Thomas Dekker
The Shoemaker’s Holiday
Le mardi gras du cordonnier
(Traducción)
Dekker, Thomas. The Shoemaker’s Holiday. Edited by Robert L Smallwood and Stanley Wells. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1979. Revels Plays.
Joan Oleza Simó
(Investigador principal)
Barreda Villafranca, Cristina
(Editor)
English · Verso · 1003 versos
https://playcode.fly.dev/plays/EMOTHE0262_TheShoemakersHoliday
- Tiempo histórico
- Siglo XV
- Datación
-
1599
1599
- Bibliografía
-
Ediciones modernas
- Benvington, David; Engle, Lars; Eisaman, Katharine Maus; Rasmussen, Eric, ed. English Renaissance Drama: A Norton Anthology. London and New York: W.W. Norton, 2002.
- Bowers, Fredson, ed. The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker. Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1953, pp. 7-104.
- Brooke, Charles F. Tucker; Paradise, Nathaniel Burton, ed. English Drama 1580-1642. Boston: D. C. Heath and Company, 1933.
- Davies, Paul C., ed. The Shoemakers’ Holiday. Dekker, Thomas. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1968.
- Fraser, Russell A.; Rabkin, Norman, ed. Drama of the English Renaissance II: The Stuart Period. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc., 1976.
- Knowles, James; Giddens, Eugene, ed. The Roaring Girl and Other City Comedies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Oxford English Drama.
- Palmer, D. J., ed. The Shoemaker’s Holiday. Dekker, Thomas. London: E. Benn, 1975. New Mermaids.
- Parr, Anthony, ed. The Shoemaker’s Holiday. Dekker, Thomas. London: A & C Black, 1990. New Mermaids.
- Shaughnessy, Robert, ed. Four Renaissance Comedies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
- Smallwood, Robert; Wells, Stanley, ed. The Shoemaker’s Holiday. Dekker, Thomas. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1979. The Revels Plays.
- Steane, J. B, ed. The Shoemaker's Holiday. Dekker, Thomas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1965.
Bibliografía crítica
- Arab, Ronda A. ""Work, Bodies, and Gender in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England: An Annual Gathering of Research, Criticism and Reviews. 2001, 14, p. 144-67.
- Archer, John Michael. "Citizens and Aliens as Working Subjects in Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Ed. Dowd, Michelle M; Korda, Natasha. Working Subjects in Early Modern English Drama. Farnham: Ashgate, 2011, p. 37-52.
- Bartolovich, Crystal. "Mythos of Labor: 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' and the Origin of Citizen History". Ed. Dowd, Michelle M; Korda, Natasha. Working Subjects in Early Modern English Drama. Farnham: Ashgate, 2011, p. 17-36.
- Blankenship, Bethany. "Tennis Balls in Dekker's Shoemaker's Holiday'". Notes and Queries. 2000, 47(245), 4, p. 467-68.
- Booth, Roy J. "Meddling with Awl: Reading Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' (With a Note on the Merry Wives of Windsor)". English: The Journal of the English Association. 1992, 41, 171, p. 193-211.
- Bowers, Fredson. "Thomas Dekker, Robert Wilson, and The Shoemakers Holiday". Modern Language Notes. 1949, 64, 8, p. 517-19.
- Cañadas, Ivan. "Class, Gender and Community in Thomas Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' and Lope de Vega's Fuente Ovejuna". Parergon: Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. 2002, 19, 2, p. 119-50.
- Chandler, W. K. "The Sources of the Characters in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Modern Philology: A Journal Devoted to Research in Medieval and Modern Literature. 1929, 27, 2, p. 175-82.
- Chandler, W. K. "The Topography of Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Studies in Philology. 1929, 26, p. 499-504.
- Cheng, Elyssa Y. "A Living Libel: Thomas Dekker, 'The Shoemaker's Holiday', and the 1595 London Apprentices' Riots". Ed. Huang, Alexander C. Y.; Wang, I-chun; Theis, Mary. Class, Boundary and Social Discourse in the Renaissance. Kaohsiung: Center for Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Liberal Arts, National Sun Yat-sen University, 2007, p. 134-147.
- Christensen, Ann C. "Being Mistress Eyre in Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' and Deloney's The Gentle Craft". Comparative Drama. 2008, 42, 4, p. 451-480.
- Dominguez, Dee Dee. "'A Woman's Place': The Discrimination against Women in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Conference of College Teachers of English Studies. 1991, 56, p. 35-38.
- Fanego, Teresa. "La lengua de los ciudadanos en dos comedias renacentistas: 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' (1599) y The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1613)". Atlantis: Revista de la Asociación Española de Estudios Ingleses y Norteamericanos. 1981, 2, 2, p. 21-36.
- Fleck, Andrew. "Marking Difference and National Identity in Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 2006, 46, 2, p. 349-70.
- Franssen, Paul J. C. M. "'Lame and Blind': A Stage Emblem in The Shoemaker's Holiday". Notes and Queries. 2012, 59 (257), 4, p. 557-559.
- Franssen, Paul J. C. M. "Sites of Transgression: The Suburbs and the City in Thomas Dekker's Shoemaker's Holiday'". SEDERI: Yearbook of the Spanish and Portuguese Society for English Renaissance Studies. 2012, 22, p. 139-154.
- Frazer, Paul. "Moving with Marlowe (& Co.): relocation, appropriation, and personation in Thomas Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday". Marlowe Studies. 2015, 5, p. 37-60.
- Halstead, W. L. "New Source Influence on 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Modern Language Notes. 1941, 56, 2, p. 127-29.
- Harmon, John. "The Placement of the Songs in Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". English Studies: A Journal of English Language and Literature. 1992, 73, 2, p. 121-23.
- Harris, Jonathan Gil. "Ludgate Time: Simon Eyre's Oath and the Temporal Economies of 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Huntington Library Quarterly: Studies in English and American History and Literature. 2008, 71, 1, p. 11-32.
- Hughes, Eril Barnett. "The Tradition of the Fool in Thomas Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Publications of the Arkansas Philological Association. 1982, 8, 2, p. 6-10.
- Jensen, Phebe. "Teaching Drama as Festivity: Dekker's The Shoemakers' Holiday and Beaumont's The Knight of the Burning Pestle". Ed. Bamford, Karen; Leggatt, Alexander. Approaches to Teaching English Renaissance Drama. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2002, p. 158-64.
- Kang, Du-hyoung. "Renaissance Drama and the Problem of Power: Historicizing 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' and 'Eastward Ho'". Journal of English Language and Literature/Yongo Yongmunhak. 1999, 45, 4, p. 1033-57.
- Kendrick, Matthew. "'A Shoemaker Sell Flesh and Blood?-O Indignity!': The Labouring Body and Community in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'"". English Studies: A Journal of English Language and Literature. 2011, 92, 3, p. 259-273.
- Korda, Natasha. "'The Sign of the Last': Gender, Material Culture, and Artisanal Nostalgia in The Shoemaker's Holiday". Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. 2013, 43, 3, p. 573-597.
- Laroque, François. "'Blue-apron culture': La Culture populaire dans '2 Henry VI' de Shakespeare et 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' de Thomas Dekker"". Ranam: Recherches Anglaises et Nord-Américaines. 2006, 39, p. 57-70.
- Law, Robert Adger. "The Shoemakers' Holiday and Romeo and Juliet". Studies in Philology. 1924, 21, p. 356-61.
- Lawson, Andrea C. "Saying Farewell with Shoes: The Gift Cycle and Unresolved Class Tensions in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Early Theatre: A Journal Associated with the Records of Early English Drama. 2012, 15, 2, p. 93-110.
- Lee, Huey-ling. "The Social Meaning of Money in Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday and Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice". Comparative Drama. 2015, 49, 3, p. 335-366.
- Lin, Yi-Rung. "The Portrayal of Heroic Individualism in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' and The Knight of the Burning Pestle". Ed. Wright, Will; Kaplan, Steven. The Image of the Hero in Literature, Media, and Society. Pueblo: Colorado State University, 2004, p. 452-59.
- MacIntyre, Jeanne. "Shore's Wife and 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Cahiers Elisabethains: Late Medieval and Renaissance Studies. 1991, 39, p. 17-18.
- Manheim, Michael. "The Construction of The Shoemakers' Holiday". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 1970, 10, 2, p. 315-23.
- Maugeri, Aldo. "Storia e leggenda nella commedia 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' di Thomas Dekker". Messina: Pubblicazioni della Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia dell'Università di Messina. 1956, p. 181-92.
- Maynard, Stephen. "Feasting on Eyre: Community, Consumption and Communion in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Comparative Drama. 1998, 32, 3, p. 327-46.
- McClure, Donald S. "Versification and Master Hammon in 'The Shoemakers' Holiday'". Studies in the Humanities. 1969, p. 50-4.
- McCluskey, Peter M. "'Shall I Betray My Brother?' Anti-Alien Satire and Its Subversion in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Tennessee Philological Bulletin: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Philological Association. 2000, 37, p. 43-54.
- Montgomery, Marianne. "Speaking the Language, Knowing the Trade: Foreign Speech and Commercial Opportunity in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Ed. Silcox, Mary V; Roebuck, Graham. The Mysterious and the Foreign in Early Modern England. Newark: U of Delaware P--Associated UP, 2008, p. 139-152.
- Morrow, Christopher L. "Corporate Nationalism in Thomas Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 2014, 54, 2, p. 423-454.
- Mortenson, Peter. "The Economics of Joy in The Shoemakers' Holiday". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 1976, 16, 2, p. 241-52.
- Nathan, Norman. "'Julius Caesar' and 'The Shoemakers' Holiday". Modern Language Review. 1953, 48, p. 178-179.
- Ross, Gordon N. "Dekker's The Shoemakers' Holiday". Explicator. 1988, 46, 3, p. 7-9.
- Smith, Amy L. "Performing Cross-Class Clandestine Marriage in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 2005, 45, 2, p. 333-55.
- Straznicky, Marta. "The End(s) of Discord in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 1996, 36, 2, p. 357-72.
- Turner, Henry S. "Corporate Life in Thomas Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday". Ed. Arab, Ronda; Dowd, Michelle M; Zucker, Adam. Historical Affects and the Early Modern Theater. New York: Routledge, 2015, p. 182-197.
- Walsh, Brian. "Performing Historicity in Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". SEL: Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 2006, 46, 2, p. 323-48.
- Whitney, Charles. "The Devil His Due: Mayor John Spencer, Elizabethan Civic Antitheatricalism, and 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England: An Annual Gathering of Research, Criticism and Reviews. 2001, 14, p. 168-85.
- Worden, Thomas. "dols in the Early Modern Material World (1599): Deloney's The Gentle Craft, Dekker's 'The Shoemaker's Holiday', and Shakespeare's 'Henry V'". Exemplaria: A Journal of Theory in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. 1999, 11, 2, p. 431-71.
- Wylde, Jacqueline. "Singing a New Song in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday'". Ed. Degenhardt, Jane Hwang; Williamson, Elizabeth. Religion and Drama in Early Modern England: The Performance of Religion on the Renaissance Stage. Farnham: Ashgate, 2011, p. 39-53.
Traducciones
Idioma sin indicar
- Dekker, Thomas. "Le jour de fête des cordonniers". Tra. Jones-Davies, Marie-Thérèse. Ed. Cottegnies, Line; Laroque, François; Maguin, Jean-Marie. Théâtre élisabéthain. Vol. 1. Paris: Gallimard, 2009.
Reproduced by kind permission of Manchester University Press and the editors. © 1979 by Robert L. Smallwood and Stanley Wells
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
THE KING OF ENGLAND
The courtiers
SIR HUGH LACY
EARL OF LINCOLN
ROWLAND LACY
Lincoln’s nephew; afterwards disguised as HANS MEULTER
ASKEW
Lacy’s cousin
CORNWALL
LOVELL
DODGER
a ‘parasite’ of the Earl of Lincoln
The citizens
SIR ROGER OATLEY
Lord Mayor of London
ROSE
Oatley’s daughter
SYBIL
Rose’s maid
MASTER HAMMON
a City gentleman
MASTER WARNER
Hammon’s brother-in-law
MASTER SCOTT
a friend of Oatley’s
The shoemakers
SIMON EYRE
MARGERY
Eyre’s wife
HODGE (nickname of ROGER)
Eyre’s foreman
RALPH DAMPORT
a journeyman of Eyre’s
JANE
Ralph’s wife
FIRK
a journeyman of Eyre’s
A Dutch Skipper
A Boy
working for Eyre
A Boy
with the hunters
A Prentice
working for Oatley
Noblemen
Soldiers
Huntsmen
Shoemakers
Apprentices
Servants
ALL THE SHOEMAKERS
BOTH
BOTH
ALL THREE
[Scene I]
(Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the] Lord Mayor, [and the Earl of] Lincoln.)
LINCOLN
My Lord Mayor, you have sundry times
1
Feasted myself and many courtiers more.
2
Seldom or never can we be so kind
3
To make requital of your courtesy.
4
But leaving this, I hear my cousin Lacy
5
Is much affected to your daughter Rose.
6
OATLEY
True, my good lord; and she loves him so well
7
That I mislike her boldness in the chase.
8
LINCOLN
Why, my Lord Mayor, think you it then a shame
9
To join a Lacy with an Oatley’s name?
10
OATLEY
Too mean is my poor girl for his high birth.
11
Poor citizens must not with courtiers wed,
12
Who will in silks and gay apparel spend
13
More in one year than I am worth by far.
14
Therefore your honour need not doubt my girl.
15
LINCOLN
Take heed, my lord; advise you what you do.
16
A verier unthrift lives not in the world
17
Than is my cousin; for, I’ll tell you what,
18
’Tis now almost a year since he requested
19
To travel countries for experience.
20
I furnished him with coin, bills of exchange,
21
Letters of credit, men to wait on him,
22
Solicited my friends in Italy
23
Well to respect him. But to see the end:
24
Scant had he journeyed through half Germany
25
But all his coin was spent, his men cast off,
26
His bills embezzled, and my jolly coz,
27
Ashamed to show his bankrupt presence here,
28
Became a Shoemaker in Wittenberg−
29
A goodly science for a gentleman
30
Of such descent! Now judge the rest by this:
31
Suppose your daughter have a thousand pound,
32
He did consume me more in one half-year;
33
And make him heir to all the wealth you have,
34
One twelve-month’s rioting will waste it all.
35
Then seek, my lord, some honest citizen
36
To wed you daughter to.
37
OATLEY
I thank your lordship.
Well, fox, I understand your subtlety.
38
[To Lincoln] As for your nephew, let your lordship’s eye.
39
But watch his actions and you need not fear;
40
For I have sent my daughter far enough.
41
And yet your cousin Rowland might do well
42
Now he halt learned an occupation.
43
And yet I scorn to call him son-in-law.
44
LINCOLN
Ay, but I have a better trade for him.
45
I thank his Grace, he hath appointed him
46
Chief colonel of all those companies
47
Mustered in London and the shires about
48
To serve his Highness in those wars of France.
49
See where he comes.
50
(Enter Lovell, Lacy, and Askew.)
Lovell, what news with you?
LOVELL
My Lord of Lincoln, ’tis his Highness’ will
51
That presently your cousin ship for France
52
With all his powers. He would not for a million
53
But they should land at Dieppe within four days.
54
LINCOLN
Go certify his Grace it shall be done.
55
(Exit Lovell.)
Now, cousin Lacy, in what for forwardness
56
Are all your companies?
57
LACY
All well prepared.
The men of Hertfordshire lie at Mile End;
58
Suffolk and Essex train in Tothill Fields;
59
The Londoners, and those of Middlesex,
60
All gallantly prepared in Finsbury,
61
With frolic spirits long for their parting hour.
62
OATLEY
They have their imprest, coats, and furniture,
63
And if it please your cousin Lacy come
64
To the Guildhall he shall receive his pay,
65
And twenty pounds besides my brethren
66
Will freely give him to approve our loves
67
We bear unto my lord your uncle here.
68
LACY
I thank your honour.
69
LINCOLN
Thanks, my good Lord Mayor.
OATLEY
At the Guildhall we will expect your coming.
70
(Exit.)
LINCOLN
To approve your love to me? No, subtlety!
71
Nephew, that twenty pound he doth bestow
72
For joy to rid you from his daughter Rose.
