_Col._ My best thanks To you my noble Cosin, and my service To the whole Court; may I deserve this bounty. _Val._ Proceed to th' ceremony, one of our _Esguard_ Degrade _Mountferrat_ first. _Mount._ I will not sue For mercy, 'twere in vain; fortune thy worst. [_Musick._ _An Altar discover'd, with Tapers, and a Book on it. The two_ _Bishops stand on each side of it_; Mountferrat, _as the Song is_ _singing, ascends up the Altar_. _See, see, the stain of honor, virtues foe,_ _Of Virgins fair fames, the foul overthrow,_ _That broken hath his oath of chastity_ _Dishonor'd much this holy dignity,_ _Off with his Robe, expell him forth this place,_ _Whilst we rejoyce, and sing at his disgrace._ _Val._ Since by thy actions thou hast made thy self Unworthy of that worthy sign thou wear'st, And of our sacred order, into which For former virtues we receiv'd thee first, According to our Statutes, Ordinances, For praise unto the good, a terror to The bad, and an example to all men; We here deprive thee of our habit, and Declare thee unworthy our society, From which we do expell thee, as a rotten Corrupted and contagious member. _Esq._ Using th' authority th' Superior Hath given unto me, I untie this knot, And take from thee the pleasing yoak of heaven: We take from off thy breast this holy cross Which thou hast made thy burthen, not thy prop; Thy spurs we spoil thee of, leaving thy heels Bare of thy honor, that have kick'd against Our Orders precepts: next we reave thy sword, And give thee armless to thy enemies, For being foe to goodness, and to Heaven, Last, 'bout thy stiff neck, we this halter hang, And leave thee to the mercy of thy Court. _Val._ Invest _Miranda_. SONG. _Fair child of virtue, honors bloom_ _That here with burning zeal dost come_ _With joy to ask the white cross cloak,_ _And yield unto this pleasing yoak_ _That being young, vows chastity,_ _And choosest wilful poverty;_ _As this flame mounts, so mount thy zeal, thy glory_ _Rise past the Stars, and fix in Heaven thy story._ _1 Bish._ Wha[t] crave you, gentle Sir? _Mir._ Humble admittance To be a brother of the holy Hospital Of great _Jerusalem_. _2 Bish._ Breathe out your vow. _Mir._ To heaven, and all the bench of Saints above Whose succor I implore t' enable me, I vow henceforth a chaste life, not to enjoy Any thing proper to my self; obedience To my Superiors, whom Religion, And Heaven shall give me: ever to defend The virtuous fame of Ladies, and to oppugne Even unto death the _Christian_ enemy, This do I vow to accomplish.