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The Late Lancashire Witches

Edited by H. Ostovich

ACTVS, II. SCÆNA, I.
Enter 4. VVitches: (ſeverally. )

513
All.HOe! well met, well met. (ſtraine
514
Meg.VVat new deviſe, what dainty
515
More for our myrth now then our gaine,
516
Shall we in practice put.
517
Meg.Nay dame,
518
Before we play another game,
519
VVe muſt a little laugh and thanke
520
Our feat familiars for the pranck
521
They playd us laſt
522
Mawd.Or they will miſſe
523
Vs in our next plot, if for this
524
They find not their reward.
524.5
Meg.’Tis right.
525
Gil.Therefore ſing Mawd, and call each ſpright.
526
Come away, and take thy duggy.Enter foure Spirits.
527
Meg.Come my Mamilion like a Puggy.
528
Mawd.And come my puckling take thy teat,
529
Your travels have deſerv’d your meat.
530
Meg.Now upon the Churles ground
531
On which we’re met, lets dance a round;
532
That Cocle, Darnell, Poppia wild,
533
May choake his graine, and fill the field.
534
Gil.Now ſpirits fly about the taſke,
535
That we projected in our Maſke.Exit Spirits.
536
Meg.Now let us laugh to thinke upon
537
The feat which we have ſo lately done,
538
In the diſtraction we have ſet
539
In Seelyes houſe; which ſhall beget
540
VVonder and ſorrow ’mongſt our foes,
[C4]VVhilſt


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
541
VVhilſt we make laughter of their woes.
542
All.Ha, ha ha!
543
Meg.I can but laugh now to foreſee,
544
The fruits of their perplexity.
545
Gil.Of Seelys family?
546
Meg.I, I, I, the Father to the Sonne doth cry,
547
The Sonne rebukes the Father old;
548
The Daughter at the mother Scold,
549
The wife the huſband check and chide,
550
But that’s no wonder, through the wide
551
VVorld ’tis common.
552
Gil.But to be ſhort,
553
The wedding muſt bring on the ſport
554
Betwixt the hare-brayn’d man and mayd,
555
Maſter and dame that over-ſway’d.
556
All.Ha, ha, ha!
556.5
Meg.Enough, enough,
557
Our ſides are charm’d, or elſe this ſtuffe
558
VVould laughter-cracke them; let’s away
559
About the Iig: we dance to day,
560
To ſpoyle the Hunters ſport.
561
Gil.I that, be now the ſubject of our chat.
562
Meg.Then liſt yee well, the Hunters are
563
This day by vow to kill a Hare,
564
Or elſe the ſport they will forſweare;
565
And hang their Dogs up.
566
Mawd.Stay, but where
567
Muſt the long threatned hare be found?
568
Gill.They’l ſearch in yonder Meadow ground.
569
Meg.There will I be, and like a wily VVat,
570
Vntill they put me up; ile ſquat.
571
Gill.I and my puckling will a brace
572
Of Greyhounds be, fit for the race;
573
And linger where we may be tane
574
Vp for the courſe in the by-lane;
575
Then will we lead their Dogs a courſe,
576
And every man and every horſe;
577
Untill they breake their necks, and ſay—
[C4v]All, The


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
578
All.The Divell on Dun is rid this way. Ha, ha, ha, ha.
579
Meg.All the doubt can be but this,
580
That if by chance of me they miſſe,
581
And ſtart another Hare.
582
Gil.Then we’ll not run
583
But finde ſome way how to be gone.
584
I ſhal know thee Peg, by thy griſſel’d gut.
585
Meg.And I you Gilian by your gaunt thin gut.
586
But where will Mawd beſtow her ſelfe to day?
587
Mawd.O’th’ Steeple top; Ile ſit and ſee you play.Exeunt.

Enter Mr. Generous, Arthur, Bantam, Shakſtone,
and VVhetſtone.

