very handsom man well-behav'd and of a ready wit 2 Man 'T is strange it should not be known of what Parentage he is of 1 Man It is not known as yet Exeunt Scene 2. Enter two Men 1 MAn Sir were not you a servant to the Lord of Sage 2 Man Yes Sir 1 Man He was a Wise and a Noble Person 2 Man He was so Heaven rest his Soul 1 Man 'T is said he hath left but one only Child and she a Daughter which Daughter is sole Heir to all his Estate 2 Man She is so 1 Man And it is also reported she will be woo'd in publick or else she 'l never wed 2 Man The Report is true Sir for I am now going to invite all her Friends and acquaintance to whom she desires to publish her resolutions 1 Man Is she resolv'd of it 2 Man She hath vow'd it 1 Man Pray favour me so much as to give me a Character of her 2 Man She is Virtuous Young Beautiful Graceful and hath a supernatural Wit and she hath been bred and brought up to all Virtuosus which adorns her Natural Gifts she lives magnificently yet orders her Estate prudently 1 Man This Lady may be a sample to all her Sex Exeunt Scene 3. Enter two Grave Matrons 1 Matron Mistris Simple is the very'st Fool that ever I tutor'd or instructed 2 Matron Do you mean a fool by imprudence or a fool that speaks improperly 1 Matron I do not know what her imprudence may be but in her words there is no coherence 2 Matron Alas she is young and youth is a Cage of Ignorance and boys and girls are like birds which learn from their tutors and tutoresses artificial tunes which are several Languages Sciences Arts and the like But the truth is of all sorts of Birds the Cocks are more apt to learn than the Hens 1 Matron If she can be taught sense I am much mistaken for she hath not a reasonable capacity to learn 2 Matron Why then she hath a defect in Nature as a Changeling 1 Matron I think so 2 Matron Why should you think so since youths capacity cannot be measured by their Educators for Time is the only measure of the rational capacity And to prove it some boys and girls will be so dull as to seem stupid to Learning and yet in their strength of years may prove very rational understanding and wise men or women besides the Brain is like to the Air 't is sometimes thick with mysty Errours sometimes dark with clouds of Ignorance and sometimes clear with Understanding when as the Sun of Knowledge shines and perchance you heard her speak when her Brain was cloudy and dark 1 Matron So dark as her words could not find the right way to sense 2 Matron Perchance if you hear her speak some other times when her Brain is clear you may hear her speak wisely 1 Matron It is so unlikely she should ever speak wisely as it is near to impossible 2 Matron Indeed unlikely and impossible do some way resemble each other But let me tell you the Brain is like the Face it hath its good days and its bad for Beauty and Wit have not only their times and seasons but their foul and fair days 1 Matron You say true for the choisest Beauties that ever were or are will somtimes look worse than at other times nay so ill they will look sometimes as they might be thought they were not Beauties 2 Matron The like for Wit for certainly the greatest Wit that ever was or is may sometimes be so dull and unactive as it might be thought they were so far from being Wits as they might be judged Fools And certainly the most Eloquent Orators that ever were have spoke at some times less Eloquently than at other times insomuch that at some times although the subject of their Discourse is so full of Matter and Reason as might have oyl'd their Tongues smooth'd their Words and enlighten'd their Fancy yet they will speak as if their Wits had catch'd cold and their Tongues had the numb Palsy on which their words run stumbling out of their mouths as insensible when as at other times although the subject of their discourse be barren or boggy woody or rocky yet their Wit will run a Race without stop or stay and is deck'd and adorn'd with flowry Rhetorick And certainly the wisest men that ever were have given both themselves and others worse counsel sometimes than at other times and certainly the valiantest man that ever was had sometimes more courage than at other times But yet although a valiant man may have more courage at one time than another yet he is at no time a coward nor a wise man a fool 1 Matron But Orators may chance to speak non-sense 2 Matron They may so and many times do 1 Matron Why then may not a Valiant man be at some times a Coward and a Wise man a Fool as well as Orators to speak non-sense 2 Matron Because Valour Judgment and Prudence are created in the Soul and is part of its Essence I do not mean every soul but the souls of Valiant and Wise men for souls differ as much as bodies some are created defective others perfect but words are only created in the mouth and are born through the lips before the soul of sense is enter'd or inbodied therein 1 Matron An Orators tongue is powerful 2 Matron An Orators tongue doth rather play on Passions than compose the Judgment or set notes to the Reason like as a Fidler that can play tunes on musical Instruments but is no Musician to compose and set tunes But there are many men that have eloquent tongues but not witty souls they have the Art of words but not the Spirit of wit Exeunt Scene 4. Enter the Lady Prudence and a company of Ladies and Knights whom she had invited to hear her Resolutions She stands by her self and speaks Lady Prudence Kind Friends and worthy Acquaintance you may think it strange and perchance take it ill I invite you only to a simple Discourse for to declare a vain Vow as you may judge it so to be which Vow I made since my Father the Lord Sage's death The Vow is never to receive a Lovers Address or to answer a Lovers Sute but in a publick Assembly and 't is likely the World will laugh at this as ridiculous or condemn it for pride or scorn it as self-conceit But if they will be pleased to weigh it in Judgements Scales they will find it poysed with a good Intention and make a just weight of Conveniency against unaccustomariness for though it is not usual yet it is very requisite especially to such young women which are Orphans who like small and weak Vessels that are destitute of Guide or Pilot are left on the wide Sea-faring World to ruinous waves and inconstant weather even so young women are to the Appetites of greedy men and their own inconstant and changing Natures and
offer life to gain Some lazie lye and pampred are with ease And some industrious are the World to please Some are so quick their thoughts do move so fast They never stay to mold or to forecast Some take great pains to get and yet are poor And some will steal for to increase their store Some brains know not what Subjects for to chuse And with considering they their wit do lose Some only in designs do spend their time And some without designs do only rhime And some do take more pains a Plot to lay Than other some to plot and write a Play As for Ben Johnsons brain it was so strong He could conceive or judge what 's right what 's wrong His Language plain significant and free And in the English Tongue the Masterie Yet Gentle Shakespear had a fluent Wit Although less Learning yet full well he writ For all his Playes were writ by Natures light Which gives his Readers and Spectators sight But Noble Readers do not think my Playes Are such as have been writ in former daies As Johnson Shakespear Beamont Fletcher writ Mine want their Learning Reading Language Wit The Latin phrases I could never tell But Johnson could which made him write so well Greek Latin Poets I could never read Nor their Historians but our English Speed I could not steal their Wit nor Plots out take All my Playes Plots my own poor brain did make From Plutarchs story I ne'r took a Plot Nor from Romances nor from Don Quixot As others have for to assist their Wit But I upon my own foundation writ Like those that have a little patch of Land Even so much whereon a house may stand The Owner builds a house though of no shew A Cottage warm and clean though thatch'd and low Vitruvius Art and Skill he doth not take For to design and so his house to make Nor Carpenters nor Masons doth not hire But builds a house himself whole and intire Materials none from forein parts are brought Nor hath he Stone and Timber with art wrought But some sound Tree which on his ground did grow Which he cuts down with many a labouring blow And with his hatchet and his saw he cuts His Tree in many parts those parts he puts In several places beams posts planchers layes And thus a house with his own stock doth raise He steals nor borrows not of any Neighbour But lives contentedly of his own labour And by his labour he may thrive and live To be an old rich man and then may leave His Wealth to build a Monument of Fame Which may for ever keep alive his name Iust so I hope the works that I have writ Which are the buildings of my natural wit My own Inheritance as Natures child But the Worlds Vanities would me beguild But I have thriftly been houswiv'd my time And built both Cottages of Prose and Rhime All the materials in my head did grow All is my own and nothing do I owe But all that I desire when as I dye My memory in my own Works my lye And when as others build them Marble Tombs To inurn their dust and fretted vaulted Rooms I care not where my dust or bones remain So my Works live the labour of my brain I covet not ae stately cut carv'd Tomb But that my Works in Fames house may have room Thus I my poor built Cottage am content When that I dye may be my Monument AN INTRODUCTION Enter 3. Gentlemen 1. Gentleman Come Tom will you goe to a play 2. Gentleman No 1. Gentleman Why 2. Gentleman Because there is so many words and so little wit as the words tire me more than the wit delights me and most commonly there is but one good part or humour and all the rest are forced in for to enterline that part or humour Likewise not above one or two good Actors the rest are as ill Actors as the parts they Act besides their best and principle part or humour is so tedious that I hate at last what I liked at first for many times a part is very good to the third Act but continued to the fifth is stark naught 1. Gentleman The truth is that in some Playes the Poets runs so long in one humour as he runs himself out of breath 3. Gentleman Not only the Poet but the humour he writes of seems to be as broken-winded 1. Gentleman I have heard of a broken-winded Horse but never heard of a broken-winded Poet nor of a broken-winded Play before 3. Gentleman I wonder why Poets will bind themselves so as to make every humour they write or present to run quite through their Play 2. Gentleman Bind say you they rather give themselves line and liberty nay they are so far from binding as for the most part they stretch the Line of a humour into pieces 3. Gentleman Let me tell you that if any man should write a Play wherein he should present an humour in one Act and should not continue it to the end although it must be stretched as you say to make it hold out he would be condemned and not only accounted an ill Poet but no Poet for it would be accounted as ill as wanting a Rhime in a Copie of Verses or a word too short or too much in a number for which a Poet is condemned and for a word that is not spell'd right he is damned for ever 1. Gentleman Nay he is only damned if he doth not write strictly to the Orthographie 3. Gentleman Scholars only damne Writers and Poets for Orthographie but for the others they are damned by the generality that is not only all readers but all that are but hearers of the works 1. Gentleman The generality for the most part is not foolishly strict or rigid as particulars are 3. Gentleman Yes faith they are led by one Bell-weather like a company of silly Sheep 1. Gentleman Well if I were to write a Play I would write the length of a humour according to the strength of the humour and breadth of my wit Let them judge me and condemn as they would for though some of the past and present ages be erroniously or malitiously foolish in such cases yet the future Ages may be more wise and better natur'd as to applaud what the others have condemned But prithy Tom let us goe 2. Gentleman No I will not goe for the reasons before mentioned which is they tire me with their empty words dull speeches long parts tedious Acts ill Actors and the truth is there 's not enough variety in an old play to please me 1. Gentleman There is variety of that which is bad as you have divided it but it seemes you love youth and variety in playes as you doe in Mistresses 3. Gentleman Playes delights Amorous men as much as a Mistris doth 1. Gentleman Nay faith more for a man and his Mistris is soon out of breath in their discourse and then they know not what to say and when they are at
we are only obliged to Preachers for civil wars Captain Faith Corporal we are obliged to them for both for as their factious Doctrine causes a Rebellion by railing on the Governours and Governments so their flattering Sermons sets a Prince on fire who burns in hot ambition to conquer all the World Corporal These latter Preachers you mention Captain are not Puritan Preachers but Royal Preachers Captain You are right Corporal for they are divided in two parts although their Doctrine meets at one end which is in war Corporal Captain you have discovered so fully of Preachers that if you will give me leave I will preach to our Company Captain Out you rogue will you raise a war amongst our selves causing a mutinie to cut one anothers throats Corporal Why Captain it is the fashion and practice for Souldiers to Preach now adayes Captain That is amongst the Rebel party to keep up their faction and to strengthen the flank thereof but amongst the Royal party the Preaching Ministers turn fighting Souldiers incouraging with their good example as by their valliant onsets and not the Souldiers Preaching Ministers Corporal Why Captain the Royal party needs no incouragement the justice of their cause is sufficient Captain You say right they want not courage to fight but they want conscience to plunder Besides the Royal party is apt to give quarter which should not be for Souldiers should destroy all they take in Civil-wars by reason there is no gain to be made of their Prisoners as by the way of Ransoms but if we stay from our Company our General will preach such a Sermon as may put us into despair of his favour and indanger our lives at the Council of war Exeunt Scene 12. Enter three or four Commanders 1. COmmander I think our Generals new made son is a spirit for when the General was surrounded with the Turks this adopted Son of his flew about like lightening and made such a massacre of the Turks as they lay as thick upon the ground as if they had been mushromes 2. Commander Certainly the General had been taken Prisoner if his Son had not rescued him for the General had adventured too far into the enemies body 1. Commander 'T is strange and doth amaze me with wonder to think how such a Willow-twig could bore so many mortal holes in such strong timber'd bodies as the Turks 2. Commander By him one would believe miracles were not ceast 3. Commander Well for my part I will ask pardon of my General for condemning him privately in my thoughts for I did think him the most fond I will not say what for adopting a poor Beggar-boy for his son and setled all his Estate which is a very great one upon him 1. Commander The truth is he is a very gallant youth and if he lives and continues in the wars he will prove a most excellent Souldier 2. Commander Certainly he sprung from a Noble Stock either by his Fathers side or by his Mothers 1. Commander By his behaviour he seems Nobly born from both 3. Commander And by his poverty Nobly born from neither 1. Commander Mean persons may have wealth and Noble births be Beggars Exeunt Scene 13. Enter Affectionata in brave cloths Hat and Feather and a Sword by his side and a great many Commanders following and attending him with their Hats off the whilst he holds off his Hat to them AFfectionata Gentlemen I beseech you use not this ceremonie to me it belongs only to my Lord General Commanders Your merits and gallant actions deserves it from us Besides it is your due as being the Generals adopted Son Affectionata My Lords favour may place a value on me though I am poor in worth and no wayes deserves this respect 1. Commander Faith Sir had it not been for you we had lost the battel Affectionata Alas my weak arm could never make a conquest although my will was good and my desire strong to do a service 2. Commander Sir the service was great when you rescued our General for when a General is taken or kill'd the Armies are put to rout for then the common Souldiers runs away never stayes to fight it out Affectionata I beseech you Gentlemen take not the honour from my Lord to give it me for he was his own defence and ruine to his enemies for his valiant spirits shot thorouh his eyes and struck them dead thus his own courage was his own safety and the Venetians victory Enter a Messenger from the Venetian-States to Affectionata he bows to him Messenger Noble Sir the Venetian-States hath made you Lieutenant General of the whole Armie and one of the Council of War where they desire your presence Affectionata The honours they have given me is beyond my management Messenger Exit As Affectionata was going forth enters some poor Souldiers Wives with Petitions offers to present them to Affectionata 1 Wife Good your Honour speak in the behalf of my Petition 2. Wife And mine 3. Wife And mine Affectionata Good women I cannot do you service for if your Petitions are just my Lord the General will grant your request and if they be unjust he will not be unjust in granting them for my intreatie nor will I intreat therefore Wives If it please your Honour we implore Mercy not Justice Affectionata Where Justice and Wisdom will give leave for Mercy I am sure my Lord will grant it otherwise what you call mercy will prove cruelty and cause ruine and destruction Wives We beseech your Honour then but to deliver our Petitions Affectionata For what are they Wives For the lives of our Husbands Affectionata Are they to be executed Wives They are condemned and to be hanged to morrow unless the General gives them pardons Affectionata What are their crimes 1. Wife My Husband is to be hanged for plundering a few old rotten Houshold-goods Affectionata Give me your Petition necessity might inforce him 2. Wife My Husband is to be hanged for disobeying his Captain when he was drunk Affectionata When which was drunk your Husband or his Captain Wife My Husband Affectionata Disobedience ought to be severely punished yet because his reason was drowned in his drink and his understanding smothered with the vapour thereof whereby he knew not what he did I will deliver your Petition Affectionata And what is yours 3. Wife My Husband is to be hanged for ravishing a Virgin Affectionata I will never deliver a Petition for those that are Violaters of Virginity I will sooner act the Hang-mans part my self to strangle him Affectionata And what is your Husbands crime 4. Wife My Husband is to be hanged for murther Affectionata O horrid They that murther ought to have no mercy given to them since they could give no mercy to others Wives Good your Honour Affectionata Nay never press me for I will never deliver your Petition Wives Exeunt Enter Commanders that were to be Cashiered to Petition Affectionata 1. Captain Noble Sir I come to intreat you to be
rudely to contradict you Bon Compaignon It is neither erroneous nor vain to believe a truth Lady Doltche Nor civil to make a doubt Sir but I am obliged unto you for that you help to cover my defects and wants in nature with your civil commendation and your kind estimation of me Ex. Scene 11. Enter Monsieur Importunate and Madamosel Caprisia IMportunate My fair wit you look as if you were angry with me Capris. You dwell not so long in my mind as to make me angry my thoughts are strangers to your figures She offers to go away and he holds her from going Importunate Nay faith now I have you I will keep you perforce untill you pay me the kiss you owe me Capris. Let me go for I had rather my eyes were eternally seal'd up my ears for ever stopt close from sound than hear or see you I care not whether you hear or see me so you will kisse me Capris. Let me go or otherwise my lips shall curse you and my words being whetted with injurie are become so sharp as they will wound you Importunate I will keep you untill your words begs for mercy in the most humblest stile and after the most mollifying manner Capris. Hell take you or Earth devoure you like a beast never to rise Importunate Love strike your heart with shooting thorough your eyes Capris. May you be blown up with pride untill you burst into madnesse may your thoughts be more troubled than rough waters more raging than a tempest may your senses feel no pleasure your body find no rest nor your life any peace Importunate May you love me with a doting affection may I be the only man you will imbrace and may you think me to be as handsome as Narcissus did himself Capris. You appear to me in all the horrid shapes that fancy can invent Enter Madam Mere Madam Mere Why how now daughter alwayes quarreling Capris. Can you blame me when I am beset with rudeness and assaulted with uncivil actions Madam Mere Let her alone Monsieur Importunate for she is a very Shrew Importunate Well go thy wayes for all the Shrews that ever nature made you are the cursest one Ex. Scene 12. Enter Madamosel Volante and a Grave Matron Volante I am not of the humour as most vvomen are vvhich is to please themselves vvith thinking or rather believing that all men that looks on them are in love vvith them But I take pleasure that all men that I look on should think I am in love vvith them vvhich men vvill soon believe being as self-conceited as vvomen are Matron But vvhere is the pleasure Lady Volante Why in seeing their phantastical garbs their strutting postures their smiling faces and the jackanapesly actions and then I laugh in my mind to think vvhat fools they are so as I make my self merry at their folly and not at my own Matron But men vvill appear as much Jackanapeses when they are in love vvith you as if they thought you vvere in love vvith them for all Lovers are apish more or less Volante I grant all Lovers are but those that think themselves beloved appears more like the grave Babboon than the skipping Iackanapes for though their actions are as ridiculous yet they are vvith more formality as being more circumspectly foolish or self-conceitedly vain Matron Well for all your derisions and gesting at men I shall see you at one time or other shot vvith Cupids arrovv Volante By deaths dart you may but never by loves arrovv for death hath povver on me though love hath none Matron There is an old saying that time importunity and opportunity vvins the chastest She vvhen those are joyned vvith vvealth and dignity but to yield to a lawfull love neither requires much time nor pleading if the Suiters have but Person Title and Wealth which women for the most part do prize before valour wisdom or honesty Volante Women hath reason to prefer certainties before uncertainties for mens Persons Titles and Wealths are visible to their view and knowledge but their Valours Wisdoms and Honesties doth rest upon Faith for a coward may fight and a fool may speak rationally and act prudently sometimes and a knave may appear an honest man Marrons They may so but a valiant man will never act the part of a coward nor a wise man prove a fool nor an honest man appear a knave Volante There can be no proof of any mans Valour Wisdom or Honesty but at the day of his death in aged years when as he hath past the danger in Wars the tryals in Miseries the malice of Fortune the temptations of Pleasures the inticements of Vice the heights of Glory the changes of Life provokers of Passion deluders of Senses torments of Pain or painfull Torments and to chose a Husband that hath had the Tryals and experiences of all these is to chose a Husband out of the Grave and rather than I will marry death I will live a maid as long as I live and when I dye let death do what he will with me Ex. Scene 13. Enter Monsieur Profession in mourning then enters his Friend Monsieur Comorade MOnsieur Comorade Well met I have travelled thorough all the Town and have inquired of every one I could speak to and could neither hear of thee nor see thee Profession It were happy for me if I had neither ears nor eyes Comorade Why what is the matter man He observes his mourning and then starts Gods-me Now I perceive thou art in mourning which of thy Friends is dead Profession The chiefest friend I had which mas my heart For that is dead being kill'd with my Mistress cruelty and buryed in her inconstancy Comorade I dare swear not the whole heart for every mans heart is like a head of Garlick which may be divided into many several cloves Wherefore cheer up man for it is but one clove that death or love hath swallowed down into his Stomach to cure him of the wind-cholick and since thy heart hath so many cloves thou mayst well spare him one and be never the worse But if it be buryed as you say in your Mistresses inconstancy it is to be hop'd it will be converted into the same inconstant humour and that will cure the other part of thy heart Profession O! She was the Saint of my thoughts and the Goddesse of my soul Comorade Prethee let me be thy moral Tutor to instruct thee in the knowledge of Truth and to let thee know that vertue is the true Goddesse to which all men ought to bow to and that youth beauty and wealth are sixt to be forsaken when vertue comes in place and vertue is constant both to its principals and promises Wherefore if thy Mistresse be inconstant she cannot be vertuous wherefore let her go Monsieur Profession fetches a great sigh and goes out without speaking a word Comorade alone Comorade I think his heart is dead in good earnest for it hath no sense of what I have
