A continuance of Albions England: by the first author. VV.VV.

THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. 93.

THE Scots thus conquerd Penthland, when two Nations more remaind Within this Iland, also to their Empire pre∣ordaind, Britons (now Welsh) and Saxons (now cald Eng∣lish) either twaine From then a world of time remote vnited to their Raigne: And Ireland also (whence they were) in Englands right they gaine. But by what Currants resteth now in breuitie to say, More facle, by how much the more I see that wished day Of all by-passed ages now effected fully in His Maiestie, that Monarchie doth of this Ile begin.

The Picts thus past, more of the Scots shall be remembred, when The Welsh, more aunchant Incolants, distaske our willing pen. For Welsh and Scots, so far-forth we Aborigens may name, As that they held them heere intier since first they hither came. We Modernes are compounded of them both, Picts, Romaines, and Armoricanes, Danes, Normaines, all once breeding in this land. Since Brittish, English, Scottish, and the Danish bloods vnite In Englands royall Issue now, what wrongs haue they to right? But that, for Consanguinitie, we may, coleaug'd with those, God set before, set dread behinde of whatsoeuer foes. May all their virtues grifted in our Natures shew euents In this our Eden worthy still at least of such discents.

Rome heere preuailing, latenlie, old Britons, Picts, were said, Of their self-painting, whēce foe-feard they did thēselues perswaid. Rome outed, Pictish Britons did Brittish Reuolts inuaid, Because those Lattres (basely thought those Formers) Rome obaid: For these though seuerd earst were one. Then Scots extirpt the Picts: Then came the Saxons, and to Wales debelled Brutes Relicts: Where yet they are a People, and had there their natiue Kings, And in that war-saud Countrie in their Countrie, acted things Whereof (their insufficient Bard) my Muse too skantie sings. At last to th'englisht Normaine yoke them ciuell discord brings. Of Britons (saxonlie cald Welsh, or Strangers) touch we heere Occurrents, as in weale or woe the same concernd them neere: Yea progresse we awhile through Wales, where Brute his off-springs seed, Vnder their natiue Princes long did many a glorious deed: And that those Britons braue Remaines time frō tumultuous brings, Was not our Armor, but our late Alacritie of Kings. For, since protected in same Lawes, and mixt with vs in blood, Bad Brookers they of violence prou'd Voluntaries good, And to themselues haue happy, to our State haue loyall stood.

Cadwalader, as is before, transfreated, forst thereto By what th'inuading Saxons and the Pestilence did do,

The Things of Wales, as Saxons too, confusedly did stand: The cause Pluralitie of Kings aduanst in either land. Till Saxons did in Lhoyger (so the Welsh cald England) chuse (Which honor thence West-Saxon Kings in that Heptarchia vse) A souereigne Generall for their warres against their cōmon foes, And Brittish-Cambries (Welsh men now) a like Superior choes, Twixt which Alienigenests not sildome warfare groes. King Rodericke, surnamd the great, did monarchize at last Wales, that had neere as many Kings as Cantreses in times past, Reducing all to three, whereof were Tributaries twaine Vnto the third, North-Wales, which thence did Paramount remaine. Of North-Wales, South-Wales, Powys-land, making bequests he dide, And his three Sonnes those Diuidents in Thrones distinct supplide. Of all things there, long out of ioint, in order as they fell Through vsurpations, ciuill warres, and Danes were long to tell, But of those indigested daies this merits obseruation, At ods they euend against Aliēts, nor mixt bloud with forren natiō. Yet, though against the Welsh-Kings will, our royall Surname now (If Historie therein we may authenticall allow) It Seedster from that kingly Streene deriues, ensueth how.

CHAP. 94.

ONe Makebeth, who had traitrously his sometimes Souereigne slaine, And like a Monster not a Man vsurpt in Scotland raigne, Whose guiltie Conscience did it selfe so feelingly accuse, As nothing not applide by him against himselfe he vewes,

No whispring but of him, gainst him all weapons feares he borne, All Beings iointly to reuenge his Murthres thinks he sworne, Wherefore (for such are euer such in selfe-tormenting mind) But to proceed in bloud he thought no saferie to find. All Greatnesse therefore, saue his owne his, driftings did infest: Wit so is wisedomes Excrement, and dangerously transgrest. But Pomp, nor Policie, the poore in spirit shall be blest, When at the generall Doome our Soules and Sathan shall contest. One Banquho, powrefulst of the Peers, in popular affection And prowesse great, was murthred by his tyrannous direction. Fleance therefore this Banquhos sonne fled thence to Wales for feare, Whome Gruffyth kindly did receiue, and cherisht nobly there. This grew so rare in Court, as him did euery Eie and Eare Desier to see for person, for discourse delight to heare. King Gruffyths Daughter, Paragon for bewtie and for wit, He followed with such Offices to complet Courtship fit, That each to other sympathiz'd such setled liking, as Her heart to his, his heart to hers transplantiuely did passe. In other Courts for either Sexe not amorous to appeare Was not to be a Courtior, but such boldnesse faulted theare: Her lou'd of him, him lou'd of her, was patent to them both, Yet dombly so, and either that should th'other noote it loth. Not he, by Sonnets passonate, did giue the world to wit That he was turnd Hermaphrodit, and she the cause of it: Nor borrowed she of Phaos box thereby to seeme more faire, As those that fondly rob themselues by Arte of that they are. Through this occasion lassly thus he nakt to her his heart:

I pree thee, Fleance, tell quoth she, which I haue heard in part, The Storie of Fairies that foretold thy Fathers fate, For why? I know not why, but sure it throbs my heart of late. Throb may it so it thriue, quoth he, in you to that euent Diuind by them, nor hope I you can Destinie preuent: But howsoeuer thus it was. King Duncane when aliue,

To Makbeth and my father did great Dignities deriue, As chiefest for their births, their wit, and valour, also thay Held friendship long, and luckely in Scotch affaires did sway. Three Fairies in a priuate walke to them appeared, who Saluted Makbeth King, and gaue him other Titles too: To whom my father, laughing, said they dealt vnequall dole, Behighting nought thereof to him, but to his Friend the whole. When of the Weird-Elfes one of them, replying, said that he Should not be King, but of his Streene a many Kings should be. So vanish they: and what they said of Makbeth now we see. But murdred is my father, and of him remaines but me, Nor shall what they diuin'd effect, vnlesse, sweet Sweet, by thee. What blush you, Lady, pree thee let me busse that blush away, He said, and did it, She to seeke euen of a womans Nay.

When Louers opportunely meet to chaffer fire and flaxe, Will somtimes falles too soone a worke, and Wit thereof doth taxe: This amourous Couples close Cōtract perform'd such earnest sport, As worser newes than would their tongues her belly did report. The fault apparant, Fleance was by furious Gruffyth kild, And she, deliuered of a Sonne, was in affliction hild. The rather for an Aliant had preuailed in that case, Than which amongst the Welsh-men thē was nothing more disgrace. And, soothly, vnto these our times in Europe scarce is knowne As North-Wales is, a Nation more intirely People-one, But that so long in one same Land haue hild them thinke I none, If be not naturall Irish for abode and Breede out-worne. From these so haplesse Parents yeat an happie Sonne proceeded, Well educated of the King, and prouing nobly deeded, At age admir'd for actiue, and for high imployments apt: But for the vertuous to haue bin enuied euer hapt. One taxing him of Bastardie, words more than he could brooke, Was slaine by him: who fearing Law his flight to Scotland tooke. Where Walter (for it was his name) exact of noble blood,

And Grand-sonne to the King of Wales, in publique fauour stood. Amongst great honors, which his great Achiuemēts well did merit, He was Lord Steward of the Land: which Sur-name all inherit Of him descended to this day: which Surname, and which Streene Hath blest the Scots with Princes eight, Ours also numbers neene: Great Monarke of great Britaine now, so amply neuer any: Long may he liue an happie King, of him may Kings be many. Boast of his triple royall blood from you yee Cambrian Brutes, Which to his high discents Else-where not lowest ranked sutes. For Tudor from Cadwallader, and Iames from Tudor claimes, From Gruffyths royall Daughter too himselfe a Brute he names, From Gladys, Mortimer his wife Prince Dauids sister and Vndoubted heire, he also hath in blood and ownes your Land. Great Britaine, sith a Briton doth remonarchize thy Throne, Remaūd thy name: Brute had, Iames hath the whole, as els had none.

What then remaines, sith all is Ones, but all be one in all, And Schismes be reconcilde or scourg'd, for God quaints not with Baal. The great Surname of Steward, how it royaliz'd shall rest For amplier Storie, and of Wales shall be awhile digrest.

CHAP. 95.

SAy me, of gadding, whispring, and of reall Papists, who Wish not that Romes Palladium might as Greekes to Troy Here doe? Nay, which of most the Popes their deeds, in Pa∣ratie, did touch Of these vsurped Sur-names (Names purporting vertue much) As Clement, Pius, Benedict, with Boniface, and such?

