A Health to the Gentlemanly profession of Seruingmen or The Seruingmans Comfort With other thinges not impertinent to the Premisses as well pleasant as profitable to the courteous Reader Felix qui socij nauim perijsse procellis cum vidit in tutum flectit sua carbasa portum Imprinted at London by W. W. 1598. The Epistle to the gentle Reader of what estate or calling soeuer GEntle Reader whether adorned with the royall Roabes of true Nobilitie or apparrelled with the gorgious Garmentes of Gentilitie pardon I pray these my vnpolished lines vnrip not I beseech you the mistaken stitches of this botcherit neither sensure seuerely the vnsauerie taste of this Loafe being Primogeniti the first batch of my baking But if you finde any thing herein conteyned displeasing your humours say with the Doctor in Cambridge What was it I he meant No he named not mee he spake it not by mee he knoweth mee not How should he then be priuate to any of my doinges No no I am none of these miserable Maisters that so inhumanely burieth in obliuion vnrewarded the long good and duetifull seruice of my olde Seruant But if you be such as either thus or otherwyse abuseth those good creatures that God hath lent you I meane these earthly commaunders Golde and Siluer Let these my cauiats worke some remorse of conscience and play not the gauled Horse that kicketh and winseth his sore being once touched to burst out into vngentlemanlike tearmes agaynst the Authour being with his worke displeased For assure your selues and before God I protest I speake not against one in particuler neither against all in generall vpon a malepart or presumptuous minde as not caring who are offended with my doinges but carefull least I should offende any or incurre their displeasures by my presumptuous enterprise I humbly as before pray pardon Thinke not Gentlemen that whereas I speake any thing of Maisters hard vsage of their Seruantes or of any auncient familiaritie betwixt them that thereby I woulde giue any incouragement to the Seruant to be negligent in his duetie or by malepart sawcinesse to abuse that reuerence that he oweth vnto his Maister for God is my recorde be it farre from mee that I shoulde once dreame of so inhumane and sedicious a practise For I protest for my owne part yf I should serue the meanest Carman that whistleth after his Horse and be bound by his wages to call him Maister I would not skorne to do him any reuerence and duetie that by my place and calling were to be required at my handes Therefore gentle Gentlemen since curtesie is alwayes the companion of true Gentilitie courteously I pray you consider of me and my doinges And now Reader if you by degree deserue the name of a Yeoman submissiuely without hautines of hart I pray your patience in perusing this my first practise for I hold your calling no lesse commendable and your profession no lesse pertinent to the supportyng of this humane societie then them of higher dignitie and degree For What is the Prince without the Plough or the Potentate without the Pasture Doth not the one affoorde them Corne the other Kine with all other prouision for their bodyly sustenaunce Since therefore gentle Reader yf Yeoman you be one that I shall happily haue somewhat to say to in this folowing Treatise I pray as before your patience that if you finde any thing therein amisse either in vnmanerly tearmes or otherwyse that you would passe it ouer with silence and impute it to ignoraunce and not to be done of any malicious or set purpose or els to say with your selues In aliena republica ne sis curiosus It is not good to scalde ones lyppes in other mens Pottage Since he speaketh neither by me of me nor agaynst me nor any thing that consernes me why should I spurne agaynst his speches or hate him for his harsh harmonie Let them that are galled kicke and them that are wounded seeke remedie But yf you be such as your guyltie conscience perswades you that what as is spoken is meant by you for it is an olde saying Concius ipse sibi de se putat omnia dici the guyltie conscience thinkes what as is sayd is alwayes spoken himselfe to vpbrayde Then worthely waigh and consider whether you be iustly accused and complayned of or no and yf you finde your selfe to haue offended in such and such thinges and that what hath been sayd of you you haue worthely deserued then be content to bite the lyp wincke at small faultes and mende that is amisse for if you manifest your malice in any opprobrious speaches against the Authour of this worke then you shall pronounce a definitiue sentence of condemnation against your selfe as worthy to haue deserued all and more then herein is conteyned For be it knowen vnto you and all other of higher or inferiour degree that I haue not touched any of the better sort neither any that are men well meriting for their mindes and manners but such as are mates of no merite and as haue condingly deserued more then I can say against them but if any of what estate or degree so euer shall murmure against mee I will say vnto him as Christ said to the men that brought the woman taken in adulterie before him to be stoned to death Hee that hath not offended let him throw the first stone So he that will acknowledge himselfe touched herewith let him cast the first stone let him the first seeke remedie and reuenge but before he seeke reuenge it were good he knew who had wronged him And if he thinke I haue wronged him by speaking any thing against him then let him come to me and know whether I ment it by him or no and I will not onely resolue him of that doubt but also pacifie his impatient humour Therefore gentle Reader I expect a pardon of course if I haue offended by ignoraunce which I vndoubtedly perswade my selfe to receaue at your handes and so I leaue you to your labours which I pray God may yeelde you a plentifull increase Now curtuous surueyour of these barren Landes nay barren and mosse-begrowen lines if thou beest my fellow in fraternitie a Seruingman to thee I addresse my petition if you be a Gentleman borne and a Seruingman by profession if in reading this my Booke you shall happely stumble on any vnsauerie sentence that may mislike your taste pocket I pray you this iniurie as I may tearme it since God is my witnes I meane you no harme but rather pray for your preferment and wysh your welfare then by any meanes to seeke your indignitie or disgrace And if gentle Reader thou be a Yeomans sonne that hath with the complet Armour of foure Markes and a Lyuerie entered the lystes to play the pryses of a Seruingman shall in this my Booke finde a lumpe too much leauened that a weake and queasie stomacke can hardly disgest I pray thee perswade thy selfe that it is
