die Sho. Nothing for I am mortall and must die When my time comes but that I thinkes not yet Although God knowes ech houre I wish it were So full of dolor is my wearie life Now say I this that I do know the man Which doth abette that traiterous libeller Who did compose spread that slanderous rime Which scandals you and doth abuse the time Glo. What libeller another Collingborne That wrote The Cat the Rat and Louell our Dog Do rule all England vnder a Hog Canst thou repeat it Floud Sho. I thinke I can if you commaund me so Glo. We do commaund thee Sho. In this sort it goes The crooke bakt Boare the way hath found To roote our Roses from our ground Both flower and bud will he confound Till King of beasts the swine be crownde And then the Dog the Cat and Rat Shall in his trough feed and be fat Finis quoth M. Fogge chiefe secretarie and counsellor to M. Rufford Glo. How saist thou Floud doth Rufford foster this Sho. He is a traitor if he do my Lord Ruf. I foster it dread Lord I aske no grace If I be guiltie of this libelling Vouchsafe me iustice as you are my Prince Against this traitor that accuseth me Sh. What iustice crau'st thou I will combat thée In signe whereof I do vnbutton me And in my shirt my chalenge will maintaine Thou cal'st me traitor I will proue thee one Open thy bosome like me if thou darest Ruff. I will not be so rude before his grace Sh. Thou wilt not ope the packe of thy disgrace Because thy doublets stuft with traiterous libels Glo. Catesbie teare off the buttons from his breast What findst thou there Cat. Your highnes hand and seale For transportation of Hides Corne and Lead Glo. Traitor did I signe that commission Ruf. O pardon me most royall King Glo. Pardon to counterfeit my hand and seale Haue I bestowed such loue such countenance Such trust on thee and such authoritie To haue my hand and signet counterfet To carrie Corne the food of all the land And Lead which after might annoy the land And Hides whose leather must relieue the land To strangers enemies vnto the land Didst thou so néerely counterfeit my hand Ruf. Not I my liege but Fogge the Atturney Glo. Away with him Louell and Catesbie go Commaund the Sheriffes of London presently To see him drawne and hangd and quartered Let them not drinke before they see him dead Hast you againe Louell and Catesbie lead out Rufford Ruff. Well Floud thou art my death I might haue liude t' haue séene thee lose thy head Sho. Thou hast but iustice for thy crueltie Against the guiltlesse soules in miserie I aske no fauvour if I merit death Glo. Crau'st thou no fauour then I tell thee Floud Thou art a traitor breaking our edict By succouring that traitrous quean Shoares wife And thou shalt die Sho. If I haue broke the law Glo. If traitor didst thou not giue her thy purse And doest thou not maintaine the deed Enter Louell and Catesbie againe Sho. I do if it be death to the relenting heart Of a kind husband wronged by a King To pittie his poore weake seduced wife Whom all the world must suffer by commaund To pine and perish for the want of food If it be treason for her husband then In the deare bowels of his former loue To burie his owne wrong and her misdéed And giue her meat whom he was wont to féede Then Shoare must die for Floud is not my name Though once I tooke it to conceale my shame Pittie permits not iniured Shoare passe by And see his once loude wife with famine die Glo. Louell Catesbie this is Shoare indéed Shoare We confesse that thou hast priuiledge And art excepted in our Proclamation Because thou art her husband whom it concerns And thou maist lawfully relieue thy wife Upon condition thou forgiue her fault Take her againe and vse her as before Hazard new hornes how saist thou wilt thou Shoare Sho. If any but your Grace should so vpbraid Such rude reproch should roughly be repaid Suppose for treason that she lay condemnde Might I not séede her till her houre of death And yet my selfe no traitor for it Glo. Thou mightste Sh. And why not now O pardon me dread lord When she hath had both punishment and shame Sufficient since a King did cause her blame May I not giue her food to saue her life Yet neuer take and vse her as my wife Glo. Except thou take her home againe to thée Thou art a stranger and it shall not be For if thou do expect what doth belong Sho. I neuer can forget so great a wrong Glo. Then neuer féede her whom thou canst not loue Sho. My charitie doth that compassion moue Gl. Moue vs no more Louell let Aire be hangde Just in the place where he relieud Shoares wife Shoare hath his pardon for this first offence The name of husband pleads his innocence Away with them Catesbie come you with vs Exeunt Iockie is led to whipping ouer the stage speaking some words but of no importance Then is young Aire brought foorth to execution with the Sheriffe and Officers Mistris Shoare weeping and M. Shoare standing by Aire Good mistris Shoare grieve me not with your teares But let me go in quiet to mine end Iane Alas poore soule Was neuer innocent thus put to death Air. The mores my ioy that I am innocent My death is the lesse grieuous I am so Ia. Ah M. Aire the time hath béene ere now When I haue kneeld to Edward on my knees And begd for him that now doth make me beg I haue giuen him when he hath begd of me Though he forbids to giue me when I beg I haue ere now relieued him and his Though he and his denie reliefe to me Had I béene enuious then as Richard now I had not staru'd nor Edwards sons bin murdred Nor Richard liu'de to put you now to death Aire The more Iane is thy vertue and his sinne Sher. Come sir dispatch Aire Dispatch say you dispatch you may it call He cannot stay when death dispatcheth all Ia. Lord is my sinne so horrible and grieuous That I should now become a murderer I haue sau'de the life of many a man condemnd But neuer was the death of man before That any man thus for my sake should die Afflicts me more then all my miserie Aire Iane be content I am as much indebted vnto thee As vnto nature I owed thee a life When it was forfeit vnto death by law Thou begott it of the king and gau'st it me This house of flesh wherein this soule doth dwel Is thine and thou art Landladie of it And this poore life a Tenant but at pleasure It neuer came to pay the rent till now But hath runne in arerage all this while And now for verie shame comes to discharge it When death distraines for what is but thy due I had not ought thée
