you not with my tru-loue by the way as you came March Oh Maister Merri-thought my daughter 's gone This mirth becomes you not my daughters gone Old merri. Why an if she be what care I Or let her come or go or tarry March Mocke not my misery it is your sonne Whom I haue made my owne when all forsooke him Has stolne my onely ioy my childe away Old mer. He set her on a milk-white steed himselfe vpō a gray He neuer turn'd his face againe but he bore her quite away March Vnworthy of the kindnesse I haue shewn To thee and thine too late I well perceiue Thou art consenting to my daughters losse Old mer. Your daughter what a stur 's here wee yer daughter Let her goe thinke no more on her but sing lowd If both my sons were on the gallows I would sing downe down downe they fall downe and arise they neuer shall March Oh might I behold her once againe And she once more embrace her aged sire Old merri. Fie how scuruily this goes and she once more imbrace her aged sire you 'l make a dogge on her will yee she cares much for her aged sire I warrant you She cares cares not for her daddy nor shee cares not for her mammie For she is she is she is she is my Lord of Low-gaues Lassie March For this thy scorne I will pursue That sonne of thine to death Old merri. Do and when you ha kild him Giue him flowers i'now Palmer giue him flowers i'now Giue him red and white and blew greene and yellow March I l'e fetch my daughter Old merri. I l'e heare no more a your daughter it spoyles my mirth March I say I l'e fetch my daughter Old merri. Was neuer man for Ladies sake downe downe Tormented as I poore sir Guy de derry downe For Lucies sake that Lady bright downe downe As euer men beheld with eye de derry downe March I l'e be reueng'd by heauen Exeunt Musicke Finis Actus secundi Wife How do'st thou like this George Cit. Why this is well coney but if Raph were hot once thou shouldst see more Wife The Fidlers go againe husband Cit. I Nell but this is scuruy musicke I gaue the whoreson gallowes money and I thinke hee has not got mee the waits of South-warke if I heare him not anan I l'e twinge him by the eares You Musicians play Baloo Wife No good George le ts ha Lachrimae Cit. Why this is it cony Wife It 's all the better George now sweet lambe what story is that painted vpon the cloth the confutation of Saint Paul Cit. No lambe that 's Raph and Lucrece Wife Raph and Lucrece which Raph our Raph Cit. No mouse that was a Tartarian Wife A Tartarian well I 'wood the fidlers had done that wee might see our Raph againe Actus tertius Scoena prima Enter Iasper and Luce Iasp. Come my deere deere though we haue lost our way We haue not lost our selues are you not weary With this nights wandring broken from your rest And frighted with the terrour that attends The darknesse of these wilde vn-peopled place Luce. No my best friend I cannot either feare Or entertaine a weary thought whilst you The end of all my full desires stand by me Let them that loose their hopes and liue to languish Amongst the number of forsaken louers Tell the long weary steps and number time Start at a shadow and shrinke vp their bloud Whilst I possest with all content and quiet Thus take my prettie loue and thus imbrace him Iasp. You haue caught me Luce so fast that whilst I liue I shall become your faithfull prisoner And were these chaines for euer Come sit downe And rest your body too too delicate For these disturbances so will you sleepe Come do not be more able then you are I know you are not skilfull in these watches For women are no souldiers be not nice But take it sleepe I say Luce. I cannot sleepe Indeed I cannot friend Iasp. Why then wee 'l sing And try how that will worke vpon our sences Luce. I l'e sing or say or any thing but sleepe Ias. Come little Mer-maid rob me of my heart With that inchanting voyce Luce. You mocke me Iasper Sung Iasp. Tell me deerest what is loue Luce. 'T is a lightning from aboue 'T is an arrow 't is a fire 'T is a boy they call desire 'T is a smile Doth beguile Ias. The poore hearts of men that proue Tell me more are women true Luce. Some loue change and so do you Ias. Are they faire and neuer kind Luce. Yes when men turne with the winde Ias. Are they froward Luce. Euer toward Those that loue to loue a new Ias. Dissemble it no more I see the God Of heauy sleepe lay on his heauy mace Vpon your eye-lids Luce. I am very heauy Iasp. Sleep sleep quiet rest crowne thy sweet thoughts Keepe from her faire bloud distempers startings Horrors and fearefull shapes let all her dreames Be ioyes and chast delights imbraces wishes And such new pleasures as the rauisht soule Giues to the sences So my charmes haue tooke Keepe her you powers diuine whilst I contemplate Vpon the wealth and beauty of her minde She is onely faire and constant onely kinde And onely to thee Iasper Oh my ioyes Whither will you transport me let not fulnesse Of my poore buried hopes come vp together And ouer-charge my spirits I am weake Some say how euer ill the sea and women Are gouern'd by the Moone both ebbe and flow Both full of changes yet to them that know And truly iudge these but opinions are And heresies to bring on pleasing warre Betweene our tempers that without these were Both void of after-ater-loue and present feare Which are the best of Cupid Oh thou child Bred from dispaire I dare not entertaine thee Hauing a loue without the faults of women And greater in her perfect goods then men Which to make good and please my selfe the stronger Though certainely I am certaine of her loue I l'e try her that the world and memory May sing to after times her constancie Luce Luce awake Luce. Why do you fright me friend With those distempered lookes what makes your sword Drawne in your hand who hath offended you I pre'chee Iasper sleepe thou art wilde with watching Iasp. Come make your way to heauen and bid the world With all the villanies that sticke vpon it Fare-well you 'r for another life Luce. Oh Iasper How haue my tender yeares committed euill Especially against the man I loue Thus to be cropt vntimely Iasp. Foolish girle Canst thou imagine I could loue his daughter That flung me from my fortune into nothing Discharged me his seruice shut the doores Vpon my pouerty and scorn'd my prayers Sending me like a boat without a mast To sinke or swin Come by this hand you dye I must haue life and bloud to satisfie Your fathers wrongs Wife Away George away raise the watch at Ludgate and
