ACT I., SCENE I.

Enter, as making themselves ready,Tim Bloodhound, andSimthe man.

Sim.Good morrow, Master Tim.Tim.Morrow, Sim; my father stirring, Sim?Sim.Not yet, I think; he heard some ill-news of your brother Alexander last night, that will make him lie an hour extraordinary.Tim.Hum: I'm sorry the old man should lie by the hour; but, O, these wicked elder brothers, that swear refuse them,[1]and drink nothing but wicked sack; when we swear nothing but niggers-noggers, make a meal of a bloat herring, water itwith four-shillings' beer, and then swear we have dined as well as my lord mayor.Sim.Here was goody Fin, the fishwoman, fetched home her ring last night.Tim.You should have put her money by itself, for fear of wronging of the whole heap.Sim.So I did, sir, and washed it first in two waters.Tim.All these petty pawns, sirrah, my father commits to my managing, to instruct me in this craft that, when he dies, the commonwealth may not[2]want a good member.

Sim.Good morrow, Master Tim.

Tim.Morrow, Sim; my father stirring, Sim?

Sim.Not yet, I think; he heard some ill-news of your brother Alexander last night, that will make him lie an hour extraordinary.

Tim.Hum: I'm sorry the old man should lie by the hour; but, O, these wicked elder brothers, that swear refuse them,[1]and drink nothing but wicked sack; when we swear nothing but niggers-noggers, make a meal of a bloat herring, water itwith four-shillings' beer, and then swear we have dined as well as my lord mayor.

Sim.Here was goody Fin, the fishwoman, fetched home her ring last night.

Tim.You should have put her money by itself, for fear of wronging of the whole heap.

Sim.So I did, sir, and washed it first in two waters.

Tim.All these petty pawns, sirrah, my father commits to my managing, to instruct me in this craft that, when he dies, the commonwealth may not[2]want a good member.

EnterMistress Mary.

Sim.Nay, you are cursed as much as he already.Mis. Mary.O brother, 'tis well you are up.Tim.Why, why?Mis. Mary.Now you shall see the dainty widow, the sweet widow, the delicate widow, that to-morrow morning must be our mother-in-law.Tim.What, the widow Wag?Sim.Yes, yes; she that dwells in Blackfriars, next to the sign of the Fool laughing at a feather.[3]Mis. Mary.She, she; good brother, make yourself handsome, for my father will bring her hither presently.Tim.Niggers-noggers, I thought he had been sick, and had not been up, Sim.Sim.Why, so did I too; but it seems the widow took him at a better hand, and raised him so much the sooner.Tim.While I tie my band, prythee stroke up my foretop a little: niggers, an' I had but dreamedof this an hour before I waked, I would have put on my Sunday clothes. 'Snails, my shoes are pale as the cheek of a stewed pander; a clout, a clout, Sim.Sim.More haste the worse speed; here's ne'er a clout now.Tim.What's that lies by the hooks?Sim.This? 'tis a sumner's coat.[4]Tim.Prythee, lend's a sleeve of that; he had a noble on't last night, and never paid me my bill-money.

Sim.Nay, you are cursed as much as he already.

Mis. Mary.O brother, 'tis well you are up.

Tim.Why, why?

Mis. Mary.Now you shall see the dainty widow, the sweet widow, the delicate widow, that to-morrow morning must be our mother-in-law.

Tim.What, the widow Wag?

Sim.Yes, yes; she that dwells in Blackfriars, next to the sign of the Fool laughing at a feather.[3]

Mis. Mary.She, she; good brother, make yourself handsome, for my father will bring her hither presently.

Tim.Niggers-noggers, I thought he had been sick, and had not been up, Sim.

Sim.Why, so did I too; but it seems the widow took him at a better hand, and raised him so much the sooner.

Tim.While I tie my band, prythee stroke up my foretop a little: niggers, an' I had but dreamedof this an hour before I waked, I would have put on my Sunday clothes. 'Snails, my shoes are pale as the cheek of a stewed pander; a clout, a clout, Sim.

Sim.More haste the worse speed; here's ne'er a clout now.

Tim.What's that lies by the hooks?

Sim.This? 'tis a sumner's coat.[4]

Tim.Prythee, lend's a sleeve of that; he had a noble on't last night, and never paid me my bill-money.

EnterOld Bloodhound, theWidow, herMaid, andMan.[5]

Blood.Look, look, up[6]and ready; all is ready, widow. He is in some deep discourse with Sim, concerning moneys out to one or another.Wid.Has he said his prayers, sir?Blood.Prayer before providence! When did ye know any thrive and swell that uses it? He's a chip o' th' old block; I exercise him in the trade of thrift, by turning him to all the petty pawns. If they come to me, I tell them I have given over brokering, moiling for muck and trash, and that I mean to live a life monastic, a praying life: pull out the tale of Crœsus from my pocket, and swear 'tis called "Charity's Looking-Glass, or an exhortation to forsake the world."Maid.Dainty hypocrite![Aside.Wid.Peace!Blood.But let a fine fool that's well-feathered come, and withal good meat, I have a friend, itmay be, that may compassionate his wants. I'll tell you an old saw[7]for't over my chimney yonder—

Blood.Look, look, up[6]and ready; all is ready, widow. He is in some deep discourse with Sim, concerning moneys out to one or another.

Wid.Has he said his prayers, sir?

Blood.Prayer before providence! When did ye know any thrive and swell that uses it? He's a chip o' th' old block; I exercise him in the trade of thrift, by turning him to all the petty pawns. If they come to me, I tell them I have given over brokering, moiling for muck and trash, and that I mean to live a life monastic, a praying life: pull out the tale of Crœsus from my pocket, and swear 'tis called "Charity's Looking-Glass, or an exhortation to forsake the world."

Maid.Dainty hypocrite![Aside.

Wid.Peace!

Blood.But let a fine fool that's well-feathered come, and withal good meat, I have a friend, itmay be, that may compassionate his wants. I'll tell you an old saw[7]for't over my chimney yonder—

A poor man seem to him that's poor,And prays thee for to lend;But tell the prodigal (not quite spent)Thou wilt procure a friend.

Wid.Trust me, a thrifty saw.Blood.Many will have virtuous admonitions on their walls, but not a piece in their coffers: give me these witty politic saws; and indeed my house is furnished with no other.Wid.How happy shall I be to wed such wisdom!Blood.Shalt bed it, shalt bed it, wench; shalt ha't by infusion. Look, look!

Wid.Trust me, a thrifty saw.

Blood.Many will have virtuous admonitions on their walls, but not a piece in their coffers: give me these witty politic saws; and indeed my house is furnished with no other.

Wid.How happy shall I be to wed such wisdom!

Blood.Shalt bed it, shalt bed it, wench; shalt ha't by infusion. Look, look!

Enter aSmith.

