GOD saue you Sir : here 's a Letter directs me to such a signe as that hanging ouer your doore ; ( and if I be not deceaued ) this is the Shoppe : Is not your name Maister N. B ?

N. B. is my name ( Father : ) What is your businesse ?

I haue Letters to you out of the North.

From whom , I pray ?

From one Maister G. M. of Y.

I know him very well ; and if I may heare by you that he is in health . I shall thinke you a bringer of good and happie newes .

Good and happy newes doe I bring you then ; ( for thankes be to God ) health and hee haue not parted this many a yeare .

Trust me , your tidings warmes my heart , as cold as the weather is .

Money is more comfortable to a Cittizen , than burnt Wine . Birlady Sir , the Sacke you spake of , would not goe downe halfe so merrily , as this newes : For Money was neuer so welcome to Londoners ( especially tradesmen ) as it is now .

Why ? Is it as scanty heere , as with vs ? I thought if the Siluer age had been any where , your Cittie had challenged it . Mee thinkes our Northerne Climate , should onely be without Siluer Mynes , because the Sunne ( the soueraigne breeder of rich Mettals ) is not so prodigall of his beames to vs . Why 〈◊〉 haue been told , that all the Angels of the Kingdome fly vp & downe London : No such matter . Nay I haue heard , that one of our ruffling Gallants in these dayes , weares more Riches on his Backe , in Hatte , Garters , and Shooe-stringes , then would maintaine a good pretty Farme in our Country , Oh braue doings . and keepe a Plough-land for a whole yeare .

Wee care not how braue our Gallants goe , so their names stand not in our Bookes : For when a Cittizen crosses a Gentleman , I beleeue it . hee holdes it one of the chiefest Cheapeside-blessings .

I vnderstand you Sir : You care not what Cullours they weare , so you keepe them not in Blacke and White .

You measure vs rightly : for the keeping of some so , ( that carry their heads full high ) makes many a good Shop-keeper oftentimes to hide his Head . So that albeit you that dwell farre off , and know not what London meanes , thinke ( as you say ) that al the Angels of the Kingdome , fly vp & downe heere . We , whole Wares lie dead vpon our hands for want of quicke Customers , see no such matter : but if any Angels doe fly , they haue either their Winges broken and fly not farre ; or else are caught like Partidges , a few in a Couie . Albeit Sir , I haue all this while helde talke with you , yet mine eye hath runne ouer these Letters , and acknowledge my selfe your debtor , in respect an Age so reuerend ( as your head warrants you are ) hath been the Messenger . But I hope Sir , some greater especiall businesse of your owne besides , drew you to so troublesome a Iorney .

Troth Sir , no extraordinarie businesse : The Countimans hands are now held aswell in his Pocket , as the Shopkeepers . That drew mee to London , which drawes you Cittizens out of your Houses ; or to speake more truely , driues you rather into your Houses .

How meane you Sir , the Weather ?

The very same . I haue been an old Brier , and stood many a Northerly Storme : An old man . the Windes haue often blowne bitterly in my Face , Frostes haue nipped my Blood , Ysickles ( you see ) hang at my Beard , and a hill of Snow couers my Head . I am the Sonne of Winter , and so like the Father , that as hee does , I loue to be seene in all places . I had as leife walke vp to the knees in Snow , as to tread vpon Turkie Carpets : And therefore my Iorney to see London once more ere I die , is as merry to mee , as if I were a Woman and went a Gossipping ; For the Earth shewes now , Earth lyes in , all in white . as if shee lay inne , ( All in White . )

Belike then you haue heard she hath been deliuered of some strange prodigious Birthes , that you come thus farre , to see her Child-bed ?

I haue from my Childhood spent my best daies in trauell , and haue seene the wonders of other Countries , but am most in loue with this of mine owne .

Where , if any be borne neuer so well proportiond , within a day or two it growes to be a Monster .

In good sadnes Father , I am proude that such a heape of yeers ( lying on your back ) you stoope no lower for them : I come short of you by almost forty at the least , and mee thinks I am both more vnlusty , and ( but for head and beard ) looke as aged .