to speake The kinges incensde and will not pardon them The men are patient and resolude to die The Captaine and that other Gentleman Haue cast the dice whether shall suffer first Bra. How fell the Lot to Stranguidge or to him Kee. The guiltlesse passenger must first go too t Bra. They are all guiltlesse from intent of ill Kee. And yet must die for doing of the deed Besides the Duke of Exeter found dead And naked floating vp and downe the sea Twixt Calice and our coast is laid to them That they should rob and cast him ouerboord Bra. My soule be pauwne they neuer knew of it Kee. Well bring them forth Bra. Stay them yet but an houre Kee. I dare not do it sir Robert Brackenburie You are Lieutenant of the Towre your selfe And know the perill of protracting time Moreouer here 's that pickthanke Doctor Shaw The Duke of Glosters spaniell shriuing them Come bring them forth Bra. Poore Stranguidge must thou die Enter one bearing a siluer Oare before Stranguidge Shoare and two or three more pinionde and two or three with bils and a hangman Bra. stil. I dare not say good morrow but ill day That Harrie Stranguidge is thus cast away Stran Good Cosin Brackenbury be as wel content To see me die as I to suffer death Be witnesse that I die an honest man Because my fact proues ill through ignorance And for the Duke of Exceter his death So spéede my soule as I am innocent Here goes my griefe this guiltlesse gentleman Like AEsops Storke that dyes for companie And came God knowes but as a passenger Ah master Hud a thousand floods of woe Ore-flow my soule that thou must perish so Sho. Good Captaine set no perturbation Hinder our passage to a better world This last breaths blast will waste our weary soules Ouer deaths gulfe to heauens most happy port There is a little battaile to be fought This while the hangman prepares Shoare at this speech mounts vp the ladder Wherein by lot the leading must be mine Second me Captaine and this bitter breakfast Shall bring a sweeter supper with the Saints D. S. This Christian patiece at the point of death Doth argue he hath led no wicked life How euer heauen hath laid this crosse on him Well Mathew Flud for so thou calst thy selfe Finish a good course as thou hast begun And cleere thy conscience by confession What knowst thou of the Duke of Exceters death Sho. So God respect the waygate of my soule as I know nothing Do. S. Then concerning this for which thou diest knew Stranguidge of the league betwixt the Kings before he tooke that prize Sho. No in my conscience Do. S. Stranguidge what say you You see there 's but a turne betwixt your liues You must be next confesse and saue yeur soule Concerning that wherein I questionde him I am your ghostly father to absolue You of your sinnes if you confesse the truth Stran. True D. Shaw and as I hope for heauen In that great day when we shall all appeare I neither knew how that good Duke came dead Nor of the league till I had tane the prize Neither was Fludde that innocent dying man Euer with mee but as a passenger D. S. More happie he well Flud forgiue the world As thou wilt haue forgiuenesse from the heauens Sho. O so I doe and pray the world forgiue What wrong I did whilst I therein did liue And now I pray you turne your paines to them And leaue mee priuate for a little space To meditate vpon my parting hence D. Sha. Do gentle Flud and we wil pray for thée Sho. Pray not for Flud but pray for Mathew Shoare For Shoare couered with the cloake of Flud aside If I haue sinnde in chaunging of my name Forgiue mee God t was done to hide my shame And I forgiue the world King Edward first That wrackt my state by winning of my wife And though he would not pardon trespasse small In these in me God knowes no fault at all I pardon him though guiltie of my fall Perhaps he would if hee had knowne t was I But twentie deaths I rather wish to die Than liue beholding for one minutes breath To him that liuing wounded me with death Death of my ioy and hell of my defame Which now shall die vnder this borrowed name Iane God forgiue thée euen as I forgiue And pray thou maist repent while thou dost liue I am as glad to leaue this loathed light As to imbrace thee on our marriage night To die vnknowne thus is my greatest good That Mathew Shoares not hangde but Mathew floud For flouds of woe haue washt away the shore That neuer wife nor kinne shall looke on more Now when ye will I am preparde to go Enter Iockie running and crying Iockie Hawd hawd saye for spéede vntaye vntrusse pull downe pul off God seaue the King off with the helters hence with the prisoners a pardon a pardon Bra. Good newes vnlookt for welcome gentle friend who brings the pardon Iockie Stay first lat ma blaw my mastres mastres Shoare shoe brings tha pardoune tha kings pardoune off with those bands bestow them o tha hangman may mastres made mee runne the néerest way ore tha fields she rayds a pace the hee way shee s at hand bay this sirra yee that preech come down lat Doctor Shaw hea your place hee s tha better scholler mastres Shoare bring a new lesson for you Shoare O I had read my latest lesson well Had hee béene readie to haue said Amen point to the hangman Now shall I liue to see my shame agen Shoare comes downe O had I dide vnwitting to my wife Rather then see her though she bring me life Enter Iane in haste in her riding cloake and sauegard with a pardon in her hand Iane Alas I see that euen