strikes,

he did but jest.

Godies, and monsters of that, which God in vengeance pours on our heads; when in doing so, we mock our own selves, that are more monstrous and ugly in all the shapes of sin.

A good distillation.

A tale of grasiers

Cor. You melt (Sir) out of a heap of snow, very profitable and wholesome instructions. But I suppose you have heard of some misfortunes, lately happening unto certain graziers :

Cit. No indeed, sir.

Nor. Then take it for truth and on my credit, that a good company of them coming up together to London with great store both of sheep and bullocks, they lost, by reason of the snows and deep waves, so many of either (especially of sheep) that perished in great numbers, even on the way, and before their faces, that if they had been sold to their value, it had been a sufficient estate to have maintained a very good man, and have kept him rich all his life time.

Cit. I believe you but I pray sir, what is your opinion of this strange winter: give me your judgment I beseech you, of these frosts and snows; An old man is a and what (in the school of your experience) you

new Almanac.

have read, or can remember, may be the effects, which they may produce, or which of consequence are likely now to follow.

Nor. I shall do my best to satisfy you. When these great hills of snow, and these great mountains

happen upon this

of ice be digged down, and be made level with the What is likely to waters; when these hard rocks shall melt into great snow. rivers, and these white feathers of heaven stick upon the backs of floods; and that sudden thaws shall show, that the anger of these winter storms are mollified; then it is to be feared, that the swift, violent, and irresistable land-currents (or rather torrents) will bear down bridges, beat down buildings, overflow our corn-fields, overrun the pastures, drown our cattle, and endanger the lives both of man and beast, travelling on their way; and, unless God's hand of plenty be held open, a dearth, to strike the land in the following summer.

Cit. You say right. This prognostication which your judgment thus looks into, did always fall out to be true.

Nor. These extraordinary fevers (shaking a whole kingdom) have always other mortal diseases waiting upon them.

Cit. We are best to fear it; and by fearing, provide against them.

Nor. I pray God (at whose command the sun sends forth his heat, and the winds bitter storms to deface the fruits of it), that in this last affliction sent down in flakes from the angry element, all other miseries may be hidden, swallowed, and confounded.

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

The hurt the city takes by this

snow.

Nor. But I pray sir, you may have melted a great part of our North Country snow out of me, how hath your city here (with all their castles, and St. George a horseback to help it), borne off the

storm:

Cit. Marry, I will tell you how, sir: just as our London fencers oftentimes do in their challenges : she has taken it full upon the head.

Nor. Methinks, and I see it with mine eyes, it cannot hurt you much; for your streets are fuller of people than ever they were.

Cit. True sir: but full streets, make shops empty it's a sign that tradesmen and handicrafts have either little to do, or else can do little, by reason of the weather, when they throw by their tools, and fall to flinging of snow-balls. I assure you father, the tyranny of this season, kills all trading (unless in villany, which shrinks for no weather) so that all commerce lies dead. Besides, it lessens our markets for provision, so that all sort of food was never more dear: it eats up firing, and almost starves the poor, who are not able to buy coal or wood, the rates upon every frosty morning being lifted up and raised at the pleasure of every paltry chandler. Men of occupations, for the most part lie still; as carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, and such like: not one of these, nor of many other, turns alchemist, for (unless they be shoe

makers) none can extract or melt a penny of silver out of all these heaps of snow.

tion.

Nor. You have now given me a large satisfac

Cit. Nay, if you should walk but along one street only in London; and that is Thames street, The and to see their cellars and warehouses full of rich merchandise, drowned, and utterly spoiled, you would both wonder at the loss, which cannot be set down; and lament it, albeit you know it to be none. of your own.

Nor. I do already (by your report, to which I give much credit) lament it in others, as if it were mine own. I love not these tragical passions, I suffer for them upon the reporting. But putting them by, I pray sir, seeing I have unladen myself to you here in your shop, send not you me home like a collier's horse, only with an empty sack on my back let me have some good news to carry

with me.

dwellers in

Smithfield.

Cit. The best, and most noble, that I have at this time, to bestow upon you, is to request you to Thing of step into Smithfield, where you shall see by the careful providence, care, and industry, of our honourable senators (the fathers of our city) much money buried under that dirty field, by the hiring of hundreds of labourers to reduce it (as it is re

Smithfield made a market place.

ported), to the fairest and most famous market-place, that is in the whole kingdom.

Nor. A market-place! now trust me, it stands fit for so noble a purpose, and will be a memorable monument to after ages, of the royalty, diligence, wisdom and bravery of this. But where shall your Cheapside market be then kept, this must either hinder that, or that this :

It will

Cit. Cheapside shall by this means, have her streets freed from that trouble, by sending it hither, if (as it is reported) it prove a market place. add that beauty to that spacious place, which in former times hath by horses and panniers, and butterwives, been taken from it: Nay, the very street itself, by this means, will show like a large new Exchange or Rialto; such a commerce of gentlemen and citizens will be seen there daily by walking upon it.

Nor. I thank you for this news; this goes with me into the North: And when I hear that the work is finished, I'll take off one ten years of mine, because I'll come up lustily to London once again, to see such an honour to your city.

Cit. And when you do, you shall find (as report already gives it out) besides the market, two goodly receptacles for water fairly built, to add unto it the greater glory and beauty.