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.

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Title
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.
Author
Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637.
Publication
London :: Printed by I.B. for Robert Allot, and are to be sold at the signe of the Beare, in Pauls Church-yard,
1631.
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"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04633.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 1, 2024.

Pages

Page 64

ACT. V. SCENE. I.

PENY-BOY. IV. to him THO. BARBER. after, PICKLOCKE.
Hee comes out in the patchd cloak his father left him.
NAy, they are fit, as they had been made for me,
And I am now a thing, worth looking at! The same, I said I would be in the morning. No Rogue, at a Comitia of the Canters, Did euer there become his Parents Robes Better, then I do these: great foole! and begger! Why doe not all that are of those societies, Come forth, and gratulate mee one of theirs? Me thinkes, I should be, on euery side, saluted, Dauphin of beggers! Prince of Prodigalls! That haue so fall'n vnder the eares, and eyes, And tongues of all, the fable o'the time, Matter of scorne, and marke of reprehension! I now begin to see my vanity, Shine in this Glasse, reflected by the foile! Where is my Fashioner? my Feather-man? My Linnener? Perfumer? Barber? all? That tayle of Riot, follow'd me this morning? Not one! but a darke solitude about mee, Worthy my cloake, and patches; as I had The epidemicall disease vpon mee: And I'll sit downe with it.
THO.
My Master! Maker! How doe you? Why doe you sit thus o'the ground, Sir? Heare you the newes?
P. IV.
No, nor I care to heare none. Would I could here sit still, and slip away The other one and twenty, to haue this Forgotten, and the day rac'd out, expung'd, In euery Ephemerides, or Almanack. Or if it must be in, that Time and Nature Haue decree'd; still, let it be a day Of tickling Prodigalls, about the gills; Deluding gaping heires, loosing their loues, And their discretions; falling from the fauours Of their best friends, and parents; their owne hopes;

Page 65

And entring the society of Canters.
THO.
A dolefull day it is, and dismall times Are come vpon vs: I am cleare vndone.
P. IV.

How, Thom?

THO.

Why? broke! broke! wretchedly broke!

P. IV.

Ha!

THO.

Our Staple is all to pieces, quite dissolu'd!

P. IV.

Ha!

THO.
Shiuer'd, as in an earth-quake! heard you not The cracke and ruines? we are all blowne vp! Soone as they heard th' Infanta was got from them, Whom they had so deuoured i'their hopes, To be their Patronesse, and soiourne with 'hem; Our Emissaries, Register, Examiner, Flew into vapor: our graue Gouernour Into a subt'ler ayre; and is return'd (As we doe heare) grand-Captaine of the Ieerers. I, and my fellow melted into butter, And spoyl'd our Inke, and so the Office vanish'd. The last hum that it made, was, that your Father, And Picklocke are fall'n out, the man o' Law.
Hee starts vp at this.
P. IV.

How? this awakes me from my lethargy.

THO.
And a great suite, is like to be betweene 'hem, Picklocke denies the Feofement, and the Trust, (Your Father saies) he made of the whole estate, Vnto him, as respecting his mortalitie, When he first laid this late deuice, to try you.
P. IV.

Has Picklock then a trust?

THO.
I cannot tell, Here comes the worshipfull
PIC.
What? my veluet-heyre,
Picklocke enters.
Turn'd begger in minde, as robes?
P. IV.
You see what case, Your, and my Fathers plots haue brought me to.
P. C.
Your Fathers, you may say, indeed, not mine. Hee's a hard hearted Gentleman! I am sorie To see his rigid resolution! That any man should so put off affection, And humane nature, to destroy his owne! And triumph in a victory so cruell! He's fall'n out with mee, for being yours, And calls me Knaue, and Traytors to his Trust, Saies he will haue me throwne ouer the Barre
P. IV.

Ha'you deseru'd it?

PIC.
O, good heauen knowes My conscience, and the silly latitude of it! A narrow minded man! my thoughts doe dwell All in a Lane, or line indeed; No turning, Nor scarce obliquitie in them. I still looke Right forward to th'intent, and scope of that Which he would go from now.
P. IV.

Had you a Trust, then?

PIC.
Sir, I had somewhat, will keepe you still Lord Of all the estate, (if I be honest) as I hope I shall. My tender scrupulous brest

Page 66

Will not permit me see the heyre defrauded, And like an Alyen, thrust out of the blood, The Lawes forbid that I should giue consent, To such a ciuill slaughter of a Sonne.
P. IV.

