That are uplifted in the morning air
Like crosses of some peaceful crusade!
It makes me long to sail for lands unknown,
No matter whither! Under me, in shadow,
Gloomy and narrow lies the little town,
Still sleeping, but to wake and toil awhile,
Then sleep again. How dismal looks the prison,
How grim and sombre in the sunless street,-
The prison where she sleeps, or wakes and waits
For what I dare not think of,-death, perhaps !
A word that has been said may be unsaid:
It is but air. But when a deed is done
It cannot be undone, nor can our thoughts
Reach out to all the mischiefs that may follow.
'Tis time for morning prayers. I will go down.
My father, though severe, is kind and just;
And when his heart is tender with devotion,-
When from his lips have fallen the words, "Forgive us
As we forgive," then will I intercede

For these poor people, and perhaps may save them. [Exit. SCENE II. Dock Square. On one side the tavern of the Three Mariners. In the background a quaint building with gables; and, beyond it, wharves and shipping. CAPTAIN KEMPTHORN and others seated at a table before the door. SAMUEL COLE standing near them.

Kemp. Come, drink about! Remember Parson Melham,
And bless the man who first invented flip!

[They drink.
Cole. Pray, Master Kempthorn, where were you last night?
Kemp. On board the Swallow, Simon Kempthorn, Master,
Up for Barbadoes, and the Windward Islands.

Cole. The town was in a tumult.
Kemp.

And for what?

How my Quakers?

Cole. Your Quakers were arrested.
Kemp.

Cole. Those you brought in your vessel from Barbadoes.
They made an uproar in the Meeting-house

Yesterday, and they're now in prison for it.

I owe you little thanks for bringing them
To the Three Mariners.

Kemp.

They have not harmed you.

I tell you, Goodman Cole, that Quaker girl

Is precious as a sea-bream's eye. I tell you
It was a lucky day when first she set

Her little foot upon the Swallow's deck,

Bringing good luck, fair winds, and pleasant weather.
Cole. I am a law-abiding citizen;

I have a seat in the new Meeting-house,

A cow-right on the Common; and, besides,
Am corporal in the Great Artillery.

I rid me of the vagabonds at once.

Kemp. Why should you not have Quakers at your tavern If you have fiddlers?

Cole.

Never! never! never!

If you want fiddling you must go elsewhere,

To the Green Dragon and the Admiral Vernon,
And other such disreputable places.

But the Three Mariners is an orderly house,
Most orderly, quiet, and respectable.

Lord Leigh said he could be as quiet here

As at the Governor's. And have I not

King Charles's Twelve Good Rules all framed and glazed
Hanging in my best parlour?

Kemp.

Here's a health

To good King Charles. Will you not drink the King?
Then drink confusion to old Parson Palmer!

Cole. And who is Parson Palmer? I don't know him.
Kemp. He had his cellar underneath his pulpit,
And so preached o'er his liquor, just as you do.

Cole. Here comes the Marshal.
Merry (within).

[A drum within.

Make room for the Marshal.
Kemp. How pompous and imposing he appears!
His great buff doublet bellying like a mainsail,
And all his streamers fluttering in the wind.
What holds he in his hand?

Cole.

A Proclamation.

(Enter the MARSHAL, with a proclamation; and MERRY with a halberd. They are preceded by a drummer, and followed by a hangman, with an armful of books, and a crowd of people, among whom are UPSALL and JOHN ENDICOTT. A pile is made of the books.)

Merry. Silence the drum! Good citizens, attend

To the new laws enacted by the Court.

Marshal (reads). "Whereas a cursed sect of Heretics
Has lately risen, commonly called Quakers,

Who take upon themselves to be commissioned
Immediately of God, and furthermore
Infallibly assisted by the Spirit

To write and utter blasphemous opinions,
Despising Government and the order of God

In Church and Commonwealth, and speaking evil
Of Dignities, reproaching and reviling

The Magistrates and Ministers, and seeking
To turn the people from their faith, and thus

Gain proselytes to their pernicious ways ;-
This Court, considering the premises,
And to prevent like mischief as is wrought
By their means in our land, doth hereby order
That whatsoever master or commander

Of any ship, bark, pink, or catch, shall bring
To any roadstead, harbour, creek, or cove,
Within this Jurisdiction any Quakers,

Or other blasphemous Heretics, shall pay
Unto the Treasurer of the Commonwealth
One hundred pounds, and for default thereof
Be put in prison, and continue there

Till the said sum be satisfied and paid."

Cole. Now, Simon Kempthorn, what say you to that?
Kemp. I pray you, Cole, lend me a hundred pound!
Marshal (reads). "If any one within this Jurisdiction
Shall henceforth entertain, or shall conceal
Quakers, or other blasphemous Heretics,
Knowing them so to be, every such person
Shall forfeit to the country forty shillings
For each hour's entertainment or concealment,

And shall be sent to prison, as aforesaid,

Until the forfeiture be wholly paid." [Murmurs in the crowd. Kemp. Now, Goodman Cole, I think your turn has come! Cole. Knowing them so to be!

