The merry Beggars.
Actus Secundus.
Vincent, Hilliard, Meriel, Rachel.
Vin.I Am overcome with admiration, at the felici-
Hil.Beggars! They are the only people, can boaſt
the benefit of a free ſtate, in the full enioyment of Li-
berty, Mirth and Eaſe; having all things in common
and nothing wanting of
Natures whole proviſion
within the reach of their deſires. Who would have
loſt this ſight of their Revels?
Vin.How think you Ladies? Are they not the one-
Mer.Happier then we I’m ſure, that are pent up
and tied by the noſe to the continual ſteam of hot
Hoſpitality, here in our Father’s houſe, when they
have the Aire at pleaſure in all variety.
Ra.And though I know we have merrier Spirits
then they, yet to live thus confin’d, ſtifles us.
Hil.Why Ladies, you have liberty enough; or
may take what you pleaſe.
Mer.Yes in our Father’s Rule and Government,
or by his allowance. What’s that to abſolute free-
dom; ſuch as the very Beggars have; to feaſt and
revel here to day, and yonder to morrow; next day
where they pleaſe; and ſo on ſtill, the whole Coun-
try or Kingdome over ? ther’s Liberty! the birds of
the aire can take no more.
Ra.And then at home here, or whereſoever he
comes, our Father is ſo penſive, (what muddy ſpirit
ſoe’re poſſeſſes him, would I could conjure’t out)
D 2that
A Jovial Crew: or,
that he makes us even ſick of his ſadneſs, that were
wont
to ſee my Ghoſſips cock to day; mould Cocklebread;
daunce clutterdepouch; and Hannykin booby; binde bar-
rels; or do any thing before him, and he would
Mer.Now he never looks upon us, but with a ſigh,
or teares in his eyes, tho’ we ſimper never ſo ſanctifi-
edly. What tales have been told him of us, or what
he ſuſpects I know not; God forgive him, I do; but
Ra.Does he think us Whores tro, becauſe ſome-
times we talke as lightly as great Ladies. I can ſwear
ſafely for the virginity of one of us, ſo far as Word and
Deed goes; marry Thought’s free.
Mer.Which is that one of us I pray? your ſelfe
Ra.Good ſiſter
Meriel, Charity begins at home.
But I’l ſwear I think as charitably of thee: And not
onely becauſe thou art a year younger neither.
Mer.I am beholden to you. But for my Father, I
would I knew his grief and how to cure him, or that
we were where we could not ſee it. It ſpoiles our
mirth, and that has been better then his Meat to us.
Vin.Will you heare our motion Ladies?
Mer.Pſew, you would marry us preſently out of
his way, becauſe he has given you a fooliſh kinde of
promiſe: But we will ſee him in a better humor firſt,
and as apt to laugh as we to lie down, I warrant him.
Hil.’Tis like that courſe will cure hi
m, would
Ra.We will have him cur’d firſt, I tell you : And
you ſhall wait that ſeaſon, and our leaſure.
Mer.I will rather hazard my being one of the De-
[D2v]vils
The merry Beggars.
vil’s Ape-leaders, then to marry while he is melan-
Ra.Or I to ſtay in his houſe ; to give entertain-
ment to this Knight, or t’other Coxcomb, that comes
to cheer him up with eating of his chear : when we
muſt fetch ’em ſweetmeats, and they muſt tell us,
Ladies, your lips are ſweeter, and then fall into
Courtſhip, one in a ſet ſpeech taken out of old
Bri-
tains Works, another with Verſes out of the
Acade-
my of Complements, or ſome or other of the new Po-
etical Pamphletters, ambitious onely to ſpoile Pa-
per, and publiſh their names in print. And then to
be kiſt, and ſometimes ſlaver’d– –fagh.
Mer.’Tis not to be indur’d. We muſt out of the
Houſe. We cannot live but by laughing, and that
aloud, and no body ſad within hearing.
Vin.We are for any adventure with you, Ladies.
Shall we project a journey for you? your Father has
truſted you, and will think you ſafe in our compa-
ny ; and we would fain be abroad upon ſom pro-
greſs with you. Shall we make a fling to
London, and
ſee how the Spring appears there in the
Spring-Gar-
den; and in
Hide-park, to ſee the Races, Horſe and
Foot; to hear the
Jockies crack; and ſee the
Ada-
mites run naked afore the Ladies?
