Princeps rhetoricus or Pilomachia· ye combat of caps. Drawn forth into arguments, general and special. In usum Scholæ Masonensis : et in gratiam totius auditorii mercurialis.

ACT. II.

Princeps Pompaticus: or, The Entertainment. The Argument Historicall.

ATlas minor, alias Misrule, ascends his Astronomical Ca∣binet. A Scematicall figure is erected at the command of the Prince de pileo restaurando. His censure upon Astro∣logie. This course failing, by the consent of the Court, a Hue and Cry is voiced. Sir Shone the Proclaimer. An Eccho answers within; he runs in after the Eccho, his supposed coun∣triman; instead of him, fals upon Merlins Chorister, the old welch Bard; who by the Harmonious power of his voice, sum∣mons in (in three severall dances) 18 Caps distinct.

The Song between Chorister and Eccho.

Choris.

ECcho, O Eccho; thou Oracle, O Eccho, Eccho tel.

Eccho.

What shall the Eccho, Eccho tell?

Choris.

The Scholars Cap is lost, how shal't be found?

Eccho.

Charm Atlas, Charme the Caps from under ground;

By six and six, so shall the Cap be found.

Choris.

Caps all, O Caps all, appeare at Ecchoes call, Six great, six small.

Eccho.

Here, here we rise at Ecchoes call.

Choris.

When you the Viols heare, brave Sprights appeare.

Eccho.

Sound Viols sound, for at your sound we'l venter. Roome, roome for Caps, by six and six we enter.

The first Dance, consisting of the six Gram∣maticall Persons.

1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.
I.	Thou.	He.	We.	Ye.	They.

After the Dance they impeach each other De furto Pilei. I puts it off to Thou, Thou to He, so the rest alternative; but neither I, Thou, nor He, We, Ye, nor They: Ergo tandem Nemo, Nemo is the man, No body has it.

Morally alluding to the depraved nature of children; accusing and excusing; peevish lyars: the Tutors taske to cure.

And also implies, that men themselves act the Childrens Scean; Instead of vindicating, often recriminating, waspish, serpentine, childish, saying, unsaying, gain-saying. Quis enim non ab Ovo mendax?

And thirdly, it alludes to the Academians contradictory hu∣mour, Affirmo, Nego.

The second Dance consisted of six Gipsies, Cap-men, of severall Colours.

THe intent of this, was like the other, but in a higher way. Suggere jam Quintiliane Colorem; every man hath some co∣lour for what he sayes, or does; in a severall cast of naturall Rhetorick.

But by these colours is primely intended the principles and depth of mysticall Philosophie: in which the idle Scholars Cap is seldome found.

The third Dance was of the chiefe Faculties, personated lively.

1 A Cardinall.	A Miter.	Signifying	Degrees of preferment.
2 A Master of Arts	Square Cap.	Degrees of Learning.
3 The Falkner.	Montero.	Degrees of Gentry.
4 Seaman.	Saylors Thrum.	Degrees of travell. & Forrain.
5 Souldier.	An Helmet.	Degrees of Martial Officers.
6 Smith.	Fuddle-cap.	Degrees of Trades.

MORALL.

Thus every Cap what ere it be, Is still a sign of some degree.

The Dance ends merily. Lose-Cap breaks his confining Circle, and chops in among the Caps, dancing; is defended from their Battouns by the Souldiers buckler, and carried away upon his shoulders; the Seamen advancing one leg, fuddle-Cap the other, shooing him in the exit.

The sum of the intendment, belongs to oratoricall practice; these 6 be subjects of eloquence; work for a wise head, and a win∣ning tongue. A sight proposed to the Prince, what manner of men he has to deal with; that will be great or wise.

ACT. II. SCENA II.

After that all vanish and nothing effected, Atlas demands fur∣ther of the Merlins Chorister whats to be done. He an∣swers again in SONG.

Cho.

Eccho, O Eccho, for Merlins sake O Eccho, once more tell,

Eccho.

What shall the Eccho once more tell?

Cho.

Tell who the Cap doth weare, and who goes clear,

Eccho.

No figure cast by Spel, or Charm, or Magick: But Scholar-like, by Grammar, Wit, and Logick.

Atlas interprets the Oracle, the Prince likes and consents; and commands a preparation Scholasticall, de Pilei disquisitione Etymologica.