You maister Sherife vnto your shire and you As Iustices in euery ones precinct There be no meetings When the vulgar sort Sit on their Ale-bench with their cups and kannes Matters of state be not their common talke Nor pure religion by their lips prophande Let vs returne vnto the Bench againe And there examine further of this fray Enter a Baily and a Serieant Sher. Sirs haue ye taken the lord Powesse yet Ba. No nor heard of him Ser. No hee 's gone farre enough 2. Iu. They that are left behind shall answer all Exeunt Enter Suffolke Bishop of Rochester Butler parson of Wrotham Suffolke Now my lord Bishop take free liberty To speake your minde what is your sute to vs Bishop My noble Lord no more than what you know And haue bin oftentimes inuested with Grieuous complaints haue past betweene the lippes Of enuious persons to vpbraide the Cleargy Some carping at the liuings which we haue And others spurning at the ceremonies That are of auncient custome in the church Amongst the which Lord Cobham is a chiefe What inconuenience may proceede hereof Both to the King and to the common wealth May easily be discernd when like a frensie This innouation shall possesse their mindes These vpstarts will haue followers to vphold Their damnd opinion more than Harry shall To vndergoe his quarrell gainst the French Suffolke What proofe is there against them to be had That what you say the law may iustifie Bishop They giue themselues the name of Protestants And meete in fields and solitary groues sir Ihon Was euer heard my Lord the like til now That theeues and rebells sbloud heretikes Playne heretikes I le stand toote to their teeth Should haue to colour their vile practises A title of such worth as Protestant enter one wyth a letter Suf. O but you must not sweare it ill becomes One of your coate to rappe out bloudy oathes Bish. Pardon him good my Lord it is his zeale An honest country prelate who laments To see such foule disorder in the church Sir Iohn There 's one they call him Sir Iohn Old-castle He has not his name for naught for like a castle Doth he encompasse them within his walls But till that castle be subuerted quite We ne're shall be at quiet in the realme Bish. That is our sute my Lord that he be tane And brought in question for his heresie Beside two letters brought me out of Wales Wherin my Lord Herford writes to me What tumult and sedition was begun About the Lord Cobham at the Sises there For they had much ado to calme the rage And that the valiant Herbert is there slaine Suf. A fire that must be quencht wel say no more The King anon goes to the counsell chamber There to debate of matters touching France As he doth passe by I le informe his grace Concerning your petition Master Butler If I forget do you remember me But. I will my Lord Offer him a purse Bish. Not for a recompence But as a token of our loue to you By me my Lords of the cleargie do present This purse and in it full a thousand Angells Praying your Lordship to accept their gift Suf. I thanke them my Lord Bishop for their loue But will not take their mony if you please To giue it to this gentleman you may Bish. Sir then we craue your furtherance herein But. The best I can my Lord of Rochester Bish. Nay pray ye take it trust me but you shal sir Iohn Were ye all three vpon New Market heath You should not neede straine curtsie who should ha'te Sir Iohn would quickely rid ye of that care Suf The King is comming feare ye not my Lord The very first thing I will breake with him Shal be about your matter Enter K. Harry and Huntington in talke Har. My Lord of Suffolke Was it not saide the Cleargy did refuse To lend vs mony toward our warres in France Suf. It was my Lord but very wrongfully Har. I know it was for Huntington here tells me They haue bin very bountifull of late Suf. And still they vow my gracious Lord to be so Hoping your maiestie will thinke of them As of your louing subiects and suppresse All such malitious errors as begin To spot their calling and disturb the church Har. God else forbid why Suffolke is there Any new rupture to disquiet them Suf. No new my Lord the old is great enough And so increasing as if not cut downe Will breede a scandale to your royall state And set your Kingdome quickely in an vproare The Kentish knight Lord Cobham in despight Of any law or spirituall discipline Maintaines this vpstart new religion still And diuers great assemblies by his meanes And priuate quarrells are commenst abroad As by this letter more at large my liege Is made apparant Har. We do find it here There was in Wales a certaine fray of late Betweene two noblemen but what of this Followes it straight Lord Cobham must be he Did cause the same I dare be sworne good knight He neuer dreampt of any such contention Bish. But in his name the quarrell did begin About the opinion which he held my hege Har. How if it did was either he in place To take part with them or abette them in it If brabling fellowes whose in kindled bloud Seethes in their fiery vaines will needes go fight Making their quarrells of some words that passt Either of you or you amongst their cuppes Is the fault yours or are they guiltie of it Suffolke With pardon of your Highnesse my dread lord Such little sparkes neglected may in time Grow to a mighty flame but that 's not all He doth beside maintaine a strange religion And will not be compelld to come to masse Bish. We do beseech you therefore gracious prince Without offence vnto your maiesty We may be bold to vse authoritie Harry As how Bishop To summon him vnto the Arches Where such offences haue their punishment Harry To answere personally is that your meaning Bishop It is my lord Harry How if he appeale Bishop He cannot my Lord in such a case as this Suffolke Not where Religion is the plea my lord Harry I tooke it alwayes that our selfe stoode out As a sufficient refuge vnto whome Not any but might lawfully appeale But wee le not argue now vpon that poynt For sir Iohn Old-castle whom you accuse Let me intreate you to dispence awhile With your high title of preheminence in scorne Report did neuer yet condemne him so But he hath alwayes beene reputed loyall And in my knowledge I can say thus much That he is vertuous wise and honourable If any way his conscience be seduc'de To wauer in his faith I le send for him And schoole him priuately if that serue not Then afterward you may proceede against him Butler be you the messenger for vs And will him presently repaire to court exeunt sir Iohn How now my lord why stand you discontent In sooth me thinkes the
King hath well decreed Bishop Yea yea sir Iohn if he would keepe his word But I perceiue he fauours him so much As this will be to small effect I feare sir Iohn Why then I le tell you what y' are best to do If you suspect the King will be but cold In reprehending him send you a processe too To serue vpon him so you may be sure To make him answer 't howsoere it fall Bishop And well remembred I will haue it so A Sumner shall be sent about it strait Exit sir Iohn Yea doe so in the meane space this remaines For kinde sir Iohn of Wrotham honest Iacke Me thinkes the purse of gold the Bishop gaue Made a good shew it had a tempting looke Beshrew me but my fingers ends do itch To be vpon those rudduks well t is thus I am not as the worlde does take me for If euer woolfe were cloathed in sheepes coate Then I am he olde huddle and twang yfaith A priest in shew but in plaine termes a theefe Yet let me tell you too an honest theefe One that will take it where it may besp And spend it freely in good fellowship I haue as many shapes as Proteus had That still when any villany is done There may be none suspect it was sir Iohn Besides to comfort me for what 's this life Except the crabbed bitternes thereof Be sweetened now and then with lechery I haue my Doll my concubine as t' were To frollicke with a lusty bounsing gerle But whilst I loyter here the gold may scape And that must not be so it is mine owne Therefore I le meete him on his way to court And shriue him of it there will be the sport Exit Enter three or foure poore people some souldiers some old men 1 God help God help there 's law for punishing But there 's no law for our necessity There be more stockes to set poore soldiers in Than there be houses to releeue them at Old man Faith housekeeping decayes in euery place Euen as Saint Peter writ still worse and worse 4 Maister maior of Rochester has giuen commaundement that none shall goe abroade out of the parish and they haue set an order downe forsooth what euery poore housholder must giue towards our reliefe where there be some ceased I may say to you had almost as much neede to beg as we 1 It is a hard world the while Old man If a poore man come to a doore to aske for Gods sake they aske him for a licence or a certificate from a Iustice 2 Faith we haue none but what we beare vppon our bodies our maimed limbs God help vs 4 And yet as lame as I am I le with the king into France if I can crawle but a ship-boorde I hadde rather be slaine in France than starue in England Olde man Ha were I but as lusty as I was at the battell of Shrewsbury I would not doe as I do but we are now come to the good lord Cobhams to the best man to the poore that is in all Kent 4 God blesse him there be but few such Enter Lord Cobham with Harpoole Cob. Thou peeuish froward man what wouldst thou haue Harp This pride this pride brings all to beggarie I seru'de your father and your grandfather Shew me such two men now no no Your backes your backes the diuell and pride Has cut the throate of all good housekeeping They were the best Yeomens masters that Euer were in England Cob. Yea except thou haue a crue of seely knaues And sturdy rogues still feeding at my gate There is no hospitalitie with thee Harp They may sit at the gate well enough but the diuell of any thing you giue them except they will eate stones Cob. T is long then of such hungry knaues as you pointing to the beggars Yea sir here 's your retinue your guests be come They know their howers I warrant you Old God blesse your honour God saue the good Lord Cobham and all his house Soul Good your honour bestow your blessed almes Vpon poore men Cob. Now sir here be your Almes knights Now are you as safe as the Emperour Harp My Almes knights nay th' are yours It is a shame for you and I le stand too 't Your foolish almes maintaines more vagabonds Then all the noblemen in Kent beside Out you rogues you knaues worke for your liuings Alas poore men O Lord they may beg their hearts out There 's no more charitie amongst men Then amongst so many mastiffe dogges What make you here you needy knaues Away away you villaines 2. soul. I beseech you sit be good to vs Cobham Nay nay they know thee well enough I thinke that all the beggars in this land are thy acquaintance goe bestowe your almes none will controule you sir Harp What should I giue them you are growne so beggarly you haue scarce a bitte of breade to giue at your doore you talke of your religion so long that you haue banished charitie from amongst you a man may make a flaxe shop in your kitchin chimnies for any fire there is stirring Cobham If thou wilt giue them nothing send them hence let them not stand here staruing in the colde Harp Who I driue them hence if I driue poore men from your doore I le be hangd I know not what I may come to my selfe yea God help you poore knaues ye see the world yfaith well you had a mother well God be with thee good Lady thy soule 's at rest she gaue more in shirts and smocks to poore children then you spend in your house yet you liue a beggar too Cobham Euen the worst deede that ere my mother did was in releeuing such a foole as thou Harpoole Yea yea I am a foole still with all your wit you will die a beggar go too Cobham Go you olde foole giue the poore people something go in poore men into the inner court and take such alms as there is to be had Souldier God blesse your honor Harpoole Hang you roags hang you there 's nothing but misery amongst you you feare no law you Exit Olde man God blesse you good maister Rafe God saue your life you are good to the poore still Enter the Lord Powes disguised and shrowde himselfe Cobham What fellow 's yonder comes along the groue Few passengers there be that know this way Me thinkes he stops as though he stayd for me And meant to shrowd himselfe amongst the bushes I know the Cleargie hate me to the death And my religion gets me many foes And this may be some desperate rogue Subornd to worke me mischiefe As it Pleaseth God if he come toward me sure I le stay his comming be he but one man What soere he be The Lord Powis comes on I haue beene well acquainted with that face Powis Well met my honorable lord and friend Cobham You are welcome sir what ere you be But of this sodaine sir I do not know you Powis I am one
