heare Of any Prince so wilde at Liberty But be he as he will yet once ere night I will imbrace him with a Souldiers arme That he shall shrinke vnder my curtesie Arme arme with speed And Fellow 's Soldiers Friends Better consider what you haue to do That I that haue not well the gift of Tongue Can lift your blood vp with perswasion Enter a Messenger Mes My Lord heere are Letters for you Hot. I cannot reade them now O Gentlemen the time of life is short To spend that shortnesse basely were too long If life did ride vpon a Dials point Still ending at the arriuall of an houre And if we liue we liue to treade on Kings If dye braue death when Princes dye with vs. Now for our Consciences the Armes is faire When the intent for bearing them is iust Enter another Messenger Mes My Lord prepare the King comes on apace Hot. I thanke him that he cuts me from my tale For I professe not talking Onely this Let each man do his best And heere I draw a Sword Whose worthy temper I intend to staine With the best blood that I can meete withall In the aduenture of this perillous day Now Esperance Percy and set on Sound all the lofty Instruments of Warre And by that Musicke let vs all imbrace For heauen to earth some of vs neuer shall A second time do such a curtesie They embrace the Trumpets sound the King entereth with his power alarum vnto the battell Then enter Dowglas and Sir Walter Blunt Blu. What is thy name that in battel thus y u crossest me What honor dost thou seeke vpon my head Dow. Know then my name is Dowglas And I do haunt thee in the battell thus Because some tell me that thou art a King Blunt They tell thee true Dow. The Lord of Stafford deere to day hath bought Thy likenesse for insted of thee King Harry This Sword hath ended him so shall it thee Vnlesse thou yeeld thee as a Prisoner Blu. I was not borne to yeeld thou haughty Scot And thou shalt finde a King that will reuenge Lords Staffords death Fight Blunt is slaine then enters Hotspur Hot. O Dowglas hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus I neuer had triumphed o're a Scot. Dow. All 's done all 's won here breathles lies the king Hot. Where Dow. Heere Hot. This Dowglas No I know this face full well A gallant Knight he was his name was Blunt Semblably furnish'd like the King himselfe Dow. Ah foole go with thy soule whether it goes A borrowed Title hast thou bought too deere Why didst thou tell me that thou wer 't a King Hot. The King hath many marching in his Coats Dow. Now by my Sword I will kill all his Coates I le murder all his Wardrobe peece by peece Vntill I meet the King Hot. Vp and away Our Souldiers stand full fairely for the day Exeunt Alarum and enter Falstaffe solus Fal. Though I could scape shot-free at London I fear the shot heere here 's no scoring but vpon the pate Soft who are you Sir Walter Blunt there 's Honour for you here 's no vanity I am as hot as molten Lead and as heauy too heauen keepe Lead out of mee I neede no more weight then mine owne Bowelles I haue led my rag of Muffins where they are pepper'd there 's not three of my 150. left aliue and they for the Townes end to beg during life But who comes heere Enter the Prince Pri. What stand'st thou idle here Lend me thy sword Many a Nobleman likes starke and stiffe Vnder the hooues of vaunting enemies Whose deaths are vnreuengâ—d Prethy lend me thy sword Fal. O Hal I prethee giue me leaue to breath awhile Turke Gregory neuer did such deeds in Armes as I haue done this day I haue paid Percy I haue made him sure Prin. He is indeed and liuing to kill thee I prethee lend me thy sword Falst Nay Hal if Percy bee aliue thou getst not my Sword but take my Pistoll if thou wilt Prin. Giue it me What is it in the Case Fal. I Hal 't is hot There 's that will Sacke a City The Prince drawes out a Bottle of Sacke Prin. What is it a time to iest and dally now Exit Throwes it at him Fal. If Percy be aliue I le pierce him if he do come in my way so if he do not if I come in his willingly let him make a Carbonado of me I like not such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath Giue mee life which if I can saue so if not honour comes vnlook'd for and ther 's an end Exit Scena Tertia Alarum excursions enter the King the Prince Lord Iohn of Lancaster and Earle of Westmerland King I prethee Harry withdraw thy selfe thou bleedest too much Lord Iohn of Lancaster go you with him P. Ioh. Not I my Lord vnlesse I did bleed too Prin. I beseech your Maiesty make vp Least you retirement do amaze your friends King I will do so My Lord of Westmerland leade him to his Tent. West Come my Lord I le leade you to your Tent. Prin. Lead me my Lord I do not need your helpe And heauen forbid a shallow scratch should driue The Prince of Wales from such a field as this Where stain'd Nobility lyes troden on And Rebels Armes triumph in massacres Ioh. We breath too long Come cosin Westmerland Our duty this way lies for heauens sake come Prin. By heauen thou hast deceiu'd me Lancaster I did not thinke thee Lord of such a spirit Before I lou'd thee as a Brother Iohn But now I do respect thee as my Soule King I saw him hold Lord Percy at the point With lustier maintenance then I did looke for Of such an vngrowne Warriour Prin. O this Boy lends mettall to vs all Exit Enter Dowglas Dow. Another King They grow like Hydra's heads I am the Dowglas fatall to all those That weare those colours on them What art thou That counterfeit'st the person of a King King The King himselfe who Dowglas grieues at hart So many of his shadowes thou hast met And not the very King I haue two Boyes Seeke Percy and thy selfe about the Field But seeing thou fall'st on me so luckily I will assay thee so defend thy selfe Dow. I feare thou art another counterfeit And yet infaith thou bear'st thee like a King But mine I am sure thou art whoere thou be And thus I win thee They fight the K. being in danger Enter Prince Prin. Hold vp they head vile Scot or thou art like Neuer to hold it vp againe the Spirits Of valiant Sherly Stafford Blunt are in my Armes It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee Who neuer promiseth but he meanes to pay They Fight Dowglas flyeth Cheerely My Lord how fare's your Grace Sir Nicholas Gawsey hath for succour sent And so hath Clifton I le to Clifton straight King Stay and breath awhile Thou hast redeem'd thy lost opinion And shew'd thou mak'st some
change their shapes then men their minds Pro. Then men their minds t is true oh heuen were man But Constant he were perfect that one error Fils him with faults makes him run through all th' sins Inconstancy falls-off ere it begins What is in Siluia's face but I may spie More fresh in Iulia's with a constant eye Val Come come a hand from either Let me be blest to make this happy close 'T were pitty two such friends should be long foes Pro. Beare witnes heauen I haue my wish for euer Iul. And I mine Out-l. A prize a prize a prize Val. Forbeare forbeare I say It is my Lord the Duke Your Grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd Banished Valentine Duke Sir Valentine Thu. Yonder is Siluia and Siluia's mine Val. Thurio giue backe or else embrace thy death Come not within the measure of my wrath Doe not name Siluia thine if once againe Verona shall not hold thee heere she stands Take but possession of her with a Touch I dare thee but to breath vpon my Loue. Thur. Sir Valentine I care not for her I I hold him but a foole that will endanger His Body for a Girle that loues him not I claime her not and therefore she is thine Duke The more degenerate and base art thou To make such meanes for her as thou hast done And leaue her on such slight conditions Now by the honor of my Ancestry I doe applaud thy spirit Valentine And thinke thee worthy of an Empresse loue Know then I heere forget all former greefes Cancell all grudge repeale thee home againe Plead a new state in thy vn-riual'd merit To which I thus subscribe Sir Valentine Thou art a Gentleman and well deriu'd Take thou thy Siluia for thou hast deseru'd her Val I thank your Grace y e gift hath made me happy I now beseech you for your daughters sake To grant one Boone that I shall aske of you Duke I grant it for thine owne what ere it be Val. These banish'd men that I haue kept withall Are men endu'd with worthy qualities Forgiue them what they haue committed here And let them be recall'd from their Exile They are reformed ciuill full of good And fit for great employment worthy Lord. Duke Thou hast preuaild I pardon them and thee Dispose of them as thou knowst their deserts Come let vs goe we will include all iarres With Triumphes Mirth and rare solemnity Val. And as we walke along I dare be bold With our discourse to make your Grace to smile What thinke you of this Page my Lord Duke I think the Boy hath grace in him he blushes Val. I warrant you my Lord more grace then Boy Duke What meane you by that saying Val. Please you I le tell you as we passe along That you will wonder what hath fortuned Come Protheus 't is your pennance but to heare The story of your Loues discouered That done our day of marriage shall be yours One Feast one house one mutuall happinesse Exeunt The names of all the Actors Duke Father to Siluia Valentine the two Gentlemen Protheus the two Gentlemen Anthonio father to Protheus Thurio a foolish riuall to Valentine Eglamoure Agent for Siluia in her escape Host where Iulia lodges Out-lawes with Valentine Speed a clownish seruant to Valentine Launce the like to Protheus Panthion seruant to Antonio Iulia beloued of Protheus Siluia beloued of Valentine Lucetta waighting-woman to Iulia. FINIS THE Merry Wiues of Windsor Actus primus Scena prima Enter Iustice Shallow Slender Sir Hugh Euans Master Page Falstoffe Bardolph Nym Pistoll Anne Page Mistresse Ford Mistresse Page Simple Shallow SIr Hugh perswade me not I will make a Star-Chamber matter of it if hee were twenty Sir Iohn Falstoffs he shall not abuse Robert Shallow Esquire Slen. In the County of Glocester Iustice of Peace and Coram Shal. I Cosen Slender and Cust-alorum Slen. I and Rato lorum too and a Gentleman borne Master Parson who writes himselfe Armigero in any Bill Warrant Quittance or Obligation Armigero Shal. I that I doe and haue done any time these three hundred yeeres Slen. All his successors gone before him hath don 't and all his Ancestors that come after him may they may giue the dozen white Luces in their Coate Shal. It is an olde Coate Euans The dozen white Lowses doe become an old Coat well it agrees well passant It is a familiar beast to man and signifies Loue. Shal. The Luse is the fresh-fish the salt-fish is an old Coate Slen. I may quarter Coz Shal. You may by marrying Euans It is marring indeed if he quarter it Shal. Not a whit Euan. Yes per-lady if he ha's a quarter of your coat there is but three Skirts for your selfe in my simple coniectures but that is all one if Sir Iohn Falstaffe haue committed disparagements vnto you I am of the Church and will be glad to do my beneuolence to make attonements and compremises betweene you Shal. The Councell shall heare it it is a Riot Euan. It is not meet the Councell heare a Riot there is no feare of Got in a Riot The Councell looke you shall desire to heare the feare of Got and not to heare a Riot take your viza-ments in that Shal. Ha o' my life if I were yong againe the sword should end it Euans It is petter that friends is the sword and end it and there is also another deuice in my praine which peraduenture prings goot discretions with it There is Anne Page which is daughter to Master Thomas Page which is pretty virginity Slen. Mistris Anne Page she has browne haire and speakes small like a woman Euans It is that ferry person for all the orld as iust as you will desire and seuen hundred pounds of Moneyes and Gold and Siluer is her Grand-sire vpon his deaths-bed Got deliuer to a ioyfull resurrections giue when she is able to ouertake seuenteene yeeres old It were a goot motion if we leaue our pribbles and prabbles and desire a marriage betweene Master Abraham and Mistris Anne Page Slen. Did her Grand-sire leaue her seauen hundred pound Euan. I and her father is make her a petter penny Slen. I know the young Gentlewoman she has good gifts Euan. Seuen hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts Shal. Wel let vs see honest M r Page is Falstaffe there Euan. Shall I tell you a lye I doe despise a lyer as I doe despise one that is false or as I despise one that is not true the Knight Sir Iohn is there and I beseech you be ruled by your well-willers I will peat the doore for M r. Page What hoa Got-plesse your house heere M r. Page Who 's there Euan. Here is go't's plessing and your friend and Iustice Shallow and heere yong Master Slender that peraduentures shall tell you another tale if matters grow to your likings Mâ— Page I am glad to see your Worships well I thanke you for my Venison Master Shallow Shal. Master Page I
