❧ The bait & snare of Fortune.  
Wherein may be seen that money is not the only cause of mischief and unfortunate ends: but a necessary mean to maintain a virtuous quiet life. Treated in a Dialogue between man and money.  
¶ Imprinted at London, by john Wayland, at the sign of the Sun overagainst the Conduit in Fleetstreet.  
Cum privilegio per ●ep●e●●ium.   

The Prologue.  
Saint Paul Doctor of verity, sayeth that Avarice is the Root and beginning of all evils: Algates the men of this time present, be thereto much inclined. For of all Estates fro the highest unto the lowest, all give their study unto Avarice, and every one desireth to have gold and silver: and for to have the same they travail night and day, by water and by landis, thinking therein to find quietness and rest, which shall never be: For in riches is never rest. The more that a man hath thereof the more he desireth. For Avarice of the own nature is unsatiable, according to the saying of the Sage in the fift Chapter of Ecclesiastes. The covetous man is never satisfied. And Horace the Poet sayeth that the Coveteus' man is always anhungred. And S. Jerome sayeth that the love of worldly goods is unsatiable. And Boece in his third book of Consolation sayeth that if the man which is avaricious had all the world in his domination, he would not be content: for ever he would desire to have worldly goods more and more, and principally money, which never should be noyons unto man were not his covetise, which ever gwennyth man's heart: For God hath made the silver as well as other things for the service of man. unto whom he hath made all thing subject. But when the man setteth his appetite, and desireth to get money otherwise than by right and conscience, that may be called avarice which hath dominion upon the man above reason: and so it appeareth that 〈◊〉: which should be master is the servant, and she that should be subject, is the lady, which is great blindness in man.  
Th●s is money masters of the man, and man to money is subject, and is therewith so abused, that he doth more therefore than for his maker, or for the health of his soul: O fault of wisdom, o fault of reason, O false covetise thou art cause of the perdition of many men, thou art ca●se that infinite evils be daily committed in this mortal world. And now to show more plainly that men be inclined to gather money, and consequently be subject to the same, I have put here in writing a question made between Man and Money, by manner of a Disputation, which vary in their words the one against the other: For money would show his great power, and man speaketh against him. But after great disputation the man abideth vanquished because of his covetous mind, confessing that it is a great felicity to have money in possession. (⸫) (⸫)   

The Bait and Snare of Fortune.  Money beginneth. 

O All mankind desirous of honour,  
That would of worldly wealth have iouys●aunce  
Come hither to me that am of worthy valour.  
I am the prince peerless in puissance  
My name is money, that have in governance  
All worthy fayte to lose or else to bind:  
Ech● man requireth to have mine acquaintance,  
For good Fortune by my friendship they find.   

●o lord there is, lady, nor churl of kind,  
What for my power and wise circumspection,  
That they ne bear to me a loving mind,  
And gladly would live under my protection:  
What man of himself by might or wise inspection,  
Without my mean can work a worthy deed▪  
None doubtless, for I set all in good direction:  
Who lacketh money is not like to speed.   Man answereth. 

With boasting words thyself how dost thou lau●e,  
Presumption in thee appeareth to be great:  
Thou art false money, full of deceit and fraud.  
In vaunting words is set thy full conceit,  
Of cursedness thou art the chief receipt:  
I am the man that shall it prove anon,  
Against thy pride so shall I lay a bait,  
And cast thee forth a bone to pike upon.   

In all the laws and books many one  
I find how thou art root of all mischief,  
Through thee full many a wight hath misgone:  
For unto man thou art so dear and lief,  
That he becometh a robber, and a thief,  
For thee forsaking God and algoodnes,  
And hanged is at last for thee with great reprief:  
This wage be winneth by thy worthiness.   Money. 

MAn I perceive thou speakest without thy book▪  
But I shall answer to thy foolishness:  
Thy wit is nought it standeth all a croak,  
Thy tongue is racle, thy wit is reckless  
Thus to report of me such wickedness  
That never knowingly against thee did ne spoke:  
With me to dispute thy mind is great (I guess)  
Speke what thou wilt, and answer shall I make.   

