ABUNDANCE

Joy and solace be in this hall Is there no man here that knoweth me at all I am beloved both with great and small Abundance is my name I have all things as me list Meat drink, and cloth of the best Gold and silver, full is every chest In faith I will not lain I think you know not my ways How I get goods now a days By a proper mean Think you that I would Lend either silver or gold That day shall not be seen But I will lend them beware That shall be both bad and deer Not worth the money he shall pay And if he can no suerte get Of my beware he gets right nought Without a good pledge he say Then will I for mine avail He shall make a bill of sail To me full bought, and sold if the day be exspyred and past Then will I hold it fast He shall not have it though he would this craft I have long used And some men do not yet refuse it this is openly known What is he in all this town that will lend without singular commodst Should I tend without a profit Nay than I hold nought worth my wit. Conscience quod a, nay then shall we never thrive For I know him not alive By conscience that comes to substance I have all manner of marchaundy I fell for long days to them that are needy And for the payment I have good surety Bound in statute marchaunce Because I may forbear I fell my beware so deer I make forty of twenty in half a year Other men do so as well as I. They seek to me both far and near Me think it is a good deed To help a man at his need Yet I have other means Whereby to get great gains I think you know not that Wherefore this is no sin that is plain buying and selling Lawful it is for a man to win Else rich shall he never be. Nay sir, amiss you do understand me All those that occupy false usury And transgresseth the laws of God by iniquity All such are accursed I you told As for buying and selling, needs must be And God commanded to lend to the ̄ that are needy So it be not to their injury For luker to Them sold. How should I fell, show me your ways It is used in our Country God forfend that should be How shall men do that be of great reputation Which keep their goods on this same fashion By usury, dysceyte and by extortion I do so my self, wherefore should I lie It is so now, what remedy What call you restytucion? Men of substance ar a shamed to fallen yet ever with thy strongest part renneth the ball Then let him stand without When thou seest my soul torn set on a clout if falsehood, usury, and extortion should not rout Thousands in this realm should be put out The third part should not bide by Saint Paul yet thus I will my life lede For of your saying I take no heed you will mucker up both gold and treasure you have riches without measure And of the flesh you have your pleasure you can find no ways to am ̄ worser your self I you insure Therefore rebuke not me for my sin ne good God be with you, you shall not rule me What man is he that can me dysmay For I obtain all thing at my will Or dare any thing against me say what soever I do be it good or ill For if he do he were better be Still I shall him punish be it right or wrong For with in my purse, I can both save and hang To repunge against me he were better be Still I have a proper trull for my pastaunce In my chamber I her keep, both night and day My Neighbours therewith, takes great grievance yet I keep her Still whosoever say nay How be it there is one a poor caytyfe I hear say Hath me accused in the court spiritual And it cost me a .C.li. punish him I shall what knave art thou w to a very mischau ̄ ce That comes in so homely. what wretches doth so say by me what is the best for me to do Rather than I to the court will go I had ever spend twenty pound Now thereof heartily I the pray No you are but and ydyote I sold a man as much beware, as came to .xl. pondue And in and oblygacion, I had him bound To pay me at a certain day And when the bargain was made plain Mine own servant, bought the same beware again For the third penny it cost, you wot what I mean But was not this a wise way? Then I shall show you what I shall do I will put it in my Testament That mine executors shall pay and content For wile I live I will not have my good spent For if I do I am but spylte Sir you preach very holily, but your deeds be oft ̄ continued ̄ trary you be so acquainted with covetous and simony That makes us to take the same way For thy counsel gramercy: hold here is .xl pence.