A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 76

2D SUITOR. Sir, I have long served the prince at great expense, And long have I been promised a recompense: I beseech you consider of me.

LIB. What, do you serve without fee?

2D SUITOR. Yea, truly, sir.

LIB. Hold, pray for the queen. [_Gives him money_.]

2D SUITOR. It shall be my prayer day and night truly: G.o.d save the queen, and G.o.d save Liberality!

3D SUITOR. Now, good my lord, vouchsafe of your charity To cast here aside your faithful eye Upon a poor soldier, naked and needy, That in the queen's wars was maimed, as you see.

LIB. Where have you served?

3D SUITOR. In France, in Flanders; but in Ireland most.

LIB. Under whom?

3D SUITOR. Under Captain Well-done.

CAP. W. He was my soldier indeed, sir, until he lost his leg.

LIB. Hold, pray for the queen. [_Gives him money_.]

3D SUITOR. G.o.d save the queen, and G.o.d save Liberality!

SCENE V.

_Enter_ TIPSTAVES, LIBERALITY, SHERIFF, CLERKS, CRIER, PRODIGALITY, [_to whom_] _the_ JUDGE.

TIP. Room, my masters, give place, stand by: Sir Equity hath sent me to let you understand, That hither he will resort out of hand, To sit upon the arraignment of Prodigality.

LIB. In good time.

TIP. Behold, he comes.

LIB. Now, Equity, how falls the matter out?

EQ. That Prodigality is guilty of the fact, no doubt.

And therefore for furtherance of justice effectually, My lord the judge comes to sit upon him presently: Wherein we crave your a.s.sistance.

LIB. I'll wait upon you.

TIP. Room, my masters, room for my lord: stand by.

_The_ JUDGE _placed, and the_ CLERKS _under him_.

JUDGE. Call for the prisoner.

CLERK. Make an oyes, Crier.

CRIER. Oyes, oyes, oyes!

CLERK. Sheriff of Middles.e.x.

CRIER. Sheriff of Middles.e.x.

CLERK. Bring forth the prisoner.

CRIER. Bring forth the prisoner.

CLERK. Prodigality.

CRIER. Prodigality.

CLERK. Pain of the peril shall fall thereon.

CRIER. Pain of the peril shall fall thereon.

SHER. Here, sir.

CLERK. Prodigality, hold up thy hand. [_He holds it up_.

Thou art indicted here by the name of Prodigality, For that thou, the fourth day of February, In the three and forty year of the prosperous reign Of Elizabeth, our dread sovereign, By the grace of G.o.d, of England, France, and Ireland queen, Defender of the faith, &c., Together with the other malefactors yet unknown, At Highgate,[417] in the county of Middles.e.x, aforesaid, Didst feloniously take from one Tenacity, Of the parish of Pancridge,[418] yeoman, in the said county, One thousand pounds of gold and silver sterling.

And also, how thyself, the said Prodigality, With a sword, price twenty s.h.i.+llings, then and there cruelly Didst give the said Tenacity upon the head One mortal wound, whereof he is now dead, Contrary to the queen's peace, her crown, and dignity.

JUDGE. How say'st thou, Prodigality, to this robbery, Felony, and murther? art thou guilty Or not guilty?

PROD. My lord, I beseech you Grant me counsel to plead my cause.

JUDGE. That may not be; it standeth not with our laws.

PROD. Then, good my lord, let me some respite take.

JUDGE. Neither may that be; thus doth the indictment lie, Thou art accus'd of murther and of robbery, To which thou must now answer presently, Whether thou be thereof guilty or not guilty.

PROD. Well, since there is no other remedy, And that my fact falls out so apparently, I will confess that indeed I am guilty, Most humbly appealing to the prince's mercy.

JUDGE. Then what canst thou say for thyself, Prodigality, That according to the law thou shouldst not die?

PROD. Nothing, my lord; but still appeal to the prince's mercy.

JUDGE. Then hearken to thy judgment: thou, Prodigality, by that name hast been Indicted and arraigned here of a robbery, Murther, and felony, against the laws committed By thee: the indictment whereof being read unto thee Here, thou confessest thyself to be guilty therein: Whereupon I judge thee to be had from hence To the place thou cam'st fro, and from thence to The place of execution, there to be hanged, Till thou be dead. G.o.d have mercy on thee!

PROD. My lord, I most humbly beseech you to hear me.

JUDGE. Say on.