The Merry Wiues of Windsor
Actus primus, Scena prima.
Enter Iustice Shallow, Slender, Sir Hugh Euans, Master Page,
Falstoffe,
Bardolph, Nym, Pistoll, Anne Page, Mistresse Ford, Mistresse
Page, Simple.
Shallow. Sir Hugh, perswade me not: I will make a StarChamber
matter of it, if hee were twenty Sir
Iohn Falstoffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow
Esquire
Slen. In the County of Glocester, Iustice of Peace and Coram
Shal. I (Cosen Slender) and Custalorum
Slen. I, and Ratolorum too; and a Gentleman borne
(Master Parson) who writes himselfe Armigero, in any
Bill, Warrant, Quittance, or Obligation, Armigero
Shal. I that I doe, and haue done any time these three
hundred yeeres
Slen. All his successors (gone before him) hath don't:and all his Ancestors (that come after him) may: theymay giue the dozen white Luces in their Coate
Shal. It is an olde Coate
Euans. The dozen white Lowses doe become an oldCoat well: it agrees well passant: It is a familiar beast toman, and signifies Loue
Shal. The Luse is the fresh-fish, the salt-fish, is an old
Coate
Slen. I may quarter (Coz)
Shal. You may, by marrying
Euans. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it
Shal. Not a whit
Euan. Yes per-lady: if he ha's a quarter of your coat,there is but three Skirts for your selfe, in my simple coniectures;but that is all one: if Sir Iohn Falstaffe hauecommitted disparagements vnto you, I am of the Churchand will be glad to do my beneuolence, to make attonementsand compremises betweene you
Shal. The Councell shall heare it, it is a Riot
Euan. It is not meet the Councell heare a Riot: thereis no feare of Got in a Riot: The Councell (looke you)shall desire to heare the feare of Got, and not to heare aRiot: take your vizaments in that
Shal. Ha; o'my life, if I were yong againe, the swordshould end it
Euans. It is petter that friends is the sword, and endit: and there is also another deuice in my praine, whichperaduenture prings goot discretions with it. There isAnne Page, which is daughter to Master Thomas Page,which is pretty virginity
Slen. Mistris Anne Page? she has browne haire, andspeakes small like a woman
Euans. It is that ferry person for all the orld, as iust asyou will desire, and seuen hundred pounds of Moneyes,and Gold, and Siluer, is her Grand-sire vpon his deathsbed,(Got deliuer to a ioyfull resurrections) giue, whenshe is able to ouertake seuenteene yeeres old. It were agoot motion, if we leaue our pribbles and prabbles, anddesire a marriage betweene Master Abraham, and MistrisAnne Page
Slen. Did her Grand-sire leaue her seauen hundred
pound?
Euan. I, and her father is make her a petter penny
Slen. I know the young Gentlewoman, she has good
gifts
Euan. Seuen hundred pounds, and possibilities, is
goot gifts
Shal. Wel, let vs see honest Mr Page: is Falstaffe there? Euan. Shall I tell you a lye? I doe despise a lyer, as Idoe despise one that is false, or as I despise one that is nottrue: the Knight Sir Iohn is there, and I beseech you beruled by yo