Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

ACT. V.

Scene 27.

Enter the General, and sits in a melancholly posture. Enters Affectionata, and stands with a sad countenance.

The General sees him.

LOrd Singularity.

What makes thee look so sad, my boy?

Affectionata.

To see you sit so melancholly.

Lord Singul.

Clear up thy countenance, for its not a deadly melancholly, though it is a troublesome one.

Affectionata.

May I be so bold to ask the cause of it.

Lord Singul.

The cause is, a cruel Mistriss.

Affectionata.

Have you a Mistriss, and can she be cruel?

Lord Singularity.

O! Women are Tyrants, they daw us on to love, and then denies our suits.

Affectionata.

Will not you think me rude, If I should question you?

Lord Singul.

No, for thy questions delights me more, than my Mistriss de∣nials grieves me.

Affectionata.

Then give me leave to ask you, whether your suit be just?

Lord Singul.

Just, to a Lovers desires.

Affectionata.

What is your desire?

Lord Singul.

To lye with her.

Affectionata.

After you have married her?

Lord Singularity.

Marry her saist thou, I had rather be banish'd from that Sex for ever, than marry one, and yet I love them well.

Affectionata.

Why have you such an adversion to marriage, being lawfull and honest.

Lord Singul.

Because I am affraid to be a Cuckold!

Affectionata.

Do you think there is no chaste women?

Lord Singularity.

Faith boy, I believe very few, and those that are men, knows not where to find them out, for all that are not married, professes cha∣stity, speaks soberly, and looks modestly, but when they are martyed, they are more wild than Bachalins, far worse than Satyres, making their Husbands horns far greater than a Stags, having more branches sprouts thereon.

Affectionata.

And doth he never cast those horns?

Lord Singul.

Yes, if he be a Widower, he casts his horns, only the marks remains, otherwise he bears them to his grave.

Affectionata.

But put the case you did know a woman that was chaste; would not you marry her?

Lord Singul.

That is a question not to be resolved, for no man can be resol∣ved, whether a womam can be chaste or not.

Affectionata fetches a greater sighe.

Lord Singul.

Why do you sighe, my boy?

Affectionata.

Because all women are false, or thought to be so, that wise men dares not trust them.

Lord Singularity.

But they are fools, that will not try, and make use of them, if they can have them; wherefore I will go, and try my Mistriss once again.

Exeunt.

Scene. 28.

Enter the Lady Ignorance, and her Maid.

She hears a noise.

LAdy Ignorance.

What a noise they make below, they will disturb my Husbands study; go and tell those of my Servants, that I will turn them away for their carelesness, as that they cannot place, set, or hold things sure, but let them fall to maké such a noise.

Maid.

I shall.

maid Ex.

Lady Ignorance.

It shall be my study how to order my house without noise, wherefore all my Servants shall be dumb, although not deaf, and I will take none, but such as have corns on their feet, that they may tread gently, and all my Houshold-vessel shall be of wood, for wood makes not such a noise when it chance to fall, or is hit against a wall, as metal doth, which rings like bells, when it is but touched, neither will I have Houshold-vessels of Earth, for earthen-pots, pans and the like; when they fall and break, sounds as if a stone∣wall fell.

Ex.

Scene 29.

Enter the General, and three or four Commanders.

GEneral.

On my soul Gentlemen, the boy is an honest boy, and no wayes guilty of this you tax him for.

Commanders.

Pardon us, my Lord, for giving your Excellence notice that the States are jealouse of him for a Spie, but we do not any wayes accuse him.

General.

Will the States examine him, say you?

Commanders.

So we hear, my Lord.

General.

Well Gentlemen, pray leave me for this time, and I will take care the boy shall be forth-coming, whensoever the State shall require him.

Commanders.

Your Lordships humble Servants —

Commanders Ex.

The General solus.

General.

A Spie, it cannot be, for he is neither covetous, nor malicious, re∣vengefull, nor irreligious, but I will try him.

