debt or to keepe few seruasits or noÌ„â—… except it be one Prentize or two And therefore the Journeymen what of our occupations and what of Clothyers and all other occupations being forced to be without worke are y â— most parte of these rude people that maketh these vprores abrode to the great 〈◊〉 not onely of the Queenes highnes but also of hir people And neede as yee knowe hath no booty MarchauÌ„t It is true yee knowe likewise what other notable acts men of myne occupation haue done in this City Before this yee know the hospitall at the townâ—…s ende wherein the freemen decaâ—…ed are releaued how it was founded not longe 〈◊〉 by one of our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereby y â— the â—…y should be much releaued which then was in some decay and yet it decayeth still euery day more and more whereof it should be longe I caâ—…ot well tell Knight â—…yr as I knowe it is true that yee complayne not â—…out cauâ—…e so it is as true that I and my sorte I meane aâ—… Gentlemen haue as great yea and 〈◊〉 greater cause to complayne then any of you haue for as I sayd now that the pryâ—…es of thinges arâ—… so rysen of all handes you may better lyne after your degree then we for you may and do rayse the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 waâ—…s as the priâ—…es of â—…tayles other your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 cannot we so much for though 〈◊〉 bee true that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as coâ—…e to our handes â—…ther 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by â—…mination and ending of such terâ—…es of yeares or othâ—… 〈◊〉 that For mine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I â—…oe either 〈◊〉 a better 〈◊〉 than of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 the renâ—… thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereto for 〈◊〉 â—…arge of â—…y â—…holde that is so encreased ouer that it was yet in all my lyfe tyme I looke not that the thyrd parte of my land shall come to my disposition that I may enhaunce the rent of y â— same but it shalbe in mens holding either by leases or by copy graunted before my time and still continuing and yet lyke to continue in the same state for the most part during my lyfe and percase my Sonnes so as we cannot rayse all our wares as you may yours and as me thinketh it were reason we did and by reason that we cannot so many of vs as yee know that haue departed out of y â— couÌ„trey of late haue bene driuen to geue ouer our housholds and to kepe either a chamber in London or to wayte on the Court vncalled with a man and a Lackey after him where he was wonte to keepe halfe a score of cleane men in his house xx or xxiiii other persons besides euery day in the weeke and such of vs as doe â—…yde in the countrey still â—…not 〈◊〉 two hundreth a yeare kepe that house that we might haue done with CC. markes but 〈◊〉 yeares past And 〈◊〉 we are forced either to minishe the third part of our housholde or to raise the third part of our reuenewes and for that we cannot so doe of our owne landes that is already in the hands of other men many of vs are enforced either to keepe peeces of our owne Landes when they fall in our owne possession or to purchase some Farme of other mens landes and to store it with sheepe or some other cattell to help to make vp y â— decay of our 〈◊〉 and to mainetayne our olde eâ—…ate withall and yet all is litle ynough Husband Yea those sheepe is the cause of all these 〈◊〉 for they haue driuen husâ—… out of the coâ—…trey by y â— which was increased before all kinde of 〈◊〉 now all together sheepe sheepe sheepe It was farre better when there were not only sheÌ„epe ynough but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 swyne Pig Goose Cayon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cheese yea and â—…de 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 corne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reared all â—…ogether vpon the same lande Doctor Then the Doctor y â— had leaned on his Elbowe all thâ—… while musing sat vp and sayd I perceaue by you all three that there is none of you but haue iuâ—… cause to complaine Capper No by my troth except it be you men of y â— church which trauaile nothing for your lyuinge and yet haue ynough Doctor Yee say troth in deede we haue least cause to coÌ„pâ—…ne yet yee know well we be not so pleÌ„tious as we haue bâ—…ne the first fruits tenthes are deducted of our liuings yet of the rest we might liue wel ynough if we might haue quietnes of minde conscience withall And albeit we labour not much with our bodies as yee say yet yee know we labour w t out mindes more to y â— weaking of y â— same then by any other bodily exercise we should do as yee may wel per ceiue by our câ—…plexions how wan our colour is how faint and sikely be our bodyes all for lacke of bodily exercise Capper Mary I woulde if I were of y â— Queenes counsell prouide for you well a fine so as you should neede takeâ—… no disease for lacke of exercise I woulde set you to the Plough and Carte for the deuill a whit of good 〈◊〉 doe with your studies but set meÌ„ together by the Eares some with this opinion some with that some holding this way some an other and y â— so stifly as though the troth must be as they say that haue y â— vpper hand in coÌ„tencion this contencion is not also y â— least cause of former vprores of y â— people some holding of y â— one learning some of y â— other In my minde it made no matter though we had no learned men at all Knight God forbid neighbour that it should be so how should the Prynce haue 〈◊〉 then how should we haue christian religion taught vs how should we know y â— estates of otâ—…er realmes haue coÌ„ference w t them of al couÌ„tryes except it were