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 TRVE COPIES OF the Letters mentioned after the Booke.

The first letter, from the Citizen in the behalfe and cause of his eldest sonne, to a speciall friend, of whose loue, and learning he rested confident.

Right Worthy Sir,

IF hauing beene at no small charge, and some care, to breed my sonne vp in Gentleman like qualities, with purpose the rather to enable him for the seruice of God, his Prince, and Countrey, I am very cu∣rious to remoue from him as a Father, all occasions, which might either make him lesse estemed of others, or abate the least part of his edge; I say, not towards the honesty of life onely, but towards the splendor thereof, and worship also, my hope is, that I shall not in your worthy iudgement, seeme either insolent, or vaine glorious.

Truth and Iustice are the onely motiues of my stirring at this present. For, as I mortally hate that my Son should beare himselfe, aboue himself so should I disclaime my part in him, if being vniustly sought to be emba∣sed, he sillily lost any inch of his due. He hath beene disgraced as no Gen∣tleman borne, when yet not hee but I his Father was the Apprentise, thankes be to God for it. They cannot obiect to him want of fashion; they cannot obiect to him the common vices, badges rather of reprobates then of Gentlemen: They cannot obiect to him cowardise, for it is well knowne that he dares defend himselfe: nor any thing else vnworthy of his name, which is neither new, nor ignoble: But mee his poore father they obiect vnto him, because I was once an Apprentise.

Wise Sir Thomas Moore teacheth vs, vnder the names, and persons of his Eutopians, that victories, and atchieuements of wit are applauded, farre aboue those of forces: and seeing reuerence to God, & to our Prince, commandeth vs, (as his Maiesties booke of Duells doth affirme (not to take the office of iustice from Magistrates, by priuate rash reuenges, I haue compelled my sonne, vpon Gods blessing, and mine, to forbeare the sword till by my care he may be found not to be in the wrong. For if it be true, that by Apprentiship we forfeit our titles to natiue Gentrie: God forbid that my sonne should vsurpe it. And if it be not true, then shall be haue a iust ground to defend himselfe, and his aduersaries shall stand conuicted of ignorance, if not of enuie also.

These are therefore very earnestly to pray you, to cleare this question. For, in the City of London there are at this present many hundreds of Gentlemens children Apprentises, infinite others haue beene, and infinite will be: and all the parts of England are full of families, either origi∣nally raised to the dignity of Gentlemen out of this one most famous place: or so restored, and enriched as may well seeme to amount to an o∣riginall raising. And albeit I am very confident, that by hauing once beene an Apprentise in London, I haue not lost to be a Gentleman of birth, nor my sonne, yet shall I euer wish, and pray rather to resemble an heroicke Walworth, a noble Philpot, an happie Capel, that learned Sheriffe of London M^r. Fabian, or any other famous Worthies of this royall City, out of any whatsoeuer obscurest parentage, then that being descended of great Nobles, to fall by vice farre beneath the rancke of poorest Prentises.

In requitall of your care in this point, you shall shortly receiue (if I can obtain my desire) out of the records & monuments of London, a Roll of the names, and Armes of such principall friends as haue beene aduan∣ced to Honor, and Worship, throughout the Realme of England, from the degree of Citizens. A warrantable designe, by the example of the Lord chiefe Iustice Cooke, who hath bestowed vpon the world (in some one or other of his bookes of reports) a short Catologue of such as haue beene eminently beholding to the Common Lawes, and if I should faile in that, yet doe I promise you a list or Alphabet of Apprentises names, who by their enrollments will appeare vpon good Record, to haue beene sonnes of Gentlemen from all the parts of England.

Neither let your approued vertue doubt, but that in the meane time you shall finde vs very ready to shew our free, and honest mindes, in all commendable, and disenuious emulations, with the best Gentlemen who∣soeuer. Which disposition measure not by the few Angells you receiue in this Letter. For what are twenty in such a case?

If this my sute, and request, cary the lesse regard, because it comes but from a priuate Citizen, be pleased I pray to vnderstand, that in me, though being but one man, multitudes speake, and that out of a priuate pen, a publike cause propounds it selfe. And yet I come not single. For with this Letter of mine, I send you two other. The one from a worship∣full friend, and kinsman of mine, written to me, and the other of my Cou∣sin his second sonne, much what of one nature with this of mine. And so with my loue, and best respects remembred, I commit you to Gods holy keeping, and rest, &c.

The true Copies of those two other Letters, whereof in the former there is mention.

The Fathers Letter.

Cousin, I pray peruse the enclosed, which troubleth me as much as it doth my sonne, and seeke satisfaction of such as are skilfull indeed. I care not for charge, for looke whatsoeuer it costs I will beare it. In the meane while comfort my childe, for if it bee so as hee writes, hee shall not stay in London, though it cost me fiue hundred Pounds. And so in great hast I leaue you to our Lord Christ, &c.

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.