coach-man, caroch, nor lash of whips, smoak of roasts, criers, much tattle, running up and down, sinks, perfumes of Carpet-knights, waggish tricks of lac∣keys, nor sleights of cut-purses proud gates of Rodo∣monts, nor leaders of Bears, nor Mountebanks, nor pettyfoggers, quarrelers, drunkards, ale-houses, nor any of those which draw tribute from humane flesh. The whole world there was busied, and there was not an idle boy: onely you might see children very yong, who played at a most innocent game, and bare in their childish faces the goodness of fathers and mo∣thers, imprinted with an excellent character.
I learned the principal scope of their great felicity, was a most genuine simplicity, which reigned a∣mongst all the inhabitants; not that they were stupid, or witless; for accosting them, I soon perceived they had spirits clear-sighted and well purified; but all their study was to make a harmony between their heart and tongue, and to proceed in all things they undertook with marvellous freedom: they were in∣finitely amazed when it was told them, there were in other Countreys counterfeit men, who spake contra∣ry to their knowledge, and thinking one thing in their hearts, affirmed the contrary with their tongues. They thought it impossible, and used comparisons of their clocks, where the wheel and the hand went ever a like pace. And when I insisted, and grounded my self upon experience of what I had seen and heard, they concluded it may well then be said, those men there are spiritual Centaurs, composed of two natures.
And it being told them, there were Ladies and Gentlewomen in other Provinces, which wore sump∣tuous apparel, plaited, bumbasted, slashed, loaden with precious stones and chains, which had the spoils of the dead upon their heads, draw-bridges tyed to their feet, and that they bestowed a quarter of their lives in combing, and plaistering their faces: the wo∣men of this Countrey had much compassion hereof, and spake with tears in their eyes: Alas poor creatures! we may well say they have committed enormous sins, to carry themselves thus. And when it was answered, the greatest ambition which these Ladies had in the world, was to use this custom, they made many signs of the Cross, asking whether they were innocents, they would not absolutely say, fools?
Hereunto was added a tale, that in the year of an universal peace, there was a Ladie, who travelling with her husband into some other Province, had learned a certain manner how to beautifie her face, which she very curiously made use of; the rest per∣ceiving it, caused her to play at King and Queen, which was a pastime, where the Ladie, who became Empress by the custom of the game, commanded the rest what she thought good, and all yielded obedience to her. The Empress chosen, imposed upon all her train to wash their faces, which this counterfeit wo∣man being inforced to do, as the water dissolved the painting, and that she appeared as she was, the con∣fusion of her forehead was so excessive, that she as it were died with grief, not daring afterward to un∣dertake the like. Their attire port, gate, countenance, words, houses, moveables, tables, recreations, were carried with simplicity, yet accompanied with maje∣sty, civility, decorum, and seasoned with as true plea∣sures, as humane life may afford.
I saw many old men of an hundred years and up∣ward, who were yet very fresh, whereat I was much amazed, and one of them looking on me:
Why (saith he) do you wonder? We live here on inno∣cent meats, whereby it cometh to pass, that we do not so much as know the names of diseases, of which (it is said) you have huge registers, which are the purchasers of your intemperance. We have here no desire to drie up our entrails, and shorten our days; we are all great in the obedience we render to the law▪ all rich in the contentment of our desires; and all pleased with the happiness one of another. We have no passion to tear our hearts, nor cares to pre∣judice our lives, nor avarice to burn us up alive in our houses, nor ambition to make us wings fastened on with wax, so to flie up to the clouds, and make both land and sea famous by our falls. We have an excellent law, which is, never to proceed against the law of nature; and to tell you the truth, the igno∣rance of sins, wherein we live, serves us better than all the precepts of virtue do others.
There is no war among us but against vices, which we rather desire to vanquish, than all sorts of mon∣sters. We know not what plagues mean, because we neither infect the air nor land with blasphemies or bloud. The seasons of the year have with us the same equality which our spirits enjoy, and the sun smileth on us in all his mansions, as we endeavour to have a charity perpetually smiling and the bow∣els of compassion towards our like. When we would behold goodly Theaters, we reduce into our memory the vanities of men, to bewail them so much as they are frivolous. We see this great spe∣ctacle of the world, which it is very hard to imitate, and to fault it, is a crime.
The greatest eloquence among us, is truth, and the first science we teach our children, is that which instructeth them not to tell a lie. Above all, we endeavour piously to honour and serve God, uni∣ting us to his Spirit, and submitting our ways to the main stream of his Providence.
I stood very attentive to hear this old man speak: for I was in a good place; yet not contenting my self simply with what he had said, I needs would see their Churches, their devotions, their laws, and their justice, their commerce, and their Policie. I saw the places dedicated to the service of God, were exceedingly well governed, observed, and frequent∣ed, and that their devotion was not a slight fore of apish tricks, nor affected countenances, but a solid be∣lief of the Divinity with most pure affections. They had no great store of bells, nor took any pride to ring them, nor to publish festivals with much noise, nor to set up Fai•••• at the enterance into Churches, nor to sell jewels, not wear rich apparel, nor to glory in their kitchins. Their great solemnities were bet∣ter known by silence and devotion, than by any other exteriour ostent. It was a blessing, to behold that heresie had altered nothing, either in their do∣ctrine or manners; for they had ever declared them∣selves enemies of all innovation: and as it is said that fishes are silent, and draw near to the source of wa∣ters; so they banishing from their Citie all those con∣tentious disputations, set their mouthes to the fount∣ains of verity.
Thither came at the time whilest I was there, an able man, who thought to preach Controversies to them, and difficult distinctions of School-divinity; but the better sort of French-men demanded whether he preached in Hebrew or no. They could not en∣dure any one should perplex their consciences, by ve∣hemently raising up an infinite number of too subtile arguments, and many times unhonest; so much they feared to bring any mixture upon their innocency, finding more assistance in the lights of good nature, than the subtilities of men.
I considered how at their going from Church, they went to visit goodly great Hospitals, which were ex∣cellently well founded, and administered for the help of the poor, as well forreigners as domesticks: and I saw the most curious Ladies went confident∣ly into them with charitie in their hands, humb∣ling themselves to the services of the most indi∣gent. This made me so enamoured of their govern∣ment, that I judged it the quintessence of the same Theologie.
And verily, when I sought to inform my self of