Ord. Our late young master.

Enter WATCHALL and ALLWORTH, L. and salutes them alternately.

Wat. Welcome, sir.

Fur. You're welcome:

[ALLW. crosses to FUR.

[ALLW. crosses to ORD.

If you've a stomach, a cold bake-meat's ready.

Ord. His father's picture in little. [Crosses to AMB. Amb. We are all your servants.

Allw. At once my thanks to all.

This is yet some comfort. Is my lady
Ord. Her presence answers for us.

[Crosses to R. stirring? [Retire up on R.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, ABIGAIL, and TABITHA, R. Lady A. Sort those silks well.

I'll take the air alone :

[Exeunt TABITHA and ABIGAil, r.

And, as I gave directions, if this morning

I'm visited by any, entertain 'em

As heretofore: but say, in my excuse,

I'm indispos'd.

Ord. We shall, madam.

Lady A. (R.) Do, and leave me.

[Exeunt WATCHALL, FURNACE, ORDER, and
AMBLE, L.

Nay, stay you, Allworth.-Tell me, how is't with
Your noble master?

Allw. (L. c.) Ever like himself;

No scruple lessen'd in the full weight of honour.
He did command me-pardon my presumption-
As his unworthy deputy, to kiss

Your ladyship's fair hands.

Lady A. I'm honour'd in

His favour to me. Does he hold his purpose

For the low countries?

Allw. Constantly, good madam;

But will, in person, first present his service.

Lady A. And how approve you of his course? you're

yet,

Like virgin parchment, capable of any

Inscription, vicious or honourable:

I will not force your will, but leave you free
To your own election.

Allw. Any form you please

I will put on: but-might I make my choice

With humble emulation, I would follow
The path my lord marks to me.

Lady A. 'Tis well answer'd;

And I commend your spirit: your father, Allworth,
My ever-honour'd husband, some few hours
Before the will of heaven took him from me,
Did commend you, e'en by the dearest ties
Of perfect love between us, to my charge:
And, therefore, when I speak, you are bound to hear
With such respect, as if he liv'd in me.

Allw. I have found you,

Most honour'd madam, more than a mother to me;
And, with my utmost strength of care and service,
Will labour that you may never repent

Your bounties shower'd upon me.

Lady A. I much hope it.

These were your father's words :-If e'er my son
Follow the war, tell him, it is a school
Where all the principles tending to honour
Are taught, if truly follow'd: but for such
As repair thither, as a place in which

They do presume they may with license practice
Their lawless riots, they shall never merit
The noble name of soldiers.

To obey their leaders, and shun mutinies :
To bear with patience the winter's cold,
And summer's scorching heat;

To dare boldly

In a fair cause; and, for their country's sake,
To run upon the cannon's mouth undaunted;
These are the essential parts make up a soldier;
Not swearing, dice, or drinking.

Allw. There's no syllable

You speak, but is to me an oracle.

Lady A. To conclude:

Beware ill company; for, often, men

Are like to those with whom they do converse;

And from one man I warn you, and that's Wellborn:

Not, 'cause he's poor, that rather claims your pity:
But that he's in his manners so deprav'd,
And hath in vicious courses lost himself.
'Tis true, your father lov'd him, while he was
Worthy the loving; but, if he had liv'd
To've known him as he is, he had cast him off,
As you must do.

Somebody comes. This way:

[Noise without, L.

Follow me to my chamber: you shall have gold
To furnish you like my son, and still supplied

As I hear from you.

Allw. I am still bound to you.

[Exeunt, R.

Enter ORDER, WATCHALL, SIR GILES OVERREACH, MARRALL, GREEDY, FURNACE, and AMBLE, L.MARRALL goes behind to R.

Gree. (L.) Not to be seen!

Sir G. (c.) Still cloister'd up! Her reason,
I hope, assures her, though she make herself
Close prisoner ever for her husband's loss,
"Twill not recover him.

Ord. (R. c.) Sir, 'tis her will;

Which we, that are her servants, ought to serve,
And not dispute: howe'er, you're nobly welcome;
And, if you please to stay, that you may think so,
There came, not six day's since, from Hull, a pipe
Of rich Canary, which shall spend itself

For my lady's honour.

Gree. (L. c.) Is it of the right race?

[SIR G. and MAR. converse apart up Stage.

Ord. Yes, Master Greedy.

