A Jovial Crew : or,
Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
Enter Talboy. Oliver. With riding Switches.
Tal.SHe’s gone.
Amie is gone. Ay me ſhe’s gone,
And has me left of joy bereſt, to make my
Ol.What the Devil ayles the Fellow tro? why !
why Maſter
Talboy; my Cozen
Talboy that ſhould’ſt
ha’ been, art not aſham’d to cry at this growth? and
for a thing that’s better loſt then found; a Wench?
Tal.Cry ! who cries? do I cry; or look with a
crying Countenance? I ſcorn it; and ſcorn to think
on her, but in juſt anger.
Ol.So, this is brave now, if ’twould hold.
Tall.Nay it ſhall hold. And ſo let her go, for a
ſcurvy what d’e call’t; I know not what bad enough
to call her.– – – But ſomething of mine goes with
her I am ſure. She has coſt me in Gloves, Ribands,
Scarfs, Rings, and ſuch like things, more than I am
able to ſpeak of at this time– – –Oh.
Ol.Becauſe thou canſt not ſpeak for crying. Fy
Tal.I ſcorn it agen, and any man that ſaies I cry,
or will cry agen. And let her go agen; and what ſhe
has of mine let her keep, and hang her ſelf, and the
Rogue that’s with her. I have enough; and am
Heire of a well-known Eſtate, and that ſhe knows– –
And therefore that ſhe ſhould ſleight me, and run
away with a wages-fellow, that is but a petty Cleark
and a Serving-man. There’s the vexation of it– –Oh
there’s the grief, and the vexation of– –Oh– – –
[I3v]Ol.
The merry Beggars.
Ol.Now he will cry his eyes out ! You Sir. This
life have I had with you all our long journey; which
now is at an end here. This is Maſter
Oldrents houſe,
where perhaps we ſhall finde old
Hearty, the Uncle
of that Rogue
Martin, that is run away with your
Tal.I ’tis too true, too true, too true. You need
not put me in minde on’t– –Oh– –O– –
Ol.Hold your peace and minde me. Leave your
bawling, for fear I give you correction. This is the
Houſe I ſay, where it is moſt likely we ſhall hear of
your Miſtris and her companion. Make up your face
quickly. Here comes one of the Servants, I ſup-
Shame not your ſelf for ever, and me for company.
Tall.As confident as your ſelf or any man– – –But
my poor heart feels what lies here. Here. I here it
Ol.Good morrow, Friend. This is Squire
Old-
Ran.Pray take it not, Sir, before it be to be let.
It has been my Maſters, and his Anceſtors in that
Name, above theſe three hundred yeers, as our
Houſe Chronicle doth notifie; and not yet to be let.
But as a Friend, or ſtranger, in Gueſt-wiſe, you are
welcome to it; as all other Gentlemen are, far and
neer, to my good Maſter, as you will finde anon when
Ol.Thou ſpeak’ſt wittily and honeſtly. But I pre-
thee, good Friend, let our Nags be ſet up : they are
tied up at the poſt. You belong to the Stable, do
[I 4]Ran.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Ran.Not ſo much, as the Stable belongs to me,
Sir. I paſſe through many Offices of the Houſe, Sir.
I am the running
Bayley of it.
Ol.We have rid hard, hoping to finde the
Squire
at home at this early time in the morning.
Ran.You are deceiv’d in that, Sir. He has been
out theſe four hours. He is no
Snayle, Sir. You do
not know him, I perceive, ſince he has been new
moulded. But I’ll tell you, becauſe you are Gentle-
Ol.Our Horſes, good Friend.
Ran.My Maſter is an ancient Gentleman, and a
great Houſe-keeper; and praid for by all the Poore
in the Countrey. He keeps a Gueſt-houſe for all
Beg-
gars, far and neer, coſts him a hundred a yeer, at
leaſt; and is as well belov’d among the Rich. But,
of late, he fell into a great Melancholly, upon what,
I know not : for he had then more cauſe to be merry
than he has now. Take that by the way.
Ol.But good Fiend, our Horſes.
Ran.For he had two Daughters, that knew well
to order a Houſe, and give entertainment to Gentle-
men. They were his
Houſe-Doves. But now they
are flowne; and no man knows how, why, or whi-
Tal.My
Dove is flown too. Oh– – –
Ran.Was ſhe your Daughter, Sir ? She was a
young one then, by the Beard you wear.
