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
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
THE ROUNDHEADS OR The Good Old Cause A COMEDY As it is Acted at His Royal Highness the DUKES Theatre By Mrs. A. Behn LONDON Printed for D. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple bar and Benskin in St. Brides Church Yard and H. Rhodes next door to the Bear Tavern neer Bride Lane in Fleetstreet MDCLXXXII To the Right Noble Henry Fitz-Roy Duke of Grafton Earle of Sutton Viscount of Ipswich Baron of Sudbury Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and Colonell of his Majesties Regiment of Foot Guards c. May it please Your Grace DEdications which were Originally design'd as a Tribute to that Reverence and just esteem we ought to pay the Great and Good are now so corrupted with Flattery that they rarely either find a Reception in the World or merit that Patronage they wou'd implore But I without fear Aproch the great Object being above that mean and mercenary Art nor can I draw the Lovely Picture half so charming and so manly as it is and that Author may more properly boast of a Lucky Hiâ—t whose choice and fortune is so good then if he had pleas'd all the different ill Iudging world besides in the business of the Play for none that way can ever hope to please all in an Age when Faction rages and differing Parties disagree in all things But coming the first day to a new Play with a Loyal Title and then even the sober and tender conscienc'd throng as to a forbidden Conventicle fearing the Cub of their old Bear of Reformation should be expos'd to the scorn of the wicked and dreading tho but the faint shadow of their own deformity their Rebellion Murders Massacres and Villanies from 40 upwards should be Represented for the better undeceiving and informing of the World flock in a full Assembly with a pious design to Hisse and Rail it as much out of countenance as they would Monarchy Religion Laws and Honesty throwing the Act of Oblivion in our Teeths as if that whose mercy can not make them forget their Old Rebellion cou'd hinder honest truths from breaking out upon 'em in Edifying Plays where the Loyal hands ever out-do their venom'd Hisse a good and happy omen if Poets maybe allowd for Prophets as of old they were and t is as easily seen at a new Play how the Royal Interest thrives as at a City Election how the good Old Cause is carried on as a Noble Peer lately said Tho' the Tories have got the better of us at the Play we carried it in the City by many Voyces God be praysed This Play call'd The Roundheads which I humbly lay at your Graces feet Pardon the Title and Heaven defend you from the bloody Race was carryed in the House nemine contra dicente by the Royal Party and under your Graces Ilustrious Patronage is safe from any new Seditious affronts abroad Your Grace alone whom Heaven and Nature has form'd the most adorable Person in the whole Creation with all the advantages of a Glorious birth has a double right and power to defend all that aproch you for sanctuary your very Beauty is a guard to all you daigne to make safe for You were born for Conquest every way even what Phanatick what peevish Politition testy with Age Diseases miscarried Plots disappointed Revolutions envious of Power of Princes and of Monarchy and mad with Zeal for Change and Reformation could yet be so far lost to sence of Pleasure as not to turn a Rebel to Revenge the Good old Cause and the patronage to Plebean sedition with only looking on you ' twoud force his meger face to blushing smiles and make him swear he had mistook the side curse his own Party and if possible be reconcild to Honesty again such power have charms like Yours to calm the soul and will in spight of You plead for me to the disaffected even when they are at Wars with Your Birth and power But this Play for which I humbly beg Your Graces Protection needs it in a more peculiar manner it having drawn down Legions upon its head for its Loyalty what to Name us cryes one t is most abominable unheard of daring cryes another she deserves to be swing'd cryes a third as if t were all a Libel a scandal impossible to be provd or that their Rogueries were of so old a Date their Reign were past remembrance or History when they take such zealous care to renew it daily to our memories And I am satisfied that they that will justifie the best of these Traytors deserves the fate of the worst and most manifestly declare to the World by it they wou'd be at the Old Game