¶ The book of Merchants, very profitable to all folks to know of what wares they ought to be ware of, for the begiling of them▪ Newly perused and augmented by the first author well practised in such doing.  
Read and profit.  
¶ Ad libelli Repertorem.  
¶ 〈◊〉 sine mercatu Merces Mercator inen●●●●…  
●olle tibi, Merces has tibi sponte damno.  
☞ Anno. 1547.   

¶ The prologue of the author.  
THe purpose that we presently intend, is as me morable & worthy to be known as any other that may be spoken of, and also the matter there of is so evident, clear, and veritable, that all people may easily understand it, yea truly small children in all countries, and lands what soever they be, for there be many merchants and chapmen in every place whereby the trade is the more evident to be known To be brief in all the sayeing of this book is not one spiteful difficult, but only some abuses (over manifest) showed and briefly touched, because that they may be eschewed in time coming. And therefore I pray all them that shall have this book to read it diligently, For of troth if it be well understanden there shall come inestimable profit to the poor world, by the help of god, which eternally be praised and magnified.  
Amen.   

Here beginneth the merchants book  
He estate of Merchandise (for the time of this mortal life) is so necessary, that without it we can stant lie leave, it is so allowable and profitable. Provided that it be faithfully maintained.  
That it is necessari, lively experience showeth it openly, for of truth it is necessary that the abundance of one country help to satisfy that which lacketh in an other. And thereby all labouring persons by diligent industry are requisite for the maintaining of the commonweal the which without fraud or guile aught to distribute convey, change conserve and transport all sorts of wares from one place to an other according to the exigence of the time, and behouf of the people. The which is behouffull to all faithful merchants, as good & trusty servants of the comen wealth with moderate gains and profit of their wares without dyssemling in maynteninge their estate, of their person & household so that they occupy in all troth without circumvention and damage of their neighbour with out be gyling or any deceit. For if 
These. i.  fidelity and enteyer verity be not found in them, they be not merchants but rather wily thieves, and cautelous gallants.  
By similitude of this estate jesus Christ hath taught his children. To multiply, increase, and do profit with the talents and gystes of God, which are dealt to every one according to his good will, saying thus▪ Occupy until I 
Luk. xi●.  come, And at his coming again punished the slothful and ill servant that did not his devour to bring the fruit of the gift that he had received, doing us to wit that we should not be idle and not to receive the gifts of God in vain, or else we cannot escape the punishment of God. And it is to be thought that he spoke these words of body merchandise. For of truth as this estate whereof I speak is honourable botth in temporal and civil things: even so is it cursed and detestable in spiritual things. And therefore saint Paul in the virtue of God forbiddeth every man that willbe a minister, and servant of spiritual things, which is the administration of the holy word of God, and the ordinances of jesus Christ, that he appl● him not to temporal and secular 
two. Tim. two.  chaffering, and nevertheless, God hath permitted in his ●uror that in stead of good pasters, and veritable ministers of the said word, to chance in the church I say not alone li gross chapmen but furious thieves, and insatiable ravening wolves.  
Should not he be judged a beguiler and these, which selleth the thing that is not his own, or that by subtle means in stead of gold and silver selleth tin & bras? And should not the bier be begylled and deceived? Thus certainly (long ago) to the great detriment of souls, of bodies & goods of the poor people is chanced to us, that in stead of faithful servants of God that should lead and teach the poor world to the way of salvation, be entered, not by the door 
john. x.  which is jesus Christ, but by violence have climbed in by another way as false impostores, and as. S. Peter sayeth, 
i Pet. two.  falls masters, liars, teaching sects of perdition, forsaking the Lord that hath bought them, blaspheming the way of troth, the which in avarice by feigned words of our saide merchants have occupied, for such workers of iniquity, have forgotten nor left nothing where with by cautelus inventions they 〈…〉 ht occupy at their pleasure▪ ●nd will,  
And to say the truth they have set all thing to sale even to cry, Paradyse is to sell, by Paradyse by. There is no spirit that can comprise, nor tongue declare all the markets of these chapmen, and so great a swallow & prodigious multitude. Some points we must declare, leaving the residue to be thought of pepole of more subtle understanding.  
The merchants that we speak of be marvelous wily. And have increased their wares so gratly with their workmanship, that they have not left town nor village. hill nor valley but they have filled them with their shops.  
There were never slyer foxes, for they have ramped all under their paws. And the better to lead their trade they cause the people to believe that it is a great wealth, and yet is it neither mornor less than as the falls jesabel painted 
iiii. Re. ix.  her eyes ye & all her face with ruddy colours & other hews 
jer. iiii.  for to seem fair and esthew the fury of jehu. Thus likewise these covetous of glori ●uaricians merchants paint their works, attributing it to them ●el●s that belongeth to God. As righteousness virtue, sapience, pardane, mercy, remission of sign, haucuing ever in their month. Lord God thanks to God, in the named. God, of the authory of God, of. S. Peter of saint Paul. etc. behold here the trump the painted gloss of their maliciousness, for they know well that other wise they should not be set by, and their trade soon be distroed. In buying and selling must be good faceing & disguising among them, having their heads all most all plucked, shorn or clipped, therefore it is written, that none may do as they, and selling, but he have the name or mark of the beast.  
