The pleasant and Stately Morall, of the three Lords and three Ladies of London With the great Ioy and Pompe, Solempnized at their Mariages |
 | The pleasant and Stately Morall, of the three Lords and three Ladies of London |  |
Pollicie.
Here I aduaunce my shield and hang it vp,
To challenge him who euer dare denie,
That one of those three London Ladies rare
Ought not of right be matcht with Pollicie:
A London Lord, the which I represent.
Pom.
And pomp prouides his challenge in his word,
(Glorie sauns peere) claiming the one of them,
Not by compulsion, but by common right,
Yet maugre men my shield is here aduaunc'd
For one matchlesse, a London Lady best
Beseemeth Pompe (a London Lord) to haue.
Plea.
Pleasure hath soar'd as dooth his ympreze show,
To looke alooffe on earthly Ladies all,
Yet neuer could my curious eie discerne
A Dame of woorth, for Londons Pleasures loue,
But one, and she dooth shine as siluer Dooue.
Of selfe bred soile, of London is her race,
For whom in challenge I my shield aduaunce.
Pol.
Thus each in honor of his Mistresse
And in regard of his wel daring mind,
Hath here ymprizde the challenge of his right:
But Lordings both, and brethren bred and sworne,
That all our thoughtes aspire not to one heauen,
Nor all our ships do saile for one selfe hauen,
I meane that all our suites and seruices
We tend and tender to one onely Dame,
All choosing one, refusing th'other two.
Pom.
A great mislike amongst vs that might breede.
Plea.
I seeke but one and her vnto my selfe.
Pom.
And one wish I sauns partner of my loues.
Pol.
It stands with honour to be sole or none.
Pom.
Whom louest thou pleasure?
Plea.
Hearke ye.
Whisper in his eare.
Pom.
Tush, ye lie.
Wil.
If my maister were a souldier, that word wold haue the stab.
Wit.
UUel Wil, stil you'il be a saucie Scab.
pom.
UUhy Pleasure? Pompe hath chosen Lucres loue.
plea.
UUhy pompe? But pleasure honors Lucre most.
pol.
And pollicie may Lady Lucre gaine
Before you both: but let vs not contend,
For Nemo dooth the Ladies prisoners keepe,
Though they were slaundered late with Libertie
And mariage to three farre borne Forriners.
Then first it fits we practise their release,
And see them, and by sight our liking place,
For yet we loue as Gossips tell their tales,
By hearsay: Fame, not Fauour hath vs yet enflam'd.
pom.
Lord pollicie with reason hath discust
pleasure consent, and so our loue shall hold.
ple.
Ye neuer found that Londons Pleasure err'd
From reason, or from pompe and pollicy.
pol.
Come on sir boy, attend you wel your charge,
To his page Wit.
UUait in this place to watch and ward this shield,
If any man in honor of his loue,
So hardy be with stroke of sword to attaint
This shield, and challenge him that hereby challengeth,
Say for thy Lord as should a trusty Page,
That pollicie doth dare him to perfourme
A hardier taske than common challengers.
If he demaund what pollicy may be,
pom.
And you (sir boy) for pompe perform the like,
To Wealth.
Bid him that dare this Ympreze batter once,
Be well aduisde he be no beggers brat,
Nor base of courage, nor of bad conceit:
To match himselfe with such magnificence,
As fits Lord pompe of London for his loue:
Call if he come that can encounter me,
Or mooue me not for ech enuious swad.
plea.
Will, be not wanton nor of waiward mood,
To Will.
Waite as doo these, vse faith and diligence,
And marke him well that dare disdaine this shield,
Which Londons Lord that pleasure hath to name,
Hath here aduaunc'd in honor of his Dame.
I bid thee marke him well, what e'er he be,
That Londons pleasure dooth in malice scorne,
For he's a Rascal, or a straunger borne.
Good boy marke well his iesture and his looke,
His eie, his gate, his weapon and attire,
And dog him to his lodging, or his denne,
For I will make him scomme and scorne of men,
No better boy than Wil, when Wil is pleasde,
Be pleasd my boy, and so be my good Wil.
pol.
And so good boyes farewel, look to your charge,
Watch well good Wit, who scorneth Londons pollicy,
Be warie Wit, for thou canst well discerne.
pom.
Wealth watch for pomp for thou canst wel defend
plea.
Wil can do something too when pleaseth him.
Wit.
Wil is a good boy where better is none.
Exeunt the 3. Lordes.
Wil.
Nay Wit were the best boy if wil were gone.
Wea.
Nay wealth is the best boy, sirs let that alone.
VVit.
I wisse he saith true wil, this wealth's a gay lad,
Wil.
I care not for him, curmudgenly Swad.
Wea.
Wel, misse me a while & you'il go neer to be sad.
VVit.
Wil, ye are wil-foole, if of him ye be not glad.
VVil.
Nay wit if thou want him, thou'ilt go neer to be mad.
VVea.
To keepe vs still quiet, I would other talke we had,
VVit.
I hope we'il not fall out being none but we three.
If Wealth were away, Wit and Wil would agree.
Wil.
Nay, Wit and wil are at strife, when ther's no body but we.
VVit.
Let passe, and of our shields (sirs) let's make a litle glee,
Wil, what giues thy maister here? a Buzzard or a Kyte.
wil.
Wit, you showe your selfe a Gentleman by gessing so right,
A Buzzard? thou Buzyard, Wit, hast no more skil
Then take a Faulcon for a Buzzard.
Wit.
O be quiet good Wil:
It was but for sport, for I know the bird els,
Wea.
Thou mightest see it was no Buzzard man by the bels:
wit.
What's the reason of this Faulcon, I pray thee Will show.
Wil.
Thou knowst that a Faulcon soares hie, and stoupes low,
So doeth pleasure.
Wit.
And what's the word?
Wil.
Pour temps, for time.
Wit.
A verie pretie one, I would it were in rime.
Wea.
In rime VVit, why so?
Wit.
Because it wantes reason.
Wil.
Looke for my fist VVit, if ye rap out such treason.
VVit.
Treason, to what, boy?
Wil.
To my maisters bird.
Wit.
Now Wil my thombe wags, it was but to his word.
Wil.
Tis a pleasant Gentleman, this yoong mast. Wit,
Your maister hath something too, I pray ye what's it.
VVit.
Looke wil, and gesse.
Wil.
Tis a Toad in a shell.
Wea.
I had as leeue ye had said, a Frog in a well.
VVit.
Is't not a great Butterfly, Wil, canst thou tell?
Wil.
What is it in sadnesse?
VVit.
A Tortoys my boy, whose shell is so hard, that a loaden cart
may goe ouer and not breake it, and so she is safe within, and wheresoeuer
shee goes, she beares it on her backe, needing neither other
succour or shilter but her shell: the woord vnderneath her is Prouidens
securus, the prouident is safe, like to the Tortoys, armed
with his owne defence, and defended with his owne armour: in
shape somewhat rounde, signifying compasse, wherein alwaies the
prouident forsee to keepe themselues within their owne compasse,
my boy.
wittily spoken, now wealths maist. hath got a Daffadowndilly.
VVea.
If VVill had not bene wilfull, now he might haue saide
a Lilly, whose glorie is without comparison, and beautie matchlesse,
for Salomon the most sumptuous King that euer was, was neuer
comparable in glorie with the Lilly, neither is ther any citties matchable
with the pomp of London, mistake me not good boies, that this
pompe tendes to pride, yet London hath ynough, but my Lord pomp
doeth rightly represent the statelie magnificence and sumptuous estate
without pride or vaineglorie to London accomodate, and therefore
the woord is well applied to the ympreze (Glorie sauns peere) for
that the Lillie is neither proud of the beautie, nor vainglorious of the
pompe: No more is London, but if it be ioyful of any thing, it is of the
peace and plentie, both flowing from two such fountaines as becomes
not vs to name. Now therefore, my good boies, know that my Maister
is rather Magnificence than pompe in bad sense, and rather pomp
than Pride in the best sense.
wil.
And my Lord is not pleasure sprong of Uoluptuousnes, but
of such honorable and honest kind conceit, as heauen & humanitie wel
brookes and allowes pleasure pleasing not pernitious.
wit.
Who would haue thought that wil had bene philosophous,
But what means the word pour temps in the shield, for time?
wil.
Wit, shal I cal thee foole? the best pleasure of al lasts but a time,
For of all pleasures most pleasing to sight,
Mee thinks there is none to the Faulcons hie slight,
Yet diseases end it, the breach of a wing,
Nay, the breach of a fether spoiles that sweet thing:
wit
And so my maister hath the vantage wil ye or no,
pomp and pleasure may be il.
Wil.
May not pollicy be bad?
weal.
Wit, wel ouertaken by VVil that craftie Lad.
wit.
A craftie Goose, the Gander giues him health,
Bad pollici's seldome found in so Christian a common wealth,
As London is I trust, where my maister is a Lord.
wil.
And ours so too.
wea.
Wel, let vs accord, for wit's a good thing, yet may be il appli'd
wit.
And so may wealth, be it imploied in pride,
And wil worst of all, when it disdaines a guide.
wil.
A Iack an Apes hath wit.
And so he hath Wil.
Wea.
But he neuer hath wealth: now ye are both still.
Wit.
Yes, he weares a chaine.
Wil.
Well spoke, and like a bearward.
Wea.
If ye be Non plus let the matter fall.
Wil.
Wit, dost thou see? thus goes wealth away with al.
Wit.
Let's reason no further for we shal haue glee,
Here is a challenger to our shields, step we aside.
Enter Simplicitie in bare blacke, like a poore Citizen.
Wil.
He will eate them I thinke, for he gapes verie wide.
Wea.
Say nothing to him, and ye shal see the foole goe by.
Wil.
Sirra, gape not so wide for feare of a flie.
Simp.
Fly, flam flurt: why? Can a flie doo hurt?
Wit.
Yea, haue ye not heard that the fly hath her spleene
And the Ant her gall?
Sim.
My Uncle hath so I weene, for its an angrie old fellow
When his gall runs ouer: children good day,
Whose pretie lads are you three?
Wit.
Three, are ye sure?
Sim.
Ile not sweare till I haue told you: one, two, three.
Wil.
I beshrew thee.
Sim.
Mee boy, why? I am beshrewed already, for I am maried.
Wea.
Then thou hast a wife?
Sim.
Yea, I would thou hadst her, if thou couldst stay her tongue,
Wea.
I thy wife man? Why, I am too yoong.
Sim.
And I am too old, but in good ernest good boies, be not angry,
that I cal you boies, for ye are no men yet, ye haue no beardes
Forsooth they would be called youths: wel, yet a boy is a boy
And a youth is a youth: wel, if ye be not ashamed of the boy,
Good boyes, whose boyes are ye?
VVit.
No whit ashamed sir of that that we are, nor ashamed at
all of those whom we serue, for boyes we be, and as we be, we serue
the three Lordes of London, to weet, pollicie, pompe, and pleasure.
Sim.
A pretie spoken Child and of a prety wit.
VVil
VVit's his name indeed, are ye one of his Godfathers, yee
hit it so right?
It is more then I know, then is thy name wit boy? Now of
mine honestie welcome, for I haue wanted thee a great while.
VVit.
Welcome sir, how so? why do ye entertaine me so kindly?
I cannot dwell with you for I haue a maister already.
Sim.
So haue I too, but she learnes me litle wit: my wife I mean
UUel, al this while I stand heere my wares are not abroad, and so I
may loose both my customers and market.
VVea.
UUares sir, haue ye wares? what wares do ye sell?
Sim.
Truely Child, I sel Ballades: soft, whose wares are these
that are vp already? I paid rent for my standing, and other folkes
wares shall be placed afore mine, this is wise indeed.
VVit.
O, the finenes of the wares (man) deserue to haue good place.
Sim.
They are fine indeed, who sels them, can ye tell? Is he free?
VVit.
Our maisters be, we wait on this ware, and yet we are no
chapmen.
Sim.
Chapmen, no that's true, for you are no men, neither Chapmen
nor chopmen, nor chipmen nor shipmen, but if ye be chappers, choppers
or chippers, ye are but chapboyes, and chapboyes ye are double.
VVil.
Double, how is it? Teach me that and you wil make me
laugh a litle.
VVea.
And me a litle:
VVit.
And me a litle:
Sim.
Then your three litle laughes will make one great laugh:
VVit.
True, for if three fooles were one foole, that were a great
foole. But how are we double chapboies?
Point to Simplicity.
Sim.
Because ye haue two chaps, an vpper chap and a nether chap.
wil.
Ha, ha, ha:
wit.
Ha, ha, ha:
wea.
Ha, ha, ha:
simp.
You said you would laugh but a litle, but you laugh a great
deale, why doo ye laugh so much?
wil.
Because your wit was so great in expounding your meaning
sim.
Yee, you may see it is a good thing to haue wit.
wit.
I thanke you sir.
wea.
And what say you to wealth?
sim.
wealth? Marie wealth is better.
wea.
I thanke you sir.
wil.
And how say ye to wil?
Indeed, good will is a great matter,
wil.
Yea betweene a maid and a bacheler.
Sim.
Why? you are not in loue boy?
Wil.
yes but I am, and in charity too.
Sim.
Charitie? alas poore child, thou in charitie, ha, ha, now must
I laugh.
wit.
But you laugh a great while, and you laugh verie loud,
Sim.
Then I ow you nothing for laughing, & you hear me the better
Wea.
But now laugh not we.
Sim.
No, you may be maddle, coddle: wel heres three passing fine
lads, if a man were able to keep them all: let me see wealth, oh that's a
sweet lad: then wit, oh that's a fine lad: Wil, oh that's a pretie lad. Wil,
wit, and wealth, God lend yee health. I would I could guile their
maisters of two of them. If I had Fraud here that serued Lady Lucre,
he would teach me: he would teach me to tice one of them from his
maister: which of them now, if a man should steale one? wil? Nay, I
care not for wil outsep he be good wil: VVit, a pretie child, but a man
can not liue by wit: wealth, yea marie sir, I would I could win that
wealth, for then I need neither wil, nor wit, nor I need sell no Ballads
but liue like a mouse in a mill and haue another to grinde my meale
for me, Ile haue a fling at one of them anone.
Wea.
Do you not forget your selfe gaffar.
wit.
Haue you not wares to sell gaffar?
wil.
