that euery maÌ„ may haue pound an pound a lyke as farre as his goodys will goo leauying him some what as the lawe shal thynck good And this lawe shal be both neyhborly and godly That the rulars of the erth owght to sytt in the gatys ce The xviij chapter ANother thing mete for all rulers euyn from the lowest vnto the hyghest to consydre and redresse is thâ—s Alas how long shal men wayte and geue atteÌ„dance vpon rulers before thei can come to the spech of theÌ„ And how many porters be there also to stoppe meÌ„ from commyng to their spech whan he is past one he shal be put back at the second Or if he passe the second he shal be returnyd at the thyrd onlesse he be rych or haue great fryndys Oh ye kyngs and rulars for the loue of god that ye shuld haue to him that both made us of nought and whan we were lost by our synnys redemyd us with the blode of his sonne study the scripturys and there shal ye see that iudgys rulers yea euyn the kyngs saâ—e in iudgement in the open gatys as apperyth in the second of the kyngs the .xix. chapter Deuteronomy the .xvi. the second of Esdras the thyrd chapter And why sate thei in the gatys but that the peple yea euyn the porest might come and open vnto the kyng his own cause Than were there not so many rych lawyers which be the poyson of the lawe For the reuerence of god ye kynges and rulers eyther sytte in the â—pyn gatys agayne or else let your gatys yea euyn all your dorys euyn to your pryuy chamber be wyde open for certen howrys and that euery day in the yeare euyn on ester day and all other dayes if nede requyre as thow mayst perceyue Exodi the .xviij. Iudge the peple at all seasons ce And consyder what qualytes a iudge or a ruler shuld haue their must be meÌ„ that feare god and that are true and hate couetosnesse as is descrybed in the same .xviij. chapter How many such rulers be in Ingland Yea thei shuld also iudge the peple rightuosly Thei shuld not wrest the lawe nor knowe any parson nor yet take any reward for gyftys blynd the wyse and peruert the wordys of the rightuos as it foloweth in the text Heare ye may se that it is nedeful as I haue touchyd before that iudges and all other pleaters in courtys haue stypendys of the kyng and there vpon to lyue For here ye se that the scripture sayth gyftes peruert the wordys of the ryghtuos that is to say for the gyftys sake thei wil not se the right of the pore and so thei turne right in to wrong wherby the pore be often oppressyd In dyuers cyteys of Germany as namely in Argeâ—tyne the iudgys and lordes syt opynly euery day in the yeare in their towne howse saue only on the sunday and than also if nede requyre And there thei eate coÌ„tynually their dynars and suppars so long as thei be in offyce bycause thei may alway be present to heare the complaynt of the poore yea euyn the porest man in the cytye or contry may boldly come in to their hall or stoue thei being at dynar no man so hardy as to take them by the sleue to lette them from the presence of the rulars And there may he open his matter hym self withowt his chargeable man of lawe And he shal be haard and shal not be answeryd Tary syr knaue tyl my lordys haue dyned O noble Germanys god hath made yow a lyght vnto all rulers in the world to rule after the gospell A godly admonycyon for the abolysshment of dyuerse abusys that gods glory only may be sowght The .xix. Chapter HOw can that councel seke a godly reformacyon of things misused whaÌ„ the councel it selfe hath wickyd pryuylegys Wherfore acording to Christes commandment Mathew the .vij. plucke owt the beame of your owne eyes first than ye shal the playnlyer se the mote in your neybhors eyes Se that ye breake first soch vnneyhborly vnbrotherly yea and vngodly priuylegys as ye your seluys do enioy agaynst right and conscience than shal ye the better se to seke the common welth Ye haue a preuylege which is this that if a lord a knyght or a burgesse of the parlament howse or any of their seruaÌ„tys owe vnto any of the kings subiectys any somme of mony be the detter neuer so rich and the credytor neuer so poore he shal by the preuylege of the parlament not pay one peny so long as the parlameÌ„t enduryth be it neuer so long Or if any of them or their seruantys haue done to any man any trespas or iniury he may not also troble them What is this but a mayntenance of wyckednesse And how can wickydnesse abolyssh wyckydnesse but rather increase it For the lordys sake loke vpon these thynges and folow the councel of s Austen let custome gyue place to the truth so that the truth may rule all things Also ther is another thing worthy to be loked vpon which is this Many noble men geÌ„tyl men retayne seruantys neuer gyue them peny wagys and scant a cote for some be fayne to pay for their owne cotys and spend all that thei haue of their