When he was rogue Wellborn, no man would believe him; And then his information could not hurt us: Froth. Would that were the worst! That were but nine days wonder: as for credit, [money We have none to lose; but we shall lose the He owes us, and his custom; there's the plague on't. Tap. He has summon'd all his creditors by the drum, And they swarm about him like so many soldiers [way On the pay-day; and has found out such a new To pay his old debts, as, 'tis very likely, He shall be chronicled for it. Froth. But you are sure his worship Comes this way to my lady's? [Cry of brave WELLBORN! Tap. Hark! I hear him. Froth. Be ready with your petition, and present it To his good grace. [Drums within, cry of brave Wellborn. Enter WELLBORN, in a rich habit, GREEDY, MARRALL, CREDITORS, &C. TAPWELL, kneeling, delivers in his bill. Well. How's this! petition'd too? Mar. When your worship's married, Just. Gr. I am changed on the sudden In my opinion-Mum! I fry like a burn'd marrowbone. [Aside.] Come nearer, rascal; And now I view him better, did you e'er see One look so like an arch knave? his very countenance, [him, Should an understanding judge but look upon Would hang him though he were innocent. Tap. Froth. Worshipful Sir! Just. Gr. No; though the great Turk came instead of turkeys, To beg my favour, I am inexorable. Forbidding thee ever to tap or draw; [me. if I show any, may my promis'd venison choke Tap. Unthankful knaves are ever so re warded. [Exeunt TAPWELL and FROTH. Well. Speak what are you? 1st Cred. A decayed vintner, Sir, That might have thriv'd, but that your wor ship broke me With trusting you with muscadine and eggs, And five-pound suppers, with your afterdrinkings, When you lodg'd upon the Bankside. 1st Cred. I have not been hasty, nor e'er laid to arrest you; And therefore, Sir Well. Thou art an honest fellow : I'll set thee up again; see his bill paid. What are you? [TO MARRALL You may be. [Aside.] I know what I hope to I gave you credit for a new suit of clothes, Mar. To be known Your worship's bailiff, is the mark I shoot at. (Provided you'll defend me from Sir Giles, Last new year's tide, a couple of fat turkeys. Just. Gr. How! with Mr. Wellborn? Well. I o'erheard you, And the bribe he promis'd; you are cozen'd in 'em ; [riots, For, of all the scum that grew rich by my This for a most unthankful knave, and this For a base woman, have the worst deserv'd; And therefore speak not for them. By your place, [ear, You are rather to do me justice; lend me your Forget his turkeys, and call in his license, And every season I will send you venison' To feast a mayor and corporation. 2d Cred. A tailor once, but now mere botcher. Which was all my stock; but, you failing in payment, [fin'd I was remov'd from the shop-board, and conUnder a stall. Well. See him paid; and botch no more. 2d Cred. I ask no interest, Sir. Well. Such tailors need not. If their bills are paid in one and twenty years, They are seldom losers-See these men discharg'd; And, since old debts are clear'd by a new way, And I am able to spare it. Well. Pray you, on before; I'll attend you at dinner. Just. Gr. For Heaven's sake, don't stay It is almost ready. [long; [Exeunt all but WELLBORN and MARRALL. Well. Now, Mr. Marrall, what's the weighty You promis'd to impart? [secret Mar. Sir, time nor place Allow me to relate each circumstance: This only in a word; I know Sir Giles Will come upon you for security For his thousand pounds; which you must not consent to. As he grows in heat, (as I am sure he will,) Be you but rough, and say he's in your debt Ten times the sum, upon sale of your land: I had a hand in't (I speak it to my shame) When you were cozen'd of it. Well. That's forgiven. Mar. I shall deserve it then; urge him to The deed in which you pass'd it over to him, Well. I rely upon thee. [Exeunt. SCENE III-A Room in SIR GILES OVERREACH'S House. ALLWORTH and MARGARET (with a Letter in Allw. Whether to yield the first praise to my Unequall'd temperance, or your constant Marg. Give it to Lord Lovell; For what in him was bounty, in me is duty. Allw. "Tis true, my dearest; Yet when I call to mind how many fair ones you; I am so tender of your good, that I can hardly Of a pleas'd sire, that slaves me to his will? Allw. But the dangers Marg. To me they are nothing: Let Allworth love, I cannot be unhappy. Allw. Heaven avert Such trials of your true affection to me! Marg. Lord Lovell is your friend; Enter SIR GILES OVERREACH. 