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

Scene 8.

Enter the Lady Victoria, and many of her Amazons, then enters a Messenger from the Masculine Army.

MEssenger.

May it please your Excellence, our Lord General and the rest of the Commanders have sent you and your Heroicks a Letter, desiring it may be read in a full Assembly.

Lady Victoria.

One of you take the Letter and read it.

One of the women takes the Letter and reads it to all the Company.

THE LETTER.

To the most Excellent of her Sex, and her most worthy Heroickesses.

YOu Goddesses on Earth, who have the power and dominion over men, 'tis you we worship and adore, we pray and implore your better opinions of us, than to believe we are so unjust as to take the Victory out of your fair hands, or so vain-glo∣rious as to attribute it to our selves, or so ungratefull as not to acknowledg our lives and liberties from your valours, wisdoms, and good fortune, or so imprudent as to neglect your power, or so ill-bred as to pass by you without making our addresses, or so foolish as to go about any action without your knowledge, or so unmannerly as to do anything without your leave; wherefore we entreat you and pray you to believe that we have so much honour in us, as to admire your beauties, to be attentive to your dis∣courses, to do••e on your persons, to honour your virtues, to divulge your sweet gra∣ces, to praise your behaviours, to wait your commands, to obey your directions, to be proud of your favours, and we wear our lives only for your service, and believe we are not only taken Captives by your Beauties, but that we acknowledge we are bound as your Slaves by your valours: wherefore we all pray that you may not misinterpret our affections and care to your persons, in believing we sent you away because we were weary of you, which if so, it had been a sin unpardonable, but we sent you away for your safety, for Heaven knows your Departure was our Hell, and your Absence our Torments; but we confess our errours, and do humbly beg our pardons, for if you had accompanied us in our Battels, you had kept us safe, for had we fought in your presence, our Enemies had never overcome us, since we take courage from your Eyes, life from your smiles, and victory from your good wishes, and had become Conque∣rours by your incouragements, and so we might have triumpht in your favours, but hereafter your rules shall be our methods, by which we will govern all our actions, attending only wholy your directions, yet give us leave humbly to offer our advise as Subjects to their Princess if you think ••it, we think it best to follow close the victory, lest that our Enemies recruit their forces, with a sufficient strength to beat us out of

what we have gained, or at least to hinder and oppose our entrance, and hopes of Conquering them, where if you will give us leave we will besiege and enter their Towns, and rase their Walls down to the ground, which harbour their disorders, of∣fending their Neighbours Kingdoms; yet we are not so ambitous as to desire to be Commanders, but to join our forces to yours, and to be your assistants, and as your Common Souldiers; but leaving all these affairs of War to your discretion, offering our selves to your service,

We kiss your hands, and take our leaves for this time.

All the women fall into a great laughter, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Lady Victoria.

Noble Heroickesses, by your valours, and constant, and re∣solute proceedings, you have brought your Tyrants to be your Slaves; those that Commanded your absence, now humbly sue your presence, those that thought you a hindrance have felt your assistance, the time is well altered since we were sent to retreat back from the Masculine Army; and now no∣thing to be done in that Army without our advise, with an humble desire they may join their forces with ours: but gallant Heroickesses, by this you may perceive we were as ignorant of our selves as men were of us, think∣ing our selves shifdels, weak, and unprofitable Creatures, but by our actions of War we have proved our selves to be every way equal with men; for what we want of strength, we have supplied by industry, and had we not done what we have done, we should have lived in ignorance and slavery.

All the Female Commanders.

All the knowledge of our selves, the honour of renown, the freedome from slavery, and the submission of men, we ac∣knowledge from you; for you advised us, counselled us, instructed us, and encouraged us to those actions of War: wherefore to you we owe our thanks, and to you we give our thanks.

Lady Victoria.

What answer will you return to the Masculine Army?

All the Commanders.

What answer you will think best.

Lady Victoria.

We shall not need to write back an answer, for this Mes∣senger may deliver it by word of mouth; wherefore Sir pray remember us to your General and his Commanders, and tell them, that we are willing upon their submissions to be friends, and that we have not neglected our good Fortune, for we have laid siege to so considerable a Fort, which if ta∣ken, may give an easy passage into the Kingdome, which Fort we will de∣liver to their forces when they come, that they may have the honour of ta∣king it; for tell them, we have got honour enough in the Battel we fought, and victory we did win.

Exeunt.