and as I dout not héerafter I shall prooue vnto you so directly and so euidently that you shall either confesse your owne prooues fallible and falls orels you must and shal say that causes produce no effects orels clean contrary effects which is to reuerse and to ouerthrow 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 alleadge bothe reason as strong as you haue alleaged any and also myne owne experience which I my self haue déerly bought and paid for I pray you Neighbour let mée hear that quoth our Hoast Pierce Plovvmans first tale for that purpose vvhere hee sbevveth hovv his Neighbour and hee vvent to the Tauern and to the dauÌ„cing Schoole and vvhat hapned there Cha. 11. AT my béeing in London this last terme quoth Pierce it fortuned one after noone hauing little or nothing to doo as God knoweth what Idlenes and vngodlynes commeth of our idle wayting and attending vpon our dayes of hearing as they tearm them when in the mean time wée run vp and down in the stréets and if happily wée méet with any Fréend or acquantaunce 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 foorth again So as I was about to tel you one day amongst all others wee met a company of Neighbours and Fréends togither in Poules six in number all Cuntrie men and Neighbours saue one that was a Londoner a Neighbour borne of ours who was our Leader to many a good place dout you not so on Gods name néeds wée must to the Tauern and so wée went to the Tauern there fast by wherby that time wée caÌ„e foorth again our heds were better laden with heare then with Wit so on Gods name when our heds were wel fraughted wée must néeds go to see some pleasures of the Cittie that were straunge and noueltie vnto vs of the Cuntrie and so on Gods name wée went into a dauncing Schoole not very far thence now was there one man of our Company that was as deaf as a doore naile ¶ When wée weare come into the Schoole the Musitions were playing and one dauncing of a Galiard and euen at our entring hée was beginning a trick as I remember of sixtéens or seuentéens I doo not very wel remeÌ„ber but wunderfully hée leaped flung and took on which the deaf man beholding and not hearing any noyse of the Musick thought verily that hée had béen stark mad and out of his wit and of pure pittie and compassion ran to him and caught him in his armes and held him hard and fast The Dauncer not knowing his good meaning and taking it to the wurst and hauing a Dagger drew it out and smot the man a great blowe vpon the hed and brake his hed very sore The man sore mooued and gréeued therwithall and béeing a man of great strength threw him from him with all his strength among the MusitioÌ„s and bée lighting vpon one of the greatest and fairest Vialles brake it all in péeces Therwithall vp start the Musitions for him and wée for to help the other béeing our Fréends and Neighbours and then went out Daggers vp went Pantotles all the rest of the Instruments in the the throng wâ—re all to trodden and broken and but that Neighbours hearing the noise bustling came in and parted vs surely some of vs had béen in grea daunger to haue béen slain I lost my Cloke and had my hed broken and so had thrée of my Neighbours moe and hardly the Musitions and their part takers went not scotfrée But shortly to end come to my purpose you shall heare what followed First and formoste wée were all arrested and committed to Prison for a fraie and bloodshed where I think you may make no question if it cost vs any thing before wée gat out again But hauing paid our Fées there and thinking verily that the wurst had béen past euen at our comming foorth from thence wée were all newly arrested by latitates and remained vntil wée had put in Suretiee to appéere at the day of the return of the writ in the Kingsbench So wée laid our purses togither and went to a woorshipful and learned Lawyer that had béen of our councel aforetime and shewed him the declarations that were against vs wherof the first was at the sute of the Owner of the scoole wherin hée alleadged that with force and armes wée had entred into his house and beaten wounded and euil intreated his Seruants by reasoÌ„ wherof hée had lost their seruice by the space of right dayes to his hinderaunce and damage sixpound and also then and there thrée Instruments of Musick commonly called Vialls did spoile and break to his losse and hinderaunce sixpound Besides this euery of his Seruants the parties theÌ„selues seuearlly declared against vs all iointly of an assault and battery made vpon them and that wée had beaten wounded euil intreated them to their seuerall damages fortipence the Dauncer himself declared seuerally against the deaf man for assaults and battery vpon all which matters wée prayed his councel and aduise his answere was shortly the in his opinion the law was against vs in all euery of our cases wherof hée gaue vs the causes reasoÌ„s as I shall reherse vnto you To the first point of the first delaration for forcible entrye wée praied his reason how or by what reason our entrie might be said forciblo séeing the doores were open and if they had béen shut our coÌ„ming in was but to hear sée our meaning not hurtful to any man His answere therunto was that a mans meaning that commeth into my house shal be coÌ„strued and taken to haue béen such from the beginning as is his act there doon after he is entred for the shal be taken for his meaning the declaratioÌ„ therof namely where hée entreth without speciall coÌ„maundemeÌ„t or liceÌ„ce of the party because saith hée that after your entry into y house yée did there coÌ„mit a force an vnlawful act therfore your first entry comming into the house shal be déemed iudged vnlawful forcible Then wée asked how or by what reason our act could be said vnlawful which was but y taking of a man in his armeâ— of very goodwill to stay him thinking that he had béen mad out of his wit and might haue mischeiued him self His aunswers therunto was that therin the act was not lawful nor iusticiable but a Trespassers although no farther harme had ensued therupon which yet by your confession there did for to speak generally it is not lawful to imbrace or strain any man against his wil for if him list to take
