THE AMOURS OF Messalina Late Queen of ALBION. IN WHICH. Are Briefly Couched, Secrets of the IMPOSTURE OF THE CAMBRION Prince, THE Gothick League, And other COURT INTRIGUES of the Four last Years Reign, not yet made PUBLIC  
By a Woman of Quality, a late Confident of Q. MESSALINA.  
LONDON, Printed for John Lyford, 1689.   

THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER.  
HAving Correspondance with a Gentleman, Resident in Cologne, the Repositorum of all the Oppressed Subjects of Gothland, where they first unload their Grievances and thence disperse them all over Europe.  
Among other pieces of Curiosity received from the said Gentleman, were these few Sheets, presented to him by the Man who prints them, and from whom he has a promise of the Second Part (that was just putting to the Press) and as soon as printed off, I may expect them by the first Post; they bear the Title of Les Amours de MESSELINA DERNIERE RHINE d'ALBION, and penned, as the Printer informs my Friend, by a Woman of Quality sometimes a Confident of Messalina late Queen of Albion, and one that has been very familiar with her in the most secret Intrigues; but upon some disgust received since their Retirement to the Gothish Court (proceeding, as is supposed, from the Haughty and Intolerable Humour of the Queen) has thereupon left the Court, and being very much out of Favour, is retired unto the Electorate of Cologne, it seems to carry the appearance of an Historical Novel, and contains most of the Cabinet Contrivances of the Court of Albion for these last four Years, it lays open the Villainous Contrivances of the Pagan Priests, especially Father Pedro's, against the Peace and Welfare of the Christian Religion in that Kingdom; it discovers the Life of the late Queen, with her Project to entail POPERY and SLAVERY on the Nation: It discovers the Muftis or High Priest, together with the Antichristian-King of Gothland●s Intrigues, at least to Imbroil if not totally to Subvert the Power and Interest of all the Christian Princes in Europe: It gives an Acoount of the Weakness and Oversight of the late King Lycognes', in suffering himself first to be led by the Nose by Polydorus King of the Gauls, afterwards to become his Pensioner, and to have as it were his whole dependence ●pon him: As lastly his Ungenerous and Cruel LEAGUE with the said King, not only to destroy or ruin all his own Christian Subjects but even to Exterpate what they are pleased to call the Northern Heresy from the Face of the Earth.  
It further shows the wicked and unparallelled Design of the late Queen Messalina, to impose upon and wrong the King her Husband's Children, two lovely Princess, of their Just and Lawful Pretensions to the Crown of Albion.  
P. S. While I was Correcting this Preface for the Printer, in order to its Immediate publication, the Dutch Post-man brings my Foreign Letters, one of which is from my Cologne Friend, in which is Enclosed the printed Sheets of the Second Part, where (on a Cursolary view of them) I find the Intrigues of his British Highness laid open, showing (after the failure of Count Davila and Father Pedro) the Secret Intrigues of the WARMING-PAN; in which is briefly Couched the whole management of that Imposture. With a New Amour that has lately happened since the Court's retirement into Gothland, between King Polydorus and Queen Messalina: Wherein are several Secrets of the Pagan League not yet exposed: But such is the over eagerness of the Bookseller, that I cannot persuade him to stop the publication of this, but I am over persuaded to publish them in two Parts, as they are in the Original.   

FAir Albion had for many years enjoyed all the pleasures that Peace and Plenty could afford, and by a long discontinuance from War, seemed to have degenerated from those inclinations to Glory which have been accounted natural to the People of that Famous Island; the last time they carried out their Victorious Arms, was against their Neighbours on the Belgic Coasts, where after many signal proofs of Courage and Ability on both sides, the Quarrel proceeding chief from Emulation of each others Power and Trade, a firm and lasting Peace was concluded between them: And now Britomardes the Second of that Name, King of Albion, having against his natural disposition been obliged to spend the first and better part of his Youth in all those hazards and difficulties which a Civil War within the Bowels of his own Country, and a twelve Years Exile abroad laid him open to, he at last, to his wonderful satisfaction, finds himself at liberty to follow the current of his own Humour, and resolves to Sacrifice the remaining part of his Life to the soft temptations of Love and Pleasure: But see the fallibility of Humane Resolutions, and how easily Providence can disappoint our firmest Expectations, for though Britomardes knew how to improve his Minutes of Love and Delight to as great advantage as any Prince in the World, yet he could very rarely find himself disengaged from those weighty Cares that necessarily attend the Thrones of Great Princes, or from the apprehensions of some impending Dangers which the many discoveries of Plots and Conspiracies against his Life, imprinted in him: He at last dying, without lawful Issue, Lycogenes the Second, his only Brother, succeeded, a Prince who in his Youth and Adversity gave so signal proofs of his Virtue and Gallantry, that he rendered himself the Admiration of Foreign Countries, and the Delight and Love of his own, but (I know not by what unhappy Counsels thereunto incited) after his coming to the Crown of Albion, he committed so many Irregularities against even the Peace and Safety of his own People, that they were obliged to call in Anaximander, Prince of the Low Lands, to their Assistance to defend their Lives, which they affirmed Lycogenes had exposed and sold to Polydorus King of the Gauls, and to recover their Rights and Liberties which, say, they their King had encroached upon and taken from them: Lycogenes had by his first Wife (who was Daughter to a Noble Peer of Albion) two Lovely Princesses to his Daughters, the Eldest called Artemisia, Married to Anaximander, the other Philadelphia, Married to Polycrates the Northern Prince. His second Wife was Messalina, Daughter of a Huge Prince in Italy, and nearly Related to Boanerges the Highpriest, a Lady sent by Heaven to determine the Fate of Poor Lycogenes, and to ruin the growing greatness of the Pagan Interest in the Kingdom of Albion: She was, as to her Person, all that could be wished in a great Woman, she had a Majestic, Lofty Carriage, black Hair, delicate sparkling Eyes of the same Colour, a handsome Nose, her Mouth extremely pretty when she smiled, her Face Oval, her Look demure and sullen, except when she was in Company with her Favourites; she was tall and well shaped, and to those who only looked on her, she made lovely Figure; she took, according to the mode of her Country, a great delight in Music and Amour; Before her arrival at Albion, she had spent part of her time in the Court of Gothland, where she behaved herself with that Gallantry, and so far insinuated into the favour of that Court, that 'tis believed Lycogenes received his first recommendation of her from the King of the Gauls; she looked upon the Nobility of Albion either too just to their King, or too unworthy of her Favours, to entrust them with any part of her Intrigues, and therefore she chose to be beholding to the Highpriest and to Polydorus, for Persons that might at once serve both her Love and Ambition; and though Lycogenes did all to oblige her, that a fond overweening Love could prompt a Man to, yet he found it more than a difficulty many times to prevail with her to keep within such rules as were most agreeable to his Honour, and requisite for the Peace and Security of his Kingdom; Messalina after Lycogenes Accession to the Crown, upon the Height and Eminence of her new Station, seemed to have received a new Air and Temper too; for during the Reign of Britomardes (her Lycogenes then but a Subject) she bore her Grandeur with that universal Complaisance and Condescension, that possibly the Renown of her Prideless Mien and Deportment, outran the very Fame of her Beauty, and the same Poetic Raptures that daily Deified the one, built Altars too to the other. All Tongues were full of her Praises, and there wanted not her Applause even in all Corners of the World. But as if Fortune had tried to match her own Mutability in that Change which the Advance to a Crown soon wrought through her whole Temper and Carriage; the Anointing Drops seemed to have infused so strange a Spirit of Ambition and Haughtiness, that her former Dearest Darlings and Favourites were then thought scarce worthy the Honour of being her Vassals, insomuch that that Universal Choir that before had so chanted her Praises, were all of a sudden struck dumb; whilst the Exaltation of her Pride, with that of her Glory, had infinitely rebated the edge of the late popular Veneration. But as disgusted as so haughty a Behaviour soon made her, not only by the People, but the very Courtiers of Albion; We are to consider 'twas in the Days of her more humble State, and gentler Charms, that she gained the Heart of her Lycogenes. 'Tis true, as her Pride became a Fault, however it brought one Virtue with it, in giving a Check to her former Inclination to Intrigue; her sometimes Favourites (upon her Ascent to a Throne) being now a little removed to a Distance unworthy of Graces so sublime. The long expected and long sighed for Day of her Imperial Dignity being come, she could not without abundance of Regret behold those Wrinkles Age had already made in the Face of her Lycogenes, she would often ruminate on the Sensible Decay Time and continual Cares had wrought in the Strength and Vigour of the King her Husband, she could not consider his weak and seldom Caresses any otherwise than as Memento Mori to her own Glory and Ambition; she saw many whom the unkindness, shall I say Injustice of Lycogenes had rendered cold and disaffected to his Interest, gaping with expectation of a speedy Change; she was not insensible that the moment of his Death would probably be the Eternity of her Ruin, and that at least her Honour, if not her Life, would be endangred; these Considerations would often perplex the Mind of poor Messalina, and would often check lhe current of her Joy even in the height of all her Glory. ‛ What? would she cry,' must this be the weak Foundation whereon all my future Hopes must rest? Must all my Glorious Projects lean on the uncertain Security of a Feeble Husband's Life? Shall the present possession of a Crown seem so to transport my Thoughts, as to leave me careless of all future Contingencies, or shall I think the high Station of a Queen of Albion so far above my Personal Merit, that like a cheating Gamester, I can be willing to refund, or lay down my Royalty? No, no, Messalina, think of the Grandeur of thy Mighty House, think of thy yet but Blooming Youth and Beauty; but above all, think of thy boundless lofty Soul, which will sooner break than bend to the least derogation of thy Honour: Remember Boanerges, thy holy Patron and Kinsman, and the Mighty Polydorus, do something worthy their great Alliance & Friendship: Remember the Eyes of all thy Sect expect thy wonderful Operations; and since the necessity of Time requires thy speedy Resolutions, remove boldly whatever dare obstruct thy Will, and let thy Orders have a speedy execution.' Such were the extravagant Thoughts of Unhappy Messalina, which were yet heightened afterwards by the pernicious Counsels of Count Davila, and Father Pedro, her two chief Assistants in all her Consultations, and sent on purpose to work on the restless Humour of this Queen, by Boanerges the Highpriest, to promote the Interest of the Pagan Faction in the Kingdom of Albion. These two, according to their Instructions, draw first a Scheme of what they had to do, and then like crafty Workmen, proceed to the Manner, Time, and Place for the execution of their Projects; they soon come to a determination of the manner of their proceed, for being sensible of the main points whereon all the Queen's Satisfaction seemed to depend; to wit, Amour and Religion, (two things so relative and reciprocal to each other all over Italy and great part of Gaul, that you shall seldom see a Devotee without the attendance of her Enamouratto, or a Man at his Prayers without mingling some pithy Ejaculations to the Saint that knelt by him) that they seemed to have little else to do than to make seasonable applications to the Queen's humour, as time and opportunity should give leave. The Count was a tall slender Man, well shaped, black Eyed, and quick, a large Nose, but thin Faced, facetious in his Discourse, and after the Italian way Musical; he had been well acquainted with Messalina in Italy, and had without any signal reason to despair, made several addresses of Love to her; He was designed and sent by the High Priest Boanerges, to make what efforts he could on the well known Inclinations of Messalina, though he came not so well provided but that it was generally thought the Queen defrayed even the expense of his Courtship: Father Pedro was to ply the other weak side of Messalina, and by his Insinuations of an implicit faith to be given to every thing, he should assert she was to use her utmost power and influence with Lycogenes, to promote and put in execution without reserve, whatsoever should be proposed as advantageous to the Pagan Interest: This was the purport of their Commissions, which they were to manage with all the Discretion, Secrecy, and Expedition imaginable.  
The Queen happening to be indisposed a while after the Count's arrival at Court, he was necessitated to defer the payment of his private devoirs for four or five days, though the satisfaction her Majesty was pleased to express for his arrival, was thought to add much to her recovery; She let him know about a Week after his coming, she was willing to receive his Visit that day after Dinner, and to avoid all inconveniency that might arise from the multiplicity of Attendance at the Palace Royal, she takes her Chair privately, and crosses over to St. Jaques, a small half Mile from Alba Regalis, and retiring into her Closet, she with impatience waited the coming of the Count, having before given Orders to admit him without Ceremony; the Count by what mischance detained is uncertain, came not till two hours after the time appointed, and being conducted by Aspasia, one of the Queen's Women to the Closet door, went in, and found Messalina thrown upon a Couch fast asleep, whereupon he stopped, and being about to withdraw, the Queen awoke, and perceiving the Count, she started up in some seeming disorder: The Count fearing she was displeased to have been seen in that posture, was in great confusion whether to stay or go, till the Queen making up to him, said, ‛ My Lord, this is a piece of Gallantry in you extraordinary, to make a Lady wait thus long for your attendance; I know not how you will be able to acquit yourself from the justice of my resentment, of which heretofore you have expressed great apprehensions:' The Count was so abashed at this short but severe reprimand, that for a great while he could not make any reply; but at last coming to himself he fell on his Knees and humbly implored her Majesty's Pardon, telling her he hoped Her Majesty was not now to be convinced of his readiness to serve her with the utmost faculty of his Soul; that she could not be insensible that the first time he had had the honour to see her in her own Country, he had made so entire a resignation of himself and his interest to her will and pleasure, that it was not now in his power to design any thing repugnant to her satisfaction, that he was too sensible of her Justice, to believe that one unfortunate error was able to blot out the remembrance of a thousand demonstrations passed of the profound respect he always thought due to her; that he hoped his hearty repentance for this, would induce her not only to confirm his Pardon for the present, but to give him assurance of her good will for the future: The Queen who all this while with the greatest satisfaction imaginable, had heard the Count thus zealous in his Apology for an error, she had resolved with a great deal less difficulty to have pardoned, stretching out her hand to the Count, told him roundly that she was sufficiently satisfied of his good inclinations towards her, that besides the recommendation of her Kinsman the Highpriest, his own personal merit had so wrought on her opinion, as to make her resolve to commit a Secret of the greatest importance to her Interest, that could be, to his management and discretion, that as she did already believe the sincerity of his Protestations, so she doubted the necessity of her Affairs, would in a little time cause her to exact his performance: The Count was about to reply, when Madam Marchioness de Tomazo, the Queen's chief Confident, and Father Pedro, were come into the withdrawing Room, and advancing up to the Closet, the Queen bid them enter, where after the usual Ceremony they fall into a deep Consultation, the matter before them, was the means of advancing the Pagan Interest throughout Albion, and next the satisfaction of Messalina's Ambition, as to her continuance in the Regency in case Lycogenes (which was very much feared) should in a short time fail; they were each preparing to deliver their Opinion in this weighty Affair, when news was brought that the King waited for Messalina's Company, to make a visit to the Queen Dowager; Messalina before she departed, gave them in Charge to deliver in Writing to herself, within three days, their Opinions severally, and told them that within three days more she would have another Consult, wherein she hoped they would come to a final Resolution: The Queen being gone, these three fell to deliberation on the points already proposed; after a great many Arguments they conclude, that nothing but the Queen's having a Son, could in any humane probability secure both the Queen's Power, and the Grandeur of their Diana and her Temples in Albion after the death of L●cogenes; for supposing, said they, (which is very much doubted) that Lycogenes live to bring in either by Fraud or Arbitrary Power, the Pagans Religion in his own time, yet the root it will take will be so slender and shallow, that one breath of the next Successor (being a Christian) will be able to blast it, and in the mean time there will be no provision made for the Queen's satisfaction; and alas! cries the Marchioness, the Queen can no more hope for a young Son from Lycogenes now, than I can for a young Set of Teeth at threescore; the Count smiled to himself at the quaintness of the Expression, and as he guessed at what her discourse did tend to, so he could not but be glad that she had first broke the Ice: I presume, said Father Pedro, (addressing himself to the Lady) her Majesty upon a due Consideration of the Premises will not be offended at what shall be proposed by her Friends in order to her future as well as present satisfaction, and because things of this nature may better be imparted to the Queen, by your Ladyship than by us, we shall refer our thoughts of this point to your Ladyship's management: Upon this they parted, and the Count repairing to his Lodging, fell a ruminating on that days Transactions, he began to think his Master the High-Priest's business would come on very favourably; nor did he see any great reason to despair of some success in his own Amour, he considered how obligingly Messalina had entertained him in the Closet, and began to make some random Conjectures of what she said she had to deliver to him, he remembered the reports that had been given about Town concerning himself, and how that the Queen had been pleased to say once, she believed Count Davila to be as capable of winning a Lady's Favours as any man in Europe; he called to mind the Character M●ssalina went under in Italy, upon the account of the young Baron of Sanctiforé, a Gentleman that was generally thought to have made Effectual Love to her; he could easily guests what entertainment she had with the King her Husband, who beside a failing contracted in his youth, had the heavy burden of age and cares lying on him; he knew the Queen young and vigorous, and that the mistrust she had of the Nobility of Albion in all probability, did restrain her from making any advances of Intrigue or Amour with any of them; these and the like considerations made him resolve to sound Messalina's inclinations with the first opportunity, and in the mean time to press her to come to a resolution concerning his Master. The next Night Father Pedro meets Messalina retiring into her Bedchamber after Play, and the Queen stopping, asked what they had done in her business? Pedro told her he thought the Marchioness had ere this imparted their Opinions to her Majesty, and implored her Majesty not to be offended with the freedom of their thoughts, since the present State of Affairs could not possibly admit of any milder Resolutions, he laid before her the instability of her Fortune, the danger of her Person, the Age of Lycogenes, his Weakness, and Imperfection; he pressed her to consider the merit of the thing, and how it would for ever advance the Interest of their Temples in Albion, and when she objected her Honour and Credit, he told her, her Station was above even Suspicion, for who durst peep into the Cabinets of Princes? He told her he could propose methods as secret as pleasant, and begged her not to defer a matter of such consequence, and which he feared every day might determine and make void: Messalina, whose natural temper had bean long checked by the stiff rules of Majesty and Greatness, began now to soften and melt at the pathetic Arguments of Father Pedro, and eagerly grasping him by the hand, told him, That if ever she could condescend to any part of his discourse, it must be upon considerations more weighty than any of pleasure; That she wished she could live to see her Religion Re-established, and a Son of her own placed in the Throne of Albion; That she could not indeed without a great deal of trouble consider the faint Caresses and weak Efforts of the King her Husband; and confessed, that though Glory and Greatness had gained the ascendent of her heart, yet she could not without a great deal of regret, resolve to bid defiance to all the other satisfactions of l●fe; That though the high Quality of Lycogenes had raised her heart above the common Rank, yet she could not perceive but she was still subject to the common Failings of Flesh and Blood: The lascivious Priest, who all this while was tickling himself with the coming Temper of Messalina, supposing he had now raised her fancy, to the very Critical point indeed was resolved to press the Discourse home; but some of the Ladies of the Bedchamber coming up, the Queen without any more words, walked forward into her Bedchamber; Father Pedro at the same time retiring something dissatisfied with his supposed disappointment, was making what way he could to his Lodgings, but judging it not very late by the Company he saw yet stirring in the Court, he resolved to take a turn or two in the Galleries that lead to the descent into the Forest of St. Jaques; he had just turned the Corner of the first Gallery, when a Young Lady makes up to him with all the haste and seeming Concern imaginable: O Sir, says she, my Lady has been in Bed almost this hour, and wonders extremely what should detain you so long, the