GRIPE

Oh good morrow M. Churms. What says my two debtors, that I lent 200. pound to? will they not pay use and charges of suit? Nay I'll have all, or I'll imprison their bodies: But M. Churms there is a matter I would feign have you do, but you must be very secret. Why then this it is: my neighbour Ploddall here by, you know is a man of very fair Land, and he has but one son, upon whom he means to bestow all that he has: Now I would make a match between my daughter Lelia and him; what think you of it. what care I for that? so he have lands and living enough, my daughter has bringing up will serve them both. Now I would have you to write me a Letter to good man Ploddall concerning this matter, and I'll please you for your pains. Do, good M. Churms, but be very secret, I have some business this morning, and therefore I'll leave you a while, and if you will come to dinner to me anon, you shall be very heartily welcome. Neighbour Ploddall, and Master Churms, yare welcome to my house. What news in the Country, neighbour? you are a good husband, you would done sowing barley I am sure. Master Churms, what says my debtors? can you get any money of them yet? Let them exclaim and hang and starve and beg, let me would my money. Come, come, let me end this controversy. Prithee go thy ways in, & bid the boy bring a cup of Sack here for my friends. A way fool, a cup of Sack to drink. Away fool, get thee in I say. I prithee do. Neighbour Ploddall, I sent a Letter to you, by Ma ster Churms, how Like you of the motion? Tush man, I care not for that, you would no more chil dren: yowl make him your heir, and give him our lands, will you not? You say well. Prithee peace Will. Neighbour Ploddall, what say you to this match: shall it go forward? My daughters mine to command, have I not brought her up to this? She shall have him: I'll rule the roast for that, I'll give her pounds and crowns, gold and silver: I'll way her down in pure angel gold, Say man, is't a match? Yes marry that I will: And weel desire your help for conveyance. Nay, I trow: But I am sure she loves not him. Well, that shall not serve his turn, I'll cross him, I warrant you. I am glad I know it: I have suspected it a great while. Sophos? why, whats Sophos? a base fellow. Indeed he has a good wit, and can speak well, He's a scholar forsooth: one that has more wit then money, And I Like not that: he may beg for all that. Scholars? why what are scholars without money? Come, Neighbour, send your son to my house, For he shall be welcome to me: And my daughter shall entertain him kindly. What? I can, and will rule Lelia. Come lets in, I'll discharge Sophos from my house pre sently. Oh M r . Sophos: I have longed to speak with you a great while, I hear, you seek my daughter Lelias love, I hope you will not seek to dishonest me, nor disgrace my daughter. Sir I must be plain with you: I Like not of your love, Lelias mine, I'll choose for Lelia, And therefore I would wish you not to frequent my house any more, Its better for you to ply your book, and seek for some preferment that way, than to seek for a wife before you know how to maintain his. Well, well, I tell ye, I Like not you should come to my house, and presume so proudly to match your poor pedigree with my daughter Lelia, and therefore I charge you to get you off of my ground: and come no more at my house: I Like not this learning without living, I. Oh Ma. Churms, cry you mercy Sir, I saw not you: I think I have sent the scholar away with a flay in his ear. I trow heel come no more at my house. Well, now I'll home, and keep in my daughter, She shall neither go to him, nor send to him, I'll watch her (I'll warrant her,) Before God Master Churms, it is the peeuishest girl, that e ver I knew in my life, she will not b led I doubt. Pray you sir, do you endeavour to persuade her to take Peter Ploddall. Welcome Peter, give me thy hand: thart welcome; Barlady, this a good proper tall fellow, Neighbour? call you him a boy? Peter, you would seen my daughter I am sure: how do you Like his? What says she to you? Master Churms, I pray you do so much as call my daughter hither, I will make her sure here to Peter Ploddall, and I'll desire you to be a witness. Before God, neighbour, this same Master Churms is a very good Lawer: for I'll warrant, you cannot speak any thing, but he has law for it advnguem, I wench I did, come hither Lelia, give me thy hand. M r . Churms, I pray you bear witness, I here give Lelia to P. Ploddall. She plucks away his hand. How now? Will she not? why