Politick head fit for a Satyrs ornament Flor. Faith girl my good Nature will make me be so kind to him at last ha ha ha Enter Marforio Mar. What laughing is this the mortification of the flesh is this deying the devil and all his works out ye daughter of Satan But there is some thing more then ordinary in the wind I 'm a fraid I believe the sneeringsluts laugh'd at me Aside Go get you gon into your Closset that 's fitter for you than to sit and sneere and mock Flor. Why husband can't we be chearful and devout too Mar. Not a word make haste in and follow me Exit Marforio Flor. Damn'd may she be nay doubly damn'd that first For Int'rest wedded Age may she be Curst With all the Plagues a womans Rage can vent And when we Curse I 'm sure they are well meant May she be lewd t'excess proud and yet poor May none supply her lust when she 'd turn whore Then may she pine to death at her ill luck Because youth won't and Age her cannot you know what Exeunt Florimel and Isabella Marforio Re-enters Mar. Apyes take it I don't know what I ail but I 'm horribly tormented in my mind I cannot be at quiet in the day time neither can I sleep in the night for thinking and dreaming of horns yet I keep her safe enough there 's no body comes near her And endeavour to mortify her with Devotion that the members of her body may not rise up in rebellion against me their Cheif head and Governor but still for all this 't is Horns horns horns that won't let me alone And horns are such things that the very thoughts of 'um do half kill me For tho' they grace the browes that they adorn Still they are pointed at by all with Scorn Exit Morforio Scaene a Cloyster Enter Father Turbin and Father Lupin Tur. Now my fame begins to spread now do the common People begin to worship me and cry me up for holy and therefore now I begin to fill my coffers and thrive Lup. His Holyness encourageth the Cheat too I find Tur. What will not his Holyness do for Lucre to advance the Interest of the Church he shall cause Kings to be deposed and murther'd Hereticks to be destroyed with the severest Torments in fine he shall set all the world together by the ears provided he may make but a pious gain for himself and his hopeful Nephews Lup. Indeed are they so kind to their Nephews Tur. I find you are but a Novice in our Church or else experience would have made you wiser our most Holy fathers fancy they give Kings one half of Heaven for you must know that 's at their disposing and another half of Earth when they stile'um their Sons and the Kings that are true to our cause think they merit the other half of Heaven in most humbly stiling them Father Lup. Say you so me thinks these are very pious things and tend much to mutual Love and Unity Tur. You are mistaken there Lupin there 's ' more of Policy than Religion in it as indeed there is in all our principles Know then that this only serves to enslave Princes to the Grandeur and Loftiness of Heavens most humble Vicar Lup. But I wonder that Princes who have commonly wise Counsellors to advise with should be thus led by the Nose And I wonder to at another thing that the Pope should bear a more intire affection to his Nephews then to his Sons the Kings for my part I should reckon my Children both nearer and dearer to me than my Nephews Tur. Our Popes are governed by contrary Maxims for what ever they scrape together from the church when they die they they leave to their Nephews as their heirs not affording so much as a small legacy to their Sons Witness Pope Vrban the Eighth Innocent the tenth and Alexander the seventh who left above seven Hundred Thousand pistols to his Nephews and only the Title of Son to the poor Emperor who had all his life time been at great charge and trouble in defending him against the Infidels Lup Some People would take this for Ingratitude but for my part I think Kings and Emperours should believe themselves Rich enough and Highly Honoured in enjoying only the Title of his Sons without expection of any thing else Tur. You speak like a True souldier of his Holyness I commend you It 's a main point of our Religion to procure Riches to the Church no matter how nor which way t'other day one comes to me to be absolv'd for defiling himself with a goat I had four Pistols for giving him Absolution And for one more I would have undertook to procure a dispensation from his Holyness for him to marry the beast Lup. Nay I know the Pope hath power But now let us wave this discourse till another time Tur. Ay ay let 's wave it let 's wave it I have business of greater concernment in my head I long to go to Confess Madam Florimel the time seems tedious Lup. Just so it always seems to eager lovers 'T is but waiting till the morrow and by 'r Lady I must with you too for I have a loving desire to be father Confessor to It 's