University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Ouerreach. Marrall.
Overreach.
Hee's gone I warrant thee; this Commission crush'd him.

Marrall.
Your worship haue the way out, and ne're misse
To squeeze these vnthrifts into ayre: and yet
The chapp-falne Justice did his part, returning
For your aduantage the Certificate
Against his conscience, and his knowledge too,
(With your good fauour) to the vtter ruine
Of the poore Farmer.

Ouer.
'Twas for these good ends
I made him a Iustice. He that bribes his bellie,
Is certaine to command his soule.

Mar.
I wonder
(Still with your licence) why, your Worship hauing
The power to put this thinne-Gut in commission,
You are not in't your selfe?

Ouer.
Thou art a foole;
In being out of Office I am out 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 Præmunire,
And so become a prey to the Informer.
No, I'le haue non of't; 'tis 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 'tis 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.
'Tis 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.
'Tis 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 frō 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 'tis 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 'tis 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 'tis my glory, though I come from the Cittie,
To haue their issue, whom I haue vndone,
To kneele to mine, as bond-slaues.

Mar.
'Tis fit state, Sir.

Ouer.
And therefore, Ile not haue a Chambermaide
That tyes her shooes, or any meaner office,
But such whose Fathers were Right worshipfull.
'Tis 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 sern'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.
'Twill 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.
Ile 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.
'Tis 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.