Lam. I move for a Salary Gentlemen Scobel and other petty Clerks have had a thousand a year my Lord sure merits more Hews Why let him have two thousand then Flee I profess ingeniously with all my heart Whit. I humbly thank your Lordships but if I may be so bold to ask from whence shall I receive it Lam. Out of the Customs Cob. Brotherly love ought to go along with us but under favour when this is gone where shall we raise new supplies Lam. We 'll tax the Nation high the City higher They are our Friends our most obsequious Slaves Our Dogs to fetch and carry our very Asses Lov. And our Oxes with the help of their Wives aside Lam. Besides the City's rich and near her time I hope of being deliver'd War Wons a gued wad I 'd the laying o her she shou'd be sweetly brought to Bed by my Sol. Des. The City cares for no Scotch Pipers my Lord. War By my Sol but she has danc'd after the gued Pipe of Reformation when the Covenant Jigg gang'd maryly round Sirs Cla. My Lords here are some poor malignant Petitioners Lam. Oh turn 'em out here 's nothing for 'em these Fellows were petitioning my Lady to day I thought she had given you a satisfactory Answer Lov. She did indeed my Lord but 't is a hard Case to take away a Gentleman's Estate without convicting him of any Crime Lam. Oh Sir we shall prove that hereafter Lov. But to make sure Work you 'll hang a man first and examine his Offence afterwards a Plague upon your Consciences my Friend here had a little fairer Play your Villains your Witnesses in Pension swore him a Collonel for our Glorious Master of ever blessed Memory at eight years old a Plague upon their miracles Fleet. Ingeniously Sirrah you shall be pillory'd for defaming our reverend Witnesses Guards take 'em to your Custody both Free Damn it I shall miss my Assignation with Lady Desbro a Pox of your unncessary Prating what shall I do Guards take 'em away Lam. And now my Lords we have finish'd the bus'ness of the Day My good Lord Fleetwood I am entirely yours and at our next sitting shall approve my self your Creature Whit. My good Lord I am your submissive Vassal Wariston Wons my Lord I scorn any man shou'd be mere yare Vassal than Archibald Iohnson To Fleetwood Ex. All. SCENE A Chamber Enter La. Desbro and Corporal in haste La. Des. Seiz'd on secur'd was there no time but this What made him at the Committee or when there why spoke he honest Truth What shall I do good Corporal Advise take Gold and see if you can corrupt his Guards but they are better paid for doing mischief yet try their Consciences are large Gives him Gold Cor. I 'll venture my Life in so good a Cause Madam Ex. Enter Page Pag. Madam here 's Mr. Ananias Gogle the Lay Elder of Clements Parish La. Des. Dam the sham Saint am I now in Condition to be plagu'd with his impertinent Non-sense Pag. Oh! Pray Madam hear him preach a little 't is the purest sport Enter Ananias Ana. Peace be in this Place La. Des. A blessed Hearing he preaches nothing in his Conventicles but Blood and Slaughter Aside What wou'd you Sir I 'm something busie now Ana. Ah the Children of the Elect have no Business but the great work of Reformation Yea verily I say all other Business is prophane and diabolical and divelish Yea I say these Dressings Curles and shining Habilliments which take so up your time your precious time I say they are an Abomination yea an Abomination in the sight of the Righteous and serve but as an Ignis fatuus to lead vain man astray I say again Looking now and then behind on the Page La. Des. You are a very Coxcomb Ana. I say again that even I upright I one of the new Saints find a sort of a a a I know not what a kind of a Motion as it were a stirring up as a man may say to Wickedness Yea verily it corrupteth the outward man within me La. Des. Is this your Business Sir to rail against my Cloaths as if you intended to preach me into my Primitive Nakedness again Ana. Ah the Naked Truth is best but Madam I have a little work of Grace to communicate unto you please you to send your Page away La. Des. Withdraw sure I can make my Party good with one wicked Elder Now Sir your Bus'ness Ex. Page Be brief Ana. As brief as you please but who in the sight of so much Beau ty can think of any Bus'ness but the Bus'ness Ah! hide those tempting Breasts Alack how smoth and warm they are Feeling 'em and sneering La. Des. How now Have you forgot your Function Ana. Nay but I am mortal man also and may fall seven times a day Yea verily I may fall seven times a day Your Ladiships Husband is old and where there is a good Excuse for falling Ah there the fall-ing is excusable And might I but fall with your Ladiship might I I say La. Des. How this from you the Head o' th' Church militant the very Pope of Presbytery Ana. Verily the Sin lyeth in the Scandal therefore most of the discreet pious Ladies of the Age chuse us upright men who make a Conscienâ—e of a secret the Laiety being more regardless of their Fame In sober sadness the Place inviteth the Creature tempting and the Spirit very violent within me Takes and ruffles her L. Des. Who waits there I 'm glad you have prov'd your self what I ever thought of all your pack of Knaves An Ah Madam Do not ruine my Reputation there are Ladies of high Degree in the Commonwealth to whom we find our selves most comforting why might not you be one for alas we are accounted as able men in Ladies Chambers as in our Pulpits we serve both Functions Enter Servants Hah her Servants stands at a distance La. Des. Shou'd I tell this I shou'd not find belief aside Anan Madam I have another Errand to your Ladiship It is the Duty of my Occupation to catechize the Heads of every Family within my Diocese and you must answer some sew Questions I shall ask In the first place Madam Who made ye La. Des. So from whoring to a zealous Catechism who made me what Insolence is this to ask me Questions which every Child that lisps out words can answer An. 'T is our Method Madam La. Des. Your Impudence Sirrah let me examine your Faith who are so sawcy to take an account of mine Who made you But lest you shou'd not know I will inform you First Heav'n made you a deform'd ill favour'd Creature then the Rascal your Father made you a Taylor next your Wife made you a Cuckold and lastly the Devil has made you a Doctor and so get you gone for a Fool and a Knave all over Ana. A man of my Coat affronted thus La. Des. It shall be worse Sirrah my Husband shall
THE ROUNDHEADS OR The Good Old Cause A COMEDY As it is Acted at His Royal Highness the DUKES Theatre By Mrs. A. Behn LONDON Printed for D. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple bar and Benskin in St. Brides Church Yard and H. Rhodes next door to the Bear Tavern neer Bride Lane in Fleetstreet MDCLXXXII To the Right Noble Henry Fitz-Roy Duke of Grafton Earle of Sutton Viscount of Ipswich Baron of Sudbury Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and Colonell of his Majesties Regiment of Foot Guards c. May it please Your Grace DEdications which were Originally design'd as a Tribute to that Reverence and just esteem we ought to pay the Great and Good are now so corrupted with Flattery that they rarely either find a Reception in the World or merit that Patronage they wou'd implore But I without fear Aproch the great Object being above that mean and mercenary Art nor can I draw the Lovely Picture half so charming and so manly as it is and that Author may more properly boast of a Lucky Hiâ—t whose choice and fortune is so good then if he had pleas'd all the different ill Iudging world besides in the business of the Play for none that way can ever hope to please all in an Age when Faction rages and differing Parties disagree in all things But coming the first day to a new Play with a Loyal Title and then even the sober and tender conscienc'd throng as to a forbidden Conventicle fearing the Cub of their old Bear of Reformation should be expos'd to the scorn of the wicked and dreading tho but the faint shadow of their own deformity their Rebellion Murders Massacres and Villanies from 40 upwards should be Represented for the better undeceiving and informing of the World flock in a full Assembly with a pious design to Hisse and Rail it as much out of countenance as they would Monarchy Religion Laws and Honesty throwing the Act of Oblivion in our Teeths as if that whose mercy can not make them forget their Old Rebellion cou'd hinder honest truths from breaking out upon 'em in Edifying Plays where the Loyal hands ever out-do their venom'd Hisse a good and happy omen if Poets maybe allowd for Prophets as of old they were and t is as easily seen at a new Play how the Royal Interest thrives as at a City Election how the good Old Cause is carried on as a Noble Peer lately said Tho' the Tories have got the better of us at the Play we carried it in the City by many Voyces God be praysed This Play call'd The Roundheads which I humbly lay at your Graces feet Pardon the Title and Heaven defend you from the bloody Race was carryed in the House nemine contra dicente by the Royal Party and under your Graces Ilustrious Patronage is safe from any new Seditious affronts abroad Your Grace alone whom Heaven and Nature has form'd the most adorable Person in the whole Creation with all the advantages of a Glorious birth has a double right and power to defend all that aproch you for sanctuary your very Beauty is a guard to all you daigne to make safe for You were born for Conquest every way even what Phanatick what peevish Politition testy with Age Diseases miscarried Plots disappointed Revolutions envious of Power of Princes and of Monarchy and mad with Zeal for Change and Reformation could yet be so far lost to sence of Pleasure as not to turn a Rebel to Revenge the Good old Cause and