You honour me with this assent of yours;
2 And here upon my sword I make protest,
For to relieve the poor, or die myself.
And know, my lords, that James, the king of Scots,
Wars hard upon the borders of this land:
Here is his post; say, John Taylor,
What news with king James?

John. War, my lord, I tell; and good news I

trow;

For king James vows to meet you the twenty-sixth
Of this month, God willing; marry doth he, sir.
Ken. My friends, you see what we have to win.
Well, John, commend me to king James, and tell
him,

I will meet him the twenty-sixth of this month,
And all the rest; and so farewell. [Exit JOHN.
Bonfield, why stand'st thou as a man in dumps?
Courage; for if I win, I'll make thee duke.
I Heary Momford will be king myself,
And I will make thee duke of Lancaster,
And Gilbert Armstrong lord of Doncaster.
Bon. Nothing, my lord, makes me amazed at all,
But that our soldiers find our victuals scant.
We must make havock of those country swains;
For so will the rest tremble and be afraid,
And humbly send provision to your camp.

Gil. My lord Bonfield gives good advice; They make a scorn and stand upon the king: So what is brought is sent from them perforce; Ask Mannering else.

Ken. What sayest thou, Mannering?

Man. When as I shewed your high commission, They made this answer,

Only to send provision for your

horses.

fear.

Ken. Do so, Nick! hie thee thither presently, And let us hear of thee to-morrow.

Man. Will you not remove, my lord? Ken. No, I will lie at Bradford all this night, And all the next. Come, Bonfield, let us go, And listen out some bonny lasses here.

Enter the Justice, a Townsman, GEORGE A GREENE, and Sir NICHOLAS MANNERING, with his commission.

Just. M. Mannering, stand aside, whilst we confer

What is best to do, townsmen of Wakefield:
The earl of Kendall here hath sent for victuals;
And in aiding him, we shew ourselves
No less than traitors to the king;
Therefore let me hear, townsmen,
What is your consents.

Towns. Even as you please, we are all content.
Just. Then M. Mannering we are resolved-
Man. As how?

Just. Marry, sir, thus.

We will send the earl of Kendall no victuals,
Because he is a traitor to the king,

And in aiding him we shew ourselves no less.
Man. Why, men of Wakefield, are you waxen

mad,

That present danger cannot whet your wits,
Wisely to make provision of yourselves?
The earl is thirty thousand men strong in power,
And what town soever him resist,

He lays it flat and level with the ground :
Ye silly men, you seek your own decay:
Therefore send my lord such provision as he
wants,

So he will spare your town, and come no nearer
Wakefield than he is.

Just. Master Mannering, you have your answer ; You may be gone.

Man. Well, Woodroffe, for so I guess is thy

2

but when the Gods are

8

4 Should brook the braves of any traitorous squire.
You of the bench, and you my fellow-friends,
Neighbours, we subjects all unto the king;
We are English born, and therefore Edward's
friends,

Wow'd unto him, even in our mothers' womb,
Our minds to God, our hearts unto our king;
Our wealth, our homage, and our carcases,
Be all king Edward's. Then, sirrah, we have
Nothing left for traitors, but our swords,
Whetted to bathe them in your bloods,
And die against you, before we send you any

victuals.

Just. Well spoken, George a Greene! Towns. Pray let George a Greene speak for us. Geo. Sirrah, you get no victuals here, Not if a hoof of beef would save your lives.

Man. Fellow, I stand amazed at thy presumption.

Why, what art thou that darest gainsay my lord, Knowing his mighty puissance and his stroke? Why, my friend, I come not barely of myself; For see, I have a large commission.

Geo. Let me see it, sirrah. Whose seals be these?

Man. This is the earl of Kendall's seal at arms; This lord Charnel Bonfield's; And this sir Gilbert Armstrong's.

Geo. I tell thee, sirrah, did good king Edward's

son

Seal a commission against the king his father, Thus would I tear it in despite of him, [He tears the commission. Being traitor to my sovereign. Man. What! hast thou torn my lord's commission?

Thou shalt rue it, and so shall all Wakefield.
Geo. What, are you in choler? I will give you
pills

To cool your stomach. Seest thou these seals?
Now, by my father's soul, which was a yeoman,
When he was alive, eat them, or eat
My dagger's point, proud squire.

4

Man. But thou doest but jest, I hope?
Geo. Sure that shall you see, before we two
part.

Man. Well, and there be no remedy, so
George,-

One is gone; I pray thee, no more now.

Geo. O sir, if one be good, the others cannot hurt.

So, sir, now you may go tell the earl of Kendall,

Although I have rent his large commission, Yet of curtesy I have sent all his seals Back again by you.

Man. Well, sir, I will do your errand. [Erit. Geo. Now let him tell his lord, that he hath Spoke with George a Greene, right Pinner Of merry Wakefield town, that hath physic for a fool,

Pills for a traitor that doth wrong his sovereign.
Are you content with this that I have done?
Just. Ay, content, George;

For highly hast thou honour'd Wakefield town,
In cutting of proud Mannering so short.
Come, thou shalt be my welcome guest to-day;
For well thou hast deserved reward and favour.
[Exeunt.