Exit.

Scene 30.

Enter the Lady Bashfulls Chamber-maid, and Mrs. Reformer her Gentlewoman.

CHamber-maid.

Mrs. Reformer, pray tell me who that handsome Gentleman is, which follows my Lady about?

Reformer.

He is one that is Noble, and Rich, and is in love with my Lady.

Chamber-maid.

Truly it is the strangest way of wooing, that ever was, for my Lady goeth blushing out of one room into another, and he follows her at the heels: In my conscience my Lady is ashamed to sit down, or to bid him leave her company, and surely they must needs be both very weary of walking, but sure he will leave her, when it is time to go to bed.

Reformer.

It is to be hoped he will.

Enter the Lady Bashfull, and Sir Serious Dumb following her.

Reformer.

Madam, you will tire your self and the Gentleman, with walking about your house, wherefore pray sit down.

Lady Bashfull.

What! To have him gaze upon my face.

Reformer.

Why, your face is a handsome face, and the owner of it is ho∣nest, wherefore you need not be ashamed, but pray rest your self.—

Lady Bashfull.

Pray perswade him to leave me, and then I will.

Reformer.

Sir, my Lady intreats you to leave her to her self.

Sir Serious Dumb writes then, and gives Reformer his Table-book to read.

Reformer.

He writes he cannot leave you, for if his body should depart, his soul will remain still with you.

Lady Bashfull.

That will not put me out of countenance, because I shall not be sensible of its presence, wherefore I am content he should leave his soul, so that he will take his body away.

He writes, and gives Reformer the Book.

Reformer reads.

He writes, that if you will give him leave once a day to see you, that he will depart, and that he will not disturb your thoughts, he will only wait upon your person for the time he lives, he cannot keep himself long from you.

Lady Bashfull.

But I would be alone.

Reformer.

But if he will follow you, you must indure that with patience, you cannot avoid.

Sir Serious Dumb goeth to the Lady Bashfull, and kisseth her hand, and Ex.

Reformer.

You see he is so civil, as he is unwilling to displease you.

Lady Bashfull.

Rather than I will be troubled thus; I will go to some other parts of the World.

Reformer.

In my conscience, Madam, he will follow you, wheresoever you go.

Lady Bashfull.

But I will have him shut out of my house.

Reformer.

Then he will lye at your gates, and so all the Town will take no∣tice of it.

Lady Bashfull.

Why so, they will howsoever, by his often visits.

Reformer.

But not so publick.

Exeunt.

Scene 31.

Enter the General, and Affectionata.

Lord Singularity.

Affectionata. Thou must carry a Letter from me, to my Mistriss.

Affectionata.

You will not marry her, you say.

Lord Singul.

No.

Affectionata.

Then pardon me, my Lord, for though I would assist your honest love by any service I can do, yet I shall never be so base an Instrument, as to produce a crime.

Lord Singul.

Come, come, thou shalt carry it, and I will give thee 500. pounds for thy service.

Affectionata.

Excuse me, my Lord.

Lord Singularity.

I will give thee a thousand pounds.

Affectionata.

I shall not take it, my Lord.

Lord Singul.

I will give thee five thousand, nay ten thousand pounds.

Affectionata.

I am not covetous, my Lord.

Lord Singularity.

I will make thee Master of my whole Estate, for without the assistance, I cannot injoy my Mistriss, by reason she will trust none with our Loves, but thee.

Affectionata.

Could you make me Master of the whole World, it could not tempt me to do an action base, for though I am poor, I am honest, and so honest, as I cannot be corrupted, or bribed there-from.

Lord Singularity.

You said you loved me?

Affectionata.

Heaven knows I do above my life, and would do you any ser∣vice that honour did allow of.

Lord Singularity.

You are more scrupulous than wise.

Affectionata.

There is an old saying, my Lord, that to be wise, is to be honest.

Exeunt.

