This is a veat is once done, and no

more.

Clench. And then 'tis done vor ever, as they say.

Med. Right! vor a man has his hour, and a dog his day.

Turfe. True, neighbour Medlay, you are still In-and-in.

Med. I would be, master constable, if che could win.

Pan. I zay, John Clay keep still on his old gate:

Wedding and hanging both go at a rate. Turfe. Well said, To-Pan; you have still the hap to hit

The nail o' the head at a close. I think there never

Marriage was managed with a more avisement,

Than was this marriage, though I say it that should not ;

Especially 'gain mine own flesh and blood, My wedded wife. Indeed my wife would

ha' had

Scri. And he will know't and shew't too by his place

Of being high constable, if nowhere else.

All the horn-beasts are grazing in this close

Should not have pulled me hence, till this ash-plant

spurred.

Hilts. Well overtaken, gentlemen! I

pray you

Which is the queen's high constable among you?

Pup. The tallest man; who should be else, do you think?

Hilts. It is no matter what I think, young clown;

Your answer savours of the cart.

Pup. How! cart

And clown! do you know whose team you speak to?

Hilts. No, nor I care not. Whose jade may you be?

Pup. Jade! cart! and clown! O for a lash of whipcord,

Three knotted cord!

Hilts. Do you mutter! sir, snorle1 this way,

That I may hear, and answer what you say,

With my school-dagger 'bout your costard, sir.

Look to't, young growse: I'll lay it on, and sure;

Take't off who wull. [Draws his sword. Clench. Nay, 'pray you, gentlemanHilts. Go to, I will not bate him an ace on't.

What rowly-powly, maple face! all fellows!

Pup. Do you hear, friend? I would wish you, vor your good,

Tie up your brended bitch there, your dun, rusty,

Pannier-hilt poniard; and not vex the youth

With shewing the teeth of it. We now are going

To church in way of matrimony, some on

Broombeard.

Med. But, zur,

You must obey the queen's high officers.
Hilts. Why must I, goodman Must?
Med. You must, and you wull.
Turfe. Gentleman, I am here for fault,
high constable-

Hilts. Are you zo! what then?
Turfe. I pray you, sir, put up
Your weapons; do, at my request for
him,

On my authority, he shall lie by the heels, Verbatim continente, an I live.

Dame T. Out on him for a knave, what a dead fright

He has put me into! come, Awdrey, do not shake.

Awd. But is not Puppy hurt, nor the t'other man?

Clay. No bun; but had not I cried murder, I wuss

Pup. Sweet goodman Clench, I pray you revise my master,

I may not zit in the stocks till the wedding be past,

Dame, Mistress Awdrey: I shall break the bride-cake else.

Clench. Zomething must be to save au thority, Puppy.

Dame T. Husband

the rough bark of the maple. It may be so: though I suspect that it rather refers to colour, and means tanned or sunburnt. In some passages which I have noted it appears to be synonymous with broad-face: for this I cannot account; unless it refers to the mazer or broad dish of our forefathers, which was usually formed of this wood.

GG

450

Clench. And gossip→→→→→ Awd. Father

Turfe. Treat me not,

It is in vain. If he lie not by the heels, I'll lie there for 'un; I will teach the hind

man.

Hilts. But as survere as he is, let me, sir, tell him,

He shall not lay his man by the heels for this.

This was my quarrel; and by his office' leave,

If it carry 'un for this, it shall carry double; Vor he shall carry me too.

Turfe. Breath of man!

He is my chattel, mine own hired goods:
An if you do abet 'un in this matter,
I'll clap you both by the heels, ankle to
ankle.

Hilts. You'll clap a dog of wax as soon,
old Blurt.1

Come, spare not me, sir, I am no man's wife;

I care not I, sir, not three skips of a louse

Hilts. Nor I neither, i' faith.- [Aside. It skills? not much; my captain and my self

Having occasion to come riding by here This morning, at the corner of St. John's wood,

Some mile [west] o' this town, were set

upon

By a sort of country-fellows, that not only Beat us, but robbed us most sufficiently, And bound us to our behaviour hand and foot:

And so they left us. Now, don constable, I am to charge you in her majesty's name, As you will answer it at your apperil,3 That forthwith you raise hue and cry in the hundred,

For all such persons as you can despect, By the length and breadth of your office: for I tell you,

The loss is of some value; therefore look to't.

Turfe. As fortune mend me now, or any office

Of a thousand pound, if I know what to

Dame T. Faith, man

Turfe. Odds precious, woman, hold your tongue,

And mind your pigs on the spit at home; you must

Have [an] oar in everything.-Pray you, sir, what kind

of fellows were they?

Hilts. Thieves-kind, I have told you.
Turfe. I mean, what kind of men?
Hilts. Men of our make.

Turfe. Nay, but with patience, sir. We
that are officers

Must 'quire the special marks, and all the

tokens

Of the despected parties; or perhaps else Be ne'er the near of our purpose in 'prehending them.

Can you tell what parrel any of them wore? Hilts. Troth, no; there were so many o' 'em all like

So one another: now I remember me, There was one busy fellow was their leader,

A blunt squat swad, but lower than yourself;

He had on a leather doublet with long points,

And a pair of pinned-up breeches, like pudding-bags;

With yellow stockings, and his hat turned up

With a silver clasp on his leer side.

Dame T. By these

If ever I -alas, I would I were out Of my life; so I would I were, and in again

Pup. Nay, Mistress Awdrey will say nay to that;

No, in-and-out: an you were out of your life

How should she do for a husband? who should fall

Aboard of her then ?-Ball? he's a puppy! No, Hannibal has no breeding! well, I say little;

But hitherto all goes well, pray it prove no better. [Aside.

Awd. Come, father; I would we were married! I am a-cold.

Hilts. Well, master constable, this your fine groom here,

Bridegroom, or what groom else soe'er he be,

I charge him with the felony; and charge

Clay. Father, will you believe me? Would I might never stir in my new shoes, If ever I would do so voul a fact.

Turfe. Well, neighbours, I do charge you to assist me

With 'un to Paddington.

man, so!

Be he a true

The better for 'un. I will do mine office, An he were my own begotten a thousand times.

Dame T. Why, do you hear, man? husband, Master Turfe? What shall my daughter do? Puppy, stay here.

[Exeunt all but Awdrey and Puppy. Awd. Mother, I'll go with you and with my father.

Pup. Nay, stay, sweet Mistress Awdrey: here are none

But one friend, as they zay, desires to speak

A word or two, cold with you: how do you veel

Yourself this frosty morning?

Awd. What have you

To do to ask, I pray you? I am a-cold. Pup. It seems you are hot, good Mistress Awdrey.

Awd. You lie; I am as cold as ice is, feel else.

Pup. Nay, you have cooled my courage; am past it,

I ha' done feeling with you.

Awd. Done with me!

I do defy you, so I do, to say
You ha' done with me: you are a sawcy
Puppy.'

Pup. O you mistake! I meant not as

you mean.

1 Awdrey's indignation arises from the equivo

what right