73
But, cousins both, now here are none but friends,
74
I would not have you cast an amorous eye
75
Upon so mean a project as the love
76
Of a gay, wanton, painted citizen.
77
I know this churl even in the height of scorn
78
Doth hate the mixture of his blood with thine.
79
I pray thee, do thou so. Remember, coz,
80
What honourable fortunes wait on thee.
81
Increase the King’s love which so brightly shines
82
And gilds thy hopes. I have not heir but thee−
83
And yet not thee if with a wayward spirit
84
Thou start from the true bias of my love.
85
LACY
My lord, I will for honour – not desire
86
Of land or livings, or to be your heir−
87
So guide my actions in pursuit of France
88
As shall add glory to the Lacy’s name.
89
LINCOLN
Coz, for those words here’s thirty portagues;
90
And, nephew Askew, there’s a few for you.
91
Fair honour in her loftiest eminence
92
Stay in France for you till you fetch her thence.
93
Then, nephews, clap swift wings on your designs.
94
Begone, begone; make haste to the Guildhall.
95
There presently I’ll meet you. Do not stay.
96
Where honour beckons, shame attends delay.
97
(Exit.)
ASKEW
How gladly would your uncle have you gone!
98
LACY
True, coz; but I’ll o’er-reach his policies.
99
I have some serious business for three days,
100
Which nothing but my presence can dispatch.
101
You, therefore, cousin, with the companies,
102
Shall haste to Dover. There I’ll meet with you,
103
Or if I stay past my prefixed time,
104
Away for France; we’ll meet in Normandy.
105
The twenty pounds my Lord Mayor gives to me
106
You shall receive, and these ten portagues,
107
Part of mine uncle’s thirty. Gentle coz,
108
Have care to our great charge. I know your wisdom
109
Hath tried itself in higher consequence.
110
ASKEW
Coz, all myself am yours. Yet have this care,
111
To lodge in London with all secrecy.
112
Our uncle Lincoln hath ˗besides his own˗
113
Many a jealous eye that in your face
114
Stares only to watch means for your disgrace.
115
LACY
Stay, cousin, who be these?
116
(Enter Simon Eyre, [Margery] his wife, Hodge, Firk, Jane, and Ralph with a piece.)
EYRE
Leave whining, leave whining. Away with this whimpering, this puling, these blubbering tears, and these wet eyes! I’ll get thy husband discharged, I warrant thee, sweet Jane. Go to!
HODGE
Master, here be the captains.
EYRE
Peace, Hodge; husht, ye knave, husht.
FIRK
Here be the cavaliers and the colonels, master.
EYRE
Peace, Firk; peace, my fine Firk. Stand by. With your pishery-pashery, away! I am a man of the best presence. I’ll speak to them an they were popes [To Lacy and Askew] Gentlemen, captains, colonels, commanders; brave men, brave leaders, may it please you to give me audience. I am Simon Eyre, the mad shoemaker of Tower Street. This wench with the mealy mouth that will never tire is my wife, I can tell you. Here’s Hodge, my man and my foreman. Here’s Firk, my fine firking journeyman; and this is blubbered Jane. All we come to be suitors for this honest Ralph. Keep him at home and, as I am a true shoemaker and a gentleman of the Gentle Craft, buy spurs yourself and I’ll find ye boots these seven years.
MARGERY
Seven years, husband?
EYRE
Peace , midriff, peace, I know what I do. Peace.
FIRK
Truly, Master Cormorant, you shall do God good service to let Ralph and his wife stay together. She’s a young, new-married woman. If you take her husband away from her a night, you undo her; she may beg in the daytime; for he’s as good a workman at a prick and an awl as any is in our trade.
JANE
O, let him stay, else I shall be undone!
FIRK
Ay, truly, she shall be laid at one side like a pair of old shoes else, and be occupied for no use.
LACY
Truly, my friends, it lies not in my power.
149
The Londoners are pressed, paid, and set forth
150
By the Lord Mayor. I cannot charge a man.
151
HODGE
Why, then, you were as good be a corporal as a colonel, if you cannot discharge one good fellow. And I tell you true, I think you do more than you can answer, to press a man within a year and a day of his marriage.
EYRE
Well said, melancholy Hodge! Gramercy, my fine foreman!
MARGERY
Truly, gentlemen, it were ill done for such as you to stand so stiffly against a poor young wife, considering her case. She is new-married –but let that pass. I pray, deal not roughly with her. Her husband is young man and but newly entered– but let that pass.
EYRE
Away with your pishery-pashery, your pols and your edepols. Peace, midriff; silence, Cicely Bumtrinket. Let your head speak.
FIRK
Yea, and the horns too, master.
EYRE
Tawsoone, my fine Fink, tawsoone. Peace, scoundrels. See you this man, captains? You will not release him? Well, let him go. He’s a proper shot. Let him vanish. Peace, Jane. Dry up thy tears, they’ll make his powder dankish. Take him, brave men. Hector of Troy was an hackney to him, Hercules and Termagant scoundrels. Prince Arthur’s Round Table, by the Lord of Ludgate, ne’er fed such a tall, such a dapper swordman. By the life of Pharaoh, a brave, resolute swordman. Peace, Jane. I say no more, mad knaves.
FIRK
See, see, Hodge, how my master raves in commendation of Ralph.
HODGE
Ralph, thou’rt a gull, by this hand, an thou goest not.
ASKEW
I am glad, good Master Eyre, it is my hap
180
To meet so resolute a soldier.
181
Trust me, for your report and love to him
182
A common, slight regard shall not respect him.
183
LACY
Is thy name Ralph?
184
RALPH
Yes, sir.
LACY
Give me thy hand.
Thou shalt not want, as I am a gentleman
185
[To Jane] Woman, be patient. God, no doubt, will send
186
Thy husband safe a again; but he must go.
187
His country’s quarrel says it shall be so.
188
HODGE
Thou’rt a gull, by my stirrup, if thou dost not go. I will not have thee strike thy gimlet into these weak vessels –prick thine enemies, Ralph.
(Enter Dodger.)
DODGER
[To Lacy] My lord, your uncle on the Tower Hill
192
Stays with the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen,
193
And doth request you with all speed you may
194
To hasten thither.
195
ASKEW
Cousin, let’s go.
LACY
Dodger, run you before. Tell them we come.
196
(Exit Dodger)
This Dodger is mine uncle’s parasite,
197
The arrant’st varlet that e’er breathed on earth.
198
He sets more discord in a noble house
199
By one day’s broaching of his pickthank tales
200
Than can be salved again in twenty years;
201
And he, I fear, shall go with us to France
202
To pry into our actions.
203
ASKEW
Therefore, coz,
It shall behove you to be circumspect.
204
LACY
Fear not, good cousin. Ralph, hie to your colours.
205
([Exeunt Lacy and Askew].)
RALPH
I must, because there is no remedy.
206
But, gentle master and my loving dame,
207
As you have always been a friend to me,
208
So in mine absence think upon my wife.
209
JANE
Alas, my Ralph.
210
MARGERY
She cannot speak for weeping.
EYRE
Peace, you cracked groats, you mustard tokens, disquiet not the brave soldier. Go thy ways, Ralph.
JANE
Ay, ay, you bid him go –what shall I do when he is gone?
FIRK
Why, be doing with me, or my fellow Hodge. Be not idle.
EYRE
Let me see thy hand, Jane [He takes her hand] This fine hand, this white hand, these pretty fingers must spin, must card, must work, work, you bombast-cotton-candle quean, work for your living, with a pox to you. Hold thee, Ralph, here’s five sixpences for thee. Fight for the honour of the Gentle Craft, for the Gentlemen Shoemakers, the courageous cordwainers, the flower of Saint Martin’s, the mad knaves of Bedlam, Fleet Street, Tower Street, and Whitechapel. Crack me the crowns of the French knaves, a pox on them –crack them. Fight, by the Lord of Ludgate, fight, my fine boy.
FIRK
Here, Ralph, here’s three twopences. Two, carry into France; the third shall wash our souls at parting –for sorrow is dry. For my sake, firk the baisez-mon-culs .
HODGE
Ralph, I am heavy at parting, but here’s a shilling for thee. God send thee to cram thy slops with French crowns, and thy enemies’ bellies with bullets.
RALPH
I thank you, master; and I thank you all.
234
Now, gentle wife, my loving, lovely Jane,
235
Rich men at parting give their wives rich gifts,
236
Jewels, and rings to grace their lily hands.
237
Thou know’st our trade makes rings for women’s heels.
238
Here, take this pair of shoes cut by Hodge,
239
Stitched by my fellow, Firk, seamed by myself,
240
Made up and pinked with letters for thy name.
241
Wear them, my dear Jane, for thy husband’s sake,
242
And every morning, when thou pull’st them on,
243
Remember me, and pray for my return.
244
Make much of them, for I have made them so
245
That I can know them from a thousand moe.
246
(Sound drum. Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the] Lord Mayor, [the Earl of] Lincoln, Lacy, Askew, Dodger, and soldiers. They pass over the stage. Ralph falls in amongst them. Firk and the rest cry ‘Farewell’, etc., and so exeunt.)
[SCENE II]
(Enter Rose alone, making a garland.)
[ROSE]
Here sit thou down upon this flow’ry bank,
247
And make a garland for thy Lacy’s head.
248
These pinks, these roses, and these violets,
249
These blushing gilliflowers, these marigolds,
250
The fair embroidery of his coronet,
251
Carry not half such beauty in their cheeks
252
As the sweet countenance of my Lacy doth.
253
O, my most unkind father! O, my stars,
254
Why loured you so at my nativity
255
To make me love, yet live robbed of my love?
256
Here as a thief am I imprisonèd
257
For my dear Lacy’s sake within those walls
258
Which by my father’s cost were builded up
259
For better purposes. Here must I languish
260
For him that doth as much lament, I know,
261
Mine absence as for him I pine in woe.
262
(Enter Sybil.)
SYBIL
Good morrow, young mistress. I am sure you make that garland for me, against. I shall be Lady of the Harvest.
ROSE
Sybil, what news at London?
266
SYBIL
None but good. My lord Mayor your father, and Master Philpot your uncle, and Master Scott your cousin, and Mistress Frigbottom, by Doctor’s Commons, do all, by my troth, send you most hearty commendations.
ROSE
Did Lacy send kind greetings to his love?
272
SYBIL
O yes, out of cry. By my troth, I scant knew him – here’ a wore a scarf, and here a scarf, here a bunch of feathers, and here precious stones and jewels, and a pair of garters –O, monstrous! – like one of our yellow silk curtains at home here in Old Ford House, here in Master Bellymount’s chamber. I stood at our door in Cornhill, looked at him, he at me indeed; spake to him, but he not to me, not a word. ‘Marry gup, ’ thought I, ‘with a wanion!’ He passed by me as proud –‘marry, foh, are you grown humorous?’ thought I –and so shut the door, and in I came.
ROSE
O Sybil, how dost thou my Lacy wrong!
284
My Rowland is as gentle as a lamb;
285
No dove was ever half so mild as he.
286
SYBIL
Mild? –yea, as a bushel of stamped crabs. He looked upon me as sour as verjuice. ‘Go thy ways,’ thought I, ‘thou mayst be much in my gaskins, but nothing in my netherstocks.’ This is your fault, mistress, to love him that loves not you. He thinks scorn to do as he’s done to; but if I were as you, I’ld cry ‘Go by, Jeronimo, go by!’
I’ld set mine old debts against my new driblets
293
And the hare’s foot against the goose giblets;
294
For if ever I sigh when sleep I should take,
295
Pray God I may lose my maidenhead when I wake.
296
ROSE
Will my love leave me then, and go to France?
297
SYBIL
I know not that, but I am sure I see him stalk before the soldiers. By my troth, he is a proper man –but he is proper that proper doth. Let him go snick up, young mistress.
ROSE
Get thee to London, and learn perfectly
302
Whether my Lacy go to France or no.
303
Do this, and I will give thee for thy pains
304
My cambric apron, and my Romish gloves,
305
My purple stockings, and a stomacher.
306
Say, wilt thou do this, Sybil, for my sake?
307
SYBIL
Will I, quoth’ a! At whose suit? –by my troth, yes, I’ll go –a cambric apron, gloves, a pair of purple stockings, and a stomacher! –I’ll sweat in purple, mistress, for you; I’ll take anything that comes a’ God’s name –O rich, a cambric apron! Faith, then, have at uptails all, I’ll go jiggy-joggy to London and be here in a trice, young mistress.
ROSE
Do so, good Sybil. Meantime wretched I
315
Will sit and sigh for his lost company.
316
(Exit.)
[SCENE III]
(Enter Rowland Lacy like a Dutch shoemaker.)
LACY
How many shapes have gods and kings devised
317
Thereby to compass their desirèd loves!
318
It is no shame for Rowland Lacy then
319
To clothe his cunning with the Gentle Craft
320
That, thus disguised, I may unknown posses
321
The only happy presence of my Rose.
322
For her have I forsook my charge in France,
323
Incurred the King’s displeasure, and stirred up
324
Rough hatred in mine uncle Lincoln’s breast.
325
O love, how powerful art thou, that canst change
326
High birth to bareness, and a noble mind
327
To the mean semblance of a shoemaker!
328
But thus it must be; for her cruel father,
329
Hating the single union of our souls,
330
Hath secretly conveyed my Rose from London
331
To bar me of her presence; but I trust
332
Fortune and this disguise will further me
333
Once more to view her beauty, gain her sight.
334
Here in Tower Street with Eyre the shoemaker
335
Mean I a while to work. I know the trade;
336
I learnt it when I was in Wittenberg.
337
Then cheer thy drooping sprites; be not dismayed!
338
Thou canst not want –do Fortune what she can,
339
The Gentle Craft is living for a man!
340
(Exit.)
[SCENE IV]
(Enter Eyre, making himself ready.)
EYRE
Where be these boys, these girls, these drabs, these scoundrels? They wallow in the fat brewis of my bounty, and lick up the crumbs of my table, yet will not rise to see my walks cleansed. Come out, you powder- beef queans! What, Nan! What, Madge Mumblecrust! Come out, you fat midriff-swag-belly whores, and sweep me these kennels, that the noisome stench offend not the nose of my neighbours. What, Firk, I say! What, Hodge! Open my shop windows! What, Firk, I say!
(Enter Firk.)
FIRK
O, master, is’t you that speak bandog and bedlam this morning? I was in a dream, and mused what madman was got into the street so early. Have you drunk this morning, that your throat is so clear?
EYRE
Ah, well said, Firk; well said, Firk –to work, my fine knave, to work! Wash thy face, and thou’lt be more blessed.
FIRK
Let them wash my face that will eat it. Good master, send for a souse-wife if you’ll have my face cleaner.
(Enter Hodge.)
EYRE
Away, sloven! Avaunt, scoundrel! Good morrow, Hodge; good morrow, my fine foreman.
HODGE
O master, good morrow. You’re an early stirrer. Here’s a fair morning. Good morrow, Firk. I could have slept this hour. Here’s a brave day towards.
EYRE
O, haste to work, my fine foreman, haste to work.
FIRK
Master, I am dry as dust to hear my fellow Roger talk of fair weather. Let us pray for good leather, and let clowns and ploughboys, and those that work in the fields, pray for brave days. We work in a dry shop –what care I if it rain?
(Enter [Margery,] Eyre’s wife.)
EYRE
How now, Dame Margery, can you see to rise? Trip and go, call up the drabs your maids.
MARGERY
See to rise! I hope ’tis time enough; ’tis early enough for any woman to be seen abroad. I marvel how many wives in Tower Street are up so soon. God’s me, ’tis not noon! Here’s yawling.
EYRE
Peace, Margery, peace. Where’s Cicely Bumtrinket, your maid? She has a privy fault: she farts in her sleep. Call the quean up. If my men want shoethread, I’ll swinge her in a stirrup.
FIRK
Yet that’s but a dry beating. Here’s still a sing of drought.
(Enter Lacy [as Hans], singing.)
LACY
[as Hans] Der was een bore van Gelderland,
382
Frolick sie byen;
383
He was als dronck he could niet satnd,
384
Upsee al sie byen;
385
Tap eens de canneken,
386
Drincke, schone mannekin.
387
FIRK
Master, for my life, yonder’s a brother of the Gentle Craft! If he bear not Saint Hugh’s bones, I’ll forfeit my bones. He’s some uplandish workman. Hire him, good master, that I may learn some gibble-gabble. ’Twill make us work the faster.
