KNIGHT. Why, neighbour, my goods are lent me to no other end, But to relieve my needy brethren; but God, I hope, hath in store for me. FARMER. Ay, trust you to that, and you may hap die a beggar. SQUIRE. Why, sir, if he should not trust in God, in whom should he trust, for God is the giver of all good whatsoever? FARMER. True; and yet 'tis good for a man to trust to himself now and then; for if you be down, and bid God help you up, and do not help yourself, you may fortune lie and perish; and therefore serve God on Sundays, as you are appointed, and thereby hope to be saved; for by your alms-deeds you cannot, for if you give to the poor, there be many will say, he thinks to be saved by his alms-deeds; and thus you shall be ill-thought on for your good-will; and therefore learn to provide for yourself; let God provide for the poor. KNIGHT. I tell you, neighbour, my great grandfather and all my predecessors have been held in good regard for their good housekeeping; and (God willing) their good names shall never take an exigent[302] in me, for I will (God willing) keep such hospitality to my death, as my state can maintain; and I will rather sell my land to maintain housekeeping, than, keeping my land, make sale of my good name for housekeeping. But, stay, who comes here? _Enter two poor_ OLD MEN _and a_ BAILIFF. ONE OLD MAN. God save you, sir; I pray be good to me, for cham a poor man, and I cannot tell what you will do, for you say my horse hath broken into your corn, or your corn into my horse. But, indeed, my neighbour saw your boy drive my horse into a field. But I'll stand to nothing, now I am warn'd with a piece of paper and a little wax, to prepare to proceed to London; and there I am invented, I cannot tell for what. The bailiff here hath arrested me, ere I was weary,[303] against my will; he said it was upon your suit, and yet he laid his hands on me; nay, more, on my shoulder-- ANOTHER OLD [MAN.] And, sir, and it may please you, I borrowed certain corn; and I brought you your corn again, and yet you 'rrest me. FARMER. True, sir; but then was corn sold for four shillings a bushel, and now 'tis sold for two. KNIGHT. Ay, sir, but he borrowed corn, and promised To pay you corn again, and you can have But so much as you lent; for if He should pay you at the rate you demand, You would have for the twenty bushels you lent, Forty, which were neither right nor conscience. FARMER. O sir, I pray let me alone with my conscience. You would have me give all I have away to the poor, and want as you do. I pray, let me alone to deal for myself. Hear you, have you 'rrested them? BAILIFF. I have, sir, as you commanded me. FARMER. Then to prison with them, till they have paid such damages, as the law shall award them. ONE POOR [MAN.] Hear you, sir: if you should bid your boy break down a gap, and drive in my horse, 'twere little better than plain knavery; for my horse is as honest a horse as any is in this town.