O thou , which art the great shepheard , great in power , great in mercie , which leauest the ninetie & nine to reduce one , fetch home ( if thy will be ) this thy forlorne charge : fetch him home , driue him home to thy fold , though by shame , though by death . Let him once recouer thy Church , thou him , it is enough . Our common Mother I know not whether more pities your losse , or disdeignes thus to be robb'd of a sonne : Not for the need of you ; but hir owne pietie , hir owne loue . For , how many troups of better informed soules hath shee euery day returning into hir lap ; now breathing from their late Antichristianisme , and embracing hir knees vpon their owne ? She laments you , not for that she feares she shal misse you ; but , for that she knowes you shall want hir . See you hir teares , and do but pitie your selfe as much as she you . And , from your Mother , to descend to your Nurse ; Is this the fruit of such education ? Was not your youth spent in a Societie of such comly order , strict gouernment , wise lawes , religious care ( it was ours : yet , let me praise it , to your shame ) as may iustly challenge ( after all brags ) either RHEMES , or DOWAY , or if your Iesuites haue any other Den more cleanly , and more worthie of ostentation ? And could you come out fresh , and vnseasoned , from the middest of those salt waues ? Could all those heauenly showers fall beside you ; while you , like a Gedeons fleece , want moisture ? Shall none of those diuine principles , which your youth seem'd to drinke in , checke you in your new errours ? Alas ! how vnlike are you to your selfe , to your name ? Iacob wrestled with an Angell , and preuailed : you grapple but with a Iesuite , and yeeld . Iacob supplanted his brother : an Esau hath supplanted you . Iacob changed his name for a better , by his valiant resistance : you , by your cowardly yeelding , haue lost your owne . Iacob stroue with God , for a blessing : I feare to say it , you against him for a curse ; for , no common measure of hatred , nor ordinary opposition , can serue a reuolter : Either you must be desperatly violent , or suspected . The mighty one of Israel ( for he can do it ) raise you fallen , returne you wandred ; and giue you grace at last to shame the Diuell , to forsake your stepmother , to acknowledge your true Parent , to satisfie the world , to saue your own soule . If otherwise ; I will say of you , as Ieremie of his Israelites ( if not rather with more indignation ) My soule shall weepe in secret for your reuolt , and mine eyes shall drop downe teares , because one of the Lords flocke is carried away captiue .

MY Lord : my tongue , my pen , and my heart , are all your seruants ; when you cannot heare me , through distance , you must see me in my Letters . You are now in the Senate of the Kingdome , or in the concourse of the Citie , or perhaps ( tho more rarely ) in the royall face of the Court . All of them places fit for your place . From all these , let me call off your minde to hir home aboue ; and , in the midst of businesse , shew you rest : If I may not rather commend , than admonish , and before-hand confesse my counsell superfluous , because your holy forwardnesse hath preuented it . You can affoord these , but halfe of your selfe : The better part is better bestowed ; Your soule is still retired , and reserued . You haue learned to vouchsafe these worldly things , vse , without affection ; and know to distinguish wisely , betwixt a Stoicall dulnesse , and a Christian contempt : and haue long made the world , not your god , but your slaue . And , in truth ( that I may loose my selfe into a bold & free discourse ) what other respect is it worthy of ? I would adore it on my face , if I could see any Maiestie , that might command veneration . Perhaps , it loues me not so much , as to shew me his best . I haue sought it enough : and haue seene what others haue doted on ; and wondred at their madnesse . So may I looke to see better things aboue , as I neuer could see ought heere , but vanitie and vilenesse .

