[1] [2] Hereof a thréefold euill chanced to the com|mon wealth, as Polydor noteth. One,The [...] wealth [...] thereby. for that there|by the number of husbandmen was sore diminished, the which the prince vseth chieflie in his seruice for the warres: an other, for that manie townes and villa|ges were left desolate, and became ruinous: the third, for that both wooll and cloth made thereof, and the flesh of all maner beasts vsed to be eaten, was sold at far higher prices than was accustomed. These enormities at the first begining being not redressed, grew in short space to such force and vigour by euill custome, that afterwards they gathered to such an v|nited force, that hardly they could be remedied. Much like a disease, which in the beginning with litle paine to the patient, and lesse labour to the surgeon maie be cured; whereas the same by delaie and negligence being suffered to putrifie, becommeth a desperate sore, and then are medicines nothing auailable, and not to be applied, according to his opinion that said:

Helleborum frustra (cùm iam cutis aegratumescit)

Poscentes videas: venienti occurrite morbo. [...]