Though there I see—Propitious Angels sit [points at the Boxes. Still there’s a Nest of Devils in the Pit, By whom our Plays, like Children, just alive, Pinch’d by the Fairies, never after thrive: ’Tis but your Half-crown, Sirs: that won’t undo. Epilogue p. 330 _Rotas._ The Rota was a political club founded in 1659 by James Harrington. It advocated a system of rotation in filling government offices. 331 THE ROUNDHEADS; OR, THE GOOD OLD CAUSE. 332 Scenes described in (parentheses) are unnumbered. Argument. Source. Theatrical History. Dedication Prologue Dramatis Personæ. Act I. Scene I. _The Street._ Scene II. _A Chamber in Lambert’s House._ Act II. Scene I. _A Chamber of State in Lambert’s House._ Act III. Scene I. _A Council-Chamber._ Scene II. _A Chamber in Lady Desbro’s House._ Act IV. Scene I. _A Chamber in La. Desbro’s House._ Scene II. _A fine Chamber in La. Lambert’s House._ Scene III. _A great Chamber of State._ Scene IV. _Flat._ Act V. Scene I. _A Street._ Scene II. _A Chamber in La. Lambert’s House._ (_Table with Papers_) Scene III. _The Street._ Scene IV. _A Chamber in Lambert’s House._ Scene V. _A Street._ Notes to _The Roundheads_ 333 ARGUMENT. The historical state of affairs 1659-60 was briefly as follows:—the Protectorate of Richard Cromwell expired 22 April, 1659. Hereupon Fleetwood and some other officers recalled the Long Parliament (Rump), which was constituted the ruling power of England, a select council of state having the executive. Lambert, however, with other dissentients was expelled from Parliament, 12 October, 1659. He and his troops marched to Newcastle; but the soldiers deserted him for General Fairfax, who had declared for a free Parliament, and were garrisoned at York. Here Monk, entering England 2 January, 1660, joined them with his forces. Lambert, deprived of his followers, was obliged to return to London. His prompt arrest by order of Parliament followed, and he, Sir Harry Vane and other members of the Committee of Safety were placed in strict confinement. On 5 March Lambert was imprisoned in the Tower, whence he escaped on 10 April, only to be recaptured a fortnight later. There are vivid pictures in Aubrey, Pepys, and other writers, of the wild enthusiasm at the fall of the Rump Parliament, with bonfires blazing, all the church bells ringing, and the populace of London carousing and pledging King Charles on their knees in the street. ‘They made little gibbets and roasted rumps of mutton. Nay, I saw some very good rumps of beef,’ writes Aubrey, and Pepys is even more vivid in his tale than the good antiquary. King Charles landed at Dover, 26 May, amid universal rejoicings. Mrs. Behn has (quite legitimately) made considerable departures from strict historical fact and the sequence of events for her dramatic purposes.