the patronage to Plebean sedition with only looking on you ' twoud force his meger face to blushing smiles and make him swear he had mistook the side curse his own Party and if possible be reconcild to Honesty again such power have charms like Yours to calm the soul and will in spight of You plead for me to the disaffected even when they are at Wars with Your Birth and power But this Play for which I humbly beg Your Graces Protection needs it in a more peculiar manner it having drawn down Legions upon its head for its Loyalty what to Name us cryes one t is most abominable unheard of daring cryes another she deserves to be swing'd cryes a third as if t were all a Libel a scandal impossible to be provd or that their Rogueries were of so old a Date their Reign were past remembrance or History when they take such zealous care to renew it daily to our memories And I am satisfied that they that will justifie the best of these Traytors deserves the fate of the worst and most manifestly declare to the World by it they wou'd be at the Old Game their fore-Fathers played with so good success yet if there be any honest loyal man alied to any here nam'd I heartily beg his Pardon for any offensive Truth I have spoken and 't is a wonderful thing that amongst so Numerous a Flock they will not allow of one mangy Sheep not one Rogue in the whole Generation of the Association Ignoramus the 1st and the 2d But as they are I leave e'm to your Grace to Iudge of e'm to whom I humbly present this small Mirror of the late wretched Times wherein your Grace may see something of the Miseries three the Most Glorious Kingdoms of the Vniverse were reduc't to where your Royal Ancestors victoriously Reign'd for so many hundred years How they were Govern'd Parcell'd out and deplorable inslav'd and to what Low Prostituted Lewdness they fell at last where the Nobility and Gentry were the most contemn'd and despis'd part of them and such Meane and till then obscure Villains Rul'd and Tyraniz'd that no Age nor Time or scarce a Parish Book makes mention or cou'd show there was any such Name or Family Yet these were those that impudently Tug'd for Empire and Prophan'd that Illustrious Throne and Court so due then and possest now through the infinite Mercies of God to this bleeding Nation by the best of Monarchs a Monarch who had yet the divine goodness to Pardon even his worst of Enemies what was past Nay out of his Vast and God-like Clemency did more than Heaven it self can do put it out of his Power by an Act of Oblivion to punish the unparalell'd Injuries done His Sacred Person and the rest of the Royal Family How great his Patience has been since I leave to all the World to judge but Heaven be prais'd he has not yet forgot the Sufferings and Murders of the Glorious Martyr of ever blessed memory Your Graces Sacred Grandfather and by what Arts and Ways that Devilish Plot was layed and will like a skilful Pilate by the wreck of one Rich Vessell learn how to shun the danger of this present Threatning and saved the rest from sinking The Clouds already begin to disappear and the face of things to change thanks to Heaven His Majesties infinite Wisdom and the Over-Zeal of the falsly called True Protestant Party Now we may pray for the
King and his Royal Brother defend his Cause and assert his Right without the fear of a taste of the Old Sequestration call'd a Fine Guard the Illustrious Paire good Heaven from Hâ—llâ—sh Plots and all the Devilish matchinations of Factious Cruelties and you great Sir whose Merits have so justly deserv'd that glorious Command so lately trusted to your Care which Heaven increase and make your glad Regiment Armyes for our safety May you become the great Example of Loyalty and Obedience and stand a firm and unmoveable Pillar to Monarchy a Noble Bull-work to Majesty defend the Sacred Cause imploy all that Youth Courage and Noble Conduct which God and Nature purposely has endued you with to serve the Royal Intrest You Sir who are obliged by a double Duty to Love Honour and Obey his Majesty both as a Father and a King O undissolvable Knot O Sacred Vnion what Duty what Love what Adoration can express or repay the Debt we owe the first or the Alegiance due to the last but where both meet in one to make the Tye Eternal Oh vvhat Counsel what Love of Power what fancied Dreams of Empire what fickle Popularity can inspire the heart of man or any Noble mind with Sacreligious thoughts against it can harbour or conceive a stubborn disobedience Oh what Son can desert the Cause of an Indulgent Parents what Subject of such a Prince without renouncing the Glory of his Birth his Loyalty and good Nature Ah Royal lovely Youth bevvare of false Ambition wisely believe your Elevated Glory at least more happy then a Kings you share their Ioys their pleasures and magnificence without the toiles and business of a Monarch their carefull dayes and restless thoughtful nights know you are blest with all that Heaven can give or you can wish your Mind and Person such so excellent that Love knows no fault it would wish to mend nor Envy to increase blest with a Princess of such undisputable charming Beauty as if Heaven designing to take a peculiar care in all that concerns your happiness had form'd her on purpose to compleat it Haile happy glorious Paire the perfect joy and pleasure of all that look on ye for whom all Tongues and Hearts have Prayers and Blessings May you out-live Sedition and see your Princely Race as Numerous as Beautifull and those all great and Loyal Supporters of a long Race of Monarchs of this Sacred Line This shall be the perpetuall wish this the Eternal Prayer of SIR Your Graces most Humble and most Obedient Servant A. Behn PROLOGUE Spoken by the Ghost of Huson ascending from Hell drest as a Cobler I Am the Ghost of him who was a true Son Of the late GOOD OLD CAVSE Ecliped Huson Rous'd by strange scandal from th' eternal flame With noise of Plotts of wonderous birth and name Whilst the sly Jesuit robs us of our fame Can all their Conclave tho' with Hell th' agree Act mischief equal to Presbittery Look back on our success in Forty One Was ever braver Villanies carryed on Or new ones now more hopefully begun And shall our unsuccess our merit lose And make us quit the Glory of our Cause No Hire new Villains Rogues without remorse And let no Law nor Conscience stop your course Let Polititions order the Confusion And let the Saints pay Pious Contribution Pay those that Rail and those that can delude With scribling Nonsence the Loose Multitude Pay well your Witnesses they may not run To the right side and tell who set 'em on Pay 'em so well that they may ne'r Recant And so turn Honest meerly out of want Pay Juries that no formal Laws may harm us Let Treason be secur'd by Ignoramus Pay Bully Whig who Loyal writers bang And honest Tories in Effigie hang Pay those that burn the Pope to please the fools And dayly pay Right Honourable Tooles Pay all the Pulpit knaves that Treason brew And let the zealous Sisters pay 'em too Justices bound by Oath and obligation Pay them the utmost price of their Damnation Not to disturb our useful Congregation Nor let the Learned Rabble be forgot Those Pious hands that crown our hopeful Plott No Modern States-men cry t is Lunacy To barter Treason with such Rogues as we But subtiller Oliver did not disdain His Mightier Politiques with ours to joyn I for all uses in a State was able Cou'd Mutiny cou'd fight hold forth and Cobble Your lazy State man may sometimes direct But your small busie knaves the Treason Act. The Actors Names 1. Lord Fleetwood 2. Lord Lambert Competitors for the Crown but Lambert is General of the Army Lord Wariston Chairman of the Committee of Safety Hewson Desbro Duckingfield Corbet Commanders and Committee men 3. Lord Witlock Ananias Gogle Lay Elder of Clements Parish A Rable Of the sanctified Mobily Corporal Right An Oliverian Commander but honest and a Cavelier in his heart Loveless A Royalist a man of Honor loves Lady Lambert Freeman His friend of the same Character in love with Lady Desbro Lady Lambert In love with Loveless Lady Desbro In love with Freeman Lady Fletwood Lady Cromwell Gilliflower Lady Lamberts Old Woman Several Ladies For Redress of Grievances Two Pages To Lady Lambert Page To Lady Desbro Footmen Fidlers and a Bâ—nd of Loyal City Apprentices THE ROVND-HEADS OR THE Good Old Cause ACT. I. Scene I. The Street Enter three Souldiers and Corporal Right Cor. AH Rogues the World runs finely round the bus'ness is done 1 Sould. Done the Town 's our own my fine Rascal 2 Sould. We 'll have Harlots by the Belly Sirrah 1 Sould. Those are Commodities I confess I wou'd fain be truckâ—ing for but no words of that Boy Cor. Stand who go's there To them a Ioyner and Felt-maker 1 Sould. Who are you for hah Ioyn Are for Friend we are for Gad and the Lord Fleetwood 1 Sould. Fleetwood knock 'em down Fleetwood that snivelling Thief Felt. Why Friends who are ye for Cor. For who shou'd we be for but Lambert Noble Lambert Is this a time o' th' day to declare for Fleetwood with a Pox indeed i' th morning 't was a Question had like to have been decided with push a Pike 2 Sould. Dry blows wou'd ne'r a don 't some must have sweat blood for 't but 't is now decided Ioyn Decided 2 Sould. Yes decided Sir without your Rule for 't Ioyn Decided by whom Sir by us the Free-born Subjects of England by the Honourable Committee of Safety or the Right Reverend City without which Sir I humbly conceive your Declaration for Lambert is illegal and against the Property of the People 2 Sould. Plain Lambert here 's a sawcy Dog of a Joyner Sirrah get ye home and mind your Trade and save the Hang-man a labour Ioyn Look ye Friend I fear no Hang-man in Christendom for Conscience and Publick good for Liberty and Property I dare as far as any man 2 Sould. Liberty and Property with a pox in the mouth of a Joyner you are
