按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
gentlemen； and justices of the peaceno master I； but plain William
Murley； the brewer of Dunstable； your honest neighbour； and your friend；
if ye be men of my profession。
BEVERLY。 Professed friends to Wickliffe； foes to Rome。
MURLEY。 Hold by me； lad； lean upon that staff； good master Beverly：
all of a house。 Say your mind； say your mind。
ACTON。 You know our faction now is grown so great； Throughout the
realm； that it begins to smoke Into the Clergy's eyes； and the King's ear。
High time it is that we were drawn to head； Our general and officers
appointed； And wars； ye wot； will ask great store of coin。 Able to strength
our action with your purse； You are elected for a colonel Over a regiment
of fifteen bands。
MURLEY。 Fue； paltry； paltry！ in and out； to and fro！ be it more or less；
upon occasion。 Lord have mercy upon us； what a world is this！ Sir
Roger Acton； I am but a Dunstable man； a plain brewer； ye know： will
lusty Cavaliering captains； gentlemen； come at my calling； go at my
bidding？ Dainty my dear； they'll do a god of wax； a horse or cheese； a
prick and a pudding。 No； no； ye must appoint some lord； or knight at
least； to that place。
BOURNE。 Why； master Murley； you shall be a Knight： Were you not
in election to be shrieve？ Have ye not past all offices but that？ Have ye not
wealth to make your wife a lady？ I warrant you； my lord； our General
Bestows that honor on you at first sight。
MURLEY。 Mary； God dild ye； dainty my dear！ But tell me； who shall
33
… Page 34…
John Oldcastle
be our General？ Where's the lord Cobham； sir John Old…castle； That noble
alms…giver； housekeeper； virtuous； Religious gentleman？ Come to me
there； boys； Come to me there！
ACTON。 Why； who but he shall be our General？
MURLEY。 And shall he knight me； and make me colonel？
ACTON。 My word for that： sir William Murley； knight。
MURLEY。 Fellow sir Roger Acton； knight； all fellowsI mean in
armshow strong are we？ how many partners？ Our enemies beside the
King are might： be it more or less upon occasion； reckon our force。
ACTON。 There are of us； our friends； and followers； Three thousand
and three hundred at the least； Of northern lads four thousand； beside
horse； 》From Kent there comes with sir John Old…castle Seven thousand；
then from London issue out； Of masters； servants； strangers； prentices；
Forty odd thousands into Ficket field； Where we appoint our special
rendezvous。
MURLEY。 Fue； paltry； paltry； in and out； to and fro！ Lord have
mercy upon us； what a world is this！ Where's that Ficket field； sir Roger？
ACTON。 Behind saint Giles in the field near Holborne。
MURLEY。 Newgate； up Holborne； S。 Giles in the field； and to Tiborne：
an old saw。 For the day； for the day？
ACTON。 On Friday next； the fourteenth day of January。
MURLEY。 Tyllie vallie； trust me never if I have any liking of that day！
fue； paltry； paltry！ Friday； quoth a！ Dismal day！ Childermass day this
year was Friday。
BEVERLY。 Nay； master Murley； if you observe the days； We make
some question of your constancy。 All days are like to men resolved in
right。
MURLEY。 Say Amen； and say no more； but say； and hold； master
Beverly： Friday next； and Ficket field； and William Murley； and his
merry men shall be all one。 I have half a score jades that draw my beer
carts； And every jade shall bear a knave； And every knave shall wear a
jack； And every jack shall have a skull； And every skull shall shew a spear；
And every spear shall kill a foe At Ficket field； at Ficket field。 John and
Tom； and Dick and Hodge； And Rafe and Robin； William & George； And
34
… Page 35…
John Oldcastle
all my knaves shall fight like men； At Ficket field on Friday next。
BOURNE。 What sum of money mean you to disburse？
MURLEY。 It may be modestly； decently； soberly； and handsomely I
may bring five hundred pound。
ACTON。 Five hundred； man！ five thousand's not enough！ A hundred
thousand will not pay our men Two months together。 Either come
prepared Like a brave Knight； and martial Colonel； In glittering gold； and
gallant furniture； Bringing in coin a cart load at he least； And all your
followers mounted on good horse； Or never come disgraceful to us all。
BEVERLY。 Perchance you may be chosen Treasurer。 Ten thousand
pound's the least that you can bring。
MURLEY。 Paltry； paltry！ in and out； to and fro； upon occasion I have
ten thousand pound to spend； and ten too。 And rather than the Bishop
shall have his will of me for my conscience； it shall out all。 Flame and
flax； flame and flax！ it was got with water and malt； and it shall fly with
fire and gun powder。 Sir Roger； a cart load of money till the axetree
crack； my self and my men in Ficket field on Friday next： remember my
Knighthood； and my place。 There's my hand； I'll be there。
＇Exit。＇
ACTON。 See what Ambition may persuade men to； In hope of honor
he will spend himself。
BOURNE。 I never thought a Brewer half so rich。
BEVERLY。 Was never bankerout Brewer yet but one； With using too
much malt； too little water。
ACTON。 That's no fault in Brewers now…adays。 Come； away； about
our business。
＇Exeunt。＇
35
… Page 36…
John Oldcastle
SCENE III。 An audience…chamber in the palace at
Eltham。
＇Enter King Henry； Suffolk； Butler； and Old…castle kneeling to the
King。＇
KING。 Tis not enough； Lord Cobham； to submit； You must forsake
your gross opinion。 The Bishops find themselves much injured； And
though； for some good service you have done； We for our part are pleased
to pardon you； Yet they will not so soon be satisfied。
COBHAM。 My gracious Lord； unto your Majesty； Next unto my God；
I owe my life： And what is mine； either by nature's gift； Or fortune's
bounty； all is at your service。 But； for obedience to the Pope of Rome； I
owe him none； nor shall his shaveling priests That are in England alter my
belief。 If out of holy Scripture they can prove； That I am in an error I will
yield； And gladly take instruction at their hands； But otherwise； I do
beseech your grace； My conscience may not be encroached upon。
KING。 We would be loath to press our subjects' bodies； Much less their
souls； the dear redeemed part Of him that is the ruler of us all； Yet let me
counsel ye； that might command： Do not presume to tempt them with ill
words； Nor suffer any meetings to be had Within your house； but to the
uttermost； Disperse the flocks of this new gathering sect。
COBHAM。 My liege； if any breathe； that dares come forth； And say
my life in any of these points Deserves th'attaindor of ignoble thoughts；
Here stand I； craving no remorse at all； But even the utmost rigor may be
shown。
KING。 Let it suffice； we know your loyalty。 What have you there？
COBHAM。 A deed of clemency； Your Highness' pardon for Lord
Powis' life； Which I did beg； and you； my noble Lord； Of gracious favour
did vouchsafe to grant。
KING。 But yet it is not signed with our hand。 COBHAM。 Not yet；
my Liege。
＇One ready with pen and ink。＇
KING。 The fact； you say； was done； Not of prepensed malice； but by
36
… Page 37…
John Oldcastle
chance。
COBHAM。 Upon mine honor so； no otherwise。
KING。 There is his pardon； bid him make amends；
＇Writes。＇ And cleanse his soul to God for his offence。 What we
remit； is but the body's scourge
＇Enter Bishop。＇
How now； Lord Bishop？
BISHOP。 Justice； dread Sovereign！ As thou art King； so grant I may
have justice。
KING。 What mean