SCENE I.--_At Bradford.

_Enter_ KING EDWARD _and_ KING JAMES _disguised; each carrying a staff._

_K. Edw._ Come on, King James; now we are thus disguis'd, There's none, I know, will take us to be kings: I think we are now in Bradford, Where all the merry shoemakers dwell.

_Enter several_ Shoemakers.

_First Shoe._ Down with your staves, my friends, Down with them.

_K. Edw._ Down with our staves! I pray thee, why so?

_First Shoe._ My friend, I see thou art a stranger here, Else wouldst thou not have question'd of the thing. This is the town of merry Bradford, And here hath been a custom kept of old, That none may bear his staff upon his neck, But trail it all along throughout the town, Unless they mean to have a bout with me.

_K. Edw._ But hear you, sir, hath the king granted you this custom?

_First Shoe._ King or kaisar, none shall pass this way, Except King Edward; No, not the stoutest groom that haunts his court; Therefore down with your staves.

_K. Edw._ What were we best to do?

_K. James._ Faith, my lord, they are stout fellows; And, because we will see some sport, We will trail our staves.

_K. Edw._ Hear'st thou, my friend? Because we are men of peace and travellers, We are content to trail our staves.

_First Shoe._ The way lies before you, go along.

_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ GEORGE-A-GREENE, _disguised._

_Rob._ See, George, two men are passing through the town, Two lusty men, and yet they trail their staves.

_Geo._ Robin, they are some peasants trick'd in yeoman's weeds.-- Hollo, you two travellers!

_K. Edw._ Call you us, sir?

_Geo._ Ay, you. Are ye not big enough to bear Your bats upon your necks, but you must trail them Along the streets?

_K. Edw._ Yes, sir, we are big enough; but here is a custom kept, That none may pass, his staff upon his neck, Unless he trail it at the weapon's point. Sir, we are men of peace, and love to sleep In our whole skins, and therefore quietness is best.

_Geo._ Base-minded peasants, worthless to be men! What, have you bones and limbs to strike a blow, And be your hearts so faint you cannot fight? Were't not for shame, I would drub your shoulders well, And teach you manhood 'gainst another time.

_First Shoe._ Well preach'd, Sir Jack! down with your staff!

_K. Edw._ Do you hear, my friends? an you be wise, keep down Your staves, for all the town will rise upon you.

_Geo._ Thou speakest like an honest, quiet fellow: But hear you me; in spite of all the swains Of Bradford town, bear me your staves upon your necks, Or, to begin withal, I'll baste you both so well, You were never better basted in your lives.

_K. Edw._ We will hold up our staves. [GEORGE-A-GREENE _fights with the_ Shoemakers, _and beats them all down._

_Geo._ What, have you any more? Call all your town forth, cut and longtail.[318] [_The_ Shoemakers _recognise_ GEORGE-A-GREENE.

_First Shoe._ What, George a-Greene, is it you? A plague found[319] you! I think you long'd to swinge me well. Come, George, we will crush a pot before we part.

_Geo._ A pot, you slave! we will have an hundred.-- Here, Will Perkins, take my purse; fetch me A stand of ale, and set in the market-place, That all may drink that are athirst this day; For this is for a fee to welcome Robin Hood To Bradford town. [_The stand of ale is brought out, and they fall a-drinking._ Here, Robin, sit thou here; For thou art the best man at the board this day. You that are strangers, place yourselves where you will. Robin, here's a carouse to good King Edward's self; And they that love him not, I would we had The basting of them a little.

_Enter the_ EARL OF WARWICK _with other_ Noblemen, _bringing out the_ King's _garments; then_ GEORGE-A-GREENE _and the rest kneel down to the_ King.

_K. Edw._ Come, masters, ale--fellows.--Nay, Robin, You are the best man at the board to-day.-- Rise up, George.

_Geo._ Nay, good my liege, ill-nurtur'd we were, then: Though we Yorkshire men be blunt of speech, And little skill'd in court or such quaint fashions, Yet nature teacheth us duty to our king; Therefore I humbly beseech you pardon George-a-Greene.

_Rob._ And, good my lord, a pardon for poor Robin; And for us all a pardon, good King Edward.

