FORTRESS

Yes, passed all chance it will: 'twill mundify and purge your body Cousin: I use to combat three of four at once, every spring, purposely to be let blood a little: it does me good all the year after. Why Cousin they are well, but in the accustomed garb, the frugal brim, and petty feather: they expect most careful lie thy admittance into our Order. That no knight of the Twibill; as Whiskin or ally gentleman shall presume to led or convey any of the sisters of the order, videlicet. Striker, Cockatrice, or Gynimeg through the watch after twelve, unless he see them asleep, or be in see with the Constable, under the penalty of being sent to the house of Correction. Next it is enacted, that none of the grooms of our ward robe shall offer to deprive any man of cloak, coat, or hat, unless it be in the dark, as they fear to answer it at the next assizes, and be burned in the hand for it. Next it is decreed, that the receivers of our rends and customs, to wit diverse Rooks, and Saint Nicholas Clerks shall certainly use no more slights to get more then they can clearly come off with, under penalty of being carried up Hol born in a cart, and at Tiburne executed, which may tend to the dissolution of our whole fraternity. Oh yes cousin, we have confined them to a certain price, a stipend reasonable, so that they shall not needs to dive into pockets. 'Tis mended by the next order, they are prescribed from wearing Plush and Satin, unless in petticoats. By no means sir, we would have every one take notice of them, but Marshals men, Beadles, and Constables, and therefore have ordained that they shall wear Beaver Hats, Poked Russes, Grogram Gowns, or at the best wrought Taffeta, Fox Skin Musses, Moehaire petticoats, Bodkins and Cros clothes edged with gold lace. The only shape to hide a striker in: ever while you Live, your city is most secure from officers, and most Notorious to gentlemen, they will take up your city beware at Any rate. Beside while they lanted it in plush, 'Twas and abuse to gentlewomen and Ladies, we have er'd in Questioning them for females of our tribe, and had our pates Broke for it. 'Tis universal cousin, only for Captain Pirkes name, we left a blank, there's the decree sir, read it if you please. Nay there are others too, but y not their appellations in oblivion, they merit memory. Captain Pirke pray retire unto the brother's of our Society: entreat them to prepare again tomorrow, for My cousin Sconces enseasement. If he durst blunder for it Cousin Sconce. Silence cousin Sconce, let's hear the whif ter if he can not verify his words, sink me my Io, he shall taste arm of dan gerfield. Respect the Doctors answer. Rare Parac lsian, thy Annals shall be cut in Brass by Pen of steel. 'Tis flat enough already, this my Io, nay show thy Phis nomy, h'is our quondam trusty attendant, but now Knight of the Twibill, Pithagoras Big. Who you King Twadle? Mushroom you dub him? This is legitimate blood of the Spanish grape my Io. No by no means, weel call to them through the door, varlet avoid. Now coz, to begin our ceremony; first, drink to me. Sir Pithagoras we do create you skinker, it shall go round my blades, you shall dible in liquour of account; here bro there Makeshift. I now we'll to't, come hither Captain, sing the hymn preparatory to Knighthood, but wet your pipes first, Ganymede, they'll squeak the better. No me Io, it off before the ceremony is half accom plish'd, you are our wardrobe keeper, brother Knock down have you brought the vestments of our Order? How? suspicious my Io: Brother Knockdown disroab his neck of this old linen, savours of a winding-sheet: this is Decimo Sexto, fears no rumpling: Now Cousin Sconce, you must discuss your doublet. Now you appear something above and Embrio: Make shift help to untruss his breeches. To him it may. So, now kneel down, while thus I thee create: J remia Sconce, Knight of the order of Twibill. Now avaunt Chevaleire. But brother's, there is Sack yet to be drunk, in Cele bration of this Knighthood, Pythagoras, fill his Bowl up. Captain. Pirk this Cornucopia To my Lieutenant Generals health: I'll call you so now. Expect me Io; heart of my father, you must for consume mansion of your installment, drink a cup a piece to each of us. Thou shalt be my Bacchus Io, he drinks as if he had eaten Pickle Herring. That will not be long I hope. Health to the Weathercock of my Kin, the noble Sig neur I emias Sconce. But Cousin, 'tis necessary, you enrol your self into the Family before you wed: our order, Like the Knights of Malta, does admit no persons espoused: but with this difference, if they receive the Order Bachelors, they may then marry and yet retain the title. Certain truth my Io: we met npon our grand Exchange last night, our place of trade and consultation, and there conclu dead some decrees, necessary for supporting our Common wealth. Why sirrah Dandiprat, you might have given attendance. Attend then Cousin Sconce; our Order I'll assure you are such, as the most envious Justice, nor their Goosequill Clark's, that smell at new Bridewell, and Finsbury shall not exclaim on. Imprimis, it is generally decreed. How, not our robes of honour the ensigns of our cheval y? Hell take the Broker: we must perforce employ one of our own suits. What do you blunder, whi le Pig, are you grun ting too: shall I whet my Twibill on your bones mips of de bility? 'Tis against order, and we must observe ceremony. First then receive this cap of maintenance. Here sir, receive this Military Cassock, it has seen service. That's I, 'tis for the linen brother's: Hell my Io, how shall I escape them? Noble Urinal: come Blades here's purchase for us. No my Io, he casts his skin but once a year, Like the poor snake: well, he has done our Order special service; but coz, where are the preparations the vancarriors coz, to the so lemnity of your insta m nt? renounce me, if you vilify the insti tution by disregard of properties, this hand shall never cross the Twibill over thy head, nor give thee thy avant chevalier, while thou art mortal my Io, I say I shall not. Doctor give your hand (father I should have said) some famed Historian, some Gallo-Belgicus shall Chro nicle thee and thy salve, there was a touch for him Cousin For tress. Come you shall see my Mistress. Now coz Sconce, our Order does constrain us to a frisk, a dance about you, as the Fairies tread about their great King Oberon.