Tal.What ſhe was, ſhe was, d’ee ſee. I ſcorn to
think on her– –But I do– –Oh.
Ol.Pray hold your peace, or feign ſome mirth, if
Tal. Sing. Let her go, let her go.
I care not if I
[I4v]have
The merry Beggars.
have her, I have her or no. Ha ha ha– – – Oh my heart
Ol.Pray think of our horſes, Sir.
Ran.This is right my Maſter. When he had his
Daughters he was ſad; and now they are gone, he is
the merrieſt man alive. Up at five a Clock in the
morning, and out till Dinner-time. Out agen at af-
ternoon, and ſo till Supper-time. Skiſe out this a-
way, and ſkiſe out that away. (He’s no
Snayle I as-
ſure you.) And
Tantivy all the Country over, where
Hunting, Hawking, or any Sport is to be made, or
good Fellowſhip to be had; and ſo merry upon all
occaſions, that you would even bleſſe your ſelf, if it
Ol.Our Horſes, I prethee.
Ran.And we, his Servants, live as merrily under
him; and do all thrive. I my ſelf was but a ſilly Lad
when I came firſt, a poor turn-ſpit Boy. Gentlemen
kept no whirling Jacks then, to cozen poor People
of Meat. And I have now, without boaſt, 40.
l. in
my Purſe, and am the youngeſt of half a ſcore in the
Houſe, none younger then my ſelf but one; and he
is the Steward over all; his name is Maſter
Spring-
love (bleſſe him where ere he is) he has a world of
means : And we, the Underlings, get well the bet-
ter by him; beſides the Rewards many Gentlemen
give us, that fare well, and lodge here ſometimes.
Ol.O ! we ſhall not forget you, Friend, if you re-
member our Horſes, before they take harm.
Ran.No hurt, I warrant you : there’s a Lad walk-
Ol.Is not your Maſter coming, think you?
Ran.He will not be long a coming. He’s no
Snayle,
K [1]Ol.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Ol.You told me ſo, indeed.
Ran.But of all the Gentlemen, that toſſe up the
Ball, yea and the
Sack too, commend me to old Ma-
ſter
Hearty ; a decay’d Gentleman; lives moſt upon
his own Mirth, and my Maſters Means, and much
good do him with it : He is the fineſt Companion of
all : He do’es ſo hold my Maſter up with Stories, and
Songs, and Catches, and t’other Cup of Sack , and
ſuch Tricks and Jiggs, you would admire– – – He is
Ol.That
Hearty is
Martins Uncle. I am glad he is
here. Bear up
Talboy. Now, Friend, pray let me aſk
you a queſtion.– – – Prethee ſtay.
Ran.Nay, marry I dare not. Your Yawdes may
take cold, and never be good after it.– – –
Exit.
Ol.I thought I ſhould never have been rid of him.
But no ſooner deſir’d to ſtay, but he is gone. A pret-
Enter Randall.
Ran.Gentlemen, my Maſter will be here e’ne
now, doubt not : for he is no
Snayle, as I told you.
Exit.
Ol.No
Snayle’s a great word with him. Prethee
Talboy bear up.
Enter Uſher. Here comes an-
Uſh.Do you ſtand in the Porch, Gentlemen? the
Houſe is open to you. Pray enter the Hall. I am the
Ol.In good time, Sir. We ſhall be bold here,
then, to attend your Maſters coming.
Uſh.And he’s upon coming ; and when he comes
he comes apace. He is no
Snayle, I aſſure you.
Ol.I was told ſo before, Sir. No
Snayle! Sure ’tis
[K1v]the
The merry Beggars.
the word of the Houſe, and as ancient as the Family.
Uſh.This Gentleman looks ſadly, me thinks.
Tal.Who I? not I. Pray pardon my looks for
that. But my heart feels what’s what. Ay me– – –
Uſh.Pray walk to the Buttry, Gentlemen. My
Office leads you thither.
Ol.Thanks, good Maſter Uſher.
Uſh.I have been Uſher theſe twenty yeers, Sir.
And have got well by my place, for uſing Strangers
Ol.He has given the Hint too.
