Windsor by the way were too too vnkindly vsed of the Londoners The king Lords fel to agreement as Fabian writes were coÌ„tented to be ordered by the doome of the FreÌ„ch king who they agreed to be iudge betweene them the king giuing sentence the Barons refuse and fal to war. The yeare following the King his brother and sonne were taken in the Battayle at Lewes by meanes whereof the king grauntes a new the confirmation of the former statutes till matters accordingly be perfourmed Prince Edwarde and the king of Romaines sonne remaynes pledges wyth the Barons The 49. yeare Prince Edwarde being deliuered a Parliament or rather a counsell bycause I finde no statute thereof was helde at Winchester and all matters and decrees passed at Oxforde were vtterly vndone reuoked and called in and all writings and assuraunces sealed for the same were cancelled defaced You haue certaine statutes concluded I thinke at Winchester in your firste volume made in the yeare 51 of thys king in all the which you finde no other wordes for the moste parte but the king willeth or he commaundeth Unlesse hee firste alleadge an inconuenience happened which to redresse he vses it is therefore prouided and ordained The yeare after there were certain statutes passed at Marlebridge or Marleborowe wher you haue this beginning The yeare of grace 1267. the. 25. yeare of the raigne of king Henry sonne of king Iohn in the vtas of Saint Martine for the better estate of the Realme of England and for the more speedie administration of iustice as belongeth to the office of a king the more discrete men of the Realme being called together aswel of the higher as of the lower estate it was c. in all these statutes no word of enacted or ordained by the aucthority of this presente Parliament c. is founde but it is prouided and agreed whiche shal be and shal not bee as the matter which is stablished doth importe In the ende of these lawes and decrees and conclusion of agréement béetwéene 〈◊〉 king and his subiectes the Bishoppes doe pronounce aâ— men accurssed who shall go about to breake infringe or alter the liberties and free customes conteyned in the Charts of the coÌ„mon liberties and of the Forrest c. The preamble to the which Charters is in this manner Henrie by the grace of God c. To all Archbishoppes c. our faithfull subiectes greting know yee that wee vnto the honor of almighty god and for the saluation of the soules of our progenitors and successours kings of Englande to the aduauncemente of holy Church and amendement of our Realme of our mere and free will haue giuen and graunted c. Edwarde his sonne confirmed these Charters graunted by hys father and the thyrde yeare of his raigne helde a Parliament wherein were made diuers statutes and thus it saith These be the actes of King Edward sonne to King Henry at the first Parliament general after his coronatioÌ„ on the Monday of Easter vtas the thirde yeare of his raigne by his councel and by the assente of the Archbishoppes Bishops Abbots Pryors Erles Barons and al the comunaltie of the Realme being thether sommoned c. And for diuers considerations named the booke sayth The king hath ordeyned and established these Actes vnderwritten whiche he entendeth to be necessary and profitable vnto the whole Realme And in the first Chapter First the king willeth and commaundeth c. The yeare following other statutes were set downe by this Auctority In the presence of certaine reuerende fathers Bishoppes of England and others of the Kinges councell the constitutions vnder written were recited and after hearde and published before the King and his councell for asmuche as all the kinges councell aswell Iustices as others did agree that they shoulde bee put in writing for a perpetuall memory and that they shoulde bee stedfastlye obserued The next yeare hee made certaine lawes at Gloucester and hath thus For the great mischiefes c. Our soueraign lord the king for the amendmet of the laÌ„d c. hath prouided and established these Actes vnderwritten willing and commanding that from henceforth â–ª they bee firmely obserued within this Realme In the ende of the Chapters of the same ParliameÌ„t there is an explanation of it termed Expositions vppon the Statute of Gloucester which begin Afterwarde by the king our soueraigne Lorde and his Iustices certaine expositions were made vpon some of the Articles aboue mentioned c. The seuenth yeare other statutes were made the notice of the first was giuen to the Iustices of the Kings Bench with thys preamble Edwarde by the grace of God King of Englande Lorde of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine to his iustices of his benche greeting Whereas c. as it folowes in the act And now in our Parliament at Westminster after the said treatise the prelats erles barons and the coÌ„munaltie of our realme there assembled c we coÌ„maunde you that you cause these things â—o be redde before you in the said bench and there to be enrolled The ninth the 11.13 in the which he had three Parliaments as it semeth the first wherin the statute of Acton Burnel was made the second he helde the parliament at Westminster wherin very many statuts passed the thirde was at Westminster the eighteenth the 20.21.24.25.27.28.29.30.33 the thirtie foure yere there were statuts made as apeares by the records in all which these wordes passe of Aucthoritie for enacting and confirmation The King hath commaunded our soueraigne lorde the king hath ordained the king chargeth all his iustices vppon their faithes and othes that they owe him that they shal see this and that executed according to the statutes It is prouided our soueraigne Lorde the King to abate the power of fellons hath established a payne in this case and for asmuch as the king wil not that his people should bee sodainelye impouerished by reason of this penaltie that seemeth verie harde to many The king graunteth The king and his councell at his Parliament holdeÌ„ at Acton Burnel hath ordeined these establishments our soueraigne Lorde the king at his Parliament holden at Westminster in the eightenth of his raign of his special grace for the singuler affection that he beareth vnto his prelates Erles and Barons and other of his Realme hath graunted Wherefore our soueraigne Lorde the king considering fraude c. hath streightly commaunded our soueraigne Lorde the King in his full Parliamente holden the day after the feaste of the Purification in the twentith yere of his raigne by a general couÌ„cel hath ordained froÌ„ henceforth hath commaunded to be straightly obserued our soueraigne Lorde the king at his Parliament after Easter the 21. yeare of his raigne at the instance of the nobles of his Realme hathe graunted and commaunded too bee from henceforth firmely obserued we haue also ordeined by the aduise of our councell at the Parliament of our soueraigne Lorde the King holden at Lincolne in the vtas of
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
grieued for the mending of the Recorde who made answeare that the Mayor with charging wordes commaunded him to do that which he did whiche was that whereas there was no mention in the Recorde that Smalley did appéere in the Mayors Court there by himself or his atturney that he should put in his apparance for that forsooth M. Hodgeson Smaleys Atturney confessed he had receyued his fee therfore The xxij of Iune the Iudges came agayne to Guyldhall and sat aboute the errours appoynting the first Fryday of the next Terme for the further procéeding in the matter The viij of September M. Mallerie died at the signe of the Antlop in Smithfielde he forgaue M. Hall yet with confession that if he had lyued he would haue bene reuenged he departed well leanyng to the olde Father of Rome a dad whome I haue heard some say M. Hal doth not hate In NoueÌ„ber folowing William Huyt the seruant of M. Andrew Mallerie taking the administratioÌ„ of M. Melchisedech Mallerieâ— goodes cattels by the aduise of his Master altho Francis Mallerie an other of the brothers were appoynted by the dead man executors sued the recognisance which was knowledged for the following of the writ of error with effect The xxv of Ianuarie M. Harper M. Manhood came downe to Guildhal there according to the first verdite and iudgement giuen by the Recorder whervpon the writte of error was brought they procéeded with the like so the Smaley must pay 104. pouÌ„d ij shillings the ouerplus of which summe it being aboue a 1â—0 pouÌ„ds xij peÌ„ce giuen by the Iurie at the first was for charges The iudges appoynted that a warrant shoulde be made out for the attaching of Smalley it retornable xv dayes after during whiche time if he coulde not be mette with Huyt should haue out execution against the suerties who were as you haue heard M. Henry Gilbert and M. Richard How both very sufficient men for an other maner of summe During this time wherin Smalley shuld be fouÌ„d M. Andrew Mallerie with tooth and nayle followed the execution of the iudgement for drawing in the Churchyarde mounting that if he coulde not preuayle therein yet at the least he hoped that the terrour thereof would make Smaley absent him selfe and so at the terme appointed for the attachment of him there shoulde be returned a non est inuentus whiche was his desire knowing very well that the suerties would make ready payment of the condemnation for thus much you must take with you altho William Huyt seruaunt to M. Andrew Mallerie were the administratour of M. Melchisedech Malleries goodes and Cattels yet was the matter wholy followed by M. Mallerie The reason why Huyt tooke this office on him was that the benefit of this money had it should be payed ouer as best pleased the deceased Malleries brothers for that I thinke his wealth was not great nor hardly of sufficiencie to answere his debtes The iiij of February M. Hal brought to the Towne-clerke a Cerciorare out of the Kings 〈◊〉 to remoue the Inditements of his meÌ„ wherby they were stayed till the next terme intending that if there were a pardon at the Parliament they would be dispensed with M. Hal found M. Seabright very willing to do what he might by law and accordingly dealt therin not sending the InditemeÌ„ts vp The vij day M. Hal sent Smaley and Chambers to the Counters to put in a Caueat that he was of the house therefore that none of his men shoulde be arrested and also wrote by Smalley to M. Onessey Clerke of the house for a writte of priuiledge for him who returned answere he coulde not do it till he were arrested M. Mallerie on the other side for the Inditements hastes the case so that the former helpes may not serue and for not performing the firste course taken a fine of xl pound was set vpon M. Seabright wherefore a newe way muste be had M. Hall hyes him to Grayes Inne to the Temple where the viij of the same moneth by his counsell it was concluded to trauerse the Inditements and presently to put in the same wherin was vsed speede inough and so was this gappe stopt and M. Malleries labour lost during this Smalley had bene at the Counter diuerse times demaunded whether there were any processe out against him none was founde The very same day the Parliament began of the which M. Hal was a Burgesse for the towne of Grantham whereof we haue talked oft the nexte day after Smaley goes to Guild-hall and takes with him Mathew Kyrtleton his Masters Scholemaister and then not seeming they were of knowledge one with an other Smalley walked vp and downe in the hall Kyrtleton goes to the ordinarie place where M. Mosley one of the Secondaries of the Counter sat and sayd if you haue any processe against Edward Smalley yonder he is attache him for I am M. Malleries friende nothing was done in the cause for in truthe the warrant was not yet out The nexte day beyng the laste day of the returne and that by two a clocke Smaley sent to the Counter to heare of this warrant all was whus ht at Westminster all the Courtes rysing it was deliuered by the yonger Mallerie to M. Mosley who seyng it retornable in a maner within two houres after quicke speede pretended or not to finde they looked for expected sayed how may I do any thing with so small â— warning M. Mallerie answered returne non est inuentus quoth he that can I not do for I see the partie euery day before my face well this man must be sought who would be found and that for two causes one some small hope he had tho â—is learned counsell â—ad tolde him the contrary as M. 