three sonnes who had been
brought up in good literature, and endued with good manners were dead,
for they three had great acquaintance and ancient amity with a poore man
which was their neighbour, and dwelled hard by them: and next unto him
dwelled another young man very rich both in lands and goods, but bending
from the race of his progenies dissentions, and ruling himselfe in the
towne according to his owne will. This young royster did mortally hate
this poore man, insomuch that he would kill his sheepe, steale his oxen,
and spoyle his corne and other fruits before the time of ripenesse, yet
was he not contented with this, but he would encroch upon the poore mans
ground, and clayme all the heritage as his owne. The poore man which
was very simple and fearefull, seeing all his goods taken away by the
avarice of the rich man, called together and assembled many of his
friends to shew them all his land, to the end he might have but so much
ground of his fathers heritage, as might bury him. Amongst whom, he
found these three brethren, as friends to helpe and ayd him in his
adversity and tribulation.

Howbeit, the presence of these honest Citizens, could in no wise
perswade him to leave his extort power, no nor yet to cause any
temperance of his tongue, but the more they went about with gentle
words to tell him his faults, the more would he fret and likewise fume,
swearing all the oathes under God, that he little regarded the presence
of the whole City, whereupon incontinently he commanded his servants to
take the poore man by the eares, and carry him out of his ground, which
greatly offended all the standers by. Then one of the brethren spake
unto him somewhat boldly, saying: It is but a folly to have such
affiance in your riches, whereby you should use your tyranny against the
poore, when as the law is common for all men, and a redresse may be
had to suppresse your insolency. These words chafed him more then the
burning oile, or flaming brimstone, or scourge of whipps, saying: that
they should be hanged and their law too, before he would be subject
unto any person: and therewithall he called out his bandogges and great
masties, which accustomed to eate the carrion and carkases of dead
beasts in the fields, and to set upon such as passed by the way: then
he commanded they should be put upon all the assistance to teare them
in peeces: who as soone as they heard the hisse of their master, ran
fiercely upon them invading the