gain and very wisely handled so that when hée hath any thing to let or set vp goeth the Drum as welcome to him the Deuil of hel yea Belzabub him self as the Godlyest person in England yea as an Aungel of heauen for godlynes vertue or honestie is the last question that hée wil aske onely Quid vultis mihi dare Thus is the godly person sure to be put back orels to take the thing to his vtter detriment so that vpon the matter no question or difference whither of them spéed for the euil man is made a great deale wurse namely for that the greatnes of his rent stoppeth the mouth of him whose rebuke hée should moste feare whome hée would and should moste reuerence and regarde and therfore wil hée be as wicked and as vngratious and corrupt as many others as hée can and dare for feare of the lawes The godly person although hée gladly would doo good yet wanteth hée power therto being ouer set with the greatnes of his rēt so that in conclusion whether the good or euil may spéed they are forced to deale hardly with the world wherby aryseth little or no amitie fréendship or charitable looue among men but euen all for the peny as among meer Straungers nor any zeale vnto God nor to doo any good for his sake By all these Arguments it appéereth manifestly how much it were to be wished and desired at the hands of Almightie God that only or chéefly such were purchasers Land lords whose very estates and callings and the manner of the getting of their gains wherwith they purchase doo charge them with a reuerend and fatherly regarde in letting and setting the same to the honor and glory of God who hath so mightily blessed them yea so far abooue all that they euer could with out shame haue wished or desired so heaping hot coles vpon their heds in their vnthankfulnes and dealing otherwise which as I haue alredy said is not or at the least not so greatly to bée hoped or looked for at their hands of bace and mean calling And therfore Neighbour Pierce quoth hée admitting and confessing the greatnes of their purchase yet can yée not conclude against mée the proper or priuate receit or imploying of Charges Fées reuenues aforesaid neither will I graunt it vnto you for the slaunderous and shamefull consequence which it inferreth necessaryly as hath already béen duly prooued Pierce repeteth the Reasons and Arguments of Simon and cōfuteth thē by proof and experience demōstratise as from the cause to the effect and that vpon his ovvne knovvledge Cha. 10. NEighbour Simon quoth Pierce yée haue made as your self dooth suppose many strong reasōs conclusiōs to aprooue the first asessing and the now receiuig 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 estate therof namely for that these Fées charges were ment and yet are the punishment of vice and the rewarde of godlynes vertne And also the they were yet are ment a publike treasure in the hands of the Receiuers therof to all godly vses intents and purposes Wherunto I answered alleadging the grrat purchase of Lands and Lordships by the Receiuers of the same as a thig 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 purchase 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 frute◠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 susteineth bothe before God and Men also the reuerend oppinion the wée are bound to haue of him Yée haue also alleadged that the first causes of all these great gains and proffits are such as of dutie hée 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 shāe thriue and wax rich much lesse the Magistrate and Officer vpon 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 orels how things ought to be But that they are so presently these are either no prooues at all or very small and so your argument gathered and concluded from posse to esse as I haue said already and as I wil further prooue by Arguments gathered from the cause vnto the effect and from the effect vnto the cause euen the very same that you haue alleadged tying them togither in the same maner and fourme as your self haue alleadged them First you say that the originall cause of these grreat gains Fées and reuenues was the hate that the first Assessors therof bare vnto vngodlynes wickednes and all kinde of vice the fauour and good affection which they bare vnto Vertue and godlynes and therin they ment the punishment of the one and the preferment and aduauncment of the other 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 proffits and reuenues yée haue alleadged or rather I my self haue alleadged and you haue confessed and iustified to be the great perquisition and purchase of Lordships lands and possessions by the Magistrates and Officers Receiuors of the same The effect of their great purchase is by you aleadged to be a prouision a stay of liuing and patrymony for the Godly and honest People of the common welth and for their assuraunce peace and quietnes The effect of so good a prouision for the Godly you haue alleadged to be the increase of 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 bothe towards God and also one to an other the effect wherof you haue alleadged to be the manifolde blessings of God according to the saying of the Prophet in the hundred thrée thirtie Psalme Thus haue you argued from the first causes producing their effects and from those effects as from causes of their effects very orderly and very probablie but not necessarilye as I haue alreadye alleadged
argument taken from effects vnto their causes Chap. 5. WHosoeuer he be that Coueteth priuately to gaine and profit by any thing quoth our Hoste coueteth the thing wherby he gayueth and profiteth this is so true quoth he that I will not desire you to graunt it vnto me for it is a necessary argument from the effect vnto the cause and therfore if ye will affirm that the Magistrate and officer coueteth these great fées and charges and priuately to thriue and wax rich therby you must necessarily conclude that he fauoureth all the first mean causes therof which were a horrible a fearfull conclusion yet as I haue said followeth necessarily vpon y premisses granted therfore is couetise so much more odious detestable in a Magistrate then in a common person for couetise as he excéedeth all other vices simply considered euen so respectiuely he excéedeth him self I say respectiuely to wit qualified by the person in whom he dwelleth for in a priuat person he is but a priuat sin exteÌ„deth vnto his M. only but in a Magistrate he is a publique geÌ„erall corruptioÌ„ of all y people for ther is no couetoê° person béeing but a priuat man or womaÌ„ y wisheth any other to be such as they theÌ„ selues are the reason 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 appéereth that couetise in a priuate Person neither woorketh nor wisheth any general corruption and yet fulfilleth the talent and habit of his subiect and so much the more The very same is to be said of all other vices in all other persons without exception of degrée as Whoordome Pride Gluttony Drunkennes and all other excesse in voluptuous plesure in all which things what soeuer hath or euer had the greatest felicitie and enioyd most therof yet would they not that others did the like or at the least no moe then they them selues must necessarily vse for for tha'ccomplishment of their pleasures which requireth some company The reason is already shewed to wit for y other Folkes pleasures are not their pleasures neither doo increase the same but rather their paines and misery For the hunger scarcitie and want of others giueth a good taste and sauour vnto the voluptuousnes and pleasures of y vngodly and therfore could they be very wel content to enioy their owne wickednes theÌ„ selues for pleasure haue they none nor gain in the lewdnes or the misgouernauÌ„ce of other And if they had yet want they power to corrupt others therby otherwise then by example which can not doo much in any one priuate man or woman for that they haue but the leading of their owne liues But of Couetise in the Magistrat it is otherwise for hée hath the leading and the fourming of other mens liues and therfore differeth from the coÌ„mon and priuat person bothe concerning his wil and also concerning his habititie and power to execute the same ¶ First concerning desire and will hée cannot wish that the common people should be godly and vertuous for neither standeth