University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The Wood.
Enter Clause, meeting Hubert.
Hub.
Old sir, you are well encountered thus alone.
Gerrard! nay, do not start nor fear me;
I know you, and he knows you that best loves you.
Hubert speaks to you, and you must be Gerrard,
The time invites you to it.

Clause.
Challeng'd thus, I throw aside reserve, and trust your honour.
I'm glad to see you, sir, and I am Gerrard;
How stand our hopes?

Hub.
Fair, if you now pursue 'em—
Hempskirke I have let go—

Clause.
Releas'd him!

Hub.
Ay, sir,
Gull'd him and sent him home as a decoy,
To draw lord Wolfort hither, with his guards,
To seize (so he'll expect) all the old lords,
Who stood between him and a safe possession
Of Flanders' earldom—an hour hence he meets me,
West of the plain, by the broad oak; what use
I make of these proceedings for our ends,
This paper shews—a counterpart whereof
I've lodg'd in Vandunk's hands, our sworn ally,
Your comrades come—I'll fall into my duty,
And wait your answer—the secret is not yet
Ripe for their knowledge.

[Retires.
Enter Prig, Higgen, Ginks, Snap, and Ferret.
Clause.
Now, what's the news in town?

Ginks.
No news but joy, sir.
Every man wooing of the noble merchant,
Who sends his hearty commendations to you.

Fer.
Yes, this is news, this night he's to be married.

Prig.
By the mass, that's true, he marries Vandunk's daughter,
The dainty black-ey'd Dell.

Clause.
Married to Vandunk's daughter!

Ginks.
'Tis very true, sir.

Hig.
Oh the pies! the piping hot mince pies!

Prig.
The fine fat poultry!

Hig.
For one leg of a goose now, would I venture
A limb, boys! I love a fat goose as I love
Allegiance; but, hark ye, brother Prig, shall we
Do nothing in the 'foresaid wedding? there's money
To be got, and meat too, I take it.
What think you of a morris?

Clause.
To Vandunk's daughter! no, he must not marry.

Prig.
A morris!—No, by no means, that goes no farther than the street,
There leaves us; now we must think of something
That may draw us into the bowels of it, into the
Buttery, the kitchen, and the cellar—something
Which that old jolly burgomaster loves—what
Think you of a wassail?

Hig.
I think worthily.
Then will I make a speech, and a brave one,
In praise of merchants.

Prig.
And I'll so roar
Catches of glee, and wedding songs, the notes
Shall make the glasses totter 'gainst each other,
And gingle into chorus.

Clause.
I do rejoice in it—'tis passing well.

[To Hub.
Hub.
An hour hence—

Clause.
I'll be ready.

Hub.
These our comrades
I have especial need of.

Clause.
They are yours.
I shall give order—hear me, all; keep in,
Till this your huntsman call ye forth, then do
His bidding faithfully—till he appear,
No man stir hence, I charge ye.

Prig.
Not to the wedding, sir?

Clause.
Not any where.

Hig.
The wedding must be seen, sir; we want meat,
We're horribly out of meat.

Clause.
Not a word more—obey.

[Exeunt Clause and Hub.
Prig.
Nay, an there be a wedding, and we shut out—

AIR.
[Prig.]

Hig.

Prig.

Hig.