in their Tribes houses names and families For he commaunded by Moyses expressely if any man solde his Inheritaunce béeing Land or house it should return vnto him again in the yéere of Iubile which was euery fiftie yéeres Also that Women vnto whom Lands and Inheritaunce were deuolute in default of heires males should not marry into any other Tril e. Wherfore ê™ hée I wish you to haue a great regarde in departing from your Inheritaunce so great a blessing of God for it is a great infamie reproche to be said an vnthrift anâ— the first decaier of a house familie whether it were greater or smaller Alas sir quoth this yong man I am in greater distresse yée knowe these Merchaunts of London are hard dealers with whome there is no mercy but for ready painâ—ent wel quoth the Gentleman I will doo thus much for you I my self wil lend you an hundreth pound which you shal repay by fortie pound a yéer and that I suppose you may â—asely doo ordering your self wisely take that quoth hée offâ—r it to the MerchauÌ„t if happily he may be intreated to giue you a yéer or twain for the rest vpon reasonable consideration the yong man gaue him harty thanks the money was fetched down counted deliuered th'assuraÌ„ce made accordingly which being doon the yongmaÌ„ took his leaue hartily desired me although améer stranger vnto him yet because I was present a witnes of so great curtesie humanitie to go with him to London vnto this Merchants house which I also was contâ—nt to doo and hauing dispatched the occasion of my there béeing and hauing likewise taken my leaue to London wée came and to the Merchants house wée went when wée came before this Merchant the yong Gentleman began to intreat him as feare as hée could and telling him of this good godly Lawyer and of his great compassion his good councell and perswasion desired him to accept this C.l. in part of paiment and to giue him a yéere or twaine for payment of the re t. This Merchant hauing heard all the matter now GOD forbid quoth he that euer a Lawyer should heap coales vpon Merchants head or that a Merchant should not be as willing and as ready to doo a godly déed as a Lawyer hauing receiued at the hands of God the like habilitie therto And therwithall hauing receiued the C.l. hée took his owne bond for the rest to be paid by x.l. a yéer his first pay to begin after the Gentleman 's C.l. ful paid and deliuered vnto him all his Indentures and other assurances of the Morgage and making vs great chéere he let vs departe Now when I would haue taken my leaue of this yong Gentleman I could by no meanes forbid him to bring mée on my way hitherward as farre as Ware xx miles on this side London where he paid all my charges for that night and the next day wée took leaue eache of other and departed either of vs toward his owne Thus ye sée how frutful was the good and gracious déed of one man and how it prouoked the zeale of an other to doo the like A A A A A A A Amen quoth Pierce Well quoth our Hoste because you doo so hardly receiue my proofes I will bring you more store of them and such as I am ready to verifye against whomsoeuer will deny their trueth An other tale of the Hoste of a woorshipfull Lawyer that made leases to all his tenaunts of the Farmes they held for Li. yeers after a strange sorte and also very wisely Chap. 17. I Was quoth hée in Buckingham Shire not very long sithence at the house of a rich Officer toward the Law whome I could name if néed required who during the time of my béeing there made vnto all his Tenants leases of their farmes wherof I my self am witnes present at their Sealing and deliuerye The leases are for li. yéeres from the day of the date therof the rent reserued as followeth Yéelding and paying vnto the said Leassor and his heires yéerly during so many of the said li. yéeres as th'inheritaunce shall remaine in him or them not solde exchaunged morgaged forfaited leased in reuertion or otherwise estraunged v.l. currant money of England and yéelding and paying from and immediatly after any such act doon by him or them or any of them v. sÌ„ yéerly of like cuâ—rant monie and so after the rate of other rents were they greater or smaller Prouided alwaies that the tenaunt shall not sell set nor let their said Farme or any percel therof wâ—thout the assent and licence of the said Leassor or his heires of which reseruation I asked him a reason wherunto hiâ— answere was this Sée quoth hée how hard a matter it iâ— for yong GentlemeÌ„ vnto whom it falleth by the grace and gift of God to be Landlorde and owners wisely to order gouâ—rn either their possessions lands and reuenues or themselues I know also quoth hée that in the wisdome prudency anâ— good gouernment of such standeth the happy and prospere us estate of a common welth and her misery in the contrary and therfore in my iudgement ought all men generally to wish yea and to endeuour that the greatest lands and possesâ—ions may be in their hands who both can and will order and dispose the same to the honor and glory of God and to the pâ—ofit of the common welth wherin me thinketh sauing reformation the to often and to common translation of possession is not the least matter nor last to be considered as well for the causes therof which are euill â— as also for the effects therof which are wurse The causes that make men to sell their patrimonyes and to spoyle their inheritance who knoweth not to be these riot gaine whordome delight in all vngodly pleasures and pastime of sensualitie shortly the not fearing of God nor seruing him and the not caring to knowe his wilâ— and commandements nor to liue therafter these are the causes The effects are these first the spoyle of the land and thâ— making it barren and bare of all the commodities therof secondly the dislodging and disapointing of the honest Farmers and good house kéepers for their sakes that will doo more then they without any other respect and those are commonly the wicked and vngodly and from thence ariseth infiniâ— sutes and controuersies maintenaunces champerties and such like This causeth lands often to chaunge their tenaunts and inhabitants and by that means breacheth and dissolueth one of the greatest and surest bonds of looue and fréendship that is or euer was namely coeducation conuersation and acquaintaunce which hatcheth nourisheth and confirmeth looue and fréendship not only betwéen men but euen betwéen the brute and vnreasonable beasts who hauing béene fostered long together in one place will not only looue and defend one an other but also euen the very place wherin they were bred and nourished and they will very hardly be sundred or driuen there from
And this is the very law of kinde which can not effectually woork among neighbours of whome some are dayly or yéerly flitting and giuing place vnto new namely such as will bid more the which commonly are the wurser sorte as hath béen already alleaged These are two effects The third is the sinceritie of Iustice and also of dicipline both which it greatly hazardeth namely for the buyers and sellers are Corelatiues and that the one cannot be without the other and for that also the causes of selling spoyling of patrimonies are such as I haue already declared These things are right perillous in a common welth and yet doo almoste necessarily followe the too often and common translation of possession and inheritaunce namely where it is by peny purchase against the which neuerthelesse it is meruelous hard to foresée and to prouide I meane for heires and inheritours of Lordships Lands and possessions to continue in the same béeing things that so many desire to haue yea oftentimes such as haue in their hands the bridle of libertie or restraint of good and euill and of the liues and manners of men for what is there in all this earth so much desired as houses landes Lordships and possessions and to commaund ouer people What els is the end of all so many and great trauels watch studie so many and so great hazards by Sea and land so many shifts sleights deceits and oppressions of all which this world hath béen is euer wil be full against all which who so will holde a thing of so great value he must be well prouided and of great defence and hath néed to haue in him self the strength wisdome councell and iudgement of many and so much the rather by how much his possessioâ— is the greater and that for two causes First for that in his eâ—rour of life fall and misgouernment lyeth the fall ruin and decay of a number what of his owne blood what of his tenaunts faithfull freends and seruants Secondly for that his estate is subiect vnto many enimies of whom the greatest and moste dangerous is the flatterer the olde enemie of all mankinde as the story of our Father Adam and mother Eue and the Serpent dooth well declare This mooued Iuno as Oâ—id fableth to commit Io her Cow vnto Argus to kéep which Argus had an hundred eyes in his head and therfore much adooe had Mercury to deceiue him withall his swéet songs and Musick for when he had brought on of his eyes a sleep â—ea diuers of them yet waked diuers other and stood vpon tâ—eir ward and whether his face or his back were towards Io yet he alway beheld her ¶ A reason why Coppyholdes Customes and Corporations were first ordained and how that Pride and Flattery are the cheef causes that many a yong Gentleman commeth to sell his Lands Chap. 1â— ANd surely in mine oppinion this mooued the wise honorable fathers Maiestrates of old time to incorporat so great liuings possessions also to erect establish in Loâ—dships so many coppy holds and custummarâ— tenures as the moste soueraigne remedy against pride and surcuydrie which commonly accompanieth thâ— priuate singuler sole proprietie in land possession office or any other thing whatsoeuer also a way and meane to furniâ—h the common welth with many both able to deserue well and to doo good also glad and willing therto vnto the which pâ—ide is either the only let and impediment or els of all otheâ— the greatest as he vpon whom flattery attendeth yea and in such sorte that he leadeth him by the nose vp and down the house making him to beléeue of himself any thing causing him also to delight no while in any one thing whether it be apparell or the fashion therof place person dyet fréend seruant Tenaunt or other thing what soeuer and this as dayly experience teacheth is the high and ready way to the Vsurers house and from thence to the Extorcioner who dwelleth hard by of which twaine by that time he hath taken foorth his lesson kindely I dare be his suretie hée wil not be hasty to doo good to any good body neither if he would shall he haue wherwith all for either shall he haue no lands left him at all or if he haue any he shall be glad to let them déerer then that any honest man shall doo good thereon so that in conclusion both thâ— Landlord and the tenaunt shal be miserable The cause héerof is Pride moste and chéeftly as I haue said and oftentimes youth good nature or peraduenture excesse of Pleasure and Sensuall delights where through yong Gentlemen are often snared through euill company béeing ouertaken sometime by giuing their woord sometime through a bribe of a little present mony sometime by one deceit sometime by an other wherin men are soone pampred namely such as are of small experience and iudgement and knowe not the false lures of the wicked and vngodly against all which these Corporations and customes are of great force and a great defence for in both these cases hardly can they be assaulted much lesse inuaded by any of the enemies aforesaid First for that a corporation is neuer vnder age as for example Maior and Comminaltie Deane and Chapter Wardens and Fellowes and such like whose succession is by election their proprietie is ioynt and in common neither can one doo any thing without the rest and therfore to flatter any one of them vaine and to flatter them all very hard namely mens Natures Wit Iudgements and Affections béeing diuers and euery man willing to maintaine and prefer his owne opinion or his fréends Pride atteinteth them not for who is proud or at the least so proud of any thing wherin a number hath to commaund as much as he and without whom he can doo nothing then béeing armed against Pride the Father of necessitie and néed they are â—etter fréely to afforde their good woord or déed and therfore in vaine were it to bribe them But admit that any of them would be bribed it were also in vaine and would procure the euill will of all the rest with out bribing them all which were heauy and hard to doo So that in any competicion made vnto such persons against any olde Fréend Tenaunt Officer or seruant it is very hard to preuaile except it be through his owne great misbehauiour And where it is betwéen méere Sraungâ—rs one of them against an other there the best and moste woorthy is sure to spéed for certainly and infallible there is â—othing in all this world so amiable so beloued and fauoured as honestie vertue and godlines are Where priuate flatterie or briberie stand not in their light as in the case of priuate Owners and proprietaries I haue alleadged that it both may and often dooth And thus much of the Corporations of their effects Now to speake of the customes of Manours the very same or like in effect may be said for the Inheritour of
sharply rebuked them and giuing them small rewards yet better then he thought them woorthy he forbad them during their liues to come within xij miles of the Court â—nd that vpon great penaltie All these examples doo manifestâ—y prooue that liberall reward of vertue and high and Honorable calling doo increase vertue in them in whome it is alâ—edy and causeth them in whom it is not saue only in apparaâ—nce yet for pure shame to imbrace it séeing that otherwise hâ—t coales are heaped vpon their heads through their shamelesse vnthankfulnes vnto them that haue so thorowly prouoâ—ed them with the greatnes of their benefits And therfore against all these reasons and proofâ— to say that the Magistrate and Officer should priuatly Câ—uet and conuert so great summes of treasure it were to shamefull and slaunderous considered that they are the effectâ— of so euill causes as hath already béen shewed And considâ—red also the horrible and wicked conclusion that would ensuâ— therupon as also hath already béen prooued Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce neuer tel me what might or dooth insue therupon but consider the trâ—eth and the matter as it is in déed And if these great fées aâ—d charges doo not come vnto their receiuers and takers in proper and priuate what meane they to make so great laboâ—r sute fréendship and cost to get those offices and callings â—nd how commeth it to passe that by the meanes of such offâ—ces such as before were of small habilitie come to purchaâ—e a Barons liuing yea twaine or thrée Shortly that their care is greater to heare and learne where any Land or Lordship is to be solde then for the Money whorwith to purâ—hase the same ¶ Simon confirmeth his assertion touching the desire to beare office to be good by the Ettimologia â—n exposition of the woord Officium Cap. 9. NEighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast all these matters are easely deuided vnto the which thus I answere To the first which is their great desire to be in such Offices of receit I say you mis-iudge of their desire because you doo not vnderstand the meaning of this woord Office and doo think him to be an Englishman wheras in very déed his Father is an Italian whose proper signification and meaning you doo not vnderstand for in our English tung Office is no more to say nor nothing els but Seruice so that whosoeuer desireth an Office hée desireth to doo seruice or els a place wherin to doo seruice now all men knowe that a priuate man is not able to compare with the Magistrate or Officer in abilitie and power Therfore to desire an Office is to desire to be better abled to expresse and declare the hartâ—e good wil and affection which hée hath to bée seruiceable vnto God and his common welth for that in priuat estate his power answereth not vnto his good will therin and therfore the better man the more desirous to be in Office and in the more Offices for the greater is his power to shew his good affection towards God who is the Giuer of all these things ¶ Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce I connot tel what Cuntrie mans Office is neither doo I greatly force whether his Father be an Italian Spaniard or Frenchman but if he be the same in Latin that seruice is in English I am suer that both in Lattin French Spanish and English hée stinketh when he is to fréely offered and that I am very sure did Aesop mean in his Fable of the Sowe great with pig vnto whome saith hée there came a Fox who alleadging vnto her his great skil in the art of a Midwife profferd her his seruice toward her deliuerance vnto whome she answered that the greatest and best seruice that he could doo vnto her was to kéep him far inough from her which shée also praied him to doo wherby you may gather what the Authors opinion was vpoÌ„ this voluntary offer of seruice and yet hée dooth not alleadge that the Fox offered any money I suppose because hée had no money to offer But Simon Magus offered money in the Acts of the Apostles and what the holy Ghost thought therof â—ou may there vnderstand Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoasâ— this is a colde reason and no Argument to say that a mans earnest desire to haue an Office argueth his desire of priuatâ— gaine proffit and so for his great desire to doo good condeâ—me him of euil without proof therof Neighboure Simon quoth Pierce I doo not so barely reason neither so nakedly as you haue alleaged if you did mée right in repetition of mâ— Argument not intercepting the same nor seuering the paâ—ces therof as you haue doon and so haue answered the first pâ—rt by it self which is the weakest and haue said nothing to thâ— second part which is their great purchase and the strength effect of the first for my Argument taken wholy togitheâ— is thus much to say that their great desire to haue the Offices and their great purchase of Landes and liuing following the same sheweth that from the beginning there was mâ—nt nought els but priuate pouching for euer the act that is last in exception is the first in ImaginatioÌ„ in all mens dooings this is moste assured Neighbour quoth our Hoast thâ—s Argument of yours which you holde so forcible is of no foâ—ce at all whether the parties therof be considered ioyntly or sâ—uerally neither dooth this great desire to be in Office neitheâ— the great purchase ensuing the same in any wise disprooue my first Assertion and maintenaunce of this great reuenues fées and charges as you suppose construing and taking mâ— saying to néer vnto the letter For wheras I haue alleâ—ged the Magistrates and Officers to be the Patrons and Fathers of the common welth and these great reuenues a publiâ—ue treasure in their hands to the vses and intents abooue râ—hersed yée alleadge against mée their great purchase of Loâ—dships Lands and Liuings as a repugnancie and dispraisâ— therof which it is not but the greatest strongest confirmaâ—ion therof that I my self haue alleaged for although I haâ—e made them receiuers yet haue I not charged them méerly as Receiuers but as baylifs Gardens of trust whose authoritie extendeth to improoue for the benefit of their Cuntrieâ— But a better Improouement can there not be made theâ— by altring of money which is transitory into land whiâ—h is permanent namely béeing deliuered vnto them at their yéers of discretion vpon the account of their said Balifs or gardeÌ„s And euen as it fareth betwéen the Garden and his pupil the Bailifs and him to whose vse he is put in trust So fareth it betwéen these Magistrates and Officers and the common welth as touching these receits And therfore those purchases of lands and possessions the best and moste allowable discharge vpon their account that can possible be made vnto God the greatest and highest aduauÌ„cement of his honour and glory the greatest and moste assured comfort and stay of his godly people and
manner of the getting of their gaines wherwith they purchase doo chaâ—ge them with a reuerend and fatherly regarde in letting and setting the same to the honor and glory of God who hath so mightely blessed them yea so far abooue all that they euer coâ—ld with out shame haue wished or desired so heaping hot coales vpon their heads in their vnthankfulnes and dealing otâ—erwise which as I haue alredy said is not or at the least noâ— so greatly to be hoped or looked for at their hands of bace anâ— meane calling And therfore Neighbour Pierce quoth hée admitting and confessing the greatnes of their purchase yâ—t can yée not conclude against mée the proper or priuate rece t or imploying of Charges fées and reuenues aforesaid ne ther wil I graunt it vnto you for the slaunderous and shame full consequence which it inferreth necessarily as hath alrâ—ady béen duly prooued ‡ Pierce repeateth the Reasons and Arguments of Simon and confuteth them by proof and expecience deâ—onstratiue as froÌ„ the cause to the effect and that vpon his owne knowledge Cap. 10. Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce yée haue made as your self dooth suppose many strong reasoÌ„s conclusioÌ„s to aprooue the first asessing and that now receiuiÌ„g of eight pence or twelue pence for a shéet of paper and other excessiue and vnreasonable Fées and charges of sutes as not only tollerable iust and reasonable but also godly and moste conducible vnto the common welth and to the prosperous and good estaste therof namely for that these fées and charges were ment and yet are the punishment of vice and the reward of godlynes and vertue And also that they were and yet are ment a publique treasure in the hands of the receiuers therof to all godly vses intents and purposes Wherunto I answered alleadging the great purchase of Lands and Lordships by the receiuers of the same as a thing repugnant and contrary to your Assertion wherunto you haue replied that their great purchase is not only contrary to your first Assertion but a confirmation of the same For you say that their porchase of lands is a prouision with out comparison more assured and permanent then were or could haue béen the distribution of the money or any parte therof from hand to hand and also that the effects and fruits therof are moe and greater and doo stretch farther and more generally and vniuersally doo procure the honor and glory of God and the publique welth peace and quietnes To prooue that these things are so you haue alleadged the honorable calling of the Magistrate and Officer and the great expectation that hée sustaineth both before God and men and also the reuerend opinion that we are bound to haue of him Yée haue also alleadged that the first causes of all these great gaines and proffits are such as of duty he is bound to persecute and not to prosecute namely for that they are vngodlynes wickednes and all kinde of vice by the gain wherof say you no honest nor godly person can without great shame thriue and wax rich much lesse the Magistrate and Officer vpoÌ„ whose great expectation héerin you doo so greatly insist Truely Neighbour quoth hée all these are goodly and also godly reasons and doo very wel prooue how things either haue béen or els how things ought to be But that they are so presently these are either nâ— prooues at all or very small and so your argument gathered â—nd concluded from posse to esse as I haue said already and as I wil further prooue by Arguments gathered from tâ—e cause vnto the effect and from the effect vnto the cause eueâ— the very same that you haue alleadged tying them together in the same maner and fourme as your selfe haue alleadgeâ— them First you say that the originall cause of these greâ—t gains Fées and reuenues was the hate that the first Assessâ—â—s therof bare vnto vngodlines wickednes and all kinde of vice the fauour and good affection which they bare vnto Vertue and godlynes and therin they ment the punishmeâ—t of the one and the preferment and aduauncement of the oâ—her and so you conclude lewdnes vnthriftines and vngodlynes to haue béen and yet stil to be the first cause of these great gains Fées and reuenues and these great Fées and reuenues their effect the effect of these fées profits and reuenues â—ée haue alleadged or rather I my self haue alleadged and â—ou haue confessed and iustified to be the great perpuisition â—nd purchase of Lordships lands and possessions by the Magistrates and Officers Receiuers of the same The effect of their great purchase is by you aleâ—dged to be a prouision a stay of liuing and patry mony for the Godly and honest People of the common welth and for their assuraunce peace and quietnes The effect of so good a pâ—ouision for the Godly you haue alleadged to be the increase â—f them and the decrease of the wicked vnthriftie and vngodly the effect of the increase of godly people you haue alleadged to be mutuall looue charitie and all good affection both â—owards God and also one to an other the effect wherof you haue alleadged to be the manifolde blessings of God accordiâ—g to the saying of the Prophet in the hundred thrée thirtie Psalme Thus haue you argued from the first causes prâ—ducing their effects and from those effects as from causes of their effects very orderly and very probablie but not necâ—ssarilye as I haue already alleadged and as I doubt not héerafter I shall prooue vnto you so directly and so euidently that you shall either confesse your owne prooues fallible and false or els you must and shal say that causes produce no effects or els clean contrary effects which is to reuerse and to ouerthrowe the order of Nature and all the law and rule of reason as to say there can be a Father or a mother without a Sonne or a Daughter or that betwéen a man or a woman there should be begotten a dogge or a cat And for proof héerof I wil aleage bothe reason as strong as you haue alleaged any and also mine owne experience which I my self haue déerly bought and paid for I pray you Neighbour let mée héer that quoth our Hoast ¶ Pierce Plowmans first tale for that purpose where he sheweth how his Neighbour and hee went to the Tauern and to the daunsing Schoole and what hapned there Chap. 12. AT my béeing in London this last term quoth Pierce it fortuned one afternoone hauiÌ„g little or nothiÌ„g to doo as God knoweth what Idlenes vngodlines commeth of our idle waitiÌ„g attending vpon our dayes of heariÌ„g as they tearm them when in the mean time we run vp and down in the stréets and if happely wée méet with any Fréend or acquaintaunce it is holden great humanitie to offer him the curtesie of LondoÌ„ which is as much to say to haue him to the Tauern there to sit bibbing vntil neither of theÌ„ can scant finde the way
