hasty to sell that kind of ware good cheap, which they know will be dear shortly after; or else, by such-like craft, entice men to buy of them great plenty of that kind of merchandise, of the which they know that the price will shortly after decay, or when, with their lies and perjuries, they cause a man to give more money for any stuff than he would have done, if that he had known that they had lied. Also, when the rich merchantmen and usurers have the heads of the poor handicraftsmen so bound under their girdles, that the poor men of necessity are compelled to bring their ware to them; and when the handicraftsmen do come to them and offer their stuff, then they feign that they have no need of such wares at that time, and by such means compel them to sell their wares better cheap than they may be able to afford them, not regarding what great loss their poor neighbour doth suffer thereby. Also, when by forestalling, regrating, agreements in halls to raise the price of things, engrossing of merchandise, when one man or one company getteth all in their own hands, that no man may have gain but they only, when by these or such-like deceits they compel the poor to buy at their own price such wares as they must needs occupy, then they be arrant thieves before God: for by such frauds they beguile their poor neighbours, and poolle them of their money against their wills. The handicraftsmen and daily labourers are also thieves, when they do not apply their work diligently and faithfully, but sell counterfeited and

slightly wrought wares for substantial stuff, or require more for their labour and pains than they have deserved.

Likewise, it is of husbandmen in the country, to whom lords and gentlemen let their land to farm, to the intent that they should plough and till it, that thereby the commonwealth may have plenty of corn, and dearth may be avoided; then, if they be negligent or slothful in ploughing the ground, or sell their corn, cattle, or other victual, at unreasonable prices, to enrich themselves thereby, they be very thieves before God. For kings, lords, and gentlemen, do not give to their farmers the propriety or inheritance of their lands, but only for certain rents and services do let their ground out by lease, for this intent and purpose, that the farmers should till the same. And the farmer or husbandman to whom such lease is made, is nothing else but a servant appointed by the lord so to occupy his ground, that thereby the common people may be fed and nourished. Now, therefore, if he do not diligently plough and sow the ground as he is appointed, or else if he set so excessive a price upon his corn, that the multitude (whom his duty is to feed) is not able to buy it, then he is guilty of theft before God. For if farmers and husbandmen were so owners of their farms and lands, that they might choose whether they would plough them or no, then they should neither be able to pay their rent due unto their landlords, and the common people should perchance die for hunger.

Likewise, this Commandment is to be understood of household servants, whether they be men or women, 'prentices, journeymen, or hired labourers. For all these receive wages for this intent, that they should labour and work for their master's profit, and help their masters in true getting and faithful keeping of their goods, to the maintenance of their household. But when such servants be untrusty, negligent, or slothful in doing their duty, when they wastefully spend or consume their master's goods, when they require greater wages than they be worthy to have, when they start or run from their masters, or tarry not so long as they were bound by their covenant: then they break this Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal;" forasmuch as they withdraw from their masters that profit which of duty they owe unto them, and do as much as lieth in them to impoverish and undo their masters.

And to be short, they, that pay not to their servants or workmen their wages in due time, according to their covenant; they which will not, at the day appointed, restore that money which they have borrowed they which can and will not pay their debts for their own lucre; they that do not render things which they have found as far as they can come to knowledge of the true owners; they that do not give again such things as be committed to their custody for a time; and generally all they that do hawk and hunt for other men's goods against the will of the owners, or do hurt them in any part of the same, or else if they seek not their

neighbour's profit as they ought to do; all these (I say) are thieves before God, although the world doth not so judge them, nor punish them for the same. Hereby you may perceive, good children, how great misery reigneth in this wretched world, and that men swim, as it were, in a flood of sin. For the world is full of privy thieves; and there is almost no state or kind of life, from the highest to the lowest, of the which there be not many, that have broken this Commandment. And yet we count it a villany to be called a thief, and not without good cause: for thieves be punished with most shameful death, hanging on the gallows or gibbet; and although they escape hanging in this world, yet many times God punisheth them, so that they live wretchedly all their life-time; for commonly evil-gotten goods are ill spent, and the third heir doth scarcely enjoy them.....

Wherefore, good children, when you shall be demanded, "How understand you the Seventh Commandment?" you shall answer, We ought to fear and love our Lord God above all things, and for his sake willingly to abstain from our neigh'bour's goods and cattle, to take nothing from him, but to help him in his need, and to defend and augment his riches and commodities.

'KING EDWArd the sixth's catechism.

Master. What thinkest thou of the Commandment, not to steal?

Scholar. I shall shew you, as briefly as I have done the rest, if it please you to hear me. It commandeth us, to beguile no man; to occupy no unlawful wares; to envy no man his wealth; and to think nothing profitable, that either is not just, differeth from right and honesty: briefly, rather willingly lose that is thine own, than thou wrongfully take that is another's, and turn it to thine own commodity.

NOWELL'S CATECHISM.

Master. Go on to the rest.

Scholar. The Eighth Commandment is, "Thou shalt not steal.” By which Commandment are condemned not only those thefts which are punished by men's laws, but also all frauds and deceivings. But none doth offend more heinously against this law than they that are wont by means of trust to beguile them toward whom they pretend friendship. For they that break faith, labour to overthrow the common succour of all men. We are therefore commanded that we deceive no man, that we undermine no man, that we suffer not ourselves to be allured with advantage or