wretch Let him be hangd aliue in the high way that ioyneth to the power Don. Aliue or deade I reck not how I die You them and these I desperately defie Ely Repent or neuer looke to be absolu'd But die accurst as thou deseruest well Don. Then giue me my desert curse one by one Ely First I accurse thee and if thou persist Unto damnation leaue thee wretched man Don. What doe I care for your damnation Am I not doom'd to death what more damnation Can there insue your loud and yelling cryes Pri. Yes diuell heare thy fellowe spirit speake Who would repent O faine he would repent After this bodies bitter punishment There is an euer-during endlesse woe A quenchlesse fire an vnconsuming paine Which desperate soules and bodies must indure Don. Can you preach this yet set me on sir Prior To runne into this endlesse quenchlesse fier Pri. High heauens shewe mercie to my many ils Neuer had this bene done but like a fiend Thou temptedst me with ceaselesse diuelish thoughts Therefore I curse with bitternesse of soule The hower wherein I saw thy balefull eyes My eyes I curse for looking on those eyes My eares I curse for harkning to thy tongue I curse thy tongue for tempting of myne eares Each part I curse that wee call thine or mine Thine for enticing mine mine following thine Don. A holy prayer what Collect haue we next This time Robin stirres Fitz. My Marian wanteth words such is her woe But old Fitzwater for his girle and him Begs nothing but worlds plague for such a foe Which causelesse harmd a vertuous noble man A pitier of his griefes when he felt griefe Therefore be thee of thy hatefull deede Thou faithlesse Prior and thou this ruthlesse theefe Pri. Will no man curse me giuing so much cause Then Doncaster our selues our selues accurse And let no good betide to thee or mee All the yeomen Frier Much Iinny cry All Amen amen accursed may ye bee For murdring Robin flower of curtesie Robin sits vp Rob. O ring not such a peale for Robins death Let sweete forgiuenesse be my passing bell Art thou there Marian then fly forth my breath To die with in thy armes contents me well Pri. Keepe in keepe in a little while thy soule Till I haue powr'd my soule forth at thy feete Rob. I slept not vnkle I your griefe did heare Let him forgiue your soule that bought it deare Your bodies deede I in my death forgiue And humbly begge the king that you may liue Stand to your Cleargie vnkle saue your life And lead a better life than you haue done Pri. O gentle Nephew ah my brothers sonne Thou dying glory of old Huntington Wishest thou life to such a murdrous foe I will not liue sith thou must life for goe Oh happie Warman blessed in thy end Now too too late thy truth I doe commend O Nephew Nephew Doncaster and I Murdred poore Warman for he did denie To ioyne with vs in this blacke tragedy Rob. Alas poore Warman Frier little Iohn I told ye both where Warmans bodie lay And of his buriall I le dispose anone King Is there no lawe Lord Ely to conuict This Prior that confesseth murders thus Ely He is a hallowed man and must be tried Aud punisht by the censure of the Church Pri. The Church therein doth erre God doth allowe No Canon to preserue a murderers life Richard king Richard in thy Grandsires daies A law was made the Cleargie sworne thereto That whatsoeuer Church-man did commit Treason or murder or false felonie Should like a seculer be punished Treason we did for sure we did intend King Richards poisoning Soueraigne of this land Murder we did in working Warmans end And my deare Nephewes by this fatall hand And theft we did for we haue robd the king The State the Nobles Commons and his men Of a true Peere firme Piller liberall Lord Fitzwater we haue robd of a kinde sonne And Marians loue-ioyes we haue quite vndoone Don. Whoppe what a coyle is here with your confession Pri. I aske but iudgement for my foule transgression King Thy own mouth hath condemned thee Hence with him Hang this man dead then see him buried But let the other hang aliue in chaines Don. I thanke you sir Exeunt yeomen Frier prisoners Much Ioh. My selfe will goe my Lord And see sharpe Iustice done vpon these slaues Rob. O goe not hence Prince Iohn a word or two Before I die I faine would say to you King Robin wee see what we are sad to see Death like a champion treading downe thy life Yet in thy end somwhat to comfort thee Wee freely giue to thy betrothed wife Beautious and chast Matilda all those lands Falne by thy folly to the Priors hands And by his fault now forfetted to mee Earle Huntington she shall thy Countesse bee And thy wight yeomen they shall wend with mee Against the faithlesse enemies of Christ Rob. Bring forth a Beere and couer if with greene A Beere is brought in That on my death-bed I may here sit downe Beere brought he sits At Robins buriall let no blacke be seene Let no hand giue for him a mourning gowne For in his death