The bayte [and] snare of fortune Wherin may be seen that money is not the only cause of mischefe and vnfortunat endes: but a necessary mean to mayntayne a vertuous quiet lyfe. Treated in a dialoge betwene man and money.

The Baite and Snare of Fortune . Money begynneth . O All mankynde desyrous of honour , That woulde of worldly welth haue iouys●aunce Cum hyther to me that am of wurthy valour . I am the prince perelesse in puissaunce My name is money , that haue in gouernaunce All wurthy faytes to lose or els to bynde : Ech● man requyreth to haue myne acquayntaunce , For good Fortune by my frendship they fynde . ●o lorde there is , lady , nor chorle of kinde , What for my power and wise circumspeccion , That they ne beare to me a louing minde , And gladly would lyue vnder my proteccion : What man of himselfe by might or wise inspection , Without my meane can wurke a worthy dede ▪ None doubtles , for I set all in good direccion : Who lacketh money is not like to spede . Man aunswereth . WYth boasting wordes thy selfe how doest thou lau●e , Presumpcion in thee appereth to be great : Thou art false money , full of deceit and fraude . In vaunting wordes is set thy full conceite , Of cursednes thou art the chiefe receit : I am the man that shall it proue anon , Against thy pride so shall I lay a bayte , And cast thée forth a bone to pike vpon . In all the lawes and bokes many one I finde how thou art roote of all mischief , Through thee full many a wight hath misgone : For vnto man thou art so dere and lyef , That he becummeth a robber , and a thief , For thee forsaking God and algoodnes , And hanged is at last for thee with great reprief : This wage be winneth by thy worthines . Money . MAn I perceiue thou speakest without thy boke ▪ But I shall aunswere to thy foolishnes : Thy wit is nought it standeth all a croke , Thy tounge is racle , thy wit is rechles Thus to reporte of me suche wickednes That neuer knowingly against thee did ne spake : With me to dispute thy minde is great ( I gesse ) Speke what thou wilt , and answere shall I make . Vnto my faite good hede if thou doe take , Who lacketh me he liketh not easely , Displeasure and thought doth bring him vnto wrake And ploungeth his hert full ofte in fantasye : Marchandise he seeth to sell , and faine would bye But I am away that euer doe the dede . Than sinketh his thought in depe melancoly Distresse and dolour doth cause his hert to blede . Man . THou speakest inough but holde me yet excuse Thy worde to beleue , for al thine appetite On leasing is set , that man were well abused That woulde for thy bost , and wordes white Haue in the fauoure , loue , or els delyte : For whos lyst to liue at libertie And of displeasure and trouble would be quite Oughte as fro a serpent fro thy loue to flie . All wickednes is wrought by meane of thee As Robberies , rapine , vsury , and strife With fraude , flattery , disceite and subtiltie Brawling and barat , with all misordered lyfe . Thou raisest debate betwixe the man and wife Thou causest man oft to sweare bloud , armes , and braynes And sodainly at last he dieth vpon a knife All for thy loue , thys is a goodly gaynes . Money . THou speakest not well , I tell thee man againe , For who that hath me is honoured as a lorde , A knaue can I make for nede a captaine The great man shall lowte ( and neuer to remorbe ) Vnto the villayne , the wise man shall accorde Lowly to the foole , his bonet to auale With master Doctour in mouth at euery worde And knee to grounde to boote him of his bale . But he that lacketh my frendship in his male Had he the strength of Samson in his time , The tongue of Tully for to tell his tale , And Salomons wit liuing without crime , Yet for he hath no helpe nor succoure by me The people in play shal point him with the finger Loe there goeth a semesypher in algorisme , There goeth a wretch , a foole , and a barat bringer . Man . WEre it not that I haue intelleccion Reason and wisdum to knowe what is what , Thy foolish presumcion and hardy obieccion Would bring me in doubte what for this or that , Whether I should beleue thy wordes or nat : By iust probacion yet trust I for to finde Good matter inough thy boasting and barat Clerely to confounde , and make thy reason blynde . Ful oft I thinke and muse in my mynde Vpon thy faite thou cursed creature , Encombred