The merry Beggars.
Actus Quintus.
Clack. Martin.
Cla.I have forgiven you. Provided that my Neece
be ſafely taken ; and ſo to be brought home.
Safely, I ſay, that is to ſay, unſtain’d, unblemiſh’d,
undiſhonour’d ; that is to ſay, with no more faults,
criminall, or accuſative than thoſe ſhe carried with
Cla.Nay, if we both ſpeak together, how ſhall
we hear one another? you believe her Vertue is Ar-
mour of proof, without your Councell or your
Guard; and therefore you leſt her in the hands of
Rogues and Vagabonds, to make your own Peace
with me. You have it. Provided, I ſay (as I ſaid
before) that ſhe be ſafe, that is to ſay, uncorrupted,
undefiled ; that is to ſay– – – as I ſaid before.
Mar.Mine intent, Sir, and my onely way– – –
Cla.Nay, if we both ſpeak together, how ſhall
we hear one another? as I ſaid before. Your intent,
and your onely way, you would ha’ ſaid, was to run
away with her; and that by her onely Inſtigation, to
avoid the tye of Marriage with Maſter
Talboy; that
is to ſay, to ſhun the Match, that I had made for her;
that is to ſay, rather to diſobey me, than to diſpleaſe
her ſelf. Wherein (altho’ ſhe did not altogether
tranſgreſſe the Law) ſhe did both offend and preju-
dice me, an Inſtrument; nay, I may ſay, a Pillar
thereof. And you, in aſſiſting her, furthering, and
conveying her away, did not onely infringe the
M 3Law,
A Jovial Crew : or,
Law, in an unlawfull Departure from your Maſter,
but in a higher point ; that is to ſay,
Top and top-Gal-
lows high. I would ha found a Jury ſhould ha’ ſound
Mar.But Sir, a’nt pleaſe you.
Cla.Muſt we then both ſpeak together? Have I
not born with thee, to ſpeak all thou pleaſeſt in thy
defence? Have I not broke mine own Rule, which
is, to puniſh before I examine ; and ſo to have the
Law the ſurer o’ my ſide? And doſt thou ſtill perſiſt?
Hold your own peace; or, as I am a Juſtice of the
Kings, I will unſay what I ſaid before, and ſet a
Cur-
rat Lex at you, Sirrah, that ſhall courſe you up the
heavy Hill. Oh, is your Tongue fallen into your Leg
now? Do not you know I have acquitted you? Pro-
vided– – – As I ſaid before. Go your way in, and ſee
that the Gentlemen, who, I think, were got in
Sack,
chriſtned in
Sack, nurſed with
Sack, and fed up to
gray haires with onely
Sack; ſee, I ſay, that they
want no
Sack. My Son
Oliver ( I thank him ) has
brought me a pair of ſuch Gueſts.
Enter Sentwell.
O Maſter
Sentwell! Good News?
Sen.Of beggarly news, the beſt you have heard.
Cla.That is to ſay, you have found my Neece a-
mong the
Beggars. That is to ſay– – –
Sen.True, Sir
Oliver, I found her– – –
Cla.Now if we both ſpeak together, who ſhall
Sen.I thought your deſire was to be inform’d.
Cla.I can inform my ſelf, Sir, by your looks. I
have taken a hundred Examinations i’ my daies of
Fellons, and other Offendors, out of their very
Countenances; and wrote ’em down
verbatim, to
[M3v]what
The merry Beggars.
what they would have ſaid. I am ſure it has ſerv’d
to hang ſome of ’em, and whip the reſt.
Sen.Juſtice
Clack ſtill ! He muſt talk all. His
Cla.But to the point. You have found my Neece.
You have leſt her at your own Houſe ; not onely to
ſhift her out of her Diſguiſe, but out of her ſhame,
to come neerer me, untill I ſend her pardon.
Sen.Moſt true, Sir. But the Company ſhe was
Cla.Again! Do not I know the Company?
Beg-
gars, Rogues, Vagabonds, and
Hedge-birds.
Sen.But do you know whom, or how many we
have taken? and how the reſt eſcap’d?
Cla.A needleſſe knowledge. Why ſhould we
take more than her ſelf? Or how could you take
Enter Martin.
