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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	book_n	great_a	king_n	1,806	5	3.5242	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80410	Unum necessarium: or, The poore mans case: being an expedient to make provision of all poore people in the Kingdome. Humbly presented to the higher powers : begging some angelicall ordinance, for the speedy abating of the prises of corne, without which, the ruine of many thousands (in humane judgment) is inevitable. In all humility propounding, that the readiest way is a suppression or regulation of innes and ale-houses, where halfe the barley is wasted in excesse : proving them by law to be all in a præmunire, and the grand concernment, that none which have been notoriously disaffected, and enemies to common honesty and civility, should sell any wine, strong ale, or beere, but others to be licensed by a committee in every county, upon recommendation of the minister, and such of the inhabitants in every parish, where need requires, that have been faithfull to the publike. Wherein there is a hue-and-cry against drunkards, as the most dangerous antinomians : and against ingrossers, to make a dearth, and cruell misers, which are the caterpillars and bane of this kingdome. / By John Cooke, of Graies Inne, barrester.	Cook, John, d. 1660.	1648 (1648)	Wing C6027; Thomason E425_1; ESTC R204550	75,106	79

not deceive the Priest nor give him a light peece of Gold and not long since it was attempted to make us pay personall Tithes I wish all men were more fearefull to displease God then the Papists are to offend their spirituall Fathers which have no Wives but many Children In France the Advocates have a Palmary Fee in token of Victorie after the Judgement pronounced for their Client and that is given to the poore All Fees which have been taken from the poore men that could not spare them ought in reason to be restored and no more to be taken and certainly reason is the root of our profession and whatsoever is against the Law of true reason let it be disclaimed by all Ingenious men My learned Masters and all yee that live by the Law whom I may without presumption call Brothers I have a word concerns us all pray marke it well the Kingdome is drawing up an Impeachment against us for the Errors and corruptions that are in the Law and Lawyers every man complaines of the horrible delaies in matters of Iustice that we have an Action to our Clients purses and spin out Causes to an unreasonable length as Covetous Surgeons keep the wounds raw for their owne profit that there is so much expence of Coine and time that the remidie is worse then the disease that a man had better loose his right then go to Law for it and that deles in Courts of Iustice are the greatest Nusance and grievance to this Kingdome They think it the greatest misterie in the world that a man cannot get a Causs ended in two or three yeares and yet Iustice not delayed that a man must spend above 10. l. to recover 5. l. and yet Justice not sold they think Magna Carta is extremely violated you may please to remember what occasioned me to write our Vindication so far forth as Scripture and reason would plead for us and if we be cast at either of these Barres I am sure no Court of Equity can releive us and now I suppose you have met with the Lawyers bane written by 〈…〉 Nicholson who falls upon us with a Scriptury weapon VVoe unto you Lawyers for yee load men with burdens greivious to be borne and yee your selves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers Truly though the man discover a weak Iudgement yet he manifests strong affections to the publick for all this smoak is not without some fire he that knowes any thing in politiques may easily foresee that there is a great storme arising in this Kingdome against us now what must we do to prevent it the only way is to keep close to the principles of right reason and we are out of Gun-shot to dispatch poore mens Causes gratis this hard yeare In doubtfull matters let us disswade our Clyents from going to Law and tell them the danger of it advising them to doe as they would be done unto let us contend earnestly for the truth more then for victorie and so soone as we discover the injustice of the Cause let us leave it and advise our Clyents to make their peace never speaking any thing but what we beleeve to be true if they tell us they have no money let us do their businesse for thanks and I warrant you we are Parliament proofe and Kingdome proofe the people will quickly find the usefullnesse of us and an honest Lawyer will be a necessary member in a Kingdome for the wisdome of the Common Law is highly to be admired and honored of all understending men without some Competent understanding wherein no man can possibly be a Polititianist being the best Iudge and Arbiter of life and death and all things that are for the maintenance thereof but if we make the disquiet and trouble of poore people the basis and fuondation of our Grandor and Renowne beleeve it the Kingdome will be as wearie of us as ever they were of the Bishops or any Arbitrary Court In a word for I know your Iudgements