A SPEECH TOUCHING PURVEYORS. 11 



noble progenitors kings of this realm, who from the 

 first king that endowed this kingdom with the 

 great charters of their liberties, until the last, all 

 save one, who as he was singular in many excellent 

 things, so I would he had not been alone in this, 

 have ordained, every one of them in their several 

 reigns, some laws or law against this kind of 

 offenders ; and especially the example of one of 

 them, that king, who for. his greatness, wisdom, 

 glory, and union of several kingdoms, resembleth 

 your majesty most, both in virtue and fortune, 

 King Edward III. who, in his time only, made ten 

 several laws against this mischief. The second is 

 the example of God himself; who hath said and 

 pronounced, ft That he will not hold him guiltless 

 &quot; that taketh his name in vain.&quot; For all these great 

 misdemeanors are committed in and under your 

 majesty s name : and therefore we hope your ma 

 jesty will hold them twice guilty that commit these 

 offences ; once for the oppressing of the people, and 

 once more for doing it under the colour and abuse 

 of your majesty s most dreaded and beloved name. 

 So then I will conclude with the saying of Pindarus, 

 &quot; Optima res aqua ;&quot; not for the excellency, but for 

 the common use of it ; and so contrariwise the matter 

 of abuse of purveyance, if it be not the most heinous 

 abuse, yet certainly it is the most common and 

 general abuse of all others in this kingdom. 



It resteth, that, according to the command laid 

 upon me, I do in all humbleness present this writing 



