ACT II. SCENE I.
Enter Philomel, Court-wit, Swayn-wit, Cit-wit.
Phi.HEre in this gallery Gentlemen you may at your
Untill my Lady comes, walk or ſit.
(pleaſure,
Cou.Or lie down if you pleaſe.
O 4Ph.
The Court Begger.
Ph.If you ſo, wrong not my Ladies Couch with your
Spurres I pray: take heed you leave not a Rowell there.
Sw.If one ſhould, your Lady has no Lord to call her
honour to queſtion, whoſe Knight-hood it belong’d
Phil.You have a good countrey wit ſir.
Sw.My name is
Swayne-wit; and for all you twit me
with the Countrey, I am a Gentleman tho’.
Ph.I honour you the more ſir, for I am a Countrey
Sw.Thou art a baggage, and a bold one, I am deceiv’d
I would be further acquainted with you tho’.
(Kiſſe long.
Have you done now? You will have time enough for
Further and better acquaintance.
Thou art a Jackanapes of the baſeſt tricks that ever I ſaw,
for a halfe-penny. Shee’s your choyce, is ſhee? Could
not you let be tho’? I ha’ bin acquainted with thee but
two dayes, and forgi’ me for ſwearing, I ha’ found thee
beating ripe a ſkore o’ times at leaſt. Take heede I be-
gin not now, and handſell your Ladies houſe, that is ſo
much talkt on, and your Gentlewomans preſence here
with a fiſt about your eares.
Cou.Not for a thouſand pound.
Sw.That’s a great deale of money. I could find i’my
Cou.Slife we are all undone then.
Sw.He ſets my teeth on edge to looke upon him:
He lookes ſo like a wilding crab, good neither for drink
Ph.Why would you preſſe him then?
Sw.Thou haſt a verjuice wit.
Ph.For my poore ſake forbeare ſir.
Sw.Let him ſtand further then, and looke o’toe
[O4v]Cit.
The Court Begger.
Cit.Well, ſir, this is no cauſe nor place to fight in,
Ph.Nothing, you heare he whiſtles tother way.
Sw.Tother way, what backwards?
Ph.What new gueſt ha’ you brought here Mr.
Court-
wit for my Lady to laugh at?
Cou.One for that purpoſe
Phil, you ha’ ſpoke the man,
But what company has my Patroneſſe, that ſhee is yet
Sw.I that! If ſhee be long buſy I will not ſtay, and
ſhee were ten great Ladies, or one as big as twenty, for
all ſhee is your Patroneſſe, muſt we wait out of our wits,
becauſe
Chalivere ran mad for her
Ph.Ha’ you heard o’ that ſir?
Sw.My Cozen
Court-wits queſtion was who’s with
Ph.O ſweet Mr.
Court-wit, when will you bring the
fine civill Gentleman, that maintaines himſelfe ſo gal-
lantly by picture drawing?
Sw.Here’s a new buſineſſe! Fare yee well, pray tell
your Lady I came not from Penſans to grow here.
Ph.Nay ſweet ſir ſtay, there is ſir with my Lady none
but the grave and witty talking Knight. Some call him the
metrapolitane wit of Court; he that loves Ladyes ſo-
ciety ſo much, and yet has vow’d virginity.
Cou.As much as in man lies
Phil; Hee is a perpetuall
vowd batchellor indeed, and as conſtant to his vow as
to his faſhion in apparrell, which is ever the ſame, ſir
Cit.That old witherd piece. I know him.
Sw.Thou wilt beare up again.
Cit.He has lick’d up a living with his tongue; makes
all great tables his own; and eats for his talke. He may
be converſant with women: for (they ſay) he guelt him-
[O5]ſelfe
The Court Begger.
ſelfe beyond Sea for ſpight one did him; and now
preaches chaſtity to Ladies, and love to their huſbands.
Hee’s a Lay-goſpeller among the married ſort, and an
eſpeciall pedant to the youth o’ Court.
Cou.Fy, thou ſpeakſt too much.