〈◊〉 â–ª and 〈◊〉 Iudges of the Lawe that the pryueledge of the Parliament woulde discharge him if they would vnaduisedly attache him the second beyng greatly desirous to shewe himselfe honest towarde his sureties knowing that he should not long lye in pryson if his Maister were able to prouide the money aboute one a clocke he goes into the Counter in Woodstreat and demaundes againe after this warrant where one of M. Mosleys men sayed his Master would speake with him he answered he would anone goe to him Mosleys man coÌ„ming out of the gate called Grace a sergeant to him and sayde sée you yonder yeman going in the redde hose with his fellow in the gréene cloke hee answeared yea will him quoth hee to go to my Maister for thether he muste Smalley tolde the Sergeant hee woulde willingly goe so they three the third being Iames Chambers M. Hals man went to M. Mosleys house where they comming before him he thus began to Smaley or in such like wordes What doest thou meane fellow to rotte in pryson and to lose thine eares if my hap be such quoth he I may not do withal I would not haue my suerties troubled wilt thou then replyed Mosley yeelde thy self
Parliament M Mallerie coulde not be contented with a Recognizaunce of M. Halles as it was decreed but muste haue his minde satisfied with the infringement of the resolution of that place and what soeuer coÌ„mes of the rest his quietnesse must be prouided for for forsooth he doubted further trouble nothing done Chambers was willed to proue a day or twoo for prouision of the money whiche if he could he would not haue done without commission thereto he therfore might haue played Coleprophetes parte if he had pleased one of the xxiiij orders and told his message before he went aboute it The recognizaunce M. Mildmay kéepes and Chambers goes aboute to see if he can finde an hundred pounds in the streates or meete with some one wil giue him so much M. Mallerie hath Smalley faste the bonde no doubte if the worst fall will at length be payde tho it tarry long spite of all M. Halles debts for yet he is a free holder The viij of May God be thanked the money is reddy somewhat before appoyntmeÌ„t with harde shift inough for beggers without daunger of lawe cannot haue money when they woulde before sir â—ater Mildmay it is by Huyt the Malleries receiued the releases performed a warraÌ„t for the prisoner to goe play him selfe signed by M. Mildmay the whiche nowe the Recorder firmes with William Fleetâ—wood the ix of the same paying xij pound to the Leuetenaunt M. Hals cosen without dayes giuen and other charges bâ—sides of xliij shillings and ten pence he was turned forth â—nd bycause he haâ—h song in so worthy a Gayle his Mastâ—r thought him not meete to chaunte in so mâ—ane a Cadge as the beste house he is like to haue so that now he may beyng Sommer learne a new note in the gréene fields Here haue you the end of this great cause thuâ— far to the excessiue charge of M Hal one way other trouble of Frendes and minde and slaunderous reporte among such as know not the truth and therfore to the more preiudice of his simple reputation My excuse I made to you at the beginning and I nothing doubt of your good accepting of my well meanyng if by accident or otherwise than I desire or hope this priuate certificate hap to the handes of any who be offended for not beyng soothed beare malicâ— for being contraried thinke vnkindnesse bicause they are not coÌ„mended as other quarrel bicause I wrote the truth or for affection sake can daunce nothing but theyr owne galliarde I must thus answeare that I haue wronged them for naming any person in this manner particularly and not put too my name your selfe knowes my stile simple God wote and therefore neede I the lesse to auoyde further question if my letters should be intercepted to set to my hande Contra verbosos nolo contendere verbis I loue no disputatioÌ„ but where I may learne Quoniam senex esse volo citò si possem eâ—o olde I must be or die yong And therefore will I yeelde ouer to the yonger to play with the worlde who carelesse hope with vncertaine likyng for great things while I with regarde to my whyte heares comming on with coÌ„tentement am glad to enioye mine owne small porcion for my paynes I craue no thankes of any straunger neyther yet of M. Hall him selfe whose good partes I muste of force confesse I do vnfaynedly loue for the rest I am sory and remayne with his enimies in one predicament for the conceyuing of his wantes but differ in desire with them towardes him bycause I pray the amendment which I doubt not of and they gape for his ouerthrow whiche were pitty if my request would come to passe I wishe truth to be reported in all causes whiche if it had bene I had saued this labour for at my beyng at Killingworth in the beginning of Aprill laste where what greate company were assembled what liberall cheere spent what familiar welcome vsed and Honorable consideration of all sortes had I referre to them that know what is incorporate to that house since it came into the handes of hym that now hath it There I say I sawe M. Hall by his owne brother in lawe M. Henry Skipwith by M. George Holte M. Iames Cressey and others who loue the man well so loden with euil fame and opinion that went of him for the premisses herein recited and that vntruly as of myne owne knowledge I am assured that I pitying the case determyned at the last with you who tenders him not to suffer so vniustly his credite tho small to be so wildly tyred on with my old and accustomed well thinking and praying for you I leaue you From London the xix of May. 1576. Your Frende no chaungeling F. A. 〈…〉 haue obtayned for you my place in the common house of Parliament for the increase of your knowledge you growing to the worlde and I from it I thought to bestowe a few lynes vpoÌ„ you tho I had long since yelded my pen to be quiet my ability to write being decayd which neuer was great and my memory alway bad now in a maner grown to litargie wherin to lay before you as wel as I could such aduises as to folowe I haue founde profitable But considering mine owne wants I withdrew my selfe froÌ„ my determinatioÌ„ Yet minding with whoÌ„ I shold deale whom I should counsel to whom I shoulde sette abroade the shewe of my experience in good houre I hope I proceeded herein for straungers will take thankfully what is don by others of a good meaning for their behouf and muche more children that whiche is done in the same kinde by their parents I suppose it not needelesse lightly to runne ouer as I can call to minde by what Lawes this Realme of England hath beene gouerned where altered where cleane abrogated and others confirmed which laste of al is your Parliament whereto I meane to come Wee alow the report of Brutes arriuing inhabiting this I le the yeare of the worlde after the most writers 2855. before the incarnation of Christ. 1108. He builte London calling it Troynouant wherein he stablished with the name the Troyan Lawes what they were I finde no recorde but that King Alured about the time of Christes birth 872 did gather the same Lawes together and translated them into english But for the religioÌ„ it seemed he followed the Paganisme then vsed through the whole worlde as a greate number of yeares after it did continue Til the 441 yere before the comming of Christ this lande was ruled nowe with law and now without lawe bycause of the ciull dissention therein at which time Mulmutius Dunwallo or Dunwallo Mulmutius chose you the sonne of Cloten Duke of Cornewayle by strong hande bringyng the new righte called Lawe Moluntine which graunted great priuileges to Temples to plowes to fayres and markettes and too the way leading to them prohibiting men to bee troubled for any cause in the same the wars among themselues had so
wasted the subiects as liberty and freedome muste nowe bring people together againe to ioine in a newe corporation of frendship And to exclude al feare he pardoned most freely al offences past These ordinaunces did holy Gildas about the yeare of Christ. 543 translate oute of Brytishe into latine Alured as afore about the. 872. out of Latin into the English Gurgunstus of some Gurguintus the son of Belinus before Christ. 