Smith.Save ye, Master Tim.Tim.Who's this? goodman File, the blacksmith! I thought it had been our old collier. Did you go to bed with that dirty face, goodman File?Smith.And rise with it too, sir.Tim.What have you bumming out there, goodman File?Smith.A vice, sir, that I would fain be furnished with a little money upon.Tim.Why, how will you do to work then, goodman File?Smith.This is my spare vice, not that I live by.Tim.Hum! you did not buy this spare vice of a lean courtier, did ye?Smith.No, sir, of a fat cook, that 'strained[8]of a smith for's rent.Sim.O hard-hearted man of grease!Tim.Nay, nay, Sim, we must do't sometimes.Blood.Ha, thrifty whoreson!Tim.And what would serve your turn, goodman File?Smith.A noble, sir.Tim.What! upon a spare vice to lend a noble?Sim.Why, sir, for ten groats you may make yourself drunk, and so buy a vice outright for half the money.Tim.That is a noble vice, I assure you.Sim.How long would you have it?Smith.But a fortnight; 'tis to buy stuff, I protest, sir.Tim.Look you, being a neighbour, and born one for another——Blood.Ha, villain, shalt have all!Tim.There is five shillings upon't, which, at the fortnight's end, goodman File, you must make five shillings sixpence.Smith.How, sir?Tim.Nay, an' it were not to do you a courtesy——Blood.Ha, boy!Tim.And then I had forgot threepence for my bill; so there is four shillings and ninepence,[9]which you are to tender back five shillings sixpence, goodman File, at the end of the fortnight.Smith.Well, an' it were not for earnest necessity——Ha, boys! I come, I come, you black rascals, let the cans go round.[ExitSmith.Tim.Sim, because the man's an honest man, I pray lay up his vice, as safe as it were our own.Sim.And if he miss his day, and forfeit, it shall be yours and your heirs for ever.Blood.What, disbursing money, boy? Here is thy mother-in-law.Sim.Your nose drops: 'twill spoil her ruff.Tim.Pray, forsooth, what's a clock?Maid.O, fie upon him, mistress, I thought he had begun to ask you blessing.Wid.Peace, we'll have more on't.[Walks towards him.Tim.I wonnot kiss, indeed.Sim.An' he wonnot, here are those that will, forsooth.Blood.Get you in, you rogue.[ExitSim.Wid.I hope you will, sir: I was bred in Ireland, where the women begin the salutation.Tim.I wonnot kiss truly.Wid.Indeed you must.Tim.Would my girdle may break if I do.[10]Wid.I have a mind.Tim.Niggers-noggers, I wonnot.

Smith.Save ye, Master Tim.

Tim.Who's this? goodman File, the blacksmith! I thought it had been our old collier. Did you go to bed with that dirty face, goodman File?

Smith.And rise with it too, sir.

Tim.What have you bumming out there, goodman File?

Smith.A vice, sir, that I would fain be furnished with a little money upon.

Tim.Why, how will you do to work then, goodman File?

Smith.This is my spare vice, not that I live by.

Tim.Hum! you did not buy this spare vice of a lean courtier, did ye?

Smith.No, sir, of a fat cook, that 'strained[8]of a smith for's rent.

Sim.O hard-hearted man of grease!

Tim.Nay, nay, Sim, we must do't sometimes.

Blood.Ha, thrifty whoreson!

Tim.And what would serve your turn, goodman File?

Smith.A noble, sir.

Tim.What! upon a spare vice to lend a noble?

Sim.Why, sir, for ten groats you may make yourself drunk, and so buy a vice outright for half the money.

Tim.That is a noble vice, I assure you.

Sim.How long would you have it?

Smith.But a fortnight; 'tis to buy stuff, I protest, sir.

Tim.Look you, being a neighbour, and born one for another——

Blood.Ha, villain, shalt have all!

Tim.There is five shillings upon't, which, at the fortnight's end, goodman File, you must make five shillings sixpence.

Smith.How, sir?

Tim.Nay, an' it were not to do you a courtesy——

Blood.Ha, boy!

Tim.And then I had forgot threepence for my bill; so there is four shillings and ninepence,[9]which you are to tender back five shillings sixpence, goodman File, at the end of the fortnight.

Smith.Well, an' it were not for earnest necessity——Ha, boys! I come, I come, you black rascals, let the cans go round.[ExitSmith.

Tim.Sim, because the man's an honest man, I pray lay up his vice, as safe as it were our own.

Sim.And if he miss his day, and forfeit, it shall be yours and your heirs for ever.

Blood.What, disbursing money, boy? Here is thy mother-in-law.

Sim.Your nose drops: 'twill spoil her ruff.

Tim.Pray, forsooth, what's a clock?

Maid.O, fie upon him, mistress, I thought he had begun to ask you blessing.

Wid.Peace, we'll have more on't.[Walks towards him.

Tim.I wonnot kiss, indeed.

Sim.An' he wonnot, here are those that will, forsooth.

Blood.Get you in, you rogue.[ExitSim.

Wid.I hope you will, sir: I was bred in Ireland, where the women begin the salutation.

Tim.I wonnot kiss truly.

Wid.Indeed you must.

Tim.Would my girdle may break if I do.[10]

Wid.I have a mind.

Tim.Niggers-noggers, I wonnot.

Blood.Nay, nay, now his great oath's pass'd, there's no talk on't.I like him ne'er the worse; there's an old saw for't—A kiss first, next the feeling sense,Crack say the purse-strings, out fly the pence.But he can talk, though: whose boy are you, Tim?

Blood.Nay, nay, now his great oath's pass'd, there's no talk on't.I like him ne'er the worse; there's an old saw for't—

A kiss first, next the feeling sense,Crack say the purse-strings, out fly the pence.

But he can talk, though: whose boy are you, Tim?

Tim.Your boy, forsooth, father.Blood.Can you turn and wind a penny, Tim?Tim.Better than yourself, forsooth, father.Blood.You have looked in the church-book of late; how old are you, Tim?Tim.Two and twenty years, three months, three days, and three quarters of an hour, forsooth, father.Wid.He has arithmetic.Blood.And grammar too: what's Latin for your head, Tim?Tim.Caput.Wid.But what for the head of a block?Tim.Caputblockhead.Blood.Do you hear; your ear?Tim.Aura.Blood.Your eye?Tim.Oculus.Blood.That's for one eye; what's Latin for two?Tim.Oculus-Oculus.[11]Widow.An admirable accidental grammarian, I protest, sir.Blood.This boy shall have all: I have an elder rogue that sucks and draws me; a tavern academian; one that protests to whores, and shares with highway lawyers; an arrant unclarified rogue, that drinks nothing but wicked sack.

Tim.Your boy, forsooth, father.

Blood.Can you turn and wind a penny, Tim?

Tim.Better than yourself, forsooth, father.

Blood.You have looked in the church-book of late; how old are you, Tim?

Tim.Two and twenty years, three months, three days, and three quarters of an hour, forsooth, father.

Wid.He has arithmetic.

Blood.And grammar too: what's Latin for your head, Tim?

Tim.Caput.

Wid.But what for the head of a block?

Tim.Caputblockhead.

Blood.Do you hear; your ear?

Tim.Aura.

Blood.Your eye?

Tim.Oculus.

Blood.That's for one eye; what's Latin for two?

Tim.Oculus-Oculus.[11]

Widow.An admirable accidental grammarian, I protest, sir.

Blood.This boy shall have all: I have an elder rogue that sucks and draws me; a tavern academian; one that protests to whores, and shares with highway lawyers; an arrant unclarified rogue, that drinks nothing but wicked sack.

EnterSimandAlexanderdrunk.

Sim.Here's a gentleman would speak with you.Blood.Look, look; now he's come for more money.Wid.A very hopeful house to match into, wench; the father a knave, one son a drunkard, and t'other a fool.[Aside.Tim.O monster, father! Look if he be not drunk; the very sight of him makes me long for a cup of six.[12]Alex.Pray, father, pray to God to bless me.[ToTim.Blood.Look, look! takes his brother for his father!Sim.Alas, sir! when the drink's in, the wit's out? and none but wise children know their own fathers.Tim.Why, I am none of your father, brother; I am Tim; do you know Tim?Alex.Yes, umph—for a coxcomb.Wid.How wild he looks! Good sir, we'll take our leaves.Blood.Shalt not go, faith, widow: you cheater, rogue; must I have my friends frighted out of my house by you? Look he[13]steal nothing to feast his bawds. Get you out, sirrah! there are constables, beadles, whips, and the college of extravagants, yclept Bridewell, you rogue; you rogue, there is, there is, mark that.Alex.Can you lend me a mark upon this ring, sir? and there set it down in your book, and, umph—mark that.Blood.I'll have no stolen rings picked out of pockets, or taken upon the way,[14]not I.Alex.I'll give you an old saw for't.Blood.There's a rogue mocks his father: sirrah, get you gone. Sim, go let loose the mastiff.Sim.Alas, sir! he'll tear and pull out your son's throat.Blood.Better pull't out than halter stretch it. Away, out of my doors! rogue, I defy thee.Alex.Must you be my mother-in-law?Wid.So your father says, sir.Alex.You see the worst of your eldest son; I abuse nobody.Blood.The rogue will fall upon her.Alex.I will tell you an old saw.Wid.Pray let's hear it.

Sim.Here's a gentleman would speak with you.

Blood.Look, look; now he's come for more money.

Wid.A very hopeful house to match into, wench; the father a knave, one son a drunkard, and t'other a fool.[Aside.

Tim.O monster, father! Look if he be not drunk; the very sight of him makes me long for a cup of six.[12]

Alex.Pray, father, pray to God to bless me.[ToTim.

Blood.Look, look! takes his brother for his father!

Sim.Alas, sir! when the drink's in, the wit's out? and none but wise children know their own fathers.

Tim.Why, I am none of your father, brother; I am Tim; do you know Tim?

Alex.Yes, umph—for a coxcomb.

Wid.How wild he looks! Good sir, we'll take our leaves.

Blood.Shalt not go, faith, widow: you cheater, rogue; must I have my friends frighted out of my house by you? Look he[13]steal nothing to feast his bawds. Get you out, sirrah! there are constables, beadles, whips, and the college of extravagants, yclept Bridewell, you rogue; you rogue, there is, there is, mark that.

Alex.Can you lend me a mark upon this ring, sir? and there set it down in your book, and, umph—mark that.

Blood.I'll have no stolen rings picked out of pockets, or taken upon the way,[14]not I.

Alex.I'll give you an old saw for't.

Blood.There's a rogue mocks his father: sirrah, get you gone. Sim, go let loose the mastiff.

Sim.Alas, sir! he'll tear and pull out your son's throat.

Blood.Better pull't out than halter stretch it. Away, out of my doors! rogue, I defy thee.

Alex.Must you be my mother-in-law?

Wid.So your father says, sir.

Alex.You see the worst of your eldest son; I abuse nobody.

Blood.The rogue will fall upon her.

Alex.I will tell you an old saw.

Wid.Pray let's hear it.

Alex.An old man is a bedful of bones,And who can it deny?By whom (umph)[15]a young wench lies and groansFor better company.

Alex.

An old man is a bedful of bones,And who can it deny?By whom (umph)[15]a young wench lies and groansFor better company.

Blood.Did you ever hear such a rascal? Come, come, let's leave him: I'll go buy thy wedding-ring presently. You're best be gone, sirrah: I am going for the constable—ay, and one of the churchwardens; and, now I think on't, he shall pay five shillings to the poor for being drunk: twelve pence shall go into the box, and t'other four my partner and I will share betwixt us. There's a new path to thrift, wench; we must live, we must live, girl.Wid.And at last die for all together.

Wid.And at last die for all together.

[ExeuntBloodhound,Widow,Maid, andMan.

Sim.'Tis a diamond.[16][Aside.Tim.You'll be at the Fountain[17]after dinner?Alex.While 'twill run, boy.Tim.Here's a noble now, and I'll bring you t'other as I come by to the tavern; but I'll make you swear I shall drink nothing but small beer.Alex.Niggers-noggers, thou shalt not; there's thine own oath for thee: thou shalt eat nothing, an' thou wilt, but a poached spider, and drive it down with syrup of toads.[Exit.Tim.Ah! prythee, Sim, bid the maid eat my breakfast herself.[Exit.Sim.H' has turned his stomach, for all the world like a Puritan's at the sight of a surplice.[18]But your breakfast shall be devoured by a stomach of a stronger constitution, I warrant you.[Exit.

Sim.'Tis a diamond.[16][Aside.

Tim.You'll be at the Fountain[17]after dinner?

Alex.While 'twill run, boy.

Tim.Here's a noble now, and I'll bring you t'other as I come by to the tavern; but I'll make you swear I shall drink nothing but small beer.

Alex.Niggers-noggers, thou shalt not; there's thine own oath for thee: thou shalt eat nothing, an' thou wilt, but a poached spider, and drive it down with syrup of toads.[Exit.

Tim.Ah! prythee, Sim, bid the maid eat my breakfast herself.[Exit.

Sim.H' has turned his stomach, for all the world like a Puritan's at the sight of a surplice.[18]But your breakfast shall be devoured by a stomach of a stronger constitution, I warrant you.[Exit.

EnterCaptain CarvegutandLieutenantBottom.[19]

Capt.No game abroad this morning? ThisCoxcomb park,[20]I think, be past the best: I haveknown the time the bottom 'twixt those hills hasbeen better fledged.Lieut.Look out, Captain, there's matter ofemployment at foot o' th' hill.Capt.A business?Lieut.Yes, and hopeful. There's a morningbird, his flight, it seems, for London: he halloosand sings sweetly: prythee, let's go and put himout of tune.Capt.Thee and I have crotchets in our pates;and thou knowest two crotchets make one quaver;[21]he shall shake for't.[Exeunt.

Capt.No game abroad this morning? ThisCoxcomb park,[20]I think, be past the best: I haveknown the time the bottom 'twixt those hills hasbeen better fledged.

Lieut.Look out, Captain, there's matter ofemployment at foot o' th' hill.

Capt.A business?

Lieut.Yes, and hopeful. There's a morningbird, his flight, it seems, for London: he halloosand sings sweetly: prythee, let's go and put himout of tune.

Capt.Thee and I have crotchets in our pates;and thou knowest two crotchets make one quaver;[21]he shall shake for't.[Exeunt.

EnterRandall.

Ran.Did hur not see hur true loves,As hur came from London?O, if hur saw not hur fine prave loves,Randall is quite undone.

Ran.

Did hur not see hur true loves,As hur came from London?O, if hur saw not hur fine prave loves,Randall is quite undone.

Well, was never mortal man in Wales could have waged praver, finers, and nimblers, than Randalls have done, to get service in Londons: whoope, where was hur now? just upon a pridge of stone, between the legs of a couple of pretty hills, but no more near mountains in Wales, than Clim of the Clough's bow to hur cozen David's harp. And now hur prattle of Davie, I think yonder come prancing down the hills from Kingston a couple of hur t'other cozens, Saint Nicholas' clerks;[22]the morning was so red as an egg, and the place fery full of dangers, perils, and bloody businesses by reports: augh! her swords was trawn; Cod pless us! and hur cozen Hercules was not stand againsttwo. Which shall hur take? If they take Randalls, will rip Randalls cuts out; and then Randalls shall see Paul's steeples no more; therefore hur shall go directly under the pridge, here was but standing to knees in little fine cool fair waters; and by cat, if hur have Randalls out, hur shall come and fetch Randalls, and hur will, were hur nineteen Nicholas' clerks.[Exit.

EnterCaptainandLieutenant.

Lieut.Which way took he?Capt.On straight, I think.Lieut.Then we should see him, man; he was just in mine eye when we were at foot o' th' hill, and, to my thinking, stood here looking towards us upon the bridge.Capt.So thought I; but with the cloud of dust we raised about us, with the speed our horses made, it seems we lost him. Now I could stamp, and bite my horse's ears off.Lieut.Let's spur towards Coomb House:[23]he struck that way; sure, he's not upon the road.Capt.'Sfoot, if we miss him, how shall we keep our word with Saunder Bloodhound in Fleet Street, after dinner, at the Fountain? he's out of cash; and thou know'st, by Cutter's law,[24]we are bound to relieve one another.Lieut.Let's scour towards Coomb House; but if we miss him?Capt.No matter; dost see yonder barn o' th' left hand?Lieut.What of that?

