1152The holy Church-man pronounc'd these words but now,

1153I must not leave my Husband in distresse:

1154Now I must comfort him, not go with you.

1155Lance. Comfort a cozener? on my curse forsake him:

1156Luc. This day you caused me on your curse to take him:

1157Do not I pray my grieved soul oppresse,

1158God knows my heart doth bleed at his distresse.

1160Led with opinion his false will was true.

1161Wea. A, he hath over-reached me too.

1162Lan. She might have liv'd like Delia, in a happy Vir-

1163 gins stato.

1164Delia. Father, be patient, sorrow comes too late.

1165Lance. And on her knees she begg'd and did entreat,

1166If she must needs taste a sad marriage life,

1167She craved to be Sir Arthur Greensheild's Wife.

1168Ar. You have done her and me the greater wrong.

1169Lance. O take her yet.

1170Arthur. Not I.

1171Lanc. Or M. Oliver, accept my Child, and half my

1172wealth is yours.

1173Oli. No, sir, chill break no Lawes.

1174Luce. Never fear, she will not trouble you.

1175Delia. Yet, sister, in this passion doe not run head-

1176long to confusion. You may affect him, though not fol-

1177low him.

1178Frank. Doe, sister, hang him, let him go.

1179Wea. Doe faith, Mistresse Luce, leave him.

1180Luc. You are three grosse fooles, let me alone,

1181I swear I'le live with him in all moan.

1182Oli. But an he have his Legs at liberty,

1183Cham aveard he will never live with you.

1184Art. I, but he is now in hucksters handling for run-

1185ning away.

1186Lanc. Huswife, you hear how you and I am wrong'd,

1187and if you will redresse it yet you may:

1188But if you stand on tearmes to follow him,

1189Never come near my sight, nor look on me,

1190Call me not Father, look not for a Groat,

1191For all the portion I will this day give

1192Unto thy sister Frances.

1194Besides I'le be a good Wife, and a good Wife

1195Is a good thing I can tell.

1196Civ. Peace, Franck, I would be sorry to see thy sister

1197Cast away, as I am a Gentleman.

1198Lance. What, are you yet resolved?

1199Luc. Yes, I am resolved.

1200Lanc. Come then away, or now, or never come.

1201Luc. This way I turn, go you unto your feast,

1202And I to weep, that am with grief opprest.

1203Lanc. For ever flie my sight: come, Gentlemen,

1204Let's in, I'le help you to far better Wives then her.

1205Delia, upon my blessing talk not to her,

1206Base Baggage, in such haste to beggery?

1207Unc. Sheriffe, take your prisoner to your charge.

1208Flo. Unckle, be-god you have us'd me very hardly,

1209By my troth, upon my wedding Day.

1212Luc. O, M. Flowerdale, but hear me speak,

1213Stay but a little while, good M. Sheriffe,

1214If not for him, for my sake pitty him:

1215Good sir, stop not your cares at my complaint,

1216My voyce growes weak, for womens words are faint.

1217Flow. Look you, she kneeles to you.

1218Unc. Fair maid, for you, I love you with my heart,

1219And grieve, sweet soul, thy fortune is so bad,

1220That thou should'st match with such a gracelesse Youth,

1221Go to thy Father, think not upon him,

1222Whom Hell hath mark'd to be the son of shame.

1223Luc. Impute his wildnesse, sir, unto his youth,

1224And think that now is the time he doth repent:

1225Alass, what good or gain can you receive,

1226To imprison him that nothing hath to pay?

1227And where nought is, the King doth lose his due,

1228O pitty him as God shall pitty you.

1229Unc. Lady, I know his humours all too well,

1230And nothing in the world can doe him good,

1231But misery it self to chain him with.

1232Luc. Say that your debts were paid, then is he free?

1233Unc. I, Virgin, that being answered, I have done.

1234But to him that is all as impossible,

1235As I to scale the high Piramidies.

1236Sheriffe, take your Prisoner, Maiden, fare thee well.

1237Luc. O go not yet, good M. Flowerdale:

1238Take my word for the debt, my word, my bond.

1239Flow. I, by God, Unckle, and my bond too.

1240Luc. Alass, I ne're ought nothing but I paid it;

1241And I can work, alass, he can doe nothing:

1242I have some friends perhaps will pity me,

1243His chiefest friends doe seek his misery.

1244All that I can, or beg, get, or receive,

1245Shall be for you: O doe not turn away:

1246Me thinks within a face so reverent,

1247So well experienced in this tottering world,

1248Should have some feeling of a maidens grief:

1249For my sake, his Fathers and your Brothers sake,

1250I, for your souls sake that doth hope for joy,

1251Pitty my state, doe not two soules destroy.

1252Vnc. Fair maid, stand up, not in regard of him,

1253But in pitty of thy haplesse choyce,

1254I doe release him: M. Sheriffe, I thank you:

1255And Officers, there is for you to drink.

1256Here, maid, take this money, there is a hundred Angels;

1257And for I will be sure he shall not have it,

1258Here, Kester, take it you, and use it sparingly,

1259But let not her have any want at all.

1260Dry your eyes, Niece, doe not too much lament

1261For him, whose life hath been in riot spent:

1262If well he useth thee, he gets him friends,

1263If ill, a shamefull end on him depends.

1265Flow. A plague go with you for an old fornicator:

1266Come, Kit, the money, come, honest Kit.

1267Fath. Nay by my faith, sir, you shall pardon me.

1268Flow. And why, sir, pardon you? give me the money,

1269You old Rascall, or I shall make you.

1270Luc. Pray hold your hands, give it him honest friend.

1271Fath. If you be so content, withall my heart.

1272Flow. Content, sir, 'sblood she shall be content

1273Whether she will or no. A rattle-baby come to follow me?

1274Go, get you gone to the greasie chuffe your Father,

1275Bring me your Dowry, or never look on me.

1276Fath Sir, she hath forsook her Father, and all her

1277friends for you.

1278Flow. Hang thee, her friends and Father altogether.

1279Fath. Yet part with something to provide her lodging.

1280Flo. Yes, I mean to part with her and you, but if I

1281part with one Angel, hang me at a poste. I'le rather