that was ignoraunt in Geomatry and to this high schoole of Dyuinity hee that knoweth not his Grammer much lesse any other science shall be admitted at the â—…irst I say not to learne for that might be suffered but to iudge and there commeth in the thinge that the same Plato sayeth to bee an onely cause sufficient to ouer throwe a whole Common weale where it is vsed that is when they take on them the iudgment of things to whom it doth not apertayne as youth of thinges belonginge to olde men children ouer their fathers seruaunts ouer their maisters and priuate men ouer their Maiestrates what Ship can bee longe sause from wracke where euery man will take vpon him to bee a Pylate what house well gouerned where euery seruaunt will be a maister and a teacher I speake thus much of the commendation of learning not onely because I heard my friend heere the Capper set litle by learninge but also that I see many nowe a dayes of his Opinion which care nothinge for any other knowledge but â—…nely that they may wryte and reade and learne y â— tongues whom I can resemble well to thoâ—…e men that esteemeth more the Baâ—…ke than the Tree the Shale more then the â—…yrnell wherefore they seeme to take the bright Suâ—…e from y â— Earth that would take away learning from vs for the same is no more necessary for the increase of all thinges on earth then is â—…earninge for the increase of Ciuility Wisedome and Policy amonge men And asmuch as reasonable men doth excell all other creatures by y â— gyft of Reason so much excelleth a learned man any other through the polishing and adorning of Reason by these Scyences Knight Of my fayth I am glad it was my chaunce to haue you in â—…y company at this time for of a wise man a man may alwayes learne But mee thought yee sayde lately to my neighbour the Capper that wee should haue learned men few ynough within a while if y â— world did continue What ment yee thereby and what should be y â— cause thereof Doctor I shewed you all ready one great cause of the same that was where I shewed you that most men were of that opinion that they thought learning ynough to write reade another cause is y â— they see no preferment ordered for learned men nor yet any honour or estimation geuen them like as hath vene in time past But rather the contrary y â— more learned the more troubles losses vexations they come vnto Knight God forbid Howe so Doctor Mary haue you not seene how many learned men haue bene put to trouble of late within this xx or xxx yeares all for declaring their opinions in thinges that haue rysen in controuersie haue you not knowne when one Opinion hath bene sâ—…â—…orth and who so euer sayd against that were put to trouble and shortly after when the contrary opinion was furthered and set forth were not the other that prospered before put to trouble for saying their minds against this latter opinion and so neither of both parties escaped but eyther first or last hee came to bee hit of whether side soeuer he were except it were some wetherwise fellows that coulde chaunge their opinions as y â— more stronger part did chaunge theirs and what were they that came to these troubles the singularest fellowes of both parties for there came no other to the concertacion of these things but such who seeing in steede of honour and preferment dishonour and hinderaunce recompenced for a reward of learning wil any either put his childe to that science that may bring him no better fruite than this or what scholer shall haue any courrage to study to come to that ende the rarity of scholers and solitude of the Uniuersities doe declare this to be truer then any man w t speach can declare Marchaunt Then I perceaue euery man â—…deth himselfe greeued at this time no man goeth cleare as farre as I can perceaue The Gentleman that he cannot lyue on his Landes onely as his father did before the Artifficers cannot set so many a worke by reason all maner of victayle is so deere the Husbandman by reason his Lande is deerer rented then before then we that be Marchaunts pay much deerer for euery thing that commeth ouer sea which great derth I speake in coÌ„parison of former times hath ben alwayes in a maner at a stay euer after that basenesse of our Englishe Coyne which happened in the later yeares of Kyng Henry the eyght Doctor I doubt not but if any sorte of men haue licked themselues whole yee be the same for what oddes so euer there happen to bee in exchaunge of things yee that bee Marchaunts can espy it straight for example because yee touched somewhat of y â— Coyne as loone as euer yee perceiue the price of that enhaunsed yee by and by what was to bee wonne therein beyonde sea raked all the olde Coyne for y â— most parte in the Realme and founde the meanes to haue it caryed ouer so as litle was lefte behinde within this Realme of such olde Coyne in a very shorte space which in my Opynion is a great cause of this dearth y â— hath bene since of all things Knight How can y â— be what maketh it to the matter what sorte of Coyne we haue among our selues so it be currant from one hand to another yea if it were made of Leather Doctor Yea so men commonly say but the truth is contrary as not onely I coulde proue by common reason but also y â— proofe experience hath already declared the same but nowe we doe not reason of the causes of these griefes but what states of men bee grieued in deede by this dearth of things and albeit I heare euery man sinde 〈◊〉 selfe grieued by it in one thinge or other yet considering y â— as many of them as haue wares to sell voe enhaunse as much in y â— pryce of thinges that they sell as was enhaunsed before in the prices of things that they must buy as the MarchauÌ„t if he buy deere hee will sell deere agaâ—… so these Artiâ—…cers as Cappers 〈◊〉 â—…homakers and Faâ—…mers haue respect large ynough in sâ—…ge their wares to the price of vâ—…tayle â—…ooll Iron which they buy I haue seene a Cap for xiiii peÌ„ce as good as I can get now for it shillings sixe pence of cloth yee haue heard how the price is rysen Now a payre of shooes cost twelue pence yet in my time I haue bought a better for sixe peÌ„ce Now I can get neuer a horse shooed vnder ten pence or twelue pence where I haue alsâ—…ne the coÌ„mon pryce was sixe pence I cannot therefore vnderstande that these men haue greatest griefe by this common and vniuersall dearth but rather such as haue their Lyuinges and Stypendes rated at a certaynty as common Laborers at eight pence a day I ourneymen of
forthwith for that is proper to the principall cause that as soone as it is taken awaythe effect is remoued also Yet I confesse all these things rayseth together with this dearth that euery of them should sceme to be the cause of it neuerthelesse that is no good proofe that they should bee the causes of it no more then was the steeple made at Douer the cause of the decay of the Hauen of Douer because the Hauen began to decay the same time that the Steeple began to be builded nor yet though some of these because of the other in deede yet they be not all the efficient causes of this dearth But as I haue sayd before of men thrusting one another in a thronge one dryuing another and but one first of all that was the chiefe cause of that force So in this matter that we talke of there is some one thing that is the oryginall cause of these causes that be as it were secondary and makes them to be the causes of other as I take y â— reising of al prises oâ—… victauls at y â— husbandmans hand is cause of the reysing of y â— rent of his land And y â— Gentlemen fall so much to take â—…earmes to theyr hands least they bee driuen to buy theyr prouision to deare that is a great cause againe that Inclosure is the more vsed For Gentlemen hauynge much land in their hand and not being able to weild all and see it manured in husbandry which requyreth the industry labourr and gouernaunce of a greate many of persons doe conuerte moste of that Lande to Pasâ—…ures wherein is requyred both lesse charge of Persons and of the which â—…euerthelesse commeth more cleare gaines Thus one thynge hanges vpon another and sets forward one another but one fyrst of all is y â— chiâ—…fe cause of all this circuler motion impulsion I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hile that y â— chiefe cause was nâ—…t in the hâ—…andman nor yet in y ◠〈◊〉 Let vs 〈◊〉 whether it were in the marchaunt man It appeares by reason that all wares bought of him are dearer now fare theÌ„ they wâ—…re wont to be the husbandman is dryuen to 〈◊〉 his coÌ„mo dities deareâ—… now y t the matter is brought to mais er â—…ar chaunt how can ye anoyd the cause from being in you Marchaunt Sir easly ynough for as wee sell nowe dearer all things then wee were wont to do So wee buy dearer all thinges of straungers and therefore let them put the matter from vs for we disburden our selues of this fault Doctor And they be not here to make aunswere if they were I would aske them why they sell their wares dearer nowe then they were wont to doe Marchaunt Mary and to that I hearde many of them aunswere er this when they were asked that question two maner of wayes One was they selled in deede no dearer then they were wont to do saying for proofe there of that they woulde take for theyr commodities as much and no more of our coÌ„modities then they were wont to do As for our tod of woll they would gieue asmuch Wine Spice or Silke as they were wont to geue for so much Yea for an ounce of our siluer or golde as much stuffe as euer was geuen for y â— same and their other aunswere was y t if we reckened they did sell their wares dearer because they demaunded moe pieces of our coyne for the same then they were wont to do that was not their fault they saide but oures that made our pieces lesse or lesse worth then they were in tymes past Therefore they demaunded the moe pieces of them for their Wares saying they caried not what names wee woulde gieue our coynes they would consider y â— quantitie right value of it that they were esteemed at euery where through y â— world Knight Then I would haue answered theÌ„ there of this sort If they came hether but for our commodities what made it y â— matter to them what quantity or value our coyne were If so they might haue as much of our commodities for y â— same as they were wont to do If they came againe for our siluer and golde It was neuer lawfull nor yet is expedient they should haue any from vs. Wherefore I would thinke that was no cause why they should sell theyr wares dearer then they were wonte to doe Doctor Then he might haue aunswered againe â—…hat it chaunsed not all wayes together that when they had wares whych we wanted we had againe al those wares y â— they looked for And therefore they hauinge percase more wares necessarie for vs then we had of such wares as they looked for would be glad to receiue of vs such stuffe currant in most places as might buy that they looked for elsewhere at their pleasure And that they will say was not our coyne And as for our lawes of not transporting ouer sea any gold or siluer they passed not thereof so they mighte haue the same ones conueyed theÌ„ As they had many waies to haue it so which I haue before remembred Finally hee might say that wee had not in deede our coyne in that estate our selues that by the name they pretended but esteemed both the value quaÌ„tity of the stuffe it was made of For if they had brought vnto vs halfe an owne of siluer wee would not take it for an ownce nor if they brought vs brasse mingled with Siluer we would not take it for pure Sâ—…luer and if wee would not take it so at theyr handes why shoulde they take it otherwise at ours Then they saw no man heere but woulde rather haue a cup of siluer theÌ„ of brasse no not the maister of our miâ—…ts though they woulde otherwise perswade the one to be as good as the other Wherefore seing vs esteeme the one in deede better then the other as all the world doth beside why should they not esteeme our coine after y â— quantity and value of the substaunce thereof both after the rate it was esteemed amonge vs also euery other where And so as in moe pieces now there is but the value that was in fewer pieces afore therefore they demaunded greater number of pieces but â—…et the like value in substaunce that they were wont to demauÌ„d for their wares Now let vs see whether now goeth the cause of this matter from the straungers For me thinkes he hath resonably excused himselfe put it from him Knight By your tale it must bee in the coine and 〈◊〉 in the â—…ynges highnes by whose 〈◊〉 y t same was altered Doctor Yea percase it goes further yet yea to such as were the first counsaâ—…lours of that deede pretending it should bee to his highâ—…es greate and notable commoditye which if his grace mought haue perceiued to haue ben but a momeÌ„tain profit and contâ—…all losse both to his highnes and also hys whole Râ—…alme He with his people might haue ben easely reuoked againe from the