are so mature you love not many that which can only prevent the ruine of our profession is That the Reverend Iudges Learned Lawyers and experienced Officers and Clarkes of all Courts speedily consult and agree together to propound some proper expedient to the High Court of Parliament f●r cheap and summary Iustice throughout the Kingdome for the best policie is to prevent an accusation better the Fees of some Courts should be reduced and regulated then the Court it selfe to be suppressed It were better for the 6. Clarkes that poore men might pay but 4. d. a sheet then 8. d. for moderate gainns last long we see the moderate estates of Widdowes last longer and prove better then some vast superfluous Estates which make them but a prey for some young Gallant what a shame is it that Irregularities and obstructions in the Administration of publique Iustice should not be discovered and presented to the highest Court for speedy redresse by the Professors of the Law who should stand as Sentinells for the security of mens persons and Estates to discover the least approaching danger and all delayes or rubs in Iustice but that the Army should be inforced to make it one of their proposalls for the Kingdomes good And you my worthy Masters that under your good favours are so many Ingrossers of all the Practise within the Statutes of pluralities and Ingrosment of Corne and Cattell for the reason of all such Statutes is that one man may live by another that one should not feast and another fast The Harvest of great Causes much good may it do you Is yours we are content to gleane after you with a motion now and then which comming like Summer fruits should not be rejected for variety sake pray let us be heard when we have any thing to say I profes it is an intollerable injury that you daily offer to young Practisers and heavier then the shoulders of rationall men can long beare 10. or 20. of you to move every morning before or after the causes and there is no time for us though one of your motions spends more time then six of ours to be heard If the Custome of the Court were as auncient as Adams time yet reason must be preferred before it I assure you there is all the policy and selfe love in it as you can imagine to let us be heard when we have any thing to move for if the practise be do not not distributed into more hands that every man may live by his profession if you fal by your own waite I dare burn my Books King James said it was a great cheat put upon the Kingdome for Gentlemen to maintaine their Sons at the Inns of Court at a great rate And being called to the Barre may expect 7.10 or it may be 20. yeares before they be known in a Court of Justice or can be heard to move above twice or thrice in a Tearme which will not quit the cost nor pay

spending that riotously that would refresh a wearied family Drunkennesse by the Turks Law is punished with death for the second offence and whether he that steales a strike of Corne this deer yeare or he that shall consume 20. strike more then he needs which is but in effect robbing of the poore better deserves death let every sober man seriously consider For my owne part I thinke it would be a most excellent Law as the case stands to make drunkennesse for the first offence imprisonment three daies and to live with bread and water for when a poor man is drunk to make him pay 5. shillings is but to punish and adde affliction to the innocent and afflicted wife and children for the guilty husband I wish such penall Lawes were reformed and more proper punishments inflicted for the second offence a fine to the poore to the full value of so much as according to the discretion of a good Judge and Jury he hath consumed and wasted in excessive drinking as for example if a man have been a common frequenter of Tavernes or Ale-houses or a great drinker in private houses for the space of twenty yeares it is probable he hath spent in that space a Crowne a week at the least in excessive drinking more then would have preserved health and increased strength the only lawfull ends of eating and drinking which amounts to above 200. l. it is justice to make him pay it if he be able if not let him be whipped or burnt in the hand The third offence to be Fellony yet so as onely to beare the shame and reproach of it by holding up his hand and tried for his life but to be saved by somthing equivalent to Clergie as a matter of form and for the fourth offence to sustaine the paine of death as unworthy to live in a well-governed Kingdome a Drunkard being the greatest robber of poore people which are readie to famish for want of bread a rebell against divine and humane authority and a sworne enemy to all humanity what lies and inventions are daily hatched and contrived in these ungodly Seminaries how are honest men disgraced and scandalized godlinesse scoffed at and honesty traduced by these vermin and Catterpillars of the Common-wealth All the lies calumnies and falsities that have been contrived invented and fabricated against the Parliament Army and all the godly honest men in the Kingdome what have they been but the ebullitions of some tipsey Taverne or frothy Ale-bench and if the