make it them selues and the Stuffe is good cheape that they make it of and so they will geeue thereof for our sayde coÌ„modities as much as yes will aske Then though they made not such Coyne theÌ„selues yet seeing they must pay more for our wares or els no maÌ„ would bring them to them when hee may haue as much at â—…ome of his neighbours the straungers must needes haue a coÌ„sideration of that in the price of y â— sayd outwaâ—…de marchauÌ„dize that they sell also holde them dcerer And thus by the one way they may exhaust our chiefe commodities and gieue vs brasse for them where with wee cannot buy such other like necessary commodities againe as wee shoulde want if they were not plenty wythin our Realme Much liâ—…e the exchaunge that Homer sayeth Glaucus made with Diomèdes when he gaue to this man his golden Harnesse for Brasen But y â— other way they must needes be brought to sell their wâ—…res deerer to vs and then if this husbandman and Geâ—…tleman and so all other within this realme should be compeiled to sell their thinges good cheape and yet buy all thinges deere that commeth from beyonde the Sea I cannot see how they should long prosper for I neuer knew him that bought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soulde good cheape and vse it any long space to thriue Knight There may be searchers made for such Coyners as yee speake of comming in and punishmeÌ„ts deuised therefore and for going forth of â—…ictayles also that none shall passe this Realme Doctor There may be no â—…euise imagined so strong but that yee may be deceaued in both those points as wel in such coyne brought in as in victailes caried forth for many heads wil deuise many wayes to get any thing by though wee bee enuyroened with a good Poole that is the Sea yet there is to many Posterns of it to get out and in vnwares of y â— maister Whosoeuer hath but a prety housâ—… with any Family of his owne and but one Gate to go forth and come in at and the maister of y â— house neuer so attentiue yet somewhat shalbe purloined forth much more out of such a larg Realme as this is hauinge so many wayes and Posterns to goe forth at and come in And yet if straungers shoulde be content to take but our wares for theirs what shoulde let them to aduaunce y â— prices of their wares though ours were good cheape vnto them and then shall wee be still losers and they at the winning hand with vs while they sell deere and buy good cheape and consequently enrych themselues and impouerishe vs. Yet had I leauer aduauÌ„ce our wares in price as they aduaunce theirs as wee nowe doe thoughe some bee loosers thereby but yet not so many as should bee the other way And yet what businesse shoulde there be in making of prices of euery trifle for so it would be if the price of any one thingâ—… bee a bateâ—… by coÌ„maâ—…ment and theâ—…efore I cannot perceaue that it may bee remedied by either of you both I meane you Gentleman you good husâ—…andmaÌ„ for if it rose at either of your hands so it might be remedied like wise at the same by 〈◊〉 the thing agayne at either of your handes that was y â— cause of this dearth But if either you should releaâ—… your rent or you the price of your â—…ictayle to the olde rate yet that couldenot compell â—…raungers to bring downe the price of theirs as I haue sayde and so longe as their commodities be deere it were neither expedieÌ„t nor yet â—…ould yâ—…e though yee woulde make your commodities gâ—…d cheape except yee can deuise away how tâ—… liue without them they with out you which I thinke unpossible or else to vse exchauÌ„ge of ware for ware without Coyne as it was before Coyne was founde as I reade in the time of Homer it was and also the Ciuile lawe both affirme y â— same which were very combersome and would require much cariage of ware vp and downe where nowe by the benefit of Coyne a man may by those tokens fetch the wares that hee lacketh a far of without great trouble of cariage and hard were it readily to finde all wares that the oue hath to pay the other of equall value Husband â—…f neither the Gentleman nor I may remedy this matter at whose hands lyeth it to bee holpen then Doctor I will tell my mynde therein he ereafter but first let vs boulte out y â— cause of this Dearth And therefore let mee learne what other thing should be the cause thereof Capper Mary these Inclosures and great Pastures are a great cause of the same Whereby men do turâ—…e the erable land being a liuing for diuerse poore men before time nowe tâ—… one mans hand and where both Corne of all sorte and also cattell of all kinds were reared aforetime now there is nothing but onely sheepe And in steede of C. or CC. persons that had