Fleetwood Fleet. My honour'd Mother I am glad to find you here I hope we shall reconcile things between ye Verily we shou'd live in brotherly Love together come ingeniously you shall be Friends my Lady Mother Cro. Curse on th' occasion of thy being a Kin to me Flee Why an please ye forsooth Madam Cro. My Daughter had a Husband Worthy the Title of my Son in Law Ireton my best of Sons he 'd Wit and Courage And with his Councels rais'd our House to Honours Which thy impolitick Easiness pulls down And whilst you shou'd be gaining Crowns and Kingdoms Art poorly couzening of the World with fruitless Prayers Fleet. Nay I 'll warrant you Madam when there is any gadly mischief to be done I am as forward as the best but 't is good to take the Lard along with us in every thing I profess ingeniously as I am an honest man verily ne're stir I shall act as becomes a good Christian. Cro. A Good Coxcombe Dost thou not see her reverend Highness there That Minion now assumes that glorious Title I once and my Son Richard's Wife enjoy'd Whilst I am call'd the Night Mare of the Commonwealth But wou'd I were I 'd so hag-ride the perjur'd Slaves Who took so many Oaths of true Allegiance To my great Husband first and then to Richard Who whilst they reign'd were most illustrious Most high and mighty Princes whilst fawning Poets Write Panegyricks on 'em And yet no sooner was The wonderous Heroe dead but all his glorious Titles fell to Monster of Mankind Murderer Of Piety Traytor to Heav'n and Goodness Flee Who calls him so Pray take their Names down I profess ingeniously forsooth Madam verily I 'll order 'em as I am here I will Cro. Thou alas they scorn so poor a thing as thou Fleet. Do they ingeniously I 'll be even with 'em forsooth Mother as I am here I will and there 's an end on 't Cro. I wou'd there were an end of our disgrace and shame which is but just begun I fear What will become of that fair Monument Thy careful Father did erect for thee to La. Fleetw Yet whilst he liv'd next to thy Husband Ireton Lest none shou'd do it for thee after he were dead The Malice of proud Lambert will destroy all Fleet. I profess Madam you mistake my good Lord Lambert he 's an honest man and fears the Lard he tells me I am to be the man verily he do's after all 's done Cro. Yes after all 's done thou art the man to be pointed at Fleet. Nay ingeniously I scorn the words so I do I know the great Work of Salvation to the Nation is to be wrought by me verily Cro. Do Cant on till Heav'n drop Kingdoms in thy mouth dull silly Sot thou ruine of our Interest thou fond inccorrigible easie Fool. Enter Page Pag. My Lord the Committee of Safety waits your coming Fleet. Why law you now forsooth I profess verily you are ingeniously the hardest of belief tell the honourable Lords I'm coming Go Lady mother go home with my Wife and verily you 'll see things go to your wish I must to Coach L. Fleet. Madam your humble Servant to La. Lam. Fleet. Honour'd Lady I kiss your hands Ex. Crom. Fleet. and La. Fleet. Enter Loveless Lov. Was this the thing that is to be Protector This little snivelling Fellow rule three Kingdoms But leave we Politicks and fall to Love Who deals more Joyes in one kind happy moment Than Ages of Dull Empire can produce La. Lam. Oh Gods Shall I who never yielded yet But to him to whom three Kingdoms fell a Sacrifice Surrender at first Parly Lov. Perhaps that Lover made ye gayer Presents But cou'd not render you a Heart all love Or mind embyass'd in Affairs of Blood I bring no Guilt to fright ye from my Embraces But all our hours shall be serene and soft La. Lam. Ah Gilliflower thy Aid or I 'm lost Shall it be said of me in after Ages When my great Fame 'mongst Queens shall be recorded That I ah Heav'ns regardless of my Countries Cause Espous'd the wicked Party of its Enemies The Heathenish Heroicks ah defend me Lov. Nay by all that 's La. Lam. Ah hold Do not prophane my Ears with Oaths or Execrations I cannot bear the sound Lov. Nay nay by Heav'n I 'll not depart your lodgings till that soft Love that playes so in your Eyes give me a better proof by La. Lam. Oh hold I dye if you proceed in this Abomination Lov. Why do you force me to 't d' ye think to put me off with such a Face such lips such smiles such Eyes and every Charm You 've made me mad and I shall swear my Soul away if disappointed now Gill. Ah save the Gentleman's Soul I beseech ye Madam La. Lam. I 'm much inclin'd to Acts of Piety leaning on him smiling He goes to lead her out Enter La. Desbro And you have such a Power that howe're I incommode my Honour Desbro here how unseasonably she comes La. Des. Cry mercy Madam I 'll withdraw a while La. Lam. Ah Desbro thou art come in the most lucky minute I was just on the point of falling As thou say'st these Heroicks have the strangest Power La. Des. I never knew a Woman cou'd resist ' em La. Lam. No marvel then our Husbands use 'em so betray 'em banish 'em sequester murder 'em and every way disarm ' em La. Des. But their Eyes Madam La. Lam. Ay their Eyes Desbro I wonder our Lords shou'd take away their Swords and let 'em wear their Eyes La. Desbro I 'll move it to the Committee of Safety Madam those Weapons shou'd be taken from 'em too La. Lam. Still they 'll have some to be reveng'd on us La. Des. Ay so they will My Lord says a Cavalier is a kind of Hidra knock him o' th' Head as often as you will he has still one to peep up withall Enter Page Page Madam here 's Mr. Freeman to speak with your Honour Lov. That 's a Friend of mine Madam and 't wou'd be unnecessary he saw your Highness and I together let us withdraw La. Lam. Withdraw why What will Desbro say Des. O Madam I know your Vertue and your Piety too well to suspect your Honour wrongfully 't is impossible a Lady that goes to a Conventicle twice a day besides long Prayers and lowd Psalm-singing shou'd do any thing with an Heroick against her Honour Your known Sanctity preserves you from Scandal But here 's Freeman Puts 'em in Enter Freeman Free So Madam you are very kind La. Des. My charming Freeman this tedious day of Absence has been an Age in love How hast thou liv'd without me Free Like one condemn'd sad and disconsolate And all the while you made your Husband happy La. Des. Name not the beastly Hypocrite thou know'st I make no other use of him But a dull Property to advance our Love Free And 't is but Iustice Maria he sequester'd me
of another Cut she marryed as most do for Interest but what thou 't to her Lov. If Lightening stop my way Perhaps a sober view may make me hate her Exit both Enter Lambert and Whitlock Scen. A Chamber Whit. My Lord now is your time you may be King Fortune is yours you 've time it self by th' fore-lock Lam. If I thought so I 'd hold him fast by Heaven Whit. If you let slip this Opportunity my Lord you are undone Aunt Caesar aut Nullus Lam. But Fleetwood Whit. Hang him soft head Lam. True he 's of an easie Nature yet if thou did'st but know how little Wit governs this mighty Universe thou wou'dst not wonder men should set up him Whit. That will not recommend him at this Iuncto though he 's an excellent Tool for your Lordship to make use of and therefore use him Sir as Cataline did Lentulus drill the dull Fool with hopes of Empire on and that all tends to his Advancement only The Block-head will believe the Crown his own what other Hopes could make him ruine Richard a Gentleman of Qualities a thousand times beyond him Lam. They were both too soft an ill Commendation for a General who should be rough as storms of War it self Whit. His Time was short and yours is coming on Old Oliver had his Lam. I hate the Memory of that Tyrant Oliver Whit. So do I now he 's dead and serves my Ends no more I lov'd the Father of the Great Heroick whilst he had Power to do me good he failing Reason directed me to the Party then prevailing the Fag End of the Parliament 't is true I took the Oath of Allegiance as Oliver your Lordship Tony and the rest did without which we could not have sat in that Parliament but that Oath was not for our Advantage and so better broke than kept Lam. I am of your Opinion my Lord. Whit. Let Honesty and Religion preach against it but how cou'd I have serv'd the Commons by deserting the King how have show'd my self loyal to your Interest by fooling Fleetwood in the deserting of Dick by dissolving the honest Parliament and bringing in the odious Rump how cou'd I have flatter'd Ireton by telling him Providence brought things about when 't was mere knavery all and that the hand of the Lord was in 't when I knew the Devil was in 't or indeed how cou'd I now advise you to be King if I had started of Oaths or prefer'd Honesty or Divinity before Interest and the Good Old Cause Lam. Nay 't is most certain he that will live in this World must be indu'd with the three rare Qualities of Dissimulation Equivocation and mental Reservation Whit. In which Excellency Heav'n be prais'd we out-do the Iesuits Enter La. Lam. L. Lamb. I 'm glad to see you so well employ'd my Lord as in Discourse with my Lord Whitlock he 's of our party and has Wit Whit. Your Honour graces me too much Lam. My Lord my Lady is an absolute States-Woman La. Lam. Yes I think things had not arriv'd to this exalted height nor had you been in Prospect of a Crown had not my Politicks exceeded your meaner Ambition Lam. I confess I owe all my good fortune to thee Enter Page Pag. My Lord my Lord Wariston Lord Hewson Collonel Cobbet and Collonel Duckenfield desire the Honour of waiting on you La. Lam. This has a â—ace of Greatness let 'em wait a