Falstaffe at that Oake shall meete with vs. Page Well let it not be doubted but he 'll come And in this shape when you haue brought him thether What shall be done with him What is your plot Mist Pa. That likewise haue we thoght vpon thus Nan Page my daughter and my little sonne And three or foure more of their growth wee 'l dresse Like Vrchins Ouphes and Fairies greene and white With rounds of waxen Tapers on their heads And rattles in their hands vpon a sodaine As Falstaffe she and I are newly met Let them from forth a saw-pit rush at once With some diffused song Vpon their sight We two in great amazednesse will flye Then let them all encircle him about And Fairy-like to pinch the vncleane Knight And aske him why that houre of Fairy Reuell In their so sacred pathes he dares to tread In shape prophane Ford. And till he tell the truth Let the supposed Fairies pinch him sound And burne him with their Tapers Mist Page The truth being knowne We 'll all present our selues dis-horne the spirit And mocke him home to Windsor Ford. The children must Be practis'd well to this or they 'll neu'r doo 't Eua. I will teach the children their behauiours and I will be like a Iacke-an-Apes also to burne the Knight with my Taber Ford. That will be excellent I le go buy them vizards Mist Page My Nan shall be the Queene of all the Fairies finely attired in a robe of white Page That silke will I go buy and in that time Shall M. Slender steale my Nan away And marry her at Eaton go send to Falstaffe straight Ford. Nay I le to him againe in name of Broome Hee 'l tell me all his purpose sure hee 'l come Mist Page Feare not you that Go get vs properties And tricking for our Fayries Euans Let vs about it It is admirable pleasures and ferry honest knaueries Mis Page Go Mist Ford Send quickly to Sir Iohn to know his minde I le to the Doctor he hath my good will And none but he to marry with Nan Page That Slender though well landed is an Ideot And he my husband best of all affects The Doctor is well monied and his friends Potent at Court he none but he shall haue her Though twenty thousand worthier come to craue her Scena Quinta Enter Host Simple Falstaffe Bardolfe Euans Caius Quickly Host What wouldst thou haue Boore what thick skin speake breathe discusse breefe short quicke snap Simp. Marry Sir I come to speake with Sir Iohn Falstaffe from M. Slender Host There 's his Chamber his House his Castle his standing-bed and truckle-bed 't is painted about with the story of the Prodigall fresh and new go knock and call hee 'l speake like an Anthropophaginian vnto thee Knocke I say Simp. There 's an olde woman a fat woman gone vp into his chamber I le be so bold as stay Sir till she come downe I come to speake with her indeed Host Ha A fat woman The Knight may be robb'd I le call Bully-Knight Bully Sir Iohn speake from thy Lungs Military Art thou there It is thine Host thine Ephesian cals Fal. How now mine Host Host. Here 's a Bohemian-Tartar taries the comming downe of thy fat-woman Let her descend Bully let her descend my Chambers are honourable Fie priuacy Fie Fal. There was mine Host an old-fat-woman euen now with me but she 's gone Simp. Pray you Sir was 't not the Wise-woman of Brainford Fal. I marry was it Mussel-shell what would you with her Simp. My Master Sir my master Slender sent to her seeing her go thorough the streets to know Sir whether one Nim Sir that beguil'd him of a chaine had the chaine or no. Fal. I spake with the old woman about it Sim. And what sayes she I pray Sir Fal. Marry shee sayes that the very same man that beguil'd Master Slender of his Chaine cozon'd him of it Simp. I would I could haue spoken with the Woman her selfe I had other things to haue spoken with her too from him Fal. What are they let vs know Host I come quicke Fal. I may not conceale them Sir Host Conceale them or thou di'st Sim. Why sir they were nothing but about Mistris Anne Page to know if it were my Masters fortune to haue her or no. Fal. 'T is 't is his fortune Sim. What Sir Fal. To haue her or no goe say the woman told me so Sim. May I be bold to say so Sir Fal. I Sir like who more bold Sim. I thanke your worship I shall make my Master glad with these tydings Host Thou are clearkly thou art clearkly Sir Iohn was there a wise woman with thee Fal. I that there was mine Host one that hath taught me more wit then euer I learn'd before in my life and I paid nothing for it neither but was paid for my learning Bar. Out alas Sir cozonage meere cozonage Host Where be my horses speake well of them varletto Bar. Run away with the cozoners for so soone as I came beyond Eaton they threw me off from behinde one of them in a slough of myre and set spurres and away like three Germane-diuels three Doctor Faustaffes Host They are gone but to meete the Duke villaine doe not say they be fled Germanes are honest men Euan. Where is mine Host Host What is the matter Sir Euan. Haue a care of your entertainments there is a friend of mine come to Towne tels mee there is three Cozen-Iermans that has cozend all the Hosts of Readins of Maidenhead of Cole-brooke of horses and money I tell you for good will looke you you are wise and full of gibes and vlouting-stocks and 't is not conuenient you should be cozoned Fare you well Cai. Ver ' is mine Host de Iarteere Host Here Master Doctor in perplexitie and doubtfull delemma Cai. I cannot tell vat is dat but it is tell-a-me dat you make grand preparation for a Duke de Iamanie by my trot der is no Duke that the Court is know to come I tell you for good will adieu Host Huy and cry villaine goe assist me Knight I am vndone fly run huy and cry villaine I am vndone Fal. I would all the world might be cozond for I haue beene cozond and beaten too if it should come to the eare of the Court how I haue beene transformed and how my transformation hath beene washd and cudgeld they would melt mee out of my fat drop by drop and liquor Fishermens-boots with me I warrant they would whip me with their fine wits till I were as crest-falne as a dride-peare I neuer prosper'd since I forswore my selfe at Primerâ— well if my winde were but long enough I would repent Now Whence come you Qui. From the two parties forsooth Fal. The Diuell take one partie and his Dam the other and so they shall be both bestowed I haue suffer'd more for their sakes more then the villanous inconstancy of mans disposition is able
not Beatrice How tartly that Gentleman lookes I neuer can see him but I am heart-burn'd an howre after Hero He is of a very melancholy disposition Beatrice Hee were an excellent man that were made iust in the mid-way betweene him and Benedicke the one is too like an image and saies nothing and the other too like my Ladies eldest sonne euermore tatling Leon. Then halfe signior Benedicks tongue in Count Iohns mouth and halfe Count Iohns melancholy in Signior Benedicks face Beat. With a good legge and a good foot vnckle and money enough in his purse such a man would winne any woman in the world if he could get her good will Leon. By my troth Neece thou wilt neuer get thee a husband if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue Brother Infaith shee 's too curst Beat. Too curst is more then curst I shall lessen Gods sending that way for it is said God sends a curst Cow short hornes but to a Cow too curst he sends none Leon. So by being too curst God will send you no hornes Beat. Iust if he send me no husband for the which blessing I am at him vpon my knees euery morning and euening Lord I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face I had rather lie in the woollen Leonato You may light vpon a husband that hath no beard Batrice What should I doe with him dresse him in my apparell and make him my waiting gentlewoman he that hath a beard is more then a youth and he that hath no beard is lesse then a man and hee that is more then a youth is not for mee and he that is lesse then a man I am not for him therefore I will euen take sixepence in earnest of the Berrord and leade his Apes into hell Leon. Well then goe you into hell Beat. No but to the gate and there will the Deuill meete mee like an old Cuckold with hornes on his head and say get you to heauen Beatrice get you to heauen heere 's no place for you maids so deliuer I vp my Apes and away to S. Peter for the heauens hee shewes mee where the Batchellers sit and there liue wee as merry as the day is long Brother Well neece I trust you will be rul'd by your father Beatrice Yes faith it is my cosens dutie to make curtsie and say as it please you but yet for all that cosin let him be a handsome fellow or else make an other cursie and say father as it please me Leonato Well neece I hope to see you one day sitted with a husband Beatrice Not till God make men of some other mettall then earth would it not grieue a woman to be ouer-mastred with a peece of valiant dust to make account of her life to a clod of waiward marle no vnckle I le none Adams sonnes are my brethren and truly I hold it a sinne to match in my kinred Leon. Daughter remember what I told you if the Prince doe solicit you in that kinde you know your answere Beatrice The fault will be in the musicke cosin if you be not woed in good time if the Prince bee too important tell him there is measure in euery thing so dance out the answere for heare me Hero wooing wedding repenting is as a Scotch ijgge a measure and a cinque-pace the first suite is hot and hasty like a Scotch ijgge and full as fantasticall the wedding manerly modest as a measure full of state aunchentry and then comes repentance and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace faster and faster till he sinkes into his graue Leonata Cosin you apprehend passing shrewdly Beatrice I haue a good eye vnckle I can see a Church by daylight Leon. The reuellers are entring brother make good roome Enter Prince Pedro Claudio and Benedicke and Balthasar or dumbe Iohn Maskers with a drum Pedro. Lady will you walke about with your friend Hero So you walke softly and looke sweetly and say nothing I am yours for the walke and especially when I walke away Pedro. With me in your company Hero I may say so when I please Pedro. And when please you to say so Hero When I like your fauour for God defend the Lute should be like the case Pedro. My visor is Philemons roofe within the house is Loue. Hero Why then your visor should be thatcht Pedro. Speake low if you speake Loue. Bene. Well I would you did like me Mar. So would not I for your owne sake for I haue manie ill qualities Bene. Which is one Mar. I say my prayers alowd Ben. I loue you the better the hearers may cry Amen Mar. God match me with a good dauncer Balt. Amen Mar. And God keepe him out of my sight when the daunce is done answer Clarke Balt. No more words the Clarke is answered Vrsula I know you well enough you are Signior Anthonio Anth. At a word I am not Vrsula I know you by the wagling of your head Anth. To tell you true I counterfet him Vrsu You could neuer doe him so ill well vnlesse you were the very man here 's his dry hand vp down you are he you are he Anth. At a word I am not Vrsula Come come doe you thinke I doe not know you by your excellent wit can vertue hide it selfe goe to mumme you are he graces will appeare and there 's an end Beat. Will you not tell me who told you so Bene. No you shall pardon me Beat. Nor will you not tell me who you are Bened. Not now Beat. That I was disdainfull and that I had my good wit out of the hundred merry tales well this was Signior Benedicke that said so Bene. What 's he Beat. I am sure you know him well enough Bene. Not I beleeue me Beat. Did he neuer make you laugh Bene. I pray you what is he Beat. Why he is the Princes ieaster a very dull foole onely his gift is in deuising impossible slanders none but Libertines delight in him and the commendation is not in his witte but in his villanie for hee both pleaseth men and angers them and then they laugh at him and beat him I am sure he is in the Fleet I would he had boorded me Bene. When I know the Gentleman I le tell him what you say Beat. Do do hee 'l but breake a comparison or two on me which peraduenture not markt or not laugh'd at strikes him into melancholly and then there 's a Partridge wing saued for the foole will eate no supper that night We must follow the Leaders Ben. In euery good thing Bea. Nay if they leade to any ill I will leaue them at the next turning Exeunt Musicke for the dance Iohn Sure my brother is amorous on Hero and hath withdrawne her father to breake with him about it the Ladies follow her and but one visor remaines Borachio And that is Claudio I know him by his bearing Iohn Are not you signior Benedicke Clau. You know me well
for aduantage Hel. So is running away When feare proposes the safetie But the composition that your valour and feare makes in you is a vertue of a good wing and I like the weare well Paroll I am so full of businesses I cannot answere thee acutely I will returne perfect Courtier in the which my instruction shall serue to naturalize thee so thou wilt be capeable of a Courtiers councell and vnderstand what aduice shall thrust vppon thee else thou diest in thine vnthankfulnes and thine ignorance makes thee away farewell When thou hast leysure say thy praiers when thou hast none remember thy Friends Get thee a good husband and vse him as he vses thee So farewell Hel. Our remedies oft in our selues do lye Which we ascribe to heauen the fated skye Giues vs free scope onely doth backward pull Our slow designes when we our selues are dull What power is it which mounts my loue so hye That makes me see and cannot feede mine eye The mightiest space in fortune Nature brings To ioyne like likes and kisse like natiue things Impossible be strange attempts to those That weigh their paines in sence and do suppose What hath beene cannot be Who euer stroue To shew her merit that did misse her loue The Kings disease my proiect may deceiue me But my intents are fixt and will not leaue me Exit Flourish Cornets Enter the King of France with Letters and diuers Attendants King The Florentines and Senoys are by th' eares Haue fought with equall fortune and continue A brauing warre 1. Lo. G. So t is reported sir King Nay t is most credible we heere receiue it A certaintie vouch'd from our Cosin Austria With caution that the Florentine will moue vs For speedie ayde wherein our deerest friend Preiudicates the businesse and would seeme To haue vs make deniall 1. Lo. G. His loue and wisedome Approu'd so to your Maiesty may pleade For amplest credence King He hath arm'd our answer And Florence is deni'de before he comes Yet for our Gentlemen that meane to see The Tuscan seruice freely haue they leaue To stand on either part 2. Lo. E. It well may serue A nursserie to our Gentrie who are sicke For breathing and exploit King What 's he comes heere Enter Bertram Lafew and Parolies 1. Lor. G. It is the Count Rosignoll my good Lord Yong Bertram King Youth thou bear'st thy Fathers face Franke Nature rather curious then in hast Hath well compos'd thee Thy Fathers morall parts Maist thou inherit too Welcome to Paris Ber. My thankes and dutie are your Maiesties Kin. I would I had that corporall soundnesse now As when thy father and my selfe in friendship First tride out souldiership he did looke farre Into the seruice of the time and was Discipled of the brauest He lasted long But on vs both did haggish Age steale on And wore vs out of act It much repaires me To talke of your good father in his youth He had the wit which I can well obserue To day in our yong Lords but they may iest Till their owne scorne returne to them vnnoted Ere they can hide their leuitie in honour So like a Courtier contempt nor bitternesse Were in his pride or sharpnesse if they were His equall had awak'd them and his honour Clocke to it selfe knew the true minute when Exception bid him speake and at this time His tongue obey d his hand Who were below him He vs'd as creatures of another place And bow'd his eminent top to their low rankes Making them proud of his humilitie In their poore praise he humbled Such a man Might be a copie to these yonger times Which followed well would demonstrate them now But goers backward Ber. His good remembrance sir Lies richer in your thoughts then on his tombe So in approofe liues not his Epitaph As in your royall speech King Would I were with him he would alwaies say Me thinkes I heare him now his plausiue words He scatter'd not in eares but grafted them To grow there and to beare Let me not liue This his good melancholly oft began On the Catastrophe and heele of pastime When it was out Let me not liue quoth hee After my flame lackes oyle to be the snuffe Of yonger spirits whose apprehensiue senses All but new things disdaine whose iudgements are Meere fathers of their garments whose constancies Expire before their fashions this he wish'd I after him do after him wish too Since I nor wax nor honie can bring home I quickly were dissolued from my hiue To giue some Labourers roome L. 2. E. You 'r loued Sir They that least lend it you shall lacke you first Kin. I fill a place I know 't how long ist Count Since the Physitian at your fathers died He was much fam'd Ber. Some six moneths since my Lord. Kin. If he were liuing I would try him yet Lend me an arme the rest haue worne me out With seuerall applications Nature and sicknesse Debate it at their leisure Welcome Count My sonne 's no deerer Ber. Thanke your Maiesty Exit Flourish Enter Countesse Steward and Clowne Coun. I will now heare what say you of this gentlewoman Ste. Maddam the care I haue had to euen your content I wish might be found in the Kalender of my past endeuours for then we wound our Modestie and make foule the clearnesse of our deseruings whenof our selues we publish them Coun. What doe's this knaue heere Get you gone sirra the complaints I haue heard of you I do not all beleeue 't is my slownesse that I doe not For I know you lacke not folly to commit them haue abilitie enough to make such knaueries yours Clo. 