thereof equall partaker What was the difference then wyll some say betwixt the Maister and the Man yf their pleasures were equall for then it had been as good to haue been a Seruant as a Soueraigne a Man as a Maister euen this was one and all that parted the Potentates power and the Seruingmans profession the one did commaunde the other was to obey the due obedience to which commaunde was had in so reuerent regarde and the Seruant so fearefull to offende his Maister no seruile but as it were a filiall feare as the Maister was almost as carefull in his commaunde as the Seruant diligent in his duetie For in these dayes what greater loue could almost be found then betwixt the Maister and the Seruant it was in maner equall with the Husbandes to the Wyfe and the Childes to the Parent for testimonie whereof there are infinite examples to be alleadged as in the prescription of the triumuerie of Marcus Lepidus Marcus Anthonius and Octauius Cesar in the Romane ciuile warres where Naso condemned by their prescription was by one of his Seruants kept safe in an hill the sayd Seruant going to the Sea side to hyre his Maister a Boate for his more safe passage and speedy escape and at his returne perceauing his Maister by the strikers to be killed he cryed aloude vnto him hauing yet a lytle life Stay a whyle O Maister quoth he and sodaynely stroke the Captayne and killed him then comming agayne to his Maister killed him selfe saying O Maister you haue receaued comfort An other in the same tyme of persecution and tryall of frindes hauing a fayre shadowed Uineyarde and in it a goodly Caue deepe and large for the which peraduenture he was condemned by chaunce refreshing him selfe in the sayd Caue one of his Seruantes perceauing the quellers yet a farre off which came to finysh his Maisters tragidie for the pure loue and sinceere affection that he bore to his Maister hid him safely as he thought in the secret place of the Denne and furnished him selfe with his Maisters apparrell feigning to be hee euen offeryng him selfe to the death for his Maisters safetie O rare examples worthy of euerlastyng memorie What greater goodwil What purer loue or more sinceere affection can be found amongst any consort of creatures then this O happie Seruantes that had your beeing in those goulden dayes when Maisters would merite such maruels at your hands and thrise happie Maisters that past your pilgrimage in those blessed houres when by your loue and liberalitie you tyed your Seruantes with this vndessolueable bonde of assured friendshyp euen to deserue and merite the full measure of your good will towardes them Infinite are the examples as I sayd before that may be alledged in this matter onely these two I holde sufficient to confirme this argument since none but will confesse this loue and affection to be auncient and of long continuance Yea but will some say these examples are olde and long is it since this loue and affection was thus in the highest degree made manifest and the tryall of friendshyp thus exercised shew me some examples of late yeeres for the more credite of your cause or els some reasons why these examples should not be as plentifull in these latter dayes as in former tyme. To this Obiection I answere thus There be two especiall causes that hath vntwyned this knott and euen cancelled this firme Obligaton exchanging it for a single Biâ—â—l The first is the compounding of this pure and refined mettall whereof Seruingmen were first framed with vntryed dregges and drosse of lesse esteeme The seconde is the death and decay of Liberalitie or Rewarde for well doing But I wyll omit to vnrippe the bowelles of these reasons tyll tyme and place of fitter oportunitie be offered since I haue not as yet finished the seconde part of this tractate which is onely to declare the florishyng dayes of the prime of this profession I haue before declared how this seruice was in no sort seruile nor the paynes belonging it any pennance but they ioyed as much in their libertie florished as fresh in their profession as any other of what sort degree or callyng soeuer their fare was alwayes of the best their apparrell fine neate handsome and comly their credite and esteeme alwayes equall with their birth and callyng in good regarde their exercises or dayly labours nothyng but pleasure their head so smally troubled with carpe and care of worldly Coyne and them selues so farre from miserie pennurie scarcitie or beggerie harboured in the hauen of happinesse swimming in the calme neyther too deepe nor too shallow supported by these good patrons their Maisters neither soaryng to high nor dyuing too deepe neither Prince nor begger floryshing in this their estate being as it were euen the meane or midwarde of all degrees and callinges as I verily thinke they were the happiest consort of Companions and the least troubled tradesmen in the prime of their profession that belonged this Mundaine market O what pleasure belonged Seruingmen in those dayes when the great Chamber was serued the Hauls cryer with a Hoe yes summoned all good fellowes to appeare vpon an allarum at which battayle the boordes end was euer battered with the gunshot of