p
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES
PRINTED FOR THE MALONE SOCIETY BY
HORACE HART M.A. AT THE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
PRESS
WILY BEGUILED
1606
-
THE MALONE SOCIETY
REPRINTS
1912
This reprint of Wily Beguiled has been prepared
under the direction of the General Editor.
Feb. 191 3. W. W. Greg.
rK-
The Register of the Stationers' Company affords
the following entry :
iz November./ [1606]
Entered for his Copie vnder thandes of master Hartwell and clement knighte.
bothe the wardens A booke called Wylie beguilde. &c . vjd/
[Arber's Transcript, III. 333.]
In pursuance of this entry an edition of the play
appeared in quarto dated the same year. It was
printed for Clement Knight by Humphry Lownes
and bore his initials and device. Two further
editions were printed for the same stationer, one by
Thomas Purfoot in 1623, the other by W. W., i.e.
William White, at an unknown date. On 1 2 Oct.
162 9 Clement Knight transferred his interest in the
play to Thomas Knight (Arber, IV. 220), for whom
Elizabeth Allde printed an edition in 1630, while
another printed anonymously for him in 1635*
was to be sold by Edward Blackmore and Francis
Coules. On 8 Mar. 163 ?/6 Thomas Knight in his
turn transferred his interest to Thomas Alchorn
(Arber, IV. 35" 7), and in 1(538 the latter had a final
edition printed for him by I. B., i.e. John Beale.
Of the edition of 1606 there are copies in the
Bodleian Library, the Dyce collection, and that of
the Duke of Devonshire. Copies of all the other
editions are preserved in the British Museum. Of
that printed by W. White only the one copy is now
known. In this the date, which apparently was
given, has been torn away. White is not known as
a printer after about 16 17, and internal evidence
also shows his edition to be earlier than Purfoot's,
that is than 1623. Doubt might even exist as to the
priority of the edition of 1606 were it not that the
device upon the undated title-page is known to be
pretty certainly not earlier than 1611. The first of
the early bibliographers to give a date to Wily
Beguiled was Chetwood, who gave 161 3. It is just
possible that this may have been taken from a copy
of White's edition, though it is much more likely
to have been a mere guess.
The edition of 1 606 is a quarto printed in the
usual roman type approximating in size to modern
pica (20 11. 83 mm.). All three copies mentioned
above want the last leaf which was presumably
blank, while that in the Bodleian also has H 4 and
1 1 mutilated. The Bodleian and Dyce copies have
been collated throughout for the present reprint,
while that at Chatsworth has also been consulted.
Certain variants have been discovered which show
that in sheet H the Dyce copy has an uncorrected
outer forme (the error in 1. 2092 arising through
the unlocking of the type in order to correct that
in 1. 2093), while in sheet I the Bodleian copy has
an uncorrected outer forme, and the Dyce copy an
uncorrected inner forme. In all these cases the
Duke of Devonshire's copy agrees with that in the
Dyce collection.
That the play is appreciably older than the first
edition is generally admitted. Echoes of various
plays found in the present piece confirm the
vi
evidence of an allusion to the expedition to Cadiz
(1. d8) in suggesting a date not long after 1596.
The Latin Lcelia was acted at Cambridge in 15-95-.
Obvious imitations of the Merchant of Venice appear
(11. 2173 &c, 2271, 2278), and it is also possible to
see allusions to Romeo and Juliet and the Mid-
summer Nights Dream, while clear parallels to the
Spanish Tragedy have also been pointed out. The
Prologue is addressed by the Juggler as < humorous
George ', a fact that has suggested the ascription of
the play to George Peele. For any such attribution,
however, as well as for the proposed satyric inter-
pretation of the piece, the evidence is too vague
and confused to be considered here. Nevertheless
the suggestion may be hazarded that the play was
in its origin at least a Cambridge piece of the
circle of Parnassus.
vu
List of Doubtful Readings, &c.
N.B. — The following is primarily a list of those passages in
which the reading of the original is open to question, and of
those in which different copies of the original have been found
to vary. It also includes a number of readings which are evident
typographical blunders of the original, this being necessary as
a defence of the accuracy of the reprint. It makes, however, no
pretence of supplying a complete list of errors and corruptions,
still less of offering any criticism or emendation. For the sake
of greater clearness the readings are quoted in a slightly different
manner from that adopted in the earlier Malone reprints. The
mere repetition of a reading out of the text is equivalent to
' sic '.
Prol. 21-2 me-|choly
28 him ; lie
Text 30 write, to
31 come
32 Lawer
89 fameword
94 Old man.] possibly Oldman.
1 8a tralucent
252 waues
291 Sophos,
15)8 fornight
392 trow:
451 c.w. An
5-33 Loue,
594 speaker s name, Pegge,
omitted
5-96 ha s
6o<) you
699 lam
701 be haue
76b Sophos,
771 Churms
839 m y
85-4. w e
8 8c- 1 neuer, | knew
901 Li lea.
1014—5- daughjter,
1 1 5 9 vnguem,
1196 awitnefle,
1243 M. Le/ia,
Iiy? An d
I 347 not indented
1358 vnload
141 7 may denhead,
147 1 man fee
1 593 speaker's name , Will , omit-
ted
1644. heard
167? weele
1709 Nurfe,
1828 giue our (read giue us or
be our?)
1848 till
1867 Gripe,
1877 have
1882 Churmes.
2009 thing;
2024 boatewrites fou] possibly
boatewritesfou
2027 likewlfe
2092 hzrmleffcjso Dyce, Devon,:
harmle He Bod I.
vm
2182
2238
225"!
2260
2280
2320
repofe,] so Bodl. : reprofe,
Dyce, Devon.
Chnrms.
y our
stage direction belongs after
I. 2I98
Rohin.
taken,
Will.] so Dyce^ Devon. :
Will Bodl.
c.w. (Marke] so Dyce, De-
von. : Marke Bodl.
M. Lelias
2,5 3 7 this] so Bodl.: his Dycey
Devon.
beguil'd,
2336 Where] so Bodl. : Whtere
Dyce^ Devon.
24.02 bear'ftvnto
24.04 fait's] /'. e. say it is
24.60 oth thy
2^02 befpur-blind.
2^04, knee.
Page 3, sig. A 3, page number
omitted
16, sis;. C i\ r.t. WILT
A list of characters, not in order of entrance, is
given in the original at the head of the prologue.
The Nurse is Mother Midnight's daughter, the Old
Man is a tenant of Ploddall and father of Will
Cricket. The characters in the prologue are :
Prologue, a Player, and a Juggler.
IX
The title-pages of the first four editions are here reproduced
in facsimile. Those of the fifth and sixth are as follows :
A | Pleafant Comedic, | Called j WILT BEGV1LDE. j The
chiefe Actors are thefe : |
Poore Scholler.
I Rich fool e ^
and a
Knave at ajh'tjt.
|| [lace ornament] || LONDON, J Printed for Thomas Knight,
and are to bee ' ibid by Edward Blackmore, | and Francis
Coules. | 1635-.
A J Pleafant Comedie, J Called | WILT BEGVILDE. | The
chiefe Actors are thefe : |
Poore Scholler.
Rich foole^
and a
Knave at a Jhift,
|| [ornament] || LONDON. | Printed by I. B. for Tho. Alchorn,
M. DC. XXXVIIJ.
PLEASANT
COMEDIE,
Called
WILY BEGVILDE.
The Chiefs Atfors be thefe :
A poorc Scholler , a rich Foolc , and a
Knaueatathiftc.
At London,
Printed by H. L. for C l e m e n t K n i c h t
and arc to be foldc at his Shop, in Paulcs
Church-yard) at thefigne of the Holy Lambe.
I606,
First Edition. Title-page (Dyce)
Gripe :2nVCurcr.
floddxll: a Farmer,
Sophos : aSchoWer.
Churms : a La w y cr.
'Robin goodfelloxv.
J-'ortttMAtus : Gripes Son. An old man.
LeliA : Gripes daughter. Sylnanns,
Nurfe. Clcarkc.
Peter Ploli ill: Plod-
d.lls {o'WiZ.
P-*T(re ; M irfes daughter.
ml Cricket :
Mother Midnight.
SPECTRVM.
.... THE PROLOGVE.
\ yTT 7Hathoe,whercarcthcfepaltriePlaiers?flilpoa<-
V V ringintheirpapersandncuerperfeft ?forihame
com eforth,your Audience ftay folong,theireies waxe dim
ivith expectation.
[ Enter o *>e of the Tlayers,]
How now my honeO Rogue j what play {hall weehaue
hereto night?
Tlay. Sir you may looke vpon the Title.
Prol. WhatiSpeclrtrop once agam? Why noble Cerberus^
rothingbutpatch-pannell!hiffe,oldegally-mawfreiesand
coftcn-candleelocpience? out you bawling bandoggefox-
furd fiaue: you dried ftockefifhyou,outoin]y fight. [Exit
the 'P 'layer. ]
Well tis no matter : Ilefetmeedowncandfce'f, and for
fault or a better , lie fupply the place ot a km uy Prologue.
A z SpeZlrum
First Edition. A a recto (Dyce)
WILY BEGVILDE.
Enter Gripe^/**/.
Heauy purfe makes a light heart : O the con-
fiderationof this pouch, this pouch !
Why hee that has money, has hearts eafe and
the world in a firing.
O this red chink, and filuer coine3itis the con-
folation of the World.
I can fit at home quietly in my chayre, and fend out my an-
gels by fea, and by land, and bid fly villanes <5c fetch in ten
inthehundrcdjland a better penny too. Letmcfee,Ihaue
but two children in al the world to beftow my goods vpon,
Fortun at tts my fon & Leliamy daughter .For my fon.he fol-
lowes the wars, and that which he gets with fwaggeriiv:,he
fpendes in fwaggering : but He ctirbchim, hisaliowance
whileft Iliue Hi all bee final!, and io hee fhali bee fure not to
fpend much : And it I die I v\ ill leaue him a portion, that
(if he will be a good husband and follow his fathers Iteps)
/hallmaintaine him like a gentleman : and \i he wjII not, let
himfollowhisownehumortil hebeweary of it, and folct
him gomow for my d aughtcr (lie is my only ioy , & the Halt
of my age,and I hauebcltovved good bringing vp vpcn hir
(barlad) ): w hy fhc is ecn modefty it felf, it docs me good to
lookonhir.Now if I can harkenoutfomc wealthy mariage
for hirjlhaue my only defire.
Mas. and well remembred, heer's mvncifrhbour/Vo^///
hard by,liasbutoneonlyfonnc5and(lctme<ee)I take jfjhis
Lands are better than fine thcufjnd pounds 5 now if I can*
make a mate!1, betweenehisfonneand my daughter, and (o
ioinc
First Edition. A 4. recto (Dyce)
A
Plcafant Comtdie
Called,
WILY BEGVILDE.
The chiefe Adlors be thefe.
-; r'-
s.
••
K^*<
CPcorcScholler. 1
Rich Feole.
and
Knave
. /. y/*r
i
atafhift. ^
Imprinted. I ondonby W. W. for CLuenc
Knjghf,and arc to be fold at his fhoppc in
Paulcs Church-y ard,at the f>""
ofthchelyLanah"
Second Edition. Title-page (B. M.)
A
Pleafant Comedie,
Called
WILY VEgVILDE.
Thechiefe a&ors arethefe,
<JL
feore SchoUer.
Rich fooU v
and z
.Krwtc at afhifrT
* *A.
€ Printed at London by Tbo: Purfootjo*
Clement Knkht^ and are to be Jonld at his
(hop in Paules Church-yard, at the
fagntohhtHolj Lambe* i dl 3.
(V)
Third Edition. Title-page (Bodl.)
A
Pleafant Comedie.
Called
Wlh*f<BEqVlLT>E.
The chiefe A&ors are theft :
* V
ToorcScholler. I
> Rith foole,
c and a
\Knaue at a Jin ft \
LONDON,
Printed by Elizabeth Allde, for ThOma'j
Knight, and are to be fold at his (hop in ?auU
Church-yard , at the figne of the
Fourth Edition. Title-page (B. M.)
PLEASANT
COMEDIE,
Called
WILY BEGVILDE.
The Chief e Actors he thefe :
A poore Scholler, a rich Foole, and a
Knaue at a fhifte.
At London,
Printed by H. L. for Clement Knight:
and are to be folde at his Shop, in Paules
Church-yard, at the Jigne of the Holy Lambe.
1606.
Gripe : an Vfurer.
Ploddall: a Farmer.
Sophs: a Scholler.
Churms: a Lawyer.
Robin goodfellow.
Fortunatus ; Gripes Son.
Jjelia : Gripes daughter.
Nurfe.
Peter Ploddall : Plod-
dais fonne.
Pegge : Nurfes daughter.
Wil Cricket.
Mother Midnight.
An old man.
Syluanus.
Clearke.
SPECTRUM.
THE PROLOGVE.
Pro/.
T 7T 7Hat hoe, where are thefe paltrie Plaiers? ftil poa-
V V ring in their papers and neuer perfect ? for fhame
come forth, your Audience flay fo long, their eies waxe dim
with expectation.
\_Enter one of the Players?^
How now my honeft Rogue ; what play fhall wee haue
here to night ?
Play. Sir you may looke vpon the Title.
Pro I. What, Spectrum once again ? Why noble Cerberus, 10
nothing but patch-pannell fluffe, olde gally-mawfreies and
cotten-candle eloquence? out you bawling bandogge fox-
furd flaue : you dried ftockefifh you, out of my fight. \_Exit
the Player^
Well tis no matter : He fet mee downe and fee't, and for
fault of a better, He fupply the place of a fcuruy Prologue.
A 2 Spectrum
2 THE PROLOG F E.
Spectrum is a looking glafle indeede,
Wherein a man a Hiftory may read,
Of bafe conceits and damned roguerie :
The very finke of hell-bred villeny. *c
Enter a Juggler.
Juggler. Why how now humorous George ? what as me-
choly as a mantletree ?
Will you fee any trickes of Leigerdemaine, flight of hand,
clenly conuayance, or deceptio vifus} what will you fee
Gentleman to driue you out of thefe dumps?
Pro/. Out you fouft gurnet, you Woolfift, be gon I fay
and bid the Players difpatch and come away quickly, and
tell their fiery Poet that before I haue done with him ; He
make him do penance vpon a ftage in a Calues skin. 3°
Juggler. O Lord fir ye are decerned in me, I am no tale-
carrier, I am a Iuggler.
I haue the fuperficiall skill of all the feuen liberall fciences
at my fingers end.
He fhew you a tricke of the twelues, and turne him ouer the
thumbes with a trice.
He make him fly fwifter then meditation.
He fhew you as many toies as there be minutes in a moneth,
and as many trickes as there be motes in the funne.
Prol. Prithee what trickes canft thou doe ? 4°
Juggler. Marry fir I wil fhew you a trick of cleanly con-
ueiance.
Hei fortunafurim nunquam credo,With a caff, of cleane con-
ueyance, come aloft Jack for thy mailers aduantage (hees
gone I warrant ye.)
{Spectrum is conueied away : and Wily
btgttiled3 ftands in the place of it.
Prol. Mas an tis well done, now I fee thou canft doe
fomething, holde thee thers twelue pence for thy labour.
Goe to that barme-froth Poet and to him fay, *°
He quite has loft the Title of his play,
His Calue skin iefts from hence are cleane exil'd.
Thu s once you fee that Wily is beguil'd. Exit the Juggler.
Prol.
THE PROLOG F E.
Pro I. Now kind Spectators, I dare boldly fay,
You all are welcome to our Authors play :
Be ftill a while, and ere we goe,
Weele make your eies with laughter flowe.
Let Momus mates iudge how they lift,
We feare not what they babble :
Nor any paltry Poets pen,
Amongft that rafcall rabble.
But time forbids me further fpeech,
My tongue muft flop hir race :
My time is come, I muft be dumbe,
And giue the Actors place.
Exit.
60
WILY BEGVILDE.
Enter Gripe, folus.
Sc.i
Heauy purfe makes a light heart: O the con-
sideration of this pouch, this pouch !
Why hee that has money, has hearts eafe and
the world in a firing.
O this red chink, and filuer coine, it is the con-
folation of the World.
I can fit at home quietly in my chayre, and fend out my an-
gels by fea, and by land, and bid fly villanes & fetch in ten
in the hundred, I and a better penny too. Let me fee, I haue 10
but two children in al the world to bellow my goods vpon,
Fortunatus my fon & Lelia my daughter. For my fon, he fbl-
lowes the wars, and that which he gets with fwaggering, he
fpendes in fwaggering : but He curbe him, his allowance
whilefl I liue fhall bee fmall, and fo hee (hall bee fure not to
fpend much : And if I die I will leaue him a portion, that
(if he will be a good husband and follow his fathers fleps)
fhall maintaine him like a gentleman : and if he will not, let
him follow his owne humor til he be weary of it, and fb let
him go : now for my daughter fhe is my only ioy, & the flaff 20
of my age, and I haue beflowed good bringing vp vpon hir
(barlady) : why flie is een modefly it felf, it does me good to
look on hir. Now if I can harken out fbme wealthy mariage
for hir, I haue my only defire.
