 | The Launching of the Mary |  |
54
Actus tertius.
Scena Ia./
[Musick.]Enter Lo. Ad: wth . 2 . or . 3 . attendantes./
Ad:
Leaue me awhile: (exeunt attend)/
(takes vp a paper)
reades/.
Let neyther thy beauty waste, nor thy selfe want through
sainted willfullnes/. subscribed. Locuples./
The best dower wch a woman enioyes is honestie, because
beautie maye be lost by time, & riches by fortune./
subscribed/. Dorotea Constance./
A foule perswasion to vnchastitiefoyld by a modest answeare: vertuous soule
(who ere thou art) how happy is that man
that doth enioye thee? what a troope of villaines
lurke in earch Corner, who like pioners
seeke nothinge more then to blowe vp the fort,
of vntoucht virgins, or im̄aculate wiues,/
makinge theyr [mor] monies Engines for theyr warre:
did I but know this Constant dorotea.
Eccho. dorotea.
stands amazed/.
wilt thou resolue me Eccho what she ys?
Echo/. ys.
ys she a virgin Eccho or a wyfe.—
Eccho. a wyfe.
of what pfession Eccho is her husband
Eccho. her husband.
nay mocke me not but tell me what he is.
Eccho. ys.
Ile pawne my lyfe a seaman & in India.
Eccho. in India.
Canne mony wooe her vnto lust or no?
Eccho. No.
a happie seaman that hath such a spouse:
Eccho.—spouse
wch ys then many of her sex more Chast.
Eccho. more chast./
as thou art Eccho answeare once agayne.
not one word more? what Eccho not a word?
& yet why I vrge I more, when heres ynough?
Collect the words togeather/.
Dorotea is a wyfe,:
her husband is in India.
No spouse more Chast.
Mayst thou be euer so: & may that soule
wch seekes thy ruine: ruinate [her] yt selfe.
Good heauns.
55
such sea-mens wiues Condemnd of vanitie?
but I haue euer beene most Confident
of better vertues in that feeble sex:
Report sayes all doe burne in lustfull fire
but here's one woman makes report a lyar./
Scena . 2 .
Enter Locuples, wth a purse in his hand, wth dorotea hastinge frō him & he violently holdinge her:Loc:
Good dorotea looke vpon thy slaue
thy liueles seruant yf thou giue not lyfe.
Doro:
Yf I be good why tempt you me to yll?
was I made good of purpose to be yll?
shall I dislodge my husband, to receaue
a [brothell—] spurious stranger, an adulterate villaine
Thinke you, your golden keye shall picke the locke
of my vnspotted honour:? heauns forbid.
56
aside
The heauens forbid: good woman what a storme
dost thou endure by that base miscreant?
Locu:
Consider dorotea thou art poore
& what's a woman when she wanteth meanes?
the goodlyist flower wantinge moysture dyes,
yf beautie want preseruatiues yt flyes,
& fades awaye like grasse, in morninge [seene] greene.
at euen Cutt downe & no [more] where to be seene
doro:
Hence holy deuill, Cease to vexe that soule[s]
that scornes to yeild to importunities.
ys want so insupportable a loade,
that yt must Cause subiection vnto yll,?
or ys my want so greate, that I must needes
depraue my selfe to liue in luxurie?
Ile rather teare that beauty from my face,
wch you so much adore, then Ile Com̄itt
my Ermine-white to be defilde wth durt.
leaue of your diuelish importunities,
your golden offers, your incessant suite,
solicitations are alike to me
as water to the sea: to tell you playne
the more you sue, the more you sue in vayne./.
Loc:
What Dorotea so inflexible,
that neyther wordes, nor vowes, nor gold Canne moue thee?
women by nature are of softer mold,
are more indulgent, & more prone to loue.
thy sanctitie seemes more perverse then pure,
& savours more of selfe opinion,
then good devotion: doth thy booke forbid
lawfull & pleasant recreations,?
to liue seclusiue from all Companies?
to lead so strict a lyfe, not once to view
the inside of a tauerne? fye for shame,
rouze vp thy selfe: what getst thou but the name,
of hipocrite, dissembler, such an one
as might liue well & will not,: thinke you doll
that gold ys such base mettall, to be offerd,
57
doe not refuse, Ile neuer offer thryse.
doro:
When next [you] thou offerst, may [your] thy hand rott of
from that vnhallowed trunke of stinkinge earth:
diuell of man, damnd fiend of Erebus,
more vgly in my sight, then vgliest toade,
I sweare by th'immortalitie of my soule
weare I vpon the pinbancke, racke, or wheele,
to suffer torture, I would suffer more,
then euer Nero did or Could inflict,
agaynst the foulste delinquent, then once yeild
to such a villaine, such a sordid slaue,
such a debauched miscreant, such a one,
as rather meritts sulphur, aconite,
the gallowes, or the racke, then foode or rayment,
to feede and Cloth him: therefore sirra packe,
packe hence thou horrid monster, yf thou speake
Ile Cry a rape, & sweare yt:
58
Ile be gone.
now will I marry: by the lord I thought
all women had beene false: at least I tooke
the seamens wyues for such: but here I begge
a gracious pardon for my bad opinion:
my sword & word shall witnes duringe lyfe,
no Chaster woman, then [a] this sea-mans wyfe./.
exit.
dor./
In what a world of doubts, distractions, feares,
doe women liue that would liue honestly?