EYRE
Peace, Firk. A hard world; let him pass, let him vanish. We have journeymen enough. Peace, my fine Firk.
MARGERY
Nay, nay, you’re best follow your man’s counsel. You shall see what will come on’t. We have not men enough but we must entertain every butter-box –but let that pass.
HODGE
Dame, fore God, if my master follow your counsel he’ll consume little beef. He shall be glad of men an he can catch them.
FIRK
Ay, that he shall.
HODGE
Fore God, a proper man and, I warrant, a fine workman. Master, farewell. Dame, adieu. If such a man as he cannot find work, Hodge is not for you.
(Offer to go.)
EYRE
Stay, my fine Hodge.
FIRK
Faith, an your foreman go, dame, you must take a journey to seek a new journeyman. If Roger remove, Firk follows. If Saint Hugh’s bones shall not be set a-work, I may prick mine awl in the walls, and go play. Fare ye well, master. Goodbye, dame.
EYRE
Tarry, my fine Hodge, my brisk foreman. Stay, Firk. Peace, pudding-broth. By the Lord of Ludgate, I love my men as my life. Peace, you gallimaufry. Hodge, if he want work, I’ll hire him. One of you to him –stay, he comes to us.
LACY
[as Hans] Goeden dach, meester, end you fro, auch.
FIRK
‘Nails, if I should speak after him without drinking, I should choke! And you, friend Auch, are you of the Gentle Craft?
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, yaw; ik bin den skomawker.
FIRK
‘ Den skomawker ’, quoth ’a; and hark you, skomawker, have you all your tools –a good rubbing-pin, a good stopper, a good dresser, your four sorts of awls, and your two balls of wax, your paring-knife, your hand- and thumb-leathers, and good Saint Hugh’s bones to smooth up your work?
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, yaw, be niet vorveard. Ik hab all de dingen voour mack skoes groot end klene.
FIRK
Ha, ha! Good master, hire him. He’ll make me laugh so that I shall work more in mirth than I can in earnest.
EYRE
Hear ye, friend: have ye any skill in the mystery of cordwainers?
LACY
[as Hans] Ik weet niet wat you seg; ik verstaw you niet.
FIRK
Why thus, man! [He mimes the actions of a shoemaker] ‘ Ik verste you niet ’, quoth ’a.
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, yaw, yaw; ik can dat wel doen.
FIRK
‘ Yaw, yaw ’ –he speaks yawing like a jackdaw, that gapes to be fed with cheese curds. O, he’ll give a villainous pull at a can of double beer. But Hodge and I have the vantage; we must drink first, because we are the eldest journeymen.
EYRE
What is thy name?
LACY
[as Hans] Hans; Hans Meulter.
EYRE
Give me thy hand, thou’rt welcome. Hodge, entertain him. Firk, bid him welcome. Come, Hans. Run, wife; bid your maids, your trullibubs, make ready my fine men’s breakfast. To him, Hodge.
HODGE
Hans, thou’rt welcome. Use thyself friendly, for we are good fellows; if not, thou shalt be fought with, wert thou bigger than a giant.
FIRK
Yea, and drunk with, wert thou Gargantua. My master keeps no cowards, I tell thee. Ho, boy, bring him an heelblock. Here’s new journeyman.
(Enter Boy.)
LACY
[as Hans] O, ik verstaw you. Ik moet een halve dossen cans betaelen . Here, boy, nempt dis skilling, tap eens freelick.
(Exit Boy.)
EYRE
Quick, snipper-snapper, away! Firk, scour thy throat; thou shalt wash it with Castilian liquor. Come, my last of the fives, Enter Boy. give me a can. Have to thee, Hans! Here, Hodge; here Firk: drink, you mad Greeks, and work like true Trojans, and pray for Simon Eyre the shoemaker. Here, Hans; and thou’rt welcome.
FIRK
Lo, dame, you would have lost a good fellow that will teach us to laugh. –This beer came hopping in well.
MARGERY
Simon, it is almost seven.
EYRE
Is’t so, Dame Clapperdudgeon? Is’t seven o’clock and my men’s breakfast not ready? Trip and go, you soused conger, away. Come you mad Hyperboreans. Follow me, Hodge; follow me, Hans; come after, my fine Firk: to work, to work a while, and then to breakfast.
(Exit.)
FIRK
Soft, yaw, yaw, good Hans. Though my master have no more wit but to call you afore me, I am not so foolish to go behind you, I being the elder journeyman.
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE V]
(Holloaing within. Enter Warner and Hammon, like hunters.)
HAMMON
Cousin, beat every brake. The game’s not far.
475
This way with wingèd feet he fled from death
476
Whilst the pursuing hounds, scenting his steps,
477
Find out his high way to destruction.
478
Besides, the miller’s boy told me even now
479
He saw him take soil, and he holloaed him,
480
Affirming him so embossed
481
That long he could not hold.
482
WARNER
If it be so,
’Tis best we trace these meadows by Old Ford.
483
(A noise of hunters within. Enter a Boy.)
HAMMON
How now, boy, where’s the deer? Speak, sawst thou him?
484
BOY
O yea, I saw him leap through a hedge, and then over a ditch, then at my Lord Mayor’s pale. Over he skipped me and in he went me, and ‘Holloa’ the hunters cried, and ‘There, boy, there, boy’ –but there he is, ’a mine honesty.
HAMMON
Boy, godamercy. Cousin, let’s away.
490
I hope we shall find better sport today.
491
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE VI]
(Hunting within. Enter Rose and Sybil.)
ROSE
Why, Sybil. Wilt thou prove a forester?
492
SYBIL
Upon some, no! Forester, go by. No, faith, mistress, the deer came running into the barn through the orchard, and over the pale. I wot well I looked as pale as a new cheese to see him, but ‘Whip!’ says Goodman Pinclose, up with his flail, and our Nick with a prong, and down he fell, and they upon him, and I upon them. By my troth, we had such sport; and in the end we ended him; his throat we cut, flayed him, unhorned him, and my Lord Mayor shall eat of him anon when he comes.
(Horns sounds within.)
ROSE
Hark, hark, the hunters come. You’re best take heed.
503
They’ll have a saying to you for this deed.
504
(Enter Hammon, Warner, Huntsmen, and Boy.)
HAMMON
God save you, fair ladies.
505
SYBIL
‘Ladies’! O, gross!
WARNER
Came not a buck this way?
506
ROSE
No, but two does.
HAMMON
And which way went they? Faith, we’ll hunt at those.
507
SYBIL
At those? Upon some, no! When, can you tell?
508
WARNER
Upon some, ay!
509
SYBIL
Good Lord!
WARNER
‘Wounds, then farewell.
HAMMON
Boy, which way went he?
510
BOY
This way, sir, he ran.
HAMMON
This way he ran indeed. Fair Mistress Rose,
511
Our game was lately in your orchard seen.
512
WARNER
Can you advise which way he took his flight?
513
SYBIL
Follow your nose, his horns will guide you right.
514
WARNER
Thou’rt a mad wench.
515
SYBIL
O rich!
ROSE
Trust me, not I.
It is not like the wild forest deer
516
Would come so near to places of resort.
517
You are deceived. He fled some other way.
518
WARNER
Which way, my sugar candy –can you show?
519
SYBIL
Come up, good honey-sops; upon some, no!
520
ROSE
Why do you stay, and not pursue your game?
521
SYBIL
I’ll hold my life their hunting nags be lame.
522
HAMMON
A deer more dear is found within this place.
523
ROSE
But not the deer, sir, which you had in chase.
524
HAMMON
I chased the deer; but this dear chaseth me.
525
ROSE
The strangest hunting that ever I see.
526
But where’s your park?
527
(She offers to go away.)
HAMMON
’Tis here. O, stay!
ROSE
Impale me, and then I will not stray.
528
WARNER
They wrangle, wench. We are more kind than they.
529
SYBIL
What kind of hart is that dear hart you seek?
530
WARNER
A heart, dear heart.
531
SYBIL
Whoever saw the like?
ROSE
To lose your harts? Is’t possible you can?
532
HAMMON
My heart is lost.
533
ROSE
Alack, good gentleman.
HAMMON
This poor lost heart would I wish you might find.
534
ROSE
You by such luck might prove your hart a hind.
535
HAMMON
Why, luck had horns, so have I heard some say.
536
ROSE
Now God an’t be His will send luck into your way.
537
(Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the] Lord mayor, and Servants.)
OATLEY
What, Master Hammon –welcome to Old Ford!
538
SYBIL
God’s pitikins, off, sir! –Here’s my lord.
OATLEY
I hear you had ill luck, and lost your game.
540
HAMMON
’Tis true, my lord.
541
OATLEY
I am sorry for the same.
What gentleman is this?
542
HAMMON
My brother-in-law.
OATLEY
You’re welcome, both. Sith Fortune offers you
543
Into my hands, you shall not part from hence
544
Until you have refreshed your wearied limbs.
545
Go, Sybil: cover the board. You shall be guest
546
To no good cheer, but even a hunters’ feast.
547
HAMMON
I thank your lordship
548
Cousin, on my life,
For our lost venison, I shall find a wife.
549
OATLEY
In, gentlemen. I’ll not be absent long.
550
(Exeunt [all except Oatley].)
This Hammon is a proper gentleman,
551
A citizen by birth, fairly allied.
552
How fit an husband were he for my girl!
553
Well, I will in, and do the best I can
554
To match my daughter to this gentleman.
555
(Exit.)
[SCENE VII]
(Enter Lacy [as Hans], Skipper, Hodge, and Firk.)
SKIPPER
Ik sal you wat seggen, Hans; dis skip dat comen from Candy is al fol, by Got’s sacrament, van sugar, civet, almonds, cambric, end alle dingen –tousand tousand ding. Nempt it, Hans, nempt it vor your meester. Daer be de bils van laden. Your meester Simon Eyre sal hae good copen. Wat seggen you, Hans?
FIRK
Wat seggen de reggen de copen, slopen –laugh, Hodge, laugh!
LACY
[as Hans] Mine liever broder Firk, bringt Meester Eyre tot den signe van swannekin. Daer sal you find dis skipper end me. Wat seggen you, broder Firk? Doot it, Hodge! Come, skipper!
(Exeunt [Lacy as Hans and Skipper].)
FIRK
‘Bring him,’ quoth you? Here’s no knavery, to bring my master to buy a ship worth the lading of two or three hundred thousand pounds. Alas, that’s nothing –a trifle, a bauble, Hodge.
HODGE
The truth is, Fink, that the merchant owner of the ship dares not show his head, and therefore this skipper, that deals for him, for the love he bears to Hans offers my master Eyre a bargain in the commodities. He shall have a reasonable day of payment. He may sell the wares by that time, and be an huge gainer himself.
FIRK
Yea, but can my fellow Hans lend my master twenty porpentines as an earnest-penny?
HODGE
‘Portages’ thou wouldst say –here they be, Firk: hark, they jingle in my pocket like Saint Mary Overy’s bells.
(Enter Eyre and [Margery] his wife [and a Boy].)
FIRK
Mum, here comes my dame and my master. She’ll scold, on my life, for loitering this Monday. But all’s one. Let them all say what they can, Monday’s our holiday.
MARGERY
You sing, Sir Sauce, but I beshrew your heart, I fear for this your singing we shall smart.
FIRK
Smart for me, dame? Why, dame, why?
HODGE
Master, I hope you’ll not suffer my dame to take down your journeymen.
FIRK
If she take me down, I’ll take her up –yea, and take her down, too, a buttonhole lower.
EYRE
Peace, Firk. Not I, Hodge. By the life of Pharaoh, by the Lord of Ludgate, by this beard, every hair whereof I value at a king’s ransom, she shall not meddle with you. Peace, you bombast-cotton-candle quean, away, Queen of Clubs, quarrel not with me and my men, with me and my fine Firk. I’ll firk you if you do.
MARGERY
Yea, yea, man, you may use me as you please –but let that pass.
EYRE
Let it pass, let it vanish away. Peace, am I not Simon Eyre? Are not these my brave men, brave shoemakers, all gentlemen of the Gentle Craft? Prince am I none, yet am I nobly born, as being the sole son of a shoemaker. Away, rubbish. Vanish, melt, melt like kitchen-stuff.
MARGERY
Yea, yea, ’tis well. I must be called rubbish, kitchen- stuff, for a sort of knaves.
FIRK
Nay, dame, you shall not weep and wail in woe for me. Master, I’ll stay no longer. Here’s a venentory of my shop tools. Adieu, master. Hodge, farewell.
HODGE
Nay, stay, Firk, thou shalt not go alone.
MARGERY
I pray, let them go. There be more maids than Malkin, more men than Hodge, and more fools than Firk.
FIRK
Fools? ‘Nails, if I tarry now, I would my guts might be turned to shoe-thread.
HODGE
And if I stay, I pray God I may be turned to a Turk and set in Finsbury for boys to shoot at. Come, Firk.
EYRE
Stay, my fine knaves, you arms of my trade, you pillars of my profession. What, shall a tittle-tattle’s words make you forsake Simon Eyre? Avaunt, kitchen-stuff; rip, you brown-bread Tannikin, out of my sight! Move me not. Have not I ta’en you from selling tripes in Eastcheap, and set you in my shop, and made you hail-fellow with Simon Eyre the shoemaker? And now do you deal thus with my journeymen? Look, you powder-beef quean, on the face of Hodge. Here’s a face for a lord.
FIRK
And here’s a face for any lady in Christendom.
EYRE
Rip, you chitterling, avaunt! Boy, bid the tapster of the Boar’s Head fill me a dozen cans of beer for my journeymen.
FIRK
A dozen cans! O brave, Hodge –now I’ll stay!
EYRE
An the knave fills any more than two, he pays for them.
HODGE
I am a-making a pair of shoes for my Lord mayor’s daughter, Mistress Rose.
FIRK
And I a pair of shoes for Sybil, my Lord’s maid. I deal with her.
EYRE
Sybil? Fie, defile not thy fine, workmanly fingers with the feet of kitchen-stuff and basting-ladles. Ladies of the Court, fine ladies, my lads, commit their feet to our apparelling. Put gross work to Hans. Yerk and seam, yerk and seam.
FIRK
For yerking and seaming let me alone, an I come to’t.
HODGE
Well, master, all this is from the bias. Do you remember the ship my fellow Hans told you of? The skipper and he are both drinking at the Swan. Here be the portagues to give earnest. If you go through with it, you cannot choose but be a lord at least.
FIRK
Nay, dame, if my master prove not a lord, and you a lady, hang me.
MARGERY
Yea, like enough, if you may loiter and tipple thus.
FIRK
Tipple, dame? No, we have been bargaining with Skellum-Skanderbag-can-you-Dutch-spreaken for a ship of silk cypress, laden with sugar candy.
(Enter the Boy with a velvet coat and an Alderman’s gown. Eyre puts it on.)
EYRE
Peace, Firk. Silence, tittle-tattle. Hodge, I’ll go through with it. Here’s a seal ring, and I have sent for a guarded gown and a damask cassock. See where it comes. Look here, Madgy. Help me, Firk. Apparel me, Hodge. Silk and satin, you mad Philistines, silk and satin!
FIRK
Ha, ha! My master will be as proud as a dog in a doublet, all in beaten damask and velvet.
EYRE
Softly, Firk, for rearing of the nap and wearing threadbare my garments. How dost thou like me, Firk? How do I look, my fine Hodge?
HODGE
Why, now you look like yourself, master. I warrant you there’s few in the City but will give you the wall, and come upon you with the ‘Right Worshipful’.
FIRK
’Nails, my master looks like a threadbare cloak new turned and dressed. Lord, Lord, to see what good raiment doth. Dame, dame, are you not enamoured?
EYRE
How sayst thou, Madgy; am I not brisk? Am I not fine?
MARGERY
Fine? By my troth, sweetheart, very fine. By my troth, I never liked thee so well in my life, sweetheart – but let that pass. I warrant there be many women in the City have not such handsome husbands, but only for their apparel– but let that pass, too.
(Enter [Lacy as] Hans and Skipper)
LACY
[as Hans] Godden day, meester; dis be de skipper dat heb de skip van marchandice. De commodity ben good. Nempt it, meester; nempt it.
EYRE
Godamercy, Hans. Welcome, skipper. Where lies this ship of merchandise?
