The Scotch politike Presbyter.
A Tragi-Comedie.
Act 1.
Scene 1.
IT must be so,
If that hee'l not comply: have you heard nothing from him.
No, he seems to sleight our Summons.
Let him smart for't Luxurio, denounce him to the horn, after excommunication ipso facto, what madnesse doth possesse him, that hee'l not buy his peace?
I sent one of my Agents to him, who gave him timely notice, there was no way but punishment except a Fee.
Have you already fram'd the Warrant?
Yes.
Read it.
WE the Elders of the Congregation Demoniack, upon information and notice of some scandalls that you have g [...]ven whereof we are to take notice, do hereby as Officers of the Church, requ [...]re and command you to appeare before us, on Tuesday the seventh day of February, Anno 1644. to a [...]swer such things as shall be objected against you.
- Directory,
- Sargus,
- Luxurio.
Send it away with speed: fond man, doth he not know that we have scourged Lords, and trod on Kings? that temporall force will aid our spirituall plots; Knox and Melvill have left power to us, ample as that Romes Bishop claimes; Ile make my selfe as great as him if I get foot in England: I hug my Genius that doth prompt me on.
If that I can perswade the Englishmen to let me noose them, as their Brethren, Ile spread my pennons further yet:
Let's be gone.
SCENE 2.
And why new Jordan?
If we give credit to the Card, 'twill tell us, like to that river through which once Levites did beare the holy Ark. New River [...]lowes.
But can those tender Virgins that resort there for to be rebap [...]i [...]ed, endure the bitter blasts of Boreas and Hyems frostie breath, and not be much impaired in their health?
The water without doubt is sanctified, and as the holy Martyrs girt with flames, sang cheerfully, as if they nothing felt; so compassed about with ice and cold, those that we there do dip, receive no harme.
Strange delusions.
By the command o'th' ruling Presbyterie Demoniack, Sir I arrest your person.
Where's your Warrant?
Here.
Ha, my inveterate foes have all conspir'd to work my ruine. Look here friend; because I did refuse to come when [Page 3]summoned, nor sent a Fee for my discharge, so to
maintain their lust and luxury, who by their daily prodigality consume their aurum Tholosanum, in riotousnesse, adulterie, and fornication. O England! Wilt thou be slave to these vermine? the vulgar do not know what will ensue, should they accept of a Presbyterie; those that do sit at helme will not discover it, for that it tends to uphold their pride and wantonnesse; good men are vassalls to the vile:
While that the Fathers of the Church do walk like men dejected and forlorne,
Who would have thought so flourishing a State
Come Ile along Sir with you: M. Dipwell, will you be witnesse of my usage with me?
Sir, do not go, 'tis madnesse for a man to put himselfe into their hands that hate him.
Should I not go, they'l give me over to the temporall sword, and in the Market-place proclaime me rebell, confiscate my estate, and send me into banishment.
Will English men put on this Scottish yoke? I have a hope the Independents may send hence this government to be abhor'd, from England to Genevah, where 'twas born.
Pray heaven it prove so. Now to my adversaries: my soule contemnes their most usurped power, though now it overflowes in teares, whose current overflowes its banks.
[Page 4]Act 2. Scene 1.
I'Le none of this same lowsie learning to make my son a Whoremaster, e're he hath seen the age of eighteen yeares, for when they once come but to conster, Ovid de Arte Amandi, their bowells earne to occupy the nine.
Away thou foole, doth not even nature tell us, that learning doth support the world, and taught the rustick Clowne the way to till the ground, to bind the corne in sheaves, and weild the flaile?
I say I will not make my son a beggar, expose him to contempt and scorne, send him to Oxford, send him to Cairfax rather and see him caper in a string; no, no, we in this age of ours (the heavens be praised) have little use of learning, if he can read his Psalter, and cast up his accounts for bread and salt, he's a sufficient Scholler: besides heaven blesse the Parliament for their most pious Acts in generall, and in particular, that they have reduc'd those t [...]pp [...]g Black-coats to a new modell'd garbe, that where before they drank too much and eat too little, they now shall neither eat nor drink: what shall we doe with such Lobcocks, that must sit all the week in Taverns or Ale-houses, and on the Saturday bellow two houres in study, which when they utter the next day there's none can understand it.
