Right honorable and his ſinguler good Lord Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the moſte honorable Order of the Garter, Lord Preſident of Wales, and Marches of the ſame.

ALthough there can be no reendſhip (right Honorable and my ſinguler good Lord) to ſpeak properly whe e there is no equallitie between the pa ties, yet may the ſimpleſt and the meaneſt looue and honor the higheſt and gr ateſt, yea ſo much the more as their inequallitie is the greater. But that is not properly called freendſhip but rather a dutifull looue and is harde to be expreſſed and ſhewed for the inequalitie aforeſaid. For F eendſhip is between equalls, or at the leaſt where the inequalliti is not ſo very great that the Offices and duties of Freendſhip which are the bondes and ſinewes therof can haue no entercourſ . I ſpeak this for my ſelf that haue long deſired occaſion to ſhe my hartie goodwil and affection vnto your Lordſhip which hath been ſomewhat hard for me to doo for the cauſe abooue remembred. And therfore hauing gathered this little conference: I ade bold to dedicate it vnto my good Lord. A thing meeter to b my gift then woorthy to be preſented vnto your Honor or to go further vnder the name of ſuch a Patron. Howbeit, my truſt is hat your Lordſhip of your accuſtomed clemency will accept a ſimple thing of him at whoſe hands nothing at al was looked for, and will alowe my good will towards the reparation of ſuch faults and Imperfections as are heerin.

So praying God to bleſſe your Lordſhip and pr ſper you.

From London the twentie ſix of Nouember. 1579. Your Lordſhips in all humillitie. T. F.
¶ TO THE GODLY and Gentle Reader.

THou hast heer Godly and gentle Reader the Conference betwéen Sim Certain and Pierce Plowman two great Clarkes as thou maiſt vnderſtand by their Diſcourſe, which I haue gathered and reported as faithfully and as truely as my ſimple memory could retaine the ſame, and that with ſome trauaile which I occounted my dutie. Firſt vnto them and others by them héerin mentioned.

And ſecondly vnto all and euery good man and woman whoſe mindes and harts God may ſturre vp vnto Godlynes and Vertue by their good enſample. Namely all ſuch as are Fathers and Maiſters of houſholdes, but chéefly and principally of common Innes and Tauerns whoſe good or euill example ſpreadeth far and wide and I feare in theſe our daies rather in corruption of life and maners: then in edifiyng or increaſe of Vertue and Godlynes according to the ſaying of Ieſus of Sirach that it is as hard for a Merchant to be no lyar and for a Tauerner or Inholder to be no drunkerd which thing although hée hath ſaid to be very hard: yet (for the Inholder) that his rule admitteth exception, thou maiſt héer finde with out traueling to Rippon in Yorkſhire to learne and ſo for a grote or ſixpence thou maiſt know yt which coſt mée aboue fiue markes to learne beſides my trauail and time ſpent, which yet if it pleaſe thée to accept: I ſhal account right wel beſtowed, which God graunt, and that in all thy Iourneis thy head ake not before thou alight in ſuch an Hoſtry. Farwel.

Aut bibe aut abi.

The Printer to the Reader.

GENTLE READER, IF THOV finde any Imperfection in this woork either for the matter in ſubſtance or els for the deuiſion, the maner and forme therof I truſt thou wilt alow a r aſonable excuſe aſwel vnto the Author as vnto m e, betwen whome thy blame is otherwiſe to be deuided. Thou knoweſt that to write and reporte a thing at the mouth of the Speaker aſketh a nimble ha d and a great memory, if a man had his Tooles ready for the purpoſe which yet this Author had not ready for nothing ſo like as any ſuch matter, and therfore was forced to put his braine-pan in truſt withall, and to write it in his way homeward.

In dooing wherof his care was greater to couch the matter truely in ſubſtance: then to parte or to deuide or otherwiſe to digeſt the ſame. Which he referred vnto mee, and which alſo I haue doon as ye ſhortnes of the time gaue me leaue. Both which excuſes, if it pleaſe thee to admit: thou maiſt in time to come receiue it in more perfection aſwel for his part beeing the matter in ſubſtance wherof I dout not much hath eſcaped him. and alſo for the diuiſion beeing mine. Farwell.

W. M. in Commendation of the Author. LEauing at large the Brunts of briniſh flood, The pitched Feelds and fables finely pend: This Author heer to doo his Cuntry good, One woork of woorth his time & toile dooth ſpend. The buſie Brain with cankred Enuie fraught, That ſues and ſtriues for ſturring of a ſtraw: May read heerin his leſſon largely taught, And by the ſame deſcrie him ſelfe a Daw. The Counſailer, the ſpokeſman, and the reſt, Who ſimple ſoules to needleſſe lawing eg: May learne heerby ſuch dealings to defame: As driue poor men their bread with teares to beg. The prating Sot whoſe peremptory ſpeech, Is brayed foorth all Lawyers to defame: Not far from hence may finde a cunning Leech, To charme his tung and ſhroud it in with ſhame. But in few woords my meaning to imparte, If you demaund what mine opinion is: Hee hath doon wel, Gods bleſſing on his hart, Who ſend me ſtore of Books ſo good as this. Coelum non Solum. W. M.
Anthony Munday to all curteous and freendly Readers in commendation of this Woork. AS Tully did of vertuous life define, And Ouid paint the odde conceits of looue: And Maro ſquared in a direct line, The hard aſſaults that valiant harts did proue, In bloody Battails for their fames behoue. As fliering Fortune ſhould them chaunce to p y: In vaunting verſe as Maro tells the way. But leauing now at large ſuch fond delights, Such Fables fond as pratling Poets vſe: This Author heer preſenteth to your ſights, Such tales of trueth as may you force to muſe, To iudge aright the crime of eche abuſe. As heer twixt Sim and Pierce he dooth comp und: Such wiſe conceits as ſeldome hath been fou d. When you haue read Iudge then the Authors pains. His tedious toyle in wiſhing well to thee: Thy freendly thanks, he craues no other gaine , Which vnto him more welcome ſure ſhall b e, Then riches ſtore if thou couldſt giue it free. Wherfore my Freends doo this at my requeſt To heare and ſee and alway ſay the beſt. Honos alit Artes. A. M.
* Thomas Procter in reporte of the Authors good wil. AMong the woorthy woorks, whith learned Tully pend: The care of Cuntrie and of Freends, he greatly dooth commend. ¶ Which leſſon in my minde, the Man which took in hand: To pen this pleaſant Hiſtory, did perfect vnderſtand. ¶ For in the ſame he ſhowes, a looue vnto his Frends: Beſide a zealous minde of good, that to his Cuntrie tends. ¶ Of Louers liues, of Warres, ne yet of Wunders great: Hee ſeemes to publiſh vnto vs, but ſimply dooth intreat. ¶ Of ſilly Men, whoſe proof, dooth ſuch experience giue: As for Examples of our liues, learnes eche eſtate to liue. ¶ Wherin the Author ſought, ſuch meanes to publiſh it: As in my ſimple Iudgement ſure, might ſeem to prooue his wit. ¶ But for the careful paines, which he hath ſpent heerin: Hee only craues for recompence, your fauours good to win. ¶ wherby you may him mooue, to vtter his good wil: when as occaſion ſhall him ſerue, in woorks of greater ſkil. Nil Melius Arte. T. P.
✿ Iohn Peeterhouſe to the Reporter of this Hiſtorie. THou that haſt reported this pleaſant Hiſtory, Wherof thine eyes and eares are a witn ſſe: And haſt intreaſured the memory, Of Pierce and Simon for their woorthines, Withouten hope of hire or recompe ce: For thy long Iourney, or for thy diſ ence. ¶ Thou haſt acquit thy dutie vnto them, In this behalf, and if I geſſe aright: Thou haſt deſerued well of other men, Before whome thou haſt ſet a Candle light. Of Nurture and of Education: By men of baſe and mean condition. ¶ Which ſome for that cauſe wil eſtéem the leſſe, Hauing reſpect vnto the circumſtaunce: The great apparaunce of vnliklyneſſe, Waying all others in their owne ballaunce. As if that God could not reſerue a few: Such as him liſt his glory for to ſhew. ¶ For what though this age vniuerſally, Séemeth geuen ouer to corruption: Séemed it not ſo in the dayes of Elie, When yet God had reſerued many a one? So hath he now, that are not gon aſide: Nor ſolde them ſelues to Couetiſe and Pride. ¶ As thou haſte well ſhewed in this Hiſtory, What by thine owne proofe and experience: What by thine Hoſte Simons authoritie, Which (for mine owne parte) I doo reuerence, And therfore (I ſay thank come to thy hand, That haſte it geuen vs to vnderſtand. ¶ And putteſt vs in hope that Charitie, Is not ſtark dead though ſhe be wounded ſore: By Pride and Couetiſe her enemy, And that our God yet kéepeth ſome in ſtore. That both in déed and woord doo ſéek his praiſe God let them wax and giue them happy daies. FINIS.
¶ The Reporter to his Book. My little Book where ſo thou chaunce to dwel, God giue thee fauour in thy Readers ſight: Whom if thou pleaſe all, thou muſt quit thee well, And better then I feare is in thy might. For that dooth ſeldome chaunce to any one: Better or wurſſe without exception. ¶ If any man or woman chalenge thee, For any woord or any argument: Come not to ſeek thy defence at mee, For I am not thine Author Verament. Get thee into the North to Rippon Town: And there enquire for Pierce that woorthy clown. ¶ And eke for Simon Certain at the Signe Of the Greek Omega there dooth hee dwell: where welcome thou ſhalt be as I diuine, Aſke them whether thou haſt reported well. Their conference according to the trueth: If they ſay yea, of others haue no rueth. FINIS.
How the Author comming homeward out of Scotland through Yorkſhire, chaunced to lodge in Rippon, At what ſigne, the name of the Hoſte, the order and maner of the Houſe and famelye. And his entertaiment there. Chap. 1.

IN my laſt return from Edenborough in Scotland, comming homeward through Yorkſhire: I traueled ſomewhat out of he common high London way, of purpoſe t ſée the Cuntrie. And one day among oth rs, toward euen: I chaunced to come to a little through fare Towne called Rippon, where at the ery entring into the town I met a poore olde Woman, of whom I aſked if there were any good lodging in the town. She anſwered mee that there was good lodging at the ſigne of t e Gréek Omega. The Gréek Omega (quoth I) What doo yo meane by that? Nothing ſaid ſhe, but that there is good lodging and honeſt entertainment, which (I ſuppoſe) is all tha you require. Then I aſked her what was the good mans ame of the houſe. His name (quoth ſhe) is Simon Certain we call him commonly Sim Certain. Sim Certain (quoth I ſurely theſe are very ſtrange names, and ſo bidding her fa ewell: I departed into the towne warde, much more deſire is to be come to my lodging, for the ſtrangenes of the names, aſwell 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 w s ware of a very faire Gréek Omega hanging foorth as a c mmon Signe, euen as the olde woman had tolde me before. And thether I went, and entring into the houſe: I foun in the Hall the Good man, his two Sonnes, his Chamberl in, and his Hoſtler ſinging the Ciiij. Pſalme of Dauid very iſtinctly and orderly. The Goodwife with her two Daugh ers ſat ſpinning at their Whéeles a little diſtaunce from th m. All which things when I beheld: I thought with my ſe fe that theſe things were yet more ſtrange to beholde, the were either the Signe or els the good mans name to heare. So I bad them God ſpéed. The Hoſte very curteouſly aroſe, and bad me welcome, ſo did the wife alſo, and aſked mée whether I meant to tary all night. I anſwered yea. Then he aſked mée if I would ſée my Chamber. No gentle Hoſte (quoth I) I will not hinder ſo much your good exerciſe, 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 harty thanks. Then hée enquired of mée, of whence I was, where I had béen, and whether I was bound. I tolde him I was a Southern man borne and dwelling, and that I had béen at Edenborough in Scotland, and was thus farre in my way homeward. In good time ſir (quoth hée) and yée are hartely welcome into this part of Yorkſhire. I thank you gentle Hoſte (quoth I.)

The comming thether of Pierce Plowman, beeing newly come from London. His requeſt to the Hoſte to lend him fiue pound vpon a paune. The refuſall of the Hoſte, the queſtion thereupon moued, beeing the matter of the conference. Chap. 2.

BY that time we had talked ſcant half an houre: there came in a Cuntrie man a Neighboure, a iolly olde fatherly man, bringing vnder his arme a fardell of Bookes, as many as hée might well holde vnderneath one of his armes, he gaue vs the time of the day. What Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoſte) welcome from London Sir (quoth he to me) this Neighboure of mine is lately come from where you are going God willing. Truely (qooth I) and this is happily met by grace of God, and as I verily ſuppoſe néere in the mid way betwéene Edenborough and London. With that Neighbour Simon quoth this Pierce Plow man (for that was his name) I am come to deſire your help. What is the matter Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoſte?) Neighbour (quoth hée) to lend mée fiue pound for half a yéer, for truely (quoth hée) 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 hée) that was very ill handled, ye ſh ould alwaies ſo vſe your matters that ye main ſtock be ſau d whole. Fye neighbour Simon quoth he, ſpeak no more of th t for the reuerence of God, for truely I am aſhamed of my ſelf, but what remedy now ſaue patience, and to learne to e wiſer héeafter. What meanes all theſe paper Books (quoth our Hoſte. Mary neighbour quoth Pierce they ſhalbe ſ retie vnto you for the repaiment of your fiue pound. With that they were vnbound, and béeing opened and looked vpon: t ey were Billes, Anſwers, Replications, Reionders Coppie of Depoſitions, and ſuch like. Some out of one Court, ſome out of an other. When our Hoſte had ſéen them all: why Neighbour (quoth hée) doo you think to méet with any man that is ſo mad to lend v. pence vpon ſuch traſh? Traſh Neighbour quoth Pierce they ſtand me in aboue fiftie pound. Peradventure ſo quoth our Hoſte, but that prooueth not that they a e woorth fiftie points, ſauing vnto him that were as mad to uy them of you: as you bought them at their hands that ſ lde them vnto you. But or you méet with any ſuch chapman: I beléeue you will be weary of kéeping them. With that Pie ce began to be half offended. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoſte, fiue pound is a ſmall matter betwéen vs twain, you ſ all haue it vpon your woord. But as for your Books: héer d elleth a Lady not far hence, carie them to her, for they are f r fet and déer bought, and ſuch things men ſay are good for Ladies.

¶ Pierce findeth it ſtrange that men ſhould pay ſo eer for things which in their hands are ſo vile and little woorth, as concerning their return. Chap. 3.

NEighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) I can put vp that mock at your hands, for I knowe ye meane me no euil 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 extremly for things, wherof no better returne is to be made, yet muſt wée pay them with great attendaunce, with cap in hand and all reuerence. Great reaſon quoth our Hoſte, for they are woorſhipfull, and right woorthy of all thoſe duties. Then haue I béen in an errour a long time (quoth Pierce) for I haue alwaies hetherto thought that woorſhip and honor had ſtood in geuing: & not in taking, in helping, reléeuing and dooing good: and not in their contraries, and this ſéemeth vnto mée both 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 bée deuided, and he that gayneth, or is reléeued, and is holpen: ought to honor and woorſhip him by whom he gayneth, is holpen and reléeued, for otherwiſe why dooth the Seruant woorſhip his Maiſter and not e conuerſo. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoſte, our honorable & reuerend forefathers with great wiſdome and diſcretion, aſſeſſed 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 P that ierce clapped his hand vpon the boord. I make God a vow (quoth hée) whatſoeuer 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 godlynes ne vertue, to God, neither to good man or woman. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoſte, this is but the errour of your Iudgement, and that ſhall appéere vnto you ſo euidently, that your ſelf ſhall confeſſe that theſe fées and charges which you hink ſo great and ſo excceſſiue had ſo great reaſon in their beginning as that greater had neuer any ciuil ordinance or cōſ itution. Whether yée will regarde the honor and glory of G d or the preſeruation of the common Welth which chéefly de endeth therupon. That ſéemeth wunderfull ſtrange vnto m (quoth Pierce) that in ſuch extreme taking and ſo ſmall rendring there ſhould lye hidden ſo great miſtery of good meaning and therfore gladly would I heare your reaſons therupon. Very well 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 and godli ſt & Members of the ſame, yea verily (quoth Pierce) very well (quoth our Hoſte.)

¶ Simon approoueth their great Fees and charges as things ment to be a reward and nuriſhment of Knowledge, lear ing and Vertue, and puniſhment of vngodlines and vice, and therfore true and iuſt. Chap. 4.

FIrſt I think yée will graunt (quoth h e) that Maieſtrates and Officers are the Deputies and Liuetenaunts of GOD héerin Earth, high and honorable, for that they are n very déed the hand and mouth of the Lawe, and in fewe and plain woords the ſpeaking a d woorking Law, for by them the law commandeth and forbiddeth So that their end and purpoſe is that God may be honored and glorified, good and godly People cheriſhed, ſhor ly that peace and concord may be maintained. I graunt you all this (quoth Pierce) you will graunt (quoth hée) that ſhe way and meane 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 Pie ce) Yée will graunt (quoth our Hoſte) that the wayes and meanes to puniſh ſinnes and 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 hée) 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 both the ſufferer and the executor. Then quoth our Hoſte, ſéeing all puniſhments are fearfull and gréeuous vnto the ſufferer therof, & no pleaſure, but rather ſorrowe and gréef of hart vnto the executors therof, ſuch and ſo muſt néeds be the firſt cauſes and occaſion therof. That is very true quoth Pierce. You know quoth our Hoſte, that the cauſes and occaſions 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 priuat 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 heard: your prooues are farther to fet.

You know quoth our Hoſte, that the nature of the vngodly is to be quarelous and contencious, and dayly prouoking one an other, and alſo to take no wrong and do no right. That is very true quoth pierce. You know quoth our Hoſte that the common weapon wherwith 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: hée is made the executor of their wilfunes and vengeaunce, which they will néeds doo vpon eche other, which thing you haue already 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 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 nd that they ſhould not ſo lightly and for euery trifle vex and trouble both the Magiſtrate & one an other, which effect although it failed to woork, & that their madnes would not be reſ rayned therby: that yet their vngodlynes might return to the profit and reléefe of others their neighbours & Brethern that were better affected, & ſo by one ſelfe and ſame mean: the ngodly puniſhed & fléeced, and the godly amended & inriched herby, & that this was their meaning yt 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 betwéen a man and his Brother, neither doo they diſhoneſt either of the arties which I dare not affirme 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 f r thrée hundred pound of honeſt debt.

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

The Magiſtrate I ſay of pure pittie and compaſſi n, 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 withſtand ng, yet doo we dayly ſée how the vngodly run togither by hea s 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 béen and is dayly put vp without any r uenge ſought therof, and many a one hauing purſued and ecouered in his action, yet haue his charges ſo gallded him: that he hath béen 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 ſuer I haue ſpent abooue fiftie pound, beſide my charges to and fro, loſſe of time, and my hinderance 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 Couetuous and 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, and ſo as it hath béen ſaid, 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 ſweare to you (quoth he) prooue it true: and you ſhall haue him yet or this day Seuen night, for that would eaſe 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 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 ſummes or the greateſt part therof: commeth not to the vſe of the common wealth, and to the reliefe and ſuſtenance of the godly poore, and other eaſements of common things in maintenaunce of the common Wealt ? Nay Neighbour Simon (quoth he) I doubt it not, for I am fully perſwaded the contrary. Truely Neighbour Pierce (quoth he) this is an vncharitable and a very erronious op inion, and that I will proue vnto you by reaſons manifeſt nd apparant, and ſuch as your ſelf haue alredy graunted & c nfeſſed. I pray you neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce let me hea e how.

¶ Simon approoueth theſe fees and charges as publi ue and not priuat, by argument taken from effects vnto thei cauſes. Chap. 5.

WHoſoeuer he be that Coueteth priuately to gaine and profit by any thing (quoth our Hoſte) coueteth the thing wherby he gayneth and profiteth, this is ſo true (quoth he) that I will not deſire you to graunt t vnto me, for it is a neceſſary argument from the effect vnto the cauſe, and therfore if ye wil affirm hat the Magiſtrate and officer coueteth theſe great fées and harges and priuately to thriue and wax rich therby: you muſ neceſſarily conclude, that he fauoureth all the firſt & mea cauſes therof, which were a horrible & a fearfull concluſion, yet as I haue ſaid followeth neceſſarily vpon ye premiſes g aunted & therfore is couetiſe ſo much more odious & deteſta le in a Magiſtrate then in a common perſon, for couetiſe as he excéedeth all other vices ſimply conſidered: euen ſo reſpecti ely he excéedeth him ſelf, I ſay reſpectiuely to wit, qualifie by the perſon in whome he dwelleth, for in a priuat perſon: he is but a priuat ſin, & extendeth vnto his M. only, but in a Magiſtrate he is a publique and general corruptiō of al ye people, for ther's no couetoꝰ perſon béeing but a priuate man or womā yt wiſheth any other to be ſuch as they thē ſelues are, the re ſon is, for that the Couetiſe of others: is nothing whereby they 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 apéereth 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 pleaſure, in al which things what ſoeuer hath or euer had the greateſt felicitie & enioyed moſte therof: yet would they not that others did the like, or at the leaſt no more then they them ſelues muſte neceſſarily vſe for the accompliſhment of their pleaſures which requireth ſome company. The reaſon is already ſhewed, to wit for the 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 the 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 Magiſtrate it is otherwiſe, for hée hath the leading and the fourming of other mens liues and therfore differeth from the cōmon and priuate perſon both concerning his wil and alſo concerning his habilitie 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 incompacible and contrary.

Then concerning his power to execute his wil and deſire: it is ſo great and ſo mighty that the olde Proouers hath no doubted to call the common People the Image of their Magiſtrates and o ficers for as certainly as this antecedent.

The man eateth and drinketh inferreth this co ſequent the man is a liue: euen ſo certainly this propoſitio the Magiſtrates and officers are couetous inferreth this cōcluſion.

The People are vngratious and vngodly. The eaſon is peremptory for the Magiſtrate and Officer hath t e Bridle rain in his hand either to giue libertie vnto vngodl nes and diſſolution of life: or els 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 war and hée through libertie and that for the excellency of h s nature abooue all other Creatures and his great vnderſt nding in good and euil.

¶ And therfore to admit in a Magiſtrate a coue iſe and a deſire of priuate and proper gain, Namely by fées nd charges ariſing and growing is as alredy confeſſed, th ſe were to conclude an odious and deteſtable Conſequence againſt ye Magiſtrate and Officer of whome wée are forbidde: by God to ſpeak or think ſaue all honor and reuerence.

¶ Wherfore I ſay it ſtandeth not with the reue ence and honourable opinion that wée are bound to haue of t e Magiſtrate to ſay or to think that theſe great gaines & ſ es doo return to him in priuate and proper vſe: but rather t Iudge & think that the Magiſtrate & Officer receiueth them s things excommunicate and as a common Treaſure dedic ted vnto godly vſes and purpoſes in eaſe and reléef of the w ole common wealth.

¶ Would God this were true quoth Pierce, for I da e lay my life (quoth hée) that if all the ſummes of money that re leudly and ſhamefully ſpent in one Terme about vain •• tes and brabbles were reſerued and accounted in the end of Term: they would amount to more then all the Collectio for the Poore through out all the pariſhes in England for h lf a yéer neuertheleſſe many a o •• thinketh him ſelfe ſore harged, namely my ſelfe God forgiue mée.

Truely Neighbour (quoth our Hoaſt) I am of o other Opinion, neither doo I Iudge that all theſe great Fées and Reuenewes are any other thing but a Collection fo the purpoſes and intents aforeſaid, neither that the receiuers of the ſame doo differ frō thoſe other Collectors in pariſh Churches 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 Iuſticer 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.

¶ Pierce denyeth the reaſons alleaged as probable but not neceſſary. His reaſons therfore. Chap. 6.

NEighbour Simon quoth Pierce you haue alleaged many fair and coulorable propoſitiōs and concluſions and haue gone about mée wt 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 ſhall hear mée as probably diſprooue theſe your allegations as you prooued them, for I ſhall proue 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 rehearſe 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 vndoubted 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 maintaine peace and concord ſtrengthned and furthered, wherupon ſtandeth the proſperitie & 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 reſtraine their libertie as much as is poſſible. Yée haue further alleaged that puniſhments are diuers, ſome corporall, ſome pecuniall, and that all puniſhments are gréeu us bothe vnto the ſufferers, and alſo vnto the dooers therof, but that I wil not graunt ye without diſtinction.

Very true it is that all puniſhments without e ception, are gréeuous vnto the ſufferers therof, but vnto the executor therof: they are not all ſo, namely ſuch as are pecu iall 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 ther would not ſo many Oxen, Shéep and Calues be murthere , and ſo few Hogs, Dogges or Cats, their offences béeing o ly their good fleſh.

Wherfore, although that in all Godly reaſon our arguments haue great neceſſitie: yet in humaine reaſo and experience it hath but bare probabilitie and is no m re. But as if for example you wil ſay Women ought to be ſhamed to be ſéen bibbing wine in common Tauernes, or to be ſéen at common laſciuious and bawdie Stage Playes: therfore they are aſhamed therof.

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

How be it, you ſéem to inforce your anteceden , 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 conſequenc whiche neceſſarily enſueth vpon the deniall therof.

Truely that notwithſtanding, me thinketh all this but a very bare and naked proof.

¶ Simon maintaineth his aſſertion by authoritie of holy Scripture and diuerſitie taken between the reward of Vertue, Learning and Knowledge and the hire of ſeruile trauaile and labour. Cap. 7.

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 vpholden by giuing vnto God yt which is due vnto God, and vnto man yt which is due vnto man. But vnto God what can wée giue ſaue honor, praiſe & glory, firſt and immediatly vnto him ſelf, and ſecondly vnto his Deputies and Lieutenants, 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 ſelfe hath ſaid them that honor me I will honor, and they that diſhonour mée I wil 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 appoīted 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 thy goodnes and benefit receiued either at ye hāds of God or man. Laſtly knowing that 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 reuenues that the gains might be great and yet the cauſes therof few, quite contrarie to all other eſtates and faculties, for what other reaſon is there that one man ſhall labour ſore a whole day & at night ſhall receiue twelue pence or eight pēce for his hire: Another for half or a quarter of an houres eaſie trauail ſhall receiue xx. ſhillings or ſometime more, what is th cauſe of this diuerſitie? euen this, the one is a hire and a pric of a ſeruile labour and trauell, and is receiued in proper a d priuat vſe, the other is an honor doone vnto vertue, Godl nes and knowledge: which doo receiue nor holde, or accou t any ſo baſe things proper or priuate, or can be ſo baſely m nded, as to ioy therin, further then they may glorify God the by.

what other reaſon is there, that one man in the returne of a Reame of paper, ſhall gaine xij. pence or xvi. pe ce cléer, and yet where he layd out ij. pence: the other laid ou x. ſhillings. And after the ſame rate in Wax, that one an ſhall ſell more for vi. pence: then an other ſhall ſell for viij pound, which neuertheleſſe bought as déer as he, within ij. pence at xx. ſhillings waring, and both laid out more mon y, & longer looked for the return therof. I ſay there is no rea on other then is already made.

¶ Pierce denyeth the calling to office, to be ſuch as Simon hath alleaged. Cap. 8.

NEighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) wh ras you maintaine your aſſerſion by the w orthines of the Magiſtrate and Officer, and doo inſiſt thervpon, alledging that they are alled by God, and that for their godlines an vertue. The firſt part I greatly dout, for th t many of them buy their offices, and pay very déerly therf re, 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 referre my ſelf héer n to my Maiſters that are learned.

The next part that they are called for their V rtue and Godlines, ſurely then I verily ſuppoſe ſome of the are called for the things that neuer were in them before, nd then were the caller deceiued, which God cannot be, e cept you will ſay that God of his méere goodnes and mercy called them for the vertues and godlynes which he meaneth to call them vnto, and in this order beginneth to woork, I meane in beſtowing vpon thē ſo liberally, and by that meanes to charge them with his expectation, in reſpect of their great Tallent committed vnto them, which thing you ſéem to alledge, as no ſmall cauſe and conſideration of the high aſſeſſing of the fées and charges aforeſaid, 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 vertuous from thence foorth: what ſo euer they were or had béen before. All which arguments, although they be godly and probable: yet as I ſaid before they ſtand doubtful, for the olde Prouerb, Honors chaunge manners. I beléeue the godly and the learned doo dout whether it be taken in the better part, or in the wurſſe, 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 degree.

Neighboure Pierce (quoth our Hoſte) there is no rule ſo generall, that it admitteth not exception, albeit I dout not nor euer did, that honours chaunge manners, is and euer was meant in the better parte. For the wiſeman 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 whome it is ſaid that béeing called from a ſimple boy after his Inauguration: he felt him ſelfe ſuddainly chaunged, and as the book ſaith: he felt a new hart in him.

The like example we haue of many Kings and Prophets in the Scripture. But to come néerer, both 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 euil gouernment, and kept company with riotors and vnthrifts, ſo that there was ſmall hope of him, but after the death of H. ye 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 better then he thought them woorthy, he forbad them during their liues to come within xij. miles of the Court, nd that vpon great penaltie. All theſe examples doo manifeſt y prooue that liberall reward of vertue, and high and Honorable calling doo increaſe vertue in them in whome it is al edy and cauſeth them in whom it is not ſaue only in appara nce, yet for pure ſhame to imbrace it, ſéeing that otherwiſe h t coales are heaped vpon their heads, through their ſhameleſſe vnthankfulnes vnto them that haue ſo thorowly prouo ed them with the greatnes of their benefits.

