THE DEATH OF ROBERT EARLE OF HVNTINGTON OTHERWISE CALLED Robin Hood of merrie Sherwodde with the lamentable Tragedie of chaste MATILDA his faire maid MARIAN poysoned at Dunmowe by King IOHN Acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Notingham Lord high Admirall of England his seruants ¶ Imprinted at London for William Leake 1601 THE DEATH OF ROBERT EARLE OF HVNTINGTON ¶ Enter Frier Tucke SCEANE I Frier HOlla holla holla follow follow followe Like noyse within Now benedicite what fowle absurditie follie foolerie had like to followed mee I my mates like addle pates inuiting great States to see our last play are hunting the hay with ho that way the goodly Heart ranne with followe little Iohn Much play the man and I like a sot haue wholly forgot the course of our plot but crosse-bowe lye downe come on Friers gowne hoode couer my crowne and with a lowe becke preuent a sharpe checke Blithe sit yee all and winke at our rude cry Minde where wee left in Sheerewod merrily The king his traine Robin his yeomen tall Gone to the wodde to see the fat deare fall Wee left maid Marian busie in the bower And prettie linny looking euery hower For their returning from the hunting game And therefore seeke to set each thing in frame Warman all wofull for his sinne we left Sir Doncaster whose villanies and theft You neuer heard of but too soone yee shall Hurt with the Prior shame them both befall They two will make our mirth be short and small But least I bring yee sorrowe ere the time Pardon I beg of your well iudging eyne And take in part bad prologue and rude play The hunters holloo Tucke must needes away Therefore downe weede bowe doe the deede to make the Stagge bleede and if my hand speede hey for a cry with a throate strained hie a lowde yall at the beasts fall Exit Holloo within Enter King Ely Fitzwater Salsbury Chester Prince Iohn little Iohn Scathlocke Kin. Where is our mother Pr. Iohn Mounted in a stand Six fallowe deere haue dyed by her hand Fitz. Three Stags I slewe Ely Two Bucks by me fell downe Chest. As many dyed by mee Sals. But I had three Prin. Scathlocke where 's Much Sca. When last I saw him may it please your Grace He and the Frier footed it apace Prin. Scathlocke no Grace your fellowe plaine Iohn Lit. Ioh. I warrant you Much will be here anone Pr. Thinkst thou little Iohn that he must Iinny wed 's Lit. Ioh. No doubt he must Prin. Then to adorne his head we shall haue hornes good slore King God for thy grace How could I misse the Stagge I had in chase Twice did I hit him in the very necke When backe my arrowes flewe as they had smit On some sure armour Where is Robin Hood And the wighte Scarlet Seeke them little Iohn Exit Ioh. I le haue that Stagge before I dine to day ¶ Enter Much Much O the frier the frier the frier King Why how now Much Cry ye mercy master king Marry this is the matter Scarlet is following the Stagge you hit and has almost lodg'd him now the Frier has the best bowe but yours in all the field which and Scarlet had he would haue him straight Kin. Where is thy master Much Nay I cannot tell nor the Frier neither Scath. I heare them holloo farre off in the wod King Come Much canst lead vs where as Scarlet is Muc. Neuer feare you follow me Exeunt hollooing SCEANE II. ¶ Enter sir Doncaster Prior Don. You were resolued to haue him poysoned Or kild or made away you car'd not how What diuell makes you doubtfull now to doo 't Pri. Why Doncaster his kindnesse in our needes Don. A plague vpon his kindnesse let him die I neuer temperd poyson in my life but I imployd it By th' masse and I loose this For euer looke to loose my company Pri. But will you giue it him Don. That cannot bee The Queene Earle Chester and Earle Salsbury If they once see mee I am a deade man Or did they heare my name I le lay my life They all would hunt me for my life Pri. What hast thou done to them Don. Faith some odde toyes That made me fly the south but passe wee them Here is the poyson will you giue it Robin Pri. Now by this gold I will Don. Or as I said for euer I defie your company Pri. Well he shall die and in his iollity And in my head I haue a policy To make him die disgrac't Don. O tell it Prior Pri. I will but not as now Call the Frier within Wee le seeke a place the wods haue many eares And some me thinkes are calling for the Frier Exeunt SCEANE III ¶ Enter calling the Frier as afore Ioh. The Frier the Frier Scath. Why where 's this Frier Fri. Here sir what is your desire ¶ Enter Robin Hoode Rob. Why Frier what a murren dost thou meane The King cals for thee For a mightie stagge That hath a copper ring about his necke With letters on it which hee would haue read Hath Scarlet kild I pray thee goe thy way Fri. Master I will no longer will I stay Exit Rob. Good vnkle be more carefull of your health And you sir Doncaster your wounds are greene Both Through your great kindnes we are cōforted Rob. And Warman I aduise you to more mirth Shun solitary walkes keepe company Forget your fault I haue forgiuen the fault Good Warman be more blithe and at this time A little helpe my Marian and her maide Much shall come to you straight a little now We must al striue to doe the best we may Exit winding War On you and her I le waite vntill my dying day Exeunt and as they are going out Doncaster puls Warman Don. Warman a word My good Lord Prior and I Are full of griefe to see thy misery War My misery sir Doncaster why I thanke God I neuer was in better state than now Pri. Why what a seruile slauish minde hast thou Art thou a man and canst be such a beast Asse-like to beare the burthen of thy wrong War What wrong haue I I st wrong to be relieu'd Don. Relieu'd saist thou Why shallow witted foole Dost thou not see Robins ambitious pride And how he clymes by pittying and aspires By humble lookes good deedes and such fond toyes To be a monarch raigning ouer vs As if wee were the vassals to his will War I am his vassall and I will be still Pri. Warman thou art a foole I doe confesse Were these good deedes done in sinceritie Pittie of minde thine or this knights distresse Without vaine brags it were true charitie But to relieue our fainting bodies wants And grieue our soules with quippes and bitter braids Is good turnes ouerturnd no thanks wee owe To any whatsoeuer helps vs so War Neither himselfe nor any that hee keepes Euer vpbraided mee since I came last Don. O God haue mercie on thee
