THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE KING AND THE MILLER. [Price One-Shilling.] THE KING AND THE MILLER O F MANSFIELD. A DRAMATICK TALE. By R. DODSLET, AUTHOR of the TOY-SHOP **' e LONDON: Printed for the AUTHOR, zt Taffy's H:ad, f all-Mail', and Sold by T. C o o p E R , at the Globe in fater- Noer-Row. M. DCC, XXXVII. Dramatis Perfonae. MEN. The KING, Mr. Gibber. The MILLER, Mr. Miller. RICHARD the M/fer'sSon, Mr. Berry. Lord LURE WELL, Mr. Efte. COURTIERS and KEEPERS of the Foreft. W O MEN. PEGGY, Mrs. Pritclard. MARGERY, Mrs.' Sennet. KATE, Mrs. Crofs. SCENE, Sherwood For eft, PR THE ' .KING AND THE MILLER SCENE, Sherwood Fore/?. Enter feveral COURTIERS as loft* i Courtier. ' IS horrid dark* and ^'o Wood I believe has nei- ther End nor Si'de". 4 C. You meari to get out at, for we have found one in you fee. 2 C. I wifh our good King Harry had kept nearer home to hunt $ in my B Mind Mind the pretty, tame Deer In London make much better Sport than the wild ones in Sherwood For eft. 3 (7. I can't tell which Way his Majefty went, nor whether any-body is with him or not, but let us keep together pray. 4 C. Ay, ay, like true Courtiers, take Care of ourfelves whatever be- comes of Mafter. 2 C. Well, it's a terrible Thing to be lofi in the Dark. 4 C. It is. And yet it's fo common a Cafe, that one would not think it fhould be at all fo. Why we are all of us loft in the Dark every Day of our Lives. Knaves keep us in the Dark by their Cunning, and Fools by their Ignorance. Divines lofe us in dark Myfteries ; Lawyers in dark Cafes; and Statefmen in dark Intrigues : Hay the Light of Reafon, which we fo much boaft of, what is it but a Dark-Lanthorn, which juft ferves to prevent us from running our Nofe a- gainft a Poft, perhaps ; but is no more able to lead us out of the dark Mifts of Error and Ignorance, in which we are ( II) are loft, than an Ignis fatuus would be to conduft us out of this Wood. i C. But, my Lord, this is no time for Preaching methinks. And for all your Morals, Day-light would be much preferable to this Darknefs, I believe. 3(7. Indeed wou'd it. But come, let us go on, we fhall find fome Houfe or other by and by. 4 C. Come along. [Exeunt. Enter the K i N G alone. No, no, this can be no publick Road that's certain : I am loft, quite loft indeed. Of what Advantage is it now to be a King ? Night mews . me no Refpel : I cannot lee better, nor walk fo well, as another Man. What is a King ? Is he npt wifer than another Man ? Not without his Counfellors I plainly find. Is he not more powerful ? I oft have been tol fo, indeed, but what now can my Power command? Is he not greater and more magnificent ? When feated on his Throne, and furrounded with Nobles and Flatterers , perhaps he B a may ( I*) may think fo, but when loft in a Wood, alas ! what is he but a common Man ? His Wifdom knows not which is North and- which is South ; his Power a Beggar's Dog would bark at ; and his Greatnefs the Beggar would not bow to. And yet ho,w oft are we pufPd up with thefe falfe Attributes ? Well, in lofingthe Monarch, I have found the Man. [The Report of a Gun is heard. Hark ! Some Villain fure is near ! What were it beft to do? Will my Majefty proteft me ? No. Throw Majefty afide then, arid let Manhood do it. Enter the MILLER. Mil. I believe I hear the Rogue. Who's there ? Xing. No Rogue, I affaire you. Mil. Little better, Friend, i believe. Who fir'd that Gun? King. Not I, indeed. Mil. You lie, I believe. King. Lie ! lie ! How ftrange it feems to me to be talk'd to in this Stile, [jtfde.] Upon my Word I don't. Mil Mil. Come, come, Sirrah, confefs ; you have fhot one of the King's Deer, fcave not you ? King. No indeed, I owe the Kins; more Refpeft. I heard a Gun gt> off, indeed, and was afraid fome Robbers might have been near. Mil. I am not bound to believe thrs, Friend. Pray who are you ? What's your Name ? King. Name J Mil. Name ! yes Name. Why you have a Name, have not you ? Where do you come from ? What is your Bu- finefs here ? King. Thefe are Queftions I have not been us'd to, honeft Man. Mil. May be fo ; but they are Quef- tions no honeft Man would be afraid to anfwer, I think : So if you can give no better Account of your fell, I fhall make bold to take you along with me, if you pleafe. King. With you ! What Autho- rity