his king hath giuen him life By this large gift giuen to his maiden wife Chaist maid Matilda Countesse of account Chase with thy bright eyes all these clouds of woe From these faire cheekes I pray thee sweete do so Thinke it is bootelesse folly to complaine For that which neuer can be had againe Queene Elianor you once were Matilds foe Prince Iohn you long sought her vnlawfull loue Let dying Robin Hood intreat you both To change those passions Madame turne your hate To princely loue Prince Iohn conuert your loue To vertuous passions chast and moderate O that your gratious right hands would infolde Matildas right hand prisoned in my palme And sweare to doe what Robin Hood desires Qu. I sweare I will I will a mother be To faire Matildas life and chastitie Ioh. When Iohn solicites chast Matildaes eares With lawlesse sutes as he hath often done Or offers to the altars of her eyes Lasciuious Poems stuft with vanities He craues to see but short and sower daies His death be like to Robins he desires His periur'd body proue a poysoned prey For cowled Monkes and barefoote begging Friers Rob. Inough inough Fitzwater take your child My dying frost which no sunnes heat can thawe Closes the powers of all my outward parts My freezing blood runnes backe vnto my heart Where it assists death which it would resist Only my loue a little hinders death For he beholds her eyes and cannot smite Then goe not yet Matilda stay a while Frier make speede and lift my latest will Mat. O let mee looke for euer in thy eyes And lay my warme breath to thy bloodlesse lips If my sight can restraine deaths tyrannies Or keepe liues breath within thy bosome lockt Rob. Away away Forbeare my loue all this is but delay Fitz. Come maiden daughter from
hed-geere stands awry Giue me the flowers Goe in for shame And quickly see you mend the same Exit linny Marian strewing flowers Enter sir Doncaster Prior Don. How busie mistresse Marian is She thinkes this is her day of blisse Pri. But it shall be the wofull'st day That euer chaunst her if I may Mar. Why are you two thus in the ayre Your wounds are greene Good cuz haue care Pri. Thanks for your kindnesse gentle maid My cosin Robert vs hath praid To helpe him in this businesse ¶ Enter Frier Fri. Sir Doncaster sir Doncaster Don. Holla Fri. I pray you did you see the Prior Pri. Why here I am What wouldst thou Frier Fri. The king is heated in the chace And posteth hitherward apace He told my master he was dry And hee desires ye presently To send the drinke whereof ye spake Hornes blowe Pri. Come it is here haste let vs make Exeunt Prior and Frier ¶ Enter King Iohn Queene Scarlet Scathlocke Ely Fitz. water Salsbury Chester Marian kneeles downe Mar. Most gratious Soueraigne welcome once againe Welcome to you and all your princely traine King Thanks louely hostesse we are homely guests Where 's Robin Hood He promised me some drinke Mar. Your hand maid Robin will not then be long The Frier indeede came running to his vnkle Who with sir Doncaster were here with mee And altogether went for such a drinke Kin. Well in a better time it could not come For I am very hot and passing dry ¶ Enter Robin Hoode a cuppe a towell leading Doncaster Tuck and Much pulling the Prior Rob. Traitor I le draw thee out before the king Fri. Come murderous Prior Much Come yee dogges face Ki Why how now Robin where 's the drink you bring Rob. Lay holde on these Farre be it I should bring your Maiestie The drinke these two prepared for your taste King Why Robin Hoode be briefe and answere mee I am amazed at thy troubled lookes Rob. Long will not my ill lookes amaze your Grace I shortly looke neuer to looke againe Mar. Neuer to looke What will it still be night If thou looke neuer day can neuer be What ailes my Robin Wherfore dost thou faint Rob. Because I cannot stand yet now I can Thanks to my king and thanks to Marian King Robin be briefe and tell vs what hath chanst Rob. I must be briefe for I am sure of death Before a long tale can be halfe way tolde Fitz. Of death my sonne bright sunne of all my ioy Death cannot haue the power of vertuous life Rob. Not of the vertues but the life it can King What dost thou speak of death how shouldst thou die Rob. By poison and the Priors treachery Qu. Why take this soueraigne pouder at my hāds Take it and liue in spite of poysons power Don. I set him forward Powders quoth ye nah I am a foole then if a little dust The shauing of a horne a Bezars stone Or any Antidote haue power to stay The execution of my hearts resolue Tut tut you labour louely Queene in vaine And on a thanklesse groome your toyle bestowe Now hath your foe reueng'd you of your foe Robin shall die if all the world sayd no Mar. How the Wolfe howles Fly like a tender Rid Into thy sheepeheards bosome Shield mee loue Canst thou not Robin Where shall I be hid O God these Rauens will seaze vpon thy