Mar.Sir, the old Gentlemen within, ſent me to
wait upon you. Without you (they ſay) they need
Cla.Tell ’em then, I’ll wait on ’em preſently.
Exit Martin.
Sent.But Sir, we have taken with her ſuch
Beg-
gars, ſuch
Rogues, ſuch
Vagabonds, and ſuch
Hedge-
birds (ſince you call ’em ſo) as you never knew, or
heard of, though now the Countries ſwarm with
’em under every Hedge, as if an innumerable Army
of ’em were lately diſbanded without Pay.
Hedge--
birds ſaid you?
Hedge Lady-birds, Hedge Cavaliers,
Hedge Souldier, Hedge Lawyer, Hedge Fidlers, Hedge Poet,
Hedge Players, and a
Hedge Prieſt among ’em. Such we
have taken for the
Principals. But to ſee how the
[M 4]mul-
A Jovial Crew : or,
Multitude ſcap’d us, was more ſport than pitty.
How, upon a Watch-word given, they in the inſtant
vaniſh’d by more ſeverall waies than there were legs
among ’em; how the Creeples leap’d over Pales
and Hedges; how the Blinde found their way tho-
row Lakes and Ditches; how a
Doxie flew with two
Children at her back, and two more, perhaps, in her
Cla.A
Hedge Prieſt have you taken, ſay you?
Sen.Yes, Sir, an old
Patrico, an ancient Prophet,
to tell Fortunes, and cozen our poor Country Peo-
ple of their ſingle Money.
Enter Oliver.
Ol.Sir, Maſter
Oldrents, in that he injoyes not
your company, begins to doubt of his welcome.
Cla.Who led him into that doubt? I, or you that
Ol.Sir, his own deſire, and love to you, brought
him hither. I but ſhew’d him the way.
Cla.You reaſon fairly. Tell him I come.
Ol.Pray, Sir, be pleas’d to do ſo: for he ſaies– – –
Cla.Nay, if we both talk together– – –
Ol.Who ſhall hear one another.
Exit. Oliver.
Cla.But are there
Players among the apprehended?
Sen.Yes, Sir. And they were contriving to act a
Play among themſelves, juſt as we ſurpriz’d ’em, and
Cla.Players! I’ll pay them above all the reſt.
Sen.You ſhall do well in that; to put ’hem in
Cla.Yes, I’ll put ’em in Stocks, and ſet ’em up to
the Whipping-poſt. They can act
Juſtices, can they?
I’ll act a
Juſtice among ’em; that is to ſay, I will
[M4v]do
The merry Beggars.
do juſtice upon them ; that is to ſay– – –
Sen.Pray Sir, be not ſevere, they act
Kings and
Emperours, as well as
Juſtices. And
Juſtice is blinde
they ſay : you may therefore be pleas’d to wink a
little. I finde that you have merry old Gentlemen
in your Houſe, that are come far to viſit you. I’ll
undertake that theſe
Players, with the help of their
Poet; in a device which they have already ſtudied,
and a pack of Cloaths which I ſhall ſupply ’em
with, ſhall give your Gueſts much content, and
move compaſſion in you towards the poor
Strowles.
Cla.But you know my way of
Juſtice (and that’s
a ſure way) is to puniſh ’em firſt, and be compaſſion-
ate afterwards, as I finde ’em upon their Examina-
Sen.But for your Gueſts ſakes, who (I know) do
favour and affect the Quality of Actors very much,
permit ’em, Sir. It will inlarge your Entertainment
Cla.And perhaps ſave me the expence of a Ren-
let of
Sack the while. Well, Sir, for that Reſpect,
and upon your undertaking that they ſhall pleaſe. I
will prorogue my
Juſtice on the
Rogues. And ſo to
my merry Gentlemen, whom I will prepare to ſee
their
Enterlude againſt after Supper. But pray, Maſter
Sentwell, as you have found my Neece, look to her,
and ſee her decently brought home.
Sen.In her own beſt Apparell. But you muſt pro-
rogue your diſpleaſure to her too.
Cla.I will do ſo, untill my ſcarce welcome
Gueſts
Enter Randall.
