Yea and we see that such as have any journey or travel, I mean even the poor people, cannot solace themselves in their labour without offending God, by intermingling always of some fond tales. And too what end serve they? Even too harden mens hearts, that they may think with themselves, Every man is at the same point: no marvel though lechery be made so heinous a matter: behold how such a man behaveth himself, and such a one also. And when vices can once be made common, then too their seeming the goal is won on their side. Now ⟨p. 243⟩for that cause Saint Paul saith, that they must not once be named among us. And likewise doth he say of Covetousness. For every man takes it for a virtue, if he can pill and poll all his life long, and never leave raking of other mens goods too him by fraud and extortion. Yea and men have a delight too follow them, and too say, O, such a man of mine acquaintance could well skill too use such a practise and such a trick. True it is that covetous folks will not speak so of them whom they malice. For they will say, that villein? he doth nothing else but catch and scrape on all sides, there is no trust in him, he is cruel and churlish: and too be short, every of them spiteth at his fellow. And so ye see how the covetous sort do rail one upon another. But when a covetous person intendeth too confirm himself in his naughtiness, and too harden himself in it, and too cover his faults: he will say, It is meet that a man should be forecasting: I knew such a one and such a one that came forward by that mean: he was a poor fellow, and had nothing: but he hath behaved himself in such wise, that he hath horded up well. And how? Marry he had good policy, and if any man fell into his hands, he left his hear behind him, if he left not skin and all. Thus do covetous folks shroud themselves in spoiling men, under pretence of good thriftiness, as they term it, that is too say, under pilling and polling, and such other like things. Therefore we see how needful this exhortation of S. Pauls is, where he saith, that all vices must be shut out of the doors, and that if any man speak of them we must abhor him, & not make a jesting matter of them among us, for fear least we be attainted with them.
Yea and we see that such as haue any iorney or trauell, I meane euen the poore people, cannot solace themselues in their labour without offending God, by intermingling alwayes of some fond tales. And too what end serue they? Euen too harden mens hartes, that they may thinke with themselues, Euery man is at the same poynt: no maruell though lecherye bee made so heynous a matter: behold how such a man behaueth himself, and such a one also. And when vyces can once bee made common, then too their seeming the goale is wonne on their syde. Now ⟨p. 243⟩for that cause Saint Paule sayth, that they must not once bee named among vs. And lykewyse dooth he say of Couetousnesse. For euery man takes it for a vertewe, if he can pill aud poll all his lyfe long, and neuer leaue raking of other mens goods too him by fraude and extorsion. Yea and men haue a delyght too followe them, and too say, O, such a man of myne acquayntance could well skyll too vse such a practyze and such a tricke. Trew it is that couetous folkes will not speake so of them whom they malice. For they will say, that villein? he dooth nothing else but catch and scrape on all sydes, there is no trust in him, he is cruel and churlish: and too bee short, euery of them spyteth at his fellow. And so ye see how the couetous sort do rayle one vppon another. But when a couetous person intendeth too confirme himself in his naughtinesse, and too harden himself in it, and too couer his faultes: he will say, It is meete that a man should bee forecasting: I knewe such a one and such a one that came foreward by that meane: he was a poore fellowe, and had nothing: but he hath behaued himself in such wyse, that he hath hoorded vp well. And how? Marrie he had good policie, and if any man fell intoo his hands, he left his heare behind him, if he left not skin and all. Thus doo couetous folkes shroud themselues in spoyling men, vnder pretence of good thriftinesse, as they terme it, that is too say, vnder pilling and polling, and such other lyke things. Therfore wee see how needfull this exhortation of S. Paules is, where he sayth, that all vyces must bee shet out of the doores, and that if any man speake of them we must abhore him, & not make a iesting matter of them among vs, for feare least wee bee atteynted with them.