no matter whether I tell you or no. Tur. You need not keep it so close you mean to Isabella come come then we are well enough And that our desires in pleasure may end Let 's make our Religion our Plottings befriend The End of The Second Act. Act the Third Scaene a Chamber Where are discovered Marforio Florimel Isabella Father Turbin and Father Lupin Mar. I Know Father Turbin you are a Man for a Religious Life without Spot or Blemish and that as you are jogging on towards Heaven with a zealous pace so you will not think your Pains much to direct others the same Road here is my Wife wants some of your holy Instructions whereby she may build a Ground-work by her Edification to be throughly vers'd in the Art of Mortification I would have you make her Religious and Vertuous and Holy and Prudent and Wise and Humble and Meek and Obedient that she may mind the Commands of me her Lord and Husband and not the Kickshaw Vanities of the Flesh Tur. Heaven doth seem to have moulded our Daughter here on purpose for Edification Sir and therefore I don't question but to find her endued with a Religious and Spiritual Sanctity and what blessing Heaven hath bestowed on me she shall enjoy her self I don't doubt but a little private discourse with her may work a soft and gentle impression in her Therefore pray Sir do you stand at a distance To Marforio Daughter I must give you the trouble to kneel She kneels and kisseth the hem of his Garment Flor. O pious most Holy man Sir I have obey'd your Commands Tur. Daughter we have a saying in Philosophy that Nature made nothing in vain all things were made for some use if we
be Father-Confessor to a Lady there who notwithstanding the violent endeavours of her Husband to the contrary proved Barren they were both equally desirous of Children which made her Husband request her to have recourse to my Prayers she in the mean time with my blessed Assistance used all natural means to obtain this Grace in short after two years Prayers with her in private evident signs of a great Belly appear'd at which I and the Lady seem'd mightily to rejoyce possessing the good Husband that it proceeded from a Vow his Wife had made to Saint Gaeten upon which the good man caused a Statue of Silver to be founded for his Wife to offer to this Saint and I pleasantly made 'um kneel before the Altar of the Saint while I gave 'um my Blessing the rest of the Monks standing at that instant most Religiously jocund at the Devotion Lup. This was certainly your Master-piece But your speaking of our Lady of Loretto's Chappel makes me desire to understand how it came to be so often removed that I may know how this Story is contriv'd that hath sham'd so many people for tho I am in Orders I could never yet learn the story right Tur. Know then that this was our Ladyes habitation in the citty of Nazareth and in the time of Pope Nicholas the fourth it hap'ned to be Miraculously loosned from the foundation and carried away in the Night by a company of Angels as far as Sclavonia to a place called Tersalto adjoyning to the Adriatick Sea which was a removeal of more than four thousand miles at the arival whereof the Inhabitants in the morning were wonderfully surpriz'd Lup. And in my mind they had a great deal of Reason for doubtless none but Devils or better Beings could be capable of acting such a Prodigy Tur. This house however continu'd there not long for the Angels were willing to play the porters once more so hoysting it on their shoulders again away through the air they trudge with it as far as a place called Ricanati where they planted it in a wood adjoyning to the Sea and because it may be the sooner believed we pretend to tell you the day of the month and year that this second removeal hap'ned in which we say to be the tenth of December one thousand two hundred ninety four And tho' the wood was very dark the Vertue of this Chappel spread a light all over it brighter than the Sun in Summer when no clouds casts shadowes from the middle Region Lup. I know the fame of this Miraculous house is spread all over the world and the story of it hath gained a considerable belief in most People Tur. You speak right but this was not all for the Inhabitants of the place having there Christned this house and given it the name it now bears the Angels for a very good reason thought fit not to let it remain there any longer because that place being the retreat of a great many thieves and murderers that did abuse and molest pilgrims that came thither they gave it a third removeal to the top of a little hill the ground were of was divided between two brothers as their Inheritance who quarelling one day for who should enjoy the proffit of this house the night following it was carried by the same Angels out of their possession and planted it in the great