their liuing thereon now be there but three or foure Sheepherds and the Maister onely that hath a liuing thereof Doctor Yee touch a matter that is much to be considered albeâ—… I take not that to be onely y â— cause of this dearth at this time but this I thinke in my minde that if that kinde of inclosing 〈◊〉 asmuch incrâ—…ase in xxx eyares to come as it hath done in xxx yeares past it may come to y â— great desolation and weaking of the strength of this realme which is more to be feared theÌ„ dearth I thinke it to be y â— most ocâ—… of any thing yee spake yet of these wilde vnhappy vprores y â— hath bene among vs for by reason of these Inclosures many Subiectes haue no Grounde to liue vpon as they had before time and occupations be not alwayes set a worke all a like and therefore the people still increasinge and their â—…ings diâ—…inishing it must nedes comâ—… to passe that a great part of y â— people shalbe idle 〈◊〉 lacke liuinge for hsiger is a bitter thing to beare Wherefore they must needes whan they lacke murmur agayne them y â— haue pleÌ„ty and so stirre these tumultes Knight Experience should seeme to proue playnely that Inclosures should be profitable and not hurtfull to the common weale for we see y â— countreys where most Inclosiers be are most wealthy as Essex Kent North Damptonshyre c. And I haue heard a Câ—…ilion once say that it was takeÌ„ for a Maxime in his lawe this saying that which is possessed of many in common is neglected of all experience sheweth that â—…enaunts in coÌ„mon be not so good husbandes as when euery man hath his parte in seueralty also I haue heard say that in the most countreyes beyonde y â— Sea they knowe not what a common grounde meaneth Doctor I meane not of all Inclosures nor yet ail coâ—…ins but onely of such Inclosures as turneth comon
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
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
〈◊〉 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
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
yet it is scarsity of things which commonly maketh dearth this is a maruaylous dearth that in such plenty commeth contrary to his kinde Doctor Syr it is no doubt a thing to be mused vpon and worthy of Inquisition let mee heare euery one of your opinions and than yee shall heare myne Husband I thinke it is longe of you Gentlemen that this dearth 〈◊〉 by reaâ—… yee enhaâ—…e your lands to such a heyght as men that liueth thereon must needes sell deere agayne or els they were neuer able to make their Rent Knight And I say it is long of you Husbandmen that wee are forced to rayse our Rents by reason we must buy so deere all things that wee haue of you as Corne Cattell Gorse Pig Capâ—… Chiken Butter and Egges What thinge is there of all these but that yee sell it nowe deerer by the one halfe then yee did within these xxx yeares cannot you neyghbour remember that within these xxx yeres I could in this towne buy the best Pig or Goose that I could laye my hand on for four 〈◊〉 which now costeth tweluepeÌ„ce a good Capon for threepence or fourepence a Chiken for i. d. a Hen for ii d. which now costeth mee double triple y â— money it is likewise in greater ware as Biefe MutteÌ„ Husband I gâ—…aunt that but I say you your sorte men of landes â—…re y â— â—…rst cause herâ—…of by reason you rayse your landes Knight Well if yee your sorte will agree thereto that shalbe holpen vnder take that you your sorte will sell al things at the price yee did xxx yeares agoe I doubt not to bring all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnâ—… you their â—…andes at the renâ—… they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yeares past and that 〈◊〉 fault is more in you that bee Husbandmen then in vs that â—…ee Gentlemen it appeareth by this all the landes of the Realme is not enhaunsed for some haue takings therein as Leases or Copies not yet expyred which cannot 〈◊〉 enhaunsed though y â— owners would and some Noblemen and Gentlemen there be that when their landes be at their disposition yet they will enhaunse nothinge aboue the olde rent so as a greate parte of the landes of the â—…ealme stand yet at the old rent and yet neuer the lesse there is none of your sorte at all but selleth all things they haue deerer then they were wont to doe by the one halfe And yet these Gâ—…ntlemen that doe enâ—… their rentes doe not enhaunse it generally to the double though I confesse that some of vs that had 〈◊〉 either geuen vs by the Kings highnesse y â— belonged heretofore to Abbeyes and Priories and were neuer surueyed to y â— vtter â—…ost before or otherwise descended to vs haue enhaunsed any of them aboue the old rent