from my Husband That 's base all o're mine shall receive from me What I think fit I 'le have the State convey'd Into my hands and be put to his pension Which the wise virago's of our climate practise I will receive your rents Plenty You shall be hang'd first Mary Make sale or purchase Nay I 'le have my neighbours Instructed when a passenger shall ask Whose house is this though you stand by to answer The Lady Plenties Or who owes this manner The Lady Plenty Whose sheep are these whose oxen The Lady Plenties Plentie A plentifull Pox upon you Mary And when I have children if it be enquir'd By a stranger whose they are they shall still Eccho My Lady Plenties the Husband never thought on Plenty In their begetting I think so Mary Since you 'l marry In the City for our wealth in justice we Must have the Countries Soveraignty Plenty And we nothing Mary A Nagg of forty shillings a couple of Spaniels With a Spar-Hawk is sufficient and these too As you shall behave your self during my pleasure I will not greatly stand on I have said Sir Now if you like me so Lady At my intreaty The Articles shall be easier Plenty Shall they i'faith Like Bitch like Whelps Lacie Use fair words Plenty I cannot I have read of a house of pride and now I have found one A whirle winde overturn it Lacie On these terms Wil your minxship be a Lady Plenty A Lady in a morris I 'le wedd a Pedlers punck first Lacie Tinkers trull A begger without a smock Plenty Let Mounsieur Almanack Since he is so cunning with his Jacob's Staffe Find you out a Husband in a bowling Ally Lacie The general pimp to a Brothel Plenty Though that now All the loose desires of man were rak'd up in me And no means but thy Maiden-head left to quench 'em I would turn Cynders or the next Sow-gelder On my life should libb me rather then imbrace thee Ann. Wooing do you call this Mary A Bear-baiting rather Plenty Were you worried you deserve it and I hope I shall live to see it Lacie I 'le not rail nor curse you Only this you are pretty peates and your great portions Adds much unto your handsomenesse but as You would command your Husbands you are beggers Deform'd and uglie Lady Hear me Plenty Not a word more Exeunt Lacie and Plenty Ann. I ever thought 't would come to this Mary Wee may Lead Apes in Hell for Husbands if you bind us T' articulate thus with our sutors Both speak weeping Stargaze Now the Clowd breaks And the Storm will fall on me Lady You rascal jugler She breaks his head and beats him Stargaze Dear Madam Lady Hold you intelligence with the Starrs And thus deceive me Stargaze My art cannot erre If it does I 'le burn my Astrolabe In mine own Starr I did fore see this broken head and beating And now your Ladyship sees as I do feel it It could not be avoided Lady Did you Stargaze Madam Have patience but a week and if you finde not All my predictions true touching your daughters And a change of fortune to your self a rare one Turn me out of doors These are not the men the Planets Appointed for their Husbands there will come Gallants of another metall Milliscent Once more trust him Ann. and Mary Do Lady mother Ladie I am vex'd look to it Turn o're your books if once again you fool me You shall graze elswhere Come Girles Exeunt Stargaze I am glad I scap'd thus Actus secundus Scena tertia Enter Lord and Sir John Lord THe plot shews very likely Sir John I repose My principal trust in your Lordship 't will prepare The physick I intend to minister To my Wife and Daughters Lord I will do my parts To set it off to the life Enter Lacie and Plenty Sir John It may produce A Scene of no vulgar mirth Here come the Suitors When we understand how they relish my Wife's humors The rest is feasible Lord Their looks are cloudie Sir John How fits the wind Are you ready to launch forth Into this sea of marriage Plenty Call it rather A Whirle-pool of afflictions Lacie If you please To injoin me to it I will undertake To find the North-passage to the Indies sooner Then plough with your proud Heifer Plenty I will make A Voiage to Hell first Sir John How Sir Plenty And court Proserpine In the fight of Pluto his three headed Porter Cerberus standing by and all the furies With their whips to scourge me for 't then say I Jeffrey Take your Mary for my Wife Lord Why what 's the matter Lacie The matter is the mother with your pardon I cannot but speak so much is a most insufferable Proud insolent Ladie Plenty And the daughter 's worse The Damm in years had th' advantage to be wicked But they were so in her belly Lacie I must tell you With reverence to your wealth I do begin To think you of the same leaven Plenty Take my counsel 'T is safer for your credit to prosesse Your self a Cuckold and upon record Then say they are your Daughters Sir John You go too far Sir Lacie They have so Articl'd with us Plenty And will not take us For their Husbands but their slaves and so aforehand They do profess they 'l use us Sir John Leave this heat Though they are mine I must tell you the perverseneess Of their manners which they did not take from me But from their mother qualified they deserve Your equalls Lacie True but what 's bred in the bone Admits no hope of cure Plenty Though Saints and Angels Were their Physitians Sir John You conclude too fast Plenty God bowy you I 'le travail three years but I 'le bury This shame that lives upon me Lacie With your licence I 'le keep him company Lord who shall furnish you For your expences Plenty He shall not need your help My purse is his we were rivals but now friends And will live and die so Lacie E're we go I 'le pay My duty as a son Plenty And till then leave you Ext. Lscei and Plenty Lord They are strangely mov'd Sir John What 's wealth accompanied With disobedience in a wife and children My heart will break Lord Be comforted and hope better Wee 'l ride abroad the fresh air and discourse May yield us new inventions Sir John You are noble And shall in all things as you please command me Exeunt Actus tertius Scena prima Enter Shaveem and Secret Secret DEad doings Daughter Shave'm Doings sufferings mother Men have forgot what doing is And such as have to pay for what they do Are impotent or Eunuchs Secret You have a friend yet And a striker too I take it Musick come down Shaveem. Goldwire is so And comes to me by stealth and as he can steal maintains me In cloaths I grant but alas Dame what 's one friend I would have a hundred for every hour and use And change
