COme my maisters , all you that will bee of this priuie search to finde this wandring Knight , ( Mounsieur Money ) lay by your armes , and take your leggs and follow me . Stay , stay , stay , come not so fast : I call not all those that would find him , ( there would be left then scarce so many behinde as there was vndrown'd at the deluge ) but some of those as are fittest and most at leisure to search , as some score of idle souldiers , these are men that are experienc't to walke the round , for walke yée must resolue ere yée finde him , he shifts his lodging so oft , or else he lyes so obscure he wil hardly be spoke with . Wel , I doubt not but yée will bee painfull in the quest , onely your censures which way first to begin as the likelyest to finde the nearest way ( being the very Nominatiue case first to finde the construction ) and then haue with ●ée : le ts first question his descent : faith from earth ( of our o●rne kindred , ) I would he were not so néere to vs in kindred , then sure he would be néerer in kindnesse , and then we must conclude ( comming from earth ) that thither he must returne , and therefore is now on earth . There may a doubt arise from hence too , for being here can●nized , na● Deified and made a God , ( for therein we must néeds confesse our impure idolatr● ) it may be he has tane his glorious flight to heauen already . That cannot bee neither , sure Peter has bard the gates against him , for hee that would not sell heauen to Monie on earth , 't is most likely he will not sell heauen , now once possest of it , thinke yee then he hangs ( like a defected spirit ) in the ayre , no hee is too massie , or if he were , wee haue Danaes inough to bring him showring downe : in the fire thinke yee● neither , I know them that haue runne through fire and water too , and yet haue not found him : the sea is lunatique too , and mad folkes keepes no money , he would sinke if he were there : is he damnd by the curses of the poore , and so gone to hell ; if hee bee , wee le rake hell but wee le finde him , no , the Diuell builds ( they say ) to enlarge his kingdome , and builders commonly are without money , well , then wee must returne to our first proposition , that hee bides in his first element , that s earth , conclude there to search for him then , set up the staffe which way to begin , & conuenimus omnes , 't is falne to the Cittie , a hopefull way a first : enter the gates before there be any opposition : haue with yee .

