IT is not unknowne unto all our Nation how often our God hath delivered us even from the jawes of Death, as heretofore from the Powder plot, and the Spanish Invasion, so now also from the Soldan of Babylon, whose greatest pride would be to make our CHRIST give place to idolatrous Mahomet; I mean to change our Religion which is now extant among us, thinking by force to overthrow the All-seeing and all-creating God; and thus it lately happened.
The great Soldan of Babylon, hearing of this difference which lately happened between us and our neighbours the Scots, thinkes by policy and unawares to surprize this Land, and make himselfe the King of that sweet and plenteous Westerne Island, sends for the chief Governours of his Countrey, and thus he bespake them.
Most loyall Governours, for I have no other occasion to give a worse Title unto you, by reason I never found you any way disloyall unto me. The occasion that we have sent for you at this time is, to give you intelligence of what we would have to be done, which are these things which follow.
First, Bashaw Rackby, I make you our chief Generall. [Page 2] of our royall Navy, which I would have with all speed as possibly you can to be rigged and hoisted towards England, for I hunger and thirst for that little Island, which floweth with milke and honey; make all speed as possibly you now can, for I protest my thoughts will never rest till I shall hear some good newes from you concerning this Voyage.
Secondly, I desire Bashaw Ofti, our near Cousin to undertake that great charge, which rested on thy shoulders before.
Thirdly, I request our Master of Malta to settle the valiant Bernardo in his room, and to accompany Bashaw Rackby, our chief Generall in these imployments. Thus he made his minde knowne, but he had no sooner ended his speech, but Bashaw Rackby made him this reply.
My most Soveraigne Lord, I am proud that you will honour meso farre as to put me into such a noble service, for such honourable imployment best befits my nature to accomplish, and either I will bring England in subjection, or else I will spend the dearest blood I have in the attempt, and thus much I will promise, either to accomplish what you desire, or else never to see your face again.
I am glad, (replied the Soldan) to see that you are so forward to go when I shall desire, and my propheticke heart divines, that sure your journey will be prosperous. And so they took their leaves, and departed to their Ships, and made every thing ready for their departure, [Page 3] the next morning being come they boorded their Ships, and hoised up sailes, and the windes blew very fitly for England, there was such a serene calme upon the seas, that the sailer had no need to use the oares, but they lie sleeping upon the deckes, which mildenesse of the Seas made the fool-hardy Babylonians, to thinke that God was surely on their side, praising their great Prophet Mahomet in songs and hymnes, and such like merry glee; nay, I perswade my selfe, they thought the Deed they went about to be meritorious; but they perceived their folly in an instant, for upon a suddain, the Windes began to turne and beat them backe very vehemently, the Skies were mantled with clouds, and they never expected to see another day, insomuch that they cast all their riches into the Seas, never thinking to survive to enjoy any thing, at last the Windes ceased, and the clouds began to cast themselves in heapes to give way to the light, insomuch that they perceived themselves to be cast upon the Aegyptian shore: well, there they sold some part of their jewels, which were left them, for those necessaries, which were fitting for their journey, and now although they perceived the angry Heavens to repell them, and were unwilling of their journey, yet they would shew themselves to be obstinately impudent, and forwards they, came for England with all might and main: but they had not gone above the space of twenty leagues, when there was another accident which befell them, as bad, or rather worse than the first; and thus it hapened:
[Page 4] As their proud Ships came dancing and capering upon the foaming waves, they perceived a Navy of Ships from far, as great in number, or greater than theirs; well, in an instant, they came within ken, that they knew one another, and the Babylonians perceived them to be of the Dunkirks, which were as it were Outlawes, and lived by robbing upon the Seas. They no sooner came together, but the Dunkirks let fly at them, and wished them to yield, the proud Bashaw Rackby out of the haughtinesse of his stomacke told them, That they should win it and wear it, for he would not yield upon such easie tearmes. Well, to it they went, incontinently there began a great sea-fight between them, Cannons were roaring, and bullets were flying, and every man there stood in danger of dying: at last, the Fight grew so hot, that it was impossible to last long, it was so dangerous, for Death seated himselfe upon the hatches, colouring the Seas with a bloudy dye, and to make short of our story, the Dunkirks had the better of it, for the Babylonians and all their Ships but one were buried in the Sea; there might you have seen broken plankes to swim upon the top of the water, and shipwrackt goods in abundance; but now you must understand, that this Ship which escaped gained its freedom by flight, and posted with all speed towards the Countrey of Babylon, and so to the Soldans Court, where when they came, one Silvinus Muckshaw a Captain undertook to tell the newes first, which when he came, and the Soldan understood the losse of his [Page 5] Worthies, and his goods, he strook the Captain such a blow under the ear, that he never rose again. But his passion so much prevailed over him that he knew not what he did, for he fell starke mad upon an instant, and much ado they had to hinder him for working mischief upon himselfe and others; yet at length what by perswasions and force they got him to his chamber, and so to bed; but now when he perceived himselfe to be restrained from doing open mischief, he began to plot with himselfe how he might end his owne miserable dayes, also ending others with him, for he desired company with him, and thus he acted it; It was when the Sun had forsook the Horoscope, and Luna had graced the Zenith with her lightsom favours, all persons being at rest, and nothing waking of man, or bird, or beast, except the dolefull Nightingall, who kept her selfe awake against a Thorne, or the Owle, whose greatest delight is in solitarinesse, and flying abroad in the night-times; it was then, I say, that he arose, espying no body stirring, and having a tapour burning at his beds head, that he took and fired the Palace about his owne eares and others, after he had locked the doores that none could escape, but it would have made a flinty heart to dissolve into teares to hear what piteous moan was made by men, women, and children, which were locked up there, as also to see how the aspiring fire did ascend, throwing downe such stately buildings: there might you have seen brave Architectures tumbled topsie turvy, and [Page 6] at last consumed to nothing. Thus Readers may you see and hear daily how those do speed, who are setting themselves against our God, who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.