I Am heartily sorry for the re­port I heare of you For in those parts where wee here re­side, it is constantly r [...]lated, that you are fled from your Countrey, whether it be out of discontent, or any other intended designe, is not as yet certaine. Trust me, I ever retained this opinion of you, that your heeles were as swift [Page 4] for any action as your head. And if you shewed your Countrey a paire of faire heeles, you se­conded but your action at Newbourne: where wee thanke you, wee received from you more then you intended to give, by leaving with us an Inventory of your clothes: and furnishing us with such a Wardrobe, as if you purposed to doe a worke of charity, in covering your naked Enemy.

Now it may be some will conceive you to be a man of action: and that you intend strange stratagems of Stat [...]: nay, that you will imbarke your perfumed person in some military service, to recover your lost fame: and make the world ring with the brute of your actions. But this is the least of my feare or thoughts. I know you love your selfe too well, to put your tender flesh upon so desperate an hazard. Wee that can write no strong lines; nor are able to disco­ver our thoughts in any other language, then Buffe-Rhetoricke: nor were ever acquainted with your Potato's, Eringo's, Caviare, or any such Kix-shawes, are fitter to be employed up­on such exployts, then your Civet Carpet ho­nour, whose valour is best displaid in the armes of your Mistresse: or hazarding your patience and necessitous fortunes at hazard. Go to Sir; let not your countrey feare you. My life for hers, you will doe her no harme. You may, I con­fesse, present some massacres upon the Stage with your pen: but if ever you commit such [Page 5] out-rage with your pike, you deceive the world. For my part I must tell you, I would never de­sire a more indulgent, nor favourable enemy: For I am stedfastly of this opinion, that the sweetnesse and affability of your condition in­finitly hates shedding of blood. Your addresse­ments, I know well, are for more amorous employments: Such as may satisfie the sense, and close better with the safety of your person. Nay, feare is such a fever, as I am perswaded you are never without it, which will be a means to secure you from those hazardous overtures that we poore Souldiers are subject to. You are nimble, I am lame, you may fly, I must stand to't. Thanke God for your speed; as I shall for my spirit.

Wee are now upon our retrait; and to signi­fie to the world our joy in this happy union, wee intend upon our returne to regreet our countrey with some pleasant Pastorall, or delightfull Commedy; and if you please in this short va­cation from your more serious affaires, to be­come our Poet, though wee cannot accommo­date our Actors with such Properties, as you sometimes bestowed on the Globe, yet shall wee suite them with such Habilliments, as may sort with our Countrey-garbe. Your answer is expected by him, who honours your parts and person.

YOu expect my answer, and I here re­turne it, and in such a Dialect as may suite with a Souldier, especially such an one as is no Scholler. You are pleased to jeere me with my flight from my countrey: and I must tell you, it were well for my countrey, if you would fly into your owne. And for my action at New­bourne; it was more noble for me to fly, then it was loyall in you to pursue. I left my cloaths, it is true: they were mine owne: but you in pos­sessing them, deckt your selves with others fea­thers, by seazing on that which was not your owne. And in it, you say▪ I did a worke of cha­rity; and so I account it, for if they knew how to put them on, I am sure they might cover ma­ny that were naked. You write unto me, that some will conceive me to be a man of action; and so I am; my thoughts are ever active, nay, shall I speake really to you; they are passive, till you performe what you professe, & leave our coun­trey; where report goes, you intend to sojourn and take your repast▪ till your ragged Regiment has brought them in with their Harvest. Your opinion of me, of tendernesse and effeminacy shall little move me: when actions of reputa­tion shall invite me, I have a spirit in me to evince that opinion: and make the world know, that I [Page 7] dare doe what may fairely close with loyall re­solution. For my Potato's, Eringo's, Caviare, & such Kix-shawes, you say you were never acquainted with them, and I e [...]sily beleeve it: These are too delicate viands for a Buffe-palat: yet I am confi­dent, should you retire but a season from your military discipline, you would quickly incline to such delicacy, and from the Campe become a Carpet Knight, and bestow this weakned Re­mainder of your time on ease and effeminacy. For my Mistresse; If I win her, I deserve to weare her; shee shall need no pension from you to supply her. For my Feverish feare, you were never yet so nearly imbosom'd in me, as to know any such passion yet surprize me; if flight from an Enemy deserve such a style; what may hee deserve, who flyes from his Countrey to prey upon an others state? For my Massacres on the Stage; of a Tragedy, I made a Comedy: and so might you doe by dis-banding and leaving our Countrey upon your retreat, you intend to re­greet your countrey with a Pastorall; or some pleasant Comedy: And you would have the assistance of my Poetry: but your Excellence cannot digest strong Lines, some Calidonian Bard then will better suite you, and leaue me a daily Petitioner for your speedy departure.