Well. Leave me, good friends: attend upon your lady. [Exeunt AMBLE, FURNACE, and ORDER, R. Now, Master Marrall, what's the weighty secret You promis'd to impart?

Mar. Sir, time nor place

Allow me to relate each circumstance;

This only, in a word :-I know Sir Giles
Will come upon you for security

For all the money which he now has lent you;
This you must not consent to:

As he grows in heat, as I am sure he will;
Be you but rough, and say he's in your debt
Ten times the sum, upon sale of your land:
I'd a hand in't, I speak it to my shame,
When you were defeated of it.

Well. That's forgiven.

Mar. I shall deserve it-Then urge him to produce The deed in which you pass'd it over to him; Which, I know, he'll have about him, to deliver To the Lord Lovell. I'll instruct you further, As I wait on your worship: if I play not my prize To your full content, and your uncle's much vexation, Hang up Jack Marrall.

Well. I rely upon thee.

[Exeunt R.

SCENE III.-A Room in Sir Giles's House.-Table and two Chairs-Pen, Ink, and Paper.

Enter MARGARET, with a Letter in her Hand, and ALLWORTH, R.

Allw. Whether to yield the first praise to my lord's Unequall'd temperance, or your constant sweetness, I yet rest doubtful.

Marg. Give it to Lord Lovell ;

For what in him was bounty, in me's duty.

I make but payment of a debt to which

My vows, in that high office register'd,
Are faithful witnesses.

Allw. 'Tis true, my dearest ;

Yet when I call to mind how many fair ones
Make wilful shipwreck of their faiths and oaths,
To fill the arms of greatness;

While you, with matchless virtue, thus hold out,
Spurning at honour, when it comes to court you➡

I am so tender of your good, that faintly

I wish myself that right, you're pleas'd to do me.
Marg. To me what's title, when content is wanting?
Or the smooth brow, and wealth,

Of a pleas'd sire that slaves me to his will;
And, so his vain ambition may be feasted
By my obedience, and he see me great,
Leaves to my soul nor faculties nor power
To make her own election?

Allw. But the dangers
That follow the repulse-

Marg. To me they're nothing:

Let Allworth love, I cannot be unhappy.
Suppose the worst-that, in his rage, he kill me,
A tear or two, by you dropt on my hearse,
In sorrow for my fate, will call back life
So far as but to say, that I die your's ;
I then shall rest in peace.

Allw. Heaven avert

Such trials of your true affection to me!
Nor will it unto you, that are all mercy,
Show so much rigour. But, since we must run
Such desperate hazards, let us do our best
To steer between 'em.

Marg. Lord Lovell is our friend;

And, though but a young actor, second me
In doing to the life what he has plotted.

Enter SIR GILES, R. U. E.

Allworth.

The end may yet prove happy.-[Aside.]-Now, my [Goes up Stage. Allw. [Aside.] To your letter, and put on a seeming

anger.

Marg. (L.) I'll pay my lord all debts due to his title: And, when with terms not taking from his honour He does solicit me, I shall gladly hear him; But, in this peremptory, nay, commanding way, To fix a time and place, without my knowledge, A priest to tie the knot can ne'er be undone Till death unloose it, is a confidence In his lordship will deceive him.

Allw. I hope better, good lady.

[ Crosses to R.

Marg. (R.) Hope, sir, what you please; for me, I must take a safe and secure course: 1 have

A father, and without his full consent,

Though all lords of the land kneel'd for my favour,
I can grant nothing.

[Crosses to L.

Sir G. [Aside, near the centre.] I like this obedi

ence;

But whatsoe'er my lord writes, must and shall be
Accepted and embrac'd.-[Advances to centre.]—
Sweet Master Allworth,

You shew yourself a true and faithful servant
To your good lord: he has a jewel of you.

How! frowning, Meg? Are these looks to receive
A messenger from my lord? What's this? give me it.

Marg. (L.) A piece of arrogant paper!

[SIR GILES reads, c.]

"Fair mistress, from your servant learn all joys
That we can hope for, if deferr'd, prove toys;
Therefore this instant, and in private, meet
A husband that will gladly at your feet

Lay down his honours, tendering them to you
With all content, the church being paid her due."
Sir G. Is this the arrogant piece of paper? fool!
Will you still be one? I'the name of madness, what
Could his good honour write more to content you?
Is there aught else to be wish'd, after these two
That are already offered? Marriage first,

And lawful pleasure after:-What would you more? Marg. (L. c.) Why, sir, I would be married like your daughter;

Not hurried away i'the night I know not whither,
Without all ceremony; no friends invited,
To honour the solemnity.