while i' th' Antichamber Lam. My Love I wou'd have 'em come in La. Lam. You wou'd have 'em you wou'd have a Fools Head of your own pray let me be Judge of what their Duty is and what your Glory I say I 'll have 'em wait Page My Lord Fleetwood too is just alighted shall he wait too Madam La. Lam. He may approach and d' ye hear put on your fawning looks flatter him and profess much Friendship to him you may betray him with the more facility Whit. Madam you counsel well Ex. Page re-enter with L. Fleetwood Enter Lord Fleetwood Lamb. My good Lord your most submissive Servant Whit. My Gracious Lord I am your Creature your Slave Fleet. I profess ingeniously I am much ingag'd to you my good Lords I hope things are now in the Lard's handling and will go on well for his Glory and my Interest and that all my good People of England will do things that become good Christians Whit. Doubt us not my good Lord the Government cannot be put into abler hands than those of your Lordship it has hitherto been in the hard clutches of Iews Infidels and Pagans Fleet. Yea verily Abomination has been in the hands of Iniquity Lam. But my Lord those hands by my good Conduct are now cut off and our Ambition is your Lordship wou'd take the Government upon you Fleet. I profess my Lord by ye and nay I am asham'd of this Goodness in making me the Instrument of saving Grace to this Nation 't is the great Work of the Lard La. Lam. The Lard Sir I 'll assure you the Lard has the least hand in your good fortune I think you ought to ascribe it to the Cunning and Conduct of my Lord here who so timely abandon'd the Interest of Richard Fleet. Ingeniously I must own your good Lord can do much and has done much but 't is our Method to ascribe all to the Powers above La. Lam. Then I must tell you your Method's an ungrateful Method Lam. Peace my Love Whit. Madam This is the Cant we must delude the Rabble with La. Lam. Then let him use it there my Lord not amongst us who so well understand one another Lam. Good Dear be pacifi'd and tell me shall the Gentlemen without have admittance La. Lam. They may Page goes out Enter Hewson Desbro Duckenfield Wariston and Cobbet War Guds Benizon light on yu my gued Loords for this days work Madam I kiss your white Honds Duc. My Lord I have not been behind hand in this days turn of State Lam. 'T is confess'd Sir What wou'd you infer from that Duc. Why I wou'd know how things go who shall be General who Protector or who King next Hews My Friend has well translated his meaning La. Lam. Fy how that filthy Cobler Lord betrayes his Function Duc. We 're in a Chaos a Confusion as we are Hews Indeed the Commonwealth at present is out at heels and wants underlaying Cob. And the People expect something suddenly from us Whit. My Lords and Gentlemen we must consider a while War Bread a gued there 's mickle Wisdom i that Sirs Duc. It ought to be consulted betimes my Lord 't is a matter of moment and ought to be consulted by the whole Committee Lam. We design no other my Lord for which reason at three a clock we 'll meet at Wallingford House Duc. Nay my Lord do but settle the Affair let 's but know who 's our Head and 't is no matter Hew Ay my Lord no matter who I hope 't will be Fleetwood
for I have the length of his Foot already Whit. You are the leading men Gentlemen your Voices will soon settle the Nation Duc. Well my Lord we 'll not fail at three a clock Des. This falls out well for me for I have Bus'ness in Smithfield where my Horses stand and verily now I think on 't the Rogue the Ostler has not given 'em Oates to day Well my Lords farewel if I come not time enough to Wallingford House keep me a place in the Committee and let my Voice stand for one no matter who War A gued Mon I's warrant and takes muckle Pains for the Gued o' th' Nation and the Liberty o' th' Mobily The Diel confound 'em aud Lam. Come my Lord Wariston you are a wise man What Government are you for War Ene tol what ya please my gued Loord takes him aside Lam. What think you of a single Person here in my Lord Fleetwood War Mary Sir and he 's a brave Mon but gen I may cooncel tak 't for y ar sel my gued Loord an t be gued for him 't is ene gued for ya te Lam. But above half the Nation are for him War Bread a gued and I's for him than Fleet. The Will of the Lard be done and since 't is his Will I cannot withstand my Fate ingeniously Whit. My Lord Wariston a Word what if Lambert were the Man takes him aside War Right Sir Wons and ya have spoken aud He 's a brave Mon a Mon indeed gen I's 'ave any Judgment Whit. So I find this Property 's for any use aside Lam. My Lord I perceive Heaven and Earth conspire to make you our Prince Fleet. Ingeniously my Lords the weight of three Kingdoms is a heavy Burden for so weak Parts as mine therefore I will before I appear at Councel go seek the Lard in this great Affair and if I receive a Revelation for it I shall with all Humility espouse the Yoke for the Good of his People and mine and so Gad with us the Commonwealth of England Ex. Fleet. Desbro Wariston Duc. Cob. Hus. and Whit. La. Lam. Poor deluded Wretch 't is not yet come to that Lam. No my Dear the Voice will go clearly for me what with Bribes to some Hypocrisie and Pretence of Religion to others and promis'd Preferments to the rest I have engag'd 'em all La. Lam. And will you be a King Lam. You think that 's so fine a thing but let me tell you my Love a King 's a Slave to a Protector a King 's ty'd up to a thousand Rules of musty Law which we can break at Pleasure we can rule without Parliaments at least chuse whom we please make 'em agree to our Proposals or set a Guard upon 'em and starve 'em till they do La. Lam. But their Votes are the strangest things that they must pass for Laws you were never voted King Lam. No nor care to be the sharpest Sword 's my Vote My Law my Title They voted Dick should reign where is he now They voted the great Heroicks from the Succession but had they Arms or Men as I have you shou'd soon see what wou'd become of their Votes No my Love 'T is this must make me King His Sword Let Fleetwood and the Rump go seek the Lard My Empire and my Trust is in my Sword ACT II. Scene I. A Chamber of State Enter La. Lambert Gilliflower and Women-servants La. Lam. GIlliflower Has none been here to ask for any of my People in order to his approach to me Gill. None Madam La. Lam. Madam how dull thou art wou't never learn to give me a better Title than such an one as foolish Custom bestows on every common Wench Gill. Pardon my Ignorance Madam La. Lam. Again Madam Gill. Really Madam I shou'd be glad to know by what other Title you wou'd be distinguish'd La. Lam. Abominable dull Do'st thou not know on what score my Dear is gone to Wallingford House Gill. I cannot divine Madam La. Lam. Heav'n help thy Ignorance he 's gone to be made Protector fool or at least a King thou Creature And from this day I date my self her Highness Gill. That will be very fine indeed an 't please your Highness La Lam. I think 't will sute better with my Person and Beauty than with that other Woman what d' ye call her Mrs. Cromwel my shape and Gatâ— my Humour and my Youth have something more of Grandeur have they not Gill. Infinitely an 't please you Highness Enter Page Pag. Madam a Man without has the boldness to ask for your Honour La. Lam. Honour fool Gill. Her Highness Blockhead Pag. Sawcily prest in and struck the Porter for denying him entrance to your Highness La. Lam. What kind of Fellow was 't Pag. A rude rough Hectoring Swash an 't please your Highness nay and two or three times Gad forgive me he swore too La. Lam. It must be he aside Pag. His Habit was something bad and Cavalierish I believe 't is some poor petitioning begging Tory who having been sequester'd wou'd press your Highness for some Favour La. Lam. Yes it must be he ah foolish Creature and can he hope Relief and a villanous Cavalier out upon 'em poor Wretches you may admit him tho' I long to hear how one of those things talk Gill. Oh most strangely Madam an 't please your Highness I shou'd say Enter Loveless La. Lam. 'T is he I 'll swear Gilliflâ—wer these Heroicks are punctual men how now your Bus'ness with us Fellow Lov. My bus'ness Madam La. Lam. Hast thou ever a Petition to us Lov. A Petition Madam Sure this put on Greatness is to amuse her Servants or has she forgot that she invited me or indeed forgot me aside La. Lam. What art thou Pag. Shall we search his Breeches an 't please your Highness for Pistol or other Instruments La. Lam. No Boy we fear him not they say the Pow'rs above protect the Persons of Princes walks away Lov. Sure she 's mad yet she walks loose about And she has Charms even in her Raving Fit La. Lam. Answer me What art thou How shall I get my Servants hence with honour aside Lov. A Gentleman That cou'd have boasted Birth and Fortune too Till these accursed Times which Heav'n confound Racing out all Nobility all Vertue Has render'd me the rubbish of the World Whilst new rais'd Rascals Canters Robbers Rebells Do Lord it o're the Free-born Brave and Noble La. La. You 're very confident know you to whom you speak but I suppose you have lost your Estate or some such trivial thing which makes you angry Lov. Yes a trivial Estate of some five and twenty hundred pound a year but I hope to see that Rogue of a Lord reduc'd to his Cobler's Stall again or more deserv'dly hang'd that has it La. Lam. I thought 't was some such Grievance but you must keep a good Tongue in your head lest you be hang'd for Scandalum Magnatum there 's Law for