Good-stomackes where the chine of Beefe the hagstocke to these Carpenters was hewen and squared into diuers parcels for seuerall purposes And the blacke Iacke merily trowlyng from one to another well lyned with the lyquor of lyfe moystened and molified the malecontent humors of these merrie mates to their Maisters credice and their owne comfort But mee thinkes I heare the maligners of this mysterie or profession lyke Momus mates murmure saying to them selues He telleth vs of their delicate diet handsome habite and pleasant passing the Sommer of their yeeres But when this lustie 〈◊〉 begunne with the Moone to wane and that crooked olde age had eclipsed the bright Sunshyne of their golden dayes with duskie blacke Cloudes of darke morpheus I meane when that stealing Time had consumed the oyle of their Lampes and euery ioynt begunne to grow starke not able to supply his former place what course then they tooke to maynteine them selues from miserie in this their greatest necessitie he doth omit as a thing altogeather impertinent to this discourse but in my iudgement a thing most necessarie amongst them to be considered and the very marke whereat they ought chieflyest to ayme for els who is so simple but will confesse that the Seruingmans profession in regarde of their pleasure and ease is to be preferred before diuers sortes of people of more wealth and greater abilitie yf their ende were not miserie pennurie scarcitie and almost beggerie For I holde it an infallible rule An olde Seruingman a young Begger What Gentleman now a dayes that giueth wages and lyueries doth not looke his Seruant shoulde deserue them and when the Seruant is olde and crooked and altogeather vnable to helpe him selfe how much more is he then vnable
breeches make their apparance what personage so euer they retayne to they shal haue moe Caps and lowe Legges then the Lord Maior of Applebie within his whole limit precinct or corporation But yf he be such a cunning Lapidarie as can discerne cullours and tell the nature and vertue of euery Stone by his outwarde appearance then I woulde gladly yf I myght make so bolde with him craue his companie to walke Paules in a Terme tyme and yf his shooes be not too neare worne foote it downe to Westminster haull by land in which perambulation yf he can rightly discipher the nature of euery golde Lace and the vertue of euery silke Stocking at the first blush nay after long perusing the same yf he can shew me by their royall Roabes and gorgious Garmentes the Noble man and Gentleman from the Uerser Setter Cros biter and Cunnie-catcher then I will yeelde to his saying and learne some of his cunning that I may euer hereafter know my duetie the better and spare my Cappe Legge from such mates of no merite as many tymes I lende them vnto vnknowne But surely I holde him in a great errour that thinkes him selfe thus cunnyng and no lesse able to performe this by his skill I meane to know euery estate by his habite then the Alcumistes vnable by their Philosophers Stone to make a metamorphosis of euery mettall and turne all into Golde that they therewith touch And whereas he alleadgeth that the Seruingmen and attendantes do alwayes bewray the Nobleman and Gentleman what he is that I deny for fallet hec regula quociescunque I meete a Gentleman that may dispende yeerely by his reuenues .2000 poundes of good and lawfull Englysh money with onely one Boy at his heeles walking vp Ludgate hill and by that tyme I come to Paules middle walke I shall see Sir Dauie Debet with .vi. or .viii. tall fellowes attending him whetting their kniues redie to dine with Duke Humfrie but though they be sharpe set they may take leasure enough for there all lirching is barde by and maine But yf their hard Commons were the worst that might be mended with after noones batling for there is good Ale and Bread in Paules pettie Cannons but there is a sore Giant a Sargent I meane with whom they must wrastle yf Pater noster Row be no better to them then Creede Lane yf then sir Iohn Makeshift whose last acre lyes morgaged to the mercie of sise sincke hath many times .vi. or .viii. tall fellowes attending him and an auncient Gentleman that hath fayre landes and great reuenues whose onely studie is Arithmatique and therein most practised in multiplication and the goulden number manneth him selfe with onely one Boy How should it be possible to discerne this difference and know the one from the other the Gentleman from the Swashbuckler by his apparrel attendants and companie But what is the reason may some say that a Gentleman of great worth and abilitie doth walke nowadayes so slenderly attended and a new vpstart Caueliro whose Fathers chiefe Badge or Cognisance was the Weauers Shuttle or the Taylors Sheares will tread the streetes so stately attended and so gallantly garded with a sort of seemely yf so I may tearme them and floryshing fayre Cloakes as though he were the Prince of Peacockes or Marques of some stately Moulhill Mary euen this The losse of Liberalitie in the one and the power of Prodigalitie in the other for yf the Gentleman of high regarde and esteeme were not too studious in these two branches of the art of Arithmetique Multiplication and the Goulden number yf I say Liberalitie the badge and cognisaunce of true Nobilitie and worshyp were not by his power authoritie committed to common Gaole then would he preferring worth before wayght walke more worthely attended garded gallantly with a sort of seemely Seruantes alwayes well appoynted aswell to shew his power as to grace his person And syr Henrie Hadland yf he would well waygh and consider how many dayes nay weekes monethes and yeeres his father spent in sore toyle and trauayle euery houre and moment day and nyght carping caring how of patches to make a weareable garment and scrape some Crownes into his Coffers whereby he with his posteritie might be more able to maynteine themselues in their trade and calling