University of Virginia Library

Scene. IV.

Mere-craft. Fitz-dottrell. Ingine.
[Mer.]
VVhere are you, Sir?

Fit.
I see thou hast no talent
This way, wife. Vp to thy gallery; doe, Chuck,
Leaue vs to talke of it, who vnderstand it.

Mer.
I thinke we ha' found a place to fit you, now, Sir.
Gloc'ster.

Fit.
O, no, I'll none!

Mer.
Why, Sr?

Fit.
Tis fatall.

Mer:
That you say right in. Spenser, I thinke, the younger,
Had his last honour thence. But, he was but Earle.

Fit.
I know not that, Sir. But Thomas of Woodstocke,
I'm sure, was Duke, and he was made away,
At Calice; as Duke Humphrey was at Bury:
And Richard the third, you know what end he came too.

Mer.
By m'faith you are cunning i'the Chronicle, Sir.

Fit.
No, I confesse I ha't from the Play-bookes,
And thinke they'are more authentique.

Ing.
That's sure, Sir.

He whispers him of a place.
Mer.
What say you (to this then)

Fit.
No, a noble house.
Pretends to that. I will doe no man wrong.

Mer.
Then take one proposition more, and heare it
As past exception.

Fit.
What's that?

Mer.
To be
Duke of those lands, you shall recouer: take
Your title, thence, Sir, Duke of the Drown'd-lands,
Or Drown'd-land.

Fit.
Ha? that last has a good sound!
I like it well. The Duke of Drown'd-land?

Ing.
Yes;
It goes like Groen-land, Sir, if you marke it.

Mer:
I,
And drawing thus your honour from the worke,
You make the reputation of that, greater;
And stay't the longer i' your name.

Fit.
'Tis true.
Drown'd-lands will liue in Drown'd-land!

Mer.
Yes, when you
Ha' no foote left; as that must be, Sir, one day.
And, though it tarry in your heyres, some forty,
Fifty descents, the longer liuer, at last, yet,
Must thrust 'hem out on't: if no quirk in law,
Or odde Vice o'their owne not do' it first.
Wee see those changes, daily: the faire lands,
That were the Clyents, are the Lawyers, now:
And those rich Mannors, there, of good man Taylors,
Had once more wood vpon 'hem, then the yard,
By which th'were measur'd out for the last purchase.
Nature hath these vicissitudes. Shee makes
No man a state of perpetuery, Sir.

Fit.
Yo'are i'the right. Let's in then, and conclude.
Hee spies Diuell.
I my sight, againe? I'll talke with you, anon.