most godly men are exceeding privy to their daily failings and infirmities which breake forth in the first motions and risings of the heart against the deliberate bent of their wills and yet are sins against the last Commandement how guilty is the Drunkard that is a Masse of himselfe and makes it his daily trade to break the whole Law of God which is holy just and good so that the Drunkard is the grand Antinomian against whom the Parliament Army and all honest men are by the Lawes of God and Nature to shoot all the arrowes of their deepest displeasures If Sack were but at six pence a quart and Barley but at twelve pence a bushell but now that Barley is at five shillings and in probability will be ten if this drinking continue but I trust our noble Worthies in Parliament will speedily take a severe course to restraine it when one is drunke they use to say he hath got a Fox and so make but a jest of it but he deserves to be hunted as a Fox these are the Foxes that spoile the vines that drinke the poor mans bloud and are guilty of the death of every poore man woman and child that shall be famished to death for want of bread as it is greatly to be feared many will be there was a Law of Wolfehead in this Kingdome he that had killed a Wolfe had so much for his pains and we reward him who kills Moles Hedge-hogs or such noxious creatures I remember that a late Favorite in Dublin had a project to get a Patent for all the foxed groats in that City that every one that was drunk over night should pay him a groat in the morning conceiving upon good grounds it would have been worth many hundreds a yeare though that succeeded not yet really I would now have a Law of Foxhead every man that can find out a Drunkard to be well rewarded not to kill him because the Magistrate must have a care of his soule in such a case and if he should die drunk then one great Drunkard was afraid that he should rise drunk at the Resurrection but to bring him into the gates of the City the Courts of publike Justice that the poor people may throw dirt in his face and say this is that monster in nature that drinks as much in a week in wine and strong drinks as would relieve many of our hungry souls he surfeits and vomits it up again and our little cruse is almost spent we must this night sit downe and eat the last bread and die for there is no more corn to be had this Rascall that hath a Devill in his belly that devoures as much strong drink as the Idoll Bell did for he had but 6. pots of wine every day which sufficed Bells Priests being 70. in number besides their wives and children which was not two barrels a day is there not as much spent in many drinking-houses in this Kingdom let us have justice upon him or we will stone him or rather hang him upon a Gallows and starve him to death a proper end for all Cormorants and devouring Gluttons the Eagle that King of birds dies for hunger the upper beake so inclasping the other that it cannot eat Oh that these mysticall Foxes five times more dangerous then Wolves which prey upon sheep might be hunted into the Sea that delight so much in liquid elements that they might be abjured the Realm and sent beyond sea whence they first came and goe chin deep in water every day untill they find a convenient passage these Serpents sting poor people to death I hope there will be a present Hue-and-Cry after all these excessive drinkers let them be inquired after with Eagles eyes some honest sober men in every Parish appointed to bring them to condigne punishment Quest But the doubt is who shall be said to be drunk which makes the Statutes against drunkennesse to be of little use because it is so hard a thing to prove a man drunk for penall Lawes are to be construed strictly Resp Tradition saies that he is not drunke that can creep out of the cart way from the danger of the cart-wheel like that of killing a Swan that it must be hanged up by the head and the killer or stealer must cover it over with wheat which must goe to the owner I find no such case in Law but something to that purpose of a hog rooting in another mans ground Dominus porci tenetur

are worth so much they must either trade for the publique good or else give over their callings and give way to others betaking themselves to Gods immediate service or taking paines for Orphans and Widdowes that having small personall estates left them if they should live upon the principall it would quickly consume and know not how to Improve it themselves therefore able experienced men bestow their paines freely for them for all Catholique Councells have ever condemned Vsury in point of Conscience by this meanes men would not be so covetous as now they are for now mens desires are infinite the Covetous man is in a dropsie the more he gets the more he desires the last thing that dyes in him is a desire of having more he makes no will till he lyes a dying then dyes to think he must make his wil some sayes he are wiser then others puts gold in his mouth because he wil not give al away he would fain keep some for another world as the old wretch that sent for a Priest to make his will who bad him pray not I sayes he do you pray for me or else why