A LETTER sent out of HOLLAND from Hans Hue-& Cry, van Hang-&-draw, The Executioner; To his trusty and illbeloved friend, Gregory the second, son of the Destinies, Terror to Treason, Arch-Arme-strong of the Axe, Knight of the Noose, Ruler of the Rope, and Lord of the Triple TERRITORY.  
With his Letter sent in answer, treating deep and dangerously of affairs in State.  
September 28. and October 4.  
London, Printed for Thomas johnson. 1642.   

DOCTRINA PARIT VIRTUTEM  a device consisting of an open book with a sword, scepter, and surrounding motto  
A Letter sent out of Holland, from Hans Hue-and-Cry, van-Hang-and-Draw, The Executioner: To his trusty and illbeloved friend, Gregory the second, son of the Destinice, etc.  
Cord worthy, ANd thrice deserving Gregory  
I with my Followers, and Hangers-on; salute thee with one a Cord: not forgetting, but always remembering my love to both thy wives, and thy Heir apparent, whom we doubt not but in time will be brought up to the Gallows, to equal, if not exceed his father Gregory; well mayst thou remain praiseworthy in the most lasting memory of Officers, that so carefully against a time of such great employment didst provide two such wives, which in case of extremity, are as two strings to your Bow; or (according to our Cordage phrase) like a Rope and Butter, if one slip the other will hold; But setting aside this preambulation, I shall at large declare to thee my Embassy, and the cause of it; I have been informed, that there is a lasting tye of friendship conferred of, and confirmed betwixt you and the Destinies, that Atropos the third fatal Sister, hath resigned her office, converted the thread of Life, to the Halter of Death, and only left it to thy cutting.  
These are humbly to certify thee, that the late honesty of our Nation, have almost undone us; they are grown so unworthy, that there is scarce one man amongst twenty that deserves Hanging (more is the pity) but it is reported (to your joy and comfort) that in your Country, scarce one amongst forty deserve less. It is reported to us, that Treason is but a trifle with you, and (if your civil war go on) Murders will seem but modest Mischiefs; which if it be your fate to outlive, there will be work in abundance for you; but if Treason, Murder, Rapine, (by strange Rhetoric) be proved no less than the Liberty of the Subject, I will not give a Whipcord for your Office; the Rope-maker will not trust you, and then you may hang yourself in your own. Garters; but for mine own hopes I wish things may be otherwise. My request to you therefore is that you will provide me a house near Wapping, for it is my intention (since I know I shall escape drowning) to take shipping for London, where, I doubt not but I shall perform the Office of an absolute Journiman, and very cheap (in time of full do.) I will execute Man or Woman for two pence a person, which (according to the English account) is three slips for a Tester; upon condition, that when the Rebellion is concluded, you will make me your deputy in Ireland, where I hope I shall lay my sword at the root of the tree; and show my self (for your honour, and my own) not much inferior to you, we will divide our labours into fit seasons; The Papists shall suffer one day, the Brwnists the second, and the Anabaptist the third, because the first hath occasion to stay in Purgatory, till the other two are ready for a further journey; And that we might be famed the greatest Noose-mongers in Europe, we will have the form of our Engines of Execution contrary to all that ever was; my Gallows shall be made Square, and yours shall be Round, you shall hang with a Cord, and I with a With, you behead with an Axe, and I with a Sword. If you like well of these honest propositions, which are but modest & civil, I will not Hang-an-Arse, but presently present my service to you; My brother Breake-necke of Amsterdam, My Cousin Cut throat of Rotterdam, with my honest friend Hans-van-stripe (the Beadle) commend their service to you, and would think themselves very happy to wait upon you: so likewise would my Uncle Burne-in-hant, with his honest son Brand-well van Crop-ear; all waiting the execution of your will: I pray fail not to send me a speedy answer, as you respect,  
Your most humble servant of the Noose. Hans Hue and-Cry, van Hang-and-draw. From my house in Rotterdam its Sledge-street, at the Sign of the Gibbet this 28 of September. 1642.   

The Answer to this Letter, written by Gregory, and by the way intercepted.  
To his much respected Friend. Hans Hue-an-Cry van Hang-an-draw at his House in Sledge-street in Rotterdam, at the Sign of the Gibbet; these present.  
To the Gallows worthy and forty times deserving Hue-an-Cry van Hang-an-draw, Gregory the second sends greeting.  
I Have received your last Packet, dated the 18. of August, wherein you became an humble Petitioner for my Service, and fully express how laborious a Reaper you would be in my harvest. It is most certain, I shall have daily use for such Artists as yourself; but as yet I am somewhat doubtful in my choice, I would entertain none but known and approved men of honest lives and conversation, whose credits have hung up fair in the sight of people, and whose reputations can endure the Rack; For it is not unknown to you my predecessors (of happy memory, were no less, who have been nearly and dearly acquainted with great Statesmen, and many well borne (though ill heed) Gentlemen; Who have so devoutly loved him, they would sooner lose their lives then part with them (and oftentimes it happened so) Therefore if you can bring over with you an Epistle commendatory, or a Letter of your Commendations for you and your friends, no question but I shall give you favourable attention, and a gentle hearing, and when I have disposed you to your several quarters, I hope (like loving Cord-crackers) you will hang together in the chains of amity. I must confess, I do daily expect employment; for (as you say) Treason is such a trifle with us, that some can speak no other language, their mouths so flowing over with Blasphemy, as if they intended transversion of Christendom to its first Paganism. I do very well approve your fancy for a Round and Square Gallows; we shall have use for them.  
I thank you for your kind commendations to my two wives; but since you heard last from me, the Law will allow me but one, and for that fault have confined me to my Office, which as times happen, will appear to me an easy bondage. You will converse with men of great birth in Ireland, nor shall I treat with men much inferior in England, if they give not over their Malignancy, which if they do, they will in spite of my teeth preserve an old Proverb, And Cozen the Hangman. I pray come over as well accoutred as you can, and give the same advice to your Hangers-on; It will be for my credit, as for your own employment; I believe you are almost as skilful as myself, but for your followers they are but newly come to it; therefore you may be their instructors, and Hang till they mend.  
Much more I should write, but the high affairs which are my hourly cogitations Cut me off from many things. I thank you Friends for their kind commendations, and return my love to all of them.  
john-swing-thief of Maidstone, remembers his commendations to you, and thanks you for your love when he was in Holland. Stephen Strangle-man of Bambery salutes you with his service, and bid me tell you (if you are well furnished) Hemp will be a good commodity, and be good chaffer for very choice ware in this Kingdom, so in expectation of your speedy arrival at Wapping, I bid you twice God-buie.  
Knoc-fargus in Rosemary-lane, this 15. day of etc. near Tower-Hill. 1642. Your burning Friend, Gregory Tybourne-proofe.  
FINIS.