Where is the deed? hast thou it with thee?

PIC.
No, It is a thing of greater consequence, Then to be borne about in a blacke boxe, Like a Low-countrey vorloffe, or Welsh-briefe. It is at Lickfingers, vnder locke and key.
P. IV.

O, fetch it hither.

PIC.
I haue bid him bring it, That you might see it.
P. IV.

Knowes he what brings?

PIC.
No more then a Gardiners Asse, what roots he carries,
P. IV.
I was a sending my Father, like an Asse, A penitent Epistle, but I am glad I did not, now.
PIC.
Hang him, an austere grape, That has no iuice, but what is veriuice in him.
P. IV.

I'll shew you my letter!

PC.
Shew me a defiance!
Peny-boy runnes out to fetch his letter.
If I can now commit Father, and Sonne,
And make my profits out of both. Commence A suite with the old man, for his whole state, And goe to Law with the Sonnes credit, vndoe Both, both with their owne money, it were a piece Worthy my night-cap, and the Gowne I weare, A Picklockes name in Law. Where are you Sir? What doe you doe so long?
P. IV.
I cannot find Where I haue laid it, but I haue laid it safe.
PIC
No matter, Sir, trust you vnto my Trust, 'Tis that that shall secure you, an absolute deed! And I confesse, it was in Trust, for you, Lest any thing might haue hapned mortall to him: But there must be a gratitude thought on, And aid, Sir, for the charges of the suite, Which will be great, 'gainst such a mighty man, As is our Father, and a man possest Of so much Land, Pecunia and her friends. I am not able to wage Law with him, Yet must maintaine the thing, as mine owne right, Still for your good, and therefore must be bold To vse your credit for monies.
P. IV.
What thou wilt, So wee be safe, and the Trust beare it.
PIC.
Feare not, 'Tis hee must pay arrerages in the end. Wee'l milke him, and Pecunia, draw their creame downe, Before he get the deed into his hands. My name is Picklocke, but heell finde me a Padlocke.

Page 67

ACT. V. SCENE. II.

PENY-BOY. CAN. PENY-BOY. IV. PICKLOCK. THO. BARBAR.
HOw now? conferring wi'your learned Counsell, Vpo' the Cheat? Are you o'the plot to coozen mee?
P. IV.

What plot?

P. ••••.
Your Counsell knowes there, Mr Picklock, Will you restore the Trust yet?
PIC.
Sir, take patience. And memory vnto you, and bethinke you, What Trust? where dost appeare? I haue your Deed, Doth your Deed specifie any Trust? Is't not A perfect Act? and absolute in Law? Seal'd and deliuer'd before witnesses? The day and date, emergent.
P. CA.
But what conference? What othes, and vowes preceded?
PIC.
I will tell you, Sir, Since I am vrg'd of those, as I remember, You told me you had got a growen estate, By griping meanes, sinisterly.
(P. CA.

How!)

PIC.
And were Eu'n weary of it; if the parties liued, From whom you had wrested it—
(P. CA.

Ha!)

PIC.
You could be glad, To part with all, for satisfaction: But since they'had yeelded to humanity, And that iust heauen had sent you, for a punishment (You did acknowledge it) this riotous heyre, That would bring all to beggery in the end, And daily sow'd consumption, where he went—
P. CA.

You'old coozen both, then? your Confederate, too?

PIC.
After a long, mature deliberation, You could not thinke, where, better, how to place it—
P. CA.

Then on you, Rascall?

PIC.
What you please i'your passion, But with your reason, you will come about And thinke a faithfull, and a frugall friend To be preferr'd.
P. CA.

Before a Sonne?

PIC.
A Prodigall, A tubbe without a bottome, as you term'd him; For which, I might returne you a vow, or two, And seale it with an oath of thankfulnesse, I not repent it, neither haue I cause, Yet—
P. CA.
Fore-head of steele, and mouth of brasse! hath impu∣dence Polish'd so grosse a lie, and dar'st thou vent it? Engine, compos'd of all mixt mettalls! hence, I will not change a syllab, with thee, more, Till I may meet thee, at a Barre in Court,

Page 68

Before thy Iudges.
PIC.
Thither it must come, Before I part with it, to you, or you, Sir.
P. CA.

His Son en∣treats him.
I will not heare thee.

P. IV.
Sir, your eare to mee, though. Not that I see through his perplexed plots, And hidden ends, nor that my parts depend Vpon the vnwinding this so knotted skeane, Doe I beseech your patience. Vnto mee He hath confest the trust.
PIC.