Clock has struck One, and all the Court almost are in Bed: Here, Sir, I beseech you, take the 〈◊〉, the Candle is in the Lobby; make as little noise as may be; you need not lock the Door; I'll but just step to the Countess of Thunderlands Lodging, and will be back in half an hour. Pedro was extremely startled at this Adventure, but judging (as indeed it was) some Amorous Assignation, and his Spirits, by Messalina's Charming Discourse, being a little before raised, he was resolved to fill up the vacant place, and answer the Longing Ladies expectation; he was confident the Man designed must be one of his own Tribe, for by the little glimmering of the distant Lights, he was sure the Maid could not mistake their Garbs, all that troubled him was to find the right Door, if the Maid should have gone before she had opened it, and he durst not ask her Lady's Name for fear of suspicion: In short, he tells the Maid softly, She must go back with him a little, for that he had some Business of Importance to leave with her till morning; The Maid readily returns, and being just come to the Door, he bids her make what haste she could back, and he would defer his Business till then. The Maid being gone, he opens the door and perceives they were of Aspasia's Lodgings, another of the Queen's Confidents, and Wife to Latroon an Iberian Count, and lately made Viceroy of that Kingdom by King Lycogenes. Pedro was well acquainted with the Lady, and remembered that Father Sebastian was reported to be very intimate with her. Aspasia was about the Thirty fourth Year of her Age, was always very Fair, had large Grey Eyes, very languishing and sweet, she had a very fine Carriage, debonair in her Conversation, and Witty, a huge lover of Intrigues, and insatiate in her Wantonness; She had formerly been Loved by Polydorus King of the Gauls; as also by King Lycogenes, by whom she was first recommended to Latroon for a Wife; She seemed to be the right hand of Messalina, who would unload her most secret Thoughts in her Bosom; She was a great Bigot in Paganism, and would often boast of the Virtues and good Nature of the Pagan Priests; She had, as it seems, been often Charmed with the Conversation of Father Sebastian, and had that night, appointed him to come to her Chamber; Father Pedro knowing the Lodgings, shuts the Door, and immediately repairs, without Light, to Aspasia's Bed, who by this time, with long Expectation, was fallen into a soft slumber; he locks the Door of her Bedchamber, and without stay, undressing, steals softly in, and clasping Aspasia in his Arms, she presently wakes; Madamoiselle de Elvira's Beds head was near to Aspasia's, and separated only by a slight partition, which obliged them to whisper low; Aspasia fell a Cliding the supposed Sebastian for his stay, and Wantonly tells him, he ought not to have made her suffer Penance before she had committed the Sin; he answers her with Kisses and repeated Caresses, and in the intervals of their Amours, would whisper and chat of all the little Intrigues about the Court; Father Pedro asks her how the Queen fared, and whether Lycogenes had as yet been able to give her any assurance of a Son and Heir? Aspasia sighing Replies; ‛ Alack! Lycogenes his misfortune, together with Messalina's severe Virtue, she was afraid, would go near to ruin the fairest Hopes that ever the Pagans in Albion had, or would have while the Sun shone; and that unless some speedy Application and Remedy be used, that glimmering Light, which by the influence of Lycogenes they did at present enjoy, would with his Fall, be turned into everlasting Darkness: I know, my Dear Sebastian, said she, that Messalina's haughty Spirit alone, retards the Compliment of all our Hopes: She has all the common Frailties of our Sex; She Loves, and she Confesseth too, and yet her mighty Pride restrains her Inclination: She last Night saw Count Davila pass by, when in a sort of Fxtasie, she grasped me eagerly, and cried; Look, there's the Count, Aspasia:' And when the King once pressed her to retire with him to Bed, she turns to me, & sighing, said, We are going to sleep, Aspasia.' Nothing could add more to the satisfaction of Father Pedro, than this knowledge of the Queen's Inclination; and though he had not been mentioned by Aspasia to be any way in the Queen's Thoughts, he was resolved, to push on his own Fortune, to watch the Count's steps, and to come in, if possibly, with him for a share in the Booty: Aspasia's Maid in the mean time being come back, and supposing Sebastian and her Lady safe together, was preparing herself for Bed; she was just putting out the Candle when she heard a small knocking at the outward Door; but supposing it to be only some of the Countess of Thunderlands Maids, considering she was to wake betimes to let out Father Sebastian, she laid herself down without answering: The two Lovers, who by this time had trodden all the secret paths of Love, were now at length disposing themselves to sleep: Aspasia, whose thoughts were pleased with this Enjoyment of her supposed Sebastian, was quickly wrapped in Dream and gentle slumbers; but Father Pedro was kept awake with the cares of managing this Night's Intrigue; he was one while thinking to rise softly and get off without discovery, another while he hoped by this accident, to render Aspasia instrumental and assistant to his design with the Queen; he feared not any thing from Sebastian's discovery, since his Fortune was in his power; besides, Aspasia, for her own sake, would be silent in the matter; so that at last he resolves to stand it out, and without any more concern, turns himself about to his rest: In the morning early Cleone, Aspasia's trusty Maid, gets up, and gives the signal at her Lady's door, to the supposed Sebastian to rise; Father Pedro had taken care over night to draw the Curtains close about, and clasping Aspasia in his Arms, he tells her he was mightily disturbed in his sleep with a Dream concerning Father Pedro: ‛ Now you speak of Father Pedro, cries Aspasia, I can tell you, that of late he is mightily in favour with Messalina and the Count, and he seems to share all the favours of her good opinion; and to speak the truth, Father Pedro has all the qualifications in the World, that may be requisite for the Conquest of the most stubborn Lady's heart; for besides the advantages of a comely Face and Person, he has so many pretty ways of insinuating love and friendship, that the Queen herself has told me,' That next to Count Davila, she did not know a Person in the World so charming in his Conversation as Father Pedro: ‛ You speak, replied the supposed Sebastian, so feelingly of the Merit of Father Pedro, that I have reason to fear and resent him as a Rival; and I can hardly assure myself I have reason to boast of your Favours, till I can hear you speak with more indifferency of him. But tell me, my Dear Aspasia, says he, How long have you observed Messalina's so advantageous Opinion and Character of Father Pedro; the Count, indeed, as well for his former acquaintance in Italy, as for the Character he bears of the High-Priest's Legate here, may give him a pretence to some small share in Messalina's thoughts; but as there can be no such reason on the other side, so I cannot but wonder, by what Charm Father Pedro could so of a sudden advance himself into the favour of the Queen:' Ask me no more, my Dear, replies Aspasia, to tell what I am both by Honour and Interest obiged to conceal, and assure thyself that the same motive that induceth the Queen to respect Father Pedro, will oblige Father Pedro to be both thy Friends and mine, and all of our Profession: ‛ Accept then, Dear Aspasia, from this moment, says he, Pedro's assured Love and Friendship; Pedro can ne'er forget the favours of this night, Favours by Fate designed alone for Pedro.' At the pronouncing these last words, he raised his Voice a little, and withdrawing the Curtains, he at once discovered the Counterfeit Sebastain, and the real Pedro. Aspasia, who at the latter part of his Words, had perceived not only the Deceit, but the Deceiver, seemed to be in the greatest confusion imaginable, till Father Pedro first imploring her pardon, told her, He was extremely sorry, if he robbed her of the satisfaction of a more worthy Bedfellow, that Fortune, and her Maids unwitting importunity, had prevailed with him to lay hold of, and improve that lukie minute which his inclination, though with despair, had often made him wish for, that by his future endeavours and services, he hoped to make her sensible that Seba●tian was was not the only Man in the World worthy of her favours; and in the mean time he begged her impartially to consider whether it could be in the power of Man to resist so powerful Temptations, as yielding Beauty and persuasive Opportunity. Aspasia having with abundance of Patience heard the wanton Priest's Apology, had by this time very well recovered out of her amazement, and having first reflected on the good Behaviour of the Priest in Bed, and the bad consequences that arise from a discovery of this Night's Intrigue, she thought it her best way to make a virtue of necessity, and close with the Priest without farther jangling, she remembered the Character she herself had given him, and had now experimented the height of his perfections, she could not perceive herself a loser by the change, nay, rather she had all the advantage of the bargain, nor could the strangeness of the Accident Afflict her, since the satisfaction of her life lay chief in Intrigues; having briefly run over these considerations to herself, she turns herself with a great deal of assurance to her Lover, and throwing her Arm about his Neck, she tells him, that since he had been an Ear Witness of her good Opinion of him, she thought it now to no purpose to dissemble; that though she had not designed her favours for him at that time, yet she was too well satisfied of his merit to find fault with the error; that if she apprehended any misfortune to herself, it was her fear that he had not found the treasure answerable to his hopes and expectations, and that consequently she might find herself lessened in his good Opinion hereafter; the crafty Priest, who by this night's Accident had, to his thinking, laid a sure foundation to all his future Projects hugs the well-pleased Lady in his Arms, and after a thousand reciprocal Wantonnesses, they swear an inviolable Friendship to each other: Father Pedro repeats to her all the design and project of advancing and settling the Pagan Interest during Lycogenes his life, and, engages her to press the Queen continually to come to a speedy Resolution as to the point of Regency and Succession; prevails with her to give him a faithful account from time to time of all Transactions between the Count and Messalina▪ as also to give him her assistance in any matters he should propose hereafter; to all which Aspasia readily Assents and solemnly Swears; and now the Morning being much advanced, Pedro takes leave of Aspasia, and prepares to dress, when Cleone knocks at her Lady's Door, to know if she were stirring; Aspasia desires Pedro to retire into a Closet, and slipping on her Night Gown opens the door to Cleone; the Maid having a while before seen Sebastian with some Company walking in the Court Yard, merrily asked her Lady when the Lover got out, for that she had not seen him go; Aspasia fearing Sebastian might ask Cleone questions, thought it her best way to acquaint her with her own mistake, and bid her wait a while for her farther Instructions; the Maid had just retired to the Window of the Withdrawing-Room, when she strait runs back and tells her Lady she saw Sebastian in the Court below making towards her Lodgings; Aspasia in a great fright runs to the Closet, and desires Pedro to be silent and still, for that Sebastian was coming; Father Pedro who by this time had got himself dressed, thought it would be tedious staying there, and immediately opens the Closet Door and marches off, having just got to the door going into the Gallery, he pops just upon the Queen and Count Davila going to the Mosque at St. Jaques; Sebastian had got up among the Queen's Retinue and had perceived Father Pedro coming out of Aspasia's Lodgings, he began to ruminate with himself what business Father Pedro could have there, and at that time of day, and reflecting on Aspasia's lose Life, his jealousy prompted him to think that he had lost his Assignation, and had been supplanted the last Night by Father Pedro; Sebastian was but an Underling in the Priest's Tribe in comparison of Pedro, but was of a haughty revengeful humour; he was a lusty big Boned Man, and had an indifferent good Face, he was a Renegado Christian, and had by the influence and promises of Aspasia, while she was in Gaul, been perverted to Paganism; he had had a long Amour with Aspasia, and by her means had been preferred to the Brotherhood of the Pagan Priests; upon his Jealousy aforesaid he immediately repairs to Aspasia's Lodgings, to try if he could make any Discovery; Aspasia to prevent questions, immediately chides him for his Disappointment, he tells her he came not so late but that Cleone might have heard him knock; Cleone makes a little faultre in her Speech and confirms Sebastian in his suspicion, and resolving to be Reveng'dd, at least on Father Pedro, he clears up his look and falls a toying with Aspasia, & owns himself to blame for staying past the time; in the mean while Father Pedro having mingled among the Queen's Retinue, perceived that Messalina & the Count, by the distance that the Attendants kept, were in private discourse, & guessing at the subject of it, he thought it best not to interrupt them, so turning short he retired to his own Lodgings; Count Davila having according to his last resolutions waited with diligence for an Opportunity to try the temper & designs of Messalina, had that Morning, upon pretence of imparting some News to her which he had lately received from Italy and France, been to wait on the Queen, who after some extraordinary marks of her satisfaction for his presence, asked him to attend her to St. Jaques; This kind reception and invitation, confirmed the Count in his resolutions of discovering his love, and pressing on the main business, so that he readily ushers the Queen through the Lodgings to her Chair, and in one of her Coaches follows her to St. Jaques, where waiting in the Antichamber till the Queen had done her Devotions at the Mosque, he was sent for by Messalina to her Closet. The Count was so confounded between hope and fear, that the trembled all over when he went in; he was considering what the consequences of his Attempt might be, if by his overweening fancy he should have misinterpreted the freedom of Messalina's humour; it amazed him to think of the dangers he should lay himself open to, in owning Love to the Wife of a Potent Monarch, if she were pleased to put a bad construction on it, and in the least resent it; such were the doubts and fears of the Court before he came to the Queen: But alas! these glooming thoughts were soon blown over, for Messalina very graciously receiving him at the Closet-door, and with an extraordinary gaiety giving him her Hand, after a turn or two, seated herself on a Couch, and commanded the Count to sit by her, and turning to him, asked him merrily, what News? The Count by this time was come to himself, and with abundance of assurance, grasping her Majesty's Hand, told her, ‛ That the Fame of her Majesty's Beauty and Merit had so taken up the Hearts of the People of Albion, that where ever he came, he could hear no other Discourse.' Well, my Lord, replies the Queen, I thank you for your Compliment, and though I am Ignorant of the People of Albion 's thoughts of me, I dare presume, my Character pass●s with advantage enough in your Opinion. ‛ It is now my misfortune, replies the Count, not to be able to express the sincerity of my Zeal to your Majesty's Service any otherwise than in words, and that severity with which your over nice Virtues treats all your Admirers, limits and restrains the Innocent freedom even of them:' I must confess, continued he, ‛ the high Station, Fortune and Merit have settled you in, may with reason render your Majesty regardless of any pr●…er of Service from me; yet since the necessity of your Affairs (as sometimes of the greatest Princes in the World) require the advice and assistance of your Subjects and Friends, I hope your long experience of my Truth and Love, may now prevail with your Majesty to make me the happy Instrument of your future Satisfaction.'  
The Queen who by the several remonstrances of her three Counsellors had been both pressed and convinced of the danger of her Affairs, and being partly overcome by the Solicitations and Endearments of the Count in particular, resolved now to give a lose to her natural Inclinations, and thereupon turning to the Count, in a soft languishing Tone she replied, I must at length, dear Davila, confess my own Frailty and thy Power, my haughty mind I see at last will stoop, and thou art Born to be my Conqueror: The Count who was all this while in a rapture, throwing himself at her Feet embraced her Knees, extolling his own good Fortune and her happy Resolutions; he gave her Ten thousand Thanks for her preference and good Opinion of him before any of the Nobles in the Court of Albion that his whole thoughts and endeavours should be employed to make good her Expectation, and he did not doubt but she should in a little time find herself thoroughly disengaged from all sorrowful Apprehensions: This minute's Condescension and freedom, had so emboldened and assured M●ssalina's Heart, that raising the Count, who at every Word was pressing and kissing her fair Hand, she threw her Arms about his Neck, and in amorous Sighs and Murmurs she whispered her Wishes in his Ears; Ten thousand times she kissed his Lips and Eyes, while with his busy hand he roved o'er all the Fields of Love, sometimes with eager haste he'd climb the Snowy Hills of Pleasure, and then as quick retire down to the Valies and Fountain of Delight and Love; Dear Davila, in Rapture would she cry, Divine Messalina, would he reply; Ah! can you— will you now refuse, said he; Ah! do not— do not ruin me, said she; But the Count who through Messalina's Eyes saw the Temper of her Heart, resolved not to slip that lucky opportunity, and turning first to make the Door secure he like a hungry Lion seizes his trembling Prey and in his Arms conveys her to the other side of the Closer, and throwing her gently on the Couch thereby, in eager Raptures he lays open and unfolds her secret Treasure, and rifles all the Stores of Love and Beauty; And now Messalina having tasted the difference between a Vigorous Lover and a Feeble King, clasping her yet panting Davila in her Arms, I shall indeed be happy now said she, unless the Stars and Heaven conspire against me, I feel at length my Crown fit fast upon me, and now my Fate is disengaged from the weak slender Thread of poor Lycogenes' Life, my Soul at length will reach its proper Sphere, and I shall with Pride look down and see my most malicious Enemy's bowing to my Royal Posterity; no more shall proud Albion rejoice over the Age and Weakness of the King my Husband, no more shall they Triumph over my Barren Modesty; thou my dear Davila shalt make their Y●…k, and with a Gordian Knot, I'll tie it on their Necks; I am big my dear already with the Joy, and doubt not a happy result of our undertake. The Count who all this while lay Ravished with his Victory, was running over the whole Series of her Charms, one while he reflected on her high Quality and Station, and then her Beauty, Riches, and her Love, did so confound his Senses, he could hardly convince himself his Happiness was Real; sometimes he'd of a sudden grasp her Hands, Embrace and Kiss, doubting it was all Vision, Dream, and Fancy: Thus in these Transports did they dally out the time, till trusty Aspasia gave notice at the Door, that Lyc●genes was come into the Forest, and probably designed for St. Jaques; this news straight roused the stumbling wanton Lovers, and hastened the Count's departure: The Count conjures her to bless him speedily with such another opportunity; which with a thousand Kisses she assures him, and so he takes his leave; he had not well got away before Madam Marchioness de Tomazo came up, and finding the Queen in a very Pleasant humour, thought to engage her in some discourse concerning their last Consultations; the Marchioness being a great Bigot in the Pagan Principles, had been influenced by Father Pedro to stand his Friend privately, in gaining the Queen's Favour upon this juncture, and by his subtle insinuations had 〈◊〉 deluded into her Opinion, that it would be much more meritorious for the Queen in the case before proposed, to make use of the endeavours of a holy Man, and that it was probable their business might better succeed if the Operation were begun by a Sanctifi'd person; these and the like insinuations had prevailed with the blind Zealot to assure the lustful Priest of her Assistance and Interest, and accordingly finding Messalina, as is aforesaid, in a jaunty humour, she thought it now a fit time to move the business,  
So making up to Messalina, she said, 'Tis not a little satisfaction to me, to see your Majesty at this time so pleasantly disposed; and as I do believe it proceeds from some considerable cause, so I should receive it as a peculiar obligation from your Majesty, if I might be made either a partaker or an assistant of your Joy' Thou shalt be both, my dear Tomazo, replied the Queen, and I shall give th●e reason to tax my Justice and my Friendship, should I let thee participate only of my Sorrows; No, no, my dear Tomazo, since by thy advice chief my satisfaction came, 'twould be unreasonable not to let thee taste the fruit of thy own works; I have at last o'ercome that subtle Disputant, Honour; I have reconciled those nice points of flashy Reputation, and begin to taste the solid pleasure of Interest and Ambition: I shall be a Queen now indeed, my dear Tomazo; the Count, the Count Tomazo, will make me a Glorious Powerful Queen: Rejoice, rejoice Tomazo, and let the Pagans of Albion all rejoice; Mahomet now will surely hear our Prayers, the time will now draw near for our deliverance: Oh! that my Youth and Beauty should be thus long Cursed to trifle with Age, and State-Impotency: Oh! How I nausiate my former Resolutions, when every scrupulous thought of Honour lost me an Age of pleasure: Forgive my Indiscretion, would she cry, when with an awful Frown I'd check thy good advice: How have I fretted when in thy long and grave Debates thou would urge the necessity of— I thought Majesty could live without Support, vainly believing I could carb the Politition, as the Lover with my Frowns: Forgive me, dear Tomazo, since at last I am reclaimed. The Court, my Dear, the Count will make us happy. The Marchioness, though amazed at this extraordinary humour of the Queen could not however, but guess how affairs stood; and though she had been pretty well satisfied of the Queen's Resolutions to surrender, yet she thought she would have spent a little more time in Capitulation; however, since the main design was in all probability answered, she thought she could do no more than be sorry that the Count had outleaped her Friend Father Pedro, and yet upon better consideration she did not believe it impossible, if matters between the Count and the Queen did not speedily answer her expectation, but that she might be able at last to make good Father Pedro's pretensions.  