May I ne're find pity Sir John Be your own judge Appear as I commanded Sad musick Enter Goldwire and Tradewell as from prison Fortune Hoyst Penurie following after them Shavem in a blew gown Secret Dingem Old Tradewell and Old Goldwire with Serjeants As erected they all kneel to Luke heaving up their hands for mercy Stargaze with a pack of Alminacks Milliscent Luke Ha ha ha This move me to compassion or raise One sign of seeming pity in my face You are deceiv'd it rather renders me more flinty and obdurate A South wind Shall sooner soften marble and the rain That slides down gently from his flaggy wings O'reflow the Alps then knees or tears or groans Shall wrest compunction from me 'T is my glory That they are wretched and by me made so It sets my happinesse off I could not triumph If these were not my captives Ha! my tarriers As it appears have seiz'd on these old foxes As I gave order New addition to My Scene of mirth Ha ha They now grow tedious Let 'em be remov'd some other object If Your art can shew it Sir John You shall perceive 't is boundlesse Yet one thing reall if you please Luke What is it S. Jo. Your Neeces er'e they put to Sea crave humbly Though absent in their bodys they may take leave Of their late suitors statues Enter Lady Anne and Mary Luke There they hang In things different I am tractable Sir John There pay your vows you have liberty Ann. O sweet figure Of my abused Lacie when remov'd Into another world I 'le daily pay A sacrifice of sight to thy remembrance And with a shower of tears strive to wash of The stain of that contempt my foolish pride And insolence threw upon thee Marie I had been Too happie if I had injoy'd the substance But far unworthy of it now I shall Thus prostrate to thy statue Lady My kind husband Blessed in my misery from the monastery To which my disobedience confin'd thee With thy souls eye which distance cannot hinder Look on my penitence O that I could Call back time past thy holy vow dispens'd With what humility would I observe My long neglected duty Sir John Does not this move you Luke Yes as they do the statues and her sorrow My absent brother If by your magick art You can give life to these or bring him hither To witnesse her repentance I may have Perchance some feeling of it Sir John For your sport You shall see a Master-piece Here 's nothing but A superficies colours and no substance Sit still and to your wonder and amazement I 'le give these Organs This the sacrifice To make the great work perfect Enter Lacie and Plenty Luke Prodigious S. John Nay they have life and motion Descend And for your absent brother This wash'd off Against your will you shall know him Enter Lord and the rest Luke I am lost Guilt strikes me dumb Sir John You have seen my Lord the pageant Lord I have and am ravish'd with it S. John What think you now Of this clear soul this honest pious man Have I stripp'd him bare Or will your Lordship have A farther triall of him 't is not in a wolf to change his nature Lord I long since confess'd my errours S. John Look up I forgive you And seal your pardons thus Lady I am too full Of joy to speak it Ann. I am another creature Not what I was Mary I vow to shew my self When I am married an humble wife Not a commanding mistris Plenty On those terms I gladly thus embrace you Lacte. Welcome to My bosome As the one half of my self I 'le love you and cherish you Goldwire Mercv Tradewell and the rest Good Sir mercy Sir John This day is sacred to it All shall find me As far as lawfull pity can give way too 't Indulgent to your wishes though with losse Unto my self My kind and honest brother Looking into your self have you seen the Gorgon What a golden dream you have had in the possession Of my estate but here 's a revocation That wakes you out of it Monster in nature Revengefull avaritious Atheist Transcending all example But I shall bee A sharer in thy crimes should I repeat 'em What wilt thou do Turn hypocrite again With hope dissimulation can aid thee Or that one eye will shed a tear in sign Of sorrow for thee I have warrant to Make bold with mine own pray you uncase This key too I must make bold with Hide thy self in some desart Where good men ner'e may find thee or in justice Pack to Virginia and repent Not for Those horrid ends to which thou did'st design these Luke I care not where I go what 's done with words Cannot be undone Exit Luke Lady Yet Sir shew some mercy Because his cruelty to me and mine Did good upon us Sir John Of that at better leisure As his penitencie shall work me Make you good Your promis'd reformation and mistrust Our City dames whom wealth makes proud to move In their own spheres and willingly to confesse In their habits manners and their highest port A distance 'twixt the City and the Court Exeunt omnes FINIS
THE City-Madam A COMEDIE As it was acted at the private House in Black Friers with great applause Written by Phillip Massinger Gent. LONDON Printed for Andrew Pennycuicke one of the Actors in the year 1659 The Actors names Lord Lacie Sir John Rich a Merchant Sir John Lacie Son to Lord Lacy Mr. Plenty a Country Gentleman Luke Brother to Sir John Rich Old Goldwire Two Gentlemen Old Tradewell Young Goldwire their sons prentices to Sir John Rich Young Tradewell Stargaze an Astrologer Fortune a decaied Merchant Hoyst a decaied gentleman Penurie Holdfast a Steward Ramble Scuffle two Hectors Dingem a Pimpe Gettall a Box-keeper Lady Rich Anne her daughters Mary Milliscent her woman Shavem a Wench Secret a Baud Scene London To the truly Noble and virtuous Lady Ann Countess of Oxford HONOURED LADY IN that age when wit and learning were outconquered by injury and violence this Poem was the object of love and Commendations it being composed by an infallible pen and censured by an unerring Auditory In this Epistle I shall not need to make an Apologie for Playes in generall by exhibiting their antiquity and utility in a word they are mirrors or glasses which none but deformed faces and fouler consciences fear to look into The encouragement I had to prefer this dedication to your powerfull protection proceeds from the universall fame of the deceased Author who although