The Roaring Girle

Front matter

The Roaring Girle.

OR

Moll Cut-Purse.

The Epistle

To the Comic Play-Readers, Venery and Laughter.

The fashion of play-making I can properly compare to nothing, so naturally, as the alteration in apparel: For in the time of the Great-crop-doublet, your huge bombasted plaies, quilted with mighty words to leane purpose was onely then in fashion. And as the doublet fell, neater inuentions beganne to set vp. Now in the time of sprucenes, our plaies followe the nicenes of our Garments, single plots, quaint conceits, letcherous iests, drest vp in hanging sleeues, and those are fit for the Times, and the Tearmers: Such a kind of light-colour Summer stuffe, mingled with diuerse colours, you shall finde this published Comedy, good to keepe you in an afternoone from dice, at home in your chambers; and for venery you shall finde enough for sixepence, but well coucht and you marke it. For Venus being a woman passes through the play in doublet and breeches, a braue disguise and a safe one, if the Statute vnty not her cod-peiece point. The book I make no question, but is fit for many of your companies, as well as the person it selfe, and may bee allowed both Gallery roome at the play-house, and chamber-roome at your lodging: worse things I must needs confesse the world ha's taxt her for, than has beene written of her; but 'tis the excellency of a Writer, to leave things better then he finds 'em; though some obscœne fellow (that cares not what he writes against others, yet keepes a mysticall baudy-house himselfe, and entertaines drunkards to make vse of their pockets and vent his priuate bottle-ale at mid-night) though such a one would haue ript vp the most nasty vice, that euer hell belcht forth, and presented it to a modest Assembly; yet we rather wish in such discoueries, where reputation lies bleeding, a slacknesse of truth, then fulnesse of slander.

Thomas Middleton

Prologus

Prologus.

Dramatis Personae

Dramatis Personæ

Sir Alexander Wentgraue, and Neats-foot his man. Sir Adam Appleton. Sir Dauy Dapper. Sir Bewteous Ganymed. Lord Noland. Yong Wentgraue. Iacke Dapper, and Gull his page. Goshawke. Greenewit. Laxton. {| |- || Tilt-yard. || rowspan="3" | || rowspan="3" | Ciues & Vxores. |- || Openworke. |- || Gallipot. |}Mol the Roaring Girle. Trapdoore. Sir Guy Fitz-allard. Mary Fitz-allard his daughter. Curtilax a Sergiant, and Hanger, his Yeoman.

Ministri.

Act I, Scene I.

The Roaring Girle.

Act.1. Scœ.1.

Enter Mary Fitz-allard disguised like a sempster with a case for bands, and Neatfoot a seruingman with her, with a napkin on his shoulder, and a trencher in his hand as from table.

<>Neatfoote. The yong gentleman (our young maister), Sir Alexanders sonne, is it into his eares (sweet Damsell) (embleme of fragility) you desire to haue a message transported, or to be transcendent.

Mary A priuate word or two Sir, nothing else.

Neat. You shall fructifie in that which you come for: your pleasure shall be satisfied to your full contentation: I will (fairest tree of generation) watch when our young maister is erected, (that is to say, vp) and deliuer him to this your most white hand.

Mary Thankes sir.

Neat. And withall certifie him, that I haue culled out for him (now his belly is replenished) a daintier bit or modicome then any lay vpon his trencher at dinner——hath he notion of your name, I beseech your chastitie.

Mary One Sir, of whom he bespake falling bands.

Neat. Falling bands, it shall so be giuen him,——if you please to venture your modesty in the hall, amongst a curle-pated company of rude seruingmen, and take such as they can set before you, you shall be most seriously, and ingeniously welcome.

Mary I haue dyed indeed already sir.

Neat. ——Or will you vouchsafe to kisse the lip of a cup of rich Orleans in the buttry amongst our waiting women.

Mary Not now in truth sir.

Neat. Our yong Maister shall then haue a feeling of your being here presently it shall so be giuen him.