thou hast full many of mankynde , As well is founden written in Scripture : Such fantasie men haue vnto thy false figure And so desire thy cursed acquaintaunce That the poore soule may seke his aduenture , So dost thou draw them to the diuils daunce . Money . BE stil man I say , for I haue litel Ioye Thus to heare thee Iangle as he that taketh no hede . Who builded London that named was newe Troye But I puisant peny , that eche man cloth and fede . Euer groweth grace out of my gromel sede Yorke , Lincolne , Linne , Leycestre , Lichfelde , and Lancasire I bilded Bristow , Bremingam and Barwik vpon twede Dureīme , Darby , Dorcestre , Douer , and Dancastre . Winchestre , Walden , Worcestre , Ware , Warwik & Westchestre Cambryge , Carleil , Couentre , Calais , and Canterbery Bath , Boston , Bedforde , Bokingham , Roeston , and Rochester Medlam , Manchestre , Malmesburi , Stawmforde , & Tukesbury Southamton , Sandwith , Sud●u●y , sa●●t Albons & Salesbury Northamton , Newarke , No●●ngham , New Ca●●●● vpon Tine Great cause may I haue , for to be glad and m●r● , Sith these and thousandes moe be made by me and mine . Man . TO heare thy wordes it is a w●●●nes For neuer was noble C●t●● 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , But by the occasion of thy ●●●s●dnes Hath been destroied ful many 〈…〉 C●●●● ▪ Howbeit mankinde by great subtil●●e ▪ By diligent laboure and politike prudente Through out the world in euery countrey Hath made many Cities and townes 〈…〉 Not by thy meane , but by experience Of his pregnant wisdum in eche op●r●cion ▪ He made and forged thee by high and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Of earth that is matter most vile 〈…〉 Thou geuest to thy selfe a great 〈…〉 As profitable to man , which is eche 〈…〉 Full many a fayre Citie to vtter 〈…〉 By thee hath been brought , that 〈…〉 Money GReatly hast thou erred as manner well a●●●s●● Me thus to rebuke , and vtterly dispise , Full litel reason is in thy head comprised Me thus to reproue it is no gentil gu●se . Great lordes and ladies that be both good and wise And al degrees haue me in lane and fauour And gladly a meane would finde and deuise My kinde acqueintaunce to purchase euery houre . Thou knowest how god the high 〈…〉 Of earth hath formed man after his 〈…〉 Of al the worlde he made him gouernoure And after that , I wil not kepe in cage How man made me with crosse and crowned 〈◊〉 Out of the earth wherof himselfe he came , Why should man be contrary to me in his 〈◊〉 Sith he came of the earth and I came of the 〈◊〉 Man . AS in this case thou sayest me trouth in dede , God hath made man of erth a vyle substaunce This do I beleue as parcell of my crede But than god gaue him soule made to his owne semblance . With many faire giftes he did him than aduaunce Endowed him with vertue , grace , wysdome , and reason , To order him and his , and do his obseruaunce Vnto god his maker , whan time requireth and season . A thinge vnreasonable art thou not worthy two peason Vnworthy to be compted of gods high creacion But man him self the made , whan grace was with him geason As nought out of nought , by cursed instigacion Of subtil Sathanas that gaue him informacion : Than welth , grace and goodnes their roumes gan to resigne , Thy pride amonges Princes toke such a dominacion That many royall royalmes ben brought vnto ruine . Money . THough doest great wrong so strongly me to blame , That god hath made man of the .iiii. Elementes . To serue him as his lorde , I fully graunt the same , In Genesis written the mat●er euident is : And man hath made me ( what nede these argumente● ) In semblable wyse to serue him at his nede , Liuing by reason ▪ and as conuenient is Preseruing his soule from vice in worde and dede . Whan god formed man ( thy selfe thou mayst it rede ) He gaue him fre will that he in all goodnes Might make here in erth his profit and his spede Of me and all other creatures more and les : Syth man hath reason , and will of his lightnes Misuse me , putting his soule in ieopardy , Should I be blamed ▪ for his vnstablenes No god forbid , there is no reason why ? Money . BE still false money , and vnderstand my sawes Ful cursed art thou , and made all in dispite , Of reason , of right , decrees , and all good lawes : For after that man had made the for delite The golden world furthwith was quenched