NOTCH

COme, now my head's in, I'll even venture the whole: I would seen the Lyons ere now, and he that hath seen them may see the King. Sure by your language you were never meant for a Cour jer, howsoever it hath been your ill fortune to be taken out of the nest young; you are some Constables egg, some such Widgin of Authority, you are so easily offended! Our coming was to show our loves sir, and to make a little merry with his Majesty to night, and we have brought a Masque with us, if his Majesty had not been better provided. Sir, we do come from among the Brewhouses in Saint Katherine's, that's true, there you have smoked us (the Dock comfort your nostrils,) and we may have lived in a missed there, and so missed our purpose; but for mine own partly I have brought my properties with me to express what I am; the keys of my calling hang here at my gir dle, and this the Register book of my function shows me no less then a Clarke at all points, and a Brewers Clarke, and a Brewers head Clarke. No more of that, what I have been, I have been; what I am, I am: I Peter Notch, Clarke, hearing the Christmas invention was drawn dry at Court; and that neither the KINGS Poet, nor his Architect had wherewithal left to entertain so much as a Ba boon of quality, nor scarce the Welsh Ambassador if he should come there: Out of my allegiance, to wit, drew in some other friends that have as it were presumed out of their own naturals, to fill up the vacuum with some pretty presentation, which we have addressed, and conveyed hither in a Lighter at the general charge, and landed at the back door of the Buttery, through my neighbour Slug's credit there. This must be and Officer, or nothing, he is so peart and brief in his demands! a pretty man! and a pretty man is a little o'this side no thing; howsoever we must not be daunted now, I am sure I am a greater man than he out of the Court, and I have lost nothing of my Sire since I came to it. Yes sir, if we be not mistaken, we are at the Court, and would be glad to speak with something of less authority, and more wit, that knows a little in the place. To fetch Bonge of Court a parcel of invisible bred, and beer for the Players (for they never see it) or to mistake six Torches from the Chandry, and give them one. Come, this is not the first time you have carried coals to your own house, I mean that should have warmed them. Be not so musty sir, our desire is only to know whither the Kings Majesty, and the Court expect any disguise here to night. No, if he did, I believe you would supply that place better then you do this: Disguise was the old English word for a Masque sir, before you were and implement belonging to the Revels. He is no Dutch man sir, he is a Britain born, but hath learned to misuse his own tongue in travel, and now speaks all languages in ill English; a rare Artist he is sir, and a Projector of Masques. His Project in ours is, that we should all come from the three dancing Bears in Saint Katherine's (you may hap know it sir) hard by where the Priest fell in, which Alehouse is kept by a distressed Lady; whose name (for the ho nou_r_ of Knighthood) will not be known; yet she is come in person here Errant, to fill up the adventure with her two women that draw drink under her, Gentlewomen born all three, I assure you. A devise only to express the place from whence we come (my Ladies house) for which we have borrowed three very Bears that (as her Ladyship aforesaid says) are well bred, and can dance to present the sign, and the Bearward to stand for the signe-poast. Marry, for lofty tricks, or dancing on the Ropes he will not undertake, it is out of their element he says. Sir, all our request is since we are come, we may be admitted, if not for a Masque, for and Antickmask; and as we shall deserve therein, we desire to be returned with credit to the Buttery from whence we came, for reward, or to the Porters Lodge with discredit, for our punishment. For that sir, the Bearward hath put in security, by warranting my Lady and her Women to dance the whole changes with them in safety; and for their abusing the place you shall not needs to fear, for he hath given them a kind of Diet-bread to bind them to their good behaviour. O, he is and admirable Artist. I do not Like the Mogul, nor the great Turk, nor the Tartar, their names are somewhat to big for the Room; marry if he could show us some Country Players, strolling about in several Shires, without li cence from the Office, that would please I know whom, or some Welsh Pilgrim's. It's a disease that follows all excellent men, they cannot go verne their passion; but let him alone, try him one about.