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
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
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
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
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
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
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