GLOUCESTER

In faith my Liege Gloucester is in a land Where neither surety is to fit or stand. I only do appear as I am summoned, And will await without till I am called. Henry I do hear you. What's he that sits so near you? Two Kings? would would. I will obey your charge, I will fit down, But in this house, on no seat but the ground. I know it brother John. Why this is good, now shall we have the hell. 3. Bro Chester and Lancaster you wrong the King. I to his wife. And you'll think of him, if you can step into his bower at Stepney. Nay give him all and he will scant be pleased. A gracious son, a very gracious son. Brother content thee this is but the first, Worse is a brewing, and yet not the worst. Good pastime good, now will the thieves fallen out? Blow wind, the youngest of King Henries stock, Would fitly serve to make a weathercock. Take heed old Richard, keep thee there mad lad, My Sister's fair, and beauty may turn bade. I must be content, when you that should mend all are patient, I'll give him seizure first with this and this. Strike him. Villains hands off, I am a Prince, a Peer, And I have born disgrace while I can bear. Yes my Liege and saddled too, and rid, and spurred, & reigned, Such misery (in your Reign) falls your friends, Let go my arms, you dunghyls let me speak. So have you all done, rebels as you be. Warden of the Fleet I see I am your charge, Be friend me thus, least by their command, I be prevented of what I intend. I pray you call some nimble footed fellow, To do a message for me to my sister. No matter for his stammering, is this he? Run Redcap to Stepney. Nay stay, go to the Lady Faukenbridge my sister. But take thy errand, tell her I am prisoner, Committed to the Fleet. Stand still a while, desire her to make means Unto Prince Richard for my liberty, At thy return (make speed) I will reward thee. What, shall I have no servant of my own? I thank you kinsman King, your father knows, Gloucester may boldly give a base slave blows. Even what your Sons will suffer you to send; Is't not a misery to see you stand, That some time was, the Monarch of this land, Entreating traitors for a subjects freedom? Here's Like to be a well stayed common wealth, Where in proud Leister, and licentious John, Are pillars for the King to lean upon. On thy displeasure, well ye have me here; Oh that I were within my Fort of Bungy Whose walls are washed with the clear streams of Aueney Then would not Gloucester pass a halfpenny, For all these rebels, and their poor King too. Laughest thou King Henry? thou knows my words are true, God help thee good old man, adieu adieu. Porter what Porter where's this drowsy ass? Alone and have your wisdoms company, Pray where's the stammering chatterer your son? He's ever running but he makes small haste, I'll bring his lyther legs in better frame, And if he serve me thus a neither time. Knock within. Hark sir your clients knock, an't be your pie, Let him vouchsafe to chatter us some news. Tell him we dance attendance in our chamber. Exit porter. This John and Henry are so full of hate, That they will have my head by some device, Gloucester hath plotted means for and escape, And if it fadge, why so; if not, then well, The way to heaven is death, this life's a hell. What mutter you, what tidings from my sister? Hold ther's two Angels, shut the chamber door, You must about some business for me Straight; Come nearer man, Hast thou no tidings for my liberty? And p presently sir off with your coat. Nay quick, uncase, I am bold to borrow it, I'll leave my gown, change is no robbery. Stutterer it's so, near flinch, you cannot pass, Cry, and by heaven I'll cut thy cowards throat, Quickly cashyre your self, you see me stay, To escape I hope, sir with your privilege, How now, who's this, my fine familiar Skinke? Queen Beldames Minion, Time sorts not now to know these mysteries. How thou camest by this ring, or stolest this coat, They are mine now in possession, for which kindness If I escape I'll get thee Liberty, Or fire the fleet about the Wardens ears, Mum budgit not a word as thou love thy life, Walk Like and Earl villain some are coming. Y y yonder he walks. Fa fa father, I let me out. To J Jericho I that think, 'tis such a h h humorous Earl. I I'll be h hear in a trice; b but p pray have Can care of that this madcap, if he g give us the S S slip, S S some of us a are Like to m make a sl sl slyppery occupation on't. Alone? never trust me if I trouble thee. Peace you damned rogue. Zwonds a hundredth at my heals almost, And yet the villain stands on complaiment. Will you to the door you fool? and bar the gate, Hold ther's and angel for your broken pate; If any knock let them not in in haste. You see I am hear, but if you would know