Mas, and well remembred, heer's my neighbour Ploddall
hard by, has but one only fonne, and (let me fee) I take it, his
Lands are better than flue thoufand pounds ; now if I can
make a match betweene his fonne and my daughter, and fo
ioine
6 tVILYBEGFILDE.
ioine his Land and my mony together, O twil be a blefled
vnion. Well He in, and get a Scriuener, lie write, to him 30
about it prefently : But Hay heere come M. Churmes the
Lawer, lie defire him to do fo much.
Enter Churms.
Charms. Good morrow M. Gripe.
Gripe. O good morrow M. Churms.
What fayes my two debters, that I lent 2,00. pound to ? wil
they not pay vfe and charges of fuit ?
Churms. Faith Sir I doubt they are bankrouts : I would
you had your principall.
Gripe. Nay He haue all, or He imprifbn their bodies : But 4°
M. Churms ther is a matter I would faine haue you do, but
you mufl be very fecret.
Churms. O fir feare not that He warrant you.
Gripe. Why then this it is : my neighbour Ploddall here-
by, you know is a man of very faire Land, and hee has but
one fon, vpon whom he means to bellow all that hee has :
Now I would make a match betweene my daughter Lelia,
and him ; what thinke you of it.
Churms. Marrie I thinke twould be a good match, but
the young man has had very fimple bringing vp. f o
Gripe. Tuih, what care I for that ? fb he haue lands and
liuing inough, my daughter has bringing vp will feme them
both. Now I would haue you to write me a Letter to good-
man Ploddall concerning this matter, and He pleafe you for
your paines.
Churms. lie warrant you fir, lie doe it artificially.
Gripe. Doe, good M. Churms^ but be very fecret, I haue
fbme bufinefle this morning, and therefore He leaue you a
while, and if you will come to dinner to mee anone, you
fhall be very heartily welcome. Exit Gripe. 60
Churms. Thankes good fir He trouble you.
Now twere a good ieft if I could cofen the olde Churle of
his daughter, and get the wench for my felfe.
Sounds I am as proper a man, as Peter Ploddall: and though
his father bee as good a man as mine, yet farre fetcht and
deare
WILY BEG FILDE. 1
deare bought is good for Ladies, and I am fure I haue been
as farre as Cales to fetch that I haue.
I haue beene at Cambridge a Scholler, at Cales a Souldier,
and now in the Country a Lawyer, and the next degree fhal
be a Connicatcher : 7°
For He goe neere to colen olde father fhare-penny of his
daughter, He call about He warrant him ;
He go dine with him, and write him his Letter,
And then He go feek out my kind companion Robin Good-
fellow, and betwixt vs weele make hir yeeld to any thing.
Weele ha the common law oth to hand, and the ciuill lawe
oth tother :
Weele tofle Lelia like a tennis ball. Exit.
Enter olde Ploddall, and his fon Peter, an olde man Plod- &• »
dais Tenant, and Wil Cricket his fonne.
Ploddall. Ah Tenant, an ill husband (barlady) : thrife at 81
thy houfe and neuer at home ?
You know my minde, will you giue tenne (hillings more
rent ?
I mull difcharge you elfe.
Old man. Alas Landlord, will you vndoe me ? I fit of a
great rent alreadie, and am very poore.
Will. Cr. Very poore ? yare a very Afle. Lord how my
ftomach wambles at that fameword (very poore) ! Father,
if you loue your fonne William, neuer name that fame word 90
very poore:
For He ftand to it, that its pettilafleny to name very poore to
a man thats oth top of his marriage.
Old man. Why fon, art oth top of thy marriage, to whom
I prithee ?
Will. Marrie to prittie Peg, miflrefle Lelias nur&s daugh-
ter.
O tis the dapreft wench that euer danc't after a Taber and
pipe.
For fhee will fo heele it, and toe it, and trip it, 100
O hir buttockes will quake like a cuflard.
B P. Ploddall
8 IV IL Y BEG VILDE.
P. Ploddall. Why William, when were you with hir ?
Wil. 0 Peter does your mouth water at that ?
Truly I was neuer with hir, but I know I fhall fpeed.
For tother day fhe lookt on me and laugh t, and thats a good
figne (ye know) : and therefore old filuer top, neuer talke
or charging or difcharging.
For I tell you I am my fathers heire : and if you difcharge
me, He difcharge my peflilence at you. For to let my houfe
before my leafe be out, is cut-throatery : and to fcrape for no
more rent is polepennery.
And fo fare you well good Grandfire Vfury : come father
lets be gone. Exeunt Wil. and his Father.
Ploddall. Well, He make the beggerly knaues to packe
for this :
He haue it euery croffe, income and Rent too. j Enter Chr.
But flay here comes one : O tis M. Charms, £with a Letr.
I hope he brings me fome good newes.
M. Churms yare well met, I am een almofl ftaru'd for mo-
ney, no
You muffc take fbme damnable courfe with my Tenants :
theile not pay.
Churmes. Fayth Sir, they are growne to bee captious
knaues.
But He mooue them with a Habeas corpus.
Ploddall. Doe, good M. Churmes, or vfe any other ville-
nous courfe fhall pleafe you.
But what newes abroad ?
Churms. Faith little news : but heer's a Letter which M.
Gripe defired me to deliuer you. And though it fland not 130
with my reputatio, to be a carrier of Letters, yet not know-
ing how much it might concerne you, I thought it better
fomething to abafe my felfe, then you fhould be any waies
hindered.
Ploddall. Thankes good fir, and He in and reade it.
Exeunt Ploddall and his fonne. Manet (Saw.
Churms. Thus men of reach mult, looke to liue,
I cry content, and murder where I kiffe,
Gripe
JVIL Y BEG f^ TLB E. 9
Gripe takes me for his faithfiill friend,
Imparts to me the fecrets of his heart ; 140
And Ploddall thinkes I am as true a friend,
To euery enterprife he takes in hand,
As euer breath'd vnder the cope of heauen :
But damme me if they finde it fo,
All this makes for my auaile,
He ha the wench my felfe, or elfe my wits fhall faile. Exit.
Enter Lelia and Nurfe gathering of Flowers. st. Hi
Lelia. See how the earth (this fragrant fpring) is clad,
And mantled round in fweete Nymph Floraes roabes.
Here growes th' alluring Rofe, j-0
Sweet Marigolds, and the louely Hyacinth :
Come Nurfe, gather:
A crowne of Rofes fhall adorne my head,
He pranke my felfe with flowers of the prime,
And thus He fpend away my primerofe time.
Nurfe. Ruftie, tuftie, are you fo frolicke ?
0 that you knew as much as I doe, twould coole you.
Lelia. Why what know 'ft thou Nurfe? prithee tell me.
Nurfe. Heauy newes yfaith miflrefle,
You mufl be matcht & married to a husband ; ha, ha, ha, ha, 160
a husband yfaith.
Lelia. A Husband, Nurfe ? why thats good newes if hee
be a good one.
Nurfe. A good one quotha ? ha, ha, ha, ha : why Wo-
man I heard your father fay, that he would marrie you to
Peter Ploddall, that Puckefift, that fnudge fnowte, that
Cole carrierly Clowne. Lord, twould be as good as meate
and drinke to me, to fee how the foole woulde wooe you.
Lelia. No, no, my Father did but ieft : thinkefb thou that
1 can floope fo lowe to take a browne bread emit, and wed 170
a Clowne thats brought vp at the Cart ?
Nurfe. Cart quotha ? I, heele cart you, for he cannot tell
how to court you.
■ Lelia. Ah Nurfe, fweet Sophos is the man,
B 2 Whofe
io WILY BEG VI LDE.
Whofe loue is lockt in Lelias tender breaft,
This hart hath vow'd, (if heauens doe not denie,)
My loue with his intoomb'd in earth (hall lye.
Nurfe. Peace MiftreiTe, fland afide, here comes fome
body.
Enter Sophos. 180
Sophos. Optatis non eft fpes vlla potiri :
Yet Phoebus fend downe thy tralucent beames,
Behold the earth that mournes in fad attire,
The flowers at Sophos prefence gins to droope,
"Whole trickling teares for Lelias loffe
Do turne the Plains into a Handing Poole :
Sweete Cynthia fmile, cheere vp the drouping Flowers,
Let Sophos once more fee a funne-fhine day,
0 let the facred center of my heart,
1 meane faire Lelia Natures faireft. worke, 190
Be once againe the obiect to mine eyes.
O but I wilh in vaine, whilffc hir I wifh to fee,
Hir Father he obfcures hir from my fight,
He pleades my want of wealth,
And faies it is a barre in Fenus Court.
How hath fond fortune by hir fatall doome,
Predeflin'd me to hue in haplefle hopes,
Still turning falfe hir fickle wauering wheele !
And Loues faire goddeffe, with hir Circian cup,
Inchanteth fo fond Cupids poifoned darts, xoo
That loue the only Loadflarre of my life,
Doth drawe my thoughts into a labyrinth,
But flay :
What do I fee, what do mine eyes behold ?
(O happie fight) it is faire Lelias face.
Haile heauens bright nymph the period of my grief,
Sole guidrefle of my thoughts and author of my ioy.
Lelia. Sweet Sophos welcome to Lelia,
Faire Dido Carthaginians beautious Queene,
Not halfe fb ioyfull was when as the Troian Prince, no
Enaas, landed on the fandie fhores
Of
JVILY BEGFTLDE. it
Of Carthage confines as thy Lelia is,
To fee her Sophos here arriu'd by chance.
Sophs. And bleft be chance that hath conducted me,
vnto the place where I might fee my deare,
As deare to me as is the dearelt life.
Nurfe. Sir, you may fee that Fortune is your friend.
Sophos. Yet Fortune fauours fooles.
Nurfe. By that conclufion you fhould not be wife.
Lelia. Foule Fortune fometime fmiles on vertue faire. 220
Sophos. Tis then to fliew her mutabilitie :
But fince amidffc ten thoufand frowning threats
Of fickle fortunes thrice vnconflant wheele,
She daines to fhow one little pleafing fmile,
Lets do our beft falfe Fortune to beguile,
And take aduantage of her euer changing moodes.
See, fee, how Tellus fpangled mantle fmiles,
And birds do chant their rurall fugred notes
As rauifht with our meetings fweet delights.
Since then ther fits for loue both time and place : 230
Let loue and liking hand in hand embrace.
Nurfe. Sir the next way to win her loue, is to linger her
leyfiire.
I meafure my miflrefle by my louely felfe, make a promife
to a man, and keep it, I haue but one fault, I neere made pro-
mife in my life, but I fticke to it tooth and naile : He pay it
home y faith.
If I promife my loue a kifle, He giue him two : marrie at
firfl I will make nice, and crie fie, fie, and that will make
him come againe and againe, m°
lie make him breake his winde with come againes.
Sophos. But what faies Lelia to her Sophos loue ?
Lelia. Ah Sophos, that fond blind boy,
That wrings thefe paffions from my Sophos hart,
Hath likewife wounded Lelia with his dart,
And force perforce I yeeld the fortreffe vp :
Here Sophos take thy Lelias hand,
And with this hand receiue a loyall hart.
B 1 High
i2 JV ILY BEG FILDE.
High loue that ruleth heauens bright Canopie,
Grant to our loue, a wiflit felicitie. zjo
Sophos. As ioyes the wearie Pilgrim by the way,
When Phebus waues vnto the wellerne deepe,
To fomraon him to his defired reft :
Or as the poore diltrefled Mariner,
Long toll by fhipwracke on the foming waues,
At length beholds the long wifht hauen,
Although from farre, his heart doth dance for ioy :
So Loues confent at length my mind hath eaf 'd,
My troubled thoughts, by fweet content are pleaf d.
Lelia. My father recks not vertue, 260
But vowes to wed me to a man of wealth,
And fweares, his gold (hall counterpoyfe his worth ;
But Lelia fcorn's proud Mammon s golden mines,
And better likes of learnings facred lore,
Then of fond Fortunes gliftering mockeries:
But Sophos trie thy wits, and vfe thy vtmoft skill
To pleale my father, and compafle his good will, (tent,
Sophos. To what faire Lelia wills, doth Sophos yeeld con-
Yet thats the troublous gulfe my filly Ihip mull pafle :
But were that venture harder to atchieue 270
Then that ofclafon for the golden fleece,
I would effect it for fweet Lelias lake,
Or leaue my felfe as witnefle of my thoughts.
Nurfe. How fay you by that, miflrerTe ? heel doe any
thing for your fake.
Lelia. Thankes gentle loue.
But leaft my father fhould fufpect,
Whole iealous head with more than Argus eyes,
Doth meafure euery geflure that I vfe,
He in and leaue you here alone, 280
Adieu fweet friend vntill we meet againe,
Come Nurfe follow me. Exeunt Lelia and Nurfe.
Sophos. Farewell my loue, faire fortune be thy guide.
Now Sophos, now bethinke thy felfe (knot.
How thou maifl win her fathers will to knit this happie
Alas
WILY BEG r/LDE. 13
Alas thy ftate is poore, thy friends are few,
And feare forbids to tell my fates to friend :
Well, He trie my Fortunes ;
And finde out fome conuenient time,
When as her fathers leyfure beffc Ihal feme 29°
To conferre with him about faire Lelias loue. Exit Sophos,
Enter Gripe, olde Ploddall, Churms and St. fa
Will. Cricket.
Gripe. Neighbour Ploddall, and Matter Churms, yare
welcome to my houfe.
What newes in the Countrie, neighbour ? you are a good
husband, you ha done fowing barley I am Hire.
Ploddall. Yes fir ant pleafe you, a fornight fince.
Gripe. Mailer Churms, what faies my debters ? can you
get any money of them yet? 300
Churms. Not yet fir, I doubt they are fcarce able to pay,
You mufl eene forbeare them a while, theyle exclaime on
you elfe.
Gripe. Let them exclaime and hang and flame and beg,
let me ha my monie.
Ploddall. Heres this good fellow too, Matter Churms,
I muft eene put him and his father ouer into your hands,
theyle pay me no Rent.
Will. Cric. This good fellow quotha ? I fcorne that bafe,
broking, brabbling, brauling, baftardly, bottlenofd, beetle- 310
brow'd, bean-bellied name.
Why, Robin Goodfellow is this fame cogging, petifogging,
crackeropes Calue-skin companion :
Put me and my father ouer to him ? olde Siluer top and you
had not put me before my father, I would ha
Ploddall. What woulft ha done ?
Will. I would haue had a fnatch at you, that I would.
Churms. What art a dogge ?
Will. No : if I had beene a dog, I would ha fnapt of your
nofe ere this, and fo I (hould haue cofend the Diuell of a 310
Marriebone.
Gripe.
i4 WILY BEG r/LDE.
Gripe. Come, come, let me end this controuerfie.
Prithee go thy waies in, & bid the boy bring a cup of Sacke
here for my friends.
Will. Would you haue a facke Sir ?
Gripe. A way foole, a cup of Sacke to drinke.
Will. O I had thought you would haue had a facke to
haue put this lawcracking cogfoyft in, in itead of a paire of
flockes.
Gripe. Away foole, get thee in I fay. 33°
Will. Into the buttrie you meane ?
Gripe. I prithee doe.
Will. He make your hogfhead of Sack rue that word.
Exit Will. Cricket.
Gripe. Neighbour Ploddall, I fent a Letter to you, by Ma-
iler Charms, how like you of the motion ?
Ploddall. Marrie I like wel of the motion : my fbnne I tel
you is eene all the flay I haue: and all my care is, to haue him
take one that hath fomething : for as the world goes now, if
they haue nothing they may begge. 340
But I doubt hees too fimple for your daughter. For I haue
brought him vp hardly, with brown bread, fat bacon, pud-
dinges and fouce, and (barlady) wee thinke it good
fare too.
Gripe. Tufh man, I care not for that, you ha no more chil-
dren : youle make him your heire, and giue him your lands,
will you not ?
Ploddall. Yes, hees eene all I haue, I haue no body elfe to
bellow it vpon.
Gripe. You lay well. 3?°
Enter Wil. Cricket and a Boy with Wine
and a napkin.
Wil. Nay here, you drinke afore you bargaine.
Gr. Mas, an tis a good motion : r He fills the wine & giues
Boy, fill fome wine. i them the napkin.
Here Neighbour and M. Churms I drink to you.
Both. We thanke you Sir.
Will.
IVILY BEG TILDE. i$
Wil. Lawer wipe cleane : do you remember ?
Churms. Remember, why ?
Wil. Why fince you know when. 3^0
Churms. Since when ?
Wil. Why fince you were bumbafled, that your lubberly
legges would not carrie your lobcocke bodie ;
When you made an infufion of your {linking excrements,
in your {talking implements :
O you were plaguy frayd, and fowly raide.
Gripe. Prithee peace Will. Neighbour Ploddall, what lay
you to this match : fhall it go forward ?
Ploddall. Sir, that mufl be as our children like.