Me thinks The Knight of the burning Pestle were better Wif. I l'e be sworn husband that 's as good a name as can be Cit. Let it be so begin begin my wife and I wil sit downe Pro. I pray you do Cit. What stately mucsike haue you you haue shawmes Pro. Shawnes no Cit. No I m'e a thiefe if my minde did not giue me so Rafe playes a stately part and he must needs haue shawnes I l'e be at the charge of them my selfe rather then wee 'l be without them Pro. So you are like to be Cit. Why and so I will be ther 's two shillings let 's haue the waits of South-warke they are as rare fellowes as any are in England and that will fetch them all or'e the water with a vengeance as if they were mad Pro. You shall haue them will you sit downe then Cit. I come wife Wife Sit you merry all Gentlemen I m'e bold to sit amongst you for my ease Pro. From all that 's neere the Court from all that 's great Within the compasse of the Citty-walles We now haue brought our Sceane flye farre from hence All priuate taxes immodest phrases What ere may but shew like vicious For wicked mirth neuer true pleasure brings But honest minds are pleas'd with honest things Thus much for that we do but for Rafes part You must answere for your selfe Cit. Take you no care for Rafe hee 'l discharge himselfe I warrant you Wife I faith Gentlemen I l'e giue my word for Rafe Actus primi Scoena prima Enter Marchant and Iasper his Prentice March Sirrah I l'e make you know you are my Prentice And whom my charitable loue redeem'd Euen from the fall of fortune gaue thee heate And growth to be what now thou art new cast thee Adding the trust of all I haue at home In forren Staples or vpon the Sea To thy direction ti'de the good opinions Both of my selfe and friends to thy endeauours So faire were thy beginnings but with these As I remember you had neuer charge To loue your Maisters daughter and euen then When I had found a wealthy husband for her I take it sir you had not but how euer I 'le breake the necke of that commission And make you know you are but a Merchants Factor Iasp. Sir I do liberally confesse I am yours Bound both by loue and duty to your seruice In which my labour hath bene all my profit I haue not lost in bargaine nor delighted To weare your honest gaines vpon my backe Nor haue I giuen a pencion to my bloud Or lauishly in play consum'd your stocke These and the miseries that do attend them I dare with innocence proclaime are strangers To all my temperate actions for your daughter If there be any loue to my deseruings Borne by her vertuous selfe I cannot stop it Nor am I able to refraine her wishes She 's priuate to her selfe and best of knowledge Whom she 'le make so happy as to sigh for Besides I cannot thinke you meane to match her Vnto a felow of so lame a presence One that hath little left of Nature in him Mar. 'T is very well sir I can tell your wisedome How all this shall bee cur'd Iasp. Your care becomes you March And thus it must be sir I heere discharge you My house and seruice take your liberty And when I want a sonne I 'le send for you Exit Iasp. These be the faire rewards of them that loue O you that liue in freedome neuer proue The trauell of a mind led by desire Enter Luce Luce. Why how now friend struck with my fathers thunder Iasp. Strucke and strucke dead vnlesse the remedy Be full of speede and vertue I am now What I expected long no more your fathers Luce. But mine Iasp. But yours and onely yours I am That 's all I haue to keepe mee from the Statute You dare be constant still Luce. O feare me not In this I dare be better then a woman Nor shall his anger nor his offers moue me Were they both equall to a Princes power Iasp. You know my riuall Luce. Yes and loue him deerly Euen as I loue an ague or foule weather I prethee Iasper feare him not Iasp. O no I do not meane to do him so much kindnesse But to our owne desires you know the plot We both agreed on Luce. Yes and will performe My part exactly Iasp. I desire no more Fare-well and keepe my heart 't is yours Luce. I take it He must do miracles makes me forsake it Exeunt Cittiz. Fye vpon am little infidels what a matter 's here now well I 'le be hang'd for a halfe-penny if there be not some abomination knauery in this Play well let 'em looke too t Rafe must come and if there be any tricks a brewing Wife Let 'em brew and bake too husband a Gods name Rafe will find all out I warrant you and they were older then they are I pray my pretty youth is Rafe ready Boy He will be presently Wife Now I pray you make my commendations vnto him and withall carry him this sticke of Licoras tell him his Mistresse sent it him and bid him bite a peece 't will open his pipes the better say Enter Marchant and Maister Humfery Mar. Come sir shee 's yours vpon my faith she 's yours You haue my hand for other idle lets Betweene your hopes and her thus with a wind They are scattered and no more my wanton Prentice That like a bladder blew himselfe with loue I haue let out and sent him to discouer New Maisters yet vnknowne Humf. I thanke you sir Indeed I thanke you sir and ere I stir It shall bee knowne how euer you do deeme I