Petition Against the Oppressors of the Poor Commons of this Realm, Text

Petition Against the Oppressors of the Poor Commons of this Realm · Text

An înformacion and Peticion agaynſt the oppreſſours of the poore Commons of thys Realme, compiled and Imprinted for this onelyonly purpoſe that amongeſt them that hauehave to doe in the Parliamente ſome godlye mynded men, may hereat take occation to ſpeake more in the matter then the Authour was able to wryte.

¶ Eſaye. lviii. ☞ When you ſuffre none oppreſſion to be amongeſt you, and leaue of youre idel talke: then ſhal you cal vponupon the Lord and he ſhal hear you, you ſhal crie, and he ſhall ſaye, Beholde I am at hande.

☞ Imprinted at London by Iohn Daye, dwellyng in Sepulchres pariſh at the ſigne of the Reſurrectiō a lytle aboue Holbourne Conduite.

¶ To the moſt honorable Lordes of the Parliament wyth the commons of the ſame: theyr moſte humble and dayly Oratour Robert Crowley, wiſheth the aſſiſtēce of Goddes holy ſpirite.

AMonge the manifolde & moſte weyghtie matters, (moſt worthy counſaylours) to be debated and cōmuned of in this preſent Parliamēt, and by the aduiſe, aſſent and conſent therof ſpedili to be redreſſed: I thynke ther is no one thinge more nedfull to be ſpoken of, then the greate oppreſſion of the pore communes, by the poſſeſſioners as wel of y^e clergie as of y^e laitie. No doubt it is nedfull, and ther ought to bee a ſpedy redreſſe of many mattiers of religion: as are theſe. The vſe of the ſacraments and ceremonies, the vſurping of tenthes to priuat commoditie, the ſuperfluouſe, vnlerned, vndiſcret and vicious miniſters of the church, and theyr Superſticious and Idolatrous adminiſtracions, Of theſe thynges I ſaye ought ther to be a ſpedy reformaciō. For they are now moſt lyk haſtely to bringe vppon thys noble realme, the ineuitable vengeaunce of God, if they bee not ſhortly reformed: for as muche as it hath pleaſed the almyghty and lyuinge God, to open vntounto vsus thoſe abhominacions, which hauehave heretofore ben kepe ſecret and hyd from vsus.

Theſe thinges, I ſay, are yet far out of ioynt, and had great nede to be refourmed.

For notwithſtandyng the Kinges maieſties late viſitation: the ignorant people, who hauehave longe ben foſtred and brought vp in the ſuperſtition and wrong beleue of theſe thynges, and are yet n… doubte, ſecretely inſtructed by their blinde guydes and by them holdē ſtyl in blindnes: wyll not be perſwaded that theyr forfathers ſuperſtition was not the true fayth of Chriſte, til ſuch tyme as they hauehave continuyng among them, ſuch preachers as ſhal be able and wyll, by the manifeſte ſcriptur…s proue vntounto them that both they and their fathers were deceiued and knewe not how to worſhyppe God aright, but ſhamfuly ſeduced by the couetiſe of the ſhepherdes and guides: ſought him where he was not, and when they thought they had bene mooſte hyghe in his fauoure by doynge, hym ſuche honoure as they thought moſte acceptable in hys ſyght: then cōmitted they moſt deteſtable blaſphemie, & were abhominable before hym.

☞ Thys knowledge, I ſay, wyll not be beaten into the heades of the ignoraunte: ſo longe as theyr ſhepeherdes be but hyrlynges & folow liuynges, for ſuch miniſter not to the cōgregation: but to theyr owne bealyes. They are not ſhepeherdes, but butchars. They come not to feede, but to be fed. And doubtles (moſt chriſten coūſaylours) I thinke it not poſſible to amēde this great enormitie, otherwyſe then by reducynge the order of choſeynge of the miniſters, vntounto the order that was in y^e primitiue church wherof is mētioned in the Act,Actu. 1. of the Apoſtles For ſolong as ydle bealies may come to the byſhope and be ſmered for money, God ſhal ſaye to thē by his prophet.Iere. 23.Jer 23 You did tēne but I ſent you not. They ſhalle be called feedars, of feedynge them ſelues and not of fedyng the flocke, They ſhal ſtudye to pleaſe men & not to pleaſe God. In fine, they ſhall differ nothynge from the craftes men whiche applye an occupacion to gette theyr lyuinge vppon, and not to the intent to profite the common weale.

☞ The craftes man ſueth for the fredom of a Citie, not becauſe he intendeth to be a maintainer of the Citie: but becauſe he hopeth that he ſhall lyue ſo muche the more welthyly hym ſelfe. And euē for lyke cauſes do our miniſters and are lyke ſtyll to do (ſo longe as they maye bee receyued when they come vncalled) applye them ſelues to prieſting, becauſe they lyke wel the ydlenes of the lyfe.

☞ I doubt not but the Kynges maieſties viſitters know more of thys matter then I cā be able to writ. And by thē, I doubt not, you ſhal be moued to cōmune of this mattier at the ful.