Ra.We have ſeen all already there, as well as
Hil.But there ha’ been new
Playes ſince.
Ra.No: no: we are not for
London.
Hil.What think you of a Journey to the
Bath
Ra.Worſe then t’other way. I love not to carry
my Health where others drop their Diſeaſes. There’s
D 3Vin.
A Jovial Crew: or,
Vin.Will you up to the hill top of ſports, then,
and Merriments,
Dovors Olimpicks or the
Cotswold
Mer.No,that will be too publique for our Re-
creation. We would have it more within our ſelves.
Hil.Think of ſome courſe your ſelves then. We
are for you upon any way, as far as Horſe and Money
Vin.I, and if thoſe means faile us, as far as our
legs can bear, or our hands can help us.
Ra.And we will put you to’t. Come aſide
Me-
Vin.Some jeere, perhaps to put upon us.
Hil.What think you of a Pilgrimage to St.
Wini-
Vin.Or a Journey to the wiſe woman at
Nant-
wich, to ask if we be fit huſbands for ’em?
Hil.They are not ſcrupulous in that, we having
had their growing loves up from our Childhoods;
and the old
Squire’s good will before all men.
Vin.What’s the conceit I mervail.
Ra. Me.Ha ha ha ha– – – –
Hill.Some merry one it ſeems.
Ra.And then, ſirrah
Meriel– – – Heark agen– – –ha
Vin.How they are taken with it!
Mer.Ha ha ha– – –Heark agen
Rachel.
Hil.Some wonderful Nothing ſure. They will
laugh as much to ſee a ſwallow flie with a white fea-
Vin.They were born laughing I think.
[D3v]Vin.
The merry Beggars.
Vin.If it be not ſome trick upon us, which they’l
diſcover in ſome monſtrous ſhape, they cozen me.
Now Ladies, is your Project ripe ? poſſeſs us with
Ra.It is more precious, then to be imparted upon
Hil.Pray let us hear it. You know we are your
Vin.And have kept all your councels ever ſince
we have been Infant Playfellows.
Ra.Yes, you have plaid at all kinds of ſmall game
with us; but this is to the purpoſe. Ha ha ha– – –
Hil.It ſeems ſo by your laughing.
Ra.And aſks a ſtronger tongue-tie then tearing
of Books; burning of Samplers; making Dirt-pies;
Vin.You know how, and what we have vow’d :
to wait upon you any way, any how, and any whi-
Mer.And you will ſtand to’t?
Hil.I, and go to’t with you, wherever it be.
Mer.Pray tell’t ’em, ſiſter
Rachel.
Ra.Why Gentlemen– –ha ha– –Thus it is– – – Tell
Mer.You are the elder. Pray tell it you.
Ra.You are the younger. I command you tell it.
Mer.Introth you muſt tell it, ſiſter, I cannot.
[D4]Then
A Jovial Crew: or,
Ra.Then Gentlemen ſtand your ground.
Vin.Some terrible buſineſs ſure!
Ra.You ſeem’d e’n now to admire the felicity of
Mer.And have ingag’d your ſelves to join with
Ra.Will you now with us, and for our ſakes turn
Mer.It is our Reſolution, and our Injunction on
Ra.But for a Time, and a ſhort Progreſs.
Mer.And for a ſpring-trick of youth, now, in
Vin.Beggars! What Rogues are theſe?
Hil.A ſimple trial of our Loves and ſervice!
Ra.Are you reſolv’d upon’t? If not God bw’y’.
We are reſolv’d to take our courſe.
Mer.Let yours be to keep councel.
Vin.Stay, ſtay.
Beggars! Are we not ſo already?
Do we not beg your loves, and your enjoyings?
Do we not beg to be receiv’d your ſervants?
To kiſs your hands, or (if you will vouchſafe)
Your lips; or your imbraces?
That we may fetch the Rings and Prieſt to marry
Wherein are we no
Beggars?
Ra.That will not ſerve. Your time’s not come
You ſhall beg
Victuals firſt.
Vin.O, I conceive your begging progreſs is to
ramble out this ſommer among your Father’s Te-
nants; and ’tis in requeſt among Gentlemens Daugh-
ters to devour their Cheeſe-cakes, Apple-pies, Cream
[D4v]and
The merry Beggars.
and Cuſtards, Flapiacks, and Pan-puddings.
