GOLDING

What do ye lack Sir? What is't you'll buy Sir? It is his Shop, and here my M. walks. To the Page. No sir it hath pleased the worshipful Commoners of the city, to take me one i'their number at presentation of the in quest In which place, I have had and oath ministered me, since I went. Sir, engage not your expectation farther, then my abi lities will answer: I that know mine own strengths, fear them; and there is so seldom a lose in promising the least, that commonly it brings with it a welcome deceit. I have other news for you Sir. No, you may stay, there will be other matters against them. You see, master Wolf, how inexorable he is. There is no hope to recover him Pray you commend me to my brother Knight, and to my fellow Francis, present them with this small token of my love; tell them, I wish I could do them any wor their office, but in this, it's desperate: yet I will not fail to try the uttermost of my power for them. And sir, as far as I have any credit with you pray you let them want nothing: though I am not ambitious, they should know so much. Peace! Good faith, M. Wolf, the estate of these Gentlemen, for whom you were so late and willing a Suitor, does much affect me: and because I am desirous to do them some fair office, and find there is no means to make my Father relent, so likely, as to bring him to be a Spectator of their Misery's; I have ventured on a device, which is, to make make my self your Pri sooner: entreating, you will presently go report it to my Father, and (sayning, and Actium, at suit of some third person) pray him by this Token, that he will presently, and with all secrecy, come hither for my Bail; which train, (if any) I know will bring him abroad; and then, having him here, I doubt not but we shall be all fortunate, in the Event. Yes; And let me rest concealed, I pray you. Fie how you swear. What would ye would me do? Pish, in soft terms ye are a cowardly bragging boy. I'll would you whipped. No, thou wilt undo thy self. Alas I behold thee with pity, not with anger; thou common shot-clog, gull of all companies: me thinks I see thee already walking in More fields without a Cloak, with half a Hat, with out a band, a Doublet with three Buttons, without a girdle, a hose with one point and no Garter, with a cudgel under thine arm borrowing and begging three pence. Go thou most madly vain, whom nothing can re cover but that which reclaims Atheists, and makes great persons sometime religious: Calamity. As for my place and life thus I have read: What ere some vainer youth may term disgrace, The gain of honest pains is never base: From trades from arts, from valour honour springs, These three are founts of gentry, yea of Kings. But is it possible, that you seeing your sister preferred to the bed of a Knight, should contain your affections in the arms of a Prentice? And do the costly garments; the title and fame of a Lady the fashion; observation, and reverence proper to such preferment, no more inflame you, then such convenience as my poor means and industry can offer to your virtues? How deer and object you are to my desires I cannot express, whose fruition would my masters absolute consent and yours vouchsafe me, I should be absolutely happy. And though it were a grace so far beyond my merit, that I should blush with unworthiness to receive it, yet thus far both my love & my means shall assure your requital; you shall want nothing fit for your birth and education; what increase of wealth and advancement the honest and orderly industry & skill of our trade will afford in any, I doubt not will be as pirde by me; I will ever make your contentment the end of my endeavours; I will love you above all; and only your grief shall be my misery; and your delight, my felicity. Fie fellow Quickesiluer, what a pickle are you in? Why how now sir? do ye know where you are? Go to, go to, for shame go to bed, and sleep out this immodesty: thou shamest both my master and his house. What mean you sir? Let me beseech you, no Sir, the superfluity and cold meat left at their Nuptials, will with bounty furnish ours. The grossest prodigality is superfluous cost of the Belly: nor would I wish any invitement of States or friends, only your reverent presence and witness shall sufficiently grace and confirm us. Sir, as I was not ambitious of this, so I covet no high er place; it hath dignity enough, if it will but save me from contempt: and I had rather my bearing, in this, or any other office, should add worth to it; then the Place give the least opinion to me. I have done that already Sir, both by Constables, and other officers, who shall take them at their old Anchor; and with less tumult, or suspicion, then if your self were seen in't: under colour of a great Press, that is now abroad, and they shall here be brought afore me. Oh Madam, Fair words never hurt the tongue. Sir, the Knight, and your man Quickesiluer are with out, will you would them brought in? Why Sir, I can do nothing to them, except you charge them with somewhat. Believe it, I will not Sir. Why do you not carry them to Bridewell, according to your order, they may be shipped away? Which is he? And what's the other? What? a Knight, and his Fellow thus accoutered? Where are their Hats and Feathers, their Rapiers, and their Cloaks? What are their names, say they? If my worshipful Father have ended. Well then, under correction.— Francis Quicksilver, would God thou hadst turned Quacksalver, rather then run into these dissolute, & lewd cour ses; It is great pity, thou art a proper young man, of and honest and clean face, somewhat near a good one, (God hath done his partly in thee) but, thou haste made too much, and been to proud of that face, with the rest of thy body; for maintenance of which in neat and garish attire, (only to be looked upon by some light housewifes) thou hast prodigally consumed much of thy Master's estate: and being by him gently admonished, at several times, hast returned thy self haughty, and rebellious, in thine answers, thundering out uncivil comparisons, requiting all his kindness with a course and harsh behaviour, never returning thanks for any one benefit, but receiving all, as if they had been Debts to thee, & no Courtesies. I must tell thee Francis, these are manifest signs of and ill nature; and God does often punish such pride, and butrecuidance, with scorn and infamy, which is the worst of misfortune. My worshipful father, what do you please to charge them withal? from the press I will free them Master Constable. Officers take them to the Counter. Go, ye are a prodigal coxcomb, I a cowherds son, because I turn not a drunk ̄ whorehunting rakehell Like thy self? Offers to draw, & Goulding trips up his heals and holds him. E'ene who you will, I'll not lend thee three pence. It pleased my Master forsooth to embolden me with his favour: And though I confess my self far unworthy so worthy a wife (being in partly, her servant, as I am your Pren tise) yet (since I may say it without boasting) I am born a Gentleman, and by the Trade I have learned of my Master (which I trust taints not my blood) able with mine own Industry and portion to maintain your daughter, my hope is, heaven will so blesle our humble beginning, that in the end I shall be no disgrace to the grace with which my Master hath bound me his double Prentice. Pray heaven, the Elephant carry not his Castle on his back. The best I can say of him is, I know him not. Sir, as your son, I honour you; and as your servant obey you. Troth Sir, and Accident somewhat strange, else it hath little in it worth the reporting. And the Alderman of the ward wherein Idwel, to ap point me his Deputy— They have their degree of welcome, I dare affirm. The Colonel, and all his company, this morning putting forth drunk from Belinsgate, had Like to have been cast away o'this side Greenwich: and (as I have intelligence, by a false Brother,) are come dropping to town, Like so many Masterless men, i'their doublets and hose, without Hat, or Cloak, or any other— No, where is she? No good Sir, I will not. What are those, master Constable? Do you know them Father? Forbear your offers a little, you shall be herd anon. Sir Petronel Flash, I am sorry to see such flashes as these proceed from a Gentleman of your Quality, & Rank; For mine own partly, I could wish, I could say, I could not see the ̄ : but such is the misery of Magistrates, and men in Place, that they must not wink at Offenders. Take him aside, I will hear you anon sir. Good Father let me entreat you. From whom come your Letters, M. Wolf? And which of all these (thinks M. Wolf) was the best Religion? I believe you M. Wolf. Good faith, Sir, Here's a great deal of humility i'these Letters. Oh let him alone, He is taken already. How he listens! and is transported? He has forgotten me. And Security give her a do were, which shall be all the I indeed Madam, a Gentleman born. Only this, sir. That my fellow Francis make amends to mistress Sindefie, with marriage.