Ran.Sir, my Maſter ſends you word, and plainly,
N [1]that
A Jovial Crew: or,
that without your Company, your Entertainment
ſtinks. He has commanded me ſaddle his Nags, and
away to night. If you come not at once, twice,
thrice, he’s gone preſently, before Supper; He’ll
finde an Hoſt at an Inne worth a hundred o’ you.
Cla.Good friend, I will now ſatiſfie your Maſter,
without telling him he has a ſawcy Knave to his
Sen.Do you hear, Friend, you ſerve Maſter
Old-
Ran.I could ha’ told you that. And the beſt
Houſe-keeper my Maſter is of any Gentleman in the
County he dwels in; and the beſt Maſter to a man, as
I, the worſt of twenty, can ſay for him, and would
Sen.Your name is
Randall.
Ran.Forgi’ me ! Are you ſo wiſe? you are too
young to be my
Godſire. And I hope not old enough
to be a Witch. How know you, that I am
Randall?
were you ever at, my Maſters Houſe i’
Nottingham-
ſhire, or at
Dunghilford, where I was born?
Sen.No. But I have Notes to know you by.
Ran.I was never twelve mile from thence i’ my
life, before this Journey. God ſend me within ken
of our own Kitchin ſmoak again.
Sen.Your Maſters Stewards name is
Springlove.
Ran.Maſter
Springlove, an’t pleaſe you. There is
not an honeſter Gentleman between this and the
head of him. And my heart’s with him, where e’re
Sent.Yes, and your Maſters Daughters too.
[N1v]Sen.
The merry Beggars.
Sen.And that they are all from home, your Ma-
Ran.Whaw, whaw. Know you that too?
Sen.Yes, and the two young Gentlemen that are
with ’em, Maſter
Vincent, and Maſter
Hilliard.
Ran.Whaw, whaw again. You know ’em all, I
think. But know you where they all are?
Sen.Even here by, at my own Houſe.
Sen.And they knowing that your Maſter is here,
Sen.And your ſelf too. They directed me to
finde you,
Randall, and bring you to ’em.
Ran.Whaw, whaw, whaw, whaw.– – – Why do
Sen.But ſecretly. Not a word to any body.
Ran.Mum– – – Will you go then?
Enter Martin.
Mar.O, Maſter
Oldrent’s man. Pray let me in-
treat you into the Buttery.
Ran.Will you go, Maſter
Gentleman?
Mar.Indeed it is my Maſters deſire, and he com-
Ran.Now, when it’s Supper-time did he? to fill
my belly with thin drink to ſave his Meat? It’s the
manner in Churls Houſes. Will you go, Maſter
Mar.Introth my Maſter is ſo merry with yours
Ran.Shite o’ your Maſter. My Maſter’s Steward’s
a better Man. I’ll to him, at this Gentleman’s Houſe,
and all the reſt. Whaw, whaw.
N 2Sen.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Ran.Mum again then. Why would you not go
then?
Exit Sent. and Rand.
Mar.The man’s as mad as his Maſter. The ſtran-
geſt ſtrangers that ever came to our Houſe.
Enter Talboy
Tal.Well,
Martin, for conſeſſing thy fault, and
the means thou mad’ſt whereby ſhe is taken, I am
friends with thee. But I ſhall never look upon her,
or thee– – –but with grief of minde, however I bear
Mar.You bear it very manfully, me thinks.
Tal.I, you think ſo, and I know ſo– – – But what
I feel, I feel. Would one of us two had never both
ſeen one another.– – –Oh– – –
Mar.You ſpeak very good ſenſe, Sir. But do’s
my Maſter continue his merry humour with the old
Tal.Yes. Juſtice
Clack’s Clack go’s as merrily as
Mar.Well ſaid, Sir. Now, you ſpeak merrily too.
But I could ſay ſomwhat that would ſtill him. And
for your comfort, I’ll tell you. Miſtris
Amie is fallen
in love with one of the
Beggars.
Tal.Then have I nothing elſe to do, but to laugh
at thee as long as I live. Ha ha ha– – – To let a
Beggar
cozen thee of her. Ha ha ha. A
Beggar ! I ſhall die
Enter Clack. Oldrents. Hearty. Oliver.
