1st Watch. It pleases you to call us so, master constable.
Con. I do it to encourage you in your office—it is a trick that we commanders have: your great captains call your soldiers fellow-soldiers to encourage them.
2d Watch. Indeed, and so they do. I heard master curate reading a story-book t'other day to that purpose.
Con. Well, I must show now what you have to do, for I myself, before I came to this prefermity, was as simple as one of you: and, for your better destruction, I will deride my speech into two parts. First, what is a watchman? Secondly, what is the office of a watchman? For the first, if any man ask me what is a watchman, I may answer him, he is a man, as others are; nay, a tradesman, as a vintner, a tailor, or the like, for they have long bills.
3d Watch. He tells us true, neighbour, we have bills[436] indeed.
Con. For the second, what is his office? I answer, he may, by virtue of his office, reprehend any person or persons that walk the streets too late at a seasonable hour.
4th Watch. May we indeed, master constable?
Con. Nay, if you meet any of those rogues at seasonable hours, you may, by virtue of your office, commit him to prison, and then ask him whither he was going.
1st Watch. Why, that's as much as my lord mayor does.
Con. True, my lord mayor can do no more than you in that point.