Geo. Now, gentlemen (I know not your degrees,
But more you cannot be, unless you be kings,)
Why wrong you us of Wakefield with your horses?
I am the Pinner, and, before you pass,
You shall make good the trespass they have done.
Ken. Peace, saucy mate, prate not to us:
I tell thee, Pinner, we are gentlemen.
Geo. Why, sir, so may I, sir, although I give no arms.
Ken. Thou! how art thou a gentleman?
Jen. And such is my master, and he may give as good arms as ever your great-grandfather could give.
Ken. Pray thee, let me hear how.
Jen. Marry, my master may give for his arms the picture of April in a green jerkin, with a rook on one fist and an horn on the other: but my master gives his arms the wrong way, for he gives the horn on his fist; and your grandfather, because he would not lose his arms, wears the horn on his own head.
Ken. Well, Pinner, sith our horses be in,
In spite of thee they now shall feed their fill,
And eat until our leisures serve to go.
Geo. Now, by my father's soul,
Were good King Edward's horses in the corn,
They shall amend the scath, or kiss the pound;
Much more yours, sir, whatsoe'er you be.
Ken. Why, man, thou knowest not us:
We do belong to Henry Momford, Earl of Kendal;
Men that, before a month be full expir'd,
Will be King Edward's betters in the land.
Geo. King Edward's betters! Rebel, thou liest!
[Strikes him.
Bon. Villain, what hast thou done? thou hast struck an earl.
Geo. Why, what care I? a poor man that is true,
Is better than an earl, if he be false.
Traitors reap no better favours at my hands.
Ken. Ay, so methinks; but thou shalt dear aby[307] this blow.—
Now or never lay hold on the Pinner!
All the train comes forward.
Geo. Stay, my lords, let us parley on these broils:
Not Hercules against two, the proverb is,
Nor I against so great a multitude.—
[Aside]. Had not your troops come marching as they did,
I would have stopt your passage unto London:
But now I'll fly to secret policy.
Ken. What dost thou murmur, George?
Geo. Marry, this, my lord; I muse,
If thou be Henry Momford, Kendal's earl,
That thou wilt do poor George-a-Greene this wrong,
Ever to match me with a troop of men.
Ken Why dost thou strike me, then?
Geo. Why, my lord, measure me but by yourself:
Had you a man had serv'd you long,
And heard your foe misuse you behind your back,
And would not draw his sword in your defence,
You would cashier him.
Much more, King Edward is my king:
And before I'll hear him so wrong'd,
I'll die within this place,
And maintain good whatsoever I have said.
And, if I speak not reason in this case,
What I have said I'll maintain in this place.
Bon. A pardon, my lord, for this Pinner;
For, trust me, he speaketh like a man of worth.
Ken. Well, George, wilt thou leave Wakefield and wend with me,
I'll freely put up all and pardon thee.
Geo. Ay, my lord, considering me one thing,
You will leave these arms, and follow your good king.
Ken. Why, George, I rise not against King Edward,
But for the poor that is oppress'd by wrong;
And, if King Edward will redress the same,
I will not offer him disparagement,
But otherwise; and so let this suffice.
Thou hear'st the reason why I rise in arms:
Now, wilt thou leave Wakefield and wend with me,
I'll make thee captain of a hardy band,
And, when I have my will, dub thee a knight.
Geo. Why, my lord, have you any hope to win?
Ken. Why, there is a prophecy doth say,
That King James and I shall meet at London,
And make the king vail bonnet to us both.
Geo. If this were true, my lord, this were a mighty reason.
Ken. Why, it is a miraculous prophecy, and cannot fail.
Geo. Well, my lord, you have almost turned me.—
Jenkin, come hither.
Jen. Sir?
Geo. Go your ways home, sir,
And drive me those three horses home unto my house,
And pour them down a bushel of good oats.
Jen. Well, I will.—[Aside]. Must I give these scurvy horses oats?
[Exit.
Geo. Will it please you to command your train aside?
Ken. Stand aside. [The train retires.
Geo. Now list to me:
Here in a wood, not far from hence,
There dwells an old man in a cave alone,
That can foretell what fortunes shall befall you,
For he is greatly skilful in magic art.
Go you three to him early in the morning,
And question him: if he says good,
Why, then, my lord, I am the foremost man
Who will march up with your camp to London.
Ken. George, thou honourest me in this. But where shall we find him out?
Geo. My man shall conduct you to the place;
But, good my lord, tell me true what the wise man saith.
Ken. That will I, as I am Earl of Kendal.
Geo. Why, then, to honour George-a-Greene the more,
Vouchsafe a piece of beef at my poor house;
You shall have wafer-cakes your fill,
A piece of beef hung up since Martlemas:
If that like you not, take what you bring, for me.
Ken. Gramercies, George. [Exeunt.