SKIPPER
De skip ben in revere. Dor be van sugar, civet, almonds, cambric, end a tousand tousand tings, Got’s sacrament! Nempt it, meester; you sal heb good copen.
FIRK
To him, master. O sweet master! O sweet wares! Prunes, almonds, sugar candy, carrot-roots, turnips –O, brave fatting meat! Let not a man buy a nutmeg but yourself.
EYRE
Peace, Firk. Come, skipper, I’ll go aboard with you. Hans, have you made him drink?
SKIPPER
Yaw, yaw. Ik heb veale gedrunck.
EYRE
Come, Hans; follow me. Skipper, thou shalt have my countenance in the City.
(Exeunt [Eyre, Skipper, and Lacy as Hans].)
FIRK
‘Yaw heb veale gedrunck’ , quotha! They may well be called butter-boxes when drink fat veal, and thick beer too. But come, dame; I hope you’ll chide us no more.
MARGERY
No, faith, Firk. No, perdie, Hodge. I do feel honour creep upon me, and, which is more, a certain rising in my flesh –but let that pass.
FIRK
Rising in your flesh do you feel, say you? Ay, you may be with child; but why should not my master feel a rising in his flesh, having a gown and a gold ring on! But you are such a shrew, you’ll soon pull him down.
MARGERY
Ha, ha! Prithee, peace, thou makest my worship laugh –but let that pass. Come, I’ll go in. Hodge, prithee, go before me. Firk, follow me!
FIRK
Firk doth follow. Hodge, pass out in state!
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE VIII]
(Enter [the Earl of] Lincoln and Dodger.)
LINCOLN
How now, good Dodger, what’s the news in France?
713
DODGER
My lord, upon the eighteen day of May
714
The French and English were prepared to fight.
715
Each side with eager fury gave the sign
716
Of a most armies fought together. At the length
717
The lot of victory fell on our sides.
718
Twelve thousand of the Frenchmen that day died,
719
Four thousand of the Frenchmen that day died,
720
Four thousand English, and no man of name
721
But Captain Hyam and young Ardington.
722
LINCOLN
Two gallant gentlemen; I knew them well.
723
But, Dodger, prithee tell me, in this fight
724
How did my cousin Lacy bear himself?
725
DODGER
My lord, your cousin Lacy was not here.
726
LINCOLN
Not there?
727
DODGER
No, my good lord.
LINCOLN
Sure, thou mistakest.
I saw him shipped, and a thousand eyes beside
728
Were witnesses of the farewells which he gave
729
When I with weeping eyes bid him adieu.
730
Dodger, take heed.
731
DODGER
My lord, I am advised
That what I spake is true. To prove it so,
732
His cousin Askew, that supplied his place,
733
Sent me for him from France that secretly
734
He might convey himself thither.
735
LINCOLN
Is’t even so?
Dares he so carelessly venture his life
736
Upon the indignation of a king?
737
Hath he despised my love, and spurned those favours
738
Which I with prodigal hand poured on his head?
739
He shall repent his rashness with his soul.
740
Since of my love he makes no estimate,
741
I’ll make him wish he had not known my hate.
742
Thou hast no other news?
743
DODGER
None else, my lord.
LINCOLN
None worse I know thou hast. Procure the King
744
To crown his giddy brows with ample honours,
745
Send him chief colonel, and all my hope
746
Thus to be dashed? –but ’tis in vain to grieve.
747
One evil cannot a worse relieve.
748
Upon my life, I have found out his plot.
749
That old dog love that fawned upon him so,
750
Love to that puling girl, his fair-cheeked Rose,
751
The Lord Mayor’s daughter, hath distracted him,
752
And in the fire of that love’s lunacy
753
Hath he burnt up himself, consumed his credit,
754
Lost the King’s love, yea and, I fear, his life,
755
Only to get a wanton to his wife.
756
Dodger, it is so.
757
DODGER
I fear so, my good lord.
LINCOLN
It is so. –Nay, sure cannot be.
758
I am at my wits’ end. Dodger–
759
DODGER
Yea, my lord?
LINCOLN
Thou art acquainted with my nephew’s haunts.
760
Spend this gold for thy pains. Go seek him out.
761
Watch at my Lord Mayor’s. There if he live,
762
Dodger, thou shalt be sure to meet with him.
763
Prithee, be diligent. Lacy, thy name
764
Lived once in honour, now dead in shame!
765
Be circumspect.
766
(Exit.)
DODGER
I warrant you, my lord.
(Exit.)
[SCENE IX]
(Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the] Lord mayor, and Master Scott.)
OATLEY
Good Master Scott. I have been bold with you
767
To be a witness to a wedding knot
768
Betwixt young master Hammon and my daughter.
769
O, stand aside. See where the lovers come.
770
(Enter Hammon and Rose.)
ROSE
Can it be possible you love me so?
771
No, no; within those eyeballs I espy
772
Apparent likelihoods of flattery.
773
Pray now, let go my hand.
774
HAMMON
Sweet Mistress Rose,
Misconstrue not my words, nor misconceive
775
Of my affection, whose devoted soul
776
Swears that I love thee dearer than my heart.
777
ROSE
As dear as your own heart? I judge it right:
778
(Men love their hearts best when they’re out of sight.)
HAMMON
I love you, by this hand.
779
ROSE
Yet hands off, now.
If flesh be frail, how weak and frail’s your vow!
780
HAMMON
Then by my life I swear.
781
ROSE
Then do not brawl.
One quarrel loseth wife and life and all.
782
Is not your meaning thus?
783
HAMMON
In faith, you jest.
ROSE
Love loves to sport; therefore leave love, you’re best.
784
OATLEY
What, square they, Master Scott?
785
SCOTT
Sir, never doubt.
Lovers are quickly in and quickly out.
786
HAMMON
Sweet Rose, be not so strange in fancying me.
787
Nay, never turn aside. Shun not my sight.
788
I am not grown so fond to fond my love
789
On any that shall quit it with disdain.
790
If you will love me, so. If not, farewell.
791
OATLEY
Why, how now, lovers; are you both agreed?
792
HAMMON
Yes, faith, my lord.
793
OATLEY
’Tis well. Give me your hand;
Give me yours, daughter. How now –both pull back!
794
What means this, girl?
795
ROSE
I mean to live a maid.
HAMMON
But not to die one. Pause ere that be said.
OATLEY
Will you still cross me, still be obstinate?
797
HAMMON
Nay, chide her not, my lord, for doing well.
798
If she can live an happy virgin’s life,
799
’Tis far more blessèd than to be a wife.
800
ROSE
Say, sir, I cannot. I have made a vow:
801
Whoever be my husband, ’tis not you.
802
OATLEY
Your tongue is quick. But, Master Hammon, know I bade you welcome to another end.
HAMMON
What, would you have me pule, and pine, and pray,
805
With ‘lovely lady’, ‘mistress of my heart’,
806
‘Pardon your servant’, and the rhymer play,
807
Railing on Cupid and his tyrant’s dart?
808
Or shall I undertake some martial spoil,
809
Wearing your glove at tourney and at tilt,
810
And tell how many gallants I unhorsed?
811
Sweet, will this pleasure you?
812
ROSE
Yea; when wilt begin?
What, love-rhymes, man? Fie on that deadly sin!
813
OATLEY
If you will have her, I’ll make her agree.
814
HAMMON
Enforcèd love is worse than hate to me.
815
There is a wench keeps shop in the Old Change.
816
To her will I. It is not wealth I seek.
817
I have enough, and will prefer her love
818
Before the world. [To Oatley] My good Lord Mayor,
819
adieu.
820
Old love for me –I have no luck with new.
821
(Exit.)
OATLEY
[To Rose] Now, mammet, you have well behaved yourself.
822
But you shall curse your coyness, if I live.
823
–Who’s within, there? See you convey your mistress
824
Straight to th’Old Ford. [To Rose] I’ll keep you strait enough.
825
–Fore God, I would have sworn the puling girl
826
Would willingly accepted Hammon’s love.
827
But banish him, my thoughts. –Go, minion, in.
828
(Exit Rose.)
Now tell me, Master Scott, would you have thought
829
That Master Simon Eyre, the shoemaker,
830
Had been of wealth to buy such merchandise?
831
SCOTT
’Twas well, my lord, your honour and myself
832
Grew partners with him; for your bills of lading
833
Show that Eyre’s gains in one commodity
834
Rise at the least to full three thousand pound,
835
Besides like gain in other merchandise.
836
OATLEY
Well, he shall spend some of his thousands now,
837
For I have sent for him to the Guildhall.
838
(Enter Eyre.)
EYRE
Poor Simon Eyre, my lord, your shoemaker.
OATLEY
Well, well, it likes yourself to term you so.
840
(Enter Dodger.)
Now, Master Dodger, what’s the news with you?
841
DODGER
I’ld gladly speak in private to your honour.
842
OATLEY
You shall, you shall. Master Eyre, and Master Scott,
843
I have some business with this gentleman.
844
I pray, let me entreat you to walk before
845
To the Guildhall. I’ll follow presently.
846
Master Eyre, I hope ere noon to call you sheriff.
847
EYRE
I would not care, my lord, if you might call me King of Spain. Come Master Scott.
([Exeunt Eyre and Scott].)
OATLEY
Now, Master Dodger, what’s the news you bring?
850
DODGER
The Earl of Lincoln by me greets your lordship
851
And earnestly requests you, if you can,
852
Inform him where his nephew Lacy keeps.
853
OATLEY
Is not his nephew Lacy now in France?
854
DODGER
No, I assure your lordship, but disguised
855
Lurks here in London.
856
OATLEY
London? Is’t even so?
It may be, but, upon my faith and soul,
857
I know not where he lives, or whether he lives.
858
So tell my Lord of Lincoln. –Lurch in London?
859
Well, Master Dodger, you perhaps may start him.
860
Be but the means to rid him into France,
861
I’ll give you a dozen angels for your pains,
862
So much I love his honour, hate his nephew;
863
And, prithee, so inform thy lord from me.
864
DODGER
I take my leave.
865
(Exit Dodger.)
OATLEY
Farewell, good Master Dodge.
Lacy in London? I dare pawn my life
866
My daughter knows thereof, and for that cause
867
Denied young Master Hammon in his love.
868
Well, I am glad I sent her to Old Ford.
869
God’s Lord, ’tis late; to Guildhall I must hie.
870
I know my brethren stay my company.
871
(Exit.)
[SCENE X]
(Enter Firk, [Margery] Eyre’s wife, [Lacy as] Hans, and Roger.)
MARGERY
Thou goest too fast for me, Roger. O, Firk.
FIRK
Ay, forsooth.
MARGERY
I pray thee, run –do you hear– run to Guildhall, and learn if my husband, Master Eyre, will take that worshipful vocation of Master Sheriff upon him. Hie thee, good Firk.
FIRK
Take it? Well, I go. An he should not take it, Firk swears to forswear him. –Yes, forsooth, I go Guildhall.
MARGERY
Nay, when! Thou art too compendious and tedious.
FIRK
How like a new cartwheel my dame speaks; and she looks like an old musty ale-bottle going to scalding.
MARGERY
Nay, when! Thou wilt make me melancholy.
FIRK
God forbid your worship should fall into that humour. I run.
(Exit.)
MARGERY
Let me see now, Roger and Hans.
HODGE
Ay, forsooth, dame –mistress, I should say, but the old term so sticks to the roof of my mouth, I can hardly lick it off.
MARGERY
Even what thou wilt, good Roger. Dame is a fair name for any honest Christian –but let that pass. How dost thou, Hans?
LACY
[as Hans] Me tank you, fro.
MARGERY
Well, Hans and Roger, you see God hath blessed your master; and, perdie, if ever he comes to be Master Sheriff of London –as we are all mortal– you shall see I will have some odd thing or other in a corner for you. I will not be your back friend –but let that pass. Hans, pray thee, tie my shoe.
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, ik sal, fro.
MARGERY
Roger, thou knowest the length of my foot. As it is none of the biggest, so I thank God it is handsome enough. Prithee, let me have a pair of shoes made; cork, good Roger; wooden heel, too.
HODGE
You shall.
MARGERY
Art thou acquainted with never a farthingale- maker, nor a French-hood-maker? I must enlarge my bum. Ha, ha! How shall I look in a hood, I wonder? Perdie, oddly, I think.
HODGE
As a car out of a pillory.
MARGERY
Indeed, all flesh is grass. And Roger, canst thou tell where I may buy a good hair?
HODGE
Yes, forsooth; at the poulterer’s in Gracious Street.
MARGERY
Thou art an ungracious wag. Perdie, I mean a false hair for my periwig.
HODGE
Why, mistress, the next time I cut my bear you shall have the shavings of it; but they are all true hairs.
MARGERY
It is very hot. I must get me a fan, or else a mask.
HODGE
So you had need, to hide your wicked face.
MARGERY
Fie upon it, how costly this world’s calling is! Perdie, but that it is one of the wonderful works of God, I would not deal with it. Is not Firk come yet? Hans, be not so sad. Let it pass and vanish, as my husband’s worship says.
LACY
[as Hans] Ik bin frolick; lot see you so.
HODGE
Mistress, will you drink a pipe of tobacco?
MARGERY
O, fie upon it, Roger! Perdie, these filthy tobacco pipes are the most idle, slavering baubles that ever I felt. Out upon it, God bless us; men look not like men that use them.
(Enter Ralph, being lame.)
HODGE
What, fellow Ralph! Mistress, look here –Jane’s husband! Why, how now –lame? Hans, make much of him. He’s a brother of our trade, a good workman, and a tall soldier.
LACY
[as Hans] You be welcome, broder.
MARGERY
Perdie, I knew him not. How dost thou, good Ralph? I am glad to see thee well.
RALPH
I would God you saw me, dame, as well
940
As when I went from London into France.
941
MARGERY
Trust me, I am sorry, Ralph, to see thee impotent. Lord, how the wars have made him sunburnt! The left leg is not well. ’Twas a fair gift of God the infirmity took not hold a little higher, considering thou camest from France –but let that pass.
RALPH
I am glad to see you well, and I rejoice
947
To hear that God hath blessed my master so
948
Since my departure.
949
MARGERY
Yea, truly, Ralph, I thank my maker –but let that pass.
HODGE
And, Sirrah Ralph, what news, what news in France?
RALPH
Tell me, good Roger, first, what news in England?
954
How does my Jane? When didst thou see my wife?
955
Where lives my poor heart? She’ll be poor indeed
956
Now I want limbs to get whereon to feed.
957
HODGE
Limbs? Hast thou not hands, man? Thou shalt never see a shoemaker want bread, though he have but three fingers on a hand.
RALPH
Yet all this while I hear not of my Jane.
961
MARGERY
O Ralph, your wife! Perdie, we know not what’s become of her. She was here a while, and because she was married grew more stately than became her. I checked her, and so forth. Away she flung, never returned, nor said bye nor bah. And, Ralph, you know: ’ka me, ka thee’. And so as I tell ye –Roger, is not Firk come yet?
HODGE
No, forsooth.
MARGERY
And so, indeed, we heard not of her; but I hear she lives a London –but let that pass. If she had wanted, she might have opened her case to me or my husband or to any of my men; I am sure there’s not any of them, perdie, but would have done her good to his power. Hans, look if Firk be come.
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, ik sal, fro.
(Exit [Lacy as] Hans.)
MARGERY
And so as I said. Bur Ralph, why dost thou weep? Thou knowest that naked we came out of our mother’s womb, and naked we must return; and therefore thank God for all things.
HODGE
No, faith, Jane is a stranger here. But, Ralph, pull up a good heart –I know thou hast one. Thy wife, man, is in London. One told me he saw her a while ago very brave and neat. We’ll ferret her out, an London hold her.
MARGERY
Alas, poor soul, he’s overcome with sorrow. He does but as I do, weep for the loss of any good thing. But, Ralph, get thee in. Call for some meat and drink. Thou shalt find me worshipful towards thee.
RALPH
I thank you, dame. Since I want limbs and lands,
989
I’ll to God, my good friends, and to these my hands.
990
(Exit.)
(Enter [Lacy as] Hans, and Firk, running.)
FIRK
Run, good Hans. O, Hodge, O, mistress! Hodge, heave up thine ears. Mistress, smug up your looks, on with your best apparel. My master is chosen, my master is called, nay, condemned, by the cry of the country to be sheriff of the City for this famous year now to come and time now being. A great many men in black gowns were asked for their voices and their hands, and my master had all their fists about his ears presently, and they cried ‘Ay, ay, ay, ay’; and so I came away.
