Act 2. Scene III - Page 2

highness to behold the fight.

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

KING HENRY VI
O God's name, see the lists and all things fit:
Here let them end it; and God defend the right!

YORK
I never saw a fellow worse bested,
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 sand-bag fastened to it; and at the other door PETER, his man, with a drum and sand-bag, 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 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.

HORNER
Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; and
a fig for Peter!
First 'Prentice Here, Peter, I drink to thee: and be not afraid.
Second 'Prentice Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight
for credit of the 'prentices.

PETER
I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray
you; for I think I have taken my last draught in
this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee
my apron: and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer:
and here, Tom, take all the money that I have. O
Lord bless me! I pray God! for I am never able to
deal with my master, he hath learnt me so much fence already.

SALISBURY
Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.
Sirrah, what's thy name?

PETER
Peter, forsooth.

SALISBURY
Peter! what more?

PETER
Thump.

SALISBURY
Thump! then see thou thump thy master well.

HORNER
Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's
instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an
honest man: and touching the Duke of York, I will
take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the
king, nor the queen: and therefore, Peter, have at
thee with a downright blow!

YORK
Dispatch: this knave's tongue begins to double.
Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants!

Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes him down

HORNER
Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.

Dies

YORK
Take away his weapon. Fellow, thank God, and the
good wine in thy master's way.

PETER
O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this presence?
O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!

KING HENRY VI
Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
For his death we do