University of Virginia Library

Scena secunda.

Order. Amble. Furnace. Watchall.
Order.
Set all things right, or as my name is Order,
And by this staffe of office that commands you;
This chaine, and dubble ruffe, Symboles of power;
Who euer misses in his function,
For one whole weeke makes forfeiture of his breakefast,
And priuilege in the wine-seller.

Amble.
You are merrie
Good Master Steward.

Furnace.
Let him; Ile bee angry.

Amble.
Why fellow Furnace, 'tis not twelue a clocke yet,
Nor dinner taking vp, then 'tis allow'd
Cookes by their places may bee cholericke.

Furnace.
You thinke you haue spoke wisely goodman Amble,
My Ladie's goe-before.

Order.
Nay, nay; no wrangling.

Furnace.
'Twit me with the Authority of the kitchin?
At all houres, and all places Ile be angrie;
And thus prouok'd, when I am at my prayers,
I will bee angry.

Amble.
There was no hurt meant.

Furnace.
I am friends with thee, and yet I will be angry.

Order.
With whom?

Furnace.
No matter whom: yet now I thinke on't
I am angrie with my Lady.

Watchall.
Heauen forbid, man.

Order.
What cause has she giuen thee?

Furnace.
Cause enough Master Steward.
I was entertain'd by her to please her palat,
And till she forswore eating I perform'd it.
Now since our master, noble Alworth died,
Though I cracke my braines to find out tempting sawces,
And raise fortifications in the pastrie,
Such as might serue for modells in the Low-Countries,
Which if they had beene practis'd at Breda,
Spinola might haue throwne his cap at it, & ne're tooke it.

Amble.
But you had wanted matter there to worke on.

Furnace.
Matter? with six egges, and a strike of rie-meale
I had kep't the Towne, till doomesday, perhaps longer.

Order.
But, what's this to your pet against my Lady?

Furnace.
What's this? Marrie this, when I am three parts rosted,
And the fourth part parboyld, to prepare her viands,
Shee keepes her chamber, dines with a panada,
Or water-gruell; my sweat neuer thought on.

Order.
But your art is seene in the dining-roome.

Furnace.
By whom?
By such as pretend loue to her, but come,
To feed vpon her. Yet of all the Harpies,
That doe deuoure her, I am out of charity
With none so much, as the thinne-gutted Squire
That's stolne into commission.

Order.
Iustice Greedy:

Furnace.
The same, the same. Meate's cast away vpon him,
It neuer thriues. He holds this Paradoxe,
Who eates not well, can ner'e doe iustice well:
His stomacke's as insatiate as the graue,
Or strumpetts rauenous appetites.

Watchall.
One knockes.

Alworth knockes, and enters.
Order.
Our late young master.

Amble.
Welcome, Sir.

Furnace.
Your hand,
If you haue a stomake, a cold bake-meate's ready.

Order.
His fathers picture in little.

Furnace.
We are all your seruants.

Amble.
In you he liues.

Alworth.
At once, my thankes to all
This is yet some comfort. Is my Lady stirring?

Order.
Her presence answer for vs.

Enter the Lady Alworth, Wayting woman, Chambermaid.
Lady.
Sort those silkes well?
Ile take the ayre alone.

Exeunt Waiting woman, and Chamber-maide.
Furnace.
You aire, and aire,
But will you neuer tast but spoonemeate more?
To what vse serue I?

Lady.
Prethee be not angry,
I shall er'e long: I'the meane time, there is gold
To buy thee aprons, and a sommer suite.

Furnace.
I am appeas'd, and Furnace now growes Cooke.

Lady.
And as I gaue directions, if this morning
I am visited by any, entertaine 'em
As heretofore: but say in my excuse
I am indispos'd.

Order.
I shall, Madam.

Lady.
Doe, and leaue me.
Nay stay you Alworth.

Alworth.
I shall gladly grow here,
To waite on your commands.

Exeunt Order. Amble, Furnace; Watchall.
Lady.
So soone turn'd Courtier.

Alworth.
Stile not that Courtship Madam, which is duty,
Purchas'd on your part.

Lady.
Well, you shall or'ecome;
Ile not contend in words. How is it with
Your noble master?

Alworth.
Euer like himselfe;
No scruple lessend in the full weight of honour,
He did command me (pardon my presumption)
As his vnworthy deputy to kisse
Your Ladyships faire hands.

Lady.
I am honour'd in
His fauour to mee. Does he hold his purpose
For the Low-Countreyes?

Alworth.
Constantly good Madam,
But he will in person first present his seruice.

Lad.
And how approue you of his course? you are yet,
Like virgin parchement capable of any
Inscription vitious, or honorable.
I will not force your will, but leaue you free
To your owne election.

Alworth.
Any forme, you please,
I will put on: but might I make my choice
With humble Emulation I would follow
The path my Lord markes to me.

Lady.
'Tis well answer'd,
And I commend your spirit: you had a father
(Bless'd bee his memory) that some few houres
Before the will of heauen tooke him from me,
Who did commend you, by the dearest tyes
Of perfect loue betweene vs, to my charge:
And therefore what I speake, you are bound to heare
With such respect, as if he liu'd in me,
He was my husband, and how ere you are not
Sonne of my wombe, you may be of my loue,
Prouided you deserue it.

Allworth.
I haue found you
(Most honor'd Madam) the best mother to me,
And with my vtmost strengths of care, and seruice,
Will labour that you neuer may repent
Your bounties showr'd vpon me.

Lady.
I much hope it.
These were your fathers words. If ere my Sonne
Follow the warre, tell him it is a schoole
Where all the principles tending to honour,
Are taught if truly followed: But for such
As repaire thither, as a place, in which
They doe presume they may with licence practise
Their lusts, and riots, they shall neuer merit
The noble name of souldiers. To dare boldly
In a faire cause, and for the Countries safety
To runne vpon the cannons mouth vndaunted;
To obey their leaders, and shunne mutenies;
To beare, with patience, the winters cold,
And sommers scorching heate, and not to faint
When plenty of prouision failes, with hunger,
Are the essentiall parts make vp a souldier,
Not swearing dice, or drinking.

Alworth.
There's no syllable
You speake, but is to me an Oracle,
Which but to doubt, were impious.

Lady.
To conclude;
Beware ill company, for often men
Are like to those with whom they do conuerse,
And from one man I warn'd you, and that's Welborne:
Not cause Hee's poore, that rather claimes your pitty,
But that hee's in his manners so debauch'd,
And hath to vitious courses sold himselfe.
'Tis true your father lou'd him, while he was
Worthy the louing, but if he had liu'd
To haue seene him as he is, he had cast him off
As you must doe.

Alworth.
I shall obey in all things.

Lady.
You follow me to my chamber, you shall haue gold
To furnish you like my sonne, and still supplied,
As I heare from you.

Alworth.
I am still your creature.

Exeunt.