IT cannot be help'd now, Master Kilvert.

It cannot bee help'd, marry'eene beshrew your hearts for it, (I have vverheard your conference) it is a fine passe I am brought too, is it not? Shall I who was com­panion for the best City Ladies, who had my coach and my horses to carry me when and where I pleased, be contented now to sit at the lower end of the table, as if I was little better forsooth then one of the scullery: must I in my old age carry this weary body now on my owne feete, if I meane to have it carried at all; must I indure that my vel­vet and my damaske Gownes should bee diswar­drob'd into some red Petticoate or Wastecoate, or some worse Polony Jumpe; I marry! what will the people say? here is a fine jumpe indeed, from honour to infamy, from wealth to want, from bravery to rags; from—

Nay, prethee be quiet sweet-heart, pre­thee Lady be not so intemperate!

Sweet-heart me no sweet-hearts, Lady [Page 2]me no Ladies, I must forget all ceremonies and titles of honour, I, it is your ungovern'd thoughts that have distracted me to an ungovern'd tongue, you are a very, very honest man, are you not M [...] ­ster Abel? (she claps her hands at him.)

What strange inventions doe these women use to satisfie the malice of their spleene when their tongues begin to be weary, they will borrow new incouragement from their hands, and doe what they can to make them scold too?

And safer too I wis, then to make their tongues the undoing of whole families by begging unjust Monopolies and Oinopolies, and I know not what inventions of infamy and ruine.

Sure this Gentlewomans braines be­gins to unsettle, advise her to goe in and to feede on warme things.

Marry and I receive nothing but cold comfort from you, it would make a woman franticke indeed, to be serv'd as I am serv'd: but what is now become my Masters of your so deep, so subtile understandings? you that were two of the most cunning contrivers, of the most contri­ving Projectors, of the most projecting oppressors, what is now become of all your plots, of all your reache? if I had not rather choose two hogsheads for my Councellors, and safer, let mee never bee trusted more.

She had alwaies an high and perillous spi­rit, I pray beare with her Master Kilvert.

A perillous spirit indeed, to be fool'd by your wisdomes, you are a paire of a perillous I [Page 3]know what; you dare not go into the Vintners cel­lars, for fear the hogsheads themselves in disdaine of that musty liquor which your tyrannies do in­forc [...] them to containe, and sensible of the injury, working altogether and framing to a revenge, should split their angry ribs against your guilty heads, and make you the examples of their justice before justice herselfe hath fully censured you.

Alas, poore Gentlewoman I am very sory for her! and in troth cannot much blame her passions.

She hath not that reason to grow so violent as she herselfe conceiveth, but I have the greatest afflictions that mankinde can be capable of, I am exposed to the hatred of all men, my estate quite lost, my friends and old acquaintance accusing me, my conscience tormenting me, and my selfe daily expecting when justce shall proceed against me.

And I am even Master Abel in the same pickle my selfe, but the people as I understand en­tertaine a great fear and a griefe for me, but marry what is it? their feare is that my punishment shall not be so great as my offences, and that is the rea­son of their griefe; whatsoever they wish to you it seemes they have a care of me I thank them.

I never sought after nor conspired against the life of any of them.

But you have against the estates of ma­ny of them, and that is their livelihood, and so by consequence have wrought their ruine, and what is that, but whiles you bring them into penuty and [Page 4]want by a lingring and a more truell execution, you are many yeares in killing them.

It is true indeed, too true Mr. Kilvert, but why did you not tell me this before?

A more discerning eye then mine might be deceived in the foreseeing of the event of things especially in the Labyrinths and per­plexed Mazes of State affaires, was I of intelli­gence with the Destinies to foresee the unanimity and intentions of this present Parliament, their strict resolves for the reformation of all abuses, the rise of Lincolne, and the fall of Canterbury, had not the Drummes of Scotland beat up their alarums in the Northerne Marches, had not their Trumpets sounded in the English eares, for any thing that I know there had beene neither so many Parlyes with them, nor a Parliament amongst our selves; but you and I might have lived secure enough, for who then in the hurry and confusion of those distracted times would have taken off our vaile of greatnesse to looke upon our vices: it is hard believe me, when the errours of private men are countenanced by the authority of great and reverend personages, to discerne the errours, as in­deed they are, and to distinguish betwixt Vertue and Fortune.

But have we no redresse, no hope of re­dresse at all (Mr. Kilvert) the Parliament I under­stand is mercifull and noble, what if we petitioned unto them?

Tis right, but they are as just as they are mercifull, are you able to restore and make good [Page 5]whatsoever wrongs you have done to those who have accused you, for my owne part, I know my owne inabilities.

Not I, not I, Mr. Kilvert, I am altoge­ther unable to make them satisfaction, neither in­deed am I very willing: besides, the small estate that I was master of, I have made over to my Heires.

It is like to continue with them long, I have read [...], and the experience of all Ages hath justified the Proverbe.

Master Kilvert you have a head that is well exercised in the Law, and have laid many projects to draw others into danger, cannot your wit finde one now to deliver your selfe indan­gered.

What project meane you Mr. Abell, I will tell you, and doe you remember it in your day of triall, who dare wilfully, and with a prepared resolution transgresse the Law, dares undergoe any punishments that the Law can afflict; I have no other counsell to relieve you with at this pre­sent.

Will there no pitty bee extended to my aged head?

Gray haird iniquity is the most odious, to abuse the goodnesse of so gracious a Prince, to impoverish, to oppresse his subjects, and that un­der the umbrage of Justice and Authority are no easie crimes, Master Abell, what did you tell mee of devices, and I know not what projects, which [Page 6]you were alwaies more ready to entertaine, then I to fancy, I would have you know, Mr. Abell. I defie the scandal and the imputation of the word.

Excuse me Sir, I did not thinke to have so much moved your patience, I see then that I must altogether rely on the mercy of God, and of the Parliament. I perceive you are to mee like one of Iobs friends, but a miserable comforter.

Wee must arme our selves with Iobs pa­tience, though we cannot with his innocence, and make our sufferings examples unto times to come, that they dare no more with such close pretences as were ours, like so many pioners, seeke to under­mine the courses and the force of Justice; who repents him of his offence (they say) is almost in­nocent. As he was speaking this, there came in one unto them, and told them that there was a com­pany of ancient Gentlemen who desired with speede to have conference with them; who they were it is yet unknowne, but it appeared they were some Citizens who had beene abettors and complotters with them in the inhancement and so­phistication of the Wines; they whispered softly amongst themselves, but because they were alto­gether unknowne, having a desire to doe nothing more then to informe the Reader with certainety and truth, both the persons and their counsells are adjourned to a more cleer and a more full relation.