The Contrary in these and their blind Dogmatists is true: Witnes Guy Faux his god-curst Taske set by a Pope-blist Crew. But thy Name, Faux, apts Latinlie vnto thy Nature bad: Saue pitie more euen Tigers iawes haue than thy blood-thirst had. France, Belgick, Spaine, Cis-Trans-Alpine, had they against vs arm'd, All they in this vnited Isle had (if at all) lesse harm'd, (For euen a Conquest, though it much addes, alters, and ablates, To, in, and from, a vassald State, not howbeit vn-States) Than this one Viper in his Denne, by one vnthought of blow, Hels stratagemous Quintessence, Romes selfe-created Foe: For henceforth who, not senselesse, to her Oracle will goe? Those all, I say; yea all the worlds ioynt Armour neuer had, Or could they would they barbarously haue bin so ruthlesse bad, As in a trice had been perform'd by Faux, abetted by Conspirators, more odious than their names to shame can dye. Yea, but that Prouender them prickt, by some that might haue said, Soule take thine Ease, here vp in store enough for thee is laid. But Gold, I trow, would be a God it gathereth so of Stile: To be a Noble, Soueraigne, nor an Angel, worth the while. Like to which Climaxie of Coyne wealth eleuates the minde To tract of Greatnesse, till mongst men be Lucifers declinde. Besides a many Innocents, not aim'd at or remorsed, His Maiesties, Queenes, Of-springs breathes from their sweet bodies forced, The Prelacie, Nobilitie, States-men, and State betraide, None to consult, none to commaund, obey, or be obeyde, Protestants, Papists, Puritanes, and Atheists by the eares, All in Confusion, Rapines, blood, in horror, Schismes, and feares, How many vnprepared Soules in that one tragick Blast Had, vnrepentant, what car'd Rome to whom or whither past? That Parlament, that should haue blist an hopefull Vnion here Twixt English and the Scots, had left nor Vnion, King, nor Peere, Nor of the royall Impes, nor whom, but better had been dead Than to haue seene those miseries that Massacre had bread: A Massacre? nay vilder than affining Terme is read.

Nor had those Diuels themselues sped as their Proiect had decreed, Whilst Britaine had a Chrishian, and that Christian blood to bleed: Nor any (if no Papist) though Mahumatist, or Iew, Or morall Idolast had brookt such irreligious View, Nor Forren State, or Potentate, the Pope respecting lesse Than Gods law, lawes of Nature, and of Nations to transgresse: Or, doubtlesse, had selfe-Butcherie amongst those Butchers bin, Like Wolues in sharing Praies, so God abhors such bloodie sinne: Through whō, themselues that dig'd for vs the Pit are falne therin. Romes Neros-fire, Guyse-Massacre, Herods Act, Hamons Minde, Our Iohn, French Henrie murdred, moe, nor any in that kinde, Pagan, nor Popish Crueltie here Parallel can finde: For blood and sower designes so farre beyond Example all, As Children now, when they be men, beleeue it hardly shall. Then, Britons, whē ye blesse your Babes, mixt may your blessings be With this, that they take Caution that did Papisme thus decree: Whence true Tradition of the Fruit may blanch thē frō the Tree. Yea, let them listen, lothingly, what Iesuites propound Gainst Kings & States, perfidiously t'aduāce their Triple crownd: For which, euen Atheisme (theirs except) disclaimeth any ground. Yet out of Practise, Purpose, Terme, and None it to relate May be that diulish Doctrine whence they now Equiuocate. For we may vouch our Age to haue begotten two such Twinnes, That Manual meant, This Mental brocht, as comprehend all Sinnes. To Gangrens as Decision fits (the sooner better) so This Latters Breath choake at its Birth, that else wil monstrous grow. When Hercules was preacht a God to so Beleeuers, it Was taxt a needlesse Doctrine: But this Loore▪Strife more vnfit, Sith Romes Amphibologie faults to Trust, Religion, wit: Of Paganisme, yea Atheisme hist, deriued from Hels Pit. The fabled Satyre came to dine, but when his hoste for Colde Did blow his Nayles, his Pottage too for heate, not stay he would, Disparitie from one same Breath, him scathed to behould. Tongues-Othes, Harts-Thoughts, Disiūctiues, by a Mētal reseruatiō,

What Lawes, whose life or State secure, should such not be Nugation? Such cannot be of God, therefore it selfe cannot but kill, When trulie falslie sworne doth sinne, yea Good that tracts of Ill. No Beasts, of whom but selfe-Repose to be disturbd is feard, Will suffer that amongst them this bigenderd Beast shall heard. Absurdities vncontrouerst, as silenst then let goe: It prouds a Schismatick when him disputes a learned foe. But, Infants-now, by yee be men, or might if ye shall liue, An vniuersall Hate is hopte to Rome an End shall giue: Hate? and an End right iusticed against that purple Whore: My soule for yours, if hers you hate, and shall imbrace our Lore. Wise is he that spake wisely thus the veritie in this, The Mysterie of Iniquitie in perfect Papisme is. Amongst a many Instancies, the vgliest was this Plot, Preuented earst miraculously: nor be the meanes forgot.

