English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
Goodlack.
I sound it not.[2.44]
Bess.
Spare me the rest.--This voyage I intend,
Though some may blame, all lovers will commend.
[_Exeunt_.
ACT THE FOURTH.
SCENE I.--_On Board a Spanish Vessel_.
_After an alarum, enter a_ Spanish Captain, _with_ Sailors,
_bringing in an_ English Merchant, Spencer, _and the_ Surgeon,
_prisoners_.
Spanish Captain.
For Fayal’s loss and spoil, by the English done,
We are in part revenged. There’s not a vessel
That bears upon her top St. George’s cross,
But for that act shall suffer.
Merchant.
Insult not, Spaniard,
Nor be too proud, that thou by odds of ships,
Provision, men, and powder, madest us yield.
Had you come one to one, or made assault
With reasonable advantage, we by this
Had made the carcase of your ship your graves,
Low sunk to the sea’s bottom.
Spanish Captain.
Englishman, thy ship shall yield us pillage.
These prisoners we will keep in strongest hold,
To pay no other ransom than their lives.
Spencer.
Degenerate Spaniard, there’s no nobless in thee,
To threaten men unarmed and miserable.
Thou mightst as well tread o’er a field of slaughter,
And kill them o’er that are already slain,
And brag thy manhood.
Spanish Captain.
Sirrah, what are you?
Spencer.
Thy equal, as I am a prisoner;
But once, to stay a better man than thou,
A gentleman in my country.
Spanish Captain.
Wert thou not so, we have strappados, bolts,
And engines,[2.45] to the mainmast fastenèd,
Can make you gentle.
Spencer.
Spaniard, do thy worst:
Thou canst not act more tortures than my courage
Is able to endure.
Spanish Captain.
These Englishmen,
Nothing can daunt them. Even in misery,
They’ll not regard their masters.
Spencer.
Masters! Insulting, bragging Thrasos![2.46]
Spanish Captain.
His sauciness we’ll punish ’bove the rest;
About their censures[2.47] we will next devise.
And now towards Spain, with our brave English prize.
[_Flourish. Exeunt_.
SCENE II.--_The Windmill Tavern_.
_Enter_ Bess, _the_ Mayor of Foy, Alderman, _and_ Clem.
Bess.
A table and some stools!
Clem.
I shall give you occasion to ease your tails, presently.
[_Tables and stools set out_.
Bess.
Will’t please you sit?
Mayor.
With all our hearts, and thank you.
Bess.
Fetch me that parchment in my closet window.
Clem.
The three sheepskins with the wrong side outward?
Bess.
That with the seal.
Clem.
I hope it is my indenture, and now she means to give me my time.
[_Exit_.
Alderman.
And now you are alone, fair Mistress Elzabeth,
I think it good to taste[2.48] you with a motion
That no way can displease you.
Bess.
Pray, speak on.
Alderman.
’T hath pleased here Master Mayor so far to look
Into your fair demeanour, that he thinks you
A fit match for his son.
_Re-enter_ Clem, _with the parchment_.
Clem.
Here’s the parchment; but if it be the lease of your house, I can
assure you ’tis out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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