through learning by y â— beneâ—…t of Letters Doctor Care not therefore goodmaÌ„ capper yee shall haue few ynoungh of learned men â—…in a while if this world hold on Capper I meane not but I would haue men to learne to wryte reade yea to learne y â— laÌ„guages vsed in couÌ„tries about vs y â— we might write our minds to theÌ„ they to vs yea and y â— wee might reade y â— holy scriptures in our mother tongue as for your preaching except yee a gree better it made no matter howe litle wee had of it for of dyuersity thereof cometh these diuersities of opinions Doctor Then yes care for no other sciences at all but the knowledge of tongues and to wryte reade and so it appeares well that yee be not alone of that mynde for nowe a dayes when men sendes their sonnes to y â— Uniuersities they suffer theÌ„ no longer to tary there theÌ„ they may haue a litle of the latin tongue then
by â—…ason hereof wee payed dearer presently for euery thing that we haue from beyonde the Sea then wee were wont to doe before Knight That cannot be denyed Doctor By howe much thinke you Knight By the thirde parte well in all maner of thinges Doctor Must not they that buy deare sell deare agayne theyr wares Knight â—…hat is true if they intend to thriue for he that selleth good cheape buyeth deare shall neuer thriue Doctor Yee haue your selfe declared the reason why things â—…in the Realme proued after that time so dâ—…aie for we must buy deare all things bought from beyond the sea therefore wee must sell agayne as deare our thinges or els wee make ill bargaynes for our selues And though that reason maketh it plaine yet the experience of y â— thing maketh it playner for where yee say that euery thinge bought beyond the sea is commonly dearer by the third parte then it was doe yee not see y â— same proportion reised in our wares if it be not more Knight What losse haue wee by this when wâ—…e sell ouâ—… commodities as â—…eare as we buy others Doctor I graunte to one sorte of men I accompt it no losse yea to some other a Gaine more then any losse and yet to some other sorte a greater losse theÌ„ it is proâ—… to y â— other yea generally to the vtter empouerishing of the realme and weaking of the Queenes maiesâ—…es power exceedingly Knight I pray you what be those sortes that ye meane And first of those that ye thinke should haue no losse hereby Doctor I meane all these that liues by buying and selling for as they buy deare they sell thereafter Knight What is the next sorte that ye say would win by it Doctor Mary all such as haue takâ—…es or â—…earmes in their owne manurance at the olde rent for where they pay after the olde rate they sell after the newe that is they pay for theyr lande good cheape and sell all things growing therof deare Knight What sorte is that which yee sayde should haue greater losse hereby then these men had profit Doctor It is all Noble men Gentlemen and all other that lyue either by a â—…ented rent or 〈◊〉 or doe not Mannure the grouÌ„d or doe occupy no buying or selling Knight I pray you peruse these sortes as ye did the other one by one and by course Doctor I will gladly first the Noble men and Gentlemen liue for the most parte on the yerely reuenues of their lands and fees geuen them of the Prince Then ye know he that may spende now by such reuenues and fees CCC li. a yere may not keepe no better port then his father or any other before him that coulde spend but nigh CC. li. and so ye may perâ—…eiue it is a great abatement of a mans countenaunce to taâ—…e away the thirde parte of his liuing and therefore geÌ„tlemen do â—…udy so much the inerease of theyr Landes and enhaunsing of theire rentes and to take Fearmes and Pastures to their owne handes as yee see they doe and all to seeke to mainteine their 〈◊〉 as their predecessors did and yet they came shorte there in Some other seeing the charges of householde encrease so much as by no prouision they can make it can be holpen geue ouer theyr householdes and get them chambers in London or aboute the courte and there spende their time some of them with a seruaâ—…t or two where he was wont to keepe thirty or forty persons daily in his house and to doe good in the Countrey in keeping good order and rule among his neighbors The other sorte be euen Seruingmen and men of Warre that hauing but their olde stented wages cannot finde theÌ„selues therewith as they might afore time without rauin or spoile As ye know xii d. a day now will not go so far as viii pence would afore time And there fore yee haue men so euill willing to serue the Prâ—…e now a daies from y â— they were wont to bee Also where xl shillinges a yere was honest wages for a yeoman afore this time and xx pence a weeke borde wages was sufficient now double as much will skante beare their charge Knight That is longe of theyr excesse aswell in apparell as in fare for now a dayes Seruingmen go more costely in apparell and looke to fare more deintely then their maisters were wont to do in times past Doctor No doubt that is one great cause of the greater charge of householde For I know when a Seruing man was coÌ„tent to go in a Kendall coate in Sommer and a frise cote in winter and with a plaine white hose made meete for his body And with a piece of biefe or some other dishe of sodde meate all the weeke longe Now he will looke to haue at the least for sommer a coate of the finest cloth that may bee gotten for money and his â—…osen of the finest Kersey and that of some straunge die as Flaunders die or french puke that a Prince or great Lord can weare no finer if he weare cloth Then their coates shalbe garded cut and stitched and the breches of their hose so drawen with silke that y â— workmanship shall farre passe the price of the 〈◊〉 And this thing is not restrained as it should