for your good A maid a Neece of mine both faire and chast And must we stand at your discretion Scar. O Good my Lord Had I two soules then might I haue two wiues Had I two faiths then had I one for her Hauing of both but one that one is giuen To Sir Iohn Harcops daughter Lord Ha ha what 's that let me heare that againe Scar. To Sir Iohn Harcops Clare I haue made an oath Part me in twaine yet shee s one halfe of both This hand the which I weare it is halfe hers Such power hath faith and troth twixt couples young Death onely cuts that knot tide with the tongue Lord And haue you knit that knot Sir Scar. I haue done so much that if I wed not her My marriage makes me an Adulterer In which blacke sheets I wallow all my life My babes being Bastards and a whore my wife Enter secretary Lord Ha i st euen so My secretary there Write me a Letter straight to Sir Iohn Harcop I le see Sir Iacke and if that Harcop dare Being my Ward contract you to his daughter Exit secret My steward too post you to Yorkeshire Enter steward Where lyes my youngsters Land and sirrah Fell me his wood make havocke spoyle and wast Exit steward Sir you shall know that you are Ward to me I le make you poore inough then mend your selfe VVill. O Cozen scar. O Vnckle Lord Contract your selfe and where you list I le make you know me Sir to be your guard scar. World now thou seest what t is to be a ward Lord And where I meant my selfe to haue disburst Foure thousand pound vpon this mariage Surrendred vp your land to your owne vse And compast other portions to your hands Sir I le now yoke you still scar. A yoake indeed Huns. And spight of they dare contradict my will I le make thee marry to my Chambermaid come couz Exit Bax. Faith Sir it fits you to be more aduis'd scar. Do not you flatter for preferment sir willi. O but good Coze scar. O but good vnckle could I command my loue Or cancell oaths out of heauens brazen booke Ingrost by Gods own finger then you might speake Had men that lawe to loue as most haue tonges To loue a thousand women with then you might speake Were loue like dust lawful for euery Wind To beare from place to place were oaths but puffes Men might forsweare themselues but I do know Tho sinne being past with vs the acts forgot The poore soule grones and she forgets it not willi. Yet heare your owne case scar. O t is to miserable That I a Gentleman should be thus torne From mine owne right and forest to be forsworne will Yet being as it is it must be your care To salue it with aduice not with dispaire you are his ward being so the Law intends He is to haue your duty and in his rule Is both your marriage and your heritage If you rebell against these Iniunctions The penalty takes hold on you which for himselfe He straight thus prosecutes he wasts your land Weds you where he thinkes fit but if your selfe Haue of some violent humor matcht your selfe Without his knowledge then hath he power To Merce your purse and in a sum so great That shall for euer keepe your fortunes weake Where otherwise if you be ruld by him Your house is raisd by matching to his kin Enter Falconbridge Lord Now death of me shall I be crost by such a Iacke he wed himselfe and where he list Sirrha Malapart I le hamper you You that will haue your will come get you in I le make thee shape thy thoughts to marry her Or wish thy birth had bin thy murtherer Scar. Fare pitty me because I am inforst For I haue heard those matches haue cost bloud Where loue is once begun and then withstood Exeunt Enter Ilford and a Page with him Ilf. Boy hast thou deliuered my Letter Boy I Sir I saw him open the lips on t Ilf. He had not a new sute on had he Boy I am not so well acquainted with his Wardrobe Sir but I saw a leane fellowe with sunke eyes and shamble legges sigh pittifully at his chamber dore and intreat his man to put his master in mind of him Ilf. O that was his Taylor I see now he wil be blest he profits by my counsell he will pay no debts before he be arested nor then neither if he can finde ere a beast that dare but be bayle for him but he will seale i' th afternoone Boy Yes Sir he will imprint for you as deepe as he can Ilf. Good good now haue I a Parsons Nose and smell tyth comming in then Now let me number how many rooks I haue halfe vndone already this Tearme by the first returne foure by Dice six by being bound with me and ten by queanes of which some be Courtiers some Country Gentlemen and some Cittizens Sonnes Thou art a good Franke if thou pergest thus thou art still a Companion