_First Shoe._ I pray you, a pardon for the shoemakers.

_K. Edw._ I frankly grant a pardon to you all: [_They rise._ And, George-a-Greene, give me thy hand; There's none in England that shall do thee wrong. Even from my court I came to see thyself; And now I see that fame speaks naught but truth.

_Geo._ I humbly thank your royal majesty. That which I did against the Earl of Kendal, 'Twas but a subject's duty to his sovereign, And therefore little merits such good words.

_K. Edw._ But ere I go, I'll grace thee with good deeds. Say what King Edward may perform, And thou shalt have it, being in England's bounds.

_Geo._ I have a lovely leman, As bright of blee as is the silver moon, And old Grime her father will not let her match With me, because I am a Pinner, Although I love her, and she me, dearly.

_K. Edw._ Where is she?

_Geo._ At home at my poor house, And vows never to marry unless her father Give consent; which is my great grief, my lord.

_K. Edw._ If this be all, I will despatch it straight; I'll send for Grime and force him give his grant: He will not deny King Edward such a suit.

_Enter_ JENKIN.

_Jen._ Ho, who saw a master of mine? O, he is gotten into company, an a body should rake hell for company.

_Geo._ Peace, ye slave! see where King Edward is.

_K. Edw._ George, what is he?

_Geo._ I beseech your grace pardon him; he is my man.

_First Shoe._ Sirrah, the king hath been drinking with us, and did pledge us too.

_Jen._ Hath he so? kneel; I dub you gentlemen.

_First Shoe._ Beg it of the king, Jenkin.

_Jen._ I will.--I beseech your worship grant me one thing.

_K. Edw._ What is that?

_Jen._ Hark in your ear. [_Whispers_ K. EDW. _in the ear._

_K. Edw._ Go your ways, and do it.

_Jen._ Come, down on your knees, I have got it.

_First Shoe._ Let us hear what it is first.

_Jen._ Marry, because you have drunk with the king, and the king hath so graciously pledged you, you shall be no more called Shoemakers; but you and yours, to the world's end, shall be called the trade of the Gentle Craft.

_First Shoe._ I beseech your majesty reform this which he hath spoken.

_Jen._ I beseech your worship consume this which he hath spoken.

_K. Edw._ Confirm it, you would say.-- Well, he hath done it for you, it is sufficient.-- Come, George, we will go to Grime, and have thy love.

_Jen._ I am sure your worship will abide; for yonder is coming old Musgrove and mad Cuddy his son.--Master, my fellow Wily comes dressed like a woman, and Master Grime will marry Wily. Here they come.

_Enter_ MUSGROVE _and_ CUDDY; GRIME, WILY _disguised as a woman,_ MAID MARIAN, _and_ BETTRIS.

_K. Edw._ Which is thy old father, Cuddy?

_Cud._ This, if it please your majesty. [MUSGROVE _kneels._

_K. Edw._ Ah, old Musgrove, stand up; It fits not such grey hairs to kneel.

_Mus._ [_rising_]. Long live my sovereign! Long and happy be his days! Vouchsafe, my gracious lord, a simple gift At Billy Musgrove's hand. King James at Middleham Castle gave me this; This won the honour, and this give I thee. [_Gives sword to_ K. EDW.

_K. Edw._ Godamercy, Musgrove, for this friendly gift; And, for thou fell'dst a king with this same weapon, This blade shall here dub valiant Musgrove knight.

_Mus._ Alas, what hath your highness done? I am poor.

_K. Edw._ To mend thy living take thou Middleham Castle, And hold of me. And if thou want living, complain; Thou shalt have more to maintain thine estate.-- George, which is thy love?

_Geo._ This, if please your majesty.

_K. Edw._ Art thou her aged father?

_Grime._ I am, an it like your majesty.

_K. Edw._ And wilt not give thy daughter unto George?

_Grime._ Yes, my lord, if he will let me marry with this lovely lass.

_K. Edw._ What say'st thou, George?

_Geo._ With all my heart, my lord, I give consent.

_Grime._ Then do I give my daughter unto George.