his great gain nor his Ambition therin for why they are two things incompatible and contrary Then concerning his power to execute his wil and desire it is so great and so mightie that the olde Proouers hath not douted to call the common People the Image of their Magistrates and officers for as certainly as this antecedent The man cateth and drinketh inferreth this consequent the man is a liue euen so certainly this proposition the Magistrates officers are couetous inferreth this coÌ„clusion The People are vngratious and vngodly The reason is peremptory for the Magistrate and Officer hath the Bridls rain in his hand either to giue libertie vnto vngodlynes and dissolution of life orels to refrain the same Now all men may dayly sée by proof that there is no wilde Beast so very brute and barbarous as man will wax and bée through libertie and that for the excellencie of his nature booue all other Creatures and his great vnderstanding in good and euil ¶ And therfore to admit in a Magistrate a couetise and a desire of priuate and proper gain Namely by fées and charges arysing and growing as is alredy confessed these were to conclude an odious and detestable Consequence against the Magistrate and Officer of whome wée are forbidden by God to speak or think saue all honor and reuerence ¶ Wherfore I say it standeth not with the reuerend and honourable opinion that wée are bound to haue of the Magistrate to say or to think that these great gains and fées doo return to him in priuate and proper vse but rather to Judge think that the Magistrate Officer receiueth them as thingâ— excommunicat and as a common Treasure dedicated vnto godly vses and purposes in ease and reléef of the whole common welth ¶ Would God this were true quoth Pierce for I dare lay my life quoth hée that if all the sums of money that are leudly and shamefully spent in one Terme about vain sutes and brabbles were reserued and accounted in the end of y Term they would amount to more then all the Collection for the Poore through out all the parishes in England for half a yéer neuerthelesse many a one thinketh him self sore charged namely my self God forgiue mée Truely Neighbour quoth our Hoast I am of no other Opinion neither doo I Judge that all these great Fées and Reuenues are any other thing but a Collection for the purposes and intents aforesaid neither that the Receiuers of y same doo differ from those other Collectors in Parish Churchâ— sauing in the greatnes of their receit and also sauing that they are not forced to craue it at the parties hands and some time to conuent him before a Iustiâ—er of peace for a grote or six pence as the others oft times are And also sauing that for their reuerend and honorable estemation they are not accouÌ„table Sauing vnto the Lord God the Author generall and vnto their owne Consciences Pierce denyeth the reasons alleaged as probable but not necessary his reasons therfore Cap. 6. NEighbour Simon quoth Pierce you haue alleaged many fair and coulorable propositioÌ„s and conclusions and haue gon about mée with this reason and with that I am no Schoole man Neighbour quoth hée but yet some reason I haue and some experience I haue séen and some héed I haue taken thereof wherfore if you wil giue mée leaue to answere you you shal hear mée as probably disprooue these your allegations as you prooued them for I shall prooue all your propositions are probable and not necessary neither doo inferre a necessary conclusion as you haue pretended For the better dooing wherof first for orders sake I wil reherce your propositions reasons and arguments wherof the first is that the Magistrate and Officer is to be had in all
honor and reuerence because hée is the Law which is moste honorable and reuerend this I confesse as an vndouted trueth namely for that the end aswel of the one as of the other is that God may be honored and glorified godly People cherished and maintain peace and concord strengthned and furthered wherupon standeth the proâ—peritie the good estate of all Cuntries and common welths their wayes and meanes you haue alleaged are these To punish and chastice the wicked and the vngodly and to restrain their libertie as much as is possible Yée haue further alleaged that punishments are diuers some corporall some pecuniall and that that all punishments are gréeuous bothe vnto the sufferers and also vnto the dooers therof but that I will not graunt ye without distinction Very true it is that all punishments without exception are greeuous vnto the sufferers therof but vnto the executor therof they are not all so namely such as are pecuniall and the gaine therof returning vnto the executor For although that to beat burn hang or whip any creature of God namely a Christian man or woman is an odious thing wherin no good or Godly hart can haue pleasure yet for aduauntage sake it is often otherwise for otherwise there would not so many Oxen Shéep and Calues be murthered and so few Hogs Dogs or Cats their offences béeing only their good flesh Wherfore although that in all Godly reason your arguments haue great necessitie yet in humaine reason and experience it hath butb are probabilitie and is no more But as if for example you wil say Women ought to be ashamed to be séene bibbing Wine in common Tauerns or to be séen at common lasciuious and bawdie Stage Playes therfore they are ashamed therof This is an argument gathered from posse to esse to wit from should or ought to be to is simply and hath not any necessitie nor firmitie and that shall you sée if you will goe with me to London this next terme How be it you séeme to inforce your antecedent by the honorable existimation wherin I am bound to haue the Magistrate and Officer and therby you think that of dutie I ought to graunt it you for the shamefull consequence which necessarily ensueth vpon the denyall therof Truely that not withstanding me thinketh all this but a very bare and naked proofe â— Simon maintaineth his assertion by authoritie of holy Scripture and diuersitie taken betvveen the revvarde of Vertue Learning and Knovvledge and the hire of seruile trauail and labour Cap. 7. CAll you this a bare and naked proof Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast if you denye this proof quoth hée you reuerse ouerthrow all humain societie which is maintained and vpholdeÌ„ by giuing vnto God y which is due vnto God and vnto man the which is due vnto man But vnto God what can wée giue saue honor prayse glory first and immediatly vnto him self and secondly vnto his Deputies and Lieutenaunts to wit Magistrates Officers whose calling and appointing therunto as it is of God so must and ought wée to think that it is for their godlynes and vertues for God him self hath said them that honor mée I will honor and they that dishonour mée I will dishonour wherfore our wise and reuerend Elders and Forefathers in their assessing these great Fées and charges did mean to honor them whome God honoured And therfore vnto their callings appoited they great and honorable reuenues knowing that their gain is the punishment of vice and the rewarde of Vertue and that the part portion of all the godly is therin knowing also that there is not so great Incouragement vnto Vertue and Godlynes as the liberall rewarde therof and that