lead away Minstrels tol my Ladies Apartment Musick playing before all Ex. Dancing SCENE Flat Enter Page Pag. Cock Here must I wait to give my Lady Notice when my Lord approaches The fine Gentleman that is alone with her gave me these two fine pieces of Gold and bad me buy a Sword to fight for the King with-all and I 'm resolv'd to lay it all out in Sword not a penny in Nickers and fight for the Heroicks as long as I have a Limb if they be all such fine Men as this within But hark sure I hear some coming Ex. Flat Scene draws off discovers La. Lam. on a Couch with Loveless tying a rich Diamond Bracelet about his Arm a Table behind with Lights on which a Velvet Cushion with a Crown and Scepter cover'd Lov. This Present's too magnificent Such Bracelets young Monarchs shou'd put on La. Lam. Persons like me when they make Presents Sir must do it for their Glory not considering the merit of the Wearer yet this my charming Loveless comes short of what I ought to pay thy worth comes short too of my Love Lov. You bless me Madam La. Lam. This the great Monarch of the World once ty'd about my Arm and bade me wear it till some greater man shou'd chance to win my Heart Thou art that man whom Love hath rais'd above him Whom every Grace and every Charm thou hast Conspire to make thee mightier to my Soul And Oliver Illustrious Oliver Was yet far short of thee Lov. He was the Monarch then whose Spoils I triumph in La. Lam. They were design'd for Trophies to the young and Gay Ah Loveless that I cou'd reward thy Youth With something that might make thee more than man As well as give the best of Women to thee rises takes him by the hand leads him to the Table He starts Behold this Gay this wondrous Glorious thing Lov. Hah a Crown and Scepter Have I been all this while So near the Sacred Reliques of my King And found no Awful motion in my blood Nothing that mov'd Sacred Devotion in me kneels Hail Sacred Emblem of Great Majesty Thou that hast circled more Divinity Than the great Zodiack that surrounds the World I ne'r was blest with sight of thee till now But in much reverenc'd Pictures rises and bows La. Lam. Is 't not a lovely thing Lov. There 's such Divinity i' th very Form on 't Had I been conscious I 'd been near the Temple Where this bright Relique of the Glorious Martyr Had been inshrin'd ' thad spoil'd my soft Devotion 't is Sacrilege to dally where it is A rude a Sawcy Treason to approach it With an unbended knee for Heav's sake Madam Let us not be profane in our Delights Either withdraw or hide that Glorious Object La. Lam. Thou art a Fool the very sight of this Raises my Pleasure higher Methinks I give a Queen into thy Arms And where I love I cannot give enough softly Wou'd I cou'd set it on thy Head for ever ' Twou'd not become my simple Lord The thousandth part so well goes to put it on his Head he puts it back Lov. Forbear and do not play with holy things Let us retire and love as Mortals shou'd Not imitate the Gods and spoil our Joyes La. Lam. Lovely and unambitious What hopes have I of all your promis'd Constancy Whilst this which possibly ' ere long may adorn my Brow And ought to raise me higher in your Love Ought to transform you even to Adoration Shall poorly make you vanish from it's Lustre Methinks the very Fancy of a Queen Is worth a thousand Mistress's of less Illustrious Rank Lov. What every Pageant Queen You might from thence infer I 'd fall in Love with every little Actress because She acts the Queen for half an hour But then the gawdy Robe is laid aside La. Lam. I 'll pardon the Comparison in you Lov. I do not doubt your Power of being a Queen But trust it will not last How truly brave wou'd your great Husband be If whilst he may he pay'd this mighty Debt To the Right Owner If whilst he has the Army in his Power He made a true and lawful use of it To settle our great Master in his Throne And by an act so glorious raise his Name Even above the Title of a King La. Lam. You love me not that wou'd perswade me from my Glory Enter Gilliflower Gill. Oh Madam the Lords are all got merry as they call it and are all dancing hither La. Lam. What at their Oliverian Frolicks dear Loveless withdraw I wou'd not give the fond believing Fool a Jealousie of me Gill. Withdraw Madam 't is impossible he must run just into their mouthes La. Lam. Im ' ill at these Intrigues being us'd to Lovers that still came with such Authority that modestly my Husband wou'd withdraw but Loveless is in danger therefore take care he be not seen Gill. Heav'ns they are coming there 's no retreat La. Lam. Lye down on the Couch and cover him you with the Foot-Carpet so give me my Prayer-Book He lyes down along on the Couch they cover him with the Carpet La. Lam. takes her Book sits down on his Feet and leans on the back of the Couch reading Gill. stands at t'other end they enter dancing as before What Insolence is this do you not hear me you Sots whom Gayety and Dancing do so ill become War singing Welcom Ione Sanderson welcom welcom goes to take her out she strikes him Wons Madam that 's no part o' th' dance La. Lam. No but 't is part of a reward for your Insolence which possibly your Head shall answer for Lam. Pardon him my dear he meant no disrespect to thee La. Lam. How dare you interrupt my Devotion Sirrah Begon with all your filthy ill-bred Crew Lam. sits down on Loveless Lam. My only dear be patient hah Something moves under me Treason Treason He rises Lov. rouls off and turns Lam. over the rest of the men run out crying Treason Treason overthrowing the Lights putting 'em out La. Lam. Treason Treason my Lord my Lord Lam. Lights there a Plot a Popish Plot lights She groping about finds Lov. by his clothes knows him La. Lam. The Crown the Crown guard the Crown Here take this Key the next room is my Bed-chamber Secure your self a moment Ex. Loveless Lights there the Crown who art thou takes hold of Lamb. Lam. 'T is I. La. Lam. Ah my Lord what 's the matter Lam. Nay my Lady I ask you what 's the matter Enter Page with lights By Heaven all is not well Hark ye my fine she Politician who was it you had hid beneath this Carpet La. Lam. Heav'ns Do'st hear him Gilliflower Sure the Fellow 's mad Gill. Alack my Lord Are you out of your Honourable Wits Heav'n knows my Lady was at her Devotion Lam. Bawd come confess thy self to be one at her Devotion yes with a He Saint Gill. Ah! Gad forbid the Saints shou'd be so
whom do you derive your Title of Ladies La. Feet Have a care how you usurp what 's not you own Lov. How the Devil rebukes Sin aside La. Des. From whom had you your Honours Women Lov. From our Husbands Gill. Husbands who are they and of what standing 2 Lad. Of no long standing I confess Gill. That 's a common Grievance indeed La. Des. And ought to be redress'd La. Lam. And that shall be taken into consideration write it down Gilliflower Who made your Husband a Knight Woman Lov. Oliver the first an 't please ye La. Lam. Of horrid Memory write that down who yours 2 La. Richard the Fourth an 't like your Honour Gill. Of sottish Memory Shall I write that down too La. Des. Most remarkably Cro. Heav'ns Can I hear this Profanation of our Royal Family aside La. Lam. I wonder with what impudence Noll and Dick cou'd Knightifie your Husbands for 't is a Rule in Heraldry that none can make a Knight but him that is one 'T is Sancha Pancha's Case in Don Quixot Crom. How dare you question my Husband's Authority rises in Anger Who nobly won his Honour in the Field Not like thy sneaking Lord who gain'd his Title From his Wife's gay Love-tricks Bartering her Honour for his Coronet La. Lam. Thou ly'st my Husband earn'd it with his Sword braver and juster than thy bold Usurper who waded to his Glory through a Sea of Royal Blood La. Des. Sure Loveless has done good on her and converted her La. Fleet. Madam I humbly beg you will be patient You 'll ruine all my Lord's Designes else Women proceed to your Grievances both publick and private Lov. I petition for a Pension my Husband deceas'd was a constant active man in all the late Rebellion against the Man he plunder'd my Lord Capel he betray'd his dearest Friend Brown Bushel who trusted his Life in his hands and several others plundering their Wives and Children even to their Smocks La. Lam. Most considerable Service and ought to be consider'd 2 La. And most remarkably at the Tryal of the late Man I spit in 's Face and betray'd the Earl of Holland to the Parliament Crom. In the King's Face you mean it shew'd your zeal for the Good Cause 2 La. And 't was my Husband that headed the Rabble to pull down Gog and Magog the Bishops broke the Idols in the Windows and turn'd the Churches into Stables and dens of Thieves rob'd the Altar of the Cathedral of the twelve pieces of Plate call'd the twelve Apostles turn'd eleven of 'em into Money and kept Iudas for his own use at home La. Fleet. On my word most wisely perform'd note it down 3 La. And my Husband made Libels on the Man from the first Troubles to this day defam'd and profan'd the Woman and her Children printed all the man's Letters to the Woman with Burlesque Marginal Notes pull'd down the sumptuous Shrines in Churches and with the golden and Popish Spoils adorn'd his own Houses and Chimney Pieces La. Lam. We shall consider these great Services Lov. To what a height is Impudence arriv'd aside La. Lam. Proceed to private Grievances Lov. An 't please your Honours my Husband prayes too much which both hinders his private Bus'ness at home and his Publick Services to the Commonwealth La. Lam. A double Grievance set it down Gilliflower