am of gentle bloud and gentle seeme March O sir I know it certaine Humf. Sir my friend Although as Writers say all things haue end And that we call a pudding hath his two O let it not seeme strange I pray to you If in this bloudy simile I put My loue more endlesse then fraile things or gut Wife Husband I prethee sweete lambe tell me one thing But tell mee truely stay youths I beseech you till I question my husband Citiz. What is it mouse Wife Sirrah didst thou euer see a prettier child how it behaues it selfe I warrant yee and speakes and lookes and pearts vp the head I pray you brother with your fauor were you neuer none of M. Monkesters schollars Cit. Chicken I prethee heartely containe thy selfe the childer are pretty childer but when Rafe comes Lambe Wife I when Rafe comes conny well my youth you may proceed Mar. Wel sir you know my loue and rest I hope Assur'd of my consent get but my daughters And wed her when you please you must be bold And clap in close vnto her come I know You haue language good enough to win a wench Wife A whoreson tyrant has ben an old stringer in 's daies I warrant him Humf. I take your gentle offer and withall Yeeld loue
bring a Mittimus from the Iustice for this desperate villaine Now I charge you Gentlemen see the Kings peace kept O my heart what a varlet 's this to offer man-slaughter vpon the harmelesse Gentlewoman Cit. I warrant thee sweet heart wee 'l haue him hampered Luce. Oh Iasper be not cruell If thou wilt kill me mile and do it quickly And let not many deaths appeare before me I am a woman made of feare and loue A weake weake woman kill not with thy eyes They shoot me through and through Strike I am ready And dying stil I loue thee Enter Merchant Humphrey and his men March Where abouts Iasp. No more of this now to my selfe againe Hum. There there he stands with sword like martial knight Drawne in his hand therefore beware the fight You that be wise for were I good sir Beuis I would not stay his comming by your leaues March Sirrah restore my daughter Iasp. Sirrah no March Vpon him then Wife So downe with him downe with him downe with him cut him i' th leg boies cut him i' th leg March Come your waies Minion I l'e prouide a Cage For you your growne so tame Horse her away Humph. Truly I me glad your forces haue the day exeunt manet Iasper Iasp. They are gone and I am hurt my loue is lost Neuer to get againe Oh me vnhappy Bleed bleed and dye I cannot Oh my folly Thou hast betraid me Hope where art thou fled Tell me if thou bee'st any where remaining Shall I but see my loue againe Oh no! She will not daine to looke vpon her butcher Nor is it fit she should yet I must venter Oh chance or fortune or what ere thou art That men adore for powerfull heare my cry And let me louing liue or loosing die Exit Wife Is a gone George Cit. I conie Wife Marie and let him goe sweet heart by the faith a my body a has put me into such a fright that I tremble as they say as 't were an Aspine leafe looke a my little singer George how it shakes now i truth euery member of my body is the worse for 't Cit. Come hugge in mine armes sweet mouse hee shall not fright thee any more alas mine owne deere heart how it quiuers Enter Mistresse Merrithought Rafe Michall Squire Dwarfe Host and a Tapster Wife O Rafe how dost thou Rafe how hast thou slept to night has the knight vs'd thee well Cit. Peace Nell let Rafe alone Tapst. Maister the reckoning is not paid Rafe Right curteous knight who for the orders sake Which thou hast tane hang'st out the holy bell As I this flaming pestle beare about We render thankes to your puissant selfe Your beauteous Lady and your gentle Squires For thus refreshing of our wearied limbes Stiffned with hard atchieuements in wilde desert Tapst. Sir there is twelue shillings to pay Rafe Thou merry Squire Tapstero thankes to thee For comforting our soules with double Iug And if aduentrous fortune pricke thee forth Thou Iouiall Squire to follow feats of armes Take heed thou tender euery Ladies cause Euery truery true Knight and euery damsell faire faire But spill the bloud of trecherous Sarazens And false inchanters that with magicke spels Haue done to death full many a noble Knight Host. Thou valiant Knight of the burning Pestle giue eare to me there is twelue shillings to pay and as I am a true Knight I will not bate a peny Wife George I pray thee tell me must Rafe pay twelue shillings now Cit. No Nell no nothing but the old Knight is merrie with Rafe Wife O is 't nothing else Rafe will be as merry as he Rafe Sir Knight this mirth of yours becomes you well But to requite this liberall curtesie If any of your Squires will follow armes Hee shall receiue from my heroicke hand A Knight-hood by the vertue of this Pestle Host. Faire Knight I thanke you for noble offer Therefore gentle Knight Twelue shillings you must pay or I must cap you Wife Looke George did not I tell thee as much the Knight of the Bel is in earnest Raph shall not bee beholding to him giue him his money George and let him go snickvp Ci. Cap Raph no hold your hand sir Knight of the Bel there 's your mony haue you any thing to say to Raph now Cap Raph Wife I would you should know it Raph has friends that will not suffer him to be capt for ten times so much and tea times to the end of that now take thy course Raph M. mer. Come Michael thou I wil go home to thy father he hath enough left to keep vs a day or two and we 'le set fellows abrod to cry our Purse our Casket Shal we Michael Mich. I I pray Mother intruth my feete are full of chilblaines with trauelling VVife Faith and those chilblanes are a foule trouble Mistresse Merie-thought when your youth comes home let him rub all the soles of his feete and the heeles and his ancles with a mouse skinne or if none of your people