Lieut.Which way took he?

Capt.On straight, I think.

Lieut.Then we should see him, man; he was just in mine eye when we were at foot o' th' hill, and, to my thinking, stood here looking towards us upon the bridge.

Capt.So thought I; but with the cloud of dust we raised about us, with the speed our horses made, it seems we lost him. Now I could stamp, and bite my horse's ears off.

Lieut.Let's spur towards Coomb House:[23]he struck that way; sure, he's not upon the road.

Capt.'Sfoot, if we miss him, how shall we keep our word with Saunder Bloodhound in Fleet Street, after dinner, at the Fountain? he's out of cash; and thou know'st, by Cutter's law,[24]we are bound to relieve one another.

Lieut.Let's scour towards Coomb House; but if we miss him?

Capt.No matter; dost see yonder barn o' th' left hand?

Lieut.What of that?

Capt.At the west end I tore a piece of board out,And stuff'd in close amongst the straw a bagOf a hundred pound at least, all in round shillings,Which I made my last night's purchase from a lawyer.Lieut.Dost know the place to fetch it again?Capt.The torn board is my landmark; if we miss this,We make for that; and, whilst that lasts, O London,Thou labyrinth that puzzlest strictest search,Convenient inns-of-court for highway-lawyers,How with rich wine, tobacco, and sweet wenches,We'll canvas thy dark case!Lieut.Away, let's spur.[Exeunt.

Capt.At the west end I tore a piece of board out,And stuff'd in close amongst the straw a bagOf a hundred pound at least, all in round shillings,Which I made my last night's purchase from a lawyer.

Lieut.Dost know the place to fetch it again?

Capt.The torn board is my landmark; if we miss this,We make for that; and, whilst that lasts, O London,Thou labyrinth that puzzlest strictest search,Convenient inns-of-court for highway-lawyers,How with rich wine, tobacco, and sweet wenches,We'll canvas thy dark case!

Lieut.Away, let's spur.[Exeunt.

EnterRandall.

Ran.Spur did hur call hur? have made Randalls stand without poots in fery pitiful pickles; but hur will run as nimbles to Londons as creyhound after rabbits. And yet, now hur remember what hur cozens talkt, was some wiser and some, too, Randalls heard talk of parn upon left hand, and a prave bag with hundred pounds in round shillings, Cod pless us! And yonder was parns, and upon left hands too: now here was questions and demands to be made, why Randalls should not rob them would rob Randalls? hur will go toparns, pluck away pords, pull out pags, and show hur cozen a round pair of heels, with all hur round shillings; mark hur now.[Exit.

EnterCaptainandLieutenant.

Lieut.The rogue rose[25]right, and has outstripped us. This was staying in Kingston with our unlucky hostess, that must be dandled, and made drunk next her heart; she made us slip the very cream o' th' morning: if anything stand awkward, a woman's at one end on't.Capt.Come, we've a hundred pieces good yet in the barn; they shall last us and Sander[26]a month's mirth at least.Lieut.O these sweet hundred pieces! how I will kiss you and hug you with the zeal a usurer does his bastard money when he comes from church. Were't not for them, where were our hopes? But come, they shall be sure to thunder in the taverns. I but now, just now, see pottle-pots thrown down the stairs, just like serjeants and yeomen, one i' th' neck of another.Capt.Delicate vision![Exeunt.

Capt.Come, we've a hundred pieces good yet in the barn; they shall last us and Sander[26]a month's mirth at least.

Lieut.O these sweet hundred pieces! how I will kiss you and hug you with the zeal a usurer does his bastard money when he comes from church. Were't not for them, where were our hopes? But come, they shall be sure to thunder in the taverns. I but now, just now, see pottle-pots thrown down the stairs, just like serjeants and yeomen, one i' th' neck of another.

Capt.Delicate vision![Exeunt.

EnterRandall.

Ran.Hur have got hur pag and all by the hand, and hur had ferily thought in conscience, had not been so many round sillings in whole worlds, but in Wales: 'twas time to supply hur store, hur had but thirteenpence halfpenny in all the worlds, and that hur have left in hur little white purse, with a rope hur found py the parn, just in the place hur had this. Randalls will be no servingmans now;hur will buy her prave parels, prave swords, prave taggers, and prave feathers, and go a-wooing to prave, comely, pretty maids. Rob Randalls, becat! and hur were ten dozen of cousins, Randalls rob hur; mark hur now.[Exit.

EnterCaptainandLieutenant.

Lieut.A plague of Friday mornings! the most unfortunate day in the whole week.Capt.Was ever the like fate? 'sfoot, when I put it in, I was so wary, though it were midnight, that I watched till a cloud had masked the moon, for fear she should have seen't.Lieut.O luck!Capt.A gale of wind did but creep o'er the bottom, and, because I heard things stir, I stayed; 'twas twelve score past me.Lieut.The pottle-pots will sleep in peace to-night.Capt.And the sweet clinks.Lieut.The clattering of pipes.Capt.The Spanish fumes.Lieut.TheMore wine, boy, the nimbleAnon, anon, sir.[27]Capt.All to-night will be nothing; come, we must shift. 'Sfoot, what a witty rogue 'twas to leave this fair thirteenpence halfpenny and this old halter; intimating aptly,

Lieut.A plague of Friday mornings! the most unfortunate day in the whole week.

Capt.Was ever the like fate? 'sfoot, when I put it in, I was so wary, though it were midnight, that I watched till a cloud had masked the moon, for fear she should have seen't.

Lieut.O luck!

Capt.A gale of wind did but creep o'er the bottom, and, because I heard things stir, I stayed; 'twas twelve score past me.

Lieut.The pottle-pots will sleep in peace to-night.

Capt.And the sweet clinks.

Lieut.The clattering of pipes.

Capt.The Spanish fumes.

Lieut.TheMore wine, boy, the nimbleAnon, anon, sir.[27]

Capt.All to-night will be nothing; come, we must shift. 'Sfoot, what a witty rogue 'twas to leave this fair thirteenpence halfpenny and this old halter; intimating aptly,

Had the hangman met us there, by these presages,Here had been his work, and here his wages.[28]Lieut.Come, come, we must make friends.[Exeunt.

Had the hangman met us there, by these presages,Here had been his work, and here his wages.[28]

Lieut.Come, come, we must make friends.[Exeunt.

EnterBloodhound,Tim, andSim.

Blood.There, sirrah, there's his bond: run into the Strand, 'tis six weeks since the tallow-chandler fetched my hundred marks I lent him to set him up, and to buy grease; this is his day, I'll have his bones for't else, so pray tell him.Tim.But are a chandler's bones worth so much, father?Blood.Out, coxcomb!Sim.Worth so much! I know my master will make dice of them; then 'tis but letting Master Alexander carry them next Christmas to the Temple,[29]he'll make a hundred marks a night of them.Tim.Mass, that's true.Blood.And run to Master Ear-lack's the informer, in Thieving Lane, and ask him what he has done in my business. He gets abundance; and if he carry my cause with one false oath, he shall have Moll; he will take her with a little. Are you gone, sir?Tim.No, forsooth.Blood.As you come by Temple Bar, make a step to th' Devil.Tim.To the Devil, father?Sim.My master means the sign of the Devil;[30]and he cannot hurt you, fool; there's a saint holds him by the nose.Tim.Sniggers! what does the devil and a saint both in a sign?Sim.What a question's that? what does my master and his prayer-book o' Sunday both in a pew?Blood.[31]Well, well, ye gipsy, what do we both in a pew?Sim.Why, make a fair show; and the devil and the saint does no more.Blood.You're witty, you're witty. Call to the man o' th' house, bid him send in the bottles of wine to-night; they will be at hand i' th' morning. Will you run, sir?Tim.To the devil, as fast as I can, sir; the world shall know whose son I am.[Exit.Blood.Let me see now for a poesy for the ring: never an end of an old saw? 'Tis a quick widow, Sim, and would have a witty poesy.Sim.If she be quick, she's with child; whosoever got it, you must father it; so that

Tim.But are a chandler's bones worth so much, father?

