THE GREAT FROST. Cold doings in London, except it be at the LOTTERY. With News out of the Country. A familiar talk between a Countryman and a Citizen touching this terrible Frost and the great Lottery, and the effects of them. The Description of the Thames frozen over. Londoners upon the frozen Thames Printed at London for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold at the sign of the 〈…〉 ❧ A Table of the most special matters of note contained in this short Discourse. 1. A description of the Thames being frozen over. 2. The dangers that hath happened to some persons passing upon the Thames. 3. The harms that this Frost hath done to the City. 4. The misery that the Country people are driven into by the means of this Frost. 5. The Frosts in other King's times compapared with this. 6. A description of the Lottery. THE GREAT FROST. Cold doings in London. A Dialogue. The speakers. A Citizen. A Countryman. Citizen. OLd Father, you are most heartily welcome to London. Countryman. Sir, I give you most kind and hearty thanks: but you must pardon me; I am an old man, & have those defects that go a long with old age; I have both bad eyes to discern my friends and a weak memory to keep their names in mind: I have quite lost the remembrance of you. Cit Nay Father, I am a mere stranger to you. But seeing white hairs to cover your head as well as mine own, I make bold to reach out my hand to you: there is honesty in your very looks, and every honest man is worthy, and aught to be taken into acquaintance. Coun. I am beholden to you for this courtesy: you Citizens are civil, and we poor country fellows are plain, but albeit I walk in russet and course grey, I have a true heart. What is your pleasure Sir? Citt. If your haste be no greater than mine (for blessed be God, we have now too many idle hours against our will.) I would gladly confer with you of the state of the Country, and if I can delight you with any City news, you shall have my bosom opened freely. Coun. The Ploughman's hands Sir are now held in his pocket as well as the Shop-kéepers: I have as little to do as you, and therefore an hours that shall please me well: we old men are old Chronicles, and when our tongues go, they are not clocks to tell only the time present, but large, books unclasped, and our speeches, like leaves turned over and over, discover wonders that are long since past. Cit I am glad that I have met with an old man that hath not stood still in his life (like a pool) but like a River hath run through the world to get experience. But I pray tell me, of what Country are you? Coun. Of Rippon in Yorkshire. Cit And (if it he not too much beyond the rule of good manners.) let me be bold to inquire what drew you, dwelling so far off, to travel to London? Coun. Marry Sir I will tell you, even that drew me to London, which draws you out of your houses: that which makes you cry out in London, We have cold doings, and to leave your shops to catch you heat in the streets, nay to leave your new beautiful walks in moorfield's, (for those I have seen at my entering into the City) and to make newer and larger walks (though not so safe) upon a field of glass as it were. That slippery world which I beheld (as I remember) in the fift year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, (or I am sure I am not much wide) do I come thus far to behold again in the fift year of our good King james, & that is (in a few cold words) thethames frozen over. Cit Yea Father, and frozen over and over. Cou. I have but two ears Sir (if I had more I were a monster) but those two ears bring me home a thousand tales in less than seven days. Some I hearken 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, knavish and hard to be trusted, though mine ears be mine own and good, yet I had rather give credit to mine eyes: although they see but badly, yet I know they will not cozen me, they have not these fourscore years, and that is the reason I have made them my guides now in this journey, and they shall be my witnesses when I get home again, and sit, as I hope I shall, turning a crab by the fire●) of what wonders I have been a beholder. Cit In good sadness Father I am proud, that such a heap of years lying on your back, you stoop no lower for them; I come short of you by more than twenty, and me thinks I am both more unlusty, & look more aged. Cou. Oh Sir, riots, riots, surfeits, surfeits stick white hairs upon young men's chins, when sparing diets hold colour. Your crammed Capons feed you fat here in London, but our beef and bacon feeds us strong in the Country: long stéepes and late watchings, dry up your bloods, & whither your cheeks; we go to bed with the lamb, and rise with the lark, which makes our bloods healthful: you are still sending to the Apothecaries, and still crying out; to fetch Master Doctortor to me,, but our Pothecaries shop is our garden full of potherbs, and our Doctor is, a good clove of garlic. I am as lusty and sound at heart (I praise my God) as my yoke of bullocks that are the servants to my Plough. Cit Yet I wonder that having no more sand in the the glass of your life (for young men may reckon years, but we old men must count upon minutes,) I wonder I say how you durst set forth, and how you could come thus far. Coun. How I durst set forth? If King Harry were now alive again, I durst and would (as old and stiff as I am, go with him to Bullen. We have trees in our Town that bear fruit in winter: I am one of those winter plums, & though I taste a little sour, yet I am sound at heart, & shall not rot yet I hope, for all this frost. Cittiz. It were pity so reverend an Oak should so soon be felled down, you may stand and grow yet many a year. Coun. Yes sir, downward, downward you and I must grow (like ears of corn when they be