A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. VII (4th edition) - Various
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JOHN. What wouldst thou with a sword, old Fauconbridge?
GLO. O sir, to make show in his defence,
For I have left him yonder at a house,
A friend's of mine, an honest citizen.
JOHN. We'll fetch him thence.
GLO. Nay, then, you injure me. Stay, till he come; he's in a russet cloak,
And must attend me like a serving-man.
JOHN. Hold, there's my sword, and with my sword my heart.
Bring him, for God's sake, and for thy desert
My brother king and mother queen shall love thee.
GLO. Mark me, good prince; yonder away we come,
I go afore, and Gloster follows me;
Let not the sheriff nor Richard meddle with us.
Begin you first; seize Gloster, and arrest him.
I'll draw and lay about me here and here;
Be heedful that your watchmen hurt me not.
JOHN. I'll hang him that doth hurt thee; prythee, away,
I love thee; but thou kill'st me with delay.
GLO. Well, keep close watch; I'll bring him presently.
JOHN, Away then quickly.
GLO. Gloster, close, master sheriff, Prince Richard.
RICH. Gloster, adieu.
GLO. I trust you.
RICH. By my knighthood, I'll prove true.
[_Exit_ GLOSTER.
JOHN. Revenge, I'll build a temple to your name;
And the first offering shall be Gloster's head,
Thy altars shall be sprinkled with the blood,
Whose wanton current his mad humour fed;
He was a rhymer and a riddler,
A scoffer at my mother, prais'd my father:
I'll fit him now for all--escape and all.
RICH. Take heed spite burst not in his proper gall.
SCENE THE TWENTIETH.
_Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK.
JOHN. How now, what way took Fauconbridge, I wonder?
That is not Gloster, sure, that attends on him?
FAU. He came not at the sheriff's by the morrow-mass,
I sought the Goldsmiths' row, and found him not;
Sirrah, y'are sure he sent not home my chain?
BLO. Who should send [home] your chain, sir?
FAU. The prince, Prince John; I lent it him to-day.
JOHN. What's this they talk?
BLO. By my truth, sir, and ye lent it him, I think you may go look it:
for one of the drawers of the Salutation told me even now, that he had
took up a chamber there till evening, and then he will away to Kent.
FAU. Body of me, he means to spend my chain.
Come, Block; I'll to him.
JOHN. Hear you, Fauconbridge;
FAU. Why, what a knave art thou? yonder's Prince John.
BLO. Then the drawer's a knave; he told me Prince John was at the
Salutation.
JOHN. Where's Gloster, Fauconbridge?
FAU. Sweet prince, I know not.
JOHN. Come, jest not with me: tell me where he is?
FAU. I never saw him since the Parl'ament.
JOHN. Impudent liar, didst thou not even now
Say thou wouldst fetch him? Hadst thou not my sword?
FAU. Wert thou a king, I will not bear the lie.
Thy sword? no, boy; thou seest this sword is mine.
BLO. My master a liar? Zounds, wert thou a potentate!
FAU. I scorn to wear thy arms, untutor'd child,
I fetch thee, Gloster, shameless did I see thee,
Since as I went this morning to the Sheriffs,
Thou borrow'dst my gold chain!
JOHN. Thy chain?
FAU. I hope thou wilt not cheat me, princocks John!
JOHN. I'll cheat thee of thy life, if thou charge me
With any chain.
FAU. Come, let him come, I pray,
I'll whip ye, boy, I'll teach you to out-face.
BLO. Come, come, come! but one at once; ye dastards, come.
RICH. Keep the king's peace, I see you are both deceiv'd,
He that was last here was not Fauconbridge.
FAU. They slander me; who says that I was here?
RICH. We do believe ye, sir; nor do you think
My brother John deceiv'd you of a chain.
FAU. He did; I did deliver it with this hand.
JOHN. I'll die upon the slanderer.
FAU. Let the boy come.
BLO. Aye, let him come, let him come.
RICH. Fellow, thou speak'st even now, as if Prince John
Had been at some old tavern in the town!
BLO. Aye, sir, I came up now but from the Salutation,
And a drawer, that doth not use to lie, told me
Prince John hath been there all this afternoon.
JOHN. The devil in my likeness then is there.
FAU. The devil in thy likeness or thyself
Had my gold chain.
JOHN. Thou art the devil; for thou
Hadst my good sword, all these can witness it.
FAU. God's mother, thou beliest me.
JOHN. Give me the lie?
