conferring with Welborne Mar. Why Sir what doe you meane This is rogue Welborne Monster Prodigie That should hang or drowne himselfe no man of Worship Much lesse your Nephew Ouer. Well Sirra we shall reckon For this here after Mar. I 'le not lose my ieere Though I be beaten dead for 't Welb. Let my silence plead In my excuse my Lord till better leasure Offer it selfe to heare a full relation Of my poore fortunes Lou. I would heare and helpe 'em Ouer. Your dinner waites you Lou. Pray you lead we follow Lad. Nay you are my ghest come deere master Welborne Exeunt manet Gredie Greed. Deare master Welborne So shee said Heau'n heau'n If my belly would giue me leaue I could ruminate All day on this I haue granted twenty warrants To haue him committed from all prisons in the Shire To Nottingham iayle and now deare master Welborne And my good nephew but I play the foole To stand here prating and forget my dinner Are they set Marrall Enter Marrall Mar. Long since pray you a word Sir Greed. No wording now Mar. In troth I must my master Knowing you are his good friend makes bold with you And does intreat you more ghests being come in Then he expected especially his nephew The table being full too you would excuse him And suppe with him on the cold meate Greed. How no dinner After all my care Mar. 'T is but a pennance for A meale besides you broke your fast Greed. That was But a bit to stay my stomacke a man in Commission Giue place to a tatterdemallion Mar. No bugge words Sir Should his Worship heare you Greed. Lose my dumpling too And butter'd tosts and woodcocks Mar. Come haue patience If you will dispense a little with your Worship And sit with the waiting woemen you haue dumpling Woodcocke and butter'd costs too Greed. This reuiues me I will gorge there sufficiently Mar. This is the way Sir Exeunt Actus tertii Scena tertia Ouerreach as from dinner Overreach Shee 's caught O woemen she neglects my Lord And all her complements appli'd to Welborne The garments of her widdowhood lay'd by She now appeares as glorious as the spring Her eyes fix'd on him in the wine shee drinkes He being her pledge she sends him burning kisses And sitts on thornes till she be priuate with him She leaues my meate to feed vpon his lookes And if in our discourse he be but' nam'd From her a deepe sigh followes but why grieue I At this it makes for me if she proue his All that is hers is mine as I will worke him Enter Marrall Mar. Sir the whole boord is troubled at your rising Ouer. No matter I 'le excuse it prethee Marrall Watch an occasion to inuite my Nephew To speake with me in priuate Mar. Who the rogue The Lady scorn'd to looke on Ouer. You are a Wagge Enter Lady and Welborne Mar. See Sir shee 's come and cannot be without him Lad. With your fauour Sir after a plenteous dinner I shall make bold to walke a turne or two In your rare garden Ouer. There 's an arbor too If your Ladieship please to vse it Lad. Come master Welborne Exeunt Lady and Welborne Ouer. Grosser and grosser now I beleeue the Poet Fain'd not but was historicall when he wrot Pasiphae was enamour'd of a bull This Ladies lust 's more monstrous My good Lord Excuse my manners Enter Louell Margaret and the rest Lou. There needes none Sir Giles I may e're long say Father when it pleases My dearest mistresse to giue warrant to it Ouer. She shall seale to it my Lord and make me happy Marg. My Lady is return'd Enter Welb. and the Lad Lad. Prouide my coach I 'le instantly away my thanks Sir Giles For my entertainment Ouer. 'T is your Noblenesse To thinke it such Lad. I must doe you a further wrong In taking away your honorable Ghest Lou. I waite on you Madam farwell good Sir Giles Lad. Good mistresse Margaret nay come master Welborne I must not leaue you behind in sooth I must not Ouer. Robbe me not Madam of all joyes at once Let my Nephew stay behind he shall haue my coach And after some small conference betweene vs Soone ouertake your Ladyship Lad. Stay not long Sir Lou. This parting kisse you shall euery day heare from me By my faithfull page Alw. 