Unto my faite good heed if thou do take,  
Who lacketh me he liketh not easily,  
Displeasure and thought doth bring him unto wreck  
And ploungeth his heart full oft in fantasy:  
Merchandise he seeth to sell, and feign would buy  
But I am away that ever do the deed.  
Than sinketh his thought in deep melancholy  
Distress and dolour doth cause his heart to bleed.   man.. 

THou speakest enough but hold me yet excuse  
Thy word to believe, for all thine appetite  
On leasing is set, that man were well abused  
That would for thy boast, and words white  
Have in the favour, love, or else delight:  
For whose list to live at liberty  
And of displeasure and trouble would be quite  
Ought as fro a serpent fro thy love to fly.   

All wickedness is wrought by mean of thee  
As Robberies, rapine, usury, and strife  
With fraud, flattery, deceit and subtlety  
Brawling and barat, with all misordered life.  
Thou raisest debate betwixt the man and wife  
Thou causest man oft to swear blood, arms, and brains  
And suddenly at last he dieth upon a knife  
All for thy love, this is a goodly gains.   Money. 

THou speakest not well, I tell thee man again,  
For who that hath me is honoured as a lord,  
A knave can I make for need a captain  
The great man shall lout (and never to remorbe)  
Unto the villain, the wise man shall accord  
Lowly to the fool, his bonnet to avail  
With master Doctor in mouth at every word  
And knee to ground to boot him of his bale.   

But he that lacketh my friendship in his male  
Had he the strength of Samson in his time,  
The tongue of Tully for to tell his tale,  
And salomon's wit living without crime,  
Yet for he hath no help nor succour by me  
The people in play shall point him with the finger  
Lo there goeth a semesypher in algorithm,  
There goeth a wretch, a fool, and a barat bringer.   man.. 

WEre it not that I have intellection  
Reason and wisdum to know what is what,  
Thy foolish presumption and hardy objection  
Would bring me in doubt what for this or that,  
Whether I should believe thy words or not:  
By just probation yet trust I for to find  
Good matter enough thy boasting and barat  
clearly to confound, and make thy reason blind.   

Full oft I think and muse in my mind  
Upon thy faite thou cursed creature,  
Encumbered thou hast full many of mankind,  
As well is founden written in Scripture:  
Such fantasy men have unto thy false figure  
And so desire thy cursed acquaintance  
That the poor soul may seek his adventure,  
So dost thou draw them to the devils dance.   Money. 

BE still man I say, for I have little joy  
Thus to hear thee jangle as he that taketh no heed.  
Who builded London that named was new Troy  
But I puissant penny, that each man cloth and feed.  
Ever groweth grace out of my gromel sede  
York, Lincoln, Linne, leicester, Lichfelde, and Lancasire  
I bilded Bristol, Bremingam and Barwik upon tweed  
Dureimme, Derby, Dorcestre, Dover, and Dancastre.   

Winchestre, Walden, Worcestre, Ware, Warwik & Westchestre  
cambridge, Carlisle, coventry, Calais, and Canterbery  
Bath, Boston, bedford, Bokinghan, Roeston, and Rochester  
Medlan, Manchestre, Malmesburi, Stawmforde, & Tukesbury  
Southamton, Sandwith, Sud●u●y, sa●●t Albons & Salesbury  
Northampton, Newarke, No●●ngham, New Ca●●●● upon Tine  
Great cause may I have, for to be glad and m●r●,  
Sith these and thousands more be made by me and mine.   man.. 