Mount-Eagle (than that Names-birth, Gods preordinance more Strange In that darkt loue, meant sole to thee, such Prodigies should change) Mount Eagle thine as high a pitch as Prince-bird of thy kinde Did euer, and thy loyaltie liue in the Lions minde: Whose great-grand-Mothers Father too, Birds of thy feather foūd That, chiefly, thrown'd him in his Right, a Tyrāt then dis-crownd, For which, long ciuil warres so ceast, and this, should al confound, But God vsde thee a counter-meanes, rests England deeply bound To theirs and thine auspitious Bird, still to its Scepter sound.

CHAP. 96.

COnsult thy selfe, dread Soueraigne, and thy Sena∣tors, how may The Romish Hydras heads be seard, or Monster ridde away. For sith they doome all Heretiks not suting to their Lore, And faith with vs not to be held, but foehood euermore, And sith for Murthers Merits, Othes Remissiō, heauē for Treason, Hath their Religion them to doubt, that all things dare, is reason: But God it is that broke the Snare, watch, pray we euery Season. And, as thy Courtiers, also let thy Commons, sacred King, Vnto thine affabilitie and bountie Poeans sing. Than which, is thought, that nothing more assures a Regall-Seate, Which seeming silly do, vndone, much Scathe to Scepters threate: Elizabeth, most sweet wert thou, in each heart-chayning feate.

And miserable Papists, too delirously mislead, To whom are Othes, blood, what not Hels, may stand your Sect in stead? Indulgenced, Only to you, and only are forbod The Scriptures and our Churches, lest yee turne from Pope to God. O, rather take the warrantize of that sole Deitie That, bidding search the Scriptures, saith of him they testifie. Peruse them yet, frequent our Church, confer with our Diuines: So shall ye finde Rome false, and lesse to care your faith than fines: For to the Centure of selfe-Pompe directeth all her Lines: Nor can it be Religion that so diuelishly designes: As did your late preuented Plot, that Rome and Hell combines. For all yet said, is nothing to that more that might be said, Of our compleatest Parlament that should haue been betraid:

And new Rome, that for Infamie too long hath famous bin, Vncontradicted, for that Plot from Hell the Palme doth win. Sith Peters-selfe, first Patriarke in your Church, as yee pretend, Was taught, and taught, meeknesse and Loue, so liu'd, and so did end, Sith thirtie three succeeding in that Chaire were martyrd such, And all the Fathers There (of Stile no higher would they touch) Were abiect poore, till Constantine inritched them too much, And Phocas for his Priuats Rome the Supreme Sea promoted, How is it of Supremacie, as if from Christ, then doted? Well, if in Church-affaires ye in your Follies so admit, Yet that be Popes Heauens Porters, or the Gaylers of Hels Pit, Or that their Mittimus to This, Admittimus to That, Be worth a farthing of the Price, creed they that care not what. But certis, Papistrie, that in it selfe is so absurd, Of learned men and Princes, that conferre it with Gods word, Is vsde but for selfe-purposes and Policies a Staile, And whither will the head we know that thither will the Taile. What Warres, Inuasions, Rebels, Plots, at least since Luthers daies, But thence had hopes, Buls, or Pretexts, y^e Maine meant other waies. How many Kings for Coyne-cause, or repelling but Pope-pride, Hath Rome infested, though with her the same in all beside? Most-what by Women, sillie Girles, youths, firie-wits, Ambitious, By great, by needy Mal-Contents, by Credulous, and Vitious, Work Romes Committees, & from flesh to fare much more delicious Penance their Puples: whitest Sons these Seedsters and Seditious. And, that for them libentiously Fooles-Catholike should erre, Pensions, Canonizing at least, on Rome-wrights they conferre. But, if had spead their barbarous Plot of vaulted Powder late, Then friends and foes, vncarde of them, had past in one same rate, And Agents too: Religion was the bye, the Maine the State. Deluded Soules, in only Christ ground all Faith, Loue, and Hope; A mortall Man, sinfull as ye, or worser is the Pope, Your Coyne of all his Practises and Pedlaries the scope.