'T is not vnknown to you Madam I am a poore fellow Coun. Well sir Clo. No maddam 'T is not so well that I am poore though manie of the rich are damn'd but if I may haue your Ladiships good will to goe to the world Isbell the woman and w will doe as we may Coun. Wilt thou needes be a begger Clo. I doe beg your good will in this case Cou. In what case Clo. In Isbels case and mine owne seruice is no heritage and I thinke I shall neuer haue the blessing of God till I haue issue a my bodie for they say barnes are blessings Cou. Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marrie Clo. My poore bodie Madam requires it I am driuen onby the flesh and hee must needes goe that the diuell driues Cou. Is this all your worships reason Clo. Faith Madam I haue other holie reasons such as they are Con. May the world know them Clo. I haue beene Madam a wicked creature as you and all flesh and blood are and indeede I doe marrie that I may repent Cou. Thy marriage sooner then thy wickednesse Clo. I am out a friends Madam and I hope to haue friends for my wiues sake Cou. Such friends are thine enemies knaue Clo. Y' are shallow Madam in great friends for the knaues come to doe that for me
our oppression hath made vp this league Arme arme you heauens against these periur'd Kings A widdow cries be husband to me heauens Let not the howres of this vngodly day Weare out the daies in Peace but ere Sun-set Set armed discord 'twixt these periur'd Kings Heare me Oh heare me Aust Lady Constance peace Const War war no peace peace is to me a warre O Lymoges O Austria thou dost shame That bloudy spoyle thou slaue thou wretch y u coward Thou little valiant great in villanie Thou euer strong vpon the stronger side Thou Fortunes Champion that do'st neuer fight But when her humourous Ladiship is by To teach thee safety thou art periur'd too And sooth'st vp greatnesse What a foole art thou A ramping foole to brag and stamp and sweare Vpon my partie thou cold blooded slaue Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side Beene sworne my Souldier bidding me depend Vpon thy starres thy fortune and thy strength And dost thou now fall ouer to my foes Thou weare a Lyons hide doff it for shame And hang a Calues skin on those recreant limbes Aus O that a man should speake those words to me Phil. And hang a Calues-skin on those recreant limbs Aus Thou dar'st not say so villaine for thy life Phil. And hang a Calues-skin on those recreant limbs Iohn We like not this thou dost forget thy selfe Enter Pandulph Fra. Heere comes the holy Legat of the Pope Pan. Haile you annointed deputies of heauen To thee King Iohn my holy errand is I Pandulph of faire Millane Cardinall And from Pope Innocent the Legate heere Doe in his name religiously demand Why thou against the Church our holy Mother So wilfully dost spurne and force perforce Keepe Stephen Langton chosen Arshbishop Of Canterbury from that holy Sea This in our foresaid holy Fathers name Pope Innocent I doe demand of thee Iohn What earthie name to Interrogatories Can tast the free breath of a sacred King Thou canst not Cardinall deuise a name So slight vnworthy and ridiculous To charge me to an answere as the Pope Tell him this tale and from the mouth of England Adde thus much more that no Italian Priest Shall tythe or toll in our dominions But as we vnder heauen are supreame head So vnder him that great supremacy Where we doe reigne we will alone vphold Without th' assistance of a mortall hand So tell the Pope all reuerence set apart To him and his vsurp'd authoritie Fra. Brother of England you blaspheme in this Iohn Though you and all the Kings of Christendom Are led so grossely by this medling Priest Dreading the curse that money may buy out And by the merit of vilde gold drosse dust Purchase corrupted pardon of a man Who in that sale sels pardon from himselfe Though you and al the rest so grossely led This iugling witchcraft with reuennue cherish Yet I alone alone doe me oppose Against the Pope and count his friends my foes Pand. Then by the lawfull power that I haue Thou shalt stand curst and excommunicate And blessed shall he be that doth reuolt From his Allegeance to an heretique And meritorious shall that hand be call'd Canonized and worship'd as a Saint That takes away by any secret course Thy hatefull life Con. O lawfull let it be That I haue roome with Rome to curse a while Good Father Cardinall cry thou Amen To my keene curses for without my wrong There is no tongue hath power to curse him right Pan. There 's Law and Warrant Lady for my curse Cons And for mine too when Law can do no right Let it be lawfull that Law barre no wrong Law cannot giue my childe his kingdome heere For he that holds his Kingdome holds the Law Therefore since Law it selfe is perfect wrong How can the Law forbid my tongue to curse Pand. Philip of France on perill of a curse Let goe the hand of that Arch-heretique And raise the power of France vpon his head Vnlesse he doe submit himselfe to Rome Elea. Look'st thou pale France do not let go thy hand Con. Looke to that Deuill lest that France repent And by disioyning hands hell lose a soule Aust King Philip listen to the Cardinall Bast And hang a Calues-skin on his recreant limbs Aust Well ruffian I must pocket vp these wrongs Because Bast Your breeches best may carry them Iohn Philip what saist thou to the Cardinall Con. What should he say but as the Cardinall Dolph Bethinke you father for the difference Is purchase of a heauy curse from Rome Or the light losse of England for a friend Forgoe the easier Bla. Thatâ—s the curse of Rome Con. O Lewis stand fast the deuill tempts thee heere In likenesse of a new vntrimmed Bride Bla. The Lady Constance speakes not from her faith But from her need Con. Oh if thou grant my need Which onely liues but by the death of faith That need must needs inferre this principle That faith would liue againe by death of need O then tread downe my need and faith mounts vp Keepe my need vp and faith is trodden downe Iohn The king is moud and answers not to this Con. O be remou'd from him and answere well Aust Doe so king Philip hang no more in doubt Bast Hang nothing but a Calues skin most sweet lout Fra. I am perplext and know not what to say Pan. What canst thou say but wil perplex thee more If thou stand excommunicate and curst Fra. Good reuerend father make my person yours And tell me how you would bestow your selfe This royall hand and mine are newly knit And the coniunction of our inward soules Married in league coupled and link'd together With all religous strength of sacred vowes The latest breath that gaue the sound of words Was deepe-sworne faith peace amity true loue Betweene our kingdomes and our royall selues And euen before this truce but new before No longer then we well could wash our hands To clap this royall bargaine vp of peace Heauen knowes they were besmear'd and ouer-staind With slaughters pencill where reuenge did paint The fearefull difference of incensed kings And shall these hands so lately purg'd of bloud So newly ioyn'd in loue so strong in both Vnyoke this seysure and this kinde regreete Play fast and loose with faith so iest with heauen Make such vnconstant children of our selues As now againe to snatch our palme from palme Vn-sweare faith sworne and on the marriage bed Of smiling peace to march a bloody hoast And make a ryot on the gentle brow Of true sincerity O holy Sir My reuerend father let it not be so Out of your grace deuise ordaine impose Some gentle order and then we shall be blest To doe your pleasure and continue friends Pand. All forme is formelesse Order orderlesse Saue what is opposite to Englands loue Therefore to Armes be Champion of our Church Or let the Church our mother breathe her curse A mothers curse on her reuolting sonne France thou maist hold a serpent by
the tongue A cased Lion by the mortall paw A fasting Tyger safer by the tooth Then keepe in peace that hand which thou dost hold Fra. I may dis-ioyne my hand but not my faith Pand. So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith And like a ciuill warre setst oath to oath Thy tongue against thy tongue O let thy vow First made to heauen first be to heauen perform'd That is to be the Champion of our Church What since thou sworst is sworne against thy selfe And may not be performed by thy selfe For that which thou hast sworne to doe amisse Is not amisse when it is truely done And being not done where doing tends to ill The truth is then most done not doing it The better Act of purposes mistooke Is to mistake again though indirect Yet indirection thereby growes direct And falshood falshood cures as fire cooles fire Within the scorched veines of one new burn'd It is religion that doth make vowes kept But thou hast sworne against religion By what thou swear'st against the thing thou swear'st And mak'st an oath the suretie for thy truth Against an oath the truth thou art vnsure To sweare sweares onely not to be forsworne Else what a mockerie should it be to sweare But thou dost sweare onely to be forsworne And most forsworne to keepe what thou dost sweare Therefore thy later vowes against thy first Is in thy selfe rebellion to thy selfe And better conquest neuer canst thou make Then arme thy constant and thy nobler parts Against these giddy loose suggestions Vpon which better part our prayrs come in If thou vouchsafe them But if not then know The perill of our curses light on thee So heauy as thou shalt not shake them off But in despaire dye vnder their blacke weight Aust Rebellion flat rebellion Bast Wil 't not be Will not a Calues-skin stop that mouth of thine Daul Father to Armes Blanch. Vpon thy wedding day Against the blood that thou hast married What shall our feast be kept with slaughtered men Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums Clamors of hell be measures to our pomp O husband heare me aye alacke how new Is husband in my mouth euen for that name Which till this time my tongue did nere pronounce Vpon my knee I beg goe not to Armes Against mine Vncle. Const O vpon my knee made hard with kneeling I doe pray to thee thou vertuous Daulphin Alter not the doome fore-thought by heauen Blan. Now shall I see thy loue what motiue may Be stronger with thee then the name of wife Con. That which vpholdeth him that thee vpholds His Honor Oh thine Honor Lewis thine Honor. Dolph I muse your Maiesty doth seeme so cold When such profound respects doe pull you on Pand. I will denounce a curse vpon his head Fra. Thou shalt not need England I will fall froÌ„ thee Const O faire returne of banish'd Maiestie Elea. O foule reuolt of French inconstancy Eng. France y u shalt rue this houre within this houre Bast Old Time the clocke setter y t bald sexton Time Is it as he will well then France shall rue Bla. The Sun 's orecast with bloud faire day adieu Which is the side that I must goe withall I am with both each Army hâ— a hand And in their rage I hauing hold of both They whurle aâ—under and dismember mee Husband I cannot pray that thou maist winne Vncle I needs must pray that thou maist lose Father I may not wish the fortune thine Grandam I will not wish thy wishes thriue Who-euer wins on that side shall I lose Assured losse before the match be plaid Dolph Lady with me with me thy fortune lies Bla. There where my fortune liues there my life dies Iohn Cosen goe draw our puisance together France I am burn'd vp with inflaming wrath A rage whose heat hath this condition That nothing can allay nothing but blood The blood and deerest valued bloud of France Fra. Thy rage shall burne thee vp thou shalt turne To ashes ere our blood shall quench that fire Looke to thy selfe thou art in ieopardie Iohn No more then he that threats To Arms le' ts hie Exeunt Scoena Secunda Allarums Excursions Enter Bastard with Austria's head Bast Now by my life this day grows wondrous hot Some ayery Deuill houers in the skie And pour's downe mischiefe Austrias head lye there Enter Iohn Arthur Hubert While Philip breathes Iohn Hubert keepe this boy Philip make vp My Mother is assayled in our Tent And tane I feare Bast My Lord I rescued her Her Highnesse is in safety feare you not But on my Liege for very little paines Will bring this labor to an happy end Exit Alarums excursions Retreat Enter Iohn Eleanor Arthur Bastard Hubert Lords Iohn So shall it be your Grace shall stay behinde So strongly guarded Cosen looke not sad Thy Grandame loues thee and thy Vnkle will As deere be to thee as thy father was Arth. O this will make my mother die with griefe Iohn Cosen away for England haste before And ere our comming see thou shake the bags Of hoording Abbots imprisoned angells Set at libertie the fat ribs of peace Must by the hungry now be fed vpon Vse our Commission in his vtmost force Bast Bell Booke Candle shall not driue me back When gold and siluer becks me to come on I leaue your highnesse Grandame I will pray If euer I remember to be holy For your faire safety so I kisse your hand Ele. Farewell gentle Cosen Iohn Coz farewell Ele. Come hether little kinsman harke a worde Iohn Come hether Hubert O my gentle Hubert We owe thee much within this wall of flesh There is a soule counts thee her Creditor And with aduantage meanes to pay thy loue And my good friend thy voluntary oath Liues in this bosome deerely cherished Giue me thy hand I had a thing to say But I will fit it with some better tune By heauen Hubert I am almost asham'd To say what good respect I haue of thee Hub. I am much bounden to your Maiesty Iohn Good friend thou hast no cause to say so yet But thou shalt haue and creepe time nere so slow Yet it shall come for me to doe thee good I had a thing to say but let it goe The Sunne is in the heauen and the proud day Attended with the pleasures of the world Is all too wanton and too full of gawdes To giue me audience If the mid-night bell Did with his yron tongue and brazen mouth Sound on into the drowzie race of night If this same were a Church-yard where we stand And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs Or if that surly spirit melancholy Had bak'd thy bloud and made it heauy thicke Which else runnes tickling vp and downe the veines Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes And straine their cheekes to idle merriment A passion hatefull to my purposes Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes Heare me without thine eares and make reply
Without a tongue vsing conceit alone Without eyes eares and harmefull sound of words Then in despight of brooded watchfull day I would into thy bosome poure my thoughts But ah I will not yet I loue thee well And by my troth I thinke thou lou'st me well Hub. So well that what you bid me vndertake Though that my death were adiunct to my Act By heauen I would doe it Iohn Doe not I know thou wouldst Good Hubert Hubert Hubert throw thine eye On you young boy I le tell thee what my friend He is a very serpent in my way And wheresoere this foot of mine doth tread He lies before me dost thou vnderstand me Thou art his keeper Hub. And I le keepe him so That he shall not offend your Maiesty Iohn Death Hub. My Lord. Iohn A Graue Hub. He shall not liue Iohn Enough I could be merry now Hubert I loue thee Well I le not say what I intend for thee Remember Madam Fare you well I le send those powers o're to your Maiesty Ele. My blessing goe with thee Iohn For England Cosen goe Hubert shall be your man attend on you Withal true duetie On toward Callice hoa Exeunt Scaena Tertia Enter France Dolphin Pandulpho Attendants Fra. So by a roaring Tempest on the flood A whole Armado of conuicted saile Is scattered and dis-ioyn'd from fellowship Pand. Courage and comfort all shall yet goe well Fra. What can goe well when we haue runne so ill Are we not beaten Is not Angiers lost Arthur tane prisoner diuers deere friends slaine And bloudy England into England gone Ore-bearing interruption spight of France Dol. What he hath won that hath he fortified So hot a speed with such aduice dispos'd Such temperate order in so fierce a cause Doth want example who hath read or heard Of any kindred-action like to this Fra. Well could I beare that England had this praise So we could finde some patterne of our shame Enter Constance Looke who comes heere a graue vnto a soule Holding th' eternall spirit against her will In the vilde prison of afflicted breath I prethee Lady goe away with me Con. Lo now now see the issue of your peace Fra. Patience good Lady comfort gentle Constance Con. No I defie all Counsell all redresse But that which ends all counsell true Redresse Death death O amiable louely death Thou odoriferous stench sound rottennesse Arise forth from the couch of lasting night Thou hate and terror to prosperitie And I will kisse thy detestable bones And put my eye-balls in thy vaultie browes And ring these fingers with thy houshold wormes And stop this gap of breath with fulsome dust And be a Carrion Monster like thy selfe Come grin on me and I will thinke thou smil'st And busse thee as thy wife Miseries Loue O come to me Fra. O faire affliction peace Con. No no I will not hauing breath to cry O that my tongue were in the thunders mouth Then with a passion would I shake the world And rowze from sleepe that fell Anatomy Which cannot heare a Ladies feeble voyce Which scornes a moderne Inuocation Pand. Lady you vtter madnesse and not sorrow Con. Thou art holy to belye me so I am not mad this haire I teare is mine My name is Constance I was Gâ—ffreyes wife Yong Arthur is my sonne and he is lost I am not mad I would to heauen I were For then 't is like I should forget my selfe O if I could what griefe should I forget Preach some Philosophy to make me mad And thou shalt be Canoniz'd Cardinall For being not mad but sensible of greefe My reasonable part produces reason How I may be deliuer'd of these woes And teaches mee to kill or hang my selfe If I were mad I should forget my sonne Or madly thinke a babe of clowes were he I am not mad too well too well I feele The different plague of each calamitie Fra. Binde vp those tresses O what loue I note In the faire multitude of â—hose her haires Where but by chance a siluer drop hath falne Euen to that drop ten thousand wiery fiends Doe glew themselues in sociable griefe Like true inseparable faithfull loues Sticking together in calamitie Con. To England if you will Fra. Binde vp your haires Con. Yes that I will and wherefore will I do it I tore them from their bonds and cride aloud O that these hands could so redeeme my sonne As they haue giuen these hayres their libertie But now I enuie at their libertie And will againe commit them to their bonds Because my poore childe is a prisoner And Father Cardinall I haue heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heauen If that be true I shall see my boy againe For since the birth of Caine the first male-childe To him that did but yesterday suspire There was not such a gracious creature borne But now will Canker-sorrow eat my bud And chase the natiue beauty from his cheeke And he will looke as hollow as a Ghost As dim and meager as an Agues fitte And so hee 'll dye and rising so againe When I shall meet him in the Court of heauen I shall not know him therefore neuer neuer Must I behold my pretty Arthur more Pand. You hold too heynous a respect of greefe Const He talkes to me that neuer had a sonne Fra. You are as fond of greefe as of your childe Con. Greefe fils the roome vp of my absent childe Lies in his bed walkes vp and downe with me Puts on his pretty lookes repeats his words Remembets me of all his gracious parts Stuffes out his vacant garments with his forme Then haue I reason to be fond of griefe Fareyouwell had you such a losse as I I could giue better comfort then you doe I will not keepe this forme vpon my head When there is such disorder in my witte O Lord my boy my Arthur my faire sonne My life my ioy my food my all the world My widow-comfort and my sorrowes cure Exit Fra. I feare some out-rage and I le follow her Exit Dol. There 's nothing in this world can make me ioy Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale Vexing the dull eare of a drowsie man And bitter shame hath spoyl'd the sweet words taste That it yeelds nought but shame and bitternesse Pand. Before the curing of a strong disease Euen in the instant of repaire and health The fit is strongest Euils that take leaue On their departure most of all shew euill What haue you lost by losing of this day Dol. All daies of glory ioy and happinesse Pan. If you had won it certainely you had No no when Fortune meanes to men most good Shee lookes vpon them with a threatning eye 'T is strange to thinke how much King Iohn hath lost In this which he accounts so clearely wonne Are not you grieu'd that Arthur is his prisoner Dol. As heartily as he is glad he hath him Pan. Your minde is all as youthfull as
a sterne looke but a gentle heart Let him come backe that his compassion may Giue life to yours Hub. Come Boy prepare your selfe Art Is there no remedie Hub. None but to lose your eyes Art O heauen that there were but a moth in yours A graine a dust a gnat a wandering haire Any annoyance in that precious sense Then feeling what small things are boysterous there Your vilde intent must needs seeme horrible Hub. Is this your promise Go too hold your toong Art Hubert the vtterance of a brace of tongues Must needes want pleading for a paire of eyes Let me not hold my tongue let me not Hubert Or Hubert if you will cut out my tongue So I may keepe mine eyes O spare mine eyes Though to no vse but still to looke on you Loe by my troth the Instrument is cold And would not harme me Hub. I can heate it Boy Art No in good sooth the fire is dead with griefe Being create for comfort to be vs'd In vndeserued extreames See else your selfe There is no malice in this burning cole The breath of heauen hath blowne his spirit out And strew'd repentant ashes on his head Hub. But with my breath I can reuiue it Boy Art And if you do you will but make it blush And glow with shame of your proceedings Hubert Nay it perchance will sparkle in your eyes And like a dogge that is compell'd to fight Snatch at his Master that doth carre him on All things that you should vse to do me wrong Deny their office onely you do lacke That mercie which fierce fire and Iron extends Creatures of note for mercy lacking vses Hub. Well see to liue I will not touch thine eye For all the Treasure that thine Vnckle owes Yet am I sworne and I did purpose Boy With this same very Iron to burne them out Art O now you looke like Hubert All this while You were disguis'd Hub. Peace no more Adieu Your Vnckle must not know but you are dead I le fill these dogged Spies with false reports And pretty childe sleepe doubtlesse and secure That Hubert for the wealth of all the world Will not offend thee Art O heauen I thanke you Hubert Hub. Silence no more go closely in with mee Much danger do I vndergo for thee Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Iohn Pembroke Salisbury and other Lordes Iohn Heere once againe we sit once against crown'd And look'd vpon I hope with chearefull eyes Pem. This once again but that your Highnes pleas'd Was once superfluous you were Crown'd before And that high Royalty was nere pluck'd off The faiths of men nere stained with reuolt Fresh expectation troubled not the Land With any long'd-for-change or better State Sal. Therefore to be possess'd with double pompe To guard a Title that was rich before To gilde refined Gold to paint the Lilly To throw a perfume on the Violet To smooth the yee or adde another hew Vnto the Raine-bow or with Taper-Light To seeke the beauteous eye of heauen to garnish Is wastefull and ridiculous excesse Pem. But that your Royall pleasure must be done This acte is as an ancient tale new told And in the last repeating troublesome Being vrged at a time vnseasonable Sal. In this the Anticke and well noted face Of plaine old forme is much disfigured And like a shifted winde vnto a saile It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about Startles and frights consideration Makes sound opinion sicke and truth suspected For putting on so new a fashion'd robe Pem. When Workemen striue to do better then wel They do confound their skill in couetousnesse And oftentimes excusing of a fault Doth make the fault the worse by th' excuse As patches set vpon a little breach Discredite more in hiding of the fault Then did the fault before it was so patch'd Sal. To this effect before you were new crown'd We breath'd our Councell but it pleas'd your Highnes To ouer-beare it and we are all well pleas'd Since all and euery part of what we would Doth make a stand at what your Highnesse will Ioh. Some reasons of this double Corronation I haue possest you with and thinke them strong And more more strong then lesser is my feare I shall indue you with Meane time but aske What you would haue reform'd that is not well And well shall you perceiue how willingly I will both heare and grant you your requests Pem. Then I as one that am the tongue of these To sound the purposes of all their hearts Both for my selfe and them but chiefe of all Your safety for the which my selfe and them Bend their best studies heartily request Th' infranchisement of Arthur whose restraint Doth moue the murmuring lips of discontent To breake into this dangerous argument If what in rest you haue in right you hold Why then your feares which as they say attend The steppes of wrong should moue you to mew vp Your tender kinsman and to choake his dayes With barbarous ignorance and deny his youth The rich aduantage of good exercise That the times enemies may not haue this To grace occasions let it be our suite That you haue bid vs aske his libertie Which for our goods we do no further aske Then whereupon our weale on you depending Counts it your weale he haue his liberty Enter Hubert Iohn Let it be so I do commit his youth To your direction Hubert what newes with you Pem. This is the man should do the bloody deed He shew'd his warrant to a friend of mine The image of a wicked heynous fault Liues in his eye that close aspect of his Do shew the mood of a much troubled brest And I do fearefully beleeue 't is done What we so fear'd he had a charge to do Sal. The colour of the King doth come and go Betweene his purpose and his conscience Like Heralds 'twixt two dreadfull battailes set His passion is so ripe it needs must breake Pem. And when it breakes I feare will issue thence The foule corruption of a sweet childes death Iohn We cannot hold mortalities strong hand Good Lords although my will to giue is liuing The suite which you demand is gone and dead He tels vs Arthur is deceas'd to night Sal. Indeed we fear'd his sicknesse was past cure Pem. Indeed we heard how neere his death he was Before the childe himselfe felt he was sicke This must be answer'd either heere or hence Ioh. Why do you bend such solemne browes on me Thinke you I beare the Sheeres of destiny Haue I commandement on the pulse of life Sal. It is apparant foule-play and 't is shame That Greatnesse should so grossely offer it So thriue it in your game and so farewell Pem. Stay yet Lord Salisbury I le go with thee And finde th' inheritance of this poore childe His little kingdome of a forced graue That blood which ow'd the bredth of all this I le Three foot of it doth hold bad world the while This must not be thus
