SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE
For a period of five years, from 1597 to 1602, Drayton was a member of the stable of playwrights, who supplied material for the theatrical syndicate of Philip Henslowe. Henslowe’s Diary links Drayton’s name to twenty-three plays from that period, revealing that he almost always worked in collaboration with other Henslowe regulars, such as Thomas Dekker, Anthony Munday and Henry Chettle. Of these twenty-three plays, only one has survived: Sir John Oldcastle, which Drayton composed in collaboration with Munday, Robert Wilson, and Richard Hathwaye. The text shows no clear signs of Drayton’s hand; traits of style consistent through the entire corpus of his poetry (the rich vocabulary of plant names, star names, and other unusual words; the frequent use of original contractional forms, sometimes with double apostrophes, like “th’adult’rers” or “pois’ned’st”) are wholly absent from the text, suggesting that his contribution to the collaborative effort was not substantial. William Longsword, the one play that Henslowe’s Diary suggests was a solo Drayton effort, was never completed.
Sir John Oldcastle was soldier and Lollard dissenter, who was hanged and burned for heresy and treason in 1417 — thus earning himself the status of a Protestant martyr. The play was originally published anonymously in 1601, printed by Valentine Simmes for the bookseller Thomas Pavier. In 1619, a new edition carried an attribution to Shakespeare. An entry in Henslowe’s Diary records a later payment to Drayton for a second part to the play, which has not survived; because of this fact, the extant play has sometimes been called Sir John Oldcastle, Part I.
In 1664, the play was one of the seven dramas added to the second impression of the Shakespeare Third Folio by publisher Philip Chetwinde. Many believe that Shakespeare originally named his popular character Sir John Falstaff “John Oldcastle” after the same historical figure, and that Lord Cobham, a descendant of the real John Oldcastle, complained, forcing Shakespeare to change the name. There is both textual and external evidence for this belief. In Henry IV, Part One, Falstaff’s name is always unmetrical, suggesting a name change after the original composition; Prince Hal refers to Falstaff as “my old lad of the castle” in the first act of the play; the epilogue to Henry IV, Part II, moreover, explicitly disavows any connection between Falstaff and Oldcastle, a dancer declaring: “...where, for anything I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless already ‘a be killed with your hard opinions; for Oldcastle died a martyr and this is not the man”.
The original title page of the play
CONTENTS
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
THE PROLOGUE.
ACT I. SCENE I. Hereford. A street.
ACT I. SCENE II. Eltham. An antechamber in the palace.
ACT I. SCENE III. Kent. An outer court before lord Cobham’s house.
ACT II. SCENE I. The same.
ACT II. SCENE II. London. A room in the Axe Inn, without Bishop-gate.
ACT II. SCENE III. An audience-chamber in the palace at Eltham.
ACT III. SCENE I. An avenue leading to lord Cobham’s house in Kent.
ACT III. SCENE II. A road near Highgate.
ACT III. SCENE III. A high road in Kent.
ACT III. SCENE IV. Blackheath.
ACT IV. SCENE I. A field near London. King Henry’s camp.
ACT IV. SCENE II. A field of Battle near London.
ACT IV. SCENE III. Kent. Court before lord Cobham’s house.
ACT IV. SCENE IV. The entrance of the Tower.
ACT V. SCENE I. A room in lord Cobham’s house in Kent.
ACT V. SCENE II. A high road near St. Albans.
ACT V. SCENE III. St. Albans. The entrance of a carrier’s inn.
ACT V. SCENE IV. The same. A room in the carrier’s inn.
ACT V. SCENE V. The same. A street.
ACT V. SCENE VI. The same. Before the Carrier’s Inn. Enter Watch.
ACT V. SCENE VII. The same. The yard of the Inn.
ACT V. SCENE VIII. A wood near St. Albans.
ACT V. SCENE IX. St. Albans.
ACT V. SCENE X. Hertford. A Hall of Justice.
Portrait of Drayton by Sylvester Harding
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
King Henry the Fifth.
Sir John Old-castle, Lord Cobham.
Harpoole, Servant to the Lord Cobham.
Lord Herbert, with Gough his man.
Lord Powis, with Owen and Davy his men.
The Mayor of Hereford, and Sheriff of Herefordshire, with Bailiffs and Servants.
Two Judges of Assize.
The Bishop of Rochester and Clun his Sumner.
Sir John the Parson of Wrotham, and Doll his Concubine.
The Duke of Suffolk.
The Earl of Huntington.
The Earl of Cambridge.
Lord Scroop and Lord Grey.
Chartres the French Agent.
Sir Roger Acton.
Sir Richard Lee.
M. Bourn, M. Beverly, and Murley the Brewer of Dunstable, rebels.
M. Butler, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.
Lady Cobham and Lady Powis.
Cromer, Sheriff of Kent.
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Lieutenant of the Tower.
The Mayor, Constable, and Gaoler of S. Albans.
A Kentish Constable and an Ale-man.
Soldiers and old men begging.
Dick and Tom, servants to Murley.
An Irishman.
An Host, Hostler, a Carrier and Kate.
THE PROLOGUE.
