fellow-creatures; if poor men would not go in such a slavish
posture, but do as aforesaid, the rich Farmers would be weary of
renting so much land of the Lords of Manors.
"2. If the Lords of Manors and other Gentlemen who covet after so
much land, could not let it out by parcels, but must be constrained
to keep it in their own hands, then would they want those great
bags of money (which do maintain pride, idleness and fullness of
bread) which are carried in to them by the Tenants, who go in as
slavish a posture as well may be, namely, with cap in hand and
bended knee, crouching and creeping from corner to corner, while
his Lord (rather Tyrant) walks up and down the room with his proud
looks, and with great swelling words questions him about his
holding.
"3. If the Lords of Manors and other Gentlemen had not those great
bags of money brought to them, then down would fall the lordliness
of their spirits, and then poor men might speak to them, and there
might be an acknowledging of one another to be Fellow-Creatures.
"For what is the reason that great gentlemen covet after so much
land? Is it not because Farmers and others creep to them in a
slavish manner, profering them so much money for such and such
parcels of it, which doth give them occasion to tyrannise over
their Fellow-Creatures, which they call their Inferiors?
"And what is the reason that Farmers and others are so greedy to
rent land of the Lords of Manors? Is it not because they expect
great gains, and because poor men are so foolish and slavish as to
creep to them for employment, although they will not give them
money enough to maintain themselves and their families comfortably?
All which do give them an occasion to tyrannise over their
Fellow-Creatures, which they call their Inferiors.
"All which considered, if poor men which want employment and others
which work for little wages would go to dress and improve the
Commons and Waste Lands, whether it would not bring down the price
of Land, which doth principally cause all things to be dear?"
The pamphlet concludes with the following lines:
"The Nation is in such a state as this,
to honor rich men because they are rich;
And poor men, because poor, most do them hate.
O, but this is a very cursed state;
But thos
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