be but rather cherished of the maisters one striuing with the other who may bee most proude and whose retinue may go most lauish gay for a time of showe whereas through such excesse they are fayne all the rest of the yere to keepe the fewer seruauntes And so in excesse of meates they fare at some times in the yeare that in the whole yeare after they keepe either no houses at all or if they do it shall be very small like excesses aswell in apparell as in fare were vsed in Rome a litle before the declination of the Empyre 〈◊〉 as wise men haue thought it was occasion 〈◊〉 the decay thereof And therefore Cato and diuerse wise senatours at that time would haue had lawes made for restrainte of such excesses and for that through the insoleâ—…ie of some that maintained the contrary y ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not duly executed muchpride ensued there and of pride diuâ—…tand through deuision vtter desolation of the coÌ„mon weale I pray God this realme may beware by that example specially London the head of this empire where such 〈◊〉 by reasoÌ„ the wealth al most of al this Realme is â—…aped there 〈◊〉 as the corne of a Fielde into a â—…rne be most vsed for in other parties commonly of thys realme the lawe of necessitie keepes men in good case for exceding either in apparel or fare I thinke wee were as much dread or more of our enemies when our gentlemen went simply and our Seruingmen plainely without cuts or gards bearing theyr heauy Swordes and Buckelers on their thigâ—…es in sted of cuts and gardes and light daunsing Swordes and when they rode carying good Speares in their 〈◊〉 in â—…ede
〈◊〉 mee thought I coulde noâ—… apply my study to a better and theâ—… to publish make relation of such matters as I haue heard throughly disputed herein First what thingee men are most grieued with than what should 〈◊〉 the occasion of the same And that knowne how such 〈◊〉 may bee taken away and the state of the Common weale reformed agayne And albeit yee might well â—…ay that there be men of greater wittes then I that haue that matter in charge yet Fooles as the Prouerbe is sometimes speake to the purpose and as many heads so many wittes and therefore Prynces though they bee neuer so wyse themselues as our most excellent Prynce is yet the wiser that they be the moe counsellers they wil haue as our noble and gratious Queene doth daily make choyse of more for that that one cannot perceaue another doth discouer the giftes of wits be so diuerse that some excelles in Memory some in Inuention some in JudgemeÌ„t some at 〈◊〉 first sight ready some after long consideratioÌ„ though each of these by them selues do not â—…euerally make perâ—…t the matter yet when euery maÌ„ bryngs in his gyfte a meane witted man may of all these the best of euery mans deuise being gathered together make as it were a pleasaunt and perfect Garlonde to adorne and â—…cke hys head with all Therefore I would not onely haue learned men whose Iudgementes I would wyshe to be 〈◊〉 â—…steemed herein but also Marchaunt men Husbandmen Artificers which in their callinges are taken wyse freely suffered yâ—…a and 〈◊〉 to tell their Aduyses in this matter For some 〈◊〉 in their feates they may disclose that the wysest in a Realme cannot vnfoulde againe And it is a maxime or a thinge receyued as an infaylible verity among all men that euery man is to be credited in that Arte that he is most exercysed in For did not Apelles that excellent Paynter consider y â— whan he layde forth his fyne Image of Venus to be seene of euery man y â— past by to the intent he hearing euery mans iudgement in his owne Arte might alwayes amend that was a mysse in his worke whose Censures he allowed so longe as they kept them within their owne Faculties and tooke not vppon them to meddle w t an other mans Arte so percase I may be aunswered as he was yet I refuse not that if I passe my compasse but for as much as most of this matter coÌ„tayneth Pollicy or good gouermnent of a coâ—…onweale being a Member of Philosophy morale wherein I haue somewhat studyed I shall bee so bolde with my countreymen who I doubt not will construe-euery thinge to the best as to vtter my poore and sâ—…mple coÌ„teipt herein which I haue gathered out of the talke of diuerse and sundry notable men that I haue heaâ—… de reason on this matter and though I should herein percase moue some thinges that were openlye not to bee touched as in such cases of disceptacion is requisite yet hauinge respect to what 〈◊〉 they bee spoken I trust they can offend no man for harde were it to heale a soare that a man woulde not haue opened to his Physition nor yet a surfâ—… that a man woulde not declare the occasion thereof Therefore now to goe to the matter vppon 〈◊〉 of your good acceptation that kinde of reasoning seemeth to 〈◊〉 best for boultinge â—…ut of the truth which is vsed by waye of Dialogues or colloquyes where reasons where made â—…oo and froe as well for the matter intended as against it I thought best to take that way in the discourse of this matter which is first in recounting the common and vâ—…niuersall grieues y â— men complayne on now a dayes secondly in boulting oute the verye causes and occasions of them thirdlye and finally in deuising of remedies for al the same Therefore I will declare vnto you what coÌ„munication a Knight had betweene him certayne other persons of late about this matter which because it happened betwene such persons as were Members of euery state y t finde themselues grieued now a dayes I thoughte it not meete to bee forgotten to let you vnderstand that y â— persons were these A knight as I sayde first a Marchaunt man a Doctor a HusbaÌ„d man and Craftes man And first the Knight rehearsed y â— communication in this manner ensuing THE FIRST