of danger Where if I were a Iustice besides the trouble I might or out of wilfulnesse or error Run my selfe finely into a Praemunire And so become a prey to the Informer No I 'le haue non of 't 't is enough I keepe Greedie at my deuotion so he serue My purposes let him hang or damne I care not Friend-ship is but a word Mar. You are all wisdome Ouer. I would be worldly wise for the other wisdome That does prescribe vs a well-gouern'd life And to doe right to others as our selues I value not an Atome Mar. What course take you With your good patience to hedge in the Mannour Of your neighbour master Frugall as 't is sayd He will nor sell nor borrow nor exchange And his land lying in the mid'st of your many Lordshipps Is a foule blemish Ouer. I haue thought on 't Marrall And it shall take I must haue all men sellers And I the only Purchaser Mar. 'T is most fit Sir Ouer. I 'le therefore buy some Cottage neare his Mannour Which done I 'le make my men breake ope his fences Ride o're his standing corne and in the night Set fire on his barnes or breake his cattells legges These Trespasses draw on Suites and Suites expences Which I can spare but will soone begger Him When I haue harried him thus two or three yeare Though he sue in forma pauperis in spite Of all his thrift and care he 'le grow behind-hand Mar. The best I euer heard I could adore you Ouer. Then with the fauour of my man of Law I will pretend some title Want will force him To put it to arbitrement then if he sell For halfe the value he shall haue ready money And I possesse his land Mar. 'T is aboue wonder Welborne was apt to sell and needed not These fine arts Sir to hooke him in Ouer. Well thought on This varlet Marrall liues too long to vpbraide me With my close cheate put vpon him Will nor cold Nor hunger kill him Mar. I know not what to thinke on 't I haue vs'd all meanes and the last night I caus'd His host the Tapster to turne him out of doores And haue beene since with all your friends and tenant's And on the forfeit of your fauour charg'd him Though a crust of mouldie bread would keep him fró staruing Yet they should not relieue him This is done Sir Ouer. That was something Marrall but thou must goe further And suddainely Marrall Mar. Where and when you please Sir Ouer. I would haue thee seeke him out and if thou canst Perswade him that 't is better steale than begge Then if I proue he has but rob'd a Henroost Not all the world shall saue him from the gallowes Doe any thing to worke him to despaire And 't is thy Masterpeece Mar. I will doe my best Sir Ouer. I am now on my maine worke with the Lord Louell The gallant minded popular Lord Louell The minion of the peoples loue I heare Hee 's come into the Country and my aimes are To insinuate my selfe into his knowledge And then inuite him to my house Mar. I haue you This points at my young Mistris Ouer. She must part with That humble title and write honourable Right honorable Marrall my right honorable daughter If all I haue or e're shall get will doe it I will haue her well attended there are Ladies Of errant Knights decay'd and brought so low That for cast clothes and meate will gladly serue her And 't is my glory though I come from the Cittie To haue their issue whom I haue vndone To kneele to mine as bond-slaues Mar. 'T is fit state Sir Ouer. And therefore I le not haue a Chambermaide That tyes her shooes or any meaner office But such whose Fathers were Right worshipfull 'T is a rich Mans pride there hauing euer beene More than a Fewde a strange Antipathie Betweene vs and true Gentry Enter Welborne Mar. See who 's here Sir Ouer. Hence monster Prodigie Welb. Sir your Wifes Nephew Shee and my Father tumbled in one belly Ouer. Auoid my sight thy breath 's infectious Rogue I shun thee as a Leprosie or the Plague Come hither Marrall this is the time to worke him Mar. I warrant you Sir Exit Ouer. Welb. By this light I thinke hee 's mad Mar. Mad had you tooke compassion on your selfe You long since had beene mad Welb. You haue tooke a course Betweene you and my venerable Vncle To make me so Mar. The more pale spirited you That would not be instructed I sweare deepely Welb. By what Mar. By my Religion Welb. Thy religion The Diuells Creed but what would you haue done Mar. Had there beene but one tree in all the Shire Nor any hope to compasse a penny Halter Before like you I had outliu'd my fortunes A With had seru'd my turne to hang my selfe I am zealous in your cause pray you hang your selfe And presently as you loue your credit Welb. I thanke you Mar. Will you stay till you dye in a ditch Or lice deuoure you Or if you dare not doe the feate your selfe But that you 'le put the state to charge and trouble Is there no purse to bee cut house to be broken Or market Women with egges that you may murther And so dispatch the businesse Welb. Heer 's varietie I must confesse but I 'le accept of none Of all your gentle offers I assure you Mar. Why haue you hope euer to eate againe Or drinke Or be the master of three farthings If you like not hanging drowne your selfe take some course For your reputation Welb. 