A Pleasant conceyted comedie of George a Greene, the Pinner of Wakefield. As it was sundry times acted by the seruants of the right Honourable the Earle of Sussex. Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford, for Cuthbert Burby: And are to be sold at his shop neere the Royall Exchange. 1599. 4to.

Reprinted in the different editions of Dodsley's Old Plays.

The measure of this drama is in many places mutilated, apparently by the dropping out of words.

THE PINNER* OF WAKEFIELD.

Enter the EARL OF KENDAL; with him the LORD BONFIELD, SIR GILBERT ARMSTRONG, [SIR NICHOLAS MANNERING,] and JOHN.

KEN. WELCOME to Bradford, martial gentlemen, Lord Bonfield, and sir Gilbert Armstrong both, And all my troops, even to my basest groom, Courage and welcome; for the day is ours. Our cause is good, it is for the land's avail: Then let us fight, and die for England's good. OMNES. We will, my lord.

KEN. As I am Henry Momford, Kendal's earl, You honour me with this assent of yours; And here upon my sword I make protest,

For to relieve the poor, or die myself.

And know, my lords, that James, the king of Scots, Wars hard upon the borders of this land:

Here is his post.

Say, John Taylor, what news with king James?

JOHN. War, my lord, [I] tell, and good news I trow; for king James vows to meet you the twentysixth of this month, God willing; marry doth he, sir. KEN. My friends, you see what we have to win.

*Pinner] Or Pindar; the keeper of the Pinfolds belonging to the common fields about Wakefield. Junius, in his Etymologicon, voce Pende, says: "Pende Includere. Ch. ab A. S. pennan pyndan idem significante. Hinc pinder, pinner, Qui pecora ultra fines vagantia septo includit." Mr. Steevens observes, that the figure of this rustic hero is still preserved on a sign at the bottom of Gray's-Inn-Lane.-Reed.

Well, John, commend me to king James, and tell him,
I will meet him the twenty-sixth of this month,
And all the rest; and so farewell.
[Exit John.
Bonfield, why stand'st thou as a man in dumps?
Courage; for if I win, I'll make thee duke.
I Henry Momford will be king myself,
And I will make thee duke of Lancaster,
And Gilbert Armstrong lord of Doncaster.

BON. Nothing, my lord, makes me amaz'd at all,
But that our soldiers find* our victuals scant.
We must make havoc of those country swains;
For so will the rest tremble and be afraid,
And humbly send provision to your camp.

ARM. My lord Bonfield gives good advice; They make a scorn and stand upon the king: So what is brought is sent from them perforce; Ask Mannering else.

KEN. What say'st thou, Mannering?

MAN. Whenas I shew'd your high commission, They made this answer,

Only to send provision for your horses.

KEN. Well, hie thee to Wakefield, bid the town

To send me all provision that I want;

Lest I, like martial Tamberlaine, lay waste

Their bordering countries, leaving † none alive

That contradicts my commission.

MAN. Let me alone, my lord, I'll make them vail

Their plumes;

For whatsoe'er he be, the proudest knight,

Justice, or other, that gainsay'th your word,
I'll clap him fast, to make the rest to fear.

KEN. Do so, Nick! hie thee thither presently,
And let us hear of thee again to-morrow.
MAN. Will you not remove, my lord?