The doubtful Title (Gentlemen) prefixt
Upon the Argument we have in hand,
May breed suspence, and wrongfully disturb
The peaceful quiet of your settled thoughts.
To stop which scruple, let this brief suffice:
It is no pampered glutton we present,
Nor aged Counsellor to youthful sin,
But one, whose virtue shone above the rest,
A valiant Martyr and a virtuous peer;
In whose true faith and loyalty expressed
Unto his sovereign, and his country’s weal,
We strive to pay that tribute of our Love,
Your favours merit. Let fair Truth be graced,
Since forged invention former time defaced.
ACT I. SCENE I. Hereford. A street.
[Enter Lord Herbert, Lord Powis, Owen, Gough, Davy, and several other followers of the lords Herbert and Powis; they fight. In the fight, enter the Sheriff and two of his men.]
SHERIFF.
My Lords, I charge ye in his Highness’ name,
To keep the peace, you, and your followers.
HERBERT.
Good Master Sheriff, look unto your self.
POWIS.
Do so, for we have other business.
[Profer to fight again.]
SHERIFF.
Will ye disturb the Judges, and the Assize?
Hear the King’s proclamation, ye were best.
POWIS.
Hold then, let’s hear it.
HERBERT.
But be brief, ye were best.
BAILIFF.
Oyes!
DAVY.
Cousin, make shorter O, or shall mar your Yes.
BAILIFF.
Oyes!
OWEN.
What, has her nothing to say but O yes?
BAILIFF.
Oyes!
DAVY.
O nay! pye Cosse plut down with her, down with her!
A Pawesse! a Pawesse!
GOUGH.
A Herbert! a Herbert! and down with Powis!
[Helter skelter again.]
SHERIFF.
Hold, in the King’s name, hold.
OWEN.
Down i’ tha knave’s name, down.
[In this fight, the Bailiff is knocked down, and the Sheriff and the other run away.]
HERBERT.
Powesse, I think thy Welsh and thou do smart.
POWIS.
Herbert, I think my sword came
near thy heart.
HERBERT.
Thy heart’s best blood shall pay the loss of mine.
GOUGH.
A Herbert! a Herbert!
DAVY.
A Pawesse! a Pawesse!
[As they are lifting their weapons, enter the Mayor of
Hereford, and his Officers and Towns-men with clubs.]
MAYOR.
My Lords, as you are liege men to the Crown,
True noblemen, and subjects to the King,
Attend his Highness’ proclamation,
Commanded by the Judges of Assize,
For keeping peace at this assembly.
HERBERT.
Good Master Mayor of Hereford be brief.
MAYOR.
Sergeant, without the ceremony of Oyes,
Pronounce aloud the proclamation.
SERVANT.
The King’s Justices, perceiving what public mischief may ensue this private quarrel, in his majesty’s name do straightly charge and command all persons, of what degree soever, to depart this city of Hereford, except such as are bound to give attendance at this Assize, and that no man presume to wear any weapon, especially welsh-hooks, forest bills —
OWEN.
Haw, no pill nor wells hoog? ha?
MAYOR.
Peace, and hear the proclamation.
SERVANT.
And that the Lord Powesse do presently disperse and discharge his retinue, and depart the city in the King’s peace, he and his followers, on pain of imprisonment.
DAVY.
Haw? pud her Lord Pawesse in prison? A Pawes!
A Pawesse! cossone live and tie with her Lord.
GOUGH.
A Herbert! a Herbert!
[In this fight the Lord Herbert is wounded, and falls to the ground; the Mayor and his company go away, crying clubs; Powesse runs away; Gough and other of Herbert’s faction busy themselves about Herbert; enter the two Judges in their robes, the Sheriff and his Bailiffs afore them, &c.]
FIRST JUDGE.
Where’s the Lord Herbert? is he hurt or slain?
SHERIFF.
He’s here, my Lord.
SECOND JUDGE.
How fares his Lordship, friends?
GOUGH.
Mortally wounded, speechless; he cannot live.
FIRST JUDGE.
Convey him hence; let not his wounds take air,
And get him dressed with expedition.
[Ex. Herbert & Gough.]
Master Mayor of Hereford, Master Shrieve o’ the shire,
Commit Lord Powesse to safe custody,
To answer the disturbance of the peace,
Lord Herbert’s peril, and his high contempt
Of us, and you the King’s commissioners.
See it be done with care and diligence.
SHERIFF.
Please it your Lordship, my Lord Powesse is gone
Past all recovery.
SECOND JUDGE.
Yet let search be made,
To apprehend his followers that are left.
SHERIFF.
There are some of them. Sirs, lay hold of them.
OWEN.
Of us? and why? what has her done, I pray you?
SHERIFF.
Disarm them, Bailiffs.
MAYOR.
Officers, assist.
DAVY.
Hear you, Lor shudge, what resson is for this?
OWEN.
Cosson pe puse for fighting for our Lord?
FIRST JUDGE.
Away with them.
DAVY.
Harg you, my Lord.
OWEN.
Gough my Lord Herbert’s man’s a shitten kanave.
DAVY.
Ise live and tie in good quarrel.
OWEN.
