Beggars Bush: A Comedy

SCENE III

Enter Goswin, 4. Merchants, Higgen, and Prigg.

1 Mer. Nay, if 'twould do you courtesie.Gos. None at all, Sir: Take it, 'tis yours, there's your ten thousand for ye,Give in my Bills. Your sixteen.3 Mer. Pray be pleas'd Sir To make a further use.Gos. No.3 Mer. What I have, Sir, You may command; pray let me be your Servant.Gos. Put your Hats on: I care not for your courtesies,They are most untimely done, and no truth in 'em.2 Mer. I have a fraught of Pepper.Gos. Rot your Pepper, Shall I trust you again? there's your seven thousand.4 Mer. Or if you want fine Sugar, 'tis but sending.Gos. No, I can send to Barbary, those peopleThat never yet knew faith, have nobler freedoms:These carry to Vanlock, and take my Bills in,To Peter Zuten these: bring back my Jewels,Why are these pieces?

Enter Sayler.

Sayler. Health to the noble Merchant, The Susan is return'd.Gos. Well?Say. Well, and rich Sir, And now put in.Gos. Heaven thou hast heard my prayers.Say. The brave Rebeccah too, bound from the Straits,With the next Tide is ready to put after.Gos. What news o'th' fly-boat?Say. If this Wind hold till midnight,She will be here, and wealthy, 'scap'd fairly.Gos. How, prithee, Sayler?Say. Thus Sir, she had fightSeven hours together, with six Turkish Gallies,And she fought bravely; but at length was boardedAnd overlaid with strength: when presentlyComes boring up the wind Captain Vannoke,That valiant Gentleman, you redeem'd from prison;He knew the Boat, set in, and fought it bravely:Beat all the Gallies off, sunk three, redeem'd her,And as a service to ye sent her home Sir.Gos. An honest noble Captain, and a thankfull;There's for thy news: go drink the Merchants health, Saylor.Say. I thank your bounty, and I'le do it to a doyt, Sir. [Exit Saylor.1 Mer. What miracles are pour'd upon this fellow!Gos. This here I hope, my friends, I shall scape prison,For all your cares to catch me.2 Mer. You may please Sir To think of your poor servants in displeasure,Whose all they have, goods, moneys, are at your service.Gos. I thank you,When I have need of you I shall forget you:You are paid I hope.All. We joy in your good fortunes.

Enter Van-dunck.

Van-d. Come Sir, come take your ease, you must go homeWith me, yonder is one weeps and howls.Gos. Alas how does she?Van-d. She will be better soon I hope.Gos. Why soon Sir?Van-d. Why when you have her in your arms, this nightMy boy she is thy wife.Gos. With all my heart I take her.Van-d. We have prepar'd, all thy friends will be there,And all my Rooms shall smoak to see the revel;Thou hast been wrong'd, and no more shall my serviceWait on the knave her Uncle, I have heard all,All his baits for my Boy, but thou shalt have her;Hast thou dispatch't thy business?Gos. Most.Van-d. By the mass Boy,Thou tumblest now in wealth, and I joy in it,Thou art the best Boy, that Bruges ever nourish'd.Thou hast been sad, I'le cheer thee up with Sack,And when thou art lusty I'le fling thee to thy Mistris.She'I hug thee, sirrah.Gos. I long to see it,I had forgot you: there's for you my friends:You had but heavy burthens; commend my loveTo my best love, all the love I haveTo honest Clause, shortly I will thank him better. [Exit.Hig. By the mass a royal Merchant,Gold by the handfull, here will be sport soon, Prig.Prig. It partly seems so, and here will I be in a trice.Hig. And I boy, Away apace, we are look'd for.Prig. Oh these bak'd meats,Me thinks I smell them hither.Hig. Thy mouth waters. [Exeunt.

SCENA IV

Enter Hubert, and Hemskirk.