The Queen's thoughts were all this while taken up with the Count, upon whose Name in sudden raptures she would often call; Oh? my dear Davila; my Life, my Soul, my Deliverer my Protector, would she cry, till the Marchioness making up to her broke off her Contemplations, by telling her it was late,' and asked her whether she would' go back to Alba Regalis? Ay, any where, replied the Queen, so Davila be there. The King who all this time was walking in the Forest, had been consulting and discoursing with the Count of Thunderland and another, about establishing the Pagan Interest in A●bion, he was deploring his unhappiness in the want of an Heir, and feared all his Endeavours without one, would prove ineffectual. The wicked Priest and other corrupted Ministers about him, had buzzed the Necessity and the Merit of this so far, that Good Prince, he told them, ‛ He would be no way wanting to the furtherance and propagation of his Religion in his Kingdom.' These Bloodhounds presently snapped at this Gracious Condesension, and communicate the same to Messalina, The Queen, who was conscious how fair a stroke she had made towards the accomplishment of their desires, and her own Ambition, told them, ‛ She would leave all things to the advice and will of the King her Husband; that she did not altogether despair of the blessing of the Gods, and of bearing a Son yet to her Dear Lycogenes; but that at the same time she did verily believe, that if the Powers above were not pleased to raise unto her a Son of her own to Inherit the Crown of Albion, and to re-settle the Pagan Religion there, nevertheless she could not in Conscience think herself disengaged from her utmost Endeavours to advance it by some other extravagant means; but as her first Hopes were not altogether as yet in vain, so she could not decend to particulars as to the other.' The subtle Priests who saw both the Cunning and the Zeal of Messalina in this answer, went away with all the satisfaction imaginable, concluding now they had nothing more to do than to prescribe a due method for the management of a suppositious Birth, in case the Queen, which they extremely feared should fail in her hopes, as they supposed of Lycogenes. But alas! poor Wretches; they shot extravagantly wide of Messalina's thoughts, while she could not choose but laugh, to think how pleasantly she 〈…〉 them; She had had too long an experience of the Capacity of Lycogenes her Husband, to hope for the least encouragement or performace from him; and she had too lately found and approved the difference between the Count and the King, to think of leaving her business unfinished, or repenting the change she had made: No, no, she was so far from relying on the Weakness of her Husband, that she was now continually employed, in contriving Opportunites to ●…et and entertain the Count, and the satisfaction she had received at her last Conference with him, had so enlivened her hopes of an answerable Success, that among her Considerats she would talk very assuredly of the Business, and would many times be Calculating the hour and time of her Delivery, as if she had known herself with Child by Inspiration. But alas! these were only the flights of a passionate Zeal, for when her more lucid Intervals would give her judgement scope, and free consideration, she found her principles too weak to infer so weighty Conclusions, and was loath to let her hopes rest on so weak a foundation. No doubt the Count had been as obliging as a Man under those cricumstances could be expected, and the vast temptations of Honour and Riches, besides the enjoyment of so beautiful a Lady as Messalina really was, had without dispute put a double Edge on his Vigour and her Expectation, but notwithstanding her own mighty Faith, she resolved to have a repeated mixture of his good Works, and accordinly sends him a small Billet by Aspasia to this purpose, ‛ Lycogenes designs within these two hours to go to W— and will not be back till to morrow; I design to go up the River, and lie to night at R— d, my Retinue will be very small; and perhaps I may wish for Company: I'll leave you to guests who would be most grateful to Messalina.' The Count receives the Summons with Joy; and with all speed and secrecy prepares for the Assignation. The Queen took no body but Aspasia and the Marchioness de Tomazo with her: Within an hour after her Arrival comes the Count; the Ladies know their Duty, and discreetly retire; Dalvia, whose longing Appetite had, by his first delicious taste been increased, now gluts himself in Messalina's Charms, while her officious Fancy builds worlds of Pleasure for herself, and vainly flatters her with lasting Satisfaction: Oh! how she'd dote and rave, and k●…s, than sighed, and in soft Murmurs wish, and wish, and then abruptly cease, and hid her blushing amorous Looks in the Court's Bosom: Thus did they dally out the winged hours, till Aspasia came and told them, the Countess of Sunderland with another Lady, were landed, and coming to wait on her Mejesty; Messalina fearing they would stay all Night, as indeed they designed, and not knowing how to bestow the Count, thought it best to go back to Alba Regalis that Night, and accordingly gives order for her Galley with all speed; and meering the Counsels on the Stair head, told her, She was just on her return, and giving her her hand, they immediately take Water and away: The Count also about an hour after, takes a small Gondola and follows. At this rate did the Count and Messalina correspond for two or three Months, and no hopeful appearance yet of what they had with ●o much assurance promised themselves. The Court even in Messalina's Judgement, had acquitted himself with all the Bravery imaginable, and Messalina had not been wanting in her Endeavours ours to bring about a Business of so great Importance to her Interest: She grieves, He wonders, at so strange a Disappointment, they mutually encourageing one another, they fall to fresh Endeavours, and love, and wish, and promise, but still in vain: Messalina had during this amorous Juncture, considered both her Pleasure and Interest, but finding that the feeding on the one would starve the other, she told the Count frankly, That she saw plainly her Misfortune, and that she must of necessity have recourse to some more immediate Remedy; that as she had entrusted him with all her Secrets, so she doubted not of his best Advice and Concurrence in a Matter she should propose, that she should still retain her good Opinion of him, and wholly imputed the Disappointment to Defects of her; That however she must make the best of her Affairs, and help out by Art what Nature had denied: She put him in mind of their Consult and Resolution, and that nothing but a Son and Heir could secure her Honour, and settle the Pagan Interest in Albion, she did therefore desire him forthwith to summon a Convention of two or three discreet Priests, together with himself, Aspasia, the Marchioness, and some few staunch Courtiers, to propose Methods for the due management of this grand Concern, and to engage Lycogines to consent to, and further, not only this, but whatsoever else they should in their Wisdoms think agreeable and necessary for the Advance of Paganism and the Extirpation of the Christians throughout Albion.  
The End of the FIRST PART   

THE Second Part OF THE AMOURS OF Messalina Late Queen of ALBION. WHEREIN The Secret Court Intrigues of the Four last Years Reign are further pursued; Particularly the IMPOSTURE OF THE CHILD.  
By a Woman of Quality, a late Confidant of Q. MESSALINA.  
LONDON: Printed for John Lyford, 1689.   

THE BOOKSELLER TO THE READER.  
IT cannot be denied with how much Applause the First Part of this History has been received in the World, according to the merits of it, which is in part demonstrable, from the Account most Booksellers give of their being daily importuned for the Second Part, and there having been but one Party appeared against it, viz. the Pagans of Albion, the Publisher begs to be excused for being so Dilatory in Completing this History, not being able to bring in the Secrets of the LEAGUE, the Amours of MESSALINA and Polydorus, and other Intrigues of the Gothick Court into this Part, on the account the Translator hath lain under great Indisposition of Body, for near these three Weeks past, and it was not thought advisable to interpose the stile of any other; but he being now on the mending hand, you may expect the Third Part, which Completes the whole History, with all the speed imaginable; and he hopes it will prove in this as it does in Mistresses, whose put-offs and delays in matters of possession, does but more whet on the Gallants Appetites; so that when they have once attained to Enjoyment, it becomes so Ravishing that their Lovers fancy themselves amply rewarded for all their forbearance and expectation.   

The Second PART.  
THE Pagans of Albion, had from the beginning of the Reign of Lycogenes with great assurance expected some happy, and speedy overtures for their eternal settlement in that Kingdom; Nor had Lycogenes himself been wanting in his endeavours to overrule or destroy all that pretended to oppose, or question his proceed against the Foundamental Rights of his Christian Subjects, he had already removed the most of them from all Places of Trust, and contrary to the known Laws of the Land had introduced Persons, by the said Laws incapable to Serve; he had Raised and kept up an Army composed of Mercenary's and Foreigners, not only to Terrify, but upon the first happy occasion to Oppress all that should contradict his Resolutions; he had for the first three years of his Reign, carried all things with so high a hand, that the People of Albion from the highest to the lowest, were in a strange Confusion to think of the dismal consequences that would necessarily flow from such Arbitrary Proceed: and though they had by the subtle Insinuations of a Court Party of Divines, been Poisoned with that pernicious position of Passive Obedience, yet they could not without a great deal of regret behold all the fences and enclosures of their Laws, and Libertiy's thrown down and trampled on, and be obliged to hold their Lives and Estates on so precarious Terms as the will and discretion of an Antichristian packed Council: what related to the private satisfaction of the King's humour they did with all humility, and unexpected alacrity submit and yield to, but when it was plain that the whole Kingdom was Designed and Resolved a Sacrifice, to the Interest and Ambition of a few wicked Counsellors, and a small party of Men, that had been by public Acts of the Realm declared the Inveterate and Irreconcilable Enemies of all Christians but chief of the Albionites, they then began to search into the measures of their submission, and diligently to inquire how far they were obliged to pay Obedience to the Commands of their Magistrates and Governors; and realy upon the scrutiny they plainly perceived their own weakness, and the Impositions of their Enemies, who by this subtle Doctrine had ensnared them to set their Hands to and Sign as it were their own Destruction, several of the Great and Wisest Men in the Kingdom, had been Debating on this Subject, and all concluded in an acknowledgement of their weakness in so manifestly exposing themselves and their Country to the Capricious Humours, or Tyrannical Principles that very often are found in the greatest Princes, and therefore though from their very Souls they wished all happiness imaginable to their King and Governor, yet they thought their duty stretched too far on the tenterhooks, when by a blind submission to irregular Commands they were obliged to forego the natural principles of self preservation, and that by seeking officiously to add to their Loyalty they must necessarily detract from their Judgements, Conscience, and Honesty: But Lycogenes, who by a diligent scrutiny, and long experience of the Natures of the people of Albion, (to his great satisfaction) knew how effectually the Doctrine of Nonresistance (which he and his party, with great zeal and industry had insinuated and promoted) had wrought on his Christian Subjects, thought he had laid a very sure foundation for the introduction of those Novelties and Abuses we have since had imposed on us, and was by the assiduous Instigations of his Pagan Councillors prevailed upon to resolve the total Extirpation, or at least enslaving of the Christian Heretics, as he called them, in his Dominions, and fearing that all he could do in his own life time, would be insufficient to assure and establish the Pagan Faction and Interest, unless he could find such a Successor as should confirm and strengthen what he should now begin, upon these Considerations, I say, he was easily wrought on to consent to any thing his Counsellors should propose for the benefit and establishment of Paganism in the said Kingdom, and now what more remained, than that the Priests consult and find the most convenient and speedy means to secure their own Interests to indulge Messelina's Ambition, and to sooth Lycogenes his  Zeal: Several ways were proposed, and sometime spent in Arguments and Debates before they could come to a final Resolution.  
The Christians of Albion, by several Acts of their General Diets, had their Laws, their Liberties, and their Religion secured to them, and in all, or most of their Assemblies for one hundred years past, they had one or other express Law against Paganism, though none did so throughly disable and lessen their interest in Albion as that commonly called the Tests; and though some good Christian Dissenters from the Church of Albion, were therein severely included, yet they were chief intended for the discouragement and suppression of that pernicious Sect of Pagans in Albion, Lycogenes his private Counsel therefore proposed the taking away these Tests, as a necessary Preliminary for the introduction of Paganism; the Project indeed was good, but how to bring it about, was the difficulty, for besides that the general Diet would hardly be induced to abrogate those very Laws which some of them so lately had stickled for and promoted, and such Laws whereon their own and the Kingdom's security seemed more immediately to depend (the Pagan's having in all Reigns been proved the irreconcilable Enemy's and malicious designers against the peace and welfare of the Christians in Albion) besides, I say, this difficulty, they were obliged to gain the consent of Prince Anaximander and the Princess Artemisia, the Presumptive Heiress of the Crown, for the Abrogation of the said Laws, and this indeed was the great business that struck with Lycogenes, for as to what concerned the election of such Members as should serve his turn in the next General Assembly, he bid them take no care, for he was sure he could by his influence procure such persons returned as should effectually answer his utmost expectations: With all speed therefore persons are employed to negotiate with the Prince and Princess for their consent aforesaid, and to lay before them the sincerity of his Majesty's Intentions in that matter, and that his Majesty's great and only alm was for the more general accommodation of all his Dissenting Subjects, and that as their Highnesses could not believe that his Majesty would resolve on any thing to their prejudice, so he did not in the least doubt of their Highness' ready concurrence in so pious an undertaking; but alas poor Lycogenes and his Pensionary Counsel had far overshot themselves, when they believed so wise a Prince as Anaximander could be so barefacedly decoyed into an assent to a matter so necessarily and plainly prejudicial to his own and his Princess' interest, as well as to a Kingdom and People, they had reason to respect and take care of as their future loving Subjects, and present hearty Friends, they were not unacquainted with the measures Lycogenes had taken from the beginning of his Reign, so directly contrary to the Princess his Daughter's Interest, and pernicious and destructive to the Christians, and that by pure force he had already obtruded so many illegal things on his said Christian Subjects, that he wondered Lycogenes could retend to make him or his Princess instruments of their further oppression and misery; such were the Prince's resentments, and such was the result of Lycogenes his endeavours to make him and his own Daughter Parties for the Subversion of Christianity in Albion; and now immediately a grand Gonsult is called to consider of Anaximander's resolutions, and of some other way to promote the grand concern: In the mean time Messalina had been tormenting herself with the Apprehensions of her utter disappointment; for though she had kept a constant correspondence with the Count, she could not yet perceive her affairs go on so prosperously as she had promised to herself, and the loss of so much time, to her Ambition, did very much qualify the satisfaction she received in her Amour; however tho' she had promised to repair to Art and Policy, to supply the present defects of Nature, she could not resolve to abandon the Love and Service of the Count: Nay, upon mature consideration, she concluded, that the continuation of her Amour with him, could not be any way prejudicial to the other design they were now undertaking, for supposing she should really conceive any considerable time after the feigned report of her being with Child, the absurdity of the report of this could not any way be prejudicial to the real truth of the other, the assured Birth of a Prince being all that could be expected or desired; and consequently, any reflections on the other would vanish as a mistake, which Women in such cases are very often subject to. The Marchioness de Tomazo, would daily encourage her belief of succeeding, and promised her assistance, by imparting to her a Secret to help Conception; the Queen was wonderfully pleased, even with the Flattery of the old Matron; but for fear of the worst, was resolved to have the other Project speedily set off foot, she went to the King's Apartment immediately to hear what they had resolved on, and how it was agreed to be managed, where she found the trusty Cabal in hot and close debate: She had ordered Aspasia, the Marchioness de Tomazo, &c Father Pedro to be there, & Lycogenes had introduced the Count & Poliorchetes the Chief Commissioner of his Court of Conscience, having exrerienced his Fidelity in matters of the greatest importance, and had raised him to that high Station merely to be an instrument in his future undertake.  
Lycogenes upon the Arrival of the Queen arose, requiring the Company not to separate till they had wholly concluded on the means and manner of new modeling and settling the Kingdom of Albion, the Queen likewise as soon as she had seated herself commanded them to give her an account of their Proceed. Poliorchetes' the Chancellor then rising and making a profound reverence to the Queen, delivered his Opinion thus: ‛ It is not unknown, mighty Sovereign, how zealous I have been in bringing about and promoting whatsoever might be thought advantageous to your interest; nor do I now presume to recount my Services for any other purpose than to manifest my gratitude and willingness to engage again and again for ever on any action and design your Majesties, or this Honourable Board, shall think meet to prescribe; I know the wisdom of this Noble Company, cannot be wanting to appoint such Rules as shall for ever secure the Pagan interest in Albion, and satisfy your Majesty's utmost Expectation; notwithstanding since the nature of my Employments, and some years strict enquiery into the ways and Inclinations of the people of Albion, may with reason have rendered me capable of judging of the most secure, and convenient ways to deal with them. I shall not be thought vain if I presume freely, to deliver my opinion in this Matter. The Albionites where they have received Graces or Favours from their Princes, are like the wanton Ass in the Fable, ready to leap on their Master, and by the encouragement of two or three benefits, they saucily approach him with their ill natured Jests, and constantly pester him with their rude Importunities, but when too much Indulgence has rendered them Insupportable, do but show them the Rod, and like Children they shrink, and with patience submit to the Justice of your Correction; You remember their Insolence in Perkin's Rebellion, when with unbounded Blasphemy they would threaten the Safety and Honour of our Royal Master, and yet the Sword of Justice was no sooner unsheathed against them, but with horror they fly, and call even to the Mountains to cover them, you have heard with what patience they submitted to their Trials, and reproached even my Sentence with their Base Servile Sufferings, my advice therefore is to follow the example of the Great Polydorus, to get an Army of Pagans from Iberia and Gothland, and so to Dragoon them inro a civil compliance, Oh! that every year would produce a Western Expedition, I'd soon rid the Kingdom of all our Antagonist's, and make every Circuit more Terrible than an Inquisition, we have too long nursed them with the Milk of our Affection, and like the profligate Israelites they grumble at their Manna, Albion has Surfeited on Ease and Prosperity, and the  can't abate but by letting of Blood, let us make a full Harvest of these  christian's (as they boast themselves) and at once root out these obstinate Disturbers of our Peace: The Queen who was naturally of a malicious sullen Temper, and who was not ignorant how stubborn and a verse the Albionites were to her Interest, had heard Poliorchetes speak with a abundance of satisfaction, but being willing to hear what the rest would propose, giving thanks to the Chancellor she expected with impatience their Thoughts and Opinions. When Pedro rising up, said he could not but Applaud the Zeal and Opinion of Poliorchetes, and wished that his design could be as easily executed as proposed, that his aversion and malice to the Christians of Albion had inspired him with such desires of Revenge, that with Nero he wished they had all but one Neck, and that he among his Fraternity, did not doubt to find thousands that would strive to be their Executioner, but that to his sorrow he feared the Chancellors project, however well designed, would not be feasible, for besides the Alarm that Foreign Auxiliaries would raise throughout the Kingdom, the natural antipathy, that the Albionites had both to the Gauls, and Iberians was such, that they would incontinently rise to Repel and Destroy them, and that if those Foreigners should fail in their Attempt, the reproach of the design would be wholly thrown on Lycogenes and his Court, and that it would beget so implacable a malice in the Heart of the Albionites (who were most of them Christians) that he might justly fear a general revolt, and thereby the total ruin of the Pagan Interest in Albion for ever, his opinion therefore was, that they should rather ensnare and delude them, and so at advantage cut them off and destroy them, 'tis known said he how wonderfully our fraternity have promoted the Mahometan Interest by their subtle and secret Plots and Contrivances, have not we by fomenting and raising Divisions between the Regular and Dissenting Christians in Albion more weakened the strength of the pretended Reformadoes than ever Polydorus by his Dragoons or Contributions? Albion (with submission to the Chancellor) is not by public Hostility to be forced, they are valiant in their Natures, and stubborn in their Principles, and though the hopeful Doctrine of Passive Obedience and sweet Non-resistence has been useful unto us, and lulled them for a while, yet it may be dangerous to raise those sleeping Lions within them, lest we too late repent our overfond Credulity, and to our sorrow feel the effects of their resentments; set your Policies on work if you wish to prevail, and if you must strike, let it be in the dark; we all of us know we are sick, and out of order, but few of us consider the root and cause of our distemper, all disinteressed persons would think at first view, that we were now in a hopeful way of thriving, we have a King not only a Pagan and our Friend, but zealous and resolved to go through with his work; but alas is resolution sufficient without means? 'tis true, by his power he ran sercure us for a while; but what will that signify to a lasting satisfaction? How do our Enemies wait and gape for his death? And with the hopes of revenge after his dissolution they patiently submit to their present Impositions; we know the main Pillars whereon they all lean, Anaximander and Artemisia are their delight and their hope, the Princess Philadelphia waits too in reversion, and from these three do spring all our fears and misfortunes, and I and my Brethren bear the Title of our great Prophet, and suffer his Cause to be shaken by the weak intercession of three single Lives; Oh Holy Loyold, our first Holy Patron and Founder, how would thy mighty Spirit fret and and grieve within thee, shouldst thou see the degenerate baseness of thy unworthy Followers? Where are the Records of all our Glorious Hero's that have trod on the Necks of Emperors, and pierced the Hearts of Kings, to propagate and vindicate our Holy Religion, can we forget Borgia, Clement, Ravilliac and others, who have freely Sacrificed themselves for their Religion, and for reasons less considerable than ours, and can we tamely remit all our present Advantages, and be baffled of our future hopes, by tue weak puny opposition of three petty pretenders?' No, no, continued he, let us lay hold on the present opportunity, and at once finish our long wished for deliverance: These three must fall a Sacrifice to our Prophet, and from the removal of that cause will all our other Apprehensions cease.  
