SKINK

Good morrow son, good morrow, & God bless thee Huntington, A brighter Gleam of true Nobility Shines not in any youth more then in thee. Thou shalt be rich in honour, full of speed, Thou shalt win foes by fear, and friend, by meed. A cause of trust indeed true honoured youth, Princes had needs in matters of import, To make nice choice fair Earl, if I not err, Thou art the Princes ward. Fair fallen thee honourable Robert Hood, Weened to Prince Richard, say though I am loath, To use my skill in Conjuration: Yet Skinke that poisoned read cheeked Rosamond, Shall make appearance at the Parliament, He shall be there by noon assure his Grace. Gods benizon be with thee noble Earl. Up, spur the kicking Jade, while I make speed To Consure Sk nke out of his Hermit's weed; Lie there religion keep thy M. graven, And on the fair trust of these Princes word To Court again Skinke: but before I go, Let mischief take advise of villainy, Why to the Hermit letters should be sent, To post Skinke to the Court incontinent: Is there no trick in this? would let me see? Or do they know already I am he? If they do so, faith westward then with Skinke: But what and ass am I to be thus found, Here lies the Hermit whom I dying found Some two months since, when I was hourly charged With Hugh the Crier and with Constables, I saw him in the ready way to heaven, I helped him forward, was a holy deed; And there he lies some six foot in the ground, Since when, and since, I kept me in his weeds. Oh what a world of fools have filled my Cell; For Fortune's, runaways, stolen goods; lost cattle, Among the number, all the faction That take the young Kings partly against the old; Come to my self to harken for my self, So did the adverse party make inquire, But either fallen full of contrary desire: The old Kings partly would kill me being stained, The young Kings keep me from their violence. So then thou needest not fear, go boldly on, Brave Hall, Prince Dick, and my spruce hight spur John, Here's their safe conduct: Oh but for Rosamond! A fig for Rosamond, to this hope I'll lean: At a Queens bidding I did kill a quean. I receive it graciously, wishing his soul sweet peace, in heaven for so meritorious a work, for I fear me I have not his heart though his hand. Swonds I'll make one and stay. Black Heath quoth he, and I were King of all Kenned, I would give it for a commodity of Apron-strings, to Be in my cottage again. Princes warrants, marry Skinke Finds them as sure as and obligation sealed with butter. At Kings Bridge I durst not enter a boat, through London the stones were fiery, I have had a good Cool way through the fields, and in the high way To Ratcliffe stands a heater: Mile-end's covered with Who goes there. 'Tis for me sure; Oh Kenned, Oh Kenned, I would give my partly of all Christendom to feel Thee as I see thee. If I go forward I am stayed, If I go backward, ther's a roge in a read cap, he's run From S. Johnes after me: I were best stay here, Least if he come with hue and cry, he stop me yonder, I would slip the collar for fear of the halter; But here comes my runner, and if he run for me, His raze die, he is as sure dead, as if a Parliament Of Devils had decreed it. Help me devise, upon my life this fool is sent From Gloucester to his sister Marian. God speed good fellow. Why runnest thou from me? What Lady? I prithee stay. Faukenbridge? If thou wouldst speak with her she is in Kenned, I serve her, what's thy business with my Lady? Where is my Lord? I have much business, hold ther's thy fare by water, my Lady lies this night. At Gravesend at the Angel. Why there's my cloak and hat to keep thee warm, Thy cap and Jerkin will serve me to ride in By the way, thou hast wind and ty de, take Oars. My Lady will reward thee royally. High thee, to morrow morning at Gravesend I'll wash thy stammering throat with a mug of ale merrily. At the Angel. Farewell and be hanged good stammering ninny, I think I have set your Redcaps heals a running, would your Pyanet chattering humour could as sa safely see set me fr from the searchers walks. Yonder comes some one, hem: Skink to your tricks this tytty tytty, a the tongue I believe will fail me. Would I had kept my own suit, if the countenance carry it away. The po po Porters Son of the FFl Fleet, going to Stepney about business to the La La Lady Fa Fa Fauken bridge. Wh wh why le le let me run I am Re Redcap. Yes sir, and the devil go with you and them, Well, yet have hope mad would heart, continued continued come your way. Iff forsooth h he desire you to speak to the p Prince for him. If I be rid of this evil Angel that haunts me, many rings, much Fleet will Skinke come unto. A plague upon you for a damned roge, The Porter of the Fleet will surely know me. Why Ma Ma Madam, I am Re Re Redcap the Por ters son. Best speaking to Prince Richard? no I'll try And face out Redcap if the slave were by. Ther's such a que question for yond S same r rogue Skink p plague keep far enough from him, that a and ho nest f fellow Can cannot w w walk the streets. Sbloud what a frown this Gloucester casts at me, I hope he means to lend me no more cuffs, Such as he paid me at the Parliament. I fear I am to near, No b