Gary Taylor, John Jowett, Terri Bourus, and Gabriel Egan (eds), The New Oxford Shakespeare: Modern Critical Edition
Main Text
Sc. 2
Here enter Greene and Bradshaw1bradshaw See you them that comes yonder, Master Greene?
3bradshaw The one I know not, but he seems a knave,
4Chiefly for bearing the other company;
5For such a slave, so vile a rogue as he,
Editor’s Note6Lives not again upon the earth.
7Black Will is his name. I tell you, Master Greene,
Editor’s Note8At Boulogne he and I were fellow soldiers,
9Where he played such pranks
pg 13810As all the camp feared him for his villainy.
Editor’s Note11I warrant you he bears so bad a mind
Editor’s Note12That for a crown he'll murder any man.
[Then Bradshaw makes to leave]15bradshaw O Will, times are changed: no fellows now,
Editor’s Note16Though we were once together in the field;
17Yet thy friend to do thee any good I can.
18will Why, Bradshaw, was not thou and I fellow soldiers at Boulogne, Editor’s Note19where I was a corporal and thou but a base mercenary groom? 'No 20fellows now' because you are a goldsmith and have a little plate in Editor’s Note21your shop? You were glad to call me 'fellow Will' and, with a curtsy Editor’s Note22to the earth, 'One snatch, good corporal' when I stole the half ox from Editor’s Note23John the victualler and domineered with it amongst good fellows in 24one night.
25bradshaw Ay, Will, those days are past with me.
Editor’s Note26will Ay, but they be not past with me—
27for I keep that same honourable mind still. Good neighbour Bradshaw, 28you are too proud to be my fellow; but, were it not that I see more 29company coming down the hill, I would be fellows with you once Editor’s Note30more, and share crowns with you too. But let that pass, and tell me 31whither you go.
32bradshaw To London, Will, about a piece of service
33Wherein haply thou mayst pleasure me.
34will What is it?
Editor’s Note35bradshaw Of late Lord Cheyne lost some plate,
36Which one did bring and sold it at my shop,
Editor’s Note37Saying he served Sir Anthony Cooke.
38A search was made, the plate was found with me,
Editor’s Note39And I am bound to answer at the 'size.
40Now Lord Cheyne solemnly vows, if law will serve him, he'll hang 41me for his plate. Now I am going to London upon hope to find the Editor’s Note42fellow. Now, Will, I know thou art acquainted with such companions.
Editor’s Note44bradshaw A lean-faced, writhen knave,
45Hawk-nosed and very hollow-eyed,
Editor’s Note46With mighty furrows in his stormy brows,
Editor’s Note47Long hair down to his shoulders curled;
pg 13948His chin was bare, but on his upper lip
49A moustache, which he wound about his ear.
50will What apparel had he?
Editor’s Note51bradshaw A watchet satin doublet all to-torn,
Editor’s Note52(The inner side did bear the greater show);
Editor’s Note53A pair of threadbare velvet hose, seam rent;
Editor’s Note54A worsted stocking rent above the shoe;
55A livery cloak, but all the lace was off—
56'Twas bad, but yet it served to hide the plate.
Editor’s Note57will [aside to Shakebag] Sirrah Shakebag, canst thou remember since 58we trolled the bowl at Sittingbourne, where I broke the tapster's head Editor’s Note59of the Lion with a cudgel-stick?
60shakebag [aside to Will] Ay, very well, Will.
61will [aside to Shakebag] Why, it was with the money that the plate 62was sold for. [Aloud] Sirrah Bradshaw, what wilt thou give him that 63can tell thee who sold thy plate?
Editor’s Note65will Why, 'twas one Jack Fitten. He's now in Newgate for stealing a 66horse, and shall be arraigned the next 'size.
67bradshaw Why then, let Lord Cheyne seek Jack Fitten forth, for I'll 68back and tell him who robbed him of his plate. This cheers my Editor’s Note69heart. Master Greene, I'll leave you, for I must to the Isle of Sheppey 70with speed.
71greene Before you go, let me entreat you to carry this letter to 72Mistress Arden of Faversham, and humbly recommend me to herself.
[Then he gives Bradshaw a letter]73bradshaw That will I, Master Greene, and so farewell.
[Then he gives Will money]74Here Will, there's a crown for thy good news.
Editor’s Note75will Farewell, Bradshaw. I'll drink no water for thy sake whilst this lasts.
Exit Bradshaw.76Now, gentleman, shall we have your company to London?
77greene Nay, stay, sirs.
78A little more I needs must use your help,
79And in a matter of great consequence—
Editor’s Note80Wherein, if you'll be secret and profound,
Editor’s Note81I'll give you twenty angels for your pains.
82will How? Twenty angels? Give my fellow George Shakebag and me 83twenty angels, and, if thou'lt have thy own father slain that thou 84mayst inherit his land, we'll kill him.
85shakebag Ay, thy mother, thy sister, thy brother, or all thy kin.
pg 140 86greene Well, this it is: Arden of Faversham
87Hath highly wronged me about the Abbey land,
Editor’s Note88That no revenge but death will serve the turn.
Editor’s Note89Will you two kill him? Here's the angels down,
Editor’s Note90And I will lay the platform of his death.
Editor’s Note91will Plat me no platforms! Give me the money, and I'll stab him as 92he stands pissing against a wall, but I'll kill him.
93shakebag Where is he?
95shakebag He's dead as if he had been condemned by an act of 96Parliament, if once Black Will and I swear his death.
97greene Here is ten pound;
[Then he gives them money]and, when he is dead, ye shall have twenty more.
98will My fingers itches to be at the peasant. Ah, that I might be set 99awork thus through the year, and that murder would grow to an Editor’s Note100occupation, that a man might work without danger of law—'swounds, Editor’s Note101I warrant I should be warden of the company! Come, let us be going, Editor’s Note102and we'll bait at Rochester, where I'll give thee a gallon of sack to handsel 103the match withal.
Exeunt