When doo you show gaffar?
Sim.
UUel remembred pretie lads, ye may see, children can teach
old folks, I am an vnthrift indeed: wel, my wares shall out now. But
sirs, how sell ye your wares, how many of these for a groat?
wea.
Our wares are not to be sold.
sim.
Not for siluer nor gold? why hang they then in the open market?
wil.
To be seene, not bought.
Sim.
Then they are like ripe plummes vpon a rich mans tree that
set mens teeth a watering when they be not to bee bought: but what
call ye these things?
wit.
Scutchions.
Sim.
Cushens, alas it were pittie to sit on such fine cushens: but
come my boies if you'il buy any of my wares, her's my stall, and Ile
open and show strait.
VVea.
What daintie fine Ballad haue you now to be sold?
Marie child, I haue chipping Norton a mile from Chappell
othe heath, A lamentable ballad of burning the Popes dog: The sweet
Ballade of the Lincoln-shire bagpipes, And Peggy and Willy, But
now he is dead and gone: Mine own sweet Willy is laid in his graue
la, la, la, lan ti dan derry, dan da dan, lan ti dan, dan tan derry, dan do.
Wit.
It is a dolefull discourse, and sung as dolefully.
Sim.
Why, you can not mend it, can ye?
Wit
What wil you lay on that? For I my selfe dare lay six groats
to six of your balde Ballades, that you your selfe shall say I sing better
than you.
Sim.
What a brag boy is this to comparison with a man, but boy
boy, I will not lay six Ballades to six groates, but I will lay six Ballades
to six ierkes at your buttockes, that you shall not sing so well
as I.
Wit.
That I shall not? No, possible you wil not let me sing.
Sim.
I not let you? Is that spoken like wit? It is spoken like a
Woodcocke, how can I stay thee if thou wilt sing out thy throat?
Wit.
Well then, to our bargaine, six Ballades to six stripes, and
who shall keepe stakes?
Sim.
Neither of your companions, for that's aske my fellow if I
be a theefe.
Wil.
Will you keepe the stakes your selfe?
Sim.
Best of all, for I meane plainely and will pay if I loose, her's
my six Ballades, they bee ready: now how shall I come by your sixe
stripes boy?
Wit.
Downe with your breeches, Ile fetch a rod and deliuer them
straight.
sim.
Nay then I care not if thou keepe stakes.
Wit.
You speak too late gaffar, hauing challenged preheminence.
sim.
Then let's lay no wager but sing for good fellowship.
Wit.
Agreed, who shall begin?
sim.
O boy, who is the elder? Hast thou not heard giue Flounders
to thy elder?
Wit.
You mistake the fish, trust me I am sure tis giue place, but
begin with good grace.
Here simp. sings first, and Wit after, dialoguewise, both to musicke if ye will.
Wit.
Now sirs, which singes best?
Tush, your copesmates shal not iudge: friend, what say you,
which of vs sings best?
to one of the auditory.
wil.
To say trueth, ther's but bad choice,
How wil you sel the ballad you sang, for Ile not buy the voice.
Sim.
Why wilt thou not buy my voice?
wil.
Because it wil cost me more money to buy sallet oile to keep it
frō rusting, than it is woorth: but I pray ye honest man, what's this?
Sim.
Read and thou shalt see.
wil.
I cannot read.
Sim.
Not read & brought vp in London, wentst thou neuer to schole
wil.
Yes, but I would not learn.
Sim.
Thou wast the more foole: if thou cannot read Ile tel thee, this
is Tarltons picture: didst thou neuer know Tarlton?
Wil.
No: what was that Tarlton? I neuer knew him.
Sim.
What was he: a prentice in his youth of this honorable city,
God be with him: when he was yoong he was leaning to the trade
that my wife vseth nowe, and I haue vsed, vide lice shirt, waterbearing:
I wis he hath tost a Tankard in Cornehil er nowe, if thou
knewest him not I wil not cal thee ingram, but if thou knewest not
him, thou knewest no body: I warrant her's two crackropes knew
him.
Wit.
I dwelt with him.
Sim.
Didst thou? now giue me thy hand, I loue thee the better.
Wil.
And I too sometime.
Sim.
you child, did you dwel with him sometime?
wit dwelt with him indeed, as appeared by his rime,
And serued him well, and wil was with him now & than, but soft, thy
name is wealth, I think in earnest he was litle acquainted with thee
there will neuer come his like while the earth can corne:
O passing fine Tarlton I would thou hadst liued yet.
Wea.
He might haue some, but thou showest smal wit,
there is no such finenes in the picture that I see.
sim.
And thou art no Cinque Port man, thou art not wit free,
the finenes was within, for without he was plaine,
But it was the merriest fellow and had such iestes in store,
that if thou hadst seene him, thou wouldst haue laughed thy hart sore.
weal.
Because of thy praise, what's the price of the picture.
Ile tell thee my lad, come hether, if thou wilt be ruled by me
thou shalt pay nothing, Ile giue it thee, if thou wilt dwell with mee,
and I promise thee this counsell is for thy prefarming, hadst not thou
better serue a free man of the Citie, and learne a trade to liue another
day, than to be a seruing boy in thy youth and to haue no occupation
in thine age, I can make thee free if thou wilt be my prentice.
wea.
Why, wealth is free euery where, what need I serue you?
My Lord is a freeman if that may doo me good.
sim.
I cry ye mercy M. boy, then your maister is free of the lords
company and you serue him that ye may be a Lord when ye come out
of your yeares.
wit.
Wealth is a proud boy, gaffar what say you to mee?
sim.
Thy name is wit, wilt thou dwell with me?
wit.
If I like your name and science, perchance wee'il agree
simp.
Nay, my name & mine honestie is al one, it is wel knowen
He's a very foole that cannot beguile me, for my name is simplicity.
Wil.
Coads gaffar wer not you a meal-man once and dwelt with Lady Conscience?
sim.
Yes, for want of a better.
wil.
What, a better man?
sim.
No, for want of a better mistresse, she was as very a foole as I
We dwelt so long together that we went both on begging.
Wit.
Indeed they that vse a good conscience cannot sodainly be rich,
But Ile not dwel with ye, you are too simple a maister for me.
Wil,
Nor Ile not dwell with you for all this worlds treasure.
sim.
No, why whom serue you Wil?
Wil.
I serue my Lord pleasure.
sim.
And whom serue you wit?
Wit.
I serue my Lord pollicie.
simp.
And whom serue you wealth?
wea.
I serue my Lord pompe.
sim.
You should be serued al with my Lord Birchley if you wer wel
serued, these lads are so lordly that louts care not for them: for wealth
serues Pomp, Wit serues pollicy, and wil serues pleasure. welth, wil
you buy this picture for your Lord?
Shew Tarltons picture,
wea.
No, it's too base a Present for pomp.
Wit.
And pollicy seldom regardes such a trifle.
Wil,
Come on gaffar, come on, I must be your best chapman,
sim.
Gramercie good wil, my wife shal loue thee still,
And since I can neither get Wit nor wealth,
Let my wife haue her wil, and let me haue my health.
God forgiue me, I thinke I neuer name her, but it coniures her, look
where she comes, be mannerly boies that she knocke ye not with her
staffe: keepe your owne counsell, and Ile make ye laugh.
Stand away these boies from my wares,
Get ye from my stall, or Ile wring you by the eares.
Let my customers see the wares: what lack ye what would ye haue
bought.
Enter painfull Penurie, attired like a waterbearing woman with her Tankard.
Pen.
You haue customers inow and if they were ought,
What do ye with these boies here to filtch away your ware?
You show all your wit, you'il ne'er haue more care.
Wil.
Content ye good wife, we doo not filtch, but buy.
Pen.
I meant not you, yoong maister, Gods blessing on your heart
You haue bought indeed sir I see, for your part.
Be these two yoong Gentlemen of your companie,
Buy Gentlemen, buy ballads to make your friends merrie.
wit.
To stand long with your burden, me thinks you shuld be weary
Pen.
True Gentlemen, but you may see poore painful penury
Is faine to carry three Tankerds for a penie.
But husband I say, come not home to dinner, its Ember day,
You must eate nothing till night, but fast and pray.
I shall loose my draught at Conduit, and therefore Ile away.
Yoong Gentlemen God be with ye.
sim.
Wife, must I not dine to day?
Pen.
No sir by my fay.
Exit Penurie.
sim.
If I must not eat, I meane to drinke the more.
What I spare in bread, in ale Ile set on the skore.
How say ye my lads? And doo I not speake wisely?
Wit.
Me thinks ye doo, and it's prety, that simplicity
Hath gotten to his wife plaine painfull Penury.
sim.
Yea, I thanke God though she be poore and scarse cleanly,
yet she is homely, careful and comely.
Wit, wealth and wil, come to your Lords quickly.
wil.
Must the Scutchions hang still?
One wihin.
yea, let them alone.
wit.
Farewel Maister simplicity.
Exeunt.
sim.
Farewel good M. boies ene hartily, ene hartily, hartily.
And heare ye wil, I thanke you for your hansel truly.
Prety lads, heark ye sirs how? wil, wit, wealth.
Enter VVit.
wit.
What's the matter you call vs backe so sodainly.
sim.
I forgot to aske you whither your three Lords of London be
courtiers or Cittiners?
wit.
Citizens borne and courtiers brought vp: Is this all? Farewell.
Exit.
sim.
Citizens borne and Courtiers brought vp, I thinke so, for
they that be borne in London are halfe Courtiers before they see the
Court, for finesse and manerlinesse oh passing, my maners and misbehauiour
is mended halfe in halfe since I gaue ouer being a meal-man
and came to dwell in London: ye may see Time dooth much, Time
weares out yron horshooes: Time teares out milstones: Time seasons
a pudding well, and Time hath made mee a free man, as free to
beare water and sell Ballades, as the best of our copulation: I would
haue thought once my horse should haue bene free as soon as my selfe,
and sooner too, for he would haue stombled with a sacke of meale and
lien along in the channell with it when hee had done, and that some
cals freedome, but it's but a durtie freedome, but ye may see, bad horses
were but iades in those daies: But soft, here comes customers:
What lacke ye, what is't ye lack, what lacke ye? Come along and buy
nothing: fine Ballades, new Ballades, what lack ye?
Enter Nemo and the three Lordes.
Ne.
My Lordes come on, what suits haue you to me?
Pol.
Renowmed Nemo, the most onelie one
That drawes no breath but of th'eternal aire,
That knowest our suit before we bound to speak
For thou art the very Oracle of thoughts:
Whose vertues doo encompasse thee about,
As th'aire surroundes this massie globe of earth.
And canst bestow much more than we may craue,
To thee we seeke, to thee on knees we sue,
That thou wilt deigne from thraldom to release,
Those louely Dames, that London Ladies are.
Ne.
What, those three caitiefs long agoe condemn'd?
Loue, Lucre, Conscience, wel deseruing death,
Being corrupt with all contagion:
The spotted Ladies of that stately towne.
pom.
Loue, Lucre, Conscience we of thee desire,
Which in thy self hast all perfection,
Accomplished with all integritie:
And needest no helpe to doe what pleaseth thee,
Who holdest Fame and Fortune both thy slaues,
And doest compell the Destinies draw the coatch:
To thee we sue, sith power thou hast thereto,
To set those Ladies at their libertie.
plea.
At libertie, thou spotlesse Magistrate,
That of the cause doost carie all regard,
Carelesse of bribes, of birth and parentage,
Because thy selfe art onely borne to blisse,
Blesse vs so much that Lordes of London are,
That those three Ladies borne and bred with vs
May by our suites, release of thraldome find.
Ne.
Release my Lords? why seeke ye their relase?
That haue perpetuall prison for their doome.
pol.
But Nemo can from thence redeeme them all.
Ne.
Their deeds were cause, not Nemo of their thral.
Pom.
Yet Nemo was the Iudge that sentence gaue.
Ne.
But Nemo neuer spill'd, whom he could saue:
plea.
Thou from perpetuall prison maist reuoke.
Pol.
Death hath no power gainst him to strike a strok
Pom.
Thou onlie milde and curteous sir, vouchsafe
To graunt our suit, and set those Ladies free.
Ne.
What's your purpose in this earnest suit?
Plea.
To marie them, and make them honest wiues.
Ne.
But may it be that men of your regard,
Lords of such fortune, and so famous place,
And so disteined with more then common crimes?
Pol.
Mariage doth make amends for many amisse.
Pom.
And loue doth couer heaps of combrous euils.
plea.
And doth forget the faults that were before.
Ne.
Meane as you say, ye neede to say no more.
pol.
In token that we meane what we haue said,
Lo here our shieldes the prizes of our loue:
To challenge all except thy selfe that dare
Denie those Ladies to be ours by right.
Ne.
Woo them & win them, win them & wear thē too,
I shal both comfort and discourage you my Lords,
The comfort's this, of all those former crimes
Wherwith the world was wont those dames to charge
I haue them cleer'd and made them all as free
As they were borne: no blemish left to see.
But the discourage (gentle Lords) is this,
The time of their indurance hath bene long,
Whereby their cloathes of cost and curious stuffe
Are worne to rags, and giue them much disgrace.
Pom.
Alas good Ladies, was there none that sued
For their release, before we took't in hand?
Ne.
Yes, diuers for fair Lucre sought release,
And some for Loue would faine haue paid the fees,
But sillie Conscience sat without regard,
In Sorrowes dungeon, sighing by her selfe:
Which when I saw that some did sue for Loue,
And most for Lucre, none for Conscience:
A vow I made, which now I shall perfourme,
Til some should sue to haue release for all,
Iudg'd as they were, they should remaine in thrall:
But you that craue their freedomes all at once
Shal haue your suit, and see them here ere long,
A litle while you must haue patience,
And leaue this place: go in my Lordes before.
Pom.
Becommeth vs to waite on Nemo still,
Ne.
Not so: but Lordings, one condition more
You promise me, sith they are in my power,
Upon you three, as I shall thinke it best.
Pom.
Doe but commaund and we shall all subscribe.
Ne.
Then goe your ways, for I haue here to do.
Exeunt 3. Lords
Enter Sorrow.
Sorrow draw neere, to morrow bring thou foorth
Loue, Lucre, Conscience, whom thou hast in thrall,
Upon these stones to sit, and take the aire,
But set no watch or spyall what they doo.
Exeunt ambo.
