OLd Father , you are most hartily welcome to London .

Sir , I giue you most kinde and heartie thankes : but you must pardon me ; I am an olde man , & haue those defects that go a long with olde age ; I haue both bad eyes to discerne my friends and a weake memorie to keepe their names in minde : I haue quite lost the remembrance of you .

Nay Father , I am a méere stranger to you . But séeing white haires to couer your head as well as mine owne , I make bold to reach out my hand to you : there is honestie in your verie lookes , and euery honest man is worthy , and ought to be taken into acquaintance .

If your haste be no greater then mine ( for blessed be God , we haue now too many idle howres against our will . ) I would gladly confer with you of the state of the Country , and if I can delight you with any Citie newes , you shall haue my bosome opened fréely .

The Plough-mans hands Sir are now held in his pocket as well as the Shop-kéepers : I haue as little to doe as you , and therefore an houres that shall please me well : wee olde men are old Chronicles , and when our tongues goe , they are not clockes to tell onely the time present , but large , bookes vnclasped , and our spéeches , like leaues turnd ouer and ouer , discouer wonders that are long since past .

I am glad that I haue met with an olde man that hath not stood still in his life ( like a poole ) but like a Riuer hath runne through the world to get experience . But I pray tell me , of what Country are you ?

Of Rippon in Yorkeshire .

And ( if it he not too much beyond the rule of good manners . ) let me be bold to inquire what drew you , dwelling so farre off , to trauell to London ?

Marry Sir I will tell you , euen that drew me to London , which drawes you out of your houses : that which makes you cry out in London , Wee haue cold doings , and to leaue your shops to catch you heate in the stréetes , nay to leaue your new beautifull walks in Moore-fields , ( for those I haue séene at my entring into the Citie ) and to make newer and larger walkes ( though not so safe ) vpon a field of glasse as it were . That slippery world which I beheld ( as I remember ) in the fift yeare of the raigne of Quéene Elizabeth , ( or I am sure I am not much wide ) doe I come thus far to behold againe in the fift yeare of our good King Iames , & that is ( in a few cold words ) thethames frozen ouer .

Yea Father , and frozen ouer and ouer .

I haue but two eares Sir ( if I had more I were a monster ) but those two eares bring me home a thousand tales in lesse then seuen daies . Some I harken to , some I shake my head at , some I smile at , some I think true , some I know false . But because this world is like our Millers in the Country , knauish and hard to be trusted , though mine eares be mine owne and good , yet I had rather giue credite to mine eyes : although they sée but badly , yet I know they will not cosen me , they haue not these fourescore yeares , and that is the reason I haue made them my guides now in this iourney , and they shall bee my witnesses when I get home againe , and sit , as I hope I shall , turning a crab by the fire● ) of what wonders I haue béene a beholder .

In good sadnes Father I am proud , that such a heape of yeares lying on your back , you stoup no lower for them ; I come short of you by more than twenty , and me thinkes I am both more vnlusty , & looke more aged .

Oh Sir , riots , riots , surfets , surfets stick white haires vpon young mens chinnes , when sparing diets hold colour . Your cramd Capons féede you fat here in London , but our béefe and bacon féedes vs strong in the Country : long stéepes and late watchings , dry vp your bloods , & wither your chéeks ; we go to bed with the lambe , and rise with the larke , which makes our bloods healthfull : you are still sending to the Apothecaries , and still crying out ; to fetch Maister Doctortor to mee , , but our Pottecaries shoppe is our garden full of pot-hearbes , and our Doctor is , a good cloue of garlicke . I am as lustie 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 sand in the the glasse of your life ( for yong men may reckon years , but we old men must coumpt vpon minutes , ) I wonder I say how you durst set forth , and how you could come thus farre .

How I durst set forth ? If King Harry were now aliue againe , I durst and would ( as old and stiffe as I am , goe with him to Bullen . We haue trées in our Towne that beare fruit in winter : I am one of those winter plums , & though I taste a little sower , yet I am sound at hart , & shal not rot yet I hope , for all this frost .

