First then for the Name .

HEE is a Runne-away , who rather then he will learne a Trade ( with some paynes ) vnder a carefull Maister , Who are Run-awaies . turnes Roague , runnes into the Countrey a Padding ▪ keepes company with Gipseys , and strowling Pedlers , A Run-away from his Maister . fatting himselfe with the lazy bread of Sommer , tumbling ( during that Season ) in a Hay-cock with his Dell ; and in Winter , lying snug in a Brick-k●ll with his Doxy : If you wonder how we came by this Language ? you must thinke , that in our Trauailes we could not choose but meete with Canters .

Agen : He is a Runne-away , that being prest for a Soldier , A Run-away from his Captaine . runnes away from his Captaine ere he be sent a Ship-bord , or from his Cullors , before he comes to the Fight .

He is a Runne-away , who hauing got loose from a Sergeant , A Run-away from a Sergeant . takes his heeles , and runnes away from him .

Roaring Run-awayes . They are Runne-awaies , who in a Tauerne Roaring in for more Wine then they are able to pay , giue a slippe out at the back doore , and so pawne a Drawer to the Barre for the Reckoning .

Good night Land-Lord Run-awayes . Lastly , they are Runne-awaies , who lay the Key vnder the doore , and cry , Good night Land-lord .

None of these base Ginges are wee : wee scorne to sayle in such stinking Dung-boates . So much therefore for the Name of Runne-awaies .

Now for the Matter .

THe very Beginning of the Booke is able to make any Coward Runne away , for ther 's a Sett-Battaile , a Field appoynted , the Van comming vp , and London leading it : then Shires and Counties prest to martch in the Reare ; the Generall busy , Trompets sounding the Alarum , our Enemies about vs , and the Weapons brandished ouer our heads , which threaten to cutte our throates .

Hee would make vs beleeue he has been a Soldado by his termes of Warre : He has seene Finsbury fields Mustering . In the Field dialect wee tell him , that true it is , when the Armada of Gods anger was preparing against vs , when the Pestilence beate at our Citty Gates , and the Arrowes of Infection flew into our Howses , when in the heate of the day the Mayne-battayle gaue ground , and that many ( or most ) of our Commanders left the Field ; what should wee doe but flye ? Flight not for feare , but safety , nor for safty , but on pollicy . It was not out of base feare , but safety : It was not out of a desire to safety only , but feare , least so many dropping downe euery hower before our faces , there would be found not Officers nor Ministers enow to fetch off the wounded , or bury the Dead : Had we not reason to flye ?

A rough March turnd to a weeping Aprill . Before this tempestious weather beate vs , O! what glorious Sun-beames of Exultations , Reioycings , Hopes , and Comforts were rising to shine vpon vs ? We swallowed vp nothing but the East and West-Indies in our Imaginations ; the Golden-Age was comming in agen : All these Castles were built in the Ayre . Our English Almanacks seem'd to speake of none but Holy-daies : Great-Brittaine stood on the toppe of her white Cliffes triumphing ; London on tiptoe , ouerlooking all other Cities in the swelling pride of her approaching Fortunes : For no sooner was the old King dead , but our gloomy Noone was changed into the cleerest Euening that euer our liuing Eyes beheld .

A golden Sunne ( within a few howers ) lifted vp his head to reuiue vs ; a new King was proclaymed , a Iames was lost , but a Charles was found : A Queene was to come from France , and that Queene arriued in England : A Parliament was at hand , the Terme not farre off , Triumphes approaching , Pageants setting forward to meet our King and Queene going to their Coronation . No People could be fuller of ioy , no City prowder of happinesse : When loe ! a volley of Thunder shootes , Earth leuels out the ground , but Heauen deuides the Acres . and batters down all these sumptuous Buildings : And was it not time to flye ? Heauen saw vs boasting in our owne strengths , and growing angry at it , hath turnd it into weakenesse : Mirth hath shaken handes with Mourning , Riches with Misery , Brauery with a Winding sheete , Prosperity with the Pestilence , Health with Sicknesse , and Life with Death : And what is He would encounter with These ?

Hereupon , the City fledde the City , and shun'd that Enemy which fallowed her , and hath since mette her in euery corner : Folly to runne from that we can not shun . London was great with Childe , and ( with a fright ) falling in Labor ( her owne time being misreckoned ) was deliuered of none but Still-borne Children .

Neuer was such a sudden Ioy changed into so sudden a Lamentation : Those Belles which were ready to cleane the Ayre with echoes at King Charles his Coronation , did nothing presently but ring out Knelles for his Subiects ; by which meanes , Church-Musick , best and worst . as there is no Musicke so sweet as that of the Churches , none for daies and nightes together hath bin so iarring , so that in 13 weekes more then 33000. haue falne dead to the ground at their dolefull tunes : And who would ( if he could choose ) make one in such dangerous Peales ? Had wee not iust cause therefore giuen vs to flye ?

