A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2 — John Shaqi
A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2
General
A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2
English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Fer_. Well, sir, you shall.
_Manuell_, I can no lesse than lay upon you
The hand of my authority. In my Caroach[37]
You shall with mee to _Sherris_, 3 leagues off,
Where the Lords sitt to-morrow: there you must answer
This most unbrotherly accusation.
_Man_. And prove him a false caytiffe.
_Fer_. I will be both your guard, sir, and your bayle
And make no doubt to free you from this Viper.
_Hen_. Viper!
_Fer_. Y'are bound to appeare at _Sherris_, sir;
And you were best not fayle.
I have a certaine Daughter there shall meete you. Come.
[_Exit Fer., Man., &_[38]
_Hen_. Thither I dare you both, all three.--_Buzzano_!
_Buz_. Sir?
_Hen_. Saddle my Jennet? Ile to _Sherris_ presently.
_Buz_. And I?
_Hen_. And you; but I must schoole you, sirra.
[_Exeunt_.
(SCENE 2.)
_Enter Pike, shackled, & his Jaylour_.
_Jay_. Boon Coragio, man! how is't?
_Pike_. Not very well & yet well enough, considering how the cheating
dice of the world run.
_Jay_. I dare not, though I have a care of you, ease you of one Iron
unles I desire such Gyves my selfe.
_Pike_. Las, if they were all knockt off I'me loaden with Gyves,
Shackles, and fetters enough for the arrantest theefe that ever lay in
my owne country in Newgate.
_Jay_. Shackles, gyves, and fetters enough! I see none but these at your
heeles, which come on without a shoeing horne.
_Pike_. Yes, at my heart I weare them--a wife & children (my poore
Lambes at home); there's a chaine of sighes and sobbes and sorrow,
harder then any Iron; and this chaine is so long it reaches from
_Sherrys_ to _Tavestock_ in _Devonshire_.
_Jay_. That's farre enough in Conscience.
_Pike_. Could I shake those Chaines off I would cutt Capers: poore
_Dick Pike_ would dance though Death pip'd to him; yes, and spitt in
your Hangman's face.
_Jay_. Not too much of that nayther: some 2 dayes hence he will give you
a choake peare[39] will spoyle your spitting.
_Pike_. Pheu!
_Jay_. For, let me see, to-day is Sunday; to-morrow the Lords sitt, and
then I must have a care--a cruell care--to have your leggs handsome and
a new cleane ruff band about your necke, of old rusty iron; 'twill purge
your choller.
_Pike_. I, I, let it, let it: Collers, halters, & hangmen are to me
bracelets and frendly companions.
[_Knocking-within_.
_Jay_. So hasty? stay my leasure.--(_Enter 2 fryers_)
Two fryers come to prepare you. [_Exit_.
I. Hayle, Countryman! for we, though fryers in _Spaine_,
Were born in _Ireland_.
_Pike_. Reverend sir, y'are welcome:
Too few such visitants, nay none at all,
Have I seen in this damnable Limbo.
2. Brother, take heed; doe not misuse that word
Of Limbo.[40]
1. Brother _Pike_, for so we heare,
Men call you, we are come in pure devotion
And charity to your soule, being thereto bound
By holy orders of our mother Church.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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