Pyers ploughman's exhortation/ unto the lords knights and burgoysses of the Parlyamenthouse.  
IMPRINTED At London by Anthony Sco●oker Dwelling in the Savoy rents. Without Templebarre.  
Cum Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum.   

Pyers Ploughman's exhortation to the Parlyamenthouse.  
IT behoveth us earnestly to pray unto God/ that likewise as he hath given unto the king of this realm/ a fervent zeal to set forth his truth/ & strengthened him with a right worthy protector & most prudent counsellors for the setting forth of the same/ even so that he will vouchsafe to send our said king like zeal and strength to make/ set forth/ and cause to be kept such good politic laws and statutes as this Realm may be thereby replenished with justice requitie and wealth, that in all regions where as it shallbe reported how that we of this realm have expelled all vain traditions of men/ and received the true religion of Christ/ that there also it may be said how that we have thereto received the fruitful blessing of God, promised unto the followers of his word. But except many inconveniences in this realm be redressed/ it is rather to be feared lest that the Gospel be slandered through us. Nevertheless even as in the time of our greatest error & ignorance, the fat priests woe 〈…〉 never confess that any thing concerning our religion was amiss, worthy to be reform/ even so now at this day there be many fat merchants which would have no reformation in the common wealth affirming that therein all things be well/ but he that will be conversant with the comen sort of the poor comens, shall (if he stop not his ears, nor hide not his eyes) both hear see & perceive the case to be far other wise. He shall hear tell that afewe rich men have engrossed up so many fermes & sheep pastures/ & have decayed so many whole towns/ that thousands of the poor comens can not get so much as one farm/ nor scant any little house to put their head in. It is not agreeable with the gospel that a few parsons shall live in so great abundance of wealth/ and suffer so many their christian brothers to live in extreme poverty. It is contrary to the humanity used even amongst the heathen infidels, one man to hold so great a quantity of ground/ that by means thereof his other neighbours shall not have whereupon to get their living. It is not used amongst the worst kind of ravening beasts, that one shall snatch from an other that thing which he standeth no need of, and which he never shall be able to spend. But what may I liken it unto/ when a few men for the only greadines of gathering superfluous things/ shall keep in their hands so much ground/ & so many whole towns & fields/ that thereby all their own native country shall come unto utter ruin & decay? I would not that those idle members of this realm, which for the maintenance of their idleness would have all things in comen/ should think that I do now harp of that string: far be such madness fro me/ for that confusion would utterly extinguish all industry unto all manner of good arts and qualities/ and reduce us unto a beastly trade of life. But I would rather wish that they which now in this realm be the auctors of that opinion/ should be sharply punished by the magistrates/ as detestable enemies unto the common wealth/ for he which bringeth into a Realm sedition or discord/ bringeth in the most pernicious thing that can be possible. And what thing can sooner move sedition, than to go about to take from all good men/ all those their possessions and goods/ which they and their ancestors have by their prows/ virtue and industry obtained and gotten/ and to participate the said lands and goods/ unto the slothful, vicious and idle parsons? But admit that (which is impossible/) all men would willingly consent unto the taking away of the propriety of goods/ yet is there no likelihood that this realm could be so governed & defended from enemies: for it any realm could be so maintained/ it should have been in experience before this time in some countries. But Aristotle in his politica, writing of all the sundry kinds of governments of commenwealthes in the universal world, could not find so much as one little City governed in such sort: it is much more impossible that such a realm as this/ being so populous, & much of the people being so naturally given to sloth/ vice & idleness/ should be well ordered by such means. But these men would fain persuade their opinion by scripture/ saying that two or three places in the scripture make evidently for their purpose/ yet will they not confer therewith all those other places which be innumerable/ that make directly to the contrary. Would you not think him to be a mad tailor which would go about to persuade you to take a coat of his making/ because one sleeve of the coat is fit enough for you/ all the reside we of the coat/ being so scant & unfit that it can by no means be put upon your back. And are not they much madder/ with finding one or two texts in the scripture which semen to take away propriety of goods/ and do not regard how their opinion agreeth with the eight