Act 1 — Scene I.[2083]

Linc. My lord mayor, you have sundry times Feasted myself and many courtiers more; Seldom or never can we be so kind To make requital of your courtesy. But leaving this, I hear my cousin Lacy5 Is much affected to[2084] your daughter Rose. L. Mayor. True, my good lord, and she loves him so well That I mislike her boldness in the chase. Linc. Why, my lord mayor, think you it then a shame, To join a Lacy with an Oateley’s name?10 L. Mayor. Too mean is my poor girl for his high birth; Poor citizens must not with courtiers wed, Who will in silks and gay apparel spend More in one year than I am worth, by far: Therefore your honour need not doubt[2085] my girl.15 Linc. Take heed, my lord, advise you what you do! A verier unthrift lives not in the world, Than is my cousin; for I ’ll tell you what: ’T is now almost a year since he requested To travel countries for experience.20 I furnisht him with coin, bills of exchange, Letters of credit, men to wait on him, Solicited my friends in Italy Well to respect him. But, to see the end, Scant had he journey’d through half Germany, But all his coin was spent, his men cast off,26 His bills embezzl’d,[2086] and my jolly coz,[2087] Asham’d to show his bankrupt presence here, Became a shoemaker in Wittenberg, A goodly science for a gentleman30 Of such descent! Now judge the rest by this: Suppose your daughter have a thousand pound, He did consume me more in one half year: And make him heir to all the wealth you have One twelvemonth’s rioting will waste it all.35 Then seek, my lord, some honest citizen To wed your daughter to. L. Mayor. I thank your lordship. [Aside.] Well, fox, I understand your subtilty.— As for your nephew, let your lordship’s eye But watch his actions, and you need not fear, For I have seen my daughter far enough.41 And yet your cousin Rowland might do well, Now he hath learn’d an occupation: And yet I scorn to call him son-in-law. Linc. Ay, but I have a better trade for him. I thank his grace, he hath appointed him45 Chief colonel of all those companies Must’red in London and the shires about, To serve his highness in those wars of France. See where he comes!— Enter Lovell, Lacy, and Askew. Lovell, what news with you? Lovell. My Lord of Lincoln, ’tis his highness’ will,51 That presently[2088] your cousin ship for France With all his powers; he would not for a million, But they should land at Dieppe within four days. Linc. Go certify his grace, it shall be done. Exit Lovell. Now, cousin Lacy, in what forwardness56 Are all your companies? Lacy. All well prepar’d. The men of Hertfordshire lie at Mile-end, Suffolk and Essex train in Tothill-fields, The Londoners and those of Middlesex,60 All gallantly prepar’d in Finsbury, With frolic spirits long for their parting hour. L. Mayor. They have their imprest,[2089] coats, and furniture;[2090] And, if it please your cousin Lacy come To the Guildhall, he shall receive his pay;65 And twenty pounds besides my brethren Will freely give him, to approve our loves We bear unto my lord, your uncle here. Lacy. I thank your honour. Linc. Thanks, my good lord mayor.69 L. Mayor. At the Guildhall we will expect your coming. Exit. Linc. To approve your loves to me? No subtilty Nephew, that twenty pound he doth bestow For joy to rid you from his daughter Rose. But, cousins both, now here are none but friends, I would not have you cast an amorous eye75 Upon so mean a project as the love Of a gay, wanton, painted citizen. I know, this churl even in the height of scorn Doth hate the mixture of his blood with thine. I pray thee, do thou so! Remember, coz,80 What honourable fortunes wait on thee. Increase the king’s love, which so brightly shines, And gilds thy hopes. I have no heir but thee,— And yet not thee, if with a wayward spirit Thou start from the true bias[2091] of my love.85 Lacy. My lord, I will for honour, not desire Of land or livings, or to be your heir, So guide my actions in pursuit of France, As shall add glory to the Lacies’ name. Linc. Coz, for those words here ’s thirty Portuguese,[2092]90 And, nephew Askew, there ’s a few for you. Fair Honour, in her loftiest eminence, Stays in France for you, till you fetch her thence. Then, nephews, clap swift wings on your designs.94 Begone, begone, make haste to the Guildhall; There presently I ’ll meet you. Do not stay: Where honour [beckons][2093] shame attends delay. Exit. Askew. How gladly would your uncle have you gone! Lacy. True, coz, but I ’ll o’erreach his policies. I have some serious business for three days,100 Which nothing but my presence can dispatch. You, therefore, cousin, with the companies, Shall haste to Dover; there I ’ll meet with you: Or, if I stay past my prefixed time,104 Away for France; we ’ll meet in Normandy. The twenty pounds my lord mayor gives to me You shall receive, and these ten Portuguese, Part of mine uncle’s thirty. Gentle coz, Have care to our great charge; I know, your wisdom Hath tried itself in higher consequence.110 Askew. Coz, all myself am yours: yet have this care, To lodge in London with all secrecy; Our uncle Lincoln hath, besides his own, Many a jealous eye, that in your face Stares only to watch means for your disgrace. Lacy. Stay, cousin, who be these?116

Lacy. Truly, my friends it lies not in my power: The Londoners are press’d,[2100] paid, and set forth By the lord mayor; I cannot change a man.

Askew. I am glad, good Master Eyre, it is my hap To meet so resolute a soldier. Trust me, for your report and love to him, 195 A common slight regard shall not respect him.

Lacy. Give me thine hand; Thou shalt not want, as I am a gentleman. Woman, be patient; God, no doubt, will send Thy husband safe again; but he must go, 200 His country’s quarrel says it shall be so.

Dodger. My lord, your uncle on the Tower-hill Stays with the lord-mayor and the aldermen, And doth request you, with all speed you may, To hasten thither. Askew. Cousin, let ’s go. Lacy. Dodger, run you before, tell them we come,— 210 This Dodger is mine uncle’s parasite. Exit Dodger. The arrant’st varlet that e’er breath’d on earth; He sets more discord in a noble house By one day’s broaching of his pickthank tales,[2106] Than can be salv’d[2107] again in twenty years, 215 And he, I fear, shall go with us to France, To pry into our actions. Askew. Therefore, coz, It shall behove you to be circumspect. Lacy. Fear not, good cousin.—Ralph, hie to your colours. [Exit Lacy and Askew.] Ralph. I must, because there’s no remedy; But, gentle master and my loving dame, 221 As you have always been a friend to me, So in mine absence think upon my wife. Jane. Alas, my Ralph. Marg. She cannot speak for weeping. 224

Jane. Ay, ay, you bid him go; what shall I do When he is gone?

Ralph. I thank you, master, and I thank you all. Now, gentle wife, my loving lovely Jane, Rich men, at parting, give their wives rich gifts, 255 Jewels and rings, to grace their lily hands. Thou know’st our trade makes rings for women’s heels; Here take this pair of shoes, cut out by Hodge, Stitch’d by my fellow Firk, seam’d by myself, Made up and pink’d[2112] with letters for thy name. 260 Wear them, my dear Jane, for thy husband’s sake, And every morning when thou pull’st them on, Remember me, and pray for my return. Make much of them; for I have made them so That I can know them from a thousand mo. 265