首页 >出版文学> The Life of Thomas Telford>第2章
  Myliege,ifanybreathe,thatdarescomeforth,AndsaymylifeinanyofthesepointsDeservesth’attaindorofignoblethoughts,HerestandI,cravingnoremorseatall,Buteventheutmostrigormaybeshown。
  KING。
  Letitsuffice;weknowyourloyalty。
  Whathaveyouthere?
  COBHAM。
  Adeedofclemency;
  YourHighness’pardonforLordPowis’life,WhichIdidbeg,andyou,mynobleLord,Ofgraciousfavourdidvouchsafetogrant。
  KING。
  Butyetitisnotsignedwithourhand。
  COBHAM。
  Notyet,myLiege。
  [Onereadywithpenandink。]
  KING。
  Thefact,yousay,wasdone,Notofprepensedmalice,butbychance。
  COBHAM。
  Uponminehonorso,nootherwise。
  KING。
  Thereishispardon;bidhimmakeamends,[Writes。]
  AndcleansehissoultoGodforhisoffence。
  Whatweremit,isbutthebody’sscourge——
  [EnterBishop。]
  Hownow,LordBishop?
  BISHOP。
  Justice,dreadSovereign!
  AsthouartKing,sograntImayhavejustice。
  KING。
  Whatmeansthisexclamation?letusknow。
  BISHOP。
  Ah,mygoodLord,thestate’sabused,Andourdecreesmostshamefullyprofaned。
  KING。
  How?orbywhom?
  BISHOP。
  Evenbythisheretic,ThisJew,thisTraitortoyourmajesty。
  COBHAM。
  Prelate,thouliest,eveninthygreasymaw,OrwhosoevertwitsmewiththenameOfeithertraitor,orofheretic。
  KING。
  Forbear,Isay:and,Bishop,shewthecause>Fromwhencethislateabusehathbeenderived。
  BISHOP。
  Thus,mightyKing:——Bygeneralconsent,AmessengerwassenttocitethisLord,Tomakeappearanceintheconsistory;
  Andcomingtohishouse,aruffianslave,Oneofhisdailyfollowers,mettheman,Who,knowinghimtobeaparroter,Assaultshimfirstandafter,incontemptOfusandourproceedings,makeshimcateThewrittenprocess,parchment,scaleandall:
  Wherebyhismasterneitherwasbroughtforth,Norwebutscornedforourauthority。
  KING。
  Whenwasthisdone?
  BISHOP。
  Atsixaclockthismorning。
  KING。
  Andwhencameyoutocourt?
  COBHAM。
  Lastnight,myLord。
  KING。
  Bythisitseems,heisnotguiltyofit,Andyouhavedonehimwrongt’accusehimso。
  BISHOP。
  Butitwasdone,mylord,byhisappointment,Orelsehismandurstne’erhavebeensobold。
  KING。
  Orelseyoudurstbeboldtointerrupt,Andfillourearswithfrivolouscomplaints。
  Isthisthedutyyoudobeartous?
  Was’tnotsufficientwedidpassourwordTosendforhim,butyou,misdoubtingit,Or——whichisworse——intendingtoforestallOurregalpower,mustlikewisesummonhim?
  ThissavorsofAmbition,notofzeal,Andratherprovesyoumalicehisestate,Thananywaythatheoffendsthelaw。
  Goto,welikeitnot;andheyourofficer,Thatwasemployedsomuchamissherein,Hadhisdesertforbeinginsolent。
  [EnterHuntington。]
  So,Cobham,whenyoupleaseyoumaydepart。
  COBHAM。
  Ihumblybidfarewelluntomyliege。
  [Exit。]
  KING。
  Farewell。——What’sthenewsbyHuntington?
  HUNTINGTON。
  SirRogerActonandacrew,myLord,OfboldseditiousrebelsareinArms,IntendingreformationofReligion。
  AndwiththeirArmytheyintendtopitchInFicketfield,unlesstheyberepulsed。
  KING。
  Sonearourpresence?Daretheybesobold?
