leaue me nothing but browne bread or finne of fish to eat When you be at the alehouse you drinke vp the strong ale and giue me small beare You tell me t is better than the strong to make me sing cleare Indeed you know with my singing I get twise as much as ye But and you serue me so you shall sing your selues and beg alone for me Tom. We stand prating heere come let vs go to the gate Mas I am greatly afraid we are come somewhat too late Good gentle M. Porter your reward so bestow On a poore lame man that hath but a patre of legges to go Will For Gods sake good mas Porter geue somewhat to the blind that the way to the Alehouse in his sleepe cannot find Tom. For the good Lords sake take compassion on the poore Enter Fraud with a basket of meat on his arme Fraud How now sirs you are vengeance hastie can ye not tarrie But stand bauling so at my Ladies doore Heere take it amongst you yet t were a good almesse deed to giue you nothing Because you were so hastie and kept such a calling Tom. I beseech yt not so sir for we are verie hungrie that made vs so earnest but we are sorie we troubled ye Simp. looke how greedie they be like dogs that fall a snatching You shall see that I shal haue the greatest almes because I said nothing Fraud knowes me therefore he le be my friend I am sure of that they haue nothing but leane beefe ye shall see I shall haue a peece that 's fatte Maister Fraud you haue forgot me pray ye let me haue my share Fraud Faith all is gone thou comst too late thou seest al is giuen there By the faith of a Gentleman I haue it not I would I were able to giue thee more Simp. O sir I saw your armes hang out at a stable dore Fraud Indeed my armes are at the Painters belike he hung them out to dry I pray thee tell me what they were if thou canst them descrie Sim. Mary there was neuer a scutchin but there was 2 trees rampant And then ouer them lay a sower tree parsant With a man like you in a greene field pendant Hauing a hempten halter about his necke with a knot vnder the left eare because you are a yonger brother Then sir there stands on each hand holding vp the crease I worthie Ostlers hand in a dish of grease Besides all this on the helmet stands the hangmans hand Readie to turne the Ladder whereon your picture did stand Then vnder the helmet hung tables like chaines and for what they are I cannot deuise Except it be to make you hang fast that the crowes might picke out your eyes Fraud What a swad is this I had beene better to haue sent him to the backe dore to haue gotten some almes amongst the rest of the poore Thou praist thou canst not tell what or els art not well in thy wit I am sure my armes are not blazd so farre abroad as yet Simp. O yes sir your armes were knowne a great while ago For your elder brother Deceit did giue those armes too Mary the difference is all which is the knot vnder the left eare the Painter saies when he is hangd you may put out the knot without feare I am sure they were your armes for there was written in Romane letters round about the hempten collar Giuen by the worthie valiant Captaine maister Fraud the Ostlar Now God be with ye sir I le get me euen close to the backe dore Farewell Tom begger and wily Will I le beg with you no more Exit Tom. O farewell Simplicitie we art very loth to lose thy companie Fraud Now he to gone giue care to me You seeme to be sound men in euery ioint and him And can ye liue in this sort to go vp and downe the country a begging O base minds I trow I had rather hacke it out by the high way side Than such miserie and penurie still to abide Sirs if you will be rulde by me and do what I shall say I le bring ye where we shall haue a notable fine pray It is so sirs that merchant one Mercadorus is comming from Turky And it is my Ladies pleasure that he robbed should be She hath sworne that we shall be all sharers alike And vpon that willed me some such companions as you be to seeke Tom O worthy Captaine Fraud you haue wonne my noble hart You shall see how manfully I can play my part And here 's wily Will as good a fellow as your heart can wish To go a fishing with a cranke through a window or to set lime twigges to catch a pan pot or dish Will He saies true for I tell you I am one that will not giue backe Not for a double shot out of a blacke Iacke O sir you bring vs a bed when ye talke of this geare Come shall we go worthy Captaine I long till we be there Fraud I let vs about it to prouide our weapons ready And when the time serues I my selfe will conduct yee Tom. O valiantly spoken come wily Will two pots of ale we le bestow On our Captaine couragiously for a parting blow Exeunt Enter the Iudge of