England bot-now a glorious Monarchy
Degraded to a base Democracy.
The Play thus done, or rather the WORKE Finished; the Epilogue
remains, to wit the Epitaph of a slaughter'd King; which Ire-serve
to another Opportunity; hoping Heaven may prevent you, ere
your Sceane be finish'd ; (as you did those poor Players lately in
the middle of their's; not onely depriving them of their present subsistance,
but of the meanes of future) but what doe we talke of such
flight Injuries to them that are now undoing Kingdomes; Yes, not
onely England and Ireland (the one by their Care, the other by their
neglect) but France too, as farre as lies in them ; so great is their
spight and mallice against their Soveraigne; that it reaches as farre
as he dare claime a Title : to this purpose; John Lilburne the Licentious
Libertine was lately they say sent over to make Proselytes, and
instill into those poor Peasants the pleasing Principles of Faction in
the notion of Freedome : and certainly, they may soon be perswaded
to shake off their Iron yoake of Slavery, that have seen us before
them break the Golden Band of Subjection, and cast away the easie
Coards of Loyalty.
They may well throw off their Cloggs of Oppression, that have
seen us unloose the Latchet of Obedience.
Doe not the Saints crumme their Pottage well ? and sure they will
be guilty of so much manners, as to let Crumwel have the first mess,
for indeed hee's a firey man, & if his Pottage chance to be too cold,
he can warms them with his Nose; for I am sure that hath kindled
such a flame in this Kingdome; that all the Water the Sisters can disburse,
will not be sufficient to quench; If it were not for making his
good Worship angry, I would sweare that he were a Saint of the
Devills Cannonizing; but since 'tis out, let it passe ; and if I may
not be beleeved without an Oath, I Would intreate Fembrek: ( if I
could sell where to finde him ) to sweare it into a Truth; or else I
would give Peters a Gold Ring to take a journey into Hell (for hee's
well acquainted with the way ) to bring a Ticket from his Master
the Devill to satisfie tender Consciences; but I feare that Peters will
hardly be perswaded to goe without his dearly beloved Patron Col.
Pride; and I dare say, If Pride and Peters would be but concommitants
(for Peters cannot goe without Pride) that they may have large
preferrment; for no question, but the Devils wants are great therefore