A PROLOGUE To a New PLAY, called The Royallist.
HOw! the House full! and at a Royal Play!
That's strange! I never hop'd to see this day.
But sure this must some change of Fate fore-tell;
For th' Pit (methinks) looks like a Commonweal;
Where Monarch Wit's bafl'd by ev'ry Drudge,
And each pert Railing Brimigham's a Judge.
But know, ye Criticks of unequal Pride,
The Dice now give kind chances on our side;
Tories are upmost, and the Whigs defy'd.
Your Factious Juries and Associations
Must never think to ruine twice Three Nations;
No, there's one 'bove you has too long had Patience.
Changing of sides is now not counted strange;
Some for Religion, some for Faction change:
And (lest Examples should be too remote,)
A Rev'rend Clergy-man of famous note
Hath chang'd his Cassock for a Campaign-Coat;
Amongst the Saints doth most devoutly Stickle,
And holy Bag-pipe squeals in Conventicle.
Another sort there are that rore and rant;
Are Loyal; but all other Vertues want:
Ask their Religion, they cry, What a Pox,
Damn me ye Dog, I'm stanch, I'm Orthodox.
These are as bad as t'other ev'ry way,
And much unlike my part I act to day;
A Royallist by Nature, not by Art,
That loves his Prince and Countrey at his Heart;
Addresses loves, to all Mankind is civil;
But hates Petitions as he hates the Devil;
Perfect in Honour, constant to his Friend;
And only hath one fault, is wondrous kind.
Faith none who does it is a Rigling Whig.
This is his Character, and is't not pity
But such as he bore Office in the City?
How would all honest Hearts their Fates esteem,
Were all our Common-Council-men like him?
How glad to be preserv'd from Factious Furies,
If such as he was Fore-man of the Juries.
This point once gain'd, Sedition would want force,
And equal Justice take its proper Course;
Hang up all those for an Examples show,
That have deserv'd it Twenty years ago.
The Epilogue,
spoken by Mr. Underhill.
WHat in my face cou'd this strange Scribler see,
(Uds Heart) to make an Evidence of me?
That never cou'd agree with Ignoramus,
But for a Tender Conscience have been famous.
For who of these among you here that have
Not in your Rambles heard of Tory Cave;
Who rores in Coffee-house, and wasts his Wealth,
Toping the Gentleman in Scotland's Health.
This part should have been given some hardy Fool,
That had more sense for Int'rest than his Soul.
I never had the knack of Truth-denying,
Loving Sedition, Loyalty defying;
Nor could I take Ten Pound a week for Lying.
But since 'tis so, I must intreat the pity
Of you our (never failing) Friends i'th' City.
For though I was not e're brought up to th' Trade,
Like Setting-Dog I may with Art be made.
In time such wholsom Documents receive:
Uds Zooks, who knows but I may stand for Shrieve?
And faith, that thought hath raised my ambition:
Well, Sirs, give me but House-room, and Provision;
Cry up the Play, and always let me find
My Benefactors Bountiful and Kind;
Then, if you want a Swinger at a word,
Zounds I'le swear for you through a two-inch-Board.
FINIS.