Part of Poore (transcription)

The following transcription of the "Part of Poore" was originally prepared by David Carnegie for the Malone Society (Collections XV [Oxford: OUP, 1993], 111-69). It is reproduced here by kind permission of Professor Carnegie and the Malone Society. Copies of Collections XV can be purchased through the Malone Society's site.

Square brackets are used to mark deletions, and angular brackets are used to indicate "questionably legible portions of the text" (Carnegie 115). The Act and Scene headings have been enlarged for visibility but are not distinguished as such in the original manuscript.

This text has been made available primarily to facilitate searching; the limitations of wiki-coding mean that the digitised images of the manuscript and/or Professor Carnegie's original transcription should be consulted to ensure complete accuracy.

	THE PART OF 'POORE'

	Actus I^mus Scӕna I^a.	[FOL.21a]
	Poore.
	Welcome thou instrument of liberty offreth to stab himselfe
Sly	Hold hold
Poore:	It is a most vnthankfull office;
	To save a man vnwilling is to murder.
	What hath this world of myne that I should covet
	Longer to stay w^th it? nor have you reason
	Thus to detaine mee, I must greiving say it
	Through mee you want what might have well sustaind you		10
	And your last store scarce panteth nourishment
	Vnto your selfe and sister.
Sly	How truely rich
	Though having nothing, for contemning all?
Poore.	True very wise, nay rich, if hee could gett
	Even w^th his best indeauour nourishment:
	But that now wants whose rich hees only wise
	T'is the receaved opinion, and what arts
	Are meanly shrouded in a thred bare coate
	Want theire due forme, thats a privation of it.		20
	The worst of ills that is in misery
	Is that it gives a man contemptible
	Makes him a scoffe to every painted asse
	W^ch beares a golden image, every slave
	W^ch came into this Cytty w^th bare feete
	And since hath heap'd vp by mechanicke basenes
	Abundant riches will contem the state
	That nature brought him to and no more pitty it,
	Then wisedome will a snake pin'd w^th much cold
Sly:	you much erre		30
Poore.	No it is sacred truth, there is not one
	Who hath not circled w^th a triple brasse
	His more obdurate heart, each man doth live	[FOL.21b]
	As hee were enemy to the whole world.
	There is a spatious distance twixt the heart,
	And tounge of every man, they speake and doe
	Nought that hath smallest coherence w^th theire minds;
	They doe even strive vnto it w^th theire full nerves.
Sly	Imitate theire manners.
Poore:	You advise well, I shall, and digg a prey		40
	From out theire frosen intrailes, w^ch shall nourish vs,
	Feede vs w^th laughter, cramm vs full w^th gold.
	I'le hold as firme antipathy w^th men,
	As doe the elements amongst themselves.
Sly	they doe generate
Poore:	Soe will not I vnlesse a misery.
	And wanton spleene to laugh at it.
Sly	will force frequent troops
	Of clyents, to your lure
Poore:	And being well lured,		50
	Ile cramm them soe they shall not breath to flight.
	Let's see they may doe well if more harsh fate
	Bite not our blooming fortunes.
Strange	beene ith fashion to
Poore.	Whilst wee, Apollo's children, w^ch are given
	To the true study of whats purely good.
	Share not the least part of it in effect.
	Our merits are defects, and only staines.
	Disgraces to mans glosse, in mans false eyes.
	The heaven of our glory shines no more,		60
	Then a faint candles light, in a proud sunn.
	Oh Iove! oh Iove! why hast thou warn'd thy thunder [?]
	It should not dare to touch Apollo's tree?
	Yet sufferest vilder more inferiour stro<a>kes
	To rend, and hammer his more loved children,	[FOL.22a]
	To dust, to aire, to nothing, lesse then nothing.

Strang:	[f] for what they suffer
Poore:	S^r I have fellowe feeling of theire ills.
Strang	tis sacred truth.
Poore:	[O] O S^r beleeve him not		70
	He doth intice you to a dangerous ill
Sly:	Slight what doe you meane?
Poore	Hee is a strange hyaena
Sly:	You wont vndoe your selfe
Poore	[A] And drawes you on
Stra:	wants much connexion
Poore	To losse
Strange:	of what?
Poore:	Your wealth and reputation.
	Riches are not more enimyes to heaven,		80
	then To our art.
Sly	honest men in as bare naps.
Poore	Our heaven of poetry cannot brooke such rivals.
	It is wellnigh[] prodigious they should meete.
	And or proceedes from a defect of wo<r>th,
	Or by excesse of some vild humour ioyned,
	W^ch naturalists observe w^thin theire subjects
	To cause a vitious forme; for more then perfect
	Is but a plurisy w^ch in wholsomest blood
	Breeds naught save malladyes, but being ill,		90
	It meerely is necessited to kill.
	You knowe the daunger S^r If you proceede
Strange:	You cannot fright mee.
Poore	Now comes your cue to speake goe on and roundly
Sly	not shewe his matchlesse skill
Poore:	You may proceed and hee may <w>inn by intising.
	But by your pardon, you are much [deceaved] vnwise,	[FOL.22b]
	If all his traines cann lead you to consent.
Strange:	vnto your art
	I cannot be disswaded .		100
Poore	then resolve
	To contemplation, for you must neglect
	All worldly matters, and be given to this,
	As to the sollidst earthly happinesse.
Strang	you knowe my minde
Poore:	And I will vndertake to give instructions
	In this quainte rhetoricke, and subtile logicke,
	And what I cann participat in naturals
	Shall not be wanting, since I knowe you firme
	Of good capacity and ingenuous.		110
Strange:	What I possesse
	Shall not be wanting to you
Poore:	[Pish] pish no no you shall not.
	Those were but by words w^ch I did object
Sly:	into your minde, I told you soe.
Poore	S^r It was ill donn, and no way worth your thanks.
Strange:	[I would] lodge heare about
Poore	Twilbe best
Strange	only take this as earnest
Poore:	It should not neede but since you'l have it soe		120
	I will accept it and deserve it to
Strange:	'Till when I leave you.
Poore	pray good s^r your name
Strange:	Tis Strange anon Ile come.
Poore	you shalbe welcome.
Sly	to quircks and quillets soe they'de help to thrive
Poore:	S'light what doe you meane?
Sly	my tender Iuvenall
Poore:	You wo'n't vndoe your selfe?

Sly	— w^th your precisenes.		130
Poore	may you have game and will not sterve and perish?
Sly	Leave it scholler leave it	[FOL.23a]
	Or it spoile thee
Poore:	[] You'r spoild you may turne ballad munger.
Sly:	Prethee vrge these no more
Poore:	you may thrive, tis possible,
	But Ive seene honest men in as bare naps.
Sly	Ile pay thee for it
Poore:	Doe spare mee not, I will indure thy worst,
	And answer thee w^th full as great a noyse.		140
	My flash shalbe as violent and as horrid.
Sly:	Our lightning shall insue
Poore:	content content.
	Now my wise wench of brantford, how now Gill,
	What newes bringst thou now?
Sly:	Wee are quite vndon
Poore:	On w^th your night gowne Gill, and dresse yo^rselfe
	Ith lady fashion speedily, and returne.
	Theire coming in ?
Gill	I I		150
Poore	Begonn, be gonn.
Sly:	as poore indeed as thou in name
Poore:	Your witt is rich enough to play on mee
Sly	I will stab myselfe
Poore	That shall not be indited for your death
	<Ieamy> hath putt it vp [<yyo>] you shall not have it
Sly:	Then Ile goe hang my self:
Poore	— Away away man
	What what in desperation, fy vpon't
	Heare mee s^r I have heard a cunning hand		160
	May soe dispose two glasses as by them
	Each externe inconvenience maybe kend.
Sly:	laugh[]t at my afflictions ?	[FOL.23b]
Poore.	At thy promotion, at thy exaltation.
	Giv'd thou mayest cheat securely free of feare.
	Thou feelst the worst of it, false dice, halfe cards
	Will doe exceeding well; [f<a>lse] if thoult be honest,
	Ile teach thee a more exquisite art of begging,
	Then ere was heard yet from the newgate dungeon.
	Each man ith house shall give a groat a day		170
	To have thee vndergoe theire worke, and gaine by it.
	For I will vndertake, in halfe a yeare.
	Thou shalt as palpably snatch from the grates,
	Of all the prisons w^thin London walls,
	Ney and the libertyes, the penny pension
	As the Kings men doe from theire neighbour companyes
	Societyes of gallants
Sly	death and damnation
Poore	Hell and misery
Sly:	light on the head,		180
Poore	of thy destroying Hard.
	Is't Is't I heare them, fly and putt you on
	Some other shape, come Lady Gillian come
	Have you not donn yett? oh your well enough
	Good morrowe to your worships Ladyship
	Good Madam Change.

