where is that wretch Dissimulation Dili. He hath transformed himselfe after a strange fashion Iudge Fraude where is he become Dili. He was seene in the streets walking in a Citizens gowne Iudge What is become of Usurie Dili. He was seene at the Exchange very lately Iudge Tell me when you heard of Simony Dili. He was seene this day walking in Paules hauing conference very great familiaritie with some of the Cleargie Iudge Fetch Lucar and Conscience to the Barre Dili. Behold worthy iudge here readie they are Enter Lucar and Conscience Iudge Stand forth Diligence deuide them a sunder Clarke Lucar thou art indited by the name of Lucar To haue committed adulterie with mercadorus the merchant and Creticus the Lawier Thou art also indited for the robberie of mercadore Lastly and chieflie for the consenting to the murder of Hospitalitie What saiest thou art thou guiltie or not in these causes Luc. Not guiltie where are mine accusers they may shame to shewe their faces I warrant you none comes nor dare to discredit my name In despite of the teeth of them that dare I speake in disdaine Iudge Impudent canst thou denie deedes so manifestly knowne Luc. In deniall stands triall I shame not let them be showne It grinds my gall they should slaunder me on this sort they are some olde cankered currish corrupt Carles that gaue mee this report My soule craues reuenge on such my sacred foes And reuengement I will haue if bodie and soule I lose Iudge Thy hatefull heart declares thy wicked life In the abundance of thy abhomination all euils are rife But what saiest thou Conscience to thy accusation that art accused to haue beene hawde vnto Lucar and spotted with all abhomination Con. What should I say nay what would I say in this our naughtie liuing Lucar Good Conscience if thou loue me say nothing Clarke Diligence suffer her not to stand prating Let him put her aside Iudge What letter is that in thy bosome Conscience Diligence reach it hither Make as though ye read it Conscience speake on let me heart what thou canst say For I know in singlenes thou wilt a truth bewray Con. My good Lord I haue no way to excuse my selfe She hath corrupted me by flattery and her accursed pelfe What neede further triall sith I Conscience am a thousand witnesses I cannot choose but condemne vs all in liuing amisse Such terror doth affright me that liuing I wish to die I am afraid there is no sparke left for me of Gods mercie Iudge Conscience where hadst thou this letter Con. It was put into my bosome by Lucar Willing me to keepe secret our lasciuious liuing I cannot but condemne vs all in this thing Iudge How now mallepart stand you still in defence or no This letter declares thy guiltie Conscience how saiest thou is it not for Tell me why standest thou in a maze speake quicklie Hadst thou thy tongue so liberall and now stand to studie Lucar O Conscience thou hast kild me by thee I am ouerthrowne Iudge It is happie that by Conscience thy abhomination is knowne Wherefore I pronounce iudgement against thee on this wise Thou shalt passe to the place of darkenesse where thou shalt heare fearefull cries Weeping wailing gnashing of teeth and torment without end Burning in the lake of fire and brunstone because thou canst not amend Wherefore Diligence conuey her hence throw her downe to the lowest hell Where the infernall sprites and damned ghosts do dwell And bring forth Loue Exit Lucar and Diligence Let Lucar make ready for Loue quickly and come with Diligence Declare that cause Conscience at large how thou commest so spotted Whereby many by thee hath beene greatly infected For vnder the colour of Conscience thou deceiuedst manie Causing them to difile the temple of God which is mans bodie A cleane conscience is a sacrifice Gods owne resting place Why wast thou then corrupted so and spotted on thy face Con. When Hospitalitie had his throate cut vp Usurie He oppressed me with crueltie and brought me to beggerie Turning me out of house and home and in the end my gowne to paie my rent to him I did send So driuen to that extremitie I haue fallen to that you see Yet after iudgement I hope of Gods mercie Iudge O Conscience shall cankered quam corrupt thy heart Or shall want in this world cause thee to feele euerlasting smart O Conscience what a small time thou hast on earth to liue why doest thou not then to God all honor giue Considering the time is euerlasting that thou shalt liue in blisse If by thy life thou rise from death to iudgement mercie and forgiuenes Enter Loue with Diligence Stand aside Conscience bring Loue to the barre What saiest thou to thy deformitie who was the cause Loue Ladie Lucar Iudge Did Lucar choke thee so that thou