Viol. Why, very well I thank you; it is late, Shall I hafte home?

Nan. I prithee, we shall be (48) fhent foundly. Madge. Why does that railing Man go with us? Viol. I prithee fpeak well of him, on my Word He's an honest Man.

Nan. There was never any fo on's Complexion, a Gentleman? I'd be afham'd to have fuch a foul Mouth. [Exeunt. Enter Mother, Alexander, Andrugio, and his

Man Rowland.

Moth. How now Alexander, what Gentleman is this?
Alex. Indeed, forfooth, I know not,

I found him at the Market full of woe,
Crying a loft Daughter,

And telling all her Tokens to the People,
And what you wot?

(49) By all Description in the World, it should be
Our new Maid Melvia, one would little think it,
Therefore I was bold to tell him of her, Mistress.
Moth. Melvia? Fool, it cannot be, alas
You know the is a poor Wench, and
I took her in upon mere Charity.

And. So feem'd my Daughter when she went away,
As fhe had made herself.

Moth. What Stature was your Child of, Sir?

And. Not high, and of a brown Complexion, Her Hair auburn, a round Face, which fome Friends That flatter'd me, would fay 'twould be a good one. Alex. This is ftill Melvia, Miftrefs, that's the Truth

on't.

Moth. It may be fo, I'll promife you.

Alex. Well, go thy ways, the Flower of our Town,

(48) Shent] i. e. blamed, fcolded.

(49) By all Subfcription in the World,] If Alexander was an af fecter of hard Words, I fhould be inclined to let this ftand; but as he feems throughout a fenfible good-natur'd Fellow, I would choose to read, Defcription.

For

For a Hand and Foot, I fhall ne'er fee thy Fellow.
Moth. But had fhe not fuch Toys, as Bracelets, Rings,
And Jewels? And. She was fomething bold indeed,
To take fuch things that Night fhe left me. Moth. Then
Belike fhe run away? And. Though she be one
I love, I dare not lye, fhe did indeed.

Moth. What think you of this Jewel?

And. Yes, this was one of them, and this was mine;
You've made me a new Man, I thank you for it.
Moth. Nay,

And she be giv'n to filching, there's your Jewel,
I am clear on't :

But by your leave, Sir, you fhall answer me
For what is loft fince fhe came hither, I can
Tell you, there lie things

Scattering in ev'ry Place about the House.
Alex. As I am virtuous, I have the lyingst
Old Gentlewoman to my Mistress,

And the most malicious

The Devil a good Word will fhe give a Servant,
That's her old Rule; and God be thanked, they will
Give her as few, there's perfect love on both Sides;
yearns my Heart to fee the Wench misconftrued;

It

A careful Soul fhe is, I'll be fworn for her;

And when she's gone, let them fay what they will,
They may all caft their Caps at such another.

And. What you have loft by her, with all my Heart
I'll fee you double paid for; you have fav'd,
With your kind Pity, two that must not live
Unless it be to thank you; take this Jewel,
(50) This ftrikes off one of her Offences, Miftrefs,

(50) This frikes off none of her Offences,] Why then he paid his Jewel for nothing; but did he mean fo? No, 'tis too plain he intended to make up her [Miftrefs's] Loffes double; and therefore we muft read, either,

Or,

one of her Offences,

fome of her Offences,

As the first is the nearest the Trace of the Letters, I have put it into the Text.

Would I might fee her. Moth. Alexander, run,

And bid her make hafte home, fhe's at the milking Clofe;

But tell her not by any means who's here,

I know fhe'll be too fearful. Alex. Well, we'll have
A Poffet yet at parting, that's my Comfort,
And one round too, or elfe I'll lofe my Will.

[Exit. And. [To Rowland.] You fhall find Silvio, Uberto and Pedro enquiring for the Wench at the next Town; tell them fhe is found, and where I am, and with the Favour of this Gentlewoman, defire them to come hither.

Moth. I pray do, they fhall be all welcome.

[Exit Servant.

Enter Juflice, Curio, and Mark.

Just. By your leave, Forfooth; you fhall fee me find the Parties by a Slight.

