FAir Albion had for many years enjoy'd all the pleasures that Peace and Plenty could afford, and by a long discontinuance from War, seem'd to have degenerated from those inclinations to Glory which have been accounted natural to the People of that Famous Island; the last time they carry'd out their Victorious Arms, was against their Neigh­bours on the Belgick Coasts, where after many sig­nal proofs of Courage and Ability on both sides, the Quarrel proceeding chiefly from Emulation of each others Power and Trade, a firm and lasting Peace was concluded between them: And now Brito­mardes the Second of that Name, King of Albion, having against his natural disposition been obliged to spend the first and better part of his Youth in all those hazards and difficulties which a Civil War with­in the Bowels of his own Countrey, and a twelve Years Exile abroad laid him open to, he at last, to his wonderful satisfaction, finds himself at liberty to follow the current of his own Humour, and re­solves to Sacrifice the remaining part of his Life to the soft temptations of Love and Pleasure: But see the fallibility of Humane Resolutions, and how easily Providence can disappoint our firmest Ex­pectations, for though Britomardes knew how to improve his Minutes of Love and Delight to as great advantage as any Prince in the World, yet he could very rarely find himself disengaged from those weighty Cares that necessarily attend the Thrones of Great Princes, or from the apprehensions of some [Page 8]impending Dangers which the many discoveries of Plots and Conspiracies against his Life, imprinted in him: He at last dying, without lawful Issue, Lyco­genes the Second, his only Brother, succeeded, a Prince who in his Youth and Adversity gave so sig­nal proofs of his Virtue and Gallantry, that he ren­der'd himself the Admiration of Forreign Countries, and the Delight and Love of his own, but (I know not by what unhappy Councels thereunto incited) after his coming to the Crown of Albion, he com­mitted so many Irregularities against even the Peace and Safety of his own People, that they were obliged to call in Anaximander, Prince of the Low Lands, to their Assistance to defend their Lives, which they affirm'd Lycogenes had expos'd and sold to Po­lydorus King of the Gaules, and to recover their Rights and Liberties which, say, they their King had encroach'd upon and taken from them: Lycogenes had by his first Wife (who was Daughter to a No­ble Peer of Albion) two Lovely Princesses to his Daughters, the Eldest called Artemisia, Married to Anaximander, the other Philadelphia, Married to Polycrates the Northern Prince. His second Wife was Messalina, Daughter of a Huge Prince in Italy, and nearly Related to Boanerges the High-Priest, a Lady sent by Heaven to determine the Fate of Poor Lycogenes, and to ruine the growing greatness of the Pagan Interest in the Kingdom of Albion: She was, as to her Person, all that could be wisht in a great Woman, she had a Majestick, Lofty Carriage, black Hair, delicate sparkling Eyes of the same Colour, a handsome Nose, her Mouth extreamly pretty when she smil'd, her Face Oval, her Look demure and sullen, except when she was in Company with her Favourites; she was tall and well shap'd, and to [Page 9]those who only look'd on her, she made lovely Fi­gure; she took, according to the mode of her Coun­try, a great delight in Musick and Amour; Before her arrival at Albion, she had spent part of her time in the Court of Gothland, where she behav'd her self with that Gallantry, and so far insinuated into the fa­vour of that Court, that 'tis believ'd Lycogenes receiv'd his first recommendation of her from the King of the Gaules; she look'd upon the Nobility of Albion either too just to their King, or too unworthy of her Favours, to entrust them with any part of her In­trigues, and therefore she chose to be beholding to the High-Priest and to Polydorus, for Persons that might at once serve both her Love and Ambition; and though Lycogenes did all to oblige her, that a fond over-weening Love could prompt a Man to, yet he found it more than a difficulty many times to prevail with her to keep within such rules as were most agreeable to his Honour, and requisite for the Peace and Security of his Kingdom; Messalina af­ter Lycogenes Accession to the Crown, upon the Height and Eminence of her new Station, seem'd to have receiv'd a new Air and Temper too; for during the Reign of Britomardes (her Lycogenes then but a Subject) she bore her Grandeur with that uni­versal Complaisance and Condescention, that possi­bly the Renown of her Prideless Meen and Deport­ment, out-ran the very Fame of her Beauty, and the same Poetick Raptures that daily Deified the one, built Altars too to the other. All Tongues were full of her Praises, and there wanted not her Applause even in all Corners of the World. But as if For­tune had tried to match her own Mutability in that Change which the Advance to a Crown soon wrought through her whole Temper and Carriage; the [Page 10]Anointing Drops seem'd to have infused so strange a Spirit of Ambition and Haughtiness, that her for­mer Dearest Darlings and Favourites were then thought scarce worthy the Honour of being her Vas­sals, insomuch that that Universal Quire that before had so chanted her Praises, were all of a sudden struck dumb; whilst the Exaltation of her Pride, with that of her Glory, had infinitely rebated the edge of the late popular Veneration. But as dis­gusted as so haughty a Behaviour soon made her, not only by the People, but the very Courtiers of Albion; We are to consider 'twas in the Days of her more humble State, and gentler Charms, that she gain'd the Heart of her Lycogenes. 'Tis true, as her Pride became a Fault, however it brought one Vertue with it, in giving a Check to her former In­clination to Intrigue; her sometimes Favourites (upon her Ascent to a Throne) being now a little removed to a Distance unworthy of Graces so sub­lime. The long expected and long sigh'd for Day of her Imperial Dignity being come, she could not without abundance of Regret behold those Wrinkles Age had already made in the Face of her Lycogenes, she would often ruminate on the Sensible Decay Time and continual Cares had wrought in the Strength and Vigour of the King her Husband, she could not consider his weak and seldom Caresses any otherwise than as Memento Mori to her own Glory and Ambition; she saw many whom the unkind­ness, shall I say Injustice of Lycogenes had render'd cold and disaffected to his Interest, gaping with ex­pectation of a speedy Change; she was not insensi­ble that the moment of his Death would probably be the Eternity of her Ruine, and that at least her Ho­nour, if not her Life, would be endangr'd; these [Page 11]Considerations would often perplex the Mind of poor Messalina, and would often check lhe current of her Joy even in the height of all her Glory. ‘'What? would she cry, 'must this be the weak Foundation whereon all my future Hopes must rest? Must all my Glorious Projects lean on the uncertain Secu­rity of a Feeble Husband's Life? Shall the present possession of a Crown seem so to transport my Thoughts, as to leave me careless of all future Contingencies, or shall I think the high Station of a Queen of Albion so far above my Personal Me­rit, that like a cheating Gamester, I can be willing to refund, or lay down my Royalty? No, no, Mes­salina, think of the Grandeur of thy Mighty House, think of thy yet but Blooming Youth and Beauty; but above all, think of thy boundless lofty Soul, which will sooner break than bend to the least de­rogation of thy Honour: Remember Boanerges, thy holy Patron and Kinsman, and the Mighty Poly­dorus, do something worthy their great Alliance & Friendship: Remember the Eyes of all thy Sect ex­pect thy wonderful Operations; and since the neces­sity of Time requires thy speedy Resolutions, re­move boldly whatever dare obstruct thy Will, and let thy Orders have a speedy execution.'’ Such were the extravagant Thoughts of Unhappy Messalina, which were yet heightned afterwards by the perni­cious Counsels of Count Davila, and Father Pedro, her two chief Assistants in all her Consultations, and sent on purpose to work on the restless Humour of this Queen, by Boanerges the High-Priest, to pro­mote the Interest of the Pagan Faction in the King­dom of Albion. These two, according to their In­structions, draw first a Scheme of what they had to do, and then like crafty Workmen, proceed to [Page 12]the Manner, Time, and Place for the execution of their Projects; they soon come to a determination of the manner of their proceedings, for being sen­sible of the main points whereon all the Queens Sa­tisfaction seem'd to depend; to wit, Amour and Religion, (two things so relative and reciprocal to each other all over Italy and great part of Gaule, that you shall seldom see a Devotee without the at­tendance of her Enamouratto, or a Man at his Prayers without mingling some pithy Ejaculations to the Saint that kneels by him) that they seem'd to have little else to do than to make seasonable applicati­ons to the Queens humour, as time and opportu­nity should give leave. The Count was a tall slender Man, well shap'd, black Ey'd, and quick, a large Nose, but thin Fac'd, facetious in his Dis­course, and after the Italian way Musical; he had been well acquainted with Messalina in Italy, and had without any signal reason to despair, made se­veral addresses of Love to her; He was design'd and sent by the High Priest Boanerges, to make what efforts he could on the well known Inclina­tions of Messalina, though he came not so well pro­vided but that it was generally thought the Queen defray'd even the expence of his Courtship: Father Pedro was to ply the other weak side of Messa­lina, and by his Insinuations of an implicit faith to be given to every thing, he should assert she was to use her utmost power and influence with Lycogenes, to promote and put in execution without reserve, whatsoever should be proposed as advanta­gious to the Pagan Interest: This was the purport of their Commissions, which they were to manage with all the Discretion, Secresie, and Expedition ima­ginable.