Let us be carefull in our inquisition , omit no ( halfe suspected ) place , therefore let vs enquire at the Tailors shop ( for that stood next the gate ) if the beloued Mounsieur Money had not there taken vp his lodging , the brauerie of the time makes a suspect , therefore enquire of him . The motion was no sooner made to two or three crosse-legd iorney men , but they swore by the bread they then eate ( and they seemd to relish their oathes with a good stomacke too ) that there he was not , there hee should haue beene indeed , and many bills of authoritie they had sent forth to fetch him , but come hee would not , nor could they tell where he lay . Well on we goe , the next enquirie we made at a painted lattice , hauing ( as we supposd ) some hope there to finde him , but alas , nihil ad propositum as wee found the sequell , we beldiv ( and officers like ) enterd the house , where wee spyed a more lamentable spectacle then Amintas mourning for his Phillis : An olde woman ( being the sicke minded hostesse ) deiected and throwne into such a perplexitie , as you would haue thought her owne traiterous ●●●hes would haue blowne her vp , her hand ( like a despairing louer ) boulstering her cheeke , yet with a saint intergatorie , she askt vs what wee lackt ? wee tolde her Money , shee some-thing gathering her womanish spirits about her , told vs hastily , that she had paid her Brewer a month agoe , and that we did her wrong to demand it . But vpon our further and well considerd replye , shee was satisfied , that we came about no such matter , onely to know if such a traueller lay in her house , then with a sorrowfull shaking of her head , her griefe was redoubled , oh no , oh no , oh no , thrise as if shee would haue coniured him thether presently , and began to plant her face for a most passionate reply . You sée this roome here I haue others well and thriftily furnisht with houshold-stuffe , but in this is containd my whole su●stance , which ere we goe any further you shall heare describ'd . The battlements which had beene whit● and innocent , were now sullied with vncapable caracters of ( as I may so terme it ) Candle-graphie , all the sides both walles and posts showed like a firmament without a sunne , all full of pale and sickly prodegies , which shee with a heart as colde as Aeneas recounting the tale of Troy , in this manner vnfolded to vs : these longer sort ( quoth the ) which stood like white streamers , are the least harmful portraiting ( as it were ) but euen penny-worths of mishaps , these other demi-lunes or halfe Moones , and with that she vented another volley of sighes which are thrise double the mischiefe of the rest , but these round ones ( quoth shee ) like full Moones , ( and indeed , not altogether vneffectuall ) for then t was full sea , and the water stretcht a little beyond her bounds , from forth the hollow caues of her eyes issued fountaines , which walking downe the furrowed pathes of her face , and venteroustie meaning ( as it were ) to passe the gulfe of her mouth in quietnesse , bound her tongue for a cer●aine space to peace , which afterward being releast , shee went forwarde to tell vs a strange Metamorphosis , and one indeede that Ouid had quite forgotten , how that all her Ale was transform'd into those fatall meteors , which was indeede Chalke , 't was strange , but not so strange as true , Money sayes shee was eyther sledde or a sleepe , for he was not stirring : shee added with all the report of her better fortunes , how shee had a swifter and more profitable mutation of her Ale in former time , how that first her Ale was Ale , and then it was Langtoe , and then it was Ale againe : wee were presently ( at the hearing of this ) importunate , to haue the morrall of this misterie , what this Langtoe was ? faith saith shee , the English phrase is a little too broad , and comparisons are odious , else I would tell you by the way of comparison , but ( a little corrupting the word ) shee would tell vs by a simile , for euen as the Salt-sea-water being taken out of the Sea , and purg'd in the clouds and ayre , yet at length returnes to sea againe , and becomes perfect Sea-water againe : so Ale though kept a while in the clouds of the body , yet may againe perfectly and prouidently returne to the fatte , and so re-returne to the body , as yee may obserue in the course of things , how grasse turnes to hay , and the seedes of have make grasse againe . At this wee were all rewmatique , and spit at the apprehension of it , concluded and folde her plainly , that we could not pittie her , for we did imagine she had poison'd her guests , and they in due reuenge had chok't her , fed quid hoc ad nos : what 's this to our purpose ? this is the generall folly of the time , when we are once got into an Ale-house , we neuer finde the way out againe : but on , on , what if we enquir'd at the Shoomakers ouer the way ? wee did , but in vaine , the maister himselfe was not within , and all the rest lay sicke of Mercuries boone , ( cruell Mercurie to deale so with good fellowes , ) yet they were labouring their hides , and singing like carelesse trauellers coram latrone : as wee were but asking the question steps mee from ouer the way ( ouerlistning vs ) a news-searcher , viz a Barbar , he hoping to attains some discourse for his next patient left his banner of basons swinging in the ayre ; and closely eaue-drops our conference , the saucie treble-tongu'd knaue would insert some-what of his knowledge , ( treble tongu'd I call him , and thus I prooue 't , hee has a reasonable Mother tongue ▪ h●s Barber-surgions tongue , and a tongue betweene two of his fingers , and from thence proceeds his wit , and t is a snapping wit too , ) well sir , he ( before he was askt the question ) told vs , that the wandring knight sure was not farre off , for on Saterday-night hee was faine to watch till morning , to trim some of his followers , and its morning they went away from him betimes : hee swore he neuer clos●d his eyes till hee came to Church , and then he slept all Sermon time , but certainely hee is not farre afore , and at yonder Lauerne ( showing vs the bush ) I doe imagine he has tane a chamber , we went some-what hopefull now , hauing so faire a likelihood : Thither wee came , where at the entrie wee ●care a confused noise ( like a blacke Sanctus , or a house haunted with spirits , such hollowing , shouting , dauncing and clinking of pots , that sure now we suppos'd wee had found , for all th's reuelling could not be without Mounsieur Mony had beene on of ●he crew , we had the salute ( of welcome gentlemen ) presently , wilt please yee see a chamber , it was our pleasure ( as wee answered the apron-man ) to see , or be very neare the roome where all that noise was , we were admitted and vsherd presently into a neighbor Chamber , where by the ●●nt obseruance both of our eyes and eares , we might be aquainted who they were , whom when we had wel ouer-viewed , wee might truely perceiue there was no such man there as Mounsieur Mony , ● that you may the better beleeue vs , ●oele describe the assembly : there was ( to begin with the worthiest ) two or three of our own faculty & familiar acquaintance , swaggering souldiers : A pair● ( amongst many ) of thred-bare Poets , men that want mony more then wit , foure or fiue flag-falne Plaiers , poore harmelesse merrie knaues , that were now neither Lords nor Ladies , but honestly wore their owne cloathes ( if they were pale for ) , amongst these were two or three gun-makers , & they lookt like an Almanack dated in eighty eight , and toward the lower end of the table , which indeed we could well distinguish by neither bread nor salt , for there was neither , except two or three small biskets , which ( I dare say ) nere a souldier there durst venter to breake , ) but by the condition of the men wes gest it so , ( who were indeed a noise of musitions ) those that I haue seene at the tables side ( for manners sake ) scraping manibus pedibusque , yet now admitted a place at table , and good reason too at this time , ( as you shall vnderstand ) the reckoning was cald for and within a while brought in , a mist then ( with two pipes of Tobacco ) was cast before our eyes , but we perceiued how it went , fire shillings dropt from the consort at lower end , which God wot , they had that morning scrapt out at an Embassadors window , little els was visible , onelie some of them whispered the drawer in the care ( but hung neere a Jewell in it ) he shooke his head and went away , three partes discontent yet faintlie pronounst , yee are welcome Gentlemen : vpon this the companie departed .