have you to Mil. The King's Authority, if I mull give yoii an Account, Sir. I am John Cockle > the Miller of Manf- fcld, one of his Majefty's Keepers in this ( M- ) this Foreft of Sherwood", and I will let no fufpefted Fellow pafs this Way that cannot give a better Ac- count of himfelf than you have done, I promife you. King. I muft fubmit to my own Authority. [^4/tde.] Very well, Sir, I am glad to hear the King has fo food an Officer : And fince I find you ave his Authority, I will give you a better Account of myfelf, if you will do me the Favour to hear it. Mil. It's more than you deferve, I believe ; but let's hear what you can fay for yourfelf. King. I have the Honour to belong to the King as well as you, and, per- haps, fhould be as unwilling to fee any Wrong done him. I came down with him to hunt in this Foreft, and the Chace leading us to Day a great Way from Home, I am benighted in this Wood, and have loft my Way. Mil. This does not found well ; if you have been a hunting, pray where is your Horfe ? 'King. I have tired my Horfe fo that he lay down under me, and I was ob- lig'd to leave him* Mil. ( 15 ) Mil. If I thought I might believe this now. King. I am not ufed to lie, honeft Man. Mil. What ! do you live at Court, and not lie I that's a likely Story in- deed. King. Be that as it will. I fpeak Truth now I allure you 5 and, to con- vince you of it, if you will attend me to Nottingham, if I am near it j or give me a Night's Lodging in your own Houfe, here is fomething to pay you for your Trouble, and if that is not fufficient, I will fatisfy you in the Morning to your utmoft Defire. Mil. Ay, now I am convinced you are a Courtier ; here is a little Bribe for to Day, and a large Promife for To-morrow, both in a Breath: Here, take it again, and take this along with it John Cockle is no Cour- tier, he can do what he ought without a Bribe. King. Thou art a very extraordina- ry Man I muft own ; and I fhould be glad, methinks, to be further acquaint- ed with thee. [ '6] Mil Thee! and Thou! Prythee don't thee and thou me ; I believe I am as good a Man as yourfelf at leaft. King. Sir, I beg your Pardon. i MIL Nay, I am not angry, Friend, only I don't love to be tod familiar with any-body, before I know whether they deferve it or not. King. You are in the Right. But what am I to do ? MIL You' may do what you pleafe. You are [ twelve Miles "from Not- tingham > and all the Way- through this thick Wood ; but if you are re- folv'd upon going thither to Night, I will put you in the Road, and direft you the beft I can ; or if you will ac- cept of fueh poor Entertainment as a Miller can give, you fhall be welcome to ftay all Night, and in the Morning I will go with you myfelf. King. And cannot you go with me to Night f MiL I would not go with you to Night if you was the King. King. Then I muft go with you, I think. [Exeunt. Scene Sc'ene changes to the Town of Mansfield* DICK alone. Well, dear Mansfield, I am glad to fee thy Face again. But my Heart aches, methinks, for fear this fhould be only a Trick of theirs to get me into their Power. Yet the Letter feems to be wrote with an Air of Sin- cerity,, I confefs ; and the Girl was never us'd to lie till fhe kept a Lord Company. Let me fee, I'll read it once more. Dear Richard; / am at lafl (tho* much too late for me) convinced of the Injury done to us both by that bafe Man, who made me think yoii falfe ; he contrived thsfe Letters, which I fend you, to make me think you jufl upon the Point of being married to ano- ther, a Thought I could not bear with Patience, fo aiming at Revenge on you* C conj'entcd confented to my own Undoing. But for your own fake I beg you to return hither, for I have fome Hopes of being able to do you Juftice, which is the only Com- fort of your moft dlftreft, but ever a/e- tfionate, PEGGY. There can be no Cheat in this fure ! The Letters Ihe has fent are, I think, a Proof of her Sincerity. Well, I will go to her however : I cannot think ihe will again betray me : If fhe has as much Tendernefs left for me, as, in fpite of her Ill-ufage, I ftilLfeel for her, I'm fure fhe won't. Let me fee, I am not far from the Houfe, I believe. Scent [.'9] Scene changes to a Room. PEGGY and P H OE B E. Pbcs. Pray, Madam, make your- felfeafy. Peg. Ah ! Phoebe, flie that has loft her