Father Pedro had always bore such reputation with Lycogenes and Messalina that they looked on his Counsels little inferior to Oracles, and though the execution of them had always proved prejudicial, through their great violence, to the Pagan Interest, yet they could not but value the sincerity of his meaning, and always applauded his wise apprehensions, they knew his proposals in this Zealous Oration were very consonant to reason, and agreeable to their true interest, but knowing that the Eyes of all Europe were upon these three Princes, and that the least baseness and imposition upon, them would engage all Christendom in their quarrel, they could not so readily conclude, or resolve upon any violence against their persons; besides, Pedro in a small Apology afterwards insinuated to the Company, the inconvenience of letting the King know any thing of this Project, if happily they should all agree upon it. For (said he) though I know Lycogenes' Zeal would make him overlook a thousand difficulties, yet nature and conscience could not with any decency or reason be supposed capable of being so wholly obliterated as to consent to any barbarity upon the persons of his own children; but again, what may prove a sufficient ground of scruple in him, may at the same time leave us free and disinteressed from every thing and person that stands in opposition to our designs. The Company however upon the Considerations aforesaid were very unwilling to engage in Pedro's Resolutions or Proposals, and incontinently desired the Marchioness de Tomazo, to give her opinion of this grand Affair. The Marchioness who had been a Woman of Amour most of her time, and who now, though Age had ungenerously deprived her of the power to please, was very fond and Ambitious of being thought a Woman of Intrigue, had heard the violent Counsels, and Proposals of the Chancellor and Father Pedro with a great deal of impatience and displeasure; she could not digest those rough and hard terms of cutting of Throats, Poisoning, or Assassinations, she had been always used to Amorous Sighs, Billet deux, and Assignations; therefore rising and making her Compliment to Messalina, and giving a hard look on Poliorchetes and Pedro, she thus began: 'Tis not without the greatest regret imaginable, that I find myself obliged to contradict persons whose known wisdom and experience in the world may with reason claim an entire submission of judgement from me, and though the command and service of her Majesty, may sufficiently apologise for the freedom and liberty of my opinion, yet I doubt not from the nature of the business in hand to prove that what both these honourable persons have delivered as their opinions, if followed, will be inconsistent with the safety of her Majesty, prejudicial to the Pagan interest in Albion for ever, and extremely difficult, if not impossible to be brought about; nor do I need to say much to dissuade this Honourable Company from the following their proposals, since Father Pedro has already evinced and made clear the fallacy of the Chancellor's project, and the rest of the Company have sufficiently showed their dislike of Father Pedro's; I shall now therefore proceed to give my opinion, and if I shall have the good fortune to convince your reasons, and draw you into a concurrence, you will then be so just to believe that the freedom of my censue proceeds from other causes than that of mere contradiction; we all agree in the main pint, that some course must be taken for re-establishing and securing the Pagan Interest in Albion, so as that it should not seem entirely to depend on the uncertain life of the King, and though the opinion of myself and the Count Davila, who doubtless receives all his measures from the Conclave, and from Boanerges the Highpriest, have been by these two Gentlemen opposed, at least neglected, yet I have not been so apprehensive as to hear any new thing proposed, as is capable of making me or the Count recede from our former resolutions, I am sure if it take 'tis the only effectual way to preserve us entires; I am as sure 'tis as easy, as in a matter of that importance can be wished, it may be brought about with so little discomposure of the public peace, that it shall rather gain the general applause of the Kingdom; will not the attaining our desires answer all expectations? what necessity of cutting those Throats which with abundance of ease we can make instrumental and accessary to our designs, the supposition of an Heir Male quashes all other pretenders in a moment; and surely Albion is not so barren or ill natured as to deny Lycogenes a Son. No, no, (replies Poliorchetes, interrupting the Marchioness) we have daily experience of the fruitfulness of the Women of Albion, but yet we cannot apprehend how Lycogenes can expect to reap where he has not had the power, or the will to sow: The will indeed (said Aspasia sighing) I believe her Majesty can vouch for, but to the sorrow and confusion of us all, he wants the power: Let us then (continued the Marchioness) no longer deplore, but endeavour to supply those unfortunate defects of the King our Master, consider on what nice points our Honour and Interest depend, time will not stay for vain and fruitless wishes, and if we slip so fair an opportunity, we shall seem to despise providence, ruin our interest for ever, and fall the reproach of our Enemies, and unpitied by all the Pagans throughout the World. Polyorchetes had heard these last words with wonderful surprise, for his thoughts having run wholly on the extirpation of the Christians by Fire and Sword, he had not so much as dreamed of any possibility of milder means, and now guessing at what the Marchioness had insinuated, he was extremely tickled with the project, and desired the Marchioness, That since she had proposed something extraordinary, she would be pleased to explain herself, so as that they might endeavour to solve any difficulties that might arise upon a strict examination of the design: The difficulty's (replied the Marchioness) are so small, in comparison of that advantage we shall reap, that among us they will not admit of a dispute; besides, we have had a precedent of what I propose, which though it miscarried in the main, yet it was not for want of power, but will of some Parties concerned to bring it about; That an Heir is absolutely necessary to confirm and settle our otherwise fading hopes we all agree; and shall not we submit to necessity, and endeavour to restore by art what envious nature, or cursed fortune have ruined or withheld? It must be so, (replied Messalina) it must be so, and there is no other to uphold my tottering Crown: It must be so, and yet my boding Soul foretells it won't succeed; these saucy Albionites, will still be prying, and every step I make will have remarks. Rejoice, Dread Sovereign, (replied Polyorchetes) (who had already taken that hint) the Marchioness has in one word finished what the united strength of my dull brain could ne'er attempt, but now the game is up, I'll keep the scent, and work it on to a desired perfection. Why should your Majesty (replied Pedro) despair at all of due success? Does your Majesty want power, or friends, or opportunity to act what a Predecessor and Namesake with so much disadvantage had effected if Philippo had proved but half so generous as is the brave Lycogenes: Can you doubt the success of any Enterprise when you have so powerful assistance even from your Enemies? Can she carry on a design of the same nature even to the brink of performance, so as to amuse, nay, to convince all orders of the Kingdom of the reality of it? And can you doubt at last of failing? She had a sharp-sighted Parliament, near five hundred of the wisest in the Kingdom to combat with, who were strict in their observance, suspicious of her dealing, and resolute against any imposition; she had the Nobility on one hand, the King her Husband of the other; and yet she baffled all but that narrow-hearted Prince, who like the Dog in the Manger could whither eat the Hay himself, nor would suffer the Horses; he had seen himself incapable of re-establishing the Pagan interest by the assurance of an Heir, and was so covetous and mean as to hinder the propagation of it by another, whereas your Majesty stands on sure grounds, you have a strong party in the Court of wise and able men to advise you, you have a potent Army ready to protect and defend you, but above all you have a Husband and a King to assist, and further you; who dares even suspect you? who would presume to prove you? By your word, you create an Heir, and your command settles the Kingdom for ever. Thus Pedro spoke, and a general applause run through the whole Company, there remained only Aspasia and the Queen to give their Sentiments and Opinions, and Aspasia declaring in short, that Father Pedro had wholly satisfied her thoughts and desires in this juncture, and that she wholly submitted to the judgement of the Queen. Messalina raising herself, briefly gave her resolution thus: Nothing can give us greater encouragement and assurance of success, than the zeal and fidelity of you our beloved Counsellors, and since our business pesseth for a speedy conclusion, I shall need say no more, than that I do, and shall assent to what the Majority of you, viz. the Marchioness de Tomazo, Aspasia, and Pedro have laid down; there remains therefore no more but that you immediately consult of the manner and method of bringing it on, and from time to time to communicate your advice to us; I advise and think fit that Boanerges the High Priest our most Holy Kinsman, have timely notice of your proceed, as also Polydorus our Royal Friend and Ally, that they may take care to order Affairs in Foreign Parts, so as that we way have the universal assistance of all our Friends to promote a Project so highly advantageous to all their Interests.  
This gracious Speech and Condescension was received with unspeakable joy by the Counsel, and Father Pedro stepping to the Door, gave orders for private Thanksgiving throughout all the Mosques in Albion, as also for Processions? Feasts, and other expressions of joy; and having again seated himself, they immediately fall close to the point. The first business hay resolve on is, That being five in number, viz. the Count, Pedro, Polyorchetes, the Chancellor, the Marchioness de Tomazo, and Aspasia, they severally have several Employments and Offices assigned them, for the more effectual and speedy accomplishment of their business. The Count who by his Office and Interest with Boanerges, could claim a Domination over the Pagan Priests, was to summon a Convocation, and to give them instructions how to disperse the News of her Conception, and to insinuate, as if by Divine Inspiration they knew it would be a Prince, as also to quash any Objections or Doubts concerning it, and to make remarks of the persons: Father Pedro was to be made one of the Privy-Council, and as he was one of the chief Contrivers at first, so now he was to enliven and confirm the report of the Queen's Conception at the public Board, and to represent it with all the seeming Candour imaginable, he was to silence all Disputes and Contests that might happily arise upon it, and to make motions to the Board, to give such order concerning her Majesty, and the Child, as should gain a General Approbation and belief throughout the Kingdom, and though there arose a Controversy whether it were not fit for some other Pagan Lords of Albion to espouse this part, yet they soon concluded on the ability of Pedro, who was better qualified to represent it in handsome Colours, and consequently would go down the glibber, and pass secure with the people, seeing they had so good Vouchers as Privy-Councellors: The Chancellor being a Man of an hardened Constitution, was appointed to wait with diligence against the time of the pretended Birth, and by a positive Asseveration, if any suspicion should arise (as in all Cheats probably may happen) he was to maintain the Rem in Re, which from so grave a person as the chief Judge of Conscience, would surely be believed, and as readily assented to, as the words of an Oracle: Aspasia being concerned so near Messalina as Lady of the Bedchamber, etc. She was to Caress the Ladies with the joyful News of the Queen's Conception, and from time to time insinuate passages belonging to Childbearing, to give an account of the growth of the Burden, and to make the thing feasible she was to carry. on a suspicion or fear of a Miscarriage, and it being once granted that she could possibly Miscarry, included the belief that she was really Teeming: And now there was none but the Marchioness remaining, who being a Woman, as is before said, of a quick Judgement in Intrigues, and who knew well how to manage an Imposture of that nature, it was laid upon her with Secrecy and Assurance to procure two or three young wholesome Women whose time of Delivery should critically agree with the Queen's time allotted and set down by this Council; the Marchioness was not dissatisfied with the Task, though she could not but be sensible it required depth of Judgement, a great deal of discreet Enquiry, and continual Care to manage them to a Hairs breadth, lest any unlucky accident might spoil the whole Intregue, but upon a little consideration she remembered she had heard an Inkling of a young Kinswoman of her own, how that through weakness she had been forced to surrender her Virginity to the Assaults of a young Spark, who had since forsaken her, and had withal left her a sure pledge of his Love and Vigour, so that being so well encouraged at first she readily submits to the Commands of the Board, and engages upon Honour to answer their Expectation; and now the generals being concluded on and appointed, they disperse, and forthwith apply themselves to their several Employments, and as a Prologue to their intended Villainy, they give out, among their own Party, at least, the necessity of Unity in their Prayers to their Saints and the Deity, to send their Majesty's an Heir to succeed him in his Throne and Dominions, and to settle their Holy Religion in this Heretical Land, they cause Processions and Pilgrimages, Offerings and Supplications, to be made, first to the great Saint at Loretto, then to St. Winifred; and they cause Messalina to repair to several Waters that are famous Antidotes against Barrenness, though at the same time they did not consider that the People looked upon it very awkard and strange, that the Queen had never found out this way of preparing for Childbearing before; but such are the practices of the Pagan Religion, that the greatest Villainies and Rogueries they intent to commit are still preceded and ushered in with great appearances of Sanctity; and now all things being in a readiness; the Queen declares herself publicly to be with Child, and Orders were given for public Thanksgiving throughout the Isles, and in other Foreign parts; rejoicings and Feast were made by the King's Residents and Ambassadors; especially in Rome and Gaul; as if it were not enough to impose so great a Villiany on the whole Kingdom, without enforcing them to prevaricate with the Deity in their Prayers, and to make Petitions for that which really was not; but notwithstanding all the Contrivance and Advice to carry on this Intrigue, the People, especially the Christian Nobles and Gentry of Albion were mightily surprised with so improbable an Accident; & though by reason of an Indisposition, which Messalina for some while before lay under, the King's weakness and other circumstances, they could not readily free themselves from a suspicion of Treachery, yet they resolved to bear themselves with all moderation, and to have a diligent Eye upon Messalina and all about her, the f●…st real occasion of dislike was, that the Queen did not treat the Christian Ladies of Albion, especially the Princess Philadelpha, with that freedom as the joy and pride of so great a happiness, if real, would naturally have prompted her to; for she would resent it highly if she could but observe any of the Christians making the least observations of her Breasts, Belly, her Look, or any other Symptom, by which Women in that Condition are easily distinguished; another great reason was, that she seemed to slight the Pretensions of the Princess Artemisia, so as there was not the least intimation given her to be at the Queen's Labour till within a very few days before she was Delivered; besides, the Confidence of the Pagan Party did strangely startle the People, when like Oracles they would affirm that of necessity it must be a Prince: These and many other material circumstances made the Albionites talk broadly of the business; nor were Lycogenes and Messalina ignorant of their Sentiments; however having the Power absolutely in their hands, they were resolved to cut that knot which they found impossible to untie, and since they had thus far advanced in a business of that importance, they resolved to go through and bring it about, though with a thousand absurdities and incoherences; for besides the alteration of her Reckoning, which proceeded partly from a fear of disappointment if the Woman that came first should have brought forth a Girl, but chief to amuse the Nobility and Gentry of the Court and Kingdom, who would doubtless have made it their business in behalf of the Princess Artemisia and the Kingdom, to attend and watch that all things might have been carried fairly and above-board; I say, besides the alteration of her reckoning she would give out upon every turn different places of her pretended lying-in, sometimes she would give orders for R— d, at other times she would remove her fancy to H— Court, but in reality St. Jaques was the place resolved on, for Alba Regalis the whole party disallowed, because by reason of the multitude and concourse of People that constantly attend there, she could not possibly have been so privately Delivered as the Intrigue did necessarily require; besides, there was no conveniency for the Child to be brought through the Galleries or Lodgings, but in the Palace of St. Jaques, there was a Seraglio and a Mosque adjoining with abundance of winding by dark Chambers, secret Passages, Trapdoors and dark Corners, where not only one or two of the Women were with great security and secrecy kept till the time of their delivery, but where the Queen might have the Child foisted into her Bed reaking and hot from the Womb, but in the heat of all this intrigue and design Lycogenes was unluckily put in mind that by the Laws of Albion the presence of one or more of the Christian Prelates was to be at the Birth of every Royal Infant indispensably required; to resolve this difficulty a Council is immediately called, and after sundry debates it is concluded, that some way or other must be found to bring all or most of the dissenting part into a praemunire, and so by aggravation either to endanger their lives, or at least to clap them up and secure them till the Queen's Delivery; accordingly a flaw was immediately found and the Prelates forthwith confined: and now nothing but the presence of the Princess Philadelpha was feared, but what cannot the craft of the wicked Jebusites bring about? that Princess had unfortunately complained of some small indisposition, when the Queen immediately takes the hint, and by the means of Pedro and some other Malcontents, she prevails with her Physician to persuade her to take a Journey to the Waters of Baijae, though the Operation of those Waters was manifestly known to be contrary to the Princess' Distemper, they being loosening, and she wanting Restringents, but her absence was absolutely necessary, and therefore by any means to be obtained; the Princess according to their wishes leaves the Court, and they were resolved to do their business before her return; and now all things to appearance seemed to favour the design, the time prescribed drew near, their greatest Adversaries were removed, the Court Party, and Pagan Priests, with daily Stories and sham's were amusing and taking off the attention of the Christians; all things seemed smooth, and the Critical Minute was at hand, when news was brought to Messalina, that one of the Women was in Labour, immediately the Queen takes her Chair, and hastes over to St. Jaques, but before she had well ascended the Stairs, she was told, that Woman had brought forth a Girl, with which being for the present confounded, she descends, leaving before such Orders as were necessary; the other Women expecting their Times Daily and Hourly; and indeed ere three Days were over she receiving another Summons, repair forthwith to St. Jaques, she stays there all Night with long expectation of Success, early the next Morning she receives the glad Tidings that a Man Child was Born, which with all speed was conveyed to the Dormitory adjoining to her Bedchamber, in the same reeking Circumstances it was Born in, and having before taken care for the conducting of it to the Queen's Bed, the Alarm is given at Alba Regalis, that the Queen was in Labour; Lycogenes had that Morning risen something earlier than ordinary, and had crossed over to his own side on purpose to draw off the Men with him, and consequently to favour the Cheat, by leaving as few as possible about the Queen's Apartment; in the mean time Madamoizell de W— s having before given the Infant a small Opiate to hinder its Crying for the present lays it gently in a large Warming-Pan made on purpose, and lined with velvet for the more commodious and easy carriage, and the Queen rising under pretence of giving liberty for warming the Bed Madomonelle unlades her vessel and leaves the Infant in the place appointed; the Queen straight returning to Bed the Room immediately fill●, though none were summoned but such as Lycogenes thought were afraid to make a doubt or a scrutiny into the truth of it, or those whom Lycogenes had already prepared to swallow and favour the imposition; and now the pretended Prince being Born the Pagans of Albion begin their Jubilee, Latroon Governor of Iberia gins to double the Persecution of the Christians there, Polydorus by a strict Alliance and LEAGUE with Lycogenes, thinks of nothing but an Universal Monarchy, Lycogenes doubles the Oppressions of his Christian Subjects, Messalina boasts of the downfall of Heresy, and a perpetual Regency, during her Life: The poor Christians, especially the Albionites, though something apprehensive of the Consequences of this Intrigue, were yet by their constant remarks of all Transactions since the Report of Messalina's Conception sufficiently satisfied of the fallacy and cheat, and resolved on measures which they doubted not would in a little time unravel the whole Mystery.  
FINIS.   

THE Third Part OF THE AMOURS OF Messalina. WHEREIN, The Secret Intrigues of the Four last Years Reign are Completed. AND THE Love Adventures of Polydorus King of the Gauls, AND THE Late Queen of ALBION, Made Public.  
By a Woman of Quality, a late Confidant of Q. MESSALINA.  
LONDON: Printed for John Lyford, 1689.   

THE Bookseller TO THE READER.  
THE Promised, and long Expected Third Part of the Amours of our MESSALINA, is here at your Service: And though some Critics I am informed (and indeed my Sale tells me as much) have not put an equal value on the two foregoing Parts, the Second lying under the Repute of much Inferior to the First: My Historian makes no other Apology, than that the Fair Messalina had so many Engines at Work, in turning that great Hinge of the Pagan Glory, Her Warming-pan Plot; and her Hands and Head so full of Politics on that Important Occasion, that She then wanted Leisure for Intrigue and Amour; which indeed being the main Delight of the Generality of my Readers, might perhaps lessen the Satisfaction expected from the Second Part. But since her Majesty's Departure from the Heretic Albion, has Translated her to a more agreeable and natural Element, the Pagan Court of Gothland; her heavier and sullen Business she gins to shake off, and resumes the lighter Air of Love and Pleasure. And accordingly we dare, without Vanity, assure our Kind Reader, That the former Defects are supplied in the Entertainment of this Third Part of her History. An Amorous Polydorus, little less famed under the Banners of Cupid, than the sometimes Glorious Britomard himself, lying at the Feet of the Adored Messalina, affords a little ●…re Matter of Adventure and Diversion. With this Recommendation to our little Volumn of the Great Messalina, We beg your present generous Acceptance. And if you find your Messalina warm with any extraordinary Spark for the Imperial Polydorus; you are to consider, that the Sanctuary and Glorious Reception she meets in the Court of her ever firm Friend, the King of the Gauls, have Inspired her with no small Gratitude to that MOST PAGAN Hero, and Champion of her Altars.   

The Third PART.  