all vngodlynes and vnthankfulnes is measured by the greatnes of the goodnes and benefit receiued either at y handê of God or man Lastly knowing the they might not prosecute but persecute the causes occasioÌ„s of these gains as hath alredy béen prooued and therfore I say abooue all common reason and discretion they assessed these Fées and â—euenues that the gains might be great and yet the causes therof few quite contrary to all other estates and faculties for what other reason is there that one man shall labour fore a whole day at night shall receiue twelue pence or eight peÌ„ce for his hire An other for half or a quarter of an houres easie trauail shall receiue xx shillings or sometime more what is the cause of this diuersitie euen this the one is a hire and a price of a seruile labour and trauell and is receiued in proper and priuat vse the other is an honor doone vnto vertue Godlinesse and knowledge which doo receiue nor holde or account any so base things proper or priuat or can be so basely minded as to ioy therin further then they may glorify God therby What other reason is there that one man in the return of a Reame of paper shall gaine xij pence or xvi pence cléer and yet where he layd out ij pence the other layd out x. shillings And after the same rate in Wax that one man shall sell more for vi pence then an other shall sell for viij pound which neuerthelesse bought as déere as he within xy pence at xx shillings waring and bothe layd out more mony longer looked for the return therof I say theris no reason other then is already made Pierce denyeth the calling to office to be such as Simon hath alledged Chap. 8. NEighour Simon quoth Pierce wheras you maintaine your assersion by the woorthines of the Magistrate and Officer and doo insist therupon alledging that they are called by God and that for their godlines and vertue The first part I greatly dout for that many of them buy their offices and pay very déerely therfore yea some sell their very inheritaunces for that purpose I mean to buy offices now did I neuer read that euer God receiued Money for an office how be it I refer my self héerein to my Maisters that are learned The next part that they are called for their Vertue and Godlines surely then I verily suppose some of them are called for the things that neuer were in them before and then were the caller deceiued which God cannot be except you will say that God of his méere goodnes and mercy called them for the vertues and godlines which he meaneth to call them vnto and in this order beginneth to woork I meane in bestowing vpon them so liberally by that meanes to charge them with his expectation in respect of their great Talent committed vnto them which thing you séeme to alledge as no small cause and consideration of the high assessing of the fees and charges aforesayd and that so great mercies graces bestowed vpon them by God and so liberall reward appointed vnto them by men should suffise to make them godly and verteous from thence foorth what so euer they were or had béene before All which arguments
although they be godly and probable yet as I sayd before they stand doutful for the olde Prouerb Honors chaunge maners I beléeue the godly and the learned doo dout whether it be taken in the better part or in the wurse for I am very sure that many are wurse disposed and much more vngodly in high and honorable calling then while they were in meane estate and degrée Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste there is no rule so generall that it admitteth not exception albeit I â—out not nor euer did that honors chaunge maners is and euer was meant in the better part For the wise man saith He that is vngodly in welth how much more vngodly would he be in pouertie The examples are many that doo prooue that honors chaunge men to the better namely of Saule of whom it is said that béeing called from a simple boy after his Inauguration he felt him self sudenly chaunged and as the book saith he felt a new hart in him The like examples we haue of many Kings Prophets in the holy Scripture But to come néerer bothe for the time and also the place in our English History we read of that noble King H. the fifth who in his Fathers life was of euill gouernment and kept company with riotors and vnthrifts so that there was small hope of him but after the death of H. the fourth when this yung man was placed in his kingdom he sent for all his olde companions who were not a little glad therof but when they weare come into his presence he sharply rebuked them and giuing them small rewards yet better then he thought them woorthy he forbad them during their liues to come within xij miles of the Court and that vpon great penaltie All these examples doo manifestly prooue that liberall reward of vertue and high and Honorable calling doo increase vertue in them in whom it is alredy and causeth them in whom it is not saue only in apparaunce yet for pure shame to imbrace it séeing that otherwise hot coales are heaped vppon their heads through their shamelesse vnthankfulnes vnto them that haue so thorowly prouoked theÌ„ with the greatnes of their benefits And therfore against all these reasons and proofs to say that the Magistrate and Officer should priuatly Couet and conuert so great summes of treasure it were to shamefull and slaunderous considered that they are the effects of so euill causes as hath already béene shewed And considered also the horrible and wicked conclusion that would ensue therupon as also hath already béene prooued Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce neuer tell me what might or dooth insue therupon but consider the trueth and the matter as it is in déed And if these great fées and charges doo not come vnto their receiuers and takers in proper and priuate what meanâ— they to make so great labour sute fréendship and cost to get those offices and callings And how commeth it to passe that by the meanes of such offices such as before were of small habilitie come to purchase 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 wherewith to purchase the same Simon confirmeth his assertion touching the desire to beare office to be good by the Etimologie and exposition of the vvoord Officium Chap. 9. NEighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast all these matters are easily 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 misiudge of their desire because you doo not vnderstaÌ„d the meaning of this woord Office and doo think him to be an English man 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 orles 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 hartie goodwil 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 goodwil 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 cannot 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 sure that both in Latin French Spanish and English hée stinketh when he is to frely 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 For who alleadging vnto her his great skil in the art of a Midwife profferd her his seruice toward her deliuerance vnto whome shée answered that the greatest and best seruice that hée could doo vnto her was to kéep him far inough from her which shee also prayed him to doo wherby you may gather what the Authors