A room in the Counter.
Enter HOLDFAST and BRAMBLE.
Hold.
Who would you speak with, sir?
Bram.
I would speak with one Security, that is prisoner here.
Hold.
You are welcome, sir. Stay there, I'll call him to you. — Master Security!
SECURITY appears at a grating.
Sec.
Who calls?
Hold.
Here's a gentleman would speak with you.
Sec.
What is he? Is 't one that grafts my forehead now I am in prison, and comes to see how the horns shoot up and prosper?
Hold.
You must pardon him, sir; the old man is a little craz'd with his imprisonment.
Exit.
Sec.
What say you to me, sir? Look you here, my learned counsel, Master Bramble! Cry you mercy, sir! When saw you my wife?
Bram.
She is now at my house, sir; and desir'd me that I would come to visit you, and inquire of you your case, that we might work some means to get you forth.
Sec.
My case, Master Bramble, is stone walls and iron grates; you see it; this is the weakest part on 't. And, for getting me forth, no means but hang myself, and so to be carried forth, from which they have here bound me in intolerable bands.
Bram.
Why, but what is 't you are in for, sir?
Sec.
For my sins, for my sins, sir, whereof marriage is the greatest. Oh, had I never married, I had never know this purgatory, to which hell is a kind of cool bath in respect; my wife's confederacy, sir, with old Touchstone, that she might keep her jubilee and the feast of her new moon. Do you understand me, sir?
Enter QUICKSILVER.
Quick.
Good sir, go in and talk with him. The light does him harm, and his example will be hurtful to the weak prisoners. — Fie, Father Security, that you'll be still so profane! Will nothing humble you?
Exeunt SECURITY, BRAMBLE, and
QUICKSILVER.
Enter two Prisoners, with a Friend.
Friend.
What's he?
1 Pris.
Oh, he is a rare young man! Do you not know him?
Friend.
Not I. I never saw him I can remember.
2 Pris.
Why, it is he that was the gallant prentice of London — Master Touchstone's man.
Friend.
Who? Quicksilver?
1 Pris.
Ay, this is he.
Friend.
Is this he? They say he has been a gallant indeed.
2 Pris.
Oh, the royallest fellow that ever was bred up i' the city. He would play you his thousand pound a night at dice; keep knights and lords company; go with them to bawdyhouses; had his six men in a livery; kept a stable of hunting horses, and his wench in her velvet gown and her cloth of silver. Here's one knight with him here in prison.
Friend.
And how miserably he is chang'd!
1 Pris.
Oh, that's voluntary in him; he gave away all his rich clothes, as soon as ever he came in here, among the prisoners; and will eat o' the basket, for humility.
Friend.
Why will he do so?
1 Pris.
Alas, he has no hope of life! He mortifies himself. He does but linger on till the sessions.
2 Pris.
O, he has penn'd the best thing, that he calls his "Repentance" or his "Last Farewell," that ever you heard. He is a pretty poet; and, for prose — you would wonder how many prisoners he has help'd out, with penning petitions for 'em, and not take a penny. Look! this is the knight, in the rug-gown. Stand by.
Enter PETRONEL, BRAMBLE, and QUICKSILVER
Bram.
Sir, for Security's case, I have told him: say he should be condemned to be carted or whipp'd for a bawd, or so, why, I'll lay an execution on him o' two hundred pound; let him acknowledge a judgment, he shall do it in half an hour; they shall not all fetch him out without paying the execution, o' my word.
Pet.
But can we not be bail'd, Master Bramble?
Bram.
Hardly; there are none of the judges in town, else you should remove yourself, in spite of him, with a habeas corpus. But, if you have a friend to deliver your tale sensibly to some justice o' the town, that he may have feeling of it, do you see, you may be bail'd; for, as I understand the case, 't is only done in terrorem; and you shall have an action of false imprisonment against him when you come out, and perhaps a thousand pound costs.
Enter MASTER WOLF
Quick.
How now, Master Wolf? what news? what return?
Wolf.
Faith, bad all: yonder will be no letters received. He says the sessions shall determine it. Only Master Deputy Golding commends him to you, and, with this token, wishes he could do you other good.
Gives money.
Quick.
I thank him. — Good Master Bramble, trouble our quiet no more; do not molest us in prison thus with your winding devices; pray you depart. [ Exit BRAMBLE.] — For my part, I commit my cause to Him that can succor me; let God work his will. Master Wolf, I pray you let this be distributed among the prisoners, and desire 'em to pray for us.
Exit QUICKSILVER
Wolf.
It shall be done, Master Frances.
1 Pris.
An excellent temper!
2 Pris.
Now God send him good luck.
Exeunt two Prisoners and Friend.
Pet.
But what said my father-in-law, Master Wolf?
Re-enter HOLDFAST.
Hold.
Here's one would speak with you, sir.
Wolf.
I'll tell you anon, Sir Petronel. [ Exit PETRONEL.] — Who is 't?
Hold.
A gentleman, sir, that will not be seen.
Wolf.
Where is he?
Enter GOLDING.
Master Deputy! your Worship is welcome —
Gold.
Peace!
Wolf. Away, sirrah!
Exit HOLDFAST.
Gold.
Good faith, Master Wolf, the estate of these gentlemen, for whom you were so late and willing a suitor, doth much affect me; and, because I am desirous to do them some fair office, and find there is no means to make my father relent so likely as to bring him to be a spectator of their miseries, I have ventur'd on a device; which is to make myself your prisoner, entreating you will presently go report it to my father, and feigning an action, at suit of some third person, pray him, by this token, [ giving a ring ] that he will presently, and with all secrecy, come hither for my bail; which train, if any, I know will bring him abroad; and then, having him here, I doubt not but we shall be all fortunate in the event.
Wolf.
Sir, I will put on my best speed to effect it. Please you come in.
Gold.
Yes; and let me rest conceal'd, I pray you.
Wolf.
See here a benefit truly done, when it is done timely, freely, and
to no ambition.
Exeunt.