Mary I humbly thanke you sir, but that my bosome Is full of bitter sorrowse, I could smile, To see this formall Ape play Antick tricks: But in my breast a poysoned arrow stickes, And smiles cannot become me, Loue wouen sleightly (Such as thy false heart makes) weares out as lightly, But loue being truely bred ith the soule (like mine) Bleeds euen to death, at the least wound it takes, The more we quench this, the lesse it slakes: Oh me!

<>Enter Sebastian Wengraue with Neatfoote.

Seb. A Sempster speake with me, saist thou.

Neat. Yes sir, she's there, viua voce, to deliuer her auricular confession.

Seb. With me sweet heart. What ist?

Mary I haue brought home your bands sir.

Seb. Bands: Neatfoote.

Neat. Sir.

Seb. Prithee look in, for all the Gentlemen are vpon rising.

Neat. Yes sir, a most methodicall attendance shall be giuen.

Seb. And dost heare, if my father call for me, say I am busy with a Sempster.

Neat. Yes sir, hee shall know it that you are busied with a needle woman.

Seb. In's eare good Neat-foote,

Neat. It shall be so giuen him.

Seb. Bands, y'are mistaken sweete heart, I bespake none, when, where, I prithee, what bands, let me see them.

Mary Yes sir, a bond fast sealed, with solemne oathes, Subscribed vnto (as I thought) with your soule: Deliuered as your deed in sight of heauen, Is this bond canceld, haue you forgot me.

Seb. Ha! life of my life: Sir Guy Fitz-allards daughter, What has transform'd my loue to this strange shape? Stay: make all sure,—so: now speake and be briefe, Because the wolfe's at dore that lyes in waite, To prey vpon vs both albeit mine eyes Are blest by thine, yet this so strange disguise Holds me with feare and wonder.

Mary Mines a loathed sight, Why from it are you banisht else so long.

Seb. I must cut short my speech, in broken language, Thus much sweete Moll, I must thy company shun, I court another Moll, my thoughts must run, As a horse runs, thats blind, round in a Mill, Out euery step yet keeping one path still.

Mary Vmh: must you shun my company, in one knot Haue both our hands byt'h hands of heauen bene tyed, Now to be broke, I thought me once your Bride: Our fathers did agree on the time when, And must another bed-fellow fill my roome.

Seb. Sweete maid, lets loose no time, tis in heauens booke Set downe, that I must haue thee: an oath we tooke, To keep our vowes, but when the knight your father Was from mine parted, stormes began to sit Vpon my couetous fathers brow: which fell From them on me, he reckond vp what gold This marriage would draw from him, at which he swore, To loose so much bloud, could not grieue him more. He then diswades me from thee, cal'd thee not faire, And askt what is shee, but a beggars heire? He scorn'd thy dowry of (5000) Markes.

If such a summe of mony could be found, And I would match with that, hee'd not vndoe it, Prouided his bags might adde nothing to it, But vow'd, if I tooke thee, nay more, did sweare it, Saue birth from him I nothing should inherit.

Mary What followes then, my ship-wracke.

Seb. Dearest no: Tho wildly in a laborinth I go, My end is to meete thee: with a side winde Must I now saile, else I no hauen can finde But both must sinke for euer. There's a wench Cal'd Mol, mad Mol, or merry Moll, a creature So strange in quality, a whole citty takes Note of her name and person, all that affection I owe to thee, on her in counterfet passion, I spend to mad my father: he beleeues I doate vpon this Roaring Girle, and grieues As it becomes a father for a sonne, That could be so bewitcht: yet ile go on This croked way, sigh still for her, faine dreames, In which ile talke onely of her, these streames Shall, I hope, force my father to consent That heere I anchor rather then be rent Vpon a rocke so dangerours, Art thou pleas'd, Because thou seest we are way-laid, that I take A path thats safe, tho it be farre about,

Mary My prayers with heauen guide thee,

Seb. Then I will on, My father is at hand, kisse and begon; Howres shall be watcht for meetings; I must now As men for feare, to a strange Idoll bow.

Mary Farewell.