O you Cælestiall guards, watch ore, & keepe
your silly handmayd, girt her with a wall
of adamantine fayth, agaynst the shocke
& furious darts of lustfull Combitantes.
the fayrest Cittie is demolished
by the Contynuance of a bloodie siege.
the loftiest towers are layd as lowe as earth
by the assiduall thundringe of the Cannon.
the strongest fayth that euer mortall had
hath shakte & totterd through temptation.
and what am I wthout [your] the influence
of your spirituall ayde to hold me vp?
O be propitious to my good [en]intentes
yee powers divine. by you I stand or fall.
this feeble Carkas, like a sturdie rocke
hath yet wthstood the furious waues of lust,
the scalinge ladders of my fierie foes
Could neuer yet ascend the parapett,
of my Chast thoughts, & hope they neuer shall.
this sordid fellow, thus shakte of (I hope)
will make all others hopeles, to obtayne.
Yf not, I am preparde: nor weale, nor woe
shall make me yeild, good women let me [Craue] haue
your [aff[illeg.]es] reard vp hands for helpe that's [the] all I Craue.
exit.
Ad:
Thou shalt haue mine (good soule) as well as theyrs
thou that art able to repell, wthstand,
such fierce assautes, golden temptations,
art surely more then woman: beautie that wantes
59
Ent: Ser:
My Lo there are some Coaches standinge at the gate
I thinke theyr masters are not farre from hence.
Ad.
In gods name let them Come.
Scena 3a.
enter Gou: deputie, 1. 2. Com̄ittee./Gou:
Pardon most noble Lo: our tardancie,
your honour ryseth wth the earely larke
whilst wee lye tumblinge in our beds of downe:
Ad:
Tis yet but early dayes: nor shall you neede
prolixe excuses for a slender fault.
the earnest willingnes I haue to heare
the Consequent obiections made serene
wth arguments as energeticall
as was the former, makes me ryse betymes./
60
Wch wee (my Lo) will doe most willingely
as well to [free] giue your lpp. satisfaction
as free our trade from scandall & reproche./
Ad:
Then heare the obiection/
They saye that tymber, plancke, & most materialls,
as well for makinge as repayre of shippe,
is mightely decayde, and made much dearer,
by buildinge of so many goodly shipps
yearely sent out to trade in India.
nor hath the state vpon occasion
least vse of them. for eyther they are absent,
or else returne weake & vnserviceable./
1: Com̄.
How thriftles is our Indian trade become,?
borne, & brought vp a prodigall, to waste
& Consume all: but to doe good to none./
but first Ile proue the obiection very weake
& next mistaken in the generall/.
first for the weaknes./ Shall wee keepe our woods
& goodly trees onely to looke vpon:
doe not wee knowe that trees doe liue & growe
& bein̄ge greate haue space to rott & dye
yf not imployde to more Com̄odious vse.
& what more noble or Comodious vse
then proper shipps for warre & m'chandiz«e»
are they not walls for peace, & barnes for wealth?
doe not theyr yearely buildinges & repayre
giue mayntenance to thousands, wch might starue
wantinge the like imployment? doth yt not
encrease the number of artificers,
& worthy Artsemen in this Com̄on wealth?
might not these shallow, adle braynde obiectors
as well forbid the workinge of our woolls,?
& transportation of our woollen Clothes
to forrayne parts? for both are meanes alike
to purchase such most necessary wares
as this our flourishinge kingdome stands in need of.
besides (my Lo) obserue our providence
61
doth England yeild ws all, of all Conditions?
doth England yeild spruse . deales: & doth not Ireland
afford pipe staues & tymber in abundance?
where's then the waste & dearnes thats obiected?
nay is not tymber, plancke & other thinges
vsefull for buildinge, now as Cheape ([nay] or Cheaper)
then [may] many yeares before? our bookes expresse
but little difference: yf one yeare exceede
a little sum̄e, the next yeare falls as much.
And doe none [build] build but wee,? he that hath eyes
(yf he will see) [s] maye see such goodly shipps
assidually built for priuate marchantes
as England neuer had before the like/
62
[the late most stately buildinge of braue shipps]
[by our most gracious [royall] sacred Soueraigne]
[of euer blessed memorie deceast]
[addinge thereby [more] no little strength, [and [illeg.] glory]/[more pompe, more glory]]
[vnto this navy royall: thus he set]
[1: comissior]
[the follie] [& [illeg.]] of th'obiectors in few [f] wordes.