yet all y ◠〈◊〉 teth not to halfe the landes of the Realme Doctor How say yee he sayeth well to you nowe will yee sell your wares as yee were wont to doe and hee will let you haue his lande at the rent yee were accustomed to haue it When the Husbandman had pawsed a whyle hee sayd Husband If I had the price of euery thing that I must pay for besides likewise brought downe I could be content els not Doctor What thinges bee those Husband Mary Iron for my Plough Harrowes and Cartes tarre for our sheepe shooes cappes linnen wollen clatâ—… for my meany which if I should buy neuerthelesse as â—…re as I doe now and yet sell my wares good cheape though my rent were thereafter abated except the other thinges aforesayd might hee abated in pryce to gether I could neuer lyue Doctor Then I perceaue yee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 y ◠〈◊〉 of other things qualified aswell as the rent of â—…r land ere yee 〈◊〉 aford your ware good cheape Husband Yea but sir I thinke if the land were brought downe that the pryce of all things would fall withall Doctor Grauut that all the Landlords in this realme wouldâ—… withone assent agree that their landes should bee in their â—…naunts handes at like rent as they were at xxx yeares agoe yee sayd afore yee coulde not yet sell your wares as good cheape as yee mighte xx yeares past because of the pryce that is raysed in other things that yee must buy and if yee would say that those men should be driuen againe to sell those wares that yee buy first better cheape and then yee will sell youres thereafter I pray you how might they be 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 within obedieÌ„ce of our soâ—… Lady that 〈◊〉 sell such wares as Iron Carâ—…e Flaxe and other then consider mee if yee â—…not so compell them whether it were exuedient for vs 〈◊〉 suffer 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee ours good 〈◊〉 if it were so than it were a greate â—…ything of other couâ—…treyes and unpouerishinge of our owne for they should haue much Treasure for theirs and haue our commodities from vs for a very litle except yee could deuise to make one price of pur commodities among â—…ur ielues and another outwardes which I cannot see how it may bee Knight Nay I will make my Neyghbour beere another reasonable offer if hee refuse this let my Cenauntes rent beeâ—… â—…eased as your payment is increased after the rate and yet I am â—…ed Husband What meane yee by that Knight I meane this yee sell that yee were wont to sell a foretime for xx grotes now for xxx let my rent bee increased after that proportion and rate that is foreuery xx groots of olde rent x shillings and so as the pryce of your wares 〈◊〉 and yet I doe but keepe my lande at y â— olde stent Husband My bargayne was to pay for my holde but vi poundes xiii shillinges iiii d. yearely of rent and I pay that truely yee can require no more of mee Knight I cannot much say agaynst that but yet I perceaue I shalbe still a loser by that bargayne though I cannot tell y â— reason why but I perceiue yee sell deerer that yee liue on and I good cheape that which is my liuing help me Mayster Doctor I pray you for the Hushandman driueth mee to the Wall Doctor Mary but mee thinketh touching y â— matter yee did reason of yee draue him to his shifts that is to confesse that this dearth ryseth not at your hand And though he do defend him selfe for his payment to you by colour of a lawe yet he seemeth to coÌ„nfesse thus much that the lawe compelleth you to take litle for your land that there is no lawe to restrayne him but hee may sell his wares as detâ—…s he leâ—…eth it is ynough for our purpose that yee tooke in hand to proue that this dearth rose 〈◊〉 first at your hande but whether the pryces of thinges increasing as they doe it were reason yee did rayse your wares which is your lande or to bee payde after the olde rate whan
erable â—…elds into pasture and violent Inclosures of commins without iust recompence of them that haue right to coÌ„men therein for if land were seuerally enclosed to the â—…tent to continewe husbandry thereon and euery mâ—…n that hâ—…th right to commen had for his portion a piece of y â— same to himself inclosed I thinke no harme but rather good should come thereof if euery man did agree therâ—…to but yet it woulde not be sodaynely done for there be many poore cottages in England which hauing no lands of their owâ—… to liue one but their handy labour and some refreshinge vpon y â— sayde coÌ„mens which if they were sodaynely thrust out from that commodity might make a great 〈◊〉 and a disorder in the commonweale and percase also if men were suffred to inclose their grounds vnder