Wherefore without all other grieve
1000
I do salute you, Mistress Shrieve.
1001
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, my meester is de groot man, de shrieve.
HODGE
Did not I tell you, mistress? Now I may boldly say ‘Good morrow to your worship’.
MARGERY
Good morrow, good Roger. I thank you, my good people all. Firk, hold up thy hand. Here’s a threepenny piece for thy tidings.
FIRK
’Tis but three halfpence, I think. –Yes, ’tis threepence. I smell the rose.
HODGE
But, mistress, be ruled by me, and do not speak so pulingly.
FIRK
’Tis her worship speaks so, and not she. No, faith, mistress, speak me in the old key. ‘To it, Firk’, ‘There, good Firk’, ‘Ply your business, Hodge’ –‘Hodge’, with a full mouth –I’ll fill your bellies with good cheer till they cry twang’.
(Enter Simon Eyre wearing a gold chain.)
LACY
[as Hans] See, myn liever broder, heer compt my meester.
MARGERY
Welcome home, Master Shrieve. I pray God continue you in health and wealth.
EYRE
See here, my Madgy, a chain, a gold chain for Simon Eyre! I shall make thee a lady. Here’s a French hood for thee. On with it, on with it. Dress thy brows with this flap of a shoulder of mutton, to make thee look lovely. Where be my fine men? Roger, I’ll make over my shop and tools to thee. Firk, thou shalt be the foreman. Hans, thou shalt have an hundred for twenty. Be as mad knaves as your master Sim Eyre hath been, and you shall live to be sheriffs of London. How dost thou like me, Margery? Prince am I none, yet am I princely born! Firk, Hodge, and Hans!
ALL THREE
Ay, forsooth; what says your worship Master Sheriff?
EYRE
Worship and honour, you Babylonian knaves, for the Gentle Craft! But I forgot myself. I am bidden by my Lord Mayor to dinner to Old Ford. He’s gone before, I must after. Come, Madge, on with your trinkets. Now, my true Trojans, my fine Firk, my dapper Hodge, my honest Hans, some device, some odd crotchets, some morris or suchlike for the honour of the gentle shoemakers. Meet me at Old Ford. You know my mind.
Come, Madge, away;
1041
Shut up the shop, knaves, and make holiday.
1042
(Exeunt [Eyre and Margery].)
FIRK
O, rare! O, brave! Come, Hodge. Follow me, Hans;
1043
We’ll be with them for a morris dance.
1044
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE XI]
(Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the] Lord Mayor, Eyre, [Margery] his wife in a French hood, [Rose], Sybil, and other Servants.)
OATLEY
[To Eyre and Margery] Trust me, you are as welcome to Old Ford
1045
As I myself.
1046
MARGERY
Truly, I thank your lordship.
OATLEY
Would our bad cheer were worth the thanks you give.
1047
EYRE
Good cheer, my Lord Mayor, fine cheer; a fine house, fine walls, all fine and neat.
OATLEY
Now, by my troth, I’ll tell thee, Master Eyre,
1050
It does me good, and all my brethren,
1051
That such a madcap fellow as thyself?
1052
Is entered into our society.
1053
MARGERY
Ay, but, my lord, he must learn now to put on gravity.
1054
EYRE
Peace, Madgy; a fig for gravity. When I go to Guildhall in my scarlet gown I’ll look as demurely as a saint, and speak as gravely as a Justice of Peace; but now I am here at Old Ford, at my good Lord Mayor’s house, let it go by, vanish, Madgy; I’ll be merry. Away with flip-flap, these fooleries, these gulleries. What, honey –prince am I none, yet am I princely born! What says my Lord Mayor?
OATLEY
Ha, ha, ha! I had rather than a thousand pound
1063
I had an heart but half so light as yours.
1064
EYRE
Why, what should I do, my lord? A pound of care pays not a dram of debt. Hum, let’s be merry whiles we are young. Old age, sack, and sugar will steal upon us ere we be a aware.
OATLEY
It’s well done. Mistress Eyre, pray give good counsel to my daughter.
MARGERY
I hope Mistress Rose will have the grace to take nothing that’s bad.
OATLEY
Pray God she do; for i’faith, Mistress Eyre,
1073
I would bestow upon that peevish girl
1074
A thousand marks more than I mean to give her
1075
Upon condition she’ld be ruled by me.
1076
The ape still crosseth me. There came of late
1077
A proper gentleman of fair revenues
1078
Whom gladly I would call son-in-law.
1079
But my fine cockney would have none of him.
1080
You’ll prove a coxcomb for it ere you die.
1081
A courtier or no man must please your eye.
1082
EYRE
Be ruled, sweet Rose; thou’rt ripe for a man. Marry not with a boy that has no more hair on his face than thou hast on thy cheeks. A courtier –wash, go by! Stand not upon pishery-pashery. Those silken fellows are but painted images, outsides, Rose. Their inner linings are torn. No, my fine mouse, marry me with a Gentleman Grocer like my Lord Mayor your father. A grocer is a sweet trade; plums, plums! Had I a son or daughter should marry out of the generation and blood of the shoemakers, he should pack. What, the Gentle Trade is a living for a man through Europe, through the world.
(A noise within of a tabor and a pipe)
OATLEY
What noise is this?
EYRE
O, my Lord Mayor, a crew of good fellows that, for love to your honour, are come hither with a morris dance. Come in, my Mesopotamians, cheerly.
(Enter Hodge, [Lacy as] Hans, Ralph, Firk, and other Shoemakers in a morris. After a little dancing, the Lord Mayor speaks.)
OATLEY
Master Eyre, are all these shoemakers?
EYRE
All cordwainers, my good Lord Mayor.
ROSE
How like my Lacy looks yond shoemaker!
LACY
O, that I durst but speak unto my love!
OATLEY
Sybil, go fetch some wine to make these drink.
1103
You are all welcome.
1104
ALL [THE SHOEMAKERS]
We thank your lordship.
(Rose takes a cup of wine and goes to [Lacy as] Hans)
ROSE
For his sake whose fair shape thou represent’st,
1106
Good friend, I drink to thee.
1107
LACY
[as Hans] Ik be dancke, good friter.
MARGERY
I see, Mistress Rose, you do not want judgement. You have drunk to the properest man I keep.
FIRK
Here be some have done their parts to be as proper as he.
OATLEY
Well, urgent business calls me back to London.
1112
Good fellows, first go in and taste our cheer,
1113
And to make merry as you homeward go,
1114
Spend these two angels in beer at Stratford Bow.
1115
EYRE
To these two, my mad lads, Sim Eyre adds another. Then cheerly, Firk, tickle it, Hans, and all for the honour of shoemakers.
(All [the Shoemaker] go dancing out.)
OATLEY
Come, Master Eyre, let’s have your company.
1119
(Exeunt [Oatley, Eyre, and Margery])
ROSE
Sybil, what shall I do?
1120
SYBIL
Why, what’s the matter?
ROSE
That Hans the shoemaker is my love, Lacy,
1121
Disguised in that attire to find me out.
1122
How should I find the means to speak with him?
1123
SYBIL
What, mistress, never fear. I dare venture my maidenhead to nothing –and that’s great odds– that Hans the Dutchman, when we come to London, shall not only see and speak with you, but, in spite of all your father’s policies, steal you a away and marry you. Will not this please you?
ROSE
Do this, and ever be assured of my love.
1130
SYBIL
Away, then, and follow your father to London, lest
1131
your absence cause him to suspect something.
1132
Tomorrow, if my counsel be obeyed,
1133
I’ll bind you prentice to the Gentle Trade.
1134
([Exeunt])
[SCENE XII]
(Enter Jane in a sempster’s shop, working, and Hammon, muffled, at another door. He stands aloof.)
HAMMON
Yonder’s the shop, and there my fair love sits.
1135
She’s fair and lovely, but she is not mine.
1136
O would she were! Thrice have I courted her,
1137
Thrice hath my hand been moistened with her hand
1138
Whilst my poor famished eyes do feed on that
1139
Which made them famish. I am infortunate.
1140
I still love one, yet nobody loves me.
1141
I muse in other men what women see
1142
That I so want. Fine Mistress Rose was coy,
1143
And this too curious. O no, she is chaste,
1144
And, for she thinks me wanton, she denies
1145
To cheer my cold heart with her sunny eyes.
1146
How prettily she works! O pretty hand!
1147
O happy work! It doth me good to stand
1148
Unseen to see her. Thus I oft have stood
1149
In frosty evenings, a light burning by her,
1150
Enduring biting cold only to eye her.
1151
One only look hath seemed as rich to me
1152
As a king’s crown, such is love’s lunacy.
1153
Muffled I’ll pass along, and by that try
1154
Whether she know me.
1155
JANE
Sir, what is’t you buy?
What is’t you lack, sir? Calico, or lawn,
1156
Fine cambric shirts, or bands –what will you buy?
1157
HAMMON
That which thou wilt not sell. Faith, yet I’ll try.
1158
[To Jane] How do you sell this handkercher?
1159
JANE
Good cheap.
HAMMON
And how these ruffs?
1160
JANE
Cheap, too.
HAMMON
And how this band?
JANE
Cheap too.
1161
HAMMON
All cheap. How sell you then this hand?
JANE
My hands are not to be sold.
1162
HAMMON
To be given, then.
Nay, faith, I come to buy.
1163
JANE
But none knows when.
HAMMON
Good sweet, leave work a little while. Let’s play.
1164
JANE
I cannot live by keeping holiday.
1165
HAMMON
I’ll pay you for the time which shall be lost.
1166
JANE
With me you shall not be at so much cost.
1167
HAMMON
Look how you wound this cloth, so you wound me.
1168
JANE
It may be so.
1169
HAMMON
’Tis so.
JANE
What remedy?
HAMMON
Nay, faith; you are too coy.
1170
JANE
Let go my hand.
HAMMON
I will do any task at your command.
1171
I would let go this beauty, were I not
1172
Enjoined to disobey you by a power
1173
That controls kings. I love you.
1174
JANE
So. Now part.
HAMMON
With hands I may, but never with my heart.
1175
In faith, I love you.
1176
JANE
I believe you do.
HAMMON
Shall a true love in me breed hate in you?
1177
JANE
I hate you not.
1178
HAMMON
Then you must love.
JANE
I do.
What, are you better now? I love not you.
1179
HAMMON
All this, I hope, is but a woman’s fray,
1180
That means ‘Come to me!’ when she cries ‘Away!’
1181
In earnest, mistress, I do not jest;
1182
A true chaste love hath entered in my breast.
1183
I love you dearly as I love my life.
1184
I love you as a husband loves a wife.
1185
That, and no other love, my love requires.
1186
Thy wealth, I know, is little. My desires
1187
Thirst not for gold. Sweet beauteous Jane, what’s mine
1188
Shall, if thou make myself thine, all be thine.
1189
Say, judge, what is thy sentence –life or death?
1190
Mercy or cruelty lies in thy breath.
1191
JANE
Good sir, I do believe you love me well.
For ’tis a silly conquest, silly pride,
1193
For one like you –I mean, a gentleman–
1194
To boast that by his love tricks he hath brought
1195
Such and such women to his amorous lure.
1196
I think you do not so, yet many do,
1197
And make it even a very trade to woo.
1198
I could be coy, as many women be;
1199
Feed you with sunshine smiles and wanton looks.
1200
But I detest witchcraft. Say that I
1201
Do constantly believe you constant have–
1202
HAMMON
Why dost thou not believe me?
1203
JANE
I believe you.
But yet, good sir, because I will not grieve you
1204
With hopes to taste fruit which will never fall,
1205
In simple truth, this is the sum of all:
1206
My husband lives –at least, I hope he lives.
1207
Pressed was he to these bitter wars in France.
1208
Better they are to me by wanting him.
1209
I have but one heart, and that heart’s his due.
1210
How can I then bestow the same on you?
1211
Whilst he lives, his I live, be it ne’er so poor;
1212
And rather be his wife than a king’s whore.
1213
HAMMON
Chaste and dear woman, I will not abuse thee,
1214
Although it cost my life if thou refuse me.
1215
Thy husband pressed for France –what was his name?
1216
JANE
Ralph Damport.
1217
HAMMON
Damport. Here’s a letter sent
From France to me from a dear friend of mine,
1218
A gentleman of place. Here he doth write
1219
Their names that have been slain in every fight.
1220
JANE
I hope death’s scroll contains not my love’s name.
1221
HAMMON
Cannot you read?
1222
JANE
I can.
HAMMON
Peruse the same.
To my remembrance such a name I read
1223
Amongst the rest. See here.
1224
JANE
Ay me, he’s dead.
He’s dead. If this be true, my dear heart’s slain.
1225
HAMMON
Have patience, dear love.
1226
JANE
Hence, hence!
HAMMON
Nay, sweet Jane,
Make not poor sorrow proud with these rich tears.
1227
I mourn thy husband’s death because thou mournest.
1228
JANE
That bill is forged. ’Tis signed by forgery.
1229
HAMMON
I’ll bring thee letters sent besides to many
1230
Carrying the like report. Jane, ’tis too true.
1231
Come, weep not. Mourning, though it rise from love,
1232
Helps not the mournèd, yet hurts them that mourn.
1233
JANE
For God’s sake, leave me.
1234
HAMMON
Whither dost thou turn?
Forget the dead; love them that are alive.
1235
His love is faded –try how mine will thrive.
1236
JANE
’Tis now no time for me to think on love.
1237
HAMMON
’Tis now best time for you to think on love,
1238
Because your love lives not.
1239
JANE
Though he be dead,
My love to him shall not be burièd.
1240
For God’s sake, leave me to myself alone.
1241
HAMMON
’Twould kill my soul to leave thee drowned in moan.
1242
Answer me to my suit, and I am gone.
1243
Say to me yea or no.
1244
JANE
No.
HAMMON
Then farewell.
One farewell will not serve. I come again.
1245
Come, dry these wet cheeks. Tell me, faith, sweet Jane.
1246
Yea, or no, once more.
1247
JANE
Once more I say no.
Once more, be gone, I pray, else will I go.
1248
HAMMON
Nay, then, I will grow rude. By this white hand,
1249
Until you change that cold no, here I’ll stand
1250
Till by your hard heart–
1251
JANE
Nay, for God’s love, peace.
My sorrows by your presence more increase.
1252
Not that you thus are present; but all grief.
1253
Desires to be alone. Therefore in brief
1254
Thus much I say, and saying bid adieu:
1255
If ever I wed man it shall be you.
1256
HAMMON
O blessèd voice. Dear Jane, I’ll urge no more.
1257
Thy breath hath made me rich.
1258
JANE
Death makes me poor.
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE XIII]
(Enter Hodge at his shop board, Ralph, Firk, [Lacy as] Hans, and a Boy, at work.)
ALL
[Singing] Hey down, a-down, down-derry.
HODGE
Well, said, my hearts! Ply your work today –we loitered yesterday. To it, pell-mell, that we may live to be Lord Mayors, or Aldermen at least.
FIRK
[Singing] Hey down a-down derry.
HODGE
Well said, i’faith! How sayst thou, Hans –doth not Firk tickle it?
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, meester.
FIRK
Not so, neither. My organ-pipe squeaks this morning for want of liquoring. [Sings] Hey down a-down derry.
LACY
[as Hans] Forware, Firk, tow best un jolly youngster. Hort, ay, meester, ik bid you cut me un pair vampies for Meester Jeffrey’s boots.
HODGE
Thou shalt, Hans.
FIRK
Master.
HODGE
How now, boy?
FIRK
Pray, now you are in the cutting vein, cut me out a pair of counterfeits, or else my work will not pass current. [Sing] Hey down a-down.
HODGE
Tell me, sirs, are my cousin Mistress Priscilla’s shoes done?
FIRK
Your cousin? No, master, one of your aunts. Hang her; let them alone.
RALPH
I am in hand with them. She gave charge that none but I should do them for her.
FIRK
Thou do for her? Then ‘twill be a lame doing, and that she loves not. Ralph, thou mightest have sent her to me. In faith, I would have yerked and firked your Priscilla. [Sing] Hey down a-down derry. –This gear will not hold.
HODGE
How sayst thou, Firk –were we not merry at Old Ford?