Cla.A
hay Boys, a
hay. This is right ; that is to
ſay, as I would have it ; that is to ſay– – –
Tal.A
Beggar. Ha ha ha– – –
[N2v]Cla.
The merry Beggars.
Cla.A
hay Boyes, a
hay. They are as merry with-
out, as we were within. A
hay, Maſter
Oldrents, and
Maſter
Hearty! The vertue of your Company turns
all to Mirth and Melody, with a
hay trololly lolly lolly.
Is’t not ſo, Maſter
Hearty?
Old.Why thus it ſhould be : How was I deceiv’d!
Now I ſee you are a good Fellow.
Ol.He was never ſo before. If it be a Lightning
before Death, the beſt is, I am his Heire.
Cla.Again, Boyes, again ; that is to ſay , a
hay
Hea.What is the Motive of your Mirth, Nephew
Martin? Let us laugh with you.
Old.Was that ſpoke like my Friend,
Hearty? Lack
we Motives to laugh? Are not all things, any thing,
every thing to be laugh’d at? And if nothing were
to be ſeen, felt, heard, or underſtood, we would
Cla.You take the loſſe of your Miſtris merrily,
Tal.More merrily than you will take the finding
of her. Ha ha ha– – – A
Beggar! Ha ha ha– – –
Cla.Can I be ſad to finde her, think you?
Mar.He thinks you will be diſpleas’d with her,
Cla.You are deceiv’d, Maſter
Talboy; you are
wide, Maſter
Talboy; above half your length, Ma-
ſter
Talboy. Law and Juſtice ſhall ſleep, and Mirth
and good Fellowſhip ride a
Circuit here to night. A
hay, Maſter
Oldrents, a
hay Maſter
Hearty, and a
hay,
Son
Oliver, and a
hay, Nephew
Talboy, that ſhould ha’
been, and a
hay, my Cleark
Martin, and a
hay for
N 3the
A Jovial Crew : or,
the
Players. When come they? Son
Oliver, ſee for
Maſter
Sentwell, that is no readier with his new Com-
Tal.Players! Let us go ſee too. I never ſaw any
Ol.This is the firſt fit that ever he had of this Di-
ſeaſe. And if it be his laſt, I ſay, as I ſaid before. I
Old.But is there a
Play to be expected, and acted
Cla.That is to ſay, by
Vagabonds; that is to ſay,
by
ſtrowling Players. They are upon their Purgation.
If they can preſent any thing to pleaſe you, they
may eſcape the Law ; that is (
a hay)
If not, to mor-
row, Gentlemen, ſhall be acted,
Abuſes ſtript and
whipt, among ’em; with a
hay, Maſter
Hearty, you
are not merry.
Enter Sentwell. And a
hay
Maſter
Sentwell, where are your
Drammatis Perſonœ;
your
Prologus, and your
Actus Primus, ha? Ha’ they
given you the ſlip, for fear of the Whip? A
hay.
Sen.A word aſide, an’t pleaſe you.– – –
Sentwell takes Clack aſide, and gives him
a Paper.
Old.I have not known a man in ſuch a Humour.
Hea.And of his own finding ! He ſtole it, indeed,
out of his own Bottles, rather than be rob’d of his
Liquor. Miſers uſe to tipple themſelves ſo.
Old.He do’s ſo out-do us, that we look like ſtaid
men again,
Hearty; fine ſober things.
Hea.But how long will it laſt? He’ll hang him-
ſelf to morrow, for the Coſt we have put him to.
Old.I love a Miſer’s Feaſt dearly. To ſee how
[N3v]thin
The merry Beggars.
thin and ſcattering the Diſhes ſtood, as if they fear’d
Hea.And how the Bottles, to ſcape breaking one
another, were brought up by one at once !
Old.How one of the Serving-men, untrain’d to
wait, ſpilt the White-broth !
Hea.And another, ſtumbling at the Threſhold,
tumbled in his Diſh of Rouncevals before him.
Old.And moſt ſuitable to the Niggardlineſſe of
his Feaſt, we ſhall now have an Entertainment, or
Play, preſented by
Beggars.
Cla.Send ’em in, Maſter
Sentwell.Exit Sent.
