CROSBY

This is well done, thus should good Citizens, F hion themselves as well for war as peace: Have ye command worser that in every streese, They h g forth ligh S as soon as ght comes one Say Colin Sn are that was referred to you. hoar have my Lord, beside from every hall TO ere is at least two hund ed men in arms. cheers my heart to hear this readiness, Let never r bells put true Subjects down, Come when they will, that welcome shall be such, As they had better kept them further off. But where is M. Recorder? his advise, Must not be wanting in these high affairs. A discreet painful Gentleman he is, And we must all of us be so inclined: If we intend to have the City safe, Or look for thanks, and credit with the King, I tell you masters, aged though I be, I (for my pa to) will to no bed this night. How cane you M. Iosseline by near? He neither comes from Italy nor Spain: But out of Kenned, and Esser which you know, Are both so near, as nearer cannot be. Well M. Iosseline, we are sure you mean well Although somewhat defective in your utterance. Your coming M. Recorder was the thing We all desired, therefore let us consult, And now what say you, if with half our power, We issue forth, and give the rebels fight? I, so we do, or else we were to blame, What if we stop the passage of the Thames, With such provision as we have of ships? What noise is this? provide you suddenly: And every man betake him to his charge. Saint George away, and let us all resolve, Either to vanquish this rebellious rout, Preserve our goods, our children and our wives, Or seal our resolution with our lives. We have no warrant I ho. Falconbridge, To let your armed troops into our City, Considering you have taken up these arms, Against our sovereign and our c untries peace. Crosebie the Lord Mayor tells Thee proud rebel no. Where master Recorder, and master Iosseline? Why it is well, brother's and Citizens, Stick to your City as good men should do, Think that in Richard's time even such a rebel, Was then by Walworth the L. Mayor of London, Stabbed dead in Smithfield: Then show your selves as it be fits the time. And let this find a hundredth Walworth, now, Dare stab a rebel were he made of brass, And Prentices stick to your officers, For you may come to be as we are now, God and our King against and arrant rebel, Brother's away, let us defend our walls: Now of mine honour, the do cheer my heart Brave English ofsprings, valiantly resolved. Set open the gates, nay then weel sally out, It never shall be said when I was Mayor, The Londoners were shut up in the City, Then cry King Edward, and lets us issue out. Well sir, we for e well conceive your meaning, And you have wne your self a worthy gentleman: See that our walls be kept with courts of guard, And well defended against the enemy, For we will now withdraw us to Guild hall, To take advise what further must be done. I rather think 'tis fear upon his cheek, Deciphers pale disturbance in his heart. I am the man intend to answer him. Traitor. We have recovered what before we lost, And heaven stands with the justice of our cause, But this I noted in the fight even now, That partly of this rebellious crew is sent, By what direction, or for what intent, I cannot guess, but may suspect the worst, And as it seems, they compass it about, To hem us in, or get the gate of us, And therefore Cousin Shore, as I repose Trust in thy valour and thy loyalty, Draw forth three hundred wmen, and some pikes, And presently encounter their assault. I, my good friend, so certify his grace, The Rebels are dispersed all and fled, And now his Highness meets with victory. Marshal your sclues, and keep in good array: To add more glory to this victory: The King in person comes to this place, How great and honour have you gainde to day? And how much is this City famde for ever, That twice without the help, either of King, Or any, but of God, and our own selves, We have preuailde against our countries foes? Thanks to his majesty assisted us, Who always helps true subjects in their need. Here dread Sovereign. I hold no Lordship nor no dignity, In presence of my gracious Lord the King, But all I humble at your highness feet, With the most happy conquest of proud rebels, Dispersed and fled, that now remains no doubt, Of ever making head to vex us more. Neither my gracious Lord. Although we laboured to our uttermost, Yet all our care came over short, For apprehending him or Spicing either But some are taken, others on proffered grace Yielded themselves, and at your mercy stand. Under your leave my Liege, we have proclaimed Who brings Falconbridge alive or dead, Shall be requited with a thousand marks, As much for Spicing, others of less worth At easier rates are set. This same my Lord, And hand to hand he fought with Falconbridge. Now God forbid but that my Lord the King Should always have his Subjects at command. Sir Ralph Iosseline, have you ever seen a Prince more a sable then Edward is? what merry talk he had upon the way. It is the rebel Spicing. Well miller, thou hast done a subic S partly, And worthily deservest that recompense Is publicly proclaimed by the King, But whats this other? I have seen his face, And as I take it, he is one of them. Bring him a way, he shall have martial law, and at the next tree we do come unto, Be hanged to rid the world of such a wretch. Miller thy duty is a thousand marks, Which must be sharde bet wixt Thee and this poor fell low, that did reveal him. And sirrah, your life is saude on this condition, that you hang up Spicing, how sayest thou, wilt thou do it? Then when the have done it, come home to my house, and there we truly shall have your reward. I marry Crosby this befits Thee well, But some will marua le that with a scarlet gown, I wear a guilded rapier by my side: Why le them know, I was knighted in the field For my good service to my Lord the king, And therefore I may wear it lawfully, In Court, in City, or at any royal banquet. But soft John Crosby, thou forgettest thy self, And dost not mind thy birth and parentage, Where thou wast born, & whence