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And now I must to prison to the captain, And there

Put. I arrest you, sir.

Pye. Oh-I spoke truer than I was aware; I must to prison indeed.

Put. They say you're a scholar.-Nay, siryeoman Dogson, have care to his arms.-You'll rail against serjeants, and stage 'em? You'll tickle their vices?

Pye. Nay, use me like a gentleman, I'm little less.

Put. You a gentleman! that's a good jest i'faith. Can a scholar be a gentleman, when a gentleman will not be a scholar? Look upon your wealthy citizens' sons, whether they be scholars or no, that are gentlemen by their fathers' trades. A scholar a gentleman!

Pye. Nay, let fortune drive all her stings into me, she cannot hurt that in me. A gentleman is accidens inseparabile to my blood. Rav. A rablement! nay, you shall have a bloody rablement upon you, I warrant you. Put. Go, yeoman Dogson, before, and enter the action i' the Counter.

[Exit DossoN. Pye. Pray do not handle me cruelly; I'll go whither you please to have me.

Put. Oh, he's tame; let him loose, serjeant.
Pye. Pray, at whose suit is this?

Put. Why at your hostess's suit where you lie, mistress Conyburrow, for bed and board; the sum four pound five shillings and five pence.

Pye. I know the sum too true; yet I presumed Upon a farther day. Well, 'tis my stars, And I must bear it now, though never harder. I swear now my device is cross'd indeed : Captain must lie by't: this is deceit's seed. Put. Come, come away.

Pye. Pray give me so much time as to knit my garter, and I'll away with you.

Put. Well, we must be paid for this waiting upon you; this is no pains to attend thus.

[PYEBOARD pretends to tie his garter. Pye. I am now wretched and miserable; I shall ne'er recover of this disease. Hot iron gnaw their fists! They have struck a fever into my shoulder, which I shall ne'er shake out again, I fear me, 'till with a true habeas corpus the sexton remove me. O, if I take prison once, I shall be press'd to death with actions; but not so happy as speedily: perhaps I may be forty years a pressing, till I be a thin old man; that looking through the grates, men may look through me. All my means is confounded. What shall I do? Have my wits served me so long, and now give me the slip (like a train'd servant) when I have most need of them? No device to keep my poor carcase from these puttocks?—Yes, happiness; have I a paper about

me now? Yes, two: I'll try it, it may hit; Ertremity is the touchstone unto wit. Ay, ay.

Put. 'Sfoot, how many yards are in thy garters, that thou art so long a tying of them? Come away,

sir.

41

Pye. Troth serjeant, I protest, you could never have took me at a worse time; for now at this t instant I have no lawful picture about me. Put. 'Slid, how shall we come by our fees then? Ruv. We must have fees, sirrah.

Pye. I could have wish'd, i'faith, that you had took me half an hour hence for your own sake; for I protest if you had not cross'd me, I was going in great joy to receive five pound of a gentleman, for the device of a mask here, drawn in this paper. But now, come, I must be contented; 'tis but so much lost, and answerable to the rest of my fortunes.

Put. Why, how far hence dwells that gentle

man?

Rao. Ay, well said, serjeant; 'tis good to cast about for money.

Put. Speak; if it be not far

Pye. We are but a little past it; the next street behind us.

Put. 'Slid, we have waited upon you grievously already. If you'll say you'll be liberal when you | have it, give us double fees, and spend upon us, why we'll show you that kindness, and go aloug with you to the gentleman.

Rav. Ay, well said; still, serjeant, urge that. Pye. Troth if it will suffice, it shall be all among you; for my part I'll not pocket a penny: my hostess shall have her four pounds five shillings, and bate me the five pence; and the other fifteen shillings I'll spend upon you.

Rav. Why now thou art a good scholar. Put. An excellent scholar i'faith; has proceed. ed very well a-late. Come we'll along with you. [Exeunt PUTTOCK, RAVENSHAW, and Pre

BOARD, who knocks at the door of a Gen tleman's House at the inside of the Stage. SCENE V.-A Gallery in a Gentleman's House. Enter a Servant.

Ser. Who knocks? Who's at door? We had need of a porter. [Opens the door. Pye. [Within] A few friends here. Pray is the gentleman your master within? Ser. Yes; is your business to him?

[Servant opens the door. Enter PYEBOARD, PUTTOCK, RAVENSHAW, and

DOGSON.

