with a wall of Brasse, my Workmen all in Armour of proof; I
fear neither Storm nor Battery; Nor am I at all moved by Bug-bear Knacks
or Flattery. There's my condition, here's my Humour.
But look they use the Gentleman kindly: If not, be sure I will retaliate
his Injuries, though not in specie, yet so effectually to all Intents and Purposes,
that though they keep him in Prison, themselves shall be the onely
Sufferers: For what greater affront could they put upon me, then to father
my Issue on a stranger, that never knew my beloved Minerva ? more
then by a carelesse touch of her Hand, to say, she liveth chaste, and immaculate.
And With like Innocence I am here again to bait the Bears of the Junto,
which having not as yet recovered its strength, since the Purge it took in
December, hath ordered, That the Committee touching the Excrementitious
part, do sit in Queens Court at eight a clock every morning, untill the
last of this instant, to receive into mercy all such secluded sinners, as upon
their hearty Repentance shall be thought worthy of forgivenesse, they first
acknowledging their misdeeds, and in token of their subjection, falling
down and worshipping the Throne of that great Idol.
And indeed, they could not have return'd in a fitter season, seeing it
is in the very nick of time, whilest they are surveighing their own Merits;
upon which occasion, although they cannot expect to strike in for a share
amongst them; yet hereby they may proportion their own Deserts against
the time expected, wherein they hope to have the like power of rewarding
themselves.
For, in the first place, Bradshaw, for his many faithful Services done in
the behalf of the Common-wealth, (that is, for that superlative Act of Pronouncing
Sentence of Death against the Life of the Kingdom) is to have
2000 l. per annum setled upon him and his Heirs for ever and ever, world
without end; and the Councel of State is ordered to say Amen to it. Besides,
1000 l. present money in lien of his many disbursments; the particulars
whereof follow:
Inprimis, For the purple Gown he sate in at the Tryal of the King,
richly lined with Impudence, Perjury, Ambition, Treason, Sacriledge, Murder
and Non-sense, 200 l.
Item, For so much disbursed to those sober Babes that carried up the
Tail of the Dragon, 200 l.
Item, For Cawdles, Capon and Cock-broth, Sack, Muskadine, and
Hyppocrist, Anchovies and Caviare, 200 l.
Item To a dozen Read-Coats that attended dayly in Westminster Hall, to
Hum his Lordship when he hit the Nayle, and to cry out for Justice against
the King, 30. l.
Item To the Yeoman of the wardrobe for brushing off the Dust and Motes
of his Integrity, and for taking out the Greazy-spots of Allegiance and Gratitude,
30.l.