opinion was vpoÌ„ this voluntary offer of seruice and yet hée dooth not alleage that the For offered any money I suppose because hée had no money to offer But SimoÌ„ Magus offered money in y Acts of the Apostles and what the holy Ghost thought therof you may there vnderstand Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast this is a colde reason and no Argument to say that a mans earnest desire to haue an Office argueth his desire of priuate gaine proffit and so for his great desire to doo good condemne him of euil without proof therof Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce I doo not so barely reason neither so nakedly as you haue alleaged if you did mée right in repetition of my Argument not intercepting the same nor seuering the partes ther of as you haue doon and so haue answered the first part by it self which is the weakest and haue said nothing to the second part which is their great purchase and the strength effect of the first for my Argument taken wholly togither is thus much to say that their great desire to haue the Offices and their great purchase of Lands and liuing following the same sheweth that from the beginning there was ment 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 this Argument of yours which you holde so forcible is of no force at all whither the parties therof be considered iointly or seuerally neither dooth this great desire to be in Office neither the
our Hoast for there is no courage in him neither hath he the way to help him self to keep you in dooiÌ„g in y he giueth such couÌ„cel to peace quietnes vnto such fellowes as you the would gladly cut hi out woork if him self were not his owne hinderaÌ„ce Nay surely Neighbour ê™ Pierce what councel soeuer he had giuen me therin or what councel 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 looue peare ensue it to looue mine owne house my honest labour trauel and chéefly abooue all other things to serue God wherin I finde the only stay and comfort of mans life to rest that when all is sought and tried there is none other rule ne leuel wel and surely to guyde order our affaires dooings The application of Pierces tale by the Hoste that the great charges of the Lavv is profitable to the common vvelth and a repressing of vice and sinne Chap. 13. AHa very wel said then quoth our Hoste I am glad that yet at the last ye are come to y point whereunto I haue all this while laboured to bring you which is to coÌ„fesse that these great and excessiue charges and expences haue reformed and changed you from an vngodly troublesome man to a godly wise and prudent man able to giue councell not only priuatly and to your owne fréends and family but also to beare office and authoritie in your Parish yea in y who le Shire where we bothe dwel 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 first Assessors and the now receiuers therof ye are vtterly concluded estopped to speak or think saue in all honor reuerence Doo you think so Neighbour quoth he Yea verily quothe he for you haue confessed all this your reformation amendmeÌ„t to haue comen thence look what effect it hath wrought in you ye are of charitie bound to think that it hath wrought woorketh wil woork in a number moe then you the mony that you haue or rather think that haue departed froÌ„ is in their hands who are treasurers therof as I haue alleaged towards the good and godly vses intents purposes the may or shall arise héerafter in coÌ„mon benefit to wit seruice of the whole common welth wherin your parte is as far foorth as theirs Doo ye call this a mending Neighbour Simon quoth Peirce In very déed quoth he I must néeds confesse that these great and excessiue Charges and large Expences haue rebuked me haue chastised and amended me but to say that I think or iudge it thank woorthy vnto them that haue receiued my money I say the Deuill kisse his arse 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 poysons meaning to spéed him in déed but the poysons béeing of contrary natures wrought one vppon an other and destroyed either others force wherby the man béeing hardly handled for a season yet béeing driuen into a lax by their extremetie 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 yéeres 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 kinds 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 dishonor of God and other vngodlines that dependeth therupon they are as sorowfull 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 we will haue a shoulder of Mutton and but a pinte of Sack. Content husband quoth she And veryly I think that as hartily as this good man his Wife prayed for their recouery that were visited so hartily 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 vvickednes and vngodlines increaseth their gayne vvho are and should be the rebukers and punishers therof and that to be the cause of great iniustice vnrightuousnes Chap. 14. NEighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste I pray you let me further vnderstand what yée doo meane by this History for it should séeme y ye haue alleadged it against me not with standing that it maketh for me by the wunderfull effect which you your self are forced to confesse that it hath wrought vpon you I knowe what I haue confessed Neighbour quoth Pierce and also in what maner I haue confessed it far enough from your purpose or any confirmation therof And where in maintenance of these great fées and reuenues you haue alleaged that they are publique also how many and how good and godly are the'ffects and frutes therof without proofe made of them or of any one of them either by your owne experience or by other necessary demonstration There in proofe of the contrary to wit y they are proper and priuate and therfore excessiue and vnreasonable which is my assertion I haue brought you this proofe of mine owne experience wherby I haue sufficiently shewed that the first causes of all these great gaines and profits are prosecuted as I haue affirmed and not persecuted as you pretend For I haue partely shewed you héere what leaue libertie the coÌ„mon people namely youth hath to followe their owne lust and desire in all wantâ—nnes and dissolution of life For further proofe wherof I call to witnesse the Theaters Courtaines Heauing houses Kissing boothes Bowling alleyes and such places where the time is so shamefully mispent namely the Sabaoth dayes vnto the great dishonor of God and the corruption and vtter destruction of youth All which I say are either the causes or the effects of these great gaynes and reuenues or els bothe causes and effects interchaungeably For I dare vndertake that if either these gaynes and profits were publique as you pretend or els if there were as great gayn and profit to the Magistrates and Officers in the godly liues and honest conuersation of the common people as there is in the coÌ„trary these harbours 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 pomp and maiestie of man cannot stand togither that one of them 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 aswell by the Godly as by the vngodly the one inuading and the other defending the more praying paying waiting attending dowking crowding courtesying procuring of fréendship by meanes bribing of his flatterer bribing of