Sw.There’s another humor I could beat thee for with
all my heart, thou wilt ſpeake outragiouſly of all men
behinde their backs, and darſt not anſwer Ba—to the
face of a ſheep, O I could pommell theel
Cit.This is not yet a cauſe to fight for, when–
Ph.But will not that fine Gentleman Mr.
Dainty come,
Cou.I expect him preſently.
Ph.I’le ſee if their conference be ended, or breake it
if I can, and haſten my Lady to you.
Exit.
Sw.This wench has a dainty wit.
Cou.Shee may, living with the prime Lady-wit in
Sw.But what
Dainty is that ſhee talkes on ſo affecti-
Cou.Troth a Gentleman that lives at a good rate;
very civill in converſation, keepes good company; yet
none of his acquaintance that I am acquainted with
knowes his beginning, or his preſent meanes.
Cou.I know no more but by his port, and faſhion, you
ſaw him with me laſt night.
Sw.Forgi’ me for ſwearing, Iſt he?
Cou.He was at the Play with us too, doe you not re-
Sw.Yes, that I was at the Play, by ſure token and a
Cit.I’le ſhew you ſomewhat of him. A Gentleman
Sw.Now he beares up againe.
[O5v]Cit.
The Court Begger.
Cit.Hee cannot be a Gentleman by birth or place.
A fine-handed, and a fine headed fellow he is; and pre-
tends great ſkill and practice too in Picture-drawing,
Watch-making, and ſuch like finger-workes; which he
ſayes he uſes as a Gentlemans exerciſe, not as a trade
to live upon; when either he does live on’t; or elſe hee has
ſome more ſecret way, as perhaps pimping or purſing
Sw.There he is again! Art thou bound in conſcience
to wrong all men in their abſence, till I beate thee into
Cou.Hold, hold, I prithee hold.
Cit.Yet ſtill the cauſe is inſufficient, when —
Cou.Here comes the Gentleman.
Enter Dainty.
Cit.Is hee come? Noble Mr
Dainty —The wel-
comſt in the World. I proteſt I ſuffer’d by your abſence.
Dai.You do me too much honour Mr.
Cit-wit.
Cit.Oh ſir, your humble ſervant.
Sw.Ha, ha. Forgi’ me for ſwearing, what a Spaniell’s
Dai.Gentlemen you are well found, I was a little
ſtayd by the way upon receipt of monies. Ha’ you ſeene
Cou.Shee’s yet a little buſy. We ſhall all inſtantly take
the opportunity together.
Dai.But Gentlemen; you that have better knowledge
of this Lady informe if you pleaſe, why are we ſummond
Cou.Thou ſpeakſt as if thou hadſt guilt upon thee; fear
Sw.I that’s the thing that I would underſtand too.
And why me of any man? They ſay indeed ſhee is a hu-
morous Lady, and loves to buſy her ſelfe. But what are
we to her? are there not greater men, and Lords enough
[O6]for
The Court Begger.
for her to foole away the time with, but we muſt dance
attendance on her humors?
Cit.I proteſt Mr.
Swayn-wit, I admire your inge-
Sw.You will be medling ſtill.
Cit.Tis to your queſtion ſir, which I will anſwer.
Sw.I there’s another of your cockſcombly tricks, to
anſwer any queſtion, that’s ask’d another man, out
Cit.This Lady ſir, this humorous wity Lady is a wit-
ſponge, that ſuckes up wit from ſome, and holds as her
own, untill ſhee ſqueeze it out on others. Shee will make
uſe of ours, or any courſer wits; and ſearch ’em out to
ſift ’em. Shee will collect from market-folkes; and hold
conferences with the poore Trades-people that cry their
wares about the ſtreets, Shee will rake wit out of a
Swa.So there he is againe! dareſt thou abuſe a noble
Lady, in her owne houſe too? I dare not now but beat
Cit.Still, ſtill, the cauſe is naught, when —
Dai.Ods ſo the Ladies comming I think.
Enter Philomel.
Phil.Gentlemen, my Lady cannot yet be rid of the
tedious talking Knight. But ſhee will caſt him preſently.
He is now following her into this roome, pray paſſe into
the next; my Ladies Muſick roome. There you ſhall find
a collation of good
Tobacco and
Sack and one to attend
you, you know the faſhions of the Houſe Mr.
