University of Virginia Library

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./