588
Gener.At meeting, and at parting Gentlemen,
589
I onely make uſe of that generall word,
590
So frequent at all feaſts, and that but once; y’are welcome.
591
You are ſo, all of you, and I intreat you
592
Take notice of that ſpeciall buſineſſe,
593
Betwixt this Gentleman my friend, and I.
594
About the Morgage, to which writings drawne,
595
Your hands are witneſſe.
596
Bant. & Shak.VVe acknowledge it.
597
Whet.My hand is there too, for a man cannot ſet to his
598
Marke, but it may be call’d his hand; I am a Gentleman both
599
wayes, and it hath been held that it is the part of a Gentleman,
600
to write a ſcurvie hand.
601
Bant.You write Sir like your ſelfe.
602
Gener.Pray take no notice of his ignorance,
603
You know what I foretold you.
604
Arth.’Tis confeſt, but for that word by you ſo ſeldome
605
By us ſo freely on your part perform’d, (ſpoke
606
VVe hold us much ingag’d.
607
Gener.I pray, no complement,
608
It is a thing I doe not uſe my ſelfe,
609
Nor doe I love’t in others.
610
Arth.For my part, could I at once diſlolve my ſelfe to words
611
And after turne them into matter; ſuch
DAnd


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
612
And of that ſtrength, as to attract the attention
613
Of all the curious, and moſt itching eares
614
Of this our Crittick age; it cou’d not make
615
A theame amounting to your noble worth:
616
You ſeeme to me to ſuper-arrogate,
617
Supplying the defects of all your kindred
618
To innoble your own name: I now have done Sir.
619
VVhet.Hey day, this Gentleman ſpeakes like a Country
620
Parſon that had tooke his text out of Ovids Metamorphoſis.
621
Gener.Sir, you Hyperbolize;
622
And I coo’d chide you for’t, but whil’ſt you connive
623
At this my Kinſman, I ſhall winke at you;
624
’Twil prove an equall match.
625
Gener.Your name proclaimes
626
To be ſuch as it ſpeakes, you, Generous.
627
Gener.Still in that ſtraine!
628
Arth.Sir, ſir, whilſt you perſever to be good
629
I muſt continue gratefull.
630
Gener.Gentlemen, the greateſt part of this day you ſee is
631
In reading deeds, conveyances, and bonds, (ſpent
632
VVith ſealing and ſubſcribing; will you now
633
Take part of a bad Supper.
634
Arth.VVe are like travellers
635
And where ſuch bayt, they doe not uſe to Inne.
636
Our love and ſervice to you.
637
Gener.The firſt I accept,
638
The Laſt I entertaine not, farewell Gentlemen.
639
Arth.VVe’l try if we can finde in our way home
640
VVhen Hares come from their coverts, to reliffe,
641
A courſe or too.
642
VVhet.Say you ſo Gentlemen, nay then I am for your compa-
643
ny ſtill, ’tis ſayd Hares are like Hermophrodites, one while
644
Male, and another Female, and that which begets this yeare,
645
brings young ones the next; which ſome think to be the reaſon
646
that witches take their ſhapes ſo oft: Nay if I lye Pliny lyes too,
647
but come, now I have light upon you, I cannot ſo lightly leave
648
you farewell Vnckle.
[D1v]Gen. Co-


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
649
Gener.Cozen I wiſh you would conſort your ſelfe,
650
With ſuch men ever, and make them your Preſident
651
For a more Gentile carriage.
652
Arth.Good Maſter Generous——Exeunt, manet Ge-
nerous.
Enter Robert.
653
Gen.Robin.
653.5
Rob.Sir.
654
Gen.Goe call your Miſtreſſe hither.
655
Rob.My Miſtreſſe Sir, I doe call her Miſtreſſe, as I doe call
656
you Maſter, but if you would have me call my Miſtreſſe to my
657
Maſter, I may call lowd enough before ſhe can heare me.
658
Gener.Why ſhe’s not deafe I hope, I am ſure ſince Dinner
659
She had her hearing perfect.
660
Rob.And ſo ſhe may have at Supper too for ought I know,
661
but I can aſſure you ſhe is not now within my call.
662
Gener.Sirrah you trifle, give me the Key oth’ Stable.
663
I will goe ſee my Gelding; i’th’ meane time
664
Goe ſeeke her out, ſay ſhe ſhall finde me there.
665
Rob.To tell you true ſir, I ſhall neither finde my Miſtreſſe
666
here, nor you your Gelding there.
667
Gener.Ha! how comes that to paſſe?
668
Rob.Whilſt you were buſie about your writings, ſhe came
669
and commanded me to Saddle your Beaſt, and ſayd ſhe would
670
ride abroad to take the ayre.
671
Gener.Which of your fellowes did ſhe take along to wayte
672
on her?
673
Rob.None ſir.
674
Gener.None! hath ſhe us’d it often?
675
Rob.Oftner I am ſure then ſhe goes to Church, and leave
676
out Wedneſdayes and Fridayes
676.5
Gener.And ſtill alone?
677
Rob.If you call that alone, when no body rides in her company.
678
Gen.But what times hath ſhe ſorted for theſe journeyes?
679
Rob.Commonly when you are abroad, aud ſometimes when
680
you are full of buſineſſe at home.
681
Gener.To ride out often and alone, what ſayth ſhe
682
When ſhe takes horſe, and at her backe returne?
683
Rob.Onely conjures me that I ſhall keepe it from you, then
684
clappes me in the fiſt with ſome ſmall piece of ſilver, and then a
D 2Gen. I