What is fame , but smoake ? and metall , but drosse ? & pleasure , but a pill in sugar ? Let some gallants condemne this , as the voice of a Melancholike scholar : I speake that which they shall feele , and shall confesse . Tho I neuer was so , I haue seene some as happy as the world could make them : and yet I neuer saw any more discontented . Their life hath beene neither longer , nor sweeter , nor their heart lighter , nor their meales heartier , nor their nights quieter , nor their cares fewer , nor their complaints . Yea , wee haue knowen some , that haue lost their mirth when they haue found welth ; and at once haue ceased to be merrie and poore . All these earthly delights , if they were sound , yet how short they are ! and if they could be long , yet how vnsound ! If they were sound , they are but as a good day betweene two agues , or a sun-shine betwixt two tempests . And if they were long , their honie is exceeded by their gall . This ground beares none but maples , hollow and fruitlesse ; or , like the banks of the dead sea , a faire apple , which vnder a red side containes nothing but dust . Euerie flower in this garden either pricks , or smelles ill . If it be sweet , it hath thorns : & if it haue no thorns , it annoies vs with an ill sent . Go thē , ye wise idolatrous Parasites , & erect shrines , and offer sacrifices to your god , the world ; and seeke to please him with your base and seruile deuotions : It shal be long enough ere such religion shall make you happy . You shall at last forsake those altars , empty and sorrowfull . How easie is it for vs Christians , thus to insult ouer the worldling , that thinks himselfe worthy of enuy ! How easie to turne off the world with a scornfull repulse ; & when it makes vs the Diuels proffer , All these will I giue thee , to returne Peters answer , Thy siluer and thy golde perish with thee ! How easie to account none so miserable , as those that are rich with iniurie , and grow great by being conscious of secret euils ! Wealth and honour , when it comes vpon the best termes , is but vain ; but , when vpon il conditions , burdensome . When they are at the best , they are scarse friends ; but , when at the worst , tormentors . Alas ! how ill agrees a gay coat , and a festered heart ? what auailes an high title , with an hell in the soule ? I admire the faith of Moses : but , presupposing his faith , I wonder not at his choice . He preferred the afflictions of Israel , to the pleasures of Egypt ; and chose rather to eat the Lambe , with sowre herbs , than all their flesh pots : For , how much better is it to be miserable than guiltie ? and what comparison is there betwixt sorrow and sinne ? If it were possible , let me be rather in hell without sinne , than on earth wickedly glorious . But , how much are wee bound to God , that allowes vs earthly fauors , without this opposition ! That GOD hath made you at once honourable and iust , and your life pleasant and holy , and hath giuen you an high state with a good heart ; are fauours that looke for thanks . These must bee acknowledged , not rested in : They are yet higher thoughts that must perfect your contentment .

What God hath giuen you , is nothing to that he means to giue : He hath beene liberall ; but hee will be munificent . This is not so much as the taste of a full cup . Fasten your eies vpon your future glory , and see how meanly you shal esteeme these earthly graces . Here you command but a little pittance of mould ( great indeed to vs ; little to the whole : ) there , whole heauen shall be yours . Heere you command , but as a subiect : there you shal raigne as a King . Heere you are obserued ; but sometimes with your iust distaste : There you shal raigne with peace and ioy : Heere you are noble among men ; there , glorious amongst Angels . Heere , you want not honour ; but you want not crosses : there is nothing but felicity . Heere you haue some shortioies : there is nothing but eternity . You are a stranger heere : there at home . Heere Satan tempts you , and men vex you : there Saints and Angels shall applaud you , and God shall fill you with himselfe . In a word , you are onely blessed heere , for that you shall be .

These are thoughts worthie of greatnesse : which , if we suffer either imploiments or pleasures to thrust out of our doores , wee doe wilfully make our selues comfortlesse . Let these stil season your mirth , & sweeten your sorrows , & euer interpose themselues betwixt you & the world . These only can make your life happie , and your death welcome .