gauest thy selfe ouer to lust And did prodigall expences cause thee in Dissimulation to trust Thou wast pure Loue and art thou become a monster Bolstring thy selfe vpon the lasciuiousnes of Lucar Loue answere for thy selfe speake in thy defence Loue I cannot chuse but yeeld confounded by Conscience Iudge Then iudgement I pronounce on thee because thou followed Lucar Whereby thou hast solde thy soule to feele like torment with her Which torments comprehended are in the worme of Conscience who raging still shall nere haue end a plague for thine offence Care shall be thy comfort and sorrow shall thy life sustaine thou shalt be dying yet neuer dead but pining still in endlesse paine Diligence conuey her to Lucar let that be her reward Because vnto her cankered coyne she gaue her whole regard But as for Conscience carrie her to prison there to remaine vntill the day of generall session Thus we make an end Knowing that the best of vs all may amend UUhich God graunt to his good will and pleasure That we be not corrupted with the vnsatiate desire of vanishing earthly treasure For Couetousnesse is the cause of wresting mans Conscience Therefore restraine thy lust and thou shalt shun the offence FINIS Paule Bucke
the dore Vsu. I mary Madam it was Conscience who seemes to be offended at me verie sore Luc. Alas Conscience art thou become a poore broome wife Con. Alas Lucar wilt thou continue a harlot all dayes of thy life Luc. Alas me thinks it is a griefe to thee that thou art so poore Con. Alas Lucar me thinkes it is no paine to thee that thou still platest the whore Luc. Well well Conscience that sharpe tongue of thine hath not beene thy furtherance If thou hadst kept thy tongue thou hadst kept thy friend and not haue had such hinderance But wottest thou who shall be married to morrow Loue with my Dissimulation For I thinke to bid the gesse they are by this time well nie gone And hauing occasion to buy brooms I care not if I buy them all Con. Then giue me a shilling and with a good will haue them you shall Luc. Usurie carry in these broomes and giue them to the mayd For I know of such store she will be well apaid Exit Vsurie with the broomes Hold Conscience though thy broomes be not worth a quarter so much Yet to giue thee a peece of gold I do it not grutch And if thou wouldst follow my mind thou shouldst not liue in such sort But passe thy daies with pleasure store of euery kind of sport Con. I thinke you lead the world in a string for euery body followes you And sith euery one doth it why may not I do it too For that I see your free heart and great liberalitie I maruell not that all people are so willing to follow ye Luc. Then sweet soule marke what I would haue thee do for me That is to decke vp thy poore Cottage hansomely And for that purpose I haue fiue thousand crownes in store And when it is spent thou shalt haue twise so much more But onely see thy roomes be neat when I shall thither resort With familiar friends to passe the time in sport For the Deputie Constable and spitefull neighbors do spie prie and eye about my house That I dare not be once merrie within but still mute like a mouse Con. My good ladie Lucar I will fulfill your mind in euery kind of thing So that you shall be welcome at all houres whosoeuer you bring And all the dogs in the towne shall not barke at your doings I trow For your full pretence and intent I do throughly know Euen so well as if you had opened the very secrets of your hart For which I doubt not but to rest in your fauour by my desart But here comes your man Usurie Enter Vsurie Luc. I le send him home for the money Usurie steppe in and bring me the boxe of all abhomination that stands in the window It is little and round painted with diuers colours and is pretty to the show Vsu. Madam is there any superscription thereon Luc. Haue I not tolde you the name for shame get you gone Well my wench I doubt not but our pleasures shall excell Seeing thou hast got a corner fit where few neighbors dwell And they be of the poorest sort which sits our turne so right Because they dare not speake against our sports and sweet delight And if they should alas their wordes would nought at all be wayd And for to speake before my face they will be all afraid Enter Vsurie with a painted Boxe of ynke in his hande Vsu. Madam I deeme this same be it so farre as I can gesse Luc. Thou saiest the truth t is it in deed the outside shewes no lesse But Usurie I thinke Dissimulation hath not seene you since your coming home therefore go see him he will reioice when to him you are showne It is a bussie time with him helpe to further him if you can Vsu. He may commaund me to attend at boord to be