University of Virginia Library

[1.]

I praye you, be not wrothe
for tellinge of the trothe!
for this, the worlde, it gothe
bothe to lyfe and to lothe.
as god him-Self he knothe,
and as all men vnderstandes,
bothe lordeshipes and landes
are now in few mens handes;
bothe Substance and bandes
of all the whole realme
are now consumed Cleane—
as moste men exteme—
frome the fermer and the powre
to the towne and the towere,
which makethe them to Lowere,
to See that in theire flowere
is neyther malte nor meale,
bacon, byfe, nor veale,
Crocke, mylke, nor keale,
but redy for to steale
for very pure neede.
Youre commenes saye in dede,
they be not abell to fede
In there stable skant a stede,
to bryng vp nor to brede,
Nor skant abel to brenge
to the markett any thynge
Towardes there howsse-kepinge;
and skant haue a cowe,
nor to kepe a powre sowe/
thus the warlde ys nowe!
and to here the relasion
of the powre menes comminycasion,
vnder whatt sortte and faschyon
thaye make there exclamasyon,
yow wolde haue compassion.
thus gothe ther protestation,
Sayenge, that suche and suche
that of latte are mayde Ryche,
Haue to, to / to myche,
by grasyng and Regratynge,
by powlyng and debattynge,
by rollyng and by Dattyng,
by cheke and cheke-matynge,
with Delays and Debatynge,
with cowstomes and tallynges,
forfayttes and fore-stallynges,
So that youre pourmen saye
they styll paye, paye,
most wyllyngly alwaye,
but yett thay se noe staye
of this owtt-rage a-raye.
vox populi / vox Dei:
O most nobell kynge,
Consider well this thynge /

2.

And thus the woyse dothe mvltyplye
amownges your grasis commynalte:
they are in suche grette penvry
that thay cane nether sell ner bye,
Such ys there extreme powertey.
experyenes dothe it veryfye,
as trwthe yt selfe dothe testyfye,
this is a mervellvis mesirie/
for grasiares, and Regrateres,
with soe many shepe-maisteres
that of erabell grounde make pasteres,
are they that be thes wasteres
that wyll vndoe this Lande,
yf thay contyniv and stande;
as ye shall vnderstonnde
by this lytell bowke.
yf youre grace it over-lowke,
And over-lowke it agayne,
Hit wyll tyll yow soo playne
the tenvre and the trowthe,
Howe this warld now gowthe
with my neghtbore and my nost,
in every cowntre/ towne, and cost,
within the cercumvisiones
of your grasis Domynyones;
and whye the powre men wepe
for stawryng of suche shepe,
for that soo many kype
Suche nvmber and suche stawre,
and never was sene before.
what wolde ye any more?
the ingresse was never more:
thus gothe the woyse and rawre,
and trewth it ys in dede;
for all men now Doo brede,
that cane chache any lande
owtt of the powre menes hande.
for whoe is soe grett a grosier
as the lorde and the laweer?
for every Drawyng Daye
the bocher more most paye
for his fattyng ware,
and to be the more Redyer
a nother tyme to craue,
when he more shepe wolde haue;
and to elywatte the pryce,
Sume-whatt he most rysse,
with a synke or a syssce;
Soo that the bocher cane not spare—
Towardis his charges and is fare—
to sell the vere carchasse bare
vnder xijses or a marke,
wiche is a pytyfull werke!
be-syde the offall and the flice;
The flice and the fell,
thus he dothe it selle.
A—las! A-las! A-las!
this is a pitywous chasse!
Whatt powre man nowe is abell
to haue mette one is tabell?
ane oxe at fyve pownde—
yf he be any thing rownde,—
or elles come not in the grownde,
Suche labore for to waste:
this is the new caste,
the new cast frome the olde;
this commen price thay holde!
wiche is a were rewthe,
yf men myght saye the trwth.
youre pourmen thus Doo saye:
yf thaye haue it, thows thay paye.
vox populi vox dei:
O most nobell kynge,
Consyder well this thynge!

3.