☞ The ſacramentes they ſtyl abuſe, vſeinge them as matters of merchaundyce, and chiefly the moſt worthy memory of our redēption, for that they ſelle boethe to the quycke and to the deade, to the rych and to the poore. None ſhall receyue it at theyr handes, wythout he wyll paye the ordinarie ſhotte, and ſo are they redy to ſerue eueryevery man. They loke vpō the monei onelyonly and nothynge vppon the mynde. Whether it be taken to cōfort of conſciēce or iudgemēt, they pas not. Thei tel the monei, thei loke for nomore. If they wyll deny this to bee true let them ſaye why, they ſuffer the pore to begge money to paye for theyr houſel, as they call it? Perchaunce they wyll anſwer that the money is not payede for the ſacrament, but for the .iiii offeryng dayes. Then aſke I thys queſtian,

Why thei appoint not another time to receiue it in, then that tyme whyche is to lyttle to bee occupied in declareynge to the people the right vſe & profyte of the ſacramentes, & to inſtructe them ſo, y^t they do not receiue it to theyr iudgment, but to theyr confort and quietnes of conſcience, for which purpoſe it was firſt inſtituted? Vndoubtedli (moſt chriſtiā counſailours) they can not deni but that they appoynt to receyue it then, becauſe they wil be ſure of it.

Theyr doeynges wyll declare it, thoughe they woulde deny it, for none may receyue the ſacramentes vnles he do fyrſte paye, the money. And then, wyth how lyttle reuerence it is miniſtred and receyued: eueryevery thriſten hert ſeeth & lamenteth.

Theſe thinges (I doubt not) are ſo euident and playne vntounto you: that it nedeth not to troble you wyth manye wordes concerneinge the abuſes therof. Many godly minded men hauehave boeth written and preached, & do dayely writte and preach, of and agaynſt thoſe abuſes, wherfore I am certen that you hauehave iuſte occaſion and can do no leſſe but ſeke a furder redres her of (whyche al chriſten hertes do deſire) in thys preſent parliament.

But as for the oppreſſion of the pore, which is no leſſe nedful to be cōmuned of and reformed then the other: I feare me wyll bee paſſed ouer with ſilence, or if it bee communed of. I canne ſcarſely truſte that any reformacion canne bee had, vnleſſe God do nowe worke in the hertes of the poſſeſſioners of thys realme, as he dyd in the primitiue church, when the poſſeſſioners were contented and very wyllyng, to ſell theyr poſſeſſions and geue y^e price therof to be commune to al the faythful beleuers. Take me not here that I ſhoulde go about by theſe wordes to perſwade men to make all thinges cōmune: for if you do you miſtake me. For I take God to wytnes I meane no ſuch thyng. But with all myne hert I woulde wyſh that no mā were ſuffered to eate, but ſuch as would laboure in theyr vocation and callyng, accordynge to the rule that Paule gaue to the Theſſalonians.2 Theſ. 32 Thess 3

But yet I woulde wyſh that the poſſeſſioners woulde conſyder whoe gaue them theyr poſſeſſions, and howe they ought to beſtowe them. And then (I doubt not) it ſhoulde not nede to hauehave all thynges made commune.

☞ For what nedeth it the ſeruauntes of the houſeholde to deſyre to hauehave theyr mayſters goodes cōmune, ſo longe as the ſtuarde miniſtreth vntounto eueryevery man the thinge that is nedefull for hym?

☞ If the poſſeſſioners woulde conſyder thē ſelues to be but ſtuardes, and not Lordes ouer theyr poſſeſſions: thys oppreſſion woulde ſone be redreſſed. But ſo longe as thys perſwaſion ſtyketh in theyr myndes. It is myne owne.

Whoe ſhal warne me to do wyth myne owne as me ſelfe lyſteth? it ſhall not bee poſſible to hauehave any redreſſe at all. For if I may do wyth myne owne as me lyſteth: then maye I ſuffer my brother, hys wyfe and hys chyldrene, to lye in the ſtrete, excepte he wyll geue me more rent for myne houſe thē euer he ſhal be able to paye Then may I take his goods for that he oweth me and kepe his body in priſon, tournyng out his wyfe and chyldren to periſhe, if God wyll not moue ſome mans herte to pittie them: and yet kepe my coffers full of goulde and ſyluer.

☞ If ther were no god, then would I think it leafull for men to vſe their poſſeſſiōs as thei liſte Or if God woulde not requitre an accōpt of vsus for the beſtoweynge of them. I woulde not greately gaynſaye thoughe they toke theyr pleaſure of them whylſe they lyued here. But foraſmuch as we hauehave a God, and he hath declared vntounto vsus by y^e ſcripturs, y^t he hath made the poſſeſſioners but Stuardes of his ryches and that he wyl holde a ſtreyght accompt with them for the occupiynge and beſtoweynge of them: I thynke no chriſtian ears can abyde to heare that more then Turkyſh opinion.

☞ The Philoſophers who knewe nothyng of the bonde of frendſhippe which Chriſte our mayſter and redemer lefte amonge vsus: affirmed that among frēdes al thinges are cōmune meaneyng that frendſhippe woulde not ſuffer one frende to holde frome an other, the thinge that he hath neede of. And what ſhal we ſaye? Are we not frēdes? Suerly if we be not frendes: wee beare the name of Chriſte and bee called chriſtians in vayne. Yea if wee hauehave not a more perfecte frendeſhyppe then that whereof the Philoſophers ſpeake: wee are but fayned chriſtians we beare the name onelyonly and are no thynge leſſe in dede: For this is the token that Chriſte gaue whereby wee ſhoulde be knowen to be of him:Iohn. 13.John 13 if we louelove one an other as he loued vsus. Howe he loued vsus, is declared by the wordes of the Apoſtle ſayinge,Epheſ. 5.Eph 5 that Chriſte gaue hym ſelfe for vsus. Accordynge to thys exemple ought our frendſhyp to be ſuch, that we wyll not ſpare to ſpende our lyfe for the welth of our brothers. Not to fyght in theyr quarell (for Chriſte bade Peter put vp the ſwerde into his place) but to teach the truth boldly with out any feare of death, and not to ſuffer oure brothers to bee led in erroure thoughe preſente death ſhoulde inſue for ſo doynge.