should I pay you tithes well sayes the Preist shall I Write do as I bid you sayes Dives First I bequeath the soule of our Parish Priest to the Devill what my soule sayes the Scribe no such matter yes thy soule sayes he for thou never reprovest me for my covetousnes whereas if there were a Law that no man should be worth above so much then no man would desire more mens affections would not be so infinitely set upon wealth but their desires would be finite and so much sinne would be prevented now that is ever the most Angelicall Law which prevents sin and Politique it must needs be for one man cannot possibly be so excessive rich but it must be upon the ruines of others you may observe that where there is one man so exceeding rich those that live neer him are most of them poore for hee looks as eagerly after every small purchase to joyne house to house or rather to pluck down all the houses but his owne that the poor may not live too neer him as a Hawke lookes after the Partrige I like not alterations in government when a Kingdome is well settlkd but when we are upon the wing of Reformation I wish it might be to purpose but my desire is not to write any thing herein but what may advance Liberality and advantage the poore these strait times He argues for the continuance of strong Beer and Ale as being necessary for poore people a preservative of health and a restorative in sicknesse surely the man is extreamly mistaken for poore people cannot afford to buy any strong Liquor whil'st bread is so scarce I meane principally the Country poore who begin to make lamentable complaints already many of them being ready to die for feare of being famished to death If the poore drink any Ale this yeare it must be very sparingly as some Italians use Wine instead of Oyle or Butter to get down breap which ever loves a Companion in the way of Tosts now a Tost in Ale hath 7. excellent properties 1. It satisfies hunger 2. It quenches thirst 3. It helps concoction by removing obstructions 4. It causes sleep 5. It exhilerates the Spirits 6. It gets a good Color a lover of Tosts has ever a ruddy and a cheerefull countenance 7. It keeps the to the fleame therefore let no Tost be lost as there hath been too much abuse in that kinde If I may have bread sayes one I care not though I drink water all the winter In the last deare yeare when Barley was about a Noble a Bushell Pease and Oates Flesh Butter Cheese and other Provisions were plentifull a poore man might have bought him a paire of shooes for 2. s. which now cost him about 4. s. Oh saies a poore man last night I would be content to goe barefoot this winter if I were sure to get bread for my poore Wife and Children I confesse it melted my heart to heare it I remember that Sir Knevet being to loose one of his hands for striking in the presence Chamber he Petitioned King H. 8. to vouchsafe him a pardon for his right hand and he would willingly loose his left sayes King H. since he is so ingenuous let him keep both his hands oh that the patient humility and meeke ingenuity of the poore that would be well contented with bread and Water might move the heart of the Kings most excellent Majesty the Nobles and Honourable Worthies in Parliament the Noble Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army under his Excellencies Command the Assembly and every honest man of abilities in the Kingdome to resolve as one man acting in their severall sphears of Government and subjection to find out some timely expedient to prevent this eminent dearth and death of poore people and to say with that Noble King Henry since the poore will be content with bread and Water without shooes they shall have both Bread Beere and Clothes to defend them from hunger and thirst and from the cold Winter But I hear the husbandmen cry out that taxes and extraordinary charges are so great that he cannot subsist unles corne be deare mark the consequence then it seemes the poore labouring man must pay for all if there be barley enough to be had at 5. or 6 s. a bushell why may there not be some speedy way thought upon to ease the Farmer that he may afford to sell it for halfe a crown and 3. s. so as the poore may live but whether barley be at 2 s or 1. s. a bushell it makes neither more nor lesse in the Kingdome there is a Mystery in it which I hope the Wisdome of State will unfold and prevent the sad consequences which are otherwise likely to ensue before another Harvest But it may be said what need any such supplication since the worthy Justices may in every County if they please restraine malting consequently Alehouses will fall with the weight of their owne Luxuriance I agree it and the Lord ●tirre up their Hearts to bee faithfull and Couragious but I consider that the worthy Justices are otherwise burdened with Country affaires many weighty businesses Incumbent upon them for the publique good therefore if they were for the present disburdened and exonerated of so great a charge and trouble and that it were specially recommended to the Committees in every Country or a Committee of moderation Accomodation or provision for the poore appointed in every County to licence such onely in every necessary place to keepe Victualling houses and to sell good wholsome drink for passengers as are the most sober and best affected persons to the Parliament I suppose the price of barley and consequently all other g●aine and provision would deminish and abate such victuallers to be presented and commended to the said Committee by the Minister of every

