English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Pike_. Yes, very strong.
_Mac_. What Ordnance in't?
_Pike_. 50 Peeces.
_Gyr_. Oh fye, doe not belye your country; there's not so many.
_Alq_. How many soldiers keepe you in that fort?
_Pike_. 200.
_Mac_. Much about such a number.--There is a little iland before
_Plymouth_: What strength is that of?
_Pike_. I doe not know.
_Gyr_. We doe, then.
_Alq_. Is _Plymouth_ a walld Towne?
_Pike_. Yes, it is walld.
_Mac_. And a good wall?
_Pike_. A very good strong wall.
_Gyr_. True tis a good strong wall, and built so high
One with a leape staffe may leape over it.
_Mac_. Why did not your good navy, being in such bravery,
As it tooke _Puntall_ seize _Cales_?
_Pike_. Our Generall
Might easily have tane it, for he had
Almost a thousand scaling ladders to sett up;
And without mayme to's army he might loose
A thousand men: but he was loath to robb
An almes-house when he had a richer market
To buy a conquest in.
_Mac_. What was that market?
_Pike_. _Genoa or Lisbon_: wherefore should we venture
Our lives to catch the wind, or to gett knockes
And nothing else.
[_They consult_.
_Mac_. A poast with speed, to _Lisbon_,
And see't well mand.
_Ten_. One shalbe sent, my Lord.
[_Exit. The soldiers laugh_.
_Alq_. How now, why is this laughter?
_Fer_. One of the soldiers, being merry among themselves, is somewhat
bold with th'_English_, and sayes th'are dainty Hennes.
_All_. [_Alq_.?] Hens! ha, ha, ha!
_Mac_. Sirra, view well these soldiers,
And freely telle us, thinke you these will prove
Such hens as are your _English_, when next yeare
They land in your owne Country.
_Pike_. I thinke they will not,
My lord, prove hens, but somewhat neere to hens.
_Mac_. How mean'st thou?
_Pike_. Let my speech breed no offence:
I thinke they would prove pulletts.
_Gyr_. Dar'st thou fight
With any one of these our _Spanish_ pulletts?
_Pike_. What heart have I to fight when tis beaten flatt
To earth with sad afflictions? can a prisoner
Glory in playing the Fencer? my life's at stake
Allready; can I putt it in for more?
Our army was some 14000 men
Of which more than 12000 had spirits so high
Mine never shall come neere them: would some of them
Were here to feed your expectations!
Yet, silly as I am, having faire pardon
From all your Graces and your Greatnesses,
Ile try if I have strength in this chayned arme
To breake a rapier.
_Mac_. Knock off all his gyves;
And he that has a stomacke for _Spaines_ honour
To combate with this _Englishman_, appeare.
_Pike_. May he be never calld an _Englishman_
That dares not looke a divell in the face, [_One stepps forth_.
Come he in face of man, come how he can.
_Mac_. Your name?
_Tia_. _Tiago_.
_All_. Well done _Tiago_.
_Mac_. Let drums beate all the time they fight.
_Lady_. I pray for thee.
_Gent_. And I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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