Some perchaunce wyll thynke that this frēdſhyp is to be vnderſtande onelyonly of the paſtors and ſhepherdes towarde theyr flocke becauſe Chriſt ſayth that a good ſhepherde geueth his lyfe for his ſhepe.Iohn. 10.John 10 Forſoeth if the paſtours or ſhepeherdes onelyonly, were the flocke of Chriſte then myght thys frendeſhyp ryght well be vnderſtanded of them onelyonly. But for aſmuch as the Laie and priuate perſons, are as wel of the flocke of Chriſte as the other: thys frendeſhyp parteineth vntounto them noleſſe then to the other. And thys cauſeth me (moſte worthy counſaylours) not to feare the diſpleaſure of men in this behalfe, knoweynge for certentie that the greateſte numbre of thys aſſemble are not free from this oppreſſion that I ſpeak of, and that it is farre vnlyke that a priuate perſone by no meanes worthy to be called to ſuche an aſſemble ſhoulde be fauourably hearde and accepted of them whom God hath called to be counſaylours of a realme, and chiefly in a cauſe taxyng & blameyng the Iudges before whom it is pleaded. I might well coniecte wyth my ſelfe, that I ſhoulde in this poynte be compted a buſy body, and one that renneth before he is ſent. But I am redi to ſuffer not onli al ſuch report but euen the verye death alſo (if it ſhall pleaſe the almightie and euerlyueynge God to laye it vponupon me) for youre ſakes, moſte worthy counſailours, and the reſidue, my natural brothers of this noble realme.

☞ And here I proteſte vntounto you all, that the ſame ſpirite that ſent Ionas to the Niniuits, Daniel to the Babilonians, Nathan to Kyng Dauid, Achior vntounto Holofernes, Iudith vntounto the Prieſtes and Elders of the Iewes, the prophete to Ieroboam in Bethel, Iohn the Baptiſt vntounto Herode, and Chriſt vntounto the Iewes-wytneſſeth wyth my conſcience,Eſai. 58.Isa 58 that I renne not vnſent. For euē the ſame ſpirite that ſayd vntounto Eſaye, crye and ceaſe not, declare vntounto my people theyr wyckednes: cryeth alſo in my conſcience, bydyng me not ſpare to tell the poſſeſſioners of thys realme, that vnleſſe they repente the oppreſſion wherewyth they vexe the pore cōmōs, and ſhew thēſelues thorough louelove to be brothers of one father & membres of one body wyth them: they ſhal not at the laſte daye enherite wyth them the kingdome of Chriſt y^e eldeſt ſonne of God the father, whych hath by his worde begotten hym many brothers & coheritours is hys kingdom Vnleſſe, I ſaye, the poſſeſſioners of thys realme wyl repent the violence don to the poore and nedy mēbres of the ſame, and become as handes, miniſtring vntounto eueryevery membre his neceſſaryes: they ſhall at the daye of theyr accompt, be bound hand and fote and caſt into vtter darknes, wher ſhal be wepyng, wealyng, and gnaſhyng of teach, that is, dolour and yayne, the greatnes wherof canne not be expreſſed wyth tonge nor thought wyth herte. And thys much more ſayeth the ſpirite. Vnleſſe ye purge your ſelues of thys bloude, & ſtop the mouthes of the pore that the voyce of theyr complaynt come not vntounto mine eares: I wyll not proſpere your counſayles in the reformaciō of thoſe abhominaciōs which I ſhewed vntounto you, but wyll leaue you to y^e ſpirite of errour, y^e prince of thys worlde, whoſe dearlinges ye are ſo longe as ye ſeke not the welth of the nedy, but your owne priuate commoditye. Theſe thynges hath the ſpirite of God ſpokē. Heauen and earth ſhal periſhe, but the wordes of the ſpirite ſhall not periſh, but be fulfylled. Nowe herken you poſſeſſioners, and you rich men lifte vp your ears, ye ſtuards of the Lord marke what complayntes are layede agaynſte you in the high courte of the liueynge God.

Lorde (ſayeth the Porphete) haſt thou forſaken vsus? doeſt thou hide thy ſelfe in the tyme of our trouble? Whylſe the wicked waxe proude the pore man is aflicted and troubled. Would to God the wicked myght feale the ſame thinges that they inuent for other. For the ſinnere prayſeth hym ſelfe in the deſyers of hys ſoule, and he extolleth and fetch furth the couetouſe man. He prouoketh the Lorde and is ſo proud that he wyll not ſeke hym. He neuer thynketh vponupon God. His wayes be defiled at all tymes. He loketh not vponupon thy iugementes Lorde, be will reuenge hym vponupon al hys enimies.

He thynketh thus with hym ſelfe, I wyll not remoue from one generacion vntounto an other without miſchefe. Hys mouth is full of malediction and euill reporte, fraude & deceyte:Eſai. 50.Isa 50 and vnderunder his tonge is afliction and iniquitye.

He lyeth in wayte wyth the rychemen of the villages or graynges, in ſecrete corners, to the intent to ſlea the innocent. His eyes are fyexed vponupon the pore, he layeth awayete, euen as a lyon in his denne. He layeth a wayte to take the poore man by force, and when he hath gotten him wythin his reache, then wyll he take hym violentlye. In hys net will he ouerthrowe the pore, and through hys ſtrength ſhall the mutitude of the oppreſſed be ouer charged and fall. For in his hert he ſayeth, God hath forgotten God turneth a waye hys face, and wyll neuer regarde the oppreſſion of the poore, etc. to the ende of the ſame Pſalme.