ten pound fréely towards the erecting building of a bridge and that such charitable déeds as this are no new things vnto him I sooner wil beléeue this quoth Pierce hauing of a man learned in the Lawes and whom Vertue and Learning haue prefferred then of the others that Fishen for Offices with the golden hook and neuer wist what Learning ment Simons returne to his matter again declareth of an other rich Officer in the Law who had two Farmers one rich and the other poore and how he delt with them Chap. 20. WIth that our Hoste took holde again saying that hée had yet one other matter to tell and therwith he would conclude I was an other time quoth hée at the house of an other rich Officer towards the Law who dâ—elleth in Kent also and is a man of great wâ—lth and one time of my béeing at his house as I thank hiâ— I haue béen very many times There were two of his Tenaunts come to take new leases of their Farmes the landâ— béeing of equall rent value but yet the Farmers not equal in welth the one hauing béen blessed as it should seem abouâ— the other for the one of them was very welthie and vpheld hâ—s Tenament in very good repaire offered the Lord at the â—irst woord forty pound for a fine for one and twenty yéers The other was poore and yet his tenament in decay neâ—ther was hée able to giue fiue pounds for a fine wherof the Landlord hauing challenged him and warning him to look to it therafter willed the other to lay down his forty pounds which hée did without delay The Gentleman when hée had counted it put it into a bagge and fréely gaue it vnto the poor man with these woords one of you beare an others burdâ—n wherwith the other was so farr from béeing ill content that hée humbly praised God and gaue the Gentleman right hartie thanks therfore and so he sent them away bothe very well contented Since which time I héer of the poore man that hée is growen to great welth and of such benignitiâ— and hospitalitie as are not many Owners or Landlords dwelling néer him Thus quoth our Hoste I haue confirmed my first Assertion and haue sufficiently auoyded your reasons and examples alleadged in disproof of the same and these haue I doon by Example and demonstrations dothe moe in number then yours are and also more euident apt and propâ—r vnto the purpose That is not so Neighbour quoth pierce for admitting that your Examples were all or any of them true which for the moste parte I will not graunt yet are they perticuler and cannot make any generall Conclusion besides that you tender mée an issue vpon two affirmatiues which is against the grounds of law as I haue learned by mine owne experience déerly bought For I haue alleadged against you the penerall Corruption of liues and manners béeing the effect of libertie vnto excesse and dissolution which I also haue alleadged and prooued to be an effect of priuate desire to pouch to purchase and to wax rich from al which causes and effects conuertly my Argument is necessary and infallible and therfore béeing alleadged affirmatiuely it demaundeth a direct generall trauerse to the effects which effects béeing not disprooued the causes therof cannot be denied against all which matters you haue answered in the affirmatiue also alleadging the examples of some good men which whether they be true or not I doo not greatly force without a generall denyal of that which I haue alleadged although that for euery example alleadged you had brought fiftéen and so is my first Assertion maintained and standeth fast and yours vtterly disprooued The Conclusion of the Conference and the preparation to the Questions beeing the second Book Chap. 21. BY this time it was waxeÌ„ euen dark night and our Hoast speaking vnto Pierce said vnto him Neighbour Pierce quoth hée wée haue reasoned so very long to and fro that the night is stolen vpon vs and the purpose of your comming hither vtterly forgoten through our earnest disputation in these matters Truely Neighbour ê™ Pierce I cannot think this time ill spent I would I had neuer spent time wursse if it had pleased God and therfore quoth he if it please you â—o lend mée this v.l. I will be gon home for I knowe the way at midnight Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste your v.l. is redy and ye shall haue it with you but not to nighâ— for hence shal ye not departe before to morowe God willing and namely for this strangers sake whome I wil desire yoâ— to accompany for this night for in his Cuntry I haue reâ—eiued many folde humanitie as partly ye haue heard and therfore I gladly would doo him some héere to my power and therfore this night or a conuenient part therof wée will inâ—euour our selues to spend together in honest mirth and exercises And therwithall I spake and geuing our Hoste harty â—hanks desired Pierce that it might so be Who at my requeâ—t did soone condiscend and was very wel contented therwithâ—ll Then quoth I séeing that we haue so wel speâ—t the fore part of the night wherin I my self haue doon nothing but harkened let vs agrée vpon some meane to passe the time with all after supper vntil bed time no wursse then we haue doon the time before Now verily Gentleman quoth our Hoste and that is very well spoken I be shrewe him that disagreeeth therunto if it be my self Amen quoth Pierce Plowman if it â—e I. Very well then quoth I this is my order if it may please you After Supper euery man shall put his question and â—el his tale in order by course wherunto eche of the others shall speak to wit vnto the question shall giue an answere of â—issolution of the saying and vnto the tale shall shew their good or il likeing and hée that telleth the best and wisest tale to wit of highest and best sentence and putteth the sharpest and â—isest question moste tending to vertue and edifying of the â—earers or giues the wisest and best solution hée shall haue his breakfast héer to morrow at the charges of the other twain Content withall my hart quoth our Hoste Content quâ—th Pierce Plowman But to whose Iudgement shal we stand héerin ê™ hée Truely ê™ I euen to the â—oome of our Hostesse fit please her to take it vpon her wherupon shée béeing calleâ— very wilingly vndertook it so was the matter fully agréeâ—d and on hands giuen there vpon And then was the fable couered for supper our Hoste hauing him sell first giueÌ„ thanks to God to supper wée went where wée fared right wel were mery and when wée had supped the Cloth béeing remooued and thanks likewise giuen After wée had sitten stil and reposed our selues a little while â— my self began as followeth The end of the first Book The Second Book declaring the Questions and Answers between the Author the Hoste and Pierce Plowman 1 THe
affection vnto your Lordship which hath been somewhat hard for me to doo for the cause abooue remembred And therfore hauing gathered this little conference I â—ade bold to dedicate it vnto my good Lord. A thing meeter to bâ— my gift then woorthy to be presented vnto your Honor or to go further vnder the name of such a Patron Howbeit my trust is â—hat your Lordship of your accustomed clemency will accept a simple thing of him at whose hands nothing at al was looked for and will alowe my good will towards the reparation of such faults and Imperfections as are heerin So praying God to blesse your Lordship and prâ—sper you From London the twentie six of Nouember 1579. Your Lordships in all humillitie T. F. ¶ TO THE GODLY and Gentle Reader THou hast heer Godly and gentle Reader the Conference betwéen Sim Certain and Pierce Plowman two great Clarkes as thou maist vnderstand by their Discourse which I haue gathered and reported as faithfully and as truely as my simple memory could retaine the same and that with some trauaile which I occounted my dutie First vnto them and others by them héerin mentioned And secondly vnto all and euery good man and woman whose mindes and harts God may sturre vp vnto Godlynes and Vertue by their good ensample Namely all such as are Fathers and Maisters of housholdes but chéefly and principally of common Innes and Tauerns whose good or euill example spreadeth far and wide and I feare in these our daies rather in corruption of life and maners then in edifiyng or increase of Vertue and Godlynes according to the saying of Iesus of Sirach that it is as hard for a Merchant to be no lyar and for a Tauerner or Inholder to be no drunkerd which thing although hée hath said to be very hard yet for the Inholder that his rule admitteth exception thou maist héer finde with out traueling to Rippon in Yorkshire to learne and so for a grote or sixpence thou maist know that which cost mée aboue fiue markes to learne besides my trauail and time spent which yet if it please thée to accept I shal account right wel bestowed which God graunt and that in all thy Iourneis thy head ake not before thou alight in such an Hostry Farwel Aut bibe aut abi The Printer to the Reader GENTLE READER IF THOV finde any Imperfection in this woork either for the matter in substance or els for the deuision the maner and forme therof I trust thou wilt alow a râ—asonable excuse aswel vnto the Author as vnto mâ—e betwen whome thy blame is otherwise to be deuided Thou knowest that to write and reporte a thing at the mouth of the Speaker asketh a nimble haâ—d and a great memory if a man had his Tooles ready for the purpose which yet this Author had not ready for nothing so like as any such matter and therfore was forced to put his braine-pan in trust withall and to write it in his way homeward In dooing wherof his care was greater to couch the matter truely in substance then to parte or to deuide or otherwise to digest the same Which he referred vnto mee and