DIALOGVE Knight AFter I and my Fellowes the Justices of peace of this 〈◊〉 had the other day declared the Quenâ—…s highnes coâ—…ission touching diuers matters geuen the charge to 〈◊〉 I â—…eing doth weary of the heate of the people 〈◊〉 of the same thought to 〈◊〉 to â—… friendes house of myne in the towne which selles Wyne to the intent 〈◊〉 eate a â—…orsell of meate for I was then fasting taking with me an honest husbandmaÌ„ whoâ—… for his honesty and good discretion I loued very wel whether as we were coâ—…e had but â—…kant sit downe 〈◊〉 â—… close Parloure there comes me in a Marchaunte man of that câ—…ty a man of estimation and substaunce and requires the sayd Husbandman to goe and dyne with him â—…ay quoth I â—…e will not I trust nowforsake my company though he should fare better with you MarchauÌ„t Than quoth the marchaunt man I will send home for a paâ—…y of â—…enison that I haue there for a friend of mine and a neighbor that I had bid to dinner and we shalbe so bolde as to make merry withall heere in your company as for my guest hee is no straunger vnto you neyther And therefore both he of youres you of his company I trust wilbe the gladder Knight Who is it Marchaunt Doctor Pandotheus Knight Is he so on my fayth he shalbe heartely welcome for of hiâ—… we shaâ—… haue some good communication aâ—…d wise for he is noted a learned and a wise man And immediately y â— Marchaunt sendes for him and he comes vnto vs bryngeth wyth him an honest man a Capper of the same towne who came to speake with the sayd Marchaunt than after salutations had as yee knowe the maner is betweene me and maister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which had bene long before 〈◊〉 vs we sat all downe 〈◊〉 when we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of out stomackes Doctor On my â—…ayth quoth the Doctor to me yee make much adoe you that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Countrey 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in causing poore men to appeare before you and leauing theyr husbandry vnlookte to at 〈◊〉 Knight Surely it is so Yet the prince must â—…e serued and y â— coÌ„monweale for God and y â— prince haue not sent vs the poore 〈◊〉 that we haue but 〈◊〉 seruice therefore abrode amonges our Neyghbours Doctor It is well if yee take it so for nature hath graffed that perswasion in you and all other thâ—…t followes the cleare light of Nature As learned men haue remeÌ„bred saying we be not borne onely to
our selues but partely to the vse of ouâ—… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our Kinsfolkes and partly of our Friendes and Neyghboures and therefore all good vertues are graffed in vs naturally whose effects be to doe good to other wherein we shewe forth the Image of God in Man whose property is euer to doe good to other and to distribute his goodnesse abrode lyke no Nygarde nor enuyous of any other creatures As they reseÌ„ble nothing of that godly Image so they study no commoÌ„ vtility of other but onely the conseruation of them selues and propagation of their owne kynde Wherefore if we looke to be reckned most vnlyke them being most vyle and lykest to God being â—…ost excellent let vs 〈◊〉 to doe good to other not preferring the ease of this Carkasse which is like the Brute beastes but rather the vertues of y â— minde whereâ—… we be lyke God him selfe Husband Then sayd y â— Husbandman for all your paynes meaning by me all oures also I would yee â—…ad neuer worse Commissions in hande than this is So we had lost more 〈◊〉 workes at our 〈◊〉 than this Knight Why so Husband Mary for these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vs â—…ll for they make vs to pay dearer for our lande that we occupy causes that we can haue no lande in manner for our money to put to Tyllaâ—… all is taken vp for 〈◊〉 for Pasture eyther for 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Cattell in so much that I haue knowne of late â—… 〈◊〉 plougheâ—… within lesse compasse than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about mee layde downe within this seneÌ„ yeares and where threescore persons or vpward had â—…eir liuings now one man with his Cattell hath all which thinge is not the 〈◊〉 cause of former 〈◊〉 for by these Inclosures many doe lacke â—…uings and be 〈◊〉 therefore for â—…ery necessity they are desiroâ—…s of a chaunge being in hope to come thereby to somewhat and well assured that howe so euer it befall with them it can bee no harder with them than it was before more ouer all 〈◊〉 are so deere that by their day wages they are not able to lyue Capper I haue well y â— experience thereof for I am â—…aine to geue my Iourneimen two pence in a day more than I was 〈◊〉 to doe and yet they say they cannot sufficiently liue thereon And I know for truth that the best husbande of them can saue but litle at the yeares ende and by reason of such derth as yee speake of we that are Artificers are able to keepe but fewe or no Prentizes like as wee were wont to doe and therefore Cityes which were herâ—…tofore well inhabyted and wealthy as yee know euery one of you are now for lacke of occupiers fallen to great pouerty and desolation Marchaunt So be the most parte of all y â— townes of England London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and noâ—… only the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 decayed in their Howses Walles Streates and other buildings but also the countrey in their high wayes Brydgés for such pouerty raygneth euery where that few men haue so much to spare as they may geue any thing to y â— reparation of such wayes brydges and other coÌ„mmon easements and 〈◊〉 there be many things layde downe now which before time were occasions of much expences as Maygames Wakes Reuels wages at shootinge