Court-
Cou.Come away Gentlemen.
Exit Gentlemen.
Phil.I could even love and looke upon that ſweete
Mr.
Dainty a whole houre methinks.
[O6v]Enter
The Court Begger.
Enter Strange-love, and Sir Raphael.
Stra.Goe your wayes down Mayd, and if any aſke
for Sir
Raphael here, say that I hope he will ha’ done
Ra.You would be rid of me: but pardon me Madam,
I muſt hold your glaſſe to you.
Stra.That’s a poore Chamber-mayds office; and ill
becomes your gravity Sir
Raphael.
Ra.I’le open then the booke to you of your errors.
Str.Now you ſpeake ſcholler-like, and your ſelfe:
But have we ſpent all this while in by, and idle talke, and
have that volume to be open’d yet? Pray read mee for
the firſt Leſſon for this Mornings Exerciſe, and my
Edification, the laſt Chapter of my book of errors as you
Ra.You are a mocker of inſtruction, and good
Str.Begins it ſo? whom is that ſpoken to?
Ra.I ſpeak to onely you; to conjure (if I can) that
ſpirit of ſcorne out of you; which you have taken in, and
long affected for a humor, your ſingular own humor,
till it is grown ſo familiar, ſo inherent in you, that you
have wonne the title of the humorous Lady by’t; and
drawn a ſcorne upon your ſelfe.
Stra.Why then all’s paid, and wellcome good Sir
Ra.I am not gone ſo; nor is all ſo payd:
For there’s a greater reckoning yet of Raylings,
Reviling, Curſes by the many that
Y’have ſcornd and ſlighted, ſhot at you in hot vollies.
Str.They hit me not. I am ſure I do not feele ’em.
R.You may in time be ſenſible of their ſuffrings,
Whom you have violently, and willfully abus’d
With ſcorne and pride; if you call to mind
The cauſe, bred meerly out of humour; cauſe you would
[07]Str.
The Court Begger.
Str.You come too neare me ſir, cauſe I would have
Ra.Can it be otherwiſe? Has it not ever bin
Your practiſe, ſince your time of widow-hood
To catch all mens affections? Tis indeed
An honour to a Lady to have many ſuitors;
But to lay bait for ’em only to delude ’em–
Is impiouſly diſhonorable.
Ra.Yes, and have gloried in it for your humour
To lead men into brakes with fooliſh fire.
Str.If they will follow it, I cannot helpe it.
Ra.You might though have prevented the miſhaps
Of many, by a faire and free reſiſtance
In the beginnings of their ſuits of Courtſhips,
And not to ſet your ſelfe at gaze to draw them on,
And then allure them with aſſured hopes
Of love and favour till you have wound their follies
Into the reach of your diſdaine; and then
To torture ’em, or having ta’ne ’em captives
To ſlave and ſell ’em to the worlds deriſion.
Ra.Shee feeles compunction!
I will purſue it to the quick.
Ra.Conſider then good Madam, ſince I know,
And your own conſcience knowes, that you have made
A ſecret vow from your late huſbands death
Never to marry, how better and more glorious
It wou’d be for your honor to declare
Your conſtant purpoſe to a ſingle life,
Then to fall into the tranſgreſſion
Of robbing men ſo of their wits and reaſon,
And all by willfull humor: as this late
Unhappy accident of madneſſe in
[O7v]The
The Court Begger.
The hopefull Knight Sir
Ferdinando cryes
Lowdly to your diſgrace, and the worlds ſorrow.
Str.Halfe the worlds ſorrow is mine own
For that ſad accident, I would I coold redeem’t
With halfe my health or life. But let me tell you
(Now you have juſtly chidden me) that you
Ra.What iſt in your conſtruction?