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
685
Fiſh cannot be more ſilent then I.
686
Gen.I know her a good woman and well bred,
687
Of an unqueſtion’d carriage, well reputed
688
Amongſt her neighbors, reckon’d with the beſt
689
And ore me moſt indulgent; though in many
690
Such things might breed a doubt and jealouſie,
691
Yet I hatch no ſuch phrenſie. Yet to prevent
692
The ſmalleſt jarre that might betwixt us happen;
693
Give her no notice that I know thus much.
694
Beſides I charge thee, when ſhe craves him next
695
He be deny’d: if ſhe be next or mov’d
696
Doe not thou feare, Ile interpoſe my ſelfe
697
Betwixt thee and her anger, as you tender
698
Your duty and my ſervice, ſee this done.
699
Rob.Now you have expreſt your minde, I know what I have
700
to doe; firſt, not to tell her what I have told you, & next to keep
701
her ſide-ſaddle from comming upon your Gueldings backe;
702
but howſoever it is like to hinder me of many a round teſter.
703
Gener.As oft as thou deny’ſt her, ſo oft clayme
704
That teaſter from me, ’t ſhall be roundly payd.
705
Rob.You ſay well in that ſir, I dare take your word, you are
706
an honeſt Gentleman, and my Maſter; and now take mine as I
707
am your true ſervant, before ſhe ſhall backe your Guelding a-
708
gain in your abſence, while I have the charge of his keeping; ſhe
709
ſhall ride me, or Ile ride her.
710
Gen.So much for that. Sirrah my Butler tels me
711
My Seller is drunke dry, I meane thoſe Bottles
712
Of Sack and Claret, are all empty growne
713
And I have gueſts to morrow, my choyſe friends.
714
Take the gray Nag i’th’ ſtable, and thoſe Bottles
715
Fill at Lancaſter,
716
There where you uſe to fetch it.
717
Rob.Good newes for me, I ſhall ſir.
718
Gen.O Robin, it comes ſhort of that pure liquor
719
We drunke laſt Terme in London at the Myter
720
In Fleet-ſtreet, thou remembreſt it; me thought
721
It was the very ſpirit of the Grape,
[D2v]Meere


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
722
Meere quinteſſence of Wine.
723
Rob.Yes ſir, I ſo remember it, that moſt certaine it is I ne-
724
ver ſhal forget it, my mouth waters ever ſince when I but think
725
on’t, whilſt you were at ſupper above, the drawer had me down
726
into the Cellar below, I know the way in againe if I ſee’t, but
727
at that time to finde the way out againe, I had the help of more
728
eies than mine owne: is the taſte of that Ipſitate ſtil in your pal-
729
lat ſir?
730
Gener.What then? But vaine are wiſhes, take thoſe bottles
731
And ſee them fil’d where I command you ſir.
732
Rob.I ſhall: never c’ud I have met with ſuch a faire oppor-
733
tunity: for iuſt in the mid way lies my ſweet-heart, as lovely a
734
laſſe as any is in Lancaſhire, and kiſſes as ſweetly: i’le ſee her go-
735
ing or comming, i’le have one ſmouch at thy lips, and bee with
736
thee to bring Mal Spencer.Exit.
737
Gen.Go haſten your return, what he hath told me
738
Touching my wife is ſomewhat ſtrange, no matter
739
Bee’t as it will, it ſhall not trouble me.
740
Shee hath not lyen ſo long ſo neere my ſide,
741
That now I ſhould be jealous.