	Act: I^I Scӕna 2^da

3d offi:	some kind purgation, is not that your meaning ?
Poore:	Madam doe you still hold those points of complement
	In w^ch I did instruct you yesterday?		190
	When to advance, when to retire, and when
	To keepe your stand? at the first salutacion
	How to congratulate the welcome of—
	—A freind equall in fortune, of a superiour,
	How to be court<e>ous to inferiours?
Gill:	w^th a greater matter	[FOL.24a]
Poore:	Thus farr weeve gonn i'th science, theory,
	Now weele proceed vnto the art, or practise.
Hard	wee shall see fine sport.
Poore:	Thinke you, you cann performe what I instructed?		200
Gill	make experience S^r
Poore	Suppose mee, lordly, after what manner meete you
Gill	vnworthy roofe of ours.
Poore:	How to a knight your equall?
Hard:	— I would my kinsman had hir
Poore:	Soe would I to: but for the inferiour now?
Hard	should be hir ioynter
Poore:	S^r you bid fairely for hir, you shall have hir.
	Your cousen goose shall have hir
Gill	— If I cann helpe it		210
Poore:	come come mind them not.
	Soe now you are instructed, let us spend
	Some tyme, in matters of a more import.
	Madam I knowe your birth, and your deservings.
	But what your fortunes are Ive beene content
	Yet not to seeke, but now you've given your selfe
	Wholly to mee and doe repose alone
	Vpon my choyce, I will be bold to inquire
	That I may neither loose you on a man
	Belowe yourselfe in merits or in fortune		220
Gill.	Heaven blesse vs what are you?
Poore:	Murder, murder
	Roalfe Gaspar Thomas where are these varlets trowe?
Sly	you shalbe held doe you heare.
Poore:	What are you ? speake, to what end doe you come?	[FOL.24b]
Hard	arrest that Sly
Poore:	How Sly saucy groome? first enter my house
	W^th more then two, tis a sufficient riot
	And god knowes what you would, but that our eye,
	Our happily seeing eye prevented you;		230
	Thanks to the supreame power w^ch made it happy
	To that fore sight, what not a varlett stirr ?
	You are consenting to, wee might be murdred[,]
	And you not heare of it; where are your fellows?.
	You'are sometymes dubly diligent, and a word
	W^thin our kenn will make you fly like winde
	Where are your fellowes?
Sly	troth S^r, I doe not knowe
Poore:	What men are these?
Gill:	nor heare of any thing.		240
Poore:	Ney you shall stay, the Iustice shall decide
	Whither your act be lawfull, tmay perchance
	Conclude at Tyburne or the newgate dungeon
	Besides a publique lash from hence to y^e tower
	From thence to westmonest<e>r, spight of your freinds
Hard.	S^r I intreat your favour.
Poore	That were pretty.
	To be god knowes frighted well nigh to death,
	Then only intreat favour, that's fine recompence.
	If thou beest worth a penny Ile have that		250
	And all thy freinds cann make if they will save thee.
Hard.	S^r in good fayth I meant no harme
Poore.	thats better.
	That shalbe t[y]ryed, goe Gaspar fetch the Conestable
Sly	Tak't least hee doe repent;
Poore.	how! forty pound?
	That is a sweet amends, but whats your name ?
Hard.	Tis Hard and please you S^r	[FOL.25a]
Poore	Hard? m^r Sly
	Hath often named you w^thin my hearing		260
	An honest creditor, and for his sake.
	If w^th [th] your haust this lady be appeased
	Your peace is made; what recompence shee will
	You must attone hir w^th, or this cannot bee.
	Some toy will please hir best, shee is a woman
	A diamond ring of twenty marke that's all
	Oh shee was frighted much, had shee beene married
	Tenn Suttons wealths could not have saved yo^r life
Hard.	I would bestowe
Poore:	Vm lett mee see the gold,		270
	[Ile] offer it; oh these are [the f] Sly's attachments and his bonds.
Hard.	Good S^r they are
Poore:	Madam this gentleman
	Presents to you by mee his mediate
	Twenty faire angells, and doth hope to appease
	W^th this bright sacrifice, your incensed minde:
	To add by glorious coulour of this gold,
	A pleasing tinture, to your late pale cheeke.
Hard:	Is shee a lady S^r
Poore	not yet, a knight		280
	Is ready now to bed hir, and but stay's
	The coming of some freinds vnto the ceremony.
Sly	oh! it takes rarely
Poore	Some five dayes hince.
Hard	And is shee well affected ?
Poore	No yet the importunitye hir freinds have vsed,
	Have made hir yeeld.
Hard	so much into hir <e>state	[FOL.25b]
Poore.	I have no reason s^r
Hard	What may hir portion be?		290
Poore	Hir father S^r
	Iustice of peace in Yorkeshire, hath alotted
	Three thousand pound w^ch w^thin twice three months
	After the day of marriage shall bee payed;
	Vpon condition,y^t shee shall have ioynter.
	After his death, three hundreed pound a yeare.
	Hir fathers age and weakenes will not suffer hĩ
	Present vnto these nuptials but hee sends
	His brother to consumate what he please.
Hard.	Then he concludes all.		300
Poore	All
Hard	in my behalfe
Poore	Shee hath refer'd hir selfe to my dispose
	And if I like the gentleman and the tearmes
	It shall goe hard but Ile prevaile so much
Hard	shalbee assured hir
Poore:	Tis faire the gentle man concludes it
Hard	yes
	Hee shall
Poor	[] as I like him it takes effect		310
	If I cann ought.
Hard	your care shalbe requited
Poore:	It is requited i<n>^th the very act
	If it doe prove succesfully and well
Hard	in the meane while plant for battery
Poore:	S^r If hee be as you have spoken him
	Hee shall not come vnwelcome
Gill	You'r welcome [to]
Poore:	[] to your cost S^r
Sly	Footra for Hard		320
Poore	now my Sly blewcoat thou how likst thou this	[FOL.26a]
	Is it not better then y^e dolefull ditty
	Of Ile goe hang or stab my selfe
Sly:	Of more rich witt
Poore:	[Tis in] tis inforced soe now
	But better arts were better ways to thrift
	Gett you a country gentile habit, hir vncle
	You must be nowe.
Gill	[Wh] what shall become of mee
Poor	Be neat and spruise as what you have cann make		330
	You <h>have a woer coming that shall pay fort
	You want not my instructions how to answer
	Though hee how to oppose, and sett on you
	When fate affords no other way to live
	to get a living needs must

	Our wits [must list indeavour wee may thrive] strive
	Exeunt

	Actus 2^di scӕ 2^da
Poore.	Whose at the dore who is it?
Sly:	He y^t desires to bee a scholler		340
Poor	Goe Sly,
	Admitt, admitt them: I must scoure my witt
	I feare tis spoil'd w^th rust tis not acute

Sly:	What are you [bett] ready for them?
Poore	Ready ready.
	Surely twas in Domitian's tyme he lived.
	That Iuvenal, the wonder of all ages
	W^ch have beene since, should live soe much vnknow̃
	Soe much neglected in his owne tyme, as none
	Would grace theire storyes w^th his sacred name,		350
	Nor praise them selves, w^th giving him due fame.
	Yet tis enough wee knowe and wonder at thee
	That once thou wert and that thy works shal bee
	Worthy long admiration.
Sly:	Noe noe hee shall not M^r Poore .	[FOL.26b]
Poore	[] whose there?
	Oh S^r I cry you mercy, and your freind,
	Your welcom please you sitt, I was translating
	A poet w^ch is prince of all his sect
	Of Satyrists, theire manners should give them		360
	Princes of men, though fewe there bee are soe;
	Twas Iuvenall w^ch if it please you heare
	I will recite.
Strang:	Yes very willingly
	[Though fewe there bee are soe]
Poore	Tis thus Ile not repeat the Latine text.
	Shall I continue silent &, indure.
	The loude vexations Codrus doth procure
	W^th his rude Theseus? shall this man reherse
	His gouned scӕne and this his mournfull v<er>se?		370
	Shall giant Telephus consume his day
	And long Orestes ӕviternall play
	Whose margent is repleat, whose very backe
	Scapes not the rage but beares asselike packe.
	Shall these I say much endlesse still be read
	And only I continue as if dead
	Vnto these labours? shall I only feare
	To vex mens organs and to force a teare ? &c
	I only made experience what I could.
Quicke	you've made vs knowe you soe.		380