but you sh shall he hear f from her p p presently. N n nay, b b but wh wh what m mean you? Zounds you see ti's I. I mum mum fair, pray God may chance it, My Lord, but that my state is desperate, Idem see your eyes out ear I would be cheated. Of neither John I muse at my disgrace, That I am thus kept prisoner in this place. I care not if I do, No my gown stirs not, it keeps sorrow warm, And she, and I am not to be divorced, More pounds and we thus heavy? well begin. Amen God send it short enough, and me A safe running with them clothes from thee. Far enough and well, fly one foot more, Would I were half so far without the door. Would I were gone, make after as you may, I would be sorry John but you should stay, Until my bias run another way, Now pass, and heigh pass, Skink unto your tricks, 'Tis but a chance at hazard: there lies Gloucester, and hear stands Skinke, now John play thou thy partly, And if I escape I'll love thee with my heart. So porter let me forth. I have and must about his business to the Court. It grieves me to break my sport with Gloucester, The melancholy Earl is comfortless, Drink that, some knocks, I prithee let me cut, His head shall off ere long, never make doubt. Exeunt. Thus jets my noble Skinke along the streets, To whom each bonnet vails, and all knees bend; And yet my noble humour is too light, By the six shillings here are two cracked groats To helter skelter, at some vawting house. But who comes yonder? would, old Faukenbridge? Hath a braue-chaine, were John and he good friends, That chain were mine, and should unto Black-heath I'll venture, it's but trial, luck may fallen. Good morrow good sir Richard Faukenbridge. Yes I am plodding forward as you do; What cost your chain? it's passing strongly wrought, I would my Goldsmith had a pattern of it. Then dare you trust me? Why so, this breakfast was well fed upon, When Skinkes devises on Black heath do fail, This and such cheats, would set me under sail. I'll to the water side, would it were later, For still I am afraid to meet Prince John. But what a mischief meant Faukenbridge To come again so soon? that way he went, And now comes peaking; upon my life The buzzard hath me in suspitition, But whatsoever chance, I'll filch a share. What news could I hear since you left me last? Were you not here even now? lent me your chain, I think you dote. Ther's more, and more, I'll geld it ear it go. He breaks the chain. This same shall keep me in some saverne merry, Till nights black hand curtain this to clear sky. Here palsy, take your chain, stoop and be hanged, Yet the fish nibbled, when she might not swallow; Gout I have curtaled what I could not borrow. Exit. They be come, the devil crown ye one by one, Skinke though art betrayed, that master Faukenbridge Missing some of his chain, hath God thee dogged. Drawer? what Drawer? It does not please me well, knows he that I am her? Who's that was with him? Where is sir Richard? A Pursuivant and at the Alderman's. What Pyg, or Goose, or Capon have you killed, Withing your Kitchen new? Fetch me a sauncer of the blood, quick run; Exit. I'll fit the Pursuivant, and Alderman, And Faukenbridge, if Skinke have any wit. Well Gloucester, I did never love thee yet, But th'art the maddest Lord that ere I met, If I escape this, and meet thee once again, Curse Skinke, if he die penny in thy debt. Lend me thy Aprone, run and fetch a pot from the next room. Betrayed, swounds betrayed, by gout, by palsy, by dropsy; Oh brave boy, excellent blood: up, take my cloak And my hat to thy share, when I come from Kenned, isle pay Thee Like a King. Prince devil or his dam, Prince John they call him. Up them stairs, take heed of him. He's in the Crown. I say go but to yonder corner, And ere the Sun be half and hour higher, There will the thief attempt a robbery, Yonder they are I'll fit them, here's my ground: Uva would how, uva would how, uva would how? I'll help you both, deliver sir deliver, Swounds lin her not: Prince John put up your purse, or isle throw Pon niards down upon your pate. Quickly, when? I am Skink that escaped you yesternight, and fled the Fleet in your cloak, carrying me clean out of wind and rain. I broke the bonds and links that fettered your chain amity, this cheat is mine: Farewell I cannot stay, sweet Prince, old Knight, I thank you for this pray. Zounds he is yonder alone, Skinke now revenge thy self on yonder slave. Znayles still prevented? this same Redcap rogue Runs Like Hobgoblin up and down the heath. Its he that robs, he slanders me, he lies. Swounds do, would I had one. Sweet King by these two terrors to mine enemies, that lend light to my bodies darkness: Cauilero Skinke being beleagerd with and host of leaden heals, armed in ring Irish: cheated my hammerer of his Read cap and Coat; was surprised, brought to the fleet as a person suspected, passed currant, till Gloucester stripped me from my counterfeit, clad my back in silk and my heart in sorrow, and so left me to the mercy of my mother wit: how Prince John released me, he knows: how I God Faukenbridges chain, I know: but how he will get it again, I know not. He's a noble gentleman, I do not doubt his usage. Well, farewell, get I once