Hil.Why ſo we may be a kinde of civil
Beggars.
Ra.I mean ſtark, errant, downright
Beggars, I,
Without equivocation; Statute
Beggars.
Mer.Couchant and Paſſant, Guardant, Rampant
Vin.Current and vagrant– – – –
Hil.Stockant, whippant
Beggars!
Vin.Muſt you and we be ſuch? would you ſo
Ra.Such as we ſaw ſo merry; and you concluded
Were th’onely happy People in a Nation.
Mer.The onely Freemen of a Common-wealth;
Free above
Scot-free; that obſerve no Law,
Obey no Governour, uſe no Religion,
But what they draw from their own ancient cuſtom,
Or conſtitute themſelves, yet are no Rebels.
Ra.Such as of all mens Meat and all mens Money
Take a free part; and, whereſoe’re they travel.
Have all things
gratis to their hands provided.
Vin.Courſe fare moſt times.
Ra.Their ſtomack makes it good;
And feaſts on that, which others ſcorn for Food.
Mer.The Antidote, Content, is onely theirs.
And, unto that, ſuch full delights are known,
That they conceive the Kingdom is their own.
Vin.’Fore Heaven I think they are in earneſt: for
Hill.And we were madder then they, if we ſhould
Vin.’Tis but a mad trick of youth (as they ſay)
for the Spring, or a ſhort progreſs: and mirth may be
E [1]made
A Jovial Crew : or,
made out of it; knew we how to carry it.
Ra.Pray Gentlemen be ſudden.
Heark, you hear the Cuckoe.
Cuckoe
Hil.We are moſt reſolutely for you in your courſe.
Vin.But the vexation is how to ſet it on foot.
Ra.We have projected it. Now if you be perfect
and conſtant Lovers and friends, ſearch you the
means. We have puzzell’d ’em.
Mer.I am glad on’t. Let ’em pump.
Vin.Troth a ſmall ſtock will ſerve to ſet up with-
al. This Doublet ſold off o’ my back, might ſerve
to furniſh a Camp Royal of us.
Hil.But how to enter or arrange our ſelves into
the
Crew will be the difficulty. If we light raw and
tame amongſt ’em (like Cage-Birds among a flight
of wild ones) we ſhall never pick up a Living, but
have our brains peckt out.
Vin.We want inſtruction dearly.
Enter Springlove.
Hil.O here comes
Springlove. His great Benefa-
ctorſhip among the
Beggars might prefer us with Au-
thority into a ragged Regiment preſently. Shall I
Ra.Take heed what you do. His greatneſs with
my Father will betray us.
Vin.I will cut his throat then. My noble
Spring-
love, the great Commander of the
Maunders, and
King of
Canters, we ſaw the gratitude of your loyal
Subjects, the large Tributary content they gave
Hil.We have ſeen all with great delight and ad-
[E1v]Spr.
The merry Beggars.
Spr.I have ſeen you too, kinde Gentlemen and
Ladies; and over-heard you in your queint deſigne,
to new create your ſelves out of the worldly bleſ-
ſings, and ſpiritual graces Heaven has beſtow’d upon
you, to be partakers and Co-actors too, in thoſe vile
courſes, which you call delights, tane by thoſe de-
ſpicable and abhorred Creatures.
Vin.Thou art a Deſpiſer, nay a Blaſphemer
Againſt the Maker of thoſe happy Creatures.
Who, of all humane, have priority
In their content. In which they are ſo bleſt
That they enjoy moſt in poſſeſſing leaſt.
Who made ’em ſuch, doſt think? or why ſo happy?
Ra.He grows zealous in the Cauſe: ſure he’ll beg
Hil.Art thou an Hypocrite, then, all this while?
Onely pretending
Charity; or uſing it
To get a Name and Praiſe unto thy ſelf;
And not to cheriſh and increaſe thoſe
Creatures,
In their moſt happy way of living? Or
Doſt thou beſtow thine Alms with a foul purpoſe
To ſtint their Begging, and with loſs to buy
And ſlave thoſe free ſouls from their liberty?
Mer.They are more zealous in the Cauſe then we.
Spr.But are you, Ladies, at defiance too
With Reputation, and the Dignity
Due to your Father’s Houſe and You?
Ra.Hold thy peace, good
Springlove,
And, tho’ you ſeem to diſlike this courſe, and reprove
Do not betray us in it: your throat’s in queſtion.