'Till death unloose it; is a confidence A messenger from my lord? What's this? give Marg. A piece of arrogant paper, like th' inscriptions. SIR GILES reads the letter. Fair Mistress, from your servant learn, all That we can hope for, if deferr'd, prove toys; more? Marg. Why, Sir, I would be married like Allw. An't please your honour, don. Sir G. He tells you true, 'tis the fashion, on Yet the good lord, to please your peevishness, Marg. I could be contented Were you but by to do a father's part, Sir G. So my lord have you, morrow What do I care who gives you? since my lord Does purpose 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 expense; to[time, The end may yet prove happy. Now, my All-I'll furnish him with any sums. In the meanworth. [Apart to ALLWORTH. Use my ring to my chaplain; [Offers it.] he Allw. To your letter, and put on a seeming is benific'd [Welldo; anger. [Apart. At my manor of Gotham, and call'd parson Marg. I'll pay my lord all debts due to his "Tis no matter for a license, I'll bear him out title; [honour And when with terms not taking from his He does solicit me, I shall gladly hear him; But in this peremptory, nay, commanding way, To fix a time and place without my knowledge; A priest, to tie the knot can ne'er be undone in't. Marg. With your favour, Sir, what warrant is your ring? He may suppose I got that twenty ways, refus'd Were such a stain upon me: if you please, | Sir G. Still perverse? I say again, I will not cross my lord; Sir G. I thank you; I can write then to my [Writes. Allw. Sir Giles, you may, if you please, leave out the name of my lord, In respect he would be private, and only write, Marry her to this gentleman. Sir G. Well advis'd; "Tis done; away [Gives ALLWORTH the paper.] my blessing, girl? thou hast it. [MARGARET kneels. Nay, no reply-Begone, good Mr. Allworth, This shall be the best night's work you ever made. Allw. I hope so, Sir. [Exeunt ALLWORTH and MARGARET. Lord L. It is a thankfulness that well becomes you. Lady A. For me, I am happy That my endeavours prosper'd. Saw you of Well. I heard of him Madam, My ends, my ends, are compass'd! Then for And the lands? were he once married to the ACT V. [Exit. But all the arts that I have us'd to raise Stand yet in supposition, though I hope well. Lord L. Despair not, Madam; Hard things are compass'd oft by easy means. thoms Sir G. [Without.] Ha! find her, booby! Well. May it please your lordship, Lord L. You shall direct me. [Steps aside. Sir G. Idiot! booby! Sir G. Cause, slave? why I am angry, Mar. I may yet cry quittance, [Aside. Sir G. His fortune swells him; 'Tis rank; he's married. [Aside. [Aside. Sir G. Sir, in calm language (though I seldom use it) Lady A. This is excellent. I am familiar with the cause that makes you Bear up thus bravely; there's a certain buzz Of a stol'n marriage; do you hear? of a stol'n marriage; [cozen'd. In which 'tis said there's somebody hath been I name no parties. [LADY ALLWORTH turns away. Well. Well, Sir, and what follows? Sir G. Marry, this: since you are peremptory, remember, Upon mere hope of your great match, I lent you Dragg'd in your lavender robes to the gaol: you know me, And therefore do not trifle. 