MY Lord : It is safe to complain of Nature , where Grace is ; and to magnifie Grace , where it is at once had and affected . It is a fault of Nature , and not the least , that as shee hath dimme eies , so they are mis-placed . Shee lookes still , either forward , or downward ; forward to the obiect shee desires , or downward to the meanes : Neuer turnes her eies , either backward , to see what shee was ; or vpward , to the cause of her good : Whence , it is iust with God to withhold what hee would giue , or to curse that which he bestowes ; and to besot carnall mindes with outward things , in their value , in their desire , in their vse : Whereas true wisdome hath cleere eies , and right set ; and therefore sees an inuisible hand in all sensible euents , effecting all things , directing all things to their due end ; sees on whom to depend , whom to thanke . Earth is too low , and too base , to giue bounds vnto a spirituall sight . No man then can trulie know what belongs to wealth , or honour , but the gracious ; either how to compasse them , or how to prize them , or how to vse them . I care not how many thousand waies there are to seeming honour , besides this of vertue : they all ( if more ) still leade to shame : Or what plots are deuised to improoue it , if they were as deepe as hell , yet their end is losse . As there is no counsel against God : so there is no honour without him . Hee enclines the hearts of Princes to fauour ; the hearts of inferiours to applause . Without him , the hand cannot mooue to successe ; nor the tongue to praise : And what is honour without these ? In vaine doth the World frowne vpon the man , whom he meanes to honour ; or smile , where hee would disgrace . Let mee then tell your L. who are fauorites in the Court of Heauen ; euen whiles they wander on Earth : Yea let the great King himselfe tell you , Those that honour me , I will honour . That men haue the grace to giue honour to God , is an high fauour : but because men giue honour to God ( as their duty ) that therefore God should giue honour to men , is to giue because he hath giuen . It is a fauour of God , that man is honoured of man like himselfe : but , that God alloweth of our endeuours as honour to himselfe , is a greater fauour than that wherewith hee requites it .

This is the goodnesse of our God : The man that serues him , honours him : and whosoeuer honours him with his seruice , is crowned with honor . I challenge all times , places , persons : who euer honoured God , and was neglected ? Who wilfully dishonoured him , and prospered ? Turne ouer all Records , and see how successe euer blessed the iust , after many dangers , after many stormes of resistance , and left their conclusion glorious ; how all godlesse plots , in their loose , haue at once deceiued , shamed , punished their Authour . I goe no further : Your owne brest knowes , that your happie experience can heerein iustifie God . The world hath noted you for a follower of vertue ; and hath seene how fast Honour followed you : Whiles you sought fauour with the God of Heauen , hee hath giuen you fauour with his Deputie on Earth .

Gods former actions are paterns of his future : Hee teaches you what hee will doe , by what hee hath done . Vnlesse your hand bee wearie of offering seruice , hee cannot either pull in his hand from rewarding , or hold it out empty . Honour him still , and God pawnes his honour , on not failing you . You cannot distrust him , whom your proofe hath found faithfull . And whiles you settle your heart in this right course of true glory ; laugh , in secret scorne , at the idle endeuours of those men , whose policies would out-reach God , and seize vpon honour without his leaue . God laughs at them in Heauen . It is a safe and holy laughter , that followes his . And pitie the preposterous courses of them , which make Religion but a foot-stoole to the seat of aduancement ; which care for al things but heauen ; which make the world their standing marke ; and doe not so much as roue at God . Many had sped well , if they had begun well , and proceeded orderly .

A false method is the bane of many hopefull endeuours . God bids vs seeke first his Kingdome ; and earthly things shall finde vs , vnsought . Foolish nature first seeks the world : and if she light on God by the way , it is more than she expects , desires , cares for ; and therfore failes of both , because she seeks neither aright . Many had been great , if they had cared to be good ; which now are crossed in what they wuld , because they willed not what they ought . If Salomon had made wealth his first suite , I doubt he had been both poore and foolish : now , he asked wisdome , and gained greatnes : Because he chose well , he receiued what he asked not . O the bountie and fidelitie of our God! because we would haue the best , he giues vs all : Earth shall wait vpon vs , because we attend vpon Heauen .

Go-on then , my Lord , go-on happily to loue religion , to practise it : let God alone with the rest . Be you a Patterne of Vertue ; he shall make you a Precedent of Glorie . Neuer man lost ought , by giuing it to God : that liberall hand returnes our gifts , with aduantage . Let men , let God see that you honour him ; and they shall heare him proclame before you , Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King will honour .