Blood.Out, coxcomb!

Sim.Worth so much! I know my master will make dice of them; then 'tis but letting Master Alexander carry them next Christmas to the Temple,[29]he'll make a hundred marks a night of them.

Tim.Mass, that's true.

Blood.And run to Master Ear-lack's the informer, in Thieving Lane, and ask him what he has done in my business. He gets abundance; and if he carry my cause with one false oath, he shall have Moll; he will take her with a little. Are you gone, sir?

Tim.No, forsooth.

Blood.As you come by Temple Bar, make a step to th' Devil.

Tim.To the Devil, father?

Sim.My master means the sign of the Devil;[30]and he cannot hurt you, fool; there's a saint holds him by the nose.

Tim.Sniggers! what does the devil and a saint both in a sign?

Sim.What a question's that? what does my master and his prayer-book o' Sunday both in a pew?

Blood.[31]Well, well, ye gipsy, what do we both in a pew?

Sim.Why, make a fair show; and the devil and the saint does no more.

Blood.You're witty, you're witty. Call to the man o' th' house, bid him send in the bottles of wine to-night; they will be at hand i' th' morning. Will you run, sir?

Tim.To the devil, as fast as I can, sir; the world shall know whose son I am.[Exit.

Blood.Let me see now for a poesy for the ring: never an end of an old saw? 'Tis a quick widow, Sim, and would have a witty poesy.

Sim.If she be quick, she's with child; whosoever got it, you must father it; so that

You come o' th' nick,For the widow's quick.There's a witty poesy for your quick widow.

You come o' th' nick,For the widow's quick.

There's a witty poesy for your quick widow.

Blood.No, no; I'll have one shall savour of a saw.Sim.Why then, 'twill smell of the painted cloth.[32]Blood.Let me see,a widow witty——Sim.Is pastime pretty:—put in that for the sport's sake.Blood.No, no, I can make the sport. Then,an old man——Sim.Then will she answer,If you cannot, a younger can.[33]And look, look, sir, now I talk of the younger, yonder's Ancient Young come over again, that mortgaged sixty poundper annumbefore he went; I'm deceived if he come not a day after the fair.Blood.Mine almanac!Sim.A prayer-book, sir?Blood.A prayer-book; for devout beggars I hate; look, I beseech thee. Fortune, now befriend me, and I will call the plaguy whore in. Let me see, six months.

Blood.No, no; I'll have one shall savour of a saw.

Sim.Why then, 'twill smell of the painted cloth.[32]

Blood.Let me see,a widow witty——

Sim.Is pastime pretty:—put in that for the sport's sake.

Blood.No, no, I can make the sport. Then,an old man——

Sim.Then will she answer,If you cannot, a younger can.[33]And look, look, sir, now I talk of the younger, yonder's Ancient Young come over again, that mortgaged sixty poundper annumbefore he went; I'm deceived if he come not a day after the fair.

Blood.Mine almanac!

Sim.A prayer-book, sir?

Blood.A prayer-book; for devout beggars I hate; look, I beseech thee. Fortune, now befriend me, and I will call the plaguy whore in. Let me see, six months.

EnterAncient Young.

Anc.Yes, 'tis he, certain: this is a business must not be slackened, sir.Sim.Look, I beseech thee; we shall have oatmeal in our pottage six weeks after.Blood.Four days too late, Sim; four days too late, Sim.Sim.Plumbs in our pudding a Sunday, plumbs in our pudding.Anc.Master Bloodhound, as I take it.Blood.You're a stranger, sir. [Aside.] You shall be witness, I shall be railed at else, they will call me devil. I pray you, how many months from the first of May to the sixth of November following?Anc.Six months and four days, just.Blood.I ask, because the first of May last, a noble gentleman, one Ancient Young——Anc.I am the man, sir.Blood.My spectacles, Sim: look, Sim, is this Ancient Young?Sim.'Twas Ancient Young, sir.Blood.And is't not Ancient Young?Sim.No, sir, you have made him a young ancient.Blood.O Sim, a chair. I know him now, but I shall not live to tell him.Anc.How fare you, sir?Sim.The better for you; he thanks you, sir.Blood.Sick, sick, exceeding sick.Anc.O' th' sudden? Strange!Sim.A qualm of threescore years come over his stomach, nothing else.[34][Aside.Blood.That you, beloved you, who, of all men i' th' world, my poor heart doated on, whom I loved better than father, mother, brother, sister, uncles, aunts—what would you have? that you should stay four days too late!

Anc.Yes, 'tis he, certain: this is a business must not be slackened, sir.

Sim.Look, I beseech thee; we shall have oatmeal in our pottage six weeks after.

Blood.Four days too late, Sim; four days too late, Sim.

Sim.Plumbs in our pudding a Sunday, plumbs in our pudding.

Anc.Master Bloodhound, as I take it.

Blood.You're a stranger, sir. [Aside.] You shall be witness, I shall be railed at else, they will call me devil. I pray you, how many months from the first of May to the sixth of November following?

Anc.Six months and four days, just.

Blood.I ask, because the first of May last, a noble gentleman, one Ancient Young——

Anc.I am the man, sir.

Blood.My spectacles, Sim: look, Sim, is this Ancient Young?

Sim.'Twas Ancient Young, sir.

Blood.And is't not Ancient Young?

Sim.No, sir, you have made him a young ancient.

Blood.O Sim, a chair. I know him now, but I shall not live to tell him.

Anc.How fare you, sir?

Sim.The better for you; he thanks you, sir.

Blood.Sick, sick, exceeding sick.

Anc.O' th' sudden? Strange!

Sim.A qualm of threescore years come over his stomach, nothing else.[34][Aside.

Blood.That you, beloved you, who, of all men i' th' world, my poor heart doated on, whom I loved better than father, mother, brother, sister, uncles, aunts—what would you have? that you should stay four days too late!

Anc.I have your money ready;And, sir, I hope your old love to my father——

Blood.Nay, nay, I am noble, fellow, very noble, a very rock of friendship; but—but I had a house and barn burnt down to the ground since you were here.Anc.How?Blood.How? burned—ask Sim.Sim.By fire, sir, by fire.Blood.To build up which, for I am a poor man—a poor man, I was forced by course of law to enter upon your land, and so, for less money than you had of me, I was fain to sell it to another. That, by four days' stay, a man should lose his blood! our livings! our blood! O my heart! O my head!Anc.Pray, take it not so heinous, we'll go to him: I'll buy it again of him, he won't be too cruel.Blood.A dog, a very dog; there's more mercy in a pair of unbribed bailiffs. To shun all such solicitings, he's rid to York. A very cut-throat rogue! But I'll send to him.Anc.An honest old man, how it moves him! [Aside.] This was my negligence. Good Sim, convey him into some warmer room; and I pray, however Fortune—she that gives ever with the dexterity she takes—shall please to fashion out my sufferings, yet for his sake, my deceased father, the long friend of your heart, in your health keep me happy.Blood.O right honest young man! Sim.Sim.Sir.Blood.Have I done't well?Sim.The devil himself could not have done't better.

