horse collers be robde of their trinckets if he ring for the prince he layes on loade if for the nobility he shakes both legges at once he commends liberality he prayses mercy he extolles iust execution of lawes he matches religion where it should be he soundes out zelous care on poore subiects he preserues deligent watches for the enemy he forgettes not to tell what a vertue frugality is in the highest All these and many more good taches as may be the King and Lordes are at ful furnished with He hath bin forsoth perhap at Cambridge and learned the fragments of a little Sophistrie wherwith he with his glosing tong and white studied wordes may moue many wel meaning Gentlemen who for wante of deepe iudgemente may say yea to their own preiudice and the grauest heads without diligent heed may be brought to yeelde to consent to matters they would be ashamed of vpon ripe consideration whiche inconuenience if it happen what mischiefe shal fal to your whole state who so blinde doth not see When thys fine shaking tripper hath done what he can I haue tolde you the thankes he shal haue of the prince and nobility when you shal so deare pay for your learning wil you not with open throate hunte the foole with Basons sure yes vnlesse your simplicities bee suche that for the sure keeping of your priuate houses you esteeme a girning pattering ape before the sad true mouthed mastife To turne the Cat in the panne and to be a hirelyng or a penny boy â—or any particuler person to haue clientes in matters of Parliament is token of too muche vilitie â— for couetyse is the only occasion of too muche forgetting your selfe What should I write of this most filthie vnnatural and seruile vice whiche shall for a fewe angels make you pleade as parcially in parliament as in any other Court not regarding your countrey but the Iinks in your pocket Such spokesmen I warrant you haue the matter at their â—ingers ends the writer out of the Copyes of Billes is set a worke and many times too for drawing the cause they come into the house and sitte with paper bookes often read them wel consider of them and why for couÌ„tries benefit you may beleue them if you wyll but marke the circumstances and their pence are aswel hearde chocke in the Sachel as the white paper séene in hande Why the bil is ether priuate touching some one else some very few or else some one corporation of Citie town or MarchaÌ„ts else the fraternity of some occupation or suche like for in déede we dryehanded men can not well tende the penning and copying out of Lawes without a little moystnyng But if they had any sparke of vertue in them they would not preferre Chauke before Chéese they would not like better of Carryn than of newe kilde victual neither blind-féele them selues and as much as they may others with so foule a sauering vayle The minde of many noble Panims haue abhorred such errours and yet we Christs professors to ofte runne headlong without backloking Crates when he went to study Philosophie cast his worldely welth into the Sea blessing them wyth a mischiefe and that hee would rather drowne them than they should choake hym Byas in the hauocke of hys country when euery one was busy to saue somewhat made no fardels of his substaunce but Roge fashion in that respect walkes awaye with hys ordinary weede and being asked of some why hee had so smal care of that which euery one so stirred for replied that he had all his wyth him meaning Learning and vertue Themistocles after the ouerthrowe of Marathon seeing a â—ead Corpes with Chaynes Iewels willed one to spoile it saying you are not Themistocles hym selfe disdayning that vngentlemaÌ„ly hunger Pittacus being offred asmuch of his owne conquest as he would measured his ferme by launcing of the speare and more toke not a small fielde to make a parke of vnlesse he threw further than I can Cocles 〈◊〉 an Erledome for his seruice to the common welth he thought himselfe contente when great matters were pressed vpon him with so much lande as he himselfe being lame coulde plowe in a day a recompence that my Baylie of husbandry for two yeres seruice wil frowne at Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus was holding the plowe when he was elected Dictator performed greate matters retourned to his Clownish husbandrie againe and twentie yeares after was eft called to the roome which he discharged better than any feed speaker in parliameÌ„t can do that I know so that money did not the dede Menenius Agrippa a wel deseruer of the Romaine Empire for wante of his owne purse was buried by contribution of the people Martius Curiolanus refused great matters and accepted a tryfle Curius Dentatus hoysing Pyrrhus out of Italie allotted to euery Pol fourtie Iugeri of land euery Iugeri being taken for our Acre and reserued as much and no more to himselfe affirming that there shoulde be no man whom so much wold not satisfie to him from the Samnytes he being a rosting rapes was presented a great Masse of gold but despising that goodly shew he told them he liked very wel