English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Tho_. Ring all your companie in.
_Un_. Thou would'st make me a Captaine of a Morris dance. What serve the
phifes and Drumms for, prethee?
_Tho_. But does your worship thinke you shall endure the bouncing of the
Gunns? I observed you ever kept a way of at the Musters.
_Un_. Thou shalt therefore every morne goe a birding about the house to
inure me to the report. By that tyme thou hast kild all my pigeons I
shall endure the noise well enough.
_Tho_. But, Sir, you must have a dry Nurse, as many Captaines have. Let
me see: I can hire you an old limping decayed Sergeant at _Brainford_
that taught the boyes,--he that had his beard sing'd of at the last
Muster: hee'le doe it bravely.
_Un_. What must he have?
_Tho_. Alas, twenty pipes[219] of _Barmudas_ a day, six flagons of
March[220] beere, a quart of Sack in a weeke, for he scornes meate; and
the kitching wench to bring the shirt to him and the only band, for
Cuffs he gets none but such as his drunkennes procures him with
quarrelling.
_Un_. No, I shall be bashfull to learne of a stranger, thou sha't goe
seeke out Captaine _Sackburye_.
_Tho_. He that weares no money in his scarlett hose, and when he is
drunke is infected with Counsell?
_Un_. The very same; you shall find him at his Lodging in _Fleetstreet_
or in the next taverne. Give him this Letter; tell him I desire his
Companie this summer in the Country. He shall have a horse of mine,
say:--here, give him this gold, too.
_Tho_. I hope it is gameing gold.
_Un_. He shall read warres to me and fortification.
_Tho_. I can teach you to build a sconce[221], sir.
_Un_. Beside, he is very valiant; he beate me twice when he was drunk,
but, poore fellow, I ask'd him forgivenes the next day. Make hast, good
_Thomas_, and remember all the Tacticks.
_Tho_. I warrant you, Sir: I know 'em well enough. [_Exit_.
_Un_. So, so; here's Sir _Richard_.
_Enter Sir Richrd Huntlove, his Ladie and Mistresse Dorothy_.
_Sir Rich_. Me thinkes you looke more sprightly since you were made a
Captaine.
_Un_. Oh, good Sir _Richard_, indeed my face is the worst part about mee;
and yet it will serve at the Muster.
_Do_. Serve! With reverence to the title, I have seene a Generall with a
worse Countenance. It is a good leading face, and though you have no cut
ore the nose or other visible scarre, which I doubt not but you may
receave all in good tyme, it is a quarrelling face and fitt for a man of
warre.
_Un_. I thanke you, sweet mistress _Dorothy_: I will commend you as much
when you are in the Countrey.--But doe you resolve to goe downe this
morning, Sir?
_Sir Rich_. By all meanes: is your sister readie? bid the Coachman make
hast, and have a care you leave none of your trinketts behind: after a
little dialogue with my scrivenour Ile returne, and then to Coach.
_Lady_. But why this expedition, this posting out of towne as the Aire
were infected?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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