John. No, no.  I suppose you see we are able to send you going, and all the people of your parish, and come through your town when we will; but, since you have stopped us here, we are content.  You see we have encamped here, and here we will live.  We hope you will furnish us with victuals.

     Const. We furnish you!  What mean you by that?

     John. Why, you would not have us starve, would you?  If you stop
     us here, you must keep us.

     Const. You will be ill kept at our maintenance.

     John. If you stint us, we shall make ourselves the better
     allowance.

     Const. Why, you will not pretend to quarter upon us by force,
     will you?

John. We have offered no violence to you yet, why do you seem to oblige us to it?  I am an old soldier, and cannot starve; and, if you think that we shall be obliged to go back for want of provisions, you are mistaken.

     Const. Since you threaten us, we shall take care to be strong
     enough for you.  I have orders to raise the county upon you.

     John. It is you that threaten, not we; and, since you are for
     mischief, you cannot blame us if we do not give you time for it.  We
     shall begin our march in a few minutes.

     Const. What is it you demand of us?

John. At first we desired nothing of you but leave to go through the town.  We should have offered no injury to any of you, neither would you have had any injury or loss by us.  We are not thieves, but poor people in distress, and flying from the dreadful plague in London, which devours thousands every week.  We wonder how you can be so unmerciful.

     Const. Self-preservation obliges us.

     John. What!  To shut up your compassion, in a case of such
     distress as this?

     Const. Well, if you will pass over the fields on your left hand,
     and behind that part of the town, I will endeavor to have gates
     opened for you.

John. Our horsemen cannot pass with our baggage that way.  It does not lead into the road that we want to go, and why should you force us out of the road?  Besides, you have kept us here all day without any provisions but such as we brought with us.  I think you ought to send us some provisions for our relief.

     Const. If you will go another way, we will send you some
     provisions.

     John. That is the way to have all the towns in the county stop up
     the ways against us.

     Const. If they all furnish you with food, what will you be the
     worse?  I see you have tents:  you want no lodging.

     John. Well, what quantity of provisions will you send us?