I tell you for good will. good
Springlove.
Mer.What wouldſt thou have us do?
E 2Thou
A Jovial Crew: or,
Thou talk’ſt o’ th’ Houſe.
’Tis a baſe melancholly Houſe.
Our Father’s ſadneſs baniſhes us out on’t.
And, for the delight thou tak’ſt in
Beggars and their
brawls, thou canſt not but think they live a better
life abroad, then we do in this Houſe.
Spr.I have ſounded your Faith: And I am glad I
finde you all right. And for your Father’s ſadneſs,
I’ll tell you the cauſe on’t. I over-heard it but this
day in his private Diſcourſe with his merry Mate
Maſter
Hearty. He has been told by ſome
Wizard that
you both were born to be
Beggars.
Spr.For which he is ſo tormented in minde, that
he cannot ſleep in peace, nor look upon you but
Vin.This is moſt ſtrange.
Ra.Let him be griev’d then, till we are
Beggars,
We have juſt reaſon to become ſo now:
And, what we thought on but in jeſt before,
Spr.O, I applaud this reſolution in you;
Would have perſwaded it; will be your Servant in’t.
The Sentence of your Fortune does not ſay, that you
ſhall beg for need; hungry or cold neceſſity. If there-
fore you expoſe your ſelves on pleaſure into it, you
ſhall abſolve your deſtiny nevertheleſs, and cure
your Father’s grief. I am over-joy’d to think on’t;
and will aſſiſt you faithfully.
All.A
Springlove! a
Springlove!
Spr.I am prepar’d already for th’ adventure.
And will with all conveniencies furniſh,
[E2v]And
The merry Beggars.
And ſet you forth; give you your Dimenſions,
Rules and Directions: I will be your Guide,
Your Guard, your Convoy, your Authority.
You do not know my Power; my Command
I’th’ Beggars Commonwealth
Vin.But how? But how, good
Springlove?
Spr.I’ll confeſs all. In my Minority
My Maſter took me up a naked
Beggar;
Bred me at School; then took me to his Service;
(You know in what good faſhion) and you may
Collect to memory for ſeven late Sommers,
Either by leave, pretending Friends to ſee
At far remote parts of the Land, or elſe,
By ſtealth, I would abſent my ſelf from ſervice,
To follow my own Pleaſure, which was Begging,
Led to’t by
Nature. My indulgent Maſter
(Yet ignorant of my courſe) on my ſubmiſſion
When Cold and Hunger forc’d me back at Winter,
Receiv’d me ſtill again. Till, two years ſince,
He being drawn by journey towards the North,
Where I then quarter’d with a ragged
Crew;
On the high way, not dreaming of him there,
I did accoſt him, with a
Good your Worſhip
The Guift one ſmale penny to a Creeple;
(For here I was with him)
and the good Lord Halts
To bleſs you, and reſtore it you in Heaven.
Spr.My head was dirty clouted, and this leg
Swadled with Rags, the other naked, and
My body clad, like his upon the Gibbet.
Yet, He, with ſearching eyes, through all my Rags
And counterfeit Poſtures, made diſcovery
Of his Man
Springlove; chid me into tears;
E 3And
A Jovial Crew : or,
And a confeſſion of my foreſpent life.
At laſt, upon condition, that vagary
Should be the laſt, he gave me leave to run
That
Sommer out. In
Avtumne home came I
In my home Cloaths again and former Duty.
My Maſter not alone conſerv’d my Counſel;
But laies more weighty Truſt and Charge upon me;
Such was his love to keep me a home-Man,
That he conferr’d his Stewards place upon me,
Which clog’d me, the laſt year, from thoſe Delights,
I would not loſe again to be his Lord.
All.A
Springlove, a
Springlove. (fully
Spr.Purſue the courſe you are on then, as cheer-
As the inviting Seaſon ſmiles upon you.
Think how you are neceſſitated to it,
To quit your Father’s ſadneſs, and his fears
Touching your
Fortune. Till you have been
Beggars
The Sword hangs over him. You cannot think
Upon an Act of greater Piety
Unto your Father, then t’expoſe your ſelves
Brave Volunteers, unpreſs’d by common need
Into this meritorious Warfare; whence
(After a few daies, or ſhort ſeaſon ſpent)
You bring him a perpetual Peace and Joy
By expiating the Prophecy that torments him.