can catch a mouse when hee goes to bed let him rowle his feete in the warme embers aud I warrant you hee shall be well and you may make him put his fingers betweene his toes smell to them it 's very soueraigne for his head if he be costiue Mist. mer. Maister Knight of the burning Pestle my son Michael and I bid you farewel I thanke your Worship heartily for your kindnesse Raph. Fare-well faire Lady and your tender Squire If pricking through these Desarts I do heare Of any traiterous Knight who through his guile Hath light vpon your Casket and your Purse I will despoile him of them and restore them Mist. mer. I thanke your Worship Exit with Michael Raph. Dwarfe beare my shield Squire eleuate my lance And now fare-well you Knight of holy Bell Cit. I I Raph all is paid Raph. But yet before I go speake worthy Knight If ought you do of sad aduentures know Where errant Knights may through his prowesse winne Eternall fame and free some gentle soules From endlesse bonds of steele and lingring paine Host. Sirrah go to Nicke the Barbor and bid him prepare himselfe as I told you before quickely Tap. I am gone sir Exit Tapster Host. Sir Knight this wildernesse affoordeth none But the great venter where full many a Knight Hath tride his prowesse and come off with shame And where I would not haue you loose your life Against no man but furious fiend of hell Raph. Speake on sir Knight tell what he is and where For heere I vow vpon my blazing badge Neuer to blaze a day in quietnesse But bread and water will I onely eate And the greene hearbe and rocke shall be my couch Till I haue queld that man or beast or fiend That workes such damage to all Errant Knights Host. Not far from hence neere to a craggy cliffe At the North end of this distressed Towne There doth stand a lowly house Ruggedly
sing Come no more there boyes come no more there For we shall neuer whilst we liue come any more there Enter a boy with a Coffin Boy God saue you sir Oldmer. It 's a braue boy canst thou sing Boy Yes sir I can sing but 't is not so necessary at this time Old merri. Sing wee and chaunt it whilst loue doth grant it Boy Sir sir if you knew what I haue brought you you would haue little list to sing Old mer. O the Mimon round full long long I haue thee sought And now I haue thee found what hast thou here brought Boy A Coffin sir and your dead son Iasper in it Old mer. Dead why fare-well he Thou wast a bonny boy and I did loue thee Enter Iasper Iasp. Then I pray you sir do so still Old mer. Iaspers ghost thou art welcome from Stygian lake so soone Declare to mee what wondrous things in Pluto's court are done Ias. By my troth sir I nere came there t is too hot for me sir Old mer. A merry ghost a very merry ghost And where is your true-loue ô where is yours Ias. Marie looke you sir Heaues vp the Coffin Old mer. Ah ha Art thou good at that I faith With hey trixie terlery-whiskin the world it runnes on wheeles When the yong mans vp goes the maidens heeles Mistresse Merri-thought and Michael within Mist. mer. What Mr. Merri-thought will you not let 's in what do you thinke shall become of vs Old mer. What voyce is that that calleth at our doore Mist. mer. You know me well enough I am sure I haue not beene such a stranger to you Old mer. And some they whistled and some they sung Hey downe downe and some did lowdly say euer as the Lord Barnets horne blew away Musgraue away Mist. mer. You will not haue vs starue here will you Mr. Merri-thought Iasp. Nay good sir be perswaded she is my mother if her offences haue beene great against you let your owne loue remember she is yours and so forgiue her Luce Good Mr. Merri-thought let mee entreat you I will not be denied Mist. mer. Why Mr. Merri-thought will you be a vext thing still Old mer. Woman I take you to my loue againe but you shall sing before you enter therefore dispatch your song and so come in Mist. mer. Well you must haue your will when al 's done Micke what song canst thou sing boy Mich. I can sing none forsooth but a Ladies daughter of Paris properly Mist. mer. Song It was a Ladies daaghter c. Old mer. Come you 'r welcome home againe If such danger be in playing and iest must to earnest turne You shall go no more a Maying March within Are you within sir Maister Merri-thought Iasp. It is my maisters voyce good sir go hold him in talke whilst we conuey our selues into some inward roome Old mer. What are you are you merry you must bee very merry if you enter March I am sir Old mer. Sing then March Nay good sir open to me Old mer. Sing I say or by the merry heart you come not in March Well sir I l'e sing Fortune my Fee c. Old mer. You are welcome sir you are welcome you see your entertainment pray you bee merry March O Mr. Merri-thought I am come to aske you Forgiuenesse for the wrongs I offered you And your most vertuous sonne they 're infinite Yet my contrition shall be more then they I do confesse my hardnesse broke his heart For which iust heauen hath giuen me punishment More then my age can carry his wandring spirit Not yet at rest pursues me euery where Crying I 'le haunt thee for thy cruelty My daughter she is gone I know not how Taken inuisible and whether liuing Or in graue 't is yet vncertaine to me O Maister Merry-thought these are the weights Will sinke me to my graue forgiue me sir Old mer. Why sir I do forgiue you and be merry And if the wag in 's life time plaid the knaue Can you forgiue him too Merch. With all my heart sir Old mer. Speake it againe and hartely Merch. I do sir Now by my soule I do Old mer. With that came out his Paramoure Shee was as white as the Lillie flower Hey troule trollie lollie Enter Luce and Iasper With that came out her owne deere Knight He was as true as euer did fight c. Sir if you will forgiue ham clap their hands