☞ What ſentence (thinke you) wil the Lorde gyue vpō this euidence? No doubt (moſt worthy counſellers) euen the ſame that we reade in Eſaie the Prophete I loked for iudgement and rightouſe dealynge amongeſte my people and beholde there is iniquitie,Eſaie. 5.Isa 5 I loked alſo for iuſtice, and beholde there is an outcrye. Wo be vntounto you therefore, that do ioyne houre vntounto houſe, & couple one fielde to an other, ſo longe as there is any ground to be had. Thinke you that you ſhal dwel vponupon the earth alone? The Lorde of hoſtes ſayeth the prophete hath ſpoken theſe wordes vntounto me. Manye large and goodlye houſes, ſhall be deſerte, and wythout inhabitauntes .x. acres of vynes ſhal yelde but one quarte of wyne, and .xxx. buſhelles of ſeede ſhall yelde but .iii buſhelles agayne. Beholde you engroſſers of fermes, and teynements be holde I ſay, the terrible threatnynges of God whoſe wrath you can not eſcape. The voyce of the pore (whō you hauehave with money thruſte out of houſe and home, is well accepted in the eares of the Lorde, and hath ſteared vp hys wrath agaynſte you. He threateneth you moſte horrible plages. Ten acres of vynes ſhal yelde but one quarte of wyne, and .xxx. buſhelles of ſede but .iii. buſhelles agayn. The ſede of Goddes worde ſowen in youre hertes, ſhall be barrayne and not bringe forth fruite.

☞ For couetyſe, the rote of al iuelles, occupieth that grounde ſo that the heauenlie ſede can bi no meanes geue encreaſe. This is a plage of al plages moſt horryble And doubt ye not you leaſe mongres, that take groundes by leaſe to the …ntente to lette them out agayne for double and triple, the rent: your parte is in this plage The Lorde ſhall take his ſpirite from you. He ſhall forbyd the cloudes of his mercy, to rayne vponupon you wyth the ſwete dwe of hys greace. And you ſurueighers of lādes, that of x.li. lāde can make .xx. you ſhall not be forgotten in the effu…ion of thys plage.

☞ For whē you hauehave multiplied your rēttes to the higheſte, ſo that ye hauehave made all youre tenantes your ſlaues to labour and toyle and bringe to you all that maye be plowed and digged out of youre groundes: then ſhal death ſodaynly ſtrike you, then ſhall God wythdrawe his confortable greace from you, thē ſhall your conſcience prycke you, then ſhall you thynke with de…perat Cain, that your ſinne is greater thē that it may be forgeuen. For your owne cō ſcience ſhall iudge you worthye no mercye, be, cauſe you hauehave ſhewed no merci. Yea the ſame enimie that hoth kendled, and doeth yet mayntayne in you thys miſcheuouſe, outragiouſe and vnſaciable couetouſnes: ſhall then bee as buſy to put you in mynde of the wordes of Chriſt ſaienge, y^e ſame meaſure that you hauehave made vntounto other, ſhalbe nowe made vntounto you.

You hauehave ſhewed no mercye: howe can you than loke for mercye? Oh noble counſailours be mercyful to your ſelues Deſtroye not your owne ſoules to enriche your heyres. Enlarge not your earthly poſſeſſion wyth the loſſe of the eternal enheritaunce. Learne to knowe the eſtate that God hath called you vntounto, & to lyue accordinge to your profeſſion, Know that you are al miniſtres in the common weale and that the procion which you are borne vntounto, or that your prince geueth you is your eſtate. Knowe that your office is to diſtribute & not to ſcrape to gether on heapes, God hath not ſette you to ſurueye his landes, but to playe the ſtuardes in hys houſeholde of this world, and to ſe that your pore felow ſeruantes lacke not theyr neceſſaries.

Conſider that you are but miniſters and ſeruauntes vnderunder the Lorde oure God, and that you ſhal render a ſtreyght accompt of your adminiſtracion. Stand not to much in your own conceyte, gloriynge in the worthyneſſe of your bloude, for we are all one mans chyldren, and hauehave (by nature) lyke right to the rycheſſe and treaſures of thys worlde wh…rouf oure natural father Adame was m…de Lord and Kinge. Whiche of you can laye for hym ſelfe any naturall cau…e whyche ſhoulde poſſeſſe the treaſure of this worlde, but y^t the ſame cauſe maye he founde in hym alſo whome you make your ſlaue? By nature (therefore) you can claime nothinge but that which you ſhall gette wyth the ſwet of your faces. That you are Lordes and gouernoures therfore, commeth not by nature but by the ordinaunce & appoyntment of God. Knowe then that he hath not called you to the welth and glorie of this worlde: but hath charged you wyth the greate and rude multitude.

And if any if them periſhe thorowe your defaute, knowe thē for certentie, that the bloude of them ſhalbe required at your handes. If the impotent creatures periſhe for lacke of neceſſries: you are the murderres,Ezech. 33Ezek 33 for you hauehave theyr enheritaunce and do not miniſter vntounto them.

If the ſturdye fall to ſtealing, robbyng & reueynge: then are you the cauſers therof, for you dygge in, encloſe, and witholde from them the earth out of the which they ſhoulde digge and plowe theyr lyueynge.Pſal. 11…Ps 11 For as the Pſalmiſte writeth. All the heauen is the Lordes: but as for the earth hee hath geuen to the childrene of men.