how now I say? What? you puling peevish thing, you untoward baggage? Will you not be ruled by your Father? Have I taken care to bring you up to this? And will you do as you list? Away I say, hang, starve, beg; be gone, pack I say: out of my sighed, Thou never gettest pennyworth of my goods, for this: Think ont, I do not use to jest: Exeunt Lelia, and Nurse. Be gone I say; I will not hear thee speak. I hold my life this beggarly Scholar hankers a bout his still, makes his so untoward: But I'll home, I'll set his a harder task: I'll keep his in, and look to his a little better then I would done, I'll make his have little mind of gadding, I warrant his. Come Neighbour, send your son to my house, for he's welcome thither, and shall be welcome, and I'll make Lelia bid him welcome too ere I would done with his: Come Peter follow us. What M r . Churms? what alone? how fares your body? 'Tis very wholesome this fair weather, But M. Churms: how Like you my daughter? Can you do any good on his? will she be ruled yet? How stands she affected to P. Ploddall? Master Churmes. I am so exceedingly beholding to you, I cannot tell how I shall requite your kindness, But ith mean time heers a brace of angels for you to drink, for your pains, This news has eene lightened my heart, Oh Sir, my neighbour Ploddall is very wealthy. Come M. Churms, you shall go home with me, Weel have good cheer & be merry for this, to night, i'faith. Every one tells me I look better then I was wont, My hearts lightened, my spirits are revived, Why me thinks I am eene young again; It joys my heart that this same peevish girl my daughter will be ruled at the last yet: But I shall never be able to make M r . Churmes amends for the great pains he has taken, Undone? what sudden accident hath chanced? Speak whats the matter? 'Tis not possible: never tell me. I dare trust Master Churms with a greater matter then that. I am undone: I am robbed: my daughter my money! Which way are they gone? Follow them: make hue and cry after them. My daughter, my money, alls gone, what shall I do? Bring me my daughter: that Churms, that villain, I'll tear him with my teeth. If thou hadst said Lelia, it had been something. I, heers my son: but Lelia sheele not come. Good Fortunatus rise: wilt thou shed tears, And help thy father moan? If so, say I: if not good son be gone. My trusts betrayed, my joys exiled: Grief kills his heart, my Hope's beguiled, She is not mine: I have no daughter now. That I should say I had, thence comes my grief: My care of Lelia, passed a father's love, My love of Lelia makes my lose the more. My lose of Lelia drowns my heart in woe: My hearts woe makes this life a living death: Care, Love, Loss, Hearts-woe, living death, Join all in one, to stop this vital breath. Cursed be the time I gaped for golden gain, I curse the time, I crossed his in his choice. His choice was virtuous, but my will was base, I sought to grace his from the Indian Mines, But she sought honour from the starry Mount: What frantic fit possessed my foolish brain? What furious fancy fired so my heart, To hate fair Virtue and to scorn desert? Now 'tis too late: What Fates decree, can never be recalled: His luckless love is fallen to Churms his lot, And he usurps fair Lelias nuptial bed. I, heers my hand I do consent, And think his happy in his happy choice, Yet half foreiudge my Hope's will be deceived. But Fortunatus: I must needs commend, Thy constant mind thou bearest unto thy friend. The after ages wondering at the same: Shall sait's a deed deserving lasting fame. I: here I'll rest and hour or twain, Till Fortunatus do return again. Why what was your case? Marry, because you told me a merry gooses case: I'll bestow a fat goose on you: and God give you luck. Is Fortunatus there? Welcome Fortunatus where Sophos? Then welcome Sophos: thrice more welcome now Then any man on earth to me or mine. It is not now with me as late it was; I lowered at learning, and at virtue spurned: But now my heart and mind and all is tournd. Were Lelia here I soon would knit the knot Betwixt her and thee, that time could never vnti , Till fatal sisters victory had won, And that your glass of life were quite What Lelia, my daughter? stand up wench: Why now my joy is full: My heart is lightened of all sad annoy: Now farewell grief, and welcome home my joy. Here Sophos, take thy Lelias hand: Great God of heaven your hearts combine In virtues lore to raise a happy line. Mass, and 'tis a good motion: oy, fill some wine. ere Neighbour and M. Churms I drink to you.