Christo. Ryche men were never so much estranged from all pity and compassion toward the poor people, as they be at this present time, they devour 1the people as it were a morsel of bread.
If any piece of ground delight their eye, they must needs have it other by hook or by crook.
⟨image 45⟩If the pore man will not satisfy 2their covetous desire, he is sure to be molested, troubled, and disquieted on such sort, that whether he will, or will not (though both he, his careful wife, and miserable children with his whole family should perish for hunger) he shall forgo it, or else it were as good for him to live among the furies of Hell, as to dwell by those rich carls & covetous churls. There is no end of enlarging their grounds, neither are they led with any fear of Gods indignation, 3expressed by the Prophet saying. Woe and everlasting damnation be unto them that join house to house, and couple land to land, so nigh together, that the pore can get no more ground. Shall ye alone dwell in the middest of the earth? These things are in ⟨image 45⟩mine ears, sayeth the Lord of hosts. Surely sayeth he, many great and fair houses shall be made so desert and wast, that no man shall dwell in them. Hereto agreeth the saying of an other Prophet. Woe and everlasting 4damnation be unto him, that heapeth up other mens goods.
Howe long will he lade him self with thick clay unto his own damnation? O how suddenly will they stand up that shall byte thee, and awake, that shall tear the in peaces? Yea thou shalt surely be their pray, Seeing thou haste spoiled many people, therefore shall they that remain spoil thee, because of mens blood and for the wrong done in the land, in the city, and unto all them that dwell therein Woe and everlasting damnation be unto him that covetously ⟨image 46⟩gathereth evil gotten goods into his house, that he may set his nest on hie to escape the power of misfortune thou hast devised the shame of thine own house, for thou hast slain to much people & hast wilfully offended, so that the very stones of the wall shall cry out of it, and the timbre that lieth betwixt the joints of the building shall answer. & ce.
Christo. Ryche men were neuer so muche estraunged frome all pytye and compassion towarde the poore people, as they be at thys presente tyme, they deuour 1the people as it were a morcell of breade.
If anye pece of grounde delite theyr eye, they must nedes haue it other by hoke or by croke.
⟨image 45⟩If the pore man wyll not satisfy 2theyr couetouse desyre, he is sure to be molested, troubled, and disquieted on such sorte, that whether he wyll, or wyl not (though boeth he, hys carefull wyfe, and miserable chyldrene wyth hys whole familie should perysh for honger) he shal forgo it, or els it were as good for hym to lyue amonge the furies of Hell, as to dwell by those ryche carles & couetouse churles. Ther is no end of enlargynge theyr groundes, neyther are they ledde wyth any feare of Gods indignation, 3exprest by the Prophet sayinge. Wo and euerlastyng damnatiō be vnto theym that ioyne house to house, and couple land to lād, so nyghe togither, that the pore can get no more grounde. Shal ye alone dwell in the myddest of the earth? These thynges are in ⟨image 45⟩myne eares, sayeth the Lorde of hostes. Surely sayeth he, many greate and fayre houses shall be made so desert and wast, that no man shall dwell in them. Hereto agreeth the sayinge of an other Prophet. Wo and euerlastynge 4dānation be vnto him, that heapeth vp other mennes goodes.
Howe longe wyll he lade hym selfe wyth thycke claye vnto his owne damnation? O howe sodaynly wyll they stande vp that shall byte the, and awake, that shal teare the in peaces? Yea yu shalt suerlie be theyr praye, Seynge thou haste spoyled manye people, therfore shal they that re mayne spoyle the, bicause of mē nes bloude and for the wronge done in the land, in the citie, and vnto all them that dwell therein Wo and euerlastinge damnation be vnto hym that couetously ⟨image 46⟩gathereth euil goten goodes into hys house, that he may set his neste on hie to escape ye power of misfortune thou hast deuised the shame of thine own house, for yu hast slaine to much people & hast wilfulli offended, so that the very stones of the wall shal cry out of it, and the tymbre that lyeth betwixte the ioyntes of the buildynge shall answere. & ce.
- 1Psal. xiiii▪
- 2The unmercifulness of rich men.The vnmercifulnes of rych men.
- 3Isaiah. vEsai. v
- 4[…]. ii.〈…〉. ii.
