two dull suitors to the lady Widow and Mistress Pleasant.
Crop, the Brownist, a scrivener. Lady Wild, a rich (and somewhat youthful) widow. Mistress Pleasant, a handsome young gentlewoman, of a good fortune. Mistress Secret, her (indifferent honest) woman. Lady Loveall, an old stallion-hunting widow. Faithful, her (errant honest) woman. Mistress Wanton, the Captain's livery punk, married to the Parson by confederacy.
Bawds, Servants, Drawers, Fiddlers.
THE PARSON'S WEDDING.[193]
ACT I., SCENE 1.
Enter the Captain in choler, and Wanton.
Capt. No more; I'll sooner be reconciled to want or sickness than that rascal: a thing that my charity made sociable; one that when I smiled would fawn upon me, and wag his stern, like starved dogs; so nasty, the company cried foh! upon him, he stunk so of poverty, ale, and bawdry. So poor and despicable, when I relieved him, he could not avow his calling for want of a cassock, but stood at corners of streets and whispered gentlemen in the ear as they passed, and so delivered his wants like a message; which being done, the rogue vanished, and would dive at Westminster like a dabchick, and rise again at Temple-gate. The ingenuity of the rascal, his wit being snuffed by want, burnt clear then, and furnished him with a bawdy jest or two, to take the company; but now the rogue shall find he has lost a patron.