_Re-enter_ WILLIAM SMALL-SHANKS _with the Serjeants_. Lie in ambuscado for him. OFFICER. I arrest you, sir. W. SMALL. Rescue! rescue! THROAT. O, he is caught. W. SMALL. I'll give you bail: Hang off, honest catchpoles. Master Throat, good, wise, Learned and honest Master Throat, now, now-- Now or never, help me. THROAT. What's the matter? W. SMALL. Here are two retainers, hangers-on, sir, Which will consume more than ten liveries; If by your means they be not straight shook off-- I am arrested. THROAT. Arrested! what's the sum? W. SMALL. But thirteen pounds, due to Beard the butler: Do but bail me, and I will save you harmless. THROAT. Why, here's the end of it[394]: I know the law; If you be bail'd by me, the debt is mine, Which I will undertake-- W. SMALL. La[395] there, rogues: Foot! I knew he would not let me want For thirteen pounds. THROAT. Provided you seal a release Of all your claim to Mistress Sommerfield. W. SMALL. Serjeants, do your kind: hale me to the hole. Seal a release? Serjeants, come: to prison! Seal a release for Mistress Sommerfield? First I will stink in jail, be eat with lice, Endure an object worse than the devil himself, And that's ten Serjeants peeping through the grates Upon my lousy linen. Come to jail: Foot, a release! T. SMALL. There's no conscience in it. BOUT. 'Tis a demand uncharitable. THROAT. Nay, choose. _Enter_ FRANCES. FRAN. I can hold no longer; impudent man-- W. SMALL. My wife! foot! my wife! let me go, serjeants. FRAN. O thou perfidious man! dar'st thou presume To call her wife, whom thou so much hast wrong'd? What conquest hast thou got to wrong a maid, A silly harmless maid? what glory is't, That thou hast thus deceived a simple virgin, And brought her from her friends? what honour was't For thee to make the butler lose his office, And run away with thee! Your tricks are known; Didst thou not swear thou shouldst be baronis'd? And hadst both lands and fortunes, both which thou want'st? W. SMALL. Foot, that's not my fault: I would have lands, If I could get 'em. FRAN. I know your tricks; And know I now am wife unto this man. OMNES. How? THROAT. I thank her, sir, she has now vouchsaf'd To cast herself on me. FRAN. Therefore subscribe; Take somewhat of him for a full release, And pray to God to make you an honest man: If not, I do protest by earth and heaven, Although I starve, thou never shalt enjoy me. BEARD. Her vow is pass'd, nor will she break her word; Look to it, micher. FRAN. I hope he will compound. W. SMALL. Foot, shall I give two thousand pounds a year For nothing? T. SMALL. Brother, come: be rul'd by me. Better to take a little than lose all.