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But they say, that yc purchase the Devil, his dam and all.
XV. Usurers.

A certain man had lands, little though it were,

And yet wold faine have lived lyke a gentlemans peer.

Of thys land he made sale, and toke ready gold ;

And let that for double rent of the land that was sold.

Then came there a broker, and sayd, if he would do

As he would advise hym, he should make of one peny two.

Mary, that would I fain do, quod thys usurer than,

I pray thee teach me the feat, if thou can.

You shal, sayd thys broker, lend but for a months day ;

And be sure of a sufficient gage alway.

With a playn bil of sale, if the day be not kept,

And se that ye do no causes accept.

Than must you be sure, that your interest be

One peny for a shilling, and three pence for three.

So by the yeres end twelve months geve twelve pence

For the use of a shillyng, lo! I have told you al sencc.

OF ORIGINALS.

Than sayd thys usurer, this matter goeth wel,

For my twenty pound land, that I chanced to sel,

I shal have four hundred pound rent by the yere,

To lyve lyke a lord, and make joly chere.

PP. 139
The form of the commission ly the King to his Council, in

his minority.
EDWARD the Sixth, &c. Wheras the late King, our Titus, B.2.

most gracious lord and loving father, King Henry VIII.

of most worthy memory, perceiving in himself to draw to-

wards the end of this vain and transitory life, made his will

and testament in such maner and form, as appeareth en-

rolled in our high Court of Chancery for matter of record ;

and considering at the making of the said last will and tes-

tament, that the crown imperial, and kingly regiment of so

great and many realms, dominions, and subjects, descend-

ing unto us by right, title, and succession after his decease ;

we, for lack of knowledg and experience, which our young

and few years at that time could not so soon have conceived

and gotten, should not of our selves be so wel able to ad-

minister, direct, and rule the affairs of our said realms, do-

minions, and subjects, as both to our own honour and surety,

and also to the benefit and preservation of our own good

subjects should appertain ; did therfore, like a most prudent

Prince, and a very kind and natural loving father, choose,

elect, name, and ordain to be our executors and counsillors

of Privy Council about us, such personages, as of whose

faithfulnes, wisdoms, and diligences he had received, by a

long time, good proofs and great experience ; that is to say,

A. B. &c. praying, willing, and commanding them in as

earnest maner, and with as great charge as he could devise,

to take upon them the offices of his executors and our coun-

sillors of Privy Council : giving to them such authority and

commission for the counsailing of us, and the government

of our person, and the mayning and directing of our affairs.

474 A REPOSITORY

both private and public, as in his said last wil and testa-

ment doth appear: also charging and commanding us, so

far forth as a father might charge and command his son, to

be ordered and ruled by the advice and counsil of his said

executors and counsillors.
And wheras also upon a special trust and confidence,

which our said father had in A. B. &c. he appointed them

in his said last will and testament to be of counsil, for the

aiding and assisting of tlie forenamed counsillors and exe-

cutors, when they or any of them should be called by his

said executors, or the more part of the same : like as first,

we must and do, among many other benefits given unto us

of God, knowledg his gift unto us of so prudent, careful,

loving, kind, and wise a father, to be one of the greatest

gifts and benefits unto us, and therafter render unto his

divine Majesty our most humble, lowly, and most hearty

thanks ; so finding already, and knowing certainly how nc-

cessar}'^, profitable, and honorable the making, appointing,

and mayning by the said late King our father of his fore-

named executors and counsillors for assistance, and also

140th'ordre, charge, commission, and authority given to them

by him ; and his charge also to us to be advised and coun-

silled by them ; hath been and is to us, our realms, domi-

nions, and subjects.
We do, of our certain knowledg and mere motion, ap-

prove, confirm, ratify, and take in most gracious, firm,

stable, and thankful part, al and every deed and deeds, act

and acts, thing and things, of Avhat nature, condition, or

quality they, or any of them have been or be; which the

foresaid executors and counsillors of Privy Council, or the

most part of them assembled in Council, or the forenamed

executors and counsillors of Privy Council, and counsillors

for assistance, or the most part of them assembled in Coun-

cil, have treated, concluded, commanded, ordered, ap-

pointed, directed, advised, counsilled, A^Titten, said, or don,

at any time or time, or in any maner, wise, or by any nianer

mean, sithence the decease of the said late King our father,

in, for, or concerning the government of our person, or the

OF ORIGINALS. 475

order, rule, government, direction, or mayning in any

manerwise, with, of, or in our affairs, private or public, in-

ward or outward, of our realms, dominions, or subjects, or

any of them.