How? I confesse it?

P. IV.

I thou, false man.

P. ••••.

Stand vp to him, & confront him.

PIC.

Where? when? to whom?

P· IV.
To me, euen now, and here, Canst thou deny it?
PIC.
Can I eate or drinke? Sleepe, wake, or dreame? arise, sit, goe, or stand? Doe any thing that's naturall?
P. IV.
Yes, lye: It seemes thou canst, and periure: that is naturall!
PIC.
O me! what times are these! of frontlesse carriage▪ An Egge o'the same nest! the Fathers Bird! It runs in a blood, I see!
P. IV.

I'll stop your mouth.

PIC.

With what?

P. IV.

With truth.

PIC.
With noise, I must haue witnes. Where is your witnes? you can produce witnes?
P. IV.
As if my testimony were not twenty, Balanc'd with thine?
PIC.
So say all Prodigalls, Sicke of selfe-loue, but that's not Law, young Scatter-good. I liue by Law.
P. IV.
Why? if thou hast a conscience, That is a thoussnd witnesses.
PIC.
No, Court, Grants out a Writ of Summons, for the Conscience, That I know, nor Sub-paena, nor Attachment. I must haue witnesse, and of your producing, Ere this can come to hearing, and it must Be heard on oath, and witnesse.
P. IV.
Come forth, Thom,
Hee produ∣ceth Thom.
Speake what thou heard'st, the truth, and the whole truth,
And nothing but the truth. What said this varlet?
PIC.

A rat behind the hangings!

THO.
Sir, he said It was a Trust! an Act, the which your Father Had will to alter: but his tender brest Would not permit to see the heyre defrauded; And like an alyen, thrust out of the blood. The Lawes forbid that he should giue consent To such a ciuill slaughter of a Sonne—
P. IV.
And talk'd of a gratuitie to be giuen, And ayd vnto the charges of the suite; Which he was to maintaine, in his owne name, But for my vse, he said.
P. CA.

It is enough.

THO.
And he would milke Pecunia, and draw downe Her creame, before you got the Trust, againe.
P. CA.
Your eares are in my pocket, Knaue, goe shake 'hem, The little while you haue them.
PIC.
You doe trust To your great purse.
P. CA.
I ha' you in a purse-net,

Page 69

Good Master Picklocke, wi' your worming braine, And wrigling ingine-head of maintenance, Which I shall see you hole with, very shortly. A fine round head, when those two lugs are off, To trundle through a Pillory. You are sure You heard him speake this?
P. IV.

I, and more.

THO.

Much more!

PIC.
I'll proue yours maintenance, and combination, And sue you all.
P. CA.
Doe, doe, my gowned Vulture, Crop in Reuersion: I shall see you coyted Ouer the Barre, as Barge-men doe their billets.
PIC.
This 'tis, when men repent of their good deeds, And would ha'hem in againe—They are almost mad! But I forgiue their Lucida Interualla. O, Lickfinger? come hither. Where's my writing?
Pick-lock spies Lick∣finger, and askes him a∣side for the writing.

ACT. V. SCENE. III.

LICKFINGER. to them.
I sent it you, together with your keyes,
PIC.

How?

LIC.
By the Porter, that came for it, from you, And by the token, you had giu'n me the keyes, And bad me bring it.
PIC.

And why did you not?

LIC.

Why did you send a counter-mand?

PIC.

Who, I?

LIC.

You, or some other you, you put in trust.

PIC.

In trust?

LIC.
Your Trust's another selfe, you know, And without Trust, and your Trust, how should he Take notice of your keyes, or of my charge.
PIC.

Know you the man?

LIC.
I know he was a Porter, And a seal'd Porter for he bore the badge On brest, I am sure.
PIC.

I am lost! a plot! I sent it!

LIC.
Why! and I sent it by the man you sent Whom else, I had not trusted.
PIC.
Plague o'your trust.
Picklocke goes out.
I am truss'd vp among you.
P. IV.

Or you may be.

PIC.

In mine owne halter, I haue made the Noose.

P. IV.

What was it, Lickfinger?

LIC.
A writing, Sir,
Young Pe∣ny-boy dis∣couers it, to his Father to be his plot of sending for it by the Porter, and that hee is in possession of the Deed.
He sent for't by a token, I was bringing it: But that he sent a Porter, and hee seem'd A man of decent carriage.
P. CA.
'Twas good fortune! To cheat the Cheater, was no cheat, but iustice, Put off your ragges, and be your selfe againe, This Act of piety, and good affection, Hath partly reconcil'd me to you.
P. IV.