Enter a ſouldier.

742
Sold.You ſeeme ſir a Gentleman of quality, and no doubt but
743
in your youth have beene acquainted with affaires military, in
744
your very lookes there appeares bounty, and in your perſon hu-
745
manity. Pleaſe you to vouchſafe the tender of ſome ſmall cour-
746
teſie to help to beare a ſouldier into his countrey.
747
Gen.Though I could tax you friend, & juſtly too
748
For begging ’gainſt the Statute in that name,
749
Yet I have ever bin of that compaſſion,
750
Where I ſee want, rather to pittie it
751
Than to uſe power. Where haſt thou ſerv’d?
752
Sold.With the Ruſſian againſt the Polack, a heavy war, and
753
hath brought me to this hard fate. I was tooke priſoner by the
754
Pole, & after ſome few weeks of durance, got both my freedom
755
and paſſe. I have it about me to ſhow, pleaſe you to vouchſafe
756
the peruſall.
D 3Gen.


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
757
Gener.It ſhall not need. What Countreyman.
758
Sold.Yorkeſhire ſir. Many a ſharp battell by land, and ma-
759
ny a ſharpe ſtorme at ſea, many a long mile, and many a ſhort
760
meale, I have travel’d and ſuffer’d ere I c’ud reach thus far, I
761
beſeech you ſir take my poore & wretched caſe into your wor-
762
ſhips noble conſideration.
763
Gener.Perhaps thou lov’ſt this wandring life
764
To be an idle loitering begger, than
765
To eat of thine owne labour.
766
Sold.I ſir! Loitering I defie ſir, I hate lazineſſe as I do lepro-
767
ſie: It is the next way to breed the ſcurvie, put mee to hedge,
768
ditch, plow, threſh, dig, delve, any thing: your worſhip ſhal find
769
that I love nothing leſſe than loitering.
770
Gener.Friend thou ſpeakeſt well.
Enter Miller (his hands and face ſcratcht, and bloudy.
771
Miller.Your Mill quoth he, if ever you take me in your mill
772
againe, i’le give you leave to caſt my fleſh to the dogges, and
773
grinde my bones to pouder, betwixt the Milſtones. Cats do you
774
call them, for their hugeneſſe they might bee cat a mountaines,
775
and for their clawes, I thinke I have it here in red and white to
776
ſhew, I pray looke here ſir, a murreine take them, ile be ſworne
777
they have ſcratcht, where I am ſure it itcht not.
778
Gener.How cam’ſt thou in this pickle?
779
Ml.You ſee ſir, and what you ſee, I have felt, & am come to
780
give you to underſtand i’le not indure ſuch another night if you
781
would give mee your mill for nothing, they ſay we Millers are
782
theeves: but I c’ud as ſoone bee hangd as ſteale one piece of a
783
nap all the night long, good Landlord provide your ſelfe of a
784
new tenant, the noiſe of ſuch catterwawling, & ſuch ſcratching
785
and clawing, before I would indure againe, i’le bee tyed to the
786
ſaile when the winde blowes ſharpeſt, and they flie ſwifteſt, till
787
I be torne into as many fitters as I have toes and fingers.
788
Sold.I was a Miller my ſelfe before I was a ſouldier. What
789
one of my own trade ſhould be ſo poorely ſpirited frighted with
790
Sir truſt me with the Mill that he forſakes. (cats?
791
Here is a blade that hangs upon this belt
792
That ſpight of all theſe Rats, Cats, Wezells, Witches
[D3v]Or