And therfore againſt all theſe reaſons and proof , to ſay that the Magiſtrate and Officer ſhould priuatly C uet and conuert ſo great ſummes of treaſure: it were to ſhamefull and ſlaunderous, conſidered that they are the effect of ſo euill cauſes as hath already béen ſhewed And conſid red alſo the horrible and wicked concluſion that would enſu therupon, as alſo hath already béen prooued.

Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) neuer tel me what might or dooth inſue therupon: but conſider the tr eth and the matter as it is in déed. And if theſe great fées a d charges doo not come vnto their receiuers and takers in proper and priuate: what meane they to make ſo great labo r, ſute, fréendſhip and coſt to get thoſe offices and callings. nd how commeth it to paſſe that by the meanes of ſuch off ces: ſuch as before were of ſmall habilitie, come to purcha e 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 whorwith to pur haſe the ſame.

¶ Simon confirmeth his aſſertion touching the deſire to beare office to be good, by the Ettimologia n expoſition of the woord (Officium) Cap. 9.

NEighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoaſt) all theſe matters are eaſely 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 miſ-iudge of their deſire becauſe you doo not vnderſtand the meaning of this woord Office and doo think him to be an Engliſhman 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 or els 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 hart e good wil 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 good will 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 connot 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 ſuer that both in Lattin, French, Spaniſh and Engliſh hée ſtinketh when he is to fréely 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 Fox who alleadging vnto her his great ſkil in the art of a Midwife profferd her his ſeruice toward her deliuerance, vnto whome ſhe anſwered, that the greateſt and beſt ſeruice that he could doo vnto her, was to kéep him far inough from her, which ſhée alſo praied him to doo, wherby you may gather what the Authors opinion was vpō this voluntary offer of ſeruice and yet hée dooth not alleadge that the Fox offered any money, I ſuppoſe becauſe hée had no money to offer. But Simon Magus offered money in ye Acts of ye Apoſtles, and what the holy Ghoſt thought therof: ou may there vnderſtand. Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoaſ this is a colde reaſon and no Argument, to ſay that a mans earneſt deſire to haue an Office argueth his deſire of priuat gaine & proffit, and ſo for his great deſire to doo good: conde me him of euil without proof therof. Neighboure Simon (quoth Pierce) I doo not ſo barely reaſon, neither ſo nakedly as you haue alleaged if you did mée right in repetition of m Argument, not intercepting the ſame nor ſeuering the pa ces therof as you haue doon, and ſo haue anſwered the firſt p rt by it ſelf which is the weakeſt and haue ſaid nothing to th ſecond part which is their great purchaſe and the ſtrength & effect of the firſt, for my Argument taken wholy togithe is thus much to ſay, that their great deſire to haue the Offices, and their great purchaſe of Landes and liuing following the ſame: ſheweth that from the beginning there was m nt 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) th s Argument of yours which you holde ſo forcible is of no fo ce at all whether the parties therof be conſidered ioyntly or ſ uerally neither dooth this great deſire to be in Office, neithe ye 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 m ſaying to néer vnto the letter. For wheras I haue alle ged the Magiſtrates and Officers to be the Patrons and Fathers of the common welth, and theſe great reuenues a publi ue treaſure in their hands to the vſes and intents abooue r herſed: yée alleadge againſt mée their great purchaſe of Lo dſhips, Lands and Liuings as a repugnancie and diſpraiſ therof, which it is not but the greateſt & ſtrongeſt confirma ion therof that I my ſelf haue alleaged, for although I ha e made them receiuers: yet haue I not charged them méerly as Receiuers, but as baylifs & Gardens of truſt whoſe authoritie extendeth to improoue for ye benefit of their Cuntrie . But a better Improouement can there not be made, the by altring of money which is tranſitory: into land whi h is permanent, namely béeing deliuered vnto them at their yéers of diſcretion vpon the account of their ſaid Balifs or gardēs. And euen as it fareth betwéen the Garden and his pupil, ye Bailifs 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 thoſe purchaſes of lands and 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 been but a temporall and a ſhort reléef, for euery man hath not the gouernment ne right vſe therof, ſo 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 t 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 thīg then vertue and godlines, 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 perſon dooth it, no not vnto the wicked, much leſſe vnto his godly Brother or Neighbour. This is no ſmall commendation of Vertue and godlines and no ſmall encouragement therto, namely where a man may make as ſuer & 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 diuers honeſt and 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 that they came to their lands before they came to their Wit, and béeing Owners wared therby proude and in flatte béeing vnder no mans check and diſdaining al mens counſel and ſo forgetting God and them ſelues fall to folly and then (as the Prophet Dauid ſaith) Their table is made a ſnare to take them and the things which ſhould haue been for their pro fit, are vnto them an occaſion of falling. So fearfull and daungerous is the ſinguler and ſole proprietie of great La des and poſſeſſions, as that oftentimes it not only bereaueth the owners of their right wit and Iudgemēts: but alſo through their pride, vnthriftines and prodigallitie it hazardeth the ſincere adminiſtration & execution of lawes and Iuſtice, p ocuring partialitie and fauour to vngodlynes and diſſolute liuing, whilſte they (whoſe dutie were to rebuke ſuch perſo s and to reſtraine their libertie) had rather enter into their arge reuenues and poſſeſſions and to take and vſe the oppo tunitie of their wickednes and retchleſnes as the méeteſt occaſion héerto. But in theſe Farmers and in their poſterit e otherwiſe it is and that for the reuerend and honourable regarde between them and their Landlords at whoſe hands nd during whoſe good wil and pleaſure they holde their liuings and whoſe great liberalitie and benignitie chargeth th m with no ſmall expectation aſwel of godly and honeſt con erſation of life, as alſo of hoſpitalitie and charitable dealīg with their Bretheren and Neighbours béeing by their mea es very wel enabled therunto. Theſe things (I ſay) are l oked for at their hands and that by them whoſe expectation they dare not nor cannot without great ſhame falſifie, whic godlynes, thriftines and liberallitie in them is of no ſmall force to mooue others therunto, and ſo mutuall looue and charity 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 wri ten how greatly and how mightely this procureth and ad aunceth Learning, Godlynes and Vertue, how much it fu thereth the deſire of contemplation and godly exerciſes of th minde, againſt which there is no Impediment nor hinde aunce ſo great as either the deſtitution or want of a compete t liuing and maintenaunce, or els the dayly feare to be ſupp anted or diſappointed therof, and conſequently the thoughts and cares either to prouide for a competent liuing or els to maintaine and defend the ſame againſt the dayly Allarms and aſſaults of the Couetous and the vngodly againſt which the benignitie and goodnes of Owners and Landlords is the greateſt yea the only protection. Theſe are the effects and frutes of theſe purchaſes alleadged by you to be made by ye gains, fées and reuenues aforeſaid which doo far differ from the common purchaſing of other priuate perſons by whome (through your Ignoraunce or els of malice) you doo Iudge & meaſure theſe which are nothing like nor comparable, as the effects and frutes therof will euidently declare, namely in the purchaſe of the Merchant, the Chapman, the Graſier, the clothier and ſuch other like Artificer what ſoeuer, at ye hands of all which perſōs no ſuch thing is hoped or looked for. Firſt for that they doo not ſuſtaine any ſuch charge of expectation, neither is any reaſon that they ſhould, except a Shoomaker bying an Oxe hide for thrée ſhillings & foure pēce, 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 ye Felicitie and end of mans life, which hée Iudgeth to conſiſt in getting and hauing, for that hée ſée'th 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 wunderfull 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 duble 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 he hath any thing to let or ſet, vp goeth the Drum & as welcome to him the Deuil of hel, yea Belzabub him ſelfe as the Godlyeſt perſon in England, yea as an Angell of heauen, for godlynes, vertue or honeſtie is the laſt queſtion that hée wil aſke, only Quid vultis mihi daré? Thus is the godly perſon ſure to be put back or els to take the thing to his vtter detriment, ſo that vpon the matter no queſtion or difference whether of them ſpéed, for the euil man is made a great deale wurſſe, namely for that the greatnes of his rent ſtoppeth the mouth of him whoſe reduke 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 many others as hée can and dare for feare of the law s. The godly perſon although he gladly would doo good: yet wanteth hée power therto being ouer ſet with the greatnes o his rēt, ſo that in concluſion whether the good or euil may ſpéed: they are forced to deale hardly with the world wherby a iſeth little or no amitie, fréendſhip or charitable looue, amo g men, but euen all for the peny as among méer Straunge s nor any zeale vnto God nor to doo any good for his ſake.

By all theſe arguments, it appéereth manifeſtly h w much it were to be wiſhed and deſired at the hands of Almightie God that only or chéefly ſuch were purchaſers & La d-lords whoſe very eſtates and callings and the manner of the getting of their gaines wherwith they purchaſe doo cha ge them with a reuerend and fatherly regarde in letting and ſetting the ſame to the honor and glory of God who hath ſo mightely bleſſed them, yea ſo far abooue all that they euer co ld with out ſhame haue wiſhed or deſired, ſo heaping hot coales vpon their heads in their vnthankfulnes and dealing ot erwiſe, which (as I haue alredy ſaid) is not or at the leaſt no ſo greatly to be hoped or looked for at their hands of bace an meane calling. And therfore Neighbour Pierce (quoth hée) admitting and confeſſing the greatnes of their purchaſe: y t can yée not conclude againſt mée the proper or priuate rece t or imploying of Charges, fées and reuenues aforeſaid ne ther wil I graunt it vnto you for the ſlaunderous and ſhame full conſequence which it inferreth neceſſarily as hath alr ady béen duly prooued.

‡ Pierce repeateth the Reaſons and Arguments of Simon and confuteth them by proof and expecience de onſtratiue, as frō the cauſe to the effect and that vpon his owne knowledge. Cap. 10.

Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) yée haue made as your ſelf dooth ſuppoſe many ſtrong reaſōs & concluſiōs to aprooue ye firſt aſeſſing and yt now receiuīg 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 eſtaſte therof, namely for that theſe fées and charges were ment and yet are the puniſhment of vice and the reward of godlynes and vertue. And alſo that they were and yet are ment a publique treaſure in the hands of the receiuers therof, to all godly vſes, intents and purpoſes.

Wherunto I anſwered, alleadging the great purchaſe of Lands and Lordſhips by the receiuers of the ſame as a thing 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 porchaſe of lands is a prouiſion with 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 fruits 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 ye great expectation that hée ſuſtaineth both before God and men, and alſo the reuerend opinion that we are bound to haue of him. Yée haue alſo alleadged that the firſt cauſes of all theſe great gaines and proffits are ſuch as of duty he 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 ſhame thriue and wax rich, much leſſe the Magiſtrate and Officer vpō 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 haue béen or els how things ought to be.

But that they are ſo preſently: theſe are either n prooues at all or very ſmall and ſo your argument gathered nd concluded from poſſe to eſſe as I haue ſaid already, and as I wil further prooue by Arguments gathered from t e cauſe vnto the effect and from the effect vnto the cauſe eue the very ſame that you haue alleadged, tying them together in the ſame maner and fourme as your ſelfe haue alleadge them.

Firſt you ſay that the originall cauſe of theſe gre t gains, Fées and reuenues was the hate that the firſt Aſſeſſ •• s therof bare vnto vngodlines, wickednes and all kinde of vice, the fauour and good affection which they bare vnto Vertue, and godlynes, and therin they ment the puniſhme t of the one and the preferment and aduauncement of the o her, 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, profits and reuenues ée haue alleadged or rather I my ſelf haue alleadged, and ou haue confeſſed and iuſtified to be the great perpuiſition nd purchaſe of Lordſhips, lands and poſſeſſions by the Magiſtrates and Officers Receiuers of the ſame.

The effect of their great purchaſe is by you ale dged to be a prouiſion, a ſtay of liuing and patry mony for the Godly and honeſt People of the common welth, and for their aſſuraunce, peace and quietnes. The effect of ſo good a p ouiſion for the Godly: you haue alleadged to be the increaſe f 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 both owards God and alſo one to an other, the effect wherof you haue alleadged to be the manifolde bleſſings of God accordi g to the ſaying of the Prophet in the hundred thrée & thirtie Pſalme.

Thus haue you argued from the firſt cauſes pr ducing their effects, and from thoſe effects as from cauſes of their effects very orderly and very probablie, but not nec ſſarilye as I haue already alleadged, and as I doubt not héerafter I ſhall prooue vnto you ſo directly and ſo euidently that you ſhall either confeſſe your owne prooues fallible and falſe: or els you muſt and ſhal ſay that cauſes produce no effects or els clean contrary effects, which is to reuerſe and to ouerthrowe 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 aleage bothe reaſon as ſtrong as you haue alleaged any: and alſo mine owne experience which I my ſelf haue déerly bought and paid for. I pray you Neighbour let mée héer that (quoth our Hoaſt).

¶ Pierce Plowmans firſt tale for that purpoſe where he ſheweth how his Neighbour and hee went to the Tauern and to the daunſing Schoole and what hapned there. Chap. 12.

AT my béeing in London this laſt term (quoth Pierce) it fortuned one afternoone hauīg little or nothīg to doo, as God knoweth what Idlenes & vngodlines commeth of our idle waitīg & attending vpon our dayes of hearīg as they tearm them, when in the mean time we run vp and down in the ſtréets, and if happely wée méet with any Fréend or acquaintaunce: 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 wée met a company of Neighbours and Fréends together 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 we came forth again: our heds were better laden with heare then with Wit, ſo on Gods name when our heds were wel fraughted: wée muſt née s go to ſée ſome pleaſures of the Cittie that were ſtraunge an noueltie vnto vs of the Cuntrie, and ſo on Gods name wée ent into a dauncing Schoole not very far thence, now was here one man of our Company that was as deaf as a doore •• ile.

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

The man ſore mooued and gréeued therewitha l, and béeing a man of great ſtrength: threw him from hi with all his ſtrength among the Muſitiōs, and hee lighting vpon one of the greateſt and faireſt Vialls, brake it all in pée es.

Therwithal vp ſtart the Muſitions for him and we for to help the other béeing our Fréends and Neighbours and then went out Daggers, vp went Pantoſtes, al the reſt of the Inſtruments in the throng were all to trodden and roken, and but that Neighbours hearing the noiſe and bu •• līg came in and parted vs: ſurely ſome of vs had béen in grea daunger to haue béen ſlain.