her flatterer this driueth the great welth and abundance into fewe mens hands For where the vngodly through misgouerment is fallen into daunger of the Law what will he not giue to redéeme 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 then ouer into a reprobate minde from vice vnto vice vntill he hath fully brought him to naught So dangerous and fearful a thing is libertie and not restraint of the beginning of euill 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 Magistrates 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 vaynglory And therfore how hartily were it to be desired at the hands of GOD that such as are Magistrates and Officers should not be couetuoê° orels such as are couetoê° should not be Magistrates for héerof lethro did warne Moyses in y xviy of Exodus talking with him coÌ„cerning the electioÌ„ choise of Magistrates Officers bad him choose such as hated couetise spake of no other vice The cause wherof is apparant to wit least the wickednes vngodlynes of the people came to be valuable let and set reÌ„ted farmed bought solde for what other thing is valuing letting setting reÌ„ting buying selling of offices whose value is more or lesse accordiÌ„g to the state of the people their dishonournig of God therby And where you maintain these great gains by their godly woorthy effects the first wherof you alleadge to be their great purchase of Lordships Lands possessioÌ„s the effect therof you alleadge to be a prouisioÌ„ patrimony for the good godly the effect wherof yée say is the increase of them the decrease of the coÌ„trary the effect wherof you say is godlynes vnanimitie looue charitie benignitie one towards an other And last of all y effect therof be the manifolde graces blessings of God promised by God in the Psalmes to the house town Cittie or CuÌ„trie where these things are From the first cause to his effect I grauÌ„t your argumeÌ„t the these great gains are cause of great purchase but froÌ„ y purchase to his effects yée shew not how it is but how it ought to be for in stéed of the effects wherof you haue spokeÌ„ I sée many gay houses ful of gay chineis costly baÌ„quetig houses Galleryes bowling Alleis straunge toies of point deuise woorkmanship but within I finde no man dwellig saue Pride who hath chased theÌ„ce hospitalitie charitie as for other prefermeÌ„t the the godly haue at their haÌ„dâ— in any of their purchases I sée none but euen who will giue moste can make mightiest fréends who those are in our daies the vngodly vnfaithful vncharitable dealing so vniuersally doo plainly declare The people so euil giueÌ„ bothe yung olde so vngodly in liuing so vnciuil yea so rude barbaroê° in manners wherin me thinketh they haue preuailed increased more more all after as these office haue waxeÌ„ more gaiÌ„ful the desire to haue theÌ„ greater And therfore your distincton betwéen the in purchase the MerchaÌ„t ChapmaÌ„ other coÌ„mon persons whatsoeuer sauing his probabilitie vain ridiculoê° to y purpose Therfore Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce your reasoÌ„s are weak and to maintaine the greatnes of their fées vnable Abide Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoste giue me leaue to answere you vnto these matters and first because that in very déed probable reason giueth place to necessary proof and demonstration wherin ye suppose that ye haue gon beyond me because that against my bare and naked reasons as you terme them ye haue alleaged authoritie and that of your owne experience I will answere you with the like 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 will prooue that the Magistrate and Officer in the beginning was and yet is such as I haue alleaged and also the first assessing of the said fées and reuenues and their great vtilitie and necessitie namely for the vses intents and purposes aforesaid For proofe wherof I will 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 vvelthie Officer tovvards the Lavv. Chap. 15. ABout two yéeres agon it was my fortune to be beyond London in Kent at the house of a woorshipfull Officer towards the Law who not past a Moneth before my comming thither had purchased a Lordship wherin were diuers good Farmes their leases to expire at Michelmas then to come twelue Moneths It came to passe one day of my béeing there thither came a rich man dwelling not very far thence whose sute was to this Gentleman to take one of his said Farmes in reuertion and comming to him thus he began Sir quoth he I vnderstand ye haue bought such a Lordship God giue ye ioy therof Very true it is ê™ he Sir quoth this rich man I pray you let me be your tenaunt of such a Farm giuing more then any oâ—her man wil giue for a fine The rent of the Farm was v. â— What wil ye giue me for a lease for xxi yéeres quoth this Gentleman Sir quoth he I wil giue ye an C. l. vnto our Mistresse a Veluet gown xx Angels to buy her pinnes besides You haue bidden like a chapman said the Gentleman giue me leaue to be aduised vnto Munday next said
may be intreated to giue you a yéer or twain for the rest vpon reasonable consideratioÌ„ the yung man gaue him hartie thanks the money was fetched down couÌ„ted deliuered the assurauÌ„ce made accordiÌ„gly which béeing doon y yungmaÌ„ took his leaue hartily desired me although a méer strauÌ„ger 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 content to doo and hauing dispatched the occasion of my there béeing and hauing like wise taken my leaue to London wée came and to to the Merchants house wée went when wée came before this Merchaunt the yung Gentleman began to intreat him as fair as hée could telling him of this good godly Lawyer and of his great compassion his good councell and perswasion desired him to accept this C. I. in part of payment to giue him a yéere or twaine for payment of the rest 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 there withall hauing receiued the C. l. he tooke his owne bond for the rest to be paid by x. l. a yéere his first pay to begin after the Gentlemans C. l. ful paid and deliuered vnto him all his Indentures and other assurances of the Mortgage and making vs great chéere he let vs depart Now when I would haue taken my leaue of this young Gentleman I could by no meanes forbid him to bring me 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 we tooke leaue eche of other and departed either of vs toward his owne Thus ye sée how frutefull was the good gratious 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 whom soeuer will deny their trueth An other tale of the Hoste of a vvoorshipfull Lavvyer that made leases to all his Tenants of the Farmes they heeld for Li. yeeres after a straunge sorte and also very vvisely Chap. 17. I Was quoth he in Buckingham Shire not very long sithence at the house of rich Officer toward the Law whom 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 referued as followeth Yéelding and paying vnto the said Leassor and his heires yéerely during so many of the said li. yéeres as thinheritaunce shall remaine in him or them not solde exchaunged mortgaged forsaited leased in reuertion or otherwise estraunged v. l. currant money of England and yéelding and paying from and immediatly after any such act doone by him or them or any of them v. sÌ„ yéerly of like currant