Howe saye ye to this my lordes?
are not thes playne recordes?
ye knowe as well as I,
this makes the commones crye,
this makes them crye and wepe:
mysevsyng soe there shepe,
there shepe, and eke ther beffes
as yll and worse; they theffes!
vnto a comon welth,
this is a vere stelth!
But yow that wyll this bett,
yowe lordes that be greett,
yow wold not paye so for your mette
except your grasyng ware soo swett;
Or elles, fere me I,
yowe fynde some remedy
In tyme, and that right shortlye.
but yett, this extremyte,
non felys it but the comynaltye.
A-las! ys there noe remede
to helpe them of there mesire?
yf there showld come a rayne
to make a derthe of grayne,—
as god maye sende it playne,
for our covitis and disdayne,—
I wolde knowe amownges all
what he where that showlde not fall,
And sorowe as he wente,
for godes ponyshementte?
A-las! this were a plage
for powertes passession,
towardis ther suppression,
for the grett menes transsgressyon.
A-las, my lordes! for-see
there maye be remede!
for youre powre comenes saye
thay haue noe more to paye.
vox populi vox Dei:
O most nobell kynge,
Consyder well this thyng!

4.

And yett not lowng agoo
was prechares one or tooe
that spake it plene enowgh
To yow, to yow, and to yowe,
“that it was reght tyme to repente
this develysche in-tente,
of covitis the convente.”
frome skottland into Kente
this precheng was be-sprent;
and frome the est frunt
vnto saynt mychelles montte,
this sayeng Did surmownte
a-brode to all menes heres,
and to youre grasys peres:
that frome pyllyr to post,
the powr man he was toste;
I mene the laboreng man,
I mene the husbande man,
I mene the plowghe man,
I mene the handy-craft man,
I mene the vy[tay]lyng man,
and also the gud yoman
that some tyme in this realme
hade plente of key and creme,
butter, egges, and chesse,
hony, vax, and besse;
but now, a-lacke! a-lacke!
all thes men gowe to wrake,
that are the bodye and staye
of youre grasis realme alwaye.
al-waye and at lenght
they most be youre strenght,
youre strenght and your teme
for to defende youre realme.
Then yf thes men appall,
and lack when ye doe call,
Wiche waye maye youe, or shall,
Resyst youre enymes all,
thet over ragynge stremes
wyll wadde frome foren realmes?
for me to make Iudiciall,
This matter ys to mysticall.
Iuge yowe, my lordes / for me, ye shall;
youres ys the charge that governes all,
for ‘vox populi’ / me thay call,
that maketh but reersall
de parvum, but not De totall,
de locis, but not locall;
Therfore ye most not blame
the wyght that wrott the same;
for the comenes of this Lande
hath sone this in there sande,
plowghyng it with ther hande.
I fonde it where I stonnde,
And I ame but the hayne
that wrythe new agayne
The copy, for to see,
that also lerneth me
to take there-by good hede
my shepe howe for to fede;
for I a sheparde ame,
A sory powre man;
Yett wolde I wysche, my lordes,
this myght be youre recordies,
and make of it nowe Dreme;
for it ys a worthey realme;
a reme that in tymes paste
hath made the prowdes a-gaste.
and now, my lordes all,
note this in especiall,
and haue it in memoryall
with youre wysse vnyversall,
that nether [for] faver nor effection,
yowe grawnt youre protection
to suche as hath by election,
[who] shall rewle by erection,
and Doth gett the perfection
of the powre menes refection,
wiche ys a grett innormyte
vnto youre grasys commynalte.
for thay that of latt did supe
owtt of an aschyn cuppe,
are wonderfully sprowng vpe:
That nowght was worth of latt,
Hath now a cubborde of platt,
his tabell furnyscheyd tooe
with platt be-sett I-nowe,
parsell gylte and sownde,
Well worth two hundred pound.
with castinge cownteres & ther pen,
Thes are the vpstart gentylmen;
thes are thay that Dewowre
all the goodes of the pawre,
And makes them dotysche Davys,
vnder the cowler of the kenges lawys.
and yett an nother decaye
to youre grasys Seetes alwaye:
for the statte of all yowre marchant men
vndo most parte of yowre gentyll men,
and wrape them in suche bandes
that thay haue halle ther landes,
and payeth but halfe in hande
tyll thay more vnderstownde
of the profett of there lande;
and for the other halfe
He shalbe mayd a calfe,
excepte he haue gud frendes,
wiche well cane waye bothe endes;
and yet with frendes tooe
he shall haue mvche to Doe:
wiche ys a grett innormyte
to youre grasys regallyte.
lett marchant men goe sayle,
for that ys ther trwe waylle;
for of one .C. ye haue not ten
that now be marchantes ventring men,
that occupi grett in-awnderes
forther then into flanderes,—
flawnderes or in-to france—
for fere of some myschance,
but lyeth at home, and standes
by morgage and purchasse of landes
Owtt of all gentyll menes Handes,
wiche showld serve alwaye your grace
with horse and men in chasse:
wiche ys a grett dewowre
vnto youre regall pawre.
what presydente cane thay shewe.
that fowre skore yeres agooe,
that any marchant here,
A-bove all charges clere,
In landes myght lett to hyre
too thowsant markes by yere?
other, where shall ye fynde
a gentyll man by kynde,
but that thay wyll ly in the wynde
to breng hyme fer be-hynde?
Or elles thay wyll haue all,
yf nedes thay hyme for-stall,
wiche ys the hole Decaye
of your marchant men, I saye,
and hynderes youre grasys costome
by the yere a thowsant pawnde,
And so marryth—the more petye—
the comon welth of yche Sytte,
and vndoth the cowntre,
as prosse doth make propertie:
this matter most spesyally
wolde be loked one quiclye.
yett for ther recreation
in pastime and procreation,
in tempore nesessitatis,
I wysche thay myght haue grattis
lysenes to compownde,
To purchasse fortie pownde,
or fyfte, at the moste,
by fyne or wrytte of post.
and yf any marchant man—
to lyve his occupieng then—
wolde purchasse any more;
lett hyme forfett it therfore.
then showld ye se the trade
that marchant men frist mayde,
whyche wysse men marshall
for a welth vnyversall,
yche man this lawe to lerne,
and trewly his goodes to ywr[n]e:
the landlord with his terme,
the plowght man with his ferme,
the kneght wyth his fare,
the marchant with his ware;
then showld increse the helth
of yche comon welthe.
therfore be not yow wrothe
for tellyng of the trothe;
for I dooe here it eviry daye,
howe the comones thus doe saye:
yf thaye hade it, thay wolde paye.
vox populi, vox dei:
O most nobell kynge,
Consyder well this thing!

