ACT III. SCENE I.
Enter Philomel, Mendicant, Doctor.

1149
Ph.THeſe are the Lodgings, that my Lady appointed
1150
For your diſtracted patient.
1151
Men.Like you ’em Doctor.
1152
Doct.Exceeding well. Excuſe me Gentlewoman
1153
That now intreat your abſence.
1154
Ph.Willingly. I am not taken with the ſight you bring:
1155
For I ſee mad-folkes enough every day.Exit.
1156
Doct.Here ſet him downe. Unbind him, and unblind
1157
him.(Ferdinand brought
1158
Fer.Am I then taken priſoner in the North?(in a chaire
1159
Wounded, diſarm’d and bound? I ſhall be(bound and
1160
ranſom’d.(hooded, &c.
1161
To which of your rebelliouſly uſurp’d
1162
Caſtles ha’ you brought me? you ſir Preſbiter,
1163
That better can pugnare then orare,
1164
And ſo abjure all duty and allegiance–
1165
Men.Hee takes you for a Northerne Paſtor
1166
Mr. Doctor.
1167
Doct.No matter what, let him run out his fancy.
1168
Fer.You were beſt to uſe me well; and like a ſouldier
1169
Order will elſe be tane (though you know none.)
[P5v]Doct.


The Court Begger.
1170
Doct.You ſhall have all beſt uſage ſir. (armor
1171
Fer.And uſe my horſe well too, and let my horſe and
1172
Be decently preſerv’d and ſeene forth-comming
1173
At my redemption.
1174
Doct.With all beſt care ſir.
1175
Fer.For I ſhall ſoone be ſent for, or fetch’d off
1176
With ruine of your countrey ’bout your eares.
1177
Doct.You ſhall have all content the countrey yeilds
1178
ſir.
1179
Fer.I ſhall have Oat-bread, Ale, and Bag-pipes,
1180
ſhall I?
1181
Doct.If you’l be merry ſir. (I to cribbidge
1182
Fer.Merry! why not? come let’s ha’ cards; and you and
1183
For an od hundred pound, I meane not Scotch,
1184
But ſterling Engliſh pieces, where’s your money?
1185
All gone in Ammunition, and charge Military.
1186
Doct.I’le finde you money enough.
1187
Fer.O here’s a third man, let’s then to Gleeke.
1188
Men.Crown Gleeke ſir, if you pleaſe.
1189
Fer.Crown Gleeke! no more?
1190
You ſeeme to be a thrifty Covenanter
1191
To play but at crowne Gleeke, whole piece Gleeke or
1192
nothing.
1193
Men.High as you pleaſe ſir, wee’l find money enough,
1194
And pay us but our buyings.
1195
Fer.Sir, you muſt bate me Aces. You will play Tib
1196
and Tom.
1197
Doct.All i’ the Cards ſir.
1198
Fer.Away with cards. Bring dice, ſet all at hazard,
1199
And though I loſe all, I have yet a project
1200
That at the end o’ th’ war, and the great ſitting
1201
Shall fetch all in agen. But O my Muſe!
1202
How dare I ſo neglect thy inſpirations?
1203
Give me Pen, Inke and Paper.
1204
Doct.All’s ready.
[P6]For.