Str.As I conceal’d my vow of ſingle living,
And gave men leave to court me, by which meanes
I won them into hopes, and robd their wits,
You in declaring to the Court and City
Your vow of chaſtity and ſingle life,
Yet dayly, nightly, howerly frequenting
The company of Ladies, with your ſweet,
No leſſe then grave diſcourſe and converſation
Have rob’d (nay I may ſay deflowr’d) more Ladies
Of chaſt and honorable thoughts, then all
Str.Even you ſir
Raphael (if unchaſt deſires
Muſt be held ſinfull) I know ſome of them,
And one (I feare) too well, that have bin ſubject
Unto the breach of any vow for you,
Yet you to vow a ſingle and chaſt life;
And a religious purpoſe to decline,
And divert womans fond affections from me.
Str.O, but forbidden things are womens longings!
You have read, you have read (ſir
Raphael) you have
Ra.And travell’d too: yet never could diſcover
(on her
[O8]Ra.
The Court Begger.
Ra.Good thoughts poſſeſſe you Madam. I muſt
Str.I’le not be tedious to you. One word I pray ſir?
Ra.Vertue, be thou my armor. Briefly then
Let me intreat you Madam.
Ra.Sanctity protect me.
Sit.
Str.Sir, you are famous, and cry’d up by all
For your great wiſdome, Morall and Divine:
You are the
Ipſe dixit of the Court
As I have heard you ſtil’d by men of learning,
Str.What is our ſtrength, and what is not our frailty?
Ra.Where is ſhee wandering now? Bee playner
Str.Doe not my bluſhes (which I hope you pardon)
Deliver you a meſſage from my heart?
Which I want words to utter? O theſe vowes!
Theſe raſh and ill-made vowes! dos not your judgement
Read ſomething on this face? pray look upon me.
Ra.I am no good interpreter of looks.
Str.I dare not ſpeake, till you have firſt remov’d
A weighty ſcruple, which doth much perplexe me.
Ra.You muſt firſt ſpeake it Madam.
(I meane your own, and mine, for ſingle life)
May ſafely be diſpens’d with or abſolv’d,
And we become a lawfull paire in Marriage?
Pray ſir reſolve and bleſſe me in a Match.
Ra.Madam I’le pray for you.
Starts up.
Str.You will firſt kill me
With your diſdaine, and then you’l pray for me!
[O8v]Ra.
The Court Begger.
Ra.Who waits upon my Lady here?
Exit.
Str.I had no other way to ſhift him, would he would
An errand now to
Rome to quit my ſcruple;
(make
And rid the Court of an officious foole
Women ſome times have ſent wiſe men to ſchoole.
Enter Philomel.
Ph.And bleſſing of himſelfe,
As witch-craft were i’th’ houſe.
Str.But where’s my favorite
Court-wit, has he brought
his countrey Kinſman and the reſt?
Ph.They are all in your wit-office Madam (as you
Paſſing the time among the Pipes and Bottles,
And ſinging catches. Here you may heare ’em Ma-
Str.Marry, this takes paſt all ſir
Raphaels Lectures,
Goe call ’em downe.
Exit Phi.
This Madam troubles me, ’would he were right agen;
Or I quit of the ſcandall.
Enter Court-Swain, and Cit-wit.
O Gentlemen! Y’are welcome,
And chiefly you that are the onely ſtranger,
I ha’ been ſo troubled with an overtalking ſir, that he
Has wound me into melancholly —
Swa.I wiſh you mirth Madam. I come not as one o’
your fooles to make you any though–
Offer to go away.
Str.Be not ſo briefe with mee, let mee intreat you
Sw.Forgi’me for ſwearing doe you mock me tho’?
Str.Miſtake me not ſweet ſir —
Sw.Sweet with a miſchiefe! How ſweet am I? I come
P[1]not
The Court Begger.
not as a ſuitor to your great Ladyſhip. I am a Gentleman
of two hundred a yeare tho’.
Str.Not as a ſuitor to me ſir?
Sw.No you are too great for me. Nor to your Mopſey
without, though ſhee be ſnout-faire, and has ſome wit
ſhee’s too little for me, I underſtand degree and quality,
reſpect and difference; and am ſcholler enough to know
Str.You ga’ me his true character. You are a com-
pleat Gentleman ſir (if I miſtake not) the Kinſman of
my favorite here, who has given me an ample relation of
Cou.Yes, Patroneſſe, ’tis he, who though not throughly
vers’d, or converſant i’th’ Court or City garbe, he under-
ſtands both Men and Manners.