Poore	The'ire sudden and they beare no more of weight
	Then a small tyme would give.
Strang:	It is well vrged
Poore:	and no way worth deniall.
Quicke	And make a Ioviall meale.
Poore	in the meane while
	Weele vse a prety schollers exercise
	One shall propose a theame, & each compose
	A couple of verses on it as they sitt	[FOL.27a]
	And if the first speake last, the rest shall take		390
	Theire cups of wine a peece to acuat them
Sly	who doth propose?
Poore:	Each in his order shall, doe you propose.
Sly	wine doth cheare the heart.
Poore	You observe method in your very sport
	S^r for the good report you give of wine
	Ile wish you quicker poets, and th<at> myne.
Sly	What what more yet
Poore:	who ere it bee admitt him
Quicke	goe call them in		400
Poore:	you shall not neede we[a]'re those
	they doe intend. S^rs wee must intreat you
	Into another roome, there you shall see
	What passeth; if't please you disclose yo^r minde
	I will performe what my weake skill can[n] doe
Sly	Ile lead the way
Poore	Ney pray S^r goe, wee schollers love no complement
	Though wee cann vse it: he hath beene yo^r guide
	And you must followe

	Scaena 3^ia Enter Poore above		410
Poor:	A swagerour doe you say one y^t hates schollers?
	Hee's none of your stage railours on thẽ is hee?
Quicke	Inns of court man that cann raile
Poore:	I would he were a poet, one that daubd
	Papers w^th greasy lines, w^ch fall away
	From his hoggs head, as sweat doth frõ his body.
	Both being excrements, of art, and nature.
	Such I doe knowe there are, & would faine meet w^th
	Ide make thẽ knowe theire mungrill nature could not
	Produce a word, lesse vicious then themselves,		420
	And if not borrowed from y^e sacred springs.	[FOL.27b]
	But tis to matter; Ile give them leave to envy
	What is beyond theire reach. but for yo^r creature,
	If I not bafle him in his proper humour
	Ile burne my bookes, and turne a lawyers clearke.
	But they are neere the doare you shall have sport.
	I must begonn Exit
	[Sly] Quicke worth cherishing
	Scaena 4^ta Enter Poore
Trugull	what, is't a hall?
Poore	The best our poore house hath.		430
Tru	Pray whats your name?
Hard	the gentlewoman minded
Poore:	Doubt not but you shall well, I like the man
	[That] He is a proper man[] y^t will tempt much
	Besides grave, generous as it seems to mee
	Repleat w^th worthy qualityes, & though rawe
	In Cupids ceremonyes, I must thinke
	A few instructions,will give him singular.
Hard.	Doe you thinke soe S^r?		440
Poor.	Yes vndoubtedly
	I know hee's very apt: to bee a gull.
Snaile	Pray S^r lets see the gentlewoman
Poore:	You shall Gaspar lead vp these gentlemen
	Vnto your m^rs
Sly	I will
Poore:	Stay you w^th mee S^r
	Doe you inquire hir minde and bring hir downe
	The whilst wee wilbe busy Gaspar lead them.
Trugull.	Must not I goe to must I not?		450
Poore:	Not yet
Trugull.	and kisse and talke w^th hir.
Poore:	S^r it is best first to have mediates	[FOL.28a]
	Shee shallbee brought downe to you
Strange	speake lower
Poor:	Pray S^r may I inquire your name and country?
[Tru:	of the name Ime sure]
Quicke	How say you goodman dawe?
Poore	Tis a faire living S^r
Tru:	But a faire living?		460
Poore	A very rich one S^r.
Trug:	I cry you mercy
Poore	But S^r after what fashion would you woe?
Tru:	Why are there divers fashions
Poore	[Very many.] Yes as in other things
	Soe wee're fantasticall in that, ney more.
	Your woer is or rampant or couchant:
	Your rampant woer, is an angry fellowe
	That beares downe all before him should y^u heare him,
	You'de thinke hee were a souldier by his wounds.		470
	Heele sweare a woman in to love w^th him.
	Or spend whole vollyes of his oaths in vaine.
	Though that doe seldome happen; for his thunder
	Battars theire fortresses vntill they fall
	Flatt downe before him.
Trug:	Is it possible?
Poore	S^r very true, your couchant, is a creature
	W^ch sighs and sobs out Hero & Leander,
	Or some more mournfull elegyes; and hee goes
	Alwayes crosse armed, to shewe his passions.		480
Tru:	I wilbe that woer	[FOL.28b]
Poore:	Soe S^r but Ile instruct you soe effectually
	You shan't neede halfe y^t passion. Let mee see
	You have a very perfect spericke eye
True	Yes Ide be sory elce
Poore:	And of congruous health
Tru:	Yes I am very health full.
Poore	S^r the better
	Your organs are more fitt; for I must teach you
	To fix your eye w^th iudgement, on an obiect;		490
	And Ile give such a power vnto y^e radiature
	Emitted from it y^t shall strike hir
	More conqueringly then Cupids golden shafte.
	At the first sight you shall not speake to hir
	But heare are lines w^ch when shee ginns approach
	Ile desire you to reade, & you shall read thẽ.
	Say often say you writt them in hir prayse.
Trug:	And they are none of myne
Poore	oh S^r the better
	You Imitate the gentile fashion		500
	They for the most part only live on others
	By borrowing of others, and shall you
	As well proportioned for a genltreman.
	As amongst them the best, not keep y^e fashion?
Quicke	will raile on the whole world
Poore:	How! feare to ly? then feare to live, all creatures
	Doe live by lying
Tru:	som live by standing
Poore:	Indeede I am deceaved.
	For some doe live by standing, yet they ly to.		510
Tru:	It may bee soe
Poore:	And to beginn w^th gallants, for nobility,	[FOL.29a]
	I durst not touch though they should spend themselves
	On waxen Images;
	Nor cleargy men though they should ly w^th scripture.
	And vitiate [th] it to adulte[rate]ry.
	Have at your gallants, should they pay theire debts
	As they doe promise, I knowe some now flants
	In cloath of tyshue, y^t would be as bare,
	As when they first sett foote vpon this land.		520
	These live by falsifying of theire dayes;
	Others by mating w^th y^e Cyty wives
	Schollers and lawyers doe' live by theire toungs
	And the best ground of schollers sophistry
	W^ch you may call lyes; but your lawyers toungs
	Are strumpets ly w^th all men yet they live by them.
	Your citty lying is so truly knowne.
	As I will not repeate it.
Stran:	w^thout cessation
Poore:	But to goe forward, shee hearing hir praise read		530
	Cann't choose but speake to you, out of hir words
	Then must you take occasion, and proce<a>de.
	If I had tyme Ide give you actions
	W^ch should prove charmes, and drawe hir by y^e eares,
	Despight all propased antydotes of deafnes.
Tru	and speake soe?
Poore	You shall most potently,yo^r eyes shall [sparkle] spread
	Such flames of love, as shee shall feare to stirr
	Least shee be scorched w^th them, yo^r lips shall move.
	Such sphӕrelike harmony as you shall ravish hir.		540
Tru:	for ravishing	[FOL.29b]
Poore:	No, thinke not Ile vrge ought shalbe distastfull
Tru	Nay nay you shant deny it.
Poore:	<Come>good S^r
	Youle wrong mee much, for I have not deservd it.
Quicke	and it shalbe kept.
Poore:	But S^r I must confesse Ive laboured
	And donn you more good w^th y^e gentlewoman.
	Then cann this tenn tymes doubled procure mee.
	Yet since you offer it soe vnrequested		550
	I doe accept it as sufficient recompence.
	For all my labour, not because tis worth them,
	I like your will, farr better then the gift.
	Be mindfull that you wrap a ring ith verses.
Tru:	Oh I meant that, will not this serve ?
Poor	it will
Strange:	Not very well
Poore:	be ready they are coming,
	S^r shall I heare them.
Tru:	Attend for these are they. Poore: S^r I doe heare.		560
Tru:	That's for the ring

Poore:	S^r these are very good
Tru:	I would shee heard mee
Poore:	Doe you vse this often ?
Trug:	I would shee'de heard them read.
Poore:	S^r ift please you,
	I will present them to hir.
Gill	Greater perfection to them.
Poore:	tickle hir w^th prayse.
	Tell hir theire good because theire end is good		570
	W^ch is to prayse hir.
Hard	When comes hir vncle S^r?
Poore:	I did receave
	A letter w^ch assured to morrowe night.	[FOL.30a]
	This night heele visit y^e great bed of ware
	Had hee a lasse of like dimensions
	Twould scarce conteine them.
Hand.	is hee soe burlye?
Poore:	The northerne ale hath made him a Lucullus
	Hee's a meere man of fatnes, you must feede him		580
	And fee him well, if you expect ought from him
	He is desirous of a well greased fist
	As well as mouth or belly.
Hard	I was so rash
Poore:	The end will croune it ioyfully besure
	You'enquire not to much after hir portion:
	Twill vex him strangely, bee not you to strickt,
	In asking forraine bills for y^e performance,
	Twill hinder all your hopes, hee's very collericke
	And must be humour'd to the full, or elce		590

