The good vvomens cryes against the excise of all their commodities. Shewing, as the businesse now stands, they are in no case able to bear such heavy pressures, and insupportable burthens, occasioned by the iuncto's new impost on their wares, whereby they are like to fall into great want of trading, and putting off their commodities at the prizes formerly, to the utter undoing of their deare husbands and families for ever. Therefore having a fellow-feeling of one anothers lamentable and languishing cases, (notwithstanding any act to the contrary) have put forwards themselves to seeke redresse of their aggrievances, and inabilities of their over-burthened husbands insufficiencies, and unsatisfying performances in their severall occupations; have convened together in a feminine convention in Doe-little-lane, and tendred their aggrievances and complaints to the consideration of the Common-wealth; desiring speedy redresse therein. / Written by Mary Stiff, Chair-woman, in vineger verse.

The good VVomens CRYES against the Excise, on all their Commodities.

Good People all that heare our Cryes, Pitty poore Womens Miseries.

WE cannot now set on the Pot, with a Sheeps-head dye of the rot, Oynon nor Oatemell use God-wot; (pox take them:) When that we goe to salt our meat, or to make Pyes to bake and eat, this damn'd Excise lies in the heat that bakes them: We cannot wash our Smocks or Shirts, when we have gilded them by squirts, but straight in an Excise-man blurts, and smells too't. Excise for Soape the Knave re∣quires, Excise for Log-wood us'd by Dyers, to maintain Rogues, Knaves, Flooles, and Lyars, pray looke too't. Tobacco two shillings the pound, the Devill sure will them confound, good people pray come curse them round, and spare not. Excise on Ale, Excise on Salt, Excise on Cloath, Excise on Malt; Excise on what so ere you call't, and feare not. All Linnen fine or course must pay, Ex∣cise, or else they'l tak't away, Lord who ere thought to see this day, in England? for Feather-beds, for Chairs, for Stooles; for Childrens Babyes, Caps for Pooles, and for all handy-crafts-mens tools, these Knaves stand: Excise for Paper I must pay, or else my Muse must pine away; they care not what I write or say, in an∣ger. Excise they have-for Pots and Pans, for Pigins, Noggins, and for Cans, yet Harry Martins ware free stands, to bang her Excise strong as Aquvaita the Juncto hath to make them mighty; and when they'r warm'd, O then they'l fight ye, with ten Whores;

Excise on Sugar browne and white, Excise on Candles that wee light, but when King Charles comes, then wee'l fight, and quit scores. Excise on Spirits they doe lay, but from such Spirits Lord we pray, deliver us and chase away, these vermin; they doe Ex∣cise Wine by the Tun, and all the Liquors that doe run, a Halter catch them, or a Gun, that harme men: Sweet Sugar-Candy can∣not scape, no more then can the juice of Grape; Ferriting, Shoo∣strings, Laces, Tape, they get by: Hatbands, Ribands, Gloves, and Hats; and for our Beds the very Mats, Tinder-Boxes and Rat-Traps, they live by. Excise for Pepper, Currans, Figs; for Capons, Rabbits, and for Pigs, for Childrens Tops and Whirlygigs, pox rate them. For Earthen Ware and Skins of Leather, a Halter tye them fast together, that they may hang in wind and weather, to state them: Excise on Cheese and Butter too, the more for to augment our woe, good God what will these Rebells doe? to begger's. Excise on Glasses brittle Ware; Excise on all save of our care, we must lie hard, and hardly fare, guds doggers: Excise on Pewter, Tin, Lead, Brasse; to furnish out each ignorance Asse; and Assessments for Sir Thomas, and Cromwell: thus doe they rack, thus doe they rave; the more we give, the more they crave; else plundered by each Rogue and Knave, and Rake-hell. The Bi∣shops Lands and all their store, they've lately sold, and yet are poore, and like the Horse-Leach cry more, more, and threaton. But if all things hit but aright, and Charles the second comes to fight; the Rebells will be hang'd downe-right, or beaten: Tom Ladle then will rue his folly, and Bradshaw Jack be melancholly, the Loyallists be briske and jolly, to heare i; Though these have murthered the King, they must not thinke to scape the string; a joyfull sight to see them swing, ne're feare it. The roguerie that these Knaves have hatch'd, in all the world cannot be match d, but in their snare they will be catch'd, in halters: Wee'l Bonfires light with Cromwells Nose, and Tyburne deck with Charles his foes, and Gregory shall have all their Clothes, when't aliers. Then will the Sisters snot and snivell, and all the Saints make pittious drevil; when Cromwel marches to the devil in earnest. Corbet will close Mourner bee, and Mildmay swing in a whimsie; Hie then quoth Leuthall, up goe we, intrue jeast. Such Hypocrits can ne∣ver scape, that murther, steale, and commit Rape; for them the mouth of hel doth gape, wide ope; were ever people deceiv'd thus?

