University of Virginia Library

Actus: quartus.

Scena ja./.

[Enter Ld Adm Gouernor Deputye]
[Enter dorotea Constance at one doore, at another] [doore a servingman who dd her a letter./.]
dorotea
reades the letter./

M
r ess Dorotea (for so I vnderstand your name) to [t] manifest the nobilitie of my birth, weare friuolous, let yt suffice that I am
bold to adore you: To assure this veritie, yt appertayneth to you
to demaund, & me to performe./ High mindes aspire to high
matters. In your Courteous or Cruell replye Consists eyther
by bane or blisse farewell—Ru—No matter for his name./

teares the/ lre . &c'./
Hence Messinger of euill. tell thy lord
his letter, person, offers, all alike
haue entertaynment, thus I teare & throw
his lustfull lines into the Com̄on ayre.
Bid him survaye the Citty, there to finde
some silken peacocke, or some golden Shore,
to satisfie his delectations.
poore watry Nymphes would willingly enioye
that element wherein by nature bred,
wthout disturbance, nor desire to soare
to any higher sphere. what stupefaction
hath Ceazde thy lustfull lord to think on me,
that knowes not how to brooke nobilitie./
Hence, hence thou sonne of rauenous Ocypete
or of some, worser woman-killinge hagge,
exit seruingman/
hadst thou brought wth thee aconite to kill
yt had beene better wellcome./ shall I stayne
my Cottage vertues for a vicious Courtier
fayre heauns forbid. shall I hoyse vp my sayles
from out a quiett harbour, to expose
my tender vessell to the boystrous seas?
no, no the hamlettes are my peacefull hauen,
here are no rockes, no sands, no shelues, no shoules
to dash, to sinke, or ouer[shippe]throw my shippe.
here haue I Cast mine anchor, & will ride
tyll his returne that must the whipstaffe guide./

knocke wthin./
enter Capt./. do.
Capt.
[To see]
[th[e]' admired beautie so much boasted of,]
[& now I see yt, I must needes Confesse]
[report hath beene too sparinge, too remisse,]
[In publication:]

doro:
[Come you syr to flout,]
[at my deformed feature. he was mine]
[that was your potter: what I seeme to you]
[I am not vnto him that knowes me best.]

Capt.-
[What ere thou art to the plebeian sort,]
[I Cannot tell, but what thou art to me]
[this inward member speakes: daigne m[ee]e a kisse]
[from those sweete roseall lipps.]

dor-
[Good syr forbeare.]
[these lipps weare made for holyer purposes,]

Capt:
[fayrer then fayrest of the Dryades,]
[be not so flintie./]

dor.
[Syr I doe not neede,]
[nor doe I Care for your hyperbolies.]
[What are you by profession?]

Cap:
[Bred a souldiour.]
[Batauia knowes me, france hath felt my force,]
[Iberia knewe me for her mortall foe]
[frō single duells, I haue ofte returnde]
[a Conquerour. a siege hath beene my sport,]
[to scale a wall. or vndermine a fort.]
[In stead of Iewells hanginge in my eares]
[my rapier still [was] is pendent by my side.]
[In steede of Coaches whirlinge through the streetes]
[the Cannons Caryage was is my daylie view./.]
[thus haue I followed Mars with glitteringe sword]
[not Pan wth pipes, nor Orpheus wth harpes.]

dor:
[And will you be so [base] pestilent, to relinquish]
[that honorable callinge for a woman?/,]
[will you forsake a [rampard] fenced Cittidell,]
[where honour may be gott, to fire a dorpe?]
[Hence to the leagar, valiant Martialist,]
[the leagar wants your worth: there put in practice]
[your fire pottes, your granadoes, your potarrs,]
[your morter peeces, your ascendinge laddes,]
[your mines, your Countermines, your Counterscarpes,]
[your trenches, your retreates, your batteries]
[There make the body of your battayle, pikes,]
[& winge [th[illeg.]] yt strongly wth your nimble shott.]
[There let your [fierie] valiant myrmidons be seene]
[to giue the onsett, [& your foote to second] wth best might & mayne,]
[There take your best aduantage, by some sallie]
[or other bold excursions to oppose,]
[the fury of your foes wth horse to horse]
[or foote to foote. leaue nothinge vnassayde]
[in your assaults to make a foe dismayde.]
Lasciuious Wooinge suites not wth your worth,
did you but see your visage in a glasse
you would not take your selfe to be your selfe
so discrepant from greate Bellona's forme
hath lust & loue transformed you: leaue this siege,
this foolish wanton warre: & Cease to sue
to her that must not, will not yeild to you.

