those back-holders that are the greatest Libertines make the best Husbands Lady Ward 'T is true he is of a noble nature valiant and generous prudent and just and temperate in all delights and free from all other vices but Incontinency civil and obliging to all the world but to me and I could love him better than life could he be constant and only love me as he ought to do a Wife otherwise Death were more pleasing to me Exeunt Scene 10. Enter the Lady Contemplation musing and the Lady Visitant comes to her LAdy Contempl. You were born to do me a mischief Lady Visit. Why how Lady Contempl. Why you have routed an Army Lady Visit. Which way Lady Contempl. I did imagine my self Married my Husband being a General of an Army who had fought many Battels and had won many Victories conquer'd many Nations at last an unfortunate day of Battel being fought my Husband being too active and venturous making lanes of slain bodies as he went and his horse riding thorow Rivers of blood those Rivers rising so high as his horse was forced to swim but the blood growing thick to a jelly obstructed his way which made his horse furious which fury added to his strength forced a passage over a hill or heap of slain bodies but the horses spirits being spent with fury and labour fell strengthless to the ground with my Husband upon his back and being in the midst of his Enemies Army his Enemies seeing him fall ran about him in great numbers and so took him prisoner whereupon his Souldiers soon missing him thought he was kill'd upon which belief their courages grew cold their limbs unactive and their spirits so benumm'd as they all seemed like to a number of stone-statues which unactive dulness gave their Enemies the Day without any after-blows I being in the Camp hearing of my Husbands misfortunes ran with a distracted fear towards the Enemies Camp I being espy'd by some of my Husbands scatter'd Troops was stop'd in the way and so brought back to my Tent again where when I was there some of my Husbands Officers of the Army told me That though the Day was lost yet there was a considerable Body left which I no sooner heard but my spirits took new life and then excusing my fear told those Commanders it was not through fear that made me run out of my Tent for I did not fly from my Enemies but to them and that I sought death and not life and to express my courage I told them That if they would give me leave I would take my Husbands Office and lead the Army They told me that if the rest of the Commanders would agree to it they were well contented So when all the Commanders met together I spake thus unto them Noble Friends and valiant Souldiers you may think it a vain ambition for me to desire to lead your Army especially against so potent an Enemy and being a woman which female Sex are usually unexperienced in Martial Affairs as also by nature fearful which fears may ruine an Army by giving wrong direction causing a confusion through distraction and truly an Army were not to be trusted unto a woman management and ordering if that Records had not given us Precedents which is that Woman have led Armies have fought valiantly themselves and have had good success and not so much by fortunes favour as by their own wise Conduct And to shew that Pallas is a friend unto her own Sex is that in all History there are very few women than can be found that have lost Battels in the field of Wars but many that have won Battels and in all publick Affairs it is to be observed the Gods do generally assist our Sex whereby to shew their own power and to abate the haughty pride of men But to induce you more for men trust not so much unto the Gods as to their own strength is that you are present in all Councels and Actions to assist and direct me besides I am Wife unto your General who was and is an expert Souldier and a valiant man although he now had ill fortune but ill fortune neither lessens valour nor experience but rather increases them This gallant and wise man my Husband and your General his Discourses have been my Tutors and his Example hath and shall be my Guide and if you dare trust me I dare venture otherwise I shall stay in my Tent and pray for your good success After I had left off speaking an old Commander which had served long in the Wars and was much esteemed answered me as thus Noble Lady although your youth doth disswade us yet your beauty and wit doth encourage us for what man although he were possest with fear itself can run away when a fair Lady sights for beauty triumphs in all hearts and commands the whole world wherefore that man that shall or will deny to follow your Command is of a bastard-kind although a lawful Issue With that all the rest of the Commanders cry'd or call'd out that none was so fit to Lead and Command them as I Thus being chosen I call'd a general Muster of my Souldiers and then gave order that some of the broken Regiments should be mended and made up with other broken Regiments also I made new Officers in the room of those that were slain or taken prisoners and after I surveyed my Artillery and Ammunition which done I drew my Army into a Body and after I had given Orders and Directions for the Souldiers to march towards the Enemies Camp which when the Enemy heard of a new Army coming towards them they drew out the Body of their Army in Battel Array But I shunn'd to fight so soon as appeared by reason my Army was tyred with marching wherefore I gave order to Intrench Besides I thought it might give my souldiers more courage when accustomed to the fight and neighbourhood of the Enemies But withall I made some of them give intelligence to the Enemy that a woman led the Army by which they might despise us and so become more negligent by which negligence we might have an advantage In the mean time I sent to Treat of a Peace and to have my Husband set at liberty but the Enemy was so averse to a peace as they returned me both jesting and scornful Answers So when I saw no peace could be made I drew out my Army into Battel Array which when the Enemy perceiv'd they did the like but it will be too tedious at this time to tell the Form and Figures I put my Army into as also what Commanders led or who commanded the Horse or who commanded the Foot that day only let me tell you I led the Van my self and was Accoutred after this manner I had a Masculine Suit and over that a cloth of silver Coat made close to my waste which reached to the ankles of my legs and those Arms I wore being all gilt were Back Brest Gorget
take their leaves of their Wives Madam Jantil and Madam Passionate Madam Jantil young and beautifull Madam Passionate in years Madam Iantil. I cannot chuse but take it unkindly that you will go without me do you mistrust my affection as that I have not as much love for you as the Generals Lady hath for her Husband or do you desire to leave me because you would take a Mistriss along with you one that perchance hath more Beauty than you think me to have with whom you may securely and freely sit in your Tent and gaze upon or one that hath more wit than I whose sweet smooth and flattering words may charm your thoughts and draw your Soul out of your ears to sit upon her Lips or dancing with delight upon her Tongue Seigneur Valeroso Prethee Wife be not jealous I vow to Heaven no other Beauty can attract my eyes but thine nor any sound can please my brain but what thy charming Tongue sends in besides I prise not what thy Body is but how thy Soul 's adorn'd thy virtue would make me think thee fair although thou wert deformed and wittier far than Mercury hadst thou Midas's ears but thou hast all that man can wish of women kind and that is the reason I will leave thee safe at home for I am loth to venture all my wealth and happiness in Fortunes unconstant Bark suffering thy tender youth and Sex to float on the rough waves of chance where dangers like to Northern winds blow high and who can know but that fatal gusts may come and overwhelm thee and drown all my joys wherefore for my sake keep thy self safe at home Madam Iantil. I shall obey you but yet I think it were not well I should be a long time from you and at a great distance Seigneur Valeroso I will promise you if I perceive the War is like to be prolonged and that there be Garrison-Towns so safe as you may securely live in I will send for you placing you so where sometimes I may visit you Madam Iantil. Pray do not forget me so much as to cancell your promise Seigneur Valeroso Forget the sweet I should sooner forget life and if I do whilst I have memory Heaven forget me Madam Iantil. I must ask you a question which is to know why you will take an under command being so nobly Born and bearing a high Title of Honour your self and being Master of a great Estate Seigneur Valeroso To let the World see my Courage is above my Birth Wealth or Pride and that I prefer inward worth before outward Title and I had rather give my life to the Enemy on honourable terms than basely to stay at home in time of general Wars out of an ambitious discontent for valour had rather have dangers to fight with than Offices to command in Seigneur Valeroso and his Lady whispers while the other two Monsieur la Hardy and his Lady speaks Madam Passionate Why should you go to the Wars now you are in years and not so fit for action as those that are young and have their strengths about them besides we have lived a married pair above these thirty years and never parted and shall we now be seperated when we are old She weeps Monsieur la Hardy Alas Wife what would you have me do when I am commanded out I must obey besides I would not have my Country fight a Battel whilst I live and I not make one for all the World for when I cannot fight my Body shall serve to stop a breach wherefore leave your crying Wife and fall to praying for our safe return and here my noble friend is desirous you should stay with his Lady to comfort one another and to divert Melancholy and the longing hours of our return Madam Passionate Farewell I fear I shall never see you again for your absence will soon kill me She cryes Exeunt Scene 8. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. O you are welcome from the Army what news 2 Gent. VVhy our Army march'd untill they came unto the frontiers of the Kingdome where they found the Army of the Enemy ready to encounter them the Lord General seeing they must of necessity fight a Battel thought best to call a Council of VVar that there might be nothing of ill conduct laid to his chardge but that all might be ordered by a wise and experienced Council whereupon he made an election of Counsellors joyning together three sorts as grave wife and prudent men subtill and politick men and valiant skillfull martiall men that the cold temper of the prudent might allay the hot temper of the valiant and that the politick might be as ingenious to serve them together by subtill devises and to make traps of Stragems to catch in the Enemy and at this Council many debates there were but at last they did conclude a Battel must be fought but first they did decree that all the women should be sent into one of their Garrison Towns some two dayes journey from the Army the reasons were that if they should be overcome by their Enemyes the women might be taken by their Enemyes and made Slaves using or abusing them as they pleased but when the women were sent away they did not shed tears of sorrow but sent such vollies of angry words as wounded many mens hearts but when they were almost at the Town that was to be their aboad the Generals Lady was so extremely incensed against the Counsellers by reason they decreed her departure with the others as she strove to raise up the Spirits of the rest of her Sex to the height of her own but what the issue will be I know not 1 Gent. Have you been with the King 2 Gent. Yes I was sent to give him an account of the Army Exeunt Scene 9. Enter the Lady Victoria and a number of women of all sorts with her she takes her stand upon a heap of green Turfs as being in the Fields before the Garrison Town and then speaks to those women LAdy Victoria Most Heroical Spirits of most chast and loving Wives Mistrisses Sisters Children or Friends I know you came not from your several Houses and homes into this Army meerly to enjoy your Husbands Lovers Parents and Friends in their safe and secure Garrisons or only to share of their troublesome and tedious marches but to venture also in their dangerous and cruell Battels to run their Fortunes and to force Destiny to joyn you to their Periods but the Masculine Sex hath separated us and cast us out of their Companyes either out of their loving care and desire of preserving our lives and liberties lest we might be distroyed in their confusions or taken Prisoners in their loss or else it must be out of jealousy we should Eclipse the fame of their valours with the splendor of our constancy and if it be Love let us never give the preheminence for then we should lose that Prerogative that belongs to the Crown of our Sex
our lives did part After she had walkt silently a turn or two about her Chamber her eyes being sixt on the ground she return'd as to her Bed Exit Scene 15. Enter a Gentleman and another meets him as in great haste 1 GEnt. What news what news 2 Gent. Sad news for there hath been a Battel fought betwixt the two Armies and our Army is beaten and many of our gallant men slain 1 Gent. I am sorry for that The second Gentleman goeth out Enter a third Gentleman 1 Gent. Sir I suppose you are come newly from the Army pray report the Battel 3 Gent. Truly I came not now from the Army but from the Town the Generals heroical Lady and the rest of the heroicks did surprize seise and plunder 1 Gent. What the Garrison Town they were sent to for safety 3 Gent. Yes 1 Gent. And doth their number encrease 3 Gent. O very much for after the suprisal of the Town the women in that Town did so approve of their gallant actions as every one desired to be inlisted in the roul and number of the Amazonian Army but in the mean time of the forming of their Army intelligence was brought of the Battel which was fought and that there was such loss of both sides as each Army retir'd back being both so weak as neither was able to keep the Field but that the loss was greater on the reformed Army by reason there was so many of their gallant men slain but this news made many a sad heart and weeping eyes in the Female Army for some have lost their Husbands some their Fathers others their Brothers Lovers and Friends 1 Gent. Certainly this will fright them out of the Field of War and cause them to lay by their Heroick designs 3 Gent. I know not what they will do for they are very secret to their designs which is strange being all women Exeunt ACT IV. Scene 16. Enter two women like Amazons 1 WOman Our Generalless