owne and of other mennys also hopyng vpon some reward And whan he seyth that all is spent than he wold depart and dare not And gay he must goo lyke his felows and now his fryndes fayle hym what remedy forsoth shortly euyn to wath for abowget Another sort there is and thei be lyght ryding men all ready and thei wil lyue lyke gentyl men And for hâ—s buclar or shyld he wil seke to be retayning to some noble man or gentylman that bearyth rule in the court or contry though he pay for his own lyuery And the noble men and gentyl men which shuld be the ponysshers of theft be the chefe maynteyners of robry bi this meanys often thei robbe be not taken but in case he be taken eyther he shal haue fauor for his masters sake or els bragg it owt with a carde of x. ye euyn face it owt that neyther the playt yue nor the .xij. men dare cast a thefe Or if all this wyll not helpe than procure thei the kinges pardon Oh noble rulars ye that be Christen in dede take hede that ye abuse not your auctoryte receyuyd of god for if ye hang one that hath offendyd the lawe and pardon another be ye not than parcyall And no dowt if ye pardon a thefe of a morderer and thei coÌ„myt that offence agayn so be ye partakers of their wickydnesse For why if ye had done iustyce afore that offence had not bene commytted Well make a prouyso that no noble nor vnnoble man shal retayne any of the kyngs subiectys withowt lauful wagys And sett a penalty ther vpon More ouer In as moch as it is open vnto all the world that we haue long walked
mowrnyâ—g vnto hym not slenderly not for a face and custome only as hath bene hetherto vsed to haue an vnholy masse of the holy goost rolled vp with descant pricksong and organes wherby menny â–ª hâ—rtes be rauysshed cleane both from god and from the cogytacyon of all such things as thei oughâ— to pray for Wheras it were more conuenyent that thei were diligently exhorted and put in mynd to consyder and ponder where vnto thei be called and what a recknyng god wil requyre of them And for as moch as the most part of the lordes and burgesses take it rather for an honowr than for an offyce wherfor thei shal answer and for a dignyte rather than for any burthen to be cownted of the parlament or cowncel howse and neuer ponder nor consyder before what thinges in the realme be amysse to be reformed by them It were more necessary in the stede of the mobled and mynsed masse wherby neither god is gloriâ—yed nor the hearers edifyed that some honest well lerned man such one as wold neyther flater lordes burgesses comons nor kyng but franckly and frely speake the veryie shuld be appoynted to preach not only at the begynnyng of the parliament but at the least .iij. tymes euery weke so long as the parliament endureth and to stand in the pulpet an howr at the least and not aboue an howr and an halfe and there to tell the lordes and burgesses their duâ—es and to open vnto them such abuses as are to be reformed in the realme And let all the lordes and burgesses be bownd to be present at euery sermon or els to be excluded the parlameÌ„t howse If ye wil seke such ways than wil the holy gost lyght in your cowncel or â–ª els neuer for all your pyping or singing And kepe both lordes and burgesses all in one house to gether For it is not the ryches or autoryâ—e that bringeth wisdom And what shuld one howse make one act and a nother shal breake and disanull the same that way is not after the doctrine of the gospel But now let us goo to other matters The seconde Chapter Of inhansing of rent ys by land lordes ce COnsyder yow what a wickednes is comonly vsed thorow the realme vnponysshed in the inordinate inhansyng of rentys and takyng of vnresonable fynys and euery day worse then other and euyn of them specially to whom the kyng hath geuen and sold the land ys of those Impys of Antichrist Abbays and nonryes which land ys being in their handys but only for that thei led us in a false fayth as their coÌ„panyoÌ„s the bysshops still doo but for the faythes sake I say for the which thei were iustly suppressyd it had bene more profytable no dowte for the comon welth that thei had remayned styll in their handys For why thei neuer inhansed their landys nor toke so cruel fynes as doo our temporal tyrannys For thei can not be content to late them at the old price but rayse them vp dayly euyn to the cloudys eyther in the rent or in the fyne or els both so that the pore man that laboryth and toyleth vpon it and is hys slaue is not able to lyue And further if another rich couetos carl which hath to moch already will gyue any thing more than he that dwellyth vpon it owt he must be he neuer so poore though he shuld become a begger and after a theâ—e and so at length be hanged by his owtgoing so lytle is the lawe of loue regarded Oh cruel tyrannys Yea it is now