Slip. A good word, thou hast won me; this word is like a warm
     caudle to a cold stomach.

  Sir B. Sirrah, wilt thou for money and reward
  Convey me certain letters, out of hand,
  From out thy master’s pocket?

     Slip. Will I, Sir?  Why were it to rob my father, hang my mother,
     or any such like trifles, I am at your commandment, Sir.  What will
     you give me, Sir?

     Sir B. A hundred pounds.

     Slip. I am your man; give me earnest.  I am dead at a pocket, Sir;
     why I am a lifter, master, by occupation.

     Sir B. A lifter! what is that?

     Slip.  Why, Sir, I can lift a pot as well as any man, and pick a
     purse as soon as any thief in the country.

These humorous characters remind us a little of the slaves and parasites in Roman comedy, of whom, no doubt, Greene had read.  His amusing fellows are free livers, and fond of wine like himself.  In the “Looking-Glasse” above mentioned, Nineveh represents London, and a fast being proclaimed, we find Adam, a smith’s journeyman, trying to evade it.

     (Enter Adam solus, with a bottle of beer in one slop (trouser) and
     a great piece of beef in the other.)

Adam. Well, goodman Jonas, I would you had never come from Jewry to this country; you have made me look like a lean rib of roast beef, or like the picture of Lent, painted upon a red-herring’s cob.  Alas! masters, we are commanded by the proclamation to fast and pray!  By my troth, I could prettily so, so away with praying, but for fasting, why ’tis so contrary to my nature, that I had rather suffer a short hanging than a long fasting.  Mark me, the words be these:  thou shalt take no manner of food for so many days.  I had as lief he should have said, thou shalt hang thyself for so many days.  And yet, in faith, I need not find fault with the proclamation, for I have a buttery and a pantry and a kitchen about me; for proof, ecce signum!  This right slop is my pantry, behold a manchet; this place is my kitchen, for lo! a piece of beef.  O! let me repeat that sweet word again!—­for lo! a piece of beef.  This is my buttery, for see, see, my friends, to my great joy a bottle of beer.  Thus, alas!  I make shift to wear out this fasting; I drive away the time.  But there go searchers about to seek if any man breaks the king’s command.  O, here they be; in with your victuals, Adam.

     (Enter two Searchers.)

     1st Searcher. How duly the men of Nineveh keep the proclamation!
     how they are armed to repentance!  We have searched through the
     whole city, and have not as yet found one that breaks the fast.

     2nd Sear. The sign of the more grace; but stay, there sits one,
     methinks at his prayers; let us see who it is.