So violently, blasphemously, and suddainly haue dide So many Popes, as in no Ranke of States hath hapt beside. And to vsurpe the Papacie, such treacherous Intrusions, For Romes Religion, and her Rites, such false and harsh Conclusions, Such Simonie, Pride, Briberie, and Brothelrie is There, Yea and Sodometrie, as not exampled are Els-where. Such is your God, his Oracle, his Orgies, and his Alter, O venture not your Soules for such, to heuen-wards through an halter. Babel is falne, Vr-Caldick squencht, Delphos in no request, Pantheon none for Ethnick Gods, Iewdaisme finds no rest, Mahumetrie hath but it time, the Arian and old store Of Heresies are silenced, hath Romes then Placcard more? Nay, let her looke a full Eclipse of her aie darkned Moone, By interponure of the Sunne that shall vnshine it soone. And (which is read as holy writ) the Legend of their Saints To wisemens View, vpon that Pale Anathema it paints. The Statute in Q. Maries raigne, when Poole re-Rom'd this Realme, Doth arrogate vnto that Sea in tearmes too much extreame. Yet some for selfe-Preferments, some to please, in blindnes moste, Or how soeuer, wrought it was that Rome did rule the Roste. But this be noted, worth the note, though Rome then soules re-got, The Abbie-Lands, though labouring it, she reposseeded not: Her trusted they with those, themselues with these, & quasht had bin That holie Statute, rather than a Land-saue not put in. The pride of that same Prelacie, far lesse than since and now, Euen in a Saint of theirs did our old Christians disalow, Concerning which ensueth here, the Storie when and how.

CHAP. 97.

TO Austin, first of Kentish Saints, doe lend your eares a while: Not to his Legend (so absurd as, reade, would make yee smile, Or rather good men grieue that stuffe so grosse should men beguile) But of that Saint, whom Gregorie the Pope sent to this Isle, So mou'd by feature that at Rome he saw in Englishmen, Or Pagan Saxones, newly cal'd by name of English then.

Note, diuers hundred yeeres before that Lucius here was King, The Britons had receiu'd the faith, and though did Saxons bring Hither with them their Paganisme and Christians did oppresse, Amongst the then Welsh-Britons was the Gospell nerethelesse, And Primatiue Church-Practise of trew Faith, for why? as yet From Popes was no corruption brought, nor any from them fet. But as their first Apostle, from Christs first Apostles, brought Immediat Christianitie, at Bangor was it taught Sincerely so, aboue those Clerkes till Primacie was sought By Austin, then Romes Agent, fam'd such wonders to haue wrought, As, if his Legend be no Lie (to deeme the best we ought) Meere Exorcismes (for Miracles were ceast) they may be thought. But sith not only Fathers in their bookes be falsefide, But euen the sacred Scriptures, to vphold the Papall pride, This Austin and his fellow Saints may also be belide. Of whom be reuerent Censure, that for most were men deuout, Though in their Legends (others works) meere Fables are set out.

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CHAP. 98.

NExt these of Saints, vnsanctified, that also sturre the State, Calumnize Church, our Liturgie, and Rites in criticke rate. Yet (let not men religious, or but morall good replie) What are they but the mapped Orbs of all Hy∣pocrisie? Of Humor, Pride, Peruersnesse fead, nor be Irreuerence spoke, Too aduantagiously from out our Rubrick they vnyoke, And Canons old and new by them are, too securely, broke, Yea and, offensiuely, vnto our Regulars, submis To meete Conformetie, that by Nouators dallied is. For in euasiue Discipline, and tolerating Lawe, Meant howsoeuer, baine from balme doe such Fantasticks drawe, And giddie Flights of Bussards oft deuote them to some Dawe: Who, howsoeuer he impungs our Order in Church Rites, Them tearming Romish Ragges, or with his leaden Sword thē smites, Yet whatsoeuer Papistrie exacted, payed yet, His scrupulous Reformitie, will nought thereof remit. Nay, Frier more did neuer preach deuotion to his Dame Than these Addition, nor for aught with-hild did so exclame. Which were indeed allowable in any more than These; That are in all but for themselues, all would, will nothing leese. Whose holy Noses ouer-hang at Markets, Staules, and Sacks, There hucking cheapth, here hearkening dearth, to set abroach their Stacks. And if of these Irregulars (as few haue) some giue-out,