Uſh.Something has come in by the by, beſides
ſtanding Wages, which is ever duly paid (thank a
good Maſter, and an honeſt Steward) Heaven bleſſe
’hem. We all thrive under ’em.
Enter Butler with Glaſſes and a Napkin.
But.You are welcome, Gentlemen. Pleaſe yee
draw neerer my Office, and take a morning Drink in
a Cup of Sack, if it pleaſe you.
Ol.In what pleaſe you, Sir. We cannot deny the
curteſie of the Houſe, in the Maſters abſence.
But.He’ll come apace when he comes. He’s no
Ol.Still ’tis the Houſe-word. And all the Ser-
vants wear Livery-Beards.
But.Or perhaps you had rather drink Whitewine
and Sugar. Pleaſe your ſelves, Gentlemen; here
you may taſte all Liquors. No Gentlemans Houſe in
all this County, or the next, ſo well ſtor’d ( – –make
us thankfull for it.) And my Maſter, for his Hoſpi-
tality to Gentlemen, his Charity to the Poor, and
his bounty to his Servants, has not his Peer in the
K 2King-
A Jovial Crew : or,
Kingdom (– – –make us thankful for it.) And ’tis as
fortunate a Houſe for Servants, as ever was built up-
on
Faery-Ground. I my ſelf, that have ſerv’d here,
Man, and Boy, theſe four and forty yeers, have got-
ten together (beſides ſomething, more then I will
ſpeak of, diſtributed among my poor Kinred) by
my Wages, my Vails at
Chriſtmas, and otherwiſe, to-
gether with my Rewards of kinde Gentlemen, that
have found courteous entertainment here– – –
But.Have, I ſay, gotten together (tho’ in a dan-
gerous time I ſpeak it) a brace of hundred pounds– – –
Make me thankfull for it. And for loſſes, I have had
none. I have been Butler theſe two and thirty yeers,
and never loſt the value of a Silver Spoon, nor ever
broke a Glaſſe– – –Make me thankfull for it. White
Wine and Sugar, ſay you Sir?
Ol.Pleaſe your ſelf, Sir.
But.This Gentleman ſpeaks not. Or had you ra-
ther take a Drink of brown Ale with a Toaſt, or
March Beer with Sugar and Nutmeg? or had you
rather drink without Sugar?
Ol.Good Sir, a Cup of your Houſhold-Beer.
Exit But.
I fear he will draw down to that at laſt.
Enter Butler with a Silver Can of Sack.
But.Here, Gentlemen, is a Cup of my Maſters
ſmall Beer : But it is good old
Canary, I aſſure you.
And here’s to your welcome.
Enter Cooke.
Cook.And welcome the Cooke ſayes, Gentlemen.
Brother Butler, lay a Napkin, I’ll fetch a Cut of the
Surloyn to ſtrengthen your patience till my Maſter
[K2v]comes,
The merry Beggars.
comes, who will not now be long, for he’s no
Snayle,
Ol.I have often heard ſo. And here’s to you, Ma-
ſter Cook– – –Prithee ſpeak, Maſter
Talboy, or force
one Laugh more, if thou canſt.
Cook.Sir, the Cook drinks to you.
To Talb.
Tal.He is in the ſame Livory-Beard too.
Cook.But he is the oldeſt Cook, and of the ancient-
eſt Houſe, and the beſt for Houſe-keeping, in this
County, or the next. And tho’ the Maſter of it
write but
Squire, I know no Lord like him.
Enter
Chaplain. And now he’s come. Here comes the
Word before him. The
Parſon has ever the beſt ſto-
mack. I’ll Diſh away preſently.
Exit.
But.Is our Maſter come, Sir
Domine?
Chap.Eſt ad Manum. Non eſt ille teſtudo.
Ol.He has the Word too in
Latine. Now bear up
Cha.Give me a Preparative of Sack. It is a gentle
Preparative before Meat. And ſo a gentle touch of
Ol.It is a gentle Offer, Sir; and as gently to be
Enter Oldrents and Hearty.
Old.About with it, my Lads. And this is as it
ſhould be.– – – Not till my turn, Sir, I. Though, I
confeſſe, I have had but three Morning-draughts to
Ol.Yet it appears you were abroad betimes, Sir.
Ol.So your men told us, Sir.
