The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Doubtless good and godly men weighing the great and manifold harm that come by idleness to a common weal, have from time to time provided with all diligence, that sharp and severe laws might be made, for the correction and amendment of this evil. The Egyptians had a law, ¹that every man should weekly bring his name to the chief rulers of the province, & there withal declare what trade of life he occupied, to the intent that idleness might be worthily punished, and diligent labour duly rewarded. The Athenians did chastise sluggish and slothful people, no less then they did heinous & grievous offenders, considering (as the trueth is) that idleness causeth much mischief. The Areopagites called every man to a straight account how he lived. And if they found any loiterers that did not profit the common weal by one means or other, they were driven out and banished as ⟨p. 504⟩unprofitable members, that did only hurt and corrupt the body. And in this Realm of England, good and godly laws have ben divers times made, that no idle vagabonds and loitering runagates, should be suffered to go from town to town, from place to place, without punishment, which neither serve God nor their prince, but devour the sweet fruits of other mens labour, being common liars, drunkards, swearers, thieves, whoremasters, and murderers, refusing all honest labour, and give them selves to nothing else, but to invent and do mischief, whereof they are more desirous and greedy, then is any Lion of his pray. To remedy this inconveniency, let all parents & others, which have the care and governance of youth, so bring them up either in good learning, labour, or some honest occupation or trade, whereby they may be able in time to come, not only to sustain them selves competently, but also to relieve and supply the necessity and want of others. And saint Paul saith: Let him that hath stolen, steal no more, and he that hath deceived others ²or used unlawful ways to get his living, leave of the same, & labour rather, working with his hands that thing which is good, that he may have that which is necessary for him self, and also be able to give unto others that stand in need of his help. The prophet David thinketh ³him happy that liveth upon his labour, saying, When thou eatest the labours of thine hands, happy art thou, and well is thee.