[Page 13]The Queen happening to be indisposed a while after the Counts arrival at Court, he was necessita­ted to defer the payment of his private devoirs for four or five days, though the satisfaction her Ma­jesty was pleased to express for his arrival, was thought to add much to her recovery; She let him know about a Week after his coming, she was wil­ling to receive his Visit that day after Dinner, and to avoid all inconveniency that might arise from the multiplicity of Attendance at the Pallace Royal, she takes her Chair privately, and crosses over to St. Jaques, a small half Mile from Alba Regalis, and re­tiring into her Closet, she with impatience waited the coming of the Count, having before given Orders to admit him without Ceremony; the Count by what mischance detained is uncertain, came not till two hours after the time appointed, and being conducted by Aspasia, one of the Queens Women to the Closet door, went in, and found Messalina thrown upon a Couch fast asleep, whereupon he stop'd, and being about to withdraw, the Queen awoke, and perceiving the Count, she started up in some seeming disorder: The Count fearing she was displeased to have been seen in that posture, was in great confusion whether to stay or go, till the Queen making up to him, said, ‘'My Lord, this is a piece of Gallantry in you extraordinary, to make a Lady wait thus long for your attendance; I know not how you will be able to acquit your self from the justice of my resentment, of which hereto­fore you have expressed great apprehensions:'’ The Count was so abash'd at this short but severe repri­mand, that for a great while he could not make any reply; but at last coming to himself he fell on his Knees and humbly implored her Majesties Pardon, telling [Page 14]her he hop'd Her Majesty was not now to be con­vinc'd of his readiness to serve her with the utmost faculty of his Soul; that she could not be insensi­ble that the first time he had had the honour to see her in her own Country, he had made so entire a resignation of himself and his interest to her will and pleasure, that it was not now in his power to de­sign any thing repugnant to her satisfaction, that he was too sensible of her Justice, to believe that one unfortunate error was able to blot out the remem­brance of a thousand demonstrations past of the profound respect he always thought due to her; that he hop'd his hearty repentance for this, would in­duce her not only to confirm his Pardon for the present, but to give him assurance of her good will for the future: The Queen who all this while with the greatest satisfaction imaginable, had heard the Count thus zealous in his Apology for an errour, she had resolved with a great deal less difficulty to have pardoned, stretching out her hand to the Count, told him roundly that she was sufficiently satisfied of his good inclinations towards her, that besides the recommendation of her Kinsman the High-Priest, his own personal merit had so wrought on her opi­nion, as to make her resolve to commit a Secret of the greatest importance to her Interest, that could be, to his management and discretion, that as she did already believe the sincerity of his Protesta­tions, so she doubted the necessity of her Affairs, would in a little time cause her to exact his perfor­mance: The Count was about to reply, when Madam Marchioness de Tomazo, the Queens chief Confident, and Father Pedro, were come into the withdrawing Room, and advancing up to the Clo­set, the Queen bid them enter, where after the u­sual [Page 15]Ceremony they fall into a deep Consultation, the matter before them, was the means of advan­cing the Pagan Interest throughout Albion, and next the satisfaction of Messalina's Ambition, as to her continuance in the Regency in case Lycogenes (which was very much fear'd) should in a short time fail; they were each preparing to deliver their Opinion in this weighty Affair, when news was brought that the King waited for Messalina's Company, to make a visit to the Queen Dowager; Messalina before she departed, gave them in Charge to deliver in Writing to her self, within three days, their Opini­ons severally, and told them that within three days more she would have another Consult, wherein she hoped they would come to a final Resolution: The Queen being gone, these three fell to deliberation on the points already proposed; after a great many Arguments they conclude, that nothing but the Queens having a Son, could in any humane pro­bability secure both the Queens Power, and the Grandeur of their Diana and her Temples in Albion after the death of L [...]cogenes; for supposing, said they, (which is very much doubted) that Lycogenes live to bring in either by Fraud or Arbitrary Power, the Pagans Religion in his own time, yet the root it will take will be so slender and shallow, that one breath of the next Successor (being a Christian) will be able to blast it, and in the mean time there will be no provision made for the Queens satisfaction; and alas! cries the Marchioness, the Queen can no more hope for a young Son from Lycogenes now, than I can for a young Set of Teeth at threescore; the Count smil'd to himself at the quaintness of the Expression, and as he guess'd at what her discourse did tend to, so he could not but be glad that she [Page 16]had first broke the Ice: I presume, said Father Pedro, (addressing himself to the Lady) her Ma­jesty upon a due Consideration of the Premises will not be offended at what shall be proposed by her Friends in order to her future as well as present satisfaction, and because things of this nature may better be imparted to the Queen, by your Ladiship than by us, we shall refer our thoughts of this point to your Ladiships management: Upon this they parted, and the Count repairing to his Lodging, fell a ruminating on that days Transactions, he be­gan to think his Master the High-Priest's business would come on very favourably; nor did he see any great reason to despair of some success in his own Amour, he consider'd how obligingly Messalina had entertain'd him in the Closet, and began to make some random Conjectures of what she said she had to deliver to him, he remember'd the reports that had been given about Town concerning himself, and how that the Queen had been pleased to say once, she believed Count Davila to be as capable of win­ning a Ladies Favours as any man in Europe; he call'd to mind the Character M [...]ssalina went under in Italy, upon the account of the young Baron of Sanctiforé, a Gentleman that was generally thought to have made Effectual Love to her; he could easily guess what entertainment she had with the King her Husband, who beside a failing contracted in his youth, had the heavy burthen of age and cares lying on him; he knew the Queen young and vigorous, and that the mistrust she had of the No­bility of Albion in all probability, did restrain her from making any advances of Intrigue or Amour with any of them; these and the like considerati­ons made him resolve to sound Messalina's inclina­tions [Page 17]with the first opportunity, and in the mean time to press her to come to a resolution concern­ing his Master. The next Night Father Pedro meets Messalina retiring into her Bed-chamber after Play, and the Queen stopping, asked what they had done in her business? Pedro told her he thought the Mar­chioness had ere this imparted their Opinions to her Majesty, and implored her Majesty not to be offended with the freedom of their thoughts, since the present State of Affairs could not possibly admit of any milder Resolutions, he laid before her the in­stability of her Fortune, the danger of her Person, the Age of Lycogenes, his Weakness, and Imperfe­ction; he prest her to consider the merit of the thing, and how it would for ever advance the In­terest of their Temples in Albion, and when she objected her Honour and Credit, he told her, her Station was above even Suspicion, for who durst peep into the Cabinets of Princes? He told her he could propose methods as secret as pleasant, and begg'd her not to defer a matter of such conse­quence, and which he fear'd every day might de­termine and make void: Messalina, whose natu­ral temper had bean long check'd by the stiff rules of Majesty and Greatness, began now to soften and melt at the pathetick Arguments of Father Pedro, and eagerly grasping him by the hand, told him, That if ever she could condescend to any part of his dis­course, it must be upon considerations more weighty than any of pleasure; That she wish'd she could live to see her Religion Re-established, and a Son of her own plac'd in the Throne of Albion; That she could not in­deed without a great deal of trouble consider the faint Caresses and weak Efforts of the King her Husband; and confess'd, that though Glory and Greatness had [Page 18]gain'd the ascendent of her heart, yet she could not without a great deal of regret, resolve to bid d [...]fiance to all the other satisfactions of l [...]fe; That though the high Quality of Lycogenes had raised her heart a­bove the common Rank, yet she could not perceive but she was still subject to the common Failings of Flesh and Blood: The lascivious Priest, who all this while was tickling himself with the coming Temper of Messalina, supposing he had now rais'd her fancy, to the very Critical point indeed was resolv'd to press the Discourse home; but some of the Ladies of the Bed-Chamber coming up, the Queen with­out any more words, walk'd forward into her Bed-Chamber; Father Pedro at the same time retiring somthing dissatisfied with his supposed disappoint­ment, was making what way he could to his Lodg­ings, but judging it not very late by the Company he saw yet stirring in the Court, he resolv'd to take a turn or two in the Galleries that lead to the de­scent into the Forrest of St. Jaques; he had just turn'd the Corner of the first Gallery, when a Young Lady makes up to him with all the haste and seeming Concern imaginable: O Sir, says she, my Lady has been in Bed almost this hour, and wonders extreamly what should detain you so long, the Clock has struck One, and all the Court almost are in Bed: Here, Sir, I beseech you, take the [...], the Candle is in the Lobby; make as little noise as may be; you need not lock the Door; I'le but just step to the Coun­tess of Thunderlands Lodging, and will be back in half an hour. Pedro was extreamly startled at this Adventure, but judging (as indeed it was) some Amorous Assignation, and his Spirits, by Messa­lina's Charming Discourse, being a little before rais'd, he was resolv'd to fill up the vacant place, [Page 19]and answer the Longing Ladies expectation; he was confident the Man design'd must be one of his own Tribe, for by the little glimmering of the distant Lights, he was sure the Maid could not mis­take their Garbes, all that troubled him was to find the right Door, if the Maid should have gone be­fore she had open'd it, and he durst not ask her Ladies Name for fear of suspicion: In short, he tells the Maid softly, She must go back with him a little, for that he had some Business of Importance to leave with her till morning; The Maid readily returns, and being just come to the Door, he bids her make what haste she could back, and he would defer his Business till then. The Maid being gone, he opens the door and perceives they were of Aspasia's Lodgings, ano­ther of the Queens Confidents, and Wife to Latroon an Iberian Count, and lately made Viceroy of that Kingdom by King Lycogenes. Pedro was well ac­quainted with the Lady, and remembred that Fa­ther Sebastian was reported to be very intimate with her. Aspasia was about the Thirty fourth Year of her Age, was always very Fair, had large Grey Eyes, very languishing and sweet, she had a very fine Carriage, debonaire in her Conversation, and Witty, a huge lover of Intrigues, and insatiate in her Wantonness; She had formerly been Lov'd by Polydorus King of the Gauls; as also by King Ly­cogenes, by whom she was first recommended to Latroon for a Wife; She seem'd to be the right hand of Messalina, who would unload her most secret Thoughts in her Bosom; She was a great Bigot in Paganism, and would often boast of the Vertues and good Nature of the Pagan Priests; She had, as it seems, been often Charm'd with the Conversation of Father Sebastian, and had [Page 20]that night, appointed him to come to her Cham­ber; Father Pedro knowing the Lodgings, shuts the Door, and immediately repairs, without Light, to Aspasia's Bed, who by this time, with long Expectation, was fallen into a soft slumber; he locks the Door of her Bed-Chamber, and without stay, undressing, steals softly in, and clasping Aspasia in his Arms, she presently wakes; Madamoiselle de Elvira's Beds head was near to Aspasia's, and separated only by a slight parti­tion, which obliged them to whisper low; Aspa­sia fell a Cliding the suppos'd Sebastian for his stay, and Wantonly tells him, he ought not to have made her suffer Pennance before she had committed the Sin; he answers her with Kisses and repeated Ca­resses, and in the intervals of their Amours, would whisper and chat of all the little Intrigues about the Court; Father Pedro asks her how the Queen far'd, and whether Lycogenes had as yet been able to give her any assurance of a Son and Heir? Aspa­sia sighing Replyes; ‘'Alack! Lycogenes his mis­fortune, together with Messalina's severe Vertue, she was afraid, would go near to ruine the fairest Hopes that ever the Pagans in Albion had, or would have while the Sun shone; and that un­less some speedy Application and Remedy be us'd, that glimmering Light, which by the influence of Lycogenes they did at present enjoy, would with his Fall, be turn'd into everlasting Dark­ness: I know, my Dear Sebastian, said she, that Messalina's haughty Spirit alone, retards the Complement of all our Hopes: She has all the common Frailties of our Sex; She Loves, and she Confesseth too, and yet her mighty Pride re­strains her Inclination: She last Night saw Count [Page 21] Davila pass by, when in a sort of Fxtasie, she grasp'd me eagerly, and cry'd; Look, there's the Count, Aspasia: 'And when the King once prest her to retire with him to Bed, she turns to me, & sigh­ing, said, We are going to sleep, Aspasia.'’ Nothing could add more to the satisfaction of Father Pe­dro, than this knowledge of the Queens Inclina­tion; and though he had not been mentioned by Aspasia to be any way in the Queens Thoughts, he was resolv'd, to push on his own Fortune, to watch the Counts steps, and to come in, if pos­sibly, with him for a share in the Booty: Aspasia's Maid in the mean time being come back, and sup­posing Sebastian and her Lady safe together, was preparing her self for Bed; she was just putting out the Candle when she heard a small knock­ing at the outward Door; but supposing it to be only some of the Countess of Thunderlands Maids, considering she was to wake betimes to let out Father Sebastian, she laid her self down without answering: The two Lovers, who by this time had trodden all the secret paths of Love, were now at length disposing themselves to sleep: As­pasia, whose thoughts were pleas'd with this En­joyment of her suppos'd Sebastian, was quickly wrapt in Dream and gentle slumbers; but Father Pedro was kept awake with the cares of manage­ing this Nights Intrigue; he was one while think­ing to rise softly and get off without discovery, another while he hop'd by this accident, to ren­der Aspasia instrumental and assistant to his de­sign with the Queen; he fear'd not any thing from Sebastian's discovery, since his Fortune was in his power; besides, Aspasia, for her own sake, would be silent in the matter; so that at last he re­solves [Page 22]to stand it out, and without any more con­cern, turns himself about to his rest: In the morning early Cleone, Aspasia's trusty Maid, gets up, and gives the signal at her Ladies door, to the suppos'd Sebastian to rise; Father Pedro had taken care over night to draw the Curtains close about, and clasping Aspasia in his Arms, he tells her he was mightily disturb'd in his sleep with a Dream concerning Father Pedro: ‘'Now you speak of Fa­ther Pedro, cries Aspasia, I can tell you, that of late he is mightily in favour with Messalina and the Count, and he seems to share all the favours of her good opinion; and to speak the truth, Father Pedro has all the qualifications in the World, that may be requisite for the Conquest of the most stubborn Ladies heart; for besides the advantages of a comely Face and Person, he has so many pretty ways of insinuating love and friend­ship, that the Queen her self has told me,'’ That next to Count Davila, she did not know a Person in the World so charmin [...] in his Conversation as Father Pedro: ‘'You speak, reply'd the suppos'd Sebastian, so feelingly of the Merit of Father Pedro, that I have reason to fear and resent him as a Rival; and I can hardly assure my self I have reason to boast of your Favours, till I can hear you speak with more indifferency of him. But tell me, my Dear Aspasia, says he, How long have you observ'd Messalina's so advantagious Opinion and Character of Father Pedro; the Count, in­deed, as well for his former acquaintance in Italy, as for the Character he bears of the High-Priest's Legate here, may give him a pretence to some small share in Messalina's thoughts; but as there [Page 23]can be no such reason on the other side, so I cannot but wonder, by what Charm Father Pedro could so of a suddain advance himself into the favour of the Queen:'’ Ask me no more, my Dear, replies Aspasia, to tell what I am both by Honour and Interest obiged to conceal, and assure thy self that the same motive that induceth the Queen to respect Father Pedro, will oblige Father Pedro to be both thy Friends and mine, and all of our Profession: ‘'Accept then, Dear Aspasia, frome this moment, says he, Pedro's assured Love and Friendship; Pedro can ne'r forget the favours of this night, Favours by Fate design'd alone for Pedro.'’ At the pronouncing these last words, he rais'd his Voice a little, and withdrawing the Curt­ains, he at once discover'd the Counterfeit Sebastain, and the real Pedro. Aspasia, who at the latter part of his Words, had perceiv'd not only the Deceit, but the Deceiver, seem'd to be in the greatest con­fusion imaginable, till Father Pedro first imploring her pardon, told her, He was extreamly sorry, if he rob'd her of the satisfaction of a more worthy Bedfellow, that Fortune, and her Maids unwitting importunity, had prevail'd with him to lay hold of, and improve that lukie minuite which his inclination, though with despair, had often made him wish for, that by his future endea­vours and services, he hop'd to make her sensible that Seba [...]tian was was not the only Man in the World worthy of her favours; and in the mean time he beg'd her im­partially to consider whether it could be in the power of Man to resist so powerful Temptations, as yielding Beau­ty and perswasive Opportunity. Aspasia having with abundance of Patience heard the wanton Priest's Apo­logy, had by this time very well recover'd out of her amazement, and having first reflected on the good Behaviour of the Priest in Bed, and the bad con­sequences that arise from a discovery of this Nights [Page 24]Intrigue, she thought it her best way to make a virtue of necessity, and close with the Priest without farther jangling, she remember'd the Character she her self had given him, and had now experimented the height of his perfections, she could not perceive her self a loser by the change, nay, rather she had all the advantage of the bargain, nor could the strang­ness of the Accident Afflict her, since the satisfaction of her life lay chiefly in Intrigues; having briefly run over these considerations to her self, she turns her self with a great deal of assurance to her Lover, and throwing her Arm about his Neck, she tells him, that since he had been an Ear Witness of her good Opinion of him, she thought it now to no purpose to dissemble; that though she had not design'd her favours for him at that time, yet she was too well satisfied of his merrit to find fault with the error; that if she apprehended any misfortune to her self, it was her fear that he had not found the treasure answer­able to his hopes and expectations, and that conse­quently she might find her self lessen'd in his good Opinion hereafter; the crafty Priest, who by this nights Accident had, to his thinking, laid a sure foun­dation to all his future Projects huggs the well-pleas'd Lady in his Arms, and after a thousand reciprocal Wantonnesses, they swear an inviolable Friendship to each other: Father Pedro repeats to her all the design and project of advancing and settling the Pagan Inte­rest during Lycogenes his life, and, engages her to press the Queen continually to come to a speedy Resolution as to the point of Regency and Succession; prevails with her to give him a faithful account from time to time of all Transactions between the Count and Mes­salina▪ as also to give him her assistance in any mat­ters he should propose hereafter; to all which Aspa­sia readily Assents and solemnly Swears; and now the [Page 25]Morning being much advanc'd, Pedro takes leave of Aspasia, and prepares to dress, when Cleone knocks at her Ladys Door, to know if she were stirring; A­spasia desires Pedro to retire into a Closet, and slip­ping on her Night Gown opens the door to Cleone; the Maid having a while before seen Sebastian with some Company walking in the Court Yard, merrily ask'd her Lady when the Lover got out, for that she had not seen him go; Aspasia fearing Sebastian might ask Cleone questions, thought it her best way to ac­quaint her with her own mistake, and bid her wait a while for her farther Instructions; the Maid had just retir'd to the Window of the Withdrawing-Room, when she straight runs back and tells her La­dy she saw Sebastian in the Court below making tow­ards her Lodgings; Aspasia in a great fright runs to the Closet, and desires Pedro to be silent and still, for that Sebastian was coming; Father Pedro who by this time had got himself dress'd, thought it would be tedious staying there, and immediately opens the Closet Door and marches off, having just got to the door going into the Gallery, he pops just upon the Queen and Count Davila going to the Mosque at St. Jaques; Sebastian had got up among the Queens Re­tinue and had perceived Father Pedro coming out of Aspasia's Lodgings, he began to ruminate with him­self what business Father Pedro could have there, and at that time of day, and reflecting on Aspasia's loose Life, his jealousie prompted him to think that he had lost his Assignation, and had been supplanted the last Night by Father Pedro; Sebastian was but an Under­ling in the Priests Tribe in comparison of Pedro, but was of a haughty revengeful humour; he was a lusty big Bon [...]d Man, and had an indifferent good Face, he was a Renegado Christian, and had by the influence and promises of Aspasia, while she was in Gaule, been perverted to Paganism; he had had a long [Page 26]Amour with Aspasia, and by her means had been pre­ferr'd to the Brotherhood of the Pagan Priests; upon his Jealousie aforesaid he immediately repairs to Aspa­sia's Lodgings, to try if he could make any Discovery; Aspasia to prevent questions, immediately chides him for his Disappointment, he tells her he came not so late but that Cleone might have heard him knock; Cleone makes a little faultre in her Speech and confirms Sebas­tian in his suspicion, and resolving to be Reveng'dd, at least on Father Pedro, he clears up his look and falls a toying with Aspasia, & owns himself to blame for stay­ing past the time; in the mean while Father Pedro ha­ving mingled among the Queens Retinue, perceived that Messalina & the Count, by the distance that the Attendants kept, were in private discourse, & guessing at the subiect of it, he thought it best not to interrupt them, so turning short he retir'd to his own Lodgings; Count Davila having according to his last resolutions waited with diligence for an Opportunity to try the temper & designs of Messalina, had that Morning, up­on p [...]etence of imparting some News to her which he had lately received from Italy and France, been to wait on the Queen, who after some extraordinary marks of her satisfaction for his presence, ask'd him to attend her to St. Jaques; This kind reception and in­vitation, confirm'd the Count in his resolutions of discovering his love, and pressing on the main business, so that he readily ushers the Queen through the Lodgings to her Chair, and in one of her Coaches follows her to St. Jaques, where wait­ing in the Antichamber till the Queen had done her Devotions at the Mosque, he was sent for by Messalina to her Closet. The Count was so con­founded between hope and fear, that the trembled all over when he went in; he was considering what the consequences of his Attempt might be, if by his over-weening fancy he should have [Page 27]misinterpreted the freedom of Messalina's humour; it a­maz'd him to think of the dangers he should lay himself open to, in owning Love to the Wife of a Potent Monarch, if she were pleased to put a bad construction on it, and in the least resent it; such were the doubts and fears of the Court before he came to the Queen: But alas! these glooming thoughts were soon blown over, for Messalina very graciously receiving him at the Closet-door, and with an extraordinary gayety giving him her Hand, after a turn or two, seated her self on a Couch, and commanded the Count to sit by her, and turning to him, ask'd him merrily, what News? The Count by this time was come to himself, and with abundance of assurance, grasping her Majesties Hand, told her, ‘'That the Fame of her Majesties Beauty and Merit had so taken up the Hearts of the People of Albion, that where ever he came, he could hear no other Discourse.'’ Well, my Lord, replies the Queen, I thank you for your Complement, and though I am Ignorant of the People of Albion 's thoughts of me, I dare presume, my Character pass [...]s with advantage enough in your Opinion. ‘'It is now my misfortune, replies the Count, not to be able to express the sincerity of my Zeal to your Majesties Service any otherwise than in words, and that severity with which your over nice Vertues treats all your Admirers, limits and restrains the Innocent freedom even of them:'’ I must confess, continued he, ‘'the high Station, Fortune and Merit have settled you in, may with reason render your Majesty regardless of any pr [...]er of Service from me; yet since the necessity of your Affairs (as sometimes of the greatest Princes in the World) require the advice and assistance of your Subjects and Friends, I hope your long experience of my Truth and Love, may now prevail with your Majesty to make me the happy Instrument of your future Satisfaction.'’

The Queen who by the several remonstrances of her three Counsellors had been both press'd and convinc'd of the danger of her Affairs, and being partly overcome by the [Page 28]Solicitations and Endearments of the Count in particular, resolv'd now to give a loose to her natural Inclinations, and thereupon turning to the Count, in a soft languishing Tone she reply'd, I must at length, dear Davila, confess my own Frailty and thy Power, my haughty mind I see at last will stoop, and thou art Born to be my Conqueror: The Count who was all this while in a rapture, throwing himself at her Feet embrac'd her Knees, extolling his own good Fortune and her happy Resolutions; he gave her Ten thousand Thanks for her preference and good Opinion of him before any of the Nobles in the Court of Albion that his whole thoughts and endeavours should be employ'd to make good her Ex­pectation, and he did not doubt but she should in a little time find her self thoroughly disengaged from all sorrowful Apprehensions: This minutes Condescension and freedom, had so emboldened and assured M [...]ssalina's Heart, that rais­ing the Count, who at every Word was pressing and kissing her fair Hand, she threw her Arms about his Neck, and in [...]morous Sighs and Murmurs she whisper'd her Wishes in his Ears; Ten thousand times she kiss'd his Lips and Eyes, while with his busie hand he rov'd o'er all the Fields of Love, sometimes with eager hast he'd climb the Snowy Hills of Pleasure, and then as quick retire down to the Valies and Fountain of D [...]light and Love; Dear Davila, in Rapture would she cry, Divine Messalina, would he reply; Ah! can you—will you now refuse, said he; Ah! do not—do not ruin me, said she; But the Count who through Messa­lina's Eyes saw the Temper of her Heart, resolv'd not to slip that lucky opportunity, and turning first to make the Door secure he like a hungry Lyon seizes his trembling Prey and in his Arms conveys her to the other side of the Closer, and throwing her gently on the Couch thereby, in eager Raptures he lays open and unfolds her secret Treasure, and rifles all the Stores of Love and Beauty; And now Messa­lina having tasted the difference between a Vigorous Lover and a Feeble King, clasping her yet panting Davila in her Arms, I shall indeed be happy now said she, unless the Stars [Page 29]and Heaven conspire against me, I feel at length my Crown fit fast upon me, and now my Fate is disengaged from the weak slender Thread of poor Lycogenes's Life, my Soul at length will reach its proper Sphere, and I shall with Pride look down and see my most malicious Enemi [...]s bowing to my Royal P [...]sterity; no more shall proud Albion rejoyce over the Age and Weakness of the King my Husband, no more shall they Triumph over my Bar­ren Modesty; thou my dear Davila shalt make their Y [...]k, and with a Gordian Knot, I'll tie it on their Necks; I am big my dear already with the Joy, and doubt not a happy result of our undertakings. The Count who all this while lay Ravish'd with his Victory, was running over the whole Series of her Charms, one while he reflected on her high Quality and Station, and then her Beauty, Riches, and her Love, did so confound his Sences, he could hardly convince himself his Happiness was Real; somtimes he'd of a sudden grasp her Hands, Embrace and Kiss, doubting it was all Vision, Dream, and Fancy: Thus in these Transports did they dally out the time, till trusty Aspasia gave notice at the Door, that Lyc [...]genes was come into the Forrest, and pro­bably design'd for St. Jaques; this news strait rouz'd the stumb [...]ing wanton Lovers, and hasten'd the Counts depar­ture: The Count conjures her to bless him speedily with such another opportunity; which with a thousand Kisses she assures him, and so he takes his leave; he had not well got away before Madam Marchioness de Tomazo came up, and finding the Queen in a very Pleasant humour, thought to engage her in some discourse concerning their last Con­sultations; the Marchioness being a great Bigot in the Pa­gan Principles, had been influenc'd by Father Pedro to stand his Friend privately, in gaining the Queens Favour upon this juncture, and by his subtle insinuations had [...] de­luded into her Opinion, that it would be much more meri­torious for the Queen in the case before propos'd, to make use of the endeavours of a holy Man, and that it was pro­bable their business might better succeed if the Operation were begun by a Sanctifi'd person; these and the like insi­nuations [Page 30]had prevail'd with the blind Zealot to assure the lustful Priest of her Assistance and Interest, and ac­cordingly finding Messalina, as is aforesaid, in a jaunty hu­mour, she thought it now a fit time to move the business,

So making up to Messalina, she said, ‘'Tis not a little satisfaction to me, to see your Majesty at this time so pleasantly dispos'd; and as I do believe it proceeds from some considerable cause, so I should receive it as a peculiar obligation from your Majesty, if I might be made either a partaker or an assistant of your Joy'’ Thou shalt be both, my dear Tomazo, reply'd the Queen, and I shall give th [...]e reason to tax my Justice and my Friendship, should I let thee partici­pate only of my Sorrows; No, no, my dear Tomazo, since by thy advice chiefly my satisfaction came, 'twould be unreasonable not to let thee tast the fruit of thy own works; I have at last o'recome that subtile Disputant, Honour; I have reconcil'd those nice points of flashy Reputation, and begin to tast the solid pleasure of Interest and Ambition: I shall be a Queen now in­deed, my dear Tomazo; the Count, the Count Tomazo, will make me a Glorious Powerful Queen: Rejoyce, rejoyce Tomazo, and let the Pagans of Albion all rejoyce; Mahomet now will surely hear our Prayers, the time will now draw near for our deliverance: Oh! that my Youth and Beauty should be thus long Curst to trifle with Age, and State-Impotency: Oh! How I nausiate my former Resolutions, when every scrupulous thought of Honour lost me an Age of pleasure: Forgive my Indiscretion, would she cry, when with an awful Frown I'de check thy good advice: How have I fretted when in thy long and grave Debates thou would urge the necessity of — I thought Majesty could live without Support, vainly believing I could carb the Politition, as the Lover with my Frowns: Forgive me, dear Tomazo, since at last I am reclaim'd. The Court, my Dear, the Count will make us happy. The Marchioness, tho amaz'd at this extraordinary humour of the Queen could not however, but guess how affairs stood; and though she had been pretty well satisfied of the Queens Resolutions to surrender, yet she thought she would have spent a little [Page 31]more time in Capitulation; however, since the main design was in all probability answer'd, she thought she could do no more than be sorry that the Count had outleap'd her Frind Father Pedro, and yet upon better consideration she did not believe it impossible, if matters between the Count and the Queen did not speedily answer her expectation, but that she might be able at last to make good Father Pedro's pre­tentions.