Pye. Ay, he knows it, when he sees me : I pray you, have you forgot ine?

Ser. Ay, by my troth, sir; pray come near; I'll

✔ No lawful picture about me.-Money is still called King's pictures, in low language.—STEEVENI,

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Put. I warrant he likes it rarely. Pye. In the plunge of my extremities, being giddy, and doubtful what to do, at last it was put into my labouring thoughts, to make a happy use of this paper; and to blear their unlettered eyes, I told them there was a device for a mask drawn in't, and that (but for their interception) I was going to a gentleman to receive my reward for't. They, greedy at this word, and hoping to make

a and tell him of you. Please you to walk here in the gallery till he comes. [Exit Servant. Pye. We will attend his worship. Worship I think; for so much the posts at his door should ignify, 42 and the fair coming-in, and the wicket; ise I neither knew him nor his worship: but 'tis appiness he is within doors, whatsoe'er he be. f he be not too much a formal citizen, he may lo me good.-[Aside.]-Serjeant and yeoman, how do you like this house? Is't not most whol-purchase of me, offered their attendance to go somely plotted? 43

Rav.'Troth, prisoner, an exceeding fine house. Pye. Yet I wonder how he should forget me,for he never knew me. [Aside.] No matter; what is forgot in you, will be remembered in your master. A pretty comfortable room this, methinks; you have no such rooms in prison now?

Put. O, dog-holes to't.

Pye. Dog-holes, indeed. I can tell you, I have great hope to have my chamber here shortly, nay, and diet too; for he's the most free heartedst gentleman, where he takes: you would little think it. And what a fine gallery were here for me to walk and study, and make verses?

Put. O, it stands very pleasantly for a scholar. Enter Gentleman.

Pye. Look what maps, and pictures, and devices, and things, neatly, delicately--Mass here he comes; he should be a gentleman; I like his beard well.-All happiness to your worship.

Gent. You're kindly welcome, sir.
Put. A simple salutation.

Rav. Mass, it seems the gentleman makes great account of him.

Pye. I have the thing here for you, sir-[Takes the Gentleman apart.] I beseech you conceal me, sir; I'm undone else. [Aside.] I have the mask here for you, sir; look you, sir.---I beseech your worship first pardon my rudeness, for my extremes make me bolder than I would be. I am a poor gentleman, and a scholar, and now most unfortunately fallen into the fangs of unmerciful officers; arrested for debt, which though small, I am not able to compass, by reason I am destitute of lands, money, and friends; so that if I fall into the hungry swallow of the prison, I am like utterly to perish, and with fees and extortions be pinched clean to the bone. Now, if ever pity had interest in the blood of a gentleman, I beseech you vouchsafe but to favour that means of my escape, which I have already thought upon. Gent. Go forward.

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along with me. My hap was to make bold with your door, sir, which my thoughts showed me the most fairest and comfortablest entrance; and I hope I have happened right upon understanding and pity. May it please your good worship, then, but to uphold my device, which is, to let one of your men put me out at a back-door, and I shall be bound to your worship for ever.

Gent. By my troth, an excellent device. Put. An excellent device, he says; he likes it wonderfully.

Gent. O my faith, I never heard a better. Rav. Hark, he swears he never heard a better, serjeant.

Put. O, there's no talk on't; he's an excellent scholar, and especially for a mask.

Gent. Give me your paper, your device; I was never better pleased in all my life: good wit, brave wit, finely wrought! Come in, sir, and receive your money, sir. [Exit.

Pye. I'll follow your good worship.--You heard how he liked it now?

Put. Puh, we know he could not choose but like it. Go thy ways; thou art a witty fine fellow i'faith thou shalt discourse it to us at the tavern anon; wilt thou?

Pye. Ay, ay, that I will. Look, serjeant, here are maps, and pretty toys be doing in the mean time; I shall quickly have told out the money, you know.

Put. Go, go, little villain; fetch thy chink; I begin to love thee: I'll be drunk to-night in thy company.

Pye. This gentleman I well may call a part Of my salvation in these earthly evils, For he has saved me from three hungry devils [Exit PYEBOARD.

Put. Sirrah serjeant, these maps are pretty painted things, but I could ne'er fancy them yet: methinks they're too busy, and full of circles and conjurations. They say all the world's in one of them; but I could ne'er find the Counter in the Poultry.44

42 Worship, I think; for so much the posts at his door should signify.—Justices of peace and sheriffs, in the time of queen Elizabeth, had two posts placed before their door.-MALONE.