be all friends then Constable Well said mistris Dorothy ifaith Harp Thou art the madst priest that euer I met with Wroth. Giue me thy hand thou art as good a fellow I am a singer a drinker a bencher a wencher I can say a masse and kisse a lasse faith I haue a parsonage and bicause I would not be at too much charges this wench serues me for a sexton Harp Well said mad priest wee le in and be friends exeunt Enter sir Roger Acton master Bourne master Beuerley and William Murley the brewer of Dunstable Acton Now maister Murley I am well assurde You know our arrant and do like the cause Being a man affected as we are Mu. Mary God dild ye daintie my deere no master good Sr Roger Acton Knight maister Bourne and maister Beuerley esquires gentlemen and iustices of the peace no maister I but plaine William Murly the brewer of Dunstable your honest neighbour and your friend if ye be men of my profession Beuerley Professed friends to Wickliffe foes to Rome Murl. Hold by me lad leane vpon that staffe good maister Beuerley all of a house say your mind say your mind Acton You know our faction now is growne so great Throughout the realme that it beginnes to smoake Into the Cleargies eies and the Kings eares High time it is that we were drawne to head Our generall and officers appoynted And warres ye wot will aske great store of coine Able to strength our action with your purse You are elected for a colonell Ouer a regiment of fifteene bands Murley Fue paltrie paltrie in and out to and fro be it more or lesse vppon occasion Lorde haue mercie vppon vs what a world is this Sir Roger Acton I am but a Dunstable man a plaine brewer ye know will lusty Caualiering captaines gentlemen come at my calling goe at my bidding Daintie my deere thei le doe a dogge of waxe a horse of cheese a pricke and a pudding no no ye must appoint some lord or knight at least to that place Bourne Why master Murley you shall be a Knight Were you not in election to be shrieue Haue ye not past all offices but that Haue ye not wealth to make your wife a lady I warrant you my lord our Generall Bestowes that honor on you at first sight Murley Mary God dild ye daintie my deare But tell me who shal be our Generall Where 's the lord Cobham sir Iohn Old-castle That noble almes-giuer housekeeper vertuous Religious gentleman Come to me there boies Come to me there Acton Why who but he shall be our Generall Murley And shall he knight me and make me colonell Acton My word for that sir William Murley knight Murley Fellow sir Roger Acton knight all fellowes I meane in armes how strong are we how many partners our enemies beside the King are mightie be it more or lesse vpon occasion reckon our force Acton There are of vs our friends and followers Three thousand and three hundred at the least Of northerne lads foure thousand beside horse From Kent there comes with sir Iohn Old-castle Seauen thousand then from London issue out Of maisters seruants strangers prentices Fortie odde thousands into Ficket field Where we appoynt our speciall randeuous Murley Fue paltry paltry in and out to and fro Lord haue mercie vpon vs what a world is this where 's that Ficket fielde sir Roger Acton Behinde saint Giles in the field neere Holborne Murley Newgate vp Holborne S. Giles in the field and to Tiborne an old saw for the day for the day Acton On friday next the foureteenth day of Ianuary Murley Tyllie vallie trust me neuer if I haue any liking of that day fue paltry paltry friday quoth a dismall day Childermasse day this yeare was friday Beuerley Nay maister Murley if you obserue such daies We make some question of your constancie All daies are like to men resolu'de in right Murley Say Amen and say no more but say and hold master Beuerley friday next and Ficket field and William Murley and his merry men shal be al one I haue halfe a score iades that draw my beere cartes and euery iade shall beare a knaue and euery knaue shall weare a iacke and euery iacke shal haue a scull and euery scull shal shew a speare and euery speare shal kill a foe at Ficket field at Ficket field Iohn and Tom and Dicke and Hodge and Rafe and Robin William George and all my knaues shall fight like men at Ficket field on friday next Bourne What summe of money meane you to disburse Murley It may be modestly decently soberly and handsomely I may bring fiue hundreth pound Acton Fiue hundreth man fiue thousand 's not enough A hundreth thousand will not pay our men Two months together either come preparde Like a braue Knight and martiall Colonell In glittering golde and gallant furniture Bringing in coyne a cart loade at the least And all your followers mounted on good horse Or neuer come disgracefull to vs all Beuerley Perchance you may be chosen Treasurer Tenne thousand pounds the least that you can bring Murley Paltry paltry in and out and fro vpon I haue ten thousand pound to spend and tenne too And rather than the Bishop shall haue his will of mee for my conscience it shall out all Flame and flaxe flame and flaxe it was gotte with water and mault and it shal flie with fire and gunne powder Sir Roger a cart loade of mony til the axetree cracke my selfe and my men in Ficket field on friday next remember my Knighthoode and my place there 's my hand I le bee there Exit Acton See what Ambition may perswade men to In hope of honor he will spend himselfe Bourne I neuer thought a Brewer halfe so rich Beuerley Was neuer bankerout Brewer yet but one With vsing too much mault too little water Acton That 's no fault in Brewers now-adayes Come away about our businesse exeunt Enter K. Harry Suffolke Butler and Old-castle kneeling to the King Harry T is not enough Lord Cobham to submit You must forsake your grosse opinion The Bishops find themselues much iniured And though for some good seruice you haue done We for our part are pleasde to pardon you Yet they will not so soone be satisfied Cobham My gracious Lord vnto your Maiestie Next vnto my God I owe my life And what is mine either by natures gift Or fortunes bountie al is at your seruice But for obedience to the Pope of Rome I owe him none nor shall his shaueling priests That are in England alter my beliefe If out of holy Scripture they can proue That I am in an errour I will yeeld And gladly take instruction at their hands But otherwise I do beseech your grace My conscience may not be incroacht vpon Har. We would be loath to presse our subiects bodies Much lesse their soules the deere redeemed part Of him that is the ruler of vs all Yet let me counsell ye that might command
Do not presume to tempt them with ill words Nor suffer any meetings to be had Within your house but to the vttermost Disperse the flockes of this new gathering sect Cobham My liege if any breathe that dares come forth And say my life in any of these points Deserues th' attaindor of ignoble thoughts Here stand I crauing no remorce at all But euen the vtmost rigor may be showne Har. Let it suffice we know your loyaltie What haue you there Cob. A deed of clemencie Your Highnesse pardon for Lord Powesse life Which I did beg and you my noble Lord Of gracious fauour did vouchsafe to grant Har. But yet it is not signed with our hand Cob. Not yet my Liege one ready with pen and incke Har. The fact you say was done Not of prepensed malice but by chance Cob. Vpon mine honor so no otherwise Har. There is his pardon bid him make amends writes And cleanse his soule to God for his offence What we remit is but the bodies scourge Enter Bishop How now Lord Bishop Bishop Iustice dread Soueraigne As thou art King so graunt I may haue iustice Har. What meanes this exclamation let vs know Bish. Ah my good Lord the state 's abusde And our decrees most shamefully prophande Har. How or by whom Bish. Euen by this heretike This Iew this Traitor to your maiestie Cob. Prelate thou liest euen in thy greasie maw Or whosoeuer twits me with the name Of either traitor or of heretike Har. Forbeare I say and Bishop shew the cause From whence this late abuse hath bin deriu'de Bish. Thus mightie King by generall consent A messenger was sent to cite this Lord To make appearance in the consistorie And comming to his house a ruffian slaue One of his daily followers met the man Who knowing him to be a parator Assaults him first and after in contempt Of vs and our proceedings makes him eate The written processe parchment seale and all Whereby his maister neither was brought forth Nor we but scornd for our authoritie Har. When was this done Bish. At sixe a clocke this morning Har. And when came you to court Cob. Last night my Lord Har. By this it seemes he is not guilty of it And you haue done him wrong t' accuse him so Bish. But it was done my lord by his appointment Or else his man durst ne're haue bin so bold Har. Or else you durst be bold to interrupt And fill our eares with friuolous complaints Is this the duetie you do beare to vs Was 't not sufficient we did passe our word To send for him but you misdoubting it Or which is worse intending to forestall Our regall power must likewise summon him This sauours of Ambition not of zeale And rather proues you malice his estate Than any way that he offends the law Go to we like it not and he your officer That was imployde so much amisse herein Had his desert for being insolent Enter Huntington So Cobham when you please you may depart Cob. I humbly bid farewell vnto my liege Exit Har. Farewell what 's the newes by Huntington Hunt Sir Roger Acton and a crue my Lord Of bold seditious rebels are in Armes Intending reformation of Religion And with their Army they intend to pitch In Ficket field vnlesse they be repulst Har. So nere our presence dare they be so bold And will prowd warre and eager thirst of bloud Whom we had thought to entertaine farre off Presse forth vpon vs in our natiue boundes Must wee be forc't to hansell our sharp blades In England here which we prepar'd for France Well a Gods name be it what 's their number say Or who 's the chiefe commander of this rowt Hunt Their number is not knowne as yet my Lord But t is reported Sir Iohn Old-castle Is the chiefe man on whom they do depend Har. How the Lord Cobham Hunt Yes my gracious Lord Bish. I could haue told your maiestie as much Before he went but that I saw your Grace Was too much blinded by his flaterie Suf. Send poast my Lord to fetch him backe againe But. Traitor vnto his country how he smooth'de And seemde as innocent as Truth it selfe Har. I cannot thinke it yet he would be false But if he be no matter let him go Wee le meet both him and them vnto their wo Bish. This falls out well and at the last I hope Exeunt To see this heretike die in a rope Enter Earle of Cambridge Lord Scroope Gray and Chartres the French factor Scroop Once more my Lord of Cambridge make rehersal How you do stand intiteled to the Crowne The deeper shall we print it in our mindes And euery man the better be resolu'de When he perceiues his quarrell to be iust Cam. Then thus Lord Scroope sir Thomas Gray you Mounsieur de Chartres agent for the French This Lionell Duke of Clarence as I said Third sonne of Edward Englands King the third Had issue Phillip his sole daughter and heyre Which Phillip afterward was giuen in marriage To Edmund Mortimer the Earle of March And by him had a son cald Roger Mortimer Which Roger likewise had of his discent Edmund Roger Anne and Elianor Two daughters and two sonnes but those three Dide without issue Anne that did suruiue And now was left her fathers onely heyre My fortune was to marry being too By my grandfather of King Edwardes line So of his sirname I am calde you know Richard Plantagenet my father was Edward the Duke of Yorke and son and heyre To Edmund Langley Edward the third's first sonne Scroop So that it seemes your claime comes by your wife As lawfull heyre to Roger Mortimer The son of Edmund which did marry Phillip Daughter and heyre to Lyonell Duke of Clarence Cam. True for this Harry and his father both Harry the first as plainely doth appeare Are false intruders and vsurp the Crowne For when yong Richard was at Pomfret slaine In him the title of prince Edward dide That was the eldest of king Edwards sonnes William of Hatfield and their second brother Death in his nonage had before bereft So that my wife deriu'd from Lionell Third sonne vnto king Edward ought proceede And take possession of the Diademe Before this Harry or his father king Who fetcht their title but from Lancaster Forth of that royall line And being thus What reason i st but she should haue her right Scroope I am resolu'de our enterprise is iust Gray Harry shall die or else resigne his crowne Chart. Performe but that and Charles the king of France Shall ayde you lordes not onely with his men But send you money to maintaine your warres Fiue hundred thousand crownes he bade me proffer If you can stop but Harries voyage for France Scrope We neuer had a fitter time than now The realme in such diuision as it is Camb. Besides you must perswade ye there is due Vengeance for Richards murder which although It be defende yet will it fall at last And
hitherward Har. Let vs withdraw my Lords prepare our troopes To charge the rebels if there be such cause For this lawd priest this diuellish hypocrite That is a thiefe a gamster and what not Let him be hang'd vp for example sake sir Iohn Not so my gracious soueraigne I confesse I am a frayle man flesh and bloud as other are but set my imperfections aside by this light ye haue not a taller man nor a truer subiect to the Crowne and State than Sir Iohn of VVrootham Har. Wil a true subiect robbe his King sir Iohn Alas t was ignorance and want my gracious liege Har. T was want of grace why you should be as salt To season others with good document Your liues as lampes to giue the people light As shepheards not as wolues to spoile the flock Go hang hm Butler But. Didst thou not rob me sir Iohn I must confesse I saw some of your gold but my dread Lord I am in no humor for death therfore saue my life God will that sinners liue do not you cause me die once in their liues the best may goe astray and if the world say true your selfe my liege haue bin a thiefe Har. I confesse I haue But I repent and haue reclaimd my selfe sir Iohn So will I do if you will giue me time Har. Wilt thou my lords will you be his suerties Hunt That when he robs againe he shall be hang'd sir Iohn I aske no more Har. And we will grant thee that Liue and repent and proue an honest man Which when I heare and safe returne from France I le giue thee liuing till when take thy gold But spend it better then at cards or wine For better vertues fit that coate of thine sir Iohn Viuat Rex currat lex my liege if ye haue cause of battell ye shal see sir Iohn of Wrootham bestirre himselfe in your quarrel exeunt After an alarum enter Harry Suffolk Huntington sir Iohn bringing forth Acton Beuerly and Murley prisoners Har. Bring in those traitors whose aspiring minds Thought to haue triumpht in our ouerthrow But now ye see base villaines what successe Attends ill actions wrongfully attempted Sir Roger Acton thou retainst the name Of knight and shouldst be more discreetly temperd Than ioyne with peasants gentry is diuine But thou hast made it more then popular Act. Pardon my Lord my conscience vrg'd me to it Har. Thy conscience then thy conscience is corrupt For in thy conscience thou art bound to vs And in thy conscience thou shouldst loue thy country Else what 's the difference twixt a Christian And the vnciuil manners of the Turke Beuer. We meant no hurt vnto your maiesty But reformation of Religion Har. Reforme Religion was it that ye sought I pray who gaue you that authority Belike then we do hold the scepter vp And sit within the throne but for a cipher Time was good subiects would make knowne their griefe And pray amendment not inforce the same Vnlesse their King were tyrant which I hope You cannot iustly say that Harry is What is that other Suff. A mault-man my Lord And dwelling in Dunstable as he saies Har. Sirra what made you leaue your barly broth To come in armour thus against your King Mur. Fie paltry paltry to and fro in and out vpon occasion what a worlde 's this knight-hood my liege t was knighthood brought me hither they told me I had wealth enough to make my wife a lady Har. And so you brought those horses which we saw Trapt all in costly furniture and meant To weare these spurs when you were knighted once Mur. In and out vpon occasion I did Har. In and out vppon occasion therefore you shall be hang'd and in the sted of wearing these spurres vpon your heeles about your necke they shall bewray your folly to the world sir Iohn In and out vpon ocasion that goes hard Mur Fic paltry paltry to and fro good my liege a pardon I am sory for my fault Har. That comes too late but tell me went there none Beside sir Roger Acton vpon whom You did depend to be your gouernour Mar. None none my Lord but sir Iohn Old-castle Har. Beares he part in this conspiracie enter Bishop Act. We lookt my Lord that he would meet vs here Har. But did he promise you that he would come Act. Such letters we receiued forth of Kent Bish. Where is my Lord the King health to your grace Examining my Lord some of these caitiue rebels It is a generall voyce amongst them all That they had neuer come vnto this place But to haue met their valiant general The good Lord Cobham as they title him Whereby my Lord your grace may now perceiue His treason is apparant which before He sought to colour by his flattery Har. Now by my roialtie I would haue sworne But for his conscience which I beare withall There had not liude a more true hearted subiect Bish. It is but counterfeit my gracious lords And therefore may it please your maiestie To set your hand vnto this precept here By which wee l cause him forthwith to appeare And answer this by order of the law Har. Bishop not only that but take commission To search attach imprison and condemne This most notorious traitor as you please Bish. It shall be done my Lord without delay So now I hold Lord Cobham in my hand That which shall finish thy disdained life Har. I thinke the yron age begins but now Which learned poets haue so often taught Wherein there is no credit to be giuen To either wordes or lookes or solemne oathes For if there were how often hath he sworne How gently tun'de the musicke of his tongue And with what amiable face beheld he me When all God knowes was but hypocrisie enter Cobham Cob. Long life and prosperous raigne vnto my Lord Har. Ah villaine canst thou wish prosperitie Whose heart includeth naught but treacherie I do arrest thee here my selfe false knight Of treason capitall against the state Cob. Of treason mightie prince your grace mistakes I hope it is but in the way of mirth Har. Thy necke shall feele it is in earnest shortly Darst thou intrude into our presence knowing How haynously thou hast offended vs But this is thy accustomed deceit Now thou perceiust thy purpose is in vaine With some excuse or other thou wilt come To cleere thy selfe of this rebellion Cob. Rebellion good my Lord I know of none Har. If you deny it here is euidence See you these men you neuer councelled Nor offerd them assistance in their warres Cob. Speake sirs not one but all I craue no fauour Haue euer I beene conuersant with you Or written letters to incourage you Or kindled but the least or smallest part Of this your late vnnaturall rebellion Speake for I dare the vttermost you can Mur, In and out vpon occasion I know you not Har. No didst not say that sir Iohn Old-castle Was one with whom you purposde to haue met
Mur. True I did say so but in what respect Because I heard it was reported so Har. Was there no other argument but that Act. To cleere my conscience ere I die my lord I must confesse we haue no other ground But only Rumor to accuse this lord Which now I see was merely fabulous Har. The more pernitious you to taint him then Whome you knew not was faulty yea or no Cobh. Let this my Lord which I present your grace Speake for my loyalty reade these articles And then giue sentence of my life or death Har. Earle Cambridge Scroope and Gray corrupted With bribes from Charles of France either to winne My Crowne from me or secretly contriue My death by treason Is this possible Cobh. There is the platforme and their hands my lord Each seuerally subscribed to the same Har. Oh neuer heard of base ingratitude Euen those I hugge within my bosome most Are readiest euermore to sting my heart Pardon me Cobham I haue done thee wrong Heereafter I will liue to make amends Is then their time of meeting so neere hand Wee le meete with them but little for their ease If God permit goe take these rebells hence Let them haue martiall law but as for thee Friend to thy king and country still be free Exeunt Murl. Be it more or lesse what a world is this Would I had continued still of the order of knaues And neuer sought knighthood since it costes So deere sir Roger I may thanke you for all Acton Now t is too late to haue it remedied I prithee Murley doe not vrge me with it Hunt Will you away and make no more to do Murl. Fy paltry paltry to and fro as occasion serues If you be so hasty take my place Hunt No good sir knight you shall begin in your hand Murl. I could be glad to giue my betters place Exeunt Enter Bishop lord Warden Croamer the Shrieue Lady Cob and attendants Bishop I tell ye Lady it s not possible But you should know where he conueies himselfe And you haue hid him in some secret place Lady My Lord beleeue me as I haue a soule I know not where my lord my husband is Bishop Go to go to ye are an heretike And will be forc'de by torture to confesse If faire meanes will not serue to make ye tell Lady My husband is a noble gentleman And neede not hide himselfe for anie fact That ere I heard of therefore wrong him not Bishop Your husband is a dangerous schismaticke Traitor to God the King and common wealth And therefore master Croamer shrieue of Kent I charge you take her to your custodie And ceaze the goods of Sir John Old-castle To the Kings vse let her go in no more To fetch so much as her apparell out There is your warrant from his maiestie L. War Good my Lord Bishop pacifie your wrath Against the Lady Bish. Then let her confesse Where Old-castle her husband is conceald L. War I dare engage mine honor and my life Poore gentlewoman she is ignorant And innocent of all his practises If any euill by him be practised Bish. If my Lord Warden nay then I charge you That all the cinque Ports whereof you are chiefe Be laid forthwith that he escape vs not Shew him his highnesse warrant M. Shrieue L. War I am sorie for the noble gentleman Enter Old-castle Harp Bish. Peace he comes here now do your office Old-castle Harpoole what businesse haue we here in hand VVhat makes the Bishop and the Sheriffe here I feare my comming home is dangerous I would I had not made such haste to Cobham Harp Be of good cheere my Lord if they be foes wee le scramble shrewdly with them if they be friends they are welcome one of them my Lord Warden is your friend but me thinkes my ladie weepes I like not that Croo. Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobham in the Kings maiesties name I arrest ye of high treason Oldca. Treason M. Croomes Harp Treason M. Shrieue sbloud what treason Oldca. Harpoole I charge thee stirre not but be quiet still Do ye arrest me M. Shrieue for treason Bish. Yea of high treason traitor heretike Oldca. Defiance in his face that calls me so I am as true a loyall gentleman Vnto his highnesse as my prowdest enemie The King shall witnesse my late faithfull seruice For safety of his sacred maiestie Bish. VVhat thou art the kings hand shall testifie She wt him Lord Warden Old Iesu defend me Is 't possible your cunning could so temper The princely disposition of his mind To signe the damage of a royall subiect Well the best is it beares an ancedate Procured by my absence and your malice But I since that haue shewd my selfe as true As any churchman that dare challenge me Let me be brought before his maiestie If he acquite me not then do your worst Bish. We are not bound to do kind offices For any traitor schismatike nor heretike The kings hand is our warrant for our worke Who is departed on his way for France And at Southhampton doth repose this night Harp O that it were the blessed will of God that thou and I were within twenty mile of it on Salisbury plaine I would lose my head if euer thou broughtst thy head hither againe aside Oldca. My Lord Warden o' th cinque Ports my Lord of Rochester ye are ioynt Commissioners fauor me so much On my expence to bring me to the king Bish. What to Southhampton Oldca. Thither my god Lord And if he do not cleere me of al guilt And all suspition of conspiracie Pawning his princely warrant for my truth I aske no fauour but extreamest torture Bring me or send me to him good my Lord Good my Lord Warden M Shrieue entreate Here the Lord Warden and Cromer vncouer to the Bishop and secretly whispers with him Come hither lady nay sweet wife forbeare To heape one sorrow on anothers necke T is griefe enough falsly to be accusde And not permitted to acquite my selfe Do not thou with thy kind respectiue teares Torment thy husbands heart that bleedes for thee But be of comfort God hath help in store For those that put assured trust in him Deere wife if they commit me to the Tower Come vp to London to your sisters house That being neere me you may comfort me One solace find I setled in my soule That I am free from treasons very thought Only my conscience for the Gospels sake Is cause of all the troubles I sustaine Lady O my deere Lord what shall betide of vs You to the Tower and I turnd out of doores Our substance ceaz'd vnto his highnesse vse Euen to the garments longing to our backes Harp Patience good madame things at worst will mend And if they doe not yet our liues may end Bish. Vrge it no more for if an Angell spake I sweare by sweet saint Peters blessed keyes First goes he to the Tower then to the stake Crom. But by your leaue
this warrant doth not stretch To imprison her Bishop No turne her out of doores L. Warden and Oldcastle whisper Euen as she is and leade him to the Tower With guard enough for feare of rescuing Lady O God requite thee thou bloud-thirsty man Oldca. May it not be my Lord of Rochester Wherein haue I incurd your hate so farre That my appeale vnto the King 's denide Bish. No hate of mine but power of holy church Forbids all fauor to false heretikes Oldca. Your priuate malice more than publike power Strikes most at me but with my life it ends Harp O that I had the Bishop in that feare aside That once I had his Sumner by our selues Crom. My Lord yet graunt one sute vnto vs all That this same auncient seruing man may waite Vpon my lord his master in the Tower Bish. This old iniquitie this heretike That in contempt of our church discipline Compeld my Sumner to deuoure his processet Old Ruffian past-grace vp start schismatike Had not the King prayd vs to pardon ye Ye had fryed for it ye grizild heretike Harp Sbloud my lord Bishop ye do me wrong I am neither heretike nor puritane but of the old church I le sweare drinke ale kisse a wench go to masse eate fish all Lent and fast fridaies with cakes and wine fruite and spicerie shriue me of my old sinnes afore Easter and beginne new afore whitsontide Crom. A merie mad conceited knaue my lord Harp That knaue was simply put vpon the Bishop Bish. VVel God forgiue him and I pardon him Let him attend his master in the Tower For I in charity wish his soule no hurt Oldca God blesse my soule from such cold charitie Bish. Tooth Tower with him and when my leisure serues I will examine him of Articles Looke my lord Warden as you haue in charge The Shriue performe his office L. Ward Yes my lord Enter the Sumner with bookes Bish. VVhat bringst thou there what bookes of heresie Som. Yea my lord here 's not a latine booke No not so much as our ladies Psalter Here 's the Bible the testament the Psalmes in meter The sickemans salue the treasure of gladnesse And al in English not so much but the Almanack's English Bish. Away with them to 'th fire with them Clun Now fie vpon these vpstart heretikes Al English burne them burne them quickly Clun Harp But doe not Sumner as voule answere it for I haue there English bookes my lord that I le not part with for your Bishoppricke Beuis of Hampton Owleglasse the Frier and the Boy Ellen of Rumming Robin hood and other such godly stories which if ye burne by this flesh I le make ye drink their ashes in S. Margets ale exeunt Enter the Bishop of Rochester with his men in liuerie coates 1. Ser. Is it your honors pleasure we shal stay Or come backe in the afternoone to fetch you Bish. Now you haue brought me heere into the Tower You may go backe vnto the Porters Lodge And send for drinke or such things as you want Where if I haue occasion to imploy you I le send some officer to cal you to me Into the cittie go not I commaund you Perhaps I may haue present neede to vse you 2 We will attend your worship here without Bish. Do so I pray you 3 Come we may haue a quart of wine at the Rose at Barking I warrant you and come backe an hower before he be ready to go 1 We must hie vs then 3 Let 's away exeunt Bish. Ho M. Lieftenant Lieften. Who calls there Bish. A friend of yours Lieften. My lord