will as to make a crooked body straight Ex. Scene 9. Enter Sir Thomas Father Love bringing in the Auditours into a large roome nobly furnished where at one end or side is a place raised and railed with guilt rayles for the Lady Sanspareille to stand on FAther Love Gentlemen pray do not think me rude by drawing you from your serious studies by an intruding invitation to hear a young student discourse 1. Philosopher 'T is true Sir we should have been glad to have heard you discourse for you might instruct us where as a young student is rather to be instructed for it is time that brings knowledg or gets wit or speakes eloquently Father Love 'T is true but yet in some naturall ingenuity it is as strong as time and produceth that which time of it selfe could not do 2. Philosopher Sir if your young students wit be as fine as her standing place it will be delightfull 3. Philosopher Sir you have adorned her Theater to inthrone her wit Father Gentlemen I wish her wit may furnish and so adorn your understanding but if you please to sit such as it is shall be presented to you Being all placed the Lady Sanspereille enters upon the mounted place drest all in black fit for the gravity of the Company The Company upon her entrance seems to be struck with amaze of her beauty they speak to her Father 1. Philosopher Sir we perceive now you have invited us to feast our eyes not our eares Father Gentlemen if you please to give her so much patience to hear her then judge or censure as you please Then they all cry Whist Whist After the Lady by her Civill bows had given respect to all the Company with a modest and amiable Countenance with a gentle and well pleased eye and a gracefull and winning behaviour thus speaks Lady Sanspareile The Majesty of Age and sage gravity are objects able to put unexperienced and unpracticed youth out of Countenance and bashfullness is the greatest enemy to discourse for it discomposes the Countenance disturbes the thoughts disorders the words and confounds the sence therein but youth hath many times this advantage that it apprehends not the disgrace that experienced years and deeper judgment doth For the truth is bashfullness proceeds from too great an apprehension but I not apprehending far enough may comit errours through a confident ignorance but if you think my confidence too much for my youth yet pray judge not my modesty to litle for my Sex for speaking belongs as much to the Female Sex as to the Masculine so as it be on sober Subjects and to grave Fathers and wise men or intruth to any degree of Age or Sex or Birth so as it be timely suitably rationably and modestly delivered And why may not women speak in publick and to publick assemblies as well as in privat visits and particular entertainments and to particular persons and acquaintance And in reason it should be more commendable that womens discourse and actions are such as they fear no witness Nay they ought never to speak or shew themselves to those persons that are not domestick without sufficient witness for privat discourses which are like whisperings and secret meetings and particular entertainments are subject to loos customs rude behaviours and lascivious discourses mischievous designes and dangerous plots all which takes leave without warrant and assaults without warning yet it is probable this Auditory will think my Father is too indulgent to his Child to let her to make publick Orations or that he is too vain glorious as to believe or hope his Child may get applause or esteem in the world by her discourses But First I must remember them that it is naturall for Parents to be fond of their Children Secondly it is no crime nor indiscretion for a Father to believe or think his Child may have as much wit as any other mans Child if he have given as good education Thirdly it is not against nature and reason but that women may discourse of several subjects as well as men and that they may have as probable opinions and as profitable inventions as fresh fancies as quick wits and as easy expressions as men if their education be answerable to their naturall capacityes and ingenuityes As for my selfe I must tell this assembly I have been bred industriously for I have been instructed with as much knowledg as my yeares was capable to understand but the truth is that my educatours strove to ripen my understanding before the naturall time like those that hastens fruit to be ripe forcing it by artificiall means not staying for the naturall heat of the Sun so was my understanding like as the tree and my wit as the fruit by which it wants the Aromaticall and delicious relish that naturall time gives which makes me fear my wit will relish to the eares of the hearers as such forced fruits to the tast of the eaters I have only this request that though you may dislike it for want of the naturall sweetness yet pray esteem of it for the rarity as being not usuall for one of my years and Sex to speak argue and make Orations in a publick assembly but it is likely this assembly may think this is a vain glorious Prologue to my following discourse But I must tell this worthy grave and learned assembly that I am not bound to follow a vain custome nay I may say a dishonest one as when Oratours do dissemble as on my Conscience most do selfe love being naturall to all besides many times they disgrace their birth by a dissembling humbleness and bely their thoughts knowledge and education when as they say they are unworthy to speak to such an assembly and that they are unlearned their knowledg is little their understanding dull their judgment weak their capacity narrow and that they are unexperienced and unfurnished of expressions to deliver the subject or matter of their discourse if this or the like which they say be true they abuse the Auditory and themselves to invite them or draw them to hear that they think is not worth the listening to and if they be not so as they say they bely the nature and education which heaven forbid I should be so ungratefull to nature so base to my birth so undutifull to my Educatour and so unthankfull to the Gods No no I will not be so for I will publickly acknowledg natures favours who hath given me more wit than time hath given me yeares she hath furnished me with ingenuity beyond an ordinary proportion and hath drawn the plat form of my mind Mathematically and pensiled me with her best coullourd dyes for which I am bound morally to serve her As for my birth as I am of the same kind of Mankind I am equall with the rest let my condition be never so poor I have no reason to be ashamed of the Kind but my birth is Honourable by length of time as for my education it
Chapter conteins more than half the book The Last Chapter is remembrance which is also a very long Chapter and the variety of thoughts are the several letters in which these Chapters are writ but they are not all writ after one kind of writing neither are they writ with one and the same language For knowledge is writ in great and plain letters memory and understanding in finer and smaller letters Conceptions and Imaginations after the manner of way as like Hierogyphiks Remembrance is writ as after the like way of Characters Knowledge is writ in the Originall Language as we may liken to Hebrew Memory and Understanding are writ in a language derived therefrom Conception and Imagination are written in heathen Greek Remembrance is writ in a mixt or compounded language like as English but yet it is most like that we call old English But the most profitablest School is consideration And the best Tutour is reason and when the mind is distempered or obstructed with Ignorance education is the best Physick which purges it cleanses and freeth it from all gross and foul and filthy Errours but the Educatours which are the Physitians should be well chosen for the plain truth is that youth should be taught by those that are grave and sage that they may learn experience by the Second hand otherwayes Age only knows but hath no time to practise in but if that youth be taught good principles their life growes high by Noble deeds and broadly spreads with Honours but when that youth have liberty to sport and play casting their learning time away they grow like poisonous plants or weeds which makes their life swell big with venomous passions and dispositions and burst with evil deed but youth their understanding is like their years and bodyes little and weak for the Soul is improved by the Senses but Educatours their Physicians presents to their Senses the most wholesom and nurishing meat for as the body is nurished and grows strong by good disgestion so doth the Soul gain knowledge by information but if the food be unwholesom or more than the Stomach be able to digest or that the body is not fed sufficiently the body becomes lean weak saint and sick so the Soul or mind If the senses be imperfect or the objects more than can be well disenst or too many for the temper of the brain or that the brain be too cold or to hot then the Soul or mind like the body decayes for like as the bodily senses so the senses of the Soul decayes for the understanding as the Spirits grows saint the judgment as the liver wan and weak the memory as the eyes grows dim and blind the thoughts as the several limbs grows feeble and lazy but some remedy is for those diseases for the speculative notes helpes the dull memory cordiall learning the faint understanding purging and opening experience the wan and obstructed judgment and necessity exercises the lazy thoughts but if the brain be defective or the Soul imperfect from the birth there is no remedy for then the reason proves a dwarf and the understanding a fool but if the Soul be perfect and the brain well tempered then the Soul is like the serene and azure Sky wherein reason as the Sun gives light to all the Animal World where the thoughts as several Creatures lives therein some being bred in the deep and restless Ocean of Imagination others as from the fixt Earth of knowledge springs and as the Gods governs the World and the Creatures therein so the Soul should govern the body and the Appetites thereof which governing is to govern still to the best As for the continuance of the World so for the prolonging of the life of the body which government I wish to the Soul of every young Student here In the next place I shall speak to Oratours whose study and practice is language and language although it is not born with man yet it is bred with man or in man either by their education or their own Invention for if language had a beginning it was invented by the Creature if no beginning it was taught them by the Gods for though that Nature made such Organs as was proper to express language with yet it seems as if she did not Creat language as a principal work but if she did then Oratours tongues are Natures Musicall instruments but the best Musicall Instruments were better to lye unplaid with than to sound out of Tune or to strike jarring discord which displeaseth more than the harmony can delight so likewise it were better not to speak than to speak