DILIGENCE. Step aside, till my lords be gone; I'll do for you what I can. [Slip aside.
POMP. What's here, my boy, what's here? Pleasure, this suit is, sure, to you; for it's mad stuff, and I know not what it means.
PLEASURE. Neither do I. Sirrah, your writing is so intricate, that you must speak your mind; otherwise we shall not know your meaning.
POLICY.
You sue for three things here, and what be they? tell them.
SIMPLICITY. Cannot you three tell, and the suit to you three? I am glad a simple fellow yet can go beyond you three great Lords of London. Why, my suit, look ye, is such a suit, as you are bound in honour to hear, for it is for the puppet-like[281] wealth. I would have no new orders nor new sciences set up in the city, whereof I am a poor freeman, and please ye, as ye may read in my bill there—Simplicity freeman. But, my lords, I would have three old trades, which are not for the commonwealth, put down.
PLEASURE.
And after all this circumstance, sir, what be they?
SIMPLICITY. They be not three what-lack-ye's, as what do ye lack? fine lockram,[282] fine canvas, or fine Holland cloth, or what lack ye? fine ballads, fine sonnets, or what lack ye? a purse, or a glass, or a pair of fine knives? but they be three have-ye-any's, which methinks are neither sciences nor occupations; and if they be trades, they are very malapert trades—and more than reason.
POLICY.
As how, sir? name them.
SIMPLICITY. Will you banish them as readily as I can name them? The first is, have ye any old iron, old mail, or old harness?
POMP.
And what fault find ye with this?