Oh Sir ! riotts , riotts , surfets ouernights , and early potting it next morning , sticke white haires vpon Young-mens chinnes , when sparing dyets holds colour : Your cram'd Capons feed you fatte beere in London ; Surfets kill more then the Sword . but our Beefe and Bacon feeds vs strong in the Countrey . Long sleepes and past-midnights-watchings , dry vp your blouds , The Country life and Citty hee compared . and wither your cheekes : Wee goe to bedde with the Lambe , and rise with the Larke , which makes vs healthfull as the Spring . You are still sending to the Apothecaries , and still crying out , Fetch Maister Doctor to me : But our Apothecaries shoppe , is our Garden full of Pot-hearbes ; and our Docter is a cloue of Garlicke : Besides , you fall to Wenching , and marry heere in London , when a Stranger may thinke you are all Girles in Breeches , ( your chinnes are so smooth , ) and like Cock-sparrows , are treading so soone as you creepe out of the shell , Early Bridal● , make early Burials which makes your liues short as theirs is : But in our Countrey , wee hold it as dangerous to venture vpon a Wife , as into a Set-battaile : It was 36. eare I was prest to that Seruice ; and am now as lusty and sound at heart ( I praise my God ) as my yoake of Bullockes , that are the seruants to my Plough .

Yet I wonder , that hauing no more Sande in the Glasse of your life , how you durst set foorth , and how you could come thus farre ?

How I durst set foorth ? If it were 88. againe , and all the Spanish Fire-workes at Sea , I would thrust this old battered Breast-plate into the thickest of them . Wee haue Trees in our Towne that beare Fruite in Winter ; I am one of those Winter-plummes : And though I taste a little sower , yet I haue an Oake in my Belly , and shall not rotte yet ( I hope ) for all this blustering weather .

It were pietie you should yet be felled downe , you may stand ( no doubt ) and grow many a faire yeare .

Yes Sir , my growing must now be downeward , like an Eare of Corne when it is ripe . But I beseech you tell mee , Are all those Newes currant , which wee heare in the County ?

What are they pray ?

Marry sir , that your goodly Riuer of Thames , The Thames a Nurse to London . ( I call it yours , because you are a Cittizen ; and because it is the Nurse that giues you Milke and Hony ) Is that ( as t is reported ) all frozen ouer againe , that Coaches run vpon it ?

No such matt●● ▪

When I 〈◊〉 it I prayed God to helpe the Fishes ; it would 〈◊〉 hard world with them , if their Houses were taken 〈◊〉 their heads Nay Sir , I heard it constantly affirmed that all the Youth of the Cittie , did muster vpon it in battaile Array , one halfe against the other : And by my truth , I would haue ambled on my bare ten-Toes a brace of hundred Miles , to haue seene such a triumph .

In sadnesse ( I thinke ) so would thousands besides your selfe : But neither hath the Riuer been this yeare ( for all the vehement cold ) so hard-hearted , as to haue such a glassy crusted floare ; neither haue our Youth been vp in Armes in so dangerous a Fielde : Yet true it is , that the Thames began to play a few cold Christmas Gambols ; and that very Children ( in good Array ) great numbers , Children turd Souldiers and with War-like furniture of Drummes , Cullours , Pikes , and Gunnes , ( fit to their handling ) haue sundry times mette Armie against Armie , in-most of the Fieldes about the Cittie ; to the great reioycing of their Parents , and numbers of beholders .

In good sooth I am sory , I was not one of those standers by : I haue been brought vp as a Scholler my selfe ; and when I was young , our Warres were wrangling disputations : but now it seemes , that Learning surfets , hauing too many Schollers ; And that wee shall need Souldiers , when such young Cockrels addresse to a Battaile : It shewes like the Epitome of Warre ; and it is a wonder for men to read it . Our Painters in former Ages haue not drawne such Pictures . But you cut mee off from what I was about else to know .

What is that , Father ?

A Bird came flying into the North , and chattered , that Snowfell in such abundance within and round about the Cittie of London that none without could enter ; nor any within passe ●o 〈◊〉 .

Fables , Fables A 〈◊〉 may by the shadow , haue some guesse how great the substance is : Your owne eye ( vpon 〈◊〉 now being in London ) can witnesse that your Northern song went to a wrong tune .

Indeede our Chronicles speake of one deepe Snow onely , The great Snow 36. yeare agoe . memorable to our time ; and that was about 34. or 36. yeares agoe .

