University of Virginia Library

Scena secunda.

Enter Lord, Old Goldwire, and Old Tradewell.
Lord.
Believe me, gentlemen! I never was
So cozen'd in a fellow. He disguis'd
Hypocrisie in such a cunning shape
Of reall goodnesse, that I would have sworn
This divell a Saint. M. Goldwire, and M. Tradewell,
What do you mean to do? put on.

Old Goldwire.
With your Lordships favour.

Lord.
I'le have it so.

Old Tradew.
Your will, my Lord, excuses
The rudenesse of our manners.

Lord.
You have receiv'd
Penitent letters from your sons I doubt not?

Old Tradew.
They are our onely sons.

Old Goldw.
And as we are fathers,
Remembring the errous of our youth,
We would pardon slips in them.

Old Tradewell.
and pay for'em
In a moderate way.

Old Goldw.
In which we hope your Lordship
Will be our mediator.

Lrrd.
All my power,
Enter Luke.
You freely shall command. 'Tis he! you are wel met.
And to my wish. And wondrous brave,
Your habit speaks you a Merchant royall.

Luke.
What I wear, I take not upon trust.

Lord.
Your betters may, and blush not for't.

Luke.
If you have nought else with me
But to argue that, I will make bold to leave you.

Lord.
You are very peremptory, pray you stay.
I once held you an upright honest man.

Luke.
I am honester now
By a hundred thousand pound, I thank my stars for't,
Upon the Exchange, and if your late opinion
Be alter'd, who can help it? good my Lord
To the point. I have other businesse then to talk
Of honesty, and opinions.

Lord.
Yet you may
Do well, if you please, to shew the one, and merit
The other from good men, in a case that now
Is offer'd to you.

Luke.
What is't? I am troubl'd.

Lord.
Here are two gentlemen, the fathers of
Your brothers prentices.

Luke.
Mine, my Lord, I take it.

Lord.
Mr. Goldwire, and Mr. Tradewell.

Luke.
They are welcome, if
They come prepar'd to satisfie the damage
I have sustain'd by their sons.

Old Goldw.
We are, so you please
To use a conscience.

Old Tradew.
Which we hope you will do,
For your own worships sake.

Luke.
Conscience, my friends,
And wealth are not always neighbours. Should I part
With what the law gives me, I should suffer mainly
In my reputation. For it would convince me
Of indiscretion. Nor will you I hope move me
To do my self such prejudice.

Lord.
No moderation.

Luke.
They cannot look for't, and preserve in
Me a thriving Citizens credit. Your bonds lie
For your sons truth, and they shall answer all
They have run out. The masters never prosper'd
Since gentlemens sons grew prentices. When we look
To have our business done at home, they are
Abroad in the Tenis-court, or in partridge-alley,
In Lambeth Marsh, or a cheating Ordinary
Where I found your sons, I have your Bonds, look too's.
A thousand pounds a piece, and that will hardly
Repair my losses.

Lord.
Thou dar'st not shew thy self
Such a divel.

Luke.
Good words.

Lord.
Such a cut-throat. I have heard of
The usage of your brothers wife, and daughters.
You shall find you are not lawlesse, and that your
Moneys cannot justifie your villanies.

Luke.
I indure this.
And good my Lord now you talk in time of moneys,
Pay in what you owe me. And give me leav to wonder
Your wisedome should have leisure to consider
The businesse of these gentlemen, or my carriage
To my Sister, or my Neeces, being your self
So much in my danger.

Lord.
In thy danger?

Luke.
mine.
I find in my counting house a Mannor pawn'd,
Pawn'd, my good Lord, Lacie-Mannour, and that Mannour
From which you have the title of a Lord,
And it please your good Lordship. You are a noble man
Pray you pay in my moneys. The interest
Plenty ready to speak within
Will eat faster in't, then Aqua fortis in iron.
Now though you bear me hard, I love your Lordship.
I grant your person to be priviledg'd
From all arrests. Yet there lives a foolish creature
Call'd an Under-sheriffe, who being well paid, will serve
An extent on Lords, or Lowns land. Pay it in,
I would be loth your name should sink. Or that
Your hopefull son, when he returns from travel,
Should find you my lord without land. You are angry
For my good counsell. Look you to your Bonds: had I known
Of your comming, believe it I would have had Serjeants ready:
Lord how you fret! but that a Tavern's near
You should taste a cup of Muscadine in my house,
To wash down sorrow, but there it will do better,
I know you'l drink a health to me.
Exit Luke.

Lord.
To thy damnation.
Was there ever such a villain! Heaven forgive me
For speeking so unchristianly, though he deservs it.

Old Goldw.
We are undone.

Old Tradew.
Our families quite ruin'd.

Lord.
Take courage gentlemen. Comfort may appear
And punishment overtake him, when he least expects it.

Exeunt.