The time was when Adam digged and delved, when David kept sheep, and all the house of Jacob were called 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: & they which live by them, scorn them for their work, which would be chastened themselves, because they work not: There was no Art nor Science, which was so much set by in former times, and is now profitable to the common-wealth, 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 themselves. No marvel then though many in the poor countries, ⟨p. 578⟩murmur & complain that other cannot live by them, and they cannot live themselves: but it is marvel if their complaint do not grow in time of rebel on, and pull other as low as themselves: for why should the greatest pain yield the least profit? yet this is their ease, for if you mark, you shall see that the husband-man doth bate the price 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 fai•e 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 he should not be mocked for his labour, which hath vexation enough, though all men spake well of him, & 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 sheepe, and all the house of Iacob were called men occupied about cattell: but as they for this were abhominable to the Egyptians (as Moses saith in the same verse) so they which doe like them, are abhorred of their brethren: & they which liue by them, scorne them for their worke, which would be chastened themselues, because they worke not: There was no Arte nor Science, which was so much set by in former times, and is now profitable to the common-wealth, bringing lesse profit vnto it self, that may so iustly complaine of her fall without cause, and her despight from them which liue by her, as this painfull Science of husbandrie: that it is marueil that any man will take paine for the rest, to be contemned for his labour, and be a scorne for the rest, which might hunger and starue, if he did not labour for them more then they do themselues. No maruel then though many in the poore countries, ⟨p. 578⟩murmure & complaine that other cannot liue by them, and they cannot liue themselues: but it is maruell if their complaint doe not growe in time of rebell on, and pull other as lowe as themselues: for why should the greatest payne yeeld the least profit? yet this is their ease, for if you marke, you shal see that the husband-man doth bate the price of his fruits so soon as the dearth is past, though he rayseth it a little, while the dearth lasteth: but they which raise the price of their wares with him, seldome fall againe, but make men pay as deere when the dearth is past, as if it were a dearth stil. Thus a plentiful yeere doth damage him, and a hard yeere dooth vantage them. So this painefull man, is fai•e to liue poorely, fare meanely, goe barely, house homely, rise early, labour dayly, sell cheape and buy deere, that I may truely say, that no man deserueth his liuing better, no man fulfilleth the law neerer: that is, thou shalt gette thy liuing in the sweate of thy browes; then this poore sonne of Adam, which pickes his crums out of the earth: therfore he should not be mocked for his labor, which hath vexation enough, though all men spake well of him, & in my opinion, if any deserue to be loued for his innocencie, or for his trueth, or his paine, or the good which he brings to the common wealth:
