Actus Tertius.
Vincent and Hilliard in their Rags.
Vin.IS this the life that we admir’d in others; with
Hill.Pray let us make vertuous uſe of it : and re-
pent us of that deadly ſin (before a greater puniſh-
ment then Famine and Lice fall upou us) by ſteering
our courſe homeward. Before I’ll indure ſuch ano-
Vin.what? what wouldſt thou do? I would thy
Hill.I hope ſhee does not. For I know there is no
altering our courſe before they make the firſt mo-
Vin.Is’t poſſible we ſhould be weary already?
and before their ſofter conſtitutions of fleſh and
[G1v]Hill.
The merry Beggars.
Hill.They are the ſtronger in will it ſeems.
Enter Springlove.
Spr.How now
Comrades! repining already at your
Fulneſs of Liberty? Do you complain of eaſe?
Vin.Eaſe call’ſt thou it ? Didſt thou ſleep to
Spr.Not ſo well theſe 18 moneths I ſwear; ſince
Hill.Lightning and Tempeſt is out of thy
Letany.
Could not the thunder wake thee?
Vin.Nor the noiſe of the
Crew in the Quarter by
Hill.Nor the Hogs in the hovel, that cri’d till they
drown’d the noiſe of the winde?
If I could but once ha’ dreamt in all my former
nights, that ſuch an affliction could have been found
among
Beggars, ſure I ſhould never have travell’d to
Vin.We look’d upon them in their Jollity, and
Hill.Nor did that onely draw us forth (by your
favour
Vince ) but our obedience to our Loves, which
we muſt ſuffer, till they cry home agen. Are they
not weary yet, as much as we doſt think
Springlove?
Spr.They have more moral underſtanding then
ſo. They know (and ſo may you) this is your Birth-
night into a new world. And we all know (or have
been told) that all come crying into the World,
when the whole World of Pleaſures is before us.
The World it ſelf had ne’r been glorious, had it not
firſt been a confuſed
Chaos.
Vin.Well : never did
Knight Errants in all Ad-
G 2ventures
A Jovial Crew : or,
ventures, merit more of their Ladies, then we
Beg-
gar-errants or errant Beggars, do in ours.
Spr.The greater will be your Reward. Think
upon that. And ſhew no manner of diſtaſte to turn
their hearts from you. Y’are undone then.
Hill.Are they ready to appear out of their privy
Lodgings, in the Pigs Palace of pleaſure? Are they
Spr.I left ’em almoſt ready, ſitting on their Pads
of ſtraw, helping to dreſs each others heads (The
ones eye is the tothers Looking-glaſs) with the pret-
tieſt coyle they keep to fit their fancies in the moſt
graceful way of wearing their new Dreſſings, that
Vin.I hope we are as gracefully ſet out. Are we
Spr.Indifferent well. But will you fall to practiſe?
Let me hear how you can
Maund when you meet
Hill.We do not look like men, I hope, too good
Spr.Suppoſe ſome Perſons of Worth or Wealth
paſſing by now. Note me. Good your good Wor-
ſhip, your Charity to the Poor, that will duly and
truly pray for you day and night.– – –
Vin.Away you idle Rogue, you would be ſet to
Spr.That is lame and ſick; hungry and comfort-
Vin.If you were well ſerv’d– – –
Spr.And even to bleſs you and reward you for
Hill.Prethee hold thy peace (here be doleful
[G2v]Notes
The merry Beggars.
Notes indeed) and leave us to our own
Genius. If we
muſt beg, let’s let it go, as it comes, by Inſpiration. I
love not your ſet form of Begging.
Spr.Let me inſtruct ye tho’.
Enter Rachel and Meriel in Rags.
Ra.Have a care, good
Meriel, what hearts or
limbs ſoever we have, and tho’ never ſo feeble, let
us ſet our beſt faces on’t, and laugh our laſt gaſp out
before we diſcover any diſlike, or wearineſs to them.
Let us bear it out, till they complain firſt, and beg
to carry us home a pick pack.
