Sword. What: talk you of Law? Sword scorns to have any other law than martial law, and that upon you, Rapier.

Dag. Away, Sword; the time was indeed when thou wast a notable swash-buckler,1 but now thou art grown old, Sword.

Rap. Aye, you do well to excuse his cowardice. Sword. Why, Sir, 'tis well known that Sword has flourished in his days.

Dag. Flourished? I'faith, Sir, I have seen Sword hang with nothing but scarfs ere now. With a halter, if he had

Rap. With scarfs ?

been well served for he's a notable thief.

Dag. A thief?

Rap. Aye, a thief. Did you never hear of Cutting Dick?? this is the very same man.

Dag. Nay, Rapier, ne'er hit Sword i' th' teeth with that for you know you were both indicted for treason before now; and were in danger to be hanged and drawn too, and had escaped well if you had not been quartered.

Sword. Sword, I hope, knows how to keep his quarters.

It were

Dag. You are a crafty fox, Sword. well if you knew how to keep your friendship too: for gentlemen and friends should not fall out.

ISWASH BUCKLER.-One who makes a furious noise with sword and

buckler, to appal antagonists; a bravo, or swaggering ruffian.

'CUTTING DICK.-A ruffian, a swaggerer, &c., as swash-buckler.

Sword. Rapier, a gentleman!

Rap. A gentleman, and has arms.

Dag. But methinks, Sword, by the very sounding of his name should be the better gentleman, and has the better arms too; for if the truth were well known Rapier hath but one arm.

Rap. Sword bear arms? He's a base com

panion. Sword.

Alas, I have known you bear a basket,

Dag. If you look in the Book of Armoury, I'll warrant you, you shall find Sword of more antiquity than you, Rapier. 'He derives his pedigree from Morglay, Bevis of Southampton's sword; and that from St. George his sword, that killed the dragon.

Rap. Ay, the dragon in Sussex,' the other day. But I'll warrant you Rapier's of as good a blood as he, for his heart.

Dag. By th' mass, I think indeed you are both well sanguined. You're both of one blood: only there's this difference, that Sword comes of the elder brother, and you Rapier of the younger.

Rap. And oftentimes the younger brother proves the better soldier.

Dag. Nay, Dagger will defend you both for good soldiers.

Sword. Rapier, a soldier! when did you ere know Rapier fight a battle!

'THE DRAGON IN SUSSEX.-See the tract on "a Strange and Monstrous Serpent or Dragon," &c.

Dag. Yes, Rapier is a soldier, and a man as well armed at all points as any one.

Sword. No, no; it's Sword that's the notable soldier. Why, there's none of all you captains could do any thing in war without him.

Rap. I hope Rapier hath not been at fencingschool all this while for nothing.

Dag. Alas, there's none master of defence but Dagger. But yet, if you speak of soldiers, there's Bow, Bill, and Gun, worth twenty such as we are. Rap. Indeed, they say that Bow has been an old soldier.

Sword. Yet he's not fit for a soldier: any man may bend him as he list.

Rap. And as for Bow-string, I dare undertake to whip him myself.

Sword. Then let me alone to tickle Bow's own nock,1 i' faith.

Dag. But what say you to Bill? He's a notable sturdy villain.

Sword. Bill! I'll pay him soundly, if ere I reach him.

Dag. It's more than you can do, I'm afraid. For Bill's a tall fellow on's hands, and will quickly be wood. And then 'there's Gun; such another bouncing fellow too.

Rap. Gun alas, he's nobody. Any little boy

1NOCK.-The posteriors.

will make him roar. I have made him go off o' th' fields a good many times myself.

Dag. Well; is Gun nobody? I'm sure he'll give some blows sometimes.

Sword. Its ne'er but when Powder overcharges him then indeed, he'll be somewhat hot o' th'

matter.

Rap. I think that Powder is a vile bragger; he doth nothing but crack.

Dag. Faith, I know not what soldier he is: but they say he's an excellent politician.

Rap. He a politician?

Dag. Why, he has an excellent wit.
Sword. Pish, its nothing but a flash.

Dag. I'm sure I can remember since he was a parliament man.

Rap. He a parliament-man! For what shire? Dag. Nay, by o'r Lady, it was for the whole country.

Sword. I wonder they should choose him. Why he does everything on the sudden.

Dag. Oh, he plots shrewdly. If they had not looked to it, he had undermined the whole parliament-house.1

Sword. Aye, but he's nobody now a days; he's blown up long ago.

UNDERMINED THE WHOLE

Gunpowder Plot in 1655.

PARLIAMENT-HOUSES.-Alluding to the

Dag. Well, if either you or anybody else should meet with Powder, yet it's a hundred to one if he meet not with his match.

Rap. Nay, you should let him alone, Dagger; and you should see that Sword's as notable a bragger as Powder. He thinks he shall ne'er be matched too; but he shall; and over-matched too by Rapier, I warrant him. Come, Sword, after your long parley, dare you go into the fields?

Sword. Dare I? you shall soon see that. Go, and I'll follow you.

Dag. Well said, desperate Dick. Sword, you may be ashamed to offer it. You know you are two handed Sword, and Rapier has but one hand (unless I help him) to do any good withal: and yet you'd have him go into the fields with you. Come, there's neither of you shall go. Do not you know that duels are put down? You'll be bound to the peace ever hereafter, if you strike but one stroke. Therefore, you had better let me decide. your controversy for you.

Sword. Why, you are a back-friend to us both, Dagger.

Dag. Nay, you know I'm equally allied to you both; and, therefore, shall prove an impartial judge. How say you, will you be ruled by me?

Rap. Nay, let him choose: Rapier's at a good point, whether he will or no.