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The History of Sir John Oldcastle (Folio 3, 1664)

Author: Anonymous
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Sir Roger Acton, M. Bourn, M. Beverley, and
William Murley the Brewer of Dunstable.
Acton. Now M. Murley, I am well assur'd
You know our errant, and do like the cause?
755Being a man affected as we are?
Mur. Marry God dild ye dainty my dear: No Ma-
ster, good Sir Roger Acton, M. Bourn, and M. Beverley,
Gentlemen and Justices of the Peace, no Master, I, but
plain William Murley the Brewer of Dunstable, your
760honest neighbour and your friend, if ye be men of my
profession.
Bev. Professed friends to Wickliff; foes to Rome.
Mur. Hold by me, Lad, lean upon that staff, good
Master Beverley, all of a house, say your mind, say your
765mind.
Acton. You know our faction now is grown so great
Throughout the Realm, that it begins to smoak
Into the Clergies eyes, and the King's ears,
High time it is that we were drawn to head,
770Our General and Officers appointed.
And warrs ye wot, will ask great store of coyn,
Able to strength our action with your purse,
You are elected for a Colonel
Over a Regiment of fifteen Bands.
775Mur. Fue, paltry, paltry, in and out, to and fro, be
it more or lesse upon occasion, Lord have mercy upon us,
what a world is this? Sir Roger Acton, I am but a Dun-
stable man, a plain Brewer, ye know: will lusty cave-
liering Captains (Gentlemen) come at my calling, go
780at my bidding? Dainty my deer, they'll do a dog of wax,
a horse of cheese, a prick and a pudding; no, no, ye must
appoint some Lord or Knight at least, to that place.
Bour. Why, Master Murley, you shall be a Knight:
Were you not in election to be Sheriff?
785Have ye not past all Offices but that?
Have ye not wealth to make your wife a Lady?
I warrant you, my Lord, our General
Bestows that honour on you, at first sight.
Mur. Marry God dild ye dainty my dear:
790But tell me, who shall be our General?
Where's the Lord Cobham, Sir John Old-castle
That noble almse-giver, house-keeper, vertuous,
Religious Gentleman? Come to me there boyes,
Come to me there.
795Acton. Why who but he shall be our General?
Mur. And shall he Knight me, and make me Colonel?
Act.My word for that, Sir William Murley Knight.
Mur. Fellow Sir Roger Acton Knight, all fellows I
mean in armes, how strong are we? how many partners?
800Our enemies beside the King are mighty, be it more or
lesse upon occa{
si}on, reckon our force.
Act. There are of us our friends and followers,
Three thousand and three hundred at the least:
Of Northern lads four thousand, beside horse,
805From Kent there comes with Sir John Old-castle
Seven thousand: then from London issue out,
Of Masters, servants, strangers, prentises,
Forty odde thousands into Ficket field,
Where we appoint our special Randevouze.
810Mur. Fue, paltry, paltry, in and out, to and fro,
Lord have mercy upon us, what a world is this? Where's
that Ficket field, Sir Roger.
Act. Behind S. Giles in the field, near Holborn.
Mur. Newgate, up Holborn, S. Giles in the field,
815and to Tyburn, an old saw. For the day, for the day?
Act. On Friday next, the fourteenth day of January.
Mur. Tilly vally, trust me never If I have any liking
of that day. Fue, paltry, paltry, Friday quoth a, dismal
day, Childermas day this year was Friday.
820Bev. Nay M. Murley, if you observe such dayes,
We make some question of your constancie,
All dayes are alike to men resolv'd in right.
Mur. Say Amen, and say no more, but say and hold
Master Beverley: Friday next, and Ficket field, and
825William Murley and his merry men shall be all one: I
have halfe a score jades that draw my Beer Carts, and e-
very jade shall bear a knave, and every knave shall wear
a jack, and every jack shall have a scull, and every scull
shall shew a spear, and every spear shall kill a foe at Fic
830ket field, at Ficket field: John and Tom, Dick and
Hodge, Rafe and Robbin, William and George, and all my
knaves shall fight like men, at Ficket field, on Friday next.
Bour. What sum of money mean you to disburse?
Mur. It may be modestly, decently, and soberly, and
835handsomely I may bring five hundred pound.
Act. Five hundred, man? five thousand's not enough,
A hundred thousand will not pay our men
Two month's together, either come prepar'd
Like a brave knight, and martial Colonel,
840In glittering gold, and gallant Furniture,
Bringing in Coin, a Cart-load at least,
And all your followers mounted on good horse,
Or never come disgracefull to us all.
Bev. Perchance you may be chosen Treasurer,
845Ten thousand pound's the least that you can bring.
Mur. Paltry, paltry, in and out, to and fro: upon
occasion I have ten thousand pound to spend, and ten too.
And rather then the Bishop shall have his will of me for
my Conscience, it shall all. Flame and flax, flax and
850flame. It was got with water and Malt, and it shall flye
with fire and Gun-powder. Sir Roger, a Cart-load of
money till the Axletree crack; my self and my men in
Ficket field on Friday next: remember my Knight-hood
and my place: there's my hand I'le be there.
Exit.
855Act. See what ambition may perswade men to,
In hope of honour he will spend himself.
Bour. I never thought a Brewer halfe so rich.
Bev. Was never bankerout Brewer yet but one,
With using too much Malt, too little water.
860Act. That's no fault in Brewers now adayes:
Come, away about our business.
Exeunt.