All is well here, all is well, masters.

How say you, neighbor John Cobbler?

I think it best that my neighbor, 108Robin Pewterer, went to Pudding Lane end, 109and we will watch here at Billingsgate Ward. 110How say you, neighbor Robin, how like you this?

Marry, well, neighbors. 112I care not much if I go to Pudding Lane's end. 113But, neighbors, an you hear any ado about me, 114make haste. And if I hear any ado about you, 115I will come to you.

Neighbor, what news hear you of the young prince?

Marry, neighbor, I hear say he is a toward young prince, 119for if he meet any by the highway, 120he will not let to talk with him. 121I dare not call him thief, but sure he is one of these taking fellows.

Indeed, neighbor, I hear say he is as lively 123a young prince as ever was.

Ay, and I hear say, if he use it long, 125his father will cut him off from the crown. 126But, neighbor, say nothing of that.

No, no, neighbor, I warrant you.

Neighbor, methinks you begin to sleep. 129If you will, we will sit down, 130for I think it is about midnight.

Marry, content, neighbor, let us sleep.

Whoa! whoa there! whoa there!

O neighbors, what mean you to sleep, 137and such ado in the streets?

How now, neighbor, what's the matter?

Whoa there! whoa there! whoa there!

Why, what ail'st thou? Here is no horses.

Oh, alas, man, I am robbed! Whoa there, whoa there!

Hold him, neighbor Cobbler.

2.19144Why, I see thou art a plain clown.

Am I a clown? Zounds, masters, 146do clowns go in silk apparel? 147I am sure all we gentlemen clowns in Kent scant go so 148well. Zounds, you know clowns very well. 149[To John] Hear you, are you Master Constable? An you be, speak, 150for I will not take it at his [Derrick points to Robin] hands.

Faith, I am not Master Constable, 152but I am one of his bade officers, for he is not here.

Is not Master Constable here? 154Well, it is no matter. I'll have the law at his hands.

Nay, I pray you, do not take the law of us.

Well, you are one of his beastly officers.

I am one of his bade officers.

Why, then, I charge thee look to him.

Nay, but hear ye, sir. You seem to be an honest 160fellow, and we are poor men, and now 'tis night, 161and we would be loth to have anything ado. 162Therefore, I pray thee, put it up.

First, thou sayest true, I am an honest fellow--164and a proper, handsome fellow too--165and you seem to be poor men. Therefore I care not greatly; 166nay, I am quickly pacified. 167But, an you chance to spy the thief, 168I pray you lay hold on him.

Yes, that we will, I warrant you.

[Aside] 'Tis a wonderful thing to see how glad the knave 171is, now I have forgiven him.

[To Lawrence and Robin] Neighbors, do ye look about you. 173How now, who's there?

Here is a good fellow. I pray you, which is the 176way to the old tavern in Eastcheap?

Whoop hollo! Now, Gadshill, knowest thou me?

I know thee for an ass.

And I know thee for a taking fellow, 180upon Gad's Hill in Kent. 181A bots light upon ye!

The whoreson villain would be knocked!

Masters -- villain! -- an ye be men, stand to him 184and take his weapon from him. Let him not pass you.

My friend, what make you abroad now? 186It is too late to walk now.

It is not too late for true men to walk.

We know thee not to be a true man.

Why, what do you mean to do with me? 190Zounds, I am one of the king's liege people.

Hear you, sir, are you one of the king's liege people?

Ay, marry, am I, sir. What say you to it?

Marry, sir, I say you are one of the king's filching people.

Come, come, let's have him away.

Why, what have I done?

Thou hast robbed a poor fellow 197and taken away his goods from him.

I never saw him before.

Masters, who comes here?

How now, Goodman Cobbler?

How now, Robert, what makes thou abroad 203at this time of night?

Marry, I have been at the Counter. 205I can tell such news as never you have heard the like.

What is that, Robert? What is the matter?

Why, this night about two hours ago, there came 208the young prince and three or four more of his compani209ons and called for wine good store, and then they sent for a 210noise of musicians and were very merry for the space of 211an hour. Then, whether their music liked them not or 212whether they had drunk too much wine or no, I cannot 213tell, but our pots flew against the walls, and then they drew 214their swords and went into the street and fought, and 215some took one part and some took another, but for the space 216of half an hour there was such a bloody fray as passeth, 217and none could part them until such time as the mayor 218and sheriff were sent for, and then at the last with much 219ado they took them, and so the young prince was carried 220to the Counter. And then about one hour after, there came 221a messenger from the court in all haste from the king for 222my lord mayor and the sheriff, but for what cause I 223know not.

Here is news indeed, Robert.

Marry, neighbor, this news is strange indeed. 226I think it best, neighbor, to rid our hands of this fellow 227first.

What mean you to do with me?

We mean to carry you to the prison, and there 230to remain 'til the sessions day.

Then, I pray you, let me go to the prison where 232my master is.

Nay, thou must go to the country prison, to Newgate. 234Therefore, come away.

[To Derrick] I prithee be good to me, honest fellow.

Ay, marry will I, I'll be very charitable to thee, 237for I will never leave thee 'til I see thee on the gallows.