which also I haue doon as the shortnes of the time gaue me leaue Both which excuses if it please thee to admit thou maist in time to come receiue it in more perfection aswel for his part beeing the matter in substance wherof I dout not much hath escaped him and also for the diuision beeing mine Farwell W. M. in Commendation of the Author LEauing at large the Brunts of brinish flood The pitched Feelds and fables finely pend This Author heer to doo his Cuntry good One woork of woorth his time toile dooth spend The busie Brain with cankred Enuie fraught That sues and striues for sturring of a straw May read heerin his lesson largely taught And by the same descrie him selfe a Daw. The Counsailer the spokesman and the rest Who simple soules to needlesse lawing eg May learne heerby such dealings to defame As driue poor men their bread with teares to beg The prating Sot whose peremptory speech Is brayed foorth all Lawyers to defame Not far from hence may finde a cunning Leech To charme his tung and shroud it in with shame But in few woords my meaning to imparte If you demaund what mine opinion is Hee hath doon wel Gods blessing on his hart Who send me store of Books so good as this Coelum non Solum W. M. Anthony Munday to all curteous and freendly Readers in commendation of this Woork AS Tully did of vertuous life define And Ouid paint the odde conceits of looue And Maro squared in a direct line The hard assaults that valiant harts did proue In bloody Battails for their fames behoue As fliering Fortune should them chaunce to pâ—y In vaunting verse as Maro tells the way But leauing now at large such fond delights Such Fables fond as pratling Poets vse This Author heer presenteth to your sights Such tales of trueth as may you force to muse To iudge aright the crime of eche abuse As heer twixt Sim and Pierce he dooth compâ—und Such wise conceits as seldome hath been fouâ—d When you haue read Iudge then the Authors pains His tedious toyle in wishing well to thee Thy freendly thanks he craues no other gaineâ— Which vnto him more welcome sure shall bâ—e Then riches store if thou couldst giue it free Wherfore my Freends doo this at my request To heare and see and alway say the best Honos alit Artes. A. M. * Thomas Procter in reporte of the Authors good wil. AMong the woorthy woorks whith learned Tully pend The care of Cuntrie and of Freends he greatly dooth commend ¶ Which lesson in my minde the Man which took in hand To pen this pleasant History did perfect vnderstand ¶ For in the same he showes a looue vnto his Frends Beside a zealous minde of good that to his Cuntrie tends ¶ Of Louers liues of Warres ne yet of Wunders great Hee seemes to publish vnto vs but simply dooth intreat ¶ Of silly Men whose proof dooth such experience giue As for Examples of our liues learnes eche estate to liue ¶ Wherin the Author sought such meanes to publish it As in my simple Iudgement sure might seem to prooue his wit ¶ But for the careful paines which he hath spent heerin Hee only craues for recompence your fauours good to win ¶ wherby you may him mooue to vtter his good wil when as occasion shall him serue in woorks of greater skil Nil Melius Arte. T. P. ✿ Iohn Peeterhouse to the Reporter of this Historie THou that hast reported this pleasant History Wherof thine eyes and eares are a witnâ—sse And hast intreasured the memory Of Pierce and Simon for their woorthines Withouten hope of hire or recompeâ—ce For thy long Iourney or for thy disâ—ence ¶ Thou hast acquit thy dutie vnto them In this behalf and if I gesse aright Thou hast deserued well of other men
doo vpon eche other which thing you haue already confessed to be gréeuous and vnpleasant to euery good man Therfore hath it euer béen and yet is thought and that very wisely and truely that the likeliest way meane to disswade their wilfulnes which no reason looue nor feare of GOD could disswade was to make their wilfulnes as déere and as heauy vnto them as reasonably might be doon to the â—nd that they should not so lightly and for euery trifle vex and trouble both the Magistrate one an other which effect although it failed to woork that their madnes would not be resâ—rayned therby that yet their vngodlynes might return to the profit and reléefe of others their neighbours Brethern that were better affected so by one selfe and same mean the â—ngodly punished fléeced and the godly amended inriched herby that this was their meaning that was the first assessors therof common experience teacheth vs for in néedfull and necessary actions as debt detinew and account and such like the charges are so reasonable as that no man would in conscience giue lesse The reason is for that they are actions of common right and such as must néeds day by day arise betwéen a man and his Brother neither doo they dishonest either of the â—arties which I dare not affirme vpon actions vpon cases neither did they so iudge of them as I verily beléeue and therfore did they set double and treble charges thereupon for greater is the charges in a brabble for a woord spoken then fâ—r thrée hundred pound of honest debt So that the Magistrate who for such Ale-house â—ctions and brabbles should otherwise neuer be at rest except he should deny them his help which might be slaunderâ—us and perillous to the whole estate The Magistrate I say of pure pittie and compassiâ—n was forced to set great charges vpon them for the small fauour that he bare vnto them vnto their first causes occasions The greatnes of all which charges not withstandâ—ng yet doo we dayly sée how the vngodly run togither by heaâ—s like brute beasts and yet I dare safely say that by the greatnes of these charges and the terrour therof many a brabling matter hath béen and is dayly put vp without any râ—uenge sought therof and many a one hauing pursued and â—ecouered in his action yet haue his charges so gallded him that he hath béen easier to deale with all his life after And so by this meane many a wilfull body brought to knowe him self and to honor God therby I cannot tell Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce but I my self haue had two or thrée brabbles that haue kept me dooing these seuen yéeres in which time I am suer I haue spent abooue fiftie pound beside my charges to and fro losse of time and my hinderance at home And what haue ye gotten for all this quoth our Hoste These papers quoth he Wel woorth fiftie points quoth our hoste I think verily quoth our Hoste if any honest Neighbour had néeded to haue borowed ten pound therof you would not haue it so ready to haue pleasured him withall If I should say truely quoth Pierce I think the very same What are you assessed vnto the poore in your Parish quoth our Hoste A peny a wéek quoth Pierce And think you that enough quoth our Hoste Yea verily quoth Pierce Loe Sir quoth our Hoste whether commeth this vnto my saying and maintenaunce of these great Fées and charges or not Who can deny the excellency of this institution wherby the Couetuous and vngodly men are shot one against an other and doo punish eche other and wherby also so plentiful prouision is made for the godly poore at their charges and yet no thank to them therfore and that those things from the which they would depart vnto any Honest or godly vse or purpose with as good will as from their eyes to be plucked out of their heads or their tripes out of their bellyes by this meane vndesired of their owne accord they bring it in by handfuls and so as it hath béen said plentiful prouision made for their godly Neighbours at their charges and yet no thank vnto them therfore Call you this a prouiding for the poore Neighbour quoth Pierce I would I had giuen you the best horse in my Plough to make this saying true and I sweare to you quoth he prooue it true and you shall haue him yet or this day Seuen night for that would ease my hart if I might perceiue that any godly person hath fared the better or were amended by any parte of all my great expences For then yet should I think that I haue doone some good with all the losse of my money Why Neighbour Pierce quoth Simon doo you doubt that all these summes or the greatest part therof commeth not to the vse of the common wealth and to the reliefe and sustenance of the godly poore and other easements of common things in maintenaunce of the common Wealtâ— Nay Neighbour Simon quoth he I doubt it not for I am fully perswaded the contrary Truely Neighbour Pierce quoth he this is an vncharitable and a very erronious opâ—inion and that I will proue vnto you by reasons manifest â—nd apparant and such as your self haue alredy graunted câ—nfessed I pray you neighbour Simon quoth Pierce let me heaâ—e how ¶ Simon approoueth these fees and charges as publiâ—ue and not priuat by argument taken from effects vnto theiâ— causes Chap. 5. WHosoeuer he be that Coueteth priuately to gaine and profit by any thing quoth our Hoste coueteth the thing wherby he gayneth and profiteth this is so true quoth he that I will not desire you to graunt t vnto me for it is a necessary argument from the effect vnto the cause and therfore if ye wil affirm â—hat the Magistrate and officer coueteth these great fées and â—harges and priuately to thriue and wax rich therby you musâ— necessarily conclude that he fauoureth all the first meaâ— causes therof which were a horrible a fearfull conclusion â— yet as I haue said followeth necessarily vpon the premises gâ—aunted therfore is couetise so much more odious detestaâ—le in a Magistrate then in a common person for couetise as he excéedeth all other vices simply considered euen so respectiâ—ely he excéedeth him self I say respectiuely to wit qualifieâ— by the person in whome he dwelleth for in a priuat person he is but a priuat sin extendeth vnto his M. only but in a Magistrate he is a publique and general corruptioÌ„ of al the people for ther 's no couetoê° person béeing but a priuate man or womaÌ„ that wisheth any other to be such as they theÌ„ selues are the reâ—son is for that the Couetise of others is nothing whereby they should gayne or be aduaunced but rather lose therby Therfore could they be content that there were few or no others such as they are wherby it apéereth that couetise in a priuate Person neither