They chepen, they chop, changeand sell, they buy and sell again, they barginge together on the best fas you, for parsonages curates, and do hook benyfyces, and the better to do they teach each other their vacation and craft. Their time of bargaining is ever redi, & have sontim great fairs as time and season requireth, and always on high feast days, clean contrary to the other Merchants. When Ester, witsontyde, halowmas, Christmas and such other come, which they themselves have ordained, all Merchants cease save these.  
For there is nun handicraft but when they lust they cause it teave of, because they alone make sale and works, and all the other do homage unto them because it serveth greatly to their gains.  
Of this in or time we have seen an example marvelously to purpose, that was of a crosey generally made and publissed almost over all the earth. And God knoweth by what means. God knoweth by what supposts by what work men by what croseidiers, such a work was handled. They constrained all them whom the would, to obey to their desires. They threatened all th● that in any wise gaynsayed their lies and abuses.  
There was never seen agreatter market, hell and heaven were opened, for to take in, put out, or keep still all that came at their pleasure, so that they brought any present, for without that a man could not speed of these galantes. We did make holidays, assembles, feasts and processions, altogether at they minds & ordinance, and not so hardy to say, nay  
They gripped, they plucked, ravyssed, slax, wool, yarn, thread, butter, cheese, oxen, caulue● sheep, gold and silver, all things were saleable. And than they ruffled, they drank, 〈…〉 led and played, I dare not ●●ye whored, for every thing went forward with them.  
And to say the truth, these merchants be different from the other, for it is not lightly seen but they be content with some one trade, some with cloth, other with cataile, some with silk or metal, other with corn or wine. etc. but these wolvish gross, gross up all at once and ravish every where, to set all things on sale, it is a world to see their trade, nothing scapeth them, but at their pleasures they occupi it, yea men, women, children, now borne and unborn, bodies, souls of the quick and dead of goods visible and invisible, heaven, earth, and h●lle bread, meat, time and days. Marriage, vestiments, rasures, shaving, anointings, clo things, bulls, pardons, indulgences, remissions, bones other relics and rogations, expectyves, dispenses, exemptions, sacraments, and holy works of god. Of bread, wine, oil, tow, milk, water, salt, fire, fumigations, encensynges, ceremonies, songs, melodies, would and stone, of brotherhodes, inventions traditions, deceptions, laws and without number of such tryfetrafe, whereby they ca●● marvelously well draw money to them, whereby the por● people are so undertrod, gnawn, devoured, and so strau●ged for the knowledge of God that it is not possible to believe it.  
And who ever would have thought the which they have devised, that by over great subtlety they have so abeastad the people that they makthen kiss a trencher or a small platter of gold, silver, or lead: which they name the platine, sometime their fingers ends that is to wit their nails, or some dead bones of dead folk, which they call relics whereby they have gotten so many gifts and presents. 
Luk xxi●.   
The bishops of jerusalem gave money to judas for to kiss a precious and worthy thing, a thing a live and fair, which was the precious and worthy face of our saviour & redemptor. jesus Christ.  
But these are more wily, and by their fraud do other wise, for by their falls babelynges and cautelous ways, they have so punished almost all people, in making them to kiss bones and other unleeful dead things. And receive therefore plenty of money every where not passing where, so they may have it▪  
I leave the kissing of the capmerchants' shoe or slipper for the kiss of bawdy Thais was never so dearly sold as that is, or the kissinger of his minions. But for bicaus that here above we have spoken of bones and other trash of dead things unlawful: it shall be behoveful to see and read a little treaty ingeniously & profitably compiled but late by a right docte and learned man named M. john, calvin, of the abuse of relics entitled the utile advertisement, of the great profit that should come to Christendom, if an inventory were made of all the holy corpses, and relics in all regions the beginning whereof is this.  
Saint Austyn in a book that he intiled, of the labour of Monks lamenting certain bearers of rogations, which already in his time exercised vilayne and dishonest fairs and markets, bearing hither and thither the relics of martyrs. Add yea, if they be mertyrs.  
By the which word it singnifieth that as than began the abuse of tropery, bearing about bones gathered here and there. Making the simple people believe that they were saints bones.  
Sith the beginning hereof is so ancient, it is no doubt but they have greatly increased all this long while also seeing that the world is so marvelously corrupt sith that time, that is declining still in appayringe till that it camè to the extremity that we see it in now.  
For certainly by such master liars, workers of wickedness, people effeminate, the word of verity is hid, letted: corrupt and blasphemed, to exalt, a●aunee, and publish and utter their most false and aduou●erous wares not with out dear sale of them. For never the words of an advo cacite, at tourney, orator or physician were so dear, as the words of such patriarchs.  
need it were that the great pastor 
i. P●●. 1.  our saviour & redemptor jesus Christ that bought us not with gold and silver, or any corruptible thing: but with his precious blood, should come with power and drive away these great mastyfhrigant Merchants, wily changers, and abusers, which occupy the temple of God the which by figure was sometime made in the cite of jerusalem, and when his good 
john. two.  pleasure is in the virtue of his holy name, by the weapon of his holy word, and spirit of his mouth: make an end of such a miserable work.  
Alas, when shall we see the time accomplished that our Lord hath promised by his 
●a●h. xiiii.  prophet zachary sayeing. There shall no more be merchants in the house of our Lord God in these days.  