Hard:	Hee's fire and toe, I doe instruct you savingly.
	Not aske her portion!
Hard:	Of what hee promiseth.<P.> Yes you may enquire but
	not &cӕ
Poore:	Hir fathers bond and his wilbe sufficient
	I give you S^r the worst and yet I thinke
	Hee'l[e] hardly trouble any to be bound
	Nor love that man w^ch shall distrust his honesty
Stran	[I] hee's [ ] now about it
Poore:	S^r some small conference I'de desire w^th you		600
Snaile	W^th mee S^r? very willingly.
Poore	I must greive
	Soe good a man as you should be soe wrong'd
	As my art sayth you are.Would that wrong'd mee.
	And that my house should be soe much vnhappy
	As to detaine you from yo^r home th<i>s tyme
Snaile.	I have lost nothing have I S^r?	[FOL.30b]
Poore:	[] A rare iewell
S<na>ile	I ever had
Poore:	S^r tis your wife I meane.		610
Snaile:	Not gonn S^r is shee?
Poore:	Hir honour hath left hir, for shee hath left
	To bee an honest wife, you knowe on Medle?
Snaile:	my good cu[ ]stomer.
Poore:	[Hir honour hath left hir for shee]
	T should seeme soe he hath go[od]tt yo^r best ware S^r
Snaile:	I nere wrongd you
Poore	nor ere mistrusted him ?
Snaile:	No on my life.
Poore:	nor wife, I knowe it well		620
	Sir hye you home; if you now meet not w^th him.
	Ile give you such instructions as you shall
	In y^e named place at further tyme, meanwhile
	I knowe a gentleman whom he hath wrongd
	Will give his best indeavour, to finde out
	The tyme, & to prevent him if you please.
	S^r I will send the gentleman to morrowe.
Strange:	to what you please
Poore	S^r I will send the gentleman to morrowe
	That shall intrap him.		630
Snaile	indeede shee told mee soe
Poore:	Pray S^r be patient heare.
Snaile:	I pray you S^r remember mee
Poore	Be sure I will; and send the gentleman to morrow morne
	By [that ]eight o'th [ ] clocke.
Snaile:	heele deale honestly?
Poore	If you mistrust him, one you shall thinke faythfull
	Choose to this office, I but offer S^r,
	Tis in your will to'accept
Snaile	Be not to credulous I did thinke		640
Poore.	fy fy	[FOL.31a]
	blaze not your owne discredite, tis to much
	You know't your selfe.
Snaile:	but are you sure tis true
Poore	I would I were not
Hard	Tomorrowe night he comes.
Poore	yes yes tomorrowe

Tru:	wee shalbe married.
Poore	I doubt not but you shall
Hard	you sha'nt soe suddenly		650
Poore	Are you not yet adultus?
Tru:	what doe you meane
Poore:	not yet of age?
Trug:	yes that I hope I am
Poore	Will you then suffer S^r such contradiction?
	Lett them determine of you appoint tymes?
Trug:	Nay and I will to
Poore:	— Oh S^r been't to feirce
	He is your vncle, you doe owe some duty
	Or at the least respect		660
Hard	A second father to him.
Poore:	You must be rul<e>d, but not to much oreruld
Tru:	Ile warrant you
Poore	S^r Heele bee gonn ere this be not to violent
	Vpon your wife inquire out secretly.
Hard	bee his continual rendez vouz
Poore	[A] and reason.
Gill	I must continue M^rs Change
Poore.	They heare
	You must, a iustice of peaces daughter,		670
	Ith north at least
Quicke	did you feare us
Poore	Not as Snaile feares meddle, to morrowe morne
	You must to him, hee will initiate you
	Him selfe in to acquaintance w^th his wife
	If you shall neede my counsell, Ile instruct you	[FOL.31b]
	How to behave yourselfe in information
Quicke	to much I feare
Poore	no hee must bee inraged
	You must add to his fury and augment it		680
Quicke	Vpon y^e least distastfull word
Poore	and lett him
	Nay if hee be an angry boy weele deale w^th' him
	And fright him from his roaring humours, wee
	Cann talke, bristle, and vaunt, as well as hee.
	Exeunt

	Actus 3^ij scӕna 2^da
Poore	What cheaters did heesay ?
Sly	that was the word
Poore	And couldst thou suffer it goe thou'rt a gull		690
	& that huge bulke of thyne those giant limbs
	Conteine not any sparke of man w^thin them.
	Sdeath had I heard him he should have found I had
	A thunder in my hand Iove in my voyce
Sly	and sayth vs cheaters
Poore:	Pish tis a puny one easy to performe.
	Ile have a duble or a <no> revenge
	Vppon my life I think<e> [t] thou wouldst confess
	Vs cheaters should a man inquire of thee.
Sly	Wee are noe better		700
Poore	I thought this, thou lyest
	What ere of cheating's in mee it is thyne:
	Thou didst intice, coniure mee by our wants
	Didst force me too't when I god knowes was minded
	Never to suffer more in this vild world.
Sly	But how much in y^e insuing.
Poore	Doe not vex mee
	By all good things I vowe, and will performe it
	If ere I learne, y^t a like worde be spoken
	Thou hearing, suffering it, I will abiure thee;	[FOL.32a]
	Leave thee vnto thy selfe & spoile thy hopes		711
Sly	You may doe as you please
Poore	[G] goe to Virginia
	To the Bromoodoes, or elce hire my selfe
	Vnto the Northwest passage; if these faile:
	Turne Poet stageplayer or anything,
	rather then live w^th thee, Ile sell my selfe
	Vnto a Iewe or worse, an english vserour
	Whom have I cheated? only Ive sold Hard
	Fishd my young gallant Trugull vexed Snaile		720
	Intic'd my Strange to poetrie, thats poverty:
	W^ch hee shall surely feele prevented Medle
	Drawne blood from Quicke, or at the least will draw it
	What act mongst these deserves y^e name of cheating
	Ist not to gett from vserours charitable?
	And to lett him bee wise, y^t is not cousned
	Whome nature made a foole is against nature
	To lett men knowe when others doe them wrong
	Is a great Iustice, and worth recompence.
	And to make him a poet that would bee one,		730
	Is att the most but to fullfill his vowes.
	What to prevent a lawyer since theire knowne
	To circumvent all others, but meere equity?
	And to take vengeance on who doe defame vs,
	Soe it bee noble, is allowed to vs
	by Martiall lawe, whome have I cheated now
	Whom have I cheated now, or against whom
	Have I intended more, then may bee donn?
Sly	their end maks actions good	[FOL.32b]
Poore.	Tis true my Sly. <I'm> in apparrell well,		740
	Sufficient for a petty gentleman
	Where is thy rapier ?
Sly.	What do'est thou intend?
Poore	What cannst thou guesse?
Sly	Not well
Poore	then aske not, for thou shalt not knowe.
	Wher ist
Sly	above
Poore	If Quicke doe chance come hither,
	Stay him till my returne w^ch shalbe suddaine.		750
	If heele not stay will him, not goe to Snailes
	Till I may speake w^th him, Gill bring down y^e rapier
	If Trugull come lett Gill and hee be private,
	If hee be earnest, lett him presse hir his.
Gill	spirit on his bankes.
Poore	Take heede my Dousabell vnto your docke
	Looke not to my affaires; take heede yo^r Trugull
	Bee not to hard for you hees a lusty knave
	Cann pitch his barr well, shoote his shaft arright
	And pay you home my Gill; hee cann ifayth.		760
Gill	That shalbe tryed
Poore	bee wary and doe well
	Prepare yo^r selfe vnto yo^r part anon Exit.