how: I cannot escape and tell the manner too, By this I know your House is compassed With hellhound search. Well, when I have them: quickly then dispatch S blood turn grey beard and hair? Robin conceal, this dyeteth my mind, Mirth is the object of my humorous spleen, Thou high commanding fury! further device, Jests are conceated, I long to see their birth, What come you sister? Robin a thieves hand, But prithee where hadst thou this beard and hair? Sayest thou me so, faith love the Princely youth, Tut you must taste stolen pleasure now and than, Would crake? can your low stumps venture so deep Into affections stream? go to you wanton. What want we now? my nightcap, Oh 'tis hear, So now no Gloucester, but old Faukenbridge, Hark, the search knocks, isle let them in my self; Welcome good fellow; would, what is't you lack? What search you for? what is it you would have? Let them alone, let them search their fills. Do so good Block, be careful honest Block. Oh 'tis for Gloucester! marry search a gods name, Seek peace, will he break prison too? It's pity he should live, nay I defy him. Come look about, search every little corner, My self will led the way, pray you come, Seek, seek, and spare not, though it be labour lost: He comes not under my roof, hear you wife, He comes not hither, take it for a warning. This fellow is of the humour I would choose my wife, Few words and many paces, a word and a way, and so Must I: Sister adieu, pray you for me, I'll do the Like for you. Robin farewell, commend me to the Prince. No, I'll not trust the changing humours of old Faukenbridge, Adieu young Earl, Sister lets kiss and partly; Tush, near mourn, I have a merry heart. Exit. Yonder's Prince John I hope he cannot know me, Ther's nought but Gloucester Gloucester in their mouths; I am half strangled with the Garlic breath, Of rascals that exclaims as I pass by, Gloucester is fled, once taken he must die. But I'll to John, how does my gracious Lord? What tattles rumour now? what news of Gloucester? Sweet Prince, age, age forgets, my brother's chain? a pretty accident, I'll haue't and be but in the spite of John He's gone away in frets, would he might meet My brother Faukenbridge in this mad mood, There would be rare ado; Why this fits me, My brain flows with fresh wit and policy. But Gloucester look about, who have we yonder? Another John Prince, Richard and the Sheriff? Upon my life, the slave that had the chain, Was Skinke, escaped the Fleet by some mad sleight, Well, farewell he, better and better still, These seek form, yet I will have my will. How now sweet chuck, how fares my lovely Prince? Gods mother do you scorn me? I marry Prince, if now you slip the time, Gloucester will slip away; tut though he hate me I have done service, I have found him out. Go, I have found him, I have winded him. Soft, not too hasty, I would not be seen in't, Marry a God my wife would chide me dead, If Gloucester by my means should lose his head. Princely Richard at this corner make your stand: And for I know you love my sister well, Know I am Gloucester and not Faukenbridge. Sheriff, make this your quarter, make good guard. John, stay you here, this way he means to turn, By Thomas I lack a sword, body a me. Oh sir to make show in his defence, For I have left him yonder at a house A friends of mine, and honest Citizen. Nay then you injure me, stay till he come; he's in a russet cloak And must attend me Like a Servingman. Mark me good Prince, yonder away we come, I go afore and Gloucester follows me; Let not the Sheriff nor Richard meddle with us, Begin you first, seize Gloucester and arrest him; I'll draw and lay about me here and here, Be heedful that your watchmen hurt me not, Well keep close watch, isle bring him presently. I trust you. A charitable deed, God bless the King, He shall be then reprieved. What house is this that we are stepped into to read this warrant in? A Tavern? then I will turn prodigal, Call for a pint of Sack good fellow. A pint of thy best Sack my pretty youth. Well, fill us of your nippitate sir. This is well chaunest, but here you boy? Bring Sugar in white paper, not in brown; For in white paper I have here a trick, Shall make the Pursuivant first swoon, then sick. Thou honest fellow what's thy name? What countryman I prithee? A good beginning, here have too thee fellow; Thou art my fellow now thou servest the King, Nay take Sugar too, Gods Lady deer, I put it in my pocket, but it's here: Drink a good draught I prithee Winterborn. What a forgetful beast am I? peace boy, It is his fashion ever when he drinks. Fellow he hath the falling sickness, Run fetch two cushions to raise up his head, And bring a little Key to open his teeth. Exit Drawer. Pursuivant, your warrant and