Silk. It is a terrible Action; more indeed,

Then many a man is worth. And is call'd Fright-Baile.
Iro. Faith I will baile him, at mine owne apperill.
Varlet, be gone: Ile once ha' the reputation,

To be fecurity for fuch a fumme.

Beare up Sir Moath. Rut. He is not worth the Buckles
About his Belt, and yet this Ironfide clashes :

50

Int. Peace, .left he heare you Doctor: wee'll make 55
use of him.

What doth your brother Compa//e, Captaine Ironside,
Demand of us, by way of challenge, thus ?

Iro. Your Neices portion; in the right of his wife.
Int. I have affur'd one portion, to one Neice,
And have no more t' account for, that I know of:
What I may doe in charity, if my sister,

Will bid an Offring for her maid, and him,

As a Benevolence to 'hem, after Supper,

Ile spit into the Bason, and intreat

60

My friends to doe the like. Com. Spit out thy gall, 65
And heart, thou Viper: I will now no mercy,

No pitty of thee, thy false Neice, and Needle;

Bring forth your Child, or I appeale you of murder,

You, and this Goffip here, and Mother Chaire.

Cha. The Gentleman's falne mad! Ple. No, Mrs. 70

Midwife.

I saw the Child, and you did give it me,

And put it i' my armes, by this ill token,

You wishi'd me such another; and it cry'd.

Pra. The Law is plaine; if it were heard to cry, And you produce it not, hee may indict

All that conceale't, of Felony, and Murder.

Com
And I will take the boldneffe, Sir, to doe it:
Beginning with Sir Moath here, and his Doctor.

67 Enter Pleasance. G

Pleafance steps out.

75

80

Silk. Good faith this fame is like to turne a busines.
Pal. And a fhrewd bufines, marry: they all start at't.
Com. I ha' the right thred now, and I will keepe it.
You good'y Keepe, confesse the truth to my Lady,
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.
Pol. I fcorne to be prevented of my glories.
85 I plotted the deceit, and I will owne it.

Love to my Child, and lucre of the portion
Provok'd me; wherein though th' event hath fail'd
In part, I will make use of the best side.
This is my Daughter, and he hath had a Child
90 This day, (unto her shame, I now professe it.)
By this meere false-stick Squire Needle, but

Since this wife Knight, hath thought it good to change,
The foolish Father of it, by assuring

Her to his deare friend, Mr. Bias; and him

95 Againe to her, by clapping of him on

With his free promise of ten thousand pound,
Afore so many witnesses. Silk. Whereof I
Am one.

Pal. And I another. Pol. I fhould be
unnarurall

To my owne flesh, and blood, would I not thanke him. 100 I thanke you Sir: and I have reason for it.

For here your true Neice stands, fine Mrs. Compalle. (Ile tell you truth, you have deserv'd it from me.)

To whom you are by bond engag'd to pay,
The fixteene thousand pound, which is her portion,
105 Due to her husband, on her marriage-day.

I speake the truth, and nothing but the truth.
Iro. You'll pay it now, Sir Moath, with interest ?
You fee the truth breaks out on every fide of you.
Int. Into what nets of cous'nage am I caft

89 Daughter, [Points to Placentia.] G natural 1692, f

98 unnarurall] un

On ev'ry fide? each thred is growne a noose :
A very mesh I have run my selfe into

A double breake, of paying twice the money.

Bia. You fhall be releas'd, of paying me a penny, With these conditions. Pol. Will you leave her then? Bia. Yes, and the fumme, twice told, ere take 15 a wife,

To pick out Mounfier Needles basting threds.

Com. Gollip you are paid: though he be a fit nature, Worthy to have a Whore justly put on him ;

He is not bad enough to take your Daughter,
On such a cheat. Will you yet pay the portion?
Int. What will you 'bate? Com. No penny the
Law gives.

Int. Yes, Bias's money. Com. What? your friend in Court?

I will not rob you of him, nor the purchase,
Nor your deare Doctor here, stand altogether.
Birds of a nature all, and of a feather.

Lad. Well, wee are all now reconcil'd to truth.

There rests yet a Gratuitie from me,

To be conferr'd upon this Gentleman;

120

125

Who (as my Nephew Compalle fayes) was cause,
First of th' offence, but since of all th' amends,

The Quarrell caus'd th' affright; that fright brought on The travell, which made peace; the peace drew on

This new discovery, which endeth all

In reconcilement. Com. When the portion

Is tender'd, and receiv'd.

As good at first as laft.

130

Int. Well, you must have it, 135 'Tis well faid brother.

And I, if this good Captaine will accept me,
Give him my selfe, endow him with my estate,

110 noose] noofe Y. 1640. noose W, f 1692, f.

136 last. [Lad.]

And make him Lord of me, and all my fortunes: 140 He that hath fav'd my houre, though by chance, Ile really study his, and how to thanke him.

145

Iro. And I imbrace you, Lady, and your goodnesse, And vow to quit all thought of warre hereafter; Save what is fought under your colours, Madam.

Pal. More worke then for the Parfon; I shall cap The Load/tone with an Ironfide, I fee,

Iro. And take in these, the forlorne Couple, with us, Needle, and's Thred, whofe portion I will thinke on; As being a bufines, waiting on my bounty:

150 Thus I doe take poffeffion of you, Madam, My true Magnetick Miftris, and my Lady.

THE END.

140 houre,] Honour 1716, f

151 [Exeunt. G

CHORUS

Changed into an Epilogve:

To the KING.

Well, Gentlemen, I now must under seale,

And th' Authors charge, waive you, and make
my' appeale.

To the Jupremeft power, my Lord, the King;
Who best can judge of what wee humbly bring.
Hee knowes our weakne[[e, and the Poets faults;
Where he doth stand upright, goe firme, or halts ;
And hee will doome him. To which voice he stands,
And prefers that, 'fore all the Peoples hands.

H