SCENE III. - The Tower. Enter KING EDWARD, HOWARD, and SELLINGER. King. And have our country-subjects been so frank And bountiful in their Benevolence Toward our present expedition ? How highly we respect their gentleness. How. One thing, my lord, I had well near forgot: Your pleasant host, the Tanner of Tamworth. King. What of him, cousin ? How. He was right liberal: Twenty old angels did he send your grace; Stretch'd further than they otherwise had done. King. Trust me, I must requite that honest Tanner. Oh, had he kept his word and come to Court, How. That is not long, my lord, which comes at last. He's come to London, on an earnest cause. And is condemnéd for a robbery. Your highness' pardoning his son's offence, May yield the Tanner no mean recompense. King. But who hath seen him since he came to town? Sel. My lord, in Holborn 'twas my hap to see him, Gazing about. I sent away my men; And, clapping on one of their livery cloaks, Came to him; and the Tanner knew me strait. "How dost thou, Tom?" and how doth Ned?" quoth he; "That honest, merry hangman, how doth he?" I, knowing that your majesty intended This day in person to come to the Tower, There bade him meet me, whereas Ned and I Would bring him to the presence of the king, And there procure a pardon for his son. King. Have then a care we be not seen of him, Until we be provided for the purpose; Tom Sellinger, let that care be yours. Let me alone. Enter the Lord Mayor. King. Welcome, lord Mayor! what, have you signified Our thankfulness unto our citizens, For their late-gatheréd Benevolence ? Mayor. Before the citizens in our Guildhall, Master Recorder made a good oration, Which they receivéd with so kind respect Their bounty to your highness was no more. King. Lord Mayor, thanks unto yourself and them ! King. Tom Sellinger, go thou and meet him. Sel. What, John Hobs! welcome, i' faith, to Court. Hobs. Gramercies, honest Tom: where is the hangman, Ned? Where is that mad rascal? shall I not see him? See where he stands that same is he. Hobs. What, Ned? a plague found thee! how dost thou, for a villain? how dost thou, mad rogue? and how? and how? VOL. II P King. In health, John Hobs; and very glad to see thee ; But say, what wind drove thee to London? Hobs. Ah, Ned, I was brought hither with a whirlwind, man: my son, my son; did I not tell thee I had a knave to my son ? King. Hobs. Yes, Tanner; what of him ? Faith, he's in Capperdochy, Ned, in Stafford Jail, for a robbery; and is like to be hanged, except thou get the king to be more miserable to him. King. If that be all, Tanner, I'll warrant him. I will procure his pardon of the king. Hobs. Wilt thou, Ned? for those good words, see what my daughter Nell hath sent thee: a handkercher wrought with as good Coventry-silk blue thread as ever thou sawest! King. And I perhaps may wear it, for her sake, In better presence than thou art aware of. Hobs. How, Ned? a better present! that thou can'st not have, for silk, cloth, and workmanship. Why, Nell made it, man. But, Ned, is not the king in this company? What's he in the long beard and the red petticoat? Before God, I misdoubt, Ned, that is the king. I know it by my Lord Whatye-call's players. King. How by them, Tanner ? Hobs. Ever when they play an enterlout or a commodity at Tamworth, the king always is in a long beard and a red gown, like him. Therefore, I 'spect him to be the king. King. No, trust me, Tanner, this is not the king; This man is the Lord Mayor, Lord Mayor of London. Mare and There is the Hobs. What nicknames these courtnols have! Corder, quotha! we have no such at Litchfield. honest Bailiff and his brethren. Such words 'gree best with us. King. Lord Mayor, I pray ye, for my sake to bid This honest tanner welcome. Mayor. You are welcome, My honest friend. In sign whereof, I pray You see my house, and sup with me this night. Hobs. I thank ye, Goodman Mayor; but I care not for no meat. My stomach is like to a sick swine's, that will neither eat nor drink till she know what shall become of her pig. Ned and Tom, you promised me a good turn when I came to Court. Either do it now, or go hang yourselves. King. No sooner comes the king, but I will do it. Enter SIR ROBERT BRAKENBURY. Bra. All health and happiness to my sovereign! Hobs. Out, alas! that ever I was born ! [Falls into a swoon: they labour to revive him, meanwhile the KING puts on his robes. King. Look to the tanner, there, he takes no harm. I would not have him (for my crown) miscarry. Bra. Let me come to him, by my king's good leave. Here's ginger; bite it, bite it, honest man. Hobs. Bite ginger! bite ginger! bite a dog's date. I am but a dead man. Ah, my liege! that you should deal so with a poor well-meaning man: but it makes no matter; I can but die. King. But when, Tanner? can'st thou tell ? Hobs. Nay, even when you please; for I have so defended ye, by calling ye plain Ned, mad rogue, and rascal, that I know you'll have me hanged. Therefore, make no more ado, but send me down to Stafford, and there, a God's name, hang me with my son. And here's another as honest as yourself. You made me call him plain Tom: I warrant his name is Thomas, and some man of worship too. Therefore, let's to it, even when and where ye will. King. Tanner, attend! Not only do we pardon thee, And thy son's trespass do we pardon too. Hobs. Marry, you speak like an honest man, if you mean what you say. King. We mean it, Tanner, on our royal word. Come, Tanner, thou shalt go with us to Court ; We must for France. We bid you all farewell. [Exeunt. ACT IV SCENE I.-France. The English Camp. Enter KING EDWARD, HOWARD, and SELLINGER. King. Is this the aid our cousin Burgundy Rous'd the poor trembling French, which leave their towns, Enter the LORD SCALES. How. My sovereign, he is happily returned. King. Welcome, my lord; welcome good cousin Scales. What news from Burgundy? what is his answer? |