They of their Owne prouided are sufficiently no doubt, Or know to lay their knife aboord, at others Costs, for Fare And greater Ease than Studie them or Pulpetrie can spare. Or if shall of Pluralities be likely Risses, then Their Saintships are as capable thereof as sinfull men. Say somethings faultie in abuse of good Lawes, what of so? A lawfull Calling, Season, Cause, still hand in hand should goe. Synods & Senats should they to preposterous Schismes giue place, Lawes would be sick of Lunacie, still alter would the Cace. The Adders Tayle, because it had the Sting, would hale the Head, Ensewd, the blind Conductor to a deadly Down-fall lead. Were Sailers scornd the Master for Director, him they drownd, A Tempest hapt, none could direct, and all a Shipwrack found. Of Plebales when they rush into Reformitie like ground, And like successe: themselues for most cannot themselues expound. Nor captiously be taine the Tearme of Puritane, but know, To Puritie faind of Impure, so knowne, we badder owe, Than by a bare Sarcasmus to obtrude on such the Lie Of them beloued: Censure then of me as censure I, That iterate, let Pharisies not Publicanes applie: And care not Termes, but cleere the Schismes in peruerse humour lead, And in a nick-nam'd Puritane an Hypocrite be read. For vpright hearts, for holie hands, for reuerent tongues and eares Be Scriptures only, and to God no secret but appeares. Then babble lesse, and practise more of Pietie, if not, By knowing good and doing ill the rather Hell is got. Sith These and Romes, so dangerously, to Innouation tend Against the Church and publike Peace, or breake or make thē bend: At least, sith such Antitheses to Truth vnuisard are, Yet selfe-accusing Consciences seducing not forbeare, Of Spleene or Singularitie, no such Seducers spare. Should Law lack force, or Iustice faint, as neither doth-or ought, This comforts yet, Things not of God come of thēselues to nought.

Omitting serious Errants, and few pitied wits of some Conceited, and exemplarly consorted, now though dumme, Hopte howbeit no Lethargie their Senses doth benumme, (For somtimes good men, till remou'd, to wrong Opinions leane) Be medeld but of ayrie Saints, our Hypocrits we meane, Of whom too many be obseru'd too subtile and vncleane. Mongst many of an Hang-by in that kind, who, saue for gaine, Sees Pulpets only, echoeth Paul, and Magdalen doth faine, The scriptum est, as did the Diuell, for her auaile applies, Not for an Oxe an Oth, but for each trifle twentie Lies, Tiers Catechizing, hangs at mouthes for scapes, when shall ye sware Be'r-Lady or but Mack, for hot encounter then prepare, Admireth others Faults, whilst she doth nothing more than worse, Not sticking cautilously the hier of Filthinesse to purse, For, may she opportune for Pence, liues not like lurching Blaine, At her a cast, for now my Muse is in a merrie vaine.

CHAP. 99.

THere is an Academie, which I reuerence so much, As gessed gainst it splenous thoughts me sple∣nously would touch: For as (so Historie) it was the Primer-schooling Heere, So euer haue Religion and the Muses held it deare: What of Precisians? most retract, did Papists Else-where so, Amisse were well amended: but too Wost-ward now we go. Not miles from it a Township is, I know not whether in

A neighbouring Mart more famous, or infamous for the sinne Of Beggers, Brothels, Cheaters, Bawds, and Vagrants once a yeere Resorting thither, then to put their sinnes in practise there. Farre be it though we taxe thereof those dwelling there, for why? Proctors nor Praetors euer could those Of-scummes thence put by. The harbouring then so fitting There, as those of Sort among Are faine thereof. But all this while we doe our Hostesse wrong, Who though she lack not of the age that Scriptures lot to man, In auaritious Prouidence lesse Arte the Diuell can: Her let vs Storie, as she swaies the Pot and dripping-pan.

So farre-foorth as her empted Goomes permitteth Guests she greets, And promiseth to euery one soft lodging & sweet sheets: But who would thinke by misse of teeth y^t she with profit meets? Full gorged mongst her Guests (for she with euery Company eates, And slauers out some Decate of worme-eaten home-spun feates, Or with her fellow Pharisies of Lecture-shreads intreates, Or as she gropeth humours, so afferring stuffe repeates, A Proteu to all profit, hers as euery pulse so beates, Well wotting now no thriuing if no hammering to all heates) She, eating as chap-broken, of teeth-fugitiues complaines, And for adiorned chewing so full fraughted trenchers gaines, Which she retaileth: neither with that bootie so refraines, But that some neighbour big with childe lusts this or that she faines, And fourthly for her gulled Guests a galling shot remaines. At table and in Stable when is frankly spent, and hopte The promisd Lodging, no such thing, for many so gaine-coopt Are glad, with fresh Expences for rear-banquets and great fiers, All night to shelter bedlesse there: her selfe meane time retiers To gnawed bones, and slubberd Scraps, and Trenchers, which she scrapes So as no licking for a Mouse her frugall fingers scapes, And with that sweet Compound condites such Gallimawfries as She dearely vttereth to the Swaines that to and fro then pas.