mony and so after the rate of other rents were they greater or smaller Prouided allwayes that the tenaunt shall not sellset nor let their said Farme or any percel therof without the assent and licence of the said Leassor or his heires of which reseruation I asked him a reason whereunto his answere was this Sée quoth he how hard a matter it is for young Gentlemen vnto whoÌ„ it falleth by the grace and gift of God to be Landlords and owners wisely to order gouern either their possessions lands and reuenues or them selues I know also quoth he that in the wisdome prudency and good gouernment of such standeth the happy and prosperous 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 possessions may be in their hands who bothe can and will order and dispose the same to the honor and glory of God and to the profit of the common welth wherin me thinketh sauing reformation the to often and to common translation of possession is not the least matter nor last to be considered as well for the causes therof which are euill as also for the effects thereof which are wurse The causes that make men to sell their patrimonyes and to spoile their inheritance who knoweth not to be these riot game whordome delight in all vngodly pleasures and pastime of sensualitie shortly the not fearing ef God nor seruing him and the not caring to knowe his will and commandements nor to liue therafter these are the causes The effects are these first the spoyle of the land and the 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 bid more then they without any other respect and those are commonly the wicked and vngodly and from thence ariseth infinit sutes and controuersies maintenaunces champerties and such like This causeth lands often to chaunge their tenaunts and inhabitants and by that meanes breacheth 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 betwéene men but euen betwéene the brute and vnreasonable beasts who hauing béene â—â—â—tered long togither 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 whom 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 béene already alleaged These are two effects The third is the sinceritie of Iustice also of discipline bothe which it greatly hazardeth namely for y 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 alredy declared These things are right perillous in a common welth and yet doo almoste necessarily followe the to 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 inheritors of Lordships lands and possessions to continue in the same béeing things that so many desire to haue yea often times such as haue in their hands the bridle of libertie or restraint of
had to enact and establish the greatest possessions in the hands of such as were not like to misregarde so great and high a blessing of GOD the effects and frutes wherof haue béen many and great as from time to time proof hath verified and yet dooth for it hath alwaies béen accouÌ„ted yet is a right happy thing to be tenauÌ„t or Farmer to a corporation or enioy any commoditie vnder them For woorshipful honorable haue alwaies béen their dâ—aling in ordering and gouernment of their Lands liuingê and possâ—ssions and of their Tenaunts and Farmers of the same But chéefly and abooue all others to be Tenaunt vnto the Prince who indeed is a Corporation for from the Prince there can passe nothing but by writing vnder seale neither dooth or can without the conseut of diuers of the moste honorable and best aduised These quoth hée are the causes and the reasons that haue mooued mée to make these leasses and therin these reseruations which vnto you doo séeme so very straunge For I suppose this to be a strong meane to vnite the Landlord and his tenaunt togither and to counterballaunce the one of them against the other in fourme of a corporation orels as néer vnto the Nature therof as I could deuise For by this meanes if my heires or any of theÌ„ chauÌ„ce at any time héerafter to prooue vnthriftie his vnthriftines shall not be so gainful vnto any man y in hope to purchase his lands would therfore strengthen his hands therein and by these meanes I haue left them mo Frends and fewer Flaterers For hée that shall by his Lands without the consent of the Farmer hée shall for the time make as good a purchase as dooth hée that purchaseth of a Woman her HusbaÌ„ds lands while hée is â—et aliue or as hée that goeth to the Poultrie and buying there a Capon for two shillings putteth him into his bag and when he commeth home he findeth there nothing but a Capons leg for in this case of mine the buyer buyeth lesse then the Seller selleth by xix parts which me think should kéep them from agréement vpon the price whilest either of them would fain make the best bargain for him self as the maner of all chapmen is And for which reason Iesus Sirach saith of them that sinne sticketh betwéene the bier the seller as fast as dooth a naile stick betwéen two stones in a wall This way haue I thought to be stronger and better assured then any entaile generall or speciall bothe which priuat â—ouetise hath found a way to destroy to the disherison of many a good kindred and to the great decay of vertue and godlynes and héerin quoth hée I haue doon my heires no wrong for vpon this rent I haue liued content doo if they prooue honest and vertuous so may they doo and then I haue left them inough and if they prooue otherwise then haue I left to much and yet to little to serue them also Moreouer quoth hée I haue héer by prouided against the malice of such tenaunts as abuse the liberalitie of good Landlords setting and letting ouer vnto the third and fourth hand racking and enhaunsing the things vnto excessiue and vnreasonable rents and such as the Landlord him self would neuer haue doon for pure shame and pittie which neuerthelesse béeing raysed to his hand by others is a perrillous president vnto him at his return vnto the possession therof Thus you haue heard quoth our Hoast what a godly and Fatherly care this good and vertuous Magistrate had to preferre the hononur and glory of God and also the common welth of his Cuntrie and People whereby it may appéere how hartilye to be desired is the purchase of such Personnes whose riches is the Treasurie and Storehouse of the common welth aswel for the sustenaunce of the same concerning worldly and bodily prouision of transitorie things as also for the furtheraunce and increase of Vertue Godlynes and Pietie Looue and Concorde Hoe quoth Pierce lay a strawe there for Gods sake marry Sir héer is stuffe indéed quoth hée héer hath béen a long discourse indéed and euen as true as all the rest with that I enterrupted their talke and spake vnto him The Author interrupteth Pierce maintaining Simons Assercion shevving that of late in his sight he knevv a Lavvier gaue x. li. to the building of a Bridge Chap. 19. FAther Pierce quoth I these matters are not so strauÌ„ge nor so incridible as you weene for proof wherof I wil if it please you to giue me leaue reherse a thing which Imy self did see and that no longer a go then Easter Tearme last It fortuned that I went into a Lawyers Chamber in Sergeants Inne with a Fréend of mine who was Plaintiffe in a Repleuin in Bedfordshire béeing come into this Law yers Chamber and hauing staied there awhile about our