☞ The whole earth therfor (by birth ryght) belongeth to the chyldren of men. They are all inheritours thereof indifferently by nature

But becauſe the ſturry ſhoulde not oppreſſ… the weake and impotent: God hath apoynted you ſtuards to geue meate vntounto his houſholde in due reaſone. And if you be founde faythfull in thys litel: then knowe that he wyll preferre you to muche greater thynges. But if ye bee found oppreſſing your felowe ſeruauntes: thē knowe for certentie, that the Lorde your maiſter ſhall at hys comeynge, rewarde you wyth many ſtrypes. Call to your remembraunce the Hiſtory of Kynge Nabuchodonoſor whoe forLuke. 12. Dani. 4.Luke 12 his preſumption became, as a brute beaſt, feaddinge vpō graſſe and hey as other beaſtes dyd.

☞ Conſidre Pharao wyth his great armie, whom the Lorde ouerwhelmed in the red ſea for oppreſſing and perſecuting his people. Yea conſidre al the nobilitie that hauehave poſſeſſed the earth, euen from the begynnyng: and then ſaye howe you be theyr ſucceſſours, and by what title you cleyme that which was theyrs.

☞ Many hundred yeres ſence, the noble Romains helde all Europa, and parte of Affrike and Aſia, in quiete poſſeſſion: and where are they that ſucceade them in theyr impeir?

The brutiſhe Gothes inuaded and vāquiſhed the impier of Rome: and where are theyr ſucceſſours?

☞ What ſhoulde I ſtande in the rehearſall of the great poſſeſſioners that hauehave hertofore poſſeſſed the earth, whoſe liniall deſcent cā not be founde? It ſhal ſuffice me to remitte you to the wordes of the Lorde vntounto Nabuchodonoſor, whiche are wrytten in the boke of Daniell the Prophet.Dani. 4.

☞ There ſhal you learne that it is God that gyueth the impier to whō it pleaſeth hym, and that all power is from aboue, accordynge to the anſwer that our ſauiour Chriſte made vntounto Pilate, when he bragged hym wyth the power than he had to crucifie hym and to deliuer hym. Thou ſhouldeſt, ſayed our ſauiour, hauehave no power ouer me at all,Iohn. 19.John 19 were it not gyuen the from aboue.

☞ Thus it is euident vntounto you (moſte worthy counſaylours) that your power and eſtate cometh frome aboue, and that by nature, you can cleyme nothynge of the poſſeſſions of thys worlde, more then that whiche you gette wyth the ſwet of your faces.

☞ I doubt not therfor but that your conſciences do condeſcend and agre vntounto that which I hauehave ſpoken concernynge youre office and miniſterie, knoweynge that God hath appointed you to miniſter neceſſaries to the impotent and to defende the innocent.

☞ Do not therfore neglect thys principalle poynt of your dutie, to ſeke in this parliament a redreſſe of thys great oppreſſion, wherwyth the pore membres of this noble realme, ar moſt vnmercifully vexed on eueryevery ſyde.

☞ The lande lordes for theyr partes, ſuruey and make the vttermoſt peny of al their groū des, byſydes the vnreaſonable fynes and incomes. And he that wyl not or can not geue all that they demaunde: ſhall not enter be he neuer ſo honeſt or ſtande he neuer ſo greate neede.

☞ Y…a though he hauehave ben an honeſt, true, faythfull and quiete tenant many yeres: yet at the vacatiō of his Copie or Iudentur, he muſt paye welmoſte as much as woulde purchayſe ſo much grownde or elſe voide in haſte, though he, his wyfe and childrene, ſhoulde periſhe for lacke of harbour.

☞ What a ſea of miſchifes hath floued out of thys more then Turkyſhe tyrānie: what honeſte houſholders hauehave ben made folowers of other not ſo honeſt mens tables: what honeſte matrones hauehave ben brought to the needy rocke and cardes: what menchyldrene of good hope in the liberall ſciences and other honeſte qualites (wherof this realme hath great lacke) hauehave ben compelled to fal ſome to handycrafts and ſome to daye labour to ſuſtayne theyr parents decrepet age and miſerable pouertie: what froward and ſtoubourne children hauehave herby ſhaken of the yoke of godly chaſtiſement rennyng hedlonge into all kyndes of wickednes and finally garnyſhed galowe trees: what modeſte, chaſt and womanly virgins, hauehave for lacke of dourie bene compelled either to paſſe ouer the dayes of their youth in vngrate ſeruitude, or els to mary to perpetuall miſerable pouertie: what immodeſte, & wanton gyrles hauehave hereby bene made ſiſters of the Banke (the ſtumlyng-ſtocke of all fraile youth) and finally, moſt miſerable creatures lyinge and dyinge in the ſtretes full of all plages and penurie: what vniuerſall deſtruction chaunceth to thys noble realme by thys outragious and vnſaciable deſire of the ſurueiers of landes: I reporte me to you (moſte chriſtian counſeilours) whiche are here aſſembled from all partes of thys noble realme, to conſult for the wealth of all the mē bres of the ſame.

☞ On the other ſyde, there be certeyne tenauntes, not able to be lande Lordes, and yet after a ſort they cōterfaite lande lordes, by obteininge leaſes in and vponupon groūdes and tenementes, and ſo reyſe fines, incomes, & rentes: and by ſuch pillage pike out a portion to mainteyne a proude port, and all by pilling and polling of the poore commons that muſt of neceſſitie ſeeke habitations at theyr handes.

☞ That this is true, I report me to my lorde the Maire & other the heade officers of the Citie of London, who (if they be not ignorant of the ſtate of the Citie) can witnes with me that the moſte parte, yea I thinke ix. of the .x. partes, of the houſes in London, bee ſet and let by them that hauehave them by leaſe: and not by the owners.