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
state should neglect Ah god in heauen forgiue this bloudie deede Young Bruse young Bruse I weepe Thy mothers and thy brothers wrong Yet to afflict thee more more griefe I bring Br. O Honourable Awbery de Vere Let sorrow in a sable sute appeare Doe not misshape her garments like delight If it be griefe why cloth'st thou her in white Ox. I cannot tell thee yet I must sit downe Attend young Bruse and listen to the Queene Shee le not be tongue tyed we shall haue a stirre Anone I feare would make a man halfe sicke Qu. Are you here leatcher O intemperate king Wilt thou not see mee come come shewe your face Your Graces gracelesse kings vnkingly face What mute hands folded eyes fixt on the earth Whose turne is next now to be murdered The famisht Bruses are on yonder side On this another I will name anone One for whose head this garland I doe beare And this faire milke-white spotlesse pendant too Looke vp king Iohn see yonder sits thy shame Yonder it lyes what must I tell her name It is Matilda poysoned by thee Ki. Matilda O that foule swift footed slaue That kils ere one haue time to hid him saue Faire gentle girle vngently made away Br. My banisht vncles daughter art thou there Then I defie all hope and sweare Lest. Stay Bruse and listen wel what oath to swear Lewys the Dolphin pittying one estate Is by the Christian king his father sent With aid to helpe vs and is landed too Lords that will fly the denne of cruelty And fight to free your selues from tyranny Bruse keepe that Castle to the only vse Of our elected king Lewys of Fraunce Oxf. Gods passion doe not so king Iohn is here Lords whisper not with Lester Lester fie Stir not againe regardlesse mutinie Speake to them Hugh I know thou loou'st the king Madame goe to them nay doe for gods sake doe Downe with your stomacke for if he goe downe You must downe too and be no longer Queene Aduise you goe intreat them speedily My soueraigne wherefore sit you sighing there The Lords are all about to followe Lewys Up and intreat them els they will away K Good Oxford let them goe Why should they stay Ox. What are you desperate that must not be Heare me my Lords All stand in Counsell Ki. This pendant let mee see Amoris Castitatis Honoris honos She was indeede of London the honour once When she was lou'd of vertuous Huntington Of chastitie the honour all her life To impure thoughts she neuer could be wonne And she of Honour was the honour too By birth in life she honour honoured Bring in two tapers lighted quick dispatch Lest. Remēber Bruse thy charge Come Lords away All but Oxford and Hugh Away wee will away Bring in two white Tapers Ox. Harke Lester but one word a little stay Helpe mee good Hubert helpe me gentle Queene Againe conferre K. How dim these Tapers burne they giue no light Here were two beautious Lamps that could haue taught The Sunne to shine by day the Moone by night But they are dim too cleane extinguished Away with these sith those faire lights be dead Ox. And as I say harke Bruse vnto our talke Thinke you it is for loue of England Lewis comes Nay Fraunce is not so kinde I would it were Aduise your selues harke dost thou heare me Bruse Br. Oxford I doe Ox. Can noble English hearts beare the French yoke No Lester Richmond thinke on Lewys sire That left you and your king in Palestine Qu. And think beside you know not Lewys nature Who may be as bad as Iohn or rather worse than he Hu. And looke my Lords vpon his silent woe His soule is at the doore of death I knowe See how he seekes to suck if he could drawe Poyson from dead Matildaes ashie lips I le be sworne his very heart strings nips A vengeance on that slaue that cursed Brand I le kill him if I liue with this right hand Ox. Thou canst not Hubert he hath kild himselfe But to our matter Lester pray thee speake Young Bruse for gods sake let vs knowe thy minde Bru. I would be loath to be a strangers slaue For Englands loue I would no French king haue Lest. Well Oxford if I be deceiu'd in Iohn againe It s long of you Lord Hubert and the Queene Yield vp the Castle Bruse wee le once more try King Iohns proceedings Oxford tell him so Oxford goes to the king does his duety and talkes with him Br. I will come downe but first farewell dear mother Kisse her Farewell poore little George my pretty brother Now will I shut my shambles in againe Farewell farewell In euerlasting blisse your sweete soules dwell Ox. But you must mend yfaith in faith you must Lest. My Lord once more your subiects do submit Beseeching you to thinke how things haue past And let some comfort shine on vs your friends Through the bright splendour of your vertuous life K. I thanke you all and Lester I protest I will be better than I yet haue beene Br. Of Windsor Castle here the keyes I yield K. Thanks Bruse forgiue mee and I pray thee see Thy mother and thy brother buried Bruse offers to kisse Matilda In Windsor Castle Church Doe kisse her cheeke Weepe thou on that on this side I will weepe Q. Chaste virgine thus I crowne thee with these flowers K. Let vs goe on to Dunmow with this maid Among the hallowed Nunnes let her be laide Unto her tombe a monthly pilgrimage Doth king Iohn vowe in penance for this wrong Goe forward maids on with Matildaes herse And on her Toombe see you ingraue this verse Within this Marble monument doth lye Matilda martyrde for her chastitie Exeunt Epilogus Thus is Matildaes story showne in act And rough heawen out by an vncunning hand Being of the most materiall points compackt That with the certainst state of truth doe stand FINIS
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
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