losse fresh in his memory who can put on a mourning Weed for a whole yeare as it is used but it must daily renew his grief and sorrow but if they that weare black for mourning do not mourne inwardly and in truth but only in outward appearance to make the world beleeve so Then certainly it must needs be grosse dissimulation and Hypocrysie to make men beleeve that to be which is not and dissimulation to dissemble that rejoycing and Joviality which really is is the heart and spirit for certainly the chief Mourners as we call them are not alwayes the most sorrowfull for the death of a party we use to say that hee mourn● like an heyre which come● to his Inheritance and if it be to save charges it is Hypocryticall and Ignoble The Jews indeed made very solemne Mournings and Lamentations for their friends but they were a people too frugall to bestow any unncessary Pomp they had not such cleere apprehentions of the resurrection only scripture deductions and consequences I am the God of Abraham saith the Lord therefore Abraham must be Immortall as God Is was all they had for it for one Relative being granted the other followes And they were very curious and exact in their Oyntments Embalments and Interments as the Aegyptians are to this day but the longest mourning was but 70. dayes and 7. dayes for others and their mournings were not so costly as we make ours but if any man shall argue for the lawfulnesse and conveniency of mourning Apparrell from the Jews we may aswell revive other Ceremonye● and profits our selve● to be rather Jews then Christians I wish we were really such as they are inproviding for the poore they suffer not a Begga● amongst them by their Law every male is to marry at 23. and Females at 18. if they be poore the rich provide Mariages which are most eq●all and give them an estate to begin the world withall and if that faile by Shipwrack Ill Debtors or such human casualties they impute it not to them but renew their stock and set them upon their Legs againe whereas we in such a case count a man ●●famous fo● that which is no fault of his for if other● br●●● with him how can he hold with his Creditors and when Corne has been at 12. and 16. s. a bushell in an extraordinary deere yeare at Venice Rome or Amsserdam where Iews are permitted to live quietly with the freedome of their Consciences in the excercise of their Religion the poorest Iew ha's not wanted his bellyfull and though they are but few of them in comparison that 's not the matter for where there is sufficient by the Law of God the poorest Member in a Kingdome ought to be provided for I confesse this mourning Apparell is used in France and other Civill Countryes with this difference that the Chancellor of France and the chief presidents in Iuditiall places must never mourne no not upon the death or demise of the King for Iustice is a divine thing which must not resent any humane Infirmity he that sirs in the seat of Iustice ought not to have his mind troubled with the death of his Father or dearest consort And that money which is daily expended unnecessarily and improperly in Wine and sweet-meats at Funeralls would make the poore leap for joy and think themselves in Heaven I say unnecessarily because it serves neither for Dinner nor Supper and very improperly for the Friends that come to accompany the Corps to the Grave have more reason to bring Wine and Cordialls with them to comfort the Widdow and Children who have the greatest losse and stand in most need of refreshing I am not against wearing a Ribben or some such significant Ceremonyes to give notice to others that such a friend is dead As in Paris when any Cittizen or man of quality is dead there are 24. Cryers that go about with a Bell to give notice to all the City that such a man or woeman is dead and as the poore are either joyfull or sorrowfull at the Newes so you may conclude that the man was either mercifull or miserable for those are the best Elections into places of authority when the poor● generally rejoyce at such a mans preferment 9. And now I shall make an humble request to all sorts of persons that desire the prosperity of this Natinn About which I have spent many serious thoughts and if God spare health I intend with all possible speed to cast in a Students Mite and to publish my Conceptions by the name of Englands happinesse therein declaring what I conceive may by Gods blessing make this Kingdome the most happy Kingdome in the world that every mans moderation might be knowne this deere yeare to help to bring down the dearenesse of Corn all other Commodities that the greatest gallants would be sencible of the poore mens Condition this hard time and a little strike the topsaile top-gallant of al improvident wasting that they may the more freely distribute to the poore mans necessities and