I but say they your shipps are nere at home
to serue the kingdome yf neede should require
or yf at home weake & unserviceable./
mistakinge would helpe follie to obiect,
2. simple subiectes scarse worth answearinge.
yet breifly to the last as to the first./
In Case of trade & m'chandize, all shipps
must goe & Come, they are not made to staye
at home, to rott in muddie moorish dockes.
[& though our shippes abroade, yet wee at home]
[are euer furnisht & preparde, to serue]
[his matie & kingdomes; wth all sortes]
[of such provisions as are fitt for warre.]
[as tymber, plancks, masts, Cordage, Ironworkes,]
[Anchors, Caske, ordnance, powder, shott, beefe, porke]
[packt vp & pickeld, sydar, wine, what not]
[fittinge the present buildinge, and dispatch]
[of shipps, to sea. all wch his maiestie]
[Cannott wth more authoritie Com̄aund]
[then wee wth willinge minds, will see performde]
[to be at his dispose, & royall vse./]
Take a materiall from his proper vse
and yt will serue to little or no purpose:
leaue scarlett folded in a Cyprus Chest
the mothes will eate yt: and what luster makes
a diamond wthin a painted boxe?
so ys yt wth a shippe yf still endockt
yt giues Content to nothinge but the eye
nor much to that: for doth the eyes Content
Content the totall man:? sure nothinge lesse:
a shippe is but a pile of plancke & timber
yf not imployde in trade: sett her to sea
and sinke or swimme shee's in her Element
and yt will serue to little or no purpose:
leaue scarlett folded in a Cyprus Chest
the mothes will eate yt: and what luster makes
a diamond wthin a painted boxe?
so ys yt wth a shippe yf still endockt
yt giues Content to nothinge but the eye
nor much to that: for doth the eyes Content
Content the totall man:? sure nothinge lesse:
a shippe is but a pile of plancke & timber
yf not imployde in trade: sett her to sea
and sinke or swimme shee's in her Element
(Passage substituted for lines marked for deletion)
I hope I neede not spende more needles tyme
to shew the errors of this fond obiection.
Admi/
Well, & succinctly Cleerd. I Cannott iudge
why aboue others you are thus traducde.
others as well as you doe build, repayre,
yet more then others you are still Condemnd.
others haue not the same materialls
to serue the kinge & state yf need require,
yet your good actions scarcsly are remembred.
63
leaue not your good, for yll report, vndone./
This viperous broode, these Hippopotami
haue ouerchargd theyr Crude digestions
wth selfe opinion, or some worser garbedge,
nor Canne they finde least ease (as they suppose)
[the] tyll they haue spewd yt out (to theyr owne shame)
agaynst thee good endeavoures of such men,
whose actions tend to benefitt a state./
skarre-Crowes are euer drawinge, but ne're shoote
these alwayes Carpinge but to little boote./
Go:
[yo[illeg.]]
Your honorable approbation
adds vigour to our actions, nor will wee
leaue of our fayre designes, for base detractors,
[when yt shall please his sacred maiestie]
[to saye surcease his word shall be the [OMITTED]]
[no sooner spoken but as soone obeyd]
66
Therein you doe no more, but what good subiectes
doe owe vnto theyr Soueraigne. now lett's Come
vnto the third obiection: wch ys this./.
Victualls & mariners greately are Consumde,
Widowes & widowes Children vnreleeud:
many shipps yearely sent, & few returne.
the fertile trade into the straights decayde.
nor doth the Com̄on wealth finde benefitt,
by buyinge spice, or druggs, or Indico
at any Cheaper rates then heretofore./
Com̄. 1.
Heauns, what a masse of mischeifes haue w[ee]ee here.?
Tis tyme, & more & then tyme to seeke redresse
for such a horrid heape of miseries,
Dearth · Death · Destruction: Beggerie, and last
the Com̄on wealth is neuer a whit the nere./.
Breifly of all, & first of all of dearth./.
What kingdome ys there, State, or Com̄on wealth,
wch doth not feede the natiues of the place
of what degrees or qualities soeuer,
vnto the preseruation of life,
wth all such meanes and moderation,
as the soyles plentie shall afford & yeild?
nor ys yt solely proper vnto them
duringe the tyme of theyr aboade at home,
but vpon all occasions when imployde
on voyages to sea, for theyr owne good
& the peculiar profitt of the state.
for our particular the provisions
yearely prepard for shipps to India
ys not vnknowne to many, the proportion
[ys] for Eighteene monthes, a little more or lesse,
the voyages are thirty monthes or more,
wch ouerplus of tyme, is furnished
wth victualls of other parts abroade:
The farmers lately hould . (and maye they still
howle in that keye) that Corne was growne so Cheape
they Could not paye theyr rents, to helpe that Crye
67
was brought from france, of purpose to preserue
the plentie & abundance of our owne.
