m. _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.

_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_.

_Crom._ How dare you question my Husband's Authority?
[Rises in Anger.
Who nobly won his Honour in the Field,
Not like thy sneaking Lord who gain'd his Title
From his Wife's gay Love-tricks--
Bartering her Honour for his Coronet.

_L. Lam._ Thou ly'st, my Husband earn'd it with his Sword,
Braver and juster than thy bold Usurper,
Who waded to his Glory through a Sea
Of Royal Blood--

_L. Des._ Sure _Loveless_ has done good on her, and converted her.

_L. Fleet._ Madam, I humbly beg you will be patient, you'll ruin