SIr , God hath called you to a great and happie charge ; You haue the custodie of our common Treasure : Neither is there any seruice comparable to this of yours ; whether wee regard God , or the world . Our labours , oft times , bestowed vpon many , scarse profit one : yours , bestowed vpon one , redounds to the profit of many millions : This is a summary way of obliging all the world to you . I incourage you not in your care : you haue more comfort in the successe of it , than all words can giue you . The very subiect of your paines would giue an heart to him that hath none . I rather congratulate , with you , our common happinesse , and the hopes of posteritie , in that royall and blessed issue . You haue best cause to be the best witnes of the rare forwardnesse of our gracious Master : and I haue seene enough , to make mee thinke I can neuer be enough thankful to God for him . That Princes are fruitfull , is a great blessing ; but , that their children are fruitfull in grace , and not more eminent in place than vertue , is the greatest fauor God can doe to a State . The goodnesse of a priuate man is his own ; of a Prince , the whole worlds . Their words are Maxims , their actions examples , their examples rules . When I compare them with their royall Father ( as I do oft and cheerfully ) I cannot say whether hee be more happie in himselfe , or in them . I see both , in him , and them ; I see and woonder , that God distributes to naturall Princes gifts proportionable to their greatnesse . That wise Moderatour of the world knowes what vse is of their parts : he knowes that the head must haue all the senses that pertein to the whole bodie : And how necessarie it is , that inferiours should admire them no lesse for the excellencie of their graces , than for the sway of their authoritie . Whereupon it is , that he giues heroicall qualities to Princes : and , as he hath bestowed vpon them his owne name ; so also he giues them speciall stamps of his owne glorious image . Amongst all other vertues , what a comfort is it to see those yeeres , and those spirits stoope so willingly to deuotion ? Religion is growen too seuere a Mistresse for yong and high courages to attend . Very rare is that Nobilitie of blood , that doth not challenge libertie ; and that libertie , that ends not in loosenesse . Lo , this example teacheth our gallants , how well euen Maiestie can stand with homage ; Maiestie to men , with homage to God .

Farre be it from mee , to doe that which my next clause shall condemne : but , I thinke it safe to say , that seldome euer those yeeres haue promised , seldome haue performed so much . Only God keepe two mischiefs euer from within the smoake of his Court ; Flatterie and Treacherie : The iniquitie of times may make vs feare these ; not his inclination .

For , whether as English , or as men , it hath been euer familiar to vs to fawne vpon Princes : Tho , what doe I bestow two names vpon one vice , but attired in two sundry sutes of euill ? For , Flatterie is no other than gilded treason ; nothing else but poison in golde : This euill is more tame ; not lesse dangerous . It had beene better for many great ones not to haue been , than to haue been in their conceits more than men . This , Flatterie hath done : and what can it not ? That other , Treacherie , spilles the blood ; this , the vertues of Princes . That takes them from others ; this bereaues them of themselues . That , in spight of the Actours , doth but change their Crowne ; this steales it from them for euer . Who can but woonder , that reads of some not vnwise Princes , so bewitched with the inchantments of their Parasites , that they haue thought themselues Gods immortall , & haue suffered themselues so stiled , so adored ? Neither Temples , nor Statues , nor Sacrifices haue seemed too much glory to the greatnesse of their selfe-loue ; Now none of all their actions could be either euill , or vnbeseeming ; Nothing could proceed from them worthie of censure , vnworthie of admiration : Their very spots haue beene beautie , their humors iustice , their errors witty , their Paradoxes diuine , their excesses heroicall . O the damnable seruility of false minds ! which perswade others of that which them selues laugh to see beleeued . O the dangerous credulitie of selfe-loue , which entertaines all aduantages if neuer so euill , neuer so impossible . How happy a seruice shall you doe to this whole world of ours , if you shall still settle in that princely mind a true apprehension of himselfe ; and shal teach him to take his own height aright ; and euen from his childhood to hate a parasite , as the worst traitor : To breake those false glasses , that would present him a face not his owne : To applaud plaine truth , and bend his browes vpon excessiue praises . Thus affected , he may bid vice doe her worst . Thus shall hee striue with vertue , whether shall more honour each other . Thus sincere and solid glorie shall euery where follow , and crowne him . Thus , when he hath but his due , he shall haue so much , that hee shall scorne to borrow the false colours of adulation . Goe on happily in this worthy and noble imploiment . The work cannot but succeed , that is furthered with so many praiers .