Thames is our bruar for the better part,
some wine, some sydar, & but little beere.
the flesh thats killd for sea, is beefe & porke,
& that at most but three dayes in a weeke,
the rest is fish, Cheese, butter, oatemeale, pease,
& other victualls that may well be sparde,
nor haue they these vnto satietie
but are proportiond to a sparinge dyett,
Iudge (noble syr) Canne this be Cald excesse,
or meanes sinister to make victualls deare?
Laūde these at home wch wee imploye abroade
(so lavish is the seaman in expence)
68
& yet erronious, Captious Cavillers
are not ashamde, (more shameles they) to sweare
that wee, & wee alone make victualls deare
when wee doe nothinge lesse: but striue & labour
wth all our powers, to make our plentie more.
Ad:
How scurvily will base detraction speake
to presse a blott on good intentions.
I heare of nothinge but frugalitie,
& momus speakes of nothinge but excesse,
The next asseueration is death,
and that's a mayne [[illeg.]] one:
Go:
A meere atomie.
a thinge so little that there's nothinge lesse./
So precious is the lyfe of euery man,
that yt ought not on euery idle terme,
& triuiall Cause to be exposde to dangers.
and yet wee knowe that the whole Course of lyfe
is nothinge but a passage vnto death.
The shorter liuer runns an equall Course
wth him that lyueth longe. they both enioye
an equall tyme of passage, howbeit
the first hath not so longe a race to runne
as hath the latter: now this length of lyfe
both States & nature studie to preserue
in worthie minded men: & who are they
worthy so greate account & estimation?
I answeare, those, who for the publique good
& [fo ] theyr owne priuate profitt, spend theyr tyme
in theyr owne functions: thus may wee esteeme
good mariners, to be of speciall vse,
to this greate kingdome, & rich Com̄on wealth:
but take them from theyr laudable imploymentes
& theyr accustomed voyages to sea.
what desperate Courses dare they not attempt!
nay they dare ioyne wth Turkes & infidells
to rob & spoile all Christian nations,
69
to breede & trayne vp expert maryners
but allso to endeavour by Com̄erce
to giue them a sufficient maintenance./
But the detractor sayes wee neyther breed
nor yet mayntayne good maryners: how false
is this assertion: some that heare me speake
doe know the allegation to be false.
To recompense the losse of those that dye
wee shippe four hundred landmen at the least
wch in one voyage proue good maryners,
& serviceable members for the kingdome
to wch before they weare most burthensome.
But you will saye the voyages are longe.
I saye the same: but yet in natures Course
by length of tyme many that dye abroade
would ende theyr dayes at home. though Clad in silke
70
wth finest lynnen in soft beds of downe.
or drawinge the most temp'rate ayre of heauen./
and shall the tymely or the tymeles ends
of a few men subuert or ouerthrow
the honorable actions of a state./?
will any man refrayne from holesome meates
because a glutton eates too much & dyes.
he that'es afrayde to dye must neuer worke
& he that workes [must] not, must, or should not eate
disorder & exorbitance kills many
wee wish yt did not, the good discipline
vsed at sea doth promise better thinges.
I haue beene longe to proue a doubtles plea
that death's as frequent on the land as sea./
Ad:
why thats a maxime vndeniable.
a[s] truth as free from errour, as the sunne
from foule Contagion, in the tyme of springe.
the feareles loue men beare vnto the warre
putes them in hope of honour to ensue.
what are the woundes, the scarrs of bloodie warre
but emblemes, trophies of a valiant heart?
and what are vnforcte voyages to sea
(for so are yours, you no man doe Compell)
but banners, tokens, of Courageous mindes?
death Claimes his due, his interest to man,
alike in England as in India.
he that will want, because he feares to dye
deserues to suffer endles penurie./
But how's destruction answeard
dep:
Let me Craue
your honours audience to vntie that knott:
It cannot be denyde (I speake wth greife
as fellow feeler of the detriment)
but that the spoile, & havocke of our shipps
In orientall India hath beene greate
not by the vsuall danger of the sea,
71
[but by the vnkinde, & vnexspeced quarrells]
[of our a fo-freind the neighbouringe Hollander]
[who gaynst the lawe of nations, more or of freinds]
[In sundry places, & at seuerall tymes,]
[surprysde & tooke twelue of our proper shipps,]
[to our no little hinderance & losse]
[togeather wth the death, the barbarous death]
[(an acte of wonder to a modest earthe)]
[of many of our worthy maryners,]
[& other men of eminence,: some slaine,]
[some tortured, some prisoners, massacred,]
[and sufferinge death vnder theyr bloodie hands]
[I need not stand to aggrauate the facte]
[an action too apparant, this I speake]
breifly to answeare the obiection./.