neighbourlike would neuer so prodigally and carelesly spende consume and make hauocke in one Winter of that which so many yea and fruitefull Sommers before had yeelded This prodigalitie procureth a double miserie a miserable want in the ende to them that so carelesly consumes their patrimonie and meere miserie to the couetous Cormorant for sayth he Felix quem socij nanim periisse procellis cum vidit in tutum flectit sua carbasa portim it is good to be rich a man may be yoore when he will So by the example of this prodigall person he that hath wherwith to maynteyne himselfe in very Gentlemanlike sort with men about him for his credite being descended of an auncient house and worthy parentage burieth in obliuion his state and dignitie and becomming a very seruile slaue and thraull to this donghyll drosse his golde and money leadeth his lyfe in most miserable maner Where is then this Liberalitie become that hath been in former tyme so highly esteemed Looke in the .vii. Chapter of Ecclesiasticus and there you shall finde a friendly perswasion Be liberall vnto all men much more then vnto your Seruantes Attendantes meriting and deseruing this your liberalitie And in an other place of the same Chapter he sayth You Maisters restraine not your Seruants of their libertie and be sure you leaue not your faythfull Seruant a poore man O how many Gentlemen in these dayes doth respect this woorthy saying or haue that care of their faythfull Seruants that this place of Scripture doth commaund sure they are few or none The liberall Maister is a rare Phenix so that the saying of Elias may well in these our dayes be verified There is none not one left in all Israel that feareth the Lord and worketh righteousnes Euen so it may be sayd There is none no not one in this age that beareth that loue in Liberalitie towardes his Seruantes that he in goodwill ought or they by duetie do dayly merite But it may be sayd to mee as the Lord sayd to Elias I haue not onely seuen but seuentie times seuen Seruantes in Israel that hath not bowed their knees to Ball though vnto Elias they were thought so small a number Euen so not onely seuen but seuentie times seuen Gentlemen in whom the ancient vertue the badge and crest of true Nobilitie euen Liberalitie it selfe doth budde blossome and beare her accustomed fruite in due season as in former ages This number is since by tract of tyme much lessened and impayred but howsoeuer sure I am that Liberalitie as I sayd before is eyther quite dead banyshed or els playes least in sight as Banckroutes that walkes narrow lanes or
of their soueraintie thought it very meete and necessarie to chose and ordayne one sort of Seruantes for their profite and pleasure ouer and besides their seruile sottes as Dicke to droyle Ralph to runne Kit the Cater with other Gouldsmythes of their occupation which sort of Seruantes were knowen from the rest by the names of Seruingmen Now being come to their names it is necessarie to know of what mettall these ministers were moulded and what sort of people were thought fittest for this frame considering the ende for which they were ordayned First they were chosen men of witte discretion gouernment and good bringing vp considering their Soueraignes Lordes and Maisters serious busines waightie affayres and worldly wealth was for the most part committed to their custodie and care Whose vigilant eye willing minde and faythfull forecast diligently to discharge that duetie was thought so necessarie as choyce they were of them they admitted to this calling Secondly men of vâ—â—loure and courage not fearing to fight in the mayntenance of their Maisters credite in his iust quarrell against his forraine foe if occasion were offered and also if any Countries causes called him abrode to garde and defende him agaynst Newmarket Heathes commissioners or any consories of their craft Thirdly men of strength actiuitie to be excellent in shooting running leaping dauncing pitching the Barte throwing the Hammer or other feates of lyke facultie wherewith Potentates in times past were highly pleased Fourthly men fine neate and nimble in regarde of their nearenes about their Maister his apparel and cates for the Clowne the Slouen and Tom althummes are as farre vnfit for this profession as Tarletons toyes for Paule Pulpit betwixt which though I make a comparison yet to the place I reserue a reuerend regarde Fiftly and lastly men of qualitie to be seene in haulking hunting fyshing and fowling with all such like Gentlemanly pastimes All which being required in a Seruingman and naturally belonging to a Gentleman Amongst what sort of people should then this Seruingman be sought for Euen the Dukes sonne preferred Page to the Prince the Earles seconde sonne attendant vpon the Duke the Knights seconde sonne the Earles Seruant the Esquires sonne to weare the Knightes lyuerie and the Gentlemans sonne the Esquiers Seruingman Yea I know at this day Gentlemen younger brothers that weares their elder brothers Blew coate and Badge attending him with as reuerend regard and duetifull obedience as if he were their Prince or Soueraigne Where was then in the prime of this profession goodman Tomsons Iacke or Robin Roushe my gaffer russetcoats seconde sonne the one holding the Plough the other whipping the Carthorse labouring like honest men in their vocation Tricke Tom the Taylor was then a Tiler for this trade as strange to finde a Blew-coate on his backe with a badge on his sleeue as to take Kentstreete without a Scoulde or Newmarket-heath without a Commissioner But now being lapt in his Liuerie he thinketh him selfe as good a man with the Sheares at his backe as the Poet Lawret with a penne in his eare Notwithstanding for his profession I holde it profitable and him selfe a good member yf his Sheares do not canker nor his Needle rust And if there must be one amongst artificers Coblers and Carters chosen felow of this facultie I holde the