LUCRE

Thou art very pleasant & full of thy roperipe, I would say rhetoric We do, the matter is not great, but what wouldst thou have? How shall I call thee, and what is't thou dost crave? From worser, Dissimulation, Usury, and Simony, Now truly I thank you for proffering your service to me: You are all heartily welcome, and I will appoint straight way, where each one in his office in great honour shall stay. But Usury didst thou never know my grandmother the old Lady Lu car of Venice. You say well Mercadorus, yet Lucar by this is not throwly wone But give ear and I will show what by thee must be done: Thou must carry over Wheat, Peas, Barley, Oats, and Fitches, and all kind of grain, Which is well sold beyond sea and bring such Merchant's great gain. Then thou must carry beside leather, tallow, beef, bacon, bell mettle, and every thing, And for these good commodities, trifles into England thou must bring: As Bugles to make babbles, coloured bones, glass beads to make brace lets withal: For every day Gentlewomen of England do ask for such trifles from stall to stall, And you must bring more, as Amber, Jeat, Coral, Crystal, and every such babble, That is slight pretty and pleasant, they care not to have it prefitable. And if they demand wherefore your wares and merchandise agree, You must lay Jeat will take up a straw, Amber will make one fat, Coral will look pale when you besicke, and Crystal will staunch blad, So with lying, flattering, and glossing you must utter your beware, And you shall win me to your will, if you can deceitfully swear. New I perceive you love me, and if you continue in this still, You shall not only be with me, but command me when & where you will. Tush Mercadore, I warrant thee, thou needest not to fear What and one do? there is some other will flatter and say, They do no hurt to the country, and with a sleight fetch that bill away. And if they do not so, that by act of Parliament it be passed, I knew you Merchant's have many a sleight and subtle cast, So that you will by stealth bring over great store, And say it was in the Realm a long time before. For being so many of these trifles here as there is at this day, You may increase them at pleasure, when you send over sea, And do but give the searcher and odd, bribe in his hand, I warrant you he will let you escape roundly with such things in and out the land But senior Mercadore, I pray you ral e in with me, And as I find you kind to me, so will I savour you, What seneor Mercadore, I have not seen you this many a day, I marvel what is the cause you kept so long away Why seneor Mercadore, think you not that I Have infinite numbers in London that my want does supply. Beside in Bristol, Northampton, Norwich, Westchester, Canterbury, Dover, Sandwich, Rye, Porchmouth, Plymouth, and many more, That great rends upon little room do bestow. Yes I warrant you, and truly I may thank the strangers for this, That they have made houses so deer, whereby I live in bliss. But seneor Mercadore, dare you to travel undertake: And go amongst the Moors, Turks, and Pagans for my sake? Then seneor Mercadore I am forthwith to send ye From hence, to search or some new toys in Barbary or in Turkey, Such trifles as you think will please wantons best: For you know in this country 'tis their chiefest request. Why then let us provide things ready to hast you away. What Conscience, thou lookest Like a poor pigeon pulled of late. Alas Conscience, I am sorry for thee, but cannot weep. Come hither Dissimulation, and High you hence oh fast as you may And help thy fellow Usury to convey himself out of the way, Further, will the Justices, if they chance to see him, not to know him Or know him, not by any means to hinder him. And they shall command thrice so much at my hand. Go trudge, run out away, how dost thou stand? Then Simony go do what I have wild. Speakest thou in good earnest, or dost thou but dissemble? I know not how to have thee, thou art so variable. S and by, isle answer thee anon: what news Simony Bringest thou of thy fellow Usury? I pray thee tell me who were they that followed him? But what say the people to the murder? 'Tis well, I am glad of it, now Dissimulation if thou canst get Lones good will. I am contented with all my heart to grant there until. Now to you little mouse, did I not tell you before, That I should ere it long turn you both out of door? How say you pretty soul, is't come to pass, yea or no? Me thinks I have pulled your peacocks plumes somewhat low. And yet you be so stout as though you felt no grief, But ere it be long you will come puling to me for relief. Nay Conscience, and you be b okish isle leave you, And the cold ground to comfort your feet isle bequeathe you. Me think you being so deeply learned, may do well to keep a school. Why, I have seen so cunning a Clarke in time to prove a fool. Me thought I herd one cry brooms along the door. Alas Conscience art thou become a poor broom wife? Alas me thinks it is a grief to thee that thou art so poor. Well well Conscience, that sharp tongue of thine hath not been thy furtherance. If thou hadst kept thy tongue, thou hadst kept thy friend, and not have had such hindrance. But wottest thou who shall be married to morrow? Love with my Dissimulation: For I think to bid the guess, they are by this time well nigh gone, And having occasion to buy brooms, I care not if I buy them all. Usury, carry in these brooms, and give them to the maid. For I know of such store she will be well paid. Hold Conscience, though thy brooms be not worth a quarter so much, Yet to give thee a piece of gold I do it not grutch: And if thou wouldst follow my mind, thou shouldst not live in such sort, But pass thy days with pleasure store of every kind of sport. Then sweet soul, mark what I would have thee do for me, That is to deck up thy poor Cottage handsomely: And for that purpose I have five thousand crowns in store, And when it is spent thou shalt have twice so much more. But only see thy rooms be neat when I shall thither resort, With familiar friends to pass the time in sport: For the Deputy, Constable, and spiteful neighbours do