_Wily._ Then shall the marriage soon be at an end. Witness, my lord, if that I be a woman; [_Throws off his disguise._ For I am Wily, boy to George-a-Greene, Who for my master wrought this subtle shift.

_K. Edw._ What, is it a boy?--what say'st thou to this, Grime?

_Grime._ Marry, my lord, I think this boy hath More knavery than all the world besides. Yet am I content that George shall both have My daughter and my lands.

_K. Edw._ Now, George, it rests I gratify thy worth: And therefore here I do bequeath to thee, In full possession, half that Kendal hath; And what as Bradford holds of me in chief, I give it frankly unto thee for ever. Kneel down, George.

_Geo._ What will your majesty do?

_K. Edw._ Dub thee a knight, George.

_Geo._ I beseech your grace, grant me one thing.

_K. Edw._ What is that?

_Geo._ Then let me live and die a yeoman still: So was my father, so must live his son. For 'tis more credit to men of base degree, To do great deeds, than men of dignity.

_K. Edw._ Well, be it so, George.

_K. James._ I beseech your grace despatch with me, And set down my ransom.

_K. Edw._ George-a-Greene, Set down the King of Scots his ransom.

_Geo._ I beseech your grace pardon me; It passeth my skill.

_K. Edw._ Do it, the honour's thine.

_Geo._ Then let King James make good Those towns which he hath burnt upon the borders; Give a small pension to the fatherless, Whose fathers he caus'd murder'd in those wars; Put in pledge for these things to your grace, And so return.

_K. Edw._ King James, are you content?

_K. James._ I am content, an like your majesty, And will leave good castles in security.

_K. Edw._ I crave no more.--Now, George-a-Greene, I'll to thy house; and when I have supt, I'll go To ask and see if Jane-a-Barley be so fair As good King James reports her for to be. And for the ancient custom of _Vail staff_, Keep it still, claim privilege from me: If any ask a reason why, or how, Say, English Edward vail'd his staff to you. [_Exeunt omnes._

APPENDIX

THE JOLLY PINDER OF WAKEFIELD WITH ROBIN HOOD, SCARLET AND JOHN.

In Wakefield there lives a jolly pindèr, in Wakefield all on a green, in Wakefield all on a green;

There is neither knight nor squire, said the pindèr, nor baron that is so bold, nor baron that is so bold;

Dare make a trespàss to the town of Wakefield, but his pledge goes to the pinfold, &c.

All this be heard three witty young men, 'twas Robin Hood, Scarlet and John, &c.

With that they espy'd the jolly pindèr, as he sat under a thorn, &c.

Now turn again, turn again, said the pindèr, for a wrong way you have gone, &c.

For you have forsaken the king's high-way, and made a path over the corn, &c.

O that were great shame, said jolly Robin, we being three, and thou but one, &c.

The pinder leapt back then thirty good foot, 'twas thirty good foot and one, &c.

He leaned his back fast unto a thorn, and his foot against a stone, &c.

And there they fought a long summer's day, a summer's day so long, &c.

Till that their swords on their broad bucklèrs, were broke fast into their hands, &c.

Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said bold Robin Hood, and my merry men everyone, &c.

For this is one of the best pindèrs, that ever I tryed with sword, &c.

And wilt thou forsake thy pinder's craft, and live in the green-wood with me? &c.

At Michaelmas next my cov'nant comes out, when every man gathers his fee, &c.

I'll take my blew blade all in my hand And plod to the green-wood with thee, &c.

Hast thou either meat or drink? said Robin Hood, for my merry men and me, &c.

I have both bread and beef, said the pindèr, and good ale of the best, &c.

And that is meat good enough, said Robin Hood, for such unbidden guest, &c.

O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft, and go to the green-wood with me? &c.

Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year, the one green, the other brown, &c.

If Michaelmas day was come and gone, and my master had paid me my fee, and my master had paid me my fee,

Then would I set as little by him, as my master doth by me, as my master doth by me.

NOTES

[1] In his _Elizabethan Drama_, ii. 376.