Lov. And then he rails against the Whore of Babylon and all my Neighbours think he call me Whore Crom. A most unpardonable fault La. Lam. We 'll have that rectify'd it will concern us Lov. Then he never kisses me but he sayes a long Grace which is more mortifying than inviting La. Des. That is the fault of all the new Saints which is the reason their Wives take a pious care as much as in them lies to send 'em to Heaven by making 'em Cuckolds La. Fleet. A very charitable work and ought to be encourag'd Loveless gives in a Petition to Gilliflower Gill. The humble Petition of the Lady Make-shift reads Heav'ns Madam here is many thousand hands to 't of the distressed Sex All. Read it Gill. reads Whereas there pass'd an Act Iune 24th against Fornication and Adultery to the great detriment of most of the young Ladies Gentlewomen and Commonalty of England and to the utter decay of many whole Families especially when married to old men your Petitioners most humbly beg your Honours will take this great Grievance into Mature Consideration and that the said Act may be repealed a blessing on 'em they shall have my hand too La. Lam. We acknowledge there are many Grievances in that Act but there are many Conveniences too for it ties up the Villanous Tongues of men from boasting our Favours Crom. But as it layes a Scandal on Society 't is troublesom Society being the very Life of a Republick Peters the first and Martin the Second Lov. But in a Free State why shou'd not we be free La. Des. Why not we stand for the Liberty and Property of our Sex and will present it to the Committee of Safety Lov. Secondly we desire the Heroicks vulgarly call'd the Malignants may not be look'd on as Monsters for assuredly they are Men and that it may not be charg'd to us as a Crime to keep 'em company for they are honest men 2 L. And some of 'em men that will stand to their Principles La. Lam. Is there no other honest men that will do as well 3 La. Good men are scarce La. Lam. They 're all for Heroicks sure 't is the mode to love 'em I cannot blame ' em aside Lov. And that when we go to Mornings and Evenings Lectures to Tantlings or elsewhere and either before or after visit a private Friend it may be actionable for the Wicked to scandalize us by terming of it â—busing the Creature when 't is harmless recreating the Creature All. Reason Reason Lov. Nor that any Husband shou'd interupt his Wife when at her private Devotion Enter Page La. Lam. I have been too late sensible of that Grievance Gill. And Madam I wou'd humbly pray a Patent for Scolding to ease my Spleen Pag. An please Your Highness here 's a Messenger arriv'd Post with Letters from my Lord the General Ex. Pag. La. Lam. Greater Affairs oblige us to break up the Council Rises the Women retire Enter Page with Messenger or Letters What means this Haste Opens and reads ' em Crom. Hah bless my Eye-sight she looks pale now red again some Turn to his Confusion Heav'n I beseech thee La. Lam. My Lord 's undone His Army has deserted him Left him denfenceless to the Enemies Pow'r Ah Coward Traytors Where 's that brutal Courage That made ye so successful in your Villanies Has Hell that taught ye Valour now abandon'd ye How in an Instant are my Glories fall'n Crom. Ha ha ha What has your Highness any cause of Grief Gill. Call up your Courage Madam do not let these things scoff you you may be yet a Queen Remember what Lilly
art mistaken But did'st thou mind her next the Pulpit Lov. A Plague upon the whole Congregation I minded nothing but how to fight the Lord's Battel with that damn'd sham Parson whom I had a mind to beat Free My Lady Desbro is not of that Persuasion but an errant Heroick in her Heart and feigns it only to have the better occasion to serve the Royal Party I knew her and lov'd her before she married Lov. She may chance then to be sav'd Free Come I 'll have thee bear up briskly to some one of 'em it may redeem thy Sequestration which now thou see'st no hopes of compounding puts thee out of Patience Lov. Let 'em take it and the Devil do 'em Good with it I scorn it should be said I have a Foot of Land in this ungrateful and accursed Island I 'd rather beg where Laws are obey'd and Justice perform'd than be powerful where Rogues and base born Rascals rule the Rost. Free But suppose now dear Loveless that one of the Wives of these Pageant Lords should fall in love with thee and get thy Estate again or pay thee double for 't Lov. I wou'd refuse it Free And this for a little dissembled Love a little Drudgery Lov. Not a night by Heav'n not an hour no not a single kiss I 'd rather make love to an Incubus Free But suppose 't were the new Protectoress her self the fine Lady Lambert Lov. The greatest Devil of all Damn her dost think I 'll Cuckold the Ghost of old Oliver Free The better there 's some Revenge in 't do'st know her Lov. Never saw her nor care to do Cor. Collonel Do you command me any thing Free Yes I 'll send thee with a Note Let 's step into a Shop and write it Loveless stay a moment and I 'll be with thee Ex. Free and Corporal Enter L. Lambert L. Desbro Gilliflowr Pages with great Bibles and Footmen Love walks sullenly not seeing ' em L. Lamb. Train carried La. Lam. O I 'm impatient to know his Name ah Desbro he betray'd all my Devotion and when I wou'd have pray'd Heav'n knows it was to him and for him onely L. Des. What manner of man was it L. Lam. I want words to describe him not tall nor short well made and such a face Love Wit and Beauty revel'd in his Eyes From whence he shot a thousand winged Darts That pierc'd quite through my Soul L. Des. Seem'd he a Gentleman L. Lam. A God! Altho his out-side were but mean but he shone th'ro like Lightning from a Cloud and shot more piercing Rayes L. Des. Stay'd he long L. Lam. No methought he grew displeas'd with our Devotion And seem'd to contradict the Parson with his Angry Eyes A Friend he had too with him young and handsom Who seeing some disorder in his Actions got him away I had almost forgot all Decency And started up to call him but my Quality And wanting something to excuse that Fondness Made me decline with very much adoe Gill. Heav'ns Madam I 'll warrant they were Heroicks La. Lam. Heroicks Gill. Cavaliers Madam of the Royal Party L. D. They were so I knew one of ' em La. Lam. Ah Desbro do'st thou Ah Heav'ns that they should prove Heroicks L. D. You might have known that by the Conquest I never heard e're one o' th t'other Party ever gain'd a Heart and indeed Madam 't is a just Revenge our Husbands make Slaves of them and they kill all their Wives Love sees 'em and starts Lov. Hah what have we here Women faith and handsom too I never saw a Form more Excellent whoe're they are they seem of Quality by Heav'n I cannot take my Eyes from her pointing to La. Lam. La. Lam. Hah he 's yonder my Heart begins to fail My trembling Limbs refusing to support me His Eyes seem fix'd on mine too ah I faint leans on Desbro Gill. My Ladies Coach William quickly she faints Lov. Madam can an unfortunate Stranger 's aid add any thing to the recovery of so much Beauty bowing and holding her La. Lam. Ah Wou'd he knew how much aside Gill. Support her Sir till her Ladiships Coach comes I beseech ye Lov. Not Atlas bore up Heaven with greater Pride La. Lam. I beg your Pardon Sir for this Disorder That has occasion'd you so great a Trouble You seem a Gentleman and consequently May need some Service done you name the way I shall be glad to let you see my Gratitude Lov. If there be ought in me that merits this amazing Favour from you I owe my thanks to Nature that indow'd me with something in my Face that spoke my Heart La. Lam Heav'n how he looks and speaks to Desbro aside L. Des. Oh these Heroicks Madam have the most charming Tongues La. Lam. Pray come to me and ask for any of my Officers and you shall have admittance Lov. Who shall I ask for Madam for I 'm yet ignorant to whom I owe for this great Bounty La. Lam. Not know me Thou art indeed a Stranger I thought I 'd been so Elevated above the common Crowd it had been visible to all Eyes who I was Lov. Pardon my Ignorance My Soul conceives ye all that Heaven can make ye Of Great of Fair and Excellent But cannot guess a Name to call you by But such as wou'd displease ye My heart begins to fail and by her Vanity I fear she 's one of the new Race of Quality aside But be she Devil I must love that Form La. Lam. Hard Fate of Greatness We so highly Elevated Are more expos'd to Censure than the little ones By being forc'd to speak our Passions first Is my Coach ready Pag. It waits your Honour La. Lam. I give you leave to visit me ask for the General 's Lady if my Title be not by that Time alter'd Lov. Pistols and Daggers to my Heart 't is so La. Lam. Adiew Sir Ex. all but Lov. who stands musing Enter Freeman Free How now what 's the matter with thee Lov. Prethee wake me Freeman Free Wake thee Lov. I dream by Heav'n I dream Nay yet the lovely Phantam's in my View Oh! wake me or I sleep to perfect Madness Free What ayl'st thou what did'st dream of Lov. A strange fantastick Charmer A thing just like a Woman friend It walk't and look'd with wonderous Majesty Had Eyes that kill'd and Graces deck'd her Face But when she talk'd mad as the Winds she grew Chimera in the form of Angel Woman Free Who the Devil meanest thou Lov. By Heav'n I know not but as she vanish'd hence she bad me come to th' General 's Free Why this is she I told thee ey'd thee so at the Conventicle 't is Lambert the renown'd the famous Lady Lambert Mad call'st thou her 't is her ill acted Greatness thou mistak'st thou art not us'd to the Pageantry of these Women yet they all run thus mad 't is greatness in 'em Loveless Lov. And is thine thus thy Lady Desbro Free She 's