straight Weaknesse possesseth me and I am faint Exeunt Scena Quarta Enter Salisbury Pembroke and Bigot Sal. I did not thinke the King so stor'd with friends Pem. Vp once againe put spirit in the French If they miscarry we miscarry too Sal. That misbegotten diuell Falconbridge In spight of spight alone vpholds the day Pem. They say King Iohn sore sick hath left the field Enter Meloon wounded Mel. Lead me to the Reuolts of England heere Sal. When we were happie we had other names Pem. It is the Count Meloone Sal. Wounded to death Mel. Fly Noble English you are bought and sold Vnthred the rude eye of Rebellion And welcome home againe discarded faith Seeke out King Iohn and fall before his feete For if the French be Lords of this loud day He meanes to recompence the paines you take By cutting off your heads Thus hath he sworne And I with him and many moe with mee Vpon the Altar at S. Edmondsbury Euen on that Altar where we swore to you Deere Amity and euerlasting loue Sal. May this be possible May this be true Mel. Haue I not hideous death within my view Retaining but a quantity of life Which bleeds away euen as a forme of waxe Resolueth from his figure ' gainst the fire What in the world should make me now deceiue Since I must loose the vse of all deceite Why should I then be false since it is true That I must dye heere and liue hence by Truth I say againe if Lewis do win the day He is forsworne if ere those eyes of yours Behold another day breake in the East But euen this night whose blacke contagious breath Already smoakes about the burning Crest Of the old feeble and day-wearied Sunne Euen this ill night your breathing shall expire Paying the fine of rated Treachery Euen with a treacherous fine of all your liues If Lewis by your assistance win the day Commend me to one Hubert with your King The loue of him and this respect besides For that my Grandsite was an Englishman Awakes my Conscience to confesse all this In lieu whereof I pray you beare me hence From forth the noise and rumour of the Field Where I may thinke the remnant of my thoughts In peace and part this bodie and my soule With contemplation and deuout desires Sal. We do beleeue thee and beshrew my soule But I do loue the fauour and the forme Of this most faire occasion by the which We will vntread the steps of damned flight And like a bated and retired Flood Leauing our ranknesse and irregular course Stoope lowe within those bounds we haue ore-look'd And calmely run on in obedience Euen to our Ocean to our great King Iohn My arme shall giue thee helpe to beare thee hence For I do see the cruell pangs of death Right in thine eye Away my friends new flight And happie newnesse that intends old right Exeunt Scena Quinta Enter Dolphin and his Traine Dol. The Sun of heauen me thought was loth to set But staid and made the Westerne Welkin blush When English measure backward their owne ground In faint Retire Oh brauely came we off When with a volley of our needlesse shot After such bloody toile we bid good night And woon'd our tott'ring colours clearly vp Last in the field and almost Lords of it Enter a Messenger Mes Where is my Prince the Dolphin Dol. Heere what newes Mes The Count Meloone is slaine The English Lords By his perswasion are againe falne off And your supply which you haue wish'd so long Are cast away and sunke on Goodwin sands Dol. Ah fowle shrew'd newes Beshrew thy very hart I did not thinke to be so sad to night As this hath made me Who was he that said King Iohn did flie an houre or two before The stumbling night did part our wearie powres Mes Who euer spoke it it is true my Lord. Dol. Well keepe good quarter good care to night The day shall not be vp so soone as I To try the faire aduenture of to morrow Exeunt Scena Sexta Enter Bastard and Hubert seuerally Hub. Whose there Speake hoa speake quickely or I shoote Bast A Friend What art thou Hub. Of the part of England Bast Whether doest thou go Hub. What 's that to thee Why may not I demand of thine affaires As well as thou of mine Bast Hubert I thinke Hub. Thou hast a perfect thought I will vpon all hazards well beleeue Thou art my friend that know'st my tongue so well Who art thou Bast Who thou wilt and if thou please Thou maist be-friend me so much as to thinke I come one way of the Plantagenets Hub. Vnkinde remembrance thou endles night Haue done me shame Braue Soldier pardon me That any accent breaking from thy tongue Should scape the true acquaintance of mine eare Bast Come come sans complement What newes abroad Hub. Why heere walke I in the black brow of night To finde you out Bast Brcefe then and what 's the newes Hub. O my sweet sir newes fitting to the night Blacke fearefull comfortlesse and horrible Bast Shew me the very wound of this ill newes I am no woman I le not swound at it Hub. The King I feare is poyson'd by a Monke I left him almost speechlesse and broke out To acquaint you with this euill that you might The better arme you to the sodaine time Then if you had at leisure knowne of this Bast How did he take it Who did taste to him Hub. A Monke I tell you a resolued villaine Whose Bowels sodainly burst out The King Yet speakes and peraduenture may recouer Bast Who didst thou leaue to tend his Maiesty Hub. Why know you not The Lords are all come backe And brought Prince Henry in their companie At whose request the king hath pardon'd them And they are all about his Maiestie Bast With-hold thine indignation mighty heauen And tempt vs not to beare aboue our power I le tell thee Hubert halfe my power this night Passing these Flats are taken by the Tide These Lincolne-Washes haue deuoured them My selfe well mounted hardly haue escap'd Away before Conduct me to the king I doubt he will be dead or ere I come Exeunt Scena Septima Enter Prince Henry Salisburie and Bigot Hen. It is too late the life of all his blood Is touch'd corruptibly and his pure braine Which some suppose the soules fraile dwelling house Doth by the idle Comments that it makes Fore-tell the ending of mortality Enter Pembroke Pem. His Highnesse yet doth speak holds beleefe That being brought into the open ayre It would allay the burning qualitie Of that fell poison which assayleth him Hen. Let him be brought into the Orchard heere Doth he still rage Pem. He is more patient Then when you left him euen now he sung Hen. Oh vanity of sicknesse fierce extreames In their continuance will not feele themselues Death hauing praide vpon the outward parts Leaues them inuisible and his seige is now
Prin. Wee 'l leaue that to the proofe Poin. Sirra Iacke thy horse stands behinde the hedg when thou need'st him there thou shalt finde him Farewell and stand fast Fal. Now cannot I strike him if I should be hang'd Prin. Ned where are our disguises Poin. Heere hard by Stand close Fal. Now my Masters happy man be his dole say I euery man to his businesse Enter Trauellers Tra. Come Neighbor the boy shall leade our Horses downe the hill Wee 'l walke a-foot a while and ease our Legges Theeues Stay Tra. Iesu blesse vs. Fal. Strike down with them cut the villains throats a whorson Caterpillars Bacon-fed Knaues they hate vs youth downe with them fleece them Tra. O we are vndone both we and ours for euer Fal. Hang ye gorbellied knaues are you vndone No ye Fat Chuffes I would your store were heere On Bacons on what ye knaues Yong men must liue you are Grand Iurers are ye Wee 'l iure ye ifaith Heere they rob them and binde them Enter the Prince and Poines Prin. The Theeues haue bound the True-men Now could thou and I rob the Theeues and go merily to London it would be argument for a Weeke Laughter for a Moneth and a good iest for euer Poynes Stand close I heare them comming Enter Theeues againe Fal. Come my Masters let vs share and then to horsse before day and the Prince and Poynes bee not two arrand Cowards there 's no equity stirring There 's no moe valour in that Poynes than in a wilde Ducke Prin. Your money Poin. Villaines As they are sharing the Prince and Poynes sat vpon them They all run away leauing the booty behind them Prince Got with much ease Now merrily to Horse The Theeues are scattred and possest with fear so strongly that they dare not meet each other each takes his fellow for an Officer Away good Ned Falstaffe sweates to death and Lards the leane earth as he walkes along wer't not for laughing I should pitty him Poin. How the Rogue roar'd Exeunt Scoena Tertia Enter Hotspurre solus reading a Letter But for mine owne part my Lord I could bee well contented to be there in respect of the loue I beare your house He could be contented Why is he not then in respect of the loue he beares our house He shewes in this he loues his owne Barne better then he loues our house Let me see some more The purpose you vndertake is dangerous Why that 's certaine 'T is dangerous to take a Colde to sleepe to drinke but I tell you my Lord foole out of this Nettle Danger we plucke this Flower Safety The purpose you vndertake is dangerous the Friends you haue named vncertaine the Time it selfe vnsorted and your whole Plot too light for the counterpoize of so great an Opposition Say you so say you so I say vnto you againe you are a shallow cowardly Hinde and you Lye What a lacke-braine is this I protest our plot is as good a plot as euer was laid our Friend true and constant A good Plotte good Friends and full of expectation An excellent plot very good Friends What a Frosty-spirited rogue is this Why my Lord of Yorke commends the plot and the generall course of the action By this hand if I were now by this Rascall I could braine him with his Ladies Fan. Is there not my Father my Vnckle and my Selfe Lord Edmund Mortimer my Lord of Yorke and Owen Glendour Is there not besides the Dowglas Haue I not all their letters to meete me in Armes by the ninth of the next Moneth and are they not some of them set forward already What a Pagan Rascall is this An Infidell Ha you shall see now in very sincerity of Feare and Cold heart will he to the King and lay open all our proceedings O I could diuide my selfe and go to buffets for mouing such a dish of skim'd Milk with so honourable an Action Hang him let him tell the King we are prepared I will set forwards to night Enter his Lady How now Kate I must leaue you within these two hours La. O my good Lord why are you thus alone For what offence haue I this fortnight bin A banish'd woman from my Harries bed Tell me sweet Lord what is' t that takes from thee Thy stomacke pleasure and thy golden sleepe Why dost thou bend thine eyes vpon the earth And start so often when thou sitt'st alone Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheekes And giuen my Treasures and my rights of thee To thicke-ey'd musing and curst melancholly In my faint-slumbers I by thee haue watcht And heard thee murmore tales of Iron Warres Speake tearmes of manage to thy bounding Steed Cry courage to the field And thou hast talk'd Of Sallies and Retires Trenches Tents Of Palizadoes Frontiers Parapets Of Basiliskes of Canon Culuerin Of Prisoners ransome and of Souldiers slaine And all the current of a headdy fight Thy spirit within thee hath beene so at Warre And thus hath so bestirr'd thee in thy sleepe That beds of sweate hath stood vpon thy Brow Like bubbles in a late-disturbed Streame And in thy face strange motions haue appear'd Such as we see when men restraine their breath On some great sodaine hast O what portents are these Some heauie businesse hath my Lord in hand And I must know it else he loues me not Hot. What ho Is Gilliams with the Packet gone Ser. He is my Lord an houre agone Hot. Hath Butler brought those horses frō the Sheriffe Ser. One horse my Lord he brought euen now Hot. What Horse A Roane a crop eare is it not Ser. It is my Lord. Hot. That Roane shall be my Throne Well I will backe him straight Esperance bid Butler lead him forth into the Parke La. But heare you my Lord. Hot. What say'st thou my Lady La. What is it carries you away Hot. Why my horse my Loue my horse La. Out you mad-headed Ape a Weazell hath not such a deale of Spleene as you are tost with In sooth I le know your businesse Harry that I will I feare my Brother Mortimer doth stirre about his Title and hath sent for you to line his enterprize But if you go Hot. So farre a foot I shall be weary Loue. La. Come come you Paraquito answer me directly vnto this question that I shall aske Indeede I le breake thy little finger Harry if thou wilt not tel me true Hot. Away away you trifler Loue I loue thee not I care not for thee Kate this is no world To play with Mammets and to tilt with lips We must haue bloodie Noses and crack'd Crownes And passe them currant too Gods me my horse What say'st thou Kate what wold'st thou haue with me La. Do ye not loue me Do ye not indeed Well do not then For since you loue me not I will not loue my selfe Do you not loue me Nay tell me if thou speak'st in iest or no. Hot. Come wilt thou see me ride And when