Taylor not vnfittest First in regard his trade tyeth him to no vncleanlines and secondly that his Maisters apparell be kept in reparations for nothing more vnseemely in a ciuile Gentleman then his apparell out of repayre torne or broken Agayne yf he be a felow of an humble spirit he may pleasure his friendes and profite him selfe his friendes I meane his felow seruantes without blot or stayne to his birth or trade Two thinges it should seeme were holden in high regard amongst the founders of this fraternitie of Seruingmen the preseruation of ancient Houses and the mayntenance of the Commons in their calling First for the vpholding of Hospitalitie or auncient Houses a Gentleman by antiquitie or an Esquire by his calling waighing and worthyly considering his wealth worshyp in this wauering worlde of wretchednes hauing by Gods prouidence sent him .vi. or .viii. Sonnes proper personable men wel meriting for their myndes and manners callyng I say to mynde the credite he caryed in his Countrey the men he mainteined the poore prouided for by pence from his purse the blacke Iack ietting from haul to butterie from butterie to barrel from barrel backe for the hauls health where good felowes dyuing into the deapth of this ditch leaues in the bottome this inscription God saue the founders Of all these with many moe the good Gentleman meditating in his minde sayes with him selfe If I shall leaue my Land and liuing my Kine and Coyne equally deuided amongst my children imparcially proporcioning to euery one his part the youngest to the heire and eldest no way inferiour for worldly fortune then shall the dignitie of my degree the hope of my house the mayntenance of these before mentioned members be quite as Issue extinct buried in the bottomles pit of obliuion What shall the light of my Lampe for want of Oyle be blemished and my House for want of Lyuing sustayne the reprochfull name of a Mock-begger Virtus post funera viuit And shall I not leaue my name noted in the booke of ensuing ages Yes yes verely Thou my eldest Sonne that shall suruiue thy dying father holde heere wholly my Land I leaue thee that my name may remayne registred in thy posteritie thy byrthright by holy writ doth challenge it Let therefore the example of Esaw be euer coated in the margent Let couetousnes neuer corrupt thee nor pleasures so much preuayle as for Pottage to hazard thy Parentage but let thy minde and manners be euer equally matched according to thy birth calling that thy fathers foregoing may teach thee to folow Maynteine thy right loose no part of that which the law of libertie hath allotted thee According to thy abilitie mainteyne Hospitalitie for that is the harbourer of two hopes prayse prayers yet let Liberalitie be the Linke to light thee least Couetousnes might corrupt or Prodigalitie procure penurie in medio concistet virtus euery meane betwixt two extreames is a vertue so is liberalitie betwixt auarice and prodigalitie being placed this meane in al musicke yeelds a most heauenly harmonie Thus not doubting but in thee to liue after my Funerals be solemnized committing the honour of my House to the care of thy credite and thee with it to the tuition of thalmightie And you my younger sonnes to whom I allow no lesse loue then the law of nature doth allot I giue euery one of you yeerely to mainteyne you from miserie an annual rent during your natural liues with payment of which rent your eldest brothers land shall remayne charged so that the Legasie I leaue you you may assuredly receaue exceede not your exhibition but liue within compasse tyll your care
Goodman c. Wherefore such as haue eyther been brought vp in Learning and so made fit for this Forme or them that a purili etate haue been practisers of this science I will make bolde to place amongst these Gentlemanly Seruingmen for Cicero sayth It is more honoure and credite to be the first Gentleman of the name then so to ende as his posteritie cannot challenge for their inheritance that worthy tytle And for my owne part I thinke the Scholler howsoeuer borne deserues alwayes the name of a Gentleman Therefore filing these as I sayd before vpon the roule of right Seruingmen I will returne agayne where I left What inconuenience doth grow by this controuersie may easely be seene knowne and vnderstoode First for the aspyring minde of the Countreyman that will needes be lapt in a Lyuerie this mischiefe foloweth his madnesse dearth scarcitie famine and hunger For I will prooue by good reason that the Yeomans Sonne leauing his dayly labour to which from his infancie he hath been trayned and taking vpon him the degree of a Seruingman breedeth as many inconueniences in the Commonwealth as want of exercises begetteth diseases in a corpulent body For the Yeomans sonne as I sayd before leauing gee haygh for Butlor some moe fayre Trenchers to the Table bringeth these ensuing vleers amongst the members of this Common body First whereas he him selfe by the sweate of his browes and dayly hand labour was able to digge yeerely from the wombe of the earth so much belly timber as was able to sustaine and satisfie the hungry mouthes of vi.viii or .x. of his Fathers familie or neighbours neare dwelling and so much backe prouision as would hill happe or couer them in seemely sort according to their Countreys callyng This hand that was so well imployed Non sibi solum sed suis now by change of his vocation becomming idle not any way gettyng meate for his owne mouth the â—â—eelie soules that were by his industrie before fully fedde must of necessitie now perysh with famine and starue for want of clothing for that the meanes of their mayntenance is now thus metamorphosed for the hand of any man scorning his office to feede his mouth the whole body of necessitie must perysh euen so this body this hand thus disdayning his duetie Agayne this is an other enormitie that hereof proceedeth This hand that maynteyned vi viii or .x. as I