375. was the first it shold seme that imposed death and losse of lim for transgression dyd also grieuously punish the peace breakers Quinthelinus his sonne married a noble gentlewoman to name Martia who erected certaine decrees of gouernement whiche were called after hir Martian Laws brought likewise into English by king Alured leauing theÌ„ the little Marthehelage asmuch to say the law of Martia Lucius it is said the eight yeare of his raigne of Christ â—88 some smal controuersye there is of the time was christened Eluthrius being Bishop of Rome and counted the first christened King of this Iland of the most credible writers tho some woulde haue Aruiragus 138. yere before to haue the preheminence aswel by the preachyng of SimoÌ„ Zelotes one of the disciples of Christ here martyred and buryed as by Ioseph of Arymathy who had Mutryn now Glastenbury his place appointed of habitation sente hyther with twelue disciples by the Apostle Philip then preaching in Gaul nowe Fraunce too sone to come to Christ onlesse we would felowe him better Lucius was very timely coÌ„sidering the late repayre to him of many nations nerer the plat of his birth and passion whom I would recite but I haue digressed too long Lucius set to Eleutherius desiring him he might haue the imperial and Romaine Lawes to guide and gouerne his countrey who retourned him this answere As touching the rightes of the Churche and seruice of God whiche you haue receiued they must remaine alwayes one vntouched the policie for ciuill rule may bee abrogated and altered as occasion shall serue you haue the booke of the olde and newe preceptes the Bible with the aduise of your kingdome make a Lawe thereby to gouerne your subiectes Here some will say was your first Parliamente and the verie originall thereof whyche I no way can agree to and the cause hereafter I wyl shewe you Lucius died wythout heire for the space of fifteene yeeres or more all wente to hauocke tyll Seuerus the Emperour discended rightlye from King Lud toke the gouernement vpoÌ„ him about the yere 208. some account lesse the Romaines seldome quietly but for the most parte to their excessiue charge and trouble held the domynioÌ„ til the death of CoÌ„staÌ„tine the yere .445 then neglecting the same as a country not worth the keeping who leauing behind him CoÌ„stant or CoÌ„stantin for his simplicity in his fathers time shorne a monk at Winchester Vortiger alias Vortigern of some the Duke of West SaxoÌ„s of other the Duke or Erle of Iewesses who after were called West Saxons toke him out of the Cloyster and crowned him king whome yet hee caused to bee murdered the first yeare of his raigne so that for those 240. yeares few laws were made and fewer executed Vortiger vsurping or being chosen king the 448. yeare so continued but a while in rest for not onely his nobles but the Pictes and Scottes layde so sore to him that driuen to extremitie he sent into Germany for the SaxoÌ„s and Englishmen to aide him in his waxres not only against the forraine enimye but his owne people promysing too them habitation whiche hee might well spare the land being in a manner wast by the meanes of the great mortalitie by pestilence the Scottes and Pictes inuasions and the ciuill slaughter Their request was accepted Horsus Hengist brought hether certain souldiers Panims by whose valure Vortigers contraries were tamed by the continuall repaire and flocking hether of those straungers the inhabitaunts were put to the dore For before the yere of our Lorde 1498 there were three kingdomes erected by the EnglishmeÌ„ and Saxons the first of Kent by Hengist the second by Hella his three sonnes of the south Saxons comprising Deuonshire and Cornewal Somersette and Southery or rather Hampshire for Southery according to the more probable writers The third of east Angles by Vffa coÌ„teining Norfolk and Suffolke These broyles being no time for lawes or letters but for fier bloud Arthur the son of Vther PeÌ„dragoÌ„ was crowned king of Britayne tho a greate part as you heare were takeÌ„ froÌ„ him The yere â—16 he fought twelue greate battayles with the Saxons in all the which he put theÌ„ to the worse yet coulde he not auoyde them the Land neyther yet so subdue them but that Cerdicus the fifth yere of his raigne began the fourth kingdome of west Saxons which consisted as I gather of Worcester Dorcet Wiltish â–ª Stafford and those western partes adiacent Aboute the yeare 547. the two Kingdomes of Northumberland that is the fifte and sixte principality of the Saxons toke roote In the one called Breuitia Ida first had rule In the other called Deira Ella was gouernor These two kingdomes had in theÌ„ the countries froÌ„ Humber northward to the Scottish sea and continued somtime vnder one king sometime vnder two The yere 586. the Britains were driueÌ„ into Wales presently the Saxons had the dominion of the whole lande At whyche time was the Christen religion thereby extinct and not thought on but amoÌ„g the Britaynes in Wales After some Sebertus leader of the East Saxons 614 gaue first beginning to that kingdome and had in it Essex Not long after Penda the Miscreant the yeare 626. made the kingdome of Mertia who gouerned Huntingtonshire Hertfordshire Glouc. War. Lecester Nottingham Northumberland and others Cadwallader the last king of Britaine died at Rome the yeare of grace 656 about whiche time according to some writers but I thinke rather the yeare 712. Inas otherwise called Iue or Iew a Christian helde the rule of the West Saxons He set downe certaine laws the preamble to the whiche is this Inas by the grace of God king of west Saxons with the consultation and aduise of Kenred my father Hedda and Erkenwald my Bishoppes of all my councellours and the olde wise men of my people in the greate congregation of the seruauntes of God did labour to confirme Iustice and equitie to bee executed in my whole territorie These particular edictes are not to my purpose to wright but the firste intituled Of the manner of the liuing of the ministers of God toucheth somwhat the matter which goes thus First wee commaunde that Gods ministers doe obserue the order of life alreadie sette downe and further wee will that to the rest of our people the lawes and iudgementes bee in this manner and so goeth on This also is alleaged for the confirmation of antiquity of our parliament I
councel was helde at Claringdone and before the King the Bishoppes and nobilitie were sworne to kepe and confirme many decrees and ordinaunces Iohn Stow writes in his Summary of the Cronicles of Englande that the 34 of his ragne at Geldington about ten myles from Northamton he shoulde holde a Parliamentâ— touching a voyage to be taken to the holy lande But if you consider the haste the king made thether the state at that present he stode in the place the shortnesse of the time and the matters there communed of you shall finde that in terming this or suche like consultation Parliaments Maister Fabian Stow Harding and other Englishâ— writers do rather vse the worde as in deede it is proper where any conference is than that it carries with it where it coÌ„mes the same to be vnderstand to be the greate Courte of Parliament in such general forme and vniuersall manner as nowe and since the time of Kyng Henrie the thyrde we haue and do vse it as you knowe the worde is Frenche and this much importeth A debating together A conference A consultation A conferring An enterspeech A Communication A discoursing one with another which may bee aswel with Ten for the worde as with Tenscore Kyng Richard the first in the eighte yeare of hys raigne retourning from the holy lande his brother Iohn in his absence vsurping the Crowne summoned a counsell of hys Lords at Winchester where by auctority of the said counsell 〈…〉 ments and landes whyche before hee hadde bestowed on hym After Richards deceasse he possessed the Crowne and in the firste and thirde yeare by the holding of two counsels as some affirme hee had certaine exactions agreed vppon for the maintenaunce of his wars others write that of himselfe hee leuied the sayd summes The eleuenth yeare all men toke the othes of Allegeance too hym from 12 yeres vpward The fourthteenth yere here is some difference for the yere the Lordes and Barons required the vse of Saint Edwardes Lawes and the reuoking of other wicked ordinaunces the which he not harkening to the ciuil warre begonne yet at Barhamdowne the king and nobilitie meeting they confirmed so much as they departed quietly The sixtenth of his raigne the king being slowe to performe that which he was brought to perforce the nobility toke them againe to armes and so hardlye sette hym as in a meadowe betweene Windsor and Staynes in a manner Nolens volens hee graunted their liberties and the Charter for their confirmation thereof is dated at Rime meade betweene the places beforenamed to the which al the Realme was sworne In the same yere the Lords perceiuing the Kings disposition to shifte from that hee hadde agreed on sente into Fraunce for Lewes the sonne of Philip the Frenche king who arriuing here was receyued by the Barons and Londoners honorably who sware fealty to hym and did him homage and then al with one crye they séeke oute the king who being at Winchester was driuen to flye whyche towne yeelded was sworn to Lewes whether also repayred in a maner al the nobility For al this sturre King Iohn procured the Pope by meanes of Pandolphe the legate to dispence with his othe to reuerse the Charter and liberties graunted and also excoÌ„municate the Barons and Frenchmen Henrie his sonne of the age of nine yeres yong enough 〈…〉 Kingdome and specially during such garboyles yet by the good gouernemente of Marshal Erle of Penbroke many of the Lordes drewe to him and very shortly after Lewes was driuen to leaue the land and being released of his excommunication the peace was agreed on the ninth yeare of his raigne of his age the seuententh or thereabout At the motion of the Archbishoppe of Caunterbury and other the Lordes the king graunted and confirmed the greate Charter whereuppon as I can gather by some records the warde and mariage of our children was graunted to the king and his successours the twelfth yeare the king refused to perfourme the liberties Charter graunted as before for that the ratification past in his minoritie and that now being of ful yeres to beare the sway himselfe hee woulde bee better aduised The twentith of his raigne is found the first Parliament of name and record and yet not to be so thought a Parliament as now we vse ours It is entituled The statuts made at Merton And further he sayes It was prouided in the Courte of our soueraigne Lord the king holden at Mertoâ— the morrowe after the twentith day of Saint Vincent the twentith yere of the raigne of king Henrie the son of king Iohn before VVilliam Archbishoppe of Caunterburie and other his Bishoppes and suffraganes and before the greater parte of the Earles and Barons of England there assembled c without addition of the thyrde state of this land Also you haue a statute made the yeare after entituled for the leape yeare beginning The King vnto the iustices of his Bench greeting The 42. yere or after some the 41 the barons vnwillingly bearing the kings driuing off for the restitution of certaine auncient lawes there was a Parliament at Oxforde which was called the madde Parliament yet not so mad but the king his brother king of Romains and Edward his sonne must and did agrée thereto tho much against their willes bycause many matters were ordeyned greatly and too much against the kings prorogatiue for the sure establishing and execution whereof there were 〈…〉 charge auctority to see the ordinaunces made maintayned whether for the small worthynesse of the lawes or the disorder in making or the shortnesse of the continuaunce I knowe not but I finde not any of those statutes with the rest which are rekened to be King Henrie the thirds These twelue noble meÌ„ were no soner in coÌ„mission but they begaÌ„ roughly presently exiling foure of the Kings brethreÌ„ by the mother The 43. and 44 yere of his raigne there were certain assemblies sometime of the nobility without the King and of the king without the Lordes without any mention of our thirde interest and al called Parliaments Thys yere in a Folkmote at London were al aboue twelue yeres sworne to the king In the 45. yeare he had obtained from Rome a dispensation for his othe and all others of his which he and they had taken for the maintenance of Oxforde folly The péeres during this pastime vnwitting vnwilling the kyng discharged Hugh le Spencer chiefe Iustice and put an other in his place expelled officers and Sherifes admitted by the king appointed other to supplie their romes Further the king was growâ—n to harde termes which was hee shoulde not passe ouer the Seas hauing large Territories in other countries without licence obtained as in this yeare appeareth The next yeare as before in the. 44 were al men in London aboue twelue yeares of age sworne too the king and his successours The 47 of his raigne the barons armed themselues the Kyng Queene fled from the tower to