6 So cruel to your nephew, now he's in [have And force your spouse to sign it; you shall Three or four thousand more to roar and swagAnd revel in taverns. [ger, Nor bond, nor bill, nor bare acknowledgement. Sir G. That I had thee But single in the field! Ludy A. You may; but make not My house your quarrelling scene. Sir G. Wer't in a church, By heaven and hell I'll do't! The showing of the deed. [To WELLBORN. Well. This rage is vain, Sir; For fighting, fear not, you shall have your hands Upon the least incitement; and whereas [full You charge me with a debt of a thousand pounds, [science) If there be law, (howe'er you have no con- Sir G. I in thy debt? oh, impudence! did I not purchase The land left by thy father? that rich land That had continued in Wellborn's name Twenty descents; which, like a riotous fool, Thou didst make sale of? Two SERVANTS enter with a box. O, you're come at last. Is not here enclos'd [Aside. [o'er Well. I do acknowledge none; I ne'er pass'd Such land: I grant, for a year or two, You had it in trust; which, if you do discharge, Surrendering the possession, you shall ease Yourself and me of chargeable suits in law; Which, if you prove not honest (as I doubt it) Must of necessity follow. Lady A. In my judgment, He does advise you well. Sir G. Good, good! conspire With your new husband, lady; second him In his dishonest practices; but, when This manor is extended to my use, You'll speak in humbler key, and sue for favour. Lady A. Never; do not hope it. Well. Let despair first seize me. Sir G. Yet, to shut up thy mouth, and make thee give Thyself the lie, the loud lie, I draw out The precious evidence; if thou canst, forswear Thy hand and seal, and make a forfeit of [Opens the box, and takes out the deed. Thy ears to the pillory.-See, here's that will My interest clear- Ha! [make Lady A. A fair skin of parchment! Well. Indented, I confess, and labels too; But neither wax nor words. How! thunderstruck! ['makes Is this your precious evidence; is this that Your interest clear?' Sir G. I am o'erwhelm'd with wonder! What prodigy is this? what subtle devil Hath raz'd out the inscription? the wax Turn'd into dust-the rest of my deeds whole As when they were deliver'd; and this only Made nothing!-Do you deal with witches, rascal? There is a statute for you, which will bring Your neck in a hempen circle; yes, there is.And now 'tis better thought; for, cheater, This juggling shall not save you. Well. To save thee Would beggar the stock of mercy. Sir G. Marrall! Mar. Sir. [know Sir G. Though the witnesses are dead, [Flatters him. Your testimony Help with an oath or two; and for thy master, Mur. I! no, I assure you.-- Sir G. Wilt thou betray me? From using his hands, I'll use my tongue Sir G. Mine own varlet Mar. Yes, and uncase you too. The idiot; the patch; the slave; the booby; The property, fit only to be beaten For your morning exercise; your foot-ball, or Th' unprofitable lump of flesh; your drudge;Can now anatomize you, and lay open All your black plots, level with the earth Your hill of pride, and shake, [you. Nay pulverize, the walls you think defend Lady A. How he foams at the mouth with Sir G. O that I had thee in my gripe, I would Joint after joint! Mar. I know you are a tearer. And make thee wish, and kneel in vain, to die; Although they made my body but one wound, I play the fool, and make my anger but ridi- Well. I think so: You dare do any ill, yet want true valour Sir G. They are words I know not, Lady A. Whom have we here? [virtue, PARSON WELLDO enters, with a letter in his Welcome, most welcome: Welldo. Married? yes, Mar. What think you, Sir; was it not wisely To turn his wicked arts upon himself? [To WELLBORN. A lane there for my lord. Sir G. Make way there for my lady and my lord. dren! Baffled and fool'd, and all my hopes and labours Well. As it appears, [Offers to kill MARGARET. [here, Lord L. I am ready. Well. You'll grow like him, [Attempts to draw his sword. me [Servants carry him off. To any other. Look not for reward Or favour from me; I will shun thy sight Just. Gr. I'll commit him, [order |