sayd before ceasseth not only to do this good to his Countrey but also in processe of tyme by changing his vocation breedeth and begetteth a further mischiefe and inconuenience to the hurt and hinderance of the Common wealth as after by circumstances I shall declare For hauing thus altered his vocation he must alter his habite countenance conditions qualities cogitations and what not he must as well as he can make satisfaction for the Queenes currant English before by him clipped he must now make it full wayght good and currant lawfull English His habite must now be fashionate in proportion and cullour Northeren Carsies not now weareable in Breetches for it will shrinke and the fashion is now to haue Uenetians of the largest sise yf they will not holde a bushell a breetch they are not saleable in Birtchen lane For Kentish russet it is no cullour it will make no shew in a Countrey Church But the best Broad-cloth and newest coloure must couer this late Countrey Courtier His pase it must not be tother Legge totherway and tother Legge totherway as he was wont to throw them when he turned his Cattle from Plough to Pasture making Indentures all along the ditches But his gate and iesture of his body must be direct and vpright treading as true as though he would tell what paces are in a Furlong His curtesie with Cappe and Legge must be as his Apparrell of the newest fashion with all other the rites and ceremonies belonging to this new taken vp trade no small tyme he spendes before he be in this an artist and meane while his senses are so besotted as he quite forgetteth how to holde the Plough or whip the Carthorse and for the cunning in this craft not one amongst an hundred of them euer in all his life time attayneth to the knowledge of his duetie for Ethiopcum lauare is an endlesse laboure euen so to make a Foxe tayle a blowing Horne or of a Countrey Clowne a sufficient Seruingman For Quo semel est imbuta recâ—â—ns seruabit odorem testa diu He that till twentie is brought vp to Plow What seruice in Pâ—â—rlor can he do thinke yow Is it possible to bende or how a strong Oke as a young Sapline or to teach the olde fyngers that are growen styffe and starke to their full age to play vpon any musicall Instrument with such facilitie and leauinesse of ioyntes as the young Fingers that are nimble and to any thing tractable in regarde they are but grystles and sinewes vngrowen Euen such is the impossibilitie to make the Countreyman that hath been brought vp in Husbandry and other bodyly labour whose handes tongue and all the rest of his members haue been dayly and hourely imployed to one and the same kinde of exercise now to aulter and change euery office of his sayd members and them to imploy in seuerall and vnknowne exercises But some may obiect and say You make such a mysterie of your profession and such cunning to belong it as without a man haue all his members apt neate and nimble as his Handes plyant to seuerall purposes his Tongue eloquent to obiect answere or discourse pleasantly his Person and iesture handsome and comely his Wit Discretion and Courage answerable to all the rest of his partes as yf he want these nay any one of these he is Seruus nomine nâ—â—nâ—â—re He is a Seruingman in name but not in deede I holde you are much mistaken for yf a man can place a Dysh fyll a Boule and carrie his Maisters Rapier what more is or can be required at his handes And yf this be all in all to discharge that duetie what blunt fellow how brutishly soeuer he hath been brought vp but can and may learne quickly to discharge so much as is here required O foolysh obiection and thrise sottysh surmise no lesse simple then meere simplicitie it selfe not much vnlyke the Popysh Priestes of the olde Learnyng as the say which thought them selues worthy nay sufficient to discharge a place in the Ministerie and take orders yf they could say or sing by roate or otherwyise the olde Confitemini or Nunc dimittis seruum tuum domine though they coulde better sing the whole Masse then decline Dimittis But as the olde verse is worthy notyng and true in deede that Qui bene can bene con bene le presviter debet esse and none els no none ought to take vpon them that function vnlesse they could reade well sing well and expounde well So none ought in my iudgement to take vpon hym the degree of a
Seruingman vnlesse he be furnished with those qualities and partes that before I haue set downe belonging a Seruingman and befitting his profession And yf it be then requisite in a Seruingman that he should be of wit discretion gouernment and good bringing vp fine neate nimble and well qualited to discharge those dueties which before I haue set downe belonged him and were required at his handes in the prime of his ordeyning and for those qualities was so called to that place as without them nay euery of them he coulde not sufficiently discharge his duetie therein how much would then the founders of this fraternitie haue frowned to haue admitted one into this fellowshyp that had wanted not onely one but all these partes before mentioned so requisite and the full measure of them so much at his handes expected and required would they thinke you haue been contented to haue entertayned a man that could onely haue caried a Dysh giuen a Trencher or caried a Rapier after them No they did not onely require this to be done in decent and comely maner which none no not one of them which is obiected fitte enough for this profession can do as is required but much more he must ouer and besides the qualities before in him required be able to giue entertaynement to a stranger in decent and comely maner delyuer a Message discreetely and wisely to a Potentate Maiestrate or meaner person to talke and discourse with his Maister vpon forraine or domesticall affayres nay much more then I can expresse for want of iudgement and experience herein and if I were of knowledge sufficient yet would my penne be