1 B. Come, English beer Hostess, English beer by th' belly.

2 B. Stark beer boy, stout and strong beer: so, sit down Lads,
And drink me upsey-Dutch: Frolick, and fear not.

Enter Higgen like a Sow-gelder, singing.

Hig. Have ye any work for the Sow-gelder, hoa,
My horn goes too high too low, too high too low.
Have ye any Piggs, Calves, or Colts,
Have ye any Lambs in your holts
To cut for the Stone,
Here comes a cunning one.
Have ye any braches to spade,
Or e're a fair maid
That would be a Nun,
Come kiss me, 'tis done.
Hark how my merry horn doth blow,
Too high too low, too high too low.

1 B. O excellent! two-pence a piece boyes, two-pence a piece. Give the boys some drink there. Piper, wet your whistle, Canst tell me a way now, how to cut off my wifes Concupiscence?

Hig. I'le sing ye a Song for't.

The SONG

Take her, and hug her,
And turn her and tug her,
And turn her again boy, again,
Then if she mumble,
Or if her tail tumble,
Kiss her amain hoy, amain.
Do thy endeavour,
To take off her feaver,
Then her disease no longer will raign.
If nothing will serve her,
Then thus to preserve her,
Swinge her amain boy amain.
Give her cold jelly
To take up her belly,
And once a day swinge her again,
If she stand all these pains,
Then knock out her brains,
Her disease no longer will reign.

1 Bo. More excellent, more excellent, sweet Sow-gelder.

2 Bo. Three-pence a piece, three-pence a piece.

Hig. Will you hear a Song how the Devil was gelded?

3 Bo. I, I, let's hear the Devil roar, Sow-gelder.

SONG

             1.
He ran at me first in the shape of a Ram,
And over and over the Sow-Gelder came;
I rise and I halter'd him fast by the horn,
I pluckt out his Stones as you'd pick out a Corn.
Baa, quoth the Devil, and forth he slunk,
And left us a Carcase of Mutton that stunk.

             2.
The next time I rode a good mile and a half,
Where I heard he did live in disguise of a Calf,
I bound and I gelt him, ere he did any evil;
He was here at his best, but a sucking Devil.
Maa, yet he cry'd, and forth he did steal,
And this was sold after, for excellent Veal.

             3.
Some half a year after in the form of a Pig,
I met with the Rogue, and he look'd very big;
I catch'd at his leg, laid him down on a log,
Ere a man could fart twice, I had made him a Hog.
Owgh, quoth the Devil, and forth gave a Jerk,
That a Jew was converted, and eat of the Perk._

1 Bo. Groats apiece, Groats apiece, Groats apiece, There sweet Sow-Gelder.

Enter Prig and Ferret.

Prig. Will ye see any feats of activity,
Some Sleight of hand, Legerdemain? hey pass, Presto, be gone there?

2 Bo. Sit down Jugler.

Prig. Sirrah, play you your art well; draw near Piper:
Look you, my honest friends, you see my hands;
Plain dealing is no Devil: lend me some Money,
Twelve-pence a piece will serve.

1. 2. B. There, there.

Prig. I thank you,
Thank ye heartily: when shall I pay ye?

All B. Ha, ha, ha, by th' Mass this was a fine trick.

Prig. A merry sleight toy: but now I'll show your
Worships A trick indeed.

Hig. Mark him well now my Masters.

Prig. Here are three balls,
These balls shall be three bullets,
One, two, and three: ascentibus, malentibus.

Presto, be gone: they are vanish'd: fair play, Gentlemen.
Now these three, like three Bullets, from your three Noses
Will I pluck presently: fear not, no harm Boys,

Titere, tu patule.

1 B. Oh, oh, oh.

Prig. Recubans sub jermlne fagi.

2 B. Ye pull too hard; ye pull too hard.

Prig. Stand fair then: Silvertramtrim-tram.

3 B. Hold, hold, hold.

Prig. Come aloft, bullets three, with a whim-wham. Have ye their Moneys?

Hig. Yes, yes.

1 B. Oh rare Jugler!

2 B. Oh admirable Jugler!

Prig. One trick more yet;
Hey, come aloft; sa, sa, flim, flum, taradumbis?
East, West, North, South, now fly like Jack with a bumbis.
Now all your money's gone; pray search your pockets.