seems to be troubled perceiving how heavily this Female Army takes their losses 2 Woman She hath reason for it may hinder or at least obstruct her high designs Exeunt Scene 17. Enter the Lady Victoria and her Amazons she takes her stand and speaks to them LAdy Victoria Noble Heroicks I perceive a mourning veil over the Face of this Female Army and it becomes it well for 't is both natural and human to grieve for the Death of our friends but consider constant Heroicks tears nor lamentations cannot call them out of the grave no petitions can perswade Death to restore them nor threats to let them go and since you cannot have them alive being Dead study and be industrious to revenge their quarrels on their Enemies lives let your justice give them Death for Death offer upon the Tombs of your Friends the lives of their Foes and instead of weeping Eyes let us make them weep through their Veins wherefore take courage cast off your black Veil of Sorrow and take up the Firematch of Rage that you may shoot Revenge into the hearts of their Enemies to which I hope Fortune will favour us for I hear that as soon as the Masculine Army have recovered strength there will be another Battel fought which may be a means to prove our loves to our Friends our hate to our Enemies and an aspiring to our honour and renown wherefore let us imploy our care to fit our selves for our march All the women We shall follow and obey you where and when and how you please Exeunt Scene 18. Enter Doctor Educature and Nell Careless the Doctor weeps DOctor Educature Doth my Lady hear of my Lords Death Nell Careless The Messenger or Intelligencer of my Lords Death is now with her Exeunt Scene 19. Enter Madam Jantil and a Gentleman Intelligencer the Lady seems not disturb'd but appears as usually MAdam Iantil. How died my Lord Gentleman Madam he fought with so much courage as his actions will never dye and his valour will keep alive the memory of this War for though he died his Death was Crown'd with Victory he digg'd his Grave out of his Enemies sides and built his Pyramid with heaps of their Bodies the groans of those he slew did ring his dying Knell Madam Iantil. What became of his body Gentleman He gave order before the Armies joined to fight that if he were kill'd his body should be sought out and delivered to you for he said it was yours whilst he lived and he desired it might be disposed of by you when he was dead his desires and commands were obeyed and his body is coming in a Litter lapt in Searcloth Madam Iantil. Worthy Sir I give you many thanks for your noble relation assuring my self it is true because you report it and it is my Husband that is the subject and ground of that honourable relation whom I always did believe would out-act all words Gentleman He hath so Madam Madam Iantil. Sir if I can at any time honourably serve you I shall be ready whensoever you will command me Gentleman Your Servant Madam He was going forth and returns If your Ladyship hath not heard of Monsieur la Hardy's Death give me leave to tell you he is slain Madam Iantil. I am sorry and for his Lady for she loved him most passionably The Gentleman goes out Enter as running and calling out Doll Pacify Madam Passionate's Maid Doll Pacify Help help my Lady is dead my Lady is fallen into a swound at the report of my Masters being kill'd The Lady goeth out and the Maid then they enter strait again with two or three Servants more bringing in the Lady Passionate as in a swound Madam Iantil. Alas poor Lady her Spirits are drown'd in Sorrow and Grief hath stopt her breath loosen her Garments for she is swell'd with troubled Thoughts her Passions lie on heaps and so oppress life it cannot stir but makes her senceless Upon the loosing of her garments she revives and cryes out Madam Passionate O my Husband my Husband She swounds again Madam Iantil. Bow her forward bow her forward Madam Passionate revives again Madam Passionate O let me dye let me dye and bury bury me with him Swounds again Madam Iantil. Alas poor Lady put her to Bed for her life will find most case there The Servants goes out with Madam Passionate Madam Jantil alone Madam Iantil. O life what art thou and Death where doest thou lead us or what dissolv'st thou us into Exeunt Scene 20. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. I wonder there is no news or Messenger come from the Army yet when there usually comes one every day Enter a Messenger 2 Gent. O Sir what news Messenger Faith there hath been nothing acted since the last Battel but it is said there will be another Battel very suddenly for the Enemy provokes our men to fight by reason our Lord General lies sick of his wounds having had a Feavour caused by the anguish of his hurts and by his Sickness
of practice more Masculine Souldiers are overcome by their Arms than by their Enemies for the unaccustomedness makes them so unwieldy as they can neither defend themselves nor assault their Foes whereas Custome will make them feel as light as their Skins on their Flesh or their Flesh on their Bones nay Custome hath that force as they will feel as if their Bodies were Naked when as their Arms are off and as Custome makes the Cold and peircing Ayr to have no power over the naked Bodyes of men for in cold Countreys as well as hot men have been accustomed to go naked and have felt no more harm nor so much by the cold than those that are warmly Cloathed so Custome will make your Arms seem as light as if you had none on when for want of use their waight will seem heavy their several pieces troublesome and incombersome as their Gorgets will seem to press down their Shoulders their Back and Breast-plates and the rest of the several pieces to cut their waste to pinch their Body to bind their Thighes to ty their Arms and their Headpiece to hinder their breath to darken their sight and to stop their hearing and all for want of use and Custome but enough of this read on Reader Secondly Be it known observed and practised that every Company must watch by turns whether they have Enemyes neer or no and at all times and whosoever Drinks any thing but Water or Eats any thing but Bread all the time they are on the watch shall be punished with fasting Lady Victoria Give me leave to declare the reason of this Law the reason is that stronge Drinks and nourishing meats send many vapours to the Brain which vapours are like several Keys which lock up the Senses so fast as neither loud noises bright lights nor strong sents can enter either at the Ears Eyes or Nostrils insomuch as many times their Enemies send Death to break them asunder Reader Thirdly Be it known observed and practised that none of the Troopers march over Corn Fields if it can be avoided unless the Enemy should be behind and then the more spoil the better Lady Victoria The reason of this is that it were a great imprudence to destroy through a careless march of Horse and Foot that which would serve to feed and nourish us in the Winter time and in our Winter Quarters when it is laid in the Barns and Granaries by the labour and the industry of the Farmers Reader Fourthly Be it known observed and practised that none shall plunder those things which are waighty of carriage unless it be for safety or necessity Lady Victoria The reason is of this that all that is heavy in the carriage is a hindrance in our march Reader Fiftly Be it known observed and practised that no Souldiers shall play at any Game for money or drink but only for meat to eat Lady Victoria The reason of this is that those that play for drink the winners will be drunk and those that are drunk are unfit for service besides many disorders are caused by drunkenness and to play for money the losers grow Cholerick and quarrels proceed therefrom which quarrels many times cause great mutinies through their side taking and factious parties besides having lost their money and not their Appetites they become weak and faint for want of that nourishing food their money should get them having nothing left to buy them victuals withall besides it forces them to forrage further about where by straggling far from the body of the Army they are subject to be catch'd by the Enemy but when they play for meat their winnings nourish their Bodies making them strong and vigorous and when their Appetites are satisfied and their Stomacks are fill'd their humours are pleasant and their minds couragious besides it is the Nature of most Creatures either to distribute or at least to leave the remaining pieces to the next takers so that the losers may have a share with the winners and part of what was their own again Reader Sixtly Be it known observed and practised that no Captains or Collonels shall advance beyond their Company Troop Regiment or Brigade but keep in the middle of the first rank and the Lieutenant or Lieutenant Collonel to come behind in the last rank Lady Victoria The reason of this is that Collonels and Captains going a space before their Troops Companies or Regiments for to encourage and lead on their Souldiers do ill to set themselves as marks for the Enemy to shoot at and if the Chief Commanders should be kill'd the Common Souldiers would have but faint hearts to fight but for the most part they will run away as being affraid and ashamed to see the Enemy when their Chief Commander is kill'd and if they have no Officer or Commander behind them the Common Souldiers will be apt to run away having no worthy witnesses or Judges to view and condemn their base Cowardly actions which otherwise they are ashamed of chusing rather to fight their Enemies than to make known their fears Reader Seventhly Be it known observed and practised that none of the Army ly in Garrison Towns but be always intrenched abroad Lady Victoria The reason of this is that Towns breed or beget a tenderness of Bodies and laziness of limbs luxurious Appetites and soften the natural dispositions which tenderness luxury effeminacy and laziness corrupts and spoils martial discipline whereas the open Fields and casting up trenches makes Souldiers more hardy laborious and carefull as being more watchfull Eightly Be it known observed and practised that none unless visibly sick to be idle but imployed in some Masculine action as when not imployed against an Enemy and that they are not imployed about the works forts or trenches but have spare time to imploy themselves in throwing the Bar Tripping Wrastling Running Vaulting Riding and the like exercise Reader Ninthly Be it known observed and practised that every Commander when free from the Enemies surprizals shall train their men thrice a week at least nay every day if they can spare so much time as putting their Souldiers into several ranks files and figures in several Bodies apart changing into several places and the like Lady Victoria The reason of this is that the Souldiers may be expert and ready and not be ignorant when they encounter their Enemies for many a Battel is lost more through the ignorance of the Souldiers not being well and carefully train'd by their Commanders or having such Commanders that know not how to train or draw them up there are more Battels I say lost thus than for want of men or courage Reader Tenthly Be it known observed and practised that every Morning when Incamp'd that every Commander shall make and offer in the midst of his Souldiers a Prayer to Mars another to Pallas a third to Fortune and a fourth to Fame these Prayers to be presented to these Gods and Goddesses with great Ceremony both from the
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
more how gallant valiant men came to follow that fashion for a Sword is a valiant mans trusty friend to whose protection he delivers his Honour his Safety and his Peace for a Sword is a Mans Guardian to maintain his Right to revenge his Wrongs or Disgraces and his Mistriss for whose service he wears his Life and studies the worth and use thereof and takes delight in the Honourable and allowable practices therein 1 Gent. Faith my Lord I believe it was some Lover that brought up that fashion who was loath to affright his Mistriss with so dangerous a weapon 2 Gent. Some Carpet Knight upon my life my Lord Nobilissimo It was no true Lover for certainly he would be sure to provide a safeguard lest his Mistriss might be taken from him or lest he should be affronted in her sight which a Man of Honour and a true Lover will rather dy than part or suffer and as for my part I commend the Man that would neither eat drink nor sleep without his Sword were by him and made it his Bedfellow and Bord Companion as a friend that held to his side and would sight in his quarrell 2 Gent. My Lord if a man should do so in these times his Neighbours would say it was out of fear not courage Nobilissimo O no for a Coward is affraid to use a Sword and a Valiant man is affraid to be without the use otherwise a strong sturdy Clown might cuff him down and kick him like a Football on the ground which a Sword and skill to use it will prevent for a Clown hath not skill to defend or assault a Sword having no practice therewith nor ought they to have for the use of this kind of Arms makes a Clown a Gentleman and the want of skill makes a Gentleman a Clown for a Right bred Gentleman is to know the use of the Sword and it is more manly to assault than to defend also to know how to mannage Horses whereby we know how to assault our Enemy as well as to defend our selves for it is not playing with a Fidle and dancing a Measure makes a Gentleman for then Princes should dub Knighthood with a Fidle and give the stick and a pair of Pumps insteed of a Sword and a pair of Spurs 1 Gent. My Lord we are so far from wearing our Swords our selves now a dayes as we give them our Footmen to carry as if it were a disgrace to carry a Sword our selves Nobilissimo T is true and we are well beaten for our follies for disarming our selves and arming our Slaves for now a Groom is made a Gentlemans equal nay his Superior sometimes for if a Groom kills a Gentleman the Gentleman dyes in disgrace and the Groom lives with Honour and gets the Fame of a gallant Person for that is the phrase to all those that have fought although they were forced thereto as Slaves not distinguishing true valor which is voluntary temperate and just 2 Gent. Why then there should be a Decree of Law that none should wear Swords but Gentlemen nor Arms allowed but to those of approved merit Nobilissimo You say right unless in time of Forein Wars and then there should be a difference in their Arms for if there be no difference of Arms no difference of persons and if there be no difference of persons there will be no Supremacy of Power if no Supremacy no Royal Government for as the Sword maintains the Prerogative of the Crown so it doth the Honour of a Gentleman and as the Sword keeps up