I loſt my Cloake and had my hed broken and ſo h d thrée of my Neighbours moe, and hardly the Muſitions nd their partakers went not ſcotfrée. But ſhortly to end a •• come to my purpoſe: you ſhall heare what followed.

Firſt and formoſte wée were all arreſted and c mmitted to Priſon for a fraie and bloodſhed, where I think you may make no queſtion if it coſt vs any thing before w •• gat out again. But hauing paid our Fées there, and thin ing verily that the wurſt had béen paſt: euen at our comm ng foorth from thence wée were all newly arreſted by latita es and remained vntil wée had put in Sureties to appéer at the day of the return of the writ in the Kings bench. So wée laid our purſes togither and went to a woorſhipful and learned Lawyer that had béen of our counſaile aforetime, and ſhewed him the declarations that were againſt vs, wherof the firſt was at the ſute of the Owner of the ſchoole, wherin hée alleadged that with force and armes wee had entred into his houſe and beaten, wounded and euil intreated his Seruants, by reaſon wherof he had loſt their ſeruice by the ſpace of eight dayes, to his hinderaunce and damage ſix pound, and alſo then and their thrée Inſtruments of Muſick commonly called Vialls did ſpoile and break to his loſſe and hinderaunce ſix pound.

Beſides this, euery of his Seruants the parties thē ſelues ſeuerally declared againſt vs all ioyntly of an aſſault and battery made vpon them, and that wée had beaten, wounded and 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 praied his counſel and aduice, his anſwer was ſhortly that in his opinion the law was againſt vs in all and euery of our caſes wherof he gaue vs the cauſes & reaſons as I ſhal reherſe vnto you.

To the firſt point of the firſt declaration for forcible entry wée praied his reaſon, how or by what reaſon our entrie might be ſaid forcible ſéeing the doores were open, and if they had béen ſhut our cōming in was but to hear & ſée, & our meaning not hurtfull 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 yt ſhalbe taken for his meaning & the declaration therof, namely where hée entreth wtout ſpecial commaundemēt or licēce of the party, & becauſe (ſaith hée) that after your entry into ye houſe yée did there cō mit a force & vnlawful act: therfore your firſt entry and comming into the houſe ſhalbe déemed & iudged vnlawful & forcible. Then we aſked how or by what reaſon our act could bée ſaid vnlawful which was but yt taking of a man in his armes of very good wil to ſtay him thinking that he had béen mad & out of his wit and might haue miſcheiued him ſelf. His anſwere therunto was that therin the act was not lawfull nor iuſticiable but a Treſpaſſers although no farther h rme had enſued therupon, which yet (by your confeſſion) the e did for to ſpeak generally: it is not lawful to imbrace or rain any man againſt his wil, for if him liſt to take it to the burſt (eſpecially if there inſue any euil vnto the partie ther y) it ſhall not help the party to ſay that hée ment him good or it ye leaſt no euil therby, for although that in felony the inte t 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 yt yée had come in & found thē dooing ſome elonious or vnlawful act, by means wherof yée had had ſuffi ient coullour to haue laid your hands vpō thē, for euery man s an Officer for peace ſake & for the preſeruation therof, & then (quoth hée) your caſe had béen otherwiſe, vnto this wée nſwered that our act in all reaſon ſéemed more lawfull and tollerable then theirs, for that in their exerciſe there is little good purpoſe or none at all, nor better end or purpoſe then o induce ſuch euil and vnhappy euents and conſequents as hapned in this caſe of ours, and that therfore their cauſe oug t not to haue fauour againſt vs as if we had hindered or interrupted their honeſt or lawful exerciſe in any godlines or in any thīg tending vnto vertue, to the glory of God, or to the proffit of the common wealth. His anſwere vnto that was that we are not to diſpute of that which the reuerend and h norable Magiſtrates haue eſtabliſhed yea & holden in no ſmall reputatiō, it falleth for ye Magiſtrates, Rulers & Officers to beare with them in all incidents & caſualties otherwiſe ſhould they diſſalow their owne Acts and be contrary vnto the ſelues, which were inconuenient. Then wée demaunde of him why for the firſt Viall that was broken: the Maiſter ſhould not bring the action againſt the Dauncer who in ery déed was the breaker therof, and not the other man. His anſwere therunto was that in very déed wée were both Tr ſpaſſers vnto him alike, & he at his libertie & election to take his remedy againſt vs both or againſt any of vs for (quoth hée) although ye dauncer were ye material cauſe yet was ye other man yt efficiēt cauſe therof, as for proof, if a carter wilfully driu his art ouer a man, woman or Childe, bothe the Cart, the Horſes, and the Carter are guiltie of the fact wherof the deaf man is not excuſeable 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 Muſitians them ſelues ſhould not be ſaid to be the firſt efficient cauſe ſéeing yt without their noiſe the Dauncer 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 and haūt 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 yt wée be not ſnared in euil through 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 the Magiſtrates vnto our ſelues and in ſuch caſes to blame and reprooue our ſelues, and our owne ſences, and inordinate deſires, either in due time before wée are fallen, or els 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 condemne 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 therunto was that the Maiſter hath a ſpeciall intereſt in his ſeruant for the proffit hée is to receiue by his ſeruice for which ſeruice hée is to recouer & not for the hurt doon vnto the perſon for the partie him ſelfe recouereth for that. To be ſhort, his reſolution was that for all our harmes and loſſe that we had gotten: wée were ſo farre from all hope of redreſſe or amends, that wée were in the w rſſe caſe in our defence againſt thē & very like to yéeld amēd by iudgement of law. And thus you ſée (quoth Pierce) how po re guiltleſſe & ſimple men in a far honeſter cauſe are put to ye wurſer end. Neighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoaſt) as for ye, be as bée may. But truly Neighbour you had but euil ſucce ſe in going to ſée pleaſure and to heare Muſick, and yet tr ſt mée if yée wil, I ſuppoſe yt you ſped a great deale better th n a number ſpéed in ſuch like places, who think neuerthel ſſe them ſelues to haue ſped there wel, and come away righ wel contented, which in very déed is the only cauſe why i my fantaſie they ſpéed wurſe then you, for why you are hu t and féel it, but they are hurt but haue no féeling therof v til their hurt be paſt all cure, for a man is neuer ſo daunge ouſly ſick or ſore as when hée hath loſt the ſence and féeling o 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 radical cauſes of great infortunes as the wofull and amentable end of many a good mans Childe hath witneſſ d dayly, dooth and wil. But truly Neighbour Pierce (quoth o r 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 ſelfe in a miſchaunce about a foure yéers paſt, I pray yée let vs heare it quoth our Hoaſt, mary quoth Pierce, thus it hapned. A fréend of mine would néeds giue mée my dinner at an Ordinary table where wée fared very dai tely, but I promiſe you for mine owne parte I haue though my ſelf better at eaſe many a time & oft with bread & chéeſe in other Company. So Sir in the name of God when di ner was doon: in ſtéed of grace to ye dice they went on euery ſide vpon proper ſquare tables fit I warrāt you for the purpo •• , & there to the hazard they go xx. s̄. xl. s̄. v. l. vi. l. a caſt, I ſtood by and beheld. Anon there came a ſtraunger a plain homely fellowe of the Cuntrye much like my ſelf and hée ſéeing ſuch ſummes of money vpon the boord, & the dice trotting to and fro and that now one ſnatched a heap and now an other ſnatched and heap, and therwithall ſuch deuout ſwearing, he came to mée and rounding me in the eare, aſked me whoſe weare all thoſe heaps of money that were 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 themſelues ſhall haue their money or an other man? no verily (quoth I) What are thoſe white things ful of black ſpots that are ſo chaſed to and fro? Thoſe (quoth I) are called dice vpon whome ſtandeth the hazard, and therwithal my Fréend and I hauing dined and diſpatched: went our way foorth toward the Temple, and before we had gon ſo farre as a man might ſhoot a Bird bolte: there aroſe an outcry behinde vs, ſtop the théef, ſtop the théef, and therwithall I looked behinde mée: and loe the fellowe of whome I tolde you, came running with both 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 and cry, we turned not back neither made vs to doo therin. So they followed him vntil they came as farre as Saint Dunſtones Church, and there the fellowe being out of breath, turned again and catching ye Maiſter of the dicing houſe in his armes: cryed I haue him I haue him, this is the théef (quoth hée) Now was the throng ſo great yt 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 he fled vpon the fellony. And there hée had ſpied mée in the Company & bad thē lay hold vpon me for this knaue (quoth he) gaue him ye coūcel & is as falſe a théef as hée. There was no more to ſay, I was laid hold vpon & apprehended, and bothe hée and I caried before a Iuſticer of peace the fellow 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 ſore to the Fellowes charge that hée had broken his houſe forciblie and burglarlie and had felloniouſly robbed foure Gentlemen of wo rſhip his Gueſts of diuers ſummes of money feloniouſly an againſt the Quéens lawes and peace. Sirra (quoth the Iuſ ice) what ſaiſt thou to this? Sir quoth the fellowe I beſeech y u to ſtād my good Fréend and Maiſter and let mée haue but law & reaſon at your hands, I truſt it appéereth vnto your iſcretion (quoth hée) that this matter alleadged againſt mée s not ſufficient to put me to anſwere therunto. Firſt for the forcible entrie into his houſe and burglarye ſuppoſed: I ſay his houſe was open, and dayly is and to long hath béen and vnto to many if it pleaſed God and the Maieſtrates ſuch as your Woorſhip is, for I vndertake hée that hath any thi g to loſe and caſt away: néed neither break doore nor walle t leaue it behinde him there, and ſo much for my 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 fellony of ye thing wherto no man laimeth propertie, very true it is (quoth hée) that I came into his houſe and ſéeing a company ſtanding about a ſquare Table & diuers great heaps of money laid foorth therupō: I aſked this honeſt man that was a ſtander by meaning (mée) what was ment thereby, and alſo by two white ſquare things full of black ſpots that were chaſed to and fro vpon the b •• rd, hée anſwered mée that they were playing at the dice, •• r that is quoth he the name of thoſe ſquare bones, and ſaid farther that the name of their game was hazard. When I h d heard him ſay ſo: I conſidered with my ſelf that there mig t be good to be doon for me among them, for hauing wel mar ed their order: I found them the moſte indifferent People t gain by that euer I met withall in my life, for I perceiued that hée that laid the money downe: the reſt meant that h e ſhould neuer take it vp again, and for his parte hée me t aſwell vnto them and that all this ſtood in the fauour of haz rd, and ſo often time it chaunced accordingly, to wit that th box béeing the third perſon: caught a ſhare and by no other or better title then mée thought my ſelf to haue, for me thoug t I was as indifferent to euery of them as was the box or as any of them was to other, 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 lewd and ſhameful miſpending of ye time, ſuch horrible ſwearing and blaſpheming & knew not where neither vnto whōe to complain for reformation therof and thought in conſcience I ought not to ſuffer it as far foorth as it were in my might & I ſaw no way ſo likely to redreſſe it as to take away ye cauſe which I perceiued was the money. I thought that both by law and good conſcience I might doo it and ought alſo, and in this deliberation I awaighted my time & 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 ye leaſt cullour of title. A Sirra quoth the Iuſticer, you are acūning théef indéed, it is time to look to ſuch knaues as you are. Sir quoth the poor fellowe, I beſéech you be good to me, I am a poore man and I truſt, ſauing againſt them yt loſt the money the money is mine againſt all men and as vnto them when they demaund me: let me anſwere. And as touching that honeſt man quoth heby 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 ſurety by recogniſaunce to appéer at the next ſeſſions there to make anſwere to ſuch matter as ſhould then and there be laid to my charge and that coſt me 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 he giue you of a mendes 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 or els 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 yt way to help him ſelf, & to kéep you in dooing, in yt he giueth ſuch coūſel to peace and quietnes, vnto ſuch fellowes as you yt would gladly cut him out woork if hmſelf were not is owne hinderāce. Nay ſurely Neighbour ꝙ Pierce, wha counſel ſoeuer he had geuen me therin, or what counſel 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 loue peace & enſue it, & to looue mine owne houſe, my honeſt lab ur & trauel and chéefly & aboue all other things to ſerue Go wherin I finde the only ſtay and comfort of mans life to reſ , & that when all is ſought and tried: there is none other •• le ne leuel wel and ſurely to guid and order our affairs an dooings.

The application of Pierces tale by the Hoſte, tha the great charges of the Law is profitable to the commonwelth, and a repreſſing of vice and ſinne. Cap 13.

AHa, very wel ſaid thē (quoth our Hoſte) I am glad yt yet at the laſt ye are cōe to ye oīt wherunto I haue al this while laboured to brīg you which is to cōfeſſe yt theſe great and exceſſiue charges & expences haue reformed changed you from an vngodly and troubleſ me man: to a Godly, wiſe and prudent man, able to giue co nſell not only priuatly and to your owne fréends and famely: but alſo to beare office and authoritie in your Parriſh, yée i ye whole Shire where we both dwell, 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 fi ſt Aſſeſſors and the now receiuers therof ye are vtterly co cluded & eſtopped to ſpeak or think ſaue in all honor & reue ence. Doo you think ſo Neighbour (quoth he?) Yea verily quoth he, for you haue confeſſed all this your reformatiō & a endment to haue commen thence, and look what effect it hat wrought in you: ye are of charitie bound to think that it hath wrought, woorketh & wil woork in a number mo then you, and the mony that you haue or rather think that haue departe from: is in their hands who are treaſurers therof, as I haue aleaged towards the good and godly vſes, intents & purpoſes that may or ſhall ariſe héerafter in cōmon benefit, to wit, ſer ice of the whole common welth, wherin your part is as farr foorth as theirs. Doo you call this a mending Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce? In very déed quoth he, I muſt néeds confeſſe, that theſe great and exceſſiue Charges and large Expences haue rebuked me, haue chaſticed and amended me, but to ſay that I think or iudge it thank woorthy vnto them that haue receiued my money: I ſay the Deuil kiſſe his arſſe 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 poiſons, meaning to ſpéed him in déed, but the poyſons béeing of contrary natures: wrought one vpon an other, and deſtroyed either others force, wherby the man béeing hardly handled for a ſeaſon, yet béeing driuen into a laſk by their extremitie: 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. yéers 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 kinde 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 diſhonour of God and other vngodlynes that dependeth therupon: they are as ſorowful 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: wée will haue a ſhoulder of Mutton and but a pinte of Sack. Content huſband (quoth ſhe) And verily I think that as hartely as this good man & his Wife praied for their recouery that were viſited: ſo hartely pray theſe for peace, quietnes and the honor and ſeruice of God, and the Godly & charitable dealing and liuing of their Neighbours and Bretheren.

Pierce prooueth that the ſufferaunce of wickednes and vngodlynes increaſeth their gaine who are and ſhould be therebukers and puniſhers therof, and that to be the cauſe of great in iuſtice and vnrighteouſnes. Cap. 14.

