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Lady. I am innocent here, and, on my life, I

swear

My ends are good.

Lov. On my soul, so are mine

To Margaret; but leave both to the event:
And since this friendly privacy doth serve
But as an offered means unto ourselves

To search each other farther; you have shewn
Your care of me, I my respect to you.
Deny me not, but still in chaste words, madam,
An afternoon's discourse.

Lady. Affected modesty might deny your suit;
But, such your honour, I accept it, lord.
My tongue unworthy can't belie my heart.
I shall attend your lordship.

SCENE II.-A landscape.

Enter TAPWELL and FROTH.

[Exeunt.

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And then his information could not hurt us:
But now he is right worshipful again,

Who dares but doubt his testimony? Methinks

I see thee, Froth, already in a cart,

And ay hand hissing (if I 'scape the halter)
With the letter R printed upon it.

Froth. Would that were the worst!
That were but nine days wonder: as for credit,
We have none to lose; but we shall lose the mo-
ney

He owes us, and his custom; there's the hell on't.

Tap. He has summoned all his creditors by the drum,

And they swarm about him like so many soldiers On the pay day; and has found such a new way To pay his old debts, as, 'tis very likely,

He shall be chronicled for it.

Froth. He deserves it

More than ten pageants. But are you sure his worship

Comes this way to my lady's?

[A cry within, brave MR WELLBORN! Tap. Yes, I hear him,

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For of all the scum, that grew rich by my riots,
This, for a most unthankful knave, and this,
For a base bawd and whore, have worst deser-
ved;

And therefore speak not for them. By your place,

You are rather to do me justice; lend me your

ear,

Forget his turkeys, and call in his licence,
And, at the next fair, I'll give you a yoke of oxen
Worth all his poultry.

Greedy. I am changed on the sudden,

In my opinion-Mum! my passion is great! I fry like a burnt marrow-bone-Come nearer, rascal !

And now I view him better, did you e'er see One look so like an arch-knave? his very countenance,

Should an understanding judge but look on him, Would hang him, though he were innocent,

Tap. and Froth. Worshipful sir! Greedy. No; though the Great Turk came instead of turkies,

To beg my favour, I am inexorable : Thou hast an ill-name; for, except thy musty ale,

That hath destroyed many of the king's liege people,

Thou never hadst in thy house, to stay men's stomachs,

A piece of Suffolk cheese, or gammon of bacon,
Or any esculent, as the learned call it,
For their emolument, but sheer drink only.
For which gross fault, I here do damn thy licence,
Forbidding thee ever to tap or draw;
For instantly I will, in mine own person,
Command the constable to pull down thy sin;
And do it before I eat.

Froth. No mercy? Greedy. Vanish.

If I shew any, may my promised oxen gore me ! Tap. Unthankful knaves are ever so rewarded. [Exeunt TAPWELL and FROTH.

Well. Speak; what are you? 1 Cred. A decayed vintner, sir, That might have thrived, but that your worship broke me,

With trusting you with muscadine and eggs,

ings,

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The deed, in which you passed it over to him, Which I know he'll have about him, to deliver To the lord Lovell, with many other writings,

And five pound suppers, with your after-drink-And present monies. I'll instruct you farther, As I wait on your worship. If I play not my part To your full content, and uncle's much vexyour ation,

When you lodged upon the bankside.

Well. I remember.

1 Cred. I have not been hasty, nor e'er laid to Hang up Jack Marrall.

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2d Cred. A taylor once, but now mere botcher.

I gave you credit for a suit of cloaths,

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Which was all my stock; but you failing in pay-Unequalled temperance, or your constant sweet

ment,

I was removed from the shop-board, and confined

Under a stall.

Well. See him paid; and botch no more.
2d Cred. I ask no interest, sir.
Well. Such taylors need not;

If their bills are paid in one and twenty years,
They are seldom losers-O, I know thy face;
Thou wert my surgeon;

I will pay you in private.
See all men else discharged;

And, since old debts are cleared by a new way,
A little bounty will not misbecome me;
There is something, honest cook, for thy good
breakfasts,

And this for your respect; take it, 'tis good gold,

And I am able to spare it.