TO hear thy words it is a w●●●nes  
For never was noble C●t●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  
But by the occasion of thy cursedness  
Hath been destroyed full many 〈…〉 C●●●●▪  
Howbeit mankind by great subtil●●e▪  
By diligent labour and politic prudent  
Through out the world in every country  
Hath made many Cities and towns 〈…〉   

Not by thy mean, but by experience  
Of his pregnant wisdum in each operation▪  
He made and forged thee by high and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Of earth that is matter most vile 〈…〉  
Thou givest to thyself a great 〈…〉  
As profitable to man, which is each 〈…〉  
Full many a fair City to utter 〈…〉  
By thee hath been brought, that 〈…〉   Money 

GReatly hast thou erred as manner well a●●●s●●  
Me thus to rebuke, and utterly despise,  
Full little reason is in thy head comprised  
Me thus to reprove it is no gentle gu●se.  
Great lords and ladies that be both good and wise  
And all degrees have me in lane and favour  
And gladly a mean would find and devise  
My kind acquaintance to purchase every hour.   

Thou knowest how god the high 〈…〉  
Of earth hath form man after his 〈…〉  
Of all the world he made him governor  
And after that, I will not keep in cage  
How man made me with cross and crowned 〈◊〉  
Out of the earth whereof himself he came,  
Why should man be contrary to me in his 〈◊〉  
Sith he came of the earth and I came of the 〈◊〉   man.. 

AS in this case thou sayest me troth in deed,  
God hath made man of earth a vile substance  
This do I believe as parcel of my creed  
But than god gave him soul made to his own semblance.  
With many fair gifts he did him than advance  
Endowed him with virtue, grace, wisdom, and reason,  
To order him and his, and do his observance  
Unto god his maker, when time requireth and season.   

A thing unreasonable art thou not worthy two peason  
Unworthy to be counted of gods high creation  
But man himself the made, when grace was with him geason  
As nought out of nought, by cursed instigation  
Of subtle Sathanas that gave him information:  
Than wealth, grace and goodness their rooms 'gan to resign,  
Thy pride amongs Princes took such a domination  
That many royal royalmes been brought unto ruin.   Money. 

THough dost great wrong so strongly me to blame,  
That god hath made man of the four Elements.  
To serve him as his lord, I fully grant the same,  
In Genesis written the mat●er evident is:  
And man hath made me (what need these arguments)  
In semblable wise to serve him at his need,  
Living by reason▪ and as convenient is  
Preserving his soul from vice in word and deed.   

When god form man (thy self thou mayst it read)  
He gave him free will that he in all goodness  
Might make here in earth his profit and his speed  
Of me and all other creatures more and les:  
Sith man hath reason, and will of his lightness  
Misuse me, putting his soul in jeopardy,  
Should I be blamed▪ for his unstableness  
No god forbidden, there is no reason why?   Money. 

BE still false money, and understand my saws  
Full cursed art thou, and made all in despite,  
Of reason, of right, decrees, and all good laws:  
For after that man had made the for delight  
The golden world forthwith was quenched quite,  
What time all joy was to the people rife  
No cross nor coin of the not worth a mite  
Had they that time, and led a merry life.   

Their Merchandise they gave man child and wife  
One thing for an other by way of Innocence,  
All riches was commune without barat or strife  
treasures men hated as death or pestilence:  
Full joyously they lived without concupiscence  
Of thee, that art now the causer of all vice.  
Thy cursed coin and inconvenience  
So brenneth men's hearts with fire of avarice.   Money. 

THy words as japes ought well to be recompted  
For by thy speech Ice thou wouldst sustain  
That one man than, a other not surmounted:  
It is not troth, for it appeareth plain  
How sum were subjects, and sum were sovereign,  
Record I rake in the old testament  
Of Nembroth the great, as king and captain  
That had great people to him obedient.   

Wherefore I silver, as thing expedient  
Was sought out and coined, mankind to succour,  
None Emperor there is, King, Duke, ne Regent  
But I must uphold his dignity and honour:  
Who maintaineth justice but mine excellent power?  
Who ponisheth misdoers that do the poor oppress,  
Who wageth the servant who payeth the souldeour,  
But I puissant ●eny that doth all wrongs redress.   man.. 