T’were worth your Time in painful, woful ſteps,
With your lives hazard in a Pilgrimage,
So to redeem a Father. But you’l finde
A Progreſs of ſuch Pleaſure (as I’ll govern’t)
That the moſt happy Courts could never boaſt
In all their Tramplings on the Countries coſt;
Whoſe envy we ſhall draw, when they ſhall reade
We out-beg them, and for as little Need.
[E3v]All.
The merry Beggars.
All.A Springlove! a
Springlove!
Spr.Follow me, Gallants, then, as cheerfully
As– –(heark!) we are ſummon’d forth.
Birds
All.We follow thee.–
Exeunt. ſinging
Enter Randal. A Purſe in his hand.
Ran.Well, go thy waies. If ever any juſt or cha-
ritable Steward was commended, ſure thou ſhalt be
at the laſt Quarter-day. Here’s five and twenty
pounds for this Quarters
Beggar-charge. And (if he
return not by the end of this Quarter) here’s order
to a Friend to ſupply for the next. If I now ſhould
venture for the commendation of an unjuſt Steward,
and turn this Money to mine own uſe! ha! deare
Devil tempt me not. I’ll do thee ſervice in a greater
Matter. But to rob the
Poor! (a poor trick) every
Church-warden can do’t. Now ſomething whiſpers
me, that my Maſter, for his Stewards love, will ſup-
ply the
Poor, as I may handle the matter. Then I
rob the Steward, if I reſtore him not the Money at
his return. Away Temptation, leave me. I am frail
fleſh : yet I will fight with thee. But ſay the Steward
never return. O but he will return. Perhaps he may
not return. Turn from me
Satan : ſtrive not to clog
my conſcience. I would not have this weight upon’t
Enter Hearty ſinging, and Oldrents.
Hey down hay down a down &c.
Remember, Sir, your Covenant to be merry.
Old.I ſtrive you ſee to be ſo.
Yet ſomthing pricks me within, me thinks.
Hea.No further thought, I hope, of
Fortunes tell-
Old.I think not of ’em. Nor will I preſage,
[E4]That
A Jovial Crew : or,
That when a diſpoſition of ſadneſs
O’rclouds my ſpirits, I ſhall therefore hear
Ill news, or ſhortly meet with ſome diſaſter.
Hea.Nay, when a man meets with bad tidings,
May not he then compel his minde to mirth;
As well as puling ſtomacks are made ſtrong
By eating againſt Appetite?
Old.Forc’d Mirth tho’ is not good.
Hea.It reliſhes not you’ll ſay. No more does Meat
That is moſt ſavory to a long ſick ſtomack,
Until by Strife and Cuſtom ’tis made good.
Old.You argue well. But do you ſee yon’d Fellow?
Hea.I never noted him ſo ſad before.
He neither ſings nor whiſtles.
Old.Something troubles him.
Can he force Mirth out of himſelf now, think you?
Hea.What ſpeak you of a Clod of Earth; a Hind?
But one degree above a Beaſt, compar’d
To th’aëry ſpirit of a Gentleman?
Old.He looks, as he came laden with ill news,
Suppoſe the Aſs be tir’d with ſadneſs: will you dis-
To load your ſelf? Think of your Covenant to be
In ſpight of
Fortune and her Riddle-makers.
Old.Why how now
Randal! ſad? where’s
Spring-
Hea.He’s ever in his Care. But that I know
The old
Squire’s virtue, I ſhould think
Springlove
Ran.Here’s his Money, Sir.
[E4v]I pray
The merry Beggars.
I pray that I be charg’d with it no longer.
The Devil and I have ſtrain’d courteſie theſe two
hours about it. I would not be corrupted with the
truſt of more then is mine own. Mr. Steward gave
it me, Sir, to order it for the
Beggars. He has made
me Steward of the Barn and them, while he is gone
(he ſaies) a Journey, to ſurvey and meaſure Lands
abroad about the Countries. Some purchaſe I think
Old.I know his meaſuring of Land. He is gone
And let him go. Am not I merry
Hearty? (now.
Hea.Yes; but not hearty merry. There’s a
whim
Old.The Poor’s charge ſhall be mine. Keep you
Ran.Mine is the greater charge then.
Knew you but my temptations and my care,
You would diſcharge me of it.
