Bartholomew Fayre Act 3. Scene 3

Justice, Win-wife, Quarlous.

I Will make no more Orations, shall draw on these
tragical Conclusions. And I begin now to think,
that by a spice of collateral Justice, Adam Overdoo de-
serv'd this beating; for I the said Adam was one Cause
(a By-cause) why the Purse was lost: and my Wives
Brothers Purse too, which they know not of yet. But I
shall make very good mirth with it at Supper, (that will
be the sport) and put my little Friend, Mr. Humphrey
Wasp's Choler quite out of countenance. When, sitting
at the upper end o' my Table, as I use, and drinking
to my Brother Cokes, and Mrs. Alice Overdoo, as I will,
my Wife, for their good affection to old Bradley, I deli-
ver to 'em, it was I that was cudgell'd, and shew 'em the
Marks. To see what bad Events may peep out o' the
Tail of good Purposes! the Care I had of that ci-
vil young Man, I took fancy to this Morning, (and
have not left it yet) drew me to that exhortation, which
drew the Company indeed; which drew the Cut-purse;
which drew the Money; which drew my Brother Cokes
his loss: which drew on Wasp's anger; which drew on
my beating: a pretty gradation! And they shall ha' it
i' their Dish i' faith at night for Fruit; I love to be mer-
ry at my Table. I had thought once, at one special
blow he ga' me, to have revealed my self; but then (I
thank thee fortitude) I remembred that a wise Man
(and who is ever so great a part o' the Common-wealth
in himself) for no particular disaster ought to abandon
a publick good Design. The Husband-man ought not
for one unthankful Year, to forsake the Plough; the
Shepherd ought not for one scab'd Sheep to throw by his
Tar-box; the Pilot ought not for one Leak i' the Poop
to quit the Helm; nor the Alderman ought not for one
Custard more at a Meal to give up his Cloak; the Con-
stable ought not to break his Staff, and forswear the
Watch for one roaring Night; nor the Piper o' the Pa-
rish (Ut parvis componere magna solebam) to put up his
Pipes for one rainy Sunday. These are certain knock-
ing Conclusions; out of which, I am resolv'd, come
what come can, come Beating, come Imprisonment,
come Infamy, come Banishment; nay, come the Rack,
come the Hurdle, (welcom all) I will not discover who
I am, till my due time; and yet still, all shall be, as I
said ever, in Justice name, and the King's, and for the
Common-wealth.

Win.
What does he talk to himself, and act so seri-
ously? poor Fool!

Quar.
No matter what. Here's fresher Argument, in-
tend that.