[_Here cometh_ REMEDY _in and to him saith_--
_Wealth._ Sir! your mastership is heartily welcome; Take your place here above, as it is reason.
_Health._ I pray you pardon us, we know not what ye be; Ye seem a man of honour and of great authority.
_Lib._ Sir! to know wherefore ye come we are desirous.
_Remedy._ I am he that ought for to be well known Of you three specially; and of duty Great pain and business, as for mine own, For you I have taken because I love you heartily; To maintain you is all my desire and faculty; Yet hard it is to do, the people be so variable; And many be so wilful: they will not be reformable.
_Wealth._ Sir! I pray you pardon us of our ignorance now; I see well ye know us better than we do you.
_Rem._ I pardon you for I do know you well, both; C2,_v._ Wealth and Health is your right names: The which England to forbear were very loth. For by Wealth and Health cometh great fames; Many other realms, for our great wealth, shames That they dare not presume, nor they dare not be bold To strive again England, or any right withhold.
_Health._ Sir! ye be welcome; I beseech you show us your name.
_Rem._ Good Remedy, forsooth! I am the same.
_Lib._ If I durst be so bold I would pray you heartily To show us a part of your great authority.
_Rem._ My authority is given to me, most special, To maintain you three in this realm to be: What mine intent is I will tell, but not all, For that were too long to rehearse, of a surety; And I desire you all for to be loving to me, For your own ease, come wealth and profit.
_Wealth._ Good Remedy! then we must desire your aiding; For by Good Remedy cometh all our preferring.
_Rem._ All that I do intend, if ye will thereto agree, And to be reformable for your own ease, It is not the thing that lieth only in me. But my good will, therefore, I will not cease, To have your love and favour; and thereby to please All the world over, and to promote this realm; That you three may prosper--ye perceive what I mean? The chief part of all wealth lieth in great estates: Their substance and lands is right commendable. Prelates of the church is wealthy of riches; Merchants hath merchandise and goods incomparable, Men of law and franklins is wealthy, which is laudable: Thus wealth of riches is divided diverse ways; C3,_r._ And to these many charges come now-a-days.