Mer.I am ſorely ſurbated with hoofing already
tho’, and ſo crupper-crampt with our hard lodging,
and ſo bumfidled with the ſtraw, that– – –
Ra.Think not on’t. I am numm’d i’the bum and
ſhoulders too a little. And have found the difference
between a hard floor with a little ſtraw, and a down
Bed with a Quilt upon ’t. But no words, nor a ſowre
Hill.O here they come now; Madam
Fewcloaths,
Vin.We are glad the Object pleaſes ye.
Now you appear the glories of the Spring,
Darlings of
Phœbus and the Somers heirs.
Hill.How fairer, then faire
Floras ſelf appear
(To deck the Spring)
Diana’s Darlings dear !
O let us not
Acteon-like be ſtrook
(With greedy eyes while we preſume to look
On your half nakedneſs, ſince courteous rags
Cover the reſt) into the ſhape of Stags.
G 3Ra.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Ra. Mer.Ha ha ha– – – Wee are glad you are ſo
Vin.Merry and luſty too. This night will we lye
togither as well as the proudeſt Couple in the Barn.
Hill.And ſo will we. I can hold out no longer.
Ra.Do’s the ſtraw ſtir up your fleſh to’t, Gentle-
Mer.Or do’s your Provender prick you?
Spr.What ! do we come for this? laugh and lye
When your bellies are full. Remember, Ladies,
You have not beg’d yet, to quit your
Deſtiny :
But have liv’d hitherto on my endeavours.
Who got your ſuppers, pray, laſt night, but I?
Of dainty Trencher-Fees, from a Gentlemans houſe:
Such as the Serving-men themſelves, ſometimes,
Would have been glad of. And this morning now,
What comfortable Chippings and ſweet Buttermilk
Ra.O ’twas excellent! I feel it good ſtill, here.
Mer.There was a brown Cruſt amongſt it, that
has made my neck ſo white me thinks. Is it not
Ra-
Ra.Yes. You ga’me none on’t. You ever covet
’Tis the ambition of all younger Siſters.
Vin.They are pleas’d, and never like to be weary.
Hill.No more muſt we, if wee’l be theirs.
Spr.Peace. Here come Paſſengers. Forget not
your Rules; and quickly diſperſe your ſelves, and
fall to your Calling– – –
Enter two Gentlemen.
1.Lead the Horſes down the Hill. The heat of
[G3v]our
The merry Beggars.
our ſpeed is over, for we have loſt our Journey.
2.Had they taken this way, we had overtaken
’em, or heard of ’em at leaſt.
1.But ſome of our Scouts will light on ’em, the
whole Countrey being overſpread with ’em.
2.There was never ſuch an eſcape elſe.
Vin.A ſearch for us perhaps. Yet I know not
them, nor they me, I am ſure. I might the better
beg of ’em. But how to begin, or ſet the worſt leg
forwards, would I were whipt if I know now.
1.That a young Gentlewoman of her breeding,
and Heire to ſuch an Eſtate, ſhould flie from ſo great
a Match, and run away with her Uncles Cleark!
2.The old Juſtice will run mad upon’t I fear.
Vin.If I were to be hang’d now, I could not beg
Spr.Step forwards, and beg handſomly, I’ll ſet
my Goad i’ your breech elſe.
Spr.Have I not told you? now begin.
Vin.After you, good
Springlove.
Spr.Good, your good Worſhips.– – –
1.Away you idle Vagabond– – –
Spr.Your Worſhips Charity to a poor Crytur welly
Vin.That will duly and truly prea for yee.
2.You counterfet Villains, hence.
Spr.Good Maſters ſweet Worſhip, for the tender mer-
Vin.Duly and truly prea for you.
1.You would be well whipt and ſet to work, if
you were duly and truly ſerv’d.
Vin.Did not I ſay ſo before?
[G 4]Spr.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Spr.Good Worſhipful Maſters Worſhip, to beſtow
your Charity, and– – – – to maintaine your health and
Vin.Duly and truly pray for you.
2.Be gone, I ſay, you impudent luſty young Raſ-
1.I’ll ſet you going elſe.
Switch ’em.