for Gallants maist keepe a Catamite take Phisick at the Spring and the fall Enter VVentloe wont Franke newes that will make thee fat Frank Ilf. Prethee rather giue mee somewhat will keepe me leane I ha no mind yet to take Phisicke Wen. Master Scarberrow is a married man Ilf. Then heauen grant he may as few married men do make much of his wife Went. Why wouldst haue him loue her let her command al and make her his master Ilf. No no they that do so make not much of theyr wiues but giue them their will and it s the marring of em Enter Bartley Bart. Honest Franke valerous Francke a portion of thy witte but to helpe vs in this enterprise and we may walk London stret and cry pish at the Sergiants Ilf. You may shift out one tearme and yet die in the Counter these are the scabs now that hang vpon honest Iob I am Iob and these art the scuruy scabbes but what 's this your pot seeths ouer withall Bart. Maister Scarborrow is a married man Went. He has all his land in his owne hand Bart. His brothers and sisters portions Went. Besides foure thousand pound in ready money with his wife Ilf. A good talent by my faith it might helpe many Gentlemen to pay their Tailours and I might be one of them Went. Nay honest Frank hast thou found a tricke for him if thou hast not looke heere 's a line to direct thee First draw him into bands for money then to dice for it Then take vp stuffe at the Mercers straight to a punke with it Then morgage his Lande and be drunke with that so with them and the rest from an Ancient Gentleman make him a young begger Ilf. What a Roge is this to read a lecture to me and mine owne lesson too which he knowes I ha made perfect to 9 hundred fourscore and nineteene A cheating Rascall wil teach me that ha made them that haue worne a spatious Parke
change of pasture makes fat Calues Sca. But change of women bawld Knaues Sir Knight Ilf. Wag and thou beest a Louer but three dayes thou wilt bee Hartles Sleeplesse witles Mad Wretched Miserable and indeed a starke Foole And by that thou hast beene married but three weekes tho thou shouldst wed a Cynthia rara avis thou wouldest be a man monstrous A Cuckold a Cuckold Bart. And why is a Cuckold monstrous Knight Ilf. Why because a man is made a Beast by being married Take but example thy selfe from the Moone as soone as shee is deliuered of her great belly doth she not poynt at the world with a payre of hornes as who should say married men some of ye are Cuckolds Scar. I conster more Diuinely of their sex Being Maids methinkes they are Angels and being Wiues They are Souèraignes Cordials that preserue our Liues They are like our hands that feed vs this is cleare They renew man as spring renewes the yeare Ilf. There 's nere a wanton Wench that heares thee but thinkes thee a Coxcom for saying so Marry none of them if thou wilte haue their true Characters I le giue it thee Women are the Purgatory of mens Pursses the Paradice of their bodies and the Hel of their mindes Marry none of them Women are in Churches Saints abroad Angels at home Diuels Here are married men inow know this Marry none of them Scar. Men that traduce by custome shew sharpe wit Onely in speaking Ill and practise it Against the best of Creatures deuine women Who are Gods Agents heere and the Heauenly eye By which this Orbe hath her Maturity Beauty in women get the world with Child Without whom she were barren faint and wilde They are the stems on which do Angels grow From whence Vertue is stild and Arts do flow Enter Sir Iohn Harcop and his Daughter Clare Ilf. Let them be what Flowers they will and they were Roses I will plucke none of them for pricking my fingers But soft heere comes a voider for vs and I see do what I can as long as the world lasts there wil be Cuckolds in it Do you heare Childe heere 's one come to blend you together he has brought you a kneading-tub if thou dost take her at his hands Tho thou hadst Argus eyes be sure of this Women haue sworne with more then one to kisse Har. Nay no parting Gentlemen Hem Went. Sfut dus he make Punkes of vs that he Hems already Har. Gallants Know old Iohn Harcop keepes a Wineseller Has Traueld bin at Court knowne Fashions And vnto all beares habit like your selues The shapes of Gentlemen and men of sort I haue a health to giue them ere they part Went. Health Knight not as Drunkards giue their healthes I hope to go together by the eares when they haue done Har. My healths are welcome welcome Gentlemen Ilf. Are we welcome Knight Infayth Har. Welcome