And although men now a days take it but for a trifle when a man hath a true and diligent servant, to entice him away by all crafts and means, yet surely God will punish the same sharply. For as they entice their neighbours servants from them, so god suffereth other men to allure their servants away likewise. And moreover this inconvenience cometh hereby, ⟨image 125⟩that when servants perceive men to sue for them, they wax so hawte and stubborn, that they will be content with no mean wages, and be so proud, that they regard not their masters, nor stand in awe of them, but when so ever their old masters, do displease them, by and by they will seek for a new. And when they be not content with their old wages, they desire more. And this complaint of servants is now a days all most in every mans mouth, and yet it is not redressed, because it is the just punishment of God, wherewith he scourgeth them, that allure their neighbours servants from them. And God doth not punish only such as entice other mens servants from them but also all those that go about to get any other part of their neighbours goods or cattle. For ⟨p. ciii⟩if thou take thy neighbours house over his head, or put him out of his house by any crafty conveyance, then many times God taketh vengeance with sickness or loss of thy goods. If thou convey away his cattle, commonly they prosper not, but dye of some kind of murrain. And whatsoever thing we thus purchase and possess, contrary to gods commandment, it lacketh the blessing of God, wherefore it can not long endure or prosper. Therefore I pray you good children, frame your affections and lives according to this rule. Be content that every man may enjoy and keep to himself, that thing which God hath given him. When gods pleasure shall so be, he will also send to you, that which you desire. And he is able so to give it you, that your neighbour ⟨image 126⟩thereby shall suffer no loss or damage. Covet not your neighbours wife, house, servant or any thing that is his, except it be by his will and consent. And if it shall chance any of you, to be covenant servants with any man, then let no crafty or malicious fellows persuade you, to forsake your masters, but do them faithful service (as your duty is.) And trust not such flattering or slanderous tongues, as go about to entice you from your masters.
And althoughe men now a dayes take it but for a trifle whan a man hath a true and diligent seruant, to entice him awaye by all craftes and meanes, yet surely God wyl punishe the same sharpely. For as they entice their neyghbours seruaūts from theim, so god suffreth other men to alure their seruantes awaye lykewise. And moreouer this inconuenience cōmeth herby, ⟨image 125⟩that whē seruantes perceaue men to sue for thē, they waxe so hawte and stubburne, that they wyll be contēt with no meane wages, and be so proude, that they regarde not their maysters, nor stande in awe of theim, but whan so euer theyr olde maysters, do displease theim, by and by they wil seke for a newe. And when they be not contēt with their olde wages, they desiermore. And this cōplaint of seruantes is now a dayes al most in euery mās mouthe, and yet it is not redressed, because it is the iust punyshment of God, wherewith he scourgeth theim, that allure their neyghbors seruantes from thē. And God doth not punyshe onely suche as entice other mennes seruātes from them but also all those that go about to gette anye other parte of their neyghbours goodes or cattel. For ⟨p. ciii⟩yf thou take thy neyghbors house ouer his hed, or put him out of his house by any crafty conueyance, then manye tymes God taketh vēgeance with syckenes or losse of thy goodes. Yf thou conuey awaye his cattell, commonly they prosper not, but dye of some kynd of moirrein. And whatsoeuer thinge we thus purchase and possesse, cōtrarie to godds commaundement, it lacketh the blessynge of God, wherfore it can not long endure or prosper. Therfore I pray you good childē, frame your affections and lyues accordyng to this rule. Be content that euery man may enioy and kepe to hymselfe, that thing which God hath giuen him. When gods pleasure shall so be, he wyll also sende to you, that whiche you desier. And he is able so to gyue it you, that your neighboure ⟨image 126⟩therby shal suffre no losse or damage. Couet not youre neyghbours wife, house, seruaunt or any thynge that is his, except it be by his wil and consent. And yf it shal chaunce any of you, to be couenant seruaunts with any man, then let no craftye or malicious felowes persuade you, to forsake youre maysters, but do them faythfull seruice (as youre dutie is.) And trust not suche flateryng or slaunderous tongues, as go aboute to entice you frō your maysters.