Blood.Nay, nay, I am noble, fellow, very noble, a very rock of friendship; but—but I had a house and barn burnt down to the ground since you were here.

Anc.How?

Blood.How? burned—ask Sim.

Sim.By fire, sir, by fire.

Blood.To build up which, for I am a poor man—a poor man, I was forced by course of law to enter upon your land, and so, for less money than you had of me, I was fain to sell it to another. That, by four days' stay, a man should lose his blood! our livings! our blood! O my heart! O my head!

Anc.Pray, take it not so heinous, we'll go to him: I'll buy it again of him, he won't be too cruel.

Blood.A dog, a very dog; there's more mercy in a pair of unbribed bailiffs. To shun all such solicitings, he's rid to York. A very cut-throat rogue! But I'll send to him.

Anc.An honest old man, how it moves him! [Aside.] This was my negligence. Good Sim, convey him into some warmer room; and I pray, however Fortune—she that gives ever with the dexterity she takes—shall please to fashion out my sufferings, yet for his sake, my deceased father, the long friend of your heart, in your health keep me happy.

Blood.O right honest young man! Sim.

Sim.Sir.

Blood.Have I done't well?

Sim.The devil himself could not have done't better.

Blood.I tell thee an old saw, sirrah—He that dissembles in wealth shall not want;They say doomsday's coming, but think you not on't.This will make the pot seethe, Sim.

Anc.[35]Good sir, talk no more, my mouth runs over. [ExeuntBloodhoundandSim.] Sleep, wake, worthy beggar, worthy indeed to be one, and am one worthily. How fine it is to wanton without affliction! I must look out for fortunes over again: no, I have money here, and 'tis the curse of merit not to work when she has money. There was a handsome widow, whose wild-mad-jealous husband died at sea; let me see, I am near Blackfriars, I'll have one start at her, or else——

EnterBloodhound'sdaughterMoll, with a bowl of beer.

Moll.By my troth, 'tis he! Captain Young's son. I have loved him even with languishings, ever since I was a girl; but should he know it, I should run mad, sure. What handsome gentlemen travel and manners make! my father begun to you, sir, in a cup of small beer.Anc.How does he, pray?Moll.Pretty well now, sir.Anc.Mass, 'tis small indeed. [Aside.] You'll pledge me?Moll.Yes, sir.Anc.Pray, will you tell me one thing?Moll.What is't?Anc.Which is smaller, this beer or your maidenhead?Moll.The beer a great deal, sir.Anc.Ay, in quality.Moll.But not in quantity?Anc.No.Moll.Why?Anc.Let me try, and I'll tell you.Moll.Will you tell me one thing before you try?Anc.Yes.Moll.Which is smaller, this beer or your wit?Anc.O the beer, the beer.Moll.In quality?Anc.Yes, and in the quantity.Moll.Why, then, I pray, keep the quantity of your wit from the quality of my maidenhead, and you shall find my maidenhead more than your wit.Anc.A witty maidenhead, by this hand.[Exeunt severally.

Anc.How does he, pray?

Moll.Pretty well now, sir.

Anc.Mass, 'tis small indeed. [Aside.] You'll pledge me?

Moll.Yes, sir.

Anc.Pray, will you tell me one thing?

Moll.What is't?

Anc.Which is smaller, this beer or your maidenhead?

Moll.The beer a great deal, sir.

Anc.Ay, in quality.

Moll.But not in quantity?

Anc.No.

Moll.Why?

Anc.Let me try, and I'll tell you.

Moll.Will you tell me one thing before you try?

Anc.Yes.

Moll.Which is smaller, this beer or your wit?

Anc.O the beer, the beer.

Moll.In quality?

Anc.Yes, and in the quantity.

Moll.Why, then, I pray, keep the quantity of your wit from the quality of my maidenhead, and you shall find my maidenhead more than your wit.

Anc.A witty maidenhead, by this hand.[Exeunt severally.

