Robert Greene: [Six Plays]

by Robert Greene

Ken. Father, here are three poor men come to question thee
A word in secret that concerns their lives.
Geo. Say on, my sons.
Ken. Father, I am sure you hear the news, how that
The Earl of Kendal wars against the king.
Now, father, we three are gentlemen by birth,
But younger brethren that want revenues,
And for the hope we have to be preferr'd,
If that we knew that we shall win,
We will march with him: if not,
We will not march a foot to London more.
Therefore, good father, tell us what shall happen,
Whether the king or the Earl of Kendal shall win.
Geo. The king, my son.
Ken. Art thou sure of that?
Geo. Ay, as sure as thou art Henry Momford,
The one Lord Bonfield, the other Sir Gilbert [Armstrong].
Ken. Why, this is wondrous, being blind of sight,
His deep perceiverance should be such to know us.
Arm. Magic is mighty and foretelleth great matters.—
Indeed, father, here is the earl come to see thee,
And therefore, good father, fable not with him.
Geo. Welcome is the earl to my poor cell,
And so are you, my lords; but let me counsel you
To leave these wars against your king, and live in quiet.
Ken. Father, we come not for advice in war,
But to know whether we shall win or leese.[308]
Geo. Lose, gentle lords, but not by good King Edward;
A baser man shall give you all the foil.
Ken. Ay, marry, father, what man is that?
Geo. Poor George-a-Greene, the Pinner.
Ken. What shall he?
Geo. Pull all your plumes, and sore dishonour you.
Ken. He! as how?
Geo. Nay, the end tries all; but so it will fall out.
Ken. But so it shall not, by my honour Christ.
I'll raise my camp, and fire Wakefield town,
And take that servile Pinner George-a-Greene,
And butcher him before King Edward's face.
Geo. Good my lord, be not offended,
For I speak no more than art reveals to me:
And for greater proof,
Give your man leave to fetch me my staff.
Ken. Jenkin, fetch him his walking-staff.
Jen. [giving it]. Here is your walking-staff.
Geo. I'll prove it good upon your carcases;
A wiser wizard never met you yet,
Nor one that better could foredoom your fall.
Now I have singled you here alone,
I care not though you be three to one.
Ken. Villain, hast thou betray'd us?
Geo. Momford, thou liest, ne'er was I traitor yet;
Only devis'd this guile to draw you on
For to be combatants.
Now conquer me, and then march on to London:
It shall go hard but I will hold you task.
Arm. Come, my lord, cheerly, I'll kill him hand to hand.
Ken. A thousand pound to him that strikes that stroke!
Geo. Then give it me, for I will have the first.
[Here they fight; George kills Sir Gilbert Armstrong, and takes the other two prisoners.
Bon. Stay, George, we do appeal.
Geo. To whom?
Bon. Why, to the king:
For rather had we bide what he appoints,
Then here be murder'd by a servile groom.
Ken. What wilt thou do with us?
Geo. Even as Lord Bonfield wish'd,
You shall unto the king: and, for that purpose,
See where the Justice is plac'd.

Enter Justice.

Jus. Now, my Lord of Kendal, where be all your threats?
Even as the cause, so is the combat fallen,
Else one could never have conquer'd three.
Ken. I pray thee, Woodroffe, do not twit me;
If I have faulted, I must make amends.
Geo. Master Woodroffe, here is not a place for many words:
I beseech ye, sir, discharge all his soldiers,
That every man may go home unto his own house.
Jus. It shall be so. What wilt thou do, George?
Geo. Master Woodroffe, look to your charge;
Leave me to myself.
Jus. Come, my lords.
[Exeunt all except George.

SCENE III.—A Wood near Wakefield.

George-a-Greene discovered.[309]

Geo. Here sit thou, George, wearing a willow wreath,
As one despairing of thy beauteous love:
Fie, George! no more;
Pine not away for that which cannot be.
I cannot joy in any earthly bliss,
So long as I do want my Bettris.

Enter Jenkin.

Jen. Who see a master of mine?

Geo. How now, sirrah! whither away?