the pretence to keepe it still in tillage within a while after they would turne all to Pasture as wee see they doe nowe too fast Knight If they finde more profit thereby then otherwise why should they not Doctor I can tel why they should not welynough for they may not purchase theÌ„selues profit by y â— which may be hurtfull to other but how to bring them y â— they would not so doe is al the matter for so long as they finde more profit by pasture then by tillage they will still inclose and turne erable land to pastures ê™ the Knight Knight That well may be restrained by lawes if it were thought most profitable for y â— common weale but all men doe not agree to that poynte Doctor I wot well they doe not and therefore it were hard to make a lawe thereâ—… so many as haue profit by that matter resisting it And if such a law were made yet men studying still of there most profit would defraud the lawe by one meane or other Knight I haue heard oftentimes much reasoning in this matter and some in maintenauÌ„ce of these Inclosures would make this reason euery man is a Member of the coÌ„monweale that which is profitable to one maÌ„ may be profitable to another if he would exercise the same feate Therefore that which is profitable to mee so to another may be profitable to all and so to y â— whole coÌ„monweale as a great Masse of Treasure consisteth of many pence and one penny added to another and so to the thirde and fourth c. maketh vp a great summe so doth each man added one to another make vp the whole body of a commonweale Doctor That reason is good adding some what more to it true it is that y â— thing which is profitable to each man by himselfe so it be not preiudiall to any other is profitable to y â— whole commonweale and not otherwise or else stealing or robbing which percase is profitable to some men were pro fitable to the commonweale which no man wil admit but this feate of inclosinge is so y â— where it is profitable to one man it is preiudiâ—…all to many therefore I thinke that reason sufficiently aunswered Knight Also they will laye forth another Reason saying that y â— which is our owne coÌ„modity should bee alwayes aduaunced as much as might be and these sheepes profit is one of the greatest commodity wee haue therefore it ought to be aduaunced as high as it may bee Doctor I could aunswere that argumeÌ„t with the like reason as I did the other true it is we ought to aduaunce our owne commodity as much as wee can so it bee not to as much more the hinderaunce of our other commodities Or else where as the breede of Coneyes Deere and luch like is a commodity of this Realme Yet if wee shoulde â—…urne all our erable grounde to nourishe that commodity and geue vp the Plough and all other commodities for it it were a great folly Knight They will say agayne that all Groundes bee not meete for sheepe Doctor It is a very ill Grounde but either it serueth to breede sheepe or to feede them vpon and if al that is meete either for the one were turned to the mayntenaunce of Sheepe and none other thing where shall wee haue our other coÌ„modities growe Knight All cannot doe so though some doe Doctor What should let theÌ„ all to do y â— which they see some do yea what should better encourage them thereto theÌ„ to see theÌ„ that do it be come notable riche men in short tâ—…e by y â— doing thereof And theÌ„ if euery man should do so one following the example of another what should ensue thereof but a meere solitude and vtter desolation of the whole realme furnished onely with Sheepe and Sheepherdes in stâ—…ede of good men where by it might be a pray to the enemyes y â— first would set vpon it for then the sheepe Maysters their Sheepherds could make no resistaunce to the contrary Knight Who can let them to make their most aduauntage of y â— which is their owne Doctor Yes mary men may not vse their owne thinges to the damage of the commonweale yet for all this that I see it is a thinge most necessary to be prouided for yet I cannot perceaue it should be the only cause of this dearth for this Inclosinge and greate grasinge if it were occasion of that dearth of any thing it must be of Corne thiefly and nowe these many yeares past we had Corne good cheape inough And the dearth y â— was then most was of cattellâ—… Biefes and Muttons and the broode of thesâ—… are rather increased then diminished by Pastures and inclosinges Knight Why should men bee then so much offended with these Inclosures Doctor Yes not without great cause for thoughe these many yeares past through the great bounty of God we haue had much plenty of Corne whereby it haâ—…h bene good cheape one Acer bearing as much â—…orne as two mosâ—… commonly