Sw.Prattle for your ſelfe ſir.
Str.But to the buſineſſe Gentlemen.
Sw.I that I would faine know if it be any.
Str.You have heard I doubt not of a diſaſtrous
blot lately caſt upon my fame, out of my owne free-
Cit.Concerning the Mad courtier Madam, when ’tis
as likely, that his Taylor made him mad as you, for not
hitting the faſhion right in his laſt rich ſuit. But tis moſt
like he fell from a reaſonable man, by over-ſtudying him-
ſelfe what Lord he ſhould be at the next creation, whe-
ther of Gleek, or Cribbidge;
Sw.Hearke how this ſhotten headed Cocks-combe
prates! And how he, that can indure beating, dares ſpeak
any thing, or abuſe all men! canſt not give the Lady leave
Str.Since there is an aſperſion layd upon my freeneſſe
in giving entertainment unto perſons of great and noble
quality, the world deeming it to be done by me meerly
[P1v]for
The Court Begger.
for oſtentation, to cry my own humor up, by drawing
them into Love-knots, and then to ſlight or ſcorne them:
My reſolution is from henceforth, to exclude thoſe
great reſorts, and friendly and freely be merry within
our ſelfes. I have foure thouſand a yeare to ſpend; and
will be huſwife good enough to keepe in compaſſe. I will
not entertaine a ſervant, friend or gueſt above your rank
Sw.Why–(forgi’me for ſwearing) what do you
Str.I thinke you Gentlemen of worth and quality:
and therefore welcome, I thinke you able to maintaine
your ſelfes midle-ſis’d Gent.
Cit.I am Midleſex indeed; borne i’ th’ City.
Sw.Give the Lady leave to ſpeake tho’.
Str.I’le give acceſſe to none, that the cenſorious world
ſhall dare to judge a ſuitor to me,
Or to finde favour further then meat and wine.
Sw.Yes, faith a little money to; and make’s your
Cit.Pray give the Lady leave to ſpeak though.(
Whew
Str.Mauger the greatneſſe of my former viſitants
I give you my election for the chiefes
I may perhaps call in, (at leaſt admit)
People of meaner garbe, without (I hope
Your grudge or envy. But they ſhall be men
Of Science, Art, and Action.
Sw.Of action Madam? who do you meane? the
Str.Why not? I love their quality and them, and mean
to have the uſe of ſome of ’em ſhortly: Beſides Muſiti-
ans (Poets in the firſt place) and Painters: In which laſt
mention’d art I heare you are excellent, though all this
P 2Dai.
The Court Begger.
Dai.I boaſt no ſkill or practiſe Madam: but I have
drawne ſome pieces that have been worth my paines in
Str.I muſt commend their ingenuity for whom you
tooke thoſe paines. But (where I left) I muſt make uſe of
wits, of arts, and actions.
Sw.Here in your houſe Madam, I would be glad to
ſee the Actors, but I ſaw ’em at their own too lately: for
I loſt my purſe there, no matter let it go. There was 15.
Cit.Sprecious! How now! my Fob has been fubd
to day of ſix pieces, and a dozen ſhillings at leaſt. No-
thing but a bowd groat left as I hope for my Grannums
Cou.Sure you have been in ſome ill company.
Cit.Pox of ill company I ſay. My watch is gone out
of my Pocket too o’th right ſide.
Dai.You roſe o’ the wrong ſide to day it ſeemes, were
you in no crowd or quarrell?
Cit.I never was in any quarrell i’my life. I alwayes
Cou.I dare ſweare thou doſt.
Cit.I onely ſtood to day at the Coranto-ſhop to
read the laſt great news; and I was hoop’d in I
remember by ſome that ſeem’d to wonder as much
Dai.Then certainly there was a cut-purſe amongſt
Cit.I’le go to honeſt
Moll about it preſently.
Sw.But firſt ſtay and heare my Lady tho’.