infayth Sir Ilf. Preethee tell me hast not thou bin a Whoremaister Har. In youth I swild my fill at Venus cup In sted of full draughts now I am faine to sup Ilf. Why then thou art a man fit for my company Doost thou heare that he is a good fellow of our stampe Make much of his father Exeunt Manet Scarborrow and Clare Scar. The Father and the Gallants haue left mee heare with a Gentlewoman and if I know what to say to her I am a villen heauen grant her life hath borrowed so much Impudence of her sex but to speak to me first for by this hand I haue not so much steel of Immodesty in my face to Parle to a Wench without blushing I le walke by her in hope shee can open her teeth Not a word Is it not strange a man should be in a womans company all this while and not heare her tongue I le goe further God of his goodnes not a Sillable I think if I should take vp her Cloaths to she would say nothing to me With what words tro dus a man begin to woe Gentlewoman pray you what I st a Clocke Clar. Troth Sir carrying no watch about me but mine eyes I answer you I cannot tell Scar. And if you cannot tell Beauty I take the Addage for my reply You are naught to keepe sheepe Clar. Yet I am big enough to keepe my selfe Scar. Prethee tell me Are you not a Woman Clar. I know not that neither til I am better acquainted with a man Scar. And how would you be acquainted with a man Clar. To distinguish betwixt himselfe and my selfe Scar. Why I am a Man Cla. That 's more then I know Sir Scar. To approue I am no lesse thus I kisse thee Cla. And by that proofe I am a man too for I haue kist you Scar. Prethee tell me can you loue Clar. O Lorde Sir three or foure thinges I Loue my meate choise of Suters Cloathes in the Fashion and like a right woman I loue to haue my will Scar. What thinke you of me for a Husband Clar. Let me first know what you think of me for a wife Scar. Troth I thinke you are a proper Gentlewoman Clar. Do you but thinke so Scar. Nay I see you are a very perfect proper Gentlewoman Clar. It is great pitty then I should be alone without a proper man Scar. Your father sayes I shall marry you Clar. And I say God forbid Sir I am a great deale to young Scar. I loue thee by my troth Clar. O pray you do not so for then you stray from the steps of Gentility the fashion among them is to marry first and loue after by leisure Scarb. That I do loue thee here by heauen I sweare and cal it as a witnes to this kisse Clar. You will not inforce me I hope Sir Scar. Makes me this womans husband thou art my Clare Accept my hart and prooue as Chast as fayre Clare O God you are too hot in your gifts shoulde I accept them we should haue you plead nonage some halfe a year hence sue for reuersement say the deed was done vnder age Scar. Prethee do not Iest Cl. No God is my record I speak in earnest desire to know Whether ye meane to marry me yea or no Scar. This hand thus takes thee as my louing wife Clar. For better for worse Scar. I till death vs depart loue Clar. Why then I thanke you Sir and now I am like to haue that I long lookt for A Husband How soone from our owne tongues is the word sed Captiues our maiden-freedome to a head Scar. Clare your are now mine and I must let you know What euery wife doth to her husband owe To be a wife is to be Dedicate Not to a youthfull course wild and vnstedy But to the soule of vertue obedience Studying to please and neuer to offend Wiues haue two eyes created not like Birds To rome about at pleasure but for two sentinels To watch their husbands safety as their owne Two hands ones to feed him the
other her selfe Two feet and one of them is their husbands They haue two of euery thing onely of one Their Chastity that should be his alone Their very thoughts they cannot tearme them one Maids being once made wiues can nothing call Rightly their owne they are their husbands all If such a wife you can prepare to be Clare I am yours and you are fit for me Clar. We being thus subdued pray you know then As women owe a duty so do men Men must be like the branch and barke to trees Which doth defend them from tempestuous rage Cloth them in Winter tender them in age Or as Ewes loue vnto their Eanlings liues Such should be husbands custome to their wiues If it appeare to them they haue straid amisse They onely must rebuke them with a kisse Or Clock them as Hens Chickens with kind call Couer them vnder their wing and pardon all No iarres must make two beds no strife deuide them Those betwixt whom a faith and troth is giuen Death