they dissalow their owne Acts and be contrary vnto theâ—selues which were inconuenient Then wée demaundeâ— of him why for the first Viall that was broken the Maister should not bring the action against the Dauncer who in â—ery déed was the breaker therof and not the other man His answere therunto was that in very déed wée were both Trâ—spassers vnto him alike he at his libertie election to take his remedy against vs both or against any of vs for quoth hée although the dauncer were the material cause yet was the other man that efficieÌ„t cause therof as for proof if a carter wilfully driu his â—art ouer a man woman or Childe bothe the Cart the Horses and the Carter are guiltie of the fact wherof the deaf man is not excuseable neither can plead not guiltie to the fact because hée was the first and chéef efficient cause therupon wée mooued vnto him this question why the Musitians them selues should not be said to be the first efficient cause séeing that without their noise the Dauncer would not so haue fared nor taken on neither the deaf man haue taken him for a madde man as bothe you and wée would haue doon if wée had béen in his case and had heard no more then hée heard Vnto that his answere was that whatsoeuer it séemed vnto him or vnto vs it is quoth hée at your peril and at all mens perils els that resorte and hauÌ„t to such places to put on all our Sences wits and vnderstandings and also to desire God to giue them wisdome and his grace to Iudge wisely wel to digest such things as they heare and sée therin and that wée be not snared in euil through ignorant appetite of our sences vnto our hinderaunces more then wée our selues are able of our selues to Iudge or think for saith hée séeing wée are not able neither is our authoritie to blame or chalenge the places neither to disalowe the things there professed which were to derogate from the Magistrate Yet if wée haue so much grace of God as to the Magistrates vnto our selues and in such cases to blame and reprooue our selues and our owne sences and inordinate desires either in due time before wée are fallen or els in some reasonable time and with our reasonable losse and hinderaunce it may suffice for answere vnto vs by them vnto whome otherwise wée must créep and pray our redresse neither able to craue it at their hands without an inconuenience aforesaid which is condemne and disalowe the things by them selues allowed and established Wée asked him what reason there was that wée should be charged in seuerall actions and vnto seuerall persons for one trespasse as namely vnto the Maister and also to the seruants His answere therunto was that the Maister hath a speciall interest in his seruant for the proffit hée is to receiue by his seruice for which seruice hée is to recouer not for the hurt doon vnto the person for the partie him selfe recouereth for that To be short his resolution was that for all our harmes and losse that we had gotten wée were so farre from all hope of redresse or amends that wée were in the wâ—rsse case in our defence against theÌ„ very like to yéeld ameÌ„dâ— by iudgement of law And thus you sée quoth Pierce how po re guiltlesse simple men in a far honester cause are put to the wurser end Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast as for the be as bée may But truly Neighbour you had but euil succe se in going to sée pleasure and to heare Musick and yet trâ—st mée if yée wil I suppose that you sped a great deale better thâ—n a number spéed in such like places who think neuerthelâ—sse them selues to haue sped there wel and come away righâ— wel contented which in very déed is the only cause why iâ— my fantasie they spéed wurse then you for why you are huâ—t and féel it but they are hurt but haue no féeling therof vâ—til their hurt be past all cure for a man is neuer so daungeâ—ously sick or sore as when hée hath lost the sence and féeling oâ— the sore or of the sicknes So fareth it in such persons as these for although they féel no euil that they contract and yet in such places yet doo they carry thence with them the séeds and radical causes of great infortunes as the wofull and â—amentable end of many a good mans Childe hath witnessâ—d dayly dooth and wil. But truly Neighbour Pierce quoth oâ—r Hoast you are waxen more then half a Lawyer by these meanes Nay soft quoth Pierce I haue an other matter to tel you and that almoste as straunge as this and that chaunced to my selfe in a mischaunce about a foure yéers past I pray yée let vs heare it quoth our Hoast mary quoth Pierce thus it hapned A fréend of mine would néeds giue mée my dinner at an Ordinary table where wée fared very daiâ—tely but I promise you for mine owne parte I haue though my self better at ease many a time oft with bread chéese in other Company So Sir in the name of God when diâ—ner was doon in stéed of grace to the dice they went on euery side vpon proper square tables fit I warraÌ„t you for the purpoâ—â— there to the hazard they go xx sÌ„ xl sÌ„ v. l. vi l. a cast I stood by and beheld Anon there came a straunger a plain homely fellowe of the Cuntrye much like my self and hée séeing such summes of money vpon the boord the dice trotting to and fro and that now one snatched a heap and now an other snatched and heap and therwithall such deuout swearing he came to mée and rounding me in the eare asked me whose weare all those heaps of money that were laid foorth mary quoth I his that can get them get them quoth hée how Marry quoth I by hazard say you so quoth hée claime they no farther propertie in their money but by hazard whether themselues shall haue their money or an other man no verily quoth I What are those white things ful of black spots that are so chased to and fro Those quoth I are called dice vpon whome standeth the hazard and therwithal my Fréend and I hauing dined and dispatched went our way foorth toward the Temple and before we had gon so farre as a man might shoot a Bird bolte there arose an outcry behinde vs stop the théef stop the théef and therwithall I looked behinde mée and loe the fellowe of whome I tolde you came running with both his hands ful of money and after him ran the ruler of the Ordinary and thrée or foure of his seruants as fast as euer they could run with hue and cry we turned not back neither made vs to doo therin So they followed him vntil they came as farre as Saint Dunstones Church and there the fellowe being out of breath turned again and catching the Maister of the dicing house in his armes cryed I
haue him I haue him this is the théef quoth hée Now was the throng so great that a man could not know which was which vntil at the last the Officers came and took them bothe and knowing the Maister of the dicing house asked him what the matter was Mary quoth hée this Villain Théef hath robbed diuers Men of Woorship my Guests of great summes of money and I haue followed him for he fled vpon the fellony And there hée had spied mée in the Company bad theÌ„ lay hold vpon me for this knaue quoth he gaue him the couÌ„cel is as false a théef as hée There was no more to say I was laid hold vpon apprehended and bothe hée and I caried before a Iusticer of peace the fellow and I my fréend would not leaue mée but went with mée to sée and heare the end So sir when wée were come before the Iusticer hée laid sore to the Fellowes charge that hée had broken his house forciblie and burglarlie and had felloniously robbed foure Gentlemen of woâ—rship his Guests of diuers summes of money feloniously anâ— against the Quéens lawes and peace Sirra quoth the Iusâ—ice what saist thou to this Sir quoth the fellowe I beseech yâ—u to staÌ„d my good Fréend and Maister and let mée haue but law reason at your hands I trust it appéereth vnto your â—iscretion quoth hée that this matter alleadged against mée â—s not sufficient to put me to answere therunto First for the forcible entrie into his house and burglarye supposed I say his house was open and dayly is and to long hath béen and vnto to many if it pleased God and the Maiestrates such as your Woorship