Cap:
I am ashamde, maye goodnes euer keepe
her habitation in that loyall brest:
shee shall be victresse; farewell glorious starre
thou haste prevaylde: Ile seeke another warre/

exit./
dor:
Good wordes doe sooner blunt the edge of wrath
then fierie language,: should I have Contended
in single opposition like a foe,
the Combat had beene longer: & more fierce.
but blest be heauns all's well. what more assaultes?
«k»no. wthin./
Enter boye wth a letter/
To me a letter? whence. (boye) the letter shewes./

Rreades to her selfe. startes as yf afrighted, shakes wth feare. & speakes
[What Cacodemon, Cacolique of hell,]
[thus wrests a sacred text.? helpe angells helpe]
[to thrust this diuell from your oracles./.]
[This forbidds whoredome, lust, adulterie,]
[& yet perswades to vilifie the bed]
[of holy wedlocke, wth authentique proofes]
[as he suggests, [wch] but I will nere beleeue./.]
[Base ps[u]eudo-teacher, Nullifidian,]
[thou diuelish doctour in an Angells shape,]
[what moues thee to this motion? O my soule]
[Come not wthin this habitation,]
[I am for euer lost. yet staye, I am not.]
[let furies teare me peecemeale ere I yeild]
[to such a vicious vicar. painted priest,]
[adulterate kindler of lasciuious fire.]
[Boye, tell thy master that he is a villayne,]
[bid him surcease his suite, or by yond heauen]
[his holy Coate shall not obscure his name.]
(exit boye/
[Hence, leaue me to my selfe. yee powers diuine]
[strengthen me more & more, yf you forsake]
[I needes must sinke into the soundles lake]
[of desperation. wch that I maye shunne]
[finish that good worke well, thats well begunne./]
knocke wthin./
What yet another? what may be the next?
In gods name enter:
Enter Capt. Goodman a sea Com̄aunder./.
Tis a sea Com̄aunder./
his Countenance doth promise better Comfort./.
Sr. you are wellcome to a homely house./

Good.
Th'inhabitant doth beautifie the buildinge
& not the buildinge the inhabitant:

dor:
I doe not like his answeare. please you syr.
to sitt awhile, your voyages are short
short voyages [to] doe quickly fill the purse,
and giu[e]e Contentment to a lovinge wyfe.

Good.
But what yf quicke returnes, & full-filld baggs
will not Content a wyfe? & such a wyfe
doe I enioye, as will not be Contented.

dor:
A goodmans wyfe & bad,? impossible.

Good.
A . goodmans bad wyfe. may be possible.

dor
for good & bad you tooke her, & must keepe her.

God.
I fayne would keepe the good. & leaue the bad.

dor.
Make some devision twixt her bad & good.

Good.
A separation most impossible.

dor.
wch is the greatest part the good or bad

Good.
I must Confesse the greatest part is good

dor:
A little Chaffe ys quickly wynnowed
from wheate or other grayne. the womans bad
ys like your flyinge Chaffe, wch winde of wordes
doth lightly blow awaye: and then the wheate
(the good) retaynde is pure.

(Good)
you argue well.

dor:
Like such a woman that ys good & bad

Good:
Like such a one that hath more good then bad.

dor.
Then like your wyfe, whose better part exceeds
the worse (as you Confesse)

(Good)
but one good still
ys like a potion:

(dor)
rather like a pill
to purge the bad awaye. good syr forbeare
your sighes, your grones, your plaints, a modest eare
Cannot digest them well. I much misdoubt
your feete are straightened in a pinchinge shooe,
& here ys none to sett them on the last,
to giue you better-ease:

(Good)
I Came to aske
a doubtfull question. wch you canne resolue.

dor.
And yf the resolution lye in me
you may be bold to aske & Ile replye.

Good.
Canst, wilt thou, darste thou loue me mrss Constance./

dor:
Is that a doutfull question,? I both will,
& Canne, & dare loue mr Goodman still./.

Good.
Then am I thine.

(dor)
as farre as you are good
so farre you shall be mine: but otherwyse
I hate your best of goodnes. you are a seaman,
& would you be a seamens riuall,? fye.
[are] you cannot be so bad. you aske to proue,
but my reply is flatt. I will not loue.

