The Roaring Girle/Act 3 Scene 1
Enter Laxton in Graies-Inne fields with the Coachman.
Lax.Coachman.
Coach.Heere sir.
Lax.There's a tester more, prethee driue thy coach to the hither end of Marybone parke, a fit place for Mol to get in.
Coach.Marybone parke fir.
Lax.I, its in our way thou knowst.
Coach.It shall be done fir.
Lax.Coachman.
Coach.A non sir.
Lax.Are we fitted with good phrampell iades.
Coach.The best in Smithfield I warrant your sir.
Lax.May we safely take the vpper hand of any coacht veluet cappe or tuftaffety iacket, for they keepe a vilde swaggering in coaches now a daies, the hye waies are stopt with them.
Coach.My life for yours and baffle em to sir,—why they are the same iades beleeue it sir, that haue drawne all your famous whores to Ware.
Lax.Nay then they know their businesse, they neede no more instructions.
Coach.The're so vsd to such iourneis sir, I neuer vse whip to em; for if they catch but the sent of a wench once, they runne like diuels.
[Exit Coachman with his whip.
[Exit Coachman with his whip.
Lax.Fine Cerberus, that rogue will haue the start of a thousand ones, for whilst others trot a foot, heele ride prauncing to hell vpon a coach-horse.
The clocke striks three. Stay, tis now about the houre of her appointment, but yet I see her not, harke whats this, one, two three, three by the clock at Sauoy, this is the houre, and Graies-Inne fields the place, shee swore she'ed meete mee: ha yonders two Innes a Court-men with one wench, but thats not shee, they walke toward Islington out of my way, I see none yet drest like her, I must looke for a shag ruffe, a freeze ierken, a short sword, and a safeguard, or I get none: why Mol prethee make hast, or the Coachman will cursse vs anon.
Enter Mol like a man.
Mol.Oh heeres my Gentleman: if they would keepe their daies as well with their Mercers as their houres with their harlots, no bankrout would giue seuen score pound for a seriants place, for would you know a catchpoole rightly deririu'd, the corruption of a Cittizen, is the generation of a seriant, how his eye hawkes for venery. Come are you ready sir.
Lax.Ready, for what sir.
Mol.Do you aske that now sir, why was this meeting pointed.
Lax.I thought you mistooke me sir,
You seeme to be some yong barrister,
I haue no suite in law———all my land's sold
I praise heauen for't; t'has rid me of much trouble,
You seeme to be some yong barrister,
I haue no suite in law———all my land's sold
I praise heauen for't; t'has rid me of much trouble,
Mol.Then I must wake you sir, where stands the coach,
Lax.Whose this, Mol: honest Mol.
Mol.So young, and purblind, your an old wanton in your eyes I see that.
Lax.Th'art admirably suited for the three pigions at Brainford, Ile sweare I knew thee not.
Mol.Ile sweare you did not: but you shall know me now.
Lax.No not here, we shall be spyde efaith, the coach is better, come.
Mol.Stay.
Lax.What wilt thou vntrusse a point Mol.
[Shee puts of her cloake and drawes.
[Shee puts of her cloake and drawes.
Mol.Yes, heere's the point that I vntrusse, 'thas but one tag, 'twill serue tho to tye vp a rogues tongue.
Lax.How.
Mol.There's the gold with which you hir'd your hackney, here's her pace,
Shee rackes hard, and perhaps your bones will feele it,
Ten angels of mine own, I'ue put to thine, win em, & weare em,
Shee rackes hard, and perhaps your bones will feele it,
Ten angels of mine own, I'ue put to thine, win em, & weare em,
Lax.Hold Moll, Mistresse Mary.
Mol.Draw or Ile serue an execution on thee
Shall lay thee vp till doomes day.
Shall lay thee vp till doomes day.
Lax.Draw vpon a woman, why what dost meane Mol?
Mol.To teach thy base thoughts manners: th'art one of those
That thinkes each woman thy fond flexable whore,
If she but cast a liberall eye vpon thee,
Turne backe her head, shees thine, or amongst company,
By chance drinke first to thee: then shee's quite gon,
There's no meanes to help her: nay for a need,
Wilt sweare vnto thy credulous fellow letchers.
That th'art more in fauour with a Lady at first sight
Then her monky all her life time,
How many of our sex, by such as thou
Haue their good thoughts paid with a blasted name
That neuer deserued loosly or did trip
In path of whooredome, beyond cup and lip.