Nay , not so much , but of your white Beares , Bulles , Lions , &c. we had the description as fully , as if with Snow-bals in our hands , your Prentises and wee silly Country clownes had been at their bayting . I remember when I traueld into Russia , I haue there seene white Beares , and white Foxes : But some credulous fooles would needes sweare vs downe , that your Cittie was full of such Monsters ; and that they ran aliue in the Strees , and deuowred people : But I see your Gyants , and tirrable heardes of Beastes , haue done your Cittie good seruice ; for in stead of Grasse , they haue had cold Prouander , and helped to rid away the greater part of your Snow .

They haue indeede : And yet albeit an Arme from Heauen hath for seuerall yeares one after another , shaken Whips ouer our Land , sometimes scourging vs with strange Inundations of Flouds ; then with mercilesse Fires , Diuers warnings , but no amendment . destroying whole Townes : then with intollerable and killing Frostes , nipping the Fruites of the earth : also for a long season , with scarcitie of Uictuals , or in therein great plentie , exceedingly sold deare : And now last of all , with deepe and most dangerous Snowes . Yet ( as all the former lashes , the prints being worne out , are forgotten ; so of this , wee make but a May-game , fashioning ridiculous Monsters of that , God strikes , & we laugh as if he did but iest . which God in vengeance poures on our heades ; when in doing so , wee mocke our owne selues , that are more monstrous and vgly in all the shapes of sinne .

You melt ( Sir ) out of a heape of Snow , A good dis●●llation . very profitable and holsome instructions .

My Countrie affaires ( sometimes vsing Grasing , sometimes following other profitable courses , as the seasons and aduantages of times lead me ) haue made me or my Seruants , continuall traders and trauellers into all the North parts of England : And vpon mine owne knowledge I can assure you , that at other times , when Winter hath but shewen his ordinarie tyrannie , the Countries of Cumberland , Northumberland , Yorkshire , Lancashire , and all those adioyning , haue been so hid in Snow , that a man would haue thought , there was no more possibly to be found in the world .

So then you must conclude , that the heapes of Snow in those former times , being this yeare doubled and trebled , the miserie that falles with it , must by consequence , be multiplyed .

Snowes in other parts of England . Multiplyed ! I haue met with some that haue come from the Peake in Darbyshire , others ( since my comming to Towne ) that haue been in Nottingham , Cambridge-shire , and the I le of Ely ; who verily beleeue ( vpon the daily cryes of poore people , not onely there , but in many other Countries besides ) that neuer any Calamitie did happen to them so full of terrour , and so sodainely to vndoe them , their Wiues and Children , as this Snow .

It is lamentable .

Mine Eyes are witnesses ( bad though they be ) that some Countries which stand high , shew for all the world , like the Alpyne Hilles parting France and Italie : ( I thanke God , in younger dayes I haue trauelled that way , and therefore know what I speake ) for the heads of those Hilles are couerd with these white Winter-lockes in the hottest dayes of Sommer . And it is to be feared , that in some of our farre Countries , Sommer will haue made his progresse a good way into our Land , before the Earth will disgest these cold Pellets off from her stomacke .

It is to be feared indeed : the more is the pitty .

Why I will tell you Sir , if you saw some places by which I haue passed but within these three weeks , you would verily thinke , Freezeland come from beyond Sea . that Freezland were come ouer Sea , swimming on a cake of Ice , and that it was lodged in England . Nay you would , if you dwelt as coldly and miserably , as some poore people of our owne Nation doe , you would almost sweare , that those partes of England lay vnder the Frozen Zone , and scarce remember there were a Sunne in Heauen , so seldome doe his fyres cast any heate vpon them .

But I pray Sir . What are the greatest hurtes and miseries , that people with you ( so farre from vs ) complaine of ? And what kind of world is it with you in the Countrie ?

The world with vs of the Country runns vpon the old retten wheeles ; The world no changeling . for all the Northern Cloth that is wouen in our Country , will scarce make a Gowne to keepe Charitie warme , shee goes so a-cold : Those that are Rich , had neuer more Money ; and Couetousnesse had neuer lesse pittie . There was neuer in any Age , more Money stirring , Money ●eepe● he● bed and is not stirring . ( if Curmundgions would let it come foorth , ) nor euer in any Age more stirre to get Money . Farmers now are slaues to racking prodigall Landlords ; and those Landlords are more seruile slaues to their owne Riots and Luxurie . But these are the common Diseases of euery Kingdome , Old diseases hardly cured and therfore but common newes . But your desire Sir , is to know how wee spend the dayes of our frosty and snowy-lock'd Age in the Countrie .