Cou.I Madam you were ſpeaking of the uſe you
would make of Poet, Painter, Muſick, Actor and the
Str.True favorite for a Maſque that I intend to have
ſhortly, you ſhall performe the poeticall part, your
[P2v]ſervant
The Court Begger.
ſervant
Citwit the Muſicall. And by your ſkill and directi-
ons the Painters office for the ſcenes. Dancers and ſpea-
Sw.I muſt be ſomething too tho’, muſt I not Ma-
Str.Marry and thanke you too ſir.
Enter Philomel.
Phil.Sir
Andrew Mendicant deſires to ſee you
Str.You ſhould have told him I would not be ſeene
Ph.I told him you were buſy. But hee ſayes hee
is to ſpeake with you upon a weighty buſineſſe from the
Str.Tis the
Court-begger. You know him favorite.
Goe not away, I’le bring him in amongſt you,
And (as you love me) put ſome ridiculous projects to
Dai.What’s that ſir
Andrew Mendicant? doe you
Cour.Thou aſkeſt ſtill a queſtion like a guilty perſon,
with a look reſembling feare upon thy face.
Dai.My countenance is too blame then; not my con-
Cit.I’le tell you what he is.
Sw.Still anſwering others queſtions?
Cit.He is a Knight that hanckers about the Court,
ambitious to make him ſelfe a Lord by begging. His braine
is all Projects, and his ſoule nothing but Court-ſuits. He
has begun more knaviſh ſuits at Court, then ever the
Kings Taylor honeſtly finiſh’d, but never thriv’d by any:
ſo that now hee’s almoſt fallen from a Pallace Begger to
a ſpittle one. His buſineſſe to my Lady now can be no-
thing but to borrow money to buy a paire of wheeles
P 3to
The Court Begger.
to ſet ſome Project a going to Court for a Mo-
Sw.Thou wert in haſt eene now to looke after thy
money; but and thy Life lay on’t thou muſt ſtay to abuſe
a man hehinde his back, who is a noble Gentleman thou
knowſt, and I have heard, yet (ſpeake in thy conſcience)
wouldſt thou not be beaten now?
Enter Strangelove, Mendicant.
Str.Sir, ſince it is requeſted by thoſe great ones
Whoſe power cannot command me in this caſe
(For tis my charity and not my duty)
I am content that the mad
Ferdinand
Shall ſojourne in my houſe for his recovery.
(frenſy
Men.Tis thought you were the ground-work of his
The Doctors therefore mov’d their honours to it
For that your frequent preſence may be helpfull
Str.He ſhall have it then
Towards the expiation of the crime
They charge me with. But in caſe ſir
Andrew
He ſhould be cur’d by this meanes, I ſhould then
Croſſe you in fortune and your future hopes
Of his eſtate; which you have beg’d you ſay
Men.I muſt leave that to fortune Madam.
Str.Will you be pleas’d ſir to take notice of
Theſe Gentlemen my friends. They may be uſefull
(Salute.
For they have all projective braines I tell you.
Men.Pray of what nature are your Projects
Cou.Sir my affection leanes much to Poetry, eſpecialy
Men.Writing of ſtrange Playes?
Con.I am glad I ſpeake ſir, to your underſtanding.
[P3v]And
The Court Begger.
And my project is that no Playes may be admitted to
the Stage, but of their making who Profeſſe or indea-
vour to live by the quality: That no Courtiers, Divines,
Students at Law, Lawyers-clearks, Tradeſmen or Pren-
tiſes be allow’d to write ’em, nor the Works of any lay-
Poet whatſoever to be receav’d to the Stage, though
freely given unto the Actors, nay though any ſuch Poet
ſhould give a ſumme of money with his Play, as with an
Apprentice, unleſſe the Author doe alſo become bound
that it ſhall doe true and faithfull ſervice for a whole
Men.Here’s a trim buſineſſe towards, and as idle as
the Players going to Law with their Poets.
Cou.I have another ſir, to procure a Patent for my
ſelfe to have the onely priviledge to give inſtructions to
all the actors in the City, (eſpecially the younger ſort) the
better to enable them to ſpeake their parts emphatically and
Men.You were beſt take heede in time then that
you well preſerve your own voyce, for feare you doe a
ſpoyle among ’em in teaching ’em to utter in unſavory
tunes. Doe I come hither to be mock’d?
