_Mist. Mer._ Peace be to your worship, I come as a poor suitor to you, sir, in the behalf of this child. _Merch._ Are you not wife to Merry-thought? _Mist. Mer._ Yes truly, would I had ne'er seen his eyes, he has undone me and himself, and his children, and there he lives at home and sings and hoits, and revels among his drunken companions; but I warrant you, where to get a penny to put bread in his mouth, he knows not. And therefore if it like your worship, I would entreat your letter to the honest host of the Bell in Waltham, that I may place my child under the protection of his tapster, in some settled course of life. _Merch._ I'm glad the Heav'ns have heard my prayers. Thy husband, When I was ripe in sorrows, laughed at me; Thy son, like an unthankful wretch, I having Redeem'd him from his fall, and made him mine, To show his love again, first stole my daughter: Then wrong'd this gentleman, and last of all Gave me that grief, had almost brought me down Unto my grave, had not a stronger hand Reliev'd my sorrows. Go, and weep as I did, And be unpitied, for here I profess An everlasting hate to all thy name. _Mist. Mer._ Will you so, sir, how say you by that? Come, Mick, let him keep his wind to cool his pottage; we'll go to thy nurse's, Mick, she knits silk stockings, boy; and we'll knit too, boy, and be beholding to none of them all. [_Exeunt_ MICHAEL _and_ MOTHER. _Enter a_ BOY _with a letter_. _Boy._ Sir, I take it you are the master of this house. _Merch._ How then, boy? _Boy._ Then to yourself, sir, comes this letter. _Merch._ From whom, my pretty boy? _Boy._ From him that was your servant, but no more Shall that name ever be, for he is dead. Grief of your purchas'd anger broke his heart; I saw him die, and from his hand receiv'd This paper, with a charge to bring it hither; Read it, and satisfy yourself in all. LETTER. _Merch._ _Sir, that I have wronged your love I must confess, in which I have purchas'd to myself, besides mine own undoing, the ill opinion of my friends; let not your anger, good sir, outlive me, but suffer me to rest in peace with your forgiveness; let my body (if a dying man may so much prevail with you) be brought to your daughter, that she may know my hot flames are now buried, and withal receive a testimony of the zeal I bore her virtue. Farewell for ever, and be ever happy._--JASPER. God's hand is great in this. I do forgive him, Yet am I glad he's quiet, where I hope He will not bite again. Boy, bring the body, And let him have his will, if that be all. _Boy._ 'Tis here without, sir. _Merch._ So, sir, if you please You may conduct it in, I do not fear it. _Humph._ I'll be your usher, boy, for though I say it, He ow'd me something once, and well did pay it. [_Exeunt._ _Enter_ LUCE _alone_.