NAy leave out rebres, and say that do all wrong,  
For when truth is tried that will be the conclusion.  
Is justice done by money: for shame stop thy tongue,  
Such words to pronounce it a great abusion:  
●ay justice by money is brought to clear confusion.  
But noble wisemen that reason have in store  
With cunning and conscience, and cast for no collusion  
By these is justice exalted evermore.   

But by false mean these deep men in lore,  
Have oft a crossed cloud cast afore their sight,  
That never a true letter written them before  
Can be understand, so stopped is the light:  
The poor man hath his matter made wrong out of the right,  
And thereupon is given false judgement:  
Thus justice by thee reverced lieth upright,  
And law deep in the dyke is driven down and drow.   Money 

AS for an answer, I say unto thee man,  
part of thy words be true, I do consent,  
Saying that the laws be ended now and than  
By great learned men of wise entendment.  
But who so ever before them doth present  
His righteous matter without my help in hand  
His case up so down is cast incontinent,  
The ground thereof they can not understand.   

But he that hath treasure, gold, silver, house and land,  
He shall be obeyed as lord with young and old,  
That man may lead the world well in a band.  
For each man to him giveth, and sayeth, good master hold.  
Who so hath De quibus, hath pleasures manifold,  
Him needeth not to care for children ne for wife,  
For trouble or vexation, for hunger or for cold,  
He taketh no thought, but leadeth a merry life.   man.. 

The more we dispute, the falser do, I find  
Thy words peevish penny, for man without measure  
Hath pain for thy sake, though his desirous mind.  
Both night and day with all his busy cure,  
Over hills and dales (alas poor creature)  
He rideth, he runneth, and over sea he saileth,  
He diggeth, he delveth, and dolour doth endure  
For penny, yet his pain sumtime him nought availeth.   

If man would mark well how penny him prevaileth,  
A mer'uaylous thing it were for to consider.  
To serve his maker both night and day he faileth,  
But mind of money him draweth he careth not whither  
He runneth for money now hither and now thither,  
More dangerous in deed thou art and poisonable  
Than is the venom of serpent, toad, or spider,  
Through mind of money is man made miserable.   Money. 

IF man would be content with suffisance  
Of worldly substance, haviour, and riches  
He should for certain live without grievance,  
Without such travail, pain, and business,  
Happy should he be me penny to possess,  
To live for ever in joy, disport and pleasure.  
And if him list, so govern him doubtless,  
To be without all rancour and displeasure.   

But sith he cannot be content with measure,  
Much travail and pain behoveth it him to take  
Pennies to purchase with rich substance and treasure.  
Quietness and rest for me he doth forsake,  
with travail and pain he is content to wake  
Because he knoweth my puissant excellence  
Me to assemble with means that he can make,  
He doth him endeavour with all his diligence.   man.. 

HE that on money so fixeth his intent  
More wicked he is than ever was judas,  
Leading his life in sorrow and torment,  
And ever a biding a miserable case,  
Of vi●es an heap, he hath both more and lass,  
As covetise and pride, with clasping nygardy,  
Treachery also him shall not overpass,  
Envy nor wrath, nor wretthed usury.   

In him is neither law, prudence, nor policy  
To do a good deed he never can have leisure:  
All grace and goodness have leave to pass by,  
His mind is set holly of riches to have seizure,  
In detestable vites is set his only pleasure,  
And goods for to assemble in great abundance,  
Whereof he hath no mind again to make disseasure,  
But poor men to punish unto the ou●traunce.   Money. 

TO hear thee speak, it seemeth plain in deed  
That man without me with sin is never blended:  
That is not so, now take unto me heed.  
When Satan with subtlety doth man's mind prevent,  
And than of his lightness inclineth his intent  
Aduertence to give unto his false temptation,  
And after doth the deed with foul and vile consent,  
Shall I bear the blame for his abomination?   

Now mark well my saying, after the worlds creation  
First was made Adam, as father of mankind:  
Who fell not long after to prevarication.  
His maker's commandment as creature unkind,  
Right sinfully he transgressed, so pride made him blind:  
Cain after mourdered Abel the mean time was not long.  
That time was I uncoined, therefore man change thy mind  
To blame me of all evils, in deed thou dost great wrong.   Money. 

