To. How! 220
Co. And this, Francis Quicksilver.
To. Is’t possible? I thought your worship had been gone for Virginia, sir; you are welcome home, sir. Your worship has made a quick return, it seems, and no doubt a good voyage. Nay, pray you be covered, sir. How did your biscuit hold out, sir? Methought I had seen this gentleman afore—good Master Quicksilver! How a degree to the southward has changed you!
Go. Do you know ’hem, father? Forbear your offers a little, you shall be heard anon. 230
To. Yes, Master Deputy; I had a small venture with them in the voyage—a thing called a son-in-law, or so. Officers, you may let ’hem stand alone, they will not run away; I’ll give my word for them. A couple of very honest gentlemen. One of ’hem was my prentice, Master Quicksilver here; and when he had two year to serve, kept his whore and his hunting nag, would play his hundred pound at gresco,[95] or primero, as familiarly (and all o’ my purse) as any bright piece of crimson on ’hem all; had his changeable trunks of apparel standing at livery with his mare, his chest of perfumed linen, and his bathing-tubs, which when I told him of, why he!—he
was a gentleman, and I a poor Cheapside groom. The remedy was, we must part. Since when, he hath had the gift of gathering up some small parcels of mine, to[96] the value of five hundred pound, dispersed among my customers, to furnish this his Virginia venture; wherein this knight was the chief, Sir Flash—one that married a daughter of mine, ladyfied her, turned two thousand pounds’ worth of good land of hers into cash within the first week, bought her a new gown and a coach; sent her to seek her fortune by land, whilst himself prepared for his fortune by sea; took in fresh flesh at Billingsgate, for his own diet, to serve him the whole voyage—the wife of a certain usurer called Security, who hath been the broker for ’hem in all this business. Please, Master Deputy, work upon that now. 257
Go. If my worshipful father have ended——
To. I have, it shall please Master Deputy.
Go. Well then, under correction——
To. Now, son, come over ’hem with some fine gird, as thus, “Knight, you shall be encountered,” that is, had to the Counter; or, “Quicksilver, I will put you into a crucible,” or so.