WALTER

I, trust you to that, & you may hap die a beggar: True, and yet 'tis good for a man to trust to himself now and then: for if you be down, and bid God help you up, and do not help your self, you may fortune lie and perish: and therefore, serve God on Sundays, as you are appointed, and thereby hope to be saved, for by your alms deeds you cannot, for if you give to the poor, there be many will say, he thinks to be saved by his alms deeds: and thus you shall be ill thought on for your good will, and therefore learn to provide for your self, let God provide for the poor True sir, but then was corn sold for four shillings a but shell, and now 'tis sold for two. Oh sir, I pray let me alone with my conscience, You would have me give all I have away to the poor, & want as you do, I pray let me alone to deal for my self: hear you, have you rested them? Then to prison with them, till they have paid such dam mages as the law shall award them. Well, to prison with the ̄ till they have paid your endue, away with them. y the Mass the knave hath a pretty cottage, I'll see and I can get that: sirrah, you have and old cottage, If you will make me that over by deed of gift, I am content to draw my Actium. Marry, for forty shillings, and yet I befriend them, Why sir, I hope you will not pay it for hem? Marry sir, I am a poor Farmer, & yet I can afford To lend the King a hundred or two of pounds, And hear you sir, if you prefer a suit I have to the King, I will give you forty Angels for your pains: Beside, I will give you the keeping of a dozen jades: And now and then meat for you and your horse. If you come to my house and lie a whole year. Nothing but procure me the Kings letter to convey corn beyond seas, for in England it is so good cheap, that a man can make no living by selling thereof: therefore if the King will grant me his letter, I will at any time, lend him five or six hundred and perhaps never ask it again, and I will not forget your pains. Well sir, will it please you to come and dine with me. But whats he there in your company. Oh let him go where he will, for he shall not dine with me. Truly honest fellow, if I were certain of my cheer, I would bid thee to dinner, but know not my provisio ̄ I promise thee Then father, hark how I have profited, Walter your son that keeps the country, I have raised the markets, and oppressed the poor, And made a thousand go from door to door: And why did I (think you) use this extremity, Because I would have corn y ough to feed the enemy, Father, you know we have but a while to live, Then while we live, let each man shift for one: For he that can not make shift in the world, They say he's unworthy to live in it. And he that lives must still increase his store, For he that hath most wealth of all more. Truly sir, I am sorry, you ar fallen into decay, In that you want to maintain household charge, And whereof comes this want, I will tell you sir, 'Tis only throw your great housekeeping: Be ruled by me, and do as I advise you: You must learn to leave so great a tram e of men, And keep no more than needs of force you must, And those you keep, let them be simple men, For they will be content with simple fare, Keep but a boy or two within your house, To run of errants, and to wait on you, And for your kitchen, keep a woman cook, One that will serve for thirty shillings a year: And by that means you save two liveries, And if you will keep retainers towards you, Let them be Farmers, or rich husbandmen, For you shall find great profit (sir) in keeping them: For if you stand in needs of corn or hay, Send but to them, and you may have it strait: And if you kill a Beef, let it be so lean The Butcher nor the Grasyer will not buy it, Your drink is too strong, and tastes too much of malt, Tush, single beer is better far, both for your profit, and your sir vaunts health And at a Christmas time feast none at all, But such as yield you some commodity: I mean such as will send you now and then, Fat Geese and Capons to keep house withal, To these and none else would I have you liberal.