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
793
Or Dogges, or Divels, Shall ſo coniure them
794
I’le quiet my poſſeſſion.
795
Gener.Well ſpoke Souldier.
796
I like thy reſolution. Fellow, you then
797
Have given the Mill quite over.
798
Mil.Over and over, here I utterly renounce it; nor would
799
I ſtay in it longer, if you would give me your whole eſtate; nay
800
if I ſay it, you may take my word Landlord.
801
Sold.I pray ſir dare you truſt your mill with me.
802
Gener.I dare, but I am loth, my reaſons theſe.
803
For many moneths, ſcarce any one hath lien there
804
But have bin ſtrangely frighted in his ſleepe,
805
Or from his warme bed drawne into the floore,
806
Or clawd and ſcratcht, as thou ſeeſt this poore man,
807
So much, that it ſtood long untenanted,
808
Till he late undertooke it, now thine eies
809
Witneſſe how he hath ſped.
810
Sold.Give me the keies, ile ſtand it all danger.
811
Gener.’Tis a match: deliver them.
812
Mil.Mary withall my heart, and I am glad, I am ſo rid of em.Exeunt.

Enter Boy with a ſwitch.

813
Boy.Now I have gathered Bullies, and fild my bellie pretty
814
well, i’le goe ſee ſome ſport. There are gentlemen courſing in
815
the medow hard by; and ’tis a game that I love better than go-
816
ing to Schoole ten to one.
Enter an inviſible ſpirit. F. Adſon with a brace of grey-
hounds.
817
What have we here a brace of Greyhounds broke looſe from
818
their maſters: it muſt needs be ſo, for they have both their Col-
819
lers and ſlippes about their neckes. Now I looke better upon
820
them, methinks I ſhould know them, and ſo I do: theſe are Mr.
821
Robinſons dogges, that dwels ſome two miles off, i’le take them
822
up, & lead them home to their maſter; it may be ſomthing in my
823
way, for he is as liberall a gentleman, as any is in our countrie.
824
Come Hector, come. Now if I c’ud but ſtart a Hare by the way,
825
kill her, and carry her home to my ſupper, I ſhould thinke I had
[D4]made


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
826
made a better afternoones worke of it than gathering of bul-
827
lies. Come poore curres along with me.Exit.

Enter Arthur, Bantam, Shakſtone, and Whetſtone.

828
Arth.My Dog as yours.
828.3
Shak.For what?
828.6
Arth.A piece.
829
Shak.’Tis done.
830
Bant.I ſay the pide dog ſhall outſtrip the browne.
831
Whe.And ile take the brown dogs part againſt the pide.
832
Bant.Yes when hee’s at his lap youle take his part.
833
Arth.Bantam forbeare him prethee.
834
Bant.He talks ſo like an Aſſe I have not patience to
835
indure his non ſence.
836
Whet.The browne dogge for two peeces.
837
Bant.Of what?
838
Whet.Of what you dare; name them from the laſt
839
Farthings with the double rings, to the late
840
Coy’ned peeces which they ſay are all counterfeit.
841
Bant.Well ſir, I take you: will you cover theſe, give them in-
842
to the hands of either of theſe two gentlemen.
843
Whet.What needs that? doe you thinke my word and my
844
money is not all one?
845
Bant.And weigh alike: both many graines too light.
846
Shak.Enough of that, I preſume Mr. Whetſtone, you are not
847
ignorant what belong to the ſport of hunting.
848
Whet.I thinke I have reaſon, for I have bin at the death of
849
more Hares.
850
Bant.More then you ſhed the laſt fall of the leafe.
851
Whet.More then any man here I am ſure. I ſhould be loath
852
at theſe yeares to be ignorant of hairing or whoring. I knew
853
a hare cloſe hunted, clime a tree.
854
Bant.To finde out birds neſts.
855
Whet.Another leap into a river, nothing appearing above
856
water, ſave onely the tip of her noſe to take breath.
857
Shak.Nay that’s verie likely, for no man can fiſh with an
858
angle but his Line muſt be made of hare.
859
Whet.You ſay right, I knew another, who to eſcape the
860
Dogges hath taken a houſe, and leapt in at a window.
[D4v]Bant.