But for the staine of conscience and of soule,
Better had women fall into the hands
Of an act silent, then a bragging nothing,
There's no mercy in't—what durst moue you sir,
To think me whoorish? a name which Ide teare out
From the hye Germaines throat, if it lay ledger there
To dispatch priuy slanders against mee.
In thee I defye all men, there worst hates,
And their best flatteries, all their golden witchcrafts,
With which they intangle the poore spirits of fooles,
Distressed needlewomen and trade-fallne wiues.
Fish that must needs bite, or themselues be bitten,
Such hungry things as these may soone be tooke
With a worme fastned on a golden hooke.
Those are the letchers food, his prey, he watches
For quarrelling wedlockes, and poore shifting sisters,
Tis the best fish he takes: but why good fisherman,
Am I thought meate for you, that neuer yet
Had angling rod cast towards me? cause youl'e say
I'me giuen to sport, I'me often mery, iest,
Had mirth no kindred in the world but lust?
O shame take all her friends then: but how ere
Thou and the baser world censure my life,
Ile send 'em word by thee, and write so much
Vpon thy breast, cause thou shalt bear't in mind,
Tell them 'twere base to yeeld, where I haue conquer'd.
I scorne to prostitute my selfe to a man,
I that can prostitue a man to mee,
And so I greete thee.
That thinkes each woman thy fond flexable whore,
If she but cast a liberall eye vpon thee,
Turne backe her head, shees thine, or amongst company,
By chance drinke first to thee: then shee's quite gon,
There's no meanes to help her: nay for a need,
Wilt sweare vnto thy credulous fellow letchers.
That th'art more in fauour with a Lady at first sight
Then her monky all her life time,
How many of our sex, by such as thou
Haue their good thoughts paid with a blasted name
That neuer deserued loosly or did trip
In path of whooredome, beyond cup and lip.
But for the staine of conscience and of soule,
Better had women fall into the hands
Of an act silent, then a bragging nothing,
There's no mercy in't—what durst moue you sir,
To think me whoorish? a name which Ide teare out
From the hye Germaines throat, if it lay ledger there
To dispatch priuy slanders against mee.
In thee I defye all men, there worst hates,
And their best flatteries, all their golden witchcrafts,
With which they intangle the poore spirits of fooles,
Distressed needlewomen and trade-fallne wiues.
Fish that must needs bite, or themselues be bitten,
Such hungry things as these may soone be tooke
With a worme fastned on a golden hooke.
Those are the letchers food, his prey, he watches
For quarrelling wedlockes, and poore shifting sisters,
Tis the best fish he takes: but why good fisherman,
Am I thought meate for you, that neuer yet
Had angling rod cast towards me? cause youl'e say
I'me giuen to sport, I'me often mery, iest,
Had mirth no kindred in the world but lust?
O shame take all her friends then: but how ere
Thou and the baser world censure my life,
Ile send 'em word by thee, and write so much
Vpon thy breast, cause thou shalt bear't in mind,
Tell them 'twere base to yeeld, where I haue conquer'd.
I scorne to prostitute my selfe to a man,
I that can prostitue a man to mee,
And so I greete thee.
Lax.Heare me.
Mol.Would the spirits of al my slanders, were claspt in thine.
That I might vexe an army at one time,
That I might vexe an army at one time,
They fight.Lax.I do repent me, hold,
Mol.You'l die the better Christian then.
Lax.I do confesse I haue wrong'd thee Mol.
Mol.Confession is but poore amends for wrong,
Vnlesse a rope would follow.
Vnlesse a rope would follow.
Lax.I aske thee pardon.
Mol.I'me your hir'd whoore sir.
Lax.I yeeld both purse and body.
Mol.Both are mine, and now at my disposing.
Lax.Spare my life.
Mol.I scorne to strike thee basely.
Lax.Spoke like a noble girle i'faith.
Heart I thinke I fight with a familiar, or the Ghost of a fencer, Sh'has wounded me gallantly, call you this a letcherous viage? Here's bloud would haue seru'd me this seuen yeare in broken heads and cut fingers, & it now runs all out together,pox athe three pigions, I would the coach were here now to carry mee to the Chirurgions.
Exit Laxton.
Heart I thinke I fight with a familiar, or the Ghost of a fencer, Sh'has wounded me gallantly, call you this a letcherous viage? Here's bloud would haue seru'd me this seuen yeare in broken heads and cut fingers, & it now runs all out together,pox athe three pigions, I would the coach were here now to carry mee to the Chirurgions.