Be not you then ( good Maister Runne-away-Beater ) so sharpe , spare your Rodde a little , and whippe vs not for going to see our * * They were gon abroad ere we came . Freinds in the Countrey , we doe not thinke but You yourselfe ( could you haue gotte a Horse ) would haue bin one of the Tribe of Gad , with one of your Comerades ; for ther 's no Dancing now to your Theatrian Poeticall Piping : Neither your Frierians , If there were , you would giue ouer your Trade of Pamphletts . nor Cock pitterians , can for loue or money helpe you to a Plaudity , we wish for their owne sakes ( and yours ) they could : But many of them ( that could get Winges ) haue kept company with vs in our flight ; neyther are Wee or They to be condemned ; Flesh and Bloud naturally abhorres dissolution : All desire to begett Children , but none loue to see them buried : so mortally doe we hate the name of Death , that though we lye in our last Sheete , saue one ( which must winde vs , ) we hardly endure the Name of Dying . The very Scriuener who makes our Willes , as he is cunning in other thinges , so is he crafty in that Conueyance , and knowing what Word will fright vs , he goes about the Bush , and Writes thus : When it shall please God to call Vs out of this transitory Life : To flatter sick Mens Bodies may Foole away their Soules . We must heere the string twang out Life still , albeit Deaths cold fingers pull vs by the Noses .

Agen , ( to adde one handfull more of Corne to this Sheafe of Defence , made vp by the Run-awayes , ) Know , that many of vs that haue shut vp Shoppes & are gon , are yonger-Brothers ; and are assur'de , that euen owne Fathers , ( Knightes by Degrees , and great Men in Possessions , ) haue for sixe or seuen yeares together , suffred ( nay at this very hower doe suffer ) their owne Sonnes , ( yea their only and Eldest Sonnes ) miserably to languish in Coumpters , and other Prisons , vpon two shillings a weeke maintenance : This is good pollicy to tame an Vnthrift , but little charity to murder a Mans owne Childe : It 's a safe Locke to tye to a Runne-awayes Legge , but ther s too much Iron in 't : At this Ward wee haue no great stomacks to lye ; Young Cockes loue no coopes . wee find our Fathers hard enough here , and are loath to tempt their affections , whether they will come to London , and cry to a Iaylor , Fellow turne the Key , let me see in what nasty Chamber lyes my Sonne . Wee are better as we are , and therfore fling away your Rodde , and doe not whippe vs for flying .

The more that run away when a Field is lost , the fewer fall . Besides , had we all tarried at home that are fledde , in what miserable cases ( according to humane reason , not diuing into the deepe and insearchable Iudgements of God ) had we all bin ? If the Country loues vs not now that are amongst them in perfect health , how would they haue hated the City in her populous Thronges , when ( perhaps ) foure times the number now departed , had then bin smitten downe by the Contagion ? What Markets would you haue had then ? Where had Meate bin found to fill so many millions of mouthes ? The casting out sometimes of Merchandize into the Sea in a Storme saues the rich Venture , and Our being driuen from the Fleete in so hideous a tempest , hath ( we hope ) giuen the rest of the Wether-beaten Nauy more sea-roome , and so aduantage to meete lesse danger .

Was it not hie time to take our heeles and be gon , when the Doctors themselues playd the Runne-awayes ? Doctors for the Soule , and Doctors for the Body , they both fledde : When the Leaders Flye , shall the Soldiers stand ▪ Many of them that stood the Battaile , ( and being worthy Commanders , fought brauely , ) we heare are falne , and in their places ( who were to looke to the Sicke and Wounded Souldier , ) are crept into your City , a crew of prating Emperickes , cogging Mowntibanckes , and cheating Quacksaluers , who if they cure one , kill twenty ; it being more danger for an infected Man to fall into their handes , then for a sound Person to liue two dayes fasting in an infected House .

But what talke we of the flight of these ? for Phisick and Chirurgery , Phisick and Surgerie at a Non plus in this Sicknesse . ( those two diuine Sisters sent from Heauen ) are both of them puzzelld in their Readings , and driuen a to stand in their owne Practise . This Sicknes turnes Knowledge into Ignorance , for experimented Salues and Medicines forfet their wonted Vertues to astonishment and admiration . Our Flight then you see is Warranted by Ecclesiasticall , Martiall , Polyticall , and Phisicall Authority : Let vs not therefore here-after be termed Runne-awayes ; for though many of our Fellow - Londoners are in our absence turned into Pine-trees , our hopes are at our Comming home , If there fall good showers of Money , els not . to begett a new and prosperous Plantation .

