Aut.

I understand the business, I hear it: to have an open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a cut-purse; a good nose is requisite also, to smell out work for th' other senses, I see this is the time that the unjust man doth thrive. What an exchange had this been, without boot? what a boot is here, with this exchange? sure the gods do this year connive at us, and we may do any thing extempore. The prince himself is about a piece

of iniquity, stealing away from his father, with his clog at his heels. If I thought it were a piece of honesty to acquaint the King withal, I would not do't: I hold it the more knavery to conceal it; and therein am I constant to my profession.

Aside, aside, here's more matter for a hot brain; every lanes end, every shop, church, session, hanging, yields a careful man work.

Clo.

See, see; what a man you are now: there is no other way, but to tell the King she's a changling, and none of your flesh and blood.

Shep.

Nay, but hear me.

Clo.

Nay, but hear me.

Shep.

Go to then.

Clo.

She being none of your flesh and blood, your flesh and blood has not offended the King, and so your flesh and blood is not to be punish'd by him. Shew those things you found about her, those secret things, all but what she has with her; this being done, let the law go whistle; I warrant you.

Shep.

I will tell the King all, every word, yea, and his son's pranks too; who, I may say, is no honest man neither to his father, nor to me, to go about to make me the King's brother-in-law.

Clo.

Indeed brother-in-law was the farthest off you could have been to him, and then your blood had been the dearer by I know how much an ounce.

Aut.

Very wisely, puppies.

Shep.

Well; let us to the King; there is that in this farthel will make him scratch his beard.

Aut.

I know not what impediment this complaint may be to the flight of my master.

Clo.

'Pray heartily he be at the palace.

Aut.

Tho' I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by

chance: let me pocket up my pedler's excrement. How now, rustiques, whither are you bound?

Shep.

To th' palace, and it like your worship.

Aut.

Your affairs there, what, with whom, the condition of that farthel, the place of your dwelling, your names, your age, of what having, breeding, and any thing that is fitting for to be known, discover.

Clo.

We are but plain fellows, Sir.

Aut.

A lie; you are rough and hairy; let me have no lying; it becomes none but tradesmen, and they often give us soldiers the lie, but we pay them for it with stamped coin, not stabbing steel, therefore they do not give us the lie.

Clo.

Your worship had like to have given us one, if you had not taken your self with the manner.

Shep.

Are you a courtier, and like you, Sir?

Aut.

Whether it like me, or no, I am a courtier. Seest thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings? hath not my gate in it the measure of the court? receives not thy nose court-odour from me? reflect I not on thy baseness, court-contempt? think'st thou, for that I insinuate, or toze from thee thy business, I am therefore no courtier? I am courtier Cap-a-pe; and one that will either push on, or push back thy business there, whereupon I command thee to open thy affair.

Shep.

My business, Sir, is to the King.

Aut.

What advocate hast thou to him?

Shep.

I know not, and't like you.

Clo.

Advocate's the court-word for a pheasant; say you have none.

Shep.
None, Sir; I have no pheasant cock, nor hen.

Aut.
How bless'd are we, that are not simple men!
Yet nature might have made me as these are,
Therefore I will not disdain.

Clo.
This cannot be but a great courtier.

Shep.

His garments are rich, but he wears them not handsomly.

Clo.

He seems to be the more noble in being fantastical; a great man, I'll warrant; I know by the picking on's teeth.

Aut.

The farthel there; what's i'th' farthel? Wherefore that box?

Shep.

Sir, there lyes such secrets in this farthel and box, which none must know but the King, and which he shall know within this hour, if I may come to th' speech of him.

Aut.

Age, thou hast lost thy labour.

Shep.

Why Sir?

Aut.

The King is not at the palace, he is gone aboard a new ship, to purge melancholy and air himself; for if thou be'st capable of things serious, thou must know the King is full of grief.

Shep.

So 'tis said, Sir, about his son that should have married a shepherd's daughter.

Aut.

If that shepherd be not in hand-fast, let him fly; the curses he shall have, the tortures he shall feel, will break the back of man, the heart of monster.

Clo.

Think you so, Sir?

Aut.

Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy, and vengeance bitter; but those that are germain to him, tho' remov'd fifty times, shall all come under the hangman; which, tho' it be great pity, yet it is necessary. An old sheep-whistling rogue, a ram-tender, to offer to have his daughter come into grace! some say he shall be ston'd; but that death is too soft for him, say I: draw our throne into a sheep-coat! all deaths are too few, the sharpest too easie.

Clo.

Has the old man e'er a son, Sir; do you hear, and't like you, Sir?

Aut.

He has a son, who shall be flay'd alive, then 'nointed over with honey, set on the head of a wasp's nest, then stand 'till he be three quarters and a dram dead; then recover'd again with Aqua-vitæ, or some other hot infusion; then, raw as he is, (and

in the hottest day prognostication proclaims) shall he be set against a brick-wall, the sun looking with a southward eye upon him, where he is to behold him, with flies blown to death. But what talk we of these traitorly-rascals, whose miseries are to be smil'd at, their offences being so capital? Tell me, (for you seem to be honest plain men) what you have to the King; being something gently consider'd, I'll bring you where he is aboard, tender your persons to his presence, whisper him in your behalf; and if it be in man, besides the King, to effect your suits, here is a man shall do it.

Clo.

He seems to be of great authority; close with him, give him gold; and though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold; shew the inside of your purse to the outside of his hand, and no more ado. Remember ston'd and stay'd alive.

Shep.

And't please you, Sir, to undertake the business for us, here is that gold I have; I'll make it as much more, and leave this young man in pawn 'till I bring it you.

Aut.

After I have done what I promised?

Shep.

Ay, Sir.

Aut.

Well, give me the moiety. Are you a party in this business?

Clo.

In some sort, Sir; but tho' my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not be flay'd out of it.

Aut.

Oh that's the case of the shepherd's son; hang him, he'll be made an example.

Clo.

Comfort, good comfort; we must to the King, and shew our strange sights; he must know 'tis none of your daughter nor my sister, we are gone else. Sir, I will give you as much as this old man does, when the business is perform'd, and remain, as he says, your pawn 'till it be brought you.

Aut.

I will trust you, walk before toward the sea-side,

go on the right hand, I will but look upon the hedge, and follow you.

Clo.

We are bless'd in this man, as I may say even bless'd.

Shep.

Let's before, as he bids us; he was provided to do us good.

Aut.

If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would not suffer me; she drops booties in my mouth. I am courted now with a double occasion: gold, and a means to do the prince my master good; which, who knows how that may turn back to my advancement? I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him; if he think it fit to shoar them again, and that the complaint they have to the King concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue, for being so far officious, for I am proof against that title, and what shame else belongs to't: to him will I present them, there may be matter in it.