RICH. Nay, calm this fury; let's down to the tavern;
Or one or both: these counterfeits are there.
FAU. I know him well enough, that had my chain,
And there be two Johns, if I find one there.
By'r Lady, I will lay him fast.
RICH. It is this Skink that mocks us, I believe.
JOHN. Alas, poor Skink; it is the devil Gloster,
Who if I be so happy once to find,
I'll give contentment to his troubled mind.
RICH. I hope he's far enough, and free enough,
Yet these conceits, I know, delight his soul. [_Aside_.
Follow me, Blocker, follow me, honest Blocker.
BLO. Much follow you! I have another piece of work in hand; I hear say
Redcap's father shall be hanged this afternoon, I'll see him slip a
string, though I give my service the slip; besides, my lady bad me hear
his examination at his death. I'll get a good place, and pen it word for
word, and as I like it, let out a mournful ditty to the tune of
"Labandalashot," or "Row Well, ye Mariners," or somewhat as my muse
shall me invoke.
[_Exit_.
SCENE THE TWENTY-FIRST.
_Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE, _with a_ PURSUIVANT;
GLOSTER _having a paper in his hand, the_ PURSUIVANT _bare_.
GLO. A charitable deed, God bless the king;
He shall be then reprieved.
PUR. Ay, sir, some day or two,
Till the young king and Prince John change it--
Especially if the good earl be not found,
Which God forbid!
GLO. What house is this,
That we are stepp'd into, to read this warrant in?
PUR. A tavern, sir, the Salutation.
GLO. A tavern?
Then I will turn prodigal; call for a pint
Of sack, good fellow.
PUR. Drawer!
DRA. [_Within_.] Anon, sir.
_Enter_ DRAWER.
GLO. A pint of thy best sack, my pretty youth.
DRA. God bless your worship, sir;
Ye shall have the best in London, sir.
GLO. What, know'st thou me I know'st thou old Fauconbridge?
I am no tavern-h[a]unter, I can tell thee.
DRA. But my master hath taken many a fair pound
Of your man Block; he was here to-day, sir,
And emptied[500] two bottles of nippitate[501] sack.
GLO. Well, fill us of your nippitate, sir;
This is well chanced. But hear[502] ye, boy!
Bring sugar in white paper, not in brown;
For in white paper I have here a trick,
Shall make the pursuivant first swoon, then sick. [_Aside_.
Thou honest fellow, what's thy name?
PUR. My name is Winterborne, sir.
GLO. What countryman, I prythee?
PUR. Barkshire, and please ye.
GLO. How long hast thou been sworn a messenger?
PUR. But yesterday, and please your worship,
This is the first employment I have had.
_Enter_ DRAWER, _with wine and sugar_.
GLO. A good beginning; here, have to thee, fellow;
Thou art my fellow, now thou servest the king,
Nay, take sugar too, God's Lady dear!
I put it in my pocket; but it's here:
Drink a good draught, I prythee, Winterborne.
[_He drinks and falls over the stool_.
DRA. O Lord, Sir Richard, the man, the man!
GLO. What a forgetful beast am I! Peace, boy,
It is his fashion ever, when he drinks.
Fellow, he hath the falling sickness;
Run, fetch two cushions to raise up his head,
And bring a little key to ope his teeth. [_Exit_ DRAWER.
Pursuivant, your warrant and your box--
These must with me; the shape of Fauconbridge
Will hold no longer water hereabout.
Gloster will be a Proteus every hour,
That Elinor and Leicester, Henry, John,
And all that rabble of hate-loving curs,
May minister me more mirth to play upon.
_Re-enter_ DRAWER, _with an_ ASSISTANT.
DRA. Here's a key, sir, and one of our folk to help.
GLO. No matter for a key; help him but in,
And lay him by the fire a little while,
He'll wake immediately; but be [not] heart-sick.
There's money for a candle and thy wine,
I'll go but up unto your alderman's,
And come down presently to comfort him.
[_Exeunt_.
SKINK. [_Within_.] Drawer! what Drawer? with a vengeance, Drawer!
DRA. [_Within_.] Speak in the Crown[503] there.
SCENE THE TWENTY-SECOND.
_Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE JOHN.
SKINK. They be come; the devil crown ye one by one.
Skink, thou'rt betray'd, that Master Fauconbridge,
Missing some of his chain has got thee dogg'd.
Drawer! what Drawer?
DRA. Anon, anon, sir.