make it them selues and the Stuffe is good cheape that they make it of and so they will geeue thereof for our sayde coÌ„modities as much as yes will aske Then though they made not such Coyne theÌ„selues yet seeing they must pay more for our wares or els no maÌ„ would bring them to them when hee may haue as much at â—…ome of his neighbours the straungers must needes haue a coÌ„sideration of that in the price of y â— sayd outwaâ—…de marchauÌ„dize that they sell also holde them dcerer And thus by the one way they may exhaust our chiefe commodities and gieue vs brasse for them where with wee cannot buy such other like necessary commodities againe as wee shoulde want if they were not plenty wythin our Realme Much liâ—…e the exchaunge that Homer sayeth Glaucus made with Diomèdes when he gaue to this man his golden Harnesse for Brasen But y â— other way they must needes be brought to sell their wâ—…res deerer to vs and then if this husbandman and Geâ—…tleman and so all other within this realme should be compeiled to sell their thinges good cheape and yet buy all thinges deere that commeth from beyonde the Sea I cannot see how they should long prosper for I neuer knew him that bought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soulde good cheape and vse it any long space to thriue Knight There may be searchers made for such Coyners as yee speake of comming in and punishmeÌ„ts deuised therefore and for going forth of â—…ictayles also that none shall passe this Realme Doctor There may be no â—…euise imagined so strong but that yee may be deceaued in both those points as wel in such coyne brought in as in victailes caried forth for many heads wil deuise many wayes to get any thing by though wee bee enuyroened with a good Poole that is the Sea yet there is to many Posterns of it to get out and in vnwares of y â— maister Whosoeuer hath but a prety housâ—… with any Family of his owne and but one Gate to go forth and come in at and the maister of y â— house neuer so attentiue yet somewhat shalbe purloined forth much more out of such a larg Realme as this is hauinge so many wayes and Posterns to goe forth at and come in And yet if straungers shoulde be content to take but our wares for theirs what shoulde let them to aduaunce y â— prices of their wares though ours were good cheape vnto them and then shall wee be still losers and they at the winning hand with vs while they sell deere and buy good cheape and consequently enrych themselues and impouerishe vs. Yet had I leauer aduauÌ„ce our wares in price as they aduaunce theirs as wee nowe doe thoughe some bee loosers thereby but yet not so many as should bee the other way And yet what businesse shoulde there be in making of prices of euery trifle for so it would be if the price of any one thingâ—… bee a bateâ—… by coÌ„maâ—…ment and theâ—…efore I cannot perceaue that it may bee remedied by either of you both I meane you Gentleman you good husâ—…andmaÌ„ for if it rose at either of your hands so it might be remedied like wise at the same by 〈◊〉 the thing agayne at either of your handes that was y â— cause of this dearth But if either you should releaâ—… your rent or you the price of your â—…ictayle to the olde rate yet that couldenot compell â—…raungers to bring downe the price of theirs as I haue sayde and so longe as their commodities be deere it were neither expedieÌ„t nor yet â—…ould yâ—…e though yee woulde make your commodities gâ—…d cheape except yee can deuise away how tâ—… liue without them they with out you which I thinke unpossible or else to vse exchauÌ„ge of ware for ware without Coyne as it was before Coyne was founde as I reade in the time of Homer it was and also the Ciuile lawe both affirme y â— same which were very combersome and would require much cariage of ware vp and downe where nowe by the benefit of Coyne a man may by those tokens fetch the wares that hee lacketh a far of without great trouble of cariage and hard were it readily to finde all wares that the oue hath to pay the other of equall value Husband â—…f neither the Gentleman nor I may remedy this matter at whose hands lyeth it to bee holpen then Doctor I will tell my mynde therein he ereafter but first let vs boulte out y â— cause of this Dearth And therefore let mee learne what other thing should be the cause thereof Capper Mary these Inclosures and great Pastures are a great cause of the same Whereby men do turâ—…e the erable land being a liuing for diuerse poore men before time nowe tâ—… one mans hand and where both Corne of all sorte and also cattell of all kinds were reared aforetime now there is nothing but onely sheepe And in steede of C. or CC. persons that had their liuing thereon now be there but three or foure Sheepherds and the Maister onely that hath a liuing thereof Doctor Yee touch a matter that is much to be considered albeâ—… I take not that to be onely y â— cause of this dearth at this time but this I thinke in my minde that if that kinde of inclosing 〈◊〉 asmuch incrâ—…ase in xxx eyares to come as it hath done in xxx yeares past it may come to y â— great desolation and weaking of the strength of this realme which is more to be feared theÌ„ dearth I thinke it to be y â— most ocâ—… of any thing yee spake yet of these wilde vnhappy vprores y â— hath bene among vs for by reason of these Inclosures many Subiectes haue no Grounde to liue vpon as they had before time and occupations be not alwayes set a worke all a like and therefore the people still increasinge and their â—…ings diâ—…inishing it must nedes comâ—… to passe that a great part of y â— people shalbe idle 〈◊〉 lacke liuinge for hsiger is a bitter thing to beare Wherefore they must needes whan they lacke murmur agayne them y â— haue pleÌ„ty and so stirre these tumultes Knight Experience should seeme to proue playnely that Inclosures should be profitable and not hurtfull to the common weale for we see y â— countreys where most Inclosiers be are most wealthy as Essex Kent North Damptonshyre c. And I haue heard a Câ—…ilion once say that it was takeÌ„ for a Maxime in his lawe this saying that which is possessed of many in common is neglected of all experience sheweth that â—…enaunts in coÌ„mon be not so good husbandes as when euery man hath his parte in seueralty also I haue heard say that in the most countreyes beyonde y â— Sea they knowe not what a common grounde meaneth Doctor I meane not of all Inclosures nor yet ail coâ—…ins but onely of such Inclosures as turneth comon
the plough to be as good rate for rate as the profit of the Grasier and sheepe maister is Knight How coulde that be done Doctor Mary I coniecture two manner of wayâ—…s but I feare me the deuises shall seeme at the first blush so displeasaunt vnto you ere yee consider it throughly that yee will reiect them ere yee examyne theÌ„ for we talke now to haue things good cheape and then if I should meÌ„cion a meane y â— should make some thinges deerer for the time I should be a none reiected as a man y â— spake against euery mans purpose Knight Yet say your minde and spare not and though your reason at the first seeme vnreasonable yet we will heare whether yee can bring it to any reasonable ende Doctor Remember what we haue in hand to treate of not how the prices of thinges onely may bee brought downe but how these Inclosures may bee broken vp and husbandry more vsed of the prices of thinges we shall speake heereafter Knight Wee will remember well that Doctor What maketh men to multiply pastures â—…osures gladly Knight Mary the profit that groweth thereby Doctor It is very true and none other thinge Then finde the meanes to doe one of these two thynges that I shall tell you And yee shall make them as glad to exercise tillage as they dâ—…e â—…e Paâ—…ures Knight What be those two thinges Doctor Mary either make as litle gaynes to growe by y â— Pastures as there groweth by y â— tillage Or els make y â— there may growe as much profit by tillage as did before by the Pastures and then I dâ—…ubt not but tillage shall be aswell cherished of euery man as Pasture Knight And how may that be done Doctor Mary the first way is to make y t wooll to be of as base pryce to the breeders thereof as the Corne is and y â— shalbe if yee make a like restraint of it for passing ouer Sea vnwrought as yee make of Corne another is to increase y â— rustome of Wooll that passeth ouer vnwrought And by that the price of it shalbe abated to the breeders and yet y â— price ouer Sea shal be neuer thelesse but that which is inâ—…eased in the pryce thereof on straungers shall come to y â— Queenes highnesse which is as prefitable to the Realme as though it came to the breeders and might relieue them of other subsidies Thus farre as touchinge the bringing downe of the price of Woolles now to the inhaunsinge of the price of corne to be as good to y â— husbandman as wooll should be and that might be brought to passe if yee wil let it haue as free passage ouer Sea at all times as yee haue now for Wooll Marchaunt By the first two wayes men woulde send lesse woâ—…ll ouer sea then they doe nowe and by that way the Queenes cuâ—…ome should be dyminished by your latter way y â— price of Corne should be much enhauÌ„sed wherewith men would be much grieued Doctor I wot well it woulde bee deere at the firste but if I can perswade you that it were reasonable it were so and that the same could bee no hinderaunce to the Realme vniuersally but greater profit to y â— same then I thinke see would be content it shoulde be so and as touchinge the Queenes custome I will speake afterward Marchaunt I graunt if yee coulde shewe mee that Doctor I will assay it albeit the matter bee somewhat intricate and as I shewed you before at the first vew would displease many for they would say woulde yee make Corne deerer then it is haue wee not dearth ynough els without that Nay I pray you finde the meanes to haue it better cheape if it may bee it is deere ynough already and