and part of their masters' living), do come to great
wealth, insomuch that many of them are able and do buy the lands of
unthrifty gentlemen, and often setting their sons to the schools, to the
universities, and to the Inns of the Court, or, otherwise leaving them
sufficient lands whereupon they may live without labour, do make them by
those means to become gentlemen. These were they that in times past made
all France afraid. And albeit they be not called "Master," as gentlemen
are, or "Sir," as to knights appertaineth, but only "John" and "Thomas,"
etc., yet have they been found to have done very good service.

The kings of England in foughten battles were wont to remain among them
(who were their footmen) as the French kings did amongst their horsemen,
the prince thereby shewing where his chief strength did consist.

The fourth and last sort of people in England are day-labourers, poor
husbandmen, and some retailers (which have no free land), copyholders, and
all artificers, as tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, brickmakers, masons,
etc.[67]

As for slaves and bondmen, we have none; nay, such is the privilege of our
country by the especial grace of God and bounty of our princes, that if
any come hither from other realms, so soon as they set foot on land they
become so free of condition as their masters, whereby all note of servile
bondage is utterly removed from them, wherein we resemble (not the
Germans, who had slaves also, though such as in respect of the slaves of
other countries might well be reputed free, but) the old Indians and the
Taprobanes,[68] who supposed it a great injury to Nature to make or suffer
them to be bond, whom she in her wonted course doth product and bring
forth free. This fourth and last sort of people therefore have neither
voice nor authority in the commonwealth, but are to be ruled and not to
rule other: yet they are not altogether neglected, for in cities and
corporate towns, for default of yeomen, they are fain to make up their
inquests of such manner of people. And in villages they are commonly made
churchwardens, sidesmen, aleconners, now and then constables, and many
times enjoy the name of head boroughs. Unto this sort also may our great
swarms of idle serving-men be referred, of whom there runneth a proverb,
"Young serving-men, old beggars," because service is none heritage. These
men are profitable to none; for, if their condition be well perused, they
are enemies to their masters,