ye Sir Lov. No matter then I shall be free from a damn'd Commonwealth as you are pleas'd to call it when indeed 't is but a mungrel mangy Mock-Monarchy La. Lam. Is it your bus'ness Sir to rail Lov. You rais'd the Devil Madam Pag. Madam shall I call your Highness Guards and secure the Traytor La. La. No that you may see how little I regard or fear him leave us all Ex. all but Gill. We 'll trust our Person in his hands alone Now Sir your Bus'ness smilingly approaches him Lov. Madam I waited here by your Commands La. Lam. How shall I tell him that I love him Gilliflower Gill. Easily Madam tell him so in plain English Madam 't is great Women of your exalted height ever speak first you have no Equals dare pretend to speak of love to you La. Lam. Thou art i' th' right Do'st know my Quality and thy own Poverty And hast thou nothing to ask that I may grant Lov. Sure she loves me and I frail flesh and blood Cannot resist her Charms but she 's of the damn'd Party aside La. Lam. Are all your Party Sir so proud Lov. But what have I to do with Religion Is Beauty the worse or a kind Wench to be refus'd for Conventickling She lives high on the Spoils of a glorious Kingdom and why may not I live upon the Sins of the Spoiler aside La. Lam. Sir you are poor Lov. So is my Prince a Plague on the occasion La. Lam. I think you are no Fool too Lov. I wou'd I were then I had been a Knave had thriv'd and possibly by this time had been tugging for rifled Crowns and Kingdoms La. Lam. This Satyr ill befits my present Bus'ness with you you want some Necessaries as Cloaths and Linnen too and 't is great pitty so proper a man shou'd want Necessaries Gilliflower take my Cabinet Key and fetch the Purse of Broad-pieces that lyes in the lower Drawer 't is a small Present Sir but 't is an Earnest of my farther Service Gill. goes out and returns with a Purse Lov. I 'm angry that I find one Grain of Generosity in this whole Race of Hypocrites aside La. Lam. Here Sir 't is only for your present use for Cloaths three hundred Pieces let me see you sweet Lov. Stark mad by this good day La. Lam. Ah Gilliflower How prettily those Cavalier things charm I wonder how the Powers above came to give them all the Wit Softness and Gallantry whilst all the great ones of our Age have the most slovenly ungrateful dull Behaviour no Ayr no Wit no Love or any thing to please a Lady with Gill. Truly Madam there 's a great Difference in the Men yet Heav'n at first did it's part but the Divel has since so over-done his that what with the Vizor of Sanctity which is the gadly Sneere the drawing of the Face to a prodigious length the formal language with a certain Twang through the Nose and the pious Gogle they are fitter to scare Children than beget love in Ladies Lov. You hit the Character of your new Saint La. Lam. And then their Dress Gilliflower Gill. Oh! 'T is an Abomination to look like a Gentleman long Hair is wicked and Cavalierish a Periwig is flat Popery the Disguise of the Whore of Babylon handsom Cloaths or lac'd Linnen the very Tempter himself that debauches all their Wives and Daughters therefore the diminutive Band with the Hair of the Reformation Cut beneath which a Pair of large sanctify'd Souses appear to declare to the World they had hitherto escap'd the Pillory tho' deserv'd it as well as Pryn. La. Lam. Have a Care what you say Gilliflower Gill. Why Madam we have no Informers here Enter Page Page Madam here 's Old Noll's Wife desires Admittance to your Hon your Highness La. Lam. Bid the poor Creature wait without I 'le do her what good I can for her Husbands sake who first infus'd Politiques into me by which I may boast I have clim'd to Empire Lov. So her Madness runs in that Vein I see Aside Gill. Alack Madam I think she 's coming Crom. without Does she keep state in the Divel's Name and must I wait La. Lam. Heav'ns I shall be scandaliz'd by the godly Dear Gilliflower conceal my Cavalier I wou'd not have a Cavalier seen with me for all the World Step into my Cabinet Ex. Gill. and Lov. Enter La. Cromwel held back by a Man to them Gilliflower Crom. Unhand me Villain 't was not long since a Rudeness Sir like this had forfeited thy Head La. Lam. What wou'd the Woman Crom. The Knave the perjur'd Villain thy Husband by th' Throat thou proud imperious Baggage to make me wait who 's Train thou hast been proud to bear how durst thou after an Affront like this trust thy false Face within my Fingers reach that Face that first bewitch't the best of Husbands from me and tempted him to sin Gill. I beseech your Highness retire the Woman 's mad Cro. Highness in the Devil's name sure 't is not come to that no I may live to see thy Cuckold hang'd first his Politicks are yet too shallow Mistris Heav'ns Did my Husband make him Lord for this raise him to Honour Trusts Commands and Councels To ruine all our Royal Family Betray'd young Richard who had reign'd in Peace But for his Perjuries and Knaveries And now he sooths my Son in Law soft Fleetwood With empty hopes of Pow'r and all the while To make himself a King No Minion no I yet may live to see Thy Husband's Head o' th top of Westminster Before I see it circled in a Crown La. Lam. I pity the poor Creature Crom. Ungrateful Traytor as he is Not to look back upon his Benefactors But he in lieu of making just Returns Reviles our Family prophanes our Name And will in time render it far more odious Than ever Needham made the great Heroicks La. Lam. Alas it weeps poor Woman Cro. Thou ly'st false Strumpet I scorn to shed a Tear For ought that thou can'st do or say to me I 've too much of my Husband's Spirit in me Oh my dear Richard had'st thou had a grain on 't Thou and thy Mother ne'r had fall'n to this Gill. His Father sure was seeking of the Lard when he was got Enter La. Fleetwood her Train borne Crom. Where is this perjur'd Slave thy Wittal Lord Dares he not shew his Face his guilty Face Before the Person he has thus betray'd L. Fleet. Madam I hope you mistake my honour'd Lord Lambert I believe he designs the Throne for my dear Lord. Crom. Fond Girl because he has the Art of fawning Dissembling to the height can sooth and smile Profess and sometimes weep No he will betray him as he did thy Brother Richard the Fourth was thus deluded by him No let him swear and promise what he will They are but Steps to his own ambitious End And only makes the Fool thy credulous Husband A silly deluded Property Enter
of my whole Estate because he said I took up Arms in Ireland on Noble Ormond's Side nay hir'd Rogues perjur'd Villains Witnesses with a Pox to swear it too when at that Time I was but eight years old But I 'scapt as well as all the Gentry and Nobility of England To add to this he takes my Mistress too La. Des. You mistake my lovely Freeman I marryed only thy Estate the best Composition I cou'd make for thee and I will pay it back with Interest too Free You wou'd suspect my love then and swear that all the Adoration I pay you were as we do to Heaven for Int'rest only La. Des. How you mistake my love but do so still so you will let me give these Proofs of it Gives him Gold Free Thus like Atlante you drop Gold in my Pursuit To love I may not over-take you What 's this to giving me one happy minute Take back your Gold and give me currant love The Treasure of your Heart not of your Purse When shall we meet Maria La. Des. You know my leasure Hours are when my honourable Lord is busied in Affairs of State or at his Prayers from which long-winded Exercise I have of late withdrawn my self three Hours by the Clock he prays extempory which is for National and Houshold Blessings for the first 't is to confound the Interest of the King that the Lard wou'd deliver him his Friends Adherers and Allies wheresoever scatter'd about the Face of the whole Earth into the Clutches of the righteous Press 'em good Lard even as the Vintager doth the Grape in the Wine-Press till the Waters and gliding Chanels are made red with the Blood of the wicked In a Tone Free And grant the faithful to be mighty and to be strong in Persecution and more especially Ah! I beseech thee confound that malignant Tory Freeman that he may never rise up in Judgment against thy Servant who has taken from him his Estate his Sustinance and Bread give him Grace of thy infinite Mercy to hang himself if thy People can find no zealous Witnesses to swear him to the Gallows legally Ah we have done very much for thee Lard thou shoud'st consider us thy Flock and we shou'd be as good to thee in another thing In a Tone La. Des. Thou hit'st the zealous Twang right sure thou hast been acquainted with some of 'em Free Damn 'em no what honest Man wou'd keep 'em Company where harmless Wit and Mirth 's a Sin laughing scandalous and a merry Glav Abomination La. Des. Yes if you drink Healths my wicked Brother otherwise to be silently drunk to be as abusive and satyrical as you please upon the Heroicks is allowable for laughing indeed 't is not so well but the precise Sneere and Grin is lawful no swearing indeed but lying and dissimulation in abundance I 'll assure you they drink as deep and entertain themselves as well with this silent way of lewd Debauchery as you with all your Wit and Mirth your Healths to the Royal Family Free Nay I confess 't is a great Pleasure to cheat the World La. Des. 