Virtue, has with it loft her Eafe, and all her Happinefs. Believing, cheated Fool I to think him falfe. Phce. Be patient, Madam, I hope you will fhortly be reveng'd on that deceitful Lord. Peg. I hope I fhall, for that were juft Revenge. But will Revenge make me happy ? Will it excufe my Falf- hood ? Will it reftore me to the Heart -of my much-injur'd Love ? Ah ! no. That blooming Innocence he us'd to praife, and call the greateft Beauty of our Sex, is gone. I have no Charm left that might renew that Flame I took fuch Pains to quench. [Knocking at the Dior. See who's there. O Heavens 'tis he \ Alas ! that ever I fhould be afham'd to fee the Man I love ! C 2 Enter Enter RICHARD, wlo ftands locking on he? at a Diftance, Jhe weeping. Dick. Well, Peggy (but I fuppofe you're Madam now in that fine Drefs) you fee you have brought me back ; is it to triumph in your Falfhood ? or ^m I to receive the flighted Leavings of your fine Lord ? Peg. O Richard ! after the Injury I have done you, I cannot look on you without Confufion : But do rot think fo hardly of me ; I ftay'd not to be flighted by him, for the Moment I difcover'd his vile Plot on you, I fled his Sight,, nor could he e'er prevail to fee me fince. Dick. Ah, Peggy you were toq hafty in believing, and much I fear, the Vengeance aim'd at me, had a-r ther Charms to reccommend it to you : Such Bravery as that [Pointing to cer Cloaths] I had not to beftow ; but if a tender, honeft Heart could pleafe, you had it all ; and if I wilh'd for 'twas for your fake. Peg, O Richard I when you confider the wicked Stratagem he contriv'd to make me think you bafe and. deceit- ful , I hope you will, at leaft, pity my Folly, and, in fome Meafure, excufe my Falfhood ; that you will forgive me, I dare not hope. Dick. To be forc'd to fly from my Friends and Country, for a Crime that J was innocent of, is an Injury that I cannot eafily forgive to be lure : But if you are lefs guilty of it than I thought, I fhall be very glad ; and if your Defign be really as you fay, to clear me, and to expofe the Bafenefs of him that betray'd and ruin'd you, I will join with you with all my Heart. But how do you propofe to do this ? .- Peg. The King is now in this Foreft a hunting, and our young Lord is every Day with him : Now, I think, if we could take fome Opportunity of throw- ing ourfelves at his Majefty's Feet, and complaining of the Injuftice of one of his Courtiers, it might, per- have fame Effeft upon him. Dick. If we were fuffer'd to make him fenfible of it, perhaps it might; but the. Complaints of fuch little Folks as we teldom reach the Ears of Ma- eg. We can but try. Dick. Well, If you will go with me to my Father's, and ftay there till fuch an Opportunity happens, I fhall believe you in earneft, and will join with. you in your Defign. Peg. I will do any thing to con- vince you of my Sincerity, and to make Satisfaftion for the Injuries which have been done you. Dick. Will you go now ? P^. I will be with you in lefs than jm Hour. [Exeunf. Scent Scene changes to the MUL MARGERY and KATE Knitting. Kate. O dear, I would not fee a Spirit for all the World ; but I love dearly to hear Stories of them. Well, and what then ? Mar. And fo, at laft, in a difmal, hollow Tone it cry'd : [A Knocking at the Door frights them both 5 they fcr earn out, and throw down their Knitting. Mar.j and VLordblefs us I What's that? Kate. 3 Kate. O dear, Mother, it's fome Judgment upon us I'm afraid. They fay, talk of the Devil and he'll appear. Mar. Kate, go and fee who's at the Door. Kate. I durft not go. Mother; dd you go. Mar. Come, let's both go. Kate. Now don't fpeak as if you was afraid. Mar. CM] Mar. No, I won't, if I can help it Who's there? Dick without. What, won't you let me in ? Kate. O Gemini ! it's like our Dick* I think : He's certainly dead, and it's his Spirit. Mar. Heaven forbid ! I think in my Heart it's he himfelf. Open the Door; Kate. Kate. Nay, do you. Mar. Come, we'll both open it. [They open the Door & Enter PICK. ?