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 first ACT,

the fourth SCENE.

The Argument. Torcol the Bawd brings in his Wenches to salute Ignoramus, having first related the story of his shipwrack, and the reasons that put him upon such a dishonest course of life: He bargains with Ignoramus, that if he either brings, or sends six hundred Crowns with the Instrument and private token he shall have Rosabella, which Ignoramus doth promise to perform.

Torcol, Ignoramus, Wenches.

TOrcol.

Pseca••, See that Corinna doth use this Wash, and Sabina that Vermilion; let Coelia wear this Dresse to day, and Cor∣cas that: when you are ready (Girles) come hither,; for I will have you sing and play and dance before me, such Arts make shipwracks of your Lovers. I have been wrackt my self, but not by such Syrens: Returning once from Fess to Portu∣gall, a shipwrack made me poor, and did inforce me to such vile Arts as these; therefore with that small stock was left I hired Wenches from several Countries, and as different in language as in habits, They are all adorn'd in their own Countries fashion. The smell of gain is sweet from any thing; But the spotless Virgin my Cosin Rosabella, I hope this day to marry happily to Ignoramus, and I am to receive for her six hundred Crowns in Gold—But who is this, O Seignior Ignoramus, the most honoured Man of all men; Are you here Sir, Bazo las manus Seignior, I am the servant of your servants.

Ignor.

Sure this is the Pope.

Torc.

What service will you command me my Lord and Master?

Ignor.

Ha, he, he; I will give you a Supersedeas for these Com∣plements, I believe you have put your neck into so wry a form, with your congying and your cringing.

He lays his leg over him.

Torc.

Sir, It was a misfortune I got here at Burdeaux by ma∣king

once a trial of a parcel of wives if they were good or not.

Ignor.

Will you not have a Breve de recto for it?

Torc.

Whether I am streight, or whether I am crooked, I am yours all over Seignior: where are these Girles? why come they not forth, O Seignior?

Enter VVenches.

Ignor.

Forbear I pray your Cringes and your Cruragies: But what Females are these? Are they your Goods and Chattels?

Torc.

Sir, I am both a Merchant and a Musician: I keep here a School for Musick.

Ignor.

There is no trusting to a Fiddle-string. Of what Na∣tion are these?

Torc.

She with a Harp was born in Greece: The other is a German: She with a Timbrel is an Hebrew: She that stands by her, is an English woman: She with a Flute is a Spaniard; and those two with Lutes in their hands, the one of them was born in France, the other in Arcadia; the other four, a Venecian, a Per∣sian, a Turkish Damosel, and a Moor. Join hand in hands, and lead on the Dance.

Ignor.

They are very pretty Minstrels: Are you their Master?

They dance and sing.

Torc.

Well done my Girles, in earnest: Now go in, but first every one of you in an humble posture salute this Gentleman.

All in their several languages salute and kisse him.

Ign.

What do you make account to do with me? Habetis war∣rantum de osculando, Have you got any warrant to kiss me? what I vi & armis too; you are good ones I dare warrant you: but who is this that cleavs so close to my lip?

(the Moon kisseth him last of all)

phy phy, Away, away, It is the wife of the Divel. But tell me Seig∣nior, Do those never play at unlawful games against the Statute?

Exeunt VVenches.

Torc.

Believe me Sir, they are unstained, and sealed Virgins.

Igno.

Sealed! I believe they are sealed with the common Seal. Ha, ha, he.

Torc.

Neither they nor I admit of any such loosness Seignior: God buy to you.

Ign.

Nay stay a little! what are you angry! I only frangebam jo∣oum did but break a jest, which with us in both is instead & ought to be done although on a mans life; and you take it in bono serio,

in good earnest, Come— be merry, And tell me how doth my Rosabella?

Torc.

Oh, she Seignior, because she is no Maid is to marry a∣nother.

Ignor.

But are you in sobria tristitia; speak you this in sober sadnesse?

Ignor.

Diable! what Fraud, what Covine, what Deceit is this? was there not an Indenture made betwixt you and me, that if I gave you six hundred Crowns, I should marry your Ward Rosabella; and was not this dies appunctatus the appoint∣ed Day for the payment of it? Is not this true?

Torc.

It is.

Ignor.

Well, do what you will, I have your Indenture and Obligation safe and sound, signed and dated, and delivered with your own hand? And if you deliver me not Rosabella, you will forfeit the Obligation which is no lesse then a thousand Crowns. What say you now, there is but one Law, and but one King, you will find no mediety of language to defend you. What say you?

He thinks all things are transacted here as in the Courts of England, but if you bring me this day the six hundred Crowns I will not alter my resolution.

Ignor.

You do well; it is agreed already, and condiscended to; therefore if possibly I can, I will come my self in my own person this day with the mony; if I cannot, I will send one of my Clerks unto you with it.

Torc.

But I know none of your Clerks.

Ignor.

And none of my Clerks know you, Sed est totum unum pro eo, It is all one for that; He shall bring you the six hundred Crowns, and the Instruments, And I will tell him that the better to know you, you have a crooked neck; Do you fear any thing?

Torc.

Yes, I fear Antonio, and the most cunning Trico, who everywhere lie in wait to take Rosabella from me, I cannot take heed enough, and be so wary of them as I should be when I am most heedful; It is safest therefore to agree upon some private to∣ken; for to add a Caution unto a Caution is to be doubly cautious.

Ignor.

Although it be needlesse, yet if my Clerk Dullman shall come unto you from me, he shall give you this private token. He shall take you thus by the Nose.

Torc.

Content; Be it so with all my heart, And take heed that you tell no man of it.

Ignor.

What? Do you take me to be an Ideot?

Torc.

You shall therefore this day have her; she is my Cousin, and, by all that's chast, a Virgin.

Igno.

Ovy dea, Ovy dea; Too morrow I will return to Lon∣don with her, but I pray you call her hither a little, that I may have a sight of her; for hoc est longum & breve, It is the long and the short of it, I do lov•• her: Do you enjoin her therefore that she return unto me the love of avoir dupois, weight for weight, Do you understand me?

Torc.

Ile bring her to you presently.

Exit Torcol.

Igno.

I was never so enamoured before in all my life, I am now bestialiter inamoratus most beastly inamoured: But Torcol pre∣sently will bring unto me Corpus cum Cauda, cum Causa I would say. Oh that I had one Habeas Corpus now, Ha, he. Whiles I do think on't I do tread on thorns.