a pretty Fellow to settle the Nation what says my Neighbour Felt-maker Felt. Why verily I have a high respect for my honourable Lord Fleetwood he is my intimate Friend and till I find his Party the weaker I hope my Zeal will be strengthened for him 2 Sould. Zeal for Fleetwood Zeal for a Halter and that 's your due Why what has he ever done for you Can he lead you out to Battel Can he silence the very Cannon with his Eloquence alone Can he talk or fight or Felt. But verily he can pay those that can and that 's as good and he can pray 2 Sould. Let him pray and we 'll fight and see whose bus'ness is done first We are for the General who carries charms in every syllable can act both the Souldier and the Courtier at once expose his Breast to dangers for our sakes and tell the rest of the pretending Slaves a fair Tale but hang 'em sooner than trust ' em 1 Soul Ay ay a Lambert a Lambert he has courage Fleetwood's an Ass to him Felt. Hum here 's Reason Neighbour to the Ioyner Ioyn That 's all one we do not act by reason Corp. Fleetwood's a Coward 2 Sould. A Blockhead 1 Sould. A snivelling Fool a General in the Hangings no better Ioyn What think ye then of Vane 2 Sould. As of a Fool that has dreamt of a new Religion and only fit to reign in that Fifth Monarchy he preaches so much up but no King in this Age. Felt. What of Haslerig 2 Sould. A Hangman for Haslerig I cry No no One and all a Lambert a Lambert he is our General our Protector our King our Keiser our even what he pleases himself 1 Sould. Well if he pleases himself he pleases me 2 Sould. He 's our Rising Sun and we 'll adore him for the Speaker's Glory 's set Cor. At nought Boyes how the Rogue look'd when his Coach was stop'd Ioyn Under favour what said the Speaker 2 Sould. What said he prethee what cou'd he say that we wou'd admit for Reason Reason and our bus'ness are two things Our Will was Reason and Law too and the Word of Command lodg'd in our Hilts Cobbet and Duckenfield show'd 'em Cock-pit Law Cor. He understood not Souldiers Dialect the Language of the Sword puzled his Understanding the Keeneness of which was too sharp for his Wit and over-rul'd his Roles therefore he very mannerly kiss'd his hand and wheel'd about 2 Sould. To the place from whence he came Cor. And e're long to the Place of Execution 1. Sould. No damn him he 'll have his Clergy Ioy. Why is he such an Infidel to love the Clergy Cor. For his Ends But come le ts go drink the General 's Health Lambert not Fleetwood that Son of a Custard always quaking 2 Sould. Ay Ay Lambert I say besides he 's a Gentleman Felt. Come Come Brother Souldier let me tell you I fear you have a Stewart in your Belly Cor. I am sure you have a Rogue in your Heart Sirrah which a Man may perceive through that sanctify'd Dogs Face of yours and so get ye gone ye Rascals and delude the Rabble with your canting Politicks Everyone beats ' em Felt. Nay and you be in Wrath I 'll leave you Ioy. No matter Sir I 'll make you know I 'm a Free-born Subject there 's Law for the Righteous Sir there 's Law Go out Cor. There 's Halters ye Rogues 2 Sould. Come Lads let 's to the Tavern and drink Success to change I doubt not but to see 'em chop about till it come to our great Heroe again Come to the Tavern Going out are met by Loveless and Freeman who enter and stay the Corporal Cor. I 'll follow ye Comrade presently Ex. the rest of the Souldiers Save ye noble Collonel Free How is 't Corporal Cor. A brave World Sir full of Religion Knavery and Change we shall shortly see better days Free I doubt it Corporal Cor. I 'le warrant you Sir but have you had never a Billet no Present nor Love-remembrance to day from my good Lady Desbro Free None and wonder at it Hast thou not seen her Page to day Cor. Faith Sir I was imploy'd in Affairs of State by our Protector that shall be and could not call Free Protector that shall be who 's that Lambert or Fleetwood or both Cor. I care not which so it be a Change but I mean the General but Sir my Lady Desbro is now at Morning Lecture here hard by with the Lady Lambert Lov. Seeking the Lord for some great Mischief or other Free We have been there but could get no Opportunity of speaking to her Loveless know this Fellow he 's honest and true to the Heroe though a Red-Coat I trust him with my Love and have done with my Life Lov. Love Thou can'st never make me believe thou art earnestly in Love with any one of that damn'd Reformation Free Thou art a Fool where I find Youth and Beauty I adore let the Saint be true or false Lov. 'T is a Scandal to one of us to converse with 'em they are all sanctify'd Iilts and there can be neither Credit nor Pleasure in keeping 'em Company and 't were enough to get the Scandal of an Adherer to their devilish Politicks to be seen with ' em Free What their Wives Lov. Yes their Wives What see'st thou in 'em but Hypocrisie Make Love to 'em they answer you in Scripture Free Ay and lye with you in Scripture too Of all Whores give me your zâ—alous Whore I never heard a Woman talk much of Heaven but she was much for the Creature too What do'st think I had thee to the Meeting for Lov. To hear a Rascal hold forth for Bodkins and Thimbles Contribution my beloved to carry on the Good Cause that is Roguery Rebellion and Treason prophaning the sacred Majesty of Heaven and our glorious Sovereign Free But were there not pretty Women there Lov. Damn 'em for sighing groaning Hypocrites Free But there was one whom that handsom Face and Shape of yours gave more occasion for sighing than any Mortification caus'd by the Cant of the Lay-Elder in the half Hogs Head Did'st thou not mind her Lov. Not I damn it I was all Rage and had'st not thou restrain'd me I had certainly pull'd that Rogue of a Holder-forth by the Ears from his sanctify'd Tub. 'Sdeath he hum'd and haw'd all my Patience away nose'd and snivel'd me to Madness Heaven That thou should'st suffer such Vermin to infect the Earth such Wolves amongst thy Flocks such Thieves and Robbers of all Laws of God and Man in thy holy Temples I rave to think to what thou' rt fall'n poor England Free But the she Saint Lov. No more were she as fair as Fancy could imagine to see her there wou'd make me loath the Form she that can listen to the dull Non-sence the bantering of such a Rogue such an illiterate Rascal must be a Fool past sense of loving Free-man Free Thou
of another Cut she marryed as most do for Interest but what thou 't to her Lov. If Lightening stop my way Perhaps a sober view may make me hate her Exit both Enter Lambert and Whitlock Scen. A Chamber Whit. My Lord now is your time you may be King Fortune is yours you 've time it self by th' fore-lock Lam. If I thought so I 'd hold him fast by Heaven Whit. If you let slip this Opportunity my Lord you are undone Aunt Caesar aut Nullus Lam. But Fleetwood Whit. Hang him soft head Lam. True he 's of an easie Nature yet if thou did'st but know how little Wit governs this mighty Universe thou wou'dst not wonder men should set up him Whit. That will not recommend him at this Iuncto though he 's an excellent Tool for your Lordship to make use of and therefore use him Sir as Cataline did Lentulus drill the dull Fool with hopes of Empire on and that all tends to his Advancement only The Block-head will believe the Crown his own what other Hopes could make him ruine Richard a Gentleman of Qualities a thousand times beyond him Lam. They were both too soft an ill Commendation for a General who should be rough as storms of War it self Whit. His Time was short and yours is coming on Old Oliver had his Lam. I hate the Memory of that Tyrant Oliver Whit. So do I now he 's dead and serves my Ends no more I lov'd the Father of the Great Heroick whilst he had Power to do me good he failing Reason directed me to the Party then prevailing the Fag End of the Parliament 't is true I took the Oath of Allegiance as Oliver your Lordship Tony and the rest did without which we could not have sat in that Parliament but that Oath was not for our Advantage and so better broke than kept Lam. I am of your Opinion my Lord. Whit. Let Honesty and Religion preach against it but how cou'd I have serv'd the Commons by deserting the King how have show'd my self loyal to your Interest by fooling Fleetwood in the deserting of Dick by dissolving the honest Parliament and bringing in the odious Rump how cou'd I have flatter'd Ireton by telling him Providence brought things about when 't was mere knavery all and that the hand of the Lord was in 't when I knew the Devil was in 't or indeed how cou'd I now advise you to be King if I had started of Oaths or prefer'd Honesty or Divinity before Interest and the Good Old Cause Lam. Nay 't is most certain he that will live in this World must be indu'd with the three rare Qualities of Dissimulation Equivocation and mental Reservation Whit. In which Excellency Heav'n be prais'd we out-do the Iesuits Enter La. Lam. L. Lamb. I 'm glad to see you so well employ'd my Lord as in Discourse with my Lord Whitlock he 's of our party and has Wit Whit. Your Honour graces me too much Lam. My Lord my Lady is an absolute States-Woman La. Lam. Yes I think things had not arriv'd to this exalted height nor had you been in Prospect of a Crown had not my Politicks exceeded your meaner Ambition Lam. I confess I owe all my good fortune to thee Enter Page Pag. My Lord my Lord Wariston Lord Hewson Collonel Cobbet and Collonel Duckenfield desire the Honour of waiting on you La. Lam. This has a â—ace of Greatness let 'em wait a while i' th' Antichamber Lam. My Love I wou'd have 'em come in La. Lam. You wou'd have 'em you wou'd have a Fools Head