L. Lam. She is not worthy of Intrigues of Love, that cannot manage a silly Husband as she pleases—but, _Gilliflower_, you forget that this is Council day. Gill. No, but I do not, Madam, some important Suitors wait already. Enter L. _Des._ and L. _Fleetwood_. L. Lam. Your Servant, Madam _Desbro_, thou’rt welcome— _Gilliflower_, are all things ready in the Council-Chamber? We that are great must sometimes stoop to Acts, That have at least some shew of Charity; We must redress the Grievance of our People. L. Fleet. She speaks as she were Queen, but I shall put a spoke in her rising Wheel of Fortune, or my Lord’s Politicks fail him. [Scene draws off, Table with Papers: Chairs round it. 411 L. Lam. Where are the Ladies of the Council?—how remiss they are in their Attendance on us. L. Fleet. Us! Heav’ns, I can scarce endure this Insolence!—We will take care to mind ’em of their Duty— L. Lam. We, poor Creature! how simply Majesty becomes her? [They all sitting down, enter L. _Cromwel_ angrily, and takes her Place, L. _Lam._ uppermost. —Madam, as I take it, at our last sitting, our Pleasure was, that you shou’d sit no more. Crom. Your Pleasure! Is that the General Voice? This is my Place in spite of thee, and all thy fawning Faction, and I shall keep it, when thou perhaps, shalt be an humble Suppliant here at my Foot-stool. L. Lam. I smile at thee. Cram. Do, and cringe; ’tis thy business to make thee popular. But ’tis not that— Nor thy false Beauty that will serve thy Ends. L. Lam. Rail on; declining Majesty may be excus’d, Call in the Women that attend for redress of Grievances. [Ex. _Page_. Enter _Page_ with Women, and _Loveless_ dress’d as a Woman. Gentlewomen, what’s your Bus’ness with us? Lov. Gentlewomen! some of us are Ladies. L. Lam. Ladies in good time; by what Authority, and from whom do you derive your Title of Ladies? L. Fleet. Have a care how you usurp what is not your own! Lov. How the Devil rebukes Sin! [Aside. L. Des. From whom had you your Honours, Women? Lov. From our Husbands. Gill. Husbands, who are they, and of what standing? 2 Lady. Of no long standing, I confess. Gill. That’s a common Grievance indeed. L. Des. And ought to be redress’d. 412 L. Lam. And that shall be taken into consideration; write it down, _Gilliflower_; who made your Husband a Knight, Woman? Lov. _Oliver_ the first, an’t please ye. L. Lam. Of horrid Memory; write that down—who yours? 2 Lady. _Richard_ the fourth, an’t like your Honour. Gill. Of sottish Memory; shall I write that down too? L. Des. Most remarkably. Crom. Heav’ns! Can I hear this Profanation of our Royal Family? [Aside. L. Lam. I wonder with what impudence _Noll_ and _Dick_ cou’d Knightify your Husbands; for ’tis a Rule in Heraldry, that none can make a Knight but him that is one; ’tis _Sancha Pancha’s_ Case in _Don Quixot_.