[2] As does Ingram in his _Christopher Marlowe and his Associates._

[3] Nash repeatedly bears witness to Greene's popularity. "In a night and a day would he have yarkt up a pamphlet as well as in seven year, and glad was that printer that might be so blest to pay him dear for the very dregs of his wit" (_Strange News_). Harvey condemns him for "putting forth new, newer, and newest books of the maker" (_Four Letters_). Greene remained popular long after his death. In Sir Thomas Overbury's "Character" of _A Chambermaid_, he tells us "She reads Greene's works over and over"; and Anthony Wood informs us that since Greene's time his works "have been mostly sold on ballad-mongers' stalls." In the introduction to Rowland's _'Tis Merrie when Gossips meete_ (1602), (_Hunterian Club Publications_, vol. i.) there is a dialogue indicating that Greene's works are still in demand. Ben Jonson in _Every Man out of his Humour_ (1599) alludes to Greene's works, whence one "may steal with more security," referring undoubtedly, as does Rowland, to the great mass of Greene's published work.

[4] Upon which Nash comments: "Let other men (as they please) praise the mountain that in seven years brings forth a mouse, or the Italianate pen, that of a packet of pilfries, affordeth the press a pamphlet or two in an age, and then in dignified array, vaunts Ovid's and Plutarch's plumes as their own; but give me the man, whose extemporal vein in any humour, will excel our greatest art master's deliberate thoughts; whose invention quicker than his eye, will challenge the proudest rhetorician, to the contention of like perfection, with like expedition."--(Prefatory Address to Greene's _Menaphon_.)

[5] "But I thank God that he put it in my head, to lay open the most horrible cosenages of the common Conny-catchers, Coseners, and Cross-biters, which I have indifferently handled in those my several discourses already imprinted. And my trust is that these discourses will do great good, and be very beneficial to the commonwealth of England."--_The Repentance of Robert Greene._

[6] It is regretfully that one recognises that Collins does not belong at the head of this list. The surprising defects of the long-awaited definitive edition of Greene must now speak for themselves; its manifest excellences are well able to do so.

[7] Writing in _Notes and Queries_, 1905.

[8] _Menaphon_ was probably written a year or so earlier, but Nash's address was probably dated from the year of publication.

[9] If we are to believe that _Edward III._ is Marlowe's play the reference of this passage to Marlowe is made certain, for Greene ridicules the words 'Ave Cæsar' that occur in the play. The only other play in which the words are known to occur is _Orlando Furioso_ by Greene himself. It would be too much to say that their use there is in ridicule of Marlowe, though even that is possible.

[10] It may be, though it is not certain, that Greene was attacking Marlowe in the epistle prefixed to his _Farewell to Folly_ (1591), in which he tells the gentleman students that his _Mourning Garment_ had been so popular that the pedlar found the books "too dear for his pack, that he was fain to bargain for the life of Tomliuclin to wrap up his sweet powders in those unsavoury papers." If "Tomliuclin" is a misprint for Tamburlaine this is Greene's most direct and spiteful attack on Marlowe.

[11] Gayley, _Representative English Comedies_, p. 410.

[12] _Orlando Furioso_, ii. 76-79; _Old Wives' Tale_, ii. 808-811.

[13] See Storojenko, Huth Library, vol. I., p. 235, and Gayley, _Representative English Comedies_, p. 412.

[14] Greene's satirical use in _Never too Late_ of the words "Ave Cæsar," which occur in _Edward III._, Act i. Sc. I, and his connecting of them with a cobbler, seem to constitute Fleay's case. The matter has already been mentioned in connection with Greene's jealousy of Marlowe. The latest editor of _Edward III._, C. F. Tucker Brooke, in _The Shakespeare Apocrypha_, ignores the supposition that the play may be by Marlowe and dismisses the theory that it was by two hands. He puts forward the claims of Peele, not, however, with great weight.

[15] And for another expression of the same idea see _Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay,_ p. 264.

[16] The refrain, "O, what is love! it is some mighty power," occurs with almost a lyric note in _George-a-Greene._

[17] _The Old Dramatists--Greene and Peele_, p. 603.

[18] For comment on this _see_ p. lviii.

