FLORIDA

With draw, leave us, we would be private: Sister what think you of this trade of ours? 'Tis base to abuse great place, or baseness to de ceiue great trust. Yes if great birth abused not us: if Piso had not proved the thief and robbed us of our right, to had been worse then theft in us to rob our selves of honour: yowl say we are forbid to live by sin, and yet we are commanded seek to live: the letter law express forbids to kill, and yet the sense permits it rather then be killed: & since of two extremities the least is to be chosen, you know we have no other means to live, but had we, yet we are fair by nature, scorning Art, and was not beauty made to be enjoyed? do we not exclaim on those who have abundant store of Coin, and yet for want suffer the nee die perish at their door? so might all do on us, having so much beauty, if we should suffer men for love of us to die; shall we in whom beauty keeps her court be curbed and tide to one men benevolence? no, no, not I: rather then in virtue to live poor, in sin I'll die. We accept it, have read it, you are beholding to the knight, and he hath spared no pains to make your worthy parts well known to us: draw near us, hence forth we accept you as our own, and so we bid you welcome: are you a Gentleman? You are the more welcome, and our bounty shall deserve your industry. Give me a bow, I'll hit the Sun. I, but thats a costly dish, and will ask rich saw cing. Whats the news now at Court Fleir? No not a whit. I think tha'rt mad, I prithee tell us what they say. Faith that was not much amiss said they no worse? Why we are Courtesans. Gentlemen you all both have, and ever shall be welcome. My Lord, what you lend me, with much interest shall be repayed. Fare you well; refused. Are we in private? Faith a woes with lines that might persuade anon there thought, not me, which isle lend your eyes, upon the Like received courtesy from you. What have we here? Lady I know the nobleness of your disposition defends you from the least Spark of baseness, wherefore I invocate every particu lar virtue of yours to be mediators to your best judgement for my better estimation in your love, my affection is zealous, my intent honourable, my desire marriage: thus desiring your resolved answer, I rest. Ever at your disposure: lack Have-little Knight. Lady I know the nobleness of your disposition defends you from the least Spark of baseness, wherefore I invocate every particu lar virtue of yours to be mediators to your best judgement for my better estimation in your love, my affection is zealous, my intent honourable, my desire marriage: thus desiring your resolved answer, I rest. Upon my life some friend did pen it for the fool. Oh none will break a Sacrament to heap up perjury on other sins, when death & hell stands gaping for their souls. If they do, 'tis known, we loved Spark, and Ruffel, and men will think they killed a'm for our loves, since they lived in our favour these in disgrace. Worth? let me see, she hath three yellow peer wigs of her own: she hath a Fan with a short silver handle about the length of a Barbors siring; she has a Lookingglass too, but that has played the prodigal Citizen with her, 'tis broken, and much other goods of the same nam ture. Gentlemen, we have some small discourse which a little requires secrecy, therefore if it please you to walk in, and make use of our better rooms, we will not long be absent from you. Worthy Lord, do not think immodesty in me though contrary to the bashful habit of my sex, I am enforced by loves almighty power, to reveal the see cretes of my heart. Your Letters have so much pre veiled with me, that in a word I must confess I love you. No we your tongue goes Like a well tuned Instru meant, and makes my heart within my bosom dance with joy to hear such large requital of my love: but duist you to maintain this your affection, although it were with some danger of your life? Spark. Oh no I'll reveal it then, unless you first do swear and take a Sacrament, what ever hap to keep our names untouched. No more canst thou hit true felicity. Faith well Madam, were not your Citizens, such hea vie head fellows: But what say they of us? But I prethe tell us, what do they say of us? I tell thee no. I tell thee thou shalt not. No a'my word. What pagan rogues be these? were they but roasted Larks for my sake, I would crush em bones and all. Why are we whores? He has given you a difference now. Did they say so? He hold my life this slave the Servingman, that was with me this morning, has bragged of my kindness to him. Well, isle never have Servingman touch any