The b [...]ind cares not if Sol ne're shine, they still can grope their way, my son shall be a Scholler, and let the worldlings wallow in the dung, while he the Indies beares about him, none knowes the learneds blisse, but those that learned are, I do looke on Plato's D [...]i [...]y next unto Moses writings, fam'd Aristotles lear [...]ed Philosophy, next unto Jesseis sonnes rare Proverb, Livies large booke next to the Chronicles of Israels Kings, and Homers [Page 5]Deathlesse Verse, next unto Davids Laies: may hell conspire for to cast plagues on those would not have learning be advanc'd and honour'd, when ignorant Armies, ignorant Parliament, ignorant Synods, ignorant Fools and Knaves
Monielesse, I joy to see you Sir.
Sir, I made bold to presse into your privacies unawares, my ignoranc [...] will I hope purchase my pardon.
Still complementing, you Courtiers feed on complements as your meat, leave it and take more solid food, a thousand of [...]um will not staunch ones hunger: what newes, what newes abroad?
Faith none that makes for me, the King must not yet see Whit [...] hall, Cromwell won't have it so.
We can grow great without him, what profit doth the world receive by Kings, who at the best are but relenting Tyrants, whose power is dissonant from Gods appointment: how bravely Holland thrives uided by States, where people rule the people, there's a strong simpathy in nature, the mutuall love they talk of that was wont to be 'twixt Subjects and their Kings, is now for ever lost.
Sir, I know you are an enemy to Monarchie, and would digresse even from your principles, should you allow of Kingly Government, which makes your words invalid.
Well said, I like thee, that adversities bleake stormes have not unriveted thy fixt resolves, but thou still art faithfull to thy Master.
O Courtier curse them that have caus'd thy woe,
That like a Skeleton, thou now dost show:
You came I know to dine with me, and are most welcome: what printed newes abroad?
As I was coming to you, I met another meagre Courtiers face, and he shewed me a song, of which I begg'd the copie, [Page 6]I hope 'twill not offend your eares, if I doe sing them to you.
Not the [...]east, let's hear.
How like you this.
'Tis an excellent Song yfaith, shall I Mr. Monilesse crave a copie of it?
Both I and it are at your service.
Come Mr. Monilesse, 'tis almost dinner time, time was you welcomed me, 'tis fit I should be gratefull, come wife.
Did I ere think that want should so oppresse me, that I should be constrained to wait on this man for a dinner.
whom yet Ile not despaire to see plac't in his Throne, his Crowne on's head, his Scepter in his hand; the Citizens now doe triumph o're the Courtiers:
Act. 3.
BRing forth those weeds of shame — apparell him.
I hope I shall have licence for to speak.
Not a syllable, 'tis knowne thou art by name and nature an enemy to our Government, and hast avoucht it to be tyrannous; saying, that Scotland by their policie in bringing their Church-forme amongst us, doe but assacinate o [...] Monarchy, thirsting to be our Lords, all which here openly recant, or wee'l surrender thee.
Hee raves, Sir these loose words will but augment your sorrow in the end, doe you know where you are?
Very well, letcherous Sargus, better then thou knowst to bee honest.
Stop his mouth, was ever heard speeches so desperate? Dare you before this holy Convocation to prate so peremptorily?
Dare you, yee sots, assume unto your selves the name of holy?
Venerable Fathers, this is unsufferable, if with audaciousnesse you thus dispence, hereafter nere looke to be reverenc'd, but to be scorn'd and laught at.
Satan hath sure inspired him,
bring forth the Engine, support him up.
Hee that layes hand on mee, encounters death. plucks forth a Dag.
Heare then your sentence, Since you deny to be a penitent, wee here confiscate all is yours, to be imploy'd for pious uses, your selfe within three dayes for to depart the Land, and nere for to returne, on pain of death; this is your doome, and now break up the Court.
O my mild Judges, you shew your pitty and your piety, your utmost wrath can't hurt my inward man, I there am still the same, and not exil'd.
Heaven keep mee stedfast to my principles, is this a limbe of the Presbyterie?
Yes, but his merits make him fit to be lopt off were it, who could be infected worse then they are?
You heare your sentence, will you depart the Land?
No, Ile not forsake my Native soile, upon such slender grounds, Ile live a while in private, I know an Independent Army will crop Presbyterie in the bud, and breake this [Page 10]bed of Snakes, the onely way that now is visible for to repairs my breaches; O thou Etern, the true Almighty Jove, suffe not Innovations to goe on, to bring this Kingdome to destruction; but why alas doe I now talke of Jove,
Act. 4.
Those three are thine, these mine, let's to't Like Monkies or the reeking Goat.
SCENE 2.
