University of Virginia Library

Scen. 3.

Enter Mr. Raynsfoorth and young Mr. Forrest meeting.
For.

Pray let me speak with you

Rayns.

With me Sir?

Forr.

With you.

Rayns.

Say on.

Forr.

Do you not know me?

Rayns.

Keep off upon the peril of thy life, come not within my
swords length least this Arm prove fatal to thee, and bereave thy life,
as it hath done thy brothers.

Forr.

Why now thou knowest me truely by that token, that thou
hast slain my brother, put up, put up, so great a quarrel as a brothers
life must not be made a street brall, 'tis not fit that every Apprentice
should with his shop-club, betwixt us play the sticklers, sheath thy
sword.

Rayns.

Swear thou wilt act no suddaine violence, or this sharp sword
shall still be enterpos'd 'twixt me and thy known hatred.

Young Forr.

Sheath thy sword, by my religion and that interest I
have in Gentry I will not be guilty of any base revenge.

Rayns.

Say on.

Forr.

Let's walk, trust me let not thy guilty soul be jealous of my
fury this my hand's curbed and governed by an honest heart, not by
just anger, Ile not touch thee soully for all the world: let's walk.

Rayns.

Proceed.

Forr.

Sir, you did kill my brother, had it been in faire and even encounter,
though a child, his death I had not questioned.

Rayns.

Is this all?

Forr.

Hee's gone, the Law is past, your life is cleared, for none of
all our kindred laid against you evidence to hang you; y'are a Gentleman,
and pity 'twere a man of your discent should dye a Fellons
death: See Sir, thus far we have demeaned fairly like our selves: but

think you though we winck at base revenge, a brothers death can be
so soon forgot, our Gentry baffel'd and our name disgrac'd? no t'must
not be, I am a Gentleman well known; and my demeaner hitherto
hath promist somewhat: should I swallow this, the scandal would out
live me: briefly then Ile fight with you.

Rayns.

I am loath.

Forr.

Answer directly whether you dare to meet me on even termes,
or mark how i'le proceed.

Rayns.

Say I deny't.

Forr.

Then I say thou art a villaine and I challenge thee, where ere
I meet thee next, in field or town, thy Fathers manners or thy Tennants
grange, saving the Church, there is no priviledge in all this land for thy
despised life; no guard of friends, no night walks, or sly stealth, no
jealous fear which in a murtherers eye keeps hourly watch, shall have
the priviledge: this even and ballanc'd fight body to body; Ile kill thee
be it in thy bed, at meat, in thy wives arms; as thou tookest my brother,
with thy back towards me, basely: answer me.

Rayns.

Ile meet with thee; the hour?

Forr.

By six to morrow morning, 'tis your priviledge to appoint the
place and weapon.

Rayns.

Hownselow the place, my choice of weapon this.

Forr.

I can except at neither; fail the place, or suit your weapons
length, farewel.

Exit.
Rayns.

Yes 'tis thou meetest thy last farewel on earth, the appoynted
hour's to morrow: let the same fate obscure his desperate head that
fell upon his brothers.

Enter Goodwin and Foster.
Goodw.

Now Cozen Raynsforth.

Rayns.

Ile so swinge my yonker.

Fost.

Why who hath raysed this storm Sir?

Rayns.

Wat'st thou what? The elder Forrest parted but even now,
call'd me to question 'bout his brothers death, and since hath challeng'd
me.

Goodw.

Challenged?

Rayns.

Challenged me.

Fost.

Why hee's too wea for you.

Rayns.

Yes, I shall weak him, my purpose is to teach the stripling
sence; And you be honest Gentlemen stand but a loofe to morrow,
and observe how I will swinge my youth about the field.

Goodw.
And please Heaven ile be there.

Fost.
And so will I.

Rayns.
He seekes his fate, and murderers once being in
Wade further till they drown; sin pulls on sin.

Exit.