Spr.Ah the goodneſs of compaſſion to ſoften your
Vin.Oh the Devil, muſt not we beat ’em now?
Spr.Nor ſhew an angry look for all the ſkin of
our backs. Ah the ſweetneſs of that mercy that gives
to all, to move your compaſſion to the hungry, when
it ſhall ſeem good unto you, and night and day to
bleſs all that you have. Ah ah– – –
2.Come back ſirrah. His Patience and Humility
2.Not you ſirrah. The t’other. You look like a
Spr.Lord bleſs you Maſters Worſhip.
2.There’s a half-penny for you. Let him have
Vin.I ſhall never thrive o’ this Trade.
1.They are of a Fraternity, and will ſhare, I war-
Spr.Never in our lives trooly. He never begg’d
1.But if Hedges or Hen-rooſts could ſpeak, you
might be found ſharers in Pillage, I believe.
Spr.Never ſaw him before, bleſs you good Maſter,
in all my life. (Beg for your ſelf. Your Credit’s
[G4v]gone
The merry Beggars.
gone elſe.)
Good Hea’ne to bliſſe and proſper yea.Exit.
2.Why doſt thou follow us? Is it your office to
Vin.Sir, I beſeech you hear me. (S’life what ſhall I
ſay?) I am a ſtranger in theſe parts, and deſtitute of
1.So me thinks. And what o’that?
Vin.Will you therefore be pleas’d, as you are worthy
Gentlemen, and bleſt with plenty– – –
Vin.Out of your abundant ſtore, towards my relief in
extream neceſſity, to furniſh me with a ſmall parcel of
Money– – – five or ſix peeces, or ten, if you can preſently
Vin.I have ſpoil’d all; and know not how to beg
1.Here’s a new way of begging !
Vin.Quite run out of my Inſtructions.
2.Some High-way Theef o’my conſcience, that
forgets he is weaponleſs.
Vin.Onely to make you merry, Gentlemen, at
my unskilfulneſs in my new Trade. I have been an-
other man i’ my daies. So I kiſs your hands.
Exit.
1.With your heels do you?
2.It had been good to have apprehended the
Rakeſhame. There is ſome myſterie in his Rags. But
Enter Oliver, putting up his ſword.
Ol.You found your legs in time, I had made you
1.Maſter
Oliver, well return’d; what’s the mat-
H [1]Ol.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Ol.Why, Sir, a counterfeit lame Rogue beg’d of
me; but in ſuch Language, the high Sheriffs Son o’
the Shire could not have ſpoke better; nor to have
borrowed a greater ſumme. (He aſk’d me if I could
ſpare him ten or twenty pound.) I ſwitch’d him, his
Cudgel was up. I drew, and into the Wood he ſcap’d
me, as nimbly– – – But firſt he told me, I ſhould heare
from him by a Gentleman, to require ſatisfaction of
2.We had ſuch another beg’d of us. The Court
1.Dropt through the Clouds, I think; more
Lu-
cifers travailing to Hell, that beg by the way. Met
you no news of your Kinſwoman, Miſtris
Amie?
Ol.No. What’s the matter with her ? Goes her
Marriage forwards with young Maſter
Talboy? I haſt-
en’d my journey from
London to be at the Wed-
2.T’was to ha’ bin yeſterday morning; all things
in readineſs prepar’d for it. But the Bride, ſtolne by
your Father’s Cleark, is ſlipt away. We were in queſt
of ’em, and ſo are twenty more, ſeveral waies.
Ol.Such young Wenches will have their owne
waies in their own loves, what Matches ſoever their
Guardians make for ’em. And I hope my Father will
not follow the Law ſo cloſe to hang his Cleark for
ſtealing his Ward with her own conſent. It may
breed ſuch a grudg, may cauſe ſome Clearks to hang
their Maſters, that have ’em o’ the hip of injuſtice.
Beſides,
Martin (though he be his ſervant) is a Gen-
tleman. But, indeed, the miſerableſt Raſcal ! He
will grudge her Meat when he has her.
1.Your Father is exceedingly troubled at their
[H1v]eſcape.