'T is a seruice I am proud of Exeunt Louell Lady Alworth Margaret Marrall Ouer. Daughter to your chamber You may wonder Nephew After so long an enmity betweene vs I should desire your friendship Well so I doe Sir 'T is strange to me Ouer. But I 'le make it no wonder And what is more vnsold my nature to you We worldly men when wee see friends and kinsmen Past hope suncke in their fortunes lend no hand To lift 'em vp but rather set our feer Vpon their heads to presse 'em to the bottome As I must yeeld with you I practis'd it But now I see you in a way to rise I can and will assist you this rich Lady And I am glad of 't is enamour'd of you 'T is too apparent Nephew Welb. No such thing Compassion rather Sir Ouer. Well in a word Because your stay is short I 'le haue you seene No more in this base shape nor shall shee say She married you like a begger or in debt Welb. Hee 'le run into the noose and saue my labour aside Ouer. You haue a trunke of rich clothes not far hence In pawne I will redeeme 'em and that no clamor May taint your credit for your petty debts You shall haue a thousand pounds to cut 'em off And goe a freeman to the wealthy Lady Welb. This done Sir out of loue and no ends else Ouer. As it is Nephew Welb. Bindes my still your seruant Ouer. No complements you are stay'd for e're y 'aue supp'd You shall heare from me my coach Knaues for my Nephew To morrow I will visit you Welb. Heer 's an Vncle In a mans extreames how much they doe belye you That say you are hard-harted Ouer. My deeds nephew Shall speake my loue what men report I waigh not Exeunt finis Actus tertii Actus quarti Scena prima Louell Alworth LOuell 'T is well giue me my cloke I now discharge you From further seruice Minde your owne affaires I hope they will proue successefull Alw. What is blest With your good wish my Lord cannot but prosper Let after-times report and to your Honor How much I stand engag'd for I want language To speake my debt yet if a teare or two Of ioy for your much goodnesse can supply My tongues defects I could Lou. Nay doe not melt This ceremoniall thankes to mee 's superfluous Ouerreach within Is my Lord stirring Lou. 'T is he oh here 's your letter let him in Enter Ouer Gred. Mar. Ouer. A good day to my Lord Lou, You are an early riser Sir Giles Ouer. And reason to attend your Lordship Lou. And you too master
by the aides Of seruing men and chambermaides for beyound these Thou neuer saw'st a Woman or I 'le quit you From my imployments Mar. Will you credit this yet On my confidence of their marriage I offer'd Welborne I would giue a crowne now I durst say his worship aside My nagge and twenty pounds Ouer. Did you so I doe Strikes him downe Was this the way to worke him to despaire Or rather to crosse me Mar. Will your worship kill me Ouer. No no but driue the lying spirit out of you Mar. Hee 's gone Ouer. I haue done then now forgetting Your late imaginerie feast and Lady Know my Lord Louell dins with me to morrow Be carefull nought be wanting to receaue him And bid my daughters women trimne her vp Though they paint her so she catch the Lord I le thanke 'em There 's a peece for my late blowes Mar. I must yet suffer But there may be a time aside Ouer. Doe you grumble Mar. No Sir Actus tertii Scena prima Louell Alworth Seruants LOuell Walke the horses downe the hill something in priuate I must impart to Alworth Exeunt serui Alw. O my Lord What sacrifice of reuerence dutie watching Although I could put off the vse of sleepe And euer waite on your commands serue 'em What dangers though in ne're so horri'd shapes Nay death it selfe though I should run to meet it Can I and with a thankefull willingnesse suffer But still the retribution will fall short Of your bounties showr'd vpon me Lou. Louing Youth Till what I purpose be put into act Doe not o're-prize it since you haue trusted me With your soules nearest nay her dearest secret Rest confident 't is in a cabinet lock'd Treachery shall neuer open I haue found you For so much to your face I must professe How er'e you guard your modesty with a blush for 't More zealous in your loue and seruice to me Than I haue beene in my rewards Alw. Still great ones Aboue my merit Lou. Such your Gratitude calls 'em Nor am I of that harsh and rugg'd temper As some Great men are tax'd with who imagine They part from the respect due to their Honours If they vse not all such as follow 'em Without distinction of their births like slaues I am not so condition'd I can make A fitting difference betweene my Foot-boy And a Gentleman by want compell'd to serue me Alw. 'T is thankefully acknowledg'd you haue beene More like a Father to me than a Master Pray you pardon the comparison Lou. I allow it And to giue you assurance I am pleas'd in 't My carriage and demeanor to your Mistrisse Faire Margaret shall truely witnesse for me I can command my passions Alw. 'T is a conquest Few Lords can boast of when they are tempted Oh! Lou. Why do you sigh can you be doubtfull of mee By that faire name I in the warres haue purchas'd And all my actions hitherto vntainted I will not be more true to mine owne Honour Than to my Alworth Alw. As you are the braue Lord Louell Your bare word only giuen is an assurance Of more validity and weight to me Than all the othes bound vp with imprecations Which when they would deceiue most Courtiers practize Yet being a man for sure to stile you more Would rellish of grosse flatterie I am forc'd Against my confidence of your worth and vertues To doubt nay more to feare Lou. So young and iealous Alw. Were you to encounter with a single foe The victorie were certaine but to stand The charge of two such potent enemies At once assaulting you as Wealth and Beauty And those too seconded with Power is oddes Too great for Hercules Lou. Speake your doubts and feares Since you will nourish 'em in plainer language That I may vnderstand 'em Alw. What 's your will Though I lend armes against my felfe prouided They may aduantage you must be obeyed My much lou'd Lord were Margaret only faire The cannon of her more than earthly forme Though mounted high commanding all beneath it And ramn'd with bullets of her sparkeling eyes Of all the bulwarkes that defend your senses Could batter more but that which guards your sight But when the well tun'd accents of her tongue Make musike to you and with numerous sounds Assault your hearing such as if Vlysses Now liu'd againe how ere he stood the Sirens Could not resist the combat must grow doubtfull Betweene your Reason and rebellious Passions Ad this too when you feele her touch and breath Like a soft Westerne wind when it glides o're Arabia creating gummes and spices And in the Van the Nectar of her lippes Which you must tast bring the battalia on Well arm'd and strongly liu'd with her discourse And knowing manners to giue entertainement Hyppolitus himselfe would leaue Diana To follow such a Uenus Lou. Loue hath made you Poeticall Alworth Alw. Grant all these beat off Which if it be in man to doe you 'le doe it Mammon in Sir Giles Ouerreach stepps in With heapes of ill got gold and so much land To make her more remarkable as would tire A Falcons winges in one day to fly ouer O my good Lord these powerfull aydes which would Make a mishapen Negro beautifull Yet are but ornaments to giue her lustre That in her selfe is all perfection must Preuaile for her I here release your trust 'T is happinesse enough for me to serue you And sometimes with chast eyes to looke vpon her Lou. Why shall I sweare Alw. O by no meanes my Lord And wrong not so your iudgement to the world As from your fond indulgence to a boy Your page your seruant to refuse a blessing Diuers Great men are riualls for Lou. Suspend Your iudgement 'till the triall How far is it 'T Ouerreach house Alw. At the most some halfe houres riding You 'le soone be there Eou. And you the sooner freed From your iealous feares Alw. O that I durst but hope it Exeunt Actus tertii Scena secunda Ouerreach Greedie Marrall Overreach Spare for no cost let my Dressers cracke with the weight Of curious viands Greedie Store indeed 's no sore Sir Ouer. That prouerbe fitts your stomacke Master Greedie And let no plate be seene but what 's pure gold Or such whose workemanship exceeds the matter That it is made of let my choicest linnen Perfume the roome and when we wash the water With pretious powders mix'd so please my Lord That he may with enuie wish to bath so euer Mar. 'T wil be very chargeable Ouer. Auant you Drudge Now all my labour'd ends are at the stake I' st a time to thinke of thrift call in my daughter And master Justice since you loue choice dishes And plenty of 'em Greed. As I doe indeed Sir Almost as much as to giue thankes for 'em Ouer. I doe conferre that prouidence with my power Of absolute command to haue abundance To your best care Greed. I 'le punctually discharge it And giue the best directions Now am
