Peer Reviewed
Famous Victories of Henry V (Modern)
4.0.2Enter Lord Chief Justice, Clerk of the Office, Jailor [with several Officers], 300John Cobbler, Derrick, and the Thief [Cutbert Cutter].
Jailor, bring the prisoner to the bar.
Hear you, my lord, I pray you bring the bar to 303the prisoner.
Hold thy hand up at the bar.
Here it is, my lord.
Clerk of the Office, read his indictment.
What is thy name?
My name was known before I came here 309and shall be when I am gone, I warrant you.
Ay, I think so, but we will know it better before 311thou go.
Zounds, an you do but send to the next jail, 313we are sure to know his name, 314for this is not the first prison he hath been in, I'll warrant you.
What is thy name?
What need you to ask, an have it in writing?
Is not thy name Cutbert Cutter?
What the devil need you ask, an know it so 319well?
Why then, Cutbert Cutter, I indict thee by the 321name of Cutbert Cutter for robbing a poor carrier the twentieth 322day of May last past, in the fourteenth year of the reign of 323our sovereign lord King Henry the Fourth, for setting 324upon a poor carrier upon Gad's Hill in Kent, and having 325beaten and wounded the said carrier, and taken his goods 326from him.
Oh, masters, stay there. Nay, let's never belie the 328man, for he hath not beaten and wounded me also, but he 329hath beaten and wounded my pack and hath taken the 330great raze of ginger that bouncing Bess with the jolly 331buttocks should have had. That grieves me most.
Well, what sayest thou? Art thou guilty or not 333guilty?
Not guilty, my lord.
By whom wilt thou be tried?
By my lord the young prince or by myself, 337whether you will.
Come away, my lads. [To Cutbert Cutter] Gog's wounds, ye villain, 340what make you here? I must go about my business my341self, and you must stand loitering here?
Why, my lord, they have bound me and will 343not let me go.
Have they bound thee, villain? [To Lord Chief Justice] Why, how now, my 345lord?
I am glad to see your grace in good health.
Why, my lord, this is my man. 348'Tis marvel you knew him not long before this. 349I tell you, he is a man of his hands.
Ay, Gog's wounds, that I am. Try me who dare!
Your grace shall find small credit by acknow352ledging him to be your man.
Why, my lord, what hath he done?
An it please your majesty, he hath robbed a poor carrier.
Hear you, sir. Marry, it was one Derrick, 356Goodman Hobling's man of Kent.
What, was't you, button-breech?-- 358Of my word, my lord, he did it but in jest.
Hear you, sir. Is it your man's quality to rob folks 360in jest? In faith, he shall be hanged in earnest.
Well, my lord, what do you mean to do with 362my man?
An't please your grace, the law must pass on him 364according to justice; then he must be executed.
Hear you, sir, I pray you. Is it your man's quality 366to rob folks in jest? In faith, he shall be hanged in jest.
Well, my lord, what mean you to do with my 368man?
An't please your grace, the law must pass on him 370according to justice; then he must be executed.
Why, then, belike you mean to hang my man?
I am sorry that it falls out so.
Why, my lord, I pray ye, who am I?
An't please your grace, you are my lord the young 375prince, our king that shall be after the decease of our sove376reign lord, King Henry the Fourth, whom God grant 377long to reign.
You say true, my lord. 379And you will hang my man?
An't like your grace, I must needs do justice.
Tell me, my lord, shall I have my man?
I cannot, my lord.
But will you not let him go?
I am sorry that his case is so ill.
Tush, case me no casings. Shall I have my man?
I cannot, nor I may not, my lord.
Nay, and "I shall not," say, and then I am answered!
No.
No? Then I will have him.
Gog's wounds, my lord, shall I cut off his head?
4.52.1[Ned draws his sword.]
No, I charge you, draw not your swords, 393but get you hence-- provide a noise of musicians. 394Away, begone!
Well, my lord, I am content to take it at your 397hands.
Nay, an you be not, you shall have more.
Why, I pray you, my lord, who am I?
You? Who knows not you? 401Why, man, you are Lord Chief Justice of England.
Your grace hath said truth. Therefore in striking 403me in this place you greatly abuse me, and not me only 404but also your father, whose lively person here in this place 405I do represent. And therefore, to teach you what preroga406tives mean, I commit you to the Fleet until we have 407spoken with your father.
Why, then, belike you mean to send me to the 409Fleet?
Ay indeed, and therefore carry him away.
Jailor, carry the prisoner to Newgate again 413until the next 'ssizes.
At your commandment, my lord, it shall be done.
4.62.1[Exeunt Lord Chief Justice, Clerk of the Office, John Cobbler, Derrick, and Cutbert Cutter with Jailor]