See note on Twelfth Night, last edit. vol. iv. p. 175.-STEEVENS.

43 Is't not most wholsomely plotted.-i. e. Is not the ground plot of this house laid in a most wholesome situation.-PERCY.

* But I could ne'er find the Counter in the Poultry.―The prison so called.—MALONE.

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Rao. I warrant thee, that stands for the Counter: for you know there's a company of bare fellows there.

if

Put. 'Faith like enough, serjeant; I never marked so much before. Sirrah serjeant, and yeoman, I should love these maps out o' cry now, we could see men peep out of door in 'em. O, we might have 'em in a morning to our breakfast so finely, and ne'er knock our heels to the ground a whole day for 'em.

Rav. Ay marry, sir, I'd buy one then myself. But this talk is by the way--Where shall us sup to-night? Five pound received---let's talk of that. I have a trick worth all. You two shall bear him to the tavern, whilst I go close with his hostess, and work out of her. I know she would be glad of the sum, to finger money, because she knows 'tis but a desperate debt, and full of hazard.--What will you say, if I bring it to pass, that the hostess shall be contented with one half for all, and we to share t'other fifty shillings, bullies?

Put. Why, I would call thee king of serjeants, and thou should'st be chronicled in the Counterbook for ever.

Rav. Well, put it to me; we'll make a night on't, i'faith.

Dog. 'Sfoot, I think he receives more money, he stays so long.

Put. He tarries long indeed. May be I can tell you, upon the good liking on't, the gentleman may prove more bountiful.

Raw. That would be rare; we'll search him. Put. Nay, be sure of it, we'll search him, and make him light enough.

Enter Gentleman,

Rav. Q, here comes the gentleman. By your leave, sir.

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Gent. I paid him his money, and my man told me he went out at back-door.

Put. Back-door?

Gent. Why, what's the matter?

Put. He was our prisoner, sir; we did arrest him.

Gent. What! he was not?-You the sheriff's officers! You were to blame then. Why did not you make known to me as much? I could have kept him for you. I protest he received all of me in Britain gold of the last coining.45

Rav. Vengeance dog him with't!
Put. 'Sfoot, has he gull'd us so?

Dog. Where shall we sup now, serjeants?
Put. Sup, Simon, now !46 eat porridge for a
month.-Well, we cannot impute it to any lack
of good will in your worship. You did but as an-
other would have done. 'Twas our hard fortunes
to miss the purchase ;-but if e'er we clutch him
again, the Counter shall charm him.
Rav. The Hole shall rot him.47
Dog. Amen.
Gent. So;
Vex out your lungs without doors. I am proud
It was my hap to help him It fell fit;
He went not empty neither for his wit.
Alas, poor wretch, I could not blame his brain,
To labour his delivery, to be free

[Exeunt Serjeants.

From their unpitying fangs. I'm glad it stood
Within my power to do a scholar good. [Exit.

45 I protest, he received of me all in Britain gold of the last coining." On the 16th of November 1604, (says Stowe, Annals, p. 856, edit. 1631,) was proclaimed at London certain new pieces of coine both of gold and silver, with the true valuation and weights of them, according to the mint of both nations, English and Scottish.-MALONE.

46 Sup, Simon, now !-This alludes to the character of" Simon of Southampton, alias Sup-broth," whom we read of in Thomas of Reading, or the sixe worthie Yeomen of the West. Now the sixth time cor rected and enlarged by T. D. (i. e. Thomas Decker) 1632.—STEEVENS.

47 The Hole shall rot him.-The Hole was one of the meanest apartments in the Counter prison. See The Walks of Hogsdon, with the Humours of Woodstreet Compter, a comedy, 1657:

"Next from the stocks, the Hole, and Little-ease,
"Sad places, which kind nature do displease,
"And from the rattling of the keeper's keys,
Libera nes, Domine."

“If a man must be in a prison (says Suckling) 'tis better to lie in a private room, than in the Hole.— MALONE.

So in the Counter-rat, a poem, 1658:

"In Woodstreet's hole, or Poultry's hell."-STEEVENÍ,

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Pye. I coming to prepare thee, and with news As happy as thy quick delivery,--Was traced out by the scent; arrested, captain. Idle. Arrested, George?