commandment/ which saith: thou shalt not steal/ and with the tenth/ which inhibiteth us to covetour neighbours house/ or our neighbour's wife/ his servant/ his maid, his ox/ his ass or any thing that is our neighbours. And if their should be no propriety/ I pray you to what purpose shall these words sound which shallbe spoken by Christ at the day of judgement. When I was hungry ye gave me meat/ and when I was athrust ye gave me drink etc. Or wherefore doth Christ in ye.. vi. chap. of mat. will us/ when we give our alms to give it secretly? If I should here reckon up all the places in scripture which make directly against this fond opinion/ I might be accounted more than half mad to bestow so much time in a matter so manifest: therefore wishing that the manteynours of this franricke opinion may be well kept in a close house until their wits be better comen unto than I will return to my purpose & declare/ unto you one other inconvenience/ which only if it be not remedied/ is able to bring this whole Realm unto utter ruin: for by the means of it/ the most part of all those poor commons of this realm/ which have no lands of their own/ be like by all likelihood of reason, within process of few years to be brought unto extreme poverty. And for the proof hereof, let the naked truth set forth itself. When all the great numbered of abbeys did stand here in Ingland, a great part of the men of this Realm/ were Monks/ canons/ friars, Chauntrypriestes'/ Pardonners'/ hermits & such as had Idle livings/ by those monks/ canons/ friars & chauntripriests. And to th'intent that my meaning herein may be the better perceived: admit that these Idle parson's which the time which the residue of the inhabitants of this realm did bestow in going of pilgrimages/ in carving painting & gilding of Images, in making of torches and waxcandels/ in keeping of so many superstitious holy days: admit all these to countervail as though the third part of the men of this realm had then continually lived in idleness as touching any necessary business, and that the other two parts had then done all the necessary work which was to be done in the whole realm/ that is to say/ manured the ground to bring forth corn/ and victual/ and done all the labour for the taking of fish/ for the making of cloth making of garments and all other things necessary/ both for themselves & for all those other Idle parsons and for the whole realm. And it is not to be supposed the contrary/ but that there shallbe as many people in the realm, when all those parson's which were monks/ canons/ friars & chauntripriests shallbe dead/ as there were at such time when all the said Abbeys did stand: but the. ij. parts of the men of this realm keeping no superstitious holidays/ & spending no time in pilgrimages nor such vanities/ willbe still able to do all the necessary work in the realm/ then the other iij. part must live in idleness except some other work be devised for them But this great number of people shall then neither have lands nor pensions to maintain them living in idleness. Therefore if more work be not provided for them/ what can ensue but extreme poverty/ beggary and misery? For when the foresaid abbeys did stand/ that Husbandman which had two or three Sons, would for the most part/ find one of them at School for a year or two until he might read the mass book/ and than make him either a monk hanontrier or chauntripriest, which many times also should help his other brethren to some part or their living, but now there is no such refuge: all must be put to labour. And like as three score men can not be all sufficiently armed for the wars with forty harneysses/ ne three score women can not all be spinning at home upon forty wheels, no more can all those parsons in this realm which must now hereafter have their livings upon labour be continually set to work/ except they may have more ground totylle or more of some other thing to work upon. And besides all this they which were professed in these superstitious/ religions did abstain from matrimony/ so that now when marriage shall be free for all men there is like to be a greater increase of children than was in those days. But to this some men will say/ that although they had no wives of their own/ yet they lived not chaste. I grant that few of them lived chaste. And yet I deny that the Roylme was any thing so much replenished with Children by their unchasteness, as it would have been if they should have had wives of their own/ for it is to be considered that the most part of them are but comen adulterers. And those women which lygh with more men than one/ do not therefore bring forth the more children. All these things considered it is no small numbered of people that must now hereafter live by labour/ over that there was when thabbeys did stand/ so that if some other provision be not made/ it is like to come to pass, that shortly after the wars (for the wars have hitherto found a great sort occupied/ and clean rid us of a great number of them which should else have been either beggars or thieves) but when the wars be done/ & they which be now