1545Fath. Hold thee, there is a French Crown, and speak

1546no more of this.

1547Arti. Not I, not a word, now do I smell knavery:

1548In every purse Flowerdale takes, he is halfe:

1549And gives me this to keep counsel, not a word I.

1550Fath. Why God a mercy.

1551Fran. Sister, look here, I have a new Dutch maid,

1552And she speaks so fine, it would do your heart good.

1553Civ. How do you like her, sister?

1554Del. I like your maid well.

1555Civ. Well, dear sister, will you draw near, and give

1556directions for supper, guesse will be here presently.

1557Del. Yes, brother, lead the way, I'le follow you.

1559Hark you, Dutch Frow, a word.

1560Luce. Vat is your villwit me?

1561Del. Sister Luce, 'tis not your broken language,

1562Nor this same habit, can disguise your face

1563From I that know you: pray tell me, what means this?

1564Luce. Sister, I see you know me, yet be secret:

1565This borrowed shape that I have tane upon me,

1566Is but to keep my self a space unknown,

1567Both from my father, and my nearest fri

ends:

1568Untill I see how time will bring to passe,

1569The desperate course of Master Flowerdale.

1570Del. O he is worse then bad, I prithee leave him,

1571And let not once thy heart to think on him.

1572Luce. Do not perswade me once to such a thought,

1573Imagine yet, that he is worse then nought:

1574Yet one lovers time may all that ill undo,

1575That all his former life did run into.

1576Therefore, kind sister, do not disclose my estate,

1577If e're his heart doth turn, 'tis n'ere too late.

1578Del. Well, seeing no counsel can remove your mind,

1579I'le not disclose you, that art wilfull blind.

1580Luce. Delia, I thank you, I now must please her eyes,

1581My sister Frances, neither fair nor wise.

1584Flow. On goes he that knows no end of his journey,

1585I have passed the very utmost bounds of shifting,

1586I have no course now but to hang my self:

1587I have lived since yesterday two a clock, of a

1588Spice-cake I had at a burial: and for drink,

1589I got it at an Ale-house among Porters, such as

1590Will bear out a man, if he have no mony indeed.

1591I mean out of their companies, for they are men

1592Of good carriage. Who comes here?

1593The two Cony-catchers, that won all my mony of me.

1594I'le trie if they'll lend me any.

1596What, M. Richard, how do you?

1597How do'st thou, Rafe? By God, gentlemen, the world

1598Grows bare with me, will you do as much as lend

1599Me an Angel between you both, you know you

1600Won a hundred of me the other day.

1601Raf. How, an Angel? God damn us if we lost not every

1602Penny within an hour after thou wert gone.

1603Flo. I prithee lend me so much as will pay for my supper,

1604I'le pay you again, as I am a Gentleman.

1605Rafe. Ifaith, we have not a farthing, not a mite:

1606I wonder at it, M. Flowerdale,

1607You will so carelessely undo your self:

1608Why you will lose more money in an hour,

1609Then any honest man spends in a year;

1610For shame betake you to some honest Trade,

1612Flow. A Vagabond indeed, more villains you:

1613They gave me counsel that first cozen'd me:

1614Those Devils first brought me to this I am,

1615And being thus, the first that do me wrong.

1616Well, yet I have one friend left in store.

1617Not far from hence there dwells a Cokatrice,

1618One that I first put in a Sattin gown,

1619And not a tooth that dwells within her head,

1620But stands me at the least in twenty pound:

1621Her will I visit now my Coyn is gone,

1622And as I take it here dwells the Gentlewoman.

1623What ho, is Mistris Apricock within?

1625Ruff. What sawcie Rascal is that which knocks so bold,

1626O, is it you, old spend-thrift? are you here?

1627One that is turned Cozener about the town:

1628My Mistris saw you, and sends this word by me,

1629Either be packing quickly from the door,

1630Or you shall have such a greeting sent you straight,

1631As you will little like on, you had best be gone.

1632Flow. Why so, this is as it should be, being poor,

1633Thus art thou served by a vile painted whore.

1634Well, since thy damned crew do so abuse thee,

1635I'le try of honest men, how they will use me.

1637Sir, I beseech you to take compassion of a man,

1638One whose Fortunes have been better then at this in-

1639stant they seem to be: but If I might crave of you so

1640much little portion, as would bring me to my friends, I

1641should rest thankfull, untill I had requited so great a cur-.

1642tesie.

1643Citiz. Fie, fie, young man, this course is very bad,

1644Too many such have we about this City;

1645Yet for I have not seen you in this sort,

1646Nor noted you to be a common beggar,

1647Hold, there's an Angel to bear your charges,

1648Down, go to your friends, do not on this depend,

1650Flow. Worser ends: nay, if it fall out

1651No worse then in old Angels I care not,

1652Nay, now I have had such a fortunate beginning,

1653I'le not let a six-penny-purse escape me:

1654By the Masse, here comes another.

1656God blesse you, fair Mistris.

1657Now would it please you, Gentlewoman, to look into the

1658wants of a poor Gentleman, a younger brother, I doubt

1659not but God will treble restore it back again, one that

1660never before this time demanded penny, half-penny, nor

1661farthing.

1662Cit. Wife. Stay Alexander, now by troth a very pro-

1663per man, and 'tis great pitty: hold, my friend, there's all

1664the money I have about me, a couple of shillings, and God

1665blesse thee.

1666Flow. Now God thank you, sweet Lady: if you have

1667any friend, or Garden-house, where you may imploy a

1668poor Gentleman as your friend, I am yours to command

1669in all secret service.

1670Citiz. W. I thank you, good friend, I prithee let me

1671see that again I gave thee, there is one of them a brasse

1672shilling, give me them, and here is half a crown in gold.

1674Now out upon thee, Rascal, secret service: what doest

1675thou make of me? it were a good deed to have thee