The Queens thoughts were all this while taken up with the Count, upon whose Name in sudden raptures she would often call; Oh? my dear Davila; my Life, my Soul, my Deliverer my Protector, would she cry, till the Marchioness making up to her broke off her Contemplations, by telling her it was late, 'and ask'd her whether she would 'go back to Alba Regalis? Ay, any where, reply'd the Queen, so Davila be there. The King who all this time was walking in the Forrest, had been consulting and discoursing with the Count of Thunderland and another, about establishing the Pagan Interest in A [...]bion, he was deploring his unhappiness in the want of an Heir, and fear'd all his Endeavours without one, would prove ineffectual. The wicked Priest and other corrupted Ministers about him, had buzz'd the Necessity and the Merit of this so far, that Good Prince, he told them, ‘'He would be no way wanting to the fur­therance and propagation of his Religion in his Kingdom.'’ These Blood-hounds presently snapt at this Gracious Con­desension, and communicate the same to Messalina, The Queen, who was conscious how fair a stroke she had made towards the accomplishment of their desires, and her own Ambition, told them, ‘'She would leave all things to the advice and will of the King her Husband; that she did not altogether dispare of the blessing of the Gods, and of bearing a Son yet to her Dear Lycogenes; but that at the same time she did verily believe, that if the Powers above were not pleased to raise unto her a Son of her own to Inherit the Crown of Albion, and to re-settle the Pagan Religion there, nevertheless she could not in Conscience [Page 32]think her self disengaged from her utmost Endeauours to advance it by some other extravagant means; but as her first Hopes were not altogether as yet in vain, so she could not decend to particulars as to the other.'’ The subtile Priests who saw both the Cunning and the Zeal of Messalina in this answer, went away with all the satisfaction imaginable, concluding now they had nothing more to do than to prescribe a due method for the management of a suppositious Birth, in case the Queen, which they extreamly fear'd should fail in her hopes, as they supposed of Lyco­genes. But alas! poor Wretches; they shot extravagantly wide of Messalina's thoughts, while she could not choose but laugh, to think how pleasantly she [...] them; She had had too long an experience of the Capacity of Lyco­genes her Husband, to hope for the least encouragement or performace from him; and she had too lately found and approv'd the difference between the Count and the King, to think of leaving her business unfinished, or repenting the change she had made: No, no, she was so far from relying on the Weakness of her Husband, that she was now con­tinually employ'd, in contriving Opportunites to [...]et and entertain the Count, and the satisfaction she had received at her last Conference with him, had so enliven'd her hopes of an answerable Success, that among her Considerats she would talk very assuredly of the Business, and would many times be Calculating the hour and time of her Delivery, as if she had known her self with Child by Inspiration. But alas! these were only the flights of a passionate Zeal, for when her more lucid Intervals would give her judgment scope, and free consideration, she found her principles too weak to infer so weighty Conclusions, and was loath to let her hopes rest on so weak a foundation. No doubt the Count had been as obliging as a Man under those cricumstances could be expected, and the vast temptations of Honour and Riches, besides the enjoyment of so beautiful a Lady as Messalina really was, had without dispute put a double Edge on his Vigour and her Expectation, but notwithstanding [Page 33]her own mighty Faith, she resolv'd to have a repeated mixture of his good Works, and accordinly sends him a small Billet by Aspasia to this purpose, ‘'Lycogenes designs within these two hours to go to W— and will not be back till to morrow; I design to go up the River, and lie to night at R—d, my Retinue will be very small; and perhaps I may wish for Company: I'll leave you to guess who would be most grateful to Messalina.'’ The Count re­ceives the Summons with Joy; and with all speed and se­cresy prepares for the Assignation. The Queen took no body but Aspasia and the Marchioness de Tomazo with her: Within an hour after her Arrival comes the Count; the La­dies know their Duty, and discreetly retire; Dalvia, whose longing Appetite had, by his first delicious tast been en­creased, now gluts himself in Messalina's Charms, while her officious Fancy builds worlds of Pleasure for her self, and vainly flatters her with lasting Satisfaction: Oh! how she'd dote and rave, and k [...]s, then sigh'd, and in soft Mur­murs wish, and wish, and then abruptly cease, and hide her blushing amorous Looks in the Courts Bosom: Thus did they dally out the winged hours, till Aspatia came and told them, the Countess of Sunderland with another Lady, were landed, and coming to wait on her Mejesty; Messa­lina fearing they would stay all Night, as indeed they de­sign'd, and not knowing how to bestow the Count, thought it best to go back to Alba Regalis that Night, and accord­ingly gives order for her Gally with all speed; and meer­ing the Councels on the Stair head, told her, She was just on her return, and giving her her hand, they immediately take Water and away: The Count also about an hour after, takes a small Gondola and follow [...]. At this rate did the Count and Messalina correspond for two or three Months, and no hopeful appearance yet of what they had with [...]o much assurance promised themselves. The Court even in Messalina's Judgement, had acquitted himself with all the Bravery imaginable, and Messalina had not been wanting in her Endeavours ours to bring about a Business of so great Im­portance [Page 34]to her Interest: She grieves, He wonders, at so strange a Disappointment, they mutually encourageing one another, they fall to fresh Endeavours, and love, and wish, and promise, but still in vain: Messalina had during this amorous Juncture, considered both her Pleasure and Inte­rest, but finding that the feeding on the one would starve the other, she told the Count frankly, That she saw plain­ly her Misfortune, and that she must of necessity have re­course to some more immediate Remedy; that as she had intrusted him with all her Secrets, so she doubted not of his best Advice and Concurrence in a Matter she should propose, that she should still retain her good Opinion of him, and wholly imputed the Disappointment to Defects of her; That however she must make the best of her Af­fairs, and help out by Art what Nature had deny'd: She put him in mind of their Consult and Resolution, and that nothing but a Son and Heir could secure her Honour, and settle the Pagan Interest in Albion, she did therefore desire him forthwith to summon a Convention of two or three discreet Priests, together with himself, Aspasia, the Mar­chioness, and some few stanch Courtiers, to propose Me­thods for the due management of this grand Concern, and to engage Lycogines to consent to, and further, not only this, but whatsoever else they should in their Wisdoms think agreeable and necessary for the Advance of Paganism and the Extirpation of the Christians throughout Albion.

The Second PART.

THE Pagans of Albion, had from the beginning of the Reign of Ly­cogenes with great assurance ex­pected some hapy, and speedy overtures for their eternal settlement in that Kingdom; Nor had Lycogenes himself been wanting in his endeavours to over-rule or destroy all that pretended to oppose, or question his proceedings against the Foundamental Rights of his Christian Subjects, he had al­ready remov'd the most of them from all Places of Trust, and contrary to the known Laws of the Land had introduced Persons, by the said Laws incapable to Serve; he had Rais'd and kept up an Army compos­ed of Mercenary's and Forreigners, not on­ly to Terrify, but upon the first happy occasion to Oppress all that should contra­dict his Resolutions; he had for the first three years of his Reign, carry'd all things with so high a hand, that the People of Albion from the highest to the lowest, were [Page 2]in a strange Confusion to think of the dismal consequences that would necessari­ly flow from such Arbitrary Proceedings: and though they had by the subtile Insin­uations of a Court Party of Divines, been Poyson'd with that pernicious position of Passive Obedience, yet they could not without a great deal of regret behold all the fences and inclosures of their Laws, and Libertiy's thrown down and tram­pled on, and be obliged to hold their Lives and Estates on so precarious Terms as the will and discretion of an Antichristi­an pack'd Councel: what related to the private satisfaction of the King's humour they did with all humility, and unexpect­ed alacrity submit and yield to, but when it was plain that the whole Kingdom was Design'd and Resolv'd a Sacrifice, to the Interest and Ambition of a few wicked Councellours, and a small party of Men, that had been by publick Acts of the Realm declar'd the Inveterate and Irrecon­cileable Enemies of all Christians but chief­ly of the Albionites, they then began to search into the measures of their submissi­on, and diligently to enquire how far they were obliged to pay Obedience to the Commands of their Magistrates and Gov­ernours; and realy upon the scrutiny they [Page 3]plainly perceiv'd their own weakness, and the Impositions of their Enemies, who by this subtile Doctrine had ensnar'd them to set their Hands to and Sign as it were their own Destruction, several of the Great and Wisest Men in the Kingdom, had been Debating on this Subject, and all concluded in an acknowledgment of their weakness in so manifestly expo­sing themselves and their Country to the Capricious Humours, or Tyrannical Prin­ciples that very often are found in the greatest Princes, and therefore though from their very Souls they wish'd all hap­piness imaginable to their King and Go­vernor, yet they thought their duty stretch'd too far on the Tenter-hooks, when by a blind submission to irregular Commands they were oblig'd to forego the natural principles of self preservation, and that by seeking officiously to add to their Loyalty they must necessarily detract from their Judgments, Conscience, and Honesty: But Lycogenes, who by a dili­gent scrutiny, and long experience of the Natures of the people of Albion, (to his great satisfaction) knew how effe­ctually the Doctrin of Non-resistance (which he and his party, with great zeal and in­dustry had insinuated and promoted) had [Page 4]wrought on his Christian Subjects, thought he had laid a very sure foundation for the introduction of those Novelties and Abu­ses we have since had impos'd on us, and was by the assiduous Instigations of his Pagan Councellors prevail'd upon to re­solve the total Extirpation, or at least en­slaving of the Christian Hereticks, as he call'd them, in his Dominions, and fear­ing that all he could do in his own life time, would be insufficient to assure and establish the Pagan Faction and Interest, unless he could find such a Successour as should confirm and strengthen what he should now begin, upon these Considera­tions, I say, he was easily wrought on to consent to any thing his Counsellors should propose for the benefit and establishment of Paganism in the said Kingdom, and now what more remain'd, than that the Priests consult and find the most convenient and speedy means to secure their own Interests to indulge Messelina's Ambition, and to sooth Lycogenes his Bigotted Zeal: Several ways were propos'd, and sometime spent in Arguments and Debates before they could come to a final Resolution.

The Christians of Albion, by several Acts of their General Diets, had their Laws, their Liberties, and their Religion secur'd to [Page 5]them, and in all, or most of their Assem­blies for one hundred years past, they had one or other express Law against Paganism, though none did so throughly disable and lessen their interest in Albion as that com­monly call'd the Tests; and though some good Christian Dissenters from the Church of Albion, were therein severely included, yet they were chiefly intended for the dis­couragement and suppression of that per­nicious Sect of Pagans in Albion, Lycogenes his private Counsel therefore proposed the taking away these Tests, as a necessary Preliminary for the introduction of Pagan­ism; the Project indeed was good, but how to bring it about, was the difficulty, for be­sides that the general Diet would hardly be induc'd to abrogate those very Laws which some of them so lately had stickl'd for and promoted, and such Laws whereon their own and the Kingdoms security seem'd more immediately to depend (the Pagans having in all Reigns been proved the irreconcileable Enemys and malicious designers against the peace and welfare of the Christians in Albion) besides, I say, this difficulty, they were obliged to gain the consent of Prince Anaximander and the Princess Artemisia, the Presumptive Hei­ress of the Crown, for the Abrogation of the said Laws, and this indeed was the [Page 6]great business that struck with Lycogenes, for as to what concern'd the election of such Members as should serve his turn in the next General Assembly, he bid them take no care, for he was sure he could by his influence procure such persons return'd as should effectually answer his utmost ex­pectations: With all speed therefore per­sons are employ'd to negotiate with the Prince and Princess for their consent a­foresaid, and to lay before them the since­rity of his Majesty's Intentions in that mat­ter, and that his Majesties great and only alm was for the more general accommo­dation of all his Dissenting Subjects, and that as their Highnesses could not believe that his Majesty would resolve on any thing to their prejudice, so he did not in the least doubt of their Highnesses ready concurrence in so pious an undertaking; but alas poor Lycogenes and his Pensiona­ry Counsel had far overshot themselves, when they believed so wise a Prince as A­naximander could be so barefacedly decoy'd into an assent to a matter so necessarily and plainly prejudicial to his own and his Princesses interest, as well as to a Kingdom and People, they had reason to respect and take care of as their future loving Sub­jects, and present hearty Friends, they were not unacquainted with the measures [Page 7] Lycogenes had taken from the beginning of his Reign, so directly contrary to the Princess his Daughters Interest, and perni­cious and destructive to the Christians, and that by pure force he had al­ready obtruded so many illegal things on his said Christian Subjects, that he won­dered Lycogenes could retend to make him or his Princess instruments of their further oppression and misery; such were the Princes resentments, and such was the result of Lycogenes his endeavours to make him and his own Daughter Parties for the Subversion of Christianity in Albion; and now immediately a grand Gonsult is cal­led to consider of Anaximander's resoluti­ons, and of some other way to promote the grand concern: In the mean time Mes­salina had been tormenting her self with the Apprehensions of her utter disappoint­ment; for though she had kept a constant correspondence with the Count, she could not yet perceive her affairs go on so pro­sperously as she had promised to her self, and the loss of so much time, to her Am­bition, did very much qualifie the satisfa­ction she received in her Amour; howe­ver tho' she had promised to repair to Art and Policy, to supply the present defects of Na­ture, she could not resolve to abandon the [Page 8]Love and Service of the Count: Nay, upon mature consideration, she concluded, that the continuation of her Amour with him, could not be any way prejudicial to the other design they were now undertaking, for supposing she should really conceive any considerable time after the feigned report of her being with Child, the ab­surdity of the report of this could not any way be prejudicial to the real truth of the other, the assured Birth of a Prince being all that could be expected or desir'd; and consequently, any reflections on the other would vanish as a mistake, which Wo­men in such cases are very often subject to. The Marchioness de Tomazo, would daily encourage her belief of succeeding, and promised her assistance, by imparting to her a Secret to help Conception; the Queen was wonderfully pleas'd, even with the Flattery of the old Matron; but for fear of the worst, was resolv'd to have the other Project speedily set off foot, she went to the King's Apartment immediate­ly to hear what they had resolv'd on, and how it was agreed to be manag'd, where she found the trusty Cabal in hot and close debate: She had order'd Aspasia, the Marchio­ness de Tomazo, &c Father Pedro to be there, & Lycogenes had introduc'd the Count & Poli­orchetes [Page 9]the Chief Commissioner of his Court of Conscience, having exrerienc'd his Fidelity in matters of the greatest importance, and had rais'd him to that high Station meerly to be an instrument in his future undertakings.

Lycogenes upon the Arrival of the Queen arose, requiring the Company not to se­parate till they had wholly concluded on the means and manner of new modeling and setling the Kingdom of Albion, the Queen likewise as soon as she had seated her self commanded them to give her an account of their Proceedings. Poliorchetes the Chancellor then rising and making a profound reverence to the Queen, deliver'd his Opinion thus: ‘'It is not unknown, mighty Soveraign, how zealous I have been in bringing about and promoting whatso­ever might be thought advantageous to your interest; nor do I now presume to recount my Services for any other purpose than to manifest my gratitude and wil­lingness to engage again and again for e­ver on any action and design your Maje­sties, or this Honourable Board, shall think meet to prescribe; I know the wisdom of this Noble Company, cannot be wanting to appoint such Rules as shall for ever se­cure the Pagan interest in Albion, and sa­tisfie your Majesties utmost Expectation; [Page 10]notwithstanding since the nature of my Employments, and some years strict en­quiery into the ways and Inclinations of the people of Albion, may with reason have render'd me capable of judging of the most secure, and convenient ways to deal with them. I shall not be thought vain if I presume freely, to deliver my opinion in this Matter. The Albionites where they have received Graces or Favours from their Princes, are like the wanton Ass in the Fable, ready to leap on their Master, and by the incouragement of two or three benefits, they sawcily approach him with their ill natur'd Jeasts, and constantly pester him with their rude Importunities, but when too much Indulgence has ren­dred them Insupportable, do but show them the Rod, and like Children they shrink, and with patience submit to the Justice of your Correction; You remem­ber their Insolence in Perkin's Rebellion, when with unbounded Blasphemy they would threaten the Safety and Honour of our Royal Master, and yet the Sword of Justice was no sooner unsheath'd against them, but with horror they fly, and call even to the Mountains to cover them, you have heard with what patience they sub­mitted to their Tryals, and reproached [Page 11]even my Sentence with their Base Servile Sufferings, my advice therefore is to fol­low the example of the Great Polydorus, to get an Army of Pagans from Iberia and Gothland, and so to Dragoon them inro a civil compliance, Oh! that every year would produce a Western Expedition, I'de soon rid the Kingdom of all our An­tagonist's, and make every Circuit more Terrible than an Inquisition, we have too long nursed them with the Milk of our Affection, and like the profligate Israelites they grumble at their Manna, Albion has Surfeited on Ease and Prosperity, and the Feavour can't abate but by leting of Blood, let us make a full Harvest of these Hot-headed Christians (as they boast them­selves) and at once root out these obsti­nate Disturbers of our Peace: The Queen who was naturally of a malicious sullen Temper, and who was not ignorant how stubborn and a verse the Albionites were to her Interest, had heard Poliorchetes speak with a bundance of satisfaction, but being willing to hear what the rest would propose, giving thanks to the Chancel­lour she expected with impatience their Thoughts and Opinions. When Pedro ris­ing up, said he could not but Applaud the Zeal and Opinion of Poliorchetes, [Page 12]and wish'd that his design could be as easi­ly executed as propos'd, that his aversion and malice to the Christians of Albion had inspir'd him with such desires of Revenge, that with Nero he wish'd they had all but one Neck, and that he among his Frater­nity, did not doubt to find thousands that would strive to be their Executioner, but that to his sorrow he fear'd the Chancel­lours project, however well design'd, would not be feasible, for besides the Alarm that Forreign Auxiliaries would raise through­out the Kingdom, the natural antipathy, that the Albionites had both to the Gauls, and Iberians was such, that they would incontinently rise to Repel and Destroy them, and that if those Foreigners should fail in their Attempt, the reproach of the design would be wholly thrown on Lyco­genes and his Court, and that it would beget so implacable a malice in the Heart of the Albionites (who were most of them Christians) that he might justly fear a general revolt, and thereby the total ru­ine of the Pagan Interest in Albion for e­ver, his opinion therefore was, that they should rather ensnare and delude them, and so at advantage cut them off and destroy them, tis known said he how wonderfully our fraternity have promoted [Page 13]the Mahometan Interest by their subtile and secret Plots and Contrivances, have not we by fomenting and raising Divisions be­tween the Regular and Dissenting Christi­ans in Albion more weakened the strength of the pretended Reformado's than ever Polydorus by his Dragoons or Contributi­ons? Albion (with submission to the Chan­cellor) is not by publick Hostility to be forc'd, they are valiant in their Natures, and stubborn in their Principles, and though the hopeful Doctrine of Passive Obedience and sweet Non-resistence has been useful unto us, and lull'd them for a while, yet it may be dangerous to raise those sleeping Lions within them, lest we too late repent our over-fond Credulity, and to our sorrow feel the effects of their resent­ments; set your Policies on work if you wish to prevail, and if you must strike, let it be in the dark; we all of us know we are sick, and out of order, but few of us con­sider the root and cause of our distemper, all disinteressed persons would think at first view, that we were now in a hopeful way of thriving, we have a King not only a Pagan and our Friend, but zealous and resolv'd to go through with his work; but alas is resolution sufficient without means? Tis true, by his power he ran sercure us for [Page 14]a while; but what will that signifie to a lasting satisfaction? How do our Enemies wait and gape for his death? And with the hopes of revenge after his dissolution they patiently submit to their present Impositi­ons; we know the main Pillars whereon they all lean, Anaximander and Artemisia are their delight and their hope, the Prin­cess Philadelphia waits too in reversion, and from these three do spring all our fears and misfortunes, and I and my Brethren bear the Title of our great Prophet, and suffer his Cause to be shaken by the weak inter­cession of three single Lives; Oh Holy Loy­old, our first Holy Patron and Founder, how would thy mighty Spirit fret and and grieve within thee, shouldst thou see the degenerate baseness of thy unworthy Followers? Where are the Records of all our Glorious Hero's that have trod on the Necks of Emperors, and pierc'd the Hearts of Kings, to propagate and vindicate our Holy Religion, can we forget Borgia, Cle­ment, Ravilliac and others, who have free­ly Sacrificed themselves for their Religion, and for reasons less considerable than ours, and can we tamely remit all our present Advantages, and be bafled of our future hopes, by tue weak puny opposition of three petty pretenders?'’ No, no, continued [Page 15]he, let us lay hold on the present opportu­nity, and at once finish our long wish'd for deliverance: These three must fall a Sa­crifice to our Prophet, and from the re­moval of that cause will all our other Ap­prehensions cease.