Seb. Ile guide thee forth, when next we meete, A story of Moll shall make our mirth more sweet.

<>Enter Sir Alexander Wengraue, Sir Dauy Dapper, Sir Adam <>Appleton, Goshake, Laxton, and Gentlemen.

Omnes Thanks good Sir Alexander for our bounteous cheere.

Alex. Fy, fy, in giuing thankes you pay to deare.

S. Dap. When bounty spreades the table, faith t'were sinne, (at going of) if thankes should not step in.

Alex. No more of thankes, no more, I mary Sir, Th'inner roome was too close, how do you like This Parlour Gentlmen?

Omnes Oh passing well.

Adam What a sweet breath the aire casts heere, so coole,

Gob. I like the prospect best.

Lax. See how tis furnisht.

S. Dap. A very faire sweete roome.

Alex. Sir Dany Dapper, The furniture that doth adorne this roome, Cost many a faire gray groat ere it came here, But good things are most cheape, when th'are most deere, Nay when you looke into my galleries, How brauely they are trim'd vp, you all shall sweare Yare highly pleasd to see whats set downe there: Stories of men and women (mixt together Faire ones with foule, like sun-shine in wet wether) Within one square a thousand heads are laid So close, that all of heads, the roome seeemes made, As many faces there (fiil'd with blith lookes) Shew like the promising titles of new bookes, (Writ merily) the Readers being their owne eyes, Which seeme to moue and to giue plaudities, And here and there (whilst with obsequious eares, Throng'd heapes do listen) a cut purse thrusts and leeres With haukes eyes for his prey: I need not shew him, By a hanging villanous looke, your selues may know him, The face is drawne so rarely, Then sir below, The very flowre (as twere) waues to and fro, And like a floating Iland, seemes to moue, Vpon a sea bound in with shores aboue,

<>Enter Sebatian and M. Greene-wit.

Omnes. These sights are excellent.

Alex. I'le shew you all, Since we are met, make our parting Comicall

Seb. This gentleman (my friend) will take his leaue Sir.

Alex. Ha, take his leaue (Sebastian) who?

Seb. This gentleman.

Alex. Your loue sir, has already giuen me some time, And if you please to trust my age with more, It shall pay double interest: Good sir stay.

Green. I haue beene too bold.

Alex. Not so sir. A merry day Mongt friends being spent, is better then gold sau'd. Some wine, some wine. Where be these knaues I keepe.

<>Enter three or foure Seruingmen, and Neatfoote.

Neat. At your worshipfull elbow, sir.

Alex. You are kissing my maids, drinking, or fast asleep.

Neat. Your worship has giuen it vs right.

Alex. You varlets stirre, Chaires, stooles and cushions: pre'thee sir Dany Dapper, Make that chaire thine.

Sir Dap. Tis but an easie gift, And yet I thanke you for it sir, I'le take it.

Alex. A chaire for old sir Adam Appleton.

Neat. A backe friend to your worship.

Adam. Mary good Neatfoot, I thanke thee for it: backe friends sometimes are good.

Alex. Pray make that stoole your pearch, good M. Goshawke.

Gosh. I stoope to your lure sir.

Alex. Sonne Sebastian, Take Maister Greenewit to you.

Seb. Sit deere friend.

Alex. Nay maister Laxton——furnish maister Laxton With what he wants (a stone) a stoole I would say, a stoole.

Laxton. I had rather stand sir.

Alex. I know you had good M. Laxton.) So, so— Now heres a messe of friends, and (gentlemen) Because times glasse shall not be running long, I'le quicken it with a pretty tale.

Sir Dap. Good rales do well, In these bad dayes, where vice does so excell.

Adam. Begin sir Alexander.

Alex. Last day I met An aged man vpon whose head was scor'd, A debt of iust so many yeares as these, Which I owe to my graue, the man you all know,

Omnes. His name I pray you sir.