Her parts externall more to praise, in sooth, I know not how, Than that she eateth, grunts, and goes as clenly as a Sow, Splay-footed, gated like a Beare, and wasted like a Cow, And grease combust hides as a Maske her face of Baboon-forme. Not wrothfull though, who so will may howsoeuer storme, So she hath pay, that will be paid, if Bayard be in Stable, And Bayard shall be there, for none she intertaines not able. And though her wealth be great she hath no pride as may appeare, So sluttish is her Wardrobe that she doth and doth not weare. And he that at her Beauties best her kissed him repented, Then Lecherie must needes in one so vgly be preuented. She cannot be malitious doth with only Mony deale: Nor enuious, vnto only whom Vertues themselues conceale. And though that Gluttonie it selfe by her might be pourtraid, Yet Others, not her selfe, for that deformitie haue paid. Now, were our Hostesse purged of her couetous humour too, It were a Metaphysick more than Belzebub can doe: To whom I leaue both her and all such Hosteses, Amen: For better matter, could we hit thereon, attends our pen.

This Toy tost-by, be now awhile contemplated vpon The God-protected Gouernment of that sweet Queene is gon. How happie her distaste of These, of Pope, and Papists all Was to her selfe and Hers, and how an Edict late for Baal, Such as was Iehues, seem'd proclaim'd: for whereto els should tend Such libertie of Trauell, or of Ours, that might defend Euen gainst true Christians Catholikes, nick-named, but thereby To our Religion or to Romes Affections so to trie? Sith pregnantly is Opposite our King to Papistrie. On These I ruminating thus into a slumber fell, And dream'd a speaking Vision, which did humour me so well, As would I could (which Arte cannot) it in its Essence tell.

CHAP. 100.

ME thought I did conceit the Sight that marty∣red Stephen had, And from that glorious Heauen descend a Maide in brightnes clad: Her lookes had compleat Maiestie mixt with allacrious view, Whom by that Raritie to bee Elizabeth I knew. Friend (quoth she) small thy fame and lesse thy Fortune, howbeit Good-will I estimate aboue birth, wealth, or fluent wit, Thy Betters (once my Flatterers) me and themselues forgit, Thou with thy Mite remembrest me, and I remember it. As Palinur I come not of Aeneas to intreate Interment, it I had, and am behighted Tombrie great. Nor come I, sorrie Soule, to thee (as short of skill iwis As meanes to mend in Staterie aught, if were aught amis) As quarrellous, but to applaud what as I left it is, For which at least your prudent King and Councell boad yee blis. Nor come I from a Limbo, for there is but Heauen and Hell, And Soules immediatly are and continue as they fell, Though of a Purgatorie Popes the Fable dearely sell Of life Eternitie, of Ioyes I Infinencie haue, Yet rests a glorifying doome beyond what heart can craue: We are in God, and God in vs, and God and we in one Will not, vnlesse ye will, my Realme relict be ouerthrowne. I found it such as Papistrie affecteth it againe, And held it contrarie spight Rome, France, and insatiat Spaine,

Rebellions, and Conspiracies, and left an Heire to raigne Me likt he should, and ioyes he doth, yet write I thus complaine.

Whereas, like England, not a Realme in Europe hath and had Such powerfull Foes and Schismes, in all so capitally bad, And God alone hath vndertaine your Cause and made yee glad, May seeme of your owne Policie and strength yee ouerwinne, Of thankfulnes so little, and so much yee shew of sinne. Wheras (Truths & Times work) the Pope grew Here estrāged too, As tirde in his attempts, and dride in all that he could doe, Neer comen to this as, nam'd, was askt of whēce that Beast & who? How is it (though your Leagues perhaps for Statrie and for Trades Be not amis, new times I know new Amitie perswades) That (which I held and left restraind, & whereby England thriu'd) By tolerated Trauell, and free Souldrie is reuiu'd Romes poyson, and too patent meanes for Plots to be contriu'd? But if be meant that so should Waspes be draind from out the Hiue, Then penance too may Policie those that it so doth shriue: For Altars not to arme with vs, against vs is to striue: Religion and Subiection be each th'others Relatiue. Now is it not as when, at once, all Kings adord the Beast, So much more poysnous now by how much more in power de∣creast, To be suspect in Citie, Towne, Court, Countrie, friendship, Feast, Nor maruell that Rome wins so fast, and, wonne, retaines so sure, Sith it to all is all in all, selfe-profit to procure. The Serpent that in Eden did to Mankinds losse intice, Is at her Councels President, to giue gainst ye aduice. Nor Mahomet his Alchoran more plausable than Hers: The cause that many a Woman, Youth, and Indigent so erres: For easie Preies intice a Theefe, Opinion much preferres: With Sensualitie in part permitted, and sinne bribed, And with this Mot, Sinne be assoyld, may Rome be circumscribed. O pestilent Religion (no Religion) that giues leaue, Or pardon to the fowlest Sinnes, nor only doth receaue