wrestling running and throwing the stone or barre besides that Pardons Pylgrimages Offrings and many such other thinges yet I perceyue we bee neuer the wealthyer but rather poorer whereof it is long I cannot well tell for ther is such a general dearth of al things as before xx or xxx yeares hath not â—…ene the like not onely of things growing within this Realme but also of all other Marchaundize that we buy from beyond the Sea as Sylkes Wynes Oyles Woode Madder Yron Steele Waxe â—…lare â—…ymencloth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Couerlets Carpets and all â—…earfes Tapestry Spyces of all sort and al â—…aberdasher ware as â—…ayer both white browne Glasses aswell drinckinge and looking as for glasinge of Windowes 〈◊〉 Needles Kniues Daggers â—…ats Cappes Broches Buttons and Laces I wot well all these doe cost nowe more by the thyrde parte than they did but fewe yeares agoe than all kinde of Uittayle are as deere or deerer agayne no cause of Gods part thereof as farre as I can perceaue for I neuer sawe more pleÌ„ty of Corne grasse and Cattell of all sorte than wee haue at this present haue had as yee know all these twenty yeares passed continually thanked bee our Lorde God if these Inclosures were cause thereof or any other thinge els it were pity but they might be remooued Knight Synce yee haue plenty of all thinges of Corne Cattell as yee say theÌ„ it should not seeme this â—…arth shouâ—… be longe of these Inclosures for it is not for scarcenesse of Corne y â— yee haue this dearth for thanked be God Corne is good cheape and so hath bene these many yeares past coÌ„tinually Than it cannot bee the occasion of the dearth of Cattell for Inclosure is the thing that nourisheth most of any other yet I confesse there is a wonderfull dearth of all things and that doe I and all men of my sorte feele most griefe in which haue no way to sell or occupation to lyue by but onely our landes For you all three I â—…eane yoâ—… my neyghbour the husbandman you maister 〈◊〉 and you goodman Capper 〈◊〉 other Arâ—…rs may saue yóur selues meetely well Forasmuch as all thinges are deerer then they were so much doe you aryse in the pryce of your wares and occupations that yee sell agayne 〈◊〉 ut we 〈◊〉 nothing to sell whereby we might adâ—…ce y ◠〈◊〉 thâ—…of to counterualue those things that we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Husband Yes yee ráyse the price of your 〈◊〉 and yee take Fermes also and pastures to your haÌ„ds which was 〈◊〉 to bee poore mens lyuings such as I am and haue geuen ouer to liue onely vpon your Landes On my soule yee say truth quoth the 〈◊〉 and the Capper also sayd no lesse adding thereto that 〈◊〉 was neuer merry with poore Crafts men since Gentlemen became Grasiers for they cannot now a dayes sayd he finde theyr Prentizes and seruauntes meate and dryncke but it cost them almost double asmuch as did before 〈◊〉 where fore where many of myne occupation and other like heretofore haue dyed rych men and bene able to leaue honestly dehynde them for theyr Wyfe and Children and besides y â— leaue some notable bequestes for some good deede as to 〈◊〉 making of Brydges repayring of highwayes all which thinges goe to wracke now euery where Also some were wont to buy Land eyther for to helpe the poore beginners 〈◊〉 occupations yea some time they had such 〈◊〉 as they could ouer such bequestes leaue another Portion to finde a prysle or to founde a Chauntry in some parishe Church and now we are skant able to liue without
of white rods which they cary now more like ladies or gentlewomen then men all which delicacies maketh our men cleane effeminaâ—…e without strength Knight We may thanke our longe peace quiet within y â— realme that men be not 〈◊〉 to rideâ—… strong It was a trâ—…blous world as well within the Realme as without when men went and rode as you do speake Doctor What can you tell what time or how sone such a worlde may come againe wise men do say that in peace men most looke and prouide for warre and in warre again for peace If men might be alwaies sure of peace then needed no maâ—… to keepe men at all But sith it is otherwise and that the iniquitie of men is such as they cannot bee longe wythoute Warre And that wee recken here in Englande our chiefe strength to be 〈◊〉 our Seruingmen yeomen it were wisedome to exercise them in tyme of peace somwhat with such apparell fare and hardenes as they must needes sustayne in time of warre then the same shal be no nouelty to them when they come to it and their bodies shall be stronge and harder to beare that that they were somewhat accustomed wich all afore Let this that I say be of no creâ—…ite if delâ—…acie and teÌ„dernes was not the most occasion of the subduing of the greatest Empires that were Knight Surely ye say very well that which soundeth to good reason I must needes alowe that I haue found true my self for my men are so tenderly vsed in time of peace that they can not away with any heauy armour in time of warre but either shirts of Maile or Coates of linnen ragges which at a shotte may perhaps deceiue vs. Then what saye you by our buildinges that wee haue here in Englande of late dayes farre more exceâ—…iue theÌ„ at any time heretofore Doth not that impouerish the Realme cause men to keepe lesse Houses Doctor I say that all these thinges be tokens of ornamentes of peace and that no doubt is cause of lesse housholdes sith the buildings and trimming of those houses spendes away that that should be otherwise speÌ„t in houshold But it doth not empouerish the Realme at all for all the expences of buildings for the most part is spent amonges our selues amonges our neighbours and Countreymen As amonges Carpenters Masons and Labourers except men wil fall to guilding or peinting of these Houses