_Kate._ Noble captain, my lord! I suppose Mr. Trim has told your honour about my petition. I have been a great sufferer in the service. 'Tis hard for a poor woman to lose nine husbands in a war, and no notice taken; nay, three of 'em, alas, in the same campaign. Here the woman stands that says it. I never stripped a man 'till I first tried if he could stand on his legs, and, if not, I think 'twas fair plunder, except our adjutant, and he was a puppy, that made my eighth husband run the gauntlet for not turning his toes out. _Ld. H._ Well, we'll consider thee, Kate, but fall back into the rear. A roll of what? Gentlemen soldiers? _Trim_ [_To_ PUMKIN]. Do you hear that? My lord himself can't deny but we are all gentlemen, as much as his honour. _Ld. H._ [_Reading_]. Gentlemen soldiers quartered in and about Guy Court in Vinegar Yard, in Russel Court in Drury Lane, belonging to the honourable Captain Hardy's Company of Foot--So, answer to your names, and march off from the left. John Horseem, corporal, march easy, that I may view you as you pass by me. Drums Simon Ruffle, Darby Tattoo--there's a shilling for you--Tattoo be always so tight; how does he keep himself so clean? _Trim._ Sir, he is a tragedy drum to one of the playhouses. _Ld. H._ Private gentlemen: Alexander Cowitch, Humphrey Mundungus, William Faggot, Nicholas Scab, Timothy Megrim, Philip Scratch, Nehemiah Dust, Humphrey Garbage, Nathaniel Matchlock. _Cam._ What! Is Matchlock come back to the Company? That's the fellow that brought me off at Steinkirk. _Ld. H._ No, sir, 'tis I am obliged to him for that. [_Offering to give him money._] There, friend, you shall want for nothing; I'll give thee a halbert too. _Kate._ O brave me! Shall I be a sergeant's lady? I' faith, I'll make the drums, and the corporal's wives, and Company-keepers know their distance. _Cam._ How far out of the country did you come to list? Don't you come from Cornwall? How did you bear your charges? _Match._ I was whipped from constable to constable---- _Trim._ Ay, my lord, that's due by the courtesy of England to all that want in red coats; besides, there's an Act that makes us free of all corporations, and that's the ceremony of it. _Cam._ But what pretence had they for using you so ill? You did not pilfer? _Match._ I was found guilty of being poor. _Cam._ Poor devil! _Ld. H._ Timothy Ragg! O Ragg! I thought when I gave you your discharge, just afore the peace, we should never have had you again. How came you to list now? _Ragg._ To pull down the French king. _Ld. H._ Bravely resolved! But pull your shirt into your breeches in the mean time. Jeoffrey Tatter--What's become of the skirts and buttons of your coat? _Tatter._ In our last clothing in the regiment I served in afore, the colonel had one skirt before, the agent one behind, and every captain of the regiment a button. _Ld. H._ Hush, you rogue, you talk mutiny. [_Smiling._