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THE EFFECTS OF

CIIAP. XX.

“ dayes find theyr prentizes and servants meate and“ drynke, but it cost them almost double as much“ as did before time ; wherefore were many of“ myne occupation and other like heretofore have“ dyed rich men and been able to leave honestly“ behinde them for thyr wife and children, andbe-“ side that leave some notable bequest for some“ good deede, as to the making of brydges and“ repayring of high wayes, all of which thinges goe“ to wracke now everywhere. Also some were wont“ to buy lande eyther, for to help the poore be-“ ginners of the occupations : yea, sometimes they“ had such superfluity as they could, over such be-“ quests, leave another portion to finde a pryste,“ or to found a chauntry in some parish church ;“ and now we are askant able to live without debt,“ or to keep few servants or none, except it be“ one prentize or two. And therefore the jour-“ neymen, what of our occupations and what of“ clothyers, and all other occupations, being forced“ to be without worke, are the most parte of these“ rude people that maketh these uprores abrode,“ to the great disquiet not onely of the queene’s“ highnes, but also of her people.”

The merchant complains in a similar manner,and, affirming that poverty reigns in all the townsof England except London , and that their houses,streets, walls, bridges, and roads are hasteningrapidly to decay, continues to pourtray it in thefollowing words:—