weerie before I should at large expresse the whole duetie to this profession belonging But I will not take vpon me to teach others that wherein I am my selfe but a learner least it might be sayd vnto me and not vndeseruedly Turpe doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum You take vpon you to teach others their duetie and cannot your selfe performe it Therefore I will surceasse to wade any further into this Foorde least I should be drowned in the deapth or loose my selfe in this Laborinth If then all these dueties many moe be required in a Seruingman How much then insufficient thinke you is the Yeomans sonne that beginneth at .xx. to take vpon him this trade Thus you haue heard what inconuenience doth grow by the aspyring minde of the Countreyman Now what hurt doth happen to the Common-wealth by the disdayne of the Gentlemanly Seruingman a worde or two and so an ende of this part You haue heard before from whence this Seruingman was descended of auncient and worthy Parentage yet his mayntenance not altogeather correspondent and the causes why he was no better by his Parentes prouided for are before at large expressed his mayntenance I say was but some annuall portion and that after the deceasse of his Parentes which without some other helpe was no way able to maynteine him Gentlemanlike and therefore called to this profession for the better supportyng of him according to his estate without charging of his friendes further then his Fathers Legasie his estate birth calling credite no way thereby blotted blemished stayned impayred or impeached but much bettered for wealth and worth in worth in regarde he was fellow to no inferiour and in wealth because he kept his owne and often increased his tallent by his diligence and desart But now being forced to consort him selfe with men of lesse merite and that they shall equall him in esteeme and better him in rewarde I meane they comming in the after noone at foure a clocke into the Uineyarde shall haue their hire for the whole day in as full or larger measure then he that hath endeuoured himselfe Manibus pedibusque with tooth and nayle that is euen to the vttermost of his power from .vi. in the mornyng to the last houre truely to earne his whole dayes wages beginneth much to disdayne this drudgerie and so leaueth the Uineyarde wholly to these vnskilfull workemen and loytering labourers And now being not as before set aworke but missyng that part of his mayntenance before mentioned which he got in seruice How do you thinke he can carie himselfe in statu quo prius no it cannot be without some extraordinarie meanes Eyther he must be more chargeable to his friendes then his Father willed him or els procure his mayntenance by some worse meanes then will stande with his birth or credite What neede I glose vpon the text or seeme to daunce masked in a Nette trueth it is he must lyue and he will lyue How lyke a Man yea and lyke a Gentleman What and want lyuing that is no matter he wil liue by his Wittes What by the art of Alcumistrie to metamorphis other Mettall into Money or by conueying the Indies into Englande or Englande into the Indies No no Pewter Brasse nor Tinne we can not spare to turne into Golde or Siluer and for the Indies to come into England we haue no roome vnlesse he can commaunde the Sea to giue it place which doth on euery side so rounde immure vs and I am sure it loues vs too well to leaue vs vndefenced What restes then He can not as Christ did worke myracles to turne Water into Wine but he can do this myracle by a writ of Remoue he can displace Money or Golde finding it vnseemely seated and place it higher or lower as he findes it worthy and yf the sight of it be too garysh and offende his eyes he can do this myracle he can turne it into Wine which shalbe more pleasant to his taste then was the sight to his eye and after all turne the Wine into Water to shew his power and preheminence ouer it and how smally he esteemes this worldly drosse and pelfe But what Court this Writ of Remoue comes from or whether it be ex officio or no there is the question but that doubt I leaue for men of more iudgement to discide yet notwithstanding thus much I wyll say that yf the breaking transgressing and violating of good Lawes and Statutes in a Common wealth for the publique weale established be offensiue dangerous and hurtfull to the state of the sayd weale publique then surely this disdayne that I haue hitherto spoken off must of necessitie ingender many diseases in this common body to his great hurt and hinderance Much more surely I could haue said in discribing particulerly the inconueniences herof proceeding but loth I am to protract time with friuolous phrases seeme too tedious in a matter so apparant Wherfore gentle Reader you see how dangerous is this disdayne how hurtfull to the Common wealth beare with me I beseech you in that I passe it ouer so slightly for Quod sub inteligiter non deest that that is behinde I leaue to your good consideration But me thinkes I heare you say You haue made a long discourse of this ambition and disdayne what mischiefe and