that all rich men would now more then ever study the Art of winning hearts which of all Trades and professions is the most Noble that Land-Lords would strive to excell one another in winning and refreshing the hearts of their poore Tennants by the cherefull and continuall drops of true liberality but my 9th designe is principally a request to Masters of Mills and Millars which I conceive to bee a matter of great concernment for poore people I have heard many sad complaints from poore people of Millers for taking excessive tole from them t' is a lamentable case when a poore man hath work't himselfe almost off his legs to get a peck or halfe a strike of Corne to make 2. or 3. Loaves for his poore Children that cry for bread the saddest cry that can be in any Kingdome that a treacherous Miller sha●●iminish this poore mans grist take out of it what pleases him for he is upon the matter a Iudge in his owne Case as for feitures make the Vsurer his owne Judge that he may take what he list when the poore Lamb fall's into his clawes so may the Miller take without controle a dishfull 2. 3. or 4. as it pleases him who can tell how much he takes we call it Toll from taking away by the Law of the Land I conceive that the Miller is to take more or less● Toll a Tollendo according as the party owes suit to the Mill from a Tennant at will the Lord in the beginning of Tennus took what he pleased if the Corne grew upon his Jnheritance afterwards a 16th part from a free Tennant a 20th and from strangers a 24th part and by the Law if the Tennant buy his Corne hee may have liberty to grind where he pleases which is the case of most poore men and yet they are tyed up to grind at the Kings Mills and Lords Mills and there is a kind of Monopoly of

Princes and such as act by Tyrannicall principles of taxing the people so excessively that having work inough to do to live and maintaine a being they may never think of a well being and that it is a great favour that they enjoy their lives and keep out of prisons as if it were a great Favour for a Theefe that steales a Goose to leave some Feathers behind him I find subjects in many places beyond Sea are faine to make a vertue of necessity being like those that saile between Scilla and Caribdis in danger to be spilt upon one of those Rocks which are immoderate taxations and maintenance of many Thousand Monks an unprofitable Generation of Abby Lubbers that eat up the very fat and Creame of the Kingdome that the Bees must work to maintain such droanes is a most abominable thing to make poore people give their goods to preists Monastries and Nunneries for they dare do no otherwise for feare of damnation 4. 5. or 600. of the Divells Ministers to be maintained in some one convent and have often in my thoughts resembled them to the Drunkards Gluttons and Prodigalls of this Kingdome that spend that in Luxurie Rioting Surfeiting and excesse which would make poore people leap for joy and the other extremity in this Kingdome is the cruelty and miserable basenesse and nigardlinesse of many Avaritions evill minded men that get the poore into their Dens and grind their very backs and belly base earth-wormes that count gaine godlinesse that care not what become of the poore so as they may fill the other Bagge or buy the other purchase that will hold with the hound and run with the Hare and be of any opinion to get money they laugh who ever cryes and get money which side soever prevailes these are the Mysticall Wolves and Monks that destroy poore English Lambs and these men I count to be the Generation of Lesinants that love none but such miserable Hucksters and Ingrossers as themselves they will be sure to help one another abusing Scripture that to him that hath shall be given and he that hath little shall have lesse an old Vsurer of the Fraternity making his will the Counsell finding him inclined to give all his Estate to a rich Nephew that had no Issue knowing that he had many poore kindred intreated him to be mindfull of his owne flesh and blood that were neerer allied unto him then that rich Cosen no sayes hee I must doe as I was do● unto my Estate came unto me by fortune and good luck in barganing and this Cosen is a fortunate man I must favour them whom fortune favours Concell replyed he ha's no child to leave it unto and is old what would you have him to do with it sayes hee let him find out some rich man to make his heyre that will improve it but what shall become then of the poore sayes hee sayes the old Vsurer that was going I will not say whither but I can never advance Gods mercy nor free grace more then when I think of a Pope and a byting VSVRER VVhat doe you tell mee of the poore I never cared for a poore man in my life Conscience sometimes speakes out there is not a greater Antipathie betweene a Spaniard and a French-man or the Hound and the Hare then between a rich miserable greedy Cormorant and a poor man such cruell natures are no more moved with the cry of a poore man who tells them he is ready to be starved then the Rocks are moved by the waters you shall see him flee from a poore man as if he had the plague as if poverty were infectious Like the old Churle that came twice a yeare for his Rent an Old woman pray'd him for a Penny away you Old Witch sayes he I come to receive money not to give If a poore man petitions him Oh times are straite he has no money Stulte hac nocte is the misers case if a rich man desire 2. 