your box, These must with me, the shape of Faukenbridge Will hold no longer water here about. Gloucester will be a proteus every hour, That Elinor and Leister, Henry, John, And all that rabble of hate loving curs, May minister me more mirth to play upon. No matter for a key, help him but in, And lay him by the fire a little while, He'll wake immediately, but be heart sick, Ther's money for a candle and thy wine, I'll go but up unto your Alderman's, And come down presently to comfort him. Exeunt This accident hath hit thy humour Gloucester, From pursuivant isle turn a Hermit now. Sure he that keeps this Cell is a counterfeit, Else what does he here with false hair and beard? Well how so ear it be, I'll seem to be The holy Hermit: for such fame there is, Of one accounted reverend on this heath. Now God forfend such noblemen as you should guess me so, I never gave such cause for ought I know. He's a lewd fellow, but he shall be taken. Do not curse good Prince, he's bade enough, it better pray for him. I am bound to pray for all men, chiefly christians. Why worthy Prince I saw him christened, dept into the font Have patient Gentle Prince, he shall appear, Before your Kingly father speedily. I that same Skinke, I prithee send that Skinke, Of that anon my pleasure being served, Gloucester shall have what Gloucester hath deserved. Still good, still passing good, Gloucester is still Henries true hate, foe to Johns froward will. No more of that for them in better time, If this same Hermit be and honest man, He will protect me by this simple life, If not I care not, I'll be ever Gloucester, Make him my foot stole if he be a slave, For Baseness over worth can have no power. Robin be think thee, thou art come from Kings. Then scorn to be slave to underlings, Look well about thee Lad and thou shalt see, Them burst in envy that would injure thee. Hermit I'll meet you in your Hermit's gown, Honest, I'll love you: worse, I'll knock you down. Exit. Kind friends, we have troubled Lady Faukenbridge, And either she's not willing to be seen, Or else not well: or with our boldness grieved, To ease these I have brought you to this window, Knowing your are in music excellent, I have pend a ditty here: and I desire You would sing it for her love and my content, He is upon this Heath Son look about it, Run but the compass, thou shalt find him out, Adieu good friend: this is sure the fellow I sent on message from the Parliament. The Porters son, he's still in quest of me, And Skinke that cozened him of his read cap. But look about thee Gloucester, who comes yonder? Oh a plain servingman, & yet perhaps his bags are lined, And my purse now grows thin: if he have any I must share with him. And who's on yond side? Oh it is my Hermit, Hath God his other suit since I went forth. Here's some lover come, a mischief on him, I know not how to answer these mad fools, But isle be brief, isle mar the Hermit's tale; Off gown, hold Buckler, slice it bilbowe blade. Young fool deliver else see your end. What ere you thought, your purse? come quickly sir? Cast that upon the ground, and then confer. Falls it so heavy? then my heart is light. And if I do not, seeing such a pray, Let this be to me a disaster day. With all my heart, take half thy money & we'll friendly partly. Then I defy thee. Fight again and breath, This is no common man with whom I fight, And if he be, he is of wondrours spright, Shall we partly stakes? What wait on you? wear a turned Livery? Whose man's your master? If I be your man, My men men office will be excellent: There lies your purse again, win it and wear it. Fight. Prince, in short terms if you have brought me comfort Know if I had my pardon in this hand That smit base Skinke in open Parliament, I would not come to Court, till the high feast Of your proud brother's birth day be expired, For as the oh e King as he made a vow At his unlucky Coronation, Must wait upon the boy and fill his cup, And all the Peers must kneel while Henry kneels Unto his cradle; he shall hang me up, Ear I commit that vile Idolatry. But when the feast is passed if you'll befriend me, I'll come and brave my proud foes to their teeth, Gramercy Princely Dick, Gramercy Robin, gramercy little wag, Prince Richard, pray let Huntington Carry my sister Faukenbridge this ring, I Like her that she shunes temptation Prince Richard, but I bear with doting lovers, I should not take it well, that you urge me To such and office: but I bear with you, Love's blind and mad, High to her boldly, try her; But if I know she yield, faith I'll defy her. its men's custom; partly partly Gentle Prince, Farewell good Robin this gold I will borrow, Meet you at stepney pay you all to morrow, Tut tell not me of heed, He that's too wray