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
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
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
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
Irish man Vat lort Cobham Maior You counterfeit this shal not serue you wee le torture you wee le make you to confesse where that arch-heretique Lord Cobham is come binde him fast Irish man Ahone ahone ahone a Cree Con. Ahone you crafty rascall exeunt Lord Cobham comes out in his gowne stealing Cobh. Harpoole Harpoole I heare a maruelous noyse about the house God warant vs I feare wee are pursued what Harpoole Harp within VVho calles there Cobh. T is I dost thou not heare a noyse about the house Harp Yes mary doe I zwounds I can not finde my hose this Irish rascall that was lodgde with me all night hath stolne my apparell and has left me nothing but a lowsie mantle and a paire of broags Get vp get vp and if the carier and his wench be asleep change you with them as he hath done with me and see if we can escape A noyse againe heard about the house a pretty while then enter the Constable meeting Harpoole in the Irish mans apparrell Con. Stand close heere comes the Irish man that didde the murther by all tokens this is he Maior And perceiuing the house beset would get away stand sirra Harp What art thou that bidst me stand Con. I am the Officer and am come to search for an Irish man such a villaine as thy selfe that hast murthered a man this last night by the hie way Harp Sbloud Constable art thou madde am I an Irish man Maior Sirra wee le finde you an Irish man before we part lay hold vpon him Con. Make him fast O thou bloudy rogue Enter Lord Cobham and his lady in the carrier and wenches apparrell Cobham What will these Ostlers sleepe all day Good morow good morow Come wench come Saddle saddle now afore God too foord-dayes ha Con. Who comes there Maior Oh t is Lankashire carier let him passe Cobham What will no body open the gates here Come le ts in t stable to looke to our capons The carrier calling Club calling Hoste why ostler zwookes here 's such abomination company of boies a pox of this pigstie at the house end it filles all the house full of fleas ostler ostler Ostler Who calles there what would you haue Club Zwookes do you robbe your ghests doe you lodge rogues and slaues and scoundrels ha they ha stolne our doths here why ostler Ostler A murrein choake you what a bawling you keepe Hoste How now what woulde the carrier haue looke vp there Ostler They say that the man and woman that lay by them haue stolne their clothes Hoste VVhat are the strange folkes vp yet that came in yester night Const. VVhat mine hoste vp so early Hoste VVhat maister Maior and maister Constable Maior VVe are come to seeke for some suspected persons and such as heere we found haue apprehended Enter the Carrier and Kate in lord Cobham and ladies apparell Con. VVho comes heere Club VVho comes here a plague found ome you bawle quoth a ods hat I le forzweare your house you lodgde a fellow and his wife by vs that ha runne away with our parrel and left vs such gew-gawes here come Kate come to mee thowse dizeard yfaith Maior Mine hoste know you this man Hoste Yes maister Maior I le giue my word for him why neibor Club how comes this geare about Kate Now a fowle on t I can not make this gew-gaw stand on my head now the lads and the lasses won flowt me too too Const. How came this man and woman thus attired Hoste Here came a man and woman hither this last night which I did take for substantiall people and lodgde all in one chamber by these folkes mee thinkes haue beene so bolde to change apparell and gone away this morning ere they rose Maior That was that villaine traitour Old-castle that thus escaped vs make out huy and cry yet after him keepe fast that traiterous rebell his seruant there farewell mine hoste Carier Come Kate Owdham thou and I se trimly dizard Kate I faith neame Club I se wot nere what to do I se be so flowted and so showted at but by th messe I se cry exeunt Enter Priest and Doll sir Iohn Come Dol come be mery wench Farewell Kent we are not for thee Be lusty my lasse come for Lancashire We must nip the Boung for these crownes Doll Why is all the gold spent already that you had the other day sir Iohn Gone Doll gone flowne spent vanished the diuel drinke and the dice has deuoured all Doll You might haue left me in Kent that you might vntil you had bin better prouided I could haue staied at Cobham sir Iohn No Dol no I le none of that Kent 's too hot Doll Kent 's too hot the weathercocke of Wrotham will crow no longer we haue pluckt him he has lost his feathers I haue prunde him bare left him thrice is moulted is moulted wēch Doll Faith sir Iohn I might haue gone to seruice againe old maister Harpoole told me he would prouide me a mistris sir Iohn Peace Doll peace come mad wench I le make thee an honest woman wee le into Lancashire to our friends the troth is I le marry thee we want but a little mony to buy vs a horse and to spend by the way the next sheep that comes shal loose his fleece wee le haue these crownes wench I warrant thee stay who comes here some Irish villaine me thinkes that enter the Irish man with his master slaine has slaine a man and drawes him out of the way to rifle him stand close Doll wee le see the end The Irish man falls to rifle his master Alas poe mester S. Rishard Lee be saint Patricke is rob and cut thy trote for dee shame and dy money and d ee gold ring be me truly is loue thee wel but now dow be kil thee bee shitten kanaue sir Iohn Stand sirra what art thou Irishman Be saint Patricke mester is pore Irisman is a leufter sir Iohn Sirra sirra you are a damned rogue you haue killed a man here and rifled him of all that he has sbloud you rogue deliuer or I le not leaue you so much as an Irish haire aboue your shoulders you whorson Irish dogge sirra vntrusse presently come off and dispatch or by this crosse I le fetch your head off as cleane as a barke Irishman Wees me saint Patricke I se kill me mester for chaine and his ring and nows be rob of all mees vndoo Priest robs him sir Iohn Auant you rascal go sirra be walking come Doll the diuel laughes when one theefe robs another come madde wench wee le to saint Albons and reuel in our bower hey my braue girle Doll O thou art old sir Iohn when all 's done yfaith Enter the hoste of the Bell with the Irish man Irishman Be me tro mester is pore Irisman is want iudging is haue no mony is starue and cold good mester giue her some meate is famise and
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
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
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