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 happie Masters of Laudable Apprentises in LONDON.

RIght worthy Citizens, you shal not for this worke finde your honest seruants the lesse seruiceable, but the more. For, in good bloods, and good na∣tures, praise, and honor preuaile aboue rigour and blowes. And because your selues, for the most part, were Apprentises once, you may therefore behold herein, with comfort, the honesty of your estate when you were such, and the splendour of what you are now in right. The vnthankefull (if any such should happen to rankle among you) may be warn'd; that the iuyce of Ingratitude doth forfeit libertie, and that they are truly bondmen; if not according to the letter, nor in their proper condition, yet according to the figuratiue sense, and in their improper basenesse.

VALETE.