FIRK
How merry? –why, our buttocks went jiggy-joggy like a quagmire. Well, Sir Roger Oatmeal, if I thought all meal of that nature I would eat nothing but bag-puddings.
RALPH
Of all good fortunes, my fellow Hans had the best.
FIRK
’Tis true, because Mistress Rose drank to him.
HODGE
Well, well, work apace. They say seven of the Aldermen be dead, or very sick.
FIRK
I care not, I’ll be none.
RALPH
No, nor I; but then my Master Eyre will come quickly to be Lord Mayor.
(Enter Sybil.)
FIRK
Whoop, yonder comes Sybil!
HODGE
Sybil! Welcome, i’faith; and how dost thou, mad wench?
FIRK
Syb-whore, welcome to London.
SYBIL
Godamercy, sweet Firk. Good Lord, Hodge, what a delicious shop you have got! You tickle it, i’faith.
RALPH
Godamercy, Sybil, for our good cheer at Old Ford.
SYBIL
That you shall have, Ralph.
FIRK
Nay, by the Mass, we had tickling cheer, Sybil. And how the plague dost thou and Mistress Rose, and my Lord Mayor? –I put the women in first.
SYBIL
Well, godamercy. But God’s me, I forget myself. Where’s Hans the Fleming?
FIRK
Hark, butter-box, now you must yelp out some spreaken.
LACY
[as Hans] Vat begey you, vat vod you, frister.
SYBIL
Marry, you must come to my young mistress, to pull on her shoes you made last.
LACY
[as Hans] Vare ben your edle fro? Vare ben your mistress?
SYBIL
Marry, here at our London house in Cornwall.
FIRK
Will nobody serve her turn but Hans?
SYBIL
No, sir. Come, Hans, I stand upon needles.
HODGE
Why then, Sybil, take heed of pricking.
SYBIL
For that, let me alone. I have a trick in my budget. Come, Hans.
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, yaw; ik sal mit you gane.
(Exeunt [Lacy as] Hans and Sybil.)
HODGE
Go, Hans, make haste again. Come, who lacks work?
FIRK
I master; for I lack my breakfast. ’Tis munching time, and past.
HODGE
Is’t so? Why then, leave work, Ralph. To breakfast. Boy, look to the tools. Come, Ralph. Come, Firk.
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE XIV]
(Enter a Servingman.)
SERVINGMAN
Let me see, now, the Sing of the Last in Tower Street. Mass, yonder’s he house. What haw! Who’s within?
(Enter Ralph.)
RALPH
Who calls, there? What want you, sir?
SERVINGMAN
Marry, I would have a pair of shoes made for a gentlewoman against tomorrow. What, can you do them?
RALPH
Yes, sir; you shall have them. But what length’s her foot?
SERVINGMAN
Why, you must make them in all parts like this shoe. But at any hand, fail not to do them; for the gentlewoman is to be married very early in the morning.
RALPH
How? By this shoe must it be made? By this? Are you sure, sir, by this?
SERVINGMAN
How, ‘by this’ am I sure, ‘by this’! Art thou in thy wits? I tell thee, I must have a pair of shoes, dost thou mark me? A pair of shoes, two shoes, made by this very shoe, this same shoe, against tomorrow morning by four o’clock. Dost understand me? Canst thou do’t?
RALPH
Yes, sir, yes; Ay, ay, I can do’t. By this shoe, you say? I should know this shoe. Yes, sir, yes, by this shoe. I can do’t. Four o’clock. Well. Whither shall I bring them?
SERVINGMAN
To the Sing of the Golden Ball, in Watling Street. Enquire for one Master Hammon, a gentleman, my master.
RALPH
Yea, sir. By this shoe, you say.
SERVINGMAN
I say Master Hammon at the Golden Ball. He’s the bridegroom, and those shoes are for his bride.
RALPH
They shall be done, by this shoe. Well, well, Master Hammon at the Golden Shoe –I would say, the Golden Ball. Very well, very well; but, I pray you, sir, where must Master Hammon be married?
SERVINGMAN
At Saint Faith’s Church, under Paul’s. But what’s that to thee? Prithee, dispatch those shoes; and so, farewell.
RALPH
By this shoe, said he? How am I amazed
1369
At this strange accident! Upon my life,
1370
This was the very shoe I gave my wife
1371
When I was pressed for France; since when, alas,
1372
I never could hear of her. It is the same,
1373
And Hammon’s bride no other but my Jane.
1374
(Enter Firk.)
FIRK
’Snails, Ralph, thou hast lost thy part of three pots a countryman of mine gave me to breakfast.
RALPH
I care not. I have found a better thing.
1377
FIRK
A thing? Away! Is it a man’s thing, or a woman’s thing?
RALPH
Firk, dost thou know this shoe?
1379
FIRK
No, by my troth. Neither doth that know me. I have no acquaintance with it. ’Tis a mere stranger to me.
RALPH
Why, then, I do. This shoe, I durst be sworn,
1382
Once coverèd the instep of my Jane.
1383
This is her size, her breadth. Thus trod my love.
1384
These true-love knots I pricked. I hold my life,
1385
By this old shoe I shall find out my wife.
1386
FIRK
Ha, ha! Old shoe, that wert new –how a murrain came this ague-fit of foolishness upon thee?
RALPH
Thus, Firk: even now here came a servingman;
1389
By this shoe would he have a new pair made
1390
Against tomorrow morning for his mistress,
1391
That’s so be married to a gentleman.
1392
And why may not this be my sweet Jane?
1393
FIRK
And why mayst not thou be my sweet ass? Ha, ha!
RALPH
Well, laugh and spare not. But the truth is this.
1395
Against tomorrow morning I’ll provide
1396
A lusty crew of honest shoemakers
1397
To watch the going of the bride to church.
1398
If she prove Jane, I’ll take her in despite
1399
From Hammon and the devil, were he by.
1400
If it be not my Jane, what remedy?
1401
Hereof am I sure, I shall live till I die,
1402
Although I never with a woman lie.
1403
FIRK
Thou lie with a woman –to build nothing but Cripplegates! Well, God sends fools fortune, and it may be he may light upon his matrimony by such a device; for wedding and hanging goes by destiny.
(Exit.)
[SCENE XV]
(Enter [Lacy dressed as] Hans and Rose, arm in arm.)
LACY
How happy am I by embracing thee!
1408
O, I did fear such cross mishaps did reign
1409
That I should never see my Rose again.
1410
ROSE
Sweet Lacy, since fair opportunity
1411
Offers herself to further our escape,
1412
Let not too over-fond esteem of me
1413
Hinder that happy hour. Invent the means
1414
And Rose will follow thee through all the world.
1415
LACY
O, how I surfeit with excess of joy,
1416
Made happy by thy rich perfection!
1417
But since thou payest sweet interest to my hopes,
1418
Redoubling love on love, let me once more,
1419
Like to a bold-faced debtor, crave of thee
1420
This night to steal abroad, and at Eyre’s house,
1421
Who now by death of certain aldermen
1422
Is Mayor of London, and my master once,
1423
Meet thou thy Lacy, where, in spite of chance,
1424
Your father’s anger, and mine uncle’s hate,
1425
Our happy nuptials will we consummate.
1426
(Enter Sybil.)
SYBIL
O God, what will you do, mistress? Shift for yourself. Your father is at hand. He’s coming, he’s coming. Master Lacy, hide yourself. In, my mistress! For God’s sake, shift for yourselves.
LACY
Your father come! Sweet Rose, what shall I do?
1431
Where shall I hide me? How shall I escape?
1432
ROSE
A man, and want wit in extremity?
1433
Come, come; be Hans still; play the shoemaker.
1434
Pull on my shoe.
1435
(Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the former] Lord Mayor.)
LACY
Mass, and that’s well remembered.
SYBIL
Here comes your father.
LACY
[as Hans] Forware, metress, ’tis un good skoe, it sal vel dute, or ye sal neit betaelen.
ROSE
O God, it pincheth me! What will you do?
LACY
Your father’s presence pincheth, not the shoe.
OATLEY
Well done. Fit my daughter well, and she shall please
1441
thee well.
LACY
[as Hans] Yaw, yaw, ik weit dat well. Firware, ’tis un good skoe, ’tis gi-mait van neat’s leather; se ever, mine her.
OATLEY
I do believe it.
1445
(Enter a Prentice.)
What’s the news with you?
PRENTICE
Please you, the Earl of Lincoln at the gate
1446
Is newly lighted, and would speak with you.
1447
OATLEY
The Earl of Lincoln come to speak with me?
1448
Well, well, I know his errand. Daughter Rose,
1449
Send hence your shoemaker. Dispatch, have done.
1450
Syb, make things handsome. Sir boy, follow me.
1451
(Exeunt [Oatley, Sybil, and Prentice])
LACY
Mine uncle come! O, what may this portend?
1452
Sweet Rose, this of our love threatens an end.
1453
ROSE
Be not dismayed at this. Whate’er befall,
1454
Rose is thine own. To witness I speak truth,
1455
Where thou appoints the place I’ll meet with thee.
1456
I will not fix a day to follow thee,
1457
But presently steal hence. Do not reply.
1458
Love which gave strength to bear my father’s hate
1459
Shall now add wings to further our escape.
1460
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE XVI]
(Enter [Sir Roger Oatley, the former] Lord Mayor and [the Earl of] Lincoln.)
OATLEY
Believe me, on my credit I speak truth,
1461
Since first your nephew Lacy went to France
1462
I have not seen him. It seemed strange to me
1463
When Dodger told me that he stayed behind,
1464
Neglecting the high charge the King imposed.
1465
LINCOLN
Trust me, Sir Roger Oatley, I did think
1466
Your counsel had given head to this attempt,
1467
Drawn to it by the love he bears your child.
1468
Here I did hope to find him in your house;
1469
But now I see mine error, and confess
1470
My judgement wronged you by conceiving so.
1471
OATLEY
Lodge in my house, say you? Trust me, my lord,
1472
I love your nephew Lacy too too dearly
1473
So much to wrong his honour; and he hath done so
1474
That first gave him advice to stay from France.
1475
To witness I speak truth, I let you know
1476
How careful I have been to keep my daughter
1477
Free from all conference or speech of him –
1478
Not that I scorn your nephew, but in love
1479
I bear your honour, lest your noble blood
1480
Should by my mean worth be dishonourèd.
1481
LINCOLN
How far the churl’s tongue wanders from him heart!
1482
[To Oatley] Well, well, sir Roger Oatley, I believe you,
1483
With more than many thanks for the kind love
1484
So much you seem to bear me. But, my lord,
1485
Let me request your help to seek my nephew,
1486
Whom if I find, I’ll straight embark for France.
1487
So shall your Rose be free, my thoughts at rest,
1488
And much care die which now lives in my breast.
1489
(Enter Sybil.)
SYBIL
O Lord, help, God’s sake. My mistress, O, my young mistress!
OATLEY
Where is the mistress? What’s become of her?
1491
SYBIL
She’s gone, she’s fled!
1492
OATLEY
Gone? Whither is she fled?
SYBIL
I know not, forsooth. She’s fled out of doors with Hans the shoemaker. I saw them scud, scud, scud, apace, apace.
OATLEY
Which way? What, John, where be my men? Which way?
1496
SYBIL
I know not, an it please your worship.
1497
OATLEY
Fled with a shoemaker? Can this be true?
1498
SYBIL
O Lord, sir, as true as God’s in heaven.
1499
LINCOLN
Her love turned shoemaker! I am glad of this.
OATLEY
A Fleming butter-box, a shoemaker!
1501
Will she forget her birth, requite my care
1502
With such ingratitude? Scorned she young Hammon
1503
To love a honnikin, a needy knave?
1504
Well, let her fly. I’ll not fly after her.
1505
Let her starve if she will. She’s none of mine.
1506
LINCOLN
Be not so cruel, sir.
1507
(Enter Firk with shoes.)
SYBIL
I am glad she’s ’scaped.
OATLEY
I’ll not account of her as of my child.
1508
Was there no better object for her eyes
1509
But a foul drunken lubber, swill-belly,
1510
A shoemaker? That’s brave!
1511
FIRK
Yea, forsooth, ’tis a very brave shoe, and as fit as a pudding.
OATLEY
How now, what knave is this? From whence comest
1514
thou?
1515
FIRK
No knave, sir. I am Firk, the shoemaker, lusty Roger’s chief lusty journeyman, and I come hither to take up the pretty leg of sweet Mistress Rose, and thus hoping your worship is in as good health as I was the making hereof, I bid you farewell, Yours, Firk.
OATLEY
Stay, stay, sir knave.
1523
LINCOLN
Come hither, shoemaker.
FIRK
’Tis happy the knave is put before the shoemaker, or else I would not have vouchsafed to come back to you. I am moved; for I stir.
OATLEY
My lord, this villain calls us knaves by craft.
1527
FIRK
Then ’tis by the Gentle Craft, and to call one ‘knave’ gently is no harm. Sit your worship merry. [Aside] Syb, your young mistress –I’ll so bob them, now my master, Master Eyre, is Lord Mayor of London!
OATLEY
Tell me, sirrah, whose man are you?
1532
FIRK
I am glad to see your worship so merry. I have no maw to this gear, no stomach as yet to a red petticoat
((pointing to Sybil).)
LINCOLN
He means not, sir, to woo you to his maid,
1535
But only doth demand whose man you are.
1536
FIRK
I sing now to the tune of Rogero. Roger, my fellow, is now my master.
LINCOLN
Sirrah, knowest thou one Hans, a shoemaker?
1539
FIRK
I’ll so gull these diggers.
OATLEY
Knowest thou then where he is?
1545
FIRK
Yes, forsooth. Yea, marry.
LINCOLN
Canst thou in sadness?
FIRK
No, forsooth. No, marry.
OATLEY
Tell me, good, honest fellow, where he is,
1549
And thou shalt see what I’ll bestow of thee.
1550
FIRK
‘Honest fellow’? No, sir, not so, sir. My profession is the Gentle Craft. I care not for seeing, I love feeling. Let me feel it here, aurium tenus, ten pieces of gold, genuum tenus, ten pieces of silver, and then Firk is your man in a new pair of stretchers.
OATLEY
Here is an angel, part of thy reward,
1556
Which I will give thee, tell me where he is.
1557
FIRK
No point. Shall I betray my brother? No. Shall I prove Judas to Hans? No. Shall I cry treason to my corporation? No. I shall be firked and yerked the. But give me your angel. Your angel shall tell you.
LINCOLN
Do so, good fellow. ’Tis hurt to thee.
1562
FIRK
Send simpering Syb away.
OATLEY
Huswife, get you in.
1564
(Exit Sybil.)
FIRK
Pitchers have ears, and maids have wide mouths. But for Hauns Prauns, upon my word, tomorrow morning he and young Mistress Rose go to this gear. They shall be married together, by this rush, or else turn Firk to a firking of butter to tan leather withal.
OATLEY
But art thou sure of this?
1570
FIRK
Am I sure that Paul’s Steeple is a handful higher than London Stone? Or that the Pissing Conduit leaks nothing but pure Mother Bunch? Am I sure I am lusty Firk? God’s nails, do you think I am so base to gull you?
LINCOLN
Where are they married? Dost thou know the church?
FIRK
I never go to church, but I know the name of it. It is a swearing church. Stay a while, ’tis ‘Ay, by the Mass’ –no, no, ’tis ‘Ay, by my troth’– no, nor that, ’tis ‘Ay, by my faith’ –that, that, ’tis ‘Ay by my Faith’s’ Church under Paul’s Cross. There they shall be knit like a pair of stockings in matrimony. There they’ll be incony.
LINCOLN
Upon my life, my nephew Lacy walks
1584
In the disguise of this Dutch shoemaker.
1585
FIRK
Yes, forsooth.
LINCOLN
Doth he not, honest fellow?
1587
FIRK
No, forsooth, I think Hans is nobody but Hans, no spirit.
OATLEY
My mind misgives me now ’tis so indeed.
1590
LINCOLN
My cousin speaks the language, knows the trade.
1591
OATLEY
Let me request your company, my lord.
1592
Your honourable presence may, no doubt,
1593
Refrain their headstrong rashness, when myself,
1594
Going alone, perchance may be o’erborne.
1595
Shall I request this favour?
1596
LINCOLN
This or what else.
FIRK
Then you must rise betimes, for they mean to fall to their ‘hey-pass-and-repass, pindy-pandy, which hand will you have?’ very early.