to eate such dainties as he had in haÌ„d in an Erthen dish and to rule those who had gold Of al the large and welthy spoyles by him recouered of the enimy he reserued but one gay wodden chaine it was no doubt some matter of great price for the workmanship The fewe bagges of P. Scipio Aemilius M. Aemilius Scaurus father a Patritian of Rome getting his liuing by playing the Collyer the nedynesse of Epaminondas who was driuen to borrowe thirtie shillings when he entred Morea in armes refusing Iasons Crowns and the mighty king of Persians thousands Photion was no mony maÌ„ whoÌ„ when Antipater would with greate summes haue hyred to haue vniustly delte answered he could not both bee a friende and a flatterer Many hundreds might be named that were sounde stakes to their countries and for al their pouertie would not cry Quid vultis mihi dare neither yet receiued when it was forced O wold to god that in places of iudgemeÌ„t and iuâ—tice and in the harts of al executioners makers of Law Epaminondas his opinion were grauen not to be bought froÌ„ his country with any price not to be lâ—d to do a thing vnlawful for any gaine and what right and vertue did require for vertues sake freely to do it Cato Vticensis was of the same minde Come not into the sacred Senate for so may I wel terme it with that ragged robe of couetous and Bribery eschew it worse than the infection of pestilence leaue it to brokers to exchaungers lay it in the merchants warehouse bequeath it to the vsuring Iewes for if it catch holde in you farewel religion farewel morality farewell Iustice farewel discharge of duty farewel truth farewel care of good fame yea farewel your owne contentemente how gay so euer the matter seemes If
another in the Palace he plucking his hatte about his eares mumbling the olde wiues Pater noster departed M. Hal had scarcely entred his owne lodging in litle Woodstreate but the Sergeants man was there to summon him Smalley and Kertleton tomorrow to be at the house to whom answere was made they were not Domi Hal gaue commaundement to his folkes to denie his being at home if any came to enquire for him the next day in the afternone the same case was againe argued wherin M. Comptroller Sir Henry Kneuet M. Hatton others fauorably moued for M. Hall and his people â–ª it was sette downe Smalley the Scholemaster must to the Tower but shortly to be deliuered that the SergeaÌ„t should leaue worde at Hals house for the bringyng in of the parties if he neglected the same to proceede with further consultation accordingly SoÌ„monance were giuen the day folowing no man appearing from Hal they tooke in very euill parte among whome M. Louelace thought he was much abused declaring how long he wayted for him to acknowledge the recognizaunce and to see the order of the house performed betweene the Malleries and him 500 markes fine by his consent is litle inough to be set on his head for this contempt A great cantell to be cut out of so small a lose as Halles is that he should by Parliament be disabled for euer to be of that Councell â–ª a harde Censure but motions be no lawes if they had bene nether would the losses haue bene irrecouerable nor the wounde past helpe of surgery Agreed it was that once againe warning should be left for these hiders of themselues and if they woulde not be seene the house should proceede to iudgement The day after M. Hall was perswaded by many of his very good frendes to procurâ— Smalleys appearance which in no case he would be brought to till he was charged that he gaue his worde for his forth-coÌ„ming at al times when he should be demauÌ„ded also that his imprisoÌ„ment should be no loÌ„ger thaÌ„ during the ParliameÌ„t he stoode too wilful in his own determination yet answering those two poynts that he vndertooke for Smalleys appearance So the vij of this moneth at which time iudgemeÌ„t was giuen against him vpon the Sergeants notice he brought him to the house there attended the rising thereof And for his short imprysonment he doubted as the sequele declared he had good cause affirming he would neuer haue condescended to the Awarde of 100 pound but for the shutting vp of al questioÌ„s In the morning M. Recorder brought a bil into the house wherein it should haue bene enacted that Hal should pay the 100. pound to be turned out for a wrangler for euer beâ—ng member of that assemble But multa cadunt inter poculum supremaque labra for at that very instant worde was brought Smaley was at the dore Yea quoth M. Recorder I thought of some suche matter for I gaue knowledge to Mistres Hall of this geare this morning I doubted not but she would sende hir maÌ„ I marâ—ell how he could hit so right but as women be vaineglorious so can they not abide such an infamy to fall to theyr husbandes he doubted not but that M. Hal was as some wiser men than he are content many times to be aduised by theyr wiues Smalley brought from his Master a letter to the house which being deliuered to the Speaker he brake vp red to him self after openly well taken saying he had