Enter Fraud, Vsurie, Dissimulation, Simony and Simplicity.
Frau.
How happie may we call this merie day my mates,
Wherein we meet, that once were desperate, I thinke, euer to haue
seene one another, when Nemo that vpright Iudge had by imprisoning
our Mistresses, banished vs (by setting such diligēt watch for vs)
out of London, and almost out of the world. But liue we yet? And
are we met? and neere our old seat? Vsury is it thou? Let me see, or
hath some other stolne thy face? Speakest thou man?
Vsu.
No Fraud, though many haue counterfeited both thee & me,
We are our selues yet, and no changlings I see:
And why shouldst thou aske me man if I liue:
The silly Asse can not feed on harder forrage than vsurie,
She vpon thistles, and I vpon a browne crust of a moneth old.
simp.
So that Vsury and an asse are two of the profitablest beasts
that a man can keepe, yet th'one hath sharper teeth than th'other.
Frau.
But what meanes Dissimulation? He droopes me thinks,
What cheere man? Why cousen, frolick a fit, art thou not glad of this
meeting? What's the cause of thy melancholy?
Dis.
Not melancholike, but musing how it comes to passe that
we are thus fortunate to meet as we doo.
simo.
Ile tell thee why we met, because we are no mountaines.
simp.
But ye are as ill, for ye are monsters.
simo.
And men may meete though mountaines cannot.
Frau,
In token that this meeting is ioyfull to vs all,
Let vs embrace altogether with harts ioy and affection.
simp.
I see many of these old prouerbes prooue true, tis merrie
when knaues meet:
How sir, whats that?
Sim.
If a man had a casting net, he might catch all you.
Frau.
Art not thou Simplicity?
Simp.
Goodman Simp. for I am maried, & it like your maistership,
And you are mast. Fraud too, a pox on your worship.
I see, a fox and a false knaue haue all one luck, the better for banning,
And many of you crafty knaues liue merilyer than we honest men.
Frau.
Sirra, bridle your tongue if you'il be welcom to our company
No girdes nor old grudges, but congratulate this meeting,
And sirs, if you say it, let's tel how we haue liued since our parting.
simp.
O it is great pity.
Vsu.
What? to tell how we haue liued:
simp.
No, that ye doo liue.
Frau.
Yet againe sirra. Vsury, as for thee it were folly to aske, for
thou liuest but too wel, but Dissimulation and simony, how haue you
two liued? discourse I pray you hartily.
simp.
Faith euen like two mice in an amberie that eat vp all the
meat, and when they haue done, gnaw holes in the cupbord.
Dis.
Fraud, after my scaping away at the Sessions where I shifted
as thou knowest in three sundry shapes, one of a Frier, and they can
dissemble: another like a woman, and they doo litle else: the third as
a Saint and a Deuill, and so is a woman. I was banished out of London
by Nemo, to the countrie went I, amongst my olde friendes and
neuer better loued than among the russet coates: once in a moneth I
stole in othe market day to Leaden-hall and about, and sometime to
VVestminster hall. Now hearing some speach, that the Ladies should
be sued for, for I ame come in hope of my old intertaiment, supposing
my selfe not knowen of many, and hoping the three Lords wil preuaile
in their suit, and I to serue one of them.
simp.
He shall doo well that giues thee a coat, but he should do better,
that could take of thy skinne.
simo.
And I haue bene a traueiler abroad in other realms, for here
I am so cried out against by preachers (and yet some ministers that
be none, could be content to vse me) that I was glad to be gone nowe
in some other landes, and not verie far of, I am secretly fostered, sauing
in Scotland, and the low Countries, they are refourmed, they can
not abide me. Wel now and then hither I came stealing ouer sea, and
hearing as you here intend as you doo,
And for mine owne part, amongst artificers and amongst a
few bad conscienced Lawyers, I haue found such entertainment, as
dooth passe, yet would I with Lucre faine be as I was.
simp.
Fraud is as ill as a cut-purse, by the masse.
Vsu.
And for Vsury, the longer I liue, the greater loue I find
Yet would I be with Lucre, again to please my mind.
Frau.
Heer's a good fellow too, one of our acquaintance, how hast
thou liued Simplicity?
simp.
More honestly then all the rest of thy company: for when I
might beg no longer, as begging was but bad, for you coson'd me once
of an alms, I fel to tankard bearing, & so got a wife of the same science,
painful penury, then got I my freedom, and feeling my shoulder grow
wearie of the tankard, set vp an easier trade to sel ballads.
Frau.
Hadst thou a stock to set vp withal?
Simp.
Wise inough to tell you, I, & yonder's my stal, but beware
I loose nothing, for if I do, Ile lay it straight to some of you, for I saw
none so like theeues I promise you, since I set vp.
Frau.
Ye are a wise man when your nose is in the cup, but soft who
comes here? step wee close aside, for these be the three Ladies for my
life brought out of prison by their keeper, let vs be whist and we shall
heare and see all, Sirra you must say nothing.
Enter Sorrow and the three Ladies, he sets them on three stones on the stage.
simp.
not til ye speak for I am affraid of him that's with ye women.
Con.
O Sorrow when? when sorrow wilt thou cease
To blow the sparke that burnes my troubled soule?
To feede the worme that stings my fainting breast,
And sharp the steele that goares my dieng heart?
My thoughtes are thornes, my teares hot drops of lead,
I plaine, I pine, I die, yet neuer dead.
If world would end, my woe should but begin,
Loe, this the case of Conscience for her sin:
And sin the food wherewith my worme was fed,
That stings me now to death, yet neuer dead.
Loue.
Yet neuer dead, and yet Loue doeth not liue,
Loue that to losse in life her follie lent,
Folly the food whereon her frailtie fed,
Frailtie the milke that Natures breast did giue,
Worme, sting, thornes, fire and torment to the mind,
Life but a breath, and follie but a flower,
Frailtie claie, dust the foode, that fancie scornes,
Loue a sweet bait to couer losses sower.
Flesh breedes the fire that kindles lustfull thornes,
Lust, fire, bait, scorne, dust, flower, and feeble breath
Die, quench, deceiue, flie, fade, and yeeld to death,
To death? O good, if death might finish all,
We die each day, and yet for death we cal.
Lucre.
For death we call, yet death is stil in sight,
Lucre doth seald in drops of melting gold,
Accusing Rust, cals on eternal might,
Where flames consume, and yet we freeze with cold:
Sorrow addes Sulphur vnto Furies heat,
And chops them yce, whose chattering teeth do beat,
But sulphur, snow, flame, frost nor hideous crieng
Can cause them die, that euer are in dying.
Nor make the paine diminish or increase,
sorrow is slacke, and yet wil neuer cease.
Sor.
When Sorrow ceaseth, Shame shal then begin,
With those that wallow sencelesse in their sin:
But Ladies I haue drawen you from my Den,
To open aire to mittigate some mone.
Conscience, sit downe vpon that sweating stone,
And let that Flint (loue) serue thee for a seate,
And Ladie Lucre, on that stone rest you.
And Ladies thus I leaue you here alone,
Mourne ye, but moane not, I shal absent be,
Yet good it were sometime to thinke on me.
Exit
Con.
Comfort it is to thinke on Sorrow past.
Loue.
Sorrow remaines when ioy is but a blast.
Luc.
A blast of wind is worldes felicitie,
Con.
A blasting wind and full of miserie.
Loue.
O Conscience, thou hast most tormented me.
Luc.
Me hath thy worm O Conscience, stong too deep.
Con.
But more my selfe my thoughtes tormented haue
Than both of you in sorrowes sullen caue.
A seat vneasie, wet, and scalding hot,
On this hard stone hath sorrow me assignde,
Loue.
and on my seat my selfe I frozen find.
No flint more harde, no yce more cold then this.
Lucre.
I think my seat some mineral stone to be.
I cold from it, it drawes heat from me.
Ladies consent, and we our seates will view.
Con.
Dare we for shame our stained faces shew.
Loue.
My double face is single growen againe.
Lucre.
My spots are gone, my skin is smooth and plain.
Con,
Doffe we our veiles and greet this gladsom light.
The chaser of glome sorrowes heauie might.
Loue.
Haile cheerful aire and clearest christal skie.
Lucre.
Haile shining sunne and fairest firmament,
Comfort to those that time in woe haue spent.
Con.
Upon my weeping stone is set remorse in brazen letters.
Loue.
And on this Flint in lead is Charity.
Lucre.
In golden letters on my stone is Care.
Con.
Then Lucre sits vpon the stone of care.
Lucre,
And Conscience on the Marble of remorse,
Loue.
Loue on the flint of frozen Charitie,
Ladies alas, what tattered soules are we?
Con.
Sorrow our hearts, & time our cloaths hath torn
Lucre,
Then sit we down like silly soules forlorne,
And hide our faces that we be not knowen,
For Sorrowes plagues tormented me no more,
Than wil their sight that knew me heretofore.
Loue.
then wil their sight that knew vs heretofore
Draw ruth and help from them for our reliefe:
Con.
For our reliefe? for Conscience and for Loue,
No help, smal ruth that our distresse may mooue:
Loue,
O Conscience thou wouldst lead me to dispaire,
But that I see the way to hope is faire,
And Hope to heauen directs a readie way,
And heauen to help is prest, to them that pray.
Lucre,
That pray with faith, and with vnfain'd remorse
For true beleefe and teares make praier of force:
Then veile our selues, and silent let vs stay,
till heauens shall please to send some friends this way:
Sit all downe
Frau.
Ladies vnmask'd, blush not for base attire,
Here are none but friends and seruants all, deer Lady Lucre,
Deerer vnto vs than daily breath we draw from sweetest aire;
Dearer then life, dearer then heauen it selfe,
Deigne to discouer those alluring lampes,
Those louely eies more cleare than Venus Star,
Whose bright aspectes worlds woonder do produce,
Unueile I say that beauty more diuine,
than Nature (saue in thee) did euer paint:
that we sworne slaues vnto our mistresse, may
Once more behold those stately louely lookes,
And doo those duties which vs wel beseemes,
Such duties as we all desire to doe.
Con.
I know that tongue Lucre, beware of Fraud.
Luc.
Of Fraud? Indeed by speech it should be he. Fra. what seekest thou
Frau.
Lucre, to honor thee with wit, with worth, with life, with al I
haue, to be thy seruant as I was before,
to get thee cloathes, and what thou wantest els.
Lucre.
No Fraud, farewell, I must be wonne no more,
to keepe such seruants as I kept before.
Simo.
Sweet Lady Lucre, me thou maiest accept.
Lucre.
How art thou called?
Simo.
Simon.
Lucre.
I? No, sir, Conscience saith.
Con.
No Lucre, now beware, false not thy faith,
For Simoni's subiect to perpetuall curse.
Dis.
As you two haue sped, I would desire to speed no worse,
Frau.
Make you a suit, you may chance to speed better:
Dis.
Not I, for of al, my tongue is best knowen,
But if I speak, it shal be to her that was once mine owne:
Good Ladie Loue, thou litle knowest the griefe
that I thy friend sustaine for thy distresse,
And lesse beleeuest what care I haue of thee:
Looke vp good Loue, and to supply thy wants,
Aske what thou wilt, and thou shalt haue of me,
Of me that ioy more in thy libertie,
Loue.
O gall in hunnie, serpent in the grasse,
O bifold fountaine of two bitter streames,
Dissimulation fed with Uipers flesh,
Whose wordes are oyle, whose deedes the dartes of death:
Thy tongue I know, that tongue that me beguil'd,
Thy selfe a Deuil, madest me a Monster vild.
From thee well knowne, well may I blesse my selfe,
Deere bought repentance bids me shun thy snare.
Con.
O happie Loue, if now thou can beware.
simp.
Marie, but heare ye motley-beard, I think this blindfold buzzardly
hedge-wench spoke to ye, she knowes ye though she see ye not,
harke ye, you women, if you'il go to the alehouse, Ile bestow two pots
on ye, and we'il get a paire of Cardes and some company, and winne
twenty pots more, for you play the best at a game call'd smelling of
the foure knaues that euer I saw.
Vsu.
Foure? soft, yet they haue not smelt thee.
Simp.
No, I am one more than is in the deck, but you'il bee smeld
as soone as ye begin to speake, Ile see what they'il say to me: hear ye
you women, wiues, widdowes, maides, mens daughters, What
shall I cal ye? these four fellowes (hark ye, shal I cal ye crafty knaues)
make me beleeue that you are the three that were the three faire Ladies
of London.
Con.
Gentle Simplicity we are vnhappy they.
Sim.
Now ye bad fellowes, which of ye had such a word as gentle sim.
Vsu.
Bad fellowes yee Rascall? If ere you bring me pawne Ile
pinch yee for that word.
sim.
I cry you mercie M. Iniurie, M. vsurie I meant not you,
Frau.
If you meane vs, we may be euen with yee too.
Simp.
Tut, I knew you an Ostler, and a theefe beside,
you haue rub'd my horse heels er now for al your pride: but Ladies, if ye
be the three ladies, which of ye dwelt in Kent street? one of ye did, but I
know not which is she, ye looke all so like broom-wenches, I was once
her seruāt, Ile nere be ashamed of her though I be rich, & I she be poore,
yet if she that hath bene my dame, or he that hath bin my maister come
in place, Ile speak to thē sure, Ile do my duty, which is Lady Consc?
Con.
Euen I am she Simplicity.
Sim.
I am glad ye are out of prison, I thought ye had forgot me,
and keepe a stall of Ballades, I may buy and sell, I would you had as
good a gown now as I carried once of yours to pawn to Vsury here.
Con.
Gramercy good Simp. wilt thou be with me now?
simp.
No I thank you hartily, Ile beg no more, I can not be with
ye though I would for I am maried to painful penury: Looke now my
proud stately maisters, I may if I wil, & you would if ye might.
Frau.
No, not dwel with such a beggar as Conscience.
simp.
No, Fraud nere loued Conscience since he was an Ostler.
Vsu.
Who cares for Conscience but dies a begger?
sim.
That wil not Vsury do, he wil first take 3. score pound in the
hundred.
Dis.
loue, looke on me and I will giue thee cloathes.
loue.
I will no more by thee be so disguised.
simp.
Ye doe the wiser, for his face looks like a cloakbacke:
Dis.
In thy affections I had once a place:
loue.
