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"Quod excelsum est hominibus, abominabile est,coram Deo," That which is highly esteemed before men, is abominable before God. Therefore that man and woman that live in the fear of God, are much better than their houses were.

I read once a story of a holy man, some say it was St. Anthony, which had been a long season in the wilderness, eating nor drinking nothing but bread and water; at the length he thought himself so holy, that there should be nobody like unto him. Therefore he desired of God to know who should be his fellow in heaven. God made him answer, and commanded him to go to Alexandria; there he should find a cobbler which should be his fellow in heaven. So he went thither and sought him out, and fell acquaintanced with him, and tarried with him three or four days to see his conversation. In the morning his wife and he prayed together, then they went to their business, he in his shop, and she about her housewifery. At dinner time they had bread and cheese, wherewith they were well content, and took it thankfully. Their children were well taught to fear God, and to say their Pater-noster, and the Creed, and the Ten Commandments; and so he spent his time in doing his duty truly. I warrant you he did not so many

false stitches as cobblers do now-a-days. St. Anthony perceiving that, came to knowledge of himself, and laid away all pride and presumption.

By this ensample you may learn, that honest conversation and godly living is much regarded before God; insomuch that this poor cobbler, doing his duty diligently, was made St. Anthony's fellow. So it appeareth, that we be not destitute of religious houses; those which apply their business uprightly and hear God's word, they shall be St. Anthony's fellows; that is to say, they shall be numbered amongst the children of God.

OVERSIGHT.

There was once a fellow asked a philosopher a question, saying, "Quomodo saginatur equus?” How is a horse made fat? The philosopher made answer saying, "Oculo domini," With his master's eye: not meaning that (the horse should be fed with his master's eye, but that the master should oversee the horse, and take heed to the horse-keeper, that the horse might be well fed. For when a man rideth by the way, and cometh to his inn, and giveth to

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the hostler his horse to walk, and so he himself sitteth at the table and maketh good cheer, and forgetteth his horse, the hostler cometh and saith, “Sir, how much bread shall I give unto your horse ?" He saith, Give him twopenny worth. I warrant you this horse shall never be fat. Therefore a man should not say to the hostler, Go, give him, but he should see himself that the horse have it. In like manner, those that have servants must not only command them what they shall do, but they must see that it be done; they must be present, or else it shall never be done. One other man asked the same philosopher this question, saying, What dung is it that maketh a man's land most fruitful in bringing forth much corn? Marry, said he, "Vestigia domini," The owner's footsteps, not meaning that the master should come and walk up and down, and tread the ground; but he would have him to come and oversee the servants tilling of the ground, commanding them to do it diligently, and so to look himself upon their work: this shall be the best dung, saith the philosopher. Therefore never trust servants, except you may be assured of their diligence; for I tell you truly, I can come no where but I hear masters complaining of their servants. I think verily they fear not God, they consider not their duties.

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O what falsehood is used in England, yea, in the whole world! It were no marvel if the fire from heaven fell upon us, like as it did upon the Sodomites, only for our falsehood's sake. I will tell you of some which are practised in my country where I dwell. But I will not tell it you to teach you to do the same, but rather to abhor it: for those which use such deceitfulness, shall be damned world without end, except they repent. I have known some that had a barren cow, and they would fain have had a great deal of money for her; therefore they go and take a calf of another cow,

cow, and so come to

and put it to this barren
the market, pretending that this cow hath
brought this calf; and so they sell their barren
cow six or eight shillings dearer than they
should have done else. The man which bought
the cow cometh home, peradventure he hath a
many children, and hath no more cattle but
this cow, and thinketh he shall have some milk
for his children; but when all things cometh
to pass, this is a barren cow, and so this poor
man is deceived. The other fellow which sold
the cow thinketh himself a jolly fellow, and a
wise merchant, and he is called one that can

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make shift for himself. But I tell thee, whosoever thou art, do so if thou lust, thou shalt do it of this price, thou shalt go to the devil, and there be hanged on the fiery gallows world ←→ without end; and thou art as very a thief as when thou takest a man's purse from him going by the way, and thou sinnest as well against this commandment, "Non facies furtum," Thou shalt do no theft. But these fellows commonly," which use such deceitfulness and guiles, can speak so finely, that a man would think butter should scant melt in their mouths.

I'll tell you another falsehood. I know that some husbandmen go to the market with a quarter of corn. Now they would fain sell dear the worst as well as the best, therefore they use this policy; they go and put a strike of fine malt or corn in the bottom of the sack, then they put two strikes of the worst that they had, then a good strike aloft in the sack's mouth, and so they come to the market. Now there cometh a buyer, asking, Sir, is this good malt? I warrant you, saith he, there is no better in this town; and so he selleth all the malt or corn for the best, when there be but two strikes of the best in his sack. The man that buyeth it, thinketh he hath good malt, he cometh home; when he putteth the malt out of the sack, the strike which was in the bottom covereth the ill malt which was in the midst, and

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