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the life of sir john oldcastle-第7节

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Besides; there is hope from France:  here's an ambassador
That promiseth both men and money too。
The commons likewise (as we hear) pretend
A sudden tumult; we will join with them。

COBHAM。
Some likelihood; I must confess; to speed;
But how shall I believe this is plain truth?
You are; my lords; such men as live in Court;
And highly have been favoured of the king;
Especially lord Scroop; whom oftentimes 
He maketh choice of for his bedfellow;
And you; lord Gray; are of his privy counsel:
Is not this a train to entrap my life?

CAMBRIDGE。
Then perish may my soul!  What; think you so?

SCROOP。
We'll swear to you。

GRAY。
Or take the sacrament。

COBHAM。
Nay; you are noble men; and I imagine;
As you are honorable by birth and blood;
So you will be in heart; in thought; in word。
I crave no other testimony but this:
That you would all subscribe; and set your hands
Unto this writing which you gave to me。

CAMBRIDGE。
With all our hearts。  Who hath any pen and ink?

SCROOP。
My pocket should have one:  yea; here it is。

CAMBRIDGE。
Give it me; lord Scroop。There is my name。

SCROOP。
And there is my name。

GRAY。
And mine。

COBHAM。
Sir; let me crave;
That you would likewise write your name with theirs;
For confirmation of your master's word;
The king of France。

CHARTRES。
That will I; noble Lord。

COBHAM。
So now this action is well knit together;
And I am for you。  Where's our meeting; lords?

CAMBRIDGE。
Here; if you please; the tenth of July next。

COBHAM。
In Kent? agreed:  now let us in to supper。
I hope your honors will not away to night。

CAMBRIDGE。
Yes; presently; for I have far to ride;
About soliciting of other friends。

SCROOP。
And we would not be absent from the court;
Lest thereby grow suspicion in the king。

COBHAM。
Yet taste a cup of wine before ye go。

CAMBRIDGE。
Not now; my lord; we thank you:  so farewell。

'Exeunt all but Cobham。'

COBHAM。
Farewell; my noble lords。My noble lords?
My noble villains; base conspirators。
How can they look his Highness in the face;
Whom they so closely study to betray?
But I'll not sleep until I make it known。
This head shall not be burdened with such thoughts;
Nor in this heart will I conceal a deed
Of such impiety against my king。
Madam; how now?

'Enter Harpoole and the rest。'

LADY COBHAM。
You are welcome home; my Lord。
Why seem ye so disquiet in your looks?
What hath befallen you that disquiets your mind?

LADY POWIS。
Bad news; I am afraid; touching my husband。

COBHAM。
Madam; not so:  there is your husband's pardon。
Long may ye live; each joy unto the other。

POWIS。
So great a kindness as i know not how
To make reply; my sense is quite confounded。

COBHAM。
Let that alone:  and madam; stay me not;
For I must back unto the court again
With all the speed I can。  Harpoole; my horse。

LADY COBHAM。
So soon; my Lord? what; will you ride all night?

COBHAM。
All night or day; it must be so; sweet wife。
Urge me not why or what my business is;
But get you in。  Lord Powis; bear with me;
And madam; think your welcome ne'er the worse:
My house is at your use。 Harpoole; away。

HARPOOLE。
Shall I attend your lordship to the court?

COBHAM。
Yes; sir; your gelding! mount you presently。

'Exeunt。'

LADY COBHAM。
I prithee; Harpoole; look unto thy Lord。
I do not like this sudden posting back。

POWIS。
Some earnest business is a foot belike;
What e'er it be; pray God be his good guide。

LADY POWIS。
Amen! that hath so highly us bested。

LADY COBHAM。
Come; madam; and my lord; we'll hope the best;
You shall not into Wales till he return。

POWIS。
Though great occasion be we should depart;
Yet madam will we stay to be resolved
Of this unlooked for; doubtful accident。

'Exeunt。'


ACT III。 SCENE II。 A road near Highgate。

'Enter Murley and his men; prepared in some filthy
order for war。'

MURLEY。
Come; my hearts of flint; modestly; decently; soberly;
and handsomely; no man afore his Leader; follow your
master; your Captain; your Knight that shall be; for the
honor of Meal…men; Millers; and Malt…men。  Dunne is the
mouse。  Dick and tom; for the credit of Dunstable; ding
down the enemy to morrow; ye shall not come into the
field like beggars。  Where be Leonard and Laurence; my
two loaders?  Lord have mercy upon us; what a world is
this?  I would give a couple of shillings for a dozen of
good feathers for ye; and forty pence for as many scarfs
to set ye out withal。  Frost and snow! a man has no heart 
to fight till he be brave。