The merry Beggars.
eſcape. I wiſh that you may qualifie him with your
Ol.But what ſaies
Talboy to the matter, the Bride-
groom, that ſhould ha’ been?
2.Marry he ſaies little to the purpoſe; but cries
Ol.I like him well for that : He holds his humour.
A miſerable wretch too, tho’ rich. I ha’ known him
cry when he has loſt but three ſhillings at Mum-
chance. But, Gentlemen, keep on your way to com-
fort my Father. I know ſome of his Man’s private
haunts about the Countrey here, which I will ſearch
1.We will accompany you, if you pleaſe.
Ol.No, by no means : That will be too pub-
2.Do your pleaſure.
Exit 1. 2.
Ol.My pleaſure, and all the ſearch that I intend,
is, by hovering here, to take a review of a brace of
the handſomeſt
Beggar-braches that ever grac’d a
Ditch or a Hedge ſide. I paſt by ’em in haſt, but ſom-
thing ſo poſeſſes me, that I muſt– – – What the Devil
muſt I? A
Beggar? Why,
Beggars are fleſh and bloud;
and Rags are no Diſeaſes. Their Lice are no French
Fleas. And there is much wholſommer fleſh under
Country Dirt, than City Painting : And leſs danger
in Dirt and Rags, than in Ceruſe and Sattin. I durſt
not take a touch at
London, both for the preſent coſt,
and fear of an after-reckoning. But
Oliver, doſt thou
ſpeak like a Gentleman? fear Price or Pox, ha’? Mar-
ry do I Sir : Nor can
Beggar-ſport be inexcuſable in a
young Country Gentleman, ſhort of means, for ano-
ther reſpect, a principal one indeed; to avoid the
H 2puniſh-
A Jovial Crew : or,
puniſhment or charge of
Baſtardy : There’s no com-
muting with them; or keeping of Children for them.
The poor Whores, rather than part with their own,
or want children at all, will ſteal other folks, to tra-
vel with, and move compaſſion. He feeds a Begggar-
wench well that fils her belly with young bones. And
theſe reaſons conſidered, good Maſter
Oliver– – – s’lid
yonder they are at peep. And now ſitten downe as
waiting for my purpoſe.
Ent. Vinc. Heart
here’s another delay. I muſt ſhift him. Doſt heare
honeſt poor fellow? I prethee go back preſently :
and at the hill foot (here’s ſixpence for thy paines)
thou ſhalt finde a Footman with a Horſe in his hand.
Bid him wait there. His Maſter will come preſently,
Vin.Sir, I have a buſineſs of another nature to
you. Which (as I preſume you are a Gentleman of
right Noble Spirit and Reſolution) you will receive
without offence; and in that temper as moſt proper-
ly appertains to the moſt
Heroick natures.
Ol.Thy Language makes me wonder at thy Per-
ſon. What’s the matter with thee? quickly.
Vin.You may be pleas’d to call to minde a late
affront, which, in your heat of paſſion, you gave a
Ol.What, ſuch a one as thou art, was he?
Vin.True noble Sir. Who could no leſs in Ho-
nour, then direct me, his choſen Friend, unto you,
with the length of his Sword, or to take the length
of yours. The place, if you pleaſe, the Ground
whereon you parted ; the houre, ſeven the next mor-
ning : Or, if you like not theſe, in part, or all, to
make your own appointments.
[H2v]Ol.
The merry Beggars.
Ol.The braveſt Method in
Begggars, thar ever was
diſcovered! I would be upon the bones of this Rogue
now, but for croſſing my other deſigne, which fires
me. I muſt therefore be rid of him on any terms. Let
his owne Appointments ſtand. Tell him I’ll meet
Vin.You ſhall moſt nobly ingage his life to ſerve
Ol.You’ll be his Second, will you?
Vin.To do you further Service, Sir, I have under-
Ol.I’ll ſend a Beadle ſhall undertake you both.
Vin.Your Mirth becomes the bravery of your
minde and dauntleſs Spirit. So takes his leave your
Ol.I think, as my Friend ſaid, the Court goes a
begging indeed. But I muſt not loſe my Beggar-wen-
ches.