Hub. I Must not.Hem. Why? 'tis in thy power to do it, and in mineTo reward thee to thy wishes.Hub. I dare not, nor I will not.Hem. Gentle Huntsman,Though thou hast kept me hard: though in thy duty,Which is requir'd to do it, th' hast used me stubbornly;I can forgive thee freely.Hub. You the Earls servant?Hem. I swear I am near as his own thoughts to him;Able to doe thee—Hub. Come, come, leave your prating.Hem. If thou dar'st but try.Hub. I thank you heartily, you will beThe first man that will hang me, a sweet recompence,I could do, but I do not say I will,To any honest fellow that would think on't,And be a benefactor.Hem. If it be not recompenc'd, and to thy own desires,If within these ten days I do not make thee—Hub. What, a false knave!Hem. Prethee, prethee conceive me [rightly], any thingOf profit or of place that may advance thee.Hub. Why what a Goosecap would'st thou make me,Do not I know that men in misery will promiseAny thing, more than their lives can reach at?Hem. Believe me Huntsman,There shall not one short syllableThat comes from me, passWithout its full performance.Hub. Say you so Sir? Have ye e're a good place for my quality?Hem. A thousand Chases, Forests, Parks:I'le make thee Chief ranger over all the games.Hub. When?Hem. Presently.Hub. This may provoke me: and yet to prove a knave too.Hem. 'Tis to prove honest: 'tis to do good service,Service for him thou art sworn to, for thy Prince,Then for thy self that good; what fool would live here,Poor, and in misery, subject to all dangers,Law, and lewd people can inflict, when bravelyAnd to himself he may be law and credit?Hub. Shall I believe thee?Hem. As that thou holdst most holy.Hub. Ye may play tricks.Hem. Then let me never live more.Hub. Then you shall see Sir, I will do a serviceThat shall deserve indeed.Hem. 'Tis well said, Huntsman,And thou shall be well thought of.Hub. I will do it: 'tis not your setting free, for that's meer nothing,But such a service, if the Earl be noble,He shall for ever love me.Hem. What is't Huntsman?Hub. Do you know any of these people live here?Hem. No.Hub. You are a fool then: here be those, to have 'em,I know the Earl so well, would make him caper.Hem. Any of the old Lords that rebel'd?Hub. Peace, all, I know 'em every one, and can betray 'em.Hem. But wilt thou doe this service?[Hub.] If you'l keep Your faith, and free word to me.Hem. Wilt thou swear me?Hub. No, no, I will believe ye: more than that too,Here's the right heir.Hem. O honest, honest huntsman!Hub. Now, how to get these Gallants, there's the matter,You will be constant, 'tis no work for me else.Hem. Will the Sun shine again?Hub. The way to get 'em.Hem. Propound it, and it shall be done.Hub. No sleight;(For they are Devilish crafty, it concerns 'em,)Nor reconcilement, (for they dare not trust neither)Must doe this trick.Hem. By force?Hub. I, that must doe it.And with the person of the Earl himself,Authority (and mighty) must come on 'em:Or else in vain: and thus I would have ye do it.To morrow-night be here: a hundred men will bear 'em,(So he be there, for he's both wise and valiant,And with his terrour will strike dead their forces)The hour be twelve a Clock, now for a guideTo draw ye without danger on these persons,The woods being thick, and hard to hit, my selfWith some few with me, made unto our purpose,Beyond the wood, upon the plain, will wait yeBy the great Oak.Hem. I know it: keep thy faith huntsman,And such a showr of wealth—Hub. I warrant ye: Miss nothing that I tell ye.Hem. No.Hub. Farewel;You have your liberty, now use it wisely;And keep your hour, goe closer about the wood there,For fear they spy you.Hem. Well.Hub. And bring no noise with ye. [Exit.Hem. All shall be done to th' purpose: farewel hunts-man.

Enter Gerrard, Higgen, Prig, Ginks, Snap, Ferret.