Well did the Rodde-maker indeed condemne vs for not leauing our Armor behind vs when we ran from the Army , ( some peeces of Siluer to mainteyne the Poore : All our Money in the Cuntry is turnd into Quick siluer . ) But whole Troupes of Vs haue bin so beaten in this Country-Leaguer , that we haue Siluer little enough to mainteyne our selues : Beside , Numbers ( we are in feare ) will be so blind with the Country dust flying vp into their eyes , they will hardly finde the right Key-hole whilst they liue ( as they should doe ) to open Shoppes agen ; the Wardes of the Lockes ( if not well Oyld before ) will by that time ( t' is thought ) grow rusty . Let the Rich miserly Runne-awaies , If the Poore pine for all , let the Rich pay for all . who fl●do● to saue their Liues for their Moneys sake , and to saue their Golden Idolls for their owne sake , let them ( in Gods name ) pay soundly for their Horse race ; who haue too much Iuice may endure a squesing .

Great-Men , Little-House-keepers . If we left our Houses , and No body to keepe them , t' is but the fashion of Great-men , who reare vp Huge Buildings , in which well Rattes and Spiders more often then Hospitable Tennants .

Now whereas your Qui mihi Discipulus , ( with his Birchen Septer in his hand ) ●hreatens to fetch Blood from vs , by telling what terrible Frightes we are like to be put into at our comming back : Alas ! He drawes a Bowe too big for his strength , and shootes that Arrow without any ayme .

Iobs Estate . What did Iob , who had seuen Sonnes and three Daughters , 7000. Sheepe , and 3000. Camells , 500. yoke of Oxen , and 500 shee Asses : His Losses . to him one Messenger came , and told him the Sabaeans had tooke away his Oxen from the Plough , and the Asses , killing his Seruants : An other came and sayd , that Fire from Heauen had burned vp his Sheepe and Shepheards : An other that the Caldeans had seizd vpon his Cammells , and slew the Men : An other that all his Children were slayne by the fall of the House , as they were Banqueting at their eldest Brothers . His Patience . But what sayd Job ? Naked I came , and Naked I must hence : The Lord hath Giuen , and the Lord hath Taken .

No Cast-awaies , though Run-awaies . Doe you thinke we are Cast-awaies , because counted Run-awaies ? What should we feare ? Say at our Returne to London , our Friends be departed , our Kindred lost , or Seruants dead , and our Goods spent vpon Whores in Tauernes ; Or say , that comming out of the fresh Ayre , and falling sicke , none of you will come neere vs , because we Fled from you : Nay , say that Ludgate or the Compters must be our Innes , where if Infection setts her Markes vpon vs , neither Creditor , Phisition , Surgion nor Apothecary will resort to comfort vs : Yet haue we a helpe in all this extremity ; there is one Anchor to ride at in the fowlest Weather : One Friend hath promised to stick to vs all ; Well fare an old freind in a Corner . and that Friend , is the Deere , Louing and Beloued Earth : When Sonne nor Daughter will come neere our Coffin , but shun our Carcas as loathsome Carion , yet euen then , that good Grandame ( the aged Earth ) will open her Armes and Hugge vs , and lay vs in Beddes , to take our euerlasting Sleepes , And shall we be affrayd to come back to London ?

No : for albeit your Whip-deedle was so bold to tell vs , that Londoners in the en● of the last great S●cknes , comming nere the City , looked pale , like men going to Execution , that comparison frights not vs ; we , ●n plaine & merry English bid the Twigger , not ●o be in such feare of our comming backe : for an order will bee taken for some of vs , neuer to call at the Counter for a Freemans Horse , to carry him on foot to Ludgate . We haue set vp our staffe already . A many of our Iouiall Fraternitie are glad they haue this vnpolitike aduantage . They must haue been driuen to studie for a cleanly excuse , which heer● of it selfe ( without teaching ) is growne very mannerly .

There bee men that dare eate Spiders : Monkeyes swallow them , and by them get sweet breaths ; why then should not many Limbes of our Estates bee made the sounder by this Infectious fracture ?

There is an Ireland to flie to , O for a good Winde ! and a Low-countries to roare in , and a Wales , to keepe the winde of Lawyers from vs with her Mountaines : Wee can bee Bankerupts on this side , and Gentlemen of a Company beyond-Sea : bee burst at London , T is but changing our Copy and piec'd vp in Rotterdam . The Sea is a Purger , and at Sea must our Fortunes take Phisicke .

