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

THE SECOND PART OF BELL IN CAMPO.

ACT I.

Scene 1.

Enter Doctor Comfort, and Doll Pacify.

DOll Pacify.

Good Master Priest go comfort my old Lady.

Doctor Comfort.

If you will Comfort me, I will strive to Com∣fort her.

Doll Pacify.

So we shall prove the Crums of Comfort.

Doctor Comfort.

But is my Lady so sad still?

Doll Pacify.

Faith to day she hath been better than I have seen her, for she was so patient as to give order for Blacks; but I commend the young Lady Madam Iantil, who bears out the Siege of Sorrow most Couragi∣ously, and on my Conscience I believe will beat grief from the fort of her heart, and become victorious over her misfortunes.

Doctor Comfort.

Youth is a good Souldier in the Warfare of Life, and like a valiant Cornet or Ensign, keeps the Colours up, and the Flag flying, in despite of the Enemies, and were our Lady as young as Madam Iantil, she would grieve less, but to lose an old Friend after the loss of a young Beauty is a double, nay a trible affliction, because there is little or no hopes to get another good Husband, for though an old woman may get a Hus∣band, yet ten thousand to one but he will prove an Enemy, or a Devill.

Doll Pacify.

It were better for my Lady if she would marry again, that her Husband should prove a Devill than a Mortal Enemy, for you can free her from the one though not from the other, for at your words, the great Devil will avoid or vanish, and you can bind the lesser Devils in Chains, and whip them with holy Rods untill they rore again.

Doctor Comfort.

Nay, we are strong enough for the Devil at all times, and in all places, neither can he deceive us in any shape, unless it be in the shape of a young Beauty, and then I confess he overcomes us, and torments our hearts in the fire of love, beyond all expression.

Doll Pacify.

If I were a Devil I would be sure to take a most beautifull shape to torment you, but my Lady will torment me if I stay any lon∣ger here.

Exeunt.

Scene 2.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1 GEnt.

Sir, you being newly come from the Army, pray what news?

2 Gent.

I suppose you have heard how our Army was forced to fight by the Enemies provocations, hearing the Lord General lay sick, whereupon the Generals Lady the Lady Victoria, caused her Amazonians to march towards the Masculine Army, and to entrench some half a mile di∣stance therefrom, which when the Masculine Army heard thereof, they were very much troubled thereat, and sent a command for them to retreat back, fearing they might be a disturbance, so a destruction unto them by, do∣ing some untimely or unnecessary action; but the Female Army returned the Masculine Army an Answer, that they would not retreat unless they were beaten back, which they did believe the Masculine Sex would not, ha∣ving more honour than to fight with the Female Sex; but if the men were so base, they were resolved to stand upon their own defence; but if they would let them alone, they would promise them upon the honour of their words not to advance any nearer unto the Masculine Army, as long as the Mascu∣line Army could assault their Enemies, or defend themselves, and in this posture I left them.

Exeunt.

Scene 3.

Enter the Lady Victoria, and her Heroickesses.

LAdy Victoria.

Noble Heroickesses, I have intelligence that the Army of Reformations begins to flag, wherefore now or never is the time to prove the courage of our Sex, to get liberty and freedome from the Female Slavery, and to make our selves equal with men: for shall Men only sit in Honours chair, and Women stand as waiters by? shall only Men in Trium∣phant Chariots ride, and Women run as Captives by? shall only men be Conquerors, and women Slaves? shall only men live by Fame, and women dy in Oblivion? no, no, gallant Heroicks raise your Spirits to a noble pitch, to a deaticall height, to get an everlasting Renown, and infinite praises, by honourable, but unusual actions: for honourable Fame is not got only by contemplating thoughts which lie lasily in the Womb of the Mind, and prove Abortive, if not brought forth in living deeds; but worthy Heroick∣esses, at this time Fortune desires to be the Midwife, and if the Gods and Goddesses did not intend to favour our proceedings with a safe deliverance, they would not have offered us so fair and fit an opportunity to be the Mo∣thers of glorious Actions, and everlasting Fame, which if you be so unna∣tural to strangle in the Birth by fearfull Cowardize, may you be blasted with Infamy, which is worse than to dye and be forgotten; may you be whipt with the torturing tongues of our own Sex we left behind us, and may you be scorned and neglected by the Masculine Sex, whilst other women are

preferred and beloved, and may you walk unregarded untill you become a Plague to your selves; but if you Arm with Courage and fight valiantly, may men bow down and worship you, birds taught to sing your praises, Kings offer up their Crowns unto you, and honour inthrone you in a mighty power.

May time and destiny attend your will, Fame be your scribe to write your actions still; And may the Gods each act with praises fill.

All the women.

Fear us not, fear us not, we dare and will follow you wheresoever and to what you dare or will lead us, be it through the jawes of Death.

THE PRAYER.

Lady Victoria.

GReat Mars thou God of War, grant that our Squadrons may like unbroaken Clouds move with intire Bodyes, let Courage be the wind to drive us on, and let our thick swell'd Army darken their Sun of hope with black despair, let us powre down showers of their blood, to quench the firy flames of our revenge.

And where those showers fall, their Deaths as seeds Sown in times memory sprout up our deeds; And may our Acts Triumphant gat lands make, Which Fame may wear for our Heroicks sake.

Exeunt.

Scene 4.

Enter Doctor Comfort, and Doll Pacify.

DOctor Comfort.

Doll, how doth our Lady since the burying of my Patron?

Doll Pacify.

Faith she begins now to have regard to her health, for she take Iackalato every Morning in her Bed falling, and then she hath a mess of Gelly broath for her Breakfast, and drinks a Cup of Sack before Dinner, and eats a Whitewine Cawdle every afternoon, and for her Supper she hath new laid Eggs, and when she goes to Bed, she drinks a hearty draught of Muskadine to make her sleep well; besides, if she chances to wake in the Night, she takes comfortable Spirits, as Angelica, Aniseeds, Besor, aquami∣rabilis, and the like hot waters, to comfort her heart, and to drive away all Melancholy thoughts.

Doctor Comfort.

Those things will do it if it be to be done, but I am sorry that my Lady hath sold all my Patrons Horses, Saddles, Arms, Cloaths, and such like things at the Drums head, and by out-cryes, to get a little the more money for them, I fear the World will condemn her, as believing her to be covetous.

Doll Pacify.

O that's nothing, for what she loses by being thought co∣vetous, she will regain by being thought rich, for the World esteems and respects nothing so much as riches.

Exeunt.