Enter old MUSGROVE, and young CUDDIE, his Son.

Cuddie. Now, gentle father, list unto thy son,
And for my mother's love, that erst was blythe
And bonny in thine eye, grant one petition
That I shall demand.

Old Mus. What is that, my Cuddie?
Cuddie. Father, you know

The ancient enmity of late between the Musgroves
And the wily Scots, whereof they have oath,
Not to leave one alive that strides a launce.
O father, you are old, and waining age unto the

grave:

Old William Musgrove, which whilom was thought
The bravest horseman in all Westmorland,
Is weak, and forced to stay his arm upon a staff,
That erst could wield a launce.
Then, gentle father, resign the hold to me;
Give arms to youth, and honour unto age.

Mus. Avaunt, false-hearted boy! my joints do quake

Even with anguish of thy very words.

Hath William Musgrove seen an hundred years?
Have I been feared and dreaded of the Scots,
That, when they heard my name in any road,
They fled away, and posted thence amain?
No, Cuddie, no: thus resolve I,

Here have I lived, and here will Musgrove die.
[Exeunt.
Enter Lord BONFIELD, Sir GILBERT ARM-
STRONG, M. GRIME, and BETTRIS his Daugh

ter.

Bon. Now, gentle Grime, god a mercy for our good cheer,

NASH's Apologie of Pierce Pennelesse, 4to. 1593.

Our fare was royall, and our welcome great ;
And sith so kindly thou hast entertained us,
If we return with happy victory,

We will deal as friendly with thee in recompence. Grime. Your welcome was but duty, gentle lord:

For wherefore have we given us our wealth,
But to make our betters welcome when they
come?-

O, this goes hard when traitors must be flattered;
But life is sweet, and I cannot withstand it.
God, I hope, will revenge the quarrel of my king.
Aside.

Gil. What said you, Grime?
Grime. I say, sir Gilbert, looking on my daughter,
I curse the hour that ere I got the girl:
For, sir, she may have many wealthy suitors,
And yet she disdains them all, to have
Poor George a Greene unto her husband.

Ken. Such news, Bonfield, as will make thet laugh,

And fret thy fill, to hear how Nick was used.
Why, the justices stand on their terms.
Nick, as you know, is haughty in his words;
He laid the law unto the justices

With threatening braves, that one looked on another,

Ready to stoop; but that a churl came in,
One George a Greene, the Pinner of the town,
And, with his dagger drawn, laid hands on Nick,
And by no beggars swore that we were traitors;
Rent our commission, and upon a brave
Made Nick to eat the seals, or brook the stab.
Poor Mannering, afraid, came posting hither
straight.

Bet. Oh lovely George, fortune be still thy
friend!

And as thy thoughts be high, so be thy mind

high;

To dignify those hairs of amber hue,

I'll grace them with a chaplet made of pearl,
Set with choice rubies, sparks, and diamonds,
Planted upon a velvet hood, to hide that head,
Wherein two sapphires burn like sparkling fire:
This will I do, fair Bettris, and far more,
If thou wilt ove the lord of Doncaster.

Bet Heigh ho! my heart is in a higher place,
Perhaps on the earl, if that be he.
See where he comes, or angry, or in love;
For why? his colour looketh discontent.

Enter the Earl of KENDALL and NICHOLAS MAN

NERING.

Ken. Come, Nick, follow me.
Bon. How now, my lord, what news?

Bon. What says fair Bettris?

Grime. My lord, she is praying for George a Greene;

He is the man, and she will none but him.

Bon. But him! why look on me, my girl.
Thou knowest, that yesternight I courted thee,
And swore at my return to wed with thee.
Then tell me, love, shall I have all thy fair?
Bet. "I care not for earl, nor yet for knight,
Nor baron that is so bold;

For George-a-Greene, the merry Pinner,
He hath my heart in hold."

Bon. Bootless, my lord, are many vain replies. Let us hie us to Wakefield, and send her the Pin

nor's head.

Ken. It shall be so.

Grime, gramercie, Shut up thy daughter, bridle her affects, Let me not miss her when I make return; Therefore look to her, as to thy life, good Grime. Grime. I warrant you, my lord.

[Exeunt GRIME and BETTRIL Ken. And, Bettris, leave a base Pinner,

Ben Jonson's Cynthia's Revels, A. 3. S. 3:

or to love an earl. Fain would I see his Pinner, George a Greene. It shall be thus ; Tick Mannering shall lead on the battle, and we three will go to Wakefield in some disguise;

But howsoever, I'll have his head to-day.

[Exeunt.

Enter the King of Scors, Lord HUMES, with Soldiers, and JoHNY.

King. Why, Johny, then the Earl of Kendall is blithe,

And hath brave men that troop along with him? Johny. Ay, marry, my liege,

And hath good men that come along with him,
And vows to meet you at Scrasblesea, God willing.
King. If good St Andrew lend King Jamie
leave,

I will be with him at the appointed day.
But, soft: Whose pretty boy art thou?

Enter JANE A BARLEY'S Son.

Ned. Sir, I am son unto Sir John a Barley, Eldest, and all that ere my mother had.