my smallest stay Had lost my labour and cast them away God knowes I basted all that ere I might Here master Vaux King Edward gréets ye well His gracious pardon frées this Gentleman And all his companie from shameful death All God saue the king God blesse mistris Shoare Ioc. Amen kéep these frea cōming here any marre Iane You must discharge them paying of their fées Which for I feare their store is verie small I will defray hold here take purse and all Nay master Vaux t is gold if not inough Send to me I will pay you royally Stran. Ladie in the behalfe of all the rest With humble thanks I yéeld my selfe your slaue Commaund their seruice and commaund my life Ia. No Captain Stranguidge let the king command Your liues and seruice who hath giuen you life These and such offices conscience bids me doe D. Sh. Pittie that ere awry she trode her shoe Sh. O had that cōscience prickt when loue prouokt Bra. Ladie the last but not the least in debt To your deuotion for my Cosins life I render thankes yet thanks is but a breath Commaund Madame during life Olde
illegittimate Ah Duke of Gloster this didst thou procure Did Richard villaine no it was thy fault Thou wouldst be wonne to such a damned déed Which now to think on makes my soule to bléed Ah Frier Anselme sleepe among the blest Thy prophesie thus falsely did I wrest Enter Anselme An. Thou didst and be thou damnde therefore Nere come thy soule where blessednesse abides Didst thou not know the letter G. was Gloster Sh. Anselme I did An. Why then didst thou affirme That it was meant by George the duke of Clarēce That honourable harmelesse Gentleman Whose thoughts all innocent as any child Yet came through thée to such a lucklesse death Sa. I was inforced by the Duke of Gloster An. Enforst saist thou wouldst thou then be enforst Being a man of thy profession To sinne so vilely and with thine owne mouth To damne thy soule No thou wast not enforc't But gaine and hope of high promotion Hyrde thée thereto say was it so or no Sha. It did it did An. Why then record in thy black hellish thoughts How many mischiefes haue ensude hereon First wronged Clarence drowned in the Towre Next Edwards children murdred in the Towre This day at Pomfret noble Gentlemen Thrée the Quéenes kinred lose their harmelesse heads Thinkst thou that here this floud of mischiefe staies No villaine many are markt to the blocke And they the nearest thinke them furthest off Euen Buckingham creator of that king Shall he to woe and wretched ending bring All this accursed man hath come by thee And thy false wresting of my prophecie For Englands good disclosed to thy trust And so it had béene hadst thou proued iust But thou and euerie one that had a hand In that most wofull murther of the Princes To fatall ends you are appointed all Here in thy studie shalt thou sterue thy selfe And from this houre not taste one bit of foode The rest shall after follow on a row To all their deaths vengeance will not be slow Enter a Messenger to Shaw Mes. Where is M. Doctor Shaw Sha. Here friend what is thy will with me Mes. K. Richard praies yee to come to him strait For he would be consest Sha. I cannot come I pray thée take that Frier For he can do it better farre then I Mes. A Frier M. Doctor I sée none Sha. Doest thou not no thy vntainted soule Cannot discerne the horrors that I do An. Shaw go with him tell that tyrant Richard He hath but thrée yeares limited for life And then a shamefull death takes hold on him That done returne and in thy studie end Thy loathed life that didst vs all offend Sha. With all my heart would it were ended now So it were done I care not where nor how Exeunt Enter the two Parators with mistris Shoare in a white sheet barefooted with her haire about her eares and in her hand a waxe taper 1. Par. Now mistris Shoare here our commission ends Put off your roabe of shame for this is Algate Whither it was appointed we should bring you Ia. My roabe of shame Oh that so soule a name Should be applied vnto so faire a garment Which is no more to bée condemnde of shame Then snow of putrefaction is deserude To couer an infectious heape of dung My roabe of shame but not my shame put off For that sits branded on my forehead still And therefore in derision was I wrapt In this white Sheete and in derision bore This burning taper to expresse my folly That hauing light of reason to direct mee Delighted yet in by-waies of darke error 2. P. Wel mistris Shoare I hope you grudge not vs We shewde you all the fauour poore men could Iane Oh God forbid I know the Kings Edict Set you a worke and not your owne desires 1. Par. I truly mistris and for our parts We could be well content t were otherwise But that the lawes seuere and so we leaue you Exit Iane Farewell vnto you both and London too Farewell to thee where first I was inticde That scandalizde thy dignitie with shame But now thou hast returnde me treble blame My tongue that gaue consent inioynde to beg Mine eies adiudgde to hourely laments Mine armes for their imbracings catch the aire And these quicke nimble féet that were so readie To step into a kings for bidden bed London thy flints haue punisht for their pride And thou hast drunke their bloud for thy reuenge What now auailes to thinke what I haue béene Then welcome nakednesse and pouertie Welcome contempt welcome you barren fields Welcome the lacke of meat and lacke of friends And wretched Iane according to thy state Sit here sit here and lower if might be All things that breath in their extremitie Haue some recourse of succour thou hast none The child offended flies vnto the mother The Soldiour strucke retires vnto his Captain The fish distressed slides into the riuer Birds of the ayre do flie vnto their dammes And vnderneath their wings are quickly shrouded Nay beat the spanniel his master mones him But I haue neither where to shroud my selfe Nor any one to make my mone vnto Come patience then