he composed many writ none amiss and this may justly be ranked amongst his best I have redeemed it from the teeth of time by committing of it to the press but in more imploring your Patronage I wil not slander it with my praises it is commendations enough to call it Massingers if it may gain your allowance and pardon I am highly gratified and desire only to wear the happy title of MADAM Your humblest Servant Andrew Pennycuicke THE City-Madam A COMEDIE Actus primus Scena prima Enter Goldwire and Tradewell Goldwire THe Ship is safe in the Pool then Tradewell And makes good In her rich fraught the name shee bears the Speedwell My Master will find it for on my certain knowledg For every hundred that hee ventured in her She hath return'd him five Goldwire And it comes timely For besides a paiment on the nail for a Mannor Late purchas'd by my Master his young daughters Are ripe for marriage Tradewell Who Nan and Moll Goldwire Mistris Anne and Mary and with some addition Or 't is more punishable in our house Then Scandalum magnatum Tradewell 'T is great pitie Such a Gentleman as my Master for that title His being a Citizen cannot take from him Hath no male heir to inherit his estate And keep his name alive Goldwire The want of one Swells my young Mistresses and their madam mother With hopes above their birth and scale Their dreams are Of being made Countesses and they take state As they were such already When you went To the Indies there was some shape and proportion Of a Merchants house in our family but since My Master to gain precedencie for my Mistris Above some Elder Merchants Wives was knighted 'T is grown a little Court in bravery Variety of fashions and those rich ones There are few great Ladies going to a Masque That do out-shine ours in their every-day habits Tradewell 'T is strange my Master in his wisdom can Give the reins to such exorbitancie Goldwire He must Or there 's no peace nor rest for him at home I grant his state will bear it yet hee 's censur'd For his indulgence and for Sir John Frugall By some styl'd Sir John Prodigal Tradewell Is his brother Mr. Luke Frugal living Goldwire Yes the more His misery poor man Tradewell Still in the Counter Goldwire In a worser place He was redeemed from the hole To live in our house in hell since his base usage Consider'd 't is no better My proud Ladie Admits him to her Table marry ever Beneath the Salt and there he sits the subject Of her contempt and scorn and dinner ended His courteous Neeces find emploiment for him Fitting an under-prentice or a Footman And not an Uncle Tradewel. I wonder being a Scholler well read and travel'd The world yielding means for men of such desert He should endure it Enter Star-gaze Ladie Anne Mary Millescent in several postures with looking-glasses at their girdles Goldwire He does with a strange patience and to us The servants so familiar nay humble I 'le tell you but I am cut off Look these Like a Citizens wife and daughters Tradewel. In their habits They appear other things but what are the motives Of this strange preparation Goldwire The young wag-tails Expect their suitors The first the Son and Heir Of the Lord Ladie who needs my Masters money As his daughter does his honour The second Mr. Plenty A rough hew'n gentleman and newly come To a great estate and so all aids of Art In them 's excusable Lady You have done your parts here To your studie and be curious in the search Of the Nativities Exit Stargaze Tradewel. Me thinks the mother As if she could renew her youth in care Nay curiosity to appear lovely Comes not behind her daughters Goldwire Keeps the first place And though the Church-book speak her fifty they That say she can write thirty more offend her Then if they tax'd her honesty t'other day A Tenant of hers instructed in her humor But one she never saw being brought before her For saying onely Good young Mistris help me To the speech of your Lady-mother so far pleas'd her That he got his Lease renew'd for 't Tradewell How she bristles Prethee observe her Millescent As I hope to see A Country Knights son and heir walk bare before you When you are a Countess as you may be one When my Master dies or leavs trading and I continuing Your principal woman take the upper-hand Of a Squires wife though a Justice as I must By the place you give me you look now as young As when you were married Lady I think I bear my years well Millescent Why should you talk of years Time hath not plough'd One furrow in your face and were you not known The mother of my young Ladies you might passe For a Virgin of fifteen Tradewell Here 's no grosse flattery Will she swallow this Goldwire You see she does and glibly Millescent You never can be old wear but a Masque Forty years hence and you will still seem young In your other parts What a waste is here O Venus That I had been born a King and here a hand To be kissed ever Pardon my boldnesse Madam Then for a leg and foot you will be courter When a great Grandmother Ladye These indeed Wench are not So subject to decayings as the face Their Comliness last's longer Milliscent Ever ever Such a rare Featur'd and proportion'd Madam London could never boast of Ladye Where are my Shoos Milliscent Those that your Ladyship gave order Should be made of the Spanish Perfum'd Skins Ladye The
since my Master longs to be undone The great Fiend be his Steward I will pray And blesse my self from him Exit Holdfast Goldwire The wretch shews in this An honest care Luke Out on him with the fortune Of a slave he has the mind of one However She bears me hard I like my Ladies humor And my brothers sufferage to it They are now Busie on all hands one side eager for Large portions the other arguing strictly For jointures and securitie but this Being above our scale no way concerns us How dul you look in the mean time how intend you To spend the hours Goldwire We well know how we would But dare not serve our wills Tradewell Being prentices We are bound to attendance Luke Have you almost serv'd out The term of your Indentures yet make conscience By starts to use your liberty Hast thou traded In the other world expos'd unto all dangers To make thy Master rich yet dar'st not take Some portion of the profit for thy pleasure Or wilt thou being keeper of the Cash Like an Ass that carries dainties feed on Thistles Are you gentlemen born yet have no gallant tincture Of gentry in you You are no Mechanicks Nor serve some needy shop-keeper who surveighs His every-day-takings You have in your keeping A masse of wealth from which you may take boldly And no way be discover'd He 's no rich man That knows all he possesses and leavs nothing For his servants to make prey of I blush for you Blush at your poverty of spirit you The brave sparks of the City Goldwire M. Luke I wonder you should urge this having felt What miserie follows riot Tradewell And the penance You indur'd for 't in the Counter Luke You are fools The case is not the same I spent mine own money And my stock being smal no mervail 't was soon wasted But you without the least doubt or suspicion If cautelous may make bold with your Masters As for example when his Ships come home And you take your receipts as 't is the fashion For fifty bales of Silk you may write forty Or for so many pieces of Cloth of Bodkin Tissue Gold Silver Velvets Sattins Taffaties A piece of each deducted from the grosse Will never be miss'd a dash of a pen will do it Trad. I but our fathers bonds that lye in pawn For our honesties must pay for 't Luke A meer bugbear Invented to fright children As I live Were I the master of my brothers fortunes I should glory in such servants Did'st thou know What ravishing lechery it is to enter An Ordinarie ca pa pe trim'd like a Gallant For which in truncks conceal'd be ever furnish'd The reverence respect the crouches cringes The musical chime of Gold in your cram'd pockets Commands from the attendants and poor Porters Tradewell Oh rare Luke Then sitting at the Table with The braveries of the kingdom you shall hear Occurrents from all corners of the world The plots the Counsels the designs of Princes And freely censure 'em the City wits Cri'd up or decri'd as their passions lead 'em Judgment having nought to do there Tradewell Admirable Luke My Lord no sooner shal rise out of his chair The gameing Lord I mean but you may boldly By the priviledge of a gamester fill his room For in play you are all fellows have your knife Assoon in the Pheasant drink your health as freely And striking in a luckie hand or two Buy out your time Tradewell This may be but suppose We should be known Luke Have mony and good cloaths And you may passe invisible Or if You love a Madam-punck and your wide nostrill Be taken with the sent of cambrick smocks Wrought and perfum'd Goldwire There there M. Luke There lyes my road of happiness Luke Injoy it And pleasures stol'n being sweetest apprehend The raptures of being hurried in a Coach To Brainford Stanes or Barnet Goldwire 'T is inchanting I have prov'd it Luke Hast thou Goldwire Yes in all these places I have had my several Pagans billeted For my own tooth and after ten pound suppers The curtains drawn my Fidlers playing all night The shaking of the sheets which I have danc'd Again and again with my Cockatrice M. Luke You shall be of my counsel and we two sworn brothers And therefore I 'le be open I am out now Six hundred in the Cash yet if on a sudden I should be call'd to account I have a trick How to evade it and make up the sum Tradewell Is 't possible Luke You can intrust your Tutor How how good Tom Goldwire Why look you We cash-keepers Hold correspondence supply one another On all occasions I can borrow for a week Two hundred pounds of one as much of a second A third lays down the rest and when they want As my Masters monies come in I do repay it Ka me ka thee Luke An excellent knot 't is pity It e're should be unloos'd for me it shall not You are shew'n the way friend Tradewell ou may make use on 't Or freeze in the ware-house and keep company With the Cator Holdfast Tradewell No I am converted A Barbican Broker will furnish me with out side And then a crash at the Ordinarie Goldwire I am for The Lady you saw this morning who indeed is My proper recreation Luke Go to Tom What did you make me Goldwire I 'le do as much for you Imploy me when you please Luke If you are enquired for I will excuse you both Tradewell Kind M. Luke Goldwire Wee 'l break my Master to make you You know Luke I cannot love money go boyes When time serves It shall appear I have another end in 't Exeunt Enter Lord Sir John Lacie Plenty Lady Ann Mary Milliscent Sir John Ten thousand pounds a piece I 'le make their portions And after my decease it shall be double Provided you assure them for their jointures 800 l. per annum and intail A thousand more upon the heirs male Begotten on their bodies Lord Sir you bind us To very strict conditions Plentie You my Lord May do as you please but to me it seems strange We should conclude of portions and of jointures Before our hearts are settled Ladie You say right A chair set out There are counsels of more moment and importance On the making up of marriages to be Consider'd duly then the portion or the jointures In which a mothers care must be exacted And I by speciall priviledge may challenge A casting voice Lord How 's this Lady Even so my Lord In these affairs I govern Lord Give you way to 't S. John I must my Lord Lady 'T is fit he should and shall You may consult of somthing else this Province Is wholly mine Lacie By the City custom Madam Lady Yes my young Sir and both must look my daughters Will hold it by my Copie Plenty Brave i'faith S. John Give her leave to talk we have the power to do And now touching the businesse we last talk'd
