40 REINHOLD PAULI, 



the rightwisnes of Godd elles hadd wroiight, tbat suche, as hadd robbid 

 the pore peple in the reme, was likely to have ben robbid theym seif. 

 London hath cause to pray to Godd , that it raay be reformyd in such 

 wise, that Godd take not vengeaunce upon, that it hath distroyed the 

 holl reame. London is now in condicion, that all the peple therin are 

 merchaunts. So as no man therin can lifF with bodily werke to gete 

 his mete , but universally stodieth daily, how to gete lyvyng oon from 

 another by borowyng in wey of byeng and sellyng, covetous and falsehode 

 ever werkyng oon to begile another. So many brokers, that sekith bar- 

 gayns by wey of chevisaunce over long herin to write , how many weys 

 peple in the citie inventith oon to disceyve another , all pore peple, 

 whiche by handycraft can have no lyvyng of necessite fallyng to byeng 

 and sellyng of wynes in cellers and blynd lanes and kepyng alehowsis, 

 sellyng vitall : sowse^) poddyngs eggs butter chese and other thyngs, over 

 grett mervel to see, how all the citie is soo füll of alehowsis , vitallyng 

 howsis , Seilers and taverns, füll of resort of idull riotous peple , usyng 

 inordinat corapanyes of hawnts of harlotts, and norishyng such mysorder, 

 that comonly the usage and costance is of owtward famyliarite, every man 

 to desire another to make mery in all such howsis of ryott. For lakke 

 that pore peple hath noo labour and levyng by handy craft, causith all 

 such inordinate rule. If all peple may have labour and levyng well and 

 besyly occupied, shuld cause moche more quietnes in London and thorowt 

 all the reame. 



If a wise discrete cowncellor of the kyng by his gracious auctorite 

 and comaundement wold take upon hym to reforme the citie of London, 

 that all comon peple therin myght have labour and levyng in a right 

 Order to liff owt of necessite , shuld doo the most hyghest pleasure and 

 help to the spiritualtie of England^). That may be, the spirualtie know- 



1) Sackgassen. 2) to souse, pökeln. 



3) Auch Latimer, der London : repent ! repent ! zuruft, fügt hinzu : And ye that 

 be prelates, look well to your office; for rigHt prelating is busy labouring, and not 

 lording. Works I, 65. 