NEighbour Pierce (quoth our Hoſte) I pray you let me further vnderſtand w at yée doo meane by this hiſtory, for it ſhould ſéem that ye haue alleadged it againſt mee not with ſtanding that it maketh for me by he wunderfull effect which you your ſelf re forced to confeſſe, that it hath wrought vpon you. I kn we what I haue confeſſed Neighbour (quoth Pierce) and alſo in what maner I haue confeſſed it, far enough from your urpoſe or any confirmation therof. And where in maintenan e of theſe great fées and reuenues you haue alleaged that the are publique, and alſo how many and how good & godly are the'ffects and fruits therof: without proof made of them or o any one of them, either by your owne experience or by oth r neceſſary demonſtration. There in proof of the contrary t wit, that they are proper and priuate, and therfore exceſſiu and vnreaſonable which is my aſſertion, I haue brought you this proffe of mine owne experience, wherby I haue ſ fficiently ſhewed that the firſt cauſes of all theſe great gaine and profits are proſecuted as I haue affirmed and not per ecuted as you pretend. For I haue partely ſhewed you héer what leaue and libertie the common people namely youth haue to follow their own luſt and deſire, in all wantonnes and d ſſolution of life. For further proof wherof: I call to witneſſe he Theaters, Curtines, Heauing houſes, Rifling boothes, Bowling alleyes and ſuch places where the time is ſo ſ amefully miſpent, namely the Sabaoth daies vnto the great iſhonor of God, and the corruption and vtter diſtruction of youth. All which (I ſay) are either the cauſes or the effec s of theſe great gaines and reuenues, or els both cauſes a d effects interchaungeably. For I dare vndertake that if eit er theſe gains and profits were publique as you pretend, or els if there were as great gain and proffit to the Maieſt ates and Officers, in the godly liues and honeſt conuerſation of the common people as there is in the contrary: theſe ha bours of vngodlines & miſnurture, would haue leſſe fauour and maintenaunce then they haue, and godlines, Sobrietie and modeſtie 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, pompe and maieſtie of man cannot ſtand together, and that one of thē 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, aſwel by the Godly as by the vngodly, the one inuading and the other defending: the more praying, paying, waiting, attending, dowking, crowding, & courteſing, procuring of fréendſhip by meanes, bribing of his flatterer, & bribing of her flatterer, this driueth the great welth and abundance into few mens hands. For where, the vngodly through miſgouerment is fallen into daunger of the Law, what wil he not giue to redéem 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 them ouer into a reprobate minde, from vice to vice, vntil he hath fully brought him to naught.

So dangerous and fearfull a thing is libertie and not reſtraint of the beginning of euil, 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 Maieſtrates 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 vaineglory. And therfore how hartely were it to be deſired at the hands of GOD, that ſuch as are Maieſtrates and Officers: ſhould not be couetuoꝰ, or els ſuch as are couetoꝰ ſhould not be Magiſtrates, for héerof Iethro did warne Moyſes in ye xviij. of Exodus, talking with him concerning the election and choiſe of Maieſtra s and Officers, and bad him chuſe ſuch as hated couatiſe, and ſpake of no other vice. The cauſe whe of is apparant, to wit leaſt the wickednes and vngodlines of the people came to be valuable let and ſet, rented and far ed, bought and ſolde, for what other thing is valluing, le ting and ſetting, renting, buying and ſelling of offices whoſe value is more or leſſe according to the ſtate of the people and their diſhonouring of God therby. And where you maint ine theſe great gains by their godly and woorthy effects, the f rſt wherof you alleadge to be their great purchaſe of lordſhips, lands and poſſeſſions and the effect therof you alleadge to be a prouiſion and patrimony for the good and godly, the ef ect wherof yée ſay is the increaſe of them, and the decreaſe of the contrary, the effect wherof you ſay is godlines, vnanimitie, loue, charetie and benignitie one towards an other. And laſt of all the effect therof be the manifold graces and bleſſings of God promiſed by God in the Pſalmes to the houſe, town Cittie or Cuntry where theſe things are. From the firſt cauſe to his effect I graunt your argument, that theſe great gains are cauſe of great purchaſe, but from ye purchaſe to his effects yée ſhew not how it is: but how it ought to be, for inſtéed of the effects wherof you haue ſpoken, I ſée many gay houſes ul of gay ch ••• is, coſtly banqueting houſes, Galleries, bowling All is, ſtrange toies of point deuiſe and woorkmanſhip, but with in I finde no man dwelling ſaue pride, who hath ch ſed thēce hoſpitalitie and charitie, and as for other preferment that the godly haue at their hands in any of their purchaſes: I ſée not but euen who wil giue moſte, and can make might eſt frēds, an who thoſe are in our daies: the vngodly, vnfai hfull and vncharitable dealing ſo vniuerſally doo plainly decl re.

The people ſo euel giuen both yong and olde, ſo vngodly in liuing ſo vnciuil, yea ſo rude & barbarous in manners, wherin me thinketh they haue preuailed & increaſed more & more all after as theſe offices haue waxen more gainfull and ye deſire to haue them greater. And therfore your diſtinction betwéen their purchaſe and the merchant, chapman, and ther tō ••• perſons what ſoeuer (ſauing his probabilitie) vain and rediculous to the purpoſe. Therfore Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) your reaſons are weak & to maintain the greatnes of their fées vnable. Abide Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoaſte, giue me leaue to anſwere vnto theſe matters, & firſt becauſe that in very déed probable reaſon giueth place to neceſſary proof & demonſtration, wherin e ſuppoſe that ye haue you beyond me, becauſe ye againſt my b •• e & naked reaſons as you terme them, ye haue alleadged authoritie, and that of your owne experience. I wil anſwere you with the like, and 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 wil pro •• that the Magiſtrate and Officer in the beginning was and yet is ſuch a I haue aleadged and alſo the firſt aſſeſſing of the ſaid fées and reuenues, and their great vtillitie and neceſſitie, namely for the vſes, intents and purpoſes aforeſaid. For proof wherof I wil rehearſe vnto you a matter which I my ſelf did bothe heare and ſée.

The Hoſte maintaineth the contrary, and for diſproofe therof, and for the proofe of his aſſertion: alleadgeth the purchaſe of a certain welthie Officer towards the Law. Chap. 15.

ABout two yeeres agon it was m fortune to be beyond London in Kent, at the houſe of a worſhipfull Officer towards the Law, who not p ſt a Moneth before my comming thither: had purchaſed a Lordſhip, wherin were diuers good forme , and their leaſes too expire at Miche •• as th n to come twelue Moneths It came to paſſe one day of my béeing there thither came a rich man dwelling not farre thence, whoſe ſute was to this Gentleman to take one of his ſaid Farmes in euertion, and comming to him thus he began. Sir quoth he, I vnderſtand ye haue bought ſu h a Lordſhip, God •• ne ye joy thereof. Very true it is (quoth hée) Sir ꝙ this rich man, I p ay you let me be your tenaunt of ſuch a Farm, geuing more then any other man wil giue for a fine. The rent of the Farm was v. l.

What will ye giue me for a leaſe for xxj. yéeres quoth this Gentleman? Sir quoth he I wil giue ye an C.l. and vnto our Miſtreſſe a Veluet gown, and xx. Angels to buy h r pines be ſides. 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 departe, 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, and with him thrée hanſome yong men his ſonnes. So when he was by the Landlords commaundement brought befor him: hée 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 orne in it and his father before him. You know quoth the Gentleman that I am now become your Landlord. I knowe i 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 the poore man, let me giue you reaſon, only that I may be ble to doo my Prince and your woorſhip ſeruice, & to reléeue my poore neighbours as hetherto I haue doone, and haue be n well able. Very wel quoth the Gentleman, be héer again vpon Munday next and then ye ſhall vnderſtand more. The poore man (his duty doon) departed. The next Munday beeing munday next before Bartholmew day: the poore man was come again, and brought with him a couple of fat Capons, & about an houre or twaine after came this Churle very wel mounted his Gelding not déere of x.l. and behinde him was truſſed a fat Buck, which he preſented vnto the Gentlemen by one of his ſeruants. To be ſhort: he was willed o come in to the M. into a cloſe little Parlor, whether were called alſo this olde farmer and I my ſelf, whom it pleaſed hi to vouch ſafe all curteſie and humanitie both in this and alſo in other matters, ſo that only we foure were there, ſauing a yong man attendant vpon his perſon. This doon: the Gentleman began fréend quoth he, what accuſation doo you bring againſt this poore man pointing him to the Farmer. Sir ꝙ. he none, I doo not know the man. No quoth the Gentleman? except ye can accuſe him of euel: ye haue already condemned your ſelf therof, and would doo me. Why ſo ſir quoth he? Mary Sir quoth the Gentleman, for he cannot be guiltleſſe of euil: that ſéeketh the deſtruction 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 ſéeketh to take away the ſuſtenaunce of a mans life, that 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 ſoon rid out of pain. Ye haue quoth hée, deſired to take this poore mans farme 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. he, yée are the firſt great purchaſer yt euer I heard of this opinion. I haue ſix Farmes quoth he, taken all after this maner at their hands that doo think them-ſelues both wiſe and woorſhipfull, yet was there neuer put vnto me ſuch a problem as this by any of them, yet drink In C. . a yéer by them aboue all charges. Fréend quoth the Gentleman, other mens dooing are no preſident vnto me, further then they ſtand with 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 waies, 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 wt the dutie of euery priuat perſon, either vnto God or vnto their Cuntry and common welth, or els with their owne aſſurāce-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 reproue yt ſuch extreme dealing ſtādeth not with his dutie towards God, of his •• mandements d manif •• ly proo •• wherin he ſo ſtraightly comma ••• eth vnto vs h re is, loue & benigniti one towards an other, wtout the which mā dare not ay ha hée looueth God whom he neuer ſaw, neither th •• he hath any faith, now what loue or har tie in there in him that letteth vnto his Neighbour a leaſe of hunger, •• nt & ll miſery & calametie, & ſo hole •• th yt •• n, which God forbad to doo vnto the Oxe? The next to wit it ſtandeth no with his dutie to the common welth, the very woord co ••• welthe doth ſufficiently ſhowe, for if a man liue in the cōmon-welth he muſt haue ſome of the ioyes and fruits therof, or els it is to him no common welth, namely traueling and labo ring ſore therin, neither wil he that a man bear any good w l toward that common welth wherin the ioyes and ſorowes welth & wee are ſo vnequally deuided and this ſtandeth no with the aſſurance of the common welth, which increaſeth by the vni ie, looue & concord, & falleth decayeth by their on arye .

Theſe the two firſt béeing prooue 〈◊〉 reſteth 〈◊〉 to p ooue that ſuch extreme taking & exacting ſtandeth all with th aſſurance of the very partie himſelf euery priuate mans c ſe, & this ſéemeth ſtranger and harder to prooue: then the reſ due hath béen, but it is not ſo, namely vnto him that goeth with the Prophet Dauid into the houſe of God & ther nqui eth therof, for there hee ſhall plainly vnderſtand that all is ot cleerly gotten that is put into the purſſe, for I my ſelfe ha e known a number quoth he, that haue raiſed iiij. times double ye reuenues that their anceſters liued welthily & woorſhipful vpon, yea and before their death would fain haue ſolde land if they had had any.

The cauſe wherof is for that God who is not p eſent nor called to councell in ſuch extreme taking: wil neuer be preſent nor giue counſel 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 vaine pleaſures, and to be gainfull and ben ficiall vnto the Miniſters of voluptuouſnes and ſenſualitie and flatter rs, whoſe fréendſhip endeth when the tap lea •• th running, and when ſtrange and ••• uelous vnto you I will tell you another matter which is an true as this and of mine own experience alſo. I pray you let mée heare Neighbour uoth Pierce.

¶ An other tale by the Hoaſt of a yong Gentleman that had morgaged his Land, comming to an other great Officer of the Law to whome hee offered to ſel his land of whome hee had great comfort. Chap. 16.

IT fortuned an other time I was in Kent alſo at the houſe of an other great and rich Officer towards the Laws, where I had occaſion to ſoiourne certain daies, during which time there c me thether a yong gētleman to offer his Land to ſel, and made an offer therof, vnto this man in my preſence, vnto whome this Woorſhipfull Lawyer ſpake in this maner.

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

You haue brought your ſelf into great extremitie (quoth this Gentleman) how be it, to el your Land: mée think a very ar remedie therof, and great pittie if any other way mightie taken, for 〈◊〉 that •• lleth away his Land: felleth away his beſt and moſte aſſured Fr ••• d. Beſides that to ſel away namely his •• cient Patremony and which hée neuer ought is both ſhamefull and ſlaunderous as to haue diſherited & de ••• y •• his name, houſe & familie, which is an odious thing t be thing which the good Nabothe the Iſraelite denyed thervnto the King of Iſrael, for when Achab demaunded of him his Vineyard for as much as it was woorth, God forbid 〈◊〉 the poore 〈◊〉 that I ſhould ſell thée my Fathers Inheritaunce, éeing yet but a poore iniard: yet did hi de •••• d it is the 〈…〉 may read in the old Teſtament how greatly God himſelf fauored the ma ntenance and preſeruation of Inheritaunce & poſſeſſion in their Tribes, houſes, names and families. For he commaunded by Moyſes expreſſely 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 whom Lands and Inheritaunce were deuolute in default of heires males ſhould not marry into any other Tril e. 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 an ye firſt decaier of a houſe & familie whether it were greater or ſmaller.

Alas ſir (quoth this yong man) I am in greater diſtreſſe, yée knowe theſe Merchaunts of London are hard dealers with whome there is no mercy but for ready pain ent, wel quoth the Gentleman, I will doo thus much for you, I my ſelf wil lend you an hundreth pound which you ſhal repay by fortie pound a yéer, and that I ſuppoſe you may aſely doo ordering your ſelf wiſely, take that quoth hée & off r it to the Merchaūt if happily he may be intreated to giue you a yéer or twain for the reſt vpon reaſonable conſideration, ye yong man gaue him harty thanks, ye money was fetched down, counted & deliuered & th'aſſurāce made accordingly, which being doon ye yongmā took his leaue & hartily deſired me (although améer ſtranger 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 cont nt to doo, and hauing diſpatched the occaſion of my there béeing, and hauing likewiſe taken my leaue: to London wée came and to the Merchants houſe wée went, when wée came before this Merchant the yong Gentleman began to intreat him as feare as hée could and telling him of this good & godly Lawyer and of his great compaſſion, his good councell and perſwaſion: deſired him to accept this C.l. in part of paiment, and to giue him a yéere or twaine for payment of the re t. 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 therwithall hauing receiued the C.l. hée took his owne bond for the reſt to be paid by x.l. a yéer, his firſt pay to begin after the Gentlemans C.l. ful paid, and deliuered vnto him all his Indentures and other aſſurances of the Morgage, and making vs great chéere he let vs departe. Now when I would haue taken my leaue of this yong Gentleman: I could by no meanes forbid him to bring mée 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 wée took leaue eache of other and departed either of vs toward his owne. Thus ye ſée how frutful was the good and gracious 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 whomſoeuer will deny their trueth.

