A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 56

SIMPLICITY.

Marry, there was never a scutcheon, but there was two trees rampant, And then over them lay a sour tree pa.s.sant, With a man like you in a green field pendant, Having a hempen halter about his neck, with a knot under the left ear, because you are a younger brother.

Then, sir, there stands on each side, holding up the cres', A worthy ostler's hand in a dish of grease.

Besides all this, on the helmet stands the hangman's hand, Ready to turn the ladder, whereon your picture did stand: Then under the helmet hung cables I like chains, and for what they are I cannot devise, Except it be to make you hang fast, that the crows might pick out your eyes.

FRAUD.

What a swad is this? I had been better to have sent him to the back-door, To have gotten some alms amongst the rest of the poor. [_Aside_.

Thou prat'st thou canst not tell what, or else art not well in thy wit: I am sure my arms are not blas'd so far abroad as yet.

SIMPLICITY.

O yes, sir, your arms were known a great while ago, For your elder brother Deceit did give those arms too.

Marry, the difference is all, which is the knot under the left ear.

The painter says, when he is hung, you may put out the knot without fear.

I am sure they were arms, for there was written in Roman letters round about the hempen collar: Given by the worthy valiant captain, Master Fraud, the ostler.

Now, G.o.d be wi' ye, sir; I'll get me even close to the back-door.

Farewell, Tom Beggar and Wily Will; I'll beg with you no more.

[_Exit_.

TOM.

O farewell, Simplicity: we are very loth to lose thy company.

FRAUD.

Now he is gone, give ear to me. You seem to be sound men in every joint and limb, And can ye live in this sort to go up and down the country a-begging?

O base minds! I trow I had rather hack it out by the highway-side, Than such misery and penury still to abide.

Sirs, if you will be rul'd by me, and do what I shall say, I'll bring ye where we shall have a notable fine prey.

It is so, sirs, that a merchant, one Mercatore, is coming from Turkey, And it is my lady's pleasure that he robbed should be: She hath sworn that we shall be all sharers alike, And upon that willed me some such companions as you be to seek.

TOM.

O worthy Captain Fraud, you have won my n.o.ble heart: You shall see how manfully I can play my part.

And here's Wily Will, as good a fellow as your heart can wish, To go a-fishing with a crank through a window, or to set limetwigs to catch a pan, pot or dish.

WILL.

He says true; for I tell you, I am one that will not give back Not for a double shot out of a black Jack.

O sir, you bring us a-bed, when ye talk of this gear.

Come, shall we go, worthy Captain? I long, till we be there.

FRAUD.

Ay, let us about it, to provide our weapons ready, And when the time serves, I myself will conduct ye.

TOM.

O, valiantly spoken! Come, Wily Will, two pots of ale we'll bestow On our captain courageously for a parting blow.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter the Judge of Turkey with_ GERONTUS _and_ MERCATORE.

[JUDGE.]

Sir Gerontus, because you are the plaintiff, you first your mind shall say.

Declare the cause you did arrest this merchant yesterday.

GERONTUS.

Then, learned judge, attend. This Mercatore, whom you see in place, Did borrow two thousand ducats of me but for a five weeks' s.p.a.ce: Then, sir, before the day came, by his flattery he obtained one thousand more, And promis'd me at two[221] months' end I should receive my store: But before the time expired, he was closely fled away, So that I never heard of him at least this two years' day, Till at the last I met with him, and my money did demand, Who sware to me at five days' end he would pay me out of hand.

The five days came, and three days more, then one day he requested: I, perceiving that he flouted me, have got him thus arrested.

And now he comes in Turkish weeds to defeat me of my money, But, I trow, he will not forsake his faith: I deem he hath more honesty.

JUDGE.

Sir Gerontus, you know, if any man forsake his faith, king, country, and become a Mahomet, All debts are paid: 'tis the law of our realm, and you may not gainsay it.

GERONTUS.

Most true, reverend judge, we may not; nor I will not against our laws grudge.

JUDGE.

Signor Mercatore, is this true that Gerontus doth tell?

MERCATORE.

My lord judge, de matter and de circ.u.mstance be true, me know well; But me will be a Turk, and for dat cause me came here.

JUDGE.

Then, it is but folly to make many words.--Signor Mercatore, draw near: Lay your hand upon this book, and say after me.

MERCATORE.

With a good will, my lord judge; me be all ready.

GERONTUS.

Not for any devotion, but for Lucre's sake of my money.

JUDGE. [MERCATORE _repeating after him_.]

Say: I, Mercatore, do utterly renounce before all the world my duty to my Prince, my honour to my parents, and my good-will to my country.-- Furthermore, I protest and swear to be true to this country during life, and thereupon I forsake my Christian faith----

GERONTUS.

Stay there, most puissant judge.--Signor Mercatore, consider what you do: Pay me the princ.i.p.al; as for the interest, I forgive it you.

And yet the interest is allowed amongst you Christians, as well as in Turkey: Therefore, respect your faith, and do not seek[222] to deceive me.

MERCATORE.

No point da interest, no point da princ.i.p.al.[223]

GERONTUS.

Then pay me the one half, if you will not pay me all.

MERCATORE.

No point da half, no point denier: me will be a Turk, I say.

Me be weary of my Christ's religion, and for dat me come away.

GERONTUS.

Well, seeing it is so, I would be loth to hear the people say, it was 'long of me Thou forsakest thy faith: wherefore I forgive thee frank and free; Protesting before the judge and all the world never to demand penny nor halfpenny.

MERCATORE.

O sir Gerontus, me take a your proffer, and tank you most heartily.