Amongst many other euils , which might terrifie men from repayring to London , the griping hands of Clarkes of Churches , and their Sextons , and the villanous doggednesse of vncharitable Bearers , are two maine ones . Too many crie out vpon their crueltie ; they flea the liuing , and dishonor the dead , These Bearers are worse then Beare-wards . by tearing money out of poore peoples throats , at the buriall of Husbands , Wiues , or Children , when it were greater almes , to abate from such Vulturous Deuourers ( those currish Coffin-Tossers ) their vnconscionable racking demands , and to giue it to the suruiuing distressed Creatures . A Londoners money in the Countrey is brasse . Wee fare better in the Countrey ; for there wee pay neither for Belles nor Bearers , neither Minister , Vicar , Sir Domine , nor his Clarke will take a penie for any of vs .

And they deale noblier , then wee heare a Citizen was dealt with , in a Towne not aboue two miles from London , whose Mayd-seruant there ending her life , the Hatches of a Ship are not so close , as the doores and windowes of that infidelian Village were ; 16 . s for foure London Bearers . not one durst for money , digge a graue , no reward bribe the Clunnicors to carry the body to Church : insomuch that the Master of this Seruant was compelled with sixteene shillings ( for vnder they would not goe ) to hire foure London-Bearers , to carry her to her graue , whose casting vp likewise cost a price extraordinary .

This dreadfull season of so many gastly apparitions , should ( as wee thinke ) fright all wickednesse out of the Citie : but wee heare it does not . For all the distance of miles betweene you and vs , the swearing and cursing amongst some of you , leaues a tingling in our eares . For , one woman hauing left Egges in a roome at her going foorth , Badd Egges hatch no good Chickens . and missing them ( as forgetting where shee layd them ) at her comming in , wished that the Plague might consume them that eate them . Yet after her anger was past , A Curse rebounded . and forgetting her curse , they were drest , and eaten by her children , all of them dying the next day after . You know this better then wee , and are neere to Blacke-Friers where the Curse fell ; if you haue a minde to examine the truth .

This was a Rod for a Curser : but this that is held vp next , was a Rod to whip Presumption .

A young man hauing some place in a Parish Church in London , being ( as to vs it was reported ) to locke vp the Church-yard , called to a man , who stood amazed at the deepe graues ; and looking into one that was not filled vp , No Iesting with God . the other called to him to Come away , and ( after a scoffing manner ) told him , he were best stay there all night , and take vp his lodging . No , quoth the other , you may lye heere ( for ought I know ) before mee . I lye heere ( said hee : ) see , I can lye heere at my pleasure ; and so leaping into the graue , and spreading his body vpon the dead , out hee came presently in a iesting manner : None but Doues i' th Countrey . But going home , sickened that night , and lay there the next day in earnest .

We haue no such foule-mouthed women neere the Villages wee incampe in : no such desperate youths so to tempt Fate . We Londoners dare sweare so much . No , no , giue the Countrey people their due , and there are none like them liuing vpon the face of the earth .

The true picture of the Countrey people .

IT is reported , that the gates of Innes , and doores of Victualling-houses are lock'd against vs , and that we are vsed like Dogges . Wee stand vp for the Countrey : This is false :

And peepe out at loope-holes . Haue they not reason ?

Exceeding deare .

T is an arrant lye : for all the Countrey people take their houses of purpose for Londoners : and for vsage , they make more of vs , then they can of their owne kinne .

Most deare are they to the worst Citizen that comes within their doores : Marry wee must tell you , those are not very many ; and the reason is , they will not ( in a dangerous time ) pester men together .

So well-giuen are they , that continually they pray for vs To bee gone . : and when ( in the open fieldes , for ayre sake , or vnder a hedge for coolenesse ) wee sit downe to eate or drinke , they ( good soules ) will not touch so much as a bit of our Bread ; For feare it chokes 'em . it shall not be said , They turned vs out like staruelings .

So mannerly are they ( now ) growne , A murren on their manners when they haue any . that if two or three Citizens walke through a Towne , all the Countrey people step presently in at doores , onely in modestie to giue them the Wall .

And so cleanly are they in euery paltry Village , that if there bee but ten stragling houses , you shall not for your heart see a foule paire of sheets in any one of 'em . Nor cleanes ones neither .

T is reported in London , that wee are lodged in Barnes , in Hay-lofts , Hay-cocks , and Stackes of Straw : t is true , but why ? Alas ! when Londoners that haue trauaild hard , scramble to a Towne ( all faint and weary ) the honest Country people , point to such places , to the ende they may there lye soft , Can any man wish more ? till their chambers bee prouiding . O! they are the louingest wormes Earth euer sent forth : offer them money , they scorne to touch it : T is pity they should . neither ( hauing so many Gold-Smiths amongst them ) doe they weigh Gold . Neuer , vnlesse it be at foot-ball . Reach to take 'em by the hand , they will not doe it for an hundred pound . And why ? Shall they and we be Haile-fellow well met ?