Wee thought wee had staied too long , for wee might sweare he that we sought for was not there , we sent one backe to the Barbar to tell him he was an asse to gesse so like a foole , and on we trauaile , we had not measured three cinque paces , but we met with one that came a far greater pace towards vs , and had now reacht vs , a gallant ( as we tearme them ) who ( as we afterwards vnderstood ) had narrowlie escaped the hands of a shoulderclapper , we spur'd our question to him , who pantingly , yet out of breath , swore as God iudge him he had not seene him this fort-night , but seeke him and finde him bee must , or it would goe worse with him , we requested his company , he told vs that may wee went hee durst not returne , nor did he thinke hee lay that way , for the last time he parted and shooke hands with him was in the suburbes , and if thither we would walke with him , he would bring vs to the house where hee left him , wee loath to leese any hope agreed , and went with him , he brought vs to a house where at the very entrance I did distrust we were yet mistaken , there was but three roomes , one crowning still the toppe of the other , and little bigger then so many of Diogenes his tubs , where two could scarcely be at ouce , but one must be on the top of the other , other countries ( for they are common in all countries ) call these mansions . Bordelloes , or Biothells , but in our familliar phrase it is commonly cald a house of iniquity , or some-time a subaudi domus , our conducter was but setting his foote ouer the threshold but hee was repulst by head and shoulders by an old Laplander and her mate , with a face like a leane tripe vnwasht , but behinde her stood trembling , two or three of Venus her Nimphes very prompt and seruiceable which the Beldams stood garding like the fire-spitting Fulles that garded the Colchos fleece , bellowing , roring and rail●ng against our leader , that hee had carried her b●st retainer , nay her verie maintainer from her house ( Mounsier Money ) and vnlesse hee w●nt and brought him along with him , hee should haue no entrance there , and so doing , hee should be as welcome as euer he was , hee swore as before hee had done that there he left him , and saw him not since , she vied and revied othes to the contrary that it was not so .

