A Digital Anthology of Early Modern English Drama emed.folger.edu Discover over four hundred early modern English plays that were professionally performed in London between 1576 and 1642. Browse plays written by Shakespeare’s contemporaries; explore the repertoires of London’s professional companies; and download plays for reading and research. This documentary edition has been edited to provide an accurate and transparent transcription of a single copy of the earliest surviving print edition of this play. Further material, including editorial policy and XML files of the play, is available on the EMED website. EMED texts are edited and encoded by Meaghan Brown, Michael Poston, and Elizabeth Williamson, and build on work done by the EEBO-TCP and the Shakespeare His Contemporaries project. This project is funded by a Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant from the NEH’s Division of Preservation and Access. Plays distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. img: 1­a siimg:g [:N 1/­Ab] sig: A2r ln 0001 THE ln 0002 FAIR MAID ln 0003 OF THE WEST. ln 0004 OR, ln 0005 A Girl worth gold. ln 0006 The first part. ln 0007 As it was lately acted before the King and ln 0008 Queen, with approved liking. ln 0009 By the Queen’s Majesty’s Comedians. ln 0010 Written by T. H. ln 0011 LONDON, ln 0012 Printed for Richard Royston, and are to be sold ln 0013 at his Shop in Ivy Lane. 1631. img: 2­a ismigg: :A 22­vb sig: A3r ln 0001 To the much worthy, and my ln 0002 most respected, JOHN OTHOW, ln 0003 Esquire, Counselor at Law, in ln 0004 the noble Society of ln 0005 Gray’s Inn. ln 0006 SIR, ln 0007 EXcuse this my boldness, ln 0008 (I entreat you) and let it ln 0009 pass under the title of my ln 0010 love and respect, long ln 0011 devoted unto you; of ln 0012 which, if I endeavor to ln 0013 present the world with a due acknowledgement ln 0014 without the sordid expectation ln 0015 of reward, or servile imputation of ln 0016 flattery, I hope it will be the rather accepted. ln 0017 I must ingenuously acknowledge, a weightier ln 0018 argument would have better suited with ln 0019 your grave employment; but there are retirements ln 0020 necessarily belonging to all the labors ln 0021 of the body and brain: If in any such cessation, ln 0022 you will deign to cast an eye upon ln 0023 this weak and unpolished Poem, I shall receive ln 0024 it as a courtesy from you, much exceeding img: 3­a sig: A3v ln 0025 any merit in me, (my good meaning ln 0026 only accepted.) Thus wishing ln 0027 you healthful ability in body, untroubled ln 0028 content in mind: with the happy fruition ln 0029 of both the temporal felicities of the ln 0030 world present, and the eternal blessedness ln 0031 of the life future; I still remain as ever, ln 0032 Yours, most affectionately ln 0033 devoted, ln 0034 THOMAS HEYWOOD. img: 3­b sig: A4r ln 0001 To the READER. ln 0002 Courteous Reader, my Plays have not ln 0003 been exposed to the public view of ln 0004 the world in numerous sheets, and ln 0005 a large volume; but singly (as thou ln 0006 seest) with great modesty, and ln 0007 small noise. These Comedies, bearing ln 0008 the title of, The fair Maid ln 0009 of the West: if they prove but as gracious in thy ln 0010 private reading, as they were plausible in the public ln 0011 acting, I shall not much doubt of their success. Nor ln 0012 need they (I hope) much fear a rugged and censorious ln 0013 brow from thee, on whom the greatest and best in the ln 0014 kingdom, have vouchsafed to smile. I hold it no necessity ln 0015 to trouble thee with the Argument of the story, the ln 0016 matter itself lying so plainly before thee in Acts and ln 0017 Scenes, without any deviations, or winding indents. ln 0018 Peruse it through, and thou mayst find in it, ln 0019 Some mirth, some matter, and, perhaps, some wit. linm 0g0:2 40­a He that would study thy lsnig 0:0 A214v content, ln 0022 T. H. ln 0001 Dramatis personae. ln 0002 TWo Sea Captains. A kitchen Maid; by Master ln 0003 Master Carrol, a Gentleman. Anthony Furner. ln 0004 Master Spencer. By Master The Mayor of Foy, an Alderman, ln 0005 Michael Bowyer. and a servant. ln 0006 Captain Goodlack, Spencer’s A Spanish Captain by. C. Goad ln 0007 friend; by Master Richard An English Merchant; by ln 0008 Perkins. Robert Axell. ln 0009 Two Vintner’s