of your own pray let me be Judge of what their Duty is and what your Glory I say I 'll have 'em wait Page My Lord Fleetwood too is just alighted shall he wait too Madam La. Lam. He may approach and d' ye hear put on your fawning looks flatter him and profess much Friendship to him you may betray him with the more facility Whit. Madam you counsel well Ex. Page re-enter with L. Fleetwood Enter Lord Fleetwood Lamb. My good Lord your most submissive Servant Whit. My Gracious Lord I am your Creature your Slave Fleet. I profess ingeniously I am much ingag'd to you my good Lords I hope things are now in the Lard's handling and will go on well for his Glory and my Interest and that all my good People of England will do things that become good Christians Whit. Doubt us not my good Lord the Government cannot be put into abler hands than those of your Lordship it has hitherto been in the hard clutches of Iews Infidels and Pagans Fleet. Yea verily Abomination has been in the hands of Iniquity Lam. But my Lord those hands by my good Conduct are now cut off and our Ambition is your Lordship wou'd take the Government upon you Fleet. I profess my Lord by ye and nay I am asham'd of this Goodness in making me the Instrument of saving Grace to this Nation 't is the great Work of the Lard La. Lam. The Lard Sir I 'll assure you the Lard has the least hand in your good fortune I think you ought to ascribe it to the Cunning and Conduct of my Lord here who so timely abandon'd the Interest of Richard Fleet. Ingeniously I must own your good Lord can do much and has done much but 't is our Method to ascribe all to the Powers above La. Lam. Then I must tell you your Method's an ungrateful Method Lam. Peace my Love Whit. Madam This is the Cant we must delude the Rabble with La. Lam. Then let him use it there my Lord not amongst us who so well understand one another Lam. Good Dear be pacifi'd and tell me shall the Gentlemen without have admittance La. Lam. They may Page goes out Enter Hewson Desbro Duckenfield Wariston and Cobbet War Guds Benizon light on yu my gued Loords for this days work Madam I kiss your white Honds Duc. My Lord I have not been behind hand in this days turn of State Lam. 'T is confess'd Sir What wou'd you infer from that Duc. Why I wou'd know how things go who shall be General who Protector or who King next Hews My Friend has well translated his meaning La. Lam. Fy how that filthy Cobler Lord betrayes his Function Duc. We 're in a Chaos a Confusion as we are Hews Indeed the Commonwealth at present is out at heels and wants underlaying Cob. And the People expect something suddenly from us Whit. My Lords and Gentlemen we must consider a while War Bread a gued there 's mickle Wisdom i that Sirs Duc. It ought to be consulted betimes my Lord 't is a matter of moment and ought to be consulted by the whole Committee Lam. We design no other my Lord for which reason at three a clock we 'll meet at Wallingford House Duc. Nay my Lord do but settle the Affair let 's but know who 's our Head and 't is no matter Hew Ay my Lord no matter who I hope 't will be Fleetwood
Kingdom La. Lam. You can do nothing as you shou'd do 't You want Old Oliver's Brains Old Oliver's Courage and Old Oliver's Counsel Ah what a politick Fellow was little Sir Anthony What a Head-peice was there What a plaguy Fellow Old Thurlo and the rest But get ye back and return me Protector at least or never hope for Peace again Lam. My Soul trouble not thy self go in With mine no Power can equal be And I will be a King to humour thee Exeunt ACT III. Scene I. A Council Chamber great Table Chairs and Papers Enter two Clarks who lay Papers in Order and Door-keeper Door COme Haste Haste the Lords are coming keep back there room for the Lords room for the honourable Lords Heav'n bless your Worships Honours Enter Lambert Fleetwood Whitlock Wariston discoursing earnestly to them Duckenfield Cobbet Hewson Desbro and others Duck takes Wariston by the Hand and talks to him War Bread a gued Gentlemen I's serv'd the Commonwealth long and faithfully I's turn'd and turn'd to aud Interest and aud Religions that turn'd up Trump and wons a me but I's get naught but Bagery by my Sol I's noo put in for a Pansion as well as rest o ya Loones Cob. What we can serve you in my Lord you may command Duc. And I too my Lord when the Government is new moulded War Wons Sirs and I's sa moold it 't was ne're sa moolded sin the Dam boond the Head on 't Duc. I know there are some ambitious Spirits that are for a single Person but we 'll have hot work e're yield to that War The faud Diel take 'em then for Archibald 't is warse than Monarchy Duc. A thousand Times Have we with such Industry been pulling down Kings of the Royal Family to set up Tyrants of our own of mean and obscure Birth No if we 're for a single Person I 'm for a lawful one War Wons and ya have spoken aud my Lord so am I. Duc. But Lambert has a busie haughty Spirit and thinks to carry it but we 'll have no single Person War Nor I ods Bread the faud Diel brest the Wem of Lambert or any single Person in England I's for yare Interest my gued Lords Bowing Lam. My Lord Wariston will you please to assume the Chair Enter Loveless Freeman and others with Petitions War Ah my gued Loord I's yare most obedient humble Servant Bowing to Lam. all set All. Hum Hum. Fleet. My Lords and Gentlemen we are here met together in the Name of the Lard Duc. Yea and I hope we shall hang together as one man A Pox upon your preaching Aside Fleet. And hope this days great work will be for his Praise and Glory Duc. ' Bating long Graces my Lord we are met together for the Bus'ness of the Nation to settle it and to establish a Government Fleet. Yea verily And I hope you will all unanimously agree it shall be your unworthy Servant Lam. What else my Lord Flee And as thou Lard has put the Sword into my hand Duc. So put it into your Heart My Lord to do Justice Fleet. Amen Duc. I 'd rather see it there than in your Hand Aside Fleet. For we are as it were a Body without a Head or to speak more learnedly an Animal unanimate Hus. My Lord let us use as little as we can the language of the Beast hard Words none of your Eloquence it savoureth of Monarchy Lam. My Lord you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind Hew My Lord I am sorry to hear there are any of Quality amongst this Honourable Dissembly stands up Cob. Assembly my Lord Hews Well you know my meaning or if there be any such I 'm sorry they shou'd own themselves of Quality Duc. How own themselves Gentlemen Death Sir d' ye think we were all born Coblers Hews Or if you were not the more the pitty for little England I say in heat Fleet. Verily my Lords Brethren shou'd not fall out it is a scandal to the Good Cause and maketh the Wicked rejoyce War Wons and theys garr the Loosey Proverb on 't te When Loons gang together by th' Luggs gued men get their ene All. He he he Duc. He calls you Knaves by craft my Lords War Bread a gued tak 't among yee Gentlemen I's ment wee le Fleet. I profess my Lord Wariston you make my hair stand an end to hear how you swear War Wons my Loord I's sware as little as your Lordship only I's sware out and ya swallow aud Duc. There 's a Bone for you to pick my Lord. All. He he he Lam. We give my Lord Wariston leave to jest Des. But what 's this to the Government all this while a dad I shall sit so late I shall have no time to visit my Horses therefore proceed to the Point Hews Ay to the Point my Lords the Gentleman that spoke last spoke wll Cob. Well sed Brother I see you will in time speak properly Duc. But to the Government my Lords beats the Table Lam. Put 'em off o' this Discourse my Lord. aside to War Des. My Lord Wariston move it you are Speaker War The Diel a me Sirs and noo ya talk of a Speaker I's tell ye a blithe Tale. Fleet. Ingeniously my Lord you are to blame to swear so Lam. Your Story my Lord. War By my Solmon and there was a poor Woman the other day beg'd ot'h ' Carle the Speaker but he 'd give her nought unlas she 'd lat a fea rt wons at last a fea rt she lat Ay marry quoth the woman noo my Rump has a Speaker te All. He he he Duc. But to our Bus'ness Des. Bus'ness ay there 's the thing I 've a world on 't I shou'd go and bespeak a pair of Mittens and Shears for my Hedger and Shearer a pair of Cards for my Thrasher a Sythe for my Mower and a Skreen-fan for my Lady Wife and many other things my Head 's full of bus'ness I cannot stay Whit. Fy my Lord will you neglect the bus'ness o' th' day we meet to oblige the Nation and gratifie our Friends Des. Nay I 'll do any thing so I may rise time enough to see my Horses at night Lov. Damn 'em what stuff 's here for a Council-Table Free Where are our English Spirits that can be govern'd by such Dogs as these Lam. Clark Read the Heads of what past at our last sitting War In the first place I must mind your Lordships tol consider those that have been gued Members in the Commonwelth Fleet. We shall not be backward to gratifie any that have serv'd the Commonwealth Whit. There 's Money enough we have taxt the Nation high Duc. Yes if we knew where to find it however read Clark reads To Walter Walton Draper six thousand nine hundred twenty nine pounds six shillings and five pence for Blacks for his Highness Funeral Lam. For the Devil 's put
