University of Virginia Library

The second Scene.

To them the Blades, Justice Ferret, Mr s. Ferret, and Raven.
Rav.
The Justice! then all's marr'd.

Fer.
What Mr. Bridegroome?

M. Fe.
And Mistresse Bride! send you joy.

Fer.
Are you the ------

Mrs. Fer.

Let me speake sir parrat; must you be repeating
your sessions lecture, and I in place?

Squi.

The Justice knowes them. Best shift for your selves,
least you be found the most delinquents, and forced from your
power of pleasure here to peepe through a grate or taste the

charity of Bridewell.

Exeunt Blades.
M. Fe.
You are complaind of by these ------

Fer.
Ha! whether are they gone that accused you?

The.
Without their accusation I submit
My selfe to th'law. And if you have direction
To use your power, let it acquit this gentlewoman
From the ensuing scandale, I'le be patient
With any punishment the just revenge
Of those I have o wrong'd can lay upon me.

M. Fe.
Is she not your wife?

The.
Heaven hath forbid it, and my penitence
Restores her back.

Bri.
It shall not by my hopes
Of comfort in thy love. If your commission
Be for our apprehension.—

M. Fe.

Truly Mistresse Bride I should be glad to apprehend
you in bed together: 'twas expected all had been cock sure by
this. 'Twas but a plot of your old foster father to pretend marrying
her himselfe when he meant her onely for you.

Rav.
They will discover all; curse on the accident
That brought them hither.

M. Fe.

To expresse it more fully, and how deere you are to
him, he hath conferred his whole estate upon you. My Worshipfull
husbands hand is to the writing.

Fer.
It is indeed sir.

M. Fe.
Is it so sir? as if my word were not sufficient!

Rav.
Heare them attentively, and then your eare.

The.
I do heare words that must be scan'd and constred.

Fer.
He appointed that gentleman to find you out.

The.
Amazement hath possest me wholly.

Rav.
Although my person came before you, sir,
You were the first deliverer of this joy,
Which I conceal'd for reasons: but desire
I now may finish all in private.

M. Fer.
Talke your fill sir, whilst I drinke mine.

drinks.
Rav.
Cosin I know you wonder at the strangenesse
Of all: for which take this briefe satisfaction.
You are betrayd to receive punishment,
For what you rather do deserve a Crown.
This Justice and my selfe had the instructions
All's nothing but a plot to get you back.

The.
Why then would you pretending love conceale it?
And mock my feares with such diversity
Of dangerous accidents, you brought upon them?

Rav.
Alasse had I reveal'd the circumstance
Of his profest love; fiegn'd intentions
And the smooth traps were layd to catch you in,
I know your nature of such easie temper,
You rather would have flattered you selfe
Into beliefe of them, then your own danger.
'Twas my prevention.

The.
How I shall determine,
And reconcile these differences to truth
Is hard. Be firme my resolution:
I will be satisfied, and yet prevent
The danger that is her. My Cosin Raven
Is certainly a villaine. You have been sir
The comfortablest messenger of pardon
The ere ingag'd a man; and if you please
To be the instrument of farther good,
You'l find us gratefull.

M. Fe.
Command both me and mine husband.

The.
Pray' take this gentlewoman to your care,
Whilst I go back to make acknowledgement
Of the greate benefits are done me.

Bri.
I will along with thee likewise.

Rav.
By no meanes
Let him be satisfied of all that's past
Which I'le instruct him how without his danger,
Whilst you are absent.

The.
Shall shee be your charge?

Fer.
She shall go to our house.

M. Fe.

And welcome with my husbands good liking. To
your house? as if the enterteinment of constables on a sharing
day were not chargeable enough, but you must complement away
wine and sweet meats. 'Tis enough that we wish them
well; let others do them good.

Fer.
Sweet wife be patient; I have found out another way.

Rav.
Observe me sir, I will discover more.
D'you thinke 'tis fit my cosin go alone sir?
Suppose those baffled roarers (whom he did
Justly correct) way lay him; may there not
Be danger in't?

Fer.

You say well sir. Standish and Dash my Clerkes shall a
long with him. Or what thinke you of my neighbour Catch the
Marshalls man? the sight of him would fright them.

Rav.
Do you marke that sir he would have you guarded.
Would you were off: I'le tell you more by th'way.
I'le along with you Cosin, so I may
Borrow a weapon.

Squi.
You may have one of these.

The.
Lett's on; I will returne to our full joyes;
I go but to prepare them. And find out
The meaning of these riddles.

Bri.
My prayers go with thee.

Exit.
Rav.
By this, what I intend shall be conferr'd
Upon those roarers, that will carry circumstance
To make it creditted, and quit me wholly
Of all suspect. In mischeife ther's content,
When we on others lay the punishment.

Exit.
Fer.

Come Mistresse Bride, wee will walke and see some rarities
and antiquities till they return. There is one in the neighbourhood
is stor'd with them; as if he had translated the Capitall
hither.

M. Fe.

The motion's good: it should have been mine sir. You
shall see the feathers of a Phenix; the beake of a Pelican, and
the skins of Birds, beasts and fishes, stufft with hay, enough to
bring down the market. For coynes and meddalls he hath those
with inscriptions that speake their date 500 yeeres before the
use of letters. He hath the fingers and toes of a Colossus, and
three hayres of a giants upper lip, each of them as big as a bull
rush. Then he hath the the members of a pignie, that cannot
be discern'd but through a multiplying glas. Yet it is thought
he would gladly part with all he hath for the Phylosophers
stone; I or the Unicornes horne at Windsor.

Fer.

Come come, he hath those things a prince might glory
to be owner of, and 'tis bravely done of him to affect them.

Bri.
Such sights will be delightfull. I must strive
In what I may my sad thoughts to withstands;
Which do presage some mischief's neere at hand.

Exeunt.
Squi.

Y'are welcome with a mischiefe to the occasion that
brought you hither. Here hath been attendance for a quart of
wine and that not payd for. Some better customers, or I shal crack
without credit. My Blades baffled too! Their losse must be repair'd
upon the next advantage.