Oh how these good merchants will green and frown when they may no more sell their wares and works? as it is written. The merchants of 
Apo. xviii.  the earth shall weep and wail because that none shall buy their wares any more. And after the letter, this is spoken of those merchants of whom we speak. Right happy they are & shallbe that may see the time and day so desirable. And truly it is great wonder that the world can suffer and sustain so horrible and outrageous farthels. For there is no desolation upon the earth, but that it is come by these most fearful and fallatious merchants.  
And although the doings be so marvelous that it is impossible to know it, or writ it fully, yet must we somewhat touch their nimblenisse and gentylcastes of their wiles. In their practic they be sowple and sleight, without doubt more than I ween.  
I sit not a great activity, to sell well, and in selling to be well paid: and at the length the bier hath but the sight thereof? Scantly any It alien or Lomberd can do it, but these can do it welmough Every man seeth that it is so, but every man doth not perceive it they have so s●ombred, blinded, & abeasted the 
probatum.  poor world.  
Among good and true merchants it hath not been seen that ever they sold the only sight of their wares. For they say cominly the sight shall cost you nothing but all these jacks like i●gelers, momers or tumblers have well learned to play their pageants for with out cease they can sell and resele dearly y● only sight of their baggage. This y●. I say is best known in good towns. For if any be called of god by death suddenly these merchants do inquire of the friends or executors if they will have the best cloth the next or the least, the best crossed, or the next for to bring the corpse to the church, and thereto according for to pay, where in the poor people be sore abused for all well considered, it 'vaileth asmuch to the dead person as to the bier and all a like. Of the corpse it is certain cover it never so well, yet will it not sweat, nor saugh nor stier at the beauty of the cloth nor at the riches of the cross. As to the foolish bier, it is well seen that he may pay well for he hath nothing but the sight there of. And on the morrow it shallbe sold likewise to another. Thus can these masters pollers vymbly unfold and show their wares, and properly fold it and bear away their tools.  
Moreover is it not an actyvite to sell wares more dear after the rate of the graments where with the marchante is arrayed yea though the ware be never the better. Such things were never seen in other merchants but these, yet with out cease they do it & yet no body doth perceyus it nor think thereon.  
I would wit of you, if the mass (as they do say) of a Cannon be not dearer than of a vicar, of an abbot than of a monk of a bishop than of a dean and so of the other, And yet they say themself that the mass of a naughty priest is as much worth as another which we believe well enough  
Wherefore I would wit of them where of cometh such diversity of price of one manner of merchandise as for answer they have none, but by the diversity of the vestments, where in they be like to a harlo●, that seeketh her filthiness more or less after the sort of her raiments.  
In this passage these great harlo● 〈…〉 gers will love me better and be more pleased to compare them only but to an harlot, and that in this I would not compare them to the traitor judas, as one of their books doth, named, 
Stella clericorum.  Stella clericorum, where the fair book saith thus.  
Qui missam celebrat pro pecunia, videtur mihi dicere cum proditore juda. Quid vul●is mihi dare, et ego e● vobis tradan?  
That is to say. Whoso celebrateth mass for money, he sayeth with judas the traitor. What will ye give me, and I shall deliver him to you? Here be terrybel merchants that this do sell their God. They sell God and devil nothing scapeth them.  
They conger, they charm the wether, the hail, the tempest. They make salt waters and vintage. To be brief they play wonders in all things and are a great deal more five then mustered.  
Is it not a great sleight to sell one piece of ware all hole to many folks at once in one self hour and instant, with out knowledge either of other, and of each of them to take and receive the hole payment and money. They name themself angels because of their offices but angels make not the people blind for all their brightness, as these dark angels do. If they were but angels only them were this great marvel, but by their own saying▪ they be gods & half gods, great gods, and little gods doing all at their will in heaven in earth, and in hell. And therefore they may (as it is said) as it pleaseth them sell their wares easily all at one chop to sundry people, but the wilyste is oftimes taken.  
That it is so the practise showeth, as it is openly sen when there is great press, as when the kings court is nigh to them, or any other great assembling of noble men.  
The mother is, the better the practice is handled, and namely when the Marchante is esteemed and that he can stoop and nod, or hang his head ●n y● one side, and make a sad countenance. The case may be thus.  
Some great Lord cometh to a convent of friars, be they greay or black, the one is as good as the other, saying to one of them shall we have a mass? yea mi lord, another cometh to the same friar, and asketh for a mass also, yeshal have my Lord. Yet an other cometh for asmuch, ye my Lord, and so come as many as will, he refusteth none.  
Than cometh the goodly Domine, & dispatcheth them all at ones, and the gentylm● go their way well pleased, the marchante is paid and paid again, both go their way laughing, aswell the bier as the seller. Is not this a great ability? is it not well wrought? Of such wares their store houses are full, and these be called, store house masses, or salted masses. That god of his gracious goodness right soon unsalte and water it.  
Truly they be so apt and prompt, that few or none can do their beans. Among other things they be almost all merchants of war but in all the world is no appoticary nor chanldeler that can work in their manner.  
Some poor, fool cometh to the tempel, devoutly (as they say) & sticketh up a candle upon a pillar, and our merchant anon snatcheth and puffeth it out, and for the price selleth it to an other, that setteth it up in the same please. And our merchant that watcheth for it, is still ready to snatch & to blow, and sell it to an other that anon will set it up again, so that by snatching and by pouffeing our merchants cease not to gatherin all day, whereby they are rich anon for as ye see all returneth to them both ware and money.  