That I would heare indeed , Father .

Beleeue me Sir , as wickedly ( you must thinke ) as you can heere in the Cittie : It goes as hard with vs , as it does with you , The poore Country-mans misery . if not harder . The same cold hand of Winter is thrust into our bosomes , the same sharpe and bitter Ayre strikes woundes into our bodyes : the same Snowy flakes and flockes of Heauen fall on our Heades , and couer our Houses : the same Sunne shines vpon vs , but the same Sunne scarce heates vs so much as it does you . The poore Plough-mans children sit crying and blowing their Nayles as lamentably , His wife and children . as the Children & Seruants of your poore Artificers : Hunger pincheth their Cheekes as deepe into the Flesh , as it doth into yours heere . You cry out , you are vndone by the extreame prices of Foode and Fuell ; and wee complaine wee are ready to die for want both of Uictualles and Wood. All your care is to prouide for your Wiues , Children , and Seruants , in this time of sadnesse : but Wee goe beyonde you in cares ; The country-mans care , aboue the Cittizen . not onely our Wiues , our Children , and household Seruants , are vnto vs a cause of sorrow , but wee grieue asmuch to beholde the miserie of our poore Cattell ( in this frozen-hearted season ) as it doth to looke vpon our owne Affliction . Our Beastes are our faythfull Seruants , and doe their labours truely when wee set them to it : they are our Nurses that giue vs Milke ; Kine . they are our Guides in our Iornies ; they are our Partners , and helpe to inrich our State : yea , they are the very Upholders of a poore Farmers Lands and Liuings .

Alas then ! what Maister ( that loues his Seruant as hee ought ) but would almost breake his owne heart-stringes with sighing , to see those pine and mourne , as they doe . Nay , Sheepe . to see Flockes of Sheepe lustie and liuely to day , and to morrow , lying in heapes strangled in the Snow .

The Ground is bare , and not worth a poore handfull of Grasse . The Earth seemes barren , and beares nothing ; or if shee doth , most vnnaturally shee killes it presently , or suffers it ( through cold ) to perish . By which meanes , the lustie Horse abates his flesh , Horses , Oxen , Lambe● and hanges the head , feeling his strength goe from him : the Oxe standes bellowing , the ragged Sheepe bleating , the poore Lambe shiuering and staruing to death .

The poore Cottager that hath but a Cow to liue vpon , must feed vpon hungry meales ( God knowes ) when the Beast her selfe hath but a bare Commons ; nay , in searching to fill her belly with those hungry Meales , is perhaps on a sodaine , drowned in a ditch .

Hee that is not able to bid all his Cattell home , and to feast them with Fodder out of his Barnes , shall scarce haue Cattell at the end of Sommer to fetch in his Haruest : which charge of feeding so many Mouthes , is able to eate a Country-mans estate , it by prouidence hee cannot preuent such stormes . Adde vnto these Mischiefes , these following Miseries , Hay sold at extreame rates . that Hay ( to feed Cattell ) is not onely excessiue deare , but so scant , that none almost is to be had : the like of Straw , which is raysed to an exceeding price : Then the spoyling of whole Warrens , the rotting of our Pastures and Meddowes : And last of all , the vndooing of poore Carriers , they being not able , ( by reason of deepe Waters , Carriers vndone . deepe Snowes , and dangerous Wayes ) either to transport commodities and benefites from vs to your Cittie , or from your Cittie to vs . And thus haue I to fatisfie your desire , giuen you in a few wordes a description of an ample , and our lamentable countrie Miserie , happening vnto vs , by reason of this cold and vncomfortable Weather .

The Story you haue told ( albeit , it yet makes my heart bleed , to thinke vpon the calamity of my poore Countreymen ; ) was vttered with so graue a iudgement , and in a time so well befitting your age , that I kept mine eares open , and my lippes lockt vppe , for I was loath to interupt you till all was told . But I pray Sir , besides this generall hurtes ( of which , the whole Kingdome hath a smarting share , ) what particuler accidents can you report , worthy to be remembred for the strangenesse of them ?

There is no mischeefe borne alone ( you know : ) Calamities commonly are ( by birth ) Twinnes ; I will therefore ( like one of your London Traders , ) giue ouer selling these sadde and bad Commodities in grosse and whole-saile , and fall to put them away by retaile .