Enter Rachel and Meriel.
Oh here they come. They are delicately skin’d
and limb’d. There, there, I ſaw above the ham as
the wind blew. Now they ſpie me.
Ra.Sir, I beſeech you look upon us with the fa-
vour of a Gentleman. We are in a preſent diſtreſs,
and utterly unacquainted in theſe parts; and there-
fore forc’d by the Calamity of our mis-fortune, to
implore the Courteſie, or rather Charity, of thoſe to
Mer.Be therefore pleas’d, right noble Sir, not
onely valuing us by our outward Habits, which can-
not but appear loathſom or deſpicable unto you, but
as we are forlorn Chriſtians; and, in that eſtimati-
on, be compaſſionately moved to caſt a handful or
two of your Silver, or a few of your Golden Pieces
H 3unto
A Jovial Crew : or,
unto us, to furniſh us with Linen, and ſome decent
Ol.They beg as high as the Man-beggar I met
withal ! ſure the Beggars are all mad to day, or be-
witched into a Language they underſtand not. The
ſpirits of ſome decay’d Gentry talk in ’em ſure.
Ra.May we expect a gracious Anſwer from you
Mer.And that as you can wiſh our Virgine Pray-
ers to be propitious for you.
Ra.That you never be deny’d a Suit by any Mi-
Mer.Nay, that the faireſt may be ambitious to
place their ſavours on you.
Ra.That your Virtue and Valour may lead you
to the moſt honourable Actions; and that the Love
of all exquiſite Ladies may arm you.
Mer.And that, when you pleaſe to take a wife,
may Honour, Beauty, and Wealth, contend to en-
Ra.And that with her you have a long and pro-
Mer.A faire and fortunate Poſterity.
Ol.This exceeds all that ever I heard, and ſtrikes
me into wonder. Pray tell me how long have you
been
Beggars; or how chanc’d you to be ſo?
Ra.By influence of our Stars, Sir.
Mer.We were born to no better
Fortune.
Ol.How came you to talk thus, and ſo much a-
bove the
Beggars Dialect?
Ra.Our ſpeech came naturally to us, and we ever
lov’d to learn by wrote as well as we could.
Mer.And to be ambitious above the vulgar, to
[H3v]aſk
The merry Beggars.
aſke more then common Alms, what ere men pleaſe
Ol.Sure ſome well diſpoſed Gentleman, as my ſelf,
got theſe Wenches. They are too well growne to be
mine owne, and I cannot be inceſtuous with ’em.
Ra.Pray Sir your noble bounty.
Ol.What a tempting lip that little Rogue moves
there! and what an inticing eye the ’tother. I know
not which to begin with. What’s this a flea upon thy
Mer.Is it not a ſtraw colour’d one, Sir?
Ol.O what a provoking
Skin is there ! that very
Ra.Sir, are you mov’d in charity towards us yet?
Ol.Mov’d? I am mov’d. No fleſh and blood more
Mer.Then pray Sir your Benevolence.
Ol.Benevolence? which ſhall I be benovolent to;
or which firſt? I am puſſell’d in the choice. Would
ſome ſworne Brother of mine were here to draw a
Ol.Firſt let me tell you,
Damſels, I am bound by a
ſtrong vow to kiſſe all of the woman ſex I meet this
Ol.All, all. Let not your coyneſſe croſse a Gentle-
man’s vow, I beſeech you– – –
Kiſſe.
Ol.Tell quoth a ! I could tell a thouſand on thoſe
Lips– – – and as many upon thoſe. What life reſto-
ring breaths they have ! Milke from the Cow ſteams
not ſo ſweetly. I muſt lay one of ’em aboard; both if
[H4]Ra.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Ol.But how to bargain, now, will be the doubt.
They that beg ſo high as by the handfulls, may ex-
pect for price above the rate of good mens wives.
Ra.Now, will you, Sir, be pleas’d?
Ol.With all my heart, Sweetheart. And I am
glad thou knoweſt my minde. Here is twelve-pence
Ol.That’s but in earneſt. I’ll Jeſt away the reſt
with yee. Look here– – –All this. Come, you know
my meaning. Doſt thou look about thee, Sweet lit-
tle One? I like thy care. There’s no body coming.