children comen unto men's estate/ by the reason before declared, there shallbe so many without fermes and disirous to have fermes/ that they themselves by their high proffers shall cause them to be yet again higher enhanced/ so that he only shallbe able to live upon the said fermes/ which hath no charge of children/ and he which shall have any charge of children/ shall not be able (bringing up his children) to live upon any of them/ but shall every day be poorer and poorer until he and all his children/ be at plain beggary. And likewise then the labouring man, being then so many of them/ they shallbe retained for so little wages (having now respect unto the high price of victual and cloth/ and to the high rent of their houses) that he which shallbe in health & having no children, shall barely get by his labour to find himself his necessary sustenance, so that he which shall have any children/ shall not by his labour be able to find himself and his children. And thus shall the most part of the Realm be in poverty/ one not able to help an other. Is it like than that those few parsons which shall have the abundance of riches/ will every year continually depart from so great sums of money as will serve for the releafe of so great a number? no surely, for when they have had a far smaller number/ they suffered them to die for hunger in the streets. And for the most part, the wicked & the covetous parsons shallbe the greatest possessors of goods, whose property is always to gather, and never to distribute/ ready in taking/ but slack in giving. When so many shallbe thus fallen into such extreme poverty/ what may then follow/ it grieveth me to declare. But what need I to declare it/ when every man may so easily perceive it which thing if it should come to pass (as God forbid) then would our great enemy the bishop of rome & all his adherentes, insult and triumph over us/ imputing our destruction/ as a punishment/ for the suppressing of abbeys and chantries. And so might it well be accounted/ if we should/ when they were suppressed/ being satisfied and stayed with their worldly goods, proceed no further in redressing other abuses/ nor in the providing of livings for them which were commonly wont to go into abbeys/ or other wise to have their livings by them and by such other like kind of idleness. Add unto this also that there is now at this day fewer several fermes for the husbandman to live upon/ and less work for the labouring man/ than was in those days when the foresade abbeys did stand. For a great part of the said abbeylandes be either given, sold or leased unto such lords and Gentlemen/ as had lands before of their own. And for as much as it is well nigh impossible for them to oversee so many servants as might keep so great quantity of ground in tillage/ and desiring to have the whole profit of their ground themselves/ they are driven (by their infaciable covetousness) to convert all their grounds unto the pasturing of sheep & such kind of beasts as they may receive the whole proffyght with very little charge of servants/ so that one man having in his occupying so much ground as five hundredth parsons have heretofore with their labour gained their living upon/ shall kept perchance ten or twelve shepherds and four or five netherdes. So that although there be all ready and shallbe hereafter many more parsons which must get their livings upon labour then there was when thabbeys did stand: yet that not with standing/ their is at this present much less ground put in tillage/ than was when they stood. And by this means shall this realm come much the sooner unto decay/ if remedy be not had. For as the number of men increase, which must live by Labour/ so ought it to be foreseen that they may have whereupon to labour. For that shepemaster which suffereth one flock of his sheep to increase much in numbered/ and doth not regard to provide sufficient of pastor for them accoraccording to the number of his increase/ he shall not only have no profit by thyncreasinge of his sheep/ but shall also put all the reside we of that flock in danger of the hungerrotte. This flock of labourers, are like daily to increase/ but the pastor they should live upon/ which is work/ doth daily diminish. And is like hereafter upon other occasion which I have not here rehearsed/ ever more & more to be diminished. Hitherto I have declared certain causes why it is requisite that more work should be devised: desiring you my lords with the knights & burgoisses of the parlyamenthouse that ye will accept this my rude boldness in good part, & not to impute it to arrogancy for that I enterprise amongst men of so high wisdom/ to reason in matters of so great importance. For like as the most expert mariners/ in a great tempestuous wether/ will not disdain sometime to be admonished by an inferior Parson/ by cause that some things may then come to their emembraunce of some one man, which at that time an other thinketh not upon/ even so the most wise councillors & Magistrates/ in the comen affairs of the Realm, will sometime vouchsafe to hear the devise of a simple Subject.  