ripe.) But I beseech you tell me; Is that goodly River of yours, I call it yours, because you are a Citizen, (and that River is the Nurse that gives milk & honey to your city: But is that Lady of fresh waters all covered over with ice? Cit All over I assure you Father: the Frost hath made a floor upon it, which shows like grey Marble, roughly hewn out: it is a very pavement of glass, but that it is more strong. The Thames now lies in, or rather is turned (as some think) bankrupt, and dares not show her head; for all the water of it floats up and down now like a springtide in a cellar. Coun. God help the poor Fishes; it is a hard world with them, when their houses are taken over their heads, they use not to lie under such thick roofs. But I pray sir, are all the arches of your famous London Bridge so dammed up with ice, that the flakes show like so many frozen gates, shut up close, and that nothing passes through them, nay, that a man cannot look through them as he had wont? Cit No such matter: the Thames with her ebbing & flowing hath at sundry times brought down hay, wintercastles of ye, which justling against the arches of the Bridge, and striveing (like an unruly Drunkard at a gate of the City in the night time) to pass through, have there been stayed and lodged so long, till they have lain in heaps and got one upon another, but not so ambitiously as you speak of them. Countri. And do not the Westerne-Barges come down upon certain artificial pulleys and engines, sliding on the ice, to serve your City with fuel. Citti. That were a wonder worth seeing, and more strange than the rowing over steeples by land in a wherry; no I assure you, these stories shall never stand in our Chronicles: there is no such motion. Coun. But I hope Sir you & I may drink a pint of sack in the Tavern that runs upon wheels on the river, aswell as a thousand have done beside, may we not? the motion of that wine-celler I am sure is to be seen, is it not? Cit The water-celler is, but the wine-cellers have too good doings on the land, to leave that, and to set up Taverns on the River; you know more in the Country I perceive than we do in the City of these matters. Count. Nay Sir, we hear more, but know less: we hear the lies, and you know the truth: why law you now, had not I made this journey to London, I had died in misbelief: mine ear might thus have made me to have been called old doting fool: for I giving credit to report, should have uttered these fables for truths; and I being an old man, should have been believed, (for a white head ought not to hold a black tongue;) and so my sons and daughters (taking a father's word) might peradventure forty years hence, have been called clowns, for justifying a lie so monstrous and incredible. Citti. Bar all these rumours hereafter out of your ears, for they are false and deceitful, & fly up & down like Lapwings, their in times being there it is, when it is not. Count You Sir are a man, that by your head and beard (as well as myself) should be one of Times Sons, and should therefore love his daughter Truth. Make me so much beholding to you, as to receive from you the right Picture of all this your waterworks; and how they began, and how they have grown, and in what fashion continued? Citi. The Thames described as it was Frozen. Most gladly will I satisfy your request. You shall understand therefore that the Thames began to put on his Freeze-coote (which yet he wears) about the week before Christmas, and hath kept it on till now this latter end of januarij, how long time soever beside to come, none but God knows. Coun. Did it never thaw in thus many weeks? Citizen. Only three days, or four at the most, and that but weakly to dissolve so great a hardness. The Cakes of Ice (great quantity, and in great numbers) were made & baked cold in the mouth of winter, at the least a fortnight or three weeks, before they were crusted & cremented together; but after they once joined their strengths in one, their backsheld out & could not be broken. Coun. We may make this good use even out of this watery and transformed element; that London upholdeth a state; and again, that violent factions and combinations (albeit of the basest persons) in a Commonwealth, are not easily dissolved, if once they be suffered to grow up to a head. On Sir I pray. Cit This cold breakfast being given to the City, & the Thames growing more & more hard-hearted, wild youths and boys were the first Marchant-venturers that set out to discover these cold Islands of Ice upon the River. First going over the Thames on the Ice about Cold-Harbour. And the first path that was beaten forth, to pass to the Bankside (with out going over Bridge, or by Boat) was about Cold-Harbour, and in those places near the Bridge; for the Tides still plying up the flakes of Ice one upon another in those places of the Thames. it was held the best and the safest traveling into our new found Fréezeland, by those creeks. Coun. But this onset prospering, and they coming offwell, heartened others to come on Sir, did it not? Cit No soldiers more desperate to a skirmish: speak it Father from my mouth for an assured truth; that there was as it were an artificial bridge of ice reaching from one side of the River to the other, upon which infinite numbers of people passed too and fro, justling one an other in crowds, when the current of the water ran (in sight) more than half the breadth of the Thames, on either side of the ycecy bridge, the bridge itself being not above five yards broad, (if so much.) Cou. It was strange! But it was said of your Londoners, that when you strive to be kind, you turn into prodigals; when you are cowards, you are arrant cowards, and when you are bold, you are too desperately venturous. Cit It appears so by this frost: for no danger