quite , What time all ioye was to the people rife No crosse nor coyne of the not worth a myte Had they that tyme , and ledde a mery lyfe . Their Marchandise they gaue man chylde and wyfe One thinge for an other by way of Innocence , Al riches was commune without barat or strife Tresours men hated as deth or pestilence : Ful ioyously they lyued without concupiscence Of the , that art nowe the causer of all vyce . Thy cursed coyne and inconuenience So brenneth mennes hertes with fyre of auarice . Money . THy wordes as Iapes ought wel to be recompted For by thy speche Ise thou wouldest susteyne That one man than , an other not surmounted : It is not trouth , for it appereth playne Howe sum were subiectes , and sum were soueraigne , Record I rake in the olde testament Of Nembroth the great , as kinge and Capitaine That had great people to him obedient . Wherfore I siluer , as thing expedient Was sought out and coyned , mankinde to succoure , None Emperoure there is , King , Duke , ne Regent But I must vpholde his dignitie and honoure : Who maynteyneth Iustyce but myne excellent power ? Who ponisheth mysdoers that doe the poer oppresse , Who wageth the seruaunt who paieth the souldeour , But I pu●●sant ●eny that doth all wronges redresse . Man . NAy leaue out rebres , and say that do all wrong , For when truth is tried that wyl be the conclusion . Is Iustice doen by money : for shame stop thy tong , Such wourdes to pronounce it a great abusion : ●ay Iustice by money is brought to clere confusion . But noble wisemen that reason haue in store With connyng and conscience , and cast for no collusion By these is Iustice exalted evermore . But by false mean these depe men in lore , Haue oft a crossed cloude cast afore their sight , That neuer a true letter written them before Can be vnderstand , so stopped is the lyght : The poore man hath his matter made wrong out of the right , And thervpon is geuen false iudgement : Thus iustice by thee reuerced lyeth vpright , And law depe in the dyke is dryuen down and drent . Money AS for an answer , I say vnto thee man , Parte of thy wordes be true , I doe consent , Saying that the lawes be ended now and than By great learned men of wise entendment . But who so euer before them doth present His righteous matter without my help in hande His case vp so downe is cast incontinent , The grounde therof they can not vnderstande . But he that hath treasure , golde , siluer , house and lande , He shall be obeyed as lord with yonge and olde , That man may leade the world well in a bande . For eche man to him geueth , and sayeth , good mayster holde . Who so hath De quibus , hath pleasures manyfolde , Him nedeth not to care for children ne for wife , For trouble or vexacion , for hunger or for colde , He taketh no thought , but leadeth a mery life . Man . The more we dispute , the falser doo , I fynde Thy wordes peuish peny , for man without measure Hath payne for thy sake , though his desirous mynde . Bothe nyght and daye with all his busie cure , Ouer hylles and dales ( alas poore creature ) He rydeth , he runneth , and ouer sea he sayleth , He dyggeth , he delueth , and dolour doth endure For peny , yet his peine sumtime him nought auaileth . If man would marke wel how peny him preuayleth , A mer'uaylous thyng it wer for to consider . To serue hys maker both nyght and day he fayl●th , But mynde of money hym draweth he careth not whyder He renneth for money now hyther and now thyder , More daungerous in dede thou arte and poysonable Than is the venym of serpent , toade , or spyder , Through mynde of money is man made myserable . Money . IF man woulde be content with suffisaunce Of worldly substaunce , hauiour , and ryches He shoulde for certayne lyue without greuaunce , Without suthe trauayle , peyne , and busines , Happy shoulde he bee me peny to posses , To lyue for euer in ioy , disporte and pleasure . And yf hym lyst , so gouerne hym doutles , To be without all rancour and displeasure . But sith he cannot be content with measure , Much trauaile and payne behoueth it him to take Pennies to purchase with riche substaunce and treasure . Quietnes and rest for me he doth forsake , with trauaile and paine he is content to wake Because he knoweth my puissaunt excellence Me to assemble with meanes that he can make , He doeth him endeuour with all his