How grossely doe they wrong them , that report , how they stop their noses at vs , & would make Bonfires in their Townes to bee ridd of vs ? This is another lye : They neuer come neere any of vs , but they are ready ( Kinde whorsons ) to fall downe at our feet : and for ridding vs away ; why , take your leaue of them neuer so often , any Townesman thinkes himselfe halfe vndone , Nay halfe-hangd . if he but see a Londoner Departing .

Much more could wee speake in their praises , but wee are afraid they le bee angry at this ; for they loue not to haue their good deedes proclaimed to the World . Who can proclaime them ? Wee will therefore conceale , what they would haue hidden . And albeit wee cannot glew vp Mens lippes , We should be sorry else . we know what we know of these People , and a good many of vs are sure to be Bound to them for euer .

Leaue Them , and now to our Selues .

NOw shall you vnderstand what we doe , and how we liue ▪ or , though your Beadle who Whippes Runne-awaies saies , that we are merry in our Countrey houses , and sitte safe ( as we thinke ) from the gun-shotte of this Contagion , in our Orchards and Gardens : Where the Treasure is the heart dwels . Yet we would haue him know , that we looke back vpon our Disconsolate Mother ( the City , ) we sigh at her sorrowes , weepe for her distresse , and are heauy in Soule , but to remember her Lamentations . Farre though She be from vs , yet doe her Miseries flye into our Bosomes : And albeit ( out of humane frailety ) we left her hoping thereby not to fall into Deaths handes , ( O wretched and deceiaued Men that we are ! ) Death hath with his long Arme , reacht vs and our Families ; Death is a nimble Footeman and hath ouertaken vs . and therefore , scithence there is no Corner in the Kingdome ( were it as vast as the World ) to hide vs from his Face , thus doe we Arme one an other against him .

In these and the like Speeches ( now following ) doe's the Absent Londoner giue his fellow Citizen a little Consolation .

A Run-awaies Speech to his Fellow Run-awaies , Arming them ( though flying from Death ) to meete Death brauely , and face to face .

O My deere Brothers , and Copartners in misery ! Death is a cruell Creditor , and will haue all that we owe him . A Run-awaies Armour to be worne against Death . Man is an imperfect Garden , and to keepe it from being ouer-run with Weedes , it must be turn'd into a Graue . As our Birth brings the beginning of all things , so our Death shewes vs the end of all things : For if thou hast liued but one day , thou hast seen all that All Men before in the World euer saw ; the same Light , the same Night ; they came in as thou did'st , and went out as thou must .

Death then being a Part of our Selues , why should we flye our Selues ? Men , nor their Liues are measur'd by the Ell , but by the Spanne : No matter how long Life is , but how Good : No matter how Short , so the End be sweet : It is but Once , and what happens but once can not be grieuous .

Nothing makes Death dreadfull , but that which followes Death : The After-Reckoning troubles all our Arithmetick how to Cast it vp : If nothing were to be hoped for after this Life , the basest Creature were more happy then Man .

One intreated Caesar that he might be put to death , An old Souldiers sute to Caesar . because he was Old ▪ and Lame and C●●zed : But ( quoth Caesar ) Ar't sure to be dead Then ? Let vs all be Caesars : Whether we liue or dye , lett vs be like Belles which at Coronations and Funeralls are one and the same Ring : In Health or Sicknes , Crosses or Comforts , Men should be like Bells . Calmes or Tempests , in Countrey or in City , so Tune our Soules , that all the Notes may be Sett for Heauen .

For Death hath his A B. C. printed on euery thing we looke vpon . Death's A. B. C. To behold Sheetes turnd downe ( at bedde-time ) puts vs in minde , that that 's the last Garment which we shall euer weare . If a Cloath be but layd on a Table , thinke on a Coarse , and ( in feeding ) say to thy selfe ; I fatten this Body for Wormes , which one day ( how soone J know not ) will fatten themselues on mee . Our Last Day is the Maister-day , The last Scaene crownes the Play . looke to that well , and the Calender of thy life goes well .

As thus we were Fortifying our selues against the Batteries of Death , A Hot-spurre Londoner . into our company rushes a Londoner , ( ore that fights vnder our Countrey Cullors , ) and Hee in a passionate Exclamation , cryes out , Are you sending an Answere to The Rodde for Runne-awayes ? And haue you written so fully in praise of our Countrey-Landlords ; I am a Tennant as you are , let me pay them my Rent too , and so intreated that in our Packet , his Letters of Commendations might be inclosed , which begin thus .

An other manner of Picture , drawne in Lant-skip , of the Countrey , shewing as well as the other , and ( as some say that are trauaild into those places ) trewer .

Here the Morris begins Here s plaine dealing . VT que erat impatiens irae — O ( quoth he ! ) Wee that haue left London , ran from a Storme to fall vpon a Ship-wrack ; to saue our throates from cutting amongst Lambes , we haue been bitten by Serpents , stung by Adders , worried by Wolues , and sett vpon by Lyons .