SKINK. Was not Sir Richard Fauconbridge below?
DRA. Yes, and please ye.
SKINK. It does not please me well. Knows he that I am here?
DRA. No, I protest.
SKINK. Come hither, sirrah. I have little money;
But there's some few links of a chain of gold.
Upon your honesty, knows not Sir Richard
That I am here?
DRA. No, by my holy-dam.
SKINK. Who's that was with him?
DRA. Why, a pursuivant.
SKINK. Where is Sir Richard?
DRA. At the alderman's.
SKINK. A pursuivant, and at the alderman's?
What pig, or goose, or capon, have you kill'd
Within your kitchen new?
DRA. A pig new-stick'd.
SKINK. Fetch me a saucer of the blood; quick, run; [_Exit_ DRAWER.
I'll fit the pursuivant, and alderman,
And Fauconbridge, if Skink have any wit.
Well, Gloster, I did never love thee yet;
But thou'st the maddest lord that e'er I met.
If I 'scape this, and meet thee once again,
Curse Skink, if he die penny in thy debt.
_Re-enter_ DRAWER.
DRA. O my lord, the house is full of halberts, and a great many
gentlemen ask for the room where Prince John is.
SKINK. Lend me thy apron; run and fetch a pot from the next room.
Betray'd, swounds, betray'd by gout, by palsy, by dropsy--
_Re-enter_ DRAWER _with a pot_.
O brave boy, excellent blood! up, take my cloak
And my hat to thy share; when I come from Kent, I'll pay
Thee like a king.
DRA. I thank you, my lord.
[_Exit_ DRAWER.
SCENE THE TWENTY-THIRD.
_Enter_ JOHN, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE, SHERIFFS, _and_ OFFICERS.
SKINK. Now, fortune, help or never. They come--_and ye were a prince,
as ye say ye are, ye would be ashamed to abuse a poor servant thus;
but and if ye were not of the blood royal, I'd break the neck of ye
down the stairs, so would I, I'd teach you to hurt 'prentices_.
RICH. Who hurt thee, fellow?
SKINK. Prince devil or his dam; Prince John they call him.
JOHN. Gloster, I hope.
RICH. I doubt not but 'tis Skink.
JOHN. Where is he?
SKINK. Up them stairs; take heed of him,
He's in the Crown.
FAU. Alas, poor fellow, he hath crown'd thee shrewdly.
JOHN. In recompence, if it be him I seek,
I'll give thee his whole head to tread upon.
Follow me, brother; come, old Fauconbridge;
Keep the stairs, sheriff. You see, it waxeth dark;
Take heed he slip not by you.
[_Exeunt_.
SKINK. Hang yourselves, this darkness shall convey me out of doors,
I'll swim the Thames, but I'll attain Blackheath.
London, farewell; curse, John, rave, Fauconbridge!
Skink 'scapes you all by twilight's privilege.
[_Exit_.
WITHIN. Where is he? lights, bring lights; drag out that boy.
_Enter all with the_ BOY.
JOHN. This is my cloak, my hat, my rapier;
And either it was Skink or Gloster.
DRA. I know not who 'twas, sir; he said he was Prince John; he took
away my apron and a pottle-pot with him, and all-to blooded his head
and face.
FAU. We met him, by St Anthony, we met him!
JOHN. The fire of St Anthony confound
This changing counterfeit, whatsoever he be.
RICH. It makes me laugh at envious greediness,
Who feeds upon her own heart's bitterness.
JOHN. Sirrah, you that were born to cry anon,
What other copes-mates have you in the house?
DRA. Sir, my master's gues's[504] be none of my copesmates.
JOHN. Well, your gues's! can you guess who they be?
DRA. Marry, here's a pursuivant, that this gentleman, sir, Richard
Fauconbridge, left sick even now.
FAU. Marry of God, did I, thou lying knave?
DRA. I am a poor boy, sir; your worship may say your pleasure; our
maids have had a foul hand with him. You said he would be sick; so he
is, with a witness.
JOHN. Look about, Fauconbridge, here's work for you!
You have some evil angel in your shape.
Go, sirrah, bring us forth that Pursuivant.
_Enter two, leading the_ PURSUIVANT, _sick_.
RICH. Gloster, thou wilt be too-too venturous;
Thou dost delight in those odd humours so,
That much I fear they'll be thy overthrow. [_Aside_.
PUR. O, O, O, not too fast; O, I am sick, O, very sick.
JOHN. What picture of the pestilence is this?
