in A Trick to Catch the Old One — Middleton, Thomas
Metadata
Play
A Trick to Catch the Old One
Author
Middleton, Thomas
Year (catalogued)
1608
First performance
1605
Decade
1600s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Boys Professional
Company
Children of Paul's (second)
Speech prefix(es)
Sam. | Sa.
Words
369
Characters
1829
Typicality
0.23 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A07511
BritDrama no.
1467
Cluster
Cluster 6 — Battlefield messengers & soldiers
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
A word good Signior. It's given me to understand, that you are a rival of mine in the love of Mistress Joyce, master Hoards Niece: say me I, say me no. Then look to your self, you cannot live long, Ime practicing every morning, a month hence I'll challenge you. O, o—what reason had you for that sir to strike be before the mouth, you knew I was not ready for you, and that made you so cranck, I am not such a coward to strike again I warrant you, my ear has the law of her side for it burns hor ribly, I will teach him to strike a naked face, the longest day of his life, slid it shall cost me some money, but I'll bring this box into the Chancery. I am a Gentleman now too, by my father's occupation, and I see no reason but I may kiss a widow by my Father's Copy, truly I think the Charter is not against it, surely these are the words, the Son once a Gentleman, may revel it, though his father were a dauber, 'tis about the 15 page,—isle to her— Coades-Nigs, I was never so disgracest, since the hour my mother whipped me. Is it a tragedy plot, or a comedy plot, good mother. How mother. Truly I thank they for it. Thank you for your good will mother, but in deed I had rather have a Stranger: and if I woe her not in that Violent fashion, that I will make her be glad to take these gifts ere I leave her, let me never be called the heir of your body. I'll quickly make a Bolt, or a shaft ont. Oh man in lamentation father? I warrant, you may hear him sighs in a still evening to your house at Hyegate. Were it to do a greater matter, I will not stick with you sir, in regard you married my Mother? Couze ̄ Wit-good ? I rejoice in my salute, your most welcome to this Noble City governed with the sword in the Scabbard, He thumps his breast Like a gallant Dicer that has lost his doublet, and stands in's shirt to do penance:
Plot summary
Plot — A Trick to Catch the Old One
The spendthrift Witgood has mortgaged all his lands to his uncle, Lucre, but he is still in debt, and fear of his creditors keeps him away from London. Nevertheless he must go there if he is to make his fortune by marrying Joyce, the wealthy niece to Lucre’s enemy Walkadine Hoard. He conspires with Jane, a courtesan, to give the impression that he now has good prospects: she poses as a rich country widow who plans to marry him. Lucre’s attitude to his nephew is immediately transformed: hoping to acquire the widow’s lands too after the wedding, he denies the existence of the mortgage and lends Witgood money for new clothes. News of the widow also attracts Witgood’s creditors, but he persuades them that if they are over-attentive they will break his engagement, and thereby wreck their chances of repayment: the widow must continue to believe him to be financially secure. To that end, they eagerly agree to lend him even more money. Meanwhile Jane herself is a magnet for suitors, including the young men who were earlier trying to woo the reluctant Joyce, who is only interested in Witgood. Hoard throws his hat in the ring, bringing gentlemen to give Witgood a bad testimonial and discredit Lucre’s claims that there is no mortgage. Jane denies that she has any lands, but Hoard takes it for winsomeness and insists that her love is all that matters. They arrange an elopement; she absconds from Witgood at a tavern and marries Hoard. Lucre intervenes, not knowing he is too late, and gets her to promise that she will not change her marital status until he has made matters good by returning his nephew’s mortgage, which he duly does before witnesses. On discovering that he has been tricked, he initiates a law-suit, alleging that the widow’s marriage to Hoard is invalidated by a pre-contract to Witgood. Hearing that he has lost the widow, Witgood’s creditors have him arrested. Jane persuades Hoard to pay his debts and secure his release in exchange for his signature on a legal document renouncing any marital claim on her. Hoard drives a hard bargain with the creditors, but Witgood is duly freed. He secretly marries Joyce and delights his uncle with the truth that Hoard has married a whore. Hoard himself learns this when his brother comes from the country to attend the nuptial celebrations, and recognizes Jane. Jane points out that Hoard has only his own avarice to blame: she never misrepresented herself as having ===== PAGE 206 ===== 206 | 1467.A Trick to Catch the Old…