diligence . Man . HE that on money so fixeth his entent More wicked he is than euer was Iudas , Leading his life in sorow and tourment , And euer a bydyng a miserable caas , Of vi●es an heape , he hath both more and lasse , As couetise and pride , with clasping nygardy , Trechery also him shall not ouerpas , Enuy nor wrath , nor wretthed vsury . In him is neyther law , prudence , nor pollicy To do a good dede he neuer can haue leasure : All grace and goodnes haue leaue to passe by , His mynde is set hollie of riches to haue seasure , In detestable vites is set his only pleasure , And goodes for to assemble in great aboundaunce , Wherof he hath no mynde againe to make disseasure , But poore men to punishe vnto the ou●traunce . Money . TO heare thee speake , it semeth plaine in dede That man without me with sinne is neuer blent : That is not so , nowe take vnto me hede . Whan Sathan with subtiltie doeth mannes mynde preuent , And than of his lyghtnes inclineth his entent Aduertence to geue vnto his false temptacion , And after doeth the dede with foule and vile consent , Shall I beare the blame for his abhominacion ? Nowe marke well my saying , after the worldes creacion First was made Adam , as father of mankinde : Who fell not long after to preuaricacion . His makers commaundement as creature vnkinde , Right sinfully he transgressed , so pride made him blynde : Cain after mourdered Abel the meane tyme was not long . That tyme was I vncoyned , therfore man chaunge thy mind To blame me of all euils , in dede thou dost great wrong . Money . This is a faire excuse if it might be so taken , Yet infinite euils thou causest and offence : Goddes high commaundement for thee is oft forsaken , His lawes be broken by disobedience . Men drawe to them Money with all their diligence , By barat , by subtiltie , by rapine and deceyt : The poore thou defoulest by forse and violence , That beg must he nedes , thou holdest him so straite . Enuy thou raisest among them that be great , That many Royalmes therby decay and be destroyed , Slaine are the Captaynēs , and wrath lyeth in awayte Til cities and townes are perished and annoyed : On misery and mischief thus money is employed , For money man applieth him to all abhominacion . Grace and good maners for thee he doeth auoyde : No reason can be layed to this , nor replication . Money . If I lacked reason against thee to reply , My matter wer lyke ful porely to be stayed , Yf all these euilles and wretched misery Myght be founde in me that thou hast to me layed In thee wer than the ryght , it myght not be denayed : But man of his nature he is so myserable with all the worldes wealth he can not be appayed His mynde euermbreis so insaciable . The deuylles temptation to him is acceptable That Cresus the kyng was not so couetous : In all his dedes than is he varyable , A brawler , a baratour , and oft sedicious And yet wurst of all he is so letherous That he 〈…〉 consumeth in fowle fornication . Beware yet I aduise him , for pockes be perylous , Least theyr vnclenly corrosgues hym cal to consummation . Man . YF I of my lyghtnes would to thee condescende , Thou wouldest blase thyself as creture good and true . Nay glutton , the wynde standeth in an other ende : Thou makest women wanton , and to auoyd vertue , For thee they sell theyr bodyes , and so they do ensue With vicious lyuyng theyr sensuall appetite : Yet lechery at last theyr bale sumtyme doeth brue , That oft they lyue in dolour after theyr foule delyte . Spouse●reche with sum is counted not a myte , So money may be gotten they care not how or what : Fyne keuerchefes as silke , and smockes as snow so white , Hattes , kyrtles , gounes & gyrdles , this geat must nedes be gat With brouches , beades , and ringes , and who shal pay for that ? The husbandes be so poore , they lacke both golde and gages : To ●inde therfore sum frendship where florens be more fat , Oft fall they to aduoutry , and breake theyr mariages . Money . ANd I make aunswere apertly yet agayne That thy woordes be neyther true nor stable : I am in no wise cause ▪ I tell it thee for certayne Though woman by her wit and mynde that is mutable Doe otherwise than right , as frayle and variable , Two thinges in women make hourely theyr inuasion , Enducinge them euer to warkes vituperable : For of all vertue these two be chief abrasion . The fyrst may be called the false perswasion Of Sathanas that neuer ceaseth them to assayle : The other is ambition , these two be the chief occasion That man nor woman in vertue can preuayle , And womens heartes of nature be so frayle , Light as the leaf , and mouyng as the wynde , Redy to consent to thinges of none auayle , That they of afterclaps haue no thought nor mynde . Man . FVll cursed art thou money and muche vnfortunate , And founden wast thou fyrst in euyll time and tyde , The kardes , the dice , and other plaies inordinate , By thee ben vp brought , wherby God is renyed , And newly with blasphemies and othes crucified . By thee are committed vices out of numbre , His poore soule to perysh to man thou art a gyde , And death with euill ende at last him doth obumbre . Thou teachest him the maner his soule to encombre , Wherby he renieth God , and wilfully offendeth , For thee by night and daye withouten slepe or slombre , All vices he auaunceth , no vertue he entendeth . The poore for all his pouertie by thee his porcion spendeth , The world goeth to wretchednes by thee , and to destruction . By thee to fowle enormitie all goeth , and there it endeth , For to all wretched wickednes thou art induction . Money . THou speakest I perceyue without consideracion . So cruelly to blame me of all enormitie : Mine armes in dede thou blasest in an homely fashion . Marke well my wurdes a whyle now I pray thee , Where seest thou any man that is of grauitie Blaspheming his God , or swearing by his name ? Neuer in thy life , this lesson take of me , But riotours and rybaldes that haue no dread of shame . The wise man that loueth his honour and good fame Blasphemyng his maker thou shalt hym neuer here , In play , disporte , and pastyme , in gladnes and in grame , He hath respect to sadnes , his reason is so nere . But baratours and brayneles brybours met in fere , Theyr maker they dismember , and on his name they wunder , At table , at tauerne , at churche , and euery where : Great horror is to hear , howe they rent hym asunder . Man . THou myghtest be a minion to kepe good company , For tounge thou hast ynough thy matter to susteyne : If I vnto thy purpose consent woulde or applie , Thou wouldest say here that Iesus our kyng and souerayne Is not by thee offended , yes yes , I tell the plaine , By night of tunes a million , and muche more by the daie . Who woulde to thee geue credence a foole he wer certaine , For thou art full of ficcion , thy wurdes be false alwaie . But answer nowe my question penie I thee praie , That thinkest thee so myghty , so sterne , so gay and stoute : Yelde me a solucion to this that I shall saie , Concerning a matter wherof I stande in doute : Thou sayest that by thy maistrie thou bringest muche aboute , And of thy wurthie valour great ●ost doest thou blowe : What is thy puissaunt power , I praie thee speake it oute ? For this is all the matter that I woulde of thee know . Money . WEll doe I vnderstand thy purpose and intention , And also perceiue th effect of thy demaunde : It is not so harde , nor of so high inuencion , But yf thou wer in Tems in midwarde of the sande , I shoulde full well assayle it ere thou mightest cum to land ▪ My valour and power thy question is to knowe , It is no littel matter thou shalt it vnderstande , I am of noble fame , beloued with high and lowe . Vpon the churche of God great substance I bestowe , The ministers that seuer hym be all at my wages : The poore haue my succour in hunger , frost , and snowe , I feede both horse and man in holy pilgrimages . For faier yong lusty maydens I purchase mariages : Whan Churches and chapels be falling in dekay , I must make reparacion : with masters and with pages My helpe must nedes be had , or els there is no pay . Man . WIth wordes thou wouldest susteine that no good dede Is doen without thee , thine aide , or assistens : Which all I denye , and shall it proue for nede That euer been thy wordes vnworthy of credence : Vntrue art thou euer , and by thy false pretens , Doest teache men the trace of all iniquitie . Prouoking him euen to inconueniens , And plounging his heart in great perplexitie . Affirme wouldest thou faine by thy peruersiti● . That man cannot be saued from endles paine Without thy fauour , thine aide and amitie , Wherin I say no reason doeth remaine : Full