	Actus 3^ij scӕna 3^ia
Med	wish hee had not inquired. Enter Poore disguisd
Poore:	Oh M^r Medle I have sought you S^r
	In all your places of retreat.
Me[l]d	[ ] Vnto what end S^r
Poore	Wee are private heare
	Now I will give it you, you knowe one Quicke		770
	An envious raskall one that laboureth
	That seeketh causes to defame all men
	And if they want his wil's sufficient	[FOL.33a]
	For hee defames them; and vniustly iust
	Beginns w^th his owne intimates; this vild wretch
	Hath quite supplanted all yo^r hopes at Snailes
Med:	may bee supplanted

Poore:	Nay lett it not seeme strange, I know yo^r hopes
	Your more then hopes your much assurance there
	Of his wives love, know all occurrances.		780
	And come to tell you y^t you are abused
	By this same Quicke, who hath, I knowe not how,
	But sure it was by some sinister meanes
	Found first you lov'd & after whom yo^u loved.
	Who hath (to what intent I doe not knowe)
	Yet sure hee did intend to wrong you by it
	Reveal'd the privacy of your love vnto
	Hir husband who now truly iealous
	Hath giv'n in charge to one of's trusty freinds.
	That if you chance to come thither hee should		790
	Much circumspectly watch your haviour
	The manner of your language to his wife
	And farther y^t hee should bee certified
	Of your approach w^ch how suspiciously
	Heed take, the very premisies demonstrate.
	Your perill may bee much too, hee is desperate,
	And I doe thinke will hardly brooke to see you
	W^thout much fury,w^ch though you esteeme not;
	Yet poore gentlewoman.
Med	Advise mee for y^e best s^r		800
Poore	trust mee I will
	First be reveng'd on Quicke, & if you cann
	Make him confess that only enviously
	He scandald you for some small wrong you did him.	[FOL.33b]
	Then you devise some other means besides
	How to confirme hir honesty
Med:	your name I pray s^r
Poore	change a Yorkeshireman
Med.	S^r I am much indebted to you[r lov]e
Poore	and I will study [asside		810
	How you shall pay oh S^r humanity
	Commaunds this office
Med:	Stronglier knitt betweene vs
Poore	S^r I desire it may, w^ch to continue
	Ile give you intelligence, for I am y^e man
	Snaile hath appointed as hir overseer
Med	I thanke you.
Poore:	When you would speake w^th mee send to Poor's house
	The scholler, I shall heare of it, the tyme
	Will not afford mee farther leisure now		820
	S^r fare yow well. Exit

	Actus 3^ij scӕna 4^ta
Wife	occasion to vnsluce them Enter Poore.
Snaile:	to whom should I give credite?
Poore	To them y^t you thinke best deserve it S^r,
	What place commaundss hee in your credulous heart,
	That hee should force beleefe against your wife
	Shee may be chaster then the mourning aire
	Purg'd by the sunn of vitiating mists.
	But yet there is a shrewd suspition		830
	Much frequent in your freinds, they think not soe
	Ile vowe, Ive heard him say y^t he hath knowne hir,
	But yet how [vn]truly 'tis vnknowne.
Wife	My duty to you.
Poore:	your knowledge I desire
	S^r I doe greive, I chose soe sad a tyme
	For the beginning of acquaintance, but	[FOL.34a]
	I hope it shall continue w^th more ioy.
	This is your fault S^r, you are to vnkind,
	Vnto soe sweete a wife.		840
Snail	Be very long
Poore:	S^r Ile performe it zealously.
	I would be private w^th you M^rs
Wife	Bee privat w^th mee
Poore	I have strong occasions.
Dry:	w^th hir privatest counsell
Poore:	Then I dare like wise, you knowe Medle?
Wife	True
Poore	And he hath blabd it
Wife	as you meane		850
Poore;	Oh to to truly
Wife	What<,> durst y^e villaine say soe?
Po	[P] Positively.
Wife	And soe Ime knowne.
Poore	By him, for hee perceaving
	You now begann neglect him, likewise knowing
	Your love wa[ll]s fully fixed on Quicke, did thinke
	No better way to secure you his owne
	Then by revealing your intended love
	W^ch hee hathfully donn; the other to		860
	Not knowing freelyer to settle you
	In your newe love, then by displacing Medle;
	Hath striven w^th great effect to y^t performance
	Thus have they laboured to supplant each other
Wife	But only I have be<e>ne tript vp
Poore	most true
	Whilst they reioyce in theire high enterprise
	And thinke theire wits much good
Wife	Ile be revenged	[FOL.34b]
Poore	You must that Ile performe		870
	I thinke I have allready
Dry	Vpon my life
Poore	You shall not finde mee otherwise.
Wife	Your love shal bee rewarded
Poore	w^th your I hope
	That is my only ayme
Dry	deserve to have it
Poore	And I will keepe it warely, by this
	Your envious lovers may bleed each by other
Wife	I shall reioyce		880

Poore	Tis like they will
Dry	no matter lett them sinke
Poore	If not Ile soe provide your honour shall
	No whitt be impeached
Wife	Then I shalbee vnspotted
Poore	not knowne otherwise
Wife	be holding to you S^r
Poore	Now shall my ignoramus and young witt
	Knowe they have found a scholler y^t can iearke yẽ
	Who have wee heare my gull & Gillian		890
	What intend they trowe?
Tru:	And you S^r
Poore	I returne your complement
	W^th y^e like wish to you, & y^t faire gentlewomã
Wife	Ile give my indeavour
Poore	And doe not you vse to carreine your selfe?
	What fucus have you daubd your face w^th, ha ?
	Thinke you Ile have you vse theise plasterings
	And outgoe snakes in monthly casting skinns
Tru:	Theide looke like eels for all y^e world.		900
Poore	Spraule soe
	And be more slipery as they are. but s^r,	[FOL.35a]
	I hope you not intend hir for your wife
Tru:	Beleiv't S^r but I doe
Poore	beleive't you must not
Tru:	Ile aske hir
Poore:	You shall not need, for I cann certify you,
	I have reserved hir for my selfe.
Tru:	be cousned of my wife?
Poore	How S^rrah cousned, such []an other word		910
	And Ile lopp of a limbe send you to' the' spittle
	There to condole your losse. S^rrah if your eares
	The want of them I mean cann move you ought
	Let mee not heare another word but give hir mee.
Tru:	[S^r I doe love my eares and feare my eares]
	[It were a prety toy to gett hir from mee
Poor	Are my words toye
Tru:	Ile try what you cann doe
	Marry and shall trips him vp.
	Soe s^r you see now in what plight you are		920
Tru	doe not hurt mee
Poore	On the conditions y^t I shall propose
	You are your owne man shee likewise your wife
	You shall give mee to hundred pounds to right
	My wrongs.
Tru	but trust mee s^r y^ts somewhat hard {by
Poore:	Doe not deny'it for if you doe by this. {his hand
	Not forty kicks, not 20 luggs by th'are {he swears		930
	As many tweaks by the nose, your fower foreteeth
	A little finger shall not save your life
	At least a maine limbe.
Wife	For my sake a lesse ransom.
Poore	Your commaund.
	I must obay, it shalbe but a hundred.	[FOL.35b]
	And heare you [brin] leave it w^th yo^r tutor Poore
	Be sure you faile not, if you doe you knowe.
Tru:	[W] when shall I carry it?
Poore	This night I knowe y^u cann whẽ it please you.		940
Tru:	I will S^r
Poore	Gill how goe things at home? {privately
Gill	will vnto him {to hir
Poore	Why, this is admirable, past my wish,
	I will home instantly. nay since you will not,
	Goe take hir to you, shee is your's but knowe
	Your vncle and your sire shall heare of it
Gill	into a di'vell
Poore	You have yo^r tounge at liberty, tis your owne		950
	B<u>t you ere long shall wish you'de tyed it vp
	M^rs I take my leave you are revenged
	The rivals doe bleed each by others sword.
Wife	heare againe ere long
Poore	I am bound to it, youngster fare you well
	Keepe your word duly, or: no more but [doe] keep it.
	And you my quondam betroathd, I will leave you
	But knowe, the divill, will fly love as y^e sea
	As ships doe saile two wayes w^th the same [m] winde
	Soe woemen leave and take w^th y^e same minde		960

	Actus 4^ti scӕna ^ia
Badg:	and forsake his blewe trash (Enter Poore
Poore:	This is Quickes lodging and he []hath been heere.
Badg:	[ ] The cheating scholler
Poore:—	This concearnes mee much
	Ime glad I heard of this, God save you S^r
Badg:	And you if you be worth it
Poore	you have beene [wth M^r Quicke]
	Wth M^r Quicke I pray you s^r how fares hee
Badg:	I wont tell you	[FOL.36a]
Poore	S^r I came from your M^r		971
Badg:	My M^r?
Poore	[Yes,] Your name is Badger [is it not] e<n>t it
Bad	w^th mee from my M^r?
Poore.	S^r I was coming to you to this lodging
	To knowe how the owner doth that if hee have
	Required ought [b]of you from yo^r M^r, you should
	Give mee the the message, you y^e whilst should goe
	To Medle, whom if you found dangerous
	Then certifye him, Quicke is dead wherby		980
	Hee may fly more securely
Badg:	Faithfully and earnestly?
Poore	As you would your selfe
Badg:	he doth demaund ? [Badg: gives him y^e łre
Poore:	Iff I cann gett it as I hope I shall
	You neede not doubt
Badg:	then fare you well
Poore	Ile gull you he opens y^e łre.
	This day is like to prove a very rare one
	I never look'd for this, it came vnhoped		990
	Fifty good pound tis well, it soundeth great
	Flush in these slops; but I must not deferr.
	Things falling out soe fittly I must take
	All the occasions y^t the tymes cann make.
	Exit