together there 's no more to be sad i' th' matter Merch. I do I do Cit. I do not like this peace boies heare me one of you euery bodies part is come to an end but Raphes and hee 's left out Boy 'T is long of your selfe sir wee haue nothing to doe with his part Cit. Raph come away make on him as you haue done of the rest boies come VVife Now good husband let him come out and die Cit. He shall Nel Raph come away quickely and die boy Boy 'T will be very vnfit he should die sir vpon no occasion and in a Comedy too Cit. Take you no care of that sir boy is not his part at an end thinke you when he 's dead come away Raph Enter Raph with a forked arrow through his head Raph. When I was mortall this my costiue corps Did lap vp Figs and Raisons in the Strand Where sitting I espi'd a louely Dame Whose Maister wrought with Lingell and with All And vnder ground he vampied many a boote Straight did her loue pricke forth me tender sprig To follow feats of Armes in warlike wise Through VValtham Desert where I did performe Many atchieuements and did lay on ground Huge Barbaroso that insulting Giant And all his Captiues soone set at liberty Then honour prickt me from my natiue soile Into Meldauia where I gain'd the loue Of Pompiana his beloued daughter But yet prou'd constant to the blacke thum'd maide Susan and skorn'd Pompianaes loue Yet liberall I was and gaue her pinnes And money for her fathers Officers I then returned home and thrust my selfe In action and by all men chosen was Lord of the May where I did flourish it With Skarfes and Rings and Posie in my hand After this action I preferred was And chosen Citty Captaine at Mile-end With hat and feather and with leading staffe And train'd my men and brought them all off cleere Saue one man that berai'd him with the noise But all these things I Raph did vndertake Onely for my beloued Susans sake Then comming home and sitting in my Shop With Apron blew death came vnto my Stall To cheapen Aqua-vitae but ere I Could take the bottle downe and fill a taste Death caught a pound of Pepper in his hand And sprinkled all my face and body ore And in an instant vanished away Cit. 'T is a pretty fiction i'faith Raph. Then tooke I vp my Bow and Shaft in hand And walkt into Moore-fields to coole my selfe But there grim cruell death met me againe And shot this forked arrow through my head And now I faint therefore be warn'd by me My fellowes euery one of forked heads Fare-well all you good boies in merry London Nere shall we more vpon Shroue-tuesday meete And plucke downe houses of iniquitie My paine increaseth I shall neuer more Hold open whilst another pumpes both legs Nor daube a Satten gowne with rotten egs Set vp a stake ô neuer more I shall I die flie flie my soule to Grocers Hall oh oh oh c. Wife Well said Raph doe your obeysance to the Gentlemen and go your waies well said Raph Exit Raph. Old mer. Me thinkes all we thus kindly and vnexpectedly reconciled should not depart without a song Merch. A good motion Old mer. Strike vp then Song Better Musicke nere was knowne Then a quire of hearts in one Let each other that hath beene Troubled with the gall or spleene Learne of vs to keepe his brow Smoth and plaine as ours are now Sing though before the houre of dying He shall rise and then be crying Hey ho 't is nought but mirth That keepes the body from the earth Exeunt Omnes Epilogus Cittiz. Come Nel shall we go the Plaies done VVife Nay by my faith George I haue more manners then so I 'le speake to these Gentlemen first I thanke you all Gentlemen for your patience and countenance to Raph a poore fatherlesse child and if I might see you at my house it should go hard but I would haue a pottle of wine and a pipe of Tobacco for you for truely I hope you do like the youth but I would bee glad to know the truth I referre it to your owne discretions whether you will applaud him or no for I will winke and whilst you shall do what you will I thanke you with all my heart God giue you good night come George FINIS
Exit Wife Now we shall see fine doings I warrant tee George O here they come how pretily the king of Cracuioa's daughter is drest Enter Rafe and the Lady Squire and dwarfe Cit. I Nell it is the fashion of that country I warrant tee Lady Welcome sir Knight vnto my fathers Court King of Moldauia vnto me Pompiona His daughter deere but sure you do not like Your entertainment that will stay with vs No longer but a night Rafe Damsell right faire I am on many sad aduentures bound That call me forth into the wildernesse Besides my horses backe is something gal'd Which will inforce me ride a sober pace But many thankes faire Lady be to you For vsing errant Knight with curtesie Lady But say braue knight what is your name birth Rafe My name is Rafe I am an English man As true as steele a hearty Englishman And prentice to a Grocer in the strond By deed Indent of which I haue one part But Fortune calling me to follow Armes On me this holy order I did take Of Burning pestle which in all mens eyes I beare confounding Ladies enemies Lady Oft haue I heard of your braue country-men And fertill soyle and store of holesome food My Father oft will tell me of a drinke In England found and Nipitato cal'd Which driueth all the sorrow from your hearts Rafe Lady 't is true you need not lay your lips To better Nipitato then there is Lady And of a wild-fowle he will often speake Which poudred beefe and mustard called is For there haue beene great warres 'twixt vs and you But truly Rafe it was not long of me Tell me then Rafe could you contented be To weare a Ladies fauour in your shield Rafe I am a knight of religious order And will not weare a fauour of a Ladies That trusts in Antichrist and false traditions Cit. Well sayd Rafe conuert her if thou canst Rafe Besides I haue