Doue Rob. They cannot hurt thee pray thee doe not feare Base curres will couch the Lyon being neare Qu. How workes my powder Rob. Uery well faire Queene King Dost thou feele any ease Rob. I shall I trust anone Sleepe fals vpon mine eyes O I must sleepe they that loue me do not waken me Mar. Sleepe in my lap and I will sing to thee Ioh. He should not sleepe Rob. I must for I must die While I liue therfore let me haue some rest Fitz. I let him rest the poyson vrges sleepe When he awakes there is no hope of life Don. Of life now by the little time I haue to liue He cannot liue one hower for your liues King Uillaine what art thou Don. Why I am a knight Chest. Thou wert indeede If it so please your Grace I will describe my knowledge of this wretch Kin. Doe Chester Chest. This Doncaster for so the fellon hight Was by the king your father made a knight And well in armes he did himselfe behaue Many a bitter storme the winde of rage Blasted this Realme with in those woful daies When the vnnaturall fights continued Betweene your kingly father and his sonnes This cut-throat knighted in that time of woe Seaz'd on a beautious Nunne at Barkhamsted As wee were marching toward Winchester After proud Lincolne was compeld to yield Hee tooke this virgine straying in the field For all the Nunnes and euery Couent fled The daungers that attended on our troopes For those sad times too oft did testifie Wars rage hath no regard of pietie She humbly praid him for the loue of heauen To guid her to her fathers two miles thence He swore he would and very well he might For to the campe he was a Forager Upon the way they came into a wood Wherein in briefe he stript this tender maid Whose lust when she in vaine had long withstood Being by strength and torments ouerlaid He did a sacrilegious deede of rape And left her bath'd in her owne teares and blood When she reuiu'd she to her fathers got And got her father to make iust complaint Unto your mother being then in campe Qu. Is this the villaine Chester that defilde Sir Eustace Stutuiles chast and beautious childe Don. I Madam this is hee That made a wench daunce naked in a wood And for shee did denie what I desirde I scourg'd her for her pride till her faire skinne With stripes was checkred like a vinters grate And what was this A mighty matter sure I haue a thousand more than she defilde And cut the squeaking throats of some of them I grieue I did not hirs Qu. Punish him Richard A fairer virgine neuer sawe the sunne A chaster maid was neuer sworne a Nunne King How scap't the villaine punishment that time Fitz. I rent his spurres off and disgraded him Chest. And then he raild vpon the Queene and mee Being committed he his keeper slue And to your father fled who pardond him Rich. God giue his soule a pardon for that sinne Sals. O had I heard his name or seene his face I had defended Robin from this chance Ah villaine shut those gloomy lights of thine Remembrest thou a little sonne of mine Whose nurse at Wilton first thou rauishedst And slew'st two maids that did attend on them Don. I grant I dasht the braines out of a brat Thine if he were I care not had he bin The first borne comfort of a royall king And should haue yald when Doncaster cried peace I would haue done by him as then I did King Soone shall the world be rid of such a
Nay then Fitzwater tels your Maiestie You doe him wrong and well will let you wit He will defende his honour to the death King And Bruse you are no otherwise dispos'd You will not giue your sons to me for pledge Br. I haue but one being my lesser boy Who is at Gilford for my other sonne Ki. He braues me with the rest Well it is night and there 's no sunne to sweare by But by Gods sonne and by him I here protest A miserable storme this night to raise That shall not cease while England giueth rest To such vile traitors Bruse I le begin with you I will ifaith as true as God is true Exeunt king cum suis Lest. Then shal a storme be rais'd against a storme And tempest be with tempest beaten backe Fitz. But this firme Iland like the sea will tosse And many goodly buildings goe to wracke Many a widowe weepe her dying sonne And many a mother to her helplesse babes Cry out vncomfortably children peace Your crying vnto me is all in vaine Dead is my husband your poore father slaine Yong Br. We can not helpe it vnkle Ri. No you see intreats humble sutes haue now no power But lust and wrath the kingdome doth deuour Br. Me he did menace first and much I feare He will to Gilford and besiege my wife Fitz. O hye to saue her Richmond ride with him Rich. Let vs away Bruse least we come to late And with vs take some score of men well armde Exeunt Richmond Fitz. Doe Lester and my selfe will keepe the citie Til we are furnisht with an able armie Your Nephew Bruse shal take an hundred armed men And poast to Hartford Castle with your sister Sith