For my fbnne, I thinke I can rule him : 370
Marrie, I doubt your daughter will hardly like of him, for
God wot hees very fimple.
Gripe. My daughters mine to command, haue I not
brought her vp to this ?
She fhal haue him : He rule the rofle for that,
He giue her pounds and crownes, gold and filuer :
He way her downe in pure angell gold,
Say man, ifl a match ?
Ploddall. Faith, I agree.
Churms. But Sir, if you giue your daughter fo large a 380
dowrie, youle haue fome part of his land conueied to her
by iointure.
Gripe. Yes marrie that I will :
And weele defire your helpe for conueiance.
Ploddall. I, good Mailer Churms, and you fhall be very
well contented for your paines.
Will. I marrie, thats it he lookt for all this while.
Churms. Sir, I will do the befl I can.
Will. But Landlord : I can tell you newes yfaith,
There is one Sophs, a braue genman, heele wipe your fonne 39°
Peters nofe, of Miflreffe Lelia, I can tell you he loues her
well.
Gripe. Nay, I trow:
Will. Yes I know, for I am fure I faw them clofe toge-
C ther
16 JVILT BEGFILBE.
ther at Pup noddie, in her Clofet.
Gripe. But I am fure fhe loues not him.
M^ill. Nay, I dare take it on my death fhe loues him,
For hees a fcholler : and ware fchollers, they haue tricks for
loue y faith, for with a little Logicke & pi tome colloquium
theile make a wench do any thing : 400
Landlord, pray ye be not angrie with me, for fpeaking my
confcience.
In good faith, your fonne Peters a verie Clowne to him :
"Why, hees as fine a man as a wench can fee in a fommers
day.
Gripe. Well, that fhall not feme his tourne, He erode
him, I warrant ye.
I am glad I know it : I haue fufpected it a great while.
Sophos ? why, whats Sophos ? a bafe fellow.
Indeed he has a good wit, and can fpeake well, 410
Hees a fcholler fbrfooth : one that has more wit then mony,
And I like not that : he may beg for all that.
Schollers ? why what are fchollers without money ?
Ploddall. Faith, eene like puddings without fuet.
Gripe. Come, Neighbour, fend your fonne to my houfe,
For he mail be welcome to me :
And my daughter fhall intertaine him kindly.
What ? I can, and will rule Lelia.
Come lets in, He difcharge Sophos from my houfe pre-
f ently. Exeunt Gripe and Ploddall and Churms. ^%o
Will. A home plague of this money,
For it caufes many homes to bud :
And for money many men are hornd.
For when maids are forc't to loue where they like not,
It makes them lye where they mould not.
He be hangd, if ere mif fcrefle Lelia will ha Peter Ploddall,
I fweare by this button cap (do you marke)
And by the round, found, and profound contents (do you
vnderftand)
Of this coftly Codpeece, (being a good proper man as yee 430
fee) that I could get her as foone as he, my felfe :
An
IVILY BEG riLBE. 17
And if I had not a moneths mind in another place,
I would haue a fling at her thats flat :
But I mufl fet a good holiday face ont,
And go a wooeing to prittie Pegge: well, He too her yfaith
While tis in my mind ; But flay, He fee how I can woo be-
fore I goe : they fay, Vfe makes perfectneffe :
Looke you now, fuppofe this were Pegge,
Now I fet my cap oth to fide on this fafhion (do ye fee ?)
then fay I, 44°
Sweet hony, bonny, fuger candie, Pegge,
Whofe face more faire, then Brocke my fathers Cow,
Whofe eyes do fhine like bacon rine,
Whofe lips are blew of azure hew,
Whofe crooked nofe downe to her chin doth bow.
For you know I mufl begin to commend her beau tie,
And then I will tell her plainely, that I am in loue with her,
ouer my high fhooes, and then I will tell her that I do no-
thing of nights but fleepe and thinke on her, and fpecially
of mornings: 45°
And that does make my flomacke fo rife, that He be fworn,
I can turne me three or foure bowles of porredge ouer in a
morning afore breakefafl.
Enter Robin-Goodfellow.
Robin Goodfellow. How now firra, what make you here,
with all that timber in your necke ?
Will. Timber ? Sounds, I thinke he be a witch,
How knew he this were Timber ?
Mas He fpeake him faire, and get out ons companie : for I
am afraid on him. 460
Robin. Speake man, what art afraid ? what makefl here ?
Will. A poore fellow Sir, ha bin drinking two or three
pots of ale at an alehoufe, and ha lofl my way Sir.
Robin. O, nay then I fee thou art a good fellow,
Seefl thou not Mafler Churms the Lawer to day ?
Will. No Sir, would you fpeake with him.
Robin. I marrie would I.
C 2 Will.
i8 IV I L Y BEGVILDE.
Will. If I fee him, He tell him you would fpeake with
him.
Robin. Nay, prithee flay, who wilt thou tell him would 470
fpeake with him ?
JVill. Marrie you Sir.
Robin. I, who am I ?
JVill. Faith Sir I know not.
Robin. If thou feefl him, tell him Robin Goodfellow wold
fpeake with him.
JVill. O, I will Sir. Exit. Wil. Cr.
Robin. Mas, the fellow was afraid,
I play the Bugbeare wherefoere I come,
And make them al afraid, 480
But here comes Mailer Churms.
Enter Churms.
Churms. Fellow Robin, God faue you, I haue beene fee-
king for you in euerie Ale-houfe, in the Towne.
Robin. What, Mailer Churms ? Whats the bell newes a-
broad ? tis long fince I fee you.
Churms. Faith little newes : but yet I am glad I haue met
with you.
I haue a matter to impart to you, wherein you may Hand
me in fome flead, and make a good benefit to your felfe : if 490
we can deale cunningly, twill be worth a double fee to you,
(by the Lord.)
Robin. A double fee ? fpeake man, what ifl ?
If it be to betray mine owne father, He doot for halfe a fee :
And for cunning let me alone.
Churms. Why, then this it is.
Here is Mailer Gripe hard by, a Clyent of mine, a man of
mightie wealth, who has but one daughter, her Dowrie is
her waight in gold.
Now Sir, this old penny father would marry her, to one ?oo
Peter Ploddall, rich Ploddalls fonne and heire.
Whom though his father meanes to leaue verie rich,
Yet hees a verie Idiot and Browne bread Clowne :
And
WIL Y BEGFILBE. i9
And one I know the wench does deadly hate,
And though their friends haue giuen their full confent,
And both agreed on this vnequall match.
Yet I know that Lelia wil neuer marrie him :
But theres another riuall, in hir loue, one Sophos,
And hees a Scholler,
One whom I thinke faire Lelia dearely loues, Jio
But hir Father hates him as he hates a toad,
For hees in want, and Gripe gapes after golde,
And f till relies vpon the olde fayd Saw ;
Si nihil attuleris <&c.
Robin. And wherein can I doe you good in this ?
Churms. Marrie thus Sir :
I am of late growne palling familiar with M. Gripe,
And for Ploddall he takes me for his fecond felfe ;
Now Sir, He fit my felfe to the olde crummy Churls hu-
mors, and make them belieue He perfwade Lelia to marry 520
Peter Ploddall, and fo get free accefTe to the wench at my
pleafure :
Now oth other fide He fall in with the Scholler, and him lie
handle cunningly too ;
He tell him that Lelia has acquainted me with hir loue to
him :
And for becaufe hir Father much fufpects the fame,
He mewes hir vp as men do mew their hawkes,
And fo reftraines hir from hir Sophos fight,
lie fay, becaufe fhe doth repofe more truft, * 30
Of fecrecie in me, then in another man,
In courtefie fhe hath requefted me,
To do hir kindefl greetings to hir Loue,
Robin. An excellent deuife, yfaith.
Churms. I Sir, and by this meanes, He make a very gull of
my fine Diogenes.
I (hall knowe his fecrets euen from the very bottome of his
heart :
Nay more Sir, you (hall fee me deale fo cunningly, that he
fhall make me an inftrument to compaffe his defire ; r4°
C 3 When
2o W IL Y BEGFTLBE.
When God knowes I meane nothing lefle.
Qui difjimulare nefcit, nefcit viuere.
Robin. Why this will be fport alone,
But what would you haue me doe in this action ?
Cburmes. Marry as I play with to hand, play you with
tother.
Fall you aboard with Peter Ploddall,
Make him belieue youle worke miracles,
And that you haue a powder will make Lelia loue him.
Nay what wil he not belieue, and take all that comes (you %%o
know my mind)
And fo week make a gull of the one, and a goofe of the o-
ther.
And if wee can inuent any deuife, to bring the fcholler in
difgrace with hir : I doe not doubt but with your helpe to
creep between the bark and the tree, and get Lelia my felfe.
Robin. Tufli man, I haue a deuife in my head already to
doe that :
But they fay hir brother Fortunatus loues him dearely.
Churms. Tut hees out of the Countrey, 160
He followes the drumme and the flagge.
He may chance to be kild with a double Canon before hee
come home againe :
But whats your deuife ?
Robin. Marrie He do this;
He frame an Inditement againfb Sophos, in manner and
forme of a Rape, and the next Law day you (hall preferre
it ; that fo Lelia may loath him,
Hir Father fbill deadly hate him,
And the young Gallant hir brother vtterly forfake him. 770
Churms. But how fhall we prooue it ?
Robin. Sounds weele hire fome Strumpet or other to be
fworne again!! him.
Churms. Now (by the fubftance of my foule) tis an ex-
cellent deuife.
Well, lets in, He firfl try my cunning otherwife, and if all
faile, weele trie this conclufion. Exeunt.
Enter
JVILY BEG riLDE. 2T
Enter Mother Midnight, Nurfe and Pegge. Sc. v
Mother M. Yfaith Marget you muft eene take your
daughter Pegge home againe, 58o
For fheele not bee rul'd by mee.
Nurfe. Why Mother} what will fhe not doe ?
Mother M. Faith (he neither did nor does, nor will do
any thing:
Send hir tuth market with egs : fheele fell them and fpend
the money,
Set hir to make a pudding, fheele put in no fuet,
Sheele run out of nights a dancing, and come no more home
till day peepe :
Bid hir come to bed, fheele come when fhe lift. j9o
Ah tis a naftie fhame to fee hir bringing vp.
Nurfe. Out you Rogue, you arrant &c.
"What know 'ft not thy Granam ?
I know hir to be a teatie olde foole,
Shees neuer well, grunting in a corner.
Mother M. Nay fheele campe (I warrant ye) O fhe ha s
a tongue.
But Marget eene take hir home to your Miftrefle, and there
keepe hir : for He keepe hir no longer.
Nurfe. Mother pray yee take fome paines with hir, and 600
keep hir a while longer ; and if fhe doe not mend, He beat
hir blacke and blew, yfaith He not faile you Minion.
Mother M. Faith at thy requeft, He take hir home and
try hir a weeke longer.
Nurfe. Come on hufwife pleafe you Granam, and bee a
good wench, and you fhall ha my blefling.
Mother M. Come follow vs good Wench.
Exeunt Moth. Mid. and Nurfe : Manet Peg.
Pegge. I, farewell, faire weather after you.
Your bleffing quotha ? He not giue a fingle halpennie fort, 6\o
Who would liue vnder a Mothers nofe & a Granams tong ?
A Maid cannot loue, or catch a lip clip, or a lap clap, but
heers fuch tittle tattle, and doe not fo, and be not fo light,
and be not fo fond, and do not kiffe, and do not loue, and
I
2.2 JVILY BEG FIL D E.
I cannot tell what,
And I muft loue an I hang fort :
A fweet thing is loue [Shee finges.
That rules both heart and mind,
There is no comfort in the World
To "Women that are kinde. 6io
Well He not Hay with hir : flay quotha ?
To be yold and iold at, and tumbled, and tumbled, and toll
and tourn'd as I am by an olde Hagge,
I will not, no I wil not yfaith.
[Enter Will Cricket.]
But flay, I mull put on my fmirking lookes and fmiling
countenance.
For here comes one makes bominatio fuit to be my fprus'd
husband.
Will. Lord, that my heart would feme me to fpeake to ^30
hir, now fhe talks of hir fprus'd husband.
Well He fet a good face ont,
Now He clap me as clofe to hir as Tones buttockes of a clofe
floole, and come ouer hir with my rowling, rattling, rum-
bling eloquence.
Sweet Pegge, honny Pegge, fine Pegge, daintie Pegge, braue
Pegge, kind Pegge, comely Pegge, my nutting, my fweeting,
my Loue, my doue, my honnie, my bonnie, my ducke, my
deare and my deareling :
Grace me with thy pleafant eyes, 640
And loue without delay :
And call not with thy crabbed lookes
A proper man awaie.
Pegge. Why William whats the matter ?
Will. Whats the matter quotha ?
Faith I ha been in a faire taking, for you, a bots on you.
For tother day after I had feene you, prefently my belly
began to rumble :
Whats the matter, thought I ?
With that I bethought my felfe, and the fweete comporte- 6$o
nance
WIL Y BEGFILBE. 23
nance of that fame fweet round face of thine came into my
mind:
Out went I, and He bee fworne I was fo neere taken, that I
was faine to cut all my points.
And doft heare Pegge}
If thou doffc not grant mee thy good will in the way of mar-
riage;
Firft. and formoft He run out of my cloathes, and then out of
my wits for thee.
Pegge. Nay William I would bee loth you (hould doe fo 660
for me.
Will. Will you looke merrily on me and loue me then ?
Pegge. Faith I care not grg|tly if I doe.
Will. Care not greatly if I doe ? what an anfwers that ?
If thou wilt fay, I Pegge take thee William to my fpruce
husband.
Peg. Why fo I wil, but we mufl haue more company for
witnefles firft.
Will. That needes not : heers good ftore of yong men &
maides here. 670
Pegge. Why then heers my hand.
Will. Faith thats honeftly fpoken : fay after me.
I Pegge Pudding promife thee William Cricket,
That He hold thee for mine owne fweet Lilly,
While I haue an head in mine eye, and a face on my nofe, a
mouth in my tongue, and all that a woman fhould haue,
from the crowne of my foote, to the fole of my head,
He clafpe thee and clip thee, coll thee and kilfe thee,
Till I be better then naught, and worfe than nothing :
When thou art ready to fleepe, He be ready to fnort : <J8o
When thou art in health, He be in gladnerfe :
When thou art fick, He be ready to dy :
When thou art mad, He run out of my wits :
And thereupon I ftrike the good lucke,
Well fayd yfaith :
O I could find in my hofe to pocket thee in my heart.
Come my heart of golde, lets haue a daunce at the making
D vp
24 WIL Y BEGVILBE.
vp of this match :
Strike vp Tom Piper. They dance.
Come Pegge He take the paines to bring thee homeward, 690
And at twylight, looke for me againe. Exeunt.
Enter Robin Goodfellow, and P. Ploddall. Sc. vi
Robin. Come hither my honelt, friend : M. Churms tolde
me you had a fuit to me,
Whats the matter?
Peter. Pray ye Sir is your name Robin Goodfellovo ?
Robin. My name is Robin Goodfellovo.
Peter. Marrie Sir I heare^ipre a very cunning man Sir ;
And firreuerence of your worfhip Sir, lam going a woe-
ing to one M. Lelia a Gentlewoman here hard by, 700
Pray ye Sir tel me how I fhould be haue my felfe, to get hir
to my wife.
For Sir there is a Scholler about hir :
Now if you can tell mee, how I fhould wipe his nofe of hir,
I would bellow a fee of you.
Robin. Let mee feet, and thou fhalt fee what He fay to
thee. He giues him money.
Well, follow my counfaile and lie warrant thee,
He giue thee a loue powder for thy wench,
And a kinde of Nux vomica, in a potion, fhall make hir 7 10
come off yfaith.
Peter. Shall I trouble you fo farre to take fome paines
with me ?
I am loth to haue the dodge.
Robin. Tufh feare not the dodge ;
He rather put on my flaming red nofe, and my flaming
face, and come wrapt in a Calue skin and crie bo ho :
He fray the Scholler I warrant thee.
But firfl go to hir, try what thou canft doe,
Perhaps fheele loue thee without any further a doe, 720
But thou mufl tell hir, thou haft a good ftocke, fome 100.
or 200. a yeare, & that will fet hir hard I warrant thee.
For
WILY BEGV1LDE. 2y
For bith Mas, I was once in good comfort to haue cofend a
Wench :
And wots thou what I tolde hir ?
I tolde hir I had a hundred pound land a yeare, in a place
where I haue not the breadth of my little finger.
I promifed hir to infeoffe hir in 40. pounds a yeare of it : &
I think of my confcience, if I had had but as good a face as
thine, 730
I fhould haue made hir haue curfl the time that euer fhe fee
mee.
And thus mufl thou doe, cracke, and lye, and face,
And thou fhalt triumph mightily.
Peter. I need not do fo, fb^kmay fay and fay true,
I haue lands and liuing inou^Rbr a countrey fellow.
Robin. Barlady fo had not I, I was faine to ouerreach as
many times I doe.