a Lady of my owne In merry England for whose vertuous sake I tooke these Armes and Susan is her name A Coblers maid in Milke-street whom I vow Nere to forsake whilst life and Pestle last Lady Happy that Cobling dame who ere she be That for her owne deere Rafe hath gotten thee Vnhappy I that nere shall see the day To see thee more that bearst my heart away Rafe Lady fare-well I needs must take my leaue Lady Hard-harted Rafe that Ladies dost deceiue Cit. Harke thee Rafe there 's money for thee giue something in the King of Cracouia's house be not beholding to him Rafe Lady before I go I must remember Your fathers Officers who truth to tell Haue beene about me very diligent Hold vp thy snowy hand thou princely maid There 's twelue pence for your fathers Chamberlaine And another shilling for his Cooke For by my troth the Goose was rosted well And twelue-pence for your fathers horse-keeper For nointing my horse backe and for his butter There is another shilling To the maid That wash't my boot-hose there 's an English groat And two pence to the boy that wip't my boots And last faire Lady there is for your selfe Three pence to buy you pins at Bumbo faire Lady Full many thankes and I will keepe them safe Till all the heads be off for thy sake Rafe Rafe Aduance my Squire and Dwarfe I cannot stay Lady Thou kilst my heart in parting thus away Exeūt Wife I commend Rafe yet that hee will not stoope to a Craconian there 's properer women in London then any are there I-wis But heere comes Maister Humphrey and his loue againe now George Cit. I cony peace Enter Marchant Humphrey Luce and a Boy March Go get you vp I will not be intreated And gossip mine I l'e keepe you sure hereafter From gadding out againe with boyes and vnthrifts Come they are womens teares I know your fashion Go sirrah locke her in and keepe the key Exit Luce Boy Safe as you loue your life Now my sonne Humfrey You may both rest assured of my loue In this and reape your owne desire Hum. I see this loue you speake of through your daughter Although the hole be little and hereafter Will yeeld the like in all I may or can Fitting a Christian and a gentleman March I do beleeue you my good sonne and thanke you For 't were an impudence to thinke you flattered Humph. It were indeed but shall I tell you why I haue beene beaten twice about the lye March Well son no more of complement my daughter Is yours againe appoint the time and take her We 'le haue no stealing for it I my selfe And some few of our friends will see you married Hum. I would you would i'faith for be it knowne I euer was afraid to lie alone March Some three daies hence then Hum. Three daies let me see 'T is some-what of the most yet I agree Because I meane against the appointed day To visite all my friends in new array Enter seruant Ser. Sir there 's a Gentlewoman without would speake with your Worship Merch. What is shee Seru. Sir I askt her not Merch. Bid her come in Enter mistresse Merry-thought and Michael Mist. mer. Peace be to your Worship I come as a poore Suter to you sir in the behalfe of this child Merch. Are you not wife to Merrie-thought Mist. mer. Yes truely would I had nere seene his eles ha has vndone me and himselfe and his children there he liues at home sings hoights Reuels among his drunken cōpanions but I warrant you where to get a peny to put bread in his mouth he knowes not and therefore if it like your Worship I would entreate your letter to the honest Host of the Bel in VValtham that I may place my child vnder the protection of his Tapster in some setled course of life Merch. I 'me glad the heauens haue heard my prayers thy husband VVhen I was ripe in sorrows laught at me Thy sonne like an vnthankefull wretch I hauing Redeem'd him from his fall and made him mine To shew his loue againe first stole my daughter Then wrong'd this Gentleman and last of all Gaue me that griefe had almost brought me downe Vnto my graue had not a stronger hand Releiu'd my sorrowes go and weepe as I did And be vnpittied for I heere professe An euerlasting hate to all thy name Mist. mer. VVill you so sir how say you by that come Micke let him keepe his winde to coole his Porrage we 'le go to thy Nurces mick shee knits silke stockings boy and we 'le knit too boy and bee beholding to none of them all Exeunt Michael and mother Enter a boy with a letter Boy Sir I take it you are the Maister of this house Merch. How then boy Boy Then to your selfe sir comes this letter Merch. From whom my pretty Boy Boy From him that was your seruant but no more Shall that name euer be for hee is dead Griefe of your purchas'd anger broke his heart
this is the Philosophers stone that they write so much on that keepes a man euer yong Enter a Boy Boy Sir they say they know all your mony is gone and they will trust you for no more drinke Old mer. Will they not let am choose the best is I haue mirth at home and neede not send abroad for that let them keepe their drinke to themselues For Iillian of Berry shee dwels on a Hill And shee hath good Beere and Ale to sell And of good fellowes she thinks no ill And thether will we go now now now now and thether Will wee go now And when you haue made a little stay You need not aske what is to pay But kisse your Hostesse and go your way And thither c. Enter another Boy 2. Boy Sir I can get no bread for supper Old mer. Hang bread and supper let 's preserue our mirth and we shall neuer feele hunger I 'le warrant you let 's haue a Cà tch boy follow me come sing this Catch Ho ho no body at home meate nor drinke nor money ha wee none fill the pot Eedy neuer more need I Old mer. So boies enough follow mee let 's change our place and we shall laugh afresh Exeunt Wife Let him goe George a shall not haue any countenance from vs nor a good word from any