See you convey your mistress

Straight to th’Old Ford. I’ll keep you strait enough!

‘Fore God, I would have sworn the puling girl

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Would willingly accepted Hammon’s love.

But banish him my thoughts. Go, minion, in.

Now tell me, Master Scott, would you have thought

That Master Simon Eyre the shoemaker

Had been of wealth to buy such merchandise?

65

SCOTT

’Twas well, my lord, your honour and myself

Grew partners with him; for your bills of lading

Show that Eyre’s gains in one commodity

Rise at the least to full three thousand pound,

Besides like gain in other merchandise.

70

OATLEY

Well, he shall spend some of his thousands now,

For I have sent for him to the Guildhall.

See where he comes. Good morrow, Master Eyre.

EYRE

Poor Simon Eyre, my lord, your shoemaker.

OATLEY

Well, well, it likes yourself to term you so.

75

Now, Master Dodger, what’s the news with you?

DODGER

I’d gladly speak in private to your honour.

OATLEY

You shall, you shall. Master Eyre and Master Scott,

I have some business with this gentleman.

I pray, let me entreat you to walk before

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To the Guildhall; I’ll follow presently.

Master Eyre, I hope ere noon to call you sheriff.

EYRE

I would not care, my lord, if you might call me King of Spain.

Come, Master Scott.

OATLEY

Now, Master Dodger, what’s the news you bring?

85

DODGER

The Earl of Lincoln by me greets your lordship

And earnestly requests you, if you can,

Inform him where his nephew Lacy keeps.

OATLEY

Is not his nephew Lacy now in France?

DODGER

No, I assure your lordship, but disguised

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Lurks here in London.

OATLEY London? Is’t even so?

It may be, but upon my faith and soul,

I know not where he lives, or whether he lives.

So tell my Lord of Lincoln. Lurk in London?

Well, Master Dodger, you perhaps may start him.

95

Be but the means to rid him into France,

I’ll give you a dozen angels for your pains,

So much I love his honour, hate his nephew;

And prithee, so inform thy lord from me.

DODGER

I take my leave. Exit

OATLEY Farewell, good Master Dodger.

100

Lacy in London? I dare pawn my life

My daughter knows thereof, and for that cause

Denied young Master Hammon in his love.

Well, I am glad I sent her to Old Ford.

God’s Lord, ’tis late; to Guildhall I must hie.

105

I know my brethren stay my company. Exit

MARGERY

Thou goest too fast for me, Roger. O, Firk –

FIRK

Ay, forsooth.

MARGERY

I pray thee, run - do you hear? - run to Guildhall, and learn if

my husband Master Eyre will take that worshipful vocation of

Master Sheriff upon him. Hie thee, good Firk.

5

FIRK

Take it? Well, I go. An’ he should not take it, Firk swears to

forswear him. Yes, forsooth, I go to Guildhall.

MARGERY

Nay, when? Thou art too compendious and tedious.

FIRK

O rare! Your excellence is full of eloquence. [Aside] How like a

new cartwheel my dame speaks; and she looks like an old musty

10

ale-bottle going to scalding.

MARGERY

Nay, when! Thou wilt make me melancholy.

FIRK

God forbid your worship should fall into that humour. I run!