Five nevv playes, viz. The English moor, or the mock-marriage. The love-sick court, or the ambitious politique: Covent Garden weeded. The nevv academy, or the nevv exchange. The queen and concubine. / By Richard Brome.

Scoen. 2.

Enter Lucie, Katharine, Belt.

Luc.

Let me now bid you welcome to my fathers house, where till your own be fitted, though my father keep too private a family to expresse large entertain∣ment, yet I hope at worst you shall ha' convenient lodging.

Kat.

Indeed, I am glad that my father yielded to your fathers friendly request in it; and the more, in regard he is so hard to be entreated to any thing; but especially for your societies sake, sweet Sister. In∣deed I'le call you Sister alwayes, and I hope you shall be shortly in my brother Mihils right.

Luc.

I have laid open my heart to you, which in∣deed is his, but your father, I feare, will never be wonne.

Kat.

Why you would not have him too, Sister, would you?

Luc.

His consent I would, and my fathers, I hope, would easily be wrought. You saw he was willing your other brother should have me at the first sight, meerly for his reservednesse, and Mihil methought carried himself as civil to day as he; I mean, as ci∣villy for a Gentleman, that should not look like one fathers of the Dutch Church at five and twenty.

Kat.

He was put to't to day. The noise of the Tavern had almost wrought his zeale in••o fury, it is scarce out of my head yet.

Luc.

But you were about to tell me how he first fell into this veine, this vanity indeed.

Kat.

I'le tell you now, and in that something worth your observation.

Luc.

I will observe you.

Kat.

My father has an humour, not to like any thing at first, nor accept best courtesies of friends,

though presently he findes 'em most commodious to him; things that he knows not how to be without, and oftentimes desires with the same breath the things he vilisied, and scorn'd them the last syllable he spake before. You saw when your father offered him the use of his house here, till his own be furnished, he cried, hah •• are all the houses in the Town yours Sir; and yet presently entreated for't, and thanked him.

Luc.

That shews the best nature, they say.

Kat.

But that is seldome attended by the best fortune. Nay, in us, I mean, his children, he will like nothing, no, not those actions which he him∣self cannot deny are vertuous; he will crosse us in all we do, as if there were no other way to shew his power over our obedience.

Luc.

'Tis a strange fatherly care.

Kat.

Now, note the punishment that followes it. There's not a chil••e he has, ••hough we all know what we do, that make any conscience of crossing him, we have so much of his good nature in us.

Luc.

And that's as odde a duty in children.

Kat.

I must confesse it is a stubbornnesse.

Yet for the most part we do nothing, but that which most Parents would allow in their children: and now for my brother Gabriel, with whom I must bring in the story of another Kinswoman of ours, my father had at home with us.

Luc.

So.

Kat.

Nay, mark, I pray you, as I would entreat an Auditorie, if I now were a Poet to mark the Plot, and several points of my play, that they might not say when 'tis done, they understood not this or that, or how such a part came in or went out, because they did not observe the passages.

Luc.

Well on, I pray.

Kat.

My brother Gabriel, when he was a boy, nay,

till within these two yeares, vvas the wildest unta∣med thing that the countrey could possibly hold.

Luc.

So he is still for ought I know, for I think no man of his Religion in his wits.

Kat.

I mean in outvvard conversation, he vvas the Ring-leader of all the youthful Frie, to Faires, to Wakes, to May-games, footbal-matches, any thing that had but noise and tumult in it; then he was Captain of the young train-band, and exercised the youth of tvventy parishes in martial discipline. O he did love to imitate a souldier the best,—and so in every thing, that there vvas not an handsom maid in an whole County could be quiet for him.

Luc.

He may be good at that sport still, for there is almost none of his sect holds any other game lavvful.

Kat.

Yet did he bear the civillest aud the best or∣dered affection to our Kinsvvoman I spake of.

Luc.

Yes, I remember.

Kat.

So loving to her person, so tender of her ho∣nour that nothing but too near affinity of blood could have kept them asunder.

Luc.

And she did love him as vvell!

Kat.

O dearly, vertuously vvell; but my father fearing vvhat youth in heat of blood might do, re∣moves my brother Gabriel from home into the ser∣vice of a Reverend Bishop to follovv good ex∣amples.

Luc.

But he learned not to be a Puritane there I hope.

Kat.

You shall hear, Sister, soon after came a Gal∣lant into the countrey from London here, and as vve after found, a Citizens sonne, though he shevved like a Lord there. Briefly, he grevv acquainted vvith my brother Mihil. Then vvoo'd and vvonne my

Cousin so secretly, my father never suspected, nor he nor I e're knevv vvhose son he vvas, nor of vvhat occupation my old lord his father vvas; but he pro∣mis'd her marriage, clap't her, you may guesse vvhere, and so like the slippery Trojan left her.