The Court Begger.
1205
Fer.Now will I write, nor will I emulate
1206
Ovids ſmoth vaine, or Petraks buskind ſtile.
1207
Nor Laura, nor Corinna did deſerve
1208
To have their prayers written ſn ſuch Verſe
1209
As i’le beſtow on her that I adore.
1210
Liſten to me you bleſt Intelligences,
1211
And, Phebus, ſtay thy courſe to heare me ſing
1212
Her prayſes, for whoſe love th’ inamor’d Gods
1213
Would leave their proper ſeates, and in ſtolne ſhapes,
1214
Converſe with mortalls, your ſoule-raviſhing ſpheres
1215
Send forth your ſweeteſt harmony whilſt I ſing–
1216
But O ſhee is diſdainfull; and her ſcorne
1217
Hath blotted all the glory of her praiſe,
1218
Away, away with all.
1219
Doct.Now ſir, doe you obſerve the roote of his
1220
Diſeaſe?
1221
Men.I gueſſe at it, know you the remedy?
1222
Fer.Diſeaſe! what’s that? who is diſeas’d? who
1223
wants a Remedy?
1224
Are you ſir a Phiſitian?
1225
Men.This Gentleman is, and brings you remedy, be
1226
you patient.
1227
Doct.O you will move him.
1228
Fer.You are a brace of Quacks,
1229
That tie your knowledge unto dayes and houres
1230
Mark’d out for good or ill i’ th’ Almanack.
1231
Your beſt Receipts are candy for a cold;
1232
And Carduus Benedictus for an ague,
1233
Could you give life as Æſculapius
1234
Did to unjuſtly ſlaine Hippolitus,
1235
You could preſcribe no remedy for me.
1236
Goe ſtudy Gallen, and Hippocrates,
1237
And when your rare ſimplicities have found
1238
Simples to cure the Lunacy of Love,
1239
Compoſe a potion, and adminiſter’t
[P6v]Unto


The Court Begger.
1240
Unto the Family at Amſterdam.
1241
Doct.I’le Phiſick you to morrow and allay
1242
The heate of this ſtrong fit, or Leach it out.
Enter ſir Raphael.

1243
Ra.I have venter’d to this houſe againe, aſſur’d
1244
That now the humerous Lady is from home
1245
Forgetting not her Love-trick put upon me
1246
Which ſhe already boaſts to my diſgrace
1247
For which I may requite her Ladyſhip,
1248
How dos your patient? a ſleepe! That’s well.
1249
Men.No hee’s but ſilent ſir, and it is well
1250
That he is ſo, ſo long.
1251
Ra.The Lords in honourable regard unto
1252
His health directed me to viſite him.
1253
Fer.Who’s that?
1254
Ra.Do you not know me ſir?
1255
You are (I tak’t) the Ghoſt of Dioniſius
1256
The great tirannicall Court-ſchole-maſter.
1257
Ra.Your Friends at Court commend them to you
1258
Sir.
1259
Fer.What hither, unto hell? Extend their loves
1260
So far, to finde me out? Pray let ’em know
1261
That here’s a trobled world in want of Stateſmen.
1262
But tell the youthes and beauties there, they never
1263
Shall finde a happier opportunity
1264
To raiſe a new Plantation. They’l drive all
1265
Before ’em here: For pride is at a ſtand;
1266
Faſhions are all worne out, and no invention
1267
For new here to be found: all beauty’s loſt;
1268
Nor have the greateſt Ladies here the act
1269
To make ſo much as their poore Chambermayds:
1270
Let ’em come downe, as many of the Gallants
1271
As are made weary of their Wives or Miſtreſſes;
1272
And, of thoſe Wives and Miſtreſſes, as many
1273
As can their huſbands, or their ſervants ſpare:
[P7]And


The Court Begger.
1274
And what a yeare of Holy-dayes, a Jubile
1275
Shall we have in hell then? Ha’ old Lad!
1276
Ra.What a wilde fancie’s this!
1277
Doct.Croſſe it not good ſir.
1278
Ra.Pray give mee leave to touch it though, a
1279
little.
1280
Fer.But above all, finde out the Lady Strangelove
1281
That humorous Madam, and tell her from me,
1282
The many Lovers ſhee has ſent before her
1283
Into theſe ſhades (where we can find no torments
1284
Like thoſe that ſhee inflicted) have prevail’d
1285
With the great Queene Proſerpina, that ſhee
1286
Shall be in place next to her royall perſon.
1287
Ra.The Lady Strangelove! you are in her houſe ſir,
1288
Where doe you thinke you are? or who you are?
1289
Pray call your ſelfe to mind ſir, are not you
1290
The noble Cavalier and hopefull Courtier
1291
The moſt accompliſh’d Knight ſir Ferdinando?
1292
Doct.Forbeare ſir, you will move him ſtrongly elſe.
1293
Ra.I have authority for what I do ſir,
1294
Can you forget your ſelfe ſir, or neglect
1295
The bounteous fortunes, that the Court and Kingdome
1296
Have in ſtore for you, both for paſt Atchievments,
1297
And for the large endowments of court-vertue
1298
Are found ſtill growing in you, ſtudied and practis’d
1299
So to the life, as if you were built up
1300
Vertues own Manſion, on her foure firme pillars?–
1301
Men.I hope he cannot flatter him into’s wits
1302
When ’tis the way to foole men out of ’em.
1303
Ra.The Wiſdome, Juſtice, Magnanimity,
1304
And temperance of court you are exactly
1305
Fram’d and compos’d of, and indued with all
1306
The excelencies that may adorne a man
1307
By Nature, Fortune, Art and Induſtry!
1308
And all this glorious light to be eclips’d;
[P7v]And


