Three dirty Mechanicks appeared in a Shoemaker’s Shop, who was a Dreamer.  He was declaiming to his Companions over a Pot of Beer, after the following Manner.

“Look ye, Neighbours, there’s an old Proverb says, It is not the Hood which makes the Monk; the being born a Gentleman does not make a Man of Sense; and the being bred a Tradesman, does not deprive us of it; for how many great Men have leap’d from the Shop-board, sprung up from the Stall, and have, by patching and heel-piecing Religion and the State, made their Names famous to After-Ages?  I can name many, but I shall mention only John of Leyden.  Now, I see no Reason, why Meanness of Birth should be an Obstacle to Merit, and I am resolved, as I find a great many Things which ought to be redress’d both in Church and State, if you my Friends will stand by me, to aim at the setting both upright:  For you must own, they are basely trod awry.  Trade is dead, Money is scarce, the Parsons are proud, rich and lazy; War is necessary for the Circulation of Money; and an honest Man may starve in these Times of Peace and Beggary.

“There are a great many Mysteries in Religion, which, as we don’t know what to make of them, are altogether unnecessary, and ought to be laid aside, as well as a great many Ceremonies, which ought to be lopp’d off for being chargeable.”

The rest gave their assenting Nod, and seem’d to wonder at, and applaud his Eloquency.  In a Moment, I saw him preaching to a Mobb against the Luxury of the Age, and telling them it shew’d a Meanness of Spirit to want Necessaries, while the Gentry, by force of long Usurpations on their Rights, rioted in all manner of Excess.  That Providence brought none into the World that he might starve; but that all on Earth had a Right to what was necessary to their Support, which they ought to sieze, since the Rich refus’d to share with them.  From a Preacher I saw him a Captain of a Rabble, plundering the Houses of the Nobility, was terrible to all; and tho’ he declared for levelling, would be serv’d with the Pomp and Delicacy of a Prince; marries his Daughters to Lords, hoards an immense Treasure, and wakes from his golden Dream.

Another Shade I saw suborning Witnesses, giving them Instructions what to swear, packing Juries, banishing, hanging and beheading all his Enemies, sending immense Sums to foreign Courts, to support his Power at Home, bribing Senates, and carrying all before him without Controul, when he vanish’d.  My English Friend told me, that Soul belong’d to the Body of a Money-Scrivener, who almost crack’d his Brain with Politicks, and thought of nothing less than being a prime Minister.  I knew him while I was in the World; his whole Discourse always ran on Liberty, Trade, Free Elections, _&c._ and constantly inveigh’d against all corrupt and self-interested Practices.  I saw Persons descended from the ancient Nobility fawning on Valets who were arrived to great