Ger. Now, what's the news in town?Ginks. No news, but joy Sir;Every man wooing of the noble Merchant,Who has his hearty commendations to ye.Fer. Yes this is news, this night he's to be married.Ginks. By th' mass that's true, he marrys Vandunks Daughter,The dainty black-ey'd bell.Hig. I would my clapperHung in his baldrick, a what a peal could I Ring?Ger. Married?Ginks. 'Tis very true Sir, O the pyes,The piping-hot mince-pyes!Prig. O the Plum-pottage!Hig. For one leg of a goose now would I venture a limb boys,I love a fat goose, as I love allegiance,And–upon the Boors, too well they know it,And therefore starve their poultry.Ger. To be married To Vandunks Daughter?Hig. O this [pretious] Merchant:What sport he will have! but hark you brother Prig,Shall we do nothing in the foresaid wedding?There's mony to be got, and meat I take it,What think ye of a morise?Prig. No, by no means,That goes no further than the street, there leaves us,Now we must think of something that must draw usInto the bowels of it, into th' buttery,Into the Kitchin, into the Cellar, somethingThat that old drunken Burgo-master loves,What think ye of a wassel?Hig. I think worthily.Prig. And very fit it should be, thou, and Ferret,And Ginks to sing the Song:I for the structure,Which is the bowl.Hig. Which must be up-sey English, Strong, lusty London beer; let's think more of it.Ger. He must not marry.

Enter Hubert.

Hub. By your leave in private, One word Sir, with ye;Gerrard: do not start me, I know ye, and he knows ye, that best loves ye:Hubert speaks to ye, and you must be Gerrard.The time invites you to it.Ger. Make no show then, I am glad to see you Sir; and I am Gerrard. How stand affairs?Hub. Fair, if ye dare now follow, HemskirkI have let goe, and these my causes,I'le tell ye privately, and how I have wrought him,And then to prove me honest to my friends,Look upon these directions, you have seen his.Hig. Then will I speak a speech, and a brave speechIn praise of Merchants, where's the Ape?Prig. – Take him,A gowty Bear-ward stole him the other day.Hig. May his Bears worry him, that Ape had paid it,What dainty tricks! – O that bursen Bear-ward:In his French doublet, with his blister'd bullions,In a long stock ty'd up; O how daintilyWould I have made him wait, and shift a trencher,Carry a cup of wine? ten thousand stinksWait on thy mangy hide, thou lowzy Bear-ward.Ger. 'Tis passing well, I both believe and joy in't,And will be ready: keep you here the mean while,And keep in, I must a while forsake ye,Upon mine anger no man stir, this two hours.Hig. Not to the wedding Sir?Ger. Not any whither.Hig. The wedding must be seen sir; we want meat too.We are horrible out of meat.Prig. Shall it be spoken,Fat Capons shak't their tails at's in defiance?And turkey tombs such honorable monuments,Shall piggs, Sir, that the Parsons self would envy,And dainty Ducks—Ger. Not a word more, obey me. [Exit Ger.Hig. Why then come dolefull death, this is flat tyranny,And by this hand—Hub. What?Hig. I'le goe sleep upon't. [Exit Hig.Prig. Nay, and there be a wedding, and we wanting,Farewel our happy days: we do obey Sir. [Exeunt.

SCENA V

Enter two young Merchants.

1 Mer. Well met Sir, you are for this lusty wedding.2 Mer. I am so, so are you I take it.1 Mer. Yes,And it much glads me, that to doe him serviceWho is the honour of our trade, and lustre,We meet thus happily.2 Mer. He's a noble fellow,And well becomes a bride of such a beauty.1 Mer. She is passing fair indeed, long may their lovesContinue like their youths, in spring of sweetness,All the young Merchants will be hereNo doubt on't,For he that comes not to attend this wedding,The curse of a most blind one fall upon him,A loud wife, and a lazie: here's Vanlock.

Enter Vanlock and Francis.

Vanl. Well overtaken Gentlemen: save ye.1 Mer. The same to you sir; save ye fair Mistris Francis,I would this happy night might make you blush too.Vanl. She dreams apace.Fran. That's but a drowsie fortune.3 Mer. Nay take us with ye too; we come to that end,I am sure ye are for the wedding.Vanl. Hand and heart man:And what their feet can doe, I could have tript itBefore this whorson gout.

Enter Clause.