An other tale of the Hoſte of a woorſhipfull Lawyer that made leaſes to all his tenaunts of the Farmes they held for Li. yeers after a ſtrange ſorte and alſo very wiſely. Chap. 17.

I Was (quoth hée) in Buckingham Shire not very long ſithence, at the houſe of a rich Officer toward the Law whome 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 reſerued as followeth. Yéelding and paying vnto the ſaid Leaſſor and his heires yéerly during ſo many of the ſaid li. yéeres as th'inheritaunce ſhall remaine in him or them, not ſolde, exchaunged, morgaged, forfaited, leaſed in reuertion or otherwiſe eſtraunged v.l. currant money of England, and yéelding and paying from and immediatly after any ſuch act doon by him or them or any of them v. s̄. yéerly of like cu rant monie, and ſo after the rate of other rents were they greater or ſmaller. Prouided alwaies, that the tenaunt ſhall not ſell, ſet nor let their ſaid Farme or any percel therof, w thout the aſſent and licence of the ſaid Leaſſor or his heires, of which reſeruation I aſked him a reaſon, wherunto hi anſwere was this. Sée (quoth hée) how hard a matter it i for yong Gentlemē vnto whom it falleth by the grace and gift of God to be Landlorde and owners, wiſely to order & gou rn either their poſſeſſions, lands and reuenues or themſelues. I know alſo (quoth hée) that in the wiſdome, prudency an good gouernment of ſuch, ſtandeth the happy and proſpere us 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 poſſeſ ions may be in their hands who both can and will order and diſpoſe the ſame to the honor and glory of God and to the p ofit of the 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 therof which are wurſe. The cauſes that make men to ſell their patrimonyes and to ſpoyle their inheritance, who knoweth not to be theſe, riot, gaine, whordome, delight in all vngodly pleaſures and paſtime of ſenſualitie, ſhortly the not fearing of God, nor ſeruing him, and the not caring to knowe his wil and commandements, nor to liue therafter, theſe are the cauſes. The effects are theſe, firſt the ſpoyle of the land and th 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 doo more then they, without any other reſpect, and thoſe are commonly the wicked and vngodly, and from thence ariſeth infini ſutes and controuerſies, maintenaunces, champerties and ſuch like.

This cauſeth lands often to chaunge their tenaunts and inhabitants, and by that means breacheth and 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 fréendſhip, not only betwéen men: but euen betwéen the brute and vnreaſonable beaſts, who hauing béene foſtered long together 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 whome 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 béen already alleaged. Theſe are two effects.

The third is the ſinceritie of Iuſtice and alſo of dicipline both which it greatly hazardeth, namely for ye 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 already declared. Theſe things are right perillous in a common welth, and yet doo almoſte neceſſarily followe the too 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 inheritours of Lordſhips, Lands and poſſeſſions to continue in the ſame, béeing things that ſo many deſire to haue, yea oftentimes 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 great trauels, watch, ſtudie ſo many and ſo great hazards by Sea and land, ſo many ſhifts, ſleights, deceits and oppreſſions, of all which this world hath béen, 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 poſſeſſio is ye greater, and that for two cauſes. Firſt for that in his e rour of life fall and miſgouernment: lyeth the fall, ruin and decay of a number, what of his owne blood, what of his tenaunts, faithfull freends and ſeruants. Secondly for that his eſtate is ſubiect vnto many enimies, of whom the greateſt and moſte dangerous is the flatterer the olde enemie of all mankinde, as the ſtory of our Father Adam and mother Eue and the Serpent dooth well declare. This mooued Iuno as O id fableth to commit Io her Cow vnto Argus to kéep, which Argus had an hundred eyes in his head, and therfore much adooe had Mercury to deceiue him withall his ſwéet ſongs and Muſick, for when he had brought on of his eyes a ſleep, ea diuers of them, yet waked diuers other and ſtood vpon t eir ward, and whether his face or his back were towards Io yet he alway beheld her.

¶ A reaſon why Coppyholdes, Cuſtomes and Corporations, were firſt ordained, and how that Pride and Flattery are the cheef cauſes that many a yong Gentleman commeth to ſell his Lands. Chap. 1 .

ANd ſurely in mine oppinion this mooued the wiſe & honorable fathers & Maieſtrates of old time to incorporat ſo great liuings & poſſeſſions, & alſo to erect & eſtabliſh in Lo dſhips ſo many coppy holds and cuſtummar tenures as the moſte ſoueraigne remedy againſt pride and ſurcuydrie, which commonly accompanieth th priuate, ſinguler & ſole proprietie in land, poſſeſſion, office or any other thing whatſoeuer, & alſo a way and meane to furni h the common welth with many both able to deſerue well and to doo good alſo glad and willing therto, vnto the which p ide is either the only let and impediment: or els of all othe the greateſt as he vpon whom flattery attendeth, yea and in ſuch ſorte that he leadeth him by the noſe vp and down the houſe, making him to beléeue of himſelf any thing, cauſing him alſo to delight no while in any one thing, whether it be apparell or the faſhion therof, place, perſon, dyet, fréend, ſeruant, Tenaunt or other thing what ſoeuer, and this as dayly experience teacheth, is the high and ready way to ye Vſurers houſe and from thence to the Extorcioner, who dwelleth hard by, of which twaine by that time he hath taken foorth his leſſon kindely: I dare be his ſuretie hée wil 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 left him at all: or if he haue any, he ſhall be glad to let them déerer then that any honeſt man ſhall doo good thereon, ſo that in concluſion, both th Landlord and the tenaunt ſhalbe miſerable.

The cauſe héerof is Pride moſte and chéeftly, as I haue ſaid, and oftentimes youth, good nature, or peraduenture exceſſe of Pleaſure and Senſuall delights, where through yong Gentlemen are often ſnared through euill company, béeing ouertaken ſometime by giuing their woord, ſometime through a bribe of a little preſent mony, ſometime by one deceit, ſometime by an other, wherin men are ſoone pampred, namely 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 both 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 ioynt and in common, neither can one doo 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 opinion or his fréends. Pride atteinteth them not, for who is proud, or at the leaſt ſo proud of any thing, wherin a number hath to commaund as much as he, and without whom he can doo nothing, then béeing armed againſt Pride the Father of neceſſitie and néed: they are etter fréely to afforde their good woord or déed, and therfore in vaine were it to bribe them.

But admit that any of them would be bribed, it were alſo in vaine and would procure the euill will of all the reſt with out bribing them all which were heauy and hard to doo.

So that in any competicion made vnto ſuch perſons againſt any olde Fréend, Tenaunt, Officer or ſeruant: it is very hard to preuaile except it be through his owne great miſbehauiour. And where it is betwéen méere Sraung rs one of them againſt an other, there the beſt and moſte woorthy is ſure to ſpéed, for certainly and infallible there is othing in all this world ſo amiable, ſo beloued and fauoured as honeſtie, vertue and godlines 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 Corporations & of their effects. Now to ſpeake of the cuſtomes of Manours the very ſame or like in effect may be ſaid, for the 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 therwiſe impaire the wood or other commodities therof without licēce aforeſaid.

So great an entreſſe and commaundement hath the Lord therin and yet not to the hinderaunce or preiudice of ye Inheritaunce but e contra, namely that the ſelling, ſetting or other gouernment of ſuch a royall poſſeſſion as land s: ſhould ſtand in ye Iudgement & diſcretiō of diuers, & thoſe of ye ripeſt & beſt aduiſed, and not to be ſolde, waſted or ſpoyled hrough ye intemperaunce of one fooliſh or vngodly man or woman either formed or neceſſitie or otherwiſe for flatery or other fōd or fooliſh affection whatſoeuer, wherin the Lord and his lerned Stuard and the homagers of the Court are Iudges.

In all which caſe it may euidently appéer how great a care thoſe honourable and reuerend Forefathers had to enact and eſtabliſh the great poſſeſſions in the hands of ſuch as were not like to miſregarde ſo great and high a bleſſing of GOD, the effects and fruites wherof haue béen many and great as from time to time proof hath verified and yet dooth, for it hath alwaies béen accoūted & yet is a right happy thing to be tenāt or Farmer to a Corporation or enioy any commoditie vnder them. For woorſhipful & honorable haue alwaies béen their dealing in ordering and gouernment of their Lands, liuings, and poſſeſſions. and of their Tenaunts and Farmers of the ſame. But chéefly and abooue all others to be Tenaunt vnto the Prince, who indéed is a Corporation, for from the Prince, there can paſſe nothing but by writing vnder ſeale, neither dooth or can wtout the conſent 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 leaſes, and therin theſe reſeruations which vnto you doo ſéeme ſo very ſtrange. 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, or els as néer vnto the Nature therof as I could deuiſe. For by this meanes, if my heires or any of them chaunce at any time héerafter to proue vnthrifty: his vnthriftines ſhall not be ſo gainfull vnto any man yt in hope to purchaſe his lands would therfore ſtrengthen his hands therin and by theſe means I haue left them moe Frends and fewer Flatterers. For hée that ſhal buy 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 yet aliue, or he 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. partes, which me think ſhould kéep them from argument 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 betwéen the bier and the ſeller as faſt as dooth a nail ſtick betwéen two ſtōes in a wall.

This way haue I brought to be ſtronger and better aſſured then any entaile generall or ſpeciall both whi h priuate couetiſe hath found a way to deſtroy to the diſheriſ n of many a good kinred and to the great decay of vertue and godlynes, and héerin (quoth hée) I haue doon my heirs n wrong, for vpon this rent I haue liued contēt and doo, & if they prooue honeſt and vertuous: ſo may they doo, and then I haue left them inough. and if they prooue otherwiſe: then hau I left to much and yet to little to ſerue them alſo.

Moreouer (quoth hée) I haue héerby prouided againſt the malice of ſuch tenaunts as abuſe the liberalitie of good Land lords fetting 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 raiſed to his hand by others: is a perillous preſident vnto him at his return vnto the poſſeſſion therof.

Thus you haue heard (quoth our Hoſte) what a godly and Fatherly care this good and vertuous Maieſtra e had to preferre the honour and glory of God and alſo the ommon welth of his Cuntry and People, whereby it may appéere how hartely to be deſired is the purchaſe of ſuch P rſonnes whoſe riches is the Treaſury and Storehouſe of the common welth, aſwell for the ſuſtenaunce of the ſam concerning worldly and bodily prouiſion of tranſitorie things: as alſo for the furtherance and increaſe of Vertue, godlines and Pietie, Looue and Concord.

Ho (quoth Pierce) lay a ſtraw there for Gods ſak , marry Sir héer is ſtuffe indéed (quoth he) heer hath béen a ong diſcourſe indéed, and euen as true as all the reſt, with t at I enterrupted their talke and ſpake vnto him.

The Author interrupteth Pierce maintaining Simons Aſſertion ſhewing that of late in his ſight he knew a Lawyer gaue x.li. to the building of a Bridge. Chap. 19.

FAther Pierce (quoth I) theſe matters are not ſo ſtrange nor ſo incredible as you wéene, for proof wherof I will (if it pleaſe you to giue me leaue) to reherſe a thing which I my ſelf did ſe 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 Plaintiff in a repleuin in Bedford ſhire, and being come into his Lawyers Chamber and hauing ſtaied there a while about our buſines: there came in an ancient Gentleman of the Cuntry, whome I know very wel by ſight and haue doon long, whom when the Maiſter had eſpied comming vp euen at the top of the ſtaires, hée ſpake to him as followeth. I know wherfore you come, go down again to my man and bid him come vp to mée, which the Gentleman bid, his ſeruant béeing come: he 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 waight chaunge it for him. The ſeruant went downe 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 diuers Shires. Wherupon I taking 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) hauing of a man learned in the Lawes and whom Vertue and Learning haue prefferred, then of the others that Fiſhen for Offices with the golden hook and neuer wiſt what Learning ment.

Simons returne to his matter again declareth of an other rich Officer in the Law who had two Farmers, one rich and the other poore and how he delt with them. Chap. 20.

WIth that our Hoſte took holde again, ſaying yt hée had yet one other matter to tell and therwith he would conclude. I was an other time (quoth hée) at the houſe of an other rich Officer towards the Law, who d elleth in Kent alſo and is a man of great w lth, and one time of my béeing at his houſe as (I thank hi ) I haue béen very many times. There were two of his Tenaunts come to take new leaſes of their Farmes the land béeing of equall rent & value, but yet the Farmers not equal in welth: the one hauing béen bleſſed (as it ſhould ſeem) abou the other for the one of them was very welthie and vpheld h s Tenament in very good repaire & offered the Lord at the irſt woord forty pound for a fine for one and twenty yéers The other was poore and yet his tenament in decay, ne ther was hée able to giue fiue pounds for a fine, wherof the Landlord hauing challenged him and warning him to look to it therafter: willed the other to lay down his forty 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 burd n) wherwith the other was ſo farr from béeing ill content that hée humbly praiſed God, and gaue the Gentleman right hartie thanks therfore: and ſo he ſent them away bothe very well contented. Since which time I héer of the poore man that hée is growen to great welth and of ſuch benigniti and hoſpitalitie as are not many Owners or Landlords dwelling néer him. Thus (quoth our Hoſte) I haue confirmed my firſt Aſſertion and haue ſufficiently auoyded your reaſons and examples alleadged in diſproof of the ſame, and theſe haue I doon by Example and demonſtrations dothe moe in number then yours are: and alſo more euident, apt and prop r vnto ye 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 will not graunt, yet are they perticuler and cannot make any generall Concluſion, beſides yt you tender mée an iſſue vpon two affirmatiues which is againſt the grounds of law as I haue learned by mine owne experience déerly bought. For I haue alleadged againſt you the penerall Corruption of liues and manners béeing the effect of libertie vnto exceſſe and diſſolution which I alſo haue alleadged and prooued to be an effect of priuate deſire to pouch to purchaſe and to wax rich, from al which cauſes and effects conuertly my Argument is neceſſary and infallible and therfore béeing alleadged affirmatiuely it demaundeth a direct & generall trauerſe to the effects, which effects béeing not diſprooued: the cauſes therof cannot be denied, 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.

The Concluſion of the Conference, and the preparation to the Queſtions beeing the ſecond Book. Chap. 21.

