_Tim._ Why, Mr. Parson, I have a scruple of Conscience upon me, I am considering whether it be lawful to kill, though it be in War; I have a great aversion to’t, and hope it proceeds from Religion. _Whiff._ I remember the Fit took you just so when the _Dutch_ besieged us, for you cou’d not then be persuaded to strike a stroke. _Tim._ Ay, that was because they were Protestants as we are; but, Gads zoors, had they been _Dutch_ Papists I had maul’d them: but Conscience-- _Whim._ I have been a Justice of Peace this six Years, and never had a Conscience in my Life. _Tim._ Nor I neither, but in this damn’d thing of fighting. _Dun._ Gentlemen, I am commanded to read the Declaration of the honourable Council to you. [To the Soldiers. _All._ Hum, hum, hum-- _Booz._ Silence--silence-- [_Dunce_ reads. _Dun._ By an order of Council, dated _May_ the 10th, 1670. To all Gentlemen Soldiers, Merchants, Planters, and whom else it may concern. Whereas _Bacon_, contrary to Law and Equity, has, to satisfy his own Ambition, taken up Arms with a pretence to fight the _Indians_, but indeed to molest and enslave the whole Colony, and to take away their Liberties and Properties; this is to declare, that whoever shall bring this Traitor dead or alive to the Council, shall have three hundred pounds Reward. And so God save the King. _All._ A Council, a Council! Hah-- [Hollow. Enter a _Soldier_ hastily. _Sold._ Stand to your Arms, Gentlemen, stand to your Arms, _Bacon_ is marching this way. _Dun._ Hah--what Numbers has he? _Sold._ About a hundred Horse, in his march he has surpriz’d Colonel _Downright_, and taken him Prisoner. _All._ Let’s fall on _Bacon_--let’s fall on _Bacon_, hay. [Hollow. _Booz._ We’ll hear him speak first--and see what he can say for himself. _All._ Ay, ay, we’ll hear _Bacon_ speak. [_Dunce_ pleads with them. _Tim._ Well, Major, I have found a Stratagem shall make us Four the greatest Men in the Colony, we’ll surrender our selves to _Bacon_, and say we disbanded on purpose. _Dull._ Good-- _Whiff._ Why, I had no other design in the World in refusing to fight. _Whim._ Nor I, d’ye think I wou’d have excus’d it with the fear of disordering my Cravat-String else. _Dun._ Why, Gentlemen, he designs to fire _James_ Town, murder you all, and then lie with your Wives; and will you slip this opportunity of seizing him? _Booz._ Here’s a termagant Rogue, Neighbours--we’ll hang the Dog. _All._ Ay, ay, hang _Bacon_, hang _Bacon_. Enter _Bacon_ and _Fearless_, some Soldiers leading in _Downright_ bound; _Bacon_ stands and stares a while on the Regiments, who are silent all. _Bac._ Well, Gentlemen, in order to your fine Declaration, you see I come to render my self. _Dun._ How came he to know of our Declaration? _Whiff._ Rogues, Rogues among our selves, that inform.