a comoÌ„ vse of the landlordys for euery tryâ—yll euyn for his fryndys plesure in case his tenant haue not a lease he shal out hym owt of hâ—s ferme which thâ—ng is both agaynst the law of nature and of charyte also he being an honest man payng his rent and other dutys well and honestly I think there be no such wicked lawes nor custom ys in the vnyuersal world agayne What a shame is this to the whole reâ—lme that we say we haue receyued the gospel of Christ and yet is it worse now in thâ—s matter than it was ouer fyfâ—y or .iij. score yearys whan we hâ—d but the poâ—y law as wicked as it was For thâ—n leassyâ— were not known And now the latyag and engrossing of them leassys I meane is one great cause of theâ— inhansing of reâ—ys wherfore I pray god these leassys may haue a fall and come to an end shortly Looke well vpon this ye Christen burgessys for this inhansing of rentys is not only against the comon welth but also at length shalbe the chefest decay of the princypal commodyte of this realme For why this inordinate inhansing of rentys which is sprong vp within fewe yerys past must nedys make all things deare as well pertaynyng to the back as to the belly to the most gret daÌ„mage of all the kyngs subiectys landyd men only except Yea and euyn thei them seluys were more welthyer whan their landys went at the old pryce For why thei bye all things the dearer and yet the comon welth is robbed therby not with stonding as the godly which sekyth his brothers welth as his own will soone iudge how beit this matter is so farre gone that there is no remedy to the redresse of it but one and that is thâ—s If the kyngs grace of his goodnesse wil consyder where vnto god hath called hym and for what purpose A kyng is annoynted to be a defence vnto the people that thei be not oppressyd nor oueryocked but by all godly and polytick meanys to seke the comon welth of hys people so if his grace will call down the pryce of his ownè landes as thei went ouer fyfty yea forty yearys and compell all other landed meÌ„â— to the same vpon payn of forfetting his whole landys one part of them to the kyngs grace another to be employed to the comon welth and the thyrd to the presenter that can iustyfye the matter a reformacion may be had to the singular ease and coÌ„modyte of the comon welth and that many wayes For this being reformed aboue all other actes shal bryng the cloth of England to a contynuall vent and all vytellys to a resonable price that all clothys of other contryes shal stey where as Englyssh cloth shal come in place as in tymys past hath done which thing old marchaÌ„tes and old clothyers can tel SoÌ„me will obiect and say it is a comon welth to bryng the comodyteys of the realme to an high pryce which I vtterly denye to be a comonwelth for what maketh ryddance or good sale so moch as whan a comodyte is at a pryce resonable As a fore is sayd whan Englyssh clothes were sold at a pryce resonable than all other foren cloth steyd tyl that was sold. But now is englyssh cloth brought to so high a price that the cloth of many contres is sold a fore Englyssh cloth and that causeth marchantes to kepe their clothes long vpon their handes many
tymes to their gret damage I will say further In case this matter be not wellâ—ked vpon the soner it will be a gretter decay than is yet perceyued For cloth will be brought to so high a price that thei wil marre all A boue all thyngs beware of extremyte for thâ—t euer sekyth a mischeffe for a remedy For what with the abundance of woll that goth owt by licencys and by the staple foreÌ„ realmes myxâ—ng it with their course wollys thei make better chepe cloth than Englissh marchâ—ntys can sell yea and better for the price Whether it be a comon welth to bryâ—g cloth to so high a price or not first demand of the honest fermer but I speke not of the extorcyonar grosser incloser or gret shepard but of the honest pore fâ—rmer whether he lyued not better whaÌ„ he sold his wolle at an indiferent and meane price than he doth now sellyng for hâ—lf as moch more And I warant yow â–ª if he be none of those destroyers a forsayd he wil say yea Than demand the clothyer if he lyued not better whan he sold his clothys for a resonable price the pack and his carseys for .xxij. or xxiij pownd the pack than he doth now sellyng them for .xxx. pound the pack And except it be a fewe which be inordinate rich and eate owt their neyhbors thei wil also say yea and that thei gayned more in one pack than thei do now in thre And as for the poore spynner and carder though thei haue a litle more for their paynes thei pay doble so moch for all things that goo both to back and belly and scant can get an howse to put in their headys or at least not able to furnyssh it for their very necèssaryes And thus euery one eatyth owt another