This is a fair excuse if it might be so taken,  
Yet infinite evils thou causest and offence:  
Gods high commandment for thee is oft forsaken,  
His laws be broken by disobedience.  
Men draw to them Money with all their diligence,  
By barat, by subtlety, by rapine and deceit:  
The poor thou defoulest by force and violence,  
That beg must he needs, thou holdest him so strait.   

Envy thou raisest among them that be great,  
That many Royalmes thereby decay and be destroyed,  
Slain are the Captaynens, and wrath lieth in await  
Till cities and towns are perished and annoyed:  
On misery and mischief thus money is employed,  
For money man applieth him to all abomination.  
Grace and good manners for thee he doth avoid:  
No reason can be laid to this, nor replication.   Money. 

If I lacked reason against thee to reply,  
My matter were like full poorly to be stayed,  
If all these evils and wretched misery  
Might be found in me that thou hast to me laid  
In thee were than the right, it might not be denayed:  
But man of his nature he is so miserable  
with all the worlds wealth he can not be appayed  
His mind evermbreiss so insatiable.   

The devils temptation to him is acceptable  
That Croesus' the king was not so covetous:  
In all his deeds than is he variable,  
A brawler, a baratour, and oft seditious  
And yet worst of all he is so letherous  
That he 〈…〉 consumeth in fowl fornication.  
Beware yet I advise him, for pocks be perilous,  
Lest their uncleanly corrosgues him call to consummation.   man.. 

IF I of my lightness would to thee condescend,  
Thou wouldst blaze thyself as creature good and true.  
Nay glutton, the wind standeth in an other end:  
Thou makest women wanton, and to avoid virtue,  
For thee they sell their bodies, and so they do ensue  
With vicious living their sensual appetite:  
Yet lechery at last their bale sometime doth brew,  
That oft they live in dolour after their foul delight.   

Spouse●reche with sum is counted not a mite,  
So money may be gotten they care not how or what:  
Fyne keverchefes as silk, and smocks as snow so white,  
Hats, kyrtles, gounes & girdles, this get must needs be got  
With brouches, beads, and rings, and who shall pay for that?  
The husbands be so poor, they lack both gold and gauges:  
To ●inde therefore sum friendship where florins be more fat,  
Oft fall they to adultery, and break their marriages.   Money. 

ANd I make answer apertly yet again  
That thy words be neither true nor stable:  
I am in no wise cause▪ I tell it thee for certain  
Though woman by her wit and mind that is mutable  
Do otherwise than right, as frail and variable,  
Two things in women make hourly their invasion,  
Enducinge them ever to work vituperable:  
For of all virtue these two be chief abrasion.   

The first may be called the false persuasion  
Of Sathanas that never ceaseth them to assail:  
The other is ambition, these two be the chief occasion  
That man nor woman in virtue can prevail,  
And women's hearts of nature be so frail,  
Light as the leaf, and moving as the wind,  
Ready to consent to things of none avail,  
That they of afterclaps have no thought nor mind.   man.. 

Full cursed art thou money and much unfortunate,  
And founden waist thou first in evil time and tide,  
The kardes, the dice, and other plays inordinate,  
By thee been up brought, whereby God is renayed,  
And newly with blasphemies and oaths crucified.  
By thee are committed vices out of numbered,  
His poor soul to perish to man thou art a guide,  
And death with evil end at last him doth obumbre.   

Thou teachest him the manner his soul to encumber,  
Whereby he renieth God, and wilfully offendeth,  
For thee by night and day withouten sleep or slumber,  
All vices he advanceth, no virtue he intendeth.  
The poor for all his poverty by thee his portion spendeth,  
The world goeth to wretchedness by thee, and to destruction.  
By thee to fowl enormity all goeth, and there it endeth,  
For to all wretched wickedness thou art induction.   Money. 