Sw.Will you heare mine though? I am a Countrey
Gentleman, young, healthfull and luſty. I heare com-
plaints of barrenneſſe in the City; and of men that can-
not get their wives with child; Get me but a Patent for’t
I’le undertake by my ſelfe and deputies (provided that
the woman be ſound and handſome) to make them mul-
tiply, and upon reaſonable conditions: we will deale
with the rich for money, and the poore for cha-
Men.This is fooliſher then tother. Doe you abuſe me
Sw.Is that a wiſe man’s queſtion? you cannot tell
P 4Cit.
The Court Begger.
Cit.We have our projects too Sir.
Men.I would have yours firſt, you ſeeme a civill and
Dai.In more private if you pleaſe Sir.
Men.I like well his reſervedneſſe.
Dai.Sir I am a Picture-drawer Limner, or Painter (if you
pleaſe) and would gladly purchaſe authority, by my ſelfe
and deputies, for the painting of all the Kings, and
Queenes-head ſignes for Taverns, Innes, Ale houſes,
and all Houſes and Shops of Trade throughout the King-
dome upon this ground that they draw and hang up their
royall Images for ſignes in ſo hideous manner that men
bleſſe themſelves to ſee’t.
Men.I marry this hangs upon ſome ground. But are
you an exquiſite workeman in that art ſir?
Dai.I am an Artiſt in that miſtery ſir, and have drawn
ſome of his Majeſties Pictures (by coppy onely but) ſo
to the life, that Gentlemen have kneel’d to ’em for ſuites,
Dai.Yes ſir, and great Lords I have pictur’d ſo power-
fully, their own followers ſodainly ruſhing into the room
have ſtarted back, and ſolemnly ſtood bare to ’em as they
Dai.I drew a ſterne Judge, and a civill Lawyer ſo to
the life, that after their corps were in the Grave, a man
durſt not looke upon their pictures without a bribe, or
Dai.I ha’ drawn Ladies too, with that alluring beau-
ty, that men have lov’d their dead pictures, for their pain-
ted lookes, more then their living perſons for all their
Men.Thou boy! introth you abuſe me moſt merrily
[P4v]Str.
The Court Begger.
Str.An excellent fellow: I like him for that fancy
Cit.Pray heare my project too ſir?
Str.Yes good ſir
Andrew, you ſhall not part ſo ab-
Cit.Mine is a good common wealths buſineſſe, againſt
the common Plague, that raignes i’ th’ City of Pick-
pockets, and Cut-purſes. I my ſelfe ha’ bin robb’d to day,
and am going to a good member that deales in private
for the recoveries of ſuch goods: One that ſhall under-
take if you’l but get a Patent, for a Cutpurſe-hall, or
Office, to helpe all men to their owne againe, allowing
but the Tithes of their Loſſes, and freeing the offending
Men.Fie, fie. Here’s tithing indeed.
Cit.Provided that notice be brought to the Office
within foure and twenty houres after any ſuch loſſe.
Cit.Wee may by the ſame courſe ſecure the Coun-
ties too, and make the hangman hang himſelfe.
Men.Let every man be wiſe enough to looke to his
purſe, and there will be no Cut-purſes, nor need of your
Sw.As wiſe a man as you may loſe his purſe tho’, as
I ha’ done my ſelfe in a crow’d.
Men.He puts me in mind of a crowd I was in once
to day of company I lik’d not — ha —. For hea-
ven ’tis gone: And I dare not diſcover it for being
Cou.It ſeemes none of your Projects will paſſe with
Str.Come ſir, they are but (as you ſaid) merry with
Men.Be you merry with them good Madam, you
know the ſerious worke I came about. In which
[P5]I
The Court Begger.
I ſodainly ſhall preſume to give you a re-viſite.
Str.Pray do ſir
Andrew, bring your Mad-man. My
garden Lodgings ſhall be his bedlem. Come gentlemen
Cou.We are your waiters Madam.
Exeunt Omnes.