Amitie War There is a Historie in all mens Liues Figuring the nature of the Times deceas'd The which obseru'd a man may prophecie With a neere ayme of the maine chance of things As yet not come to Life which in their Seedes And weake beginnings lye entreasured Such things become the Hatch and Brood of Time And by the necessarie forme of this King Richard might create a perfect guesse That great Northumberland then false to him Would of that Seed grow to a greater falsenesse Which should not finde a ground to roote vpon Vnlesse on you King Are these things then Necessities Then let vs meete them like Necessities And that same word euen now cryes out on vs They say the Bishop and Northumberland Are fiftie thousand strong War It cannot be my Lord Rumor doth double like the Voice and Eccho The numbers of the feared Please it your Grace To goe to bed vpon my Life my Lord The Pow'rs that you alreadie haue sent forth Shall bring this Prize in very easily To comfort you the more I haue receiu'd A certaine instance that Glendour is dead Your Maiestie hath beene this fort-night ill And these vnseason'd howres perforce must adde Vnto your Sicknesse King I will take your counsaile And were these inward Warres once out of hand Wee would deare Lords vnto the Holy-Land Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Shallow and Silence with Mouldie Shadow Wart Feeble Bull-calfe Shal. Come-on come-on come-on giue mee your Hand Sir giue mee your Hand Sir an early stirrer by the Rood And how doth my good Cousin Silence Sil. Good-morrow good Cousin Shallow Shal. And how doth my Cousin your Bed-fellow and your fairest Daughter and mine my God-Daughter Ellen Sil. Alas a blacke Ouzell Cousin Shallow Shal. By yea and nay Sir I dare say my Cousin William is become a good Scholler hee is at Oxford still is hee not Sil. Indeede Sir to my cost Shal. Hee must then to the Innes of Court shortly I was once of Clements Inne where I thinke they will talke of mad Shallow yet Sil. You were call'd lustie Shallow then Cousin Shal. I was call'd any thing and I would haue done any thing indeede too and roundly too There was I and little Iohn Doit of Staffordshire and blacke George Bare and Francis Pick-bone and Will Squele a Cot-sal-man you had not foure such Swindge-bucklers in all the Innes of Court againe And I may say to you wee knew where the Bona-Roba's were and had the best of them all at commandement Then was Iacke Falstaffe now Sir Iohn a Boy and Page to Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke Sil. This Sir Iohn Cousin that comes hither anon about Souldiers Shal. The same Sir Iohn the very same I saw him breake Scoggan's Head at the Court-Gate when hee was a Crack not thus high and the very same day did I fight with one Sampson Stock-fish a Fruiterer behinde Greyes-Inne Oh the mad dayes that I haue spent and to see how many of mine olde Acquaintance are dead Sil. Wee shall all follow Cousin Shal. Certaine 't is certaine very sure very sure Death is certaine to all all shall dye How a good Yoke of Bullocks at Stamford Fayre Sil. Truly Cousin I was not there Shal. Death is certaine Is old Double of your Towne liuing yet Sil. Dead Sir Shal. Dead See see hee drew a good Bow and dead hee shot a fine shoote Iohn of Gaunt loued him well and betted much Money on his head Dead hee would haue clapt in the Clowt at Twelue-score and carryed you a fore-hand Shaft at foureteene and foureteene and a halfe that it would haue done a mans heart good to see How a score of Ewes now Sil. Thereafter as they be a score of good Ewes may be worth tenne pounds Shal. And is olde Double dead Enter Bardolph and his Boy Sil. Heere come two of Sir Iohn Falstaffes Men as I thinke Shal. Good-morrow honest Gentlemen Bard. I beseech you which is Iustice Shallow Shal. I am Robert Shallow Sir a poore Esquire of this Countie and one of the Kings Iustices of the Peace What is your good pleasure with me Bard. My Captaine Sir commends him to you my Captaine Sir Iohn Falstaffe a tall Gentleman and a most gallant Leader Shal. Hee greetes me well Sir I knew him a good Back-Sword-man How doth the good Knight may I aske how my Lady his Wife doth Bard. Sir pardon a Souldier is better accommodated then with a Wife Shal. It is well said Sir and it is well said indeede too Better accommodated it is good yea indeede is it good phrases are surely and euery where very commendable Accommodated it comes of Accommodo very good a good Phrase Bard. Pardon Sir I haue heard the word Phrase call you it by this Day I know not the Phrase but I will maintaine the Word with my Sword to bee a Souldier-like Word and a Word of exceeding good Command Accommodated that is when a man is as they say accommodated or when a man is being whereby he thought to be accommodated which is an excellent thing Enter Falstaffe Shal. It is very iust Looke heere comes good Sir Iohn Giue me your hand giue me your Worships good hand Trust me you looke well and beare your yeares very well Welcome good Sir Iohn Fal. I am glad to see you well good M. Robert Shallow Master Sure-card as I thinke Shal. No sir Iohn it is my Cosin Silence in Commission with mee Fal. Good M. Silence it well befits you should be of the peace Sil. Your good Worship is welcome Fal. Fye this is hot weather Gentlemen haue you prouided me heere halfe a dozen of sufficient men Shal. Marry haue we sir Will you sit Fal. Let me see them I beseech you Shal. Where 's the Roll Where 's the Roll Where 's the Roll Let me see let me see let me see so so so so yea marry Sir Raphe Mouldie let them appeare as I call let them do so let them do so Let mee see Where is Mouldie Moul. Heere if it please you Shal. What thinke you Sir Iohn a good limb'd fellow yong strong and of good friends Fal. Is thy name Mouldie Moul. Yea if it please you Fal. 'T is the more time thou wert vs'd Shal. Ha ha ha most excellent Things that are mouldie lacke vse very singular good Well saide Sir Iohn very well said Fal. Pricke him Moul. I was prickt well enough before if you could haue let me alone my old Dame will be vndone now for one to doe her Husbandry and her Drudgery you need not to haue prickt me there are other men fitter to goe out then I. Fal. Go too peace Mouldie you shall goe Mouldie it is time you were spent Moul. Spent Shallow Peace fellow peace stand aside Know you where you are For the other sir Iohn Let me see Simon Shadow Fal. I marry let me haue him to sit vnder he 's like to be a cold souldier Shal. Where 's Shadow Shad. Heere sir
Fal. Shadow whose sonne art thou Shad. My Mothers sonne Sir Falst Thy Mothers sonne like enough and thy Fathers shadow so the sonne of the Female is the shadow of the Male it is often so indeede but not of the Fathers substance Shal. Do you like him sir Iohn Falst Shadow will serue for Summer pricke him For wee haue a number of shadowes to fill vppe the Muster-Booke Shal. Thomas Wart Falst Where 's he Wart Heere sir Falst Is thy name Wart Wart Yea sir Fal. Thou art a very ragged Wart Shal. Shall I pricke him downe Sir Iohn Falst It were superfluous for his apparrel is built vpon his backe and the whole frame stands vpon pins prick him no more Shal. Ha ha ha you can do it sir you can doe it I commend you well Francis Feeble Feeble Heere sir Shal. What Trade art thou Feeble Feeble A Womans Taylor sir Shal. Shall I pricke him sir Fal. You may But if he had beene a mans Taylor he would haue prick'd you Wilt thou make as many holes in an enemies Battaile as thou hast done in a Womans petticote Feeble I will doe my good will sir you can haue no more Falst Well said good Womans Tailour Well sayde Couragious Feeble thou wilt bee as valiant as the wrathfull Doue or most magnanimous Mouse Pricke the womans Taylour well Master Shallow deepe Maister Shallow Feeble I would Wart might haue gone sir Fal. I would thou wert a mans Tailor that y u might'st mend him and make him fit to goe I cannot put him to a priuate souldier that is the Leader of so many thousands Let that suffice most Forcible Feeble Feeble It shall suffice Falst I am bound to thee reuerend Feeble Who is the next Shal. Peter Bulcalfe of the Greene. Falst Yea marry let vs see Bulcalfe Bul. Heere sir Fal. Trust me a likely Fellow Come pricke me Bulcalfe till he roare againe Bul. Oh good my Lord Captaine Fal. What do'st thou roare before th' art prickt Bul. Oh sir I am a diseased man Fal. What disease hast thou Bul. A whorson cold sir a cough sir which I caught with Ringing in the Kings affayres vpon his Coronation day sir Fal. Come thou shalt go to the Warres in a Gowne we will haue away thy Cold and I will take such order that thy friends shall ring for thee Is heere all Shal. There is two more called then your number you must haue but foure heere sir and so I pray you go in with me to dinner Fal. Come I will goe drinke with you but I cannot tarry dinner I am glad to see you in good troth Master Shallow Shal. O sir Iohn doe you remember since wee lay all night in the Winde-mill in S Georges Field Falstaffe No more of that good Master Shallow No more of that Shal. Ha it was a merry night And is Iane Night-worke aliue Fal. She liues M. Shallow Shal. She neuer could away with me Fal. Neuer neuer she would alwayes say shee could not abide M. Shallow Shal. I could anger her to the heart shee was then a Bona-Roba Doth she hold her owne well Fal. Old old M. Shallow Shal. Nay she must be old she cannot choose but be old certaine shee 's old and had Robin Night-worke by old Night-worke before I came to Clements Inne Sil. That 's fiftie fiue yeeres agoe Shal. Hah Cousin Silence that thou hadst seene that that this Knight and I haue seene hah Sir Iohn said I well Falst Wee haue heard the Chymes at mid-night Master Shallow Shal. That wee haue that wee haue in faith Sir Iohn wee haue our watch-word was Hem-Boyes Come let 's to Dinner come let 's to Dinner Oh the dayes that wee haue seene Come come Bul. Good Master Corporate Bardolph stand my friend and heere is foure Harry tenne shillings in French Crownes for you in very truth sir I had as lief be hang'd sir as goe and yet for mine owne part sir I do not care but rather because I am vnwilling and for mine owne part haue a desire to stay with my friends else sir I did not care for mine owne part so much Bard. Go-too stand aside Mould And good Master Corporall Captaine for my old Dames sake stand my friend shee hath no body to doe any thing about her when I am gone and she is old and cannot helpe her selfe you shall haue fortie sir Bard. Go-too stand aside Feeble I care not a man can die but once wee owe a death I will neuer beare a base minde if it be my destinie so if it be not so no man is too good to serue his Prince and let it goe which way it will he that dies this yeere is quit for the next Bard. Well said thou art a good fellow Feeble Nay I will beare no base minde Falst Come sir which men shall I haue Shal. Foure of which you please Bard. Sir a word with you I haue three pound to free Mouldie and Bull-calfe Falst Go-too well Shal. Come sir Iohn which foure will you haue Falst Doe you chuse for me Shal. Marry then Mouldie Bull-calfe Feeble and Shadow Falst Mouldie and Bull-calfe for you Mouldie stay at home till you are past seruice and for your part Bull-calfe grow till you come vnto it I will none of you Shal. Sir Iohn Sir Iohn doe not your selfe wrong they are your likelyest men and I would haue you seru'd with the best Falst Will you tell me Master Shallow how to chuse a man Care I for the Limbe the Thewes the stature bulke and bigge assemblance of a man giue mee the spirit Master Shallow Where 's Wart you see what a ragged appearance it is hee shall charge you and discharge you with the motion of a Pewterers Hammer come off and on swifter then hee that gibbets on the Brewers Bucket And this same halfe-fac'd fellow Shadow giue me this man hee presents no marke to the Enemie the foe-man may with as great ayme leuell at the edge of a Pen-knife and for a Retrait how swiftly will this Feeble the Womans Taylor runne off O giue me the spare men and spare me the great ones Put me a Calyuer into Warts hand Bardolph Bard. Hold Wart Trauerse thus thus thus Falst Come manage me your Calyuer so very well go-too very good exceeding good O giue me alwayes a little leane old chopt bald Shot Well said Wart thou art a good Scab hold there is a Tester for thee Shal. Hee is not his Crafts-master hee doth not doe it right I remember at Mile-end-Greene when I lay at Clements Inne I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthurs Show there was a little quiuer fellow and hee would manage you his Peece thus and hee would about and about and come you in and come you in Rah tah tah would hee say Bownce would hee say and away againe would hee goe and againe would he come I shall neuer see such a fellow Falst These fellowes will doe well Master Shallow Farewell Master Silence I will not
Knight Samingo Is' t not so Fal. 'T is so Sil. Is' t so Why then say an old man can do somwhat Dau. If it please your Worshippe there 's one Pistoll come from the Court with newes Fal. From the Court Let him come in Enter Pistoll How now Pistoll Pist Sir Iohn ' saue you sir Fal. What winde blew you hither Pistoll Pist Not the ill winde which blowes none to good sweet Knight Thou art now one of the greatest men in the Realme Sil. Indeed I thinke he bee but Goodman Puffe of Barson Pist. Puffe puffe in thy teeth most recreant Coward base Sir Iohn I am thy Pistoll and thy Friend helter skelter haue I rode to thee and tydings do I bring and luckie ioyes and golden Times and happie Newes of price Fal. I prethee now deliuer them like a man of this World Pist A footra for the World and Worldlings base I speake of Affrica and Golden ioyes Fal. O base Assyrian Knight what is thy newes Let King Couitha know the truth thereof Sil. And Robin-hood Scarlet and Iohn Pist Shall dunghill Curres confront the Hellicons And shall good newes be baffel'd Then Pistoll lay thy head in Furies lappe Shal. Honest Gentleman I know not your breeding Pist Why then Lament therefore Shal. Giue me pardon Sir If sir you come with news from the Court I take it there is but two wayes either to vtter them or to conceale them I am Sir vnder the King in some Authority Pist Vnder which King Bezonian speake or dye Shal. Vnder King Harry Pist Harry the Fourth or Fift Shal. Harry the Fourth Pist A footra for thine Office Sir Iohn thy tender Lamb-kinne now is King Harry the Fift's the man I speake the truth When Pistoll lyes do this and figge-me like The bragging Spaniard Fal. What is the old King dead Pist As naile in doore The things I speake are iust Fal. Away Bardolfe Sadle my Horse Master Robert Shallow choose what Office thou wilt In the Land 't is thine Pistol I will double charge thee With Dignities Bard. O ioyfull day I would not take a Knighthood for my Fortune Pist What I do bring good newes Fal. Carrie Master Silence to bed Master Shallow my Lord Shallow be what thou wilt I am Fortunes Steward Get on thy Boots wee I ride all night Oh sweet Pistoll Away Bardolfe Come Pistoll vtter more to mee and withall deuise something to do thy selfe good Boote boote Master Shallow I know the young King is sick for mee Let vs take any mans Horsfes The Lawes of England are at my command'ment Happie are they which haue beene my Friendes and woe vnto my Lord Chiefe Iustice Pist Let Vultures vil'de seize on his Lungs also Where is the life that late I led say they Why heere it is welcome those pleasant dayes Exeunt Scena Quarta Enter Hostesse Quickly Dol Teare-sheete and Beadles Hostesse No thou arrant knaue I would I might dy that I might haue thee hang'd Thou hast drawne my shoulder out of ioynt Off. The Constables haue deliuer'd her ouer to mee and shee shall haue Whipping cheere enough I warrant her There hath beene a man or two lately kill'd about her Dol. Nut-hooke nut-hooke you Lye Come on I le tell thee what thou damn'd Tripe-visag'd Rascall if the Childe I now go with do miscarrie thou had'st better thou had'st strooke thy Mother thou Paper-fac'd Villaine Host O that Sir Iohn were come hee would make this a bloody day to some body But I would the Fruite of her Wombe might miscarry Officer If it do you shall haue a dozen of Cushions againe you haue but eleuen now Come I charge you both go with me for the man is dead that you and Pistoll beate among you Dol. I le tell thee what thou thin man in a Censor I will haue you as soundly swindg'd for this you blew-Bottel'd Rogue you filthy famish'd Correctioner if you be not swing'd I le forsweare halfe Kirtles Off. Come come you shee-Knight-arrant come Host O that right should thus o'recome might Wel of sufferance comes ease Dol. Come you Rogue come Bring me to a Iustice Host Yes come you staru'd Blood-hound Dol. Goodman death goodman Bones Host Thou Anatomy thou Dol. Come you thinne Thing Come you Rascall Off. Very well Exeunt Scena Quinta Enter two Groomes 1. Groo. More Rushes more Rushes 2. Groo. The Trumpets haue sounded twice 1. Groo. It will be two of the Clocke ere they come from the Coronation Exit Groo. Enter Falstaffe Shallow Pistoll Bardolfe and Page Falstaffe Stand heere by me M. Robert Shallow I will make the King do you Grace I will leere vpon him as he comes by and do but marke the countenance that hee will giue me Pistol Blesse thy Lungs good Knight Falst Come heere Pistol stand behind me O if I had had time to haue made new Liueries I would haue bestowed the thousand pound I borrowed of you But it is no matter this poore shew doth better this doth inferre the zeale I had to see him Shal. It doth so Falst It shewes my earnestnesse in affection Pist It doth so Fal. My deuotion Pist It doth it doth it doth Fal. As it were to ride day and night And not to deliberate not to remember Not to haue patience to shift me Shal. It is most certaine Fal. But to stand stained with Trauaile and sweating with desire to see him thinking of nothing else putting all affayres in obliuion as if there were nothing els to bee done but to see him Pist 'T is semper idem for obsque hoc nihil est 'T is all in euery part Shal. 'T is so indeed Pist My Knight I will enflame thy Noble Liuer and make thee rage Thy Dol and Helen of thy noble thoghts is in base Durance and contagious prison Hall'd thither by most Mechanicall and durty hand Rowze vppe Reuenge from Ebon den with fell Alecto's Snake for Dol is in Pistol speakes nought but troth Fal. I will deliuer her Pistol There roar'd the Sea and Trumpet Clangour sounds The Trumpets sound Enter King Henrie the Fift Brothers Lord Chiefe Iustice Falst Saue thy Grace King Hall my Royall Hall Pist The heauens thee guard and keepe most royall Impe of Fame Fal. ' Saue thee my sweet Boy King My Lord Chiefe Iustice speake to that vaine man Ch. Iust Haue you your wits Know you what 't is you speake Falst My King my Ioue I speake to thee my heart King I know thee not old man Fall to thy Prayers How ill white haires become a Foole and Iester I haue long dream'd of such a kinde of man So surfeit-swell'd so old and so prophane But being awake I do despise my dreame Make lesse thy body hence and more thy Grace Leaue gourmandizing Know the Graue doth gape For thee thrice wider then for other men Reply not to me with a Foole-borne Iest Presume not that I am the thing I was For heauen doth know so shall the world perceiue That
be otherwise Gower Why the Enemie is lowd you heare him all Night Flu. If the Enemie is an Asse and a Foole and a prating Coxcombe is it meet thinke you that wee should also looke you be an Asse and a Foole and a prating Coxcombe in your owne conscience now Gow I will speake lower Flu. I pray you and beseech you that you will Exit King Though it appeare a little out of fashion There is much care and valour in this Welchman Enter three Souldiers Iohn Bates Alexander Court and Michael Williams Court Brother Iohn Bates is not that the Morning which breakes yonder Bates I thinke it be but wee haue no great cause to desire the approach of day Williams Wee see yonder the beginning of the day but I thinke wee shall neuer see the end of it Who goes there King A Friend Williams Vnder what Captaine serue you King Vnder Sir Iohn Erpingham Williams A good old Commander and a most kinde Gentleman I pray you what thinkes he of our estate King Euen as men wrackt vpon a Sand that looke to be washt off the next Tyde Bates He hath not told his thought to the King King No nor it is not meet he should for though I speake it to you I thinke the King is but a man as I am the Violet smells to him as it doth to me the Element shewes to him as it doth to me all his Sences haue but humane Conditions his Ceremonies layd by in his Nakednesse he appeares but a man and though his affections are higher mounted then ours yet when they stoupe they stoupe with the like wing therefore when he sees reason of feares as we doe his feares out of doubt be of the same rellish as ours are yet in reason no man should possesse him with any appearance of feare least hee by shewing it should dis-hearten his Army Bates He may shew what outward courage he will but I beleeue as cold a Night as 't is hee could wish himselfe in Thames vp to the Neck and so I would he were and I by him at all aduentures so we were quit here King By my troth I will speake my conscience of the King I thinke hee would not wish himselfe any where but where hee is Bates Then I would he were here alone so should he be sure to be ransomed and a many poore mens liues saued King I dare say you loue him not so ill to wish him here alone howsoeuer you speake this to feele other mens minds me thinks I could not dye any where so contented as in the Kings company his Cause being iust and his Quarrell honorable Williams That 's more then we know Bates I or more then wee should seeke after for wee know enough if wee know wee are the Kings Subiects if his Cause be wrong our obedience to the King wipes the Cryme of it out of vs. Williams But if the Cause be not good the King himselfe hath a heauie Reckoning to make when all those Legges and Armes and Heads chopt off in a Battaile shall ioyne together at the latter day and cry all Wee dyed at such a place some swearing some crying for a Surgean some vpon their Wiues left poore behind them some vpon the Debts they owe some vpon their Children rawly left I am afear'd there are few dye well that dye in a Battaile for how can they charitably dispose of any thing when Blood is their argument Now if these men doe not dye well it will be a black matter for the King that led them to it who to disobey were against all proportion of subiection King So if a Sonne that is by his Father sent about Merchandize doe sinfully miscarry vpon the Sea the imputation of his wickednesse by your rule should be imposed vpon his Father that sent him or if a Seruant vnder his Masters command transporting a summe of Money be assayled by Robbers and dye in many irreconcil'd Iniquities you may call the businesse of the Master the author of the Seruants damnation but this is not so The King is not bound to answer the particular endings of his Souldiers the Father of his Sonne nor the Master of his Seruant for they purpose not their death when they purpose their seruices Besides there is no King be his Cause neuer so spotlesse if it come to the arbitrement of Swords can trye it out with all vnspotted Souldiers some peraduenture haue on them the guilt of premeditated and contriued-Murther some of beguiling Virgins with the broken Seales of Periurie some making the Warres their Bulwarke that haue before gored the gentle Bosome of Peace with Pillage and Robberie Now if these men haue defeated the Law and out-runne Natiue punishment though they can out-strip men they haue no wings to flye from God Warre is his Beadle Warre is his Vengeance so that here men are punisht for before breach of the Kings Lawes in now the Kings Quarrell where they feared the death they haue borne life away and where they would bee safe they perish Then if they dye vnprouided no more is the King guiltie of their damnation then hee was before guiltie of those Impieties for the which they are now visited Euery Subiects Dutie is the Kings but euery Subiects Soule is his owne Therefore should euery Souldier in the Warres doe as euery sicke man in his Bed wash euery Moth out of his Conscience and dying so Death is to him aduantage or not dying the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gayned and in him that escapes it were not sinne to thinke that making God so free an offer he let him out-liue that day to see his Greatnesse and to teach others how they should prepare Will. 'T is certaine euery man that dyes ill the ill vpon his owne head the King is not to answer it Bates I doe not desire hee should answer for me and yet I determine to fight lustily for him King I my selfe heard the King say he would not be ransom'd Will. I hee said so to make vs fight chearefully but when our throats are cut hee may be ransom'd and wee ne're the wiser King If I liue to see it I will neuer trust his word after Will. You pay him then that 's a perillous shot out of an Elder Gunne that a poore and a priuate displeasure can doe against a Monarch you may as well goe about to turne the Sunne to yee with fanning in his face with a Peacocks feather You 'le neuer trust his word after come 't is a foolish saying King Your reproofe is something too round I should be angry with you if the time were conuenient Will. Let it bee a Quarrell betweene vs if you liue King I embrace it Will. How shall I know thee againe King Giue me any Gage of thine and I will weare it in my Bonnet Then if euer thou dar'st acknowledge it I will make it my Quarrell Will. Heere 's my Gloue Giue mee another of thine King
kindnesse For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure I such a pleasure as incaged Birds Conceiue when after many moody Thoughts At last by Notes of Houshold harmonie They quite forget their losse of Libertie But Warwicke after God thou set'st me free And chiefely therefore I thanke God and thee He was the Author thou the Instrument Therefore that I may conquer Fortunes spight By liuing low where Fortune cannot hurt me And that the people of this blessed Land May not be punisht with my thwarting starres Warwicke although my Head still weare the Crowne I here resigne my Gouernment to thee For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds Warw. Your Grace hath still beene fam'd for vertuous And now may seeme as wise as vertuous By spying and auoiding Fortunes malice For few men rightly temper with the Starres Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace For chusing me when Clarence is in place Clar. No Warwicke thou art worthy of the sway To whom the Heau'ns in thy Natiuitie Adiudg'd an Oliue Branch and Lawrell Crowne As likely to be blest in Peace and Warre And therefore I yeeld thee my free consent Warw. And I chuse Clarence onely for Protector King Warwick and Clarence giue me both your Hands Now ioyne your Hands with your Hands your Hearts That no dissention hinder Gouernment I make you both Protectors of this Land While I my selfe will lead a priuate Life And in deuotion spend my latter dayes To sinnes rebuke and my Creators prayse Warw. What answeres Clarence to his Soueraignes will Clar. That he consents if Warwicke yeeld consent For on thy fortune I repose my selfe Warw. Why then though loth yet must I be content Wee 'le yoake together like a double shadow To Henries Body and supply his place I meane in bearing weight of Gouernment While he enioyes the Honor and his ease And Clarence now then it is more then needfull Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a Traytor And all his Lands and Goods confiscate Clar. What else and that Succession be determined Warw. I therein Clarence shall not want his part King But with the first of all your chiefe affaires Let me entreat for I command no more That Margaret your Queene and my Sonne Edward Be sent for to returne from France with speed For till I see them here by doubtfull feare My ioy of libertie is halfe eclips'd Clar. It shall bee done my Soueraigne with all speede King My Lord of Somerset what Youth is that Of whom you seeme to haue so tender care Somers My Liege it is young Henry Earle of Richmond King Come hither Englands Hope Layes his Hand on his Head If secret Powers suggest but truth To my diuining thoughts This prettie Lad will proue our Countries blisse His Lookes are full of peacefull Maiestie His Head by nature fram'd to weare a Crowne His Hand to wield a Scepter and himselfe Likely in time to blesse a Regall Throne Make much of him my Lords for this is hee Must helpe you more then you are hurt by mee Enter a Poste Warw. What newes my friend Poste That Edward is escaped from your Brother And fled as hee heares since to Burgundie Warw. Vnsauorie newes but how made he escape Poste He was conuey'd by Richard Duke of Gloster And the Lord Hastings who attended him In secret ambush on the Forrest side And from the Bishops Huntsmen rescu'd him For Hunting was his dayly Exercise Warw. My Brother was too carelesse of his charge But let vs hence my Soueraigne to prouide A salue for any sore that may betide Exeunt Manet Somerset Richmond and Oxford Som. My Lord I like not of this flight of Edwards For doubtlesse Burgundie will yeeld him helpe And we shall haue more Warres befor 't be long As Henries late presaging Prophecie Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond So doth my heart mis-giue me in these Conflicts What may befall him to his harme and ours Therefore Lord Oxford to preuent the worst Forthwith wee 'le send him hence to Brittanie Till stormes be past of Ciuill Enmitie Oxf. I for if Edward re-possesse the Crowne 'T is like that Richmond with the rest shall downe Som. It shall be so he shall to Brittanie Come therefore let 's about it speedily Exeunt Flourish Enter Edward Richard Hastings and Souldiers Edw. Now Brother Richard Lord Hastings and the rest Yet thus farre Fortune maketh vs amends And sayes that once more I shall enterchange My wained state for Henries Regall Crowne Well haue we pass'd and now re-pass'd the Seas And brought desired helpe from Burgundie What then remaines we being thus arriu'd From Rauenspurre Hauen before the Gates of Yorke But that we enter as into our Dukedome Rich. The Gates made fast Brother I like not this For many men that stumble at the Threshold Are well fore-told that danger lurkes within Edw. Tush man aboadments must not now affright vs By faire or foule meanes we must enter in For hither will our friends repaire to vs. Hast. My Liege I le knocke once more to summon them Enter on the Walls the Maior of Yorke and his Brethren Maior My Lords We were fore-warned of your comming And shut the Gates for safetie of our selues For now we owe allegeance vnto Henry Edw. But Master Maior if Henry be your King Yet Edward at the least is Duke of Yorke Maior True my good Lord I know you for no lesse Edw. Why and I challenge nothing but my Dukedome As being well content with that alone Rich. But when the Fox hath once got in his Nose Hee 'le soone finde meanes to make the Body follow Hast. Why Master Maior why stand you in a doubt Open the Gates we are King Henries friends Maior I say you so the Gates shall then be opened He descends Rich. A wise stout Captaine and soone perswaded Hast The good old man would faine that all were wel So 't were not long of him but being entred I doubt not I but we shall soone perswade Both him and all his Brothers vnto reason Enter the Maior and two Aldermen Edw. So Master Maior these Gates must not be shut But in the Night or in the time of Warre What feare not man but yeeld me vp the Keyes Takes his Keyes For Edward will defend the Towne and thee And all those friends that deine to follow mee March Enter Mountgomerie with Drumme and Souldiers Rich. Brother this is Sir Iohn Mountgomerie Our trustie friend vnlesse I be deceiu'd Edw. Welcome Sir Iohn but why come you in Armes Mount To helpe King Edward in his time of storme As euery loyall Subiect ought to doe Edw. Thankes good Mountgomerie But we now forget our Title to the Crowne And onely clayme our Dukedome Till God please to send the rest Mount Then fare you well for I will hence againe I came to serue a King and not a Duke Drummer strike vp and let vs march away The Drumme begins to march Edw. Nay