wrong will wake vs we will keepe such watch As for his life he shall not hurt vs bring Exeunt omnes ¶ Enter Queene Bruses Ladie Hubert Salsbury Qu. Be comforted good Madame doe not feare But giue your sonne as pledge vnto the king Your selfe at Court may keepe him company Wif. I am betraid alas I am betraid And little thought your Highnesse had bene bent So much against me for my many loues As to prepare an entrance for my foe Qu. As I shall liue in heauen I did not knowe Of Huberts comming but lament not this Your sonne you say is gone what feare you then Wi. O madame murder mischiefe wrongs of men I feare I feare what i st I doe not feare Sith hope is so farre of despaire so neare Ox. Answere mee good Hubert I pray the Hubert doe What thinke you of this matter may I on your word Perswade the woman that all things are well Hu. You may perswade her if you can my Lord For I protest I knowe no other thing But that the king would haue him for a pledge of the Lord Bruses faith Sals. And reason too Now by my Honour Hubert I protest it is good reason Bruse I tell you plaine Is no sound cloake to keepe Iohn from the raine I will goe to her Hu. Doe good simple Earle If not by threats nor my intreats she yield Thy braine is barren of inuention Dried vp with care neuer will shee yield her sonne to thee that hauing power wantst wit Br. Wife I ouerheare thee Hubert Ox. So do I dame Bruse But stir no coles the man is well belou'd And merits more than so Bru. W. But I will answere Hubert thou fatall keeper of poore babes That are appointed hostages for Iohn Had I a sonne here as I haue not one For yesterday I sent him into Wales Thinkst thou I would be so degenerate So farre from kinde to giue him vnto thee I would not I protest thou knowest my minde Ox. Ladie you feare more than you neede to doe Indeede you doe in very deede you doe Hubert is wrongd about the thing you meane About young Arthur O I thought t was so Indeede the honest good kinde gentleman Did all he might for safegard of the childe Qu. Beleeue me Madame Bruse the man is wrongd B. W. But he wrongs me to keepe my Castle thus Disarming my true seruants arming his Now more of outrage comes what shall I doe ¶ Enter the king Mowbray Winchester Chester King O this is well Hubert where 's Bruses sonne Wi. Where thou shalt neuer see him Iohn K. Ladie we shall haue talke with you anone Where is he Hubert Hu. Hid or fled my Lord we can by no means get her to confesse Sa. Welcome to Gilford Oxfords liefest Lord K. You scarce giue welcome ere I bid you goe For you my Lord the Queene and Winchester Shall march to Harford Sweete Isabell And if thou loue me play the Amazon Matilda that hath long bewitcht mine eye Is as I heare by spials now in Harford Castle Besiege her there for now her hauty father Ruffians it vp and downe and all the brood Of viperous traitors whet their poysoned teeth That they may feed on vs that foster them Goe forward and goe with you victorie Which to assure my powers shall followe you Sals. Did I not tell you this then trust me next Nay he is chang'd and cares no more for her Than I doe Madame King Be gone I say be gone Your speede rich victory attendeth on But your delay May giue your foes the happie glorious day Qu. One boone my Liege and part Kin. Be briefe Qu. Shew that poore Ladie pittie I beseech Exeunt Kin. I will indeede Come Ladie let vs in You haue a sonne goe in and bring him mee And for the Queenes sake I will fauour yee B. W. I haue no son come come come in and search And if you finde him wretched may I bee Exit Ki. Chester and Hubert see you keepe good watch Not farre of doe I heare a warlike sound Bruse on my life looke too 't while I goe in To seeke this boy for needs we must haue him Come with vs Mowbray Exeunt ¶ Enter Bruse Richmoud Souldiers Rich. The Castle gates are shut what ho what ho You that are seruants to the Lady Bruse Arise make entrance for your Lord and friends Enter or aboue Hugh Winchester HU. We will make issue ere yee enter here Who haue we there Richmond and Bruse I st you What vp so soone are yee so earely here In you yfaith the Prouerb 's verified Y' are earely vp and yet are nere the neare Rich. The worse our fortune Bruse let vs goe hence We haue no power to fight nor make defence Ch. What Richmond will you proue a Runaway Rich. From thee good Winchester Now the Lord defend Bruse we will stay and fight Br. T is to no end we haue but twentie men they be tyr'd But ere we doe retire tell me Lord Hubert Where are my wife and sonne Hu. Your wife is here your sonne we cannot finde Br. Let son wife high heauens your comfort finde Exeunt ¶ Enter King Mowbray Ladie Bruse Chest. Bruse hath beene here my Lord Ki. I let him
