Act. 2. Scen. 1.

ANd why you first, Mrs. Schisme. Pray you give place to Seniority.

Nay, nay, neighbour Sedition, me thinks you and I should be better friends, our affections are the same.

And one Progenitor, the Devill, belongs to both I confesse, only, because I come of the Elder house (for though you [Page 4] are of the House of the Incendiaries in the Church, which is a very ancient Family, I grant, yet I am of that of the Incendiaries in the State, which preceeds in antiquity) I claime the priority, both here, and also in presenting my service to Mrs. Parliament, yea, I expect the preheminence above you in her Honours imploy­ments too.

Cozen! Whatsoere your seniority may plead for you to her in your behalfe, my past actions in her service may exact as due to my deserts: Never did any State Incendiary bring the Designes of any Tyrant to such perfection in an age, as I have done Mrs. Parliaments in lesse then seven yeers, under the vizard of Religion, therefore, by your leave Mrs. Sedition, I think my selfe worthy to be preferred before you in her affections.

Marry gip with a wynnion! you preferred before me. Have not my pretences, to make every free-borne Subject a quiet possessor of his propriety and liberty, to suppresse Tyran­ny, and prevent Arbitrarinesse in the King (which I intend to act my selfe) brought Mrs. Parliament to this height of unlimited power which now she is at, and doe you think now to carry a­way her favour from me?

Fie, fie friends fal out about trifles? You have both deserved well, and no doubt shall in fit time and place receive your reward; but agree, agree, and the rather because the common enemy begins to stirre and hold up his head again: and will you by your divisions give life to their dead hopes? what were this but to blast all your former glorious actions, absolutely frustrate all your golden hopes, and wholly annihilate your vast expectations, and will you now prove such enemies not only to her, whose servants ye professe your selves to be, but also to your selves and all your friends? Come come, you shall (like gentle­women of equall birth and merit) walke hand in hand, and have the same degree of place at her table and in her affections: only for the present I must prevaile with Mrs. Schisme, that Mrs. Sedi­on may have her right hand; for Mrs. Parliament hath now occasi­on to use the sword, (as indeed when will she not find occasion to use?) and we all know Mrs. Sedition knowes how to weild that best for her advantage.

I am content, for I must confesse that I am no [...]ghter, though none could ever match me for an Incendiary and Abettor to warre and bloud▪shed. Wil't please you walk to Mrs. Sedition?

Your Servant, in your hand, sweet Cosin Schisme.

So this is well and timely brought about.

We loose our precious hopes if these fall out.

Scen. 2.

Nurse, Nurse,—why Nurse, Where art thou Nurse?

Anan forsooth Mistris, I am here: What is't your plea­sure I should do?

O, prethee Nurse speak softly (for a time:) the noise which tho [...] makest with thy babling and prating pierceth my head, and may prove a great hindrance of my Recoverie, if not totally obstruct it. I am very weak with my past sore Travail, and should I fall into a Relapse it might cost me my Life; and then Nurse, you would (I know) confesse (as being sensible of your losse) that the most bountifull Mistris, that ever you had, is de­ceased: Was it ever known that such a rate was given a Dry Nurse before; four shillings a day, besides other by-blowes, gra­tuities and especially three or four steeple-houses and pofitable Le­ctures? therefore Nurse it nearly concernes you to have a special care of me.

Dear Mistris, you shall for the future experience my diligence to comply in all things with your desires, and my care hereafter shall evidence the readinesse of my obedience to your commands.

It is well said Nurse:—But is Mrs. Truth gone?

Gone, quoth you? Why what should she do here? Do you ever hope to recover your strength or regain your credit by her? If you should follow her Directions and take such Physicke as she would prescribe you, she would give you such a Potion as would make you fall a vomiting with a witnesse, and then up would come (to the view of the whole World) all that you have converted to the satisfying of your own private Lust, though pretended to be done for the publique good of the Kingdom; as the Revenues of the Crown—

O, prethee Nurse speak softly.

Noble mens Estates, Bishops Lands and Houses, all Se­questrations, and vast Compositions, besides great summes of Loan-money for Rebells Lands in Ireland, Publique Faith Mo­ney, Excise money, Contribution and Free-quarter; All would up. Verily Mistris, if you be rul'd by her, it will inevitably fol­low, that you cannot escape your (I too sadly fear too too sud­dain) dissolution.

It is truth Nurse; I have ever rejected her Counsels (though I have alwayes made the World believe I have followed them most precisely) and though I sent for her in my extremitie, and desired her to indite that seigned Confession so to blinde the eyes of the World that I might the more securely and undisco­vered compasse mine own Designe, yet know Nurse, that I hate her companie, and loath her sight, much lesse will I follow her Dictates and Directions.

No, do not Mistris, Did you ever reap any benefit by her companie? or, Did at any time any good accrew to you by following her counsell? If the People should know all that she can tell of you (and she can as well be hanged [which you know is the least you have deserved] as conceal her knowledge, but will at some time or other discover all) What would be the event thereof? Indeed Mistris I tremble to thinke (being in the same condemnation, and deserving the same reward with your selfe) and by that little experience thereof, which you have had of late you may be sensible enough what you must expect.

