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view 'em all well; the old man has none of the marks about him,

the other have both Swords and Feathers: what thinkest thou of

that tall yong Gentleman?

JOAN.

He much resembles him; but, sure, my friend,

Brother, was not so high of stature.

CLOWN.

Oh, beast, wast thou got a childe with a short thing too?

DONO.

Come, come, Ile hear no more on't: Go, Lord Edwin,

Teller her, this day her sister shall be married

To Cador, Ear of Cornwal; so shall she

To thee, brave Edwin, if she'l have my blessing.

EDWIN.

She is addicted to a single Life,

She will not hear of Marriage.

DONO.

Tush, fear it not: go you from me to her,

Use your best skill, my Lord, and if you fail,

I have a trick shall do it: haste, haste about it.

EDWIN.

Sir, I am gone;

My hope is in your help more then my own.

DONO.

And worthy Toclio, to your care I must

Commend this business.

For Lights and Musick, and what else is needful.

TOCLIO.

I shall, my Lord.

CLOWN.

We would intreat a word, sir.

Come forward, sister.

(Ex. DONO, Toc., CADOR.

EDWIN.

What lackst thou, fellow?

CLOWN.

I lack a father for a childe, sir.

EDWIN.

How! a God-father?

CLOWN.

No, sir, we mean the own father: it may be you, sir, for any thing

we know; I think the childe is like you.

EDWIN.

Like me! prithee, where is it?

CLOWN.

Nay, 'tis not born yet, sir, 'tis forth coming, you see; the childe

must have a father: what do you think of my sister?

EDWIN.

Why, I think if she ne're had husband, she's a whore, and thou a fool.

Farewell. (Exit.

CLOWN.

I thank you, sir. Well, pull up thy hear, sister; if there be any

Law i'th'Court, this fellow shall father it, 'cause he uses me so scurvily.

There's a great Wedding towards, they say; we'l amongst them for a husband

for thee.

Enter SIR NICODEMUS with a Letter.

If we miss there, Ile have another bout with him that abus'd me.

See! look, there comes another Hat and Feather, this should be a

close Letcher, he's reading of a Love-Letter.

SIR NIC.

Earl Cador's Mariage, and a Masque to grace it.

So, so.

This night shall make me famous for Presentments. -

How now, what are you?

CLOWN.

A couple of Great Brittains you may see by our bellies, sir.

SIR NIC.

And what of this, sir?

CLOWN.

Why, thus the matter stands, sir: There's one of your Courtiers

Hunting Nags has made a Gap through another man's Inclosure. Now, sir,

here's the questions, who should be at charge of a Fur-bush to stop it?

SIR NIC.

Ha, ha, this is out of my element: the Law must end it.

CLOWN.

You Worship says well: for, surely, I think some lawyer had a hand

in the business, we have such a troublesom Issue.

SIR NIC.

But what's thy business with me now?

CLOWN.

Nay, sir, the business is done already, you may see by my sisters belly.

SIR NIC.

Oh, now I finde thee: this Gentlewoman, it seems, has been humbled.

CLOWN.

As low as the ground would give her leave, sir, and your Worship

knows this: though there be many fathers without children, yet to

have a childe without a father were most unnatural.

SIR NIC.

That's true, ifaith, I never heard of a childe yet that e're begot

his father.

CLOWN.

Why, true, you say wisely, sir.

SIR NIC.

And therefore I conclude, that he that got the childe is without

all question the father of it.

CLOWN.

I, now you come to the matter, sir; and our suit is to your worship

for the discovery of this father.

SIR NIC.

Why, lives he in the Court here?

JOAN.

Yes, sir, and I desire but Marriage.

SIR NIC.

And does the knave refuse it? Come, come, be merry, wench; he shall

marry thee, and keep the childe too, if my Knighthood can do any thing.

I am bound by mine Orders to help distressed Ladies, and can there be

a greater injury to a woman with childe, then to lack a father for't?

I am asham'd of your simpleness: Come, come, give me a Courtiers Fee

for my pains, and Ile be thy Advocate my self, and justice shall be found;

nay, Ile sue the Law for it; but give me my Fee first.

CLOWN.

If all the