But we’ll get behind theſe Buſhes. I know you keep
each others Counſels– – – –Muſt you be drawn to’t?
Then I’ll pull. Come away– – –
Enter Springlove, Vincent, Hilliard.
Vin.Let’s beat his brains out.
Ol.Come leave your ſquealing.
Hill.Or cut the Lechers throat.
Spr.Would you be hang’d? Stand back. Let me
Mer.You ſhall not pull us ſo.
Spr.O do not hurt ’em, Maſter.
Ol.Hurt ’em? I meant ’hem but too well. Shall I
Spr.They be but young and ſimple. And if they
have offended, let not your Worſhips own hands
drag ’em to the Law, or carry ’em to Puniſhment.
Correct ’em not your ſelf. It is the Beadles Office.
Ol.Do you talk Shake-rag : Heart yond’s more
[H4v]of
The merry Beggars.
of ’em. I ſhall be Beggar-mawl’d if I ſtay. Thou
ſaiſt right, honeſt fellow, there’s a Teſter for thee.
Exit. running.
Vin.He is prevented, and aſham’d of his purpoſe.
Spr.Nor were we to take notice of his purpoſe
Hill.True, politique
Springlove, ’twas better his
own fear quit us of him, than our force.
Ra.Look you here, Gentlemen, twelvepence a
Mer.Beſides fair offers and large promiſes. What
ha’ you got to day, Gentlemen?
Vin.More then (as we are Gentlemen) we would
Hil.Yet we put it up in your Service.
Ra. Mer.Ha ha ha. Switches and kicks. Ha ha
Spr.Talk not here of your gettings. We muſt quit
this Quarter. The eager Gentlemans repulſe may
arm and return him with revenge upon us. We muſt
therefore leap Hedge and Ditch now; through the
Briers and Myres, till we ſcape out of this Libertie,
to our next
Rendevous; where we ſhall meet the
Crew, and then,
hay toſſe and laugh all night.
Mer.As we did laſt night.
Mer.Lead on, brave
Generall.to Spr.
Vin.What ſhall we do? They are in heart ſtill.
Hill.There’s no flinching back, you ſee.
Spr.Beſides, if you beg no better then you begin,
in this lofty Faſhion, you cannot ſcape the Jayle, or
I [1]Vin.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Vin.To tell you true, ’tis not the leaſt of my pur-
poſe, to work means for our diſcovery, to be releas’d
Enter Martin and Amie in poor Habits.
Spr.Stay, here come more Paſſengers. Single
your ſelves agen, and fall to your Calling diſcreetly.
Hill.I’ll ſingle no more. If you’l beg in full cry
Mer.I that will be fine; let’s charm all together.
Spr.Stay firſt and liſt a little.
Mar.Be of good cheer, Sweetheart, we have
ſcap’d hitherto : And I believe that all the Search is
now retir’d, and we may ſafely paſſe forwards.
Am.I ſhould be ſafe with thee. But that’s a moſt
lying Proverb, that ſaies, Where
Love is, there’s no
Lack. I am faint, and cannot travail further without
Meat; and if you lov’d me, you would get me ſome.
Mar.We’ll venter at the next Village to call for
ſome. The beſt is, we want no Money.
Am.We ſhall be taken then, I fear. I’ll rather
Mar.Be not ſo fearfull. Who can know us in
Am.Our Cloaths, indeed, are poor enough to beg
with. Would I could beg, ſo it were of Strangers
that could not know me, rather then buy of thoſe
Mar.And yonder be ſome that can teach us.
Spr.Theſe are the young couple of Run-away
Lovers diſguiz’d, that the Country is ſo laid for.
Obſerve and follow now.
Now the Lord to come with
ye, good loving Maſter and Mayſtreſſe, your bleſſed Cha-
rity to the poor, lame and ſick, weak and comfortleſſe,
that will night and day– – –
[I1v]All.
The merry Beggars.
All.Duly and truly pray for you. Duly and truly pray
Spr.Pray hold your peace, and let me alone.