☞ Howe thei polle the pore tenātes, would ſone be tryed, if theyr leaſes were conferred w^t theyr rentrolles. It is not to be thought contrary but that the greate leaſmūgers hauehave greate gains by their leaſes, for the litleons that hold but a piece of houſeing of .xx. or .xxx.s. by yere: can fynde the meanes to holde and dwell vponupon the chiefe parte therof rent fre, by letynge out the reſidue for the whole yerely rent.

☞ I thinke not contrary but theſe thinges do appeare in the ſyght of many to bee but verey trifles, and not worthy to be ſpokē of in ſo noble an aſſemble as this moſt honorable parliament. For they are no mattiers concerneyng the welth of the nobilitie, yea it is rather hyndrance to many of them, to hauehave theſe thynges redreſſed, then any encreaſe of theyr welth.

Yea euen you (moſte chriſtian counſaylours) whych are here aſſembled, to debate the weightie mattiers of thys realme: are not all ſo free from this kynde of oppreſſion, but that you coulde be well contented to wyncke at it. And therfor, for aſmuche as the inordinate louelove of men towarde them ſelues is ſuch, that eyther they can not ſe theyr owne fauts, or elſe if they do ſe them, or be tolde of them, they take them not to be ſo great as they are in dede: I thinke it no meruayle, though ſuch of you (moſt worthy counſaylours) as hauehave any profite by this oppreſſion, do wythin them ſelues deride and laugh to ſcorne my fole hardines and raſhe interpriſe herein, knowyng that it is not the vſe of them that be aſſembled to the intent to eſtabliſhe ſuche thynges as ſhall be for the wealth of a whole realme: to condeſcende and agree to thoſe thynges whiche ſhall be diſprofitable vntounto the chiefe membres of the ſame.

☞ Truth it is (moſte worthy counſaylours) I might well and worthely be laughed at: if I woulde attempt any ſuch thing. But the thing that hytherto I hauehave ſpoken of: is not to the diſprofite of any, but to the great commoditie and profite of all the whole realme.

☞ For what diſcōmoditie is it to the heade, ſhoulders, the armes, and other the vpper mē bres of the bodie, beinge already ſufficiently clothed: to put on the legges and feete a peare of hoſe and ſhoes, to defende them alſo from the iniuries of the wether & other hurtes that myght chaunce vntounto them in theyr trauaylyng to cary the body from place to place, fo… his cō moditie and pleaſure? Verely in myne opinion that body is farre vnworty to hauehave either legges or feete: that wyl let them go bare, hauyng wherwith to couer them.

☞ Euen ſo you, beynge the chiefe membres of thys noble realme, and hauing in your handes the wonderful and incomperable riches of the ſame: what ſhoulde it greue you to departe wyth ſome portion thereof, that the inferioure membres thereof, maye at all tymes be able to do theyr miniſterie and office accordyngly.

❧ Once remembre, that as the bodye wyth out the inferioure partes is but lame and as a blocke vnweldy, and muſte, if it wyll remoue from place to place, creepe vponupon the handes: euen ſo you, if ye had not the poore membre of this realme to tyll the grounde and do your other drudgery: no remedy you muſte needes d… it your ſelues.

☞ Vſe them therfore as the neceſſarie membres of the miſticall bodye of this moſte noble realme, and be not in thys poynte more vnnatural then the heathen Philoſophers were.

They in theyr wrytynges declare no leſſe then I hauehave wrytten.

☞ Thys oughte not a lytle to moue you, being chriſtians (whoſe redemer Ieſu Chriſt ſitteth at the ryghte hande of God his father) to ſtudy, not onelyonly to be equal with, but to paſſe the heathen & vnchriſtened in this matter, euen as farre as the excellencie of the name and religion whiche we profeſſe, paſſeth theyrs.

☞ Remembre (moſt chriſtian counſaylours) that you are not only naturall membres of one body wyth the poore creatures of this realme: but alſo by religion you are membres of the ſame miſticall body of Chriſt, who is the head of vsus all (his membres) and eſtemeth all that is done to the leſte of vsus his membres, as done to hym ſelfe. For he ſayth.

☞ What ſo euer ye do to the leſte of theſe litle ones that beleue in me: ye do it vntounto me.Mat. 25.Matt 25

If you therefore, neither wyll your ſelues oppreſſe our ſauiour Chriſte in his membres, nor ſuffre other to do it: fayle not to fynde a redres of this greate oppreſſion, whiche I hauehave declared to the ſame ende. And thē I doubt not, but God ſhall ſo worke wyth you: that eueryevery man ſhall wyllyngly embrace a reformation of all mattiers of religiō. For the ſpirit of God ſhall dwell in you and in vsus all, and Chriſte himſelf (as he hath promiſed) ſhall bee in the myddes amonge you. Wher as contrariwiſe, if you ſuffer our loueinge ſauiour thus to be oppreſſed, he wyll forſake you, he wyll leaue you to the ſpirite of errour. Your reformacions ſhal take no place. All your diuiſes ſhall be abhominable in his ſyght, becauſe ye hauehave not purged your handes from the bloude of this oppreſſion.

Let the decres whych were eſtablyſhed in thys place by a parliam…nt aſſembled for a lyke purpoſe: be your preſidēt, not to folow, but to beware by them that ye eſtabliſh not the lyke.

The intent of that aſſemble was noleſſe to refourm the abuſes of our religion then thys is. But becauſe Chriſte was not deliuered frome oppreſſion: he woulde not be amonge them.

