Not Peer Reviewed
The History of Sir John Oldcastle (Folio 3, 1664)
45
the good Lord Cobham.
1530Har. George, you are out.
1531Give me the Dice, I passe for twenty pound,
1532Here's to our lucky passage into France.
1535Enter Priest.
1539gold: what? ye are but beggarly soldiers to me, I think I
1540have more gold then all you three.
1546I tell thee I have more then all you three,
1547At these ten Angels.
1552I'le tell thee, good fellow, we have every day tythes,
1555I have but one Parsonage, Wrotham, 'tis better then the
1557down in all Kent, but 'tis in my Parish, Barrham-down,
1558Chobham-down, Gads-hill, Wrotham-hill, Black-heath,
1559Cocks-heath, Birchen-wood, all pay me tythe, gold quoth
1560a? ye pas not for that.
1563out the Devil, and Dice, and a Wench, who will trust
1564them?
1567Pri. Sir, pay me Angel gold,
1568I'le none of your crackt French Crownes nor Pistolets,
1569Pay me fair Angel gold, as I pay you.
1571crackt French Crownes ere long.
1573the King's in France.
1574Hun. Set round, at all.
1577At all, Sir John.
1578Pri. The Devil and all is yours: at that. 'Sdeath, what
1579casting's this?
1580Suf. Well thrown, Harry, ifaith.
1589Already dry? was't you brag'd of your store?
1590Pri. All's gone but that.
1591Hun. What? half a broken Angel.
1593Kin. Yea, and I'le cover it.
1594Pri. The Devil give ye good on't, I am blind, you
1595have blown me up.
1598Pri. What if they doe?
1599King. Thereby begins a tale:
1600There was a Thief, in face much like Sir John,
1601But 'twas not he. That thief was all in green,
1602Met me last day on Black-heath, near the Parke,
1603With him a Woman. I was all alone
1604And weaponlesse, my boy had all my tooles,
1605And was before providing me a Boat.
1606Short tale to make, Sir John, the Thief I mean,
1607Took a just hundreth pound in gold from me.
1609If e're we met; he like a lusty Thief,
1610Brake with his Teeth this Angel just in two,
1611To be a token at our meeting next.
1613To apprehend him, but at weapons point
1614Recover that, and what he had beside.
1615Well met, Sir John, betake ye to your tooles
1617That had my Gold.
1619the Keeper of Eltham-Parke, and that I will maintain
1621and look upon's, and let's alone, and neither part.
1622Kin. Agreed, I charge ye doe not budge a foot,
1623Sir John, have at ye.
1625As they proffer, enter Butler, and drawes his
1626 Sword to part them.
1627But. Hold, villain, hold: my Lords, what d'ye mean,
1629Pri. The King? Gods will, I am in a proper pickle.
1633The gray-ey'd morning gave me glimmering,
1634Of armed men comming down Hygate hill,
1636King. Let us withdraw, my Lords, prepare our troops,
1639That is a Thief, a gamester, and what not,
1640Let him be hang'd up for example sake.
1645thamis.
1647Pri. Alass 'twas ignorance and want, my gracious
1648 Liege.
1651Your lives as lamps to give the people light,
1653Go hang him, Butler.
1656dread Lord, I am in no humour for death: God will that
1659your self (my Liege) have bin a Thief.
Kin.
B[1r]