Boast Great Persons of mean Estates choose Wives out of the City they are covetous of Honour and we of Money And here comes the Alderman Enter Muchworth Muchw. Good morrow to your Lordship D. Bost. How does your fair Daughter Muchw. You honour me with enquiring after her Oh Mr. Lovell a word with you in private Sir you have for some time made Addresses to my Iacinta But for the future I desire you wou'd be a stranger to her To me you shall be always welcome but she is otherwise engaged Lov. It is less in my Power not to love her than to hate you Tho' she shou'd follow your Example and turn me off too Muchw. You know my mind and shortly she 'l let you know hers your Servant My Lord I 'le wait you in my Daughter and my Neece are but gone to buy a few Trifles at the Exchange they 'l be back soon D. Boast Gentlemen your Servant Exeunt Muchw. and D. Boast Lov. Iacinta engag'd false faithless Woman Carel. Prithee think no more of her Come now go with me and be merry wee 'l have Women in abundance Lov. Hang e'm Jilts Carel. No such Women as your Mistress is are more like Jilts These are good Conscionable Girles that will not let you spend your Money for nothing with the others you waste your Gold and Time and at last like young Heifers when they come to be milk'd they Spurn at you in Defiance and away they frisk Lov. Ah Iacinta Hast thou forgot my Vowes Unhappy Lover Carel. Damne this pineing whineing puleing peaking sneaking sniveling Love I 'le carry thee where thou shalt see merry gay jocund sprightly Love Thou shalt have it in Arm-fulls and Dilate thy self in Pleasure Lov. My Soul is out of Tune Enter Toby Toby Sir Master Sir Madam Iacinta and her Cousin Hilaria are just turn'd the Corner of this Street I suppose they are coming home Lov. I 'le meet her and tax her with her Inconstancy Tob. They have both their Masques on but you 'l know e'm by Beatrice my sweet Beatrice Enter Jacinta Hilaria Beatrice Carel. These are they Lovell accost thy own Natural and leave me to manage the other Impertinent Lov. My Heart 's my Guide Iacinta stay stay Iacinta Speak tho' but one word and tell me the Cause of this sudden Alteration Pull off your Masque and let me see if your Face is alter'd as much as I hear your Heart is Unkind Woman dost thou flie me I 'le pursue thee as a Ghost does the guilty Murderer Tob. Now you and I like Squire and Damsel will follow Beatrice if thou hast lost thy Tongue too you and your Mistress are a Blessed pair for were it not for your Tongues you wou'd all be Angels Beat. Da da da Ex. Jac. Lov. Bea. Carel. Nay nay Madam You are not to pass so Hil. What wou'd the man be at Carel. The Man 's at what he wou'd be he 's at you Hil. What do you mean Carel. Faith I can't resolve you till I see your Face pull off your Masque and then I 'le tell you what I mean Hil. Suppose I wont Carel. Nay if you are good at Suppositions suppose I am resolv'd to see it off Hil. Then I shou'd suppose you very Rude Carel. And if you don 't I shall suppose you very Ugly for I never knew a Woman that had a handsome Face cou'd endure to hide it Hil. Yes if she like not her Company Carel. Yet she 'd have her Company like her I trust more to a Woman's Pride than her Love or good Nature For tho' they are ugly they think thâ—mselves handsome and wou'd be thought so by others Hil. Why then do they maintain the Humour of Vizard-Masques Carel. Because under them they Sin conceal'd I 'le engage Vizard-Masques ruine more Womens Virtues than all the Bawds in Towne Hil. Your Reason for that Carel. Under the Vizard the Wife goes to the Play Ball or Masquerade undiscover'd to her Husband the Maid unknown to her Mistress the Daughter or Neece unperceiv'd by her Relations The Masque invites the Gallants And tho' at first you come but out of Curiosity to hear what Men will say Our Alamode Repertees our Gentile Bawdry and brisk Raillery tickles your Ears your Bodies are buxome your Bloods grow wanton your Fancies strike firmly on some Man or oother the Gallant grows Importunate and you are Conquer'd Hil. Do you find Women then so fraile Carel. A Womans Ear is the out-Out-work to her Chastity get but there and the Fort is more than half taken When once a Woman hears what you say she 'l soon do what you 'd have her Hil. Then you take a Parly for a Surrender Carel. No but after a Parly they soon yield Hil. Now have I a mind to stay and talk with you but must be forc'd to leave you to avoid your ill Opinion Carel. Nay if you have a mind to 't you ' ido't let me think what I will And if you won't pull off your Masque I 'le e'en begone and leave you Fare you well Hil. And fare you well Turn from each