MER. Tell M^r. _Wood-cock_, I’ll not faile to meet him 20
_To a third._
Vpon th’ _Exchange_ at night. Pray him to haue
The writings there, and wee’ll diſpatch it. Sir,
_He turnes to_ Fitz-dottrel.
You are a Gentleman of a good preſence,
A handſome man (I haue conſidered you)
As a fit ſtocke to graft honours vpon: 25
I haue a proiect to make you a _Duke_, now.
That you muſt be one, within ſo many moneths,
As I ſet downe, out of true reaſon of ſtate,
You ſha’ not auoyd it. But you muſt harken, then.
ING. Harken? why S^r, do you doubt his eares? Alas! 30
You doe not know Maſter _Fitz-dottrel_.
FIT. He do’s not know me indeed. I thank you, _Ingine_,
For rectifying him.
MER. Good! Why, _Ingine_, then
_He turnes to_ Ingine.
I’le tell it you. (I see you ha’ credit, here,
And, that you can keepe counſell, I’ll not queſtion.) 35
Hee ſhall but be an vndertaker with mee,
In a moſt feaſible bus’neſſe. It shall cost him
Nothing.
ING. Good, S^r.
MER. Except he pleaſe, but’s count’nance;
(That I will haue) t’appeare in’t, to great men,
For which I’ll make him one. Hee ſhall not draw 40
A ſtring of’s purſe. I’ll driue his pattent for him.
We’ll take in Cittizens, _Commoners_, and _Aldermen_,
To beare the charge, and blow ’hem off againe,
Like ſo many dead flyes, when ’tis carryed.
The thing is for recouery of drown’d land, 45
Whereof the _Crowne’s_ to haue his moiety,
If it be owner; Elſe, the _Crowne_ and Owners
To ſhare that moyety: and the recouerers
T’enioy the tother moyety, for their charge.
ING. Thorowout _England_?
MER. Yes, which will ariſe 50
To eyghteene _millions_, ſeuen the firſt yeere:
I haue computed all, and made my ſuruay
Vnto an acre. I’ll beginne at the Pan,
Not, at the skirts: as ſome ha’ done, and loſt,
All that they wrought, their timber-worke, their trench, 55
Their bankes all borne away, or elſe fill’d vp
By the next winter. Tut, they neuer went
The way: I’ll haue it all.
ING. A gallant tract
Of land it is!
MER. ’Twill yeeld a pound an acre.
Wee muſt let cheape, euer, at firſt. But Sir, 60
This lookes too large for you, I ſee. Come hither,
We’ll haue a leſſe. Here’s a plain fellow, you ſee him,
Has his black bag of papers, there, in Buckram,
Wi’ not be ſold for th’Earledome of _Pancridge_: Draw,
Gi’ me out one, by chance. Proiect. 4. _Dog-skinnes?_ 65
Twelue thouſand pound! the very worſt, at firſt. [113]
FIT. Pray, you let’s ſee’t Sir.
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