FOOTNOTES:[1]Refuse me, orGod refuse me, appears to have been among the fashionable modes of swearing in our author's time. So in "The White Devil," act i. sc. 1, Flamineo says,God refuse me.Again, in "A Dogge of Warre," by Taylor the Water-poet, Works, 1630, p. 229—"Some like Dominicall Letters goe,In scarlet from the top to toe,Whose valours talke and smoake all;Who make (God sink 'em) their discourseRefuse, Renounce, or Dam that's worse:I wish a halter choake all."Again, in "The Gamester," by Shirley, Wilding says, "Refuse me, if I did."[2]Notis omitted in the 4o.—Collier.[3]See [Randolph's Works, by Hazlitt, p. 179.][4]See note to "The Heir," [vol. xi. 535.][5]Standing unseen for the present.—Collier.[6]The 4oreadsLook, look upon, and ready, &c.—Collier.[7]A proverb or wise saying. So in "The Wife of Bath's Prologue," l. 6240—"But all for nought, I sette not an haweOf his Proverbes, ne of hisolde sawe."[8]Distrained. So in "Thomas, Lord Cromwell," 1602—"His furniture fully worth half so much,Which being allstrain'dfor the king,He frankly gave it to the Antwerp merchants."[9]The 4oreadsfour pence and ninepence. This play, in the former editions, is very incorrectly printed.[10]So in Massinger's "Maid of Honour," act iv. sc. 5, Sylli says, "The King ...break girdle, break!" Again, Falstaff says, in the "First Part of King Henry IV."—"Dost thou think I'll fear thee as I fear thy father?Nay, an' if I do, letmy girdle break."To explain the phrase "may my girdle break," it should be remembered that the purse was anciently worn hanging at the girdle. Hence the propriety of Trincalo's complaint, that while Ronca embraced him his "purse shook dangerously." See "Albumazar," act iii. sc. 7 [xi. 368].[11]The 4oreadsOculies, Oculies.—Collier.[12][Six-shilling beer, a stronger kind than that previously described as four-shilling.][13]Look, he'll steal nothing to feast his bawds, is the reading of the old copy.—Collier.[14]Highway.[15]These interjections probably mean to express that Alexander hiccups in the course of what he says.—Collier.[16][In allusion to Alexander.][17][A tavern so called.][18]The aversion of thePuritansto asurpliceis alluded to in many of the old comedies. See several instances in Mr Steevens's note to "All's Well that Ends Well," act i. sc. 3.[19][Two footpads, who seem to have frequented the purlieus of Coomb Park. Sham military men were as common at that time as now.][20]The park belonging to Coomb House.[21]But two quavers make one crotchet: this seems to be false wit, having no foundation in truth.—Pegge.[22]Highwaymen or robbers were formerly calledSaint Nicholas' clerks. See notes by Bishop Warburton and Mr Steevens on the "First Part of King Henry IV.," act ii. sc. 1.So in Dekker's "Belman of London," 1616: "The theefe that commits the robery, and is chiefeclarke to Saint Nicholas, is called the high lawyer."And in "Looke on me London," 1613, sig. C: "Here closely lieSaint Nicholas Clearkes, that, with a good northerne gelding, will gaine more by a halter, than an honest yeoman with a teame of good horses."[23]This ancient fabric, which is now destroyed, was the seat of the Nevils, Earls of Warwick. It stood about a mile from Kingston-upon-Thames, near Wolsey's Aqueducts, which convey water to Hampton Court.—Steevens.[24]A cutter was, about the beginning of the last century, a cant word for a swaggering fellow. This appears in the old black-letter play entitled "The Faire Maid of Bristow," sig. A iij., where Sir Godfrey says of Challener—"He wasa cutterand a swaggerer."He is elsewhere (sig. A 4) called a swaggering fellow.—MS.note in Oldys's Langbaine.[25][Old copy,rise. The meaning seems to be that Randall had got up betimes.][26]i.e., Alexander Bloodhound.—Pegge.[27]i.e., The reply of drawers when they are called.[28][See "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 247-8.][29]It was formerly usual to celebrate Christmas, at the several inns of court, with extraordinary festivity. Sometimes plays or masques were performed; and when these were omitted, a greater degree of licence appears to have been allowed to the students than at other times. In societies where so many young men, possessed of high spirits, and abounding with superfluous sums of money, were assembled, it will not seem wonderful to find the liberty granted at this season should be productive of many irregularities. Among others, gaming, in the reign of James I., when this play was probably written, had been carried to such an extravagant height as to demand the interposition of the heads of some of the societies to prevent the evil consequences attending it. In the 12th of James I. orders for reformation and better government of the inns of court and Chancery were made by the readers and benchers of the four houses of court; among which is the following:—"For that disorders in theChristmas-time, may both infect the minds, and prejudice the estates and fortunes, of the young gentlemen in the same societies: it is therefore ordered, that there shall be commons of the house kept, in every house of court, during theChristmas; and that none shall play in their several halls at the dice, except he be a gentleman of the same society, and in commons; and the benefits of the boxes to go to the butlers of every house respectively."—Dugdale's "Orig. Jurid.," p. 318. In the 4th of Car. I. (Nov. 17) the society of Gray's Inn direct, "that all playing at dice, cards, or otherwise, in the hall, buttry, or butler's chamber, should be thenceforth barred and forbidden, at all times of the year, the twenty days inChristmasonly excepted."—Ibid.p. 286. And in the 7th of Car. I. (7th Nov.) the society of theInner Templemade several regulations for keeping good rule inChristmas-time, two of which will show how much gaming had been practised there before that time. "8. That there shall not be any knocking with boxes, or calling aloud for gamesters. 9. That no play be continued within the house upon any Saturday night, or upon Christmas-eve at night, after twelve of the clock."Sir Simon D'Ewes also, in the MS. life of himself in the British Museum, takes notice of the Christmas irregularities about this period (p. 52, Dec. 1620)—"At the saied Temple was a lieutenant chosen, and much gaming, and other excesses increased during these festivall dayes, by his residing and keeping a standing table ther; and, when sometimes I turned in thither to behold ther sportes, and saw the many oaths, execrations, and quarrels, that accompanied ther dicing, I began seriously to loath it, though at the time I conceived the sporte of itselfe to bee lawfull."—["Life of D'Ewes," edit. 1845, i. 161.] "The first day of Januarie [i.e., 1622-23] at night, I came into commons at the Temple, wheere ther was a lieftenant choosen, and all manner of gaming and vanitie practiced, as if the church had not at all groaned under those heavie desolations which it did. Wherefore I was verie gladd, when, on the Tuesday following, being the seventh day of the same moneth, the howse broake upp ther Christmas, and added an end to those excesses."—[Life,ut supr., i. 223.]To what excess gaming was carried on in the inns-of-court at this period may be judged from the following circumstance, that in taking up the floor of one of the Temple halls about 1764, near one hundred pair of dice were found, which had dropt at times through the chinks or joints of the boards. They were very small, scarce more than two-thirds as large as our modern ones. The hall was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. [See on this subject "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," i., where copious collections will be found upon this subject.][30]This tavern, with the same sign as above described, [existed till 1787. See Gifford's Ben Jonson, 1816, ix. 84-5.][31]This question is improperly given to Sim in the 4o.—Collier.[32][See Dyce's Middleton, iii. 97, and v. 208.][33][A line of an old song altered.][34]This is the reading of the quarto, but Mr Reed, without necessity or notice, changed it thus—"A qualm of threescorepounds a yearcame over his stomach."Sim refers to the age and infirmity of Bloodhound.—Collier.[35]All that follows, to the entrance of Moll, in the 4ois made a continuation of what is said by Bloodhound.—Collier.

[1]Refuse me, orGod refuse me, appears to have been among the fashionable modes of swearing in our author's time. So in "The White Devil," act i. sc. 1, Flamineo says,God refuse me.Again, in "A Dogge of Warre," by Taylor the Water-poet, Works, 1630, p. 229—"Some like Dominicall Letters goe,In scarlet from the top to toe,Whose valours talke and smoake all;Who make (God sink 'em) their discourseRefuse, Renounce, or Dam that's worse:I wish a halter choake all."Again, in "The Gamester," by Shirley, Wilding says, "Refuse me, if I did."

"Some like Dominicall Letters goe,In scarlet from the top to toe,Whose valours talke and smoake all;Who make (God sink 'em) their discourseRefuse, Renounce, or Dam that's worse:I wish a halter choake all."

Again, in "The Gamester," by Shirley, Wilding says, "Refuse me, if I did."

[2]Notis omitted in the 4o.—Collier.

[3]See [Randolph's Works, by Hazlitt, p. 179.]

[4]See note to "The Heir," [vol. xi. 535.]

[5]Standing unseen for the present.—Collier.

[6]The 4oreadsLook, look upon, and ready, &c.—Collier.

[7]A proverb or wise saying. So in "The Wife of Bath's Prologue," l. 6240—"But all for nought, I sette not an haweOf his Proverbes, ne of hisolde sawe."

[7]A proverb or wise saying. So in "The Wife of Bath's Prologue," l. 6240—

"But all for nought, I sette not an haweOf his Proverbes, ne of hisolde sawe."

[8]Distrained. So in "Thomas, Lord Cromwell," 1602—"His furniture fully worth half so much,Which being allstrain'dfor the king,He frankly gave it to the Antwerp merchants."

[8]Distrained. So in "Thomas, Lord Cromwell," 1602—

"His furniture fully worth half so much,Which being allstrain'dfor the king,He frankly gave it to the Antwerp merchants."

[9]The 4oreadsfour pence and ninepence. This play, in the former editions, is very incorrectly printed.

[10]So in Massinger's "Maid of Honour," act iv. sc. 5, Sylli says, "The King ...break girdle, break!" Again, Falstaff says, in the "First Part of King Henry IV."—"Dost thou think I'll fear thee as I fear thy father?Nay, an' if I do, letmy girdle break."To explain the phrase "may my girdle break," it should be remembered that the purse was anciently worn hanging at the girdle. Hence the propriety of Trincalo's complaint, that while Ronca embraced him his "purse shook dangerously." See "Albumazar," act iii. sc. 7 [xi. 368].

[10]So in Massinger's "Maid of Honour," act iv. sc. 5, Sylli says, "The King ...break girdle, break!" Again, Falstaff says, in the "First Part of King Henry IV."—

"Dost thou think I'll fear thee as I fear thy father?Nay, an' if I do, letmy girdle break."

To explain the phrase "may my girdle break," it should be remembered that the purse was anciently worn hanging at the girdle. Hence the propriety of Trincalo's complaint, that while Ronca embraced him his "purse shook dangerously." See "Albumazar," act iii. sc. 7 [xi. 368].

[11]The 4oreadsOculies, Oculies.—Collier.

[12][Six-shilling beer, a stronger kind than that previously described as four-shilling.]

[13]Look, he'll steal nothing to feast his bawds, is the reading of the old copy.—Collier.

[14]Highway.

[15]These interjections probably mean to express that Alexander hiccups in the course of what he says.—Collier.

[16][In allusion to Alexander.]

[17][A tavern so called.]

[18]The aversion of thePuritansto asurpliceis alluded to in many of the old comedies. See several instances in Mr Steevens's note to "All's Well that Ends Well," act i. sc. 3.