The Court Begger.
1309
And ſuch Divine perfections ſeeme to ſleepe?
1310
Fer.Pray ſir your eare.
1311
Ra.Sir, moſt attentively.
1312
Fer.What do you thinke of Salſbury ſteeple ſir,
1313
For a fit hunting ſpeare t’incounter with
1314
The whore of Babilion? might I not firke her thinke
1315
you?
1316
Men.Your Doctrine dos not edify ſir Raphael.
1317
Fer.Is Oratour Demoſtines growne dumbe
1318
O’th’ ſodaine? what! no anſwer? give me a Knife
1319
He is but tongue-tied.
1320
Ra.Guard me Divinity.
1321
Doct.I told you what you would doe.
1322
Men.Patience good ſir.
1323
Fer.Patience in tortures?
1324
Doct.Helpe here ſodainly!
Enter Servants.

1325
Fer.Do you ſally forth in troupes? Have I no troupe?
1326
Give me my horſe and armes, and come a hundred.
1327
Doct.Wee’l arme and horſe you, ſince y’are ſo unruly,
1328
Away with him into his Bed-chamber.
1329
Fer.O doe you make me then your Knight o’ th’ ſhire
1330
A tun o’ Wine for that. Shoulder your Knight, advance
1331
your Knight, beare him out.(Manent Men.
1332
Al.A Ferdinand, a Ferdinand, &c.(ſir Rap.
1333
Men.This now to me is Muſick, Golden-chimes
1334
That rings all in with an aſſur’d advantage,
1335
How now Sir Raphael! Frighted?
1336
Ra.In all my diſputations all my travailes,
1337
And all conſpiracies that have bin had
1338
Aagainſt me, never met I an incounter
1339
By man, or ſpirit that I feard ſo much,
1340
Yet here’s another fury.
Enter Strangelove.

1341
Str.By what oppreſſion or tiranny (for Law
[P8]I’m


The Court Begger.
1342
I’m ſure could never do’t) is my houſe here
1343
Confiſcated or uſurp’d, and I become your ſlave?
1344
Men.How Madam?
1345
Str.Your ſlave, lay your commands on mee, what
1346
drudgery doe you appoint me to?
1347
Ra.Shee’s mad too.
1348
Men.Did not your Ladyſhip give way?
1349
Str.To make my houſe a hell?
1350
The noyſe of Bedlem is ſoft Muſick to’t.
1351
Could your Projectorſhip find no houſe elſe
1352
To make a mad man madder in but mine?
1353
And me as mad as he too with the trouble.
1354
Men.I was no principle in’t good Madam.Exit.
1355
Str.Was it your plot then ſir Philoſophaſter,
1356
That ſo you might under pretext of reading
1357
Philoſophy to him, to cure his madneſſe
1358
Make your adreſſe to me to proſequte
1359
Your Love-ſuite when I thought I had anſwer’d you,
1360
But if you muſt proceede, o’recome me if you can,
1361
Yet let me warne you to take heede with all
1362
You pull not a diſeaſe unto you, that may
1363
By your ungovern’d haſt poſt into
1364
Your grave: for I ſhall prove a torment to you,
1365
Though you’l take no denyall, take yet a warning.
1366
Ra.I take it to forſake your houſe; and never
1367
More to refort where madneſſe raignes. Did I
1368
Make love to you?
1369
Str.Pardon mee vertuous ſir, it is my love to you
1370
that tortures mee into this wild diſtraction. O ſir
1371
Raphael.
1372
Ra.Now vertue guide me. I will ſhun this place
1373
More then I would the Spaniſh Inquiſition.
1374
Str.I ſhall in time be rid of all ſuch Gueſts,
1375
And have the liberty of mine owne houſe
1376
With mine own company, and to mine own ends
[P8v]Where