Good.
Thou wilt Conceale what I was bold to aske?

dor:
wth all my heart, but praye you aske no more,
such askinge yll becomes your whited hayres.
(exit Good./
Good heauns, what honest woman would suspect
this sober-seeminge man? nor sea, nor shoare
free from these temptinge monsters, men wth soules
as blacke as pitch.? nor Court, nor Church, nor sea,
nor land, nor rich, nor poore, but all alike,
brethren in euill? Heauns refine them all,
& purge them from the drosse of luxurie.
once more I begge your reard vp hands to heauen
for my perseuerance: & that duringe lyfe
my embleme be. The Seamans Honest Wyfe.

exit/

Scena 2d./.

Enter Captayne fitzIohn. Naupegus, & Clarke of the Checke./.
Cap:
Propinquitie of tyme (but two dayes more
& then full Moone) sum̄ons our arts & Cares
to preparation gaynst the lanchinge daye.
saye gentlemen, for you Canne best resolue
are all thinges in a readynes?

Naup:
They are.
onely our pennants, Ensignes, banners, flaggs,
not yet Come [Com] downe?

Cla:
my Charge[s] consists in that.
your Charge is men, & myne materialls,
supply you one, the other shall not fayle.

Cap:
Tis a delightful harmonie to heare,
how all thinges doe concurre: your good accordance
In matters of import, should still be so,
& so I hope they are./ & yet me thinkes
you looke as yf there weare some difference
your lookes portend some priuate grudges,

Cla-
Mine.
I must Confesse is pale & wanne, but free
from the lest freckle of malignitie.
some Iarrs, we haue, b'ou[ght]te matters of small waight,
and are (I thinke[s]) as soone forgott, as spoke.

Cap:
Whether they are no, they should be so,
your mutuall disagreement, yf but knowne,
would mutulate the good opinions
the m'chants haue of your integrities.

Naup.
farre be such rancour from us from such [deepe] hate
I hope wee both are free. our [difference is] Iarringes are
like bubbles in a streame, soone blowne, soone falne.

Cap:
yt saues some Iarrs, there are, to make these some,
more, or of more effect, take this aduise.
your busynes is not his, nor is his yours,
meddle not you wth him, nor he wth you.
stand not vpon preheminence of place.
retaliate not Contrarieties
forgett not those, from whom you doe deriue
the offices & [suffrage] lyvinge you enioye.
doe not exceede the bounds of your Com̄aund
by Contradictinge each the others actions.
what you should be, you know,: I speake thus free
to let you knowe what I would haue you bee./

Nau:
Ile arme my selfe to be what you perswade

Cla:
And be you sure Ile be no retrograde.

Cap:
To ratefie this your Coniunction
let me desire your Companies a while
in good discourse an houre to beguile.
more tyme wee will not spend, so much wee maye,
your busines Calls: and mine brookes no delaye./

exeunt./

Scena. 3a.

Enter at one doore . Lo. Ad: at another Go: dep: 1. 2. Com̄ittee.
Lo ad:
All at one instant mett? in happy tyme,
a like good daye to all, & maye each daye
ad aūgmentation to your happines

Go.
In the behalfe of all, (most honourd lord)
I render humble thankes: Wee now are mett
to add a period to our longe discourse.
yt ys the last, but not the least obiection:
our aduersaries saye, and dare affirme
that since the birth of our East Indian trade
the mints imployment hath beene wondrous small
and oft tymes none.

Lo ad:
The mint's an edge toole, meddle not wth that,
for what's the mint to you, or you to yt,
or yt to your obiectors: a response
to that obiection weare as friuolous
as the obiection is wthin yt selfe:
for as your importation doth small good
so doth your exportation little harme
for ought I euer heard: matter of state
Canne brooke no dalliance. then no more of that
your willingnes doth verifie the acte
you could haue done to rectefie that point.
and I rest amply satisfyde in all./