linnin of mine again. I, at my Laundresses, or else not: but what a rascal's this? by this light, isle never suffer servingman come near me again. We doubt it not. I prithee Fleire inform us how the tide of opinion runs on us, least we be drowned in the slanderous imagi nations of the world. But does not the Gentlemen jest at him? But if yowl consent I have a project laid, that in re quitall both of them shall die. Pray Sister what moving lines of love has your Knight touched your affection with? You powers divine, I know do plainly see, Heavens starry eyes sees all our villainy: And God in Justice murder will reveal, But were I now, my life for to begin, Idem be and honest wife to you, wherefore forgive me dearest Lord. But look who's here? As your Midwife, or Barber Surgeon Madam; Me thinks they have a strange fashion here, they take money with their wives, and give money to their wenches. But how dost Like the Court Fleir? I prethe Fleir, how goes the report of us two a broad? I offered you unasked. Partly they have, and partly not, for I would have you know, my function seldom sells affection: what though I have evil lived? repentant tears can wash away my sin, which isle poor forth Like drops of winter rain, and now henceforth, ever I'll this life abhor, and to the earth my knees isle daily bow, to get mercy from heaven, love from you. Disdained. Adyes. Oh would he were! but whosoere he be, a must be made a match to give fire to the hell black powder of our revenge, yet your love: the wise Knight and he, are two in one, there are no such friends as they. Then shall be thus: these two being earnest suitors for our loves, weel grant upon condition, that suddenly they murder Spark and Ruffell, but first to take the Sancram meant if ever it be known, os known it'll be, to keep our names unspotted in the Actium; this being done, Health to our best esteemed friends, Master Spark and Master Ruffell. Alas, if you knew all, t'is your own good, not mine: and yet I lie, t'is my good too, since my life depends upon your safety. Oh let me embrace so deer a spirit in so deer a bo some: and since you have bound your self by promise, I will be plain, there are two that hate you two, because we love you, and often have persuaded us by gifts and large protestations to have us love them if they killed you. Nay t'is too true; for while you lived, they said there was no hope for them to look for any love from us: now we poor silly women, fearing least they without consent of us, should do that which their would tread does intend, we think it fit prevention first be used, by giving them to drink of what themselves have brude. No, so you may miss them, and they kill you. Make them drink their last. You two shall make a banquet, and in a cup of Wine a health shall pass. He was sent to Doctor Ferrio, and we never saw him since. This is his hand indeed. Why then 'tis your profession, you need not be a shamed of your trade. Come then, I would have you go about the prepa ration of the feast. I hope yowl not condemn me for my love. Disdain the Daughter of such a Signior. Let him draw near us. I shall have enough to do then I hope, I have herd of one woman hath served ten men, but I never herd that one man should be preferred to serve two women before: you're and Englishman. So I thought indeed, you cannot poison so well as we Italians, but yowl find a means to bring a man out of his life as soon. Gods light serve two women quoth you? I have not yet been seven days here, and yet I see that grieves my very soul: my Daughters, my Ladies I must say now, make lust, labour for their maintenance, & this foolish natio ̄ will sell their goods, their lands, nay their very souls for nights delights and momentary sports, which Like to lightning appears, and vanishes ere one can say 'tis come: but then repentance sticks close. There was a fellow with one of my Ladies this morning, and the poor slave has but seven shillings a week board wages, and yet he has given six on't for a bit of extraordinary flesh, well: God give him the grace to pray, for a must fast. I asked the hight slave why a did not marry since a could not bridle his lust? and a told me a had rather fall into the Sur gions mercy, then the world's beggary; well, I see it can not be denied, mercenary women are necessary members: they pluck down the pride of the flesh, yet are not proud themselves, for thei'le be as familiar with the men as with the Master: they do as many good deeds as some Friars that puts one to penance for his sins, they put twenty to pains: he out of charity sends one to the Hospital