A little war doth them great case, be the merchants great or little for commonly they use it all. The little ones sell it wrought in candles, and the great merchants sell by lumps tacked upon paper, or at the tail of parchment. This that I say is well known, at the least way to officials, scribes notaries, secretaries of abbeys, proctors chancelers of Bishops, archbishops, cardinals etc.  
The great Gargantua. I say the high provost of these merchants that is the most feared and dread the wylest of them all keepeth his bank under exchange to all people converting lead into gold. In this world was there never seen such an alcumyste, that under lead (by him and his) could find such a vain of gold. The which the good merchant Pavorme hath not hid in his writings. When by elegant ceremony, or at least: 
Pavorm super pri▪ prin●●▪ de electione, in glossa prima in fine.  wai barbarien, he wrote thus.  
Di●●nt aliqui quod nuncii pape non sunt deaurati sed plumbati: sed dic ni●ilominus quod possunt di●i deaurati: quia dant plumbum et reportant autumn.  
That is to say. Some say that the pope's messengers be not gilded but leaded, but nevertheless, say thou, they may be called golden, for they give lead and receive gold. This may be called an easy bodily work. To such a work man all things are proper to cheapen and steal. And the better to close his matter, the name of Sanetissimu● receiveth it.  
Albeit that he is but a hat maker yet he is a hatseller to, 
The hat maker of Rome.  and there was never hat maker that sold hats so dear, and according to the colour he maketh the price for if they be read they be the dearer, and also the byers' matter is the better, witness of Christofer of Forlinio, of thetytle of Aracclie the spaniard of Angloys, with his great cord. Also T. Wolsey of the title of. S. Cicelie & other whom I leave for all the world doth know them. And when these gentle buyers be thus coyffed and wrapped with their red hats of this great capper, they go fro town to town, fro place to place, specially to the courts of Princes and Kings to make their mustres, and stall their merchandise, or else it may be to practise some buttin for this read hat is full of great virtue, to them that know it first fro the time that he is covered with all, he is at leisure to do all what he will, to keep as many benifyces as he can catch, whither they be (as they say) compatible or uncompatyble, less or more, all serveth the kitchen.  
Secondly he is affraunchesed and free fro the unanites, that is, for any benefice that he catcheth, he oweth no vacation, which is a jolly practice. Thirdly he is already in the way and nigh to be himself the great hatmaker, or sovereign haberdasher.  
●ee not these goodly privileges. This is it that maketh the dearth of such hate.  
Than at the example of them there be cappers that likewise are sellers of bonnets. The sellers dine very well at the expenses of the buyers, the which foolish buyers be so mad and foolish that they bribe and strive in many places for caps and hooddes with tails styckinge on them, who shall have the first, the second or third. etc. Not with standing that they be all alike of order. Other there be that seek for such byggynnes (I would say bo●etts) wherein they have neither more nor less knowledge, though that they will not for get their liripypies, I mean their peltry capperons.  
Now I am in thought of a matter new inought, that hath comen in times past.  
And I pray all you that shall read this present treatise to pardon me if ye know it. ●t is of a chapman that keepeth in Rome, the room of the great 
●la 〈…〉 a.  merchant. For as Platina writeth in the book of the life of the byshope jone the viii of that name the. Cvi. bishop was a woman which held and possessed the pontifical syedge two years, a month and four days.  
At the end of which time (and she being pope, or that 
Questio pregnans  I do not lie popesse) she childed a young popy. I would wit than if she were chosen. Via Spiritus sanc●●. And if her marchantdyse were sale worthy, and as good as of a man? And when she gave absolution, or that she gave or sold any Croyse, Mitre, or Hat.  
Or that she ordained any bishops, priests, or Deakenes, what cometh all this gear to? Item whereby came the sacerdotal Carecte, & many other things which for this time I let pas if ye can say any thing to this, do all swear me, for as for me I understand nothing else, but that it was very gallyardde and pleasant.  
Whereby I return to my merchants, of whom truly some be wilier than some, and all together to the wiliness of the kitchen. For albeit that in France Normandi & Picardi▪ etc. be marvelous wily, yet have they not as touching this wrought so fineli, as they of the country of Santonge, and of Towrain. That where fro Christmas to the feast of candelmas as they call it, at every time that these merchants sing evensong, when they come to an anthem that they name. De fructu. If they do spy 
Of fruterers.  haply any fruitful person.  
I mean fruitful, if the purse be well stored to whom they kneel, and stoop allow to begin the De fructu, and than the poor simple kneler gooth full sympelly to sing the De fructu on the best fashion, and than the merchants chaunte, cry and howl, to the end, and afterward all the evening laugh, toy, play, God knoweth how they far. And as these merchant fruters fructifis for the profit of the table all together I say to profit of their gains, and damage of their neighbours that higher and find them, and yet the good simple folk hold them content with their knavery.  
This fruitful people be in france and other regions but in England I think be but a few, for thanked be god many of there il tres be plucked up by the roots and felled and their wicked merchants fruiterer's be well stayed, and shallbe God willing more.  
Thus can these fine merchants by wills and trewan●ise fructify at the expenses of other. In singing and playing nymbly for their own wealth like false suitors.  
In deed their singular halilite is very evident that they having nothing have multitiplied and increased to so great goods, that all most they have usurped and obtained all the richesses of the earth, as Realms Dukedones, Conutyes Principalites, Baronies Towns, Lordships, Herita-Rentes, Housynges. Fruits, and all that is possible to say.  
