The Life of Sir John Oldcastle [27]
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?
CONSTABLE.
I am the Officer, and am come to search for an Irish
man, such a villain as thy self, that hast murthered a
man this last night by the high way.
HARPOOLE.
Sblood, Constable, art thou mad? am I an Irish man?
MAYOR.
Sirra, we'll find you an Irish man before we part: lay
hold upon him.
CONSTABLE.
Make him fast. O thou bloody rogue!
[Enter Lord Cobham and his lady in the carrier and
wenches apparel.]
COBHAM.
What, will these Ostlers sleep all day?
Good morrow, good morrow. Come, wench, come.
Saddle! saddle! Now afore God too fair days, ha?
CONSTABLE.
Who comes there?
MAYOR.
Oh, tis Lancashire carrier; let him pass.
COBHAM.
What, will no body open the gates here?
Come, let's int stable to look to our capons.
[Exeunt Cobham and his Lady.]
[The carrier calling.]
CLUB.
[Calling.] Host! why ostler! zwooks, here's such