Father Pedro had always bore such re­putation with Lycogenes and Messalina that they look'd on his Counsels little inferiour to Oracles, and though the execution of them had always prov'd prejudicial, through their great violence, to the Pagan Interest, yet they could not but value the sincerity of his meaning, and always ap­plauded his wise apprehensions, they knew his proposals in this Zealous Oration were very consonant to reason, and agreeable to their true interest, but knowing that the Eyes of all Europe were upon these three Princes, and that the least baseness and imposition upon, them would engage all Christendom in their quarrel, they could not so readily conclude, or resolve upon any violence against their persons; besides, Pe­dro in a small Apology afterwards insinua­ted to the Company, the inconvenience of letting the King know any thing of this Project, if happily they should all agree upon it. For (said he) though I know Ly­cogenes's Zeal would make him overlook a [Page 16]thousand difficulties, yet nature and conscience could not with any decency or reason be suppos'd capable of being so wholly obliterated as to con­sent to any barbarity upon the persons of his own children; but again, what may prove a sufficient ground of scruple in him, may at the same time leave us free and disinteressed from every thing and person that stands in opposition to our designs. The Company however upon the Considerations aforesaid were very unwilling to engage in Pedro's Reso­lutions or Proposals, and incontinently desir'd the Marchioness de Tomazo, to give her opinion of this grand Affair. The Marchioness who had been a Woman of Amour most of her time, and who now, though Age had ungenerously depriv'd her of the power to please, was very fond and Ambitious of being thought a Woman of Intrigue, had heard the violent Counsels, and Proposals of the Chancellor and Father Pedro with a great deal of impatience and displeasure; she could not digest those rough and hard terms of cutting of Throats, Poysoning, or Assassinations, she had been always us'd to Amorous Sighs, Billet deux, and Assignations; therefore rising and ma­king her Compliment to Messalina, and giving a hard look on Poliorchetes and Pedro, [Page 17]she thus began: 'Tis not without the greatest regret imaginable, that I find my self obliged to contradict persons whose known wisdom and experience in the world may with reason claim an entire submission of judgment from me, and though the command and service of her Majesty, may sufficiently apologize for the freedom and liberty of my opinion, yet I doubt not from the nature of the business in hand to prove that what both these honourable persons have delivered as their opinions, if fol­lowed, will be inconsistent with the safety of her Majesty, prejudicial to the Pagan inte­rest in Albion for ever, and extreamly difficult, if not impossible to be brought about; nor do I need to say much to disswade this Honourable Company from the following their proposals, since Father Pedro has already evinc'd and made clear the fallacy of the Chancellor's pro­ject, and the rest of the Company have suffici­ently shew'd their dislike of Father Pedro's; I shall now therefore proceed to give my opinion, and if I shall have the good fortune to convince your reasons, and draw you into a concurrence, you will then be so just to believe that the free­dom of my censue proceeds from other causes than that of meer contradiction; we all agree in the main pint, that some course must be ta­ken for re-establishing and securing the Pagan Interest in Albion, so as that it should not [Page 18]seem entirely to depend on the uncertain life of the King, and though the opinion of my self and the Count Davila, who doubtless receives all his measures from the Conclave, and from Boanerges the High-priest, have been by these two Gentlemen opposed, at least neglected, yet I have not been so apprehensive as to hear any new thing proposed, as is capable of making me or the Count recede from our former resolu­tions, I am sure if it take 'tis the only effectual way to preserve us entires; I am as sure 'tis as easie, as in a matter of that importance can be wish'd, it may be brought about with so little discomposure of the publick peace, that it shall rather gain the general applause of the King­dom; will not the attaining our desires answer all expectations? what necessity of cutting those Throats which with abundance of ease we can make instrumental and accessary to our designs, the supposition of an Heir Male quashes all o­ther pretenders in a moment; and surely Albion is not so barren or ill natur'd as to deny Ly­cogenes a Son. No, no, (replys Poliorchetes, interrupting the Marchioness) we have daily experience of the fruitfulness of the Women of Albion, but yet we cannot apprehend how Ly­cogenes can expect to reap where he has not had the power, or the will to sow: The will in­deed (said Aspasia sighing) I believe her Majesty can vouch for, but to the sorrow and [Page 19]confusion of us all, he wants the power: Let us then (continued the Marchioness) no lon­ger deplore, but endeavour to supply those un­fortunate defects of the King our Master, con­sider on what nice points our Honour and Inte­rest depend, time will not stay for vain and fruitless wishes, and if we slip so fair an oppor­tunity, we shall seem to despise providence, ruine our interest for ever, and fall the reproach of our Enemies, and unpitied by all the Pa­gans throughout the World. Polyorchetes had heard these last words with wonderful surprise, for his thoughts having run wholly on the extirpation of the Christians by Fire and Sword, he had not so much as dream'd of any possibility of milder means, and now guessing at what the Marchioness had insinuated, he was ex­treamly tickl'd with the project, and de­sired the Marchioness, That since she had propos'd something extraordinary, she would be pleas'd to explain her self, so as that they might endeavour to solve any difficulties that might arise upon a strict examination of the design: The difficulty's (reply'd the Marchioness) are so small, in comparison of that advantage we shall reap, that among us they will not admit of a dispute; be­sides, we have had a president of what I propose, which though it miscarried in the main, yet it [Page 20]was not for want of power, but will of some Partys concerned to bring it about; That an Heir is absolutely necessary to confirm and set­tle our otherwise fading hopes we all agree; and shall not we submit to necessity, and endeavour to restore by art what envious nature, or curst fortune have ruin'd or withheld? It must be so, (reply'd Messalina) it must be so, and there is no other to uphold my tottering Crown: It must be so, and yet my boding Soul foretells it won't succeed; these saucy Albionites, will still be prying, and every step I make will have re­marks. Rejoyce, Dread Soveraign, (reply'd Polyorchetes) (who had already taken that hint) the Marchioness has in one word fini­shed what the united strength of my dull brain could ne're attempt, but now the game is up, I'll keep the scent, and work it on to a desired perfection. Why should your Majesty (re­ply'd Pedro) despair at all of due success? Does your Majesty want power, or friends, or oppor­tunity to act what a Predecessor and Namesake with so much disadvantage had effected if Philippo had prov'd but half so generous as is the brave Lycogenes: Can you doubt the success of any Enterprise when you have so pow­erful assistance even from your Enemies? Could she carry on a design of the same nature even to the brink of performance, so as to amuse, nay, to convince all orders of the Kingdom of the [Page 21]reality of it? And can you doubt at last of fail­ing? She had a sharp-sighted Parliament, near five hundred of the wisest in the Kingdom to combat with, who were strict in their obser­vance, suspicious of her dealing, and resolute against any imposition; she had the Nobility on one hand, the King her Husband of the other; and yet she baffled all but that narrow-hearted Prince, who like the Dog in the Manger could wither eat the Hay himself, nor would suffer the Horses; he had seen himself incapable of re-establishing the Pagan interest by the assurance of an Heir, and was so covetous and mean as to hinder the propagation of it by another, whereas your Majesty stands on sure grounds, you have a strong party in the Court of wise and able men to advise you, you have a potent Army ready to protect and defend you, but above all you have a Husband and a King to assist, and further you; who dares even suspect you? who would presume to prove you? By your word, you create an Heir, and your command settles the King­dom for ever. Thus Pedro spoke, and a general applause run through the whole Company, there remained only Aspasia and the Queen to give their Sentiments and Opinions, and Aspasia declaring in short, that Father Pedro had wholly satis­fied her thoughts and desires in this jun­cture, and that she wholly submitted to [Page 22]the judgment of the Queen. Messalina raising her self, briefly gave her resolution thus: Nothing can give us greater encou­ragement and assurance of success, than the zeal and fidelity of you our beloved Counsellors, and since our business pesseth for a speedy con­clusion, I shall need say no more, than that I do, and shall assent to what the Majority of you, viz. the Marchioness de Tomazo, Aspasia, and Pedro have laid down; there remains therefore no more but that you imme­diately consult of the manner and method of bringing it on, and from time to time to commu­nicate your advice to us; I advise and think fit that Boanerges the High Priest our most Holy Kinsman, have timely notice of your pro­ceedings, as also Polydorus our Royal Friend and Ally, that they may take care to order Af­fairs in Forreign Parts, so as that we way have the universal assistance of all our Friends to promote a Project so highly advantageous to all their Interests.

This gracious Speech and Condescen­tion was received with unspeakable joy by the Counsel, and Father Pedro stepping to the Door, gave orders for private Thanksgiving throughout all the Mosques in Albion, as also for Processions? Feasts, and other expressions of joy; and having again seated himself, they immediately [Page 23]fall close to the point. The first business hey resolve on is, That being five in number, viz. the Count, Pedro, Polyor­chetes, the Chancellor, the Marchioness de Toma­zo, and Aspasia, they severally have several Employments and Offices assigned them, for the more effectual and speedy accom­plishment of their business. The Count who by his Office and Interest with Boa­nerges, could claim a Domination over the Pagan Priests, was to summon a Con­vocation, and to give them instructions how to disperse the News of her Con­ception, and to insinuate, as if by Divine Inspiration they knew it would be a Prince, as also to quash any Objections or Doubts concerning it, and to make re­marks of the persons: Father Pedro was to be made one of the Privy-Council, and as he was one of the chief Contrivers at first, so now he was to enliven and con­firm the report of the Queens Conception at the publick Board, and to represent it with all the seeming Candour imagina­ble, he was to silence all Disputes and Contests that might happily arise upon it, and to make motions to the Board, to give such order concerning her Majesty, and the Child, as should gain a General [Page 24]Approbation and belief throughout the Kingdom, and though there arose a Con­troversie whether it were not fitter for some other Pagan Lords of Albion to e­spouse this part, yet they soon concluded on the ability of Pedro, who was better qualify'd to represent it in handsom Co­lours, and consequently would go down the glibber, and pass secure with the peo­ple, seeing they had so good Vouchers as Privy-Councellors: The Chancellor being a Man of an hardned Constitution, was appointed to wait with diligence against the time of the pretended Birth, and by a positive Asseveration, if any suspicion should arise (as in all Cheats probably may happen) he was to maintain the Rem in Re, which from so grave a person as the chief Judge of Conscience, would surely be believ'd, and as readily assented to, as the words of an Oracle: Aspasia be­ing concern'd so near Messalina as Lady of the Bed-Chamber, &c. She was to Caress the Ladys with the joyful News of the Queens Conception, and from time to time insinuate passages belonging to Child-bearing, to give an account of the growth of the Burthen, and to make the thing feasible she was to carry. [Page 25]on a suspicion or fear of a Miscarriage, and it being once granted that she could possibly Miscarry, included the belief that she was really Teeming: And now there was none but the Marchioness remaining, who being a Woman, as is before said, of a quick Judgment in Intrigues, and who knew well how to manage an Imposture of that nature, it was laid upon her with Secrecy and Assurance to procure two or three young wholsome Women whose time of Delivery should critically agree with the Queen's time allotted and set down by this Councel; the Marchioness was not dissatisfied with the Task, though she could not but be sensible it requir'd depth of Judgment, a great deal of dis­creet Enquiry, and continual Care to manage them to a Hairs breadth, lest any unlucky accident might spoil the whole Intregue, but upon a little consideration she remembred she had heard an Inkling of a young Kinswoman of her own, how that through weakness she had been forc'd to surrender her Virginity to the As­saults of a young Spark, who had since forsaken her, and had withal left her a sure pledg of his Love and Vigour, so that being so well encouraged at first she readily submits to the Commands of the [Page 26]Board, and engages upon Honour to an­swer their Expectation; and now the ge­nerals being concluded on and appointed, they disperse, and forthwith apply them­selves to their several Employments, and as a Prologue to their intended Villany, they give out, among their own Party, at least, the necessity of Unity in their Prayers to their Saints and the Deity, to send their Majesty's an Heir to succeed him in his Throne and Dominions, and to settle their Holy Religion in this Heretical Land, they cause Processions and Pilgri­mages, Offerings and Supplications, to be made, first to the great Saint at Loretto, then to St. Winifred; and they cause Mes­salina to repair to several Waters that are famous Antidotes against Barrenness, thô at the same time they did not consider that the People look'd upon it very awkard and strange, that the Queen had never found out this way of preparing for Child-bearing before; but such are the practices of the Pagan Religion, that the greatest Villanies and Rogueries they intend to commit are still preceded and usher'd in with great appearances of Sanctity; and now all things being in a readiness; the Queen declares her self publickly to be with Child, and Orders were given for [Page 37]publick Thanksgiving throughout the Isles, and in other Forreign parts; Rejoycings and Feastings were made by the Kings Residents and Ambassadors; especially in Rome and Gaule; as if it were not enough to impose so great a Villiany on the whole Kingdom, without enforcing them to pre­varicate with the Deity in their Prayers, and to make Petitions for that which really was not; but notwithstanding all the Contri­vance and Advice to carry on this Intrigue, the People, especially the Christian Nobles and Gentry of Albion were mightily sur­prised with so improbable an Accident; & though by reason of an Indisposition, which Messalina for some while before lay under, the Kings weakness and other circumstan­ces, they could not readily free them­selves from a suspicion of Treachery, yet they resolv'd to bear themselves with all moderation, and to have a diligent Eye upon Messalina and all about her, the f [...]st real occasion of dislike was, that the Queen did not treat the Christian Ladies of Albion, especially the Princess Philadelpha, with that freedom as the joy and pride of so great a happiness, if real, would naturally have prompted her to; for she would re­sent it highly if she could but observe any of the Christians making the least observa­tions [Page 38]of her Breasts, Belly, her Look, or any other Symptome, by which Women in that Condition are easily distinguished; another great reason was, that she seem'd to slight the Pretensions of the Princess Artemisia, so as there was not the least intimation given her to be at the Queens Labour till within a very few days before she was Deliver'd; besides, the Confidence of the Pagan Party did strangely startle the People, when like Oracles they would affirm that of necessity it must be a Prince: These and many other material circum­stances made the Albionites talk broadly of the business; nor were Lycogenes and Messalina ignorant of their Sentiments; however having the Power absolutely in their hands, they were resolved to cut that knot which they found impossible to untie, and since they had thus far advan­ced in a business of that importance, they resolv'd to go through and bring it about, though with a thousand absurdities and in­coherences; for besides the alteration of her Reckoning, which proceeded partly from a fear of disappointment if the Wo­man that came first should have brought forth a Girl, but chiefly to amuse the Nobi­lity and Gentry of the Court and King­dom, who would doubtless have made [Page 39]it their business in behalf of the Princess Artemisia and the Kingdom, to attend and watch that all things might have been carryed fairly and above-board; I say, besides the alteration of her reckoning she would give out upon every turn different places of her pretended lying-in, sometimes she would give orders for R—d, at other times she would remove her fancy to H— Court, but in reality St. Jaques was the place resolv'd on, for Alba Regalis the whole party dis­allow'd, because by reason of the multitude and concourse of People that constantly at­tend there, she could not possibly have been so privately Deliver'd as the Intrigue did necessarily require; besides, there was no conveniency for the Child to be brought through the Galleries or Lodgings, but in the Palace of St. Jaques, there was a Se­raglio and a Mosque adjoyning with abun­dance of winding by dark Chambers, secret Passages, Trap-doors and dark Corners, where not only one or two of the Women were with great security and secrecy kept till the time of their delivery, but where the Queen might have the Child foisted into her Bed reaking and hot from the Womb, but in the heat of all this in­trigue and design Lycogenes was unlucki­ly [Page 40]put in mind that by the Laws of Albion the presence of one or more of the Christi­an Prelates was to be at the Birth of every Royal Infant indispensably required; to resolve this difficulty a Council is immedi­ately call'd, and after sundry debates it is concluded, that some way or other must be found to bring all or most of the dissent­ing part into a premunire, and so by ag­gravation either to endanger their lives, or at least to clap them up and secure them till the Queens Delivery; accordingly a flaw was immediatly found and the Prelates forthwith confin'd: and now nothing but the presence of the Prin­cess Philadelpha was fear'd, but what can­not the craft of the wicked Jebusites bring about? that Princess had unfortunately complain'd of some small indisposition, when the Queen immediately takes the hint, and by the means of Pedro and some other Malecontents, she prevails with her Physician to perswade her to take a Jour­ney to the Waters of Baijae, though the Operation of those Waters was manifest­ly known to be contrary to the Princess's Distemper, they being loosening, and she wanting Restringents, but her absence was absolutely necessary, and therefore by any means to be obtain'd; the Princess [Page 41]according to their wishes leaves the Court, and they were resolv'd to do their business before her return; and now all things to appearance seem'd to favour the design, the time prescrib'd drew near, their greatest Adversaries were remov'd, the Court Party, and Pagan Priests, with daily Sto­ries and Shams were amusing and taking off the attention of the Christians; all things seem'd smooth, and the Critical Minute was at hand, when news was brought to Messalina, that one of the Women was in Labour, immediately the Queen takes her Chair, and hastes over to St. Jaques, but before she had well ascended the Stairs, she was told, that Woman had brought forth a Girl, with which being for the present confounded, she descends, leaving before such Orders as were necessary; the other Women ex­pecting their Times Daily and Hourly; and in­deed ere three Days were over she receiving ano­ther Summons, repair forthwith to St. Jaques, she stays there all Night with long expectation of Success, early the next Morning she receives the glad Tidings that a Man Child was Born, which with all speed was convey'd to the Dormitory ad­joining to her Bed-Chamber, in the same reeking Circumstances it was Born in, and having before taken care for the conducting of it to the Queens Bed, the Alarm is given at Alba Regalis, that the Queen was in Labour; Lycogenes had that Morn­ing rose something earlier than ordinary, and had crost over to his own side on purpose to draw off the Men with him, and consequently to favour the Cheat, by leaving as few as possible about the Queens Apartment; in the mean time Madamoi­zell de W—s having before given the Infant a small Opiate to hinder its Crying for the present lays it gently in a large Warming-Pan made on [Page 42]purpose, and lin'd with velvet for the more com­modious and easie carriage, and the Queen rising under pretence of giving liberty for warming the Bed Madomonelle unlades her vessel and leaves the Infant in the place appointed; the Queen strait re­turning to Bed the Room immediately fill [...], tho none were summon'd but such as Lycogenes thought were afraid to make a doubt or a scrutiny into the truth of it, or those whom Lycogenes had already prepar'd to swallow and favour the imposition; and now the pretended Prince being Born the Pagans of Albion begin their Jubilee, Latroon Go­vernor of Iberia begins to double the Persecution of the Christians there, Polydorus by a strict Alli­ance and LEAGUE with Lycogenes, thinks of nothing but an Universal Monarchy, Lycogenes doubles the Oppressions of his Christian Subjects, Messalina boasts of the downfall of Heresie, and a perpetual Regency, during her Life: The poor Christians, especially the Albionites, though some­thing apprehensive of the Consequences of this Intrigue, were yet by their constant Remarques of all Transactions since the Report of Messalina's Conception sufficiently satisfied of the fallacy and cheat, and resolv'd on measures which they doubt­ed not would in a little time unravel the whole Mystery.

The Third PART.

