Fail.  Never threaten me, madam; you’re a person I despise.

Isa.  I vow to gad, I’ll be even with you, sir.

[Exit.

Non. [To the Bailiff’s.]—­And when you have arrested him, be sure you search him for my gold.

Bailiffs. [To LOVEBY.] We arrest you, sir, at my Lord Nonsuch’s suit.

Lov.  Me, you rascals!

Non.  Search him for my gold; you know the marks on’t.

Lov.  If they can find any marked or unmarked gold about me, they’ll find more than I can.  You expect I should resist now; no, no; I’ll hamper you for this.

Bail.  There’s nothing to be found about him.

Fail.  ’Tis no matter, to prison with him; there all his debts will come upon him.

Lov.  What, hurried to durance, like a stinkard!

Job.  Now, as I live, a pleasant gentleman; I could find in my heart to bail him; but I’ll overcome myself, and steal away. [Is going.

Bail.  Come, sir, we must provide you of another lodging; but I believe you’ll scarce like it.

Lov.  If I do not, I ask no favour; pray turn me out of doors.

Bib.  Turn him out of doors!  What a jest was there?  Now, an’ I should be hanged, I cannot forbear bailing him:  Stay, officers, I bail him body and soul for that jest.

Fail.  Let us begone in time, Burr.

[Exeunt BURR, FAILER, and TIMOROUS.

Franc.  You shall not bail him.

Bib.  I know I am a rogue to do it; but his wit has prevailed upon me, and a man must not go against his conscience.  There, officers.

Lov. to Non.  Old man, if it were not for thy daughter—­

Non.  Well, well; take your course, sir.

[Exeunt NONSUCH and Bailiffs.

Lov.  Come, Will, I’ll thank thee at the tavern.  Frances, remember this the next time you come up to make my bed.

Franc.  Do your worst, I fear you not, sir.  This is twice to day, William; to trust a gentlewoman, and bail a ragamuffin:  I am sure he called you cuckold but yesterday, and said he would make you one.

Lov.  Look you, Frances, I am a man of honour, and, if I said it, I’ll not break my word with you.

Bib.  There he was with you again, Frances:  An excellent good jest, i’faith la.

Franc.  I’ll not endure it, that I won’t, so I won’t:  I’ll go to the justice’s worship, and fetch a warrant for him.

Lov.  But, landlady, the word cuckold will bear no action in the law, except you could prove your husband prejudiced by it.  Have any of his customers forsook him for’t?  Or any mercer refused to trust him the less, for my calling him so?

Franc.  Nay, I know not for the mercers; perhaps the citizens may take it for no slander among one another, as they say:  but for the gentlemen—­