[Footnote A: _Swash-buckler_ seems to have been a title for those, who retained the old blunt manners of Queen Elizabeth's time, when sword and buckler were the common weapons. "Of old, when Englishmen were fenced with bucklers, as with a rampier, nothing was more common with them, than to fight about taking the right or left hand on the wall, or upon any unpleasing countenance: clashing of swords was then daily music in every street." MORYSON'S _Itinerary_, Part III. Book iv.--The buckler was disused in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign; but those who affected the old-fashioned, blunt, boisterous manners, common when that ancient weapon was used in brawls, were, like old Moody in the play, still termed _Swash-bucklers_.] SIR MARTIN MAR-ALL. ACT I. SCENE I. _Enter_ WARNER _solus_. _Warn._ Where the devil is this master of mine? he is ever out of the way, when he should do himself good! This 'tis to serve a coxcomb, one that has no more brains than just those I carry for him. Well! of all fops commend me to him for the greatest; he's so opinioned of his own abilities, that he is ever designing somewhat, and yet he sows his stratagems so shallow, that every daw can pick them up: From a plotting fool, the Lord deliver me. Here he comes;--O! it seems his cousin's with him; then it is not so bad as I imagined. _Enter_ Sir MARTIN MAR-ALL, _and_ Lady DUPE. _L. Dupe._ I think 'twas well contrived for your access, to lodge her in the same house with you. _Sir Mart._ 'Tis pretty well, I must confess. _Warn._ Had he plotted it himself, it had been admirable. [_Aside._ _L. Dupe._ For when her father Moody writ to me to take him lodgings, I so ordered it, the choice seemed his, not mine. _Sir Mart._ I have hit of a thing myself sometimes, when wiser heads have missed it; but that might be mere luck. _L. Dupe._ Fortune does more than wisdom. _Sir Mart._ Nay, for that you shall excuse me; I will not value any man's fortune at a rush, except he have wit and parts to bear him out. But when do you expect them? _L. Dupe._ This tide will bring them from Gravesend. You had best let your man go, as from me, and wait them at the stairs in Durham-yard. _Sir Mart._ Lord, cousin, what a-do is here with your counsel! As though I could not have thought of that myself. I could find in my heart not to send him now----stay a little----I could soon find out some other way. _Warn._ A minute's stay may lose your business. _Sir Mart._ Well, go then; but you must grant, if he had staid, I could have found a better way--you grant it. _L. Dupe._ For once I will not stand with you. [_Exit_ WARNER.] 'Tis a sweet gentlewoman, this Mrs Millisent, if you can get her. _Sir Mart._ Let me alone for plotting.