LOVE could no longer brook this inter­fering Business in the Court of Albion; for seeing with Indignation, how Ambi­tion daily had intrench'd on his Prero­gative, he reassumes his long neglected Darts, and vows severe Revenge on his Rebellious Subjects. And now Messalina's haughty Heart, which vast aspiring Hopes had long engaged, softens again in Gentleness and Love: She had seen the Languets of her Charming Count, and heard his gentle Murmurs with Compassion; she knew the great restraint he forc'd upon his Heart, when by reason of her numerous Atten­dants, and Visitours, he had not opportunity to breath his Love; sometimes a Wink, an Amorous Look, or Sigh, she would by stealth return; or otherwise, in some Am­biguous Words, she would discover her Concern and Care, for his endearing Passion; but in such dumb shows alone, as there were more than Three Weeks spent, e're she could possibly engage, or speak with him alone. Du­ring which time, her Beauty, with the Satisfaction of her Mind, was much improved; and that forc'd Abstinence, which her pretended Child-bearing had made her under­go, conduc'd as well to carry on the Cheat, as to revive some fading Glories in her Face, caus'd by the Fears and Apprehensions of Miscarrying. Now, in Triumphant Wise, she'd Walk, and Look, and with Disdainful Jests, [Page 6]among her Confidents, Laugh at the weak dull Christi­ans of the Court. Come Dear Aspasia, would the say, let us no longer doubt of good Success; le [...]s every Year bring forth a Son, and stock the Kingdom with a Race of Pagan Prin­ces; shall my aspiring lofty Soul, s [...]p to the ri [...]e Destructive Rules of their insipid Morals? One flight of Pagan Fancy quite out-strips their heavy tedious Motions; and till now, our Fears alone have been our Bugbear Appa [...]ions: With how much ease, did we Contrive and Finish what some faint puny hearted Creatures thought impossible? Oh how I am pleased to think how naturally I manag'd the Intreague: Didst thou observe, how gravely some would stand; and when my feigned Groans and Cries, would reach their Ears, how then O [...]ici [...]usly they'd shake their Heads, devoutly lifting up their Hands, and pray for my Delivery? Then, when my seeming Pains would make me faintis [...], with what Concern they'd Sigh and Whisper, while I would gently grasp, and turn to thee, and smile at the Success of our Invention. Come, Come, let's see this Darling of our Hopes, this Ground-work of our Everlasting Joy; long Live, and Live to Reign, my little blooming Life, and Live to be the S [...]ourge of our Curst Christian Foes; I'll swear thee, like another Hanibal, their Mortal Foe; each drop of Milk thou suck'st, [...] an Age of Malice in thy Heart; A Christia [...] Name shall grate upon thy Soul, and thou shall prove the Plague of their Pro­fession; I'll breath my Spirit through thy tender Pores, and make thy hatred of them Everlasting; Down, down ye Pa­gans, to your Great Deliverer; Adore your Mighty Prince, and your Redeemer. See how the base dejected Christians shrink; see how they Tremble at his Awful Frown: Albion is once again Redeemed, Aspasia, and [...]ow my Crown sits firm and easie on my Head. Thus in Vain Raptures would the Queen break out, and boast her Promises to be Prophe­tical; but soon, alas, she found her self deceived, and all her Glorious Promises vanish of a sudden. Anaxi­mander, and the Princess Artemisia, while Licogenes, and [Page 7]his Pagan Councellors, continued only to make some small Encroachments, and Breaches on the Laws of Al­bion, seemingly designing, for no more than a small To­leration of the Pagan Religion in Albion, kept them­selves within all bounds of Modesty and Submission, to the King their Father; only in some small Remonstran­ces, they did Declare their Unwillingness to appear Par­ties in the Annulling, or Dispensing with those Laws, made purely for the Security of the Christian Religion, against the Practices and Contrivances of the Pagans; but when they plainly saw, their Own, and the Kingdoms Interest, resolved to be made a Sacrifice to the Ambi­tion, and Covetousness of a small Party, that by the known Laws of the Land, were declared the irreconcile­able Enemies of the Christians; they thought it then high time to look about them, and though they paid all the Reverence imaginable to the King, their Father; yet they could not resolve to yield their Rights and Inheri­tance, and hold precariously their Estates, at the Dis­cretion of an Anti-Christian pack'd Councel; besides, by several Remonstrances and Petitions from the Chief of the Nobility and Gentry, they had been solicited to take them into their Protection, and to endeavour a Re­dress of their Grievances, and heavy Oppressions. Anaxi­mander, being a Prince of a Vast and Generous Spirit, was easily induc'd to condescend to their Relief; for, besides his proper Interest in the Crown of Albion, which by the common Principles of Nature, he was obliged to Main­tain and Defend; he often would revolve on the Glory of the Action, and how Heroick and God like it would shew, to appear the Great and Glorious Champion of the Christian Religion, which by a Secret League, between Polydorus King of the Gauls, and the King Licogenes, was resolved to be wholly Extirpated, and Roured out of Eur [...]. Upon these Considerations, the Prince Anaxi­mander immediately imp [...] his Desires and Resolutions [Page 8]to the High and Mighty Lords and States of the Low-Lands, desireing their Lordships Advice and Assistance in a Matter of that Importance, to the Security of them­selves, as well as all other Christians; which upon due Considerations, they with all Alacrity imaginable Grant: And now the Prince having a Gallant, though small Fleet, equipp'd with all the speed that could be, makes for the West of Albion, and with such prudent Secrecy were all things managed, that Lycogenes had not the least Intima­tion in the World of his Designs, till his Fleet was rea­dy to Sail. Messalina had, that Night the fatal News ar­rived, assign'd Count Davila to meet her at St. Jaques, and the Marchioness de Tomazo in the Absence especially of Aspasia (who a while before was gone over to her Husband Latroon, Governour of Iberia) being her chief Confident, was order'd to attend. The Count, who had once or twice been Tardy in the Hour appointed, thought now by early Diligence to make amends, so that by Twi­light he was gotten up into the Bed-Chamber, being a private Retirement for Messalina, during the King's Ab­sence at any Time, or her Indisposition; where sitting down near the Bed, he waited with Impatience for the Queen; and in the mean time, was contemplating on the Happiness of his Enjoyments; by this time, Darkness had o'er-spread the Earth, and the Marchioness being to give the Orders for the Candles of that private Apartment, especially at that season, the Count found himself for some time very solitary, and without Light, and being about to make to the Door, he heard some stirring and breathing on the Bed, when drawing the Curtain softly, he could just perceive by her Cloaths, it was a Lady fast asleep; the Count was mightily amaz'd at first, but re­collecting himself, he thought it doubtless was the Queen, who had retired thither before the Hour appointed, and had prevented even his Dilligence in coming; so with­out scruple, throwing himself on the Bed, he clasps [Page 9]the supposed Messalina in his Arms, and having in his first Transports run with his curious Hand o'er all the private Recesses of her Charms, he was just preparing to attack the Fort, mingling with his Kisses, his short Amorous Sighs, foretelling Transports, Extasies and Dyings; when Messalina hastily comes in with a small Taper in her Hand, and calls: Tomazo, is not my Dear Count yet come, Tomazo? The Marchioness at the very Instant, whether the Amorous bustling of the Count had operated on her waking Fancy, or whether by the Im­pression of some pleasing Dream, she was thereto incited, Cryed passionately out, ‘"Make haste my Dear Antonio, make haste, the Marquess will be here and Ruine us."’ The Queen who had heard her speak those last Words, by this Time had opened the Curtain, and there disco­vered the Count, raised on his Knees between Tomazo's Leggs, and in a posture which plainly discovered the drift of his Intentions; never were Three Persons (for by this Time the Marchiones had wak'd) so severally a­stonished and confounded; the Queen with Shame had shown her Face glowing Red, and then with Anger straigt grown Pale; the Count, though in that awkward Posture, was so much confounded, he could not move himself, nor had the Sense to cover the Marchioness, or his own Nakedness; but between Wonder, Anger and Fear, was wholly bereft of even Sense or Motion: The Marchioness, whose Age and Experience had rendered her familiar with the same or the like Adventures, was not so much Ashamed of being seen in that Condition and Posture, as Apprehensive of the Queen's Resentments, if, as was probable, she should suppose any Amour be­tween her and the Count, her Lover, and whom she had but that Night appointed, and design'd for her own Use and Service. In such distracted Thoughts and Manner, did they for a great while stand and gaze, and wonder at one another, without one Word between them, till [Page 10]at last the Queen, whether heightend in her Fancy, with the pleasing sight and intended Action of the Count, or upon due consideration, believing and judging, by the Words she had heard the Marchioness utter, that it was wholly a mistake on all sides, burst out in Laugh­ter, and turning her Face a little, told the Count in Drollery, the Weather began to be Cold, and there­fore he would do well to take care and cover his Mi­stress and himself. The Count with this short repri­mand was thoroughly wak'd out of his Trance, and slip­ping off the farther side of the Bed, was bustling a long time to put himself in order, while the Marchioness, half distracted, rises and pulls the Curtains close about her; which the Queen seeing, She calls out to her: What Tomazo! You are resolved then to keep the Count to your Self this Night; and making to the Bed, She threw the Curtains again open, and discovered Tomazo in a fresh Confusion: By this time the Count had gathered a little more assurance, and coming from behind the Bed, he strait threw himself at Messalina's Feet, humbly ask'd her Pardon, and told her, he hop'd she was not insen­sible of the fatal mistake he had like to have fallen in; and consequently, he doubted not of her favourable In­terpretation; he was sorry he had first appeared in so indecent a Posture, and his continuance therein, She could not but [...] the consequence of his Astonish­ment. The Queen, who upon a just consideration of the Circumstances, was sufficiently satisfied of his Inno­cence, was so far from being angry or disturb'd, that after two or three sits of Laughter, She threw her de­licious Arms about his Neck, and with Ten Thousand Kisses Seal'd his Pardon: then turning to her dear To­mazo, She would Laugh, and say, Make hast my Dear Antonio, make haste; O Dear, my Husband comes! Alas, What shall we do? we are ruin'd Dear Antonio. Thus did [...]he Droll on the poor M [...]chioness, 'till the Count [Page 11]putting her in mind of the time of the Night, they were retiring to the Closet to Converse, when a Mes­senger from Alba Regalis, comes in haste, to give an account of an Express, Lycogenes had receiv'd from the Belgian Lowlands, giving an Account of the Preparations and Designs of the Prince Anaximander, to come and re­dress the Grievances of the poor Christians of Albion: the Queen (who was no otherwise read in the Politicks and Affairs of State, than as Father Pedro, the Count, or some other of her Priests upon particular occasions had Instructed her) was not at first so apprehensive of the Danger as the Count, who was so vehemently start­led at the News, that without any more Complement than Bowing to the Queen, he descends and takes Coach for Alba Regalis; where he was no sooner Ar­rived, but he sound the whole Court Alarm'd; and Ly­cogenes in Solemn Council was gone to Debate the Bu­siness: The next Day the News was confirmed by ano­ther Express, and then all was in an Uproar; Lycogenes in a great Fright comes to Council, tells them his ap­prehensions of Anaximanders Design, requires their best and speedy Advice, puts them in Mind of all the Brea­ches he had made in the Laws for their Sakes; and that now, without speedy Assistance, he was likely to be ru­in'd, and the Pagans Hopes throughout Albion to be ut­terly lost. Such dreadful Words as these, and coming from a Prince that had been in every Panegyrick cry'd up and applauded for his Constancy of Mind, and In­vincible Courage, did so amaze and terrifie his Coun­sellors, that they could not in a long time set their Hearts on any serious Consultation; some of them with­drew, then in again; presently others that had been absent, came Posting to understand and enquire into the Business; some would relate it as terrible as their Fears, and represent the numbers of the Princes Ships and Men double; here you should see a haughty Stiff­necked [Page 12]Priest, come humbly fawning to a Christian Noble, as if confessing past Mis-carriages and Crimes, he wish'd for good Conditions: Some would be pack­ing up their Goods and Treasure, their guilty boading Consciences fore-telling their forc'd Flight and Ruine: But Pedro and Poliorchetes, the Chancellour, who were sensible they were likely to share the sum and substance of all unhappy Revolutions, thought it now no longer time to dally, or spend the precious Minutes in useless idle Fears, but to apply the most healing Medicines, that the present bleeding Wound would bear; and ac­cordingly perswade Lycogenes to re-call several Edicts, that by their Instigation and Council had been pro­mulg'd against the Interest and Safety of his Christian Subjects: And Father Pedro calling a Convocation of his Inferiour Priests, makes them Dis-robe, and in disguise to mingle among the Christian Assemblies, in the Forum, Burse, Temples, and other publick Meeting-Places, and there with Confidence to utter false Re­ports, to lessen the Strength of Anaximander, to cry up the miseries of a Civil War, to Extol the Loyalty of the King's Christian Subjects, to make comparison between young Perkin's Expedition and this, and thence to conclude positively of the like success: The Court party also of Renegado Christian Divines, were order­ed to Preach up the necessity of Obedience and Loyal­ty, to withstand the Prince in his Attempts, and to brand his Expedition with the horrible Title of Inva­sion. These, and many other Arts were used to take off the Edge of Anaximander's Sword; sometimes they'd Brand His Royal Person with base and ignominious Names; other times they would think to terrifie the Rebels (as they would call all that should assist him) with the Exemplary Punishments, inflicted by the Chancellour Polyorchetes, in his bloody Western Cam­paigne: But all would not do, the Christians knew the [Page 13] Pagan Punick Faith, as well as Inhumane Cruelty, they saw their Laws, their Liberties, and Lives at Stake; and that now was the only time to assert and recover them; the Pagan Priests had often mock'd the King out of his most Solemn Promises, and Messalina had endeavoured to entail their Slavery upon them to all Posterity. Nothing therefore could stagger their for­mer Resolutions, but like the Adder, they were Deaf to all their treacherous Charms, and false Insinuations: Notwithstanding, Messalina's dauntless Pride could not 'till the Princes Landing stoop to the apprehension of any material Danger; she'd often chalk out time and place to see the send weak Prince brought bound to Troynovant; She'd Laugh and Jeer at his few puny For­ces, and would in every Table Talk defeat his whole Battalions; sometimes She'd call her Melancholy Lov­er, whose deeper apprehensions, now had chang'd his usual Mirth; sometimes, I say, She'd call him to her, and reproach his needless Fears: What? would She say, Can Davila suspect or fear, when Messalina 's Heart is free? Can thy so much applauded Courage stoop to what a poor weak Womans Soul can stand? Stand did I say? By all that's good, this Hand shall bow the Neck of that poor Spirited Prince, that weak presumptuous Wretch, that dare Invade my Husbands lofty Crown: What my Dear Da­vila, canst thou lament? Hast thou a Diadem to loose, a Throne to be pull'd down, Subjects and Slaves to be destroy­ed before thy Face? These may create a Monarchs doubts and fears: What then should thy Eyes swell with needless Tears? Remit, remit, alas, thy useless apprehensions! I sure am the Center of thy Thoughts: In me thy utmost Wishes are determined; while then I stand secure, What need'st thou fear? Chear up, chear up, my dear lov'd Count; let us not lose our present happy Minutes, for vain weak doubts of future Cares and Sorrows.

[Page 14]The Count both wondred and rejoyced at the great Heroick Heart of his beloved Royal Mistress; and tho' he knew, and was perfectly sensible that her words were rather the effect of her dauntless Spirit, than of a solid Consideration; yet he saw so much Love express'd in her frequent concernment for him, that he could not but in common Gratitude and Honour, make her the same, or suitable returns; he therefore told her Majesty, That his apprehension of being separated from her, was with­out doubt, a sensible affliction to him; but above all he deplor'd his great unhappiness, in not being able to afford more than his own personal assistance, to repell her own, and their great Prophet's Enemies; that he cordially wish'd the Prince Anaximander's undertakings might prove as frivilous and ineffectual, as she had de­clared them; that his great care of her Majesty's Safe­ty and Honour, was the only Foundation of his Fear; that he did indeed object the worst to himself, but did not believe he had yet any reason to dispair of the best; that he was sensible her super-eminent Me­rit had render'd her Obnoxious to the Slanderous re­proaches and envy of the Wicked Christian Albionites; that the King her Husband's Zeal, in a good and pious Cause, had incurred the wicked Malice of his rebellious Subjects; and that if his Affairs (which Heaven for­bid) should happen to fail, it would be the total ru­ine and destruction of his Life and happiness, to think she should fall into the Hands of her Enemies, or be lessened in her Fortune or high Station; that there­fore it was his humble and hearty request, that she would suffer himself, and some other select Friends, to consult and lay before her such measures for the security of her Person and Honour, as should appear to be most convenient; that providing against the worst, would be no hindrance of her enjoyment of the best; but above all, that she would give him her resolution and firm [Page 15]promise to let himself accompany and wait on her in all, and every Misfortune that possibly could befal her. Mes­salina was ravish'd with this so zealous and tender de­monstration of her Dear Counts Love, and in a loving transport catching his Hand and Arm, she pull'd him to her on a Couch whereon she sate, where with unspeak­able Raptures she would Circle her Snowy Arms and Hands, about his Neck and Wast; Oh! how she'd suck his Amorous ruddy Lipps and Checks, and with her Balmy melting Hand stroak, and press, and play with his Manly Neck, and Face, ‘"Oh! could'st thou think Dear Cruel Heart, said she, that e're my Panting Soul could yield to part with thee, the Dearest, blest Foun­tain of it's joy; Fortune, indeed with rude or Imparti­al hands may catch and grasp my Shaken, Tottering Crown; but sure my Heart and Will, are still my own; and being mine, who Dare Pretend to Stop, or Claim what I resolve to Share, to Give, to Keep for only Thee."’ No, no, my Life, my Davila, continued she: ‘"If Fate or Curst Inconstant Fortune have decreed my Seperation from this Ill-bred Isle, Thou like my better Genius shalt attend me, thou like my happy Star shal't lead the Way: where e're we come we'll be each others Heaven, and in thy Bosome will I place my Land of Joy, and Rest."’ With these last words they fell together on the Couch, and tir'd with busie Love and Rapture, soon dropt into a gentle Slumber. Faithful Tomaso, in the mean time was hovering about the Out-Guards to prevent surprize, and to divert the access of any suspitious Persons: She had waited half an hour or little more, when comes a Messenger from King Lycogenes to Messalina, which brought account, the Prince was now at Sea, and with a numerous Fleet was making all the Sail he could for Albion: the Marchioness receives the Message, and all in Tears repairs with open Mouth to the Queens Closet: the Queen waking abruptly at the [Page 16]Noise she made, starts up, and with a sudden Shriek alarm's the Count; Anaximander comes, Dread Soveraign cries the Marchioness, he comes with Speed and Power and Swears to Unravel all? O Mighty Operations! the Count who had hardly yet recovered himself, was look­ing about when he had heard the Marchioness declare he was come, and putting himself on his Guard, swore he'd Defend his Royal Mistress to the last; Oh! that his Single Fate, Cries Mesalina, were to be oppos'd to thine: Inspir'd by Love and my auspicious Prayers, how would'st thou crush his Puny Soul. Soon should'st thou nip these daring Christians hopes, and with one happy blow se­cure our Pagan Friends and Interest for ever. In the mean time Lycogenes in late and early Councels, was con­triving how to stop this overflowing Current of the Princes designs; he had observ'd an unusual blithness in all his Christian Nobles Faces, and was sensible that the Prince Anaximander could not presume to attack the Al­bionites, without very good Incouragement from the Gran­dee's: however, with all his industry he was not able to learn out who were Anaximanders Abettors in this bold designe; Father Pedro and others of his Anti-Christian Councel were advising him to lay hold on, and secure all that he could but in the least suspect; but this being controverted was found too Violent, and more than the present Circumstances of affairs could bear; others sugge­sting the doubtful Loyalty of the great City of Troynovant, 'twas thought advisable to secure the Citadel, in some Peculiar trusty hands, and thereby to scare that Populous and Powerful Place into a just Obedience: this was found good and Feazable, and strait a new Commander is or­dain'd, with secret orders how to manage things to the best advantage. In the mean time, the Prince Anaximan­der, steers away, and without any lett or hindrance, in a few days arrives safe at a convenient Haven, in the West of Albion; and now the Thread of Poor Lycogenes his Fate [Page 17]began to crack, now he could plainly see the errours of his Government, and when it was unhappily too late, might Curse the base designes of his pernicious Counsel­lors: now was he forc'd to stoop that Glorious Lofty Heart, which dauntless heretofore had braved the mighti­est force of Europe. How was he chang'd, alas, from that brave Invincible Lycogenes, that did through Clouds of Smoake and Fire, Charge through the Belgian Fleet, and with fresh Lawrels Crown'd, return'd in Triumph to his joyfull Country: now every little Western breeze that heretofore did serve to blow and kindle up his flaming Courage, like some cold Pestilential air damps his Mis­giving Soul; now Poor, forsaken of himself he stands, Conscience alone of Ills past done remains his tiresome guest: Attend ye cursed race of wicked Jebusites, see the Prodigious effects of your Pernicious Councels, ye Cloggs to Crowns, and bane of Power.