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
861
Bant.It is thought you came into the World that way.
862
Whet.How meane you that?
863
Bant.Becauſe you are a baſtard.
864
Whet.Baſtard! O baſe.
865
Bant.And thou art baſe all over.
866
Arth.Needs muſt I now condemne your indiſcretion.
867
To ſet your wit againſt his.
868
Whet.Baſtard? that ſhall be tried; well Gentlemen con-
869
cerning Hare-hunting you might have hard more, if he had had
870
the grace to have ſaid leſſe, but for the word Baſtard, if I do not
871
tell my Vncle, I and my Aunt too, either when I would ſpeake
872
ought or goe of the ſkore for any thing, let me never be truſted,
873
they are older than I, and what know I, but they might bee by
874
when I was begot; but if thou Bantam do’ſt not heare of this
875
with both thine eares, if thou haſt them ſtill, and not loſt them
876
by ſcribling, inſtead of Whet-ſtone call me Grinde-ſtone, and for
877
By-blow, Bulfinch. Gentlemen, for two of you your companie
878
is faire and honeſt; but for you Bantam, remember and take no-
879
tice alſo, that I am a baſtard, and ſo much i’le teſtifie to my Aunt
880
and Vncle.Exit.
881
Arth.What have you done, ’twill grieve the good old Gen-
882
tleman, to heare him baffled thus.
883
Bant.I was in a cold ſweat ready to faint
884
The time he ſtaid amongſt us.
885
Shak.But come, now the Hare is found and ſtarted.
886
She ſhall have Law, ſo to our ſport.Exit.

Enter Boy with the Greyhounds.

887
A Hare, a Hare, halloe, halloe, the Divell take theſe curres,
888
will they not ſtir, halloe, halloe, there, there, there, what are they
889
growne ſo lither and ſo lazie? Are Mr. Robinſons dogges turn’d
890
tykes with a wanion? the Hare is yet in ſight, halloe, halloe,
891
mary hang you for a couple of mungrils (if you were worth hā-
892
ging), & have you ſerv’d me thus? nay then ile ſerve you with the
893
like ſauce, you ſhall to the next buſh, there will I tie you, and uſe
894
you like a couple of curs as you are, & though not laſh you, yet
Elaſh


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
895
laſh you whileſt my ſwitch will hold, nay ſince you have left
896
your ſpeed, ile ſee if I can put ſpirit into you, and put you in re-
897
membrance what halloe, halloe meanes.
As he beats them, there appeares before him, Gooddy Dic-
kiſon, and the Boy upon the dogs, going in.
898
Now bleſſe me heaven, one of the Greyhounds turn’d into a
899
woman, the other into a boy! The lad I never ſaw before, but
900
her I know well; it is my gammer Dickiſon.
901
G. Dick.Sirah, you have ſerv’d me well to ſwindge me thus.
902
You yong rogue, you haue vs’d me like a dog.
903
Boy.When you had put your ſelf into a dogs ſkin, I pray how
904
c’ud I help it; but gammer are not you a Witch? if you bee, I
905
beg upon my knees you will not hurt me.
906
Dickiſ.Stand up my boie, for thou ſhalt have no harme.
907
Be ſilent, ſpeake of nothing thou haſt ſeene.
908
And here’s a ſhilling for thee.
909
Boy.Ile have none of your money gammer, becauſe you are
910
a Witch: and now ſhe is out of her foure leg’d ſhape, ile ſee if
911
with my two legs I can out-run her.
912
Dickiſ.Nay, ſirra, though you be yong, and I old, you are not
913
ſo nimble, nor I ſo lame, but I can overtake you.
914
Boy.But Gammer what do you meane to do with me
915
Now you have me?
916
Dickiſ.To hugge thee, ſtroke thee, and embrace thee thus,
917
And teach thee twentie thouſand prety things.
918
So thou tell no tales; and boy this night
919
Thou muſt along with me to a brave feaſt.
920
Boy.Not I gammer indeedla, I dare not ſtay out late,
921
My father is a fell man, and if I bee out long, will both
922
chide and beat me.
923
Dickiſ.Not ſirra, then perforce thou ſhalt along,
924
This bridle helps me ſtill at need,
925
And ſhall provide us of a ſteed.
926
Now ſirra, take your ſhape and be
927
Prepar’d to hurrie him and me.Exit.
928
Now looke and tell mee wher’s the lad become.
929
Boy.The boy is vaniſht, and I can ſee nothing in his ſtead
[E1v]But


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
930
But a white horſe readie ſadled and bridled.
931
Dickiſ.And thats the horſe we muſt beſtride,
932
On which both thou and I muſt ride,
933
Thou boy before and I behinde,
934
The earth we tread not, but the winde,
935
For we muſt progreſſe through the aire,
936
And I will bring thee to ſuch fare
937
As thou ne’re ſaw’ſt, up and away,
938
For now no longer we can ſtay.She catches him
939
Boy.Help, help.up, & turning
round. Exit.