*"*rfT jfrick. Dear Mother, how do ye do ? I thought you would not have let me In. Mar. Dear Child, I'm over-joy'd to fee thee ; but I was fo frighted, I did not know what to do. Kate* Dear Brother, I am glad to fee you ; how have you done this long while ? Dick. Very well, Kate. But where's my Father ? Man . He heard a Gun go off juft and he's gone to, fee who 'tis. , -Dick. What, they love Veniibn a.t 'Mansfield as well as ever* .1 fuppofe ? Kate. Ay, arid they will have it too. Miller, without. Hoa ! Madge ! Kate! bring a Light here. Mar. Yonder he is. Kate. Has he catch'd the Rogue, I wonder ? Etiter YbekiNG and the MiLLEK. Mar. Who have you got ? Mil. I havfe brought thee a Stranger, Madge ; th'ou muft give him a Supper, and a Lodging if thou can'ft. . Mar. Y6u have got a better Straji- ger of your own, I can tell you: Dick's Come. Mil. Dirt ! Where is he ? Why Dick I HQW is't my Lad ? Dick. Very well, I thank you, Fa- ther; King. A little more and you had pufti'd me down. il. Faith, Sir, you muft excufe me ; I was over-joy'd to fee my Boy. He has been at London, and I have not feen him thefe four Years. King. Well, I fhall once in my Life have the Happinefs of being treated as a common Man ; and of feeing human Nature without Difguife. [dftde, Mil. What has brought thee Home fo unexpected ? Dick. You will know that prefently. Mil. Of that by-and-by then. We have got the King down in the Foreft a hunting this Seafon, and this honeft Gentleman, who came down with his Majefty from London, has been with 'em to Day it feems, and has loft his Way. Come, Madge, fee what thou can'ft get for Supper. Kill a Couple of the beft Fowls ; and go you, Kate, and draw a Pitcher of Ale. We are 'famous, Sir, at Mansfield, for good Ale, and for honeft Fellows that know tow to. drink it. King. Good Ale will be acceptable at prefent, for I am very dry. But pray, how came your Son to leave you, and go to London ? Mil MIL Why, that's a Story which Dick, perhaps, won't like to have told. King. Then I don't defire to hear it. Enter K AT E with an Earthen Pitcher of j4le, and a Horn. MIL So, now do you go help your Mother. Sir, my hearty Service to you. King. Thank ye, Sir. This plain ' Sincerity and Freedom, is a Happinefs unknown to Kings. [_^4Jide. Mil. Come, Sir. King. Richard, my Service to you. Dick. Thank you, Sir. Mil. Well, Dick, and how do'ft thou like London? Come, tell us what- thou haft feen. Dick. Seen ! I have feen the Land of Promife. Mil. The Land of Promife ! What doft thou mean ? Dick. The Court, Father. Mil. Thou wilt never leave joking. Ds, Dick. Dkk. To be ferious then, I have feen the Difappointment of all my Hopes and Expectations; and that's pore than one would wifh to fee. Mil. Whafi would the great Man, thou waft recommended to, do nothing at allforthee at laft ?' JD(ick. Why, yes j he would promife me to the lath Mil. Zoons ! do the Courtiers think their Dependants can eat Bromifcs ! Dick. No, no, they never trouble their Heads to think, whether we eat at all or not. I have now dangled af- ter his Lordfhip feveral Years, tan- taliz'd with Hopes ' ajid Expecta- tions ; this Year prbmifed one Place, the next another, and the thitd, in fufe and certain Hope of a Pjf- appointment. One falls, and it was promised before ; another, and I am jiift Half an Hour too late. ; a. third, and it ftops the Mouth of a Creditor ; a fourth, and it pays the Hire of a Flatterer; a fifth, and it bribes a Vote ; and the iixth, I am promis'd ftill. But haying thus flept away fome Years, I awoke from my Dream : My Lord, 1 found, was f<y far from having it iri his [ *9 3 his Power to get a Place for me, that he had been all this while feeking af- ter one for himfelf. Mil. Poor Djck ! And is plain Ho- petty then a Recommendation to no Place at Court ? i)/V. If may recomrnend you to be a Footman, perhaps, tut nothing fur- ther, nothing further, indeed. If you look higher, you mull furnifh your- felf with o.ther Qualifications : You muft learn to fay Ay, or No ; to run, or ftand ; to fetch, or carry, or leap over a Stick at the Word of Command. You muft be Mafter of the Arts of Flattery, Infinuation, Diflimulation, Application, and {Pointing to bis Palm} right Application too, if you hope to fucceed. King. You don't confider I am a Courtier, methinks. Dick. Not I, indeed; 'tis no Con- cern of mine what you are. if, in ge- rjeral, my Character of the Court is true, 'tis not my Fault if it's difagrea- ble to your.Worlhip. There are par- ticular Exceptions I own, and I hope, you may be one. - [30] ., King. Nay, I don't want to be flat- ter'd, fo let that pafs. Here's