of Rochester your honor 's welcome Bish. Sir here 's my warrant from the Counsell For conference with sir Iohn Old-castle Vpon some matter of great consequence Lieften. Ho sir Iohn Harp Who calls there Lieften. Harpoole tel Sir Iohn that my lord of Rochester comes from the counsell to conferre with him Harp I will sir Lief. I thinke you may as safe without suspition As any man in England as I heare For it was you most labor'd his commitment Bish. I did sir and nothing repent it I assure you Enter sir Iohn Old-castle M. Lieftenant I pray you giue vs leaue I must conferre here with sir Iohn a little Lief. With all my heart my lord Harp aside My lord be rulde by me take this occasion while t is offered and on my life your lordship shal escape Old-ca. No more I say peace lest he should suspect it Bish. Sir Iohn I am come vnto you from the lords of his highnesse most honorable counsell to know if yet you do recant your errors conforming you vnto the holy church Old-ca. My lord of Rochester on good aduise I see my error but yet vnderstand me I meane not error in the faith I hold But error in submitting to your pleasure Therefore your lordship without more to do Must be a meanes to help me to escape Bish. What meanes thou heretike Darst thou but lift thy hand against my calling sir Iohn No not to hurt yon for a thousand pound Harp Nothing but to borrow your vpper garments a little not a word more for if you do you die peace for waking the children there put them on dispatch my lord the window that goes out into the leads is sure enough I told you that before there make you ready I le conuay him after and bind him surely in the inner roome Old-ca. This is wel begun God send vs happie speed Hard shift you see men make in time of need Harpoole Harp Heere my Lord come come away Enter seruing men againe 1 I maruell that my lord should stay so long 2 He hath sent to seeke vs I dare lay my life 3 We come in good time see where he is comming Harp I beseech you good my lord of Rochester be fauorable to my lord and maister Old-ca. The inner roomes be very hot and close I do not like this ayre here in the Tower Harp His case is hard my lord you shall safely get out of the Tower but I will downe vpon them in which time get you away Old-ca. Fellow thou troublest me Harp Heare me my Lord hard vnder Islington wait you my comming I will bring my Lady ready with horses to conuay you hence Old-ca. Fellow go back againe vnto thy Lord and counsell him Harp Nay my good lord of Rochester I le bring you to S. Albons through the woods I warrant you Old-ca. Villaine away Harp Nay since I am past the Towers libertie thou part'st not so be drawes Bish. Clubbes clubs clubs 1 Murther murther murther 2 Downe with him they fight 3 A villaine traitor Harp You cowardly rogues sir Iohn escapes Enter Lieftenant and his men Lieft. Who is so bold as dare to draw a sword So neare vnto the entrance of the Tower 1 This ruffian seruant to sir Iohn Old-castle was like to haue slaine my Lord Lieft. Lay hold on him Harp Stand off if you loue your puddings
in your hands Is not this cloth an argument beside Thus staind and spotted with his innocent blood These speaking characters were nothing else To pleade against ye would conuict you both Bring them away bereauers of my ioy At Hartford where the Sises now are kept Their liues shall answere for my sonnes lost life Old castle As we are innocent so may we speede Lee As I am wrongd so may the law proceede exeunt Enter bishop of Rochester constable of S. Albons with sir Iohn of Wrotham Doll his wench and the Irishman in Harpooles apparell Bishop What intricate confusion haue we heere Not two houres since we apprehended one In habite Irish but in speech not so And now you bring another that in speech Is altogether Irish but in habite Seemes to be English yea and more than so The seruant of that heretike Lord Cobham Irishman Fait me be no seruant of the lord Cobhams Me be Mack Chane of Vlster Bishop Otherwise calld Harpoole of Kent go to sit You cannot blinde vs with your broken Irish sir Iohn Trust me my Lord Bishop whether Irish Or English Harpoole or not Harpoole that I leaue to be decided by the triall But sure I am this man by face and speech Is he that murdred yong sir Richard Lee I met him presently vpon the fact And that he slew his maister for that gold Those iewells and that chaine I tooke from him Bishop Well our affaires doe call vs backe to London So that we cannot prosecute the cause As we desire to do therefore we leaue The charge with you to see they be conuaide To Hartford Sise both this counterfaite And you sir Iohn of Wrotham and your wench For you are culpable as well as they Though not for murder yet for felony But since you are the meanes to bring to light This gracelesse murder you shall beare with you Our letters to the Iudges of the bench To be your friendes in what they lawfull may sir Iohn I thanke your Lordship Bish. So away with them exeunt Enter Gaoler and his man bringing forth Old castle Gaoler Bring forth the prisoners see the court preparde The Iustices are comming to the bench So let him stand away and fetch the rest exeunt Old Oh giue me patience to indure this scourge Thou that art fountaine of that vertuous streame And though contempt false witnes and reproch Hang on these yron gyues to presse my life As low as earth yet strengthen me with faith That I may mount in spirite aboue the cloudes Enter Gaoler bringing in Lady Old-castle and Harpoole Here comes my lady sorow t is for her Thy wound is greeuous else I scoffe at thee What and poore Harpoole art thou i th bryars too Harp I faith my Lord I am in get out how I can Lady Say gentle Lord for now we are alone And may conferre shall we confesse in briefe Of whence and what we are and so preuent The accusation is commencde against vs Old What will that helpe vs being knowne sweete loue VVe shall for heresie be put to death For so they tearme the religion we professe No if it be ordained we must die And at this instant this our comfort be That of the guilt imposde our soules are free Harp Yea yea my lord Harpoole is so resolude I wreake of death the lesse in that I die Not by the sentence of that enuious priest The Bishop of Rochester oh were it he Or by his meanes that I should suffer here It would be double torment to my soule Lady VVell be it then according as heauen please Enter lord Iudge two Iustices Maior of Saint Albons lord Powesse and his lady and old sir Richard Lee the Iudge and Iustices take their places Iudge Now M. Maior what gentleman is that You bring with you before vs and the bench Maior The Lord Powes if it like your honor And this his Lady trauelling toward Wales Who for they lodgde last night within my house And my Lord Bishop did lay search for such Were very willing to come on with me Lest for their sakes suspition we might wrong Iudge We crie your honor mercy good my Lord Wil t please ye take your place madame your ladyship May here or where you will repose your selfe Vntill this businesse now in hand be past Lady Po. I will withdraw into some other roome So that your Lordship and the rest be pleasde Iudge With all our hearts attend the Lady there Lord Po. Wife I haue eyde yond prisoners all this while And my conceit doth tel me t is our friend The noble Cobham and his vertuous Lady Lady Po. I thinke no lesse are they suspected trow ye For doing of this murder Lord Po. What it meanes I cannot tell but we shall know anon Meane space as you passe by them ask the question But do it secretly you be not seene And make some signe that I may know your mind Lady Po. My Lord Cobham madam as she passeth ouer the stage by thē Old No Cobhā now nor madam as you loue vs But Iohn of Lancashire and Ione his wife Lady Po. Oh tel what is it that our loue can do To pleasure you for we are bound to you Oldca. Nothing but this that you conceale our names So gentle lady passe for being spied Lady Po. My heart I leaue to beare part of your griefe exit Iudge Call the prisoners to the barre sir Richard Lee What euidence can you bring against these people To proue them guiltie of the murder done Lee. This bloudy towell and these naked kniues Beside we found them sitting by the place Where the dead body lay within a bush Iudge VVhat answer you why law should not proceed According to this euidence giuen in To taxe ye with the penalty of death Old That we are free from murders very thought And know not how the gentleman was slaine 1 Iust. How came this linnen cloth so boudy then Lady Cob. My husband hot with trauelling my lord His nose gusht out a bleeding that was it 2 Iust. But wherefore were your sharpe edgde kniues vnsheathde Lady Cob. To cut such simple victuall as we had Iudge Say we admit this answer to those articles VVhat made ye in so priuate a darke nooke So far remote from any common path As was the thicke where the dead corpes was throwne Old Iournying my lord from London from the terme Downe into Lancashire where we do dwell And what with age and trauell being faint VVe gladly sought a place where we might rest Free from resort of other passengers And so we strayed into that secret corner Iudge These are but ambages to driue of time And linger Iustice from her purposde end But who are these Enter the Constable bringing in the Irishman sir Iohn of Wrotham and Doll Const. Stay Iudgement and release those innocents For here is hee whose hand hath done the deed For which they stand indited at the barre This sauage villaine this rude Irish slaue His tongue already hath confest the fact And here is witnes to confirme as much sir Iohn Yes my good Lords no sooner had he slaine His louing master for the wealth he had But I vpon the instant met with him And what he purchacde with the losse of bloud With strokes I presently bereau'de him of Some of the which is spent the rest remaining I willingly surrender to the hands Of old sir Richard Lee as being his Beside my Lord Iudge I greet your honor With letters from my Lord of Winchester deliuers a letter Lee Is this the wolfe whose thirsty throate did drinke My deare sonnes bloud art thou the snake He cherisht yet with enuious piercing sting Assaildst him mortally foule stigmatike Thou venome of the country where thou liuedst And pestilence of this were it not that law Stands ready to reuenge thy crueltie Traitor to God thy master and to me These hands should be thy executioner Iudge Patience sir Richard Lee you shall haue iustice And he the guerdon of his base desert The fact is odious therefore take him hence And being hangde vntil the wretch be dead His body after shall be hangd in chaines Neare to the place where he did act the murder Irish. Prethee Lord shudge let me haue mine own clothes my strouces there and let me be hangd in a with after my cuntry the Irish fashion exit Iudge Go to away with him and now sir Iohn Although by you this murther came to light And therein you haue well deseru'd yet vpright law So will not haue you be excusde and quit For you did rob the Irishman by which You stand attained here of felony Beside you haue bin lewd and many yeares Led a lasciuious vnbeseeming life sir Iohn Oh but my Lord he repents sir Iohn repents he will mend Iudge In hope thereof together with the fauour My Lord of Winchester intreates for you We are content you shall be proued sir Iohn I thanke your good Lordship Iudge These other falsly here accusde and brought In perill wrongfully we in like sort Do set at liberty paying their fees Lord Po. That office if it please ye I will do For countries sake because I know them well They are my neighbours therefore of my cost Their charges shall be paide Lee. And for amends Touching the wrong vnwittingly I haue done There are a few crownes more for them to drinke giues them a purse Iudge Your kindnes merites praise sir Richard Lee So let vs hence exeunt all but Lord Powesse and Oldcastle Lord Po. But Powesse still must stay There yet remaines a part of that true loue He owes his noble friend vnsatisfide And vnperformd which first of all doth bind me To gratulate your lordships safe deliuery And then intreat that since vnlookt for thus We here are met your honor would vouchsafe To ride with me to Wales where though my power Though not to quittance those great benefites I haue receiud of you yet both my house My purse my seruants and what else I haue Are all at your command deny me not I know the Bishops hate pursues ye so As there 's no safety in abiding here Old T is true my Lord and God forgiue him for it Lord Po. Then let vs hence you shall be straight prouided Of lusty geldings and once entred VVales VVell may the Bishop hunt but spight his face He neuer more shall haue the game in chace exeunt FINIS