OATLEY
My care shall every way equal their haste.
1600
This night accept your lodging in my house.
1601
The earlier shall we stir, and at Saint Faith’s
1602
Prevent this giddy, hare-brained nuptial.
1603
This traffic of hot love shall yield cold gains.
1604
They ban our loves, and we’ll forbid their banns.
1605
LINCOLN
At Saint Faith’s Church, thou sayst?
1606
FIRK
Yes, by their troth.
LINCOLN
Be secret, on thy life.
1608
FIRK
Yes, when I kiss your wife! Ha, ha, here’s no craft in the Gentle Craft. I came hither of purpose with shoes to Sir Roger’s worship, whilst Rose his daughter be coney- catched by Hans. Soft, now, these two gulls will be at Saint Faith’s Church tomorrow morning to take Master Bridegroom and Mistress Bride napping, and they in the meantime shall chop up the matter at the Savoy. But the best sport is, Sir Roger Oatley will find my fellow, lame Ralph’s wife, going to marry a gentleman, and then he’ll stop her instead of his daughter. O brave, there will be fine tickling sport. Soft now, what have I to do? O, I know –now a mess of shoemakers meet at the Woolsack in Ivy Lane to cozen my gentleman of lame Ralph’s wife, that’s true.
Alack, alack,
1623
Girls, hold out tack,
1624
For now smocks for this jumbling
1625
Shall go to wrack.
1626
[SCENE XVII]
(Enter Eyre, [Margery] his wife, [Lacy dressed as] Hans, and Rose.)
EYRE
This is the morning, then –say, my bully, my honest Hans –is it not?
LACY
This is the morning that must make us two
1629
Happy or miserable; therefore if you –
1630
EYRE
Away with these ifs and ans, Hans, and these etceteras. By mine honour, Rowland Lacy, none but the King shall wrong thee. Come, fear nothing. Am not I Sim Eyre? Is not Sim Eyre Lord Mayor of London? Fear nothing, Rose. Let them all say what they can. ‘Dainty come thou to me’. Laughest thou?
MARGERY
Good my lord, stand her friend in what thing you may.
EYRE
Why, my sweet Lady Madgy, think you Simon Eyre can forget his fine Dutch journeyman? No, vah! Fie, I scorn it. It shall never be cast in my teeth that I was unthankful. Lady Madgy, thou hadst never covered thy Saracen’s head with this French flap, nor loaden thy bum with this farthingale –’tis trash, trumpery, vanity –Simon Eyre had never walked in a red petticoat, nor wore a chain of gold, but for my fine journeyman’s portagues; and shall I leave him? No. Prince am I none, yet bear a princely mind.
LACY
My lord, ’tis time for us to part from hence.
1649
EYRE
Lady Madgy, Lady Madgy, take two or three of my piecrust eaters, my buff-jerkin varlets, that do walk in black gowns at Simon Eyre’s heels. Take them, good Lady Madgy, trip and go, my brown Queen of Periwigs, with my delicate Rose and my jolly Rowland to the Savoy, see them linked, countenance the marriage, and when it is done, cling, cling together, you Hamborow turtle-doves. I’ll bear you out. Come to Simon Eyre, come dwell with me, Hans, thou shalt eat minced- pies and marchpane. Rose, away, cricket. Trip and go, my Lady Madgy, to the Savoy. Hans, wed and to bed; kiss and away; go; vanish.
MARGERY
Farewell, my lord.
ROSE
Make haste, sweet love.
1663
MARGERY
She’ld fain the deed were done.
LACY
Come, my sweet Rose, faster than deer we’ll run.
1664
(They go out.)
EYRE
Go, vanish, vanish, avaunt, I say. By the Lord of Ludgate, it’s mad life to be a Lord Mayor. It’s a stirring life, a fine life, a velvet life, a careful life. Well, Simon Eyre, yet set a good face on it, in the honour of Saint Hugh. Soft, the King this day comes to dine with me, to see my new buildings. His Majesty is welcome. He shall have good cheer, delicate cheer, princely cheer. This day my fellow prentices of London come to dine with me too. They shall have fine cheer, gentlemanlike cheer. I promised the mad Cappadocians, when we all served at the conduit together, that if ever I came to be Mayor of London, I would feast them all; and I’ll do’t, I’ll do’t, by the life of Pharaoh, by this beard, Sim Eyre will be no flincher. Besides, I have procured that upon every Shrove Tuesday, at the sound of the pancake bell, my fine dapper Assyrian lads shall clap up their shop windows and away. This is the day, and this day they shall do’t, they shall do’t.
Boys, that day are you free. Let masters care,
1683
And prentices shall pray for Simon Eyre.
1684
(Exit.)
[SCENE XVIII]
(Enter Hodge, Firk, Ralph, and five or six Shoemakers, all with cudgels, or such weapons.)
HODGE
Come, Ralph. Stand to it, Firk. My master, as we are the brave bloods of the shoemakers, heir apparent to Saint Hugh, and perpetual benefactors to all good fellows, thou shalt have no wrong. Were Hammon a king of spades, he should not delve in thy close without thy sufferance. But tell me, Ralph, art thou sure ’tis thy wife?
RALPH
Am I sure this is Firk? This morning, when I stroked
1692
on her shoes, I looked upon her, and she upon me, and sighed, asked me if ever I knew one Ralph. ‘Yes’, said I. ‘For his sake’, said she, tears standing in her eyes, ‘and for thou art somewhat like him, spend this piece of gold.’ I took it. My lame leg and my travel beyond sea made me unknown. All is one for that. I know she’s mine.
FIRK
Did she gives thee this gold? O glorious, glittering gold. She’s thine own. ’Tis thy wife, and she loves thee; for, I’ll stand to’t, there’s no woman will give gold to any man but she thinks better of him than she thinks of them she gives silver to. And for Hammon, neither Hammon nor hangman shall wrong thee in London. Is not our old master, Eyre, Lord Mayor? Speak, my hearts.
ALL
Yes, and Hammon shall know it to his cost.
(Enter Hammon, [a Servant] his man, Jane, and others.)
HODGE
Peace, my bullies. Yonder they come.
RALPH
Stand to’t, my hearts. Firk, let me speak first.
1708
HODGE
No, Ralph, let me. Hammon, whither away so early?
HAMMON
Unmannerly rude slave, what’s that to thee?
1710
FIRK
To him. sir? Yes, sir, and to me, and others. Good morrow, Jane, how dost thou? Good Lord, how the world is changed with you. God be thanked.
HAMMON
Villains, hands off! How dare you touch my love?
1714
ALL [THE SHOEMAKERS]
Villains? Down with them. Cry ‘Clubs for prentices!’
HODGE
Hold, my hearts- Touch her, Hammon? Yea, and more than that, we’ll carry her away with us. My master and gentlemen, never draw your bird-spits. Shoemakers are steel to the back, men every inch of them, all spirit.
ALL OF HAMMON’S SIDE
Well, and what of all this?
HODGE
I’ll show you. Jane, dost thou know this man? ’Tis Ralph, I can tell thee. Nay, ’tis he, in faith. Though he be lamed by the wars, yet look not strange, but run to him; fold him about the neck, and kiss him.
JANE
Lives then my husband? O God, let me go,
1727
Let me embrace my Ralph!
1728
HAMMON
What means my Jane?
JANE
Nay, what meant you to tell me he was slain?
1729
HAMMON
Pardon me, dear love, for being misled.
1730
[To Ralph] ’Twas rumoured here in London thou
1731
wert dead.
1732
FIRK
Thou seest he lives. Lass, go, pack home with him. Now, Master Hammon, where’s your mistress your wife?
SERVANT
’Swounds, master, fight for her. Will you thus lose her?
ALL [THE SHOEMAKERS]
Down with that creature! Clubs! Down with him!
HODGE
Hold, hold!
HAMMON
Hold, fool! Sirs, he shall do no wrong.
1741
Will my Jane leave me thus, and break her faith?
1742
FIRK
Yea, sir, she must, sir, she shall, sir. What then? Mend it.
HODGE
Hark, fellow Ralph. Follow my counsel. Set the wench in the midst, and let her choose her man, and let her be his woman.
JANE
Whom should I choose? Whom should my thoughts affect
1747
But him whom heaven hath made to be my love?
1748
[To Ralph] Thou art my husband, and these humble weeds
Makes thee more beautiful than all his wealth.
1750
Therefore I will but put off his attire
1751
Returning it into the owner’s hand,
1752
And after ever be thy constant wife.
1753
HODGE
Not a rag, Jane. The law’s on our side. He that sows in another man’s ground forfeits his harvest. Get thee home, Ralph. Follow him, Jane. He shall not have so much as a busk point from thee.
FIRK
Stand to that, Ralph. The appurtenances are thine own. Hammon, look not at her.
SERVANT
O ’swounds, no.
FIRK
Bluecoat, be quiet. We’ll give you a new livery else. We’ll make Shrove Tuesday Saint George’s Day for you. Look not, Hammon. Leer not. I’ll firk you. For thy head now –one glance, one sheep’s eye, anything at her. Touch not a rag, lest I and my brethren beat you to clouts.
SERVANT
Come, Master Hammon, there’s no striving here.
HAMMON
Good fellow, hear me speak. And, honest Ralph,
1768
Whom I have injured most by loving Jane,
1769
Mark what I offer thee. Here in fair gold
1770
Is twenty pound. I’ll give it for thy Jane.
1771
If this content thee not, thou shalt have more.
1772
HODGE
Sell not thy wife, Ralph. Make her not a whore.
1773
HAMMON
Say, wilt thou freely cease thy claim in her
1774
And let her be my wife?
1775
ALL [THE SHOEMAKERS]
No, do not, Ralph!
RALPH
Sirrah Hammon, Hammon, dost thou think a shoemaker is so base to be a bawd to his own wife for commodity? Take thy gold, choke with it! Were I not lame, I would make thee eat thy words.
FIRK
A shoemaker sell his flesh and blood –O indignity!
HODGE
Sirrah, take up your pelf, and be packing.
HAMMON
I will not touch one penny. But in lieu
1783
Of that great wrong I offerèd thy Jane,
1784
To Jane and thee I give that twenty pound.
1785
Since I have failed of her, during my life
1786
I vow no woman else shall be my wife.
1787
Farewell, good fellows of the Gentle Trade.
1788
Your morning’s mirth my mourning day hath made.
1789
(Exeunt [Hammon and Servants].)
FIRK
[To Servant going out] Touch the gold, creature, if you dare. You’re best be trudging. Here, Jane, take thou it. Now let’s home, my hearts.
HODGE
Stay, who comes here? Jane, on again with thy mask.
(Enter [the Earl of] Lincoln, [Sir Roger Oatley, the former] Lord Mayor, and Servants.)
LINCOLN
Yonder’s the lying varlet mocked us so.
1794
OATLEY
Come hither, sirrah.
1795
FIRK
Ay sir, I am sirrah. You mean me, do you not?
LINCOLN
Where is my nephew married?
1797
FIRK
Is he married? God give him joy, I am glad of it. They have a fair day, and the sign is in a good planet, Mars in Venus.
OATLEY
Villain, thou told’st me that my daughter Rose
1801
This morning should be married at Saint Faith’s.
1802
We have watched there these three hours at the least,
1803
Yet see we no such thing.
1804
FIRK
Truly, I am sorry for’t. A bride’s a pretty thing.
HODGE
Come to the purpose. Yonder’s the bride and bridegroom you look for, I hope. Though you be lords, you are not to bar by your authority men from women, are you?
OATLEY
See, see, my daughter’s masked.
1810
LINCOLN
True, and my nephew,
To hide his guilt, counterfeits him lame.
1811
FIRK
Yea, truly, God help the poor couple; they are lame and blind.
OATLEY
I’ll ease her blindness.
1814
LINCOLN
I’ll his lameness cure.
FIRK
Lie down, sirs, and laugh! My fellow, Ralph, is taken for Rowland Lacy, and Jane for Mistress Damask Rose –this is all my knavery!
OATLEY
[to Jane] What, have I found you, minion!
1818
LINCOLN
[to Ralph] O base wretch!
Nay, hide thy face; the horror of thy guilt
1819
Can hardly be washed off. Where are thy powers?
1820
What battles have you made? O yes, I see
1821
Thou fought’st with shame, and shame hath conquered thee.
1822
This lameness will not serve.
1823
OATLEY
Unmask yourself.
LINCOLN
[to Oatley] Lead home your daughter.
1824
OATLEY
[to Lincoln] Take your nephew hence.
RALPH
Hence? ’Swounds, what mean you? Are you mad? I hope you cannot enforce my wife from me. Where’s Hammon?
OATLEY
Your wife?
LINCOLN
What Hammon?
RALPH
Yea, my wife; and therefore the proudest of you that lays hands on her first, I’ll lay my crutch cross his pate.
FIRK
To him, lame Ralph! –Here’s brave sport!
RALPH
Rose, call you her? Why, her name is Jane. Look here else [He usmasks her] Do you know her now?
LINCOLN
Is this your daughter?
1835
OATLEY
No, nor this your nephew.
My lord of Lincoln, we are both abused
1836
By this base crafty varlet.
1837
FIRK
Yea, forsooth, no ‘varlet’, forsooth, no ‘base’, forsooth I am but mean. No ‘crafty’ neither, but of the Gentle Craft.
OATLEY
Where is my daughter Rose? Where is my child?
LINCOLN
Where is my nephew Lacy marrièd?
FIRK
Why, here is good laced mutton, as I promised you.
LINCOLN
Villain, I’ll have thee punished for this wrong.
FIRK
Punish the journeyman villain, but not the journeyman shoemaker.
(Enter Dodger.)
DODGER
My lord, I come to bring unwelcome news.
1847
Your nephew Lacy and [to Oatley] your daughter Rose
1848
Early this morning wedded at the Savoy,
1849
None being present but the Lady Mayoress.
1850
Besides, I learnt among the officers
1851
The Lord Mayor vows to stand in their defence
1852
’Gainst any that shall seek to cross the match.
1853
LINCOLN
Dares Eyre the shoemaker uphold the deed?
1854
FIRK
Yes, sir, shoemakers dare stand in a woman’s quarrel, I warrant you, as deep as another, and deeper, too.
DODGER
Besides, his Grace today dines with the Mayor,
1857
Who on his knees humbly intends to fall
1858
And beg a pardon for your nephew’s fault.
1859
LINCOLN
But I’ll prevent him. Come, Sir Roger Oatley,
1860
The King will do us justice in this cause.
1861
Howe’er their hands have made them man and wife,
1862
I will disjoin the match, or lose my life.
1863
(Exeunt [the Earl of Lincoln, Oatley, and Dodger].)
FIRK
Adieu, Monsieur Dodger! Farewell, fools! Ha, ha! O, if they had stayed, I would have so lammed them with flouts! O heart, my codpiece point is ready to fly in pieces every time I think upon Mistress Rose –but let the pass, as my Lady Mayoress says.
HODGE
This matter is answered. Come, Ralph, home with thy wife; come, my fine shoemakers, let’s to our master’s the new Lord Mayor, and these swagger this Shrove Tuesday. I’ll promise you wine enough, for Madge keeps the cellar.
ALL
O rare! Madge is a good wench.
FIRK
And I’ll promise you met enough, for simpering Susan keeps the larder. I’ll lead you to victuals, my brave soldiers. Follow your captain. O brave! Hark hark!
(Bell rings.)
ALL
The pancake bell rings, the pancake bell. Tri-lill, my hearts!
FIRK
O brave! O sweet bell! O delicate pancakes! Open the doors, my hearts, and shut up the windows. Keep in the house, let out the pancakes. O rare, my hearts! Let’s march together for the honour of Saint Hugh to the great new hall in Gracious Street corner, which our master the new Lord Mayor hath built.
RALPH
O, the crew of good fellows that will dine at my Lord Mayor’s cost today!
HODGE
By the Lord, my Lord Mayor is a most brave man. How shall prentices be bound to pray for him and the honour of the Gentlemen Shoemakers! Let’s feed and be fat with my lord’s bounty.
FIRK
O musical bell still! O Hodge, O my brethren! There’s cheer for the heavens –venison pasties walk up and down piping hot like sergeants; beef and brewis comes marching in dry fats; fritters and pancakes comes trolling in in wheelbarrows, hens and oranges hopping in porters’ baskets, collops and eggs in scuttles, and tarts and custards comes quavering in in malt shovels.