THou speakest I perceive without consideration.  
So cruelly to blame me of all enormity:  
Mine arms in deed thou blasest in an homely fashion.  
Mark well my words a while now I pray thee,  
Where seest thou any man that is of gravity  
Blaspheming his God, or swearing by his name?  
Never in thy life, this lesson take of me,  
But riotours and rybaldes that have no dread of shame.   

The wise man that loveth his honour and good fame  
Blaspheming his maker thou shalt him never here,  
In play, disport, and pastime, in gladness and in grame,  
He hath respect to sadness, his reason is so near.  
But baratours and brainless brybours met in fere,  
Their maker they dismember, and on his name they wonder,  
At table, at tavern, at church, and every where:  
Great horror is to hear, how they rend him asunder.   man.. 

THou mightest be a minion to keep good company,  
For tongue thou hast enough thy matter to sustain:  
If I unto thy purpose consent would or apply,  
Thou wouldst say here that jesus our king and sovereign  
Is not by thee offended, yes yes, I tell the plain,  
By night of tunes a million, and much more by the day.  
Who would to thee give credence a fool he were certain,  
For thou art full of fiction, thy words be false alway.   

But answer now my question penny I thee pray,  
That thinkest thee so mighty, so stern, so gay and stout:  
Yield me a solution to this that I shall say,  
Concerning a matter whereof I stand in doubt:  
Thou sayest that by thy mastery thou bringest much about,  
And of thy worthy valour great ●ost dost thou blow:  
What is thy puissant power, I pray thee speak it out?  
For this is all the matter that I would of thee know.   Money. 

WEll do I understand thy purpose and intention,  
And also perceive th'effect of thy demand:  
It is not so hard, nor of so high invention,  
But if thou were in Thames in midwarde of the sand,  
I should full well assail it ere thou mightest come to land▪  
My valour and power thy question is to know,  
It is no little matter thou shalt it understand,  
I am of noble fame, beloved with high and low.   

Upon the church of God great substance I bestow,  
The ministers that sever him be all at my wages:  
The poor have my succour in hunger, frost, and snow,  
I feed both horse and man in holy pilgrimages.  
For fair young lusty maidens I purchase marriages:  
When Churches and chapels be falling in decay,  
I must make reparation: with masters and with pages  
My help must needs be had, or else there is no pay.   man.. 

WIth words thou wouldst sustain that no good deed  
Is done without thee, thine aid, or assistens:  
Which all I deny, and shall it prove for need  
That ever been thy words unworthy of credence:  
Untrue art thou ever, and by thy false pretense,  
Dost teach men the trace of all iniquity.  
Provoking him even to inconueniens,  
And plounging his heart in great perplexity.   

Affirm wouldst thou feign by thy peruersiti●.  
That man cannot be saved from endless pain  
Without thy favour, thine aid and amity,  
Wherein I say no reason doth remain:  
Full many a soul (more pity it is certain)  
Is damned by thee to everlasting fire.  
And many one more in joy should ever reign  
If they should leave thy love in hot desire.   Money. 

Regard man and consider as reason will discern,  
How I as of myself can nothing do ne say:  
In thee lieth all the deed, that hast me to govern,  
Wherefore if thou of thy lightness thee list by night or day  
To lead me that am blind no straight but crooked way,  
The fault if we fall is thine, not mine in deed.  
To order me aright it is no child's play,  
Look therefore ere thou leap, the better shalt thou speed.   

I am the post and pillar unto all Adam's seed,  
The father of the faith sumtime is made by me,  
The Pope I mean, God's vicar, and captain of his creed,  
Great Emperors and Kings I crown in majesty,  
Duke, Marquis, earl, baron, and Lords of each degree.  
rich Cardinals, Archbishops, the bishop and his Dean,  
Abbot, Prior, provest, the bailiff with his fee  
All that have promotion may thank me and my mean.   man.. 

