Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 14.

Enter the Lady Orphant, and Foster Trusty, like two poor Beggers.

FOster.

Childe, you must beg of every one that comes by, otherwise we shall not seem right Beggers.

Lady Orphant.

If our necessities were according to our outward appearance, we were but in a sad condition; for I shall never get any thing by begging, for I have neither learn'd the tone, nor the Beggers phrase to more pity or cha∣rity.

Foster Trusty.

Few Beggers move pity, they get more by importunity, than by their oratorie, or the givers charity.

Enter 2. Gentlemen.

She goeth to them and beggs.

Lady Orphant.

Noble Gentlemen, pity the shiftless youth, and infirm old age that hath no means to live, but what compassionate charity will be∣stow.

1. Gentleman.

You are a young boy, and may get your living by learning to work.

Lady Orphant.

But my Father being very old, is past working, and I am so young, as I have not arrived to a learning degree of age, and by that time I have learn'd to get my living, my Father may be starved for want of food.

2. Gent.

Why, your Father may beg for himself whilst you learn to work.

Lady Orphant.

My Father's feeble legs can never run after the flying speed of pityless hearts, nor can he stand so long to wait for conscience aimes, nor knock so hard to make devotion hear.

1. Gent.

I perceive you have learn'd to beg well, though not to work, and because you shall know my devotion is not deaf, there is something for your Father and you.

2. Gent.

Nay, faith boy, thou shalt have some of the scraps of my charity to, there is for thee.

Lady Orphant.

Heaven bless you; and grant to you, all your good desires.

Gentlemen Ex.

Enter a Lady and Servants.

Lady Orphant.

Honourable Lady, let the mouth of necessity suck the breast of your charity to feed the hungry Beggers.

Lady.

Away you rogue, a young boy and beg! You should be strip'd, whip'd, and set to work.

Lady Orphant.

Alas Madam, naked poverty is alwaies under the lash of miserie, which forceth us to work in the quarries of stony hearts, but we finde the mineral so hard, as we cannot get out enough to build up a lively∣hood.

Lady.

Imploy your selves upon some other work then.

Lady Ex.

Enter a mean Trades-man.

Lady Orphant.

Good Sir relieve a poor begger.

Trades-man.

Faith boy, I am so poor, as I want relief my self; yet of what I have, thou shalt share with me; there is a peny of my two pence, which is all I have, and Heaven do thee good with it.

Trades-man Exit.

Lady Orphant.

I perceive poverty pities poverty, as feeling the like miserie, where riches is cruel, and hard-hearted, not knowing what want is.

Foster Trusty.

I perceive wit can work upon every thing, and can form it self into what shape it please, and thy wit playes the Begger so well, as we needed not to have stored our selves from our own Stocks, but have lived upon the Stocks of others.

Lady Orphant.

But if all Stocks were as insipid as the Ladies, we should have starved, if we had not brought sap from our own home; But Father, I am weighed down with the peny the poor Trades-man gave me.

Foster Trusty.

Why, it is not so heavy.

Lady Orphant.

It is so heavy, as it burthens my conscience, and I shall never be at ease, not be able to travel any farther, until I have restored the peny to the giver again.

Foster Nurse.

How should we do that, for it is as hard and difficult to find out that man, as to finde out the first cause of effects.

Lady Orph.

Well, I will play the Philosopher, and search for him.

Foster Nurse.

But if you should meet him, perchance you will not know he was he.

Lady Orph.

O yes, for his extraordinary charity made me take particular notice of him.

Enter the Trades-man as returning back.

Lady Orph.

Most charitable and —

Trades-man.

What boy, wouldst thou have the other peny,

Lady Orph.

Most Noble Sir, I have received from a bountifull hand, a summe of money, and since you were so charitable to divide the half of your store to me, so I desire I may do the like to you.

Trades-man.

No boy, keep it for thy self, and thy old Father; I have a Trade, and shall get more.

Lady Orph.

Pray take it for luck-sake, otherwise I shall never thrive.

Trades-man.

Faith I finde boy, thou art not as most of the World are; the more riches they get, the more covetous they grow.

Lady Orph.

Sir, pray take this.

Trades-man.

What do you give me here, a piece of Gold?

Lady Orph.

Yes Sir.

Trades-man.

That were extortion, to take a pound for a peny.

Lady Orph.

No, it is not extortion, since I can better space this pound now, than you could your peny, when you gave it me; wherefore it is but ju∣stice,

Trades-man.

Well, I will keep it for thee, and when you want it, come to

me again, and you shall have it: I live in the next street, at the signe of the Holy-lamb.

Lady Orphant.

Pray make use of it, for I may chance never to see you more.

Exeunt.