1. Com̄:
yor. lpp̄ restinge satisfyde in all
lett others belch out, hemlocke, wormwood, gall
agaynst our actions,: weele giue no response.
for to giue satisfaction to the publique
weare endles labour: & when wee haue done
& spoke the best wee Canne, to Cleare the truth
theyle Censure as they please. here weare a worke
fittinge a Persius or a Iuuenall
to write a satyre gaynst detraction.
Such satyrists would paint her to the lyfe,
would Call her strumpet, busie-bodie, gossip
gaddinge from house to house, to throw aspersions,
vpon the iustest man, the vprighst Cause,
the actions of a state & Com̄on wealth:
vpon arts, [Com̄erce] armes, Com̄erce, Church gouernment,
the Courts of Iustice temporall & Ciuill,
vpon the honour of the noblest blood,
vpon the iustice of the magistrate,
vpon the doctrine of the best devine.
vpon the lawes & statutes of a realme
yea vpon all that eyther doth or maye
Concerne the good of man or Com̄on-weale
her study is invention, how to plott
Conspire, or acte the ouerthrow of any.
her mother enuy huggs her in her armes
& Calls her darlinge, daughter of her hopes
to stirre vp strife, debate, Contention
twixt man & wyfe, twixt seruants & theyr masters,
twixt parents & theyr Children, (though obedient)
twixt freind & freind, twixt brethren, sisters, kindred,
& to be playne twixt all of all degrees.
This, this detraction is that haracan
wch makes more shipwracke of a mans [honestie] good name
then any violent or impetuous storme
doth make at sea of shipps, of goodes, of men,
but I will leaue her to a better pen
to wryte her badnes: yet am I sure no style
Canne be too base for her that is so vile

Lo: ad:
The oracle at delphos neuer spake
more true then you haue done: wee daylie see
from base detraction there is no man free/

dep:
And a good name once lost is past all hope
to be re-gaynde, so Credulous are some
to beleeue all wch a detractor speakes.
but weare men wise, (as I Could wish they weare)
(especially the m'chant, who hath trade
in parts remote,) seldome or neuer should
theyr eares stand open to a bare report,
[or] wthout apparant, proofe: how many men
haue beene vndone by priuate manuscripts
both in theyr reputation and estate?
but as yt ys, yt will be, till to dust
man turne agayne, & thither turne he must./.

2. Com̄:
Nulli Credere, & omnibus Credere, vtrunque est vitium./.
what's then best to be done?
To beleeue none [is] is inhumanitie
To beleeue all is grosse absurditie.
man may imagine, but to rashly passe
a definite sentence I approue not of.
beleeue & not beleeue,: heare, & not heare
A silent tongue exceedes an open eare./

Lo: ad:
yt [is] doth indeed. your iudgments are entire:
your answeares solid: & your resolutions
in euery point emphaticke. there shall need
no more amplification: I am glad
to heare the sympathyzinge of your tonges
as well in Clearinge as mayntayninge truth:
fayre fare you all, and may the suffrages
of all good men attend your voyages.

Go:
We yeild your honour all respectiue thankes:
and Craue one favour at you lpps hands.

Lo ad:
Com̄aund old Hobab.

Go:
That you would vouchsafe
to grace our lanchinge wth yor honor s. presence.
Too morrow is the daye./

Lo. ad:
Wth all my heart.
& many thankes besides: tyll then wee part.

Exeunt at . 2 . seuerall doores./

Scena 4a:

Enter doro: Constance alone./. in a petticote & wastcoate. wth her worke in her hand/.
How suddenly doth fortune like the Moone
encrease, & wayne, make rich and indigent?
the want of meanes, and paucitie of freindes
makes me vnhappy aboue other women:
well, though the earth be stepdame to my state,
yet heauen's my Countrye, & my Constant hope.
Iniurious fortune, ha'ste thou none to make
a laughinge stocke to the obstreperous world
but honest women? doste thou throw me downe,
to make me throw my selfe as low as hell?
doste make me poore, to make me prodigall
& lavish of mine honour? doe thy worst
pestiferous stepdame. I, a silly woman,
doe dare thee to thy face [?]: thou Canste not hurt
a spotles soule: a soule as free from synne
as synne is farre from goodnes. here's the thinge
shewes her worke./
that shall supply my wants, & keepe the bed
of holy wedlocke still im̄aculate./
worke, worke poore dorotea: worke to liue
& liue to worke: preserue thy honest name
honest endeavours [neuer suffer] are devoyd of shame

Sitts. to worke.
Enter Trun̄ell, Tarre, Tallow: Okum & Sheathinge nayle:
Trū:
Not vext quotha? I tell thee Takalmouth Tallow I am
highly vext: marke the wor[kt]de: highly vext

