A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 74

_Warden of the Fleet_.

REDCAP, _a messenger_.

_Constable and Watch_.

_A Pursuivant_.

_A Drawer_.

_Music_.

A PLEASANT COMEDY CALLED LOOK ABOUT YOU.

SCENE THE FIRST.

_Enter_ ROBERT HOOD, _a young n.o.bleman, a Servant with him, with riding wands in their hands, as if they had been new-lighted_.

ROB. Go, walk the horses, wait me on the hill; This is the hermit's cell; go out of sight.

My business with him must not be reveal'd To any mortal creature but himself.

SERV. I'll wait your honour in the cross highway. [_Exit_.

ROB. Do so. Hermit devout and reverend, If drowsy age keep not thy stiffened joints On thy unrestful bed, or if the hours Of holy orisons detain thee not, Come forth.

_Enter_ SKINK, _like an hermit_.

SKINK. Good morrow, son, Good morrow; and G.o.d bless thee, Huntington, A brighter gleam of true n.o.bility s.h.i.+nes not in any youth more than in thee.

Thou shalt be rich in honour, full of speed; Thou shalt win foes by fear, and friends by meed.

ROB. Father, I come not now to know my fate; Important business urgeth princely Richard [_Deliver letters_.

In these terms to salute thy reverent age.

Read and be brief; I know some cause of trust Made him employ me for his messenger.

SKINK. A cause of trust indeed, true-honoured youth.

Princes had need, in matters of import, To make nice choice. Fair earl, if I not err, Thou art the prince's ward?

ROB. Father, I am His ward, his chamberlain, and bed-fellow.

SKINK. Fair fall thee, honourable Robert Hood!

Wend to Prince Richard: say, though I am loth To use my skill in conjuration, Yet Skink, that poisoned red-cheek'd Rosamond, Shall make appearance at the parliament; He shall be there by noon, a.s.sure his grace.

ROB. Good-morrow, father, see you fail him not, For though the villain did a horrible deed, Yet hath the young king Richard, and Earl John, Sworn to defend him from his greatest foes.

SKINK. G.o.d's benison be with thee, n.o.ble Earl!

ROB. Adieu, good father. Holla, there! my horse!

[_Exit_.

SKINK. Up, spur the kicking jade, while I make speed To conjure Skink out of his hermit's weed; Lie there, religion: keep thy master grave, And on the fair trust of these princes' word To court again, Skink. But, before I go, Let mischief take advice of villainy, Why to the hermit letters should be sent, To post Skink to the court incontinent.

Is there no trick in this? ha! let me see!

Or do they know already I am he?

If they do so, faith, westward[454] then with Skink But what an a.s.s am I to be thus fond!

Here lies the hermit, whom I dying found Some two months since, when I was hourly charg'd With Hugh the crier and with constables.

I saw him in the ready way to heaven; I help'd him forward: 'twas a holy deed; And there he lies some six foot in the ground.

Since where, and since, I kept me in his weeds, O, what a world of fools have fill'd my cells!

For fortunes, run-aways, stol'n goods, lost cattle!

Among the number, all the faction That take the young king's part against the old, Come to myself to hearken for myself.

So did the adverse party make inquire, But either fall full of contrary desire: The old king's part would kill me being stain'd; The young king's keep me from their violence.

So then thou need'st not fear; go boldly on, Brave Hal, Prince d.i.c.k, and my spruce hot-spur John, Here's their safe-conduct. O, but for Rosamond!

A fig for Rosamond! to this hope I'll lean, At a queen's bidding I did kill a quean.

SCENE THE SECOND.

_Sound trumpets; enter with a Herald, on the one side_, HENRY THE SECOND, _crowned, after him_ LANCASTER, CHESTER, SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE: _on the other part_, KING HENRY _the son, crowned, Herald after him; after him_ PRINCE RICHARD, JOHN, LEICESTER. _Being set, enters fantastical_ ROBERT OF GLOSTER _in a gown girt; walks up and down_.

OLD KING. Why doth not Gloster take his honoured seat?

GLO. In faith, my liege, Gloster is in a land, Where neither surety is to sit or stand.

I only do appear as I am summoned, And will await without till I am call'd.

YOUNG K. Why, hear you, Gloster?

GLO. Henry, I do hear you.

YOUNG K. And why not _King_?

GLO. What's he that sits so near you?

RICH. King too.

GLO. Two kings? Ha, ha!

OLD K. Gloster, sit, we charge thee.

GLO. I will obey your charge; I will sit down, But in this house on no seat but the ground.

JOHN. The seat's too good.

GLO. I know it, brother John.

JOHN. Thy brother?

OLD K. Silence there.

YOUNG KING. Pa.s.s to the bills, Sir Richard Fauconbridge.