onely parts since they are knit by heauen If such a husband you intend to be I am your Clare and you are fit for me Scar. By heauen Clar. Aduise before you sweare let me remember you Men neuer giue their faith and promise mariage But heauen records their oth If they proue true Heauen smiles for ioy if not it weepes for you Vnlesse your hart then with your wordes agree Yet let vs part and lesse vs both be free Scar. If euer man in swearing loue swore true My words are like to his Heere comes your father Enter Sir Iohn Harcop Ilford Wentloe Bartley and Butler Har. Now maister Scarborrow Sca. Prepar'd to aske how you like that we haue done your daughters made my wife and I your sonne Har. And both agreed so Both We are Sir Har. Then long may you liue together haue store of sons Ilf. T is no matter who is the father Har. But sonne here is a man of yours is come from London But. And brought you Letters Sir Scar. What newes from London Butler But. The old newes Sir the Ordinaries are full some Cittizens are bankerouts and many Gentlemen beggers Scar. Clare here is an vnwelcome Pursiuant My Lord and Guardian writes to me with speed I must returne to London Har. And you being Ward to him son Scarborrow And know him great it fits that you obay him Har. It dus it dus for by an antient law We are borne free heires but kept like slaues in awe Who are for London Gallants Ilf. Switch and Spurre we wil beare you company Scar. Clare I must leaue thee with what vnwillingnes Witnes this dwelling kisse vpon thy lip And tho I must be absent from thine eye Be sure my hart doth in thy bosome lie Three yeares I am yet a ward which time I le passe Making thy faith my constant Looking-glasse Till when Clar. Till when you please where ere you liue or lie Your loues here worne your presence in my eie Exeunt Enter Lord Faulconbridge and sir William Scarborow Hunsd. Sir William How old say you is your kinsman Scarborrow Will, Eighteene my Lord next Pentecost Lord Bethinke you good Sir William I reckon thereabout my selfe so by that account There 's full three Winters yet he must attend Vnder our awe before he sue his Liuery I st not so Willi. Not a daie lesse my Lord Lord Sir William you are his Vnckle and I must speake That am his Guardian would I had a son Might merit commendations euen with him I le tell you what he is he is a youth A Noble branch increasing blessed fruit Where Caterpiller vice dare not to touch He is himselfe with so much grauity Praise cannot praise him with Hypperbole He is one whom older looke vpon as one a booke Wherein are Printed Noble sentences For them to rule their liues by Indeed he is one All Emulate his vertues hate him none Willi. His friends are proud to heare this good of him Lord And yet Sir William being as he is Young and vnsetled tho of virtuous thoughts By Genuine disposition yet our eyes See daily presidents hopefull Gentlemen Being trusted in the world with their owne will Diuert the good is lookt from them to Ill Make their old names forgot or not worth note With company they keepe such Reuelling With Panders Parasites Podigies of Knaues That they sell all euen their old fathers graues VVhich to preuent wee le match him to a wife Marriage Restraines the scope of single life Willi. My Lord speakes like a father for my Kinsman Lord And I haue found him one of Noble parentage A Neece of mine nay I haue broke with her Know thus much of her mind what for my pleasure As also for the good appeares in him She is pleas'd of all that 's hers to make him King Willi. Our name is blest in such an honoured marriage Enter Doctor Baxter Lord Also I haue apointed Doctor Baxter Chansellor of Oxford to attend me heere And see he is come Good maister Doctor Bax. My honourable Lord Willi. I haue possest you with this business maister Doctor Baxt. To see the contract twixt you honoured Neece and maister Scarborrow Lord T is so and I did looke for him by this Bax. I saw him leaue his horse as I came vp Lord So so Then he will be heere forthwith you Maister Baxter Go Vsher hether straight young Katherine Sir William here and I will keepe this roome til you returne Scar. My honourable Lord Enter Scarborrow Lord T is well done Scarborrow Scar. Kind Vnckle willi. Thankes my good Couz Lord You haue bin welcome in your Country Yorkshire Scar. The time that I spent there my Lord was merry Lord T was well t was very well and in your absence your Vnckle heere and I haue bin bethinking what gift betwixt vs we might bestow on you That