They were not congregated in hys name, but rather agaynſte hym and hys doctrine, for he hym ſelfe is dear louelove, & (as his Apoſtle Iohn writeh) wher this dear louelove is not,1. Epiſt. 4. ther is not he. Thys thynge is well proued by theyr proceadynges in the ſame Parliament. For they eſtabliſhed articles euen directly agaynſt Gods worde forbedynge to mary, and cōmaundynge to put aſunder thoſe that God hath ioyned together

☞ If you wyll call theſe articles into queſtion agayne (as in dede you hauehave iuſte occaſion to do) I doubt not but you ſhal be fully perſwaded that they proceaded of the ſpirit of erroure and not of the ſpirite of God, becauſe the charitie of God was not amonge them in that aſſemble.

Other thynges therbe wherby the pore mēbres of Chriſte in thys noble realme, are oppreſſed, wherof I hauehave made no mention, partely becauſe I am loth to offende wyth the multitude of my rude wordes, & partely for that I know you can not ſeke for a redres of theſe thynges wherof I hauehave ſpoken: but the other wil offer them ſelues vntounto you. I meane the greate Extortion and Vſurie that reigneth frely in thys realme, and ſeme to be authoriſed by Parliament wythin theſe .iii. yeres laſte paſte.

☞ The Cleargie of the Citie of London, hauehave for theyr parte optayned by Parliament, authoritie to ouer tēthes euen after the exēple of the landlordes and leaſemongers, and maye by the vertue of the acte requir for double rentes, double tenthes. If the rent of any kynde of houſyng or groūde wythin the Citie of Lō don be raiſed (as ther is in dede veri much) frō x.s, to xx.s: than may the perſone (whoe had before but xvi.d. ob.) by the vertu of this act, demaunde .ii.s .ix.d, the double. Byſydes this, the exactions that they take of the pore cōmons, is to much beyonde al reaſon and conſcience. No couple cā be maried, but theſe mē muſt hauehave a dutie, as the call it. No woman may be purified, but they and theyr ydle miniſters muſt hauehave ſome duties of hir. None cā be buried but they wyll hauehave a flieſe. Not three monethes before the beginning of this preſēt Parliamēt: I had iuſt occaſion to be at the paymēt of this dutie for y^e buriyng of an honeſt pore mā, whoſe frē des were wylling to hauehave his body reuerendly laied in the ground, & according to the cuſtome, gaue warninge to the curate that they woulde brynge the deade body to the churche: deſiryng him that he would do his dutie and to be there to receyue it, and accordyng to the cuſtome, to laye it in the grounde. But thys Rauen ſmellyng the carion: coulde not but reueile it to the other carion byrdes of the ſame church, and ſo woulde needes come all together in a flocke to fetche theyr praye, wyth croſſe and holy water as they were wonte to do, notwythſtandynge the Kynges Iniunctions and late viſitation. The frendes of the deade man refuſed al thys and required to hauehave no more but the cōmune coffen to put the body in, agreynge to paye to the keeper therof his accuſtomed dutie, and in lyke maner to the graue maker, and the foure poore men to cary the bodye, ſo that the whole charges had ben but .vii.d.

☞ But when the corps was buried, wythout other croſſe or holy water ſtycke, Dirige, or Maſſe, with praiers of as ſmal deuotion, as any pore curate could ſay, yet muſt we needes paye .vii.d. more That is to ſaye .i.d. to the curate, whiche he called an heade peny, and .vi.d. to .ii. clerkes that we had no neede of.

☞ Thys was done in Sepulchres pariſhe in the Citie of Lodon. And if it ſhall pleaſe any of this noble aſſemble to trye the truth of this: I wyl verifie it where ſo euer I ſhal be called, euen in the preſence of all the ydle miniſters of the ſame churche.

☞ This hauehave I written (moſte worthy counſailours) to gyue you an occaſiō to ſet ſuch an ordre in thys and ſuche other thynges, that either we may hauehave miniſters founde vppon the tēthes that we paie yerli to the churches: other els that it maye be leaful for vsus to do ſuch miniſteries our ſelues, and not to be thus cōſtrained to feede a ſorte of carion crowes, whiche are neuer ſo mery as when we lament the loſſe of our frendes.

☞ Thys muche hauehave I ſpoken of the extortion that reygneth frely in the Clergie. Nowe, wyth your pacience, I wyl with like breuitie, ſpeake of the great & intollerable vſurie, which at this daie, reigneth ſo frely this realme ouer al, and chiefely in the Citie of London: that it is taken for moſte leaful gaines. Yea it is welmoſte hereſie to reproue it, for men ſay it is alowed by Parliament. Wel. The moſt part, I am ſure, of this moſt Godly aſſemble and parliamēt: do knowe that the occaſion of the acte that paſſed here cōcerning Vſurie: was the vnſaciable deſire of the vſurers, who coulde not be cōtēted with Vſurie, vnleſſe it were vnreaſonable much. To reſtrayne this gredy deſire of theirs therfore, it was cōmuned and agreed vpō, and by the authoritie of Parliament, decreed: that none ſhould take aboue .x.li. by yere for the lone of an .C.li.

