Rulers of young folks, your charge is doubtless To bring them up virtuously, and to see Them occupied still in some good business; Not in idle pastime or unthriftiness, But to teach them some art, craft, or learning, Whereby to be able to get their living. The bringers-up of youth in this region Have done great harm because of their negligence, Not putting them to learning nor occupations: So, when they have no craft nor science, And come to man's state, ye see the experience, That many of them compelled be To beg or steal by very necessity. But if there be therefore any remedy, The heads and rulers must first be diligent To make good laws, and execute them straitly, Upon such masters that be negligent. Alas! we make no laws, but punishment, When men have offended. But laws evermore Would be made to prevent the cause before. If the cause of the mischiefs were seen before, Which by conjecture to fall be most likely, And good laws and ordinance made therefore To put away the cause, that were best remedy. What is the cause, that there be so many Thefts and robberies? It is because men be Driven thereto by need and poverty. And what is the very cause of that need? Because they labour not for their living; And truth is, they cannot well labour indeed, Because in youth of their idle upbringing. But this thing shall never come to reforming, But the world continually shall be nought, As long as young people be evil up-brought. Wherefore the eternal God, that reigneth on high, Send his merciful grace and influence To all governors, that they circumspectly May rule their inferiors by such prudence, To bring them to virtue and due obedience, And that they and we all by his great mercy May be partners of his blessed glory. AMEN.[71] EVERYMAN: A MORAL PLAY. _EDITIONS. For a list of the editions, see Hazlitt_ ut infrâ. _A facsimile of the title-page of one of the editions by Skot is here given. Neither of the editions by Pynson has the title_. HAWKINS'S PREFACE. This morality, or moral play, was published early in the reign of Henry VIII.,[72] and is given from a black-letter copy,[73] preserved in the library of the church of Lincoln. It was communicated to the editor with the greatest politeness by the Rev. Dr Stinton, chancellor of that church. The design of it was to inculcate great reverence for old mother church and her Popish superstitions.