_Lam._ But above half the Nation are for him.
_War._ Bread a gued, and I"s for him then.
_Fleet._ The Will of the Lard be done; and since "tis his Will, I cannot withstand my Fate-- ingeniously.
_Whit._ My Lord _Wariston_, a Word-- What if _Lambert_ were the Man?
[Takes him aside.
_War._ Right Sir, Wons and ya have spoken aud; he"s a brave Mon, a Mon indeed gen I"s have any Judgment.
_Whit._ So I find this Property"s for any use. [Aside.
_Lam._ My Lord, I perceive Heaven and Earth conspire to make you our Prince.
_Fleet._ Ingeniously, my Lords, the Weight of three Kingdoms is a heavy Burden for so weak Parts as mine: therefore I will, before I appear at Council, go seek the Lard in this great Affair; and if I receive a Revelation for it, I shall with all Humility espouse the Yoke, for the Good of his People and mine; and so Gad with us, the Commonwealth of _England_.
[Exeunt _Fleet._ _Desbro_, _Wariston_, _Due._ _Cob._ _Hews_, and _Whit._
_L. Lam._ Poor deluded Wretch, "tis not yet come to that.
_Lam._ No, my dear, the Voice will go clearly for me; what with Bribes to some, Hypocrisy and Pretence of Religion to others, and promis"d Preferments to the rest, I have engag"d "em all.
_L. Lam._ And will you be a King?
_Lam._ You think that"s so fine a thing-- but let me tell you, my Love, a King"s a Slave to a Protector, a King"s ty"d up to a thousand Rules of musty Law, which we can break at pleasure; we can rule without Parliaments, at least chuse whom we please, make "em agree to our Proposals, or set a Guard upon "em, and starve "em till they do.
_L. Lam._ But their Votes are the strangest things-- that they must pa.s.s for Laws; you were never voted King.
_Lam._ No, nor care to be: The sharpest Sword"s my Vote, my Law, my t.i.tle. They voted _d.i.c.k_ should reign, where is he now? They voted the great Heroicks from the Succession; but had they Arms or Men, as I have, you shou"d soon see what wou"d become of their Votes-- No, my Love! "tis this-- must make me King.
[His Sword.
Let _Fleetwood_ and the Rump go seek the Lard, My Empire and my Trust is in my Sword.
ACT II.
SCENE I. _A Chamber of State in _Lambert"s_ House._
Enter L. _Lambert_, _Gilliflower_, and Women-servants.
_L. Lam._ _Gilliflower_, has none been here to ask for any of my People, in order to his approach to me?
_Gill._ None, Madam.
_L. Lam._ Madam! How dull thou art? wo"t never learn to give me a better t.i.tle than such an one as foolish Custom bestows on every common Wench?
_Gill._ Pardon my Ignorance, Madam.
_L. Lam._ Again Madam?
_Gill._ Really, Madam, I shou"d be glad to know by what other t.i.tle you wou"d be distinguish"d?
_L. Lam._ Abominable dull! Do"st thou not know on what score my Dear is gone to _Wallingford_ House?
_Gill._ I cannot divine, Madam.
_L. Lam._ Heaven help thy Ignorance! he"s gone to be made Protector, Fool, or at least a King, thou Creature; and from this Day I date my self her Highness.
_Gill._ That will be very fine indeed, an"t please your Highness.
_L. Lam._ I think "twill sute better with my Person and Beauty than with the other Woman-- what d"ye call her? Mrs. _Cromwell_-- my Shape-- and Gate-- my Humour, and my Youth have something more of Grandeur, have they not?
_Gill._ Infinitely, an"t please your Highness.
Enter _Page_.
_Page._ Madam, a Man without has the boldness to ask for your Honour.
_L. Lam._ Honour, Fool!
_Gill._ Her Highness, Blockhead.
_Page._ Saucily prest in, and struck the Porter for denying him entrance to your-- Highness.
_L. Lam._ What kind of Fellow was"t?
_Page._ A rude, rough, hectoring Swash, an"t please your Highness; nay, and two or three times, Gad forgive me, he swore too.
_L. Lam._ It must be he. [Aside.
_Page._ His Habit was something bad and Cavalierish-- I believe "twas some poor pet.i.tioning, begging Tory, who having been sequester"d, wou"d press your Highness for some Favour.
_L. Lam._ Yes, it must be he-- ah, foolish Creature! and can he hope Relief, and be a villanous Cavalier? out upon "em, poor Wretches-- you may admit him tho", for I long to hear how one of those things talk.
_Gill._ Oh, most strangely, Madam-- an please your Highness, I shou"d say.
Enter _Loveless_.
_L. Lam._ "Tis he, I"ll swear, _Gilliflower_, these Heroicks are punctual men-- how now, your Bus"ness with us, Fellow?
_Lov._ My Bus"ness, Madam?--
_L. Lam._ Hast thou ever a Pet.i.tion to us?
_Lov._ A Pet.i.tion, Madam?-- Sure this put-- on Greatness is to amuse her Servants, or has she forgot that she invited me? or indeed forgot me?-- [Aside.
_L. Lam._ What art thou?