and though my bodie pine Make then a banquet to refresh my soule Let hearts déepe throbbing sighs be all my bread My drink salt tears my guests repentāt thoughts That who so knew me and doth sée me now May shunne by me the breach of wedlockes vow Enter Brackenburie with a prayer booke some reliefe in a cloath for mistris shoare Bra. Oh God how full of dangers growes these til And no assurance séene in any state No man can say that hee is maister now Of any thing is his such is the tide Of sharpe disturbance running through the land I haue giuen ouer my office in the Towre Because I cannot brooke their vile complots Nor smoother such outragious villanies But mistris Shoare to be so basely wrongde And vildly vsde that hath so well deserude It doth afflict me in the verie soule She sau'de my kinsman Harrie Stranguidge life Therefore in dutie am I bound to her To do what good I way though law forbid Sée where she sits God comfort thée good soule First take that to reléeue thy bodie with And next receiue this booke wherein is foode Manna of heauen to refresh thy soule These holy meditations mistris Shoare Will yeeld much comfort in this miserie Whereon contemplate still and neuer linne That God may be vnmindfull of thy sinne Ia. Master Lieutenant in my hart I thank ye For this kind comfort to a wretched soule Welcome sweet prayer-booke food of my life The soueraigne balme for my sicke conscience Thou shalt be my soules pleasure and delight To wipe my sinnes out of Iehouaes sight B. Do so good mistris Shoare now I must leaue ye Because some other businesse cals me hence And God I pray regard your penitence Exit Ia. Farewell sir Robert and for this good to mée The God of heauen bee mindfull still of
flesh and bloud that gripes the same And by the honour I did winne of late Against those frostie bearded Citizens It shall be tride before we do depart Whether accuseth other wrongfully Or which of vs two is the better man Fal. I shall but quit the Hangman of a labour Yet rather then to be vpbraided thus The Eagle once will stoope to féede on carrion They fight Enter Chub. Ch. Hold if ye be men if not hold as ye are rebels strong théeues I bring you newes of a proclamation the King hath promised that whosoeuer can bring the head of Falconbridge or Spicing shal haue for his labour a thousand crownes what meane you then to swagger saue your selues Spi. This proclamation comes in happie time I le banquish Falconbridge and with this sword Cut off his head and beare it to the King So not alone shall I be pardoned But haue the thousand crownes is promised Fal. This rascall was ordainde to saue my life For now when I haue ouerthrowne the wretch Euen with his head I le yéeld me to the King His princely word is past to pardon mee And though I were the chiefe in this rebellion Yet this will be a meanes to make my peace Ch. Oh that I knew how to betray them both Fal. How saist thou Spi wilt thou yéeld thy selfe For I haue vowde eyther aliue or dead To bring thee to King Edward Spi. And I haue vowde the like by thee How will these two bad contraries agree Chub. And I the same by both of you Fal. Come sir I le quickly câ—d you of that care Spi. And what thou lottest me shall be thy share Chub. Here comes a miller helpe to part the fray These are the rebels Falconbridge and Spicing The worst of them is worth a thousand crownes Mill. Marrie and such a bootie should I haue Submit submit it is in vaine to striue Exit Fal. Spi. Why what art thou Mill. One that will hamper yon But what 's the other that is fled away Chub. Oh miller that was Falconbridge And this is Spicing his companion Spi. I tell thée miller thou hast béene the meanes To hinder the most charitable déed What euer honest Christian vndertooke Chub. Thou canst beare nie witnesse I had fane That most notorious rebell but for him M. But I haue taken thée and the world knowes That Spicing is as bad as who is best Spi. Why thou mistakst I am a true subject Chub. Miller hée lies be sure to hold him fast Spi. Dost thou accuse me apprehend him too For hee s as guiltie as any of vs Mill. Come you shall both togither answere it Before my Lord Maior and here he comes Enter Lord Maior Iosseline and other attendants Ma. Sir Ralph Iosseline haue you euer séen a Prince more affable then Edward is what merry talke he had vpon the way Ios. Doubtlesse my Lord hee le prooue a royal King But how now what are these Mill. God saue your honour Here I present vnto you my Lord Maior A paire of rebels whom I did espie As I was busie grinding at my mill And taking them for vagrant idle knaues That had beset some trueman from his house I came to kéepe the peace but afterward Found that it was the bastard Falconbridge And this his mate together by the eares The one for all that I could doo escapte The other standeth at your mercie here Ma. It is the rebell Spicing Spi. It is indeed I see you are not blind you know mee then Ma. Wel miller thou hast done a subiects part And worthily deserust that recompence Is publikely proclaimed by the King But what 's this other I haue séene his face And as I take it he is one of them Mill. I must confesse I tooke them both togither Hee ayded me to apprehend the rest Chub. A telles you true my Lord I am Chub the Chaundler and I curse the time that euer I saw their faces for if they had not been I had liude an honest man in mine own countrie and neuer come to this Spi. Out rogue dost thou recant for feare of death I Maior I am he that sought to cut your throate And since I haue miscaried in the fact I le néere denie it do the worst you can Ma. Bring him a way he shall haue martiall law and at the next tree we do come vnto Be hangde to rid the world of such a wretch Miller thy dutie is a thousand markes Which must be sharde betwixt thée and this poore fellow that did reueale him And sirra your life is saude on this condition that you hang vp Spicing