5.

But howe, Robyn! howe!
wiche waye dothe the wynde blowe?
Herke! herke! herke!
ys not this a pityvis warke,
the grounde and the pithe
off all this myscheffe?
for oure covitis lordes
dothe mynde noe other Recordes
but framyng fynes for fermes,
with to myche, as some termes,
with rentes and remaynderes,
with Surwaye and Surrenderes,
with commones and common Ingenderes,
with inclosieres and extenderes,
with hurd-vpe, but noe spenderes:
for a comon welth,
this is a vere stelth.
prove it whowe shall,
to make there of triall,
thus gowthe there Diall:
I knowe not what[s] a cloke
but by the cowntre coke,
the mone ner yett the prime,
wntyll the sowne dooe shyme
or elles I colde tyll
Howe all thinges showld be well.
the compas maye stande a-wrye,
but the card wyll nott lye.
Haale in your mayne shete!
this tempeste is to grett;
for pawre men Dayly sees
how officers takes their fees,
Sume yll, and some yet worse;
as good right as to pike there purse!
Deservethe this not godes curse?
there consyenes ys sooe grett,
theye fere not to dischare
yf it were as mvche more,
Soe thay maye haue the stowre.
thus is oure we[l] the vndone
by synguler commodome
for we are in dyvision
bothe for reght and religion;
and, as some saythe,
we stagger in our faythe.
but excepte in shortt tyme
we drawe by one lyne,
and agre with one accorde,—
bothe the plowgh-man & the lorde,—
we shall sore Rewe
that ever this statte we knewe.
the commones thus doth saye,
yf thaye hade it thay wolde paye.
vox populi vox dei
O most nobell kenge,
Consider well this thing!

6.