And forasmuch as having but now lately accomplished

the age of twelve years, we do nevertheles, thanks be to

God, wel perceive and understand, how much unable yet

for a time we are, for want of perfect knowledg and experi-

ence, to take unto our own mayning and direction, our af-

fairs, either public or private, such are the great numbers

and variety of the same, occurring daily as wel at home in

our dominions, as with foreign parts. And considering also

how convenient, needful, profitable, and honorable it is, for

every prince, of what estate or age soever he be, to elect

and have about him grave and wise counsillors, and to fol-

low their advice and counsil in al his doings and proced-

ings; we therfore, of our certain knowledg, mere motion,

and very just consideration, and for the good proof which

we have always had of A. B. &c. whom the said late King,

our said father, did name and order to be his executors

and counsillours to us of our Privy Council ; and of the

said A. B. &c. whom our said father did appoint to be

counsillors for assistance ; do desire and pray, and never-

theles wil and command them to execute, use, exercise, and

take upon them the offices and places of counsillors of our

Privy Council, and counsillors for assistance, in such maner

and form as our said father by his last wil and testament

hath named and appointed them and every of them, for

and concerning their advice for our mariage ; for and con-

cerning the government of our person, the ordering the af-

fairs of the realm, both outward and inward, and also our

own private affairs : so to continue in the said rooms and

places during our plesure, the same our plesure to be de-

clared to them, or any such of them whom we shal upon

occasion fortune liereafter to discharge from any the said

rooms or places, by our letters patents signed with our own

hand, and sealed with the great seal of England.

476 A REPOSITORY

And for because the variety and number of things, af-

fairs, and matters, are and may be such, as we, not know-

ing now beforehand the names, natures, quahtics, or cer-

tainties of them, cannot conveniently prescribe or set forth

141 any certain instructions, rules, or orders, unto our said

counsillors, for their behaviour and procedings in this

charge, which we have and do now appoint unto them dur-

ring our plesure, as aforesaid ; we therfore, for the special

trust and confidence which we have in them, do give and

grant ful power and authority to them, or to the most part

of them, assembled together in Councel, and in the absence

of any of them, to the most part of them which shal be pre-

sent and assembled together in Council ; to make, devise,

and ordain, what thing or things soever they, or the more part

of them, as aforesaid, shal from time to time, and at al times

during the time they be our counsillors, think necessary, meet,

or convenient, for the benefit, honor, surety, weal public,

or commoditie of us, our realms, dominions, or subjects, or

any of them : and the same thing or things so made or or-

dained by them, or the more part of them, as aforesaid, to

do, execute, accomplish, and set forth for us, and in our

name, or cause to be don, executed, accomplished, and set

forth for us, and in our name, by their discretions, or the

discretions of the more part of them, as aforesaid, in as large

and ample maner, as if we had or did expres unto them in

special words, articles, or matters, or by more special com-

mission, the self same maner of doing or proceding, which

they, or the more part of them, as aforesaid, shal think meet

from time to time to use or follow, or the self same particu-

lar matter or matters, cause or causes, that may chaunce or

occur, the time they be our counsillors, as aforesaid, willing

and commanding, &c.

OF ORIGINALS. 477

QQ.
Certain orders set forth by the justices qfCornxcal,for the

accomplishment of the King's commandment^ by his Higli-

nesss letters to them directed; for the speedy reformation

of the unreasonable prices of victuals in markets, and for

the punishment of the causers of the same.
Cornwal.

FIRST, That the said justices within their circuits and Titus, B. 2.

hmits to them appointed, do treat with the best and most

honest personages of any market-towns within their said h-

mits ; and to know of them the names of those which were

wont to serve the markets, and such as now be hable to

serve the same markets, of grain ; which of butter and

cheese ; which of flesh ; and whether they, or any of them,

have withdrawn, or not.
Item., After that taken and entred in a book, then to

know of them what the names of those were that have sold

the same at excessive prices, sithence the late command-

ment.
Item., That every justice in their limits do send for the said 142

sellers, and to take their answers, and the proofs of the said

town-dwellers. And if it shal then appear they have of-

fended, then to give them day under sureties to appear be-

fore them to receive their deserts.

Item, If they accuse others that make sale of the same to

them at excessive prices, that then those be sent for, and

put under like sureties.
Item., The grain of every the parishes to be surveyed by

the said justices, and likewise the of the same ; to

be likewise entred in a book, who occupieth the same, and

with what stuff, and what prices the same have been sold ;

whether they were fat or lean ; and to whom.
Item., That victuallers be appointed to serve in the said

market-towns, such as dwel nigh or in the said towns, and

be no graziers ; and they to fetch cattel for the same mar-

kets with the said graziers, by the precept of the said jus-

tices, oi- any of them, directed to the constable of his parish

478 ' A REPOSITORY

there : and such constable is for their warrant to deliver the

same to his said victualler, paying for the same at the Kings

Majesties price.
Item, Likewise that grain be appointed to serve the said

markets by the said surveyors at reasonable prices, by them

to be appointed, after the quantity by those persons there,

as it shal appear it is by their survey.

