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
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
But as if for example you wil say Women ought to be â—shamed to be séen bibbing wine in common Tauernes or to be séen at common lasciuious and bawdie Stage Playes therfore they are ashamed therof This is an argument gathered from posse to estâ— to wit from should or ought to be to is simply and hath not any necessitie nor firmitie and that shall you see if you will goe with me to London this next Terme How be it you séem to inforce your antecedenâ— 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 consequencâ— whiche necessarily ensueth vpon the deniall therof Truely that notwithstanding me thinketh all this but a very bare and naked proof ¶ Simon maintaineth his assertion by authoritie of holy Scripture and diuersitie taken between the reward of Vertue Learning and Knowledge and the hire of seruile trauaile and labour Cap. 7. CAll you this a bare and naked proof Neighbour Pierce quoth our Hoast if you denye this proof quoth hée you reuerse ouerthrow all humain societie which is maintained and vpholden by giuing vnto God that which is due vnto God and vnto man that which is due vnto man But vnto God what can wée giue saue honor praise glory first and immediatly vnto him self and secondly vnto his Deputies and Lieutenants to wit Magistrates Officers whose calling and appointing therunto as it is of God so must and ought wée to think that it is for their godlynes and vertues for God him selfe hath said them that honor me I will honor and they that dishonour mée I wil dishonour wherfore our wise and reuerend Elders and Forefathers in their assessing these great fées and charges did mean to honor them whome God honoured And therfore vnto their callings appoiÌ„ted they great and honorable reuenues knowing that their gain is the punishment of vice and the rewarde of Vertue and that the part portion of all the godly is therin knowing also that there is not so great Incouragement vnto Vertue and Godlynes as the liberall rewarde therof and that all vngodlynes and vnthankfulnes is measured by the greatnes of thy goodnes and benefit receiued either at the haÌ„ds of God or man Lastly knowing that 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 reuenues that the gains might be great and yet the causes therof few quite contrarie to all other estates and faculties for what other reason is there that one man shall labour sore a whole day at night shall receiue twelue pence or eight peÌ„ce for his hire Another for half or a quarter of an houres easie trauail shall receiue xx shillings or sometime more what is thâ— cause of this diuersitie euen this the one is a hire and a pricâ— of a seruile labour and trauell and is receiued in proper aâ—d priuat vse the other is an honor doone vnto vertue Godlâ—nes and knowledge which doo receiue nor holde or accouâ—t any so base things proper or priuate or can be so basely mâ—nded as to ioy therin further then they may glorify God theâ—by what other reason is there that one man in the returne of a Reame of paper shall gaine xij pence or xvi peâ—ce cléer and yet where he layd out ij pence the other laid ouâ— x. shillings And after the same rate in Wax that one â—an shall sell more for vi pence then an other shall sell for viij pound which neuerthelesse bought as déer as he within â—ij pence at xx shillings waring and both laid out more monâ—y longer looked for the return therof I say there is no reaâ—on other then is already made ¶ Pierce denyeth the calling to office to be such as Simon hath alleaged Cap. 8. NEighbour Simon quoth Pierce whâ—ras you maintaine your assersion by the wâ—orthines of the Magistrate and Officer and doo insist thervpon alledging that they are â—alled by God and that for their godlines anâ— vertue The first part I greatly dout for thâ—t many of them buy their offices and pay very déerly therfâ—re yea some sell their very inheritaunces for that purpose I mean to buy offices now did I neuer read that euer God receiued Money for an office how be it I referre my self héerâ—n to my Maisters that are learned The next part that they are called for their Vâ—rtue and Godlines surely then I verily suppose some of theâ— are called for the things that neuer were in them before â—nd then were the caller deceiued which God cannot be eâ—cept you will say that God of his méere goodnes and mercy called them for the vertues and godlynes which he meaneth to call them vnto and in this order beginneth to woork I meane in bestowing vpon theÌ„ so liberally and by that meanes to charge them with his expectation in respect of their great Tallent committed vnto them which thing you séem to alledge as no small cause and consideration of the high assessing of the fées and charges aforesaid and that so great mercies graces bestowed vpon them by God and so liberall reward appointed vnto them by men should suffise to make them godly and vertuous from thence foorth what so euer they were or had béen before All which arguments although they be godly and