my hate Hee is a foole and will be reconcilde To anie foe hee hath he is too milde Too honest for this world fitter for heauen Hee will not kill these greedie cormorants Nor strippe base pesants of the wealth they haue He does abuse a thieues name and an outlawes And is indeede no outlawe nor no theefe He is vnworthy of such reuerent names Besides he keepes a paltry whinling girle And will not bed forsooth before he bride I le stand too 't he abuses maidenhead That will not take it being offered Hinders the common wealth of able men Another thing I hate him for againe He saies his praiers fasts eues giues alms does good For these and such like crimes sweares Doncaster To worke the speedie death of Robin Hoode Pri, Well said yfaith Harke hark the king returns To doe this deede my heart like fuel burns Exeunt SCEANE IIII ¶ Winde hornes Enter King Queene Iohn Fitzwater Ely Chester Salsbury Lester little Iohn Frier Tuck Scarlet Scathlocke and Much Frier Tuck carrying a Stags head dauncing King Gramercy Frier for thy glee Thou greatly hast contented mee What with thy sporting and thy game I sweare I highly pleased am Fri. It was my masters whole desire That maiden yeoman swaine and frier Their arts and wits should all apply For pleasure of your Maiestie Qu. Some Richard looke I pray you on the ring That was about the necke of the last stagge Chest. Was his name Scarlet that shot off his necke Iohn Chester it was this honest fellow Scarlet This is the fellowe and a yeoman bold As euer courst the swift Hart on the molde King Frier here 's somewhat grau'd vpon the Ring I pray thee reade it Meane while list to mee This while most compassing the Frier about the Ring Scarlet and Scathlock you bold bretheren Twelue pence a day I giue each for his fee And hence forth see yee liue like honest men Both We will my Liege else-let vs dye the death Much A boone a boone vpon my knee Good king Richard I begge of thee For indeede sir the troth is Much is my father and hee is one of your tenants in Kings Mill at Wakefield all on a greene O there dwelleth a iolly pinder at Wakefield all on a greene Now I would haue you if you wil doe so much for mee to set mee forward in the way of marriage to Iinny the mill would not be cast away vpon vs King Much be thou euer master of that mill I giue it thee for thine inheritance Much Thanks pretious Prince of curtesie I le to Inny and tell her of my lands yfaith Exit Ioh. Here Frier here here it begins Fri. read When Harold hare-foote raigned king About my necke he put this ring King In Harolds time more than a hundred yeare Hath this ring bene about this newe slaine Deere I am sory now it dyde but let the same Head ring and all be sent to Notingham And in the Castle kept for monuments Fitz. My Liege I heard an olde tale long agoe That Harold being Goodwins sonne of Kent When he had got faire Englands gouernment Hunted for pleasure once within this wood And singled out a faire and stately Stagge Which foote to foote the king in running caught And sure this was the Stagge King It was no doubt Chest. But some my Lord affirme That Iulius Caesar many yeares before Tooke such a Stag and such a Poesie writ King It should not be in Iulius Caesars time There was no English vsed in this Land Untill the Saxons came and this is writ In Saxon characters Ioh. Well 't was a goodly beast ¶ Enter Robin Hoode King How now earle Robert Fri, A forfet a forfet my liege Lord My masters lawes are on record The Court-roll here your Grace may see King I pray thee Frier read them mee Fri. One shall suffice and this is hee No man that commeth in this wod To feast or dwell with Robin Hood Shall call him Earle Lord Knight or Squire He no such titles doth desire But Robin Hood plaine Robin Hoode That honest yeoman stout and good On paine of forfetting a marke That must be paid to mee his Clarke My liege my liege this lawe you broke Almost in the last word you spoke That crime may not acquited bee Till Frier Tuck receiue his fee Casts him purse King There 's more than twenty marks mad Frier Fri. If thus you pay the Clarke his hire Oft may you forfet I desire You are a perfect penitent And well you doe your wrong repent For this your Highnesse liberall gift I here absolue you without shrift King Gramercies Frier Now Robin Hood Sith Robin Hood it needes must bee I was about to aske before If thou didst see the great Stags fall Rob. I did my Lord I sawe it all But missing this same prating Frier And hearing you so much desire To haue the lozels companie I went to seeke Small honestie Fri. But you found much when you found mee Rob. I Much my man but not a iot Of honestie in thee God wot Qu. Robin you doe abuse the Frier Fri. Madam I dare not call him lyer He may be bold with mee he knowes How now Prince Iohn how goes how goes This wod-mans life with you to day My fellow Wodnet you would bee Ioh. I am thy fellowe thou dost see And to be plaine as God me saue So well I like thee merry knaue That I thy company must haue Nay and I will Fri. Nay