could nip their bloods with fear; but over some went in shoals when thousands stood gazing on and swore, they would not follow their steps in that watery wilderness for many thousands of pounds: nay, even many of those that were the discoverers, and did first venture over, would never undertake the second voyage, but protested when they were half way, they would have lost much to have been again on shore. Coun. It is most likely, for perils that are not common make men foolhardy, but being once tasted, they tremble to come near them. Cit You say true Father; but the fear of this shipwreck, and of these rocks, grew everyday less and less, as the ice increased in hardness, so men's hearts increased in hardiness: so that at the length, (the frost knitting all his sinews together, and the inconstant water (by that means) being of a floating element, changed into a firm ground as it were) What numbers of people walked on the Thames. both men, women, and children walked over, and up and down in such companies, that I verily believe, and I dare almost swear it, the one half (if not three parts) of the people in the City, have been seen going on the Thames. The River showed not now (neither shows it yet) like a River, but like a field where Archers shoot at pricks, whilst others play at football. It is a place of mastery, where some wrestle, and some run, and he that does best is aptest to take a fall. It is an Alley to walk upon without dread, albeit under it be most assured danger. The Gentlewomen that trembles to pass over a Bridge in the field, doth here walk boldly: the Citizen's wife that looks pale when she sits in a boat for fear of drowning, thinks that here she treads as safe now as in her Parlour: Of all ages, of all sexes, of all professions this is the common path: it is the road way between London and Westminster, and between Southwark and London. Would you drink a cup of sack Father? there stand some with Roundlets to fill it out. Countri. Ah ha, that's the Tavern than is talked on. Cit Beer, Ale, wine, victuals, and fires on the Thames. Thirst you for Beer, Ale, Vsquibath, etc. or for victuals? there you may buy it, because you may tell an other day how you dined upon the Thames. Are you cold with going over? you shall ere you come to the midst of the River, spy some ready with pans of coals to warm your fingers. If you want fruit after you have dined, there stands Costermongers to serve you at your call. And thus do people leave their houses and the streets, turning the goodliest River in the whole Kingdom, into the broadest-street to walk in. Coun. But tell me I pray Sir, if all the merchants that undertake this voyage to these your narrow seas, are none undone? do none of your freshwater soldiers miscarry, & drop down in these slippery Marshes? Cit Yes Sir, I have heard of many, and have been an eye witness of some: of all which, I will be sparing in report, being rather willing to be reprehended for telling too little, then for discovering too much. Coun. It is a modesty well becomes any man, albeit nothing but truth sit upon his tongue. But I pray sithence you crack the shell, let us see what kernel there is within it: sithence you have bestowed the sweet, let me taste the sour, let your news be as Country-folkes bringing fruit to your markets, the bad and the good together: say, have none gone westward for smelts (as our proverbial phrase is?) Citti. The harms that have fallen on several persons going on the Thames. Yes, it hath been a kind of battle for the time, for some have fallen in up to the knees, others to the middle, others to the arme-pittes, yea and some have been ducked over head and ears, yet have crawled out like drowned Rats, whiles others have sunk to the bottom that never rose again to the top: they had a cold bed to lie in. Amongst many other misfortunes that are to be pitied, this is one; A couple of friends shooting on the Thames with birding-pieces, it happened they struck a Sea-pie, or some other fowl, they both ran to catch it, the one stumbled forward, his head slipped into a deep hole, and there was he drowned: the other (in his haste) slipped backward, & by that means saved his life. A poor fellow likewise having heated his body with drink, thought belike to cool it on the water: but coming to walk on the Ice, his head was too heavy for his heels, so that down he fell, and there presently died. Coun. Let his fall give others warning how to stand. Your City cannot choose but be much damnified by this strange congealing of the River. Citti. Exceeding much (Father) strangers may guess at our harms; yet none can give the full number of them but we that are the inhabitants: The hurt that the City hath received by this Frost. for the City by this means is cut off from all commerce: Shop-kéepers may sit and ask what do you lack, when the passengers may very well reply, what do you lack yourselves: they may sit and stare on men, but not sit and sell: it was (before) called The dead Term, and now may we call this, The dead Vacation, The frozen Vacation, The cold Vacation. If it be a Gentleman's life to live idly, and do nothing, how many poor Artificers and Tradesmen have been made Gentlemen then by this Frost? For a number of Occupations (like the flakes of ice that lie in the Thames) are by this malice of Winter, trod clean under foot, and will not yet be able to stir. Alas poor Watermen, you have had cold cheer at this banquet: you that live altogether upon water, can now scarce get water to your hands: it is a hard thing now for you to earn your bread with the sweat of your brows. Coun. This beating may make them wise, the want that this hard season drives them into, may teach them to play the Aunts, and in Summer to make a provision against the wrath of Winter. There is no mischief borne alone I know; calamities commonly are (by birth) twins: me thinks therefore, that this drying up of the waters, should be a devourer up of wood: this cold Ague of the earth must needs have warmth to help it▪ that warmth must come from fire, and that fire cannot be had without cost: how then I pray you in this so general an affliction, did poor people shift for fuel to comfort them? Citti. The want of fire. Their care for fire was as great as for food: nay, to want it was a worse torment then to be without meat: the belly was now pinched to have the body warmed: and had not the Provident Fathers of this City (carefully, charitably, and out of a good and godly zeal) dispersed a relief to the poor, in several parts and places about the outer bounds of the City, where poverty most inhabiteth) by storing them before hand with Sea-coal and other firing at a reasonable rate, I verily persuade myself, that the unconscionable and unmerciful raising of the prices of fuel by Chandler's, Woodmongers, etc. (who now meant to lay the poor on the Rack) would have been the death of many a wretched creature through the want of succour. Coun. Not unlikely Sir. Cit For neither could coal be brought up the River, neither could wood be sent down. The Western Barges might now wrap up their smoky Sails, for albeit they had never so lofty a gale, their voyage was spoiled, the winds was with them, but the tide was clean against them. And not only hath this frost nipped away those comforts that should revive the outward parts of the body, but those also that should give strength and life to the inward. Dearth of victuals. For you of the Country being not able to travel to the City with victuals, the price of victual must of necessity be enhanced, and victual itself brought into a scarcity. And thus have I given you (according to your request) a true picture of our Thames frozen over, and withal have drawn in as lively colours as I can (to my skill) as it were in a little Table, all the miseries, mischiefs, and inconveniences, which this hard time hath thrown upon our City. Coun. Sir, you have satisfied me to the full, and have given unto me so good a taste of your love, that if I should live double the years that are already scored on my head, I cannot choose but die indebted to your kindness. Cit Not so Father, for you shall if you please come out of my debt presently, and your payment shallbe in the selft-same coin, that you received of me, (that is to say words.) Countryman. I am glad Sir, you will take a poor countryman's word for so round a sum as I acknowledge is owing to you: you are a merciful Creditor; GOD send me always to deal with such Chapmen. But how will you set down my payments? Citi. Mary thus Father: As I have discovered unto you, what cold doings we have had (during this Frost) in the City, so I pray let me understand from you, what kind of world you have lived in in the Country. Coun. News out of the Country. The world with us of the Country, runs upon the old rotten wheels: for all the Northern cloth that is woven in our Country, will scarce make a Gown to keep Charity warm, she goes so a cold. Rich men had never more money, and Covetousness had never less pity: there was never in any age more money stirring, nor never more stir to get money. Farmer's are now slaves to racking young prodigal landlords, those Landlords, are more servile slaves to their own Riots and Luxury. But these are the common diseases of every Kingdom and therefore are but common news. The tunes of the Nightingale are stolen in the middle of Summer, because we hear them at the coming in of the Spring, and so these harsh notes which are sung every day in every Country, do (be custom) grow not to be regarded. But your desire Sir is, to know how we spend the days of this our Frozen age in the Country. Citizen. That I would hear indeed Father. Coun. Believe me Sir, as wickedly you must think as you can hear in your City. It goes as hard with us as it doth with you. The miseries that Country people feel by this frost The same cold hand of Winter is thrust into our bosoms, the same sharp air strikes wounds into our bodies: the same Sun shines upon us, but the same Sun doth not heat us no more than it doth you. The poor Ploughman's children sit crying and blowing their nails, as lamentably as the children and servants of your poor Artificers. Hunger pinches their cheeks as deep into the flesh, as it doth into yours here. You cry out here, you are undone for coal, and we complain, we shall die for want of Wood All your care is to provide for your Wives, children and servants, in this time of sadness: but we go beyond you in cares; not only our wives, our children, and household servants, are unto us a cause of sorrow, but we grieve as much to behold the misery of our poor cattle (in this frozen-hearted season) as it doth to look upon our own affliction. Our beasts are our faithful servants, and do their labour truly when we set them to it, they are our Nurses that give us milk, they are our guides in our journeys, they are our partners, and help to enrich our state; yea, they are the very up-holders' of a poor Farmer's lands and livings. Alas then, what Master that loves his servant as he ought, but would almost break his own heartstrings with sighing, to see these pine and mourn as they do? The ground is bare, and not worth a poor handful of grass. The earth seems barren, and bears nothing, or if she doth, most unnaturally she kills it presently, or suffers it through cold to perish. By which means the lusty horse abates his flesh, and hangs the head, feeling his strength go from him: the Ox stands bellowing: the ragged Sheep bleeting: the poor Lamb shivering and starving to death. The poor Cottager that hath but a Cow to live upon, must feed upon hungry meals (God knows) when the beast herself hath but a bare Commons. He that is not able to bid all his Cattle home, and to feast them with Fodder out of his Barns, will scarce have cattle at the end of Summer to fetch home his Harvest. Which charge of feeding so many beastly mouths, is able to eat up a Countryman's estate, if his providence before time hath not been the greater to meet and prevent such storms. Of necessity our Sheep Oxen etc. must be in danger of famishing, (having nothing but what our old grandam the earth will allow them to live upon) of necessity must they pine, scithence all the fruits that had wont to spring out of her fertile womb, are now nipped in their birth, and likely never to prosper. And to prove that the Ground hath her very heart (as it were) broken, and that she hath not lively sap enough in her veins left as yet to quicken her, and to raise her up to strength: behold, this one infallible token. The Leek, whose courage hath ever been so undaunted, that he hath borne up his lusty head in all storms; and could never be compelled to shrink, for Hail, Snow, Frosts, nor showers; is now by the violence and cruelty of this Wether, beaten into the earth, being rotten, dead, disgraced and trodden upon. And thus (Sir) if words may be taken for currant payment (to a Creditor so worthy as yourself) have I tendered some part of my love in requital of yours. You gave unto me a Map of your City as it stands now in the Frost, and I bestowed upon you a Moddell of the Country, which I pray receive with as friendly a hand, as that is which offers it. Citiz. I do, with millions of thanks. The story which you told (albeit it yet makes my heart bleed to think upon the calamities of my poor Countrymen) yet was it uttered with so grave a judgement, and in a time so well befitting your age, that I kept mine ears open, and my lips locked up; for I was loath to interrupt you, till all was told: wherein you show yourself to be a careful and honest debtor, in discharging your bond all at one sum, when you might have done it in several payments. But I pray you Father, what is your opinion of this strange Winter? I call you Father, albeit my own head be whitened by old age, as well as yours: and be not angry that I do so, it is an honourable title due unto your years: for as those that are young men to me, bestow that dignity upon my silver hairs, (and I am proud to take it) so would I not have you disdain that attribute from my mouth, (that am a young man to you) sithence I do it out of love and the reverence I bear to my Elders. Tell me therefore, I pray, your judgement, of this Frost, and what (in the school of your experience) you have read, or can remember, may be the effects, which it may produce, or which (of consequence) are likely to follow upon it. Countr. The dangers that a thaw is like to bring with it. I shall do my best to satisfy you: When these great Hills of ice shall be digged down, and be made level with the waters; when these hard rocks shall melt into soft rivers, and that a sudden thaw shall overcome this sharp Frost, then is it to be feared, that the swift, violent and unresistible Land-currents, will bear down Bridges, beat down Buildings, overflow our cornfields, overrun the Pastures, drown our cattle, and endanger the lives both of man and beast, travailing on their way. Cittiz. You say right: This Prognostication which ywr judgement thus looks into, did always fall out to be too true. But what other Wether doth your Calendar promise Countr. I will not hide within me from you, that time and observation have taught me. And albeit it may appear strange unto you, that an old Country Penny-father, (a plain holland ruff, and a kerzie stocking) should talk thus of the change of seasons, and the mutabilities of the world. Yet S. know I beseech you that my education was finer than my Russet outside, and that my parents did not only provide to leave me something, but took care (above that tansitorie blessing) that I should taste a little of the fruit of learning and knowledge. It will be a pleasing and profitable journey to our countrymen though a laborious voyage for you. King William Ruphus I have read how in the reign of king William Ruphus (in the fift year as I remember) that Rivers of this kingdom were so frozen over, that carts and wanes laden, did without danger pass over them. King john. In the sixth year of the reign of King john, a frost began upon the 13. of january, and continued till the 22. of March following, the earth by means of this being so hardened, that the plough lay still, and the ground could not be tilled. The wounds that this frost gave the common wealth were for that present scarce felt, they were not deep, they were thought not dangerous. But in the summer following did they freshly begin to bleed, for then a quarter of wheat was sold for a mark, which in the reign of Henry the second (before him) was sold for no more than 12. pence. king Henry There was likewise so great a frost in the 53. year of the reign of Henry the third, that being at Saint Andrew's tide, it continued till Candelmas. So that men & beasts went over the Thames from Lambeth to Westminster, and the goods of Merchants not being able to be transported by water, were carried from Sandwich and other havens, and so brought to London by land. But no extraordinary or memorable accident following or going before this frost, I will pass over it, and come to that frosty season in the tenth year of Edward the first, whose violent working was so cruel, and did build such castles of I'll upon the Thames & other Rivers, that five arches of London bridge were borne down, & all Rochesterbridge was carried clean away, with divers others. K. Edw, 3. In the seven and thirtieth year of Edward the third, a Frost began in England, about the midst of September, and thawed not till April following, so that it continued almost eight months. K. Henry 4. In the ninth year of the reign of K. Henry the fourth, was there a Frost that lasted fifteen weeks. The like happened in the fourth year of Edward the fourth. K. Edw. 4. K. Henr. 8. In the ninth year of K. Henry the eight, the Thames was frozen over, that men with horse and carts passed upon it: And in the very next succeeding year, died multitudes of people, by a strange disease, called the Sweeting Sickness. Q Elizab. There was one great Frost more in England, (in our memory,) and that was in the seventh year of Queen Elizabeth, which began upon the 21. of December, and held on so extremely, that upon New years eve following, people in multitudes went upon the Thames from London Bridge to Westminster: Some (as you tell me, Sir, they do now) playing at football, others shooting at pricks: This Frost began to thaw upon the third day of january at night, and on the fifth of the same month, was no ice to be seen between London-Bridge and Lambeth: which sudden thaw brought forth sudden harms, for houses and bridges were overturned by the Land-floudes: amongst which, Owes Bridge in Yorkshire was borne away: many numbers of people perishing likewise by those waters. Cittiz. You have a happy memory Father: your head I see is a very storehouse of antiquity: you are of yourself a whole volume of Chronicles: Time hath well bestowed his lessons upon you, for you are a ready scholar of his, and do repeat his stories by heart perfectly. Countr. And thus (as I said before) you may perceive, that these extraordinary Fevers have always other evils attending upon them. Cittiz. You have made it plain unto me: and I pray God, at whose command the Sun sends forth his heat, to comfort the earth, and the winds bitter storms to deface the fruits of it, that in this last afflictation of waters, which are hardened against us, all other miseries may be closed up withal: and that the stripes of sundry plagues and calamities which for these many years have been seen sticking in our flesh, may work in our bodies such amendment, and in our souls such repentance, that the rod of the divine justicer may be held back from scourging us any longer. Countr. I gladly and from my heart, play the Clerk, crying Amen. I have been bold and troublesome to you Sir. Cittiz. You teach me what language to speak to yourself in, I would neither of us both, had ever spent an hour worse. Countr. Indeed Time is a jewel of incomparable value, yet (as unthrifts do by their money) we are prodigal in wasting it, and never feel the true sweetness of enjoying it, till we have lost all. But sithence I have waded thus far into conference with you, and that it is our agreement to barter away news one with another, (as Merchants do their commodities) I must request one kindness more at your hands. Cittiz. What is that, Father? I am now in your debt, and in Conference I must see you satisfied. Countr. I hear Sir strange report of a certain Lottery for Plate, of a great value, here in London: Is it true? Cittiz. It is true, that there is a Lottery, and it is set up by Strangers. Countr. I remember, that (as I take it in the xi. year of Queen Elizabeth) a Lottery began here in London, in which, if my memory fail not, were four hundred thousand lots to be drawn. Cittiz. You say right: so much still lies in my remembrance. Count. Mary that Lottery was only for money, and every lot was ten shillings. It was held at the West door of Saint Paul's Church. It began upon the eleventh of januarie, and continued day and night till the sixth of May following, which was almost four Months: and the common burden of that song, when poor prizes were drawn, was Two pence halfpenny. Cittiz. That was a prize poor enough, I'll be sworn: Nay father, than was there another gallant Lottery about the eight and twenty year of the same Queen's reign, which began in the middle of Summer, and was for marvelous rich and costly armours, guilt and engraven. Countr. That Lottery I heard of, but never saw it, for I was then in the Country. Cittiz. To win those armours, all the companies of the City ventured general sums of money. But because you desire to hear some news of this last Lottery, that now tempteth people together, I will tell you so much of it as I certainly know for truth, referring your ear (if you would hear more) to the great voice of the vulgar, of whom you may be sure to have more then willingly you will carry home. Countr. Oh sir, the wild beast with many heads, must needs have as many tongues, and it is not possible those tongues should go true, no more than all the clocks do but I pray you speak on. Cittiz. The description of the Lottery This Lottery (as I said before) consisteth all of plate: it is a goodly Goldsmith's shop to come into: and to behold so many guilt Spoons, Cups, Bowls, Basins, Ewers, etc. fairly graven, and richly guilded, who would not be tempted to venture a shilling (for that's a stake for a lot) when for that shilling he may happily draw a piece of plate worth a hundred pound, or an hundred and forty, fifty, or threescore pounds, if he can catch it, which he may do if Fortune favour him. Countr. Oh sir, that found of a hundred pound makes good music in the ear, and draws men to hearken to it. Those are the sweet baits: but upon what hooks, I pray you, are those liquorish baits hung? Cittiz. Upon villainous long ones: for to every prize there are put in 40. blanks, so that there are so many tricks to set a man beside the saddle, and but one to leap in. There are 7600. prizes, and 42. mil. of Blanckes: a number of hard choked Pears must be swallowed, before the delicate fruit can be tasted. Countr. And yet I hear that the people fly thither like Wild-geese. Cittiz. You may well say like Wild-geese: for some of them prove such Goose caps by going thither, that they leave themselves no more feathers on their backs then a Goose hath when she is plucked. I have sat there and beheld the faces of all sorts of people, that flock to this fair of Silver household-stuff: It is better than ten Comedies to note their entrances into the place, and their Exits: and yet in good truth I have been hearty sorry, to see what tragical ends have fallen upon some poor housekeepers that have come thither. About the doors multitudes still are crowding: above, the room is continually filled with people. Every mouth is bawling out for lots, and every hand thrust out to snatch them: both hands are lifted up, the one to deliver the Condemned shillings, the other to Receive the papers of life and death. And when the papers are paid for (which are rolled up like Wafers) load: what praying is there in every corner, that God would (if it be his will) send them good fortune. How gingerly! do they open their Twelue-pennie commodity! How leisurely? with what gaping of the mouth! with what licking of the lips (as though they felt sweetness in it before they taste it) how the standers by encourage him that hath drawn, to open boldly, as if it were to venture upon the mouth of a Canon, and with what strange passions and pant does he turn over his waste papers? But when he finds within but a pale peace of paper, Lord, how he swears at his own folly, curses the Frenchmen, and cries a plague on the house, and wishes all the plate were melted, and powered down the throats of them that own it: Yet when he hath emptied his bosom of all this bitterness, the very casting of his eye upon a goodly fair Basin of silver, so sweetens the remembrance of his lost money, that to it he falls again, and never gives over so long as he can make any shift for the other shilling. And thus do a number of poor men labour with a kind of greediness to beggar themselves. Countr. But amongst all these Land-rovers, have none of them the luck of men of war, to win rich prizes? Cittiz. Yes, some do: and the making of one, is the undoing of an hundred: for the sight of a standing bowl being borne openly away in triumph by some poor fellow, so sets all their teeth on edge that are the gazers on, that many of them are almost mad, till they have sold their pewter, in hope to change it into a cupbbord of silver plate And so far doth this frenzy lead some (especially the base sort of people) that this man pawns his cloak, that man his holiday breeches: this woman sells her brass, that gossip makes away her linen, and all these streams meet in the end in one river. These do all suffer shipwreck, and the sea swallows the spoil. The one goes home crying and cursing, the other stands still tickling with laughter: the one hugs himself for his good success, the other is ready to hang himself at his ill fortune. Carmen sell their horses, and give over drawing of loads, to draw lots. There came a young wench in one day (a maid servant) that had newly received her quarter's wages, and was going to buy clothes to her back: But this Siluer-mine standing in her way, here she vowed to dig, and to try if she could be made for ever: she ventured all her money, and lost all. But when she saw it gone, she sighed & swore, the loss of her maidenhead should never have grieved her so much, as the loss of her wages. Countr. I believe her sir: Cittiz: Imagine how a Vintner's boy having received a reckoning of his master's guests, and they falling presently to dice, if the drawer should set his masters money, and crying at all, should lose it all, how would that fellow look? even so looked that poor wench. Countr. Are there (think you sir) no deceits in this Lottery, to cousin and abuse the people? Cittiz. Trust me father, I dare accuse no man of any, because I know of none: such actions as these (how warrant able soever,) & strengthened by the best authorities, who have wisdom to look through and through them, if there were any juggling conceit, notwithstanding stand from the stings of slander, if any villainy be done, the people that swarm thither, practise it one against an other. Count. As how I pray sir? Cittiz. Knavis triks done at the Lottery For I have been told, that some one crafty knave amongst all the rest, taking upon him to play the good Shepherd over the flock, that stands about him, hath gathered money from several men, or women, he himself likewise putting in his own, and then keeping a crowding to pass through the press, he comes back and delivers so many blanks as he received shillings, which blanks were not of the Lottery, but cunningly made up by himself, and carried of purpose up and down by him in his pocket. Co. They are worthily served that willbe cheted by such a doctor in the art of knavery. If any man therefore will needs be, as the term is now, one of this twelve penny Gulls, let him hereafter set his own limetwigs, and then if he catch no bird, no body else shall laugh at him. Citiz. Amongst many other things upon the frozen Thames, that will in times to follow, look to be remembered, this is one: That there were two Barkers shops (in the fashion of Booths with signs and other properties of that trade belonging to them) fixed on the ice: to which many numbers of people resorted, and (albeit they wanted no shaving) yet would they here he trimmed, because an other day they might report, that they lost their hair between the bank side and London. Both these shops werr still so full, that the workmen thought every day had been Saturday: never had they more barbarous doings for the time: there was both old polling and cold polling: and albeit the foundation of their houses stood altogether upon a watery ground, yet they that were Doctors of the barber's chair, feared no danger, for it was a hard matter almost now for a man to find water to drown himself if he had been so desperate Then had they other games of nineholes and Pidgeon-holes in great numbers. And this (father) did I observe as worthy to be remembered, that when the watermen (who had cold doings for a long time) had by main labour cut down with axes, and such like instruments, a lane and open passage between Queen Hyth, & the further bank, so that boats went surely to and fro, yet were people in great multitudes running, walking, sliding, and playing at games and exercises, as boldly as if they had been on the firm land (the Thames running mainly between them) and taking Boats at Queen Hyth, or any other Stairs, they would as fiercely leap upon the very urim of the caked Ice, as if it had been a strong Wharfe, or the ground itself. And thus much father, touching the great Frost here about our City. Unto which, upon my conference with some Merchants my friends here in London, and upon view of Letters from several factors out of other Countries beyond the Seas.) I add this further report, that this Frost hath not only continued in this extremity here in England, but all or the greatest part of all the Kingdoms in Christendom, have been pinched by the same: amongst which those Countries Northward (as Russia, Muscovia, etc., which at these times of the year are commonly subject to sharp, bitter and violent Frosts) were now (this Winter) more extremely, and more extraordinarily afflicted, then usually they have been in many years before. So that the calamities that have fallen upon us by this cruelty of the weather, are so much to be endured with the greater patience, and with more thanksgiving to God, because his hand hath punished neighbours and other Nations as heavily (if not more severely) than he hath us. Amongst all the serious accidents that have happened here upon our Thames, I will now (father) quicken your hearing with one a little more merry, it was merry to the beholders and strange, but I believe he found no great mirth in it that was the person that performed it. But thus it was. A Citizen happened to venture (with many others) upon the Ice: but he with a couple of dogs that followed him, walked up and down so long, till he was in a manner alone from the rest of the company. You must understand, that this was now towards the end of the frost, when it either began or was likely to thaw: so that people were not so bold upon the Ice nor in such multitudes as they were before: but this Citizen (and his two dogs,) keeping as I said aloof from others, it fortuned that the flake of Ice upon which he stood, was in a moment sundered from the main body of the frozen Thames, like an arm of a tree cut from the body: so that he stood, or rather swam (as he stood) upon a floating Island: the poor man perceiving that his ground failed under him, began to faint in his heart, repenting that now he was so venturous, or so foolish to leave firm ground where he was safe, and to trust a floor that was so deceitful, was afraid to stir, and yet unless he did lustily stir for life, he was sure there was no way but one, and that was to be drowned. In this extremity, and in this battle of comfort and despair, he had no means (albeit he was a fresh water Soldier,) but to be constant in courage to himself, and to try all paths how to get from this apparent danger: from place to place therefore doth he softly run, his two dogs following him close and leaping upon him: but his thoughts were more busied how to save himself than to regard them following, he never hated going a hawking with his dogs till this time: now the sport was loathsome, now was he weary of it: for in all his hunting with his bound thus at his tail, he met one game that could make him weary: he justled with other huge flakes of Ice that encountered with that whereon he stood, and gladly would have leapt upon some one of them, but to have done so, had been to have slipped out of one peril into an other: Nothing was before his eyes but water, mingled with huge cakes of Ice, on every side of him was danger and death. Innumerable multitudes of people stood looking on upon the shores, but none were so hardy as to set out to his rescue. Being therefore thus round beset with the horrors of so present a wrack, he fell down on his knees, uttering such cold prayers as in this fear a man could deliver: his dogs not understanding their masters danger, nor their own, and not knowing why he kneeled, leaping ever and anon at his head, and an his shoulders: but his mind being now more on his dying day then on his sports, continued praying, till the flake of ice on which he kneeled was driven to the very Bridge, which he perceiving, started up, and with a happy nimbleness leapt upon one of the Arches, his dogs leaping after as nimbly as the master, whilst the cake of ice passed away from him, and between the two Arches was shivered all in little pieces. And thus did he escaped. Countr. It was a miraculous deliverance. City. Other abuses are there daily (amongst the worse ranks of people) put one upon another, which being but idle, ridiculous and not worth rehearsing, I willingly am glad not to remember: but only to content your longing (good old father) have I set thus much of our golden Lottery before you. Countr. Sir you bind me more and more to you for these kindnesses to me being a stranger, & a person of so homely an out side, from a Citizen so grave as yourself seems to be, I will ever rest abundantly thankful. FINIS. LONDON. Printed for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold at his shop at London-Bridge. 1608.