others and looks back o're their Shoulders Carel. Nay if you look o're Shoulder after me I 'le turn again for you have no mind I should be gone I am sure Hil. Why did you look back at me Carel. To see Hil. If I wou'd look at you and so we e'en caught one another and what can you say to me of that which I can't Retort on you agen Carel. But I 'le be judg'd by your self if I have not more reason to think you desire my stay than I yours You have a full sight of me and see what I am and now whether you like me or not You are all Vizard long Scarfe and Petticoat for ought I know you may want a Nose a Sett of Teeth be Squint-ey'd or Blobber lip'd Hil. You 'l make me as ugly as the Devil Am I not Cloven-footed think you Offers to look on her Leggs Carel. I 'le tell you that presently Hil. Nay Carel. A handsome Legg and a Foot I 'le be sworn and here 's a well shap'd Hand and Arme and what Breasts are here How round and plump Hil. Hands off your enquiry begins to grow troublesome Carel. If you have a Face and Features answerable to your Limbs you 'r a prime piece of Womans Flesh. Hil. Do you think I have Carel. Gad do I. Hil. Then to keep you in your good Opinion I 'le begone and you shan't see 't Nay nay no Attempts hands off Carel. I have sworn to see 't Hil. And I have sworn you shall but stand at greater Distance Farther farther yet See Hil. gets her back close to her Uncles Door pulls off her Masque steps in and shuts it Carel. Excellent Creature Hil. Fare you well Carel. Ha! are you so cunning She has lock'd the Door against me Enter Toby Toby My Master Sir is gone out the Back-way and sent me to give you
Bow which I return'd your Lordship with so great Obeysance that had not his Holiness caught hold on me behind I had tâ—mbl'd out or'e the Boot of the Coach D. Boast You did much Honour my Civilities Tob. Now we have encreas'd our Acquaintance I 'le obtrude the trouble on you to go with me to Court some Day and present me to the King that I may have the Honour to kiss his Hand D. Boast I swell with the Ambition of waiting on so Noble a Cavaliero Now I perfectly remember you Enter Lovel Lov. I beg your Pardon D. Boast Sir pray advance here 's only a Noble stranger one that 's a great Traveller and of my former Acquaintance He 's worth your knowledge O Sir Cavilliero pray receive this Gentleman into your Armes Lov. Ha! sure I know that Habit Ha Sirrah You Rogue What make you here D. Boast Sir Your Language is too bold Muchw. You take too great a Liberty to affront any Man in my House besides he 's a Man of Quality Lov. I 'le fetch his Qualities out of him with a Pox to him Beats Toby Tob. Ah good Sir hold Sir or you 'l make a Discovery Lov. Ah Sir I 'le make you discover what Tricks you are playing here Strikes him D. Boast Hold hold Sir hold Muchw. Hold hold Sir hold Tob. Ah ah Good Sir Nay Sir Good Sir Pray good Master D. Boast How Muchw. How Iac. Ha ha ha he Hil. Ha ha ha he Beat. Ha ha ha he Tob. Ah Sir I ask you Forgiveness on my Knees Lov. Sirrah what makes you loytering here when I send you about Business Tob. Ah Lord Sir I only put on your Masquerading Suit to come to Mrs. Beatrice in to see if she cou'd know me Hil. Ha ha ha he Toby Ha ha ha ha Knock ready Iac. Ha ha ha he Toby Ha ha ha ha Beat. Ha ha ha he Toby Ha ha ha ha Lov. I thought I should find you here go get you home you Rogue go D. Boast Wou'd I was gone too Women laugh Ha ha ha Hil. My Lord won't you follow and wait on your Cavaliero to Kiss the Kings hand Ha ha ha D. Boast Ha ha ha ha A forc't Laugh Iac. Your Lordship saw him in Spain Germany and Rome Ha ha ha Hil. And bow'd to him out of the Cardinal ' s Coach Ha ha ha D. Boast Ha ha ha Muchw. I am amaz'd Ha ha ha Lov. What mean you Ladies D. Boast Ladies Gentlemen a good Jest Ha ha ha Laugh at it Ha ha Laugh heartily Ha ha ha Iac. Ha ha ha Beat. Ha ha ha D. Boast He 's a witty Knave Ha ha ha my sides will burst with Laughing Ha ha ha Lov. I am afraid the Rogue has play'd some Unlucky Trick D. Boast No no Ha ha ha a Jest a very good Jest Ha ha ha I protest my Laughing has made me Sick I 'le take my leave Sir Muchw. Beatrice fetch in a Bottle of Sack My Lord pray drink a Glass of Sack if you 'r not Well D. Boast No matter Muchw. Oh by all means my Lord how came you to be so mistaken in him D. Boast There was a Noble Cavalier that I often met in my Travels Sir like this Knave Ha ha ha I protest I thought it had been he Well Sir Your Man 's a Witty Knave Lov. I am glad he has made you all Merry I was afraid he had play'd the Rogue For which I wou'd have so beat him My Lord your Servant your Servant Sir Ladies your Servant Exeunt Knocking at the