better Succefs to you the next Time you come to London. Dick. I thank ye ; but I don't de- fign to fee It again in hafte. Mil. No, no, Dick ; inftead of de- pending upon Lords Promifes, depend upon the Labour of thine own Hands ; expet nothing but what thou can'ft earn, and then thou wilt not be dif- appointed. But come, I want a Def- cription of London ; thou haft told us nothing thou haft feen yet. Dick. O J 'tis a fine Place ! I have feen large Houfes with fmall Hofpita- lity j great Men do little Actions ; and fine Ladies do nothing at all. I have feen the honeft Lawyers of Weft - minfter-Hall y and the virtuous Inhabi- tants of ^Change-Alley. The politick Mad-men of Coffee-Houfes, and the wife Statefmen of Bedlam. I have feen merry Tragedies, and fad Comedies ; Devotion at an Opera, and Mirth at a Sermon ; I have feen fine Cloaths at St. James's, and long Bills at Ludgate- fJill. I have feen poor Grandeur, and rich Poverty 5 high Honours, and low Flattery j Flattery, great Pride, and no Menk In fhort, I have feen a Fool with a Title, a Knave with a Penfion, and an honeft Man with a Thread-bare Coat. Pray how do you like London ? MIL And is this the beft Defcription thou can'ft give of it ? Dick. Yes. King. Why, Richard, you are a Sa- .,. -tirift, I find. Dick. I love to fpeak Truth, Sir; if that happens. to be Satire, 1 caft't help it. 'Mil. Well, if this is London, give me my Country Cottage ; which, tho' it is not a great Houfe, nor a fine Houfe, is my own Houfe, and I can fhew a Receipt for the Building on't; King. I wifh all the great Builders in the Kingdom could fay as much. Mil. Come, Sir, our Supper, I be- lieve, is ready for us, by this time ; and to fuch as I have, you're as wel- come as a Prince. King. I thank you. [Exeunt. Scene 'changes to the Wood: Enter fiver al KEEPERS. i K. The Report of the Gun was 1 fomewhere this Way I'm fure. a K. Yes, but I can never belifeve that any-body would come a Deer- ftealing fo dark a Night as this. 3 JIT. Where did the Deer harbour to Day? 4 K. There was a Herd l^y upon Hamilton- Hitt> another juft by Robin flood's Ckair and a third here in Mansfield Wood. 1 A; Ay, thofe they have been a- hiohgft. 2 K. But we fhall never be able to . nd 'em to Night, 'tis fo dark. 3 Jt. No, no ; let's go back again. i K. Zoons ! you're afraid of a bro- ken Head, I fuppofe, if we fhould find 53 5 eni j and fo had rather flink back again. Hark ! Stand clofe. I hear 'em coming this Way* Enter the C O U R T I E R S. 1 C. Bid not you hear fome-body juft now ? Faith I begin ta be afraid we fhall meet with-fome Misfortune to Night. 2 C. Why, if any-body fhould take whvtt. we have got, we have made a fine Bufinefs of it. 3 C. Let 'em take it if they will ; I am fo tir'd I fhall make but fmall Refinance. The Keepers nijh upon, them- 2 K. Ay, Rogues, Rafcals, arid Villains, you have got it, have you? 2 C. Indeed we have got but very little, but what we have you're wel- come tOj if you will but ufe us ci- villy. . i K. O, yes ! very civilly; you de- fer ve to be us'd civilly, to be furc, 4 (7* Why, what have we done that we may not be civilly us'd ? ii iK. [34] i K. Come, come, don't trifle, fur- render.' 1 C. I have but 'three Half-Crowns about me. 2 C. Here is Three and Six-pence for you, Gentlemen. 3" C. Here's my Watch ; I have no Money at all. 4 C. Indeed I have nothing in my Pocket but a SnufF-box. 4 K. What, the Dogs want to bribe us, -do they? No, -Rafcals ; you ihall go before the Juftice To-morrow, depend on't. 4(7. Before the Jirfrice ! What, for being robb'd ? i K. For being robb'd ! What do you mean ? Who has robb'd you-? 4 C. Why, did not you juft now de- mand our Money, Gentlemen ? l -2 ' K. O, the' Rafcals ! They will fwear a Robbery againft us, I war- rant. 4 C. A Robbery ! Ay, to befure. i K. No, .no j VSTe did not demand your Money, we demanded the Deer you have kill'd. [35] 4 C. The Devil take the Deer, I fa j j he led us a Chace of fix Hours, arid got away from us at I aft. i K. oons ! ye Dogs., do ye think to banter us ? I tell ye you have this Night fhot one of the King's Deer ; did not we hear the Gun go off? Did not we hear you fay, you wcs afraid it fhould be taken "from you ? 