3. 4. or 5000. l. he shall have all possible assistance to helpe him to it speake aloud thou covetous wretch hadst not rather lend a rich man that has no need of money then the sea has of waters unles it bee for the other purchase 1000. l. then a poor man 10. l. to buy bread for his family and darst thou profes thy selfe to be a Christian before thou art a Morrall Man The Lord make our Nobles and Worthies in Parliament those that be truly Noble whose Veines are full of Generous bloud that are mercifull to the poor and contribute liberally to their Necessities that hate this abominable project of covetousnesse and oppression worse 10000. times to the poor then that of Ship-money or Brasse money wise as Angels of light to discover these bloody wolves and crafty Foxes which are yet many of them in Sheepe-skins not uncased but hug themselves in the contemplation of their riches and being found out to be divested and denuded of all publique Imployment in the Kingdome it being most unfit that they should be honored by the Kingdome who are the greatest reproach and dishonor of it though I rather pity then envy them there case is Thou foole this night c. some of them which have compounded and quietly enjoy their estates ah what a sad thing is it to think that poore men should pay their Compositions now poor Tennants and others are arrested by scores for Old Debts ands Rents upon extremities when they could keepe no Cattell in the grounds for feare of plundring but saies the Old miser I must pay many thousand pounds to the Parliament and must get it up again I profes it melt's my very heart to think upon it how happy a thing had it been if Old Vsurers and griping Landlords which have been Delinquents had been Ordered upon their compositions to have released and discharged all poor men which were not able to pay them at least to have provided that they should not presently cast such poore wretches imprison specially If a poor man have been well affected to the Parliament and stands any wayes ingaged to a Compounder oh sayes he I l'e be sure to be revenged on that Round head just like the Devill that because he cannot hurt the Divine Majesty he vents his malice against Gods people because the Parliament is out of his reach Therefore the poore man that honors and prayes for them shall be sure to feele the smart of his displeasure how Cordial will poor mens obedience be to the supreame Justice of the Kingdome and every other Court when they see that their miser●●le condition is taken into their speedy and most serious consultation tell not me the Kingdome is not yet setled to make provision for all poore people that none be famished is the first step to the happines and prosperity of this Kingdome And the first thing to be done in right reason Neither can the King Parliament nor any subject be truly happy without this he that can feast when his Neighbours want bread is rather a De ill then a man he is no Politician that sayes there is any thing of such absolute necessity as to provide bread for the poore without this we are undone King Lords Commons Army Assem-City Country Ministers People all undone every Mothers Child of us will be undone for if the poore be famished to Death God will never blesse the rich in this Kingdome but I am confident God will blesse this nation and therefore the poore shall one way or other bee provi●ed for I hope the worke of reformation will be glorious in this Kingdome it is now in the hands of the noble reformers and refiners and when the reformers are vertuous and religious men all the Divills and their sollicitors cannot hinder a blessed reformation the sword is the most usefull servant that Lady justice hath without which never was the yoake of oppression broken in any Kingdome and where the noble senators Gowne men and sword men are good men I meane mercifull men for that expression in Scripture that for a good man paradventure one may dye is ment a charitable man that sayes what is mine is thine not the righteous man that sayes what is mine is mine and what is thine is thine much lesse the covetous miser that sayes what is thine is mine and what is mine is my owne good Christians eminent for cheap and speedy justice that Reformation must needes be glorious In confidence whereof I shal humble aquiesce beseeching God to blesse and prosper his owne workes for hitherto he hath done all in the hands and indeavours of those Noble trustees that every owne in this Kingdome may have his due and those that have instrumentally saved the Kingdome esteemed as elder brothers with a double portion and every poore Man Woman and Child to have bread and cloathes to preserve them from hunger and sterving in this deare yeare whereof there was never so much danger which God grant no period better then prayer therefore here I cast Anchor and subscribe my selfe my selfe The honest poormans faithfull servant IOHN COOKE FINIS