Truly I am ashamed to think on it, they have swallowed all together. They have disherited Princes, Kings, Lords, Machants, burgesses and people of all estates and all because at their beginning they in hypocrisi could fain their pope holiness.  
But now they be so rich and mighty, that by force they do wytholde, & rather would mengyle and melt the skies, the earth and the see, and all that is in them, than any thing should scape their hands.  
And therefore they raise and▪ move wars, debates strives & troubles, they burn, they slay, they persecute, they ●nprisone, and to their power drive away all them that gain 〈…〉 them. They have no need of books of holy scripture for to maintain their feats but ●pholde them by strength, as brigants and murderers do for to resist verity their is no thing with them but force and violence.  
O peasant wolves, wolves insatiable, that have spared nothing but ye have plucked it under your paws How 
Act twenty  truly spoke saint Paul of you, when he wrote thus. I know that after my departing ravishing wolves shall 
i. Timon four  enter that will not spare the flock. Of such merchants it 
Ezechiel. xxxviii. two. Pet. iii  is written to Timothe in the first, In Ezechiel and divers 
jude. two.  other passages.  
If there were ever matter of iniquity, there was never the like unto this. For good merchants, only present their wares exposing to them that will buy a reasonable price, and constrain no body to buy or take thereof. But these wicked do the contrary, for boistously they constrain the people will they or not to pass through their cruel hands, and without respite, to buy their false merchandises at their own pleasures, or else pronounce them heretics and who that hath no money must go seek for some, and make shift though nothing should remain.  
The case is thus. Some poor man dieth charged with wife and small children. This thing is pitiful and requireth mercy. And for to comfort the poor widow, certain almesses ought to be dealt unto her, to comfort her and her household. But in stead of kind providence, these unkind 
i Tim. iii  and cruel merchants of her lytelle come to make an end of all, & they by force or right will have that they do demand, bread, drink, offerings, candles, ox or cow gown, kirtle, jaket, bed, sheets, good fare, or money, and put▪ her from all under shadow of.  
Requiem, Fundis, and Libera.  
And sith we are in this purpose, there was never such iniquity known among any merchants but in these. The which openly without fear or shame sell that the which is nothing theirs, and yet they sell them to the persons to whom they do belong of right. Yea, and that worst is a. M. times and more they sell one self thing.  
Answer to me. Who caused to make the bells of the church? whose be they? dydthese falls merchants bear them thither? likewise the ground in the church or churchyard, whose is it fro whence can it? Is it of their fatherly heritage? It is not certainly.  
But belongeth to the peopel and paryshiens. I would wit of them fro whence came such a boldness to them so for to sell the sown of the bells, which they caused not to be made, & also take not the pain to ring them, for they be to delicate minstrels, & so for to sell & resel the ground that is not theirs. Truly after their accustomed fashion it is a veri dear ground, that so often 
Of buryings.  times is so unjustly pa●ed for. For it is ever to begin. They will answer me (I know well) that it is the right of their church, 
Prop 〈…〉 quar to modo.  which easily I agree to. For properly the right of their church is to cach, flei, ravish steal & poll, which is never done in the church of jesus Christ & therefore consider poor people on whose side those merchants be. jesus Christ commandeth 
Math. x.  to give for nothing that which he hath given. And these merchants engross it outrageously, and so become Merchants, sheweing thereby apertly that they have nothing common with 
Cananea●s & negotiator idem  jesus Christ. Showing them also to be worse than the other Cananeans, when good Sara took her rest in God, for in their right of their sepulchre they would take nothing of Abraham.  
But he which before the death 
〈…〉 two.  of his wise posseded never in ● said ground, would have had some right therein, prefiguring that some day by the pormises of God it should be his own truly, he would have given some money therefore to Ephrom the son of Seor, 
Gen. xviii.  for a very possession, where as a sepulchre was in a double field, the which possession was entirely given and adiugged to him in heritage with the usufruits of the tres growing ther. And hereby it is certain that this poor painime took no money of Abraham for nothing, but take him a fair heritage, which these false merchants do not to the poor people. For without cease they take much money. Alas they do not know wherefore. But for a pastime is it not a good sight to see sometime a sort of disguised and countrefet gallants openly fight for to have a dead corpse of some body.  
The grey a 'gainst the grey. Frauciscans a 'gainst the dominicans? The augustines a 'gainst the Carmelyts. Black against white. The pied against the Crossed. Priests a 'gainst Monks. Curates against Canons, and all such sorts of cavellers, which ought to be driven away as mastyfes, as raveus, and cormorants This that I say is manifest, and yet it can not be remembered of what spirit these merchants were driven abroad, who moved them thus so shamefully as to run after they pray as wolves and foxes after carrion but the desire to nourish well their pottage or sops, their ribaldry or (as they say) their estate, that is to say, their gormandyse and over licarous kitchen, for they think on none other thing.  
There of cometh if there be any motion of a benefice that alway, they inquire of the proffytes thereof by year ferme, by pension, by residence 
Corban. Corban.  how much the church, advantage is, that is to wite, the 
Mar. seven  baptysmes, marriages, offerings, kissings, lights, oblations, pilgrimages. If there be any Ireful saint that willbe feared, and above all, if there be moche people because of mortuaries, burynges legaries anniversaries, and such fine mentions, and huge charges upon the poor people, for as they say in right fair latin. Vbi oves, ibi pelles. That is 
Vbi oves ibi pelles.  to say, where as sheep is there is wool, which truly they can well shear and gather.  