the dignity of the Crown so a Sword keeps up the Heraldry of a Gentleman and no man ought to be accounted a Gentleman that knows not how to use his Sword and manage his Horse for the one defends himself and kills his Enemies the other doth front and charge his Enemy and pursues him if need require Exeunt Scene 9. Enter Monsieur Esperance and Madamoiselle Esperance his Wife MOnsieur Esperance Lord Wife you are very brave to day Madamoiselle Esperance I strive to be so every day Monsieur Esperance For whose sake Madamoiselle Esperance For yours Monsieur Esperance For mine why sure that is not so for certainly you would not take that pains and bestow so much cost for one you do enjoy allready for a Husband that is tied to you for life and cannot quit on Honourable terms wherefore it is for one is loose and free which you do strive by setting forth your self with garments rich for to attract and draw to your desires Madamoiselle Esperance The Circumference of my desires is only your delight Monsieur Esperance Why my delight is in your Virtue youth and Beauty not in your Cloathes Madamoiselle Esperance But Virtue is best acceptable when Beauty doth present it and Beauty finds most favour when well attired but were I sure you would like me better in mean Garments and careless dresses I then should Cloath my self in Freez like a Hermit my loose course Garments ty with single cord about my waste but I will go and pull these Cloaths off since they are thought a crime and I thought false for wearing them Monsieur Esperance No I like them very well if I were sure they were worn only for love to me Madamoiselle Esperance I never gave you cause to think I wear them for the love of any other Exeunt Scene 10. Enter Madamoiselle Spightfull Madamoiselle Detractor Madamoiselle Malicious and Madamoiselle Tell-truth SPightfull Madamoiselle La Belle is cryed up to be the only Beauty in the Kingdome Malicious Lord that is nothing for sometimes opinion will carry a black Blowse up to Fames high Tower Spightfull Yes faith and most commonly they are cast down in disgrace Detractor Why should she be cryed up so for she is neither well featured nor well shaped nor well fashioned nor well drest nor well bred nor good natured for she is of a brown Complexion a heavy Eye a sad Countenance a lazy Garb she dresses Phantastically speaks Childishly looks shamefastly she is proud reserved coy disdainfull and self-conceited Tell-truth Let me tell you it is reported that she hath most lovely features a clear Complexion a modest Countenance a bashfull Eye a pleasing Speech a winning behaviour a Majesticall presence besides it is reported that her disposition is civil courteous and obliging her Nature sweet and gentle her Education virtuous her life temperate and Chast her actions noble and wise her discourse witty and delighful Spightfull Hey day hey day good Mistriss Tell-truth run not so fast in the wayes of vain Reports lest your judgment fail into a Quagmire Enter Monsieur Phantasie Malicious Monsieur Phantasie t is said you are one of Madamoiselle La Belles admirers Phantasie All the World would admire her if they saw her she is so Heavenly a Creature Spightfull If she be so Heavenly a Creature she would be known to the whole World by the splendor of her Beams Phantasie
Gentlemen Doll Pascify Gentlemen would you speak with me Monsieur la Gravity Yes for we desire you will help us to the honour of kissing your Ladyes hands thereon to offer our service Doll Pacify Sir you must excuse me for the Sign of VVidowhood is not as yet hung out Mourning is not on nor the scutcheons are not hung over the Gate but if you please to come two or three dayes hence I may do you some service but now it will be to no purpose to tell my Lady for I am sure she will receive no visits Exeunt FINIS THE ACTORS NAMES The Lord General and many Commanders Monsieur la Gravity Monsieur le Compagnion Monsieur Comerade Doctor Educature Doctor Comfort and divers Gentlemen Messengers Servants Officers and others Lady Victoria and many Heroicks Lady Jantils Lady Passionate Doll Pacify Nell Careless City Wives and others THE SECOND PART OF BELL IN CAMPO ACT I. Scene 1. Enter Doctor Comfort and Doll Pacify DOll Pacify Good Master Priest go comfort my old Lady Doctor Comfort If you will Comfort me I will strive to Comfort her Doll Pacify So we shall prove the Crums of Comfort Doctor Comfort But is my Lady so sad still Doll Pacify Faith to day she hath been better than I have seen her for she was so patient as to give order for Blacks but I commend the young Lady Madam Iantil who bears out the Siege of Sorrow most Couragiously and on my Conscience I believe will beat grief from the fort of her heart and become victorious over her misfortunes Doctor Comfort Youth is a good Souldier in the Warfare of Life and like a valiant Cornet or Ensign keeps the Colours up and the Flag flying in despite of the Enemies and were our Lady as young as Madam Iantil she would grieve less but to lose an old Friend after the loss of a young Beauty is a double nay a trible affliction because there is little or no hopes to get another good Husband for though an old woman may get a Husband yet ten thousand to one but he will prove an Enemy or a Devill Doll Pacify It were better for my Lady if she would marry again that her Husband should prove a Devill than a Mortal Enemy for you can free her from the one though not from the other for at your words the great Devil will avoid or vanish and you can bind the lesser Devils in Chains and whip them with holy Rods untill they rore again Doctor Comfort Nay we are strong enough for the Devil at all times and in all places neither can he deceive us in any shape unless it be in the shape of a young Beauty and then I confess he overcomes us and torments our hearts in the fire of love beyond all expression Doll Pacify If I were a Devil I would be sure to take a most beautifull shape to torment you but my Lady will torment me if I stay any longer here Exeunt Scene 2. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Sir you being newly come from the Army pray what news 2 Gent. I suppose you have heard how our Army was forced to fight by the Enemies provocations hearing the Lord General lay sick whereupon the Generals Lady the Lady Victoria caused her Amazonians to march towards the Masculine Army and to entrench some half a mile distance therefrom which when the Masculine Army heard thereof they were very much troubled thereat and sent a command for them to retreat back fearing they might be a disturbance so a destruction unto them by doing some untimely or unnecessary action but the Female Army returned the Masculine Army an Answer that they would not retreat unless they were beaten back which they did believe the Masculine Sex would not having more honour than to fight with the Female Sex but if the men were so base they were resolved to stand upon their own defence but if they would let them alone they would promise them upon the honour of their words not to advance any nearer unto the Masculine Army as long as the Masculine Army could assault their Enemies or defend themselves and in this posture I left them Exeunt Scene 3. Enter the Lady Victoria and her Heroickesses LAdy Victoria Noble Heroickesses I have intelligence that the Army of Reformations begins to flag wherefore now or never is the time to prove the courage of