Sit Gentlemen, the
Players are ready to enter. And
here’s a Bill of their
Playes. You may take your
Old.Are they ready for them all in the ſame
Cloaths? Read ’em, good
Hearty.
Hea.Firſt, here’s
The two loſt Daughters.
Old.Put me not in minde of the two loſt Daugh-
ters, I prethee. What’s the next?
Old.Nor of a vagrant Steward. Sure ſome abuſe
Hea.The old Squire and the Fortune-teller.
Old.That comes neerer me. Away with it.
Hea.The Beggars Prophecy.
Old.All theſe Titles may ſerve to one
Play, of a
Story that I know too well. I’ll ſee none of them.
Hea.Then here’s
The merry Beggars.
Old.I, that; and let ’em begin.
Enter Talboy and Oliver.
Tal.The
Players are coming in : And Miſtris
Amie
and your man
Martin, are to be Actors among ’em.
[N 4]Cla.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Cla.A
hay then for that too. Some merry device
ſure.
A Flouriſh of Shalms. Heark! the
Beg-
gars Hoboys. Now they begin.
Old.See, a moſt ſolemn
Prologue.
Enter Poet for Prologue.
[Link] TO Knight, to Squire, and to the Gentiles here,
We wiſh our Play may with content appear.
We promiſe you no dainty Wit of Court,
Nor City Pageantry, nor Country Sport :
But a plain Piece of Action, ſhort and ſweet;
In Story true. You’ll know it when you ſee’t.
Old.True Stories and true Jeſts do ſeldom thrive
Cla.They are beſt to pleaſe you with this tho’, or
a
hay with a Whip for them to morrow.
Old.Nay, rather than they ſhall ſuffer, I will be
pleas’d, let ’em Play their worſt.
A Floriſh. Enter Patrico. With Lawyer
habited like Oldrents.
See our
Patrico among ’em.
Hea.That offered you a
Doxie in the Barn.
Your Children’s Fortunes
I have told,
That they ſhall Beg
e’re they be old.
And will you have a Reaſon why?
’Tis Juſtice in their Deſtiny.– – –
Cla.Juſtice, ha! Are you medling with
Juſtices
Pat.Your Grandfather,
by crafty wile
Of bargaining, did much beguile
A thriftleſſe Heire
of half the Lands
That are deſcended to your hands.
[N4v]And,
The merry Beggars.
And, then, by Law, not Equity,
Forc’d Him
and his Poſterity
To Woe
and ſhamefull Beggary.
That was no fault of mine, nor of my Children.
But our fore-fathers Debts and Crimes,
Although forborn till future times,
Are not ſo paid. But what needs more,
I wiſh you happy in your Store.Exit.
Old.Doſt note this,
Hearty?
Hea.You ſaid you would be pleas’d, let ’em play
Lawyer walks ſadly, beats his breaſt, &c.
To him enter Souldier like Hearty,
and ſeems to comfort him.
Old.It begins my Story, and by the ſame
Fortune-
teller that told me my Daughters Fortunes ; almoſt
in the ſame words. I know him now. And he ſpeaks
in the
Play to one that perſonates me, as neer, as they
Cla.How like you it, Sir? You ſeem diſpleas’d.
Shall they be whipt yet ? A
hay, if you ſay the
Old.O, by no means, Sir; I am pleas’d.
Sad for the words of a baſe Fortune-teller?
Believe him! Hang him. I’ll truſt none of ’em.
They have all Whims,
and double double meanings
Old.Whom do’s he talk or look like, now?
Hea.It is no matter whom. You are pleas’d, you
Ha’ you no Sack
i’th’ Houſe? am not I here?
And never without a merry old Song?
O [1]Sing.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Sing.
Old Sack, and old Songs, and a merry old Crew,
Will fright away Cares when the ground looks blew.
And can you think on Gipſie Fortune-tellers?
I’ll think as little of ’em as I can.
Will you abroad then? But here comes your Ste-
Enter Springlove to Lawyer.
Old.Bleſſe me! Is not that
Springlove?
Hea.Is that you, that talks to him, or that Cockſ-
combe I, do you think? Pray let ’em play their
Play:
the Juſtice will not hinder ’em, you ſee; he’s aſleep.