Kemp.

At forty shillings

The hour, your fine will be some forty pound!

Cole. Knowing them so to be! That is the law.

Marshal (reads). "And it is further ordered and enacted,

If any Quaker or Quakers shall presume

To ccme henceforth into this Jurisdiction,

Every male Quaker for the first offence

Shall have one ear cut off; and shall be kept
At labour in the Workhouse till such time
As he be sent away at his own charge.
And for the repetition of the offence
Shall have his other ear cut off, and then
Bo branded in the palm of his right hand.
And every woman Quaker shall be whipt
Severely in three towns; and every Quaker
Or he or she, that shall for a third time
Herein again offend, shall have their tongues
Bored through with a hot iron, and shall be

Sentenced to Banishment on pain of Death." [Loud murmurs. (The voice of CHRISTISON in the crowd.)

O patience of the Lord! How long, how long,

Ere Thou avenge the blood of Thine Elect?

Merry. Silence, there, silence! Do not break the peace!

Marshal (reads). "Every inhabitant of this Jurisdiction

Who shall defend the horrible opinions

Of Quakers, by denying due respect

To equals and superiors, and withdrawing

From Church Assemblies, and thereby approving

The abusive and destructive practices

Of this accursed sect, in opposition

To all the orthodox received opinions

Of godly men, shall be forthwith committed
Unto close prison for one month; and then
Refusing to retract and to reform

The opinions as aforesaid, he shall be
Sentenced to Banishment on pain of Death.

By the Court.

Edward Rawson, Secretary."

Now, hangman, do your duty. Burn those books.

(Loud murmurs in the crowd. The pile of books is lighted.)

Upsall. I testify against these cruel laws!
Forerunners are they of some judgment on us;
And, in the love and tenderness I bear
Unto this town and people, I beseech you,

O Magistrates, take heed, lest ye be found

As fighters against God!

John Endicott (taking Upsall's hand). Upsall, I thank you For speaking words such as some younger man,

I or another, should have said before you.

Such laws as these are cruel and oppressive;

A blot on this fair town, and a disgrace

To any Christian people.

Merry (aside, listening behind them). Here's sedition! I never thought that any good would come

Of this young popinjay, with his long hair

And his great boots, fit only for the Russians

Or barbarous Indians, as his father says?

The Voice. Woe to the bloody town! And rightfully Men call it the Lost Town! The blood of Abel

Cries from the ground, and at the final judgment

The Lord will say, "Cain, Cain! where is thy brother ?" Merry. Silence there in the crowd!

Upsall (aside).

'Tis Christison!

The Voice. O foolish people, ye that think to burn

And to consume the truth of God, I tell you

That every flame is a loud tongue of fire

To publish it abroad to all the world

Louder than tongues of men!

Kemp. (springing to his feet). Well said, my hearty!
There's a brave fellow! There's a man of pluck!
A man who is not afraid to say his say

Though a whole town's against him. Rain, rain, rain,

Bones of St. Botolph, and put out this fire!

[The drum beats. Exeunt all but MERRY, KEMPTHORN, and COLE,

Merry. And now that matter's ended, Goodman Cole, Fetch me a mug of ale, your strongest ale.

Kemp. (sitting down). And me another mug of flip; and put Two gills of brandy in it.

A merry name!

[Exit COLE.

I like it; and I'll drink your merry health

Till all is blue.

Merry.

And then you will be clapped

Into the Stocks, with the red letter D

Hung round about your neck for drunkenness.

You're a free-drinker,-yes, and a free-thinker!

Kemp. And you are Andrew Merry, or Merry Andrew.
Merry. My name is Walter Merry, and not Andrew.
Kemp. Andrew or Walter, you're a merry fellow;
I'll swear to that.

Merry.
No swearing, let me tell you.
The other day one Shorthose had his tongue
Put into a cleft stick for profane swearing.

(COLE brings the ale.)

Kemp. Well, where's my flip? As sure as my name's
Kempthorn-

Merry. Is your name Kempthorn ?

Кетр.

That's the name I go by.

Merry. What, Captain Simon Kempthorn of the Swallow?
Kemp. No other.

Merry (touching him on the shoulder). Then you're wanted.
I arrest you

In the King's name.

Kemp.
And where's your warrant ?
Merry (unfolding a paper and reading).
Listen to me. "Hereby you are required,
In the King's name, to apprehend the body
Of Simon Kempthorn, mariner, and him
Safely to bring before me, there to answer
All such objections as are laid to him

Here.

Touching the Quakers." Signed, John Endicott.
Kemp. Has it the Governor's seal?
Merry.

Ay, here it is.