of In private if you please Lord 'T is well remembred You shall take your own way Madam Exeunt Lord and S. John Lacie What strange lecture Will she read unto us Lady Such as wisedom warrants From the Superiour bodies Is Stargaze ready With his several Schemes Millis. Yes Madam and attends Your pleasure Exit Milliscent Lacie Stargaze Ladie What is he Lady Call him in You shall first know him then admire him For a man of many parts and those parts rare ones Hee 's every thing indeed parcel Physician And as such prescribes my diet and foretells My dreams when I eat Potato's parcel Poet And sings Encomiums to my virtues sweetly My Antecedent or my Gentleman Usher And as the starrs move with that due proportion He walks before me but an absolute Master In the Calculation of Nativities Guided by that ne're-erring science call'd Judicial Astrologie Plentie Stargaze sure I have a penny Almanack about me Inscrib'd to you as to his Patroness In his name publish'd Lady Keep it as a jewel Some States men that I will not name are wholly Governed by his predictions for they serve For any latitude in Christendome Aswell as our own climate Enter Milliscent and Stargaze with two Schemes Lady I believe so Plentie Must we couple by the Almanack Lady Be silent And e're we do articulate much more Grow to a full conclusion instruct us Whether this day and hour by the planets promise Happie success in marriage Stargaze In omni Parte toto Plentie Good learn'd Sir in English And since it is resolved we must be Coxcombs Make us so in our own language Stargaze You are pleasant Thus in our vulgar tongue then Ladie Pray you observe him Stargaze Venus in the West-angle the house of marriage the 7th house in Trine of Mars in Conjunction of Luna and Mars Almuthen or Lord of the Horoscope Plentie Hoy day Ladie The Angels language I am ravish'd forward Stargaze Mars as I said Lord of the Horoscope or geniture in mutual reception of each other shee in her Exaltation and he in his Triplicitie trine and face assure a fortunate combination to Hymen excellent prosperous and happie Ladie Kneel and give thanks The Women kneel Lacie For what we understand not Plenty And have as little faith in 't Lady Be credulous To me 't is Oracle Stargaze Now for the sovereigntie of my future Ladies your daughters after they are married Plenty Wearing the breeches you mean Lady Touch that point home It is a principal one and with London Ladies Of main consideration Stargaze This is infallible Saturn out of all dignities in his detriment and fall combust and Venus in the South-angle elevated above him Ladie of both their Nativities in her essential and accidental dignities occidental from the Sun oriental from the Angle of the East in Cazini of the Sun in her joy and free from the malevolent beams of infortunes in a sign commanding and Mars in a constellation obeying she fortunate and he dejected the disposers of marriage in the Radix of the native in feminine figures argue foretel and declare preheminence rule preheminence ce and absolute soveraignity in women Lacie Is 't possible Stargaze 'T is drawn I assure you from the Aphorismes of the old Chaldeans Zoroastes the first and greatest Magician Mercurius Trismegistius the later Ptolomy and the everlasting Prognosticator old Erra Pater Lady Are you yet satisfi'd Plentie In what Lady That you Are bound to obey your Wives it being so Determin'd by the starrs against whose influence There is no opposition Plenty Since I must Be married by the Almanack as I may be 'T were requisite the services and duties Which as you say I must pay to my wife Were set down in the Calender Lacie With the date Of my Apprenticeship Lady Make your demands I 'le sit as Moderatrix if they presse you With over hard conditions Lacie Mine hath the Van I stand your charge sweet Stargaze Silence Anne I require first And that since 't is in fashion with kind husbands In civil manners you must grant my will In all things whatsoever and that will To be obey'd not argu'd Lady And good reason Plenty A gentle Imprimis Lacie This in grosse contains all But your special Items Lady Anne When I am one And you are honour'd to be styl'd my husband To urge my having my Page my Gentleman-Usher My Woman sworn to my secrets my Caroch Drawn by six Flanders Mares my Coachman Grooms Postilian and Footmen Lacie Is there ought else To be demanded Anne Yes Sir mine own Doctor French and Italian Cooks Musicians Songsters And a Chaplain that must preach to please my fancie A friend at Court to place me at a Mask The private Box took up at a new Play For me and my retinue a fresh habit Of a fashion never seen before to draw The Gallants eies that sit on the Stage upon me Some decay'd Ladie for my Parasite To flatter me and rail at other Madams And there ends my ambition Lacie Your desires Are modest I confess Anne These toies subscrib'd to And you continuing an obedient Husband Upon all fit occasions you shall find me A most indulgent Wife Lady You have said give place And hear your younger Sister Plenty If shee speak Her language may the great Friend booted spurr'd With a Sithe at his girdle as the Scotchman saies Ride headlong down her throat Lacie Curse not the Judg Before you hear the sentence Mary In some part My Sister hath spoke well for the Citie pleasures But I am for the Countries and must say Under correction in her demands She was too modest Lacie How like you this Exordium Plenty Too modest with a mischief I Mary Yes too modest I know my value and prize it to the worth My youth my beauty Plenty How your glasse deceives you Mary The greatnesse of the portion I bring with me And the Sea of happinesse that from me flows to you Lacie She bears up close Mary And can you in your wisedom Or rusticall simplicity imagine You have met some innocent Country girle that never Look'd further then her fathers farm nor knew more Then the price of corn in the Market or at what rate Beef went a stone that would surveigh your dayrie And bring in mutton out of Cheese and butter That could give directions at what time of the Moon To cut her Cocks for apons against Christmas Or when to raise up Goslings Plenty These are arts Would not mis-become you though you should put in Obedience and duty Mary Yes and patience To sit like a fool at home and eye your thrashers Then make provition for your slavering Round When you come drunk from an Ale-house after hunting With your Clowns and Comrades as if all were yours You the Lord Paramount and I the drudge The case Sir must be otherwise Plentie How I beseech you Mary Marry thus I will not like my Sister challenge What 's usefull or superfluous
