A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. VII (4th edition) - Various
Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
ROB. For which I thank [the] noble Fauconbridge.
[_Discovers himself_.
FAU. Body of me, who's this? young Huntington?
LADY F. And I your lady, whom you courted last,
[_Discovers herself_.
Ye looked about you ill, fox; we have caught ye;
I met ye at Blackheath, and ye were hot.
FAU. I knew thee, Moll; now, by my sword, I knew thee.
I wink'd at all; I laughed at every jest.
ROB. Aye, he did wink; the blind man had an eye.[528]
FAU. Peace, Robin, thou't once be a man as I.
LADY F. Well, I must bear it all.
FAU. Come, and ye bear,
It's but your office; come, forget, sweet Moll.
LADY. F. I do forgive it, and forget it, sir.
FAU. Why, that's well said; that's done like a good girl.
Ha, sirrah, ha, you match'd me, pretty earl.
ROB. I have, ye see, sir; I must unto Blackheath
In quest of Richard, whom I sent to seek
Earl Gloster out. I know he's at the hermit's.
Lend me your coach; I'll shift me, as I ride;
Farewell, Sir Richard.
[_Exit_.
FAU. Farewell, England's pride.
By the matins, Moll, it is a pretty child;
Shall we go meet John? shall we go mock the prince?
LADY F. We will.
FAU. O, then we shall have sport anon.
Never wear yellow, Moll; 'twas but a trick;
Old Fauconbridge will still be a mad Dick.
[_Exeunt_.
SCENE THE TWENTY-NINTH.
_Enter_ REDCAP _and_ GLOSTER.
RED. Do ye s-s-say, fa-fa-father hermit, th-that Gl-Gloster is about
this heath?
GLO. He is upon this heath, son; look about it.
Run but the compass, thou shalt find him out.
RED. R-r-run? I'll r-run the co-compass of all K-Kent but I'll f-find
him out; my f-f-father (where'er he lays his head) dare ne-never come
home, I know, t-t-till he be fo-fo-found.
GLO. Well, thou shalt find him. Know'st thou who's a-hunting?
RED. M-m-marry, 'tis the Earls of La-La-Lancaster and Le-Leicester,
Fa-fa-farewell, f-father; and I find Skink or Glo-Gloster, I'll
g-g-give thee the pr-price of a penny p-p-pudding for thy p-pains.
[_Exit_.
GLO. Adieu, good friend: this is sure the fellow
I sent on message from the Parl'ament--
The porter's son--he's still in quest of me,
And Skink, that cosen'd him of his red cap!
_Enter_ RICHARD, _like a Serving-man_.
But look about thee, Gloster; who comes yonder?
O, a plain serving-man, and yet perhaps
His bags are lin'd,
And my purse now grows thin:
If he have any, I must share with him.
_Enter_ SKINK, _like a Hermit_.
And who's on yond side? O, it is my hermit;
Hath got his other suit, since I went forth.
SKINK. Sblood, yonder's company; I'll back again,
Else I would be with you counterfeit;
I'll leave the rogue till opportunity,
But never eat, till I have quit my wrong. [_Exit_.
RICH. I saw two men attend like holy hermits;
One's slipp'd away, the other's at his beads.
Now, Richard, for the love of Marian,
Make thy inquire, where mad Gloster lives.
If England or the verge of Scotland hold him,
I'll seek him thus disguis'd. If he be pass'd
To any foreign part, I'll follow him.
Love, thou art Lord of hearts; thy laws are sweet;
In every troubled way thou guid'st our feet.
Lovers, enjoin'd to pass the dangerous sea
Of big-swoll'n sorrow in the bark Affection,
The winds and waves of woe need never fear,
While Love the helm doth, like a pilot, steer.
GLO. Here's some lover come, a mischief on him!
I know not how to answer these mad fools;
But I'll be brief; I'll mar the hermit's tale.
