SCENE VI.
Enter at one door the armourer and his neighbours, drinking to him
so much, that he is drunk; and he enters with a drum before
him, and his staff with a sand-bag fastned to it; and at the other
door his man, with a drum and a sand-bag, and prentices
drinking to him.
1 Neigh.
Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup
of sack; and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough.
2 Neigh.
And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.
3 Neigh.
And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour;
drink, and fear not your man.
Arm.
Let it come i'faith, and I'll pledge you all, and a fig
for Peter.
1 Pren.
Here Peter, I drink to thee, and be not afraid.
2 Pren.
Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for
the credit of the prentices.
Peter.
I thank you all; drink, and pray for me, I pray you,
for I think I have taken my last draught in this world. Here
Robin, if I die, I give thee my apron; and Will, thou shalt have
my hammer; and here, Tom, take all the mony that I have.
-- 137 --
O lord bless me I pray God, for I am never able to deal with
my master, he hath learn'd so much to fence already.
Sal.
Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah,
what's thy name?
Peter.
Peter, forsooth.
Sal.
Peter? what more?
Peter.
Thump.
Sal.
Thump? Then see thou thump thy master well.
Arm.
Masters, I am come hither as it were upon my man's
instigation, to prove him a knave and my self an honest man:
and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death I never
meant him any ill, nor the King nor the Queen, and therefore
Peter have at thee with a downright blow.
York.
Dispatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound
trumpets, Alarum to the combatants.
[They fight, and Peter strikes him down.
Arm.
Hold Peter, hold; I confess, I confess treason.
York.
Take away his weapon: fellow thank God, and the
good wine in thy master's way.
Peter.
O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this presence?
O Peter, thou hast prevail'd in right.
K. Henry.
Go, take hence that traitor from our sight,
For by his death we do perceive his guilt.
And God in justice hath reveal'd to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he had thought to murder wrongfully.
Come fellow, follow us for thy reward.
[Exeunt.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