K k 3Old.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Old.But where be my
Catchers? Come, a
Round.
The Catch ſung. And they drink about. The Singers
are all Graybeards.
[Link] A Round, a Round, a Round, Boyes, a Round
Let Mirth fly aloft, and Sorrow be drown’d.
Old Sack, and old Songs, and a Merry old Crew,
Can charm away Cares when the Ground looks blew.
Old.Well ſaid old
Hearty. And, Gentlemen, wel-
Old.Oh mine ears ! What was that, a ſigh? And
in my Houſe? Look : has it not ſplit my Walls ? If
not, make vent for it : Let it out : I ſhall be ſtifled
Ol.He hopes your pardon, Sir : his Cauſe conſi-
Old.Cauſe? Can there be cauſe for ſighing.
Ol.He has loſt his
Miſtris, Sir.
Old.Ha ha ha. Is that a Cauſe? Do you hear me
complain the loſſe of my two Daughters?
Ol.They are not loſt, I hope Sir.
Old.No more can be his Miſtris. No Woman can
be loſt. They may be mis-laid a little : but found
Old.Ods my life ! He ſighs again : And means to
blow me out of my Houſe. To Horſe again. Here’s
no dwelling for me. Or ſtay : I’ll cure him, if I can.
Give him more Sack, to drown his Suſpirations.
[K3v]While
The merry Beggars.
While Oldrents and Talboy drink. Oliver takes
Hearty aſide.
Ol.Sir, I am chiefly to inform you of the Diſ-
Old.Your Nephew
Martin has ſtolne my Fathers
Ward, that Gentlemans
Bride that ſhould have been.
Ol.’Tis moſt true– – –
He gives Hearty a Letter.
Hea.Another Glaſſe of
Sack. This Gentleman
Ol.Sir, is you can prevent his danger– – –
Hea.Hang all Preventions. Let ’em have their
Tal.Sir, I ſhould have had her, ’tis true– – –
To
But ſhe is gone, d’ee ſee? And let her go.
Oldrents.
Old.Well ſaid. He mends now.
Tal.I am glad I am rid of her (d’ee ſee) before I
had more to do with her– – –
Hearty reads the Letter.
Tal.For ſhould I have married her before ſhe had
run away, d’ee ſee : And that ſhe had run away (d’e
ſee) after ſhe had bin married to me (d’ee ſee)Then
I had been a married Man without a Wife(d’ee ſee.)
Where now ſhe being run away before I am marri-
ed (d’ee ſee) I am no more married to her, d’ee ſee,
then ſhe to me, d’ee ſee. And ſo long as I am none of
hers (d’ee ſee) nor ſhe none of mine (d’ee ſee) I
ought to care as little for her, now ſhe is run away
(d’ee ſee) as if ſhe had ſtay’d with me, d’ee ſee.
Old.Why this is excellent ! Come hither
Hearty.
Tal.I perceive it now; and the reaſon of it; And
[K4]how
A Jovial Crew : or,
how, by Conſequence (d’ee ſee) I ought not to look
any further after her.
Cryes. But that ſhe
ſhould reſpect a poor baſe fellow, a Cleark at the
moſt, and a Servingman at beſt, before me, that am
a rich man, at the worſt; and a Gentleman, at leaſt,
makes me– – – I know not what to ſay– – –
Old.Worſe than ever ’twas ! Now he cries out-
Tal.I know not what to ſay– – –What to ſay– – –
Hea.Then I do, Sir. The poore baſe Fellow, that
you ſpeak of, is my Nephew : As good a Gentleman
as your ſelf. I underſtand the buſineſſe by your
Tal.I cry you mercy, Sir.
Old.You ſhall cry no Mercy, nor any thing elſe
here, Sir; nor for any thing here, Sir. This is no
place to cry in : Nor for any buſineſſe. You,Sir,that
come on buſineſſe– –
To Ol.
Ol.It ſhall be none, Sir.
Old.My Houſe is for no buſineſſe, but the Belly-
buſineſſe. You finde not me ſo uncivill, Sir, as to
aſk you from whence you came; who you are; or
what’s your buſineſſe. I aſk you no queſtion. And
can you be ſo diſcourteous, as to tell me, or my
Friend, any thing like buſineſſe. If you come to be
merry with Me, you are welcome. If you have any
buſineſſe, forget it : You forget where you are elſe.