was ever King so glorious? or Religion reform'd thus? by Poper Gun powder Traytors did but intend, to bring their King to such an end; but that the Devill was not their friend, betray'd them but these have in an open Hall, with impudence gone beyond all; nor did those blondy Traytors fall, dismay them. They butch∣er'd Charles at his owne gate, they tooke his Jewells, Money, Plate; and call themselves a Free State, by plunder: They sold his Haire, his Blood, and Crowne; they keep the Prince too from his own, were ever such damn'd Traytors knowne, O wonder! They sold his Houshold-stuffe & Goods, his Mannors, Forrests, Chases, Woods; yet seek to shed his Childrens bloods, like Devills: They damn'd their souls by treacherie; sacriledge, and perjurie; of co∣vetousnesse no end we see, of evills. Our Husbands they no work can get, our Children starve for want of meat, and all we earne must make Knaves great, in bravery; whilst Cromwells Trull sits like a Queen; in Cloath of Silver, Sattin green, eats all the dain∣ties can be seen, by slavery: Then doth her Stallion feed his fill, and of his Last then has his will; Morley must make, and Noll must kill, 'tis pretty: each stinking Pusse, that t'other day, served the Hogs, and went to hay, now's clad in the Queens rich aray, 'th'City Whilst Fairfax with's bable-Nose, weares the Kings rich Gloves and Cloaths, and of his Hangings doth dispose, God save us: his Fro that came from Rotterdam and makes the sim∣pleton a R — as proud as is the Devills Damme, out-brave us: whilst Mistris Pride, that stinks of graines, must have two maids beare up her traines, although her legges be full of Blaines, and itchie. These be the Nobles of our Land, greatest in power and command; for which you worke, you fight, you stand, they'l fit ye. When Bradskaw's Doxie doth lie in, she has the Queens Child∣bed linnen, as if the Brat to Charles were Kin, ber Bastard: That great Lollpoop's no sooner up, but has his Caudle in the Kings Cup; and like his blood, doth swallow't up, base dastard: Then doth he unto White-hall hie, with brace of Pages hanging by, to invent more tyranny and treason: but if good women, you'l be rul'd, wee'l be by him no longer fool'd, and that his courage should be cool'd, is reason. Ione Barnet then upright did stand, and silence with her voice command, would take the businesse in ••and, to pox him: to Westminster straight she hies, under the Cloister where he lies, and all her cunning there she tries, to crosse

him pretending great busines she had; of which he said he should be glad, but in the end it proved so to Bradshaw into a roome he tooke her then, and soone commanded out his men; and stoutly they fell to it then, without Law. Ione Burne•• then came back a pace, when Iack had quibl'd her Law-Case, & shriv'd Ione like a-Babe of Grace, and after, to the Committee Ione back did come, and told them the great worke was done; they gave her thanks, and home she run, in laughter. The Women then did chuse a Cryer; and so adjourn'd unto the fire, and did Iones witty trick admire, with wonder; this was the businesse of that day, they all adjourn'd and went their way; and met again the next Thursday, like thunder. The first thing that they took in hand, was the abu∣ses of the Land, and how in baste they might disband, the Army; Then up stood Dell, and Sis, and Sue; and said, that Women the Lurdanes slew, that rob'd good people of their due; and harm yee Quoth Iudeth then, one of my name kill'd H••l••fernes of great fame; and Iael did doe the same to Sisera: did not Ester the Iews preserve; when Haman did from Justice swerve? more lies upon us when we starve, O Merdecay. Hang Haman up agen I cry, that hath sentenc'd us Iews to dye, revenge is fit for tyranny, a Gal∣lowes. Iack Bradshaw shall the same fate feele, and so shall Cooke, Wild, Iermin, Steele, all drunk into perdition reele, what follows? I dare not them with Hell affright, the Worm of Conscience so doth bite, they cannot rest by day nor night in quiet: and when that they doe goe to eat, they still feare poyson in their meat, their jealousie is wonderous great in diet. When they doe think to rest in bed, some bloody vision frights their head, of righteous Charles they murthered at White-hall; but if we doe not end the strife, which must be with their cursed life; of Children, Father, Sonne and Wife, be hang'd all. The Independent race we know, hold Tenents rending to our woe, and Englands fatall over∣throw, do study: but if we cannot understand, how they have late o recome the Land, and now have all at their command, w'are muddy. No Law but th'Sword they will rule by, their boundlesse wills & tyranny; good women all their Acts defie, and curse them: their Father Lucifer and Pride, with Cromwell that damn'd Regicide, and the Citie hath them supply'd, and nurst them. The Common Cuckolds of Guild-hall, with Atkins, sob, Tychburn, and all, that Canaans Grapes hath turn'd to