thought the direction had bene to him I cannot thinke the Speaker so vnaduised but somewhat he meant thereby whiche I know not the Copy therof followeth worde for worde To the Parliament house the seuenth of February 1575. RIght honorable and worshipful my duty mâ—st humbly remembred toward you al I â—am right sory being a member of you who â—aue bent my poore good will towarde the â—ruice of my country among you in all â—outh and plainenesse that vpon opinion â—ceued of me otherwise than I haue giueÌ„â—ause in knowledge of my selfe haue proceeded against me as a â—tranger and not with that fauour as a member of such a body might in good eqâ—itie haue loked for which hath forced me sore to my great discoÌ„tentation to withdraw my self till a time of better fauour assâ—ring your honors and worships al that if my cause hâ—â— hiâ— heard and iudged in a fâ—l courte in the presence of the chiefe of the committees who were absent I should haue abidden your vttermost sentence euen to the losse of al that I had Had I vnderstande that euery sâ—nal error of mine is made an heynâ—us offence as the exceptioÌ„ against certain of the coÌ„mittees for waÌ„t of their good wils towards me is accompted a derogation to the aucthoritie of the house and mâ—ch impayring to their worships and credâ—tâ— an expositioÌ„ truly very harde and in trouth coÌ„trary to my meaning And wheras by the entreaty for the deliuery of my man I am growen in suspition among you and by some in apparant speeches made pertaker of his frauâ— iâ— procuring his owne execution what so euer is conceiued of me I assure you al it is without cause as both my offer may wâ—l declare before I moued the house for his priuiledge which was a hundred pound wherof are witnesses master Iustice Harper and MaÌ„hoode is wel is knowne to Master Sergeant Louelace as also my willingnesse since to submit my selfe to your orders for the parties satisfactioÌ„ of absenting my selfe I pray you consider no otherwise than as of one who is much greeued of your offence conceiued of him and as one that can not endure the continuâ—l herd speeches brought to mine eares much sounding to my discredite as also to see the imprisonmeÌ„t of my seruauntes for whose liberties I would haue bin contented too haue paide so deare I might iustly haue loked for some consideration in respect of the great iniurie offred too my name and credit whereof the quarel first grew as on the other side for a blow giueÌ„ without my knowledge god is my iudge sore against my will. But in al I submit my selfe to your honors wisdomes as one who is most desirous of your good opinions and fauours and wish you good successe in al honorable proceedings VVritten this seuenth of Februarie 1575. Your honours and worshippes to commaund Arthur Hall. THe messenger was called in was committed to the Tower there to lie a moneth then to be deliuered if his Master did in the meane time enter boÌ„d for the paymeÌ„t of the 100 pouÌ„d if not there to remaine til the money were payd if the day expired when it should be answered or the bonde not acknowledged before also M. Hal must pay the Sergeant M. Bowyer 40. shillings for his paines aboute these affayres Here some of M. Hals frends touching this imprisonmeÌ„t reckened without theyr hostes which he forgot not to lay to theyr charges swearing by no beggers that if he had
yeare it was enacted that no subsidie nor other charge shoulde be sette nor graunted vppon the Woolles by the Marchants nor by any other from thenceforth without the assent of the Parliament rare presidents to finde before the conquest in William CoÌ„querors time or since in a manner at all til this kings dayes Richard the seconde his successor helde euen on as his Graundfather began had almoste euery yeare a Parliament according to the statuts that there shoulde bee one yearely at the leaste In the beginnings of al the whiche almost the great Charter and that of the Forrest with all Liberties to holy churches fraunchises c. were granted stablished and confirmed and the authority of passing the actes is as you haue in his predecessors time Edward the thyrde sometime with one maner of words and somtime another He had very many free bountiful aydes of his subiectes by mony in number for hys two twenty yeares time no whit wanting with his Graundfathers likewise by diuerse pardons he declared his good accepting of them Kyng Henry the fourth first Erle of Darby then Duke of Herforde by his father Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth begotteÌ„ son of king Edward the second also inuested with the title of the Dukedome no more against king Richard 〈◊〉 than against lawe ryght and iustice did clayme the Crowne and at London called a Parliament in king Richards name asmuch without his direction as without iust aucthority and howe far wythout the ful partes of an Englishe Parliament which wee brag of and iustly may I referre mee to the iudgemente of deeper heades than mine owne In this Parliament forsooth is 31. Articles at the leaste layde to our