to your house large dignity might bring With faire increase as from a Christall spring Enter Doctor and Katherine Scar. My name is bound to your benificence your hands hath bin to me like bounties purse Neuer shut vp your selfe my foster-Nurse Nothing can from your honor come proue me so rude But I le accept to shun Ingratitude Lord We accept thy promise now returne thee this A vertuous wife accept her with a kisse Scar. My honourable Lord Lord Feare not to take her man she will feare neither Do what thou canst being both abed together Scar. O but my Lord Lord But me a Dog of wax come kisse and agree Your friends haue thought it fit and it must be Scar. I haue no hands to take her to my wife Lord How Sawce-box Scar. O pardon me my Lord the vnripenes of my yeares Too greene for gouernment is old in feares To vndertake that charge Lord Sir sir I and sir knaue then here is a mellowed experience knowes how to teach you Scar. O God Lord O Iacke How both our cares your Vnckle and my selfe Sought studied found out and
Sca. I know you did sir Doct. At which you promised both to God and men Your life vnto your spouse should like snow That fals to comfort not to ouerthrow And loue vnto your yssue should be like The deaw of heauen that hurts not tho it strike When heauen and men did witnesse and record T was an eternall oath no idle word Heauen being pleasd therewith bleste you with children And at heauens blessings all good men reioyce So that Gods chayre and footstoole heauen and earth Made offering at your nuptials as a knot To minde you of your vow O breake it not scar. T is very true Doc. Now sir from this your oth and band Faiths pledge and seale of conscience you ha run Broken all contracts and the forfeiture Iustice hath now in sute against your soule Angels are made the Jurors who are witnesses Vnto the oath you took and God himselfe Maker of marriage he that seald the deed As a firme lease vnto you during life Sirs now as iudge of your transgression The world informes against you with this voyce If such sinnes raigne what mortals can reioyce scar. What then ensues to me Doc. A heauy doome whose executions Now serud vpon your conscience that euer You shall feele plagues whom time shall not disseuer As in a map your eyes see all your life Bad words worse deeds falce oths and al the iniuries You ha done vnto your soule then comes your wife Full of woes drops and yet as full of pitty Who tho she speaks not yet her eies are swords That cut your hart-strings and then your children scar. Oh oho oh Doc. Who what they cannot say talke in their lookes You haue made vs vp but as misfortunes bookes Whom other men may read in when presently Taskt by your selfe you are not like a Theefe Astonied being accus'd but scorch with greefe scar. I I I Doct. Heere stands your wiues tears scar. Where Doc. And you fry for them here lie your childrens wants Sca. Heere Doct. For which you pine in conscience burne And wish you had bin better or nere borne Scar. Dus all this happen to a wretch like me Doc. Both this and worse your soule eternally Shall liue in torment tho the body dy Scar. I shall ha need of drinke then Butler Doc. Nay all your sinnes are on your children laide For the offences that the father made Scar. Are they Sir Doc. Be sure they are Enter Butler Scar. Butler But. Sir scar. Go fetch my wife and children hether But. I will sir sca. I le read a Letter to the Doct. too hee s a Deuine I hee s a Deuine But. I see his mind is troubled and haue made bold with dutie to reade a Letter tending to his good haue made his Brothers friendes both which I will conceale til better temper He sends me for his wife and children shall I fetch em scar. Hee s a Deuine and this Deuine did marry mee that 's good that 's good Doc. Maister Scarborrow Scar. I le be with you straight Sir But. I wil obey him If any thing doth happen that is Ill Heauen beare me record t is against Butlers wil Exit scar. And this Deuine did marry me Whose tongue should be the key to open truth As Gods Ambassador Deliuer deliuer deliuer Do. Maister Scarborrow sca. I le be with you straight sir Saluation to afflicted consciences And not giue torment to contented minds Who should be lamps to comfort out our way And not like Firedrakes to lead men astray I I le be with you straight sir Enter Butler But. Here 's your wife and children sir scar. Giue way then I ha my lesson perfit leaue vs heere But. Yes I wil go but I will be so neere To hinder the mishap the which I feare