The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 118

_War._ Right, my gued Lord,'sbred, that _Cromwel_ was th' faudest limmer Loon that ever cam into lour Country, the faud Diel has tane him by th'

Luggs for robbing our Houses and Land.

_Fleet._ No swearing, my Lord.

_War._ Weel, weel, my Loord, I's larne to profess and lee as weel as best on ya.

_Hews._ That may bring you profit, my Lord-- but, Clerk, proceed.

_Clerk reads._] To _Walter Frost_, Treasurer of the Contingencies, twenty thousand Pounds. To _Thurloe_, Secretary to his Highness--

_Duc._ To old _Noll_.

_Clerk reads._] --Old Noll, ten thousand Pounds, for unknown Service done the Commonwealth-- To Mr. _Hutchinson_, Treasurer of the Navy, two hundred thousand Pounds--

_War._ Two hundred thousand Pound; Owns, what a Sum's there?-- Marry it came from the Mouth of a Cannon sure.

_Clerk reads._] A Present to the Right Honourable and truly Virtuous Lady, the Lady _Lambert_, for Service done to the late Protector--

_Hews._ Again-- say _Cromwel_.

_Clerk._ --Cromwel-- six thousand Pound in _Jacobus's_.

_War._ 'Sbread, sike a Sum wou'd make me honour the Face of aud _Jemmy_.

_Clerk._ To Mr. _Ice_ six thousand Pound; to Mr. _Loether_, late Secretary to his High--

_Whit._ To _Oliver Cromwel_ say, can you not obey Orders?

_Clerk._ --Secretary to _Oliver Cromwel_-- two thousand nine hundred ninety nine Pounds for Intelligence and Information, and piously betraying the King's Liege People.

_War._ Haud, haud, Sirs, Mary en ya gift se fast ya'll gif aud away from poor _Archibald Johnson_.

_Whit._ Speak for your self, my Lord; or rather, my Lord, do you speak for him.

[To _Lam._

_Lam._ Do you move it for him, and I'll do as much for you anon.

[Aside to _Whit._

_Whit._ My Lord, since we are upon Gratifications,-- let us consider the known Merit of the Lord _Wariston_, a Person of industrious Mischiefs to the malignant Party, and great Integrity to us, and the Commonwealth.

_War._ Gued faith, an I's ha been a trusty Trojon, Sir, what say you, may very gued and gracious Loords?--

_Duc._ I scorn to let a Dog go unrewarded; and you, Sir, fawn so prettily, 'tis pity you shou'd miss Preferment.

_Hews._ And so 'tis; come, come, my Lords, consider he was ever our Friend, and 'tis but reasonable we shou'd st.i.tch up one another's broken Fortunes.

_Duc._ Nay, Sir, I'm not against it.

_All._ 'Tis Reason, 'tis Reason.

_Free._ d.a.m.n 'em, how they lavish out the Nation!

_War._ Scribe, pretha read my Paper.

_Hews._ Have you a Pert.i.tion there?

_Cob._ A Pet.i.tion, my Lord.

_Hews._ Pshaw, you Scholards are so troublesome.

_Lam._ Read the Substance of it. [To the Clerk.

_Clerk._ That your Honours wou'd be pleas'd, in consideration of his Service, to grant to your Pet.i.tioner, a considerable Sum of Money for his present Supply.

_Fleet._ Verily, order him two thousand Pound--

_War._ Two thousand poond? Bread a gued, and I's gif my Voice for _Fleetwood_.

[Aside.

_Lam._ Two thousand; nay, my Lords, let it be three.

_War._ Wons, I lee'd, I lee'd; I's keep my Voice for _Lambert_-- Guds Benizon light on yar Sol, my gued Lord _Lambert._

_Hews._ Three thousand Pound! why such a Sum wou'd buy half _Scotland_.

_War._ Wons, my Lord, ya look but blindly on't then: time was, a Mite on't had bought aud shoos in yar Stall, Brother, tho noo ya so abound in _Irish_ and Bishops Lands.

_Duc._ You have nick'd him there, my Lord.

_All._ He, he, he.

_War._ Scribe-- gang a tiny bit farther.

_Clerk._ --And that your Honours would be pleas'd to confer an Annual Pension on him--

_Lam._ Reason, I think; what say you, my Lords, of five hundred Pound a Year?

_All._ Agreed, agreed.

_War._ The Diel swallow me, my Lord, ya won my Heart.

_Due._ 'Tis very well-- but out of what shall this be rais'd?

_Lam._ We'll look what Malignants' Estates are forfeit, undispos'd of-- let me see-- who has young _Freeman's_ Estate?

_Des._ My Lord, that fell to me.

_Lam._ What all the fifteen hundred Pound a Year?