his man Exit Vsurie Here let Lucar open he Boxe and dip her finger in it and spot Conscience face saying as followeth Luc. Hold here my sweet and then ouer to see what doth want the more I do behold this face the more my mind doth daunt This face is of fauour these cheekes are reddy and white these lips are cherrie red and full of deepe delight Quicke rowling eyes her temples high and forhead white as snow Her eye-browes seemely set in frame with dimpled chinne below O how beautie hath adorned thee with euery seemly hue In limmes in lookes with all the rest proportion keeping due Sure I haue not seene a finer soule in euery kind of part I cannot chuse but kisse thee with my lips that loue thee with my heart Con. I haue told the crownes and here are iust so many as you to me did say Luc. Then when thou wilt thou maiest depart and homewards take thy way And I pray thee make haste in decking of thy rome that I may find thy lodging fine when with my friend I come Con. I le make speed and where I haue with broomes ofttimes been roming I meane henceforth not to be seene but sitte to watch your comming Exit Conscience Luc. O how ioyfull may I be that such successe doe finde No maruell for pouertie and desire of Lucar do force them followe my minde Now may I reioice in full contentation That shall marry Loue with Dissimulation And haue spotted Conscience with all abhomination But I forget my selfe for I must to the wedding Both vauntingly and flauntingly although I had no bidding Exit Lucar Enter Dissimulation and Coggin his man and Symonie Cog. Sir although you be my maister I would not haue you to vpbrayd my name But I would haue you vse the right skill and title of the same For my name is neither scoggin nor scragging but ancient Coggin Sir my ancestors were fiue of the foure worthies And your selfe are of my neare kinne Dissim. Indeed thou saiest true for Coggin is a kinsman to Dissimulation But tell me haue you taken the names of the guestes Cog. Yea sir Dissim. Let me heare after what fashion The names of the guestes tolde by Coggin Cog. There is first and formost maister Forgery and master Flattery Maister Periurie and maister Iniurie Maister Crueltie and maister Pickerie maister Bribery and maister Tretcherie Maister Wincke at wrong and maister Headstrong mistris priuy theft and maister deepe Deceit maister Abhomination and mistris Fornication his wife Fardinando false-waight and Frissit false-measure his wife Dissim. Stay Fornication Frissit false-measure are often familiar with my Lady Lucar and one of them she accounts her friend Therefore they shall sit with the bride in the middest and the men at each ende Let me see there are sixteene euen as many as well neare is able to dine in the sommer parlor at the playing table Beside my fellow Fraud and you fellow Symonie But I shall haue a great misse of my fellow Usurie Sym. Take no care for that he came home yesterday euen no longer His pardon was quickly begged and that by a Courtyer And sirra since
for Lucars sake of my monie Iudge Say I Mercadorus doo vtterly renounce before all the world my duety to my Prince my honour to my parents and my good will to my country Merca. Furthermore I protest and sweare to be true to this countrie during life and thereupon I forsake my Christian faith Geron. Stay there most puissant iudge Senior mercadorus consider what you doo Pay me the principall as for the interest I forgiue it you And yet the interest is allowed amongst you Christians as well as in Turky Therefore respect your faith and do not seeme to deceiue me Merca. No point da interest no point da principall Geron. Then pay me the one halfe if you will not pay me all Merca. No point da halfe no point denere me will be a Turke I say me be weary of my Christs religion and for dat me come away Geron. Well seeing it is so I would be loth to heare the people say it was long of me Thou forsakest thy faith wherefore I forgiue thee franke and free Protesting before the iudge and all the worlde neuer to demaund peny nor halfepeny Merca. O sir Gerontus me take a your proffer and tanke you most hartily Iudge But seneor mercadorus I trow ye wil be a Turke for all this Merca. Seneor no not for all da god in da world me forsake a my Christ Iudge Why then it is as sir Gerontus said you did more for the greedines of the mony Then for any zeale or good will you bare to Turky Merca. Oh sir you make a great offence You must not iudge a my conscience Iudge One may iudge and speake truth as appeares by this Iewes seeke to excell in Christianitie Christians in Iewishnes Exit Mer. Uell vell but me tanke you sir Gerontus wit all my very hart Geron. Much good may it do