and you shall Rob. My Lord you neede not feare at all But you shall haue his company He will be bold I warrant you King Know you where ere a spring is nie Faine would I drink I am right dry Rob. I haue a drinke within my bower Of pleasing taste and soueraigne power My reuerend vncle giues it mee To giue vnto your Maiestie King I would be loath indeede being in heate To drinke cold water Let vs to thy bower Ro. Runne Frier before bid my vnkle be in readines Fr. Gon with a trice on such good businesse Exeūt omnes SCEANE V. ¶ Enter Marian with a white apron Mar. What Much What Iinny Much I say Much What 's the matter mistresse Mar. I pray thee see the fueller Suffer the cooke to want no wodde Good Lord where is this idle girle Why Iinny Within I come forsooth Mar. I pray thee bring the flowers forth Much I le goe send her mistres and help the cookes if they haue any neede Exit Much Mar. Dispatch good Much What Iin I say ¶ Enter linny Much Hie yee hie yee she cals for life Mar. Indeede indeede you doe me wrong To let me cry and call so long Iin. Forsooth I strawed the dining bowers And smoth'd the walkes with hearbes flowers The yeomens tables I haue spred Drest salts laid trenchers set on bread Nay all is well I warrant you Mar. You are not well I promise you Your foresleeues are not pind fie fie And all your
Oxford Queene Abbesse attendants Ox And say you Ladie Abbesse that there came One from the King vnto her what was hee Ab. Yonder he stands I know not what he is Still he stands staring Q. Iesus haue mercy Oxford come not nigh him Ox. Not nigh him Madame yes keepe you away Ab. Come in good Queene I doe not mean to stay Exit Ab. Nor I to stirre before I see the end Ox. Why starest thou thus speake fellow answer me Who art thou Bra. A bloodie villaine and a murderer A hundred haue I slaine with mine owne hands T was I that staru'd the Ladie Bruse to death And her young sonne at Windsor Castle late T is I haue slaine Matilda blessed maid And now will hurry to damnations mouth Forst by the gnawing worme of conscience Runs in Ox. Hold him for gods sake stay the desperate wretch Ma. O some good pittying man compassionate That wretched man so woefull desperate Saue him for gods sake he hath set me free From much worlds woe much wrong much miserie Qu. I heare thy tongue true perfect charitie Chaste maide faire maide looke vp and speake to mee Ma. Whos 's here my gracious soueraigne Isabell I will take strength and kneele Qu. Matilda sit I le kneele to thee Forgiue me gētle girle My most vngentle wrongs Ma. Faire beautious Queene I giue god thankes I doe not thinke on wrongs Ox. How now Fitzwaters childe how dost thou girle Ma. Well my good Lord of Oxford prettie well A little trauell more and I shall rest For I am almost at my iorneyes end O that my head were rais'd a little vp My drousie head whose dim decaying lights Assure me it is almost time to sleep Raise her heade I thanke your Hignesse I haue now some ease Be witnesse I beseeth your Maiestie That I forgiue the King with all my heart With all the little of my liuing heart That giues me leaue to say I can forgiue And I beseech high heauen he long may liue A happie King a king beloou'd and feard Oxford for gods sake to my father write The latest commendations of his childe And say Matilda kept his Honours charge Dying a spotlesse maiden vndefilde Bid him be glad for I am gone to ioy I that did turne his weale to bitter woe The king and he will quickly now growe friends And by their friendshippe much content will growe Sinke earth to earth fade flower ordaind to fade But passe forth soule vnto the shrine of peace Beg there attonement may be quickly made Faire Queene kinde Oxford all good you attend Fly forth my soule heauens king be there thy friend Ox. O pittie mourning sight age pittilesse Are these the messages king Iohn doth send Keepe in my teares for shame your conduits keepe Sad woe beholding eyes no will ye not Why then a Gods name weepe Sit. Qu. I cannot weepe for wrath here here take in The blessed bodie of this noble maid In milke white cloathing let the same be laid Exeunt with the bodie Upon an open biere that all may see King Iohns vnkingly lust and crueltie Ox. I be it so Your selfe if so you please Will I attend vpon and both vs waite On chast Matildaes bodie which with speede To Windsor Castle we will hence conuey There is another spectacle of ruth Old Bruses famisht Ladie and her sonne Qu. There is the king besieging of young Bruse His Lords are there who when they see this sight I know will haue small heart for Iohn to fight Ox. But where 's the murderer ha is not he staid Ser. Borne with a violent rage he clim'd a tree And none of vs could hinder his intent But getting to the top boughes fast he tied His garters to his necke and a weake branch Which being vnable to sustaine his weight Downe to the