The Name of Londoner hatefull , That Name ( of Londoner ) which had wont to draw out a whole Towne to stare vpon him , and a Church-yeard full of People ( after Seruice ) to gape vpon his fine Cloathes , spruce silke-Stockins , and neate steeletto-fied Beard : That Name , to be Called by which , all the Land ( from one end to the other ) sends her Sonnes , here to Sow their Clownary , and to Reape Witte , out of that Witte , to Thrash Wealth , and by that Wealth to climbe to Honor : That Name is now so ill , that he is halfe hanged in the Countrey that has it : Ninnio in Spanish is a boy . As Spanish Women ( in Sir Francis Drakes time ) had wont to still their Ninnios ( their little Children , ) with crying out , Hush , the Drake comes : So now , A Londoner a Bugbeare . Men , Women and Children , cry out , Away , Flye , a Londoner comes .

In Rufus his Reigne , an English-man durst not in his owne Countrey say he was an English-man ; a Londoner now is at the same passe .

Be a Londoner neuer so reuerend for Age , neuer so Gallant , neuer so full of Gold and Siluer , neuer so sweet in behauiour , so bewitching in Language , and but once come to be examined by ( those Russet Images of Authority ) the Countrey Bill-men , he speakes to the North wind , courts a Porpose at Sea , To Bayte one of these Beares in Smithfield would make good sport . seekes to soften a Rocke , and stroakes a Beare in the Bayting : Euery one of these Tytiries is a Case of Rapiers to a single Ponyard .

It is no Tickling them like Troutes , to make 'em turne vp their Bellies ; No , he that makes himselfe a Lambe amongst them is worried : Feed a Foole so long as he will cramme , Suttle Gudgeons . and he bursts his Belly : The more you fawne on them , the sooner they flye in your face : As Heate makes a flea to skippe , A Hay-gee Gentleman . so the warme breath of a Londoners mouth is able to make a Hay-Gee Gentleman ready to leape out of his skinne through feare .

Silly Creatures ! their Countrey Spirits goe but with Wherries , Oares would drowne them ; but miserable Animals are they to be so cowardly , for Feare is a terrible Hangman , and his Halters doe they tye about their Owne Neckes . What can be more Noble then to doe Good ? and what more Good then not to doe ill ? But here in the Countrey ( amongst the Barbarous sort ) he is counted a Varlet that dares be mercifull , and he a good Townse-man that dares turne Diuell .

To goe Braue here , and for a Clowne not to care a Straw for you : Nay , No disgrace in the Country to haue a Horse-Fly play with your nose . in a Drincking-schoole to haue him in his Sweate sitte aboue you , and giue you base language , which you dare not for your guttes but put vppe , is no more disgrace then to stand Bare to a Constable in England , goe Lowzy in Ireland , or to Fare hard in Spayne .

To stand and Ieere a Londoner in scorne , as he passes along , This Fashion will not hold long we trow . is the Countrey Posture : To walke by , with an insinuating face , lifting vp the Beauer , and crindging to a Carter is our City-Posture .

If now you demand how amongst these Heluetians , we weare out our wearisome time ; Here 's one of the Bottoms . Of the Kinges of Macedon , who succeeded Alexander the Great , some were afterwards glad to become Ioyners , Scriueners , Painters and such like : So Dionisius King of Sicily , kept a Schoole in Corinth : So Aelfrede a Saxon , King of England , One King a a Schoole-Maister , an other a Cow-Heard . was forced in extremity to dwell with a Cow-herd in Summerset-shire : And so , many Citizens that haue been brauer Fellowes then Whifflers on Simon and Iudes Day , are fayne ( in a number of Shires through England ) to turne Hay-makers , Cock Barley , and sweat with Pitching the Cart with Corne , thereby to win the hearts of those , He must needs goe whom the Diuell driues . whose loues by no alurements can be won to them : For as Pitty amongst the Stoickes was held a vitious Passion ; So our Countrey Gnoffes ( Hob , Dick , and Hick ) are turnd Stoickes , and hate Pitty worse then a Lawyer does a Clyent in Forma-Pauperis ,

These are the sower Plummes with which we haue bene fed in the Countrey ; We hope for better winter-Fruite . we send them to you for Samples ; but if you should after dinner haue all these sorts of Raw Fruict set before you , which were gathred for vs , and that you were constrayned to eate them , as we were , it is impossible but to driue you into Consumptions , for many of vs here are falne into that Languishing Disease and we feare it will follow vs to London .

We will st●ale in by Owle-light but we 'le see her . To London ! O Best-beloued of Cities , what sorrowes doe feele when we name thee , because euen then we can not see thee ? As Children long banished from Parents , at their first sight of them , Teares on eythers side ( of Ioy ) will seale vp all vtterance of Language , so will it fare with vs when we behold Thee .

