Act 4 — Scene VI.[1298]
Reading edition
Scene VI.[1298]
[Enter] Formal and Knowell.
Form. Was your man a soldier, sir? Know. Ay, a knave; I took him begging o’ the way, this morning, As I came over Moorfields. [Enter Brainworm, disguised as before.] O, here he is!—you’ve made fair speed, believe me, Where, i’ the name of sloth, could you be thus?5
Brai. Marry, peace be my comfort, where I thought I should have had little comfort of your worship’s service.
Know. How so? 9
Brai. O, sir, your coming to the city, your entertainment of me, and your sending me to watch——indeed all the circumstances either of your charge, or my employment, are as open to your son, as to yourself.
Know. How should that be, unless that villain, Brainworm,15 Have told him of the letter, and discovered All that I strictly charg’d him to conceal? ’Tis so. Brai. I am partly o’ the faith, ’tis so, indeed. Know. But, how should he know thee to be my man?20
Brai. Nay, sir, I cannot tell; unless it be by the black art. Is not your son a scholar, sir?
Know. Yes, but I hope his soul is not allied Unto such hellish practice: if it were, I had just cause to weep my part in him,25 And curse the time of his creation. But, where didst thou find them, Fitz-Sword?
Brai. You should rather ask where they found me, sir; for I’ll be sworn, I was going along in the street, thinking nothing, when, 30 of a sudden, a voice calls, “Mr. Knowell’s man!” another cries, “Soldier!” and thus half a dozen of ’em, till they had call’d me within a house, where I no sooner came, but they seem’d men, and out flew all their 35 rapiers at my bosom, with some three or four score oaths to accompany them; and all to tell me, I was but a dead man, if I did not confess where you were, and how I was employed, and about what; which when they could not get 40 out of me (as, I protest, they must ha’ dissected, and made an anatomy[1299] o’ me first, and so I told ’em), they lock’d me up into a room i’ the top of a high house, whence by great miracle (having a light heart) I slid down by a 45 bottom[1300] of packthread into the street, and so scapt. But, sir, thus much I can assure you, for I heard it while I was lockt up, there were a great many rich merchants and brave citizens’ wives with ’em at a feast; and your son, 50 master Edward, withdrew with one of ’em, and has ’pointed to meet her anon at one Cob’s house, a water-bearer that dwells by the Wall. Now, there your worship shall be sure to take him, for there he preys, and fail he will not. 56
Know. Nor will I fail to break his match, I doubt not. Go thou along with justice Clement’s man, And stay there for me. At one Cob’s house, say’st thou?59
Brai. Ay, sir, there you shall have him. [Exit Knowell.] Yes—invisible! Much wench, or much son! ’Slight, when he has staid there three or four hours, travailing with the expectation of wonders, and at length be deliver’d of air! O the sport that I should then 65 take to look on him, if I durst! But now, I mean to appear no more afore him in this shape: I have another trick to act yet. O that I were so happy as to light on a nupson[1301] now of this justice’s novice!—Sir, I make you stay somewhat long. 71
Form. Not a whit, sir. Pray you what do you mean, sir?
Bra. I was putting up some papers.
Form. You ha’ been lately in the wars, sir, it seems. 76
Brai. Marry have I, sir, to my loss, and expense of all, almost.
Form. Troth, sir, I would be glad to bestow a bottle of wine o’ you, if it please you to accept it—— 81
Brai. O, sir——
Form. But to hear the manner of your services, and your devices in the wars. They say they be very strange, and not like those 86 a man reads in the Roman histories, or sees at Mile-end.[1302]
Brai. No, I assure you, sir; why at any time when it please you, I shall be ready to discourse to you all I know; [Aside.]—and more too somewhat. 91
Form. No better time than now, sir; we’ll go to the Windmill; there we shall have a cup of neat grist,[1303] we call it. I pray you, sir, let me request you to the Windmill.
Brai. I’ll follow you, sir; [Aside.]—and make grist o’ you, if I have good luck. 95
[Exeunt.]95