The world possessed with devils containing three dialogues. 1. Of the Devil let loose.…The vvorlde possessed with deuils conteinyng three dialogues. 1. Of the Deuill let loose.…

Toby. When I consider the states and trades of divers cities & towns, me thinks they be like a den of thieves: for there is almost no occupation, art, or practise, but hath his pilling & polling, wherewith he cutteth poor mens throats.¹ And when I consider the friendship & agreement that coū tries, cities, towns, villages, neighbours, kinsfolks, friends, brethren, sisters, & generally all men bear one to an other, me thinks I see, Griffons, Lions, Bears, Bores, Wolves, Dogs, Hogs, Foxes, Snakes, Vipers, Scorpions, Cockatrices, Eagles, hawks, & other preying birds, with ⟨image 28⟩all kinds of wild beasts, shut up together in a park or iron cage, which fight, sting, bite, tear, devour, & consume one an other And who in this case dare come near them to set them at one. For they will as soon fall upon him that comes to do good, as on him that comes to make debate, yea, rather sooner,² & his danger is greater. For, it is the greatest & most dangerous state now adays, to be an upright man. For the French proverb saith: he that makes himself a sheep the Wolfe will eat him. Wherefore, we must play the wolfs with wolfs, & wicked with the wicked, if we will be at quiet, yea, it so rageth now adays, that a man can not know his friend from his foe. And therefore,³ they that meddle to reform or set a stay in this matter, are used as if they had to do with a deaf man, who when he is stricken or angered, striketh the next that cometh near him, of the next that he metes, whether they be his friends or his foes: whether they come to hurt him or to help him: for, lack of hearing & understanding, he is not able to judge of his friends from his enemies, but all adventures without respect, lays on lode as though every man were his enemy.

Tobie. When I consider the states and trades of diuers cities & tounes, mee thinkes thei be like a den of theues: for there is almoste no occupation, art, or practise, but hath his pillyng & pollyng, wherewith he cutteth poore mens throtes.¹ And when I consider ye frendship & agrement that coū tries, cities, tounes, villages, neighbours, kinsfolkes, frendes, brethren, sisters, & generally all men beare one to an other, mee thinkes I see, Griphons, Lions, Beares, Bores, Wolues, Doggs, Hoggs, Foxes, Snakes, Vipers, Scorpiōs, Cockatrices, Egles, haukes, & other priyng birds, with