And in deed they be all of one craft & can none other so well as this. That is, they be all shearers, devours, sleyers yea & that so near that they suck the blood, and the sweat.  
And of such rapine they uphold each other jollily, it is plainly seen daily, without any remedy.  
And they be not only merchants, sellers and occupiers but also the most part are covetous sellers again. Or the better to understand what I say, a seller again is he that buyeth for to sell again to another, for profit and gains 
Act. viii.  by it as also Simon Magus would have done, whereof it is spoken in the Aacts of thapostles. And. S. Austin upon the Cxxx. Psalm, after his manner of reckoning in speaking of the said Simon saith thus, The power of the Apostles pleaseth him more than the goodness of the Christians, in as much as he saw by the leing on of the apostles hands God gave the gifts of the holy ghost in such manner that the Christianes' spoke new languages, he would have done as they did, But he would not be faithful as they were and be a good servant of jesus Christ, but because that he would be seen mighty and somewhat high and therefore he offered and would have given money to have such a power as they had, and truly he would have dearly bought that which he knew w●ll afterward. The fellows of this said Simon be all miserable buyers of benefices and ecclesiastical officers, which are excommunicate by the authority of God, & not one lie of God, but also by the authority of the decres and ancient cannos, as pestilent people, by whom the church of God is rob, wasted, and desolated, the reformation of the church letted, and the salvation of the people withdrawn.  
O Lord God what a book might be made of this matter if time would suffer it, but I remit it all to the judgement of those persons which love and dread the almighty lord.  
What do you noble and 
Rom. xiii  virtuous Princes, Lords and Ladies, why have ye no regard over these merchants, and notwithstanding that by their pride they will not be visyred of you, yet will they or not, ye have authority over them. And to you and none other it belongeth to castyse, to correct, and represte the great excess of such thieves.  
Do it than, to th'end that it be not verified of you that is voken in Isaiah.  
Such princes are infidels 
E●le. i.  companions of thieves, but rather that in the presence of the living God, of whom ye bear 
E●o him  the name, which hath given you the pour of the sword, for to use it to his honour, defending innocentes punishing all male factors, be ye found faithful and veritable, Consenting to all goodness resisting evil with all your power, for his good will, for by him ye are committed there to, & he alone may exalt you or put you down in this present life, and the life to come, and hereof ye may be sure, if ye seek his honour, he will honour you. If ye exalt him he will exalt you.  
By his wisdom kings do 
Pro viii.  reign, and Lords do ordain ordinances of justice. And the misprision of the divine will & wisdom is cause of all evils over Kings, Princes, Lords, countries and nations 
two. Regum. xxiiii.  Which may be sen in David Solomon, Ezechi, Achab, Manasses 
iii. Re, xi.  and other. And let no man take fear in forthering the honore of God, as the simple Sedechie did. Fearing more the princes of juda & of Jerusalem, them the only God. Not believing the good counsel 
jeremy. xxxii. et xxxix.  of jeremis. The which Sedechie nevertheless afterward found true that which the prophet had told him. And was put fro the goods that were ordained for him. For it is not in the power of men to put Kings fro their crows but it belongeth 
Danie. i.  to that only god, which transferreth kingdoms as it pleaseth him. The which if he be with you: who can be against 
Rom. viii.  you? Oh God if ye were as prompt and ready to procure the honour of God as these avaricious merchants are apt and diligent about their business, that nothing escape them O Lord how every thing should be well.  
It is no need to speak of their study and diligence, for every body seth it. They have a. C. eyes ever open to watch as the cat for the mous. Argus saw never clearer before and behind, no more did janus with his double face. If the bells ring in any place (as they say) for an obit than our gentle gallants trudge apace but our Lord knoweth what a drag there is of them.  
If the master or the dame of a house be seek, so that they be any thing rich, for of the poor they pass not, and that they have any token of death our merchants togo thither a pace a pace to put in their minds to remember their shops, their building their church, their brethren, and for to have some anniversary foundation, or other testamentary gift. Do what ye will, out of the house ye get them not till they have some pray, or else they will say that he or she be Lutherien heretics:  
God knoweth what wily wrinches, what subtle fallaces they do commit fro day to day. Think who will on the household, on the famuly, on of the children, rend or detts all is one to them so they may have their asking they care not. If any bridals be, thither rene our merchants to far well, and to bliss the bride bed. If any woman lie in childbed, they togo, to say gospels ano to be at the sitting up and chirching.  
To be short be it at life or death, our merchants be ever practising some bribles, they never make an end. And the better to dispose the matter after their sort not one of them will marry, because they may the better use their bit cheri at their ease to pass the time, and to live without thought.  
For to conclude it is to be noted that among so great a fellowship of merchants there be two sorts, yet none of them both do live in pureness of chastity, of the which some of them govern themself in course & rude tyranny, the other in fair hypocrisy.  
The first be they that openly constrain the people to by their wares, and there is no remedy but pass that wyaes, or else to be slain and murdered of them, or at the least excommunicate in their synagogue.  
The other that could not come to usurp the power to command, can by an other mean, that is to wit in the appearance of poverty bearing walets all upon their shoulders full simply feigning a lowting cauntenance selling themself as the Essians, Saducians, or Pharisians did.  
sometime they would give their own habit to the poor, pretending some holiness the which afterward was paid a. C. times double. Thus can they work subtilely in they markets and fairs. Than is there anothor sort of fine bestial friars lowtes, lowting their heads by the way bearing great beads like father Robert of Islyngton, Merchants of their own works and merits, as if they had some in store to sell again.  