and his businesse Aims not at you as I take it Luke Can I live in this base condition aside Lady I hoped my Lord You had brought Mr. Frugall with you for I must ask An account of him from you Lord I can give it Ladie But with the best discretion of a woman And a strong fortifi'd patience I desire you To give it hearing Luke My heart beats Lady My Lord you much amaze me Lord I shall astonish you The noble Merchant Who living was for his integritie And upright dealing a rare miracle In a rich Citizen Londons best honour Is I am loth to speak it Luke Wondrous strange Lady I do suppose the worst not dead I hope Lord Your supposition 's true your hopes are false Hee 's dead Lady Ay mee Anne My Father Mary My kind Father Luke Now they insult not Lord Pray hear me out Hee 's dead Dead to the world and you And now Lives onely to himself Luke What Riddle 's this Lady Act not the torturer in my afflictions But make me understand the summe of all That I must undergo Lord In few words take it He is retir'd into a Monastery Where he resolves to end his daies Luke More strange Lord I saw him take poste for Dover and the wind Sitting so fair by this hee 's safe at Calice And ere long will be at Lovain Lady Could I guesse What were the motives that induc'd him to it 'T were some allay to my sorrows Lord I 'le instruct you And chide you into that knowledg 't was your pride Above your rank and stubborn disobedience Of these your daughters in their milk suck'd from you At home the harshnesse of his entertainment You wilfully forgetting that your all Was borrowed from him and to hear abroad The imputations dispers'd upon you And justly too I fear that drew him to This strict retirement And thus much said for him I am my self to accuse you Lady I confesse A guilty cause to him but in a thought My Lord I ne're wrong'd you Lord In fact you have The insolent disgrace you put upon My onely Son and Mr. Plenty men that lov'd Your daughters in a noble way to wash off The scandal put a resolution in 'em For three years travel Lady I am much griev'd for it Lord One thing I had forgot your rigor to His decaied brother in which your flatteries Or sorceries made him a coagent with you Wrought not the least impression Luke Humph! this sounds well Lady 'T is now past help after these storms my Lord A little calme if you please Lord If what I have told you Shew'd like a storm what now I must deliver Will prove a raging tempest His whole estate In lands and leases debts and present moneys With all the movables he stood posses'd of With the best advice which he could get for gold From his learned counsel by this formall Will Is pass'd o're to his brother With it take The key of his counting house Not a groat left you Which you can call your own Ladie Undone for ever Ann. Marie What will become of us Luke Humph! Lord The Scenes chang'd And he that was your slave by fate appointed Your governour you kneel to me in vain I cannot help you I discharge the trust Impos'd upon me This humilitie From him may gain remission and perhaps Forgetfulnesse of your barbarous usage to him Lady Am I come to this Lord Enjoy your own good Sir But use it with due reverence I once heard you Speak most divinely in the opposition Of a revengefull humor to these shew it And such who then depended on the mercy Of your brother wholly now at your devotion And make good the opinion I held of you Of which I am most confident Luke Pray you rise And rise with this assurance I am still As I was of late your creature and if rais'd In any thing 't is in my power to serve you My will is still the same O my Lord This heap of wealth which you possesse me of Which to a worldly man had been a blessing And to the messenger might with justice challenge A kind of adoration is to me A curse I cannot thank you for and much lesse Rejoyce in that tranquility of mind My brothers vows must purchase I have made A dear exchange with him He now enjoyes My peace and poverty the trouble of His wealth confer'd on me and that a burthen Too heavy for my weak shouldiers Lord Honest soul With what feeling he receivs it Lady You shall have My best assistance if you please to use it To help you to suport it Luke By no means The waight shall rather sinck me then you part With one short minute from those lawfull pleasures Which you were born to in your care to aid me You shall have all abundance In my nature I was ever liberall my Lord you know it Kind affable And now me thinks I see Before my face the Jubile of joy When it is assur'd my brother lives in me His debtors in full cups crown'd to my health With Paeans to my praise will celabrate For they well know 't is far from me to take The forfeiture of a Bond Nay I shall blush The interest never paid after three years When I demand my principall And his servants Who from a slavish fear pai'd her obedience By him exacted now when they are mine Will grow familiar friends and as such use me Being certain of the mildnesse of my temper Which my change of fortune frequent in most men Hath not the power to alter Lord Yet take heed Sir You ruine it not with too much lenity What his fit severity rais'd Lady And we fall from That height we have maintain'd Luke I le build it higher To admiration higher With disdain I look upon these habits no way suiting The wife and daughters of a knighted Citizen Bless'd with abundance Lord There Sir I joyn with you A fit decorum must be kept the Court Distinguished from the City Luke With your favour I know what you would say but give me leave In this to be your advocate You are wide Wide the whole region in what I purpose Since all the titles honours long descents Borrow their gloss from wealth the rich with reason May challenge their perogatives And it shall be My glory nay a triumph to revive In the pomp that these shall shine the memory Of the Roman matrons who kep't captive Queens To be their hand-maids And when you appear Like Juno in full majesty and my Neeces Like Iris Hebe or what deities else Old Poets fancie your cram'd ward-robes richer Then various natures and draw down the envy of our western world upon you onely hold me your vigilant Hermes with aeriall wings My Caduceus my strong zeal to serve you Press'd to fecth in all rarities may delight you And am made immortall Lord A strange frensie Luke Off with these rags and then to bed There dream Of future greatnesse which
