40 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



condemn us for victims, tho without breach of 

 law, or affront to good manners. 



Am. That can never be done by any, except 

 such as exchange their loyalty for luxury, that 

 degenerate from native English men, and re- 

 nounce their oath in baptism ; that swear they 

 do not swear, and be religious to boot. But the 

 great acts of former famous men, will live upon 

 record on the stage of the world, whilst the world 

 has a being ; more especially such great actions 

 as drew life from vertue : Such heroes we have 

 had (but asleep now) whose memories still blos- 

 som, and after death smell sweet in the dust. 



Theoph. What then ? must we despair of our- 

 selves, as poor silly birds do that are seiz'd in a 

 gin, and wait deliverance from the wretched 

 fowler, as if death would solace our captivated 

 fears, and refer them and us to the grave for re- 

 conciliation ? 



Am, I am not ignorant that the rape of a 

 sword results in a scar, and amputates sometimes 

 to the loss of a limb, lest peradventure the whole 

 body be hurried into a fever ; for the sword, you 

 must know, is death's cold harbinger, that de- 

 populates kingdoms, and lays countries in waste, 

 sucking the lives of the subjects and treasure of 

 the nation, till at last, like a cripple, it creeps to 

 its grave. 



Theoph. But what if the banks overflow with 