Turkie with Gerontus and Mercadorus Iudge Sir Gerontus because you are the plaintife you first your mind shall say Declare the cause you did arrest this merchant yesterday Geron. Then learned Iudge attend this Mercadorus whome you see in place Did borrow two thousand duckats of me but for a fiue weeks space Then sir before the day came by his flatterie he obtained one thousand more And promist me at two monthes ende I should receiue my store But before the time expired he was closely fled away So that I neuer heard of him at least this two yeeres day till at the last I met with him and did the money did demand Who sware to me at fiue daies end he would pay me out of hand The fiue daies came and three daies more then one day he requested I perceiuing that he flowted me haue got him thus arrested And now he comes in Turkish weedes to defeat me of my monie But I trow he will not forsake his faith I deeme he hath more honestie Iudge Sir Gerontus you knowe if any man forsake his faith King country and become a Mahomet All debts are paide t is the law of our Realme and you may not gaine-say it Geron. most true reuerend iudge we may not nor i will not against our Lawes grudge Iudge Semo Mercadorus is this true that Gerontus doth tell Merca. My Lord iudge de matter and circumstance be true me know well But me will be a Turke and for dat cause me came here Iudge Then it is but a folly to make many words Senior Mercadorus draw neere Lay your hand on this booke and say after me Merca. With a good will my Lord iudge me be all readie Geron. Not for any deuotion but
meale while I did play Therefore I le haue as easie an occupation as I had when my Father was aliue Faith I le go euen a begging why t is a good trade a man shall be sure to thriue For I am sure my praiers will get bread and cheese and my singing wil get me drinke Then shall not I do better than M. Conscience tell me as you thinke Therefore God Pan in the Kitchen and God Pot in the buttery Come and resist me that I may sing with the more meliositie But sire marke my cauled countenance when I begin But yonder is a fellow that gapes to bite me or els to eate that which I sing Why thou art a foole canst not thou keepe thy mouth strait togethere And when it comes snap at it as my fathers dogge wod do at a liuer But thou art so greedie That thou thinkest to eate it before it come nie thee Simplicitie singes Simplicitie sings and sperience doth proue No biding in London for Conscience and Loue The Country hath no peare Where Conscience comes not once a yeare And Loue so welcome to euery towne as winde that blowes the houses downe Sing downe adowne downe downe downe Simplicitie sings it and spertence doth proue No dwelling in London no biding in London for Conscience and Loue Simp. Now sirra hast eaten vp my song and ye haue ye shall eate no more to day For euery body may see your belly is growne bigger with eating vp our play He has fild his belly but I am neuer a whit the better Therefore I le go seeke some vittels and member for eating vp my song you shall be my debter Enter Mercadorus the Merchant and Gerontus a Iewe Geron, But seneor Mercadorus tell me did ye serue me well or no That hauing gotten my money would seeme the country to forgo You know I lent you two thousand duckats for three monthes space And ere the time came you got another thousand by flatterie and thy smooth face So when the time came that I should haue receiued my money You were not to be found but were fled out of the countrey Surely if we that be Iewes should deale so one with an other We should not be trusted againe of our owne brother But many of you Christians make no conscience to falsifie your faith and breake your day I should haue beene paid at three monthes end and now it is two yeare you haue beene away Well I am glad you be come againe to Turkie now I trust I shall receiue the interest of you so well as the principall Merca A good a maister Geronto pray hartly bare a me a little while And me shall pay ye all without any deceit or guile Me haue much businesse for buy pretie knacks to send to England Good sir beare a me foure fiue daies mele dispatch your money out of hand Geron Seneor Mercadore I know no reason why because you haue dealt with me so ill Sure you did it not for need but of set purpose and will And to beare with ye foure or fiue dayes goes sore against my mind Least you should steale away and forget to leaue my money behind Merca. Pra hartly do tink no such ting my good friend a me Be me trot and fact mele pay you all euery peny Geron. I le take your faith and troth once more trust to your honesty In hope that for my long