know how kind you wou'd have been to him because your Disciple and Benefactor to have begot him a Babe of Grace for a Son and Heir Ana. Mistake not my pious meaning most Gracious Lady La. Des. I 'll set you out in your Colours your impudent and Bloody Principles your cheats your Rogueries on honest men through their kind deluded Wives whom you cant and goggle into a Belief 't is a great work of Grace to steal and beggar their whole Families to contribute to your Gormandizing Lust and Laziness Ye Locusts of the Land preach Nonsence Blasphemy and Treason till you sweat again that the Sanctifi'd Sisters my rub you down to comfort and console the Creature Ana. Ah! Am La. Des. Sirrah be gone and trouble me no more be gone yet stay the Rogue may be of Use to me amongst the heap of Vice Hypocrisie and Devils that possess all your Party you may have some necessary sin I 've known some honest useful Villains amongst you that will swear profess and lie devoutly for the Good Old Cause Ana. Yea verily I hope there are many such and I shou'd rejoyce yea exceedingly rejoyce in any Gadly Performance to your Ladiship La. Des. This is a pious Work You are a Knave of Credit a very Saint with the rascally Rabble with whom your Seditious Cant more prevails your precious hum and ha and gifted Nonsence than all the Rhetorick of the learn'd or honest Ana. Hah â— La. Des. In fine I have use of your Talent at present there 's one now in Confinement of the Royal Party his name's Freeman Ana. And your Ladiship wou'd have him dispatch'd I conceive ye but wou'd you have him dispatch'd privately or by Form of Law we 've Tools for all uses and 't is a pious Work and meritorious La. Des. Right I wou'd indeed have him dispatch'd and privately but 't is hither privately hither to my Chamber privately for I have private Bus'ness with him D' ye start this must be done for you can pimp I 'm sure upon occasion you 've Tools for all uses come resolve or I 'll discover your bloody offer Is your Stomach so queasie it cannot digest Pimping that can swallow Whoring false Oaths Sequestration Robbery Rapes and Murders daily Ana. Verily you mistake my pious meaning it is the Malignant I stick at the Person not the Office and in sadness Madam it goeth against my tender Conscience to do any good to one of the Wicked La. Des. It must stretch at this time go haste to the Guard and demand him in my Husband's Name here 's something worth your Pains having releas'd him bring him to me you understand me go bid him be diligent and as you behave your self find my Favour for know Sir I am as great an Hypocrite as you and know the Cheats of your Religion too and since we know one another 't is like we shall be true Ana. But shou'd the man be missing and I call'd to an account La. Des. He shall be return'd in an hour go get you gon and bring him or no more Ex. Ana. For all degrees of Vices you must grant There is no Rogue like your Geneva Saint ACT IV. Scene I. Chamber Candles and Lights Enter La. Desbro and Freeman La. Des. BY what strange Miracle my dearest Freeman wert thou set at Liberty Free On the zealous Parole of Rabbie Ananias that Rhetorick that can convert whole Congregations of well-meaning Block-heads to errant Knaves has now mollify'd my Keeper I 'm to be render'd back within this Hour let 's not my dear Maria lose the precious minutes this Reverend Hypocrite has given us La. Des. Oh! You are very gay have you forgot whose Prisoner you are and that perhaps e're many days are ended they may hang you for High Treason against the Common-wealth they never want good throw-stitch'd Witness to do a Murder lawfully Free No matter then I shall dye with Joy Maria when I consider that you lov'd so well to give me the last Proof on 't La. Des. Are you in Earnest Freeman and wou'd you take what Honour will not suffer me to grant Free With all my Heart Honour 's a poor Excuse Your Heart and Vows your better part are mine you 've only lent your Body out to one whom you call Husband and whom Heav'n has mark'd for Cuckoldom Nay 't is an Act of honest Loyalty so to revenge our Cause whilst you were only mine my honest Love thought it a Sin to press these Favours from you 't was injuring my self as well as thee But now we only give and take our Right La. Des. No more my Husband 's old Free Right my Dear Maria and therefore La. Des. May possibly dye Free He will be hang'd first La. Des. I hope so either of which will do our Business Unreasonable Freeman not to have Patience till my Husband be hang'd a liâ—tle Free But what if Destiny put the Change upon us and I be hang'd instead of Desbro La. Des. Why then thou art not the first Gallant Fellow that has dy'd in the Good and Royal Cause and a small Taste of Happiness will but turn thee off the Ladder with the sadder Heart Free Hast thou the Conscience lovely as thou art To deal out all thy Beauty to a Traytor Is not this Treason of the highest Nature To rob the Royal Party of such Treasure And give it to our mortal Enemies For Shame be wise and just And do not live a Rebel to our Cause 'T is Sin enough to have Society with such a wicked Race La. Des. But I am marryed to him Free So much the worse to make a League and Covenant with such Villains and keep the sinful Contract a little harmless Lying and Dissimulation I 'll allow thee but to be right down honest 't is the Devil L. Des. This will not do it never shall be said I 've been so much debauch'd by Conventickling to turn a Sainted Sinner No I 'm true to my Allegiance still true to my King and Honour Suspect my Loyalty when I lose my Virtue a little Time I 'm sure will give me honestly into thy Arms if thou hast Bravery show it in thy Love Free You will o'recome and shame me every way but when will this Change come And till it do what Pawn will you give me I shall be happy then La. Des. My Honour and that Happiness you long for and take but two Months Time for their Redemption Free How greedily I 'll seize the Forfeiture La. Des. But what am I like to get if this Change do come Free A Slave and whatever you please to make of him La. Des. Who knows in such a universal Change how you may alter too Free I 'll give ye Bond and Vows unkind Maria Here take my hand Be it known unto all Men by these Presents that I Iohn Freeman of London Gent. acknowledge my self in debt to Maria Desbro the Sum of one Heart with an incurable Wound one
Soul destin'd hers from it's first Being and one Body whole sound and in perfect Health which I here promise to pay to the said Maria upon Demand if the aforesaid Iohn Freeman be not hang'd before such Demand made Whereto I set my Hand and seal it with my Lips La. Des. And I in Consideration of such Debt do freely give unto the abovesaid Iohn Freeman the Heart and Body of the abovesaid Maria Desbro with all Appurtenances thereto belonging whenever it shall please Heav'n to bring my Husband fairly to the Gallows in a tone Free Amen kiss the Book Kisses her Ana. hums without La. Des. Hah that 's Ananias sure some Danger 's near the necessary Rascal gives us Notice of Free 't is so what wou'dst thou have me do La. Des. thou art undone if seen Here step within this Curtain He goes Enter Ananias humming and spreading his Cloak wide Desbro behind him puffing in a Chafe Des. Ads nigs what a Change is here like to be puff puff we have manag'd matters sweetly to let the Scotch General undermine us puff puff La. Des. What 's the matter Des. Nothing Cockey nothing but that we are like to return to our first nothing Ana. Yea verily when our times come but ah the great work of Reformation is not yet fully accomplished which must be wrought by the Saints and we cannot spare one of them until the Work be finish'd Des. Yea yea it is finished I doubt puff puff fye fye what a Change is here Ana. Patience ah 't is a precious Virtue Des. Patience Sir what when I shall lose so many fine Estates which did appertain to the Wicked and which I trusted had been establish'd ours and tell'st thou me of Patience puff puff walking fast Ana. How lose 'em Sir Handle the matter with Patience I hope the Committee of Safety or the Rump will not do an illegal thing to one of the Brethren Des. No No I have been a trusty Knave to them and so I have found them all to me but Monk Monk O that ever we shou'd be such blind Fools to trust an honest General Ana. Patience Sir What of him Des. I just now receiv'd private Intelligence he 's coming out of Scotland with his Forces puff puff Ana. Why let him come a Gads Name we have those will give him a civil Salute if he mean not honourably to the Commonwealth Patience Sir Des. But if he prove the stronger and shou'd chance to be so great a Traytor to us to bring in the Man the King La. Des. How the King Husband the great Heroick Free Death this Woman is a Sybill Ah Noble Monk Ana. Hum the King Des. Ah and with the King the Bishops and then where 's all our Church and Bishops Lands Oh! undone puff puff Ana. How bring in the King and Bishops my righteous Spirit is raised too I say I will excommunicate him for one of the Wicked yea for a prophane Heroick a Malignant a Tory a I say we will surround him and confound him with a mighty Host yea and fight the Lards Battel with him yea we will Des. Truckle to his Pow'r puff puff Ana. Nay I say verily nay for in Sadness I will dye in my Calling Des. So I doubt shall I which is Plowing Hedging and Ditching Ana. Yea we have the Sword of the Righteous in our hand and we will defend the mighty Revenues of the Church which the Lard hath given unto his People and chosen ones I say we will defend Des. Ah Patience Sir ah 't is a pious Virtue Ana. Ah it is Zeal in one of us the out-goings of the Spirit Enter Page Tom. Sir Will you go down to Prayers the Chaplain waits Des. No no Boy I am too serious for that Exercise I cannot now dissemble Heav'n forgive me Ana. How Sir not dissemble ah then you have lost a great Vertue indeed a very great Vertue ah let us not give away the Good Old Cause but as we have hitherto maintain'd it by Gadly cozenage and pious frauds let us persevere ah let us persevere to the end let us not lose our Heritage for a Mess of Pottage that is let us not lose the Cause for Dissimulation and