is for I vndertake hée that hath any thiâ—g to lose and cast away néed neither break doore nor walle tâ— leaue it behinde him there and so much for my answere vnto that part As to the money supposed to be stolne hée declareth no certaintie therof neither conueieth to him self any property therin and so no fellony of the thing wherto no man â—laimeth propertie very true it is quoth hée that I came into his house and séeing a company standing about a square Table diuers great heaps of money laid foorth therupoÌ„ I asked this honest man that was a stander by meaning mée what was ment thereby and also by two white square things full of black spots that were chased to and fro vpon the bâ—â—rd hée answered mée that they were playing at the dice â—â—r that is quoth he the name of those square bones and said farther that the name of their game was hazard When I hâ—d heard him say so I considered with my self that there migâ—t be good to be doon for me among them for hauing wel marâ—ed their order I found them the moste indifferent People tâ— gain by that euer I met withall in my life for I perceiued that hée that laid the money downe the rest meant that hâ—e should neuer take it vp again and for his parte hée meâ—t aswell vnto them and that all this stood in the fauour of hazâ—rd and so often time it chaunced accordingly to wit that thâ— box béeing the third person caught a share and by no other â—or better title then mée thought my self to haue for me thougâ—t I was as indifferent to euery of them as was the box or as any of them was to other for I verily thought and yet doo that if neither of them euer fingered that laid down either had his desire against other moreouer quoth hée when I beheld such lewd and shameful mispending of the time such horrible swearing and blaspheming knew not where neither vnto whoÌ„e to complain for reformation therof and thought in conscience I ought not to suffer it as far foorth as it were in my might I saw no way so likely to redresse it as to take away the cause which I perceiued was the money I thought that both by law and good conscience I might doo it and ought also and in this deliberation I awaighted my time snatched vp al that I could lay holde vpon and came my way wherupon I pray your discretion and whether this be fellony wherin there is title or at the least cullour of title A Sirra quoth the Iusticer you are acuÌ„ning théef indéed it is time to look to such knaues as you are Sir quoth the poor fellowe I beséech you be good to me I am a poore man and I trust sauing against them that lost the money the money is mine against all men and as vnto them when they demaund me let me answere And as touching that honest man quoth heby me I neuer delt with him nor neuer saw him before to be short the Fellowe was committed to Newgate and I was fain to finde surety by recognisaunce to appéer at the next sessions there to make answere to such matter as should then and there be laid to my charge and that cost me fiue shillings and this was all that I got by hauing my dinner giuen mée And what said your Lawyer to you for this said our Hoast what comfort dooth he giue you of a mendes against the partie that thus misused you truely quoth Pierce hée vtterly discourageth mée to stur or meddle farther therin and all vpon the same reasons that hée made before or els the very like in effect Truely Neighbour quoth our Hoast that Lawyer was no Counceller neither for your purpose and much lesse for his owne Why so Neighbour quoth Pierce marry quoth our Hoast for there is no courage in him neither hath he that way to help him self to kéep you in dooing in that he giueth such couÌ„sel to peace and quietnes vnto such fellowes as you that would gladly cut him out woork if hmself were not â—is owne hinderaÌ„ce Nay surely Neighbour ê™ Pierce whaâ— counsel soeuer he had geuen me therin or what counsel he or any other of them all shall héerafter giue me in such matters I am taught alredy though to my cost while I liue to loue peace ensue it to looue mine owne house my honest labâ—ur trauel and chéefly aboue all other things to serue Goâ— wherin I finde the only stay and comfort of mans life to resâ— that when all is sought and tried there is none other â—â—le ne leuel wel and surely to guid and order our affairs anâ— dooings The application of Pierces tale by the Hoste tha the great charges of the Law is profitable to the commonwelth and a repressing of vice and sinne Cap 13. AHa very wel said theÌ„ quoth our Hoste I am glad that yet at the last ye are coÌ„e to yeâ—oiÌ„t wherunto I haue al this while laboured to briÌ„g you which is to coÌ„fesse that these great and excessiue charges expences haue reformed â— changed you from an vngodly and troublesâ—me man to a Godly wise and prudent man able to giue coâ—nsell not only priuatly and to your owne fréends and famely but also to
beare office and authoritie in your Parrish yée iâ— the whole Shire where we both dwell so that I hope from hencefoorth we shall haue great store of you and that of the greatnes of such fées and charges of sutes in Law and of the fiâ—st Assessors and the now receiuers therof ye are vtterly coâ—cluded estopped to speak or think saue in all honor reueâ—ence Doo you think so Neighbour quoth he Yea verily quoth he for you haue confessed all this your reformatioÌ„ aâ—endment to haue commen thence and look what effect it hatâ— wrought in you ye are of charitie bound to think that it hath wrought woorketh wil woork in a number mo then you and the mony that you haue or rather think that haue departeâ— from is in their hands who are treasurers therof as I haue aleaged towards the good and godly vses intents purposes that may or shall arise héerafter in coÌ„mon benefit to wit serâ—ice of the whole common welth wherin your part is as farrâ— foorth as theirs Doo you call this a mending Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce In very déed quoth he I must néeds confesse that these great and excessiue Charges and large Expences haue rebuked me haue chasticed and amended me but to say that I think or iudge it thank woorthy vnto them that haue receiued my money I say the Deuil kisse his arsse that so amendeth me or any fréend of mine for verily such amending in my iudgement deserueth asmuch and the very like thanks as did the Wife who gaue her husband two strong poisons meaning to spéed him in déed but the poysons béeing of contrary natures wrought one vpon an other and destroyed either others force wherby the man béeing hardly handled for a season yet béeing driuen into a lask by their extremitie auoyded them bothe and with them much corruption so that where before he was a very corrupt body he was by their clensings the better xx yéers after Thus she did him good by accident but far from her intent or purpose and vtterly against her will And surely they that take so excessiuely of me and of others our money by that kinde of punishment amend and refourme vs I holde them woorthy as much thank therfore as was this Wife at her husbands hand for his amendment which was wrought by her meane For I dare safely vndertake that for our affliction and punishment or for the dishonour of God and other vngodlynes that dependeth therupon they are as sorowful as was the parish Clark of a Town that was sore visited with the Plague who said vnto his wife vpon a day Wife quoth he if there come two corpses to day we will haue a shoulder of Mutton and a quart of Sack to supper if there come but one wée will haue a shoulder of Mutton and but a pinte of Sack Content husband quoth she And verily I think that as hartely as this good man his Wife praied for their recouery that were visited so hartely pray these for peace quietnes and the honor and seruice of God and the Godly charitable dealing and liuing of their Neighbours and Bretheren Pierce prooueth that the sufferaunce of wickednes and vngodlynes increaseth their gaine who are and should be therebukers and punishers therof and that to be the cause of great in iustice and vnrighteousnes Cap. 14. NEighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste I pray you let me further vnderstand wâ—at yée doo meane by this history for it should séem that ye haue alleadged it against mee not with standing that it maketh for me by â—he wunderfull effect which you your self â—re forced to confesse that it hath wrought vpon you I knâ—we what I haue confessed Neighbour quoth Pierce and also in what maner I haue confessed it far enough from your â—urpose or any confirmation therof And where in maintenanâ—e of these great fées and reuenues you haue alleaged that theâ— are publique and also how many and how good godly are the'ffects and fruits therof without proof made of them or oâ— any one of them either by your owne experience or by othâ—r necessary demonstration There in proof of the contrary tâ— wit that they are proper and priuate and therfore excessiuâ— and vnreasonable which is my assertion I haue brought you this proffe of mine owne experience wherby I haue sâ—fficiently shewed that the first causes of all these great gaineâ— and profits are prosecuted as I haue