Enter Robin and Mall.
940
Thanks my ſweet Mall for thy courteous entertainment, thy
941
creame, thy cheeſe-cakes, and every good thing, this, this, & this
942
for all.kiſſe.
943
Mal.But why in ſuch haſt good Robin?
944
Robin.I confeſſe my ſtay with thee is ſweet to mee, but I
945
muſt ſpur Cutt the faſter for’t, to be at home in the morning, I
946
have yet to Lancaſter to ride to night, and this my bandileer of
947
bottles, to fill to night, and then halfe a ſcore mile to ride by cur-
948
rie-combe time, i’ the morning, or the old man chides Mal.
949
Mal.Hee ſhall not chide thee, feare it not.
950
Robin.Pray Bacchus I may pleaſe him with his wine, which
951
will be the hardeſt thing to do; for ſince hee was laſt at London
952
and taſted the Divinitie of the Miter, ſcarce any liquour in Lan-
953
caſhire will go downe with him, ſure, ſure he will never be a Pu-
954
ritane, he holds ſo well with the Miter.
955
Mal.Well Robert, I find your love by your haſte from me, ile
956
undertake you ſhal be at Lancaſter, & twiſe as far, & yet at home
957
time enough, and be rul’d by me.
958
Rob.Thou art a witty rogue, and thinkſt to make me believe
959
any thing, becauſe I ſaw thee make thy broome ſweepe the
960
houſe without hands t’other day.
961
Mal.You ſhall ſee more than that preſently, becauſe you
962
ſhall beleeve me; you know the houſe is all a bed here: and I
963
dare not be miſt in the morning. Beſides, I muſt be at the wed-
964
ding of Lawrence and Parnell to morrow.
E 2Rob.


The Witches of Lancaſhire.
965
Rob.I your old ſweet heart Lawrence? Old love will not be
966
forgotten.
967
Mal.I care not for the loſſe of him, but if I fit him not hang
968
me: but to the point, if I goe with you to night, and help you to
969
as good wine as your maſter deſires, and you keepe your time
970
with him, you will give me a pinte for my company.
971
Rob.Thy belly full wench.
972
Mal.I’le but take up my milk payle and leave it in the field,
973
till our comming backe in the morning, and wee’ll away.
974
Rob.Goe fetch it quickly then.
975
Mal.No Robert, rather than leave your company ſo long,
976
it ſhall come to me.
977
Rob.I would but ſee that.
The Payle goes.
978
Mal.Looke yonder, what do you thinke on’t.
979
Rob.Light, it comes; and I do thinke there is ſo much of the
980
Divell in’t as will turne all the milke ſhall come in’t theſe ſeven
981
yeares, and make it burne too, till it ſtinke worſe than than the Pro-
982
verbe of the Biſhops foot.
983
Mal.Looke you ſir, heere I have it, will you get up and a-
984
way.
985
Rob.My horſe is gone, nay prithee Mal. thou haſt ſet him a-
986
way, leave thy Roguerie.
987
Mal.Looke againe.
988
Rob.There ſtands a black long-ſided jade: mine was a
989
truſs’d gray.
990
Mal.Yours was too ſhort to carrie double ſuch a journey.
991
Get up I ſay, you ſhall have your owne againe i’th morning.
992
Rob.Nay but, nay but.
993
Mal.Nay, and you ſtand butting now, i’le leave you to look
994
your horſe. Payle on afore to the field, and ſtaie till I come.
995
Rob.Come away then, hey for Lancaſter: ſtand up.Exeunt.
[E2v]A C T V S.


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