But now experience has taught me fo much craft, that I ex-
cell in cunning. 740
Peter. Well Sir, then He be bold to trull your cunning,
And fo He bid you farewell and goe forward,
He too hir, thats flat.
Robin. Do fo : and let me heare how you fpeede.
Peter. That I will Sir. Exit Peter.
Robin. Well, a good beginning makes a good end,
Heers ten groats for doing nothing,
I con M. Churmes thankes for this,
For this was his deuife :
And therefore He goe feeke him out, and giue him a quart 7*0
of wine,
And know of him how he deales with the fcholler. Exit.
Enter Churmes and Sophos. Sc vii
Churmes. Why ? looke you Sir, by the Lord I can but
wonder at hir Father,
He knowes you to be a Gentleman of good bringing vp :
And though your wealth be not anfwerable to his ;
Yet by heauens I thinke you are worthy to doe farre bet-
D 2 ter
*6 IV I L Y BEG FIL D E.
ter then Lelia, yet I know (he loues you dearely.
Sophos, The great Tartarian Emperour Tamor Cham, 760
Ioyd not fo much in his imperiall Crowne,
As Sophos ioyes in Lelias hop't-for loue,
Whole lookes would pierce an Adamantine heart,
And make the proud beholders ftand at gaze,
To draw Loues picture from hir glancing eye.
Chur. And I wil ftretch my wits vnto the higheft: ftraine
To further Sophos in his wifht defires.
Sophos. Thankes gentle Sir. [Enter Gripe.]
But truce a while, here comes hir Father,
I muft fpeake a word or two with him. [fpeakes to himfelfe."] 770
Churms I heele giue you|^ur anfwere (I warrant ye)
Sophos. God faue you Sir.
Gripe. O Mr. Sophos: I haue longd to fpeake with you
a great while,
I heare, you feeke my daughter Lelias loue,
I hope you will not feeke to dishonefl me, nor difgrace my
daughter.
Sophos. No Sir : a man may aske a yea,
A Woman may fay nay,
Shee is in choice to take hir choice : 780
Yet I muft confefle I loue Lelia.
Gripe. Sir I muft be plaine with you : I like not of your
loue,
Lelias mine, He choofe for Lelia,
And therefore I would wifh you not to frequent my houfe
any more,
Its better for you to ply your booke, and feeke for fome
preferment that way, than to feeke for a wife before you
know how to maintaine hir.
Sophos. I am not rich, I am not very poore, 790
I neither want nor euer fhall exceedc,
The meane is my content, I liue twixt two extreames.
Gripe. Well, well, I tell yee, I like not ye fhould come to
my houfe, and prefume fo proudly to match your poore
pedigree with my daughter Lelia, and therefore I charge
you
JVILY BEG FILDE. 2/7
you to get you off of my ground : and come no more at my
houfe :
I like not this learning without liuing, I.
Sopbos. He needs muft goe that the diuell driues.
Sic virtus Jine Cenfu languet. Exit Sophos. 800
Gripe. O Ma. Churms, cry you mercy Sir, I faw not you :
I think I haue fent the fcholler away with a flea in his
eare.
I trow heele come no more at my houfe.
Churms. No, for if he doe you may indite him for com-
ming of your ground.
Gripe. Wei, now He home, and keepe in my daughter,
She lhal neither go to him, n^^Tend to him,
He watch her (He warrant he^^
Before God Mailer Churms, it is the peeuifhefl girle, that e- 810
uer I knew in my life, fhee will not be rul'd I doubt.
Pray ye fir, do you indeuour to perfwade her to take Peter
Ploddall.
Churms. I warrant ye, He perfwade her : feare not.
Exeunt.
Enter Lelia and Nurfe. Sc. via
Lelia. What forrow feifeth on my heauy heart ?
Confuming care poflefleth euerie part :
Heart-fad Erinnis keeps his manfion Here,
Within the Clofure of my wofull breaffc; g20
And blacke deipaire with Iron Scepter ftands,
And guides my thoughts, downe to his hatefull Cell.
The wanton windes with whiffling murmure beare
My pearcing plaints along the defert plaines,
And woods and groues do eccho forth my woes,
The earth below relents in Cryflall teares,
When heauens aboue by fome malignant courfe
Of fatall ftarres are authors of my griefe.
Fond Loue, go hide thy fhafts in Follies den,
And let the world forget thy Childifh force, 830
D 1 Or
28 WILY BEG FT LB E.
Or elfe flye, flye, pearce Sophos tender breaft,
That he may helpe to fympathize thefe plaints
That wring thefe teares from Lelias weeping eyes.
Nurfe. Why, how now Miftrefle ; what, is it loue that
makes you weepe, and tofle and tourne fo a nights when
you are in bed ?
Saint Leonard 'grant you fall not loue ficke.
Lelia. I, thats the point, that pearceth to the quicke,
"Would Atropos would cut m y vitall threed
And fo make lauifh of my loathed life : 840
Or gentle heauens would fmile with faire afpect,
And fo giue better fortunes to my loue.
Why, ill not a plague to b£. prifbner to mine own father ?
Nurfe. Yes, ants a fhameTor him to vfe you fo too.
But be of good cheare Miftrefle : He go to Sophos euery day
He bring you tidings and tokens too from him (He war-
rant yee,) and if he wil fend you a kifle or two, He bring it,
let me alone, I am good at a dead lift.
Marry, I cannot blame you for louing of Sophos.
Why, hees a man as one fhould picture him in waxe. 8jo
But Miftrefle, out vpons, wipe your eyes.
For here comes another wooer. Enter Peter Ploddall.
Peter. Miftrefle Lelia, God fpeed you.
Lelia. Thats more then w e neede at this time, for we are
doing nothing.
Peter. I were as good fay a good word as a bad.
Lelia. But its more wifedome to fay nothing at all, then
fpeake to no purpofe.
Peter. My purpofe is to wiue you.
Lelia. And mine, is neuer to wed you. 860
Peter. Belike, yare in loue with fome body elfe.
Nurfe. No, but fhees luftily promif 'd :
Heare you : you with long rifle by your fide, do you lacke
a wife ?
Peter. Call you this a rifle ? its a good backe fword. '
Nurfe. Why, then you with backe fword, lets fee your
backe.
Peter.
1VILY BEGVILDE. 2,9
Peter. Nay, I mult ipeake with MiftrefTe Lelia before
I goe.
Lelia. What would you with me ? 870
Peter. Marry, I haue heard verie wel of you, and fo has
my father too.
And he has fent me to you a woeing,
And if you haue any minde of marriage,
I hope I Ihal maintaine you as wel as any husbandmans
wife in the Countrie.
Nurfe. Maintaine her with what ?
Peter. Marrie, with my Lands and liuings my father has
promif 'd me.
Lelia. I haue heard much o£vour wealth : but I neuer, 880
knew your manners before nowT
Peter. Faith, I haue no Mannors, but a prittie homeftall,
and we haue great ftore of Oxen, and Horfes, and Carts,
and Plowes, and houfhold ftuffe nomination :
And great flocks of fheepe, and flocks of Geefe, and Ca-
pons, and Hens, and Duckes ; O, we haue a fine yarde of
Pollen.
And thanke God: heres a fine weather for my fathers
Lambes.
Lelia. I cannot liue content in difcontent. 890
For as no muficke can delight the eares,
Where all the parts of Difcords are compofed :
So wedlocke bands will ftill confift in iarres,
Where in condition theres no fympathie.
Then reft your felfe contented with this anfwere,
I cannot loue.
Peter. Its no matter what you fay. For my father tolde
me thus much before I came, that you would be fomething
nice at firft: but he bad me like you nere the worfe for that ;
for I were the liker to fpeede. 9°°
Lilea. Then you were bell; leaue of your fuit till fome o-
ther time : and when my leafure femes me to loue you, He
fend you word.
Peter. Will you ? wel then He take my leaue of you, and
if
go fVIL Y BEG FILBE.
if I may heare from you, He pay the meffenger well for his
paines.
But flay : Gods death, I had almoft forgot my felfe.
Prayee let me kifTe your hand ore I goe.
Nurfe. Faith MiflrefTe, his mouth runs a water for a kifle:
a little would feme his turne belike. 910
Let him kilfe your hand.
Lelia. He not flicke for that. He kijfeth her hand.
Peter. MiflrefTe Lelia, God be with you.
Lelia. Farewell Peter. Exit Peter.
Thus Lucre, fet in golden Chaire of flate,
When learning's bid, Stand by, and keepes aloofe :
This greedie humor fits my fathers vaine,
Who gapes for nothing but for golden gaine. Enter Chur.
Nurfe. MiflrefTe take heede you fpeake nothing that
will beare action, for here comes Mafler Charms the Pet- 920
tifogger.
Charms. MiflrefTe Lelia refl you merrie,
Whats the reafbn you and your Nurfe walke here all
alone ?
Lelia. Becaufe, Sir, wee defire no other companie but
our owne.
Churms. Would I were then your owne,
That I might keepe you companie.
Nurfe. O Sir, you and hee that is her owne are farre a-
funder. 930
Churms. But if fhee pleafe, we may be neerer.
Lelia. That cannot bee : mine owne is neerer then my
felfe.
And yet my felfe, alas, am not mine owne :
Thoughts, feares, defpaires, tenne thoufand dreadfull
dreames :
Thofe are mine owne, and thefe do keepe me companie.
Churms. Before God, I mufl confefle, your father is too
cruell,
To keepe you thus fequeflred from the world, 940
To fpend your prime of youth, thus in obfcuritie,
And
fVTLY BEGFILDE. 31
And feeke to wed you to an Idiot fbole
That knowes not how to vfe himfelfe :
Could my deferts but anfwere my defires,
I fweare by Sol faire Phoebus filuer eye,
My heart would wifh no higher to afpire,
Then to be grac't with Lelias loue.
By Iefus, I cannot play the diflembler,
And wooe my loue with courting ambages,
Like one whofe loue hangs on his fmooth tongues ende, 9*0
But in a word, I tell the fumme of my defires,
I loue faire Lelia.
By her my paffions daily are increaf 'd,
And I mufl die, vnlefTe by Lelias loue they be releaf 'd.
Lelia. Why Mailer Churms, I had thought you had been
my fathers great Counfellor in all thefe actions.
Chutms. Nay, Damne me if I be :
By heauens, fweet Nymph I am not.
Nurfe. Mailer Churms, you are one can doe much with
her father : and if you loue her as you fay, perfwade him to 960
vfe her more kindly, and giue her libertie to take her choife,
for thefe made manages prooue not well.
Churms. I protefl I will.
Lelia. So Lelia fhal accept thee as her friend :
Meane while, Nurfe lets in :
My long abfence I know, will make my father mufe.
Exeunt Lelia and Nurfe.
Churms. So Lelia fhal accept thee as her friend ?
Who can but ruminate vpon thefe words ?
Would fhe had faid, her loue : 970
But tis no matter : firfl creepe and then goe,
Now her friend : the next degree is Leliasloue.
Well, He perfwade her father to let her haue a little more li-
bertie.
But foft : He none of that neither,
So the Scholler may chance cofen me.
Perfwade him to keepe her in flill :
And before fheele haue Peter Ploddall, fheele haue anybo-
E die
32 IVIL Y BEG TILDE.
die, and fo I fhal be fure that Sophos fhal neuer come at her.
Why He warrant ye, fheele be glad to run away with me at 980
length.
Hang him, that has no fhifts.
I promif'd Sophos ■, to further him in his fuite :
But if I do, He be peckt to death with hens.
I fwore to Gripe, I would perfwade Eelia, to loue Peter Plod-
Jail.
But God forgiue me, twas the furthefl ende of my thought.
Tut, whats an othe ? euerie man for himfelfe.
He fhift for one, I warrant ye. Exit.
Enter Fortunatus, Solus. &. \x
Fortu. Thus haue I pail: the beating billows of the fea, 99i
By Ithacs rocks, and watry Neptunes bounds,
And wafted fafe, from Mars his bloudie fields
Where trumpets found Tantara to the fight,
And here arriu'd for to repofe my felfe,
Vpon the borders of my natiue foyle.
Now Fortunatus bend thy happie courfe,
Vnto thy fathers houfe, to greet thy dearefl friends.
And if that ilill thy aged fire furuiue
Thy prefence wil reuiue his drouping fprites, (bloud, 1000
And caufe his withered cheekes bee fprent with youthfull
Where death of late was portraid to the quicke.
But foft, who comes here ? {Stand a/ide.)
Enter Robin Goodfellow.
Robin. I wonder I heare not of Matter Churms,
I would faine know how he ipeedes,
And what fuccefle he has in Lelias loue :
Well, if he coufen the Scholler of her,
Twould make my worfhip laugh :
And if he haue her, hee may fay god a mercy Robin Good- 10 10
fellow.
O ware a good head as long as you liue.
Why, Mailer Gripe he calls beyond the moone,
And
PVILY BEG FILDE. lz
And Churms is the only man, he puts in trull with his daugh
ter, and (He warrant) the old Churle would take it vpon his
faluation, that he wil perfwade her to many Peter Plod d all:
But He make a fbole of Peter Ploddall,
He looke him ith face and picke his purfe,
Whim Churms cofen him of his wench,
And my old gandfir Holdfaft of his daughter. IOzo
And if he can do fo :
He teach him a tricke to cofen him of his gold too.
Now for Sophos, let him weare the willow garland,
And play the melancholie Malecontent
And plucke his hat downe in his fullen eyes,
And thinke on Lelia, in thefe defert groues :
Tis ynough for him to haue her, in his thoughts ;
Although he nere imbrace her in his armes.
But now, theres a fine deuife comes in my head,
To fcarre the Scholler: 1030
You lhall fee, lie make fine fport with him.
They fay, that euery day he keepes his walke
Amonglt thefe woods and melancholy fhades,
And on the barke of euerie fenfelefle tree
Ingraues the tenour of his haples hope.
Now when hees at Venus altar at his Orifons ;
He put me on my great carnation nofe
And wrap me in a rowfing Calueskin fuite,
And come like fome Hob goblin or fome diuell,
Afcended from the griefly pit of hell: 1040
And like a Scarbabe make him take his legges :
He play the diuel, I warrant ye. Exit Robin Goodf.
Fortunatus. And if you do : (by this hand) He play the
coniurer.
Blufh Fortunatus, at thy bafe conceit,
To (land aloofe, like one thats in a trance,
And with thine eyes behold that mifcreant Impe
(Whofe tongue more venome then the ferpents lting)
Before thy face thus taunt thy deareffc friends,
I, thine owne father with reproachful tearmes, i°5°
E 2 Thy
34 IV IL Y BEGVILDE.
Thy Sifter Lslia, fhee is bought and fold,
And learned Sophos, thy thrice vowed friend,
Is made a flale by this bafe curfed Crew
And damned den of vagrant runagates.
But here in fight offacred heauens I fweare,
By all the forrowes of the Stygian foules,
By Mars his bloudie blade and faire Bellonas bowers
I vow, thefe eyes fhal nere behold my fathers face,
Thefe feete fhal neuer paffe thefe defert plaines :
But Pilgrim like He wander in thefe woods io<Jo
Vntill I find out Sophos fecret walkes,
And found the depth of all their plotted drifts,
Nor will I ceafe vntill thefe hands reuenge
Th'iniurious wrong thats offred to my friend,
Vpon the workers of this flratageme. Exit.
Enter Pegge, Sola. &. x
Pegge. Yfaith, yfaith, I canot tell what to doe,
I loue, and I loue, and I cannot tell whoe, Out vpon this
loue.
For wat you what ? I haue fuitors comes huddle, twoes vp- 1070
on twoes, and threes vpon threes, and what thinke you
troubles me ?
I muft chat and kiffe with all commers, or elfe noe bar-
gaine.
EnterWil Cricket, and kijfeshir.
Will. A bargain yfaith : ha my fweet honnie fops how
doofl thou ?
Pegge. Well I thanke you William, now I fee yare a man
of your word.
Will. A man of my word quotha ? why I nere broke pro- 1080
mife in my life that I kept.
Pegge. No William I know you did not,
But I had thought you had forgotten me.
Will. Dofl heare Pegge ? if ere I forget thee,
I pray God I may neuer remember thee.
Pegge.
fVILY BEG FTLBE. 3j
Pegge. Peace here comes my Granam Midnight.
Enter Mother Midnight.
Mother M. What Pegge ? what ho ? what Pegge I fay ?
what Pegge my wench ?
Why where art thou trowe ? 105*0
Pegge. Here Granam, at your elbow.
Moth. M. What mak'fl here this twatter light ?
I thinke than in a dreame,
I thinke the foole haunts thee.
JVill. Sounds, foole in your face : foole ? O monflrous in-
titulation :
Foole? 0 difgrace to my perfon: founds, foole not me, for I
cannot brooke fuch a colde rafher I can tell you : giue me
but fuch an other word, and He be thy tooth-drawer een of
thy butter tooth, thou toothleffe trot thou. 1100
Moth. M. Nay IVilliam pray ye be not angry, you
mull: beare with olde folkes,
They be olde and teaftie, hot and haflie : fet not your wit
againft mine William,
For I thought you no harme by my troth.