These fond affections wrought me foule disgrace,
Dis.
Ile make amends, if ought amisse were done:
loue.
Who once are burn'd, the fire will euer shun.
Dis.
And yet once burn'd to warme againe may prooue:
loue.
Not at thy fire, I will be perfect loue?
simp.
I promise you the wenches haue learn'd to answer wittily,
Her's many faire proffers to Lucre, and loue,
But who cloaths poore Conscience, she may sit long inough.
Vsu.
I wil cloath her straight:
Vsurie takes Frauds cloak, & casts it on Consc
simp.
Wil you maister Vsurie, that's honestly spoke.
Ha, that's no gramercie to cloath her with another mans cloake,
But I see you haue a craft in the dooing M. Vsury,
Vsury couers Conscience with Frauds cloake verie cunningly.
Con.
Alas who loades my shoulders with this heauie weed,
Fy, how it stinks, this is perfum'd indeed,
Fra.
Marie geppe goody Conscience, indeed I doo you wrong,
But Ile quickly right it, my cloake shal not comber you long.
Vsu.
All this while Lucre knowes not I am here,
But now wil I to her, marke how I speed.
Lady, the fairest that Nature euer fourmed,
Lodestone of Loue, that drawes affections dartes.
The only obiect to all humaine eies,
thy Uassall here, a vertue in thy neede
Whom thou by license of the law maist vse,
tenders himselfe, and all his seruices
to doe thy will in duetie as to fore,
Glad of thy freedome as his proper life.
Simp.
Lady Lucre, you loue an apple, take heede the Caterpiller
consume not your fruit.
Lucre.
Why who is it that maketh this latest suit?
Simp.
Tis vsurie.
aloud in her eare.
Lucre.
Great is the seruice he hath done for me,
But Vsury now I may not deale with thee.
Vsu.
the Law allowes me Madam, in some sort.
Con.
But God and I would haue thy boundes cut short,
Vsu.
For you I recke not, but if God me hate,
Why dooth the Law allow me in some rate?
Con,
Vsury slanders both Law and state,
the Law allowes not though it tollerate,
And thou art sure be shut out at heauen gate.
Vsu,
You were euer nice, no matter what you prate:
Simp,
Then it will be with him as it is at a great mans house in
dinner time: he that knockes when the doore is shut comes too late,
Lucre.
Well Vsurie, Fraud, and Simony
Dissimulation hearken vnto me,
My tongue (although in memorie it be greene)
Cannot declare what horrors I haue seene,
Ne can it enter into mortall eares
Unmortified: the furies, fires and feares,
the shrikes, the grones, the tortures and the paines,
that any soule for each of you sustaines.
No pen can write, how Conscience hath me scourg'd,
When with your faults my soule she euer vrg'd:
Arithmeticke dooth faile to number all,
the plagues of sorrow in the Den of thrall:
then tempt me not, nor trouble me no more,
I must not vse you as I did before,
If you be found within faire Londons gate,
You must to prison, whence we came of late.
Frau.
That scuruie Conscience works vs all the spight:
Enter Nemo,
Vsu.
Wel Lucre, yet in thee we haue delight.
Dis.
Yonder come some, we must take our flight.
Exeunt omnes
Simp.
Birdes of a fether wil flie together, but when they be taken
then are they baken, yonder comes a customer, Ile to my stall:
Ne.
Conscience, Loue, Lucre, Ladies al what cheere?
How doo ye like the seates you sit vpon.
Con.
O pure vnspotted Nemo sole paragon,
Of Loue, of Conscience and perfection,
The Marble of Remorse I sit vpon
Sweats scalding drops, like bitter brinish teares.
Ne.
So should remorse when Conscience feels her gilt
But gentle Loue how feelest thou thy flint?
Loue.
O sharp and cold, I freeze vnto my seat,
The Flint holds fire, and yet I feele no heat,
But am benumb'd and frozen euerie ioint.
Ne.
O Loue, so cold is charitie in these times:
Lucre, how sit you?
Lu.
Upon a heauy stone, not halfe so cold, not halfe so hot as theirs,
But of some secrete power, for I do find and sensibly I feele,
That I from it exhale an earthly cold,
And it from me dooth draw a kindly heat.
Ne.
Such force hath Care of Lucre in it self,
To coole the heart and draw the vital spirits,
And such the true condition of you three:
Remorse of Conscience, Charitie of Loue,
And Care of Lucre, such your vses be:
But Ladies now your sorrow lay aside,
Frolick faire Dames, an vnexpected good
Is imminent through me vnto you all:
Three Lords there be your natiue countrimen,
In London bred, as you your selues haue bene.
Which couet you for honorable wiues,
And presently wil come to visite you,
I shall prouide yon friends to decke you all.
If I commaund, stand vp, els sit you stil.
Enter the 3. Lords.
Lo, where they come: my Lordes the Dames be here.
pol,
Why are they wympled? shal they not vnmaske them?
Ne.
It is for your sake, for Pollicie they doo it:
Pom.
Much may their fortune and their feature be,
But what it is we cannot thus discerne.
Ne.
You shall in time Lord Pomp, be yet content.
plea.
Their fame is more then cause or reason would,
May one of these be pleasures paragon?
Ne.
Pleasure, be pleas'd and vse no preiudice.
Madames stand vp, mislike not their attire,
That shal be mended as your selued desire.
Pol.
Their port, and their proportion wel contentes:
Pom.
Right stately dames, if they were wel attir'd:
Plea.
May we not see their beautie what it is?
Ne.
Yes Lordings yes, Lucre, lift vp thy veile.
Pol.
Of beautie excellent.
Pom.
Of rare perfection.
Plea.
A daintie face.
Ne.
Unmaske Loue.
Pol.
Sweete loue indeed.
pom.
A louely face.
Plea.
A gallant grace.
Ne.
Conscience, vncouer.
pol.
Beautie diuine.
Pom
A face angelicall.
Plea.
Sweet creature of the world.
Ne.
Enough for once, Ladies sit downe againe:
As cunning chapmen do by curious wares,
to the audience
Which seldome showen do most inflame the mind,
So must I deale, being daintie of these Dames,
Who seldome seen shal best allure these Lords:
A while my Lords, I leaue you with these three,
Conuerse, confer on good conditions,
I will right soone returne with such good friends
As it concernes to cloath these daintie ones
Know their intent, and vse your skill therein.
Exit
pol
Ladies, to call to mind your former liues
Were to recount your sorrowes on a row,
Omitting then what you haue bene or bee,
What you may be Ile speak, so it please you,
Wiues to vs three, Ladies to London Lords,
pompe, Pleasure pollicie, men of such regard,
As shall you guard from euil, once matched with vs,
And Pollicie presents this good to you.
pom.
With Londons Pomp may one of you be ioin'd,
Possessing more than Fortune can affoord,
Fortune's a foole, but heauenly prouidence
Guards Londons pompe, and her that shal be his:
plea.
And Londons pleasure, peerles in delightes,
Wil deigne to make one of these Dames his owne,
Who may with him in more contentment liue,
Than euer did the Queene of Ethiope.
Con.
Though silence Lordes, our modestie inforce,
Nemo can tel the secretes of our thoughtes,
Nemo that womens minds can constant keepe,
He shal for vs you answere good my Lordes,
I speak for al, though il beseeming me.
Enter Falshod & doub. dealing
pol.
You speak but wel: My Lordes step we aside
To note these fellowes, what they do intend.
Pom.
Nemo can tel, for he doth follow them.
Enter Nemo.
Falsh.
Ladies to you, to some of you, we come,
Sent from such friendes as much affect your good,
With garmentes, and with complements of cost
Accordant well to dames of such degree: I come to Lucre.
D. Dea.
I to loue am sent with no lesse cost then could be got for coin
Which with my message I deliuer would,
Could I discerne which of these Dames were shee,
Loue.
Friend, I am Loue, what bringest thou there to me?
Con.
Beware good Loue, from whom and what thou takest.
Ne.
No whispering friend, but shew it openly,
The matter good, you need not be ashamed:
D. Dea.
That I conceile from any but from loue,
Ne.
From whom come you sir?
Falsh.
That shal lucre know, and none but she.
Ne.
Then speak aloud, for whispering here is barr'd.
Falsh.
Then neither wil I do nor speak at al.
Ne.
Then I wil speake and tel what you are both,
Thy selfe art Falshood, and art sent from Fraud,
To compasse Lucre with a cloake of craft,
With lawne of lies, and calle of golden guile.
Pol.
Packe you my friend, for if you stay a while
You shal returne no more to him that sent you.
Ne.
Thou from Dissimulation art sent,
And bring'st a gown of glosing, liu'd with lust,
A Uardingale of vaine boast, and fan of flatterie,
A Ruffe of riot, and a cap of pride,
And double dealing is thy name and office both.
D. Dea.
Falshood, let's go, we are disciphered.
Falsh.
Lucre, thou loosest here a princely gift.
Exeunt ambo.
Ne.
lucre consumes being won by Fraud or shift,
Thus Lords you see how these are qualified,
And how these Ladies shun that sharp rebuke,
Which some deserue by taking of such toies,
As women weake are tempted soone with giftes,
But here they come that must these Ladies deck.
lucre, arise, come from the stone of Care.
Enter honest Industrie, pure Zeale, & Sincerity.
ho. Indust.
Fair lucre, lo what honest Industry
To thee hath brought, to decke thy daintie self,
Lucre by honest Industrie atchieu'd
Shall prosper, flourish, and continue long,
Exit Lucre with ho. Industrie.
Come to thy chamber to attire thee there.
Ne.
Thou maiest depart with honest Industrie.
P. Zeal.
And Loue arise from Charities cold Flint,
Pure Zeale hath purchas'd roabes to couer Loue,
Whiles loue is single, Zeale shal her attire
With kind affection, mortifying lust,
Ne.
loue, follow zeal and take his ornaments.
Exit Loue with p. zeale
Sincer.
Rise Conscience from that Marble of Remorse,
That weeping stone that scaldes thy partched skinne,
sincerity such roabes for thee hath brought,
As best beseemes good Conscience to adorne:
Come follow, that thou maist goe put them on,
For Conscience cloathed by sinceritie,
Is armed wel against the enemie.
Ne.
Follow him Consc. feare not, thou art right.
Exit Con. with Sin
pol.
Most reuerend Nemo thanks for this good sight,
lucre is cloathed by honest Industrie.
Pom.
loue by pure zeale.
plea.
And Conscience by sincerity.
Ne.
Lordings, thus haue you seene them at the first,
And thus you see them, trust me, at the worst,
Depart we now, come hence a day or two,
And see them deckt as daintie Ladies should,
And make such choice as may content you al.
pol.
Thanks righteous Nemo we the London Lordes
Only to thee our selues acknowledge bound.
Exeunt omnes
Enter painful Penury and Simplicity.
pen.
Come on gentle husband, let vs lay our heades together, our
purses together, and our reckonings together, to see whether wee
win or loose, thriue or not, goe forward or backward, doo you keepe a
booke or a skore?
Sim.
A skore wife? you meane for the Alehouse, doo you not? I
would haue her examine me thereof no further, for I am in too farre
there, more then I would she should know.
Pen.
I meane no alehouse skore, but a note of your wares, let me
see, First you began to set vp with a Roiall, how much money haue
ye? what ware, and what gaine?
Sim.
I haue fiue shillings in money, two shillinges in wares, or
thereabout, and I owe two shillings and eight pence vppon the skore,
how much is that? fiue shillings, two shillings, and two shillings and
eight pence.
pen.
That is nine shillings and eight pence, so we are worse by a
groates I haue got by bearing water this weeke, make vp your stock,
and run no more behind. Who comes here?
Enter Fraud like an Artificer.
Simp.
What lacke ye? What doo ye lack?
Frau.
Me lacka da moonee pour de feene verie feene Franche knack
da feene gold buttoone, de braue bugla lace, a da feene gold ringa, you
be free man, mee vn'Forriner, you buy a me ware, you gaine teene
pownd by lay out teene shellenga.
Sim.
Wife. what hard luck haue we that cannot make x. shillings
now to gain x. pound: why, x. pound would set vs vp for euer.
pen.
Husband see the ware, & if ten shilling wil buy it, it shal go hard
but we wil make that money: Friend, show my husband your wares
Frau.
Looke you dere mastra de feene buttoone de la gold, de ringa
de gold, de bugla sheane, two shelleng vne doozen de buttoone, vne shellenga
vne Ring, tis worth x, shelleng, but mastra & matressa mee mussa
make money to go ouer in my owne countrey, but mee loose teene
pownd pour hast to goe next tyde or to morrow.
pen.
Here is fiue shillings buy them of this straunger.
simp.
Friend you haue not stolne them, but you make them, well,
Ile buy them ithe open market, and then I care not, here is ten shillings,
deliuer me the wares.
Frau.
Deer mastra, oh pouer necessitee maka mee sel pour graund,
graund losse, you shal gein x. pound at least, gor boye.
simp.
What's your name?
Frau.
Mechant, I think I am euen with ye now for calling me Ostler,
you'il thriue wel with such bargaines, if ye buy, yee knowe not
what, Fraud hath fitted ye with worse than your ballades.
pen.
You'il warrant them gold sirra,
Frau.
Wee, so good goll as you pay for: Adieu Mounsier.
Exit.
simp.
Adieu Mounsier: Adieu foole, sel such gold buttons & ringes
for so litle money, good Lord what peniworths these strangers can afford:
now wife let me see, x. pound, when we haue ten pound, we'il haue
a large shop, and sell all maner of wares, and buy more of these, and
get ten pound more, and then ten pound, and ten pound, and twenty
pound, then thou shalt haue a taffata hat and a garded gown, and I a
gown and a new cap, and a silk doublet, and a faire house.
I thanke ye husband, wel, till then looke wel to your wares,
and Ile ply my waterbearing and saue and get, and get and saue till
we be rich, but bring these wares home euery night with ye:
simp.
Tush, I shall sel them afore night for ten pound, gow wife,
gow, I may tel you I am glad this French fellowe came with these
wares, we had falne to examining the Ale-skore els, and then wee had
falne out, and the alewife and my wife had scolded: Wel, a man may
see, he that's ordained to be rich, shal be rich: gow woman.
Exeunt
Enter Nemo and the three Lordes, as though they had bene chyding.
Ne.
From whence good Lordes grew this hot argument?
pol.