It were pitty so reuerend an Oake should so soone be felled downe , you may stand and grow yet many a yeare .

Yes sir , downward , downward you and I must grow ( like eares of corne when they be ripe . ) But I beséech you tell me ; Is that goodly Riuer of yours , I call it yours , because you are a Citizen , ( and that Riuer is the Nurse that giues milke & hony to your citie : But is that Lady of fresh waters all couered ouer with ice ?

All ouer I assure you Father : the Frost hath made a floore vpon it , which shewes like gray Marble , roughly hewen out : it is a very pauement of glasse , but that it is more strong . The Thames now lies in , or rather is turned ( as some thinke ) bankerupt , and dares not shew her head ; for all the water of it floates vp and downe now like a spring-tide in a celler .

God helpe the poore Fishes ; it is a hard world with them , when their houses are taken ouer their heads , they vse not to lye vnder such thicke roofes . But I pray sir , are all the arches of your famous London Bridge so damd vp with yce , that the flakes shew like so many frozen gates , shut vp close , and that nothing passes through them , nay , that a man cannot looke through them as he had wont ?

No such matter : the Thames with her ebbing & flowing hath at sundry times broght downe hay , wintercastles of yee , which iustling against the arches of the Bridge , and striueing ( like an vnruly Drunkard at a gate of the Citie in the night time ) to passe through , haue there bin stayed and lodged so long , till they haue lyen in heapes and got one vpon another , but not so ambitiously as you speake of them .

And doe not the Westerne-Barges come downe vpon certaine artificiall pullies and engines , sliding on the yce , to serue your Citie with fewell .

That were a wonder worth séeing , and more strange than the rowing ouer stéeples by lande in a wherry ; no I assure you , these stories shall neuer stand in our Chronicles : there is no such motion .

But I hope Sir you & I may drink a pinte of sack in the Tauern that runs vpon whéels on the riuer , aswel as a thousand haue done besides , may we not ? the motion of that wine-celler I am sure is to be séen , is it not ?

The water-celler is , but the wine-cellers haue too good doings on the land , to leaue that , and to set vp Tauernes on the Riuer ; you know more in the Country I perceiue then we doe in the Citie of these matters .

Nay Sir , we heare more , but know lesse : we heare the lyes , and you know the trueth : why law you now , had not I made this iourney to London , I had died in mis-beliefe : mine eare might thus haue made me to haue béene called olde doting foole : for I giuing credite to report , should haue vttered these fables for trueths ; and I being an olde man , should haue béene beléeued , ( for a white head ought not to hold a blacke tongue ; ) and so my sonnes and daughters ( taking a fathers word ) might peraduenture forty yeares hence , haue béene called clownes , for iustifying a lye so monstrous and incredible .

Barre all these rumors hereafter out of your eares , for they are false and deceitful , & flie vp & downe like Lapwings , their in times being there it is , when it is not .

The Thames described as it was Frozen . Most gladly will I satisfie your request . You shall vnderstand therefore that the Thames began to put on his Freeze-coote ( which yet he weares ) about the weeke before Christmas , and hath kept it on till now this latter end of Ianuarij , howe long time soeuer besides to come , none but God knowes .

Did it neuer thawe in thus many weekes ?

Onely thrée dayes , or foure at the most , and that but weakely to disolue so great a hardnesse . The Cakes of Ise ( great quantitie , and in great numbers ) were made & baked cold in the mouth of winter , at the least a fortnight or thrée wéekes , before they were crusted & cremēted togither ; but after they once ioynd their strengths in one , their backsheld out & cold not be broken .

We may make this good vse euen out of this watry and transformed element ; that London vpholdeth a state ; and againe , that violent factions and combinations ( albeit of the basest persons ) in a Common-wealth , are not easily disolued , if once they bee suffered to grow vp to a head . On Sir I pray .