[19][Two footpads, who seem to have frequented the purlieus of Coomb Park. Sham military men were as common at that time as now.]

[20]The park belonging to Coomb House.

[21]But two quavers make one crotchet: this seems to be false wit, having no foundation in truth.—Pegge.

[22]Highwaymen or robbers were formerly calledSaint Nicholas' clerks. See notes by Bishop Warburton and Mr Steevens on the "First Part of King Henry IV.," act ii. sc. 1.So in Dekker's "Belman of London," 1616: "The theefe that commits the robery, and is chiefeclarke to Saint Nicholas, is called the high lawyer."And in "Looke on me London," 1613, sig. C: "Here closely lieSaint Nicholas Clearkes, that, with a good northerne gelding, will gaine more by a halter, than an honest yeoman with a teame of good horses."

[22]Highwaymen or robbers were formerly calledSaint Nicholas' clerks. See notes by Bishop Warburton and Mr Steevens on the "First Part of King Henry IV.," act ii. sc. 1.

So in Dekker's "Belman of London," 1616: "The theefe that commits the robery, and is chiefeclarke to Saint Nicholas, is called the high lawyer."

And in "Looke on me London," 1613, sig. C: "Here closely lieSaint Nicholas Clearkes, that, with a good northerne gelding, will gaine more by a halter, than an honest yeoman with a teame of good horses."

[23]This ancient fabric, which is now destroyed, was the seat of the Nevils, Earls of Warwick. It stood about a mile from Kingston-upon-Thames, near Wolsey's Aqueducts, which convey water to Hampton Court.—Steevens.

[24]A cutter was, about the beginning of the last century, a cant word for a swaggering fellow. This appears in the old black-letter play entitled "The Faire Maid of Bristow," sig. A iij., where Sir Godfrey says of Challener—"He wasa cutterand a swaggerer."He is elsewhere (sig. A 4) called a swaggering fellow.—MS.note in Oldys's Langbaine.

"He wasa cutterand a swaggerer."

He is elsewhere (sig. A 4) called a swaggering fellow.—MS.note in Oldys's Langbaine.

[25][Old copy,rise. The meaning seems to be that Randall had got up betimes.]

[26]i.e., Alexander Bloodhound.—Pegge.

[27]i.e., The reply of drawers when they are called.

[28][See "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 247-8.]

[29]It was formerly usual to celebrate Christmas, at the several inns of court, with extraordinary festivity. Sometimes plays or masques were performed; and when these were omitted, a greater degree of licence appears to have been allowed to the students than at other times. In societies where so many young men, possessed of high spirits, and abounding with superfluous sums of money, were assembled, it will not seem wonderful to find the liberty granted at this season should be productive of many irregularities. Among others, gaming, in the reign of James I., when this play was probably written, had been carried to such an extravagant height as to demand the interposition of the heads of some of the societies to prevent the evil consequences attending it. In the 12th of James I. orders for reformation and better government of the inns of court and Chancery were made by the readers and benchers of the four houses of court; among which is the following:—"For that disorders in theChristmas-time, may both infect the minds, and prejudice the estates and fortunes, of the young gentlemen in the same societies: it is therefore ordered, that there shall be commons of the house kept, in every house of court, during theChristmas; and that none shall play in their several halls at the dice, except he be a gentleman of the same society, and in commons; and the benefits of the boxes to go to the butlers of every house respectively."—Dugdale's "Orig. Jurid.," p. 318. In the 4th of Car. I. (Nov. 17) the society of Gray's Inn direct, "that all playing at dice, cards, or otherwise, in the hall, buttry, or butler's chamber, should be thenceforth barred and forbidden, at all times of the year, the twenty days inChristmasonly excepted."—Ibid.p. 286. And in the 7th of Car. I. (7th Nov.) the society of theInner Templemade several regulations for keeping good rule inChristmas-time, two of which will show how much gaming had been practised there before that time. "8. That there shall not be any knocking with boxes, or calling aloud for gamesters. 9. That no play be continued within the house upon any Saturday night, or upon Christmas-eve at night, after twelve of the clock."Sir Simon D'Ewes also, in the MS. life of himself in the British Museum, takes notice of the Christmas irregularities about this period (p. 52, Dec. 1620)—"At the saied Temple was a lieutenant chosen, and much gaming, and other excesses increased during these festivall dayes, by his residing and keeping a standing table ther; and, when sometimes I turned in thither to behold ther sportes, and saw the many oaths, execrations, and quarrels, that accompanied ther dicing, I began seriously to loath it, though at the time I conceived the sporte of itselfe to bee lawfull."—["Life of D'Ewes," edit. 1845, i. 161.] "The first day of Januarie [i.e., 1622-23] at night, I came into commons at the Temple, wheere ther was a lieftenant choosen, and all manner of gaming and vanitie practiced, as if the church had not at all groaned under those heavie desolations which it did. Wherefore I was verie gladd, when, on the Tuesday following, being the seventh day of the same moneth, the howse broake upp ther Christmas, and added an end to those excesses."—[Life,ut supr., i. 223.]To what excess gaming was carried on in the inns-of-court at this period may be judged from the following circumstance, that in taking up the floor of one of the Temple halls about 1764, near one hundred pair of dice were found, which had dropt at times through the chinks or joints of the boards. They were very small, scarce more than two-thirds as large as our modern ones. The hall was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. [See on this subject "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," i., where copious collections will be found upon this subject.]

Sir Simon D'Ewes also, in the MS. life of himself in the British Museum, takes notice of the Christmas irregularities about this period (p. 52, Dec. 1620)—"At the saied Temple was a lieutenant chosen, and much gaming, and other excesses increased during these festivall dayes, by his residing and keeping a standing table ther; and, when sometimes I turned in thither to behold ther sportes, and saw the many oaths, execrations, and quarrels, that accompanied ther dicing, I began seriously to loath it, though at the time I conceived the sporte of itselfe to bee lawfull."—["Life of D'Ewes," edit. 1845, i. 161.] "The first day of Januarie [i.e., 1622-23] at night, I came into commons at the Temple, wheere ther was a lieftenant choosen, and all manner of gaming and vanitie practiced, as if the church had not at all groaned under those heavie desolations which it did. Wherefore I was verie gladd, when, on the Tuesday following, being the seventh day of the same moneth, the howse broake upp ther Christmas, and added an end to those excesses."—[Life,ut supr., i. 223.]

To what excess gaming was carried on in the inns-of-court at this period may be judged from the following circumstance, that in taking up the floor of one of the Temple halls about 1764, near one hundred pair of dice were found, which had dropt at times through the chinks or joints of the boards. They were very small, scarce more than two-thirds as large as our modern ones. The hall was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. [See on this subject "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," i., where copious collections will be found upon this subject.]

[30]This tavern, with the same sign as above described, [existed till 1787. See Gifford's Ben Jonson, 1816, ix. 84-5.]

[31]This question is improperly given to Sim in the 4o.—Collier.

[32][See Dyce's Middleton, iii. 97, and v. 208.]

[33][A line of an old song altered.]

[34]This is the reading of the quarto, but Mr Reed, without necessity or notice, changed it thus—"A qualm of threescorepounds a yearcame over his stomach."Sim refers to the age and infirmity of Bloodhound.—Collier.

[34]This is the reading of the quarto, but Mr Reed, without necessity or notice, changed it thus—

"A qualm of threescorepounds a yearcame over his stomach."

Sim refers to the age and infirmity of Bloodhound.—Collier.

[35]All that follows, to the entrance of Moll, in the 4ois made a continuation of what is said by Bloodhound.—Collier.

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