Ran.I have not had it ſo many minutes, as I have
been in ſeveral Minds about it; and moſt of them
Old.Go then, and give it to one of my Daught-
ers to keep for
Springlove.
Ran.O, I thank your Worſhip– – –
Exit.
Old.Alaſs poor knave! How hard a taſque it is to
Hea.And how eaſie for Monie to corrupt it.
What a pure
Treaſurer would he make!
Old.All were not born for weighty Offices.
Which makes me think of
Springlove.
He might have tane his leave tho’.
Hea.I hope he’s run away with ſome large Truſt,
F [1]I never
A Jovial Crew : or,
I never lik’d ſuch demure down-look’d Fellows.
Old.You are deceiv’d in him.
Hea.If you be not ’tis well. But this is from the
Old.Well Sir. I will be merry. I am reſolv’d
To force my Spirit onely unto Mirth.
Should I heare now, my Daughters were miſled
Or run away, I would not ſend a ſigh
Hea.To’ther old Song for that.
Song.
THere was an old fellow at Waltham Croſs,
Who merrily ſung when he liv’d by the Loſs.
He never was heard to ſigh with Hey-ho:
But ſent it out with a Haigh trolly lo.
He chear’d up his Heart, when his Goods went to wrack,
With a heghm boy, heghm, and a Cup of old Sack.
Old.Is that the way on’t? well, it ſhall be mine
Enter Randal. (then.
Ran.My Miſtreſſes are both abroad, Sir.
Ran.On foot, Sir, two hours ſince, with the two
Gentlemen their Lovers. Here’s a Letter they left
with the Butler. And there’s a muttring in the
Old.I will not reade, nor open it; but conceive
Within my ſelf the worſt, that can befal them;
That they are loſt and no more mine. What follows?
That I am happy : all my cares are flown.
The Counſel I anticipated from
My Friend, ſhall ſerve to ſet my Reſt upon
[F1v](With-
The merry Beggars.
(Without all further helps) to jovial Mirth :
Which I will force out of my ſpleen ſo freely,
That Grief ſhall loſe her name, where I have being;
And ſadneſs, from my furtheſt foot of Land,
While I have life, be baniſh’d.
Hea.What’s the
whim now?
(month;
Old.My Tenants ſhal ſit Rent-free for this twelve-
And all my ſervants have their wages doubled;
And ſo ſhall be my charge in Houſe-keeping.
I hope my friends will finde and put me to’t.
Hea.For them I’ll be your Undertaker, Sir.
But this is over-done. I do not like it.
Old.And for thy news, the Money that thou haſt,
Is now thine own. I’ll make it good to
Springlove.
Be ſad with it and leave me. For I tell thee,
I’ll purge my houſe of ſtupid melancholly.
(me
Ran.I’ll be as merry as the Charge that’s under
A confuſed noyſe within of laughing and ſinging, and
one crying out.
The
Beggars, Sir. Do’e hear ’em in the Barn?
Old.I’ll double their allowance too; that they
Double their Numbers, and increaſe their Noyſe:
Theſe Bear not ſound enough: and one (me thought)
Ran.By a moſt natural Cauſe. For there’s a
Doxie
Has been in labour, Sir. And ’tis their Cuſtome,
With ſongs and ſhouts to drown the woman’s cries.
A Ceremony which they uſe, not for
Devotion, but to keep off Notice of
The Work, they have in hand. Now ſhe is in
The ſtraw it, ſeems; and they are quiet.
Hea.The ſtraw! that’s very proper there. That’s
F 2Old.
A Jovial Crew : or,
Old.We will have ſuch a lying in, and ſuch
A Chriſtning; ſuch up-ſitting and Ghoſſipping!
I mean to ſend forty miles Circuit at the leaſt,
To draw in all the
Beggars can be found;
And ſuch Devices we will have for jollity,
As
Fame ſhall boaſt to all
Poſterity.
Am I not merry
Hearty? hearty merry?
Hea.Would you were elſe. I fear this over-doing.
Old.I’ll do’t for expiation of a crime
That’s charg’d upon my Conſcience till’t be done.
Hea.What’s that? what ſaies he?
Old.We will have ſuch a Feſtival
moneth on’t,
Ran.Sir, you may ſpare the labour and the coſt :
They’l never thank you for’t. They’l not indure
A Ceremony, that is not their own,
Belonging either to the Childe, or Mother.
