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By Root 19365 0

city, that will take compassion over the poor people your neighbors, and also of the great importable hurts, losses, and hinderances, whereof proceedeth extreme poverty to all the king's subjects that inhabit within this city and suburbs of the same: for so it is that aliens and strangers eat the bread from the fatherless children, and take the living from all the artificers and the intercourse from all the merchants, whereby poverty is so much increased, that every man bewaileth the misery of other; for craftsmen be brought to beggary, and merchants to neediness: wherefore, the premises considered, the redress must be of the common knit and united to one part: and as the hurt and damage grieveth all men, so must all men see to their willing power for remedy, and not suffer the said aliens in their wealth, and the natural born men of this region to come to confusion.

DOLL.

Before God, tis excellent; and I'll maintain the suit to be honest.

SHERWIN.

Well, say tis read, what is your further meaning in the matter?

GEORGE.

What! marry, list to me. No doubt but this will store us with friends enow, whose names we will closely keep in writing; and on May day next in the morning we'll go forth a Maying, but make it the worst May day for the strangers that ever they saw. How say ye? do ye subscribe, or are ye faint-hearted revolters?

DOLL.

Hold thee, George Betts, there's my hand and my heart: by the

Lord, I'll make a captain among ye, and do somewhat to be talk of

for ever after.

WILLIAMSON.

My masters, ere we part, let's friendly go and drink together, and swear true secrecy upon our lives.

GEORGE.

There spake an angel. Come, let us along, then.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. London. The Sessions House.

[An arras is drawn, and behind it as in sessions sit the Lord Mayor,

Justice Suresby, and other Justices; Sheriff More and the other

Sheriff sitting by. Smart is the plaintiff, Lifter the prisoner at the

bar. Recorder, Officers.]

LORD MAYOR.

Having dispatched our weightier businesses,

We may give ear to petty felonies.

Master Sheriff More, what is this fellow?

MORE.

My lord, he stands indicted for a purse;

He hath been tried, the jury is together.

LORD MAYOR.

Who sent him in?

SURESBY.

That did I, my lord:

Had he had right, he had been hanged ere this;

The only captain of the cutpurse crew.

LORD MAYOR.

What is his name?

SURESBY.

As his profession is, Lifter, my lord,

One that can lift a purse right cunningly.

LORD MAYOR.

And is that he accuses him?

SURESBY.

The same, my lord, whom, by your honors leave,

I must say somewhat too, because I find

In some respects he is well worthy blame.

LORD MAYOR.

Good Master Justice Suresby, speak your mind;

We are well pleased to give you audience.

SURESBY.

Hear me, Smart; thou art a foolish fellow:

If Lifter be convicted by the law,

As I see not how the jury can acquit him,

I'll stand too 't thou art guilty of his death.

MORE.

My lord, that's worthy the hearing.

LORD MAYOR.

Listen, then, good Master More.

SURESBY.

I tell thee plain, it is a shame for thee,

With such a sum to tempt necessity;

No less than ten pounds, sir, will serve your turn,

To carry in your purse about with ye,

To crake and brag in taverns of your money:

I promise ye, a man that goes abroad

With an intent of truth, meeting such a booty,

May be provoked to that he never meant.

What makes so many pilferers and felons,

But such fond baits that foolish people lay

To tempt the needy miserable wretch?

Ten pounds, odd money; this is a pretty sum

To bear about, which were more safe at home.

Fore God, twere well to fine ye as much more

[Lord Mayor and More whisper.]

To the relief of the poor prisoners,

To teach ye be more careful of your own,

In sooth, I say ye were but rightly served,

If ye had lost as much as twice ten pounds.

MORE.

Good my lord, sooth a point or two for once,

Only to try conclusions in this case.

LORD MAYOR.

Content, good Master More: we'll rise awhile,

And, till the jury can return their verdict,

Walk in the garden.—How say ye, Justices?