Edward my name.

June. And whither art thou going, pretty Ned? Ned. To seek some birds, and kill them, if I can. And now my school-master is also gone,

So have I liberty to ply iny bow;

For when he comes, I stir not from my book.

Little regard was given to my suit,

But haply thy husband's presence wrought it.
Therefore, sweet Jane, I fitted me to time,
And, hearing that thy husband was from home,
Am come to crave what long I have desired.

Ned. Nay, soft you, sir, you get no entrance here,

That seek to wrong Sir John a Barley so,
And offer such dishonour to my mother.
James. Why, what dishonour, Ned?
Ned. Though young,

Yet often have I heard my father say,
No greater wrong than to be made a cuckold.
Were I of age, or were my body strong,
Were he ten kings, I'd shoot him to the heart,
That should attempt to give Sir John the horn.—
Mother, let him not come in, I will lie

At Jockie Miller's house.
James. Stay him.

go

June. Ay, well said, Ned, Thou hast given the king his answer; For, were the ghost of Cæsar on the earth, Wrapped in the wonted glory of his honour, He should not make me wrong my husband so. But good King James is pleasant, as I guess, And means to try what humour I am in; Else would he never have brought an host of men, To have them witness of his Scottish lust. James Jane, in faith, Jane

Jane. Never reply,

For I protest, by the highest holy God,

child;

If you would speak with her, knock at this gate. James. Johny, knock at that gate.

Enter JANE A BARLEY upon the Walls. Jane. O, I am betrayed! What multitudes be these?

James. Fear not, fair Jane, for all these men
are mine,

And all thy friends, if thou be friend to me.
I am thy lover, James, the king of Scots,
That oft have sued and wooed with many letters,
Painting my outward passions with my pen,
When as my inward soul did bleed for woe.

King James, of all men, shall not have my love. James. Then, list to me! Saint Andrew be my

boot,

But I'll rase thy castle to the very ground,
Unless thou open the gate, and let me in.
Jane. I fear thee not, King Jamie; do thy

worst.

This castle is too strong for thee to scale;
Besides, to-morrow will Sir John come home.
James. Well, Jane, since thou disdainest King
James's love,

I'll draw thee on with sharp and deep extremes;
For, by my father's soul, this brat of thine
Shall perish here before thine eyes,
Unless thou open the gate, and let me in.

Jane. O deep extremes! my heart begins to break;

My little Ned looks pale for fear. Cheer thee, My boy, I will do much for thee.

Mus. Now, King James, thou art my prisoner. James. Not thine, but fortune's prisoner. Enter CUDDIE.

Cuddie. Father, the field is ours;

Their colours we have seized, and Humes is slain;
I slew him hand to hand.

Mus. 9 God, and Saint George!
Cuddie. O father, I am sore athirst.
Jane. Come in, young Cuddie; come, and drink
thy fill.

Bring in King Jamie with you, as a guest;
For all this broil was 'cause he could not enter.

[Exeunt.

Enter GEORGE A GREENE alone.

Geo. The sweet content of men that live in love, Breeds fretting humours in a restless mind; And fancy, being checked by fortune's spite, Grows too impatient in her sweet desires; Sweet to those men, whom love leads ou to bliss, But sour to me, whose hap is still amiss.

Enter JENKIN, the Clown.

Jen. Marry, amen, sir.

Geo. Sir, what do you cry amen at?
Jen. Why, did not you talk of love?
Geo. How do you know that?

Jen. Well, though I say it, that should not say
There are few fellows in our parish
So nettled with love as I have been of late.
Geo. Sirrah, I thought no less, when the oth
morning

You rose so carly to go to your wenches.
Sir, I had thought you had
My honest business.

gone about Jen. Trow, you have hit it; For, master, be it known to you, There is some good-will betwixt Madge the Sous wife

And I; marry she hath another lover.

Geo. Canst thou brook any rivals in thy love Jen. A rider? no, he is a sow-gelder, and goe a-foot.

But Madge 'pointed to meet me in your whea

close.

Geo. Well, did she meet you there? Jen. Never make question of that. And after fell as hard a wooing, as if And first I saluted her with a green gown,

The priest had been at our backs to have mar ried us.

Geo. What! did she grant?

Jen. Did she grant! never make question

that.

And she gave me a shirt-collar, wrought over With no counterfeit stuff.

Gep. What! was it gold?

Jen. Nay, it was better than gold.
Geo. What was it?

Jen. 10

Right Coventry blue,

you whe

Who had no sooner come there, but wot ye came by?

Geo. No; who?

Jen. Clim, the sow-gelder.
Geo. Came he by?

Jen. He spied Madge and I sit together,
He leapt from his horse, laid his hand on
And began to swear.
dagger,
Now I seeing
He had a dagger, and I nothing

But this twig in my hand, I gave him fair words, And said nothing. He comes to me,

And takes me by the bosom ; You whoreson slave Said he, hold my horse, and look

He take no cold in his feet.

No marry shall he, sir, quoth I,

Coventry blow."

Ben Jonson's Masque of Gypsies:

"The Coventry blue

Hangs there upon Prue."