This cold breakfast being giuen to the Citie , & the Thames growing more & more hard-harted , wylde youthes and boyes were the first Marchant-venturers that set out to discouer these cold Ilandes of Ise vpon the Riuer . First going ouer the Thames on the Ice about Cold-Harbour . And the first path that was beaten forth , to passe to the Banck-side ( with out going ouer Bridge , or by Boate ) was about Cold-Harbour , and in those places neere the Bridge ; for the Tydes still plying vp the flakes of Ise one vpon another in those places of the Thames . it was held the best and the safest trauelling into our new found Fréezeland , by those créekes .

But this onset prospering , and they comming offwell , hartened others to come on Sir , did it not ?

No souldiers more desperate to a skirmish : speak it Father from my mouth for an assured trueth ; that there was as it were an artificiall bridge of yce reaching from one side of the Riuer to the other , vppon which infinite numbers of people passed too and fro , iustling one an other in crowdes , when the current of the water ran ( in sight ) more than halfe the breadth of the Thames , on eyther side of the ycecy bridge , the bridge it selfe being not aboue fiue yardes broad , ( if so much . )

It was strange ! But it was said of your Londoners , that when you striue to be kind , you turne into prodigals ; when you are cowards , you are arrant cowards , and when you are bold , you are too desperately venturous .

It appeares so by this frost : for no danger could nip their bloods with feare ; but ouer some went in shoals when thousands stood gazing on and swore , they would not follow their steppes in that waterie wildernesse for many thousands of pounds : nay , euen many of those that were the discouerers , and did first venture ouer , would neuer vndertake the second voyage , but protested when they were halfe way , they would haue lost much to haue bin againe on shore .

It is most likely , for perills that are not common make men foole-hardy , but being once tasted , they tremble to come néere them .

You say true Father ; but the feare of this shipwracke , and of these rockes , grew eueryday lesse and lesse , as the yce increased in hardnesse , so mens hearts increased in hardinesse : so that at the length , ( the frost knitting all his sinewes together , and the inconstant water ( by that meanes ) being of a floating element , changed into a firme ground as it were ) What numbers of people walked on the Thames . both men , women , and children walked ouer , and vp and downe in such companies , that I verily beléeue , and I dare almost sweare it , the one halfe ( if not thrée parts ) of the people in the Citie , haue béene séene going on the Thames . The Riuer shewed not now ( neither shewes it yet ) like a Riuer , but like a field where Archers shoote at prickes , whilst others play at foote-ball . It is a place of maisterie , where some wrestle , and some runne , and he that does best is aptest to take a fall . It is an Alley to walke vpon without dread , albeit vnder it be most assured daunger . The Gentlewomen that trembles to passe ouer a Bridge in the field , doth here walke boldly : the Citizens wife that lookes pale when she sits in a boate for feare of drowning , thinkes that here shee treades as safe now as in her Parlour : Of all ages , of all sexes , of all professions this is the common path : it is the roade way betwéene London and Westminster , and betwéene South-warke and London . Would you drinke a cuppe of sacke Father ? there stand some with Rundlets to fill it out .

Ah ha , that s the Tauerne then is talked on .

Beere , Ale , wine , victualls , and fiers on the Thames . Thirst you for Béere , Ale , Vsquibath , &c. or for victualls ? there you may buy it , because you may tell an other day how you dined vppon the Thames . Are you colde with going ouer ? you shall ere you come to the midst of the Riuer , spie some ready with pannes of coales to warme your fingers . If you want fruite after you haue dined , there stands Costermongers to serue you at your call . And thus doe people leaue their houses and the stréetes , turning the goodliest Riuer in the whole Kingdome , into the broadest-stréete to walke in .

But tell mee I pray Sir , if all the merchants that vndertake this voyage to these your narrow seas , are none vndone ? doe none of your fresh-water souldiers miscarry , & drop downe in these slipperie Marshes ?

Yes Sir , I haue heard of many , and haue béene an eye witnesse of some : of all which , I will be sparing in report , being rather willing to be reprehended for telling too little , then for discouering too much .

