_Rea._ Well said! and as ye, daughter! wish it, That joy, to all folk in general, So wish I, Reason, the same; but yet First in this life wish I here to fall To our most noble King and Queen in especial, To their honourable Council, and then to all the rest, Such joy as long may rejoice them all best! [_All say Amen._ _Here cometh in four with viols and sing, "Remember_ _me," and, at the last, choir all make_ _curtsey, and so go forth singing._ * * * * * _Thus endeth the Play of Wit and Science,_ _made by Master John Redford._ [Illustration] RESPUBLICA A.D. 1553 A DRAMA OF REAL LIFE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF QUEEN MARY A MERRY INTERLUDE, ENTITLED RESPUBLICA MADE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1553, AND THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS REIGN OF OUR MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN QUEEN MARY THE FIRST ¤#The Parts and Names of the Players:#¤ THE PROLOGUE, a Poet AVARICE, _alias_ POLICY, the Vice of the Play INSOLENCE, _alias_ AUTHORITY, the Chief Gallant OPPRESSION, _alias_ REFORMATION, another Gallant ADULATION, _alias_ HONESTY, the Third Gallant PEOPLE, representing the Poor Commonalty RESPUBLICA, a Widow MISERICORDIA, } VERITAS, } four Ladies JUSTICIA, } PAX, } NEMESIS, the Goddess of Redress and Correction, a Goddess [Illustration] RESPUBLICA. THE PROLOGUE. First, health and success, with many a good new year, Wished unto all this noble presence here! I have more t' entreat you of gentle sufferance That this our matter may have quiet utterance. We, that are th' authors, have ourselves dedicate With some Christmas devise, your spirits to recreate; And, our poet trusteth, the thing we shall recite May, without offence, the hearers' minds delight; Indeed, no man speaketh words so well fore pondered, But the same, by some means, may be misconstrued. Nor, nothing so well meant but that, by some pretence, It may be wrong interpreted from the author's sense. But, let this be taken no worse than it is meant, And I hope nor we, nor our poet, shall be shent.