Off, gown; hold, buckler; slice it, Bilbo' blade.
RICH. What's this? what should this mean? old man, good friend.
GLO. Young fool, deliver; else see your end.
RICH. I thought thou hadst been holy and a hermit.
GLO. Whate'er you thought, your purse! come, quickly, sir;
Cast that upon the ground, and then confer.
RICH. There it is.
GLO. Falls it so heavy? then my heart is light.
RICH. Thou'lt have a heavy heart before thou touch it.
Theft shrin'd in holy weeds, stand to't, y'are best.
GLO. And if I do not, seeing such a prey,
Let this be to me a disaster day.
RICH. Art thou content to breathe?
[_Fight and part once or twice_.
GLO. With all my heart.
Take half thy money, and we'll friendly part.
RICH. I will not cherish theft.
GLO. Then I defy thee.
[_Fight again and breathe_.
RICH. Alas for pity, that so stout a man,
So reverend in aspect, should take this course.
GLO. This is no common man with whom I fight,
And if he be, he is of wond'rous spright. [_Aside_.
Shall we part stakes?
RICH. Fellow, take
The purse upon condition thou wilt follow me.
GLO. What, wait on you? wear a turn'd livery,
Whose man's your master? If I be your man,
My man's man's office will be excellent!
There lies your purse again; win it and wear it.
[_Fight_.
_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD. _They breathe, offer again_.
ROB. Clashing of weapons at my welcome hither?
Bick'ring upon Blackheath. Well-said, old man;
I'll take thy side, the younger hath the odds.
Stay, end your quarrel, or I promise ye
I'll take the old man's part.
RICH. You were not wont.
Young Huntington; [be] still on Richard's side.
ROB. Pardon, gracious prince; I knew ye not.
GLO. Prince Richard? then lie, envy, at his foot.
Pardon thy cousin Gloster, valiant lord.
I knew no common force confronted mine.
RICH[529]. O heaven, I had the like conceit of thine,
I tell thee, Robin, Gloster, thou art met,
Bringing such comfort unto Richard's heart:
As in the foil of war, when dust and sweat,
The thirst of wreak[530], and the sun's fiery heat,
Have seized upon the soul of valiance,
And he must faint, except he be refresh'd.
To me thou com'st, as if to him should come
A perry[531] from the north, whose frosty breath
Might fan him coolness in that doubt[532] of death.
With me then meet'st, as he a spring might meet,
Cooling the earth under his toil-parch'd feet,
Whose crystal moisture, in his helmet ta'en,
Comforts his spirits, makes him strong again.
GLO. Prince, in short terms, if you have brought me comfort,
Know, if I had my pardon in this hand,
That smit base Skink in open Parl'ament,
I would not come to Court, till the high feast
Of your proud brother's birthday be expired,
For as the old king--as he made a vow
At his unlucky coronation, [that I]
Must wait upon the boy and fill his cup,
And all the peers must kneel, while Henry kneels,
Unto his cradle--he shall hang me up,
Ere I commit that vile idolatry.
But when the feast is pass'd, if you'll befriend me,
I'll come and brave my proud foes to their teeth.
RICH. Come, Robin; and if my brother's grace deny,
I'll take thy part, them and their threats defy.
GLO. Gramercy, princely Dick.
ROB. I have some pow'r:
I can raise two thousand soldiers in an hour.
GLO. Gramercy, Robin; gramercy, little wag,
Prince Richard, pray let Huntington
Carry my sister Fauconbridge this ring.
RICH. I'll carry it myself; but I had rather
Had thy kind company; thou might'st have mov'd
Thy sister, whom I long have vainly lov'd.
GLO. I like her that she shuns temptation,
Prince Richard; but I bear with doting lovers.
I should not take it well, that you urge me
To such an office: but I bear with you.
Love's blind and mad. Hie to her boldly: try her;
But if I know she yield, faith, I'll defy her.