eares to the pillory see here 's that will make My interrest cleare Ha! Opens the box Lady A faire skinne of parchment Welb. Indented I confesse and labells too But neither wax nor words How thunder-strooke Not a syllable to insult with my wise Vncle Is this your precious euidence is this that makes Your interest cleare Ouer. I am o'rewhelm'd with wonder What prodigie is this what subtle diuell Hath raz'd out the inscription the wax Turn'd into dust the rest of my deedes whole As when they were deliuer'd and this onely Made nothing doe you deale with witches Raskall There is a statute for you which will bring Your necke in a hempen circle yes there is And now 't is better thought for Cheater know This iuggling shall not saue you Welb. To saue thee would begger the stocke of mercy Ouer. Marrall Mar. Sir Ouer. flattering him Though the witnesses are dead your testimony Helpe with an oath or two and for thy master Thy liberall master my good honest seruant I know you will sweare any thing to dash This cunning slight besides I know thou art A publike notarie and such stand in law For a dozen witnesses the deed being drawne too By thee my carefull Marrall and deliuer'd When thou wert present will make good my title Wilt thou not sweare this Mar. I no I assure you I haue a conscience not sear'd vp like yours I know no deeds Ouer. Wilt thou betray me Mar. Keepe him From vsing of his hands I 'le vse my tongue To his no little torment Ouer. Mine owne Varlet Rebell against me Mar. Yes and vncase you too The Ideot the Patch the Slaue the Boobie The propertie fit only to be beaten For your morning exercise your Footeball or Th' vnprofitable lumpe of flesh your Drudge Can now anatomize you and lay open All your blacke plotts and leuell with the earth Your hill of pride and with these gabions guarded Vnloade my great artillerie and shake Nay pulverize the walls you thinke defend you Lady How he foames at the mouth with rage Walb. To him againe Ouer. O that I had thee in my gripe I would teare thee Ioint after ioint Mar. I know you are a tearer But I 'le haue first your fangs par'd off and then Come nearer to you when I haue discouer'd And made it good before the Iudge what wayes And diuelish practises you vs'd to coozen With an armie of whole families who yet live And but enrol'd for souldiers were able To take in Dunkerke Welb. All will come out Lady The better Ouer. But that I will liue Rogue to torture thee And make thee wish and kneele in vaine to dye These swords that keepe thee from me should fix here Although they made my body but one wound But I would reach thee Lou. Heauens hand is in this One Ban-dogge worrie the other aside Ouer. I play the foole And make my anger but ridiculous There will be a time and place there will be cowards When you shall feele what I dare do Welb. I thinke so You dare do any ill yet want true valour To be honest and repent Ouer. They are words I know not Nor e're will learne Patience the beggers vertue Enter Greedie and person Will-doe Shall find no harbour here after these stormes At length a calme appeares Welcome most welcome There 's comfort in thy lookes is the deed done Is my daughter married say but so my Chaplaine And I am tame Will-doe Married yes I assure you Ouer. Then vanish all sad thoughts there 's more gold for thee My doubts and feares are in the titles drown'd Of my right honorable my right honorable daughter Greed. Here will I be feasting at least for a month I am prouided emptie gutts croke no more You shall be stuff'd like baggepipes not with wind But bearing dishes Ouer. Instantly be here Whispring to Will-doe To my wish to my wish now you that plot against me And hop'd to trippe my heeles vp that contemn'd me Loud musicke Thinke on 't and tremble they come I heare the musicke A lane there for my Lord Welb. This sodaine heate May yet be cool'd Sir Ouer. Make way there for my Lord Enter Alworth and Margaret Marg. Sir first your pardon then your blessing with Your full allowance of the choice I haue made As euer you could make vse of your reason kneeling Grow not in passion since you may as well Call backe the day that 's past as vntie the knot Which is too strongly fasten'd not to dwell Too long on words this 's my Husband Ouer. How Alw. So I assure you all the rites of marriage With