CONSTABLE

Come fellow watchmen, for now you are my fellows, I do it to encourage you in your office, it is a trick that we commanders have, your great Captains call your soldiers fellow soldiers to encourage them. Well I must show now what you have to do, for I my self before I came to this prefermity, was as simple as one of you, and for your better destruction, I will deride my speech into two parts. First, what is a watchman. See condly, what is the office of a watchman. For the first, fany man ask me what is a watchman, I may answer him, he is a man as others are, nay a tradesman, as a Vintner, a Tailor, or the Like, for they have long bills. For the second, what is his office; I answer, he may by virtue of his office reprehend any person, or persons, that w lke the streets too late at a seasonable hour. Nay, if you meet any of those rogues at seasonable hours, you may by virtue of your office commit him to prison, and then ask him whither he was going. True, my Lord Mayor can do no more then you in that point. Why if he do resist, you may knock him down, and then id him stand, and come afore the Constable. So you are sufficiently cnstructed concerning you office take your stands, you shall hear rogues wall king at these seasonable hours, I warrant you, stand close. Purpose, now do I take as much care to be apprehended, As others do to escape the watch, I must speak To be overheard, and plainly too, or else these dolts Will never conceive me. Hark who goes by? How, conscience talks he of, He's and honest man, I warrant him, let him pass How made me poison him, he's a knave I warrant him. I warrant you a knave cannot pass me, go reprehend him, I'll take his excommunication my self. Sirrah, sirrah, you would have scaped Would you, no sirrah you shall know the Kings Officers have eyes to hear such rogues as you, Come sirrah, confess who it was you poisoned, he Looks Like a notable rogue. You would deny it Would you sirrah, we shall sift you, I cannot now deny what I have said You over herd me, I poisoned Eugenio son to Lord Polimetes. Let him alone, the law Shall punish him, but sirrah where did you poison Him. But sirrah who set you a work Confess, I shall find out the whole ne of there Rogues, speak. O lying Rascal. Away with him, I'll hear no more, remit him to Prison; Sirrah, you shall hear of these things To morrow, where you would be loath to hear um. Come lets go. exeunt. marry with reuerance be it spoken. my Lord Polimetes his son. I'll leave the fell on with your Lordship. Murder I see will out. exit Con. Why didst thou poison him. I told him and shall please your Lordship's Kings officers had eyes to hear such rascals. murder. His own profession if it please your honour. Yes my Lord, he cannot deny it.