PUR. A poor man, sir, a poor man, sir: down, I pray ye; I pray, let me
sit down. Ah, Sir Richard, Sir Richard! Ah, good Sir Richard! what, have
I deserv'd to be thus dealt withal at your worship's hands? Ah! ah! ah!
FAU. At my hands, knave? at my hands, paltry knave?
DRA. And I should be brought to my book-oath, sir.
WITHIN. What, Jeffrey?
DRA. Anon, anon.
JOHN. A plague upon your Jeffring; is your name Jeffrey?
DRA. Ay, and't please you, sir.
RICH. Why, gentle Jeffrey, then stay you awhile,
What can you say, if you come to your book?
DRA. If I be pos'd upon a book, sir, though I be a poor 'prentice,
I must speak the truth, and nothing but the truth, sir.
JOHN. And what's your truth, sir?
PUR. O, O my heart.
DRA. Marry, sir, this knight, this man of worship--
FAU. Well, what of me? what did my worship do?
DRA. Marry, ye came into the Bell--our room next the bar--with this
honest man, as I take it.
FAU. As thou tak'st it?
PUR. O, sir, 'tis too true, too true, too true. O Lord.
DRA. And there he call'd for a pint of sack, as good sack (I'll be pos'd
upon all the books that ever opened and shut), as any in all Christendom.
FAU. Body of me, I come and call for sack?
PUR. O, ye did, ye did, ye did. O, O.
JOHN. Well, forward, sirrah.
RICH. Gloster hath done this jest. [_Aside_.
DRA. And you call'd then for sugar, sir, as good sugar and as wholesome,
as ever came in any cup of sack: you drank to this man, and you do well,
God be thanked--but he no sooner drank--
PUR. But I, but I, but I--O my head! O my heart!
RICH. I cannot choose but smile at these conceits.
JOHN. I am mad; and yet I must laugh at Fauconbridge:
Brother, look how Sir Richard acts his rage!
FAU. I came? I call? the man is like to die,
Practice, by the mass; practice, by the marry God!
I shall be charg'd here for a poison'd knave,
Practice, by th'Lord, practice!--I see it clear.
PUR. And more, Sir Richard. O Lord, O Sir Richard!
FAU. What more? what hast thou more? what practice more?
PUR. O my box, my box, with the king's arms! O my box,
O my box! it cost me, O Lord, every penny; O my box!
RICH. And what of your box, sir?
DRA. Marry, sir, it's lost; and 'tis well known my master keeps no
thieves in his house; O, there was none but you and he.
FAU. O, then belike thou thinkest I had his box.
PUR. O Sir Richard, I will not; O Lord, I will not charge you for all
the world; but--but--but for the warrant the old King sign'd to
reprieve the porter of the Fleet! O God, O God!
JOHN. The porter of the Fleet? the old King sign'd?--
PUR. Ay, my good lord, ay, ay.
JOHN. Is he reprieved then?
PUR. No, my lord; O, Sir Richard took it from me with his own hand, O!
FAU. Here's a device to bring me in contempt
With the old King, that I ever lov'd.
Princes and Sheriff, you can witness with me,
That I have been with you this afternoon--
Only with you, with nobody but you--
And now a fellow, whom the King would save
By a reprieve, this fellow says, is hang'd.
JOHN. If thou hadst done it, I'd have justified it;
But, Richard, I conceit this jest already:
This mad-mate Skink, this honest merry knave,
Meeting this Pursuivant, and hearing tell
He had a warrant to reprieve a slave
Whom we would hang, stole it away from him.
This is sure the jest; upon my life, it is!
PUR. O, but my warrant, how shall I do? O!
RICH. But look about you, hot-brain'd brother John,
And I believe you'll find it otherwise;
Gloster hath got the warrant in disguise,
And sav'd the fellow you so fain would hang.
JOHN. No, no; how say you, master Sheriff, is he not hang'd?
SHER. My lord, the gibbet was set up by noon
In the Old Bailey, and I charg'd my men,
If I return not, though it were by torchlight,
To see him executed, ere they come.
JOHN. I am greedy to hear news.
FAU. Robb'd of my chain, out-faced I had a sword,
Accused of poisoning, cozenage, seeking blood!
Not to be borne! it is intolerable!
RICH. Sir Richard, I prythee, have some patience.
FAU. I'll to Blackheath, talk not of patience;
It is intolerable, not to be borne.
JOHN. It is intolerable, not to be borne;
A warrant, brother; Fauconbridge, a warrant!
