A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 80

And thou too, I hope: why, what should we do?

USURY.

Whatsoever ye do, be not traitors to your native country.

SIMONY.

'Tis not our native country, thou knowest. I, Simony, am a Roman: Dissimulation, a mongrel--half an Italian, half a Dutchman: Fraud so, too--half French and half Scotish; and thy parents were both Jews, though thou wert born in London, and here, Usury, thou art cried out against by the preachers. Join with us, man, to better thy state, for in Spain preaching toucheth us not.

USURY.

To better my state? Nay, to alter my state, for here, where I am, I know the government: here I can live for all their threat'ning.

If strangers prevail, I know not their laws nor their usage: they may be oppressors, and take all I have; and it is like they are so, for they seek that's not their own. Therefore here will I stay, sure to keep what I have, rather than be a traitor upon hap and had-I-wist: and stay you, if ye be wise, and pray as I pray, that the preachers and all other good men may die, and then we shall flourish; but never trust to strangers' courtesy.

FRAUD.

We shall trust but to our friends and kin. You'll not go with us, yet for old acquaintance keep counsel; betray us not, for we'll be gone to sea. I am afraid yon foolish knave have belaid the streets for us.

USURY.

Let me go afore ye: if any such thing be, I'll give ye inkling.

[_Exit_.

FRAUD.

Do: farewell, Usury: and as he goes one way, we'll go another.

Follow, sirs: never trust a shrinker, if he be your own brother.

[_Exeunt omnes_.

_Enter the three Lords with their Pages and_ FEALTY, _a Herald, before them, his coat having the arms of London before, and an olive tree behind_.

POLICY.

Fealty, thou faithful herald of our town, Thou true truce-keeper and sure friend in peace, Take down our s.h.i.+elds, and give them to our boys.

[_He delivers them_.

Now, Fealty, prepare thy wits for war, To parley with the proud Castilians, Approaching fast the frontiers of our coast.

Wit here, my page, in every message shall Attend on thee, to note them and their deeds.

I need not tell thee, they are poor and proud: Vaunters, vainglorious, tyrants, truce-breakers: Envious, ireful, and ambitious.

For thou hast found their facings and their brags, Their backs their coffers, and their wealth their rags; But let me tell thee what we crave of thee-- To scan with judgment what their leaders be, To note their presence and observe their grace, And truly to advertise what they seem; Whether to be experienced in arms, Or men of name--those three that lead the rest-- The rest refer we to thy own conceit.

FEALTY.

I hope in this my duty to discharge, As heretofore----

SIMPLICITY _make a great noise within, and enter with three or four weaponed_.

SIMPLICITY.

Clubs! clubs![270] Nay, come, neighbours, come, for here they be: here I left them, arrant thieves, rogues, coseners. I charge ye, as you will answer, 'prehend them; for they have undone me, and robb'd me, and made me the poorest freeman that ever kept a ballad-stall.

A CONSTABLE.

I charge ye keep the peace, and lay down your weapons.

[_To the three Lords_.

POMP.

Who rais'd this tumult? Speak, what means this stir?

SIMPLICITY.

O, I am undone, robb'd, spoil'd of all my stock! Let me see, where be they? Keep every street and door: 'xamine all that comes for Fraud that cosener.

POLICY.

Masters, what mean you in these troublous times To keep this coil?

CONSTABLE.

Alas! my lord, here's a poor man robb'd or cosened.

SIMPLICITY.

I am robb'd.--O my boys, my pretty boys, I am undone!

Saw ye no thieves, nor no crafty knaves? What be all these?

WIT.

Simplicity, away! these be our lords; offend them not for fear.

SIMPLICITY.

I seek not them: I seek for Fraud that robb'd me.

PLEASURE.

Go, seek elsewhere, for here's no place for such.

POLICY.

My friends, depart, and qualify this stir, And see peace kept within the walls, I charge ye.

CONSTABLE.

I will, my lord. Come, Simplicity, we came too late to find your losses.

SIMPLICITY.

Pray for me, my boys; I think I shall hang myself.

I come ever too late to speed.

[_Exeunt_.

POLICY.

Now, lords, let honour's fire inflame our thoughts, And let us arm our courage with our cause, And so dispose ourselves to welcome them.

Do me the favour (if I may entreat) To be the first to front the foe in face: The vanguard let be Policy's this once, Pomp's the main battle, Pleasure's the rearward; And so bestow us, if you think it good.

POMP.

I think it good, and time that it were done.

PLEASURE.

I think it good, and wish the enemy come.

_Enter_ DILIGENCE.

DILIGENCE.

And here they come, as brave as Philip's son And his Hephaestion wont to be array'd, In glittering gold and party-coloured plumes; With curious pendants on their lances fix'd, Their s.h.i.+elds impress'd with gilt copartiments; Their pages careless playing at their backs, As if with conquest they triumphing came.

POLICY.