Tallow:
doe not Chafe so much good neighbour Trun̄ell./

Trun̄:
Not Chafe? I will Chafe in despight of any man,
& I will be in a manner mad wth Chafinge: Shall
a man studdy a whole monthe to make but poore
20. lynes, & then be Crost in the rehersall of them,?
yf yt weare not for—

Okū.
for a fooles head, you would—

Trun̄:
what would I? I would Com̄aund thee drye Okum
to licke awaye this stinkinge Tallow./

Tallow:
Neighbours, let's take a little Okum, and Cawke vp
his mouth: or [[illeg.]] one mischeife or other will befall us,
by sufferinge his trunell hole so open as yt ys:

Trun̄:
Cawke vp my mouth? what my mouth yee Stygian furies?
O how I hate my selfe that ere I Copte
wth such a rustie Crew: I tell thee Tallow
Ile not be Cawkt: I need no Okums helpe,
nor shall this Trun̄ell euer touch your Tarre,
nor need I helpe of Symon Sheathinge nayle.
Ile be my selfe hereafter, but Matt Mawle
There's none shall touch me: no not one at all./

Shea:
I am as sharpe sett as the best of you: & Care as
little as he that Cares lest: but I tell you the best
Consort in London, had better breake Company then wee:

Tarre.
Why I saye so too: I knowe my neighbour Trunnell
is a prime man amongst us, and enters as well into
his worke as any whatsoeuer: nay and speakes well, wth
Com̄aes, middle distinctions, and full stopps./

Trū:
And Cannott you then giue me a little waye to be
furious in a iust Cause?
As pitch doth boyle in kettle ore the fire
so boyles my brest wth Choler & wth ire,
nor will my Choler Coole, nor heate be quencht:
tyll in some liquour I be soundly drencht./.
& therefore to preuent these scortchinge flames
Ile drowne my selfe in Amwell or in Thames./

(offers to runne out/)& Tarre stopps him.
Tarre.
Nay good neighbour Trun̄ell be not so Curious as to drowne
your selfe, twill be no small payne to you to be drownde,
for you are light, & will not sinke easily./

Trūell.
What doste thinke me to be? a Swan, or a goose,
or a ducke, or a seamew: or a baldcoate, or a—

Tarre:
or an otter: neyther fish nor flesh. but a starke—
starke—starke—stultus./ yf thou wilt—

Trūell
yf I will drowne myself? that's true. doe you
thinke me so shallow as to drowne my selfe for the
wrightinge of 20. lynes. fooles, Ideotts, Coxcombes
shuttle Cockes, Tarre, Tallow, Okum, Sheathinge nayle
you are all, I will stand to yt you are.

Okū.
what are wee? nay neuer start. what are wee?

Trun̄ell:
you are all . 4 . wise men: & so wise, as in no wise,
Canne I tell how wise, but that you are wise, my
tongue shall proclayme you, wise because you haue shewd
your selues wyse, In—

Tallow.
In keepinge you from drowninge your selfe: why there
wee shewde our wisedome. [but] for few foolish men would
haue beene so mad, to haue showne so much wisedome
at a dead pinche./

Shea:
Well Trunn̄ell: thanke good Okum & Tarre for
your safetie, yf they had not [beene,] stopt thee, thou
hadst sunke wthout hope of recouery./.

doro:
These men though poore are merry: & theyr mirth
becomes them not amisse: the poore mans little
wth Contentation ys an ample feast:
Oh that I Could suppresse my dolorous thoughts
the anguish of my soule, my greife of heart
my inward passions, my assiduall Cares,
wth some delightful Cogitations
that might but please my selfe. & so appease
my homebred sorrow, wth a farre fetcht ease./
Here they all see her./
but that I Cannot doe.

Trun̄ell
poore soule: I pittie thee: & yet I doe not pittie thee, because
thou doste not pittie thy selfe:

doro:
What pittie should I then vnto my selfe?
yt weare a pittiles pittie to my selfe
to pittie others, that would pittie me.
I hate such pittie as doth scent of lust
& sordid prostitution: and who pittie
a wantinge woman, but such miscreantes
as seeke the Conquest of her Chastitie.?
such pittyers [canne I] haue I many,: golden Courtiers,
embrodered Captaynes, sworded Cavaliers,
mellifluous linguists, perfumde Citizens.
aduenturous seamen, wastfull prodigalls,
and to speake truthe, who not? but was I borne
to pittie such base pittyers? No: I scorne
theyr best of pittie: yt shall be a storie
hereafter spoken to the seamans glorie,
that there was such an one who duringe lyfe,
[lyf] liude, & to death remaynde, a loyall wyfe./:

Okum:
Now doe I surely thinke that shee's a little beside her selfe,
for how ys yt possible for a petticoate & wastcoate woman
to be honest, that hath so many golden offers?

doro:
poore sillie spunge,: may not a well thacht house,
keepe out the raynes & [sl] snowes, of boystrous hyems, [?]
as well as seeled [houses?] pallaces?
ys not a homely petticoate as warme,
as those of sattin, damaske, Cloth of gold,
plush [or] or the like:? or yst not vsuall
'mongst bryers & thornes to gather Eglantine?
yf this be graunted (as who Canne deny
the truth thereof?) yst then impossible
for such an one as I to keepe mine honour
in a poore Cottage, in a russett Coate,
& in afflictions free from foule pollution?

Okū.
I saye this may be, but I am a hard beleeuer. For I shou«ld»
be counted wondrous silly, to beleeue that wch fewe or
none doe beleeue./.

do:
Beleeue or not beleeue: Thinke well, or yll'
or both, or neyther, tis to me alike.
In your opinions let me be as base
as shee that's basest, I am nere the worse.
I know«*»there are a packe of Satyrists,
malignant Swetmans, drunken poetasters
wch farce & bumbast out theyr spurious lines
wth raylinge language 'gaynst our feeble sex,
Others there are wch out out of Idiotisme,
and shallow apprehension speake theyr pleasure,:
thus palefacte enuy, and dull ignorance
(twinns of disorder) are our enymies.
such pestle heads, such silly sotts as you
are of the number wch I named last:
who, cause you know but little, dare belch out
that little, to no purpose, gaynst poore women./.
makinge no difference twixt the good & bad,
T'were tyme yll spent to tell you, you are base
because t'is too well knowne. but—

all:
Ha. ha: ha. ha: ha: ha: shees mad, shees mad, starke
mad,

doro:
Tis not your follie that canne make me mad
nor ist your laughinge that canne make me mourne.
my maker hath not made me such a Creature
to be impatient at scurrilitie
yet I dare saye you are vnmannerlie./

Trū:
Good mr ess Manners yf you haue so much, doe so
much as spare me a farthinge worth:

dor:
T'is a good womans wisedome not to rayle
agaynst the simple tutorship of men:
To terme thee other then an Ideot
(and that thou art) were indiscretion:
thy Caryage shewes thy witt, thy witt, thy Caryage,
a dram̄e of solid iudgment will waigh downe
the best of both: all Creatures on the earth
are good for some thinge: but a snarlinge foole
for nothinge good [but barkinge, like a Curre] except to mutter out
some pybald language, or ridiculous iest:

Tallo.
Trunnell there's a shee carpenter has maulde
you: she has taken your greatnes an Inche lower
at the least: her very tongue hath done more
then the strongest man in the yard Could haue done.
she has Crackt the very pith of thy scull more wth
[her] a few wordes, then a sturdie man could haue done wth
many stroakes./

Trū:
Well Tallow speake you as stinkingly as you please
I care not: but yf I proue not as maleuolent a writer
agaynst that enuious, ambitious, inurious, lasciuious,
discurteous, preposterous, pestiferous, seditious, luxurious
licentious sex of women, as euer was Swetman then—
Then what? poore foole doe what th[OMITTED]t or darste

dor:
my future studie gaynst base Calumnie
and offerd wronges shall be obliuion,
no better targett gaynst the viperous darts
of a malignant tongue then sufferance.
A Cuckoe singes till she be hoarse and flyes
A too much talker spends him selfe and dyes./

Sitts./
Enter Capt fitzIohn./
fitzI:
Full moone to morrow: well: that morrow past
& the next morrow come, wth fayre successe
In lanchinge of our shippe, my feares haue ende.
How now my hearts what idle: not at worke?

