Plasmos digression from one action of miserie unto another, yea unto all the actions of his mishap (although it be some what tedious), duely considered, is tollerable; for the nature of the distressed man is to call to remembraunce every speciall matter of his misfortune, to the intent (although too late) he may knowe the commodities of their contraries. And sure, although it was invented to ease his mynde of griefe, there be a number of caveats therein to forewarne other young gentlemen to forestand with good government their folowing yl fortunes; especially the reprehension of his youth, for this is once: brainsike braverie (besides his own great expence) inticeth the greedie churle to hunger after the gallants living, and, for truth, if his conscience be corrupted with craft, it is an easie matter for him to overthrowe the mistrustlesse and welmeaning man. But the mischiefe is insuing shame, without a cloke to cover his deceits, who can have no better colour to answer any complaint of cousnage preferd against him, then to say, the compleynant is an unthrift, a quareler, a proude, and prodigall person, &c. who, to maintaine his braverie, departed, bona fide , unto him, being defendaunt, such and such parcels of lande, the compleynants monie wasted by unthristinesse, and knowing the defendant to be desirous of quietnesse, to wring more monie from him to have the matter quietly ended furmiseth these [un]true and slaunderous complaints against him, &c. And although that wise men, upon the ripping up of matters, will smell out such merchants, yet at the first shewe, yea, during the tryall, the wronged youth is blamed, so that, in the meane time, the greedie carrion, by unkind vexations, enforceth the compleynant to agreement. Some proofe appeareth by this invention folowing, wherein Plasmos supposeth justice to be divorced, and ladie wrong to be matcht with might. It seemeth on this occasion, being wronged by divers lewd and deceitfull companions, he preferd his complaint to certaine commissioners: against them the defendaunts, colouring their cousenage with the report of his unthristinesse, and having their answeres soothed with the countenance of more wealthy then honest friendes, with [which] suche cheating varlots have evermore in store, lead the saide magistrates with such indifferencie, that in stead of redressing, they increased his injuries by giving countenance to his enimies: which Plasmos perceiving (provoked to impatience) whereas he came to complaine of one of the two, he departed, exclayming on them all, and at leasure invented as followeth.
Why do I live (quoth he) to see this lothsome light,
Sith justice is this day divorst, and wrong is matcht with might?
Where cousnage was the clarke, where pollage was the priest,
Where deepe deceit, which gave this dame, was father of the feast,
Where brydemen were abuse, where briberie bare the cup,
Where greedie carls, as chiefest guestes, in every boll did sup;
Where coyne was cater made, where cost the cookerie drest,
Where catchpoles false did fill the cups at this great marriage feast;
Where parasites did prate to free each sullen moode,
Wher cheting churles did fill their paunch, where poore men sterv'd for food,
Where countenance once dynde and might have cheard his mates,
Wide open then, but not before, the porter set the gates.
Yet thousandes preast to see the res'due of the sport,
Some cloyd by craft, some foyld by force, for succour did resort.
But well I sawe (quoth he), which sight I sore did rue,
How blastes of scorne the belly gods among the needie blue;
How wealth did smile at want, how riches railde on right,
How vertue was supprest by vice, how pitie by despight:
How false suspect did forge a thousand flim flam stayes,
In rightfull suites to tyre the poore with cost and long delayes.
Anon the musicke soundes, and force his office shewd:
Well meaning mindes he wrapt so hard that they his hart beshrewd.
First falshoode makes his choice, next flatterie takes his chaunce,
Then tag and rag about the house deceitfull measures daunce.
A curious maske at night the bridemen doth ordaine,
With shews of fraud to feed their thoghts, which care not how hey gain.
Abuse did leade the bride, extortion maskt with craft,
To see deceit come hobbling on a hundred carrens laught.
Pure neede to get a place was glad to holde a torch,
But justice, during all this sport, was placed in the porch,
Good ladie, then (quoth he), alas and well away!
You sometime did possesse this place, this whilome was your day:
How hapneth lucre hath infected so your mate?
How chaunceth truth did suffer craft to enter in your gate?
What though that gaine did sowe some seedes of jealousie,
Might not (remorse) attonement make betweene thy feere and thee?
Is conscience nowe exilde, who sometime counseld might
For to regard dame Justice suite, and not to strive with right?
Are honest myndes nowe fled? doth rigour rule the rost?
Is justice now divorst from might? doth wrong nowe scoure the coste?
Doth countenaunce cloake such crimes as justice did uncase?
Dare couseners false defende their faults with shew of honest face?
They dare and doe, God wot, by maintenaunce of might.
Why live I then, alas! he sayd, sith no man favours right?
With that adieu good hope, and welcome woe (quoth he):
I see no gleames of grace appeare my cloudes of scare to free.