As I haue been your Customer for the one , so I will pay you ready thankes ( as my best payment ) for the other .

I wish no better ; neyther doe I promise to put these Wares into your hands for the best that are , but in such sort as they came to me ; so I hope you will receiue them .

Gladly .

Because then you are a Cittizen your selfe , I will tell you what was truely reported to mee of a mischaunce happening to a couple of Londoners now since Christmas .

I hearken to you Sir .

A Tale of two Londoners ryding into the North. They two hauing great occasion to ride into the North , it fortuned that in passing ouer a great Heath or Commons , on either side of which , were Woods ; and beeing not aboue two Miles ( to their thinking ) from the next towne ; yet night approching , and the Snow ( which then coldly and thickly fell ) being by the winde so sharply driuen , and beating in their faces , that they could not looke vp to obserue the way ; they were thereby forced to muffle themselues in their Cloakes ouer head and cares , and to trust to the poore Beastes vnder them , to guide them to the Towne , which they knew was not farre off .

So sir.

But their Horses , hauing libertie of Reynes giuen them , sought to receiue as little of the blustering Stormes as their Maisters did , and turning their heads as much as they could out of it , left the beaten Path ( all hidden in Snow , ) and forsaking the direct way to the Towne , had gotten on a suddaine into one of the Woods as least foure or fiue Miles : By which time , the two Londoners wondring they were not yet at the Towne ; and being halfe dead with cold , looked vp , & found themselues not onely out of their way , but that the Sky was so darke , that they had no hope to come into the right way againe : Trees they saw on euery side , and thicke Groues , but not so much as the glimpse of a Candle a farre off in any house , ( which is as a Loadstarre to a discomforted Traueller in the night , ) no neither ( for all their listning ) could they heare the voyce either of Man or Beast , to assure them that people were not farre off from them .

Most lamentable .

To stay there still was dangerous ; to goe forward ( they knew not whither ) more dangerous : of two euils , they made choyce of the least ; and that was , to trust to the merry of Almighty God , Good 〈◊〉 and a bad Inne . to preserue them in that place till morning . Their Horses they tyed vp , to a cold Maunger , and to worse Prouander : their Maisters had as bad an Inne , as the Seruants : Meate had they none , Fire had they none , no Bedde but the Earth , no Light but the Starres of Heauen .

You make Water euen stand in mine Eyes at the report .

In this dolefull estate chearing vp one another the best that they could ; and walking vp and downe to keepe their numbed bodyes in heate , behold , one of the two , what with cold , and what with conceite of so vnfortunate an accident , fell sodainely sicke . What comfort was neere him ? none , but his friend , that stood at the same doore of mercie with him .

Alacke , alacke .

That dangerous cold Feauer more and more shaking him ; One of them dyes . the last fitte that held him , ended both his sicknesse , and his life .

Dyed hee there ?

There , in the Armes of his Friend , and his mother ( the Earth ) hee dyed .

What a terrour was this to his dessolate Companion ?

How could it be otherwise ? Yet God suffering one to liue , least the Fowles of the Ayre , should haue deuowred both , and so their deaths not haue bin knowne . Hee , so soone as euer any light from heauen shewen-foorth , tooke his way and leaue of his dead Friend , to finde out some Towne ; and did so : where , to some of the dwellers relating the sadde storie of himselfe and Friend , pittie ( as it could not otherwise choose ) so stirred in their bosomes , that along they went with him to the dolefull place and spectacle ; which taking vp , and hauing bestowed due rites of Buriall vpon it ; the other Friend , ouer grieuing at the losse of his Companion , and at so rare and vnheard of a Calamitie , fell likewise extreamely sicke in the same Towne : And whether he did recouer or not , I haue not heard .

I haue not heard of a Newes that so deepely hath strucke sorrow into mee .

I beleeue you : Let blacke Cloudes fly togeather ; heere be more of the same sadde coloure , which I report not for certaine truthes , but as flying Newes ; and these they are . I heard , that a company of Horse-men riding togeather , Other stran●● euents . spyed another Horseman ryding singly by himselfe , some quarter of a Mile before them in plaine view , and on a sodaine was vanished cleane out of sight ; at which they all much wondring , considering the planenesse of the way ; and misdoubting the worst , noted the place ( so neere as they could ) where they lost a sight of him : And putting Spurres to their Horse , came , and found both Man and Horse into a Pitte of Snow , strugling and striuing for life . Whereupon , leaping from their Horses , with much adoe they saued both Horse and Man , and drew them foorth . In labouring to doe which , not farre from him , lay three or foure men more , and their Horses vnder them , buried in the same Pitte of Snow .