Methinks the hours flie not with winged hast as they were wont, or is't the expectation of my Love, that makes the night seeme tedious, my heart extreamely throbs, methinkes the walls seem as washt o'r with blood, tis my fantasie, thought like a subtile Jugler makes us see things that really are not; there's something in me whispers fatall things, and tell me 'tis not safe to sleepe betwixt my Lovers Armes to night; why sure I dream, I was not wont to have these dubious fancies? I have begun to love him, and will now never desert his friendship untill death, but thus I tamper poyson for my selfe, but were I sure to drinke the banefull draught, I could not now goe backe.
O you are welcome Sir.
Worthy of all Loves joyes, hast thou not blamed my tardy stay? thou art most certaine sure thy husband is farre off, if hee should take me with thee, his jealousie and wrath might prompt him to strange actions.
I have not the least feare of his approach.
Come then my Ptixdra, and let us taste those joyes thy Husband is unworthy of.
Act. 5.
O woman, woman, who art compounded of all ill, I durst have pawn'd my soule this wife of mine, had harbored a soule white as the Alpine snow, but she is ulcerous and deformed, who knowes how often they have met, and wallowed in their active sweats? what woman may be trusted?
But I prolong their lives, and tire the Ferry-man with expectation— Stay, it is not wisdome to cope with two that strugle for their lives— These are the bonds of death.
So awake you lustfull paire.
Ha,— we are undone.
Yes Directory, ere winged time adde one hour more [Page 13]to this declining night, thou shalt be numbred with the dead.
O my unhaphy fate!
Deare Husband spare our lives, and then inflict what punishment thou wilt.
O my fine Directory cam'st thou from Scotland hither, to cheat us out of our Religion, our lives, our King, and covering thy ills with vertues cloake, act even those crimes, which but to heare them nam'd, would fright the Caniballs; and shall we not strive to circumvent thee?
I pray heare me Sir.
Hath guilt emboldned so thy mind, that thou dar'st view my face, and speake.
Sir, I confesse my crime cannot be expiated but with blood, but if mild pitty harbour in your breast, I doe implore your mercie.
Peace, vile strumpet, thou mayst as well attempt to scale the Heavens, and ride on the Sun beames, as strive with talke to mitigate my fury, and stay the course of my revenge, but first good Directory Ile stab you by the book, and torture you not opening a veine.
Did you behold the Pageant, great Babylon is falne, an English Army hath extirpated Presbyterie root and branch, the Elders may in Scotland court Susanna, here are too many Daniels to sift them; and now Sir you must goe, but not to Scotland, that's but Purgatory, yet where youl find many Blew Bonnets more, I meane to Hell — Thus I dismisse thy soule.—
Hold Sir, and ere you send my soul to wander in the ivisible Land, heare what I now shall utter; by Heaven and Earth, and him that made them both, I nere was guilty not in thought, til this dire hour, of the defiling of your Mariage bed.
Dost thinke dull foole, that all thy protestations, thy heav'd up hands, and sighs, were they as numerous as the sand hid in the Battick Sea, should raise my heart for to relent; no, [Page 14]in thy death England gathers life, whose happines I wish; thus for it worke.
O thou hast opt a flood-gate, which will not close till my heart blood in drain'd.
If thou wert born of woman spare my life.
O thou luxurious Strumpet, hath not thy guilt or feare bereft thy tongue of utterance; methinks thou shouldst, when thinking on thy fact, convert to stone, and save my hand a labor to send thee to another world. There strumpet stabs her.
O heaven!
So,—how like you this, Phlebotomizing only can care the feaver in your blood, why don't you mingle limbes? get up and at it.
Like to a Ship dismembred of her sailes and cuft from side to side by surly waves, so doth my soule fare,
Presbyterie in my fall receives its mortall wound, and ne'r must look in England to beare sway; O, O, I see in this the power of providence. Whose stronger hand restrains our wilful powers
A will above doth rule the will of ours.
He's dead, but she remains with life, and wilt thou not acompany thy letcher, that he may man thee into Charons boat.
My soule disdaines her habitation, and now wil needs be fleeting; know Sir, for now I fear not all your fury. I lov'd Directory as my own soul, and knew him oftner then your self, for which may heaven forgive me; for his sake I could wish to live, but now he's gone, what should I doe on earth.
She's gone▪ farewell for ever, may heaven forgive thy fault. I would not prosecute revenge so farre, as wish thy sou'e destruction, what now remaines for me I must be gone far hence ere Sol visit our Horizon, let Fortune do her worst.