never hath good speed. Whose this old Lancaster my honoured friend? Its ill my Lord. Upon my life, old Lancaster a Hunting, Hath met my fellow Hermit, could I meet him, Idem play rob thief, at least partly stakes with him. Younders my evil Angel, were redcap gone, Gloucester would conjure him. he is the counterfeit he mocked thee fellow. I did not see thee in my life before, He wears my garments, and has coussoned me, This villain is a conjurer I doubt, Were he the devil yet I would not budge, I am the Hermit sir, that wretched man Does many a robbery in my disguise: Thou liest base varlet. Thou liest proud Leister I am no traitor. I am not taken yet, nor will I yield To any hear but noble Lancaster, Let Skinke be Leisters prisoner I'll be thine. Leister do not come near me, for if thou do, thou shalt buy it dearly. Not for thy heart. Because his Sovereign does not wear a Crown. I'll wear it but to cross thy froward will. Its the low earth. To her I must, from her I had my breath. And have no Justice where contempt is King. Though thou fit hire yet my heart's as great. Ill comes not ever to the threatened. Against Skinke (poor knave) Thou gets no right this day. The box that I had from him, there it is. I God it from him, and I God Johns sword, Still your old counsel Beldame policy, You're a fit Tutress in a Monarchy. I know if I respected hand or head, I am encompassed with a world of friends, And could from fury be delivered. But then my freedom hazards many lives. Henry perform the utmost of thy hate, Let thy hard hearted mother have her will, Give Frantic John no longer cause to prate, I am prepared for the worst of ill, You see my knees kiss the could pavements face, They are not bent to Henry nor his friends, But to all you whose blood fled to your hearts, Shows your true sorrow in your ashy cheeks: To you I bend my knees, you I entreat, To smile on Gloucesters Resolution. Who ever loves me will not shed a tear, Nor breath a sighs, nor show a cloudy frown, Look Henry, hears my hand, I lay it down, And swear as I have Knighthood heer't shall lie, Till thou have used all thy tyranny. Let all that love me keep silence, or by heaven I'll hate them dying. Its well you count my blood so precious. I'll count it poison if his hand come near it. Thus Gloucester takes it, thus again he flings it, In scorn of him that sent it, and of him that brought it. Tut, I am ready, to thy worst I dare thee. I amazed, imagine that I see a vizion. He makes me wonder, and inflames my spirits, With and exceeding zeal to Portingale, Which Kingdom the unchristened Sarisons, The black faced Africans, and tawny Moors, Have God unjustly in possession: Whence I will fire them with the help of heaven. Never doubt, ther's more infectious breathes about your Throne, Leister is there, your envious Sons is there; If them you can endure, no poison fear. Will you not speak knaves, tell me who you seek? Gloucester, close master Sheriff, Prince Richard, What knowest thou me? knowest thou old Faukenbridge? I am no Tavern hunter I can tell thee. How long hast thou been sworn a messenger? What's he a gods name? he is quickly gone, I am for him, were he Robin-good fellow, Whose yonder the Prince John and Faukenbridge? I think they haunt me Like my genii, One good the other ill, by th'mas they pry And look upon me but suspiciously. Well thou shalt find him, knowest thou who's a hunting? Prince Richard: then lie envy at his foot, Pardon thy cousin Gloucester, valiant Lord, I knew no common force confronted mine, Oh heaven I had the Like conseite of thine. Farewell, be short; you gone, I hope to have a little sport He's for me he's weaponed, I Like that. First through a crimson sluice, I'll send thy hated soul to those black fiends That long have hovered gaping for their part, When tyrant life should leave thy traitor heart. Come Lancaster keep Skinke isle go with thee, Let lose the mad knave, for I praise his shifts, He shall not start away, isle be his guide, And with proud looks outface young Henries pride. I you are a gallant, come old Lancaster, For thy sake will I go; or else by heaven Idem send some dozen of these slaves to hell. Exeunt. Kneel to his child? Oh hell! Oh tortor! (Gloucester learn: Who would love life, to see this huge dishonour? Yonder sits one would do as much for you Old fool, young Richard hath a gift I know it, And on your wife my sister would bestow it. Here's a good world men hate adulterous sin, Count it a gulf, and yet they needs will in. Shall he so? will you reward your murderers with my lands Gloucester did cheat him, of the same gold chain, That deceived Sir Richard Faukenbridge. He God your sword Prince John: twa's he that saude The porter, and beguiled the Pursuivant,