	Actus 4^ti Scӕna 2^da
	Sly. would it had beene a hundred. Enter
Hard	I am not quite cheated
Poore	But you may chance to feele a new relapse
	S^r I would speake w^th you		1000
Stran<g>	you may
Poore	In privat	[FOL.36b]
	Th'affaires are vrgent, M^r Quicke your freind
	Commends his best love to you, w^th this letter
	Twill give you his full minde and his desire
St	how fares hee S^r
Poore	In good plight but that feare of Medle's death
	Doth make him feare his life, but hee well hopes
	By yo^r assistant love, to avoyd all
	Those daungers w^ch as yet doe seeme to presse him		1010
Strang	why came not my knave!
Poore	S^r He intreated him to visit Medle
	And learne y^e hopes or feares conceivd of him.
Sly	fare you well good brother
Poore:	Pray S^r commend mee to your kinsman trugull
	Tell him one Change expecteth him
Sly	Is your name Change?
Poore	— Yes my great man of worship
	My Sly changd to a <hee> bosse to a swod
	What, hast thou quilted thy faind gutts w^th gold,		1020
	Cramb'd them w^th baggs?
Sly	of my neice Gillian
Poore	That was a maine one, how my Gogmagog
Sly	When it is donn Ile tell you howe
Poore	. what doubtfull ?
	Nay then I have out strip't thee, I did cause
	Those two to fight, and for my better vengeance
	Have gott this fifty pound, w^ch Quicke doth borrow
	Of my True strange. an other hundered
	[My] Gills Trugull will bring into I expect him,		1030
	And I have future hopes of ampler bootyes
	W^ch my lawe lover, scholler hating Medle
	Shall yeeld vs, I will soke him and exhaust him
	Exantlate, pumpe out, and drawe dry his baggs	[FOL.37a]
	Wee play for whole baggs wee'r no puny sharks
	That venter to bee trust vp for the nipping
	A bung fraught w^th no more then a scotch marke
	None of your Gipsyes, that prole napery
	W^th shirts and smocks, no pidlers, wee doe deale
	In wholesale wee, yett doe not feare a noose		1040
	A ginn to lift vs vp: lawe cann't condemne vs
	To further pennance then our eares cann satisfy
Sly	Tookest thou this shape?
Poore.	to that is perfected
	Revenge, but stay hee comes lett vs fall of
Stran:	you may tell't please it you
Poore	It shall not need, S^r I dare trust yo^r word
	If you'le confirme it right
Stran:	Let mee inquire yo^r name.
Poor	my name is change		1050
Sly	as I knowe.
Poore	I should have gloried to have beene admitted
	Into soe grave a consanguinity
Sly	And lett vs see you often
Poore	I shall trouble you
Sly	quaffe drunke w^th all
Poore	I take my leave
Sly	To my freind
Poore	I shall Exit.

	Actus 4^ti scӕna 3^ia		1060
Sna[]ile	s^r shee is mine. Enter Poore
Med	acquitt w^th my deniall
Poore	What w^th a mischeif make they heere or I
	This was no fitt tyme for my action
	I must turne honest fate will have it soe.	[FOL.37b]
	Yet Ile not loose my booty, ile attempt it
	And venter gainst Ioves thunder.
Med.	— may give some ayde, oh freind!
Poore	Why S^r your freind?
	I am but will not seeme soe. your'r a villaine.		1070
	Have wrong'd a matron y^t deserves the stole
	For hir strong chastity w^th the name of bad.
Wife	Peace.
Poore	Doe not I knowe y^t you did bribe y^e scholler
	(I have learn't all theire trickes, & will perforce,
	Despight theire pollicy turne thẽ on themselves,)
	To suggest hir false to hir to credulous husband
	W^th Quicke, and y^t [h<e>e] Quicke did outbribe him, soe
	To make more easy way to worke hir false
	Is not this true? deny it?		1080
Med	You dare not proove t[this].
Poore	oh frontlesse impudence!
	What cann afford more truth to my inditement
	Then his even staggering toung in his owne cause
	Hee falters, faints, growes weake []to excusation.
Snaile	receave this guilt soe pronely?
Poore	Oh S^r sufficient reason since h'hath tried
	Hir much inpregnable to all his slights
	Hee would accuse hir. and no way soe strongly
	As when hee would give crime vnto himselfe		1090
Snaile	Then your crime was great
Poore	A new vnheard of one.
Snaile.	And greater love.
Poore	It must bee soe you've wrongd them. [To Med:
	You must if tyme doe graunt deserve hir pardon]
Med.	That I may merit it
Poore	No, no, you cannot
	There is a death attends you will prevent it.	[FOL.38a]
Med	but cann't I fly it?
Poore	You shall lett that suffice no signe of ioy		1100
Snaile	In that [nam]e [st<i>le] towards mee.
Poore	You looke to fix'dly
	Vpon this coulour, w^ch will dull yo^r sence
	Of apprehension; and make mee see<m>e other
	Then what I am. I yeeld I closd w^th him
	Why this sole end w^ch I did still propose
	Cann give sufficient reason: my intent
	Of coming hither was to free your iealousy.
	To give you this chast comfort you now finde
	Or elce to fix hir in perpetuall shame		1110
Snaile	I still doe thinke soe.
Poore	Shall still thinke true
	Whilst you continue in that fayth, inquire
	Of that ill tempting scholler, if you finde him
	A little differing in my maine of truth
	Sepose mee from the number of your freinds
Snaile:	why doth hee feare death
Poore	That Quicke w^ch caused your passion by him is not
Wife	much daunger may succeed
Poore:	Much losse must followe I even feare to death		1120
Med	I thanke you fare yow well
Poore	How pretily shee doth desire his death.
	But I will hope more prosperous event
	Then your ill boading minde suggests to you.
	For lett mee tell you, I doe knowe y^e man
	Cann force the rugged lawe vnbend hir browe
	And fetch a smile from a more easy power;
	Wch shall give hir more cheerfull countenance.
	Then is hir genuine, vpon faire tearmes.	[FOL.38b]
	For honied speach, is an availing sacrifice;		1130
	But when a golden offring is prepar'd
	You may expect not meane successe, what though
	Philosophers have vrged that theire gods
	Were more delighted w^th y^e givers minde
	Then w^th the glory of the haust was offred?
	Yet had not men suppos'd them more accepted
	They would have fitted humbler to theire altars.
	Spare not a free hand & strike highest powers—
	Theire sure ones y^t I trust to, yes soe sure
	As should they w^th strong hand, force man and wife		1140
	To seperation, soe to gaine a freind
	A female one I meane; murder the opposers
	Venter the ruine of a state, and plott
	To take away competitours, they might doe it
	Securely, and detected, be vnblam'd
	Att least vnpunished
Med	much easily obtained
Poore	W^thout much difficulty
	But you must thinke y^t in externe affaires
	Theile not soe strongly labour w^thout hope		1150
	Of future benefitt.
Med	blood and spirit away ?
Poore	Your life I will secure mee on myne owne
	If wee conclude agreement for what summ
Med	Being your creature
Poore	S^r prepare the summ
	Against I bring you life
Med	I shall, what is it?
Poore	An easy one I dare venter it for 200
Med	vnlesse my tombe	[FOL.39a]
Poore:	These sacred meditations strongly fitt		1160
	Men given to observance of true virtue;
	But thinke not only, of your last good S^r.
	For there are many mediates w^ch require
	Some like respect w^th that.
Med	Who have longhope to escape that.
Poore	[] then w^th you
	For heere is that will give you lives assurance
	For this crime
Med	Have you a pardon S^r ?		1170
Poore	probatum est
	And S^r w^thout compelling articles
	Your will is theire desire, what you shall please
	Wilbe sufficient vnto the acceptedly.
Med	a deniere from it
Poore	Your hand wilbe to liberall, they procurd it
	W^th a small easy breath.
Med	And then at last hardly obtainde.
Poore	tis true
	I will accept for them, what you shall please		1180
Med	and Ile deliver it
Poore	I will, the waight of my deserts, how strong
	It is how forcible this benefitt?
	When should his coyne bee w^th my pardon layed
	In a true ballance myne would bee outwaigh'd,
	Tost in to aire; What I receave I gett
	Giving him for his sterling counterfett
	W^th w^ch [hee]sIme well appayde, hee is well pleasd
	Hee that hath to much may of some be eas<ed>.
	Exit		1190

