Ignoramus a comedy as it was several times acted with extraordinary applause before the Majesty of King James : with a supplement which, out of respect to the students of the common law, was hitherto wanting / written in Latine by R. Ruggles ... ; and translated into English by R. C. ...

The second SCENE of the first ACT.

The ARGUMENT.

ANtonio complains of his misfortune, and realates his love, and his courting of Rosabella the daughter of a Noble man of Portugall, who dying at Fess, did commit her to the trust of his brother Roderigo Torcol, who exercising the trade of a Pandar at Burdeaux, would not sell her under six hundred Crowns, which Ignoramus the Lawyer residing then at Burdeaux, for the compo∣sing of Differences and suits at law, did bargain to give unto him; Neverthelesse Antonio doth rejoice that he and his love have already plighted their troths to one another.

Antonio alone.

What but two hours! must I live but two hours longer? woe is me; If I go without thee Rozabella, I go without my life; my Fa∣ther neverthelesse commands me to be gone; Him I must obey; but love doth enforce me to stay whether I will or not; what shall I doe? whether I go or stay I am undone; I must obey my Father, This only doth remain to give him the last Farewel before I go hence and die; for that my hopes are quite lost, the bare Dis∣position of the most impure Portugall, Uncle to my Love and who now liveth with him, doth prompt me to believe. He pretends him∣self to be a Merchant but is indeed no more then a Bawd; his name is Torcol so called from his w••y & distorted neck & maners: did you but see him you would say you never saw an uglier Bulk of sin; but be he never so deformed, he as yet gives an honest & a civil entertainment to my Love, and will dispose of her in mar∣riage, as becometh his Brothers Daughter; for a noble Portugall the Father of Rozabella dying at Fess (to which place the rougher hand of war and conquest brought him) left his Daughter as a Ward to his tuition being his brother, and then at Fess: she be∣ing now the most beautiful of her sex is courted by many who would be proudl•• glad to marry her, though without a portion: But the greedy and covetous Pandar will have money for her; I therefore who would morgage my life to have her have con∣tracted with him to make her my wife for six hundred Crowns.

The bargain was struck but on this condition to pay him the mony within the space of a month. I have ever since made it my business to procure it but could not effect it; He therefore takes me to be unable, and himself deluded, and is making a new Market with an English Lawyer, who being sent for from thence with many others of his Nation and Profession to compose some differences between some of their own Nation here at Burdeaux, hath that leisure forsooth to fall in Love, and indeed is inflamed to a madnesse with the beauties of my Mistresse; Instead of Latin he speaks no∣thing but Barbarismes, A meer Kickshaw, and an Asse laden with Gold; and to be a short a Lawyer. But this doth much re∣joice me that our Hands and Hearts are linked, unknown to him, unknown to my own Father from whom I carefully do conceal it. But whiles I am speaking my hour is slipt from me, a poor horari∣ous man. I will make hast unto her, but who is this? Ignoramus the Lawyer; This is He who would take my Love from me, but I may chance meet with him.

Theod.

within—

Son Antonio, Antonio.

Anton.

Woe is me my Father calls.

Theod.

Antoni, Antonio.

Anton.

Sir.

Theod.

Come hither to me presently.

Exit Anton.