Lady _Make-shift._ [Reads.
--Heav'ns, Madam, here are many thousand Hands to't of the distressed
Sex.

_All._ Read it.

_Gill. Reads._] Whereas there pass'd an Act, _June_ 24th, against
Fornication and Adultery, to the great detriment of most of the young
Ladies, Gentlewomen, and Commonalty of _England_, and to the utter decay
of many whole Families, especially when married to old Men; your
Petitioners most humbly beg your Honours will take this great Grievance
into mature Consideration, and the said Act may be repealed.
--A Blessing on 'em, they shall have my Hand too.

_L. Lam._ We acknowledge, there are many Grievances in that Act; but
there are many Conveniences too, for it ties up the villanous Tongues of
Men from boasting our Favours.

_Crom._ But as it lays a Scandal on Society-- tis troublesome, Society
being the very Life of a Republick-- _Peters_ the first, and _Martin_
the second.

_Lov._ But in a Free-State, why shou'd we not be free?

_L. Des._ Why not? we stand for the Liberty and Property of our Sex, and
will present it to the Committee of Safety.

_Lov._ Secondly, we desire the Heroicks, vulgarly call'd the Malignant,
may not be look'd on as Monsters, for assuredly they are Men; and that
it may not be charg'd to us as a Crime to keep 'em company, for they are
honest Men.

_2 Lady._ And some of 'em Men that will stand to their Principles.

_L. Lam._ Is there no other honest Men that will do as well?

_3 Lady._ Good Men are scarce.

_L. Lam._ They're all for Heroicks, sure 'tis the mode to love
'em-- I cannot blame 'em.
[Aside.

_Lov._ And that when we go to Morning and Evening Lectures, to
_Tantlings_, or elsewhere, and either before or after visit a private
Friend, it may be actionable for the wicked to scandalize us, by terming
of it, abusing the Creature, when 'tis harmless recreating the Creature.

_All._ Reason, Reason.

_Lov._ Nor that any Husband shou'd interrupt his Wife, when at her
private Devotion.

Enter _Page_.

_L. Lam._ I have been too late sensible of that Grievance.

_Gill._ And, Madam, I wou'd humbly pray a Patent for Scolding, to ease
my Spleen.

_Page._ An please your Highness, here's a Messenger arriv'd Post with
Letters from my Lord the General.

[Ex. _Page_.

_L. Lam._ Greater Affairs-- oblige us to break up the Council.
[Rises, the Women retire.

Enter _Page_ with Messenger, or Letters.

--What means this haste? [Opens,