Hea.Sir, I pray let me onely prevail with you but
Old.Spoyle my Stomack now, and I’ll not eat
this fortnight.
He reads aſide.
[K4v]Hea.
The merry Beggars.
Hea.While he reads, let me tell you, Sir. That
my Nephew
Martin has ſtolne that Gentlemans Mi-
ſtris, it ſeems, is true. But I proteſt, as I am a Gen-
tleman, I know nothing of the matter ; nor where
he or ſhe is. But, as I am the foreſaid Gentleman, I
am glad on’t with all my heart. Ha, my boy
Mat.
Thou ſhalt reſtore our
Houſe.
Ol.Let him not hear, to grieve him, Sir.
Hea.Grieve him ? What ſhould he do with her;
teach their Children to cry?
Tal.But I do hear you though; and I ſcorn to cry,
as much as you, d’ee ſee, or your Nephew either,
Hea.Now thou art a brave fellow. So, ſo, hold
up thy head, and thou ſhalt have a Wife, and a fine
Tal.Hang a Wife; and Pax o’ your fine Thing
(d’ee ſee) I ſcorn your Fopperies, d’ee ſee.
Old.And I do hear thee, my Boy ; and rejoyce in
thy converſion. If thou canſt but hold now.
Tal.Yes, I can hold, Sir. And I hold well with
your Sack. I could live and die with it, as I am true
Old.Now thou art a tall Fellow; and ſhalt want
Tal.And, Sir, I do honour you (d’ee ſee) and
ſhould wiſh my ſelf one of your Houſhold Servants
(d’ee ſee) if I had but a gray Beard, d’ee ſee?
Hay,
as old Maſter
Clack ſayes.
Old.Well, I have read the buſineſſe here.
Ol.Call it not buſineſſe, I beſeech you, Sir.
Tal.I marry do we, Sir. D’ee ſee, Sir? And a
L [1]Hay,
A Jovial Crew : or,
Hay , as old Maſter
Clack ſayes.
Old.Grammercy Sack. Well, I have read the
Matter here written by Maſter
Clack. And do but
bear up in thy humour, I will wait upon thee home.
Knock within.
Heark ! they knock to the Dreſſer. I have heard
much of this old od-ceited Juſtice
Clack : And now
I long to ſee him. ’Tis but croſſing the Countrey
two daies and a nights Journey. We’ll but dine and
away preſently. Bear up, I ſay, Maſter
Talboy.
Tal.I will bear up, I warrant you, d’ee ſee, Sir – – –
But here’s a grudging ſtill– – –
Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
A great noyſe within of rude Muſick, Laughing,
Singing, &c.
Enter Amie. Rachel. Meriel.
Am.HEre’s a Wedding with a witneſſe, and a
Holy-day with a hoigh. Let us out of the
noiſe, as we love our ears.
Ra.Yes : and here we may purſue our own Diſ-
courſe, and hear one another.
Mer.Concerning
Springlove and your ſelf,
Miſtris
Am.Well, Ladies, my confidence in you, that
you are the ſame that you have proteſted your
ſelves to be, hath ſo far won upon me, that I con-
feſſe my ſelf well-affected both to the Minde and
Perſon of that
Springlove. And, if he be (as fairly
you pretend ) a
Gentleman, I ſhall eaſily diſpenſe with
[L1v]Ra.
The merry Beggars.
Am.How well that high Ingagement ſuits your
Ra.Our Minds and Blood are ſtill the ſame.
Am.I have paſt no affiance to the other,
That ſtole me from my Guardian, and the Match
He would have forc’d me to : From which I would
Have fled with any, or without a Guide.
Beſides, his minde, more clowniſh than his Habit,
Deprav’d by Covetouſneſſe and Cowardiſe,
Forc’d me into a way of miſery,
To take relief from
Beggars.
Am.And then, to offer to marry me under a
Hedge, as the old Couple were today, without
Book or Ring, by the Chaplain of the
Beggars Regi-
ment, your
Patrico, onely to ſave Charges.
Ra.I have not ſeen the Wretch theſe three hours,
Am.He told me, to fetch Horſe and fit Raiment
for us; and ſo to poſt me hence : But I think it was
to leave me on your hands.
