The scourge of corruption. Or A crafty knaue needs no broker. Written by Anthony Nixon

Wel (says Nemo) séeing the night steales hence, and we haue seuerall businesse in the morning, I will procéed to som of Corruptions iniuries. I left at the great thieues, and the little, som iudging, others hanging, but if you shal aske how the King is deceiued of his customes, the Coun∣trey wrongd by conuay of forbidden Commodities? I answere, that it is only by Corruption, who blindes the Serchers, begs Licenses. does all iniuries: and till hée and all his Officers be cut short, there is no help to bee ho∣ped for.

Therefore Nemo let it bee your worke to draw an in∣ditement against Corruption at the next Sessions, and pre∣ferre

it to the great inquest of Honesty, what though they bee for the most poore, thats the better for our purpose. Some of the old inquest were mixt with Asses, that had no more wit then the gold that loaded them, others were one∣ly forenoone men, and fitter to ly and sleepe after drinking, and their dinner, then sit or stand on causes betwéene the innocent and the guilty: diuers, or the most part were cherishers and seruants of Corruption, and except some very few, they were hard-hearted cowardly fellows, that for feare of Commitment, durst not speake their conscien∣ces: but our inquest of Honesty are confident men, and will rather die then deliuer vntruths: as for example,

• M^r. Humf. Honesty y^e Foremā.
• ...Thomas Teltroth.
• ...Daniell Dread-naught.
• ...Samuell Sufferance,
• ...Peter Pay for-all.
• ...Clement Consideration.
• ...Gabriell Goodman.
• ...Ionas Iudgement.
• ...Bartholomew Bettercause
• ...Francis Free-heart.
• ...Nicholas No-lyer.
• ...Marmaduke Man-loue••

Twelue good men and true: but if any of these should be out of towne, or otherwise imployed, there is,

• ...Ferdinando Fearelesse.
• ...Henry Hate-hurt.
• ...Leonard Loue-trueth.

With sundry other, that Honesty will informe you off, who are no lesse carefull for the wrongs done to vertue, though they be but a few, and poore, then the proudest op∣pressors are sorry to see the times changed, wherein they thinke to bee called to account for their corruption, and wrongfull extortions, from the sweat and trauell of the painefull labourer.

On this resolution Conscience, and Nemo agréed, and Feedewell said, he would be glad all were well, so twer not long of him, for hee was not able to endure trauell by any meanes: he must féede, and be fat how ere the world wagd. Sir Simon Saywell said, he spake honestly, and like a wise man, and a welthy polititian, whose part it was to meddle

with nothing but their own ease, and to séed of what they had, and still to follow the faction of the stronge.

At this Conscience and Nemo in great anger parsed with them, calling them Temporizers, belly gods, and I not not what, but they went laughing away hand in hand, to the next Tap house, there to determine déeply of the matter, by which meanes I was left all alone, where∣vpon I tooke pen and ink, which I had by great chaunce about mee, and sitting vpon the side of a green banke, ha∣uing no deske but my knée, set down so neere (as I could) the meaning and drift of their seuerall discourses, and the rather, for that laying open som part of Corruptions enor∣mities, you might iudge with me, whether hee be not that crafty knaue, that needs no Broker, and such an one as is able to confound the common estate and condition, both of Citty, and Countrey.

Pardon me if it answere not your expectation, being it was done in hast, and but the indigested remnant of a dreame: but if you fauour this, ile ride my horse to death, but ile get you a true coppy of Corruptions indite∣ment, answers, arraignement, sentence, and execution: and labour to frame all to your g••nerall good likings.