It is a modestie well becomes any man , albeit nothing but trueth sit vpon his tongue . But I pray sithence you cracke the shell , let vs sée what kernell there is within it : sithence you haue bestowed the swéet , let me taste the sower , let your newes be as Country-folkes bringing fruit to your markets , the bad and the good togither : say , haue none gone westward for smelts ( as our prouerbiall phrase is ? )

The harmes that haue fallen on seuerall persons going on the Thames . Yes , it hath beene a kinde of battaile for the time , for some haue fallen in vp to the knées , others to the middle , others to the arme-pittes , yea and some haue béene ducked ouer head and eares , yet haue crawled out like drowned Rats , whiles others haue suncke to the bottome that neuer rose againe to the top : they had a cold bed to lye in . Amongst many other misfortunes that are to bee pittied , this is one ; A couple of friendes shooting on the Thames with birding-péeces , it happened they strooke a Sea-pie , or some other fowle , they both ran to catch it , the one stumbled forward , his head slipt into a déepe hole , and there was hee drownd : the other ( in his haste ) slipt backward , & by that meanes saued his life . A poore fellow likewise hauing heated his body with drinke , thought belike to coole it on the water : but comming to walke on the Ice , his head was too heauy for his héeles , so that downe he fell , and there presently died .

Let his fall giue others warning how to stand . Your Citie cannot choose but bee much damnified by this strange congealing of the Riuer .

Exceeding much ( Father ) straungers may gesse at our harmes ; yet none can giue the full number of them but wee that are the inhabitants : The hurt that the Citie hath receiued by this Frost . for the Citie by this meanes is cut off from all comerce : Shop-kéepers may sit and aske what doe you lacke , when the passengers may very well reply , what doe you lacke your selues : they may sit and stare on men , but not sit and sell : it was ( before ) called The dead Terme , and now may wee call this , The dead Vacation , The frozen Vacation , The cold Vacation . If it be a Gentlemans life to liue idlely , and doe nothing , how many poore Artificers and Trades-men haue béene made Gentlemen then by this Frost ? For a number of Occupations ( like the flakes of yce that lye in the Thames ) are by this malice of Winter , trod cleane vnder foote , and will not yet bee able to stirre . Alas poore Watermen , you haue had cold chéere at this banquet : you that liue altogether vpon water , can now scarce get water to your hands : it is a hard thing now for you to earne your bread with the sweate of your browes .

This beating may make them wise , the want that this hard season driues them into , may teach them to play the Ants , and in Sommer to make a prouision against the wrath of Winter . There is no mischiefe borne alone I know ; calamities commonly are ( by birth ) twinnes : me thinks therefore , that this drying vp of the waters , should be a deuourer vp of wood : this colde Ague of the earth must needes haue warmth to helpe it ▪ that warmth must come from fier , and that fier cannot be had without cost : how then I pray you in this so generall an affliction , did poore people shift for fewell to comfort them ?

The want of fire . Their care for fier was as great as for foode : nay , to want it was a worse torment then to bee without meate : the belly was now pinched to haue the body warmed : and had not the Prouident Fathers of this Citie ( carefully , charitably , and out of a good and godly zeale ) dispersed a reliefe to the poore , in seuerall partes and places about the outer bounds of the Citie , where pouertie most inhabiteth ) by storing them before hand with Seacoale and other fiering at a reasonable rate , I verily perswade my selfe , that the vnconscionable and vnmercifull raising of the prices of fewell by Chandlers , Wood-mongers , &c. ( who now meant to lay the poore on the Racke ) would haue béene the death of many a wretched creature through the want of succour .

Not vnlikely Sir .

For neither could coale be brought vp the Riuer , neither could wood be sent downe . The Westerne Barges might now wrap vp their smoakie Sayles , for albeit they had neuer so loftie a gale , their voyage was spoyld , the windes was with them , but the tide was cleane against them . And not onely hath this frost nipt away those comforts that should reuiue the outward parts of the body , but those also that should giue strength and life to the inward . Darth of victualls . For you of the Country being not able to trauel to the Citie with victualls , the price of victuall must of necessity be enhaunced , and victuall itselfe brought into a scarcitie . And thus haue I giuen you ( according to your request ) a true picture of our Thames frozen ouer , and withall haue drawne in as liuely colours as I can ( to my skill ) as it were in a little Table , all the miseries , mischiefes , and inconueniences , which this hard time hath throwne vpon our Citie .