Hostilitie assembled to councell what way were best to be taken in such times Also in the same Folkmote which ofte times is named the Common councel the subiectes of this Land did their fealty and were sworne as here before diuers times Touching the oth to the prince I haue recyted to you And for sufficient proufe hereof the Londoners of late yeres haue vsed the worde and at this day directly in effecte kepe the matter when they assemble themselues as ofte as neede requires to their common councel the Folkemote in deed The seconde Folkemote was for the electing of Sherifs and officers vnder them for taking order that the watches were kepte and great heed had to scath fire In the Saxons gouernement there were at the last two kinds of regiments by the which the country was directed the one the West Saxons the other the marches who as they were proceeded of two nations so ech held the rights receiued fro their ancetors The Saxons kept thēselues kings here tho w much a do great continual slaughters not only w the ancient inhabitāts of this land but with thēselues one king with another til the yers 1018. during which time you see many ordinaunces established but how far frō the way of our Parliament your own discretion wil conceiue if you haue good cōsideration of the times people maner of lawing Canutus the Dane the yere 1018. was absolute king of the whole Realme whiche the Danes claymed firste by conqueste of Swaynus their king father to Canutus ano next by agreement made betwene Edmund Ironside and him his laws you haue see what you find ther. So gratcōquerors do not cōmōly grant such large freedomes to subiectes to haue interest with them in the cōmon welth neither yet do bind thēselues to so hard termes to establish nothing without the consente of the other two states Far vnlike it is that of Danes he had ful supplie too furnish the whole state of nobilitie and the whole Borowes and counties But graunt he had shal I beleeue he would set down another maner of gouernemēt than the Danes do at this day almost haue alwaies maintayned which is al things to passe by the kings auority the nobilities without the thirde estate He was not constrained at any time againste his will for the poore Englishe nation God knowes were laide low enough The Danes raigned not here aboue twenty fiue yeres allowing Canutus the first king Yet would I faine learn whether by Parliament and general consent of the three estats therof the excessiue Tributs were graunted and the exaction called the Dane gelt which the English people only euen frō the beginning of the raigne of the Danes were cōpelled yerely to pay to their kings was Parliament wise enacted Saint Edwards lawes if you loke ouer you shall finde nothing to serue your tourne The Conqueror VVilliam in the yeare 1066 obtained the Crowne howe streight a hande he helde on the subdued inhabitauntes of this I le is wel known Til the twentith yere of Henrie the thirde I heare of no Parliament vnlesse you wil haue al consultations Parliamentes as in the fortith of Henry the 8. I sée a statute made for one Richarde Strode a Burges in that Parliament for that hée was condemned in 160. pounde at certaine Courts of the Steynery and by auctority thereof imprisoned for the same bycause he had as it was aleaged greatly hindred by his speaches in the Parliament their liberties and priuileges Upon his complaint to the thrée estates the Act was made for his discharge in the end wherof an enquiry is appointed touching the digging of tinne and the letter is thus Be it enquired for our soueraigne Lorde the king that whereas at the Parliament holden at Crokerentor before Thomas Denys deputye too sir Henrie Marney knight warden of the Steynery c. Here you haue your word otherwise applyed than we accustomably do So that the worde carries not awaye with it alwayes the fulnesse of the matter Some wold long sith haue comprised in it howe King Henrie the thirde was by armes cōstrained to do what he would not You haue recited to you what auctority he vses in enacting you also haue likewise I haue gone thorow al the Parliaments of the rest of the Kings which I haue thought néedefull the exact ouerloking wherof and due noting of the forme of the nobility in time past after the Danish manner great sway beares in this common welth the aydes subsidies exactions and customes generally so oft consented to with better willes and more quietnesse than in former ages the nūber of penal statutes and generall pardons of the Prince will disswade the Antiquity of our thirde voices which many do defende and also wil shewe a lighte of the admitting the third person in this trinity I cannot méete with the name of the Knight of a Shire or Burges of the Parliament or any such men mentioned tyl now of late dayes In the twenty seuenth yere of Edward the thirde in the beginning of a Parliament he sayes thus Wheras good deliberation had with the Prelates Dukes Erles Barons and greate men of the Countries that is to say of euery country one for all the counties and of the commons of Cities and Burgesses of our Realm c. The fifte yeare of Richard the seconde there is a statute That if any knight of the shire Citizen of Cittie or Burges of Borow did not vppon sommons come to the Parliament not hauing lawful excuse should be amerced Anno 12. of the same king you haue an act for the Kings wages Anno 7. of Henrie the fourth it is enacted touching their elections Anno. 1. of Henrie the fifth you haue the like for chosing of Knights and Burgesses In Henrie the sixts time and after there are sundry Acts concerning the same matter If you consider the late enacting of these things you shall finde later vse of our newe Parliament than of some is thought for I thinke Knightes and Burgesses neuer coulde nor might appeare in Coūcel before they were autorised and the maner of their apperance knowne It may be that you and some other who shall mete with thys my procéedings in this matter will maruell why I make so long a preamble and that in such forme to so shorte an aduise which I sende you Againe the world is many times so aukwardely disposed as it will deeme the worste of mens meanings And leaste the repeating of these things to you should of Malbouch who neuer sayde wel be conceiued that I shote to disgrace that noble graue and necessarie thirde state of Parliament whiche if I were so lewdly disposed I neuer were able to touch ▪ I first protest before him who knowes the secretes of al mens workings it is furthest from my thought The cause of this my long recitall of one thing and other grew of three parts One to shewe how happily we obtained that rare interest in the common wealth
finde that Egbert who was an vnder Kyng in West Saxons was expelled by Brithricus the King there and fled into Fraunce but Brithricus being poysoned by his wife Ethelburga Egberte retourned and obtayned the whole principality the yere 793 others say 802 and withal brought the most parte of England vnder his obeysance tamed the Welchmen and toke from them Chester by meanes of which his good fortunes he called a counsel of hys Lordes at Wynchester and by their aduises and agreements was crowned kyng and chiefe Lord of the land whervpon he sent forth commaundemente thorowe out his country straightlye charging the people thenceforth to bee called Angles and no more Britains and the kingdome Anglia and not Britaine In the yeare 800. some accompte thirteene lesse the Danes being also Paynims firste entred this region according to the most The Danes inuaded the seconde tyme the yere 838 Athelwolph raygning who of himselfe first graunted the tyth of corne Hey and Cattel to the cleargy And after toke such fast footing as they continually infested this Iland with cruell wars vsurpation and conquest til the death of Hardicanutus or Hardiknought the last king of that breed 1034 some accompt two sewer Alured alias Alphred before spoken began to gouerne the West Saxons who beyng a most iuste Prince very wel learned and carefull for the makyng and execution of good lawes collected and caused to be brought into the Saxon or English tong al such as by the kings his forgoers were stablished selecting out of them such as were thought most fit for the gouernement confirming them and secluding the rest reciting many of the commaundements and precepts giuen by God to Moyses and the message that the apostles and elders sent to Antiochia Siria and Cilicia by Saint Paul Barnabas Iudas and Silas touching the diuerting of themselues as we haue it in the Acts of the Apostles and also by the assembly and conference of the Bishoppes and other noble and wise counsellours diuers money penalties and others were appointed and the same not onely declared in their sermons but also put in writing He proceedes in the beginning of such as are allowed by him In haec verba These decrees and ordinaunces I Alured King haue gathered together and caused to be written a greate parte whereof our auncestours haue carefully kepte with manye other that I haue thoughte worthye in this our age to be helde and maintained with the like obseruation other some which I haue thought not to be so needful I haue with the conference of considerate couÌ„sellors in parte abrogated and partly established And bycause it maye seeme a pointe of too much rashnesse of a mans owne heade to adde any thing more also that it is vncertaine what credite our posteritie will giue thereto which we make greate reconing of what euer I haue founde worth the regarde in the Actes of my kynnesman and countryman Inas of Offa the King of Mertia or of Ethelbert the first christened of the Angles I haue brought together omitting the rest And in the consultation of them I Alured King of West Saxons haue vsed the couÌ„sell of the grauest of our people to al the whiche I haue commanded that the same be executed and kept Moreouer in this kings time Gutteron alias Gowthram alias Gythrun alias Gurmund of some named king of Danes by some king of Denmarke ariued in this