The cities aduocate in this case or question of honor and armes; whether apprentiship extinguisheth gentry? Containing a cleare refutation of the pernicious common errour affirming it, swallowed by Erasmus of Roterdam, Sir Thomas Smith in his common-weale, Sir Iohn Fern in his blazon, Raphe Broke Yorke Herald, and others. With the copies of transcripts of three letters which gaue occasion of this worke.

To the Gentlemen of ENGLAND in generall.

BE not displeased with this bold enterprise, as if it were in fauour of the euill manners of a multitude, who passe vnder the title of APPRENTISES. For neither the incorrigibly vicious, who are pestilent to morall and ciuill vertue; nor the incorrigibly forgetfull of their betters, whom insolencie maketh odious, haue any part herein at all. For first, it wholly belongs to such, a∣mong masters, or Citizens, as are generously disposed, & worthily qualifide, men who say with Publius Syrus, Damnum appellandum est cum mala fama lucrū; and then to such among Apprentises, as resemble Puti∣phars chaste Ioseph, or Saint Pauls conuerted One∣simus; yongmen, who say (with Statius Caecilius, in his Plotius)

Libere seruimus, salua vrbe, atque arce, meaning by the Citie, and the Citadel, the bodie and the head of man.

Valete.