Sir , you haue satisfied me to the full , and haue giuen vnto me so good a taste of your loue , that if I should liue double the yeares that are alreadie scored on my head , I cannot choose but die indebted to your kindnesse .

Not so Father , for you shall if you please come out of my debt presently , and your payment shall be in the selft-same coyne , that you receiued of me , ( that is to say wordes . )

I am glad Sir , you will take a poore country-mans worde for so round a summe as I acknowledge is owing to you : you are a mercifull Creditor ; GOD send mee allwayes to deale with such Chapmen . But how will you set downe my payments ?

Mary thus Father : As I haue discouered vnto you , what colde doings wee haue had ( during this Frost ) in the Citie , so I pray let me vnderstand from you , what kinde of worlde you haue liued in in the Country .

Newes out of the Country . The worlde with vs of the Country , runnes vpon the old rotten whéeles : for all the Northern cloth that is wouen in our Country , will scarce make a Gowne to keepe Charitie warme , she goes so a cold . Rich men had neuer more money , and Couetousnesse had neuer lesse pittie : there was neuer in any age more mony stirring , nor neuer more stir to gette mony . Farmers are now slaues to racking yong prodigall landlords , those Landlords , are more seruile slaues to their owne Riots and Luxurie . But these are the common diseases of euery Kingdome and therefore are but common newes . The tunes of the Nightingale are stale in the midle of Sommer , because we heare them at the comming in of the Spring , and so these harsh notes which are sung euerie day in euerie Countrie , do ( be custome ) grow not to be regarded . But your desire Sir is , to know how we spend the daies of this our Frozen age in the Country .

That I would heare indéede Father .

Beléeue mee Sir , as wickedly you must thinke as you can heare in your Citie . It goes as hard with vs as it doeth with you . The miseries that Country people feele by this frost The same colde hand of Winter is thrust into our bosomes , the same sharpe ayre strikes woundes into our bodies : the same Sunne shines vppon vs , but the same Sunne doeth not heate vs no more then it doeth you . The poore Plough-mans children sit crying and blowing their nayles , as lamentably as the children and seruants of your poore Artificers . Hunger pinches their chéekes as deepe into the flesh , as it doeth into yours here . You cry out here , you are vndone for coale , and wee complaine , wee shall dye for want of Wood. All your care is to prouide for your Wiues , children and seruants , in this time of sadnesse : but wée goe beyond you in cares ; not onely our wiues , our children , and houshold seruants , are vnto vs a cause of sorrowe , but wée greeue as much to beholde the miserie of our poore Cattell ( in this frozen-hearted season ) as it doeth to looke vppon our owne affliction . Our beastes are our faithfull seruants , and doe their labour truely when wee set them to it , they are our Nurses that giue vs milke , they are our guides in our iourneyes , they are our partners , and helpe to enrich our state ; yea , they are the verie vp-holders of a poore Farmers landes and liuings . Alas then , what Maister that loues his seruant as he ought , but would almost breake his owne heart-stringes with fighing , to sée these pine and mourne as they doe ? The ground is bare , and not worth a poore handfull of grasse . The earth séemes barren , and beares nothing , or if shee doeth , most vnnaturally she kills it presently , or suffers it through cold to perish . By which meanes the lusty horse abates his flesh , and hangs the head , féeling his strength goe from him : the Oxe stands bellowing : the ragged Shéepe bleeting : the poore Lambe shiuering and staruing to death .