'T will not do deare tempter With all the Rhetorike the fien'd hath taught you I am as farre as thou art from despaire Nay I haue Confidence which is more than Hope To liue and suddainely better than euer Mar. Ha! Ha! these Castles you build in the aire Will not perswade me or to giue or lend A token to you Welb. I le be more kind to thee Come thou shalt dine with me Mar. With you Welb. Nay more dine gratis Mar. Vnder what hedge I pray you Or at whose cost Are they Padders or Abram-men that are your consorts Welb. Thou art incredulous but thou shalt dine Not alone at her house but with a gallant Lady With mee and with a Lady Mar. Lady what Lady With the Lady of the Lake or Queene of Fairies For I know it must be an inchanted dinner Welb. With the Ladie Alworth knaue Mar. Nay now there 's hope Thy braine is crack'd Welb. Marke there with what respect I am entertain'd Mar. With choice no doubt of Dogge-whippes Why doest thou euer hope to passe her Porter Welb. 'T is not far off go with me trust thine owne eyes Mar. Troth in my hope or my assurance rather To see thee curuet and mount like a Dogge in a blanket If euer thou presume to passe her threshold I will endure thy company Welb. Come along then Exeunt Actus secundi Scena secunda Alworth Waiting-woman
A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS A COMOEDIE As it hath beene often acted at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane by the Queenes Maiesties seruants The Author PHILIP MASSINGER LONDON Printed by E. P. for Henry Seyle dwelling in S. Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head M. DC. XXXIII M. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT EARLE OF CARNARVAN Master Falconer of England MY GOOD LORD Pardon I beseech you my boldnesse in presuming to shelter this Comoedie vnder the wings of your Lordships fauour and protection I am not ignorant hauing neuer yet deseru'd you in my seruice that it cannot but meete with a seuere construction if in the clemencie of your noble disposition you fashion not a better defence for mee than I can fancie for my selfe All I can alleage is that diuers Italian Princes and Lords of eminent rancke in England haue not disdain'd to receaue and read Poems of this Nature nor am I wholy lost in my hopes but that your Honor who haue euer exprest your selfe a fauourer and friend to the Muses may vouchsafe in your gratious acceptance of this trifle to giue me encouragement to present you with some labour'd worke and of a higher straine hereafter I was borne a deuoted seruant to the thrice noble Family of your incomparable Lady and am most ambitious but with a becomming distance to be knowne to your Lordship which if you please to admit I shall embrace it as a bounty that while I liue shall oblige me to acknowledge you for my noble Patron and professe my selfe to be Your Honours true seruant Philip Massinger TO THE INGENIOVS AVTHOR MASTER PHILIP MASSINGER ON HIS COMOEDIE Called A new way to pay old Debts T Is a rare charity and thou couldst not So proper to the time haue found a plot Yet whilst you teach to pay you lend the age We wretches liue in that to come the stage The thronged audience that was thither brought Inuited by your fame and to be taught This lesson All are growne indebted more And when they looke for freedome ran in score It was a cruell courtesie to call In hope of liberty and then enthrall The nobles are your bond-men Gentry and All besides those that did not vnderstand They were no men of credit Banckroupts borne Fit to be trusted with no stocke but scorne You haue more wisely credited to such That though they cannot pay can value much I am your debtor too but to my shame Repay you nothing backe but your owne fame Henry Moody miles To his friend the Author YOu may remember how you chid me when I ranckt you equall with those glorious men Beaumont and Fletcher if you loue not praise You must for beare the publishing of playes The craftie Mazes of the cunning plot The polish'd phrase the sweet expressions got Neither by theft nor violence the conceipt Fresh and vnsullied All is of weight Able to make the captiue Reader know I did but iustice when I plac't you so A shamefast Blushing would become the brow Of some weake Virgin writer we allow To you a kind of pride and there where most Should blush at commendations you should boast If any thinke I flatter let him looke Of from my idle trifles on thy Booke Thomas Iay Miles Dramatis personae Louell An English Lord Sir Giles Ouerreach A cruell extortioner Welborne A prodigall Alworth A young gentleman page to Lord Louell Greedy A hungry Iustice of peace Marrall A Tearme-driuer A creature of Sir Giles Ouerreach Order Amble