thou art derived, I do not shame to say, the Hospital Of London was my chiefest fostering place, There did I learn, that near unto a Cross, Commonly called Cow Cross near Islington, And honest Citizen did chance to find me, A poor Shoemaker by trade he was, And doubting of my Christendom or no, Called me according to the place he found me, John Crosby, finding me so by a Cross. The Masters of the Hospital at further years, Bound me apprentice to the Grocers trade, Wherein God pleased to bless my poor endeavours That by his blessings I am come to this. The man that found me I have well requited, And to the Hospital my fostering place, And hundred pound a year I give for ever, Likewise in memory of me John Crosby In Bishopgate street a poor house have I built, And as my name have called it Crosby house, And when as God shall take me from this life, In little S. Helen's will I be buried: All this declares, I boast not of my birth, But found on earth, I must return to earth. But God for his pity I forget my self, The King my Sovereign Lord will come anon, And nothing is as yet in readiness. Where are you cousin Shore? nay where is Mistress Shore? O I am sorry that she stays so long, See what it is to be a widower, And lack a Lady Majoress in such needs. O are you come? welcome good Cousin Shore, But you indeed are welcome gentle Niece. Needs must you be our Lady Majoress now, And help us, or else we are shamed for ever, Good Cousin still thus am I bold with you. Why see how neatly she bestirs her self, And in good sooth makes housewifery to shine? Ah had my Lady Majoress lived to see Fair Mistress Shore thus beautify her house, She would have been not little proud thereof. The very same my Lord and here he is. O I have found him now. Because my Niece his wife is beautiful, And well reputed for her virtuous parts: He in his found conceit misdoubts the King, Does dote on her in his affection. I know not Cousin how she way be change, By any cause in you procuring it, From the fair carriage of her wonted course: But well I wot, I have oft herd you say, She merited no scruple of mislike. If now some gyddy fancy in your brain, Make you conceive sinisterly of her, And with a person of such difference. I tell you Cousin, more for her respect, Then to sooth you in such sottishness, I would reucale the open to the world, And let your folly justly plague your self. How? my sent for to the King? By a Nobleman, and she is gone with him? Nay, then I Like it not? Before the Citizens in our Guildhall, Master Recorder made a good Oration, Of thankful gentitude unto them all, Which they received with so kind respect, And love unto your royal majesty, As it appeared to us they sorrowed, Their bounty to your highness was no more, I'll wait upon your gracious majesty, Yet there is one thing that much grieves me. aside. Nay then proud bel, pause & hear me speak, Theres not the poorest and meanest Citizen, That is a faithful subject to the King. But in despite of thy rebellious rout, Shall walk to Bow, a small wand in his worser Although thou lie encamped at M leend Green, And not the proudest rebel of you all, Shall dare to touch him for his damned soul. Come, we will pull up our port ses, And let me see thee enter if thou dare. But I have taken Thee, and the world knows, That Spicing is as bade as who is best. Take truce with your surmises, here he comes. Follow it seems that thou art slow of gate, Or very negligent in our affairs, What says King Edward to our service done? My gracious Lord what then we did, We did account no more then was our duty, Thereto obliged by true subic as zeal, And may he never live that not defends, The honour of his king and country: Next thank I God, it likes your Majesty, To bless my poor roof, with your royal presence, To me could come no greater happiness. She would my Liege, and with no little joy, Had she but lium worser to see this blessed day, But in her sreed this Gentle woman here, My Cousin's wife, that office will supply: How say you m resse Shore? All health & happiness to my sovereign. God shield my Sovereign. O God here to be ill? My house to cause my Sovereigns discontent? Cousin Shore I had rather spent. I hope so too, well Cousin for your pains, I can but thank you, chiefly you fair Niece, At night I pray the both come sup with me. How say you? will ye? O now the sudden sickness of my Liege, Afflictes my soul with many passion? His Highness did intend to be right merry, And God he knows how it would glad my soul, If I had seen his Highness satisfied With the poor entertainment of his Mayor, His humble vassal, whose lands, whose life and all Are, and in duty must be always his. Well, God I trust will bless his Graces health, And quickly ease him of his sudden fit. Take away there ho, rid this place, And God of heaven bless my Sovereigns Grace. My gracious Lord, the great benevolence, (Though small to that your subjects could afford, Of poor S. Katherine's do I bring your grace,) Five hundred pounds here have they sent by me. For the easier portage, all in Angel gold, What this good widow mistress Norton will, She comes her self, and brings her gift with her. You have best worser the Like good Citizens, And she wne your selves true subjects to your king, You worthily p entice bestirde your selves, That it did that re my heart to see your valour, The rebels are retired to M eerd Green, See how rebellion can exalt it self, king the feathers of sick discipline. Do the Like for us, and where the right is, there attend success. I am as readic as thou canst desire, On then a Gods name. But Cousin Shore, are ye assure it was the King you saw in such disguise? Gone to the Court? You are welcome my honest friend, In sign whereof I pray you see my house, And sup with me this night. The more am I beholding Niece to you, That take such pains to save our credit now: My servants are so slack, his Majesty, Might have been here before we were prepared, But peace here comes his Highness. Whats he that beats thus at the City gates, Command king entrance as e were a King?