	Actus 5^ti scӕna i^a	[FOL.39b]
Badg:	Slid heare comes somebody Ente Poore.
Badg.	you shal bee mett w^th s^r
Poore	I must now doffe this covert of my villainye
	Quicke I must thanke thee for thy words have been
	An ample gaine to mee, and Badger to
Badg:	A sees mee not trowe, doth hee?
Poore	thou hast binn
	A great ayde to mee, I must give thee thanks.
Badg:	when you knowe all.		1200
Poore	How evesdropt
Badg	— Hee []hath not the same beard.
Poore	Ile wash and shave you, and yo^r greasy blewcoat
	My serving <d>onn I will; but I must forgoe
	This fifty pound now I am caught w^th it.
	Twill make a deepe hole in my summs, a la<n>ke
	W^ch all my letting out cann nere make full.
	I would some taylour would instruct me fairly
	To patch vp this misshapen sute againe
	And give it w^thout bracke. Well I [will keep] Ie not loose it.		1210
	But yett to loose my vncle were worse ill
	Let it prove how it will Ile venter it
	Abide the hazard of it. Ile tosse fairly
	To scape, fortune must be my opposite
	If I doe loose it.
Badg:	A mischeife on your muttering chops
Poore	Have at you
	I left it heare, and I must search it out.
Badg	but not soe well
Poore	True for the savour's worse.		1220
Badg	As thinn a roome as may bee
Poore:	I remember
	Twas on this side I layd it; what have I heare
	What is it turn'd into a baskett hilt
	And threadbare blewe coate, twas a good exchange	[FOL.40a]
	For him that made it; vm, may not the snake
	That cast the skinn be found heare, nor ought elce ?
	Nay Ile search furder; oh you miching raskall
	What have I found you? You shall pay for it.
	The raskall was crept vp into a mouse hole		1230
	And lay as close as a hedge hogg: what freind Badger?
Badg;	I even the same S^r
Poore	What makst thou heare now?
Badg	—And. and .
Poore	What, what then?
Badg	[you doe knowe his humour] And I dare not venter.
Poore	What.
Badg	till his anger's past.
Poore	Tis well, were not thy parents puritanes?
Badg:	[W] why doe you aske		1240
Poore	Did they not teach thee for to pray extempore
Badg	But when they went to them
Poore	did they not hum and ha
	When they were gravelld
Badg	yes perchance they did
Poore	And when thou wert gott
Badg:	I don't remember that
Poore	Mee thinks they should it seem's innate to thee.
	But thou'st reduced it better to thy art
	Of lying; I doe knowe your busines mungrill		1250
	Your sett to spy my noble trencher man
	You've waited all this while but for small cheare
	An howers attendance had beene better giv'n
	For but a head of garlicke, see you this steele?
	Ile make you munch a peice of't if y^u swear not	[FOL.40b]
	As I shall vrge, but if you sweare looke heare
	Crounes you mad raskall.
Badg	Then I will sweare
Poore	tis well sayed but this place
	Is no fitt one for quarrels, will you sweare?		1260
Bad:	Since I am forced I will
Poore	thou shalt no furder
	Then I allready have: you shall conceale mee.
	Not give him notice, that I was y^e factour
	Who tooke vp fifty pound on Quicks behalfe
Badg:	Why by this hand I wont.
Poore	What doe you equivocate
	And sweare by your leffe hand whẽ you mean to write it?
	Sweare you by both your hands
Badg:	by my both hands		1270
Poore	nor either of them.
Badg	[ne] neither
Poore	Nor your tounge
	In word or signe you shall make any way:
Badger	No way by signes or tokens
Poore	this thou swearst
	By thy sword hilts, for thats the hardest oath
	I cann now force thee to.
Badg	I doe sweare this.
Poore	W^thout reservances		1280
Badg	I from my heart
Poore	Then heare my noble skincker heare is gold
	Twill give thee freise in stead of thy blew coate.
	Twill give thee gaudyes, thou mayst cram̃ thyselfe
	W^th kicksh<a>wes now, as long as this shall last
	Whilest this resplendant substance shall remaine
	W^thin y^e repleat body of thy purse.
	This hath sufficient spirit, centinell.	[FOL.41a]
	Twill give thee douszens, more then perfect summs
	They shall exceed the prӕdicament's best number		1290
	And the 3 principals: three shall not bee all.
	Twill make thee looke, like a Claridiano
	Till it hath made thee a hebitated Zoophyton.
Badg	w^th your conjuring tearmes
Poore	Fare well good badger, I have other busines
	I should bee more intent to.
	Exit.