Alex. Nay you shall pardon me, But when he saw me (with a sigh that brake, Or seem'd to breake his heart-strings) thus he spake: Oh my good knight, saies he, (and then his eies Were richer euen by that which made them poore, They had spent so many teares they had no more.) Oh sir (saies he) you know it, for you ha seene Blessings to raine vpon mine house and me: Fortune (who slaues men) was my slaue her wheele Hath spun me golden threads, for I thanke heauen, I nere had but one cause to curse my starres, I ask't him then, what that one cause might be.

Omnes. So Sir.

Alex. He paus'd, and as we often see, A sea so much becalm'd, there can be found No wrinckle on his brow, his waues being drownd In their owne rage: but when th'imperious wind, Vse strange inuisible tyranny to shake Both heauens and earths foundation at their noyse: The seas swelling with wrath to part that fray Rise vp, and are more wild, more mad, then they, Euen so this good old man was by my question Stir'd vp to roughnesse, you might see his gall Flow euen in's eies: then grew he fantasticall.

Sir Dap. Fantasticall, ha, ha.

Alex. Yes, and talke odly.

Adam. Pray sir proceed, How did this old man end?

Alex. Mary sir thus.

He left his wild fit to read ore his cards, Yet then (though age cast snow on all his haires) He ioy'd because (saies he) the God of gold Has beene to me no niggard: that disease (Of which all old men sicken) Auarice Neuer infected me.

Lax. He meanes not himselfe i'me sure.

Alex. For like a lamp, Fed with continuall oyle, I spend and throw My light to all that need it, yet haue still Enough to serue my selfe, oh but (quoth he) Tho heauens dew fall, thus on this aged tree, I haue a sonne thats like a wedge doth cleaue, My very heart roote,

S, Dap. Had he such a sonne,

Seb. Now I do smell a fox strongly.

Alex. Lets see: no Maister Greene-wit is not yet So mellow in yeares as he; but as like Sebastian, Iust like my sonne Sebastian,—such another.

Seb. How finely like a fencer my father fetches his by-blowes to hit me, but if I beate you not at your owne weapon of subtilty.

Alex. This sonne (saith he) that should be The columne and maine arch vnto my house, The crutch vnto my age, becomes a whirlewind Shaking the firme foundation,

Adam Tis some prodigall.

Seba. Well shot old Adam Bell.

Alex. No citty monster neither, no prodigall, But sparing, wary, ciuill, and (tho wiuelesse) An excellent husband, and such a traueller, He has more tongues in his head then some haue teeth,

S. Dap, I haue but two in myne

Gosh. So sparing and so wary, What then could vex his father so.

Alex. Oh a woman.

Seb. A flesh fly, that can vex any man.

Alex. A scuruy woman, On whom the passionate old man swore he doated: A creature (saith he) nature hath brought forth To mocke the sex of woman.——It is a thing One knowes not how to name, her birth began Ere she was all made. Tis woman more then man, Man more then woman,and (which to none can hap) The Sunne giues her two shadowes to one shape, Nay more, let this strange thing, walke, stand or sit, No blazing starre drawes more eyes after it.

S. Dap. A Monster, tis some Monster.

Alex. Shee's a varlet.

Seb. Now is my cue to bristle.

Alex. A naughty packe.

Seb. Tis false.

Alex. Ha boy.

Seb. Tis false.

Alex. Whats false, I say shee's nought.

Seb. I say that tongue That dares speake so (but yours) stickes in the throate Of a ranke villaine, set your selfe aside.——

Alex. So sir what then.

Seb. Any here else had lyed. I thinke I shall fit you —— aside.

Alex. Lye.

Seb. Yes.

Sir Dap. Doth this concerne him.

Alex. Ah sirra boy. Is your bloud heated: boyles it: are you stung, Ile pierce you deeper yet: oh my deere friends, I am that wretched father, this that sonne, That sees his ruine, yet headlong on doth run.

Adam. Will you loue such a poyson.

S. Dap. Fye, fye.

Seb. Y'are all mad.

Alex. Th'art sicke at heart, yet feelst it not: of all these, What Gentleman (but thou) knowing his disease

Mortall, would shun the cure: oh Maister Greenewit, Would you to such an Idoll bow.