such other like reasons would be sayd But now let the husbaÌ„dman aunswere such againe Haue not you Grasters raysed the price of your Woolles and Felles and you Marchasit men Clothiers and Cappers raysed y â— price of your marchaundize and wares ouer it was wont to bee in manner double is it not as good reason then that we should raise the price of our Corne what reason is it you should be at large and wee to bee restrayned Eyther let vs all bee restrayned to gether or els let vs bee all at lyke liberty yee may sell your Wooll ouer Sea your felles your tallow your Cheese your Butter and your Leather which ryseth all by grasing at your pleasure and for y â— deerest penny yee can get for them And we shal not sell out our corne except it be at x. d. the bushell or vnder that is as much to say as wee that be husbandmen shall not sell our ware except it be for nothing or for so litle as we shall not be able to liue thereon Thinke you if the husbandman here had spoke these words that he did not speake them some what reasonable Husband I thanke you withall my heart for yee haue spoken in y â— matter more then I could doe my selfe and yet nothing but that is most true Wee felt the harme but wee wist not what was the cause thereof many of vs sawe well long a goe that our profit was but small by the Plough therefore diuerse of my Neighbours that had in time past some two some three some foure Ploughes of their owne haue layde downe some of them part and some of them all their Ceemes and turned either parte or al their erable grouÌ„d to Pasture and thereby haue waxed very riche men And euery day some of vs incloseth some part of his ground to Pasture and were it not that our grounde lyeth in y â— common fieldes entermingled one with another I thinke also our fieldes had bene enclosed of common agreement of all the towneship longe or this time And to say y â— very truth I that haue inclosed litle or nothing of my ground coulde neuer be able to make vp my Lords rent were it not for a litle herd that I haue of Ncate sheepe swyne geese and Heâ—…es that I doe reare vpon my grounde Whereof because y â— price is somewhat round I make more cleare profit then I doe of all my corne yet I haue but a very bare liuing by reason that many thinges doe belong to husbandry which bee now exceeding chargâ—…able ouer they were in tyme past Capper Though this reason of maister Dâ—…ctors here doth please you well that be husbandmen yet it pleaseth vs that be arâ—…rs nothing at all which buy most both breade Corne and malte corne for our peny and whercas ye maister doctor say that it were as good reason that the Husbandman should reyse the price of his corne and haue as free vente of the same ouer sea as we doe and haue of our wares I caÌ„not greately deny but that yet I say that euery man hath 〈◊〉 of corne but they haue not so much of other wares Doctor Therefore the more necessary that corâ—…e
a Hovv from the Gentlemen it is laide to the husbandmen 14. a The Gentlemens excuse and reasonable offer 14. a The Husbandman refuseth and puts ouer the fault to ironmongers and clothiers 14. b If all land vvere abated in their rent vvhethet this dearth vvoulde be remedied 15. a That it vvere not expedient that straungers should sell their vvares 〈◊〉 and vve ours good cheape 15. a Another offer of the Gentleman made to the husbandman 15. a Whether 〈◊〉 the husbandman vvere forced to abate the price of hys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dearth should be then amended 14. b The straungers take but money currant euery vvhere for their vvares that they haue ouer their exchaunge 16. b That straungers and all 〈◊〉 brings thinges that be beste cheape to them and dearest vvith vs. 16. b What thinge is of that sorte 17. a He that selleth good cheape buieth deare shal not lightly thriue 17. b It is not possible to keepe our treasure from 〈◊〉 forth of the realm if 〈◊〉 be in 〈◊〉 estimation elsvvhere 17. b That the dearth rose neither at the gentleman nor the husband 〈◊〉 handes 18. a Permutation of things before coyne 18. a 〈◊〉 complaint against 〈◊〉 maisters 18. b That Inclosuresis occasion of desolation vveaking of the povver of the realme 18. b Reasons to defend Inclosures 18. b What kinde of Inclosures is hurtfull 19. a Whether that that is profitable to one may be profitable to all other if they vse the same feate 19. a Euery commodity must be so aduaunced as it be not preiudiciall to other greater commodities 19. b No man may abuse his ovvne things to the preiudice of the common vveale 20 a Hovv inclosures might be remedied vvithout cohercion of lavves 20. b. That a like restraint of vvoll should be made as is of corne or none to be sent ouer 〈◊〉 21. a Reasons vvhy the husband should not be at liberty as vvel as other to sell his 〈◊〉 21. b That by breeding the husband hath most clere gaines 22. a That profit aduaunceth all faculties 22. b That some are to be allured by revvardes and some other vvith straight paynes 〈◊〉 in a common vveale 22. b The lesse honor or profit is geuen to any Arte the lesse it shal be frequented 23. a Profit vvill make husbandmen more occupied thereby more plenty and consequently better cheape of corne 23. b Whether the Queenes custome should be minished by restraint of Wooll vnvvrought 24. b Hovv straungers fetcheth from vs our greate coÌ„modities for very trisles 25. a Our delicacy in requiring straungers vvares 25 a The 〈◊〉 of Haberdashers and Mylleners ouer they vvere vvont to be 25. b Hovv the Straungers finde an easier vvay to get Treasure by things of no value then by any Mynes of gold and siluer 25 b Hovv straungers 〈◊〉 their people vvith our coÌ„modityes 25. b Why strangers may aforde Wares by them made 〈◊〉 then vve may the same made heere and yet that it vvere better for vs to buy our ovvne though they be dearer 26. a The most durable vniuersall profit is more to be esteemed then short and particuler 26. b Whether such restraints do touch the leagues made vvith outvvard princes 26. b No league is to be chearished that is not for the coÌ„mon vveale 27. a A vvorthy example to be solovved in vsing of straungers 27. a What harmes come and may come by the alteratioÌ„ 〈◊〉 the coyn 27. b That the substance and quantity is esteemed in coyne and not the name 28. b That the necessity of mutuall traffique commodity of exchaunge made coyne to be deuised 29. a Why Golde and Siluer vvere the stuffe most meetest for Coyne to be stricken in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Why Gold and Siluer are esteemed 〈◊〉 all other meâ—…als 30. a Why Siluer and Gold vvere coyned 31. a 〈◊〉 brâ—…e siluer gold vvere vveighed beâ—…ore coine made 31 a What losse 〈◊〉 of losse of â—…edence 31. b What do 〈◊〉 bringe vs for our treasure chief coÌ„modity 3â—… a Hovv our old coine may be tâ—…nsported and the 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 32. a We 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 vvay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 32. b Why 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 32. b Some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the coyne 33. a Who 〈◊〉 losse by the â—…lteration of the coyne 33. a Of 〈◊〉 iâ—… appâ—…ll 33. b In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 34. b Of 〈◊〉 in buildings 35. a Hovv the alteration of the 〈◊〉 â—…houlde bâ—…e most losse to the Prince 35. b Whether all our Woolle vvere expedient to be soulde ouer vnvvâ—…ght 36. b Mysteriâ—… are to be increased rather then minished 37. 〈◊〉 Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Mysteries 3â—… 〈◊〉 One 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 treasure 37. 〈◊〉 Another spendeth that they get in the same couÌ„trey againe 38. a The 〈◊〉 sorte bringeth in â—…reasure and therefore most to bee chearished 38. a Mysteries doe inâ—…iche countreys that be els barren 38. b 〈◊〉 vvith straungers are to be purchased and kepâ—… 39. a Whether great Armyes vvere as necessary here as in Fraâ—…ce 39. a A lesse grieâ—… vvould not be holpen vvith a greater sore 39. b The common grieues 40. b The originall cause in euery thing is to be searched 41. a Diuerse sortes of causes there be 41. b Hovve one thing is cause of the other that of the third 42. a The straungers aunswere touching thiâ—… dearth 42. b That the alteratioÌ„ of the coyne vvas the very cause of the dearth and consequently of other griefes vvhich follovved 43. b Hovv Inclosures might be remedied 46. a Of tovvnes decayed 47. b The occasion of the decay of tovvnes 48. a That arte is to be most cheriâ—…ed in a tovvne that bringeth most to tâ—…e tovvne 49. a Tovvnes are enryched vvith some one trade 49. a The occasion of sysmes in matters of Religion 51. a The 〈◊〉 on the parte of â—…he â—…aytye 53. b Hovv these sysmes â—…ight be remedied 54. b The byshop of Rome is no indifferent man 55. a FINIS A Briefe conceipte touching THE COMMON WEALE OF THIS REALME OF ENGLAND CONSIDERING THE diuerse and sondry complaints of our countriemen in these our daâ—…es touching the great alteration of this coÌ„mon wealth withâ—… the compasse of these fewyeres lately past I thought good at this time to set downe such probable discourse for the occasion hereof as I haue â—…earde oftentimes vttered by men of 〈◊〉 learnyng and deepe iudgement And aâ—…eit I am not one to whom the consideration and reformation of the same doth especially belong yet knowing my selfe to bee a Member of the same Commonweale and to further it by all the wayes that possibly I maâ—… I cannot recken and 〈◊〉 my selfe a meere straâ—…ger to this inatter no more than a man that were 〈◊〉 a Shiâ—…pe which being in daunger of wracke might say that because he is not percase the maister or Pylate of the same the daâ—…ger thereof doth pertayne nothing at all to him Therefore haâ—…inge â—…owe suffycient leasure from other