72
[To these thus taken by our noxious freinds]
[A few worne out in trade from port to port,]
[some . 2 . or . 3 . orewhelmed by Careene,]
[some . 7 . or . 8 . by Casualtie of sea]
[quite Cast awaye & perisht in the deepes.]
saye that in . 30 . yeares of . 90 . shippes
thirtie miscarry, shall the losse be termd
destruction:? yf destruction 'ist not ours?
doth not a souldiour dye as well as lye
in open field though neuer shott or maymde.
would the obiectors haue us build such shippes
to ride in smooth-facte pooles, or rott in docks?
haue not our neighbouringe seas, the Goodwin sands,
nay Thames yt selfe beene ruine vnto some?
A shippe may suffer wracke on barkinge shelfe,
much more in Bantam rode: I know tis losse,
when shipps miscarry, not destruction.
As for the Turkey trade: ys there one shippe
the lesse imployde,? are we a hinderance
vnto theyr rich Com̄erce,? why build they then
so many goodly shipps? I may saye more
then ere they did before our trade beganne.
But frō Aleppo wee haue lost the trade
of Indico, & spice. well graunt wee haue,
hath not the kingdome found yt to accrew
wth better profitt by another waye?
yea, & the Turkye marchants will Confesse
that they are guerdond wth a greater Trade,
exportinge into Italie & Turkie,
the selfe same rich Com̄odities & wares.
doe not the reuolutions of trades
turne to the profitt of the Com̄on wealth?
yf this be graunted, (as who Canne deny
so manifest a truth) t'will then appeare
that the affayres of East India
haue neyther lessend, hindered, or decayde
the trade, the shipps, or seamen of this realme
73
Ad:
I am amazed at your so fayre replyes,:
yf playntiffes should be iudges, lott & lawe,
should be as they would haue yt: no disaster
should happen to theyr suite, theyr plea, theyr plaint
but Come to equall hearinge & theyr Case
ys tur«nde» topsie, turvie wth disgrace./
But what canne you alledge [gainst] for beggerie
me thinkes [gay] from that, theres no euasion./.
2 Com̄.
As easie as the rest & breifly thus.
The exigence & extreame pouertie
of widowes, orphans, & the fatherles
is matter of no small Compassion:
still movinge Christian hearts as by instinct
to Com̄iseration, Charitie & loue,
whereby some (not a fewe) doe gett reliefe
from those, whom heauns haue blest wth better meanes.
but how a generall want should be preuented
seemes difficult, yf not impossible.
74
attendinge still on our humanity
wee see how many daylie plunge themselues
into extreame aduersitie & want
through desperate folly & meere willfullnes.
who havinge Charge of wyfe & familye
but wthout meanes, & artes to gett a lyvinge
through want of grace doe runne a desperate Course
& haue untimely ends. others agayne,
better inspired through the influence
of that good spiritt (wch helpes in tyme of neede)
doe seeke imployment, wch perhapps they misse,
or else obtayne wth wondrous difficulty.
nor doe our marchants tradinge into Spayne,
the Streights, to Venice, Lisbone or the like
giue entertaynment vnto novices
wch haue not [least] some experience of the sea.
But when all doores of Charitie are shutt
Th'[e] East India gates stand open, open wide
to entertayne the needie & the poore,
wth good accom̄odation: two monthes paye
they haue before hand, for to make provision,
needfull provision for so longe a voyage
& two monthes paye theyr wiues are yearely payd
the better to mayntayne theyr poore estate
duringe the discontinuance of theyr husbands.
yf in the voyage he doe Chance doe dye
the widowe doth receaue what ere's found due
(yf not by will disposed otherwise.)
wch often happeneth to be such a sum̄e
as they togeather neuer sawe the like./
And when did any of these widowes begge
for mayntenance in Churches as some doe?
Blackwall proclaymes theyr bountie; lymehouse speakes
(yf not ingrate) theyr liberalitie
Ratcliffe cannot Complayne nor wappinge weepe,
nor Shadwell Crye agaynst theyr niggardnes,
75
wth acclamations to the highest heauns.
Besides theyr large munificence & doales
of beefe porke, biskett, & [of] some readie monies,
are not there diuerse Children sett a worke
to doe some labour, such as maye befitt
theyr tender age, & weake Capacitie?
[Here maye I (wthout boastinge) intimate]
[repayre of Churches, mayntenance of schollers,]
[reliefe of needie preachers, of the sacred word,]
[& diuers other actes of Charitie]
[wch are by them religiously performde,]
[& for all wch I hope & euer praye am assured,]
[there shall be a reward to them & theyrs./]
Ad.
Heauns blesse theyr store for such relligious deedes
such pious actes of boundles Charitie./.
yf this Convince not viperous Calumnie
base obtrectation, false aspersions,
what then will doe yt? [must] must good be traducde
by ill-affected men because tis good?