Mer.He has taken ſome great diſtaſte ſure : For
Ra.I, didſt thou mark what a wilde look he caſt,
when
Springlove tumbled her , and kiſt her on the
Straw this morning, while the Muſick plaid to the
Mer.Yes, and then
Springlove, to make him mad-
der, told him, that he would be his
Proxie, and mar-
ry her for him, and lie with her the firſt night, with
a naked Cudgell betwixt ’em, and make him a King
L 2Am.
A Jovial Crew: or,
Am.I ſaw how it anger’d him. And I imagin’d
then, and before, that there was more in
Springlove,
then downright
Beggar. But tho’ he be never ſo good
a Gentleman, he ſhall obſerve fit time and diſtance
Ra.Matrimony forbid elſe. (She’s taken.) But
while we talk of a Match towards, we are miſt with-
in in the
Bride-Barn among the
Revell rout.
Am.We have had all the ſport they could make
us, in the paſt paſſages.
Mer.How cautious the old contracted Couple
were for Portion and joincture !
Ra.What Feoffees, ſhe being an Heire of foure-
ſcore, (and ſeven yeers ſtone-blinde) had, in truſt
Am.And how carefully he ſecur’d all to himſelf,
in caſe he out-liv’d her, being but ſeven yeers older
then ſhe. And what pains the Lawyer of the Rout
Ra.And then , how ſolemnly they were joyn’d,
and admoniſh’d, by our
Parſon Under-hedge, to live
together in the fear of the Laſh, and give good ex-
ample to the younger Reprobates, to beg within
Compaſſe, to eſcape the jaws of the Juſtice, the
Clutch of the Conſtable, the Hooks of the Head-
borough, and the biting blows of the Beadle. And,
in ſo doing, they ſhould defie the Devill, and all his
Works, and after their painfull Pilgrimage in this
life, they ſhould die in the Ditch of Delight.
Mer.O but Poet
Scribble’s Epithalamium.
To the blinde Virgin of fourſcore,
And the lame Batchelor, of more,
[L2v]How
The merry Beggars.
How Cupid gave her Fyes to ſee,
And Vulcan lent him Legs :
How Venus caus’d their Sport to be
Prepar’d with butter’s Egs.
Yet when ſhe ſhall be ſeven yeers wed,
She ſhall be bold to ſay,
She has as much her Maiden-head,
Ra.So may ſome Wives that were married at ſix-
teen, to Lads of one and twenty.
Am.But at the Wedding-Feaſt, when the Bride
bridled it, and her Groome ſadled it. There was the
ſport, in her Mumping, and his Champing; the
Crew
ſcrambling; our ſelves trembling; then the confuſi-
on of Noyſes, in talking, laughing, ſcolding, ſing-
ing, howling ; with their Actions, of ſnatching,
ſcratching, towſing and lowſing themſelves, and one
another– –
Enter Springl. Vinc. and Hilliard.
Spr.O, Ladies, you have loſt as much Mirth, as
would have fill’d up a week of Holy-daies.
Springlove takes Amie aſide, and courts her
in a gentile way.
Vin.I am come about agen for the
Beggars life
Ra.You are. I am glad on’t.
Hill.There is no life but it.
(plexity ;
Vin.With them there is no Grievance or Per-
No fear of war, or State Diſturbances.
No Alteration in a Common-wealth,
L 3Or
A Jovial Crew : or,
Or Innovation, ſhakes a Thought of theirs.
Mer.Of ours you ſhould ſay.
We have no fear of leſſening our Eſtates;
Nor any grudge with us (without Taxation)
To lend or give, upon command, the whole
Strength of our Wealth for publick Benefit :
While ſome, that are held rich in their Abundance,
(Which is their Miſery, indeed) will ſee
Rather a generall ruine upon all,
Then give a Scruple to prevent the Fall.
Vin.’Tis onely we that live.
Ra.I’m glad you are ſo taken with your Calling.
Mer.We are no leſſe, I aſſure you. We finde the
Ra.The Mirth, the Pleaſure, the Delights. No
Mer.Some few,upon neceſſity, perhaps.But that’s
Vin.They will never be weary.
Hil.Whether we ſeem to like,or diſlike,all’s one
Vin.We muſt do ſomething to be taken by, and
diſcovered , we ſhall never be our ſelves, and get
Spr. and Amie come to the reſt.