Moth. Who's that, Mr. Juftice? how do you, Sir? Just. Why, very well, and bufie, where's your Son? Moth. He's within, Sir.

Just. Hum, and how does the young Woman my Coufin, that came down with him.

Moth. She's above, as a Woman in her Cafe may be.

Just. You have confeft it? (then, Sirrah, call in the Officers; fhe's no Coufin of mine; a mere Trick to dif cover all.

Moth. To discover? what?

Enter Mark and Officers.

Juft. You fhall know that anon; I think I have overreach'd you; oh, welcome, enter the Houfe, and by Virtue of my Warrant which you have there, feize upon the Bodily Perfons of those whofe Names are there written, to Wit, one Mercury, and the Wife of one Antonio. Moth. For what?

Juft. Away, I fay, this Gentleman fhall certifie you for what. [Exit Officer:

Moth. He can accufe my Son of nothing,

He

He came from Travel but within these two Days.
Just. There hangs a Tale.

Moth. I fhould be forry this fhould fall out at any time, but especially now; Sir, will you favour me fo much, as to let me know of what you accuse him?

Cur. Upon Sufpicion of Murther.

Moth. Murther? I defie thee.

Cur. I pray God he may prove himself innocent.
Juft. Fie, fay not fo, you fhew yourself to be no good
Common-wealth's Man; for the more are hang'd, the
better 'tis for the Common-wealth.

Moth. By this Rule you were beft hang yourself.
Just. I forgive your honeft Mirth ever.

Enter Mark and Officers, with Mercury and Maria. Oh welcome, welcome, Mark, your Pen, Ink, and Paper, to take their Examinations.

Mer. Why do you pull me fo? I'll go alone.
Juft. Let them stand,

Let them ftand quietly, whilft they're examin'd.
Mar. What will you examine us of?

Juft. Of Antonio's Murther.

Mer. Why, he was my Friend.

Mar. He was my Husband.

Juft. The more fhame for you both; Mark, your Pen and Ink.

Moth. Pray God all be well, I never knew any of these Travellers come to good; I beseech you, Sir, be favourable to my Son.

Juft. Gentlewoman, hold you content, I would it were come to that.

Mer. For God's fake Mother,

Why kneel you unto fuch a Pig-brib'd Fellow?

He has furfeited of Geefe, and they have

Into a fit of Juftice, let him do

His worst.

Juft. Is your Paper ready?

Mark. I am ready, Sir.

put

him

Enter

Enter Antonio.

Just. Accufe them; Sir, I command you to lay down Accufations against these Persons, in behalf of the State, and first look upon the Parties to be accus'd, and deliver your Name.

Cur. My Name is Curio; my murthered Kinsman,
If he were living now, I should not know him,
It is fo long fince we faw one another.

Ant. My Coufin Curio?

Cur. But thus much, from the Mouths of his Servants and others, whofe Examinations I have in writing about me, I can accuse them of; this Mercury, the laft Night, but this laft, lay in Antonio's House, and in the Night he rofe, raising Antonio, where privately they were in talk an Hour, to what end I know not; but of likelyhood, finding Antonio's House not a fit Place to murther him in, he fuffer'd him to go to Bed again, but in the Morning early he train❜d him I think forth, after which time he never faw his home; his Cloaths were found near the Place where Mercury was, and the People at firft deny'd they saw him; but at last they made a frivolous Tale, that there he shifted him into a Footman's Habit; but in fhort, the next Hour this Woman went to Mercury and in her Coach they posted hither; true Accufations, I have no more, and I will make none.

Just. No more? we need no more: Sirrah, be drawing

Their Mittimus before we hear their Anfwer.

What fay you, Sir? are you guilty of this Murther?
Mer. No, Sir.

Juft. Whether you are or no, confefs, it will be the better for you.

Mer. If I were guilty, your Rhetorick could not fetch it forth; but though I am innocent, I confefs, that if I were a Stander-by, thefe Circumstances urg'd, which are true, would make me doubtless believe the accufed Parties to be guilty.

Juft. Write down, that he being a Stander-by, for fo

you