Kyng Richarde a shrewd an vnaccustomed president Wel it was thought by the most parte that he was worthy to be deposed and prouision according was prouided But King Richardes friendes going to bed without candel when none was to be had perswaded their maister too yeeld contented the Crowne from his heade whiche otherwise woulde haue byn snatched off perforce and brought the skyn with it He doth resign he craues life without raigne it is liberally granted but more liberally broken with hasty shameful slaughter As who searches shal find to whoÌ„ I rather coÌ„mit the reading thaÌ„ I to cal to remeÌ„brance such vndutiful hard dealing specially when the Parliament hath any interest in the same or should be noted with error This Henrie the fourth raigned thirtéene yeares and somewhat more in whose time there was almost euery yeare a ParliameÌ„t in all the which for the most parte first the Charters and liberties be confirmed to all men and the Actes be thus aucthorized Henrie by the grace of god c. of the assent of the Prelates Dukes Erles Barons and at the instant special request of the commons of the same Realme assembled at his Parliament holden at Westminster c. Al establishmeÌ„ts coÌ„firmations and makings of statuts in his time you shal finde stil at the request ernest instance and prayer of the commons yet was he king as you haue hearde and in the first yeare of hys raigne he had such a heauy Taxe graunted him as it was conditioned it should not be recorded for a president diuers others he reaped the benefite of retourned also sundry pardons to the freeing of many of his subiectes His sonne Henrie was Kyng nine yeares and somewhat more and yerely as it seemes helde a Parliamente but hys sixt yeare in al which wherin the commons were named he sayth as before for himselfe and the Lords he hath at the special instance and request of the CoÌ„mons in the same ParliameÌ„t c. Hath don to be ordained c. The liberties of holy Churches the Charters and priuileges are enacted and agreed soundely to abide in force I can not perceiue for all his great Conquest and warres in Fraunce that he troubled his Subiectes in a manner at all to speake of wyth Taxe or Subsidie That smal ayde hee had rose as I can gather of some Tenthes and Fifteenthes were graunted him And yet did he for custome curtesie or congratulation sake also imparte his pardons He left his sonne Henrie in his place being but eighte monethes olde during whose raigne the Parliamentes were very thicke helde as in the former times As thys Prince was very yong at the death of his father so was he when he came to age more giuen to quietnesse and Religion than to worldly affayres or weapons And therefore it may be gathered that the nobility and commons stoode not in doubt of the infringing by him of great Charters and liberties Wherefore they labored not euery Parliament the confirmation of them as in his Predecessors tyme they did for in his Parliaments wee finde no suche mention made of them as vsually is had before his gouernement for making of Lawes most commonly I see Our soueraigne Lord king Henry the sixth at his Parliamente c. By the aduise and assente of the Lordes spirituall and temporal and at the speciall request of the commons of the Realme being in the same Parliament haue done to be made c. There is also Our soueraigne Lord King Henrie c. For the weale of him and of his Realme by the aduise and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal and the commons of the same Parliament assembled hath made ordayned c. This last manner of mencioning the coÌ„mons it is in the middle of the kings raign which might proceede of some occasions which your selfe maye finde out if you tourne ouer the cronicles I take it needlesse to be written In the thâ—â—tie three yeare of his raigne there was something enacted in a Parliamente touching the Lord Richard Duke of Yorke and also in another in his thirtie three yere concerning the same Prince which I cannot be perswaded that King Henrie de mero motu consented to I do not vnderstande that he burdened his subiectes in a manner at all with exactions for al his continuall and great warres in Fraunce but rather contented him selfe with the losse and so far as in lesse than fourtie yeres he forewent the Crowne of Fraunce abroade and lost his kingdome of Englande at home And tho by hys friendes he recouered the one againe yet woulde it not be kept but hee that receiued it firste efte obtayned it so that Kyng Henrie was depriued the second time not only of hys regalty but presently of his life Edward Earle of March righte heire of the house of Yorke was the man that Kinged it in King Henries rome and so continued it twenty two yeares and somewhat more during which gouernement he hadde at leaste tenne Parliaments in all the which hee names his auctority and the nobilityes aduise and consent and the instaÌ„ce and request of the commons but only in the Parliamente the thirde yeare of his raigne wherin he sayes At the Parliament summoned at Westminster