1275Ser. Who knocks, whose at door? we had need of a

1276Porter.

1277Pye. A few friends here.---pray is the Gentleman

1278your Master within?

1279Ser. Yes, is your business to him?

1280Pye. I, he knows it, when he sees me:

1281I pray you, have you forgot me.

1282Ser. I by my troth, sir, pray come near, I'le in and

1283tell him of you, please you to walk here in the Gallery till

1284he comes.

1285Pye. We will attend his worship,---worship I think,

1286for so much the posts at his door should signifie, and the

1287fair coming in, and the wicket, else I neither knew him

1288nor his worship, but 'tis happiness he is within doors,

1289what so'ere he be, if he be not too much a formal Citizen,

1290he may do me good: Serjeant and Yeoman, how do you

1291like this house, is't not most wholsomely plotted?

1292Rav. Troth prisoner, an exceeding fine house.

1293Pye. Yet I wonder how he should forget me, for he

1294ne're knew me: No matter, what is forgot in you, will be

1295remembred in your Master.

1296A pritty comfortable room this methinks:

1297You have no such roomes in prison now?

1298Put. Oh dog-holes to't.

1299Pye. Dog-holes indeed---I can tell you I have great

1300hope to have my Chamber here shortly, nay and dyet

1301too, for he's the most free-hearted'st Gentleman where he

1302takes: you would little think it? and what a fine Gallery

1303were here for me to walk and study, and make verses.

1304Put. O it stands pleasantly for a Schollar.

1306Pye. Look what maps, and pictures, and devices, and

1307things, neatly, delicately? Masse here he comes, he should

1308be a Gentleman, I like his Beard well;---All happinesse

1309to your worship.

1310Gent. You're kindly welcome, sir.

1311Put. A simple salutation.

1312Rav. Masse it seems the Gentleman makes great ac-

1313count of him.

1314Gent. I have the thing here for you, sir.

1315Pye. I beseech you, conceal me sir, I'm undone else,---

1316I have the Mask here for you sir, Look you sir,---I be-

1317seech your worship, first pardon my rudenesse, for my

1318extreams makes me boulder then I would be; I am a poor

1319Gentleman and a Schollar, and now most unfortunately

1320falne into the hands of unmercifull Officers, arrested for

1321debt, which though small, I am not able to compasse, by

1322reason I'm destitute of lands, mony, and friends, so that

1323if I fall into the hungry swallow of the prison, I am like

1324utterly to perish, and with fees and extortions be pincht

1325clean to the bone: Now, if ever pitty had interest in the

1326bloud of a Gentleman, I beseech you vouchsafe but to

1327favour that means of my escape, which I have already

1328thought upon.

1329Gent. Go forward.

1330Put. I warrant he likes it rarely.

1331Pye. In the plunge of my extremities, being giddy,

1332and doubtfull what to do; at last it was put in my labour-

1333ing thoughts, to make a happy use of this paper, and to

1334blear their unlettered eyes, I told them there was a Device

1335for a Mask drawn in't, and that (but for their intercep-

1336tion,) I was going to a Gentleman to receive my reward

1337for't: they greedy at this word, and hoping to make pur-

1338chase of me, offered their attendance, to go along with

1339me, my hap was to make bold with your door, sir, which

1340my thoughts shew'd me the most fairest and comfortablest

1341entrance, and I hope I have happened right upon under-

1342standing, and pitty: may it please your good worship

1343then, but to uphold my Device, which is to let one of your

1344men put me out at a back door, and I shall be bound to

1345your worship for ever.

1346Gent. By my troth, an excellent Device.

1347Put. An excellent Device he sayes; he likes it won-

1348derfully.

1349Gent. A my faith, I never heard a better.

1350Raven. Hark, he swears he never heard a better,

1351Serjeant.

1352Put. O there's no talk on't, he's an excellent Schollar,

1353and especially for a Mask.

1354Gent. Give me your Paper, your Device; I was never

1355better pleas'd in all my life: good wit, brave wit, finely

1356wrought, come in sir, and receive your mony, sir.

1357Pye. I'le follow your good Worship,---

1358You heard how he like't it now?

1359Put. Puh, we know he could not choose but like it:

1360go thy wayes, thou art a fine witty fellow ifaith, thou

1361shalt discourse it to us at the Tavern anon, wilt thou?