The first part Of the true and honorable historie of the life of Sir John Old-castle the good Lord Cobham As it hath been lately acted by the right honorable the Earle of Notingham Lord high Admirall of England his seruants LONDON Printed by V.S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be solde at his shop at the signe of the Catte and Parrots neere the Exchange 1600 The Prologue THe doubtful Tule Gentlemen prefixt Vpon the Argument we haue in hand May breede suspence and wrongfully disturbe The peacefull quiet of your setled thoughts To stop which scruple let this briefe suffise It is no pamperd glutton we present Nor aged Councellor to youthfull sinne But one whose vertue shone aboue the rest A valiant Martyr and a vertuous peere In whose true faith and loyaltie exprest Vnto his soveraigne and his countries weale We striue to pay that tribute of our Loue Your fauours merite let faire Truth be grac'te Since forg'de inuention former time defac'te The true and honorable Historie of the life of Sir Iohn Oldcastle the good Lord Cobham In the fight enter the Sheriffe and two of his men Sheriffe MY Lords I charge ye in his Highnesse name To keepe the peace you and your followers Herb. Good M. Sheriffe look vnto your self Pow. Do so for we haue other businesse Proffer to fight againe Sher. Will ye disturbe the Iudges and the Assise Heare the Kings proclamation ye were best Pow. Hold then le ts heare it Herb. But be briefe ye were best Bayl. O yes Dauy Cossone make shorter O or shall marre your Yes Bay O yes Owen What has her nothing to say but O yes Bay O yes Da. O nay pye Cosse plut downe with her down with her A Pawesse a Pawesse Gough A Herbert a Herbert and downe with Powesse Helter skelter againe Sher. Hold in the Kings name hold Owen Downe e tha ka naues name downe In this fight the Bailiffe is knocked downe and the Sheriffe and the other runne away Herb. Powesse I thinke thy Welsh and thou do smart Pow. Herbert I thinke my sword came neere thy heart Herb. Thy hearts best bloud shall pay the losse of mine Gough A Herbert a Herbert Dauy A Pawesse a Pawesse As they are lifting their weapons enter the Maior of Hereford and his Officers and Townes men with clubbes Maior My Lords as you are liege men to the Crowne True noblemen and subiects to the King Attend his Highnesse proclamation Commaunded by the Iudges of Assise For keeping peace at this assemblie Herb. Good M. Maior of Hereford be briefe Mai. Serieant without the ceremonie of O yes Pronounce alowd the proclamation Ser. The Kings Iustices perceiuing what publique mischiefe may ensue this priuate quarrel in his maiesties name do straightly charge and commaund all persons of what degree soeuer to depart this cittie of Hereford except such as are bound to giue attendance at this Assise and that no man presume to weare any weapon especially welsh-hookes forrest billes Owen Haw no pill nor wells hoog ha Ma. Peace and heare the proclamation Ser. And that the Lord Powesse do presently disperse and discharge his retinue and depart the cittie in the Kings peace he and his followers on paine of imprisonment Dauy Haw pud her Lord Pawesse in prison A Pawes A Pawesse cossone liue and tie with her Lord Gough A Herbert a Herbert In this fight the Lord Herbert is wounded and fals to the ground the Maior and his company goe away crying clubbes Powesse runnes away Gough and other of Herberts faction busie themselues about Herbert enters the two Iudges in their roabes the Sheriffe and his Baileffes afore them c. 1. Iud. Where 's the Lord Herbert is he hurt or slaine Sher. Hee 's here my Lord 2. Iud. How fares hid Lordshippe friends Gough Mortally wounded speechlesse he cannot liue 1. Iud Conuay him hence let not his wounds take ayre And get him dress'd with expedition Ex. Herb. Gough M. Maior of Hereford M Shriue o' th shire Commit Lord Powesse to safe custodie To answer the disturbance of the peace Lord Herberts perill and his high contempt Of vs and you the Kings commissioners See it be done with care and diligence Sher. Please it your Lordship my Lord Powesse is gone Past all recouery 2. Iud. Yet let search be made To apprehend his followers that are left Sher. There are some of them sirs lay hold on them Owen Of vs and why what has her done I pray you Sher. Disarme them Bailiffes Ma. Officers assist Dauy Heare you Lor shudge what resson is for this Owen Cosson pe puse for fighting for our Lord 1. Iudge Away with them Dauy Harg you my Lord Owen Gough my Lorde Herberts man 's a shitten knaue Both at once al this Dauy I se liue and tie in good quarrell Owen Pray you do shustice let awl be preson Dauy Prison no Lord shudge I wooll giue you pale good suerty 2. Iudge What Bale what suerties Dauy Her coozin ap Ries ap Euan ap Morrice ap Morgan ap Lluellyn ap Madoc ap Meredith ap Griffen ap Dauy ap Owen ap Shinken Shones 2 Iudge Two of the most sufficient are ynow Sher. And 't please your Lordship these are al but one 1. Iudge To Iayle with them and the Lord Herberts men Wee le talke with them when the Assise is done Exeunt Riotous audacious and vnruly Groomes Must we be forced to come from the Bench To quiet brawles which euery Constable In other ciuill places can suppresse 2. Iudge What was the quarrel that causde all this stirre Sher. About religion as I heard my Lord Lord Powesse detracted from the power of Rome Affirming Wickliffes doctrine to be true And Romes erroneous hot reply was made By the lord Herbert they were traytors all That would maintaine it Powesse answered They were as true as noble and as wise As he that would defend it with their liues He namde for instance sir Iohn Old-castle The Lord Cobham Herbert replide againe He thou and all are traitors that so hold The he was giuen the seuerall factions drawne And so enragde that we could not appease it 1. Iudge This case concernes the Kings prerogatiue And 's dangerous to the State and common wealth Gentlemen Iustices master Maior and master Shrieue It doth behoue vs all and each of vs In generall and particular to haue care For the suppressing of all mutinies And all assemblies except souldiers musters For the Kings preparation into France We heare of secret conuenticles made And there is doubt of some conspiracies Which may breake out into rebellious armes When the King 's gone perchance before he go Note as an instance this one perillous fray What factions might haue growne on either part To the destruction of the King and Realme Yet in my conscience sir Iohn Old-castle Innocent of it onely his name was vsde We therefore from his Highnesse giue this charge You maister Maior looke to your citizens
blade holde there 's not a pedler walkes with a pack but thou shalt as boldly chuse of his wares as with thy ready mony in a Marchants shop wee le haue as good siluer as the King coynes any Doll What is al the gold spent you tooke the last day from the Courtier Priest T is gone Doll t is flown merely come merely gon he comes a horse backe that must pay for all wee le haue as good meate as mony can get and as good gownes as can be bought for gold be mery wench the mault-man comes on munday Doll You might haue left me at Cobham vntil you had bin better prouided for Priest No sweet Dol no I do not like that yond old ruffian is not for the priest I do not like a new cleark should come in the old bel-frie Doll Ah thou art a mad priest yfaith Priest Come Doll I le see thee safe at some alehouse here at Cray and the next sheepe that comes shall leaue his fleece exeunt Enter the King Suffolke and Butler King in great hast My lord of Suffolk poste away for life And let our forces of such horse and foote As can be gathered vp by any meanes Make speedy randeuow in Tuttle fields It must be done this euening my Lord This night the rebells meane to draw to head Neere Islington which if your speede preuent not If once they should vnite their seuerall forces Their power is almost thought inuincible Away my Lord I will be with you soone Suf. I go my Soueraigne with all happie speede exit King Make haste my lord of Suffolke as you loue vs Butler poste you to London with all speede Commaund the Maior and shrieues on their alegiance The cittie gates be presently shut vp And guarded with a strong sufficient watch And not a man be suffered to passe Without a speciall warrant from our selfe Command the Posterne by the Tower be kept And proclamation on the paine of death That not a citizen stirre from his doores Except such as the Maior and Shrieues shall chuse For their owne guarde and safety of their persons Butler away haue care vnto my charge But. I goe my Soueraigne King Butler But. My Lord King Goe downe by Greenewich and command a boate At the Friers bridge attend my comming downe But. I will my Lord exit King It 's time I thinke to looke vnto rebellion When Acton doth expect vnto his ayd No lesse then fiftie thousand Londoners Well I le to Westminster in this disguise To heare what newes is stirring in these brawles Enter sir Iohn Sir Iohn Stand true-man saies a thiefe King Stand thiefe saies a true man how if a thiefe Sir Iohn Stand thiefe too King Then thiefe or true-man I see I must stand I see how soeuer the world wagges the trade of theeuing yet will neuer downe what art thou sir Iohn A good fellow King So am I too I see thou dost know me sir Iohn If thou be a good fellow play the good fellowes part deliuer thy purse without more adoe King I haue no mony sir Iohn I must make you find some before we part if you haue no mony you shal haue ware as many sound drie blows as your skin can carrie King Is that the plaine truth sir Iohn Sirra no more adoe come come giue me the mony you haue dispatch I cannot stand all day King Wel if thou wilt needs haue it there t is iust the prouerb one thiefe robs another where the diuel are all my old theeues that were wont to keepe this walke Falstaffe the villaine is so fat he cannot get on 's horse but me thinkes Poines and Peto should be stirring here abouts sir Iohn How much is there on 't of thy word King A hundred pound in Angels on my word The time has beene I would haue done as much For thee if thou hadst past this way as I haue now sir. Iohn Sirra what art thou thou seem'st a gentleman King I am no lesse yet a poore one now for thou hast all my mony sir Iohn From whence cam'st thou King From the court at Eltham sir Iohn Art thou one of the Kings seruants King Yes that I am and one of his chamber sir Iohn I am glad thou art no worse thou maist the better spare thy mony thinkst thou thou mightst get a poor thiefe his pardon if he should haue neede King Yes that I can sir Iohn Wilt thou do so much for me when I shall haue occasion King Yes faith will I so it be for no murther sir Iohn Nay I am a pittifull thiefe all the hurt I do a man I take but his purse I le kill no man King Then of my word I le do it sir Iohn Giue me thy hand of the same King There t is sir Iohn Me thinks the King should be good to theeues because he has bin a thiefe himselfe though I thinke now he be turned true-man King Faith I haue heard indeed he has had an il name that way in his youth but how canst thou tell he has beene a thiefe sir Iohn How because he once robde me before I fell to the trade my selfe when that foule villainous guts that led him to all that rogery was in 's company there that Falstaffe King aside Well if he did rob thee then thou art but euen with him now I le be sworne thou knowest not the king now I thinke if thou sawest him sir Iohn Not I yfaith King aside So it should seeme sir Iohn Well if old King Henry had liu'de this King that is now had made theeuing the best trade in England King Why so sir Iohn Because he was the chiefe warden of our company it 's pittie that ere he should haue bin a King he was so braue a thiefe but sirra wilt remember my pardon if neede be King Yes faith will I sir Iohn Wilt thou well then because thou shalt go safe for thou mayest hap being so earely be met with againe before thou come to Southwarke if any man when he should bid thee good morrow bid thee stand say thou but sir Iohn and he will let thee passe King Is that the word well then let me alone sir Iohn Nay sirra because I thinke indeede I shall haue some occasion to vse thee as thou comst oft this way I may light on thee another time not knowing thee here I le breake this Angell take thou halfe of it this is a token betwixt thee and me King God haue mercy farewell exit sir Iohn O my fine golden slaues here 's for thee wench yfaith now Dol we wil reuel in our beuer this is a tyth pigge of my vicaridge God haue mercy neigbour Shooters hill you paid your tyth honestly Wel I heare there is a company of rebelles vp against the King got together in Ficket field neere Holborne and as it is thought here in Kent the King will be there to night in 's owne person well I le to the Kings camp and
it shall go hard but if there be any doings I le make some good boote amongst them exit Enter King Henry Suffolke Huntington and two with lights K. Hen. My Lords of Suffolke and of Huntington Who skouts it now or who stands Sentinells What men of worth what Lords do walke the round Suff. May it please your Highnesse K. Hen. Peace no more of that The King 's asleepe wake not his maiestie With termes nor titles hee 's at rest in bed Kings do not vse to watch themselues they sleepe And let rebellion and conspiracie Reuel and hauocke in the common wealth Is London lookt vnto Hunt It is my Lord Your noble Vncle Exceter is there Your brother Gloucester and my Lord of Warwicke Who with the maior and the Aldermen Do guard the gates and keepe good rule within The Earle of Cambridge and sir Thomas Gray Do walke the Round Lord Scroope and Butler skout So though it please your maiestie to iest Were you in bed well might you take your rest K. Hen. I thank ye Lords but you do know of old That I haue bin a perfect night-walker London you say is safely lookt vnto Alas poore rebels there your ayd must faile And the Lord Cobham sir Iohn Old-castle Hee 's quiet in Kent Acton ye are deceiu'd Reckon againe you count without your host To morrow you shall giue account to vs Til when my friends this long cold winters night How can we spend King Harry is a sleepe And al his Lords these garments tel vs so Al friends at footebal fellowes all in field Harry and Dicke and George bring vs a drumme Giue vs square dice wee le keepe this court of guard For al good fellowes companies that come Where 's that mad priest ye told me was in Armes To fight as wel as pray if neede required Suff. Hee s in the Camp and if he knew of this I vndertake he would not be long hence Har. Trippe Dicke Trippe George they trippe Hunt I must haue the dice What do we play at the play at dice. Suff. Passage if ye please Hunt Set round then so at all Har. George you are out Giue me the dice I passe for twentie pound Here 's to our luckie passage into France Hunt Harry you passe indeede for you sweepe all Suff. A signe king Harry shal sweep al in France ent sir Iohn sir Iohn Edge ye good fellowes take a fresh gamster in Har. Master Parson we play nothing but gold sir Iohn And fellow I tel thee that the priest hath gold gold sbloud ye are but beggerly souldiers to me I thinke I haue more gold than all you three Hunt It may be so but we beleeue it not Har. Set priest set I passe for all that gold sir Iohn Ye passe indeede