O Money full of vanity, thou makest me all dismayed,  
Considering and knowing thy fraud and faculties,  
Wherewith full near the world is destroyed and decayed:  
Men be I grant full of vice and vanities,  
In towns, in boroughs, in castles and cities:  
But this notwithstanding at last Atropos kerueth  
A sunder their hearts, as she that without pity is,  
So goeth the corpse to earth, the soul as it deserveth.   

By arrogance oultrageous thy tongue on vaunting swerveth,  
Saving that by money be purchased high estates,  
Both Emperor and King at last by death he starveth,  
That availeth it then their florins and ducats?  
Each prince and prelate the dart of death chekmates.  
Record may be taken of Ceasar and Pompeus,  
Of Alexander, of Arthure, and Hector past their dates,  
Of charlemain, gentle joshua, and judas Machabeus.   Money. 

THy wisdom to redress, and spirits to revive,  
And of thy troubled reason to make a reformation,  
Of Adam thy first father somewhat I shall describe.  
Immortal was he made by God at his creation,  
But after that by Sathanas subtle instigation,  
He fed him with the fruit, therewith he did transgression,  
And so became he mortal, for death took domination  
And mortal still continueth of man the hole succession.   

Sith death on father Adam thus took his first possession,  
He proudly executeth his privilege each hour  
On prelate, prince and poor man he useth his oppression,  
Indifferently he dealeth as well with rich as pour,  
As soon the young as old he daily doth devour.  
To caitiffs he is comfort for all disease he cureth.  
Above all kings and Capitanes he is a conqueront,  
His pride shall never perish while the world endureth.   man.. 

O money all thy words I do well understand,  
But nothing to my purpose do I in them espy,  
Thy sayings to deny still will I take in hand,  
And sum what on thy back of charge yet lay shall I.  
I know to thine opinion each person will apply,  
For all men are glad to have thine alliance,  
The poor is deceived, the rich hath gains thereby,  
Men favour thy false figure and have therein affiance.   

The rychman oppresseth the poor by his puissance:  
And when the poor findeth himself at indigence,  
Wrongfully entreated and driven to penance,  
His reason than he leaseth, his wit and intelligence,  
Turmenting himself by great impatience:  
His maker he blasphemeth, all hallows he despyteth.  
And who causeth all this inconvenience,  
But money, that ever to mischyfe men encyteth.   Mony. 

THe rich peradventure oppresseth now and than,  
The poor man in deed: but who is cause of this?  
Covetise and avarice the daughters of Satan,  
Evermore enticing a man to w●cke amiss:  
The Church they despoil, the poor the post may kiss,  
For nothing they leave him, to plain him nought availeth.  
Shall I than bear the blame? no lay it where it is:  
Say the blame on rapine that so unjustly dealeth.   

I know it of troth, when dread man's mind assaileth.  
When he draweth in age to fall in poverty,  
Considering how penny in purse him much prevaileth,  
As neighbour that is necessary in each necessity,  
His favour and affection inclineth much to me,  
And good reason why: for who that may not have  
To help him in his age, in careful case is he,  
An hundred times a day he wisheth for his grave.   man.. 

Enough haste thou pronounced, now shall I thee confound:  
By thee as I have said, was lost the world of gold.  
But no we mark well the words that I shall tell thee round,  
By thee the gentle jesus unto the jews was sold,  
Which after his great pains and passions manifold  
Was stretched on a tree, and naked thereto nailed,  
Best aid he was by judas, for thirty penies told,  
Thy cursed coin with covetise so strongly him assaileth.  
Great cause hath now the S●a●●ot to weep & to bewail it,  
That ever thou wast founden or fro the earth out tried:  
For to have been unborn it had him more availed,  
Than to have ●eought the treason whereby his master died.  
But where is now the traitor, the thief, the homicide▪  
With Satan and his feres in the infernal gleed.  
In perdurable pains behoveth him to abide,  
For love of thee false money lo thus he hath his meed.   Money. 

