Ch. Just.

What's the matter? keep the peace here, hoa.

Host.

Good my Lord, be good to me. I beseech you, stand to me.

Ch. Just.

How now, Sir John? what, are you brawling here?
Does this become your place, your time, and business?
You should have been well on your way to York.
Stand from him, fellow, wherefore hang'st thou on him?

Host.

O my most worshipful Lord, an't please your Grace, I am a poor widow of Eastcheap, and he is arrested at my suit.

Ch. Just.

For what sum?

Host.

It is more than for some, my Lord, it is for all, all I have; he hath eaten me out of house and home; he hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his.

Ch. Just.

How comes this, Sir John? fy, what man of good temper would endure this tempest of exclamation? are you not asham'd, to inforce a poor widow to so rough a course to come by her own?

Fal.

What is the gross sum that I owe thee?

Host.

* ^noteMarry, if thou wert an honest man, thyself and the money, too. Thou didst swear to me on a parcel-gilt-goblet, sitting in my Dolphin-chamber, at the round table, by a sea-coal fire, on Wednesday in Whitsun-week, when the Prince broke thy head for likening him to a singing-man of Windsor; thou didst swear to me then, as I was washing thy wound, to marry me, and make me my Lady thy wife. Canst thou deny it? Did not goodwife Keech, the butcher's wife, come in then, and call me gossip Quickly? coming in to borrow a mess of vinegar; telling us she had a good dish of prawns, whereby thou didst desire to eat some; whereby I told thee, they were ill for a green wound: And didst not thou, when she was gone down stairs, desire me to be no more so familiarity with such poor people, saying that ere long they should call me Madam? And didst thou not kiss me, and bid me fetch thee thirty shillings? I put thee now to thy book-oath; deny it if thou canst.

Fal.

My Lord, this is a poor mad soul; and she says, up and down the town, that her eldest son is like you. She hath been in good case; and the truth is, poverty hath distracted her; but for these foolish officers, I beseech you, I may have redress against them.

Ch. Just.

Sir John, Sir John, I am well acquainted with your manner of wrenching the true cause, the false way. It is not a confident brow, nor the throng of words, that come with such more than impudent sawciness from you, can thrust me from a level consideration.

I know you have practis'd upon the easy-yielding spirit of this woman—

Host.

Yes, in troth, my Lord.

Ch. Just.

Pr'ythee, peace; pay her the debt you owe her, and unpay the villainy you have done her: the one you may do with sterling money, and the other with current repentance.

Fal.

My Lord, I will not undergo this rebuke, without reply. You call honourable boldness impudent sawciness: If a man will court'sy, and say nothing, he is virtuous. No, my Lord, my humble duty remember'd, I will not be your suitor; I say to you, I desire deliverance from these officers, being upon hasty employment in the King's affairs.

Ch. Just.

You speak, as having power to do wrong: but clear your reputation, and satisfy the poor woman.

Fal.

Come hither, Hostess.