Thus Runnys the rwmer abowtt
A-mownges the holle rowtt:
thay cane nott bryng a-bowtt
[how this thyng shuld be,]
hit hathe suche hight Degree:
the cowne it ys soo skantt
That every man dothe wantt,
and some thynke not soo skarese,
but even as mvch to basse.
your marchant men doe saye,
thaye fynde it daye by daye
to be a matter strange,
when thay showld make exc[h]ange
one thother syde the see,
thay are dryven to there plee.
for were oure pounde some tyme
was better then theres by nene,
now oures, when it commythe forthe,
no better then theres is worthe,
noe, nor skant sooe gude:
they Saye so, by the roode.
how may the merchant man
be able to occupye then,
exept, when he comes here,
he sell his ware to Dyre?
he needes must haue a lyvinge
or elles, fye one the wyning!
this Coyne by alteracyon
hathe brought this Desolacion,
which is not yet all knowen,
what myschiff it hathe sowen.
they saye, “wo worthe that man
that fyrst that Coyne began,
to putt in anye heade
the mynde to Suche a reed,
to come to suche a hiere
for covites Desyre!”
I knowe not what it menythe;
but thus thay saye and dremethe,
ve ille per quem skandalum venit!
but this wyll axe graett pene
be-for it be well agayne,
graett pene and sore
to make this as [it] was before.
youre commones thus Doe saye,
yf thay hade it, thay wolde paye.
vox populi, vox Dei:
o most nobell kenge,
Consyder well this thinge!

7.

This matter is to trewe,
that many a man Dothe rewe
thesse sowrowes doe in-sewe;
for, pawre men, thay doe crye,
and saye it ys a-wrye;
thay saye thay cannott be herde,
but styll frome Daye [to daye] Differed;
when thay haue any swtte,
they may gowe blowe ther flwtt;
thus gothe the comon brewtt.
the riche man wyll come in,
for he ys sure to wyne,
for he cane make is waye,
With hand in hande to paye,
bothe to thycke and thyne:
or elles, to knowe the[ir] plesure,
my lorde is not at lesure:
the pawre man at the dur
standes lyke an yslande cur,
and Darre not ones sture,
excepet he gowe is waye
and come another Daye;
and then the matter ys mayde,
that the powre man withe his spade
mvst no more his ferme in-wayde,
but most gowe vse some other trade;
for it ys soe agreyd,
that my ladey, maisteres mede,
shall hyme expulse with all spede,
and our maister the landlord
shall haue it all att his accorde,
his howsse and ferme agayne,
to make there-of his vttmost gayne;
for is wantage wylbe more,
with shepe and cattell it to store,
and not to plowgh his ground no more,
except the fermer wyll arere
the rente hyer by a holle yere.
yett mvst he haue a fyne, toe,
the bargayne he may the [better] knowe;
wiche maketh the markett now soe Dere
That there bye fewe that makes good chere;
for the fermer most sell his gosse,
as he maye be abell to paye for his howse;
or elles, for non payeng the rente,
a-voyde at oure laydye daye in lent:
thus the pawre man shalbe shente;
and then he and his wyffe
with there chilldren, all there lyfe,
Dothe crye owtt and ban
vppon this corsede covitys man.
I swere, by god omnipotent,
I fere that this presydent
wyll make ws all for to [be] shent!
trowe yow, my lordes that be,
that god doth nott see
this ryche manys charyte
per speculum Inigmate?
yes, es, yowe ryche lordes!
hitt is wrytten in christes recordes
that divis lay in the fyre
with belsabube his Syrre;
and pawper, he a-bowe satt
In the Sett of abrames lape,
and was taken frome this troye
to lyve allwaye with god in yoiye.
yowr comones thus do saye;
yf thay hade it, thay wold paye:
vox populi, vox Dei:
o most nobell kenge,
Consyder well this thing!

8.

The prayse no lesse ys worthe,
goddes worde is well sett forth;
hitt never was more preched,
ner never was so playnely techede;
hitt never was soe halloed,
nor never soe lyttell fowloed
both of hyght and lawe,
as many a man dothe knowe.
for this ys playne perskrypsyon,
we haue banyschyd superstysyon,
but styll we kepe ambysyon;
we haue showtt awaye all cloystrees,
but styll we kepe extorsynares;
we haue taken there landes for ther abbwese,
but we haue convertyd theme to a worse vse.
yf this talle be noe lye,
my lordes, this gothe a-wrye:
a-wrye, a-wrye, ye gooe,
with many thenges mooe,
quytt frome the kenges hy-waye!
the commones thus Doe saye,
yf thay hade it, thay wold paye.
vox populi, vox Dei:
O most nobell keng,
Consyder well this thyng!

