 | The Change of Crownes |  |
54
SCENE THE SECOND
Enter ANTONIO, ASINELLO, with Two Officers of the Lodge.outside of the Court
1.
Nay Sir there is no Remedy, you must Doffe your Habilliments
ASI.
Away, away, I hope you are not in earnest Gentlemen, fye, fye;
be ciuill, whipt? I was sent hither to see her Majesty. Is
this your Court Entertaynment? what D'ee meane? D'ee
know what you Doe?
they pluck off his Doublett
2.
Very well Signior, wee vnderstand our office, and you must
obey the Court Ceremony, you must haue it, vnder our hand
before you passe any further, wee must take our Toll.
ASI.
Toll? I was told no such thing, and if you Tell me
of whipping, Ile tell you the Queene shall be Told on't.
But I know you are in Jeast all this whyle.
1.
Nay then wee shall bee Troubled; fetch a cord; if you
will be Ciuill, and submitt to order you may haue but Twenty.
ANTO.
And that's a favour I assure you.
ASI.
what Twenty?
ffirst whistle ready
1.
Lashes.
2.
Brother wee cannot Justifye that favour. It is in the statute
you know one and thirty vpon forfeyt of our places, to euery one
that hath a Mission hither from any officer of the House
Below stayres.
1.
My Lord Malvecchio I grant is one of the Privy Councell,
And if wee consider the person sending, he is to haue
no lesse than fourty.
2.
But in both thiese Cases he is to be allowd his Certificate,
into the whipping.
1.
Why he may haue his Certificate from the office too.
ASI.
What's that?
ANTO.
That you haue been well, and sufficiently whipt.
And that's something to his Reputation.
ASI.
Hang Reputation, tell not me. I know my owne
Constitution, I tell you I cannot Endure it.
ANTO.
Gentlemen you heare what he sayes; you are to Consider
his Capacity, and state of Body, Alasse Hee's but a Country
55
Reasonable tearmes, as the twigg can Dispence it. what say you,
I'le make a motion, he shall Abate the Certificate.
1.
Sir you are Secretary to my Lord Malvecchio and may
Befreind vs in your office. he shall haue but twenty.
2.
Prouided the Blood come trickling downe visibly.
wee will Afford him that Mitigation.
ANTO.
Well Gentlemen I thank you, come it shall be but Twenty
ASI.
with the Blood trickling downe? alass I shall not be
skinn'd againe in a twelve moneth—D'ee heare Gentlemen,
what shall I Guie you to Hang me out of the way,
And trouble your selues no further with me.
ANTO.
I had almost forgott; what if the Gentleman
be willing to Fyne for it?
2.
Wee cannot Deny him that Priviledge.
ANTO.
This shall fetch you off; you shall Fyne. Give the whipsters
a Reward, and you shall Commute your pennance.
1.
Well Sir you shall order the fyne.
ASI.
But I will haue my Certificate, that I will, they may
Afford it Sir; that will be as well as if I had been whipt.
ANTO.
Let Him Goe, your servant Gentlemen.
Exeunt Officers
well, now you are past the pykes.
ASI.
And the Gunns too I hope.
ANTO.
Thus All must suffer that vizitt the Lodge, to be Court free.
Now I'le Conduct you, and it shall Goe hard, but you shall
see the Queene, and kisse her Hands within two houres.
ASI.
shall I? nay then Ile be whipt; Gentlemen come back,
I cannot suffer too much for her Majesty.
ANTO.
Why if you be so valiant it will not trouble them
to whipp you till to Morrow morning.
ASI.
Now I thinke on't I'le let it alone; to tell you true
this Fright hath putt me into a Subtillity of Body.
ANTO.
Solubillity is it not? say you so? Fare you well Signior.
ASI.
As you are a Christian, doe so much as show me the way
out of the Court.
ANTO.
Ile doe you that Curtesy: but for your better security,
As you passe, I would Advise you to hold your Breath.
ASI.
Hold my Breath? I Sir.
ANTO.
So, so.
ASI.
Puh, I can hold no Longer.
Exeunt
| The Change of Crownes | |