Euc.

O divellish Rascal!

Kat.

And foolish creature, she vvho soon repented it, and vvith her shame is fled to vvhat part of the vvorld vve knovv not.

Luc.

In truth 'tis pitiful, that villain vvould be hang'd.

Kat.

Novv upon this, my poor brother that lov'd her so, fell into discontent, forsook his lord, and vvould have left the Land, but that he vvas prevented and brought home.

Luc.

And ever since he has been thus religious.

Kat.

Thus obstinate, for I think verily he does it but to crosse my father, for sending him out of the vvay vvhen the mischief vvas done.

Luc.

I vvill not then beleeve 'tis Religion in any of the gang of 'em, but meer vvilful affectation. But vvhy, or vvherein do you or Mihil. crosse your fa∣ther.

Kat.

I tell you Sister vve must. He is so crosse him∣self, that vve shall never get any thing of him that we desire, but by desiring the contrary.

Luc.

Why then do you desire him to get you an hus∣band?

Kat.

Because he should get me none. O Sister, both he and Mr. Cockbrayne, can vvish novv that I had had his son.

Luc.

There's another youth novv gone on love's pilgrimage, e're since your father crosthim in your love not to be heard of.

Kat.

Hush! the old men.

Enter Rooksbill, Croswill.

Rook.

In good truth sir, I am taken with your con∣versation. I like it now exceeding well.

Cros.

I'm glad it pleases you.

Rook.

'Tis very faire and friendly, I finde we shall accord.

Cros.

I am glad I have it for you Sir, I pray, make bold with it.

Ro••k.

Then pray sir, let me urge my motion a little further to you.

Cros,

What is't? you cannot utter it so easily as I shall grant it, out with it man.

Rook.

That you will be pleased to accept my daugh∣ter for either of your sons, your youngest if you please, now I have seen him, I'le give him with her presently, either in hand a thousand pound, and five hundred pound a childe as fast as he can get 'em. And all I shall die seiz'd of.

Cros.

What a Dogbolt is this to think that I should get a childe for him.

Rook.

I hope you do think well on't.

Luc.

Pray love he does. I hope so too.

Kat.

I mark his Answer.

Luc.

I could finde in my heart to ask his good-will my selfe.

Kat.

And that were a sure way to go without it.

Rook.

How say you, sir, is't a match?

Cros.

I will not stay a minute in thy house, though I lie in the street for••t.

Huswife, I'le sort you with f••tter companions, Come, follow me quickly.

Rook.

H••aven blesse me and my childe too from matching with such a disposition.

Kat.

Truly, sir, I long'd to be out o th' house be∣fore.

Cros.

Before you came in it did you not? ha!

Kat.

These new walls do so stink of the lime me∣thinks.

Cros.

Marry fough, Gooddie Foyst.

Kat.

There can be no healthie dwelling in 'em this twelve-moneth yet.

Cros.

Are you so tender bodied?

Rook.

Even please your selves then where you can like better, and you shall please me.

Cros.

Why you will not thrust me out of your house, will you? ha!

Rook.

There's no such haste, sir.

Cros.

Indeed there is not, nor will I out for all your haste neither. I'le have look to my bargain.

Rook.

With all my heart, sir.

Cros.

But no more of your idle motions, if you love your ease in your house, your ••••n here.

Enter Belt.

Here's a letter, sir, from Mr. Cockbrayne.

Cros.

Is the earer paid, or give him that an't please you.

Belt.

Some body has anger'd him, and I must suffer.

Cros.

I sent you to seek my sons, good sir, have you found 'em? ha!

Belt.

I cannot finde 'em sir. They went out of the Tavern together, they say, and I have been at Mr. Mihils chamber, and there they are not. I went to the Tavern again, and there they were not. ••hen I beat all the rest o'th' bushes, in this four est of foo es and mad men, and cannot finde em I, where e're they be.

Cros.

Sirrah, go finde em me where e're they be, a∣ny where, or no where, finde 'em, and finde 'em

quickly; I'le finde 'em in your Cockscombe else, d' ye see! and bring my sons Sanctity home before it be dark, lest he take up his lodging in a Church-porch; and charge Mr. Mihil that he come not to me till I send for him. Here's danger i'th' house. There was a match-motion indeed.

Rook.

Good sir, either like my house well, or be pleas'd to please your self with some better.

Cross.

Pray Sir, be quiet in your house, lest I send you out of it to seek another. Let me see my cham∣ber.

Rook.

He must have his way, I see.

Ex. omnes.