English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Un_. Will you have her? she will doe you service, Captaine, in a _Low
Country_[279] Leaguer. Or thou, _Thomas_? ile give thee a Coppiehold.
_Tho_. You have one life to come in that lease, yet I thank you: I am
free, and that's inheritance; for ought I know she may serve us both.
_La_. Come you may perswade her to looke high and take it upon her for
your credit. The gullery is yet within these walles; let your shame goe
no farther. The wench may prove right, she may.
_Enter Sir Richard_.
_La_. What news from Sir _Francis_?
_Ri_. Wife, I hardly aske thee forgivenes; I had jealous thoughts, but
all's right agen.
_La_. I will deserve your confidence.
_Ri_. No great danger, his blade bone dislocated; the man has put
everything in his right place.
_Un_. Dee heare, Sir _Richard_? wee are married.
_Ri_. Tis well done, send you joy; tis to my mind.
_Un_. Come hither, _Dorothy_.
_Cap_. But where's Mr. _Engine_?
_Ri_. He rid before.
_Cap_. If the rascall have any wit left he will ride quite away with
himselfe; tis his best course to fly oversea.
_Tho_. If he were sure to flie, he were sure to escape.
_Cap_. At the worst, drowning is a most [sic] honourable death then
hanging.
_Do_. My mother died, I have it by tradition,
As soone as I was borne; my father (but
No knight) is now i'th _Indies_, a poore Merchant,
That broke for 20,000 pounds.
_Ri_. The shipps may come home. Hee!
_Do_. You were best use me well, now we are married.
I will be sworne you forc'd me to the Church
And thrice compeld me there to say _I Dorothy_.
The Parsons oath and mine, for ought I know,
May make it halfe a rape.
_Ri_. There is no remedy;
We can prove no conspiracie. And, because
I have been gulld my selfe, gett her with child,
--My Doe is barren,--at birth of her first baby
Ile give her a hundred peeces.
_Un_. That's somewhat yet, when charge comes on. Thy hand! a wife can be
but a wife: it shall cost me 500 pounds but ile make thee a Ladie in
earnest.
_Enter Sir Francis and Surgeon_.
_Ri_. How ist, Sir _Francis_?
_Fra_. My Surgeon sayes no danger; when you please,
I may venture, Sir, to _London_.
_Ri_. No hast now.
_Cou_. Not to-night, Sir; wee must have revells and you salute my Bride.
_Un_. And mine.
_Tho_. A knights Daughter and heire.
_Fra_. May all joy thrive upon your Loves.
--Then you are cosend of your Mistres, Mounseir?
_Do_. But your nephew knowes I have met with my match. Some bodie has
been put to the sword.
_Ri_. Come, we loose tyme.
_Fra_. Preserve your marriage faith: a full increase
Of what you wish confirme your happinesse.
[_Exeunt_.
FINIS.
APPENDIX I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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