tarrying you will deale wel with me Tell me what good ware for England you do lacke Merca. O no lacke some pretie fine toy or some fantasticke new knack For da Gentlewomans in England buy mush tings for fantasies You pleasure a me sir vat me meane a dare buy Geron. I vnderstand you sir but keepe tutch with me and I le bring you to great store Such as I know you came to this country for As Muske Amber sweete Powders fine odors pleasant perfumes and many such toyes Wherein I perceiue consisteth that country Gentlewomans ioyes Besides I haue Diamonds Rubies Emerodes Saphires Smaradines Opalles Onacles Iacynthes Aggattes Turkasir and almost of all kind of pretious stones And many fit things to sucke money from such greene headed wantons Merca. Fatta me good friend me tanke you most hartly alway Me shall a content your debt within dis two or tree day Geron. Well see you hold your promise and another tune you shall commaund me Come go we home where our commodities you may at pleasure see Enter Conscience with broomes at her backe singing as followeth New broomes greene broomes will you buy any Come maidens come quickly let me take a penny My broomes are not steeped but very well bound My broomes be not crooked out smooth cut and round I wish it should please you to buy of my broome Then would it well case me if market were done Haue you any olde bootes or any olde shooes Pouch rings or Buskins to cope for new broome If so you haue maydens I pray you bring hither That you and I friendly may bargen together New broomes greene broomes will you buy any Come Maydens come quickly let me take a penny Conscience speaketh Thus am I driuen to make a vertue of necessitie And seeing God almightie will haue it so I imbrace it thankfully Desiring God to mollifie and lesten Usuries hard heart That the poore people feele not the like penurie and smart But Usurie to made tollerable amongst Christians as a necessary thing So that going beyond the limits of our law they extort and manie to miserie bring But if we should follow Gods law we should not receiue aboue that we lend For if we lend for reward how can we say we are our neighbors french O how blessed shall that man be that lends without abuse But thrise accursed shall he be that greatly couets vse For he that couets ouer much insaciate is his minde So that to periurie and crueltie he wholly is inclinde Wherewith they sore oppresse the poore by diuers sundrie waies Which makes them crie vnto the Lord to shorten cutthrotes dayes Paule calleth them theeues that doth not giue the needie of their store And thrise accurst are they that take one penny from the poore But while I stand reasoning thus I forget my market cleane And sith God hath ordained this way I am to vse the meane Sing againe Haue ye any olde shoes or haue ye any bootes haue ye any buskins or will ye buy any broome Who bargens or chops with Conscience what will no customer come Enter Vsurie Vsu. Who is it that cries broomes what Conscience selling broomes aboue the street Con. What Usurie it is great pittie thou art vnhanged yet Vsu. Beleeue me Conscience it greeues me thou art brought so low Con. Beleue me Usurie it greeues me thou wast not hanged long ago For if thou hadst beene hanged before thou slewest Hospitalitie Thou hadst not made me and thousands more to feele the like pouertie Enter Lucar Luc. Me thought I heard one crie broomes along
where is that wretch Dissimulation Dili. He hath transformed himselfe after a strange fashion Iudge Fraude where is he become Dili. He was seene in the streets walking in a Citizens gowne Iudge What is become of Usurie Dili. He was seene at the Exchange very lately Iudge Tell me when you heard of Simony Dili. He was seene this day walking in Paules hauing conference very great familiaritie with some of the Cleargie Iudge Fetch Lucar and Conscience to the Barre Dili. Behold worthy iudge here readie they are Enter Lucar and Conscience Iudge Stand forth Diligence deuide them a sunder Clarke Lucar thou art indited by the name of Lucar To haue committed adulterie with mercadorus the merchant and Creticus the Lawier Thou art also indited for the robberie of mercadore Lastly and chieflie for the consenting to the murder of Hospitalitie What saiest thou art thou guiltie or not in these causes Luc. Not guiltie where are mine accusers they may shame to shewe their faces I warrant you none comes nor dare to discredit my name In despite of the teeth of them that dare I speake in disdaine Iudge Impudent canst thou denie deedes so manifestly knowne Luc. In deniall stands triall I shame not let them be showne It grinds my gall they should slaunder