to no purpose or to an evill design but Oratory or Rhetorick is as all other Musick is which lives more in sound than in substance it charms the eare but it cannot inchant the reason it may enslave the passions but not conquer the understanding it may obstruct truth and abuse virtue but it can neither destroy the one nor corrupt the other it can flatter up hopes and raise up doubts but it cannot delude experience it can make factions and raise tumults but seldome rectify disorders for it is to be observed that in those States or Nations where Oratory and Rhetorick flourisheth most the Common-wealth is for the most part distempered and Justice looses her seat and many times the State looses its former Government Customs and Lawes witness the Romans Athens and Lacedemonians and others that were ruined by their flourishing Rhetorick and factious Oratory but it is thought that the flowers of Rhetorick is much vaded since the time of the Athens through the whole World and that the lively Cullours are quite lost if it be so then surely the deffect is much in the first education of Children for in Infancy is a time these should take a good print but their Nurses is their Grammar and her tongue is their first Tutour which most commonly learns them the worst part of Speech which parts are Eight as impertinent questions cross answers broken relations false reports rude speeches mistaking words misplaccing words new words of their own making without a signification Wherefore parents that would bring up their Children elegantly and eloquently they must have a learned Grammar and a wise Tutour at the first to teach them for the mouth as the Press Prints the breath as the paper with words as the Ink and reason and sense bindes them up into a book or vollume of discourses but certainly the Oratours of this Age for eloquence and elegancy comes not short of the eloquent Oratours of Athens or any other State they only use it to better designs than to make Warrs on their Neighbours to banish their Citizens or those that ought to be rewarded to alter their Government and ruine their state no worthy Oratours you use your eloquence for peace love and unity and not for faction War and ruine for which may the Gods of eloquence assist you But there is two sorts of Oratours the one
out Here ends my Lord Marquesses FINIS This written by my Lord Marquess THE SECOND PART OF Youths Glory and Deaths Banquet ACT I. Scene 2. Enter the Lord de l'Amour and the Lady Innocence the Lord de l'Amour seems to appear angry LAdy Innocence My Lord what makes you frown on me surely I never willingly offended you Lord de l'Amour But the report I hear of you offends me Lady Innocence I hope my behaviour is not lyable to any aspertion or evil censure for as you have used me civily so I have behaved my self modestly Lord de l'Amour I perceive you are a subtil insinuating young Lady Lady Innocence Think me not subtil for being so brod as not to slight your Love not so uncivil as to scorn your noble favours but strive to merit your worthy affections but if I have erred in my endeavours pray pardon me and if you please to tell me my errour I shall rectify it Lord de l'Amour I hear you will speak more lyes than tell truths Lady Innocence Truly I am too strict a Votary to truth to tell a lye Lord de l'Amour I should be glad you were vowed one of her Order Lady Innocence I am so and have taken the habit of sincerity upon me Lord de l'Amour Tell me truly do you never use to lye Lady Innocence If you have opinion that I never or seldome speak truth let me say what I will you will still believe it is a lye but truly I did never tell a lye as I do know of but did alwayes speak truth Lord de l'Amour I hear to my great grief you have many faults pray mend them Lady Innocence I am sory there are so many ill reports or rather aspersions laid on me as to grieve you but surely youth cannot commit many faults but Age that hath had time to commit faults in but if you can believe my faults surmounts not all accounts I shall desire to know them Lord de l'Amour Examine yourself and you will find them Lady Innocence I shall call a particular Councel and make a General search and what thoughts words or actions I can find guilty or prove Criminal I shall condemn and sacrifice them on the Altar of Repentance and crave mercy and forgiveness Lord de l'Amour Pray do so Ex. Lady Innocence alone 'T is strange his humour should be so suddenly changed from loving professions kind expressions and pleasing smiles to sharp words and angry frowns and that he should seem to love me as much as he did now to believe me so little as it seems he doth I hope it is only the superfluities of his affections that runs into the indiscretion of jealousie Ex. Enter Sanspareile and her Audience As soon as she hath taken her standing place A Messenger Enters Messenger The Queen of Attention is come to be one of your Audience The Company makes a bustle Enter the Queen of Attention and her Train Sir Thomas Father Love kneels down and kisses her hand Queen I am come to hear and see your Daughter whom fame reports to be the wonder of this Age Father It had been more proper and fit for my Daughter to have waited at your Court-Gates untill your Majesty had comanded her into your presence than for your Majesty to come hither to hear and see her but she being a plain bred girle durst not be so bold Queen If your Daughters wit be answerable to her beauty she is a wonder indeed Sanspareile comes off from the place where she stands and makes 3. Obeysances and coming near kneels down and kisses the Queens hand Lady Sanspareile Madam this gracious honour and honourable grace is beyond the management of my young years the evil of my weak confidence and the compass of my little wit and my obscure breeding hath made me so Ignorant that I know not in what manner I should behave or address myself towards your Majesty but if I commit faults in misbehaviour pray impute it to my ignorant youth and not to disobedience Queen I see nothing yet in your behaviour but that you may be not only a pattern for young but also for grave Age to take example from Sanspareile Madam the generosity of your Maiesties Nature the Magnificence of your Majesties mind and the Charity of your Majesties disposition gives an overflowing commendation like to the goodness of the Gods that gives more to the Creature than the Creature can deserve Queen Let me tell you young Lady your speeches are as pleasing to the eare as your beauty is delightfull to the eye Sanspareile Your Majesty is like a Deity can turn or translate words like poor Mortals into a glorified sence like as into a glorified body Queen Sir Thomas Father Love if your Daughter speak at all times and alwayes so eloquently I should not wonder you let her speak in publick Father I beseech your Majesty that you will rather judge me an over fond Father which is natural than a vain opiniatour in that I give her liberty to speak in publick Queen If it were a vanity it might be well forgiven but pray let me hear her speak Sanspareile makes three obeysances as she steps back from the Queen to her standing-place and then ascends Sanspareile Great Queen I nor no other should offer or dare to speak before or to such Supreme persons as your Majesty without a sore premeditation for the words and behaviours of speakers should be fitted to the degrees and qualities Powers Offices and Authorities of the Auditory But your Majesties commands makes that an obedient duty that would otherwayes be a presumption wherefore on the ground of duty I speak at this time before your Majesty but the Royalty of your person the brightnesse of your beauty the fame of your vertues and the glorious splendour of your Majestical Grandeur hath so amazed me that my understanding is as it were blind which will cause my tongue to stagger and my words to run stumbling out of my mouth but I hope your Justice will pardon them For as Divine Justice belongs to the Gods moral Justice to Nature so humane Justice to Monarchial Princes which justice is weighed and measured out according to merit or desert be they good or bad For which Justice Gods and Princes are both feared and loved and Justice is the chief Pillar or upholder of Monarchical States and Common-wealths for without Justice there can be no Government and without Government there can be no Rule and without Rule there can be no peace and where peace is not there will be warrs and warrs causeth ruine and destruction But for the most part those Kingdomes that have arrived to the height of Glory declines or falls to ruine The reason is that a low condition is necessitated and weak wherefore they seek for help to strengthen themselves which makes or rather forces every particular person to associate unite either by Laws of Covenants to which they submit
and obey But when a Kingdom is in a Glorious condition and is full of prosperity every particular Citizen or man thinks he can stand upon his own foundation flinging off their supporters which is Duty and obedience which makes them fall to ruine For when men comes to that height of pride caused by prosperity that they all strive to be Superiours and Commanders they become Factious and mutinous against the Magistrates Rulers or Governours which Factions begets warrs either by calling in Forriegners or by making or siding into parties amongst themselves for it is to be observed that States or Monarchies do oftner fall by the pride and Factions of the Commons or Subjects than by the Tyranny of the Rulers or Governours But it is the nature of the vulgar sort of man-kind to be the most basest fearfulest dejected Creatures in adversity that Nature hath made and in prosperity to be the proudest insultingest and imperious and cruelest of all Creatures But Kings and Royal Princes should do as Gods which is to keep their Subjects in aw with the Superstitious fear of Ceremonies wherefore Princes should do no actions no not the meanest without Ceremony to astonish the vulgar for Ceremonies begets fear fear begets Superstition Superstition Reverence Reverence Obedience Obedience brings Peace Peace brings Tranquility But where Ceremonie is not used the Gods are neglected and Princes dispised for Ceremonie is the Throne which Gods and Princes sits on which being pulled away they fall from their Glory for Ceremonie is the Royal Crown which makes them Majestical it is the Scepter by which they rule it is the Altar at which all the Subjects kneel do bow and they offer up there their natural free liberty But most glorious Princess you and your Subjects are like the Sun and the rest of the Planets moving perpetually keeping their proper Sphere they moving in civiler loyalty about you to receive the light of your Authority and you move in them as the just center spreading your glorious beams round about the Circumference of your Dominions and in the light of your commands they see their duty And your Laws are like the fixed Starrs which twinkling move in the night of great offences and doth assist the innocent with sparkling light And your Majesty governs like the Gods your wisdome by your Works is known and by your Wisdome is your Power Immense So doing her respects comes off from her standing and with three Reverences comes to the Queen Queen Young Lady let me tell you that you are fit to be a Governesse although you be very Young that can speak so well of Government Sanspareile 'T is happier for me to be a Subject to so gracious a Sovereign than if I were govern a people my self Ex. Scene 2. Enter the Lady Innocence and her Maid PAssive Madam you retire your self more to solitary than you were used to do Lady Innocence Because I find the world not only more foolish but more wicked than I thought it was but who would endure the world or the worlds folly since solitarinesse is sweet and melancholly Passive The truth is that words pleaseth the world more than reason and vice is exercised more than vertue Lady Innocence You say right for words takes the world of man-kind by the ears drawing them about even where they please when reason is not heard also vice will be imbraced and vertue kickt away thus words and vice will get a room both in the head and heart when reason and vertue are barr'd out but if perchance they are crowded in they are straight thrown out as unfit guests or troublesome