Page 526 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Y ORK

Lords, let him go. - Please it your majesty,
This is the day appointed for the combat,
And ready are the appellant and defendant,
The armourer and his man, to enter the lists, [50]
So please your highness to behold the fight.

MARGARET

Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore
Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.

KING HENRY

A God’s name, see the lists and all things fit:
Here let them end it, and God defend the right! [55]

Y ORK

I never saw a fellow worse bestead
Or more afraid to fight than is the appellant,
The servant of this armourer, my lords.

Enter at one door [Horner] the armourer and his Neighbours, drinking to
him so much that he is drunk; and he enters with a Drum before him, and
his staff, with a sandbag fastened to it; and at the other door [Peter] his

man, with a Drum and sandbag, and Prentices drinking to him.

FIRST NEIGHBOUR

Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; and fear not,
neighbour, you shall [60] do well enough.

SECOND NEIGHBOUR

And here, neighbour, here’s a cup of charneco.

THIRD NEIGHBOUR

And here’s a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your
man. [65]

[Horner drinks with them.]

HORNER

Let it come, i’faith, and I’ll pledge you all; and a fig for Peter.