how saist thou wilt thou do it Chub. Will I doe it what a question is that I would hang him if he were my father to saue mine own life Ma. Then when yée haue done it come home to my house and there ye truly shall haue your reward Spi. Well sirra then thou must be my hangman Chub. I by my troth sir for fault of a better Spi. Well commend me to little Pim and pray her to redeeme my pande hose they lie at the blew Bore for eleuen pence and if my hostesse wil haue the other odde penie tell her she is a damned bawde and there is no truth in her score Chub. Take no thought sir for your pande hose they are lowsie and not worth the redéeming Spi. There is a Constable stickes in my minde he got my sword from me that night I should haue killed blacke Ralph if I had liude I would haue béene meete with him Chub. I sir but here 's a thing shall take an order for that Spi. Cemmend me to blacke Luce bouncing Besse lustie Kate and the other pretie morsels of mans flesh Farewell Pinke and Pinnesse Flibote and Caruell Turnbull and Spittle I die like a man Chub. Oh Captaine Spicing thy vaine inticing brought me from my trade From good candles making to this paines taking a rebell to be made Therefore Ned Spicing to quit thy enticing this must be thy hope By one of thy fellowes to be led to the Gallowes to end in a rope Exeunt Enter Hobs the Tanner of Tamworth Hobs. Dudgeon dost thou he are looke well to Brocke my mare driue Dunne and her faire and softly downe the hill and take héede the thornes teare not the hornes of my Cow hides as thou goest neere the hedges ha what saist thou knaue is the Bulles hide downe why lay it vp again what rare I He meete thee at the stile and helpe to set all straight And yet God helpe it s a crooked world and an vnthriftie for some that haue nere a shooe had rather go barefoote then buy clout-leather to mend the old when they can buy no new for they haue time inough to mend all they sit so long betweene the cup and the wall well God amend them God amende them Let me see by my executor heere my leather pouch what I haue taken what I haue spent what I haue
Loue thy Iane still nay more if more may be kissing her And this is all the harme that at my hands She shall endure for it Oh where my Edward loues It ill beseemes his Queene to grudge thereat King Sayest thou me so Besse on my kingly word Edward will honour thee in heart for this But trust me Besse I greatly was afraid I should not finde ye in so good a tune How now what would our Constable of the Towre Bra. The Queene and misstris Shoare do know my sute Qu. It is for Stranguidge and his men at sea Edward needs must you pardon them King Haue I not vowed the contrarie alreadie Dishonour mee when I haue made a league My word is past and they shall suffer death Or neuermore let mee see France againe Iane Why there is one was but a passenger Shall hee die too King Passe me no passage Iane were he in companie hee dies for companie Qu. Good Iane intreat for them Iane Come Edward I must not take this answere Needs must I haue some grace for Stranguidge King Why Iane haue I not denide my Quéenes Yet what i st Iane I would denie to thee I prethee Brackenburie be not thou displeasde My word is past not one of them shall liue One go see them forth with sent to death Exeunt Enter Clarence Gloster and Shaw Glost. I cannot see this prophesie you speake of Should any way so much displease the King And yet I promise you good Brother Clarence T is such a letter as concernes vs both That G. should put away King Edwards children And sit vpon his throne that G. should well Cla. God blesse the king those two swéet young Princes Glo. Amen good brother Clarence Shaw Amen Glo. And send them all to heauen shortly I beseech him Cla. The Kinges much troubled in his sicknesse with it Glo. I promise you hee is and verie much But Doctor Shaw who prophested that G. should be so sadly ominous to vs Shaw My Lord of Glocester I receiude the same From old Frier Anselme of S. Bartholmewes Glo. A great learned man he was and as I haue heard Hath prophesied of very many things I promise you it troubles me I hope in me his prophesie is true aside Cla. And so it does me I tell you brother Glocester Glo. I am sure it does for looke you brother Clarence We know not how his Highnes will applie it We are but two your selfe my Lord and I Should the young Princes faile which God defend Cla. Which God defend D. Shaw Which God defend Glo. aside But they should be cut off Amen Amen You brother first and should your issue faile Poore I am next the youngest of the thrée But how farre I am from a thought of that Heauen witnes with me that I wish you dead aside Cla. Brother I durst be sworne Glo. God blesse you al and take you to him if it be his will Now brother this prophesie of G. troubling the King He may as well applie it vnto Glocester My Dukedomes name if he be iealious As vnto George your name good brother Clarence God helpe God helpe Ifaith it troubles me You would not thinke how aside that any of you liue Cla. It cannot thuse how innocent I am And how vnspotted are my loyall thoughts Vnto his Highnes and those swéete yong Princes God be my record Glo. Who you I I durst answer for you That I shall cut you off ere it be long aside But reuerend Doctor you can onely tell Being his Highnes Confessor how he takes it aside to Shaw Shaw you know my minde a villaine like my selfe Shaw My Lord of Clarence I must tell your Lordship His Highnes is much troubled in his sicknes With this same prophesie of G. Who is this G Oft times he will demaund then will he sigh And name his brother George your selfe my Lord And then he strikes his breast I promise you This morning in th' extreamest of his fitte He lay so still we all thought he had slept When suddenly George is the G. quoth he And gaue a groane and turnde his face away Cla. God be my witnesse witnesse with my soule My iust and