debt or to keepe few seruasits or noÌ„â—… except it be one Prentize or two And therefore the Journeymen what of our occupations and what of Clothyers and all other occupations being forced to be without worke are y â— most parte of these rude people that maketh these vprores abrode to the great 〈◊〉 not onely of the Queenes highnes but also of hir people And neede as yee knowe hath no booty MarchauÌ„t It is true yee knowe likewise what other notable acts men of myne occupation haue done in this City Before this yee know the hospitall at the townâ—…s ende wherein the freemen decaâ—…ed are releaued how it was founded not longe 〈◊〉 by one of our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereby y â— the â—…y should be much releaued which then was in some decay and yet it decayeth still euery day more and more whereof it should be longe I caâ—…ot well tell Knight â—…yr as I knowe it is true that yee complayne not â—…out cauâ—…e so it is as true that I and my sorte I meane aâ—… Gentlemen haue as great yea and 〈◊〉 greater cause to complayne then any of you haue for as I sayd now that the pryâ—…es of thinges arâ—… so rysen of all handes you may better lyne after your degree then we for you may and do rayse the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 waâ—…s as the priâ—…es of â—…tayles other your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 cannot we so much for though 〈◊〉 bee true that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as coâ—…e to our handes â—…ther 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by â—…mination and ending of such terâ—…es of yeares or othâ—… 〈◊〉 that For mine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I â—…oe either 〈◊〉 a better 〈◊〉 than of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 the renâ—… thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereto for 〈◊〉 â—…arge of â—…y â—…holde that is so encreased ouer that it was yet in all my lyfe tyme I looke not that the thyrd parte of my land shall come to my disposition that I may enhaunce the rent of y â— same but it shalbe in mens holding either by leases or by copy graunted before my time and still continuing and yet lyke to continue in the same state for the most part during my lyfe and percase my Sonnes so as we cannot rayse all our wares as you may yours and as me thinketh it were reason we did and by reason that we cannot so many of vs as yee know that haue departed out of y â— couÌ„trey of late haue bene driuen to geue ouer our housholds and to kepe either a chamber in London or to wayte on the Court vncalled with a man and a Lackey after him where he was wonte to keepe halfe a score of cleane men in his house xx or xxiiii other persons besides euery day in the weeke and such of vs as doe â—…yde in the countrey still â—…not 〈◊〉 two hundreth a yeare kepe that house that we might haue done with CC. markes but 〈◊〉 yeares past And 〈◊〉 we are forced either to minishe the third part of our housholde or to raise the third part of our reuenewes and for that we cannot so doe of our owne landes that is already in the hands of other men many of vs are enforced either to keepe peeces of our owne Landes when they fall in our owne possession or to purchase some Farme of other mens landes and to store it with sheepe or some other cattell to help to make vp y â— decay of our 〈◊〉 and to mainetayne our olde eâ—…ate withall and yet all is litle ynough Husband Yea those sheepe is the cause of all these 〈◊〉 for they haue driuen husâ—… out of the coâ—…trey by y â— which was increased before all kinde of 〈◊〉 now all together sheepe sheepe sheepe It was farre better when there were not only sheÌ„epe ynough but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 swyne Pig Goose Cayon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cheese yea and â—…de 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 corne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reared all â—…ogether vpon the same lande Doctor Then the Doctor y â— had leaned on his Elbowe all thâ—… while musing sat vp and sayd I perceaue by you all three that there is none of you but haue iuâ—… cause to complaine Capper No by my troth except it be you men of y â— church which trauaile nothing for your lyuinge and yet haue ynough Doctor Yee say troth in deede we haue least cause to coÌ„pâ—…ne yet yee know well we be not so pleÌ„tious as we haue bâ—…ne the first fruits tenthes are deducted of our liuings yet of the rest we might liue wel ynough if we might haue quietnes of minde conscience withall And albeit we labour not much with our bodies as yee say yet yee know we labour w t out mindes more to y â— weaking of y â— same then by any other bodily exercise we should do as yee may wel per ceiue by our câ—…plexions how wan our colour is how faint and sikely be our bodyes all for lacke of bodily exercise Capper Mary I woulde if I were of y â— Queenes counsell prouide for you well a fine so as you should neede takeâ—… no disease for lacke of exercise I woulde set you to the Plough and Carte for the deuill a whit of good 〈◊〉 doe with your studies but set meÌ„ together by the Eares some with this opinion some with that some holding this way some an other and y â— so stifly as though the troth must be as they say that haue y â— vpper hand in coÌ„tencion this contencion is not also y â— least cause of former vprores of y â— people some holding of y â— one learning some of y â— other In my minde it made no matter though we had no learned men at all Knight God forbid neighbour that it should be so how should the Prynce haue 〈◊〉 then how should we haue christian religion taught vs how should we know y â— estates of otâ—…er realmes haue coÌ„ference w t them of al couÌ„tryes except it were through learning by y â— beneâ—…t of Letters Doctor Care not therefore goodmaÌ„ capper yee shall haue few ynoungh of learned men â—…in a while if this world hold on Capper I meane not but I would haue men to learne to wryte reade yea to learne y â— laÌ„guages vsed in couÌ„tries about vs y â— we might write our minds to theÌ„ they to vs yea and y â— wee might reade y â— holy scriptures in our mother tongue as for your preaching except yee a gree better it made no matter howe litle wee had of it for of dyuersity thereof cometh these diuersities of opinions Doctor Then yes care for no other sciences at all but the knowledge of tongues and to wryte reade and so it appeares well that yee be not alone of that mynde for nowe a dayes when men sendes their sonnes to y â— Uniuersities they suffer theÌ„ no longer to tary there theÌ„ they may haue a litle of the latin tongue then
yet it is scarsity of things which commonly maketh dearth this is a maruaylous dearth that in such plenty commeth contrary to his kinde Doctor Syr it is no doubt a thing to be mused vpon and worthy of Inquisition let mee heare euery one of your opinions and than yee shall heare myne Husband I thinke it is longe of you Gentlemen that this dearth 〈◊〉 by reaâ—… yee enhaâ—…e your lands to such a heyght as men that liueth thereon must needes sell deere agayne or els they were neuer able to make their Rent Knight And I say it is long of you Husbandmen that wee are forced to rayse our Rents by reason we must buy so deere all things that wee haue of you as Corne Cattell Gorse Pig Capâ—… Chiken Butter and Egges What thinge is there of all these but that yee sell it nowe deerer by the one halfe then yee did within these xxx yeares cannot you neyghbour remember that within these xxx yeres I could in this towne buy the best Pig or Goose that I could laye my hand on for four 〈◊〉 which now costeth tweluepeÌ„ce a good Capon for threepence or fourepence a Chiken for i. d. a Hen for ii d. which now costeth mee double triple y â— money it is likewise in greater ware as Biefe MutteÌ„ Husband I gâ—…aunt that but I say you your sorte men of landes â—…re y â— â—…rst cause herâ—…of by reason you rayse your landes Knight Well if yee your sorte will agree thereto that shalbe holpen vnder take that you your sorte will sell al things at the price yee did xxx yeares agoe I doubt not to bring all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnâ—… you their â—…andes at the renâ—… they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yeares past and that 〈◊〉 fault is more in you that bee Husbandmen then in vs that â—…ee Gentlemen it appeareth by this all the landes of the Realme is not enhaunsed for some haue takings therein as Leases or Copies not yet expyred which cannot 〈◊〉 enhaunsed though y â— owners would and some Noblemen and Gentlemen there be that when their landes be at their disposition yet they will enhaunse nothinge aboue the olde rent so as a greate parte of the landes of the â—…ealme stand yet at the old rent and yet neuer the lesse there is none of your sorte at all but selleth all things they haue deerer then they were wont to doe by the one halfe And yet these Gâ—…ntlemen that doe enâ—… their rentes doe not enhaunse it generally to the double though I confesse that some of vs that had 〈◊〉 either geuen vs by the Kings highnesse y â— belonged heretofore to Abbeyes and Priories and were neuer surueyed to y â— vtter â—…ost before or otherwise descended to vs haue enhaunsed any of them aboue the old rent yet all y ◠〈◊〉 teth not to halfe the landes of the Realme Doctor How say yee he sayeth well to you nowe will yee sell your wares as yee were wont to doe and hee will let you haue his lande at the rent yee were accustomed to haue it When the Husbandman had pawsed a whyle hee sayd Husband If I had the price of euery thing that I must pay for besides likewise brought downe I could be content els not Doctor What thinges bee those Husband Mary Iron for my Plough Harrowes and Cartes tarre for our sheepe shooes cappes linnen wollen clatâ—… for my meany which if I should buy neuerthelesse as â—…re as I doe now and yet sell my wares good cheape though my rent were thereafter abated except the other thinges aforesayd might hee abated in pryce to gether I could neuer lyue Doctor Then I perceaue yee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 y ◠〈◊〉 of other things qualified aswell as the rent of â—…r land ere yee 〈◊〉 aford your ware good cheape Husband Yea but sir I thinke if the land were brought downe that the pryce of all things would fall withall Doctor Grauut that all the Landlords in this realme wouldâ—… withone assent agree that their landes should bee in their â—…naunts handes at like rent as they were at xxx yeares agoe yee sayd afore yee coulde not yet sell your wares as good cheape as yee mighte xx yeares past because of the pryce that is raysed in other things that yee must buy and if yee would say that those men should be driuen againe to sell those wares that yee buy first better cheape and then yee will sell youres thereafter I pray you how might they be 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 within obedieÌ„ce of our soâ—… Lady that 〈◊〉 sell such wares as Iron Carâ—…e Flaxe and other then consider mee if yee â—…not so compell them whether it were exuedient for vs 〈◊〉 suffer 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee ours good 〈◊〉 if it were so than it were a greate â—…ything of other couâ—…treyes and unpouerishinge of our owne for they should haue much Treasure for theirs and haue our commodities from vs for a very litle except yee could deuise to make one price of pur commodities among â—…ur ielues and another outwardes which I cannot see how it may bee Knight Nay I will make my Neyghbour beere another reasonable offer if hee refuse this let my Cenauntes rent beeâ—… â—…eased as your payment is increased after the rate and yet I am â—…ed Husband What meane yee by that Knight I meane this yee sell that yee were wont to sell a foretime for xx grotes now for xxx let my rent bee increased after that proportion and rate that is foreuery xx groots of olde rent x shillings and so as the pryce of your wares 〈◊〉 and yet I doe but keepe my lande at y â— olde stent Husband My bargayne was to pay for my holde but vi poundes xiii shillinges iiii d. yearely of rent and I pay that truely yee can require no more of mee Knight I cannot much say agaynst that but yet I perceaue I shalbe still a loser by that bargayne though I cannot tell y â— reason why but I perceiue yee sell deerer that yee liue on and I good cheape that which is my liuing help me Mayster Doctor I pray you for the Hushandman driueth mee to the Wall Doctor Mary but mee thinketh touching y â— matter yee did reason of yee draue him to his shifts that is to confesse that this dearth ryseth not at your hand And though he do defend him selfe for his payment to you by colour of a lawe yet he seemeth to coÌ„nfesse thus much that the lawe compelleth you to take litle for your land that there is no lawe to restrayne him but hee may sell his wares as detâ—…s he leâ—…eth it is ynough for our purpose that yee tooke in hand to proue that this dearth rose 〈◊〉 first at your hande but whether the pryces of thinges increasing as they doe it were reason yee did rayse your wares which is your lande or to bee payde after the olde rate whan