1 B. Humh.

2 B. He.

3 B. The Devil a penny's here!

Prig. This was a rare trick.

1 B. But 'twould be a far rarer to restore it.

Prig. I'll do ye that too; look upon me earnestly,
And move not any ways your eyes from this place,
This Button here? pow, whir, whiss, shake your pockets.

1 B. By th' Mass 'tis here again, boys.

Prig. Rest ye merry; My first trick has paid me.

All B. I, take it, take it, And take some drink too.

Prig. Not a drop now I thank you; Away, we are discover'd else. [Exit.

Enter Gerrard like a blind Aqua vitae man, and a Boy, singing the Song.

Bring out your Cony-skins, fair maids to me,
And hold 'em fair that I may see;
Grey, black, and blue: for your smaller skins,
I'll give ye looking-glasses, pins:
And for your whole Coney, here's ready, ready Money.
Come Gentle Jone, do thou begin
With thy black, black, black Coney-skin.
And Mary then, and Jane will follow,
With their silver hair'd skins, and their yellow.
The white Cony-skin, I will not lay by,
For though it be faint, 'tis fair to the eye;
The grey, it is warm, but yet for my Money,
Give me the bonny, bonny black Cony.
Come away fair Maids, your skins will decay:
Come, and take money, maids, put your ware away.
Cony-skins, Cony-skins, have ye any Cony-skins,
I have fine bracelets, and fine silver pins.

Ger. Buy any Brand Wine, buy any Brand Wine?

Boy. Have ye any Cony-skins?

2 [B.] My fine Canary-bird, there's a Cake for thy Worship.

1 B. Come fill, fill, fill, fill suddenly: let's see Sir, What's this?

Ger. A penny, Sir.

1 B. Fill till't be six-pence,
And there's my Pig.

Boy. This is a Counter, Sir.

1 B. A Counter! stay ye, what are these then?
O execrable Jugler! O dama'd Jugler!
Look in your hose, hoa, this comes of looking forward.

3 B. Devil a Dunkirk! what a Rogue's this Jugler!
This hey pass, repass, h'as repast us sweetly.

2 B. Do ye call these tricks.

Enter Higgen.

Hig. Have ye any Ends of Gold, or Silver?

2 B. This Fellow comes to mock us; Gold or Silver? cry Copper.

1 B. Yes, my good Friend, We have e'n an end of all we have.

Hig. 'Tis well Sir, You have the less to care for: Gold and Silver. [Exit.

Enter Prigg.

Pr. Have ye any old Cloaks to sell, have ye any old Cloaks to sell? [Exit.

1 B. Cloaks! Look about ye Boys: mine's gone!

2 B. A – juggle 'em? – O they're Prestoes: mine's gone too!

3 B. Here's mine yet.

1 B. Come, come let's drink then more Brand Wine.

Boy. Here Sir.

1 B. If e'r I catch your Sow-gelder, by this hand I'll strip him:
Were ever Fools so ferkt? We have two Cloaks yet;
And all our Caps; the Devil take the Flincher.

All B. Yaw, yaw, yaw, yaw.

Enter Hemskirk.

Hem. Good do'n my honest Fellows,
You are merry here I see.

3 B. 'Tis all we have left, Sir.

Hem. What hast thou? Aqua vitae?

Boy. Yes.

Hem. Fill out then;
And give these honest Fellows round.

All B. We thank ye.

Hem. May I speak a word in private to ye?

All B. Yes Sir.

Hem. I have a business for you, honest Friends,
If you dare lend your help, shall get you crowns.

Ger. Ha! Lead me a little nearer, Boy.

1 B. What is't Sir? If it be any thing to purchase money,
Which is our want, [command] us.

Boors. All, all, all, Sir.

Hem. You know the young spruce Merchant in Bruges?

2 B. Who? Master Goswin?

Hem. That he owes me money,
And here in town there is no stirring of him.

Ger. Say ye so?

Hem. This day, upon a sure appointment,
He meets me a mile hence, by the Chase side,
Under the row of Oaks; do you know it?

All B. Yes Sir.

Hem. Give 'em more drink: there if you dare but venture
When I shall give the word to seize upon him Here's twenty pound.