Allw. (R. c.) An't please your honour,
For so before to-morrow I must style you,
My lord desires this privacy, in respect
His honourable kinsmen are far off,
And his desires to have it done, brook not
So long delay as to expect their coming;
And yet he stands resolv'd, with all due pomp,
To have his marriage at court celebrated,

When he has brought your honour up to London.

Sir G. He tells you true; 'tis the fashion on my knowledge:

Yet the good lord to please your peevishness,

Must put it off, forsooth!

Marg. I could be contented,

Were you but by, to do a father's part,
And give me in the church.

Sir G. So my lord have you,

What do I care who gives you? Since my lord
Does purpose to be private, I'll not cross him.
I know not, Master Allworth, how my lord
May be provided, and therefore there's a purse
Of gold: 'twill serve this night's expense; to-morrow
I'll furnish him with any sums.

Use my ring to my chaplain; he is benefic'd

At my manor of Got'em, and call'd Parson Welldo: "Tis no matter for a licence;

him out in't.

Crosses to R.] I'll bear

Marg. With your favour, sir—what warrant is your
ring?
[Crosses to centre.

He may suppose I got that twenty ways,
Without your knowledge; and then, to be refus'd
Were such a stain upon me!-If you pleas'd, sir,
Your presence would do better.

Sir G. Still perverse!

I say again I will not cross my lord:

Yet I'll prevent you too.-Paper and ink there.
Allw. Sir, 'tis ready here.

1

[Goes up to a table. Sir G. I thank you. I can write then to my chap[SIR GILES sits down and writes. Allw. [Sits.] Sir, sir,

lain.

You may, if you please, leave out the name of my

lord,

In respect he would be private, and only write-
Marry her to this gentleman.

Sir G. Well advis'd

"Tis done.-Away!

[Gives ALLWORTH the paper-both rise.

My blessing? Girl, thou hast it:

Nay, no reply.-Begone, good Master Allworth :-
This shall be the best night's work you ever made.
Allw. I hope so, sir. [Exeunt MARG. and ALLW. L.
Sir G. (c.) Now all's cock-sure.—

Methinks I hear already knights and ladies
Say, Sir Giles Overreach, how is it with
Your honourable daughter?-

My ends, my ends are compass'd !-Then, for Wellborn
And the lands were he once married to the widow-
I have him here.-[Touching his forehead with his
finger.] I can scarce contain myself,

I am so full of joy; nay, joy all over!

END OF ACT IV.

[Exit, R.

F

ACT V.

SCENE I.-The Hall in Lady Allworth's House.Table and four Chairs.-Screen R.-LOVELL and LADY ALLWORTH seated at Table.

Lady A. (R.) By this you know how strong the motives were,

That did, my lord, induce me to dispense

A little with my gravity, to advance

The plots and projects of the down-trod Wellborn.
Lov. (L.) What you intended, madam,

For the poor gentleman, hath found good success;
For, as I understand, his debts are paid,

And he once more furnish'd for fair employment;
But all the arts that I have us'd, to raise

The fortunes of your joy and mine, young Allworth,
Stand yet in supposition: though I hope well;
For the young lovers are in wit more pregnant
Than their years can promise.

Lady A. (R. c.) Though my wishes

[Both rise.

Are with yours, my lord: yet give me leave to fear
The building, though well-grounded. To deceive
Sir Giles, that's both a lion and a fox

In his proceedings, were a work beyond
The strongest undertakers; not the trial
Of two weak innocents.

Lov. (L. c.) Despair not, madam :

Hard things are compass'd oft by easy means.
The cunning statesman, that believes, he fathoms
The counsels of all kingdoms on the earth,

Is by simplicity oft over-reach'd.

Lady A. May he be so !

The young ones have my warmest wishes with them.
Lov. O, gentle lady, prove as kind to me!

You've deign'd to hear, now grant my honest suit;
And, if you may be won to make me happy,
But join your hand to mine, and that shall be
A solemn contract.

Lady A. I were blind to my own good,
Should I refuse it; yet, my lord, receive me
As such a one, the study of whose whole life
Shall know no other object but to please you.