intruders Passive But Madam let me advise you from so much solitude for obscurity shadows vertue and buries beauty Lady Innocence And Solitude doth hide defects as well as Excellencies Passive But you have no defects to hide Lady Innocence Nor Excellencies to divulge Enter the Lady Innocence the Lord de l'Amour Ex. Passive Lord de l'Amour T is strange you can be so crafty in dissembling and yet so young for you appear to me to be innocently modest and of a bashfull Nature and yet it is told me you are so impudently bold speaking so wantonly as it is a shame to Nature which makes me fear you will prove dishonest Lady Innocence Perchance I might learn modest words but not the signification yet surely I never spake such words I understood not nor have I many speaking faults to accuse me Lord de l'Amour I am told you speak so knowingly of marriage as if you were a mother of many children Lady Innocence The mystery of marriage I neither know nor guesse at neither do I know how children are bred or born Lord de l'Amour If you be so ignorant you may loose your Virginity for want of knowledge and wit to keep it Lady Innocence I have been taught none can be devirginated that suffers not immodest action if so I am a pure Virgin and my thoughts are so innocent and my life so honest as I wish the Chambers of my mind or soul which is the brain and the heart were set open to your view there should you see the pictures in the one and read the letters in the other for truth records all in the heart and memory pencils all that the imaginations or Senses brings into the brain Lord de l'Amour I cannot but believe what is so confidently reported but your words are such charms as they inchant my angry passions and makes my will a prisoner Lady Innocence Let reason as a Knight of Chevalry and truth as his Esquire set him free and open the gates of understanding then you might see vertue cloathed with white Innocency and truth free from the bonds of falshood Lord de l'Amour So you were as wife as witty Lady Innocence Wisdome is built upon the Foundation of Experience wherefore none can be wise but those that are old but though I am too young to be wise yet not to be vertously honest Lord de l'Amour Pray Heaven you prove so Ex. Lady Innocency alone Heaven blesse my innocency from Thieves of slander that strives to steal away my honest Fame Ex. Scene 3. Enter two Men or Scholars 1 GEntleman This Lady Sanspareile hath a strange spreading wit for she can plead causes at the Bar decide causes in the Court of Judicature make Orations on publick Theaters act parts and speak speeches on the Stage argue in the Schooles preach in the Pulpits either in Theology Philosophy moral and natural and also phisick and Metaphysick 2. Gent. The truth is she is ushered by the Muses led by the Sciences and attended by the Arts Ex. Scene 4. Enter the Lady Innocence alone Lady Innocence I do perceive my shiftlesse youth is round beset with enemies Suspitions round about me placed With slandring words my same disgraced My innocency as crast is thought My harmlesse life to ruine brought Who will adore the Gods if they Vice vertue in one ballance
only Politick Arts Civil and Combining Arts Profitable and necessary Arts Military Arts and Ceremonious Arts but there were Superstitious Arts Idolatrous Arts false factious and mischievous Arts destructive and wicked Arts base and mean Art foolish childish vain superfluous and unprofitable Arts Upon all these Arts the Muses made good sport for at some they flung jests scorns and scoffs and some they stripp'd naked but to others they were cruel for some they stayd their skins off and others they made very Skeletons of dissecting them to the very bones and the truth is they spared not the best of them but they had one saying or other to them But when all the Arts departed they took me and carry'd to the Well of Helicon and there they threw me in over head and cares and said they would Souse me in the Liquor of Poetry but when I was in the Well I thought verily I should have been drown'd for all my outward Senses were smother'd and choak'd for the water did blind my eyes stop'd my ears and nostrils and fill'd my mouth so full as I had not so much space as to spout it forth besides all my body was so numb as I had no feeling insomuch as when they took me out of this Well of Helicon into which they had flung me I seem'd as dead being quite senseless Whereupon they all agreed to take and carry me up on Parnassas Hill and to lay me on the top thereof that the Poetical Flame or Heat therein might dry and warm me after which agreement they took me up every one bearing a part of me or was industrious about me for some carried my Head others my Legs some held my Hands others imbraced my Waste another oiled my Tongue and others powr'd Spirits into my Mouth but the worst-natur'd Muse pinch'd me to try if I was sensible or not and the sweetest and tenderest natur'd Muse wept over me and another was so kind as to kiss me but when they had brought me up to the top of the Hill and laid me thereupon I felt such a heat as if they had laid me on AEtna but after I had layn some time I felt it not so hot and so less and less until I felt it like as my natural heat just like those that goe into a hot Bathe at first crie out it is insufferable and scalding hot yet with a little use will finde it cool enough But whilest I lay on Parnassus Hill I began to make a Lyrick Verse as thus Bright Sparkling hot Poetick sire My duller Muse Inspire Unto thy Sweeter Lyre My Fancies like as Notes all sit To play a Tune of VVit On well-strung Numbers fit But your unfortunate Visit hath pull'd me so hastily down from the Hill that the force of the speed hath crack'd my Imaginary Fiddle broke the Strings of my Wit blotted the Notes of Numbers so spoil'd my Song Lady Visit. Prethee there is none that would have taken the pains to have sung thy Song unlesse some blind Fidler in an Alehouse and then not any one would have listen'd unto it for the fume of the drink would stop the sense of their ears Besides Drunkards love not nor delight in nothing but beastly Nonsense but howsoever I had done thee a friendly part to fetch thee down from off that monstrous high Hill whereby the vastnesse of the height might have made you so dizzy as you might have fallen there-from on the sharp stones of Spite or at least on the hard ground of Censure which might have bruised if not wounded the Reputatio of thy Wit Lady Contempl. Let me tell you you had done me a Courtesie to have let me remain'd there some time for if you had let me alone I might there have improv'd the Stature of my Wit perfected the Health of my Judgment and had nourished the Life of my Muse Exeunt Scene 27. Enter the Lord Title and the Lady Virtue Cloathed like her Self LOrd Title Still I fear my fault is beyond a Pacification yet the Gods are pacified with submissive Actions as bended knees repentant tear imploring words sorrowful Sighs and dejected Countenances all which I gave to thee Lady Virtue Though there is always in my minde an obedient respect to Merit yet a scorn is a sufficient cause to make a rebelling of thoughts words and actions for though I am poor yet I am virtuous and Virtue is to be preferr'd before Wealth or Birth were I meanly born But howsoever true Love like a great and powerful Monarch soon disperses those rebellious passions and quiets those factious thoughts and all murmuring speeches or words are put to silence banishing all frowning Countenance returning humble looks into the eyes again Lord Title Then you have pardon'd me Lady Vertue Yes Lord Title And do you love me Lady Virtue As Saints do Heaven Lord Title kisses Lady Virtues hands Lord Title Your Favours have rais'd my spirits from the grave of Melancholy and your pure Love hath given me a new Life Lady Virtue So truly I love you as nothing but death can destroy it my I am of that belief that were I dead and turned to ashes my dust like firm and lasting steel would fly unto you as to the Loadstone if you were at such distance as nothing might oppose Lord Title Thus Souls as well as Bodies love Exeunt Enter the Lord Courtship and the Lady Amorous LAdy Amorous Since I cannot have the happinesse of your Lordships company at my House I am come to wait upon you at your House Lord Courts Your Ladyship doth me too great an honour Lady Amorous Your Lordship is grown very Courtly Pray how comes our familiar friendship so estranged and set at distance with Complements Lord Courts Madam my wilde manners have been so rude to your Fair Sex as I am become a scorn and shame unto my self Lady Amorous I hate Civility and Manners in a man it makes him appear sneakingly poorly and effeminate and not a Cavalier Bold and free Actions become your Sex Lord Courts It doth so in a Camp amongst rude and rough Souldiers whose Breeding never knew Civility nor will obey gentle Commands submitting only to rigorous Authority But to the fair tender effeminate Sex men should offer their service by their admiring Looks civil Discourses and humble Actions bowing as to a Deity and when they are pleased to favour their servants those Favours to be accounted beyond the Gifts of Iove Lady Amorous Have I Cuckolded my Husband dishonour'd my Family defam'd my self for your sake and am I thus rewarded and thrown aside with civil Complements O basest of men Lord Courts I am sorry I have wronged your Husband but more sorry I have dishonour'd you and what satisfaction a true repentance can make I offer upon the Altar of a Reformed Life Lady Amor Do you repent O false man May you be cursed of all your Sex and die the death of Orpheus Lady Amorous goes out Lord Courtship alone Lord
the wisest man as Solomon the wittiest man as David the strongest man as Sampson the fairest man as Paris of Troy the valiantest man as Achilles the subtilest man as Ulysses the power-fullest men as Alexander and Caesar Faction By your favour Women never made a Conquest of the two latter and therefore cannot be said to be absolute Conquerors for none are absolute Conquerors but those that conquer power that is those that get absolute dominion over all the World which Alexander and Caesar are said to have done by their Valour and Conduct and never any Woman or Women conquer'd those men as to get them to yield up their power for a womans sake which shews they were not rul'd by women although they lov'd women by which it is to be proved that women never made an absolute Conquest of men because they could never conquer absolutely those two absolute Conquerors and Masters of the World Pleasure But Livia Conquer'd Augustus Caesar and Ruled his Power and he was as absolute a Master of the Worlds Power as Iulius Caesar and Alexander Faction He was rather to be said the Possessor of the Worlds power than the absolute Conqueror of the Worlds power Superbe It is as good to be a Conqueress of the possessor of power as to conquer the Conqueror of power Ambition It is as good for the Benefit but not so much for the Honour of it Portrait But Alexander nor Caesar lived not so long a time as to be Conquer'd by women for women must have time and opportunity for to gain the Conquest in as well as men have Faction If Alexander and Caesar must have been old before they possibly could have been conquer'd it proves that women do rather conquer Age than power weakens the strength and the truth is women conquer nothing but the vices weaknesses and defects of men As they can conquer an unexperienc'd Youth and doting Age ignorant Breeding effeminate Natures wavering Minds facile Dispositions soft Passions wanton Thoughts unruly Appetites and the luxurious Lives of men but they cannot conquer mens fix'd Resolutions their heroick Valours their high Ambitions their magnificent Generosities their glorious Honours or their conquering or over-ruling Powers Nor can women conquer their moral Vertues as their Prudence Fortitude Justice and Temperance But put the case a man had the power of the whole World and could quit that power for the enjoyment of any particular woman or women yet he quits not that power for the womans sake but for his minds-sake his pleasure-sake as to satisfie his Fancy Passion or Appetites And what Conquest soever Women make on Men if any Conquest they do make is more by the favour of Nature than the Gods Ambition Well I wish I may be