'T is Power as divine Hobs calls it Free But what 's all this to Love Where shall we meet anon La. Des. I 'll tell you that will please you as well Your Friend is within with her Highness that shall be if the Divel and her Husband's Politicks agree about the matter Free Ha has my cautious Railer manag'd matters so sleyly La. Des. No No the Matter was manag'd to his Hand You see how Heav'n brings things about for the Good of your Party this Bus'ness will be worth him at least a thousand pound a Year or two well manag'd But see my Ladies Woman Gill. Oh Madam my Lord Running cross the Stage into her Ladies Chamber Free Death how shall I bring my Friend off He 'll certainly be ruin'd Enter Gill. Lov. and La. Lam. Gill. Madam he 's coming up Lov. Madam for my self I care not but much concern'd for you La. Lam. takes two Papers out of her Pock and gives 'em to Lov. and Free La. Lam. Here take these two Petitions each of you one Poor Fellows you may be gone your Petitions will not be granted Enter Lambert Lam. How now my Dear what Petitions Friends what 's your Bus'ness La. Lam. 'T is enough we know their Business Love we are sufficient to dispatch such Suters I hope Lam. Pardon me my Dear I thought no harm but I saw you frown and that made me concern'd La. Lam. Frown ' Twou'd make any Body frown to hear the Impudence of Gentlemen these Cavaliers wou'd you think it my Dear if this Fellow has not the Impudence to petition for the Thirds of his Estate again so justly taken from him for bearing Arms for the Man La. Des. Nay I ' am inform'd that they but two Nights ago in a Tavern Drunk a Health to the Man too Lam. How durst you Sirrah approach my Lady with any such sawcy Address you have receiv'd our Answer Lov. Death I 've scarce Patience Aside Free We knew my Lord the Influence your Ladies have over you and Women are more tender and compassionate naturally than Men and Sir 't is hard for Gentlemen to starve La. Lam. Have you not able Limbs can ye not work Lov. Persons of our Education work Lam. Starve or beg then La. Lam. Education why I 'll warrant there was that young Creature they call the Duke of Glocester was as well educated as any Lad in the Parish and yet you see he should have been bound Prentice to a handy Crafts Trade but that our Lords cou'd not spare Money to bind him out and so they sent him to beg beyond Sea Lov. Death I shall do Mischief not all the Joy she gave me but now can attone for this Blasphemy against the Royal Youth Free Patience Well my Lord we find you are obdurate and we 'll withdraw Lam. Do so And if you dare presume to trouble us any more I 'll have you whip'd d' e hear La. Des. Madam I 'll take my leave of your Ladiship Ex. Lov. Free L. Des. La. Lam. My Lord 't was I that ought to threaten 'em but you 'r so forward still what makes you from the Committee Lam. I left some Papers behind La. Lam. And they 'll make use of your Absence to set up Fleetwood King Lam. I 'll warrant ye my Dear La. Lam. You 'll warrant you 're a Fool and a Coxcomb I see I must go my self there will be no bus'ness done 'till I thunder 'em together They want Old Oliver amongst 'em his arbitrary Nod cou'd make ye all tremble when he wanted Power or Money he need but Cock in Parliament and lay his hand upon his Sword and cry I must have Money and had it or kick'd ye all out a doors And you are so mealy mouth'd you cannot Cock for a Kingdom Lam. I 'll warrant you Dear I can do as good a thing for a
Kingdom La. Lam. You can do nothing as you shou'd do 't You want Old Oliver's Brains Old Oliver's Courage and Old Oliver's Counsel Ah what a politick Fellow was little Sir Anthony What a Head-peice was there What a plaguy Fellow Old Thurlo and the rest But get ye back and return me Protector at least or never hope for Peace again Lam. My Soul trouble not thy self go in With mine no Power can equal be And I will be a King to humour thee Exeunt ACT III. Scene I. A Council Chamber great Table Chairs and Papers Enter two Clarks who lay Papers in Order and Door-keeper Door COme Haste Haste the Lords are coming keep back there room for the Lords room for the honourable Lords Heav'n bless your Worships Honours Enter Lambert Fleetwood Whitlock Wariston discoursing earnestly to them Duckenfield Cobbet Hewson Desbro and others Duck takes Wariston by the Hand and talks to him War Bread a gued Gentlemen I's serv'd the Commonwealth long and faithfully I's turn'd and turn'd to aud Interest and aud Religions that turn'd up Trump and wons a me but I's get naught but Bagery by my Sol I's noo put in for a Pansion as well as rest o ya Loones Cob. What we can serve you in my Lord you may command Duc. And I too my Lord when the Government is new moulded War Wons Sirs and I's sa moold it 't was ne're sa moolded sin the Dam boond the Head on 't Duc. I know there are some ambitious Spirits that are for a single Person but we 'll have hot work e're yield to that War The faud Diel take 'em then for Archibald 't is warse than Monarchy Duc. A thousand Times Have we with such Industry been pulling down Kings of the Royal Family to set up Tyrants of our own of mean and obscure Birth No if we 're for a single Person I 'm for a lawful one War Wons and ya have spoken aud my Lord so am I. Duc. But Lambert has a busie haughty Spirit and thinks to carry it but we 'll have no single Person War Nor I ods Bread the faud Diel brest the Wem of Lambert or any single Person in England I's for yare Interest my gued Lords Bowing Lam. My Lord Wariston will you please to assume the Chair Enter Loveless Freeman and others with Petitions War Ah my gued Loord I's yare most obedient humble Servant Bowing to Lam. all set All. Hum Hum. Fleet. My Lords and Gentlemen we are here met together in the Name of the Lard Duc. Yea and I hope we shall hang together as one man A Pox upon your preaching Aside Fleet. And hope this days great work will be for his Praise and Glory Duc. ' Bating long Graces my Lord we are met together for the Bus'ness of the Nation to settle it and to establish a Government Fleet. Yea verily And I hope you will all unanimously agree it shall be your unworthy Servant Lam. What else my Lord Flee And as thou Lard has put the Sword into my hand Duc. So put it into your Heart My Lord to do Justice Fleet. Amen Duc. I 'd rather see it there than in your Hand Aside Fleet. For we are as it were a Body without a Head or to speak more learnedly an Animal unanimate Hus. My Lord let us use as little as we can the language of the Beast hard Words none of your Eloquence it savoureth of Monarchy Lam. My Lord you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind Hew My Lord I am sorry to hear there are any of Quality amongst this Honourable Dissembly stands up Cob. Assembly my Lord Hews Well you know my meaning or if there be any such I 'm sorry they shou'd own themselves of Quality Duc. How own themselves Gentlemen Death Sir d' ye think we were all born Coblers Hews Or if you were not the more the pitty for little England I say in heat Fleet. Verily my Lords Brethren shou'd not fall out it is a scandal to the Good Cause and maketh the Wicked rejoyce War Wons and theys garr the Loosey Proverb on 't te When Loons gang together by th' Luggs gued men get their ene All. He he he Duc. He calls you Knaves by craft my Lords War Bread a gued tak 't among yee Gentlemen I's ment wee le Fleet. I profess my Lord Wariston you make my hair stand an end to hear how you swear War Wons my Loord I's sware as little as your Lordship only I's sware out and ya swallow aud Duc. There 's a Bone for you to pick my Lord. All. He he he Lam. We give my Lord Wariston leave to jest Des. But what 's this to the Government all this while a dad I shall sit so late I shall have no time to visit my Horses therefore proceed to the Point Hews Ay to the Point my Lords the Gentleman that spoke last spoke wll Cob. Well sed Brother I see you will in time speak properly Duc. But to the Government my Lords beats the Table Lam. Put 'em off o' this Discourse my Lord. aside to War Des. My Lord Wariston move it you are Speaker War The Diel a me Sirs and noo ya talk of a Speaker I's tell ye a blithe Tale. Fleet. Ingeniously my Lord you are to blame to swear so Lam. Your Story my Lord. War By my Solmon and there was a poor Woman the other day beg'd ot'h ' Carle the Speaker but he 'd give her nought unlas she 'd lat a fea rt wons at last a fea rt she lat Ay marry quoth the woman noo my Rump has a Speaker te All. He he he Duc. But to our Bus'ness Des. Bus'ness ay there 's the thing I 've a world on 't I shou'd go and bespeak a pair of Mittens and Shears for my Hedger and Shearer a pair of Cards for my Thrasher a Sythe for my Mower and a Skreen-fan for my Lady Wife and many other things my Head 's full of bus'ness I cannot stay Whit. Fy my Lord will you neglect the bus'ness o' th' day we meet to oblige the Nation and gratifie our Friends Des. Nay I 'll do any thing so I may rise time enough to see my Horses at night Lov. Damn 'em what stuff 's here for a Council-Table Free Where are our English Spirits that can be govern'd by such Dogs as these Lam. Clark Read the Heads of what past at our last sitting War In the first place I must mind your Lordships tol consider those that have been gued Members in the Commonwelth Fleet. We shall not be backward to gratifie any that have serv'd the Commonwealth Whit. There 's Money enough we have taxt the Nation high Duc. Yes if we knew where to find it however read Clark reads To Walter Walton Draper six thousand nine hundred twenty nine pounds six shillings and five pence for Blacks for his Highness Funeral Lam. For the Devil 's put
