Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/32

 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [en. 4-r. iii tlie use of arms because the gentlemen refused to set the example. ' For tillage it were plain sacrilege to interfere with it, the offenders being all gentlemen of the richer sort ; ' while ' the alehouses ' ' the very stock and stay of false thieves and vagabonds/ were supported by them for the worst of motives. The peers had the privilege of importing wine free of duty for the consumption of their households. By their patents .they were able to extend the right to others under shel- ter of their name ; and the tavern-keepers ' were my lord's servants, or my master's servants ; yea, and had such kind of licenses, and license out of license to them and their deputies and assignees, that it was some dan- ger to meddle with them/ l The very threat of inter- ference either with that or any other misdemeanour in high places caused Cecil to be generally detested. 2 Go 1 The intention of the exemption had been the encouragement of ' hospitality ' in the great country houses. Times were changing, and the old-fashioned ' open house ' was no longer the rule. Without abol- ishing the privilege the council re- stricted the quantity which each nobleman Avas allowed to import. Dukes and archbishops were allowed ten pipes annually ; marquises nine pipes ; earls, viscounts, barons, and bishops, six, seven, and eight. Do- mestic MSS., Elizabeth, vol. xx. 2 ' This be you most sure of, that as much evil as can be invented by the devilish wit of them that be nought is spoken against you. ' It is not yet four clays past since one of my men said unto me, meddle so much as ye do, nor be so earnest ; ' for, said he, ' if ye heard so much as I do hear, ye would marvel. For even they that do- speak you most fairest to your face do name you behind your back to be an extreme and cruel man, with a great deal more than shall need to rehearse; and they say,' said lie, ' that all these doings is long of Mr Secretary Cecil. I do know,' said he, ' all this to be truth, for I do hear it amongst their servants, and belike they have heard it of their masters at one time or another* And further,' said he, ' when I was last in London, there Avas a business in hand as touching Avhat wages watermen should take going from
 * Sir, would to God ye would not