Door Knocking within Enter Beatrice Muchw. Come Beatrice Fill my Lord a Glass of Sack See who Knock's at the Door Beatrice D. Boast drinks Beat. Here 's a Woman wou'd Speak with my Lord Beat goes to the Door Muchw. Bid Her come in Enter Mrs. Breedwell Jenny Sarah Two Children Breed Ha! Have I found you at last Are you come again after so many Years Absence Cou'd you wicked Man think to Forsake me for ever D. Boast What means the Woman Breed Ah Hard hearted Lord You know well enough what I mean Can you see me and not Blush Was it for this that you pretended Love to me and caus'd my Poor Parents to break off my Marriage with the Viccar's Son And did you Marry me your self only to leave me and make me Wretched Muchw. How 's this Iac. Marry'd Hil. Marry'd D. Boast Woman what in the Devil's name dost thou mean Breed I mean your going away and leaving of me After you had Marry'd me assoon as you saw me with Child you pretended Business to London You left me Money to keep me Six Months but before the time expir'd you ran beyond Sea without letting me know whether you were gone not sending me any thing to Maintain me in that Condition And to encrease my Misfortunes I had two Children at a Birth Muchw. Does not your Lordship know me D. Boast An impudent Quean I never saw her before I know her not Breed Not know your own Wife Shameless Lord You are a Dishonour to the Womb that bare you Have my Cares and Miseries this Seven years so alter'd me that you don't know me Yes You know me but you won't Ah that I had never known you then I shou'd not have known Sorrow You were in Hopes it would brake my Heart but I live to plague you Iac. Alas poor Woman Breed Heav'n help us poor Wretcheâ— if we must have such hard Fortune To be forsaken by our Husbands and left without Money in our Pocket Cloaths to the back and Meat or Drink for the Belly D. Boast The Womans Distracted send her to Bedlam Muchw. The Woman talks sensibly Breed Ah! How dost think I have maintain'd my self and these Two poor Children these six Years and more E'en with the Work of my own Hands God help me Cries Hil. Alas poor Woman Iac. It gâ—ieves me to see her Weep Muchw. What shou'd this mean Hil. It appears by the Story that she 's his Wife Knock here D. Boast Not my Wife I protest Knocking at Door Beat. Here 's another Woman with Child enquires for my Lord. Enter Clappam Tommie a Child as out of Breath Clap. Let me come in Hau hau I am almost dead I am out of Breath Oh wicked man it is after you that I run thus up and down Hau hau hau But now I have found you you shall not escape me D. Boast What mean'st thou now Clap. I mean to cross your Marriage you thought I was dead or far enough from England ne'r to trouble you more Did you Muchw. What 's your Business Clap. Ah that Wretch of a Husband there that Unnatural Wretch he Sold his own Wife Sold his Child Sold his own Flesh and Bloud Muchw. This is some Mistake Hil. Are you his Wife Clap. Yes Madam he Marryed me and carried me from my Friends he carry'd me with him beyond Sea and when he got me there and I began to grow Big with Child he pretended to send me by
Sea to England To live with my Friends till he return'd But instead of that I was carried to Iapan he had Sold me to the Master of the Ship who was a Dutch-man he Sold me and this poor Child that was in my Belly to Slavery and Bondage Breed Which do you say is your Husband Clap. E'en this this is he let him deny 't if he can Breed No 't is I am his Wife Clap. You his Wife too What has the Wretch two Wives That will Hang him Breed Hang him no you 'r none of his Wife Clap. Yes he is my Husband Breed I say he is my Husband and I can prove it D. Boast Are ye both possest I am Husband to neither of Ye Breed We have been Marry'd this Seven Years Clap. It is Six since he Marry'd me Breed Is this true you wicked Lord D. Boast Yes yes one's as true as the other Breed Ah shameless Man Dost thou confess thou hast Two Wives Come hither little Ienny come hither Sarah Look you these are the Fruits of our Marriage Clap. And here 's my Child too Breed Look here upon these Two sweet Babies Clap. And look here too here 's thy own Flesh and Bloud which thou did'st so Barberously sell. D. Boast Never were two such impudent Carrions seen Hil. They are as like you my Lord Breed Yes Lady and so they are Iac. This has the very Eyes and Mouth of him he is so like his Lordship Muchw. They are sweet Children indeed D. Boast Ye all dream they are neither Like me nor Pretty nor Nothing Breed Kneel Ienny kneel down little Sarah and ask Father Blessing and let 's see if he can be so Unnatural to Disowne you Clap. And do you kneel Tommiâ— ask