Harry Priest hast thou any more sir Iohn Zounds what a question 's that I tell thee I haue more then all you three At these ten Angells Harry I wonder how thou comst by all this gold How many benefices hast thou priest sir Iohn Yfaith but one dost wonder how I come by gold I wonder rather how poore souldiers should haue gold for I le tell thee good fellow we haue euery day tythes offerings christnings weddings burialls and you poore snakes come seldome to a bootie I le speake a prowd word I haue but one parsonage Wrootham t is better than the Bishopprick of Rochester there 's nere a hill heath nor downe in all Kent but t is in my parish Barrham downe Chobham downe Gads hill Wrootham hill Blacke heath Cockes heath Birchen wood all pay me tythe gold quoth a ye passe not for that Suff. Harry ye are out now parson shake the dice sir Iohn Set set I le couer ye at al A plague on 't I am out the diuell and dice and a wench who will trust them Suff. Saist thou so priest set faire at all for once Har. Out sir pay all sir Iohn Sbloud pay me angel gold I le none of your crackt French crownes nor pistolets Pay me faire angel gold as I pay you Har. No crackt french crownes I hope to see more crackt french crownes ere long sir Iohn Thou meanest of French mens crownes when the King is in France Hunt Set round at all sir Ihon Pay all this is some lucke Har. Giue me the dice t is I must shread the priest At all sir Iohn sir Iohn The diuell and all is yours at that sdeath what wasting is this Suff. Well throwne Harry yfaith Har. I le cast better yet sir Iohn Then I le be hangd Sirra hast thou not giuen thy soule to the diuell for casting Har. I passe for all sir Iohn Thou passest all that ere I playde withall Sirra dost thou not cogge nor foist nor slurre Har. Set parson set the dice die in my hand When parson when what can ye finde no more Alreadie drie wa st you bragd of your store sir Iohn All 's gone but that Hunt What halfe a broken angell sir Iohn Why sir t is gold Har. Yea and I le couer it sir Iohn The diuell do ye good on 't I am blinde yee haue blowne me vp Har. Nay tarry priest ye shall not leaue vs yet Do not these peeces fit each other well sir Ihon What if they do Har. Thereby beginnes a tale There was a thiefe in face much like sir Iohn But t' was not hee that thiefe was all in greene Met me last day on Blacke Heath neere the parke With him a woman I was al alone And weaponlesse my boy had al my tooles And was before prouiding me a boate Short tale to make sir Iohn the thiefe I meane Tooke a iust hundreth pound in gold from me I storm'd at it and swore to be reueng'de If ere we met he like a lusty Brake with his teeth this Angel iust in two To be a token at our meeting next Prouided I should charge no Officer To apprehend him but at weapons point Recouer that and what he had beside Well met sir Iohn betake ye to your tooles By torch light for master parson you are he That had my gold sir Iohn Zounds I won't in play in faire square play of the keeper of Eltham parke and that I will maintaine with this poore whinyard be you two honest men to stand and looke vpon 's and let 's alone and take neither part Har. Agreede I charge ye do not boudge a foot Sir Iohn haue at ye sir Iohn Souldier ware your skonce Here as they are ready to strike enter Butler and drawes his weapon and steps betwixt them But. Hold villaines hold my Lords what do ye meane To see a traitor draw against the King sir Iohn The King Gods wil I am in a proper pickle Har. Butler what newes why dost thou trouble vs But. Please it your Highnesse it is breake of day And as I skouted neere to Islington The gray ey'd morning gaue me glimmering Of armed men comming downe Hygate hill Who by their course are coasting
Rochester calls within Rock within Help help help M. Lieftenant help Lief. Who 's that within some treason in the Tower vpon my life looke in who 's that which calls enter Roch. bound Lief. Without your cloke my lord of Rochester Harp There now it workes then let me speed for now is the fittest time for me to scape away exit Lief. Why do you looke so ghastly and affrighted Roch. Old-castle that traitor and his man When you had left me to conferre with him Tooke bound and stript me as you see And left me lying in his inner chamber And so departed and I Lief. And you ne're say that the Lord Cobhams man Did here set vpon you like to murther you 1 And so he did Roch. It was vpon his master then he did That in the brawle the traitor might escape Lief. Where is this Harpoole 2 Here he was euen now Lief. Where can you tell they are both escap'd Since it so happens that he is escap'de I am glad you are a witnesse of the same It might haue else beene laid vnto my charge That I had beene consenting to the fact Roch. Come search shal be made for him with expedition the hauens laid that he shall not escape and hue and crie continue thorough England to find this damned dangerous heretike exeunt Enter Cambridge Scroope and Gray as in a chamber and set downe at a table consulting about their treason King Harry and Suffolke listning at the doore Camb. In mine opinion Scroope hath well aduisde Poison will be the only aptest meane And fittest for our purpose to dispatch him Gray But yet there may be doubt in their deliuery Harry is wise therefore Earle of Cambridge I Iudge that way not so conuenient Scroop What thinke ye then of this I am his bedfellow And vnsuspected nightly sleepe with him VVhat if I venture in those silent houres VVhen sleepe hath sealed vp all mortall eies To murder him in bed how like ye that Camb. Herein consistes no safetie for your selfe And you disclosde what shall become of vs But this day as ye know he will aboord The wind so faire and set away for France If as he goes or entring in the ship It might be done then it were excellent Gray VVhy any of these or if you will I le cause a present sitting of the Councell VVherein I will pretend some matter of such weight As needes must haue his royall company And to dispatch him in the Councell chamber Camb. Tush yet I heare not any thing to purpose I wonder that lord Cobham staies so long His counsell in this case would much auaile vs They rise from the table and the King steps in to them with his Lordes Scroop What shal we rise thus and determine nothing Har. That were a shame indeede no sit againe And you shall haue my counsell in this case If you can find no way to kill this King Then you shall see how I can further ye Scroopes way by poison was indifferent But yet being bed-fellow vnto the King And vnsuspected sleeping in his bosome In mine opinion that 's the likelier way For such false friends are able to do much And silent night is Treason's fittest friend Now Cambridge in his setting hence for France Or by the way or as he goes aboord To do the deed that was indifferent too Yet somewhat doubtful might I speake my mind For many reasons needelesse now to vrge Mary Lord Gray came something neare the point To haue the King at councell and there murder him As Caesar was amongst his dearest friends None like to that if all were of his mind Tell me oh tel me you bright honors staines For which of all my kindnesses to you Are ye become thus traitors to your king And France must haue the spoile of Harries life All Oh pardon vs dread lord all kneeling Har. How pardon ye that were a sinne indeed Drag them to death which iustly they deserue they leade them away And France shall dearely buy this villany So soone as we set footing on her breast God haue the praise for our deliuerance And next our thankes Lord Cobham is to thee True perfect mirror of nobilitie exeunt Enter the hoste sir Iohn Old-castle and Harpoole Hoste Sir you are welcome to this house to such as heere is with all my heart but by the masse I feare your lodging wil be the woorst l haue but two beds and they are both in a chamber and the carier and his daughter lies in the one and you and your wife must lie in the other L. Cobh. In faith sir for my selfe I doe not greatly passe My wife is weary and would be at rest For we haue traueld very far to day We must be content with such as you haue Hoste But I cannot tell how to doe with your man Harpoole What hast thou neuer an empty roome in thy house for me Hoste Not a bedde by my troth there came a poore Irish man and I lodgde him in the barne where he has faire straw though he haue nothing else Harp Well mine hoste I pray thee helpe mee to a payre of faire sheetes and I le go lodge with him Hoste By the masse that thou shalt a good payre of hempen sheetes were neuer laine in Come exeunt Enter Constable Maior and Watch Maior What haue you searcht the towne Const. All the towne sir we haue not left a house vnsearcht that vses to lodge Maior Surely my lord of Rochester was then deceiude Or ill informde of sir Iohn Old-castle Or if he came this way hee s past the towne He could not else haue scapt you in the search Const. The priuy watch hath beene abroad all night And not a stranger lodgeth in the towne But he is knowne onely a lusty priest VVe found in bed with a pretty wench That sayes she is his wife yonder at the sheeres But we haue chargde the hoste with his forth comming To morow morning Maior What thinke you best to do Const. Faith maister maior heere 's a few stragling houses beyond the bridge and a little Inne where cariers vse to lodge though I thinke surely he would nere lodge there but wee le go search the rather because there came notice to the towne the last night of an Irish man that had done a murder whome we are to make search for Maior Come I pray you and be circumspect exeunt Const. First beset the house before you begin the search Officer Content euery man take a seuerall place heere is heard a great noyse within Keepe keepe strike him downe there downe with him Enter Constable with the Irish man in Harpooles apparell Con. Come you villainous heretique confesse where your maister is Irish man Vat mester Maior Vat mester you counterfeit rebell this shall not serue your turne Irish man Be sent Patrike I ha no mester Con. VVhere 's the lord Cobham sir Iohn Old-castle that lately is escaped out of the Tower
that wisheth well vnto your honor My name is Powes an olde friend of yours Cobham My honorable lord and worthy friend What makes your lordship thus alone in Kent And thus disguised in this strange attire Powis My Lord an vnexpected accident Hath at this time inforc'de me to these parts And thus it hapt not yet ful fiue dayes since Now at the last Assise at Hereford It chanst that the lord Herbert and my selfe Mongst other things discoursing at the table To fall in speech about some certaine points Of Wickcliffes doctrine gainst the papacie And the religion catholique maintaind Through the most part of Europe at this day This wilfull teasty lord stucke not to say That Wickcliffe was a knaue a schismatike His doctrine diuelish and hereticall And what soere he was maintaind the same was traitor both to God and to his country Being moued at his peremptory speech I told him some maintained those opinions Men and truer subiects then lord Herbert was And he replying in comparisons Your name was vrgde my lord gainst his chalenge To be a perfect fauourer of the trueth And to be short from words we fell to blowes Our seruants and our tenants taking parts Many on both sides hurt and for an houre The broyle by no meanes could be pacified Vntill the Iudges rising from the bench Were in their persons forc'de to part the fray Cobham I hope no man was violently slaine Powis Faith none I trust but the lord Herberts selfe Who is in truth so dangerously hurt As it is doubted he can hardly scape Cobham I am sory my good lord of these ill newes Powis This is the cause that driues me into Kent To shrowd my selfe with you so good a friend Vntill I heare how things do speed at home Cobham Your lordship is most welcome vnto Cobham But I am very sory my good lord My name was brought in question in this matter Considering I haue many enemies That threaten malice and do lie in waite To take aduantange of the smallest thing But you are welcome and repose your lordship And keepe your selfe here secret in my house Vntill we heare how the lord Herbert speedes Here comes my man Enter Harpoole Sirra what newes Harpoole Yonder 's one maister Butler of the priuie chamber is sent vnto you from the King Powis I pray God the lord Herbert be not dead and the King hearing whither I am gone hath sent for me Cob. Comfort your selfe my lord I warrant you Harpoole Fellow what ailes thee doost thou quake dost thou shake dost thou tremble ha Cob. Peace you old foole sirra conuey this gentleman in the backe way and bring the other into the walke Harpoole Come sir you are welcome if you loue my lorde Powis God haue mercy gentle friend exeunt Cob. I thought as much that it would not be long before I heard of something from the King about this matter Enter Harpoole with Maister Butler Harpoole Sir yonder my lord walkes you see him I le haue your men into the Celler the while Cobh. welcome good maister Butler Butler Thankes my good lord his Maiestie dooth commend his loue vnto your lordship and wils you to repaire vnto the court Cobh. God blesse his Highnesse and confound his ennemies I hope his Maiestie is well Butler In health my lord Cobh. God long continue it mee thinkes you looke as though you were not well what ailes you sir Butler Faith I haue had a foolish odde mischance that angers mee comming ouer Shooters hill there came a fellow to me like a Sailer and asked me money and whilst I staide my horse to draw my purse he takes th' aduantage of a little banck and leapes behind me whippes my purse away and with a sodaine ierke I know not how threw me at least three yards out of my saddle I neuer was so robbed in all my life Cobh. I am very sorie sir for your mischance wee will send our warrant foorth to stay such suspitious persons as shal be found then maister Butler we wil attend you Butler I humbly thanke your lordship I will attend you Enter the Sumner Sum. I haue the law