SCENE IV.

  Enter Citizens, and MELANAX, in his fanatic Habit, at the head
  them.

Mel. Hold, hold, a little, fellow citizens; and you, gentlemen of the rabble, a word of godly exhortation to strengthen your hands, ere you give the onset.

1 Cit. Is this a time to make sermons?  I would not hear the devil now, though he should come in God’s name, to preach peace to us.

2 Cit. Look you, gentlemen, sermons are not to be despised; we have all profited by godly sermons that promote sedition:  let the precious man hold forth.

Omn. Let him hold forth, let him hold forth.

Mel. To promote sedition is my business:  It has been so before any of you were born, and will be so, when you are all dead and damned; I have led on the rabble in all ages.

1 Cit. That’s a lie, and a loud one.

2 Cit. He has led the rabble both old and young, that’s all ages:  A heavenly sweet man, I warrant him; I have seen him somewhere in a pulpit.

Mel. I have sown rebellion every where.

1 Cit. How, every where?  That’s another lie:  How far have you travelled, friend?

Mel. Over all the world.

1 Cit. Now, that’s a rapper.

2 Cit. I say no:  For, look you, gentlemen, if he has been a traveller, he certainly says true, for he may lie by authority.

Mel. That the rabble may depose their prince, has in all times, and in all countries, been accounted lawful.

1 Cit. That’s the first true syllable he has uttered:  but as how, and whereby, and when, may they depose him?

Mel. Whenever they have more power to depose, than he has to oppose; and this they may do upon the least occasion.

1 Cit. Sirrah, you mince the matter; you should say, we may do it upon no occasion, for the less the better.

Mel. [Aside.] Here’s a rogue now, will out-shoot the devil in his own bow.

2 Cit. Some occasion, in my mind, were not amiss:  for, look you, gentlemen, if we have no occasion, then whereby we have no occasion to depose him; and therefore, either religion or liberty, I stick to those occasions; for when they are gone, good night to godliness and freedom.

Mel. When the most are of one side, as that’s our case, we are always in the right; for they, that are in power, will ever be the judges:  so that if we say white is black, poor white must lose the cause, and put on mourning; for white is but a single syllable, and we are a whole sentence.  Therefore, go on boldly, and lay on resolutely for your Solemn League and Covenant; and if here be any squeamish conscience who fears to fight against the king,—­though I, that have known you, citizens, these thousand years, suspect not any,—­let such understand that his majesty’s politic capacity is to be distinguished from his natural; and though you murder him in one, you may preserve him in the other; and so much for this time, because the enemy is at hand.