LOVE could no longer brook this interfering Business in the Court of Albion; for seeing with Indignation, how Ambition daily had entrenched on his Prerogative, he reassumes his long neglected Darts, and vows severe Revenge on his Rebellious Subjects. And now Messalina's haughty Heart, which vast aspiring Hopes had long engaged, softens again in Gentleness and Love: She had seen the Languets of her Charming Count, and heard his gentle Murmurs with Compassion; she knew the great restraint he forced upon his Heart, when by reason of her numerous Attendants, and Visitours, he had not opportunity to breathe his Love; sometimes a Wink, an Amorous Look, or Sigh, she would by stealth return; or otherwise, in some Ambiguous Words, she would discover her Concern and Care, for his endearing Passion; but in such dumb shows alone, as there were more than Three Weeks spent,  she could possibly engage, or speak with him alone. During which time, her Beauty, with the Satisfaction of her Mind, was much improved; and that forced Abstinence, which her pretended Childbearing had made her undergo, conduced as well to carry on the Cheat, as to revive some fading Glories in her Face, caused by the Fears and Apprehensions of Miscarrying. Now, in Triumphant Wise, she'd Walk, and Look, and with Disdainful Jests, among her Confidents, Laugh at the weak dull Christians of the Court. Come Dear Aspasia, would the say, let us no longer doubt of good Success; le●…s every Year bring forth a Son, and stock the Kingdom with a Race of Pagan Princes; shall my aspiring lofty Soul, s●…p to the ri●e Destructive Rules of their insipid Morals? One flight of Pagan Fancy quite outstrips their heavy tedious Motions; and till now, our Fears alone have been our Bugbear Appa●…ions: With how much ease, did we Contrive and Finish what some faint puny hearted Creatures thought impossible? Oh how I am pleased to think how naturally I managed the Intrigue: Didst thou observe, how gravely some would stand; and when my feigned Groans and Cries, would reach their Ears, how then O●…ici●usly they'd shake their Heads, devoutly lifting up their Hands, and pray for my Delivery? Then, when my seeming Pains would make me faintis●…, with what Concern they'd Sigh and Whisper, while I would gently grasp, and turn to thee, and smile at the Success of our Invention. Come, Come, let's see this Darling of our Hopes, this Groundwork of our Everlasting Joy; long Live, and Live to Reign, my little blooming Life, and Live to be the S●ourge of our Cursed Christian Foes; I'll swear thee, like another Hannibal, their Mortal Foe; each drop of Milk thou suckest, 〈…〉 an Age of Malice in thy Heart; A Christia●… Name shall grate upon thy Soul, and thou shall prove the Plague of their Profession; I'll breathe my Spirit through thy tender Pores, and make thy hatred of them Everlasting; Down, down ye Pagans, to your Great Deliverer; Adore your Mighty Prince, and your Redeemer. See how the base dejected Christians shrink; see how they Tremble at his Awful Frown: Albion is once again Redeemed, Aspasia, and ●ow my Crown sits firm and easy on my Head. Thus in Vain Raptures would the Queen break out, and boast her Promises to be Prophetical; but soon, alas, she found herself deceived, and all her Glorious Promises vanish of a sudden. Anaximander, and the Princess Artemisia, while Licogenes, and his Pagan Councillors, continued only to make some small Encroachments, and Breaches on the Laws of Albion, seemingly designing, for no more than a small Toleration of the Pagan Religion in Albion, kept themselves within all bounds of Modesty and Submission, to the King their Father; only in some small Remonstrances, they did Declare their Unwillingness to appear Parties in the Annulling, or Dispensing with those Laws, made purely for the Security of the Christian Religion, against the Practices and Contrivances of the Pagans; but when they plainly saw, their Own, and the Kingdom's Interest, resolved to be made a Sacrifice to the Ambition, and Covetousness of a small Party, that by the known Laws of the Land, were declared the irreconcilable Enemies of the Christians; they thought it then high time to look about them, and though they paid all the Reverence imaginable to the King, their Father; yet they could not resolve to yield their Rights and Inheritance, and hold precariously their Estates, at the Discretion of an Antichristian packed Council; besides, by several Remonstrances and Petitions from the Chief of the Nobility and Gentry, they had been solicited to take them into their Protection, and to endeavour a Redress of their Grievances, and heavy Oppressions. Anaximander, being a Prince of a Vast and Generous Spirit, was easily induced to condescend to their Relief; for, besides his proper Interest in the Crown of Albion, which by the common Principles of Nature, he was obliged to Maintain and Defend; he often would revolve on the Glory of the Action, and how Heroic and God like it would show, to appear the Great and Glorious Champion of the Christian Religion, which by a Secret League, between Polydorus King of the Gauls, and the King Licogenes, was resolved to be wholly Extirpated, and Roured out of Eur●…. Upon these Considerations, the Prince Anaximander immediately imp●… his Desires and Resolutions to the High and Mighty Lords and States of the Low-Lands, desiring their Lordship's Advice and Assistance in a Matter of that Importance, to the Security of themselves, as well as all other Christians; which upon due Considerations, they with all Alacrity imaginable Grant: And now the Prince having a Gallant, though small Fleet, equipped with all the speed that could be, makes for the West of Albion, and with such prudent Secrecy were all things managed, that Lycogenes had not the least Intimation in the World of his Designs, till his Fleet was ready to Sail. Messalina had, that Night the fatal News arrived, assigned Count Davila to meet her at St. Jaques, and the Marchioness de Tomazo in the Absence especially of Aspasia (who a while before was gone over to her Husband Latroon, Governor of Iberia) being her chief Confident, was ordered to attend. The Count, who had once or twice been Tardy in the Hour appointed, thought now by early Diligence to make amends, so that by Twilight he was gotten up into the Bedchamber, being a private Retirement for Messalina, during the King's Absence at any Time, or her Indisposition; where sitting down near the Bed, he waited with Impatience for the Queen; and in the mean time, was contemplating on the Happiness of his Enjoyments; by this time, Darkness had overspread the Earth, and the Marchioness being to give the Orders for the Candles of that private Apartment, especially at that season, the Count found himself for some time very solitary, and without Light, and being about to make to the Door, he heard some stirring and breathing on the Bed, when drawing the Curtain softly, he could just perceive by her , it was a Lady fast asleep; the Count was mightily amazed at first, but recollecting himself, he thought it doubtless was the Queen, who had retired thither before the Hour appointed, and had prevented even his Diligence in coming; so without scruple, throwing himself on the Bed, he clasps the supposed Messalina in his Arms, and having in his first Transports run with his curious Hand o'er all the private Recesses of her Charms, he was just preparing to attack the Fort, mingling with his Kisses, his short Amorous Sighs, foretelling Transports, Ecstasies and Die; when Messalina hastily comes in with a small Taper in her Hand, and calls: Tomazo, is not my Dear Count yet come, Tomazo? The Marchioness at the very Instant, whether the Amorous bustling of the Count had operated on her waking Fancy, or whether by the Impression of some pleasing Dream, she was thereto incited, Cried passionately out, " Make haste my Dear Antonio, make haste, the Marquis will be here and Ruin us." The Queen who had heard her speak those last Words, by this Time had opened the Curtain, and there discovered the Count, raised on his Knees between Tomazo's Legs, and in a posture which plainly discovered the drift of his Intentions; never were Three Persons (for by this Time the Marchiones had waked) so severally astonished and confounded; the Queen with Shame had shown her Face glowing Red, and then with Anger straigt grown Pale; the Count, though in that awkward Posture, was so much confounded, he could not move himself, nor had the Sense to cover the Marchioness, or his own Nakedness; but between Wonder, Anger and Fear, was wholly bereft of even Sense or Motion: The Marchioness, whose Age and Experience had rendered her familiar with the same or the like Adventures, was not so much Ashamed of being seen in that Condition and Posture, as Apprehensive of the Queen's Resentments, if, as was probable, she should suppose any Amour between her and the Count, her Lover, and whom she had but that Night appointed, and designed for her own Use and Service. In such distracted Thoughts and Manner, did they for a great while stand and gaze, and wonder at one another, without one Word between them, till at last the Queen, whether heightend in her Fancy, with the pleasing sight and intended Action of the Count, or upon due consideration, believing and judging, by the Words she had heard the Marchioness utter, that it was wholly a mistake on all sides, burst out in Laughter, and turning her Face a little, told the Count in Drollery, the Wether began to be Cold, and therefore he would do well to take care and cover his Mistress and himself. The Count with this short reprimand was thoroughly waked out of his Trance, and slipping off the farther side of the Bed, was bustling a long time to put himself in order, while the Marchioness, half distracted, riseth and pulls the Curtains close about her; which the Queen seeing, She calls out to her: What Tomazo! You are resolved then to keep the Count to yourself this Night; and making to the Bed, She threw the Curtains again open, and discovered Tomazo in a fresh Confusion: By this time the Count had gathered a little more assurance, and coming from behind the Bed, he straight threw himself at Messalina's Feet, humbly asked her Pardon, and told her, he hoped she was not insensible of the fatal mistake he had like to have fallen in; and consequently, he doubted not of her favourable Interpretation; he was sorry he had first appeared in so indecent a Posture, and his continuance therein, She could not but 〈◊〉 the consequence of his Astonishment. The Queen, who upon a just consideration of the Circumstances, was sufficiently satisfied of his Innocence, was so far from being angry or disturbed, that after two or three sits of Laughter, She threw her delicious Arms about his Neck, and with Ten Thousand Kisses Sealed his Pardon: then turning to her dear Tomazo, She would Laugh, and say, Make hast my Dear Antonio, make haste; O Dear, my Husband comes! Alas, What shall we do? we are ruined Dear Antonio. Thus did ●he Droll on the poor M●…chioness, till the Count putting her in mind of the time of the Night, they were retiring to the Closet to Converse, when a Messenger from Alba Regalis, comes in haste, to give an account of an Express, Lycogenes had received from the Belgian Lowlands, giving an Account of the Preparations and Designs of the Prince Anaximander, to come and redress the Grievances of the poor Christians of Albion: the Queen (who was not otherwise read in the Politics and Affairs of State, than as Father Pedro, the Count, or some other of her Priests upon particular occasions had Instructed her) was not at first so apprehensive of the Danger as the Count, who was so vehemently startled at the News, that without any more Compliment than Bowing to the Queen, he descends and takes Coach for Alba Regalis; where he was no sooner Arrived, but he sound the whole Court Alarmed; and Lycogenes in Solemn Council was gone to Debate the Business: The next Day the News was confirmed by another Express, and then all was in an Uproar; Lycogenes in a great Fright comes to Council, tells them his apprehensions of Anaximanders' Design, requires their best and speedy Advice, puts them in Mind of all the Breaches he had made in the Laws for their Sakes; and that now, without speedy Assistance, he was likely to be ruined, and the Pagan's Hopes throughout Albion to be utterly lost. Such dreadful Words as these, and coming from a Prince that had been in every Panegyric cried up and applauded for his Constancy of Mind, and Invincible Courage, did so amaze and terrify his Counsellors, that they could not in a long time set their Hearts on any serious Consultation; some of them withdrew, then in again; presently others that had been absent, came Posting to understand and inquire into the Business; some would relate it as terrible as their Fears, and represent the numbers of the Prince's Ships and Men double; here you should see a haughty Stiffnecked Priest, come humbly fawning to a Christian Noble, as if confessing past Mis-carriages and Crimes, he wished for good Conditions: Some would be packing up their Goods and Treasure, their guilty boding Consciences foretelling their forced Flight and Ruin: But Pedro and Poliorchetes, the Chancellor, who were sensible they were likely to share the sum and substance of all unhappy Revolutions, thought it now no longer time to dally, or spend the precious Minutes in useless idle Fears, but to apply the most healing Medicines, that the present bleeding Wound would bear; and accordingly persuade Lycogenes to  several Edicts, that by their Instigation and Council had been promulged against the Interest and Safety of his Christian Subjects: And Father Pedro calling a Convocation of his Inferior Priests, makes them Dis-robe, and in disguise to mingle among the Christian Assemblies, in the Forum, Burse, Temples, and other public Meeting-Places, and there with Confidence to utter false Reports, to lessen the Strength of Anaximander, to cry up the miseries of a Civil War, to Extol the Loyalty of the King's Christian Subjects, to make comparison between young Perkin's Expedition and this, and thence to conclude positively of the like success: The Court party also of Renegado Christian Divines, were ordered to Preach up the necessity of Obedience and Loyalty, to withstand the Prince in his Attempts, and to brand his Expedition with the horrible Title of Invasion. These, and many other Arts were used to take off the Edge of Anaximander's Sword; sometimes they'd Brand His Royal Person with base and ignominious Names; other times they would think to terrify the Rebels (as they would call all that should assist him) with the Exemplary Punishments, inflicted by the Chancellor Polyorchetes, in his bloody Western Campaigne: But all would not do, the Christians knew the Pagan Punic Faith, as well as Inhuman Cruelty, they saw their Laws, their Liberties, and Lives at Stake; and that now was the only time to assert and recover them; the Pagan Priests had often mocked the King out of his most Solemn Promises, and Messalina had endeavoured to entail their Slavery upon them to all Posterity. Nothing therefore could stagger their former Resolutions, but like the Adder, they were Deaf to all their treacherous Charms, and false Insinuations: Notwithstanding, Messalina's dauntless Pride could not till the Princes Landing stoop to the apprehension of any material Danger; she'd often chalk out time and place to see the send weak Prince brought bound to Troynovant; She'd Laugh and Jeer at his few puny Forces, and would in every Table Talk defeat his whole Battalions; sometimes She'd call her Melancholy Lover, whose deeper apprehensions, now had changed his usual Mirth; sometimes, I say, She'd call him to her, and reproach his needless Fears: What? would She say, Can Davila suspect or fear, when Messalina 's Heart is free? Can thy so much applauded Courage stoop to what a poor weak Woman's Soul can stand? Stand did I say? By all that's good, this Hand shall bow the Neck of that poor Spirited Prince, that weak presumptuous Wretch, that dare Invade my Husbands lofty Crown: What my Dear Davila, canst thou lament? Hast thou a Diadem to lose, a Throne to be pulled down, Subjects and Slaves to be destroyed before thy Face? These may create a Monarch's doubts and fears: What then should thy Eyes swell with needless Tears? Remit, remit, alas, thy useless apprehensions! I sure am the Centre of thy Thoughts: In me thy utmost Wishes are determined; while then I stand secure, What needest thou fear? Cheer up, cheer up, my dear loved Count; let us not lose our present happy Minutes, for vain weak doubts of future Cares and Sorrows.  
The Count both wondered and rejoiced at the great Heroic Heart of his beloved Royal Mistress; and tho' he knew, and was perfectly sensible that her words were rather the effect of her dauntless Spirit, than of a solid Consideration; yet he saw so much Love expressed in her frequent concernment for him, that he could not but in common Gratitude and Honour, make her the same, or suitable returns; he therefore told her Majesty, That his apprehension of being separated from her, was without doubt, a sensible affliction to him; but above all he deplored his great unhappiness, in not being able to afford more than his own personal assistance, to repel her own, and their great Prophet's Enemies; that he cordially wished the Prince Anaximander's undertake might prove as frivolous and ineffectual, as she had declared them; that his great care of her Majesty's Safety and Honour, was the only Foundation of his Fear; that he did indeed object the worst to himself, but did not believe he had yet any reason to despair of the best; that he was sensible her supereminent Merit had rendered her Obnoxious to the Slanderous reproaches and envy of the Wicked Christian Albionites; that the King her Husband's Zeal, in a good and pious Cause, had incurred the wicked Malice of his rebellious Subjects; and that if his Affairs (which Heaven forbidden) should happen to fail, it would be the total ruin and destruction of his Life and happiness, to think she should fall into the Hands of her Enemies, or be lessened in her Fortune or high Station; that therefore it was his humble and hearty request, that she would suffer himself, and some other select Friends, to consult and lay before her such measures for the security of her Person and Honour, as should appear to be most convenient; that providing against the worst, would be no hindrance of her enjoyment of the best; but above all, that she would give him her resolution and firm promise to let himself accompany and wait on her in all, and every Misfortune that possibly could befall her. Messalina was ravished with this so zealous and tender demonstration of her Dear Count's Love, and in a loving transport catching his Hand and Arm, she pulled him to her on a Couch whereon she sat, where with unspeakable Raptures she would Circle her Snowy Arms and Hands, about his Neck and Waste; Oh! how she'd suck his Amorous ruddy Lips and Checks, and with her Balmy melting Hand stroke, and press, and play with his Manly Neck, and Face, " Oh! couldst thou think Dear Cruel Heart, said she, that e'er my Panting Soul could yield to part with thee, the Dearest, blessed Fountain of its joy; Fortune, indeed with rude or Impartial hands may catch and grasp my Shaken, Tottering Crown; but sure my Heart and Will, are still my own; and being mine, who Dare Pretend to Stop, or Claim what I resolve to Share, to Give, to Keep for only Thee." No, no, my Life, my Davila, continued she: " If Fate or Cursed Inconstant Fortune have decreed my Separation from this Ill-bred Isle, Thou like my better Genius shalt attend me, thou like my happy Star shalt lead the Way: where e'er we come we'll be each others Heaven, and in thy Bosom will I place my Land of Joy, and Rest." With these last words they fell together on the Couch, and tired with busy Love and Rapture, soon dropped into a gentle Slumber. Faithful Tomaso, in the mean time was hover about the Outguards to prevent surprise, and to divert the access of any suspicious Persons: She had waited half an hour or little more, when comes a Messenger from King Lycogenes to Messalina, which brought account, the Prince was now at Sea, and with a numerous Fleet was making all the Sail he could for Albion: the Marchioness receives the Message, and all in Tears repairs with open Mouth to the Queen's Closet: the Queen waking abruptly at the Noise she made, starts up, and with a sudden Shriek alarms the Count; Anaximander comes, Dread Sovereign cries the Marchioness, he comes with Speed and Power and Swears to Unravel all? O Mighty Operations! the Count who had hardly yet recovered himself, was looking about when he had heard the Marchioness declare he was come, and putting himself on his Guard, swore he'd Defend his Royal Mistress to the last; Oh! that his Single Fate, Cries Mesalina, were to be opposed to thine: Inspired by Love and my auspicious Prayers, how wouldst thou crush his Puny Soul. Soon shouldst thou nip these daring Christians hopes, and with one happy blow secure our Pagan Friends and Interest for ever. In the mean time Lycogenes in late and early Counsels, was contriving how to stop this overflowing Current of the Prince's designs; he had observed an unusual blithness in all his Christian Nobleses Faces, and was sensible that the Prince Anaximander could not presume to attack the Albionites, without very good Encouragement from the Grandees: however, with all his industry he was not able to learn out who were Anaximanders Abettors in this bold design; Father Pedro and others of his Antichristian Council were advising him to lay hold on, and secure all that he could but in the least suspect; but this being controverted was found too Violent, and more than the present Circumstances of affairs could bear; others suggesting the doubtful Loyalty of the great City of Troynovant, 'twas thought advisable to secure the Citadel, in some Peculiar trusty hands, and thereby to scare that Populous and Powerful Place into a just Obedience: this was found good and Feasible, and straight a new Commander is ordained, with secret orders how to manage things to the best advantage. In the mean time, the Prince Anaximander, steers away, and without any  or hindrance, in a few days arrives safe at a convenient Haven, in the West of Albion; and now the Thread of Poor Lycogenes his Fate began to crack, now he could plainly see the errors of his Government, and when it was unhappily too late, might Curse the base designs of his pernicious Counsellors: now was he forced to stoop that Glorious Lofty Heart, which dauntless heretofore had braved the mightiest force of Europe. How was he changed, alas, from that brave Invincible Lycogenes, that did through Clouds of Smoke and Fire, Charge through the Belgian Fleet, and with fresh Laurels Crowned, returned in Triumph to his joyful Country: now every little Western breeze that heretofore did serve to blow and kindle up his flaming Courage, like some cold Pestilential air damps his Misgiving Soul; now Poor, forsaken of himself he stands, Conscience alone of Ills passed done remains his tiresome guest: Attend ye cursed race of wicked Jebusites, see the Prodigious effects of your Pernicious Counsels, ye Clogs to Crowns, and bane of Power.  
Empire's to Shake, and Monarches to Dethrone,  
Cursed Race of Loyala's thy Work alone.  
Kings, Crowns, and States o'er thrown! no more? alas;  
Those Records fill not half thy Leaves of Brass.  
What need those stored up Coals (scarce worth Heaven's while)  
For mighty Doomsday, Nature's Funeral Pile:  
Let Thee but lose for th' Universe o'er turning,  
Thy Single Brand would set the Globe a Burning.  