the Conqueress of one man let the favour proceed from which it will Exeunt Scene 4. Enter Ease Wanton and Idle EAse There hath been such a Skirmish or rather a Battel Idle How and betwixt whom Ease Why betwixt Grave Temperance and Mother Matron Idle What was the cause of their falling out Ease Why Mother Matron had a spic'd pot of Ale in her hand so she set it to her mouth and drank a hearty draught of it and finding it very good and refreshing drank another draught By my faith said she this is a cheerly cup indeed and a comfortable drink and with that drank another draught and so long-winded she was as she drank up all the Ale therein Whereupon Grave Temperance rebuked her for drinking so much saying that though a little as one draught or so might refresh the Spirits yet a great quantity would make her drunk Whereupon Mother Matron who could not then suffer a reproof in anger she flung the pot which was still in her hand at Grave Temperance's head Idle It was a sign she had drank all the good liquor out or otherwise she would not have throvvn the pot avvay Ease It was a sign she was drunk or else she would not have done so outragious an act as to have broke Grave Temperances head Enter Mother Matron as half drunk and scolding Matron Reprove me teach me Have not I liv'd long enough in the World to be able to govern my self but Temperance must govern me Am I a Child am I a Novice that I must be governed by Temperance No no let her go to Nunneries and let her be the Lady Prioress to govern Nuns for yfaith she shall not Prior me Idle Not Frier you do you say Matron No nor Nunn me neither for I will be neither Fryerd nor Nunn'd Ease Why what will you be Matron Why what should I be but as I am a wise sober and discreet Governess to a company of young Ladies Ladies that love the World better than Heaven and hate a Nunnery worse than Death and by my Faith they have reason for liberty is the joy of life and the World is the place of sensual pleasures and sensual pleasures are substantial and in being when the pleasures after death are uncertain but if they were certain yet I had rather have a draught of Ale in this World than a draught of Nectar in the next Idle This Ale hath heat her into a Poetical height Matron What do you say into a pots head Idle No I say your head is a pot filled with the fume of Ale Matron What have you to do with my head Ease What had you to do with Grave Temperances head Matron I would Temperances grave head were in your throat and then there would be two fools heads one within another Idle Come let 's leave her or she will talk her self into a fit of madnesse Ease and Idle go out Matron alone Matron A couple of Gill-flirts to heat me thus Exit Scene 5. Enter Monsieur Satyrical and Madamoiselle Bon' Esprit SAtyrical Dear Mistris have you freely pardon'd and forgiven me my faults Bon' Esprit Yes Satyrical But will you not reprove me for them hereafter Bon' Esprit In a pardon all faults ought to be forgiven if not forgotten and no repetitions ought to be made of the same for a clear pardon and a free forgiveness blots out all offences or should do so But you imagine your offences greater than they are and by your doubts I to be of less good nature than I am Satyrical There are none that have offended what they love but fears and hopes and doubts sight Duels in their Minds Bon' Esprit Banish those doubts and let the hopes remain to build a confident belief to keep out jealousie otherwise it will take possession and destroy at least disturb affection Satyrical Not my affection to you Exeunt Scene 6. Enter Superbe Ambition and Portrait FAction For Heavens sake let 's go see Mother Matron for 't is said she 's mad-drunk Ambition If she be mad-drunk she 's rather to be shunn'd than sought after Superbe Why do not we give money to see mad people in Bedlam and we may see her for nothing Ambition Those people
this discourse is that since Self-love is the Fountain of and in Nature from whence issue out several Springs to every several Creature wherein Mankind being her chiefest and Supreme work is filled with the fullest Springs from that Fountain which is the cause that Mankind is more industrious cruel and unsatiable to and for his self ends than any other Creature he spares nothing that he hath power to destroy if he fears any hurt or hopes for any gain or finds any pleasure or can make any sport or to imploy his idle time he melts metalls distills and dissolves plants dissects animals substracts and extracts Elements he digs up the bowels of the Earth cuts through the Ocean of the Sea gathers the winds into Sails fresh waters into Mills and imprisons the thinner Ayre he Hunts he Fowls he Fishes for sport with Gunns Nets and Hooks he cruelly causeth one Creature to destroy another the whilst he looks on with delight he kills not only for to live but lives for to kill and takes pleasure in torturing the life of other Creatures in prolonging their pains and lengthning their Deaths and when Man makes friendship of Love it is for his own sake either in humouring his passion or feeding his humour or to strengthen his party or for Trust or Counsel or Company or the like causes if he dies for his friend it is either for fame or that he cannot live himself happy without his friend his passion and grief making him restless if Man loves his Children Wife or Parents t is for his own sake he loves his Parents for the honour he receives by them or for the life he received of them if he loves his Wife or the Wife the Husband it is for their own sakes as their own pleasure as either for their Beauties Wits Humours or other Graces or for their Company or Friendships or because they think they love them if they love their Children it is for their own sakes as to keep alive their memory and to have their duty and obedience to bow and do homage to them If Masters love their Servants it is for their own sakes because they are trusty faithfull and industrious in their affairs imployments or for their own profit or ease and if Servants love their Masters it is for their own sakes as either for their power to protect them or for the regard they have to them or for the gain they get from them or for their lives that are nourished and maintained by them if Amorous Lovers love it is for their own sakes as to please the Appetite and to satisfy their desires if Subjects love their Soveraigns it is for their own sakes as that they may have Law and Justice Peace and Unity If Sovereigns love their Subjects it is for their own sakes because they bear up his Throne with their Wealth and Industry and fight to maintain or get him power My Application most Noble and Right Honourable is that since we do all and in every act for our own sakes we should indeavour and study for that which is best for our selves and the ground of our indeavour is to learn and know our selves every particular person must learn and know himself not by comparative as observing others for every man is not alike but by self study reading our own Natures and Dispositions marking our own Passions mours and Appetites with the Pen of Thought and Ink of Examination and let the Truth be the Tutor to instruct you in the School of Reason in which you may Commence Master of Art and go out Doctor of Judgment to practise Temperance for Temperance keeps in its full strength prolongs Beauty quickens Wit ripens Youth refreshes Age restores Decayes keeps Health maintains Life and hinders Times ruines but Temperance is not only a Doctor of Physick a Physician to the Body but a Doctor of Divinity a Divine for the Soul It preaches and teaches good Life it instructs with the Doctrine of Tranquillity and guides to the Heaven of Happiness also Temperance is the Doctor of Musick it tunes the Senses composes the Thoughts it notes the Passions it measures the Appetites and playes a Harmonious Mind Thus Most Noble and Right Honourable I have proved that Self-love is the Fountain of Nature and the Original Springs of her Creatures and that Temperance is the strongest Foundation of Self-love although few build thereupon but upon Intemperance which is a huge Bulk of Excess the substance of Riot worm eaten with Surfers rotten with Pain and sinks down to death with Sickness and Grief not being able to bear and uphold Life wherefore build your Lives upon Temperance which is a strong and sure Foundation which will never fail but will uphold your Lives as long as Time and Nature permits them and your Souls will dwell peaceably and happily therein Exeunt ACT V. Scene 14. Enter Madamoiselle Amor alone as musing to her self alone then speaks MAdamoiselle Amor I will confess to him my Love since my designs are Noble but O for a woman to woo a man is against Nature and seems too bold nay impudent only by a contrary custome but why should not a woman confess she loves before she is wooed when after a seeming coyness gives consent as being won more by a Treaty than by Love when her obscure thoughts know well her heart was his at first bound as his prisoner and only counterfeits a freedome besides it were unjust although an antient custome if dissembling should be preferred before a Modern Truth for length of Time and often practices makes not Falshood Truth nor Wrong Right nor Evill Good then I will break down Customs Walls and honest Truth shall lead me on Love plead my Sute and if I be deny'd My heart will break and Death my Face will hide Exit Scene 15. Enter Monsieur Esperance and his Wife Madamoiselle Esperance MOnsieur Esperance Wife whither do you go when I come near you you always turn to go from me Madamoiselle Esperance I saw you not for I had rather be fixt as a Statue than move to your dislike Monsieur Esperance Why do you blush surely you are guilty of some crime Madamoiselle Esperance 'T is said blushing comes unsent for and departs without leave and that it oftner visits Innocency than guilt Madamoiselle Esperance weeps Monsieur Esperance What do you weep Madamoiselle Esperance How can I otherwise choose when my Innocent Life and True Love is suspected and all my pure affections are cast away like dross and the best of all my actions condemn'd as Traytors and my unspotted Chastity blemish'd with soul Jealousy and defamed with slandering words Monsieur Esperance Prethy Wife do not weep for every tear wounds me to Death and know it is my extreme Love which creates my fears but you might have had a Husband with more faults Madamoiselle Esperance 'T is true but not so many noble qualities as you have which makes