FAU. I saw no warrant; I defy you all.
JOHN. A slave, a pursuivant, one Winterborn.
FAU. I care not for thee that, Winterborn.
PUR. O, it is I, sir; that's my warrant.
JOHN. Is't you? you rogue, you drunkard; ye are cheated,
And we are cheated of the prisoner.
Out, dog, dog.
PUR. O, O, O, O my lord.
[_Exit with_ DRAWER.
SHER. Have patience, and we will have a privy search.
JOHN. Go hang, ye blockheads, get ye from my sight!
O, would I were a basilisk, to kill
These glear-ey'd villains.
SHER. Come away; let's leave him.
We have a warrant; let him do his worst.
[_Exeunt_ SHERIFF _and_ OFFICERS.
FAU. I'll to Blackheath, I'll to the holy hermit;
There shall I know not only these deceivers,
But how my wife plays fast and loose with Richard.
Ha! I shall fit them, I shall tickle them;
I'll do it, I'll hence, I'll to the heath amain.
[_Exit_.
JOHN. There shall I know where this damned Gloster is,
I'll have the devils rous'd to find that devil,
O[r] else I'll conjure the old conjuror.
I'll to Blackheath, and there with friends conspire,
But I'll have Gloster's head, my heart's desire.
RICH. Would mad Earl Robin saw these humourists:
'Twould feed him fit with laughter! O, 'twould fit him.
Wherever he is, I know the bare conceit
Is better to him than his daintiest food.
Well, and it fits me well, now I have time,
To court my Lady Fauconbridge at leisure.
Love, I implore thy aid; fair Cipria,
Thou sea-born mother at affection's ring,
Shine brightly in thy sphere, that art[505] my star,
My planet, thou of all lights most beauteous,
Be thou to my desires auspicious.
[_Exit_.
SCENE THE TWENTY-FOURTH.
_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _in the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE'S
_gown, night attire on his head_.
ROB. O, for this lady! Was never poor gentleman troubled with
gentlewoman as I am with myself! My Lady Fauconbridge hath fitted me
a turn. Here I am, visited with sleeveless errands and with asking for
_This thing, Madam_, and _That thing, Madam_, that they make me almost
mad in earnest. Whoop, here's another client.
_Enter a_ SERVING-MAN.
SER. Here's my Lady Rawford's page attends to speak with your ladyship.
ROB. I pray ye bid her lordship's page come into my Ladyship.
[_Exit_. SERVINGMAN.]
Well, Robin Hood, part with these petticoats,
And cast these loose devices from thy back,
I'll ne'er go more untruss'd, never be kerchief'd,
Never have this ado with _what do you lack_?
_Enter_ PAGE.
PAGE. Madam, my lady greets your honour kindly,
And sends you the first grapes of her young vine.
ROB. I am much indebted to her honour, there's an angel for you to
drink; set them up till after supper. Humphrey, pray look about for
Block. Humphrey! trust me, I think the fool be lost.
PAGE. No, forsooth, madam, he's upon the green, jesting with a
stammerer, one Redcap.
ROB. It is a lewd fellow; pray, bid him come in, youth; I'll give him
his welcome at the door. Commend me to your lady, I pray ye, heartily.
[_Exit_ PAGE.
Humphrey, I marvel where Sir Richard is so late! Truly, truly, he does
not as beseems a gentleman of his calling; pray, let some go forth to
meet him on the green, and send in that blockhead Block.
[_Exit_ HUMPHREY.
_Enter_ REDCAP, _and_ BLOCK _after him_.
BLO. Will ye tell tales, ye ass, will ye?
RED. I'll te-te-tell your la-la-lady, or I would to G-God we were
ha-hang'd else, as my fa-father should have been.
ROB. Now, what's the matter there, I pray you? What company have you
there, a-God's name? where spend you the day, I pray?
BLO. Why, where you gave me leave; at the gallows I was--no farther.
RED. A-a-and you be his la-lady, you are the La-Lady Fau-Fauconbridge,
the Earl of Glo-Gloster's sister.
ROB. I am so, fellow.
RED. Y-y-your man B-B-Blocke here does no--nothing but f-f-flout m-me,
a-and cr-cries _r-run Re-Redcap and s-s-see you f-f-father ha-ha-hang'd_.
I sh-shall g-go-near to m-make m-murder, and he u-use it.
ROB. Well, sirrah, leave your mocking, you were best, I'll bob your
beetle head, and if you mock him.
