VI. The sixth conclusion of Armachanus against the friars was,

Lord Jesus Christ teachcth us, that we should not beg wilfully,' provetli by seven or eight reasons.
1. AVhere it is written, [Luke xiv.] "When thou makest a feast, call the poor, weak, lame, and blind ; and tliou shalt be blessed : for they have not wherewith to reward thee again."
To this also pertain eth the decree of the apostle, [2 Tliess. iii.] " He that will not work, ht him not eat." Furthermore, the same ajiostle addeth in the same place : " Tor you ha\e us for example, how we were burdensome to no man, neither did we eat our bread freely, but with labour and weariness, toiling both day and night, and all because we would not burden you," &c.
2. Item, Where we read in the Scripture the slothful man reprehended, [Prov. vi.] "Why sleepest thou, O sluggard? thy poverty and beggary are coming upon thee like an armed man," &c. And again, in the same book of Proverbs, " The slothful man," saith the Scripture, " for cold woidd not go to the plough, therefore he shall beg in summer, and no man shall give him," &c. Also in the said book of Proverbs, the last chapter, " The diligent labouring wonuui is connnended, whose fingers are exercised about the rock and spindle.' And all these ])laces make against the wilful begging of sturdy friars.
;5. Item, Friar Francis, their own founder, in his own testament saith, " And I have laboured with mine own hands, and will labour, and will that all my friarlings shall labour and hve by their labour, whereby they may support themselves in an honest way. And they that cannot work, let them learn to work, not for any covetousness to receive for their labour, but for example of good works, and to avoid idleness. And when the price of their labour is not given them, let them resort to the Lord's table, and ask their alms from door to door," Src. Thus much in his testament. And in his rule he saith, " Such brethren to whom the Lord hath given the gift to labour, let them labour faithfidly and devoutlj-," &-c. Wherefore it is to be marvelled how those friars with their wilful begging, dare transgress the rtile and obedience of friar Francis, their great grandfather's testament.
4. Item, If Christ at anj- time did beg, or did lack, it was more because he would use a miracle in his own person, than because he would beg wilfully ; as when he sent Peter to the sea to find a groat in the mouth of the fish; which thing yet he thought rather to do, than to beg the groat of the people, which he might soon have obtained.
5. Item, By divers other his examples he seemeth to teach the same, as where he saith, " The workman is worthy of his hire;" also, " The workman is worthy of his meat " [Matth. x. Luke x.] ; and when he spake to Zaccheus that he would turn into his house. And so likewise in Bethany, and all other places, be ever used rather to burden his friends than to beg of others unacquainted.
6. Item, With plain precept, thus he scndcth forth his disciples, willing them not to go from house to house [Luke x.] as fiiars used now to go. ^lany other Scriptures there be which reprove begging, as, where it is said, '' The foot of a fool is sHift to the house of his neighbour" [Lcclus. xxi.j ; and in another place, " my child," saitJi he, " see thou beg not in the time of thy life, for better it is to die, than to beg" [Ecclus. xl."|
7. Item, Where Christ, counselling the young man, bade him go and sell what he had, and give to the poor, and follow him if he would be perfect ; he doth not there call him to wilful begging, but calleth him to follow hmi, who did not beg wilfully.