SCENE V.

_A Street._

_Enter_ Sir HUBERT, Sir LIONEL, TYSEFEW, FRANCESCHINA, _and three with halberds_.

_Sir Hub._ Plant a watch there! be very careful, sirs; the rest with us.

_Tyse._ The heavy night grows to her depth of quiet; 'Tis about mid-darkness.

_Fra._ Mine shambre is hard by; ick sall bring you to it presantment.

_Sir Lio._ Deep silence! On!

[_Exeunt._

_Coc._ (_within_). Wa, ha, ho!

_Enter_ MULLIGRUB.

_Mul._ It was his voice, 'tis he: he sups with his cupping-glasses. 'Tis late; he must pass this way: I'll ha' him--I'll ha' my fine boy, my worshipful Cocledemoy; I'll moy him; he shall be hang'd in lousy linen; I'll hire some sectary to make him an heretic before he die; and when he is dead I'll piss on his grave. 15

_Enter_ COCLEDEMOY.

_Coc._ Ah, my fine punks, good night, Frank Frailty, Frail o' Frail-hall! _Bonus noches, my ubiquitari._

_Mul._ Ware polling and shaving, sir.

_Coc._ A wolf, a wolf, a wolf!

[_Exit_ COCLEDEMOY, _leaving his cloak behind him_.

_Mul._ Here's something yet, a cloak, a cloak! Yet I'll after; he cannot 'scape the watch; I'll hang him if I have any mercy. I'll slice him.

[_Exit._

_Enter three_ Constables; _to them_ COCLEDEMOY.

_1st Con._ Who goes there? Come before the constable. 24

_Coc._ Bread o' God! constable, you are a watch for the devil. Honest men are robb'd under your nose; there's a false knave in the habit of a vintner set upon me; he would have had my purse, but I took me to my heels: yet he got my cloak, a plain stuff cloak, poor, yet 'twill serve to hang him. 'Tis my loss, poor man that I am! 31

[_Exit._

_Enter_ MULLIGRUB _running with_ COCLEDEMOY'S _cloak_.

_2d Con._ Masters, we must watch better; is't not strange that knaves, drunkards, and thieves should be abroad, and yet we of the watch, scriveners, smiths, and tailors, never stir?

_1st Con._ Hark, who goes there?

_Mul._ An honest man and a citizen.

_2d Con._ Appear, appear; what are you?

_Mul._ A simple vintner.

_1st Con._ A vintner ha! and simple; draw nearer, nearer; here's the cloak. 41

_2d Con._ Ay, Master Vintner, we know you: a plain stuff cloak; 'tis it.

_1st Con._ Right, come! O thou varlet, dost not thou know that the wicked cannot 'scape the eyes of the constable?

_Mul._ What means this violence? As I am an honest man I took the cloak----

_1st Con._ As you are a knave, you took the cloak, we are your witnesses for that. 50

_Mul._ But, hear me, hear me! I'll tell you what I am.

_2d Con._ A thief you are.

_Mul._ I tell you my name is Mulligrub.

_1st Con._ I will grub you. In with him to the stocks; there let him sit till to-morrow morning, that Justice Quodlibet may examine him.

_Mul._ Why, but I tell thee----

_2d Con._ Why, but I tell thee, we'll tell thee now.

_Mul._ Am I not mad? am I not an ass? Why, scabs, God's-foot! let me out. 60

_2d Con._ Ay, ay, let him prate; he shall find matter in us scabs, I warrant: God's-so, what good members of the commonwealth do we prove!

_1st Con._ Prithee, peace; let's remember our duties, and let's[88] go sleep, in the fear of God.

[_Exeunt, having left_ MULLIGRUB _in the stocks_.

_Mul._ Who goes there? Illo, ho, ho: zounds, shall I run mad--lose my wits! Shall I be hang'd? Hark; who goes there? Do not fear to be poor, Mulligrub; thou hast a sure stock now.

_Re-enter_ COCLEDEMOY _like a bellman_.

_Coc._ The night grows old, 70 And many a cuckold Is now--Wha, ha, ha, ho! Maids on their backs Dream of sweet smacks, And warm--Wo, ho, ho, ho! I must go comfort my venerable Mulligrub, I must fiddle him till he fist.[89] Fough! Maids in your night-rails, Look well to your light-- Keep close your locks, 80 And down your smocks; Keep a broad eye, And a close thigh. Excellent, excellent! Who's there? Now, Lord, Lord--Master Mulligrub--deliver us! what does your worship in the stocks? I pray come out, sir.

_Mul._ Zounds, man, I tell thee I am lock'd!

_Coc._ Lock'd! O world! O men! O time! O night! that canst not discern virtue and wisdom, and one of the common council! What is your worship in for? 90

_Mul._ For (a plague on't) suspicion of felony.

_Coc._ Nay, and it be such a trifle, Lord, I could weep, to see your good worship in this taking. Your worship has been a good friend to me, and tho' you have forgot me, yet I knew your wife before she was married, and since I have found your worship's door open, and I have knock'd, and God knows what I have saved: and do I live to see your worship stocked?

_Mul._ Honest bellman, I perceive Thou knowest me: I prithee call the watch. 100 Inform the constable of my reputation, That I may no longer abide in this shameful habitation, And hold thee all I have about me.

[_Gives him his purse._

_Coc._ 'Tis more than I deserve, sir: let me alone for your delivery.

_Mul._ Do, and then let me alone with Cocledemoy. I'll moy him!

_Re-enter the_ Constables.

_Coc._ Maids in your---- Master Constable, whose that ith' stocks?

_1st Con._ One for a robbery: one Mulligrub, he calls himself. Mulligrub? Bellman, knowest thou him? 111

_Coc._ Know him! O, Master Constable, what good service have you done! Know him? He's a strong thief; his house has been suspected for a bawdy tavern a great while, and a receipt for cut-purses, 'tis most certain. He has been long in the black book, and is he ta'en now?

_2d Con._ By'r lady, my masters, we'll not trust the stocks with him, we'll have him to the justices, get a _mittimus_ to Newgate presently. Come, sir, come on, sir. 121

_Mul._ Ha! does your rascalship yet know my worship in the end?

_1st Con._ Ay, the end of your worship we know.

_Mul._ Ha! goodman constable, here's an honest fellow can tell you what I am?

_2d Con._ 'Tis true, sir; y'are a strong thief, he says, on his own knowledge. Bind fast, bind fast! we know you. We'll trust no stocks with you. Away with him to the jail instantly. 130

_Mul._ Why, but dost hear? Bellman, rogue, rascal! God's--why, but--

[_The Constables drag away_ MULLIGRUB.

_Coc._ Why, but! wha, ha, ha! excellent, excellent! ha, my fine Cocledemoy, my vintner fists. I'll make him fart crackers before I ha' done with him; to-morrow is the day of judgment. Afore the Lord God, my knavery grows unperegall;[90] 'tis time to take a nap, until half an hour hence. God give your worship music, content, and rest.

[_Exit._

[88] So ed. 2.--Ed. 1. "let."

[89] See note, p. 42. [Transcriber's note: Footnote [46]]

[90] Unequalled.