when you awake I 'le make a certain truth but I must be A doer not a promiser The performance Requiring host I kisse your hands and leave you Exit Luke Lord Are we all turn'd statues have his strange words charm'd us What muse you on Lady Lady Do not trouble me Lord Sleep you too young ones Anne Swift wing'd time till now Was never tedious to me Would 't were night Mary Nay morning rather Lord Can you grouud your faith On such impossibilities have you so soon Forgot your good Husband Lady Hee was a vanitie I must no more remember Lord Excellent You your kind Father Anne Such an Uncle never Was read of in Storie Lord Not one word in answer Of my demands Mary You are but a Lord and know My thoughts soar higher Lord Admirable I will leave you To your Castles in the Air when I relate this It will exceed belief but he must know it Exit Lord Stargaze Now I may boldly speak May it please you Madam To look upon your Vassal I foresaw this The Starrs assur'd it Lady I begin to feel My self another woman Stargaze Now you shall find All my predictions true and nobler matches Prepar'd for my young Ladies Milliscent Princely Husbands Anne I 'le go no lesse Mary Not a word more Provide my night-rayl Millisc. What shall we be to morrow Exeunt Actus tertius Scena tertia Enter Luke with a key Luke T Was no phantastick object but a truth A reall truth Nor dream I did not slumber And could wake ever with a brooding eye To gaze upon 't It did indure the touch I saw and felt it Yet what I beheld And handl'd oft did so transcend beleefe My wonder and astonishment pass'd ore I faintly could give credit to my senses Thou dumb magician that without a charm Did'st make my entrance easie to possesse What wise men wish and toyl for Hermes Moly Sybilla's golden bough the great Elixar Imagin'd onely by the Alchymist Compar'd with thee are shadows thou the substance And guardian of felicity No marvail My brother made thy place of rest his bosome Thou being the keeper of his heart a mistris To be hugg'd ever In by corners of This sacred room silver in bags heap'd up Like billets saw'd and ready for the fire Unworthy to hold fellowship with bright gold That flow'd about the room conceal'd it self There needs no artificiall light the splendor Makes a perpetuall day there night and darknesse By that still burning lamp for ever banish'd But when guided by that my eyes had made Discovery of the caskets and they open'd Each sparkling diamond from it self shot forth A pyram'd of flames and in the roof Fix it a glorious Star and made the place Heavens abstract or Epitome Rubies Saphires and ropes of Orient pearl these seen I could not But look on with contempt And yet I found What weak credulity could have no faith in A treasure far exceeding these Here lay A mannor bound fast in a skin of parchment The wax continuing hard the acres melting Here a sure deed of gift for a market town If not redeem'd this day which is not in The unthrists power There being scarce one shire In Wales or Englands where my moneys are not Lent out at usurie the certain hook To draw in more I am sublim'd grosse earth Supports me not I walk on ayr who 's there Theivs raise the street thievs Enter Lord Sir John Lacie and Plenty as Indians Lord What strange passion 's this Have you your eies do you know me Luke You my Lord I do but this retinue in these shapes too May well excuse my fears When 't is your pleasure That I should wait upon you give me leave To do it at your own house for I must tell you Things as they now are with me well consider'd I do not like such visitants Lord Yesterday When you had nothing praise your poverty for 't You could have sung secure before a thief But now you are grown rich doubts and suspitions And needless fears possess you Thank a good brother But let not this exalt you Luke A good brother Good in his conscience I confesse and wise In giving o're the world But his estate Which your Lordship may conceive great no way answers The general opinion Alas With a great charge I am left a poor man by him Lord A poor man say you Luke Poor compar'd with what 'T is thought I do possesse Some little land Fair houshold furniture a few good debts But empty bags I find yet I will be A faithful Steward to his wife and daughters And to the utmost of my power obey His will in all things Lord I 'le not argue with you Of his estate but bind you to performance Of his last request which is for testimony Of his religious charitie that you would Receive these Indians lately sent him from Virginia into your house and labour At any rate with the best of your endeavours Assisted by the aids of our Divines To make 'm Christians Luke Call you this my Lord Religious charitie to send Infidelle Like hungrie Locusts to devour the bread Should feed his family I neither can Nor will consent to 't Lord Do not slight it 't is With him a businesse of such consequence That should he onely hear 't is not embrac'd And chearfully in this his conscience aiming At the saving of three souls 't will draw him o're To see it himself accomplish'd Luke Heaven forbid I should divert him from his holy purpose To worldly cares again I rather will Sustain the burthen and with the converted Feast the converters who I know will prove The greater feeders Sir John Oh ha enewah Christ bully leika Plenty Enaula Lacy. Harrico botikia bonnery Luke Ha! In this heathen language How is it possible our Doctors should Hold conference with 'em or I use the means For their conversion Lord That shall be no hinderance To your good purposes They have liv'd long In the English Colonie and speak our language As their own Dialect the businesse does concern you Mine own designs command me hence Continue As in your poverty you were a pious And honest man Exit Luke That is interpreted A slave and begger Sir John You conceive it right There being no religion nor virtue But in abundance and no vice but want All deities serve Plutus Luke Oracle Sir John Temples rais'd to our selvs in the increase Of wealth and reputation speak a wiseman But sacrifice to an imagin'd power Of which we have no sense but in belief A superstitious fool Luke True worldly wisdom Sir John All knowledge else is folly Laoie. Now we are yours Be confident your better Angel is Enter'd your house Plenty There being nothing in The compasse of your wishes but shall end In their fruition to the full Sir John As yet You do not know us but when you understand The wonders we can do and what the ends were That brought us hither
