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Could any tongue forbear to tax the rich men of this honourable City, if their houses be altogether furnished with Plate, Hangings, and Carpets, and not at all with Weapons and Armour, to defend the Common-wealth? How fondly do they love their Riches, that will not lay out a little to secure the rest? When the Turk invaded the Greek Empire; before the siege was laid to Constantinople, the Metropolitan City, the Emperor solicits the subjects to contribute somewhat to the repair of the walls, and such military provision and prevention: But the subjects drew back, and pleaded want. Hereupon the Turk enters, and conquers: and in ransacking the City, when he found such abundance of wealth in private houses, he lift up his hands to Heaven, and blessed himself, that they had so much riches, and would suffer themselves to be taken, for not using them.

Could any tongue forbeare to taxe the rich men of this honourable Citie, if their houses be altogether furnished with Plate, Hangings, and Carpets, and not at all with Weapons and Armour, to defend the Common-wealth? How fondly doe they loue their Riches, that will not lay out a little to secure the rest? When the Turke inuaded the Greeke Empire; before the siege was layed to Constantinople, the Metropolitane Citie, the Emperour sollicites the subiects to contribute somewhat to the repaire of the walls, and such militarie prouision and preuention: But the subiects drew backe, and pleaded want. Hereupon the Turke enters, and conquers: and in ransacking the Citie, when he found such aboundance of wealth in priuate houses, hee lift vp his hands to Heauen, and blessed himselfe, that they had so much riches, and would suffer themselues to be taken, for not vsing them.

So if ever London should be surprised by her enemies, which the wonted mercies of our God defend for ever; would they not wonder to find such infinite treasures in your private houses, when yet you spent none of them to provide shield or spear, munition to defend your selves? What scope can you imagine, or propound to your own hearts wherein your riches may do you service? You can tell me, nay I can tell you. You reserve one bag for pride, another for belly-cheer, another for lust, yet another for contention and suits in law. O the madness of us Englishmen! we care not what we spend in civill jars, that yet will spend nothing to avoid foreign wars. They say, the Jew will spend all on his Pasches, the Barbarian on his Nuptials, and the Christian on his quarrels, or lawsuits. We need not make our selves enemies by our riches, we have enow made to our hands. Christ says;