Act III Scæn I.
Enter Captain Driblow, Clotpoll, Nick, Anthony,
Drawer, A Table, Pot and Glaſſes.
Go
Sirrah, make your reckoning for our din-
ner.
Leave us this wine, and come when we call
Draw.I ſhall, ſir, by and by.
Capt.Well, ſir, you will be of both you ſay, the
Clot.Of both, ſir, by all meanes, both
Philoblathi-
cus and
Philobatticus, I. I’le now have all that be-
longs to your order, or all my money again, that’s for
[D2v]Capt.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Capt.Your money again? loe you there. You
bring me a fit man, Gentlemen to be sworn, do you
not? that talks of money again, when ’tis a main
Article in the Oath, never to look for money again,
Nick.You will not ſpoil all now ’tis come ſo far?
Clot.Well ſir, when I have my Oath, and that I
am ſworn one of you. I’le do as you do, and care as
little for money as he that has leaſt.
Capt.Well, to the Oath then, for both the Blade
Clot.I by all meanes, Captain, for both. S’lid
the Battoon may ſtick to me, when the Blade may flie
Capt.Lay your hands on these Hilts, ſir. The Ar-
ticles that you depoſe unto are theſe, To be true and
faithful unto the whole Fraternity of the Blade and
the Battoon, and to every member thereof.
Clot.As ever faithful member was.
Capt.That at no time, wittingly or ignorantly,
drunk or ſober, you reveal or make diſcovery of the
Brother, or a member of the Brotherhood, of his lodg-
ing, haunts, or by-walks, to any Creditor, Officer, Sut-
ler, or ſuch like dangerous or ſuſpitious
Capt.That if any of the Brotherhood be in re-
ſtraint or diſtreſſe by impriſonment, ſickneſſe, or
whatſoever engagement, you make his caſe your own,
and your purſe and your travel his; and that if a bro-
ther die or finiſh his dayes, by end timely or untimelie,
by Surfet, Sword, or Law. You wear the ſable order
of the Riband in remembrance of him.
Clot.A convenient cheap way of mourning.
Capt.That your purſe and weapon to the utmoſt
D 3of
The Covent-Garden dedeW.e
of your ſtrength, be on all occaſions drawn to the aſ-
ſiſtance or defence of a Brother or Brothers friend,
Clot.I understand you, and ſhall be as forward to
fight for a She-friend, as ever the beſt man in the mir-
rour of Knighthood was for an honeſt woman.
Capt.That you be ever at deadly defiance with all
ſuch people, as Protections are directed to in Parlia-
ment, and that you watch all occaſions to prevent
or reſcue Gentlemen from the gripes of the Law
briſſons. That you may thereby endear your ſelfe
into noble ſociety, and drink the juice of the Varlets
labours for your officious intruſions.
Clot.And that will go down bravely.
Capt.You muſt rank your ſelf ſo much the better
man, by how much the more drink you are able to
purchaſe at others coſts.
Capt.You are to let no man take wall of you, but
ſuch as you ſuppoſe will either beat you or lend you
Clot.Better and better ſtill.
Capt.The reſt of your duties for brevity ſake you
ſhall finde ſpecified in that copy of your Order. Kiſs
Clot.I’le ſwear to them whatſoever they be.
So, now I am a Blade, and of a better Rowe then
thosſ of
Tytere tu, or
Oatmeal hoe, and ſo an health
to our Fraternity, and in chief to our Noble Captain
Nick. Ant.Agreed, Agreed.
Capt.Now are you to practiſe or exerciſe your qua-
lity on the next you meet that is not of the Brother-
[D3v]Enter
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Enter Mihil.
Clot.Are you one of the Brotherhood ſir, of the
Mi.I had elſe loſt much ſir, I have paid all dues be-
Clot.So have I as I hope to gain honour by’t 40 li.
thick at leaſt; yet I have this left, please you command
Mi.Another time, your reckoning is not yet paid
perhaps.
[Clot. puts his money in his pocket.
Clot.’Tis the firſt money of mine that was refuſ’d
ſince my coming to town. I ſhall ſave infinitely.
I ſee now that I am ſworn. How would I ſwear to
Capt.Take heed of that, Come hither ſon.