Thou knowest alreadie, yet if thou wilt heare,
For this we striue: fond pleasure makes account
Somming his bils without an auditorie,
That Ladie Lucre ought of right be his.
plea.
So I affirme, and so I wil maintaine
That pleasure ought by right Dame Lucre haue,
To beare the charge of sportes and of delightes.
pom.
Nay to support the haughty magnificence
And lordly Pompe of Londons excellence,
Befits it rather Lucre ioine with me,
By whom her honor shal be most aduanced.
pol.
More fit for pomp than pleasure, but most fit
That Pollicie with Lucre should be matched,
As guerdon of my studies and my cares
And high employments in the common wealth:
plea.
What pleasure can be fostered without cost:
pom,
What Pompe or port without respect of gaine?
pol,
What pollicie without preferment liues?
ple.
Pleasure must haue Lucre:
pom.
pomp hath need of Lucre:
pol,
pollicy merits lucre:
ple,
Pleasure dies without Lucre,
pom,
Pomp decaies without Lucre,
pol,
pollicy droopes without lucre:
Ne,
Thus Lordes you showe your imperfections:
Be wel aduisde, you promised to be rulde,
And haue those Dames, by me disposed to you,
But since I see that humaine humors oft
Makes men forgetfull of their greater good.
Be here a while, Dame lucre shal be brought
By me, to choose which Lord she liketh best,
So you allow her choice with patience.
Exit.
Plea.
Go, we abide thy doome til thy returne,
Pom.
If lucre be not mad she wil be mine,
Pol.
If she regard her good she wil be mine.
Plea.
If she loue happie life, she wil be mine,
Women loue Pleasure.
pom.
Women loue Pompe.
pol.
Women vse Pollicie: and here she comes that must decide the doubt.
Enter Nemo with Conscience al in white.
Ne.
Conscience content thee with a queint conceit,
Conceile thy name to work a speciall good,
Thou art not knowne to any of these Lordes,
By face or feature, til they heare thy name,
Which must be lucre for a fine deuice,
And Conscience cleare indeed's the greatest gaine,
Lo, Lordings here faire lucre whom ye loue:
lucre, the choice is left vnto thy selfe,
Which of these three thou wilt for husband choose.
Con.
The modestie that dooth our sex beseeme
Forbids my tongue therin to tell my thought,
But may it please my Lordes to pardon me,
Which of you three shall deigne to make such choice,
Him shall I answere to his owne content,
pol,
If lucre please to match with Pollicie,
She shall be mistresse ouer many men.
Pom.
If lucre like to match with Londons Pomp,
In stately port all others she shall passe.
plea.
If pleasure may for wife faire lucre gaine,
Her life shall be an earthly Paradice.
Lo, Lucre, men, and port, and plesant life
Are here propounded, Which wilt thou accept?
Con.
Lord pollicie, Loue were the only choice
Me thinks for you, that all your cares imploy
And studies for the loue of common wealth,
For you Lord pleasure, Conscience were a wife,
To measure your delightes by reasons rule,
In recreation Conscience helpe to vse.
plea,
Were Conscience halfe so sweete as is thy selfe,
Her would I seek with suites and seruices.
Ne,
No lesse accomplisht in perfection
Is Conscience, then this Ladie I protest,
plea,
But on this Dame hath pleasure fixt his hart,
And this or death the period of his loue.
Con.
Lucre with pompe most aptly might combine
ple.
Lucre, or Loue if case thou wilt be mine,
Let passe thy name, thy selfe doe I desire,
Thee will I haue except thy selfe denie,
With thee to liue, or els for thee to die.
Ne.
What if I denie?
ple.
Then wil I haue her.
pol
If we denie?
ple.
So much the rather.
pom.
The rather in despight of vs? Not so.
Ne.
My Lords, no quarrell, let this Lady goe,
And if ye trust me, Ile content ye both,
pleasure, this is not lucre:
ple.
She's Lucre vnto me: but be she Loue or Consciēce, this is she.
pol.
Whom you wil, haue?
ple.
Spight of the Deuil, I wil.
Con,
Must it not be my Lord if I agree?
ple.
Agree.
Con.
Some further proofe it fits of you to see:
ple,
Receiue a pawn, my hart, my hand, and oth,
To be thy owne in loue, in faith, and troth.
Con.
Thus you are fast, and yet my selfe am free:
ple.
I know in ruth thou wilt me not refuse:
Con.
I know not that, but other Ile not choose.
It is inough, Lord pleasure, do not feare,
Conscience will vse you as becomes her best.
plea.
And art thou Conscience? welcommer to me than
either loue or Lucre,
Con.
God send grace I be,
Ne.
My Lords be pleasde, ere long shal you be sped,
As much to your contents as pleasure is,
Say but the word, my selfe shall soone present
Lucre and loue, wel worthy such as you.
pol,
Right thankfully those fauors we'il receiue,
Enter Diligence, in hast
Dil.
My Lords, if your affaires in present be not great
Greater than any, saue regard of life,
Yea euen the greatest of the common wealth,
Prepare ye to withstand a stratagem,
Such as this Land nor London euer knew.
The Spanish forces Lordings are prepar'd,
In brauerie and boast, beyond all boundes
T'inuade, to win, to conquer all this land.
They chieflie aime at Londons stately pompe,
At Londons pleasure, wealth and pollicy.
Intending to dispoile her of them all,
And ouer all those louelie Ladies three.
Loue, lucre, Conscience, peerlesse of the rarest price.
to tyrannize and carie hardest hand.
From Spain they come with Engine and intent
to slay, subdue, to triumph and torment:
My selfe (so heauen would) spiall of them had,
And Diligence, deere Lords, they call my name.
If you vouchsafe to credit my report,
You do me right, and to your selues no wrong,
Prouided, that you arme you, being warn'd,
pol.
Diligence, thy seruice shall be knowen,
and well rewarded: Nemo, for a time
Conceale this Dame, and liue secure vnseene,
Let vs alone whom most it dooth concerne,
to meete and match our ouer weening foes.
Pom.
Nemo keepe cloase, and Conscience pray for vs.
Con.
My Lordes, if euer, show your honors now,
Those proud vsurping Spanish tyrants come,
To reaue from you what you doo most regard,
to take away your credit and your fame.
to race and spoile our right renowmed towne:
And if you loue or lucre doo regard,
Or haue of Conscience any kind of care,
The world shall witnesse by this action,
And of the loue that you to vs pretend,
In this, your valour shall assurance giue:
More would I speake, but daunger's in delay,
You know my mind, and heauens record my thoughtes,
When I with praiers for you will penitrate,
And will in heart be present in your fight:
Now pleasure, show what you wil doo for me.
ple.
I wil be turn'd to paine for thy sweet sake.
pol.
Faire Conscience feare not, but assure thy selfe
What kind affection we so euer beare
to Loue and Lucre, in this action
Chiefly for thee our seruice shall be done.
pom.
For Conscience sake more than for Lucre now,
pol,
For Loue and Consciēce, not dispising Lucre.
ple.
Onely for Conscience will I hazard all.
Ne.
And I from hence will her conuey a space,
Till you return with happy victory.
Exeunt Ne. & Con.
Con.
Farewel my Lords, for me my Lords, for me.
pol.
Diligence, what number may there be?
Dil.
A mighty hoste, and chieflie led by three,
Who braue it out in show, as men assured
Of victorie, sauns venture, or repulse.
pol.
How neere be they?
Dil.
So neer my Lords, that ech delay is death,
Stand on your guard, they come as challengers,
to bruise your shieldes, and beare away your prize,
Mounting the seas, and measuring the land
With strong imaginations of successe,
pol.
Wel, Diligence go get in readines
To see that all our furniture be wel,
Wit, Wealth and Wil to further wars be fit,
Exit Dilli.
My Lords, I would I might aduise ye now,
To carrie as it were a carelesse regard,
Of these Castilians, and their accustomed brauado:
Lord Pomp, let nothing that's magnificall,
Or that may tend to Londons graceful state
Be vnperfourm'd. As showes and solemne feastes,
Watches in armour, triumphes, Cresset-lightes,
Bonefiers, belles, and peales of ordinance.
And pleasure, see that plaies be published,
Mai-games and maskes, with mirth and minstrelsie,
Pageants and school-feastes, beares, and puppit plaies,
My selfe wil muster vpon Mile-end greene,
As though we saw, and fear'd not to be seene:
Which wil their spies in such a woonder set,
To see vs recke so litle such a foe,
Whom all the world admires, saue onely we:
And we respect our sport more than his spite,
That Iohn the Spaniard wil in rage run mad,
To see vs bend like Oakes with his vain breath.
pom.
In this deuice such liking I conceiue,
As London shall not lack what pomp can doe,
And well I know that worthy Citizens
Doe carie mindes so franke and bountiful,
As for their honor they will spare no cost:
Especially, to let their enemie know.
Honor in England, not in Spaine doth grow.
ple.
And for the time that they in pleasure spend,
Tis limmitted to such an honest end,
Namely, for recreatien of the mind,
With no great cost, yet liberall in that kind,
That pleasure vowes with all delightes he can
To doe them good, till death to be their man.
pol.
Of pollicy they triall haue at large:
pom.
Then let vs go and each man to his charge.
Exeunt the three Lords.
simp.
I sir? Why alas I bought them of a stranger, an old French
man for good gold, and to be worth ten pound, for so he told me, I haue
good witnesse, for my owne wife was by, and lent mee part of the
money.
Vsu.
And what did they cost you?
Simp.
Ten shillings euery penny.
Vsu.
That argues you are guilty: Why? could ye buy so many
rings and buttons of gold thinke ye for ten shillings? Of whome did
ye buy them?
simp.
Of an olde French man, the olde French disease take him.
Vsu.
And where dwels that old French man?
simp.
In Fraunce I thinke, for he told me he was to goe ouer the
next tide, or the next day, my wife can tell as wel as I, if ye thinke I
lie, for she was by.
Vsu.
A good answere, he dwels in Fraunce and you dwel here, and
for vttering copper for gold you are like to loose both your eares vpon
the pillorie, and besides loose your freedome.
simp.
Nay, if I loose my eares, I care not for my freedome, keepe
you my freedome, so I may keep my eares, is there no remedy for this
M. Vsury?
vsurie.
None, except you can find out that old French man.
simp.
Peraduenture I can, if you'il let mee go into Fraunce to
seeke him:
Vsu,
So we may loose you, and neuer see him, nay that may not be.
simp,
You haue a good pawne there, good maister Vsury be good
vnto me.
Vsu.
Nay, now Ile pinch ye, you villaine, ye know how ye haue
euer vsed me, but now off goes your eares at least,
Sim.
Nay, good maister Vsurie take all my goodes and let me go,
Enter Fraud, Dissimulation, Simonie in canuas coates like Sailers.
Frau.
What's the matter Vsurie, that this poore knaue cries so:
Simp.
O Maister Fraud, speake to him to let me goe:
Frau.
Fraud? Ye villaine, cal me not by my name, and ye shall see
I wil speak to him to let ye goe free: Vsury, of al old fellowship let this
Vsu.
No fie, his fault is odious, look here what stuffe hee would vtter
for gold, flat copper, & he saith, he bought them of an old frenchman
Frau.
But thou didst not sel them, didst thou?
Sim.
No sir, I would haue but laid them to pawne for fiue pounds
to him.
Frau.
That was more than they be woorth, I promise thee a foule
matter, wel, thou must loose thy ware and be glad to escape, so Vsurie,
at my request ye shal let the poore man goe.
Vsu.
Wel, for this once I will, sirra, get ye packing, and take heede
of such a peece of worke againe while ye liue.
simp.
There is diuers peeces of work in that box, pray ye giue me
some of my goods againe, a ring or something.
Vsu.
Not an inch, and be glad ye scape as ye doe,
Simp.
Alas, I am vndone, ther's al the wealth & stock I haue.
Fra.
Do ye long to loose your eares, be gone ye foolish knaue.
Sim.
I thanke ye Maister Fraud: Ile not goe so far, but Ile be neere
to heare and see what the meaning of these fellowes in this canuas
should be, for I know Fraud, Dissimulation, and simony to be those
three: here I think I am vnseene.
Simplicity hides him neer them.
Frau.
Vsury, thanke me for this good bootie, for it is I that holp
ye to it, for I sould them to him for gold indeed in the shape of an
old French artificer, come giue me halfe for I deserue it, for my part
was the first beginning of this Comedie, I was euer affraid, least the
foole should haue knowne me, for ye see now though disguisde, hee calme
by my name.
simp.
Did a so? I am glad I haue found the french man, now Ile
raise the street, but Ile haue my wares again, & prooue ye as ye were,
euer both false knaues I beleeue.
Exit sim.
Frau.
Kil him, stab him, out villaine, he wil betray vs all.
Vsu.
What a foole were you to speake before he was gone, now you
haue lost your part of this too, for he will goe complaine, you will bee
sought for, and I made to restore these things againe.
Fra.
Not if thou be wise, thou wilt not tarie the reckoning, for
seest thou not vs three? Dissimulation simony and my selfe?
Vsu.
Yes: What meanes these canuas suites? Will yee be
Sailers?
Fra.
Vsury make one, this is our intent: let's see that none heare
here is no liuing for vs in London, men are growen so full of conscience
and religion, that Fraud, Dissimulation and Simony are disciphered,
and being disciphered are also dispised: and therefore wee will
slip to the sea, and meet and ioine with the enemie, and if they conquere
as they may, for they are a great armie by report, our credite
may rise againe with them, if they faile and retire, we may either goe
with them and liue in Spaine, where we and such good fellowes are
tollerated and vsed, or come slily again hether, so long as none knows
but friends.
Vsu.
But wil you do thus you two?
Dis.
And thou too I hope, why, what should we do?
Vsu.
Whatsoeuer ye doe, be not traitors to your natiue countrie.
Simo.
Tis not our natiue countrie, thou knowest, I Simony am a
Roman, Dissimulation a Mongrel, half an Italian, halfe a Dutchman
Fraud so too, halfe French, and halfe Scottish: and thy parentes
were both Iewes, though thou wert borne in London, and here Vsury
thou art cried out against by the preachers: ioine with vs man to
better thy state, for in Spain preaching toucheth vs not.
Vsu.
