_R. Royster._ What is a gentleman but his worde and his promise? I must nowe save this vilaines lyfe in any wife, And yet at hym already my handes doe tickle, I shall uneth holde them, they wyll be so fickle. But lo and Merygreeke have not brought him sens? 5 _M. Mery_ [_entering with the Scriv._]. Nay I woulde I had of my purse payde fortie pens. _Scrivener._ So woulde I too: but it needed not that stounde, _M. Mery._ But the jentman[525] had rather spent five thousande pounde, For it disgraced him at least five tymes so muche. _Scrivener._ He disgraced hym selfe, his loutishnesse is suche. 10 _R. Royster._ Howe long they stande prating? Why comst thou not away? _M. Mery._ Come nowe to hymselfe, and hearke what he will say. _Scrivener._ I am not afrayde in his presence to appeere. _R. Royster._ Arte thou come felow? _Scrivener._ How thinke you? am I not here? 14 _R. Royster._ What hindrance hast thou done me, and what villanie? _Scrivener._ It hath come of thy selfe, if thou hast had any. _R. Royster._ All the stocke thou comest of later or rather,[526] From thy fyrst fathers grandfathers fathers father, Nor all that shall come of thee to the worldes ende, F i Though to three score generations they descende, 20 Can be able to make me a just recompense, For this trespasse of thine and this one offense. _Scrivener._ Wherin? _R. Royster._ Did not you make me a letter brother?[527] _Scrivener._ Pay the like hire, I will make you suche an other. _R. Royster._ Nay see and these whooreson Phariseys and Scribes 25 Doe not get their livyng by polling[528] and bribes.[529] If it were not for shame [_advances towards the Scr. to strike him._] _Scrivener_[530]. Nay holde thy hands still. _M. Mery._ Why[,] did ye not promise that ye would not him spill? _Scrivener_ [_prepares to fight_]. Let him not spare me. [_Strikes R._] _R. Royster._ Why wilt thou strike me again? _Scrivener._ Ye shall have as good as ye bring of me that is plaine. 30 _M. Mery._ I can not blame him sir, though your blowes wold him greve. For he knoweth present death to ensue of all ye geve. _R. Royster._ Well, this man for once hath purchased thy pardon. _Scrivener._ And what say ye to me? or else I will be gon. _R. Royster._ I say the letter thou madest me was not good. 35 _Scrivener._ Then did ye wrong copy it of likelyhood. _R. Royster._ Yes, out of thy copy worde for worde I wrote. _Scrivener._ Then was it as ye prayed to have it I wote, But in reading and pointyng there was made some faulte. _R. Royster._ I wote not, but it made all my matter to haulte. 40 _Scrivener._ How say you, is this mine originall or no?