The Prince Anaximander no sooner appear'd with his Fleet, but the Christians all about the Country flock'd to the Shore, and with loud shouts and all other demon­strations of Joy, welcomed the arrival of their great De­liverer: and several with Boats stock'd with fresh Pro­vision put off and dispers'd them about the Fleet, for the refreshment of the Seamen and Souldiers, and having provided before small Bridges and other conveniencies for the Landing his Army, and his Carriages, he found [Page 18]himself in a condition within three days to draw up and muster his Men, who had by this time heartily recovered the Fatigue of their Voyage. Lycogenes in the mean time, though very much dejected, had taken care to Levy a Gallant Army, and it was one while thought a very doubtful thing, to which, to ascribe the Victory. Anaxi­mander had not brought with him above Fourteen Thou­sand Horse and Foot, but those indeed Experienc'd Vete­rane Bands, very Compleatly Arm'd; besides, Lycogenes before the Prince landed, had at least Thirty Thousand well appointed Souldiers, so that when he began tho­roughly to compute his own strength, and his Enemies weakness, he thought to take heart, and resolv'd for the greater Incouragement of his Men to appear at the head of them himself, and withal speed to give his Enemies Battle, and hinder their further Progress into the Country; but alas, while he was flatter'd and amus'd with the strength and bravery of his own Army, Anaximander was mustering and entertaining the Choice Young Men of all the Western Country▪ for the People considering the Cause, and that their Liberties and Lives, were now their only last stake, they came flocking in so fast to the Prince, that he had in eight days more Substantial choice Men than he could handsomely make use of; besides, the Major part of Lycogenes his Army, being Christians, they could not but be sensible that those Swords that they should draw against their Brethren in the West, would at the long run be employ'd against their own Throats and Lives; and therefore, being already weary of submitting their Free-Born Souls to the Bondage and Tyranny of their Pagan Officers, they associate and take Council to­gether how to free themselves and their Country, by either, laying down their Arms, or going over to the Prince Anaximander, and now the fatal Period of Ly­cogenes his Reign drew near, for first whole Companies, Troops, and Regiments of his Army revolt from him, and [Page 19]then his Friends and Near Relations, touch'd with the sence of deeper obligations due to their Country, their Religion and their God: Thus the Trump being turned, the Pagans quickly find their disadvantage of the Game, and in Confusion, like distracted Men fling up their Cards, and scamper to secure themselves from payment. Messalina also to her Sorrow sees what hitherto she ne­ver would believe; now Pedro finds the fallacy of his con­clusions, while Polyorchetes, Sunderania, and others of that wicked Grue curse their unlucky Stars, and seek in every corner for some place of refuge: Poor Lycogenes flies in confusion from his distant Foes, not able to endure even the report of their approach: He that like another Xerxes saw himself begirt even with a world of Guards, now flies bereft almost of necessary Attendance: He no sooner arriv'd at his old Pallace of Alba Regalis, but in hast he calls a Secret and Solemn Council of all his few remaining Friends, and after such Debates as the time would afford and permit, they resolve to send proposals to the Prince, who like a Swelling Tide had now o're spread the Country; and the danger being grown be­yond recovery, Messalina, at last thinks it high time to prepare for her retirement, and with all speed provide for her Security; the Young Child also by the advice of the Council was to be nicely taken care of, being likely to prove a very good after Game. The Queen therefore immediatly sends for the Count to a private Conference, who as greedily comes, in hopes to perswade her to a speedy Flight: Just as he approach'd the Closet Door, the Queen all in tears gets up, and not being able for a while to speak, leans on his Neck, and after many grow­ing Sobs and heavy Sighs, falls Fainting in his Arms: never was Lover in so sad distress as was the Count at this unhappy accident; call out he dare not, for fear of any Suspition or ill interpretation of his being with the Queen alone; to go and leave her Dying as he thought, his [Page 20]Soul could ne're agree to; how to assist, what remedy to use, where to get any thing to apply he knew not: distracted thus he Tore himself, and Rav'd, and Curst his misfortune, then would he kneel by the Couch where­on he had laid her, and kiss, and sigh, and Pray, and call, till at last the Queen coming to her self open'd her dying Eyes, and casting a Languishing look at her Dear Count, who was now in a bitter Agony of Sorrow, and hardly able to support his oppressed Spirits, she rais'd her self a little on the Couch, and in a Sorrowful manner lifting up her Hands and Eyes, recounts a fresh the sum of her Misfortunes: All, all, is lost, Dear Davila, said she, my Hopes, my Peace, my Joy, my Glories, my All. And if I have ought left me worth the Thought of Life, it is, that I enjoy thy Love. That Coronet's my own, though my Crown's lost. Messalina is now driven to the Fatal Period of her Grandure in Albion, a shock so dismal, that the Agonies of such a Fall, to such Soaring Ambitition as Mesalina's, are only to be conceived by those that feel them. In her fit of Desparation (for 'twas almost come to that) she is Mrs. however of Reason enough still to provide at least against the Worst of shames, and Last of Miseries, her falling into her Enemies Hands, the Christi­ans, a Danger at that Time much threatned; the united Murmurs of Albion looking up to no other Fountain, and Original of the Woes and Calamities, of the Pittyed and Deplored Lycogenes, then the Hot Counsels, or rather Inchantments of Messalina, and her Pagan Abettors. And how heavy the weight of such an Inquisition would fall, even her Flatterers are but too sensible. Her Flight therefore, being now the last Plank she has to lay hold off to scape sinking, she prepares a small Diminitive Yatcht, and hires (command she could not, so feeble is Soveraignty without Hearts) a handful of Select Sea­men, all well bribed, and well sworn, privately, to waft her safe to Gothland, the only Sanctuary. (Such [Page 21]Universal Enemies had her Politicks pull'd down) the World could yield her. Oh Zeal, Zeal, mad Zeal! what Humane Distresses, Miseries, Ruines are Thine, and Thy only Creation?—Nay, is there scarce that one Con­flagration, that ever set whole Nations in a Flame, that has not been lighted by a Cole from an Altar? Unfor­tunate Messalina, and deservedly so, the late Royal Part­ner, to no less than Neptune's Soveraign, the Oceans Lord, and the still Terror of the World, had not Zeal, Infatu­ating, Destroying, Dethroning Zeal, blazed out; Poor misguided, deluded, hard-fated Lycogenes! This very Messalina, of all those Floating Castles, the late attend­ing Pageants of her Triumph, all those once Impreg­nable Famed Walls of Albion; left Mistriss of no more than a poor Cock-boat! Instead of glittering Flaggs, and flowing Streamers, ushered by all the Tritons of the Main, and as She past, Saluted by all the Ecchoing Thunder from the Shoar; now to Steal away by Night, Skulk like a Fugitive, obscured by Shades and Coverts! Yes, Destiny and Zeal have so Decreed it! For Sea therefore (such her Equippment, and such the hasten­ing Cause that call'd her) She prepares; and takes with her, her Tomazo, Sunderania, Count Davila, Sebastian, and Pedro, and some others of her Cabinet Friends; the last Three only being a little Transformed, by Dis­guises of Buff, Scarlet and Feather, metamorphosed in­to down-right Militants: For indeed her Ecclesiastick Confidents, especially Father Pedro, were grown so no­toriously Infamous, that they durst not trust themselves in their own Shapes, even with Sworn Hirelings and Mercenaries; not Gold it self being sufficient to pur­chase Trust or Safety. The Queen had but very little left, to save and carry with her, except her Jewels; for truly in spight of all that good Husbandry, that eminent and singular good Quality in Lycogenes; yet what with Stand­ing Armies, and no Taxes (for he neither lov'd or pleas'd [Page 22]Senates enough, for any new Donations from them) and from the continual daily Dreine, he received from those innumerable Spiritual Horse-leeches, that hung upon his Purse-strings, his Exchequer was but low. Messalina's Jewels therefore, being all the Treasure she could save; those by Father Pedro's par­ticular Advice, were committed to the Charge and Custody of an Italian Priest, recommended to her by him, as a Heavenly minded man, a Recluse from the World, and who as a Person under a Vow of Poverty, of a Character and Profession above any Temptation, was the only man she could best repose that Trust in. Thus Embarqued, with their best Sails to their small Frigat; with a Fair Wind, and Prosperous Gale, they arrive at Gothland: for indeed the just Ordaining Pow­ers, that had punisht her with the loss of a Crown, af­ter so heavy a Wreck at Land, thought fit to bound their Indignation there.

From her Arrival in Gothland, the Scene begins a little to Change: For the Pagans there, with no small Homage and Adoration, resound her Welcome. The Entertainment she received, as peculiarly influenc'd by the Commands of Polydorus, was every where Splen­did and Magnificent: I dare not call it his Bounty, or Generosity. For truly, all the utmost Services, Respect, Obligations, Protections, or Assistance; and indeed, all, and more then Polydorus has, or can do for Lycogenes, or Messalina, so near a part of him; are but poor and faint Returns, to compensate those Miseries and Suffer­ings, in which his own private Leagues and Cabals, and the too prevailing Gallick Councels and Measures in Albion, have involved the ruined Lycogenes. With a No­ble Train of Persons of the Highest Quality, and a Band of Guards, a truly Royal Retinue, is Messalina Conducted to the Gothick Court; whilst Polydorus himself, with that solemn State and Grandeur, comes to meet her, and [Page 23]Congratulate her Arrival; paying her all that Humble and Profound Respect, and Awful Attendance, as if she came nor from Quitting, but to the Possessing of a Di­adem: So Pompous was her Entry, that scarce an An­tique Roman Triumph could exceed it. And indeed she came to Triumph, the very first Sally of her Eye, bringing her back no less a Trophy, than the Heart of Polydorus. To give her her Right, even without Flattery; never was Conquest so Expeditious: No sooner was the very Lightning seen, but the Bolt had Executed. So Daz­ling were her Charms, to the surprised Polydorus, that he truly dated his intire Vassallage, from the first Moment he saw her. His once Adored Dear Vestal Divinity, or his Haughtier Montezania's Charms, were nothing to the Influence of Messalina: so unaccountable is the Archery of the Blind God: For Messalina had been no Stranger to Polydorus: when before her Marriage with Lycogenes, in her Travel from her own Italick Dutchy, to the King­dom of Albion, she took the Court of Polydorus in her way; yet, then her Beauties, though in their Younger Bloom, could be beheld without half the present Fatality. For, whether his then Regnant Vestal Mrs had so fill'd his Soul, as had left no Room for any other Guest, or for what Reason else; a common Veneration was all the Of­fering he made her then; when Sighing, Desiring, Languishing, Dying, whole Hecatombs are all too little Sacrifices now. In fine, so Capricious an Ascendant had his present Governing Planets, that that very Polydorus fated for the Dethroning of the Unfortunate Lycogenes; the same Matchivilian Part, before Practised against his Crown, must now be Acted against his Bed. For from this Hour, Friendship, Honour, Hospitality, (Obligations not the first time dispensed withal by Polydorus) and all other ties quite cancell'd; the Possession of Messalina, though at the price of a Kingdom, is his whole and sole Ambition. For Messalina he Burns, and were her [Page 24]Virtue a Rock of Ice, (which for ought he knows it may be); for though indeed he was no Stranger to all other her Intrigues and Affairs, however in her Curtain Arcana, her Amours, he was no Cabinet Counsellour) he resolves to melt it down; and that so far from a scruple at the Undertaking, that he should account it not only the sweetest, but the most glorious of all his Atchievements. For setting all other Considerations apart, what Polydorus once but will'd, he could not will unjustly; his Ambition was Commission'd of his Consci­ence's High Chancellour, whilst to Desire was to Deter­mine; and whatever but once Determined, took the immediate Stamp of Right and Equity to pass it into an irrevocable Decretal; insomuch, that the very Dethroning of a God, if once thought practicable, to desire it was enough to render it justifiable.

As there wanted no Magnificence in all her Enter­tainment from her first Landing, even before the Cap­tivity of the enamour'd Polydorus, you may imagine no excesses of the highest studied Gallantry were omitted now. The Adored Messalina is Lodged in a Pallace so Glorious, as might have fitted the Reception of a se­cond Cleopatra in all her Pride; and which her Antho­ny, the then Competitor for Universal Empire, and in all that Love that lost him the World for her, could not have furnish'd out more rich and Splendid: Nor did the Brightness and Richness of her Pallace consist only in the outside Wealth and Beauty of her Shining Beds, Embroidered Canopys, the richest of Tapistries, Ca­binets, Seruitores, &c. The unseen Treasures, outvy'd the glittering Frontispiece: In this Drawer of a Cabinet Fourty, 'tother Fifty, a Third a Hund­red Thousand Pieces of Gold; a Fourth, Lockets of Diamonds, a Fifth, Ropes of Pearl, &c. And all too mean a Tribute to his Soveraign Messalina. And tru­ly [Page 25]now we talk of Pearl and Diamonds, her own Cargo of Jewels, committed to the true and trusty Italian Priest aforesaid, were under Suspition of mis­carriage; both the Treasure and the Treasurer being at present Invisible: We dare not surmize so unkindly, that Avarice, or filthy Worldly Lucre, could pre­vail upon so Sanctify'd a Recluse from the World, un­der a particular Vow of Poverty; and above all, thought worthy (as we told you) of the peculiar recommenda­tions of Father Pedro, could make Him tardy in such a Case. But whether, on the more charitable side, by some impulse of Religion he reserv'd them for Holy & Pious Uses; as to present them to the Shrine of the Lor­rettian Diana, to implore from her Coelestial Bene­diction, her Albion Majesties Conception of a Duke of Eborac, to her Prince of Cambria; or for any other like Dedication to Holy Mother Church, so it is, that he was no sooner gotten on Shoar, but modest good Man, he withdrew, and was never seen after it. And notwithstanding Polydorus publish'd an Edict, pro­mising a very ample Reward to that Person that should find him, and recall the Wanderer: Either his Divine Contemplations, and sublimer Meditations, had rapt him above the listening to humane and mundane Proclamations; or else his Devout Pilgrimage had carryed him beyond the hearing of them, so that his Recallment is utterly Despaired of; insomuch, that unless her Albion Majesty be content to take out their Price in Dirges for her Soul, 'tis thought for any other Restitution or Payment, she now hopes but little. Polydorus now begins his approach to Messalina, re­solving an immediate vigorous Siege, with all the For­ces he can bring to lye down before her: His dayly Visits, Observance, and constant Attendance, which at first carried onely the Face of common Gallantry, [Page 26]and look'd upon by all Eyes as no other than the Ge­nerous Treatment of a Royal Hospitality to Greatness in Distress, and under his Protection; are now both by his Looks, Behaviour, and Address, so Industri­ously managed, that Messalina (unless she wanted Eyes) must find that in the Assiduous Polydorus, there was something more then a kind Host, viz. an Adoring Slave.

The Queen now fully satisfied how great a Vassal her Eyes had won her, begins to consider the Wise Management of so Important a Conquest. Polydorus's Address and Personage, even abstracted from his Im­perial Character, and the Luster of a Crown, were such as always stood fair in the Female Eyes, and ren­der'd his Heart no dis-acceptable Present to the very Proudest and most Disdainful Beauty. And our Mes­salina who was neither the Coyest, or most In-sen­sible of her Sex, already felt a Commiseration about her, that told her the Sighs of so Royal a Languisher must not go unpittied. Time, Assiduity, and Ap­pl [...]cation, she plainly foresaw, would at last inevitably prevail; and therefore fancying it no less then the Ab­solute Ordainment of her Fate, she has no farther Thought then an entire Resignation to Immutable Decree. However, though the Stake must at last be lost, yet the Playing her Game out Politickly, and managing her Cards to her best Advantage, are in her own Choice and Power. Yes, that, and that onely takes up all the business of her waking, and indeed sleeping Thoughts. The Terms and Conditions of a Surrender; What Parly and Capitulations first; what Resolution and Obstinacy (for the Victory must not be Cheap) she must hold out with, before the White Flag is at last to be hung out. Her Meditations on this subject had one Evening led her alone from all [Page 27]Company into an Inner and Private Walk of the Garden; When Polydorus, whose unresting Soul had led his Body abroad too with much the same Contem­plations, fortunately meets her. This opportunity as it gave him the Blessing of a more Private Interview, then before he had met, so it inspired him with the Courage of making a more ample and particular De­claration of his Love, then all his hitherto fainter and distant Addresses had made. Accordingly throwing himself at her Feet, in the Tenderest and most Pas­sionate Expressions (the never wanted Eloquence of Love) he told her how intirely the Soul of Polydorus was subjected to the Eyes of Messalina: Nor did he more heighten the Progress of her Victories, & Power of her Charms, then the Fatality of them; that with­out a Return of Pity his Death was Inevitable, whilst his Peace, Happiness and Life were absolutely in her Hands. The Queen, whose part was now to Play, with a seeming Amazement, rather than a listening At­tention, gave him the Liberty of finishing his whole Declaration; when as Wakeing from a Frightful Dream, or Starting from a disturbing Vision, Good Gods, she cry'd, are not your Quivers Empty yet? Have [...]e more Shafts reserved still for the unfortu­nate Messalina? Is it not enough that your Perse­cuting Powers have Ravisht an Empire from me, and Driven me out an Exile, a Wanderer of the World; but I must yet fall lower; low as the most ab­ject of my Sex, when my Chast Ears must be Profan­ed with the Rude Sounds of Lawless Love; Oh! Po­lydorus, Cruel Polydorus, has Misery and Ruine made the fallen Messalina so little, so despicably little—No, Glorious Madam, (Passionately reply'd Polydorus) so Great, so Divinely Great, that the Gods have singled you out to Weild their Thunder, whilst [Page 28]there's not one Bolt of Heaven that Strikes with Fate but Messalina 's. Oh! Madam, if ever Compassion, Mercy, Charity, Enter'd the fairest Temple that ever Lodg'd a God, have Pity on the Adoring, Kneeling, Dying Polydorus. My Life,—alas, my very Soul depends upon no other Doom but Messalina 's; for if the Deaf, the Cruel, the Inexorable Messalina must not, cannot, will not Pity me, to Die is but half the Tribute my Despair must pay her: The Transports of a Passion like mine are such, that when I lose all Hopes of one kind Smile from Messalina, she leaves me abandoned to that Wild Torrent of unbounded Hor­rours, that less then the Abjuring of Humanity, the Execrating of Providence, and Cursing the very Authour of my Being, will be the fatal Consequences of my irresistible Desperation; a Desperation so hideous, that when I fall a Victim to her Scorn, will shut me out at once from Earth and Heaven. Messalina, not at all Displeased at so Passionate a Declaration, however to continue the Masque of a most Rigid and Obdurate Virtue, Reprimands him with all the Se­verest Resentments imaginable, desires him, nay, Conjures him for ever to Cease a S [...]it so Fruitless, and a Thought so I [...]pious, a Language that her un­blemisht never sh [...]ken Virtue can so little hear, that rather then liv [...] within the Air of so much Guilt, her wounded Innocence must be forced to Fly a Cruel Court, and seek a Refuge in some kinder and more Hospitable Desart. Ah! Madam, reply'd Polyderus, Then you have Decreed Mankind must be undone! Shall Empires, Nations, People, have Peace, when I have none! No Madam, 'tis resolv'd that Mess [...]lina Hate, Scorn, Loath the Ʋnworthy Polydorus. Yes, his Destruction, his Irrevocable Destruction's Sealed; and by the Malice of my Stars, the World shall Groan [Page 29]as I do. He was once more falling at her Feet, when a Princely Train of thē Noblest Quality of the Gothland Court appearing in the Garden, interrupted him. He had scarce recovered Reason enough to suppress the too visible concern and disorder, that appeared in his Eyes, much less the Load that lay at his Heart, when one of his Generals Advancing from the rest of the Noble Company, threw himself at his Feet, telling him, He was immediately in Obedience to his Royal Commands, setting forward to the Gene­ral Randezvous on the Banks of the Rhine, and came in Duty to Receive his farther Commis­sion and Orders. Commission and Orders! An­swered Polydorus; Why, Burn, Ravage, Ruine, Destroy; make Nations w [...]ste, and King­doms Desolate; spare neither Age nor Sex; but above all, where e'er thou meetst that loath'd detested Thing, that calls it self a Christian, dou­ble thy Fury there, Banish all thoughts of Pity or Remorse; be Bloody and be Canonized: Remember the Christian Pride is swell'd to Ʋlceration; and 'tis the Glory of our Sword to Lance it. And if thou meetest a Temple, lay the Accursed Consecrated Roof in Ashes; the God that sills it is my Enemy; and 'tis but Just my Vengeance Battail Heavens. If thou mak'st Treaties or Capitulations, my Orders are, you break 'em all. Betray and Conquer. Heav'n ne'er kept Faith with me, and 'tis but Reason, we the Vicegerents of the Gods should Copy their own everlasting Falsehood, and Reign Immortal Infidels like themselves. You have my Orders; to your Post; Obey and Prosper. The General, upon the Kings Command, makes his Humble Obeysance to the King, and Retreats, Ruminating with some little Sur­prize on the severity of his present rough Commission; [Page 30]which however, on what unknown occasion that had transported him into such Vehemence and Bitterness in the expressing himself, he nevertheless knew to be the true and constant Sense of that Great Monarch; and all his former Orders, though perhaps something gentler and softer worded, carried in reality the same Contents and Mandats; and accordingly in all Duty prepares to Execute.