76
hinders the radiant brightnes of the sunne
but a small season, and the sunne re-shines
In a more glorious luster; nor Canne these
doe ought [but] to dimm̄e your worth, but interpose,
Interpositions vayle once ta'ne awaye
your [golorie] glory gaynes a more resplendent daye.
Now to the last: The Com̄on wealth receaues
by Cheapnes of your spice and Indico
no more aduantage then in former tymes.
1. Com̄./.
This word, the Common Wealth is a pretext
for diuerse Innouations: yf the vulgar
saye this or that is eyther good or bad
whether they knowe yt good or bad or no,
yt must be as they saye or good or bad.
Tis [tis] so wth our detractors: but Ile intimate
the Contrary wth truth to theyr reproche./
offers a paper./
[Here please you to survaye the vsuall lowest pryces]
[then payd, when brought from Turkie & Lisborne,]
[& the nowe price when brought from India./.]
the Ad: re fuseth. the paper./
[The better to informe your iudgment. thus./.]
| [ll] | ||||
| [400000l l. of pepper. at . 3s. 6d. | the l l. mony. | 70000. | 0. | 0./] |
| [40000. of Cloues. at . 8s. | 16000.] | |||
| [20000. of mace. at . 9s. | 9000. | 0 | 0] | |
| [160000. of Nutmeggs. at . 4s. 6d. | 36000.] | |||
| [150000. of Indico at . 7s. | 52500. | 0 | 0.] | |
| [Sum̄e totall. | 183500l l. | 0. | 0/] |
| [ll | s | d] | ||
| [400000l l. of pepper at . 20d. perl l. | mony. | 33333. | 6. | 8.] |
| [40000 of Cloues. at . 6s. | 12000. | 0. | 0.] | |
| [20000. of Mace. at . 6s. | 6000.] | |||
| [160000. of Nutmeggs. at . [4s. 6d.] 2s. 6d: | 20000. | 0. | 0.] | |
| [150000. of Indico. at . 5.s. | 37000.] | |||
| [Sume totall. | 108333. | 6. | 8.] |
77
[& the remaynder yearely saude amounts,]
[[to 7 66l l 13s. 04d/.] [to a greate sum̄e of mony]]
[a matter worthy obseruation./]
[and tis a Certayne truthe, (I doe not speake]
[out of a bare surmise but what I knowe)]
[that lesse then eighteene thousand of the sum̄e]
[thus yearely saude will buy in India]
[the full proportion of the mentiond wares]
[wch will & doe (wth large allowance) serue]
[The realme of England for a yeares expence.]
[provide[[illeg.]]d allwayes wee doe not forgett]
[that Custome impost, wages, victualls,]
78
[will be a greater sum̄e, then is the sum̄e]
[of monies payd for the forenamed wares./]
[nor doe the Charges any whitt Consume]
[the kingedomes stocke (as falsly is supposde)]
[but rather althouh yt much abate the Marchantes meanes.]
Thus truly haue wee purgde our Indian trade
of the fiue scandalls in the third obiection,
I hope still recent in your memorie./
Ad:-
Lockt vp as in a Castle to oppose,
the rancour of detraction: yf good workes
& pious actions suffer slanders shocke
how [doe] shall the wicked scape? ys there no lawe
no penaltie against detraction?
hath tyme no iurisdiction ore the tonges
of euill speakers [a]gaynst a publique good?
I would yt had. but what are you the worse;
or what the better yf they should surcease,?
they'le ende theyr dayes in sorrow: you in [pease] peace./
The fourth obiection yet rests vnresolude
wch wee'le deferre vntill another tyme.
And that shall be too morrow wthout fayle./
Go:
Most honorable
Lo:
the length of tyme
spent in discourse, doth fatigate the spiritts,
and dulls the edge of apprehension:
Ad:
I knowe yt doth.
Go:
then please you to retire
And rest[e] your selfe.
Ad:
I yeild to your desire./
exeunt.
Enter Mary Sparke at one doore &. Isabell Nutt. at another wth handbaskettes. in one baskett a bricke batt wrapt in a Cleane napkin: & in the other . 3 . or 4 . peeces of painted Cloth in another Cleane napkin./. Enter Trun̄ell aside:
Sp:
Good morrow mr ess Nutt.
Nu:
Good morrow mr ess Sparke.
79
aside.
Now the diuell Cracke the one, & his dam̄e quench
the other./ these are two Corosiue Creatures, & are of
a Contrary nature to white Mercurie, for that eates
awaye Corrupt flesh, & these Consume that wch
is sound./.
Sp:
And whether awaye Tibb wth that [that] hand baskett?
Nu:
fayth I gott some [some] worke of a silkman, & am
goinge to Carry yt home:
Sp:
Now gods blessinge on theyr hearts that first invented
this art of silke windinge, yt makes many good
huswiues,: [& whither gone Mall wth thy handbaskett:?]