Hypocrisie those two main Engines that have carry'd on the great Work Des. Verily you have prevailed and I will go take counsel of my pillow Boy call my man to undress me I 'll to bed for I am sick at heart Ex. Tom. Page Free Death what shall I do now Des. walks she whispers Ana. La. Des. You must get my man off or we 're undone Ana. Madam be comforted Heaven will bring all things about for our advantage as Des. turns La. Des. But he 's behind the Curtains man Des. turns from ' em Ana. Ah let Providence alone sâ—reads his cloak wide and goes by degrees towards the Bed Your pious Lady Sir is doubtful but I will give her ample satisfaction Des. Ah do Mr. Ananias do for she 's a good and a vertuous Lady certo she is goes close to the Bed-post and speaks over his shoulder Ana. Get ye behind my cloak La. Des. Indeed Sir your Counsel and Assistance is very comfortable Ana. We shou'd be helps meet to one another Madam Des. Alack good man â— La. Des. goes to cokes her Husb. La. Des. Ay my Dear I am so much oblig'd to him that I know not without thy thy aid how to make him amends Free So this is the first Cloak of Zeal I ever made use of An. going spreading his cloak to the door Freeman behind goes out Des. Good Lady give him this twenty pieces a dad he worthily deserves ' em gives her Gold La. Des. Indeed and so he does Dear if thou knew'st all What say you now do I not improve in Hypocrisie and shall I not in time make a precious member of your Church to Ana. Ana. Verily your Ladiship is most ingenious and expert Sir I most humbly take my leave Ex. Ananias Enter Tom Page Page My Lord my Lord Lambert has sent in all haste for you you must attend at his house immediately Des. So he has heard the News I must away let my Coach be ready Ex. Des. La. Des. How unlucky was this that Freeman shou'd be gone Sirrah run and see to o'retake him and bring him back Ex. all SCENE 2. A fine Chamber Enter Gilliflower and Loveless by dark richly drest Lov. Where am I Gilliflower Gill. In my Ladies Apartment Sir she 'll be with you presently you need not fear betraying Sir for I 'll assure you I 'm an Heroick in my heart my Husband was a Captain for his Majesty of ever blessed memory and kill'd at Naseby God be thanked Sir Lov. What pity 't is that thou shou'dst serve this Party Gill. ' Bating her Principles my Lady has good Nature enough to oblige a Servant and truly Sir my Vails were good in old Oliver's dayes I got well by that Amour between him and my Lady the man
was lavish enough Lov. Yes of the Nations Treasure but prithee tell me Is not thy Lady mad raving on Crowns and Kingdoms Gill. It appears so to you who are not us'd to the Vanity of the Party but they are all so mad in their degree and in the Fit they talk of nothing else Sir we have to morrow a hearing as they call it Lov. What 's that a Conventicle Gill. No no Sir Ladies of the last Edition that present their Grievances to the Council of Ladies of which my Lady 's Chief which Grievances are laid open to the Committee of Safety and so redress'd or slighted as they are Lov. That must be worth one's Curiosity cou'd one but see 't Gill. We admit no man Sir Lov. 'Sdeath for so good a sight I will turn Woman I 'll Act it to a hair Gill. That wou'd be excellent Lov. Nay I must do 't the Novelty is rare but I 'm impatient prethee let thy Lady know I wait Gill. She 's in Affairs of State but will be here immediately mean time retire into her Cabinet I 'll send the Page with Lights there you may repose till my Lady comes on the Pallat. she leads him out SCENE A great Chamber of State and Canopy And at a Table seated Lambert Fleetwood Desbro Hewson Duckingfield Wariston Cobbet all half drunk with Bottles and Glasses on the Table La. Lam. and La. Fleet. Lam. My Lord Wariston you are not merry to night War Wons Mon this Monk sticks in my Gullet the muckle Diel pull him out by th' Lugs the faud Loone will en spoyle ad our sport mon. Lam. I thought I had enough satisfy'd all your Fears the Army 's mine that is 't is yours my Lords and I 'll employ it too so well for the Good of the Commonwealth you shall have cause to commend both my Courage and Conduct my Lord Wariston will you accompany me War Ah my gued Lord the Honour is too great 'T is not but I's dare fight my Lord but I love not the limmer Loone he has a villainous honest Face an's ene I's kend him ence and lik't him not but I's drink tol y ar gued Fortune let it gang aboote ene and ad Sirs all drink Lam. We 'll leave all discourse of bus'ness and give our selves to Mirth I fancy good Success from this days Omen Enter Gill. whispers La. Lam. she rises La. Lam. Waited so long Gill. And grew inpatient and please your Highness must I go tell him you cannot see him to Night La. Lam. Not for the World my silly Politician will be Busying himself in dull Affairs of State Dull in Comparison of Love I mean I never lov'd before Old Oliver I suffer'd for my Interest And 't is some Greatness to be Mistress to the best But this mighty Pleasure comes A propo To sweeten all the heavy Toyls of Empire Gill. So it does an 't please your Highness La. Lam. Go let him know I 'm coming Madam I must beg your Pardon you hear my Lord to morrow goes on this great Expedition and for any thing we know may fall a glorious Sacrifice to the Commonwealth therefore 't is meet I offer up some Prayers for his Safety and all my Leasure Hours 'twixt this and that will be too few Your humble Servant Madam Ex. La. Lam. La. Fleet. My Dear I 'll leave you too my Time of Devotion is come and heav'n will stay for no Body where are my People is my Coach ready or may Chair Fleet. Go in your Chair my Love lest you catch cold La. Fleet. And light your Flambeaus I love to have my Chair surrounded with Flambeaus Enter Page Pag. Your Chair is ready Madam She goes out led by Fleet. Hews What think ye now my Lords of settling the Nation a little I find my Head swim with Politicks and what ye call ums War Wons and wad ya settle the Nation when we real our selves Hews Who pox shall we stand making Childrens Shoes all the year No No let 's begin to settle the Nation I say and go throw stich with our Work Duc. Right we have no Head to obey so that if this Scotch General do come whilst we Dogs fight for the Bone he runs away with it Hews Shaw we shall patch up matters with the Scotch General I 'll warrant you However here 's to our next Head One and All. all drink Flee Verily Sirs this Health drinking savoureth of Monarchy and is a Type of Malignancy War Bread my Lord no preaching o're y ar Liquer wee's now for a Cup o' th' Creature Cob. In a gadly way you may it is lawful Lam. Come Come we 're dull give us some Musick Come my Lord I 'll give you a Song I love Musick as I do a Drum there 's Life and Soul in 't call my Musick Fleet. Yea I am for any Musick except an Organ War ' SBread Sirs and I's for a Horn-pipe I 've a faud Theefe here shall dance ye dance tol a Horn-pipe with any States man a ya'ad All. He He He. Duc. I know not what your faud Theefe can do but I 'll hold you a Wager Collonel Hewson and Collonel Desbro shall dance ye the Saints Jigg with any Sinner of your Kirk or Field Conventickler War Wons and I's catch 'em at that sport I's dancâ— tol 'em for a Scotch Poond but farst y ar Song my Lord I hope 't is body or 't is not wâ—rth a Feart All. He He He. Song sung by Lord Lambert A Pox of the States-man that 's witty That watches and Plots all the sleepless Night For Seditious Harangues to the Whigs of the City And piously turns a Traytor in spight Let him wrack and torment his lean Carrion To bring his Sham-Plots about Till Religion King Bishop and Baron For the Publick Good be quite rooted out Whilst we that are no Politicians But Rogues that are Resolute bare-fac'd and Great Boldly head the rude Rabble in open Sedition Bearing all down before us in Church and in State Your Impudence is the best State trick And he that by Law means to rule Let his History with ours be related Tho' we prove the Knaves 't is he is the Fool. War The Diel a me we le sung my Lord and gen aud Trads fail yas make a quaint Minstrel All. He He He. War Noo Sirs y ar Dance They fling Cushions at one another and grin Musick plays Mary Sirs an this be y ar dancing tol dance and ne're stir Stap the Diel lead the Donce for Archibald When they have flung Cushions thus a while to the Musick Time they beat each other from the Table one by one and fall into a godly Dance after a while Wariston rises and dances ridiculously a while amongst them then to the Time of the Tune they take out the rest as at the Cushion Dance or in that Nature Wariston being the last taken in leads the rest Haud Minstrels hade Bread a gued I's fatch ad Ladies in