land and sometime hauing the better in armes and sometyme put to the worse was at the last christened and named by Alured Athelstane the yere 878 to whom he gaue the kingdome of East England with the gouernemente of Saint Edmundes kingdome and also some write NorthumberlaÌ„d with whome making league and agreing in the confynes of their countries beginnes in this manner The truce aliaunce which Alured and Guthrun kings haue agreed by the aduise of the wise of the English nation and of all the inhabitauntes of East England to the which they not onely for themselues but also for their children to come are sworne Edward the first before the conquest called Edward the elder his eldest son beginning to raigne next after him the yeare 900. made and confirmed also certain lawes the first chapter wherof is intituled Of controuersie and iudgement and goes thus 1 king Edwarde do againe and againe commaunde all those who beare office in the common wealth that they beare themselues asmuch as in them lies iust â—udges to all men as it is written in the Iudiciall booke without feare boldely and freely to declare the common lawe and do appoint denounced daies wherein they will deale in euerye question and controuersie This Edwarde also confirmed the league with the fornamed Guthrun the Dane in this maner adding also to the former decrees by equal coÌ„sents these bee the councels institutes and ordinaunces whiche firste Alured and Guthrun then Edwarde and Guthrun kings at those dayes were agreed on when both the Danes and English accepted the treaty of peace Athelstane King Edwardes eldest sonne by whose prowesse and valure it is affirmed thys lande was reduced into one Monarchie againe and layde so sore too the Danes that since their first landing they were neuer so harde driuen did also constitute certaine lawes and ordinances beginning them wyth these wordes Athelstane King by the councel of the graue father Vlfhelme Archbishop and other my Bishops do wil and commaunde to al officers and such as haue charge of Iustice. 1 Athelstane king giue notice to all put in authority in our dominioÌ„s that with the aduise of Vlfhelme Archbishop and other Bishops and seruaunts of god haue ordered and set fourth In the ende of all he closeth with these woordes These be the ordinances decrees determined of in the honorable counsell of Grantamlean where was present VVolstane the Archbishop and with him great companie of the best and wisest sorte called togeather by Athelstane The asseÌ„bly parted the king had enquired how the peace was kept among his people fynding it and iustice smally to hys mind delt inioyned more laws to his first and thus shewes the cause â— Athelstane king will all men to know that hauing demanded why our peace is not manteyned according to my commaundement the decree at Grantamlean I am certefied from the experienced of my dominions that the same is happened by my ouermuche sufferance and remissnesse in punnishing But now at Christmas last at Exeter being attended on with grauewise men whom I found moste readye to venture their facultie themselues wiues and children to most greate hazarde that these peace breakers might vtterly without retourning be expelled the lande The yeare 946. Edmund his brother beganne to rule after him in whose time the Danes held Lincolne Nottingham Darby Stafford and Leicester who also erecting and confirming lawes shewes this by whom they were consented on Edmund King helde the solempne Feaste of Easter at London where were mette a greate companie of the Cleargie and laity
among whom were Oda and VVolstane Archbishoppes and many other Bishoppes to prouide for their soules health and theirs whom they had the cure of And in an other place I Edwarde King to all both yong ond olde in my iurisdiction giue knowledge that I in the solempne assemblie of the best seene of my kingdome aswel ecclesiastical as temporal haue carefully enquired and so foorth King Edgar his seconde sonne the yeare 959 was likewise a lawe maker and thus entitles them The lawes whiche 1 Edgar King in the freequented senate to the glory of God â–ª the dignity of my Maiestie and the profite of the common wealth haue past Etheldred or Eldred or Egelred the second son of Edgar the yeare 979 whiche alter a little who by the murder of Edward his elder brother named the Martire came to the crown in whose time the Danes so entred this laÌ„d as ere they had done the king fledde into Normandy and lefte his kingdome to Swanus the Tyrant Dane after whose decease retourning he not long after died hee also being doing with lawes termes them thus The councel of graue fathers which king Ethelred had at Woodstock in Marcia for the preseruation of the peace whiche is gouerned by the english lawes at the ende of suche perticulers as are agreed on he concluds on this maner This our commaundement decree if any shal neglect c. He shal pay to the king one huÌ„dred twenty shillings There was a league made also by the sayd King with the army of Aulavus Iustinus and Gustimundus the sonnes of Stegetie the Dane and goes thus The agreement or part which once or of late king Ethelred by the aduise of his wise confederates with them aforesayde did enter in His sonne Edmund surnamed Ironside parted the Realme with Canutus or Knought King of Denmark who being slayn by the treason of Edricke Canutus enioyed the whole principality and tho Swanus were the firste Danish King here yet held hee not the kingdome so absolutely as thys man did Hee made more lawes than anye one before him which are thus intituled The decrees which Canutus king of English Danes and Norwayes at Winchester at Christmas hath appointed by the aduise of men of knowledge to the honor of the God of heauen the renoume of the kings Maiestie and the benefite of the common wealth Againe in an other place he vseth these wordes These are the humaine and lawes politique wherin vsing the counsel of the wise I command to be kept thorough Englande Hee began to raigne alone the yeare of grace 1019. Edwarde the Confessour after Hardikenitus the last king of the Danish bloud 1043. began to raigne he fouÌ„ded many holesome lawes and was the firste erector as it is written of the common law whych VVilliam Conqueror did after confirme wherof this I finde After the conquest of England the foresayde King William the fourth yere of his raigne by the persuasion aduise and councel of his nobility did sommon throughout his land the nobles the gouernours the graue heads and the Learned in the lawe to heare of them their rights customes and ordinances whereof chosing twelue of euery county who taking their othes before the king directly truely and so forth to shew declare the same they brought the lawes of Saint Edward as we haue them now and the king established them in that manner The Conqueror hym selfe began to rule this Ilande 1066 some recken a yeare more who also adding certaine ordinaunces in the entraunce hath these wordes Here beginneth what William king of the Englishe nation after the conquest with his nobility hath appointed to be perfourmed I reade that Henry the first his sonne who gouerned after VVilliam Rufus his brother did at the beginning of his raign lighten the great exactions imposed by his father and brother reduced and amended Saint Edwards lawes whiche as it should seeme were eyther forgotten or would not be remembred for al the fathers confirmation or rather shew therof reformed measures apoynted directions to be obserued Aboute the thyrtith yeare of hys raigne hee helde a counsel at LondoÌ„ wherin it was thought good he shold haue the Cleargy within his censure Maude the Emprice his daughter first marryed to Henrie the fourth Emperor of Almayne and afterwards to Geffrey Plantagenet Erle of Aâ—iou the 31. of his raigne had by hir husbande shortly after a son named Henrie vpoÌ„ the knowledge wherof he called hys nobles together decreed that his daughter the heires of hir body shoulde succeede him in the Kyngdome Grafton in the thirteenth yere of this King in hys Cronicle saith thus And in this time began the Parliament in Englande firste to be instituted and ordeyned for reformation and gouernement of this Realme The manner whereof as I haue fouÌ„d it set out in an olde pamflet I intende at large to set foorth in the raigne of King Edwarde the thirde when and where Parliaments were yearely and orderly kepte the whiche I sought to finde but promise was not kepte Turning his booke I founde in his preface to the Reader these wordes And where I haue in the â—3 yere of King Henry the firste promised to place the maner and order that first was taken for the holding of the parliamente in the time of king Edwarde the thirde I haue sith that tyme for sundry good causes thought meete to omit the same and therefore admonish the Reader not to looke for it Hereof iudge you and if you wyll haue hys reason he is not far to seke Stephen in a manner no sole sybbe to the Crowne the righte heyres being aliue was by the nobilitye admitted Kyng In hys time the Emprice by the aide of hyr Basterd brother Robert Earle of Gloucester the ciuill warres grew great wherin the King being taken and who now but the Emprice as it were confirmed according to hir iust title she was moued for the restitution of Saint Edwards Lawes but shee was deafe on that side The last yeare of thys Kings time he and Henrie the Emprice sonne grew to communication and agreement The King commaunded his Lordes to assemble at Winchester where Duke Henrie was honorably receyued and there it was agreed he shoulde adopte the Duke hys sonne and confirme too him the Crowne of Englande after his deceasse Henry the second hys follower in the gouernement of another clayme helde a councel at the beginning of his raign at Wallingforde where the Barons were sworne to the king The eyght yere of his raigne he caused all the subiectes to sweare fealty to his sonne Henrye touching the inherytaunce In the ninth yeare Fabian sayeth the kyng called a Parliament at Northampton and so termed it as also in some other places he doeth Councels and calling togethers of the Lordes by the prynce wherin him selfe vouches nothing was done but a pretence to reforme and somewhat gelde the preueleges of the Cleargy The same time a
