Elder Lo. I go: but Brother, what yet unheard of course to live, doth your imagination flatter you with? Your ordinary means are devour'd.
Young Lo. Course? why Horse-coursing I think. Consume no time in this: I have no Estate to be mended by meditation: he that busies himself about my fortunes may properly be said to busie himself about nothing.
Elder Lo. Yet some course you must take, which for my satisfaction resolve and open; if you will shape none, I must inform you that that man but perswades himself he means to live, that imagines not the means.
Young Lo. Why live upon others, as others have lived upon me.
Elder Lo. I apprehend not that: you have fed others, and consequently dispos'd of 'em: and the same measure must you expect from your maintainers, which will be too heavy an alteration for you to bear.
Young Lo. Why I'le purse; if that raise me not, I'le bet at Bowling-alleyes, or man Whores; I would fain live by others: but I'le live whilst I am unhang'd, and after the thought's taken.
Elder Love. I see you are ty'd to no particular imploiment then?
Young Lo. Faith I may choose my course: they say nature brings forth none but she provides for them: I'le try her liberality.
Elder Lo. Well, to keep your feet out of base and dangerous paths, I have resolved you shall live as Master of my House. It shall be your care Savil to see him fed and cloathed, not according to his present Estate, but to his birth and former fortunes.
Young Lo. If it be refer'd to him, if I be not found in Carnation Jearsie-stockins, blew devils breeches, with the gards down, and my pocket i'th' sleeves, I'le n'er look you i'th' face again.
Sa. A comelier wear I wuss it is than those dangling slops.
Elder Lo. To keep you readie to do him all service peaceably, and him to command you reasonably, I leave these further directions in writing, which at your best leasure together open and read.
Enter Younglove to them with a Jewell.
Abig. Sir, my Mistress commends her love to you in this token, and these words; it is a Jewell (she sayes) which as a favour from her she would request you to wear till your years travel be performed: which once expired, she will hastily expect your happy return.
Elder Lo. Return my service with such thanks, as she may imagine the heart of a suddenly over-joyed man would willingly utter, and you I hope I shall with slender arguments perswade to wear this Diamond, that when my Mistris shall through my long absence, and the approach of new Suitors, offer to forget me; you may cast your eye down to your finger, and remember and speak of me: She will hear thee better than those allied by birth to her; as we see many men much swayed by the Grooms of their Chambers, not that they have a greater part of their love or opinion on them, than on others, but for that they know their secrets.
Abi. O' my credit I swear, I think 'twas made for me: Fear no other Suitors.
Elder Love. I shall not need to teach you how to discredit their beginning, you know how to take exception at their shirts at washing, or to make the maids swear they found plasters in their beds.
Abi. I know, I know, and do not you fear the Suitors.
Elder Lo. Farewell, be mindfull, and be happie; the night calls me.
[Exeunt omnes praeter Younglove.
Abi. The Gods of the Winds befriend you Sir; a constant and a liberal Lover thou art, more such God send us.
Enter Welford.
Wel. Let'em not stand still, we have rid.
Abi. A suitor I know by his riding hard, I'le not be seen.
Wel. A prettie Hall this, no Servant in't? I would look freshly.
Abi. You have delivered your errand to me then: there's no danger in a hansome young fellow: I'le shew my self.
Wel. Lady, may it please you to bestow upon a stranger the ordinary grace of salutation: Are you the Lady of this house?
Abi. Sir, I am worthily proud to be a Servant of hers.
Wel. Lady, I should be as proud to be a Servant of yours, did not my so late acquaintance make me despair.
Abi. Sir, it is not so hard to atchieve, but nature may bring it about.
Wel. For these comfortable words, I remain your glad Debtor. Is your Lady at home?
Abi. She is no stragler Sir.
Wel. May her occasions admit me to speak with her?
Abi. If you come in the way of a Suitor, No.
Wel. I know your affable vertue will be moved to perswade her, that a Gentleman benighted and strayed, offers to be bound to her for a nights lodging.
Abi. I will commend this message to her; but if you aim at her body, you will be deluded: other women of the household of good carriage and government; upon any of which if you can cast your affection, they will perhaps be found as faithfull and not so coy. [Exit Younglove.
Wel. What a skin full of lust is this? I thought I had come a wooing, and I am the courted partie. This is right Court fashion: Men, Women, and all woo, catch that catch may. If this soft hearted woman have infused any of her tenderness into her Lady, there is hope she will be plyant. But who's here?
Enter Sir Roger the Curate.
Roger. Gad save you Sir. My Lady lets you know she desires to be acquainted with your name, before she confer with you?
Wel. Sir, my name calls me Welford.
Roger. Sir, you are a Gentleman of a good name. I'le try his wit.
Wel. I will uphold it as good as any of my Ancestors had this two hundred years Sir.
Roger. I knew a worshipfull and a Religious Gentleman of your name in the Bishoprick of Durham. Call you him Cousen?
Wel. I am only allyed to his vertues Sir.
Roger. It is modestly said: I should carry the badge of your Christianity with me too.
Wel. What's that, a Cross? there's a tester.
Roger. I mean the name which your God-fathers and God-mothers gave you at the Font.
Wel. 'Tis Harry: but you cannot proceed orderly now in your Catechism: for you have told me who gave me that name. Shall I beg your name?
Roger. Roger.
Wel. What room fill you in this house?
Roger. More rooms than one.
Wel. The more the merrier: but may my boldness know, why your Lady hath sent you to decypher my name?
Roger. Her own words were these: To know whether you were a formerly denyed Suitor, disguised in this message: for I can assure you she delights not in Thalame: Hymen and she are at variance, I shall return with much hast. [Exit Roger.
Wel. And much speed Sir, I hope: certainly I am arrived amongst a Nation of new found fools, on a Land where no Navigator has yet planted wit; if I had foreseen it, I would have laded my breeches with bells, knives, copper, and glasses, to trade with women for their virginities: yet I fear, I should have betrayed my self to a needless charge then: here's the walking night-cap again.
Enter Roger.
Roger. Sir, my Ladies pleasure is to see you: who hath commanded me to acknowledge her sorrow, that you must take the pains to come up for so bad entertainment.
Wel. I shall obey your Lady that sent it, and acknowledge you that brought it to be your Arts Master.
Rog. I am but a Batchelor of Art, Sir; and I have the mending of all under this roof, from my Lady on her down-bed, to the maid in the Pease-straw.
Wel. A Cobler, Sir?
Roger. No Sir, I inculcate Divine Service within these Walls.
Wel. But the Inhabitants of this house do often imploy you on errands without any scruple of Conscience.
Rog. Yes, I do take the air many mornings on foot, three or four miles for eggs: but why move you that?
Wel. To know whether it might become your function to bid my man to neglect his horse a little to attend on me.
Roger. Most properly Sir.
Wel. I pray you doe so then: the whilst I will attend your Lady. You direct all this house in the true way?
Roger. I doe Sir.
Wel. And this door I hope conducts to your Lady?
Rog. Your understanding is ingenious. [Ex. severally.
Enter young Loveless and Savil, with a writing.
Sa. By your favour Sir, you shall pardon me?
Yo. Lo. I shall bear your favour Sir, cross me no more; I say they shall come in.