DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

Sir ARTHUR CLARINGTON.
Old THORNEY, a gentleman.
Carter, a rich yeoman.
Old Banks, a countryman.
RATCLIFFE.
W. Mago,
W. HAMLUC,
RowLAND, and several other countrymen.
WARBECK,

suitors to CARTER's daughters.
SOMERTON,
FRANK, THORNEY's son.
Cuddy Banks, the clown.
Morrice-dancers.
SAWGUT, an old fiddler.
Justice, Constable, Officers, Serving-men and

maids. Dog, a familiar. A Spirit.

WOMEN.

Mother SAWYER, the WITCH.
Ann, RATCLIFFE's wife.
SUSAN,
KATHERINE,
WINNIFREDE, Sir ARTHUR's maid.

} Carter's daughters.

Scene. The town and neighbourhood of Edmonton.

In the end of the last Act, London.

The whole Argument is this distich :

Forced marriage, murder ; murder blood requires ;
Reproach, revenge ; revenge, hell's help desires.

THE WITCH OF EDMONTON.

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Neighbourhood of Edmonton.- A Room in the

House of Sir ARTHUR CLARINGTON.

Enter FRANK THORNEY and WINNIFREDE.

Frank. Come, wench ; why, here's a business

soon dispatch’d. Thy heart I know is now at ease: thou need'st

not
Fear what the tattling gossips in their cups
Can speak against thy fame; thy child shall know
Whom to call dad now.

Win. You have [here] discharg'd
The true part of an honest man; I cannot
Request a fuller satisfaction
Than you have freely granted: yet methinks
'Tis an hard case, being lawful man and wife,
We should not live together.

Frank. Had I fail'd
In promise of my truth to thee, we must
Have then been ever sunder’d; now the longest

Of our forbearing either's company,
Is only but to gain a little time
For our continuing thrift; that so, hereafter,
The heir that shall be born may not have cause
To curse his hour of birth, which made him feel
The misery of beggary and want;
Two devils that are occasions to enforce
A shameful end. My plots aim but to keep
My father's love.

Win. And that will be as difficult
To be preserv’d, when he shall understand
How
you

are married, as it will be now, Should you confess it to him.

Frank. Fathers are
Won by degrees, not bluntly, as our masters
Or wronged friends are; and besides I'll use
Such dutiful and ready means, that ere
He can have notice of what's past, th’ inheritance
To which I am born heir, shall be assured ;
That done, why let him know it: if he like it not,
Yet he shall have no power in him left
To cross the thriving of it.

Win. You who had
The conquest of my maiden-love, may easily
Conquer the fears of my distrust.

distrust. And whither Must I be hurried ?

Frank. Prithee do not use A word so much unsuitable to the constant Affections of thy husband : thou shalt live Near Waltham-Abbey, with thy uncle Selman; I have acquainted him with all at large :