I See thy heart is great, with words thou wouldest defame me  
Reproaching me that jesus should be by me betrayed:  
With help of cursed Iscariot unjustly dost thou blame me,  
Thou dost mistake the matter, untruly hast thou said,  
Thou layest on me the blame, but hold thee man appayed,  
The troth of the ma●ter I shall to thee express.  
Three causes of his death in deed there may be laid,  
That he was sold by treason as first I will confess.   

The jews were much disdaynous and full of wickedness,  
All soubtilties they searched, they set their false intent  
To death to have him judged they brought their false witness  
Unto their Provost xylate their prince they did present,  
Who to his condemnation did finally consent,  
For dread to be deprived and put out from his office,  
Though sound were none occasion, on Christ he gave sentence  
Great crimes are thus committed by mean of avarice.   man.. 

SO perfitly dispute against thee can not I,  
But thou dost assoil the same incontinent.  
To all my words full well thou dost reply.  
With apprebation right convenient.  
And so I do perceive as by mine own judgement▪  
If man with his money would be so reasonable  
To use it in virtue, and with a good intent,  
The usage thereof should never be damnable.   

But when man of himself is so insatiable  
To covet worldly goods without reason or measure,  
Full wretched is he doubtless, and more than miserable  
Of his abomination it is a great displeasure,  
A man to have money, wealth, and worldly treasure  
In virtue to advance him, and vices to avoid:  
Of his wealth and welfare all other may have pleasure,  
So he him cross from covetise for doubt to be acloyde.   Money. 

THree things there be to man as venom poisonable  
When they be all assembled the man for to assail:  
The first is age the crooked with stooping limbs unstable,  
On man he daily creepeth, no watching may avail:  
And sickness is the second that doth the strength to fail,  
The colour he consumeth, all pleasure he subdueth,  
The third is painful poverty, these three be shrewd cattle.  
When these be met in man their meeting sore he ruth.   

I say for my conclusion, all solace him ensueth  
That hath of pence plenty to take when time requireth,  
He may live out of danger, for ever his joy reneweth,  
But poor men that be penyles melancholy them fireth,  
The poor oppressed with poverty full of this death desireth,  
So dulleth him his dolour, of God taketh he no heed,  
That after all his misery he wretchedly expireth  
To steal, to beg or borrow, man is compelled for need.   man.. 

Worldly goods by suffisance to man is necessary,  
To take them at his need and serve him in goodness,  
But yet he must regard, for dread his wealth miscarry,  
That all his goods be got by way of righteousness.  
Let God always be served before all business,  
In gathering of his goods man may not use deceit,  
Goods kept against all right, fie fie on such riches,  
The poor must be relieved with clothing, drink and meat.   

Pride may not be exalted because the goods be great,  
In sumptousnes of clothing let measure be a mean,  
Let reason shape the fashion, not over large ne straight,  
All prodigal expenses is wisdom to refrain.  
For he that is excessive a caitiff shall remain.  
When Right hath gathered riches, let Reason than expend it  
In virtue, to the honour of God our sovereign,  
So order we our money that God be not offended.   
Finis.   

The Author.  

Regard well all my Lords that shall this treatise read  
Of man and his money, this is the disputation,  
Great reason make they both, who to the same taketh heed,  
Ever him boasteth money as high in reputation,  
Recording up his valour, but man mak●● de●ega●ion.  
Unto all men my reason I say as I have thought,  
Solas is most in season when silver is unsought.   

By penny to preferment many a man is brought  
In borough, town and city, all men of each estate  
Enforce themself to please him, the poor is set at nought,  
Secure he seeketh, but silver and he be at debate.  
Therefore to make conclusion I say now at my gate,  
Of great good deeds my Money full many be done doubtless,  
Nevertheless yet is it cause of many a wickedness.  
Explicit nomen authoris.   

Good Counsel  
GEt thy goods truly, Spend them precisely.  
Set thy goods duly, Lend thou them wisely.  
True getting, Cise spending,  
Due setting, Wise lending,  
Have ●e little or much, Keepeth a man full rutche  
Until his ending.   
Finis.