ground he fell where bones and flesh Lie pasht together in a poole of bloode Ox. Alas for woe but this is iust heauens doome On those that liue by bloode in bloode they die May an example of it honest friends Doe well take paines beware of crueltie Come Madam come to Windsor let vs goe And there to Bruses griefe adde greater woe Exeunt Enter Bruse vpon the walles Bru. Will not my bitter bannings and sad plaints My iust and execrable execrations My teares my prayers my pittie-mouing mones Preuaile thou glorious bright Lampe of the day To cause thee keepe an obit for their soules And dwell one month with the Antipodes Bright sunne retire gylde not this vault of death With thy illustrate raies retyre retyre And yield black night thy Empery a while A little while till as my teares be spent My bloode be likewise shed in raining drops By the tempestuous rage of tyrant Iohn Learne of thy loue the morning she hath wept Shower vpon shower of siluer deawie teares High trees lowe plants and prettie little flowers Witnesse her woe on them her griefe appeares And as shee dreepes on them they doe not let By droppe and droppe their mother earth to wet See these hard stones how fast small rouelets Issue from them though they seeme issuelesse And wet eyed woe on euery thing is viewde Saue in thy face that smil'st at my distresse O doe not drinke their teares thus greedily Yet let the mornings mourning garment dwell Upon the sad earth Wilt thou not thou churle Then surfet with thy exhalations speedily For all earths venemous infecting wormes Haue belcht their seuerall poysons on the fields Mixing their simples in thy compound draught Well Phoebus well drinke on I say drinke on But when thou dost vngorge thee grant me this Thou power those poysons on the head of Iohn Drum Enter Chester Mowbray Souldiers Lester Richmond at an other Souldiers Bru. How now my Lords were ye last night so pleasd With the beholding of that propertie Which Iohn and other murderers haue wrought Upon my starued mother and her sonne That you are come againe Shall I againe Set open shop shew my dead ware deare bought Of a relentlesse merchant that doth trade On the red sea swolne mightie with the bloud Of noble vertuous harmelesse innocents Whose cole black vessell is of Ebonie Their shrouds tackle wrought wou'n by wrong Stretcht with no other gale of winde but griefe Whose sighes with full blasts beateth on her shrouds The Master murder is the Pilot shame The Mariners rape theft and periury The burden tyrannous oppression Which howerly he in England doth vnlade Say shall I open shop and shewe my wares Lest. No good Lord Bruse we haue enough of that Drum Enter king Hubert Souldiers Ki. To Windsor welcome Hubert Soft me thinks Bruse and our Lords are at a parly now Br. Chester and Mowbray you are Iohns sworn friends Will you see more Speake answere me my Lords I am no niggard you shall haue your fill Both We haue too much and surfet with the woe Br. Are you all full Here comes a rauening kite That both at quick at deade
my maiden sonne And giue him leaue to doe what must be done Rob. First I bequeath my soule to all soules sauer And will my bodie to be buried At Wakefield vnderneath the Abbey wall And in this order make my funerall When I am dead stretch me vpon this Beere My beades and Primer shall my pillowe bee On this side lay my bowe my good shafts here Upon my brest the crosse and vnderneath My trustie sworde thus fastned in the sheath Let Warmans bodie at my feete be laid Poore Warman that in my defence did die For holy dirges sing me wodmens songs As ye to Wakefield walke with voices shrill This for my selfe my goods and plate I giue Among my yeomen them I doe bestowe Upon my Soueraigne Richard This is all My liege farewell my loue farewell farewell Farewell faire Queene Prince Iohn and noble Lords Father Fitzwater heartily adieu Adieu my yeomen tall Matilda close mine eyes Frier farewell farewell to all Mat. O must my hands with enuious death conspire To shut the morning gates of my liues light Fitz. It is a duetie and thy loues desire I le helpe thee girle to close vp Robins sight King Laments are bootelesse teares cannot restore Lost life Matilda therefore weepe no more And since our mirth is turned into mone Our merry sport to tragick funerall Wee will prepare our power for Austria After earle Roberts timelesse buriall Fall to your mad-songs therefore yeomen bold And deck his herse with flowers that lou'd you deare Dispose his goods as hee hath them dispos'd Fitzwater and Matilda bide you here See you the bodie vnto Wakefield borne A little wee will beare yee company But all of vs at London point to meete Thither Fitzwater bring earle Robins men And Frier see you come along with them Fri. Ah my liege Lord the Frier faints And hath no words to make complaints But since he must forsake this place He will