i' th' Company if I may strike stroke in 't Cit. No more a shannot loue but Nel I will haue Raph doe a very notable matter now to the eternall honour and glory of all Grocers sirrah you there boy can none of you heare Boy Sir your pleasure Cit. Let Raph come out on May-day in the morning and speake vpon a Conduit with all his Scarfes about him and his fethers and his rings and his knacks Boy Why sir you do not thinke of our plot what will become of that then Cit. Why sir I care not what become on 't I 'le haue him come out or I 'le fetch him out my selfe I 'le haue something done in honor of the Citty besides he hath bene long enough vpon Aduentures bring him out quickely or if I come in amongst you Boy Well sir hee shall come out but if our play miscarry sir you are like to pay for 't Exit Boy Cit. Bring him away then Wife This will be braue i'faith George shall not he dance the morrice too for the credit of the Strand Cittiz. No sweete heart it will bee too much for the boy ô there he is Nel hee 's reasonable well in reparell but hee has not rings enough Enter Raph. Raph. London to thee I do present the merry Month of May Let each true Subiect be content to heare me what I say For from the top of Conduit head as plainely may appeare I will both tell my name to you and wherefore I came heere My name is Raph by due discent though not ignoble I Yet far inferior to the Flocke of gratious Grocery And by the Common-councell of my fellowes in the Strand With guilded Staffe and crossed Skarfe the May-lord here I stand Reioyce ô English hearts reioyce reioyce ô Louers deere Reioyce ô Citty Towne and Country reioyce eke euery Shire For now the fragrant Flowers do spring and sprout in seemely sort The little Birds do sit and sing the Lambes do make fine sport And now the Burchin Tree doth bud that maks the Schoole boy cry The Morrice rings while Hobby-horse doth foote it feateously The Lords and Ladies now abroad for their disport and play Do kisse sometimes vpon the Grasse and sometimes in the Hey Now Butter with a leafe of Sage is good to Purge the bloud Fly Venus and Phlebotomy for they are neither good Now little fish on tender stone beginne to cast their bellies And sluggish snails that erst were mute do creep out of their shells The rumbling Riuers now do warme for little boies to padle The sturdy Steede now goes to grasse and vp they hang his saddle The heauy Hart the bellowing Bucke the Rascal and the Pricket Are now among the Yeomans Pease and leaue the fearefull thicket And be like them ô you I say of this same noble Towne And lift aloft your veluet heads and slipping of your gowne With bels on legs and napkins cleane vnto your shoulders tide With Scarfes Garters as you please Hey for our Town cri'd March out and shew your willing minds by twenty and by twenty To Hogsdon or to Newington where Ale and Cakes are plenty And let it nere be said for shame that we the youths of London Lay thrumming of our Caps at home and left our custome vndone Vp then I say both yong and old both man and maide a Maying With Drums and Guns that bounce alowd mery Taber playing VVhich to prolong God saue our King and send his Country peace And roote out Treason from the Land and so my friends I cease Finis Act. 4. Actus 5. Scoena prima Enter Marchant solus March I will haue no great store of company at the wedding a cupple of neighbours and their wiues and wee will haue a Capon in stewed broth with marrow and a good peece of beefe stucke with rose-mary Enter Iasper his face mealed Iasp. Forbeare thy paines fond man it is too late March Heauen blesse me Iasper Iasp. I I am his Ghost Whom thou hast iniur'd for his constant loue Fond worldly wretch who dost not vnderstand In death that true hearts cannot parted be First know thy daughter is quite borne away On wings of Angels through the liquid aire To farre out of thy reach and neuer more Shalt thou behold her face But shee and I Will in another world enioy our loues Where neither fathers anger pouertie Nor any crosse that troubles earthly men Shall make vs seuer our vnited hearts And neuer shalt thou sit or be alone In any place but I will visit thee With gastly lookes and put into thy minde The great offences wich thou didst to me When thou art at thy Table with thy friends Merry in heart aud fild with swelling wine I l'e come in midst of all thy pride and mirth Inuisible to all men but thy selfe And whisper such a sad tale in thine eare Shall make thee let the Cuppe fall from thy hand And stand as mute and pale as Death it selfe March Forgiue me Iasper Oh! what might I doe Tell me to satisfie thy trobled Ghost Iasp. There is no meanes too late thou thinkst of this March But tell me what were best for me to doe Iasp. Repent thy deede and satisfie my father And beat fond Humphrey out of thy dores Exit Iasper Enter Humphrey Wife Looke George his very Ghost would haue folkes beaten Humph. Father my bride is gone faire mistresse Luce My soule 's the fount of vengeance mischiefes sluce March Hence foole out of my sight with thy fond passion Thou hast vndone me Humph. Hold my father deere For Luce thy daughters sake that had no peere Mar. Thy father foole there
