University of Virginia Library

Scena tertia.

Enter Sbirri the Captaine of the watche, with some Soldiers, and with him Mistresse Victoria.
Attilia.
See how Pedante counterfeites Crack-stone in talke,
Thereby we shall escape, and through the watch in safetie walke.

Victoria.
Captaine Sbirri, this night my maide Attilia ran away,
Her I beseeche you, if she be not past the watch, to stay.
Some thing I doubt that she hath stolne, and carried to her mates,
Therefore I pray beset the streetes, and all the citie gates.

Sbirri.
Mistresse Victoria I will, but some bodie I see,

Victoria
Steppe to them bothe and take them streight,
for sure the same is shee.

Crack-st.
Come mine own Parragon,
I know thou hast tarried for me all this while,
Therefore follow me streight,
least the lickorish Souldiers meete vs, and me beguile.

Sbirri.
Softe not to fast,
but stay I charge you in the Princes name,

Crack-st.
God saue the Princes grace,
and put his enemies to shame.
Wee are the Kings friendes,
I would you should well knowe,
Therefore trouble vs no farther, but let vs goe.
The kings head is occupied with matters of great importunitie,
I know he is not conswapted,
at this time to speake with me.
We are peace-able people,
we haue no weapons heere,
We are neither drunke nor sober,
nor make any steere.
Get you to your places, keepe the watch as you should,
And wee'le to our lodging you may be bould.

Sbirri.
Nay Sir, we will know your name,
and eke the place where you haue beene,
Whether you goe, night-walkers heer are very seldom seene.

Crack-st
Then I pray you, what make you abroade so late?
T'is longing to your office to keepe the gate.
As for our names, I know of no such commencement you haue,
Why you should be so pearchant the same to craue.

Attilia.
We haue bin foorth at supper Sir, i'the towne with a good friend,
And now we are returning home, nigh at our yournies end.

Victoria.
What Minion, are you there indeede?

Attilia.
My Mistresse, out alas,
Beholde Pedante we are tane, how shall we doe to passe?

Crack-st,
I hold fourty pound I am Unckled, I would Pediculus were heer,
I would meete with the scalde Squitterbe-booke for this geare.

Sbirri.
Is this your mayde?

Crack-st.
It is.

Sbirri.
Lay hold on her with speede,
Let vs see what Uagabonde is hid within this weede.
Crack-stone? Whowe?

Crack-st.
And whowe too then, did you neuer see man before?
I am not taken in deuowtrie, therefore wonder no more.

Attilia.
A halter come to him, is it hee?

Sbirri.
Sorrie I am good Captaine, you in such a case to see.
Heer you are taken with this mayde, which is like to be tachte
Of fellonie, and accessarie you with her are cachte.

Crack-st.
I steale nothing from women but their honestie:
Which is as good, as he that robbes the Printer of a Bible, because he would studie Diuinitie.