2 C. We were afraid pur Money fhould be taken from us. i K. Come, come, no more fhufc fling: I tell ye, you're all Rogues, and we'll have you hanged, you may depend on't. Come, let's take 'em to old Cockle's, we're not far off, we'll keep 'em there all Night, and To-mor- row-morning we'll away with 'em be- fore the Juftice. 4 C. A very pretty Adventure. ' S-cene Scene changes to the Mil!, KING, MILLER, MARGERY, and DICK, at MIL Come, Sir, you muft mend a bad Supper with a Glafs of good Ale : Here's King Harris Health. King. With all my Heart. Come, Richard, here's King Harry's Health ; I hope you are Courtier enough to pledge me, are not you ? Dick. Yes, yes, Sir, I'll drink the King's Health' with all my Heart. JMar. Come, Sir, my humble Ser- vice to you, and much good may do ye with your poor Supper ; I wi'th it had been better. King. You need make no Apologies. Majg. We are oblig'd to yourQood- r.efs in excufing our Rudenefs. Mil. Prithee, Margery, don't trou- :1~ the Gentleman with Compliments. .Mar. Lord, Husband, if one had no more Manners than you, the Gentle- man would take us all for Hogs. Dick. [73] Dick. Now I think the more Com* pliments the lefs Manners. King. I think fo too. Compliments in Difcourfe, I believe, are like Cere- monies in Religion ; the one has de- ftroy'd all true Piety, and the other all Sincerity and Plain-dealing. Mil. Then a Fig for all Ceremony and Compliments too: Give us tjiy Hand ; and let us drink and be merry. King. Right, honeft Miller, let 119 drink and be merry. Come, have you got e'er a good Song ? Mil. Ah J my finging Days are o- ver, but my Man Joe has got an ex- cellent one ; and if you have a Mind to hear it, I'll call him in, King. With all my Heart, ! Mil. Joe! Enter JOE. MIL Come, Joe, drink Boy j I have promised this Gentleman that you inall fing him your laft new Song. Joe. Well, Mafter, if you have pro- rnis'd it him, he fhall have it. SONG [38] SONG. I. How happy a Stats does the Milkr pojjefs? WTw woifd be no greater, nor fears to be lift ; On his Mill and bimfetf he depends for Support, Which is better .than fervilely cringing at Court. -:'u rrn kv^-sp,^ ir. What tho* he all dujly and whit en* d does go, yhe more he's be-powdefd, the more like a Beau ; 'iA Clown in this Drefs may be honejter far Than a Courtier who ft ruts in his Garter and Star. HL [39] III. 2V bis Hands are fo dawfrd thefr* not fit to be feen, The Hands of bis Betters are not very dean ; A Palm more polite may as dirtily deal ; Go-Id, in handling, will Jlick to the Fingers like Meal. IV. What if, tvben a Pudding for Dinntr he lacks, He cribs,, without Sc ruple> front o$hr Metfs Sacks j In this of right nobk Examples be brags. Who borrow as freely from etfar Men's Bags, [40] V. Of Jhould he endeavour to heap an Eftate, In this be woifd mimick the Too/s of theState-j -dim is. alone their Coffers to fit', all his Concern's to bring Grii to his Milt. VL He eafs when he's hungry, he drinks when he's dry, down when he's weary contented does lie ; -rifes up chearful to work and to Jing : .If fo happy a Mi Her, th&n who'd be a King. MIL There's a Song for you. ]ing. He fhould go iing this at Court, I think. Dick. f 4i ] &ick. I believe, if he's wife, he'll Cnufe to ftay at home tho'. Enter PEGGY. MIL What Wind blew you hither f>ray ! You have a good Share of Im- pudence, or you would be afham'd to fet your Foot within my Houfe, me- thinks. Peg. Afham'd I am,, indeed, but do not call me impudent. \W~eeps* Dick. Dear Father, fufpend your Anger for the. prefent; thatfhe is here now is by my Direction, and to do me Juftice. Peg. To do that is all that is now in my Power ; for as to myfelf, I arri ruin'd paft Redemption : My Charac- ter, my Virtue, my Peace, .are gone : I am abandoned by my Friends, de- fpis'd by the World, and exposed to Mifery and Want. King. Pray let me know the Story of your Misfortunes ; perhaps it may be in my Power to do fomething to- wards redreffing them. Peg. That you may learn froirthirri that J have wrong'dj but as for me,, ~F 3hame [4* 1 Shame will not let me fpeak, or heat* it told. [Exit* King. She's very pretty* Dick. O Sir, I once thought her an Angel; I lov'd her dearer than my Life, and did believe her Paflion was the fame for me : But a young Noble- man of this Neighbourhood happen- ing to fee her, her Youth and bloom- ing Beauty prefently ftruck his Fancy ; a thoufand Artifices were