Blessing 't is thy own Daddy 3 Child Father Father Father D. Boast The Devil take you for Whore's-Birds 3 Child Father Father Father Breed Don't you think to be gone and Leave them I 'le follow you and Proclaime it to all the World Clap. And I 'le haunt you whereâ—e're you go I 'le be satisfi'd if she is your Wife too and if I find it true I 'le have Recourse to Justice you shall be hang'd if all the Law in England will hang you for having Two Wives 3 Child Father Father Breed Justice Justice Justice c. Clap. Justice Justice Justice c. D. Boast Father Father Father c. Beat. Now must I bestir my self D. Bo. Breed Clap. 3 Children Beat. Run out Muchw. I am so amaz'd I know not what to think of all that we have seen and heard Iac. They are both his Wives for certain Hil. This wou'd have been a fine Husband for my Cozen. Now Uncle Are you not beholden to Fortune or your Wisdome for her Deliverance Cozen let me choose a Husband for you the next time Muchw. Iacinta be not rul'd by her nor hearken to her Counsel but on all occasions shew all ready Complyance to my Commands for your Niece may stay in my House I forgive you Hil. Ah Uncle and I pardon you Come Old-Man Let 's shake Hands you see I am good Natur'd So now we are all Friends Muchw. Well I must be gone abroad Hil. Fare you well Uncle Ex. Muchworth Now he 's gone we 'l be gone too Come Cozen we 'l spend this Afternoon in a Frolique we 'l go see a Play at the Nursery I 'le put on the Boyes Habit I made for a Masquerading Suit Iac. Let 's go in our Scarâ—s Vizards and Masques Hil. You shall but I 'le have my own Humour I 'le Cock and Strut and so Hector the young Cits if they come to disturb us with their Impertinences Ex. Hil. Jac. Coven-garden Muchw. House Enter Careless and Lovel meeting Lov. You come luckyly our Plot succeeds rarely Carel. Have we Routed the Enemy Lov. Horse and Foot he 'l ne'r be able to appear in the Feild agen Call D. Boastado Carel. Our new Alderman Rich and his Neice are ready to receive e'm if he comes Lov. His Wives follow'd him so close I am afraid they have scar'd his Lordship out of Town if not out of 's Witts Carel. We must find out Beatrice and recover him for all things are so well prepar'd Lov. She 's after him where er'e he is But by what means have you compass'd the bus'ness we last spoke of Carel. I sent a Letter as from an unknown friend to the Alderman to let him know there was an appointment made by his Neice and some Gallants to steal her away to Night this he easily believ'd because 't is but what he always fears and is jealous of he presently out of pretence to carry her abroad in 's coach to take the air has convey'd her to his Country House which is but Eight Miles from London Lov. Good Carel. This the Landlady told me for she 's my friend and I have feed her to let a Lady of my acquaintance have the command of the lodging for this night and thither I have convey'd our counterfeit Heiresse Lov. And Toby is now a Grave Alderman Carel. I sent him one of her Uncles old suites which I borrow'd of the Landlady Lov. He 's at the Tavern here waiting for orders Enter Beatrice Here 's Beatrice now Carel. But where 's my Lord Beat. In my pursuit I saw him give his pursuers the Dodg I gave e'm the sign to make a fault he turn'd clear back this way and they keep at a distance and I am come a nearer way to meet him here Lov. We are â—eady to receive him Enter D. Boastado Beat. That 's well here he comes le ts slip in there that he may not see us together they retire D. Boast With much a doe I have at length got clear of e'm The Jades and their bawling Bastards Father Father Father I have run my self almost out of Breath Beat. appears Beat. I am glad I have found you my Lord I have run my self almost off my Legs to o're-take ye D. Boast ' Pox o' th Whores my Shirt sticks to my back Beat. But my Lord are you Marry'd to any of e'm D. Boast O the Devil Not I. Beat. Nor promis'd e'm Marriage neither D. Boast Not I. Beat. If it should appear so hereafter it would be an injury to the Lady and I would not have a Hand in doing her any Wrong for the World I Love her as my Life D. Boast I never saw either of e'm before Upon my Honour I did not Beat. Now I believe your Lordship but if any thing of this this shou'd come to the Ladies Ear it wou'd Ruine our Designe D. Boast But I hope she 'l not hear 't so soon Beat. We must out-fly Report Come my Lord let 's instantly about it to prevent Danger D. Boast But I have got no Parson yet Beat. It can't be help't I hear her Uncle will be abroad all this Afternoon and we 'l perswade her to Counterfeit a Fit of Illness and the Doctor shall tell the