Scene 32.

Enter Sir Peaceable Studious, and meets his Ladies maid.

Sir P. Studious.

Where is your Lady?

Maid.

In her Chamber, Sir.

Sir P. Studious.

Pray her to come to me?

Maid.

Yes Sir.

Sir P. Studious, Exit.

Enter another Maid to the first.

1. Maid.

Lord, Lord! What a creature my Master is become; since he fell into his musing again, he looks like a melancholy Ghost, that walks in the shades of Moon-shine, or if there be no Ghost, such as we fancie, just such a one seems her, when a week since, he was as fine a Gentleman as one should see amongst a thousand.

2. Maid.

That was because he kiss'd you, Nan.

1. Maid.

Faith it was but a dull clownish part, to meet a Maid that is not ill-favoured, and not make much of her, who perchance have watch'd to meet him, for which he might have clap'd her on the cheek, or have chuck'd her under the chin, or have kiss'd her, but to do or say nothing, but bid me call my Lady, was such a churlish part? Besides, it seemed neither manly, gallantly, nor civilly.

2. Maid.

But it shewed him temperate and wise, not minding such frivilous and troublesome creatures as women are.

1. Maid.

Prithy, it shews him to be a miserable, proud, dull fool.

2. Maid.

Peace, some body will hear you, and then you will be turn'd away.

1. Maid.

I care not, for it they will not turn me away, I will turn my self away, and seek another service, for I hate to live in the house with a Stoick.

Scene 33.

Enter the General, and Affectionata.

AFfectionata.

By your face, Sir, there seems a trouble in your mind, and I am restless until I know your griefs.

Lord Singularity.

It is a secret I dare not trust the aire with!

Affectionata.

I shall be more secret than the aire, for the aire is apt to di∣vulge by retorting Ecohes back, but I shall be as silent as the Grave.

Lord Singul.

But you may be tortured to confess the truth.

Affectionata.

But I will not confess the truth, if the confession may any wayes hurt, or disadvantage you; for though I will not belye truth by speaking falsely, yet I will conceal a truth, rather than betray a friend. Especially, my Lord and Master: But howsoever, since your trouble is of such concern, I shall not with to know it, for though I dare trust my self, yet perchance you dare not trust me, but if my honest fidelity can serve you any wayes, you may imploy it, and if it be to keep a secret, all the torment that nature hath made, or art invented, shall never draw it from me.

Lord Singul.

Then let me tell thee, that to conceal it, would damn thy soul.

Affectionata.

Heaven bless me! But sure, my Lord, you cannot be guilty of such sins, that those that doth but barely hear, or know them, shall be damned.

Lord Singul,

But to conceal them, is to be an Actor.

Affectionata.

For Heaven sake then keep them close from me, if either they be base or wicked, for though love prompt me to inquire, hoping to give you ease in bearing part of the burthen, yet Heaven knows, I thought my love so honourable placed on such a worthy person, and guiltless soul, as I might love and serve without a scandal, or a deadly sin.

Lord Singularity.

Come, you shall know it.

Affectionata.

I'l rather stop my ears with death.

Lord Singul.

Go, thou art a false boy.

Affectionata.

How false a boy howsoever you think me, I have an honest soul and heart that is ready to serve you in any honest way, but since I am de∣ceived, and couzened into love by false reports, finding the best of man-kind basely wicked, and all the World so bad, that praise nothing good, and strives to poyson vertue, I will inancor my self, and live on Antidotes of prayers, for fear of the infection.

Lord Singul.

And I will not you pray for me?

Affectionata.

I cannot chose, my Lord, for gratitude inforces me; First, because I have loved you, next, because I have served you; and give me leave to kiss your hand, and then there drop some tears at my departure.

Weeping kneels down, and kisses her hand.

Lord Singularity.

Rise, you must not go away until you have cleared your self from being a spie.

Affectionata.

I fear no accusations,

Exeunt.