immedi- ately employ'd to debauch and ruin her. But all his Arts were vain ; not even the Promife of making her his Wife, could prevail upon her : In a lit- tle Time he found out her Love to me, and imagining this to be the Caufe of her Refulal, he, by forg'd Letters, and feign 'd Stories, contriv'd to make her believe I was upon the Point of Marriage with another Woman. Pof- fefs'd with this Opinion, fhe, in a Rage, writes me Word, never to fee her more ; and, in Revenge, con- fented to her own Undoing. Not contented with this, nor eafy while I was fo near her, he brib'd one of his caft-oiF MiftrelTes to fwear a Child to me, which fhe did : This was the Oc- cafion [43 ] cafion of my leaving my Friends, and flying to London. King. And how does (he propofe to do you Juftice ? Dick. Why, the King being now in this Forelt a hunting, we deiign to take fome Opportunity of throwing ourfelves at his Majefty's Feet, and complaining ot the Injufb'ce done us by this Noble Villain. Mil. Ah, Dick ! I expeft but little Redrefs from- fuch an Application. Things of this Nature are fo common amongft the Great, that I am afraid it will only be made a Jeft of. King. Thofe that can make a Jeft of what ought to be fhocking to Hu- manity, furely deferve not the Name of Great or Noble Men. Dick. What do you think of it, Sir ? If you belong to the Court, you, perhaps, may know fomething of the King's Temper. King. Why, if I can judge of his Temper at all, I think he would not fuffer the greateft Nobleman in his Court, to do an Jnjuftice to the mean- ^ft Subject in his Kingdom. But pray, F 3 who [44] who is the Nobleman that is capa- ble of fuch Aftions as thefe * Dick. Do you know my Lord Lure- well ? King. Yes. Dick. That's the Man. King. Well, 'I would have you put your Defign in Execution. . 'Tis my Opinion the King will not only hear your Complaint, but redrefs your Injuries. Mil. I wiih it may prove fo. Enter the KEEPERS leading in the COURTIERS. i K. Hola !- Cockle ! Where are ye ? Why, Man, we have nabb'd a Pack of Rogues here juft in the Faft. King. Ha," ha, ha ! What, turn'd Highwaymen, my Lords ? or Deer- ftealers ? 1 C. I am very glad to find your Majefty in Health and Safety. 2 C. We have run thro' a great many Perils and Dangers to Night, but the Joy of finding your Majefty fo unexpectedly, will make us forget all we have fuffer'd. Mil. [45 ] Mil. ) and CWhat ! is this the King ? King. I am very glad to fee you, my Lords, I confeis ; and particularly you, my Lord Lurewdl. Lure. Your Majefty does me. Ho- nour. King. Yes, my Lord, and I will do you Juftice too ; your Honour has been highly wrong'd by this young Man. Lure. Wrong'd, my Liege \ King. I hope fo, my Lord ; for I wou'd fain believe you can't be guil- ty of Bafenefs and Treachery. Lure. I hope your Majefty will never find me fo. What dares this Villain fay? Dick. I am not to be frighted, my Lord. ' I dare fpeak Truth at any Time. Lure. Whatever ftains my Honour muft be falfe. King. I know it muft, my Lord; yet has this Man, not knowing who I was, prefum'd to charge your Lord- fhip, not only with great Injuftice to Jiimfelf, but alfo with ruining gn in- nocent [46 ] nocent Virgin whom helov'd, and who was to have been his Wife ; which, if true, were bafe and treacherous 5 but I know 'tis falfe, and therefore leave it to your Lordfhip to fay what Punifhment I fhall inflict upon him, for the Injury done to your Honour. Lure. I thank your Majefty. I will not be fevere; he fhall only ask my Pardon, and To-morrow Morning be oblig'd to marry the Creature he has traduc'd me with. King. This is mild. Well, you. hear your Sentence. Dick. May I not have leave to fpeak before your Majefty ? King. What oan'ft thou fay ? Dick. If I had your Majelty's Per- miflion, I believe I have certain Wit-, nefles, which will undeniably prove the Truth of all I have accused his Lordfhip of. King. Produce them. Dick. Peggy! Enter PEGGY. King. Do you know this Woman, my Lord ? [4?] Lnre. I know her, pleafe your Majefty, by Sight, fhe is a Tenant's Daughter. Peg. [Jt/tde.'] Majefty! What, is this the King ? Dick. Yes. King. Have you no particular Ac- quaintance with her ? Lure. Hum 'I have not feen her thefe feveral Months. Dick. True, my Lord ; and that is Part of' your Accufation ; for, I be- lieve, I have fome