To better my state, nay, to alter my state, for here where I
am, I know the gouernment, here can I liue for all their threatning, if
strangers preuaile, I know not their lawes nor their vsage, they may
bee oppressors, & take al I haue, and it is like they are so, for they seek
that's not their owne. Therfore here will I stay sure, to keepe what
I haue, rather than be a traitor vpon hap and had I wist: and stay you
if ye be wise, and pray as I pray, that the preachers and all other good
men may die, and then we shall flourish, but neuer trust to strangers
curtesie.
Fra.
We shal trust but to our friends & kin, yo'il not go with vs, yet
for old acquaintance keep counsel, betray vs not, for we'il be gone to
sea, I am affraid yen foolish knaue haue belaied the streets for vs.
Vsu.
Let me go afore ye, if any such thing be, Ile giue ye inkling.
Exit
Fra.
Do, farewel Vsury: and as he goes one way, we'il go another,
follow sirs, neuer trust a shrinker, if he be your owne brother.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter the three Lordes with their Pages and Fealtie a Herald before them, his coat hauing the armes of London before, and an Oliue tree behind.
Fealty, thou faithfull Herald of our towne,
Thou true truce-keeper, and sure friend in peace,
Take downe our shields, and giue them to our boies:
Now Fealty, prepare thy wits for war,
he deliuers them
To parlie with the proud Castillians
Approching fast the frontiers of our coast:
Wit, here, my Page in euerie message shall
Attend on thee, to note them and their deedes:
I need not tel thee, they are poore and proud,
Uaunters, vaineglorious, tyrants, truce-breakers,
Enuious, irefull, and ambitious,
For thou hast found their facing and their brags,
Their backes, their coffers, and their wealth, their rags,
But let me tell thee what we craue of thee,
To scanne with iudgment what their leaders be,
To note their presence and obserue their grace,
And truly to aduertise what they seeme,
Whether to be experienced in armes,
Or men of name those three that lead the rest,
the rest referre we to thy owne conceit,
Feal,
I hope in this my dutie to discharge, as heretofore
Simplicity, make a great noise within, and enter with three or four weaponed.
Simp.
Clubs, clubs, nay come neighbours come, for here they bee,
here I left them, arrant theeues, rogues, cosoners, I charge ye as you
wil answere, prehend them, for they haue vndone me, and robb'd me,
and made me the poorest free man that euer kept a ballad stall:
A Constable,
I charge ye keepe the peace and lay downe your weapons:
To the three Lords.
pomp,
Who rais'd this tumult? Speake, what meanes this stir?
simp.
O I am vndone, robb'd, spoil'd of all my stocke, let me see,
where be they? Keepe euerie street and doore, samine all that comes
for Fraud that cosoner.
pol,
Maisters, what meane you in these troublous times to keepe
this coile?
Const,
Alas my Lord, her's a poore man rob'd, or cosoned.
I am rob'd O my boies, my pretie boies, I am vndone, saw
ye no theeues, nor no craftie knaues, what be all these?
Wit.
Simplicity, away, these be our Lordes, offend them not for
feare.
Simp.
I seeke not them, I seeke for Fraud that rob'd me.
plea.
Go seeke els where, for here's no place for such.
Pol.
My friends depart, and qualifie this stir,
And see peace kept within the walles I charge ye.
Const.
I wil my Lord, come Simp. we came too late to find your
losses.
Exeunt.
simp.
Pray for me my boies, I think I shal hang my selfe I come
euer too late to speed.
pol.
Now Lordes, let Honors fire enflame our thoughtes,
And let vs arme our courage with our cause,
And so dispose our selues to welcome them,
Doe me the fauour (if I may intreat)
To be the first to front the foe in face,
The Uauntgard let be Pollicies this once,
Pompes the maine baittaile, pleasures the Rereward:
And so bestow vs if you thinke it good.
Pom.
I think it good, and time that it were done.
Plea.
I think it good, and wish the enemie come.
Enter Diligence.
Dil.
And here they come, as braue as Philips sonne,
And his Ephestion, woont to be arraied
In glittering gold, and party coloured plumes,
With curious pendents on their Lances fixt,
Their shieldes Ymprez'd with gilt copertiments,
Their Pages carelesse, plaieng at their backes,
As if with conquest they triumphing came.
Pol.
If they be conquer'd greater is their shame,
But Diligence go post alongst the coast,
To tell the newes, and looke to welcome them,
Let vs alone: My Lords you heare the newes,
More words were vaine, I know ye wel resolu'd.
Exit Dil.
Pom.
And here they come, Oh proud Castillians.
pol.
My Lordes, what meane these gallants to perfourme,
Come these Castilian Cowardes but to braue?
Doo all these mountaines moue to breede a mouse?
Fealty, goe fetch their answer resolute
How they dare be so bold, and what they dare doo here.
Shea.
What wouldst thou Herald?
As Feal. is going towards thē, they send foorth Sheal.
Fea.
Parlle with those three, Herald.
Shea.
They scorne to grace so meane a man as thou
with parlie or with presence.
Fea:
Do they scorne? what, are thy masters, Monarchs euerie one?
Or be they Gods? or rather be they Deuils?
Scorne they a Heraldes presence and his speech?
Name them, that I may knowe their mightines,
And so auoid of duties some neglect.
shea.
Monarches in minds, and Gods in high conceites,
That scorne you English, as the scomme of men,
Whom I ne dare without their license name,
Fore whom thy duties all are few and base,
Fea.
Imperious Spaniard, doo a Herald right.
Be thou my Trunke, that I my message may
through thee conueigh to them from London Lords.
shea.
Base English groome, from beggars sent belike,
Who for their mate thee malapert account,
Dare I (thinkst thou) these Lords magnificent,
Without their speciall pleasure vnderstood,
Once mooue with message, or with show of speach?
Fea.
More seruile thou to loose a Heraldes due,
That is in field a kinges companion,
But if thou dare not my Ambassage doo,
Stand by and stop not my accesse to them.
Shea.
Rather wil I returne and know their mindes.
Pol.
Now boy, what newes.
When Sheal. goes to thē, Wit goes to the 3. Lords of Lond.
Wit,
The fearful Herald of yen famous crue
Durst not your message to his maisters tell,
Til Fealtie with contumelious wordes,
(Yet was the Spaniard braue and hot in tearmes)
Enforced him for their answere resolute.
The Span. whisper with their Her.
Pom.
Which now belike our Herald shall receiue,
For theirs comes to him.
sheal.
It pleaseth them to be magnifical,
And of their speciall graces to vouchsafe
A counteruiew of Pages, and of shields,
And countermessage by vs Heraldes done:
A fauour which they seldome graunt to foes,
Go thou for those, I meete thee will with these.
Fea.
My Lords yen brauing Spaniards wish
A counteruiew of Pages and of shieldes,
But what they meane or be I know not yet:
Haply you may by their ymprezes view,
Or I by parlle some coniecture giue,
So please it you your pages and your shieldes
With me to send, their Herald comes with theirs.
pol.
Our shields I reck not, but to send our Wealth
Feal.
Accompanied with Wit and Will, no peril.
Pom.
It is my wealth, but keep him if they dare,
Ile fetch him double if they doo my Lordes,
Boies, take our sheildes and speares, for they come on.
Wit.
Uaile Spaniard, couch thy Launce and pendent both,
Knowest where thou art? Here wil we beare no braues
When the English boies meet the other, cause them to put downe the tops of their Lances, but they beare vp theirs.
Wea.
Downe with your point, no loft borne Lances here
By any stranger be he foe or friend.
Wil.
Wel doest thou note the couching of thy Lance,
Mine had ere this els goar'd your Spanish skin.
Feal.
Wel done my boies, but now all reuerence.
Shea.
Aduaunce againe your Launces now my boies.
hold vp again
S. Pride.
Dicito nobis ideo qui ades, quid sibi velint isthæc Emblemata?
Dicito (inquam) lingua materna: nos enim omnes belle intelligimus,
quamuis Anglicè loqui dedignamur.
Fea.
Then know Castillian Caualieros this,
The owners of these Emblemes are three Lordes
Those three that now are viewing of your shieldes,
Of London, our chiefe citie are they Lordes,
Pollicie, pompe, and pleasure be their names:
And they in honour of their mistresses,
Loue, Lucre, Conscience, London Ladies three,
Emblazoned these Scutchens, challenging
Whom durst compare, or challenge one of them,
And Pollicie a Tortoys hath Emprez'd,
Encompast with her shel, her natiue walles,
And prouidens securus is his word:
His page is Wit, his Maistresse Lady Loue.
pomp in his shield a Lilly hath pourtrai'd,
As paragon of beautie, and boone grace:
Glorie sauns peere his word, and true it is,
With Londons Pompe Castile cannot compare,
His Page is wealth, his maistresse Lucre hight.
Pleasure, the daintie of that famous towne,
A Faulcon hath emblazon'd, soaring hie,
To showe the pitch that Londons Pleasure flies:
His word Pour temps, yet neuer stoupes to traine,
But vnto Conscience, chosen for his deere.
S. Pride.
Buena buena per los Lutheranos Angleses.
Fea.
Mala, mala per Catholicos Castillianos.
Pol.
Loqueris Anglicè?
Shea.
Maximè Domine.
Pol.
Agedum, Go too then and declare thy Lords, their
shields, their pages, and their purpose.
Speak man, feare not, though Spain vse messengers il,
Tis Englands guise to entreat them curteously.
Shea.
Three Caualieros Castillianos here,
Without Compeeres in compasse of this world:
Are come to conquer, as ful wel they shal
this mool-hill Isle, that litle England hight,
With London that proud paltrie market towne,
And take those Dames Loue, Lucre, Conscience
Prisoners, to vse or force as pleaseth them.
The first (now quake) is Spanish Maiesty,
That for his ympreze giues Queene Iunoes Bird,
Whose traine is spangd with Argus hundred eies,
the Queene of Gods scornes not to grace him so.
His woord is Non par illi, none his like:
Yet is his page or hench-man Modesty,
Lucre the Lady that shal be his prize:
And in his pendent on his Lances point,
Sur le Ciel his word, aboue the heauens.
pol.
Whilome indeed aboue the heauens he was,
Could he haue kept him in that blessed state,
From thence for pride he fell to pit of paine,
And is he now become the pride of Spaine?
And so his page not Modesty but Shame.
Wel, on the rest.
sheal.
Don Honor is the next grand peere of spain,
Whose ympreze is a Courser saliant,
Of colour Sables, darkening aire and earth,
Pressing the Globe with his disdainfull foot.
And sallieng to aspire to rowling skies,
Non sufficit orbis is his haughtie woord,
The world sufficeth not high Honors thoughtes,
A hand is catching at the sunnie beames:
& gloriam Phœbi, and the Suns bright coatch,
Honor would guide, if he might haue his wil.
His Page is Action tempering stil with state.
pol.
Himselfe Ambition, whom the heauens do hate,
shea.
And Loue the Lady that he hopes to gaine,
pol.
His thoughts distract from foule distempered brain
Prooues him the verie firebrand of Spain:
And in his shield his blacke disordered beast,
Scaling the skies, scornfull to tread the ground,
And both his words, proud words prooue perfectly
Action his page to be but Treachery,
Euer attendant on Ambition: but to the third.
Sheal.
The third graund Caualiero is Gouernment,
Seuere in Iustice, and in iudgment deepe:
His ympreze is a naked Infant goar'd
Upon a Lance, signifing, seueritie.
His word, pour sangue, for blood of enemies
He bendes his forces: on his pendent is
A Tyger licking of a bleeding heart:
And Cura Cruor is the word thereon,
His care's for blood of those that dare resist:
Yet hight his Page that followes him, Regard,
and he for Conscience to this conquest comes.
pol.
The Gouernment of spaine is Tyrannie,
as doo his ympreze and his words declare,
His Page is Terror: for a Tyrant feares
His death, in diet, in his bed, in sleepe,
In conscience: Spight the Spanish tyrannie
Hath shed a sea of most vnguilty blood: Wel, what's the end?
Shea.
The end is best you yeeld, submitting you to mercy of these Lords.
Pom.
Before we fight? soft sir, ye braue too fast.
Castilians, know that Englishmen wil knock, but say,
Dooth Spanish Pride for Londons Lucre gape,
ple.
And would their Tyranny Conscience captiue haue?
pol:
Doth their Ambition Londons loue affect?
sheal.
All this they will, and pray vpon your towne,
alas, what's England to the power of spaine?
a Molehil, to be placed where it pleaseth them.
pom.
But in this Molehil many Plsmyres be,
All which will sting before they be remoou'd,
What is thy name?
sheal.
Shealty,
pol.
An Irish word, signifieng liberty, rather remisnes,
loosnes if ye wil, why hath thy coat a burning ship behind?
shea.
to signify ye burning of your fleet by vs Castilliās.
pol:
It rather means your common wealth's on fire,
about your eares, and you were best looke home,
a common wealth's compared to a ship,
If yours do flame, your countrey is hot, beware.
Feal.
I see Castilians, that you maruel much
at this same Embleme of the Oliue tree
Upon my backe: Lo this it signifies.
Spaine is in warres, but London liues in peace,
Your natiue fruit dooth wither on your soile,
and prospers where it neuer planted was.
This Londons Fealty dooth auouch for trueth,
Herald of war, and Porter of their peace,
Commaund ye me no seruice to my Lords.
S. Pride.
Quid tibi cum domini mox seruient miseri nobis: discede,
Feal.
Quid mihi cum dominis seruietis miseri meis?
pom.
shealty, say vnto yen Thrasos three.
The Lordes of London dare them to the field,
Pittieng their pride and their Ambition,
Scorning their Tiranny, and yet fearing this,
That they are come from home and dare not fight,
But if they dare in ioint or seueral armes,
Battaile or combat, him that Lucre seekes,
Your Spanish pride, him dare I from the rest.
ple.
That bloodie curre, your Spanish Tyranny,
That Londons Conscience would force with crueltie,
I challenge him for Conscience sake to fight,
a Lord of London, and I pleasure hight.
And shealty, when Citizens dare them thus,
Pol.
Say if thou wilt that Londons pollicy
Discernes that proud Ambition of spaine,
And for he comes enflamde with Londons loue,
In combat let him conquere me and haue her,
this is Loues fauour, I her seruant am.
pom.
This Lucres fauour, Pomp for her will fight.
Plea.
this Conscience fauour, she my mistresse is.
shea.
