HAWKER. Cress! Buy cress! Who’ll buy my cress-es? ELIZABETH. Fetch me my purse! _The girl goes out by the little door. As she does so_, ELIZABETH _takes her purse from a drawer and going to the window, throws out a coin._ HAWKER. Cress! Buy cress! Are you there, lady? [ELIZABETH _throws out another coin._] I plucked my riches From Deptford ditches, I came by a Deptford Inn; Where a young man lies, With pennies on his eyes-- Murdered, lady, and none saw who did it! Cress! Buy cress! ELIZABETH _flings out another coin._ There was a boy that ran away, and Henslowe the Queen’s man, and a third-- Cress! Buy cress! A supper for Queen Bess! ELIZABETH _lays down the purse on the table as the girl comes back._ GIRL [_distressed_]. Madam-- ELIZABETH. It was here. That cress seller has a sweet voice. Fling her a coin and ask her where she lives! GIRL [_going to the window_]. Hey, beggar! HAWKER. Bless you, lady! GIRL. Where do you come from with your green stuff? HAWKER. Marlow, lady, Marlow! Down by the river where the cresses grow, And buttercups like guineas. Cress! Buy cress! Who’ll buy my cress-es? _Her voice dies away in the distance._ GIRL. She has come a long way. Marlow’s across the river, far from us. ELIZABETH. Marlowe’s across the river, far from us. If any ask to speak with me, let me know it! GIRL. Why, Madam, Henslowe, the old player, has been waiting since noon, and Mr. Shakespeare with him. ELIZABETH. The name’s not written here. Whose duty? GIRL. Mary Fitton’s. ELIZABETH. Send Henslowe! And when I ring let Mary Fitton answer! GIRL. I’ll tell her, Madam. _She goes out_. ELIZABETH _rises and goes slowly across the room to the dais and seats herself. There is a pause. Then a page throws open the big door facing the dais and_ HENSLOWE _enters._ ELIZABETH. Henslowe, you’re not welcome For the news you bring. HENSLOWE. Madam, that Marlowe’s dead I know because I found him--I am new come from Deptford-- But how you know I know not.