erable â—…elds into pasture and violent Inclosures of commins without iust recompence of them that haue right to coÌ„men therein for if land were seuerally enclosed to the â—…tent to continewe husbandry thereon and euery mâ—…n that hâ—…th right to commen had for his portion a piece of y â— same to himself inclosed I thinke no harme but rather good should come thereof if euery man did agree therâ—…to but yet it woulde not be sodaynely done for there be many poore cottages in England which hauing no lands of their owâ—… to liue one but their handy labour and some refreshinge vpon y â— sayde coÌ„mens which if they were sodaynely thrust out from that commodity might make a great 〈◊〉 and a disorder in the commonweale and percase also if men were suffred to inclose their grounds vnder the pretence to keepe it still in tillage within a while after they would turne all to Pasture as wee see they doe nowe too fast Knight If they finde more profit thereby then otherwise why should they not Doctor I can tel why they should not welynough for they may not purchase theÌ„selues profit by y â— which may be hurtfull to other but how to bring them y â— they would not so doe is al the matter for so long as they finde more profit by pasture then by tillage they will still inclose and turne erable land to pastures ê™ the Knight Knight That well may be restrained by lawes if it were thought most profitable for y â— common weale but all men doe not agree to that poynte Doctor I wot well they doe not and therefore it were hard to make a lawe thereâ—… so many as haue profit by that matter resisting it And if such a law were made yet men studying still of there most profit would defraud the lawe by one meane or other Knight I haue heard oftentimes much reasoning in this matter and some in maintenauÌ„ce of these Inclosures would make this reason euery man is a Member of the coÌ„monweale that which is profitable to one maÌ„ may be profitable to another if he would exercise the same feate Therefore that which is profitable to mee so to another may be profitable to all and so to y â— whole coÌ„monweale as a great Masse of Treasure consisteth of many pence and one penny added to another and so to the thirde and fourth c. maketh vp a great summe so doth each man added one to another make vp the whole body of a commonweale Doctor That reason is good adding some what more to it true it is that y â— thing which is profitable to each man by himselfe so it be not preiudiall to any other is profitable to y â— whole commonweale and not otherwise or else stealing or robbing which percase is profitable to some men were pro fitable to the commonweale which no man wil admit but this feate of inclosinge is so y â— where it is profitable to one man it is preiudiâ—…all to many therefore I thinke that reason sufficiently aunswered Knight Also they will laye forth another Reason saying that y â— which is our owne coÌ„modity should bee alwayes aduaunced as much as might be and these sheepes profit is one of the greatest commodity wee haue therefore it ought to be aduaunced as high as it may bee Doctor I could aunswere that argumeÌ„t with the like reason as I did the other true it is we ought to aduaunce our owne commodity as much as wee can so it bee not to as much more the hinderaunce of our other commodities Or else where as the breede of Coneyes Deere and luch like is a commodity of this Realme Yet if wee shoulde â—…urne all our erable grounde to nourishe that commodity and geue vp the Plough and all other commodities for it it were a great folly Knight They will say agayne that all Groundes bee not meete for sheepe Doctor It is a very ill Grounde but either it serueth to breede sheepe or to feede them vpon and if al that is meete either for the one were turned to the mayntenaunce of Sheepe and none other thing where shall wee haue our other coÌ„modities growe Knight All cannot doe so though some doe Doctor What should let theÌ„ all to do y â— which they see some do yea what should better encourage them thereto theÌ„ to see theÌ„ that do it be come notable riche men in short tâ—…e by y â— doing thereof And theÌ„ if euery man should do so one following the example of another what should ensue thereof but a meere solitude and vtter desolation of the whole realme furnished onely with Sheepe and Sheepherdes in stâ—…ede of good men where by it might be a pray to the enemyes y â— first would set vpon it for then the sheepe Maysters their Sheepherds could make no resistaunce to the contrary Knight Who can let them to make their most aduauntage of y â— which is their owne Doctor Yes mary men may not vse their owne thinges to the damage of the commonweale yet for all this that I see it is a thinge most necessary to be prouided for yet I cannot perceaue it should be the only cause of this dearth for this Inclosinge and greate grasinge if it were occasion of that dearth of any thing it must be of Corne thiefly and nowe these many yeares past we had Corne good cheape inough And the dearth y â— was then most was of cattellâ—… Biefes and Muttons and the broode of thesâ—… are rather increased then diminished by Pastures and inclosinges Knight Why should men bee then so much offended with these Inclosures Doctor Yes not without great cause for thoughe these many yeares past through the great bounty of God we haue had much plenty of Corne whereby it haâ—…h bene good cheape one Acer bearing as much â—…orne as two mosâ—… commonly were wont to do yet if these yearâ—…s had chaunsed to be but meanely fruitfull of Corne no doubt we should haue had as great dearth of Corne as we had of other thinges And then it had bene in a maner an vndoing of the â—…oore Commens And if heereafter there should chaunce any baâ—…n yeares of Corne to fall wee should bee assuered to finde as greate extremity in the price of Corne from y â— it was wont to bee as we finde now in the prices of other victayle And specially if we haue not ynough to serue within y â— Realme which may happen hereafter more likely then in time past by reason that there is much lande since turned to pasture for euery man wil seeke where most aduauntage is they see there is most aduauÌ„tage in grasing and breeding then in husbandry and tillage by a great deale And so longe as it is so the Pasture shall neuer incroch vpon tillage for all the lawes that euer can be made to the contrary Knight And how thinke yee that this might be remedied then Doctor To make the profit of
exchaunge and when they bring in Glasses Puppleâ—…s Rattles and such like thinges they should haue like trisles for them if any such were to bee had within this Realme as there bee many but if they come for our Woolles for our Clothes â—…erseyes Corne 〈◊〉 Ledde yea our Golde and siluer and such substantiall and necessary thinges let them bring in againe Flaâ—…e Carre Oyles â—…e such like And not to vse them as men doe litle Children geeue them an appell for the best Jewell y â— they haue about them And thus wee are empouerished of our treasure chiefe commodity and cannot perâ—…eaue it such is the â—…enesse of straungers wits and the grosenes of ours yet it were more tollerable if wee did no more but chearishe their deuises y â— be strauÌ„gers but we haue in times past deuised our selues many other wayes to our owne impouerishment and to exhaust our treasure And now I must come to that thynge that you brother Mercer touched afore which I take to be the chiefe cause of all this dearth of thinges in comparison of former times and of the manifest impouerishinge of the Realme and might in short time haue ben y â— destruction of the same if it had not bene y â— rather remedied that is the baâ—…ng or rather the corrupting of our coyne trea sure whereby we deuised a way for the straungers not only to buy our Gold and siluer for brasse and to exhaust this realme of treasure but also to buy our chiefe coÌ„modities in maner for â—…ought yet it was thought this should haue bene a meane not onely to bring our treasure home but to bring much of theirs but the experince playnely declared the contrary so that it were but a very Dullerdes parte now to be in any doubt thereof Knight Forsooth and such a Dullerd 〈◊〉 I in deede y â— I cannot perceaue what hinderaunce it should be to the reaâ—…me to haue this mettall more then that for our Coyne seeâ—…g the Coyne is but a token to goe from man to man when it is stricken with y â— Princes seale to be currant what maketh it the matter what mettall it be made of yea though it were but Leather or Paper Doctor You say but as most sorte of men doe say and yet they be farre wide from the truth as men that do not consider the thinge groundly for by that reason God would neuer send dearth among vs but the Prince might quickely remedy it As if Corne were at a Crowne a Bushell the Prince might prouide Crownes ynough for himselfe and also his subiects made of brasse to pay for the same and so to make it as easy for him and his subiects to pay a Crowne of such mettall for a bushell as it should be for them now to pay a penny for the same and as the price of corne doth rise the the Prince might rayse the estimation of his coyne after y â— rate and so keepe the coyne alwayes at one estate in deede though in name it shoulde seeme to rise As for example suppoâ—…e Wheate this yeare to be at a grot a bushell and y â— next yeare at two grotes the Prince might cause the grote to be called viii d. and if the bushel rose to xii d. the bushel he might rayse the estate of the grote to xii d. and so whether it were by makinge of coyne of other mettalles then be of price receaued amonge all men or by enhaâ—…ng the price of the olde coyne made in mettalles of estimation the Priâ—…ce might if your reason were true keepe alwaies not oâ—…ely corne but also all other victaylles and necessaries for mans life alwayes at one price in decde though in terme they should vary but yee may see dayly by experience y â— coÌ„trary hereunto for wheÌ„ God sendeth dearth either of corne or of other things there is neither Emperor nor King can help it which they would gladly dee if they might as wel for their owne ease â—…s for their subiects and might soone doe it if your reason afore touched migâ—…t take place that is if either they might make coine of what estimation they would of vile mettalles or els enhaunse the value of coines made in mettalls of price to what some they would Yet a man at the first blush woulde thinke that a Prince in his realme might doe this easily make what coyne he would to be currant and of what estimation it pleased him but he that so thinketh marketh but the termes not the thinges thaâ—… are vnderstanded by them as if a man made no differaunce betwene vi grotes that made an ownce of â—…uer and xii grotes that made in all but an ownce of Siluer by the grote of the firste sorte the sixth parte of an ownce and by a grote of the other sorte is the twelfth parte of an ownce of siluer vnderstanded and so there must bee as much difference betwene the one grote the other as is betwene two and one the whole thinge the halfe though either of both be called but vnder one name that is a grote we must coÌ„sider though gold siluer be the mettals commoÌ„ly wherein the coyne is strycken to bee the tokens for exchannge of thinges betwene man and man yet it is the wares that are necessary for mans vse that are exchaunged in deede vnder the outward name of the coyne and it is the raritie plenty of such wares that makes the price therof hier or baser And because it were very combrous and chargeable to cary so much of the wares that we haue abundance of to exchaunge for the wares that we want alwayes both for the weight of our wares and also for that they could not be caried so faâ—…re without perishing of the same nor proporcioned so euen as they should be alwayes neither more or lesse brought of our wares then were equiualeÌ„t w t other wares that we receiue therefore were the mettals of golde and siluer deuised as wares of litle weight most in value least combrous to carie and least subiect to detriment or hurt in the carâ—…age thereof and may be cut and deuided in most pie ces and portions without any losse to be as the meane in wares to exchaunge all other wares by And if the thynge were to be new deuised necessity would cause vs to deuise y â— same way againe For put the case there were no vse of money amonge vs but onely exchaunge of warâ—…s for wares as â—…times I do reade hath ben we might at a time haue such plenty of thinges in our realme as for example of corn 〈◊〉 Felles Cheese Butter and such other coÌ„modities as were sufficient for vs and there shoulde remayne with vs such great store that wâ—…e could not spend it in our needes nor keepe it longe without perishing Woulde not we be glad to exchaunge that abundance of thinges y â— could not abyde the longe keeping