honest Free Parliament not one pick'd and chosen by Faction but such an one shall do our Bus'ness Lads and bring in the Great Heroick All. Ay Ay the Great Heroick the Great Heroick Lov. A fine Youth and shou'd be encourag'd Capt. Good in the next place the noble Scotch General is come and we 'll side with him Free Ay Ay all side with him 1 Pren. Your Reason Captain for we have acted too much without Reason already 2 Pren. Are we sure of him Captain Capt. Oh he 'll doubtless declare for the King Boyes All. Hay Via la Roy via la Monk Capt. Next I hear there 's a Proclamation coming out to dissolve the Committee of no Safety All. Good good Capt. And I hope you are all brave enough to stand to your Loyal Principles with your Lives and Fortunes All. We 'll dye for the Royal Interest Capt. In the next place there 's another Proclamation come out 2 Pr. This Captain is a man of rare Intelligence but for what Captain Capt. Why to hang us all if we do not immediately depart to our respective Vocations how like you that my Lads 2 Pr. Hum hang'd I 'll e'n home again 1 Pr. And I too I do not like this hanging 3. Pr. A man looks but scurvily with his Neck awry 4 Pr. Ay ay We 'll home Capt. Why now you shew what precious men you are the King wou'd be finely hope up with such Rascals that for fear of a little hanging wou'd desert his Cause a Pox upon ye all I here discharge ye take back your Coward Hands and give me Hearts flings 'em a Scroll I scorn to fight with such mean-spirited Rogues I did but try your boasted Courages Lov. A brave Boy Lov. and Free We 'll dye with thee Captain All. Oh noble Captain we recant 1 Pr. We recant dear Captain wee 'l dy one and all All. One and all one and all Capt. Why so there 's some trusting to you now 3 Pr. But is there such a Proclamation Captain Capt. There is but anon when the Crop-ear'd Sheriff begins to read it let every man inlarge his Voice and cry No Proclamation no Proclamation All. Agreed agreed Lov. Brave noble Lads hold still your Resolution And when your leisure hours will give ye leave Drink the King's Health here 's Gold for you to do so Free Take my Mite too brave Lads gives 'em Gold All. Hay Viva the brave Heroicks Enter Ananias Gogle Ana. Hum What have we here a Street-Conventicle or a Mutiny Yea verily it is a Mutiny What meaneth this appearance in Hostile manner in open Street by Day-light Capt. Hah one of the sanctify'd Lay Elders one of the Fiends of the Nation that go about like roaring Lyons seeking whom they may devour Lov. Who Mr. Ananias the Padder Ana. Bear Witness Gentlemen all he calls me an High-way Man thou shalt be hang'd for Scandal on the Brethren Lov. I 'll prove what I say Sirrah do not you rob on the High-way i' th' Pulpit Rob the Sisters and preach it lawful for them to rob their Husbands rob men even of their Consciences and Honesty nay rather than stand out rob poor Wenches of Bodkins and Thimbles Ana. I commit ye here Souldiers I charge ye in the Name of of marry I know not who in my Name and the good People of England take 'em to safe Custody Capt. How lay hold of honest Gentlemen Noble Cavaliers knock him down All. Knock him down knock him down Free Hold worthy Youths the Rascal has done me Service Ana. pulling off his Hat to 'em all Ye look like Citizens what evil Spirit is entered in unto you oh men of London that ye have changed your Note like Birds of evil Omen that you go astray after new Lights or rather no Lights and commit Whoredom with your Fathers Idols even in the midst of the Holy City which the Saints have prepared for the Elect the Chosen ones Capt. Hark ye Sirrah leave preaching and fall to declaring for us or thou art mortal Ana. Nay I say nay I will dye in my Calling yea I will fall a Sacrifice to the Good Old Cause abomination ye with a mighty hand and will destroy demolish and confound your Idols those heathenish Malignants whom you follow even with Thunder and Lightening even as a Field of Corn blasted by a strong Blast Lov. Knock him down All. Down with Dagon down with him Enter Hewson with Guards Hews Ah Rogues have I caught ye napping They all surround him and his Red-Coats All. Whoop Cobler Whoop Cobler The Boys Lov. and Free Corp. and Sould. beat off Hewson and his Party An. gets a Sword and fights too SCENE changes to a Chamber Enter La. Lam. and Gill. Gill. I 've had no time to ask your Highness how you slept to night but that 's a needless Question La. Lam. How mean you do you suspect my Vertue do you believe Loveless dares attempt any thing against my Honour No Gilliflower he acted all things so like a Gentleman that every Moment takes my Heart more absolutely Gill. My Lord departed highly satisfied La. Lam. She is not worthy of Intrigues of Love that cannot mannage a silly Husband as she pleases but Gilliflower you forget that this is Council day Gill. No but I do not Madam some important Suitors wait already Enter La. Des. and La. Fleetwood La. Lam. Your Servant Madam Desbro thour' t welcom Gilliflower are all things ready in the Council Chamber We that are Great must sometimes stoop to Acts That have at least some shew of Charity We must redress the Grievance of our People La. Fleet. She speaks as she were Queen but I shall put a Spoke in her rising Wheel of Fortune or my Lords Politicks fail him Scen. draws off Table with Papers Chairs round it La. Lam. Where are the Ladies of the Council how remiss they are in their Attendance on us La. Fleet. Us Heav'ns I can scarce indure this Insolence We will take care to mind 'em of their Duty La. Lam. We poor Creature how simply Majesty becomes her They all sitting down Enter La. Cromwel angrily and takes her Place Lamb. uppermost Madam as I take it at our last sitting our pleasure was that you shou'd sit no more Crom. Your pleasure Is that the General Voice This is my Place in spight of thee and all thy fawning Faction and I shall keep it when thou perhaps shalt be an humble Suppliant here at my Foot-stool La. Lam. I smile at thee Crom. Do and cringe 't is thy bu'sness to make thee Popular But 't is not that Nor thy false Beauty that will serve thy Ends. La. Lam. Rail on declining Majesty may be excus'd Call in the Women that attend for redress of Grievances Ex. Pag. Enter Page with Women and Loveless dress'd as a Woman Gentlewomen what 's your Business with us Lov. Gentlewomen some of us are Ladies La. Lam. Ladies in good time by what Authority and from
whom do you derive your Title of Ladies La. Feet Have a care how you usurp what 's not you own Lov. How the Devil rebukes Sin aside La. Des. From whom had you your Honours Women Lov. From our Husbands Gill. Husbands who are they and of what standing 2 Lad. Of no long standing I confess Gill. That 's a common Grievance indeed La. Des. And ought to be redress'd La. Lam. And that shall be taken into consideration write it down Gilliflower Who made your Husband a Knight Woman Lov. Oliver the first an 't please ye La. Lam. Of horrid Memory write that down who yours 2 La. Richard the Fourth an 't like your Honour Gill. Of sottish Memory Shall I write that down too La. Des. Most remarkably Cro. Heav'ns Can I hear this Profanation of our Royal Family aside La. Lam. I wonder with what impudence Noll and Dick cou'd Knightifie your Husbands for 't is a Rule in Heraldry that none can make a Knight but him that is one 'T is Sancha Pancha's Case in Don Quixot Crom. How dare you question my Husband's Authority rises in Anger Who nobly won his Honour in the Field Not like thy sneaking Lord who gain'd his Title From his Wife's gay Love-tricks Bartering her Honour for his Coronet La. Lam. Thou ly'st my Husband earn'd it with his Sword braver and juster than thy bold Usurper who waded to his Glory through a Sea of Royal Blood La. Des. Sure Loveless has done good on her and converted her La. Fleet. Madam I humbly beg you will be patient You 'll ruine all my Lord's Designes else Women proceed to your Grievances both publick and private Lov. I petition for a Pension my Husband deceas'd was a constant active man in all the late Rebellion against the Man he plunder'd my Lord Capel he betray'd his dearest Friend Brown Bushel who trusted his Life in his hands and several others plundering their Wives and Children even to their Smocks La. Lam. Most considerable Service and ought to be consider'd 2 La. And most remarkably at the Tryal of the late Man I spit in 's Face and betray'd the Earl of Holland to the Parliament Crom. In the King's Face you mean it shew'd your zeal for the Good Cause 2 La. And 't was my Husband that headed the Rabble to pull down Gog and Magog the Bishops broke the Idols in the Windows and turn'd the Churches into Stables and dens of Thieves rob'd the Altar of the Cathedral of the twelve pieces of Plate call'd the twelve Apostles turn'd eleven of 'em into Money and kept Iudas for his own use at home La. Fleet. On my word most wisely perform'd note it down 3 La. And my Husband made Libels on the Man from the first Troubles to this day defam'd and profan'd the Woman and her Children printed all the man's Letters to the Woman with Burlesque Marginal Notes pull'd down the sumptuous Shrines in Churches and with the golden and Popish Spoils adorn'd his own Houses and Chimney Pieces La. Lam. We shall consider these great Services Lov. To what a height is Impudence arriv'd aside La. Lam. Proceed to private Grievances Lov. An 't please your Honours my Husband prayes too much which both hinders his private Bus'ness at home and his Publick Services to the Commonwealth La. Lam. A double Grievance set it down Gilliflower Lov. And then he rails against the Whore of Babylon and all my Neighbours think he call me Whore Crom. A most unpardonable fault La. Lam. We 'll have that rectify'd it will concern us Lov. Then he never kisses me but he sayes a long Grace which is more mortifying than inviting La. Des. That is the fault of all the new Saints which is the reason their Wives take a pious care as much as in them lies to send 'em to Heaven by making 'em Cuckolds La. Fleet. A very charitable work and ought to be encourag'd Loveless gives in a Petition to Gilliflower Gill. The humble Petition of the Lady Make-shift reads Heav'ns Madam here is many thousand hands to 't of the distressed Sex All. Read it Gill. reads Whereas there pass'd an Act Iune 24th against Fornication and Adultery to the great detriment of most of the young Ladies Gentlewomen and Commonalty of England and to the utter decay of many whole Families especially when married to old men your Petitioners most humbly beg your Honours will take this great Grievance into Mature Consideration and that the said Act may be repealed a blessing on 'em they shall have my hand too La. Lam. We acknowledge there are many Grievances in that Act but there are many Conveniences too