K. Edw. And wilt not give thy daughter unto George?
Grime. Yes, my lord, if he will let me marry with this lovely lass.
K. Edw. What say'st thou, George?
Geo. With all my heart, my lord, I give consent.
Grime. Then do I give my daughter unto George.
Wily. Then shall the marriage soon be at an end.
Witness, my lord, if that I be a woman;
[Throws off his disguise.
For I am Wily, boy to George-a-Greene,
Who for my master wrought this subtle shift.
K. Edw. What, is it a boy?—what say'st thou to this, Grime?
Grime. Marry, my lord, I think this boy hath
More knavery than all the world besides.
Yet am I content that George shall both have
My daughter and my lands.
K. Edw. Now, George, it rests I gratify thy worth:
And therefore here I do bequeath to thee,
In full possession, half that Kendal hath;
And what as Bradford holds of me in chief,
I give it frankly unto thee for ever.
Kneel down, George.
Geo. What will your majesty do?
K. Edw. Dub thee a knight, George.
Geo. I beseech your grace, grant me one thing.
K. Edw. What is that?
Geo. Then let me live and die a yeoman still:
So was my father, so must live his son.
For 'tis more credit to men of base degree,
To do great deeds, than men of dignity.
K. Edw. Well, be it so, George.
K. James. I beseech your grace despatch with me,
And set down my ransom.
K. Edw. George-a-Greene,
Set down the King of Scots his ransom.
Geo. I beseech your grace pardon me;
It passeth my skill.
K. Edw. Do it, the honour's thine.
Geo. Then let King James make good
Those towns which he hath burnt upon the borders;
Give a small pension to the fatherless,
Whose fathers he caus'd murder'd in those wars;
Put in pledge for these things to your grace,
And so return.
K. Edw. King James, are you content?
K. James. I am content, an like your majesty,
And will leave good castles in security.
K. Edw. I crave no more.—Now, George-a-Greene,
I'll to thy house; and when I have supt, I'll go
To ask and see if Jane-a-Barley be so fair
As good King James reports her for to be.
And for the ancient custom of Vail staff,
Keep it still, claim privilege from me:
If any ask a reason why, or how,
Say, English Edward vail'd his staff to you.
[Exeunt omnes.