BY this time it was waxē euen dark night and 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 forgoten 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 wurſſe if it had pleaſed God, and therfore quoth he, if it pleaſe you o lend mée 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 nigh , for hence ſhal ye not departe before to morowe God willing, and namely for this ſtrangers ſake, whome I wil deſire yo to accompany for this night, for in his Cuntry I haue re eiued many folde humanitie, as partly ye haue heard, and therfore I gladly would doo him ſome héere to my power, and therfore this night or a conuenient part therof wée will in euour our ſelues to ſpend together in honeſt mirth and exerciſes. And therwithall I ſpake, and geuing our Hoſte harty hanks: deſired Pierce that it might ſo be. Who at my reque t did ſoone condiſcend, and was very wel contented therwith ll.

Then quoth I, ſéeing that we haue ſo wel ſpe t 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 vntil bed time, no wurſſe then we haue doon the time before.

Now verily Gentleman (quoth our Hoſte) and that is very well ſpoken, I be ſhrewe him that diſagreeeth therunto, if it be my ſelf. Amen quoth Pierce Plowman if it e I. Very well then quoth I, this is my order if it may pleaſe you. After Supper euery man ſhall put his queſtion and el his tale in order, & by courſe wherunto eche of the others ſhall ſpeak to wit vnto the queſtion ſhall giue an anſwere of iſſolution of the ſaying and vnto the tale 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 iſeſt queſtion moſte tending to vertue and edifying of the earers or giues the wiſeſt and beſt ſolution: hée ſhall haue his breakfaſt héer to morrow at the charges of the other twain. Content withall my hart quoth our Hoſte. Content qu th Pierce Plowman. But to whoſe Iudgement ſhal we ſtand héerin ꝙ hée? Truely ꝙ I, euen to the oome of our Hoſteſſe fit pleaſe her to take it vpon her, wherupon ſhée béeing calle very wilingly vndertook it, ſo was the matter fully agrée d and on hands giuen there vpon. And then was the fable couered for ſupper & (our Hoſte hauing him ſell firſt giuē thanks 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 my ſelf began as followeth.

The end of the firſt Book.
The Second Book, declaring the Queſtions and Anſwers between the Author, the Hoſte, and Pierce Plowman.

1 THe firſt Queſtion put by me, whether it be more proper to vertue and godlynes to giue or to lend, or to pay that a man oweth.

Pierce Plowman anſwered, that of thoſe thrée to giue was the beſt, to lend was the next, & as for paying that which a man oweth: he held it a duty, & in dooing of duty there ſtandeth no Godlynes, neither lieth there any thank therin, & that (he ſaid) appéereth by Chriſte his owne woords who ſayeth, that when wée haue doon that which was our duty: wée are vnprofitable ſeruants, neither hath paying, of debts any expreſſe teſtimony of Godlynes or vertue, in the Scriptures of God, or by common experience among men, wheras giuing hath a name of vertue, namely of liberallitie wherof the Prophet Dauid ſpeaketh thus. He hath diſperſed and giuen vnto the poore, and his righteouſnes remaineth for euer. Again oof lending he ſaith. The righteous is mercifull and lendeth, and will guide his woords with diſcreſion. To be ſhort, liberalitie (which extendeth both vnto giuing and alſo lending) is a propertie of God, who both giueth and lendeth vnto vs his dayly gifts and bleſſings, but borowe he cānot neither pay his debt. And ſo ſhortly paying of debt in his opinion no vertue ne propertie of Godlines, for that it is a thing which God him ſelf cannot doo, and ſo the firſt twaine, vertues and the third no vertue, but a duty.

OVr Hoſte maintained the contrary, & that to pay a mans debt is the moſte excellent qualitie & vertue of the thrée, and moſte peculier and proper vnto the children o God, and that the other twaine are no vertues, neither d ſerue that name, ſaue ſo far foorth as they are included within this, and for proofe therof thus he reaſoneth. Whatſoeuer s or may be cauſe of euill: that ſame thing may it ſelf be ſaid to be euill. What ſoeuer act corrupteth or diſhoneſteth t e dooer or the ſufferer therof, or els bothe: that act is or may b euil, contrariwiſe, whatſoeuer act dooth not neither cann t corrupt or diſhoneſt the dooer nor the ſufferer therof nor an other perſon; that act ſaith he neither is euill, neither by any meanes can be made or called euil. Lending ſaith he oft tim s corrupteth and diſhoneſteth the dooer therof, namely for Vſurye, ſelling the déerer for day giuen, both theſe are lendin s in their kindes, and yet not any properties of Godlines no vertue.

But to ſpeak of the beſt lending and that which is imply wt out any of the regards aforeſaid, yet meaneth the lender to haue his things again, and therfore what godlyn s is there ſaith Chriſte if you bid them to dinner yt can bid yo againe, what great godlynes haue you ſhewed therin, and o much of lending. Gifts are giuen oft-times to corrupt and ſo peruert Iuſtice, and therby both the dooer and ſufferer diſ oneſted. Gifts are giuen by the couetous in hope to receiu greater. Gifts are giuen by flatterers and Clawbacks, nam ly ſuperfluous and exceſſiue feaſts and banquets vnto P inces and great eſtates, to the end vnder their authoritie to ide vpon the poore and godly people, and to deuoure and ſpoyle the labours of all others of the common and meaner ſorie, to the great oppreſſion of vertue and godlynes, and to the reat increaſe of al wickednes and vngodlynes. Gifts are g uen in ſimulation of frendſhipp when nothing is ſo little m nt, and ſo wickednes vtterly concluded therby: In giuing is ſtentation and vaine glory, and theſe two are the fathers a d mother of flattery. For where Thraſo is Gnatho wil be alſ , giuing vnto one fréend and not vnto the reſt, if a man ha e; many procureth their hatred and enuye againſt both the giuer and the receiuer. Shortly it ſtandeth togither to be a large giuer: and yet a moſte wicked and vngodly perſon, and t erof are great examples namely of Cateline, of whom Saluſt writeth that he was prodigall of his owne, & deſirous of other mens. And of Silla that cruell Tirant hée reporteth this, he would giue no man more frankly, lend he would alſo very liberally, but what ſoeuer he could borowe: he would neuer pay againe. Now vnto the third part, to wit paying a mans debt, and which (ſaith he) I call the moſte high and ſoueraign vertue, and the moſte proper vnto Godlines, and that for theſe cauſes. Firſt it neither corrupteth nor diſh neſteth the dooer nor the ſufferer therof, for I am ſure al men wil confeſſe that a man may honeſtly pay that which he oweth, and he vnto whom he ought it, may honeſſly craue the ſame.

Paying of def corrupteth no Iuſtice neither I ſuppoſe can be prooued euer to haue doon in paying of bet there is no oſtentation of vaine glory, for it is not the déed of a proud minde, whoſe propertie is not to acknowledg any good turn for that might charge him with duty of acquitall wheron the proud and vngodly differ chéefly from vertuous and godly, for the proud may not ſéeme to haue néeded any mans good turn neither to haue vſed their help, both which things in paying their det they ſhould implicatiuely confeſſe to haue doon, and therfore are they aſhamed to repay what ſo they can borrow for the Concluſion aforeſaid. And that ſtandeth wel with the ſaying of Ieſus of Sirack who ſaith that what ſo the vngodly can borrowe: hée accounteth it as if hée had found it, wherof the reaſon is this, although pure néed and neceſſitie conſtrain them oft to vſe this woord (lend) yet they vſe him for a cloke of diſſimulation as the effect ſheweth, for this is euident that there are but foure waies of attainment or getting of whatſoeuer thing, for it is either giuen vs, lent vs, or els wée take it perforce, or els wée found it.

So that whatſoeuer is lent vnto ſuch people either it is giuen or lent, or taken by force or els found.

Giuen you wil ſay it is not, nor ſo ment by you, and you ſhall finde the ſame by him that took it at your hands, for hée will neuer giue you thanks therfore, neither ſée you but againſt his hart.

Borowed it was not vpon his behalf, and conſeq ently not vpon yours, howſoeuer you ment in departing the with for except there be a borower: there can be no lender, fo they are corelatiue and none can be without other, no mor then there can be a Father without a Childe, then if the o e did not borrowe: the other did not lend, hée borrowed not, f r you ſhall finde that with his good will hée neuer ment to pay it again. 〈◊〉 your lent it not.

Hi took not from you perforce for your ſelf deliuer d it, ſo thou if you neither gaue it, lent it, neither left by f rce, then there remaineth but a fourth, which is that you loſt it 〈◊〉 hee hath found it, according to the ſaying of Ieſus of Sirack, for what ſoeuer a man findeth hee took it from n man neither is he bound to thank any man therfore, and tha this is the manner of the vngodly: the Prophet Dauid be areth witneſſe where hée ſaith The vngodly boroweth and ayeth not again, but the righteous is mercifull and liberall, Thus it appéereth (quoth our Hoſte) that who ſo truely paieth is o t hée can not therin be called an euil perſon or be ſaid to haue 〈…〉 ſted neither him ſelf or any other odie, and therin farre excelleth this quallitie both the other.

¶ But now it reſteth mée to prooue (quoth hée) th t this word (to pay a mans det) dooth include both the reſt ſo farre ſaith as they may or can be called vertues or proper ies of godlines which I wil prooue in this order.

¶ Firſt ſay, that whatſoeuer wée haue héer in this orld: wée haue it at the bountifull & mercifull hands of our God as lent and which hée may at his pleaſure take from vs, as alſo wée dayly ſee him doo. Then if wée haue nothing but t at we haue receiued: (as Saint Paule ſaith) wée muſt needs c nfeſſe wée are •••• tted vnto him therfore. How then can e pay vnto him our det for hée receiueth no money we canno feaſt him, for hée neither eateth Buls fleſh nor drinketh th blood of Goates. It reſteth then that wée giue vnto them that are 〈◊〉 his Bayliffes and •• ereiuers for that intent a •• purpoſe, and vnto them in whoſe perſounēs hée hath ga •• d him ſelf •• to 〈◊〉 to wit unto his poore and godly Saints a •• ſeruaunts that are héer vpon the Earth among vs, vnto whome whatſoeuer wée giue hée hath promiſed to accept it, as giuen vnto him as a payment of ſo much det, a teſtimony not of our merit: but of our woorking faith in his grace and mercy, and in this only ſence and meaning, giuing and lending are vertues and proper vnto the Children of God.

2. THe next Queſtion put by our Hoſte, w •• whether is the harder matter to make a Lord or a Gentleman.

Pierce anſwered, yt in all common reaſon & alſo by experience the harder thing: the harder is the d •• ing therof, Lord ( 〈◊〉 hée) is a greater degrée then a Gentleman, and therfore harder to be made then a Gentleman.

I Anſwered that I thought and knew the contrary by experience, For I knew (quoth I) where a Churle by hi purchaſe of Mannour is become Lord of a number better men then himſelf, and ſo is hée a Lord and yet no Gentlemen.

3. THe next Queſtion of Pierce Plowman was why p oremen are not called to office of eſtate and gouernment in common welths but euermore the rich and welthy.

OVr Hoſte anſwered, becauſe quoth hée, the poore would to be rich and ſo are not content with their preſent eſtate, but to deſire alteration and chaunge and all ſuch perſones are more méet to be commaunded then to commaund in a commō welth. But of the rich and welthie it is clean otherwiſe, for they are already that which the poore haue deſire to be, and therfore content, and conſequently Fréends and furtherers of peace and vnitie which is neuer nor neuer wil be where they haue authoritie in their hands that are not content with their owne preſent ſtate, and ſo great hazard of the common peace lieth therin.

4 THe next Queſtion by mé •• hat is the reaſon that the Sonnes and Children of great purchaſers, namely 〈◊〉 & and Merchants, are common •• ſuch hee ri ••• and 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 ••• meleſſe vnthrifts.

PIerce anſwerered that hée knew no reaſon therin but hée thought it a very ſecret Iudgement of God vpon the parents that haue eaten foure Grapes and ſet their Childr ns ••• ch •••• edge.

OVr Hoſte ſaid it argued great equitie and conſience in t eir Children in that they ment to buy wit, and to pay as éer therfore as their fathers and fréends had ſold theirs.

5 The next Queſtion by our Hoſte, what was firſt the reaſon of giuing and wearing of mourning gownes and garments for ſuch as are deceaſed.

PIerce anſwered hée thought it was in fauour of our i bicilitie and weaknes, and for that reaſon: are not ſo p one and ready to wéep ſo ſore, namely rich widowes who ca not wéep ſo redily as a dog can make water, and therfore it was thought expedient that ſuch mourning were, and that uch •• co ld not mourne for other buſines: they might be al ow d vnto the •• ſoone honeſt and coulorable meanes to m urn by atturney, as wée ſée yt in matters of law he that for ther neceſſary buſines cannot attend vpon his cauſes: is receiued by his Attourney, and of theſe great heires, executor and rich widowes that are otherwiſe neceſſarily occupied and haue no leiſure to wéep: it was thought in like maner. Alſo 〈◊〉 thought profitable for the parties themſelues for that it is an honeſt mean of publicatiō aſwel of the widowh •• d as alſo of her great heuines, therfore wherby the more Counſelers may reſort vnto her, for in ſtrange places a wido e is known from other by her wéeping and ſorow.

6 THe next Queſtion by pierce what differeth a cou tous perſon from a Niggard. ¶ Our Hoſte anſwered a ni gard is affraid to want him ſelf, and therfore huſbandeth a d ſpareth, and oft liueth beſides his owne. But the couet us is curſſe affraid leaſt others ſhould not want and therfo e kée eth and engroſſeth all to defraude the hungrie ſoule and 〈◊〉 the poore want bread.

7 THe next Queſtion by mée why ſuch fol e as delight in rich and coſtly apparell, and alſo in deli •• t and dainty neats and drinks, doo not eat and drink in the opē ſtréets as they doo weare their apparell. ¶ Pierce anſwered, becauſe that for their delicate fare: no body would honor or reuerence thē except they gaue them part with them, which becauſe they purpoſe not to doo: therfore they holde it beſt to eat it wtin doores and in ſecret, but in their braue apparell there lieth ſome honor at the leaſt as they ſuppoſe, becauſe they ſée many yt méet them ſtrike their ſailes therat although as great and the like reaſon in the one as in the other.

8. THe next Queſtion by our Hoſte why the beſt and daintieſt meats and drinks and ſuch as bréed and make the moſts and beſt nuriſhment in the body, doo not alſo bréed the beſt maner but rather the contrary.

I Anſwered, becauſe that commonly folke take to much of them, and haue ſo great felicitie therin, the rather that the miniſters of voluptuouſnes and ſenſualitie may thriue, but the chéefeſt and beſt reaſon ſéemeth to be this that me may knowe that Godlines and vertue are not tied vnto meat and drink, neither doo conſiſt therin, as Chriſte hath ſaid. The kingdome of heauen is neither meat nor drink, and to moue vs therfore to eat and drink to liue, and not to liue to eat and drink.

