d be
vttrid & told/ hit shold not be beleuyd. For they entende to theyr
synguler wele and prouffyt and not to the comyn/"

Another addition is the brief passage in the first chapter of the fourth
tract in which the "good old times" are lamented and contrasted with the
decadence of the then present--now the four centuries past.

"Alas what haboundance was some tymes in the royames. And what
prosite/ In whiche was Iustice/ And euery man in his office
contente/ how stood the cytees that tyme in worship and renome/ how
was renomed the noble royame of Englond Alle the world dredde hit And
spack worship of hit/ how hit now standeth and in what haboundance I
reporte me to them that knowe hit yf ther ben theeuis wyth in the
royame or on the see/ they knowe that laboure in the royame And sayle
on the see I wote well the same is grete therof I pray god saue that
noble royame And sende good true and politicque counceyllours to the
gouernours of the same &c./"

The concluding paragraph of the book is also due to Caxton.

"And therfore my ryght redoubted lord I pray almighty god to saue the
kyng our souerain lord & to gyue hym grace to yssue as a kynge &
tabounde in all vertues/ & to be assisted with all other his lordes
in such wyse y't his noble royame of Englond may prospere & habounde
in vertues/ and y't synne may be eschewid iuftice kepte/ the royame
defended good men rewarded malefactours punysshid & the ydle peple to
be put to laboure that he wyth the nobles of the royame may regne
gloriously In conquerynge his rightfull enheritaunce/ that verray
peas and charite may endure in bothe his royames/ and that
marchandise may haue his cours in suche wise that euery man eschewe
synne/ and encrece in vertuous occupacions/ Praynge your good grace
to resseyue this lityll and symple book made vnder the hope and
shadowe of your noble protection by hym that is your most humble
seruant/ in gree and thanke And I shall praye almighty god for your
longe lyf & welfare/ whiche he preferue And sende yow
thaccomplisshement of your hye noble. Ioyous and vertuous desirs
Amen:/: Fynysshid the last day of marche the yer of our lord god. a.
thousand foure honderd and lxxiiii"

This was struck out in the second edition, and the following briefer
farewell substituted:--

"Thenne late euery man of what condycion he be that redyth or herith
this litel bo