And the only cause of all these is the inordinate raysing of rentys It is vnreasonable to se how moch thei be inhansed in maner thorowt the realme except it be a fewe such where of the leassys were geuyn owt ouer .xx. or .xxx. yerys And the chefe cause of all this be euyn the landlordes for as he encreaseth hys rent so must the fermer the price of his wolle catel and all vitels and lykewise the merchant of his cloth for els thei could not maynteine their lyuyng And thus I say the lordes be the only cause of all the dearth in the reame God grant that the kynges grace loke wel vpon this matter himself for it is hard to haue it redressed by parlament because it pricketh them châ—ffâ—ly which be chosen to be burgessys for the most part except thei wold chose their burgessys only for their vertuos liuyng discrecyon honest behauor and other godly qualytes be he neuer so pore such as wold his neyhbor shuld lyue as him selfe And wold to god thei wold leaue their old accustomed chosing of burgessys for whoÌ„ do thei chose but such as be rych or beare some offyce in the contrye ce many tymes such as be boasters and braggars Such haue theâ— euer heâ—hâ—rto chosen be he neuer so very a fole dronkerd extorcyoner aduâ—uâ—erer neuer so couetos and crafâ—y a parson yet if he be rych beare any offyce if he be a ioly cracker and bragger in the contry he must be a burges of the parlament Alas how can any such study or geue any godly councel for the comoÌ„ welth But and if any man put forth any thing against Christes religyon or agaynst the comon welth so that it make for the profyght of antichrystes knyghtes and temporal rulers of the reame thei shal be redy to geue their consent with â—he first And whether this be true or no let the actys of fewe yerys past be iudge Euery man perceyueth that there is a fawt and thei be greued that all things be at so high a price and some be offended at one degre of men and some at a nother as the merchant at the clothyer the clothyer at the fermer the fermer at the landlord which is most iust of all In london and other placys ther be many offended with the great price of vitells but fewe men consider the grownd and origynal occasyon therof that it is only by enhansing of reÌ„tys fynes ce that maketh all things dere which is an vrgent daÌ„mage to the commoÌ„ welth And tyl ye haue a redresse therin loke to haue all things more derer make what actes ye can diuyse to the contrary As touchyng the kings landes some say that he enhansyth none and wether it be tru or not I can not tel but this am I sure off it is as euyl or worse For the chancelers and auditors take soch vnreasonable fynes and other brybes that the tenantys were better pay yerely a greater rent for the tenantys are halfe vndone in their IncoÌ„myng who hath the vantage god knowyth wether the king or that the officers robbe his grace and polle and pylle his leage subiectys in his name which is most lykest Of the forfetting of landys or goodys of traytors felons or morderers The iij. chapter OH merciful god what a cruell lawe is this how farre wyde from the gospel yea from the lawe of nature also that whan a traytor a morderer a felon or an heretik is condemned and put to death his wife and childern his seruants and all thei whom he is detter vnto shuld be robbyd for his offence and brought to extreme pouerty that his wife his childern or next kynred shuld not enioye his landys whan thei consentyd not to his death wherfor to take the landys and goodes it is a gret robry but yet nothing to this that his credyte is not payd For by that meanys he forfettyth vnto the kyng not only all his own goodys and landys but also that which is none of his Oh most wicked lawys by this cruelty is many an honest man vndone Alas what can the pore wyfe the chyldern the kynsmen or credytor do withall being not culpable in the cryme â—ff any of them be fawty than let them haue also the lawe that is death which recoÌ„penâ—yth the cryme No dowt the riches of meÌ„ hath helpyd many an honest man to his death by the couetosnes of the offycers that ferme such things of the kyng To this shal some flatteryng Hypocrite to wynne promocyon or lucre wherein he shal shewe that he louyth his own priuate welth better than the whole comon welth or discharge of the kynges conscyence shal obiect and fay It is as necessary to forfett the goodys and landes as the lyfe and specialy traytors And why for traytors will he say be many tymes noble men of gret landes wherfor if hys chyld or kynred shuld enioy his goodys and landys he myght in processe of tyme be a traytor also and so reuenge his fathers deth agaynst the kyng Another bald reason he will haply alledge also Iff so be the offender shuld but lose his life only there wold be many more offenders than there be For why