euery circumstance are past alas Sir Although I am no Lord but a Lords page Your daughter and my lou'd wife mournes not for it And for Right honourable sonne in Law you may say Your dutifull daughter Ouer. Diuell are they married Will-doe Doe a fathers part and say heau'n giue 'em ioy Ouer. Confusion and ruine speake speake quickly Or thou art dead Will-doe They are married Ouer. Thou had'st better Haue made a contract with the King of fiends Than these my braine turnes Will-doe Why this rage to me Is not this your letter Sir and these the words Marry her to this Gentleman Ouer. It cannot Nor will I e're beleeue it's death I will not That I that in all passages I touch'd At worldly profit haue not left a print Where I haue trod for the most curious search To trace my footstepps should be gu'lld by children Baffull'd and fool'd and all my hopes and labours Defeated and made void Welb. As it appeares You are so my graue Vncle Ouer. Village Nurses Reuenge their wrongs with curses I 'le not wast A syllable but thus I take the life Which wretched I gaue to thee Offers to kill Margaret Lou. Hold for your owne sake Though charity to your daughter hath quite left you Will you do an act though in your hopes lost here Can leaue no hope for peace or rest hereafter Consider at the best you are but a man And cannot so create your aimes but that They may be cross'd Ouer. Lord thus I spit at thee And at thy counsaile and againe desire thee And as thou art a souldier if thy valour Dares shew it selfe where multitude and example Lead not the way le ts quit the house and change Six words in priuate Lou. I am ready Lad. Stay Sir Contest with one distracted Welb. You 'le grow like him Should you answer his vaine challenge Ouer. Are you pale Borrow his help though Hercules call it oddes I 'le stand against both as I am hem'd in thus Since like Libian-Lyon in the toyle My fury cannot reach the coward hunters And only spends it selfe I 'le quit the place Alone I can do nothing but I haue seruants And friends to second me and if I make not This house a heape of ashes by my wrongs What I haue spoke I will make good or lean'd One throat vncut if it
Greedie vp so soone Greed. In troth my Lord after the Sun is vp I cannot sleep for I haue a foolish stomacke That croakes for breakefast With your Lordships fauour I haue a serious question to demand Of my worthy friend Sir Giles Lou. Pray you vse your pleasure Greed. How far Sir Giles and pray you answer me Vpon your credit hold you it to be From your Mannor house to this of my Lady Alworths Ouer. Why some foure mile Greed. How foure mile good Sir Giles Vpon your reputation thinke better For if you doe abate but one halfe quarter Of fiue you doe yourselfe the greatest wrong That can be in the world for foure miles riding Could not haue rais'd so huge an appetite As I feele gnawing on me Mar. Whither you ride Or goe a foote you are that way still prouided And it please your Worship Ouer. How now Sirra prating Before my Lord no difference go to my Nephew See all his debts discharg'd and help his Worship To fit on his rich suite Mar. I may fit you too Toss'd like a dogge still Exit Marrall Lou. I haue writt this morning A few lines to my mistresse your faire daughter Ouer. 'T will fire her for shee 's wholy yours already Sweet master Alworth take my ring 't will carry you To her presence I dare warrant you and there pleade For my good Lord if you shall find occasion That done pray ride to Nottingham get a licence Still by this token I 'le haue it dispatch'd And suddainely my Lord that I may say My honorable nay right honorable daughter Greed. Take my aduice young Gentleman get your breakefast 'T is vnholsome to ride fasting I 'le eate with you And eate to purpose Ouer. Some Furies in that gut Hungry againe did you not deuoure this morning A shield of Brawne and a barrell of Colchester oysters Greed. Why that was Sir only to scoure my stomacke A kind of a preparatiue Come Gentleman I will not haue you feed like the Hangman of Vllushing Alone while I am here Lou. Hast your returne Alw. I will not faile my Lord Greed. Nor I to line My Christmas coffer Exeunt Greedy and Alworth Ouer. To my wish we are priuate I come not to make offer with my daughter A certaine portion that were poore and triuiall In one word I pronounce all that is mine In lands or leases ready coine or goods With her my Lord comes to you nor shall you haue One motiue to induce you to beleeue I liue too long since euery yeare I 'le add Something vnto the heape which shall be yours too Lou. You are a right kind father Ouer. You shall haue reason To thinke me such how doe you like this seate It is well wooded and well water'd the Acres Fertile and rich would it not serue for change To entertaine your friends in a Sommer progresse What thinkes my noble Lord Lou. 