Item, Likewise of butter and cheese, that they that were

accustomed to serve the markets with butter and cheese, and

other victuals, do serve the same, if they have wherewith,

at the Kings price.

Item, That the butcher, having beefs, muttons, and al

other victuals at his graziers hands, at the Kings price, shal

be compelled to sel the same to the Kings people according

to that rate, by the orders of the mayors and chief officers

of the market-town, at the commandment of the justices.
Item, That if any ambiguity rise betwixt the butcher and

the grazier in making the price, having regard to the large-

ness of the beast, that the same be appealed, and adjudged

by the justice of peace next adjoyning.

Item, That every victualler bring the hide of every the

beasts that shal be killed weekly to the markets, and there

make sale of them in open market, at such prices as the jus-

tices of peax shal appoint.

Item^ That henceforth no fisher make sale of any kind of

fish upon the sea, nor elsewhere, but upon the strand ; and

that the same remain upon the strand during one whole

hour, to be sold to al comers of the country, at such prices

as one of the said fishers and one of the landmen will ap-

point. And in case none of the country be there to buy

the said fish, or any part therof, by the space of one hour,

that then the said fishers shal be at liberty to sel the same

to any jowtar, or other, to their most advantage, as they

and the buyers may agree.

Item, When the fisher or jowtar bring any fish to the

market, that then they sel the same at reasonable prices, or

els at such prices as the mayors and chief officers of the

same town shal appoint.

OF ORIGINALS.

4T9

A Table mahmg mention of certain prices made hy the King's 1 43

Majesty's justices, of all hinds of corn, and sundry other

M.

necessaries.
Cornwall.
A bushel of wheat.

At Stretton, -k

Launceston, >- 3*. 4£?,
Saltashe. J
Lyskerde, | ^
Lowe. J
Bodmyn,
Lostuthyel,
Tregony,
Trerewe,
St. Columbe,
Penryn,
Padstow.
Helston, ] />
Redruythe. j

r Memorand.

< This is 12 gallons

C to the bushel.

(16 gallons to the

\ bushel.

5s. 8d. ^

18 gallons to the

bushel.

This is a greater

measure still.

y ^od.

A bushel of barley

At Bodmyn,

Lostuthiel,

Tregonye,

Trerewe,

St. Columbe.

Penryn,

Padstow.

Helston,

Redruythe.

Launceston,

Saltashe,

Leskyrd,

Low. ^
Strotton, - IM

5*. [It should be 15d.]

I6d.

480

A REPOSITORY

A bushel of oats.

At Bodmyn, "I
Pad stow, r oqj^
Lostuthiel. '
Leskyrd, I
Low, I I8i/.
Saltash, I
Launceston. J
Wi7ie.

A gallon of the best Gascoin,

Memorandum.

The measure of oats

is great, and not at

one size, but in some

places more than in

some.
£. s. d.

. 6

Linmn cloth.

A yard of dowlas,

lockeram,

9

7

Hides untanned.

The hide of every cow,

ox,
stere,

heiffer,

4?. M. or 3 4

- - 6 8
4.S. 4tZ. or 3 4
3*. M. or 2 8

Shop leather well tanned.

A dyck of leather, viz. two hides at the least, 3

A foot of clowte leather, _ - -

Shoes.
A pair of mans shoes,

A pair of womans shoes,

A pair of boots, the best,

3

lOorlM
6 or ^d.
3s. 4^d.

And if any person be disobedient to any of the orders

before mentioned, that the same be brought to the next jus-

tice of the peace, by him to be committed to ward, or else

to be bound, at the discretion of the said justice, to appear

before the justices of oyer and terminer; there to receive

worthy punishment for their offences.

OF ORIGINALS. 481

Then Jhllows a table, making- mention of the prices of

sundry kinds of victuals, taxed and appointed hy the

King's Majesty'' s proclamation: which is exemplified

in thejoregoing history.

For the overselling. The forfeiture for every of the

greater beasts, as of oxen, and such like, 5Z. apiece ; and of

the sheep 10*. apiece.

BOOK II. 144

A.
Scory, bishop of Rochester, unto the King''s most excellent

Majesty : putting him in mind of certain suits made to

him in his sermon before him last Lent.
I GIVE most humble thanks to God and to your Ma- MSS. Guii.

jesty, that it hath pleased you to judge me faithful in put- Jjg, '

ting me in the ministry. And although your Majesty hath

a number of faithful subjects, that could accomplish this of-

fice better than I, yet I wil through Gods grace, and ac-

cording to my hability, wholly endeavour my self to serve

God and your Majesty in my ministry, both faithfully and

diligently.