Soul destin'd hers from it's first Being and one Body whole sound and in perfect Health which I here promise to pay to the said Maria upon Demand if the aforesaid Iohn Freeman be not hang'd before such Demand made Whereto I set my Hand and seal it with my Lips La. Des. And I in Consideration of such Debt do freely give unto the abovesaid Iohn Freeman the Heart and Body of the abovesaid Maria Desbro with all Appurtenances thereto belonging whenever it shall please Heav'n to bring my Husband fairly to the Gallows in a tone Free Amen kiss the Book Kisses her Ana. hums without La. Des. Hah that 's Ananias sure some Danger 's near the necessary Rascal gives us Notice of Free 't is so what wou'dst thou have me do La. Des. thou art undone if seen Here step within this Curtain He goes Enter Ananias humming and spreading his Cloak wide Desbro behind him puffing in a Chafe Des. Ads nigs what a Change is here like to be puff puff we have manag'd matters sweetly to let the Scotch General undermine us puff puff La. Des. What 's the matter Des. Nothing Cockey nothing but that we are like to return to our first nothing Ana. Yea verily when our times come but ah the great work of Reformation is not yet fully accomplished which must be wrought by the Saints and we cannot spare one of them until the Work be finish'd Des. Yea yea it is finished I doubt puff puff fye fye what a Change is here Ana. Patience ah 't is a precious Virtue Des. Patience Sir what when I shall lose so many fine Estates which did appertain to the Wicked and which I trusted had been establish'd ours and tell'st thou me of Patience puff puff walking fast Ana. How lose 'em Sir Handle the matter with Patience I hope the Committee of Safety or the Rump will not do an illegal thing to one of the Brethren Des. No No I have been a trusty Knave to them and so I have found them all to me but Monk Monk O that ever we shou'd be such blind Fools to trust an honest General Ana. Patience Sir What of him Des. I just now receiv'd private Intelligence he 's coming out of Scotland with his Forces puff puff Ana. Why let him come a Gads Name we have those will give him a civil Salute if he mean not honourably to the Commonwealth Patience Sir Des. But if he prove the stronger and shou'd chance to be so great a Traytor to us to bring in the Man the King La. Des. How the King Husband the great Heroick Free Death this Woman is a Sybill Ah Noble Monk Ana. Hum the King Des. Ah and with the King the Bishops and then where 's all our Church and Bishops Lands Oh! undone puff puff Ana. How bring in the King and Bishops my righteous Spirit is raised too I say I will excommunicate him for one of the Wicked yea for a prophane Heroick a Malignant a Tory a I say we will surround him and confound him with a mighty Host yea and fight the Lards Battel with him yea we will Des. Truckle to his Pow'r puff puff Ana. Nay I say verily nay for in Sadness I will dye in my Calling Des. So I doubt shall I which is Plowing Hedging and Ditching Ana. Yea we have the Sword of the Righteous in our hand and we will defend the mighty Revenues of the Church which the Lard hath given unto his People and chosen ones I say we will defend Des. Ah Patience Sir ah 't is a pious Virtue Ana. Ah it is Zeal in one of us the out-goings of the Spirit Enter Page Tom. Sir Will you go down to Prayers the Chaplain waits Des. No no Boy I am too serious for that Exercise I cannot now dissemble Heav'n forgive me Ana. How Sir not dissemble ah then you have lost a great Vertue indeed a very great Vertue ah let us not give away the Good Old Cause but as we have hitherto maintain'd it by Gadly cozenage and pious frauds let us persevere ah let us persevere to the end let us not lose our Heritage for a Mess of Pottage that is let us not lose the Cause for Dissimulation and Hypocrisie those two main Engines that have carry'd on the great Work Des. Verily you have prevailed and I will go take counsel of my pillow Boy call my man to undress me I 'll to bed for I am sick at heart Ex. Tom. Page Free Death what shall I do now Des. walks she whispers Ana. La. Des. You must get my man off or we 're undone Ana. Madam be comforted Heaven will bring all things about for our advantage as Des. turns La. Des. But he 's behind the Curtains man Des. turns from ' em Ana. Ah let Providence alone sâ—reads his cloak wide and goes by degrees towards the Bed Your pious Lady Sir is doubtful but I will give her ample satisfaction Des. Ah do Mr. Ananias do for she 's a good and a vertuous Lady certo she is goes close to the Bed-post and speaks over his shoulder Ana. Get ye behind my cloak La. Des. Indeed Sir your Counsel and Assistance is very comfortable Ana. We shou'd be helps meet to one another Madam Des. Alack good man â— La. Des. goes to cokes her Husb. La. Des. Ay my Dear I am so much oblig'd to him that I know not without thy thy aid how to make him amends Free So this is the first Cloak of Zeal I ever made use of An. going spreading his cloak to the door Freeman behind goes out Des. Good Lady give him this twenty pieces a dad he worthily deserves ' em gives her Gold La. Des. Indeed and so he does Dear if thou knew'st all What say you now do I not improve in Hypocrisie and shall I not in time make a precious member of your Church to Ana. Ana. Verily your Ladiship is most ingenious and expert Sir I most humbly take my leave Ex. Ananias Enter Tom Page Page My Lord my Lord Lambert has sent in all haste for you you must attend at his house immediately Des. So he has heard the News I must away let my Coach be ready Ex. Des. La. Des. How unlucky was this that Freeman shou'd be gone Sirrah run and see to o'retake him and bring him back Ex. all SCENE 2. A fine Chamber Enter Gilliflower and Loveless by dark richly drest Lov. Where am I Gilliflower Gill. In my Ladies Apartment Sir she 'll be with you presently you need not fear betraying Sir for I 'll assure you I 'm an Heroick in my heart my Husband was a Captain for his Majesty of ever blessed memory and kill'd at Naseby God be thanked Sir Lov. What pity 't is that thou shou'dst serve this Party Gill. ' Bating her Principles my Lady has good Nature enough to oblige a Servant and truly Sir my Vails were good in old Oliver's dayes I got well by that Amour between him and my Lady the man
wicked La. Lam. Hark ye thou little snivelling Hypocrite who hast no Virtue but a little Conduct in Martial Discipline who hast by Perjuries Cheats and Pious Villanies wound thy self up into the Rabbles Favour where thou may'st stand till some more great in Roguery remove thee from that height or to the Gallows if the King return Hast thou the impudence to charge my Virtue Lam. I know not Madam whether that Virtue you boast were lost or only stak't and ready for the Gamester but I am sure a Man was hid under this Carpet La. Lam. Oh Heav'ns a Man Gill. A Lord a Man Are you sure 't was a man my Lord Some Villanous Malignant I 'll warrant Lam. It may be so Gill. Alack the Wickedness of these Heroicks to hide under Carpets why they 'll have the Impudence to hide under our Petticoats shortly if your Highness take 'em not down To La. Lam. Lam. I do believe so Death a Cuckold shall that black Cloud shade all my rising Fame La. Lam. Cuckold Why is that Name so great a Stranger to ye Or has your rising Fame made ye forget How long that Cloud has hung upon your Brow 'T was once the height of your Ambition Sir When you were a poor sneeking Slave to Cromwel Then you cou'd cringe and sneere and hold the Door And give him every Opportunity Had not my Piety defeated your Endeavours Lam. That was for Glory Who wou'd not be a Cuckold to be great If Cromwel leap'd into my Saddle once I 'll step into his Throne for 't but to be pointed at By Rascals that I rule 't is insupportable La. Lam. How got this Fellow drunk call up my Officers Who dur'st deliver him this Quantity of Wine Send straight in my Name to summon all the Drunken Committee of Safety to my Presence By Heav'n I 'll show you Sir yes they shall See what a fine King they 'r like to have In Honest Gadly Sober Wise Iack Lambert Nay I 'll do 't d' ye think to take away my Honour thus I who by my sole Politicks and Management Have set you up Villain of Villains Sirrah Away summon 'em all to Gilliflower Lam. Stay be not so rash who was beneath the Carpet La. Lam. I will not answer thee Lam. Nor any living thing La. Lam. No Creature in the Room thou silly Idiot but Gilliflower and I at our Devotion praying to Heav'n for your Success to morrow and am I thus rewarded Weeps Gill. weeps too Lam. My Soul I cannot bear the sight of Tears From these dear charming Eyes La. Lam. No matter Sir the Committee shall right me Lam. Upon my Knees I ask thy Pardon Dear by all that 's good I wou'd have sworn I 'd felt something stir beneath me as I sat which threw me over La. Lam. Only your Brains turn'd round with too much drinking and dancing Exercises you are not us'd to Go sleep and settle 'em for I 'll not daign to Bed with you to Night retire as ' ere you hope to have my Aid in your Advancement to the Crown Lam. I 'm gone and once more pardon my Mistake bows and goes out Ex. Gill. La. Lam. So this fighting Fool so worshipp'd by the Rabble how meanly can a Woman make him sneeke to Loveless the happy Night 's our own Enter Gill. Loveless Lov. Excellent Creature how I do adore thee La. Lam. But you perhaps are satisfy'd already Lov. Never shou'dst thou be kind to all Eternity Thou hast one Vertue more I pay