1362Pye. I, I, that I will,---look Serjeants, here are Maps,

1363and pretty toyes, be doing in the mean time, I shall quick-

1364ly have told out the money, you know.

1365Put. Go, go, little villain, fetch thy chinck, I begin

1366to love thee, I'le be drunk to night in thy company.

1367Pye. This Gentleman I may well call a part

1368Of my salvation, in these earthly evils,

1369For he has sav'd me from three hungry Devils.

1371Put. Sirrah Serjeant, these Maps are pretty painted

1372things, but I could nere fancie them yet, me thinks they're

1373too busie, and full of Circles and Conjurations; they say

1374all the World's in one of them, but I could nere find the

1375Counter in the Poultry.

1376Rav. I think so: how could you find it? for you know

1377it stands behind the houses.

1378Dog. Mass that's true, then we must look oth'back-

1379side for't: sfoot here's nothing, all's bare.

1380Rav. I warrant thee that stands for the Counter, for

1381you know there's a company of bare fellows there.

1382Put. Faith like enough, Serjeant, I never markt so

1383much before. Sirrah Serjeant, and Yeoman, I should

1384love these Maps out a cry now, if we could see men peep

1385out of door in 'em, oh we might have'em in a morning to

1386our Break-fast so finely, and nere knock our heels to the

1387ground a whole day for 'em.

1388Rav. I marry sir, I'de buy one my self.

1389But this talk is by the way, where shall's sup to night:

1390Five pound receiv'd, let's talk of that.

1391I have a trick worth all, you two shall bear him toth'Ta-

1392vern, whilst I go close with his Hostess, and work out of

1393her, I know she would be glad of the summe, to finger

1394money; because shee knows 'tis but a desperate debt, and

1395full of hazard: what will you say if I bring it to pass, that

1396the Hostess shall be contented with one half for all, and

1397we to share tother fifty shillings, Bullies.

1398Put. Why I would call thee King of Serjeants, and

1399thou should'st be Chronicled in the Counter-Book for

1400ever.

1401Ra. Well, put it to me, we'll make a Night on't ifaith.

1402Dog. Sfoot, I think he receives more money, he stayes

1403so long.

1404Put. He tarries long indeed, may be, I can tell you,

1405upon the good liking on't the Gentleman may prove

1406more bountifull.

1407Rav. That would be rare, we'll search him.

1408Put. Nay be sure of it, we'll search him, and make

1409him light enough.

1411Ra. Oh here comes the Gentleman, by your leave, Sir.

1412Gen. God you god den sirs,--would you speak with me?

1413Put. No, not with your worship, sir; only we are bold

1414to stay for a friend of ours, that went in with your wor-

1415ship.

1416Gen. Who? not the Schollar?

1417Put. Yes, e'en he, an it please your worship.

1418Gen. Did he make you stay for him? he did you wrong

1419then: why, I can assure you he's gon above an hour ago.

1420Rav. How, Sir?

1421Gen. I paid him his money, and my man told me he

1422went out at back-door.

1423Put. Back-door?

1424Gen. Why, what's the matter?

1425Put. He was our prisoner, sir, we did arrest him.

1426Gen. What he was not? you the Sheriff's Officers---

1427you were too blame then,

1428Why did you not make known to me as much;

1429I could have kept him for you, I protest,

1430He receiv'd all of me in Britain Gold,

1431Of the last coyning.

1432Ra Vengeance dog him with't.

1433Put. Sfoot has he gull'd us so?

1434Dog. Where shall we sup now, Serjeants?

1435Put. Sup Simon, now, eat Porridge for a month.

1436Well, we cannot impute it to any lack of good will in

1437your Worship,--you did but as another would have

1438done, 'twas our hard fortunes to miss the purchase, but

1439if e'er we clutch him again, the Counter shall charm him.

1440Ra. The Hole shall rot him.

1442Gent. So,

1443Vex out your Lungs without doors, I am proud,

1444It was my hap to help him, it fell fit,

1445He went not empty neither for his wit:

1446Alas poor wretch, I could not blame his brain,

1447To labour his delivery, to be free,

1448From their unpittying fangs,--I'me glad it stood,