Order. You are too munificent.

Furn. He was ever so.

ness,

I yet rest doubtful.

Marg. Give it to lord Lovell;

For what in him was bounty, in me is duty.
I make but payment of a debt, to which
My vows, in that high office registered,
Are faithful witnesses.

Allw. 'Tis true, my dearcst;

Yet, when I call to mind, how many fair ones Make wilful shipwreck of their faiths and oaths To God and man, to fill the arms of greatness; And you, with matchless virtue, thus to hold out, Against the stern authority of a father,

And spurn at honour, when it comes to court

you;

I am so tender of your good, that I can hardly Wish myself that right, you are pleased to do

me.

Marg. To me, what's title, when content is wanting?

Or wealth, when the heart pines

In being dispossest of what it longs for?
Or the smooth brow

Of a pleased sire, that slaves me to his will?
And, so his ravenous humour may be feasted
By my obedience, and he see me great,
Leaves to my soul nor faculties nor power
To make her own election.

Alla. But the dangers,
That follow the repulse!

Marg. To me they are nothing :

Let Allworth love, I cannot be unhappy.
Suppose the worst; that, in his rage, he kill me;
A tear or two by you dropt on my hearse,
In sorrow for my fate, will call back life
So far as but to say, that I die your's.
I then shall rest in peace.

Alla. Heaven avert

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He does solicit me, I shall gladly hear him:
But in this peremptory, nay, commanding way,
To appoint a meeting, and without my know-
ledge;

A priest to tye the knot, can ne'er be undone,
Till death unloose it, is a confidence
In his lordship, that will deceive him.

Alla. I hope better, good lady.

Marg. Hope, sir, what you please: for me, I must take a safe and secure course; I have A father, and, without his full consent,

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Will you still be one? In the name of madness, what

Could his good honour write more to content you?

Is there aught else to be wished after these two,
That are already offered? Marriage first,
And lawful pleasure after: What would you
more?

Marg. Why, sir, I would be married like your daughter,

Not hurried away in the night I know not whither,
Without all ceremony; no friends invited,
To honour the solemnity.

Allw. An't please your honour,
For so before to-morrow I must stile you,
My lord desires this privacy, in respect
His honourable kinsmen are far off;
And his desires to have it done, brook not
So long delay as to expect their coming;
And yet he stands resolved, with all due pomp,
To have his marriage at court celebrated,
When he has brought your honour up to London.
Over. He tells you true; 'tis the fashion, on

my knowledge:

Yet the good lord, to please your peevishness,
Must put it off, forsooth.

Marg. I could be contented,
Were but by to do a father's part,
you
And give me in the church.

Over. So my lord have you,

What do I care who gives you? since my lord
Does propose to be private, I'll not cross him.
I know not, Mr Allworth, how my lord
May be provided, and therefore, there's a purse
Of gold: 'twill serve this night's expence: to-
In the mean

morrow

I'll furnish him with any sums. time,

Though all lords of the land kneeled for my fa- Use my ring to my chaplain; he is beneficed

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At my manor of Gotham, and called parson

Welldo:

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say again, I will not cross my lord,

Marg. A piece of arrogant paper, like the in-Yet I'll pervent you, too-Paper and ink there. scription.

VOL. II.

Allw. I can furnish you.

L

Over. I thank you, I can write then.

[Writes on his book. Allw. You may, if you please, leave out the name of my lord,

In respect he comes disguised, and only write,
Marry her to this gentleman.

Over. Well advised. [MARGARET kneels. 'Tis done; away-my blessing, girl? thou hast it. Nay, no reply-be gone, good Mr Allworth; This shall be the best night's work you ever made. Allw. I hope so, sir.

