Licentious libertines impatient of Government. [ 318]
THere was sometimes in Gaunt,* 1.1 as divers of the Magistrates were sitting on a bench in the streets, a beggar, who passing along, craved their Almes, and complained that he had a secret disease lying in his bones, and running all over his body, which he might not for shame discover unto them; they moved with pitty, gave him each of them somewhat, and he departed; One more curious then the rest, bad his Man follow him, and learn if he could, what that secret disease should be; who coming to him, and seeing nothing outwardly upon him, but well to look at; Forsooth (quoth the beggar) that which pains me you see not, I have a disease lying in my bones, and in all my parts; so that I cannot work: some call it, Sloath, an•• some others call it,* 1.2 Idlenesse. Now there is a sort of Men that have a disease holds them much like this of the beggar's,* 1.3 they cannot endure to be subject: to have looked at them formerly, you could have discerned little or nothing, for they were close; but there crep't all over all their body through every joint, and was settled in their marrow, and is now broke out at their mouths, a Lordly humour, that they cannot obey, nor understand themselves to be any longer subjects than they please themselves.