The Court Begger.
1377
Where are you Phil? I were but dead if I had not this
1378
wench to foole withall ſometimes.
Enter Phil.

1379
Phil.Madam.
1380
Str.I muſt be a little ſerious with you, ſhut the
1381
dore.
1382
Phi.Now am I call’d into correction,
1383
When ſhee is vext and wants the company
1384
Shee likes, then come I into queſtion,
1385
’Tis common among Ladies with their women.
1386
Str.Why that down looke, as if you meant to fetch
1387
An anſwer, or excuſe out of your Apron-ſtrings
1388
Before you are charged or queſtion’d? what new fault
1389
Has paſt of late?
1390
Phi.Doe you read any Madam
1391
Upon my face or lookes? I never was in love
1392
Much with my face, nor ever hated it. But if I thought
1393
It had upon’t, or in it, any treſpaſſe
1394
Againſt your Ladyſhip (my heart being cleare)
1395
Theſe Nayles ſhould claw it out.Teare.
1396
Str.Nay be not paſſionate Phil. I know you cannot
1397
Forget the care I have had of you; nor ſhould you
1398
Diſtruſt me in the promiſes I have made you,
1399
Bearing your ſelfe according to your covenant Phil,
1400
Of which one Article is to laugh with me.
1401
Ph.Go, you are ſuch a Lady, ha, ha, ha.
1402
Str.Now thou comſt to me wench: hadſt forgot?
1403
Phi.You ſaid you would be ſerious. (private,
1404
Str.Doſt notthou know my ſeriouſneſſe is to laugh in
1405
And that thou art bound to ſtir that humour in me?
1406
There’s but two things more condition’d in thy ſervice;
1407
To do what I bid thee, and tell me the truth
1408
In all things that I aſke thee.
1409
Phi.I Madam, you had never known that ſame
1410
elſe.
Q[1]Str.


The Court Begger.
1411
Str.Of the clap thou hadſt i’the Countrey e’re I took
1412
But haſt thou faithfully kept thine own e’re ſince? (thee,
1413
Phi.Yes moſt ſeverely Madam on your promiſe–
1414
Str.Well we will have a huſband then to ſolder up
1415
the old crack,
1416
I have already made my choyce for you:
1417
Your ſweete-heart Cit-wit makes moſt ſuite to you,
1418
And has a good Eſtate, and wit enough
1419
Too for a huſband, and a handſome perſon.
1420
Phi.I finde no fault in all that. But he is
1421
So baſe a coward, that he may be ſoone
1422
Beaten out of his wit and money.
1423
Str.But if he ſhould prove valiant!
1424
Phi.If he were valiant now I could ſay ſomething,
1425
But to wait for growing to’t were ſuch a loſſe of time.
1426
Str.What ſay to Swayn-wit?
1427
Phi.Hee’s the others extreame. I might feare him but
1428
never love him.
1429
Str.What think you of my ſpeciall favorite Mr. Court-
1430
wit?
1431
Phi.As of a Courtier Madam, that has taſted
1432
So much of all waters, that when he has a fountaine of his
1433
Hee’l be too jealous of it. (owne
1434
And feard that every man will drink of’s cup
1435
When perhaps none dares touch it, were I it.
1436
Str.What ſay to Dainty then the curious Limner?
1437
Phi.I am bound from lying. Madam hee’s the man.
1438
Str.Well i’le take thy cauſe in hand wench: But yet
1439
we are not merry. I am inclin’d moſt jovially to mirth
1440
me thinks. Pray Jove ſome good be towards. Laugh or
1441
i’le pinch you, till you doe.
1442
Phi.Ha, ha, ha, ha, Madam, ha, ha, ha. O the picture
1443
drawer! ha, ha, ha.
1444
Str.I, come, the Picture drawer.
1445
Phi.O, I love drawing and painting, as no Lady bet-
[Q1v]ter,