Sir.

Page 70

P. C.
No vowes, no promises: too much protestation Makes that suspected oft, we would perswade.
LIC.

Elder Peny-boy startles at the newes.
Heare you the Newes?

P. IV.

The Office is downe, how should we?

LIC.

But of your vncle?

P. IV.

No.

LIC.

He's runne mad, Sir.

P. CA.

How, Lickfinger?

LIC.
Stark staring mad, your brother, H'has almost kill'd his maid.
P. CA.

Now, heauen forbid.

LIC.
But that she's Cat-liu'd, and Squirrill-limb'd, With throwing bed-staues at her: h'has set wide His outer doores, and now keepes open house, For all the passers by to see his iustice: First, he has apprehended his two dogges, As being o'the plot to coozen him: And there hee sits like an old worme of the peace, Wrap'd vp in furres at a square table, screwing, Examining, and committing the poore curres, To two old cases of close stooles, as prisons; The one of which, he calls his Lollard's tower, Th'other his Blocke-house, 'cause his two dogs names Are Blocke, and Lollard.
P. IV.
This would be braue matter Vnto the Ieerers.
P. CA.
I, If so the subiect Were not so wretched.
LIC.
Sure, I met them all, I thinke, vpon that quest.
P. CA.
'Faith, like enough▪ The vicious still are swift to shew their natures. I'll thither too, but with another ayme, If all succeed well, and my simples take.

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, Sr, 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?

Page 71

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?

Page 72

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.

Enter the Ieerers.
ACT. V. SCENE. II.

CYMBAL. FITTON. SHVNFIELD. ALMA∣NACH. MADRIGAL. PENY-BOY. SEN. LICKFINGER.
THis is enough to make the dogs mad too, Let's in vpon him.
P. SE.
How now? what's the matter? Come you to force the prisoners? make a rescue?
FIT.

We come to baile your dogs.

P. SE.
They are not baile∣able, They stand committed without baile, or mainprise, Your baile cannot be taken.
SHV.
Then the truth is, We come to vex you.
ALM.

Ieere you.

MAD.

Bate you rather.

CYM.

A bated vserer will be good flesh.

FIT.

And tender, we are told.

P. SE.
Who is the Butcher, Amongst you, that is come to cut my throat?
SHV.
You would dye a calues death faine: but'tis an Oxes, Is meant you.
FIT.

To be fairely knock'd o'the head.

SHV.

With a good Ieere or two.

P. SE.
And from your iaw∣bone, Don Assinigo?
CYM.

Shunfield, a Ieere, you haue it.

SHV.
I doe confesse a washing blow? but Snarle, You that might play the third dogge, for your teeth, You ha' no money now?
FIT.

No, nor no Mortgage.

ALM.

Nor Band.

MAD.

Nor Statute.

CYM.

No, nor blushet Wax.

P. SE.

Nor you no Office, as I take it.

SHV.
Cymbal, A mighty Ieere.
FIT.

Pox o'these true ieasts, I say.

Page 73

MAD.

He will turne the better ieerer.

ALM.
Let's vpon him, And if we cannot ieere him downe in wit,
MAD.

Let's do't in noyse.

SHV.

Content.

MAD.

Charge, man o' warre.

ALM.

Lay him, abord.

SHV.

We'll gi' him a broad side, first.

FIT.

Wher's your venison, now?

CYM.

Your red-Deer-pyes?

SHV.

Wi' your bak'd Turkyes?

ALM.

and your Partridges?

MAD.

Your Phessants, & fat Swans?

P. SE.

Like you, turn'd Geese.

MAD.

But such as will not keepe your Capitol?

SHV.
You were wont to hayour Breams
ALM.

And Trouts sent in?

CYM.

Fat Carps, and Salmons?

FIT.
I, and now, and then, An Embleme, o'your selfe, an o're-growne Pyke?
P. SE.

You are a Iack, Sir.

FIT.
You ha' made a shift

To swallow twenty such poore Iacks ere now.

ALM.

If he should come to feed vpon poore-Iohn?

MAD.

Or turne pure Iack-a-Lent after all this?

FIT.
Tut, he'll liue like a Grashopper—
MAD.

On dew.

SHV.

Or like a Beare, with licking his owne clawes.

CYM.

I, If his dogs were away.

