University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The Constables make hue and cry.
Con.
Theeues, neighbors, theeues, come forth, beset the country.

Prod.
Harke, list a while, what might this clamour be?

Dick.
Zwounds, we are vndone, Prodigalitie,
The Constables come after with hue and cry.

Tom.
O Cerberus, what shall we doe?

Prod.
Stand backe, lie close, and let them passe by.

Const.
Theeues, theeues! O vile! O detestable deed!
Theeues, neighbours: come forth, away, abroad with speed.

Host.
Where dwell these Constables?

Const.
Why? what's the matter, friend, I pray?

Host.
Why, theeues man, I tell thee, come away.
Theeues I faith, wife, my scull, my Iacke, my browne bill.

Const.
Come away quickly.

Host.
Dick, Tom, Will, ye hoorsons, make ye all ready, and haste apace after.
But let me heare, how stands the case?

Const.
Marrie, sir, here-by, not farre from this place,
A plaine simple man ryding on his Asse,
Meaning home to his Country in Gods peace to passe,
By certaine Roysters most furious and mad,
Is spoyled and robbed of all that he had.
And yet not contented, when they had his money,
But the villaynes haue also murder him most cruelly.

Host.
Good God for his mercy!

Const.
It was my hap to come then present by him,
And found him dead, with twenty wounds vpon him.

Host.
But what became of them?

Const.
They fled this way.

Host.
Then, neighbour, let vs here no longer stay,
But hence and lay the countrey round about.
They shall be quickly found, I haue no doubt.

Constable goes in.