Pye Arrested. Guess, guess,-how many dogs do you think I had upon me?

Idle. Dogs? I say, I know not.

wrought to further it,) besides, to put crowns in your purse, to make you a man of better hopes; and whereas, before you were a captain or poor soldier, to make you now a commander of rich fools, which is truly the only best purchase peace can allow you, safer than highways, heath, or cony-groves, and yet a far better booty; for your greatest thieves are never hanged, never hanged: for why? they're wise, and cheat within doors; and we geld fouls of more money in one night, than your false-tailed gelding" will purchase in twelvemonths' running; which confirms the old beldain's saying, He's wisest, that keeps himself warmest; that is, he that robs by a good fire.

Idle. Well opened i'faith, George; thou hast pulled that saying out of the husk,

Pye. Captain Idle, 'tis no time now to delude or delay. The old knight will be here suddenly;

Pye. Almost as many as George Stone, the I'll perfect you, direct you, tell you the trick o..'t:

bear; Idle. How didst thou shake them off then? Pye. The time is busy, and calls upon our wits.

48 three at once, three at once.

Let it suffice,

Here I stand safe, and scaped by miracle;
Some other hour shall tell thee, when we'll steep
Our eyes in laughter. Captain, my device
Leans to thy happiness; for ere the day
Be spent to the girdle, thou shalt be free.
The corporal's in's first sleep; the chain is miss'd;
Thy kinsman has expressed thee; and the old
knight,

With palsy hams, now labours thy release.
What rests, is all in thee ;—to conjure, captain.
Idle. Conjure? 'Sfoot, George, you know, the
devil a conjuring I can conjure.

Pye. The devil a conjuring? Nay, by my fay, I'd not have thee do so much, captain, as the devil a conjuring. Look here; I have brought thee a circle ready charactered and all.

Idle. 'Sfoot, George, art in thy right wits? Dost know what thou say'st? Why dost talk to a captain of conjuring? Didst thou ever hear of a Captain Conjure in thy life? Dost call't a circle? Tis too wide a thing, methinks? had it been a lesser circle, then I knew what to have done.

Pye. Why every fool knows that, captain. Nay then I'll not cog with you, captain: if you'll stay and hang the next sessions, you may.

Idle. No, by my faith, George. Come, come; let's to conjuring.

Pye. But if you look to be released, (as my wits have took pain to work it, and all means

'tis nothing.

Idle. 'Sfoot, George, I know not what to say to't. Conjure? I shall be hanged ere I conjure.

Pye. Nay, tell not me of that, captain; you'll ne'er conjure after you're hanged, I warrant you. Look you, sir; a parlous matter, sure! First, to spread your circle upon the ground, with a little conjuring ceremony, (as I'll have an hackneyman's wand silvered o'er o'purpose for you ;) then arriving in the circle, with a huge word, and a great trample-as, for instance-have you never seen a stalking, stamping player, that will raise a tempest with his tongue, and thunder with his heels?

Idle. O yes, yes, yes; often, often. Pye. Why be like such a one. For any thing will blear the old knight's eyes; for you must note, that he'll ne'er dare to venture into the room; only perhaps peep fearfully through the key-hole, to see how the play goes forward.

Idle. Well, I may go about it when I will; but mark the end on't; I shall but shame myself i'faith, George. Speak big words, and stamp and stare, and he look in at key-hole! why the very thought of that would make me laugh outright, and spoil all. Nay, I'll tell thee, George; when I apprehend a thing once, I am of such a laxative laughter, that if the devil himself stood by, I should laugh in his face.

Pye. Puh! that's but the babe of a man, and may easily be hushed;-as to think upon some disaster, some sad misfortune;-as the death of thy father i'the country.

Idle. Sfoot, that would be the more to drive

45 Almost as many as George Stone, the bear:-George Stone was a noted bear exhibited at Paris Garden; so called from the name of his owner. Thus in the Silent Woman, by B. Jonson, 1605:-" and then out of the banqueting house window, when Ned Whiting and George Stone were at the stake."—Sacarson, the bear mentioned in the Merry Wives of Windsor, probably likewise bore the name of his keeper.— MALONE.

49 False-tailed gelding.—i e. a horse for a highwayman, with a false tail to take on and off.

me into such an ecstacy, that I should ne'er lin laughing.