This matter could not be decided , till one of our company , ( hauing before been somewhat familliar with one of the Nimphes ) had priuately enquired if hee were there or no , she had swore to him that hee had not beene th●re since the Learme , and then that Gentleman had left him there , marry it was more then her old patronesse knew of , shee kept him obscurelie a while , but not long , and from thence hee went to the Doctors , where shee thought hee yet was , wee considering the circumstance thought it not vnlikely , and went to pursue him this way , this was a good sent , and we were loath to loose it , well towards the ●ountebanke Doctor wée go , and at length there we arriue , where we finde him , turning ouer his Stale bookes , and poring in his prospectiue , some-times graueld in the grauell , some-time sweating , and chasing to find whether ●were a burning feauer or no : him at his conuenient leisure we gréeted , who very reuerent and courteously resaluted vs , thinking by our meager lookes we had béene some patients , but alas our disease was such as he had no phisique to cure , we propounded our former inquisition to know if such a gentleman lay not in his house , he presently tied his reuerence to an oth that there he was not : hee had deferu'd ( hée sayd ) to haue his companie , but could not obtaine it , and for his vnkindnesse he wisht the yor or some other villanous disease would catch him , and then hée should bée sure of his company for a month or so ( if no longer ) till he were recouered againe , well ( after the ceremony of departing ) wée had our answere and away wee went : wée had no sooner descended the staires but at the doore , wée examined a paire of Porters , ( m●n of great carriage ) yet hauing no such burdens lying on their necke , they both answered ( vna voce ) that they were now come out of the City and had bin there to séeke him , but could not finde him , nor did they thinke that hée was there , but rather that hée was ridde into the countrie this hard yeare to buy wheate , and meant to turne Farmer : this replie did on the suddaine astonish vs which way to turne , but béeing now in the Cittie we concluded ( sit fas aut nefas ) to end our enquirie there ere wée past it , and at the instant ( as wée were againe entring ) wee spied a streete on the left hand ( the verie hand that ●ell standes on , ) al adorned like a most famous infamous wardrope , for there were executed and hung , ( some by the necke , some by the heeles ) many innocent garments , whose ●●st owners themselues were hung ( most of them ) on the other side of the Citty , and now the garments ( for their maisters crime ) suffered the second place of paine , and were there tortur'd to bée purged in the ayre of some infections that yet either ru● or crept vpon them , we did immagine that our lost Mounsier had been there at the receit thereof , but sure he would not lodge nor abide amongst such a tribe of Iewish brokers , yet hauing opportunity to aske , for then met vs one that had newly ransomed a long executed sute , and had of purpose chose it to sée if it could conduct him the same way the former owner was gone . ( For indeed he meant to weare it to the proofe . ) of him we askt who might bee the patron and furnisher of this large wardrope , he answered vs that the furnisher of that place was as mad a hangman as any was about the towne , nay there was none like him , his name was Don Carnifexius Crackonecko Dericko , a rare fellow ( for there was none such ) and it was doubtfull whether he were a magician or no , for he vsed to ride in the ayre of Pacolets wooden horse , marrie hee was a clowne in one thing , he neuer ridde with bridle , but a basehalter alwaies , and that was but ●● shew hée could raine his mare without a bit , and a mare it was by approbation , for thée cast many colts , and that was with his vnmercifull backing of her so néere her téeming time , nay ( saies hée ) hée is a very Alexander for none but himselfe dares mount his Bucephalus , but is in daunger of death ere hée comes to the ground , nay his owne seruant ( by credible report ) that had well broke and often managed her , for offering to get vppe the wrong way , was throwne and broke his neck .

This merry description made vs léese a little time , yet now wée were sated with this ( hauing other businesse in hand ) therefore we ( some-what vnmannerly ) tooke his tale out of his mouth , and desired him ( for hasts sake ) to tell vs if such a lost gentleman as we sought might not bée found in that lane , ( nodum in scirpo querimus ) hée durst sweare and did sweare without any further premeditation that there hee could not possibly bee , for all that pendant treasury that wée saw , were but baites allure him thither , yet all and more not sufficent to bring him , therefore returne if yée be wise , you fall into the ditch els , and enter the Cittie againe , for if there hee be not , he is a verie extrauagant and has no abiding , this counsell wée once againe accepted and againe we enter the gates , where we found much seruiceable industry to intise the Gentleman to this house and that house and indéede to euerie house , but ( that wée could perceiue ) hee entered into no house , the scriueners had drawne and hanged out very faire Bonds and Indentures to lap him in , but we were very doubtfull he would not be bound prentise ( at these yeares ) to them or any one , the milliners threw out perfumes to catch him by the nose , and so ( like a beare ) to lead him to the stake , swéete gloues to fit his hand of what size soeuer , but they could not come to take him by the handes , the Drapers wondered that hauing kept so many men before times , ( and beeing so well able to kéepe them too ) that hée bought no new liueries , therefore they could not imagine , but that hée had béene at dice and lost his reuenewes , so ●r●ke and was faine to liue retired with himselfe and his page a while , which was in our opinions a likely coniecture , being himselfe so great a personage , well this obscure place must we finde or els wée returne ( sine fructibus laborum ) and openlie hee cannot be , unlesse hee stop his eates and will not , but hée must néeds heare proclamations for himselfe , as costermongers cry out for him offering him good holsome windebreaking pippins , russettings , apple-Iohns , and diuers sorts , al which tempt him not , but could they bring along Cue with the inierdicted apple of damnation , it would sooner be receiued at his adored hands , in like manner cry out your Fish-wiues , Dister-wiues-Dringes , Lemmans , but none can penetrate his obdurate eares , so generall is the cry , and indeed lamentation to finde out this concealed Mounsieur as if Troy were now in her present destruction , yet must not wee ( with the Greekes ) lay a strain there and ●● no further , but ( vsque ad inferos ) till we finde him .

