Elizabeth. As I bade her?
Girl. Yes, Madam, she said so.
Hawker [close at hand]. Cress! Buy cress! Fit for Queen Bess!
Elizabeth. Open the window! [The girl opens it.]
Hawker. Cress! Buy cress! Who’ll buy my cress-es?
Elizabeth. Fetch me my purse!
The girl goes out by the little door. As she does so, Elizabeth takes her purse from a drawer and going to the window, throws out a coin.
Hawker. Cress! Buy cress! Are you there, lady? [Elizabeth throws out another coin.] I plucked my riches From Deptford ditches, I came by a Deptford Inn; Where a young man lies, With pennies on his eyes— Murdered, lady, and none saw who did it! Cress! Buy cress!
Elizabeth flings out another coin.
There was a boy that ran away, and Henslowe the Queen’s man, and a third—