wondrous brave Your habit speaks you a Merchant royall Luke What I wear I take not upon trust Lord Your betters may and blush not for 't Luke If you have nought else with me But to argue that I will make bold to leave you Lord You are very peremptory pray you stay I once held you an upright honest man Luke I am honester now By a hundred thousand pound I thank my stars for 't Upon the Exchange and if your late opinion Be alter'd who can help it good my Lord To the point I have other businesse then to talk Of honesty and opinions Lord Yet you may Do well if you please to shew the one and merit The other from good men in a case that now Is offer'd to you Luke What is 't I am troubl'd Lord Here are two gentlemen the fathers of Your brothers prentices Luke Mine my Lord I take it Lord Mr. Goldwire and Mr. Tradewell Luke They are welcome if They come prepar'd to satisfie the damage I have sustain'd by their sons Old Goldw. We are so you please To use a conscience Old Tradew. Which we hope you will do For your own worships sake Luke Conscience my friends And wealth are not always neighbours Should I part With what the law gives me I should suffer mainly In my reputation For it would convince me Of indiscretion Nor will you I hope move me To do my self such prejudice Lord No moderation Luke They cannot look for 't and preserve in Me a thriving Citizens credit Your bonds lie For your sons truth and they shall answer all They have run out The masters never prosper'd Since gentlemens sons grew prentices When we look To have our business done at home they are Abroad in the Tenis-court or in partridge-alley In Lambeth Marsh or a cheating Ordinary Where I found your sons I have your Bonds look too 't A thousand pounds a piece and that will hardly Repair my losses Lord Thou dar'st not shew thy self Such a divel Luke Good words Lord Such a cut-throat I have heard of The usage of your brothers wife and daughters You shall find you are not lawlesse and that your Moneys cannot justifie your villanies Luke I indure this And good my Lord now you talk in time of moneys Pay in what you owe me And give me leav to wonder Your wisedome should have leisure to consider The businesse of these gentlemen or my carriage To my Sister or my Neeces being your self So much in my danger Lord In thy danger Luke mine I find in my counting house a Mannor pawn'd Pawn'd my good Lord Lacie-Mannour and that Mannour From which you have the title of a Lord And it please your good Lordship You are a noble man Pray you pay in my moneys The interest Plenty ready to speak within Will eat faster in 't then Aqua fortis in iron Now though you bear me hard I love your Lordship I grant your person to be priviledg'd From all arrests Yet there lives a foolish creature Call'd an Under-sheriffe who being well paid will serve Au extent on lords or Lowns land Pay it in I would be loth your name should sink Or that Your hopefull son when he returns from travel Should find you my lord without land You are angry For my good counsell Look you to your Bonds had I known Of your comming believe it I would have had Serjeants ready Lord how you fret but that a Tavern 's near You should taste a cup of Muscadine in my house To wash down sorrow but there it will do better I know you 'l drink a health to me Exit Luke Lord To thy damnation Was there ever such a villain Heaven forgive me For speaking so unchristianly though he deservs it Old Goldm. We are undone Old Tradem. Our families quite ruin'd Lord Take courage gentlemen Comfort may appear And punishment overtake him when he least expects it Exeunt Actus quintus Scena ultima Enter Sir John and Holdfast Sir John BE silent on your life Holdfast I am or'ejoy'd Sir John Are the pictures plac'd as I directed Holdfast Yes Sir Sir John And the musicians ready Holdfast All is done As you comanded at the door Sir John Make haste and be carefull You know your cue and postures Plenty within We are perfit Sir John 'T is well the rest are come too Holdfast And dispos'd of To your own wish Sir John Set forth the table So Enter Servants with a rich Banquet A perfit Banquet At the upper end A table and rich Banquet His chair in state he shall feast like a Prince Holdfast And rise like a Dutch hang-man Enter Luke Sir John Not a word more How like you the preparation fill your room And taste the cates then in your thought consider A rich man that lives wisely to himself In his full height of glory Luke I can brook No rivall in this happinesse How sweetly These dainties when unpay'd for please my palate Some wine Joves Nectar Brightnesse to the star That govern'd at my birth Shoot down thy influence And with a perpetuity of being Continue this felicity not gain'd By vows to Saints above and much lesse purchas'd By the thriving industry nor fal'n upon me As a reward to piety and religion Or service for my Country I owe all this To dissimulation and the shape I wore of goodnesse Let my brother number His beads devoutly and believe his alms To beggars his compassion to his debters Will wing his better part disrob'd of flesh To sore above the firmament I am well And so I surfet here in all abundance Though stil'd a cormorant a cut-throat Jew And prosecuted with the fatal curses Of widdows undone Orphans and what else Such as maligne my state can load me with I will not envie it You promis'd musick Sir John And you shall hear the strength and power Of it the spirit of Orpheus rais'd to make it good And in those ravishing strains with which he mov'd Charon and Cerberus to give him way To fetch from hell his lost Euridice Appear fwifter then thought Musick At one door Cerberus at the other Charon Orpheus Chorus Luke 'T is wondrous strange Sir John Does not the object and the accent take you Luke A pretty fable But that musick should Plenty and Lacie ready behind Alter in friends their nature is to me Impossible Since in my self I find What I have once decreed shall know no change Sir John You are constant to your purposes yet I think That I could stagger you Luke How Sir John Should I present Your servants debters and the rest that suffer By your fit severity I presume the sight Would move you to compassion Luke Not a mote The musick that your Orpheus made was harsh To the delight I should receive in hearing Their cries and groans If it be in your power I would now see 'em Sir John Spirits in their shapes Shal shew them as they are But if it should move you Luke If it do