But to return to our Polydorus, whose Tormenting Reflections on the Cruelty of Messalina had, with­drawn him from all Company to his Closet; In all the Agonies of defeated Love, he could not yet in­tirely yield to Despair: Were her Virtue a Rock of Adamant: Nay, were she possibly as Deaf, as Pitiless, and Remorseless to all his Bleeding Sighs, as himself to a Dying Christians last Prayer, he will not quit the Siege yet. Accordingly not a day, nor scarce an hour passes that he does not Visit, Court, Sue, Plead, and spight of all Denials, all her Pleas of Virtue and Chastity, that Mountain Honour shall not block his way. Sometimes he Woes her with the Promis'd Re­stauration of her Albion, the Re-instating her in all her former Grandeur; and if the Crown of Albion will not purchase a Smile, he'll throw his own in, to make up the Sum. In short, No Gallantry, Ad­dress; no Protestations, Vows or Oaths, though ne'er so Extravagant, are wanting to pursue the Coy Dis­dainful Messalina: till one Morning in her Walk in the same Garden, his successful Rhetorick prevails; or rather Messalina thinks she has now held out long enough to yield with Honour: For after his Repea­ted Protestations of the Crowns and Scepters he would lay at her Feet, and the Vassal World he would make her Mistress of; He told her, If Messalina would but Condescend to Crown his Love, he would pay his [Page 31]Acknowledgment of so Divine a Blessing, with no less a Sacrifice then a hundred thousand Christian Lives. A hundred thousand Christian Lives! my Generous Polydorus, replyed Messalina. Such Merit, such Tran­scendent Merit! An Offering of that price enough to Court a Saint, and Win a Goddess. Such Eloquence is irresistable; nay, the name of such a Sacrifice so pleased her, that had the strongest Bonds of Conscience held her, that single Thought had burst the Feeble Manacle; and the offering of so much Heretick streaming Blood, were such an Atonement, as would not only expiate but consecrate the very Sin it self. So pleased and so conquer'd, she generously tells the Ravish'd Polydorus, That she will expect him at Vesper-time, when she will send all her Retinue to the Mosque to their Devotion, and Attend his Com­pany in her Closet.

Polydorus being now Arrived at the Haven, just up­on entring to the Inland of Paradice; the Hour, the Place, the Means and Opportunity all assigned for the Consummating of his Happiness; and what heightned the Charm, his Divine Messalina her self the generous Designer of the whole Scene of Felicity; the Plot, the Introduction and Conduct to this more then happy Meeting, so much her own▪ that possibly, our Amorous Monarch could not conceive more Rapture at the Queens Concession of her Highest Fa­vours themselves, then at the Endearing management of the blest Minute to bestow them; even the Portal to Happiness being oftentimes with Lovers no less Ra­vishing, then the very Temple of Bliss, to which it leads.—In short, All things contributing to make him the Happiest Prince in the World; whether a Soul, so unbounded, as that of Polydorus, whom the Empire of the Universe ('tis very well known) would [Page 32]hardly satisfy, had the Transports of his Passion, as exalted as those of his Ambition; and was thereby elevated above the Common Height of an ordinary L [...]vers Extasy; let it suffice, his Joy, his u [...]expressi­ble Joy was such, as burnt in his Face, and glowed in his very Eyes; and the expected Enjoyment of Messalina was at that Moment a Trophy above all the Conquests that either his Sword, or his more Vi­ctorious GOLD ever won him. But to leave our Royal Lover to all his Furious Longings, Impatient Expectings, and Restless Burnings, those Amorous crowding Attendants, that always make the Leading Cavalcade to the Coronation of Love: My Reader must be intreated to interrupt his Expectation of the success of this Grand Scene of our two Imperial Ina­morato's, by the interposing of a little Comical In­trigue of Lactilla, the Cambrian Princes Nurse; which, whether by a Frolick of Fortune, for some par­ticular Diversion of that Fickle Deity, or by meer common chance, it matters not; casually intermixing it self in this Sublimer Amour, must make up a part of our History.

It is not unknown to the World what Artful Ten­derness our Messalina has all along exprest for that dear Infant. But indeed, 'twas the subtlest part she had to Play, and therefore it must be Acted to the Life. In the late Storm that drove her from the lost Kingdom of Albion, and cast her on the Gallick Shore, however that darling Infant, with all the Tenderest Care, was preserved from the Universal Shipwrack, and not only the honest Bric-kill Nurse that Suckled it, was carried over with the Queen, and her Cambrian Nursery; but also the very Warming- [...]an Midwife too, crost the Hering-pond with her Royal M [...]istress; and as some think very timely and prudently, for [Page 33]fear of that Inquisition from the Grandees of Albi­on, had she ventured to have staid behind, that pos­sibly would have put her to that Test her Circum­stances would not well bear; though truly for a fairer Face to the World, 'twas Industriously given out, That her Majesty was with Child again, and therefore the Midwife's Attendance being her Maje­sties special Command, 'twas her Duty to wait on her Royal Mistress to what part of the World soever her Misfortunes should carry her.

The Fourth Part.

IT is not unknown to the World what Artful Ten­derness our dear Messalina, all along has exprest for her Cambrion Prince, that she carried over not only the honest Brick-Kiln Nurse that Suckled it, But also the Warming-pan Midwife to Cross the Herring-pond with her Royal Mistress, and as some think very timely and prudently, for [Page 33]fear of that Inquisition from the Grandees of Albion, had she ventured to have stayed behind, that possibly might have put her to that Test her Circumstances would not well bear; though truly for a fairer Face to the World, 'twas industriously given out, That Her Majesty was with Child again, and therefore the Mid­wifes Attendance being Her Majesty's Special Com­mand, 'twas her Duty to wait on Her Royal Mistress, to what part of the World soever her Misfortunes should carry her; Her late Able performance in De­livering the Queen of her Cambrian Heir, having re­commended and call'd her (as she pretended) to the Queens particular Choice for her Skilful hand at her next Lying-In.

But to return to our Nurse, and her Intrigue we promised you; Amongst the publick and solemn Ad­dresses and Veneration made and paid by the Nobility of the Gauls to the Fair Queen of Albion, a great part of the Dayly Devotion, you may well guess, was offered to that young Prince. For if such Sub­lime Blood, as was thought to run in that little Heroes Veins, exalted him at scarce three Days old to the solemn Reception of Foreign Embassadours, and gi­ving Audience to publick Ministers, and that too in the Heretick Land of Albion; You may easily think that the great Gallican Votaries, those Pagan Wise men of the West, (pardon the Allusion) brought him no common Oblation of Myrrh, Frankincense, &c, But of the Princely Crowd of Devotes, that amongst their Orisons to Messalina, made their Homages to this Imperial Babe; it happened that a young Gal­lick Lord, Named Laforse, a Man of a Noble Per­sonage, making no little Figure in Polydorus Court, but above all a mighty Adorer of the Female Sex; and like the natural Constitution of the Gauls, a ge­neral [Page 34]Admirer of every new Face, without any great Sin of Constancy to answer for: This Laforse paying his Devoire to the Cambrian Prince, entertained a strong Inclination to his Nurse. What he saw in her more then a good wholesome Complexion, and a plain-spun Cleanly Woman, we can't imagine; but take her altogether, as the maggot bit with him, no­thing would satisfy him but an Amour with Lactilla. Her downright Country Innocence even to Clownish­ness and Rusticity, had something in it, that at this time Captivated him more then all the Allurements of Wit, Humour, Gayety, High Blood, and H [...]gher Pride. None of all the Court Stars, in all their Glory, at present took up so much of his Thoughts as Madam Nurse. Lactilla he fancies for a Miss, and Lactilla's Affection he must Vanquish if he can. Ac­cordingly our Lordly Lover under pretence of making Court to the Cambrian Prince, takes the dayly op­portunity of Addressing a Kind Look, and Kinder Complement to Lactilla; which he carefully prose­cutes with that particular Assiduity and Application, as would best suite the Humour and Breeding of such a Mistress. The poor Nurse whether dazied with the Presence, the Looks and Garb of so Glorious a Ser­vant; or co [...]founded with so fine Words from so fine a Person, began at last not only to listen, but [...]o be pleased and tickled with so Gallant a Suitor. It is not worth our while to recount the several Court­ship Scenes between them; to draw therefore to the Consummating part of the Amour, it fell out so, that what through the Importunities of the Assayling Mon­seigneur, together with poor Lactilla's being several Months tyed up from all Recreations of that kind, (a shackle for some Physical Reasons always laid upon Mil [...]h Nurses to Heirs of Quality;) which possibly [Page 35]might heighten her Longing for what she had so long been kept Fasting from, and so facilitate his Conquest upon her; however so 'twas, that the Creature came to yield at last. And by an odd Caprice of Fortune, it happened that Lactilla was brought to the deliver­ing up of her Fort, the very same day her Royal Mi­stress had Capitulated and Sign'd the Surrender of hers. For the Fortunate Lover for his last Effort, lighting of a lucky Hour, when the Queen and all her Attendants, for the curiosity of seeing ten new Rais'd Regiments of Light-Horse pass under her Pal­lace Window, in their March towards the Rhine, were withdrawn into the Balcone of an outer Room; had the satisfaction of finding his Dear Lactilla with her little Nursery all alone. To improve therefore so kind a Minute to the best advantage, throwing his Arms a­bout her Neck, and Assaulting her Lips (for those outworks he had long since won) with a whole Vol­ley of Kisses; at last he cryed, Oh my Dear, dear Sweet Rogue, are these empty Embraces, these half-Joys all I must expect? When, Dear Lactilla, Oh when, will that Blest, happy, Ravishing Minute come? Poor Lactilla Interrupting him, Replyed, Nay, fye my Lord; a Man of your great Quality throw away your Thoughts upon so poor a Creature as I am; If you would talk like your self, methinks you Lordfolks should make your fine Speeches to none but Kings and Queens; if you have a mind then to show your great Breeding, you would do well to make your High Compliments to that little pretty young King in the Cradle there. No my Dear Lactilla, Replyed Laforse, I have other better work to do at this time; 'tis time enough to make fine Speeches to that little young King, as you call him, 20 years hence. Twenty years, quotha, [Answers Lactilla] By my troth, my Lord, no lon­ger [Page 36]ago then we were last in Albion, as young as he is, and as many years as he wants, we have had Your outlandish great Lords and Bassadours have made ma­ny a Scholarly Speech, and a great many fine Compli­ments to him too; But above all, I shall never forget the Bassadour of Catalonia: that great tall Man, with a rueful dun Face, and a swinging pair of black Whiskers, no sooner came to receive Audience of my little Master here, but the poor Baby fell a Roaring at him, and would not endure the sight of bim. On my Conscience, my Lord, the poor Lamb was as much frighted, as ever his Father was at S—Bury; and upon my Womanhood I believe it, had it been able, would have run away as fast too: I vow and swear my Lord, 'twas so terribly scared at him, that I profess I could scarce get it sweet again in an hour after. The Lord could not forbear Smiling at this Innocent Relation; which downright Language of Lactilla's, as a Novel Charm to him, was one of the g [...]eatest Whets to his Inclination for her. But as Talking was not his present business, he pusht on the matter a little more Vigorously, and told her a meeting she must and should give him, that should more com­pleatly Bless him, then all the fainter Favours she had already b [...]stowed upon him. The poor Nurse, after a great many other urging, and at last prevail­ing Arguments, could resist no longer; and truly at last told him, That if he had any thing more to say to her, the only time she had to give him the hearing with Convenience, was at Vesper time; for, says she, the Queen and her Attendants are all then so devout, (though truly I know not how it comes about that they are so over and above Religious here, then they used to be in Albion, unless Misfortune and Miseries make Folk Pious) that they never miss Prayers; and be­cause [Page 37]I, and only I am one of those Paw Things they call Hereticks, my little Master, and my self, except­ing some Guards in the outer Rooms, are always left alone; and if your Lordships Intentions are Honest and Virtuous (as I trust in Heaven, they are,) if you have any thing more to talk to me, you may come then and welcome. The Happy Monseigneur at this ge­nerous and cunning Assignation made by his kind Lactilla, (for there never wants Womans Wit even in Simplicity it self on such an occasion) felt a Delight Answerable to the satisfaction so acceptable a Min­ute would give him, and resolving to Return at the appointed Hour with that desired Honesty and Vir­tue as should be best agreeable to her, leaves his fare­wel in a Kiss, and Whispers in her Ear, that she should find him a Man of Honour; and so Retires, and falls in with the Ladies in the Balcone. The poor Nurse waiting for the Vespers, (which in­deed was the first time that ever she had a kindness for the Pagan Worship before) found her Expecta­tion a little baulkt, when the Queen pretending In­disposition refused to go to Prayers; at which the Ladies likewise in Complaisance to her Majesty re­solved not to go neither, but stay and pay their At­tendance to the Queen; which the Queen absolute­ly forbid, Commanding them all to go to Prayers, and leave her onely to her Nurse till their Return. The Ladies accordingly Retiring; at their Depar­ture, the Queen instead of Staying in the Bed-Cham­ber with the Child and Nurse, bid Lactilla have a Care of the Prince, for she had occasions to Retire into her Closet, where she would not be disturb'd. This gave Lactilla some little hopes again; for the Closet being on the farther side of a large Room of State lying beyond the Bed-Chamber, she fancied [Page 38]her dear Lord might gain Access without any Baulk, at that Distance and Retirement, from any thing of the Queens Interruption of them. No sooner was the Queen got into the Closet, but Count Davilah, having received a Packet from Albion just at the Chappel Door, defers his Devotion, and finding matter of Importance in it, together with an inclosed Packet for Messalina, with Commands of a Delivery at sight, and with Orders of Immediate Communi­cation with the Queen, about Affairs that required a speedy Result; the Count in pursuance of his Orders received, hastes instantly to the Queen, and deliver­ing her her Packet, together with the Instructions contain'd in his own, requests her speedy Conference. The Queen was much surprized at his Approach, and in no small Dilemma, for if she dismist him with­out Reading her Packet, and Conferring with him as desired by the King her Husband, she should be Guilty of a Fault highly against the Character of that Respect and Duty she ever paid him, and which in his present Circumstances would be an unpardonable neg­lect; and if on the other side she stay'd in her Closet or Chamber to Read her Letters, and Debate their Contents, she was Jealous that the appointed Visit of Polydorus at so unseasonable an Hour as the Queens known Retirement, would give matter of Suspicion to the Count; and which besides her unwillingness to disgust a Person whom she was not yet prepared to disoblige and quite break with, might thereby raise some Blemish upon her Reputation. Between these two Considerations, with a suddain Presence of Mind, she thought of this Expedient, which was to Invite the Count down into the Garden, and there Dispatch the Conference: whereupon she desired him to Walk down with her; and as she past by the Bed-Chamber, [Page 39]she told the Nurse whither and with whom she was going, and bid her expect her Return immediately. By this Projection she thought Polydorus coming in her absence according to appointment, and not find­ing her within, would undoubtedly ask the Nurse for her, and thereby informed, be Invited to stay, and Attend her Return.

