A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
English drama
WAN. One rogue, hanged for example, would make a thousand kind
girls. If it take, it shall be called my law, Wanton's law: then
we may go in petticoats again; for women grew imperious, and wore
the breeches only to fright the poor cuckolds, and make the fools
digest their horns. Are you all ready? Shall I open the door?
CAPT. Yes.
WILD. I'll expect you at my house.
[_Exit_ WILD _one way, and the rest of the company another_.
OMNES. We'll come, we'll come.
CAPT. So, knock louder.
[_They knock within, and the_ PARSON _discovered in his bed,
and the_ BAWD _with him_.
PAR. Who's there? What would you have?
CAPT. Here's his majesty's watch, and master constable's worship
must come in. We have a warrant from the lords to search for a
delinquent.
PAR. You come not here. I'll answer your warrant to-morrow.
JOLLY. Break open the door.
PAR. I would you durst.
BAWD. Lord, dear, what shall we do?
PAR. Why, sweet, I'll warrant you. Art thou not my wife, my rib,
bone of my bone? I'll suffer anything ere one hair of thee shall
be touched.
BAWD. Hark! they break open the door!
PAR. They dare not! Why dost thou tremble so? Alas, sweet
innocence, how it shakes!
CAPT. Break open the door.
PAR. I'll complain to the bishop of this insolence.
BAWD. They come, they come, lamb!
PAR. No matter, sweet, they dare not touch thee. What would you
have, master constable? You are very rude.
[_He delivers the warrant._
CAPT. Read our warrant, and our business will excuse us. Do you
know any such person as you find there?
PAR. Yes, sir, but not by this name. Such a woman is my wife, and
no Lindabrides.[260] We were married to-day, and I'll justify her
my wife the next court-day. You have your answer, and may be
gone.
JOLLY. We must take no notice of such excuses now. If she be your
wife, make it appear in court, and she will be delivered unto
you.
PAR. If she be my wife! Sir, I have wedded her and bedded her:
what other ceremonies would you have? Be not afraid, sweetheart.
JOLLY. Sir, we can do no less than execute our warrant. We are
but servants; and, master constable, I charge you in the king's
name to do your duty. Behold the body of the delinquent.
PAR. Touch her that dares: I'll put my dagger in him. [_He takes
his dagger._] Fear nothing, sweetheart. Master constable, you'll
repent this insolence offered to a man of my coat.
BAWD. Help, my dearest, will you let me be haled[261] thus?
[_Here they strive to take her out._
PAR. Villains, what will you do? Murder! Rape!
CAPT. Yes, yes, 'tis likely: I look like a ravisher!
JOLLY. Hold him, and we'll do well enough with her.
[_As they go to pull her out of the bed, they discover the_
BAWD. _When they let him go, he turns to her and holds
her in his arms._
CAPT. What have we here, an old woman?
PAR. Let me go. Slaves and murderers!
CAPT. Let him go.
JOLLY. Do any of you know this woman? This is not she we looked
for.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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