o have set down so much of their demeanour,
and so much as is even enough to cause them to look with somewhat more
conscience into their dealings, except they be dull and senseless.

This furthermore is to be noted, that albeit the princes heretofore
reigning in this land have erected sundry courts, especially of the
chancery at York and Ludlow, for the ease of poor men dwelling in those
parts, yet will the poorest (of all men commonly most contentious) refuse
to have his cause heard so near home, but endeavoureth rather to his
utter undoing to travel up to London, thinking there soonest to prevail
against his adversary, though his case be never so doubtful. But in this
toy our Welshmen do exceed of all that ever I heard: for you shall here
and there have some one odd poor David of them given so much to contention
and strife that, without all respect of charges, he will up to London,
though he go bare-legged by the way and carry his hosen on his neck (to
save their feet from wearing), because he hath no change. When he cometh
there also, he will make such importunate begging of his countrymen, and
hard shift otherwise, that he will sometimes carry down six or seven writs
with him in his purse, wherewith to molest his neighbour, though the
greatest quarrel be scarcely worth the fee that he hath paid for any one
of them. But enough of this, lest, in revealing the superfluous folly of a
few brablers in this behalf, I bring no good-will to myself amongst the
wisest of that nation. Certes it is a lamentable case to see furthermore
how a number of poor men are daily abused and utterly undone by sundry
varlets that go about the country as promoters or brokers between the
pettifoggers of the law and the common people, only to kindle and espy
coals of contention, whereby the one side may reap commodity and the other
spend and be put to travel. But, of all that ever I knew in Essex, Denis
and Mainford excelled, till John of Ludlow, _alias_ Mason, came in place,
unto whom in comparison they two were but children: for this last in less
than three or four years did bring one man (among many elsewhere in other
places) almost to extreme misery (if beggary be the uttermost) that before
he had the shaving of his beard was valued at two hundred pounds (I speak
with the least), and finally, feeling that he had not sufficient wherewith
to sustain himself and his family, and also to satisfy that greedy
ravenour which still called upon him for