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. V. SCENE. IIIJ.

He is seene sitting at his Table with papers be∣fore him.

PENI-BOY. SEN. PORTER.

WHere are the prisoners?

POR.

They are forth-comming, S^r, Or comming forth at least.

P. SE.

The Rogue is drunke, Since I committed them to his charge. Come hither,

Hee smells him.

Neere me, yet neerer; breath vpon me. Wine! Wine, o'my worship! sacke! Canary sacke! Could not your Badge ha' bin drunke with fulsome Ale? Or Beere? the Porters element? but sacke!

POR.

I am not drunke, we had, Sir, but one pynt, An honest carrier, and my selfe.

P. SE.

Who paid for't?

POR.

Sir, I did giue it him.

P. SE.

What? and spend sixpence! A Frocke spend sixpence! sixpence!

POR.

Once in a yeere, Sir,

P. SE.

In seuen yeers, varlet! Know'st thou what thou hast done? What a consumption thou hast made of a State?

It might please heauen, (a lusty Knaue and young) To let thee liue some seuenty yeeres longer. Till thou art fourescore, and ten; perhaps, a hundred. Say seuenty yeeres▪ how many times seuen in seuenty? Why, seuen times ten, is ten times seuen, marke me, I will demonstrate to thee on my fingers, Six-pence in seuen yeere (vse vpon vse) Growes in that first seuen yeere, to be a twelue-pence. That, in the next, two-shillings; the third foure-shillings; The fourth seuen yeere, eight-shillings; the fifth, sixteen: The sixth, two and thirty; the seuenth, three-pound foure, The eighth, sixe pound, and eyght; the ninth, twelue pound sixteen; And the tenth seuen, fiue and twenty pound, Twelue Shillings. This thou art fall'n from, by thy riot! Should'st thou liue seuenty yeeres, by spending six-pence, Once i'the seuen: but in a day to wast it! There is a Summe that number cannot reach! Out o'my house, thou pest o' prodigality! Seed o' consumption! hence, a wicked keeper Is oft worse then the prisoners. There's thy penny, Foure tokens for thee. Out, away. My dogges, May yet be innocent, and honest. If not, I haue an entrapping question, or two more, To put vnto 'hem, a crosse Intergatory, And I shall catch 'hem; Lollard? Peace, What whispring was that you had with Mortgage,

Hee calls forth Lol∣lard, and examines him.

When you last lick'd her feet? The truth now. Ha? Did you smell shee was going? Put downe that. And not, Not to returne? You are silent. good. And, when Leap'd you on Statute? As she went forth? Consent. There was Consent, as shee was going forth. 'Twould haue beene fitter at her comming home,

He commits him againe.

But you knew that she would not? To your Tower, You are cunning, are you? I will meet your craft. Blocke, shew your face, leaue your caresses, tell me,

Calls forth Blocke, and examines him.

And tell me truly, what affronts do you know Were done Pecunia? that she left my house? None, say you so? not that you know? or will know? I feare me, I shall find you an obstinate Curre. Why, did your fellow Lollard cry this morning? 'Cause Broker kickt him? why did Broker kicke him? Because he pist against my Ladies Gowne? Why, that was no affront? no? no distast? You knew o' none. Yo'are a dissembling Tyke,

Commits him.

To your hole, againe, your Blocke-house. Lollard, arise, Where did you lift your legge vp, last? 'gainst what?

Lollard is call'd again.

Are you struck Dummerer now? and whine for mercy?

Whose Kirtle was't, you gnaw'd too? Mistresse Bands? And Waxe's stockings? who did? Blocke bescumber Statutes white suite? wi' the parchment lace there? And Brokers Sattin dublet? all will out. They had offence, offence enough to quit mee.

Blocke is sūmon'd the second time.

Appeare Blocke, fough, 'tis manifest. He shewes it, Should he for-sweare't, make all the Affadauits, Against it, that he could afore the Bench, And twenty Iuries; hee would be conuinc'd.

Hee is re∣manded-

He beares an ayre about him, doth confesse it! To prison againe, close prison. Not you Lollard, You may enioy the liberty o'the house, And yet there is a quirke come in my head, For which I must commit you too, and close, Doe not repine, it will be better for you.

Notes

• Lollard has the liberty of the house.