Greene. Not I sir.

Alex. Heer's Maister Larton, has he mind to a woman As thou hast.

Lax. No not I sir.

Alex. Sir I know it.

Lax. There good parts are so rare, there bad so common, I will haue nought to do with any woman.

Sir Dap. Tis well done Maister Laxton.

Alex. Oh thou cruell boy, Thou wouldst with lust an old mans life destroy, Because thou seest I'me halfe way in my graue, Thou shouelst dust vpon me: wod thou mightest haue Thy wish, most wicked, most vnnaturall.

Dap. Why sir, tis thought, sir Guy Fitz-Allards daughter Shall wed your sonne Sebastian.

Alex. Sir Dany Dapper. I haue vpon my knees, wood this fond boy, To take that vertuous maiden.

Seb. Harke you a word sir. You on your knees haue curst that vertuous maiden, And me for louing her, yet do you now Thus baffle me to my face: were not your knees In such intreates, giue me Fitz-Allards daughter.

Alex. Ile giue thee rats-bane rather.

Seb. Well then you know What dish I meane to feed vpon.

Alex. Harke Gentlemen, He sweares to haue this cut-purse drab, to spite my gall.

Omnes. Maister Sebastian.

Seb. I am deafe to you all. Ime so bewitcht, so bound to my desires, Teares, prayers, threats, nothing can quench out those fires That burne within me.

Alex. Her bloud shall quench it then, Loose him not, oh diswade him Gentlemen.

Sir Dap. He shall be weand I warrant you.

Alex. Before his eyes Lay downe his shame, my griefe, his miseries.

Omnes. No more, no more, away.

Alex. I wash a Negro, Loosing both paines and cost: but take thy flight, Ile be most neere thee, when I'me least in sight. Wilde Bucke ile hunt thee breathlesse, thou shalt run on, But I will turne thee when I'me not thought vpon. <>Enter Ralph Trapdore: Now sirra what are you, leaue your Apes trickes and speake.

Trap. A letter from my Captaine to your Worship.

Alex. Oh, oh, now I remember tis to preferre thee into my seruice.

Trap. To be a shifter vnder your Worships nose of a clean trencher, when ther's a good bit vpon't.

Alex. Troth honest fellow——humh—ha—let me see, This knaue shall be the axe to hew that downe At which I stumble, has a face that promiseth Much of a villaine, I will grind his wit, And if the edge proue fine make vse of it. Come hither sirra, canst thou be secret, ha.

Trap. As two crafty Atturneys plotting the vndoing of their clyents.

Alex. Didst neuer, as thou hast walkt about this towne Heare of a wench cal'd Moll, mad merry Moll.

Trap. Moll cutpurse sir.

Alex. The same, dost thou know her then,

Trap. Aswell as I know twill raine vpon Simon and Iudes day next, I will sift all the tauerns ith citty, and drinke halfe pots with all the Watermen ath bankside, but if you will sir Ile find her out.

Alex. That task is easy, doot then, hold thy hand vp. Whats this, ist burnt?

Trap. No sir no, a little sindgd with making fire workes.

Alex. Ther's mony, spend it, that being spent fetch more.

Trap. Oh sir that all the poore souldiers in England had

such a leader. For fetching no water Spaniell is like me.

Alex. This wench we speake of, straies so from her kind Nature repents she made her. Tis a Mermaid Has cold my sonne to shipwracke.

Trap. Ile cut her combe for you.

Alex. Ile tell out gold for thee then: hunt her forth, Cast out a line hung full of siluer hookes To catch her to thy company: deepe spendings May draw her thats most chast to a mans bosome.

Trap. The gingling of Golden bels, and a good foole with a hobbyhorse, wil draw all the whoores ith to wneto dance in a morris,

Alex. Or rather, for thats best, (they say sometimes Shee goes in breeches) follow her as her man.

Trap. And when her breeches are off, shee shall follow me.

Alex. Beate all thy braines to serue her.