our Sex to get liberty and freedome from the Female Slavery and to make our selves equal with men for shall Men only sit in Honours chair and Women stand as waiters by shall only Men in Triumphant Chariots ride and Women run as Captives by shall only men be Conquerors and women Slaves shall only men live by Fame and women dy in Oblivion no no gallant Heroicks raise your Spirits to a noble pitch to a deaticall height to get an everlasting Renown and infinite praises by honourable but unusual actions for honourable Fame is not got only by contemplating thoughts which lie lasily in the Womb of the Mind and prove Abortive if not brought forth in living deeds but worthy Heroickesses at this time Fortune desires to be the Midwife and if the Gods and Goddesses did not intend to favour our proceedings with a safe deliverance they would not have offered us so fair and fit an opportunity to be the Mothers of glorious Actions and everlasting Fame which if you be so unnatural to strangle in the Birth by fearfull Cowardize may you be blasted with Infamy which is worse than to dye and be forgotten may you be whipt with the torturing tongues of our own Sex we left behind us and may you be scorned and neglected by the Masculine Sex whilst other women are preferred and beloved and may you walk unregarded untill you become a Plague to your selves but if you Arm with Courage and fight valiantly may men bow down and worship you birds taught to sing your praises Kings offer up their Crowns unto you and honour inthrone you in a mighty power May time and destiny attend your will Fame be your scribe to write your actions still And may the Gods each act with praises fill All the women Fear us not fear us not we dare and will follow you wheresoever and to what you dare or will lead us be it through the jawes of Death THE PRAYER Lady Victoria GReat Mars thou God of War grant that our Squadrons may like unbroaken Clouds move with intire Bodyes let Courage be the wind to drive us on and let our thick swell'd Army darken their Sun of hope with black despair let us powre down showers of their blood to quench the firy flames of our revenge And where those showers fall their Deaths as seeds Sown in times memory sprout up our deeds And may our Acts Triumphant gat lands make Which Fame may wear for our Heroicks sake Exeunt Scene 4. Enter Doctor Comfort and Doll Pacify DOctor Comfort Doll how doth our Lady since the burying of my Patron Doll Pacify
Faith she begins now to have regard to her health for she take Iackalato every Morning in her Bed falling and then she hath a mess of Gelly broath for her Breakfast and drinks a Cup of Sack before Dinner and eats a Whitewine Cawdle every afternoon and for her Supper she hath new laid Eggs and when she goes to Bed she drinks a hearty draught of Muskadine to make her sleep well besides if she chances to wake in the Night she takes comfortable Spirits as Angelica Aniseeds Besor aquamirabilis and the like hot waters to comfort her heart and to drive away all Melancholy thoughts Doctor Comfort Those things will do it if it be to be done but I am sorry that my Lady hath sold all my Patrons Horses Saddles Arms Cloaths and such like things at the Drums head and by out-cryes to get a little the more money for them I fear the World will condemn her as believing her to be covetous Doll Pacify O that 's nothing for what she loses by being thought covetous she will regain by being thought rich for the World esteems and respects nothing so much as riches Exeunt ACT II. Scene 5. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Pray Sir what news from the Army you are newly come from thence 2 Gent. I suppose you have heard how the Effeminate Army was some half a mile from the Masculine Armies but the Masculine Army being very earnest to fight not only to get Victory and power but to revenge each others losses as their Friends slain in the former Battel which thoughts of revenge did so fire their minds and inflame their Spirits that if their Eyes had been as much illuminated as their flaming Spirits were there might have been seen two blazing Armies thus joining their Forces against each other at last began a cruell fight where both the Armies fought with such equal Courages and active Limbs as for a long time neither side could get the better but at the last the Army of Faction broak the Ranks and Files of the Army of Reformation whereupon every Squadron began to fall into a Confusion no order was kept no chardge was heard no command obey'd terror and fear ran maskerd about which helpt to rout our Army whereupon the Enemy kill'd many of our men and wounded many more and took numbers of Prisoners but upon this defeat came in the Female Army in the time that some of the Enemy was busy in gathering up the Conquered spoils others in pursute of the remainders of our men others were binding up the Prisoners others driving them to their Quarters like a Company of Sheep to a Market there to be sold but when as some of the Commanders perceived a fresh Army coming towards them their General commanded the Trumpets to sound a Retreat to gather them together and also made haste to order and settle his men in Battel Array and desirous their General was to have all the Prisoners slain but the Female Army came up so fast and so close to prevent that mischief as they had not time to execute that design but their General encouraged his Souldiers and bid them not to be disheartened perswading them not to lose what they had got from an Army of men to an Army of boys for said he they seem to be no other by the appearance of their shapes and statures but when the Female Army came to encounter them they found their charge so hot and furious as made them give place which advantage they took with that prudence and dexterity as they did not only rout this Army of Faction killing and wounding many and set their own Countrymen at liberty and recovered their losses and gained many spoils and took numbers of Prisoners of their Enemies with Bag and Baggage but they pursued those that fled into their Trenches and beat them out of their works and took possession thereof where they found much riches these Trenches being taken the Lady Victoria took possession and made them her Quarters calling all her Female Souldiers to enter therein by the sound of Flutes which they always used instead of Trumpets and their Drums were Kettel-Drums but upon this Victory the Masculine Sex of the Army of Reformation was much out of Countenance being doubly or trebly overcome twice by their Enemy and then by the gallant actions of the Females which out-did them yet they thought it best to take their advantage whilst the Victory was fresh and flourishing and their Enemies weak and fearfull to lay siege to the next Towns in the Enemies Country whereupon the Lady Victoria and her Female Souldiers hearing of the Army of Reformations designs for they had sent the men to their own Quarters as soon as the Battel was won and Victory got Also the Masculine Prisoners they sent to the mens Quarters not intermixing themselves with the men but as I said they hearing the design they had to besiege the Towns were much inraged for not making them of their Councils whereupon they sent a Messenger like as an Embassadour to tell the Masculine Army they did wonder at their ingratitude that they should forget so much their relievers as to go