Road that goes to the Citty of Ricanati where it still is frequented with as much Zeal as Mahomets Tomb at Mecha and works more miracles than any other of our Ladyes chappels in the world Lup. I Honour his memory that first made this miracle there 's no question but it hath been almost as beneficial to our Clergy as the invention of purgatory and praying for the dead Tur. I 'm afraid I have been too tedious in telling you this story But come let 's not talk now of that nor praying for the dead I am for thinking on the liveing Florimel my Lady Saint Lup. And Isabella mine Tur. To keep out care and dull thoughts to remove Let 's gaze upon beauty with eyes full of Love Exeunt ambo The Scaene changed to a Chamber Where is discover'd Florimel in a Night-Dress as newly rose from Bed with Isabella two women and Marforio Flor. Alas it is a strange distemper I am almost sick to death I am Sensible of the smart in every Vein Mar. Nay good Dear wife oh law I would not loose my precious Duck for the world Isa Nay Sir I fear it the more because all the Arts the Doctors have used cannot discover what the distemper is Mar. Nay good Neighbours what shall we do alas my poor Chick Nay I beseeeh you Neighbours is there no remedy how dost thou do my Dear Spouse Flor. I am well enough to receive the cold impression of a death that will prove unwelcome to me because I must part from thee I must go to bed again I fear but pray Heaven I may rise once again to enjoy thy company Mar. Oh my poor wife my poor wife Neighbours what shall I do what shall I do 1 Wo. Truly Neighbour if you would take our advice I believe the only way to save her life will be to Implore the assistance of Saint Allivergot 2 Wo. Indeed Neighbour I 'm of your mind for nothing can cure her now without a miracle and to have recourse to that Saints Relicks is the best means I think for with the help of Heaven and that holy man father Turbin they have done a wonderful many good things Flor. Ah thou blessed Saint St. Allivergot have pitty on me or I am undone 1 Wo. Did not I tell you so pray Neighbour cause father Turbin to come and bring his Relicks with him Mar. Isabella go run make haste quickly loose no time tell him my wife 's dead and hath sent for him to be curd by the help of those Holy Relicks go be gon I say Exit Isabella 1 Wo. Come Neighbour Florimel the power of this Holy mans Relicks are great and I dare secure your health under the vertue of them Mar. Say'st thou so Neighbour dad you have very much reviv'd my heart dad you have Neighbour for I would not have my none Pigs nyes dye here for the Popes Revenue how dost thou do Chick hum Flor Truly my Dear not well Mar. Have patience my Duck and thou shalt recieve ease presently Enter Isabella Father Turbin and Father Lupin with a little Box wherein the Rellicks are suppos'd to be enclos'd when they Enter the Box is set on a Table they all fall upon their knees to it and Father Turbin Crosseth himself and Blesseth them by moveing his hand All Your Blessing good Father 1 Wo. Oh ti 's a pious man 2 Wo. 'T is a man of a most devout life and conversation Father Turbin approacheth Florimel Tur. Have you a firm and stedfast belief daughter in the Rellicks of this good Saint Flor. Alas Father you need not have put that question
have it not as yet intire Yet is your Empire and Dominions great Three hundred miles the Church's state extends Within the limits of fair Italy Spoleto's Dutchy to is your Just due So 's Benevent a fair Town in Naples To Naples kingdom too you lay a claim But rather than your Champion you 'll offend The Spaniard who your cause so long hath fought You onely once a year as due receive A white Mule with a purse about his neck Fill'd up with Golden Pistols and to show What they to Heav'ns mighty Vicar ow. Pope The Spaniards e're were Zelous in our Cause And are true Sons of their indulgent Mother Jes Sicily Vrbin Parma Masseran With Norway should pay Homage to your Throne England and Ireland too you long have claim'd E're since Pandulpho in that Land arriv'd And came as Legate when King John did lay Th' Imperial Crown as due beneath his Feet Pope My Spirtu'l Power too them Kingdoms claim But name that Cursed stiff-neck'd Land no more I 'm out of Breath with pouring Curses on 't 'T is that damn'd Land that mortifies me thus And turns my Glories into dirt and dregs The Saints I 've there are few but full of Zeal They 'll leave no stone unturn'd to make us great They 'll Plot Destroy and Towns to Ashes turn Try to kill Kings then piously deny it And damn their weak Souls with their latest Breath With hopes of being Sainted after Death Jes 'T is so but then the Hereticks rejoyce And say there 's none but Libertines and Fools That live and die such mighty Champions To People Hell to please proud Rome and you