Therefore/ after pardon obtained for my bold enterprise and for my rude language. I intend (under the correction of other better experienced) to show my simple opinion by what means all the for said number of people may have plenty of work And then what profit may thereby ensue unto the Royalme/ and unto the Kings Majesty. For these inconveniences and this imminent mischeafe may be so met with/ and in such sort remedied & redressed/ that besides the profit/ which is taken by the Lands and goods of the the said abbeys Priories/ chantries and Pilgrimages, the suppressing of them and of such like idleness and Idle works, may be turned moreover unto an other the greatest Commodity that ever came unto this Royalme. That is only/ if all that multitude of People/ which was wont to live so in idleness, may always have work. And by two sundry meanness may it be brought to pass that there may be more plenty of work throughout this realm: one is, by the converting into pastor or Arable waste and desolate grounds, now being overflown with water or overgrown with Brome/ Ferrne whins or Fyrres/ & by the restrayninge of the foresaid Shepemasters and engrossers of Fermes, that they do not hereafter convert so much ground unto Shepepastours/ & then to suffer all manner of corn to be yearly transported over the seas as well as any other kind of merchandise. And for these purposes I have drawn forth certain rude bills to be exhibited to you of the Parliamenthouse/ trusting that by your wisdom's/ learning & knowledge/ said of the same rude bills may be reduced into the due form of good statutes. another way to cause the foresaid great numbered of people to have more work, is by the causing of all such manner of things being commonly worn/ occupied & spent within this realm/ now used to be brought from the parties of beyond the seas/ & being possible to be made wrought or had within this realm. As linen cloth/ flax/ and all thing made of flax or hemp: all things ready made of Ironsope/ rapeoyle/ say/ stamin/ worsteds/ caps hats & all such other things to be made and wrought within this royalme/ which thing may be brought to pass/ by the setting of a great subsidy/ as a subsidy of four or five shillings of every pound valour/ of all such kind of wares coming into this realm from the parties of beyond the seas.  
This may be best done when a subsidy should be else granted unto the kings majesty for the maintenance of his wars, which thing should be also some part of punishment unto our enemies, if we shall chance to have any beyond the seas, for as much as they shall thereby have the less vent of their wares/ thorough which their reams shallbe the more enfeebled. And surely this kind of subsidy for the maintenance of the kings majesties wars/ should not only be more for the common wealth, but also much easilier borne than such taxes & subsidies as were heretofore wont to be levied/ for no man shall pay any thing in this kind of subsidy but they only which of their own voluntary will, shall buy such wares coming from beyond the seas: but if we shall not have occasion to have any subsidy granted for the maintenance of wars/ yet for this foresaid consideration the subsidy may be enhanced upon all such wares coming inward. And the subsidy which is is now paid upon lead/ tin corn & cloth going outward/ may be in consideration thereof remitted/ which shallbe also a great cause that the more lead lin/ cloth and corn shallbe wrought/ made and laboured for within this realm, but if it so be that the kings majesty having no wars will not set any higher subsidy upon such wares, yet at the least way for as much as the price of all manner of wares is highly risen sith the time of the making of the last rate: it is reason that the wares coming inward be rated again at the value that they now be sold for, or else the custom which shall be hereafter paid upon linen cloth and such kind of wares coming into this realm shallbe so little in respect of the price they be here sold for, that men shall not have so good cause to be driven unto the making of linen cloth and such other things within this realm as they had when the said rate was first made. It is no marvel though this my saying concerning the setting of a greater subsidy upon wares inward and also some of the foresaid bills shallbe unto some men at the first very hard to digest, but like as unto those men every thing is pleasant that savoureth of lucre, so can they not abide the taste of aught that smelleth any thing against their singular profit. And yet if they pondered the matter thoroughly well/ and would make a true definition of utility/ they should find that it were not against their profit. But they be so far blinded in covetousness that they can not or else will not foresee the true end of things. Therefore you of the parliament house must do unto them as the loving parents do unto their children when they constrain them to drink wormesedes or such other bitter medicines for the preservation of their lives/ although the children/ for the bitterness of the medicine/ be never so loath to receive it. Nor I marvel not though some of you the lords knights & burgoyses of the parlyamenthouse be not at the first sight persuaded unto all these my sayings. For I being altogether ignorant of the art of rethorycke/ have not cunningly let forth this matter but only laid before you the naked truth in rude words, which only bare truth if you substantially will ponder/ I doubt not but you shall then easily perceive that by these means the said great number of people