Nu:
And whither goest thou Mall wth thy handbaskett./
Sp:
fayth, a younge Millanar that lately sett vp for
himselfe sett me a worke, & I am goinge to Carry
home Capps, & sleeues for Children./.
80
Yf eyther of them both haue an ounce of worke in
those poore baskettes, then lett Tom Trun̄ell be burnt
to make Charke Coales on./
Spa:
I tell thee what Tibb. when wee weare last in west
smithfield togeather, there was a grocers prentyse
kist as sweete, & stucke as Close to my lipps as yf he
had eaten Quiddanett./
Nutt.
Tutt Mall. I know those ladds Carry the very Elixar
of provocation allwayes about them/.
Sp:
Vpon my lyfe yf I weare not a maryed woman I Could
finde in my heart to loue him, for one or two good
properties that I knowe in him vpon so small acquaintance./
Nutt.
Shall maryage be an obstacle to me, to Cast my good
affections vpon whom I please:? No. nor shall one man
enioye me alone: varietie Mall, varietie in Contentm[[illeg.]]ent
beyond vtterance: a woman maye as soone[r] surfett vpon
Luke-serry [then] as vpon frontimacke, therefore varietie for me
saye I:
Sp:
Had I but my belly full of that Varietie, I should
thinke my selfe a happy woman./.
Nutt:
Goe but now & then wth me Mall, & thou shalt neuer [want]
want, as much as thou art well able to beare, & when
tis once offered stand not vpon nice pointes, like—
Spa:
No fayth, Tibb, for heretofore I haue refused many
good thinges, wch I wisht for agayne, & Could neuer
Come to the offer: but yf euer Varietie be offered to me,
Ile neuer be so precise, as to refuse yt. I warrant thee.
Enter Trun̄ell singinge.
[Tru.]
My father's high Constable, & I his owne so—ne./
& weele be merry once agayne spight of Lon—done./.
Nutt:
What goodman Trun̄ell,? I faythe I knowe you haue
many good songes./
Trū.
I haue varietie Tibb, varietie my good Harpye./
Sp:
Now good gaffer Trunnell giue me a little taste of
your varietie./.
Nutt./
aside
Slife Mall: what doste meane, to aske any thinge of
that pestlehead./. staye but an houre or two, & thou
81
Sp:
Well, though wth much adoe, Ile staye so longe: (aside)
oh for
some varietie, for some varietie/.
Trun̄:
And whether awaye now my pigsmies, my mopsies, my dodoes,
my—
Nutt,
your poore neighbours goodman Trun̄ell, that take
paynes night & daye, earely & late, tyme & tyde
for a poore lyvinge: I hope [doe] you doe not thinke
that two moneths paye a yeare is able to keepe
an officers wyfe, in that rancke & port as wee
doe, keepe our selues in:
82
Now, as I liue, I pitty your Cases, I knowe you are
women of good Caryage, Report sayes so, that yt does:
Spa:
Well, what ere Report be, whether a man or a woman
I knowe not, but I am sure wee would neuer see London
so often, yf yt weare not to gett worke, I, and good worke
too. (aside)
oh for some varietie, for some varietie/.
Trū.
aside/
These Cun̄inge quash-Codds, perhapps may thinke I knowe not
what they are,: two feminīe Hyenaes, that by theyr
Counterfayte voyces, are able to drawe . 20 . younge men to
destruction: worse then Torpedoes, for they benum̄e the
ioyntes but for a tyme, but these bewitch the senses for
euer:
Nutt.
Goodman Trun̄ell.
Trū.
Crye a mercie, I was eene studyinge how I might speake
well of you, & my brayne is so barren, that yt Cannot
yeild one good word, not one, blockhead as I am/.
Nutt.
Wee thanke you for your good meaninge neighbour
Trun̄ell, all our Com̄endations doe not rest in mens tonges.
Trū.
I knowe yt does not (aside)
for I dare sweare most part
of yt lyes in theyr tayles—but how euer my sweete
honysuckles you shall not want my report.
Both.
wee thanke you hartely, hartely, hartely.
Trū.-
Tell me my pretty Pengwins haue you drunke to daye,?
or will you drinke, or Canne you drinke,
Spa:
fayth weele take your gentle offer (aside)
oh for some varietie
for some varietie
Trū.
No better place, heres a bush, weele eene haue a little
Crash & awaye./. Why boye, drawer, o the house./.
drawer.
By & by.—(bringes in a table & a towell & stooles)
Name your wine gentlewomen.
Nutt
Alligant, Neighbour Trun̄ell I am somwhat bold, but I
assure you for a morninges draft no better wine in the
world then Alligant, yt Corroborates, man, yt Corroborates./
Spa:
aside.
Tibb. maye not I call for a pinte of Varietie, me
thinkes I doe so longe—
Nutt.
pox on't, staye but one houre & thou shalt haue thy
belly full of varietie/.