Mi.How have you ſcrewed this youth up into this
humour, that was ſuch a dry miſerable Clown but two
Nick.The old way, by watching of him, and keep-
ing him high-flown a matter of fourty eight houres to-
Ant.Men are apt to beleeve ſtrange fancies in
their liquor, and to entertain new opinions.
Mi.I have faſtened three or foure cups upon my
preciſe brother. I would ’twere as many pottles, ſo
it would convert him into the right way of good fel-
Nick.I vvould vve could ſee him, to try vvhat good
Ant.Perhaps vve might convert him.
Mi.He’s above ſtill vvith the old men. I ſtole from
him, but to ſee if your
Italick Myſtreſſe vvere come
Nick.No, ſhe comes anon; but is my affliction a-
[D4r]Mi.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Nick.Prithee do not call him my father leſs he took
Mi.And ſo is thy Sister; the little Rogue looks ſo
ſqueamishly on me, and I on her, as we had never ſeen
before; but the fooliſh Ape out of a preſent affecti-
on ſhe has taken to my Siſter, has diſcovered to her
the whole diſcourſe of our love, and my familiarity
with thee, which were enough to ſpoile all, if it were
diſcovered to the old folkes, befote my cards were
Nick.Well, remember Mr.
Mihil, you have pro-
miſed me half, if the old dogged fellow give her all, and
Mi.Thou canſt not doubt me.
Nick.You know I can ſpoile all when I liſt, but to
ſhew my countenance in your cauſe.
Mi.Such is your vertue, Sir. Well, I’le up to ’em
again before I be miſt; and when they part, I am for
Capt.I have given you all the rudiments, and my
moſt fatherly advices withal.
Clot.And the laſt is that
I should not ſwear, how
make you that good?
I thought now
I was ſworne
into this Brotherhood,
I might have ſworne what, and
Capt.That’s moſt unneceſſary, for look you ſon,
the beſt, and even the leudeſt of my ſons do forbear
it, not out of conſcience, but for very good ends; and
in ſtead of an Oath furniſh the mouth with ſome af-
fected Proteſtation. As I am honeſt, it is ſo. I am
no honeſt man if it be not. Ud take me, if I lie to
you. Nev’rgo, nev’rſtirre, I vow, and ſuch
Clot.Or never credit me, or let me never be
[D4v]Capt,
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Capt.O take heed of that, that ay be ſpoken
in ſo ill an houre, that you may run out of reputati-
on, and never be truſted indeed; the other will gaine
you credit, and bring you into good and civil eſtimati-
on with your Hoſteſſes; and make ’em terme you a
faire conditioned Gentleman if he had it; and truly
I never heard worſe word come out of his mouth.
Clot.Nev’r-go, nev’r-ſtir, I vow. I’le have, I vow
Ant.I vow, but you ſhall not, that’s mine.
Clot.Cann’t you lend it me now and then brother?
I’le have, I ſwear then, and come as nigh ſwearing
Nick.I ſwear but you muſt not, that’s mine you
Clot.I proteſt then,
I’le have I proteſt, that’s a Ci-
ty-word, and beſt to cozen with.
Clot.Come boyes, fall to ſome practice. Let me
ſee about at the new French balls, ſprung out of the
Clot.I proteſt come on.
I’le make a third man.
Nick.Whoſe man is not to be asked, nor ſcarce
whoſe ſubject, now he is of our Brotherhood.
Clot.Yes, by your favour he may ask.
Ant.I ask no favour, ſir.
Nick.That may be granted.
Clot.You can grant nothing in this kinde.
Ant.I vow he may grant any thing of any kinde.
Nick.I ſwear, I neither can, nor will grant
Clot.That, I proteſt, may bear exception in-
Ant.Exceptions amongſt us? nay, then I vow.–
[D5r]Clot.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Clot.And I proteſt–
[Up with their Battoons.
Capt.Part faire my boyes; ’tis very well per-
form’d; now drink a round to qualifie this bout.
Enter Cockbrain.
Cock.Look upon me ye Common-wealths men
now, like a State-Surgeon, while I ſearch and try
The ulcerous coare of foule enormitie.