spy, pry, and eye about my house: That I dare not be once merry within but still mute Like a mouse. I'll send him home for the money. Usury, step in and bring me the box of all abomination that stands in the window: It is little and round, painted with diverse colours, and is pretty to the show. Have I not told you the name: for shame get you gone. Well my wench, I doubt not but our pleasures shall excel, Seeing thou hast God a corner fit where few neighbours dwell, And they be of the poorest sort which sits our turn so right: Because they dare not speak against our sports and sweet delight, And if they should (alas) their words would nought at all be weighed, And for to speak before my face, they will be all afraid. Thou sayest the truth, 'tis it in deed, the outside shows no less. But Usury I think Dissimulation hath not seen you since your continued ming home. therefore go see him, he will rejoice when to him you are shown, It is a bussy time with him, help to further him if you can. Hold here my sweet, and then over to see what does want, the more I do behold this face, the more my mind does daunt: This face is of favour, these cheeks are ready and white, these lips are cherry read, and full of deep delight, Quick rolling eyes, her temples high, and forehead white as snow, Her eyebrows seemly set in frame, with dimpled chin below: Oh how beauty hath adorned thee with every seemly hue, In limbs, in looks, with all the rest proportion keeping endue: Sure I have not seen a finer soul in every kind of partly, I cannot choose but kiss thee with my lips, that love thee with my heart. Then when thou wilt thou mayest depart, and homeward take thy way, And I pray thee make haste in decking of thy room, that I may find thy lodging fine, when with my friend I come. Oh how joyful may I be that such success do find, No marvel, for poverty and desire of Lucar do force them follow my Now may I rejoice in full contentation, That shall marry Love with Dissimulation: And have spotted Conscience with all abomination, But I forget my self, for I must to the wedding, Both vauntingly and flauntingly, although I had no bidding. Mistress Love, I marvel not a little what oy conceit is crept into your head, that you seem so sad and sorrowful since the time you first did wed, tell me sweet wench what thou ailest, and if I can ease thy grief, I will be pressed to pleasure thee in yielding of relief. Sure thou makest me for to think somewhat hath chanced amiss. I pray thee tell me what thou ailest, and what the matter is. Is your head then swollen good mistress Love, I pray you let see. Of truth it is behold a face that seems to smile on me: It is fair and well favoured, with a countenance smooth and good, Wonder is the worst, to see two faces in a hood. Come lets go, wele find some sports to spurn away such toys, Not guilty, where are mine accusers, they may shame to show their faces? I warrant you none comes, nor dare to discredit my name: In despite of the teeth of them that dare: I speak in disdain. In denial stands trial: I shame not, let them be shown, It grinds my gall, they should slander me on this sort: they are some old cankered currish corrupt Carls that gave me this report. My soul craves revenge on such my sacred foes, And revengement I will have, if body and soul I loose. But why camest thou into England, seeing Venice is a City where Usury by Lucar may live in great glory? Gramercy Usury, & doubt not but to live here as pleasantly, and pleasanter too: but whence came you Simony, tell me. Well Simony, I thank thee, but as for Fraud & Dissimulation I know their long continuance, and after what fashion. Therefore Dissimulation, you shall be my steward, And office that every men case by you must be preferred. And you Fraud shall be my rent-gatherer, my letter of leases & my put chaser of land, so that many old bribes will come to thy hand. And Usury because I know you be trusty, you shall be my secretary, to eale amongst Merchant's, to bargen and exchange money. And Simony, because you are a sly fellow, & have you tongue liberal, we will place you over such matters as are Ecclesiasticam And though we appoint sundry offices where now you are in, yet jointly we mean to use you together ofttimes in one thing. Then master Davy to my palace hast thee away, will Crafty Conveyance my butler to make ready The best fare in the house, to welcome thee and thy company: but stay Dissimulation, my self will go with thee. Gentlemen isle go before, but see in any case, so soon as you please resort to my place. Master Davy Dissimulation, what new acquaintance have you got there? Gentleman, you are heartily welcome, how are you called, I pray you tell us? But I pray you tell me what Countryman. Yet let me trouble you, I beseech you whence came you? Gramercy, but senior Mercadore dare you not undertake, Secretly to convey good commodities out of this country for my sake? Hast thou a letter for me? Sir, I have read the tenure of your letter, wherein I find, that at the request of Love and Conscience I should show my self kind, And bestow some spiritual living on you, parsonage, or benefice, For you stand greatly in needs, as appears by this. And trust me would do for you, but it lies not in me, For all such matters are referred to my servant Simony. You must speak to him, and if you can get his good will, then be sure of mine, their minds to fulfil. Pray thee what is it? for thou knowest while for their house I am bargaining, And it be never so little, I must seem to do something. Thou sayest true indeed: draw near Sincerity, Lo for their sakes I will bestow frankly on thee, The parsonage of saint Nihil isle give thee to pleasure them withal, And such another to it, if thou watch till it fallen. What are they so hasty? belike they spent it merrsly. I perceive you have been mindful of me, for which I thank ye: But Usury tell me, how have you sped in that you went about? Good Conscience if thou love me say nothing. Oh Conscience thou hast killed me, by thee I am overthrown. Indeed it is but a trifle, it makes no matter, I force it not greatly, being but for a quarter.