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.

The Apprentises Letter to his Father.

MOst deare, and most louing Father, my most humble dutie re∣membred vnto you. These are to giue you to vnderstand, that my body is in good health, praised he God, but my minde, and spirits are not, for they are very much troubled. For, so it is Sir, that albeit my Master be a very worthy, and an honest Citizen, and that my selfe, do∣ing as an Apprentise ought (which I doe willingly, not refusing any thing, as remembring St. Peters precept, Serui, subditi estote in timore Do∣mini) am as well vsed in this house, as if I were with you; yet by rea∣ding certaine bookes, at spare houres, and conferring with some who take vpon them to be very well skill'd in Heraldry, I am brought to beleeue, that by being a Prentise, I lose my birth right, and the right of my blood both by father, and mother, which is to be a Gentlemen, which I had ra∣ther dye, then to endure. This is my griefe, and this the cause why my minde is so troubled, as I cannot eat, nor sleepe in quiet: Teares hinder me from writing more, and therefore most humbly crauing pardon, and your most fatherly blessing, I commit you to God, &c.

From London, &c.