c. the thirde yeare of king Edwarde the fourth after the conquest diuers statutes c. By the aduise and assent of his Lordes spiritual and temporal the commons of the same Parliament assembled and by auctority of the same were made c. During which Sessions he had granted him by statute the tonnage and pondage of wines and wayres not for a yeare or two but during hys naturall life In his second yeare he had liberally yeelded him large summes vpon his priuy Seales he had also diuers fifteenes Loanes and beneuolences In his first Parliament Charters priuiledges and liberties were coÌ„firmed But I sée no stoare of generall pardons in hys time although it was and had byn a busye age by meanes of the quarel betwene the two great houses of Yorke and Lancaster His brother Richard by that vnkinde making away of his nephewes ruled the rost two yeres two moneths a day whose statutes are enacted as before at the requeste of the commons of the same â—â—â—lme yet sought hee by all the fauourable wayes hee coulde too purchase hym selfe naturall subiectes though he vnnaturally came to the kingdome Henrie the seuenth after him obtained the Crowne in the beginning as it were by force next confirmed by the marryage of Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edwarde the fourth who called diuers Parliaments and in them al takes this course of auctority for enacting of the statutes of the same The King our soueraigne lord Henry the seventh c. in the first yere of his raigne to the honor of god and holy church for the coÌ„mon profite of the Realme by the assent of the Lords spiritual and temporal and the commons in the same Parliamente assembled by auctority of the same Parliament hath done to be made certaine statutes c. He had sundry exactions subsidies and beneuolences wherof ensued some daÌ„gerous and troublesome ciuil warres besides the putting in execution of many penal statutes more profitable to him than welcome to those who payde for them If you loke Maister Hal the Cronycler you shal finde more than enough touching the same and specially so broadely to touch Councellours for doing their princes commaundement in matters lawful tho in deede I must confesse odious to the people King Henrie being not like to recouer a sickenesse had taken him either by remorse of conscience or by other occasion it pleased him to conceiue did pardon those matters for the which he could not chose but heare the grieuous repining and murmure of his subiectes Henrie the eighte followed him in whose time were made a Bible of statutes and till the two and twentith of his raigne hâ—â—ad the very same wordes as his father vsed in the beginning of his Parliamentes and tho then the same still followed not in course yet the Parliamentes were held of the estates wherein the commons were one What subsidies and aides of money he had and what and howe many enacted pardons hee gaue nowe to repeate is but losse of time sith we are come thus farre To go thorow with king Edward queene Marie king Philip and our most gracious Princesse hir maiestie that now is as I haue with the rest were burning of daylight Sith we haue hetherto brought the Parliament nowe let vs shortely gather what wee can of these Collections touching the original Antiquitie and the manner thereof First Brute in the yeare of the worlde 2855. before the yeare of grace 1108. began the Empire of this I le Hee founde it without laws he made some Mulmutius 441. yeres before christ added more Gurguintus put a litle to Marcia that noble Quéene about the 360. yeare before Christ confirmed many and so remayned this lande gouerned I suppose without our forme of Parliament for I cannot perceiue there was any state of nobility The greate Cities and Borowes were long a building some 300.400.500 yeares one after another and more The Shires nether deuided nor inhabited a nation liuing in ciuil warres thefte and rauyne barbarous often for want of foresight and lawe so dispeopled as hardely there remayned sufficient to manure their landes and lesse too defende their Territories The yeare 51. before our sauyour toke flesh Iulius Caesar the Romaine made conquest of this region and anexed it to the Romayne auctority who had tribute tho sometime it were denyed and gouerned by their Captaynes and Emperors toke the defence of the same vpon theÌ„ as their often hither coÌ„ming with armies building of walles betwene the Scottes Pictes and Britons doth wel witnesse til the 443. yeare of Christes Natiuity at whiche time they neglected the matter not willing as it seemed to buy a trifle too deare nor dayly to be troubled to come from Rome but a steppe to defende them who had no ability to holde their owne féete nor as it is to be feared woulde learne And although in this time somewhat is indited by Eleutherius the Bishop of Rome to Lucius who is accepted the first Christened king yet if you wey the matter wel you shal finde that wil not doâ— About the yeare 450. the Saxons and Angles being senâ—e for entred and loke howe many kingdomes they erected how long in warres before how they continued how they were brought to one Monarchie and the sequele then and you shall finde there was no leysure for Parliaments In reading I haue gathered many floures out of Maister VVilliam Lamberts garden a gentleman after my verdict tho vnknowne to mee for hys payneful rare and learned Collection worthy to bee knowne and then no doubt of all wel disposed too learning and knowledge of the antique customes of our Country to be greatly honored I coulde make many Nosegayes for you oute of his wel set plantes but you are yong enough to gather them your selfe I will yelde that to Caesar which is Caesars due tho perhaps I wold be glad to be worthy to be Caesar my selfe Yet thus much I wil put you in minde what you shal haue in Maister LaÌ„bert for the seasons of the SaxoÌ„s and Angles kingdomes They deuided the Shires the worlde is theirâ— they parted into hundreds and weapon-taxes the speeche is olde English Folkmoot and Sheremote was appointed by them compounded SaxoÌ„ words of the which there were two vses in the Saxons time for there were two sortes therof one in the same nature that we haue le Countie Courte the other le Turne del Vicont S. Edward in his lawes appointed also two kinds of Folkmotes which were giuen notice of by the ringing of belles in olde Englishe called Mothel The first was when any vnaccustomed peril or daunger was doubted to the common wealth And then were the hundreds and Weapontackes within the Shriualties gathered together And also wythin them selues the Burgesses of Cities walled Borowes and fortresses of strength to the which liberties and priuiledges were graunted bicause their force was better able to keepe together and defende the people in the tyme of
where the monarchial gouernement strikes the stroke therby to thanke God wythout whom far lesse matters cannot stande Secondly that we should not be forgetful of the great gracious liberall and continual fauour of the Princes of this land who haue not only consented freely to the confirmation of this third estate but more thaÌ„ that neuer vndoubtedly repented the allowaunce thereof as well may be proued for that they neuer cauilled therin What contented mindes of late ages the kings and Queenes of this Realme haue carried in matters of Parliament when things haue not fallen out currant to their expectations I thinke not only al ParliameÌ„t men but the whole cuntry knowes And if I desired to picke thanks the most allowed way which is in telling truth I coulde make a long libel of hir maiesties that now is particular patience fauor great suffering and wel accepting of matters of Parliament but I will leaue it to a better workman to be booked by it selfe bycause it will aske a great volume Thyrdly to shew what a Iewel you haue of this most free general and vniuersal consultative kind of Lawmaking therby to be careful not only to kepe and preserue that odde grace granted to no nation but to our selues in such like regiments but also in al respectes dutifully to put to our indeuor to be worthy meÌ„bers of so gret a councell I will but remember you of a fewe lynes of Plato who neuer knewe England and muche lesse the English Parliament in his booke of his common welthe he makes mention of three kindes of rule viz. Monarchia Aristocratia Democratia Where the Prince doeth al sayes he lawes shal be made as best shall like him without regarde to others where nobility and a certain number of the greatest holde the helme the ship wil be directed to what hauen they please If decrées and ordinaunces lye in the multituds heads they wil be popular Sée you these imperfections for the want of combyning these three kinds togither whiche done and no lawe passe without all their consents who shal haue cause to complaine who is exempted out of this common wealth who is wronged or put to the wal who agrées not to his owne welth or waÌ„t O Anglia terque quaterque beata that doth inioy that blessed priuiledge which to maintaine as I beséeche all men so to my best I will proceede to aduise you of whom I haue most tender care to take such hede in all your actions touching the same as it by you may be Pro virile streÌ„gthned you experienced and wel deseruing therof and I ioyfull to heare of the considerate discharging of your duety First is to be considered what your auctority is and howe farre it doth reache from whence you had the same what trust they haue committed to you and what they expect at your hands that elected you therto Then by what meanes you shal best discharge without the indignatioÌ„ of the Prince or misliking of the nobility that trust to the profit of your electors The former parts are easyer to be set downe than the latter pointes drawen into assuréd aduices and vnfallible precepts But bycause as I sayde in the beginning I am to write too you who I am sure will take in good meaning my wel determined remembraunces rather than scrupulously picke out the insufficiency therof which I muste confesse is great yet not wholly so fruitelesse and vnfurnished but that you may gather some fewe Apples out of a smal Orchard Our Parliament consisteth of three estates First the Prince the second the nobility such as are admitted by their succession whose auncestors haue bin of the house or the king doth call and the Bishoppes all the which without speciall licence must be personally present and if they be by any meanes absent they giue theyr voyces to some one they best like who is resiant The third of the Commons wherin is comprised the yonger sonnes of the nobility and in a manner all the heires apparante very few except the fathers â—â—ing al the gentry the whole rest It is thus furnished there are two Knightes chosen of euery county but in Wales where the Shires haue but one and of euery Citty and Borrowe Corporate two Burgesses fewe excepte who of late time were made corporations and also the Cities and Borrowes in Wales who follow as their counties doe Of these knightes and Burgesses is your thirde house Wythout the consent of these three bodies no newe inuocation hath power to depriue the subiectes of this lande of life laweful inheritaÌ„ce or goods The autority therof doth stretch to them all to take away life inheritaunce yea of the Crowne of this Realme and euery mans chattels and hath full power to make and alter lawes and to vse the English phrase the lawe lies in their hands the Prince is sole of hir selfe and enacteth nothing alone the nobilitye and Bishoppes are vpon the pointe of eightie and rather vnder sometyme more or lesse as some may be vnder age some