ACT II

SCENE I

A Room in Overreach's House.

Enter Overreach and Marrall.

Over. He's gone, I warrant thee; this commission crushed him.

Mar. Your worships have the way on't, and ne'er miss
Το squeeze these unthrifts into air: and yet,
The chapfallen justice did his part, returning
For your advantage the certificate,

Against his conscience, and his knowledge too,
With your good favour, to the utter ruin
Of the poor farmer.

Over. 'Twas for these good ends

I made him a justice; he that bribes his belly,
Is certain to command his soul.

Mar. I wonder,

Still with your license, why, your worship having
The power to put this thin-gut in commission,

You are not in't yourself?

Over. Thou art a fool;

IO

In being out of office I am out of danger;
Where, if I were a justice, besides the trouble,
I might or out of wilfulness or error
Run myself finely into a premunire,
And so become a prey to the informer.
No, I'll have none of't; 'tis enough I keep
Greedy at my devotion: so he serve

My purposes, let him hang or damn, I care not;
Friendship is but a word.

Mar. You are all wisdom.

Over. I would be worldly wise; for the other wisdom,
That does prescribe us a well governed life,
And to do right to others as ourselves,

I value not an atom.

Mar. What course take you,

With your good patience, to hedge in the manor
Of your neighbour, Master Frugal ? as 'tis said
He will nor sell, nor borrow, nor exchange;

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And his land, lying in the midst of your many lordships,

Is a foul blemish.

Over. I have thought on't, Marrall,

And it shall take. I must have all men sellers,

And I the only purchaser.

Mar. 'Tis most fit, sir.

Quer. I'll therefore buy some cottage near his manor,

40

Which done, I'll make my men break ope his fences,
Ride o'er his standing corn, and in the night

Set fire on his barns, or break his cattle's legs :
These trespasses draw on suits, and suits' expenses,
Which I can spare, but will soon beggar him.
When I have harried him thus two or three year,
Though he sue in forma pauperis, in spite

Of all his thrift and care, he'll grow behindhand.
Mar. The best I ever heard! I could adore you.
Over. Then, with the favour of my man of law,

I will pretend some title: want will force him
To put it to arbitrement; then, if he sell
For half the value, he shall have ready money,
And I possess his land.

Mar. 'Tis above wonder !

Wellborn was apt to sell, and needed not
These fine arts, sir, to hook him in.

Over. Well thought on.

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This varlet, Marrall, lives too long, to upbraid me 60
With my close cheat put upon him. Will nor cold
Nor hunger kill him?

Mar. I know not what to think on't.

I have used all means; and the last night I caused
His host, the tapster, to turn him out of doors;
And have been since with all your friends and
tenants,

And, on the forfeit of your favour, charged them,
Though a crust of mouldy bread would keep him
from starving,

Yet they should not relieve him. This is done, sir.

Over. That was something, Marrall; but thou must go

further,

And suddenly, Marrall.

Mar. Where, and when you please, sir.

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Over. I would have thee seek him out, and, if thou canst,

Persuade him that 'tis better steal than beg;

Then, if I prove he has but robbed a henroost,
Not all the world shall save him from the gallows.

Do any thing to work him to despair;

And 'tis thy masterpiece.

Mar. I will do my best, sir.

Over. I am now on my main work with the Lord Lovell,
The gallant-minded, popular Lord Lovell,

The minion of the people's love. I hear
He's come into the country, and my aims are
To insinuate myself into his knowledge,

And then invite him to my house.

Mar. I have you ;

This points at my young mistress.

Over. She must part with

That humble title, and write honourable,

81.

Right honourable, Marrall, my right honourable

daughter,

If all I have, or e'er shall get, will do it.

I'll have her well attended; there are ladies

Of errant knights decayed and brought so low,

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That for cast clothes and meat will gladly serve her.
And 'tis my glory, though I come from the city,

To have their issue whom I have undone,

To kneel to mine as bondslaves.

Mar. 'Tis fit state, sir.

Over. And therefore, I'll not have a chambermaid

That ties her shoes, or any meaner office,

But such whose fathers were right worshipful.
'Tis a rich man's pride! there having ever been
More than a feud, a strange antipathy,

Between us and true gentry.

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Enter Wellborn.

Mar. See, who's here, sir.

Over. Hence, monster! prodigy !

Well. Sir, your wife's nephew ;

She and my father tumbled in one belly,

Over. Avoid my sight! thy breath's infectious, rogue ! I shun thee as a leprosy, or the plague.

IIO

Come hither, Marrall-this is the time to work him.

Mar. I warrant you, sir.

Well. By this light I think he's mad.

[Aside, and exit.

Mar. Mad! had you ta'en compassion on yourself,

You long since had been mad.

Well. You have ta'en a course,

Between you and my venerable uncle,

To make me so.

Mar. The more pale-spirited you.

That would not be instructed.

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I swear deeply—