 | The Works of Sir Henry Taylor |  |
Scene I.
—Ypres.—The Burgomaster of Ypres, with several Burghers of the French Faction, and Van Muck.Burgomaster.
Well, well, God bless us! have a care—oh me!
Be careful how thou speak'st; wear a white hat;
And ever, mind'st thou, when thou see'st Vauclaire,
Uncover and stand back.
Van Muck.
I will, your worship.
Burgomaster.
Nay, but thou must. And Roosdyk—speak him fair:
For, give him but a saucy word, he's out,
And twinkling me his dagger in the sun,
Says, “take you that,” and thou art dead for good.
Van Muck.
I'll speak him fair.
Burgomaster.
Nay, but I say thou shalt.
Tis a good rule to be more civil-spoken
Than wantonly be cut and stabb'd for nothing.
Van Muck.
'Tis so, your worship.
Burgomaster.
Cast not away thy life.
Van Muck.
'Tis as your worship pleases.
1st Burgher.
But if Vauclaire, or Roosdyk, on their rounds,
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Being strange-looking for a citizen,
What should he answer?
Burgomaster.
Say thou com'st from Dinand—
From Dinand, say, to sell Dinandery,
Pots, pitchers, mugs and beakers, and the like.
Van Muck.
Suppose I'm question'd where they are?
Burgomaster.
Thou'st sold 'em.
Say thou thank'st God. Say thou'rt a thriving man.
1st Burgher.
(aside to 2nd)
This matter will be out.
2nd Burgher.
Why so?
1st Burgher.
Good friend,
Did'st ever know a secret to lie close
Under a goose's wing?
2nd Burgher.
I think 'twill out.
'Twill surely out.
1st Burgher.
The frighten'd fox sits fast;
Folly with fear will flutter still and cackle. [Aloud.]
This will be known. I am for rising now,
Slaying Vauclaire and Roosdyk in their beds
Before they nose it, sounding through the streets
King Charles's pardon and the town's submission,
And so to present issue with it all.
Burgomaster.
Mercy! what foolishness will young men talk!
1st Burgher.
Under your favour—old men too at times.
3rd Burgher.
De Vry, a word. I marvel at thy rashness;
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Perchance a day,—nay, it may be this hour,
Or Van den Bosch will conquer at Commines,
Or the French force the passage. If the first,
In vain were this revolt, for Van den Bosch
Would quell us in a trice; and if the second,
Then were the time to rise, for all the town
Would then rise with us.
2nd Burgher.
In good time, Verstolken;
The axe's edge is turned toward us now,
And what shall save us if this mooncalf here
Should let his errand out?
Van Muck.
A mooncalf, I?
I am an honest man; I dare you, Sir,
To signify me other.
2nd Burgher.
Hold thy peace.
Whilst the French King is looked for at Commines
Too wise is Van den Bosch to break his strength
With sending soldiers hither. He but counts
Nine thousand men.
4th Burgher.
The double were too few
To be divided.
5th Burgher.
More than some two thousand
Would hardly march on Ypres should we thrive,
And if they did, what then? We'd bowl them down
Like ninepins.
2nd Burgher.
Nay, no fear of Van den Bosch;
He'll never waste his forces upon us
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Of Ypres fallen off will cheer the French,
Sicken the White-Hoods, and make sure the loss
Of that famed passage, which shall magnify
Our merits with King Charles.
Enter a Sixth Burgher.
6th Burgher.
Away, away!
Vauclaire has word of all you do; a troop
Despatch'd by Van den Bosch to give him aid
Is riding into town; Van Muck's commission
Is whisper'd of, and loudly.
Burgomaster.
There now, there!
I told you so—I told you this would come;
But still you talk'd of rising. Run, Van Muck,
Thou villain, run, and be not seen abroad
With honest citizens.
2nd Burgher.
Ay, get thee hence;
Best quit the town and make thy way to France.
Van Muck.
I will, your worships.
[Exit, but returns immediately.
Please you, Sir, they come;
The street is full of men-at-arms.
Burgomaster.
There—there!
I said so; there! and still you hearken'd not!
Oh Time and Tide! Oh wala-wa! Oh me!
3rd Burgher.
What shall we do?
2nd Burgher.
Van Muck, stand fast; they come:
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Burgomaster.
Say you sell pots.
Enter Vauclaire and Roosdyk, followed by a troop of Men-at-Arms.
Vauclaire.
Ah, Master Burgomaster, here thou art!
Roosdyk.
Make fast the doors.
Vauclaire.
And thou, Verstolken—nay!
Here's Goswin Hex, and Drimmelen, and Breero!
And thou, De Vry—Van Rosendaal, and thou!
How rare a thing is faith! Alas, my masters!
Here is a work you put me to!
Roosdyk.
Stand forth,
Master Van Muck! where art thou?—which is he?
3rd Burgher.
What is it, Sirs, you charge us with?
Roosdyk.
What think ye?
Say treason and I'll call you conjurors.
Vauclaire.
I have my orders—stand thou forth, Van Muck—
Which I must needs obey. What art thou, say?
Roosdyk.
A villain.
Van Muck.
No, Sirs, I am not a villain;
I am a travelling trader; I sell pots.
Roosdyk.
Thyself—a precious vessel!—that thou sell'st.
Where is the Provost Marshal? Hark you, Sir!
Put irons on them all, and give Van Muck
A taste of what you have.
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Hold off! what's this?
I am your master.
Roosdyk.
Knock him on the head;
Bid him be patient.
Vauclaire.
I am amazed at this!
So sweetly as you all demean'd yourselves!
A guileful world we live in! God forgive us!
Make fast the gyves and take them off to gaol.
Burgomaster.
Sirs, hear me, oh!
Roosdyk.
Gag me this grey-beard!
Burgomaster.
Oh!
1st Burgher.
Thank God!
Vauclaire.
The Stadt-house. You shall all be heard
Except Van Muck, whose treason is too rank
To be excused. My orders I obey;
First to the rack they doom him, then to the block.
Van Muck.
Oh! mercy, Sirs; I'm not a traitor; no,
I'll tell it all.
Roosdyk.
That shalt thou, or the rack
Is not so good a singing-master now
As it was wont to be.
Van Muck.
Oh Lord! oh Lord!
[He is taken out.
Vauclaire.
Bring them away: the Stadt-house—hear them there,
Each by himself. Bring them away at once;
Keep them apart and let them not have speech
One of another.
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If any man make signs,
Despatch him on the spot. Master Vauclaire,
We follow you.
| The Works of Sir Henry Taylor | |