RICH. I like thy honourable resolution;
Gloster, I pray thee pardon my intreat.
GLO. It is men's custom: part, part, gentle prince,
Farewell, good Robin, this gold I will borrow;
Meet you at Stepney, pay you all to-morrow.
ROB. Adieu, Gloster.
[_Exit_ ROBIN.
GLO. Farewell, be short.
You gone, I hope to have a little sport.
RICH. Take heed, mad coz.
GLO. Tut, tell not me of heed: [_Exit_ RICHARD.
He that's too wary[533] never hath good speed.
SCENE THE THIRTIETH.
_Hollooing within; enter_ LANCASTER _with a broken
staff in his hand_.
[GLO.] Who's this? old Lancaster, my honour'd friend?
LAN. These knaves have serv'd me well, left me alone,
I have hunted fairly, lost my purse, my chain,
My jewels, and been bang'd by a bold knave,
Clad in a hermit's gown, like an old man--
O what a world is this?
GLO. It's ill, my lord.
LAN. He's come again! O knave, 'tis the worse for thee:
[_Mistakes_ GLOSTER _for the_ HERMIT.
Keep from me: be content with that thou hast,
And see thou fly this heath, for, if I take thee,
I'll make thee to all thieves a spectacle.
Had my staff held, thou hadst not 'scap'd me so.
But come not near me, fellow, thou art not[534] best,
Holla, Earl Leicester! holla, huntsmen, ho!
GLO. Upon my life, old Lancaster, a-hunting,
Hath met my fellow-hermit. Could I meet him,
I'd play [at] rob-thief, at least part stakes with him.
_Enter_ SKINK _as a hermit_.
SKINK. Zounds, he is yonder alone.
_Enter_ REDCAP _with a cudgel_.
SKINK. Now revenge thyself on yonder slave[535],
'Snails, still prevented? this same Redcap rogue
Runs like hob goblin up and down the heath.
RED. Wh-wh-wh-whoop, he-hermit, ye ha-ha-ma-ma-made Re-Redcap run a
fine co-co-compass, ha-have you not?
SKINK. I made thee run?
GLO. Yonder's my evil angel.
Were Redcap gone, Gloster would conjure him.
RED. Je-Je-Jesus bl-bless me, whoop! t-t-two hermits? I'll
ca-ca-caperclaw t-t-t'one of ye, for mo-mo-mocking me, and I d-d-do
not ha-ha-hang me. Wh-wh-which is the fa-fa-false k-k-k-knave? for I
am s-s-sure the old he-he-hermit wo-would never mo-mock an honest man.
GLO. He is the counterfeit; he mock'd thee, fellow.
I did not see thee in my life before,
He wears my garments, and has cosened me.
RED. Have you co-co-cosened the he-he-hermit and m-made Redcap run to
no pu-pu-purpose?
SKINK. No, he's [a] counterfeit; I will tell no lies,
As sure as Skink deceiv'd thee of thy clothes,
Sent thee to Kent, gave thee thy fare by water,
So sure, he's false, and I the perfect hermit.
GLO. This villain is a conjuror, I doubt,
Were he the devil, yet I would not budge.
RED. Si-si-sirrah, you are the co-counterfeit. O, this is the tr-tr-true
he-hermit. Sta-sta-stand still, g-good man, at that, I'll bu-bumbast you
i'faith, I'll make you g-give the old m-m-man his gown.
[_Offers to strike_; GLOSTER _trips up his heels;
shifts_ SKINK _into his place_.
G-G-God's lid, are ye go-good at that? I'll cu-cudgel ye f-f-for the
tr-tr-trick.
SKINK. It was not I; 'twas he, that cast thee down.
RED. You li-li-li-lie, you ra-ra-rascal, you; I le-left ye st-standing
he-here.
SKINK. Zounds, hold, you stammerer, or I'll cut your stumps.
GLO. He is for me; he's weapon'd--I like that!
