66 own habitation, whether he stands condemned "for murder, sodomy, rape, sacrilege, incest, "treason, blasphemy, &c. for which this shall "be your sufficient warrant. And if And if you fail "thereof, G-d d-mn you and yours to all "eternity. And so we bid you heartily farewell. Your most humble Man's man, EMPEROR PETER." The wretches trusting to this, lost their lives and money too. I desire of those whom the learned among posterity will appoint for commentators upon this elaborate treatise, that they will proceed with great caution upon certain dark points, wherein all who are not vere adepti, may be in danger to form rash and hasty conclusions; especially in some mysterious paragraphs, where certain arcana are joined for brevity's sake, which in the operation must be divided. And I am certain, that future sons of art will return large thanks to my memory, for so grateful, so useful an innuendo. It will be no difficult part to persuade the reader, that so many worthy discoveries met with great success in the world; though I may justly assure him, that I have related much the smallest number; my design having been only to single out such as will be of most benefit for public imi tation, or which best served to give some idea of the reach and wit of the inventor. And therefore it need not be wondered, if by this time Lord Peter was become exceeding rich. But, alas! he had kept his brain so long and so violently upon the rack, that at last it shook itself, and began to turn round for a little ease. In short, what with pride, projects, and knavery, poor Peter was grown distracted, and conceived the strangest imaginations in the world. In the height of his fits, as it is usual with those who run mad out of pride, he would call himself God Almighty, and sometimes monarch of the universe. I have seen him (says my author) take three old high-crowned hats †, and clap them all on his head, three story high, with a huge bunch of keys at his girdle‡, and an angling rod in his hand. In which guise, whoever went to take The Pope is not only allowed to be the vicar of Christ, but by several divines is called God upon earth, and other blasphemous titles are given him. The triple crown. The keys of the church.--The church is here taken for the gate of heaven; for the keys of heaven are assumed by the Pope in consequence of what our Lord said to Peter, I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Hawkes. Ibid. The Pope's universal monarchy, and his triple crown, and fisher's ring. W. Wotton. him by the hand in the way of salutation, Peter, with much grace, like a well educated spaniel, would present them with his foot *; and if they refused his civility, then he would raise it as high as their chops, and give them a damned kick on the mouth; which hath ever since been called a salute. Whoever walked by without paying him their complements, having a wonderful strong breath, he would blow their hats off into the dirt. Mean time his affairs at home went upside down, and his two brothers had a wretched time; where his first boutade + was, to kick both their wives one morning out of doors‡, and his own too; and in their stead, gave orders to pick up the first three strollers could be met with in the streets. A while after he nailed up the cellardoor; and would not allow his brothers a drop of drink to their victuals §. Dining one day at an alderman's in the city, Peter observed him ex Neither does his arrogant way of requiring men to kiss his slipper scape reflection. W. Wotton. This word properly signifies a sudden jerk, or lash of an horse, when you do not expect it. The celibacy of the Romish clergy is struck at in Peter's beating his own and brothers wives out of doors. W. Wotton. The Pope's refusing the cup to the laity, persuading them that the blood is contained in the bread, and that the bread is the real and entire body of Christ. |