Upon the necke of this meditation wee fell vpon a yet more hopefull accident , wee approached a post-garded doze beset round with many petitionary attendants that waited the turning of the key that yet stood the wrong way , and was indéed the mansion or rather kennell of a most dogged vsurer , ( so much wee gest ) and so it fell out , for those attendants , ( with whom wee ioyned our obedient seruice ) in the Interrim , while the lockes were set at libertie told vs wée had happened right if wée sought such a Gentleman , for sure there hee was by great presumptions , or els hee had no béeing , marrie , whether hée would be speake withall or no , that they could not tell , for ( quoth one ) the maister of the house is a man that loues that Mounsieur ( you enquire for ) more then any man I know .

Nay , to say the truth , better then his child , his owne life , nay ( I should not lie to say ) better then his soule ( if he haue any ) and great reason therfore he should lie where he is so well beloued , marry there is great doubt of his concealing , for hee cannot abide him out of his sight , vnlesse perhaps some of his great friends ( and great they must bée howsoeuer friends ) chance to request his company for a time to take viewe and possession of a purchase or to the erecting of some new edifice , and then are they on the other part bound in worse bondes and manacles then the Turkes Galli-slaues to bring him in at such a day , or they fall into the deuouring mercilesse ●awes of prison where no man but Mounsieur Money can redéeme them , and hée then will not come at them .

This description of him scarce finisht , but wee were euen readie to haue eye-proofe of what wee had heard , we might now heare the tonguelesse staires tell vs ( by force of an oppressiue footing ) that there was some-bodie descending , which was better ver●●ed by a rewmatique disposition of the descender , for ( with small Interims ) now and then we might heare on hawking , and vomitting the best part of his corruption , that was his steame , for there was no part of him lesse harming , ( yet that noisom ynough ) , anon his gouty footmanship had reacht the dore , where after the quest of , who was there ; and our most humble answere , the locks & bolts were set at liberty , & so much of the dore was opened as we see the compasse of a bakers purgatory , or pillory , for euen so showed his head forth the dores , but as ill a head in forme ( and worse in condition ) , then euer held a spout of lead in his mouth at the corner of a Church , an old moth-eaten cap buttoned vnder his chinne : his visage ( or vizard ) like the artificiall Iewe of Maltaes nose , the wormes fearing his bodie would haue gone along with his soule , came to take and indéed had taken possession , where they péept out still at certaine loope holes to sée who came néere their habitation : vpon which nose , two casements were built , through which his eyes had a little ken of vs , the fore part of his doublet was greasie Sattin , stil to put him in minde of his patron Satan , the back part eight penny canuas , a thing ( worse then comparison ) that loues not halfe himselfe , his heart made of the palmes of foure felt-makers hands , his soule not so bigge as an Attome , & tha●s lung-growne to his conscience , which conscience is the true forme of a hedge-hog that gards her selfe round with sharpe prickles , that who so touches is in danger to bléed for it , his industry is to maintaine his scalpe in a warme cap , his stinking féete in socks , his nose in sacke , his guts in capons , and his braines in mischeife : to this lumpe of iniquity , this liuing carrion , this house-kept for , that s only preserued to stinke ( and the headach , which hee was not good for ) wée ( to show our humillitie ) bent i th hammes , and gaue him the worshipfull salute , he receiu'd it , and grumblingly proceeded to know what wee would with him ? wee with a little smooth preface , as being afraide at first to fright him with our Embassage , tolde him wee were men that had vnder-taken a voyage , which if wee return'd with the performance would trebble a wealthy estate for vs all , and on the contrary if wee faild in the enterprise , we were vndone , to giue the banckrouts phrase , ( and the most common forms of a ●apsters head ) broke , or like the olde Gunne-powder-house blowne vp . All this appear'd to him ( as it was indéed ) circumstance , therefore hee desired to goe a néerer way to it , and show the very subiect of the matter : faith wee told him that we sought a wandring conceald traueller , and that wee had receiu'd certaine notice that he had taken by his lodging at his house , this was pitch throwne vpon burning toe , and oyle vpon that to quench it withall , that face that was wilde-fire before , was now Hell-fire , raging and boyling as if the poore harmelesse wormes should then haue suffered torment ; some flew out with feare , others were murthred euen in their Cabbins , that the bloud ranne about his guiltie ●ose , with the very suddaine skrewing of his face , yet after coller had procur'd a foaming vent , hee randed out these sentences , Money , vengeance and Hell so soone as Money , he will not bide with mee , he answers not my loue with his company , he has promisd me increase , but hée returnes not himselfe , I haue partchment indéed , which is rotten shéepe-skinnes , I haue Inke which is gall to me , I haue paper , which is rags and trash , I haue ware , but no honnie no money , no money , no honney , I let him forth a gally-slaue to banckrouts , and now hée 's sold to the Turke or the Diuell , I would I were with him wher-euer : I could hang my selfe to learne witte . Had not he wit thinke yee that gouern'd forty madde folkes ? and he hangd himselfe , why should not I and you come to kéepe my torment in action , to enquire for him ? I haue bills , and bonds , and scroules , and ware , but no honnie , no honnie , no monie , no money , with that in a great rage hee clapt to the doores , charg'd the locks to keepe the doores , and went by the staires ( I hope ) to hang himselfe .

