480Slave slaver out our purpose to his Master, for would I

481were but as sure on't, as I am sure he will deny to do't.

482Nic. I would be heartily glad, Cousin, if any of my

483friendships, as they say, might--stand, ah--

484Pye. Why, you see he offers his friendship foolishly to

485you already.

486Cap. I, that's the hell on't, I would he would offer it

487wisely.

488Nic. Verily, and indeed-la, Cousin--

489Cap.I have took note of thy fleers a good while, if

490thou art minded to do me good? as thou gap'st upon me

491comfortably, and giv'st me charitable faces; which indeed

492is but a fashion in you all that are Puritans, wilt soon at

493night steal me thy Master's Chain?

494Nic.Oh, I shall sowne!

495Pye. Corporal, he starts already!

496Cap. I know it to be worth three hundred Crowns,

497and with the half of that, I can buy my life at a Bro-

498kers, at second hand, which now lies in pawn to the

499Law, if this thou refuse to do, being

easie and nothing

500dangerous, in that thou art held in good opinion of thy

501Master; why 'tis a palpable Argument thou hold'st my

502life at no price, and these thy broken and unjoynted

503offers, are but only created in thy lip, now born, and

504now buried, foolish breath only: what, woult do't? shall I

505look for happinesse in thy answer?

506Nich. Steal my Master's Chain quoth he? no, it shall

507nere be said, that Nicholas Saint Tantlings committed

508Bird-lime!

509Cap. Nay, I told you as much, did I not? though he

510be a Puritan, yet he will be a true man.

511Nic. Why Cousin, you know 'tis written, Thou shalt

512not steal.

513Cap. Why, and fool, thou shalt love thy Neighbour,

514and help him in extremities.

515Nic. Mass I think it be indeed; in what Chapter's

516that, Cousin?

517Capt. Why in the first of Charity, the second verse.

518Nic. The first of Charity, quath a, that's a good

519jest, there no such Chapter in my book!

520Cap. No, I know twas torn out of thy Book, and that

521makes so little in thy heart.

522Pye. Come, let me tell you, y'are too unkind a Kins-

523man ifaith; the Captain loving you so dearly, I, like the

524Pomwater of his eye, & you to be so uncomfortable, fie, fie.

525Nic. Pray do not wish me to be hang'd, any thing else

526that I can do; had it been to rob, I would ha don't, but I

527must not Steal, that's the word, the literal, Thou shalt

528not steal; and would you wish me to steal then?

529Pye. No faith, that were too much, to speak truth;

530why wilt thou Nim it from him?

531Nic. That I will.

532Pye. Why enough, Bully; he will be content with that,

533or he shall ha none; let me alone with him now, Cap-

534tain, I ha dealt with your Kinsman in a corner; a good,

535--kind-natur'd fellow, me thinks: go to, you shall not

536have all your own asking, you shall bate somewhat on't,

537he is not contented absolutely, as you would say, to steal

538the Chain from him, but to do you a pleasure, he will nim

539it from him.

540Nic. I, that I will, Cousin.

541Cap. Well, seeing he will do no more, as far as I see,

542I must be contented with that.

543Cor. Here's no notable gullery?

544Pye. Nay, I'le come nearer to you, Gentleman, because

545we'll have only but a help and a mirth on't, the Knight

546shall not lose his Chain neither, but be only laid out of

547the way some one or two dayes.

548Nic. I, that would be good indeed, Kinsman.

549Pye. For I have a farder reach, to profit us better, by

550the missing on't only, then if we had it out-right, as my

551discourse shall make it known to you;--when thou hast

552the Chain, do but convey it out at a back-door into the

553Garden, and there hang it close in the Rosemary banck,

554but for a small season; and by that harmlesse device, I

555know how to wind Captain Idle out of prison, the Knight

556thy Master shall get his pardon, and release him, and he

557satisfie thy Master with his own Chain, and wondrous

558thanks on both hands.

559Nic. That were rare indeed la, pray let me know how.

560Pye. Nay, 'tis very necessary thou should'st know,

561because thou must be employ'd as an Actor?

562Nic. An Actor? O no, that's a Player? and our Par-

563son rails against Players mightily I can tell you, because

564they brought him drunk upo'th'Stage once,--as he will be

565horribly drunk.

566Cor. Mass I cannot blame him then, poor Church-spout.

567Pye. Why as an Intermedler then?

568Nic. I, that, that.

569Pye. Give me audience then; when the old Knight thy

570Master has rag'd his fill for the loss of the Chain, tell him

571thou hast a Kinsman in prison, of such exquisite Art, that

572the Devil himself is French Lackey to him, and runs

573bare-headed by his horse-----belly (when he has

574one:) whom he will cause, with most Irish dexteri-

575ty to fetch his Chain, though 'twere hid under a mine

576of Sea-coal, and ne're make Spade or Pick-axe his

577instruments; tell him but this, with farder instructions

578thou shalt receive from me, and thou show'st thy self a

579Kinsman indeed.

580Cor. A dainty Bully.

581Skir. An honest--Book-keeper.

582Cap. And my three times thrice honey-Cousin.

583Nic. Nay, grace of God I'le rob him on't suddenly,

584and hang it in the Rosemary banck, but I bear that mind,

585Cousin, I would not Steal any thing, me thinks, for mine

586own Father.

587Skir. He bears a good mind in that, Captain.

588Py. Why well said, he begins to be an honest fellow, faith.

589Cor. In troth he does.

590Nic. You see, Cousin, I am willing to do you any kind-

592Captain. Why I thank thee, fare thee well, I shall re-

593quite it..

594Cor. 'Twill be good for thee, Captain, that thou hast

595such an egregious Asse to thy Cousin.

596Cap. I, is not that a fine fool, Corporal?

597But George, thou talk'st of Art and Conjuring,

598How shall that be?

599Pyb. Puh, be't not in your care,

600Leave that to me and my directions;

601Well, Captain, doubt not thy delivery now,

602E'en with the vantage, man, to gain by Prison,

603As my thoughts prompt me: hold on brain and plot,

604I aim at many cunning far events,

605All which I doubt not to hit at length,

606I'le to the Widow with a quaint assault,

607Captain be merry.

608Cap. Who I? Kerry merry Buffe-Jerkin.

609Pye. Oh, I am happy in more slights, and one will

610knit strong in another, --Corporal Oath.

611Cor. Hoh Bully!