PIERS PLOWMAN. I beseech your grace To pity my distress. There is an unknown thief That robs the commonwealth, and makes me and my Poor wife and children beg for maintenance. The time hath been, my lord, _in diebus illis_, That the ploughman's coat was of good homespun russet cloth, Whereof neither I nor my servants had no want, Though now both they and I want, And all by this unknown farmer; For there cannot be an acre of ground to be sold, But he will find money to buy it: nay, my lord, He hath money to buy whole lordships, and yet but a farmer. I have kept a poor house, where I dwell this fourscore year, Yet was I never driven to want till now: I beseech your grace, as you have still been just, To seek redress for this oppression. I beseech your grace, read my humble petition. [_Delivers it to the_ KING.] KING. Let me see: The humble petition of poor Piers Plowman. Alas, poor Piers! I have heard my father say, That Piers Plowman was one of the best members in a commonwealth; For his table was never empty of bread, beef, and beer, As a help to all distressed travellers. But where thou tellest me I harbour him, and he is daily under my elbow, I assure thee, 'tis more than I know; for I harbour None but this, which is my honest friend. HONESTY. Is this your honest friend? the devil a is. [_Aside_]. My lord, this is he: if you doubt my word to be true, call in Clerk of the Assizes. Now shall your grace see, how Honesty can shake out a knave in this company. _Enter_ CLERK OF THE ASSIZE. Sirrah, tell me who hath most poor men in suit at this Sizes? CLERK. That hath Walter Would-have-more: He hath one poor man in suit for certain barley, And another, for that his horse was taken in his corn. HONESTY. But what indictments are against him? read them. CLERK. [_Read the indictment_. First, he hath conveyed corn out of the land to feed the enemy. Next, he hath turned poor Piers Plowman out of doors by his great raising of rents. Next, he is known to be a common disturber of men of their quiet, by serving writs on them, and bringing them to London, to their utter undoing. Also, he keeps corn in his barn, and suffers his brethren and neighbours to lie and want; and thereby makes the market so dear, that the poor can buy no corn. KING. Enough! Now, fie upon thee, thou monster of nature, To seek the utter undoing of many, to enrich thyself.-- Honesty, take him, and use him as thou wilt. HONESTY. Come, sir, I think I found out your knavery. Away, sir, and bear your fellow company. [_Exeunt omnes but the_ KING _and_ DUNSTAN. _Enter_ ETHENWALD. ETHENWALD. Health and good hap befall your majesty. KING. Ethenwald, welcome; how fares our beauteous love? Be brief, man: what, will she love or no?