Bishoprikes voyde who offering a lawe doe make none of theÌ„selues The thyrde and great body of this councel consisteth the king nobility and Bishops foreprised of all the inhabitauntes of the country and therefore of a mightye number of members yet can it stablishe no ordinaunce absolutly suo iure But see the great and to other people vntasted of benefit of this lawe making as I haue saide before shal one enacte no shal two estates binde the third as little shal the whole three stricke it vppe god forbid else for as before who can complayne when his agremeÌ„t is 〈◊〉 and who denyes when al men say yea So when the greatest number of the Lords and the most of the coÌ„mons consente tho some be far off yet it doth importe general ratification else how shal you labor in vaine for it is not possible that so many should directly bit vppon one minde and iudgement in things argued we can haue no more that iust Harmonye of concente that the .77 Interpreters of the Byble had and yet no doubt I truste the best for the most part taken Your autority you see now go forth who put you therin The lower or common house of ParliameÌ„t standeth of 442. persons 78. Knights and 326. Burgesses for England and for Wales Monmouth Shire accompted no part thereof 12. Knights and as many Burgesses for the ports which are now 7 accompted fourtene which are called Barones portium who are chosen by the whole commons of the Realme vnder which name is vnderstood as you haue before not only the artificer the Begger the yoman the husbandmaÌ„ al and the whole al of those sorts but also the vniuersall gentry and many of the nobilitye of Birth who are not Barons of the higher house The Knightes are elected by the county and should be inhabitaunts in the same the Burgesses in the corporations which by statute are appointed to be dwelling Burgesses in the towne from whence
life being more beneficial to him and his posterity than the country zeale of the rest By meanes wherof they yelded their dead Carcases Decius Muries the elder Consul with Manlius Torquatus in armes against the Latines had both one â—reame that thoâ—e people woulde be vanquished whose captaine shoulde be lefte dead in the field They brake one with another and agreed that whiche of their bands did first giue place the leader must vow himselfe to the infernal ghostes contented to dye which Decius his chance was to do therby with great slaughter of the enimies the gaine was the Romaines Publius Decius Muries his son did the same Titus Manlius Torquatus stroke off his own sons head for putting in veÌ„ture by fight contrarie to commaundement the souldiers of the Common welth The prisoner Mar. Attilius Regulus his returne to Affricke to Barboras tyrannie wyth his considerations alledged in the Senate which induced him thereto Publius Scipio Nasica chosen Consull of Rome with vnluckie shew of the Auspices coÌ„ming would in no respect take vpon him the dealing of the office doubting the incoÌ„uenience might hap to the Empire not by his waÌ„t of abilitie or good wil but by euyl fortune to the state coÌ„trarie aspects of the superor Planets so tender a mynde he had of his Countrie Silla surnamed the happy for all his reuengeful mynde when he had obteyned his owne will helde hard hand on his countrie was content to restore the old gouernemeÌ„t of Rome to die a priuate man Quintus Curtius his willing decay for Rome Codrus the AtheniaÌ„ king for his people also Themistocles that couÌ„triemaÌ„ for all the iniuries he had receyued at home woulde rather willinglye drinke his owne bayne than see his natyue kinde harmed Melsiades of the same breede at Marathon against the inuincible scull of the Persians Epaminondas the Thebane and thousandes more for their wilful entire only and auowed loue to their countries haue susteyned more trauayle suffered greater torment dyed assured deathes and with better contented mindes than men of this age can beleeue to bee able to bee endured by mortlings which we al are If Paynimes did goe so far in supremo gradu looke to your selfe somewhat who is a Christian and so farre credited as Parliament menne are They expect in you grauitie wysedome experience and diligent consideration Part of the which as they be onely the giftes of God as wisedome and grauitie so experience and diligent consideration be the confirmers that strengthen and the artificers that beautifie their work and proceede of paynâ— taking and good disposition of the minde The foremost two bee the most beneficialst Ladies wyth their acquaintance and the other handmaydes or rather fellowe dames so necessarie as they cannot bee deuided furnishe most commodiously the place where they come These foure met in one man make a happie person in particular and where they ioyne in Lawe makers there must needes bee a flourishing Commonwealth What inconuenience doth followe if you shoulde pipe after other mennes whistles induced thereto by a busie treble string or a slight Scottishe Iygge in one respect I haue already tolde you that is howe maister Iohn wil be thought of by the Prince and nobilitie Nowe see what harme lightes thereby on those who put their confidence in you and what a Iohn you shall be made and thought of the whole world If you serue the Princes turne hee findes no fault if you broke for the Lordes they haue no losse â–ª but they will take you still for a Iohn if agaynste your trust you be wonne In this seconde parte if you daunce drunkenly you will breake your shinnes and beray your trusters to whom you are bounde by al the laws possible If all the Knights and Burgesses in Parliament were Vlisseses the Syrenes might fal to a newe occupation But of that huge multitude that came to the warre of Tryoe hee was taken the odde manne for witte and iudgement If but one Vlisses coulde scape those fiendish monsters and so few Vlisseses in so great an armie what perill is to be feared to fall vpon our Common wealth if many Syrenes or any at all shoulde be in the trade of our whole trafficke of welth and welfare They allured vnto them by all pleasant meanes the passengers to spoyle theÌ„ for their owne direct and particular gaine if you sing their songs you are brought to it to please and to profit others the acte in them is not so discommendable but you shall be the Iohn and rewarded at the seconde hande your faulte is greater tâ—an the Syrenes who harme but the present persons for their owne lucre you present absent and posteritie you cut large thongs out of other mens lether you fleâ—â—e not but you â—ley you write not lawes with Milke but bloud you sende not the Pyper to make poore men daunce in the countrye but the Hangman to tye vp the rich and take from the needy no more but all they haue and thus muste your trusters suffer for other mens pleasures who neuer after wil trust you knowing you are such a mercinarie The Parliament Sirene if he be of the Lordes breede as manie times in your house you haue of their children if of the familye of gentry assure your selfe he is a Basterd if hee loke neuer so bigge feare him not he is a Coward if he florish with neuer so fayre a tayle he is an Asse Noble gentlemans bloud wil not be woon against his duety and specially where it touches his country neither with honor threatnings greate Territories much calling gay apparel nor a ship ful of red Ruddocks A valiant minde doth detest such chaffe A wise man wil see the infamy of the facte and with both his hands kepe his face from such a wounde Who then must be your Parliament Iohn if you haue any some durte daubers sonne or Coblers brat or such like whelpe of a worthy Kenel who wyll play Cat after kinde do the best you can he is Camelionte mutabilloâ— yet for his harte the pretie pricke cannot be white he liues by ayre a foode of a smal substance and he is of small contynuing hee is Proteus Cousyn Germayne when he failes in hand with his matter But mark how like Iacke lokes the father his eye shewes the relicks of his thoughts hys countenaunce is forced his gesture not natural if his speech be not learned without booke for the most parte he â—acks it hardly oute he sweates there is no ioy in his face he feares how he shal be taken he lokes as he were fearde wyth Hobgoblyn But what will you more tho Maister Morrice dauncer be dronke yet will hee daunce til he sweate for a clap of the backe of the chiefe man of the parish tho he be the worse for it as long as hee lyue euen so this your Morrice footer shakes his Belles among you hoping hee makes good musicke as the foole with the Towne Morrishers forgetting his maisters
for affection you stretch a string you cannot be excused for tho it carry some shew to beare with your friende yet is it none indede for your Country is the only marke you must shoote at As for particulars they are not incidente to the cause Aristides termed the Iust was so precise in the time of hys gouernement of Athens that hee auoyded the amity and familiarity almost of all bycause he would not be entreated by any to do vniustly Cleon whē he toke the charge of the common wealth vppon him called al his friendes renounced their friendships alledging that amytie was a stop many times to the right course of Iustice he renounced affection he cryed out of enuy he detested too wel standing in hys owne conceite Another waye Sir Thomas Androwes a worshipfull Knighte of Northampton Shire was by a yeomanly man his neyghbour thoughte to be sometime to much affectioned to the matter he liked wel to whom he brought a great Brawne the seruaunt letting his maister the knight vnderstand of thys present retourned him to knowe the giuers name which hearing he coulde not cal to remembrance any suche but forth he comes the presenter doth hys errand prayes his maistership to take in good part this poore pigge and with very lowe cursey wishes it better Sir Thomas sawe the Swyne was good with mustarde accepted the gifte demaunding his neighbour why hee was at that coste with hym sith he neither knew him nor euer had done him any pleasure True it is quoth he with a long leg in his hose neither will I require you too doe mee any But I bestowe thys hog on your worship that you shall do mee no harme Here is a new kind of Brybery which this country man was driuen to as he thought by the parcial affection he feared in Sir Thomas The like in effecte fell out betwene an Essex farmer and maister Anthonie Browne in Q. Maries time a whyle chiefe iustice of the Common pleyes a man of good spirite and wel read who hauing vsed the helpe of his neighbours towards hys building besides Burnedwood till they were weary and denyed further supply the house must vp my Lords Balife wil haue carts for loue or money and so he offers largely both the tourne is serued my friendes Carters must al dine out comes the stewarde willing such as bounded for good wil to come feed in the parlor and the mony people too hinde it in the Hall my farmer at the Oyes went and walked his stations