(Enter more Prentices.)
ALL
Whoop, look here, look here!
HODGE
How now, mad lads, whither away so fast?
FIRST PRENTICE
Whither? –why, to the great new hall! Know you not why? The Lord Mayor hath bidden all the prentices in London to breakfast this morning.
ALL
O brave shoemaker! O brave lord of incomprehensible good fellowship! Hoo, hark you, the pancake bell rings!
(Cast up caps.)
FIRK
Nay, more, my hearts, every Shrove Tuesday is our year of jubilee; and when the pancake bell rings, we are as free as my Lord Mayor. We may shut up our shops and make holiday. I’ll have it called ‘Saint Hugh’s Holiday’.
ALL
Agreed, agreed –‘Saint Hugh’s Holiday’!
HODGE
And this shall continue for ever.
ALL
O brave! Come, come, my hearts; away, away.
FIRK
O eternal credit to us of the Gentle Craft! March fair, my hearts. O rare!
(Exeunt.)
[Scene XIX]
(Enter King and his train over the stage.)
KING
Is our Lord Mayor of London such a gallant?
1916
NOBLEMAN
One of the merriest madcaps in your land.
1917
Your Grace will think, when you behold the man,
1918
He’s rather a wild ruffian than a Mayor.
1919
Yes thus much I’ll ensure your Majesty:
1920
In all his actions that concern his state
1921
He is as serious, provident, and wise,
1922
As full of gravity amongst the grave,
1923
As any Mayor hath been these many years.
1924
KING
I am with child till I behold this huffcap.
1925
But all my doubt is, when we come in presence,
1926
His madness will be dashed clean out of countenance.
1927
NOBLEMAN
It may be so, my liege.
1928
KING
Which to prevent,
Let someone give him notice ’tis our pleasure
1929
That he put on his wonted merriment.
1930
Set forward.
1931
ALL
On afore!
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE XX]
(Enter Eyre, Hodge, Firk, Ralph, and other Shoemakers, all with napkins on their shoulders.)
EYRE
Come, my fine Hodge, my jolly Gentlemen Shoemakers –soft, where be these cannibals, these varlets my officers? Let them all walk and wait upon my brethren; for my meaning is that none but shoemakers, none but the livery of my company shall in their satin hoods wait upon the trencher of my sovereign.
FIRK
O, my lord, it will be rare.
EYRE
No more, Firk. Come, lively. Let your fellow prentices want no cheer. Let wine be plentiful as beer, and beer as water. Hang these penny-pinching fathers, that cram wealth in innocent lamb-skins. Rip, knaves! Avaunt! Look to my guests.
HODGE
My lord, we are at our wits’ end for room. Those hundred tables will not feast the fourth part of them.
EYRE
Then cover me those hundred tables again, and again, till all my jolly prentices be feasted. Avoid, Hodge; run, Ralph; frisk about, my nimble Firk; carouse me fathom healths to the honour of the shoemakers. Do they drink lively, Hodge? Do they tickle it, Firk?
FIRK
Tickle it? Some of them have taken their liquor standing so long that they can stand no longer. But for meat, they would eat it an they had it.
EYRE
Want they meat? Where’s this swag-belly, this greasy kitchen-stuff cook? Call the varlet to me. Want meat! Firk, Hodge, lame Ralph, run, my tall men, beleaguer the shambles, beggar all Eastcheap, serve me whole oxen in chargers, and let sheep whine upon the tables like pigs for want of good fellows to eat them. Want meat! Vanish, Firk! Avaunt, Hodge!
HODGE
Your lordship mistakes my man Firk. He means their bellies want meat, not the boards; for they have drunk so much they can eat nothing.
(Enter [Lacy dressed as] Hans, Rose, and [Margery, Eyre’s] wife.)
MARGERY
Where is my lord?
EYRE
How now, Lady Madgy?
MARGERY
The King’s most excellent Majesty is new come; he sends me for thy honour. One of his most worshipful peers bade me tell thou must be merry, and so forth – but let that pass.
EYRE
Is my sovereign come? Vanish, my tall shoemakers, my nimble brethren. Look to my guests, the prentices. Yet stay a little. How now, Hans –how looks my little Rose?
LACY
Let me request you to remember me.
1975
I know your honour easily may obtain
1976
Free pardon of the King for me and Rose,
1977
And reconcile me to my uncle’s grace.
1978
EYRE
Have done, my good Hans, my honest journeyman. Look cheerly. I’ll fall upon both my knees till they be as hard as horn but I’ll get thy pardon.
MARGERY
Good my lord, have a care what you speak to his Grace.
EYRE
Away, you Islington whitepot. Hence, you hopperarse, you barley pudding full of maggots, you broiled carbonado. Avaunt, avaunt, avoid, Mephistophilus! Shall Sim Eyre learn to speak of you, Lady Madgy? Vanish, Mother Miniver-Cap, vanish! Go, trip and go, meddle with your partlets and your pishery-pashery, your flews and your whirligigs! Go, rub, out of mine alley! Sim Eyre knows how to speak to a pope, to Sultan Soliman, to Tamburlaine an he were here. And shall I melt, shall I droop before my sovereign? No! Come, my Lady Madgy; follow me, Hans; about your business, my frolic freebooters. Firk, frisk about, and about, and about, for the honour of mad Simon Eyre, Lord Mayor of London.
FIRK
Hey for the honour of the shoemakers!
(Exeunt.)
[SCENE XXI]
(A long flourish or two. Enter King, Nobles, Eyre, [Margery] his wife, Lacy [dressed as himself], Rose. Lacy and Rose kneel.)
KING
Well, Lacy, though the fact was very foul
1999
Of your revolting from our kingly love
2000
And your own duty, yet we pardon you.
2001
Rise, both; and, Mistress Lacy, thank my Lord Mayor
2002
For your young bridegroom here.
2003
EYRE
So, my dear liege, Sim Eyre and my brethren the Gentlemen Shoemakers shall set your sweet Majesty’s image cheek by jowl by Saint Hugh for this honour you have done poor Simon Eyre. I beseech your Grace pardon my rude behaviour. I am a handicraftsman, yet my heart is without craft. I would be sorry at my soul that my boldness should offend my King.
KING
Nay, I pray thee, good Lord Mayor, be even as merry
2011
As if thou wert among thy shoemakers.
2012
It does me good to see thee in this humour.
2013
EYRE
Sayst thou me so, my sweet Diocletian? Then, hump!
2014
Prince am I none, yet am I princely born! By the Lord of
2015
Ludgate, my liege, I’ll be as merry as a pie.
2016
KING
Tell me, in faith, mad Eyre, how old thou art.
2017
EYRE
My liege, a very boy, a stripling, a younker. You see not a white hair on my head, not a grey in this beard. Every hair, I assure thy Majesty, that sticks in this beard Sim Eyre values at the King of Babylon’s ransom. Tamar Cham’s beard was a rubbing-brush to’t. Yet I’ll shave it off and stuff tennis balls with it to please my bully King.
KING
But all this while I do not know your age.
2024
EYRE
My liege, I am six-and-fifty year old; yet I can cry ’hump’ with a sound heart for the honour of Saint Hugh. Mark this old wench, my King. I danced the shaking of the sheets with her six-and-thirty years ago, and yet I hope to get two or three young Lord Mayors ere I die. I am lusty still, Sim Eyre still. Care and cold lodging brings white hairs. My sweet Majesty, let care vanish. Cast it upon thy nobles. It will make thee look always young, like Apollo, and cry ‘Hump!’ –Prince am I none, yet am I princely born.
KING
Ha, ha! Say, Cornwall, didst thou ever see his like?
NOBLEMAN
Not I, my Lord.
2036
(Enter [the Earl of] Lincoln and [Sir Roger Oatley, the former] Lord Mayor.)
KING
Lincoln, what news with you?
LINCOLN
My gracious Lord, have care unto yourself,
2037
For there are traitors here.
2038
ALL
Traitors? Where? Who?
EYRE
Traitors in my house? God forbid! Where be my officers? I’ll spend my soul ere my King feel harm.
KING
Where is the traitor, Lincoln?
2041
LINCOLN
[indicating Lacy] Here he stands.
KiNG
Cornwall, lay hold on Lacy. Lincoln, speak.
2042
What canst thou lay unto thy nephew’s charge?
2043
LINCOLN
This, my dear liege. Your Grace to do me honour
2044
Heaped on the head of this degenerous boy
2045
Desertless favours. You made choice of him
2046
To be commander over powers in France;
2047
But the –
2048
KING
Good Lincoln, prithee, pause a while.
Even in thine eyes I read what thou wouldst speak.
2049
I know how Lacy did neglect our love,
2050
Ran himself deeply, in the highest degree,
2051
Into vile treason.
2052
LINCOLN
Is he not a traitor?
KING
Lincoln, he was. Now have we pardoned him.
2053
’Twas not a base want of true valour’s fire
2054
That held him out of France, but love’s desire.
2055
LINCOLN
I will not bear his shame upon my back.
2056
KING
Nor shalt thou, Lincoln. I forgive you both.
2057
LINCOLN
Then, good my liege, forbid the boy to wed
2058
One whose mean birth will much disgrace his bed.
2059
KING
Are they not married?
2060
LINCOLN
No, my liege.
BOTH
We are.
KING
Shall I divorce them, then? O, be it far
2061
That any hand on earth should dare untie
2062
The sacred knot knit by God’s majesty.
2063
I would not for my crown disjoin their hands
2064
That are conjoined in holy nuptial bands.
2065
How sayst thou, Lacy? Wouldst thou lose thy Rose?
2066
LACY
Not for all India’s wealth, my sovereign.
2067
KING
But Rose, I am sure, her Lacy would forgo.
2068
ROSE
If Rose were asked that question, she’ld say no.
2069
KING
You hear them, Lincoln?
2070
LINCOLN
Yea, my liege, I do.
KING
Yet canst thou find i’the heart to part these two?
2071
Who seeks, besides you, to divorce these lovers?
2072
OATLEY
I do, my gracious Lord. I am her father.
2073
KING
Sir Roger Oatley, our last Mayor, I think?
2074
NOBLEMAN
The same, my liege.
2075
KING
Would you offend love’s laws?
Well, you shall have your wills. You sue to me
2076
To prohibit the match. Soft, let me see,
2077
You both are married, Lacy, art thou not?
2078
LACY
I am, dread sovereign.
2079
KING
Then, upon thy life,
I charge thee not to call this woman wife.
2080
OATLEY
I thank your Grace.
2081
ROSE
O my most gracious Lord!
(Kneel)
KING
Nay, Rose, never woo me. I tell you true,
2082
Although as yet I am a bachelor,
2083
Yet I believe I shall not marry you.
2084
ROSE
Can you divide the body from the soul,
2085
Yet make the body live?
2086
KING
Yea, so profound?
I cannot, Rose, but you I must divide.
2087
Fair maid, this bridegroom cannot be your bride.
2088
Are you pleased, Lincoln? Oatley, are you pleased?
2089
BOTH
Yes, my Lord.
2090
KING
Then must my heart be eased;
For, credit me, my conscience lives in pain
2091
Till these whom I divorced be joined again.
2092
Lacy, give me thy hand. Rose, lend me thine.
2093
Be what you would be. Kiss now. So, that’s fine.
2094
At night, lovers, to bed. Now, let me see,
2095
Which of you all mislikes this harmony?
2096
OATLEY
Will you then take from me my child perforce?
2097
KING
Why, tell me, Oatley, shines not Lacy’s name
2098
As bright in the world’s eye as the gay beams
2099
Of any citizen?
2100
LINCOLN
Yea, but, my gracious Lord,
I do mislike the match far more than he.
2101
Her blood is too too base.
2102
KING
Lincoln, no more.
Dost thou not know that love respects no blood,
2103
Cares not for difference of birth or state?
2104
The maid is young, well born, fair, virtuous,
2105
A worthy bride for any gentleman.
2106
Besides, your nephew for her sake did stoop
2107
To bare necessity and, as I hear,
2108
Forgetting honours and all courtly pleasures,
2109
To gain her love became a shoemaker.
2110
As for the honour which he lost in France,
2111
Thus I redeem it: Lacy, kneel thee down.
2112
Arise Sir Rowland Lacy. Tell me now,
2113
Tell me in earnest, Oatley, canst thou chide,
2114
Seeing thy Rose a lady and a bride?
2115
OATLEY
I am content with what your Grace hath done.
2116
LINCOLN
And I, my liege, since there’s no remedy.
2117
KING
Come on, then, all shake hands. I’ll have you friends.
2118
Where there is much love, all discord ends.
2119
What says my mad Lord Mayor to all this love?
2120
EYRE
O, my liege, this honour you have done to my fine journeyman here, Rowland Lacy, and all these favours which you have shown to me this day in my poor house, will make Simon Eyre live longer by one dozen of warm summers more than he should.
KING
Nay, my mad Lord Mayor –that shall be thy name–
2126
If any grace of mine can length thy life,
2127
One honour more I’ll do thee. That new building
2128
Which at thy cost in Cornhill is erected
2129
Shall take a name from us. We’ll have it called
2130
The Leaden Hall, because in digging it
2131
Your found the lead that covereth the same.
2132
EYRE
I thank your Majesty.
2133
MARGERY
God bless your Grace.
KING
Lincoln, a word with you.
2134
(Enter Hodge, Firk, Ralph, and more Shoemakers.)
EYRE
How now, my mad knaves! Peace, speak softly. Yonder is the King.
KING
With the old troop which there we keep in pay
2137
We will incorporate a new supply.
2138
Before one summer more pass o’er my head,
2139
France shall repent England was injurèd.
2140
What are all those?
2141
LACY
All shoemakers, my liege,
Sometimes my fellows. In their companies
2142
I lived as merry as an emperor.
2143
KING
My mad Lord Mayor, are all these shoemakers?
2144
EYRE
All shoemakers, my liege; all gentlemen of the Gentle Craft, true Trojans, courageous cordwainers. They all kneel to the shrine of holy Saint Hugh.
ALL [THE SHOEMAKERS]
God save your Majesty!
KING
Mad Simon, would they anything with us?
2149
EYRE
[To the Shoemakers] Mum, mad knaves, not a word. I’ll do’t, I warrant you. [To the King] They are all beggars, my liege, all for themselves; and I for them all on both my knees do entreat that for the honour of poor Simon Eyre and the good of his brethren, these mad knaves, your Grace would vouchsafe some privilege to my new Leaden Hall, that it may be lawful for us to buy and sell leather there two days a week.
KING
Mad Sim, I grant your suit. You shall have patent
2158
To hold two market days in Leaden Hall.
2159
Mondays and Fridays, those shall be the times.
2160
Will this content you?
2161
ALL [THE SHOEMAKERS]
Jesus bless your Grace!
EYRE
In the name of these my poor brethren shoemakers, I most humbly thank your Grace. But before I rise, seeing you are in the giving vein, and we in the begging, grant Sim Eyre one boon more.
KING
What is it, my Lord Mayor?
2167
EYRE
Vouchsafe to taste of a poor banquet that stands sweetly waiting for your sweet presence.
KING
I shall undo thee, Eyre, only with feasts.
2170
Already have I been too troublesome;
2171
Say, have I not?
2172
EYRE
O my dear King, Sim Eyre was taken unawares upon a day of shroving which I promised long ago to the prentices of London.
For, an’t please your Highness, in time past
2176
I bare the water-tankard, and my coat
2177
Sits not a whit the worse upon my back.
2178
And then upon a morning some mad boys–
2179
It was Shrove Tuesday even as ’tis now–
2180
gave me my breakfast, and I swore then by the stopple of my tankard if ever I came to be Lord Mayor of London, I would feast all the prentices. This day, my liege, I did it, and the slaves had an hundred tables five times covered. They are gone home and vanished.
Yet add more honour to the Gentle Trade:
2186
Taste of Eyre’s banquet, Simon’s happy made.
2187
KING
Eyre, I will taste of thy banquet, and will say
2188
Friends of the Gentle Craft, thanks to you all.
2189
Thanks, my kind Lady Mayoress, for our cheer.
2190
Come, lords, a while let’s revel it at home.
2191
When all our sports and banquetings are done,
2192
Wars must right wrongs which Frenchmen have begun.
2193
(Exeunt.)