The Life of Sir John Oldcastle [16]
the malt-man comes on
Monday.
DOLL.
You might have left me at Cobham, until you had been
better provided for.
PRIEST.
No, sweet Doll, no: I do not like that. Yond old ruffian is
not for the priest: I do not like a new clerk should come in
the old belfry.
DOLL.
Ah, thou art a mad priest, yfaith.
PRIEST.
Come, Doll; I'll see thee safe at some alehouse here at Cray,
and the next sheep that comes shall leave his fleece.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III. SCENE IV. Blackheath.
[Enter the King, Suffolk and Butler.]
KING.
[In great haste.] My lord of Suffolk, post away for life,
And let our forces of such horse and foot,
As can be gathered up by any means,
Make speedy rendezvous in Tuttle fields.
It must be done this evening, my Lord;
This night the rebels mean to draw to head
Near Islington, which if your speed prevent not,
If once they should unite their several forces,
Their power is almost thought invincible.
Away, my Lord; I will be with you soon.
SUFFOLK.
I go, my Sovereign, with all happy speed.
[Exit.]
KING.
Make haste, my lord of Suffolk, as you love us.
Butler, post you to London with all speed;
Command the Mayor and shrieves, on their allegiance,
The city gates be presently shut up
And guarded with a strong sufficient watch,
And not a man be suffered to pass
Without a special warrant from our self.
Command the Postern by the Tower be kept,
And proclamation, on the pain of death,
That not a citizen stir from his doors,
Except such as the Mayor and Shrieves shall choose
For their own guard and safety of their persons.
Butler, away; have care unto my charge.
BUTLER.
I go, my Sovereign.
KING.
Butler!
BUTLER.
My Lord.
KING.
Go down by Greenwich, and command a boat
At the Friar's bridge attend my coming down.
BUTLER.
I will, my Lord.
[Exit.]
KING.
It's time, I think, to look unto rebellion,
When Acton doth expect unto his aid
No less than fifty thousand Londoners.
Well, I'll to Westminster in this disguise,
To hear what news is stirring in these brawls.
[Enter sir John and Doll.]
SIR JOHN.
Stand, true-man! says a thief.
KING.
Stand, thief! says a true man. How if a thief?
SIR JOHN.
Stand, thief, too.
KING.
Then, thief or true-man, I see I must stand. I see,
how soever the world wags, the trade of thieving yet
will never down. What art thou?
SIR JOHN.
A good fellow.
KING.
So am I too. I see thou dost know me.
SIR JOHN.
If thou be a good fellow, play the good fellow's part:
deliver thy purse without more ado.
KING.
I have no money.
SIR JOHN.
I must make you find some before we part. If you have
no money, you shall have war: as many sound dry blows
as your skin can carry.
KING.
Is that the plain truth?
SIR JOHN.
Sirra, no more ado; come, come, give me the money you
have. Dispatch, I cannot stand all day.
KING.
Well, if thou wilt needs have it, there tis: just the proverb,
one thief robs another. Where the devil are all my old
thieves, that were wont to keep this walk? Falstaff, the
villain, is so fat, he cannot get on's horse, but me thinks
Poines and Peto should be stirring here about.
SIR JOHN.
How much is there on't, of thy word?
KING.
A hundred pound in Angels, on my word.
The time has been I would have done as much
For thee, if thou hadst past this way, as I have now.
SIR JOHN.
Sirra, what art thou? thou seem'st a gentleman.
KING.
I am no less; yet a poor one now, for thou hast all my money.
SIR JOHN.
>From whence cam'st thou?
KING.
>From the court at Eltham.
SIR JOHN.
Art thou one of the King's servants?
KING.
Yes, that I am, and one of his chamber.
SIR JOHN.
I am glad thou art no worse; thou mayest the better spare thy
money: & thinkst thou thou mightst get a poor thief his
pardon, if he should have need.
KING.
Yes, that I can.
SIR JOHN.
Wilt thou do so much for me, when I shall have occasion?
KING.
Yes, faith will I, so it be for no murther.
SIR JOHN.
Nay, I am a pitiful thief; all the hurt I do a
Monday.
DOLL.
You might have left me at Cobham, until you had been
better provided for.
PRIEST.
No, sweet Doll, no: I do not like that. Yond old ruffian is
not for the priest: I do not like a new clerk should come in
the old belfry.
DOLL.
Ah, thou art a mad priest, yfaith.
PRIEST.
Come, Doll; I'll see thee safe at some alehouse here at Cray,
and the next sheep that comes shall leave his fleece.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III. SCENE IV. Blackheath.
[Enter the King, Suffolk and Butler.]
KING.
[In great haste.] My lord of Suffolk, post away for life,
And let our forces of such horse and foot,
As can be gathered up by any means,
Make speedy rendezvous in Tuttle fields.
It must be done this evening, my Lord;
This night the rebels mean to draw to head
Near Islington, which if your speed prevent not,
If once they should unite their several forces,
Their power is almost thought invincible.
Away, my Lord; I will be with you soon.
SUFFOLK.
I go, my Sovereign, with all happy speed.
[Exit.]
KING.
Make haste, my lord of Suffolk, as you love us.
Butler, post you to London with all speed;
Command the Mayor and shrieves, on their allegiance,
The city gates be presently shut up
And guarded with a strong sufficient watch,
And not a man be suffered to pass
Without a special warrant from our self.
Command the Postern by the Tower be kept,
And proclamation, on the pain of death,
That not a citizen stir from his doors,
Except such as the Mayor and Shrieves shall choose
For their own guard and safety of their persons.
Butler, away; have care unto my charge.
BUTLER.
I go, my Sovereign.
KING.
Butler!
BUTLER.
My Lord.
KING.
Go down by Greenwich, and command a boat
At the Friar's bridge attend my coming down.
BUTLER.
I will, my Lord.
[Exit.]
KING.
It's time, I think, to look unto rebellion,
When Acton doth expect unto his aid
No less than fifty thousand Londoners.
Well, I'll to Westminster in this disguise,
To hear what news is stirring in these brawls.
[Enter sir John and Doll.]
SIR JOHN.
Stand, true-man! says a thief.
KING.
Stand, thief! says a true man. How if a thief?
SIR JOHN.
Stand, thief, too.
KING.
Then, thief or true-man, I see I must stand. I see,
how soever the world wags, the trade of thieving yet
will never down. What art thou?
SIR JOHN.
A good fellow.
KING.
So am I too. I see thou dost know me.
SIR JOHN.
If thou be a good fellow, play the good fellow's part:
deliver thy purse without more ado.
KING.
I have no money.
SIR JOHN.
I must make you find some before we part. If you have
no money, you shall have war: as many sound dry blows
as your skin can carry.
KING.
Is that the plain truth?
SIR JOHN.
Sirra, no more ado; come, come, give me the money you
have. Dispatch, I cannot stand all day.
KING.
Well, if thou wilt needs have it, there tis: just the proverb,
one thief robs another. Where the devil are all my old
thieves, that were wont to keep this walk? Falstaff, the
villain, is so fat, he cannot get on's horse, but me thinks
Poines and Peto should be stirring here about.
SIR JOHN.
How much is there on't, of thy word?
KING.
A hundred pound in Angels, on my word.
The time has been I would have done as much
For thee, if thou hadst past this way, as I have now.
SIR JOHN.
Sirra, what art thou? thou seem'st a gentleman.
KING.
I am no less; yet a poor one now, for thou hast all my money.
SIR JOHN.
>From whence cam'st thou?
KING.
>From the court at Eltham.
SIR JOHN.
Art thou one of the King's servants?
KING.
Yes, that I am, and one of his chamber.
SIR JOHN.
I am glad thou art no worse; thou mayest the better spare thy
money: & thinkst thou thou mightst get a poor thief his
pardon, if he should have need.
KING.
Yes, that I can.
SIR JOHN.
Wilt thou do so much for me, when I shall have occasion?
KING.
Yes, faith will I, so it be for no murther.
SIR JOHN.
Nay, I am a pitiful thief; all the hurt I do a