Pye. Why then think upon going to hanging. Idle. Mass that's well remembered: Now I'll do well, I warrant thee; ne'er fear me now. But how shall I do, George, for boisterous words and horrible names?

Pye. Puh! any fustian invocations, captain, will serve as well as the best, so you rant them out well: or you may go to a 'pothecary's shop, and take all the words from the boxes.

Idle. Troth, and you say true, George; there's strange words enough to raise a hundred quacksalvers, though they be ne'er so poor when they begin. But here lies the fear on't: how, if in this false conjuration a true devil should pop up indeed?

Pye. A true devil, captain? why there was ne'er such a one. Nay'faith he that has this place is as false a knave as our last church-warden.

Idle. Then he's false enough o' conscience, i'faith, George.

Prisoners cry within.] Good gentlemen over the way, send your relief: Good gentlemen over the way, good, sir Godfrey!

Pye. He's come, he's come.

Enter Sir GODFREY, EDMOND, and NICHOLAS. Nich. Master, that's my kinsman yonder in the buff-jerkin. Kinsman, that's my master yonder i'the taffaty hat. Pray salute him entirely.

[Sir GODFREY and IDLE salute, and PYEBOARD salutes EDMOND.

Sir God. Now my friend.

[Sir GODFREY and IDLE talk aside. Pye. May I partake your name, sir? Edm. My name is master Edmond. Pye. Master Edmond? Are you not a Welshman, sir?

Edm. A Welshman? why?

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Sir God. I much commend your care the good captain conjurer; and that I will be sure have it private enough, you shall dot in my ter's house; mine own house I may call it, is both our charges therein are proportioned. Idle. Very good, sir. What may I call your lost sir?

Sir God. O you may call it a great loss, a gre vous loss, sir; as goodly a chain of gold, thoug I say it, that wore it-How say'st thou, Nic las?

Nich. O 'twas as delicious a chain of gol kinsman, you know

Sir God. You know? Did you know't, captains Idle. Trust a fool with secrets!-Sir, he may say, I know. His meaning is, because my art such, that by it I may gather a knowledge of a things.

Sir God. Ay, very true.

Idle. A pox of all fools! The excuse stuck up on my tongue like ship-pitch upon a marineri gown, not to come off in haste. [Aside.] Br lady, knight, to lose such a fair chain of gold were a foul loss. Well, I can put you in this good comfort on't: if it be between heaven and earth, knight, I'll have it for you.

Sir God. A wonderful conjurer! O ay, 'tis be tween heaven and earth, I warrant you; it can not go out of the realm: I know 'tis somewher above the earth;

Idle. Ay, nigher the earth than thou wot'st os

[Asid

Sir God. For first, my chain was rich, and rich thing shall enter into heaven, you know. Nich. And as for the devil, master, he has need on't; for you know he has a great chain e his own.

Sir God. Thou say'st true, Nicholas, but he has put off that now; that lies by him.

Idle. 'Faith, knight, in few words, I presume so

Pye. Because master is your Christian name, much upon the power of my art, that I could war and Edmond your sirname.

Edm. O no: I have more names at home; master Edmond Plus is my full name at length. Pye. O, cry you mercy, sir.

Idle. [Aside to Sir GODFREY.] I understand that you are my kinsman's good master; and in regard of that, the best of my skill is at your service. But had you fortuned a mere stranger, and made no means to me by acquaintance, I should have utterly denied to have been the man; both by reason of the act of parliament against conjurers and witches, 50 as also, because I would not have my art vulgar, trite, and common.

rant your chain again.

Sir God. O dainty captain!

Idle. Marry, it will cost me much sweat; I were better go to sixteen hot-houses.

Sir God. Ay, good man, I warrant thee. Idle. Beside great vexation of kidney and liver. Nich. O, 'twill tickle you hereabouts, cousin; because you have not been used to't.

Sir God. No? have you not been used to't, captain?

Idle. Plague of all fools still! [Aside.] Indeed, knight, I have not used it a good while, and therefore 'twill strain me so much the more, you know,

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50 Both by reason of the act of parliament against conjurers and witches.-The act alluded to passed in the first year of James I. (1604.) This passage, therefore, corroborates the various other circumstances that have been mentioned, to show that the play before us was not written till after that period. There is a particular clause in this statute against all persons "taking upon them by witchcraft, &c. to tell or declare in what place any treasure of gold or silver should or might be found or had in the earth, or other secret places."— -MALONE.

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