GENTLEMAN.
You’re kindly welcome, sir.
PUT.
A simple salutation.
RAVEN.
Mass, it seems the Gentleman makes great account of him.
PYE. I have the thing here for you, sir. I beseech you conceal me, sir, I’m undone else,—I have the Mask here for you, sir, Look you, sir.—I beseech your worship first to pardon my rudeness, for my extremes makes me bolder than I would be. I am a poor Gentleman and a Scholar, and now most unfortunately fallen into the Fangs of unmerciful officers, arrested for debt, which tho small, I am not able to compass, by reason I’m destitute of lands, money, and friends; so that if I fall into the hungry swallow of the prison, I am like utterly to perish, and with fees and extortions be pincht clean to the bone. Now, if ever pity had interest in the blood of a Gentleman, I beseech you vouchsafe but to favour that means of my escape, which I have already thought upon.
GENTLEMAN.
Go forward.
PUT.
I warrant he likes it rarely.
PYE. In the plundge of my extremities, being giddy, and doubtful what to do, at least it was put into my labouring thoughts, to make happy use of this paper; and to blear their unlettered eyes, I told them there was a Device for a Mask drawn int’, and that (but for their interception,) I was going to a Gentleman to receive my reward for’t: they, greedy at this word, and hoping to make purchase of me, offered their attendance, to go along with me. My hap was to make bold with your door, Sir, which my thoughts showed me the most fairest and comfortablest entrance, and I hope I have happened right upon understanding and pity: may it please your good Worship, then, but to uphold my Device, which is to let one of your men put me out at back-door, and I shall be bound to your worship for ever.
GENTLEMAN.
By my troth, an excellent device.
PUT.
An excellent device, he says; he likes it wonderfully.
GENTLEMAN.
A my faith, I never heard a better.