Beggars Bush | Page 6

Uprightest in his calling: Now, 'cause we thought
We ne're should 'gree on't our selves, because Indeed 'tis hard to say:
we all dissolv'd, to put it To him that should come next, and that's your
Master-ship, Who, I hope, will 'termine it as your mind serves you,
Right, and no otherwise we ask it: which? Which does your worship
think is he? sweet Master Look over us all, and tell us; we are seven of
us, Like to the seven wise Masters, or the Planets.
Gos. I should judge this the man with the grave beard, And if he be
not--
Clau. Bless you, good Master, bless you.
Gos. I would he were: there's something too amongst you To keep you
all honest. [Exit.
Snap. King of Heaven go with you.
Omn. Now good reward him, May he never want it, to comfort still the
poor, in a good hour.
Fer. What is't? see: Snap has got it.
Snap. A good crown, marry.

Prig. A crown of gold.
Fer. For our new King: good luck.
Ginks. To the common treasury with it; if't be gold, Thither it must.
Prig. Spoke like a Patriot, Ferret-- King Clause, I bid God save thee
first, first, Clause, After this golden token of a crown; Where's oratour
Higgen with his gratuling speech now In all our names?
Fer. Here he is pumping for it.
Gin. H'has cough'd the second time, 'tis but once more And then it
comes.
Fer. So, out with all: expect now--
Hig. That thou art chosen, venerable Clause, Our King and Soveraign;
Monarch o'th'Maunders, Thus we throw up our Nab-cheats, first for joy,
And then our filches; last, we clap our fambles, Three subject signs, we
do it without envy: For who is he here did not wish thee chosen, Now
thou art chosen? ask 'em: all will say so, Nay swear't: 'tis for the King,
but let that pass. When last in conference at the bouzing ken This other
day we sat about our dead Prince Of famous memory: (rest go with his
rags:) And that I saw thee at the tables end, Rise mov'd, and gravely
leaning on one Crutch, Lift the other like a Scepter at my head, I then
presag'd thou shortly wouldst be King, And now thou art so: but what
need presage To us, that might have read it in thy beard As well, as he
that chose thee? by that beard Thou wert found out, and mark'd for
Soveraignty. O happy beard! but happier Prince, whose beard Was so
remark'd, as marked out our Prince, Not bating us a hair. Long may it
grow, And thick, and fair, that who lives under it, May live as safe, as
under Beggars Bush, Of which this is the thing, that but the type.
Om. Excellent, excellent orator, forward good Higgen, Give him leave
to spit: the fine, well-spoken Higgen.
Hig. This is the beard, the bush, or bushy-beard, Under whose gold and

silver raign 'twas said So many ages since, we all should smile On
impositions, taxes, grievances, Knots in a State, and whips unto a
Subject, Lye lurking in this beard, but all kemb'd out: If now, the Beard
be such, what is the Prince That owes the Beard? a Father; no, a
Grand-father; Nay the great Grand-father of you his people. He will not
force away your hens, your bacon, When you have ventur'd hard for't,
nor take from you The fattest of your puddings: under him Each man
shall eat his own stolen eggs, and butter, In his own shade, or sun-shine,
and enjoy His own dear Dell, Doxy, or Mort, at night In his own straw,
with his own shirt, or sheet, That he hath filch'd that day, I, and possess
What he can purchase, back, or belly-cheats To his own prop: he will
have no purveyers For Pigs, and poultry.
Clau. That we must have, my learned oratour, It is our will, and every
man to keep In his own path and circuit.
Hig. Do you hear? You must hereafter maund on your own pads he
saies.
Clau. And what they get there, is their own, besides To give good
words.
Hig. Do you mark? to cut been whids, That is the second Law.
Clau. And keep a-foot The humble, and the common phrase of begging,
Lest men discover us.
Hig. Yes; and cry sometimes, To move compassion: Sir, there is a table,
That doth command all these things, and enjoyns 'em, Be perfect in
their crutches, their feign'd plaisters, And their torn pass-ports, with the
ways to stammer, And to be dumb, and deaf, and blind, and lame,
There, all the halting paces are set down, I'th' learned language.
Clau. Thither I refer them, Those, you at leisure shall interpret