awaite and thanks your Grace Song Weepe weepe ye wod-men waile Your hands with sorrow wring Your master Robin Hood lies deade Therefore sigh as you sing Here lies his Primer and his beades His bent bowe and his arrowes keene His good sworde and his holy crosse Now cast on flowers fresh and greene And as they fall shed teares and say Wella wella day wella wella day Thus cast yee flowers and sing And on to Wakefield take your way Exeunt Fri. Here dothe the Frier leaue with grieuance Robin is deade that grac't his entrance And being dead he craues his audience With this short play they would haue patience ¶ Enter Chester Chest. Nay Fryer at request of thy kinde friend Let not thy Play so soone be at an end Though Robin Hoode be deade his yeomen gone And that thou thinkst there now remaines not one To act an other Sceane or two for thee Yet knowe full well to please this company We meane to end Matildaes Tragedie Fri. Off then I wish you with your Kendall greene Let not sad griefe in fresh aray be seene Matildaes storie is repleat with teares Wrongs desolations ruins deadly feares In and attire yee though I tired be Yet will I tell my mistresse Tragedie Apolloes master doone I inuocate To whome henceforth my deedes I dedicate That of his Godhead 'boue all Gods diuine With his rich spirit he would lighten mine That I may sing true layes of trothlesse deedes Which to conceiue my heart through sorrow bleeds Cheere thee sad soule and in a loftie line Thunder out wrong compast in clowdy teares Enter in blacke Shewe to the eyes fill the beholders eares With all the liuely acts of lustfull rage Restraind by modest teares and chastities intreats And let king Iohn that ill part personage By sutes deuices practices and threats And when he sees all serueth to no end Of chaste Matilda let him make an end Cho. We are all fitted Frier shall we beginne Fri. Well art thou suted would my order would Permit me habit equall to my heart Cho. If you remember Iohn did take an oath Neuer againe to seeke Matildaes loue Fri. O what is he that 's sworne affections slaue That will not violate all lawes all oathes And being mightie what will he omit To compasse his intents though nere so ill You must suppose king Richard now is deade And Iohn resistlesse is faire Englands Lord Who striuing to forget Matildaes loue Takes to his wife the beautious Isabell Betroth'd to Hugh de Briu Earle of North March And picking quarrels vnder shewe of kinne Wholly diuorces his first Queene away But yet Matilda still still trobles him And being in the Court so oft he courts her That by her noble father old Fitzwater She is remou'd from his lust-tempting eye But tides restraind oreswell their bounds with rage Her absence addes more fuell to his fire In sleepe he sees her and his waking thoughts Studie by day to compasse his desire Cho. Frier since now you speake of visions It was receiued by tradition From those that were right neere vnto king Iohn Of three strange visions that to him appeard And as I guesse I tould you what they were Fri, With them I will begin draw but that vaile And there king Iohn sits sleeping in his chaire ¶ Drawe the curten the king sits sleeping his sworde by his side Enter Austria before whome commeth Ambition and bringing him before the chaire king Iohn in sleepe maketh signes to auoid and holdeth his owne crowne fast with both his hands Fri. Ambition that had euer waited on king Iohn Now brings him Austria easie to be tane Being wholly tam'd by Richards warlike hand And bids him adde that Dukedome to his crowne But he puts by Ambition and contemnes All other kingdomes but the English crowne Which he holds fast as if hee would not loose ¶ Enter Constance leading young Arthur both offer to take the crowne but with his foote he ouerturneth them to them commeth Insurrection ledde by the F. K. and L. menacing him and lead the childe againe to the chaire but he only layeth hand on his sworde and with his foote ouerthroweth the childe whome they take vp as deade and Insurrection flying they mournefully beare in the bodie Fr. The Ladie and the childe that did ascend Striuing in vaine to take the crowne from Iohn Were Constance and her sonne the Duke of Britaine Heire to the elder brother of the king Yet hee sleepes on and with a little spurne The mother and the Prince doth ouerturne Againe when Insurrection them assists Stird by the French king and the wronged Earle Whose troth-plight wife king Iohn had tane to wife He only claps his hand vpon his sword Mocketh their threatnings and in their attempts The harmelesse Prince receiues recurelesse death Whome they too late with bootelesse teares lament ¶ Enter Queene with two children borne after her she ascends and seeing no motion she fetcheth her children one by one but seeing yet no motion she descēdeth wringing her hands and departeth Enter Matilda in