boys. Mullisheg, King of Fez, by ln 0010 Bess Bridges, The fair Master William Allen. ln 0011 Maid of the west; by Hugh Bashaw Alcade; by Master ln 0012 Clark. Wilbraham. ln 0013 Master Forset, a Gentleman; Bashaw Joffer. ln 0014 by Christopher Goad. Two Spanish Captains. ln 0015 Master Roughman, a swaggering A French Merchant. ln 0016 Gentleman; by William An Italian Merchant. ln 0017 Shearlock. A Chorus. ln 0018 Clem, a drawer of wine The Earl of Essex going ln 0019 under Bess Bridges; by Mr. to Cales: the Mayor of Plymouth, ln 0020 William Robinson. with Petitioners, ln 0021 Three Sailors. A Surgeon. Mutes, personated. wln 0001 Prologue. wln 0002 AMongst the Grecians there were annual feasts, wln 0003 To which none were invited as chief guests, wln 0004 Save Princes and their Wives. Amongst the men, wln 0005 There was no argument disputed then, wln 0006 But who best governed: And (as’t did appear) wln 0007 He was esteemed sole Sovereign for that year. wln 0008 The Queens and Ladies argued at that time, wln 0009 For Virtue and for beauty which was prime, wln 0010 And she had the high honor. Two here be, wln 0011 For Beauty one, the other Majesty, wln 0012 Most worthy (did that custom still persever) wln 0013 Not for one year, but to be Sovereigns ever. img: 4­b sig: B1r wln 0014 THE FAIR MAID wln 0015 of the West: wln 0016 OR, wln 0017 A Girl worth Gold. wln 0018 Enter two Captains, and Master Carrol. wln 0019 1. Captain wln 0020 When puts my Lord to Sea? wln 0021 2. Captain When the wind’s fair. wln 0022 Carrol Resolve me I entreat, can you not guess wln 0023 The purpose of this voyage? wln 0024 1. Captain Most men think wln 0025 The Fleet’s bound for the Islands. wln 0026 Carrol Nay, ’tis like. wln 0027 The great success at Cales under the conduct wln 0028 Of such a Noble General, hath put heart wln 0029 Into the English: They are all on fire wln 0030 To purchase from the Spaniard. If their Carracks wln 0031 Come deeply laden, we shall tug with them wln 0032 For golden spoil. wln 0033 2. Captain O, were it come to that! wln 0034 1 Captain How Plymouth swells with Gallants! how the streets wln 0035 Glister with gold! You cannot meet a man wln 0036 But tricked in scarf and feather, that it seems wln 0037 As if the pride of England’s Gallantry wln 0038 Were harbored here. It doth appear (methinks) wln 0039 A very Court of Soldiers. wln 0040 Carrol It doth so. img: 5­a sig: B1v wln 0041 Where shall we dine today? wln 0042 2. Captain At the next Tavern by; there’s the best wine, wln 0043 1 Captain And the best wench, Bess Bridges, she’s the flower wln 0044 Of Plymouth held: the Castle needs no bush, wln 0045 Her beauty draws to them more gallant Customers wln 0046 Than all the signs i’ th’ town else. wln 0047 2. Captain A sweet Lass, wln 0048 If I have any judgement. wln 0049 1. Captain Now in troth wln 0050 I think she’s honest. wln 0051 Carrol Honest, and live there? wln 0052 What, in a public Tavern, where’s such confluence wln 0053 Of lusty and brave Gallants? Honest said you? wln 0054 2. Captain I vow she is for me. wln 0055 1. Captain For all, I think. I’m sure she’s wondrous modest. wln 0056 Carrol But withal wln 0057 Exceeding affable. wln 0058 2 Captain An argument that she’s not proud. wln 0059 Carrol No, were she proud, she’d fall. wln 0060 1 Captain Well, she’s a most attractive Adamant, wln 0061 Her very beauty hath upheld that house, wln 0062 And gained her master much. wln 0063 Carrol That Adamant wln 0064 Shall for this time draw me too, we’ll dine there. wln 0065 2. Captain No better motion: Come to the Castle then. wln 0066 Enter Master Spencer, and Captain Goodlack. wln 0067 Goodlack What, to the old house still? wln 0068 Spencer Canst blame me, Captain, wln 0069 Believe me, I was never surprised till now, wln 0070 Or catched upon the sudden. wln 0071 Goodlack Pray resolve me, wln 0072 Why being a Gentleman of fortunes, means, wln 0073 And well revenued, will you adventure thus wln 0074 A doubtful voyage, when only such as I wln 0075 Born to no other fortunes then my sword img: 5­b sig: B2r wln 0076 Should seek abroad for pillage. wln 0077 Spencer Pillage, Captain? wln 0078 No, ’tis for honor; And the brave society wln 0079 Of all these shining Gallants that attend wln 0080 The great Lord General, drew me hither first: wln 0081 No hope of gain or spoil.