“Dr. Clement hath beene with us. Sayth he went up as blythe as a bridegroom to be clothed upon with mortality. “Rupert stoode it alle out. Perfect love casteth out feare. Soe did his. * * * * * . . . . . . . “My most precious treasure is this deare billet, writ with a coal; the last thing he sett his hand to, wherein he sayth, ‘I never liked your manner toward me better than when you kissed me last.’ “They have let us bury his poor mangled trunk; but, as sure as there’s a sun in heaven, I’ll have his head!—before another sun hath risen, too. If wise men wont speed me, I’ll e’en content me with a fool. “I doe think men, for ye most part, be cowards in theire hearts . . . . moral cowards. Here and there, we find one like father, and like Socrates, and like . . . . . . this and that one, I mind not theire names just now; but in y^{e} main, me thinketh they lack the moral courage of woman. Maybe, I’m unjust to ’em just now, being crost. * * * * * . . . . . . “I lay down, but my heart was waking. Soon after the first cock crew, I hearde a pebble cast agaynst my lattice, knew ye signall, rose, dressed, stole softlie down and let myself out. I knew the touch of y^{e} poor fool’s fingers; his teeth were chattering, ’twixt cold and fear, yet he laught aneath his breath as he caught my arm and dragged me after him, whispering, ‘Fool and fayr lady will cheat ’em yet.’ At the stairs lay a wherry with a couple of boatmen, and one of ’em stepping up to me, cries, ‘Alas for ruth, Mistress Meg, what is’t ye do? Art mad to go on this errand?’ I sayed, ‘I shall be mad if I go not, and succeed too—put me in, and push off.’ “We went down the river quietlie enow—at length reach London Bridge stairs. Patteson, starting up, says, ‘Bide ye all as ye are,’ and springs aland and runneth up to the bridge. Anon returns, and sayth, ‘Now, mistress, alle’s readie . . . . . readier than ye wist . . . . . come up quickly, for the coast’s clear.’ Hobson (for ’twas he) helps me forth, saying, ‘God speed ye, mistress . . . . . Gin I dared, I woulde goe with ye.’ . . . . Thought I, there be others in that case.