were wont to do yet if these yearâ—…s had chaunsed to be but meanely fruitfull of Corne no doubt we should haue had as great dearth of Corne as we had of other thinges And then it had bene in a maner an vndoing of the â—…oore Commens And if heereafter there should chaunce any baâ—…n yeares of Corne to fall wee should bee assuered to finde as greate extremity in the price of Corne from y â— it was wont to bee as we finde now in the prices of other victayle And specially if we haue not ynough to serue within y â— Realme which may happen hereafter more likely then in time past by reason that there is much lande since turned to pasture for euery man wil seeke where most aduauntage is they see there is most aduauÌ„tage in grasing and breeding then in husbandry and tillage by a great deale And so longe as it is so the Pasture shall neuer incroch vpon tillage for all the lawes that euer can be made to the contrary Knight And how thinke yee that this might be remedied then Doctor To make the profit of
person yearely theyr pre◅ The Bishop euery three yeres to see y ◠whole Diocesse what is to be reformed either pryuately or generally that priuate faults might be refourmed forthwith and the generall at the next Synode and therefore they haue theyr procurations Uisite they doe not in person as they ought to doe but by deputies more for theyr procurations then for any reformation The money is surely gathered but the cause wherefore it was geuen nothing kepte the stipend is exacted and the worke wherefore it was due vndō Then is there another good ordenaūce and godly absolued after the like sort where euery bishop should yere y keepe a synode in his dioces of all euangeliall persons and euery archbishop a sinod for his whole prouince euery third yere that if any thing occurred in the diocesse worthy reformation it might be referred to the prouinciall congregation If it were either doubtfull to the bishop or could not be reformed without greate authority then the Bishoppes alone Where bee these sinod◅s now kepte yet they receiue euery yere their sinodals of the poore priests of such good ordenāce godly there is nothing kept but y ◠which is there owne priuate cōmodity which be y t procuratiōs sinodals y ◠other part wherfore y t charge was laid is omitted y ◠burdē remai neth the duty is takē away yet better it were y t both y ◠one y e other were takē away thē to haue y e good parte taken the worse to remayne If they will say that there needeth now a daies no such visitation nor ◅ynods then there needed neuer none of them for moe thinges to bee reformed among vs were neuer then be now nor reformation neue◅ more necessary But our prelats would say they dare make no lawes in such sinodes for feare of penury what neede any mo lawes made then they haue already what should let them to put these in execution that be already made specially sins they haue the aide of the temporal lawes thereto is there not statutes made in parliament for residence and for restrayning of pluralitie of benefices which had neuer neede to haue ben made if wee would haue put our lawes in execution Are not we worthy to haue other men to correcte and reforme vs when we can not reforme our selues Is it maruaile that wee bee not out of credence when oure life and conuersationis contrary to our owne lawes and profession and that the religion of them suffereth slaunder offence and reproache through our defaultes shalbe ones required of our hands Therfore if we wil haue this scisme takē away frō christs church let vs first reforme our selues put our lawes in executiō as in resorting to our benefices ◅o keepe r◅sydence and in contentyng our selues wyth one Benefice a pieee And ◅yth the lyuinge that is appointed to vs for our ministration without deuising of other extraordinary vnlawfull gaines For what is more agreeable wyth reason then a man to spende his tyme where he hath his lyuing and to do his office for that he hath y ◠benefit of And seeing euery benefice is a mans liuing and if it be not it might be amended till it be a competent liuing and euery one requireth one mans whole charge What reason is it that one man should haue two mens liuings two mens charge where he is able to discharge but one Thē to haue moe discharge the ◅re of neuer a one is to far◅e agaynst reasō But some percase will say there be some of vs worthy a greater prefermēt then other one bene◅ were to litle for such a one Is there not as many degrees in the variety of Benefices as there is in mens qualities Yes forsooth there is yet in this realme thāked be God benefices from M. markes to xx markes a yeare of sundry values to endow euery man with after his