Theſe are a parcel of those venomous weeds,
That ranklie peſter this faire Garden-plot.
Whose boiſterous growth is ſuch, that I muſt uſe
More policie then ſtrength to reach their root,
And hoiſt them up at once.
This is my way to get within ’em.
Nick.I muſe theſe Mumpers come not.
Nick.Drawer, ha! where be thoſe Raſcalls?
Nick.Are you one of ’em, ſir?
Cock.I am one that has the favour of the houſe,
Mick.To intrude into Gentlemens privacies?
Cock.To ſeek a poor living and ’t pleaſe you, by
picking up the crums of your liberalitie, for the uſe of
Nick.And what’s your qualitie?
Cock.It is to ſpeak or ſing
ex tempore upon any
Theame, that your fancie or the preſent occaſion
Nick.Can you drink before you lay your lips to’t
[Glasse in’s face.
Cock.O my weak eye-ſight.
[D5v]Clot.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Clot.Or can you eate a cruſt without chawing,
made of the Flower of Battoon.
Cock.O good Gentlemen, forbear, I beſeech
Clot.The flower of Battoon.
I proteſt a good jeſt,
and ’twas mine own before I was aware, for he had
the Maidenhead or firſt-blow of my Battoon. Nay, it
Cock.I will not yet deſiſt; but ſuffer private affli-
ction with a Romane reſolution for the publike wel-
fare, with full aſſurance that my fortitude ſhall at laſt
Nick.You are not ſatisfied, it ſeems, you Raſcal,
get you gone.
[Kicks him.
Ant.Phew! beat not the poor fellow ſo.
Clot.Let me come to him again, and fleſh my ſelf
upon him. I will not only fleſh my ſelf, but tire up-
Cock.Enough, enough, good Gentlemen, you have
beaten me enough of conſcience. Was ever good Pa-
triot ſo rudely handled? but the end crowns all.
Capt.Forbear him ſons. What canſt thou be, that
canſt not be ſatiſfied with beating? ſpeak, art a man
Cock.I have been, Sir, a man, and of my hands,
howe’re miſfortune humbles me under your man-
hoods. But,
I have ſeen the face of warre, and ſerv’d
in the Low-countreys, though I say’t, on both
Clot.Then ’tis impoſſible this fellow can be beat
Nick.We’ll leave him in his qualiry for that con-
Capt.Sure, ’tis
Fenner or his Ghoſt. He was a ri-
ming ſouldier. Look, do his eyes ſtand right?
Cock.They had a diſh e’ne now, ſir.
[D6r]Nick.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Nick.Of ſack, ’tis true here, take another, and
waſh the inſide of your Throat. And let us hear your
pipes in their right tune.
Cock.Give me a Theam Gentlemen.
Nick.The praise of ſack. Sing the praiſe of
Ant.Let it be of the Blade.
Clot.And the Battoon, I beſeech you.
Draw.Do you call, Gentlemen?
Nick.I vow, I will have ſack.
Draw.T’other quart of Canarie? you ſhall.
[Takes pot.
Nick.Are your eares ſo quick? I vow, I’le dull
Nick.I ſay, a ſong of Sack.
Capt.I, let it be of Sack.
Nick.Now you pump, do you?
Cock.No, ſir, but think of a tune.
Clot.If he can pump us up a ſpring of Sack, we’ll
keep him, and break half the Vintners in Town
(Song. Now B. and Clot. askes Gabriel, Are you a
brother. They fall in the burthen.)
Clot.I proteſt the beſt that I have heard in this
kind. I wonder at his ability. I prithee, art not ac-
quainted with my two Poetical Drury-lane Writers?
the Cobler and the Tapſter.
Cock.No ſir, not I, I work not their way. What I
do is
ex tempore after the Theme given.
Cock.But they run quite before you. Their Works
are in print ſometimes. and ready to be ſung about
ſtreets, of men that are hang’d before they come to
Ant.But did not
Mihil ſay he would come again.
[D6v]Nick.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Nick.I marvel at his ſtay.
Clot.I, and the Mumpers, when come they? I
long to see the Siſters, now
I am a brother ſworn and
Enter Pig.
Nick.O here comes news. How now pig? Pig.