Will. Well, your good words haue fomething laide my
coller.
But Granam fhall I be fo bolde to come to your houfe now
and then to keep Pegge company ?
Moth. M. I, and befhrowe thy good heart and thou mo
dooft not.
Come, and weele haue a piece of a barley bagpudding or
fomething,
And thou fhalt be very heartily welcome that thou (halt,
And Pegge fhall bid thee welcome too : pray ye maide bid
him welcome and make much on him, for by my vay hees
a good proper fpringold.
Pegge. Granam : if you did but fee him dance twoulde
doe your heart good :
Lord, twould make any bodie loue him, to fee how finely mo
heele foote it.
Moth. M. Ff^illiam, prithee goe home to my houfe
E 3 with
16 JVTLY BEGFILDE.
with vs, and tafle a cup of our beere, and learne to knowe
the way, againe another time.
Will. Come on Granam, He man you home yfaith :
Come Pegge. Exeunt.
Enter 'Gripe, olde Ploddall, and his fonne Peter and
Churmes the Lawyer.
Ploddal. Come hither Peter, hold vp your head: wheres
your cap and leg fir boy, ha ? 1130
Peter. By your leaue mailer Gripe.
Gripe. Welcome P<f/dr, giueme thy hand: thart welcome;
Barlady, this a good proper tall fellow, Neighbour ? call you
him a boy ?
Ploddall. A good prittie fquat fquare fpringold Sir.
Gripe. Peter, you ha feene my daughter I am fure : how
do you like hir ?
What fayes fhe to you ?
Peter. Faith I like hir well, and I haue broken my mind
to hir, and fhe would fay neither I nor no ; 1140
But, thanke God Sir, we parted good friends,
For fhe let me kiffe hir hand and bad Farewel Peter.
And therfore I thinke I am like enough to fpeed: how think
you Mailer Churms}
Churms. Marry I thinke fo too,
For fhee did fhow no token of any diflike of your motion,
did fhe ?
Peter. No not a whit Sir.
Churms. Why, then I warrant ye :
For we hold in our Law, that Idem eji non apparere & non 1150
ejfe.
Gripe. Maifler Churms, I pray you do fo much as call
my daughter hither,
I wil make her fure here to Peter Ploddall, and He defire you
to be a witnefle.
Churms. With all my heart Sir. Exit Churms.
Gripe. Before God, neighbour, this fame Mafler Churms
is a very good Lawer : for He warrant, you cannot fpeake
any
IVILY BEG FILBE. 37
any thing, but he has law for it ad vnguem,
Ploddall. Marrie eene the more ioy on him, 1 160
And hees one that I am very much beholding to :
But here comes your daughter.
Enter Churms, Lelia and Nurfe. st. xi
Lelia. Father did you fend for me ?
Gripe. I wench I did, come hither Lelia, giue mee thy
hand.
Mr. Churms, I pray you beare witneffe,
I here giue Lelia to P. Ploddall. Shepluckes away hir hand.
How now ?
Nurfe. Sheele none (he thankesyou Sir. 1170
Gripe. Will (he not ? why how now I fay ?
What ? you pewling peeuifh thing, you vntoward baggage :
Will you not be rul'd by your Father ?
Haue I tane care to bring you vp to this ?
And will you do as you lift ?
Away I fay, hang, ftarue, begge ; be gone, packe I fay :
out of my fight,
Thou nere getfl penny-worth of my goods, for this :
Thinke ont, I do not vfe to ieft : J Exeunt Lelia,
Be gon I fay ; I will not heare thee fpeake. ") and Nurfe. 1 1 80
Churms. I pray you Sir patient your felfe: fhees young.
Gripe. I hold my life this beggerly Scholler hankers a-
bout hir flill, makes hir fo vntoward :
But He home, He fet hir a harder taske :
He keep hir in, and look to hir a little better then I ha done,
He make hir haue little mind of gadding, I warrant hir.
Come Neighbour, fend your fonne to my houfe, for hees
welcome thither, and fhall be welcome, and He make Lelia
bid him welcome too ere I ha done with hir :
Come Peter follow vs. Exeunt all, but Churmes. 119°
Churms. Why this is excellent, better and better flill,
This is beyond expectation :
Why now this geare begins to worke,
But befhrew my heart, I was afraide that Lelia would haue
yeelded, whe I faw hir father take hir by the hand & cal me
for
IS JVIL Y BEG^ILDE.
for awitnefle, my heart began to quake.
But to fay the truth fliee had little reafon to take a Cullian,
lugloafe, milkefop flaue ;
When fhe may haue a Lawyer, a Gentleman, that (lands
vpon his reputation in the Country: 1*00
One whofe diminutiue defecte of Law may compare with
his little Learning.
Well : I fee that Churmes mull be the man mull carrie Lelia,
when alls done.
Enter Robin Goodfellow.
Robin. How now Mailer Churmes, what newes abroad ?
Me thinke you looke very fpruce : yare very frolicke now a
late.
Churms. What fellow Robin, how goes the fquares with
you ? \i\o
Yare waxen very proude alate, you will not know your
olde friends.
Robin. Faith I eene came to feeke you, to bellow a quart
of wine of you.
Churms. Thats ftrange : you were nere wont to be fo li-
berall.
Robin. Tufh man, one good turne askes another : cleare
gaines man, cleare gaines :
Peter PloddallftiaW. pay for all : I haue guld him once,
And He come ouer him againe and againe, I warrant ye. mo
Churms. Faith, Lelia has een giuen him the doff off here,
and has made hir father almofl flarke mad.
Robin. O all the better : then I fhall bee fure of more of
his cuflome.
But what fucceffe haue you in your fuit with hir ?
Churms. Faith all hitherto goes well,
I haue made the motion to hir,
But as yet we are growne to no conclufion :
But I am in very good hope.
Robin. But doe you thinke you fhall get hir fathers good iz$o
will ?
Churmes. Tut, if I get the wench I care not for that :
That
JVTLY BEGVTLBE. l9
That will come afterward :
And lie be fure of fomething in the meane time.
For I haue outlaw'd a great number of his debtors,
And He gather vp what money I can amongft them,
And Gripe fhall nere know of it neither.
Robin. I, and of thofe that are fcarfe able to pay,
Take the one halfe and forgiue them the other, rather then
fit out at all. ia4o
Churmes. Tulh let me alone for that :
But firra I haue brought the Scholler into a fooles Paradife :
"Why he has made me his fpokefman to M. Lelia^
And Gods my Iudge I nere fo much as name him to hir.
Robin. O bith Mas well remembred,
He tell you what I meane to doe,
He attire my felfe fit for the fame purpofe,
Like to fome hellifh Hag or damned fiend,
And meetewith Sophos wand ring in. the woods,
0 I fhall fray him terribly. 1250
Charms. I would thou couldft fcarre him out of his wits :
Then fhould I ha the wench cocke fure,
1 doubt no body but him.
Robin. Well, lets go drinke together;
An d then He go put on my diuelifh roabes,
I meane my Chriftmas Calues skin fute,
And then walke to the woodes,
O He terrifie him I warrant ye.
Enter Sophos, folus. Sc. xii
Sophs. Will heauens frill fmile at Sophos miferies,
And giue no end to my vncefTant mones ? \z6\
Thefe CiprefTe fhades are witnefTe of my woes,
The fenfelefle trees do gricue at my laments,
The leauie branches drop fweete Myrrhas teares,
For loue did fcorne me in my mothers wombe,
And fallen Satume pregnant at my birth,
With all the fatall ltarres confpir'd in one,
To frame a hapleffe conftellation,
F Pre-
4o JVILY BEGFILBE.
Prefaging Sophos lucklefle deftinie.
Here, here, doth Sophos turne Ixions refllefle wheele, ii7o
And here lies wrapt in labyrinths of loue,
Of his fweete Lelias loue whofe fole Idea ffcill
Prolongs the haplefle date of Sophos hopelefle life :
Ah, faid I life ? a life farre worfe then death.
Then death ? I then ten thoufand deaths.
I daily die, in that I liue loues thrall,
They die thrife happie, that once die for all.
Here will I Hay my weary wandring fleps,
And lay me downe vpon this folid earth, He lies downe.
The mother of defpaire and balefull thoughts, iz8o
I, this befits my melancholy moodes :
Now now me thinkes I heare the prettie birds,
With warbling tunes record faire Lelias name,
Whofe abfence makes warme bloud drop from my heart,
And forceth watrie teares from thefe my weeping eyes,
Me thinkes I heare the filuer founding ftreames,
With gentle murmur fummon me to fleepe,
Singing a fweete melodious lullabie :
Here will I take a nap and drowne my haplefle hopes,
In the Ocean feas of Neuer like to fpeed. 1290
Hefals in ajlumber and Mu-
Jiche foundes.
Enter Syluanus.
Syluanus. Thus hath Syluanus left his leauie bowers,
Drawne by the found of Ecchoes fad reports,
That with fhrill notes and high refounding voice,
Doth pearce the very Cauerns of the earth,
And rings through nils and dales the fad laments
Of virtues lofle and Sophos mournefull plaints.
Now Morpheus, rowfe thee from thy fable den, 1300
Charme all his fenfes with a {lumbering trance,
Whil'fb old Syluanus fend a louely traine
Of Satyrs, Driades, and watrie Nymphes,
Out
WILY BEGFILDE. 4i
Out of their bowers to tune their filuer firings,
And with fweete founding muficke fing,
Some pleafing Madrigalles and Rowndelayes,
To comfort Sophos in his deepe diftreife. Exit Syluanus.
Enter the Nymphes and Sa tyres fin gin g.
THE SONGE.
1310
SAtyres fing, let forrow keepe hir Cell,
Let warbling Ecchoes ring,
And founding muficke yell
Through hi Is, through dales, fad grief e and c are to kill
In him long fine e alas hath grieu d his fill.
Sleepe no more, but wake and Hue content,
Thy grief e the Nymphes deplore,
The Syluan gods lament
To heare, to fee thy mone, thy loffe thy hue : 1310
Thy plaints, to teares, the flinty rockes do 7nooue.
I
Grieue not then, the Queeneof Loue is milde,
Shee fweetly f miles on men,
When reafons mojt beguil'd :
Hirlookes, hirfmiles, are kind, arejweet, arejaire,
Awake therefore and Jleepe not fill in care.
4
Loue intends, to free thee from annoy,
His Nymphes Syluanus jendes, 1330
To bid thee Hue in ioy,
In hope, in ioy,Jweet loue delights imbrace,
Faire loue hir f elf e willyeeld theefo much grace.
Exeunt the Nymphes and Satyres.
F 2 Sophos.
4i WIL Y BEGFILBE.
Sophos. What do I heare ? what harmony is this ?
With filuer found that glutteth Sophos eares ?
And driues fad paflions from his lieauy heart,
Prefaging fome good future hap fhall fall,
After thefe blullring blafls of difcontent :
Thanks gentle Nymphes and Satyres too adiew, 1340
That thus companionate a loyall louers woe,
When heauens fit fmiling at his dire mifhaps.
Enter Fortunatus.
Fortunatus. With weary fteps I trace thefe defert groues
And fearch to find out Sophos fecret walkes,
My trueffc vowed friend and Lelias dearefl loue.
Soph. What voice is this fou nds /,?//# jfacred name? He rifeth.
Is it fome Satyre that hath vew'd hir late,
Ands growne inamour'd of hir gorgeous hew ?
Fortunatus. No Satyre Sophos ; but thy ancient friend, 1350
Whofe dearefl bloud doth reft at thy command.
Hath forow lately blear'd thy watry eyes,
That thou fbrgetfl the lafling league of loue,
Long fince was vow'd betwixt thy felfe and me?
Looke on me man : I am thy friend.
Sophos. O now I know thee, now thou nam'ft my friend :
I haue no friend to whom I dare
vnload the burthen of my griefe,
But onely Fortunatus, hees my fecond felfe,
Mi Fortunate ter Fortunate vents. 1360
Fort. How fares my friend ? me thinks you look not wel :
Your eyes are funk, your cheekes looke pale and wan,
What meanes this alteration ?
Sophos. My mind fweet friend is like a mafllefTe fhip,
Thats huld and tofl vpon the (urging feas,
By Boreas bitter blafls and Eoles whiftling winds,
On Rockes and fands, farre from the wifhed port
Whereon my filly fhip defires to land ;
Faire Lelias loue that is the wifhed hauen,
Wherein my wandring mind would take repofe, 1370
For want of which my refllefle thoughts are tofl :
For
JVILY BEGFILDE. 43
For want of which, all Sophos ioyes are loft.
Fort. Doth Sophos loue my filter Lelia ?
Sophos. She, ihe, it is whofe loue I wifh to gaine :
Nor neede I wifh, nor do I loue in vaine,
My loue fhee doth repay with equall meede :
Tis ftrange youle fay that Sophos fhould not fpeed.
Fortunatus. Your loue repaid with equall meede ?
And yet you languifh ftill in loue ? tis ftrange :
Fro whence proceeds your grief? vnfold vnto your friend, 1380
A friend may yeeld reliefe.
Sophos. My want of wealth is author of my griefe,
Your father fayes, my ftate is too, too lowe.
I am no hobbie bred ; I may not foare fo high, asLelias loue:
The loftie Egle wil not catch at flies.
When I with Icarus would foare againft the Sun
He is the onely fierie Phaeton denies my courfe,
And feares my waxen winges, when as I foare aloft-:
He mewes faire Lelia vp from Sophos fight,
That not fo much as paper pleades remorfe: 1390
Thrice three times Sol hath flept in Thetis lap,
Since thefe mine eyes beheld fweet Lelias face.
What greater griefe ? what other Hell then this ?
To be denied to come where my beloued is.
Fortunatus. Do you alone loue Lelia ?
Haue you no riuals with you in your loue ?
Sophos. Yes, onely one, and him your father backs,
Tis Peter Ploddall, rich Ploddall s fonne and heire,
One, whofe bafe ruiticke rude defert
Vnworthy farre to win fo faire a prize, 14°°
Yet meanes your father for to mart a match,
For golden Lucre with this Cory don
And fcornes at vermes lore : hence growes my griefe.
Fortunat. If it be true I heare, there is one Churms, befide,
Makes fuit to win my filter to his bride.
Sophos. That cannot be : Churms is my vowed friend,
Whofe tongue relates the tenour of my loue
To Lelias eares, I haue no other meanes.
F 3 Fortunatus.
44 WILY BEG V I LB E.
Fortu. Well, truft him not: the Tiger hides his clawes
When oft he doth pretend the greatelt guiles. 14 10
But flay : here comes Lelias Nurfe. \_Enter Nurfe.
Sophos. Nurfe, what newes ?
How fares my loue ?
Nurfe. How fares fhee quotha ? Marrie fhee may fare
how (he will for you : Neither come to her, nor fend to her
of a whole fortnight ?
Now I fweare by my may denhead, if my husband fhould
haue feru'd me fo, when hee came a wooing to me : I would
neuer haue lookt on him with a good face as long as I had
liued. 1410
But he was as kind a wretch, as euer laid lips of a woman :
He would ha come through windowes or doores, or wals,
or any thing, but he would haue come to me.
Marrie, after we had beene maried a while, his kindnefle
began to flake, for He tell you what hee did :
He made me beleeue, he would go to greenegoofe faire, and
He bee fworne hee tooke his legges and ranne cleane a-
way :
And I am afraide youle prooue eene fuch another kinde
peece to my MiftrerTe : for fhe fits at home in a corner wee- 1430
ping for you, and He be fworne fhees ready to die vpward
for you :
And her father oth tother fide, he yoles at her, and ioles at
her : and fhee leades fuch a life for you it pafTes, and yoole
neither come to her, nor fend to her :
Why, fhee thinkes you haue forgotten her.
Sophos. Nay, then let heauens in forrow end my dayes
And fatall Fortune neuer ceafe to frowne,
And heauen and earth, and all confpire to pull me downe,
If blacke obliuion feife vpon my heart 1440
Once to eftrange my thoughts from Lelias loue. {Sophos,
Fortunatus. Why Nurfe, I am fure that Lelia heares from
Once a day at leafl by Churms the Lawyer,
Who is his onely friend.
Nurfe. What, yong Matter ? God bleffe mine eye fight :
Now
IVTLY BEG r/LDE. 45-
Now by my mayden head yare welcome home,
I am fure my Miftrefle will be glad to fee you.
Eut what faid you of Mafter Churms ?
Fortu. Marrie, I fay hees a well wilier to my filler Lelia,
And a fecret friend to Sophs. 1450
Nurfe. Marrie the Diuel he is : trull him and hang him.
"Why, hee cannot fpeake a good worde on him to my olde
Mailer, and he does fo ruffle before my Millrelfe with his
barbarian eloquence, and flrut before her in a paire of Po-
lontan legges, as if hee were gentleman Vlher to the great
Turke, or the Diuell of Dowgate:
And if my Miftrefle would be rul'd by him, Sophos might
go fnick vp : But he has fuch a buttermilke face, that flioole
neuer haue him.