The Court Begger.
1446
ter, who for the moſt part are of their occupation that
1447
profeſſe it. And ſhall I tell all Madam?
1448
Str.By all meanes Phil.––now ſhee’s enter’d.
1449
Phil.I hope I am handſome enough too. For I have
1450
heard that Limners or Picture-drawers, doe covet to
1451
have the faireſt and beſt featur’d wives, (or if not wives,
1452
Miſtreſſes) that they can poſſibly purchace, to draw
1453
naked Pictures by, as of Diana, Venus, Andromeda, Leda,
1454
or the like, either vertuous or laſcivious; whom they
1455
make to ſit or ſtand naked in all the ſeverall poſtures, and
1456
to lie as many wayes to helpe their art in drawing, who
1457
knowes how I may ſet his fancy a worke? and with mo-
1458
deſty enough. We were all naked once, and muſt be ſo
1459
againe. I could ſit for the naked Shepherdeſſe, with
1460
one Leg over the tother Knee, picking the Thorne
1461
out of her Foote moſt neatly, to make the Satyre peepe
1462
under.
1463
Str.Well thou ſhalt have him.
1464
Boy.Miſtris Philomel.Within.
1465
Str.Let in the Boy. Now ſir your newes?
1466
Boy.The mad Knights Doctor Madam intreats to
1467
ſpeake with you.
1468
Str.Now ſeekes he my aſſiſtance in his cure.
1469
Boy.And Mr. Court-wit, and the other Gentlemen are
1470
below.
1471
Str.Goe you and entertaine the Gentlemen, while
1472
I conſult with the Doctor, let him enter.
Enter Doctor.

1473
 Now Mr. Doctor! you come to aſke my counſell I
1474
know for your impatient Patient. But let me tell you
1475
firſt, the moſt learned Authors, that I can turne over; as
1476
Dioſcorides, Avicen, Galen, and Hyppocrates are much
1477
diſcrepant in their opinions concerning the remedies for
1478
his diſeaſe.
1479
Doct.Madam———
Q 2Sir.


The Court Begger.
1480
Str.Therefore I truſt you’l pardon my weakneſſe, if
1481
my opinion jumps not altogether with your judgement.
1482
Doc.Madam, my purpoſe was not–
1483
Str.My purpoſe is to adviſe you though, that, if his
1484
Frenzie proceed from love as you conjecture, that you
1485
adminiſter of the rootes of Hellebore, deſtill’d together
1486
with Salt-peter, and the flowers of blind Netles, I’le give
1487
you the proportions, and the quantity is to take.
1488
Doc.Miſtake not me good Madam–
1489
Str.But if his Malady grow out of ambition, and his
1490
over weening hopes of greatneſſe (as I conjecture) then
1491
he may take a top of Cedar, or an Oake-apple is very
1492
ſoveraigne with the ſpirit of Hempſeed.
1493
Do.Madam, I ſeeke no counſell in this caſe, my cun-
1494
ning is–
1495
Str.To let me know, that that part of my houſe which
1496
I allow you is too little for you.
1497
Do.Shee’s ſurely mad.
1498
Str.But you muſt claime poſſeſſion of the reſt,
1499
You are come to warne me out on’t; are you not?
1500
Doc.Miſtake not ſo good Madam.
1501
Str.Or do you call my attendance on his perſon, by
1502
way of a Nurſe-keeper? I can do little ſervice.
1503
Doc.For my part Madam I am ſorry we are made
1504
the trouble of your houſe, and rather wiſh me out on’t
1505
then your favour. But if your Ladyſhip will bee
1506
pleas’d to entertaine with patience the little I have
1507
to ſay.
1508
Stra.Come to it quickly then.
1509
Doc.Firſt, let me tell you Madam, as ’tis manifeſt
1510
You were the cauſe of his diſtraction,
1511
Y’are bound in charity to yeild ſuch meanes
1512
(With ſafety of your honor and eſtate)
1513
As you may render for his reſtoration
1514
VVhich of all the earthly meanes depends on you
[Q2v]If


