False complaints. Or The censure of an vnthankfull mind, the labour of Carolus Pascalius translated into English by W.C. A worke very learned and fit for all estates in this age of vnnecessarie discontentments, shewing how all complaine, but all without cause

The rich man is no lesse vnthankefull then the poore, and of three sorts of rich men; delicate, pro∣digall, and sordide; and here in this Chapter of delicate rich men. CHAP. 9.

THough basenesse and pouerty doo chal∣lenge vnto themselues this liberty, that without controlement they may be qua∣relous, and euer barking, yet thou that art rich, what meanest thou, to thee alone, and to thy vse, there is as much digged, and ploughed, as is sufficient to serue a multitude: thou buildest more largely, then any of thy neighbours, men •…•…urrowe the seas, for thy proffit; in one word thou doost not possesse riches, but treadst them vnder foote; yet for all this, I doo not see thee more re∣ligious, more thankfull, then if thou haddest none of those, I doo obserue thy minde to bee narrowe,

and vncapable of those thinges, wherewith thou a∣boundest, so that thou art not madde after one fa∣shion; for I finde three sortes of rich men, the de∣licate, prodigall, and sordide: I call those that delicate rich men, which are euer loathing and ta∣king dislike; to whome the plenty of these things are wearisome, which other men much desire; they are almost dull if they bee not euer awaked with some newe thinge, they are alwaies doubting of so many inticements of pleasures which they may choose, which they may take, which they may vse presently, which they may differre; those thinges which nowe please them, presently they mislike, thus giuing themselues ouer to all delight•…•…, they know not what to doo with riches▪ so scorne∣fully doth this delicate sort of people vse them. Thus plenty is a burden to them, so hath riotousnesse made their minds effeminate:

Riotousnesse that sweetest ill, which granted to the minde, VVeakeneth the sence, corrupteth all, and man himselfe doth blinde▪ Her fayrest lookes (en•…•…g much) doe harmefull 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hyde, Whilst paynted shewes deceitfully into mans heart d•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

O yee trifling rich men dissolued and without si∣newes, which from so many benefits of God haue learned to forget him. O men worthy to suffer cold, heat, and hunger; who only seeme to haue a curious iudgment in an euill cause; who are not gluttons, and belly-gods, to haunt brothell houses and stewes, but euer being neatly dect, professe a learned riotousnes; who only speake finely, and filthely; who only seeme to know and professe all parts of pleasure, who suf∣fer no home-borne-thing to be about you, for whom only are inuented so many effeminate arts. and vn∣seemely trauailes of this age; yet notwithstanding you must confesse, that these so many commodi∣ties, haue brought so many discommodities to you, that no pleasure can delight you, nothing (how great soeuer) can make you happy, nor any of these wo∣manish ornaments can set you out. Can it possi∣ble bee that indued with such proposterous mindes, you should acknowledge the fauour of God? You should esteeme it? you should speake of it? But rather yee, if yee haue any respect vnto your selues, leaue off to bee so angry with your selues.

Those things which are superfluous to you, be∣cause you corrupt them with euill vsing, those things (I say) deuide amongst the poore, as too much for your selues; lay aside this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as ouergreat for you; learne to bee content with a little, and this little, to vse wel; seeing ye haue abused so much, so long; neuer

being equall & vpright to your selues, to others bur∣densome, and vniust. O yee much more happy, if this aboundance of loathed and superfluous choise, weare taken from you; and those pleasures where∣with ye are drunke: so that there were no more left vnto you, then wherewithall to maintaine life. If so many benefits of God cannot tel you to a sounder iudgment, yet at least haue pitty vpon your selues: feare and tremble, at the end of vnthankefull per∣sons. Chiefely take heede least being brought vnto pouerty, yee learne when it is to late, to esteeme those things which so proudely yee now loath, and that which is now by too much aboundance a wearinesse, in the end by want and scarcitie become your sorrow.