You crauen English on your donghils crowe.
Pom.
You Spanish Fesants crow vpon your pearch,
But when we fire your coates about your eares,
And take your shippes before your walled townes,
We make a donghill of yoour rotten boanes,
And cram our chickens with your graines of gold:
shea.
You will not yeeld?
ple,
Yes, the last moneth.
shea.
Farewel.
Retire Heraldes with the pages to their places.
S. Pride.
Vade.
pol.
Herald, how now?
Fea.
Yen proud Castillians looke for your seruice.
Pom.
So do we for theirs: but Fealtie, canst thou declare to me the
cause why all their pages follow them, when ours in showes do euer
goe before.
Fea.
In war they followe, and the Spaniard is warring in mind
pol.
But that's not now the cause, yen three are Pride, Ambition
Tyranny.
pride goes before, and shame comes after,
Treachery euer attendes vpon Ambiton:
And Terrour alwaies with a fearfull watch,
Doth wait vpon il conscienced Tyranny:
But why stay we to giue them space to breath:
Come, Courage, let vs charge them all at once.
Let the three Lordes passe towards the Spaniards, and the Spaniardes make show of comming forward and sodainly depart.
Pom.
What brauing cowards these Castillians be,
My Lordes let's hang our Scutchens vp againe,
To prooue if that may draw them to some deed,
Be it but to batter our ymprezed shieldes.
plea.
Agreed, here Fealty, hang them vp a space.
They hang vp their shieldes, and step out of sight. The Spaniardes come and flourish their rapiers neer them, but touch them not, & thē hang vp theirs, which the Lords of London perceiuing, take their owne and batter theirs: The Spaniards making a litle showe to rescue, do sodenly slippe away and come no more.
pol.
Facing, faint-hearted, proud and insolent,
That beare no edge within their painted sheaths,
That durst not strike our sillie patient shieldes.
Pom.
Up haue they set their owne, see if we dare
Batter on them, and beat their brauing Lordes.
ple.
Let them not yonder hang vnhackt, my Lords.
Pol.
With good aduise, that we be not surprised, and good enough.
pom.
My selfe wil onset giue on Prides, at your Peacocke sir.
plea.
At Tyrannies wil I bestow my blow, wishing the maister.
Pol.
I at Ambitions strike, haue at his pampered Iade.
Enter S. Pride.
S. Pride.
Fuoro Viliagos, fuoro Lutheranos Angleses, fuoro
sa, sa, sa.
Pom.
Their shieldes are ours, they fled away with shame,
But Lordings, whiles the stratagenm is fresh,
And memorie of thir misfortune greene,
Their hartes yet fainting with the nouell griefe,
Let vs pursue them flieng, if you say it,
Haply, we may preuent their passage yet.
pol.
With speed and heede the matter must be done,
ple.
Therefore you Pollicie shall our leader be.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter three Ladies and Nemo.
Ne.
The day is ours, faire Ladies let vs ioy,
The ioyfull day that all men may reioice,
Yet onely I am thankfull for this good.
And your good day at hand approcheth fast.
Wherein you shall be ioinde to three such Lordes,
Cannot with all their glorie match in worth,
Lucre, Lord Pomp a victor comes to thee:
Loue, looke thou for Lord pollicy aswell:
And Conscience for her well reformed Fere,
pleasure, that onely made his choice of her.
Upon that day triumphant shall we feast,
Wherein (Madames) your honors nil be least.
Lucre.
Against their comming might my read be hard,
Prepare would we garlands of Laurell greene,
To welcome them, more for the common good,
Than for affection priuate that we beare.
Loue.
To meet them comming wil not be amisse,
But what know we how they will take such work,
Con.
Report may be much more than there is cause,
We may them meete and greet with ioyfull heartes,
And make them garlands when we know their mindes.
Enter the three Lords with the Spanish Shieldes and Diligence
Ne.
And here they come with new ymprezed shields,
My Lords wel met, and welcome from your foes.
Lucre.
Lord pomp, wel met, and welcome home againe.
Loue.
Lord pollicy, wel met, and welcome home againe.
Con.
Lord pleasure, welcome with vnfained heart.
ple.
Faire ioy and Lady xx. thousand thankes.
pol.
Faire Loue, and Lady, twise as many thankes.
Pom.
Faire and beloued Lucre, though I speake last,
As kindly I thy welcome do accept,
As heart can thinke, pen write, or tongue can tell.
Ne.
Now speak my Lords, how haue ye sped?
pol.
Right wel: thanks vnto him yt gaue the day to vs,
The pride of Spaine was cloak'd with Maiestie,
And Shame his page, (nicknamed) Modestie,
Spanish Ambition, Honor would be cal'd,
And Treacherie his page, term'd Action.
Their Tyranny was cleped Gouernment,
Terror his page, was (falsly) nam'd Regard,
But God aboue hath giuen them their reward.
The onely prises purchast by vs now,
And those (faire Ladies) we present to you,
Loue, this is thine, and he that giues it thee.
Ne.
In lieu whereof your gift and her I giue
Againe to you, that merite more than both.
pol.
The greatest gift and good could me befall.
pom.
Fair lucre, loe, my present and my self.
Lucre.
Which I with Nemos license gladly take.
Ne.
Take her Lord pomp, I giue her vnto thee,
Wishing your good may ten times doubled be.
pom.
the wished good this world could giue to me.
ple.
Of dutie I (my deere) must giue thee this,
that art my comfort and my earthly blisse.
Ne.
Now Lords, I hope you are contented all,
pomp with his Lucre, pollicie with Loue:
pleasure with Conscience, ioy fall you from aboue:
And thus to you my promise is perfourm'd,
And I expect that yours aswell be kept,
That present preparation may be made
to honour those with holy mariage rites,
that I in presence of the world may giue
these as my daughters vnto you my sonnes.
Pol.
By my consent one day shal serue vs all,
Which shall be kept for euer festiuall.
pom.
And on that day in honor of these Dames,
these shields in triumph shall be borne about.
Plea.
with pageants, plaies, and what delights may be
to entertaine the time and companie.
Ne.
So it please you Lordings, me thinks it wer meet,
that the Ladies tooke care to prouide their owne toies.
My selfe neede to helpe them, who know their mindes well,
For I can keepe women both quiet and constant.
pol.
It pleaseth vs well that you wil take the paines.
Faire ones, for a while we betake you to your busines.
Pom.
Ladies, adue.
the Lords bring thē to the doore, & they go out & Ne. Fra. giues Pol. a paper, which he reads & then saies
ple.
Beloued, farewel.
Fra. giues Pol. a paper, which he reads & then saies
pol.
It seemes by this writing sir, you would serue me,
Is your name Skil? whom did you serue last?
An ill maister, my Lord, I serued none but my selfe.
pol.
Haue ye neuer serued any heretofore?
Fra.
Yes, diuers my Lord, both beyond sea and here with your patience,
my good Lord, not offending the same, I thinke I am your poore
kinsman, your Lordship, pollicy, and I Skil, if it like ye.
pol.
You say verie well, and it is verie like, I will answere yee anon.
Diss. giues Plea. a paper which he reades, and saies.
ple.
Is your name faire semblance that wish to serue me.
Dis.
Please it your Lordship, fair semblance, I am wel seen, though
I say it, in sundry languages, meet for your Lordship, or any noble seruice,
to teach diuers tongues, and other rare things.
Plea.
I like ye verie well, stay a while for your answere,
Enter Vsurie and giues a paper to Pompe which he reades, and saith,
pom.
Maister Vsury, I thanke ye that ye offer me your seruice, it
seemes to be for your old maistresse sake, Lady lucre, stay but a while,
I will answere you with reason.
The three Lords go together, and whisper, and call Diligence, Diligence goes out for a marking yron, and returnes.
Frau.
How now my hearts, think ye we shal speed.
pol.
Diligence, Come hether.
Vsu.
I cannot tell what you shal, but I am sure I shal.
Dis.
I am as like as anie of ye both.
Vsu.
Fraud.
Dis.
Whist man, he's Skil.
Vsu.
Skil, Why doest thou seeke to serue Lady Loue?
What profite wil that be?
Fra.
Tut hold thee content, Ile serue but a while, and serue mine
owne turne and away.
pom.
Maister Vsury come hether, you desire to serue me, you haue
done Lady Lucre good seruice you say, but it was against God and
Conscience you did it, neither euer in your life did ye anie thing for
Loue: Well to be short, serue me you shall not, and I would I could
banish you from London for euer, or keepe you cloase prisoner, but
that is not in me, but what is or may be, that strait you shall see: By
pollicies counsell this shall be done, Diligence bring that yron, helpe
me my Lords.
pol.
Giue me the yron Pomp, Cosen Skil help to hold him,
Fraud laies hold on him but Diss. slip away.
Sirra, pollicy giues you this marke, doo you see,
A litle x. standing in the midd'st of a great .C,
Meaning thereby to let all men vnderstand,
that you must not take aboue bare x. pound in the hūdred at any hand,
And that too much too, and so be packing quietly:
And know that Londons Pomp is not sustained by vsury,
But by well ventured marchandize and honest industrie.
Vsu.
I would I had neuer seene ye, if this be your curtesie.
Exit Vsurie.
pol,
Now Cosen Skil, alias, filthy Fraud,
No kinsman to Pollicie, nor friend to the state.
In steed of seruing me, Diligence take him to Newgate,
Aske not whie, sir, but Diligence if he doe striue,
Raise the street he's vnweaponed, and thou hast a weapon on:
And now Lordes when ye wil, about our affaires, let's be gone,
ple.
Agreed, but what's become of faire semblance my man.
pom.
A craftie villaine, perceiuing how we meant to Vsurie, slipt
away.
Enter Simplicitie in hast, and giue the Lords a paper to read.
Simp.
All hail, all raine, all frost, & all snow, be to you three Lordes
of London on a row:
Euen for Gods sake aboue, and three Ladies sakes below.
Frau.
M. Diligence, Do me fauour, you know I am a gentleman.
Dil.
Step aside til my Lordes be gone, Ile doo for you what I
can.
slip aside.
pom.
What's here my boy, what's here? pleasure, this suit is sure
to you, for it's mad stuffe, and I know not what it meanes.
ple.
Neither doe I: sirra, your writing is so intricate, that you must
speake your mind, otherwise, we shall not know your meaning.
pol.
You sue for three things here, and what be they tell them:
simp.
Cannot you three tell, and the suit to you three? I am glad a
simple fellow yet, can go beyond you three greate Lordes of London.
heare, for it is for the puppet like wealth, I would haue no new orders,
nor new sciences set vp in the citie, whereof I am a poore freeman,
and please ye, as ye may read in my bil ther, simplicity freeman.
But my Lords, I would haue three old trades, which are not for the
common wealth, put downe.
Ple.
And after all this circumstance, sir what be they?
simp.
they be not three what lacke yees, as what do yee lacke, fine
Lockerome, fine Canuas, or fine Holland cloath: or what lacke ye,
fine Ballades, fine Sonets: or what lacke ye, a purse or a glasse, or a
paire of fine kniues: but they be three, haue ye anies, which mee thinks
are neither sciences nor occupations, and if they be trades, they are very
malapert trades, and more than reason.
pol.
As how sir? Name them.
sim.
Wil you banish them as readily as I can name them?
the first is, haue ye any old yron, old male, or old harneis?
pom.
And what fault find ye with this?
simp.
What fault? I promise ye a great fault, what haue you or any
man els to doo to aske me if I haue any old yron? What if I haue, or
what if I haue not? Why should you be so saucie to aske?
plea.
Why foole, tis for thy good to giue thee money for that, that
might lie and rust by thee.
simp.
No my Lord, no. I may not call you foole: it is to marke the
houses where such stuffe is, that against rebels rise, there is harneis
and weapon ready for them in such and such houses, and what then?
the rustie weapon doth wound past surgerie, and kils the Queens good
subiects: & the rest of the old trash wil make them guns too, so it is good
luck to find old yron, but tis naught to keep it, and the trade is crafty,
and now my L. pollicy, I speak to you, t'were wel to put it downe.
pol.
Wisely said, which is your second? Is that as perillous?
simp.
Yea, and worse: It is, haue ye any ends of gold and siluer? this
is a perilous trade, couetous, and a ticement to murther, for, marke ye,
If they that aske this should be euill giuen, as Gods forbod, they see
who hath this gold and siluer, may not they come in the night breake
in at their houses, and cut their throates for it? I tell ye, gold and siluer
hath caused as much mischiefe to be done as that, down with it.
pom.
they that haue it need not shew it.
Sim,
tush, they need ask no such question, many a man hath delight
pol,
Now your third sir:
sim,
that is the craftiest of all, wherein I am disbus'd, for that goes
vnder the colour of simplicity, haue ye any wood to cleaue?
ple.
A perillous thing, what hurt is there in this sir?
Sim.
O do you not perceiue the subtiltie? why sir, the Woodmongers
hires these poore men to goe vp and downe with their betles & wedges
on their backs, crieng, haue ye any wood to cleaue, and laugh to see
them trauell so loden with wood and yron: now sir, if the poore men go
two or three daies and be not set a worke (as sometimes they doo) the
Woodmongers pay them and gaine by it, for then know they there's
no wood in the citie, then raise they the price of billets so hie, that the
poore can buy none. Now sir, if these fellowes were barr'd from asking,
whether there were wood to cleaue or not, the woodmongers need
not know but that there were wood, and so billets and fagots woulde
be sold al at one rate, downe with this trade, we shall sit a cold els my
Lords.
Ple.
I promise you a wise suit, and done with great discretion.
sim.
Yea, is it not? might ye not do wel to make me of your counsel
I beleeue I could spie moe faults in a weeke, than you could mend in
a moneth:
pol.
Wel, for these three faults the time serues not now to redresse:
sim.
No marie, for you three must be maried sodainly, and your feast
must be drest:
pom,
Against which feast, repaire you to Diligence, and hee shal
appoint you furniture and money, and a place in the show, till when
farewell.
Exeunt
sim.
Farewell my Lords, farewel my three Lords, and remember
that I haue set ech of yee a fault to mend: wel, Ile go seek M. Diligēce
that he may giue me forty pence against the feast sir reuerence:
Exit
Dil.
what is it M. Fraud, ye would demaund of me?
Dil. & Frau. step out
Frau.
