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.

Tap. Undone! undone! this was your counsel, Froth.

Froth. Mine! I defy thee: did not Master Marrall

(He has marred all, I am sure) strictly command

us

(On pain of Sir Giles Overreach's displeasure) To turn the gentleman out of doors?

Tap. 'Tis true;

But now he's his uncle's darling, and has got
Master Justice Greedy (since he filled his belly)
At his commandment to do any thing;
Woe, woe to us!

Froth. He may prove merciful.

Tap. Troth, we do not deserve it at his hands: Though he knew all the passages of our house, As the receiving of stolen goods,

When he was rogue Wellborn, no man would believe him,

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 my 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-

More than ten pageants. But are you sure his worship

Comes this way to my lady's?

And the bribe he promised; you are cozened in them;

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 coun-

tenance,

Tap. and Froth. Worshipful sir!

Well. Pray you, on before;

instead of turkies,

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

Greedy. For Heaven's sake don't stay long; It is almost ready. [Exit GREEDY. Mar. At four o'clock the rest know where to

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

I gave you credit for a suit of cloaths,

Well. I rely upon thee.

[Exeunt.

fined

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.

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 dearest;

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

Such trials of your true affection to me!
Nor will it unto you, that are all mercy,
Shew so much rigour. But since we must run
Such desperate hazards, let us do our best
To steer between them.

Marg. Lord Lovell is your friend;
And, though but a young actor, second me,
In doing to the life what he has plotted.

Enter OVERREACH.

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;

nour,

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.

Alle. 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,

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 you but by to do a father's part,
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-

morrow

At my manor of Gotham, and called parson

Welldo:

'Tis no matter for a licence; I'll bear him out in't. Marg. With your favour, sir, what warrant is your ring?

He may suppose I got that twenty ways
Without your knowledge; and, then, to be re-
fused,
Were such a stain upon me—i
—if you please, sir,
Your presence would do better.
Over. Still perverse!

I say again, I will not cross my lord,
Yet I'll pervent you, too-Paper and ink there.
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. Alla. 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! [Brit.

house.

Enter LOVELL and LADY.

Lady. By this, you know how strong the motives were,

That did, my lord, induce me to dispense
A little with my gravity, to advance
The plots and projects of the down-trod

born.

Lov. What you intended, madam, For the poor gentleman, hath found good success; For, as I understand, his debts are paid, And he once more furnished for fair employ

ment:

But all the arts, that I have used to raise
The fortunes of your joy and mine, young All-
worth,

Stand yet in supposition, though I hope well.
For the young lovers are in wit more pregnant
Than their years can promise; and for their de-
sires,

On my knowledge they equal.

Lady. Though my wishes

Are with yours, my lord, yet give me leave to fear

The building, though well grounded. To deceive

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.

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

for

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,

Lov. I hope my project took.

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

I'll bore thine eyes out else.

Well. May it please your lordship,

For some ends of my own, but to withdraw A little out of sight, though not of hearing; You may, perhaps, have sport.

Lov. You shall direct me.

Over. I shall sol fa you, rogue!

Mar. Sir, for what cause

Do you use me thus?

[Steps aside.

Over. Cause, slave! why, I am angry, And thou a subject only fit for beating; And so to cool my choler. Look to the writing; Let but the seal be broke upon the box, That has slept in my cabinet these three years, I'll rack thy soul for it.

Mar. I may yet cry quittance; Though now I suffer, and dare not resist. [Aside. Over. Lady, by your leave, did you see my daughter, lady?

And the lord her husband? Are they in your house?

If they are, discover, that I may bid them joy;
And, as an entrance to her place of honour,
See your ladyship on her left hand, and inake

curt'sies

When she nods on you; which you must re

ceive

As a special favour.

Lady. When I know, sir Giles,

him;

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!

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 hands your

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

A debt, that is truly due to me from you,
In value ten times more than what you challenge.
Over. 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,

Enter Servant, with a box. Thou didst make sale of? Is not here inclosed

The deed, that does confirm it mine?

Mar. Now, now.

Well. I do acknowledge none; I ne'er passed o'er

Such land; I grant, for a year or two,
You had it in trust; which, if you do discharge,