For in that much treasure may be spent and to no vse Also the Areses Uerderers and Tapistry workes wherewith they bee hanged commonly conueieth ouer into Flaunders other straunge Countreyes where they be had from much of our Treasure Knight Syr yet I must remember you of one thing more which men do suppose to be a great occasion of the spending of y â— treasure abroade it is where there is comen to y â— crowne of late yeares much lands by reason of Monasteries colleges and Chauntres dissolued which men suppose hath beÌ„ the cause two maner of waies that there is lesse treasure a broade in the Realme One is because the reuenues of the sayd places dissolued heretofore were spent in the countrey and went from hand to hande there for vittaile cloth and other thinges and now are gone to one place out of the couÌ„ trey Another is that diuers men which had any ryches or wealth vttered the same to buy perselles of the said dissolued lands lying commodious for them whereby one way other the whole riches of the countrey is sweeped away Doctor Truth it is also that it wringed the countrey abroade for the time and had kept it so still if the Kinges Maiesty had not dispersed the same lands abroad among theÌ„ in the couÌ„trey againe but after y â— his highnes departed with a great deale of those possessions part by gift and part by sale treasure hath and will encrease againe abroad as much as euer it was if it be not letted by other meanes so that I take y â— to be no great cause of the dearth that we haue for the soile is not taken away but the possession thereof is onely transferred from one kinde of persons to another Knight Then to retourne to the matter of the coine where wee left I haue heard your conceipt how the alteration thereof within our Realme did some men no harme as Buyers and sellers some other it did good vnto as Farmors that had Lande at the olde Rent and some other as Gentlemen men of warre seruaunts and all other liuing by any rated or stented rent or stipend were great losers by it But I heard you say it was so much withal to the losse of the Prince that it might be to the great perill of y â— whole Realme in processe of time I meruayle howe it should be so for I heard wise men say that the Queenes highnesse Father did winne inestimable great summes by the alteration of the Coyne Doctor So it was for the time but I liken that gaynes to such as men haue when they sell away their landes to haue the greater some at one time and euer after to lose the continuall increase that should grow thereof for you knowe all the treasure of this Realme must once in few yeares come to the Princes handes by one meanes or other and from thence it should goe abrode againe to the Subiects As all Springes runneth to the Ocean Sea out of it are they spred abrode agayne theÌ„ as they came into y â— kings coffers at the firste in good mettall they came forth in such as you haue heretofore seene And albeit it seemeth at y â— first vew to empouerishe but the subiects onely at length impouerisheth also the Prince and then if the Prince should want in time of warre specially sufficient treasure to pay for armor weapons tacklings of shippes gunnes and other artillary necessary for y â— warre and could by no meanes haue of the subiects wherewith to buy y â— same what ease should the Realme be in Surely in very euill therefore these Coynes and treasure bee not without cause called of wise men Nerui bellorum y t is to say the Synowes of warre And that is the greatest dasiger that I doe consider should growe for want of treasure to the Prince and the Realme for though a Prince may haue what coyne he will currant within his Realme yet the straungers cannot be compelled to take them And I graunt if men might liue within themselues all together without borowinge of any other thing outwarde we might deuise what coyne wee would â—…ut since we must haue neede of other and they of vs wee must frame our things not after our owne phantasies but to followe the common market of all the worlde and wâ—…e may not set the price of things at our pleasure but follow the price of the vniuersall Market of the World I grauÌ„t also that brasse hath bene coyned ere this yea Leather in some
practise of that simple deâ—…se but as a man that entendeth to heale an other by a medecine y â— he thinkes good thoughte it proue otherwise is not much to be blamed no more was the kinges maiesty in any wyse in whose time this was don which is not to be supposed to haue inteâ—…ded thereby any lâ—…sse but rather commoditye to him selfe and his sâ—…iects to be herein reprehended albeit the thing succeded beside the purpose Knight Then ye thinke plainely y â— this alteration of y â— coyne was the chiefe and priâ—…cipall cause of this vniuersall dearth Doctor Yea no doubt and of many of y â— sayd grienes that we haue taâ—…ked â—…f by meanes it being the oryginall of all and that beside the reason of the thing being playne iâ—…gh of it self also experience proofe doth make it more playne For euen with y â— alteration of y â— coyne 〈◊〉 this dearth and as the 〈◊〉 appayred so rose the miâ—…s of thingâ—…s with all this to 〈◊〉 true y â— few 〈◊〉 of olde coâ—…ne which afterward 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 For ye should haue for any of y â— same coyâ—…e as much of any ware â—…ither outward or inward as euer was wont to be had for the same For as the 〈◊〉 is madâ—…â—…sse there goeth more number to make vp the tale and 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 not together at all mens handes therâ—…ore sâ—…me haâ—…h greate losses and some other greate 〈◊〉 thereby and that made such a generall 〈◊〉 for the thinge at the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thus to conclude I thinke this