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up against the King; got together in Ficket field near Holborne;
and as it is thought here in Kent; the King will be there to
night in's own person; well; I'll to the King's camp; and it
shall go hard; but; if there be any doings; I'll make some good
boot amongst them。
'Exit。'
ACT IV。 SCENE I。 A field near London。 King Henry's camp。
'Enter King Henry; Suffolk; Huntington; and two with lights。'
KING。
My lords of Suffolk and of Huntington;
Who scouts it now? or who stands Sentinels?
What men of worth? what Lords do walk the round?
SUFFOLK。
May it please your Highness
KING。
Peace; no more of that。
The King's asleep; wake not his majesty
With terms nor titles; he's at rest in bed。
Kings do not use to watch themselves; they sleep;
And let rebellion and conspiracy
Revel and havoc in the common wealth。
Is London looked unto?
HUNTINGTON。
It is; my Lord:
Your noble Uncle Exeter is there;
Your brother Gloucester and my Lord of Warwick;
Who; with the mayor and the Aldermen;
Do guard the gates; and keep good rule within;
The Earl of Cambridge and sir Thomas Gray
Do walk the Round; Lord Scroop and Butler scout。
So; though it please your majesty to jest;
Were you in bed; well might you take your rest。
KING。
I thank ye; Lords; but you do know of old;
That I have been a perfect night…walker。
London; you say; is safely looked unto
Alas; poor rebels; there your aid must fail
And the Lord Cobham; sir John Old…castle;
He's quiet in Kent。 Acton; ye are deceived;
Reckon again; you count without your host;
To morrow you shall give account to us。
Til when; my friends; this long cold winter's night
How can we spend? King Harry is a sleep
And all his Lords; these garments tell us so;
All friends at football; fellows all in field;
Harry; and Dick; and George。 Bring us a drum;
Give us square dice; we'll keep this court of guard
For all good fellows companies that come。
Where's that mad priest ye told me was in Arms;
To fight; as well as pray; if need required?
SUFFOLK。
He's in the Camp; and if he know of this;
I undertake he would not be long hence。
KING。
Trip; Dick; trip; George。
'They trip。'
HUNTINGTON。
I must have the dice。
What do we play at?
'They play at dice。'
SUFFOLK。
Passage; if ye please。
HUNTINGTON。
Set round then; so; at all。
KING。
George; you are out。
Give me the dice。 I pass for twenty pound。
Here's to our lucky passage into France。
HUNTINGTON。
Harry; you pass indeed; for you sweep all。
SUFFOLK。
A sign king Harry shall sweep all in France。
'Enter Sir John。'
SIR JOHN。
Edge ye; good fellows; take a fresh gamester in。
KING。
Master Parson? We play nothing but gold。
SIR JOHN。
And; fellow; I tell thee that the priest hath gold。 Gold?
sblood; ye are but beggarly soldiers to me。 I think I have
more gold than all you three。
HUNTINGTON。
It may be so; but we believe it not。
KING。
Set; priest; set。 I pass for all that gold。
SIR JOHN。
Ye pass; indeed。
KING。
Priest; hast thou any more?
SIR JOHN。
Zounds; what a question's that?
I tell thee I have more than all you three。
At these ten Angels!
KING。
I wonder how thou comest by all this gold;
How many benefices hast thou; priest?
SIR JOHN。
Yfaith; but one。 Dost wonder how I come by gold? I
wonder rather how poor soldiers should have gold; for
I'll tell thee; good fellow: we have every day tithes;
offerings; christenings; weddings; burials; and you poor
snakes come seldom to a booty。 I'll speak a proud word:
I have but one parsonage; Wrotham; tis better than the
Bishopric of Rochester。 There's ne'er a hill; heath; nor
down in all Kent; but tis in my parish: Barham down;
Chobham down; Gad's Hill; Wrotham hill; Black heath;
Cock's heath; Birchen wood; all pay me tithe。 Gold;
quoth a? ye pass not for that。
SUFFOLK。
Harry; ye are out; now; parson; shake the dice。
SIR JOHN。
Set; set; I'll cover ye at all。 A plague on't; I am out: the
devil; and dice; and a wench; who will trust them?
SUFFOLK。
Sayest thou so; priest? Set fair; at all for once。
KING。
Out; sir; pay all。
SIR JOHN。
Sblood; pay me angel gold。
I'll none of your cracked French crowns nor pistolets。
Pay me fair angel gold; as I pay you。
KING。
No cracked French crowns? I hope to see more cracked
French crowns ere long。
SIR JOHN。
Thou meanest of French men's crowns; when the King is
in France。
HUNTINGTON。
Set round; at all。
SIR JOHN。
Pay all: this is some luck。
KING。
Give me the dice; tis I must shred the priest:
At all; sir John。
SIR JOHN。
The devil and all is yours。 At that! Sdeath; what casting
is this?
SUFFOLK。
Well thrown; Harry; yfaith。
KING。
I'll cast better yet。
SIR JOHN。
Then I'll be hanged。 Sirra; hast thou not given thy soul to
the devil for casting?
KING。
I pass for all。
SIR JOHN。
Thou passest all that e'er I played withal。
Sirra; dost thou not cog; nor foist; nor slur?
KING。
Set; parson; set; the dice die in my hand:
When parson; when? what; can ye find no more?
Already dry? wast you bragged of your store?
SIR JOHN。
All's gone but that。
HUNTINGTON。
What? half a broken angel?
SIR JOHN。
Why sir; tis gold。
KING。
Yea; and I'll cover it。
SIR JOHN。
The devil do ye good on't; I am blind; ye have blown me up。
KING。
Nay; tarry; priest; ye shall not leave us yet。
Do not these pieces fit each other well?
SIR JOHN。
What if they do?
KING。
Thereby begins a tale:
There was a thief; in face much like Sir John
But twas not he; that thief was all in green
Met me last day at Black Heath; near the park;
With him a woman。 I was all alone
And weaponless; my boy had all my tools;
And was before providing me a boat。
Short tale to make; sir Johnthe thief; I mean
Took a just hundreth pound in gold from me。
I stormed at it; and swore to be revenged
If e'er we met。 He; like a lusty thief;
Brake with his teeth this Angel just in two
To be a token at our meeting next;
Provided I should charge no Officer
To apprehend him; but at weapon's point
Recover that and what he had beside。
Well met; sir John; betake ye to your tools
By torch light; for; master parson; you are he
That had my gold。
SIR JOHN。
Zounds; I won 't in play; in fair square play; of the
keeper of Eltham park; and that I will maintain with
this poor whinyard; be you two honest men to stand
and look upon's; and let's alone; and take neither part。
KING。
Agreed! I charge ye do not budget a foot。
Sir John; have at ye。
SIR JOHN。
Soldier; ware your sconce。
'Here; as they are ready to strike; enter Butler and draws
his weapon and steps betwixt them。'
BUTLER。
Hold; villains; hold! my Lords; what do you mean;
To see a traitor draw against the King?
SIR JOHN。
The King! God's will; I am in a proper pickle。
KING。
Butler; what news? why dost thou trouble us?
BUTLER。
Please it your Highness; it is break of day;
And as I scouted near to Islington;
The gray eyed morning gave me glimmering
Of armed men coming down Highgate hill;
Who by their course are coasting hitherward。
KING。
Let us withdraw; my Lords。 Prepare our troops
To charge the rebels; if there be such