Four treatises tending to dissuade all Christians from four no less heinous then common…Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common…

The like may be said of many covetous lawyers;¹ for I do not accuse all, nor any, whose consciences do not accuse them; and I know that there are many of this honourable profession who do truly fear God, love justice, hate the corruptions of the time, and make conscience of their ways; but I only tax such, as being wholly possessed and corrupted with greedy covetousness, stand accused and convinced before God by the testimony of their own consciences of these griping courses, and of this unconscionable bribing, whereby they spoil whole families, and lay wast dwelling houses as desert places; for when men come unto them for help, to maintain their just titles, and to enter or keep them in possession of their right, they of all others most wrong them; and if at all they preserve their state, it is that themselves may pray upon it; using herein their clients as the briers the sheep, who when he cometh amongst them for shelter against the storm, is so inveigled, that before he can get out, he must leave his coat behind him. Neither is this the case of the one client alone, but herein both adverse parties do well agree; for oftentimes both he that doth and receiveth the wrong, he that hath a just title unto that for which he sueth, as well as he that detaineth other mens rights from the true owners, have through tedious suits their estates brought into such deep consumptions, that they never recover of it. So as it had bin much better oftentimes to have given away their right, then to have sued for it; because they can have no end of their chargeable suites, till having spent all, their poverty procureth a privilege of exemption. In which respect many Lawyers of our times may be truly said to accord contentions, as in the fable the kite compounded the strife between the mouse and the frog, namely, by making a pray of both ⟨p. 218⟩parties. And those who sue for their help, are like unto true men, who when they cannot agree about the division of their goods, either party desiring the greater share, commit the matter to be comprimitted and decided by thieves, who enrich themselves with the spoil of them both:

The like may be said of many couetous lawyers;¹ for I doe not accuse all, nor any, whose consciences doe not accuse them; and I know that there are many of this honourable profession who doe truely feare God, loue iustice, hate the corruptions of the time, and make conscience of their waies; but I only taxe such, as being wholly possessed and corrupted with greedy couetousnesse, stand accused and conuinced before God by the testimonie of their own consciences of these griping courses, and of this vnconscionable bribing, whereby they spoile whole families, and lay wast dwelling houses as desert places; for when men come vnto them for helpe, to maintaine their iust titles, and to enter or keepe them in possession of their right, they of all others most wrong them; and if at al they preserue their state, it is that themselues may pray vpon it; vsing herein their clients as the briers the sheepe, who when he commeth amongst them for shelter against the storme, is so inueigled, that before hee can get out, he must leaue his coate behind him. Neither is this the case of the one client alone, but herein both aduerse parties doe well agree; for oftentimes both he that doth and receiueth the wrong, he that hath a iust title vnto that for which he sueth, as well as he that deteineth other mens rights from the true owners, haue through tedious suits their estates brought into such deepe consumptions, that they neuer recouer of it. So as it had bin much better oftentimes to haue giuen away their right, then to haue sued for it; because they can haue no end of their chargeable suites, till hauing spent all, their pouertie procureth a priuiledge of exemption. In which respect many Lawyers of our times may be truly said to accord contentions, as in the fable the kite compounded the strife between the mouse and the frog, namely, by making a pray of both