by â—…ason hereof wee payed dearer presently for euery thing that we haue from beyonde the Sea then wee were wont to doe before Knight That cannot be denyed Doctor By howe much thinke you Knight By the thirde parte well in all maner of thinges Doctor Must not they that buy deare sell deare agayne theyr wares Knight â—…hat is true if they intend to thriue for he that selleth good cheape buyeth deare shall neuer thriue Doctor Yee haue your selfe declared the reason why things â—…in the Realme proued after that time so dâ—…aie for we must buy deare all things bought from beyond the sea therefore wee must sell agayne as deare our thinges or els wee make ill bargaynes for our selues And though that reason maketh it plaine yet the experience of y â— thing maketh it playner for where yee say that euery thinge bought beyond the sea is commonly dearer by the third parte then it was doe yee not see y â— same proportion reised in our wares if it be not more Knight What losse haue wee by this when wâ—…e sell ouâ—… commodities as â—…eare as we buy others Doctor I graunte to one sorte of men I accompt it no losse yea to some other a Gaine more then any losse and yet to some other sorte a greater losse theÌ„ it is proâ—… to y â— other yea generally to the vtter empouerishing of the realme and weaking of the Queenes maiesâ—…es power exceedingly Knight I pray you what be those sortes that ye meane And first of those that ye thinke should haue no losse hereby Doctor I meane all these that liues by buying and selling for as they buy deare they sell thereafter Knight What is the next sorte that ye say would win by it Doctor Mary all such as haue takâ—…es or â—…earmes in their owne manurance at the olde rent for where they pay after the olde rate they sell after the newe that is they pay for theyr lande good cheape and sell all things growing therof deare Knight What sorte is that which yee sayde should haue greater losse hereby then these men had profit Doctor It is all Noble men Gentlemen and all other that lyue either by a â—…ented rent or 〈◊〉 or doe not Mannure the grouÌ„d or doe occupy no buying or selling Knight I pray you peruse these sortes as ye did the other one by one and by course Doctor I will gladly first the Noble men and Gentlemen liue for the most parte on the yerely reuenues of their lands and fees geuen them of the Prince Then ye know he that may spende now by such reuenues and fees CCC li. a yere may not keepe no better port then his father or any other before him that coulde spend but nigh CC. li. and so ye may perâ—…eiue it is a great abatement of a mans countenaunce to taâ—…e away the thirde parte of his liuing and therefore geÌ„tlemen do â—…udy so much the inerease of theyr Landes and enhaunsing of theire rentes and to take Fearmes and Pastures to their owne handes as yee see they doe and all to seeke to mainteine their 〈◊〉 as their predecessors did and yet they came shorte there in Some other seeing the charges of householde encrease so much as by no prouision they can make it can be holpen geue ouer theyr householdes and get them chambers in London or aboute the courte and there spende their time some of them with a seruaâ—…t or two where he was wont to keepe thirty or forty persons daily in his house and to doe good in the Countrey in keeping good order and rule among his neighbors The other sorte be euen Seruingmen and men of Warre that hauing but their olde stented wages cannot finde theÌ„selues therewith as they might afore time without rauin or spoile As ye know xii d. a day now will not go so far as viii pence would afore time And there fore yee haue men so euill willing to serue the Prâ—…e now a daies from y â— they were wont to bee Also where xl shillinges a yere was honest wages for a yeoman afore this time and xx pence a weeke borde wages was sufficient now double as much will skante beare their charge Knight That is longe of theyr excesse aswell in apparell as in fare for now a dayes Seruingmen go more costely in apparell and looke to fare more deintely then their maisters were wont to do in times past Doctor No doubt that is one great cause of the greater charge of householde For I know when a Seruing man was coÌ„tent to go in a Kendall coate in Sommer and a frise cote in winter and with a plaine white hose made meete for his body And with a piece of biefe or some other dishe of sodde meate all the weeke longe Now he will looke to haue at the least for sommer a coate of the finest cloth that may bee gotten for money and his â—…osen of the finest Kersey and that of some straunge die as Flaunders die or french puke that a Prince or great Lord can weare no finer if he weare cloth Then their coates shalbe garded cut and stitched and the breches of their hose so drawen with silke that y â— workmanship shall farre passe the price of the 〈◊〉 And this thing is not restrained as it should be but rather cherished of the maisters one striuing with the other who may bee most proude and whose retinue may go most lauish gay for a time of showe whereas through such excesse they are fayne all the rest of the yere to keepe the fewer seruauntes And so in excesse of meates they fare at some times in the yeare that in the whole yeare after they keepe either no houses at all or if they do it shall be very small like excesses aswell in apparell as in fare were vsed in Rome a litle before the declination of the Empyre 〈◊〉 as wise men haue thought it was occasion 〈◊〉 the decay thereof And therefore Cato and diuerse wise senatours at that time would haue had lawes made for restrainte of such excesses and for that through the insoleâ—…ie of some that maintained the contrary y ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not duly executed muchpride ensued there and of pride diuâ—…tand through deuision vtter desolation of the coÌ„mon weale I pray God this realme may beware by that example specially London the head of this empire where such 〈◊〉 by reasoÌ„ the wealth al most of al this Realme is â—…aped there 〈◊〉 as the corne of a Fielde into a â—…rne be most vsed for in other parties commonly of thys realme the lawe of necessitie keepes men in good case for exceding either in apparel or fare I thinke wee were as much dread or more of our enemies when our gentlemen went simply and our Seruingmen plainely without cuts or gards bearing theyr heauy Swordes and Buckelers on their thigâ—…es in sted of cuts and gardes and light daunsing Swordes and when they rode carying good Speares in their 〈◊〉 in â—…ede
of white rods which they cary now more like ladies or gentlewomen then men all which delicacies maketh our men cleane effeminaâ—…e without strength Knight We may thanke our longe peace quiet within y â— realme that men be not 〈◊〉 to rideâ—… strong It was a trâ—…blous world as well within the Realme as without when men went and rode as you do speake Doctor What can you tell what time or how sone such a worlde may come againe wise men do say that in peace men most looke and prouide for warre and in warre again for peace If men might be alwaies sure of peace then needed no maâ—… to keepe men at all But sith it is otherwise and that the iniquitie of men is such as they cannot bee longe wythoute Warre And that wee recken here in Englande our chiefe strength to be 〈◊〉 our Seruingmen yeomen it were wisedome to exercise them in tyme of peace somwhat with such apparell fare and hardenes as they must needes sustayne in time of warre then the same shal be no nouelty to them when they come to it and their bodies shall be stronge and harder to beare that that they were somewhat accustomed wich all afore Let this that I say be of no creâ—…ite if delâ—…acie and teÌ„dernes was not the most occasion of the subduing of the greatest Empires that were Knight Surely ye say very well that which soundeth to good reason I must needes alowe that I haue found true my self for my men are so tenderly vsed in time of peace that they can not away with any heauy armour in time of warre but either shirts of Maile or Coates of linnen ragges which at a shotte may perhaps deceiue vs. Then what saye you by our buildinges that wee haue here in Englande of late dayes farre more exceâ—…iue theÌ„ at any time heretofore Doth not that impouerish the Realme cause men to keepe lesse Houses Doctor I say that all these thinges be tokens of ornamentes of peace and that no doubt is cause of lesse housholdes sith the buildings and trimming of those houses spendes away that that should be otherwise speÌ„t in houshold But it doth not empouerish the Realme at all for all the expences of buildings for the most part is spent amonges our selues amonges our neighbours and Countreymen As amonges Carpenters Masons and Labourers except men wil fall to guilding or peinting of these Houses For in that much treasure may be spent and to no vse Also the Areses Uerderers and Tapistry workes wherewith they bee hanged commonly conueieth ouer into Flaunders other straunge Countreyes where they be had from much of our Treasure Knight Syr yet I must remember you of one thing more which men do suppose to be a great occasion of the spending of y â— treasure abroade it is where there is comen to y â— crowne of late yeares much lands by reason of Monasteries colleges and Chauntres dissolued which men suppose hath beÌ„ the cause two maner of waies that there is lesse treasure a broade in the Realme One is because the reuenues of the sayd places dissolued heretofore were spent in the countrey and went from hand to hande there for vittaile cloth and other thinges and now are gone to one place out of the couÌ„ trey Another is that diuers men which had any ryches or wealth vttered the same to buy perselles of the said dissolued lands lying commodious for them whereby one way other the whole riches of the countrey is sweeped away Doctor Truth it is also that it wringed the