University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

Princeps legitimè inauguratus, or, The Instalment.

The Argument Historicall.

Scena I.

A curtain is displaied, Φυλοφυλαξ, the prime School monitor appears in a studying posture: is interrupted by the entrance of the 2 Text-bearers, inducing Πλανοδιος, the wandring schollar Lose-Cap to the sight and speech of the Monitor, with a Petition tendered de recuperando Parsonuli Pileo, for recovery of his Cap, defunct; the Petition is accepted by Phylophylax the Monitor; with promise to be presented in Court, and to have fair audience in the businesse (for his Office is not only School-Superintendent, but also libellorum custos, Master of request and complaints) And here is the first stone laid in the Arch-fabrick of the counterplot.

Scena II.

Lord of mis-rule enters with his bonny fresh men, undertakes their protection, contra gentes & jura; and against the imperious wand of Custos Tyronum, his main Antagonist and theirs. And this is the second trick of wit in the crosse plot, so to disturb the main plot.

Scen. III.

Here the maine plot begins. The Master of Ceremonies appears with the Keeper of the Fresh-men: Tis consulted De Curiâ rectè curandâ, that things be done in Place, Time and Order. Exit Ceremonius. Custos induces his Fresh charge, pearcheth them up at the Bar: succeeds again Ceremonius with his whole Court-traine. And first, marshalleth his fourth Classis, next his fift; then fall in the Officers, Seniors, Attendants, Prince, in ceremoniall order. Ceremonius leads the way, next him, Lord Misrule, then two Monitors abrest. Singly succeeds them Monitor Monitorum; next, Præco Fecialis, the Mercuriall Herauld at Armes, Princeps Rhetoricus in the midst. After him the two Text-bearers; then the other two Monitors abrest, the Cap of Maintenance after them, and last, Custos Tyronum, Proclaimer and Guards-man Generall.

They proceed to Election, on a fourefold Ground; 1. Sucession, 2. Merit, 3. Suffrages, 4. Lawes and Customes.

Invenitur Caduceo Habilis & Idoneus, proclaimed fit for the Mercuriall Scepter.

The Quæries are ten: As first, whether he hath orderly ascended from Classis to Classis, non faciens saltum, not making a skip.

2. Whether he be patiens inediæ, frigoris, & sudoris. An multa tulit, fecitq; sudavit & alsit: whether he be Snow-proofe, able to endure Heats and Colds, and to watch by the Lamp of Cleanthes.

Againe, whether he hath learned obedire & imperare, to obey and command, as Junior and Senior; and whether well verst in the Lawes appertaining to the Chaire Mercuriall: whether bene moratus, Bene linguatus, Religiosus, & Humilis.

And being approved by the Register generall, proclaimed Prince by the Herauld, and voiced by the rest, he ascends the Chaire of Eloquence.

Then followes the citement of Officers; after that, the Canto or Hymne of Congratulation; the Speeches Encomiasticall ad Principem.

After the Citement, the Indictment is read against the Tyroes, whose penalties are imposed in way of severall Theames, and liberty to speak for themselves, par pœnæ culpa. Their Patron is Lord of mis-rule.

Scen. IV.

Ex Improviso, abruptly breaks in Sir Shone, Molestus Interpellator Curiæ, In a great fume, impatient of longer attendance, a blunt, unbred, rude, insulse Scholar, and as roughly entertain'd by the Guards-man: they chop Logick at staves end dilemmatically; Here I can have ye, & there; but pates find mediums. Master Keeper assaints the Parson, Argumento Baculino, with Halberd Eloquence, the Parson indoctrinates the Keeper with Crab-tree Logick, but is foyled at his owne weapon; till Misrule, and the Schoole-monitor, his Fratres fraterrimi, complotters and sworn partners, step in to his rescue; by whose provision and request, his Petition is heard, registred, and deliberated on, but deferred till the next Court Sessions Mercuriall.

Μελπετε μελιδιουντες Παιων μελιδουντες Παιων,
Χαιρε Σοφων Ιερφυ Ερμαικωντε Βασιλευ,
Ερμαικωντου Βασιλευ.
Των Φυλακων συ ο Αναξ,
Καθυμνεισε πας ο Φυλαξ,
Καιρε, χαιρε, Λογων, Ιερευ.

The humble Partishon of Sir Shone of Wales, in formâ paperis following.

Be it knowne to all and some, that her hath a partishon in her
pockets, ad hunc venarabiliem collegium, propter facere Hue
and Cry, post cappum sumum (misere defunctum, & lostum) per
omnes Chamberos, Studies, & Corneros. And also her desires to

enter her Actions, or rather her Passions in te Law, for a stire facias
through te six mercuriall classes, with a non est Inventus, as touching
her Plieus; and a Quare Latitat, amongst all her cozen Scholers,
and her shall be pound to pray, for her six venerable said Monitors
while her may, for ever and a day, and longer too, when her hath
nothing else to do.

The Morall Argument of this Act, for want of roome, wee passe by.

The Authors, like so many flourie fields, Campi Rhetorici, were Tacitus, Justine, Justinian, Quintilian, Eutopia, Mori, Atlantis Verulamei, Apuleius: The Greeks, Homer, Aristophanes, Plutarch, Zenophon de Cyropædia, Longinus, [illeg.]σολογιας. Aristotles Rhetorick, Plato, Æschylus, &c. The language chiefly Greek; but Auditorii gratiâ, translated here and there into English.