Exit Butler scar. Now sir you know this Gentlewoman Doct. Kind mistris Scarborrow Scar. Nay pray you keepe your seat for you shal heare The same affliction you ha taught me feare Due to your selfe Doc. To me sir scar. To you sir You matcht me to this Gentlewoman Doct. I know I did sir scar. And you will say she is my wife then Doc. I ha reason sir because I married you scar. O that such tongues should ha the time to lie Who teach men how to liue and how to die Did not you know my soule had giuen my faith In contract to another and yet you Would ioyne this Loome vnto vnlawful twists Doct. Sir scar. But sir You that can see a Mote within my eie And with a Cassocke blind your owne defects I le teach you this t is better to do ill That 's neuer knowne to vs then of selfe will And these all these in thy seducing eye As scorning life make em be glad to die Doc. Me Scarborrow scar. Heere will I write that they which marry wiues Vnlawfull liue with strumpets al theyr liues Here wil I seale the children that are born From wombes vnconsecrate euen when their soule Has her infusion it registers they are foule And shrinkes to dwell with them and in my close I le shew the world that such abortiue men Knit hands without free tongues looke red like them Stand you and you to acts most Tragicall Heauen has dry eies when sinne makes sinners fall Doc. Helpe maister Scarborrow Child Father Ka. Husband Sca. These for thy act should die she for my Clare Whose wounds stare thus vpon me for reuenge These to be rid from misery this from sinne And thou thy selfe shalt haue a push amongst em That made heauens word a pack-horse to thy tongue Cotest scripture to make euils shine like good And as I send you thus with wormes to dwell Angels applaud it as a deed done well Enter Butler But. Stay him stay him What will you do sir Scar. Make fat wormes of stinking carkasses What hast thou to do with it Enter Ilford and his wife the two Brothers and Sir William Scarborrow But. Looke who are here sir Sca. Iniurious villen that preuentst me still But. They are your brothers and allyance Sir Scar. They are like full ordinance then who once dischargd A farre off giue a warning to my soule That I had done them wrong sir Wil Kinsman Brother and sister Brother Ka. Husband Child Father scar, Harke how their words like Bullets shoot me thorow And tel mee I haue vndone em this side might say We are in want and you are the cause of it This points at me yore shame vnto your house This tung saies nothing but her lookes do tell Shee s married but as those that liue in hel Whereby all eies are but misfortunes pipe Fild full of wo by me this feeles the stripe But. Yet looke Sir Heere 's your Brothers hand in hand whom I ha knit so Wife And looke Sir heere 's my husbands hand in mine And I reioyce in him and he in me sir wil. I say Cose what is past the way to blisse For they know best to mend that know amisse Ka. Wee kneele forget and say if you but loue vs You gaue vs greefe for future happines scar. What al this to my Conscience But. Ease promise of succeeding ioy to you Read but this Letter sir Will. Which tels you that your Lord Guardians dead But. Which tels you that he knew he did you wrong Was greeud for t and for satisfaction Hath giuen you double of the wealth you had Bro. Increast our portions Wife Giuen me a dowry too But. And that he knew Your sinne was his the punishment his due Sca. All this is heere Is heauen so gracious to sinners then But. Heauen is and has his gracious eies To giue men life not like intrapping spies scar. Your hand yours yours to you my soule to you a kisse Introth I am sorry I ha straid amisse To whom shall I be thankefull All silent None speake whist why then to God That giues men comfort as he giues his rod Your portions I le see paid and I will loue you You three I le liue withall my soule shall loue you You are an honest seruant sooth you are To whom I these and all must pay amends But you I will admonish in coole tearmes Let not promotions hope be as a string To tie your tongue or let loose it to sting Doc. From hence it shall not Sir scar. Then husbands thus shal norish with their wiues Kisse Ilf. As thou and I will wench Brothers in brotherly loue thus link together Imbrace sca. Children and seruants pay their duty thus bow and kneele And all are pleas'd All We are scar. Then if all these bee so I am new wed so ends old marryage woe And in your eies so louingly being wed We hope your hands will bring vs to our bed FINIS