And now I most humbly beseech your Majesty, to re-

member and consider, among other, two of the essential

suits that I made the last Lent in my sermons unto your

Majesty. The first was for the restitution of the ecclesias-

tical discipline, wherby virtue may have again her old and

just estimation, and vice put to shame and confusion. The

second was to banish greedy avarice : the which hath, by

inclosures and converting tillage into sheep-pastures, con-

trary to the wholsome laws of this your noble realm, de-

cayed your villages, townes, and cities, brought in an into-

lerable scarcity and dearth of al things that your faithful

subjects should hve by, diminished the number of your

people in the country, and therby feebled and weakened
VOL. II. PART II. I i

482 A REPOSITORY

your mighty power and strength, that your noble progeni-

tors had, and your Majesty sliould and might have against

the enemy : and finally, if speedy remedy be not provided

by your noble Majesty and prudent counsillors, it wil

bring your honorable state, and this your realm, in time

past most worthy, unto utter ruine and desolation : the

which God, for the mercies of his Son Jesus Christ, save

your Majesty and your noble realm from. Oh ! what a la-

mentable thing is it to consider, that there are not at this

day ten plows, wheras were wont to be forty or fifty.

Wheras your Majesties progenitors had an hundred men to

serve them with reverend obedience in the time of peace

and in the time of wars, with their strength, policy, goods,

and bodies, your Majesty have now scant half so many.

And yet a great number of them are so pined and famished

by the reason of the great scarcity and dearth of al kind of

victuals, that the great sheep-masters have brought into this

noble realm, that they are become more like the slavery and

paisantry of France, than the antient and godly yeomandry

of England. Oh ! what a lamentable thing is it to behold

145 that ground, which at this time of the year, through mens

diligent labour and Gods blessing, was wont to be richly

adorned with corn, to be now, through Gods curse, that is

fallen upon us for our idlenes and greedy avarice, reple-

nished with mayweed, thistles, docks, and such like unpro-

fitable weeds. The ground, without controversy, would be

as fruitful as it hath been in times past, if it were, accord-

ing to Gods ordinance, and the wholsome laws of this realm,

laboriously drest and tilled, as it was wont to be. But to

trust to have as much upon one acre as was wont to grow

upon three, (for I think that the tillage is not now above

that rate, if it be so much,) is but a vain expectation, and a

wicked tempting of God ; seeing that now, God sending us

seasonable seasons, we are compelled, as the experience of

this year have declared, to seek relief of our scarcity and

deartli of corn at the hands of strangers : which was wont,

having such seasonable times, to relieve them with al kinds

of grains : what should we be compelled to do, if God should

OF ORIGINALS. 483

send us but one year unseasonable weathers ? If we have

scarcity and dearth by the reason the ground is untitled

and unsown, when God sendeth us rain and seasonable

times, in what misery and calamity shal we be, when he shal

send us the contrary ?
Wlierfore, most noble King, and my most dread sove-

raign Lord, consider and ponder wel this matter. And so

I beseech God, for Jesus Christ, to preserve your royal Ma-

jesty, with your honorable Council and your whole realm.

Your Majesties most humble subject,
John Scorey, bp. of Roch.

B.
Polydore Vergil to Secretary Cecyl, for his warrant to re-

ceive the Kings gift.
OPTIME Cecilh, S. Initium jungendge amicitiae tecum MSS, Cecil,

occasio haec facit. Heri enim adivi ad illustrem Northum-

briae Ducem, mei negotii causa, qui statim petiit, an accepis-

sem schedulam a concilio regio subscriptam de dono Ma-

jestatis regiae dato. Respondi intellexisse me a Dno. pri-

vati sigilli Custode eam esse signatam. Tum ille inquit,

Mane domi, ipse namque ad te illam mox mittendam cu-

raho, si nan potueris commodo ttio ante habere. At ego ne

immodestus viderer, hodie bene mane me ad regiam con-

tuli ; quia etsi heri te convenire studui, uspiam tamen non

potui ; sed accidit, ut tu paulo ante de cubiculo tuo exive-

ris. Quare nunc mitto ad te famulum nieum Polydorum

Rosse cum his Uteris meis ; cui rogo, velis eam ipsam sche-

dulam ad me dare, quo possim tempore suo rem meam per-

agere. Siquid vero tibi tuisque ministris inde debeatur,

illud libenter persolvam. Vale, et me ama. Ex aedibus nos-

tris X Novemb. 1551.
Tuus Polydorus Vergilius,

Manu mea.

li 2

484 A REPOSITORY
146 C.
Thomas Gresham to the Duke of Northurriberland^ Jrom

Antioerp ; concerning the King's debts.

To the Duke of No^-thumherland's Grace.

Cott. Libr. IT may please your Grace to be advertised, that as the