No, no, Mistris, if you hope to recover again, make use of Mistris Mendax, the whole Packe of your weekly forging Pam­phleters, they have ever stucke close to you, and by imploying them still, you know how advantagious it hath been to the ad­vance of your Designes; but among them all there is none (since Britannicus his decease) comparable to Luke Haruney or Walker, the quondam pillorie Iremonger, he is alwaies at your elbow, with his out-side Satin, and in-side Devil, ready to breathe into the eares of your tame Guls and noosed Woodcockes, what you thinke may best advantage the Cause (though never so false) in his perfect Occurrence.

Besides it is evident what service his double diligence hath done you in endeavouring to suppresse your worst Enemies, the Tell-truths of the Times, Pragmaticus, Melancholicus, Elenti­chus, &c. whose publishing the Truth of those foul Enormities which they by intelligence have and do daily discover in your Actions, have done you more hurt of late, than all the Kings Ar­my could heretofore; by their pennes having wounded you deep­er in your credit and reputation, than ever the Sword of the Ca­valiers did your bodie in your Souldiers; and therefore the care of your creature Walker, in endeavouring to discover and so sup­presse them, deserves your notice and encouragement. Besides as a testimonie of his affection to your Service, and to manifest his [Page 7] knowledge to be as deep in the Greek as Hebrew Tongue, he hath desired you to hear this Etimologie of Parliament, 1648.

Reade it, good Nurse, let me hear it: I know he ever puts that forth that shall tend to my Honour and advance­ment in the good opinion of the Saints. Reade it Nurse, reade it Nur. Parliament in the Greek is written thus [...].

They that can reade and understand it may, Ile look for the English of it according to his direction, Rev. 17. v. 5.

Do good Nurse, I long to know the English of it, MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, the Mo­ther of Harlots and Abominations, Nurse of errour, heresie and blasphemy. Parl. O hold Nurse, sicke, sicke, a suddain shi­vering carreers through every part, besides—a—deadly—qual—O —Nurse. Helpe good Women, helpe, helpe. Mrs. Schisme, Mrs. Toleration, What are ye all deaf? Cannot one of you hear? Why Mrs. Sa-Yand-Seal. Helpe, helpe.

What's the matter Nurse?

O Mrs. Parliament, Mrs. Parl.—is gone, is gone.

Be patient Nurse, she is but in a swoone, burne some ill-senting thing under her nose : that will bring her again.

Oh what shall I burne?

Nothing makes a loathsomer smell than the Vote wherein she resolved upon the question, that she would make no more addresses to her husband, herhead, and that it should be treason for any to bring Messages from, or carry intelli­gence to him.

'Tis well thought on, Mrs. Sa: Yandseale good Nurse run to H. Elsing, and wish him to cut it out of the jour­nall book, and bring it thou hither, and burne it presently

I flye —Melancho 'tis more than time, shall I haile Rainsborough for you.

But Gentlewomen doe you not deceive your selves? (pardon me I am jealous for Mrs. Parliaments good, and am the foundation upon which her rising to this height was laid at first) as I conceive no incense would smell better, and be more comfortable in all mens nostrills than the fume of that, burnt

Yea (Gossip Jealousie) but not in the no­strils [Page 8] of all women, especially hers, because it would trouble her much to be made s [...]nsible of the burning of that her darling: and as for others, it is good to please sooles a while: so she recover, it is no matter for burning of it: when she ge [...]s strenght againe, 'tis but pre [...]mbling that it was done in fear, and in case of eminent danger, and t [...]en she may revote it again.

There spake an Ac [...]p [...]l [...] indeed, and he must nee [...]s be a good man, for we reade th [...]t his counsel was as the Oracle—

He', her', here ' [...]is. Mrs. Sa. That's well burne it quickly, rub her temples, she sneezes—so, so,—she com [...] again—why M [...]s. Parl [...]a­ment.

And I hope shortly to see he come to that good-m [...]ns end, it will save G [...]ig the trouble.

Where am I—O sick, Awe—Awe,

A Bason Nurse, quickly:—so—up with it Women—so 'tis well.

God blesse us, Whaa is here?—What blacke stuffe is this?

Nothing but Atra bilis or melauchollicke adust, throw't aside, throw't aside, I have many times my selfe vomited the like.

I believe you indeed Mrs. Sa-yand-seal, for (good People) it is no lesse than and Heresie Blasphemy, which during her health she wink'd at and swallowed, and now in her weaknesse up it is come: And—let me see—there is something else in the bowle—What is this?—A scrowle?—and something writ in it too?—Reade it Gentlemen, I warrant she hath uttered her minde in it.

Gentlemen, I am sorry she's come again, I was in good hope she would have gone this bout, but (believe me) she's not long liv'd, the next newes from Wales sets her packing, if that from the North do not do it before.

God blesse and save Him.