You muſt all preſentlie to the
Paris Tavern.
Nick.Muſt? at whoſe suit!
Pig.Mr.
Mihil bade me tell you ſo.
Ant.Is he gone from hence?
Pig.He is, and all his gone and diſperſed.
Nick.Then the old Jew my father’s gone.
Pig.Only there’s one delicate demure Gentleman
with Mr.
Mihil. travell’d along with him towards
Pa-
ris. I believe he meanes to make a mouth of
Nick.O, ’tis his preciſe brother. But vvhere’s thy
Myſtreſſe and Madama
Damaris? that they come
Pig.They deſire to meet you there too, ’tis more
Ant.Avvay vve’ll follovv thee.
Clot.Pig, hovv does thy father
Hog, the Turkie
Pig.I am in haſte, Sir.
Ex.
Pig.Because he trades in nothing but Turkie
commodities; Egges and Concubines; ’tvvere vvell to
geld him, and ſend him to the Grand Seignior,
to vvait in his
Seraglio.
Enter Dravver.
Nick.Thou haſt such a vvit in this
Clotpoll of thine.
[D7r]Draw.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Draw.Here, here, Sir, here’s your bill.
Capt.Let ſee the ſumme. What is’t
Drawer? 40.
ſh. and 3. d. Sir, your dinner, and what you had ſince,
Capt.’Tis very reaſonable. Commend me to thy
ſ. Son
Clotpoll pay’t. It is your duty.
Clot.Yes, for my Brotherſhip.
Capt.Boyes, I muſt leave you.
Cock.40. ſh. for foure mens dinners, note that, yet
he ſayes ’tis reaſonable.
Draw.Good Captain. He was ever the faireſt
Reckoner, though he has never the luck to pay any
Ant.Fare you well, father.
Nick.When we have further occaſion, we’ll re-
Clot.At
Bloomesbury. Father, I know.
Cock.Bloomsbury? good, I note it.
Capt.Sirrah, look to the ſecond Article of your
Clot.Againſt diſcovery of lodgings, haunts, or by-
Capt.Look that you be ſo.
Ex. Capt.
Nick.40. ſh. and 3. d. you’l bate the 3.d. will you
Draw.We’ll not much ſtand for that Sir, though
our Maſter ſits at deare rent.
Nick.Give me your two peeces.
Ant.Pray let me ſee the bill before you pay it.
Nick.Well, I can hold it then.
Ant.Bread and beer, 1.ſh.4d. I do not think we
four could eat 3.d. of bread, and for my part, I
drank but two glaſſes of beer.
Nick.And I but one, I vow.
Clot.And my father and I but one betwixt us,
[D8r]Draw.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Draw.Ha’ you no men below?
Nick.Below the earth doeſt mean? I am ſure we
Draw.I know not, Gentlemen, there’s ſo much
reckon’d at the bar, and you pleaſe you may
Ant.Nay, an’t be at the bar, it stands for Law.
Well, wine 5 ſh. 9.d. I think we had no leſſe. A
Shoulder of Mutton ſtuff’t with Oyſters, 8.ſh, that coſt
your Maſter very near ten groats, a brace of Par-
tridge 5.ſh. a couple of Cocks, 4ſh. 6d., a dozen of
Larks 20.d. Anchovis 6.ſh. I ſwear but a Sawcer
Draw.I’le be ſworne they are ſo much reckon’d
Ant.All’s law, I tell you, all’s law in Tavernes. But
I hope there will be a law for you one o’theſe dayes.
Then is their Fruit and Cheese, Tobaccho, Fire, and I
know not what, is’t right caſt.
Cock.There is more hope of that young man, then
of all the reſt, indeed it is a ſore abuſe, another verie
weed in the city. I do note that alſo.
Nick.Sirrah, before you have your money, fetch
me a glaſſe of Beere. But canſt thou ſing this upon a-
Cock.Any ſir, any, an’t be till midnight.
[Ex.
Nick.But you have ſtrange helps to your inventi-
on. I did note the rolling o’ th’ eye, and rubbing
Rook.So did I, I proteſt, and therefore, I tell you
what. If he can ſing ſuch another Song, and look
ſtedfaſtly the while upon any thing, and hold his
hands behind him.