for it ties up the Villanous Tongues of men from boasting our Favours Crom. But as it layes a Scandal on Society 't is troublesom Society being the very Life of a Republick Peters the first and Martin the Second Lov. But in a Free State why shou'd not we be free La. Des. Why not we stand for the Liberty and Property of our Sex and will present it to the Committee of Safety Lov. Secondly we desire the Heroicks vulgarly call'd the Malignants may not be look'd on as Monsters for assuredly they are Men and that it may not be charg'd to us as a Crime to keep 'em company for they are honest men 2 L. And some of 'em men that will stand to their Principles La. Lam. Is there no other honest men that will do as well 3 La. Good men are scarce La. Lam. They 're all for Heroicks sure 't is the mode to love 'em I cannot blame ' em aside Lov. And that when we go to Mornings and Evenings Lectures to Tantlings or elsewhere and either before or after visit a private Friend it may be actionable for the Wicked to scandalize us by terming of it â—busing the Creature when 't is harmless recreating the Creature All. Reason Reason Lov. Nor that any Husband shou'd interupt his Wife when at her private Devotion Enter Page La. Lam. I have been too late sensible of that Grievance Gill. And Madam I wou'd humbly pray a Patent for Scolding to ease my Spleen Pag. An please Your Highness here 's a Messenger arriv'd Post with Letters from my Lord the General Ex. Pag. La. Lam. Greater Affairs oblige us to break up the Council Rises the Women retire Enter Page with Messenger or Letters What means this Haste Opens and reads ' em Crom. Hah bless my Eye-sight she looks pale now red again some Turn to his Confusion Heav'n I beseech thee La. Lam. My Lord 's undone His Army has deserted him Left him denfenceless to the Enemies Pow'r Ah Coward Traytors Where 's that brutal Courage That made ye so successful in your Villanies Has Hell that taught ye Valour now abandon'd ye How in an Instant are my Glories fall'n Crom. Ha ha ha What has your Highness any cause of Grief Gill. Call up your Courage Madam do not let these things scoff you you may be yet a Queen Remember what Lilly
fortifying my self against the Evil day Ana. Which is come upon us like a Thief in the Night like a Torrent from the Mountain of Waters or a Whirl-wind from the Wilderness Flee Why what has the Scotch General done Ana. Ah! He playeth the Devil with the Saints in the City because they put the Covenant Oath unto him he pulls up their Gates their Posts and Chains and enters Felt. And wou'd the wicked City let him have his beastly will of her Ana. Nay but she was ravished deflow'red Ioyn How ravish'd oh monstrous was ever such a Rape committed upon an innocent City lay her Legs open to the wide World for every Knave to view her Nakedness Felt. Ah ah what Dayes what Times and what Seasons are here Enter Capt. Corporal and Prentices with faggots hollowing Corp. What say you now Lads is not my Prophesie truer than Lillie's I told you the Rump wou'd fall to our handling and drinking for the Kingss proclaim'd Rogues Cap. Ay ay Lilly a Plague on him he prophesied Lambert shou'd be uppermost Cor. Yes he meant perhaps on Westminster Pinacle where 's Lilly now with all his Prophecies against the Royal Family Capt. In one of his Twelve Houses 1 Pr. We 'll fire him out to night Boy come all hands to work for the Fire Exeunt all hollowing Fleet. Ah dismal heavy day a day of Grief and Wo Which hast bereft me of my hopes for ay ah Lard what shall I do Exit SCENE A Chamber Enter Lov. leading La. Lam. in disguise Page and Gilliflower disguis'd Lov. dressing her Lov. My Charmer why these Tears If for the fall of all thy painted Glories Thou art in the esteem of all good men Above what thou wer't then The glorious Sun is rising in our Hemisphere And I amongst the crowd of Loyal Sufferers Shall share in its kindly Rayes La. Lam. Best of thy Sex What have I left to gratifie thy goodness Lov. You have already by your noble Bounty Made me a Fortune had I nothing else All which I render back with all that Wealth Heaven and my Parents left me Which tho' unjustly now detain'd from me Will once again be mine and then be yours Enter Free Free Come haste the Rabble gather round the House And swear they 'll have this Sorceress Lov. Let me loose among 'em their rude officious honesty must be punish'd La. Lam. Oh let me out do not expose thy Person to their mad rage rather resign the Victim holds him Lov. Resign thee By Heaven I think I shou'd turn Rebell first Enter La. Des. disguis'd and Page with Iewels in a Box. La. Des. With much ado according to thy direction dear Freeman I have pass'd the Pikes my House being surrounded and my Husband demanded fell down dead with fear Free How thy Husband dead La. Des. Dead as old Oliver and much ado I got off with these Jewels the Rabble swore I was one of the Party and had not the honest Corporal convinc'd 'em I had been pull'd to pieces Come haste away Madam we shall be rosted with the Rump else La. Lam. Adieu dear Mansion whose rich gilded Roofs so oft put me in mind of Majesty And thou my Bed of State where my soft Slumbers have presented me with Diadems and Scepters when waking I have stretch'd my greedy Arms to grasp the vanish'd Phantom ah adieu And all my hopes of Royalty adieu Free And dare you put your self into my Protection Well if you do I doubt you 'll never be your own Woman again La. Des. No matter I 'm better lost than found on such occasions Exeunt SCENE a Street a great Bonfire with Spits and Rump rosting and the Mobile about the Fire with Pots Bottles and Fiddles 1 Pren. Here Iack a Health to the King 2 Pren. Let it pass Lad and next to the Noble General 1 Pren. Ralph baste the Rump well or ne'r hope to see a King agen 3 Pr. The Rump will baste it self it has been well cram'd Enter Freeman La. Des. Loveless and La. Lam. Gill. Pages c. Capt. Hah Noble Champion Faith Sir you must honour us so far as to drink the King's Health and the Noble General 's before you go Enter Wareston drest like a Pedlar with a Box about his Neck full of Ballads and things War Will ya buy a Guedly Ballat or a Scotch Spur Sirs a guedly Ballat or a Scotch Spur. S'bread Is scapt hither te wee le enough Is sav'd my Crag fro stretching twa Inches longer than 't was borne will ya buy a Jack line to rost the Rump a new Iack Lambert line or a blithe Ditty of the Noble Scotch General come buy my Ditties Capt. How a Ditty o' th' General let 's see 't Sirrah War S'bread Sirs and here 's the guedly Ballad of the General 's coming out of Scotland Capt. Here who sings it we 'll all bear the bob Wariston sings the Ballad all bearing the Bob. Enter Ananias crying Almanacks Ana. New Almanacks new Almanacks Cap. Hah who have we here Ananias Holder-forth of Clements Parish All. Ha a Traytor a Traytor Lov. If I be not mistaken this blithe Ballad-singer too was Chair-man to the Committee of Safety Capt. Is your Lordship turn'd Pedlar at last War What mon I do noo Lerd ne mere Lerd than y ar sel Sir wons Is show 'em a fair pair a heeles goes to run away they get him on a Colt-staff with Ananias on another Fidlers playing Fortune my Foe round the Fire Capt. Play Fortune my Foe Sirrah Enter Hewson drest like a Country-Fellow Cor. Who are you Sirra you have the mark o' th' Beast Hews Who aye Sir aye am a Doncer that come a merry making among ya Cap. Come Sirrah your Feats of Activity quickly then He dances which ended they get him on a colt-staff and cry a Cobler a Cobler All. A Cobler a Cobler Capt. To Prison with the Traytors and then we have made a good Nights work on 't Then let 's all home and to the Powers Divine Pray for the King and all the Sacred Line FINIS EPILOGUE spoken by Lady DESBRO THe Vizors off and now I dare appear High for the Royal Cause in Cavelier Though once as true a Whig as most of you Cou'd Cant and Lye Preach and dissemble too So far you drew me in but faith I 'le be Reveng'd on you for thus debauching me Some of your pious Cheats I 'le open lay That lead your Ignoramus Flock astray For since I cannot fight I will not faile To exercise my Tallent that 's to raile Yee Race of Hypocrites whose Cloak of Zeal Covers the Knave that cants for Common Weale All Laws the Church and State to ruine brings And impudently set a Rule on Kings Ruine destroy all 's good that you decree By your Infallible Presbitery Prosperous at first in ills you grow so vain You thought to Play the Old Game ore again And thus the cheat was put upon the Nation First with long Parliaments next Reformation And now you hop'd to make a new invasion And when you can't prevaile by open force To cunning tickling tricks you have recourse And raise Sedition forth without remorse Confound these cursed Tories then they cry In a Preaching Tone Those Fools those Pimps to Monarchy Those that Exclude the Saints yet open th' Door To introduce the Babylonian Whore By Sacred Oliver the Nations mad Beloved 't was not so when he was Head But then as I have said it oft before yee A Cavelier was but a Type of Tory. The Currs durst then not bark but all the Breed Is much increas'd since that good Man was dead Yet then they rail'd against the Good Old Cause Rail'd foolishly for Loyalty and Laws But when the Saints had put them to a stand We left them Loyalty and took their Land Yea and the Pious work of Reformation Rewarded was with Plunder Sequestration Thus can't the faithfull nay they 'r so uncivill To pray us harmless Players to the Devil When this is all th' Exception they can make They damn us for our glorious Masters sake But why gainst us do you unjustly erm Our small Religion sure can do no harm Or if it do since that 's the only thing We will reform when you are true to th' King