The Prince Anaximander no sooner appeared with his Fleet, but the Christians all about the Country flocked to the Shore, and with loud shouts and all other demonstrations of Joy, welcomed the arrival of their great Deliverer: and several with Boats stocked with fresh Provision put off and dispersed them about the Fleet, for the refreshment of the Seamen and Soldiers, and having provided before small Bridges and other conveniencies for the Landing his Army, and his Carriages, he found himself in a condition within three days to draw up and muster his Men, who had by this time hearty recovered the Fatigue of their Voyage. Lycogenes in the mean time, though very much dejected, had taken care to Levy a Gallant Army, and it was one while thought a very doubtful thing, to which, to ascribe the Victory. Anaximander had not brought with him above Fourteen Thousand Horse and Foot, but those indeed Experienced Veterane Bands, very Completely Armed; besides, Lycogenes before the Prince landed, had at least Thirty Thousand well appointed Soldiers, so that when he began thoroughly to compute his own strength, and his Enemy's weakness, he thought to take heart, and resolved for the greater Encouragement of his Men to appear at the head of them himself, and withal speed to give his Enemy's Battle, and hinder their further Progress into the Country; but alas, while he was flattered and amused with the strength and bravery of his own Army, Anaximander was mustering and entertaining the Choice Young Men of all the Western Country▪ for the People considering the Cause, and that their Liberties and Lives, were now their only last stake, they came flocking in so fast to the Prince, that he had in eight days more Substantial choice Men than he could handsomely make use of; besides, the Major part of Lycogenes his Army, being Christians, they could not but be sensible that those Swords that they should draw against their Brethren in the West, would at the long run be employed against their own Throats and Lives; and therefore, being already weary of submitting their Freeborn Souls to the Bondage and Tyranny of their Pagan Officers, they associate and take Council together how to free themselves and their Country, by either, laying down their Arms, or going over to the Prince Anaximander, and now the fatal Period of Lycogenes his Reign drew near, for first whole Companies, Troops, and Regiments of his Army revolt from him, and then his Friends and Near Relations, touched with the sense of deeper obligations due to their Country, their Religion and their God: Thus the Trump being turned, the Pagans quickly find their disadvantage of the Game, and in Confusion, like distracted Men fling up their Cards, and scamper to secure themselves from payment. Messalina also to her Sorrow sees what hitherto she never would believe; now Pedro finds the fallacy of his conclusions, while Polyorchetes, Sunderania, and others of that wicked grew curse their unlucky Stars, and seek in every corner for some place of refuge: Poor Lycogenes flies in confusion from his distant Foes, not able to endure even the report of their approach: He that like another Xerxes saw himself begirt even with a world of Guards, now flies bereft almost of necessary Attendance: He no sooner arrived at his old Palace of Alba Regalis, but in hast he calls a Secret and Solemn Council of all his few remaining Friends, and after such Debates as the time would afford and permit, they resolve to send proposals to the Prince, who like a Swelling Tide had now o'er spread the Country; and the danger being grown beyond recovery, Messalina, at last thinks it high time to prepare for her retirement, and with all speed provide for her Security; the Young Child also by the advice of the Council was to be nicely taken care of, being likely to prove a very good after Game. The Queen therefore immediately sends for the Count to a private Conference, who as greedily comes, in hopes to persuade her to a speedy Flight: Just as he approached the Closet Door, the Queen all in tears gets up, and not being able for a while to speak, leans on his Neck, and after many growing Sobs and heavy Sighs, falls Fainting in his Arms: never was Lover in so sad distress as was the Count at this unhappy accident; call out he dare not, for fear of any Suspicion or ill interpretation of his being with the Queen alone; to go and leave her Dying as he thought, his Soul could ne'er agree to; how to assist, what remedy to use, where to get any thing to apply he knew not: distracted thus he Tore himself, and Raved, and Cursed his misfortune, then would he kneel by the Couch whereon he had laid her, and kiss, and sigh, and Pray, and call, till at last the Queen coming to herself opened her dying Eyes, and casting a Languishing look at her Dear Count, who was now in a bitter Agony of Sorrow, and hardly able to support his oppressed Spirits, she raised herself a little on the Couch, and in a Sorrowful manner lifting up her Hands and Eyes, recounts a fresh the sum of her Misfortunes: All, all, is lost, Dear Davila, said she, my Hopes, my Peace, my Joy, my Glories, my All. And if I have aught left me worth the Thought of Life, it is, that I enjoy thy Love. That Coronet's my own, though my Crown's lost. Messalina is now driven to the Fatal Period of her Grandeur in Albion, a shock so dismal, that the Agonies of such a Fall, to such Soaring Ambitition as Mesalina's, are only to be conceived by those that feel them. In her fit of Desperation (for 'twas almost come to that) she is Mrs. however of Reason enough still to provide at least against the Worst of shames, and Last of Miseries, her falling into her Enemy's Hands, the Christians, a Danger at that Time much threatened; the united Murmurs of Albion looking up to no other Fountain, and Original of the Woes and Calamities, of the Pitied and Deplored Lycogenes, than the Hot Counsels, or rather Enchantments of Messalina, and her Pagan Abettors. And how heavy the weight of such an Inquisition would fall, even her Flatterers are but too sensible. Her Flight therefore, being now the last Plank she has to lay hold off to scape sinking, she prepares a small Diminutive Yatcht, and hires (command she could not, so feeble is Sovereignty without Hearts) a handful of Select Seamen, all well bribed, and well sworn, privately, to waft her safe to Gothland, the only Sanctuary. (Such Universal Enemies had her Politics pulled down) the World could yield her. Oh Zeal, Zeal, mad Zeal! what Humane Distresses, Miseries, Ruins are Thine, and Thy only Creation?— Nay, is there scarce that one Conflagration, that ever set whole Nations in a Flame, that has not been lighted by a Coal from an Altar? Unfortunate Messalina, and deservedly so, the late Royal Partner, to no less than Neptune's Sovereign, the Ocean's Lord, and the still Terror of the World, had not Zeal, Infatuating, Destroying, Dethroning Zeal, blazed out; Poor misguided, deluded, hard-fated Lycogenes! This very Messalina, of all those Floating Castles, the late attending Pageants of her Triumph, all those once Impregnable Famed Walls of Albion; left Mistress of no more than a poor Cockboat! Instead of glittering Flags, and flowing Streamers, ushered by all the Tritons of the Main, and as She passed, Saluted by all the Echoing Thunder from the Shoar; now to Steal away by Night, Skulk like a Fugitive, obscured by Shades and Coverts! Yes, Destiny and Zeal have so Decreed it! For Sea therefore (such her Equippment, and such the hastening Cause that called her) She prepares; and takes with her, her Tomazo, Sunderania, Count Davila, Sebastian, and Pedro, and some others of her Cabinet Friends; the last Three only being a little Transformed, by Disguises of Buff, Scarlet and Feather, metamorphosed into downright Militants: For indeed her Ecclesiastic Confidents, especially Father Pedro, were grown so notoriously Infamous, that they durst not trust themselves in their own Shapes, even with Sworn Hirelings and Mercenaries; not Gold itself being sufficient to purchase Trust or Safety. The Queen had but very little left, to save and carry with her, except her Jewels; for truly in spite of all that good Husbandry, that eminent and singular good Quality in Lycogenes; yet what with Standing Armies, and no Taxes (for he neither loved or pleased Senates enough, for any new Donations from them) and from the continual daily Dreine, he received from those innumerable Spiritual Horseleeches, that hung upon his Purse-strings, his Exchequer was but low. Messalina's Jewels therefore, being all the Treasure she could save; those by Father Pedro's particular Advice, were committed to the Charge and Custody of an Italian Priest, recommended to her by him, as a Heavenly minded man, a Recluse from the World, and who as a Person under a Vow of Poverty, of a Character and Profession above any Temptation, was the only man she could best repose that Trust in. Thus Embarked, with their best Sails to their small Frigate; with a Fair Wind, and Prosperous Gale, they arrive at Gothland: for indeed the just Ordaining Powers, that had punished her with the loss of a Crown, after so heavy a Wreck at Land, thought fit to bond their Indignation there.  
From her Arrival in Gothland, the Scene gins a little to Change: For the Pagans there, with no small Homage and Adoration, resound her Welcome. The Entertainment she received, as peculiarly influenced by the Commands of Polydorus, was every where Splendid and Magnificent: I dare not call it his Bounty, or Generosity. For truly, all the utmost Services, Respect, Obligations, Protections, or Assistance; and indeed, all, and more than Polydorus has, or can do for Lycogenes, or Messalina, so near a part of him; are but poor and faint Returns, to compensate those Miseries and Sufferings, in which his own private Leagues and Cabals, and the too prevailing  Counsels and Measures in Albion, have involved the ruined Lycogenes. With a Noble Train of Persons of the Highest Quality, and a Band of Guards, a truly Royal Retinue, is Messalina Conducted to the Gothick Court; whilst Polydorus himself, with that solemn State and Grandeur, comes to meet her, and Congratulate her Arrival; paying her all that Humble and Profound Respect, and Awful Attendance, as if she came nor from Quitting, but to the Possessing of a Diadem: So Pompous was her Entry, that scarce an Antique Roman Triumph could exceed it. And indeed she came to Triumph, the very first Sally of her Eye, bringing her back no less a Trophy, than the Heart of Polydorus. To give her her Right, even without Flattery; never was Conquest so Expeditious: No sooner was the very Lightning seen, but the Bolt had Executed. So Dazzling were her Charms, to the surprised Polydorus, that he truly dated his entire Vassalage, from the first Moment he saw her. His once Adored Dear Vestal Divinity, or his Haughtier Montezania's Charms, were nothing to the Influence of Messalina: so unaccountable is the Archery of the Blind God: For Messalina had been no Stranger to Polydorus: when before her Marriage with Lycogenes, in her Travel from her own Italic Duchy, to the Kingdom of Albion, she took the Court of Polydorus in her way; yet, than her Beauties, though in their Younger Bloom, could be beheld without half the present Fatality. For, whether his then Regnant Vestal Mrs had so filled his Soul, as had left no Room for any other Guest, or for what Reason else; a common Veneration was all the Offering he made her then; when Sighing, Desiring, Languishing, Dying, whole Hecatombs are all too little Sacrifices now. In fine, so Capricious an Ascendant had his present Governing Planets, that that very Polydorus fated for the Dethroning of the Unfortunate Lycogenes; the same Matchivilian Part, before Practised against his Crown, must now be Acted against his Bed. For from this Hour, Friendship, Honour, Hospitality, (Obligations not the first time dispensed withal by Polydorus) and all other ties quite cancelled; the Possession of Messalina, though at the price of a Kingdom, is his whole and sole Ambition. For Messalina he Burns, and were her Virtue a Rock of Ice, (which for aught he knows it may be); for though indeed he was no Stranger to all other her Intrigues and Affairs, however in her Curtain Arcana, her Amours, he was no Cabinet Counsellor) he resolves to melt it down; and that so far from a scruple at the Undertaking, that he should account it not only the sweetest, but the most glorious of all his Achievements. For setting all other Considerations apart, what Polydorus once but willed, he could not will unjustly; his Ambition was Commissioned of his Conscience's High Chancellor, whilst to Desire was to Determine; and whatever but once Determined, took the immediate Stamp of Right and Equity to pass it into an irrevocable Decretal; insomuch, that the very Dethroning of a God, if once thought practicable, to desire it was enough to render it justifiable.  
As there wanted no Magnificence in all her Entertainment from her first Landing, even before the Captivity of the enamoured Polydorus, you may imagine no excesses of the highest studied Gallantry were omitted now. The Adored Messalina is Lodged in a Palace so Glorious, as might have fitted the Reception of a second Cleopatra in all her Pride; and which her Anthony, the then Competitor for Universal Empire, and in all that Love that lost him the World for her, could not have furnished out more rich and Splendid: Nor did the Brightness and Richness of her Palace consist only in the outside Wealth and Beauty of her Shining Beds, Embroidered Canopys, the richest of Tapestries, Cabinets, Seruitores, etc. The unseen Treasures, outvy'd the glittering Frontispiece: In this Drawer of a Cabinet Forty, another's Fifty, a Third a Hundred Thousand Pieces of Gold; a Fourth, Lockets of Diamonds, a Fifth, Ropes of Pearl, etc. And all too mean a Tribute to his Sovereign Messalina. And truly now we talk of Pearl and Diamonds, her own Cargo of Jewels, committed to the true and trusty Italian Priest aforesaid, were under Suspicion of miscarriage; both the Treasure and the Treasurer being at present Invisible: We dare not surmise so unkindly, that Avarice, or filthy Worldly Lucre, could prevail upon so Sanctified a Recluse from the World, under a particular Vow of Poverty; and above all, thought worthy (as we told you) of the peculiar recommendations of Father Pedro, could make Him tardy in such a Case. But whether, on the more charitable side, by some impulse of Religion he reserved them for Holy & Pious Uses; as to present them to the Shrine of the Lorrettian Diana, to implore from her Celestial Benediction, her Albion Majesty's Conception of a Duke of Eborac, to her Prince of Cambria; or for any other like Dedication to Holy Mother Church, so it is, that he was no sooner gotten on Shoar, but modest good Man, he withdrew, and was never seen after it. And notwithstanding Polydorus published an Edict, promising a very ample Reward to that Person that should find him, and recall the Wanderer: Either his Divine Contemplations, and sublimer Meditations, had rapt him above the listening to humane and mundane Proclamations; or else his Devout Pilgrimage had carried him beyond the hearing of them, so that his Recallment is utterly Despaired of; insomuch, that unless her Albion Majesty be content to take out their Price in Dirges for her Soul, 'tis thought for any other Restitution or Payment, she now hopes but little. Polydorus now gins his approach to Messalina, resolving an immediate vigorous Siege, with all the Forces he can bring to lie down before her: His daily Visits, Observance, and constant Attendance, which at first carried only the Face of common Gallantry, and looked upon by all Eyes as no other than the Generous Treatment of a Royal Hospitality to Greatness in Distress, and under his Protection; are now both by his Looks, Behaviour, and Address, so Industriously managed, that Messalina (unless she wanted Eyes) must find that in the Assiduous Polydorus, there was something more than a kind Host, viz. an Adoring Slave.  
The Queen now fully satisfied how great a Vassal her Eyes had won her, gins to consider the Wise Management of so Important a Conquest. Polydorus' Address and Personage, even abstracted from his Imperial Character, and the Luster of a Crown, were such as always stood fair in the Female Eyes, and rendered his Heart no dis-acceptable Present to the very Proudest and most Disdainful Beauty. And our Messalina who was neither the Coyest, or most In-sensible of her Sex, already felt a Commiseration about her, that told her the Sighs of so Royal a Languisher must not go unpitied. Time, Assiduity, and Application, she plainly foresaw, would at last inevitably prevail; and therefore fancying it no less than the Absolute Ordainment of her Fate, she has no farther Thought than an entire Resignation to Immutable Decree. However, though the Stake must at last be lost, yet the Playing her Game out Politicly, and managing her Cards to her best Advantage, are in her own Choice and Power. Yes, that, and that only takes up all the business of her waking, and indeed sleeping Thoughts. The Terms and Conditions of a Surrender; What Parley and Capitulations first; what Resolution and Obstinacy (for the Victory must not be Cheap) she must hold out with, before the White Flag is at last to be hung out. Her Meditations on this subject had one Evening led her alone from all Company into an Inner and Private Walk of the Garden; When Polydorus, whose unresting Soul had led his Body abroad too with much the same Contemplations, fortunately meets her. This opportunity as it gave him the Blessing of a more Private Interview, then before he had met, so it inspired him with the Courage of making a more ample and particular Declaration of his Love, than all his hitherto fainter and distant Addresses had made. Accordingly throwing himself at her Feet, in the Tenderest and most Passionate Expressions (the never wanted Eloquence of Love) he told her how entirely the Soul of Polydorus was subjected to the Eyes of Messalina: Nor did he more heighten the Progress of her Victories, & Power of her Charms, than the Fatality of them; that without a Return of Pity his Death was Inevitable, whilst his Peace, Happiness and Life were absolutely in her Hands. The Queen, whose part was now to Play, with a seeming Amazement, rather than a listening Attention, gave him the Liberty of finishing his whole Declaration; when as Waking from a Frightful Dream, or Starting from a disturbing Vision, Good Gods, she cried, are not your Quivers Empty yet? Have ●…e more Shafts reserved still for the unfortunate Messalina? Is it not enough that your Persecuting Powers have Ravished an Empire from me, and Driven me out an Exile, a Wanderer of the World; but I must yet fall lower; low as the most abject of my Sex, when my  Ears must be Profaned with the Rude Sounds of Lawless Love; Oh! Polydorus, Cruel Polydorus, has Misery and Ruin made the fallen Messalina so little, so despicably little— No, Glorious Madam, (Passionately replied Polydorus) so Great, so Divinely Great, that the Gods have singled you out to Wield their Thunder, whilst there's not one Bolt of Heaven that Strikes with Fate but Messalina ' s. Oh! Madam, if ever Compassion, Mercy, Charity, Entered the fairest Temple that ever Lodged a God, have Pity on the Adoring, Kneeling, Dying Polydorus. My Life,— alas, my very Soul depends upon no other Doom but Messalina 's; for if the Deaf, the Cruel, the Inexorable Messalina must not, cannot, will not Pity me, to Die is but half the Tribute my Despair must pay her: The Transports of a Passion like mine are such, that when I lose all Hopes of one kind Smile from Messalina, she leaves me abandoned to that Wild Torrent of unbounded Horrors, that less than the Abjuring of Humanity, the Execrating of Providence, and Cursing the very Author of my Being, will be the fatal Consequences of my irresistible Desperation; a Desperation so hideous, that when I fall a Victim to her Scorn, will shut me out at once from Earth and Heaven. Messalina, not at all Displeased at so Passionate a Declaration, however to continue the Masque of a most Rigid and Obdurate Virtue, Reprimands him with all the Severest Resentments imaginable, desires him, nay, Conjures him for ever to Cease a S●…it so Fruitless, and a Thought so I●…pious, a Language that her unblemished never sh●…ken Virtue can so little hear, that rather than liv● within the Air of so much Gild, her wounded Innocence must be forced to Fly a Cruel Court, and seek a Refuge in some kinder and more Hospitable Desert. Ah! Madam, replied Polyderus, Than you have Decreed Mankind must be undone! Shall Empires, Nations, People, have Peace, when I have none! No Madam, 'tis resolved that Mess●lina Hate, Scorn, Loath the Unworthy Polydorus. Yes, his Destruction, his Irrevocable Destruction's Sealed; and by the Malice of my Stars, the World shall Groan as I do. He was once more falling at her Feet, when a Princely Train of them Noblest Quality of the Gothland Court appearing in the Garden, interrupted him. He had scarce recovered Reason enough to suppress the too visible concern and disorder, that appeared in his Eyes, much less the Load that lay at his Heart, when one of his Generals Advancing from the rest of the Noble Company, threw himself at his Feet, telling him, He was immediately in Obedience to his Royal Commands, setting forward to the General Randezvous on the Banks of the Rhine, and came in Duty to Receive his farther Commission and Orders. Commission and Orders! Answered Polydorus; Why, Burn, Ravage, Ruin, Destroy; make Nations w●ste, and Kingdoms Desolate; spare neither Age nor Sex; but above all, where e'er thou meetest that loathed detested Thing, that calls itself a Christian, double thy Fury there, Banish all thoughts of Pity or Remorse; be Bloody and be Canonised: Remember the Christian Pride is swelled to ulceration; and 'tis the Glory of our Sword to Lance it. And if thou meetest a Temple, lay the Accursed Consecrated Roof in Ashes; the God that sills it is my Enemy; and 'tis but Just my Vengeance Battle Heavens. If thou makest Treaties or Capitulations, my Orders are, you break 'em all. Betray and Conquer. Heaven ne'er kept Faith with me, and 'tis but Reason, we the Vicegerents of the Gods should Copy their own everlasting Falsehood, and Reign Immortal Infidels like themselves. You have my Orders; to your Post; Obey and Prosper. The General, upon the King's Command, makes his Humble Obeisance to the King, and Retreats, Ruminating with some little Surprise on the severity of his present rough Commission; which however, on what unknown occasion that had transported him into such Vehemence and Bitterness in the expressing himself, he nevertheless knew to be the true and constant Sense of that Great Monarch; and all his former Orders, though perhaps something gentler and softer worded, carried in reality the same Contents and Mandates; and accordingly in all Duty prepares to Execute.  