alteration of y â— Coine to haue ben y â— first origiâ—…all cause that strauÌ„gers first sould their wares dearer to vs and that made all Farmors and Tenaunts that reared any coÌ„modity againe to sell y â— same dearer The dearth thereof made the Gentlemen to rayse their râ—…ts to take Farmes to their haâ—…es for their better 〈◊〉 and coÌ„sequently to inclose more Groundes Knight If this were the châ—…fest â—…ause of the dearth as of very good probability by you maister Doctor heere tofore alleaged t should sâ—…eme to be how coÌ„meth it to passâ—… where as you say if the cause be remoued the effect is also taken away that the pryces of all thinges fall not backe to their olde rate where as now long 〈◊〉 our english coyne to the great honour of our noble Princesse which now rayghueth hath bene again throughly restored to his former purity and perfection Doctor In deâ—…de sir I must needes confesse vnto you although it may seeme at the first sighte to discredite my former saâ—…ings in some parte that notwithstanding that our Coyne at this present day yea and many yeares past hath recouered his aunciente goodnesse yet the dearth of all thinges which I before afirmed to haue proceeded of y â— decay thereof to â—…emayne and continewe still amongst vs. Wherefore as your doubt heerein moued very aptly and to y â— purpose is well worthy the consideration so doe I accoumpt it of such difficulty y â— perhaps it would not be thought to stand with modesty to vndertake without farâ—…her study presently to dissolue the same Knight Syr I pray you for this time omâ—…t the pleadinge of mâ—…desty I vnderstand well 〈◊〉 by your former talke that you are not vnprouided of sufficient store without farther deliberation to satisfie vs wâ—…thal in greater matters if neede were then these Doctor Well I am contâ—…t because you will haue it so to yeelde to your importunity I will vtter fraÌ„ckely vnto you myne Opinion heerein but vnder protestation that if you like it not yee reiect it imparting likewise with mee your owne Phantasies and iudgementes in the same I finde therefore two speciall causes in myne Opinion by meanes of the which notw tstanding y e restitution made in our ceine the aforesayd dearth of thinges in respect of y â— former age remayneth yet among vs. The first is that whereas imme diately after the basenesse of our Coyne in y â— time of King Henry the eight y â— prices of all things generally among al sorts of people rose it must needes happen here withal as yee know that our gentlemen which liued onely vpon y â— â—…euenues of their lands were as neare or nearer touched as is before proued with the smarte hereof then any other of what order or estate so euer This therefore being taken as most true the Gentlemen desirouse to mayntaine their former credoâ—…e in bearing out y â— Porte of their Predecessors were driuen oâ—… necessity as often as whensoeuer any Leases deuised for terme of yeares by theÌ„selues or their auncestors were throughly expired fel into their hands not to let them out againe for the most part but as y â— rentes of them were farre racked beyoâ—…de y â— olde Yea this racking and hoyssinge vp of rentes hath coÌ„tinued euer since y t time vntill this present day hereupon the husbandman was necessarily inforced whereas his rent was now greater then before and so continueth vnto this day to sell his victailes dearer to continue the dearth of them and likewise other artificers withall to maintaine the like proportion in their wares wherefore as this deaâ—…th at the first time as I said before sprang of the alteracion of the coyne as of his first and chiefest efficient cause so dâ—…e I attribute the continuaunce of it hitherunto and so forâ—…ward partly to the racked and stretched rentes which haue lasted yea and increased euer since that time hetherunto so are like to continue I know not how long Now if we would in these our dayes haue the olde pennyworthes generally restored among vs a gayne The restoring of our good Coine which already is past before y e improued rentes would only of it selfe haue beâ—… sufficieÌ„t to haue brought this matter to passe will not serue in these our dayes except w tall the racked rentes bee pulled downe which possibly caÌ„not be w tout the coÌ„mon consent of our landedmeÌ„ throughout y t whole reaâ—… Another reason I coÌ„ceiue in this matter to be y â— great store plenty of treasure which is walking in these parts of y â— world far more in these our dayes theÌ„ euer our forefathers haue sene in times past Who doth not vnderstand of y â— infinite suÌ„mes of gold siluer which are gathered from y â— Indies other countries so yearely transported vnto these coastes As this is otherwise most certain so doth it euidently appeare by the coÌ„moÌ„ report of al auÌ„cient men liuing in these daies It is their coÌ„stant report y â— in times past within y â— memory of maÌ„ he hath ben accouÌ„pted a rich wealty man wel able to keepe house among his neighbors which all things discharged was clearely worth xxx or xl l' but in these our dayes y â— man of y â— estimation is so far in the coÌ„mon opinioÌ„ from a good houskeeper or man of wealth y â— he is reputed the