thee Homage for I heard from the Alcove how great a Mistress thou art in the dear Mystery of Jilting La. Lam. That 's the first Lesson Women learn in Conventicles Religion teaches those Maxims to our Sex by this Kings are depos'd and Commonwealths are rul'd By Jilting all the Universe is fool'd ACT V. Scene I. Street Enter Corporal half drest with Souldiers Ioyner and Felt-maker Cor. HA Rogues the City-Boys are up in Arms brave Boys all for the King now Felt. Have a Care what you say Sir but as to the City's being in Mutiny that makes well for us we shall fall to our old Trade of plundering something will fall to the Righteous and there is Plunder enough Corp. You plunder Sirrah knock him down and carry him into the Guard-room and secure him Two Souldiers seize him 1 Sould. They say the Committee of Safety sat all Night at General Lambert's about some great Affair some rare Change Rogues 2 Sould. Yes and to put off Sorrow they say were all right reverendly drunk too Cor. I suppose so there is some heavenly matter in hand there was Treason cry'd out at the General 's last Night and the Committee of no Safety all ran away 1 Sould. Or rather reel'd away Cor. The Ladies squeek'd the Lords fled and all the House was up in Arms. Felt. Yea and with Reason they say for the Pope in diguise was found under the Ladies Bed and two huge Jesuits as big as the Tall Irish-man with Blunderbusses having as 't is said a design to steal the Crown now in Custody of the General 2 Sould. Good lack is 't possible Ioyn Nay Sir 't is true and is 't not time we look'd about us Cor. A Pox upon ye all for lying Knaves secure 'em both on the Guard till farther Order and let us in to th' City-boys hay for Lumbard-street 2 Sould. Ay hay for Lumbard-street there 's a Shop I have mark'd out for my own already 1 Sould. There 's a handsom Citizens Wife that I have an Eye upon her Husband 's a rich Banker I 'll take t'one with t'other Ioy. You are mistaken Sir that plunder is reserv'd for us if they begin to mutiny That wicked City that is so weary of a Commonwealth 2 Sould. Yes they 'r afraid of the Monster they themselves have made Enter Lov. and Free in disguise Cor. Hah my Noble Collonel what in Disguise Free We have made our Escapes and hope to see better times shortly the Noble Scotch General is come Boys Enter Captain of the Prentices and a great Gang with him arm'd with Staffs Swords c. Cap. Come my Lads since you have made me Captain I 'll lead you bravely on I 'll dye in the Cause or bring you off with Victory 1 Pren. Here 's a Club shall do some Execution I 'll beat out Hewson's t'other Eye I scorn to take him on the blind Side Capt. In the first Place we must all sign a Petition to my Lord Mayor 2 Pren. Petitions we 'll have no Petitions Captain we are for Club Law Captain Cap. Obey or I leave you All. Obey Obey Capt. Look ye we 'll petition for an honest Free Parliament I say 1 Pren. No Parliament no Parliament we have had too much of that Mischief already Captain All. No Parliament no Parliament Capt. Farewel Gentlemen I thought I might have been heard Free Death Sirs you shall hear the Captain out All. We obey we obey Capt. I say an
told you Madam La. Lam. Damn Lilly who with lying Prophesies has rais'd me to the hopes of Majesty a Legend of his Divels take him for 't Crom. Oh have a Care of Cursing Madam La. Lam. Screech-Owl away thy Voice is ominous Oh I cou'd rave but that it is not great And silent Sorrow has most Majesty Enter Wariston huffing War Wons Madam undone undone our honourable Committee is gone to th' Diel and the damn'd loosey Rump is aud in aud the muckle Diel set it i'solt and his Dam drink most fort Crom. The Committee dissolv'd whose wise Work was that it looks like Fleetwood's silly Politicks War Mary and y ar Ladiship 's i' th' Right 't was en the Work o' th' faud Loone the Diel brest his Wem for't Enter Hewson Desbro Whitlock Duc. and Cob. Hews So Brethren in Iniquity we have spun a fine Thread the Rump's all in all now rules the Rost and has sent for the General with Sissers and Rasor Whit. With a Sisserara you mean Hews None of your Terms in Law good Brother War Right but gen ya have any Querks in Law Mr. Lyer that will save our Crags 't will be warth a Fee Duck. We have plaid our Cards fair War Is deny that Wans Sirs ya plaid 'em faul a Fule had the shooftling of 'em and the Muckle Diel himself turn'd up Trump Whit. We are lost Gentlemen utterly lost who the Devil wou'd have thought of a Desolution Hews Is there no Remedy Duc. Death I 'le to the Scotch General turn but in time as many greater Rogues than I have done and 't will save my Stake yet Farewel Gentlemen Des. No Remedy War Nene Sirs agen the Kings Evel Bread Sirs ya's ene gang tol yat Stall agen Is en follow Duckingfield Farewel Mr. Leyer La. Lam. See the Vicissitudes of Humane Glory These Rascals that but Yesterday petition'd me With humble Adoration now scarce pay Common Civilities due to my Sex alone Enter Fleetwood Cro. How now Fool what is 't that makes ye look so pertly Some mighty Business you have done I 'll warrant Fleet. Verily Lady Mother you are the strangest Body a Man cannot please you Have I not finely circumvented Lambert Made the Rump Head who have committed him to th' Tower ne're stir now that I have and I 'm the greatest Man in England as I live I am as a Man may say Crom. Yes till a greater come Ah Fool of Fools not to fore-see the Danger of that nasty Rump La. Fleet. Good Madam treat my Lord with more Respect Crom. Away fond Fool born with so little Sense To doat on such a wretched Idiot It was thy Fate in Ireton's days to love him Or you were foully scandall'd Fleet. You are not so well spoken of neither ne're stir now and you go to that I can be King to morrow if I will Crom. Thou ly'st thou wo't be hang'd first mark that I tell thee so I 'll prove Cassandra to thee and prophesie thy Doom Heav'n pays the Traytor back with equal measure Remember how you serv'd my poor Son Richard Ex. Crom. and Page Flee She 's mad Come my Dear let 's leave the House of this Villain that meant to have couzen'd me illegally of three Kingdoms but that I out-witted him at last Ex. Fleet. La. Fleet. and Pag. Enter Page La. Lam. Imprison'd too i' th' Tower What Fate is mine leans on Des. Pag. Madam the fine Heroick's come to wait on you La. Lam. Hah Loveless let him not see the Ruines of my Greatness which he foretold and kindly begg'd I wou'd usurp no more weep Enter Loveless Lov. This News has brought me back I love this Woman Vain as she is in spight of all her Fopperies of State bows to her and looks sad La. Lam. Alas I do not merit thy Respect I 'm fall'n to Scorn to Pity and Contempt weeping Ah Loveless fly the Wretched Thy Vertue is too noble to be shin'd on By any thing but rising Suns alone I 'm a declining shade Lov. By Heaven you were never great till now I never thought thee so much worth my Love My Knee and Adoration till this Minute kneels I come to offer you my Life and all The little Fortune the rude Heard has left me La. Lam. Is there such god-like Vertue in your Sex Or rather in your Party Curse on the Lies and Cheats of Conventicles That taught me first to think Heroicks Divels Blood-thirsty lewd tyrannick Salvage Monsters But I believe 'em Angels all if all like Loveless What heavenly thing then must the Master be Whose Servants are Divine Enter Page running Pag. Oh Madam all the Heroick-Boys are up in Arms and swear they 'll have your Highness dead or alive they have besieg'd the House La. Lam. Heavens the Rabble those faithless things that us'd to crowd my Coaches Wheels and stop my Passage with their officious Noise and Adoration Enter Freeman Free Loveless Thy Aid the City-Sparks are up Their zealous Loyalty admits no Bounds A glorious Change is coming and I 'll appear now bare fac'd Lov. Madam fear not the Rabble retire Freeman and I can still ' em leads her in and bows low Free My dear Maria I shall claim ye shortly L. D. Do your worst I 'm ready for the Challenge go in Ex. Lov. and Free another way SCENE The Street Enter Captain and the rest Capt. I say we 'll have the She-Polititian out she did more mischief than her Husband pittiful dittiful Lambert who is thanks be praised in the Tower to which place Lord of his mercy bring all the Kings Enemies All. Amen Amen Enter Lov. and Freeman Lov. Why how now Captain what besiege the Women No let us lead our Force to Nobler Enemies Cap. Nay noble Chief your word 's our Law Lov. No I resign that Title to the brave Scotch General who has just now enter'd the City Cap. We know it Sir Do you not observe how the Crop-ear'd Phanaticks trot out of Town The Rogues began their old belov'd Mutiny but 't wou'd not do Lov. A Pox upon 'em they went out like the Snuff of a Candle stinkingly and blinkingly 1 Pr. Ay ay let 'em hang themselves and then they are cold meat for the Devil Cap. But noble Champion I hope we may have leave to rost the Rump to Night Lov. With all our hearts here 's Money to make Fires Free And here 's for drink too 't Boyes All. Hey Via le Roy via les Heroicks go out hollowing Enter Ananias peeping Felt. and Ioyner Ana. So the Rabble's gone ah Brethren what will this wicked World come too Felt. Alack alack to no goodness you may be sure pray what 's the News Fleet peeping out of a Garret Window Fleet. Anania Anania Ana. Who calleth Ananias lo here am I. Fleet. Behold it is I look up How goeth tidings Ana. Full ill I fear 't is a bad Omen to see your Lordship so nigh Heaven when the Saints are Garettifi'd Fleet. I am