affirmed and not perâ—ecuted as you pretend For I haue partely shewed you héer what leaue and libertie the common people namely youth haue to follow their own lust and desire in all wantonnes and dâ—ssolution of life For further proof wherof I call to witnesse â—he Theaters Curtines Heauing houses Rifling boothes Bowling alleyes and such places where the time is so sâ—amefully mispent namely the Sabaoth daies vnto the great â—ishonor of God and the corruption and vtter distruction of youth All which I say are either the causes or the effecâ—s of these great gaines and reuenues or els both causes aâ—d effects interchaungeably For I dare vndertake that if eitâ—er these gains and profits were publique as you pretend or els if there were as great gain and proffit to the Maiestâ—ates and Officers in the godly liues and honest conuersation of the common people as there is in the contrary these haâ—bours of vngodlines misnurture would haue lesse fauour and maintenaunce then they haue and godlines Sobrietie and modestie of liues maners would be in greater estimation then they are and the honor and glory of God more aduaunced therby But alas that the honor and glory of God and the vaine glory pompe and maiestie of man cannot stand together and that one of theÌ„ must néeds fall in the others exaltation for certainly the more libertie vnto wickednes sinne and the more falling from God through the same and the more humbly complainings vnto your good Lordships and vnto your good Woorships The more Recognances for the peace and good a bearing aswel by the Godly as by the vngodly the one inuading and the other defending the more praying paying waiting attending dowking crowding courtesing procuring of fréendship by meanes bribing of his flatterer bribing of her flatterer this driueth the great welth and abundance into few mens hands For where the vngodly through misgouerment is fallen into daunger of the Law what wil he not giue to redéem his life or his infamye yea euen vnto them who were the first causes and occasions of his fall into such folly and mischaunce through libertie and not restraint of the contempt of God his Lawes and seruice which he will not fayle to measure and fully to reward vnto all libertines contemners and despisers of his maiestie and will giuen them ouer into a reprobate minde from vice to vice vntil he hath fully brought him to naught So dangerous and fearfull a thing is libertie and not restraint of the beginning of euil which
although they appéer not such at the first yet when they are come to their ripenes and haue brought foorth their increase to wit Fellonyes Thefts Man slaughter Murder and such like there is not so ignorant a person that will not say the man or woman was neuer like to come to better end namely for his euil and dissolute life in the beginning This libertie is in the hands of Maiestrates and Officers to bid or to forbid euen after as they will prefer the honor and glory of God or els their owne welth pomp and vaine-glory And therfore how hartely were it to be desired at the hands of GOD that such as are Maiestrates and Officers should not be couetuoê° or els such as are couetoê° should not be Magistrates for héerof Iethro did warne Moyses in the xviij of Exodus talking with him concerning the election and choise of Maiestraâ—s and Officers and bad him chuse such as hated couatise and spake of no other vice The cause wheâ—of is apparant to wit least the wickednes and vngodlines of the people came to be valuable let and set rented and farâ—ed bought and solde for what other thing is valluing leâ—ting and setting renting buying and selling of offices whose value is more or lesse according to the state of the people and their dishonouring of God therby And where you maintâ—ine these great gains by their godly and woorthy effects the fâ—rst wherof you alleadge to be their great purchase of lordships lands and possessions and the effect therof you alleadge to be a prouision and patrimony for the good and godly the efâ—ect wherof yée say is the increase of them and the decrease of the contrary the effect wherof you say is godlines vnanimitie loue charetie and benignitie one towards an other And last of all the effect therof be the manifold graces and blessings of God promised by God in the Psalmes to the house town Cittie or Cuntry where these things are From the first cause to his effect I graunt your argument that these great gains are cause of great purchase but from the purchase to his effects yée shew not how it is but how it ought to be for instéed of the effects wherof you haue spoken I sée many gay houses â—ul of gay châ—â—â—is costly banqueting houses Galleries bowling Allâ—is strange toies of point deuise and woorkmanship but with in I finde no man dwelling saue pride who hath châ—sed theÌ„ce hospitalitie and charitie and as for other preferment that the godly haue at their hands in any of their purchases I sée not but euen who wil giue moste and can make mightâ—est freÌ„ds anâ— who those are in our daies the vngodly vnfaiâ—hfull and vncharitable dealing so vniuersally doo plainly declâ—re The people so euel giuen both yong and olde so vngodly in liuing so vnciuil yea so rude barbarous in manners wherin me thinketh they haue preuailed increased more more all after as these offices haue waxen more gainfull and the desire to haue them greater And therfore your distinction betwéen their purchase and the merchant chapman and â—ther toÌ„â—â—â— persons what soeuer sauing his probabilitie vain and rediculous to the purpose Therfore Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce your reasons are weak to maintain the greatnes of their fées vnable Abide Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoaste giue me leaue to answere vnto these matters first because that in very déed probable reason giueth place to necessary proof demonstration wherin â—e suppose that ye haue you beyond me because the against my bâ—â—e naked reasons as you terme them ye haue alleadged authoritie and that of your owne experience I wil answere you with the like and that of mine owne experience also and more direct vnto my matter then any of yours which are indéed indirect and stand in different and I wil proâ—â— that the Magistrate and Officer in the beginning was and yet is such aâ— I haue aleadged and also the first assessing of the said fées and reuenues and their great vtillitie and necessitie namely for the vses intents and purposes aforesaid For proof wherof I wil rehearse vnto you a matter which I my self did bothe heare and sée The Hoste maintaineth the contrary and for disproofe therof and for the proofe of his assertion alleadgeth the purchase of a certain welthie Officer towards the Law Chap. 15. ABout two yeeres agon it was mâ— fortune to be beyond London in Kent at the house of a worshipfull Officer towards the Law who not pâ—st a Moneth before my comming thither had purchased a Lordship wherin were diuers good formeâ— and their leases too expire at Micheâ—â—as thâ—n to come twelue Moneths It came to passe one day of my béeing there thither came a rich man dwelling not farre thence whose sute was to this Gentleman to take one of his said Farmes in â—euertion and comming to him thus he began Sir quoth he I vnderstand ye haue bought suâ—h a Lordship God â—â—ne ye joy thereof Very true it is quoth hée Sir ê™ this rich man I pâ—ay you let me be your tenaunt of such a Farm geuing more then any other man wil giue for a fine The rent of the Farm was v. l. What will ye giue me for a lease for xxj yéeres quoth this Gentleman Sir quoth he I wil giue ye an C.l. and vnto our Mistresse a Veluet gown and xx Angels to buy hâ—r pines be sides You haue bidden like a Chapman said the Gentleman giue me leaue to be aduised vnto Munday next said he and then I shall giue you an answere héerin so causing him to tary dinner he let him departe and this was vpon a Thursday The next day béeing Friday this Gentleman sent for the Farmer of the same péece of land who came thither and with him thrée hansome yong men his sonnes So when he was by the Landlords commaundement brought beforâ— him hée asked him of what age he was He answered lxxv yéeres He asked him how long he had dwelled in that Farm He answered that he had dwelt there all his life for he was â—orne in it and his father before him You know quoth the Gentleman that I am now become your Landlord I knowe iâ— very wel quoth he and I beséech you of your fauour What will you giue for a new lease of xxi yéeres quoth the Gentleman for you knowe your olde lease is néer an end Sir quoth the poore man let me giue you reason only that I may be â—ble to doo my Prince and your woorship seruice to reléeue my poore neighbours as hetherto I haue doone and haue beâ—n well able Very wel quoth the Gentleman be héer again vpon Munday next and then ye shall vnderstand more The poore man his duty doon departed The next Munday beeing munday next before Bartholmew day the poore man was come again and brought with him a couple of fat Capons about an houre or twaine after came this Churle very wel mounted his Gelding not déere of