Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: Anonymous
Editors: Karen Sawyer Marsalek, Mathew Martin
Peer Reviewed

The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth (Quarto, 1598)

The famous victories
Iudge. Iayler bring the prisoner to the barre.
Der. Heare you my Lord, I pray you bring the bar to
the prisoner.
Iudge. Hold thy hand vp at the barre.
305Theefe. Here it is my Lord.
Iudge. Clearke of the Office, reade his inditement.
Clearke. What is thy name?
Theefe. My name was knowne before I came here,
And shall be when I am gone, I warrant you.
310Iudge. I, I thinke so, but we will know it better before
thou go.
Der. Sownes and you do but send to the next Iaile,
We are sure to know his name,
For this is not the first prison he hath bene in, ile warrant (you.
315Clearke. What is thy name?
Theef. What need you to aske, and haue it in writing.
Clearke. Is not thy name Cutbert Cutter?
Theefe. What the Diuell need you ask, and know it so
well.
320Cleark. Why then Cutbert Cutter, I indite thee by the
name of Cutbert Cutter, for robbing a poore carrier the 20
day of May last past, in the fourteen yeare of the raigne of
our soueraigne Lord King Henry the fourth, for setting
vpon a poore Carrier vpon Gads hill in Kent, and hauing
325beaten and wounded the said Carrier, and taken his goods
from him.
Der. Oh maisters stay there, nay lets neuer belie the
man, for he hath not beaten and wounded me also, but hee
hath beaten and wounded my packe, and hath taken the
330great rase of Ginger, that bouncing Besse with the iolly
buttocks should haue had, that greeues me most.
Iudge. Well, what sayest thou, art thou guiltie, or not
guiltie?
Theefe. Not guiltie, my Lord.
335Iudge. By whom wilt thou be tride?
Theefe.