[19] Though we accept the theory of the early composition of _A Looking-Glass_ we fail to follow the arguments of Fleay and Gayley, derived from the introduction of _Perimedes_ (licensed 29th March 1588), that in "the mad priest of the sun," mentioned in connection with Atheist Tamburlaine, Greene can have any reference to the priests of Rasni in Act iv. Scene 3. Certainly Greene could not have held up such tame heroics for comparison with Marlowe's vigorous declamation. Careful scrutiny fails to show that Greene was mentioning a work of his own. The mad priests of the sun would seem rather to be other products of the pen of Marlowe, or to be the work of some other dramatist, possibly Kyd, whom, with Marlowe, Greene was attacking. (_See_ Koeppel in Herrig's _Archiv_, 102, p. 357.)

[20] Particularly the parts of Adam, Smith, and Alcon. It is hard to suppose that Spenser in his line, "pleasing Alcon," in the _Tears of the Muses_ (1591), could have been referring to Lodge.

[21] As to date of the play we can say only that if Greene's it must be the last one of his extant workmanship. It would not be safe to draw conclusions from the mention of _George-a-Greene_ in Tarlton's _News out of Purgatory_, as Tarlton was probably alluding to the source of the narrative used by Greene. Nor does the mention of "martial Tamburlaine" in the first scene help further than to indicate that the play was written after 1587.

[22] This name was, however, quite common in this sense, Peele himself using it in his _Farewell_ and in _Polyhymnia_.

[23] The reference is to the edition in _The Shakespeare Apocrypha_.

[24] Compare this with a line in _James IV._ (Act ii. Sc. I). "Better, than live unchaste, to lie in grave."

[25] _See_ Gayley, _Representative English Comedies_, p. 422. Opinion to-day seems strongly to favour the theory that it was Nash to whom Greene referred in the famous passage in _A Groatsworth of Wit_, and not Lodge. Considerations of age, of personal association, of the comparative gifts of satire of Nash and Lodge strengthen this view. Nash helped Marlowe in the composition of a tragedy; why not Greene in the composition of a comedy?

[26] disdain: often used.

[27] Such repetition is common, see pp. 37, 188, 190.

[28] Use.

[29] Often used for "where," as "whenas" is used for "when."

[30] Boast.

[31] A false quantity.

[32] Another false quantity.

[33] Attained the position of.

[34] Simple, rude.

[35] Lest; often so used.

[36] Here and on p. 59 used in the sense of "neglect" or "refrain from."

[37] Care.

[38] It should be remembered that the scene divisions are not made by Greene.

[39] In Elizabethan writers this term is used in both genders to express general relationship. Here it means cousin.

[40] Strive, contend.

[41] Upbraid.

[42] Same as "vile."

[43] Resent.

[44] In the use of the descending throne, trap-door, property tomb, balcony and curtain, as well as in plastic use of scenes (pp. 42 and 248) Greene illustrates the best practice of his time.

[45] Advise.

[46] Here clearly a change of scene is supposed. Between the two scenes the Quarto has only this stage direction to Fausta: "Make as though you were a-going out, _Medea_ meet her and say." As some time is supposed to elapse between the two scenes they are here differentiated. Such is not the case in _George-a-Greene_ (p. 439) in which the action goes right on in two settings.

[47] Prepared.

[48] Among Elizabethan playwrights the use of the names of English institutions, prisons, cathedrals and inns, in foreign scene-settings, is quite common.

[49] Evidently a reminiscence of I Kings xviii. 27.

[50] Sex.

[51] A false quantity.

[52] Dyce's query "loadstar" is adopted instead of "load-stone" of the quarto.

[53] Over-scrupulous.

[54] Exult, strut.

[55] From this line we are made to conclude that Greene intended to write a second part of _Alphonsus of Arragon._

[56] Lover.

[57] Beat back.

[58] Degree.

[59] Beauty.

[60] Because.

[61] Dyce's suggestion is accepted instead of "either" of the quartos.

[62] Pearls.

[63] Foolish.

[64] In rearranging a corrupt text Dyce made "Clown" and "Adam" two distinct persons. It is clear from the first sentence in Act iv., Scene 4, that they are identical. Clown's first three speeches are given in the first four quartos to Smith, meaning Adam, the Smith's man. It should be noticed that First Ruffian calls Adam "smith," and "this paltry smith."

[65] The same pun occurs in _Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay_, Act IV.,