2260 them, Sir Godfrey and Edmond, Widow changed in ap-

2261 parel, Mistress Frances led between two Knights, Sir

2262 John Penny-dub and Moll: there meets them a Noble

2263 man, Sir Oliver Muck-hill, and Sir Andrew Tip-staff.

2264Nob. By your leave, Lady.

2265Wid. My Lord, your honour is most chastly welcome.

2266Nob. Madam, though I came now from Court, I come

2267not to flatter you: upon whom can I justly cast this blot,

2268but upon your own forehead, that know not Ink from

2269Milk, such is the blind besotting in the state of an un-

2270headed woman that's a Widow. For it is the property

2271of all you that are Widows (a handfull excepted) to hate

2272those that honestly and carefully love you, to the

2273maintenance of credit, state, and posterity, and strongly

2274to doat on those, that onely love you to undoe you: who

2275regard you least, are best regarded; who hate you most,

2276are best beloved. And if there be but one man amongst,

2277ten thousand millions of men, that is accurst, disastrous,

2278and evilly Planeted; whom Fortune beats most, whom

2279God hates most, and all Societies esteem least, that man

2280is sure to be a Husband---Such is the peevish Moon that

2281rules your blouds. An impudent fellow best woos you, a

2282flattering lip best wins you, or in mirth, who talks rough-

2283liest, is most sweetest; nor can you distinguish truth from

2284forgeries, mists from simplicity: witness those two de-

2285ceitfull Monsters, that you have entertain'd for Bride-

2286grooms.

2287Wid. Deceitfull--

2288Pye. All will out.

2289Cap. Sfoot, who has blab'd, George? that foolish Ni-

2290cholas.

2291Nob. For, what they have besotted your easie bloud

2292withall, were nought but forgeries, the Fortune-telling

2293for Husbands, and the Conjuring for the Chain; Sir

2294Godfrey heard the falshood of all: nothing but meer

2295knavery, deceit, and cozenage.

2296Wid. O wonderfull! indeed I wondred that my Hus[-}

2297band with all his craft, could not keep himself out of

2298Purgatory:

2299Sir Godf. And I more wonder, that my Chain should

2300be gon, and my Taylor had none of it.

2301Moll. And I wondred most of all, that I should be

2302tyed from Marriage, having such a mind to't: come Sir

2303John Penny-dub, fair weather on our side, the Moon has

2304chang'd since yesternight.

2305Pye. The Sting of every evil is within me.

2306Nob. And that you may perceive I feign not with you,

2307behold their fellow-actor in those forgeries, who full of

2308Spleen and envy at their so sudden advancements, ravel'd

2309all their Plot in anger.

2310Pye. Base Souldier, to reveal us.

2311Wid. Is't possible we should be blinded so, and our

2312eyes open?

2313Nob. Widow, will you now believe that false, which

2314too soon you believed true?

2315Wid. O, to my shame, I do.

2316Sir Godf. But under favour, my Lord, my Chain was

2317truly lost, and strangely found again.

2318Nob. Resolve him of that, Souldier.

2319Skir. In few words, Knight, then thou wert the arch-

2320Gull of all.

2321Sir Godf. How, Sir?

2322Skir. Nay I'le prove it: for the Chain was but hid

2323in the Rosemary-banck all this while, and thou gotst

2324him out of prison to Conjure for it, who did it admirably

2325fustianly, for indeed what needed any others, when he

2326knew where it was?

2327Sir Godf. O villany of villains! but how came my

2328Chain there?

2329Skir. Where's, Truly la, Indeed la? he that will not

2330Swear, but Lye; he that will not Steal, but Rob: pure

2331Nicholas Saint Antlings.

2332Sir Godf. O villain! one of our Society,

2333Deem'd alwayes holy, pure, religious:

2334A Puritan, a thief? when was't ever heard?

2335Soon we'll kill a man, then Steal, thou know'st.

2336Out Slave, I'le rend my Lyon from thy back---with mine

2337own hands.

2338Nich. Dear Master, oh.

2339Nob. Nay Knight, dwell in patience.

2340And now, Widow, being so near the Church, 'twere

2341great pitty, nay uncharit; to send you home again with-

2342out a Husband: draw near, you of true Worship, state

2343and credit, that should not stand so far off from a Wi-

2344dow, and suffer forged shapes to come between you: Not

2345that in these I blemish the true Title of a Captain, or blot

2346the fair margent of a Scholar: for I honour worthy and

2347deserving parts in the one, and cherish fruitfull Virtues in

2348the other. Come Lady, and you Virgin, bestow your eyes

2349and your purest affections, upon men of estimation,

2350both in Court and City, that have long wooed you, and

2351both with their hearts and wealth, sincerely love you.

2352Sir Godf. Good sister, do: sweet little Frank, these

2353are men of reputation, you shall be welcome at Court: a

2354great credit for a Citizen, sweet sister.

2355Nob. Come, her silence do's consent to't.

2356Wid. I know not with what face.

2357Nob. Pah, pah, with your own face, they desire no other.

2358Wid Pardon me, worthy Sirs, I and my daughter have

2359wrong'd your loves.

2360Muck. 'Tis easily pardon'd, Lady,

2361If you vouchsafe it now.

2362Wid. With all my soul.

2363Fran. And I, with all my heart.

2364Moll. And I, Sir John with soul, heart, lights and all.

2365Sir Godf. They ar

e all mine, Moll.

2366Nob. Now, Lady:

2367What honest Spirit, but will applaud your choice,

2368And gladly furnish you with hand and voice;

2369A happy change, which makes e'en heaven rejoice.

2370Come, enter in your Joyes, you shall not want,

2371For, fathers, now I doubt it not, believe me,

2372But that you shall have hands enough to give me.