And openly they have made to believe that all the benefactoures of their orders have won heaven by the merits of these holy beaupers, quentching the faith thereby, and putting the holy name of jesus Christ in darkness, blasphemeing openly the grace and mercy of the Lord God, the which is not won by work or merit, or else grace should not be grace, howebe i● by such dreaming lies, and feigning, these arrogant superstitious fat truants have said their miserable bellies with the labour of the simple people.  
I may say miserable west enough, for there was never so many ungracious sorts of people upon the earth.  
They do disfigure and fatten themselves, they extermine their faces as hypocrites.  
They torment & punish them sefes for to appear to the world such as they be not. Truly they take great pains to go to the Devil.  
And often times when they see a young child comen of a good stock and rich kindred, they will so entice him asmuch as they may to catch him in limetwyges & snare to make him like unto them. To such folks jesus Christ giveth his curse, when he saith woe 
Mathei. xxiii.  unto you hypocrites that compass both sea & land, to make one your novice, and when he is made he shallbe double worse than you. This is their 
Consolacio mise●orum.  joy and consolation to draw any to their estate. Whereby it is very veryt able, that the delight of a wicked person is to have them that be like unto him. This is true that I say. And it is not said of a desire or affection to missay any person: but to the end that the sheep of jesus Christ may keep and deliver themself from such deceivers, that out ward seem to be simple 
Mat. seven  sheep, and in ward be very ravening wolves. And by the help of their great and very shepherd jesus, they may be preserved, & that of them & all other that are in darkness & error be entirely verified the which S. Pet. saith you have 
i Pet. two.  been as lost sheep, but now ye be returned to the pastor & bishop, of your souls. And we 
three Regum. xx. xviii. et nineteen.  must not in this point stay at the great number, at the multitude, or at their riches & power. For it is much better to here Miche alone, than the. iiii C. false 
Lu●. two.  prophets, Helie alone than all the sacrificers of Baal.  
The good and simple. Simon and the ancient widow Anne than all the Pharisiens', sacrifiers, Scribes, & doctors which had made a dene of murderers of the house of God. Of whose successors I pray our Lord right soon to give knowledge to all princes and Lords, men learned and of authority, that they may make such providens and remedy that the vengeance of God do not fall on the poor peopel, and on all the earth. For they commit so many detestable wiles and guiles that it is not possible to think it, witness the falls feigned spirit, that seth. xx. years was guilefully and maliciously mente by the grey fryeres of Euereus in the convent of Normandy. And of late time such another by the grey fryeres of Orliance.  
To the great slander not only of the realm, but also of all other Christian nations. This was in France.  
I pray you was there no 
The translator.  such foolish feigned trifling deceit in England I report me to them that have seen and herd of them as of roads and other geugaus, which mockage is true, evident, and commonly known of all men of every degree, which as now to speak of any more I will leave of abiding to se that there shallbe done such justice that it shall be example to all the world.  
For if any particular person be punished for a foolish or little fault that he doth, how moche more aught such hypocrites for to be punished extremely, the which under the sight of holiness abuse the poor people in such wise to the great blasphemi of god & diffamation of their neighbour. All the world than may be sure that if the Lords of justice cause not punishment as is appertaining for it, that the Lord God will take so terrible revengeaunc that all the world shall tremble for the hyd●ousnes of it.  
Likewise of the wiles of these croscrepers which feigning multitude of prayers with multitude of pardoned prayers, and beads: think the sooner to beguile the people kneeling ever in one place daily, and licking of pillars, kissing of the images feet, to seem more holy, and among themselves very detratores of God. And yet they fear to displease one the other for fear of accusement. O dissembling foolishness and foul hypocrisy.  
There be many other things which as now I report me that I could ●ay of a truth if I would but I will abstain me fearing to offend the weak.  
Now after that I have spoken of these will foxes and cautelous Merchants with whom is comprehended here mites and recluses.  
It shallbe good to speak of a great flock of Chap women asmuch or wylyer than the merchants which be of themselves named Monkesses, Abbesses, Prioresses, Chanonesses, sisters of all colours, recluses, & many such other sorts of vermin, but I reserve this matter (the which truly be not very clean) tyli some other time.  
For this present season i● I have said ill or little, I put it all to the judgement of more wise and faithful lovers of verity to whom humbly I require to encreas, amplify and set forth that which I have willed to pass briefly, fearing to annoy the reader's by mi rude speech.  
It hath sufficed me for to show somewhat of the evil that hurteth us so sore, only for to give occasion to people of good desire here after to devise some what more, finally trusteing by the bounty of the father of mercy, of some good delyneraunce, the which of his grace deliver us all fro the darkness of error, fro deceiful living, fro Idolatry and infidelity.  
