III.] POOR MAN'S FRIEND. 49 



like which are killed, for the use of the better sort of 

 people, and the merchants; for whom also quails, 

 partridges, hares, and the like, are reserved, upon 

 pain of the galiies / as for their poultry, the soldiers 

 consume them, so that scarce the eggs, slight as they 

 are, are indulged them, by way of a dainty. And if 

 it happen that a man is observed to thrive in the world, 

 and become rich, he is presently assessed to the King^s 

 tax, proportionably more than his poorer neighbours, 

 whereby he is soon reduced to a level with the rest" 

 Then comes his description of the ENGLISH, at the 

 same time; those "priest-ridden" English, whom 

 CHALMERS and HUME, and the rest of that tribe, would 

 fain have us believe, were a mere band of wretched 

 beggars." The King of England cannot alter the 

 laws, or make new ones, without the express consent 

 of the whole kingdom in Parliament assembled. 

 Every inhabitant is at his liberty fully to use and 

 enjoy whatever his farm produceth, the fruits of the 

 earth, the increase of his flock, and the like : all the 

 improvements he makes, whether by his own proper 

 industry, or of those he retains in his service, are his 

 own, to use and enjoy, without the let, interruption, 

 or denial of any. If he be in anywise injured or 

 oppressed, he shall have his amends and satisfactions 

 against the party offending. Hence it is that the in- 

 habitants are rich in gold, silver, and in all the neces- 

 saries and conveniences of life. They drink no water, 

 unless at certain times, upon, a religious score, and 

 by way of doing penance. They are fed, in great 

 abundance, with all soi*ts of flesh and fish, of which 

 they have plenty every-where; they are clothed 

 throughout in good woollens; their bedding and other 

 furniture in their houses are of wool, and that in 

 great store. They are also well provided with all 

 other sorts of household goods and necessary imple- 

 ments for husbandry. Every one, according to his 

 rank, hath all things which conduce to make life easy 

 and happy." Go, and read this to the poor souls, 

 who are now eating sea-weed in Ireland ; who are 

 detected in robbing the pig-troughs in Yorkshire; 



