chapel; they have been the death of many a fair ancient. Open your files, that I may take a view both of your persons and munition. Sergeant, call a muster. Serg. A stand!-William Hamerton, pewterer! Ham. Here, captain. Ralph. A corslet and a Spanish pike! 'tis well; Can you shake it with a terror? Ham. I hope so, captain. Ralph. Charge upon me.-'Tis with the weakest: Put more strength, William Hamerton, more strength. As you were again. Proceed, Sergeant. Serg. George Greengoose, poulterer! Green. Here! Ralph. Let me see your piece, neighbour Greengoose; when was she shot in? Green. An't like you, master captain, I made a shot even now, partly to scour her, and partly for audacity. Ralph. It should seem so certainly; for her breath is yet inflamed. Besides, there is a main fault in the touch-hole, it runs and stinketh: And I tell you moreover, and believe it, ten such touch-holes would breed the pox i' th' army. Get you a feather, neighbour, get you a feather, sweet oil, and paper, and your piece may do well enough yet. Where's your powder. Green. Here. Ralph. What, in a paper? as I am a soldier and a gentleman, it craves a martial court! You ought to die for't. Where's your horn? Answer me to that. Green. An't like you, sir, I was oblivious. Ralph. It likes me not you should be so; 'tis a shame for you, and a scandal to all our neighbours, being a man of worth and estimation, to leave your horn behind you: I am afraid 'twill breed example. But let me tell you, no more on't. Stand, till I view you all. What's become o' th' nose of your flask? 1 Sold. Indeed-la, captain, 'twas blown away with powder. Ralph. Put on a new one at the city's charge. Where's the stone of this piece? 2 Sold. The drummer took it out to light tobacco. Ralph. 'Tis a fault, my friend; put it in again. You want a nose, and you a stone; Sergeant, take a note on't, for I mean to stop it in the pay. Remove and march! [They march.] Soft and fair, gentlemen, soft and fair! Double your files; as you were! faces about!' Now, you with the sodden face, keep in there! Look to your match, sirrah, it will be in your fellow's flask anon. So; make a crescent now; advance your pikes; stand and give ear!-Gentlemen, countrymen, friends, and my fellow-soldiers, I have brought you this day from the shops of security, and the counters of content, to measure out in these furious fields, honour by the ell, and prowess by the pound. Let it not, oh, let it not, I say, be told hereafter, the noble issue of this city fainted; but bear yourselves in this fair action like men, valiant men, and free men! Fear not the face of the enemy, nor the noise of the guns; for, believe me, brethren, the rude rumbling of a brewer's cart is far more terrible, of which you have a daily experience: Neither let the stink of powder offend you, since a more valiant stink is nightly with Me 1 Faces about.] A common phrase, equivalent to the modern expression-face about. So in The Scornful Lady, (vol. (I. p. 262) "Cutting Morecraft, faces about I must present another." you. To a resolved mind, his home is every where: I speak not this to take away The hope of your return; for you shall see Your loving wives again, and your sweet children, I have no more to say but this: Stand to your tacklings, lads, and shew to the world, you can as well brandish a sword as shake an apron. Saint George, and on, my hearts! All Saint George, Saint George! [Exeunt.3 ⚫ And like a sort of true-born scavengers.] Sort is here used in its obsolete sense of company. So in The Spanish Tragedy: "Here are a sort of poor petitioners." 3 St George.] While we smile at this humorous account of the discipline practised by the citizens of London, it may not be unnecessary to recollect the behaviour of these same train-bands in the civil wars which ensued shortly afterwards, and especially at the battle of Newbury: "The London train-bands, and auxiliary regiment," says Lord Clarendon, "of whose inexperience of danger, or any kind of practice beyond the easy practice of their postures in the Artillery-garden, men had, till then, too cheap an estimation, behaved themselves to wonder, and were in truth the preservation of that army that day. For they stood as a bulwark and rampire to defend the rest; and when their wings of horse were scattered and dispersed, kept their ground so steadily, that though Prince Rupert himself led up the choice horse to charge them, and endured their storm of small shot, he could make no impression upon their stand of pikes, but was forced to wheel about; of such sovereign benefit and use is that readiness, order, and dexterity, in the use of their arms, which hath been so much neglected."—History of the Rebellion, Book II. "Wife. "Twas well done, Ralph! I'll send thee a cold capon a-field, and a bottle of March beer; and, it may be, come myself to see thee. "Cit. Nell, the boy hath deceived me much! I did not think it had been in him. He has performed such a matter, wench, that, if I live, next year I'll have him captain of the gallifoist, or I'll want my will." SCENE III. A Room in Old Merrythought's House. Enter Old MERRYTHOUGHT. Mer. Yet, I thank God, I break not a wrinkle more than I had. Not a stoop, boys? Care, live with cats: I defy thee! My heart is as sound as an oak; and though I want drink to wet my whistle, I can sing, [Sings. Come no more there, boys, come no more there ; For we shall never whilst we live come any more there. 3 Captain of the gallifoist.] Gallifoist was the old name for the Lord Mayor's barge.-Mason, Not a stoop, boys?] A vessel for drinking, deep and narrow. In Scotland and the north of England the word is still common. Enter a Boy, and two Men bringing in the Coffin, with LUCE in it. Boy. God save you, sir! Mer. It's a brave boy. Canst thou sing? Boy. Yes, sir, I can sing; but 'tis not so necessary at this time. Mer. Sing we, and chaunt it, Boy. Sir, sir, if you knew what I have brought you, you would have little list to sing. Mer. Oh, the mimon round, Full long I have thee sought, And now I have thee found, And what hast thou here brought? Boy. A coffin, sir, and your dead son Jasper in it. Mer. Dead? Why, farewell he! And I did love thee. Enter JASPER. Jasp. Then I pray you, sir, do so still. Mer. Jasper's ghost? [Sings, Thou art welcome from Stygian-lake so soon; Declare me what wondrous things in Pluto's court are done. |