Astonished shall we stand , too heare thee relate the Tragicall Ouerthrowes of thy Sonnes and Daughters , ( our Brothers and Sisters : ) And as sadly wilt thou sitte , listning to the Stories of our Peregrinations , in this Wildernes of English Wilde-men .

And they reward thee well for it . Nightes and dayes hast thou opened thy Gates to receiue them into thy buildings : How often hast thou nourished them with the Milke of thy Brestes ? How often hast thou emptied thy Coffers , to furnish them with Money ? How many of their Sonnes hast thou taken from the Plough , and from their Poore and Rusticall Parents , and plac'd those Sonnes ( after thou hadst Tutord them ) on the Pinacles of Honor ? not only to stand there with commanding Eyes ouer thy Inhabitants ( O now deiected London ! ) but from thence , thou hast prefer'd them , to ride in more glorious Chariots , and to attend as Councellors , on many of our English Kinges .

Yet ( ingratefull as they are ! ) Vs haue they in our sorest extremities , thrust out of Doores , denyed vs house-roome , euen in their Stables amongst their Horses , refuzde for Money to throw vs Meate , ( as Hunters doe to their Dogges : ) and vsing vs , our Wiues and Children , ( numbers of vs being their owne naturall Children ) with a more then Turkish crueltie ; As if none els in this Kingdome had deserued punishment from Heauen , but thou only ( deerest Mother , ) and that God were the God of a City alone , and not of the Countrey .

But stay , whither are wee caried ? why does this torrent of mourning and complaining breake in to ouerwhelme vs , when an Arme from heauen hath stucke vp a Land-marke to saue vs from drowning ? The weekely Bills are come downe ( like the Doue out of Noahs Arke , with her Oliue-branch , The Bills decreasing , are Ioyes increasing . a blessed signe that the waters are fallen ! ) O excellent Musicke ! See fellow-Citizens , Death hath not cut off so many as he did in his foure last Battails , by 3000. persons and odde . God begins to repent him of his anger , albeit numbers of vs repent not of our sinnes . Celestiall harmony played vpon 3000 strings ; the Bells haue à desire to lessen their Consort , they haue wearied themselues with playing sad lessons , and deafned the Ayre to stay day and night to heare them . These are Bankets vnlookt for ( therefore the sweeter ; these are comforts vndeserued , ( and therefore the welcomer . ) Our hearts being not a little ( but wonderfully ) reuiued , we will with some Tales of our owne misfortunes here in the Countrey , bestow vpon you one half houres recreation .

A Londoner of great Estate , riding at the beginning of the Contagion , with his wife and two onely children ( hauing no more ) was for his money well receiud into a Town , lodged in a faire house , the country-neighbors resorted to him , and were glad of welcomes , for their stomackes were not so subiect to Qualmes , and watry spittings , as since they are fallen into . But in the end , God ( to shew how far-soeuer we flie , hath wings to ouer-take vs ) laid his hand vpon this Londoners two children , strucke them with sicknesse first , and in a few dayes after with Death .

Being dead , the Londoner ( struck in yeares ) fell into consideration of his leauing the Citie , A Caueat for Run-awayes . & ( full of sorrow ) much lamented his departing from it , most peremptorily condemning him selfe , as guilty of pulling downe the wrath of heauen vpon his two sweet Babes , for his hastie flying ( like Adam ) out of Gods reach , when at the holding vp of a finger , hee would finde him out . This added some heauy weights to his sorrow , yet this seemed nothing , to what was layd vpon him afterwards . For his two children lying dead vpon a table , A rich Father Sexton to his own Children . the Minister would not come neere him to bury them ; no Clarke ( to get a Parsons liuing ) would venture to Church with them ; there was none to dig a graue for as much ground as the whole town stood vpon ; and for Coffins ! had he bin owner of coffers filld with gold , hee could not with them haue hired a fellowe to make one . Then came into his mind the happinesse of Londoners at home : for all their miseries , for all the tedious marchings of threescore or fourscore in a day to one Churchyard , yet there was a Comfort , a blessing , a reioycing , to see those bodies receiue decent Christian Buriall . Had his children bin snatchd from him in London , I could , said he ( his heart-strings being ready to crack with sighing ) haue had friends and kinred , to accompany them to their graues : no Ceremonies should haue beene wanting due to the dead : But now ! and then he brake off ; recollecting his spirits , and resoluing to make a vertue of necessitie , He determined ( seeing no other remedy ) to bury his children himselfe . A graue herevpon he digged in the handsomest fashion he could , & then fetching first one child , and after , the other ( his Wife being a partner in this tragicall passage ) he read Seruice ouer them ; the Mother , when he came to these words , Earth to earth , Ashes to ashes , performing that dutie .