A moneth Sir? They’l not be detain’d ſo long
For your Eſtate. Their Work is done already :
The Bratling’s born, the
Doxey’s in the
Strummel,
Laid by an
Autum Mort of their own Crew,
That ſerv’d for Mid-wife : and the Child-bed wo-
Eating of haſty Pudding for her ſupper,
(man
And the Child part of it for pap
I warrant you by this time; then to ſleep;
So to riſe early to regain the ſtrength
By travail, which ſhe loſt by travail.
Hea.There’s
Randal again.
Ran.She’l have the
Bantling at her back to mor-
That was to day in her belly, and march a foot-back
Hea.Art there agen, old
Randal?
[F2v]Ran.
The merry Beggars.
Ran.And for their Ghoſſipping (now you are ſo
If you’l look in, I doubt not, but you’l find ’em
At their high Feaſt already.
Hea.Pray let’s ſee ’em, Sir.
Randal opens the Scene. The Beggars diſcovered at
their Feaſt. After they have ſcrambled a while
at their Victuals: This Song.
HEre, ſafe in our Skipper, let’s cly off our Peck,
And bowſe in defiance o’ th’ Harman-Beck.
Here’s Pannum and Lap, and good Poplars of Yarrum,
To fill up the Crib, and to comfort the Quarron.
Now bowſe a round health to the Go-well and Com-well
Of Ciſley Bumtrincket that lies in the Strummel.
Now bowſe a round health to the Go well and Com-well
Of Ciſley Bumtrincket that lies in the Strummel.
Here’s Ruffpeck and Caſſon, and all of the beſt,
And Scraps of the Dainties of Gentry Cofe’s Feaſt.
Here’s Grunter and Bleater, with Tib of the Buttry,
And Margery Prater, all dreſt without ſluttry.
For all this bene Cribbing and Peck let us then,
Bowſe a health to the Gentry Cofe of the Ken.
Now bowſe a round health to the Go-well and Com-well
Of Ciſley Bumtrincket that lies in the Strummel.
Old.Good Heaven how merry they are.
Hea.Be not you ſad at that.
Old.Sad
Hearty, no unleſs it be with envy
At their full happineſs. What is an Eſtate
(dom,
Of Wealth and Power, ballanc’d with their Free-
F 3But
A Jovial Crew : or,
But a meer load of outward complement?
When they enjoy the Fruits of rich Content?
Our Droſs but weighs us down into Deſpair,
While their ſublimed ſpirits daunce i’ th’ Ayr.
Hea.I ha’ not ſo much Wealth to weigh me down,
Nor ſo little (I thank
Chance) as to daunce naked.
Old.True my Friend
Hearty, thou having leſſe
(Of which I boaſt not) art the merrier man :
But they exceed thee in that way ſo far,
That ſhould I know, my Children now were
Beggars
(Which yet I will not read) I muſt conclude,
They were not loſt, nor I to be agriev’d.
Hea.If this be madneſs, ’tis a merry Fit.
Enter Patrico. Many of the Beggars look out.
Patrico.Toure out with your
Glaſiers, I ſweare by
That we are aſſaulted by a
quire Cuffin.
Ran.Hold! what d’e mean, my Friends? This is
The Maſter of your Feaſt and feaſting-Houſe.
Pat.Is this the
Gentry Cofe?
All the Beggars.Lord bleſs his Worſhip. His good
Worſhip. Bleſs his Worſhip.
Exit Beggars manet Patr.
Pat.Now, bounteous Sir, before you go,
Hear me, the
Beggar Patrico;
Or Prieſt, if you do rather chuſe,
That we no word of Canting uſe.
Long may you live, and may your Store
Never decay, nor baulk the Poor :
And as you more in years do grow,
May Treaſure to your Coffers flow;
[F3v]And
The merry Beggars.
And may your care no more thereon
Be ſet, then ours are, that have none :
But as your Riches do increaſe,
So may your hearts Content and Peace.
And, after many, many years,
When the Poor have quit their
Fears
Of loſing you; and that with
Heaven
And all the world you have made even,
Then may your bleſt Poſterity,
Age after Age ſucceſſively,
Until the world ſhall be untwin’d
Inherit your Eſtate and Minde.
So ſhall the Poor to the laſt day,
For you, in your ſucceſſion, pray.