abroade being demanded whether he woulde be a gentleman or a yomen he saide neither in thys respect for quoth he for good wil I do it not for I owe him none nether for money for I force not of so much but for feare and therefore I see no rome for me I pray you aunsweare mee if you had a matter in lawe before any iudge in Englande and hee shoulde either by corruption or blindefelde affection wreste a pin againste you and ouerthrowe you contrary to iustice woulde you not iudge hanging too good for suche a coyfe manne yes assuredly Then in the parliament where you sitte to make Laws wherby Master Iudge himself al the rest are to be gouerned if you be brybed w pelfe or led by liking of a perticular to beguile your trusters to bynde and poll innocents to wrong the righteous and to set the welfare of your cuntry at nought If Cambises pluckte the skinne ouer Sisamnes eares for lewde iudgement in particular causes what fleying and torment is not too good for the corrupt lawmaker who is supra iudicem If malice and enuie shall so reigne in you as to disgrace the holsome aduices of your countrey you wil refuse the matter bicause you fansie not the man and cauill without cause not onely to haue the motion reiected but also the partie deseruing well vnsemely to be barked at not only by your self but by other pupsies of your own heare the like detryment as before shall happen too your country Yea and more infamy if more may be shal lyghte on you if it so were that vnkindnesse or rather implacable wrath yea the Northern deadely fude were betwene you some other ye ought to come to the Parliament counsell lincked in amity sounde in fidelity and perfect in sincerity one with an other and as a teame of horses must draw all togither so muste you wholly ioyne too your businesse There are many times vnruely Iades vnagréeing and lāching one at another being out of their gares but in the carte they fal to as they should else he that loyters most or playes to much the gallāt is wel lambde for his labor cōmes home as weary as the rest is vp in Royles stable if he sooner mende not his manners Maister Miller must haue him who will coole hys courage with halfe a dosen Sackes on his backe and he on the top The weight shall make him amble and manerly tread and sooner he shal be laide on for groning than for kicking so if malice and displeasure to others shal make you to stomack them abrode yet in counsel for your country draw together else wil you be ready for the Miller who wil lay harde hande on you I meane the honest and wise meaning gentleman not by batting but by condēning your vnruled apetite and lamēting your mayme The serpent for so are all venimous things named that crepes on the Earth when for breede sake at the water side he séekes out the Lamprey hee firste puts forth hys poyson and as nature hath taught calles to whom the Lamprey as willing comes forth The acte of their kinde performed she to the flud he to the Earth taking vp againe his venom returnes which if perhap hee finde not present death ensues Here do you see that of all creatures the vylest and most accursed doth in daunger of hys life put aside the whole substance of the same by purenesse and cleanenesse to associate hym self with that Creature whom he wel knowes doth not holde of his mixture and wil rather venture his owne vndoing than hinder that which naturally is appointed If the Serpent doth thys following but onely a course by kinde and is allowed of How much more is a Parliament man who by nature by the commaundement of God by the profit redownding to hymselfe the duty to his Prince and country bounde too vomit vp and to bury in the greatest déepes that consuming pestiferous canker of Malice by the which so many mischiefes light vppon the Lampreys good soules that thinke no harme This Serpent is venimous from the beginning the lacke wherof is his ende Man by the first fall proceeding by the delusion of the Serpent is subiect to intemperate choler hate despite enuy many weaknesses more yet this subiection brings no such necessity y malice is so incorporate in a man as the poyson in the Serpent for the one cannot haue being without venome the other most quiet and
not cast at hym but at his graye robe for quoth he if the party knewe me he would haue staide his hande If such charitable forbearing be commendable where men are so hardely delte with how muche then is to be condemned that yre and choller which as I haue sayd kindled of nothing growes of that moste pestilent plage of enuy and malice Follow the sound doing of him who is wary what speeches he vses glories in sufferaunce and not that fether headed fellow who braues in his furious chollerike words loues himselfe the worsse when he bears any thing Plutarch gaue good councel to Trayan the Emperour willing pacience in all occurents mildenesse in actions and to forbeare the hasty witlesse Braynes If by your speeches in the Parliament you seke vaine glorye by far fetched eloquence and nedelesse phrases delating the matter to shewe the ripenesse of your iudgemente more than directly to go to the cause and make it vnderstood you may wel shewe some great florish of great substance which in the end wil be found but froath and al the sturre but â—il mens eares ful of dynne who wil finde that the stuffe smelles of the Candel and deeme you had bin better occupyed to haue spente a Torche in traueling to learne the nature of the lawe you woulde speake of than a candels ende in study to play the Charlatane to put your selfe to sale The olde graue wyse and wel experienced Parliament man if he discourse of any cause if he shewe hys opynion if hee laye before you what his long yeares hath taughte hym he playes not as the Hob of Hornechurche who hauing neuer sene London before nor London seene hym in hys Christmas sute sente to Bartholmewe faire entering at White Chappel buyes nothyng but gaping seede persuaded that as he is delighted to gaze so others omitte not too loke on hym wherby it is night ere hee commeth to Aldegate and so as wise as Waltons Calfe is fayne to retorne home more foole than he came for spending of horsemeate And why forsooth bycause he hath bin so long in the suburbes as he lost his market in the Citye This man I sée makes not a millers thumbe of his OratioÌ„ whose heade is bigger than al the body vnproportionable neither yet without hed and all tayle neither Like fashion al belly but as muche of euery one as is needeful Englishe man like hee vses good woordes the matter well declares his sounde meaning hys countenaunce shewes the inwarde manne the welding of hys body tels me he hath bin trayned in other places than Horne Churche He is aswell contented to heare as to speake He confers patiently wyth modesty he yeeldes to reason loues himselfe not the worsse if hys Arguments be confuted nor enuies him whose reason is better allowed of but embraces the manne greatly for him selfe If his aduise carry the house he prowdes not but reioyces hys country takes good and the house reputation he doth not wyth fleering taunting words nor importunate yelling snatch at hys contraries nor desire their wantes to be seene but fellowe counsellor like layes some reasons before them famyliarly confers with them and friendlye manye times beares with the Collerick and vnseemly speeches which men too wel deeming of themselues too ofteÌ„ vtter without cause If he play Alexanders part by being a man as errare labi decipi hominis est if hee kyll Clito wrongfully if he treade amisse he shameleslye beares it not off wyth head and shoulders he repentes virginlike his errour doth not Pickepursse fashion face out a lye til iust mends be made he bewailes his mishap as Alexander did most noblie in that hys action he conceiues no priuiledge by being in Parliament to iniury any man with opprobrious tauntes a lamentable fault in such men he playes not the parte whiche once an auncient gentleman and graue counceller tolde me he had séene some doe which was so intemperatly rudely rashly and malitiously to vse some in that place as he assured hymselfe he thought they durst not doe in an Ale house for feare of a knock with a pot There are some who alwayes loue to heare themselues talke and thinke their smokye forced eloquenâ—e swéete perfume and pleasante melody to mens eares They whip it they lay 〈◊〉 load tho sometime and for the most parte they want learning their Accentes are héeded the Paâ—â—â—heses perfourmed Allegories not forgotten olde stories brought in Sackfuls of auncient sentences and after the Spanish Fryers manner they more harme the pulpit with knocking thereon than benefit the audience more disquiet themselues by broyling in theyr wollen wéedes than moue the hearers with matter of substaÌ„ce and finally haue so great care of gay wordes picked spéeches and phrases ordering of their voyces and as I may say trauersing their grounde as they so muche forget their matter that as they neuer know what they haue sayde so parts their churche Auditours aswell taughte as my Lord Maiors horse when his good Lord is at the Sermon at the Crosse Stratocles and Democlides were Oratours at Athens yet so may I not well terme them but rather Italian triacle sellers â–ª who neuer were but prating to the people not to profit the common wealth but to fill their owne purses by theyr Lampe studied ware rather to delight than to do good in so muche as they vsed betwene themselues in mockery to aske whether they shoulde goe to their golde haruest These men who carry their harts in their tongues and not their tongues in their hartes these womens children Oratours these goselings talkers shold be delte withal as a very friende of yours and mine Maister Nicholas Beamonde whose honest gentlemanlye myrth yet remaynes dealt with a man of good countenance of Leistershiere in his owne house The tale is somewhat homely but no homelier than wel done and so wel as tho it were much homelier it were the homelyest parte of all too leaue it forgotten A company of good fellow gentlemen being at bourde with this housekéeper with whome Maister Beamonde made one the goodman of the house had all the talke when the cuppes were wel gone about the bourde others woulde haue also had some wordes but it would not be When mine hoaste had wearied al the company and him selfe very well contented wyth the harmonie of his owne â—iddle which stil he was doing with Maister Beamond who as you know is not amisse made for the purpose let goe a rouncing poupe which base was hearde aboue the Countertenor or past meane of the wearysom melodie not only of the assistants but of the Musitian who demaunding what the matter was master Nicholas answered he craued leaue for a word that way for otherwise he could get none Whether it were well done or no I can not tell but I am sure it did and hath moued good laughter perhaps done no harme to some greate talkers that heare the same I would to god these talkatiue folke wold