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  • Title: The Puritan (Folio 3, 1664)

    • Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Authors: Thomas Middleton, William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Puritan (Folio 3, 1664)

    72
    The Puritan Widow.
    Sir God. I, and a banquet ready by this time, Master
    Sheriffe, to which I most cheerfully invite you, and your
    late prisoner there: see you this goodly Chain, sir, mum,
    no more words, 'twas lost and is found again; come, my
    2135inestimable Bullies, we'll talk of your noble Acts in
    sparkling Charnico, and instead of a Jester, we'll ha the
    Ghost ith' white sheet sit at upper end oth' Table.
    Sheriffe. Exlent merry man ifaith.Exit.
    Franck. Well, seeing I am enjoyn'd to love and mar-(ry,
    2140My foolish vow thus I casheere to aire
    Which first begot it,--now love play thy part;
    The Schollar reads his lecture in my heart.

    Actus Quintus.

    Enter in haste Master Edmond and Frailty.

    2145Edm. This is the Marriage morning for my Mother
    and my Sister.
    Frail. O me, Master Edmond, we shall have rare do-
    ings.
    Edm. Nay go, Frailty, run to the Sexton, you know
    2150my mother will be married at Saint Antlings, hie thee, 'tis
    past five, bid them open the Church door, my Sister is al-
    most ready.
    Fra. What already, Master Edmond?
    Edm. Nay go hie thee, first run to the Sexton, and
    2155run to the Clerk, and then run to Master Pigman the
    Parson, and then run to the Milliner, and then run home
    agen.
    Frail. Here's run, run, run---
    Ed. But hark, Frailty.
    2160Fra. What, more yet?
    Edm. Has the Maids remembred to strew the way to
    the Church.
    Fra. Foh, an hour ago I helpt 'em my self.
    Ed. Away, away, away, away then.
    2165Frail. Away, away, away, away, then. Exit Frailty.
    Edm. I shall have a simple Father-in-law, a brave
    Captain, able to beat all our street: Captain Idle, now
    my Lady Mother will be fitted for a delicate name, my
    Lady Idle, my Lady Idle, the finest name that can be for
    2170a woman, and then the Schollar, Master Pye-boord for
    my Sister Frances, that will be Mistresse Frances Pye-
    boord, Mistresse Frances Pye-boord, they'll keep a good
    Table I warrant you: Now all the Knights noses are put
    out of joynt, they may go to a Bone-setters now.

    2175Enter Captain and Pye-boord.
    Hark, hark; oh who comes here with two Torches before
    'em, my sweet Captain, and my fine Schollar? oh how
    bravely they are shot up in one night, they look like fine
    Britains now me thinks, here's a gallant change ifaith;
    2180'slid, they have hir'd men and all by the Clock.
    Cap. Master Edmond, kind, honest, dainty Master
    Edmond.
    Edm. Poh, sweet Ceptain Father-in-law, a rare per-
    fume ifaith.
    2185Pye. What, are the Brides stirring? may we steall up-
    on 'em think'st thou, Master Edmond?
    Edm. Faw, their e'ne upon readinesse I can assure
    you: for they were at their Torch e'ne now, by the same
    token I tumbled down the staires.
    2190Pye. Alass, poor Master Edmond.

    Enter Musicians.

    Cap. O, the Musicians! I prethee, Master Edmond,
    call 'em in and liquor 'em a little.
    Edm. That I will, sweet Captain Father-in-law, and
    2195make each of them as drunk as a common Fidler.
    Exeunt omnes.

    Enter Sir John Penny-Dub, and Moll above lacing
    of her cloathes.

    Pen. Whewh, Mistresse Moll, Mistresse Moll.
    2200Moll. Who's there?
    Pen. 'Tis I.
    Moll. Who, Sir John Penny-Dub? O you're an early
    Cock ifaith, who would have thought you to be so rare a
    stirrer?
    2205Pen. Prethee, Moll, let me come up.
    Moll. No by my faith Sir John, I'le keep you down,
    for you Knights are very dangerous if once you get a-
    bove.
    Pen. I'le not stay ifaith.
    2210Mol. Ifaith you shall stay: for, Sir John, you must
    note the nature of the Climates: your Northern Wench
    in her own Countrey may well hold out till she be fif-
    teen, but if she touch the South once, and come up to
    London, here the Chimes go presently after twelve.
    2215Pen. O th'art a mad Wench, Moll, but I prethee
    make haste, for the Priest is gone before.
    Moll. Do you follow him, I'le not be long after.
    Exeunt.

    Enter Sir Oliver Muck-hill, Sir Andrew Tipstaffe,
    2220and old Skirmish talking.

    Muck. O monstrous unheard of forgery.
    Tip. Knight, I never heard of such villany in our own
    Countrey, in my life.
    Muck. Why 'tis impossible. dare you maintain your
    2225words?
    Skir. Dare we? e'ne to their wezen pipes: we know
    all their plots, they cannot squander with us, they have
    knavishly abus'd us, made onely properties on's to ad[-}
    vance their selves upon our shoulders, but they shall rue
    2230their abuses, this morning they are to be married.
    Muck. 'Tis too true, yet if the Widow be not too
    much besotted on slights and forgeries, the revelation of
    their villanies will make 'em loathsome, and to that end,
    be it in private to you, I sent late last night to an ho-
    2235nourable personage, to whom I am much indebted in
    kindnesse, as he is to me, and therefore presume upon
    the payment of his tongue, and that he will lay out good
    words for me, and to speak truth, for such needfull occa-
    sions, I onely preserve him in bond, and sometimes he
    2240may doe me more good here in the City by a free word
    of his mouth, then if he had paid one half in hand, and
    took Doomesday for tother.
    Tip. Introth, sir, without soothing be it spoken, you
    have publisht much judgement in these few words.
    2245Muck. For you know, what such a man utters will
    be thought effectuall; and to weighty purpose, and there-
    fore into his mouth we'll put the approved theame of
    their forgeries.
    Skir. And I'le maintain it, Knight, if she'll be true.
    Enter
    [D4v]
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