RED. O, here's a ro-ro-rogue in-ca-ca-carnate, help, mu-murder, murder.
_Enter_ LANCASTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at one door_,
LEICESTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at another_.
LAN. Lay hold upon that thievish counterfeit.
LEI. Why, here's another hermit, Lancaster:
GLO. I am the hermit, sir; that wretched man
Doth many a robbery in my disguise:
SKINK. It's he that robs; he slanders me; he lies.
LAN. Which set on thee?
RED. Th-this f-f-fellow has a s-s-sword and a buckler.
LAN. Search him; this is the thief; O, here's my purse,
My chain, my jewels! O thou wicked wretch,
How dar'st thou, under show of holiness,
Commit such actions of impiety?
Bind him, I'll have him made a public scorn.
SKINK. Lay hold upon that other hermit;
He is a counterfeit as well as I.
He stole those clothes from me; for I am Skink.
Search him, I know him not, he is some slave.
GLO. Thou liest, base varlet.
RED. O G-God, he has a sword too. Skink, are you ca-catcht?
LAN. Villain, thou shalt with me unto the Court.
LEI. And this with me; this is the traitor Gloster.
GLO. Thou liest, proud Leicester; I am no traitor,
RED. G-Gloster? O b-brave, now m-my father sh-shall be f-free.
LAN. Earl Gloster, I am sorry thou art taken.
GLO. I am not taken yet, nor will I yield
To any here but noble Lancaster.
Let Skink be Leicester's prisoner; I'll be thine.
LEI. Thou shalt be mine.
GLO. First, through a crimson sluice,
I'll send thy hated soul to those black fiends,
That long have hovered gaping for their part,
When tyrant life should leave thy traitor heart!
Come, Lancaster, keep Skink; I'll go with thee.
Let loose the mad knave, for I praise his shifts.
He shall not start away; I'll be his guide,
And with proud looks outface young Henry's pride.
LEI. Look to them, Lancaster, upon thy life.
RED. Well, I'll r-run and get a p-pardon of the k-k-k-king, Gl-Gloster
and Skink ta-ta-taken! O b-b-brave, r-r-r-run, Re-Re-Redca-cap, a-and
ca-ca-carry the first n-n-news to Co-Co-Court.
LEI. Lancaster, I'll help to guard them to the Court.
LAN. Do as you please.
GLO. Leicester, do not come near me;
For, if thou do, thou shalt buy it dearly.
LEI. I'll have thy hand for this.
GLO. Not for thy heart.
SKINK. Brave Earl, had Skink known thou hadst been the noble Gloster
(whose mad tricks have made me love thee), I would have dyed Blackheath
red with the blood of millions, ere we would have been taken; but what
remedy? we are fast, and must answer it like gentlemen, like soldiers,
like resolutes.
GLO. Aye, ye are a gallant. Come, old Lancaster.
For thy sake will I go, or else, by heaven,
I'd send some dozen of these slaves to hell.
SCENE THE THIRTY-FIRST.
_Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, ROBIN HOOD, _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE.
LADY F. Your travail and your comfortable news:
This ring, the certain sign you met with him:
Binds me in duteous love unto your grace;
But on my knees I fall, and humbly crave
Importune that no more you ne'er can have.
RICH. Nay, then, ye wrong me, Lady Fauconbridge,
Did you not join your fair white hands,
Swore that ye would forswear your husband's bed,
[And] if I could but find out Gloster?
LADY F. I swear so!
RICH. [Yes,] by heaven.
ROB. Take heed; it's an high oath, my lord.
RICH. What meanest thou, Huntington?
ROB. To save your soul;
I do not love to have my friends forsworn,
She never promis'd, that you urge her with.
RICH. Go to; provoke me not.
ROB. I tell you true;
'Twas I in her attire that promis'd you.
She was gone unto the wizard at Blackheath,
And there had suitors more than a good many.