Sophos. Can falfhood lurke in thofe inticing lookes ? 1^60
And deepe diflemblance lie where truth appeares ?
Fortunatus. Iniurious villaine to betray his friend !
Nurfe. Sir, do you know the Gentleman ?
Fort. Faith not well.
Nurfe. Why Sir, hee lookes like a red herring at a No-
ble mans table on Eafter day, and he fpeakes nothing but
Almond butter and fuger Candie.
Fortu. Thats excellent.
Sophos. This worlds the Chaos of confufion :
No world at all but Mafle of open wrrongs, 1470
Wherein a man, as in a Map man fee
The high road way from woe to miferie.
Fort. Content your felfe, and leaue thefe paflions,
Now do I found the depth of all their drifts,
The Diuels deuife and Churms his knauerie,
On whom this heart hath vowed to be reueng'd.
He fcatter them : the plots alreadie in my head.
Nurfehyt thee home, commend me to my lifter :
Bid her this night fend for Mafter Churms,
To him fhe mull recount her many griefes, M8°
Exclaime againfl her fathers hard conflraint,
And fo cunningly temporize with this cunning Catfo,
That
46 IV TL Y BEG F I LB E.
That be may thinke fhe loues him as her life.
Bid her tell him, that if by any meanes
He can conuey her forth her fathers gate,
Vnto a fecret friend of hers ;
The way to whom lyes by this forreft fide,
That none but he fhall haue her to his bride.
For her departure let her point the time
To morrow night: when fefper gins to fhine, 1490
Here will I be, when Lelia comes this way
Accompanied with her gentleman Vfher,
"Whofe amorous thoughts do dreame on nought but loue ;
And if this BalHnado hold,
lie make him leaue his wench with Sophs for a pawne :
Let me alone to vfe him in his kind,
This is the trap which for him I haue laid,
Thus craft by cunning once fhal be betraid,
And for the Diuell, He coniure him :
Good Nurfe be gon: bid her not faile, 1500
And for a token, beare to her this Ring
"Which well fhee knowes, for when I faw her lafl
It was her fauour, and fhe gaue it me.
Sophos. And beare her this from me :
And with this ring bid her receiue my heart.
My heart ? alas, my heart I cannot giue,
How fhould I giue her that which is her owne ?
Nurfe. An your heart be hers, her heart is yours,
And fo change is no robberie.
Well, He giue her your tokens, and tell her what yee 15 10
fay.
Fortunatus. Do, good Nurfe : but in any cafe let not my
father know that I am here, vntill we haue effected all our
purpofes.
Nurfe. He warrant you, I wil not play with you,
As Mailer Churms does with Sophos^
I would ha my eares cut from my head firft. Exit Nurfe.
Fortunatus. Come Sophos^ cheare vp your felfe man,
Let hope expell thefe melancholic dumps,
Meane
WILY BEGFILDE. 4-7
Meane while, lets in, ijio
Expecting how the euents of this deuife wil fall,
Vntill to morrow at th'appointed time,
When weele expect the comming of your loue.
What, man, He worke it through the fire,
But you fhall haue her.
Sophos. And I wil fludy to deferue this loue. Exeunt.
Enter William Cricket, Solus. Sc. xtii
Will. Looke on me, and looke of Matter Charms,
A good proper man :
Marrie Mailer Churms has fomething a better paire of legs 1^30
indeede :
But for a fweet face, a fine beard, comely corps,
And a Carowfing Codpeece,
All England if it can
Show mee fuch a man,
To win a wench by gis,
To clip, to coll, to kifle
As William Cricket is.
Why, looke you now: If I had been fuch a great long, large,
Lobcockt, lofeld lurden, as Matter Churms is ; 154°
He warrant you, I fhould neuer haue got Pegge, as long as
I had liu'd : for (do you marke) a wench will neuer loue a
man that has al his fubttance in his legges.
But ftay : here comes my Landlord,
I mutt go falute him.
Enter olde Ploddall, and his forme Peter.
Ploddall. Come hither Peter, when didft thou fee Ro-
bin Goodfellow ? Hees the man mutt do the feate.
Peter. Faith father, I fee him not this two daies ; but He
feeke him out : for I know heele do the deed, and (he were 1 j jo
twentie JLelias.
For father hees a verie cunning man : for, giue him but ten
groates, and heele giue me a powder, that will make Lelia
come to bed to me :
G And
48 W IL Y BEGFILDE.
And when I haue her there : He vfe her well ynough.
Ploddall. Will he fo ? Marrie, I will giue him vortie (hil-
lings, if he can do it.
Peter. Nay, heele do more then that too,
For heele make himfelfe like a diuell ; and fray the Scholler
that hankers about her, out ons wits. i?6o
Ploddall. Marrie Iefus blefle vs : will hee fo ?
Marrie thou lhalt haue vortie {hillings to giue him, and thy
mother fhall bellow a hard cheefe on him befide.
Will. Landlord, a pox on you, this good morne.
Ploddall. How now foole ? what, dolt curfe me ?
Will. How now foole ? how now Caterpiller ?
Its a figne of Dearth, when fuch Vermine creepe hedges
fo early of morning.
Peter. Sirra, Foule manners, do you know to whome
you fpeake? if 70
Will. Indeed Peter, I muft confefle I want fome of your
wooing manners, or elfe I might haue tournde my faire
bufh tayle to you inftead of your father : and haue giuen
you the ill falutation this morning.
Ploddall. Let him alone Peter, He temper him well
ynough.
Sirra, I heare fay you muft be married fhortly,
He make you pay a fweete fine for your houfe, for this.
Ha ? firra am not I your Landlord ?
Will. Yes, for fault of a better, but you get neither fweet 1 j8o
fine, nor fower fine of me.
Ploddall. My mafters, I pray you beare witnefle :
I do difcharge him then.
Will. My mafters, I pray you beare witnefle,
My Landlord has giuen me a general difcharge,
He be married prefently, my fines paied : I haue a difcharge
for it. He offers to goe away.
Ploddall. Nay prithee ftay.
Will. No He not ftay, He goe call the clearke,
He be cried out vpon ith Church prefently, ij^o
Whatho? What Clearke I fay? where areyou? Enter Cleark.
Clearke.
WIL Y BEGFILBE. 40
Clear ke. Who cals me ? what would you with me ?
Marrie Sir, I would haue you to make proclamation, that if
any manner of man, oth Towne, or oth Country, can lay
any claime to Pegge Puddings let him bring worde to the
Crier, or elfe William Cricket will wipe his nofe of her.
Clearke. You meane you would be askt ith Church ?
Will. I thats it: a bots ont, I cannot hit of thefe marrying
tearmes yet.
And He defire my Landlord here and his fonne, to be at the 1600
Celebrauation of my marriage too :
Yfaith Peter, you fhal cramme your guts ful of Cheefecakes
and Cuftards there.
And firra Clearke, if thou wilt fay Amen floutly :
Yfaith my powderbeefe flaue,
He haue a rumpe of beefe for thee, fhal make thy mouth
fland oth tother fide.
Clearke. When would you haue it done ?
Will. Marrie eene as foone as may be: let me fee:
I wil be askt ith Church of Sunday at morning prayer, and \6\o
againe at Euening prayer : & the next holiday that comes
I will be askt ith fore noone, and married ith after noone :
For (do you marke) I am none of thefe fneaking fellowes
that wil fland thrumming of Caps, and fhidying vppon a
matter, as long as Hunkes with the great head has beene a-
bout to fhow his little wit in the fecond part of his paultrie
poetrie : but if I begin with wooing, He ende with wed-
ding.
And therefore good Clearke, let me haue it done with all
fpeede : for I promife you, I am verie fharpe fet. i^io
Cleark. Faith you may be askt ith Church on Sunday at
morning prayer, but Sir Tohn cannot tend to do it at Eue-
ning prayer : For there comes a Company of Players tuth
Towne, on Sunday ith after noone ; and Sir Iohn is fo good
a fellow, that I know heele fcarce leaue their companie, to
fay Euening prayer.
For (though I fay it) hees a verie paineful man, and takes fo
great delight in that facultie, that heele take as great pains a-
G 1 bout
So WIL Y BEGFILBE. '
bout building of a Stage or fo, as the bafefl fellow among
them. 1630
Will. Nay, if he haue fo lawflill an excufe, I am con-
tent to deferre it one day the longer :
And Landlord, I hope, you and your fonne Peter wil make
bold with vs, and trouble vs.
P J odd all. Nay William, we would be loath to trouble you:
but you flial haue our companie there.
Will. Faith you fhal be very heartily welcome, and wee
wil haue good merry rogues there that wil make you laugh
till you burfl.
Peter. Why William, what company doe you meane 1640
to haue ?
Will. Marrie, firfl and formofl, there wil bee an honefl
Dutch Cobbler, that wil ling (I wil noe meare to Burgaine
goe) the bell that euer you heard
Ploddall. What, mufl a Cobbler be your chiefe guefl ?
Why hees a bafe fellow.
Will. A bafe fellow ? you may be afham'd to fay fo,
For hees an honefl fellow, and a good fellow :
And he begins to carrie the verie badge of good fellowfhip
vpon his nofe; that I do not doubt, but in time he wil prooue 1670
as good a Copper companion as Robin Goodfellowe him-
felfe.
I and hees a tall fellow, and a man of his hands too,
For He tel you what : tie him tuth Bull-Ring, and for a bag-
pudding, a Cuflard, a Cheefcake, a hogges cheeke, or a
Calues head, turne any man ith towne to him ; and if he do
not prooue himfelfe as tall a man as he, let blind Hugh be-
witch him, and tourne his bodie, into a barrel of ftrong Ale,
and let his nofe be the Spigat, his mouth the Foflet, and his
tongue a Plugge for the bunge hole. l66°
And then there wil be Robin Goodfellow, as good a drunken
rogue as liues : and Tom Shoomaker; and I hope you wil not
deny that hees an honefl man, for hee was Conflable oth
Towne.
And a number of other honefl rafcals, which though they
are
WILY BEG F TLB E. yi
are growne bankroutes and liue by the reuerfion of other
mens tables :
Yet (thankes bee to God) they haue a penny amongft,
at all times at their neede.
Ploddall. Nay, if Robin Goodfellow be there, you (hall be 1670
fure to haue our company.
For hees one that we heare very well of;
And my fonne here has fome occafion to vfe him :
And therefore if we may know when tis,
weele make bolde to trouble you.
Will. Yes He fend you word.
Ploddall. Why then farewell, till wee heare from you.
Exeunt Ploddall and his fonne.
Wil. Wei Cleark, youle fee this matter brauely performed:
let it be done as it mould be. 1680
Clearke. He warrant ye, feare it not.
Will. Why then go you to Sir //6o«,and He to my wench,
and bid hir giue hir Maidenhead warning to prepare it felf :
for the defbruction of it is at hand. Exeunt.
Enter Lelia, Sola. St. xfo
Lelia. How loue and fortune both with eger moode,
Like greedy hounds do hunt my tired hart,
Rows'd forth the thickets of my wonted ioyes !
And Cupid windes his fhrill note bugle home,
For ioy my filly hart fo neere is fpent. 1690
Defire that eager Curre purfues the chace,
And Fortune rides amaine vnto the fall :
Now forrow fings, and mourning beares a part,
Playing harfh defcant on my yeelding heart.
Enter Nurfe.
Nurfe, what newes ?
Nurfe. Faith a whole facke full of newes :
You loue Sophos and Sophs loues you ;
And Peter Ploddall loues you, and you loue not him,
And you loue not Matter Churmes, and he loues you, 1700
G 2 And
Si JVILY BEGFILBE.
And fo heers lone and no loue,
And I loue and I loue not,
And I cannot tell what :
But of all, and of all, Mafter Churmes muft bee the man you
mud loue.
Lelia. Nay, firfl He mount me on the winged wind,
And fly for fuccour to the fartheft Inde.
Mufl I loue Mafter Churmes ?
Nurfe, Faith you muft and you muft not.
Lelia. As how I pray thee ? 17 10
Nurfe. Marry I haue commendations to you.
Lelia. From whom ?
Nurfe. From your brother Fortunatus.
Lelia. My brother Fortunatus}
Nurfe. No : from Sophos.
Lelia. From my Loue ?
Nurfe. No from neither.
Lelia. From neither?
Nurfe. Yes from both.
Lelia. Prithee leaue thy foolery, and let me knowe thy 17*0
newes.
Nurfe. Your brother Fortunatus, and your loue, to mor-
row night will meet you by the forreft fide,
There to conferre about I knowe not what:
But tis like, that Sophos will make you of his priuy councell,
before you come againe.
Lelia. Is Fortunatus then retourned from the warres ?
Nurfe. He is with Sophos euery day,
But in any cafe you mult not let your Father know,
For he hath fworne he will not be difcried, 1730
Vntill he haue effected your defires :
For he fwaggers and fweares out of all crie,
That he will venture all,
Both fame and bloud, and limme and life,
But Lelia fhall be Sophos wedded wife.
Lelia. Alas Nurfe, my fathers iealous braine
Doth fcarce allow me once a month to goe,
Beyond
Jt'ILY BEG riLDE. ?s
Beyond the compafle of his watchfull eyes,
Nor once affords me any conference,
With any man except with Mr. Churms, 1740
Whofe craftie braine beguiles my father fo,
That he repofeth truft in none but him :
And though he feekes for fauour at my hands,
He takes his marke amifle and fhootes awrie.
For I had rather fee the diuel himfelfe,
Then Churms the Lawyer :
Therefore how I fhould meete them by the forreft fide,
I cannot poffibly deuife.
Nurfe. And Mail; er Churms mufb be the man muft work
the meanes, I7*°
You muft this night fend for him :
Make him beleeue you loue him mightily,
Tell him you haue a fecret friend dwels farre away beyond
the Forreft.
To whom if he can fecretly conuay you from your father,
Tel him you wil loue him, better then euer God loued him.
And when you come to the place appointed,
Let them alone to difcharge the knaue of clubs.
And that you muft not faile,
Here receiue this ring, which Fortunatus fent you for a to- 1760
ken,
That this is the plot that you muft profecute,
And this from Sophos as his true loues pledge.
Lelia. This ring my brother fent I know right well,
But this my true loue pledge I more efteeme
Then all the golden mines the folide earth containes :
And fee, in happy timeherecomes M. Churms: [Enter CYmt.
Now loue and fortune both confpire,
And fort their driftes to compafle my defire.
M. Churms yare well met, I am glad to fee you. 1770
Churms. And I as glad to fee faire Lelia,
As euer Paris was to fee his deare,
For whom fo many Troianes bloud was fpilt ;
Nor thinke, I would do lefle then fpend my deareft bloud,
To
^4 JVILY BEG FTLBE.
To gaine faire Lelias loue, although by lofle of life.
Nurfe. Faith miftrefTe, he fpeakes like a gentleman :
Let me perfwade you,
Be not hard hearted :
Sophos ? why whats hee ?
If hee had lou'd you but halfe fo well, he would ha come 1780
through ftone walks, but he would haue come to you ere
this.
Lelia. I muft confeffe, I once lou'd Sophos well,
But now I cannot loue him, whom all the world knowes to
be a diflembler.
Churmes. Ere I would wrong my loue with one dayes
abfence ;
I would pafle the boy ling Hellejpont,
As once Leander did for Heme s loue,
Or vndertake a greater taske then that, 1790
Ere I would be difloyall to my Loue.
And if that Lelia giue hir free confent
That both our loues may fympathize in one,
My hand, my heart, my loue, my life and all,
Shall euer tend on Lelias faire command.
Lelia. Mr. Churms, mee thinkes tis ftrange, you fhould
make fuch a motion :
Say I fhould yeeld, and grant you loue ;
When moft you did expect a funnefhine day,
My fathers will would mar your hop't for hay, 1800
And when you thought to reap the fruits of loue,
His hard conftraint would blaft it in the bloom.
For he fo dotes on Peter Ploddals pelfe,
That none but he forfooth muft be the man,
And I will rather match my felfe,
Vnto a groome of Plutoes griefly denne,
Then vnto fuch a filly golden afTe.
Churms. Brauely refolued yfaith.
Lelia. But to be fhort :
I haue a fecret friend that dwels from hence, 18 10
Some two dayes iourney, thats the moft,
And
JV TL Y BEG FILBE. ss
And if you can, as (wel I know) you may, conuay me thither
fecretly :
For company I defire no other then your owne,
Here take my hand :
That once perform'd my heart is next.
Churmes. If on th'aduenture all the dangers lay,
That Europe or the wefterne world affords,
"Were it to combate Cerberus himfelfe,
Or fcale the brafen walles of Pluto es court; i8zo
When as there is fo faire a prize propos'd,
If I {firinke backe or leaue it vnperform'd,
Let the World canonize me for a Coward :
Appoint the time and leaue the reft to me.
Lelia. When nights blacke mantle ouerfpreads the sky,
And dayes bright lampe is drenched in the weft,
To morrow night I thinke the fitteft time,
That filent fhade may giue our fafe conuoy,
Vnto our wifhed hopes vnleene of liuing eye.