Trū:
Truely syr wee haue eene made hollidaye: the shippe
is as ready as Trunell[s], okum, Tarre, Tallow, and—
sheathinge nayle[s] canne make her: wee haue belabourd
the busynes out of all measure: and now too morrow wee
launch, wthout any more sayinge or doinge, or fidlinge
or fadlinge, or pratinge or talkinge, or heavinge or settinge
or gruntinge or groninge, or swearinge or staringe, or
iestinge or gybinge, or cursinge, or banninge, or—

fitz.
No more, no more, thou wilt runne thy selfe out of breath man
But what good Creature's that? who? mr ess Constance,?
hath stepdame fortune turnd her ticklish wheele?
must vertue sitt at shopworke? gett a liuinge
by hard hand-labour,? whilst vice (like a lady)
ruffles yt out in luxurie & state?
This should not be, yet Com̄only tis so
for wealth to goodnes is a mortall foe./.
Ile speake to her:
Good Woman: start not: I am [an] not a man
of any obscene qualitie to Charme
thy spotles vertues wth enchaunted wordes.
I come not to allure, to tempt, to stroke
thy rosie Cheekes, or kisse thy Cherry lipps:
my ayme is better: Tell me dorotea
(for what thou speakst I know is oracle)
Comes this thy want through thine owne negligence
or by the aduerse will of Cruell fate?

dor:
Heauens knowe my Care hath beene as well to keepe
my substance, as mine honour: but some thriue
although asleepe, some labour and are poore./
nor doth my want afflict me halfe so much
as doe the scoffs, reproches, taunts, & Checkes
of these ill bred, ill mannerd Canvas-Coates.

fitz:
Vntutord pitchpotts, Tallow-bucketts, spunges,
and what not else that's basest? how dare you,
that are so poore, that none more poore, presume
or dare to scoffe or laugh at [miserie] pouertie?
especially at hers who leads a lyfe
free from pollution: tis my patience
to let you goe vnbeaten: but begone
kicks them:
Yee st[OMITTED]g[OMITTED] scoundrells hence mechanicke slaues:
offers to draw./
or by my lyfe Ile—(they all runne out).

Now dorotea are wee left alone
& none behold us but the eye of heauen./
which lookes on good & bad: but loues the good
mayntayne thy beautie, keepe thy Chastitie
vnspotted of the world: lead such a lyfe
as may deserue the name of honest wyfe.

dor:
The sacred gods haue hitherto preserude
my soule from sin̄e: my heart from thought of lust:
& still my prayers are for perseuerance./
as yet I feele no Change,: no sordid motion
as yet hath seizde me: heauns [be still[s] my]/[[euer] still] guide & guard
my good intentions: I am Confident
that as I liue, I shall dye Continent:

fitz.
Mayst thou so liue & dye: & that thou mayste
wth all respect performe that holy dutie
take a wellwishers small beneuolence./
giues his purse.
I wish yt more, but take yt more or lesse,:
goodnes dwell euer wth thee: I must hence,
Thy prayers wth me, my prayers wth thee remayne
till wee shall meete in heaune or earth agayne.

exit/
doro:
Maye all the good successe, that ere befell
a mortall Creature light vpon thy head.
To finde a greate man good, a rich man liberall
is beyond expectation wonderfull./
Yee Go[o]ds (wch thus inspirde this matchles man
vnto this pious acte) on both my knees.
kneeles
I yeild you humble thankes: your large munifence
(farre beyond meritt) hath tyde me by the bond
of loue & dutie to your sacred lore
and shall for euer tye me: (ryseth).

marke, marke lasciuious wantons, light-heeld dames,
house-troublers, gaddinge gossipps, foxes, apes,
wolues, vultures, scorpions, Crocodiles, hyenaes
man-eaters, & what not? marke, marke I saye
the eye of heauen vpon the well-disposde,
when did you euer see a spotles woman
free from the itchinge leprosie of lust
In longe-Contynuinge want:? oh, I could wish
that all our sex (and those especially
wch properly to seamen doe belonge)
weare as my selfe: but I [doe] should wish in vayne
some will be wilde despight of all the world.,
themselues know best what they are of them selues,
and so I leaue them,: to theyr selfe-willd-selues:
to be what they thinke best: my selfe I yeild
to [all]/[your] iudicious censures. [shall I begge]/[heauen assist]
[a plauditt for]/[thy handmayd wth] perseuerance,? [no]: [that] my life
[shows me]/[may make me knowne] to be that

wch ys, & will be, mauger hell & fate
a spotles creature to her vtmost date.
Exit/

(Marginal note)

seamens [honest] wyfe.

[Exit]
Ad:
[Com̄aund old Hobab.]

Go:
[That you would vouchsafe]
[to grace our launching wth your honors presence]
[too morrow ys the daye]

Ad:-
[Wth all my heart.]
[& many thankes besides. tyll then wee part.]

Exe: om./