SIr , besides my hopes , not my desires , I trauelled of late ; for knowledge partly , & partly for health . There was nothing that made not my iourney pleasant , saue the labour of the way : which yet was so sweetly deceiued , by the society of Sr. Edmund Bacon ( a Gentleman truly honourable , beyond all titles ) that I found small cause to complaine . The sea brookt not me , nor I it ; an vnquiet element , made only for wonder & vse , not for pleasure . Alighted once from that woodden conueyance , and vneuen way , I bethought my selfe how fondly our life is committed to an vnsteadie and reeling peece of wood , fickle windes , restlesse waters ; while wee may set foot , on stedfast & constant earth . Lo , then euery thing taught me , euery thing delighted mee ; so readie are wee to be affected with those forraine pleasures , which at home we should ouer-looke . I saw much , as one might in such a span of earth , in so few moneths . The time fauoured me : for , now newly had the key of peace opened those parts which war had before closed ; closed ( I say ) to all English , saue either fugitiues or captiues . All ciuill occurrences ( as what faire Cities , what strange fashions , enterteinment , dangers , delights we found ) are fit for other eares , & Winter euenings . What I noted , as a Diuine , within the sphere of my profession , my paper shall not spare in some part to report ; and that to your selfe , which haue passed a longer way , with more happie fruit of obseruation . Euen little streames empty themselues into great riuers ; and they againe into the Sea . Neither do I desire to tell you what you know not : it shall be sufficient that I relate ought , which others shall thinke memorable .

Along our way , how many Churches saw we demolished ! Nothing left , but rude heaps , to tel the passenger , there had beene both deuotion and hostilitie . O the miserable footsteps of war , besides blood-shed , ruine and desolation ! Furie hath done that there , which Couetousnesse would do with vs ; would do but shall not : The truth within , shal saue the walls without . And , to speak truly ( whateuer the vulgar exclaime ) Idolatrie pull'd downe those walls ; not rage . If there had beene no Hollander to raze them , they should haue fallen alone , rather than hide so much impiety vnder their guilty roofe . These are spectacles not so much of crueltie as iustice ; Cruelty of man , Iustice of God . But ( which I wondred at ) Churches fall , and Iesuites Colleges rise , euery where : There is no City , where those are not either rearing , or built . Whence commeth this ? Is it , for that deuotion is not so necessarie as Policie ? Those men ( as wee say of the Fox ) fare best , when they are most cursed . None so much spighted of their owne ; none so hated of all ; none so opposed by ours : and yet these ill weeds grow . Whosoeuer liues long , shall see them feared of their owne , which now hate them ; shall see these seuen lean kine deuoure all the fat beasts that feed on the medowes of Tyber . I prophecie , as Pharaoh dreamed : The euent shall iustifie my confidence .

At Bruxilles , I saw some English-women professe themselues Vestalls ; with a thousand rites , I know not whether more ridiculous , or magicall . Poore soules ! they could not be fooles enough at home . It would haue made you to pitie , laugh , disdaine ( I know not which more ) to see by what cunning sleights & faire pretences that weake sex was fetcht into a wilfull bondage ; and ( if those two can agree ) willingly constrained to serue a master whom they must and cannot obey : whom they neither may forsake for their vow , nor can please for their frailty . What followes hence ? Late sorrow , secret mischiefe , miserie irremediable . Their forwardnesse for wil-worship shall condemne our coldnesse for truth .