I’le give him half a crown; if not,
he shall ha’ nothing for tother.
Cock.Agreed Gentlemen, give me your Theme.
Ant.You ſhall give it him.
[D8r]Nick.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Nick.And withal, watch him if he ſtir hand or
Clot.I will I proteſt, and ſet mine eye againſt his,
that he shall not twink, but
I’le perceive it, and lay
Cock.Well Sir, your Theme.
Clot.In praiſe of the Battoon, and if you miſſe it
Cock.You’ll help me with the burthen, Gentle-
Nick.Yes, yes, for the more grace of the Song.
Clot.Take you care for that. Set your eyes
S O N G.
To prove the Battoon the moſt noble to be.
Of all other weapons obſerve his degree,
In Field to be Leader of all other Armes,
To conqueſt and honour, through hazard and harms.
The Gallant and Peaſant, the Lord and the Lowne,
Muſt move by the motion of the Leaders Battoon.
The Pike and the Halbert are ſubject to it.
The Enſigne, the Partizan, all muſt ſubmit,
To advance, or retire, fall back, or come on.
As they are directed by the Leaders Battoou.
Then it is to the Souldier the greateſt Renown,
To purchaſe by ſervice to bear the Battoon.
Clot.Marry, and take it Sir, why do you ſtare a-
bout? though you have broke Covenant,
I have
Cock.Where be the Gentlemen?
[D8v]Clot.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Clot.Ha! they are not gone, I hope, where be
Enter Drawer.
Draw.Gone ſir, and have ſent me to you for the
Clot.I proteſt you jeſt, do you not? I gave ’em
the full ſumme, and all the money
I had,
I proteſt,
I ſwear,
I vow, now they are not here,
I may make
bold with their words. They have my money
I am
Draw.If you have no money, pray leave a pawne,
Clot.Take him there, put him in a cage, and let
Draw.We know him not, ſir.
Clot.No? he ſaid he had the favour of the houſe
Cock.I feare
I ſhall be diſcovered, ſir,
I can give
your worſhip credit for a peece till you come to your
Clot.Proteſt, thou art generous; nay,
I know where
to finde ’em; and thou ſhalt go with me to ’em, we
will not part now, wee’ll ſhoune ’em.
I vow, (the
words out) here,
I’le leave my ſword for tother
Draw.Your ſword will not ſerve, ſir,
I doubt.
Clot.Take my coat too, a friend and a Battoon is
better then a coat and a ſword at all times.
Cock.I am glad my feare is over. And after all my
C
ockbraine crow not theſe roaring Lions down,
Let him be balladed about the Town.
Ex. omnes.
EScæn.
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Scæn. 2.
Enter Lucie, Katharine, Belt.
Luc.Let me now bid you welcome to my fathers
houſe, where till your own be fitted, though my father
keep too private a family to expreſſe large entertain-
ment, yet I hope at worſt you ſhall ha’ convenient
Kat.Indeed,
I am glad that my father yielded to
your fathers friendly requeſt in it; and the more, in
regard he is ſo hard to be entreated to any thing; but
eſpecially for your ſocieties ſake, ſweet Sister.
In-
deed I’le call you Sister alwayes, and I hope you ſhall
be ſhortly in my brother
Mihils right.
Luc.I have laid open my heart to you, which in-
deed is his, but your father, I feare, will never be
Kat.Why you would not have him too, Sister,
Luc.His conſent
I would, and my fathers,
I hope,
would eaſily be wrought. You ſaw he was willing
your other brother ſhould have me at the firſt ſight,
meerly for his reſervedneſſe, and
Mihil methought
carried himſelf as civil to day as he;
I mean, as ci-
villy for a Gentleman, that ſhould not look like one
fathers of the Dutch Church at five and twenty.
Kat.He was put to’t to day. The noiſe of the
Tavern had almoſt wrought his zeale into fury, it is
ſcarce out of my head yet.
Luc.But you were about to tell me how he firſt fell
into this veine, this vanity indeed.