vpright thoughts to him and his I stand so guiltlesse and so innocent As I could wish my breast to be transparent And my thoughts written in great letters there The world might read the secrets of my soule Glo. Ah brother Clarence when you are suspected Well well it is a wicked world the while But shall I tell you brother in plaine tearmes I feare your selfe and I haue enemies About the King God pardon them The world was neuer worser to be trusted Ah brother George where is that loue that was Ah it is banisht brother from the world Ah Conscience Conscience and true brotherhood T is gone t is gone brother I am your friend I am your louing brother your owne selfe And loue you as my soule vse me in what you please And you shall see I le doe a brothers part Send you to heauen I hope ere it be long aside I am a true stampt villaine as euer liude Cla. I know you will then brother I beséech you Pleade you mine innocence vnto the King And in meane time to tell my loyaltie I le kéepe within my house at Bainards Castle Vntill I heare how my dread Soueraigne takes it Glo. Do so good brother Cla. Farewell good brother Gloster Glo. My teares will scarcely let me take my leaue I loue you so Farewell sweet George Exit Cla. So is he gone now Shaw t is in thy power To binde me to thee euerlastingly And there is not one step that I shall rise But I will draw thee with me vnto greatnesse Thou shalt sit in my bosome as my soule Incense the king now being as thou art So neere about him and his Confessor That this G. onely is George Duke of Clarence Doctor thou needst not my instruction Thou hast a searching braine a nimble spirit Able to master any mans affections Effect it Shaw and bring it to passe once I le make thee the greatest Shaw that euer was Sha. My Lord I am going by commaundement Vnto the Marshalsea to Captaine Stranguidge For Pyracie of late condemnde to die There to confesse him and his companie That done I le come with spéed backe to the king And make no doubt but I le effect the thing Glo. Farewell gentle Doctor Sha. Farewell my Lord of Gloster Exit Glo. Let me awake my sléeping wits a while Ha the marke thou aimst at Richard is a crowne And many stand betwixt thee and the same What of all that Doctor play thou thy part I le climbe vp by degrees through many a heart Exit Enter Brackenburie with Vaux the Keeper Bra. Why maister Vaux is there no remedie But instantly they must be led to death Can it not be deferd till after noone Or but two howres in hope to get reprie K. Maister Lieutenant t is in vaine
man And gaue mee officers to waite vpon mee Which will so countenance thy cunning worke As I shall no way be suspected in it how saist thou Fogge Fogge. It will do well indéed But good sir haue a care in any case For else you know what barme may come thereon Ruff. A care saist thou why man I will not trust My house my strongest locks nor any place But mine owne bosome there will I kéepe it still If I miscarrie so doth it with mee Shoare Are yee so cunning sir I say no more Iane Shoare or I may quittance you for this Exit Ruff. Well Fogge I haue contented thee Thou maist be gone I must about my charge To sée that none reléeue Shoares wife with ought Exit Fog Enter the Officers with bils Come on good fellowes you that must attend King Richards seruice vnder my commaund Your charge is to be verie vigilant Ouer that strumpet whom they call Shoares wife If any traitour giue her but a mite A draught of water or a crust of bread Or any other foode what ere it bee Lay hold on him for it is present death By good King Richards proclamation This is her haunt here stand I Sentinell Kéepe you vnséene and aide mee when I call Enter Iockie and Ieffrey with a bottle of Ale Cheese and halfepennie loaues to play at bowles mistres Shoare enters and sits where she was wont Iock. Now must I vnder colour of playing at bowles help till relieue my gude maistres maistres Shoare Come Ieffrey wee will play fiue vp for this bottle of Ale and yonder gude pure woman shall keepe the stakes and this cheese shall be the measter They play still toward her and Iockie often breakes bread and cheese giues her till Ieffrey being cald away then he giues her all and is apprehended Ruf. Here is a villaine that wil not relieue her But yet hée le loose he bowles that way to helpe her Apprehend him fellowes when I bid ye Although his mate be gone he shal pay for it Take him and let the Beadles whip him well Iock. Heare ye sir shall they be whipt and hangd that giue to the pure then they shall bee damne that take fro the pure They lead him away Enter young Aire againe and Shoare stands aloofe off Aire Oh yonder sits the swéet forsaken soule To whom for euer I stand déeply bound She sau'de my life then Aire helpe to saue hers Ruf. Whither go ye sir You come to giue this strumpet some reliefe Air. She did more good then euer thou canst doe And if thou wilt not pittie her thy selfe Giue others leaue by dutie bound thereto Here mistris Shoare take this and would to God It were so much as my poore heart could wish He giues his purse Sho. Who is it that thus pitties my poore wife T is M. Aire Gods blessing on him for it Ruf. Darest thou do so Aire Air. Rufford I dare do more Here is my ring it waies an ounce of Gold And take my cloake to keepe yée from the cold Ruf. Thou art a traitor Aire Air. Rufford thou art a villaine so to call me Ruf. Lay hold on him attach him officers Air. Rufford I le answere thine arrest with this He drawes his rapler but is apprehended Ruff. All this contending sir will not auaile This treason will be rated at thy life Aire Life is too little for her sake that sau'de it Sho. Is he a traitour sir for doing good God saue the King a true heart meanes no ill I trust he hath reclaimde his sharpe edict And will not that his poorest subiect perish And so perswaded I my selfe will doe That which both loue and nature binds me