Five nevv playes, viz. The English moor, or the mock-marriage. The love-sick court, or the ambitious politique: Covent Garden weeded. The nevv academy, or the nevv exchange. The queen and concubine. / By Richard Brome.

Scoen. VII.

Enter to them, Curate, Crier, Pedro, Lollio, Poggio.

Crier.

O yes! O yes! O yes!

Cur.

Silence Crier, suspend the Proclamation, to preventa bomina∣tion.

Lod.

Heaven has sent us ayd.

Fab.

O we are prevented!

Cur.

On, on; sa, sa; down with their VVeapons, up with their heels, till we insect and rip up the in∣trails of the Cause: what an Assassinate was here at∣tempted?

O infausta D••es! two swords against the naked vvomb of a VVoman! and none but weapon∣less men to assist her!

viz.

Senex & Ineptus.

Andr.

That is to say, Give me their Swords un∣der my Fools Coat, I'll hurt no body.

Cur.

Upon my facundity, an elegant construction by the Fool. So, I am cedunt arma Togae.

Fab.

For our attempt Sir, we vvill answer it: vve are for the King.

Car.

Then vve are for the King, Sir; & in nomine Majestatis, we command you to attend our present Office, and then we will examine yours.

Loll.

And then if you deserve the Gallows, you shall be sure on't: a short breathing-vvhile shall be no hinderance to you. So Crier lift up your Voice, and proceed.

Crier.

O yes, O yes, O yes: By the Kings most Excellent Majesty, a Proclamation, prohibiting upon pain of Death, any Relief to be given unto the ba∣nish'd Eulalia.

Cur.

Now say, VVhereas upon just and lawful Tryal.

Crier.

VVhereas, &c.

Cur.

The said Eulalia.

Crier.

The said Eulalia.

Eul.

I am that hapless she, that for relief will not beg, nor borrow, nor take of yee.

[Lod. & Cur. aside.]

Pedr.

'Tis she, and at the price of Life I vvill re∣lieve her.

[aside]

Pog.

How? vvhat have vve done? In relieving her from killing, we are all become Traytors.

Loll.

That's an idle fear: vve knew her not, VVhich now vve do, vve may again reliver her Into their hands, for them to kill her yet: And then there's no harm done.

Pog.

So let us give them their swords again; and vvhen they have done their vvork, to make all sure,

vve'll hang them for their pains, and so keep the Law in our own hands vvhile vve have it.

Cur.

O homines insani! quomodo erravistis? The woman must be sav'd á manubus istis. They are Catilinarian Traytors.

Lod.

You Sir, have reason; you have found her Life The King has pardon'd: and although her Doom In this her Banishment were heavy, and A punishment even unto Death, but that Good soul she works and labours for her food, You find not yet 'tis lawful any kill her.

Cur.

Recte dixisti Domine: therefore Sir, You that are for the King, as you pretend, Shew us th' Imperative mood or warrant for her death, Or we shall put you into the Optativa mood, By punishment to wish your selves dead oftner Or more times than bona fide there be Tenses In all the Moods of all my Accidences.

Eul.

For my part Ile forgive them, if they will Deliver truely who corrupted them, To rid the world of this weary burden; that I may pray for them.

Pedr.

Can such a goodness deserve so fowl a Cen∣sure?

Eul.

But first tell me: Are not you two the men that gave false evidence at my Arraignment touch∣ing injur'd Sforza?

Fab.

We gave no evidence, nor false nor true.

Andr.

No countrey-woman, they had no such Beards. But I will try if I can make'm like'em: O rare! what a nimble Barber am I? Lod. They are the self-same men, the two cashier'd Lieutenants that Sforza should have hang'd for mutinies in the late Wars.

Pedr.

What hinders now their execution?

Cur.

Digito compesce labellum: silence good Pedro. I do commend your zeal: but Periculum est in via, We will walk safely: for this time therefore wee'l do onely thus, Double our guards upon 'em, and away to prison with them, Est locus in carcere quod Tullianum appellatur. We will presume to know who 'twas that set you awork, before you go,

Ambo.

You will be made to answer it.

Cur.

A word more, wee'l hang you presently, and answer that too: Abite hinc in malam Rem: away with 'm.

Loll.

Ah Rogues, wee'l hamper ye.

Pogg.

Kill a woman 'cause she was a Queen?

Loll.

Wee'l hamper ye, and halter ye, and do ye hear? hang ye.

Exeunt Lollio and Poggio, with Fabio and Strozza.

Andr.

Abi hinc & malam rem, away with'm.

[Lodovico, Eulalia. Petro aside]

Cur.

As I am Erudite, idoneus Adolescens, A very towardly Juvenis. Cupis at{que} doceri?

Andr.

What's that?

Cur.

Wilt thou be a Scholar?

Andr.

After you is manners.

Cur.

Now by mine intellect, discreetly spoken. Be but my Pupil, I will make thee one, And dip thy Caput in pure Helicon.

Andr.

Pray what's my Caput? and what's your Helicon?

Cur.

Still a desire to learn: this is no Fool. And by the company hee's in, I do suspect, Simile non est Idem: hee's too wise, To be the thing he seems but in disguise: Some Lord of Court, his outside non obstante.

Lod.

It is confess'd Sir, I am Lodovico, Somtimes a Lord of Court when this was Queen.

Cur.

O Oedipus! I meant this Juvenal.

Andr.

No truely Sir, your Simile non est Idem. I am no Lord, what ere you like me to. What I may pass for in the Country I know not, At Court I was a Fool when she was Queen.

Lod.

VVe dare not call her Queen now: but while we Relieve her not, though we associate her, VVe are the Kings true Subjects: and with your leave, Disclaiming of all Honourable Titles, VVe'll live amongst ye.

Pedr.

O gracious woman, so I may safely call you, VVho once preserv'd my life.

Eul.

Mention not that.

Pedr.

I ought not to conceal it: therefore know That some years past being imploy'd to Court To render the Kings Rents for this Province: VVhich though I duely did, there was a Lord, A strange officious one, that charg'd me deeply, And all our Province, with detested breach Of our Allegiance: at which my rage Banish'd my reason, and confounded so My senses, that without respect of Person, Or Place, which was the Danger of the Law, I struck him there in Court: and was adjudg'd To suffer death for't, till you won my Pardon.

Lod.

VVere you that man?

Andr.

And 'twas my Cozen Lord'I warrant that you box'd.

Pedr.

'Tis he that braggs so much his truth unto the Crown; I need not name him.

Cur.

Sed nunc quid sequitur? Pray mark the issue of this Court quarrell. By the way,'tis well you have renounc'd all qualitie of Court.

Here were no living for you else; for know, Since this mans trouble, not a Gentleman, Much less a Courtier dares breath amongst us,

But be as you pretend and write, but Yeoman: You shall live Jovially with us and welcome, At your own charge, your own Viaticum.

[Enter Lollio and Poggio.]

Loll.

We have laid up The murderous minded men in dungeon deep, Clogg'd them with Ploughchains, Fetters and Horse∣locks.

Pog.

VVe'l teach 'm to kill Queens:

Cur.

Cave, caveto.

Lol.

VVe mean this woman, this discarded Queen.

Exeunt Omnes.