SCENE I.

SECURITY'S _house_.

_Enter_ SIR PETRONEL, QUICKSILVER, SECURITY, BRAMBLE, _and_ WINIFRED.

_Pe._ Thanks for your feast-like breakfast, good Master Security; I am sorry (by reason of my instant haste to so long a voyage as Virginia) I am without means by any kind amends to show how affectionately I take your kindness, and to confirm by some worthy ceremony a perpetual league of friendship betwixt us.

_Sec._ Excellent knight! let this be a token betwixt us of inviolable friendship. I am new married to this fair gentlewoman, you know; and by my hope to make her fruitful, though I be something in years, I vow faithfully unto you to make you godfather, though in your absence, to the first child I am blest withal; and henceforth call me gossip, I beseech you, if you please to accept it. 13

_Pe._ In the highest degree of gratitude, my most worthy gossip; for confirmation of which friendly title, let me entreat my fair gossip, your wife here, to accept this diamond, and keep it as my gift to her first child, wheresoever my fortune, in event of my voyage, shall bestow me.

_Sec._ How now, my coy wedlock;[53] I make you strange of so noble a favour? Take it, I charge you, with all affection, and, by way of taking your leave, present boldly your lips to our honourable gossip. 23

_Qu._ How venturous he is to him, and how jealous to others!

_Pe._ Long may this kind touch of our lips print in our hearts all the forms of affection. And now, my good gossip, if the writings be ready to which my wife should seal, let them be brought this morning before she takes coach into the country, and my kindness shall work her to despatch it. 31

_Sec._ The writings are ready, sir. My learned counsel here, Master Bramble the lawyer, hath perused them; and within this hour I will bring the scrivener with them to your worshipful lady.

_Pe._ Good Master Bramble, I will here take my leave of you then. God send you fortunate pleas, sir, and contentious clients!

_Br._ And you foreright winds, sir, and a fortunate voyage.

[_Exit._

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Me._ Sir Petronel, here are three or four gentlemen desire to speak with you. 42

_Pe._ What are they?

_Qu._ They are your followers in this voyage, knight: Captain Seagull and his associates; I met them this morning, and told them you would be here.

_Pe._ Let them enter, I pray you; I know they long to be gone, for their stay is dangerous.

_Enter_ SEAGULL, SCAPETHRIFT, _and_ SPENDALL.

_Sea._ God save my honourable colonel! 49

_Pe._ Welcome, good Captain Seagull, and worthy gentlemen. If you will meet my friend Frank here, and me, at the Blue Anchor Tavern by Billingsgate this evening, we will there drink to our happy voyage, be merry, and take boat to our ship with all expedition.

_Sp._ Defer it no longer, I beseech you, sir; but as your voyage is hitherto carried closely, and in another knight's name, so for your own safety and ours, let it be continued: our meeting and speedy purpose of departing known to as few as is possible, lest your ship and goods be attached. 60

_Qu._ Well advised, captain; our colonel shall have money this morning to despatch all our departures; bring those gentlemen at night to the place appointed, and, with our skins full of vintage, we'll take occasion by the vantage,[54] and away.

_Sp._ We will not fail, but be there, sir.

_Pe._ Good morrow, good captain, and my worthy associates. Health and all sovereignty to my beautiful gossip; for you, sir, we shall see you presently with the writings. 70

_Sec._ With writings and crowns to my honourable gossip. I do hunger and thirst to do you good, sir.

[_Exeunt._

[53] Wife.

[54] Collier compares Nashe's _Summer's Last Will_, &c.:--"Our vintage was a vintage, for it did not work upon the advantage."