Clau. Bless ye Masters.Vanl. Clause? how now Clause? thou art come to see thy Master,(And a good master he is to all poor people)In all his joy, 'tis honestly done of thee.Clau. Long may he live sir, but my business now isIf you would please to doe it, and to him too.

Enter Goswin.

Vanl. He's here himself.Gos. Stand at the door my friends?I pray walk in: welcom fair Mistris Francis,See what the house affords, there's a young LadyWill bid you welcom.Vanl. We joy your happiness. [Exeunt.Gos. I hope it will be so: Clause nobly welcom,My honest, my best friend, I have been carefullTo see thy monys—Clau. Sir, that brought not me,Do you know this Ring again?Gos. Thou hadst it of me.Cla. And do you well remember yet, the boun you gave meUpon the return of this?Gos. Yes, and I grant it,Be it what it will: ask what thou canst, I'le do it;Within my power.Cla. Ye are not married yet?Gos. No.Cla. Faith I shall ask you that that will disturb ye,But I must put ye to your promise.Gos. Do, And if I faint and flinch in't—Cla. Well said Master,And yet it grieves me too: and yet it must be.Gos. Prethee distrust me not.Cla. You must not marry,That's part of the power you gave me: which to make up,You must presently depart, and follow me.Gos. Not marry, Clause?Cla. Not if you keep your promise,And give me power to ask.Gos. Pre'thee think better, I will obey, by Heaven.Cla. I have thought the best, SirGos. Give me thy reason, do'st thou fear her honesty?Cla. Chaste as the ice, for any thing I know, Sir.Gos. Why should'st thou light on that then? to what purpose?Cla. I must not now discover.Gos. Must not marry? Shall I break now when my poor heart is pawn'd?When all the preparation?Cla. Now or never.Gos. Come, 'tis not that thou would'st: thou do'st but fright me.Cla. Upon my soul it is, Sir, and I bind ye.Gos. Clause, can'st thou be so cruel?Cla. You may break, Sir,But never more in my thoughts appear honest.Gos. Did'st ever see her?Cla. No.Gos. She is such a thing,O Clause, she is such a wonder, such a mirror,For beauty, and fair vertue, Europe has not:Why hast thou made me happy, to undo me?But look upon her; then if thy heart relent not,I'le quit her presently: who waits there?Ser. [within] Sir.Gos. Bid my fair love come hither, and the Company.Prethee be good unto me; take a mans heartAnd look upon her truly: take a friends heartAnd feel what misery must follow this.Cla. Take you a noble heart and keep your promise;I forsook all I had, to make you happy.

Enter Gertrude, Vandunk, and the rest Merchants.

Can that thing call'd a Woman, stop your goodness?Gos. Look there she is, deal with me as thou wilt now,Did'st ever see a fairer?Cla. She is most goodly.Gos. Pray ye stand still.Ger. What ails my love?Gos. Didst thou ever,By the fair light of Heave[n], behold a sweeter?O that thou knew'st but love, or ever felt him,Look well, look narrowly upon her beauties.1 Mer. Sure h'as some strange design in hand, he starts so.2 Mer. This Beggar has a strong power over his pleasure.Gos. View all her body,Cla. 'Tis exact and excellent.Gos. Is she a thing then to be lost thus lightly?Her mind is ten times sweeter, ten times nobler,And but to hear her speak, a Paradise,And such a love she bears to me, a chaste love,A vertuous, fair, and fruitful love: 'tis now tooI am ready to enjoy it; the Priest ready, Clause,To say the holy words shall make us happy,This is a cruelty beyond mans study,All these are ready, all our joyes are ready,And all the expectation of our friends,'Twill be her death to do it.Cla. Let her dye then.Gos. Thou canst not: 'tis impossible.Cla. It must be.Gos. 'Twill kill me too, 'twill murder me: by heaven ClauseI'le give thee half I have; come thou shalt save me.Cla. Then you must go with me: I can stay no longer,If ye be true, and noble.Gos. Hard heart, I'le follow:Pray ye all go in again, and pray be merry,I have a weighty business, (give my Cloak there,)

Enter Servant (with a Cloak.)