Churms. And at that time I will not faile, 1830
In that or ought may make for our auaile.
Nurfe. But what if Sophos mould meet you by the for-
reft fide :
And incou nter you with his lingle rapier ?
Churms. Sophos} a hop of my thumbe, a wretch, a wretch.
Shoulde Sophos meete vs there accompanied with fome
Champion,
With whome twere any credit to encounter,
Were he as ftout as Hercules himfelfe,
Then would I buckle with them hand to hand : 1 840
And bandy blowes as thicke as haileftones fall,
And carrie Lelia away in fpite of all their force.
What ? lone will make Cowards light :
Much more a man of my refolution.
Lelia. And on your refolution He depend,
Vntill to morrow at th'appointed time, when I looke for
you:
till when He leaue you, and go make preparation for our
H iourney.
$6 IVILY BEGVILBE.
iourney. Exeunt Lelia and Nurfe.
Churms. Farewell faire loue, vntill we meet againe. 1850
Why fo : did I not tel you me would be glad to run away
with mee at length ?
Why this falles out, een as a man would fay, Thus I would
haue it.
But now I mufl go call about for fome money too,
Let mee fee : I haue outlaw'd three or foure of Gripes deb-
ters.
And I haue the bonds in mine owne hands :
The fumme that is due to him, is fome two or three hun-
dred pounds: i860
Well, He to them : if I can get but one halfe,
He deliuer them their bonds, and leaue the other halfe to
their owne confciences ; and fo I fhall be fure to get mony to
beare charges :
When all failes wel fare a good wit.
But foft, no more of that:
Here comes Mr. Gripe,
Enter Gripe.
Gripe. What Mr. Churms ? what alone ? how fares your
body? 1870
Churms. Faith Sir, reafonable well : I am eene walking
here to take the frefh ayre.
Gripe. Tis very holefome this faire weather,
But M. Churms: how like you my daughter ?
Can you doe any good on hir ? wil Ihe be rul'd yet ?
How Hands fhe affected to P. P/odda/I?
Churms. O very well Sir : I have made hir very confor-
mable.
0 let me alone to perfwade a woman :
1 hope you fhall fee hir married within this weeke at mofl, 1880
I meane to my felfe. [He fpeakes to him f elf e.
Gripe. Mailer Churmes. I am fo exceedingly beholding
to you,
I cannot tell how I fhall requite your kindneffe,
But
IV I L Y BEGFTLBE. si
But ith mean time heers a brace of angels for you to drink,
for your paines,
This newes has eene lightned my heart,
0 Sir, my neighbour Ploddall is very wealthie.
Come M. Churms, you fhall go home with me,
Weele haue good chear & be merry for this, to night, yfaith. 1890
Churms. Wei : let them laugh that winne. Exeunt.
Enter Pegge and hir Granam. Sc xv
Pegge. Granam, giue me but two crownes of red golde,
And He giue you two pence of white filuer,
If Robin the diuel be not a water witch.
Moth. M. Marrie, Iefus bleiTe vs : why prithee ?
Pegge. Marrie He tel you why.
Vpon the morrow after the blefled newe yeare,
1 came trip, trip, trip, ouer the Market hil,
Holding vp my petticote to the calues of my legs, 1900
To fhow my fine coloured ftockins,
And how finely I coulde foote it in a paire of newe corkt
fhooes, I had bought:
And there I fpyed this Mounfier Muffe, lie gaping vp in-
to the skies,
To know how many Maides would be with childe in the
towne all the yeare after :
0 tis a bafe vexation flaue,
How the country talkes of the large ribd varlet !
Mother M. Marry out vpon him: what a Friday fac't 1910
flaue it is !
1 thinke in my confcience, his face neuer keepes Holiday.
Pegge. Why his face can neuer be at quiet,
He has fuch a cholericke nofe,
I durlt ha fworne by my maiden-head,
(God forgiue me that I {hould take fuch an oath)
That it William had had fuch a nofe, I would neuer ha lov'd
him.
Enter Will. Cricket.
Will. What a talking is here of nofes and faces ? 1 9zo
H 2. Come
s$ JVILY BEGFILBE.
Come Pegge, wee are towarde marriage ; let vs talke of that
may doe vs good : Granam, what wil you giue vs toward
howfe-keeping ?
Moth.M. Why /i^////<«»,weare talking of Rob.Goodfelhw.
What thinke you of him ?
JVill. Marrie I fay he lookes like a tankerd bearer,
That dwels in Petticoate lane, at the figne of the Meare-
maide ;
And I fweare by the bloud of my codpiece,
An I were a woman I would lug off his laue eares, 1930
Or run him to death with a fpit : and for his face,
I thinke tis pittie there is not a lawe made,
That it fhould be fellonie to name it in any other places,
then in baudie houfes :
But Granam what wil you giue vs ?
Moth. M. Marrie I wil giue Pegge a pot and a pan,
Two platters, a difh and a fpoone, a dogge, and a cat :
I trow fheele prooue a good huswife,
And loue hir husband well too.
Will. If fhe loue me He loue hir, yfaith my fweet honny 1940
combe, He loue thee, A per fe A.
We muft be askt in Church next Sunday, and weel be mar-
ried prefently.
Pegge. Yfaith William weele haue a merry day ont.
Mother M. That wee will yfaith Pegge: weele haue a
whole noife of fiddlers there :
Come Pegge lets hie vs home, weele make a bag-pudding to
{upper,
And William {hall go and fup with vs.
Will. Come on yfaith. Exeunt. 1950
Enter Fortunatus and Sophos. (loue ? &. xvi
Fort. Why how now Sophos, al a mort ? ftil languifhing in
Wil not the prefence of thy friend preuaile ?
Nor hope expell thefe fullen fits ?
Cannot mirth wring, if but a forged fmile,
From thofe fad drouping lookes of thine?
Rely
W IL Y BEG riLDE. S9
Relye on hope, whofe hap wil lead thee right,
To her, whom thou dofb call thy hearts delight ;
Looke cheerely man : the time is neere at hand,
That Hytnen mounted on a fhow white coach, i960
Shal tend on Sophos and his louely bride.
Sophs. Tis impoffible : her Father, man, her father,
Hees al for Peter Ploddall.
Fortunatus. Should I but fee that Plodda 11 offer loue,
This fword fhould pearce the pefants breafl,
And chafe his foule from his accurfed corps
By an vnwonted way vnto the griefly lake.
But now the appointed time is neere,
That Churm s fhould come with his fuppofed loue :
Then fit we down vnder thefe leauie fhades \They fit down. 1970
And waight the time of Lelias wifht approach.
Sophos. I : here He waight for Lelias wifht approach,
More wifht to me, then is a calme at feas,
To fhipwrackt foules, when great God Neptune frownes.
Though fad defpaire hath almofl drown'd my hopes ;
Yet would I parte the burning vaults of Orke,
As erffc did Hercules to fetch his loue,
If I might meete my loue vpon the ftrond J Enter Robin
And but enioy her loue one minute of an hour, c Goodfellow.
But flay : what man, or diuell, or hellifh fiend comes here, 1980
Tranfformed in this ougly vncouth fhape ?
Fortunatus. O, peace a while : you fhal fee good fport a-
none.
Robin. Now I am cloathed in this hellifh fhape,
If I could meete with Sophos in thefe woods,
O, he would take me for the Diuell himfelfe,
I fhould ha good laughing, befide the fortie millings Peter
Ploddall has giuen mee : and if I get noe more I am fure of
that.
But foft : now I muft trie my cunning, for here he fits. 1990
The high commander of the damned foules
Great Dis the Duke of Diuels and Prince of Limbo Lake,
High Regent of Acheron, Styx and Phlegeton,
H 3 By
6o iriLY BEG V I LB E.
By ftrict command from Pluto, Hels great Monarch,
And faire Pnferpina the Queene of Hell,
Bv full confent of all the damned Hagges
A □ J ill the fiends that keepe the Stygian plain, s .
Hath lent me here from depth of vnder ground,
To fommon thee to appeare at Plutoes Court.
E . t :us. A man or Diueli ? or what fo ere thou art, 2000
lie trie if blowes will driue thee downe to hell.
. thou art the Diuels Paritor,
The bafeft officer that liues in Hell,
For, fuch thy words imports thee for to be :
7 pitt i e you ihould come fo farre without a fee.
And becaufe I know mony goes lowe with Sophos,
lie riv vou your fees : \_Hee beates him^\ take that, & that,
and that :
Robin. 0 good Sir, I befeech you, He do anv thing ;
Fortmmatus. Then downe to Hell, for fiire thou art a 2010
Diueli
Robin. O hold your hands, I am not a Diueli by my
troth.
EortuKAtus. Sounds, dofl thou crofTe mee ? I lay thou
art a Diueli. [Beate him againe.
Robin. O Lord fir faue my life : and He fay as you fay, or
any thing elfe youle ha me doe.
Fertwiatm. Then ffcand vp and make a preachment of
thy Pedigree, and how at firfl thou learnd?fl this diuelifh
:ra£e : vp I fay Beate him. 2020
R:bin. 0 I wil Sir : \_Stands "jpon a ftoole.
Although in fome places, I beare the title of a fcuruy gen-
tleman :
E birth I am a boatewritesfon of Hull,
My father got me of a refuPd hagge,
ler the olde ruines of Boobies barne,
ho as fhe liu'd, at length {he like wife died,
And for her good deedes went vnto the Diueli.
But, Hell not wont to harbour fuch a guefl,
Her fellow fiends do daiely make complaint 2030
Vnto
- :
IV I L Y BEG V1LDE. 61
Vntn jrim PJ;<::. and his louely Q i
Of her vnrulv miffebehauiov
Intreating that a pafport might be irawne
For her to wander till the day of doome.
On earth againe to vex the mindes o: men,
And fwore ihe was the fitteft fiend in Hell
To driue men to defperation.
To this intent her pafport ftr!_ bt was drawr.
And in a whirle wind forth of Hell Ihe came ;
Ore hills fhe hurles, and fcowres along the plair. .
The::-.- flew vp faith ::::-;. :r.e e„r:h did quake for feare,
The houfes tumble downe, fhe playes the Diuell and all :
length not finding any one io fit
To effect her diueliih damned charge as I :
She comes to me, as to her onely chile-.
And me her inifrument on earth fhe made,
And bv that meanes I learnd this .
s. O monitrous villa r..
_r r . ::<:, Bat tell me : whats thy courle of li:. — -
thou ihifteft for maintenance in the wor_;. - : \ -
R:bin. Faith Sir. I am in a manner a promoter,
Or more fitly term'd a promoting knai -
I creepe into the prefence of great me
And vnder colour of their friendships,
Effect filch wo; - in the world
That babes ^ c me, chat are yet :orne.
Of the bell men, I raifc a common fa ...
i honeit women rob ot . . good :
Thus davlv tumbling in comes all my thrift.
Thai _ -t belt is got but by a fhi
But the chiefe courfe of all my life.
Is to :--. difcord bei a man and wi
\utims. Out vpon thee On
Dofb thou thinke thou fh. t eoer come to he
R:'r:n. I little hope for heauen or heauenl;. \ \ ;
But if in hell dot. remaine,
Of more eiteeme then is another roc
I
62 1VTLY BEG FILBE.
I hope, as guerdon for my mil defert,
To haue it for my deteftable acts.
Fort. Wert not, thy tongue condemnes thy guiltie foule, 1070
I could not thinke that on this liuing earth
Did breath a villane fo audacious.
Go get thee gone, and come not in my walke. \Beate him.
For if thou dofl, thou comeffc vnto thy woe.
Rob. The diuelhimfelf was neuer coniur'd fo. [Exit Rob.
Sophos. Sure hees no man, but an incarnate diuel,
Whofe ougly fhape bewrayes his monftrous mind.
Fortunatus. And if he be a diuel, I am fure hees gone :
But Churms the Lawyer wil be here anone,
And with him comes my lifter Lelia : 1080
Tis he I am fure you looke for.
Sophos. Nay, {lie it is that I expect fo long.
Fort. Then fit we down vntil we heare more newes :
This but a prologue to our play enfewes. {They Jit downe.
But lee where Churms and Lelia comes along :j Enter Churms
He walks as flately as the great Baboone. I *nd Lelia.
Sounds, he lookes as though his mother were a midwife.
Sophos. Now gentle loue, great Monarke of the world,
Grant good fuccefle vnto my wandring hopes. (deepe
Churms. Now Phoebus filuer eye is drencht in wefterne 2090
And Luna gins to (how her iplendant raies,
And al the harmleffe quireflers of wood
Do take repofe, faue onely Phi/ome/e:
Whofe heauie tunes do euermore record,
With morneflil laies the lofTes of her loue.
Thus farre faire loue we pafle in fecret fort,
Beyond the compafle of thy fathers bounds,
Whilft he on down-foft bed fecurely fleepes
And not fo much as dreames of our depart.
The dangers paft, now thinke on nought but loue, 2100
He be thy deare, be thou my hearts delight.
Sophos. Nay firffc, He fend thy foule to cole blacke night.
Churms. Thou promif 'd loue : now feale it with a kifTe.
Fort. Nayfoft Sir, your mark's at the fairefl.
Forfweare
JVIL Y BEG FT LB E. Ci
Forfweare her loue, and feale it with a kifle,
Vpon the burnifht fplendor of this blade ;
Or it fhal rip the intrailes of thy pefant hart.
Sophs. Nay, let me do it, thats my part.
Churms. You wrong me much to rob me of my loue.
Sophos. Auant, bafe braggard : Lelias mine, mo
Churms. She lately promif 'd loue to me.
Fortunatus. Peace, Night-Rauen, peace, He ende this con-
trouerfie.
Come Eelia, Hand betweene them both,
As equall Iudge to ende this flrife :
Say which of thefe fhal haue thee to his wife :
I can deuife no better way then this,
Now choofe thy loue : and greete him with a kifle.
Eelia. Mychoiceismade: andhereitis.j\X6<?£/^'j'Sophos.
Sophos. See here the mirrour of true conflancie: 2120
Whofe ftedfafl loue deferues a Princes worth.
Eelia. Mailer Churms are you not well ?
I mufl confefle I would haue chofen you,
But that I nere beheld your legs till now :
Trull me I neuer lookt fo low before.
Chnrms. I know you vfe to looke aloft.
Eelia. Yet not fo high as your crowne.
Churms. What if you had ?
Eelia. Faith I fhould ha fpied but a Calues head.
Churms. Sounds, cofend of the wench and fcoft at too ? * ' 3°
Tis intolerable : and fhal I loofe her thus ?
Howt mads me, that I brought not my fworde and buckler
with me !
Fort. What, are you in your fword & buckler tearms ?
He put you out of that humor :
There Eelia fends you that by me, \_Beates him.
And that, to recompence your loues defire :
And that, as payment for your wel earn'd hire.
Go get thee gon, and boaft of Ee lias loue.
Chmms. Where ere I goe He leaue with her my curfe, 214°
And raile on you with fpceches vilde.
I Fortunatus.
64 IV TL Y BEGVILDE.
Fortunatus. A craftie knaue was neuer lb beguil'd.
Now Sophos hopes haue had their luckie haps,
And he enioyes the prefence of his loue,
My vow's perform'd, and I am full reueng'd
Vpon this Hell-bred brace of curfed Imps :
Now refts nought but my fathers free confent
To knit the knot that time can nere vntwilt.
And that, as this, I likewife wil performe.
No fooner fhal Auroraes pearled deaw, njo
Orefpread the mantled earth with filuer drops
And PhcebusbleiTe the Orient with a blufh,
To chace blacke night to her deformed Cell,
But He repaire vnto my fathers houfe,
And neuer ceafe with my inticing words,
To worke his wil to knit this Gordian knot,
Till when He leaue you to your amorous chatte,
Deare friend adieu, faire lifter too farewel,
Betake y our felues vnto fome fecret place :
Vntil you heare from me how things fall out. 2160
Exit Fortunatus.
Sophos. We both do wifh a fortunate goodnight :
jLelia. And pray the Gods to guide thy fteps aright.
Sophos. Now come faire Lelia, lets betake our felues
Vnto a little Hermitage hereby :
And there to liue obfcured from the world
Till fates and Fortune call vs thence away,
To fee the funfhine of our Nuptiall day.
See how the twinkling Starres do hide their borrowed fliine
As halfe afham'd their lufter fo is ftain'd, 2170
By Lelias beautious eyes that (hine more bright,
Then twinkling Starres do in a winters night :
In fuch a night did Paris win his loue.
Lelia. In fuch a night, Mnaas prou'd vnkind.
Sophos. In fuch a night did Troilus court his deare.
Lelia. In fuch a night, faire Phyllis was betraid.
Sophos. He proue as true as euer Troylus was.
Lelia. And I as conftant as Penelope.
Sophos
JVTL Y BEG^ILDE. 6?
Sophs. Then let vs folace, and in loues delight,
And fweet imbracings fpend the liue-long night. 2180
And whilft loue mounts her on her wanton wings,
Let Defcant run on Muficks filuer firings. Exeunt.
