HOLDUP

Camitha Holdup sir. A poor Gentlewoman. My fa there boar the office of a Commissioner for the peace in the West country, till Misfortune wr gth his estate out of his hands. 'Tis too true sir. He paid so dearly for't at last, that I have no more, but my bore breeding, and what I bear about me to live upon. Which is mine own already. Sir, you have most worthily made me your own; and all my study shall be to obey you. Some simple honest body sir. What shall I do with all this sir? I would indeed but buy and ounce or two of thread; some Netting pins and Needles, and a Frame to flourish my work on. Hereafter I will work in gold and silver, if you please, for your own wearing. Mine Uncle will by right wood I fear me. But I'll near greet for that sir, while I have your love. I would be glad and it so. Sir, my Child shall trouble your Parish no longer, here is a Father, my troth plighted Husband, sufficient to keep it and me, wilt thou not Duck? Sure I do not. This Gentleman, and this Gentlewo man, and this trusty Servant of ours are my witnesses, I am your Wife sir. Sir, be you and Thy Lady but as confident of my fideli ty, and trust me in this Actium, and if I break not the toils your Kinsm n is in, and make you Mistress of my Interest in sir Paul, let all the good you intended me, be a lockram Counterfeit fe, a blue Gown, a Wheel and a clean Whip. You are sure the Lady will yield to Divorce, if Constance whom I now person ate be first married or contracted. To any then that knows her not very well, If I ap pear not the same Constance —you have given me her Chara cter right? Nay, I have a fu there help then, you both imagine yet. It shall be no secret. My Servant Howdee, whom you and sir Paul, suppose his Lady turned away, was by her Ladi ship taught only to feign it; and cunningly instructed to work himself into the see vice of Constance, to further her brother's proceedings. And since fortune has put him upon me, whom he takes to be the same Mistress, if I make not pt use of it— If my deceit now, should be disco ered, before my work be ended, my Brain tricks might perhaps, in stead of all these fair Hope's, Purchase me the Lash. before We us. my flesh trembles to think on't. It brings likewise into my consi deration, the baseness of my condition; how much unpitied the punishment of a Whore is, and how suddenly it overtakes her? My joint Con piratours are in no danger. I only run the hazard, though they are as deep in fact as my S life. Well. If I escape this pull, and draw any fortune by't, isle change my function sure. A common Whore? I'll be a Nun rather. They come most fitly, and I must into my fit— Withdraws behind the anging. is pa your rength or reach either by forty I be leave. I doubt your middle finger is too short Master Widgin . Who be you I pray? Yes sir, I hear you vary weell; and could ene wish my heart I could believe you. I do bele we you sir. But pray prote no more by that name till you make your self such by marrying me. You have getten a bairn by me, I is sure o'that. Marry me, marry me, quoth the bo y Lass: and when will you begin. I can but thank you, obey you, and pray for you sir. Nay sir. You shall not say, you married me for nought: you shall hear me sing before you go. As I was gathering April's flowers, He straight let fallen one of his showers; Which dram e me to and arbour. It better I my Lap had filled. Although the wet my clothes had spilled, Then to ha'found that harbour For there a subtle Serpent was, Close lying, lurking in the Grass. And there while harmless thinking I, Still watching when the would die, Lay listening to a Bird, That singing ate upon the Bo er, Her notes unto the falling shower, the Snake beneath me stirred; And with his sting gave me a clap, that swole my belly not my lap. And by my conscience 'tis true, it made Durham, on a Lass of my bigness. But will you be gan now, than all my joy leaves me. Remember your Covenant with Master Tridewell Captain. And when the work is done, here's my hand, you shall partake of what I get by't. And hark you. Is mine Uncle comd? and must we partly than? All be isons be with you. Indeed you be the goodli est man, that ere made Maiden feign. This may breed good blood. If I come but as well off of my old Uncle, as Like to come on with my young Cose , here will be a match unlooked for; a match without treaty; a m tch untalked or unheard of. He is coming before I have shifted my ace. Me thinks I hear the rusting of is bristles hither. et my lips must stand the assault; pray love the Por cupine, leave none of his quills in them. No: now I see you sir, I am well: perfectly well: yet pardon me sir. Your absence cannot but breed me fear, when I have leisure to think on my unworthy condition, and the danger I undergo in't. Good sir be pitiful for the woman's sake, and release him. Perhaps her reckoning is out, and she has no body to call the Midwife. Indeed I'll put out the Candle when you are here then, for I shall never endure to ee other shape of Man. Oh these trunk ho are a comely wearing. Sweet sayest thou? Thou art not I'll swear. I am glad he was prevented. I should never held out a course with him, that cannot endure a breathing: a Cheese-shop on fire cannot outstink him. Yea marry Humfrey, what may that be and 'tis not of Sir Philip By my saul that will I an't be all the world over. Wee'll leave him at six and sevens. I mean betwixt both. It'll be trim trust me. And hearest thou me Humfrey. Thou must bid Mistress Traynwell to me a little before six for a very good reason. Nay, it shall hinder nothing. We 'le away the faster. Come with me Humfrey, thou shalt go eene now, and tell her; and I'll be packing up the while. — Yes most freely. And you are sure that Constance is safe from her disco very.