ALM.
He'll eat them, first, While they are fat.
FIT,
Faith, and when they are gone, Here's nothing to be seene beyond.
CYM.
Except His kindred, Spiders, natiues o' the soyle.
ALM.

Dust, he will ha' enough here, to breed fleas.

MAD.

But, by that time, he'll ha' no blood to reare 'hem.

SHV.
He will be as thin as a lanterne, we shall see thorow him,
ALM.
And his gut colon, tell his Intestina
P. SE.
Rogues, Rascalls ( baw waw)
FIT.

He calls his dogs to his ayd.

ALM.

O! they but rise at mention of his tripes.

CYM.

Let them alone, they doe it not for him.

MAD.

They barke, se defendndo.

SHV.
Or for custome, As commonly currres doe, one for another.
LIC.
Arme, arme you, Gentlemen Ieerers, th'old Canter Is comming in vpon you, with his forces, The Gentleman, that was the Canter.
SHV.

Hence.

FIT.

Away.

CYM.

What is he?

ALM.

stay not to ask questions.

FIT.

Hee's a flame.

SHV.

A fornace.

ALM.
A consumption, Kills where hee goes.
LIC.
See! the whole Couy is scatter'd,
They all run away.
'Ware, 'ware the Hawkes. I loue to see him flye.

Page 74

ACT. V. SCENE. VI.

PENY-BOY. CA. PENY-BOY. SE. PENI-BOY. IV. PECVNIA. TRAINE.
YOu see by this amazement, and distraction, What your companions were, a poore, affrighted, And guilty race of men, that dare to stand No breath of truth: but conscious to themselues Of their no-wit, or honesty, ranne routed At euery Pannicke terror themselues bred. Where else, as confident as sounding brasse, Their tinckling Captaine, Cymbal, and the rest, Dare put on any visor, to deride The wretched: or with buffo licence, ieast At whatsoe'r is serious, if not sacred.
P. SE.

Who's this? my brother! and restor'd to life!

P. CA
Yes, and sent hither to restore your wits: If your short madnesse, be not more then anger, Conceiued for your losse! which I returne you. See here, your Mortgage, Statute, Band, and Waxe, Without your Broker, come to abide with you▪ And vindicate the Prodigall, from stealing Away the Lady. Nay, Pecunia her selfe, Is come to free him fairely, and discharge All ties, but those of Loue, vnto her person, To vse her like a friend, not like a slaue, Or like an Idoll. Superstition Doth violate the Deity it worships: No lesse then scorne doth. And beleeue it, brother The vse of things is all, and not the Store; Surfet, and fulnesse, haue kill'd more then famine. The Sparrow, with his little plumage, flyes, While the proud Peacocke, ouer-chargd with pennes, Is faine to sweepe the ground, with his growne traine, And load of feathers.
P. SE.
Wise, and honour'd brother! None but a Brother, and sent from the dead, As you are to me, could haue altered me: I thanke my Destiny, that is so gracious. Are there no paines, no Penalties decreed

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From whence you come, to vs that smother money, In chests, and strangle her in bagges.
P. CA.
O, mighty, Intolerable fines, and mulcts impo'sd! (Of which I come to warne you) forfeitures Of whole estates, if they be knowne, and taken!
P. SE.
I thanke you Brother for the light you haue giuen mee, I will preuent 'hem all. First free my dogges, Lest what I ha' done to them (and against Law) Be a Premuniri, for by Magna Charta They could not be committed, as close prisoners, My learned Counsell tells me here, my Cooke. And yet he shew'd me, the way, first.
LIC.
Who did? I? I trench the liberty o' the subiects?
P. CA.
Peace, Picklocke, your Ghest, that Stentor, hath infected you, Whom I haue safe enough in a wooden collar.
P. SE.
Next, I restore these seruants to their Ladie, With freedome, heart of cheare, and countenance; It is their yeere, and day of Iubilee.
TRA.

We thanke you, Sir.

P. SE.
And lastly, to my Nephew, I giue my house, goods, lands, all but my vices, And those I goe to cleanse; kissing this Lady Whom I doe giue him too, and ioyne their bands.
P. CA.

If the Spectators will ioyne theirs, wee thanke'hem.

P. IV.

And wish they may, as I, enioy Pecunia.

PEC.
And so Pecunia her selfe doth wish, That shee may still be ayde vnto their vses, Not slaue vnto their pleasures, or a Tyrant Oner their faire desires; but teach them all The golden meane: the Prodigall, how to liue, The sordid, and the couetous, how to dye, That with sound mind; this safe frugality.
THE END.

Notes

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