upon any Warlike design without making them acquainted therewith striving as it were to steal the Victory out of their hands but said they since we are become victorious over our Enemies and Masters and Mistresses of the Field by our own valiant actions and prudent conducts we will maintain our power by our own strengths for our Army is become now numerous full and flourishing formed and conformable by our Discipline skillfull by our practice valiant by our resolutions powerfull by our victory terrible to our Enemies honourable to our Friends and a subject of Envy to the Masculine Sex but your Army is weak and decrepid sitter for an Hospital than for a Field of War your power is lost your courage is cold your discipline disorderous and your command sleighted despised by your Enemies pittied by your Friends forsaken of good Fortune and made subject unto our Effeminate Sex which we will use by our power like Slaves But when our Lord General who was recovered out of sickness and all his Commanders about him heard this message which was delivered in a full assembly according as the Lady Victoria had commanded the message should be the men could not chose but smile at the womens high and mighty words knowing they had all sweet and gentle dispositions and complying Natures yet they were at a stand which to be pleased at most as in hearing them disparage their Masculine Sex or in advancing their own Female Sex by their self Commendations but howsoever so well pleased the men were with the womens gallant actions that every man was proud that had but a Female acquaintance in the Female Army but our Lord General was mightily taken with their bravadoes and much mirth amongst the Commanders was about it but when they were to advise what to do in the affairs
prefer your honour before me 't is true it is the better choice but it shows I am not the best beloved which makes you follow and glue to that and leave me Lord General Certainly Wife my honour is your honour and your honour will be buried in my disgrace which Heaven avert for I prefer yours before my own insomuch as I would have your honour to be the Crown of my glory Lady Victoria Then I must partake of your actions and go along with you Lord General What to the VVars Lady Victoria To any place where you are Lord General But VVife you consider not as that long marches ill lodgings much watching cold nights scorching dayes hunger and danger are ill Companions for Ladyes their acquaintance displeases their conversation is rough and rude being too boisterous for Ladyes their tender and strengthless constitutions cannot encounter nor grapell therewith Lady Victoria 'T is said that Love overcomes all things in your Company long marches will be but as a breathing walk the hard ground feel as a Feather-Bed and the starry Sky a spangled Canopy hot dayes a Stove to cure cold Agues hunger as Fasting dayes or an eve to devotion and danger is honours triumphant Chariot Lord General But Nature hath made women like China or Pursleyn they must be used gently and kept warily or they will break and fall on Deaths head besides the inconveniencies in an Army are so many as put patience her self out of humour besides there is such inconveniences as modesty cannot allow of Lady Victoria There is no immodestly in natural effects but in unnatural abuses but contrive it as well as you can for go I must or either I shall dye or dishonour you for if I stay behind you the very imaginations of your danger will torture me sad Dreams will affright me every little noise will sound as your passing Bell and my fearfull mind will transform every object like as your pale Ghost untill I am smothered in my Sighs shrouded in my Tears and buried in my Griefs for whatsoever is joyned with true love will dye absented or else their love will dye for love and life are joyned together as for the honour of constancy or constant fidelity or the dishonour of inconstancy the lovingest and best wife in all story that is recorded to be the most perfectest and constantest wife in her Husbands absence was Penelope Ulysses wife yet she did not Barricado her Ears from Loves soft Alarums but parled and received Amorous Treaties and made a Truce untill she and her Lovers could agree and conclude upon conditions and questionless there were Amorous Glances shot from loving Eyes of either party and though the Siege of her Chastity held out yet her Husbands Wealth and Estate was impoverished and great Riots committed both in his Family and Kingdome and her Suters had absolute power thereof thus though she kept the fort of her Chastity she lost the Kingdome which was her Husbands Estate and Government which was a dishonour both to her and her Husband so if you let me stay behind you it will be a thousand to one but either you will lose me in Death or your honour in Life where if you let me go you will save both for if you will consider and reckon all the married women you have heard or read of that were absented from their Husbands although upon just and necessary occasions but had some Ink of aspersions flung upon them although their wives were old illfavoured decrepid and diseased women or were they as pure as light or as innocent as Heaven and wheresoever this Ink of aspersions is thrown it sticks so fast that the spots are never rubb'd out should it fall on Saints they must wear the marks as a Badge of misfortunes and what man had not better be thought or called an uxorious Husband than to be despised and laught at as being but thought a Cuckhold the first only expresses a tender and noble Nature the second sounds as a base cowardly poor dejected forsaken Creature and as for the immodesty you mentioned there is none for there can be no breach of modesty but in unlawfull actions or at least unnecessary ones but what Law can warrant and necessity doth inforce is allowable amongst men pure before Angels Religious before Gods when unchosing persons improper places unfit times condemn those actions that are good in themselves make them appear base to men hatefull to Angels and wicked to Gods and what is more lawfull fitting and proper than for a man and wife to be inseparable together Lord General Well you have used so much Rhetorick to perswade as you have left me none to deny you wherefore I am resolved you shall try what your tender Sex can endure but I believe when you hear the Bullets fly about you you will wish your self at home and repent your rash adventure Lady Victoria I must prove false first for love doth give me courage Lord General Then come along I shall your courage try Lady Victoria He follow you though in Deaths Arms I ly Exeunt Scene 3. Enter the two former Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Well met for I was going to thy lodging to call thee to make up the Company of good fellows which hath appointed a meeting 2 Gent. Faith you must go with the odd number or get another in my room for I am going about some affairs which the Lord General hath imployed me in 1 Gent. I perceive by thee that publick imployments spoil private meetings 2 Gent. You say right for if every one had good imployment vice would be out of fashion 1 Gent. What do you call vice 2 Gent. Drinking Wenching and Gaming 1 Gent. As for two of them as Drinking and Wenching especially Wenching no imployment can abolish them no not the most severest devotest nor dangerest for the States-man Divines and Souldiers which are the most and greatest imployed will leave all other affairs to kiss a Mistriss 2 Gent. But you would have me go to a Tavern and not to a Mistriss 1 Gent. VVhy you may have a Mistriss in a Tavern if you please 2 Gent. VVell if my other affairs will give me any leisure I will come to you Exeunt Scene 4. Enter four or five other Gentlemen 1 Gent. The Lord General was accounted a discreet and wise man but he shows but little wisdome in this action of carrying his wife along with him to the VVars to be a Clog at his heels a Chain to his hands an Incumberance in his march obstruction in his way for she will be always puling and sick and whining and crying and tir'd and froward and if her Dog should be left in any place as being forgotten all the whole Army must make a halt whilst the Dog is fetcht and Trooper after Trooper must be sent to bring intelligence of the Dogs coming but if there were such a misfortune that the Dog could not be found the whole Army must
