SCENE VIII.
The same.
A noise about the house for some time. Then Enter Harpool
in the Irishman's apparel; the Mayor, Constable,
and Watch of St. Albans meeting him.
Con.
Stand close, here comes the Irishman that did
the murder; by all tokens this is he.
Mayor.
And perceiving the house beset, would get
away. Stand, sirrah.
Har.
What art thou that bidd'st me stand?
Con.
I am the officer; and am come to search for
an Irishman, such a villain as thyself, that hast murder'd
a man this last night by the high way.
Har.
'Sblood constable, art thou mad? am I an
Irishman?
Mayor.
Sirrah, we'll find you an Irishman before we part:
Lay hold upon him.
-- 354 --
Con.
Make him fast. O thou bloody rogue!
Enter lord and lady Cobham, in the apparel of the
Carrier and his daughter* note
.
Cob.
What will these ostlers sleep all day? Good
morrow, good morrow. Come wench, come. Saddle,
saddle; now afore God two fair days, ha?
Con.
Who goes there?
Mayor.
O 'tis Lancashire carrier; let them pass.
Cob.
What, will no body ope the gates here?
Come, let's in to stable, to look to our capons9 note
.
[Exeunt lord and lady Cobham.
Car. [Within.]
Host. Why ostler? Zooks here's
such abomination company of boys. A pox of this
pigstye at the house' end; it fills all the house full of
fleas1 note. Ostler, ostler.
Enter Ostler.
Ostl.
Who calls there? what would you have?
-- 355 --
Car. [Within.]
Zooks, do you rob your guests?
Do you lodge rogues, and slaves, and scoundrels, ha?
They ha' stolen our cloaths here. Why ostler.
Ostl.
A murrain choak you; what a bawling you
keep!
Enter Host.
Host.
How now? what would the carrier have?
Look up there.
Ostl.
They say that the man and the woman that
lay by them, have stolen their cloaths.
Host.
What, are the strange folks up, that came in
yesternight?
Con.
What, mine host, up so early?
Host.
What, master mayor, and master constable?
Mayor.
We are come to seek for some suspected persons,
And such as here we found have apprehended.
Enter Carrier and Kate, in lord and lady Cobham's cloaths.
Con.
Who comes here?
Car.
Who comes here? a plague 'found 'em. You
bawl, quoth-a* note; ods heart I'll forswear your house;
you lodg'd a fellow and his wife by us, that ha' run
away with our 'parel, and left us such gew-gaws
here:—Come Kate, come to me; thou's dizeard
i'faith2 note.
Mayor.
Mine host, know you this man?
Host.
Yes, master mayor, I'll give my word for
him. Why neighbour Club, how comes this gear
about?
Kate.
Now a foul on't, I cannot make this gew-gaw
stand on my head.
-- 356 --
Mayor.
How came this man and woman thus attired?
Host.
Here came a man and woman hither this last night,
Which I did take for substantial people,
And lodg'd all in one chamber by these folks;
Methinks they have been so bold to change apparel,
And gone away this morning ere they rose.
Mayor.
That was that traitor Oldcastle that thus
Escap'd us. Make hue and cry yet after him;
Keep fast that traiterous rebel his servant there:
Farewel, mine host.
[Exit Mayor.
Car.
Come Kate Owdham, thou and I's trimly
dizard.
Kate.
I'faith, neam Club, Ise wot ne'er what to do,
Ise be so flouted and so shouted at; but by the mess
Ise cry.
[Exeunt Carrier and his Daughter, Host, Harpool, Constables, &c.
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].
