HOw now brother of Spaine? how run the Cheating dice of this unconstant world?

Sometimes fives, sometimes sevens, sometimes nines, all upon odde numbers; but if you will but give me the hearing of it, I will tell you such a sacke full of newes from England that will make you laugh, hold buttons hold.

Prethee be briefe, I long to heare the news.

Then thus; There is a thing held there at this time which is call'd a Parliament, in which as it seems they use to chide offenders: now there was some which favour'd our religion somewhat more then others, and faith for feare of chiding they are runne for't, and lie now some under the Court of thy wings, and some under mine; and on the o­ther side, (for they are) a many of them in the ex­treames [...] some are so puft up with pride that ho­nesty hath got the upper hand, the Coblers and Weavers, Sowgelders and Tinkers, Chimney-sweepers and Butchers, doe not sticke to say but [Page]that the spirit moves them to preach; nay they doe, doe it as jealously as our ancient sex hath done at Amsterdam over a hotchpotch.

Faith this news makes me smile indeed; but prethee tel me, hast thou not some armado intended against that little Iland, that Temple of delight, that Paradise in comparison of all the world again? hath the Jesuits no braines left to invent a second powder-plot, or one as bad or else worse? doth the Dragon alwaies wake that keepes these golden apples the tree of Minerva?

Yes they have braines enough, and courage enough in setting such plots a foote, but a pox on't it takes no effect, for one had as good shoot arrowes at the stars and have a crackt coxcombe for ones labour, as any waies medle with them, for God doth overlooke them and keepe them safe, else could they never have scapt all those plots which I and mine had laid for them.

Why sure they are as wicked as any Nation under the Sunne, how then should God be said to protect them?

For the love he beares to some, for there are very honest meaning men amongst them, which doe make a conscience of their waies, which thing is most acceptable of any thing in the sight of God.

But in faith now were the time whilst the Scots are intrenched and their subjects distracted, some on this side, some on that side, to come with some armado, or forward some gunpowder plot, [Page]or some such grand treason. Oh the fruition of that same little sweet garden plot would make France and Spaine flourish.

Harke a while, and you will soone grant how ridiculous this childish folly of yours is; a wise man will never attempt impossibilities, for certainly it is as easie for any single arme to equall a whole troope of men, as for you or I to effect our wishes in this thing: for certainly they have borrowed from Jupiter the heathen God, Argus with his hundred eies to overlooke all our actions.

Tush, tush, thou art just like a coward, who if he be once beaten will hardly come on to the combate againe; because your invincible armado (as you tearmed it) was bumbasted by the subjects a maiden Queene, therefore it is impossible for us to doe any good upon the same land; come thou talkst idly for want of sleepe.

Why brother of France, did you never feele the force of England, looke you but backe to the blacke Prince where you shall finde that the then predecessor sent him a tunne of tennis balls insteed of his right he held by the Salique Law, but hee turned his balls into gunstones, and kept such a racket about France that hee made the whole Court of Gallia shake.

I doe not deny but that we have both smar­ted enough, and that is the reason I am so willing to take an advantage against it.

I tell thee what brother, I can compare England more commodiously to nothing then to a Lion which lay sleeping by the way side, a [Page]travellor comming by, would needs make sport with the Lyon, as he said, by hollowing in his eare to awake him, which he did; the Lyon being not used to such unaccustomed noise, rose, nor quite awakt, and rore this travellor in peeces. Just thus it fareth with us at this time, for England is asleep, and unlesse it be awaked, we need not to feare any thing, but if we compell it to draw its sword once, tis not all our intreaties will sheath it againe.

Well, thou hast given me such an Item that I will looke before Ile leape, Ile surely have some great occasion before I will meddle with them.

Faith we have businesse enough of our owne if we would but looke after it.

True, yet I thanke God I am at peace with the whole world.

I would that I could say so too, for I protest ingeniously I can scarce tell which way to turn my selfe, for on one side of me the great Turke lies like some unseene monster, devouring all which shall come before him; on the other side the Hol­lander is as a Divell to me, for I cannot have a ship on the seas, but if espyed by him he is sure to sinke for it. And againe, I looke every day when the Portugalls will fasten on me, and above all things I feare them because they have beene for men in England.

Why, I prethee whither wilt thou flye in this distresse?

I know not whither, unlesse I shall doe as the foole said he would, put on a cleane shirt and drowne my selfe.

Then what will become of thy soule?

Sheh, Ile have a pardon from the Pope before I do it.

That was well thought on indeed, but hearke I prethee, what dost thou thinke of the Pope his imperious government? dost thou thinke it to be lawfull according to the hests of God?

Faith I cannot tell, but I had a little pitty and com­punction rose the other day in my stomacke towards the Protestants, but they were presently downe againe, I hope it is the right way.

I hope so too, for if we be not, I protest wee are in the wrong way, and a wrong will leads us to a wrong place & that wrong place wil not yeeld us halfe the delight we expect, wherefore it behoves us to take heed what we doe, and for all the poxe look to our selves.

As you thinke, so thinke I; for certainely we are gui­ded by some wandring Planet, for such suddaine changes in such great personages as I have seene many stand for example to confirme their assertion to bee true. But hath, mee thinkes I could even love the English Hereticall Reli­gion, what musicke hath transformed me from my selfe? where is now the pride of our ancient Religion that it is thus turned topsie turvy? what have we lost out bosted free­dome? what unknowne desires are these which invade and take possession of my frighted soule? Are all those vertuous objects which I heretofore perceived in our Ro­man Religion vanish? Have I stood the Shocks of so many fierce warres for Religion sake, stopt mine eare against all Syre [...]nnotes that Heresie ever sung? to draw my barke of faith (that with wonder hath kept a constant and honoured course in this channell of my Religion) to be carried into the gulfe of a continuall Heresie: But now me thinkes I [Page]feele my soule returne againe, and answer: I will first with mine owne hands digge up a grave to bury the momentall heape of all my yeares before Ile change my plighted faith unto the Church of Rome.

Well said at last, in troth I was afraid that the beast of Rome had beene some kin to a Stagge, and had used to shed her hornes; but thanke God tis no worse.

If I've offended at the worst, to dye is a full period to calamity.

But is there nothing to be felt after death? dost thou thinke that thou thus sing'st a requiem to thy soule before thou dyest, I prithee consider, and tell mee what thou thinkst out?

Why, I have heard that there is a place called the Elisian fields, where those that have done well shall rest in peace. I've heard againe, that our English Hereticks hold that there is only a heaven & a hell: those that doe well shall enjoy the joyes of heaven, and those that doe ill shall feele the torments of hell: but our Pope makes us believe that there is a Purgatory, but faith I cannot tell what to thinke of it.

Well; farewell brother, I protest I perswade my selfe that the world is almost at its end, for I heare it is buzz'd abroad in England that the Monuments of the Kingdome shall all be puld downe, and Crosses, of whom I have heard that Abington, and Cheapside Crosses excell all: also there must bee no Organs to the utter undoing of all singing men. But brother farewell, the newes you heare I pray informe me of.

I will; farewell, farewell.