me on this sort they are some olde cankered currish corrupt Carles that gaue mee this report My soule craues reuenge on such my sacred foes And reuengement I will haue if bodie and soule I lose Iudge Thy hatefull heart declares thy wicked life In the abundance of thy abhomination all euils are rife But what saiest thou Conscience to thy accusation that art accused to haue beene hawde vnto Lucar and spotted with all abhomination Con. What should I say nay what would I say in this our naughtie liuing Lucar Good Conscience if thou loue me say nothing Clarke Diligence suffer her not to stand prating Let him put her aside Iudge What letter is that in thy bosome Conscience Diligence reach it hither Make as though ye read it Conscience speake on let me heart what thou canst say For I know in singlenes thou wilt a truth bewray Con. My good Lord I haue no way to excuse my selfe She hath corrupted me by flattery and her accursed pelfe What neede further triall sith I Conscience am a thousand witnesses I cannot choose but condemne vs all in liuing amisse Such terror doth affright me that liuing I wish to die I am afraid there is no sparke left for me of Gods mercie Iudge Conscience where hadst thou this letter Con. It was put into my bosome by Lucar Willing me to keepe secret our lasciuious liuing I cannot but condemne vs all in this thing Iudge How now mallepart stand you still in defence or no This letter declares thy guiltie Conscience how saiest thou is it not for Tell me why standest thou in a maze speake quicklie Hadst thou thy tongue so liberall and now stand to studie Lucar O Conscience thou hast kild me by thee I am ouerthrowne Iudge It is happie that by Conscience thy abhomination is knowne Wherefore I pronounce iudgement against thee on this wise Thou shalt passe to the place of darkenesse where thou shalt heare fearefull cries Weeping wailing gnashing of teeth and torment without end Burning in the lake of fire and brunstone because thou canst not amend Wherefore Diligence conuey her hence throw her downe to the lowest hell Where the infernall sprites and damned ghosts do dwell And bring forth Loue Exit Lucar and Diligence Let Lucar make ready for Loue quickly and come with Diligence Declare that cause Conscience at large how thou commest so spotted Whereby many by thee hath beene greatly infected For vnder the colour of Conscience thou deceiuedst manie Causing them to difile the temple of God which is mans bodie A cleane conscience is a sacrifice Gods owne resting place Why wast thou then corrupted so and spotted on thy face Con. When Hospitalitie had his throate cut vp Usurie He oppressed me with crueltie and brought me to beggerie Turning me out of house and home and in the end my gowne to paie my rent to him I did send So driuen to that extremitie I haue fallen to that you see Yet after iudgement I hope of Gods mercie Iudge O Conscience shall cankered quam corrupt thy heart Or shall want in this world cause thee to feele euerlasting smart O Conscience what a small time thou hast on earth to liue why doest thou not then to God all honor giue Considering the time is euerlasting that thou shalt liue in blisse If by thy life thou rise from death to iudgement mercie and forgiuenes Enter Loue with Diligence Stand aside Conscience bring Loue to the barre What saiest thou to thy deformitie who was the cause Loue Ladie Lucar Iudge Did Lucar choke thee so that thou gauest thy selfe ouer to lust And did prodigall expences cause thee in Dissimulation to trust Thou wast pure Loue and art thou become a monster Bolstring thy selfe vpon the lasciuiousnes of Lucar Loue answere for thy selfe speake in thy defence Loue I cannot chuse but yeeld confounded by Conscience Iudge Then iudgement I pronounce on thee because thou followed Lucar Whereby thou hast solde thy soule to feele like torment with her Which torments comprehended are in the worme of Conscience who raging still shall nere haue end a plague for thine offence Care shall be thy comfort and sorrow shall thy life sustaine thou shalt be dying yet neuer dead but pining still in endlesse paine Diligence conuey her to Lucar let that be her reward Because vnto her cankered coyne she gaue her whole regard But as for Conscience carrie her to prison there to remaine vntill the day of generall session Thus we make an end Knowing that the best of vs all may amend UUhich God graunt to his good will and pleasure That we be not corrupted with the vnsatiate desire of vanishing earthly treasure For Couetousnesse is the cause of wresting mans Conscience Therefore restraine thy lust and thou shalt shun the offence FINIS Paule Bucke