'T is a wholesome aire And well built pile and she that 's mistresse of it Worthy the large reuennue Ouer. 'Shee the mistresse It may be so for a time but let my Lord Say only that he likes it and would haue it I say e're long 't is his Lou. Impossible Ouer. You doe conclude too fast not knowing me Nor the engines that I worke by 't is not alone The Lady Alworths Lands for those once Welbornes As by her dotage on him I know they will be Shall soone be mine but point out any mans In all the Shire and say they lie conuenient And vsefull for your Lordship and once more I say aloud They are yours Lou. I dare not owne What 's by vniust and cruell meanes extorted My fame and credit are more deare to me Than so to expose 'em to be censur'd by The publike voice Ouer. You run my Lord no hazard Your reputation shall stand as faire In all good mens opinions as now Nor can my actions though condemn'd for ill Cast any foule aspersion vpon yours For though I doe contemne report my selfe As a meere sound I still will be so tender Of what concernes you in all points of Honour That the immaculate whitenesse of your Fame Nor your vnquestion'd integrity Shall e're be sullied with one taint or spot That may take from your innocence and candor All my ambition is to haue my daughter Right honorable which my Lord can make her And might I liue to dance vpon my knee A young Lord Louell borne by her vnto you I write nil vltra to my proudest hopes As for possessions and annuall rents Equiualent to maintaine you in the port Your noble birth and present state requires I doe remoue that burthen from your shoulders And take it on mine owne for though I tithe The Country to supply your riotous wast The scourge of prodigalls want shall neuer find you Lou. Are you not frighted with the imprecations And curses of whole families made wretched By your sinister practises Ouer. Yes as rocks are When foamie billowes split themselues against Their flinty ribbes or as the Moone is mou'd When wolues with hunger pin'd howle at her brightnesse I am of a solid temper and like these Steere on a constant course with mine owne sword If call'd into the field I can make that right Which fearefull enemies murmur'd at as wrong Now for these other pidling complaints Breath'd out in bitternesse as when they call me Extortioner Tyrant Cormorant or Intruder On my poore Neighbours right or grand incloser Of what was common to my priuate vse Nay when my cares are pierc'd with Widdowes cries And vndon Orphants wash with teares my threshold I only thinke what 't is to haue my daughter Right honorable and 't is a powerfull charme Makes me insensible of remorse or pitty Or the least sting of Conscience Lou. I admire The toughnesse of your nature Ouer. 'T is for you My Lord and for my daughter I am marble Nay more more if you will haue my character In little I enioy more true delight In my arriuall to my wealth these darke And crooked wayes than you shall e're take pleasure In spending what my industry hath compass'd My hast commands me hence In one word therefore Is it a Match Lou. I hope that is past doubt now Ouer. Then rest secure not the hate of all mankind here Nor feare of what can fall on me hereafter Shall make me studie ought but your aduancement One story higher An Earle if gold can do it Dispute not my religion nor my faith Though I am borne thus headlong by my will You may make choice of what beleefe you please To me they are equall so my Lord good morrow Exit Lou. Hee 's gone I wonder how the Earth can beare Such a portent I that haue liu'd a Souldier And stood the enemies violent charge vndaunted To heare this blasphemous beast a 'm bath'd all ouer In a cold sweat yet like a mountaine he Confirm'd in Atheisticall assertions Is no more shaken than Olimpus is When angry