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  • Title: Englishmen For My Money (Quarto 1, 1616)
  • Editor: Natalie Aldred

    • ISBN:

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Haughton
    Editor: Natalie Aldred
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Englishmen For My Money (Quarto 1, 1616)

    Euter Frisco.
    900 Frisc. Ah sirra, now I know, what manner of thing
    Powles is; I did so marle afore what it was out of all count:
    For my mai ster would say, Would I had Powles full of
    Gold. My young Mi stre s s es, and Grimkin our Taylor,
    would wi sh they had Powles full of Needles: I, one askt
    905my mai ster halfe a yard of Freeze to make me a Coate and
    hee cride whoope holly-day, it was big enough to make
    Powles a Night-gowne. I haue been told, that Duke Hum-
    frie dwelles here, and that he keeps open house, and that a
    braue sort of Cammileres dine with him euery day; now
    910if I could see any vi sion in the world towards dinner, I
    would set in a foote: But the be st is, a the auncient Eng-
    li sh romaine Orator saith, So-lame-men, Misers, Howsewiues,
    and so foorth: the be st is, that I haue great store of compa-
    nie that doe nothing but goe vp and downe, and goe vp
    915and downe, and make a grumbling togeather, that the
    meate is so long making readie: Well, if I could meete
    this scuruie Frenchman, they should stay mee, for I would
    be gone home.
    Enter Anthony.
    920 Antho. I beseech you Mon sieur, giue mee audience.
    Frisc. What would you haue? What should I giue you?
    Antho. Pardon, sir, mine vnciuill and presumptuous in-
    tru sion, who indeauour nothing le s s e, then to prouoke or
    exasperat you again st mee.
    925 Frisc. They say, a word to the Wise is enough: so by
    this little French that he speakes, I see hee is the very man I
    seeke for: Sir, I pray what is your name?
    Antho. I am nominated Monsieur Le Mouche, and re st at
    your bon seruice.
    930 Frisc. I vnder stand him partly; yea, and partly nay:
    Can you speake French? Content pore uous mon sieur Madomo.
    Antho. If I could not sir, I should ill vnder stand you:
    you speake the be st French that euer trode vpon Shoe of
    Leather.
    935 Frisc. Nay, I can speake more Languages then that:
    This is Italian, is it not? Nella slurde Curte zana.
    Antho. Yes sir, and you speake it like a very Naturall.
    Frisc. I beleeue you well, now for Dutch:
    Ducky de doe watt heb yee ge brought.
    940 Antho. I pray stop your mouth, for I neuer heard such
    Dutch before brocht.
    Frsc. Nay I thinke you haue not met with no pezant:
    Heare you M. Mouse, (so your name is I take it) I haue
    con sidered of your learning in these aforesaid Languages,
    945and find you reasonable: So, so, now this is the matter;
    Can you take the ease to teach these Tongues to two or
    three Gentlewomen of mine acquaintance, and I will see
    you paide for your labour.
    Antho. Yes sir, and that mo st willingly.
    950 Fris . Why then M. Mouse, to their vse, I entertaine yee,
    which had not been but for the troubles of the world, that
    I my selfe haue no leasure to shew my skill: Well sir, if
    youle please to walke with me, Ile bring you to them.
    Exeunt.
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