to I cannot giue her as she well deserues For she hath lost a greater benefite 〈◊〉 woman take that purse Ruff. He takte away Sho. You shall not sir for I will answere it Before the King if you inforce it so Ruff. It must be so you shall vnto the King Sho. You will be he will first repent the thing Come M. Aire I le beare ye companie Which wise men doth say ease calamitie Exeunt Iane If griefe to spéech frée passage could afford Or for woe I had a fitting word I might complaine or if my flouds of teares Could moue remorse of minds or pearce dul ears Or wash away my cares or cleanse my crime With words teares I would be the time But it is bootlesse why liue I to see All those despised that do pittie me Despisde alas destroyed and led to death That gaue me almes here to prolong my breath Faire Dames behold let my example proue There is no loue like to a husbands loue Exit Enter King Richard Louell Catesbie Rufford Shoar and Ayre pinioned and led betwixt two Officers Glo. Now tell vs Rufford which of these it is That in the heat of his vpheaued spléene Contemnes our crowne disdaines our dignitie And armes himselfe against authoritie Ruff. Both haue offended my dread soueraigne Though not alike yet both faults capitall These lines declare what when where it was Glo. Which is that Aire Ruff. This young man my Liege Glo. I thought it was some hot distempred blood That fierd his gyddie braine with businesse Is thy name Aire Aire It is Glo. This paper saies so Aire Perish may he that made that paper speak Glo. Ha Dost thou wish confusion vnto vs This paper is the Organe of our power And shall pronounce thy condemnation We make it speake thy treasons to thy face And thy malicious tongue speakes treason still Relieu'st thou Shoares wife in contempt of vs Aire No but her iust desert She sau'de my life which I had forfeited Whereby my goods and life she merited Glo. And thou shalt pay it in the selfe same place Where thou this man our Officer didst out face And scorndst vs saying if we stoode by Thou wouldst relieue her Aire I do not denie For want of food her breath was néere expirde I gaue her meanes to buy it vndesirde And rather chuse to die for charitie Then liue condemned of ingratitude Gl. Your good devotion brings you to the gallows He hath his sentence Rufford sée him hangd They lead out Aire Now sir your name Sho. Is it not written there Glo. Here 's Mathew Floud Ruf. That is his name my Lord Glo. Is thy name Floud Sho. So M. Rufford sates Glo. Floud and Aire the elements conspire In ayre and water to confound our power Didst thou relieue that hateful wretch Shoares wife Sho. I did relieue that wofull wretch Shoares wife Gl. Thou séemst a man well staid and temperate Durst thou infringe our proclamation Sho. I did not breake it Ruf. Yes and added more That you would answere it before the King Sho. And added more you would repent the thing Ru. Who I his Highnes knowes my innocence And readie seruice with my goods and life Answere thy treasons to his maiestie Glo. What canst thou say Floud why thou shouldst not
so much as I doe But by thy onely mercie to preserue it Untill I loose it for my charitie Thou giu'st me more then euer I can pay Then do thy pleasure executioner And now farewell kind vertuous mistris Shoare In heauen wée le méete againe in earth no more Here he is executed Ia. Farewel farewel thou for thy almes dost die And I must end here starude in miserie In life my friend in death I le not forsake thee Thou goest to heauen I hope to ouertake thee Sho. O world what art thou man euen from his birth Findes nothing else but miserie on earth Thou neuer world scorn'dst mée so much before But I vaine world do hate thee ten times more I am glad I féele approaching death so nie World thou hatest mée I thée vaine world defie I pray yee yet good master officers Do but this kindnesse to poore wretched soules As let vs haue the buriall of our friend It is but so much labour saude for you She. There take his body bury it where you wil So it be quickly done out of the way Exit Sherife and Officers Ia. What 's he that begs the buriall of my friend And hath so oftentimes relieued mee Ah gentle sir to comfort my sad woe Let mee that good kind man of mercie know Sho. Ah Iane now there is none but thou and I Looke on mee well knowest thou thy Ma. Shoare Ia. My Husband then breake and liue no more She swounds and he supports her in his armes Sho. Ah my déere Iane comfort thy heauie soule Go not away so soone a little stay A little little while that thou and I Like man and wife may here together die Iane How can I looke vpon my husbands face That shamde my self and wrought his déep disgrace Sho. Iane be content our woes are now alike With one selfe rod thou séest God doth vs strike If for thy sinne I le pray to heauen for thee And if for mine do thou as much for mee Iane Ah Shoare i st possible thou canst forgiue mée Shoare Yes Iane I doc Iane I cannot hope thou wilt My faults so great that I cannot expect it Sho. I faith I doe as fréely from my soule As at Gods hands I hope to be forgiuen Ia. Then God reward thée for we now must part I féele cold death doth seize vpon my heart Sho. And hee is come to mee here he lies I féele him readie to close vp mine eies Lend mée thy hand to burie this our friend And then we both will hasten to our end Here they put the bodie of young Aire into a Coffin and then he fits downe on the one side of it and she on the other Iane sit thou there here I my place will haue Giue mée thy hand thus wée embrace our graue Ah Iane he that the depth of woe will see Let him but now behold our miserie But be content this is the best of al Lower then now we are wée cannot fall Iane Ah I am faint how happie Aire art thou Not féeling that which doth afflict vs now Sho. Oh happie graue to vs this comfort giuing Here lies two liuing dead here one dead liuing Here for his sake loe this we doe