probable yet as I said before they stand doubtful for the olde Prouerb Honors chaunge manners I beléeue the godly and the learned doo dout whether it be taken in the better part or in the wursse for I am very sure that many are wurse disposed and much more vngodly in high and honorable calling then while they were in meane estate and degree Neighboure Pierce quoth our Hoste there is no rule so generall that it admitteth not exception albeit I dout not nor euer did that honours chaunge manners is and euer was meant in the better parte For the wiseman saith He that is vngodly in welth how much more vngodly would he be in pouertie The examples are many that doo prooue that honors chaunge men to the better namely of Saule of whome it is said that béeing called from a simple boy after his Inauguration he felt him selfe suddainly chaunged and as the book saith he felt a new hart in him The like example we haue of many Kings and Prophets in the Scripture But to come néerer both for the time and also the place in our English History we read of that noble King H. the fifth who in his Fathers life was of euil gouernment and kept company with riotors and vnthrifts so that there was small hope of him but after the death of H. 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 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
foorth again So as I was about to tel you one day amongst all others wée met a company of Neighbours and Fréends together in Poules six in number all Cuntrie-men and Neighbours saue one that was a Londoner a Neighbour borne of ours who was our Leader to many a good place dout you not so on Gods name néeds wée must to the Tauern and so wée went to the Tauern there fast by wherby that time we came forth again our heds were better laden with heare then with Wit so on Gods name when our heds were wel fraughted wée must néeâ—s go to sée some pleasures of the Cittie that were straunge anâ— noueltie vnto vs of the Cuntrie and so on Gods name wée â—ent into a dauncing Schoole not very far thence now was â—here one man of our Company that was as deaf as a doore â—â—ile ¶ When wée weare come into the Schoole the Musitions were playing and one dauncing of a Galiard anâ— euen at our entring hée was beginning a trick as I rememâ—er of sixtéens or seuentéens I doo not very wel remeÌ„ber buâ— wunderfully hée leaped flung and took on which the deâ—f man beholding and not hearing any noyse of the Musicâ— thought verily that hée had béen stark mad and out of his wit and of pure pittie and compassion ran to him and caught â—im in his armes and held him hard and fast The Dauncer â—ot knowing his good meaning and taking it to the wurst and hauing a Dagger drew it out and smot the man a great blâ—we vpon the hed and brake his hed very sore The man sore mooued and gréeued therewithaâ—l and béeing a man of great strength threw him from hiâ— with all his strength among the MusitioÌ„s and hee lighting vpon one of the greatest and fairest Vialls brake it all in péeâ—es Therwithal vp start the Musitions for him and we for to help the other béeing our Fréends and Neighbours and then went out Daggers vp went Pantostes al the rest of the Instruments in the throng were all to trodden and â—roken and but that Neighbours hearing the noise and buâ—â—liÌ„g came in and parted vs surely some of vs had béen in greaâ— daunger to haue béen slain I lost my Cloake and had my hed broken and so hâ—d thrée of my Neighbours moe and hardly the Musitions â—nd their partakers went not scotfrée But shortly to end aâ—â— come to my purpose you shall heare what followed First and formoste wée were all arrested and câ—mmitted to Prison for a fraie and bloodshed where I think you may make no question if it cost vs any thing before wâ—â— gat out again But hauing paid our Fées there and thinâ—ing verily that the wurst had béen past euen at our commâ—ng foorth from thence wée were all newly arrested by latitaâ—es and remained vntil wée had put in Sureties to appéer at the day of the return of the writ in the Kings bench So wée laid our purses togither and went to a woorshipful and learned Lawyer that had béen of our counsaile aforetime and shewed him the declarations that were against vs wherof the first was at the sute of the Owner of the schoole wherin hée alleadged that with force and armes wee had entred into his house and beaten wounded and euil intreated his Seruants by reason wherof he had lost their seruice by the space of eight dayes to his hinderaunce and damage six pound and also then and their thrée Instruments of Musick commonly called Vialls did spoile and break to his losse and hinderaunce six pound Besides this euery of his Seruants the parties theÌ„ selues seuerally declared against vs all ioyntly of an assault and battery made vpon them and that wée had beaten wounded and euil intreated them to their seuerall damages fortipence the Dauncer himself declared seuerally against the deaf man for assaults and battery vpon all which matters wée praied his counsel and aduice his answer was shortly that in his opinion