next neighbor to a begger Wherefore these ii reasons seemed vnto me to cōtain in them sufficient probability for causes of the continuaunce of this generall dearth Knigh◅ Yea but sir if the increase of treasure be partly the occasion of this continued dearth then by likelyhood in other our neighbors nations vnto whom yearely is conuayghed great store of gold and siluer the pryces of victayles and other wares in like sorte raysed according to the increase of their treasure D◅ctor It is euen so and therefore to vtter freely myne Opinion as I accoumpt it a matter very hard for the difficulties aboue rehersed to reuoke or call backe agayne all our Enlish◅ wares vnto their old prices so doe I not take it to be either profitable or conuenient for the Realme excepte wee would wishe that our commodities should bee vttered good cheape to straūgers and theirs on y ◠other side deare vnto vs which could not be without great impouerishing of the Commonweale in a very shorte time Knight Now that you haue so well touched the occasion of this derth and what is to be hoped or wished of y ◠same so fully that I am well satisfied withall I pray you sh◅we me the remedies of this great Inclosiers whereof all the realme complaineth of so much and hath complayned long vpon For you haue well perswaded how it is a meane of greate desolation of this real◅ne and that is longe of y ◠great profit that men haue by pasture ouer y ◠they haue by tillage y ◠they turne so much to pasture Now I would fayne heare how it might be remedied againe for I haue hearde this matter of long time often reasoned vpon aswell in Parliament as in Coūsayles yet small remedy found therefore that tooke effect Doctor If I then after so many wise heades as were in those Parliaments and Counsailes would take vpon me to correct as they say Magnificat to finde a remedy for this thinge which they could neuer doe I might be reckened very arrogant Knight Yet tell your phantasie therein for though you misse of the right meane to reforme that it shall be no more shame for you to doe so then it was for so many wise men as yee speake of to misse Doctor You say truth and since I speake nothing in this part y ◠I would haue takē as it were for a law or determined thing but as a certayn motion for other wise men to cōsider to admit or reiect as to their better reason shall seeme good therefore as yee haue boldned me already w t your patience to say thus farre I will not spare to declare my minde in this But still I must keepe my grounde that I spake of that is to try out the effectuall cause of this inclosures and then by taking away of the cause to redresse the thinge Knight I pray you doe so for to mee it seemes very reasonable that ye say and agreeable to that I heard a good Ph◅tion tell me ones when I was sicke of an ague when I asked him why he gaue me purgati◅s that made me yet weaker then ◅ was being weake inough already saying hee had more neede to geue me thinges that should make me stronger Then he answered me that choler was the cause of my sickenes and that hee gaue me those purgations to auoyde this humour which being the cause of my disease ones taken away the sickenes should be ridde from mee with all And therfore I pray you vse your accustomed order in this matter and tel the cause of these Inclosures Doctor I shewed you before in our communication in the Garden the thinges that I thought to be the cause thereof and partely the remedy of the same Knight So did other men among vs tell their fantasie as then but nowe we pray you tell which of al those causes ye take for the necessary and efficient cause of this matter Doctor To tell you plaine it is auarice y t I take for y ◠principall cause thereof but can we deuise y t all couetousnes can be taken frō men No no more thē we can make men to be without wealth without gladnes without feare and wythoute all affections what then we must take away from men the occasion of their couetousnes in this part what is that the ◅xceeding luker that they see grow by these inclosures more then by their husbandry And that may bee done by any of these two meanes y t I will tell you Either by the minishing the luker that men haue by gasing Or els by aduaunsing of the profit of husbandry til it be as good and as profitable to the occupiers as grasing is for euery mā as Plato saith is naturally couetous of luker And y t wherin they see most luker they wil most gladly exercise I shewed you before that there is more luker by grasing of x. Acres to y e occupier alone then is in y ◠tillage of xx And y ◠causes therof be many one is y ◠grasing requires small charge smal labor which in tillage cōsumes much of y e mēs gains though it be true y ◠the tillage of x. acres brings more gaines generally amongs the maister all his mainy then the grasing of xx acres Another great cause is that whatsoeuer thing is rered vpon grasing hath free vente hoth ouer this side also beyond the sea to be sold at the highest penny It is cōtrary of all thinges reared by tillage for it requires both great charge of seruaunts of labor And also if any good cheape be of corne it paieth scant for the charge of y ◠tillage And then if the market do arise either within y ◠Realme or without the poore husband shalbe so restrained frō sellyng his corn y ◠he neuer after shal haue any ioy to set his plough in the ground whych maketh euery man forsake tillage and fall to grasing which bringeth all these Inclosures Knight Now what remedy for that Doctor Mary as for the first poynt that is touching the vnequal charges of tillage and grasing that can not be holpen in al pointes by reason the nature of both reapes the contrarye Therefore the latine tongue calles the one that is pasture pratum that is asmuch to say as paratum ready But thee other thinge might be remedied that y t husbandmā mighte haue asmuch liberty at all times to sel his corne either with in the Realme or without as the grasiers hath to fell hys which would make the husbandmen more willing to occupy theyr plough And other seeing them thriue would turn theyr pasture to tyllage And though it enhaunse the market for the time yet would it cause much more tillage to be vsed and consequentely more Corne within time of plētye within this Realme might brynge in much treasure And in time of◅ arsity would suffice for y ◠realme as shewed you before And this