once a year, they send twenty to the Surgeons once a month. Say he bids men repent, they make a'm repent, yet for all this some will call a'm damned Punks: well, if they be damned, theile not be damned gratis Like your young cou ̄ try Gentlemen, nor in hugger mugger Like your Citizens wife with her Prentice. They can practice without and oh uerseer: they scorn to have a Suburban Bawed lend am a Taffaty gown, & they (Like your common Players) let men come in for two pence a piece, and yet themselves to have but the tenth penny, Like the tenth Pig, yet faith the trade is a good trade: They for swear not themselves, in commendation of their wares, as your common Trades men do, swearing they cannot afford it at the price. They are no proverb breakers: beware the buyer say they, you shall have enough for your money, if half will not serve your turn take the whole, measure by your own yard, you shall have Winchester measure. I was somewhat bold with one of their Ladyships this morning, & asked her why woe men went to the generating sport all the year, since beasts themselves went too't but once? And she answered me, be cause they were women, & had reason to know what was good for themselves, and so had not beasts: but soft, here comes Signior Petoune. Women Signior, women: I herd what a rash Gen tleman you are to forswear your Mistress company in the very heat of your affection. A Sumner, why? Well said Caulfe, hast been a sucking all this while for that jest? no, I have and honourable place, I am one of their leaders, for their shoes are so High, and their heals so short if they should not beled, thei'd play domestic tricks a broad, and show all. By this hand, not unless the Rogue kiss his hand first. Excellent news i'faith, excellent news, then the Court will grow rich. Nay, then theres some hope theile prove honest woe men. Why your private punk would leave being a punk, rather then be private to one man for nothing, and then if all men were Like thee, they would be honest, for thou hast nothing to give am. A procurer! whats that? And when will he give the Devil his Due? Faith sir in the nature of a Munkie, that flatters and fawns, and shakes his tail in his Mistress lap: but i'faith Gallants, whither are you two bound now? I sure my Lord, for there was no man to tempt her but her husband. I, I, who i'st? A Coward? why thats his only virtue, for a Coward abuseth no man, but a makes him satisfaction: for if a wro ̄ g all men, a gives all men leave to beat him, he's Like a whet stone, he sets and edge on another, & yet a will not cut him self. Who? I? with all my heart, but what i'st sir? what i'st? But I assure you, you may better praise the length of her nails. Good comparisons, for a man comes no sooner into a Tavern, but he's welcome, and the operation of the pot makes him not able to stand when he comes out. Oh no, why a woman hath nine Cats lives, a woman hath more lives then a horse hath diseases, and she will be sometime in as many minds in and hour, as she has lives. When she's left a rich Merchants Widow, come monly, and hath many suitors, she will in her mind marry three or four and fifty of a'm in and afternoon, and three score more, when she goes to bed, yet in the morning sheele have none of them all, but go to Church before day, and marry her Prentice for the good service a did her in her Husbands time. Theres and ounce will cost you a French crown sir. Are you towards him sir? Why then my Lord, this is all we can say, this Lord and knight feasted diverse of us their friends, but four of us he drenched with such a dram which soon made two discharge the debt they owd to nature. I care not greatly sir, if I spoke with every man here. Because England would not come into Italy to me? Why I am Yeaman ath' Jurden, Gentleman ath' smock and Squire of entertainment: for when your Gallants ap proch, I take their in comb, for if I stay till their out come, the devil a bit of any silver sir can I get: for your new made Gallants lay all on the back and spend all ath belly. Like two musk-cast in a Coop. Oh sir, a Meddler-tree, a Meddler-tree. Two twins? that's all one, come, come, you shall serue'am. She did, she did my Lord. But she is so much worn my Lord, she's not worth turning now. I my Lord, tail to her game, Like a buzard hauk, or so: His love to her? what Signior, in love with my La die Ancient? Because she carries her colours for her, but 'tis in a box: but signior you shall have a good match on't, though she be not rich, yet she's and ancient woman, and is able to get her living, by midwifery, and I can tell ye 'tis not