Here are the Keys of all my Charge, Sir. And
My humble ſuit is, that you will be pleas’d
To let me walk upon my known occaſions, this Sommer.
Fie! Canſt not yet leave off thoſe Vagancies?
But I will ſtrive no more to alter Nature.
I will not hinder thee, nor bid thee go.
Old.My own very words at his departure.
Hea.No matter. Pray attend.
Come, Friend, I’ll take your Councell.
Exeunt Lawy.Sould.
I’ve ſtriven with my ſelf to alter Nature in me,
For my good Maſters ſake; but all in vain;
For Beggars, Cuckoe-like,
fly out again,
In their own Notes and Seaſon.
Enter Rachel. Meriel. Vincent. Hilliard.
Our Father’s ſadneſſe will not ſuffer us
And we muſt have a Progreſſe.
Th’ aſſurance of your Loves hath ingag’d us
To wait on you in any courſe.
[O1v]Ra.
The merry Beggars.
Suppoſe we’ll go a begging.
And that muſt be your Courſe, and ſuddenly,
To Cure your Father’s ſadneſſe ;
who is told
It is your Deſtiny :
Which you may quit,
By making it a trick of Youth and Wit.
All talk aſide.
Old.My Daughters and their Sweethearts too.
The ſcope of their
Deſigne; and the whole drift
Of all their Action now, with joy and comfort.
Hea.But take no notice yet.See a
Whim more of it.
But the mad Rogue that acted me, I muſt make drunk
Now! are you all reſolv’d?
You beg to abſolve your Fortune, not for need.
Exeunt.
Old.I muſt commend their Act in that. Praythee
let’s call ’em, and end the matter here. The purpoſe
of their
Play, is but to work my Friendſhip, or their
Peace with me; and they have it.
Hea.But ſee a little more, Sir.
Enter Randall.
Old.My Man
Randall too ! Has he a Part with
an.They were well ſet a work, when they
made me a
Player. What is that I muſt ſay? And
how muſt I act now? Oh! that I muſt be
Steward
for the
Beggars in Maſter
Steward’s abſence; and tell
my Maſter, he’s gone to meaſure Land for him to
O 2Old.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Old.You Sir. Leave the work you can do no bet-
ter ( I can forbear no longer ) and call the Actors
Ran.With all my heart. And glad my Part is ſo
ſoon done.
Exit.
Enter Patrico.
Pat.Since you will then break off our
Play :
Something in earneſt I muſt ſay;
But let affected
Riming go.
I’ll be no more a
Patrico.
My name is
Wrought-on– – –Start not. But (if you
Deſire to hear what’s worth your beſt attention,
More privately) you may draw nearer me.
Oldrents goes to him.
Hea.Hear no more
Fortunes.
Old.You ſhall give me leave.
Pat.I am Grandſon to that unhappy
Wrought-on,
Whom your Grandfather, craftily, wrought out
Of his Eſtate. By which, all his Poſterity
Were, ſince, expos’d to
Beggary. I do not charge
You, with the leaſt offence in this. But, now,
Come neerer me : for I muſt whiſper to you.
Patrico takes Oldrents aſide.
I had a Siſter, who among the Race
Of
Beggars, was the faireſt. Fair ſhe was
In
Gentle Blood, and
Geſture to her
Beauty ;
Which could not be ſo clouded with baſeCloathing,
But ſhe attracted
Love from worthy
Perſons;
Which (for her meanneſſe) they expreſt in
Pity,
For the moſt part. But ſome aſſaulted her
With amorous, though looſe
deſires ; which
ſhe
Had vertue to withſtand. Onely one
Gentleman
(Whether it were by her
Affection, or
[O2v]His
The merry Beggars.
His
Fate, to ſend his Blood a begging with her,
I queſtion not) by her, in heat of Youth,
Did get a
Son, who now muſt call you
Father.
Pa.You. Attend me, Sir. Your
Bounty, then,
Diſpos’d your Purſe to her; In which, beſides
Much Money (I conceive by your neglect)
Was thrown this holy
Relique. Do you know it?
Old.The
Agnus Dei that my Mother gave me
Upon her Death-bed ! O the loſſe of it
Was my ſore grief : And, now, with joy, it is
Reſtor d by
Miracle! Do’s your Siſter live?
