A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 91

I am no tavern-h[a]unter, I can tell thee.

DRA. But my master hath taken many a fair pound Of your man Block; he was here to-day, sir, And emptied[500] two bottles of nippitate[501] sack.

GLO. Well, fill us of your nippitate, sir; This is well chanced. But hear[502] ye, boy!

Bring sugar in white paper, not in brown; For in white paper I have here a trick, Shall make the pursuivant first swoon, then sick. [_Aside_.

Thou honest fellow, what's thy name?

PUR. My name is Winterborne, sir.

GLO. What countryman, I prythee?

PUR. Barkshire, and please ye.

GLO. How long hast thou been sworn a messenger?

PUR. But yesterday, and please your worship, This is the first employment I have had.

_Enter_ DRAWER, _with wine and sugar_.

GLO. A good beginning; here, have to thee, fellow; Thou art my fellow, now thou servest the king, Nay, take sugar too, G.o.d's Lady dear!

I put it in my pocket; but it's here: Drink a good draught, I prythee, Winterborne.

[_He drinks and falls over the stool_.

DRA. O Lord, Sir Richard, the man, the man!

GLO. What a forgetful beast am I! Peace, boy, It is his fashion ever, when he drinks.

Fellow, he hath the falling sickness; Run, fetch two cushions to raise up his head, And bring a little key to ope his teeth. [_Exit_ DRAWER.

Pursuivant, your warrant and your box-- These must with me; the shape of Fauconbridge Will hold no longer water hereabout.

Gloster will be a Proteus every hour, That Elinor and Leicester, Henry, John, And all that rabble of hate-loving curs, May minister me more mirth to play upon.

_Re-enter_ DRAWER, _with an_ a.s.sISTANT.

DRA. Here's a key, sir, and one of our folk to help.

GLO. No matter for a key; help him but in, And lay him by the fire a little while, He'll wake immediately; but be [not] heart-sick.

There's money for a candle and thy wine, I'll go but up unto your alderman's, And come down presently to comfort him.

[_Exeunt_.

SKINK. [_Within_.] Drawer! what Drawer? with a vengeance, Drawer!

DRA. [_Within_.] Speak in the Crown[503] there.

SCENE THE TWENTY-SECOND.

_Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE JOHN.

SKINK. They be come; the devil crown ye one by one.

Skink, thou'rt betray'd, that Master Fauconbridge, Missing some of his chain has got thee dogg'd.

Drawer! what Drawer?

DRA. Anon, anon, sir.

SKINK. Was not Sir Richard Fauconbridge below?

DRA. Yes, and please ye.

SKINK. It does not please me well. Knows he that I am here?

DRA. No, I protest.

SKINK. Come hither, sirrah. I have little money; But there's some few links of a chain of gold.

Upon your honesty, knows not Sir Richard That I am here?

DRA. No, by my holy-dam.

SKINK. Who's that was with him?

DRA. Why, a pursuivant.

SKINK. Where is Sir Richard?

DRA. At the alderman's.

SKINK. A pursuivant, and at the alderman's?

What pig, or goose, or capon, have you kill'd Within your kitchen new?

DRA. A pig new-stick'd.

SKINK. Fetch me a saucer of the blood; quick, run; [_Exit_ DRAWER.

I'll fit the pursuivant, and alderman, And Fauconbridge, if Skink have any wit.

Well, Gloster, I did never love thee yet; But thou'st the maddest lord that e'er I met.

If I 'scape this, and meet thee once again, Curse Skink, if he die penny in thy debt.

_Re-enter_ DRAWER.

DRA. O my lord, the house is full of halberts, and a great many gentlemen ask for the room where Prince John is.

SKINK. Lend me thy ap.r.o.n; run and fetch a pot from the next room.

Betray'd, swounds, betray'd by gout, by palsy, by dropsy-- _Re-enter_ DRAWER _with a pot_.

O brave boy, excellent blood! up, take my cloak And my hat to thy share; when I come from Kent, I'll pay Thee like a king.

DRA. I thank you, my lord.

[_Exit_ DRAWER.