3 B. Beware the Jugler.

Hem. If he resist, down with him, have no mercy.

1 B. I warrant you, we'll hamper him.

Hem. To discharge you, I have a Warrant here about me.

3 B. Here's our Warrant,
This carries fire i'th' Tail.

Hem. Away with me then,
The time draws on,
I must remove so insolent a Suitor,
And if he be so rich, make him pay ransome
Ere he see Bruges Towers again. Thus wise men
Repair the hurts they take by a disgrace,
And piece the Lions skin with the Foxes case.

Ger. I am glad I have heard this sport yet.

Hem. There's for thy drink, come pay the house within Boys,
And lose no time.

Ger. Away with all our haste too. [Exeunt.

SCENE II

Enter Goswin.

Gos. No wind blow fair yet? no return of moneys?
Letters? nor any thing to hold my hopes up?
Why then 'tis destin'd, that I fall, fall miserably!
My credit I was built on, sinking with me.
Thou boystrous North-wind, blowing my misfortunes,
And frosting all my hopes to cakes of coldness;
Yet stay thy fury; give the gentle South
Yet leave to court those sails that bring me safety,
And you auspicious fires, bright twins in heaven
Daunce on the shrowds; he blows still stubbornly,
And on his boystrous Rack rides my sad ruin;
There is no help, there can be now no comfort,
To morrow with the Sun-set, sets my credit.
Oh misery! thou curse of man, thou plague,
In the midst of all our strength thou strik'st us;
My vertuous Love is lost too: all, what I have been,
No more hereafter to be seen than shadow;
To prison now? well, yet there's this hope left me;
I may sink fairly under this days venture,
And so to morrow's cross'd, and all those curses:
Yet manly I'll invite my Fate, base fortune
Shall never say, she has cut my throat in fear.
This is the place his challenge call'd me to,
And was a happy one at this time for me,
For let me fall before my Foe i'th' field,
And not at Bar, before my Creditors;
H'as kept his word: now Sir, your swords tongue only
Loud as you dare, all other language—

Enter Hemskirke.

Hem. Well Sir, You shall not be long troubled: draw.

Gos. 'Tis done Sir, And now have at ye.

Hem. Now.

Enter Boors.

Gos. Betray'd to Villains! Slaves ye shall buy me bravely,
And thou base coward.

Enter Gerrard and Beggars.

Ger. Now upon 'em bravely, Conjure 'em soundly Boys.

Boors. Hold, hold.

Ger. Lay on still,
Down with that Gentleman rogue, swinge him to sirrup.
Retire Sir, and take Breath: follow, and take him,
Take all, 'tis lawful prize.

Boors. We yield.

Ger. Down with 'em
Into the Wood, and rifle 'em, tew 'em, swinge 'em,
Knock me their brains into their Breeches. [Exeunt.

Boors. Hold, hold.

Gos. What these men are I know not, nor for what cause
They shou'd thus thrust themselves into my danger,
Can I imagine. But sure Heavens hand was in't!
Nor why this coward Knave should deal so basely
To eat me up with Slaves: but Heaven I thank thee,
I hope thou hast reserv'd me to an end
Fit for thy creature, and worthy of thine honour:
Would all my other dangers here had suffered,
With what a joyful heart should I go home then?
Where now, Heaven knows, like him that waits his sentence,
Or hears his passing Bell; but there's my hope still.

Enter Gerrard.

Ger. Blessing upon you Master.

Gos. Thank ye; leave me,
For by my troth I have nothing now to give thee.

Ger. Indeed I do not ask Sir, only it grieves me
To see ye look so sad; now goodness keep ye
From troubles in your mind.

Gos. If I were troubled,
What could thy comfort do? prithee Clause, leave me.

Ger. Good Master be not angry; for what I say
Is out of true love to ye.

Gos. I know thou lov'st me.

Ger. Good Mr. blame that love then, if I prove so sawcy
To ask ye why ye are sad.

Gos. Most true, I am so,
And such a sadness I have got will sink me.

Ger. Heaven shield it, Sir.

Gos. Faith, thou must lose thy Master.