This was cold comfort still , wee were now no néerer then when we first set forward , all that we knew by what was past , was that wee knew many places where he was not : many places we séeke , but that place was ( as report sayes ) the enchanted ●land : when wee suppose wee are neare , it is still further off , that now wee feared it would be Terra incognita :

Tante moles erant Romanam condere gentem .

Yet at length it was built , and why should we doubt then but at length to accomplish our vndertaken taske , if the Libian club-man had receiu'd ( by his enuious step-mother ) this , as his first labour ( and the age in ioynt correspondencie with this , ) hee had neuer liu'd to number such a Jurie of his wonders , well then let fame pricke vs on , that if we pursue and bring to good passe this labour , it shall liue vpon our tombes ( so that wee bury no treasure with vs , and therefore be digd vp againe ) while the brasse and stones can agrée together .

We had now shifted our ground , and were come to the Rialto , where wee heare round about vs the confusion of another Babeli , ( for languages I meane not for presumption ) at this place often arriues the newes from many lands , amongst the which might be ( as wee hop'd ) some tidings of our lost traueller : faith , wee by helpe of action and interpretation had quickly made our inquisition knowne amongst them all , but straight like honest men all agréeing in one tale , they returnd this reply , that they had receiued no newes from any countrey of such a traueller : more-ouer added that all their méeting and discourse was but to séeke and bring home the man we mist , to further which , they had sent ships out to sea , that if they scap't the pirats , rocks , flats , and other sea dangers , would no doubt in time happily arriue in our coast : they confirm'd it by another reason which indéed sounded more credibly then the former , marry it was tolde in priuate , and therefore I am loth to be found a bla● of my tongue , they laide some , I a great deale of blame on their wiues , but ( for quietnesse sake ) I would not haue them know so much , they told vs , that they themselues had often brought many of Mounsieur Moneys followers home to their houses with great hope ( in the end ) to attaine the companie of his compleate selfe , but their wiues ( came he neuer so priuatly ) would finde him out , and then ( disdaining any such inmates to lodge in their houses ) sent him out of doores , and whether they went to coniurers to performe it or no , they knew not , but straight he was transform'd into chaines , iewels , bracelets , tyres , ruffes of the fashion , which still were no longer liu'd then a wonder , nine dayes , then it was stale , and they must haue a new , and ( for firme approbation of what wee say ) looke but on our wiues , and you will say wee haue tolde the truth , and we ( to please them , and séeme gratious in their eyes ) must follow the fashion too , I know not by what clause in lawe it is remoou'd , but the burthen that lay vpon their bumms is now pla'st on our shoulders , wee haue verdingales to beare vp our bands , as they had to support their loose britches .

