Bartholmew fayre : a comedie, acted in the yeare, 1614 by the Lady Elizabeths seruants, and then dedicated to King Iames, of most blessed memorie ; The diuell is an asse : a comedie acted in the yeare, 1616, by His Maiesties seruants ; The staple of newes : a comedie acted in the yeare, 1625, by His Maiesties seruants by the author, Beniamin Iohnson.

ACT. III. SCENE. II.

MERE-CRAFT. GVILT-HEAD. FITZ-DOTTRELL. PLVTARCHVS.

O, is he come! I knew he would not faile me. Welcome, good Guilt-head, I must ha' you doe A noble Gentleman, a courtesie, here: In a mere toy (some pretty Ring, or Iewell) Of fifty, or threescore pound (Make it a hundred, And hedge in the last forty, that I owe you, And your owne price for the Ring) He's a good man, S^r, And you may hap' see him a great one! Hee, Is likely to bestow hundreds, and thousands, Wi'you; if you can humour him. A great prince He will be shortly. What doe you say?

GVI.

In truth, Sir I cannot. 'T has beene a long vacation with vs,

FIT.

Of what, I pray thee? of wit? or honesty? Those are your Citizens long vacations.

PLV.

Good Father do not trust 'hem.

MER.

Nay, Thom. Guilt-head. Hee will not buy a courtesie and begge it: Hee'll rather pay, then pray. If you doe for him, You must doe cheerefully. His credit, Sir, Is not yet prostitute! Who's this? thy sonne? A pretty youth, what's his name?

PLV.

Plutarchus, Sir.

MER.

Plutarchus! How came that about?

GVI.

That yeere S^r, That I begot him, I bought Plutarch's liues, And fell s' in loue with the booke, as I call'd my sonne By 'his name; In hope he should be like him:

And write the liues of our great men!

MER.

I'the City? And you do breed him, there?

GVI.

His minde, Sir, lies Much to that way.

MER.

Why, then, he is i'the right way.

GVI.

But, now, I had rather get him a good wife, And plant him i'the countrey; there to vse The blessing I shall leaue him▪

MER.

Out vpon't! And lose the laudable meanes, thou hast at home, heere, T'aduance, and make him a young Alderman? Buy him a Captaines place, for shame; and let him Into the world, early, and with his plume, And Scarfes, march through Cheapside, or along Cornehill, And by the vertue' of those, draw downe a wife There from a windo', worth ten thousand pound! Get him the posture booke, and's leaden men, To set vpon a table, 'gainst his Mistresse Chance to come by, that hee may draw her in, And shew her Finsbury battells.

GVI.

I haue plac'd him With Iustice Eytherside, to get so much law—

MER.

As thou hast conscience. Come, come, thou dost wrong Pretty Plutarchus, who had not his name, For nothing: but was borne to traine the youth Of London, in the military truth— That way his Genius lies. My Cousin Euerill!