SCENA III.
Enter Hubert, like a Huntsman.
Hub. Thus have I stoln away disguiz'd from Hemskirk
To try these people, for my heart yet tells me
Some of these Beggars, are the men I look for:
Appearing like my self, they have no reason
(Though my intent is fair, my main end honest)
But to avoid me narrowly, that face too,
That womans face, how near it is! O may it
But prove the same, and fortune how I'le bless thee!
Thus, sure they cannot know me, or suspect me,
If to my habit I but change my nature;
As I must do; this is the wood they live in,
A place fit for concealment: where, till fortune
Crown me with that I seek, I'le live amongst 'em. [Exit.
Enter Higgen, Prigg, Ferret, Ginks, and the rest of the Boors.
Hig. Come bring 'em out, for here we sit in justice:
Give to each one a cudgel, a good cudgel:
And now attend your sentence. That you are rogues,
And mischievous base rascalls, (there's the point now)
I take it, is confess'd.
Prig. Deny it if you dare knaves.
Boors. We are Rogues Sir.
Hig. To amplify the matter then, rogues as ye are, And lamb'd ye shall be e're we leave ye.
Boors. Yes Sir.
Hig. And to the open handling of our justice, Why did ye this upon the proper person Of our good Master? were you drunk when you did it?
Boors. Yes indeed were we.
Prig. You shall be beaten sober.
Hig. Was it for want you undertook it?
Boors. Yes Sir.
Hig. You shall be swing'd abundantly.
Prig. And yet for all that, You shall be poor rogues still.
Hig. Has not the Gentleman,
Pray mark this point Brother Prig, that noble Gentleman
Reliev'd ye often, found ye means to live by,
By imploying some at Sea, some here, some there;
According to your callings?
Boors. 'Tis most true Sir.
Hig. Is not the man, an honest man?
Boors. Yes truly.
Hig. A liberal Gentleman? and as ye are true rascals Tell me but this, have ye not been drunk, and often, At his charge?
Boors. Often, often.
Hig. There's the point then, They have cast themselves, Brother Prig.
Prig. A shrewd point, Brother.
Hig. Brother, proceed you now; the cause is open, I am some what weary.
Prig. Can you do these things? You most abhominable stinking Rascals, You turnip-eating Rogues.
Boors. We are truly sorry.
Prig. Knock at your hard hearts Rogues, and presently
Give us a sign you feel compunction,
Every man up with's cudgel, and on his neighbour
Bestow such alms, 'till we shall say sufficient,
For there your sentence lyes without partiality;
Either of head, or hide Rogues, without sparing,
Or we shall take the pains to beat you dead else:
You shall know your doom.
Hig. One, two, and three about it.
Prig. That fellow in the blue, has true Compunction, [Beat one another. He beats his fellows bravely, oh, well struck boyes.
Enter Gerrard.
Hig. Up with that blue breech, now playes he the Devil. So get ye home, drink small beer, and be honest; Call in the Gentleman.
Ger. Do, bring him presently, His cause I'le hear my self.
Enter Hemskirk.
Hig. Prig. With all due reverence, We do resign Sir.
Ger. Now huffing Sir, what's your name?
Hem. What's that to you Sir?
Ger. It shall be ere we part.
Hem. My name is Hemskirk, I follow the Earl, which you shall feel.
Ger. No threatning, For we shall cool you Sir; why did'st thou basely Attempt the murder of the Merchant Goswin?
Hem. What power hast thou to ask me?
Ger. I will know it, Or fley thee till thy pain discover it.
Hem. He did me wrong, base wrong.
Ger. That cannot save ye, Who sent ye hither? and what further villanies Have you in hand?
Hem. Why would'st thou know? what profit,
If I had any private way, could rise
Out of my knowledge, to do thee commodity?
Be sorry for what thou hast done, and make amends fool,
I'le talk no further to thee, nor these Rascals.
Ger. Tye him to that tree.
Hem. I have told you whom I follow.
Ger. The Devil you should do, by your villanies, Now he that has the best way, wring it from him.
Hig. I undertake it: turn him to the Sun boyes; Give me a fine sharp rush, will ye confess yet?
Hem. Ye have rob'd me already, now you'le murder me.
Hig. Murder your nose a little: does your head purge Sir? To it again, 'twill do ye good.
Hem. Oh, I cannot tell you any thing.
Ger. Proceed then.
Hig. There's maggots in your nose, I'le fetch 'em out Sir.
Hem. O my head breaks.
Hig. The best thing for the rheum Sir, That falls into your worships eyes.
Hem. Hold, hold.
Ger. Speak then.
Hem. I know not what.
Hig. It lyes in's brain yet, In lumps it lyes, I'le fetch it out the finest; What pretty faces the fool makes? heigh!
