I take it, by all voices, that forthwith There to remain, till the King's further pleasure All. We are. Cran. Is there no other way of mercy, But I must needs to th' Tower, my Lords? Would you expect? you're ftrangely troublefome: Cran. For me? Muft I Enter the Guard. go like a traitor then? Gard. Receive him, And fee him fafe i' th' Tower. Cran. Stay, good my Lords, I have a little yet to fay. Look there, Lords Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit. Suf. 'Tis his right ring, by heav'n. I told ye all When we first put this dang'rous ftone a rolling, 'Twould fall upon ourfelves. Nor. D' you think, my Lords,. The King will fuffer but the little finger.. Cham. 'Tis now too certain. How much more is his life in value with him? Grom. My mind gave me,. Against this man, whofe honefty the devil And his difciples only envy at, Ye blew the fire that burns ye;, now have at ye. Enter King, frowning on them; takes his feat. Gard. Dread Sov'reign, how much are we bound to In daily thanks, that gave us fuch a Prince; [heav'n R Not: Not only good and wife, but moft religious His royal felf in judgment comes to hear King. You're ever good at fadden commendations, Thou haft a cruel nature, and a bloody. Good man, fit down: now let me fee the proudest King. No, Sir, it does not please me. I thought, I had had men of fome understanding Would try him to the utmoft, had ye means; Cham. My moft dread Sovereign, may it like your Grace To let my tongue excufe all. What was purpos'd Concerning his imprifonment, was rather, If there be faith in men, meant for his tryal, King. Well, well, my Lords, refpect him : Tako Take him, and ufe him well; he's worthy of it. Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory King. Come, come, my Lord, you'd spare your spoonse you fhall have Two noble partners with you: the old Dutchess Gard. With a true heart Witnefs, how dear I hold this confirmation. King. Good man, thofe joyful tears fhew thy true heart: The common voice, I fee, is verify'd Of thee, which fays thus: do my Lord of Canterbury But one fhrewd turn, and he's your friend for ever. Come, Lords, we trifle time away long To have this young one made a chriftian. As I have made ye one, Lords, one remain: So I grow ftronger, you more honour gain. [Exeunt.. SCENE, the Palace-yard.. Noife and tumult within: Enter Porter and his man. : 'Ou'll leave your noise anon, ye rafcals; do you You' Alaves, leave your gaping. 1 Within. Good Mr. Porter, I belong to th' larder. Port. Belong to the gallows and be hang'd, ye rogue: is this a place to roar in? fetch me a dozen crab-tree faves, and strong ones; these are bat fwitches to em: I'll fcratch your heads; you must be feeing chriftnings do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals Man. Pray, Sir, be patient; 'tis as much impoffible (Unless we fwept them from the door with cannons) To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em sleep On May-day morning; which will never be: Man. Alas, I know not; how gets the tide in? Port. You did nothing, Sir. Man. I am not Sampfon, nor Sir Guy, nor Colebrand, to mow 'em down before me; but if I fpar'd any that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or fhe, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to fee a chine again; and that I would not for a cow, God fave her. Within. Do you hear, Mr. Porter? Port. I fhall be with you prefently, good Mr. Puppy. Keep the door close, firrah. Man. What would you have me do? Port. What should you do, but knock 'em down by the dozens? is this Morefields to mufter in? or have we fome frange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women fo befiege us? blefs me! what a fry of fornication is at the door? on my chriftian confcience, this one chriftning will beget a thoufand; here will be father, god-father, and all together. Man. The fpoons will be the bigger, Sir. There is a fellow fomewhat near the door, he fhould be a brafier by his face; for, o' my confcience, twenty of the dogdays now reign, in's nofe; all that ftand about him are.. under the line, they need no other penance; that firedrake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me; he ftands there like a mortar-piece to blow us up. There was a haberdafher's wife of fmall wit near him, that rail'd upon. me 'till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling fuch a combuftion in the ftate. I mift the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cry'd out, clubs ! clubs! when I might fee from far fome forty truncheoneers draw to her fuccour ; which were the hope of the ftrand, where he was quarter'd. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to th broom-ftaff with me, I defy'd 'em ftill; when fuddenly a file of boys behind 'em deliver'd fuch a fhower of pibbles, loose shot, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let 'em win the work; the devil was. amongst 'em, I think, furely. Port. Thefe are the youths that thunder at a play-. house, and fight for bitten apples; that no audience but the tribulation of Tower-Hill, or the limbs of Limeboufe, their dear brothers, are able to endure. I have fome of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days; befides the running banquet of two beadles, that is to come. Enter Lord Chamberlain. Cham. Mercy o' me! what a multitude are here Your faithful friends o' th' fuburbs? we shall have. Port. Pleafe your honour, We are but men; and what fo many may do, Cham. As I live, If the King blame me for't, I'll lay ye all By the heels, and fuddenly; and on your heads A Marfbalfea, fhall hold ye play thefe two months. Part. |