(SCENE 3.)

Enter Sir Richard, opening a Letter; a Footman waiting.

Ri. From thy Master? his name?

Foo. Sir Walter Littleland.

Ri. I doe not know him.

Foo. His name is well knowne in Lincolnsheire neere the fenns: there were his family antient gentlemen before the Conquest; some say ever since the flood.

Ri. Littleland!

Foo. But he has now more land then three of the best in the shire, thanke the Duchmen that have drunk up all the water.

Ri. They water drinkers?

Foo. Why not, as well as eate dry land? they are lin'd with butter, Sir, and feare no Dropsie.

Sir Richard reades.

She has been absent theis two yeares; the occasion, her dislike and disaffection to a gentleman whome I confesse I did too seveerely urge her to marry. If she have liv'd with you, as my late intelligence hath enformed me, in the nature of a servant, which is beneath my wishes and her condition, I hope upon this knowledge you will with consideration of her quality (she being the onely Child and heire to my fortune) use her like a gentlewoman. And though my yeares have made me unfitt for travell, I do intend, upon returne of your Letters, personally to give you thankes for your respects to my Daughter, whome I shall receave as new blessing from you, and be happie upon any turne presented to expresse my selfe for your favours, your true friend and servant W. Littleland.

My maide Dorothy a Knights Daughter and heire! Doe you know your yong Mistresse.

Foo. I shall be happie to see her and present her with a Letter & some token from her Ladie Mother.

Ri. I pray trust me to deliver it.

Foo. With all my hart, Sir, you may comand.

[Enter Thomas.

Ri. Thomas, pray entertaine this footman in the butterie; let him drinke and refresh himselfe, and set the cold chine of Beefe before him: he has ranne hard.

Tho. That will stay his stomach, indeed, but Claret is your only binder.

Foo. Sack, while you live, after a heat, Sir.

Tho. Please you, my friend, ile shew you the way to be drunke.

[Exit. [Tho. with footman.

Ri. To my loving Daughter. May not this be a trick? By your favour, Madam. [He opens the Letter.

Enter Underwit.

Captaine, gather you the sence of that Letter while I peruse this. You know Mistress Dorothy.

Un. I have had a great desire to know her, I confess, but she is still like the bottome of the map, terra incognita. I have been a long tyme hovering about the Magellan streights, but have made no new discoveries.

Ri. Ha! this is not counterfeit, I dare trust my owne Judgment; tis a very rich one. I am confirmed, and will scale them up agen. My Ladies woman Sir Walter Littlelands Daughter and heire! What think you now of Mistris Dorothy?

Un. A great deale better than I did; and yet I have lov'd her this halfe yeare in a kind of way. O' my conscience why may not I marry her?

Ri. This Jewell was sent by her mother to her.

Un. Deere Uncle conseale till I have talk'd with her. Oh for some witchcraft to make all sure.

Ri. I like this well; shees here.

Enter Dorothy.

Un. I vow, Mistris Dorothy, if I were immodest twas the meere impudence of my sack and not my owne disposition; but if you please to accept my love now, by the way of Marriage, I will make you satisfaction like a gentleman in the point of honour.

Do. Your birth and estate is to high and unequall for me, sir.

Un. What care I for a portion or a face! She that has good eyes has good——Give me vertue.

Do. You are pleas'd to make your mirth of me.

Un. By this Rubie, nay you shall weare it in the broad eye of the world, dost thinke I am in Jeast.

Do. Sir Richard—

Un. And were he ten Sir Richards, I am out of my wardship.

Do.—How he flutters in the lime bush! it takes rarely.

Un. What a necessary thing now were a household Chaplaine.

[Ext. [Dorothy & Underwit.

Ri. So, so, the wench inclines. I will hasten my journey that I may appear with more excuse when they are married in my absence.

Enter Captaine and Engine.

Cap. Sir, I heare you are for London presentlie; It will concerne you take this gentleman Along w'ee to bee cur'd.

Ri. Mr. Engine sick!

Cap. Oh, sir, Dangerously; he has purg'd his stomack, but the ill spiritts Are flowne into his head and spoild his eares. He was ever troubled with Devices in his head; I stronglie feare he must have his scull open'd, His brains are very foule within. I know And can direct you to an excle'nt Surgeon.

En. I cannot heare you, Captaine—

Cap. One that has a rare dexteritie at lanceing Or opening of a stomack that has crudities; So neat at separation of a limbe And quartering of treason.

Ri. You meane the hangman?

Cap. He has practised late to mend his hand, and now With the very wind and flourish of his instrument He will strike flatt a projector at twelve score.

Ri. Does he not heare you?

Cap. He has lost that sence he saies, unless he counterfeits; It wilbe your securitie to see him Safe in the Surgeons hands. [they whisper.

En.—Into what misery have my Projects flung me! They shanot know I understand 'em. That I were quitt with loss of both my eares, although I cut my haire like a Lay Elder, too, To shew the naked conyholes! I doe thinke What cursed Balletts will be made upon me And sung to divilish tunes at faire and Marketts To call in cutpurses. In a puppet play, Were but my storie written by some scholler, Twould put downe hocas pocas and the tumblers And draw more audience than the Motion Of Ninivie[275] or the dainty docile horse[276] That snorts at Spaine by an instinct of Nature.

Cap. Ile leave him to you and seeke out Captaine Underwit. [Exit.

Ri. Come, Master Engine, weele to horse imediately.

[Exeunt.