The time was when Adam digged and delved▪ when David kept Sheep, and all the house of Jacob were called ⟨image 4⟩men occupied about Cattle: but as they for this were abominable to the Egyptians (as Moses saith in the same verse) so they which do like them, are abhorred of their brethren: and they which live by them, scorn them for their work, which would be chastened them selves, because they work not: There was no art nor science which was so much set by in former times, & is now profitable to the Commonwealth, bringing less profit unto it self, that may so justly complain of her fall without cause, and her despite from them which live by her, as this painful science of husbandry: that it is marvel that any man will take pain for the rest to be contemned for his labour, and be a scorn for the rest, which might hunger and starve, if he did not labour for them more then they do them selves. No marvel then though many in the poor Countries, murmur and complain that other cannot live by them, and they cannot live themselves: but it ⟨image 4⟩is marvel if their complaint do not grow in time to rebellion, and pull other as low as them selves: for why should the greatest pain yield the least profit? yet this is their case, for if you mark, you shall see that the husband man doth bate the prise of his fruits so soon as the dearth is past, though he raiseth it a little while the dearth lasteth: but they which raise the price of their wares with him, seldom fall again, but make men pay as deer when the dearth is past, as if it were a dearth still. Thus a plentiful year doth damage him, and a hard year doth vantage them. So this painful man, is fain to live poorly, fare meanly, go barely, house homely, rise early, labour daily, sell cheap and buy deer, that I may truly say, that no man deserveth his living better, no man fulfilleth the law nearer: that is, thou shalt get thy living in the sweat of thy brows: Then this poor son of Adam, which picks his crumbs out of the earth, therefore ⟨image 5⟩he should not be mocked for his labour, which hath vexation mough though all men spake well of him, and in my opinion, if any deserve to be loved for his innocency, or for his trueth, or his pain, or the good which he brings to the Common wealth:
The time was when Adam digged and delued▪ when Dauid kept Sheep, and all the house of Jacob were called ⟨image 4⟩men occupied aboute Cattell: but as they for this were abhominable to the Egiptians (as Moses saith in the same verse) so they which doo like them, are abhorred of their bretheren: and they which liue by them, scorne them for their work, which would be chastned them selues, because they worke not: There was no arte nor science which was so much set by in former times, & is now profitable to the Cōmonwelth, bringing lesse profite vnto it selfe, that may so iustly complain of her fall without cause, and her despite from them which liue by her, as this painefull science of husbandry: that it is maruell that any man wil take paine for the rest to be contemned for his labor, and be a scorne for the rest, which might hunger and starue, if he did not labor for them more then they do them selues. No maruell then though many in the poore Countries, murmure and complaine that other cannot liue by them, and they cannot liue themselues: but it ⟨image 4⟩is maruell if their complainte do not growe in time to rebellion, and pull other as lowe as them selues: for why should the greatest paine yeelde the least profite? yet this is their case, for if you marke, you shall see that the husband man dooth bate the prise of his fruites so soone as the dearth is past, though he raiseth it a little while the dearth lasteth: but they which raise the price of their wares with him, seldome fall againe, but make men paye as deere when the dearth is past, as if it were a dearth still. Thus a plentifull yeer doth damage him, and a hard yeer doth vantage them. So this painefull man, is faine to liue poorely, fare meanely, goe barely, house homely, rise early, labour dayly, sell cheape and buye deere, that I may truely say, that no man deserueth his liuing better, no man fulfilleth the law neerer: that is, thou shalt get thy liuing in the sweat of thy browes: Then this poore sonne of Adam, which picks his crummes out of the earth, therefore ⟨image 5⟩he should not be mocked for his labor, which hath vexation mough though all men spake well of him, and in my opinion, if anye deserue to be loued for his innocencie, or for his trueth, or his paine, or the good which he bringes to the Common wealth:
