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  • Title: The History of Sir John Oldcastle (Folio 3, 1664)
  • Editor: Michael Best

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Authors: Anonymous, Michael Drayton, Richard Hathway, Antony Munday, William Shakespeare, Robert Wilson
    Editor: Michael Best
    Not Peer Reviewed

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

    2190Enter Constable, Mayor, and Watch.
    May. What? have you searcht the Town?
    Con. All the town, sir, we have not left a house un-
    searcht that uses to lodge.
    May. Surely, my Lord of Rochester was then deceiv'd,
    2195Or ill inform'd of sir John Oldcastle,
    Or if he came this way, he's past the Town,
    He could not else have scap'd you in the search.
    Con. The privy watch hath been abroad all night,
    And not a stranger lodgeth in the Town
    2200But he is known; onely a lusty Priest
    We found in bed with a pretty wench,
    That sayes she is his wife, yonder at the Shears:
    But we have charg'd the host with his forth coming
    To morrow morning.
    2205May. What think you best to do?
    Con. Faith, Mr. Maior, here's a few stragling houses
    beyond the hrigde, and a little Inne where Carriers use
    to lodge, although I think surely he would nere lodge
    there: but we'll go search, and the rather, because
    2210there came notice to the town the last night of an Irish
    man, that had done a murther, whom we are to make
    search for.
    Mayor. Come I pray you, and be circumspect.Exeunt.
    Con. First beset the house, before you begin to search.
    2215Offi. Content, every man take a several place.
    A noise within.
    Keep, keep, strike him down there, down with him.
    Enter Constable with the Irishman in Harpool's apparel.
    Con. Come you villanous heretick, tell us where your
    2220Master is.
    Irish. Vat mester?
    May. Vat mester, you counterfeit Rebel? This shall
    not serve your turn.
    Irish. Be sent Patrick I ha no mester.
    2225Con. Where's the Lord Cobham, sir John Oldcastle,
    that lately escaped out of the Tower?
    Irish. Vat Lort Cobham?
    May. You counterfeit this shall not serve you, we'll
    torture you, we'll make you confesse where that arch-he-
    2230retick is. Come bind him fast.
    Irish. Ahone, ahone, ahone, a Cree.
    Con. Ahone you crafty rascal?
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