their fore-Fathers played with so good success yet if there be any honest loyal man alied to any here nam'd I heartily beg his Pardon for any offensive Truth I have spoken and 't is a wonderful thing that amongst so Numerous a Flock they will not allow of one mangy Sheep not one Rogue in the whole Generation of the Association Ignoramus the 1st and the 2d But as they are I leave e'm to your Grace to Iudge of e'm to whom I humbly present this small Mirror of the late wretched Times wherein your Grace may see something of the Miseries three the Most Glorious Kingdoms of the Vniverse were reduc't to where your Royal Ancestors victoriously Reign'd for so many hundred years How they were Govern'd Parcell'd out and deplorable inslav'd and to what Low Prostituted Lewdness they fell at last where the Nobility and Gentry were the most contemn'd and despis'd part of them and such Meane and till then obscure Villains Rul'd and Tyraniz'd that no Age nor Time or scarce a Parish Book makes mention or cou'd show there was any such Name or Family Yet these were those that impudently Tug'd for Empire and Prophan'd that Illustrious Throne and Court so due then and possest now through the infinite Mercies of God to this bleeding Nation by the best of Monarchs a Monarch who had yet the divine goodness to Pardon even his worst of Enemies what was past Nay out of his Vast and God-like Clemency did more than Heaven it self can do put it out of his Power by an Act of Oblivion to punish the unparalell'd Injuries done His Sacred Person and the rest of the Royal Family How great his Patience has been since I leave to all the World to judge but Heaven be prais'd he has not yet forgot the Sufferings and Murders of the Glorious Martyr of ever blessed memory Your Graces Sacred Grandfather and by what Arts and Ways that Devilish Plot was layed and will like a skilful Pilate by the wreck of one Rich Vessell learn how to shun the danger of this present Threatning and saved the rest from sinking The Clouds already begin to disappear and the face of things to change thanks to Heaven His Majesties infinite Wisdom and the Over-Zeal of the falsly called True Protestant Party Now we may pray for the
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
King and his Royal Brother defend his Cause and assert his Right without the fear of a taste of the Old Sequestration call'd a Fine Guard the Illustrious Paire good Heaven from Hâ—llâ—sh Plots and all the Devilish matchinations of Factious Cruelties and you great Sir whose Merits have so justly deserv'd that glorious Command so lately trusted to your Care which Heaven increase and make your glad Regiment Armyes for our safety May you become the great Example of Loyalty and Obedience and stand a firm and unmoveable Pillar to Monarchy a Noble Bull-work to Majesty defend the Sacred Cause imploy all that Youth Courage and Noble Conduct which God and Nature purposely has endued you with to serve the Royal Intrest You Sir who are obliged by a double Duty to Love Honour and Obey his Majesty both as a Father and a King O undissolvable Knot O Sacred Vnion what Duty what Love what Adoration can express or repay the Debt we owe the first or the Alegiance due to the last but where both meet in one to make the Tye Eternal Oh vvhat Counsel what Love of Power what fancied Dreams of Empire what fickle Popularity can inspire the heart of man or any Noble mind with Sacreligious thoughts against it can harbour or conceive a stubborn disobedience Oh what Son can desert the Cause of an Indulgent Parents what Subject of such a Prince without renouncing the Glory of his Birth his Loyalty and good Nature Ah Royal lovely Youth bevvare of false Ambition wisely believe your Elevated Glory at least more happy then a Kings you share their Ioys their pleasures and magnificence without the toiles and business of a Monarch their carefull dayes and restless thoughtful nights know you are blest with all that Heaven can give or you can wish your Mind and Person such so excellent that Love knows no fault it would wish to mend nor Envy to increase blest with a Princess of such undisputable charming Beauty as if Heaven designing to take a peculiar care in all that concerns your happiness had form'd her on purpose to compleat it Haile happy glorious Paire the perfect joy and pleasure of all that look on ye for whom all Tongues and Hearts have Prayers and Blessings May you out-live Sedition and see your Princely Race as Numerous as Beautifull and