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. VI.

Enter Andrea, Poggio, Lollio, a Typstaff before them.

Andr.

And can these turmoiles never have an end? Unless we load our heads and shoulders thus Our bodies eke with Justice Capa Pe. And Pepper all our brains with Policie.

Pog.

'Twas time to have a care: I, and a piteous care.

Lol.

A pious care you mean.

Pog.

Well pious then: You'l shew your own wit, whose clothes soever you wear (So do the wits of the time) but as I said,

'Tis time we have a care, for though our Queen, Our School Mistress I would say, be mercifully, idleful It is fit that we be prejudicious in the State.

Lol.

Ju-dicions Brother.

Pog.

Jew in your face. Trip me again?

Andr.

Agree upon't, Brother Sages of the Bench. My Brother Poggio here said very well And learnedly and as I would have said my self? (If you will take his meaning) to wit that as Our Shool Mistris doats upon Clemencie, it is fit that we run mad upon crueltie Someeting her in the midst, we shall jump into the Sadle of Justice.

Pog.

I do say so, without all peradventure For if the Candle of her mercy be not put out, VVe shall shortly, see more honest men then Knaves among us.

Lol.

More Knaves you mean Brother.

Pog.

I mean no more Knaves then your self, Bro∣ther.

Andr.

Agree again, Sage brothers of the Bench: and let no private Itch grow to a put like Scab.

Lol.

Then the point: Do not I understand the purpose of our meeting Here in our pettie Parliament, if I may so call it? Is it nor for a Reformation, to pull down The Queens mercy, and set up our Justice? For the prevention of a superabundance of Treason Dayly practiced against her?

Andr.

Most true. And is it fit therefore that you brabble among your selves, and leave all worse then you found it?

Lol.

No, we will make such a Reformation, that Treason shall not dare to peep over the Hedge of her Dominion, but we will take it by the nose and punish it indignely: most indignely will we punish it?

Pog.

All this I grant: but before we sit and bustle on the Bench, because it is, and that without all per∣adventure, the strst time that ever we play'd so wise a part, is it not fit to take advice among our selves, how to deform our selves in our office.

Lol.

De did you say? in in you should say.

Pog.

In with your Horns: how now?

Andr.

Nay Brothers o'th Bench.

Pog.

Does he think to control me? because he has been a Sexton, and a little more book learned then a Lay man with an Amen forsooth?

Andr.

Nay Bro∣thers: this will control the business.

Pog.

Or because he has been in many a mans grave before him, does he think no man so deep in grave matters as himself?

Lol.

Well, I forbear.

Pog.

Shall he bid me In, In? as if I were not his inserior?

Lol.

I forbear still.

Pog.

I will shew my self his inferior I, and a greater man then he; and to prove my self a great man, let him hang one, I will save two.

Lol.

Still orbear.

Andr.

Pray Brothers yet agree: and remember we use no mercy

Pog.

Let him that uses any mercy lack mercy, for my part.

Lol.

Then let us sit, and fall to the Business.

Pog.

Sit and fall: was that so wisely spoken of a book-learned man now?

Lol.

Still I forbear Passion becomes not Judges, Now bring in the offender, the new and last offender.

And.

Pray thinke on your speeches.

[Exit Typstaff.]

Lol.

I have made speeches that I hope shall make Traytors.

And.

How?

Lol.

Asham'd to wear their own heads on their shoulders.

Andr.

A Traytors head is not his own head: 'tis forfeired by Law to

the King; 'tis the Kings head.

Pog.

I say a Traytors head is his own Head: and a good Subjects head is the Kings Head.

Lol.

I say that's Treason: and the head thou wearest is not thine own then, if thou beest a good Subject.

Pog.

Wilt thou tell me that?

Andr.

Passion becomes not Judges, Brothers o'th the Bench.

The offender comes, Now they are hot, he shall be sure to smoak for it.