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, Page  337alter lawes, and both these many tymes for the woorse, seldome for the better, spurne agaynst the best and most noble subiectes, aduaunce the vnwoorthie, banishe the well deseruing, esteeme of the pillers & poullers of the treasurie, loue flatterers, hate them that speake the trueth, contemne the good, honour the myghtie, woorshyp the enimies of it libertie, persecute the defenders of the Commonwealth, weepe sometyme and laugh without cause, esteeme of golde and precious stones, reiect vertue, and embrace pleasures: these are the manners and state of your Cities and Countreys. There is none but may most assuredly prophecie vn∣to thee of these matters, vnlesse he be such an one as hath alwaies led a rurall lyfe, or entred into Townes with deafe eares, and dimme eyes.

What wyll befall vnto my Countrey after my deceasse?

Why art thou carefull, and trou∣bled herewith? Whatsoeuer hapneth to thy Countrey, thy house shal be free from burnyng, theeues, and ouerthrowing. Whether the yeere fall out to be pestilent, or els to be deare or plentiful, hot or drye, haylie, snowie, or raynie, frostie, or otherwyse moyst & rot∣ten: yea, the byrdes of the ayre, & wild beastes of the wooddes, the Caterpiller and Chaffer: finally, earthquakes, and raginges of the lea, dearth of victualles, inuasions of enimies, or ciuile warres, none of all these are able to touche, or concerne thee hereafter.

O, what shalbe the estate of my Countrey, or to what ende shal it come?

To what other, thinkest thou, then that the greatest citie and state that euer was or shalbe is come vnto? to wit, dust, ashes, rubbysh, scattered stones, and a name only rem•yning? I could prooue this to be true by innumerable argu∣mentes, but thou knowest the matter sufficiently. To be short, there is nothing apperteining vnto man that is euerlasting, no worldly thyng permanent, but only the soule of man, which is im∣mortal. Enclosures shal fayle, sowed landes shal decay, buildinges shall fall downe, all thynges shall come to naught, and why art thou greeued and vexed in the minde? If thou be in heauen, thou wylt both dispise this, and all other worldly thynges. But as for them that goe downe into hel, casting of al charitie, it is to be en∣tended that they hate both God and men, and also al the workes of God and man.