Concerns my life, and state, (make no enquiry,)This present hour befaln me: with the soonestI shall be here again: nay pray go in, Sir,And take them with you, 'tis but a night lost, Gentlemen.Van. Come, come in, we will not lose our meat yet,Nor our good mirth, he cannot stay long from her, I am sure of that.Gos. I will not stay; believe, Sir. [Exit.Gertrude, a word with you.Ger. Why is this stop, Sir?Gos. I have no more time left me, but to kiss thee,And tell thee this, I am ever thine: farewel wench. [Exit.Ger. And is that all your Ceremony? Is this a wedding?Are all my hopes and prayers turn'd to nothing?Well, I will say no more, nor sigh, nor sorrow;Till to thy face I prove thee false. Ah me! [Exit.

ACTUS QUINTUS. SCENA PRIMA

Enter Gertrude, and a Boor.

Ger. Lead, if thou thinkst we are right: why dost thou makeThese often stands? thou saidst thou knewst the way.Bo. Fear nothing, I do know it: would 'twere homeward.Ger. Wrought from me by a Beggar? at the timeThat most should tye him? 'tis some other LoveThat hath a more command on his affections,And he that fetcht him, a disguised Agent,Not what he personated; for his fashionWas more familiar with him, and more powerfulThan one that ask'd an alms: I must find outOne, if not both: kind darkness be my shrowd,And cover loves too curious search in me,For yet, suspicion, I would not name thee.Bo. Mistris, it grows somewhat pretty and dark.Ger. What then?Bo. Nay, nothing; do not think I am afraid,Although perhaps you are.Ger. I am not, forward.Bo. Sure but you are? give me your hand, fear nothing.There's one leg in the wood, do not pull me backward:What a sweat one on's are in, you or I?Pray God it do not prove the plague; yet sureIt has infected me; for I sweat too,It runs out at my knees, feel, feel, I pray you.Ger. What ails the fellow?Bo. Hark, hark I beseech you,Do you hear nothing?Ger. No.Bo. List: a wild Hog,He grunts: now 'tis a Bear: this wood is full of 'em,And now, a Wolf, Mistress, a Wolf, a Wolf,It is the howling of a Wolf.Ger. The braying of an Ass, is it not?Bo. Oh, now one has me;Oh my left haunch, farewel.Ger. Look to your Shanks,Your Breech is safe enough, the Wolf's a Fern-brake.Bo. But see, see, see, there is a Serpent in it;It has eyes as broad as Platters; it spits fire;Now it creeps towards us, help me to say my Prayers:It hath swallowed me almost, my breath is stopt;I cannot speak: do I speak Mistress? tell me.Ger. Why, thou strange timerous Sot, canst thou perceiveAny thing i'th' Bush but a poor Glo-worm?Bo. It may be 'tis but a Glo-worm now, but 'twillGrow to a Fire-drake presently.Ger. Come thou from it:I have a precious guide of you, and a courteous,That gives me leave to lead my self the way thus.Bo. It thunders, you hear that now?Ger. I hear one hollow.Bo. 'Tis thunder, thunder:See, a Flash of Lightning:Are you not blasted Mistress? pull your Mask off,It has plaid the Barber with me here: I have lostMy Beard, my Beard, pray God you be not shaven,'Twill spoil your Marriage Mistress.Ger. What strange Wonders Fear fancies in a Coward!Bo. Now the Earth opens.Ger. Prithee hold thy peace.Bo. Will you on then?Ger. Both love and jealousie have made me bold,Where my Fate leads me, I must go. [Exit.Bo. God be with you then.

Enter Woolfort, Hemskirk, and Attendants.