Pray you do shustice; let all be preson.
DAVY.
Prison! no.
Lord shudge, I wool give you pale, good suerty.
SECOND JUDGE.
What Bail? what sureties?
DAVY.
Her coozin ap Ries, ap Evan, ap Morris, ap Morgan, ap
Lluellyn, ap Madoc, ap Meredith, ap Griffen, ap Davy, ap
Owen, ap Shinken Shones.
SECOND JUDGE.
Two of the most sufficient are ynow.
SHERIFF.
And ‘t please your Lordship, these are all but one.
FIRST JUDGE.
To Jail with them, and the Lord Herbert’s men;
We’ll talk with them, when the Assize is done.
[Exeunt.]
Riotous, audacious, and unruly Grooms,
Must we be forced to come from the Bench,
To quiet brawls, which every Constable
In other civil places can suppress?
SECOND JUDGE.
What was the quarrel that caused all this stir?
SHERIFF.
About religion, as I heard, my Lord.
Lord Powesse detracted from the power of Rome,
Affirming Wickliffe’s doctrine to be true,
And Rome’s erroneous. Hot reply was made
By the lord Herbert, they were traitors all
That would maintain it: Powesse answered,
They were as true, as noble, and as wise
As he, that would defend it with their lives;
He named for instance sir John Old-castle
The Lord Cobham: Herbert replied again,
“He, thou, and all are traitors that so hold.”
The lie was given, the several factions drawn,
And so enraged, that we could not appease it.
FIRST JUDGE.
This case concerns the King’s prerogative,
And’s dangerous to the State and common wealth.
Gentlemen, Justices, master Mayor, and master Shrieve,
It doth behoove us all, and each of us
In general and particular, to have care
For suppressing of all mutinies,
And all assemblies, except soldiers’ musters
For the King’s preparation into France.
We hear of secret conventicles made,
And there is doubt of some conspiracies,
Which may break out into rebellious arms
When the King’s gone, perchance before he go:
Note as an instance, this one perilous fray;
What factions might have grown on either part,
To the destruction of the King and Realm.
Yet, in my conscience, sir John Old-castle,
Innocent of it, only his name was used.
We, therefore, from his Highness give this charge:
You, master Mayor, look to your citizens;
You, master Sheriff, unto your shire; and you
As Justices, in every one’s precinct,
There be no meetings. When the vulgar sort
Sit on their Ale-bench, with their cups and cans,
Matters of state be not their common talk,
Nor pure religion by their lips profaned.
Let us return unto the Bench again,
And there examine further of this fray.
[Enter a Bailiff and a Servant.]
SHERIFF.
Sirs, have ye taken the lord Powesse yet?
BAILIFF.
No, nor heard of him.
SERVANT.
No, he’s gone far enough.
SECOND JUDGE.
They that are left behind shall answer all.
[Exeunt.]
ACT I. SCENE II. Eltham. An antechamber in the palace.
[Enter Suffolk, Bishop of Rochester, Butler, parson of
Wrotham.]
SUFFOLK.
Now, my lord Bishop, take free liberty
To speak your mind: what is your suit to us?
BISHOP.
My noble Lord, no more than what you know,
And have been oftentimes invested with:
Grievous complaints have past between the lips
Of envious person
s to upbraid the Clergy,
Some carping at the livings which we have,
And others spurning at the ceremonies
That are of ancient custom in the church.
Amongst the which, Lord Cobham is a chief:
What inconvenience may proceed hereof,
Both to the King and to the commonwealth,
May easily be discerned, when like a frenzy
This innovation shall possess their minds.
These upstarts will have followers, to uphold
Their damned opinion, more than Harry shall
To undergo his quarrel gainst the French.
SUFFOLK.
What proof is there against them to be had,
That what you say the law may justify?
BISHOP.
They give themselves the name of Protestants,
And meet in fields and solitary groves.
SIR JOHN.
Was ever heard, my Lord, the like til now?
That thieves and rebels — sblood, heretics,
Plain heretics, I’ll stand tooth to their teeth —
Should have, to colour their vile practices,
A title of such worth as Protestant?
[Enter one with a letter.]
SUFFOLK.
O, but you must not swear; it ill becomes
One of your coat to rap out bloody oaths.
BISHOP.
Pardon him, good my Lord, it is his zeal;
An honest country prelate, who laments
To see such foul disorder in the church.
SIR JOHN.
There’s one — they call him Sir John Old-castle —
He has not his name for naught: for like a castle
Doth he encompass them within his walls;
But till that castle be subverted quite,
We ne’er shall be at quiet in the realm.
BISHOP.
That is not our suit, my Lord, that he be ta’en,
And brought in question for his heresy.
Beside, two letters brought me out of Wales,
Wherein my Lord Hereford writes to me,
What tumult and sedition was begun,
About the Lord Cobham at the Sises there,
(For they had much ado the calm the rage),
And that the valiant Herbert is there slain.
SUFFOLK.
A fire that must be quenched. Well, say no more,
The King anon goes to the counsel chamber,
There to debate of matters touching France:
As he doth pass by, I’ll inform his grace
Concerning your petition: Master Butler,
Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works Page 181