busines there came in an ancient Gentleman of the Cuntrie whome I know very wel by sight and haue doon long whoÌ„e when the Maister had espied comming vp euen at the top of the staires hée spake to him as followeth I knowe wherfore you come go down again to my man and bid him come vp to mée which the Gentleman did his Seruant béeing come hée took foorth of his Cubbord which was vnder the square table that stood before him a bagge wherin was ten pound and deliuering it vnto his man bad him go down and pay it vnto the Gentleman and if any of the golde lack weight chaunge it for him The seruant went down and did accordingly I thought verily it had béen the rent of some house or land that he had holden of him But euen while I was in this thought the Gentleman comming vp again gaue him humble hartie thanks and that in the name and behalfe of a whole Cuntrie yea of diners Shires Wherupon I takeing occasion to enquire farther of the matter vnderstood that he gaue that ten pound fréely towards the erecting building of a bridge and that such charitable déeds as this are no new things vnto him I sooner wil beléeue this quoth Pierce béeing of a man learned in the lawes and whome Vertue and Learning haue preferred then of the others that fishen for Offices with the golden hook and neuer wist what learning ment Simons return to his matter again declareth of an other rich Officer in the Lavv vvho had tvvo Farmers one rich and the other poore and hovv hee delt vvith them Chap. 20. WIth that our Hoast took holde again saying y hée had yet one other matter to tel and therwith hée would conclude I was another time quoth hée at the house of an other rich Officer toward the Law who dwelleth in Kent also and is a man of great welth and one time of my béeing at his house as I thank him I haue béen very many times There were two of his Tenaunts come to take new leases of their Farmes the lands béeing of equall rent value but
yet the Farmers not equall in welth the one hauing béen blessed as it should séeme abooue y other for the one of them was very welthie and vpheld his Tenament in very good repair offered the Lord at the first woord fortie pound for a fine for one and twentie yéeres The other was poore and yet his Tenament in decay neither was hée able to giue fiue pounds for a fine wherof the Landlord hauing challenged him and warning him to looke to it therafter willed the other to lay down his fourtie 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 burdeÌ„ wher with the other was so farre from béeing all content that hée humblie praised God and gaue the Gentleman right hartie thanks therfore and so hée sent them away bothe very well contented Since which time I heare of the poor man that hée is growen to great welth and of such benignitie and hospitalitie as are not many Owners or Landlords dwelling néer him Thus quoth our Hoast I haue confirmed my first Assertion and haue sufficiently auoided your reasons and examples alleadged in disproof of the same and these haue I doon by Example and demonstrations bothe moe in number then yours are and also more euident apt and proper vnto y 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 wil not graunt yet are they perticuler and cannot make any generall Couclusion besides y you tender mee an issue vpon two affirmatiues which is against the grounds of law as I haue learned by mine owne experience deerly bought For I have alleadged against you the generall Corruption of liues and manners beeing the effect of libertie vnto excesse and dissolution which I also haue alleadged prooued to be an effect of priuate desire to pouch to purchase and to wax rich from all which causes effects conuertly my Argument is nescessary and infallible therfore béeing alleadged affirmatiuely it demaundeth a direct generall trauerse to the effects which effects béeing not disprooued y causes therof cannot be denyed 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 waxen euen dark night 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 forgotten 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 wurse if it had pleasen God and therfore quoth he if it please you to lend me 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 night for hence shall ye not depart before to morowe God willing and namely for this straungers sake whom I wil desire you to accompany for this night for in his countrye I haue receiued many folde humanitie as partly ye haue heard and therfore I gladly would doo him some héere to my power and therefore this night or a conuenient part therof we will indeuour our selues to spend togither in honest mirth and exersises And therwithall I spake and giuing our Hoste harty thanks desired Pierce that it might so ve Who at my request did soone condiscend and was very well contented therwithall Then quoth I seeing that we haue so well spent 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 vntill bed time no wurse then we haue doon the time before Now verely Gentleman quoth our Hoste and that is very well spoken I beshrewe him that disagréeeth therunto if it be my self Amen quoth Pierce Plowman if it be I. Very well then quoth I this is my order if it may please you After Supper euery man shall put his question and tel his tale in order by course wherunto eche of the others shall speak to wit vnto the question shall giue an aunswere of dissolutioÌ„ of the saying and vnto the talâ— 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 wisest question moste tending to vertue and edyfying of the hearers or giues the wisest and best solution hée shall haue his breakfast héer to morrow at the charges of the other twain Content with all my hart quoth our Hoast Content quoth Pierce Plowman But to whose IudgemeÌ„t shall wée stand heerin ê™ hée Truely ê™ I euen to the doome of our Hostesse if it please her to take it vpon her whervpon shée béeing called very willingly vndertook it so was the matter fully agréeed and our hands giuen theruppon And then was the table couered for supper our Hoast hauing him self first giuen thaÌ„ks 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 I my self began as followeth The end of the first Book THE SECOND BOOK DECLARING THE Questions and Answers between the Author the Hoste and Pierce Plowman 1 THe first Question put by me whether it be more proper to vertue and godlines to giue or to lend or to pay that a man oweth Pierce Plowman answered that of those thrée to giue was the best to lend was the next as for paying that which a man oweth he héeld it a dutie in dooing of dutie there staÌ„deth no Godlines neither lyeth there any thank therin that he sayd appëereth by Christe his owne woords who sayeth that when we haue doon that which was our dutie we are vnprofitable seruants neither hath paying of debts any expresse testimony of Godlines or vertue in the Scriptures of God or by common experience among men wheras giuing hath a name of vertue namely of liberalitie wherof the Prophet Dauid speaketh thus He hath dispersed and giuen vnto the poore and his rightuousnes remaineth for euer Again of lending he saith The rightuous is mercifull and lendeth will guide his woords with discresion To be short liberalitie which extendeth bothe vnto giuing also lending is a propertie of God