I talked there ( in more boldnesse , perhaps , than wisdome ) with Costerus a famous Iesuite ; an old man , more teasty than subtle , and more able to wrangle than satisfie . Our discourse was long and rouing ; and on his part full both of words and vehemency . He spake as at home ; I as a stranger : yet so , as he saw mee modestly peremptory . The particulars would swell my Letter too much : It is enough , that the Truth lost lesse than I gained . At Gaunt ( a City that commands reuerence for age , & wonder for the greatnes ) we fell vpon a Cappucine Nouice , which wept bitterly , because he was not allowed to bee miserable . His head had now felt the razor , his backe the rod : all that Laconicall discipline pleased him well ; which another , being condemned to , would iustly account a torment . What hindred then ? Pietie , to his mother , would not permit this which he thought piety to God : Hee could not be a willing begger , vnlesse his mother must beg vnwillingly . He was the only heir of his father , the only stay of his mother : the comfort of hir widowhood depended on this hir orphane ; who now naked must enter into the world of the Cappucines , as hee came first into this ; leauing his goods to the diuision of the fraternitie : The least part whereof should haue beene hirs , whose hee wished all : Hence those teares , that repulse . I pitied his ill-bestowed zeale ; and rather wished , than durst teach him more wisdome . These men for deuout , the Iesuites for learned and pragmaticall , haue ingrossed all opinion , from other Orders . O hypocrisie ! No Cappucine may take or touch siluer : for , these are ( you know ) the quintessence of Franciscan spirits . This metall is as very an Anathema to these , as the wedge of gold to Achan ; at the offer whereof he starts back , as Moses from the serpent : Yet he caries a boy with him , that takes and caries it ; and neuer complaines of either metall or measure . I saw , and laughed at it ; and , by this open tricke of hypocrisie , suspected more , more close . How could I chuse ? while commonly the least appeares of that which is ; especially of that which is loath some in appearance , much more in nature . At Namurs , on a pleasant & steepe hil-top , we found one that was tearmed a maried Hermite ; approuing his wisdome aboue his fellowes , that could make choice of so cheerfull and sociable a solitarinesse . Whence , after a delightfull passage vp the sweet riuer Mosa , we visited the populous & rich Clergie of Leodium . That great Citie might well be dichotomized into Cloisters and Hospitals . If I might aduenture , I could here play the Critik , after all the ruins of my neglected Philology . Old monuments , and after them our Lipsius , call this people Eburones : I doubt whether it should not rather be written Ebriones ; yet without search of any other Records , saue my owne eyes : While yet I would those streets were more moist with wine , than with blood ; wherin no day , no night is not dismall to some . No law , no Magistrate layes holde on the knowen murderer , if himselfe list : For three dayes after his fact , the gates are open , and iustice shut : priuate violence may pursue him , publique iustice can not : whence , some of more hot temper carue themselues of reuenge ; others take-vp with a small pecuniarie satisfaction . O England , thought I , happy for iustice , happy for securitie ! There you shall find in euery corner a Maumet ; at euery doore a Begger , in euery dish a Priest . From thence we passed to the Spa , a Village famous for hir medicinall and minerall waters , compounded of Yron & Coperice ; the vertue wherof yet the simple inhabitant ascribes to their beneficial Saint , whose heauy foot hath made an il-shaped impression , in a stone of his The name of the vpper Well of the Spa . Sauenir ; A water more holsome than pleasant , & yet more famous than holsome . The wide deserts ( on which it borders ) are haunted with three kindes of ill cattell ; Free-booters , Wolues , Witches : Although these two last are oft-times one . For , that sauage Ardenna , is reputed to yeeld many of those monsters , whom the Greeks call {αβγδ} ; they , Lougarous ; we ( if you will ) Witch-wolues : Witches that haue put on the shape of those cruell beasts . We saw a boy there , whose halfe-face was deuoured by one of them neere the village : yet so , as that the eare was rather cut than bitten off . Not many dayes before our comming , at Limburgh , was executed one of those miscreants , who confessed on the wheele to haue deuoured two and fourtie children in that forme . It would aske a large volume , to scan this Probleme of Lycanthropy . The reasons , wherwith their relation furnisht me on both parts , would make an Epistle tedious . This in short I resolued ; A substantiall change is aboue the reach of all infernal powers , proper to the same hand that created the substance of both : Heerin the Diuell playes the double Sophister ; yea , the Sorcerer with Sorcerers . Hee both deludes the Witches conceit , and the beholders eies .