9.

And of all this sequell,
the fawtt I cane not tell:
put yowe together, and spell,
my lordes of the cownsell.
I fere albe not well,
amebyssyon So Dothe swell—
as it gothe by reportte—
amownges the grettes[t] sortte;
a wonderfull sortt of cells
that wox populi telles
of thes bottomelesse welles
that are est, west, and so forth,
bothe by south and also north,
with ryche, rycche, and ryche,
with riche, and to myche.
the pawre men to be-gylle,
with saccke and paccke to fyle,
with suche as we compownd
for an offys ij thowsant pownde.
howe maye suche men do reght,
youre pawre men to requytt
owtt of there trowbell and payne?
but thay most gett it agayne
by craft, or such coarsyon,
by bryberey and playne exstorsyon,
with many farlys mooe
that I colde trewly schewe:
ther never was Suche mesyre,
nor never soe moche ewzery.
yowr powr men thus doe saye,
yf thay hade yt, thay wold paye.
vox populi, vox Dei:
O most nobell keng,
Consider well this thing!

[9.b.]

And thus this yll of brwttes,
most plentyfull of frewttes,
ys sudenly Decayed;
powre men all-most Dysmayd,
thay are soe over-layde.
I fere and ame afrayde
of the stroke of gode,
wiche ys a perelos rodde.
praye / praye / praye /
we never see that Daye!
for yf that Daye doo cume,
we shall desseuer and rune,
the father agaynste the sonne,
and one agaynst an nother.
by godes blessed mother,
or they begyne to hugger,
for godessake looke a-bought,
and staye be tymes this rought,
for feare they do come owte.
I put you ought of dought,
there is no grett trust,
yf trothe shoulde be discust.
therefore, my lordes, take heede
that this gere do not breede,
at chesse to playe a maett,
for then it ys to latt;
we maye well prowe a cheke,
but we shall haue the werke.
ytt ys not to be wondrede,
for thay are not to be nvmbred;
hitt ys not one alone
that thus dothe grownt and growne,
and makethe this pitious mone;
for it ys more then wonder
to here the infynytte nwmber
of powre men, that doo showe
by resoune hitt most be Sooe,
thay wysche, and doo connector,
that my lordes grasse and protector,
that cheffe ys nowe erector,
and formost of the renge
vnder oure nobell kenge,
that he wold see redresse
of this most graett excesse;
for he ys callyd Dowttlesse
a man of graett proues,
and soo dothe bere the fame,
and dothe desyre the same.
his mynde (thay saye) is good,
yf all wolde folowe his mode.
nowe for to sett the frame,
to kepe styll this good name,
he most delay all excusis,
and ponysche thesse graett abbusis
of thesse fynys and new ewsis,
that haue soo many mvsis.
and frest and prinsipally
Suppresse this shamfull ewzere
commenlye callyd husbandrye.
so yf there be noe remedye,
in tyme—and that reght shortly—
yt wyl brede to a plewryse,
wiche ys a graett innormyte
to all youre grasis commynaltye;
for ther is noe smalle nwmber
but that this fawlt Dothe incumber.
youre powre men thus doo saye,
yf they hade it, they wolde paye.
vox populi, vox Dei,
O most nobell kenge,
Consyder well this thyng!

10.

