Of one dying, that is careful what wyl become of his countrey after his deceasse. The .cxxix. Dialogue.
WHat shal become of my countrey after my death?
All good men haue but one countrey, and all euyl men another: take heede nowe into whiche of these two countries thou wilt be admitted a coun∣treyman. As for a third countrey there is none, but onely an Inne and a place of passage, a thoroughfare.
What wyll become of my countrey?
That countrey which thou goest vnto, continueth alwayes in one estate: and this whiche thou now forsakest, as I haue oftentymes sayde before, is not thy countrey, but hath rather been thy place of banishment.
What wyl my countrey do after my deceasse?
This is the peculiar care of kynges, to thynke what wil become of their kyngdomes & dominions after their death: the lyke whereof thou readest there rested in the heart of the great king of Assyria, or of the most mightie emperour of the Romans. This care exceedeth the calling of a priuate person. But since nowe euen at thy very ende thou art so affected, that thou lust to terme that stoarehouse of miserie, and hospital of payne and sorow, wherein thou hast pas∣sed foorth the swyft tyme of thy lyfe, in great trouble, aduersitie, and heauinesse, by the name of thy countrey, and art desirous to knowe what it wyl doo, I wyl tell thee: it wyl do as it dyd, and as other countreyes do. What is that, thou wylt say? It wyl be troublesome, disquiet, dissentious, and studious of innouati∣ons: it wyl followe factions, chainge lordes and gouernours,