SCENE II.
A road near Highgate.
Enter Murley and his followers2 note.
Mur.
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 honour of meal-men, millers, and
malt-men. Dun is the mouse3 note. 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 Lawrence, my two
loaders? Lord have mercy upon us, what a world is
this! I would give a couple of shillings for a dozen
-- 312 --
of good feathers for you, and forty pence for as many
scarfs to set you out withal. Frost and snow, a man
has no heart to fight till he be brave.9Q1357
Dick.
Master, we are no babes, our town footballs
can bear witness: this little 'parel we have,
shall off, and we'll fight naked before we run away.
Tom.
Nay, I'm of Lawrence' mind for that, for
he means to leave his life behind him4 note; he and
Leonard, your two loaders, are making their wills,
because they have wives; and we bachelors bid our
friends scramble for our goods if we die. But, master,
pray ye let me ride upon Cut.
Mur.
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; methinks you are mad
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 by'r lady, some say the king takes
their part; and, master, dare you fight against the
king?
Mur.
Fye, 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 you should kill the king?
-- 313 --
Mur.
Then we'll make another.
Dick.
Is that all? do you not speak treason?
Mur.
If we do, who dare trip us? we come to
fight for our conscience, and for honour. 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.
Mur.
Be't more or less upon occasion, Lord have
mercy upon us. Tom thou'rt a fool, and thou speak'st
treason to knighthood. Dare any wear gold 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.
Mur.
The more's my honour; I shall be a knight
to-morrow. Let me 'spose my men; Tom upon
Cut5 note, Dick upon Hob, Hodge upon Ball, Ralph
upon Sorrel, and Robin upon the fore-horse.
Enter Acton, Bourn, and Beverley.
Tom.
Stand; who comes there?
Act.
All friends, good fellow.
Mur.
Friends and fellows indeed, sir Roger.
Act.
Why, thus you shew yourself a gentleman,
To keep your day, and come so well prepar'd.
Your cart stands yonder guarded by your men,
-- 314 --
Who tell me it is loaden well with coin.
What sum is there?
Mur.
Ten thousand pound, sir Roger; and modestly,
decently, soberly, and handsomely, see what
I have here against I be knighted.
Act.
Gilt spurs? 'Tis well.
Mur.
Where's our army, sir?
Act.
Dispers'd in sundry villages about;
Some here with us in Highgate, some at Finchley,
Tot'nam, Enfield, Edmonton, Newington,
Islington, Hogsdon, Pancras, Kensington;
Some nearer Thames, Ratcliff, Blackwall, and Bow:
But our chief strength must be the Londoners,
Which, ere the sun to-morrow shine6 note
,
Will be near fifty thousand in the field.
Mur.
Marry, 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?
Act.
No, he's secure at Eltham.
Mur.
What do the clergy?
Act.
They fear extremely, yet prepare no force.
Mur.
In and out, to and fro, bully my boykin,
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.
Act.
This night we few in Highgate will repose;
With the first cock we'll rise and arm ourselves,
To be in Ficket field by break of day,
And there expect our general, sir John Oldcastle.
Mur.
What if he comes not?
Bourn.
Yet our action stands;
Sir Roger Acton may supply his place.
-- 315 --
Mur.
True, master Bourn; but who shall make me knight?
Bev.
He that hath power to be our general.
Act.
Talk not of trifles; come let us away;
Our friends of London long till it be day.
[Exeunt.
Edmond Malone [1780], Supplement to the edition of Shakspeare's plays published in 1778 By Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. In two volumes. Containing additional observations by several of the former commentators: to which are subjoined the genuine poems of the same author, and seven plays that have been ascribed to him; with notes By the editor and others (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10911].