9. THe next Queſtion by me, what poſſeſſion is the beſt and ſureſt, and leaſt ſubiect vnto rauin and violence.

OVr Hoſte anſwered the beſt things and the wurſt for vertue which is the beſt poſſeſſion, a man may carry farre enough without béeing robbed therof, and or that either man or woman offer to take it from him, and as it is of the beſt: ſo is it of the wurſt, for once (quoth hée) I loſt a Gloue which was taken vp and brought after me.

10 THe next Queſtion by our Hoſte, whether beautie and honeſtie may dwell togither in one houſe, and be tenaunts both vnto one Landlord or not.

PIerce ſaid, he knew no cauſe to the contrary, except the Landlord (quoth he) to be a Purchaſer of Land, or a great builder or both, then Beautie muſt haue a Licence of the Iuſtice to kéep a Seller or a bowling alley or an in rdinary table or els all thrée, and then honeſtie muſt take a houſe farther of.

11. THe next Queſtion by Pierce, what is the reaſon that ſome Women doo ſo curſe and lay forth their haires.

THe anſwere by our Hoſte, for that to be berdl ſſe is in a man monſtrous, and to be bauld headed in a woman as in a trée neuer to haue leaues, or ground graſſe, and therfore leaſt for want of ſhewing their haires they might peraduenture be ſuſpected to be monſters: they make themſe ues very moſters in déed.

Dum vitant ſtulti vicua in contrarium currum.

12. THe next Queſtion by our Hoſte, what is the end and purpoſe of ſo ſtately and ſumptuous buildin s of houſes and ſo many Chimneyes therin now a dayes.

THe anſwere by Pierce phiſick and naturall, that againſt all ſickneſſes, namely Ethicks and ptiſicks, all things de •• bting the ſences are holſome, and alſo al things rouoking & cauſing appetite. Theſe delight the ſences, namel the eyes, theſe ſharpen the appetite, for they argue hunger and ſcarſitie within, neither is the ſmell of meat and drink h rtfull to weak ſtomacks, the Kitchin and the Buttrye béeing not ſo apparant, and euen at the firſt entry as in the olde buildings but rather farre of, and hard to finde, and with ſome labour and exerciſe except to him that knoweth which way they are His reaſon oeconomicall politik, that it is a good efence againſt the haunt of Beggers, for there is no begge that hath either experience or wit that will goe thether for m almes, and ſo mony and charges ſaued therby.

13. THe next Queſtion by me, wherin differed flatterers from Crowes and Rauens.

PIerce anſwered, they differ in this, that Crow s and Rauens will pick out a mans eyes when hée is de d but flatterers wil eat him while hée is yet aliue.

〈…〉

this place, there fell a brabble betwéen two rich men concerning trepaſſes by woords & ſpéeches, wherupon one of them ſued the other & had demanded by action M. l' damages. I can not tell how, at length they were both content to put the routter vnto two men of worſhip their neighbours, and became bound in great ſinnes either to other to ſtand to their awards & order therin. The plaintif for their better inſtructed deliuered vnto tharbitrators a copy of his declaration & of ye whole iſſue, wherin the party Defendant to ſome of the matter had pleaded not giltie: & other ſome had iuſtified, wherupon th'arbitrators hauing duely conſidered, and heard the in allegations for f rther pro f of both their matters, ordered as foleweth, that the partie defendant béeing guiltie of diuers miſbehauiours by the Plaintife againſt him alleadged: ſhould therfore pay two hundred fiftie pound vnto the common treſure of fiue Pariſhes next adioining, to be there imploied and beſtowed at the diſcretion of the moſte honeſt and beſt at the ſaid Pariſhes and vnto the partie plaintif for all his coſte 〈◊〉 this awarde béeing ſhewed and read vnto the parties they were both highly diſpleaſed therat.

The plaintif for that the Arbitrators had giuen that vnto Strangers (ſaith hée) which ſhould haue béen his and ſo haue excéeded the limits of their authoritie and the tenour of his ſubmiſſion. The defendant thought him gréeued with the greatnes of the ſum and ſo both the parties highly diſpleaſed.

The Arbitrators maintained their awarde and order to be both iuſt and reaſonable. Firſt for the Defendaunt, they ſaid they were of duety bond to puniſh him vpon good & due proofs made by his Aduerſarie of his the vngodly behauiour, where neuertheleſſe they had qualified his puniſhment and the demaunde by his Aduerſary. As touching the plaintif and the ſum which hée demaūded by the name and earin of amends: their anſwere was that they ment it ſuch to wit an amends and that not only vnto one of them but to them both for they hoped that the Defendaunt by that time hée hath paied the two hundred & fiftie pounds wil be better héerafter as concerning the like ffr ce and ſo hée hath his amends, but what or how you would haue béen amended by the r ceit of ſo much money paid vnto you: if it might haue appéer d vnto vs: wee verily would haue adiudged it vnto you, but that could wée neuer perceiue nor be perſwaded to beleeue, for w neuer heard that honor, vertue, godlynes and the exiſtimation therin are or euer were valued or valuable by money aking, but rather in departing there from, for as the laſt doo h ſhew a noble, gentle and a godly hart and mynde: ſo dooth the firſt argue the moſt vile abiect and baſeſt minded perſon that euer can be & one in whome is vtterly miſpriſon of all vertue as wel witneſſeth S. Peter vnto Simon Magus, w erfore (ſaid they) we thought that in this diſtributiō which we mean to be your act: you haue vnto the world ſufficiently di prooued whatſoeuer euil your Aduerſary hath purpoſed to bring vpon you as touching your exiſtimation or good name and haue ſhewed your ſelf in very déed ſuch a man as in the preamble of your declaration you gladly would be taken to be, nd ſuch as if you be not alredy: wée verily think that the rec it of all this and ten times as much more will neuer make ou, and therfore can be called no mends vnto you in the tak ng: but rather in the honeſt diſtributing therof, which we holde a iuſt and reaſonable Iudgement in all actions of ſuch nat re.

¶ With that the two parties drew foorth either o hers obligation, & cancelled them bothe, and took hands and eparted home great Fréends ſpite of the Arbitrators and o their awarde, and ſo ij. Churles were made fréends.

THis tale béeing ended, Pierce Plowman would éeds acquite with an other tale not vnlike. It chaunce one day (quoth hée) while I was in my Councellers Cham er in the Inner Temple: there came a woman dwelling about the Strand, and prayed his councell, and what action ſ e might bring againſt an other woman a neighbour of hers, that had ſaid to her in open preſence of diuers of her neighb urs, that ſhe had already twiſe eſcaped the Gallowes. M Lawyer aſked of her if ſhe had neuer in her life paſſed by a pair of Gallowes. She anſwered yes. So haue I doon (quoth h •• ) I thank my God, and that ſome time when there haue béen a dozen hanged, and ſo I think haue you (quoth hée). True it is Sir quoth ſhe. Then quoth he, ye cannot recouer for thoſe woordes, for they beare good couller of iuſtification, and alſo ſhew that ye haue had better fortune then poſſible many a better mans Childe, and ſo haue I my ſelf alſo. With this anſwere the good woman held her ſelf wel apaid, and went her way content.

THen began my tale. There is dwelling in Holbourne (quoth I) and that not very far from the place where I doo lye, a certain man whome I haue noted this long time to be a man of ſtrange affection, for béeing a man of great wealth and therfore the méeter for company, yet if any fréend or neighbour require him to goe with them to the Tauern, to the Ale houſe, to the Theater, to ye Curtain as they tearm it, or to Paris garden or any ſuch place of expence: he vtterly refuſeth, & after their return that willed his company: his maner is to go vnto ſome one of them, deſiring him to tel him truely what hée hath ſpent ſince his going foorth, which hauing learned at him whether it be a grote or ſixpence, more or leſſe, hée goeth ſtraight vnto a Cofer that hée hath ſtanding ſecretly in his Chamber, which hath a Til, in the which Til there is a little clift, at the which clift hée putteth in aſmuch mony as the partie ſaid yt had ſpent, and this til, hée neuer openeth vntill the end of the yéer, ſo often times hée findeth ther in fortie ſhillings, oft times thrée or foure pound or more and this he taketh and beſtoweth vpon his poore neighbours, and vpon other godly buſines imployeth it.

And vpon the lid of his Cheſt is written in great Romain letters, take from thy kinde, and giue to the blinde.

This tale béeing ended, the night ſome what far rumour Hoſteſſe warned vs therof and that it was high time to go to bed, which we were all contented to doo ſauing Pierce Plowman, who had yet one other tale to tel, and prayed vs to giue him the hearing, which we graunted him, and then hée began.

¶ There is héer about (quoth Pierce) a Gentleman that hath enlarged his rent but not his land (where in many are very expert at this day) & once vpon a time of my being in his houſe there came in a poore tenaunt of his, one that ha béen long tenaunt both to his father and others his Aunc ſtors, which poore man pittifully ſaid vnto him as followeth

Alas Sir (quoth hée) in your Fathers and graundf thers dayes I liued wel and kept at the leaſt twentie Kine eſides Oxen and horſes, and now through your hard dealing with me I am not able to kéep twain.

Wel quoth the Gentleman thou lieſt, for I haue b •• n better to thée: then euer my Father or Grandfather wa , for where by thine owne confeſſion in their time thou di ſt kéep but twentie Kine: now thou maiſt kéep two hundre at the leaſt, for now (quoth hée) through my fréendſhip thou maiſt be the common Neat hearde, and kéep al the beaſts in th town.

And thus our tales béeing all ended: wée required he ſentence of our Hoſteſſe therin, ſhée ſaid that truely in er opinion the Stranger (meaning mée) had tolde the beſt ale and wherby ſhée had gotten moſte Example of edifica ion and knowledge, whereby to help and inſtruct both her ſelf and others, and giuing mée great and hartie thanks therfore: ſhée gaue Iudgement that I ſhould break my faſt the next day at the charges of her Huſband and Pierce Plowman, ſhée ſaid farther that to that man of whome I tolde the tale: ſhée was Detter, if ſhe knew how to doo him good.

¶ So héer wée ended, and went to bed, and the ext day Pierce Plowman was vp very early, and called mée vp and our Hoſte, (as ſithens I haue learned his maner is alwaies to doo) gathered vs all together with the reſidue of h s houſeholde, mainy, Children and Seruants.

And hée him ſelf red vnto vs a Chapter of the new Teſtament, and then wée altogether ſung the fiftéen Pſalme of Dauid, and that doon to breakfaſt went, and after break aſt: I my ſelf would néeds pay the whole charges therof, and bid, (notwithſtanding the awarde of our Hoſteſſe and their great inſtance to the contrary.)

And when I would departe: my Hoſte and Pie ce Plowman would (whether I would or no) bring mée on my way to Doncaſter, and did, and there cauſed mée to haue great entertainment without a peny charges for one whole day, and then wée took either leaue of other, and departed each of vs toward his owne.

After which departure, vpon the way as I traueled: I remembred ye Prophet Dauid who ſaith. I was glad when it was ſaid vnto mee, wee ſhall go into the houſe of the Lord, which I ſuppoſe be neuer ment by a cōmon Inne or hoſterie, where neuertheleſſe I may ſafely ſay I found it. And therfore full true it is ye Ouid ſaith, there is oftentimes a good fiſh in a water where a man would little think. Wée boaſt much of ciuilitie and nurture in the South partes of this land, namely in London, and diſpraiſe and diſpiſe the North as rude and vnciuil, but ſurely for mine owne parte (that am a Southernman and borne in Kent) to ſpeak indifferently for any thing that euer I haue found in all my trauel in both the partes: I cannot ſée nor know why the Northern People ſhould not rather pittie vs then enuie vs concerning either Godlynes, Vertue or good maners, for héer I haue ſpoken of the baſeſt kinde of People, wherby it may partly approoue what hope there is of the Gentlemen, merchants and them of the good Townes and Citties, for whoſe ſakes and generally for all others I vndertook to gather and to report this little Conference, and with Gods help and fauour haue doon it as néer accordant to the trueth as I could, neither adding therto nor taking there from, the deſire wherof cauſed mée to take the leſſer Iournies homewarde and to write it by parcells at my Innes leaſt I might haue forgotten it.

And héerin I proteſt, that I haue neither flattered nor belyed any man, for my meaning is trueth and the commendation therof, and therin is no flattery, for ſurelie if I haue flattered any body: it is mine owne ſelf in yt, that where before I was perſwaded that pride had vtterly corrupted this whole common welth and had clean ouer ſpred it with his generation of all vngodlynes and wickednes wherof all times and ages doo agrée him to be the father: ſithence this Iourney I begin to hope yt God wil haue mercy vpon vs, and hath and that hée hath reſerued vnto him ſelf a remnaunt as hée did in the time of Elias, for whoſe ſakes hée will ſpare the eſt as hée offered vnto Abraham touching Sodome and Gomo ra.

Therfore the intent of this my collection thus ppearing: I refer my ſelf to the iudgement of them to whoſ hāds it ſhal héerafter come, deſiring their good woord in reco pence therof, and alſo of my long and weary Iourney wherof this labour was mine only rewarde.

Beſéeching Almightie God of his great mercie nd clemency to graunt vnto the ſame no wurſſe effect then haue ment therin, and that by the Appoſtles councel, we m y conſider that wée are but ſtrangers and pilgrimes héer i earth, and that there after wée may order our liues and con erſation longing for our owne Cuntrie, content to ſuffer, a d to for beare and glad to heare or ſée the thing that may ée for our edifying, learning and knowledge to bée the éeter and better welcome into our Cuntrie which is the Heauenly Ieruſalem whether God for Chriſtes ſake bring vs all Amen.

FINIS. Laus Deo. Foelix qui potuit Rerum cognoſcere cauſa Who wil ariſe with me againſt the wicked or who wil take my part againſt the euil dooers
THE APOLOGIE AND Concluſion of the Author. THus ended is this ſhorte Collection, Rude and vnperfect for his want of ſki Who ſhould haue giuen it perfection, and would, if his might had been to his wil Or els if time had therunto ſuffiſed: To haue peruſed it and recogniſed. ¶ But for as much as I did fayle of bothe, To wit, of Learning and alſo of time: And to let dye ſuch matter I was lothe, Though I he could it duely enlumine. Yet for my God and for my Cuntries ſake: Me thought of force I muſt it vndertake. And namely for the woorthy Shire of Kent, Famous of olde time for humanitie: As is to finde in writing auncient, Beſides what dayly proof dooth teſtifie. Sith I was borne in her me thought of right: I ought to bring this matter into light. ¶ So ſtrongly ruleth looue the hart of man, Namely that looue which is ſo naturall: To doo his Cuntry good in what he can That his good hart is to be borne withall. For God requeſteth of a man but will: Although he want wherwith it to fulfil. 〈…〉