Spr.I am yours for ever. Well, Ladies, you have
miſt rare Sport; but now the Bride has miſt you
with her half-half eye ; and the Bridegroome, with
the help of his Crutches, is drawing her forth for a
Daunce, here, in the opener aire. The Houſe is now
too hot for ’em. O, here come the chief Revellers.
The
Souldier, the
Courtier, the
Lawyer, and the
Poet,
[L3v]who
The merry Beggars.
who is Maſter of their Revels,before the old Couple
in State. Attend, and hear him ſpeak, as their Indu-
HEre, on this Green, like King and Queen,
(For a ſhort truce) we do produce
Our old new-married Pair.
Of Diſh and Wallet, and of Straw-pallet,
With Rags to ſhow, from top to toe,
She is the ancient Heire.
He is the Lord of Bottle-gourd,
Of Sachell great, for Bread and Meat,
And, for ſmall Pence, a Purſe.
To all that give, Long may you live
He loudly cries : But who denies
Is ſure to have his Curſe.
Vin.Well ſaid Field-Poet.
Phœbus, we ſee, inſpires
As well the
Beggar, as the
Poet Laureat.
Spr.And ſhines as warm under a Hedge bottom,
as on the tops of
Palaces.
Po.I have not done yet. Now this is to incite you
PRepare your ſelves, like Faëry Elves,
That you approve, the God of Love
Has many Shafts to’s Bow :
With Golden head, and ſome of Lead,
But that which made theſe feel,
By ſubtile craft, was ſure a Shaft
That headed was with Steel.
[L4]For
A Jovial Crew : or,
For they were old; no Earth more cold;
Their Hearts were Flints intire;
Whence the Steels ſtroak did ſparks provoke,
That ſet their Bloods on fire.
Now ſtrike up Piper; and each Lover here
Be blith, and take his Miſtris by the Goll.
Hil.That’s no Rime,
Poet.
Po.There’s as good
Poetry in blank Verſe, as
Spr.Come, hay ! the Daunce, the Daunce. Nay
we’ll ha’ the
old Couple in, as blind and lame as they
Bri.What will you ſo?
Daunce.
Spr.Well hobled
Bridegroome !
Hil.Hay luſty.
Hay Holy-day.
Spr.Set ’hem down ; ſet ’em down : They ha’
Gro.A ha ! I am luſtier than I was 30. yeers ago.
Bri.And I, than I was threeſcore paſt. A hem,
Vin.What a night here’s towards !
Hil.Sure they will kill one another.
Po.Each with a fear the tother will live longeſt.
Spr.Poet, thou haſt ſpoken learnedly, and acted
bravely. Thou art both
Poet and
Actor.
Po.So has been many famous men. And if here
were no worſe, we might have a
Maſque, or a
Comedie
preſented to night, in honour of the
old Couple.
Vin.Let us each man try his ability
Upon ſome Subject now
extempore.
Spr.Agreed. Give us a Theme; and try our Acti-
[L4v]Po.
The merry Beggars.
Po.I have already thought upon’t. I want but
Hil.What Perſons want you? what would you
Po.I would preſent a Common-wealth;
Utopia,
With all her Branches and Conſiſtencies.
Ra.I’ll be
Utopia ; who muſt be my
Branches?
Po.The
Country, the
City, the
Court, and the
Camp.
Epitomiz’d and perſonated by a
Gentleman, a
Mer-
chant, a
Courtier, and a
Souldier.
Soul.I’ll be your
Souldier. Am not I one? ha!
Cou.And am not I a faſhionable
Courtier ?
Po.But who the
Citizen or
Merchant?
Vin.And I your
Country Gentleman.
Po.Yet to our Morall I muſt adde two Perſons,
La.Why la you now. And am not I a
Lawyer?
Vin.Mary that I know not. One of us might do
that, if either knew how to handle it.
Spr.Where’s the old
Patrico, our Prieſt, my
Ghoſtly Father? He’ll do it rarely.
1 Beg.He was telling Fortunes e’ne now to Coun-
try Wenches. I’ll fetch him– – –
Exit.
Spr.That
Patrico I wonder at : He has told me
ſtrange things in clouds.