's some blows more begone Iasper I hope thy Ghost bee well appeased To see thy will performd now will I go To satisfie thy father for thy wrongs Exit Humph. What shall I doe I haue beene beaten twice And mistresse Luce is gone helpe me deuice Since my true-true-loue is gone I neuer more Whilst I do liue vpon the sky will pore But in the darke will weare out my shooe-soles In passion in Saint Faiths Church vnder Paules Exit Wife George call Rafe hither if you loue me call Rafe hither I haue the brauest thing for him to do George pre'thee call him quickly Cit. Rafe Why Rafe boy Enter Rafe Rafe Heere sir Cit. Come hither Rafe come to thy mistresse boy Wife Rafe I would haue thee call all the youthes together in battle-ray with drums and guns and flags and march to Mile end in pompous fashion and there exhort your Souldiers to be merry and wise and to keepe their beards from burning Rafe and then skirmish and let your flagges flye and cry kill kill kill my husband shall lend you his Ierkin Rafe and there 's a scarfe for the rest the house shall furnish you and wee 'l pay for 't doe it brauely Rafe and thinke before whom you performe and what person you represent Rafe I warrant you mistresse if I do it not for the honour of the Citty and the credit of my maister let me neuer hope for freedome Wife 'T is well spoken I faith go thy wayes thou art a sparke indeed Cit. Rafe Rafe double your files brauely Rafe Rafe I warrant you sir Exit Rafe Cit. Let him looke narrowly to his seruice I shall take him else I was there my selfe a pike-man once in the hottest of the day wench had my feather shot sheere away the fringe of my pike burnt off with powder my pate broken with a scouring-sticke and yet I thanke God I am heere Drum within Wife Harke George the drums Cit. Ran tan tan tan ran tan O wench an thou hadst but seene little Ned of Algate drum Ned how hee made it rore againe and layd on like a tyrant and then stroke softly till the ward came vp and then thundred againe and together we go sa sa sa bounce quoth the guns courage my hearts quoth the Captaines Saint George quoth the pikemen and withall here they lay and there they lay And yet for all this I am heere wench Wife Be thankfull for it George for indeed 't is wonderfull Enter Rafe and his company with Drummes and colours Rafe March faire my hearts Lieuetenant beate the reare vp Ancient let your colours flye but haue a great care of the Butchers hookes at white-Chappell they haue beene the death of many a faire Ancient Open your files that I may take a view both of your persons and munition Sergeant call a muster Serg. A stand William Hamerton peuterer Ham. Here Captaine Rafe A Corslet and a spanish pike 't is well can you shake it with a terror Ham. I hope so Captaine Rafe Charge vpon me 't is with the weakest put more strength William Hammerton more strength as you were againe Proceed Sergeant Serge. George Greene-goose Poulterer Greene Heere Rafe Let me see your peece neighbour Greene-goose when was she shot in Greene And like you maister Captaine I made a shot euen now partly to scoure her and partly for audacity Rafe It should seeme so certainely for her breath is yet inflamed besides there is a maine fault in the touch-hole it runnes and stinketh and I tell you moreouer and beleeue it Ten such touch-holes would breed the pox in the Army Get you a feather neighbour get you a feather sweet oyle and paper and your peece may do well enough yet Where 's your powder Greene Heere Rafe What in a paper As I am a Souldier and Gentleman it craues a Martiall Court you ought to dye for 't Where 's your horne answere me to that Greene An 't like you sir I was obliuious Rafe It likes me not you should bee so 't is a shame for you and a scandall to all our neighbours beeing a man of worth and estimation to leaue your horne behinde you I am afraid 't will breed example But let me tell you no more on 't stand till I view you all What 's become o' th nose of your flaske 1. Souldier Indeed law Captaine 't was blowne away with powder Rafe Put on a new one at the Cities charge Where 's the stone of this peece 2. Souldier The Drummer tooke it out to light Tobacco Rafe 'T is a fault my friend put it in againe You want a Nose and you a Stone Sergeant take a note on 't for I meane to stoppe it in the pay Remoue and march soft and faire Gentlemen soft and faire double your files as you were faces about Now you with the sodden face keepe in there looke to your match sirrah it will be in your fellowes flaske anone So make a crescent now aduance your pikes stand and giue eare Gentlemen Countrey-men Friends and my fellow-Souldiers I haue brought you this day from the Shops of Security and the Counters of Content to measure out in these furious fields Honour by the ell and prowesse by the pound Let it not ô let it not I say bee told hereafter the noble issue of this Citie fainted but beare your selues in this faire action like men valiant men and freemen Feare not the face of the enemy nor the noise of the guns for beleeue me brethren the rude rumbling of a Brewers Carre is farre more terrible of which you haue a daily experience Neither let the stinke of powder offend you since a more valiant stinke is nightly with you To a resolued minde his home is euery where I speake not this to take away the hope of your returne for you shall see I do not doubt it and that very shortly your louing wiues againe and your sweet children whose care doth beare you company in baskets Remember then whose cause you haue in hand and like a sort of true-borne Scauingers scoure me this famous Realme of enemies I haue no more to say but this Stand to your tacklings lads and shew to the world you can as well brandish a sword as shake an apron Saint George and on my hearts Omnes St. George St. George Exeunt Wife 'T was well done Rafe I l'e send thee a cold Capon a field and a bottle of March-beere and it may be come my selfe to see thee Cit. Nell the boy has deceiued me much I did not thinke it had beene in him he has performed such a matter wench that if I liue next yeare I l'e haue him Captaine of the Gally-foist or I l'e want my will Enter old Merri-thought Old mer. Yet I thanke God I breake not a rinkle more then I had not a stoope boyce Care liue with Cats I defie thee my heart is as sound as an Oke and though I want drinke to wet my whistle I can