To second this report of youres : A Customer of mine , no longer agone then yesterday , told mee heere in my Shoppe , that vpon New-market Heath in Cambridge shire , three men in seuerall places , were found dead in the same manner .

Not vnlikly . And in many other Countries , many more , both Men , Women , and Children , haue perished , that neuer will come within reach of our knowledge .

It is to be feared .

Amongst so much sowre meate , I should do you wrong , if I did not set one pleasing Dish before you ; I will therefore tell you a merry Tale of a Collier , that happened since this great Snow .

I shall be glad to heare it .

I call it merry , in respect of the sodaine accident attending on it , albeit it fell out sadly enough for the poore Collier : And thus it was .

Come on Sir .

In my approching neere London , I ouertooke a Collier , A Tale of a Collier . and his Teame loaden , walking as stately as if they scornd to carry Coales ; for their pace was iust like that of Malt-mens Horses when they march to London with full Sackes on their backes . I asked honest Grimme , Why hee made no more haste , to put heate into his Horses and him selfe , seeing the Weather so cold ? Not so ( cryed hee ) no more haste then good ; Soft Fire makes sweete Malt : Let mee trotte to day , that I may amble more easily to morrow . If I should put my Horses into a chafe , they may hap put me into such a cold sweate , as the last day a Brother of mine ( a Coale-carrier too ) fell into , which strucke him so to the heart , that fiue loade of Coales cannot yet warme him .

Belike then , hee tooke an extraordinary cold .

You shall heare . I prayde my black-facde Gentleman to tell the Newes out : And so ( his whissle lying still ) he reported , That a Collier going to London with a load of Coales , hee himselfe ryding by , on a little sorrie Nagge , it fortuned that a Gentleman discharging his Birding-peece at Fowle , some of the small Shott flying through a Hedge , happened to tickle my fellow Colliers Nagge : The Colliers Horse will stand on no ground . which hotte showre put more courage into him , then euer the Whip was able to giue him , insomuch that he ran away with the Collier as fast , as if hee had been ryding to Hell , to serue their Fornaces there with Fyring : the whole Teame spying their Maister in his vn-vsuall post-gallop , and frighted with the noyse of the Peece , left the High-way ( their ordinarie beaten path , ) and as if the Diuell had daunc'd in one of the Sackes , The blacke Tragedie . after the Collier they ran , who cryed , Hey , and Hoe , and Ree , and Gee ; but none of his carterly Rethoricke was able to stay them , vntill Cart & Coales were ouerthrowne , and with the fall , the Axletree broken . By which time , albeit the Colliers Nagge were halfe come to his wittes , yet the Collier himselfe began to be starke mad .

By my fayth hee had reason .

And in that furie ( quoth the other Collier ) hee fell a cursing of Gunnes , The Collier tickle-it 〈◊〉 Satyre bade a Pox of all Powder ; cryed out , It was a shame , that poore harmelesse Birds could not be suffered in such pittifull cold weather , to saue them-selues vnder a Bush , when euery lowsie Beggar had the same libertie , but that euery paltrie Peter-gunner , must fart Fire and Brimstone at them . But , Hinc illae Lacrimae . the wofull spectacle of his Great Coale , turude and grinded into Small , by the iogging and ioulting : And his Horses beeing in such a durtie pickle , made him giue ouer cursing : So that taking his Teame out of the Cart , and tying the Fore-horse to a Hedge , backe gallops my fellow Goose-stealer , to the next Towne for a new Axeltree . In whose vnhappie blacke absence , the former Bird-killer making another shoote , the whole Teame ( now madder then before , as beeing not vsed to such Musicke , brake from the Hedge ; and beeing out of their Croydon Caronto , Madd horse play . vp Hill , and downe Dale , they flye , as if Wild-fire had been tyed to their tayles ; vntill at last , happening into a narrow Lane , deepely filled vp with Snow , on they rushe : the first ( like ill Companie on a Shroue-tuesday ) drawing on the second , and so hee the third ; and then not beeing able to turne backe , but strugling and beating way in that cold passing , where none was to be had : In the ende beeing tyred with striuing , downe the poore Beastes fell , and there were styffled in the Snow . Thus was the Colliers Tale to mee ; but what the lamentations of the other Collier were at his comming backe , I thinke you may guesse .

