midnight
Stay , stay exclaimed _ Esdras _ , and heare mee but one word further . Though neither for God nor man thou carest , but placeth thy whole felicitie in murder , yet of thy felicitie learne how to make a greater felicitie . Respite me a little from thy swords poynt , and set mee about some execrable enterprise , that may subuert the whole state of Christendome , and make all mens eares tingle that heare of it . Commaund me to cut all my kindreds throates , to burne men women and children in their beds in millions , by firing their Cities at midnight . Be it Pope , Emperour or Turke that displeaseth thee , he shal not breath on the earth . For thy sake will I sweare and forsweare , renounce my baptisme , and all the interest I haue in any other sacrament . Onely let me liue how miserable soeuer , be it in a dungeon amongst toades , serpents and adders , or set vp to the necke in dung .