  Andwillproudwar,andeagerthirstofblood,Whomwehadthoughttoentertainfaroff,Pressforthuponusinournativebounds?
  MustwebeforcedtohanselloursharpbladesInEnglandhere,whichwepreparedforFrance?
  Well,aGod’snamebeit!What’stheirnumber,say,Orwho’sthechiefcommanderofthisrout?
  HUNTINGTON。
  Theirnumberisnotknown,asyet,myLord,ButtisreportedSirJohnOld—castleIsthechiefmanonwhomtheydodepend。
  KING。
  How,theLordCobham?
  HUNTINGTON。
  Yes,mygraciousLord。
  BISHOP。
  IcouldhavetoldyourmajestyasmuchBeforehewent,butthatIsawyourGraceWastoomuchblindedbyhisflattery。
  SUFFOLK。
  Sendpost,myLord,tofetchhimbackagain。
  BUTLER。
  Traitoruntohiscountry,howhesmoothed,AndseemedasinnocentasTruthitself!
  KING。
  Icannotthinkityethewouldbefalse;
  Butifhebe,nomatter;lethimgo。
  We’llmeetbothhimandthemuntotheirwoe。
  [ExeuntallbutBishop。]
  BISHOP。
  Thisfallsoutwell,andatthelastIhopeToseethishereticdieinarope。
  ACTIII。SCENEI。AnavenueleadingtolordCobham’shouseinKent。
  [EnterEarlofCambridge,LordScroop,Gray,andChartrestheFrenchfactor。]
  SCROOP。
  Oncemore,myLordofCambridge,makerehearsal,HowyoudostandentitledtotheCrown。
  Thedeepershallweprintitinourminds,Andeverymanthebetterberesolved,Whenheperceiveshisquarreltobejust。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Thenthus,LordScroop,sirThomasGray,&you,MonsieurdeChartres,agentfortheFrench:——
  ThisLionel,DukeofClarence,asIsaid,ThirdsonofEdward(England’sKing)thethird,HadissuePhillip,hissoledaughterandheir;
  WhichPhillipafterwardwasgiveninmarriageToEdmundMortimer,theEarlofMarch,AndbyhimhadasoncalledRogerMortimer;
  WhichRoger,likewise,hadofhisdescentEdmund,Roger,Anne,andEleanor——
  Twodaughtersandtwosons——butthosethreeDiedwithoutissue。Anne,thatdidsurvive,Andnowwasleftherfather’sonlyheir,Myfortunewastomarry,beingtooBymygrandfatherofKindEdward’sline:
  Soofhissirname,Iamcalled,youknow,RichardPlantagenet。MyfatherwasEdward,theDukeofYork,andsonandheirToEdmundLangley,Edwardthethird’sfifthson。
  SCROOP。
  Sothatitseemsyourclaimcomesbyyourwife,AslawfulheirtoRogerMortimer,ThesonofEdmund,whichdidmarryPhillip,DaughterandheirtoLionel,DukeofClarence。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  True,forthisHarryandhisfatherboth,Harrythefirst,asplainlydothappear,ArefalseintrudersandusurptheCrown。
  ForwhenyoungRichardwasatPomfretslain,InhimthetitleofprinceEdwarddied,ThatwastheeldestofkingEdward’ssons:
  William,ofHatfield,andtheirsecondbrother,Deathinhisnonagehadbeforebereft:
  Sothatmywife,derivedfromLionel,ThirdsonuntokingEdward,oughtproceed,AndtakepossessionoftheDiademBeforethisHarry,orhisfatherking,WhofetchedtheirtitlebutfromLancaster,Forthofthatroyalline。Andbeingthus,Whatreasonistbutsheshouldhaveherright?
