• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

HOST.

Sir, you are welcome to this house, to such as here is with all my heart, but, by the mass, I fear your lodging will be the worst. I have but two beds, and they are both in a chamber, and the carrier and his daughter lies in the one, and you and your wife must lie in the other.

COBHAM.

In faith, sir, for my self I do not greatly pass.

My wife is weary, and would be at rest,

For we have travelled very far today;

We must be content with such as you have.

HOST.

But I cannot tell how to do with your man.

HARPOOLE.

What, hast thou never an empty room in thy house for me?

HOST.

Not a bed, by my troth: there came a poor Irish man, and

I lodged him in the barn, where he has fair straw, though

he have nothing else.

HARPOOLE.

Well, mine host, I pray thee help me to a pair of fair sheets, and I'll go lodge with him.

HOST.

By the mass, that thou shalt; a good pair of hempen sheets, were never lain in: Come.

[Exeunt.]

ACT V. SCENE V. The same. A street.

[Enter Constable, Mayor, and Watch.]

MAYOR.

What? have you searched the town?

CONSTABLE.

All the town, sir; we have not left a house unsearched that uses to lodge.

MAYOR.

Surely, my lord of Rochester was then deceived,

Or ill informed of sir John Old-castle,

Or if he came this way he's past the town.

He could not else have scaped you in the search.

CONSTABLE.

The privy watch hath been abroad all night,

And not a stranger lodgeth in the town

But he is known; only a lusty priest

We found in bed with a pretty wench,

That says she is his wife—yonder at the sheeres;

But we have charged the host with his forth coming

Tomorrow morning.

MAYOR.

What think you best to do?

CONSTABLE.

Faith, master mayor, here's a few straggling houses beyond the bridge, and a little Inn where carriers use to lodge, though I think sure he would ne'er lodge there: but we'll go search, & the rather, because there came notice to the town the last night of an Irish man, that had done a murder, whom we are to make search for.

MAYOR.

Come, I pray you, and be circumspect.

[Exeunt.]

ACT V. SCENE VI. The same. Before the Carrier's Inn. Enter Watch.

FIRST WATCH.

First beset the house, before you begin the search.

SECOND WATCH.

Content; every man take a several place.

[Here is heard a great noise within. Keep, keep, strike him down there, down with him]]

[Enter Constable with the Irish man in Harpoole's apparel.]

CONSTABLE.

Come, you villainous heretic, confess where your master is.

IRISHMAN.

Vat mester?

MAYOR.

Vat mester, you counterfeit rebel? this shall not serve your turn.

IRISHMAN.

Be sent Patrick I ha no mester.

CONSTABLE.

Where's the lord Cobham, sir John Old-castle, that lately is escaped out of the Tower?

IRISHMAN.

Vat lort Cobham?

MAYOR.

You counterfeit, this shall not serve you; we'll torture

you, we'll make you to confess where that arch-heretic,

Lord Cobham, is: come, bind him fast.

IRISHMAN.

Ahone, ahone, ahone, a Cree!

CONSTABLE.

Ahone, you crafty rascal!

[Exeunt.]

ACT V. SCENE VII. The same. The yard of the Inn.

[Lord Cobham comes out in his gown stealing.]

COBHAM.

Harpoole, Harpoole, I hear a marvelous noise about the house: God warrant us, I fear we are pursued: what, Harpoole.

HARPOOLE.

[Within.] Who calls there?

COBHAM.

Tis I; dost thou not hear a noise about the house?

HARPOOLE.

Yes, mary, do I:—zwounds, I can not find my hose; this Irish rascal that was lodged with me all night hath stolen my apparel, and has left me nothing but a lowsy mantle, and a pair of brogues. Get up, get up, and if the carrier and his wench be asleep, change you with them as he hath done with me, and see if we can escape.

[Exit lord Cobham.]

[A hoise again heard about the house, a pretty while; then enter the Constable, meeting Harpoole in the Irish man's apparel.]

CONSTABLE.

Stand close, here comes the Irish man that did the murther; by all tokens, this is he.

MAYOR.

And perceiving the house beset, would get away.

Stand, sirra.

HARPOOLE.

What are thou that bidst me stand?