A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 81

If they be conquer'd, greater is their shame.

But, Diligence, go post alongst the coast To tell the news; and look, to welcome them, Let us alone. My lords, you hear the news: More words were vain; I know ye well resolv'd.

[_Exit_ DILIGENCE.

POMP.

And here they come. O proud Castilians!

_Enter first_, SHEALTY _the Herald; then_ PRIDE, _bearing his shield himself, his impress a Peac.o.c.k; the word_ Nonpareil; _his Page_, SHAME, _after him with a lance, having a pendant gilt, with this word in it_, Sur le Ciel. AMBITION, _his impress a black horse saliant, with one hinder-foot upon the globe of the earth, one fore-foot stretching towards the clouds, his word_ Non sufficit orbis; _his Page_, TREACHERY, _after him, his pendant argent and azure, an armed arm catching at the sunbeams, the word in it_ Et gloriam Phoebi. _Last_, TYRANNY, _his impress a naked child on a spear's-point, bleeding; his word_ Pour sangue; _his Page_, TERROR, _his pendant gules, in it a tiger's head out of a cloud, licking a b.l.o.o.d.y heart; the word in it_ Cura cruor. _March once about the stage, then stand and view the Lords of London, who shall march towards them, and they give back, then the Lords of London wheel about to their standing, and th' other come again into their places. Then_ POLICY _sends_ FEALTY; _their Herald's coat must have the arms of Spain before, and a burning ship behind_.

POLICY.

My lords, what mean these gallants to perform?

Come these Castilian cowards but to brave?

Do all these mountains move to breed a mouse?

Fealty, go fetch their answer resolute, How they dare be so bold, and what They dare do here.

[_As_ FEALTY _is going toward them, they send forth_ SHEALTY.

SHEALTY.

What wouldst thou, herald?

FEALTY.

Parley with those three, herald.

SHEALTY.

They scorn to grace so mean a man as thou With parley or with presence.

FEALTY.

Do they scorn?

What, are thy masters monarchs every one?

Or be they G.o.ds? or rather be they devils?

Scorn they a herald's presence and his speech?

Name them, that I may know their mightiness, And so avoid of duties some neglect.

SHEALTY.

Monarchs in minds, and G.o.ds in high conceits, That scorn you English as the sc.u.m of men, Whom I ne dare without their licence name, 'Fore whom thy duties all are few and base.

FEALTY.

Imperious Spaniard, do a herald right: Thyself art one; their trouchman[271] if thou be, Be thou my trump[272], that I my message may Through thee convey to them from London lords.

SHEALTY.

Base English groom, from beggars sent belike, Who for their mate thee malapert account, Dare I (think'st thou) these lords magnificent, Without their special pleasure understood.

Once move with message or with show of speech?

FEALTY.

More servile thou to lose a herald's due, That is in field a king's companion.

But if thou dare not my amba.s.sage do, Stand by, and stop not my access to them.

SHEALTY.

Rather will I return, and know their minds.

[_When_ SHEALTY _goes to them_, WIT _goes to the three Lords of London_.

POLICY.

Now, boy, what news?

WIT.

The fearful herald of yon famous crew Durst not your message to his masters tell, Till Fealty with contumelious words (Yet was the Spaniard brave and hot in terms) Enforced him for their answer resolute.

[_The Spaniards whisper with their Herald_.

POMP.

Which now, belike, our herald shall receive; For theirs comes to him.

SHEALTY.

It pleaseth them to be magnifical, And of their special graces to vouchsafe A counterview of pages and of shields, And countermessage by us heralds done; A favour which they seldom grant to foes.

Go thou for those; I meet thee will with these.

FEALTY.

My lords, yon braving Spaniards wish A counterview of pages and of shields, But what they mean or be, I know not yet.

Haply you may by their impresses view, Or I by parley some conjecture give, So please it you your pages and your shields With me to send: their herald comes with theirs.

POLICY.

Our shields I reck not, but to send our Wealth--

FEALTY.

Accompanied with Wit and Will--no peril.

POMP.

It is my Wealth; but keep him, if they dare: I'll fetch him double, if they do, my lords.

PLEASURE.

Boys, take our shields and spears, for they come on.

WIT.

Vail, Spaniard: couch thy lance and pendant both.

Knowest where thou art? Here will we bear no braves.

[_When the English boys meet the other, cause them to put down the tops of their lances, but they beat up theirs_.

WEALTH.

Down with your point: no loft-born lances here By any stranger, be he foe or friend.

WILL.

Well dost thou note the couching of thy lance; Mine had, ere this, else gor'd your Spanish skin.

FEALTY.

Well done, my boys; but now all reverence--

SHEALTY.