The Court Begger.
1515
If I know any thing in my profeſſion.
1516
Str.Come to the point, you’ld have me viſit him.
1517
Doc.True Madam: for a ſight of you, ſhall more
1518
Allure his reaſon to him, then all medicine
1519
Can be preſcrib’d.
1520
Str.By your favour ſir, you ſay
1521
Saving my honor and eſtate I am bound,
1522
But may I with the ſafety of my Life,
1523
And limbes, and a whole ſkin dare venture.
1524
Doc.My life o’ that.
1525
Str.You might more ſafely lay
1526
Lives of a hundred Patients.
1527
Doc.Now hee’s calme,
1528
Now ſhall he ſee you, but at moſt ſecure
1529
And modeſt diſtance.
1530
Str.Come for once i’le truſt you.Exit.
Enter Swayn-wit, and Cit-wit.

1531
Sw.Come out into the Garden here; and let them
1532
talke within, I ſay he ſhall talke with her; and his belly
1533
full, and doe with her too, her belly full, for all thou:
1534
an honeſt diſcreet Gentleman, and thou a coward and a
1535
cockſcombe. Beſides he has an art and quality to live
1536
upon, and maintaine her Lady-like, when all thy money
1537
may be gone. And yet thou prat’ſt o’ thy two thouſand
1538
pound at uſe, when thou and thy money too are but an
1539
aſſe and’s load tho’.
1540
Cit.Well, you may ſpeake your pleaſure. This is no
1541
cauſe to fight for.
1542
Sw.I’le make thee fight, or promiſe to fight with me, or
1543
ſomebody elſe before we part, or cut thee into pieces.
Enter Court-wit.

1544
Cou.But tell me ſeriouſly doſt thou love my Ladies
1545
woman ſo well as to marry her, and ſuffer the Picture-
1546
drawer now to court her privately, and perhaps to draw
1547
and carry her from thee?
Q 3Cit.


The Court Begger.
1548
Cit.Why he here will have it ſo you ſee, and pull’d
1549
mee out.
1550
Sw.It is to doe a cure upon thee, coward.
1551
Cit.Coward! piſh! a common Name to men in buffe
1552
and feather. I ſcorne to anſwer to’t.
1553
Sw.Why doſt thou weare a Sword? only to hurt
1554
mens feet that kick thee?
1555
Cou.Nay you are too ſevere.
1556
Sw.Pray hold your peace. I’le jowle your heads to-
1557
gether, and ſo beat ton with tother elſe. Why doſt thou
1558
were a Sword I ſay?
1559
Cit.To fight when I ſee cauſe.
1560
Cou.Now he ſayes ſomething, yet, and may be curable.
1561
Sw.What is a cauſe to fight for?
1562
Cit.I am not to tell you that ſir. It muſt be found out
1563
and given me before I ought to take notice.
1564
Cou.You may ſafely ſay for Religion, King or
1565
Countrey.
1566
Sw.Darſt thou fight for Religion? ſay.
1567
Cit.Who that has any Religion will fight I ſay?
1568
Sw.I ſay thou haſt none. Speake, haſt thou any?
1569
Cit.Truly, in this wavering world I know not how to
1570
anſwer.
1571
Sw.La you. Hee’l ſay he has no King neither, rather
1572
then fight.
1573
Cou.Why if he will not fight for him he is no Subject,
1574
and no Subject no King.
1575
Cit.I thanke you ſir, I would ha’ ſaid ſo.
1576
Sw.O thou wouldſt make a ſpeciall Souldier now!
1577
Cit.Well ſir, all are not choyce doggs that run, ſome
1578
are taken in to make up the cry.
1579
Sw.And for thy Countrey, I dare ſweare thou wouldſt
1580
rather run it then fight for’t.
1581
Cit.Run my Countrey I cannot, for I was borne i’the
1582
City. I am no clown to run my Countrey.
[Q3v]Sw.