Kat.I’le tell you now, and in that ſomething worth
Kat.My father has an humour, not to like any
thing at firſt, nor accept beſt courteſies of friends,
[E1v]though
The Covent-Garden Weede d.
though preſently he findes ’em moſt commodious to
him; things that he knows not how to be without,
and oftentimes deſires with the ſame breath the things
he vilified, and ſcorn’d them the laſt ſyllable he ſpake
before. You ſaw when your father offered him the uſe
of his houſe here, till his own be furniſhed, he cried,
hah! are all the houſes in the Town yours Sir; and
yet preſently entreated for’t, and thanked him.
Luc.That ſhews the beſt nature, they ſay.
Kat.But that is ſeldome attended by the beſt
fortune. Nay, in us,
I mean, his children, he will
like nothing, no, not thoſe actions which he him-
ſelf cannot deny they are vertuous; he will croſſe us in
all we do, as if there were no other way to ſhew his
power over our obedience.
Luc.’Tis a ſtrange fatherly care.
Kat.Now, note the puniſhment that followes it.
There’s not a childe he has, though we all know what
we do, that makes any conſcience of croſſing him, we
have ſo much of his good nature in us.
Luc.And that’s as odde a duty in children.
Kat.I muſt confeſſe it is a ſtubbornneſſe.
Yet for the moſt part we do nothing, but that
which moſt Parents would allow in their children:
and now for my brother
Gabriel, with whom I muſt
bring in the ſtory of another Kinſwoman of ours, my
father had at home with us.
Kat.Nay, mark,
I pray you, as
I would entreat
an Auditorie, if
I now were a Poet to mark the Plot,
and ſeveral points of my play, that they might not
ſay when ’tis done, they underſtood not this or that,
or how ſuch a part came in or went out, becauſe they
did not obſerve the paſſages.
Kat.My brother
Gabriel, when he was a boy, nay,
E 2till
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
till within theſe two yeares, vvas the wildeſt unta-
med thing that the countrey could poſſibly hold.
Luc.So he is ſtill for ought
I know, for
I think no
man of his Religion in his wits.
Kat.I mean in outvvard converſation, he vvas the
Ring-leader of all the youthful Frie, to Faires, to
Wakes, to May-games, footbal-matches, any thing
that had but noiſe and tumult in it; then he was
Captain of the young train-band, and exerciſed the
youth of tvventy parishes in martial diſcipline. O
he did love to imitate a ſouldier the beſt,–and ſo
in every thing, that there vvas not an handſom maid
in an whole County could be quiet for him.
Luc.He may be good at that ſport ſtill, for
there is almoſt none of his ſect holds any other game
Kat.Yet did he bear the civilleſt and the beſt or-
dered affection to our Kinſvvoman I ſpake of.
Kat.So loving to her perſon, ſo tender of her ho-
nour that nothing but too near affinity of blood could
Luc.And ſhe did love him as vvell!
Kat.O dearly, vertuouſly vvell; but my father
fearing vvhat youth in heat of blood might do, re-
moves my brother
Gabriel from home into the ſer-
vice of a Reverend Biſhop to follovv good ex-
Luc.But he learned not to be a Puritane there I
Kat.You ſhall hear, Siſter, ſoon after came a Gal-
lant into the countrey from
London here, and as vve
after found, a Citizens ſonne, though he ſhevved like
a Lord there. Briefly, he grevv acquainted vvith
my brother
Mihil. Then vvoo’d and vvonne my
[E2v]Couſin
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Couſin ſo ſecretly, my father never ſuſpected, nor
he nor
I e’re knevv vvhoſe ſon he vvas, nor of vvhat
occupation my old lord his father vvas; but he pro-
miſ’d her marriage, clap’t her, you may gueſſe vvhere,
and ſo like the ſlippery Trojan left her.
Kat.And fooliſh creature, ſhe vvho ſoon repented
it, and vvith her ſhame is fled to vvhat part of the
Luc.In truth ’tis pitiful, that villain vvould be
Kat.Novv upon this. my poor brother that lov’d
her ſo, fell into diſcontent, forſook his lord, and vvould
have left the Land, but that he was prevented and
Luc.And ever ſince he has been thus religious.
Kat.Thus obſtinate, for
I think verily he does it
but to croſſe my father, for ſending him out of the vvay
vvhen the miſchief was done.
