Con. These Stories are but meer Dreams.

Innk. Some despair of being able to recover from a Fit of Sickness, unless they be wrapp’d up in a Dominican’s Habit:  Nay, nor won’t be buried but in a Franciscan’s Habit.

Con. They that persuade People of those Things, are either Cheats or Fools, and they that believe them are superstitious.  God will know a wicked Man as well in a Franciscan’s Habit, as in a Soldier’s Coat.

Innk. There is not so much Variety in the Feathers of Birds of the Air, as there is in your Habits.

Con. What then, is it not a very good Thing to imitate Nature?  But it is a better Thing to out-do it.

Innk. I wish you would out-do it in the Variety of your Beaks too.

Con. But, come on.  I will be an Advocate for Variety, if you will give me Leave.  Is not a Spaniard dressed after one Fashion, an Italian after another, a Frenchman after another, a German after another, a Greek after another, a Turk after another, and a Sarazen after another?

Innk. Yes.

Con. And then in the same Country, what Variety of Garments is there in Persons of the same Sex, Age and Degree.  How different is the Dress of the Venetian from the Florentine, and of both from the Roman, and this only within Italy alone?

Innk. I believe it.

Con. And from hence also came our Variety. Dominic he took his Dress from the honest Ploughmen in that Part of Spain in which he liv’d; and Benedict from the Country-Fellows of that Part of Italy in which he liv’d; and Francis from the Husbandmen of a different Place, and so for the rest.

Innk. So that for aught I find, you are no holier than we, unless you live holier.

Con. Nay, we are worse than you, in that; if we live wickedly, we are a greater Stumbling to the Simple.

Innk. Is there any Hope of us then, who have neither Patron, nor Habit, nor Rule, nor Profession?

Con. Yes, good Man; see that you hold it fast.  Ask your Godfathers what you promis’d in Baptism, what Profession you then made.  Do you want a human Rule, who have made a Profession of the Gospel Rule?  Or do you want a Man for a Patron, who have Jesus Christ for a Patron?  Consider what you owe to your Wife, to your Children, to your Family, and you will find you have a greater Load upon you, than if you had professed the Rule of Francis.

Innk. Do you believe that any Inn-Keepers go to Heaven?

Con. Why not?

Innk. There are a great many Things said and done in this House, that are not according to the Gospel.

Con. What are they?

Innk. One fuddles, another talks bawdy, another brawls, and another slanders; and last of all, I can’t tell whether they keep themselves honest or not.