you sir I repent it not for my part But yet I would not haue this holden you to serue another so Seeke to pay keep day with men so a good name on you wil go Exit Merca. You say vel sir it dus me good dat me haue coosend de Iew Faith I would my lady Lucar de whole matter now knew Uat is dat me well not do for her sweet sake But now me will prouide my iourney toward England to take Me be a Turke no it will make my lady Lucar to smile When she knowes how me did da scal Iew beguile Exit Enter Lucar and Loue with a vizard behinde Luc. Mistrisse Loue I maruell not a little what coy conceit is crept into your head that you seeme so sad and sorrowfull since the time you first did wed tell me sweet wench what thou aylest and if I can ease thy griefe I will be prest to pleasure thee in yeelding of reliefe Sure thou makest me for to thinke somewhat hath chaunst amisse I pray thee tell me what thou aylest and what the matter is Loue My griefe alas I shame to show because my bad intent Hath brought on me a iust reward and eke a strange euent Shall I be counted Loue nay rather lasciuious Lust Because vnto Dissimulation I did repose such trust But now i mone too late and blush my hap to tell My head in monstrous sort alas doth more and more still swell Luc. Is your head then swolne good mistris Loue I pray you let mee see Of truth it is behold a face that seemes to smile on me It is faire and well fauored with a countenance smooth and good Wonder is the worst to see two faces in a hood Come le ts go we le find some sports to spurne away such toyes Loue Were it not for lucar sure Loue had lost her ioyes Exeunt Enter Seruiceable Diligence the Constable and Simplicitie with an Officer to whip him or two if you can Simp. Why but must I be whipt maister Constable indeed You may saue your labour for I haue no need Dili. I must needs see thee punished there is no remedie Except thou wilt confesse and tell me Where thy fellowes are become that did the robberie Simp. Indeed maister Constable I do not know of their stealing For I did not see them since we went togither a begging Therefore pray ye sir be miserable to me and let me goe For I labour to get my liuing with begging you know Dili. Thou wast seene in their companie a little before the deed was done therefore it is most likely thou knowest where they are become Simp. Why maister Constable if a sheepe go among wolues all day Shall the sheepe be blamd if they steale any thing away Dili. Yea mary shall he for it is a great presumption that keeping them companie he is of like profession But dispatch sirs strip him and whip him Stand not to reason the question Simp. Indeed t was fraud so it was it was not I And here he comes himselfe aske him if I lie Enter Fraud Dili. What saiest thou villaine I would aduise thee hold thy toong I know him to be a wealthie man and a Burgesse of the towne Sir and it please your mastership here 's one slaunders you with felonies He saith you were the chiefe doer of a robberie Fraud What saies the rascall but you know It standeth not with my credite to braule But good maister Constable for his slaunderous report Pay him double and in as great a matter commaund me you shall Exit Simp. M. Constable must the countnance carry out the knaue Why then if one will face folks out some fine repariment he must haue Bedle put off his clothes Bedle. Come sir sacke sauce make quicke dispatch at once You shall see how finely we will fetch the skin from your bones Simp. Nay but tell me be you both right handed or no Bedle. What is that to thee why wouldst thou so same know Simp. Mary if you should both be right handed the one would hinder the other then it would not be done finely according to order For if you whip me not with credite it is not worth a pinne therefore I pray you M. Constable let me be whipt on the skinne Dili. Wheron dost thou thinke they would whip thee I pray thee declare that thou puttest vs in minde and takest so great care Simp. I was afraid you would haue worne out my clothes with whipping then afterward I should go naked a begging Bedle. Haue no doubt of that we will sauour thy clothes Thou shalt iudge that thy selfe by feeling the blowes Lead him once or twice about whipping him and so exit Enter Iudge Nemo the Clarke of the Size the Crier and Seruiceable Diligence the Iudge and Clarke being set the Crier shal sound thrise Iudge Seruiseable Diligence bring hither such prisoners as are in your custodie Dili. My diligence shall be applied very willinglie Pleaseth it you there are but three prisoners so farre as I know which are Lucar and Conscience with a deformed creature much like Bifrons the base daughter of Iuno Iudge Nor