Am.And me ſomewhat that I may tell you here-
Spr.That you ſhall be my Bride?
Am.I will not tell you now.
Vin.Well: but what muſt our Speeches tend to?
what muſt we do one with another?
M [1]Po.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Po.I would have the
Country, the
City, and the
Court, be at great variance for
Superiority. Then would
I have
Divinity and
Law ſtretch their wide throats
to appeaſe and reconcile them : Then would I have
the
Souldier cudgell them all together, and overtop
them all. Stay, yet I want another perſon.
Vin.Here’s enough of us, I think. What muſt
Po.He muſt, at laſt, overcome the
Souldier; and
bring them all to
Beggars-Hall. And this, well acted,
will be for the honour of our Calling.
All.A
Scribble! A
Scribble!
Hill.Come, where’s this
Patrico, that we may
Enter Patrico.
Pa.Alack and welladay, this is no time to play.
Our Quarter is beſet. We are all in the Net.
Leave off your merry Glee.
Spr.Why what’s the Matter?
Within.Bing awaſt, bing awaſt. The
Quire Cove
Some Beggars run over the Stage.
Spr.We are beſet indeed. What ſhall we do?
Vin.I hope we ſhall be taken.
Hil.If the good hour be come, welcome by thegrace of good Fortune.
Enter Sentwell, Conſtable, Watch. The
Crew ſlip away.
Sent.Beſet the Quarter round. Be ſure that none
[M1v]Spr.
The merry Beggars.
Spr.Lord to come with you, bleſſed Maſter, to a many
Ra. Mer.Good your good Worſhip, duly and truly, &c.
Sen.A many counterfeit Rogues! So frolick and
ſo lamentable all in a breath ? You were acting a
Play but now : We’ll act with you. Incorrigible Va-
Spr.Good Maſter, ’tis a
Holy-day with us. An
Heire was married here to day.
Sen.Married ! Not ſo I hope. Where is ſhe? ’Tis
Spr.Here She is Maſter– – – Hide your ſelves in
the Straw– –the Straw. Quickly into the Straw– – –
Sen.What tell’ſt thou me of this? An old blind
Beggar-woman. We muſt finde a young
Gentlewoman-
Heire among you. Where’s all the reſt of the
Crew?
Con.Slipt into the Barn and the Buſhes by : but
Sen.Look you to that, and to theſe here.
Exit. with Watch.
Spr.Into the Straw, I ſay.
Vin.No, good
Springlove. The Ladies and we
are agreed now to draw Stakes, and play this lowſie
Hil.We will be taken, and diſcloſe our ſelves.
You ſee we ſhall be forc’d to it elfe. The cowardly
Cleark has don’t to ſave himſelf.
Spr.Do you fear no ſhame, Ladies?
Ra.Doſt think it a ſhame to leave Begging?
Mer.Or that our Father will turn us out to it
Spr.Nay, ſince you are ſo reſolute, Know, that I
M 2my
A Jovial Crew: or,
my ſelf begin to finde this is no courſe for
Gentle-
men. This
Lady ſhall take me off it.
Am.Make but your Proteſtations good, and take
me yours. And for the Gentleman that ſurpriſes us,
tho’ he has all my Uncles truſt, he ſhall do any thing
Vin.If,
Springlove, thou could’ſt poſt now to thy
Tyring-houſe, and fetch all our Cloaths, we might
Spr.A Horſe and ſix hours Travell would do that.
Am.You ſhall be furniſht, doubt not.
Enter Sentwell. Watch.
Sent.She’s ſcap’d, or is inviſible. You Sir, I take
to be the chief
Rogue of this
Regiment. Let him be
whipt till he brings forth the
Heire.
Con.That is but till he ſtinks, Sir. Come, Sir,
Am.Unhand him, Sir. What
Heire do you ſeek,
Sent.Precious, how did my haſt overſee her? O
Miſtris
Amie ! Could I, or your Uncle, Juſtice
Clack, a wiſer man than I, ever ha’ thought to have
found you in ſuch company?
Am.Of me, Sir, and my company, I have a ſtory
to delight you : which on our March towards your
Houſe, I will relate to you.
Sent.And thither will I lead you as my Gueſt.
But to the Law ſurrender all the reſt.
Am.We muſt fare all alike.
Exeunt.
[M2v]Actus