before Marie for many respectes yet principally for two First they are for the most part though not all of a baser mettall then they were wont to be and therefore the kinde vsage and friendly familiaritie that in former ages did linke the Maister and the Seruant togeather is now on the Maisters behalfe had in vtter contempt and disdaine in regard of their homely rusticke and vngentlemanlike bringing vp which they regarde as it is and rewarde onely with bare wages Couenauntes they keepe and perfourme as Artificers do with their Apprentises Workemen with their Labourers but preferment ouer and aboue they get none And why Because their singularitie in any of their seruices is no such as can merite or deserue any thing aboue promise Neither doth Maisters now adayes take any such pleasure in the qualities of their Men as he can affoorde them a Farme for their feates or a yeerely Annuitie for their skill in any of the seuen liberall Sciences Beleeue me I speake as I thinke If the wisedome of Salomon the strength of Sampson the beawtie of Absolon the prowes of Hercules the eloquence of Cicero the profound learning of wise Plato and all the excellentest partes that can be named were all comprehended in one man and the same man would shroude him selfe in the habite of a Seruingman and professe the same by taking foure Markes a yeere wages and a Liuerie I verily beleeue his preferment should be rather a Remuneration then a Guerdon if he get any in this Leaden and last age But what is the difference betwixt the Remuneration and the Guerdon may some say we would faine know otherwise we can not tell how you meane this well qualited Seruingmans desartes should be rewarded Your question is reasonable and therefore I will distinguish them as their difference was tolde me not long since by a friende of mine There was sayth he a man but of what estate degree or calling I will not name least thereby I might incurre displeasure of any that comming to his friendes house who was a Gentleman of good reckoning and being there kindly entertayned and well vsed as well of his friende the Gentleman as of his Seruantes one of the sayd Seruantes doing him some extraordinarie pleasure during his abode there at his departure he comes vnto the sayd Seruant and saith vnto him Holde thee heere is a remuneration for thy paynes which the Seruant receyuing gaue him vtterly for it besides his paynes thankes for it was but a Three-farthinges peere and I holde thankes for the same a small price howsoeuer the market goes Now an other comming to the sayd Gentlemans house it was the foresayd Seruants good hap to be neare him at his going away who calling the Seruant vnto him sayd Holde thee heere is a Guerdon for thy defartes Now the Seruant payde no dâ—â—ereâ—â— for the Guerdon then he did for the Remuneration though the Guerdon was xi d. farthing better for it was a Shilling and the other but a Three-farthinges Therefore I say as I sayd before the man of best qualitie in these dayes if he be a Seruingman by profession shalbe as slenderly rewarded for his seruice as the mome of no merite that hath no partes at all in him worthy commendation Now for the other reason why Seruingmens desartes are not rewarded in these dayes as they were wont in former ages It is because Gentlemen nowadayes haue more vse of their Land Liuing their Kine and Coyne their Rentes and Reuenues their Siluer and Golde and all other their worldly Treasure then they were wont to haue for in times before they had so much many of them as they bestowed Landes Liuinges Rentes and Reuenues vaynely and ceremoniously vpon Friers Monkes Abbots Cannons and pelting popysh Priestes And to what ende Euen that they and their â—â—rue might pray that their soules might passe Purgatorie with lesse pennance then they would willingly endure But now they finde other vse for it then either to bestow it vpon such momysh Massmongers or any of it vpon them that better deserue it their owne Men. What say they yf a Seruingman for long and duetifull seruice request the Lease of a Farme at the olde rent or some other preferment Was my Liuing left me to bestow vpon my Men or to deuide amongst my Children Why do I giue you wages but in regarde of your seruice If you like not me nor my wages you may prouide for your selfe when you will I will not be your hinderaunce not waighing and considering that that his wages is not able to finde his Man necessaries from the middle downe but I dare not speake what I thinke neither what might be spoken concerning wages in these dayes But why is the Gentleman so peremptorie and resolute at his Mans reasonable request Mary because he knoweth where to haue a Man fitter for his purpose that will stande him in lesse charge and therefore Seruingmen are not rewarded as they were wont because Gentlemen nowadayes cannot spare any preferment to bestow vpon them But what is this fellow that is fitter for his purpose and will stande him in lesse charge expecting no preferment at all at his handes no not so much commonly as Wages It is as I sayd before his neighbours Sonne who will not onely maynteine him selfe with all necessaries but also his father will gratifie his Maisters kindnes at Christmas with a New-yeeres gyft and at other Festiuall times with Pigge Goose Capon or other such like householde prouision And why will the good olde Yeoman be at all this charge since his sonne woulde otherwise earne him much more profite and do him much more pleasure Why Marie because his Sonne shalbe sure to keepe the Catte from the Tonges at home when other his neighbours children shall trudge into Fraunce Flaunders and other Nations to do their Prince and Countrey seruice But if it woulde please God of his goodnesse to sende vs peace and quietnesse that our gracious Soueraigne whom God preserue long amongst vs to his blessed will and pleasure should haue no vse of warlike prouision at home nor abrode and consequently the Yeoman no vse of this the Gentlemans goodwill and pleasure you should see these new vpstart Seruingmen flocke to their olde haunt as the Emmets in the beginning of Sommer do congregate them selues togeather to labour while Sommer lastes for feare of Winters penury Now if this Man I say as I sayd before my neighbours sonne can at one and twentie or two and twentie yeeres supply the place of a Seruingman and discharge that duetie as well as he that hath been trayned vp in seruice from his childhood and will take vpon him that trade without expecting either present gayne or future preferment for his seruice at his Maisters handes what neede then the Gentleman giue wages and preferment to a Seruingman yf he may haue these of so free cost But I say it is pittie that God hath lent that man his fiue Senses and all