At the Queens Departure it was just drawing to­wards the Evening, being a little past Sun-set: And Lactilla extraordinarily pleased to think she should have the whole Lodgings free, and by that means, if her Lord kept Touch, enjoy all the Privacy and Freedom her Heart could wish; being truly in her Nature a little more fearful, and something bashfuller in an Amourous Transgression, then the Fairer Court Sinners generally more harden'd, and more Couragious at a Love Adventure, had already drawn all the very Window Curtains of the Bed-Chamber close, to be as much Retired as possibly she could.—Just as the Queen was got down the Back-Stairs, Enters the King by the other Stairs, and immediately with all the haste of an Invited Lover makes to the Closet; but finding the Queen not there, and imagining she might be in the Bed-Chamber Trips as Nimbly thither. The Nurse hearing some body Walk cross the Room of State, with that eager pace that spoke him a Lover, as she thought by his Tread; and not doubting any other, but that her Dear Lord was come; in a kind of a Panick Fear, fitting Perdue upon the Bed behind the Cu [...]tains, and almost Trembling to consider what she was going to do, not daring as she thought to Expose her Blushes to the Light, (being the first time of her offending in that kind) out of pure Modesty puts out the Candle. The King just upon his En­trance into the Bed-Chamber, fancying nothing else [Page 40]but Love cou'd put out the Light, that it's own might blaze the bolder, and consequently the Golden Minute was now his own, makes his Instant Approach to the Bed, and Grasping in his Arms his yeilding though mistaken Sacrifice, and breaking out into a Rapture of — My Life, my Soul, my Heaven, my Eternity, with Two or Three more such Pious and high flown Ejaculations, the usual Devotion of Lovers, (those few short Preliminaries (to say Truth) being as much as the little Patience of much Love cou'd dispense with) without staying for one Syllable of Reply from his Twining Mistress, for indeed her Elevated Thoughts we [...]e too full for her Tongue to get Vent; besides she had her Mouth so sweetly stopt, that she wanted Power as well as Leisure for talking; Polydorius with­out farther Ceremony immediately Rushes into her Bosom, Launches into a Torrent of Bliss, and Riots and Revels in unutterable Delight; for Messalina, his Angel Messalina, fill'd both his Arms and his Soul; so Potent is Imagination, that Deity-like, what she Enjoys she Creates. The Ravishing Dalliance ended, with no Love lost on either side: For Monsigneur was as Divinely Charming to the Ravisht Lactilla, as Messalina could be to Polydorus, and the very Grandeur of a Lord in her Arms, (though otherwise perhaps no heartier a Performer then her own honest Lime-Pit Clod-Pate Drudge in Albion,) had so much outvyed the poore [...] satisfaction of her Man of Clay and Sea-Cole, her Spouse at home; that in pure Gratitude for the Honour as well as the Pleasure she had received, having not only recovered both breath and leisure for a kind word or two of her own, but also gotten a little more Assurance then before (for Love soon makes Equal [...]ty) she turn'd to her Pant­ing, as she thought Laforse, and throwing her Arms [Page 41]about his Neck, thinking it her turn to talk a little Amorously now; Well my dear Laforse (says she) I hope you have no reason now, to think your poor Lactilla so hard-hearted as you have sometimes told her she was, for if such Love as mine—Lactilla!—cries Polydorus, starting up from the Bed, in a surprize so killing, that not the Ghosts and Spectres of all the Christian Victims his own Edicts had ever doom'd, or his Booted Disciples executed; nay, nor all his broken Leagues turn'd Goblins, could have Stagger'd him more. At first, in the heighth of Agony and Bitterness of Soul, he thought 'twas a Trick of Messalina's; that his high-flown Ambition of attempting the Queen of Albion's Vertue, had put her Pride and Scorn upon this Stratagem of pu­nishing his Audacious Love by so contemptible and despicable a Creature Foyster'd upon him: Such Dirt and Rubbish in the Arms of Polydorus! The Trans­port of that thought, and his enraged Sentiments of so unpardonable an Affront, could hardly with-hold him from drawing his Sword and Executing his Fury, (though never so unmanly,) on the Heart of that Sordid Engine and Tool, in this Insolent manner made use of, to abuse him. But these suggestions were soon supprest by some kinder thoughts of Messa­lina, it being impossible, as he thought, for so Excel­lent a Creature to be so great a Jilt, or rather greater Devil, as this piece of Imposture must render her. Besides, were she all the Furies and Feinds of her whole Sex put together, yet, as a Woman of Im­perial Quality, her very Character, if nothing else, would never suffer her to make choice of this, of all the Revenges in the World, (if any such she had a­gainst him.) For whatever Stratagems a Great Wo­man might make use of to Gratifie her Spleen, Spight, [Page 42]Malice, Hate, or any other Passion; she would never turn Bawd for any of them. That part of his Fear upon these Recollections being pretty well clear'd up, he resolved however to satisfie himself by some Inter­rogatories to Lactilla (as much as he could make with­out discovery of his Person,) what Sorcery, Enchant­ment, or Malicious Devil of Fortune had Snared him into so poor a Noose as the Arms of Lactilla; a Thought that so much Disgusted his Haughty Pride, that he would not, for half the Price of a Kingdom, be made so much the Jest of the World, as so Humble and Course a Love Adventure, (he fancied) if it should take Air, would render him; more especially if it should get to the Ear of Messalina; for his meer Indignation could never digest so shameful a Re­proach, that his Imperial Caresses (though never so innocently) should be Debased to so Sordid an Em­brace. And therefore, if for no other Reason, from Her above the rest of the World he must endeavour to stifle the Discovery of this Accursed Accident: Turning then to Lactilla, (who still lay upon the Bed in no small Surprize, and as you may imagine, in no less trouble at her Dear Lords so abrupt and unkind Start from her Arms.) Well, Dear Lactilla, says Poly­dorus, I hope the Queen has no Suspicion of our kind­ness—The Queen! suddenly reply'd Lactilla, Good Heaven forbid! should my Lady Messalina know what I have been doing, the more Naughty Man you,—But what do you fear? Who, I, her Nurse, and let the Queen know I Lay with a Man, and Spoil'd the Princes Milk! Not for a Thousand Pound! To be Burnt for Heresie, or Hang'd for High Treason a­gainst that little Princely Babe, would be the least I must look for in this Pagan Land. No, my Dear Lord, we poor Countrey Folks are not so dull neither; [Page 43]how simple soever we may be in other matters, we have always Wit enough in our Loves: and if my Dear Lord can be kind to so Worthless a Thing as I am; never fear Queens nor Emperesses discovering of us: let me alone to take care of that. This Innocent Answer of Lactilla's, (excepting the Resentments of so Nause­ous a mistake, and so unhappy a disappointment, which he could not yet so easily, Conquer) satisfied all the rest of Polydorus disquiets; for now he plainly found, that the Nurses mistaking him for the Lord Laforse, had not onely dispel'd all his first ungenerous Suspicions of Messalina, (a Thought, which how Momentary soever it lasted, he could now hardly for­give himself for) by convincing him, that not only Fortune was the true and only Jilt that had put this Trick upon him; but also by Vertue of his still passing for the supposed Laforse, together with the Favour of the Dark, he had now an opportunity of Marching off utterly undiscovered, and defying the utmost Malice of his Stars themselves to expose his shame. Without any stay therefore, or any other parting Compliment, then Adieu Dear Lactilla, I'le see thee again very speedily, he Starts out of the Chamber, and clapping the Door after him, lest any of the Lights in the Room of State should give her so much as a glimpse of his Back-side, he bolts down the Back-Stairs with all the Expedition he could make. He was not gotten three paces below the Foot of the Stairs, but Messalina crossing a Walk in the Garden popt just upon him, who by this time having adjusted matters, and dispatcht the Count, was indeed with no less haste Returning to her Closet in Expectance of Po­lydorus, whose Expectation by this time she might pos­sibly have over heighten'd; if not a little, tryed Pa­tience. But meeting him moving off in such haste. [Page 44] My Lord the King, why so fast? I hope the Face of Messalina has nothing so Terrible in it, as to fright you. The King, between Surprize and Confusion, (occasion'd by the sight of Messalina, and the fresh Remembrance of his unfortunate Adventure with the Nurse, his own Consciousness of which, though unknown to the World beside, made him Redden with a Blush almost Scarlet deep, though the growing Night partly conceal'd the discovery of it;) what through the suddenness of this Encounter, and the perplexity of his Thoughts, being not well provided with words to Answer her, was studying for a Reply, when the Queen continued; Well, Polydorus, I suppose you found but dull Entertainment above, by your haste in running away; though if the Expectation of my Company had been worthy of one Minutes long­er Dispensation, and your patience not quite Ex­hausted, I had return'd to tell you, that the Receipt of an Express from Lycogenes, brought me by Count Davilah, drew me some Minutes into the Garden. The Contents of which requiring some short Confer­ence between us, I took him down thither for it, lest your expected Visit at that time, to a prying Eye, or a censuring Thought, might have afforded matter of Surmise to my disadvantage. But that fear is now past, for I have given him such a Dispatch as may as­sure Polydorus, that Messalina cannot be guilty of forgetfulness—This obliging Language of the Queen, as it could not but infinitely Charm the A­morous Polydorus, so it could not but as much distract him too. For to tell her, he had been in her Apartment, and stay'd there for her not full a Quarter of an hour, (for indeed his whole Ingress, Egress and Regress from Lactilla, was an Execution of no more Minutes dispatch,) and that truly (let him [Page 45]mince it in as fine words as he pleas'd) he had not patience to wait longer, though for so Divine a Bles­sing as the Possessing of Messalina, would be an ex­cuse impardonable. And on the other side, to own the Truth of his Adventure, that frighted him thence; that Thought was all Death and Hell, and not Wild Horses could draw him to so shameful a Confession. In this distraction of Thought, it came at last into his Head, to tell her, That if her surpriz­ing Absence at so blest an hour, and after so Solemn and Generous an Engagement, that had so intirely fill'd his Heart, and taken up every Faculty of his Soul, might run him into any Impatiences or Extravagances worthy a Rebuke, as his not waiting longer for her Return, and his over-zealous coming down in Quest after her, might be; however, he hoped she would excuse all Effects, how blameable soever, that had no other than the Transport of her Charms, and his own Passion for their Cause. The Queen made him an obliging Answer, and told him, She was very well satisfied, the Fault that was, being of her own side. But since interposing Business had made her lapse some Minutes in her Promise, however, she would make Re­paration for it, and if he pleased to Return with her, as she had Expedited her Husbands Express, she was now at leisure to listen to any Expresses of Polydorus, and as ready to Dispatch them. At which, giving her Hand to Polydorus, which he received with a pro­found Reverence, they Returned back again, the King only Murmuring all the way to himself, to think what good substantial Love he had lately Pro­digally Lavisht, or rather thrown away; and which in his present Payment might be something wanted to make up his Sum. But above all it grated his very Soul to think, that so Abject a Creature as [Page 46] Lactilla had [...] considerable a part of what was [...] to the Divinity of Messalina. Nay, [...], had got the first start too in [...], that he must be forced to come all S [...]lye [...] and Defiled, (for a less Taint he could not fancy it) to such Celestial Embraces. But to bring our Lovers to the Closet; the Door Shut; and the Queen thrown upon her Couch, and Polydorus by her side; she cast those Languishing Dying Looks upon him enough to Thaw a Stoick, and Fire an Anchoret. The King who needed no Invitation, but already Melted into Kissing, Toying, Dallying, Em­bracing, Twining, all those Outworks of Felicity, the Supreme Beatitude onely unpossest; Nay, and even That too just entring, and on the very Brink of Paradice; Oh! too imbecile to grasp at so Divine a Treasure, though admitted even into all the whole fragrant Ravishing Bed of Sweets; Alas, he wanted strength to Crop the Flower.—At this accursed Damn'd Defeat (no Name too black, nor Thought to hideous for it) poor Polydorus fell down by her side upon the Couch so Abasht, and so Confounded, that he could have wisht all the Graves, that his own Sword e're Digg'd, to Swallow him; or some kind Mountain, high as the Cryes, if possible, of all his own Martyr'd Christians Blood, to cover his shame.

The Queen her self no less Defeated, though not so much Abasht, (for in such Cases the Failure is ne­ver in their Sex) perceiving his Confusion, threw her Arms about his Neck, and laid her Cheek so close to his, as if she had resolved to shew, that she either did not, or would not see his Disorder; a Behaviour, which carryed not only Endearment in it but Policy too. For to triumph over Weakness, and jocque or cajole an unperforming Lover, as some foolish resenting [Page 47]Beauties in such disappointments have done, has sometimes been too well known, to their own loss, to have given that intire Check even to much younger and abler Nerves, than Polydorus, as has Inva­lidated a whole Assignation: Whereas, on the con­trary, an Unconcern or Endearing Connivance at Frailty, has encouraged the Retreating Unsucceeding Assailant, to Rally again, come on, new Storm, and Conquer. Polydorus in all this staggering Shock, ex­cepting some Restless Starts and Flings, and now and then a Murmuring rougher sort of Breathing betwixt a Sigh and a Groan, that spoke better for him, ut­tered not one Syllable; his Rage being too big for Words, and his Shame, alas, too Odious to be Pal­liated with Eloquence, had he Recollection or Sense enough about him to study for any. Messalina all this while, as a Cordial against a Pang so violent, ge­nerously plyed him with all the healing Balm that her kindest Kisses, Toying, Caresses, and Embraces, could give him: till Polydorus at length so sweeten'd, new warm'd, and enlivened again, by such Languish­ing, Melting, but above all (her brightest Attribute) such Forgiving Divinity, began to feel new Anima­ting Fires; and to Retrieve his Honour, with all the Prowess of a Recovered Champion, he Renews the Assault once more. But the second success too like the first; a meer thin Airy Flash and ineffectual Fire.—At this last Defeat he could hold no longer, but started from the Couch, and flew into that Storm and Rage, Madness and half Desperation, that no Execrations against himself, or Invocations against Heaven and Earth were too terrible for him: till the Queen Interposing— Fye, Fye, my Lord, why all this Rage, this most Unmanly Rage! Why do you thus unkindly play your own Tormentor? Can Polydorus [Page 48] Execute before I Sentence? The Punishment's Unjust that comes before the Sin: and I know none—No Sin! Not Polydorus sinn'd against his Messalina! [Interrupting her.] Oh Injur'd Madam, Your Di­vine Innocence knows not the Weight of my Accurs­ed Guilt, a Load would sink a World. Oh that Vile, Black, Infernal, Damn'd — [Casting a Furious Eye towards the Bed-Chamber] and then turning towards the Queen.] Beast, Monster, Traytor as I am—The Queen [stopping him.] Nay, no more my Lord, Wrong not your self with these unjust Reproaches; what you would call your Crime, perhaps I've reason to esteem your Glory; perhaps you Love me too well, and that has been the cause. Desire sometimes has been foil'd even by Desire; and Loving bauk'd by Love. Alas, my Lord, there are Heavens even above Hea­ven, and it may be your Extasie has rapt you above your Paradice. And to recall your Peace, I am con­tent to be so Vain, to think my Charms have had that Power. Oh Royal Excellence (replyed Polydorus) [Astonish'd at so Amazing a Kindness.] You are so Divinely good, that to lay hold of such Transcendent Grace to save me, without Desert, would but double my Damnation. At which he began to launch out into such bitter Reviling and Railing against him­self, that the Queen not knowing their true Cause, began to think of a new Style to recover his Reason, and therefore was resolved to Rally him into his right Wits again. Well Sir, If this won't satisfy you, per­haps I have a new Discovery will answer all. I have either Heard or Read somewhere (no matter which) [Smilingly] of Enchantments used in this case. 'Tis not the first time, that Malice, and the Malice of a Woman too (for such they say there are in the World) has made use of Spells to defeat the Expectation [Page 49]of Lovers; and the tying of a Magical Knot (as some such practice, you know not, may have been used upon you) and the Winchcraft of an Ill-Tongue have some­times had that strange Power. Bewitcht by an Ill-Tongue, Madam! (replyed Polydorus) Oh Madam! [Sighing] There went more then all Ill-Tongues (Con­found the Enchantess) to the Bewitching of me. Ty­ing of Knots too say you? A Plague of the Knots I Tye! Oh that Sprightful, Confounded Witch, Hag, Forceress, Beast, Bawd, Strumpet—[he had almost said Lactilla] Beast, Bawd, Strumpst! When Messa­lina Interrupting him, What Beast, Bawd? Fortune Madam, Fortune, (Recollecting himself) that Jilt, that Cheat, that Harlot, that Impudent Harlot, For­tune, the spight of my Stars, and the Malice of the Gods, that envyed my Immortal Happiness, and in downright Gall, rank Gall, Hemlock, Wormwood, Poison, have ransakt Hell, and Muster'd all the Imps of Lucifer to rob me of my Bliss.

A necessary precaution often wanted by Mes­salina.The Harange had went on, had not Fornacos Ap­proach, a nimble Forerunner before the rest of the Zealots returned from their Devotion, giving them warning to retreat from the Closset, and the King to prepare himself for the appearance of a more indiffe­rent Visitor, which with much ado he endeavour'd; though the con­cernment in his Face was not easily masterable. The Court beginning to fill soon after, Messalina produced, and Read her Expresses, im­porting the Landing of her Lycogenes in one of the Ports of Gothland, a piece of News not ungrateful to the whole Company, since it brought them the Ex­pectation of the speedy Honour of so Royal a Guest in the Gallick Court, and which indeed had been the [Page 50]Subject of no Common saying, had not the fatal Cause that lent them that Honour much rebated the De­light. The Queen told them further, That she had before communicated the Contents to Polydorus, to which indeed she was obliged to him for his pleasant Vi­sit. Yes Madam, readily answered Polydorus, I came to obey your Commands, and the Care and Application I shall make for a Reception suitable to the Majesty of Albion, shall Convince the World that the Bonds that have tied the Hearts of Lycogenes and Polydorus are Eternal.

Some Days after Lycogenes arrives, neither unlookt for, neither welcome; for they knew he came to them like a Gamester at an Ordinary, that had lost all his Money, and came for a new Recruit. By my Soul, our Lycogenes, I have had ill Luck; but I'le Play t'other Game for't. 'Tis ill venturing upon a Loosers Hand quoth Polydorus. Sir, quoth Lycogenes, Lend me but t'other Threescore Tousand Pounds, and you shall have all Ireland for it. Sir, said he, then proceeding, Remember the Proverb, He that England means to win, with Ireland must begin. That is a Proverb I have often heard, quoth Polydorus; but if I Lend you this Threescore Thousand Pounds, I'le have all Ireland to my self, I'le send Officers of my own to take Charge of all the Imployments in that Kingdom; you shall have nothing to do there. Not I by my Soul, quoth Lycogenes, I will have no­thing to do there; I'le only be your Deputy there, I'le receive the Sword from Tyrconnel in your Name, and Execue your Commands by your Authority.

These Conditions being Sign'd and Sealed between Polydorus and Lycogenes, Men and Money were pro­vided with all the speed imaginable. For Messalina was soon weary of his Cold Embraces; having by [Page 51]this time a fair Cover for whatever should after had­pen, should she really chance to be Impregnated. And therefore being present at the Colloque between her Husband Lycogenes and her Champion Polydorus. She at the same time tipt the wink upon Polydorus, and pointed to the middle of her Placket; which so inflam'd Polydorus, that he was as ready to Condes­cend to Lycogenes, as Lycogenes was to Demand of him.

During these Transactions of a higher Nature, and a deep Intrigue between the two Monarchs and the Monarchess. La Force plyd his business with Lactil­la. 'Tis true La Force had brought her to his Bow, but the Consummation of Pleasure being interrupted, as you have already heard; that interruption brought Lactilla to bethi [...]k her self. For, not to conceal the Truth, Lactilla, honest Lactilla, Nurse in Ordinary to the Gallick Prince, she from whom the Sovereign Swayer of the British Scepter was to suck his Masculine Inclinations, had been dabling al­ready. Which made her out of a Scruple of Con­science begin to contrive, which way she should put off La Force. For, Lord quoth she, must I Adul­terate the Milk that Suckles the Monarch of Three Kingdoms. So that when La Force came to Reite­rate his Addresses to her, she dealt with him like a plain good honest Country Nurse, and told him, that she had placed her Affections before upon a certain Souldier in the Life-Guard of Lycogenes (for those sort of Cattel will be always endeavouring to get be­tween the Thighs of your Court Lawndry-Women and Nurses, to Eek out their Preferment) who had overcome her; and that by him she was Young with Child: And truly her Pains were so extraordi­nary, that being afraid something more then ordina­ry [Page 52]would come of it, she was resolv'd to prepare her self for Repentance. La Force who had an Eye that could pierce through a Mill-stone, presently ap­prehended what Lactilla would beat, which was en­hancing the Price; and therefore pretending to be a Doctor; Oh Madam quoth he, I understand the rea­son of your extraordinary Pains: The Gentleman who the last time had your last Favours, left his work unfinish'd; so that what you carry in the Womb, must want either an Arm, or a Leg, or a Thigh; and then if it come forth so imperfect, it will be the cause of great Trouble and Affliction to you. But for that, be of good Comfort, give but me the liberty, and I will make all things well and perfect, and your Travel shall be as Easie as the flipping of a Cherry-Stone from between your Thumb and Fore-finger. La Force made this so demonstrable by Dent of Argument to Lactilla, that for future Convenience-sake she condescended to whatever he could desire.

While Laforce lay thus at Rack and Manger with his dear Lactilla, Polydorus chassing for his last mis­fortune, long'd for a second Tryal of his Abilities. But the presence of Lycogenes was a new rub in his way. ,Twas therefore thought convenient to march him off with all the speed that possible might be; nor was Messalina less desirous to be rid of him, as one whose Reign over her Affections was now as much at an end, as his Reign over the hearts of his People. Polydorus therefore sends for Lycogenes, and having agreed upon Conditions, hastens him away into Hibernia, with permission to retain the Title of Lycogenes the Second, King of Hibernia, but to deliver the real Possession of the Kingdom to Polydorus, and the Command of all his Souldiers and Forces to such Officers and Com­manders, [Page 53]as he had order'd to accompany him.

So soon as Lycogenes was departed, Polydorus prose­cutes his Amour with great heat; nor was Messalina who had already surrender'd up her Fort, less diligent to afford Polydorus all the Opportunities that could be with Circumspection and Caution omitted: She was mainly desirous of a Prince to be Born of her Body; by which means she might bequeath perpetual vex­ation to the Christians: And to that purpose she thought that now she had both change of Air and variety of Persons, she could not fail; and as for the Legality of it, she never minded that, since she could have Absolution when she pleased.

Polydorus therefore therefore sends her an Invitation to his Country Palace of Versellais, and appoints her an Apartment not far from his own, with so many private avenues to it, that it was impossible one would have thought to have made the least discovery of their private Congresses.

Under the Covert of this Retirement, Polydorus had several Opportunities to enjoy the Carresies of his endearing Messalina; while she on the one side la­bour'd for Pregnancie, and he on the other endea­voured to recover the Reputation he had lost in his first Venereal Attempts: Nothing could out-vie the Dalliances of these two Royal Lovers, unless the efforts of Youthful Clepatra, to please her Mark Anthony, or the Gallantries of Mark Anthony, to gratifie his adored Cleopatra. Moreover, Messalina thought that if now she should prove with Child, the World would be the sooner Convinc'd of the Truth of her being Deliver'd of the Prince of the Cambro Britans; which made her more eager to devote her self to the satis­faction of her Polydorus. However Love had only [Page 54]a Design to exert his power, and would not admit Lucina to come in for a share, in blessing the strong Endeavours of the Amorous Pair with effectual Suc­cess: 'Tis true Fame did her part and spread abroad a rumour over all Gothland and Albion, that Messalina was with Child, and so it holds; but as to that, it is lest to Time to make out the truth of it.

By this time Cupid, who seem'd to study nothing more then to enlarge the Conquests of Messalina's Charming Eyes, had smitten the Heart of Young Delphinus, only Son of Polydorus, who began to be no less Enamour'd of the Bewitching Messalina then his Father. 'Tis true he knew nothing of certainty of what pass'd every Day between his Father and her. For now it being known that Lycogenes was gone of Polydorus's Errand, it was easie to feign pretences of Frequent Consultations with Messalina; but as the Actions of Princes will be pry'd into, in spight of Fate, Delphinus had some Inkling of the Intrigue. And indeed the more then ordinary Credulity and Obsequiousnes of Polydorus to an Exild Princess, could not choose but Enhance her Suspition. How­ever Love is such a Tyrant, that what he will, he will have done. The Young Delphinus is enflam'd, and tho' he were pretty sure, that in giving way to his Passion, he must be his Father's Rival, and Fish in the same Stream with his own Parent, yet his Ardour was so Violent, that those Considerations could not with-hold him, nor stem the violent Current of his Affection: So that he never came into Messalina's Company but his Amorous Looks betray'd the Pas­sion of his Heart; so easily discernable, that Messa­lina could not perceive the double Conquest she had made both of the Father and the Son. But Messali­na who had Abandon'd her self over to the Father, [Page 55]made the Punctillio of Honour so much her present Excuse for not condescending to the Son's Addresses, that she still put him off with fair Complements, so that all his Efforts prov'd ineffectual.