Pope Is then my God-like Power thus debas'd By sullen Hereticks the World 's foul Scums Shall I whose Breath can darken humane Fate Be thus the Scorn of ev'ry saucy worm Angels and Saints are pretty things that please The wiser sort of Fools that pray to Heaven But it is fitting for the Churches good And honour too my only Mark and Aim That first they Pray to me and then to Heav'n 'T is I that Heav'n must thank for all its Saints I make 'em here and they recieve 'em there So the preheminence is due to me And Heav'n shall worship'd be at second hand But for the Hereticks i' th Brittish Isle I 'll make 'em know that I at last have power To Crush e'm with these circl'd Arms to Air. Jes But they are obstinate and won't be Crush'd Pope Then will I damn and blast 'em with my Breath But is your Skill yet ready to perform What my Commands so lately did enjoyn Will not those Airy Beings yet appear Sure they grow bold and know not who commands Jes Most Holy Father yes they shall appear And tell you what is done beyond the Moon The work is great and asketh longer time The mighty Charm is yet not half wound up Besides they have a tedious way to come Through Regions Foggy Moist Dry Warm and Cold. Pope How many shall there from the Shades ascend Jes My Negromantick Power shall bring up Just four to answer what your Will commands Pope Then we will wait till the Charm be compleat Let Diligence the while your Duty show But now let 's to the Chappel guide our way That we a Debt may to Devotion pay Exeunt Scaene a Chambâ—â— Enter Florimel and Isabella Flor. Did not I tell thee Isabella what I should endure by marrying this old Cuff to be pen'd up thus all day like a mouse in a Trap to suffer penance thus by an old Clumpish Feeble Jealous coxcomb And I must be enjoyn'd fasting forsooth and to mortify the pride of the flesh as he pretends here he hath left me Beads Crucifixes Prayer-books and a lusty Cord to scourge my self with where as I think he ought to undergo the Penance of being well scourg'd himself for his own insufficiencie and oh that I were to inflict it on him my self I 'd make him skip after another manner than he did when he Courted me and then all the Comfort I have is but looking out of that window upon the Cloysters Isa I did not expect it would have been altogether so bad neither but now you must have patience till the rotten fleshy building is fall'n Flor. I believe his Jealousy will scarce leave him when he 's dead Isa You would Joyfully know the Contrary were it so but he 's too old to stay in the world much longer I wonder what business he hath in it at all at his years Flor. His only business now is to torment me but I warrant you I 'll Conquer him and engraft the Trophyes of my Victory on his head too How d'y like the Fryer that 's made so famous by his Relicks he saith his Holyness hath caused them to be newly Registred in the Roman Calendar Isa I like him very well for he is looked upon as a mighty upright holy man I believe he 'll be Cannonized for a Saint at his Death and when he walks the streets how the people flock about to recieve his Blessing and kiss the hem of his Garment Flor. He 's but young it 's much he should be so much admir'd it 's asign my husband was extreamly pleased with him or else he would ne're have had me to Church to hear him preach Isa His Relicks have a strange power they say for 't is reported they 'll make women breed without the help of their husbands turn old age into youth heal Diseases and encrease Love Flor. Oh strange I 'm glad my husband hath order'd him to come and Confess me for I have a good opinion of him my meaning is I respect him above other Men he was very obliging to me too for when he went out of the Church he saluted me from all the rest of the Ladyes Isa Nay then I believe he begins to know that you deserve some respect from him too And all the time he was preaching I took notice his eye was for the most part stedfastly fix'd upon you Flor. If this should encrease now to a Flame Isa It would be but an holy flame at most Flor. For my part I believe the worst of his Actions are pure and holy Isa Ay ay so they are don't holy mother Church tell us we must believe what the Church believes besides if the sins of the Flesh do corrupt us his Absolution cleanseth us again even as Fire purifies Air. Flor You are in the Right Isa I 'm sure I am in the Right when I follow the pious rules of the Church which give us maxims to sin and sanctifies'um when we 've done I vow I begin to have as good an opinion of father Lupin as you have of father Turbin Flor. Sayst thou so girl Nay then I have a Plot in my head in which I hope Saint Venus will asist me If she doth my dry bon'd bed fellow shall be prefer'd to his due deserts Isa Truly with a cold Icy wither'd body he hath a grave dull