the law was against vs in all and euery of our cases wherof he gaue vs the causes reasons as I shal reherse vnto you To the first point of the first declaration for forcible entry wée praied his reason how or by what reason our entrie might be said forcible séeing the doores were open and if they had béen shut our coÌ„ming in was but to hear sée our meaning not hurtfull to any man His answere therunto was that a mans meaning that commeth into my house shal be coÌ„strued and taken to haue béen such from the beginning as is his act there doon after he is entred for that shal be taken for his meaning the declaration therof namely where hée entreth wtout special commaundemeÌ„t or liceÌ„ce of the party because saith hée that after your entry into the house yée did there coÌ„mit a force vnlawful act therfore your first entry and comming into the house shal be déemed iudged vnlawful forcible Then we asked how or by what reason our act could bée said vnlawful which was but that taking of a man in his armes of very good wil to stay him thinking that he had béen mad out of his wit and might haue mischeiued him self His answere therunto was that therin the act was not lawfull nor iusticiable but a Trespassers although no farther hâ—rme had ensued therupon which yet by your confession theâ—e did for to speak generally it is not lawful to imbrace or â—rain any man against his wil for if him list to take it to the burst especially if there insue any euil vnto the partie therâ—y it shall not help the party to say that hée ment him good or it the least no euil therby for although that in felony the inteâ—t doo qualifie the fact it is not so in Trespassers wherfore your act was not lawful nor Iusticiable except yée had béen Officers or otherwise that yée had come in found theÌ„ dooing some â—elonious or vnlawful act by means wherof yée had had suffiâ—ient coullour to haue laid your hands vpoÌ„ theÌ„ for euery man â—s an Officer for peace sake for the preseruation therof then quoth hée your case had béen otherwise vnto this wée â—nswered that our act in all reason séemed more lawfull and tollerable then theirs for that in their exercise there is little good purpose or none at all nor better end or purpose then â—o induce such euil and vnhappy euents and consequents as hapned in this case of ours and that therfore their cause ougâ—t not to haue fauour against vs as if we had hindered or interrupted their honest or lawful exercise in any godlines or in any thiÌ„g tending vnto vertue to the glory of God or to the proffit of the common wealth His answere vnto that was that we are not to dispute of that which the reuerend and hâ—norable Magistrates haue established yea holden in no small reputatioÌ„ it falleth for the Magistrates Rulers Officers to beare with them in all incidents casualties otherwise should
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
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
customary Land although hée be seased therof to him and to his heires yet can hée not sel it without licence of the Lord and that solemnly graunted by his Steward in open Court and there entred nay hée cannot set or let the same or â—therwise impaire the wood or other commodities therof without liceÌ„ce aforesaid So great an entresse and commaundement hath the Lord therin and yet not to the hinderaunce or preiudice of the Inheritaunce but e contra namely that the selling setting or other gouernment of such a royall possession as land â—s should stand in the Iudgement discretioÌ„ of diuers those of the ripest best aduised and not to be solde wasted or spoyled â—hrough the intemperaunce of one foolish or vngodly man or woman either formed or necessitie or otherwise for flatery or other foÌ„d or foolish affection whatsoeuer wherin the Lord and his lerned Stuard and the homagers of the Court are Iudges In all which case it may euidently appéer how great a care those honourable and reuerend Forefathers had to enact and establish the great possessions in the hands of such as were not like to misregarde so great and high a blessing of GOD the effects and fruites wherof haue béen many and great as from time to time proof hath verified and yet dooth for it hath alwaies béen accouÌ„ted yet is a right happy thing to be tenaÌ„t or Farmer to a Corporation or enioy any commoditie vnder them For woorshipful honorable haue alwaies béen their dealing in ordering and gouernment of their Lands liuings and possessions and of their Tenaunts and Farmers of the same But chéefly and abooue all others to be Tenaunt vnto the Prince who indéed is a Corporation for from the Prince there can passe nothing but by writing vnder seale neither dooth or can wtout the consent of diuers of the moste honorable and best aduised These quoth hée are the causes and the reasons that haue mooued mée to make these leases and therin these reseruations which vnto you doo séeme so very strange For I suppose this to be a strong meane to vnite the Landlord and his tenaunt togither and to counterballaunce the one of them against the other