[Exeunt ALLWORTH and MARGARET. Over. Farewell! Now all's sure.

Methinks, I hear already knights and ladies
Say, sir Giles Overreach, how is it with
Your honourable daughter? has her honour
Slept well to-night? or, will her honour please
To accept this monkey, dog, or paroquet?
(This is state in ladies) or my eldest son
To be her page, and wait upon her trencher?—
My ends, my ends are compassed!-then for
Wellborn

And the lands; were he once married to the widow

I have him here-I can scarce contain myself, I am so full of joy! nay, joy all over!

ACT V.

SCENE I-A chamber in LADY ALLWORTH'S Presented me with this great favour,

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Sir Giles, that's both a lion and a fox
In his proceedings, were a work beyond
The strongest undertakers; not the trial
Of two weak innocents.

Lov. Despair not, madam :

Hard things are compassed oft by easy means.
The cunning statesman, that believes he fathoms
The counsels of all kingdoms on the earth,
Is, by simplicity, oft overreached.

Lady. May be so.

The young ones have my warmest wishes.

[Exit.

I could not but have thought it as a blessing,
Far, far beyond my merit.

Lov. You are too modest,

And undervalue that, which is above

My title, or whatever I call mine. In a word,
Our years, our states, our births, are not unequal.
If, then, you may be won to make me happy,
But join your hand to mine, and that shall be
A solemn contract.

Lady. I were blind to my own good,
Should I refuse it; yet, my lord, receive me
As such a one, the study of whose whole life
Shall know no other object but to please you.

Lov. If I return not, with all tenderness,
Equal respect to you, may I die wretched!

Lady. There needs no protestation, my lord, To her, that cannot doubt-You are welcome, sir. Enter WELLBorn.

Now, you look like yourself.

Well. And will continue

Such in my free acknowledgement, that I am
Your creature, madam, and will never hold
My life mine own, when you please to demand it.
Lov. It is a thankfulness, that well becomes
you;

You could not make choice of a better shape
To dress your mind in.

Lady. For me, I am happy,

That my endeavours prospered. Saw you, of late, Sir Giles, your uncle?

Well. I heard of him, madam,

By his minister, Marrall: he's grown into strange

passions

About his daughter. This last night he looked

for

Your lordship at his house; but, missing you,
And she not yet appearing, his wise head

Lov. O, gentle lady, let them prove kind to Is much perplexed and troubled.

me!

You've kindly heard-now grant my suit.

What say you, lady?

Lady. Troth, my lord,

My own unworthiness may answer for me; For had you, when I was in my prime,

Loo. I hope my project took.

Enter OVERREACH, with distracted looks, driving in MARRALL before him.

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As a special favour.

Lady. When I know, sir Giles,

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Her state requires such ceremony, I shall pay it; The right I bring with me will defend me,

But, in the mean time,

I give you to understand, I neither know

Nor care where her honour is.

Over. When you once see her

Supported, and led by the lord her husband,
You'll be taught better-Nephew!
Well. Well!

Over. No more!

Well. 'Tis all I owe you.

Over. Have your redeemed rags

Made you thus insolent?

Well. Insolent to you!

[In scorn.

Why, what are you, sir, more than myself?

Over. His fortune swells him:

'Tis rank, he is married.

Lady. This is excellent!

And punish his extortion.
Over. That I had thee
But single in the field!

Lady. You may; but make not
My house your quarrelling scene.
Over. Were it in a church,
By Heaven and hell, I'll do it!
Mar. Now, put him to

The shewing of the deed.

Well. This rage is vain, sir;

For fighting, fear not, you shall have your hands full

Upon the least incitement; and whereas

You charge me with a debt of a thousand pounds;
If there be law (howe'er you have no conscience)
Either restore my land, or I'll recover

Over. Sir, in calm language (though I seldom A debt, that is truly due to me from you,

use it),

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In value ten times more than what you challenge.
Over. I in thy debt! oh impudence! Did I

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