those all great and Loyal Supporters of a long Race of Monarchs of this Sacred Line This shall be the perpetuall wish this the Eternal Prayer of SIR Your Graces most Humble and most Obedient Servant A. Behn PROLOGUE Spoken by the Ghost of Huson ascending from Hell drest as a Cobler I Am the Ghost of him who was a true Son Of the late GOOD OLD CAVSE Ecliped Huson Rous'd by strange scandal from th' eternal flame With noise of Plotts of wonderous birth and name Whilst the sly Jesuit robs us of our fame Can all their Conclave tho' with Hell th' agree Act mischief equal to Presbittery Look back on our success in Forty One Was ever braver Villanies carryed on Or new ones now more hopefully begun And shall our unsuccess our merit lose And make us quit the Glory of our Cause No Hire new Villains Rogues without remorse And let no Law nor Conscience stop your course Let Polititions order the Confusion And let the Saints pay Pious Contribution Pay those that Rail and those that can delude With scribling Nonsence the Loose Multitude Pay well your Witnesses they may not run To the right side and tell who set 'em on Pay 'em so well that they may ne'r Recant And so turn Honest meerly out of want Pay Juries that no formal Laws may harm us Let Treason be secur'd by Ignoramus Pay Bully Whig who Loyal writers bang And honest Tories in Effigie hang Pay those that burn the Pope to please the fools And dayly pay Right Honourable Tooles Pay all the Pulpit knaves that Treason brew And let the zealous Sisters pay 'em too Justices bound by Oath and obligation Pay them the utmost price of their Damnation Not to disturb our useful Congregation Nor let the Learned Rabble be forgot Those Pious hands that crown our hopeful Plott No Modern States-men cry t is Lunacy To barter Treason with such Rogues as we But subtiller Oliver did not disdain His Mightier Politiques with ours to joyn I for all uses in a State was able Cou'd Mutiny cou'd fight hold forth and Cobble Your lazy State man may sometimes direct But your small busie knaves the Treason Act. The Actors Names 1. Lord Fleetwood 2. Lord Lambert Competitors for the Crown but Lambert is General of the Army Lord Wariston Chairman of the Committee of Safety Hewson Desbro Duckingfield Corbet Commanders and Committee men 3. Lord Witlock Ananias Gogle Lay Elder of Clements Parish A Rable Of the sanctified Mobily Corporal Right An Oliverian Commander but honest and a Cavelier in his heart Loveless A Royalist a man of Honor loves Lady Lambert Freeman His friend of the same Character in love with Lady Desbro Lady Lambert In love with Loveless Lady Desbro In love with Freeman Lady Fletwood Lady Cromwell Gilliflower Lady Lamberts Old Woman Several Ladies For Redress of Grievances Two Pages To Lady Lambert Page To Lady Desbro Footmen Fidlers and a Bâ—nd of Loyal City Apprentices THE ROVND-HEADS OR THE Good Old Cause ACT. I. Scene I. The Street Enter three Souldiers and Corporal Right Cor. AH Rogues the World runs finely round the bus'ness is done 1 Sould. Done the Town 's our own my fine Rascal 2 Sould. We 'll have Harlots by the Belly Sirrah 1 Sould. Those are Commodities I confess I wou'd fain be truckâ—ing for but no words of that Boy Cor. Stand who go's there To them a Ioyner and Felt-maker 1 Sould. Who are you for hah Ioyn Are for Friend we are for Gad and the Lord Fleetwood 1 Sould. Fleetwood knock 'em down Fleetwood that snivelling Thief Felt. Why Friends who are ye for Cor. For who shou'd we be for but Lambert Noble Lambert Is this a time o' th' day to declare for Fleetwood with a Pox indeed i' th morning 't was a Question had like to have been decided with push a Pike 2 Sould. Dry blows wou'd ne'r a don 't some must have sweat blood for 't but 't is now decided Ioyn Decided 2 Sould. Yes decided Sir without your Rule for 't Ioyn Decided by whom Sir by us the Free-born Subjects of England by the Honourable Committee of Safety or the Right Reverend City without which Sir I humbly conceive your Declaration for Lambert is illegal and against the Property of the People 2 Sould. Plain Lambert here 's a sawcy Dog of a Joyner Sirrah get ye home and mind your Trade and save the Hang-man a labour Ioyn Look ye Friend I fear no Hang-man in Christendom for Conscience and Publick good for Liberty and Property I dare as far as any man 2 Sould. Liberty and Property with a pox in the mouth of a Joyner you are
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
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