Furnace Watchall Seruants to the Lady Alworth Will-doe A parson Tapwell An alehouse keeper Three Creditors The Ladie Alworth A Rich Widdowe Margaret Ouerreach his daughter Waiting Woman Chambermaide Froth Tapwells wife A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS A COMEDIE Actus primus Scena prima Welborne Tapwell Froth WElborne No bouze nor no Tobacco Tapwell Not a sucke Sir Nor the remainder of a single canne Left by a drunken porter all night palde too Froth Not the dropping of the tappe for your mornings draught Sir 'T is veritie I assure you Welborne Verity you brach The Diuell turn'd precisian Rogue what am I Tapwell Troth durst I trust you with a looking glasle To let you see your trimme shape you would quit me And take the name your selfe Welborne How dogge Tapwell Euen so Sir And I must tell you if you but aduance Your plimworth cloke you shall be soone instructed There dwells and within call if it please your worship A potent monarch call'd the Constable That does command a Citadell call'd the Stockes Whose guards are certaine files of rusty Billmen Such as with great dexterity will hale Your tatter'd louzie Welborne Rascall slaue Froth No rage Sir Tapwell At his owne perill doe not put your selfe In too much heate there being no water neare To quench your thirst and sure for other liquor As mighty Ale or Beere they are things I take it You must no more remember not in a dreame Sir Wellborne Why thou vnthankefull villaine dar'st thou talke thus Is not thy house and all thou hast my gift Tapwell I find it not in chalke and Timothie Tapwell Does keepe no other register Welborne Am not I Hee Whose riots fed and cloth'd thee wert thou not Borne on my fathers land and proud to bee A drudge in his house Tapwell What I was Sir it skills not What you are is apparent Now for a farewel' Since you talke of father in my hope it will torment you I 'le briefly tell your story Your dead father My quondam master was a man of worship Old Sir John Wellborne Iustice of peace and quorum And stood faire to bee Custos rotulorum Bare the whole sway of the shire kep't a great house Relieu'd the poore and so forth but Hee dying And the twelue hundred a yeare comming to you Late Master Francis but now forlorne Welborne Welborne Slaue stoppe or I shall lose my selfe Froth Very hardly You cannot out of your way Tapwell But to my story You were then a Lord of Akers the prime gallant And I your vnder-butler note the change now You had a merry time of 't Hawkes and Hounds With choice of running horses Mistrisses Of all sorts and all sizes yet so hot As their embraces made your Lordships melt Which your Vncle Sir Giles Ouerreach obseruing Resoluing not to lose a droppe of 'em On foolish mortgages statutes and bonds For a while suppli'd your loosenesse and then left you Welborne Some Curate hath penn'd this inuectiue mongrell And you haue studied it Tapwell I haue not done yet Your land gone and your credit not worth a token You grew the common borrower no man scap'd Your paper-pelletts from the Gentleman To the beggers on high wayes that sold you switches In your gallantry Welborne I shall switch your braines out Tapwell Where poore Tim Tapwell with a little stocke Some forty pounds or so bought a small cottage Humbled my selfe to marriage with my Froth here Gaue entertainment Welborne Yes to whores and canters
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
Tapwell I remember thy wife brought me Last new yeares tide a couple of fat turkies Tapw. And shall doe euery Christmas let your Worship But stand my friend now Greed. How with master Welborne I can doe any thing with him on such termes See you this honest couple they are good soules As euer drew out fosset haue they not A payre of honest faces Welb. I o're heard you And the bribe he promis'd you are cousend in 'em For of all the scumme that grew rich by my riots This for a most vnthankefull knaue and this For a base bawde and whore haue worst deseru'd me And therefore speake not for 'em by your place You are rather to do me iustice lend me your eare Forget his Turkies and call in his Licence And at the next Faire I 'le giue you a yoke of Oxen Worth all his Poultry Greed. I am chang'd on the suddaine In my opinion come neere neerer Rascall And now I view him better did you e're see One looke so like an arch-knaue his very countenance Should an vnderstanding iudge but looke vpon him Would hang him though he were innocent Tap. Froth Worshipfull Sir Greed. No though the great Turke came insteed of Turkies To begge any fauour I am inexorable Thou hast an ill name besides thy musty Ale That hath destroy'd many of the Kings leige people Thou neuer hadst in thy house to stay mens stomackes A peece of Suffolke cheese or Gammon of Bacon Or any esculent as the learned call it For their emolument but sheere drinke only For which grosse fault I heere doe damne thy