out of door, Skinke never will put trust in warrants more. Exit. Counterfeit commendations and S she hath S sent you this r ring. Was not sir Richard Faukenbridge below? Come hither sirrah, I have little money, But ther's some few links of a chain of gold: Upon your honesty knows not sir Richard, That I am here? Now fortune help or never: they come, and ye were a Prince as ye say you are, ye would be ashamed to abuse a poor servant thus, but and if you were not of the blood Royal, Idem break the neck of ye down the stairs, so would I, Idem teach you to hurt prentices. Hang your selves, this darkness shall convey me out, of doors I'll swim the Thames, but I'll attain Black-heath, London farewell, curse John, rave Faukenbridge, Skinke escapes you all by twy lights priuyledge. Now holy Skinke in thy religious weed, Look out for purchase, or thy wonted clients: Warrents quoth you, I was fairly warrented, Young Robin Hood the Earl of Huntington, Shall never fetch me more unto his Prince. But pauca verba Skinke, a prize, a prize, By th'mas a pretty girl, close Hermit close, Overhear if thou canst, what she desires, For so my cunning and my credit spreads. What mystery is this? the Lady Faukenbridge, It's she, sweet fortune thou hast sent her well, I will entice this morcell to my Cell: Her husband's jealous, I will give him cause, As he believes, I hope it shall succeed; Nay swounds it shall, she's mine in scorn of speed. What honoured tongue enquereth for the Hermit? I Lady Faukenbridge, I know you, and I know for what you come. For Gloucester and your husbands jealousy. I'll have you first in, I'll tell you more anon. Madam, they say bushes have ears and eyes, And these are matters of great secrecy: And you'll vouchsafe enter my holy Cell, There what you long to know, isle quickly tell. A plague upon them, come they in the neck, To hinder Raynald of his Foxes trick? His purse and yours, shall make me some amends, For hindering me this morning from the Lady; For scaring me at Tavern yesternight, For having back your chain, I'll fit you both. No, it was Skinke. But hear me. Know thrice honoured Prince, that Skinke did cousin Redcap of his clothes. Gloucester did cozen Skinke, and so escaped. It Skinke in Gloucesters gown, whom you did visit, That played at bowls and after stole your clothes, While you went into the Lord Moortons chamber. Himself deliver not so much before you sleep, Root me from out the borders of this Realm. Your welcome good sir Richard, I Skinke upon my word. Lady start down I must into my cell, Where I am curing of a man late hurt, He dressed, I must unto my Orisons, In half and hour all will be dispatched, And then I will attend your Ladyship. Hermit farewell, isle pay you or speak with you next time I see ye. Sweet mouse the Hermit bids you stay here, he'll visit you anon. Now John and Faukenbridge, I'll match ye, and I do not say Skinke's a wretch, a wren, a worm, when I have tricked them, Madam I will trim you. Come modity is to be preferred before pleasure. About profit Skink, for crowns for crowns, that make the kingly thoughts. Robbed, sir no, he that comes to rob me shall have a hard match on't, yet two good fellows had Like to been robbed by one tall thief, had not I stepped in: abbots on him, I lost a hawk by him, & yet I cared not to send another after him, so I could find the thief; and here about he is. I know he is squatted. Yes sir, tread the ground sir, & you shall hear their hollowness, this way sir this way. I'll feign unto my cell, to my fair Lady, But John and Faukenbridge are at my heals. And some odd mate is God into my gown, And walks devoutly Like my counterfeit, I cannot stay to question with you now, I have another gown, and all things fit, These guests once rid, new mate? I'll bum, I'll mark you. Sbloud yonder's company, isle back again, Else I would be with you counterfeit, I'll leave the rogue till opportunity, But never eat till I have quit my wrong. Exit I made thee run? No he's counterfeit I will tell no lies, As sure as Skinke deceived thee of thy clothes, Sent thee to Kenned, gave thee thy fare by water, So sure he's false, and I the perfect Hermit, It was not I it he that cast thee down, Zounds hold you stammerer, or I'll cut your stumps. Lay hold upon that other hermit. He is a counterfeit as well as I, He stole those clothes from me, for I am Skinke, Search him, I know him not, he is some slave. Brave Earl, had Skinke known thou hadst been the Noble Gloucester (whose mad tricks have made me love thee) I would have died Black heath read with the blood of millions, ere we would have been taken; but what reme die, we are fast & must answer it Like Gentlemen, Like Soul dyers, Like resolutes. Thanks to King Henries grace. And your forgiveness for my robbery? You wrong mine honour: Skink may be revenged, Oh brave spirit Skinke will scotrch them brave Gloucester Make Carbonadoes of their Bacon fletches; Deserve to be counted valiant by his valour, And Ryuo will he cry, and Castille too, And wonders in the land of Civil do. I shall bear his blows to my graven my Lord. I'll bring't you to the Sheriffs, excuse my absence. Drawer? what Drawer? with a vengeance Dram.