Ger. I had rather lose my neck, Sir: would I knew—

Gos. What would the knowledg do thee good so miserable,
Thou canst not help thy self? when all my ways
Nor all the friends I have—

Ger. You do not know Sir,
What I can do: cures sometimes, for mens cares
Flow, where they least expect 'em.

Gos. I know thou wouldst do,
But farewell Clause, and pray for thy poor Master.

Ger. I will not leave ye.

Gos. How?

Ger. I dare not leave ye, Sir, I must not leave ye,
And till ye beat me dead, I will not leave ye.
By what ye hold most precious, by Heavens goodness,
As your fair youth may prosper, good Sir tell me:
My mind believes yet something's in my power
May ease you of this trouble.

Gos. I will tell thee,
For a hundred thousand crowns upon my credit,
Taken up of Merchants to supply my traffiques,
The winds and weather envying of my fortune,
And no return to help me off, yet shewing
To morrow, Clause, to morrow, which must come,
In prison thou shalt find me poor and broken.

Ger. I cannot blame your grief Sir.

Gos. Now, what say'st thou?

Ger. I say you should not shrink, for he that gave ye,
Can give you more; his power can bring ye off Sir,
When friends and all forsake ye, yet he sees you.

Gos. There's all my hope.

Ger. Hope still Sir, are you ty'd
Within the compass of a day, good Master,
To pay this mass of mony?

Gos. Ev'n to morrow: But why do I stand mocking of my misery?
Is't not enough the floods, and friends forget me?

Ger. Will no less serve?

Gos. What if it would?

Ger. Your patience,
I do not ask to mock ye: 'tis a great sum,
A sum for mighty men to start and stick at;
But not for honest: have ye no friends left ye,
None that have felt your bounty? worth this duty?

Gos. Duty? thou knowst it not.

Ger. It is a duty,
And as a duty, from those men have felt ye,
Should be return'd again: I have gain'd by ye,
A daily alms these seven years you have showr'd on me,
Will half supply your want.

Gos. Why do'st thou fool me? Can'st thou work miracles?

Ger. To save my Master, I can work this.

Gos. Thou wilt make me angry with thee.

Ger. For doing good?

Gos. What power hast thou?

Ger. Enquire not: So I can do it, to preserve my Master;
Nay if it be three parts.

Gos. O that I had it,
But good Clause, talk no more, I feel thy charity,
As thou hast felt mine: but alas!

Ger. Distrust not,
'Tis that that quenches ye: pull up your Spirit,
Your good, your honest, and your noble Spirit;
For if the fortunes of ten thousand people
Can save ye, rest assur'd; you have forgot Sir,
The good ye did, which was the power you gave me;
Ye shall now know the King of Beggars treasure:
And let the winds blow as they list, the Seas roar,
Yet, here to morrow, you shall find your harbour.
Here fail me not, for if I live I'le fit ye.

Gos. How fain I would believe thee!

Ger. If I ly Master, Believe no man hereafter.

Gos. I will try thee, But he knows, that knows all.

Ger. Know me to morrow,
And if I know not how to cure ye, kill me;
So pass in peace, my best, my worthiest Master. [Exeunt.

SCENA III

Enter Hubert, like a Huntsman.

Hub. Thus have I stoln away disguiz'd from Hemskirk
To try these people, for my heart yet tells me
Some of these Beggars, are the men I look for:
Appearing like my self, they have no reason
(Though my intent is fair, my main end honest)
But to avoid me narrowly, that face too,
That womans face, how near it is! O may it
But prove the same, and fortune how I'le bless thee!
Thus, sure they cannot know me, or suspect me,
If to my habit I but change my nature;
As I must do; this is the wood they live in,
A place fit for concealment: where, till fortune
Crown me with that I seek, I'le live amongst 'em. [Exit.

Enter Higgen, Prigg, Ferret, Ginks, and the rest of the Boors.

Hig. Come bring 'em out, for here we sit in justice:
Give to each one a cudgel, a good cudgel:
And now attend your sentence. That you are rogues,
And mischievous base rascalls, (there's the point now)
I take it, is confess'd.

Prig. Deny it if you dare knaves.

Boors. We are Rogues Sir.

Hig. To amplify the matter then, rogues as ye are,
And lamb'd ye shall be e're we leave ye.

Boors. Yes Sir.