licence Forbidding thee euer to tap or draw For instantly I will in mine owne person Command the Constable to pull downe thy Signe And doe it before I eate Froth No mercie Greed. Vanish If I shew any may my promis'd Oxen gore me Tapw. Vnthankefull knaues are euer so rewarded Exeunt Greedie Tapwell Froth Welb. Speake what are you 1. Creditor A decay'd Vintner Sir That might haue thriued but that your worship broke me With trusting you with Muskadine and Egges And fiue pound Suppers with your after drinkings When you lodg'd vpon the Banckside Welb. Remember 1. Cred. I haue not beene hasty nor e're layd to arrest you And therefore Sir Welb. Thou art an honest fellow I 'le set thee vp againe see his bill pay'd What are you 2. Cred. A Taylor once but now meere Botcher I gaue you credit for a suite of clothes Which was all my stocke but you failing in payment I was remou'd from the Shop boord and confin'd Vnder a Stall Welb. See him pay'd and botch no more 2. Cred. I aske no interest Sir Welb. Such Taylors need not If their bills are pay'd in one and twenty yeare They are seldome losers O I know thy face Thou were 't my Surgeon you must tell no tales Those dayes are done I will pay you in priuate Ord. A royall Gentleman Furn. Royall as an Emperour He 'le proue a braue master my good Lady knew To choose a man Welb. See all men else discharg'd And since Old debts are clear why a new way A little bountie will not misbecome mee There 's something honest Cooke for thy good breakefasts And this for your respect take 't 't is good gold And I able to spare it Ord. You are too munificent Furn. Hee was euer so Welb. Pray you on before 3. Gred. Heauen blesse you Mar. At foure a clocke the rest know where to meet me Exeunt Ord. Furn. Furn. Credit Welb. Now master Marrall what 's the weightie secret You promis'd to impart Mar. Sir time nor place Allow me to relate each circumstance This only in a word I know Sir Giles Will come vpon you for security For his thousand pounds which you must not consent to As he growes in heat as I am sure hee will Be you but rough and say Hee 's in your debt Ten times the summe vpon sale of your land I had a hand in 't I speake it to my shame When you were defeated of it Welb. That 's forgiuen Mar. I shall deserue 't then vrge him to produce The deed in which you pass'd it ouer to him Which I know Hee 'le haue about him to deliuer To the Lord Louell with many other writings And present moneys I 'le instruct you further As I waite on your Worship if I play not my price To your full content and your Vncles much vexation Hang vp Jacke Marrall Welb. I relie vpon thee Exeunt Actus quarti Scena vltima Alworth Margaret ALworth Whither to yeeld the first praise to my Lord's Vnequall'd temperance or your constant sweetnesse That I yet liue my weake hands fasten'd on Hopes anchor spite of all stormes of Despaire I yet rest doubtfull Marg. Giue it to Lord Louell For what in him was bounty in mee 's duty I make but payment of a debt to which My vowes in that high office registred Are faithfull witnesses Alw. 'T is true my dearest Yet when I call to mind how many faire ones Make wilfull shipwracke of their faiths and oathes To God and Man to fill the armes of Greatnesse And you rise vp lesse than a glorious starre To the amazement of the world that hold out Against the sterne authority of a Father And spurne at honour when it comes to court you I am so tender of your good that faintly With your wrong I can wish my selfe that right You yet are pleas'd to do mee Marg. Yet and euer To me what 's title when content is wanting Or wealth rak'd vp together with much care And to be kept with more when the heart pines In being dispossest of what it longs for Beyond the Indian mines or the smooth brow Of a pleas'd Site that slaues me to his will And so his rauenous humour may bee feasted By my obedience and he see me great Leaues to my soule nor faculties nor power To make her owne election Alw. But the dangers That follow the repulse Marg. To me they are nothing Let Alworth loue I cannot be vnhappy Suppose the worst that in his rage he kill me A teare or two by you dropt on my hearse In sorrow for my fate will call backe life So far as but to say that I die yours I then shall rest in peace or should he proue So cruell as one death would not suffize His thirst of vengeance but with lingring torments In mind and body I must wast to ayre In pouerty ioyn'd with banishment so you share In my afflictions which I dare not wish you So high I prize you I could vndergoe 'em With such a patience as should looke downe With scorne on his worst malice Aiw. Heauen auert Such trialls of your true affection to me Nor will it vnto you that are all mercie Shew so much rigour but since wee must run Such desperate hazards let vs doe our best To steere betweene 'em Marg. Your Lord 's ours and sure And though but a young actor second me In