Whit. I think, Sir, he that talks well, and to th’ purpose, may be as useful to the Commonwealth as he that fights well. Why do we keep so many else in Pension that ne’er drew Sword, but to talk, and rail at the malignant Party; to libel and defame ’em handsomly, with pious useful Lyes, Which pass for Gospel with the common Rabble, And edify more than _Hugh Peter’s_ Sermons; 382 And make Fools bring more Grist to the publick Mill. Then, Sir, to wrest the Law to our convenience Is no small, inconsiderate Work. Free. And which you may be hang’d for very shortly— [Aside. Lam. ’Tis granted, my Lord, your Merit’s infinite—We made him Keeper of the Great Seal, ’tis true, ’tis Honour, but no Salary. Duc. Ten thousand Pound a Year in Bribes will do as well. Lam. Bribes are not so frequent now as in Old _Noll’s_ Days. Hews. Well, my Lord, let us be brief and tedious, as the saying is, and humour one another: I’m for _Whitlock’s_ Advance. Lam. I move for a Salary, Gentlemen, _Scobel_ and other petty Clerks have had a thousand a Year; my Lord sure merits more. Hews. Why—let him have two thousand then. Fleet. I profess ingeniously, with all my Heart. Whit. I humbly thank your Lordships—but, if I may be so bold to ask, from whence shall I receive it? Lam. Out of the Customs. Cob. Brotherly Love ought to go along with us—but, under favour, when this is gone, where shall we raise new Supplies? Lam. We’ll tax the Nation high, the City higher, They are our Friends, our most obsequious Slaves, Our Dogs to fetch and carry, our very Asses— Lov. And our Oxes, with the help of their Wives. [Aside. Lam. Besides, the City’s rich, and near her time, I hope, of being deliver’d. War. Wons a gued, wad I’d the laying o’ her, she shou’d be sweetly brought to Bed, by my Sol. Des. The City cares for no _Scotch_ Pipers, my Lord. War. By my Sol, but she has danc’d after the gued 383 Pipe of Reformation, when the Covenant Jigg gang’d maryly round, Sirs. Clerk. My Lords, here are some poor malignant Petitioners. Lam. Oh, turn ’em out, here’s nothing for ’em; these Fellows were petitioning my Lady to day—I thought she had given you a satisfactory Answer, Lov. She did indeed, my Lord: but ’tis a hard Case, to take away a Gentleman’s Estate, without convicting him of any Crime. Lam. Oh, Sir, we shall prove that hereafter. Lov. But to make sure Work, you’ll hang a Man first and examine his Offence afterwards; a Plague upon your Consciences: My Friend here had a little fairer Play; your Villains, your Witnesses in Pension swore him a Colonel for our glorious Master, of ever blessed Memory, at eight Years old; a Plague upon their Miracles. Fleet. Ingeniously, Sirrah, you shall be pillory’d for defaming our reverend Witnesses: Guards, take ’em to your Custody both. Free. Damn it, I shall miss my Assignation with Lady _Desbro_; a Pox of your unnecessary prating, what shall I do? [Guards take ’em away.