The Court Begger.
1583
Sw.Darſt thou tell me of clowns thou cockney chick-
1584
en-hearted whelp thou?
1585
Cit.Forbeare good ſir, there are countrey Gentlemen
1586
as well as clownes, and for the rank I honour you.
1587
Sw.Sirrah you lie, ſtrrike me for that now; or I will
1588
beat thee abhominably.
1589
Cou.Up to him man: wilt thou ſuffer all?
1590
Cit.I would–but–
1591
Sw.You lie I ſay againe.
1592
Cit.I thinke I doe, I thinke I doe, and why ſhould I
1593
maintaine an evill cauſe?
1594
Sw.The wench thou lov’ſt and doateſt on is a whore.
1595
Cit.Sir, if ſhe be ’tis not my fault, nor hers: ſomebody
1596
elſe made her ſo then I warrant you. But ſhould another
1597
man tell me ſo!
1598
Sw.What then?
1599
Cit.I would ſay as much to him as to you. Nor in-
1600
deed is any mans report of that a ſufficient cauſe to pro-
1601
voke mee unleſſe ſhee her ſelfe confeſſ’d it, and then it
1602
were no cauſe at all.
1603
Sw.Here’s a true City wit now.
1604
Cit.I ſhould have wit ſir, and am acounted a wit
1605
within the walls, I am ſure my Father was Maſter of
1606
his company, and of the wiſeſt company too i’the city.
1607
Cou.What company’s that?
1608
Cit.The Salters ſir. For ſal ſapit omnia you know.
1609
Sw.Your Father was a cuckold tho’, and you the Son
1610
Cou.Fight now or you’l die infamous, was your Mo-
1611
Sw.Deny’t and darſt, ſay, was ſhe not?
1612
Cit.Comparatively ſhee might be in reſpect of ſome
1613
holy woman, the Lady Ramſey, Miſtris Katherine Stubbs
1614
and ſuch, ha, ha. Is that a cauſe?
1615
Cou.What! not to ſay your Mother was a whore?
Q 4Cit.


The Court Begger.
1616
Cit.He may ſay his pleaſure, It hurts her not: ſhee is
1617
dead and gone. Beſides, at the beſt ſhee was but a wo-
1618
man, and at the worſt ſhee might have her frailties
1619
like other women. And is that a cauſe for mee to
1620
fight for the dead, when wee are forbidden to pray
1621
for’em?
1622
Cou.But were your Mother living now, what would
1623
you ſay or doe?
1624
Cit.Why, I would civilly aſk her if ſhe were a whore?
1625
If ſhe confeſs’d it, then he were in the right, and I ought
1626
not to fight againſt him: for my cauſe were naught. If
1627
ſhe deny’d it, then he were in an error, and his cauſe were
1628
naught, and I would not fight, ’twere better he ſhould
1629
live to repent his errour.
1630
Sw.Nay, now if I do not kill thee let me be hang’d
1631
for idleneſſe.Draw.
1632
Cit.Hold I am unprepar’d.
1633
Sw.I care not–unleſſe thou ſweare preſently, and
1634
without all equivocation upon this ſword–
1635
Cit.Scabberd and all I pray ſir, The cover of the book
1636
is allowd in courts to ſwear upon.
1637
Sw.Well ſir, now you ſhall ſwſeare to challenge the
1638
next that wrongs you.ſheathes it.
1639
Cit.Yes, if the wrong give me ſufficient cauſe.
1640
Cou.Cauſe agen! ſuppoſe that fellow within ſhould
1641
take your wench from you? which very likely he has done
1642
already: for I left ’em cloſe on a couch together Kiſſing
1643
and–
1644
Cit.Gi’ me the booke, i’le have her from him, or him
1645
from her if he be without her belly, or Kill him if he be
1646
within her.
1647
Sw.Tis well a cauſe may be found at laſt tho’.
1648
Cou.I like a man, whom neither Lie, Kick, Battoune,
1649
ſcandall, Friends, or Parents, the wrongs of Countrey,
1650
King or Religion can move, that will, yet, fight for his
[Q4v]wench.