RICH. Was I deluded then?
LADY F. No, not deluded;
But hind'red from desire unchaste and rude.
O, let me woo ye with the tongue of ruth,
Dewing your princely hand with pity's tears,
That you would leave this most unlawful suit,
If e'er we live, till Fauconbridge be dead,
(As God defend his death I should desire).
Then, if your highness deign so base a match,
And holy laws admit a marriage,
Considering our affinity in blood,
I will become your handmaid, not your harlot--
That shame shall never dwell upon my brow.
ROB. I'faith, my lord, she's honourably resolv'd,
For shame, no more; importune her no more.
RICH. Marian, I see thy virtue, and commend it;
I know my error, seeking thy dishonour,
But the respectless, reasonless command
Of my inflamed love, bids me still try,
And trample under foot all piety;
Yet, for I will not seem too impious,
Too inconsiderate of thy seeming grief,
Vouchsafe to be my mistress: use me kindly.
And I protest I'll strive with all my power,
That lust himself may in his heat devour.
LADY F. You are my servant, then.
RICH. Thanks, sacred mistress.
ROB. What am I?
LADY F. You are my fellow Robert.
_Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _in his hose and doublet_.
FAU. What, Prince Richard? noble Huntington?
Welcome, i'faith, welcome! by the morrow mass!
You are come as fitly as my heart can wish.
Prince John this night will be a reveller,
He hath invited me and Marian,
God's marry mother, go along with us,
It's but hard by, close by--at our town-tavern.
RICH. Your tavern?
FAU. O, aye, aye, aye; 'tis his own made match,
I'll make you laugh, I'll make you laugh, i'faith;
Come, come; he's ready. O, come, come away.
LADY F. But where's the princess?
FAU. She is[536] ready too;
Block, Block, my man, must be her waiting-man.
Nay, will ye go? for God's sake, let us go.
RICH. Is the jest so? nay, then, let us away.
ROB. O, 'twill allay his heat, make dead his fire.
FAU. Ye bobb'd me first; ye first gave me my hire,
But come, a God's name, Prince John stays for us.
[_Exeunt_.
ROB. This is the word ever at spendthrifts' feasts,
They are gull'd themselves, and scoff'd at by their guests.
[_Exit_.
SCENE THE THIRTY-SECOND.
_A tavern. Enter_ JOHN, FAUCONBRIDGE, ROBIN
HOOD, RICHARD, _and the others_[537].
JOHN. Baffled and scoff'd! Skink, Gloster, women,
Fools and boys abuse me. I'll be reveng'd.
RICH. Reveng'd? and why, good child?
Old Fauconbridge hath had a worser basting.
FAU. Aye, they have banded [me] from chase to chase;
I have been their tennis-ball, since I did court.
RICH. Come, John, take hand with virtuous Isabel,
And let's unto the court, like loving friends.
Our kingly brother's birth-day's festival
Is forthwith to be kept; thither we'll hie,
And grace with pomp that great solemnity.
JOHN. Whither ye will; I care not, where I go.
If grief will grace it, I'll adorn the show.
FAU. Come, madam; we must thither; we are bound.
LADY.[538] I'm loth to see the court, Gloster being from thence,
Or kneel to him that gave us this offence.
FAU. Body of me, peace, woman, I prythee, peace.
_Enter_ REDCAP.
RED. Go-Go-God [speed] ye, Go-God s-speed ye!
JOHN. Whither run you, sir knave?
RED. R-r-run ye, sir knave? why, I r-run to my La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge,
to te-te-tell her Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster is taken, and are g-g-gone to
the c-c-court with L-Lord Leicester and L-Lord La-La-Lancaster.
JOHN. Is Gloster taken? thither will I fly
Upon wrath's wings; not quiet till he die.
[_Exit with_ PRINCESS.
RICH. Is Gloster taken?