countrey abroade for the time and had kept it so still if the Kinges Maiesty had not dispersed the same lands abroad among theÌ„ in the couÌ„trey againe but after y â— his highnes departed with a great deale of those possessions part by gift and part by sale treasure hath and will encrease againe abroad as much as euer it was if it be not letted by other meanes so that I take y â— to be no great cause of the dearth that we haue for the soile is not taken away but the possession thereof is onely transferred from one kinde of persons to another Knight Then to retourne to the matter of the coine where wee left I haue heard your conceipt how the alteration thereof within our Realme did some men no harme as Buyers and sellers some other it did good vnto as Farmors that had Lande at the olde Rent and some other as Gentlemen men of warre seruaunts and all other liuing by any rated or stented rent or stipend were great losers by it But I heard you say it was so much withal to the losse of the Prince that it might be to the great perill of y â— whole Realme in processe of time I meruayle howe it should be so for I heard wise men say that the Queenes highnesse Father did winne inestimable great summes by the alteration of the Coyne Doctor So it was for the time but I liken that gaynes to such as men haue when they sell away their landes to haue the greater some at one time and euer after to lose the continuall increase that should grow thereof for you knowe all the treasure of this Realme must once in few yeares come to the Princes handes by one meanes or other and from thence it should goe abrode againe to the Subiects As all Springes runneth to the Ocean Sea out of it are they spred abrode agayne theÌ„ as they came into y â— kings coffers at the firste in good mettall they came forth in such as you haue heretofore seene And albeit it seemeth at y â— first vew to empouerishe but the subiects onely at length impouerisheth also the Prince and then if the Prince should want in time of warre specially sufficient treasure to pay for armor weapons tacklings of shippes gunnes and other artillary necessary for y â— warre and could by no meanes haue of the subiects wherewith to buy y â— same what ease should the Realme be in Surely in very euill therefore these Coynes and treasure bee not without cause called of wise men Nerui bellorum y t is to say the Synowes of warre And that is the greatest dasiger that I doe consider should growe for want of treasure to the Prince and the Realme for though a Prince may haue what coyne he will currant within his Realme yet the straungers cannot be compelled to take them And I graunt if men might liue within themselues all together without borowinge of any other thing outwarde we might deuise what coyne wee would â—…ut since we must haue neede of other and they of vs wee must frame our things not after our owne phantasies but to followe the common market of all the worlde and wâ—…e may not set the price of things at our pleasure but follow the price of the vniuersall Market of the World I grauÌ„t also that brasse hath bene coyned ere this yea Leather in some
practise of that simple deâ—…se but as a man that entendeth to heale an other by a medecine y â— he thinkes good thoughte it proue otherwise is not much to be blamed no more was the kinges maiesty in any wyse in whose time this was don which is not to be supposed to haue inteâ—…ded thereby any lâ—…sse but rather commoditye to him selfe and his sâ—…iects to be herein reprehended albeit the thing succeded beside the purpose Knight Then ye thinke plainely y â— this alteration of y â— coyne was the chiefe and priâ—…cipall cause of this vniuersall dearth Doctor Yea no doubt and of many of y â— sayd grienes that we haue taâ—…ked â—…f by meanes it being the oryginall of all and that beside the reason of the thing being playne iâ—…gh of it self also experience proofe doth make it more playne For euen with y â— alteration of y â— coyne 〈◊〉 this dearth and as the 〈◊〉 appayred so rose the miâ—…s of thingâ—…s with all this to 〈◊〉 true y â— few 〈◊〉 of olde coâ—…ne which afterward 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 For ye should haue for any of y â— same coyâ—…e as much of any ware â—…ither outward or inward as euer was wont to be had for the same For as the 〈◊〉 is madâ—…â—…sse there goeth more number to make vp the tale and 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 not together at all mens handes therâ—…ore sâ—…me haâ—…h greate losses and some other greate 〈◊〉 thereby and that made such a generall 〈◊〉 for the thinge at the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thus to conclude I thinke this alteration of y â— Coine to haue ben y â— first origiâ—…all cause that strauÌ„gers first sould their wares dearer to vs and that made all Farmors and Tenaunts that reared any coÌ„modity againe to sell y â— same dearer The dearth thereof made the Gentlemen to rayse their râ—…ts to take Farmes to their haâ—…es for their better 〈◊〉 and coÌ„sequently to inclose more Groundes Knight If this were the châ—…fest â—…ause of the dearth as of very good probability by you maister Doctor heere tofore alleaged t should sâ—…eme to be how coÌ„meth it to passâ—… where as you say if the cause be remoued the effect is also taken away that the pryces of all thinges fall not backe to their olde rate where as now long 〈◊〉 our english coyne to the great honour of our noble Princesse which now rayghueth hath bene again throughly restored to his former purity and perfection Doctor In deâ—…de sir I must needes confesse vnto you although it may seeme at the first sighte to discredite my former saâ—…ings in some parte that notwithstanding that our Coyne at this present day yea and many yeares past hath recouered his aunciente goodnesse yet the dearth of all thinges which I before afirmed to haue proceeded of y â— decay thereof to â—…emayne and continewe still amongst vs. Wherefore as your doubt heerein moued very aptly and to y â— purpose is well worthy the consideration so doe I accoumpt it of such difficulty y â— perhaps it would not be thought to stand with modesty to vndertake without farâ—…her study presently to dissolue the same Knight Syr I pray you for this time omâ—…t the pleadinge of mâ—…desty I vnderstand well 〈◊〉 by your former talke that you are not vnprouided of sufficient store without farther deliberation to satisfie vs wâ—…thal in greater matters if neede were then these Doctor Well I am contâ—…t because you will haue it so to yeelde to your importunity I will vtter fraÌ„ckely vnto you myne Opinion heerein but vnder protestation that if you like it not yee reiect it imparting likewise with mee your owne Phantasies and iudgementes in the same I finde therefore two speciall causes in myne Opinion by meanes of the which notw tstanding y e restitution made in our ceine the aforesayd dearth of thinges in respect of y â— former age remayneth yet among vs. The first is that whereas imme diately after the basenesse of our Coyne in y â— time of King Henry the eight y â— prices of all things generally among al sorts of people rose it must needes happen here withal as yee know that our gentlemen which liued onely vpon y â— â—…euenues of their lands were as neare or nearer touched as is before proued with the smarte hereof then any other of what order or estate so euer This therefore being taken as most true the Gentlemen desirouse to mayntaine their former credoâ—…e in bearing out y â— Porte of their Predecessors were driuen oâ—… necessity as often as whensoeuer any Leases deuised for terme of yeares by theÌ„selues or their auncestors were throughly expired fel into their hands not to let them out againe for the most part but as y â— rentes of them were farre racked beyoâ—…de y â— olde Yea this racking and hoyssinge vp of rentes hath coÌ„tinued euer since y t time vntill this present day hereupon the husbandman was necessarily inforced whereas his rent was now greater then before and so continueth vnto this day to sell his victailes dearer to continue the dearth of them and likewise other artificers withall to maintaine the like proportion in their wares wherefore as this deaâ—…th at the first time as I said before sprang of the alteracion of the coyne as of his first and chiefest efficient cause so dâ—…e I attribute the continuaunce of it hitherunto and so forâ—…ward partly to the racked and stretched rentes which haue lasted yea and increased euer since that time hetherunto so are like to continue I know not how long Now if we would in these our dayes haue the olde pennyworthes generally restored among vs a gayne The restoring of our good Coine which already is past before y e improued rentes would only of it selfe haue beâ—… sufficieÌ„t to haue brought this matter to passe will not serue in these our dayes except w tall the racked rentes bee pulled downe which possibly caÌ„not be w tout the coÌ„mon consent of our landedmeÌ„ throughout y t whole reaâ—… Another reason I coÌ„ceiue in this matter to be y â— great store plenty of treasure which is walking in these parts of y â— world far more in these our dayes theÌ„ euer our forefathers haue sene in times past Who doth not vnderstand of y â— infinite suÌ„mes of gold siluer which are gathered from y â— Indies other countries so yearely transported vnto these coastes As this is otherwise most certain so doth it euidently appeare by the coÌ„moÌ„ report of al auÌ„cient men liuing in these daies It is their coÌ„stant report y â— in times past within y â— memory of maÌ„ he hath ben accouÌ„pted a rich wealty man wel able to keepe house among his neighbors which all things discharged was clearely worth xxx or xl l' but in these our dayes y â— man of y â— estimation is so far in the coÌ„mon opinioÌ„ from a good houskeeper or man of wealth y â— he is reputed the