the worst trade going, considering how young and old, and all do their good wills to set them a work, and 'tis a good hearing, better they get then the Lawyers, for your mid wives live by the agreement between party and party, & the falling in of lovers, but the Lawyers live by the fall ling out of friends. But you may not say the sweetness of her breath, for that stinks. All sorts, all nations, and all trades: there is first Master Gallant your Britain, Master Metheglins your Welshman, Mounsieur Mustroome the Frenchman: Signi or Fumada the Spaniard, Master Oscabath the Irishman: and Master Shamrough his Lackey, Oh and Master Slopdra gone the Dutchman. Then for your Tradesmen, there comes first Master Saluberrimum the Physician, Master Smooth the Silkman, Master Thimble the Taylor, Master Blade the Cutler, and Master Rowell the Spurrier: but Master Match the Gunner of Towerhill comes often; he has taught my Ladies to make fireworks, they can deal in Chambers already, as well as all the Gunners that make am fly off with a train at Lambeth, when ̄ the Mayor and Aldermen land at Westminster: but come Signior, you have Tobacco, and isle give you a Cup of Muld-sacke and weel ene go drink a health to our Mistress's. T'is true my little musicians, you carry but the cases my little curtals, i'faith I smell a smock here too, and are you two wenches i'faith? No, as I am true Italian born. But what didst thou see in hell? Two twins! what were they? But when will she have am home, that she may be rid of am. I marry Sir, I Like when it comes to choosing. Nay, I have two or three Offices too. Pheu, they? why they keep a little court. Faith but yesterday, where I saw a Farmers Son fit newly made a courtier, that sat in the presence at cards, as familiar as if the chair of state had been made of a piece of his father's Barn-door: Oh 'tis a shame: I would have state be state in earnest and in game, I Like your Courtier for no thing but often saying his prayers. But whats the news now abroad Master Ruffell? Why then your Courtier will not bestow his more nigh in buying the Merchant's idle commodities to lie with his wife. Then let them sweat for't. If they strive against the stream. As your common Cockatrice, that receives the see crets of every man. That's because I am no Taylor, for if I were, thou wouldst entreat me to trust thee. Sir, sir, doy' hear, doy' think they are no worse? Oh sir, I they may be private Punks: why I tell you he that takes up his private Punks linnin, were better take up any commodity about the Town: if it a come moditie of Mousetrappes, a should not lose much by the bargain. By this light now, were I a notable Rogue, should I deny my profession, why, I am a procurer sir. But look you sir, pray will you tell me one thing now. Are you a Whoremaster or a Thief, for one of them ime sure you are. Nay, then you are a thief too, thats certain, for your whoremaster always filcheth for victuals, for you know flesh is men food, marry sir you cannot be hanged for't, 'tis but pettilassarie at most, but you may chance be whipped for't and burned too; but not ith' hand Signior, not ith' hand. By my troth I took him for a Conjurer, when I first saw him, a talked so much of his soul and the Devil. And what said the Knight, what said he? Faith me thinks your English Ladies were very gallant Creatures, had they not one fault. I have hend say, they will rise sooner, and go with more devotion to see and extraordinary execution, then to hear a Sermon. I, and they sat bore faced too, for fear the little fleet holes of their masks should not give their eyes room y nough for such a prospect: one Lady thrust her head so far out at a window, with greedy desire to see all, that the whole body was Like to follow, making a forked tree with her head down, had neither Gentleman Usher, contrary to the nature of his office, catched hold of her behind. Eve, Eve my Lord, she was honest. Why my Lord, were you never a Soldier? Oh my Lord, love her? why she's a whore. And by my faith that will do well. Thats certain, but she has a very moist nose, you may praise her for that: but my Gallants why are you such strangers at our little Court? How's that sir? The more fool he? why your good Client is but Like your Study gown, sits in the cold himself, to keep the Lawyer warm. Faith my fee's are Like a puny Clerks, a penny a sheet. No, not so, isle tell you how't shall be, hark in your ears. Put it into a little wine, and drink it, 'twill bring you into a long sleep. Oh sir, I, in many things the better the worse. Do you know his hand Ladies? Of Aratines pictures.