_Oppr._ No! there is yet enough left for a better pluck. For some of them were aged, and yet would not die; And some would, in nowise, to our desires apply. But we have rods in piss for them everyone, That they shall be fleeced, if we reign, one by one.
_Avar._ And how did all frame with our Mounsire Authority?
_Oppr._ At length he won the full superiority.
_Adul._ But the rude gross People at him repineth sore; And against us, all four, with a wide throat doth he roar. But soft! peace! methinketh I hear him hem and hake; If we meet here, all four, we shall some order take.
INSOLENCE. ADULATION. OPPRESSION. AVARICE.
_Insol._ What, mine old friends, all three? by my truth, sirs, well found!
_Adul. and Oppr._ Faith, sir! most heartily welcome into this ground.
_Avar._ Have we? Nay! I have; but none for you, that I know! Lo, sir! thus might an honest man come to his harms; I will lie down on them, and keep them in mine arms.
_Insol._ Hast thou got all this? I myself have not so much.
_Avar._ Then have ye whole towns and castles; I have none such. Yet will ye not deny, I judge, in my fancy, That ye got them by the drift of me, Policy.
_Oppr._ All my lands are scarce so much worth.
_Avar._ They were less when I, Policy, first set you forth.
_Adul._ He hath purses with gold; would I had so many!
_Avar._ It were pity that such a goose should have any. Your good marsship appointed me to crumbs and scraps; But Policy will live by his neighbours, perhaps! But thus, I see, you would poll me, an ye wist how; Therefore, I will go hoard it, I make God a vow! I will make it sure under mine doors and mine locks; And, who but looketh that way, shall sit in nine stocks!
_Insol._ Nay! first declare to us how thou didst all this get.
_Avar._ For your learning I will you a spectacle set; But first get ye from me, and stand a good way hence; This shall not lie within your reach, by your licence! Nay, yet farther! lest ye take my bags for bloodings; For, such hungry dogs will slab up sluttish puddings.
_Avar._ Yea! now hardely stand there still, And the names of my bags to you declare I will. First and foremost, this bag is my very clear gain Of leases encroached, and forthwith sold again. This bag is mine interest of this year's usury; And this is of matters bolstered up with perjury. This is bribes above my stipend in office; This fifth I have by selling of benefices. This is my rents that my clerks yearly render me, To be and continue in office under me. This same I got by sectorship of my mother-- A vengeance on her, old witch, for such another! This bag have I kept of other sectorships whole, Which the mad knaves would have scattered by penny dole. This is of church goods, scraped up without a law; For which was as quick scambling as ever I saw: Of their plate, their jewels, and copes, we made them louts, Stopping People's barking with linen rags and clouts. They had th' altar cloths, th' albs, and amices, With the sindons in which were wrapt the chalices. This ninth hath beguiled the king of his custom; This tenth of selling counterfeit wares hath come. Now this eleventh is of tallow, butter, cheese, Corn, rawcloths, leather--by stealth sent beyond seas. This twelfth is of grain, bell-metal, tin and lead-- Conveyed out by creeks when Respublica was in bed. This thirteenth I filled through facing out of daws, Both from lands and goods, by pretence of the laws. Thus, these thirteen small jobs are mine by Policy; All men must shift for a poor living honestly. If e'er I bestow them it shall be, the next Lent, To the prior of Prickingham and his co[n]vent.