A Mother and her Sonne . This is too sad ; here s one more merry . A Prentice of London being handsomly attired in one faire sute , and carrying another down with him , went to see his mother in the country 45 miles from London ; with fetching a compasse ( for he knew what danger it was to fall into the hands of that English-Spanish Inquisition , ( the Muster of Billmen ) he gat into the backside of his Mothers house ; to her , notice being giuen , that her sonne was come from London , shee was ready to fall into a swound ; shee could not hold a ioynt ; her cheekes lookd pale , & her eyes with feare almost setled in her head : In the end , Affection conquering Passion , she ventur'd to see him . He , as she was approching , falling on his knees for her blessing , the first word she vttered was this , God blesse thee , & God blesse me from comming neere thy company . And so charging him as yet not to come into the house , but to keepe himselfe in an out Wood-pile , whither a Bed should be sent him , with which the yong man was content , only it grieued him , that his mother ( all the time that shee talked with him ) stood not onely a great distance from him , but held her nose betweene her fingers .

My yong Master had brought a Comrade with him , who was to leaue him the next morning : that night therfore they would be merry : good drinke was sent them by a Mayd , who set it a farre off , and they must fetch it : The Conditions had bene good in a deare yeare . then had they a ioynt of Meat laid to the fire , which was likewise sent them , but with this condition , They were to eat it vp euery bit ; for not so much as the bones they left , should bee giuen to any dogge in the house or towne . Night being come , & our trauailing Caualiers hauing a desire to drinke Tobacco , which they brought with them : a clowne of the house ( when the mother was in bed ) pluckt vp a good heart , rubbd his cheekes and forehead , gaue halfe a score hemmes , to fetch vp his spirit , which ran to his heeles , and lighting a candle , swore , Come life , come death , A valiant Coward . he would to his yong Master , he had but a breath to lose , knew he was grasse and hay ; but ( how mortall soeuer ) he would to Master Iohn , and drinke a whiffe with him . The valiant Desper-view did so : but the Watch walking the Round ( when the Pipes were discharging ) the candle plaid the Tel-tale , & told them ; More feard then hurt . two Londoners were there . Vpon this , the Towne was instantly in a Hoobbub , the house beset with Browne-Bills , and Authority in a Base-Organ-pipe-voice commanded the two dangerous Londoners to bee tredging , there was no staying for them there . The mother arose , cursd Tobacco that ere it came to light , stood stoutly for her son awhile ; yet the town-bullets of threats & perswasions thumping about her eares , in th' end she yeelded , they shold raise the siege , and depart with Bag and baggage the next morning .

In shew they did so , and marchd both away with small dishonor ; but the sonne secretly returnd agen at night , was lodged in some remote roome ( good for nothing but a Londoner ) & there kept till a new Suit was made him ; which done , hee was washed naked twice or thrice , his other clothes ayrd in a ouen , yet being smelt out , his mothers house was shut vp for a month after .

In another place , a poore man dying in the fields ( as hundreds round about the Country haue done the like ) none would come neere the body , A Mans bowels eaten out by Doggs or Hoggs . none giue it Christian ( nay any ) buriall : so that it lay so long aboue ground , that Hounds or Hoggs had eaten out his bowels , and so was left that beasts might end as they had begun , to make their bellies serue for his graue . And this hapned within few miles of Kiddermaster .

We could tel you 500 dismal euents hapning in the country , & put by the people vpon vs , & all others that trauell : so wretchedly haue they handled men in some places , that when a shilling has bin offred for a can of faire water , it could not be had for money , because they durst not come neere the parties ; and in one poore village , a Horse-smith , who neuer in his life was worth halfe a Barre of Iron , swore he would not shooe a Londoners Horse for ten pound .

We could giue you a full Picture of many others , drawn with infinite absurdities about them of their owne naturall committing . But in doing so , we shall but disgrace our owne Nation , and leaue a discouery to the world how weakely Mann'd their Soules are with Faith , and a confident resolution , in the Omnipotent mercy of God .

It is fitt to Fly , and withstand this Pestiferous Enemy by all faire and lawful meanes , but These Countrey people run backward ( with too much feare , but no wit ) so that at euery footes remouing , they are in danger to breake their owne neckes .

O London ! how we hunger & thirst to be within thy walles : Would to Heauen the Citie and Countrey were diuorc'd , and we parted from them , Away we determine to come , yet with many Arguments are frighted from setting forward : Wee lay seuerall Plots , but build vpon none : Sound euery little Creeke , and Riuer , and finde the water in some places too shallow , and in some too deepe , therefore too perrillous .

Scinditur incertum studia in contraria Vulgus . We Londoners a thousand Questions make , Which way to goe , yet know not which to take .

If we put not in at London , God prosper vs in our next voyage , which is , that we may all meet in Heauen .