Pa.No, Sir. She died within a few daies after
Her Son was born; and left him to my care;
On whom, I, to this day, have had an eye,
Old.Then the young Man lives !
Enter Springlove. Vincent. Hilliard. Rachell.
Meriel.
Pa.Here with the reſt of your fair
Children, Sir.
Old.My Joy begins to be too great within me !
My Bleſſing, and a Welcome to you all.
Be one anothers, and you all are mine.
Ra.Long ſince. We onely ſtood till you ſhook
Mer.For which we were fain to go a begging, Sir.
Old.Now I can read the
Juſtice of my
Fate,and yours– – –
Cla.Ha!
Juſtice? Are they handling of
Juſtice?
Old.But more applaud great
Providence in both.
Cla.Are they jeering of
Juſtices? I watch’d for
O 3Hea.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Hea.I ſo me thought. No, Sir. The
Play is done.
Enter Sentwell. Amie. Oliver. Martin.
Sen.See, Sir, your
Neece preſented to you.
Springlove takes Amie.
Cla.What, with a Speech by one of the
Players?
Speak, Sir : and be not daunted. I am favourable.
Spr.Then, by your favour,Sir, this Maiden is my
Cla.Sure you are out o’ your part. That is to ſay,
Spr.She’s mine by ſolemn Contract, Sir.
Cla.You will not tell me that. Are not you my
Am.I dare not, Sir, deny’t, we are contracted.
Cla.Nay, if we both ſpeak together, how ſhall
Mar.I muſt diſprove the Contract.
Tal.That is my part to ſpeak.
Sen.None can diſprove it. I am witneſſe to it.
Cla.Nay, if we all ſpeak– – –as I ſaid before.
Old.Hear me for all then. Here are no
Beggars
(you are but one,
Patrico) no
Rogues, nor
Players : But
a ſelect Company, to fill this Houſe with Mirth.
Theſe are my
Daughters; theſe their
Huſbands; and
this that ſhall marry your
Neece, a Gentleman, my
Son. I will inſtantly Eſtate him in a thouſand pound
a yeer to entertain his Wife ; and to their Heirs for
ever. Do you hear me now?
Cla.Now I do hear you. And I muſt hear you.
That is to ſay, it is a Match. That is to ſay– – –as I
[O3v]Tal.
The merry Beggars.
Tal.And muſt I hear it too– – –O– – –
Old.Yes, though you whine your eyes out.
Hea.Nephew
Martin, ſtill the Childe with a Suck-
bottle of
Sack. Peace, Lambe ; and I’ll finde a wife
Old.Now,
Patrico, if you can quit your Function,
To live a moderate Gentleman, I’ll give you
A competent Annuity for your life.
Pat.I’ll be, withall, your faithfull Beadſ-man; and
Spend my whole life in Prayers for you and yours.
Cla.And now, Cleark
Martin, give all the
Beg-
gars my free
Paſſe, without all manner of Correcti-
on? that is to ſay, with
a hay get ’em gone.
Ol.Are not you the Gentleman, that challeng’d
me in right of your Friend here?
Vin.Your Inſpection’s good, Sir.
Ra.And you the Gentleman (I take it) that would
have made
Beggar-ſport with us, two at once.
Mer.For twelve pence a piece, Sir.
Oli.I hope we all are Friends.
Spr.Now, on my Duty, Sir, I’ll beg no more,
But your continuall Love, and daily bleſſing.
Old.Except it be at
Court, Boy ; where if ever I
come, it ſhall be to beg the next Fool-Royal’s place
Spr.A begging
Epilogue yet would not be,
Me thinks, improper to this
Comedie.
[O 4]Epilogue.
A Jovial Crew, &c.
Epilogue.
T
Ho’ we are, now, no Beggars
of the Crew,
We count it not a ſhame to beg of you.
The Juſtice,
here, has given his Paſſe
free
To all the reſt, unpuniſh’d; onely we
Are under Cenſure, till we do obtain
Your Suffrages,
that we may beg
again;
And often, in the Courſe, We took to day,
Which was intended, for your Mirth, a Play;
Not without Action,
and a little Wit,
Therefore we beg
your Paſſe
for us and It.
F I N I S.