Wherein we be miserably fallen, in asmuch as we have lest his pure and holy word, following our own opinions 
two. Cor. xi.  and foolish fantasies, for Satan the temptor, enemy of our salnation by cautyle transfiguring him into an angel of light, under shadow and colour of verity alway came against the will of God, like as among other things it is 
Deu●●r. xxxiiii.  certain that the body of Moses the which God did bury, and unto this day never manded find his sepulchre, although that the devil hath 
jude. i.  enforced him to reveal and show it. but the angel of God resisted him, alway calling for help to the Lord. For truly this false serpent would have abused & deceived us with the body, bones, and relics of the said holy prophet teaching to raise some house of devotion, some fair pilgrimag, and a pleasant and new manner to serve God, other than that which he hath commanded. The which thing the prophets could not have condemned afterward nor reproved it, whiles they should have been accused of infidelity and malyse: saying the holiness and great excellency of the same, whereby God had done so many admirables. For the foolish men without judgement beholding the works of saints only, do forget him that by them doth such works. In good sooth under such appearance and colour of goodness, the devil should greatly triumph in that place as he hath done sith, and daily intendeth to do in many places as it appeared here in this land and doth yet in some other countries, with other in finite abusions.  
Alas what an horror hath spread through the universal world by that means. The merchants have scraped well, peeled well, heaped well, and looked well through that hole. And where is any spirit that ever could recite, or tongue declare, all the voyage, all the wild and new pilgrimages that by little and little have been invented? There be as many manner of saints as of people and beasts.  
As. S. Loye for horses S. Anthony for swine, S. Loup for sheep. S. john for lame S Hubbert for dogs. One for goats an other for kien. S fereioll for geese, and so forth of the remnant. And for people there is great plenty. For there is no member upon man, nor any disease reigning upon him, but it hath a particular physician. S. job (that never thought on it (healeth the great pocks. saint Appolin the teeth.  
Howbeit that I have marveled oftentime, that these good workmen gave not that office to. Saint. Christophre, which had so great and long teeth that Cobrande was no thing like. Probation.  
In a certain place of Fraunc called Beaunoys is a little abbey of. Sain. Christopher, where as the reverends there do show a to the which as they say is one of. S. Christophres. The which to the is so bygg and long that if he had had but. xii. in his mouth, it should have been wider than the greatest ovens mouth in all paris, what a fellow were he that had. xxiiii. or. thirty. such in his mouth at once? Truly this goodly tooth in breed is more than a greate half foot, and big accordingly. O intolerable irrisyon. And yet it serveth a 'mong these good merchants.  
And to come to our purpose Saint Quintin healeth the Cough. Many healeth the fevers, but there is so many of them that they let each other S. Clare helpeth red eien. S. Aduertyn the head ache of women. S. Main of the scab. I leave. saint. Gyles in Constantin that often helpeth women to have children. Such saints enough are found at the friars and monks. S. Mor healeth the gout when he is at leisure. S. Sith findeth lost things, another serveth to go. Another to come. One to begin, an other to make an end. Never was seen such work men. Nor never was seen such afyre. But above all other that can be devised, there is none jolier. S. Maturin that healeth all them with empty heads as mad and abstraught people, which be thither brought, God knoweth How they be handled. The measure of old fathers cannot serve. They shallbe rubbed, horscomed, and whipped that it is pity, and yet never the wiser, but when they have done, they must have money and wine, and so he is fain to run a way lustily.  
Were it not a great alms by charity to have whipped and scourged a gallant naming, himself an aulmosiner, I wot not frowhens, which a while ago in the cite of, Abevile in Pycardy played aprety gewgaw.  
And the better to understand his gambawed when the Queen made her enter there  
She being with her assistants in the church of. S. ●oulfrāe this holy father after his mass said, he made a supersault and willingly as a tumbler fell down as in a swoon, feigning to be ravished, or to see some heavenly vision.  
And in deed the good gen, tylman would have persuaded the simple people that he had seen the virgin Mary accompanied with certain saints. As. S. Peter and S. Paul which had showed him some divine secrets.  
The which thing anon was published for certain and true by the upholders of his degree. I mean valiant pillars of the church, although it was but a lie and deceit.  
As himself sith hath confessed, saying that he did it only to be esteemed the more holy man, and by cause more credet should be given to his words. This was the invention of such a work man, which had nofeare to lie, and in his mockery offended God grievously, for to accomplish his knavery.  
How be it. S. Paul hath expressly written that the verity of God hath no need of our dreaming lies, and that 
Rom. iii.  none ought to do any evil, to th'end that goodness may happen him. But what thought take such folks for. S. Paul or of his writings? Wherefore such a jack above all other that could be thought or spoken of as a fool with his like fellows ought to be led to the god. S. Maturin and there as a holy body to be raised up, and pleasantly have his head rubbed, horscomed, brushed handled turmoiled and whipped, to make him know what it is to be foolish or wise, specially in matters of great weight.  
For above all the follies that can be done, said or thought, the greatest is to counterfeit any thing belonging to god  
O Lord God how the world by such minions and false means hath been in times past, and yet is enpoisoned with great error and sedition.  
There be other saints for artificers or handy crafts, every one in his occupation and faculty. S. Crispian maketh shoes. And saint. Rock cobbleth them. S. Cosme soores and wounds. S. ivy keepeth process in the law. S. honory maketh matches.  
One goeth on for, another rideth, one is naked, another well clothed. One is armed another with a single weapon It is wondrous to think on it. And in good sooth if I would delate, work set forth and amplify all that is hid under this feigned shadow I had need to make a great book by itself alone.  
Wherefore I differ this purpose till another time, abiding the help of the Lord. The which for ever b● praised exalted, and manyfied his only best beloved son our Lord jesus Christ, which with his blood hath purged us who be blessed In the world of worlds   

¶ Imprinted in London & are to be sold by Richard jug, at the North door of Paul's.  
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.