One thing I may not omit , without sinfull ouer-sight ; A short , but memorable Storie , which the Grephier of that Towne ( though of different Religion ) reported to more eares than ours . When the last Inquisition tyrannized in those parts , and helpt to spend the Faggots of Ardenna ; one of the rest , a confident Confessour , being led farre to his stake , sung Psalmes along the way , in an heauenly courage , and victorious Triumph : the cruell Officer enuying his last mirth , and grieuing to see him merrier than his tormentours , commanded him silence ; He sings still , as desirous to improoue his last breath to the best . The view of his approaching glorie , bred his ioy ; his ioy breakes foorth into a cheerfull confession : The enraged Shiriffe causes his tongue , drawen foorth to the length , to be cut off neere the roots . Bloodie wretch ! It had beene good Musicke to haue heard his shreeks : but , to heare his Musicke was torment . The poore Martyr dies in silence , rests in peace . Not many moneths after , our butcherly Officer hath a sonne borne with his tongue hanging down vpon his chin , like a Deare after long chace ; which neuer could be gathered vp within the bounds of his lips . O the diuine hand , full of iustice , full of reuenge ! Go now , Lipsius , and write the new miracles of thy Goddesse ; and confirme superstition by strange euents . Histoire et Miracles , &c. Que le 8. iour du mois de Septembre audict an . 1603. estant Feste de la Natiuitè de nostre Dame , le nombre de Pelerins a estè euuiron 20000. Pag . 35. Iudge you that haue seene , if euer the Chapell of Halle or Zichem haue yeelded ought more notable . Wee met euery where Pilgrimes to those his Ladies : two Ladies shall I call them , or one Ladie in two shrines ? If two , why do they worship but one ? If but one , why doth she that cure at Zichem , which at Halle she could not ? O what pity it is , that so high a wit should in the last act be subiect to dotage ! All the masculine brood of that braine wee cherished , and ( if need were ) admired : but these his silly virgins , the feeble issue of distempered age , who can abide ? One of his darlings , at Louan , tolde mee from his owne mouth , Virgo Hallensis . that the elder of these two daughters , was by him in ten daies got , conceiued , borne , christened . I beleeued , and wondred not . These acts of superstition haue an inuisible father , and mid-wife : besides that it is not for an Elephant to goe three yeeres with a Mouse . It was told mee in the shop of his Moretus , not without some indignation , that our King , when he had well viewed the booke , and read some Passages , threw it to the ground with this Censure ; Damnation to him that made it , and to him that beleeues it . Whether a true story , or one of their Legends , I inquire not : I am sure , that sentence did not so much discontent them , as it ioied me . Let me tell you yet , ere I take off my pen , two wonders more , which I saw in that wonder of Cities , Antwerp ; One , a solemne masse in a shambles , & that on Gods day : while the house was full of meat , of butchers , of buyers , some kneeling , others bargaining , most talking , al busie . It was strange to see one house sacred to God , and the belly ; and how those two seruices agreed : The Priest did eat flesh , the butchers sold flesh , in one roofe , at one instant . The butcher killed , and sold it by peeces ; the Priest did sacrifice , & orally deuour it whole : whether was the more butcher ? The like we might haue seene at Malines . Mechlinia . One Goodwin a Kentish-man . The other , an English-man , so madly deuout , that he had wilfully mur'd vp himselfe as an Anachoret ; the worst of all prisoners : There sate he pent-vp , for his further merit , halfe hunger-starued for the charitie of the Citizens . It was worth seeing , how manly he could bite-in his secret want , and dissemble his ouer-late repentance . I cannot commend his mortification , if hee wish to bee in heauen , yea , in purgatorie , to bee deliuered from thence : I durst not pitie him ; because his durance was willing , and ( as hee hoped ) meritorious : But , such incouragement as he had from mee , such thanke shall hee haue from God ; who in stead of an Euge , which hee lookes for , shall angerly challenge him , with Who required this ? I leaue him now , in his owne fetters ; You , to your worthy and honourable imployments .