I doe , with millions of thankes . The storie which you told ( albeit it yet makes my hart bleede to think vpon the calamities of my poore Country-men ) yet was it vttered with so graue a iudgement , and in a time so well befitting your age , that I kept mine eares open , and my lippes locked vp ; for I was loth to interrupt you , till all was told : wherein you shew your selfe to bee a carefull and honest debter , in discharging your bond all at one summe , when you might haue done it in seuerall payments . But I pray you Father , what is your opinion of this strange Winter ? I call you Father , albeit my owne head be whitened by old age , as well as yours : and bee not angry that I doe so , it is an honourable title due vnto your yéeres : for as those that are young men to me , bestow that dignitie vpon my siluer haires , ( and I am proud to take it ) so would I not haue you disdayne that attribute from my mouth , ( that am a young man to you ) sithence I doe it out of loue and the reuerence I beare to my Elders . Tell mee therefore , I pray , your iudgement , of this Frost , and what ( in the schoole of your experience ) you haue read , or can remember , may be the effects , which it may produce , or which ( of consequence ) are likely to follow vpon it .

The dangers that a thaw is like to bring with it . I shall doe my best to satisfie you : When these great Hilles of yce shall be digged downe , and be made leuell with the waters ; when these hard rockes shall melt into soft riuers , and that a sudden thaw shall ouercome this sharpe Frost , then is it to be feared , that the swift , violent and vnresistable Land-currents , will beare downe Bridges , beate downe Buildings , ouerflow our Corne-fieldes , ouer-runne the Pastures , drowne our Cattell , and endanger the liues both of man and beast , trauailing on their way .

You say right : This Prognostication which yuur iudgement thus lookes into , did alwayes fall out to be too true . But what other Weather doeth your Calender promise

I will not hide within me from you , that time and obseruation haue taught mee . And albeit it may appeare straunge vnto you , that an old Country Penny-father , ( a plaine holland ruffe , and a kerzie stocking ) should talke thus of the change of seasons , and the mutabilities of the world . Yet S. know I beseech you that my education was finer then my Russet outside , and that my parents did not only prouide to leaue me somthing , but tooke care ( aboue that tansitorie blessing ) that I should tast a little of the fruite of learning and knowledge .

It will be a pleasing and profitable iourney to our countreymen though a laborious voiage for you .

King William Ruphus I haue read how in the raigne of king William Ruphus ( in the fift yeare as I remember ) that Riuers of this kingdome were so frozen ouer , that carts and waines laden , did without danger passe ouer them .

King Iohn . In the sixth yeare of the raigne of King Iohn , a frost began vpon the 13. of Ianuary , and continued till the 22. of March following , the earth by meanes of this being so hardned , that the plow lay still , and the ground could not be tilled . The wounds that this frost gaue the common wealth were for that present scarce felt , they were not deepe , they were thought not dangerous . But in the sommer following did they freshly begin to bleede , for then a quarter of wheat was solde for a marke , which in the raigne of Henry the second ( before him ) was solde for no more then 12. pence .

king Henry There was likewise so great a frost in the 53. yeare of the raigne of Henry the third , that being at Saint Andrewes tide , it continued till Candelmas . So that men & beasts went ouer the Thames from Lambeth to Westminster , and the goodes of Merchants not being able to be transported by water , were caried from Sandwich and other hauens , and so brought to London by land . But no extraordinary or memorable accident following or going before this frost , I will passe ouer it , and come to that frosty season in the tenth yeare of Edward the first , whose violent working was so cruell , and did build such castles of I le vpon the Thames & other Riuers , that fiue arches of London bridge were borne downe , & all Rochesterbridge was caried cleane away , with diuers others .

K. Edw , 3. In the seauen and thirtieth yéere of Edward the third , a Frost began in England , about the midst of September , and thawed not till Aprill following , so that it continued almost eight moneths .

K. Henry 4. In the ninth yeere of the raigne of K. Henry the fourth , was there a Frost that lasted fiftéene wéekes . The like happened in the fourth yeere of Edward the fourth . K. Edw. 4.

K. Henr. 8. In the nynth yeere of K. Henry the eight , the Thames was frozen ouer , that men with horse and carts passed vpon it : And in the very next succéeding yeere , dyed multitudes of people , by a strange disease , called the Sweating Sickenesse .