qualities and degree And if a meane ben◅e happen to fall let euery man be cōtented therewith til a better fal And if he be thought worthy of a better let him leaue the first and take y ◠better for the meanest Benefice is a sufficient liuinge for some man which should be destitute of a liuing if that benefice and other like should be heaped vp together in great menshāds Yea I doe knowe y t men which haue such meane benefices be more commōly resident and keepe better hospitality on the same then they that haue greater benefices It is a common prouerbe Its meary in Hall Whan Beardes wags all Nowe looke throughe a whole Diocesse you shall not finde xx persons resident that may dispend xl l a piece nor of al the benefices in a Diocesse the fourth person resident ouer the same What temperal office is so far abused as these be that be spirituall and of greater charge I pray God send our Prelats Eyes to see these Enormities for it shoulde seeme that they are so blinded that they cannot see them And then I doubt not but all delayes set a part they will reforme them and if they do not I pray God send our Maiestrats temperall the minde to reforme these thinges with their seculer power And to study for the reformation of them rather then for theyr possessions Christian Princes beare not their swords in vayne nor yet is it so straūge a thing to see Christian princes reforme the Prelates that swarue from their dueties Thus far beit spoken touching the reformation of them y t be mynisters of y ◠Church Now to speake of y ◠is to be reformed of our parte that be of the laytye yee must vnderstand that al y ◠geue thē selues to y e knowledge of any faculty are commonly subi◅ct to eyther of two vices as that great clarke Tully doth report y ◠one is to take these things y t we know not for things knowne or as though we knewe them for a voyding of which fault men ought to take both good space and great diligence in consideration of things ere they come to geue iudgement of the same the other vice to bestowe too great a study labour about obscure and hard thinges nothing necessary Let vs now consider and those faults be not among you at these dayes yee be all now studious to know the vnderstāding of holy scripture And well for there can beno better desire more honest nor more necessary for any christiā mā but yet doe yee not see many younge men before they haue either taken any longe time or any good diligence in the cōsideration or study of scripture take vpon them to iudge of high matters being in controuersie geeuing to quicke assent eyther to their owne inuention or to other mens before they haue considered what might be sayd to the cōtrary And this fault is not onely seene in men studious of the knowledge of scrip◅ure but also in younge students of all other sciences shall yee not finde a student
in the law of the realme after he hath bene at the study of y â— lawe not past 〈◊〉 yeares more ready to assoyle you a doubtfull cause of the lawe then either he himselfe or another after y â— he hath stuâ—…ied the law xii or xiiii yeares Yea no doubt so it is in a young GraÌ„marian Logitian Rethoritian so of al other sciences Therefore Pythagoras forbade his Schollers to speake the firste v. yeares y â— theâ—… came to him which lesson I would to God yee would be coÌ„tent to obserue before yee gaue any iudgement in matters of holy scriâ—… And theÌ„ I doubt not but after vii yeares reading yee would by col lation of one place with another of scripture finde a greater difficulty therein then yee doe now bee more scripulouse to geue an auÌ„swere in high things then yee be nowe and this harme coÌ„meth of rashe iuegement in y â— part that when a man hath once 〈◊〉 his opinion in any thing he will thinke it a great shame for him to be brought from y â— he hath once affirmed for truth Therefore what so euer he readeth after he construeth for the maynetenaunce of his opinion yea and wil force that side not only with his words and perswasions but also with that powre and authority y â— he hath and will labour to bring other to the same opinion as many as he can as though his Opinion shoulde bâ—…e the more true the mâ—…e fauorâ—…s that he may get of y â— same By such meanes if we sâ—…eke but for the truth that is not to be iudged to be alwaies on the best side y t getteth y â— ouer hand by power authority or Suffrages extorted it is not like in the disceptacion inquisition of the truth as it is in a fight or a wrestling for he that hath the ouer hand in these thinges hath the victory and in the other hee that is sometimes put to scilence or other wise vanquished in the sighte of the worlde hath the victory and conquest of truth