Exit Laxton.
Mol.If I could meete my enemies one by one thus,
I might make pretty shift with 'em in time,
And make 'em know, shee that has wit, and spirit,
May scorne to liue beholding to her body for meate,
Or for apparell like your common dame,
That makes shame get her cloathes, to couer shame.
Base is that minde, that kneels vnto her body,
As if a husband stood in awe on's wife,
My spirit shall be Mistrsse of this house,
Enter Trapdore.As long as I haue time in't.———oh
Heere comes my man that would be: 'tis his houre.
Faith a good well set fellow, if his spirit
Be answerable to his vmbles; he walkes stiffe,
But whether he will stand to't stifly, there's the point;
Has a good calfe for't, and ye shall haue many a woman
Choose him shee meanes to meke her head, by his calfe;
I do not know their trickes in't, faith he seemes
A man without; I'le try what he is within,
I might make pretty shift with 'em in time,
And make 'em know, shee that has wit, and spirit,
May scorne to liue beholding to her body for meate,
Or for apparell like your common dame,
That makes shame get her cloathes, to couer shame.
Base is that minde, that kneels vnto her body,
As if a husband stood in awe on's wife,
My spirit shall be Mistrsse of this house,
Enter Trapdore.As long as I haue time in't.———oh
Heere comes my man that would be: 'tis his houre.
Faith a good well set fellow, if his spirit
Be answerable to his vmbles; he walkes stiffe,
But whether he will stand to't stifly, there's the point;
Has a good calfe for't, and ye shall haue many a woman
Choose him shee meanes to meke her head, by his calfe;
I do not know their trickes in't, faith he seemes
A man without; I'le try what he is within,
Trap.Shee told me Graies-Inne fields twixt three & foure,
Ile fit her Mistreship with a peece of seruice,
Shee iustles himI'me hir'd to rid the towne of one mad girle.
What a pox ailes you sir?
Ile fit her Mistreship with a peece of seruice,
Shee iustles himI'me hir'd to rid the towne of one mad girle.
What a pox ailes you sir?
Mol.He beginnes like a Gentleman,
Trap.Heart, is the field so narrow, or your eye-sight:
She comes towards him.Life he comes backe againe.
She comes towards him.Life he comes backe againe.
Mol.Was this spoke to me sir.
Trap.I cannot tell sir.
Mol.Go y'are a coxcombe.
Trap.Coxcombe.
Mol.Y'are a slaue.
Trap.I hope there's law for you sir.
Turne his hat.Mol.Ye, do you see sir.
Trap.Heart this is no good dealing, pray let me know what house your off.
Philips him.Mol.One of the Temple sir.
Trap.Masse so me thinkes.
Mol.And yet sometime I lye about chicke lane.
Trap.I like you the worse because you shift your lodging so often
Ile not meddle with you for that tricke sir.
Ile not meddle with you for that tricke sir.
Mol.A good shift, but it shall not serue your turne.
Trap.You'le giue me leaue to passe about my businesse sir.
Mol.Your businesse, Ile make you waite on mee before I ha done, and glad to serue me too.
Trap.How sir, serue you, not if there were no more men in England.
Moll.But if there were no more women in England
I hope you'd waite vpon your Mistresse then,
I hope you'd waite vpon your Mistresse then,
Trap.Mistresse.
Mol.Oh your a tri'd spirit at a push sir,
Trap.What would your Worship haue me do.
Mol.You a fighter.
Trap.No, I praise heauen, I had better grace & more maners.
Mol.As how I pray sir.
Trap.Life, 'thad bene a beastly part of me to haue drawne my weapons vpon my Mistresse, all the world would a cry'd shame of me for that.
Mol.Why but you knew me not.
Trap.Do not say so Mistresse, I knew you by your wide straddle, as well as if I had bene in your belly.
Mol.Well, we shall try you further, ith meane time wee giue you intertainement.
Trap.Thanke your good Mistreship.
Mol.How many suites haue you.
Trap.No more suites then backes Mistresse.
Mol.Well if you deserue, I cast of this, next weeke,
And you may creepe into't.
And you may creepe into't.
Trap.Thanke your good Worship.
Mol.Come follow me to S. Thomas Apostles,
Ile put a liuery cloake vpon your backe, the first thing I do,
Ile put a liuery cloake vpon your backe, the first thing I do,
Exeunt omnesTrap.I follow my deere Mistresse.