for thee Thou lookste for one and art possest of thrée Ia. Oh dying marriage oh swéet married death Thou graue which only shouldst part faithfull friends Bringst vs togither and dost ioyne our hands Oh liuing death euen in this dying life Yet ere I go once Mathew kisse thy wife He kisseth her and she dies S. Ah my swéet Iane farewel farewel poore soule Now tyrant Richard doo the worst thou canst She doth defie thée oh vnconstant world Here lies a true Anatomie of thee A King had all my ioy that her inioyde And by a King againe shee was destroyde All ages of my kingly woes shall tell Once more inconstant world farewell farewell he dies Enter sir Robert Brackenburie with two or three of his seruants Bra. Sirs if the King or else the Duke of Buckingham Do send for me I will attend them straight But what are these here openly lie dead Oh God the one is mistris Shoare this is Floud That was my man the third is master Aire Who suffered death for his reléeuing her They shall not thus lie in the open way Lend me your hands and heauie hearts withall At mine owne charge lie giue them buriall They beare them thence Enter King Richard crowned Buckingham Aire of Warwicke Louell Catesbie Fogge and attendants Richard Most noble Lords since it hath pleased you Beyond our expectation on yeur bounties T' impale my temples with the Diademe How farre my quiet thoughts haue euer béene From this great majesticke soureraigntie Heauen best can witnesse I am your King Long may I be so to deserue your loue But I will be a seruant to you all Pray God my broken sléeps may giue you rest But onely that my bloud doth chalenge it Being your lawfull Prince by true succession I could haue wisht with all my heart I could This maiestie had sitten on the browe Of any other so much do I affect a priuate life To spend my dates in contemplation But since that heauen and you will haue it so I take the crowne as méekely at your hands As free and pure from an ambitious thought As any new borne babe Thus must thou Richard Séeme as a saint to men in outward shew aside Being a verie diuell in thy heart Thus must thou couer all thy villanies And kéepe them close from ouerlookers eyes Buck. My Soueraigne by the generall consent Of all the Lords aud commons of the land I tender to your royall maiestie This princely Lady the Lady Anne of Warwick Iudged the onely worthiest of your loue To be your highnes bride faire Englands Quéen Rich. My royall Princely Cosin Buckingham I see you striue to blesse mee more and more Your bountie is so large and ample to mee You ouerflow my spirits with your great loue I willingly accept this vertuous Princesse And crowne her Angell beautie with my loue Lo. Then as the hand of your high parliament I giue her here vnto your maiestie Rich. Lord Louell I as heartily receiue her Welcome faire Queene C. And from the Lords commons of your land I giue the frée and voluntarie oath Of their allegeance to your maiesty As to their soueraigne and liege Lord and Ladie Richard the third beauteous Anne his Quéene The true and lawfull King Quéene of England Rich. I doe accept it Catesbie and returne Exchange of mutuall and partie loue Now Fogge too that in your traiterous Libels Besides the counterfeiting of our hand and seale For Rufford though so great a fault deserude To suffer death as hee alreadie hath Going about to slubber our renowne And wound vs with reproach and infamie Yet Fogge that thou thy selfe maist plainely see How farre I am from séeking sharp reuenge Fogge I forgiue thee and withall wee doe Repeale our heauie sentence gainst Shoares wife Restoring all her goods for we intend With all the world now to be perfect friends Cat. Why my good Lord you knew shée s dead alreadie R. True Catesbie else I nere had spoke such words aside Alas I see our kindnesse comes too late For Catesbie tels me she is dead alreadie Cat. I my good Lord so is her husband too Rich. Would they had liude to see our friendly change But Catesbie say where dide Shoare and his wife Cat. Where Aire was hangde for giuing her reliefe There both of them round circkling his cold graue And arme in arme departed from this life The people for the loue they beare to her And her kind husband pittying his wrongs For euer after meane to call the ditch Shoares Ditch as in the memorie of them Their bodies in the Friers minorites Are in one graue enterred all together But mistris Blage for ingratitude To mistris Shoare lies dead vnburied And no one will afford her buriall Ric. But mistris Blage she shal haue burial too What now we must be friends indeed we must And now my Lords I giue you all to know In memorie of our eternall loue I do ordaine an order of the Bathe Twelue knights in number of that royall sort Which order with all princely ceremonies Shall be obserued in all royall pompe As Edwards our forefather of the Barter Which feast our selfe and our beloued Quéene Will presently solemnize in our person Buc. Now am I bold to put your grace in mind Of my long suite and partly your owne promise The Earle of Herefords lands Rich. Cosin wée le better thinke on that here after Buc. My pains my Lord hath not deserude delay Ric. Wil you appoint our time then you shal stay For this hote hastinesse sir you shall stay Moone us no more you were best Buc. I Richard is it come to this In my first suite of all dost thou denie mee Breake thine own word turne me off so slieghtly Richard thoud hadst as good haue damnde thy soule As basely thus to deale with Buckingham Richard I le sit vpon thy crumped shoulder I faith I will if heauen will giue me leaue And Harrie Richmond this hand alone Shall fetch thée home and seat thee in his throne Exit Rich. What is he gone in heat why farewell bee He is displeasde let him be pleasde againe We haue no time to thinke on angrie men Come my swéet Quéene let vs go solemnize Our Knighthoods order in most royall wise Exeunt FINIS