naturally an eloquent Orator yet the bare truth of his worthy Virtues and Heroical actions will be sufficient to make the story both profitable delightfull and famous also I must intreat you to choose out a Poet one that doth not meerly write for gain or to express his own wit so much as to endeavour to Pencil with the pen Virtue to the life which in my Lord was so beautifull as it was beyond all draughts but the theam will inspire his Muse and when both these works are writ printed and set out as divulged to the World as a patern for examples which few will be able to imitate then I would have these books ly by me as Registers of memory for next unto the Gods my life shall be spent in Contemplation of him I know I shall not need to perswade you to do this for your affection to his memory is ready of it self but love and duty binds me to express my desires for his Fame leaving nothing which is for my part thereunto Doctor Educature Madam all the service I can do towards the memory of my dear Pupil and noble Lord and Patron shall be most devoutly observed and followed for Heaven knows if I had as many lives to dispose of as I have lived years I would have Sacrificed them all for to haue redeemed his life from Death Doctor Educature goes out Madam Jantil alone Madam Iantil. When I have interred my Husbands body and all my desires thereunto be finished I shall be at some rest and like an Executrix to my self executing my own will distributing the Rites and Ceremonies as Legacies to the dead thus the living gives the dead but O my Spirits are tired with the heavy burden of Melancholy and grow faint for want of rest yet my senses invite me thereunto yet I cannot rest in my Bed for frightfull Dreams disturb me wherefore I will ly down on this floor and try if I can get a quiet sleep on the ground for from Earth I came and to Earth I would willingly return She lays her self down upon the ground on one side of her Arm bowing leaning upon her Elbow her Forehead upon the palm of her hand bowing forwards her face towards the ground but her grief elevating her passion thus speaks Madam Iantil. Weep cold Earth through your pores weep Or in your bowels my salt tears fast keep Inurn my sighs which from my grief is sent With my hard groans build up a Monument My Tongue like as a pen shall write his name My words as letters to divulge his fame My life like to an Arch over his Ashes bend And my desires to his grave descend I warn thee Life keep me not Company I am a friend to Death thy Enemy For thou art cruell and every thing torments Wounding with pain all that the World presents But Death is generous and sets us free Breaks off our Chains and gives us liberty Heals up our wounds of trouble with sweet rest Draws our corrupted passions from our breast Layes us to sleep on Pillows of soft case Rocks us with silence nothing hears nor sees She fetches'a great sigh O that I may here sleep my last After a short slumber she wakes If it were not for Dreams sleep would be a happiness next unto Death but I find I cannot sleep a long sleep in Death I shall not dye so soon as I would Love is so strong and pure it cannot dy Lives not in sense but in the Soul doth lye Why do I mourn his love with mine doth dwell His love is pleas'd mine entertains it well But mine would be like his one imbodied Only an Essence or like a Godhead Exeunt Scene 22. Enter Doctor Comfort and Doll Pacify DOctor Comfort How doth our Lady Doll Doll Pacify To day she began to sit up but yet she is very weak and faint Doctor Comfort Heaven help her Doll Pacify You that are Heavens Almner should distribute Heavens gifts out of the purse of your mouth and give her single Godly words instead of single silver pence to buy her some Heavenly food to feed her famisht mind Doctor Comfort Thou are a full-fed wench Doll Pacify If I were no better fed than you feed me which is but once a week as on Sundayes I should be starved Doctor Comfort You must fast and pray fast and pray Exeunt ACT V. Scene 23. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. All the young Gallants in the Town are preparing themselves with fine Cloths and Feathers to go a woing to the two rich Widows the Lady Iantil and the Lady Passionate 2 Gent. Riches are the Loadstone of affection or at least professions 1 Gent. The truth is Riches draw more Suters than Youth Beauty or Virtue Exeunt Scene 24. Enter two or three Gentlemen Monsieur Comerade Monsieur Compagnion and Monsieur la Gravity Monsieur Comerade For Heavens sake let us go and address our selves to the two Rich Widows Monsieur Compagnion For my part I will address my self to none but the young Widow the Lady Iantil and to her let us go without delay Monsieur la Gravity It will be uncivil to go so soon after their Husbands Death for their Husbands are not yet laid in their Graves Monsieur Compagnion If they were we should come too late for I knew a man which was a great friend of mine who was resolved to settle himself in a married course of life and so he went a wooing to a Widow for a Widow he was resolved to marry and he went a wooing to one whose Husband was but just cold in his grave but she told him she was promised before so he wooed another whilst she followed her Husbands Corps but she told him he came too late whereat he thought with the third not to be a second in his Sute and so expressed his desires in her Husbands sickness she told him she was very sorry that she had past her word before to another for if she had not she would have ma le him her choice whereat he curst his imprudence and wooed the fourth on her wedding day who gave him a promise after her Husband was dead to marry him and withall she told him that if she had been married before it had been ten to one but he had spoke too late for said she when we are Maids we are kept from the free conversation of men by our Parents or Guardians but on our wedding day we are made free and set at liberty and like as young Heirs on the day of one and twenty we make promises like bonds for two or three lives wherefore I fear we shall miss of our hopes for these two Widows will be promised before we address our Sute Monsieur la Gravity No no for I am confident all do not so for some love to have the freedoms of their wills for every promise is a bondage to those that make a Conscience to keep their promise besides it is not only variety that pleaseth women but
him which is dead I shall desire your continued Acquaintance Compagnion softly to Comerade Monsieur Compagnion She wooes me with her Husbands dead skull I shall render my Service to your Ladyship She bowes him thanks with simpring and smiling Countenance and a bridled head Monsieur la Gravity softly to himself Monsieur la Gravity Those young youths I perceive will be my ruin if not prevented Madam will your Ladyship honour me so much as to give me the private hearing of a few words Lady Passionate Yes Sir She removes with him a little space Monsieur la Gravity Madam although I am not such a one as I could wish my self for your sake yet I am a Gentleman and what I want in person or estate my affection respect and tender regard to your person worth and merit shall make good besides Madam my years suiting to your Ladyships will make the better agreement in marriage Lady Passionate Sir you must excuse me for though you merit a better wife than I yet I cannot answer your affections wherefore I desire you will desist in your Sute for I am resolved if I do marry to please my fancy Monsieur la Gravity If your Ladyship cannot love me Heaven forbid I should marry you wherefore I wish your Ladyship such a Husband as you can fancy best and love most They return to the two other Gentlemen they all take their leaves Madam your most humble Servant They go through the Stage and come upon it again as it were at the Street Door Monsieur la Gravity Where is our Coach Enter a Footman Call the Coach to the Door Enter Doll Pacify as from her Lady to Monsieur Compagnion Doll Pacify Sir pray give me leave to speak a word or two with you Monsieur Compagnion As many as you please Doll Pacify Sir my Lady desires your Company to morrow to Dinner but she desires you will come alone Monsieur Compagnion Pray give your Lady thanks for her favours and tell her if I can possibly I will wait on her Ladyship Doll Pacify goes out Monsieur Comerade Now what encouragement have you from the old Lady Monsieur Compagnion Faith so much as I am ashamed of it for she invites me to come alone Monsieur Comerade On my life if thou wilt not woo her she will woo thee Monsieur Compagnion Like enough for there is nothing so impudent as an old woman they will put a young man be he never so deboist out of Countenance Monsieur Comerade But faith consider of it for she is rich Monsieur Compagnion So is the Devill as Poets say Pluto the God of riches Monsieur Comerade I grant it and is not he best served for every one bows with respect nay worships and adores riches and they have reason so to do since all are miserable that have it not for Poverty is a torment beyōd all sufferance which causes many to hang themselves either in the Chain of Infamy or in a Hempen rope or to do act against the strict Laws of a Common-wealth which is to commit self-murther besides Poverty is the Slave and druge the scorn and reproach of the World it makes all younger Brothers Sherks and meer Cheats whereas this old Ladies riches will not only give you an honest mind and create noble thoughts but will give you an honourable reputation in the VVorld for every one will think you Wise although you were a Fool Valiant although you were a Coward and you shall have the first offers of all Offices and all Officers will be at you devotion they will attend you as Slaves the Lawyers will plead on your side and Judges will give sentence according as you desire Courtiers will flatter you and Divines will pray for you in their Pulpits and if your old Lady dy and leave you her wealth you shall have all the young beautifull Virgins in the Kingdome gather to that City Town or Village where you live omitting no Art that may prefer them to your affection Monsieur Compagnion You say well and I could approve of your Counsel if she would dy soon after I had married her Monsieur Comerade VVhy put the case she should live a great while as the truth is old women are tough and indure long yet you will have her Estate to please your self withall which Estate will buy you fine Horses great Coaches maintain Servants and great Retinues to follow you Monsieur Compagnion But she is so divellish old Monsieur Comerade VVhy let her keep her Age to her self whilst you keep a young Mistress to your self and it is better to have an old Wife that will look after your Family and be carefull and watchfull therein and a young Mistriss than a young Wife which will be a Tyrannical Mistriss which will look after nothing but Vanities and love Servants whilst you poor wretch look like a contented Cuckold and so out of Countenance as you dare not shew your face whilst she spends your Estate running about with every vain idle fellow to Playes Masks Balls Exchanges Taverns or meets at a private Friends private Lodging also making great Feasts and Entertainments where after Dinner and Supper there must be gaming at Cards and Dice where for her honour or at least seeming so to lose five hundred or a thousand pounds away and when they rise with or from their losses singing with a feigned voice as if it were a trifle not to be considered or considerable thus if you marry an old and rich Lady you may live and spend her Estate but if you marry for youth and beauty your wife will live and spend your Estate besides the Husband of an old Lady lives like the great Turk having a Seraglio but marrying a young wife you live like a Prisoner never durst show your head Monsieur la Gravity He gives you good Counsel and let me advise you to go to this Lady as she hath invited you for I perceive she hath a young Tooth in her old head by refusing me and there is none so fit to pull it out as you are wherefore go Monsieur Compagnion Well Gentlemen I will try if my Reason and your Counsel can prevail in my choice Exeunt ACT IV. Scene 13. Enter Madam Jantil in her habit with a white Taper lighted in her hand the Tomb bring thrust upon the Stage she goeth to the Tomb then kneels down and seems as praying after that she rises holding out the Torch with the other hand speaks as follow These Verses being writ by my Lord the Marquess of Newcastle MAdam Iantil. Welcome sad thoughts that 's heapt up without measure They 're joys to me and wealthy Sons of treasure Were all my breath turn'd into sighs 't would ease me And showrs of tears to bath my griefs would please me Then every groan so kind to take my part To vent some sorrows still thus from my heart But there 's no Vacuum O my heart is full As it vents sorrows new griefs in doth pull Is there