on his side Since we contend but for the knowledge of the truth what should wee deuide our selues into factions and parties but let the matter be quietly discussed tryed and examined by men to whom the iudgement of such thinges appertayneth And prouide in the meane time that neyther party doe vse any vyolence agayne the other to bring them by force to this or that side vntle the whole or most part of theÌ„ to whom y â— discuscioÌ„ of such things appertaynâ—…th vnto â—…oe freely consent and determine the matter That is the onely way to descide such controuersies and since this contencion must once haue an ende it were better take an end be times then too late when percase more harme shal haue ensued of this daungerous Scisine as hath already done in other parties euen before our Eyes And in like things hath before this time bene seene of such sort as it is too lamentable to bee remembred what losse of Christian men what diminishing of the Christian faith what continuall warres hath the Faction of the Arrians bene the occasion of did it not seperate and seuer at length all Asia and Affricke from the Christian fayth Is not the Religion or rather the wicked supersticion of the Turke graffed ouer this Arrian Sect did it not take his fouÌ„dation thereof As there is no dyuision more daungerous then that which groweth of matters in ReligioÌ„ so it were most expedient and necessary to bee quickely remedied which cannot bee done by any other way then by a free and generall counsel that hath bene alwayes from the time of y â— Appostles who first tooke that remedy euen to their dayes the onely way to quiet and appease all controuersies in religion And no doubt the holy Ghost as his promise is wilbe priuate in euery such assembly that is gathered together by no force or labor of any affection But now we will say thoughe wee would for our partes set a side partiality and be indiffereÌ„t and vse no cohercion to get numbers voyces that should fauour our partes who can promise that the Byshoppe of Rome other Prelates would doe y â— same Surely if yee did say so yee sayd a great matter for they be men much more subiect to affections there yee be But I shalbe bould after my manner totel my minde herein aswell as in other things I take all these matters that be now a dayes in coÌ„trouersie to be of one of these sortes that is either touching the profits and emolumentes of the Prelates Mynisters of the church or touching pointes of religion As touching those articles that coÌ„cerne religion I would wishe y â— they had onely the discuscion thereof which ought and haue vsed alwayes to haue the iudgment of the same as touching the articles that concerne the profits of Ecclesiasticall persons I would haue these left to the discuscion of the seculer powers because it concerneth seculer thinges onely where no man neede mistrust But that y â— Maiestrates will prouide an honorable liuing for that kinde of men that serueth so honorable a roume as y â— ministration of Gods holy word and his Sacraments Farthermore I woulde wiâ—…he in thinges touching y â— byshop of Rome his iurisoiâ—…tion y â— he should be set a part some other iudiffereÌ„t perâ—…ons chosen by christian Princes to direct or be Presidentes in the Counsayle while his matter is in handlinge if it please Christian Princes to holde a counsayle with that â—…hare of Babylon for no man is mâ—…ete to be a Iudge in his own cause here I haue but briefly touched y â— summes of things after my simple phaÌ„tasie referringe the alowing or reiecting of all our some of them to your better iudgement Knight I am sorry that it is so late that we must needes depart nowe Marchaunt Husband Capper And so bee wee in good fayth but wee trust ere you departe the towne to haue some communication wyth you agayne Doctor I will bee glad if I tarry in the towne But as yet truly I knowe not whether I shall remayne here beyond too morrow morning which if I do in any thing y â— my simple iudgement will reach vnto you you shall heare my farther opinion in the meane time I pray you so to thinke of mee as of one that if I haue spoken any thing which may bee preiudiciall to the common weale any way I am ready to reuoke it and to yeelde to the iudgement of any other man that can shew how all these griefes or the more part of theÌ„ may bee remedied by any other better meanes for I know of many a thowsande in this lande I may worst speake in such a wayghty matter And so heere for this presente I take my leaue of you all Knight And thus wee departed for that time but on the morrowe when I knewe maister Doctor was gone out of the towne I
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