Gall, and VVorm wood; Caryl, Carter, Gouge, and Nye, that can sweare, forsweare, fawn, and lye, to every wind their sayles they'l try, were nere good: Then in come Meg and loyall Doll, and bid a pox of God take Noll, and all the Rebells in VVhite-hall, con∣founded; quoth Meg the Devill take them all; quoth Doll I hope to see them fall, or else be hang'd before VVhite-hall, each Roundhead. Quoth Sis, a plague take Bradshaw Iack, quoth Sue, the devill take the pack; Heaven grant they ne're may hanging lack, nor curses: and when they'r at the point to die; Heaven nor Physitian hear their cry, all Ministers comfort them deny, and Nurses. Quoth Moll, some plague give them their hire, that they may dye like Pym their Squire, like Dortslaw, or like Mac∣quire, be hanged: quoth Besse, a while Ide have them stay, till Destruction makes them way; and when the King shall win the day, be banged, Quoth Kate, my wishes they shall have, each perjured Rebell, Foole, and Knave, may hang in Chaines and want a grave, to bury: quoth Ruth, professe I doe not think, but that the Knaves begin to stink; being even now at Destructions brink, to ferry. Quoth Prue, Charon will surely take then in, and Furyes whip them for their sin; not sparing VVeaver, not Evelyn, nor Grimston: quoth Deb, may Fairfax, Pride, and Rich, Hewson, and Ioyce, that lowsie stitch, have fire and scorpions at at their breech, and Brimston; quoth Peg, good Sisters I could curse, but 'twill but make them worse and worse, like Foxes they thrive better thus, in Treason: give them but Rope, they'l hang themselves, and wrack their hopes on Rocks and Shelves, and thats the end of all such Elves in Reason. Lets all set forward's and redresse our grievances, quoth Madge and Besse, and snatch these Sonnes of Wickednesse, in sunder: content (quoth Meg) my Distaffe shall upon their pates so heavy fall, that Ile goe neere to beat them all, with wonder, Lets chuse a Generall (quoth Kate) and we their Pride will soone abate; it is not done with talke and prate; but action: they then proceeded to a Choice, and every Woman had her Voice, and so they chose them lusty Joyce, call'd Blackston. A Virago strong and stout that had bin try'd full many a bout, and ne're would turne tayle, nor give out, but forward: shee'd made an Asse of many a man, that none be∣fore her long could stan: when she but drew, away they ran a full yard. They all agreed to raise new force, Side-saddles, Pistols, wo∣men,

Horse, with Spits, and Fire-forks, to take course, with the Army. This news came quickly to VVhite-hall, and did so fright the Rebells all, that they to Counsell straight did fall, to harme ye: one said 'twas fit that women should, take the Engagement, if they would, or else they should by them be fool'd, and floured. Their Members too, that were but weake, would be disabled to speake, and then their Trade must surely breake, when ••••ted. Let Bradshaw be made High-Constable, and Denby President of State-Table, and then, come women we are able, to stand too't: quoth Denby, I accept the place, 'cause the black patches in my face, will make the women run apace, and ne're doo't▪ Quoth Harry Meld∣may it is fit, that straight we doe new forces get, one beat me in the Gravill-pit, and craz'd me: quoth Martin, I will never turn, al∣though they did my weapon burne, and once in fight my heart did earne, they maz'd me. But let them come, Ile fight againe, and so I hope will Harry Veine, it is not fit such queans should reigne, and vapour: and though my Body be not sound, I still have force to keep my ground, & with half weapon can them wound, then caper. Quoth Weaver, pray be not dismayd, I fear we are all on's betrayd, the plot's discovered by my Maids great belly: Alack quoth Bradshaw, as you are men, lets make an Act to banish them, ten miles from London, surely then, Ile tell ye: we may sit still by free consent, gather Excise and Assessment, and all live Kings by Praliament ev'rlasting. Pray here me though, quoth Baron Wild, Mr. Weavers Maid that seems with Child, I search'd her and my shirt defoyl'd, 'twas fasting: I sent her then to Justice Lowder, lest in her breech shee carried powder, and hee got her a place to shroud her, till layed. But if you take it for a plot, referre her case to Mr. Scot, least the House and Tower should God-wot, betrayed. A generall feare surpriz'd them all, they doe like Babels builders call; who sayes that Pride won't have a fall? deceive us: now they have rob'd us of our Gold, murther'd our King and his Goods sold, they will 'tis thought run from their Hold, and leave us.

Pray stop them not, give them free way to goo, The longer they stay here, the more's our woe.

Mary Stiff, Cler. to the House.

FINIS.