SCENE I.--_Foy. The Windmill Tavern_. _Enter_ Fawcett _and_ Roughman. Fawcett. In your time have you seen a sweeter creature? Roughman. Some week, or thereabouts. Fawcett. And in that time she hath almost undone all the other taverns: the gallants make no rendezvous now but at the Windmill. Roughman. Spite of them, I’ll have her. It shall cost me the setting on, but I’ll have her. Fawcett. Why, do you think she is so easily won? Roughman. Easily or not, I’ll bid as fair and far as any man within twenty miles of my head, but I will put her to the squeak. Fawcett. They say there are knights’ sons already come as suitors to her. Roughman. ’Tis like enough, some younger brothers, and so I intend to make them. Fawcett. If these doings hold, she will grow rich in short time. Roughman. There shall be doings that shall make this Windmill my grand seat, my mansion, my palace, and my Constantinople. _Enter_ Bess Bridges _and_ Clem. Fawcett. Here she comes. Observe how modestly she bears herself. Roughman. I must know of what burden this vessel is. I shall not bear with her till she bear with me; and till then I cannot report her for a woman of good carriage. [Roughman _and_ Fawcett _move aside_. Bess. Your old master, that dwelt here before my coming, hath turned over your years[2.16] to me. Clem. Right, forsooth: before he was a vintner, he was a shoemaker, and left two or three turnovers more besides myself. Bess. How long hast thou to serve? Clem. But eleven years, next grass, and then I am in hope of my freedom; for by that time I shall be at full age. Bess. How old art thou now? Clem. Forsooth, newly come into my teens. I have scraped trenchers this two years, and the next vintage I hope to be bar-boy. Bess. What’s thy name? Clem. My name is Clem: my father was a baker; and, by the report of his neighbours, as honest a man as ever lived by bread. Bess. And where dwelt he? Clem. Below here, in the next crooked street, at the sign of the Leg. He was nothing so tall as I; but a little wee man, and somewhat huck-backed. Bess. He was once constable? Clem. He was, indeed; and in that one year of his reign, I have heard them say, he bolted and sifted out more business than others in that office in many years before him. Bess. How long is’t since he died? Clem. Marry, the last dear year; for when corn grew to be at a high rate,[2.17] my father never doughed after. Bess. I think I have heard of him. Clem. Then I am sure you have heard he was an honest neighbour, and one that never loved to be meal-mouthed. Bess. Well, sirrah, prove an honest servant, and you shall find me your good mistress. What company is in the Mermaid?[2.18] Clem. There be four sea-captains. I believe they be little better than pirates, they be so flush of their ruddocks.[2.19]