Letters which will prove your Lordfhip once had a more particular Acquaintance with her. Here is one of the firft his Lordfhip wrote to her, full of the tenderelt and moft folemn Proteftations of Love and Conftancy j here is another which will inform your Majefty of the Pains he took to ruin her ; there is an abfolute Promife of Marriage before he could accomplifh it. King. What fay you, my Lord, are thefe your Hand ? Lure- I believe, pleafe your Majef- ty, I might have a little Affair of Gal- lantry with the Girl fome Time ago. King. . King. It was a //#/* Affair, my Lord ; a mean Affair ; and what you call Gallantry, I call Infamy. Do you think, my Lord, that Greatnefs gives a Sanftion to Wickednefs? Or that it is the Prerogative of Lords to be un- juft and inhumane? You remember the Sentence which yourfelf pronounc'd upon this innocent Man ; you cannot think it hard that it fhould pafs on you who are guilty. ":'*: Lure. I hope your Majefty will con- fider my Rank, and not oblige me to marry her. King. Your Rank ! my Lord. Great- nefs that ftoops to Aclions bafe and low, deferts its Rank, and pulls its Honours down. What makes your Lordfhip Great ? Is it your gilded Equipage and Drefs ? Then put it on your meaneft Slave, and he's as great as you. Is it your Riches or Eftate ? The Villain that fhould plunder you of all, would- then be great as you. No, -my Lord, he that Ads greatly, is the true Great Man. I therefore think you ought, in Juftice, to marry her you thus have wrong'd. [49] Peg. Let rny Tears thank your jefty. But, alas ! I am afraid to mar- ry this young Lord j that would only give him Power to ufe me worfe, and ilill encreafe rny Milery : i therefore beg your Majefty will not command him to do it. King. Rife then, and hear me. My Lord, you fee how low the greateit Nobleman may be reduced by unge- nerous Actions. Here is, under your own hand, an abfolute Promife of Marriage to this young Woman, which, from a thorough Knowledge of your Unworthinefs, me has prudently de- clin'd to make you fulfil. I mail there- fore not infift upon it ; but I command you, upon Pain of my DJfpleafure, im- mediately to fettle on herThree hundred , Pounds a Year. Peg. May Heaven reward your Ma- jetty's Goodnefs. 'Tis too much for jne, but if your Majefty thinks fit, let it be fettled upon this much-injured Man, to make fome Satisfaftkm for the Wrongs which have been done him. As to myfelf, I only fougty: to clear the Innocence of him I lov'$ and G ( 50 ) wrong'd, then hide me from the World* and die forgiven. Dick. This Aft of generous Virtue cancels all paft Failings ; come to my Arms, and be as dear as ever. Peg. You cannot fare forgive me ! Dick. I can, I do, and ftill will make you mine. Peg. O ! why did I ever wrong fuch generous Love ! Dick. Talk no more of it. Here let us kneel, and thank the Goodnefs which has made us bleft. King. May you be happy. Mil. [Kneels] After I have feen fo much of your Majefty's Goodnefs, I cannot defpair of Pardon, even for the rough Ufage your Majefty recciv'd from me. [The King draws his Sword, the Mil- ler is frighted, and rifcs up> think- ing he was going to kill him. What have I done that I Aould lofe my Life ? King. Kneel without Fear. No, my good Hoft, fo far are you from having any thing to pardon, that I am much your Debtor. I cannot think but fe good and honeft a Man will make make a worthy and honourable Knight, fo rife up, Sir John Cockle : And, to fupport your State, and in fome fort requite the Pleafure you have done us, a Thoufand Marks a Year ftiall be your Revenue. Mil. Your Majefty's Bounty I receive with Thankfulnefs j I have been guilty of no Meannefs to obtain it, and hope I fhall not be obliged to keep it upon bafe Conditions ; for tho* I am willing to be a faithful Subject, I am refolv'd to be a free and an honeft Man. King. I rely upon your being fo: And to gain the Friendfhip of fuch a one, I lhall always think an Addition to my Happinefs, tho' a King. Worth, in whatever State, is fure a Prize Which Kings, of all Men, ought not todefpilej By felfilh Sycophants fo clofe befieg'd, 5 Tis by meer Chance a worthy Man's oblig'd : But hence, ro every Courtier be it known, Virtue fhali find Protection from the Throne. FINIS. . . . j - . . . 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