FRAUD

How happy may we call this merry day my mates, Wherein we meet, that once were desperate, I think, ever to have seen one another, when Nemo that upright Judge had by impriso ning our Mistress's, banished us (by setting such dilige ̄ to watch for us) out of London, and almost out of the world. But live we yet? And are we met? and near our old seat? Usury is it thou? Let me see, or hath some other stolen thy face? Speakest thou man? But what means Dissimulation ? He droops me thinks, What cheer man? Why cousin, frolic a fit, art thou not glad of this meeting? What's the cause of thy melancholy? How sir, whats that? Art not thou Simplicity ? Sirrah, bridle your tongue if you'il be welcome to our c mpany No girds nor old grudges, but congratulate this meeting, And sirs, if you say it, let's tell how we have lived since our parting. Yet again sirrah. Usury, as for Thee it were folly to ask, for thou livest but too well, but Dissimulation and simony, how have you two lived? discourse I pray you heartily. And for mine own partly, amongst artificers and among a few bade cons ienced Lawyers, I have found such ente tainment, as doth pass, yet would I with Lucre feign be S I was. Here's a good fellow too, one of our acquaintance, how hast thou lived Simplicity ? Hadst thou a stock to set up withal? You are a wiseman when your nose is in the cup, but soft who comes here? step we close aside, for these be the three Ladies for my life brought out of prison by their k eper, let us be whist and we shall hear and S e all, Sirrah you must say nothing. Ladies unmasked, blush not for base attire, Here are none but friends and servants all, deer Lady Lucre, Dearer unto us than daily breath we draw from sweetest air; Dearer then life, dearer then heaven it self, Deign to discover those alluring lamps, Those lovely eyes more clear than Venus Star, Whose bright aspects world's wonder do produce, Unveil I say that, beauty more divine, than Nature (save in Thee) did ever paint: that we sworn slaves unto our mistr sse, may Once more behold those stately lovely looks, And do those duties which us well beseems, Such duties as we all desire to do. Lucre, to honour Thee with wit, with worth, with life, with all I have, to be thy servant as I was before, to get Thee clothes, and what thou wantest else. Make you a suit, you may chance to speed better: If you mean us, we may be even with ye too. No, not dwell with such a beggar as Conscience. That scurvy Conscience works us all the spite: Me lack Dam moons pour de frene very seen Franche knack Dam feene gold buttoone, de brave bugla lace, a Dam feene gold ring , you be free man, me Un' Fortiner, you buy a me beware, you gain teen pound by lay out teen shelleng . Look you dear mastra de seen buttoone de la gold, de ring de gold, de bugla sheane, two shelleng d'un dozen de buttoone, d'un shel linga d'un Ring, 'tis worth x, shelleng, but mastra & matressa me mus sa make money to go over in my own country, but me lose teen pound pour hast to go next tied or to morrow. Déer mastra, o pouer necessity maka me selpour grand, grand lose, you shall gein x. pound at least, gor boy. Mechant, I think I am even with you now for calling me Oh stler, you'il thrive well with such bargains, if you buy, ye know not what, Fraud hath fitted you with worse than your ballads. We, so good goll as you pay for: Adieu Monster. Exit. What's the matter Usury, that this poor knave cries so: Fraud ? You villain, call me not by my name, and you shall see I will speak to him to l to you go free: Usury, of all old fellowship let this poor knave pack, if the matter be not too heinous. But thou didst not sell them, didst thou? That was more than they be Worth, I promise Thee a foul matter, well, thou must lose thy beware and be glad to escape, so Usury, at my request you shall let the poor man go. Usury, thank me for this go worser booty, for it is I that holy you to it, for I should them to him for gold indeed in the shape of and old French artificer, come give me half for I deserve it, for my partly was the first beginning of this Comedy, I was ever afraid, least the fool should have known me, for you see now though disguised, he call me by my name. Kill him, stab him, out villain, he will betray us all. And ill master, my Lord, I served none but my self. How now my hearts, think you we shall speed. M. Diligence, Do me favour, you know I am a gentleman. Sir this you know, though your self be a man of good recko ning, yet are ye known and offi er unto these thr e Lords, and what discredit it were to me, being a noted m n to pass through the streets with you being officer, or if any of my friends should suspect me with you, and dog us, and see me committed to Newgate, I were utterly discredited, here is a purse sir, and in it two hundred Angels, look sir, you shall tell them. Picture here, picture there, let's follow our business. Exeunt. In token that this meeting is joyful to us all, Let us embrace altogether with hearts joy and affection. Marry geppe goody Conscience, indeed I do you wrong, But I'll quickly right it, my cloak shall not cumber you long. Do you long to lose your ears, be gone you foolish knave. Not if thou be wise, thou wilt not tarry the reckoning, for seest thou not us three? Dissimulation simony and my self? Usury make one, this is our intent: let's see that none hear us now: the Spaniards are coming thou hearest with great power, here is no living for us in London, men are grown so full of consci ence and religion, that Fraud, Dissimulation and Simony are disci phered, and being deciphered are also despised: and therefore we will slip to the sea, and meet and join with the enemy, and if they con quere as they may, for they are a great army by report, our credit may rise again with them, if they fail and retire, we may either go with them and live in Spain, where we and such good fellows are tolerated and used, or come sitly again hither, so long as none knows but friends. We shall trust but to our friends & kin, yo'il not go with us, yet for old acquaintance ke p counsel, betray us not, for we'il be gone to sea, I am afraid Then foolish knave have belayed the streets for us. Do, farewell Usury : and as he goes one way, we'il go another, follow sirs, n ver trust a shrinker, if he be your own brother. Exeunt omnes. Yes, diverse my Lord, both beyond sea and here with your pa tience, my good Lord, not offending the same, I think I am your poor kinsman, your Lordship, policy, and I Skill, if it Like you. Cut hold Thee content, I'll serve but a while, and serve mine own turn and away. I mean not so sir, nor I will not give half of them to be suf feared to escape, for I have done no offence, though it please them to im prision me, and it is but on commandment, I shall not stay long, but I will give you this purse and gold in pawn to be true prisoner, only give me leave to go some other way, and home to my lodging, for my boots and other necessaries, for there I'll leave word I am ridden out of town, and with all the hast that possibly I may, I will meet you at Newgate, and give you and Angel for your courtesy: there is the purse. If I tarry above and hour, take that gold for your tarrying. That is, to stand amongst them, and take as they take, torches or any thing to furnish the show, now if we we can pass but this day unseen, let to morrow shift for it S life as it may, I promise thee Dis simulation thou art very formal. It is true in a sort my Lord, I thought to be pleasant with him being my old acquaince, and disguised my self Like and old French Artificer and having a few copper knacks, I sold them to him to make sport for ten shillings, which money I am content to pay him again so shall he have no lose though he have made a little sport.