William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (372 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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SHERIFF
Bring them away to execution.
The writ is come above two hours since.
The city will be fined for this neglect.
The writ is come above two hours since.
The city will be fined for this neglect.
SECOND OFFICER
There’s such a press and multitude at Newgate
They cannot bring the carts unto the stairs
To take the prisoners in.
They cannot bring the carts unto the stairs
To take the prisoners in.
SHERIFF Then let them come on foot.
We may not dally time with great command.
SECOND OFFICER
Some of the Bench, sir, think it very fit
That stay be made, and give it out abroad
The execution is deferred till morning;
And when the streets shall be a little cleared
To chain them up, and suddenly dispatch it.
That stay be made, and give it out abroad
The execution is deferred till morning;
And when the streets shall be a little cleared
To chain them up, and suddenly dispatch it.
The prisoners are brought in,
⌈
amongst them Lincoln,
Doll, Williamson, Clown Betts, and Sherwin,
⌉
well
guarded,
⌈
and the Executioner
⌉
SHERIFF
Stay, in meantime methinks they come along.
See, they are coming. So, ’tis very well.
Bring Lincoln there the first unto the tree.
See, they are coming. So, ’tis very well.
Bring Lincoln there the first unto the tree.
CLOWN BETTS Ay, for I cry lag, sir.
LINCOLN
I knew the first, sir, did belong to me.
This the old proverb now complete doth make:
That ‘Lincoln should be hanged for London’s sake’.
I’ God’s name, let’s to work. ⌈
To Executioner
⌉ Fellow, dispatch.
This the old proverb now complete doth make:
That ‘Lincoln should be hanged for London’s sake’.
I’ God’s name, let’s to work. ⌈
To Executioner
⌉ Fellow, dispatch.
He goes up
I was the foremost man in this rebellion,
And I the foremost that must die for it.
And I the foremost that must die for it.
DOLL
Bravely, John Lincoln, let thy death express
That, as thou lived‘st a man, thou died’st no less.
That, as thou lived‘st a man, thou died’st no less.
LINCOLN
Doll Williamson, thine eyes shall witness it.
Then to all you that come to view mine end
I must confess I had no ill intent
But against such as wronged us overmuch.
And now I can perceive it was not fit
That private men should carve out their redress
Which way they list. No, learn it now by me:
Obedience is the best in each degree.
And, asking mercy meekly of my king,
I patiently submit me to the law.
But God forgive them that were cause of it;
And, as a Christian, truly from my heart,
I likewise crave they would forgive me too,
〈 〉
That others by example of the same
Henceforth be warned to attempt the like
’Gainst any alien that repaireth hither.
Fare ye well all. The next time that we meet
I trust in heaven we shall each other greet.
He leaps off
Then to all you that come to view mine end
I must confess I had no ill intent
But against such as wronged us overmuch.
And now I can perceive it was not fit
That private men should carve out their redress
Which way they list. No, learn it now by me:
Obedience is the best in each degree.
And, asking mercy meekly of my king,
I patiently submit me to the law.
But God forgive them that were cause of it;
And, as a Christian, truly from my heart,
I likewise crave they would forgive me too,
〈 〉
That others by example of the same
Henceforth be warned to attempt the like
’Gainst any alien that repaireth hither.
Fare ye well all. The next time that we meet
I trust in heaven we shall each other greet.
He leaps off
DOLL
Farewell, John Lincoln. Say all what they can,
Thou lived‘st a good fellow, and died’st an honest man.
Thou lived‘st a good fellow, and died’st an honest man.
CLOWN BETTS Would I were so far on my journey. The first stretch is the worst, methinks.
SHERIFF Bring Williamson there forward.
DOLL
Good Master Sheriff, I have an earnest suit,
And, as you are a man, deny’t me not.
And, as you are a man, deny’t me not.
SHERIFF
Woman, what is it? Be it in my power,
Thou shalt obtain it.
Thou shalt obtain it.
DOLL
Let me die next, sir, that is all I crave.
You know not what a comfort you shall bring
To my poor heart to die before my husband.
You know not what a comfort you shall bring
To my poor heart to die before my husband.
SHERIFF
Bring her to death. She shall have her desire.
CLOWN BETTS Sir, and I have a suit to you too.
SHERIFF What is it?
CLOWN BETTS That, as you have hanged Lincoln first and will hang her next, so you will not hang me at all.
SHERIFF Nay, you set ope the Counter gates, and you must hang chiefly.
CLOWN BETTS Well then, so much for that!
DOLL ⌈
to Sherif
⌉
to Sherif
⌉
Sir, your free bounty much contents my mind.
Commend me to that good sheriff Master More,
And tell him had’t not been for his persuasion
John Lincoln had not hung here as he does.
We would first have locked up in Leaden Hall,
And there been burned to ashes with the roof.
Commend me to that good sheriff Master More,
And tell him had’t not been for his persuasion
John Lincoln had not hung here as he does.
We would first have locked up in Leaden Hall,
And there been burned to ashes with the roof.
SHERIFF
Woman, what Master More did was a subject’s duty,
And hath so pleased our gracious lord the King
That he is hence removed to higher place
And made of Council to his majesty.
And hath so pleased our gracious lord the King
That he is hence removed to higher place
And made of Council to his majesty.
DOLL
Well is he worthy of it, by my troth:
An honest, wise, well-spoken gentleman.
Yet would I praise his honesty much more
If he had kept his word and saved our lives.
But let that pass. Men are but men, and so
Words are but words, and pays not what men owe.
Now, husband, since perhaps the world may say
That through my means thou com’st thus to thy end,
Here I begin this cup of death to thee,
Because thou shalt be sure to taste no worse
Than I have taken that must go before thee.
What though I be a woman? That’s no matter.
I do owe God a death, and I must pay him.
Husband, give me thy hand. Be not dismayed.
This chore being chored, then all our debt is paid.
Only two little babes we leave behind us,
And all I can bequeath them at this time
Is but the love of some good honest friend
To bring them up in charitable sort.
What, masters?—He goes upright that never halts,
And they may live to mend their parents’ faults.
An honest, wise, well-spoken gentleman.
Yet would I praise his honesty much more
If he had kept his word and saved our lives.
But let that pass. Men are but men, and so
Words are but words, and pays not what men owe.
Now, husband, since perhaps the world may say
That through my means thou com’st thus to thy end,
Here I begin this cup of death to thee,
Because thou shalt be sure to taste no worse
Than I have taken that must go before thee.
What though I be a woman? That’s no matter.
I do owe God a death, and I must pay him.
Husband, give me thy hand. Be not dismayed.
This chore being chored, then all our debt is paid.
Only two little babes we leave behind us,
And all I can bequeath them at this time
Is but the love of some good honest friend
To bring them up in charitable sort.
What, masters?—He goes upright that never halts,
And they may live to mend their parents’ faults.
WILLIAMSON
Why, well said, wife. I‘faith, thou cheer’st my heart.
Give me thy hand. Let’s kiss, and so let’s part.
Give me thy hand. Let’s kiss, and so let’s part.
He kisses her on the ladder
DOLL
The next kiss, Williamson, shall be in heaven.
Now cheerly, lads! George Betts, a hand with thee.
⌈
To Clown Betts
⌉ And thine too, Ralph. And thine, good
honest Sherwin.
Now let me tell the women of this town
No stranger yet brought Doll to lying down.
So long as I an Englishman can see,
Nor French nor Dutch shall get a kiss of me.
And when that I am dead, for me yet say
I died in scorn to be a stranger’s prey.
A great shout and noise
⌈
within
⌉
Now cheerly, lads! George Betts, a hand with thee.
⌈
To Clown Betts
⌉ And thine too, Ralph. And thine, good
honest Sherwin.
Now let me tell the women of this town
No stranger yet brought Doll to lying down.
So long as I an Englishman can see,
Nor French nor Dutch shall get a kiss of me.
And when that I am dead, for me yet say
I died in scorn to be a stranger’s prey.
A great shout and noise
⌈
within
⌉
VOICES WITHIN Pardon, pardon, pardon, pardon!
Room for the Earl of Surreyl Room there, room!
Enter Surrey
SURREY
Save the man’s life, if it be possible!
SHERIFF
It is too late, my lord, he’s dead already.
SURREY
I tell ye, Master Sheriff, you are too forward
To make such haste with men unto their death.
I think your pains will merit little thanks,
Since that his highness is so merciful
As not to spill the blood of any subject.
To make such haste with men unto their death.
I think your pains will merit little thanks,
Since that his highness is so merciful
As not to spill the blood of any subject.
SHERIFF
My noble lord, would we so much had known!
The Council’s warrant hastened our dispatch.
It had not else been done so suddenly.
The Council’s warrant hastened our dispatch.
It had not else been done so suddenly.
SURREY
Sir Thomas More humbly upon his knee
Did beg the lives of all, since on his word
They did so gently yield. The King hath granted it,
And made him Lord High Chancellor of England,
According as he worthily deserves.
Since Lincoln’s life cannot be had again,
Then for the rest, from my dread sovereign’s lips,
I here pronounce free pardon for them all—
Did beg the lives of all, since on his word
They did so gently yield. The King hath granted it,
And made him Lord High Chancellor of England,
According as he worthily deserves.
Since Lincoln’s life cannot be had again,
Then for the rest, from my dread sovereign’s lips,
I here pronounce free pardon for them all—
ALL
(flinging up caps)
(flinging up caps)
God save the King! God save the King,
My good Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Surreyl
My good Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Surreyl
DOLL
And Doll desires it from her very heart
More’s name may live for this right noble part;
And whensoe’er we talk of Ill May Day
Praise More, whose honest words our falls did stay.
More’s name may live for this right noble part;
And whensoe’er we talk of Ill May Day
Praise More, whose honest words our falls did stay.
SURREY
In hope his highness’ clemency and mercy,
Which in the arms of mild and meek compassion
Would rather clip you, as the loving nurse
Oft doth the wayward infant, than to leave you
To the sharp rod of justice; so to draw you
To shun such lewd assemblies as beget
Unlawful riots and such traitorous acts
That, striking with the hand of private hate,
Maim your dear country with a public wound.
O God, that mercy, whose majestic brow
Should be unwrinkled, and that awe-full justice,
Which looketh through a veil of sufferance
Upon the frailty of the multitude,
Should with the clamours of outrageous wrongs
Be stirred and wakened thus to punishment!
But your deserved death he doth forgive.
Who gives you life, pray all he long may live.
Which in the arms of mild and meek compassion
Would rather clip you, as the loving nurse
Oft doth the wayward infant, than to leave you
To the sharp rod of justice; so to draw you
To shun such lewd assemblies as beget
Unlawful riots and such traitorous acts
That, striking with the hand of private hate,
Maim your dear country with a public wound.
O God, that mercy, whose majestic brow
Should be unwrinkled, and that awe-full justice,
Which looketh through a veil of sufferance
Upon the frailty of the multitude,
Should with the clamours of outrageous wrongs
Be stirred and wakened thus to punishment!
But your deserved death he doth forgive.
Who gives you life, pray all he long may live.
ALL
God save the King! God save the King,
My good Lord Chancellor, and the Earl of Surreyl
My good Lord Chancellor, and the Earl of Surreyl
Exeunt
[
Original Text
(
Munday
)]
Original Text
(
Munday
)]
[⌈
Addition III
(
playhouse scribe; attributed to Shakespeare
)]
Sc. 8Addition III
(
playhouse scribe; attributed to Shakespeare
)]
A table being covered with a green carpet, a state cushion on it, and the purse and mace lying thereon, enter More
MORE
It is in heaven that I am thus and thus,
And that which we profanely term our fortunes
Is the provision of the power above,
Fitted and shaped just to that strength of nature
Which we are born with. Good God, good God,
That I from such an humble bench of birth
Should step, as ’twere, up to my country’s head,
And give the law out there; I, in my father’s life,
To take prerogative and tithe of knees
From elder kinsmen, and him bind by my place
To give the smooth and dexter way to me
That owe it him by nature: sure these things,
Not physicked by respect, might turn our blood
To much corruption. But, More, the more thou
hast,
Either of honour, office, wealth, and calling,
Which might accite thee to embrace and hug them,
The more do thou in serpent’s natures think them,
Fear their gay skins with thought of their sharp state,
And let this be thy maxim: to be great
Is, when the thread of hazard is once spun,
A bottom great wound up, greatly undone.
And that which we profanely term our fortunes
Is the provision of the power above,
Fitted and shaped just to that strength of nature
Which we are born with. Good God, good God,
That I from such an humble bench of birth
Should step, as ’twere, up to my country’s head,
And give the law out there; I, in my father’s life,
To take prerogative and tithe of knees
From elder kinsmen, and him bind by my place
To give the smooth and dexter way to me
That owe it him by nature: sure these things,
Not physicked by respect, might turn our blood
To much corruption. But, More, the more thou
hast,
Either of honour, office, wealth, and calling,
Which might accite thee to embrace and hug them,
The more do thou in serpent’s natures think them,
Fear their gay skins with thought of their sharp state,
And let this be thy maxim: to be great
Is, when the thread of hazard is once spun,
A bottom great wound up, greatly undone.
[
Addition III
(
playhouse scribe; attributed to Shakespeare
)]
Addition III
(
playhouse scribe; attributed to Shakespeare
)]
[
addition IV
(
playhouse scribe; attributed to Dekker
)]
addition IV
(
playhouse scribe; attributed to Dekker
)]
Enter Sir Thomas More’s man
⌈Randall⌉
, attired like him
⌈Randall⌉
, attired like him
MORE Come on, sir, are you ready?
RANDALL Yes, my lord. I stand but on a few points. I shall have done presently. Before God, I have practised your lordship’s shift so well that I think I shall grow proud, my lord.
MORE
‘Tis fit thou shouldst wax proud, or else thou’lt ne‘er
Be near allied to greatness. Observe me, sirrah.
The learned clerk Erasmus is arrived
Within our English court. Last night, I hear,
He feasted with our English honoured poet
The Earl of Surrey, and I learned today
The famous clerk of Rotterdam will visit
Sir Thomas More. Therefore, sir, take my seat.
You are Lord Chancellor. Dress your behaviour
According to my carriage. But beware
You talk not overmuch, for ’twill betray thee.
Who prates not much seems wise, his wit few scan,
While the tongue blabs tales of the imperfect man.
I’ll see if great Erasmus can distinguish
Merit and outward ceremony.
Be near allied to greatness. Observe me, sirrah.
The learned clerk Erasmus is arrived
Within our English court. Last night, I hear,
He feasted with our English honoured poet
The Earl of Surrey, and I learned today
The famous clerk of Rotterdam will visit
Sir Thomas More. Therefore, sir, take my seat.
You are Lord Chancellor. Dress your behaviour
According to my carriage. But beware
You talk not overmuch, for ’twill betray thee.
Who prates not much seems wise, his wit few scan,
While the tongue blabs tales of the imperfect man.
I’ll see if great Erasmus can distinguish
Merit and outward ceremony.
RANDALL If I do not deserve a share for playing of your lordship well, let me be yeoman usher to your sumpter and be banished from wearing of a gold chain forever.
MORE
Well, sir, I’ll hide our motion. Act my part
With a firm boldness, and thou winn’st my heart.
Enter the Sheriff, with Falkner
(
a ruffian
)
and Officers
How now, what’s the matter?
With a firm boldness, and thou winn’st my heart.
Enter the Sheriff, with Falkner
(
a ruffian
)
and Officers
How now, what’s the matter?
FALKNER ⌈
to Officers
⌉ Tug me not; I’m no bear. ‘Sblood, if all the dogs in Paris Garden hung at my tail, I’d shake ’em off with this: that I’ll appear before no king christened but my good Lord Chancellor.
to Officers
⌉ Tug me not; I’m no bear. ‘Sblood, if all the dogs in Paris Garden hung at my tail, I’d shake ’em off with this: that I’ll appear before no king christened but my good Lord Chancellor.
SHERIFF We’ll christen you, sirrah.—Bring him forward.
MORE ⌈
to Falkner
⌉ How now, what tumults make you?
to Falkner
⌉ How now, what tumults make you?
FALKNER The azured heavens protect my noble Lord Chancellor!
MORE ⌈
to Sheriff
⌉ What fellow’s this?
to Sheriff
⌉ What fellow’s this?
SHERIFF A ruffian, my lord, that hath set half the city in an uproar.
FALKNER My lord—
SHERIFF There was a fray in Paternoster Row, and because they would not be parted the street was choked up with carts.
FALKNER My noble lord, Pannyer Alley’s throat was open.
MORE Sirrah, hold your peace.
FALKNER I’ll prove the street was not choked, but is as well as ever it was since it was a street.
SHERIFF This fellow was a principal broacher of the broil—
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