A SONGE.
OLde Tithon mufi forfake his deare,
The Larke doth chante her chearefull lay :
Aurora [miles with merry cheere,
To welcome in a happy day.
The beajis do Jkippe, 2.190
The (wee te birds Jin g:
The wood Nymphs dancey
The Ecchoes ring.
3
The hollow caues with ioy re founds :
And pleajure euery where abounds :
The Graces linking hand in hand,
In loue haue knit a glorious band.
Enter Robin Goodfellow, olde Ploddall, and Sc. xvii
his fonne Peter.
Ploddall. Heare you Mailer Goodfellow: how haue you 1201
fped ?
Peter. Ha you plaid the^ Diuel brauely, and fcard the
fcholler out ons wits ?
Robin. A pox of the Scholler.
Ploddall. Nay harke you : I fent you vortie (hillings, and
you fhal haue the cheefe I promif d you too.
I 1 Robin
66 fVTL Y BEGVTLDE.
Robin. A plague of the vortie (hillings, and the Cheefe
too.
Peter. Heare you, wil you giue me the powder you told mo
me of ?
Robin. How you vex me ! powder quotha ? Sounds I ha
been powderd.
Ploddall. Son, I doubt hee wil proue a craftie knaue, and
cofen vs of our money :
Weele go to Mailer Iuftice and complaine on him, and get
him whipt out oth Countrie for a Connicatcher.
Peter. I, or haue his eares naild to the Pillorie :
Comes lets goe. Exeunt Ploddall and his fonne.
Enter Churms. «*o
Churms. Fellow Robin, what newes? howe goes the
world ?
Robin. Faith, the world goes I cannot tell how :
How Ipeed you with your wench ?
Churms. I would the wench were at the Diuel :
A plague vpont I neuer fay my prayers, and that makes me
haue fuch ill lucke.
Robin. I think the fcholler be haunted with fome Demi-
diuel.
Churms. Why, didft thou fray him? lzs°
Robin. Fray him ? a vengeance ont, all our fhifting kna-
uerie's knowne :
We are counted very vagrants :
Sounds, I am afraid of euerie officer, for whipping.
Churms. We are horribly haunted : our behauiour is fo
beaflly, that we are growen loathfome, our craft gets vs
nought but knocks.
Rohin. What courfe fhal we take now ?
Churms. Faith I cannot tell : lets eene run our Countrie,
for heres no ffcaying for vs. "4°
Robin. Faith agreed : lets go into fome place where wee
are not knowne, and there fet vp the art of knauerie with
the fecond edition. Exeunt.
Enter
fVILY BEGVILDE. 6-7
Enter Gripe, Solus.
Gripe. Euery one tels me I looke better then I was wont,
My hearts lightened, my fpirits are reuiued,
Why me thinkes I am eene young againe ;
It ioyes my heart that this fame peeuifh girle my daughter
wil be rul'd at the laft yet :
But I fhall neuer be able to make M. Churmes amends for szjo
the great paines he has taken, Enter Nurfe.
Nur. Mailer, now out vpons, welladay : we are al vndone !
Gripe. Vndone ? what fodaine accident hath chanc't ?
Speake whats the matter ?
Nurfe. Alas that euer I was borne !
My Miflreffe and Mr. Churms are run away together.
Gripe. Tis not polfible : nere tell me. I dare trull Mailer
Churms with a greater matter then that.
Nurfe. Faith you mull trufl him whether you will or no,
for hees gone. Enter Will. Cricket. 2x60
VVill. M. Gripe, I was comming to defire that I might
haue your abfence at my wedding : for I heare fay you are
very liberall growen alate.
For I fpake with three or foure of your debters this mor-
ning,
that ought you hundred pounds a piece :
And they tolde me, that you fent M. Churmes to them and
tooke of fome ten pounds,
And of fome twentie, and deliuered them their bondes,
And bad them pay the refl when they were able. ^7°
Gripe. I am vndon : I am robd : my daughter, my mony !
Which way are they gone ?
FFill. Faith Sir, its all to nothing but your daughter and
M. Churms are gone both one way :
Marrie your mony flies fome one waies and fome another :
And therefore tis but a folly to make hue and crie after it.
Gripe. Follow them : make hue and cry after them.
My daughter, my mony, alls gone, what (hall I doe ?
IVill. Faith if you will be rul'd by me,
He tell you what you (hall doe: Zl8°
I g (Marke
68 fVILY BEG FTLDE.
(Marke what I fay) for lie teach you the way to come to
heauen, if you Humble not:
Giue all you haue to the poore,
But one fingle penny, and with that penny buy you a good
ffcrong halter,
And when you ha done fo : come to mee and He tell you
what you fhall do with it.
Gripe. Bring me my daughter : that Churms, that villane,
He teare him with my teeth.
Nurfe. Mafter, nay pray you do not run mad: 2,290
He tell you good newes :
My young Matter Fortunatus is come home : and fee where
he comes. \_Enter Fortunatus.
Gripe. If thou hadfl fayd Lelia^ it had beene fomething.
Fort. Thus Fortunatus greetes his Father,
And craues his blefling on his bended knee.
Gripe. I, heers my fonne : but Lelia fheele not come.
Good Fortunatus rife : wilt thou fhed teares,
And help thy father mone ?
If fo, fay I : if not good fonne be gone. 2300
Fort. What moues my father to thefe vncouth fits ?
Will. Faith Sir, hees almoft mad : I thinke he cannot tell
you:
And therefore I prefuming Sir, that my wit is fomething
better than his, at this time (do you marke Sir ?)
Out of the profound circumambulation of my fupernatu-
rail wit Sir (do you vnderfland ?)
Will tel you the whole fliperfluity of the matter Sir :
Your filter Lelia Sir you know is a woman,
As another woman is Sir. 2310
Fort. Well, and what of that?
JVill. Nay nothing Sir, but fhee fell in loue with one So-
phos a very proper wife young man Sir :
Now Sir, your Father would not let hir haue him, Sir :
But would haue married hir to one Sir,
That would haue fed hir with nothing but barly bag-pud-
dings and fat bacon :
Now
W1L Y BEG riLDE. 69
Now Sir to tell you the truth,
The foole ye know has fortune to land :
But M. Lelias mouth doth not hang for that kind of dyet. 2320
Fort. And how then ?
J^Fill. Marrie then there was a certaine craking, cog-
ging, pettifogging, buttermilke flaue Sir, one Churms Sir,
that is the very quintessence of all the knaues in the bunch ;
And if the belt man of all his kin had been but fo good as a
yeoman mans fonne :
He fhould haue been a markt knaue by letters patents,
And hee Sir comes me fneaking, and cofens them both of
their wench, and is run away with hir :
And Sir belike hee has cofend your father heere of a great 2330
deale of his mony too.
Nurfe. Sir your father did truft him but too much ;
But I alwaies thought he would prooue a crafty knaue.
Gripe. My trulls betrai'd, my ioyes exil'd :
Griefe kils this heart, my hopes beguil'd,
Fort. Where golden gaine doth bleare a fathers eyes,
That pretious pearle fetcht from Pemaffus mount,
Is counted refufe, worfe then Bullen brafle ;
Both ioyes and hope hang of a filly twine,
That Hill is fubiect vnto flitting time: 2340
That tournes ioy into griefe, and hope to fad defpaire,
And ends his dayes in wretched worldly care.
Were I the richelfc Monarch vnder heauen,
And had one daughter thrice as faire,
As was the Grecian Menelaus wife,
Ere I would match hir to an vntaught fwaine,
Though one whofe wealth exceeded Crce/us ftore,
Hir felfe fhould choofe, and I applaud hir choife,
Of one more poore then euer Sopbos was,
Were his deferts but equall vnto his. 23*0
If I might fpeake without offence ;
You were to blame to hinder Lelias choice.
As fhe in Natures graces doth excell :
So doth Minerua grace him full as well.
Nurfe
7o WILY BEG VILBE.
Nurje. Now, by cocke and pie, you neuer fpoke a truer
word in your life, hees a very kind gentleman :
For laft time he was at our houfe he gaue me three pence.
Will. O nobly fpoken: God fend Pegge to prooue as
wife a woman as hir Mother, and then we fhall be fure to
haue wife children. *3*°
Nay if he be fo liberall : olde Granfire you fhall giue him
the good-will of your daughter.
Gripe. She is not mine : I haue no daughter now.
That I fhould fay I had, thence comes my griefe :
My care of Lelia, pall a fathers loue,
My loue of Lelia makes my loffe the more.
My loffe of Lelia drowns my heart in woe:
My hearts woe makes this life a liuing death :
Care, Loue, Loffe, Hearts-woe, liuing death,
Ioyne all in one, to flop this vitall breath. 2370
Curfl be the time I gap't for golden gaine,
I curfe the time, I crolt hir in hir choice.
Hir choyce was virtuous, but my wil was bafe,
I fought to grace hir from the Indian Mines,
But fhe fought honour from the flame Mount :
What franticke fit poffefl my fooliih braine ?
What furious fancie fired fo my heart,
To hate faire Virtue and to fcorne defert ?
Fortunatus. Then father giue defert his due,
Let Natures graces and faire virtues giftes, 2380
One fympathie and happy confort make,
Twixt Sophs and my filler Lelias loue :
Conioyne their hands, whofe hearts haue long beene one,
And fo conclude a happy vnion.
Gripe. Now tis too late :
What Fates decree, can neuer be recall'd :
Hir lucklefle loue is fall'n to Churms his lot,
And he vfurps faire Lelias nuptiall bed.
Fortunatus. That cannot be : feare of purfuit mufl needes
prolong his nuptiall rights. 2390
But if you eiue your full confent,
" That
WILY BEG FILBE. 71
That Sophs may enioy his long wifht loue,
And haue faire Lelia to his louely bride,
He follow Churmes what ere betide.
He be as fwifte as is the light foote Roe,
And ouertake him ere his iournies end:
And bring faire Lelia backe vnto my friend.
Gripe. I, heers my hand : I do confent,
And thinke hir happie in hir happie choice,
Yet halfe foreiudge my hopes will be deceiu'd. 2400
But Fortunatus-. I muft needes commend,
Thy conftant mind thou bear'flvnto thy friend.
The after ages wondring at the fame :
Shall fait's a deede deferuing lading fame.
Fort. Then reft you here til I returne againe,
lie go to Sophs ere I goe along :
And bring him here to keepe you company.
Perhaps he hath fome skill in hidden arts,
Of Planets courfe, or fecret magicke fpells,
To know where Lelia and that Foxe lies hid, 1410
Whole craft fo cunningly conuaid hir hence. Exit Fortu.
Gripe. I : here lie reft an houre or twaine,
Till Fortunatus doe returne againe.
Will. Faith Sir, this fame Churms is a very fcuruy Lawer :
For once I put a cafe to him : and me thought his law was
not worth a pudding.
Gripe. Why what was your cafe ?
Will. Marry Sir, my cafe was a goofes cafe :
For my dog wirried my neighbours fow, and the fow died.
Nurfe. And hee fued you vpon wilfull murther ? l4*°
VVil. No: but he went to law with me, and would make
me either pay for his fow, or hang my dogge :
Now Sir to this fame Retourner I went.
Nurfe. To beg a pardon for your dogge ?
VFill No: but to haue fome of his wit Tor my mony,
I gaue him his fee, and promifed him a goofe befide, for his
counfaile.
Now Sir his counfaile was to denie all was askt me,
K And
7i IVILY BEG r/LDE.
And to craue a longer time to anfwere,
Though I knew the cafe was plaine; %^o
So Sir I take his counfaile : and alwaies when he fends to me
for his goofe, I denie it, and craue a longer time to anfwere.
Nurfe. And fb the cafe was yours, & the goofe was his :
And fo it came to be a goofes cafe.
Will. True : but now we are talking of geefe,
See where Pegge and my Granam Midnight comes.
Enter M. Midnight and Pegge.
Moth. M. Come Pegge, bellirre your ftumpes : make thy
felfe fmugge, wench ; thou mufl be married to morrow :
Lets goe feeke out thy fweete heart, 1440
To prepare all things in readinefle.
Pegge. Why Granam, looke where he is.
FrFrill. Ha my fweet Tralilly, I thought thou couldft fpie
me amongft a hundred honeft men.
A man may fee that loue will creepe where it cannot goe.
Ha my fweet and too fweet : (hall I fay the tother fweet ?
Pegge. I, fay it and fpare not.
VVill. Nay I will not fay it, I will fing it.
Thou art mine owne fweete heart,
From thee He neuer depart : *4f°
Thou art my Ciperlillie :
And I thy Trangdidowne dilly,
And fing hey ding a ding ding :
And do the tother thing,
And when tis done not miffe,
To giue my wench a kifle :
And then dance canft thou not hit it ?
Ho braue F * William Cricket \
How like you this Granam ?
Mother M. Marrie gods bennifbn light oth thy good 1460
hart, fort :
Ha, that I were young againe !
Yfaith I was an olde doer at thefe loue fongs when I was a
girle.
Nurfe. Now by the Marry mattens, Peg thou haft got
the
JFIL Y BEG FILDE. lz
the merriefl woer in all Womanfliire.
Pegge. Faith, I am none of thofe that loue nothing but
Turn dum diddle,
If he had not beene a merrie fhauer, I would neuer haue had
him. 1470
WiL But come my wimble lafle, let al thefe matters pafle :
And in a bouncing brauation, lets talke of our copulation:
What good cheere fhal we haue to morrow ?
Old Grand fir Thickskin, you that fit there as melancholy
as a mantletree, what will you giue vs towarde this merrie
meeting ?
Gripe. Marry, becaufe you told me a merrie goofes cafe:
He bellow a fat goofe on ye : and God giue you luck.
Mother M. Marry wel faid old mailer : eene God giue
them ioy indeed, for by my vay, they are a good fweete m^o
yong couple.
JVill. Granam fland out oth way, for f Enter Fortuna.
here come gentlefolke wil run ore ye elfe. t Soph. & Lelia.
Nurfe. Mafler, here comes your fbnne againe.
Gripe. Is Fortunatus there ?
Welcome Fortunatus'. wheres Sophos?
Fortunatus. Here Sophos is, as much ore-worne with loue,
As you with griefe for lofle of Lelia.
Sophos. And ten times more if it be poffible.
The loue of Lelia is to me more deare, 2490
Then is a kingdome or the richefl crowne
That ere adornd the temples of a king.
Gripe. Then welcome Sophos: thrice more welcome now
Then any man on earth to me or mine.
It is not now with me as late it was ;
I lowrd at learning, and at vertue fpurnd :
But now my heart and mind and all is tournd.
Were Lelia here, I foone would knit the knot
Twixt her and thee, that time could nere vntie,
Till fatall fillers victorie had wonne, 2500
And that your glafle of life were quite outrun.
Will. Sounds, I thinke he be fpur-blind. WhyyLelia (lands
K 2 hard
'M-
WILY BEG riLDE.
hard by him.
Lelia. And Lelia here falles proflrate on her knee.
And craues a pardon for her late offence.
Gripe. What Lelia, my daughter ? ftand vp wench :
Why now my ioy is full :
My heart is lightned of all fad annoy:
Now farewell griefe, and welcome home my ioy.
Here Sop/jos, take thy Lelias hand : 1510
Great God of heauen your hearts combine
In virtues lore to raife a happie line.
Sophs. Now Phaeton hath checkt his fierie Heeds,
And quencht his burning beames that late were wont
To melt my waxen winges when as I foard aloft :
And louely F^enus fmiles with faire afpect
Vpon the Spring time of our facred loue;
Thou great commander of the circled Orbs,
Grant, that this league of lading amitie
May lye recorded by Eternitie. zjio
Lelia. Then wifht content knit vp our Nuptiall right :
And future ioyes our former griefes requite.
Will. Nay an you be good at that, He tel you what weele
doe.
Pegge and I mult be married to morrow ; and if you will,
weele goe all tuth Church together: and fo faue Sir John a
labour.
All. Agreed.
Fortunatus. Then march along, and lets be gon,
To folemnize two marriages in one. Exeunt Omnes. 2530
FINIS.
Jffi:
THE EPILOGVE.
Efil.
GEntles, all compaji in this circled rounde,
IVhofe hind afpects do patronize our /ports :
To you He bend as low as to the earthy
In all the humble complements of curtefie.
But if there be, (as tis no doubt there is)
In all this round fome Cinique cenjurers,
JVhofe onely [kill confijis in finding faults,
That haue like Midas mightie Ajfes eares, 2540
Quicke iudgements that will ftrike at euerieftale,
And perhaps fuch as can make a large difcourfe
Out of Scoggins lefts, or the hundred menie tales :
Marrie if you go any further, tis beyond their reading;
To thefe I Jay, I Jcorne to lend a looke,
And bid them vanifh vapours, and fo let them paffe.
But to the other fort, that heare with hue, and iudge withfauour.
To them we leaue, to cenfure of our play :
And if they like our play es Cataftrophe,
Then let them grace it with a Plaudite. Exit. ZU°
FINIS.
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