Hig. And to the open handling of our justice,
Why did ye this upon the proper person
Of our good Master? were you drunk when you did it?

Boors. Yes indeed were we.

Prig. You shall be beaten sober.

Hig. Was it for want you undertook it?

Boors. Yes Sir.

Hig. You shall be swing'd abundantly.

Prig. And yet for all that,
You shall be poor rogues still.

Hig. Has not the Gentleman,
Pray mark this point Brother Prig, that noble Gentleman
Reliev'd ye often, found ye means to live by,
By imploying some at Sea, some here, some there;
According to your callings?

Boors. 'Tis most true Sir.

Hig. Is not the man, an honest man?

Boors. Yes truly.

Hig. A liberal Gentleman? and as ye are true rascals
Tell me but this, have ye not been drunk, and often,
At his charge?

Boors. Often, often.

Hig. There's the point then,
They have cast themselves, Brother Prig.

Prig. A shrewd point, Brother.

Hig. Brother, proceed you now; the cause is open, I am some what weary.

Prig. Can you do these things?
You most abhominable stinking Rascals,
You turnip-eating Rogues.

Boors. We are truly sorry.

Prig. Knock at your hard hearts Rogues, and presently
Give us a sign you feel compunction,
Every man up with's cudgel, and on his neighbour
Bestow such alms, 'till we shall say sufficient,
For there your sentence lyes without partiality;
Either of head, or hide Rogues, without sparing,
Or we shall take the pains to beat you dead else:
You shall know your doom.

Hig. One, two, and three about it.

Prig. That fellow in the blue, has true Compunction, [Beat one another.
He beats his fellows bravely, oh, well struck boyes.

Enter Gerrard.

Hig. Up with that blue breech, now playes he the Devil.
So get ye home, drink small beer, and be honest;
Call in the Gentleman.

Ger. Do, bring him presently,
His cause I'le hear my self.

Enter Hemskirk.

Hig. Prig. With all due reverence,
We do resign Sir.

Ger. Now huffing Sir, what's your name?

Hem. What's that to you Sir?

Ger. It shall be ere we part.

Hem. My name is Hemskirk, I follow the Earl, which you shall feel.

Ger. No threatning,
For we shall cool you Sir; why did'st thou basely
Attempt the murder of the Merchant Goswin?

Hem. What power hast thou to ask me?

Ger. I will know it,
Or fley thee till thy pain discover it.

Hem. He did me wrong, base wrong.

Ger. That cannot save ye,
Who sent ye hither? and what further villanies
Have you in hand?

Hem. Why would'st thou know? what profit,
If I had any private way, could rise
Out of my knowledge, to do thee commodity?
Be sorry for what thou hast done, and make amends fool,
I'le talk no further to thee, nor these Rascals.

Ger. Tye him to that tree.

Hem. I have told you whom I follow.

Ger. The Devil you should do, by your villanies,
Now he that has the best way, wring it from him.

Hig. I undertake it: turn him to the Sun boyes;
Give me a fine sharp rush, will ye confess yet?

Hem. Ye have rob'd me already, now you'le murder me.

Hig. Murder your nose a little: does your head purge Sir?
To it again, 'twill do ye good.

Hem. Oh, I cannot tell you any thing.

Ger. Proceed then.

Hig. There's maggots in your nose, I'le fetch 'em out Sir.

Hem. O my head breaks.

Hig. The best thing for the rheum Sir,
That falls into your worships eyes.

Hem. Hold, hold.

Ger. Speak then.

Hem. I know not what.

Hig. It lyes in's brain yet,
In lumps it lyes, I'le fetch it out the finest;
What pretty faces the fool makes? heigh!

Hem. Hold,
Hold, and I'le tell ye all, look in my doublet;
And there within the lining in a paper,
You shall find all.

Ger. Go fetch that paper hither,
And let him loose for this time.

Enter Hubert.

Hub. Good ev'n my honest friends.

Ger. Good ev'n good fellow.