Hem. It was the Fellow sure, he that should guide me,The Hunts-man that did hollow us.Woolf. Best make a stand, And listen to his next: Ha!Hem. Who goes there?Bo. Mistress, I am taken.Hem. Mistress? Look forth Souldiers.Woolf. What are you Sirrah?Bo. Truly all is leftOf a poor Boor, by day-light, by night no body,You might have spar'd your Drum, and Guns, and Pikes tooFor I am none that will stand out Sir, I.You may take me in with a walking Stick,Even when you please, and hold me with a packthred.Hem. What woman was't you call'd to?Bo. Woman! none Sir.Woolf. None! did you not name Mistress?Bo. Yes, but she'sNo woman yet: she should have been this night,But that a Beggar stole away her Bridegroom,Whom we were going to make hue and cry after;I tell you true Sir, she should ha' been married to day;And was the Bride and all; but in came Clause,The old lame Beggar, and whips up Mr GoswinUnder his arm; away with him as a Kite,Or an old Fox would swoop away a Gosling.Hem. 'Tis she, 'tis she, 'tis she: Niece?Ger. Ha!Hem. She Sir,This was a noble entrance to your fortune,That being on the point thus to be married,Upon her venture here, you should surprise her.Woolf. I begin, Hemskirk, to believe my fate,Works to my ends.Hem. Yes Sir, and this adds trustUnto the fellow our guide, who assur'd me FlorezLiv'd in some Merchants shape, as Gerrard didI' the old Beggars, and that he would useHim for the train, to call the other forth;All which we find is done—That's he again— [Holla again.Woolf. Good, we sent out to meet him.Hem. Here's the Oak.Ger. I am miserably lost, thus falnInto my Uncles hands from all my hopes,Can I not think away my self and dye?

Enter Hubert, Higgen, Prig, Ferret, Snap, Ginks like Boors.

Hub. I like your habits well: they are safe, stand close.Hig. But what's the action we are for now? Ha!Robbing a Ripper of his Fish.Prig. Or taking A Poulterer Prisoner, without ransome, Bullyes?Hig. Or cutting off a Convoy of Butter?Fer. Or surprizing a Boors ken, for granting cheats!Prig. Or cackling Cheats?Hig. Or Mergery-praters, Rogers,And Tibs o'th' Buttery?Prig. O I could drive a RegimentOf Geese afore me, such a night as this,Ten Leagues with my Hat and Staff, and not a hissHeard, nor a wing of my Troops disordered.Hig. Tell us,If it be milling of a lag of duds,The fetching of a back of cloaths or so;We are horribly out of linnen.Hub. No such matter.Hig. Let me alone with the Farmers dog,If you have a mind to the cheese-loft; 'tis but thus,And he is a silenc'd Mastiff, during pleasure.Hub. Would it would please you to be silent.Hig. Mum.Woolf. Who's there?Hub. A friend, the Hunts-man.Hem. O 'tis he.Hub. I have kept touch Sir, which is the Earl of these?Will he know a man now?Hem. This my Lord's the Friend,Hath undertook the service.Hub. If't be worthHis Lordships thanks anon, when 'tis doneLording, I'll look for't, a rude Wood-man,I know how to pitch my toils, drive in my game:And I have don't, both Florez and his FatherOld Gerrard, with Lord Arnold of Benthuisen,Cozen, and Jaculin, young Florez's Sister:I have 'em all.Woolf. Thou speak'st too much, too happy,To carry faith with it.Hub. I can bring you Where you shall see, and find 'em.Woolf. We will doubleWhat ever Hemskirk then hath promis'd thee.Hub. And I'll deserve it treble: what horse ha' you?Woolf. A hundred. That's well: ready to takeUpon surprise of 'em.Hem. Yes.Hub. Divide thenYour force into five Squadrons; for there areSo many out-lets, ways through the woodThat issue from the place where they are lodg'd:Five several ways, of all which Passages,We must possess our selves, to round 'em in;For by one starting hole they'll all escape else:I and 4. Boors here to me will be guides,The Squadron where you are, my self will lead:And that they may be more secure, I'll useMy wonted whoops, and hollows, as I wereA hunting for 'em; which will make them restCareless of any noise, and be a directionTo the other guides, how we approach 'em still.Woolf. 'Tis order'd well, and relisheth the Souldier;Make the division Hemskirk; you are my charge,Fair One, I'll look to you.Boo. Shall no body needTo look to me? I'll look unto my self.Hub. 'Tis but this, remember.Hig. Say, 'tis done, Boy. [Exeunt.