RED. Aye, he is ta-taken, I wa-warrant ye, with a wi-witness.
RICH. Then will I to court,
And either set him free, or die the death.
Follow me, Fauconbridge; fear not, fair madam:
You said you had the porter in your house?
Some of your servants bring him; on my life,
One hair shall not be taken from his head,
Nor he, nor you, nor Gloster, injured.
FAU. Come, Moll, and Richard say the word, ne'er fear.
ROB. Madam, we have twenty thousand at our call,
The most young Henry dares is but to brawl.
LADY F. Pray God, it prove so.
RICH. Follow, Huntington:
Sir Richard, do not fail to send the porter.
FAU. Block, bring the porter of the Fleet to court.
BLO. I will, sir.
RED. The p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet to court?
What p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet?
BLO. What, Redcap? Run, Redcap, wilt thou see thy father?
RED. My fa-father? Aye, that I w-would s-see my f-father, and there be
A p-porter in your ho-house, it is my fa-father.
BLO. Follow me, Redcap, then.
[_Exit_.
RED. And you were tw-tw-twenty B-Blocks, I'd f-f-follow ye, s-so I would,
and r-run to the co-co-court too, and k-kneel before the k-k-king f-f-for
his pa-pardon.
BLO. [Within.] Come away, Redcap; run, Redcap.
RED. I-I-I r-r-run as f-f-fast as I-I ca-ca-can run, I wa-warrant ye.
SCENE THE THIRTY-THIRD.
_Enter a Signet,[539] first two Heralds, after them_
LEICESTER, _with a sceptre,_ LANCASTER, _with a
crown imperial on a cushion: after them_ HENRY THE ELDER,
_bare-headed, bearing a sword and a globe: after him_
YOUNG HENRY, _crowned_: ELINOR, _the Mother-Queen,
crowned_: YOUNG QUEEN _crowned_: HENRY THE ELDER
_places his son, the two Queens on either hand, himself
at his feet_, LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER _below him_.
HEN. Herald, fetch Lancaster and Leicester coronets,
Suffer no marquis, earl, nor countess enter,
Except their temples circled are in gold.
[_He delivers coronets to_ LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER.
Shew them our viceroys: by our will controll'd,
As at a coronation, every peer
Appears in all his pomp; so at this feast,
Held for our birthright, let them be adorn'd,
Let Gloster be brought in, crowned like an earl. [_Exit_ HERALD.
This day we'll have no parley of his death,
But talk of jouissance and gleeful mirth.
Let Skink come in; give him a baron's seat.
High is his spirit, his deserts are great.
KING. You wrong the honour of nobility
To place a robber in a baron's stead.
QUEEN. It's well ye term him not a murderer.
KING. Had I misterm'd him?
QUEEN. Ay, that had you, Henry.
He did a piece of justice at my bidding.
KING. Who made you a justice?
HEN. I, that had the power.
KING. You had none then.
_Enter_ GLOSTER _and_ SKINK.
LEI. Yes, he was crown'd before.
HEN. Why does not Gloster wear a coronet?
GLO. Because his sovereign doth not wear a crown.
HEN. By heaven, put on thy coronet, or that heaven,
Which now with a clear [arch] lends us this light,
Shall not be curtain'd with the veil of night,
Ere on thy head I clap a burning crown
Of red-hot iron, that shall sear thy brains.
RICH. Good Gloster, crown thee with thy coronet.
LAN. Do, gentle earl.
SKINK. Swounds, do; would I had one. [_Aside_.
QUEEN. Do not, I prythee, keep thy proud heart still.
GLO. I'll wear it but to cross thy froward will.
HEN. Sit down, and take thy place.
GLO. It's the low earth;
To her I must, from her I had my birth.[540]
HEN. We are pleas'd thou shalt sit there.
Skink, take thy place among my nobles.
_Enter_ JOHN _and_ ISABEL, _with coronets_.
SKINK. Thanks to King Henry's grace.