second to be Pityed the third to be Shunned the fourth to be Hated the fift to be Governed the sixt to be Punished Exeunt Scene 9 Enter two Gentlemen 1. Gent. VVHat say you to these young Ladies 2. Gent. I say that though they be but young Ladies they discourse like old Women Exeunt Scene 10. Enter a Company of young Gentlemen The Gentleman Speaker takes the Chair Gentleman Speaker THe beauty of the Female Sex hath as great an influence upon the eyes of men as the stars of the Heavens have upon their nature and disposition but as a cloud of ill Education covers changes or buries the good influence of the Stars so a cloud of Time covers changes and buries the beauties of the fairest Ladies faces which alters the affections of men and buries all the delight that was received there-from in the ruines of age and the graves of wrinckles But beauty whilst it is fresh and flourishing it is the most powerfull Conqueresse and Triumphs in the Chariot of Youth and though her Masculine Subjects forsake her when time hath displaced her and weakened her power yet she were unwise not to take pleasure in her Victories whilst she may Exeunt Scene 11. Enter two Citizens Wives 1. Wife COme come Neighbour we shall get no room to see and hear the young Ladies if we go not quickly 2. Wife Yes let us go but stay Neighbour I must run home again for I have left the key in the Celar door 1. Wife Let it be there for this time 2. Wife By my truth I must not for my maid Ioan and the Prentice will drink out all my Ale and strong Beer and there will be none left to give my Husband a draught when he goeth to bed Enter another Citizens Wife 1. Wife VVhat Neighbour are you come back already 3 Wife VVhy there is no getting in the Door-keeper beat me back and said there was no room for Citizens VVives for the room was only kept for Ladies and Gentlewomen of Quality 2. Wife VVell we may come to be Ladies one day although not Gentlewomen and then we shall not so often be beaten back 1. VVife Let us go to the Gentlemens side they will receive us and use us kindly Exeunt Scene 12. Enter the Academy of young Ladies and their Matrons They all sit and the Lady Speaker takes the Chair Matron LAdies let the Theam of our discourse at this time be of Truth Lady Speaker Truth although she hath but one face which is a natural face yet she hath many several countenances for somtimes her countenance is severe other times kind and familiar sometimes it is sad sometimes merry other times pleasing and delightfull also she hath as different humours as she hath countenances according to the Cause or Occasion likewise her presence or approach shews the different Effects and several Causes or from one Cause on several Objects or Subjects As for Example sometimes her Approach shews man to be Miserable or Happy as when she comes to inform him of good Fortune or bad or when she presents him with right Understanding of the condition he is in But in Truth in whatsoever countenance or humour she puts on she is a most beautifull Lady for although she do not shine as the Sun which dazles and obscures the sight with his splendrous beams yet she doth appear like a bright clear day wherein and whereby all things are seen perfectly and although she have various Humours yet her Actions are just for the alteration of her Countenance and Humours are not to deceive men nor she takes no delight in her own sad Approach to grieve men but she doth bear a-part both of their Grief and Joy she makes neither the Chances Fortunes Accidents nor Actions but only declares them she is neither the Cause nor Effects but only shews the several Effects of Causes or what causes those Effects She is of a sweet Nature and an humble Disposition she doth as freely and commonly accompany the Poor as the Rich the Mean as the Great Indeed her constant Habitation and dwelling is among the Learned and Industrious men but she hath an opposite or rival namely Falshood which often obscures her and is often preferr'd before her this Falshood her Rival is of the nature of a Curtezan as all Curtezans are as to flatter and insinuate her self and company to all mens good liking and good opinion she is full of deceit and dissembling and although she hates Truth yet she imitates her as much as she can I do not say she imitates the Justice Severity and Plainesse of Truth for those of all things or actions she shuns but she imitates her Behaviour and Countenance for although Falshood is fowl and filthy of her self yet by artificial Paint she makes herself appear as fair and pure as Truth but the deservingly Wife can soon see the difference between the artificial fair of Falshood and the true natural fair complexion of Truth although fools do admire and are sooner catch'd so for the most part deceived with the deceiving Arts of Falshood than the natural Verity of Truth for Falshood makes a glaring shew at the first sight but the more she is viewed the worse she appears whereas Truth the more she is viewed the better she appears also Falshood uses Rhetorick to allure and deceive with her Eloquent Tongue whereas Truth speaks little her self but brings alwaies and at all times and in all places and to all things Right Reason and plain Proof to speak for her who speak without flourishing Phrases or decking Sentences or Scholastical Rules Methods or Tenses but speak to the purpose deliver the matter briefly and keep to the sense of Truth or true sense which is both the best and natural way of speaking and the honest Practice of Truth whereas Eloquence is one of the most cozening and abusing Arts as is for as Paint is a Vizard on the face so is Eloquence a Vizard on the mind and the Tongue is the Pencil of Deceit drawing the Pictures of Discourse thus Falshood strives to resemble Truth as much as artificially she can Exeunt ACT III Scene 13. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. How do you like the Ladies and their discoursings 2 Gent. I like some of the Ladies discourses better than others and I like some of the Ladies better than the other but let us go hear the men Exeunt Scene 14. Enter a Company of Gentlemen he that is to speak takes the Chair GEntleman Speaker Those women that retire themselves from the Company of men are very ungratefull as first to Nature because she made them only for breed next to men who are their Defenders Protectors their Nourishers their Maintainers their Instructers their Delighters their Admirers their Lovers and Deisiers as men defend them from the raging blustring Elements by building them Houses and not only build them Houses for shelter but Houses for pleasure and magnificency Also men protect them from wild
Objects unexpected preferments or advancements by Fortunes favour or partiall affections also great ruines losses and crosses also Plagues Deaths Famines Warres Earthquakes Meteors Comets unusuall Seasons extraordinary Storms Tempests Floods Fires likewise great strength very old Age Beauty deformities unnaturall Births Monsters and such like which time Records But Fame is the Godess of eminent and Meritorious Actions and her Palace is the Heaven where the renowns which are the Souls of such Actions lives I say Eminent and Meritorious Actions for all Meritorious Actions are not Eminent but those that transcends an usuall degree as extraordinary valour Patience Prudence Justice Temperance Constancie Gratitude Generosity Magnaminity Industry Fidelity Loyalty Piety also extraordinary Wisdome Wit Ingenuities Speculations Conceptions Learning Oratory and the like but it is not sufficient to be barely indued with those vertues and qualities but these vertues and qualities must be elevated beyond an ordinary degree insomuch as to produce some extraordinary Actions so as to be Eminent for Fame dwells high and nothing reaches her but what is Transcendent either in worth or power for it is to be observed that none but Ioves Mansion is purely free from deceit and corruptions for Nature is artified and fame is often forced by fortune and conquering power and sometimes bribed by flattery and partiality and in Times Records there is more false reports than true and in Infamous Dungeon which is deep although not dark being inlightened by the eye of knowledge and the lamp of Memory or Remembrance which divulges and shewes to several and after Ages the evill deeds which lyes therein as Thefts Murther Adultery Sacriledg Injustice evill Government foolish Counsells Tyrany Usurpation Rapine Extortion Treason broken promises Treachery Ingratitude Cosening Cheating Sherking Lying Deluding Defrauding factions Disobedience Follies Errours Vices Fools Whores Knaves Sicophants Sloth Idleness Injury Wrong and many Hundreds the like yet many Innocent vertues and well deserving deeds at least good Intentions lyes in the Dungeon of Infamy cast therein by false constructions evil Events Malice Envy Spight and the like Sometimes some gets out by the help of right interpretation friendly assistance or eloquent pleading but yet these are very seldome by reason the Dungeon is so deep that it allmost requires a supernaturall strength to pull out any dead therein for therein they are oftner buried in Oblivion than translated by pleading but as I said many Innocents are unjustly cast into Infamies Dungeon and lyes for ever therein and many a false report is writ in times Records and never blotted thereout And many vain and unworthy Actions feigned vertues and vitious qualities hath got not only into Fames Palace but are placed high in Fames Tower and good successes although from evill designs and wicked deeds doth many times usurp the most cheifest and highest places as to be set upon the Pinacle for fortune conquering power and partiality forceth carries and throwes more into fames Palace than honest Industry leads or merit advances therein or unto which is unjust yet not to be avoided for Fortune and victory are powerfull and so powerfull as many times they tred down the Meritorious and upon those pure footstoole they raise up the unworthy and base thus fames base Born thrust out the Legitimate heirs and usurp the Right and Lawfull Inheritance of the Right owners of fames Palace Wherefore worthy Heroicks you cannot enjoy fame when you will nor make her sound out so loud as you would nor so long as you would nor where you would have her unless you force her which is only to be done by the assistance of time the providence of forecast the diligence of prudence the Ingenuity of Industry the direction of opportunity the strength of Power the agility of Action the probability of opinion the verity of truth the favour of Fortune the esteem of Affection the guilts of Nature and the breeding of education besides that fame is of several humours or Natures and her Palace stands on several soyles and her Trumpet sounds out several Notes Aires Strains or Dities for some Aires or Strains are pleasant and chearfull others sad and Melancholly and sometimes she sounds Marches of War some to Charge some to Retreat also sometimes her Palace stands on Rocks of adversity other times on the flat soyles of prosperity sometimes in the Sun shine of plenty other times in the shade of poverty sometimes in the flowery Gardens of peace other times in the bloody fields of War but this is to be observed that fame at all times sounds out a Souldiers Renown louder than any others for the sound of Heroick Actions spreads furthest yet the renown of Poets sounds sweetest for fame takes a delight to sound strains of wit and Aires of Fancies and time takes pleasure to record them but worthy Heroicks give me leave to tell you that if time and occasion doth not fit or meet your Noble ambitions you must fashion your Noble ambitions to the times and take those opportunities that are offered you for if you should slip the season of opportunity wherein you should soe the seeds of Industry you will loose the harvest of Honourable deeds so may starve wanting the bread of report which should feed the life of applause but noble Heroicks when you adventure or set forth for the purchase of Honour you must be armed with fortitude and march along with prudence in an united body of patience than pitch in the field of fidelity and fight with the Sword of Justice to maintain the cause of right and to keep the priviledges of truth for which you will be intailed the Heirs and Sons of fame and my wishes and Prayers shall be that you may be all Crowned with Lawrell After she had made her respects She goeth out My Lord Marquess writ these following Speeches A Souldier Silence all thundring Drums and Trumpets loud with glistering Arms bright Swords and waving Plumes And the feared Cannon powdered shall no more Force the thin Aire with horrour for to roare Nor the proud steeds with hollow hoofes to beat The humble Earth till Ecchoes it repeat This Lady makes Greek Tactiks to look pale And Caesars Comentaries blush for shame The Amazonian Dames shakes at her Name Poets The Lady Muses are deposed unthroned from their high Pallace of Parnassus-Hill Where she in glory with Poetick flames there sits In Triumph Emperess of wits Where her bright beams our Poets doth inspire As humble Mortalls from her gentle fire She is the only Muses gives Phancy slore Else all our Poets they could write no more Oratour Were the oyled tongue of Tully now alive and all the rest of glibed tongued Oratours with their best arguments to force a truth or else with subtilty of slight to avoid it those tongues with trembling Palsies would be all struck dumb with wonder and amazement to hear truth Cloathed so gently as to move all Oratours their passions into love admired Virgin Then all the Auditory goeth