But to return to our Polydorus, whose Tormenting Reflections on the Cruelty of Messalina had, withdrawn him from all Company to his Closet; In all the Agonies of defeated Love, he could not yet entirely yield to Despair: Were her Virtue a Rock of Adamant: Nay, were she possibly as Deaf, as Pitiless, and Remorseless to all his Bleeding Sighs, as himself to a Dying Christians last Prayer, he will not quit the Siege yet. Accordingly not a day, nor scarce an hour passes that he does not Visit, Court, Sue, Plead, and spite of all Denials, all her Pleas of Virtue and Chastity, that Mountain Honour shall not block his way. Sometimes he Woes her with the Promised Restauration of her Albion, the Reinstating her in all her former Grandeur; and if the Crown of Albion will not purchase a Smile, he'll throw his own in, to make up the Sum. In short, No Gallantry, Address; no Protestations, Vows or Oaths, though ne'er so Extravagant, are wanting to pursue the Coy Disdainful Messalina: till one Morning in her Walk in the same Garden, his successful Rhetoric prevails; or rather Messalina thinks she has now held out long enough to yield with Honour: For after his Repeated Protestations of the Crowns and Sceptres he would lay at her Feet, and the Vassal World he would make her Mistress of; He told her, If Messalina would but Condescend to Crown his Love, he would pay his Acknowledgement of so Divine a Blessing, with no less a Sacrifice then a hundred thousand Christian Lives. A hundred thousand Christian Lives! my Generous Polydorus, replied Messalina. Such Merit, such Transcendent Merit! An Offering of that price enough to Court a Saint, and Win a Goddess. Such Eloquence is ; nay, the name of such a Sacrifice so pleased her, that had the strongest Bonds of Conscience held her, that single Thought had burst the Feeble Manacle; and the offering of so much Heretic streaming Blood, were such an Atonement, as would not only expiate but consecrate the very Sin itself. So pleased and so conquered, she generously tells the Ravished Polydorus, That she will expect him at Vesper-time, when she will send all her Retinue to the Mosque to their Devotion, and Attend his Company in her Closet.  
Polydorus being now Arrived at the Haven, just upon entering to the Inland of Paradise; the Hour, the Place, the Means and Opportunity all assigned for the Consummating of his Happiness; and what heightened the Charm, his Divine Messalina herself the generous Designer of the whole Scene of Felicity; the Plot, the Introduction and Conduct to this more than happy Meeting, so much her own▪ that possibly, our Amorous Monarch could not conceive more Rapture at the Queen's Concession of her Highest Favours themselves, then at the Endearing management of the blessed Minute to bestow them; even the Portal to Happiness being oftentimes with Lovers no less Ravishing, than the very Temple of Bliss, to which it leads.— In short, All things contributing to make him the Happiest Prince in the World; whether a Soul, so unbounded, as that of Polydorus, whom the Empire of the Universe ('tis very well known) would hardly satisfy, had the Transports of his Passion, as exalted as those of his Ambition; and was thereby elevated above the Common Height of an ordinary L●vers Ecstasy; let it suffice, his Joy, his unexpressible Joy was such, as burnt in his Face, and glowed in his very Eyes; and the expected Enjoyment of Messalina was at that Moment a Trophy above all the Conquests that either his Sword, or his more Victorious GOLD ever won him. But to leave our Royal Lover to all his Furious Long, Impatient Expectings, and Restless Burn, those Amorous crowding Attendants, that always make the Leading Cavalcade to the Coronation of Love: My Reader must be entreated to interrupt his Expectation of the success of this Grand Scene of our two Imperial Inamorato's, by the interposing of a little Comical Intrigue of Lactilla, the Cambrian Prince's Nurse; which, whether by a Frolic of Fortune, for some particular Diversion of that Fickle Deity, or by mere common chance, it matters not; casually intermixing itself in this Sublimer Amour, must make up a part of our History.  
It is not unknown to the World what Artful Tenderness our Messalina has all along expressed for that dear Infant. But indeed, 'twas the subtlest part she had to Play, and therefore it must be Acted to the Life. In the late Storm that drove her from the lost Kingdom of Albion, and cast her on the  Shore, however that darling Infant, with all the Tenderest Care, was preserved from the Universal Shipwreck, and not only the honest Brick-kiln Nurse that Suckled it, was carried over with the Queen, and her Cambrian Nursery; but also the very Warming-pan Midwife too, crossed the Hering-pond with her Royal Maistress; and as some think very timely and prudently, for fear of that Inquisition from the Grandees of Albion, had she ventured to have stayed behind, that possibly would have put her to that Test her Circumstances would not well bear; though truly for a fairer Face to the World, 'twas Industriously given out, That her Majesty was with Child again, and therefore the Midwife's Attendance being her Majesty's special Command, 'twas her Duty to wait on her Royal Mistress to what part of the World soever her Misfortunes should carry her.  
The Amour of Messalina with Polydorus, etc. (since Lycogenes Retiring to Ibernia,) swelling so big, we are forced to make the Completing of the History the Subject of a Fourth Part.  
FINIS.   

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TO this part is Prefixed a Key, which renders the History of the Four Parts, Intelligible to the meanest Capacity.   

THE AMOURS OF THE French King WITH THE Late Queen of ALBION. BEING The Fourth and Last Part of the History of Messalina.  
By a Woman of QUALITY.  
LONDON: Printed for John Lyford, 1689.   

TO THE READER.  
THE Bookseller has been Advised to Add the following Key, for the benefit of the meanest Capacity, in understanding the whole History of Messalina.  

ALbion, England. Belgic, Holland. Gothland, France. Iberia, Ireland. St. Jaques, St. James 's Alba-Regalis, Whitehall. Forrest of St. Jaques, St. James 's Park. Pagan Temples, Mosques of Albion, Temples of Diana; all signifies Romish Mass-Houses, and Chapels. Waters of Baijae, the Minerals of Bath, Britomardes, C. II. Lycogenes, J. II. two Brothers, late Kings of England. Anaximander Prince of the Lowlands, The then Prince of Orange, our now, our Gracious Sovereign. Artemisa, the then Princess of Orange, our now Gracious Sovereign Queen. Philadelpha, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Denmark. Polycrates, the Northern Prince, His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark. Messalina, the late Queen. The huge Prince in Italy, the late Duke of Modena. Bonerges the High Priest, the Pope. Pagan, Papist. Count Davila, Dada, the Pope's late Nuncio at the Court of England. Father Pedro, the Jesuit Peter. Latroon, Tyrconnel, the Rebbel Deputy of Ireland. Aspasia, the Deputies Wife. Marchioness de Tomazo a great Friend of Don Tomazo alias, Tom Dangerfield Young Sanctifore, a Baron of Rome, and Gallant of Messalina before she came for England. Father Sebastian, A. B. Ellis, Titular A. B. of York. Madam de Elvira, An Italian Jilt, one concerned in the Warming-pan Intrigue. Cleone, a Doxy of Tyrconnels. Madam Wilks, The Queen's doughty Midwife. The Water of St. Winifred, A Spring in Wales. Lady of Loretto, The Popish term for the Virgin Mary. Traynovant, London.    

The Fourth Part.  
IT is not unknown to the World what Artful Tenderness our dear Messalina, all along has expressed for her Cambrion Prince, that she carried over not only the honest Brick-Kiln Nurse that Suckled it, But also the Warming-pan Midwife to Cross the Herring-pond with her Royal Mistress, and as some think very timely and prudently, for fear of that Inquisition from the Grandees of Albion, had she ventured to have stayed behind, that possibly might have put her to that Test her Circumstances would not well bear; though truly for a fairer Face to the World, 'twas industriously given out, That Her Majesty was with Child again, and therefore the Midwife's Attendance being Her Majesty's Special Command, 'twas her Duty to wait on Her Royal Mistress, to what part of the World soever her Misfortunes should carry her; Her late Able performance in Delivering the Queen of her Cambrian Heir, having recommended and called her (as she pretended) to the Queen's particular Choice for her Skilful hand at her next Lying-In.  
But to return to our Nurse, and her Intrigue we promised you; Amongst the public and solemn Addresses and Veneration made and paid by the Nobility of the Gauls to the Fair Queen of Albion, a great part of the Daily Devotion, you may well guests, was offered to that young Prince. For if such Sublime Blood, as was thought to run in that little Heroes Veins, exalted him at scarce three Days old to the solemn Reception of Foreign Ambassadors, and giving Audience to public Ministers, and that too in the Heretic Land of Albion; You may easily think that the great Gallican Votaries, those Pagan Wise men of the West, (pardon the Allusion) brought him no common Oblation of Myrrh, Frankincense, &c, But of the Princely Crowd of Devotees, that amongst their Orisons to Messalina, made their Homages to this Imperial Babe; it happened that a young  Lord, Named Laforse, a Man of a Noble Personage, making no little Figure in Polydorus Court, but above all a mighty Adorer of the Female Sex; and like the natural Constitution of the Gauls, a general Admirer of every new Face, without any great Sin of Constancy to answer for: This Laforse paying his Devoir to the Cambrian Prince, entertained a strong Inclination to his Nurse. What he saw in her more than a good wholesome Complexion, and a plain-spun Cleanly Woman, we can't imagine; but take her altogether, as the maggot bitten with him, nothing would satisfy him but an Amour with Lactilla. Her downright Country Innocence even to Clownishness and Rusticity, had something in it, that at this time Captivated him more than all the Allurements of Wit, Humour, Gaiety, High Blood, and Higher Pride. None of all the Court Stars, in all their Glory, at present took up so much of his Thoughts as Madam Nurse. Lactilla he fancies for a Miss, and Lactilla's Affection he must Vanquish if he can. Accordingly our Lordly Lover under pretence of making Court to the Cambrian Prince, takes the daily opportunity of Addressing a Kind Look, and Kinder Compliment to Lactilla; which he carefully prosecutes with that particular Assiduity and Application, as would best suit the Humour and Breeding of such a Mistress. The poor Nurse whether dazied with the Presence, the Looks and Garb of so Glorious a Servant; or confounded with so fine Words from so fine a Person, began at last not only to listen, but ●o be pleased and tickled with so Gallant a Suitor. It is not worth our while to recount the several Courtship Scenes between them; to draw therefore to the Consummating part of the Amour, it fell out so, that what through the Importunities of the Assailing Monseigneur, together with poor Lactilla's being several Months tied up from all Recreations of that kind, (a shackle for some Physical Reasons always laid upon Mil●h Nurses to Heirs of Quality;) which possibly might heighten her Longing for what she had so long been kept Fasting from, and so facilitate his Conquest upon her; however so 'twas, that the Creature came to yield at last. And by an odd Caprice of Fortune, it happened that Lactilla was brought to the delivering up of her Fort, the very same day her Royal Mistress had Capitulated and Signed the Surrender of hers. For the Fortunate Lover for his last Effort, lighting of a lucky Hour, when the Queen and all her Attendants, for the curiosity of seeing ten new Raised Regiments of Light-Horse pass under her Palace Window, in their March towards the Rhine, were withdrawn into the Balcone of an outer Room; had the satisfaction of finding his Dear Lactilla with her little Nursery all alone. To improve therefore so kind a Minute to the best advantage, throwing his Arms about her Neck, and Assaulting her Lips (for those outworks he had long since won) with a whole Volley of Kisses; at last he cried, Oh my Dear, dear Sweet Rogue, are these empty Embraces, these half-Joys all I must expect? When, Dear Lactilla, Oh when, will that Blessed, happy, Ravishing Minute come? Poor Lactilla Interrupting him, Replied, Nay, fie my Lord; a Man of your great Quality throw away your Thoughts upon so poor a Creature as I am; If you would talk like yourself, methinks you Lordfolks should make your fine Speeches to none but Kings and Queens; if you have a mind then to show your great Breeding, you would do well to make your High Compliments to that little pretty young King in the Cradle there. No my Dear Lactilla, Replied Laforse, I have other better work to do at this time; 'tis time enough to make fine Speeches to that little young King, as you call him, 20 years hence. Twenty years, quotha, [Answers Lactilla] By my troth, my Lord, no longer ago than we were last in Albion, as young as he is, and as many years as he wants, we have had Your outlandish great Lords and Bassadours have made many a Scholarly Speech, and a great many fine Compliments to him too; But above all, I shall never forget the Bassadour of Catalonia: that great tall Man, with a rueful dun Face, and a swinging pair of black Whiskers, no sooner came to receive Audience of my little Master here, but the poor Baby fell a Roaring at him, and would not endure the sight of him. On my Conscience, my Lord, the poor Lamb was as much frighted, as ever his Father was at S— Bury; and upon my Womanhood I believe it, had it been able, would have run away as fast too: I vow and swear my Lord, 'twas so terribly scared at him, that I profess I could scarce get it sweet again in an hour after. The Lord could not forbear Smiling at this Innocent Relation; which downright Language of Lactilla's, as a Novel Charm to him, was one of the greatest Whets to his Inclination for her. But as Talking was not his present business, he pushed on the matter a little more Vigorously, and told her a meeting she must and should give him, that should more completely Bless him, than all the fainter Favours she had already bestowed upon him. The poor Nurse, after a great many other urging, and at last prevailing Arguments, could resist no longer; and truly at last told him, That if he had any thing more to say to her, the only time she had to give him the hearing with Convenience, was at Vesper time; for, says she, the Queen and her Attendants are all then so devout, (though truly I know not how it comes about that they are so over and above Religious here, than they used to be in Albion, unless Misfortune and Miseries make Folk Pious) that they never miss Prayers; and because I, and only I am one of those Paw Things they call Heretics, my little Master, and myself, excepting some Guards in the outer Rooms, are always left alone; and if your Lordship's Intentions are Honest and Virtuous (as I trust in Heaven, they are,) if you have any thing more to talk to me, you may come then and welcome. The Happy Monseigneur at this generous and cunning Assignation made by his kind Lactilla, (for there never wants Woman's Wit even in Simplicity itself on such an occasion) felt a Delight Answerable to the satisfaction so acceptable a Minute would give him, and resolving to Return at the appointed Hour with that desired Honesty and Virtue as should be best agreeable to her, leaves his farewell in a Kiss, and Whispers in her Ear, that she should find him a Man of Honour; and so Retires, and falls in with the Ladies in the Balcone. The poor Nurse waiting for the Vespers, (which indeed was the first time that ever she had a kindness for the Pagan Worship before) found her Expectation a little balked, when the Queen pretending Indisposition refused to go to Prayers; at which the Ladies likewise in Complaisance to her Majesty resolved not to go neither, but stay and pay their Attendance to the Queen; which the Queen absolutely forbid, Commanding them all to go to Prayers, and leave her only to her Nurse till their Return. The Ladies accordingly Retiring; at their Departure, the Queen instead of Staying in the Bedchamber with the Child and Nurse, bid Lactilla have a Care of the Prince, for she had occasions to Retire into her Closet, where she would not be disturbed. This gave Lactilla some little hopes again; for the Closet being on the farther side of a large Room of State lying beyond the Bedchamber, she fancied her dear Lord might gain Access without any Balk, at that Distance and Retirement, from any thing of the Queen's Interruption of them. No sooner was the Queen got into the Closet, but Count Davilah, having received a Packet from Albion just at the Chapel Door, defers his Devotion, and finding matter of Importance in it, together with an enclosed Packet for Messalina, with Commands of a Delivery at sight, and with Orders of Immediate Communication with the Queen, about Affairs that required a speedy Result; the Count in pursuance of his Orders received, hastes instantly to the Queen, and delivering her her Packet, together with the Instructions contained in his own, requests her speedy Conference. The Queen was much surprised at his Approach, and in no small Dilemma, for if she dismissed him without Reading her Packet, and Conferring with him as desired by the King her Husband, she should be Guilty of a Fault highly against the Character of that Respect and Duty she ever paid him, and which in his present Circumstances would be an unpardonable neglect; and if on the other side she stayed in her Closet or Chamber to Read her Letters, and Debate their Contents, she was Jealous that the appointed Visit of Polydorus at so unseasonable an Hour as the Queens known Retirement, would give matter of Suspicion to the Count; and which besides her unwillingness to disgust a Person whom she was not yet prepared to disoblige and quite break with, might thereby raise some Blemish upon her Reputation. Between these two Considerations, with a sudden Presence of Mind, she thought of this Expedient, which was to Invite the Count down into the Garden, and there Dispatch the Conference: whereupon she desired him to Walk down with her; and as she passed by the Bedchamber, she told the Nurse whither and with whom she was going, and bid her expect her Return immediately. By this Projection she thought Polydorus coming in her absence according to appointment, and not finding her within, would undoubtedly ask the Nurse for her, and thereby informed, be Invited to stay, and Attend her Return.  