JOHN. John, Earl of Morton and of Nottingham,
With Isabel his countess, bow themselves
Before their brother Henry's royal throne!
HEN. Ascend your seats; live in our daily love.
_Enter_ RICHARD _and_ ROBERT, _with coronets_.
RICH. Richard, the Prince of England, with his ward,
The noble Robert Hood, Earl Huntington,
Present their service to your majesty.
HEN. Y'are welcome, too, though little be your love. [_Aside_.]
_Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _with his_ LADY, _she a coronet_.
FAU. Old Richard Fauconbridge, Knight of the Cross,
Lord of the Cinque Ports, with his noble wife,
Dame Marian, Countess of West-Hereford,[541]
Offer their duties at this royal meeting.
HEN. Sit down, thou art a neuter, she a foe.
Thy love we doubt; her heart too well we know. [_Aside_.
What suitors are without? let them come in.
GLO. And have no justice, where contempt is king.
HEN. Madman, I give no ear to thy loose words.
JOHN. O sir, y'are welcome; you have your old seat.
GLO. Though thou sit higher, yet my heart's as great.
QUEEN. Great heart, we'll make you lesser by the head.
GLO. Ill comes not ever to the threatened[542].
_Enter_ BLOCK _and_ REDCAP.
HEN. What are you two?
RED. M-ma-marry, and't please you, I am Re-Re-Redcap.
HEN. And what's your mate?
BLO. A poor porter, sir.
JOHN. The porter of the Fleet, that was condemned?
BLO. No, truly, sir; I was porter last, when I left the door open
at the tavern.
JOHN. O, is't you, sir?
LEI. And what would you two have?
RED. I co-co-come to re-re-re-qui-quire the young k-k-king of his
go-goo-goodness, since Glo-Gloster is t-taken, that he wo-wo-would
let my fa-fa-father have his pa-pa-pardon.
HEN. Sirrah, your father has his pardon sign'd.
Go to the office, it shall be delivered.
RED. And shall he be p-p-porter a-ga-gain?
HEN. Aye, that he shall; but let him be advis'd,
Hereafter how [he] lets out prisoners.
RED. I wa-warrant ye, my lord.
HEN. What hast thou more to say?
RED. Marry, I wo-would have Skink pu-punish'd
For co-co-coney-catching me.
LEI. Is that your business?
RED, Aye, by my t-t-troth is it.
HEN. Then get away.
GLO. Against Skink (poor knave) thou gett'st no right this day.
BLO. O, but run back, Redcap, for the pursuivant!
O L-Lord, s-sir, I have another s-suit for the p-p-pursuivant,
That has l-l-lost his b-b-box and his wa-wa-warrant.
HEN. What means the fellow?
RED. Why, the pu-pu-pursuivant, sir, and the po-po-porter.
GLO. The box, that I had from him--there it is.
FAU. Marry a me, and I was charg'd with it.
Had you it, brother Gloster? God's good mercy!
HEN. And what have you to say?
BLO. Nothing, sir,
But God bless you! you are a goodly company!
Except Sir Richard[543] or my lady will command me
Any more service.
FAU. Away, you prating knave! hence, varlet, hence.
[_Exit_ BLOCK.
LEI. Put forth them fellows there.
RED. Af-fo-fore I g-go,
I b-b-be-s-s-seech you, let Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster be lo-lo-looked to;
For they have p-p-play'd the k-k-knaves too-too-too b-b-bad.
HEN. Take hence that stuttering fellow; shut him[544] forth.
RED. Nay, I'll ru-ru-run; faith, you shall not n-n-need to b-b-b-bid
him ta-t-take m-me away; for Re-Re-Redcap will r-ru-run rarely.
[_Exit_ REDCAP.
HEN. The sundry misdemeanors late committed,
As thefts and shifts in other men's disguise,
We now must (knave Skink) freely tell thy faults.