Trap. Zounds sir, as country wenches beate creame, till butter comes.

Alex. Play thou the suttle spider, weaue fine nets To insnare her very life.

Trap. Her life.

Alex. Yes sucke Her heart-bloud if thou canst, twist thou but cords To catch her, Ile finde law to hang her vp.

Trap. Spoke like a Worshipfull bencher.

Alex. Trace all her steps: at this shee-foxes den Watch what lambs enter: let me play the sheepeheard To saue their throats from bleeding, and cut hers.

Trap. This is the goll shall doot.

Alex. Be firme and gaine me Euer thine owne. This done I entertaine thee: How is thy name.

Trap. My name sir is Raph Trapdore, honest Raph.

Alex. Trapdore, be like thy name, a dangerons step For her to venture on, but vnto me.

Trap. As fast as your sole to your boore or shooe sir.

Alex. Hence then, be little seene here as thou canst.

Ile still be at thine elbow.

Trap. The trapdores set. Moll if you budge y'are gon: this me shall crowne, A Roaring Boy, the Roaring Girle puts downe,

Alex. God a mercy, loose no time. >>>Exeunt.

Act II, Scene I.

The three shops open in a ranke: the first a Poticaries shop, the next a Fether hop: the third a Sempsters shop: Mistresse Gallipot in the first, Mistresse Tiltyard in the next, Maister Openworke and his wife in the third, to them enters Laxton, Goshawke and Greenewit.

Ms. Open. Gentlemen what ist you lacke. What ist you buy, see fine bands and ruffes, fine lawnes, fine cambrickes, what ist you lacke Gentlemen, what ist you buy?

Lax. Yonders the shop.

Gosh. Is that shee.

Lax. Peace.

Green. Shee that minces Tobacco.

Lax. I: shees a Gentlewoman borne I can tell you, tho it be her hard fortune now to shread Indian pot-hearbes.

Gosh. Oh sir tis many a good womans fortune, when her husband turns bankrout,to begin with pipes and set vp againe.

Lax. And indeed the raysing of the woman is the lifting vp of the mans head at all times, if one florish, tother will bud as fast I warrant ye.

Gosh. Come th'art samiliarly acquainted there, I grope that.

Lax. And you grope no better ith dark you may chance lye ith ditch when y'are drunke.

Gosh. Go th'art a misticall letcher.

Lax. I will not deny but my credit may take vp an ounce of pure smoake.

Gosh. May take vp an ell of pure smock; away go, tis the closest striker. Life I think he cõmits venery 40 foote deepe, no mans aware on't, I like a palpable smockster go to worke so openly, with the tricks of art, that I'me as aparantly seen as a naked boy in a viall, & were it not for a guift of trechery that I haue in me to betray my friend whẽ he puts most trust in me (masse yonder

hee is too—) and by his iniurie to make good my accesse to her, I should appeare as defectiue in courting, as a Farmers sonne the first day of his feather, that doth nothing at Court, but woe the hangings and glasse windowes for a month together, and some broken wayting woman for euer after. I find those imperfections in my venerie, that were't not for flatterie and falshood, I should want discourse and impudence, and hee that wants impudence among women, is worthy to bee kickt out at beds feet. —He shall not see me yet.

Greene. Troth this is finely shred.

Lax. Oh women are the best mincers.

Mist. Gal. 'Thad bin a good phrase for a Cookes wife sir.

Lax. But 'twill serue generally, like the front of a newe Almanacke; as thus: Calculated for the meridian of Cookes wiues, but generally for all Englishwomen.

Mist. Gal. Nay you shall ha'te sir, I haue fild it for you.

<>Shee puts it to the fire.

Lax. The pipe's in a good hand, and I wish mine alwaies so.

Gree. But not to be vs'd a that fashion.

Lax. O pardon me sir, I vnderstand no french. I pray be couerd. Iacke a pipe of rich smoake.

Gosh. Rich smoake; that's 6.pence a pipe ist?

Green. To me sweet Lady.