many a soule ( more pitie it is certaine ) Is damned by thee to euerlasting fire . And many one moe in ioye should euer raigne If they should leaue thy loue in hote desier . Money . REgarde man and consider as reason wil discerne , How I as of my selfe can nothing doe ne say : In thee lieth al the dede , that hast me to gouerne , Wherfore if thou of thy lightnes thee list by night or day To leade me that am blinde no streite but croked way , The fault if we fall is thine , not mine in dede . To order me aright it is no childes play , Looke therfore ere thou leape , the better shalt thou spede . I am the post and piller vnto all Adams seede , The father of the faith sumtime is made by me , The Pope I meane , Gods vicar , and captaine of his crede , Great Emperours and Kinges I crowne in magestie , Duke , Marquise , earle , baron , and Lordes of eche degree . Riche Cardinals , Archbishops , the bishop and his Deane , Abbot , Priour , prouest , the bailife with his fee All that haue promocion may thanke me and my meane . Man . O Money full of vanitie , thou makest me all dismayed , Considering and knowyng thy fraude and faculties , Wherwith full nere the worlde is destroyed and decayed : Men be I graunt full of vice and vanities , In townes , in boroughes , in castels and cities : But this notwithstandyng at last Atropos kerueth A sunder theyr heartes , as she that without pitie is , So goeth the corps to earth , the soule as it deserueth . By arrogance oultrageous thy tounge on vanting swerueth , Saving that by money be pourchased high estates , Bothe Emperour and Kyng at last by death he sterueth , That auayleth it then theyr floreyns and ducates ? Eche prince and prelate the darte of death chekmates . Record may be taken of Ceasar and Pompeus , Of Alexander , of Arthure , and Hector past theyr dates , Of Charlemayn , gentle Iosue , and Iudas Machabeus . Money . THy wysedome to redresse , and spirites to reuiue , And of thy troubled reason to make a reformacion , Of Adam thy fyrst father sumwhat I shall discryue . Immortall was he made by God at his creation , But after that by Sathanas subtyl instigacion , He fed hym with the frute , therwith he dyd transgression , And so becam he mortal , for death tooke dominacion And mortall still continueth of man the hole succession . Sith death on father Adam thus tooke his fyrst possession , He proudely executeth his priuilege eche houre On prelate , prince and poore man he vseth his oppression , Indifferently he dealeth as wel with ryche as poure , As soone the young as olde he dayly doeth deuour . To caytyfes he is comfort for al disease he cureth . Aboue all kynges and Capitanes he is a conqueront , His pryde shall neuer perish whyle the worlde endureth . Man . O money all thy wurdes I do well vnderstand , But nothyng to my pourpose doe I in them espy , Thy sayinges to deny styll will I take in hand , And sum what on thy backe of charge yet lay shall I. I knowe to thyne opinion eche person will applye , For al men are glad to haue thyne alliaunce , The poore is deceyued , the ryche hath gaynes therby , Men fauoure thy faulse fygure and haue therin affiaunce . The rychman oppresseth the pore by his puissaunce : And whan the poore fyndeth hym self at indigence , Wrongfully intreated and dryuen to penaunce , His reason than he leaseth , his wit and intelligence , Turmentyng hymself by great impacience : His maker he blasphemeth , all halowes he despyteth . And who causeth all this inconuenience , But mony , that euer to mischyfe men encyteth . Mony . THe ryche peraduenture oppresseth nowe and than , The pore man in dede : but who is cause of this ? Couetise and auarice the daughters of Sathan , Euermore entising a man to w●cke amis : The Church they despoyle , the poore the poste may kis , For nothyng they leaue hym , to plaine hym nought auayleth . Shal I than beare the blame ? no lay it where it is : Laye the blame on rapine that so vniustly dealeth . I knowe it of trouth , whan drede mannes mynde assayleth . When he draweth in age to fall in pouerty , Considering howe peny in purse hym much preuaileth , As neybour that is necessary in eche necessity , His fauour and affection enclyneth muche to me , And good reason why : for who that may not haue To helpe hym in his age , in carefull case is he , An hundred tymes a day he