Such , that I warrant you , he wept more warme water , then euer he had at any countrie Barbers to wash his smutty Face on a Satterday night .

No indeede , Sir .

A Tale of Grasiers . Then take it for truth and on my credite , that a good company of them comming vp togeather to London , with great store both of Sheepe and Bullocks , they lost , by reason of the Snowes and deepe Wayes , so many of either ( especially of Sheepe ) that perished in great numbers , euen on the way , and before their faces , that if they had been sold to their value , it had been a sufficient estate to haue maintainde a very good man , and haue kept him rich all his life time .

I beleeue you Sir : But I pray Sir , What is your opinion of this strange Winter ? Giue mee your iudgement I beseeth you , of these Frostes and Snowes ; and what ( in the schoole of your Experience ) you haue read , An old Man is a new Almanacke . or can remember , may be the effects , which they may produce , or which of consequence are likely now to follow .

I shall doe my best to satisfie you . When these great Hilles of Snow , and these great Mountaines of Yee be digged downe , What is likely to happen vpon this great Snowes . and be made leuell with the Waters ; when these hard Rockes shall melt into Riuers , and these white Fethers of Heauen sticke vpon the backes of Floodes ; and that sodaine Thawes shall shew , that the Anger of these Winter stormes are mollified : then it is to be feared , that the swift , violent , and vnresistable Land-currents ( or rather Torrents ) will beare downe Bridges , beate downe Buildings , ouer-flow our Corne-fields , ouer-run the Pastures , drowne our Cattell , and endanger the liues both of Man and Beast , traualing on their way ; And , vnlesse Gods hand of Plentie be held open , a Dearth , to strike the Land in the following Sommer .

You say right . This Prognostication which your Iudgement thus lookes into , did alwayes fall out to be true .

These extraordinarie Feauers ( shaking a whole Kingdome ) haue alwayes other mortall Diseases wayting vpon them .

Wee are best to feare it ; and by fearing , prouide against them .

I pray God ( at whose commaund , the Sunne sendes foorth his heate , and the Windes bitter Stormes to deface the fruites of it , ) that in this last Affliction sent downe in Flakes from the angry Element , all other Miseries may be hidden , swallowed , and confounded .

I gladly , and from my heart , play the Clarke , crying , Amen .

But I pray Sir , now you haue melted a great part of our North-country Snow out of mee , How hath your Cittie heere ( with all their Castles , and S. George a horsebacke to helpe it , ) borne off the storme ?

Mary , I will tell you how , sir : Iust as our London Fencers often times doe in their Challenges : Shee has taken it full vpon the Head .

Mee thinkes , and I see it with mine eyes , it cannot hurt you much ; for your Strees are fuller of people then euer they were .

True sir : but full Streetes , make Shoppes emptie : It 's a signe that Tradesmen and Handy-crafts , haue either little to doe , or else can doe little , by reason of the Weather , The hurt the Cittie takes by this Snow . when they throw by their Tooles , fall & to flinging of Snow-bals . I assure you Father , the tyranny of this Season , killes all trading ( vnlesse in villanie , which shrinks for no Weather , ) so that all commerce lies dead . Besides , it lessens our Markets for prouision , so that all sort of Food was neuer more deare : It eates vp Firing , and almost starues the Poore , who are not able to buy Coale or Wood , the rates vpon euery Frostie Morning , being lifted vp and raysed at the pleasure of euery paultry Chandler . Men of Occupations , for the most part lie still ; as Carpenders , Bricklayers , Playsterers , and such like : not one of these , nor of many other , turnes Alchimist , for ( vnlesse they bee Shooe-makers ) none can extract or melt a penny of Siluer out of all these heapes of Snow .

You now haue giuen mee a large satisfaction .

Nay , if you should walke but alongst one streete onely in London ; and that is Thames streete , and to see their Cellers & Ware-houses full of rich Merchandize drownd , The dwellers in Thames street . and vtterly spoyld , you would both wonder at the losse , which cannot be set downe ; and lament it , albeit you know it to be none of your owne .