Luc.I vvill not then believe ’tis Religion in any
of the gang of ’em, but meer vvilful affectation. But
vvhy, or vvherein do you or
Mihil croſſe your fa-
Kat.I tell you Siſter vve muſt. He is ſo croſſe him-
ſelf, that vve ſhall never get any thing of him that we
deſire, but by deſiring the contrary.
Luc.Why then do you deſire him to get you an hus-
Kat.Becauſe he ſhould get me none. O Siſter,
both he and Mr.
Cockbrayne, can vviſh novv that
Luc.There’s another youth novv gone on love’s
pilgrimage, e’re ſince your father croſt him in your love
E 3Enter
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
Enter Rooksbill, Croswill.
Rook.In good truth ſir, I am taken with your con-
verſation. I like it now exceeding well.
Croſ.I’m glad it pleaſes you.
Rook.’Tis very faire and friendly, I finde we ſhall
Croſ.I am glad I have it for you Sir, I pray, make
Rook.Then pray ſir, let me urge my motion a little
CrosWhat is’t? you cannot utter it ſo eaſily as I
ſhall grant it, out with it man.
Rook.That you will be pleaſed to accept my daugh-
ter for either of your ſons, your youngeſt if you
pleaſe; now I have ſeen him, I’le give him with her
preſently, either in hand a thouſand pound, and five
hundred pound a childe as faſt as he can get ’em.
And all I ſhall die ſeiz’d of.
Croſ.What a Dogbolt is this to think that I ſhould
Rook.I hope you do think well on’t.
Luc.Pray love he does. I hope ſo too.
Luc.I could find in my heart to aſk his good-will
Kat.And that were a ſure way to go without it,
Rook.How ſay you, ſir, is’t a match?
Croſ.I will not ſtay a minute in thy houſe, though
I lie in the ſtreet for’t.
Huswife,
I’le ſort you with fitter companions. Come,
Rook.Heaven bleſſe me and my childe too from
matching with ſuch a diſpoſition.
Kat.Truly, ſir,
I long’d to be out o’th’ houſe be-
[E3v]Croſ.
The Covent-Garedn Weeded.
Croſ.Before you came in it did you not? ha!
Kat.Theſe new walls do ſo ſtink of the lime me-
Croſ.Marry fough. Gooddie Foyſt.
Kat.There can be no healthie dwelling in ’em this
Croſ.Are you ſo tender-bodied?
Rook.Even pleaſe your ſelves then where you can
like better, and you ſhall pleaſe me.
Croſ.Why you will not thruſt me out of your
Rook.There’s no ſuch haſte, ſir.
Croſ.Indeed there is not, nor will I out for all
your haſte neither. I’le have look to my bargain.
Rook.With all my heart, ſir.
Croſ.But no more of your idle motions, if you
love your eaſe in your houſe, your Inn here.
Enter Belt.
Here’s a letter, ſir, from Mr.
Cockbrayne.
Croſ.Is the Bearer paid, or give him that an’t
Belt.Some body has anger’d him, and I muſt
Croſ.I ſent you to ſeek my ſons, good ſir, have you
Belt.I cannot finde ’em ſir. They went out of the
Tavern together, they ſay, and
I have been at Mr.
Mihils chamber, and there they are not.
I went to the
Tavern again, and there they were not. Then I beat
all the reſt o’th’ buſhes, in this forreſt of fooles and
mad men, and cannot finde em I, where e’re
Croſ.Sirrah, go finde ’em me where e’re they be, a-
ny where, or no where, finde ’em, and finde ’em
E 4quickly;
The Covent-Garden Weeded.
quickly; I’le finde ’em in your Cockſcombe elſe, d’
ye ſee! and bring my ſons Sanctity home before it be
dark, leſt he take up his lodging in a Church-porch;
and charge Mr.
Mihil that he come not to me till I
ſend for him. Here’s danger i’th’ houſe. There was a
Rook.Good ſir, either like my houſe well, or be
pleaſ’d to pleaſe your ſelf with ſome better.
Croſſ.Pray Sir, be quiet in your houſe, leſt I ſend
you out of it to ſeek another. Let me ſee my cham-
Rook.He muſt have his way, I ſee.
Ex. omnes.