DICK。
Master; I hope we be no babes。  For our manhood; our 
bucklers and our town foot…balls can bear witness:  and 
this light parrel we have shall off; and we'll fight naked
afore we run away。

TOM。
Nay; I am of Laurence mind for that; for he means to
leave his life behind him; he and Leonard; your two 
loaders; are making their wills because they have wives。
Now we Bachelors bid our friends scramble for our
goods if we die:  but; master; pray ye; let me ride upon
Cutte。

MURLEY。
Meal and salt; wheat and malt; fire and tow; frost and 
snow! why; Tom; thou shalt。  Let me see:  here are you;
William and George are with my cart; and Robin and
Hodge holding my own two horses:  proper men; handsome
men; tall men; true men。

DICK。
But; master; master; me thinks you are a mad man to hazard
your own person and a cart load of money too。

TOM。
Yea; and; master; there's a worse matter in't。  If it be as I
heard say; we go to fight against all the learned Bishops;
that should give us their blessing; and if they curse us; we
shall speed ne'er the better。

DICK。
Nay; bir lady; some say the King takes their part; and; master;
dare you fight against the King?

MURLEY。
Fie; paltry; paltry! in and out; to and fro; upon occasion; if
the King be so unwise to come there; we'll fight with him too。

TOM。
What; if ye should kill the King?

MURLEY。
Then we'll make another。

DICK。
Is that all? do ye not speak treason?

MURLEY。
If we do; who dare trip us? we come to fight for our conscience;
and for honor。 Little know you what is in my bosom; look here;
mad knaves; a pair of gilt spurs。

TOM。
A pair of golden spurs?  Why do you not put them on your
heels?  Your bosom's no place for spurs。

MURLEY。
Be't more or less upon occasion; Lord have mercy upon us;
Tom; th'art a fool; and thou speakest treason to knighthood。
Dare any wear golden or silver spurs till he be a knight?  No;
I shall be knighted to morrow; and then they shall on。  Sirs;
was it ever read in the church book of Dunstable; that ever
malt man was made knight?

TOM。
No; but you are more:  you are meal…man; maltman; miller;
corn…master and all。

DICK。
Yea; and half a brewer too; and the devil and all for wealth。
You bring more money with you; than all the rest。

MURLEY。
The more's my honor。  I shall be a knight to morrow!  Let
me spose my men:  Tom upon cut; Dick upon hob; Hodge
upon Ball; Raph upon Sorell; and Robin upon the forehorse。

'Enter Acton; Bourne; and Beverly。'

TOM。
Stand; who comes there?


ACTON。
All friends; good fellow。

MURLEY。
Friends and fellows; indeed; sir Roger。

ACTON。
Why; thus you shew your self a Gentleman;
To keep your day; and come so well prepared。
Your cart stands yonder; guarded by your men;
Who tell me it is loaden with coin。
What sum is there?

MURLEY。
Ten thousand pound; sir Roger:  and modestly;
decently; soberly; and handsomely; see what I
have here against I be knighted。

ACTON。
Gilt spurs? tis well。

MURLEY。
But where's your army; sir?

ACTON。
Dispersed in sundry villages about:
Some here with us in Highgate; some at Finchley;
Totnam; Enfield; Edmunton; Newington;
Islington; Hogsdon; Pancredge; Kensington;
Some nearer Thames; Ratcliffe; Blackwall and Bow;
But our chief strength must be the Londoners;
Which; ere the Sun to morrow shine;
Will be near fifty thousand in the field。

MURLEY。
Mary; God dild ye; dainty my dear! but upon occasion;
sir Roger Acton; doth not the King know of it; and
gather his power against us?

ACTON。
No; he's secure at Eltham。

MURLEY。
What do the Clergy?

ACTON。
Fear extremely; yet prepare no force。

MURLEY。
In and out; to and fro; Bully my boikin; we shall carry
the world afore us!  I vow by my worship; when I am 
knighted; we'll take the King napping; if he stand on 
their part。

ACTON。
This night we few in Highgate will repose。
With the first cock we'll rise and arm our selves;
To be in Ficket field by break of day;
And there expect our General。

MURLEY。
Sir John Old…castle? what if he come not?

BOURNE。
Yet our action stands。
Sir Roger Acton may supply his place。

MURLEY。
True; Master Bourne; but who shall make me knight?

BEVERLY。
He that hath power to be our General。

ACTON。
Talk not of trifles; come; let's away。
Our friends of London long till it be day。

'Exeunt。'


ACT III。 SCENE III。 A high road in Kent。

'Enter sir John of Wrotham and Doll。'

DOLL。
By my troth; thou art as jealous a man as lives。

PRIEST。
Canst thou blame me; Doll? thou art my lands; my goods;
my jewels; my wealth; my purse。  None walks within xl。
miles of London; but a plies thee as truly as

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