Nowe, at youre grasis laysure,
yf ye well See the sezare
of all the cheffe treasure—
heped withe-owght mesure—
of the substanes of youre reme,
as it were in a Dreme,
I well make an esteme,
in the handes of a fewe,
the trewthe you to shewe,
howe this matter dothe gooe;
for I wyll not spare
the troythe to Declare;
for troythe, trewly ment,
was never yett shente,
nor never shent shalbe,
note this texte of me:
yf a tyme be framed
for fere somme showld be blamed;
but it wyll not be shamed;
hitt ys of Suche a strenghe,
hit wyll ower-come at lenghe.
yf now I shall not fayne,
the troythe to tell youe playne,
of thoosse that doo holde
the substanes, and the goolde,
and the tresure of this reme;
and shortly to calle,
all-most they haue all;
att lest, they haue the tradde
of all that maye be mayde.
And frist to declare
a breffe what they are,
to make short rehersall,
as well spyrytuall as temprall:
the laweres and the lawlorde,
the graett ryve and the recorde,—
the Recorde I mene, ys he
that hathe offys, or elles fee,
to serve oure nobull kenge
in his accomttes and reconnyng
of his treasure Surmountyng—
lorde chawncler and chawnclares,
maisteres of mynttes and monyares,
Secundares and Surwayeres,
awdateres and Receveeres,
customeres and cowntrolleres,
purvayeres and prowlleres,
marchantes of graett sallys,
withe the maisteres of woddsayles,
withe grassyeres and regratteres,
withe mr. wyllyames of schepe-maisteres,
and Suche lyke commen wasteres
that of errabell grownd makes pasteres,
and paye-masters, suche as bythe
with Trappes your golden Smythe,
with iij or iiij grett cloytheeres,
and the holle lybell of laweres:
withe thesse and there trayne,—
to be breffe and playne,—
of there to myche gayne
that they take for ther payne,
hit ys knowin by certayne stowrys
that they maynetene your grasis warys
by the space of a holle yere—
be it good chepe or dere,—
ye, thowght we showlde withstande
bothe france and skottlande,
And yett to leve enowght
of money, ware, and stuffe,
bothe in cattell and corne,
to more then they were borne
by patoromony or blude,
to merett soo mvche gude.
be-cause thay be soo basse,
thay welbe nedey and skarsse;
for quod natura dedit,
frome Ientyll blude they ledeth;
and to forsse a chourlyche best,
nemo attollere potest.
yett Rather then they wold goo before,
they wolde helpe your grace with some-what more,
for they be thosse that haue the stawre;
thosse be they wyll warrant ye,
thowght ye take never a peney
of youre powre commynalltey:
this is trwe vndowttydlye,
I dare afferme it Sertenly.
for yf this warlde doo holde,
of forse ye most be bolde
to bowrowe ther fyne golde;
for they haue the stowre,
your commones haue no more.
ye maye it call to lyght,
for it ys your awne reght,
yf that your grase haue nede:
beleve this as youre crede,
the powre men [so] doo saye,
yf they hade it, they wold paye
with a better wyll then thay.
vox populi, vox Dei:
O most nobell keng,
Consider well this thing!

11.

O [w]ortheyest protector,
be [he]reyn corrector!
And yow, my lordes all,
lett not your oner apall,
but knowke be tymes, and call
for thes graett ewsyres all!
ye knowe the prinsipall:
what nedes more rehersall?
yf yow doo not redresse
be tymes this covitisnes,
my hede I wold to gage,
ther welbe grett owt-rage,
Suche rage as never was sene
in any olde manes tyme.
also, for this perplexsite,
of thes that are most welthé,
hit were a dede of charite
to helpe them of ther pluryse:
hit commes by Suche grett fyttes
that it takes [a]waye ther wittes,
bothe in ther tresure and tellyng,
or elles in byeng and selleng.
yf they of this were eesed,
your grasse showlde be well plesed,
and thay but lyttell dysesed
of this covitous dropsye
that brenges them to this pluryse,
bothe the plwryse and the gowt,
vncurabell to be holpe [out],
except your grasse, for petie,
proved this forsayd remedie,
as docteres holde opinion,
bothe ambrosse and tertullyon,
with the swipstake and the mynyon,
[The Herte and the Swallowe,
and all the rest that followe,]
the gally and the roo
that soo swyft dothe gooe;
Goo, and that a pasce,
by the herry grace,
the herry and the Edward:
god send them all well forward,
with all the hole fleet!
whosse cowncell complett
Sayth it is full mett
that graett hedes and dyscrett
showld looke well to ther fett.
amen! I saye, so be it!
as all your commones praye
for youre lonke helth awaye.
yf thay hade it, thay wolde paye
with a better wyll then thay.
vox populi, vox Dei:
thus doth wrytt, and thus dothe saye,
with this salme, ‘myserere mei.’
o most nobell keng,
Consyder well this thinge!
god saue the kenge!