with light gifts In weightier things you 'le say a Begger nay Glo. It is too weightie for your Grace to weare Yorke I weigh it lightly were it heauier Glo. What would you haue my Weapon little Lord Yorke I would that I might thanke you as as you call me Glo. How Yorke Little Prince My Lord of Yorke will still be crosse in talke Vnckle your Grace knowes how to beare with him Yorke You meane to beare me not to beare with me Vnckle my Brother mockes both you and me Because that I am little like an Ape He thinkes that you should beare me on your shoulders Buck. With what a sharpe prouided wit he reasons To mittigate the scorne he giues his Vnckle He prettily and aptly taunts himselfe So cunning and so young is wonderfull Glo. My Lord wilt please you passe along My selfe and my good Cousin Buckingham Will to your Mother to entreat of her To meet you at the Tower and welcome you Yorke What will you goe vnto the Tower my Lord Prince My Lord Protector will haue it so Yorke I shall not sleepe in quiet at the Tower Glo. Why what should you feare Yorke Marry my Vnckle Clarence angry Ghost My Grandam told me he was murther'd there Prince I feare no Vnckles dead Glo. Nor none that liue I hope Prince And if they liue I hope I need not feare But come my Lord and with a heauie heart Thinking on them goe I vnto the Tower A Senet Exeunt Prince Yorke Hastings and Dorset Manet Richard Buckingham and Catesby Buck. Thinke you my Lord this little prating Yorke Was not incensed by his subtile Mother To taunt and scorne you thus opprobriously Glo. No doubt no doubt Oh 't is a perillous Boy Bold quicke ingenious forward capable Hee is all the Mothers from the top to toe Buck. Well let them rest Come hither Catesby Thou art sworne as deepely to effect what we intend As closely to conceale what we impart Thou know'st our reasons vrg'd vpon the way What think'st thou is it not an easie matter To make William Lord Hastings of our minde For the installment of this Noble Duke In the Seat Royall of this famous Ile Cates. He for his fathers sake so loues the Prince That he will not be wonne to ought against him Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley Will not hee Cates. Hee will doe all in all as Hastings doth Buck. Well then no more but this Goe gentle Catesby and as it were farre off Sound thou Lord Hastings How he doth stand affected to our purpose And summon him to morrow to the Tower To sit about the Coronation If thou do'st finde him tractable to vs Encourage him and tell him all our reasons If he be leaden ycie cold vnwilling Be thou so too and so breake off the talke And giue vs notice of his inclination For we to morrow hold diuided Councels Wherein thy selfe shalt highly be employ'd Rich. Commend me to Lord William tell him Catesby His ancient Knot of dangerous Aduersaries To morrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle And bid my Lord for ioy of this good newes Giue Mistresse Shore one gentle Kisse the more Buck. Good Catesby goe effect this businesse soundly Cates. My good Lords both with all the heed I can Rich. Shall we heare from you Catesby ere we sleepe Cates. You shall my Lord. Rich. At Crosby House there shall you find vs both Exit Catesby Buck. Now my Lord What shall wee doe if wee perceiue Lord Hastings will not yeeld to our Complots Rich. Chop off his Head Something wee will determine And looke when I am King clayme thou of me The Earledome of Hereford and all the moueables Whereof the King my Brother was possest Buck. I le clayme that promise at your Graces hand Rich. And looke to haue it yeelded with all kindnesse Come let vs suppe betimes that afterwards Wee may digest our complots in some forme Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter a Messenger to the Doore of Hastings Mess My Lord my Lord. Hast. Who knockes Mess One from the Lord Stanley Hast What is' t a Clocke Mess Vpon the stroke of foure Enter Lord Hastings Hast. Cannot my Lord Stanley sleepe these tedious Nights Mess So it appeares by that I haue to say First he commends him to your Noble selfe Hast What then Mess Then certifies your Lordship that this Night He dreamt the Bore had rased off his Helme Besides he sayes there are two Councels kept And that may be determin'd at the one Which may make you and him to rue at th' other Therefore he sends to know your Lordships pleasure If you will presently take Horse with him And with all speed post with him toward the North To shun the danger that his Soule diuines Hast. Goe fellow goe returne vnto thy Lord Bid him not feare the seperated Councell His Honor and my selfe are at the one And at the other is my good friend Catesby Where nothing can proceede that toucheth vs Whereof I shall not haue intelligence Tell him his Feares are shallow without instance And for his Dreames I wonder hee 's so simple To trust the mock'ry of vnquiet slumbers To flye the Bore before the Bore pursues Were to incense the Bore to follow vs And make pursuit where he did meane no chase Goe bid thy Master rise and come to me And we will both together to the Tower Where he shall see the Bore will vse vs kindly Mess I le goe my Lord and tell him what you say Exit Enter Catesby Cates. Many good morrowes to my Noble Lord. Hast. Good morrow Catesby you are early stirring What newes what newes in this our tott'ring State Cates. It is a reeling World indeed my Lord And I beleeue will neuer stand vpright Till Richard weare the Garland of the Realme Hast How weare the Garland Doest thou meane the Crowne Cates. I my good Lord. Hast I le haue this Crown of mine cut frō my shoulders Before I le see the Crowne so foule mis-plac'd But canst thou guesse that he doth ayme at it Cates. I on my life and hopes to find you forward Vpon his partie for the gaine thereof And thereupon he sends you this good newes That this same very day your enemies The Kindred of the Queene must dye at Pomfret Hast Indeed I am no mourner for that newes Because they haue beene still my aduersaries But that I le giue my voice on Richards side To barre my Masters Heires in true Descent God knowes I will not doe it to the death Cates. God keepe your Lordship in that gracious minde Hast But I shall laugh at this a twelue-month hence That they which brought me in my Masters hate I liue to looke vpon their Tragedie Well Catesby ere a fort-night make me older I le send some packing that yet thinke not on 't Cates. 'T is a vile thing to dye my gracious Lord When men are vnprepar'd and looke not for it Hast O monstrous monstrous and so falls
it out With Riuers Vaughan Grey and so 't will doe With some men else that thinke themselues as safe As thou and I who as thou know'st are deare To Princely Richard and to Buckingham Cates. The Princes both make high account of you For they account his Head vpon the Bridge Hast I know they doe and I haue well deseru'd it Enter Lord Stanley Come on come on where is your Bore-speare man Feare you the Bore and goe so vnprouided Stan. My Lord good morrow good morrow Catesby You may ieast on but by the holy Rood I doe not like these seuerall Councels I. Hast My Lord I hold my Life as deare as yours And neuer in my dayes I doe protest Was it so precious to me as 't is now Thinke you but that I know our state secure I would be so triumphant as I am Sta. The Lords at Pomfret whē they rode from London Were iocund and suppos'd their states were sure And they indeed had no cause to mistrust But yet you see how soone the Day o're-cast This sudden stab of Rancour I misdoubt Pray God I say I proue a needlesse Coward What shall we toward the Tower the day is spent Hast Come come haue with you Wot you what my Lord To day the Lords you talke of are beheaded Sta. They for their truth might better wear their Heads Then some that haue accus'd them weare their Hats But come my Lord let 's away Enter a Pursuiuant Hast Goe on before I le talke with this good fellow Exit Lord Stanley and Catesby How now Sirrha how goes the World with thee Purs The better that your Lordship please to aske Hast I tell thee man 't is better with me now Then when thou met'st me last where now we meet Then was I going Prisoner to the Tower By the suggestion of the Queenes Allyes But now I tell thee keepe it to thy selfe This day those Enemies are put to death And I in better state then ere I was Purs God hold it to your Honors good content Hast Gramercie fellow there drinke that for me Throwes him his Purse Purs I thanke your Honor. Exit Pursuiuant Enter a Priest Priest Well met my Lord I am glad to see your Honor Hast. I thanke thee good Sir Iohn with all my heart I am in your debt for your last Exercise Come the next Sabboth and I will content you Priest I le wait vpon your Lordship Enter Buckingham Buc. What talking with a Priest Lord Chamberlaine Your friends at Pomfret they doe need the Priest Your Honor hath no shriuing worke in hand Hast Good faith and when I met this holy man The men you talke of came into my minde What goe you toward the Tower Buc. I doe my Lord but long I cannot stay there I shall returne before your Lordship thence Hast Nay like enough for I stay Dinner there Buc. And Supper too although thou know'st it not Come will you goe Hast I le wait vpon your Lordship Exeunt Scena Tertia Enter Sir Richard Ratcliffe with Halberds carrying the Nobles to death at Pomfret Riuers Sir Richard Ratcliffe let me tell thee this To day shalt thou behold a Subiect die For Truth for Dutie and for Loyaltie Grey God blesse the Prince from all the Pack of you A Knot you are of damned Blood-suckers Vaugh You liue that shall cry woe for this heereafter Rat. Dispatch the limit of your Liues is out Riuers O Pomfret Pomfret O thou bloody Prison Fatall and ominous to Noble Peeres Within the guiltie Closure of thy Walls Richard the Second here was hackt to death And for more slander to thy dismall Seat Wee giue to thee our guiltlesse blood to drinke Grey Now Margarets Curse is falne vpon our Heads When shee exclaim'd on Hastings you and I For standing by when Richard stab'd her Sonne Riuers Then curs'd shee Richard Then curs'd shee Buckingham Then curs'd shee Hastings Oh remember God To heare her prayer for them as now for vs And for my Sister and her Princely Sonnes Be satisfy'd deare God with our true blood Which as thou know'st vniustly must be spilt Rat. Make haste the houre of death is expiate Riuers Come Grey come Vaughan let vs here embrace Farewell vntill we meet againe in Heauen Exeunt Scaena Quarta Enter Buckingham Darby Hastings Bishop of Ely Norfolke Ratcliffe Louell with others at a Table Hast Now Noble Peeres the cause why we are met Is to determine of the Coronation In Gods Name speake when is the Royall day Buck. Is all things ready for the Royall time Darb. It is and wants but nomination Ely To morrow then I iudge a happie day Buck. Who knowes the Lord Protectors mind herein Who is most inward with the Noble Duke Ely Your Grace we thinke should soonest know his minde Buck. We know each others Faces for our Hearts He knowes no more of mine then I of yours Or I of his my Lord then you of mine Lord Hastings you and he are neere in loue Hast I thanke his Grace I know he loues me well But for his purpose in the Coronation I haue not sounded him nor he deliuer'd His gracious pleasure any way therein But you my Honorable Lords may name the time And in the Dukes behalfe I le giue my Voice Which I presume hee 'le take in gentle part Enter Gloucester Ely In happie time here comes the Duke himselfe Rich. My Noble Lords and Cousins all good morrow I haue beene long a sleeper but I trust My absence doth neglect no great designe Which by my presence might haue beene concluded Buck. Had you not come vpon your O my Lord William Lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part I meane your Voice for Crowning of the King Rich. Then my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder His Lordship knowes me well and loues me well My Lord of Ely when I was last in Holborne I saw good Strawberries in your Garden there I doe beseech you send for some of them Ely Mary and will my Lord with all my heart Exit Bishop Rich. Cousin of Buckingham a word with you Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our businesse And findes the testie Gentleman so hot That he will lose his Head ere giue consent His Masters Child as worshipfully he tearmes it Shall lose the Royaltie of Englands Throne Buck. Withdraw your selfe a while I le goe with you Exeunt Darb. We haue not yet set downe this day of Triumph To morrow in my iudgement is too sudden For I my selfe am not so well prouided As else I would be were the day prolong'd Enter the Bishop of Ely Ely Where is my Lord the Duke of Gloster I haue sent for these Strawberries Ha. His Grace looks chearfully smooth this morning There 's some conceit or other likes him well When that he bids good morrow with such spirit I thinke there 's neuer a man in Christendome Can lesser hide his loue or hate then hee For by his Face straight shall