	Actus 5^ti scӕ 2^da (Poore sitts at his
	(study
Sly	and ready in that art, I would faine h<ear>e him		1300
Stran	Heare a lector from you
Poore	Most willingly though Ime not <we>ll provided.
Sly.	Wee will expect the lesse
Poore	Ile give you breifly
	The texture of a speechfull composition.
	When the infernall h<e>lbread shades of night
	The hate of Phœbus, and the scorne of light
	A're forc'd to theire darke cells, choyce spirits arise
	From theire dull easyes frightlesse lethargyes.
	My spirits are not fresh, the subiect's mourning		1310
	Aurora wane, first the etymology
	The golden hower, when Phœbus first displayes
	Vnto the ioyed world his more ioyfull rayes
	Now amplyfy it frõ the propertyes
	Extract's the vapours, from the thickned aire
	Expels' the sadnes, gives it subtile, rare.
	The effects doe followe w^ch our bodyes have
	And w^ch our minds, externe and interne these	[FOL.41b]
	Our blood our nerves receive like purity
	That from the aire, wee from the purged sky		1320
	Should we dampd [aires] nights polluted aire still breath
	As wee receivd life wee should drawe in death.
	But being cleansed by that sacred fyre
	That aire feeds life blest life, our best desire
	Now for the operation in our minds.
	What ofspring of high witt, birth of rare art
	W^ch from this tyme doth not acquire cheife part.
	I should proceede to prove this by connexion
	The mourning salutations were calld holy
	Amongst the Romans, then wee may surmise		1330
	Those studyes holy that w^th Sol doe rise.
	For then there is a greater sympathy
	Betwixt the stars and vs, they stand more nye
	To eloquence, and helpe more o^r theorie.
	Now should be some proportioned inductions
	To prove that tyme most apt to meditation.
	Then follow individuall examples
	Of such as have vsed it these must be sett downe
	In grave words, full and sounding; well connected
	Agreeing in theire sence, and these not vulgar.		1340
	Hyperb<o>lyes sometymes, then Metaphors
	These now w^thout coniunction, though not often.
	Yet bearing still relation on, to other.
	Now vse an iteration, speake w<o>rds twice.
	But lett them still bee increasing, and ascend
	Not falle to flatly, soe heare are instructions
	Such as the tyme, and my weake braine cann give	[FOL.42a]
Quicke	how to compose a speech
Poore	Not any <-> one
	As I remember doth sett these downe fully.		1350
	Some heare some theare, I have collected, not
	sucking my hony from one only flower.
	But From [the] best fountaines Aristotles rheth'ricke
	Tully in 'his oratory, from Quintilian.
Badg	doe you meane
Poore	[E] No badger no .
	Ex M Fabij Quintiliani institutionibus.
Badg	by fifty pound.
Poore:	Yes S^r some fewe affaires calld mee abroad
	And force'd mee bee lesse diligent, then I would		1360
	But now theire ended, I shall give attendance
	More amply to you.
Quicke	tis best.
Poore	that's the best way to thrift [indeed] where is your neice
Sly	a dodkinn w^th my will.
Poore	You were to much obdurat then, to hard
	You may spoile all hir possibilityes
	Such great extreames force naught but desperatiõ
Quicke	for your great labours
Poore	S^r if my best indeavours could deserve them		1370
	I should account them, very strong reward.
	S^r my desire of gaine is not soe stupid
	As is your common pedants, yet no ambition
	Hath grow'n soe much [vp] on mee as I should covett
	A meerely nominall opinion
	Oh affectation is a cloudy vayle
	W^ch hidst the solidst, of our soules perfections.	[FOL.42b]
	Or at the least doth hinder hir free workings
Quic:	[ ] of your free soule
Poore	S^r I proffesse, an essence		1380
	W^ch should as perfectly bee knowne as bee.
	But since the wretched, vild esteeme of men.
	Doth give the best of men but meere selfe lovers
	If they esteeme themselves, I gratulate
	Your good coniecture, that you thinke mee free
	Whilst I doe knowe myselfe soe, fare you well S^r
Stran	anon Ile make a second visitation
	You may expect mee ready to yo^r vowes
Badg	since today.
Poore	Yes Badger if thoult give me ample thanks		1390
	That I've remembred thee soe well.
Badg	oh Lord S^r!
Poore	Soe now they'are gonn what wouldst thou my brave pufpast.
	What wouldst thou wullsacke, whose inside is no better.
	Then 'a sheeps coate, ift bee of equall goodnesse
Sly	my wandring prince of troy.
Poore:	why thou shallt knowe
	I will rehearse my ephemerydes
	Myy dayly slights, since moondayes last meridies
	But thou must bee my subiect and my scӕnicke		1400
	To act my gulls in glorious wise.
Sly	content
Poore	Weele first beginn w^th strange
Sly	Heare I come
Poore	sound tr<u>mpetts heere our play begi<nne>s
Sly	and vitiated your muse.
Poore	fy thou art out
	I am his true begott, legitimate.
Sly	<b>y making pallinodes	[FOL.43a]
Poore	And thou wouldst live soe to, well Ile instruct thee.		1410
Sly	I would.
Poore:	but first you must putt of your fatnesse.
	Pooets are leane and marc<e>lent
Sly	hir burden dead
Poore.	Well thought of, oh I have the finest lasse
	Have made the bravest conquest, purchase of hir.
	I hope none heare<s> Ile tell thee shee excels
	Man in's best property of looking vpwards
	Hir falling eyes give heaven full viewe.
Sly	no more deserving qualityes		1420
Poore:	Such as your common women have shee's coy
	Yet wanton, shee cann laugh, and weepe, and laugh,
	And hould againe. shee hath an exquisite face
	And yet not painted w^ch is very rare.
Sly	transccends shee Gill ?
Poore	yes fayth in feature
	But Gill hir more in witt and haviour.
	And heere shee comes; what may <wee> wish y^u ioy
	Of your good match?
Gill	That did indeavour cousenage		1430
Poore	How, certainly?
Sly	a rocke quite shipwrackt
Poor	It cannot bee, none knowes vs but ourselves
	And wee or selves soe finally, as no humour
	Could give mee knowne vnlesse yo^r womans tounge.
	Yet Ive one refuge and, it is my last
	The very sanctuary of our safety
	As I supposse it yet, but prove that wanting	[FOL.43b]
	I cannot guesse the consequent save ill
Sly	Lets know't		1440
Poore	[] ney much of ill must force y^t from mee.
Gill	And suffer a small bafling
Poore	oh I cannot
	But why what proiect, what event will followe?
Gill	I have revealed your disguise.
Poore	how, how ?
	Ime tangled in a cobweb that have scapd
	Snaires and strong engines able to prevaile
	Against a lion, if the fox were absent
	But now the ridle is confirm'd, a secret,		1450
	Is much to little for one only man.
	For two sufficient, but for three to much.
	Well goe thy wayes, old Gill, Ive knowne thy equals
	But bedlam kept them for they could not themselvs
	W^thin due compasse is your Trugull heare
Sly	[ ] what new shape may I take
Poore	Why turne a horse leech.
	Thou mayst sucke blood securely in y^t habit
	Somewhat Ile doe and labour for event
	W^ch shall alone give knowledge what I meant.		1460
	Exit Actus 5^ti scӕna 5^ta
Sly	houle like sterved currs.
Poore	For mee I am the obiect, may they burst.
	Conceale mee lett mee not bee knowne.
Sly	knowe you not Quick's death?
Poore	Oh y^t nothing moves mee, I divulg'd him dead
	For my owne private ends
Sly	And h<e>e is dead
Poore.	Poets are prophets then I see! how dead?
	Amasement ceaseth mee, dead ? it cannot bee.		1470
	Why then a necke verse followes, oh my fate	[FOL.44a]
	Woemenes best witt I see is extreame folly
	How free[] had I beene from this certaine ruine
	How practis'd in more ills, had not this hapned
	And flourishing in them? ist not possible
	That I may live vnknowne to Medle? tis
	And I will venter it, shake of these burrs

	W^th easy recompence of a little nap.
	You shalbee a phisition, I am sicke
	You make me daungerously sicke, but heare you		1480
	Ile not bee purged, you shall give me out [p<ur>g'd] sicke
	But not give inward sicknes. Ile no figgs.
Sly.	As you shall please.
Poore	I doe not like [, I doe no] the humour

	Of your great guilty person[ages]s, who to scape
	A lawfull death; that is death giv'n by'th lawe
	Will rather choose to dy, vnnaturally
	By theire owne guilty hands.
Sly	w^th mature iudgement.
Poore	Intreat Strange hither		1490
Sly	to prevent my labour ?
Poore	fittly.
Strange	termes w^th one consent
Poore	S^r lett mee crave your pardon, I esteeme you
	A second parent to mee, removed by nature
	But one degree from it, you are my vncle
	I therfore will lay ope my worst acts to you,
	That you may veiwe them fully, as they are
	In theire owne essence: I have wrongd them all
	And giv'ne iust cause for this complaint, nay more		1500
	W^ch most afflicteth mee, I have wrongd you

	[BLANK]	[FOL.44b]

	[BLANK]	[FOL.45a]

Strange	by w^ch you did conceive mee soe.	[FOL.45b]
Poore	I shalbee knowne
	sufficiently heare after.
Sly	And putt it in to practise:
Poore	I doe promise
	A like restraint from the vnciv<i>ll liberty
	Tyme and our ryoutous age doth prompt vs to
Str:	choakd w^th recompence
Poore	Wee are deficient in ability.		1510
Sly	stop'd till cramm'd
Poore	Since the whole summ of my continued actions
	Have been me<'>re tricks. Ile end them w^th a tricke
	Ime sicke to death.
Strang	[ ] the reast Ile vndertake
Poore	Let them fly in
	Give mee a gowne and nightcapp
Sly	heare they are.
Poore	Wheres your phisitions habits, have y^u termes.
	Fustian will serve sufficiently curiosity		1520
	Will stand you in no steed, heere are no Criticks
Stran:	Ile admitt them
Poore	S^r I am ready for them, for some meale now
	To make a wh[ighte]ite man of mee & a sickly.
	Oh, oh, oh.
Sly	whats the disease ?
Poore:	The epylepsye
Sly	The falling sicknes?
Poore	I
Sly	And much good doe it you.		1530
Poore	I hope it will
Sly	How didst thou knowe him for thy vncle?
Poore	Strangly
	Some other tyme ile tell you; they are entring.
Tru:	Made mee a gull.	[FOL.46a]
Poore	Oh, oh, oh, I confesse
	That, [yo]u I have beene the cause, youve suffred wrong
Dry	agree to it. ( shee gives him gold.
Poore:	Ime heartily sory for it, I thanke my god.
	He []hatth brought you hither, that I may crave \|hee		1540
	(falls downe
	Your pardons, I would my estate were able (in his fitt
Sly	present at, how cheare you?
Poore	Why well I thancke my maker, fitt for heaven
	If these could be intreated to forgivenes.
	The remnants of what I have gott from you
	I will restore w^th thanks to satisfy you
Stran	that Ile not vndertake
Poore	I thank[] you your carefull in my behalfe
Stran	In presence of these gentlemen.		1550
Poore	there is one absent
	One M^r Medle, him I would faine speake w^th
Str<an>g	whom you desirde to speake w^th
Poore	I must intreat
	Your pardon for Ive wrongd you.
Med Hard Tru:	wee doe to w^ch beare witnesse
Poore	Then thus I shake my sickenes of
[Trugull	I for my loving spouse].
[Poore	happily may you live.]
Med:	why did you crave my pardon?		1560
Poore	[But <wha>] 'S^r I craved
	But what I gave you, doe you knowe mee now?
	I am to all of you what you will but good.
Med	Is then my pardon counterfett?
Poore	twas the best
	That I could give you; Ive no more from you
	Only the difference is I payd not for it	[FOL.46b]
	An equall price.
Med.	weele both have equall parts;
Poore	tis fairely offred		1570
Sly	All thrive but my selfe.
Poore	My gaine is thine; for what remaines in bank
	Of our last getting shall restore thy state.
	And give thee means of trading, one ill fate
	Wee equally indured, fortunes sad frowne
	Wee shared betwixt vs, but it is my croune
	That as in worst of ill thou hadst a ᵱt
	Soe of our [better] best state thou a sharer art
	This is the maine true freindship cann com[m<aun>]maund
	Y^t hopes and fears of freinds goe hand in hand		1580