Hub. May a poor huntsman, with a merry heart,
A voice shall make the forest ring about him,
Get leave to live amongst ye? true as steel, boyes?
That knows all chases, and can watch all hours,
And with my quarter staff, though the Devil bid stand,
Deal such an alms, shall make him roar again?
Prick ye the fearfull hare through cross waves, sheep-walks,
And force the crafty Reynard climb the quicksetts;
Rouse ye the lofty Stag, and with my bell-horn,
Ring him a knel, that all the woods shall mourn him,
'Till in his funeral tears, he fall before me?
The Polcat, Marterne, and the rich skin'd Lucerne
I know to chase, the Roe, the wind out-stripping

Isgrin himself, in all his bloody anger
I can beat from the bay, and the wild Sounder
Single, and with my arm'd staff, turn the Boar,
Spight of his foamy tushes, and thus strike him;
'Till he fall down my feast.

Ger. A goodly fellow.

Hub. What mak'st thee here, ha? [aside.

Ger. We accept thy fellowship.

Hub. Hemskirk, thou art not right I fear, I fear thee. [aside.

Enter Ferret, with a Letter.

Fer. Here is the paper: and as he said we found it.

Ger. Give me it, I shall make a shift yet, old as I am,
To find your knavery: you are sent here, Sirra,
To discover certain Gentlemen, a spy-knave,
And if ye find 'em, if not by perswasion
To bring 'em back, by poyson to despatch 'em.

Hub. By poyson, ha?

Ger. Here is another, Hubert;
What is that Hubert Sir?

Hem. You may perceive there.

Ger. I may perceive a villany and a rank one,
Was he joyn'd partner of thy knavery?

Hem. No.
He had an honest end, would I had had so,
Which makes him scape such cut-throats.

Ger. So it seems.
For here thou art commanded, when that Hubert
Has done his best and worthiest service, this way
To cut his throat, for here he's set down dangerous.

Hub. This is most impious.

Ger. I am glad we have found ye, Is not this true?

Hem. Yes; what are you the better?

Ger. You shall perceive Sir, ere you get your freedom:
Take him aside, and friend, we take thee to us,
Into our company, thou dar'st be true unto us?

Hig. I, and obedient too?

Hub. As you had bred me.

Ger. Then take our hand: thou art now a servant to us,
Welcom him all.

Hig. Stand off, stand off: I'le do it,
We bid ye welcom three wayes; first for your person,
Which is a promising person, next for your quality,
Which is a decent, and a gentle quality,
Last for the frequent means you have to feed us,
You can steal 'tis to be presum'd.

Hub. Yes, venison, and if you want—

Hig. 'Tis well you understand right,
And shall practise daily: you can drink too?

Hub. Soundly.

Hig. And ye dare know a woman from a weathercock?

Hub. If I handle her.

Ger. Now swear him.

Hig. I crown thy nab, with a gag of benbouse,
And stall thee by the Salmon into the clows,
To mand on the pad, and strike all the cheats;
To Mill from the Ruffmans, commision and slates,
Twang dell's, i' the stiromell, and let the Quire Cuffin:
And Herman Beck strine, and trine to the Ruffin.

Ger. Now interpret this unto him.

Hig. I pour on thy pate a pot of good ale,
And by the Rogues [oth] a Rogue thee instal:
To beg on the way, to rob all thou meets;
To steal from the hedge, both the shirt and the sheets:
And lye with thy wench in the straw till she twang,
Let the Constable, Justice, and Devil go hang.

Hig. You are welcom Brother.

All. Welcom, welcom, welcom, but who shall have the keeping
Of this fellow?

Hub. Sir, if you dare but trust me;
For if I have kept wild dogs and beasts for wonder,
And made 'em tame too: give into my custody
This roaring Rascal, I shall hamper him,
With all his knacks and knaveries, and I fear me
Discover yet a further villany in him;
O he smells ranck o'th' Rascal.

Ger. Take him to thee,
But if he scape—

Hub. Let me be ev'n hang'd for him,
Come Sir, I'le tye ye to my leash.

Hem. Away Rascal.

Hub. Be not so stubborn: I shall swindge ye soundly,
And ye play tricks with me.

Ger. So, now come in,
But ever have an eye Sir, to your Prisoner.

Hub. He must blind both mine eyes, if he get from me.

Ger. Go get some victuals, and some drink, some good drink;
For this day we'll keep holy to good fortune,
Come, and be frolick with us.

Hig. You are a stranger, Brother, I pray lead,
You must, you must, Brother. [Exeunt.