Of the Sees Enemies. 
fore I humbly and heartily entreat all thofc, whether they 
be high or low, which ftiall reape either profit or pleafureby 
thefe my paines, that they would endeuour, as much 
as in them lyeth , by themfelues and by their friends, 
th.at againft this odious rapine it may beenafted,as a Law 
of the Medes and Perftans which altereth not j that they 
which felonioufly breakeopen thefe true labourers houfes, 
ftiall, like other Houfe-breakers, bee deemed and iudgedas 
guiltieof Burglairie, and fo haue no benefit or fauour by the 
Mufes , that thus violate the Mufet facred Fauorites. And 
heerc,nowtny hand is in (though it may feeme a hard di- 
greflion ) let me begge the like boone for thofc other necef- 
farie creatures, which, for their like certaine and generall 
profit, the Prouerbc hath ioy ned with them in fpeciall conv 
mendation to the world. 
Who fo keepe well Sheepe a>:d Been, 
Sleeps or wake, their thrift comes in. 
They ferue for mans vfc both without and within , nor 
only to feed the belly, but alio to cloath the back : for which 
necelfaric vfes, they deferue efpecially to be beloued and 
defended of all. And yet I thinke that in any thing, nay 
in all things elfc, there is notfo much wrong and fpoilc 
done to the Countrey, as in them alone :.Shecpe-fteal- 
ing , through foolilh pittie, is now' grownc fo common 
and fo continually Whereby, befides the infinite Ioffes which 
true Subie&s daily fuffer in that kinde, the Commonwealth 
fuftainethan other great damage in Corne; the Husband- 
men oft-times fearing and forbearing to fold their Land, 
left their loflelhould be greater than their gaine. Surely,in 
my opinion, the very Boot-halers, or High-way-Robbers are 
more worthy fauour than luch. For they are men of more 
generous fpitits, both apt for feruice themfelues, and to 
breed bold Souldiersfor their Prince and Country, who, by 
good admonition, better imploiments,or confcienceof the 
linne,are oft-timesreclaimed : Whereas thefe Night-Rauens, 
for the moft part, are bafe cowardly Knaues, neither fit for * 
feruice, nor labour $ a meere burthen to the Common- 
wealths • 
“ : I I 