☞ Alas that euer any chriſtiā aſſēble ſhould be ſo voied of gods holy ſpirite, y^t they ſhould alowe for leaful: any thynge that Gods word forbiddeth, Be not abaſhed (moſt worthy counſaylours) to cal this acte into queſtion againe. Scan the wordes of the Pſalmiſt concerning this matter, Lorde, ſayth he, who ſhal enter into thy tabernacle, and who ſhal reſt in thy holy moūtaine? H… anſwereth. That entreth w^tout ſpot & worketh ryght. That ſpeaketh truth in his hert, & hath not deceiued w^t his tonge, that hath done his neighbour ho harme, nor accepted any reproche againſt his neighbour. He regardeth not the wicked: but thē that feare the Lorde, he glorifieth & praiſeth. He y^t ſwereth to his neighbour & deceyueth hym not. He y^t hath not giuē his money vntounto vſurie, & hath not taken gyftes & rewardes agaynſt the innocent.

☞ If you (moſte chriſtian counſaylours) do glorie in the knowledge of Gods ſpirite, who hath ſpokē theſe wordes by the prophet: howe can you ſuffre this acte to ſtande which ſhalbe a witnes againſt you in the later day, that you alowe that, which Goddes ſpirite forbiddeth?

☞ If he that geueth not his money to Vſurie: ſhal dwell in the Lordes tabernacle: where ſhal he dwel that giueth his money to Vſury? ſhal he not be ſhutte out & caſt into vtter darknes? Theyr workes be contrary, & why ſhould not their rewarde be alſo contrary? If the one be receyued in: the other muſt be ſhut out. Yea and you that hauehave made this lawe, vnleſſe you do reuoke it and eſtablyſh an act to the c…ntrary: the Brydegroume, the onelyonly ſonne of God, ſhal at the laſte daye deny you and ſaye that he neuer knewe you,Math. 7.Matt 7 Depart frō me, ſhal he ſaye, al ye workers yf iniquitie. Scanne the wordes of the Prophete therfore, and ſcanne the wordes of oure ſauioure Chriſte alſo, in the .vi. of Luke, where he ſayeth thus. Do you lende lokynge for no gaynes therof, and your rewarde ſhalbe plentuous, and you ſhalbe ſonnes of the higheſt, bicauſe he is gentle & liberall, towarde the vnthankful and wicked.

☞ I am not ignoraunte what Gloſſes hauehave ben made vponupon this place, and howe men hauehave wreſted & made it no precept, but a counſaile of our ſauiour, & therfore not to infer neceſſitie to chriſtians but to leaue them at libertie either to do it or leaue it vndone.

☞ Oh mercifull Lorde, what maner of religion is it that theſe men profeſſe?

☞ They boaſt them ſelues to bee the diſciples of Chriſte and ſetters forthe of his glorie.

☞ They wyll beare the name of hym and be called chriſtians, and yet wylbe at libertie to choſe whether they luſte, to folowe hys counſayle or leaue it vndone.

☞ Our ſhepherd Chriſte, of whoſe flocke they boaſte them ſelues to bee, ſayeth that hys ſheepe heare his voyce and folowe hym.

And immediatly before, he ſheweth,Iohn. 10John 10 the cauſe why the Iewes dyd not credyt hys wordes, to be none other: but that thei wer not his ſhepe.

☞ And doubte ye not (moſte worthy counſaylours) what ſo euer he is that wyll defende or teach, that any one lytle iote of the counſayles of Chriſt ſhoulde be ſo vaynly ſpoken that any of hys flocke myght refuſe to practiſe the ſame in hys lyuynge to the vttermoſte of hys power: is noleſſe then a membre of the Deuell, and a verey Antichriſte.

☞ For he that deſyreth not in hys herte to practiſe in his lyueynge, all the counſayles of Chriſte our maiſter and teachar: ſhall be numbred amonge the obſtinate Iewes, for none of the flocke of Chriſt, becauſe he heareth not his voice nor foloweth him. Thus I mak an ende

Wyſhyng vntounto you (moſt worthy counſaylours) y^e ſame ſpirit that in y^e primitiue church gaue vntounto the multitude of beleuers,Actu. 4. one herte one mynde, & to eſteme nothyng of this worlde as theyr owne, miniſtrynge vntounto eueryevery one accordyng to his neceſſities. That you led by the ſame ſpirite, may at the leſtwaye, ordeine ſuch a lawe that the oppreſſiō of the pore reigne not frely amonge them that beare the name of chriſtians, But if they wyll be ſtyll oppreſſyng the pore membres of Chriſt after once or twyſe admoniciō: let them nomore be named chriſtians after Chriſt whom thei ſerue not, but Māmoniſtes after Māmon whoſe badge they beare. And this reformacion had, no doubt the maieſtie of God ſhal ſo appere in all your decres, y^t none ſo wicked a creature ſhalbe foūde ſo bold as once to opē his mouth againſt the ordre that you ſhal take in al matters of religion. Yea the very enimies of Dauid ſhall do Omage vntounto Solomō for his wiſdom. Al the Kynges chriſtined ſhal learne at you to reforme theyr churches. You ſhalbe eu…n the light of al the world.

☞ But if ye lette theſe thynges paſſe and regarde thē not: be ye ſure the Lorde ſhal cōfoūd your, wiſdome. Inuent, Decre, Eſtabliſh and authoriſe what you cā: al ſhal come to nought. The wayes that you ſhall inuent to eſtablyſhe vnitie and concord: ſhalbe the occacions of diſcorde. The thynges wherby you ſhal thinke to wyn prayſe through al the worlde: ſhal tourne to your vtter ſhame, and the wayes y^t you ſhall inuent to eſtablyſh a kyngdome: ſhalbe the vtter ſubuerciō of the ſame. The mercifull father of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, indue you wyth hys ſpirit, that you be not parttakers of theſe plages.

AMEN

End of the text · Robert Crowley, Petition Against the Oppressors of the Poor Commons of this Realm (1548)