Moreover lest those, that be not worthy to have the Alms of the Church, and of good men, should take it from those that be worthy, and in dead needy: Good Magistrates ought to renew, and put in execution, that law off God, and off the Emperor Valentinian, which forbiddeth, that any man be suffered to beg: and commandeth ⟨p. 17⟩that those that be able to labour, should be forced to labour: and that such as be not able to labour, should be kept as our Brethren, and members, every one in the Congregation where he dwelleth. And that this may be the better done, commandment ought to be given, that every man maintain such as be of his one household, or other wise properly joined to him, if he be able: And that every City, Town, and village, do maintain such poor people, as their friends be not able to keep, and not suffer them to wander abroad. And because it may be, that some Town, or village is so poor, that it is not able to relieve all the Poor thereof: that such also be not left unprovided, it is very requisite, that in every Shire, certain godly, and spiritually wise men, be appointed: who may send such poor people from the places where they cannot be relieved, to such Congregations, where they may be sufficiently relieved. For all we Christians be together members, by the which name, the Congregations off the Gentiles in the time off Saint Paul, and at his exhortation, did confess, that it was their duty, to relieve the Congregations in Jury, that suffered great hunger and famine. Furthermore, because through our corrupt, and always disobedient nature to God, we continually loth the ordinances, and commandments ⟨p. 18⟩off God, and after our own lust, and fond judgement, we desire to follow other means, and ways, then God hath appointed: there will be some, that, not withstanding this most holy provision for the poor, will not put their Alms in to the common chest, or box off the lord, but will rather give their Alms with there own hands, if they be minded to give any at all. Such mens pride must be met with, not only by a law off the Magistrate, but also by the discipline off the Church. By a law, to make them give double to the lords Chest, if they be found to give any thing privately to the needy:
Morouer lest those, that be not worthie to haue the Almose of the Churche, and of good men, shoulde take it from those that be worthie, and in deade neadie: Good Magistrates ought to renue, and put in execution, that lawe off God, and off the Emperour Valentynyan, whiche forbiddeth, that any man be suffred to begge: and commaundeth ⟨p. 17⟩that those that be able to labour, shoulde be forced to labour: and that suche as be not able to labour, sholde be kept as our Brethern, and menbres, euerye one in the Congregation where he dwelleth. And that this may bee the better doon, commaundement ought to be gyuen, that euerye man maintaine suche as be of his one howsolde, or other wise properlie ioyned to him, if he be able: And that euery Citie, Towne, and uillage, doo mayntain suche poore people, as their friendes be not able to keepe, and not suffer theim to wander abrode. And because it may be, that some Towne, or uilage is so poore, that it is not able to relieue al the Poore therof: that suche also be not left unprouided, it is uery requysite, that in euerie Shire, certayne godlie, and spirituallie wise men, be appoynted: who may sende suche poore people from the places where thei cannot be relieued, to such Congregations, where thei may be sufficientlie relieued. For all we Christians be togither membres, by the which name, the Congregations off the Gentiles in the tyme off Saint Paule, and at his exhortation, dyd confesse, that it was their duetie, to relieue the Congregations in Iurie, that suffered great hunger and famine. Furdermore, because through our corrupte, and always disobedient nature to God, we contynuallie lothe the ordinaunces, and cōmaundementes ⟨p. 18⟩off God, and after our owne luste, and fond iudgement, we desire to folowe other meanes, and waies, then God hathe appoynted: ther wilbe som, that, not withstandyng this most holy prouysion for the poore, will not put their Almose in to the comen cheste, or boxe off the lorde, but will rather geue their Almose with ther owne hādes, if they be mynded to geue any at all. Such mens pride must be mette with, not onely by a lawe off the Magistrat, but also by the discipline off the Churche. By a lawe, to make theim geue double to the lordes Cheste, if they be founde to geue any thynge pryuatlie to the neadie:
