This said hee beganne his first worke and I departed very pensive apprehending in my selfe that that man must needs have heavy crimes upon his Conscience But the Divell seeing mee sad whispered in mine eare that it was an Atheist who neither beleeved in God nor the Divell O that an understanding man is really accursed replied I when he cannot tell how to make profit of that Talent which God hath given him Not farre off I saw abundance of People drawing a fiery Cheriot through a burning Lake with rings thrust through their tongues to which the harnesse was fastened and a Divell going before them with this Proclamation This is the punishment of swearers slanderers and lyers In the Waggon were easie beleevers and in a roome whose prospect looked upon them were beautifull Women tormented in quality of Witches at which mine heart melted but a Divell came to comfort mee saying Doe you not remember the evill they have done you Have you not often found by experience that they use a certaine kinde of Magicke that destroyes therefore their paine is agreeable to it I followed my devillish Conductour and saw Judas accompanied with false Stewards Tâ—â—tours and such Oâ—ficers as himselfe some whereof had no â—â—â—â—heads and others no face â— seemed to bee well pleased with them who related the exploits they had done in his imitation Going nearer I saw that their torment was like that of Titius on whose entrals a Vultur still gnawed for their Consciences were their greatest Tormentours I could not suppresse the desire I had to speake perjured disloyall traitour villaine above all example said I how durst thou bee so vile as to sell thy Master thy Lord and thy God Why answered Judas doe you complaine of that You should rather commend than condemne mee since you receive so great a benefit thereby T is for mee to bewaile that am excluded from the possession of so great a good as I have put into your hands But thinke not that I am Iudas alone Know that since the Lords Death there have beene and are worse than I more wicked and more unthankfull witnesse Heretickes and Schismatickes For if I did once sell my Master I was in part cause of the Redemption of Mankinde but they in selling him you and themselves have lost all the World And others who are not content to sell him onely but they scourge and crucifie him more ignominiously than the Jewes in their wicked lives And though I know that repentance now availes mee not yet I would have you on earth to looke into yourselves before you censure me since I was the first Steward condemned for sale and not for bargaine as is the use and practice of all my fellowes I would heare no more but making way saw a great bulke of building which seemed like some inchanted Castle in which were many Venereous Divels tossing Whores and Thieves from scalding oyle into frozen ice to heate and coole their appetite One of the Females stepping to the threshold where I and my Guide stood Gentlemen said shee I pray you tell us whether this bee justice to condemne People both for giving and taking A Thiefe is condemned because hee takes from another and an Whore because shee gives For my part I maintaine that there is no injustice in us for if it be justice for every one to give of his owne and that we doe no other wherefore are we damned Wee found her question too difficult to bee derided and therefore sent her to Lawyers and Counsellours who were not farre from her but remembring that I had heard her speake of Thieves I asked where Seriveners were because as I came I overtook none by the way I beleeve said my Divell that you met not any Why Are they then allsaved No said he but they come neither on foot nor horsebacke but flying on wings a million in a flocke in respect of which lightnesse they are tormented in an upper Chamber I past by and not farre from thence went unto a place in which many Soules were shut up some whereof were very silent and others clamorous One told me it was the empalement of Lovers at which I was something grieved seeing that Death doth not kill the sighes with the body Some talked of their passions and endured a torment of loving distrust and others attributed their losse to their desires and imaginations wherof the force of the one and the colours of the other did present pictures to bee a thousand times fairer than persons and substances The most part-of them were disquieted and molested with a torture called I thought as a Divell â—old me and asking what that was Hee smiling replied 't is a torment agreeable to their offence for when Lovers see themselves deceived in their hopes either in the pursuit or possession of their Mistresses they say alwayes I thought that shee did love mee I thought shee would have beene the raising of my fortune I thought that shee would have been faithfull to me so that the cause of their 〈◊〉 proceeds not from any other thing but I thought Next to Lovers were Poets who endured the same punishment because their passions were not much different These men are of very jeasting humours said the Divell for whilest that others mourne and bewaile their sins they sing theirs and publish them every where For if they have but once laine with a Cloris Phillis Silviae or Melita by the meanes of one song they will walke her through a kingdome dockt like a Chimisticall Goddesse They will give her golden haire a Chrystall forehead eyes of Emralds or Diamonds teeth of Pearle lippes of Purple and Rubies with words of Muske and Amber and yet for all these riches of which they are so prodigall they cannot get credit for a meane sute among Brokers a course shirt among Sempsters nor a crackt beaver at the second hand Fearing too long a stay I went on to see the devout Impertinents who make prayers and requests to God full of absurd extravagancies O that they gave testimony of much griefe Their tongues were chained in everlasting silence and their bodies made crooked and bending to the Earth condemned to heare for ever the fearfull cries of a wheazing Divell who thus reproved them You brazen-fac't abusers of Prayer and the long sufferance of GOD presumptuous who dare treat with the Divine Majesty with lesse respect than you would doe with a Merchant with whom you traffique how many times have you made these execrable petitions Lord take my Father out of this World that I may enjoy his goods Let my Brother die within few dayes that I may succeed him in dignity Grant that I may finde a Mine of Gold at my feet That I may bee fortunate in play That my Sonne and Daughter may be richly married That the King may cast his favour upon me And adde unto these rash demands Doe this Lord and I promise to give money towards the marriage of Orphants to build Almes-houses and
to bones which sought one another Those which had beene Generals Captaines Lieutenants and Souldiers came first out of their Sepulchres provoked with courage as if the Trumpe had beene a signall to warre Covetous men issued amazed beleeving that it was for pillage And they that had given themselves over to wantonnesse conceived it a summons to some Masque or Enterlude These things I knew by their severall gestures but saw not one amongst them all that thought it was to Judgement Some Soules drew neare with horrour and disdaine of their owne Bodies and others would not approach at all seeing them so deformed Some wanted an arme others a thigh and others their heads yet did they not long seeke them giving mee therein a subject whereby to admire the Power of God in that being mixt together none tooke the legges or armes of their Neighbours When all the congregated understood that it was the great Day of Iudgement it was a notable thing to see how that the Luxurious would not finde their eyes to the end that they might not beare witnesse against them Detractours would not acknowledge their tongues for the same cause and Theeves made use of their feet to flie from their hands Here I heard a Miser aske another who because hee was embalmed staid for his entrals which were coffin'd farre off from that place if all that were buried should rise againe and if the bagges that hee had interr'd should rise with him And there I saw a troop of Cutpurses whofled from their eares which were offerd them fearing they should heare what they desired not These things I might well behold being mounted on a banke of earth but hearing a cry at my feet which bad mee descend I obeyed and many handsome women put forth their heads calling me ill bred and unmannerd for not giving more respect unto them for in Hell also they have this folly to beleeve that men ought to respect them They appeared very jocond to see themselves of such exquisite frame and were not ashamed of their nakednesse But when they knew it was the Day of Wrath and their beauty beganne to accuse them within they put themselves in the way of the valley with a slow and lingring pace One that had beene thrice wedded went inventing excuses for all her Husbands to whom severally she had deeply sworne never to remarry and another said that shee had forgot her night-cloathes thinking that they would stay for her at some place of meeting In this place Physitians were thrust forward by Patients whom they had dispatched by anticipation of time And in that a Judge stood washing his hands from the innocent blood that by bribery lay upon him Divers Divels driving before them Vintners and Tailours a Lawyer peeping out of his Tombe asked whither they went and being told to the righteous Iudgement of God to which they were all called he strove to sinke himselfe deeper into his Grave saying there is so much way already made if I must descend lower A Taverner sweating extreamly a Devill told him that he did well to sweat out his water for hee would burne the better and this was one of those that kept a Taverne outwardly but a Stewes within A bow-legged Tailour went insulting I have neither wine nor water to answer for for I ever eate more than I drinke but why doe they say I steale which another hearing told him that hee did a great deale of wrong so to despise the Trade In their walke they met with highway robbers whom the Divels caught and put amongst them saying that they might well beare them company because they were a la mode wild Tailours And after these went Folly compassed on all sides with Poets Musicians and Lovers and with all kindes of people besides that were ignorant of that Day who in troopes came to the Vale where silence was imposed on all The Throne was decked by the hand of the Almighty and by the same Miracle God was adorned with himselfe with mercy for the Elect and wrath for the Reprobate The Sunne Moon and Starres were his Footstoole the winde was husht the waters calme the Earth still and timorous ready to bee entranc'd for the love shee bore her Children and all things in generall very pensive and heavy The Just were busied in giving thankes to God and praising his Goodnesse and the Sinfull were inventing stratagems to moderate their chastisements Angels witnessed both by their gate and phisnomy the care they had to comfort and welcome the Godly And Divels were ready to unfold their accusations and least that any should overslip them they had set the tenne Commandements to keepe the Doore which was of that straightnesse that the leanest and most mortified bodies were faine to leave some part of their flesh behinde them the entrance was so narrow The Examination beganne at Adam who was required to give account for an Apple which Iudas minding and the astonishment hee was in cried out Woe is me what account shall I make that have sold the Lord of Life and the Lambe of God Then passed the first Fathers and after the New Testament the Apostles who were all seated neare the Chaire of Majesty And it was a thing worthy of note to see that there was no respect of persons but that Beggars and Kings were mixt together when they went nigh the Divine Presence Herod and Pilate appeared and perceiving the wrath of God though encompassed with Glory Pilate said Hee that will comply with the times deserves no lesse and Herod I cannot goe into Paradise for there those Innocents I slew will cry out against me but why doe I chaffer Hel is a common Inne A man of a fiery looke started up and stretching out his arme said See there my attestation of mastership Every one wondering asked the Porter who hee was but hee overhearing answered I am an approved Master of Defence and these papers are Certificates of my tried valour Letting them fall a Devill stooped to gather them up but the Fencer was more nimble than he who leaped backward and drawing his rapier said This Steele cannot beâ— equalled and if you either budge or speake I will quickly shew that I am my Arts master All the Company beganne to smile and hee was commanded seeing that hee had but instructed an art which was one of the principall causes of so many Duels and slaughters that hee should goe into Hell by a perpendicular line but hee answering that hee was no Mathematician a Divell gave him a by-blow and cast him into the pit Then came Treasurers and Stewards who demanding an Advocate a Divell answered behold Iudas a discarded and outcast Apostle let him speake for hee hath exercised both professions which they hearing went to the other side and saw another Devill that had not hands enow to turne over the leaves were written against them Leave all these informations said the stoutest of them and let us compound Ha ha said hee that
lustre to the worke Over the chapter there was this inscription in letters of Gold cut upon blacke Marble Blest and most happy is this place In ever youthfull Love Who crownes the noble and the base As their demerits move The diversity of stones and colours delighted admirably the sight the portall was spacious and the doore perpetually open to let those freely enter whom singularity brought and the place of Porter was allotted to a woman who seemed to be of the nymphall race her visage was celestiall lineaments amiable and body perfectly straight shee was cloathed in cloath of Gold and Silver glittering with pearles and stones of price and was an enchantment to all that beheld her leading captive their iron hearts in chaines of Admaâ—â—t and though shee was in all things like her name Beauty yet did she not insult nor deny entrance to any if they paid for their passage a good looke of whose favours I made use of and went into the first Court where I found abundance of all Sexes but so changed from their pristine grace that the very memory of it was forgotten instead whereof they had put on Loves livery dejected eyes yellow resemblance and mournfull representations Their talke reflected not upon the faith that is to bee kept with friends loyalty to masters nor respect to blood but their kindred were mediatours to their owne alliance Servants became mistresses and mistresses servants Women contracted amity with their Husbands acquaintance and Husbands grew intimate with their Wives companions On this medly of affections did I stare when I perceived a creature not perfectly man nor rightly woman but partaking of both who went and came through the multitude having on a loose garment spotted over with eyes and ears which marking and the authority she exercised I demanded her condition and what she did to which two questions shee thus answered mee I am Jealousie the greatest cause of the increase of these sicke and mad persons which thou seest neverthelesse I am not engaged to heale but to chastise them Question not mee of any other particulars for it is a miracle when I speake truth because I lessen from my selfe in the delivery being nothing but sleights and devices but goe to that aged man that walkes there for hee is the overseer of the Palace and may bee will instruct you though slowly in all that you require I did so and found him to bee Time of whom I intreated a sight of the roomes and chambers and that I might visit some fooles of my acquaintance whom I conjectured were there He told me hee was busie in curing the diseased yet notwithstanding shewed mee all things in giving mee liberty to walke about Passing the first Court I entred into the Maidens chamber for the women were separated and these were kept in the strongest hold where the wals were thickest because of their vehement and violent passions here I tooke notice of one that lamented being jealous of a married woman and of another that was carried with burning affection to a yongster yet durst not declare it How one writ letters full of ambiguities where there were more lines dasht out than good words and another studied with her glasse how to smile and simper and act the fictive humours she meant to play her Lover that eate oatmeale plaister jeat and small coale to obtaine a pale colour and this intreated her servant that in the mornings hee would give her a Serenade of Musique at her chamber window which implied that hee should publish to all the neighbours that he was her enamor'd this held love letters which she let fly through windowes and thrust under doores and that protested to her friend her heart was his desiring him not to require any thing more which he promis'd and the foole beleeved Some would marry to love with more liberâ—y and others desired to be with men already married and these were rank'd in the number of incurable Having considered all I durst not stay any longer knowing by experience that a man runnes great hazard among such allurers and that hee that gettes clearest off is often condemned to slavery in the bonds of marriage which is an engagement to repentance all his life long without other hope of redemption than by Death for there is no order to redeeme those that are captives in the chaines of wedlocke as there is for them that are under the hands of the Turke I went therefore to the Married Women and saw many of them whom their Husbands kept tied and cloistered up to hinder the execution of their designes that broke both Prison and chaines and became mâ—dder than before Some fawned on and flattered their Husbands when they had most minde to abuse them and some stole their money to pay their confederates yet never tooke heed to the account till the estate was ended others went to heare Sermons and on pilgrimages of Devotion but it was to get the grace and mercy of their holy brethren by sacrificing to Venus and others went to Baths sooner to pollute than cleanse themselves Such an one recompenc'd her Husbands sinnes in the same kinde verifying the adage that None take greater delight to be revenged than a woman when she avenges her selfe on her Husband with advantage Such another went to see a Play that she might be spoken with betweene the Acts. And this last affected her Coach so well that shee was scarce ever out of it of which desiring a reason 't is because said shee I love to bee shaken Among this honourable conventicle those were not seene whose Husbands were employed in Warre Embassages Merchandise or forraigne Affaires because that they depending upon none other in that time did containe themselves within the bounds of chastity and as people exorcis'd were not reputed members of this Common-wealth The next partition was of Widowes armed with experience and knowledge who counterfeited modesty and piety yet adhered to their desires One with her right eye wept for her dead Husband and with her left laughed to her living Friend another was more muffled and vailed with passion than mourning receiving joyfully the present and forgetting the absent And others laid wagers whose vailes and hukes became them best endeavouring to convert that sad attire into allurement Those that were old imitated the actions of youth and those that were more young made use of the time that they might not repent in their age There were some adored and some adorers who being devout were loves penitents and in that respect condemned to fast from meats they most longed after for the carnall have also their Lent Many outwardly laid on modest colours though inwardly impudent enough and many were very insolent and having heretofore beene Masters would now make use of that imperious power so that the Physitian had much adoe with them All these infirmities proceed onely through idlenesse for where that is lust findes easie accesse There were some Women who accepted more letters of