At the Queen's Departure it was just drawing towards the Evening, being a little past Sunset: And Lactilla extraordinarily pleased to think she should have the whole Lodgings free, and by that means, if her Lord kept Touch, enjoy all the Privacy and Freedom her Heart could wish; being truly in her Nature a little more fearful, and something bashfuller in an Amorous Transgression, than the Fairer Court Sinners generally more hardened, and more Courageous at a Love Adventure, had already drawn all the very Window Curtains of the Bedchamber close, to be as much Retired as possibly she could.— Just as the Queen was got down the Back-Stairs, Enters the King by the other Stairs, and immediately with all the haste of an Invited Lover makes to the Closet; but finding the Queen not there, and imagining she might be in the Bedchamber Trips as Nimbly thither. The Nurse hearing some body Walk cross the Room of State, with that eager pace that spoke him a Lover, as she thought by his Tread; and not doubting any other, but that her Dear Lord was come; in a kind of a Panic Fear, fitting Perdue upon the Bed behind the Curtains, and almost Trembling to consider what she was going to do, not daring as she thought to Expose her Blushes to the Light, (being the first time of her offending in that kind) out of pure Modesty puts out the Candle. The King just upon his Entrance into the Bedchamber, fancying nothing else but Love could put out the Light, that it's own might blaze the bolder, and consequently the Golden Minute was now his own, makes his Instant Approach to the Bed, and Grasping in his Arms his yielding though mistaken Sacrifice, and breaking out into a Rapture of— My Life, my Soul, my Heaven, my Eternity, with Two or Three more such Pious and high flown Ejaculations, the usual Devotion of Lovers, (those few short Preliminaries (to say Truth) being as much as the little Patience of much Love could dispense with) without staying for one Syllable of Reply from his Twining Mistress, for indeed her Elevated Thoughts we●e too full for her Tongue to get Vent; besides she had her Mouth so sweetly stopped, that she wanted Power as well as Leisure for talking; Polydorius without farther Ceremony immediately Rushes into her Bosom, Launches into a Torrent of Bliss, and Riots and Revels in unutterable Delight; for Messalina, his Angel Messalina, filled both his Arms and his Soul; so Potent is Imagination, that Deity-like, what she Enjoys she Creates. The Ravishing Dalliance ended, with no Love lost on either side: For Monsigneur was as Divinely Charming to the Ravished Lactilla, as Messalina could be to Polydorus, and the very Grandeur of a Lord in her Arms, (though otherwise perhaps no heartier a Performer than her own honest Lime-Pit Clod-Pate Drudge in Albion,) had so much outvyed the poorer satisfaction of her Man of Clay and Sea-Cole, her Spouse at home; that in pure Gratitude for the Honour as well as the Pleasure she had received, having not only recovered both breath and leisure for a kind word or two of her own, but also gotten a little more Assurance then before (for Love soon makes Equality) she turned to her Panting, as she thought Laforse, and throwing her Arms about his Neck, thinking it her turn to talk a little Amorously now; Well my dear Laforse (says she) I hope you have no reason now, to think your poor Lactilla so hardhearted as you have sometimes told her she was, for if such Love as mine— Lactilla!— cries Polydorus, starting up from the Bed, in a surprise so killing, that not the Ghosts and Spectres of all the Christian Victims his own Edicts had ever doomed, or his Booted Disciples executed; nay, nor all his broken Leagues turned Goblins, could have Staggered him more. At first, in the height of Agony and Bitterness of Soul, he thought 'twas a Trick of Messalina's; that his high-flown Ambition of attempting the Queen of Albion's Virtue, had put her Pride and Scorn upon this Stratagem of punishing his Audacious Love by so contemptible and despicable a Creature Foystered upon him: Such Dirt and Rubbish in the Arms of Polydorus! The Transport of that thought, and his enraged Sentiments of so unpardonable an Affront, could hardly withhold him from drawing his Sword and Executing his Fury, (though never so unmanly,) on the Heart of that Sordid Engine and Tool, in this Insolent manner made use of, to abuse him. But these suggestions were soon suppressed by some kinder thoughts of Messalina, it being impossible, as he thought, for so Excellent a Creature to be so great a Jilt, or rather greater Devil, as this piece of Imposture must render her. Besides, were she all the Furies and Fiends of her whole Sex put together, yet, as a Woman of Imperial Quality, her very Character, if nothing else, would never suffer her to make choice of this, of all the Revenges in the World, (if any such she had against him.) For whatever Stratagems a Great Woman might make use of to Gratify her Spleen, Spite, Malice, Hate, or any other Passion; she would never turn Bawd for any of them. That part of his Fear upon these Recollections being pretty well cleared up, he resolved however to satisfy himself by some Interrogatories to Lactilla (as much as he could make without discovery of his Person,) what Sorcery, Enchantment, or Malicious Devil of Fortune had Snared him into so poor a Noose as the Arms of Lactilla; a Thought that so much Disgusted his Haughty Pride, that he would not, for half the Price of a Kingdom, be made so much the Jest of the World, as so Humble and Coarse a Love Adventure, (he fancied) if it should take Air, would render him; more especially if it should get to the Ear of Messalina; for his mere Indignation could never digest so shameful a Reproach, that his Imperial Caresses (though never so innocently) should be Debased to so Sordid an Embrace. And therefore, if for no other Reason, from Her above the rest of the World he must endeavour to stifle the Discovery of this Accursed Accident: Turning then to Lactilla, (who still lay upon the Bed in no small Surprise, and as you may imagine, in no less trouble at her Dear Lords so abrupt and unkind Start from her Arms.) Well, Dear Lactilla, says Polydorus, I hope the Queen has no Suspicion of our kindness— The Queen! suddenly replied Lactilla, Good Heaven forbidden! should my Lady Messalina know what I have been doing, the more Naughty Man you,— But what do you fear? Who, I, her Nurse, and let the Queen know I Lay with a Man, and Spoiled the Prince's Milk! Not for a Thousand Pound! To be Burnt for Heresy, or Hanged for High Treason against that little Princely Babe, would be the least I must look for in this Pagan Land. No, my Dear Lord, we poor Country Foulkes are not so dull neither; how simple soever we may be in other matters, we have always Wit enough in our Loves: and if my Dear Lord can be kind to so Worthless a Thing as I am; never fear Queens nor Empresses discovering of us: let me alone to take care of that. This Innocent Answer of Lactilla's, (excepting the Resentments of so Nauseous a mistake, and so unhappy a disappointment, which he could not yet so easily, Conquer) satisfied all the rest of Polydorus disquiets; for now he plainly found, that the Nurses mistaking him for the Lord Laforse, had not only dispelled all his first ungenerous Suspicions of Messalina, (a Thought, which how Momentary soever it lasted, he could now hardly forgive himself for) by convincing him, that not only Fortune was the true and only Jilt that had put this Trick upon him; but also by Virtue of his still passing for the supposed Laforse, together with the Favour of the Dark, he had now an opportunity of Marching off utterly undiscovered, and defying the utmost Malice of his Stars themselves to expose his shame. Without any stay therefore, or any other parting Compliment, then Adieu Dear Lactilla, I'll see thee again very speedily, he Starts out of the Chamber, and clapping the Door after him, lest any of the Lights in the Room of State should give her so much as a glimpse of his Backside, he bolts down the Back-Stairs with all the Expedition he could make. He was not gotten three paces below the Foot of the Stairs, but Messalina crossing a Walk in the Garden popped just upon him, who by this time having adjusted matters, and dispatched the Count, was indeed with no less haste Returning to her Closet in Expectance of Polydorus, whose Expectation by this time she might possibly have over heightened; if not a little, tried Patience. But meeting him moving off in such haste. My Lord the King, why so fast? I hope the Face of Messalina has nothing so Terrible in it, as to fright you. The King, between Surprise and Confusion, (occasioned by the sight of Messalina, and the fresh Remembrance of his unfortunate Adventure with the Nurse, his own Consciousness of which, though unknown to the World beside, made him Redden with a Blush almost Scarlet deep, though the growing Night partly concealed the discovery of it;) what through the suddenness of this Encounter, and the perplexity of his Thoughts, being not well provided with words to Answer her, was studying for a Reply, when the Queen continued; Well, Polydorus, I suppose you found but dull Entertainment above, by your haste in running away; though if the Expectation of my Company had been worthy of one Minutes longer Dispensation, and your patience not quite Exhausted, I had returned to tell you, that the Receipt of an Express from Lycogenes, brought me by Count Davilah, drew me some Minutes into the Garden. The Contents of which requiring some short Conference between us, I took him down thither for it, lest your expected Visit at that time, to a prying Eye, or a censuring Thought, might have afforded matter of Surmise to my disadvantage. But that fear is now past, for I have given him such a Dispatch as may assure Polydorus, that Messalina cannot be guilty of forgetfulness— This obliging Language of the Queen, as it could not but infinitely Charm the Amorous Polydorus, so it could not but as much distract him too. For to tell her, he had been in her Apartment, and stayed there for her not full a Quarter of an hour, (for indeed his whole Ingress, Egress and Regress from Lactilla, was an Execution of no more Minutes dispatch,) and that truly (let him mince it in as fine words as he pleased) he had not patience to wait longer, though for so Divine a Blessing as the Possessing of Messalina, would be an excuse impardonable. And on the other side, to own the Truth of his Adventure, that frighted him thence; that Thought was all Death and Hell, and not Wild Horses could draw him to so shameful a Confession. In this distraction of Thought, it came at last into his Head, to tell her, That if her surprising Absence at so blest an hour, and after so Solemn and Generous an Engagement, that had so entirely filled his Heart, and taken up every Faculty of his Soul, might run him into any Impatiences or Extravagances worthy a Rebuke, as his not waiting longer for her Return, and his overzealous coming down in Quest after her, might be; however, he hoped she would excuse all Effects, how  soever, that had no other than the Transport of her Charms, and his own Passion for their Cause. The Queen made him an obliging Answer, and told him, She was very well satisfied, the Fault that was, being of her own side. But since interposing Business had made her lapse some Minutes in her Promise, however, she would make Reparation for it, and if he pleased to Return with her, as she had Expedited her Husbands Express, she was now at leisure to listen to any Expresses of Polydorus, and as ready to Dispatch them. At which, giving her Hand to Polydorus, which he received with a profound Reverence, they Returned back again, the King only Murmuring all the way to himself, to think what good substantial Love he had lately Prodigally Lavished, or rather thrown away; and which in his present Payment might be something wanted to make up his Sum. But above all it grated his very Soul to think, that so Abject a Creature as Lactilla had 〈…〉 considerable a part of what was 〈…〉 to the Divinity of Messalina. Nay, 〈…〉, had got the first start too in 〈…〉, that he must be forced to come all S●…lye● and Defiled, (for a less Taint he could not fancy it) to such Celestial Embraces. But to bring our Lovers to the Closet; the Door Shut; and the Queen thrown upon her Couch, and Polydorus by her side; she cast those Languishing Dying Looks upon him enough to Thaw a Stoic, and Fire an Anchoret. The King who needed no Invitation, but already Melted into Kissing, Toying, Dallying, Embracing, Twining, all those Outworks of Felicity, the Supreme Beatitude only unpossest; Nay, and even That too just entering, and on the very Brink of Paradise; Oh! too imbecile to grasp at so Divine a Treasure, though admitted even into all the whole fragrant Ravishing Bed of Sweets; Alas, he wanted strength to Crop the Flower.— At this accursed Damned Defeat (no Name too black, nor Thought to hideous for it) poor Polydorus fell down by her side upon the Couch so Abashed, and so Confounded, that he could have wished all the Graves, that his own Sword e'er Digged, to Swallow him; or some kind Mountain, high as the Cries, if possible, of all his own Martyred Christians Blood, to cover his shame.  
The Queen herself no less Defeated, though not so much Abashed, (for in such Cases the Failure is never in their Sex) perceiving his Confusion, threw her Arms about his Neck, and laid her Cheek so close to his, as if she had resolved to show, that she either did not, or would not see his Disorder; a Behaviour, which carried not only Endearment in it but Policy too. For to triumph over Weakness, and jocque or cajole an unperforming Lover, as some foolish resenting Beauties in such disappointments have done, has sometimes been too well known, to their own loss, to have given that entire Check even to much younger and abler Nerves, than Polydorus, as has Invalidated a whole Assignation: Whereas, on the contrary, an Unconcern or Endearing Connivance at Frailty, has encouraged the Retreating Unsucceeding Assailant, to Rally again, come on, new Storm, and Conquer. Polydorus in all this staggering Shock, excepting some Restless Starts and Flings, and now and then a Murmuring rougher sort of Breathing betwixt a Sigh and a Groan, that spoke better for him, uttered not one Syllable; his Rage being too big for Words, and his Shame, alas, too Odious to be Palliated with Eloquence, had he Recollection or Sense enough about him to study for any. Messalina all this while, as a Cordial against a Pang so violent, generously plied him with all the healing Balm that her kindest Kisses, Toying, Caresses, and Embraces, could give him: till Polydorus at length so sweetened, new warmed, and enlivened again, by such Languishing, Melting, but above all (her brightest Attribute) such Forgiving Divinity, began to feel new Animating Fires; and to Retrieve his Honour, with all the Prowess of a Recovered Champion, he Renews the Assault once more. But the second success too like the first; a mere thin Airy Flash and ineffectual Fire.— At this last Defeat he could hold no longer, but started from the Couch, and flew into that Storm and Rage, Madness and half Desperation, that no Execrations against himself, or Invocations against Heaven and Earth were too terrible for him: till the Queen Interposing— Fie, Fie, my Lord, why all this Rage, this most Unmanly Rage! Why do you thus unkindly play your own Tormentor? Can Polydorus Execute before I Sentence? The Punishment's Unjust that comes before the Sin: and I know none— No Sin! Not Polydorus sinned against his Messalina! [Interrupting her.] Oh Injured Madam, Your Divine Innocence knows not the Weight of my Accursed Gild, a Load would sink a World. Oh that Vile, Black, Infernal, Damned— [Casting a Furious Eye towards the Bedchamber] and then turning towards the Queen.] Beast, Monster, Traitor as I am— The Queen [stopping him.] Nay, no more my Lord, Wrong not yourself with these unjust Reproaches; what you would call your Crime, perhaps I've reason to esteem your Glory; perhaps you Love me too well, and that has been the cause. Desire sometimes has been foiled even by Desire; and Loving balked by Love. Alas, my Lord, there are Heavens even above Heaven, and it may be your Ecstasy has rapt you above your Paradise. And to recall your Peace, I am content to be so Vain, to think my Charms have had that Power. Oh Royal Excellence (replied Polydorus) [Astonished at so Amazing a Kindness.] You are so Divinely good, that to lay hold of such Transcendent Grace to save me, without Desert, would but double my Damnation. At which he began to launch out into such bitter Reviling and Railing against himself, that the Queen not knowing their true Cause, began to think of a new Style to recover his Reason, and therefore was resolved to Rally him into his right Wits again. Well Sir, If this won't satisfy you, perhaps I have a new Discovery will answer all. I have either Herd or Read somewhere (not matter which) [Smilingly] of Enchantments used in this case. 'Tis not the first time, that Malice, and the Malice of a Woman too (for such they say there are in the World) has made use of Spells to defeat the Expectation of Lovers; and the tying of a Magical Knot (as some such practice, you know not, may have been used upon you) and the Winchcraft of an Ill-Tongue have sometimes had that strange Power. Bewitched by an Ill-Tongue, Madam! (replied Polydorus) Oh Madam! [Sighing] There went more than all Ill-Tongues (Confound the Enchantess) to the Bewitching of me. Tying of Knots too say you? A Plague of the Knots I Tie! Oh that Sprightful, Confounded Witch, Hag, Forceress, Beast, Bawd, Strumpet— [he had almost said Lactilla] Beast, Bawd, Strumpst! When Messalina Interrupting him, What Beast, Bawd? Fortune Madam, Fortune, (Recollecting himself) that Jilt, that Cheat, that Harlot, that Impudent Harlot, Fortune, the spite of my Stars, and the Malice of the Gods, that envied my Immortal Happiness, and in downright Gall, rank Gall, Hemlock, Wormwood, Poison, have ransakt Hell, and Mustered all the Imps of Lucifer to rob me of my Bliss.  

A necessary precaution often wanted by Messalina.  The Harange had went on, had not Fornacoes Approach, a nimble Forerunner before the rest of the Zealots returned from their Devotion, giving them warning to retreat from the Closet, and the King to prepare himself for the appearance of a more indifferent Visitor, which with much ado he endeavoured; though the concernment in his Face was not easily masterable. The Court beginning to fill soon after, Messalina produced, and Read her Expresses, importing the Landing of her Lycogenes in one of the Ports of Gothland, a piece of News not ungrateful to the whole Company, since it brought them the Expectation of the speedy Honour of so Royal a Guest in the  Court, and which indeed had been the Subject of no Common saying, had not the fatal Cause that lent them that Honour much rebated the Delight. The Queen told them further, That she had before communicated the Contents to Polydorus, to which indeed she was obliged to him for his pleasant Visit. Yes Madam, readily answered Polydorus, I came to obey your Commands, and the Care and Application I shall make for a Reception suitable to the Majesty of Albion, shall Convince the World that the Bonds that have tied the Hearts of Lycogenes and Polydorus are Eternal.  
Some Days after Lycogenes arrives, neither unlooked for, neither welcome; for they knew he came to them like a Gamester at an Ordinary, that had lost all his Money, and came for a new Recruit. By my Soul, our Lycogenes, I have had ill Luck; but I'll Play t'other Game for't. 'Tis ill venturing upon a Loser's Hand quoth Polydorus. Sir, quoth Lycogenes, Lend me but t'other Threescore Thousand Pounds, and you shall have all Ireland for it. Sir, said he, then proceeding, Remember the Proverb, He that England means to win, with Ireland must begin. That is a Proverb I have often heard, quoth Polydorus; but if I Lend you this Threescore Thousand Pounds, I'll have all Ireland to myself, I'll send Officers of my own to take Charge of all the Employments in that Kingdom; you shall have nothing to do there. Not I by my Soul, quoth Lycogenes, I will have nothing to do there; I'll only be your Deputy there, I'll receive the Sword from Tyrconnel in your Name, and Execue your Commands by your Authority.  
These Conditions being Signed and Sealed between Polydorus and Lycogenes, Men and Money were provided with all the speed imaginable. For Messalina was soon weary of his Cold Embraces; having by this time a fair Cover for whatever should after hadpen, should she really chance to be Impregnated. And therefore being present at the Colloque between her Husband Lycogenes and her Champion Polydorus. She at the same time tipped the wink upon Polydorus, and pointed to the middle of her Placket; which so inflamed Polydorus, that he was as ready to Condescend to Lycogenes, as Lycogenes was to Demand of him.  
During these Transactions of a higher Nature, and a deep Intrigue between the two Monarches and the Monarchess. La Force plyd his business with Lactilla. 'Tis true Lafoy Force had brought her to his Bow, but the Consummation of Pleasure being interrupted, as you have already heard; that interruption brought Lactilla to bethink herself. For, not to conceal the Truth, Lactilla, honest Lactilla, Nurse in Ordinary to the  Prince, she from whom the Sovereign Swayer of the British Sceptre was to suck his Masculine Inclinations, had been dabbling already. Which made her out of a Scruple of Conscience begin to contrive, which way she should put off La Force. For, Lord quoth she, must I Adulterate the Milk that Suckles the Monarch of Three Kingdoms. So that when La Force came to Reiterate his Addresses to her, she dealt with him like a plain good honest Country Nurse, and told him, that she had placed her Affections before upon a certain Soldier in the Lifeguard of Lycogenes (for those sort of  will be always endeavouring to get between the Thighs of your Court Lawndry-Women and Nurses, to Eek out their Preferment) who had overcome her; and that by him she was Young with Child: And truly her Pains were so extraordinary, that being afraid something more than ordinary would come of it, she was resolved to prepare herself for Repentance. La Force who had an Eye that could pierce through a Millstone, presently apprehended what Lactilla would beat, which was enhancing the Price; and therefore pretending to be a Doctor; Oh Madam quoth he, I understand the reason of your extraordinary Pains: The Gentleman who the last time had your last Favours, left his work unfinished; so that what you carry in the Womb, must want either an Arm, or a Leg, or a Thigh; and than if it come forth so imperfect, it will be the cause of great Trouble and Affliction to you. But for that, be of good Comfort, give but me the liberty, and I will make all things well and perfect, and your Travel shall be as Easy as the flipping of a Cherry-Stone from between your Thumb and Forefinger. La Force made this so demonstrable by Dent of Argument to Lactilla, that for future Convenience-sake she condescended to whatever he could desire.  
While Laforce lay thus at Rack and Manger with his dear Lactilla, Polydorus chassing for his last misfortune, longed for a second Trial of his Abilities. But the presence of Lycogenes was a new rub in his way., 'twas therefore thought convenient to march him off with all the speed that possible might be; nor was Messalina less desirous to be rid of him, as one whose Reign over her Affections was now as much at an end, as his Reign over the hearts of his People. Polydorus therefore sends for Lycogenes, and having agreed upon Conditions, hastens him away into Hibernia, with permission to retain the Title of Lycogenes the Second, King of Hibernia, but to deliver the real Possession of the Kingdom to Polydorus, and the Command of all his Soldiers and Forces to such Officers and Commanders, as he had ordered to accompany him.  
So soon as Lycogenes was departed, Polydorus prosecutes his Amour with great heat; nor was Messalina who had already surrendered up her Fort, less diligent to afford Polydorus all the Opportunities that could be with Circumspection and Caution omitted: She was mainly desirous of a Prince to be Born of her Body; by which means she might bequeath perpetual vexation to the Christians: And to that purpose she thought that now she had both change of Air and variety of Persons, she could not fail; and as for the Legality of it, she never minded that, since she could have Absolution when she pleased.  
Polydorus therefore therefore sends her an Invitation to his Country Palace of Versellais, and appoints her an Apartment not far from his own, with so many private avenues to it, that it was impossible one would have thought to have made the least discovery of their private Congresses.  
Under the Covert of this Retirement, Polydorus had several Opportunities to enjoy the Carresies of his endearing Messalina; while she on the one side laboured for Pregnancy, and he on the other endeavoured to recover the Reputation he had lost in his first Venereal Attempts: Nothing could outvie the Dalliances of these two Royal Lovers, unless the efforts of Youthful Clepatra, to please her Mark Anthony, or the Gallantries of Mark Anthony, to gratify his adored Cleopatra. Moreover, Messalina thought that if now she should prove with Child, the World would be the sooner Convinced of the Truth of her being Delivered of the Prince of the Cambro Britan's; which made her more eager to devote herself to the satisfaction of her Polydorus. However Love had only a Design to exert his power, and would not admit Lucina to come in for a share, in blessing the strong Endeavours of the Amorous Pair with effectual Success: 'Tis true Fame did her part and spread abroad a rumour over all Gothland and Albion, that Messalina was with Child, and so it holds; but as to that, it is lest to Time to make out the truth of it.  
By this time Cupid, who seemed to study nothing more than to enlarge the Conquests of Messalina's Charming Eyes, had smitten the Heart of Young Delphinus, only Son of Polydorus, who began to be no less Enamoured of the Bewitching Messalina then his Father. 'Tis true he knew nothing of certainty of what passed every Day between his Father and her. For now it being known that Lycogenes was gone of Polydorus' Errand, it was easy to feign pretences of Frequent Consultations with Messalina; but as the Actions of Princes will be pried into, in spite of Fate, Delphinus had some Inkling of the Intrigue. And indeed the more than ordinary Credulity and obsequiousness of Polydorus to an Exiled Princess, could not choose but Enhance her Suspicion. However Love is such a Tyrant, that what he will, he will have done. The Young Delphinus is inflamed, and tho' he were pretty sure, that in giving way to his Passion, he must be his Father's Rival, and Fish in the same Stream with his own Parent, yet his Ardour was so Violent, that those Considerations could not withhold him, nor stem the violent Current of his Affection: So that he never came into Messalina's Company but his Amorous Looks betrayed the Passion of his Heart; so easily discernible, that Messalina could not perceive the double Conquest she had made both of the Father and the Son. But Messalina who had Abandoned herself over to the Father, made the punctilio of Honour so much her present Excuse for not condescending to the Son's Addresses, that she still put him off with fair Compliments, so that all his Efforts proved ineffectual.  
FINIS.