Hea.’Tis a good Vote, Sir
Patrico : but you are
too grave. Let us hear and ſee ſomething of your
merry
Grigs, that can ſing, play Gambals, and do
Pat.Sir, I can lay my Function by,
And talk as wilde and wantonly
As
Tom or
Tib, or
Jack, or
Jill,
When they at
Bowſing Ken do ſwill.
Will you therefore daign to hear
My
Autum Mort, with throat as clear,
As was
Dame Aniſſes of the Name;
How ſweet in Song her Notes ſhe’ll frame,
That when ſhe chides, as lowd is yawning,
As
Chanticlere wak’d by the dawning.
(wife?
Hea.Yes, pray let’s hear her. What is ſhe your
Pat.Yes Sir. we of our Miniſtery,
As well as thoſe oth’ Preſbyterie,
Take wives and defie Dignitie.
Exit.
Hea.A learned Cleark in veritie!
[F4]Enter
A Jovial Crew : or,
Enter Patrico with his old wife, with a wooden Bowle
of Drink. She is drunk.
Pat.By
Salmon, I think my Mort is in drink.
I finde by her ſtink; and the pretty pretty pink
Of her Neyes, that half wink,
That the tipling Feaſt, with the
Doxie in the Neaſt,
Hath turn’d her brain, to a merry merry vain.
Mort.Go Fiddle
Patrico, and let me ſing. Firſt ſet
me down here on both my
Prats. Gently, gently, for
cracking of my wind, now I muſt uſe it. Hem, hem.
She ſings.
THis is Bien Bowſe, this is Bien Bowſe,
I bowſe no Lage, but a whole Gage
Of this I’ll bowſe to you.
This Bowſe is better then Rom-bowſe,
It ſets the Gan a gigling;
The Autum-Mort finds better ſport
In bowſing then in nigling.
She toſſes off her Bowle, falls back, and is carried out.
Pat.So ſo : your part is done– –
Exit with her
Hea.How finde you, Sir, your ſelf?
Old.Wondrous merry, my good
Hearty.
Enter Patrico.
Pat.I wiſh we had, in all our ſtore,
Something that could pleaſe you more.
The old or
Autum-Mort’s a ſleep;
But before the young ones creep
Into the ſtraw, Sir, if you are,
(As Gallants ſometimes love courſe fare,
[F4v]So
The merry Beggars.
So it be freſh and wholſome Ware)
Doſpos’d to
Doxie, or a
Dell,
That never yet with man did Mell;
Of whom no
Vpright man is taſter,
I’ll preſent her to you, Maſter.
Old.Away. You would be puniſh’d. Oh.
Hea.How is it with you, Sir?
Old.A ſudden qualm over-chils my ſtomack. But
’twill away.
Enter Dauncers. (ſports,
Pat.See, in their rags, then, dauncing for your
Our
Clapper Dugeons and their
walking Morts.
Daunce.
Pat.You have done well. Now let each
Tripper
Make a retreat into the
Skipper;
And
couch a Hogs-head, till the
dark man’s paſt;
Then all with Bag and Baggage
bing awaſt.
Exeunt Beggars.
Ran.I told you, Sir, they would be gone to mor-
I underſtand their canting.
(row.
Old.Take that amongſt you.– – –
Gives Money.
Pat.May rich Plenty ſo you bleſs,
Tho’ you ſtill give, you ne’re have leſs.
Exit.
Hea.And as your walks may lead this way :
Pray ſtrike in here another day.
So you may go, Sir
Patrico– – – –
How think you, Sir? or what? or why do you think
at all, unleſs on Sack and Supper-time? do you fall
back? do you not know the danger of relapſes?
Old.Good
Hearty, thou miſtak’ſt me. I was think-
ing upon this
Patrico. And that he has more ſoule
then a born Beggar in him.
Hea.Rogue enough though, to offer us his what-
G [1]d’ecalts?
A Jovial Crew : or,
d’ecalts? his
Doxies. Heart and a cup of Sack, do we
look like old Beggar-niglers?
Old.Pray forbear that Language.
Hea.Will you then talk of Sack, that can drown
ſighing? will you in, to ſupper, and take me there
your Gueſt? Or muſt I creep into the Barn among
Old.You have rebuk’d me timely; and moſtfriendly.
Exit.
Hea.Would all were well with him.
Exit.
Ran.It is with me.For now theſe pounds are (as I feel them ſwag)Light at my heart, tho’ heavy in the bag.
Exit.