The Court Begger.
1651
wench. Thou wilt be oneof the ſtiffe blades o’ the time
1652
I ſee.
1653
Sw.A wench is a moving cauſe:Unſeen
1654
Str.Helpe, helpe, here helpe–ha–Above.
1655
Sw.Why doſt not draw and run in upon ’em?
1656
Cit.After you I will ſir.
1657
Sw.A pox upon thee art thou down agen?
1658
Cit.No ſir, I am drawn you ſee.
1659
Str.Help, help, a rape, a rape, murder, help!(Draw all
1660
Sw. Cou.Tis time to fly then.

Enter Dainty (his ſword drawne) and Philomel.

1661
Cit.I come my Philomel.
1662
Cou.What’s the matter Phil?
1663
Dai.What cry was that?
1664
Sw.Was it not you that caus’d it ſir?
1665
Phi.Was it not here?
1666
Cit.Was it not you that cry’d?
1667
Str.Is there helpe, helpe, helpe?Above.
1668
Phi.O tis my Lady in the Madmans chamber. Is her
1669
mirth come to this?
1670
Sw.Where, which way?
1671
Phi.Here, here the dore’s made faſt.(Exe. omnes
1672
Sw.I’le breake it open.(Pret. Cit. his ſword drawn.
1673
Doc.Help here, help the Lady; help the Lady.(Doctor
1674
Cit.We are a comming, you ſhall have help(looks out
1675
enough(above.
1676
I warrant, what’s the matter? you ſhallnot lack(Floriſh
1677
for help–(his ſword.
1678
Fer.Away Meduſa. Hence, thou haſt tranſformd
1679
me. Stone, ſtone, I am all ſtone. Bring morter and make
1680
a bul-wark of me.Above unſeen
1681
Cit.O that’s the Mad-man! How madly he talkes!
1682
Fer.Hold me not down.
1683
Cit.Stones to make a bul-warke quoth a! If he had
[Q5]but


The Court Begger.
1684
but to make a brace of Demy-culvering bullets, they
1685
were thumpers I thinke.
1686
Fer.Hold me not down, but reare me up, and make me
1687
my own ſtatue.
Enter Strangelove, Swain-wit, Court-wit,
Dainty, Phil.
1688
Str.Was ever ſuch a practice?
1689
Cou.A meere accident of madneſſe.
1690
Str.I ſay it was a practiſe in the Doctor.
1691
Dai.Yet he calld out for help.
1692
Str.You had broke up the dore firſt. That was but to
1693
colour his trechery.
1694
Sw.A new way, and a very learned one I promiſe
1695
you; to cure madneſſe with a plaiſter of warme Lady-
1696
gutts.
1697
Cit.He would ha’had a mad bout with my Lady it
1698
ſeemes. He would ha’ vented his madnes into her. And
1699
ſhe could ha’ drawn better then the Leaches.
1700
Cou.If you believe this Madam, tho’ ſir Ferdinand be
1701
by his madneſſe excuſable in the attempt, you ought to
1702
be reveng’d upon the Doctor.
1703
Sw.Let’s cut him into pieces Madam.
1704
Str.I’le think upon ſome way to make him a dread-
1705
full example to all the Pandarean Doctors i’the Towne.
1706
Come in Gentlemen, and helpe mee with your ad-
1707
vices.
1708
Cit.You ſhall want no adviſe Madam. No ſtrength,
1709
Let’s goe ſir.(He ſnatcheth Phil. from Dainty, who
1710
Ph.What mean you Mr. Cit-wit?(took her by the arm.
1711
Cit.I have ſworne. Therefore I ſay no more, but I
1712
have ſworne.Exeunt Omnes.
[Q5v]A C T.