Hem. Hold,
Hold, and I'le tell ye all, look in my doublet;
And there within the lining in a paper,
You shall find all.
Ger. Go fetch that paper hither, And let him loose for this time.
Enter Hubert.
Hub. Good ev'n my honest friends.
Ger. Good ev'n good fellow.
Hub. May a poor huntsman, with a merry heart,
A voice shall make the forest ring about him,
Get leave to live amongst ye? true as steel, boyes?
That knows all chases, and can watch all hours,
And with my quarter staff, though the Devil bid stand,
Deal such an alms, shall make him roar again?
Prick ye the fearfull hare through cross waves, sheep-walks,
And force the crafty Reynard climb the quicksetts;
Rouse ye the lofty Stag, and with my bell-horn,
Ring him a knel, that all the woods shall mourn him,
'Till in his funeral tears, he fall before me?
The Polcat, Marterne, and the rich skin'd Lucerne
I know to chase, the Roe, the wind out-stripping
Isgrin himself, in all his bloody anger
I can beat from the bay, and the wild Sounder
Single, and with my arm'd staff, turn the Boar,
Spight of his foamy tushes, and thus strike him;
'Till he fall down my feast.
Ger. A goodly fellow.
Hub. What mak'st thee here, ha? [aside.
Ger. We accept thy fellowship.
Hub. Hemskirk, thou art not right I fear, I fear thee. [aside.
Enter Ferret, with a Letter.
Fer. Here is the paper: and as he said we found it.
Ger. Give me it, I shall make a shift yet, old as I am,
To find your knavery: you are sent here, Sirra,
To discover certain Gentlemen, a spy-knave,
And if ye find 'em, if not by perswasion
To bring 'em back, by poyson to despatch 'em.
Hub. By poyson, ha?
Ger. Here is another, Hubert; What is that Hubert Sir?
Hem. You may perceive there.
Ger. I may perceive a villany and a rank one, Was he joyn'd partner of thy knavery?
Hem. No.
He had an honest end, would I had had so,
Which makes him scape such cut-throats.
Ger. So it seems.
For here thou art commanded, when that Hubert
Has done his best and worthiest service, this way
To cut his throat, for here he's set down dangerous.
Hub. This is most impious.
Ger. I am glad we have found ye, Is not this true?
Hem. Yes; what are you the better?
Ger. You shall perceive Sir, ere you get your freedom: Take him aside, and friend, we take thee to us, Into our company, thou dar'st be true unto us?
Hig. I, and obedient too?
Hub. As you had bred me.
Ger. Then take our hand: thou art now a servant to us, Welcom him all.
Hig. Stand off, stand off: I'le do it,
We bid ye welcom three wayes; first for your person,
Which is a promising person, next for your quality,
Which is a decent, and a gentle quality,
Last for the frequent means you have to feed us,
You can steal 'tis to be presum'd.
Hub. Yes, venison, and if you want—
Hig. 'Tis well you understand right, And shall practise daily: you can drink too?
Hub. Soundly.
Hig. And ye dare know a woman from a weathercock?
Hub. If I handle her.
Ger. Now swear him.
Hig. I crown thy nab, with a gag of benbouse, And stall thee by the Salmon into the clows, To mand on the pad, and strike all the cheats; To Mill from the Ruffmans, commision and slates, Twang dell's, i' the stiromell, and let the Quire Cuffin: And Herman Beck strine, and trine to the Ruffin.
Ger. Now interpret this unto him.
Hig. I pour on thy pate a pot of good ale,
And by the Rogues [oth] a Rogue thee instal:
To beg on the way, to rob all thou meets;
To steal from the hedge, both the shirt and the sheets:
And lye with thy wench in the straw till she twang,
Let the Constable, Justice, and Devil go hang.
Hig. You are welcom Brother.
All. Welcom, welcom, welcom, but who shall have the keeping Of this fellow?
Hub. Sir, if you dare but trust me;
For if I have kept wild dogs and beasts for wonder,
And made 'em tame too: give into my custody
This roaring Rascal, I shall hamper him,
With all his knacks and knaveries, and I fear me
Discover yet a further villany in him;
O he smells ranck o'th' Rascal.
Ger. Take him to thee, But if he scape—
Hub. Let me be ev'n hang'd for him, Come Sir, I'le tye ye to my leash.
Hem. Away Rascal.
Hub. Be not so stubborn: I shall swindge ye soundly, And ye play tricks with me.
Ger. So, now come in, But ever have an eye Sir, to your Prisoner.
Hub. He must blind both mine eyes, if he get from me.
Ger. Go get some victuals, and some drink, some good drink; For this day we'll keep holy to good fortune, Come, and be frolick with us.
Hig. You are a stranger, Brother, I pray lead, You must, you must, Brother. [Exeunt.