A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 29

HICKSCORNER.

G.o.d speed, G.o.d speed; who called after me?

IMAGINATION.

What, brother, welcome by this precious body; I am glad that I you see, It was told me that you were hanged; But out of what country come ye?

HICKSCORNER.

Sirs, I have been in many a country; As in France, Ireland, and in Spain, Portingal, Sevile, also in Almaine; Friesland, Flanders, and in Burgoine, Calabria, Pugle,[122] and Erragon,[123]

Britain, Biske, and also in Gascoine, Naples, Greece, and in middes of Scotland; At Cape,[124] Saint Vincent, and in the new found island,[125]

I have been in Gene[126] and in Cowe, Also in the land of Rumbelow,[127]

Three mile out of h.e.l.l; At Rhodes, Constantine, and in Babylon[128]

In Cornwall, and in Northumberland, Where men seethe rushes in gruel; Yea, sir, in Chaldsea, Tartary, and India, And in the Land of Women, that few men doth find: In all these countries have I be.

FREEWILL.

Sir, what tidings hear ye now on the sea?

HICKSCORNER.

We met of s.h.i.+ps a great navy, Full of people that would into Ireland; And they came out of this country: They will never more come to England.

IMAGINATION.

Whence were the s.h.i.+ps of them? knowest thou none?

HICKSCORNER.

Harken, and I will show you their names each one: First was the _Regent_, with the _Michael_ of Brikilse; The _George_, with the _Gabriel_, and the _Anne_ of Fowey; The _Star_ of Saltash, with the _Jesus_ of Plymouth; Also the _Hermitage_, with the _Barbara_ of Dartmouth, The _Nicolas_ and the _Mary Bellouse_ of Bristow, With the _Ellen_ of London and _James_ also: Great was the people that was in them, All true religious and holy women: There was Truth and his kinsmen, With Patience, Meekness, and Humility, And all true maidens with their virginity, Royal preachers, sadness and charity, Right conscience and faith, with devotion, And all true monks that keep their religion, True buyers and sellers, and alms-deed doers, Piteous people, that he of sin destroyers, With just abstinence and good councillors, Mourners for sin, with lamentation, And good rich men that helpeth folk out of prison, True wedlock was there also, With young men that ever in prayer did go, The s.h.i.+ps were laden with such unhappy company, But at the last G.o.d shope[129] a remedy, For they all in the sea were drowned, And on a quicksand they strake to ground; The sea swallowed them everychone, I wot well alive there scaped none.

IMAGINATION.

Lo, now my heart is glad and merry; For joy now let us sing "Derry, derry."

HICKSCORNER.

Fellows, they shall never more us withstand; For I see them all drowned in the Rase of Ireland.

FREEWILL.

Yea, but yet hark, Hickscorner, What company was in your s.h.i.+p, that came over?

HICKSCORNER.

Sir, I will aid[130] you to understand, There were good fellows above five thousand, And all they been kin to us three: There was falsehood, favell,[131] and jollity, Yea, thieves, and wh.o.r.es, with other good company, Liars, backbiters, and flatterers the while, Brawlers, liars, jetters, and chiders, Walkers by night, with great murderers, Overthwart guile[rs] and jolly carders, Oppressors of people, with many swearers, There was false law with horrible vengeance, Froward obstination with mischievous governance, Wanton wenches, and also michers, With many other of the devil's officers; And hatred, that is so mighty and strong, Hath made a vow for ever to dwell in England.

IMAGINATION.

But is that true, that thou dost show now?

HICKSCORNER.

Sir, every word as I do tell you.

FREEWILL.

Of whence is your s.h.i.+p? of London?

HICKSCORNER.

Yea, i-wis from thence did she come; And she is named _The Envy_, I tell you, a great vessel and a mighty: The owner of her is called Ill-Will, Brother to Jack Poller of Shooter's-Hill.

IMAGINATION.

Sir, what office in the s.h.i.+p bare ye?

HICKSCORNER.

Marry, I kept a fair shop of bawdry, I had three wenches that were full praty, Jane true and thriftless, and wanton Sybil, If you ride her a journey, she will make you weary, For she is trusty at need: If ye will hire her for your pleasure, I warrant, tire her shall ye never, She is so sure in deed; Ride, and you will, ten times a-day, I warrant you she will never say nay, My life I dare lay to wed.[132]

IMAGINATION.

Now pluck up your hearts, and make good cheer; These tidings liketh me wonder well, Now virtue shall draw arear arear: Hark, fellows, a good sport I can you tell, At the stews we will lie to-night, And by my troth, if all go right, I will beguile some praty wench, To get me money at a pinch.

How say you? shall we go thither?

Let us keep company altogether, And I would that we had G.o.d's curse, If we somewhere do not get a purse; Every man bear his dagger naked in his hand, And if we meet a true man, make him stand, Or else that he bear a stripe; If that he struggle, and make any work, Lightly strike him to the heart, And throw him into Thames quite.

FREEWILL.

Nay, three knaves in a leash is good at nale:[133]