to warrant what I do and though the Lord Cobham be a noble man that dispenses not with law I dare serue processe were a fiue noble men though we Sumners make sometimes a mad slip in a corner with a prettie wench a Sumner must not goe alwayes by seeing a manne may be content to hide his eies where he may feele his profit well this is my Lord Cobhams house if I can deuise to speake with him if not I le clap my citation vpon 's doore so my lord of Rochester bid me but me thinkes here comes one of his men Enter Harpoole Harp Welcome good fellow welcome who wouldst thou speake with Sum. With my lord Cobham I would speake if thou be one of his men Harp Yes I am one of his men but thou canst not speake with my lord Sum. May I send to him them Harp I le tel thee that when I know thy errand Sum. I will not tel my errand to thee Harp Then keepe it to thy selfe and walke like a knaue as thou camest Sum. I tell thee my lord keepes no knaues sirra Harp Then thou seruest him not I beleeue what lord is thy master Sum. My lord of Rochester Harp In good time and what wouldst thou haue with my lord Cobham Sum. I come by vertue of a processe to ascite him to appeare before my lord in the court at Rochester Harp aside Wel God grant me patience I could eate this conger My lord is not at home therefore it were good Sumner you caried your processe backe Sum. Why if he will not be spoken withall then will I leaue it here and see you that he take knowledge of it Harp Swounds you slaue do you set vp your bills here go to take it downe againe doest thou know what thou dost dost thee know on whom thou seruest processe Sum. Yes marry doe I Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobham Harp I am glad thou knowest him yet and sirra dost not thou know that the lord Cobham is a braue lord that keepes good beefe and beere in his house and euery day feedes a hundred poore people at 's gate and keepes a hundred tall fellowes Sum. What 's that to my processe Harp Mary this sir is this processe parchment Sum. Yes mary Harp And this seale waxe Sum. It is so Harp If this be parchment this wax eate you this parchment and this waxe or I will make parchment of your skinne and beate your braines into waxe Sirra Sumner dispatch deuoure sirra deuoure Sum. I am my lord of Rochesters Sumner I came to do my office and thou shalt answere it Harp Sirra no railing but betake you to your teeth thou shalt eate no worse then thou bringst with thee thou bringst it for my lord and wilt thou bring my lord worse then thou wilt eate thy selfe Sum. Sir I brought it
not my lord to eate Harp O do you sir me now all 's one for that but I le make you eate it for bringing it Sum. I cannot eate it Harp Can you not sbould I le beate you vntil you haue a stomacke he beates him Sum. O hold hold good master seruing-man I will eate it Harp Be champping be chawing sir or I le chaw you you rogue the purest of the hony Sum. Tough waxe is the purest of the hony Harp O Lord sir oh oh he eates Feed feed wholsome rogue wholsome Cannot you like an honest Sumner walke with the diuell your brother to fetch in your Bailiffes rents but you must come to a noble mans house with processe Sbloud if thy seale were as broad as the lead that couers Rochester church thou shouldst eate it Sum. O I am almost choaked I am almost choaked Harp Who 's within there wil you shame my Lord is there no beere in the house Butler I say But. Heere here Enter Butler Harp Giue him Beere he drinkes There tough old sheepskins bare drie meate Sum. O sir let me go no further I le eate my word Harp Yea mary sir so I meane you shall eate more then your own word for I le make you eate all the words in the processe Why you drab monger cannot the secrets of al the wenches in a sheire serue your turne but you must come hither with a citation with a poxe I le cite you he has then done A cup of sacke for the Sumner But. Here sir here Harp Here slaue I drinke to thee Sum. I thanke you sir Harp Now if thou findst thy stomacke well because thou shalt see my Lord keep 's meate in 's house if thou wilt go in thou shalt haue a peece of beefe to thy break fast Sum. No I am very well good M. seruing-man I thanke you very well sir Harp I am glad on 't then be walking towards Rochester to keepe your stomack warme and Sumner if I may know you disturb a good wench within this Diocesse if I do not make thee eate her peticote if there were four yards of Kentish cloth in 't I am a villaine Sum. God be with you M. seruingmaan Harp Farewell Sumner Enter Constable Con. God saue you M. Harpoole Harp Welcome Constable welcom Constable what news with thee Con. And 't please you M. Harpoole I am to make hue to crie for a fellow with one eie that has rob'd two Clothiers and am to craue your hindrance for to search all suspected places and they say there was a woman in the company Harp Hast thou bin at the Alehouse hast thou sought there Con. I durst not search sir in my Lord Cobhams libertie except I had some of his seruants which are for my warrant Harp An honest Constable an honest Constable cal forth him that keepes the Alehouse there Con. Ho who 's within there Ale man Who calls there come neere a Gods name oh is 't you M. Constable and M. Harpoole you are welcome with all my heart what make you here so earely this morning Harp Sirra what strangers do you lodge there is a robbery done this morning and we are to search for all suspected persons Aleman Gods bones I am sory for 't yfaith sir I lodge no body but a good honest mery priest they call him sir Iohn a Wrootham and a handsome woman that is his neece that he saies he has some sute in law for and as they go vp down to London sometimes they lie at my house Harp What is he here in thy house now Con. She is sir I promise you sir he is a quiet man and because he will not trouble too many roomes he makes the woman lie euery night at his beds feete Harp Bring her forth Constable bring her forth let 's see her let 's see her Con. Dorothy you must come downe to M. Constable Dol. A non forsooth she enters Harp Welcome sweete lasse welcome Dol. I thank you good M. seruing-man and master Constable also Harp A plump girle by the mas a plump girle ha Dol ha wilt thou forsake the priest and go with me Con. A well said M. Harpoole you are a merrie old man yfaith yfaith you wil neuer be old now by the macke a prettie wench indeed Harp Ye old mad mery Constable art thou aduis'de of that ha well said Dol fill some ale here Dol aside Oh if I wist this old priest would not sticke to me by Ioue I would ingle this old seruing-man Harp Oh you old mad colt yfaith I le seak you fil all the pots in the house there Con. Oh wel said M. Harpoole you are heart of oake when all 's done Harp Ha Dol thou hast a sweete paire of lippes by the masse Doll Truely you are a most sweet olde man as euer I sawe by my troth you haue a face able to make any woman in loue with you Harp Fill sweete Doll I le drinke to thee Doll I pledge you sir and thanke you therefore and I pray you let it come Harp imbracing her Doll canst thou loue me a mad merry lasse would to God I had neuer seene thee Doll I warrant you you will not out of my thoughts this tweluemonth truely you are as full of fauour as a man may be Ah these sweete grey lockes by my troth they are most louely Constable Gods boores maister Harpoole I will haue one busse too Harp No licking for you Constable hand off hand off Constable Bur lady I loue kissing as wel as you Doll Oh you are an od boie you haue a wanton eie of your owne ah you sweet sugar lipt wanton you will winne as many womens hearts as come in your company Enter Priest Wroth. Doll come hither Harp Priest she shal not Doll I le come anone sweete loue Wroth. Hand off old fornicator Harp Vicar I le sit here in spight of thee is this fitte stuffe for a priest to carry vp and downe with him Wrotham Ah sirra dost thou not know that a good fellow parson may haue a chappel of ease where his parish Church is farre off Harp You whooreson ston'd Vicar Wroth. You olde stale ruffin you lion of Cotswold Harp Swounds Vicar I le geld you flies vpon him Constable Keepe the Kings peace Doll Murder murder murder Ale man Holde as you are men holde for Gods sake be quiet put vp your weapons you drawe not in my house Harp You whooreson bawdy priest Wroth. You old mutton monger Constable Hold sir Iohn hold Doll to the Priest I pray thee sweet heart be quiet I was but sitting to drinke a pot of ale with him euen as kinde a man as euer I met with Harp Thou art a theefe I warrant thee Wroth. Then I am but as thou hast beene in thy dayes le ts not be ashamed of our trade the King has beene a theefe himselfe Doll Come be quiet hast thou sped Wroth. I haue wench here be crownes ifaith Doll Come le ts
now as likely as another time Sinne hath had many yeeres to ripen in And now the haruest cannot be farre off Wherein the weedes of vsurpation Are to be cropt and cast into the fire Scroope No more earle Cambridge here I plight my faith To set vp thee and thy renowned wife Gray Gray will performe the same as he is knight Chart. And to assist ye as I said before Charters doth gage the honor of his king Scroope We lacke but now Lord Cobhams fellowship And then our plot were absolute indeede Camb. Doubt not of him my lord his life 's pursu'de By th' incensed Cleargy and of late Brought in displeasure with the king assures He may be quickly wonne vnto our faction Who hath the articles were drawne at large Of our whole purpose Gray That haue I my Lord Camb. We should not now be farre off from his house Our serious conference hath beguild the way See where his castle stands giue me the writing When we are come vnto the speech of him Because we will not stand to make recount Of that which hath beene saide here he shall reade enter Cob Our mindes at large and what we craue of him Scroope A ready way here comes the man himselfe Booted and spurrd it seemes he hath beene riding Camb. VVell met lord Cobham Cobh. My lord of Cambridge Your honor is most welcome into Kent And all the rest of this faire company I am new come from London gentle Lordes But will ye not take Cowling for your host And see what entertainement it affordes Camb. We were intended to haue beene your guests But now this lucky meeting shall suffise To end our businesse and deferre that kindnesse Cobh. Businesse my lord what businesse should you haue But to be mery we haue no delicates But this I le promise you a peece of venison A cup of wine and so forth hunters fare And if you please wee le strike the stagge our selues Shall fill our dishes with his wel-fed flesh Scroope That is indeede the thing we all desire Cobh. My lordes and you shall haue your choice with me Camb. Nay but the stagge which we desire to strike Liues not in Cowling if you will consent And goe with vs wee le bring you to a forrest Where runnes a lusty hierd amongst the which There is a stagge superior to the rest A stately beast that when his fellows runne He leades the race and beates the sullen earth As though he scornd it with his trampling hoofes Aloft he beares his head and with his breast Like a huge bulwarke counter-checkes the wind And when he standeth still he stretcheth forth His prowd ambitious necke as if he meant To wound the firmament with forked hornes Cobh. T is pitty such a goodly beast should die Camb. Not so sir Iohn for he is tyrannous And gores the other deere and will not keep Within the limites are appointed him Of late hee s broke into a seueral Which doth belong to me and there he spoiles Both corne and pasture two of his wilde race Alike for stealth and couetous incroatching Already are remou'd if he were dead I should not onely be secure from hurt But with his body make a royall feast Scroope How say you then will you first hunt with vs Cobh. Faith Lords I like the pastime where 's the place Camb. Peruse this writing it will shew you all And what occasion we haue for the sport he reades Cobh. Call ye this hunting my lords Is this the stag You faine would chase Harry our dread king So we may make a banquet for the diuell And in the steede of wholsome meate prepare A dish of poison to confound our selues Camb. Why so lord Cobham see you not our claime And how imperiously he holdes the crowne Scroope besides you know your selfe is in disgrace Held as a recreant and pursude to death This will defend you from your enemies And stablish your religion through the land Cobh. Notorious treason yet I will conceale aside My secret thoughts to sound the depth of it My lord of Cambridge I doe see your claime And what good may redound vnto the land By prosecuting of this enterprise But where are men where 's power and furniture To order such an action we are weake Harry you know's a mighty potentate Camb. Tut we are strong enough you are belou'de And many will be glad to follow you VVe are the light and some will follow vs Besides there is hope from France here 's an embassador That promiseth both men and money too The commons likewise as we heare pretend A sodaine tumult we wil ioyne with them Cobh. Some likelihoode I must confesse to speede But how shall I beleeue this is plaine truth You are my lords such men as liue in Court And highly haue beene fauour'd of the king Especially lord Scroope whome oftentimes He maketh choice of for his bedfellow And you lord Gray are of his priuy councell Is not this a traine to intrappe my life Camb. Then perish may my soule what thinke you so Scroope VVee le sweare to you Gray Or take the sacrament Cobh. Nay you are noble men and I imagine As you are honorable by birth and bloud So you will be in heart in thought in word I craue no other testimony but this That you would all subscribe and set your hands Vnto this writing which you gaue to me Camb. VVith all our hearts who hath any pen and inke Scroope My pocket should haue one yea heere it is Camb. Giue it me lord Scroope there is my name Scroope And there is my name Gray And mine Cobh. Sir let me craue That you would likewise write your name with theirs For confirmation of your maisters word The king of Fraunce Char. That will I noble Lord Cobh. So now this action is well knit together And I am for you where 's our meeting lords Camb. Here if you please the tenth of Iuly next Cobh. In Kent agreed now let vs in to supper I hope your honors will not away to night Camb. Yes presently for I haue farre to ride About solliciting of other friends Scroope And we would not be absent from the court Lest thereby grow suspition in the king Cobh. Yet taste a cup of wine before ye go Camb. Not now my lord we thanke you so farewell Cob. Farewell my noble lordes my noble lords My noble villaines base conspirators How can they looke his Highnesse in the face Whome they so closly study to betray But I le not sleepe vntill I make it knowne This head shall not be burdned with such thoughts Nor in this heart will I conceale a deede Of such impietie against my king Madam how now Enter Harpoole and the rest Lady cobh. You are welcome home my Lord Why seeme ye so disquiet in your lookes What hath befalne you that disquiets your minde Lady Po. Bad newes I am afraide touching my husband Cobh. Madam not so there is your husbands pardon Long may ye