Q Elizab. There was one great Frost more in England , ( in our memorie , ) and that was in the seuenth yeere of Queene Elizabeth , which began vpon the 21. of December , and held on so extremely , that vpon New yeeres éeue following , people in multitudes went vpon the Thames from London Bridge to Westminster : Some ( as you tell mee , Sir , they doe now ) playing at foote-ball , others shooting at prickes : This Frost began to thaw vpon the third day of Ianuary at night , and on the fifth of the same moneth , was no ice to be séene betwéene London-Bridge and Lambeth : which sudden thaw brought forth sudden harmes , for houses and bridges were ouer-turned by the Land-floudes : amongst which , Owes Bridge in Yorkeshire was borne away : many numbers of people perishing likewise by those waters .

You haue a happy memorie Father : your head I see is a very storehouse of antiquitie : you are of your selfe a whole volume of Chronicles : Time hath well bestowed his lessons vpon you , for you are a ready scholler of his , and doe repeate his stories by heart perfectly .

And thus ( as I said before ) you may perceiue , that these extraordinary Feauers haue alwayes other euils attending vpon them .

You haue made it plaine vnto mee : and I pray God , at whose commaund the Sunne sendes forth his heat , to comfort the earth , and the windes bitter stormes to deface the fruites of it , that in this last afflictation of waters , which are hardned against vs , all other miseries may bee closed vp withall : and that the stripes of sundry plagues and calamities which for these many yéeres haue béen seene sticking in our flesh , may worke in our bodies such amendment , and in our soules such repentance , that the rodde of the diuine Iusticer may be held backe from scourging vs any longer .

I gladly and from my heart , play the Clarke , crying Amen . I haue been bolde and troublesome to you Sir .

You teach me what language to speake to your selfe in , I would neither of vs both , had euer spent an houre worse .

Indeed Time is a iewell of incomparable value , yet ( as vnthrifts doe by their money ) we are prodigall in wasting it , and neuer feele the true sweetnesse of inioying it , till we haue lost all . But sithence I haue waded thus farre into conference with you , and that it is our agréement to barter away newes one with another , ( as Merchants doe their commodities ) I must request one kindnesse more at your handes .

What is that , Father ? I am now in your debt , and in Conference I must see you satisfied .

I heare Sir strange report of a certayne Lottery for Plate , of a great value , here in London : Is it true ?

It is true , that there is a Lottery , and it is set vp by Strangers .

I remember , that ( as I take it in the xi . yeere of Queen Elizabeth ) a Lottery began here in London , in which , if my memorie faile not , were foure hundred thousand lots to be drawne .

Mary that Lotterie was onely for money , and euery lot was ten shillings . It was helde at the West doore of Saint Paules Church . It began vpon the eleuenth of Ianuarie , and continued day and night till the sixt of May following , which was almost foure Moneths : and the common burden of that song , when poore prizes were drawne , was Two pence halfe-pennie .

That was a prize poore inough , I le be sworne : Nay father , then was there another gallant Lotterie about the eight and twentie yeare of the same Queenes raigne , which began in the middle of Sommer , and was for marueilous rich and costly armors , guilt and engrauen .

That Lotterie I heard of , but neuer saw it , for I was then in the Countrey .

To win those armours , all the companies of the Cittie ventured generall summes of mony . But because you desire to heare some newes of this last Lotterie , that now tempteth people together , I will tell you so much of it as I certainly know for truth , referring your eare ( if you would hear more ) to the great voyce of the vulgar , of whom you may be sure to haue more then willingly you will carry home .

Oh sir , the wilde beast with many heads , must needs haue as many tongues , and it is not possible those tongues should goe true , no more then all the clocks doe but I pray you speake on .

The desc●●●tion of the Lottery This Lotterie ( as I sayd before ) consisteth all of plate : it is a goodly Goldsmiths shop to come into : and to behold so many guilt Spoones , Cups , Bowles , Basons , Ewers , &c. fairly grauen , and richly guilded , who would not be tempted to venture a shilling ( for that s a stake for a lot ) when for that shilling hee may happily draw a peece of plate worth a hundred pound , or an hundred and fortie , fiftie , or threescore pounds , if he can catch it , which he may doe if Fortune fauour him .