be dispersed for the search of it and if it should be lost then there must seem to be more lamentation for it than if the Enemy had given us an intire defeat or else we shall have frowns instead of preferments 2 Gent. The truth is I wonder the General will trouble himself with his wife when it is the only time a married man hath to enjoy a Mistriss without jealousy a spritely sound wench that may go along without trouble with bag and baggage to wash his linnen and make his field Bed and attend to his call when a wife requires more attendance than Centries to watch the Enemy 3 Gent. For my part I wonder as much that any man should be so fond of his wife as to carry her with him for I am only glad of the VVars because I have a good pretence to leave my wife behind me besides an Army is a quiet solitary place and yields a man a peaceable life compared to that at home for what with the faction and mutiny amongst his Servants and the noise the women make for their tongues like as an Alarum beat up quaters in every Corner of the House that a man can take no rest besides every day he hath a set Battel with his wife and from the Army of her angry thoughts she sends forth such vollies of words with her Gunpowder anger and the fire of her fury as breaks all the ranks and files of content and puts happiness to an utter rout so as for my part I am forced to run away in discontent although some Husbands will stay and fight for the Victory 4 Gent. Gentlemen Gentlemen pray condemn not a man for taking his lawfull delight or for ordering his private affairs to his own humour every man is free to himself and to what is his as long as he disturbs not his Neighbours nor breaks the Peace of the Kingdome nor disorders the Common-wealth but submits to the Laws and obeys the Magistrates without dispute besides Gentlemen 't is no crime nor wonder for a man to let his wife go along with him when he goeth to the Wars for there hath been examples for Pompey had a wife with him and so had Germanicus and so had many great and worthy Heroicks and as for Alexander the great he had a wife or two with him besides in many Nations men are not only desired but commanded by the Chiefs to let their wives go with them and it hath been a practice by long Custome for women to be spectators in their Battels to encourage their fights and so give fire to their Spirits also to attend them in their Sicknesses to clense their wounds to dress their meat and who is fitter than a wife what other woman will be so lovingly carefull and industriously helpfull as a wife and if the Greekes had not left their wives behind them but had carried them along to the Trojan Wars they would not have found such disorders as they did at their return nor had such bad welcome home as witness Agamemnons besides there have been many women that have not only been Spectators but Actors leading Armies and directing Battels with good success and there have been so many of these Heroicks as it would be tedious at this time to recount besides the examples of womens courage in Death as also their wise conduct and valiant actions in Wars are many and pray give me leave to speak without your being offended thereat it is not Noble nor the part of a Gentleman to censure condemn or dispraise another mans private actions which nothing concerns him especially when there is so gallant a subject to discourse of as the discipline and actions of these Wars we are entring into 1 Gent. Introth Sir you have instructed us so well and have chid us so handsomely as we are sorry for our errour and ask pardon for our fault and our repentance shall be known by that we will never censure so again Exeunt ACT II. Scene 5. Enter Captain Whiffell and Madam Whiffell his Wife CAptain Whiffell I have heard our Generals Lady goeth with the General her Husband to the Wars wherefore I think it fit for the rest of the Commanders if it were only for policy to let our General see that we approve of his actions so well as to imitate him in ours carrying our Wives along with us besides the Generals Lady cannot chose but take it kindly to have our Wives wait upon her wherefore Wife it is fit you should go Madam Whiffell Alas Husband I am so tender that I am apt to catch cold if the least puff of wind do but blow upon me wherefore to ly in the open Fields will kill me the first Night if not the very journey will shatter my small bones to peeces Captain Whiffell Why our Generals Lady is a very fine young Lady and she ventures to go Madam Whiffell There let her venture for you must excuse me for I will stay at home go you where you please Captain Whiffell Well VVife consider it Exeunt Scene 6. Enter Captain Ruffell and his Wife Madam Ruffell CAptain Ruffell VVife prepare your self to follow the Army for 't is now the fashion for VVives to march wherefore pack up and away Madam Ruffell VVhat with a Knapsack behind me as your Trull not I for I will not disquiet my rest with inconveniences nor divert my pleasures with troubles nor be affrighted with the roring Cannons nor indanger my life with every Potgun nor be frozen up with Cold nor stew'd to a gelly with heat nor be powdered up with dust untill I come to be as dry as a Neats-tongue besides I will not venture my Complexion to the wroth of the Sun which will tan me like a Sheeps skin Captain Ruffell Faith VVife if you will not go I will have a Landery-Maid to ride in my VVaggon and ly in my Tent Madam Ruffell Prethee Husband take thy Kitching Maid along too for she may have as much Grease about her as will serve to make Sope to wash your Linnen with and while you ride with your Landery-Maid in your Waggon I will ride with my Gentleman-Usher in my Coach Captain Ruffell Why Wife it is out of love that I would have thee go Madam Ruffell And 't is out of love that I will stay at home besides do you think I mean to follow your Generals Lady as a common Trooper doth a Commander to feed upon her reversions to wait for her favour to watch for a smile no no I will be Generalissimo my self at home and distribute my Colours to be carried in the Hats of those that will fight in my quarrel to keep or gain the Victory of my favour and love Captain Ruffell So I may chance to be a Cuckhold before I return home Madam Ruffell You must trust to Fortune for that and so I wish you a good Journey Exeunt Scene 7. Enter Seigneur Valeroso and his friend Monsieur la Hardy to