Good
young Maſter and Miſtris, a little Comfort amongſt us all,
and to bleſſe you where e’re you go, and
All.Duly and truly pray for you. Duly and truly– – –
Spr.Pray do not uſe me thus.
Now ſweet young
Maſter and Miſtris, to look upon your Poor, that have
no relief or ſuccour, no bread to put in our heads.
Vin.Wouldſt thou put bread in thy Braines?
All together.
Spr.No Houſe nor home;
nor covering from the
cold; no health, no help but your ſweet Charity.
Mer.No Bands or Shirts but lowſie on our backs.
Hil.No ſmocks or Petticoats to hide our Scratches.
Ra.No Shooes to our Legs, or Hoſe to our Feet.
Vin.No Skin to our Fleſh, nor Fleſh our Bones
Hill.If we follow the Devil that taught us
All.Duly and truly pray for you.
Spr.I’ll run away from you if you beg a ſtroak
more.
Good worſhipfull Maſter and Miſteres– – –
Mar.Good Friend forbear. Here is no Maſter or
Miſtris. We are poor Folks. Thou ſeeſt no Wor-
ſhip upon our backs, I am ſure. And for within, we
want as much as you, and would as willingly beg, if
Spr.Alack for pitty. You may have enough.
And what I have is yours, if you’ll accept it. ’Tis
wholſome Food from a good Gentlemans Gate– – –
Alas good Miſtris– – – Much good do your heart.
I 2Mar.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Mar.What do you mean;to poyſon your ſelf?
Am.Do you ſhew Love in grudging me?
Mar.Nay, if you think it hurts you not, fall too.
I’ll not beguile you. And here, mine Hoſt, ſomething
Am.This
Beggar is an
Angell ſure !
Spr.Nothing by way of bargain, gentle Maſter.
’Tis againſt Order, and will never thrive. But pray,
Sir, your reward in Charity.
Mar.Here then in Charity. This fellow would
Spr.What ! All this, Maſter?
Am.What is it? Let me ſee’t.
Spr.’Tis a whole ſilver three-pence, Miſtreſſe.
Am.For ſhame, ingratefull Miſer. Here Friend,
Spr.Bountifull Goodneſſe ! Gold? If I thought
a dear yeer were coming, I would take a Farm now.
Am.I have rob’d thy Partners of their ſhares too.
There’s a Crown more for them.
4.Duly and truly pray for you.
Mar.What have you done? leſſe would have
ſerv’d. And your Bounty will betray us.
Am.Fie on your wretched policy.
Spr.No, no good Maſter. I knew you all this
while, and my ſweet Miſtris too. And now I’ll tell
you. The Search is every way ; the Country all laid
for you. ’Tis well you ſtaid here. Your Habits,
were they but a little neerer our Faſhion, would ſe-
cure you with us. But are you married, Maſter and
Miſtris? Are you joyned in Matrimony? In heart I
know you are. And I will (if it pleaſe you) for
your great bounty, bring you to a Curate, that
[I2v]lacks
The merry Beggars.
lacks no Licenſe, nor has any Living to loſe, that
Mar.Thou art a heavenly
Beggar!
Spr.But he is ſo ſcrupulous, and ſeverely preciſe,
that unleſſe you, Miſtris, will affirm that you are
with Child by the Gentleman; or that you have, at
leaſt, cleft or ſlept together (as he calls it) he will
not marry you. But if you have lyen together, then
’tis a caſe of neceſſity, and he holds himſelf bound
Mar.You may ſay you have.
Am.I would not have it ſo, nor make that lye
againſt my ſelf for all the World.
Spr.That I like well, and her exceedingly.
Aſide
I’ll do my beſt for you however.
Mar.I’ll do for thee, that – – –thou ſhalt never beg
Spr.That cannot be purchas’d ſcarſe for the price
of your Miſtris. Will you walk, Maſter?– – – We uſe
Am.By inforc’d Matches Wards are not ſet free
So oft, as ſold into Captivitie :
Which made me, fearleſſe, fly from one I hate,
Into the hazard of a harder Fate.
I 3Actus