Sir this you know, though your selfe be a man of good reckoning,
yet are yee knowen an officer vnto these three Lords, and what
discredit it were to me, being a noted man to passe through the streets
with you being officer, or if any of my friends should suspect me with
you, and dog vs, and see me committed to Newgate, I were vtterly
discredited, here is a purse sir, and in it two hundred Angels, looke sir,
you shall tell them.
Here are so indeed, what meane yee by this, I will not take
these to let ye escape.
deliuer Fraud the purse againe.
Fra.
I meane not so sir, nor I wil not giue halfe of them to be suffered
to scape, for I haue done no offence, though it please them to imprison
me, and it is but on commandement, I shal not stay long, but I
will geue you this purse and gold in pawne to be true prisoner, onely
giue me leaue to goe some other way, and home to my lodging, for my
bootes and other necessaries, for there Ile leaue word I am ridden out
of towne, and with al the hast that possibly I may, I wil meet you at
Newgate, and giue you an Angell for your curtesie; there is the purse.
Fraud giues him a purse like the other.
Dil.
I hazard (as you know) my Lords displeasure herein, and yet
to pleasure you I will venture this once, but I pray ye make hast that
I be not shent, I would not for ten Angels it were knowen.
Fra.
If I tarie aboue an hower, take that gold for your tarieng.
Exit.
Dil.
I do not feare that you'l forfeit so much for so litle cause.
Exit.
Enter Nemo with Desire, Delight, and Deuotion, the three Lordes of Lincolne.
Ne.
My Lords of Lincolne, haue you such tytle and such interest
To Loue, Lucre, and Conscience, as ye say?
Who gaue you leaue to haue accesse to them?
I am their father by adoption,
I neuer knew of Loue twixt them and you:
And to perpetuall prison they were doom'd,
From whence I onelie might deliuer them.
Which at the suit of three most matchlesse Lordes,
Their countrimen, in London bred as they,
I haue perfourm'd, and freed them from their bonds,
And yet haue bound them in their freedome too
To Pollicie, to pleasure, and to pomp,
Three Lords of London, whose they are in right,
Contracted wiues, and done by my consent,
And euen to morrow is the mariage day,
Except your comming stay or break it off,
I wil go call their Lords to answere you,
The (yvnder couert Baron) medle not.
Exit.
Fetch them Lord Nemo, we will here attend.
Delight.
Attend we may, but vnto litle end,
The Ladies are in hucksters handling now,
Deuo.
I would I had my time in praieng spent,
That I in woing Conscience did consume.
Enter the three Lordes of London and Nemo.
Desire.
Here come the Lords, let's show good countenance
man.
Pom.
Yet more adoe before we can inioy
The ioies of mariage with our mistresses?
Be these the Lords that tytle doo pretend?
My Lords of Lincolne, so we heare you be.
What are your names?
Del.
Deuotion, Desire, and Delight.
pom.
Which comes for Lucre?
Desire.
I Desire.
ple.
Which for Conscience?
Deuo.
I Deuotion.
pol.
Which for Loue?
Del.
I Delight.
pol.
You shall be answered straight.
ple.
I can answere them quickly: ye cannot haue them,
nor ye shall not haue them.
pol.
Stay pleasure, soft: My Lord Desire, you Lucre seeke,
Desire of lucre (be it without reproch to you my Lord) is couetousnes
which cannot be seperated long from that: read my Lord.
Point to the stone of Care.
Desire.
In golden letters on this stone is written Care.
pol.
Care with desire of lucre well agrees, the rather for that
Londons Lucre may not be seperated from Londons Pompe, so you
may take that stone if ye will, but the Lady you cannot haue.
Desire.
And a stone is a cold comfor in steed of Lucre.
pol.
Deuotion to Conscience (I speake now to you my Lord that
are learned) is sorrow for sinne, or in one word read.
point to the stone of Remorse.
Deuot.
On this sweating stone in brasse is set Remorse.
pol.
And that is your portion, for Conscience is bestowed on Londons
vse and admit, and what time they bestowe therein, and to what end:
so my Lord Deuotion, either that or nothing.
Deuo.
A stone is a hard lot in steed of a Ladie.
pol.
My Lord Delight, that do delight in Loue, you must I loue, for
making choice of mine. Loue is my portion, and that Flint is yours.
Del.
Here in lead is written, Charitie: and what of this?
pol.
If you be (as I doubt not) honest delight in loue, then in the
best sence, you can haue but Charitie, if you be (which I suspect not) other
Delight in Loue, you must be noted for Concupiscence, and that
you will blush to be: wel Charitie is your best, then that is your portion:
For, marke ye, Londons pollicy ioines with Londons Loue: to
shew, that all our pollicie is for loue of Londons common wealth: and
so our loue cannot be seperate from our pollicy, you beare this.
Delight.
A Flint's a hard change for so faire a wife.
pol.
And thus Lords, Desire of Lucre may take Care,
Deuotion of Conscience may haue Remorse, and Delight of Loue
may haue Charitie, other recompence none.
ple.
And so we three leaue you three with Care, Remorse, & charity.
Exeunt.
Desire.
With Care and Remorse I sweare, ye doo leaue vs, but
what charitie I cannot tell.
Deuot.
Wel, yet must we vse Charity though we faile of our desire,
and we are answered with such reason as is not to be gainsaid.
Del.
Indeed my Lord your calling is to perswade to Charity, but
if I vse patience, it shall be perforce.
Deuo.
Yet being so wisely warn'd, me thinks wee should be arm'd
And take this in worth, that the world wonder no further, I wil take
vp my hard burden of Remorse and be gone.
Exit
Desire.
It is good to follow examples of good, Ile take this heauy
burden of Care, and follow as I may.
Exit
Del.
Because Ile not be singular, Ile frame my selfe to follow, taking
this cold portion of Charitie as my share.
exit
Enter Simplicity with Diligence.
Simp.
Come on M. Didligence, I haue bene seeking ye, as a man
should seek a load of hay in a needles eie.
Dil.
And why hast thou sought me (I pray thee) so earnestly?
Why? For this ointment, these shels, these pictures, do ye not
know this Countus mountus cum this da mihi?
Dil.
What money, why? Do I owe thee any money?
Simp.
Owe me? Tush, no man, what do ye talke of owing? Come,
and yet I must haue some certaine sigillatum & deliberatum in præsentia.
Doo you not vnderstand sir? Fourty pence and furniture by my
Lord pompes pointment, against the wedding day: to bee one of the
show-makers, I doe not say shoo-makers, and yet they be honest
men.
Dil.
I vnderstand thee now, and thou shalt want neither mony nor
furniture for that: sawest thou not Fraud lately?
Sim.
No, a Fox ferit him, for if I could find him, I would make him
fast ynough for cosoning me of ten shillings for certain copper buttons
and rings, I thought to haue bene a haberdasher, and he hath made me
worse than a hay-maker.
Dil.
I may say to thee in counsell, but Ile haue no words of it, hee
hath ouerreacht me too: but if thou spie him first, let me vnderstand,
and if I see him first thou shalt haue knowledge, for Ile tell thee, but
laugh not, he shewed me a purse with a hūdred pound in Angels, which
he would deliuer me in pawne to be my true prisoner, because for his
credite, he was loth to goe with me through the streetes to Newgate:
I refused it at first, but at last by his intreatie I was content to take
his pawne, and thinking he had giuen me the right purse of golde, he
had another like it, which he gaue me with counters, and so went away,
I neuer did see him since, but mum, no words of it.
simp.
No words quoth a, that's a stale iest, would you be coson'd so?
Dil.
Wel, so it is now, come follow me for thy furniture and money.
exeunt
Enter Dissimulation and Fraud in caps, and as the rest must be for the showe.
Dis.
The coast is cleare, come follow Fraud and feare not, for who
can discipher vs in this disguise, thus may we shufle into the showe
with the rest, and see and not be seene, doing as they doo, that are attired
like our selues.
Fra.
That is, to stand amongst them, and take as they take, torches
or any thing to furnish the showe, now if we we can passe but this day
vnseene, let to morrow shift for it selfe as it may, I promise thee Dissimulation
thou art verie formall.
Not more than thy self Fraud, I would thou sawest thy picture
Frau.
Picture here, picture there, let's follow our busines.
Exeunt.
Enter a Wench singing.
To grace the gaiest wedding that euer was seene.
Except it was when best it might, in welcome of our Queene:
Three louely Lords of London shall three London Ladies wed,
Strowe sweetest flowers vpon the stones, perfume the bridall bed.
Enter first Diligence with a Truncheon, then a boy with Pollicies Launce and shield, then Pollicie and Loue hand in hand: then Fraud in a blew gowne, red cap and red sleeues, with Ambitions Lance and shield, then a boy with Pomps Launce and shield, then Pompe and Lucre hand in hand: then Dissimulation with Prides Launce and shield, then a boy with Pleasures Lance and shield: then Pleasure and Conscience hand in hand: then Simplicitie with Tirannies Lance and shield: they al going out, Nemo staies and speakes.
Ne.
An honoured action to solemnize there,
With greater ioy wil they return anone,
Than Cæsar did in Rome his Laurell weare.
Lord pollicy hath Loue vnto his Fere,
Lord pompe hath Lucre to maintaine his port,
Lord pleasure Conscience to direct his sport.
Dissimulation like a shadow fleetes,
And Simony is out of knowledge growen,
And Fraud vnfound in London but by fits.
Simplicity with painefull penurie sits,
For Hospitality that was woont to feed him,
But had few friendes (alas) if he had any,
But Vsury which cut his throat as than
Was succoured, and sued for by many.
Would Liberality had bene by thy side,
Then Hospitality, thou hadst neuer died.
But what meane I, one of the mariage traine,
To mourne for him wil nere be had againe.
His Ghost may walke to mocke the people rude:
Ghostes are but shadowes, and doe sense delude:
I talke too long, for loe this louelie crue
Are comming backe, and haue perfourm'd their due.
Returne as they went, sauing that the blew gownes that bare shields, must now beare torches: Simplicity going about, spies Fraud, and falleth on his knees before Pleasure and Conscience, saieng.
Simp.
O Lady Conscience that art maried to Lord pleasure,
Help thy seruant simplicity to recouer his lost treasure:
A boone my Lords, all for Loue and Lucre sake,
Euen as you are true Lordes, help a false lout to take,
plea.
Thou shalt haue helpe, speake, what is the matter?
simp.
See you yen fellow with the torch in his hand?
One the falsest villaine that is in this land,
Let him be laid hold on that he run not away,
And then yee shall heare what I haue to say.
ple.
Diligence bring him hether, good Lordes and Ladies stay.
simp.
O Maister Fraud, welcome to the buts,
Now Ile haue my ten shillings in spite of your guts,
The French Canker consume ye, you were an old Frenchman,
Da goll buttoone, goll renga, bugla lase, you coson'd me than,
My Lords I beseech ye that at tyborne he may totter,
For in steed of gold, the villaine sold me copper.
plea.
Is this true M. Skil?
Fra.
It is true in a sort my Lord, I thought to bee pleasant with
him being my old acquaince, and disguis'd my selfe like an old French
sport for ten shillings, which money I am content to pay him againe
so shall he haue no losse though he haue made a litle sport.
ple.
First giue him an Angell before my face. Simplicity, art thou
pleased?
Sim.
Truly I am pleas'd to take a good Angell for ten shillinges,
speciouslie of such a debter as M. Fraud: but now I am to bee pleas'd
otherwise, that is, to see him punished, I promise yee the people loue
him wel, for they would leaue work and make halfe holiday to see him
hanged.
ple.
That his punishment may please thee the better, thou shalt punish
him thy selfe: he shall be bound fast to yen post, and thou shalt bee
blindfold, and with thy torch shalt run as it were at tilt, charging thy
light against his lips, and so (if thou canst) burne out his tongue, that
it neuer speake more guile.
Sim.
O Singulariter Nominatiuo, wise Lord pleasure: Genetiuo
bind him to that poste, Datiuo, giue me my torch, Accusat. For I say
he's a cosoner. Vocat. O giue me roome to run at him. Ablat. take and
blind me. Pluraliter, per omnes casus. Laugh all you to see mee in my
choller adust to burne and to broile that false Fraud to dust.
Bind Fraud, blind Simplicity, turne him thrise about, set his face towards the contrarie post, at which he runnes, and all to burnes it, Dis. standing behind Fraud, vnbindes him, and whiles all the rest behold Simp. they two slip away: Pleasure missing Fraud saith.
plea.
Wisely perfourm'd, but soft sirs, where is Fraud? O noble villaine,
gone whiles we beheld the other: Who loosed him? Who let him
slip? wel, one day he wil pay for all: vnblind Simplicity.
Simp.
How now, Haue I heated his lips? haue I warm'd his nose?
and scortched his face? Let me see, how lookes the villaine? Haue I
burned him?
Dil.
Thou hast done more, for thou hast quite consumed him into
nothing, looke, here is no signe of him, no not so much as his ashes.
Simp.
Uerie few ashes if there be any, ye may see what a hot thing
anger is, I thinke that the Torch did not waste him so much as my
wrath: wel, al London, nay, al England is beholding to me, for putting
Fraud out of this world, I haue consum'd him & brought him to nothing
t no more Frauds shal euer spring of them: But let me see, I shal haue much anger, for the Tanners wil
misse him in their lether, the Tailors in cutting out of garments, the
Shoo-maker in closing, the Tapsters in filling pots, and the verie oistermen
to mingle their oisters at Billinsgate, yet it is no matter the
world is well rid of such a craftie knaue.
plea.
Well now thou art satisfied, I wish all here as wel contented,
And we my Lords that praise this happie day,
Fall wee on knees and humbly let vs pray,
pom.
First that from heauen vpon our gratious Queene,
All maner blessings may be multiplied,
That as her raigne most prosperous hath bene,
During worlds length so may it stil abide,
And after that with saintes be glorified.
Lord graunt her here health, hearts-ease, ioy and mirth.
And heauen at last, after long life on earth.
pol,
Her counsel wise, and Nobles of this land
Blesse, and preserue O Lord with thy right hand.
plea.
On all the rest that in this Land doo dwell,
Chiefly in London, Lord poure downe thy grace,
Who liuing in thy feare and dying well,
In heauen with Angels they may haue a place.
| The pleasant and Stately Morall, of the three Lords and three Ladies of London | |