Amb. How his mouth runs o'er !

Fur. [Comes down L.] I'll make it run and run.

Save your good worship!

Gree. Honest master Cook, thy hand; again: how I love thee!

Are the good dishes still in being? speak, boy.

Fur. If you've a mind to feed, there is a chine Of beef well season'd.

Gree. Good.

Fur. A pheasant larded.

Gree. That I might now give thanks for't!

Fur. Besides, there came last night, from the forest

of Sherwood,

The fattest stag I ever cook'd.

Gree. A stag, man?

Fur. A stag, sir; part of it prepar'd for dinner,

And bak'd in puff-paste.

Gree. Puff-paste too! Sir Giles,

A ponderous chine of beef! a pheasant larded!

And red deer, too, Sir Giles, and bak'd in puff-paste!

All business set aside, let us give thanks here.
Sir G. [Advancing, c.] You know, we cannot.

Mar. (R. c.) Your worships are to sit on a commission,

And, if you fail to come, you lose the cause.

Gree. Cause me no causes; I'll prove't, for such a dinner,

We may put off a commission: you shall find it
Henrici decimo quarto.

Sir G. Fie, Master Greedy!

Will you lose me a thousand pounds for a dinner?
No more, for shame! We must forget the belly,
When we think of profit.

Gree. Well, you shall o'er-rule me.

I could e'en cry now. Do you hear, master Cook?
Send but a corner of that immortal pasty,
And I, in thankfulness, will, by your boy,
Send you a brace of three-pences.

Fur. Will you be so prodigal ?

[GREEDY and FURNACE converse apart, L. a lil

tle up.

Sir G. [To ORD.] Remember me to your lady.

Enter WELLBORN, L.

Whom have we here?

Well. You know me.

Sir G. I did once, but now I will not;

Thou art no blood of mine. [Crosses to L. followed by MAR.] Avaunt, thou beggar!

If ever thou presume to cross me more,

I'll have thee cag'd and whipp'd.

Gree. (L.) I'll grant the warrant.

Think of pye-corner, Furnace !

[Exit SIR G. L.

[Exeunt GREE. and MAR. L. MAR. eyeing WELL. contemptuously.-WELL. takes a Chair, and sils down in the centre of the Stage.

Wat. Will you out, sir?

[Going towards WELL.

I wonder how you durst creep in.

Ord. This is rudeness,

And saucy impudence.

Amb. Cannot you stay

To be serv'd, among your fellows, from the basket,
But you must press into the hall?

Fur. 'Pr'ythee, vanish

Into some outhouse, though it be the pig-stye;
My scullion shall come to thee.

Well. This is rare:

Enter ALLWorth, R.

O, here's Tom Allworth. Tom!
Allw. We must be strangers;

[Crosses to L.

Nor would I have you seen here for a million. [Exit, L. Well. Better and better :-He contemns me too!

Enter ABIGAIL and TABITHA, R. cross to L.

Abi. [Seeing WELL.] Mercy preserve my sight! What thing is this?

Tab. A wretched object, truly.

Let's hence, for heaven's sake, or I shall swoon.

[Crosses to L.

Abi. I begin to faint already.

[Crosses to L.

[Exeunt ABIGAIL and TABITHA, L.

Fur. Will you know your way, sir?

Amb. Or shall we teach it you,

By the head and shoulders ?

Well. No; I will not stir :

Do you mark? I will not. [Starts up.] Let me see the

wretch

That dares attempt to force me. Why, you slaves,
Created only to make legs, and cringe;

To carry in a dish, and shift a trencher;

That have not souls only to hope a blessing

Beyond your master's leaving-who advances ?

Who shews me the way ?

[Threatening them.

All the Servants. Help, fellows, help !-Within there! Ord. Here comes my lady.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, R.

Lady A. How now? What noise is this?

Well. [Advancing to her.] Madam, my designs

Bear me to you.

Lady A. (R.) To me?

Well. (L.) And, though I've met with

But ragged entertainment from your grooms here,
I hope from you to receive that noble usage,
As may become the true friend of your husband,
And then I shall forget these.

Lady A. I'm amaz'd,

To see and hear this rudeness.

Dar'st thou think,

Though sworn, that it can ever find belief

That I, who to the best men of this country

Denied my presence since my husband's death,
Can fall so low, as to exchange words with thee?