wysheth for his graue . Man . INough hast thou pronounced , nowe shal I thee confounde : By thee as I haue sayde , was lost the worlde of golde . But no we marke wel the wurdes that I shal tel thee rounde , By thee the gentyll Iesus vnto the Iewes was solde , Whych after his great paynes and passions manyfolde Was stretched on a tree , and naked therto nayled , Best aied he was by Iudas , for thyrty penies tolde , Thy cursed coyne with couetise so strongly him assayleth . Great cause hath now the S●a●●ot to wepe & to bewaile it , That euer thou wast founden or fro the erth out tried : For to haue been vnborne it had hym more auayled , Than to haue ●eought the treason wherby his master died . But where is now the traytour , the thefe , the homicide ▪ With Sathan and his feres in the infernall glede . In perdurable paynes behoueth him to abyde , For loue of thee faulse money loe thus he hath his mede . Money . I Se thy hart is great , with wurdes thou woldest defame me Reproching me that Iesus should be by me betrayed : With helpe of cursed Iscariot vniustly doest thou blame me , Thou doest mistake the matter , vntruly hast thou sayed , Thou layest on me the blame , but holde thee man appayed , The trouth of the ma●ter I shal to thee expres . Three causes of his death in dede there may be layed , That he was soulde by treason as fyrst I wyll confes . The Iewes wer much disdaynous and ful of wickednes , Al soubtilties they searched , they set their false intent To death to haue him iudged they brought their false witnes Vnto their Prouost ●ylate their prince they dyd present , Who to his condemnacion dyd finally consent , For drede to be depriued and put out from his office , Though sound were none occasion , on Christ he gaue sentence Great crymes are thus committed by meane of auarice . Man . SO perfitely dispute agaynst thee can not I , But thou doest assoyle the same incontinent . To all my wurdes full wel thou doest reply . With apprebacion right conuenient . And so I do perceyue as by mine owne iudgement ▪ If man with his money would be so reasonable To vse it in vertue , and with a good entent , The vsage therof shuld neuer be dampnable . But when man of him selfe is so insaciable To couet worldly goodes without reason or measure , Ful wretched is he doubtles , and more than miserable Of his abhominacion it is a great displeasure , A man to haue money , welth , and worldly treasure In vertue to auaunce him , and vices to auoyde : Of his welth and welfare all other may haue pleasure , So he him crosse from couetise for doubte to be acloyde . Money . THree thinges there be to man as venim poysonable Whan they be all assembled the man for to assayle : The fyrst is age the croked with stouping limmes vnstable , On man he daily crepeth , no watching may auayle : And sicknes is the second that doeth the strength to fayle , The colour he consumeth , all pleasure he subdueth , The thyrde is paynfull pouertie , these thre be shreude catayle . Whan these be met in man theyr metyng sore he rueth . I say for my conclusion , all solace him ensueth That hath of pence plentie to take whan time requireth , He may lyue out of daunger , for euer his ioye renueth , But poore men that be penyles melancholy them fyreth , The poore opprest with pouertie ful of this death desyreth , So dulleth him his dolour , of God taketh he no hede , That after all his misery he wretchedly expireth To steale , to beg or borow , man is compelled for nede . Man . Worldly goodes by suffisaunce to man is necessary , To take them at his nede and serue him in goodnes , But yet he must regarde , for drede his welth miscary , That all his goodes be got by way of rightousnes . Let God alwayes be serued before all busines , In gatheryng of his goodes man may not vse deceate , Goodes kept agaynst al right , fy fy on such ryches , The pore must be relyued with clothyng , drinke and meate . Pride maye not bee exalted because the goodes be greate , In sumptousnes of clothing let measure be a mean , Let reason shape the fashion , not ouer large ne strayte , All prodigall expences is wisedome to refrayne . For he that is excessiue a caytyfe shal remayne . Whan Right hath gadered riches , let Reason than expende it In vertue , to the honour of God our soueraine , So order we our money that God be not offended . Finis .