Mist. Gal. Be not forgetful; respect my credit; seem strange; Art and Wit makes a foole of suspition:—pray be warie.

Lax. Push, I warrant you:—come, how ist gallants?

Green. Pure and excellent.

Lax. I thought 'twas good, you were growne so silent; you are like those that loue not to talke at victuals, tho they make a worse noyse i'the nose then a common fidlers prentice, and discourse a whole Supper with snuffling;—I must speake a word with you anone.

Mist. Gal. Make your way wisely then.

Gosh. Oh what else sir, hee's perfection it selfe, full of manners, But not an acre of ground belonging to 'em.

Green. I and full of forme, h'as ne're a good stoole in's chamber.

Gosh. But aboue all religious: hee prayeth daily vpon elder brothers.

Green. And valiant aboue measure; h'as runne three streets from a Serieant.

Lax. Puh, Puh. >>>he blowes tobacco in their faces.

Green. Gosh. Oh, puh, ho, ho.

Lax. So, so.

Mist. Gal. Whats the matter now sir?

Lax. I protest I'me in extreame want of money, if you can supply mee now with any meanes, you doe mee the greatest pleasure, next to the bountie of your loue, as euer poore gentleman tasted.

Mist. Gal. What's the summe would pleasure ye sir? Tho you deserue nothing lesse at my hands.

Lax. Why 'tis but for want of opportunitie thou know'st; I put her off with opportunitie still: by this light I hate her, but for meanes to keepe me in fashion with gallants; for what I take from her, I spend vpon other wenches, beare her in hand still; shee has wit enough to rob her husband, and I waies enough to consume the money: why how now? what the chin-cough?

Gosh. Thou hast the cowardliest tricke to come before a mans face and strangle him ere hee be aware, I could find in my heart to make a quarrell in earnest.

Lax. Poxe and thou do'st, thou know'st I neuer vse to fight with my friends, thou'l but loose thy labour in't. Iacke Dapper!

<>Enter I. Dapper, and his man Gull.

Greene. Mounsier Dapper, I diue downe to your anckles.

I. Dap. Saue ye gentlemen all three in a peculiar salute.

Gosh. He were ill to make a lawyer, hee dispatches three at once.

Lax. So wel said: but is this of the same Tobacco mistresse Gallipot?

M. Gal. The same you had at first sir.

Lax. I wish it no better: this will serue to drinke at my chamber.

Gosh. Shall we taste a pipe on't?

Lax. Not of this by my troth Gentlemen, I haue sworne before you.

Gosh. What not Iacke dapper.

Lax. Pardon me sweet Iacke, I'me sorry I made such a rash oath, but foolish oathes must stand: where art going Iacke.

Iac. Dap. Faith to buy one fether.

Lax. One fether, the foole's peculiar still.

Iac. Dap. Gul.

Gul. Maister.

Iac. Dap. Heer's three halfepence for your ordinary, boy, meete me an howre hence in Powles.

Gul. How three single halfepence; life, this will scarce serue a man in sauce, a halporth of mustard, a halporth of oyle, and a halporth of viniger, whats left then for the pickle herring: this thowes like small beere ith morning after a great surfet of wine ore night, hee could spend his three pound last night in a supper amongst girles and braue baudy-house boyes, I thought his pockets cackeld not for nothing, these are the egs of three pound, Ile go sup'em vp presently.

Lax. Fight, nine, ten Angels, good wench ifaith, and one that loues darkenesse well, she puts out a candle with the best tricks of any drugsters wife in England: but that which mads her I raile vpon oportunity still, and take no notice on't. The other night she would needs lead me into a roome with a candle in her hand to show me a naked picture, where no sooner entred but the candle was sent of an arrant: now I not intending to vnderstand her, but like a puny at the Innes of venery, cal'd for another light innocently, thus reward I all her cunning with simple mistaking. I know she cosens her husband to keepe me, and Ile keepe her honest, as long as I can, to make the poore man some part of amends, an honest minde of a whooremaister, how thinke you amongst you, what a fresh pipe, draw in a third man.