Enter Freeman, Jerry Blackacre, three Bailiffs, a Constable, and his Assistants with the two Knights of the Post.
What, shall I never read my things undisturbed again?
Jer. O la! my mother bound hand and foot, and gaping as if she rose before her time to-day!
Free. What means this, Oldfox? But I'll release you from him; you shall be no man's prisoner but mine. Bailiffs, execute your writ. [Unties her.
Old. Nay, then, I'll be gone, for fear of being bail, and paying her debts without being her husband. [Exit.
1st Bail. We arrest you in the king's name, at the suit of Mr. Freeman, guardian to Jeremiah Blackacre, esquire, in an action of ten thousand pounds.
Wid. How, how, in a choke-bail action! What, and the pen and-ink gentlemen taken too!—Have you confessed, you rogues?
1st Knight. We needed not to confess; for the bailiffs have dogged us hither to the very door, and overheard all that you and we said.
Wid. Undone, undone then! no man was ever too hard for me till now. O Jerry, child, wilt thou vex again the womb that bore thee?
Jer. Ay, for bearing me before wedlock, as you say. But I'll teach you call a Blackacre bastard, though you were never so much my mother.