next neighbor to a begger Wherefore these ii reasons seemed vnto me to cōtain in them sufficient probability for causes of the continuaunce of this generall dearth Knigh◅ Yea but sir if the increase of treasure be partly the occasion of this continued dearth then by likelyhood in other our neighbors nations vnto whom yearely is conuayghed great store of gold and siluer the pryces of victayles and other wares in like sorte raysed according to the increase of their treasure D◅ctor It is euen so and therefore to vtter freely myne Opinion as I accoumpt it a matter very hard for the difficulties aboue rehersed to reuoke or call backe agayne all our Enlish◅ wares vnto their old prices so doe I not take it to be either profitable or conuenient for the Realme excepte wee would wishe that our commodities should bee vttered good cheape to straūgers and theirs on y ◠other side deare vnto vs which could not be without great impouerishing of the Commonweale in a very shorte time Knight Now that you haue so well touched the occasion of this derth and what is to be hoped or wished of y ◠same so fully that I am well satisfied withall I pray you sh◅we me the remedies of this great Inclosiers whereof all the realme complaineth of so much and hath complayned long vpon For you haue well perswaded how it is a meane of greate desolation of this real◅ne and that is longe of y ◠great profit that men haue by pasture ouer y ◠they haue by tillage y ◠they turne so much to pasture Now I would fayne heare how it might be remedied againe for I haue hearde this matter of long time often reasoned vpon aswell in Parliament as in Coūsayles yet small remedy found therefore that tooke effect Doctor If I then after so many wise heades as were in those Parliaments and Counsailes would take vpon me to correct as they say Magnificat to finde a remedy for this thinge which they could neuer doe I might be reckened very arrogant Knight Yet tell your phantasie therein for though you misse of the right meane to reforme that it shall be no more shame for you to doe so then it was for so many wise men as yee speake of to misse Doctor You say truth and since I speake nothing in this part y ◠I would haue takē as it were for a law or determined thing but as a certayn motion for other wise men to cōsider to admit or reiect as to their better reason shall seeme good therefore as yee haue boldned me already w t your patience to say thus farre I will not spare to declare my minde in this But still I must keepe my grounde that I spake of that is to try out the effectuall cause of this inclosures and then by taking away of the cause to redresse the thinge Knight I pray you doe so for to mee it seemes very reasonable that ye say and agreeable to that I heard a good Ph◅tion tell me ones when I was sicke of an ague when I asked him why he gaue me purgati◅s that made me yet weaker then ◅ was being weake inough already saying hee had more neede to geue me thinges that should make me stronger Then he answered me that choler was the cause of my sickenes and that hee gaue me those purgations to auoyde this humour which being the cause of my disease ones taken away the sickenes should be ridde from mee with all And therfore I pray you vse your accustomed order in this matter and tel the cause of these Inclosures Doctor I shewed you before in our communication in the Garden the thinges that I thought to be the cause thereof and partely the remedy of the same Knight So did other men among vs tell their fantasie as then but nowe we pray you tell which of al those causes ye take for the necessary and efficient cause of this matter Doctor To tell you plaine it is auarice y t I take for y ◠principall cause thereof but can we deuise y t all couetousnes can be taken frō men No no more thē we can make men to be without wealth without gladnes without feare and wythoute all affections what then we must take away from men the occasion of their couetousnes in this part what is that the ◅xceeding luker that they see grow by these inclosures more then by their husbandry And that may bee done by any of these two meanes y t I will tell you Either by the minishing the luker that men haue by gasing Or els by aduaunsing of the profit of husbandry til it be as good and as profitable to the occupiers as grasing is for euery mā as Plato saith is naturally couetous of luker And y t wherin they see most luker they wil most gladly exercise I shewed you before that there is more luker by grasing of x. Acres to y e occupier alone then is in y ◠tillage of xx And y ◠causes therof be many one is y ◠grasing requires small charge smal labor which in tillage cōsumes much of y e mēs gains though it be true y ◠the tillage of x. acres brings more gaines generally amongs the maister all his mainy then the grasing of xx acres Another great cause is that whatsoeuer thing is rered vpon grasing hath free vente hoth ouer this side also beyond the sea to be sold at the highest penny It is cōtrary of all thinges reared by tillage for it requires both great charge of seruaunts of labor And also if any good cheape be of corne it paieth scant for the charge of y ◠tillage And then if the market do arise either within y ◠Realme or without the poore husband shalbe so restrained frō sellyng his corn y ◠he neuer after shal haue any ioy to set his plough in the ground whych maketh euery man forsake tillage and fall to grasing which bringeth all these Inclosures Knight Now what remedy for that Doctor Mary as for the first poynt that is touching the vnequal charges of tillage and grasing that can not be holpen in al pointes by reason the nature of both reapes the contrarye Therefore the latine tongue calles the one that is pasture pratum that is asmuch to say as paratum ready But thee other thinge might be remedied that y t husbandmā mighte haue asmuch liberty at all times to sel his corne either with in the Realme or without as the grasiers hath to fell hys which would make the husbandmen more willing to occupy theyr plough And other seeing them thriue would turn theyr pasture to tyllage And though it enhaunse the market for the time yet would it cause much more tillage to be vsed and consequentely more Corne within time of plētye within this Realme might brynge in much treasure And in time of◅ arsity would suffice for y ◠realme as shewed you before And this
approued and sealed by the Towne that they are lymitted vnto And by these two meanes that is to say fyrste by staying of wares wrought beyond sea which might bâ—…e wrought within vs from comming in to be sold. Secondly by restraining of our wolles tinne felles other commodityes from passing ouer vnwroughte And thirdly by brynging in vnder the correctioÌ„ of good towns artificers dwelling in the countreies making wares to be sole outward those wares to be viewed and sealed by the towne seale before they shoulde bee solde I woulde thynke oure Townes myght bee soone restored to theyr auncyent Wealth or far bettered if they would follow this Knight Now we pray you go to the last matter ye spake of how these diuersitie of opynions may be taken away which troubles the people very sore and makes greate sedition and de uision amonge them and in maner makes debate betwene neighbour neighbour the Father and hys Son y â— man and his Wyfe whych is yet more to bee feared then all other the foresayd losses of worldly goods For if wee were neuer so poore and did neuerthelesse agree amonges our selues wee should lycke oure selues hoale againe in short space Doctor Yee say truth with concord weake thinges doe encrease 〈◊〉 big And contrarywise with discorde strong things waxe weake And it must needes be true that truth it selfe sayth Euery kingdome deuided in it selfe shalbee desolate Wherefore I cannot forbeare to shewe you my poore opinion how so great a mischiefe as this is may bee auoyded out of this our common Weale stil I will vse one trade as in seeking out the oryginall cause and by takinge awaye of that to shewe the remedye I take the chiefe cause hereof aswel the sinnes of theÌ„ that be the ministers of Christs holy word and misteries as of you that bee the flocke And firste of ours that haue swarued altogether froÌ„ their due course order and profession to all kinde of liberality not onely to the basenes of lay men but far inferiour to them in pryde couetousnes and such Wherefore yee lay men seeing in vs no excellency in our maners in deede thinke vs vnworthye to bee your Leaders and Pastors or to whose doctryne yee shoulde gieue credence whome yee see in lyuing far discrepant from the same And therefore ye take vpon you y â— iudgment of spirituall thinges to whom iâ—… doth not appertain As one inconuenience draweth euer another after him for ' so long as the ministers of the church were of those maners conuersation agreeable with theyr doctryne So long all men yea the greatest prynces of the worlde and the wysest meÌ„ wer conteÌ„t to beleue our doctrine to obey vs in things concerning y e 〈◊〉 since we fel froÌ„ the perfection of life we grew out of credit y e holy doctrine of Chryst suffered slaunder by our sinful liuing So we haue gieuen the fyrste occasion of this euil yee haue taken it as an instrumeÌ„t to worke this scysme withal And though both do euil therin yet the remedy ought to begin at the roote of this mischyef which I take to bee in the ministers pastors spirituall And to be playne with you and no more to dissemble oure ownefaultes then I haue done yours except wee reforme our selues fyrst I can haue no greate trust to see this generall scysme and deuision in religion vtterly taken away it may percase wyth authority be for a time appeased but ne uer so as it sprynge not vp againe except wee reforme oure selues fyrst Knight Mary and I thinke yee haue bene wel disciplined corrected already so as yee had good cause to bee reformed as by taking much of your possessions from you and in burdening of your benefices with subsidies as well annuall as proportional and other wayes What other reformation would yee haue more Doctor Yea no doubte wee haue had beating inoughe if that would haue serued but some maisters w t litle beating will teach theyr schollers better theÌ„ other wyth more strypes caÌ„ do and agayne some schollers will be reformed wiâ—…h lesse beating then other So you and we do now you in beating inough but litle teaching and wee agayne little regardyng the 〈◊〉 dolearne as litle For notwithstanding these pu nishments that we haue had the reproches and reuylinge and opening of our faultes see how many of vs haue reformed our selues yea so much as in our outwarde duties whereunto we are bound both by gods lawe and our cannons lawes and decrees how many moe of vs haue resorted to our 〈◊〉 to be resident thereon which not onely by the sayd lawes but also vpon greate penalties wee are bounde vnto by the lawes of this Realme How many lesse now then before haue studied to heape â—… 〈◊〉 vpon Benefice when wee bee scante able to discharge one of them what better tryall or examination is there nowe in admyttyng of ministers of the church What more exacte searche is made by our Bishops for worthy men to be admitted to the cure of soules What letter execution of our cannons and decrees doth our Bishoppes Deanes and Archdearons in their visitations now then they did before Yea what better hospitality residence or ministration eyther of the word or of their other duties do our prelates and Byshops now then they did before doe they not lurke in theyr mansions manour places far from theyr cathedral churches as they were wont and scant ones a yeare wil see their principall church where they ought to be continually resident be they not in a maner as vnmeete for preaching the word of God as euer they were for all these plagues that God sendes to them but they are so blynded that they cannot see wherefore they be thus punished construe it to be for other causâ—…s as by the couetousnes of lay men in desiringe theyr Possâ—…ssions by a hatred conceiued agaynste them for not obteyning theyr purpose at men of the Churches hand Or for that they cannot abyde the correction of the church or such other causes as they imagine with theÌ„selues And thinke that the indignation against theÌ„ shortly will slacke of it selfe But I pray God it doe not rather encrease as I feare me it wil except wee amend vs the rather How can men be content to pay y t tenth of theyr goods which they get with theyr sore labour and sweate of theyr browes when they cannot haue for it againe neither ghostly comforte nor bodely what layman wil be any thing scrupelus to keepe those tythes in his owne handes when hee sees vs do nothyng more then he for it What credite wyll any man gieue to our doctrine whom thâ—…y see so lighte in lyuing what reuerence will they gieue our personnes in whose maners they see no grauity But to passe froÌ„ these matters to others There be most goâ—…ly ordinauÌ„ces made by our lawes by authority of Counsailes generally that all Atchdeacons should visite in