which before were wont to live in idleness/ shall not only gain their own livings but also they shall both cause great sums of money to be yearly brought into this realm for such corn as shall increase by their labour upon tillage. And furthermore cause great sums of money to be kept within this realm/ which was wont here tofore to be exchanged into other Royalmes for such linen cloth and such other things. And for as much as I doubt least that my meaning herein be not so easy of all men to be perceived: to make the matter more plain/ admit that when the foresaid abbeys did stand, we sent over the seas yearly into other Realms in will, lead tin corn cloth and all other kind of merchandise, the value of four hundredth thousand pound, and that we did then receive again into the realm from the said parties of beyond the seas yearly the value of other four hundredth thousand pound in other kind of Merchandise/ admit also that for as much as all those people which before were wont to live idly in abbeys/ Priories and chantries/ adding thereunto the time which was accustomed heretofore to be idly bestowed in going of pilgrimages/ in keeping of new founden holidays/ in carving, painting and gild images in making of copes/ torches & waxes candles/ all this time before spent in idleness and in unprofitable labours, hereafter employed upon the tillage o● the waste & desolate grounds, and in making & working of such things as we heretofore were wont yearly to receive from the parties of beyond the seas/ admit (I say) that by the increase of the corn coming of this tillage we may send over into the parties of beyond the seas yearly/ the value of one hundredth thousand pound more in corn, than we heretofore were commonly want to do: & that by the means of the linen & such other things being wrought within this realm, we shall need hereafter to receive again in all those kind of merchandises coming from beyond the seas/ the value of one hundredth. M. pound less than we heretofore were wont yearly to receive/ then shall therebe carried over the seas yearly in all kind of merchandise the value of five hundredth thousand pound/ and received again yearly in all kind of merchandise but the value of three hundredth thousand pound/ so that the other two hundredth thousand pound must yearly be brought into this realm either in gold or silver. And for as much as they have now much gains beyond the seas/ and this realm not a little thereby in damaged/ in that they do counterfeit our new coined silver beyond the seas & send it hither. It therefore good provision and narrow search be made that none of the said counterfeited money be connuayed hither/ then should all the foresaid sums of money which shall come yearly from beyond the seas for the foresaid overplus in wares/ be brought into this royalme in such gold & silver as the kings majesty may take advantage by the coinage. Thus ye may perceive that by these foresaid means the realm may be wonderfully enriched/ the kings majesty have great gains in his mints, and every man that listeth to labour/ may gain himself an honest living. Yet I would not that any man should think it possible by any worldly policy to defend this realm from utter destruction/ except we amend our sinful living. For if God be determined to plague us/ for our offences/ what can worldly policy prevail to the contrary? And is their any hypocrisy more like to provoke the wrath of god: or any blasphemy more worthy of his indignation/ than busuly to pretend the most holy Gospel, and yet nevertheless to be so void of all charity/ that it shallbe taken but for a small matter/ and for a common practice amongst us/ one man to encroach so much ground in to his hands that he shall there by expel four or five hundredth parsons from their livings? How doth this trade of living agree with the Gospel/ seeing that the chief point of our religion/ yea and as Christ himself saith/ all our religion consisteth in Loving of GOD above all things/ and our neighbour as ourselves? The more knowledge that we have of the truth, the greater is our offence/ and the more abundant that the goodness of god hath been towards us/ the more detestable is our in gratitude towards him. For these injuries that we do unto the poor membres of Christ/ we do unto him saith he. Therefore after such evident knowledge of the scriptures: & after so manifest admonition by the preachers: what can follow but the just vengeance of God? if reformation be not had. If your children had so much understanding to foresee the plague and vengeance of God/ ready to be powered down upon the whole realm/ for this cruel oppression of the poor/ which so freely is suffe-suffered here to reign amongst us/ would they not altogether kneel upon their knees with the tears running down by their cheeks rufullye looking towards you of the parliament house/ and holding up their hands 〈◊〉 you altogether with one vo●ce/ that you with all diligence and hast possible would see to the reformation hereof, that the dreadful wrath of God might be speedily turned from 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 being on 〈…〉 of other 〈…〉 Realm being reform, 〈…〉 in wealth & prosperity all the realms in the world: That the fame thereof with the renown of the most virtuous king Edward the sixth/ shall redound at the furthest end of the world, to the great praise of the Gospel▪ and to the high glory of god unto whom all honour be referred for ever.  
A fault escaped in printing. In the. xvii page in the. xiij. line. Said of the same▪ Rede some of the said.