All. A Falconbridge! a Falconbridge !

Fal. We will be Masters of the Mint ourselves,
And set our own stamp on the golden coin.
We'll shoe our neighing coursers with no worse
Than the purest silver that is sold in Cheap.
At Leadenhall, we'll sell pearls by the peck,
As now the mealmen use to sell their meal.
In Westminster, we'll keep a solemn court,
And build it bigger to receive our men.
Cry Falconbridge, my hearts, and liberty!
All. Falconbridge and liberty! &c.

Smoke. Peace, ye slaves; or I will smoke ye else.

Chub. Peace, ye slaves, or I will chub your chaps; but indeed thou mayest well smoke them, because thy name is Smoke.

Smoke. Why, sirs, I hope Smoke, the smith of Chepstead, is as good a man as Chub, the chandler of Sandwich.

Spi. Peace, ye rogues; what, are you quarrelling? and now list to Captain Spicing.

You know Cheapside: there are the mercers' shops,
Where we will measure velvet by the pikes,

And silks and satins by the street's whole breadth :
We'll take the tankards from the conduit-cocks
To fill with ipocras and drink carouse,

Where chains of gold and plate shall be as plenty
As wooden dishes in the wild of Kent.

Smoke. Oh, bravely said, Ned Spicing! the honestest lad that ever pund spice in a mortar. Now speaks Captain Smoke.

Look, lads; for from this hill ye may discern
The lovely town which we are marching to:
That same is London, lads, ye look upon :
Range all arow, my hearts, and stand at gaze,
As do the herds of deer at some strange sight,

Or as a troop of hungry travellers,

That fire their eyes upon a furnish'd feast.

Look how the Tower doth 'tice us to come on,

To take out Henry the Sixth, there prisoner:

See how Saint Katharine's smokes; wipe, slaves, your eyes,

And whet your stomachs for the good malt-pies.

Chub. Why, then, belike I am nobody. Room and avoidance, for now speaks Captain Chub.

No sooner in London will we be,

But the bakers for you, the brewers for me.
Birchin lane shall suit us,

The costermongers fruit us,

The poulters send us in fowl,

And butchers' meat without control:

And ever when we sup or dine,

The vintners freely bring us in wine.

If anybody ask who shall pay,

Cut off his head and send him away.

This is Captain Chub's law, whosoever say nay.

Fal. Bravely resolv'd? So march we forward all, And boldly say, good luck shall us befal.

SCENE III.—London; Guildhall.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Lord Mayor, Shore, and Josselin, in their velvet coats and gorgets, and leading staves.

Mayor. This is well done. Thus should good citizens Fashion themselves as well for war as peace.

Have

ye

commanded that in every street

They hang forth lights as soon as night comes on?

Say, cousin Shore; that was referr'd to you.

Shore. We have, my lord.

Besides, from every hall

There is at least two hundred men in arms.

Mayor. It cheers my heart to hear this readiness.

Let never rebels put true subjects down.
Come when they will, their welcome shall be such,
As they had better kept them further off.
But where is Master Recorder? his advice
Must not be wanting in these high affairs.
Shore. About an hour ago, and somewhat more,
I left him fortifying the bridge, my lord;
Which done, he purposed to meet you here.
Mayor. A discreet painful gentleman he is,
And we must all of us be so inclin'd,

If we intend to have the city safe,

Or look for thanks and credit with the King.
I tell ye, masters, aged though I be,

I, for my part, will to no bed this night.

Jos. Why, is it thought the Bastard is so near? Mayor. How mean ye, Master Josselin, by near? He neither comes from Italy nor Spain;

But out of Kent and Essex, which you know

Are both so near, as nearer cannot be.

Jos. Nay, by your patience, good my lord, a word. Simple though I am, yet I must confess,

A mischief further off would, and so forth;
You know my meaning. Things not seen before
Are, and so forth. Yet, in good sadness,

I would that all were well; and perchance
It may be so. What were it not for hope,
The heart, and so forth.

But to the matter:

You mean and purpose; ay, I am sure ye do.

Mayor. Well, master Josselin, we are sure ye mean well, Although somewhat defective in your utterance.

Jos. Ay, ay, my lord Mayor, I am, you know,

Willing, ready, and so forth; tut, tut, for me, ha, ha!
My mansion is at Ham, and thence, you know,
I come to help you in this needful time,
When rebels are so busy, and so forth.

What, masters? age must never be despis'd.
You shall find me, my lord, still, and so forth.

Enter Urswick, the Recorder.

Shore. My lord, now here comes Master Recorder.

Rec. Good ev'n, my good lord Mayor. The streets are chain'd,

The bridge well mann'd, and every place prepar'd.
Shall we now go together and consult

What else there is to be determin'd of?

Mayor. Your coming, Master Recorder, was the thing We all desired; therefore, let us consult. And now what say ye, if with half our power We issue forth and give the rebels fight?

Rec. Before they do provoke us nearer hand. There were no way to that, if all be pleas'd.

What's your opinion, Master Josselin ?

Jos. Good sooth, my lord Mayor and Master Recorder,

You may take your choice; but, in my conceit,

Issue if you will, or else stay if you will.

A man can never be too wary, and so forth.

Yet, as to issue will not be the worst,

Even so to tarry. Well, you may think more on't,
But all is one; we shall be sure to fight,

And you are wise enough to see your time;
Ay, ay, a God's name.

Accept his meaning better than his counsel.

Mayor. Ay, so we do, or else we were to blame.

What if we stop the passage of the Thames

With such provision as we have of ships?

Rec. 'Tis doubtful yet, my lord, whether the rebels Purpose that way to seek our detriment.

Rather, meseemeth, they will come by land,
And either make assault at London Bridge,

Or else at Aldgate, both which entrances

Were good they should be strongly fortified.

Jos. Well said, master Recorder. You do. Ay, ay, I ye warrant.

Rec. As for the other, the whole companies
Of Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, and the rest,
Are drawn together, for their best defence,
Beside the Tower, a neighbour to that place,
As on the one side it will clear the river,
So on the other, with their ordinance,

It may repulse and beat them from the gate.

[A noise within.

Mayor. What noise is this? provide ye suddenly, And every man betake him to his charge.

Enter a Messenger.

Shore. Soft; who is this? How now, my friend, what news?

Mes. My master, the Lieutenant of the Tower,

Gives ye to understand he hath descried

The army of the rebels.

Rec.

Which way come they?

Mes. From Essexward; and therefore 'tis his mind You guard both Aldgate well and Bishopsgate.

Mayor. Saint George, away! and let us all resolve Either to vanquish this rebellious rout,

Preserve our goods, our children, and our wives,
Or seal our resolution with our lives.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.—Before the Gates of London.

Enter Falconbbidge, with Spicing and his Troops.

Fal. Summon the City, and command our entrance; Which, if we shall be stubbornly denied,

Our power shall rush like thunder through the walls.