Your Fugitiues, but them returns fraught with Instructions such As brought, though by a beardles boy, your State may wholy tuch! Sith Plutos Gates ope nights and daies to all will goe or come, Shut yours to shut in yours, and theirs shut out both all and some. Nor of your Linsie-wolsie Roofes of Peeres can I be dumme: Nor of the Mechianisme of some your Great-Ones by the Drumme. Me thought like Tudor her stour Sier at it last said she fround: O God, quoth she, can Iustice sleepe where such Mis-life is found, In President a preiudice, in law sauz godly ground? Should such whom God & Nature els haue beutifide throughtout, For one base sinne to Vulgers be a by-word and a flout? No, be it yet remembred that was God his feare forgot, Who will forgiue true Penitents, and Time out-wears a blot: If at this Charme be stopt the eares, there is a hell I wot. There is an idle Schisme to Rome and you in Opposition, Which, should it speede, nor she nor yee met euer like Physition: Life for a Limme, meane Medicines without a meane applide, Which, though contraried in Pretexts, besibs that others Pride. Of it giue also Caution, and bid kill it in the bud: It euer harmed where it grew, and neuer will doe good, In Britaine as a Pestilence warne that it be withstood. Now that I mention Britaine, know that Name doth please me well: Since Brute till now a Monarchie nere of this Isle befell: Vnion in one same Policie adde, and auoid an hell: My Brothers Legend much against Pluralitie doth tell. How many seuerall Lawes at once had Britaine long agoe? The Britons theirs, the Romanes theirs, the Picts and Scots also. In neerer times (besides the Scots and Welsh) seauen Saxon Kings: Vpheld so many Lawes, an Eighth with him the Dane he brings: And all those Eight the Normaine found to Three digested, and Of all their creames compild one Law, now Common in this Land. Since when, attempted oft, had no Inuasion ouer-hand,

Ere when this Realme within it selfe continually did striue, And vnto seuerall Alliants op't a way for Conquests fiue. May Realmes, Religion, Lawes, and hearts in prosperous Vnion thriue. But that I know be lawes in force for Sabbaths, feasts of Saints, For Fasts, for Vagrāts, pestring now your Streets without Restraints, I should haue thought those too prophane and warrant lawes had bin, So common and so vncontrould is sufferance of such sin. Taxe England, fertill in good lawes that meete with each amis, For that it so remissiue in their Execution is. Warne, midst such Plentie, Pleasures, & this blessed Peace take heed, Lest from Securitie therein a sudden Scourge proceed. Who thought but all had bin as well as could the heart desire, When all stood at the sudden doome of one false sparke of fire, Which had effected, had not God stood Britaines Sentinell: Most though but wōder, few praise him, bid thou pray al proue wel. If Soules at rest for priuate wrōgs could grieue whē such appeares, Paintings, and Pleasances of some, in stead of Mourners teares, Accōpanying my Funeral, had grieu'd mine Eies & Eares. Did neuer Mother tender more her Childe than I the State, Howbeit some it recompence at too vnkind a Rate: Detractiue bookes at publique Saile, of moment so much lesse By how much more the Authors are obseru'd how they professe. In Heauen was wondred that on Earth an Edict should be seene, That English should not scandalize their late deceased Queene, Lycurgus, as of Patricid, that Law had left out cleene, Of such Ingratitude so small Expectance: though not rare The lust of Nouelties, sometimes from Quailes to Garlick-fare. But ye that thought I liu'd too long had found I dide too soone, Had not God better preordaind Succession than your Boone, Which like to that of Aesops Frogs had varied, till at last Some Storke had plaid ye Rex, and then had worser pleasd than past.

By Scipio and by Caesar so dealt Rome, and Carthage so By Hānibal, and Greece her Friends found Greece their greatest Foe: The tyrannie of pleball tongues most good most vndergoe. In few not knowing why malign'd, nor why Malignors haue Of late retracted, Romes except, that hate me in my Graue, Let it suffice I pardon all, and blessed may proceede The Gouernment, of Romerie and new Anabaptisme freede: And so farewell. And so I wakt, that wisht prolonged sleepe, For when I found I did but dreame I could not then but weepe.

Farre be it though should any thinke the Vision could be Her, To doubt whose Soule to be with God were out of doubt to erre▪ But most-what seemed said we might for veritie auer. The neuer idle minde, in like Respondencie of zeale, Not seldome by Phantasma thus in Sleepes doth Soothes reueale. But idely hath and ouerlong been dreamed, think may some: Much more Elation though would this Relation well become, Euen she was dream't-off & the dreame, That for her worth, & This In it Particulars inuite discourse much lesse omis. Yet so hath been digressed and so dreamed as almost Our Muse, that scarce is entred Wales, it selfe in Wales hath lost.