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…

Secondly, they are guilty of this sin of bribing,¹ who exact extraordinary fees for ordinary labour, and excessive rewards for small pains to themselves, and as little profit to their clients. The which is a common fault of these times, wherein some lawyers so much overvalue their labours above their worth, that scarce ten times so much as their ordinary fee will bring them to the bar, or cause them to open their lips in the behalf of their client, if they be men of any note. But we are to know that by the rule of justice, there ought to be a proportion between the work and reward, between the service and the wages, respect being had of the dignity and state of the person who taketh the pains; and whatsoever exceedeth this just proportion is no better then bribery, extortion, and theft in Gods sight. Neither must this proportion be measured according to their own conceit, which is commonly unequal and partial, through overweening pride, and bewitching self-love, but according to the laws of the land, and limitation of the State, whereby all such things are to be ordered and determined. Besides, as this taking of excessive fees is bad in it self, and full of injustice and corruption, so is it of worse consequence; for if none of worth can be entertained but at these high rates; then those who are of low condition and mean estate, are through their necessity debarred of their help and counsel; and only those who abound in wealth, and have full purses, have the benefit of it; whereof it must needs follow, that through the great skill and persuading eloquence which is used in the defence of their cause who are rich, & through the weak and insufficient handling of the poor mans cause, though never so just; powerful injustice will get the upper hand oftentimes of weak right, and truth having no patrons but her own naked simplicity to maintain her, against the unresistable ⟨p. 220⟩violence of bold eloquence, and cunning insinuations and surmises, doth not seldom in these days take the foil.

Secondly, they are guiltie of this sinne of bribing,¹ who exact extraordinarie fees for ordinarie labour, and excessiue rewards for small paines to themselues, and as little profit to their clients. The which is a common fault of these times, wherein some lawyers so much ouerualue their labours aboue their worth, that scarce ten times so much as their ordinarie fee will bring them to the barre, or cause them to open their lippes in the behalse of their client, if they be men of any note. But wee are to know that by the rule of iustice, there ought to be a proportion betweene the worke and reward, betweene the seruice and the wages, respect being had of the dignitie and state of the person who taketh the paines; and whatsoeuer exceedeth this iust proportion is no better then briberie, extorsion, and theft in Gods sight. Neither must this proportion be measured according to their owne conceit, which is commonly vnequall and partiall, through ouerweening pride, and bewitching selfe-loue, but according to the lawes of the land, and limitation of the State, whereby all such things are to bee ordered and determined. Besides, as this taking of excessiue fees is bad in it selfe, and full of iniustice and corruption, so is it of worse consequence; for if none of worth can bee entertained but at these high rates; then those who are of low condition and meane estate, are through their necessity debarred of their helpe and counsell; and onely those who abound in wealth, and haue full purses, haue the benefit of it; whereof it must needs follow, that through the great skil and perswading eloquence which is vsed in the defence of their cause who are rich, & through the weake and insufficient handling of the poore mans cause, though neuer so iust; powerful iniustice wil get ye vpper hand oftentimes of weak right, and truth hauing no patrons but her own naked simplicitie to maintaine her, against the vnresistable