liue each ioy vnto the other Powesse So great a kindnesse as I knowe not howe to make reply my sense is quite confounded Cobh. Let that alone and madam stay me not For I must backe vnto the court againe With all the speede I can Harpoole my horse Lady Cob. So soone my Lord what will you ride all night Cobham All night or day it must be so sweete wife Vrge me not why or what my businesse is But get you in Lord Powesse beare with me And madam thinke your welcome nere the worse My house is at your vse Harpoole away Harp Shall I attend your lordship to the court Cobh. Yea sir your gelding mount you presently exe Lady Cobh. I prythee Harpoole looke vnto thy Lord I do not like this sodaine posting backe Powes Some earnest businesse is a foote belike What e're it be pray God be his good guide Lady Po. Amen that hath so highly vs bested Lady Co. Come madam and my lord wee le hope the best You shall not into Wales till he returne Powesse Though great occasion be we should departe yet madam will we stay to be resolude of this vnlookt for doubtful accident Exeunt Enter Murley and his men prepared in some filthy order for warre Murly Come my hearts of flint modestly decently soberly and handsomly no man afore his Leader follow your master your Captaine your Knight that shal be for the honor of Meale-men Millers and Mault-men dunne is the mowse Dicke and Tom for the credite of Dunstable ding downe the enemie to morrow ye shall not come into the field like beggars where be Leonard and Laurence my two loaders Lord haue mercie vpon vs what a world is this I would giue a couple of shillings for a dozen of good fethers for ye and forty pence for as many skarffes to set ye out withall frost and snow a man has no heart to fight till he be braue Dicke Master I hope we be no babes for our manhood our bucklers and our towne foote-balls can beare witnesse and this lite parrell we haue shall off and wee 'l fight naked afore we runne away Tom. Nay I am of Laurence mind for that for he meanes to leaue his life behind him he and Leonard your two loaders are making their wills because they haue wiues now we Bachellers bid our friends scramble for our goods if we die but master pray ye let me ride vpon Cutte Murly Meale and salt wheat and mault fire and tow frost and snow why Tom thou shalt let me see here are you William and George are with my cart and Robin and Hodge holding my owne two horses proper men handsom men tall men true men Dicke But master master me thinkes you are a mad man to hazard your owne person and a cart load of money too Tom. Yea and maister there 's a worse matter in 't if it be as I heard say we go to fight against all the learned Bishops that should giue vs their blessing and if they curse vs we shall speede nere the better Dicke Nay bi r lady some say the King takes their part and master dare you fight against the King Murly Fie paltry paltry in and out to and fro vpon occasion if the King be so vnwise to come there wee le fight with him too Tom. What if we should kill the King Mur. Then wee le make another Dicke Is that all do ye not speake treason Mur. If we do who dare trippe vs we come to fight for our conscience and for honor little know you what is in my bosome looke here madde knaues a paire of guilt spurres Tom. A paire of golden spurres why do you not put them on your heeles your bosome 's no place for spurres Mur. Bee 't more or lesse vpon occasion Lord haue mercy vs Tom th' art a foole and thou speakest treason to knighthood dare any weare golden or siluer spurs til he be a knight no I shall be knighted to morrow and then they shall on sirs was it euer read in the church booke of Dunstable that euer mault man was made knight Tom. No but you are more you are meal-man maultman miller corne-master and all Dicke Yea and halfe a brewer too and the diuell and all for wealth you bring more money with you than all the rest Mur. The more 's my honor I shal be a knight to morow let me spose my men Tom vpon cutte Dicke vpon hobbe Hodge vpon Ball Raph vpon Sorell and Robin vpon the forehorse Enter Acton Bourne and Beuerley Tom. Stand who comes there Act. Al friends good fellow Murl. Friends and fellowes indeede sir Roger Act. Why thus you shew your selfe a Gentleman To keepe your day and come so well preparde Your cart stands yonder guarded by your men Who tell me it is loaden well with come What summe is there Mur. Ten thousand pound sir Roger and modestly decently soberly and handsomely see what I haue here against I be knighted Act. Gilt spurs t is well Mur. But where 's our armie sir Act. Disperst in sundry villages about Some here with vs in Hygate some at Finchley Totnam Enfield Edmunton Newington Islington Hogsdon Pancredge Kenzington Some neerer Thames Ratcliffe Blackwall and Bow But our chiefe strength must be the Londoners Which ere the Sunne to morrow shine Will be nere fiftie thousand in the field Mur. Mary God dild ye daintie my deere but vpon occasion sir Roger Acton doth not the King know of it and gather his power against vs Act. No hee 's secure at Eltham Mur. What do the Cleargie Act. Feare extreamly yet prepare no force Mur. In and out to and fro Bullie my boikin we shall shall the world afore vs I vow by my worshippe when I am knighted wee le take the King napping if he stand on their part Act. This night we few in Higate will repose With the first cocke wee le rise and arme our selues To be in Ficket fielde by breake of day And there expect our Generall Mur. Sir Iohn Old-castle what if he come not Bourne Yet our action stands Sir Roger Acton may supply his place Mur. True M. Bourne but who shall make me knight Beuer. He that hath power to be our Generall Act. Talke not of trifles come le ts away Our friends of London long till it be day exeunt Enter sir Iohn of Wrootham and Doll Doll By my troth thou art as ielous a man as liues Priest Canst thou blame me Doll thou art my lands my goods my iewels my wealth my purse none walks within xl. miles of London but a plies thee as truely as the parish does the poore mans boxe Doll I am as true to thee as the stone is in the wal and thou knowest well enough sir Iohn I was in as good doing when I came to thee as any wench neede to be and therefore thou hast tried me that thou hast by Gods body I wil not be kept as I haue bin that I will not Priest Doll if this
tie Host Yfaith my fellow I haue no lodging but what I keep for my guesse that I may not disapoint as for meate thou shalt haue such as there is if thou wilt lie in the barne there 's faire straw and roome enough Irishman Is thanke my mester hartily de straw is good bed for me Host Ho Robin Robin Who calls Host Shew this poore Irishman into the barne go sirra exeunt Enter carrier and Kate Club. Ho who 's within here who lookes to the horses Gods hatte here 's fine worke the hens in the manger and the hogs in the litter a bots found you all here 's a house well lookt too yvaith Kate Mas goffe Club I se very cawd Club. Get in Kate get in to fier and warme thee Club Ho Iohn Hostler Hostler What gaffer Club welcome to saint Albons How does all our friends in Lancashire Club Well God haue mercie Iohn how does Tom where 's he Hostler O Tom is gone from hence hee s at the three horse-loues at Stony-stratford how does old Dick Dunne Club Gods hatte old Dunne has bin moyerd in a slough in Brickhil-lane a plague found it yonder is such abhomination weather as neuer was seene Hostler Gods hat thiefe haue one half pecke of pease and oates more for that as I am Iohn Ostler hee has been euer as good a iade as euer traueld Club Faith well said old Iacke thou art the old lad stil Hostler Come Gaffer Club vnlode vnlode and get to supper and I le rub dunne the while Come exeunt Enter sir Iohn Old-castle and his Lady disguisde Oldca. Come Madam happily escapt here let vs sit This place is farre remote from any path And here awhile our weary limbs may rest To take refreshing free from the pursuite Of enuious Winchester Lady But where my Lord Shall we find rest for our disquiet minds There dwell vntamed thoughts that hardly stoupe To such abasement of disdained rags We were not wont to trauell thus by night Especially on foote Oldca. No matter loue Extremities admit no better choice And were it not for thee say froward time Imposde a greater taske I would esteeme it As lightly as the wind that blowes vpon vs But in thy sufferance I am doubly taskt Thou wast not wont to haue the earth thy stoole Nor the moist dewy grasse thy pillow nor Thy chamber to be the wide horrison Lady How can it seeme a trouble hauing you A partner with me in the worst I feele No gentle Lord your presence would giue ease To death it selfe should he now seaze vpon me Behold what my foresight hath vndertane heres bread and cheese a bottle For feare we faint they are but homely cates Yet saucde with hunger they may seeme as sweete As greater dainties we were wont to taste Oldca. Praise be to him whose plentie sends both this And all things else our mortall bodies need Nor scorne we this poore feeding nor the state We now are in for what is it on earth Nay vnder heauen continues at a stay Ebbes not the sea when it hath ouerflowne Flowes not darknes when the day is gone And see we not sometime the eie of heauen Dimmd with ouerflying clowdes there 's not that worke Of carefull nature or of cunning art How strong how beauteous or how rich it be But falls in time to ruine here gentle Madame In this one draught I wash my sorrow downe drinkes Lady And I incoragde with your cheerefull speech Wil do the like Oldca. Pray God poore Harpoole come If he should fall into the Bishops hands Or not remember where we bade him meete vs It were the thing of all things else that now Could breede reuolt in this new peace of mind Lady Feare not my Lord hee s witty to deuise And strong to execute a present shift Oldca. That power be stil his guide hath guided vs My drowsie eies waxe heauy earely rising Together with the trauell we haue had Make me that I could gladly take a nap Were I perswaded we might be secure Lady Let that depend on me whilst you do sleepe I le watch that no misfortune happen vs Lay then your head vpon my lap sweete Lord And boldly take your rest Oldca. I shal deare wife Be too much trouble to thee Lady Vrge not that My duty binds me and your loue commands I would I had the skil with tuned voyce To draw on sleep with some sweet melodie But imperfection and vnaptnesse too Are both repugnant feare inserts the one The other nature hath denied me vse But what talke I of meanes to purchase that Is freely hapned sleepe with gentle hand Hath shut his eie-liddes oh victorious labour How soone thy power can charme the bodies sense And now thou likewise climbst vnto my braine Making my heauy temples stoupe to thee Great God of heauen from danger keepe vs free both sleepes Enter sir Richard Lee and his men Lee. A murder closely done and in my ground Search carefully if any where it were This obscure thicket is the likeliest place seruant Sir I haue found the body stiffe with cold And mangled cruelly with many wounds Lee Looke if thou knowest him turne his body vp A lacke it is my son my sonne and heire Whom two yeares since I sent to Ireland To practise there the discipline of warre And comming home for so he wrote to me Some sauage hart some bloudy diuellish hand Either in hate or thirsting for his coyne Hath here slucde out his bloud vnhappy houre Accursed place but most inconstant fate That hadst reserude him from the bullets fire And suffered him to scape the wood-karnes fury Didst here ordaine the treasure of his life Euen here within the armes of tender peace And where security gate greatest hope To be consumde by treasons wastefull hand And what is most afflicting to my soule That this his death and murther should be wrought Without the knowledge by whose meanes t was done 2 seru. Not so sir I haue found the authors of it See where they sit and in their bloudy fistes The fatall instruments of death and sinne Lee Iust iudgement of that power whose gracious eie Loathing the sight of such a hainous fact Dazeled their senses with benumming-sleepe Till their vnhallowed treachery were knowne Awake ye monsters murderers awake Tremble for horror blush you cannot chuse Beholding this inhumane deed of yours Old What meane you sir to trouble weary soules And interrupt vs of our quiet sleepe Lee Oh diuellish can you boast vnto your selues Of quiet sleepe hauing within your hearts The guilt of murder waking that with cries Deafes the lowd thunder and sollicites heauen With more than Mandrakes shreekes for your offence Lady Old What murder you vpbraid vs wrongfully Lee Can you deny the fact see you not heere The body of my sonne by you mis-done Looke on his wounds looke on his purple hew Do we not finde you where the deede was done Were not your kniues fast closed