83
Heres your wine gentlewomen. your hansell hath euer
beene luckie, Twas a merry bout last tyme—
(Nutt holds vp her finger)
Tis as good alligant as euer I drew./.
exit.
Trun̄.-
Sitt, sitt, stand not vpon nice termes. Heres a health, to the
old boyes homewards bound,: nay drinke, drinke, I hope they
are worth the pledginge:
Nutt:
fayth for mine, heele neuer be better then a qter master,
he ys the most vnwillinge man to ryse as euer I knew,
& I am sure I haue knowne a good many.
Sp:
And mine a hare brayned fellow, & so much giuen to lyinge
that when he speakes truth no body will beleeue him, that
I am almost besides my selfe to thinke of the lyfe I shall
leade when he Comes home,: & yet the silly foole ys willinge
ynough, for he will rather goe to Castle & heaue Coales
then staye at home./
84
what an East Indie man & goe to Castle?
Nutt:-
why neighbour Trun̄ell doe you make a wonder of that? I haue
knowne a masters mate doe as much.
Trun̄.
It maye be so, but I am sure that masters mate hath very
bad qualities that Canne gett no better ymployment. but
leaue this discourse: Why boye. Tother quart, but let yt be
Canary. (aside)
2 . or . 3 . Cupps more, & then will I search theyr
baskettes,: So. so. boye. a bigger bowle,: why this ys somwhat
like: Come Tibbe Nutt. a health, a health: what neuer
an ould freind in thy budgett worthy remembrance./
Nutt:
Alas neighbour Trun̄ell yt ys wth my freinds, as yt ys wth
the Com̄on Course of the world: some Wyther [& are dead] some are [swept]
[awaye like]/[so poore, they are no better esteemed then a spiders]/[a] Webb. some are so haughtie [& high minded] that they Mount-fort
some are Blunt beyond sufferance. [some would, but I feare]
[they are too younge]: some profer [kindnes]/[good], but I am afrayd
of Hurt: [some are as vncertayne as as a riddle [ruddle] staue,] some
aliue, but dead because not worthy remembrance, some dead but
aliue in my hart, some neyther dead nor aliue, because they
would & Cannott. some looke A-skew, & I regard them no
more then the base stinkinge Cob. of a herringe: to be short
there ys one (but nameles) that I loue aboue [all] (next my husband)
for heele make much of a woman & neuer spill—her./
but—drinkes.
—Ile remember.—drinkes,
—all
in generall—drinkes./.
Trun̄.
Gram̄ercie Tibb yfayth [well supt as I liue, well supt] what saye you Mall Sparke, whom
will you remember./
Spa:
Who I? What I neighbour Trun̄ell? heres to—drinkes
—
that sweete facte gentleman that has—drinkes.
—a face
like varnishte [waste] wainscote,—drinkes
—his house is
[towards the North [somewhere about pop, pop. pop] in] Poplar./. o tis a—drinkes
—[a sweete] facte
gentleman./ (Here they fall both drunke [asleepe]
ô for a little varietie.
Trū:
Now ys my tyme to [search] the baskettes: (pluckes a new bricke batt out)
85
this silke,? yf there Came no other silke from Persia, the
m'chants would make but a poore trade. what sayes the other
baskett: (pluckes out . 4 . or 5 . peeces painted Cloth) These be
Cappes & sleeues for Children./. [the diuell in in a painted Cloth] Ile put them vp agayne
but so, that when they awake, they [shall] shew themselues what they are
enter boye./
Boye. heres your mony: let the women sleepe about halfe
an howre, not more, because of theyr hast of busyness.
I warrant you syr. (exit boye./)
Trū:
In what a hell lyues he that liues wth such,
such tospott gosipps, such vnfruitefull drones,
that doe no good, but most maliciously
reuile at all, wch are not like themselues./.
these two (two other such I Cannot name
amongst a thousand) are, (what shall I saye?)
you see well what they are, & I am sorry
to see they are so: you that sitt & see
this spectacle, be warnde, to some tis sport
to see synne acted, some are sorry for't.
86
to vilipend the generall, you haue seene
a better obiect, she I hope will gayne
what these haue lost, your good opinion./.
A thinge but seldome seene may be forgott
euen so let these in your obliuion rott
whom you shall see no more: the boye anon
will purge this Circle of this Carrion./
twill be no taverne, but a place to see
obiects of [greater] better more validitie.
exit./.
[musicke]
Enter the drawer, hastily wakinge the women./ who startinge vp, & layinge hold on the bottome of the basketts, out falls the bricke batt, & the peecs of painted Clothes./ wch they (as yf no body sawe them) put vp agayne./ exeunt. then enter boye agayne takes bush & all awaye. perfumes the roome.—
exit./.
| The Launching of the Mary | |