This we deliuer to yée in priuate , and you may vse herein a friendly concealment , we promist what wee haue not now performd , so did we as long as wee could , and that 's as much as any man or woman can doe , this was our answer , and wee were bound to beléeue it . Well , then wee change our walke , and from the change we goe , where we had no sooner regréeted-the stréetes , but we might behold a comely troope of white headed Senators ( such as sometime adorn'd Romes Capitoll , when the swayed the world in a single monarchy ) such as were habited to custome and comlinesse , not to fanci● and immitation , by whose graue aduise this cittie did support her name , which else would quickly haue turn'd into a wildernesse , like flowers growing in the vnbarbed field , for want of due polishing turne wilde and loose their swéetnesse , these gardners or guardians of this their little viceroyship , were now approched vs , whom ( with a halfe amaz'd humilitie ) we saluted , and remembring the prouerbe ( spare to speake , & spare to spéed ) went forward to this milde inquisition .

Reuerend , honorable , and worthy Gentlemen , we are poore petitioners to your patience , both for audience and answer , of one singular demand , ( verbum molle frangit iram , ) though they might haue punisht our presumption , yet they giue vs leaue to procéed , to whom relating our aforesaid tasque , some part of the paines we had alreadie taken , we as briefe ( as we could ) let them vnderstand our cause , and remain'd still attendant on their answer , which we staide not long for , but one voice answerd for all in this manner .

Truly Gentlemen , yée haue vndertaken a great tasque if yée haue tyed your selues to the performance of it , for here 'mongst vs , yée haue certainly mist him , ( a hard case , and a mad world indéed ) when all complaine for money ) and surely yée prosecute your course farre contrary to the purpose : for thinke yee to catch ●fishe with an vnbaited hooke , or take a Whale with a pursenet , then may yeereturne with a hare hooke , and an emptie purse : no yee must baite your angle if ye will come home loden . I must néeds confesse we haue had , & haue yet some acquaintance with that gentleman yée séeke for , but he will not bide with vs , I tell ye , he is a wilie fellow , not woone with good words , for then would schollers haue more nap on their gownes : nor with valor , for then you would happily bee more happy in his acquaintance , nor with feature , for then so many proper men should not want him : nor with knockes , for then would Fencers be more fluent , but some aequiualent goodnesse which is an equall ballance to him-selfe or he wil not stir else , it séemes you know not his company , that are no better acquainted with his qualities , I tell yée besides this he is an obstinat wilfull fellow , for since this idolatrous adoration giuen to him here by men he has kept the scepter in his owne hand , and commands euery man : which rebellious man now séeing ( or rather indéed to obedient too him ) inclines to all his bests , yeel●s no subscription nor will he be commaunted by any other power , he is besides a carelesse and ruinous defacer of all vertuous and necessary antiquities , so him-selfe lie sléeping in yron bard chests what cares he what runs to desolation ? if men vndertake ( as indéed we of late haue done ) but some good and necessary péece of worke , as the re-edyfying of a decaied gate , built new places for the profitable swéetnesse of the citiy , ●ee flies away ( as ye haue perhaps sometimes noted ) with more dexterity , then a néedy debptor hath fled the hands of any of these our Officers , therefore truly , lette this confine your answer that amongst vs he is not to be found , only there are a few followers of his the better to direct and g●id yée in your determined trauaile : with that we gratefully accepted some few of his attendants , and they rid on we still prosecuted our now halfe hopelesse iourney : from thence with few paces wee had reacht a faire and sumptuous streete , a place that if a man had only liu'd to please his sight he would continually haue made that his Horrizon , or if euery coniurer had but such a prospectiue glasse of his owne , they would neuer deale so much with the Diuell as they doe● here lay plate both gold and siluer , Jewels rich & orient lay in heapes , here only wanted that god ( by man created ) money , here we made a dilligent inquirie , but straight were we turn'd with non est inuentus , all those ( as they truly answered vs ) alluring temptations were but to intreat the company of the adored Gentlemā●hether which if we could procure with full and perfect progresse wée might commaund al we sawe , wée should be able to furnish with plate Marke Antonies feast thrise trebled , marry otherwise .