BLO. He's _run Redcap_.
RED. La-la-law, ma-madam.
ROB. Away, ye saucy fool; go, wait within.
BLO. _Run, Redcap; run, Redcap_. [_Exit_.
ROB. Art thou the porter's son, that was condemned about my brother
Gloster?
RED. Ay, G-G-God be with you, I am the p-p-porter's son, I m-must r-run
to s-s-seek your b-br-brother.
ROB. Well, drink that, fellow; if thou find my brother, be not too
violent, and I'll reward thee.
RED. I th-th-thank ye h-heartily; and I had not been cozened with
Sk-Skink, I had no nee-need of these ja-jaunts, for Gl-Gloster was
s-safe enough.
_Enter_ BLOCK _and the_ PORTER _with his cloak muffled_.
BLO. Ah, farewell, Redcap.
RED. Fa-fare we-well, and be ha-hang'd. [_Exit_.
ROB. You'll never leave your knavery. Who's there more.
BLO. One, madam, that hath commendations to you from your brother.
ROB. Comest thou from Gloster? thou art welcome, friend.
BLO. O, it's one of the kindest ladies (though she will now and then
have a bout with Block) that ever breath'd, and she had been in her mood
now, Redcap would have made her such sp-sp-sport as 't a' pa-pa-pass'd.
ROB. Will you make sport, and see who knocks again?
BLO. Our gates are like an anvil; from four to ten, nothing but
knick-a-knock upon't.
ROB. Will you be gone, sir? [_Exit_ BLOCK.]
Honest friend, I am glad
My brother Gloster got thy liberty,
Whose flight was cause of thy captivity:
Nor shall there be in us such negligence,
Though thou have lost thy office and thy house,
But we will see thee better far provided
Than when thou wert [the] Porter in the Fleet.
_Re-enter_ BLOCK.
BLO. Madam, your old friend, Prince Richard,
All alone,
Making moan,
Fetching many a grievous groan.
ROB. Prince Richard come so late? lights to his chamber;
Sirrah, in any case, say I am sick.
BLO. Very sick, sick, and like to die! I'll sing it, and you will.
ROB. Away, ye knave; tell him, in the morning
I'll humbly wait upon his excellence.
BLO. That's all his desire to have ye lowly and humble, and 'tis a
courteous thing in a lady.
[_Exit_.
ROB. Hence, or else I'll set you hence. Go in, good friend.
Come, Lady Fauconbridge; it's time to come;
Robin can hold out no longer, I see:
Hot wooers will be tempters presently.
[_Exit_.
SCENE THE TWENTY-FIFTH.
_Enter_ SKINK _like a Hermit_.
SKINK. Now, holy Skink, in thy religious weed,
Look out for purchase or thy wonted clients.
Warrants, quoth you? I was fairly warranted;
Young Robin Hood, the Earl of Huntington,
Shall never fetch me more unto his prince.
_Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _in Merchant's Wife's attire_.
But, _pauca verba_, Skink! a prize, a prize;
By th'mass, a pretty girl; close, hermit, close.
Overhear, if thou canst, what she desires,
For so my cunning and my credit spreads.
LADY F. See, how affection arms my feeble strength,
To this so desperate journeying all alone,
While Robin Hood, young Earl of Huntington,
Plays Lady Fauconbridge for me at home.
SKINK. What mystery is this? The Lady Fauconbridge!
It's she? Sweet fortune, thou hast sent her well;
I will entice this morsel to my cell.
Her husband's jealous; I will give him cause.
As he believes, I hope it shall succeed.
Nay, swounds, it shall; she's mine in scorn of speed.
LADY F. By this broad beaten path, it should appear,
The holy hermit's cave cannot be far,
And if I err not, this is he himself.
SKINK. What honour'd tongue enquireth for the hermit?
LADY F. What honour'd tongue?
SKINK. Ay, Lady Fauconbridge,
I know ye, and I know for what ye come,
For Gloster and your husband's jealousy.
LADY F. O thou, whose eye of contemplation
Looks through the windows of the highest heavens,
Resolve thy handmaid, where Earl Gloster lives:
And whether he shall live, and 'scape the hate
Of proud young Henry and his brother John?
SKINK. I'll have you first in; I'll tell you more anon.
Madam, they say bushes have ears and eyes;
And these are matters of great secrecy;
And you'll vouchsafe enter my holy cell,
There what you long to know I'll quickly tell.