in fourme of a corporation or els as néer vnto the Nature therof as I could deuise For by this meanes if my heires or any of them chaunce at any time héerafter to proue vnthrifty his vnthriftines shall not be so gainfull vnto any man that in hope to purchase his lands would therfore strengthen his hands therin and by these means I haue left them moe Frends and fewer Flatterers For hée that shal buy his lands without the consent of the Farmer hée shall for the time make as good a purchase as dooth hée that purchaseth of a Woman her HusbaÌ„ds lands while hée is yet aliue or he that goeth to the Poultrie and buying there a Capon for two shillings putteth him into his bag and when he commeth home he findeth there nothing but a Capons leg for in this case of mine the buyer buyeth lesse then the Seller selleth by xix partes which me think should kéep them from argument vpon the price whilest either of them would fain make the best bargain for him self as the maner of all chapmen is And for which reason Iesus Sirach saith of them that sinne sticketh betwéen the bier and the seller as fast as dooth a nail stick betwéen two stoÌ„es in a wall This way haue I brought to be stronger and better assured then any entaile generall or speciall both whiâ—h priuate couetise hath found a way to destroy to the disherisâ—n of many a good kinred and to the great decay of vertue and godlynes and héerin quoth hée I haue doon my heirs nâ— wrong for vpon this rent I haue liued conteÌ„t and doo if they prooue honest and vertuous so may they doo and then I haue left them inough and if they prooue otherwise then hauâ— I left to much and yet to little to serue them also Moreouer quoth hée I haue héerby prouided against the malice of such tenaunts as abuse the liberalitie of good Land lords fetting and letting ouer vnto the third and fourth hand racking and enhaunsing the things vnto excessiue and vnreasonable rents and such as the Landlord him self would neuer haue doon for pure shame and pittie which neuerthelesse béeing raised to his hand by others is a perillous president vnto him at his return vnto the possession therof Thus you haue heard quoth our Hoste what a godly and Fatherly care this good and vertuous Maiestraâ—e had to preferre the honour and glory of God and also the â—ommon welth of his Cuntry and People whereby it may appéere how hartely to be desired is the purchase of such Pâ—rsonnes whose riches is the Treasury and Storehouse of the common welth aswell for the sustenaunce of the samâ— concerning worldly and bodily prouision of transitorie things as also for the furtherance and increase of Vertue godlines and Pietie Looue and Concord Ho quoth Pierce lay a straw there for Gods sakâ— marry Sir héer is stuffe indéed quoth he heer hath béen a â—ong discourse indéed and euen as true as all the rest with tâ—at I enterrupted their talke and spake vnto him The Author interrupteth Pierce maintaining Simons Assertion shewing that of late in his sight he knew a Lawyer gaue x. li to the building of a Bridge Chap. 19. FAther Pierce quoth I these matters are not so strange nor so incredible as you wéene for proof wherof I will if it please you to giue me leaue to reherse a thing which I my self did se and that no longer a go then Easter Tearme last It fortuned that I went into a Lawyers Chamber in Sergeants Inne with a Fréend of mine who was Plaintiff in a repleuin in Bedford shire and being come into his Lawyers Chamber and hauing staied there a while about our busines there came in an ancient Gentleman of the Cuntry whome I know very wel by sight and haue doon long whom when the Maister had espied comming vp euen at the top of the staires hée spake to him as followeth I know wherfore you come go down again to my man and bid him come vp to mée which the Gentleman bid his seruant béeing come he took foorth of his Cubbord which was vnder the square table that stood before him a bagge wherin was ten pound and deliuering it vnto his man bad him go down and pay it vnto the Gentleman and if any of the golde lack waight chaunge it for him The seruant went downe and did accordingly I thought verily it had béen the rent of some house or land that he had holden of him But euen while I was in this thought the Gentleman comming vp again gaue him humble hartie thanks and that in the name and behalfe of a whole Cuntrie yea of diuers Shires Wherupon I taking occasion to enquire farther of the matter vnderstood that he gaue that
ten pound fréely towards the erecting building of a bridge and that such charitable déeds as this are no new things vnto him I sooner wil beléeue this quoth Pierce hauing of a man learned in the Lawes and whom Vertue and Learning haue prefferred then of the others that Fishen for Offices with the golden hook and neuer wist what Learning ment Simons returne to his matter again declareth of an other rich Officer in the Law who had two Farmers one rich and the other poore and how he delt with them Chap. 20. WIth that our Hoste took holde again saying 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