  SCROOP。
  Iamresolvedourenterpriseisjust。
  GRAY。
  Harryshalldie,orelseresignhiscrown。
  CHARTRES。
  Performbutthat,andCharles,thekingofFrance,Shallaidyou,lords,notonlywithhismen,Butsendyoumoneytomaintainyourwars。
  Fivehundredthousandcrownshebademeprofer,IfyoucanstopbutHarry’svoyageforFrance。
  SCROOP。
  Weneverhadafittertimethannow,Therealminsuchdivisionasitis。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Besides,youmustpersuadeye,thereisdueVengeanceforRichard’smurder,which,althoughItbedeferred,yetwillitfallatlast,Andnowaslikelyasanothertime。
  Sinhathhadmanyyearstoripenin,Andnowtheharvestcannotbefaroff,WhereintheweedsofusurpationAretobecropped,andcastintothefire。
  SCROOP。
  Nomore,earlCambridge;hereIplightmyfaith,Tosetuptheeandthyrenownedwife。
  GRAY。
  Graywillperformthesame,asheisknight。
  CHARTRES。
  Andtoassistye,asIsaidbefore,Chartersdothgagethehonorofhisking。
  SCROOP。
  WelackbutnowLordCobham’sfellowship,Andthenourplotwereabsoluteindeed。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Doubtnotofhim,mylord;hislife’spursuedBytheincensedClergy,andoflate,Broughtindispleasurewiththeking,assuresHemaybequicklywonuntoourfaction。
  WhohaththearticlesweredrawnatlargeOfourwholepurpose?
  GRAY。
  ThathaveI,myLord。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Weshouldnotnowbefarofffromhishouse;
  Ourseriousconferencehathbeguiledtheway。
  Seewherehiscastlestands。Givemethewriting。
  Whenwearecomeuntothespeechofhim,Becausewewillnotstandtomakerecount,Ofthatwhichhathbeensaid,hereheshallread[EnterCobham。]
  Ourmindsatlarge,andwhatwecraveofhim。
  SCROOP。
  Areadyway。Herecomesthemanhimself,Bootedandspurred;itseemshehathbeenriding。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Wellmet,lordCobham。
  COBHAM。
  MylordofCambridge?
  YourhonorismostwelcomeintoKent,Andalltherestofthisfaircompany。
  IamnewcomefromLondon,gentleLords;
  ButwillyenottakeCowlingforyourhost,Andseewhatentertainmentitaffords?
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Wewereintendedtohavebeenyourguests:
  ButnowthisluckymeetingshallsufficeToendourbusiness,anddeferthatkindness。
  COBHAM。
  Business,mylord?whatbusinessshouldyouhaveButtobemerry?Wehavenodelicates,ButthisI’llpromiseyou:apieceofvenison,Acupofwine,andsoforth——hunters’fare;
  Andifyouplease,we’llstrikethestagourselvesShallfillourdisheswithhiswell—fedflesh。
  SCROOP。
  Thatis,indeed,thethingwealldesire。
  COBHAM。
  Mylordsandyoushallhaveyourchoicewithme。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Nay,butthestagwhichwedesiretostrikeLivesnotinCowling;ifyouwillconsent,Andgowithus,we’llbringyoutoaforest,Whererunsalustyherd;amongstthewhichThereisastagsuperiortotherest,Astatelybeastthat,whenhisfellowsrun,Heleadstherace,andbeatsthesullenearth,Asthoughhescornedit,withhistramplinghooves。
  Alofthebearshishead,andwithhisbreast,Likeahugebulwark,counter—checksthewind:
  Andwhenhestandethstill,hestretchethforthHisproudambitiousneck,asifhemeantTowoundthefirmamentwithforkedhorns。
  COBHAM。
  Tispitysuchagoodlybeastshoulddie。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Notso,sirJohn,forheistyrannous,Andgorestheotherdeer,andwillnotkeepWithinthelimitsareappointedhim。
  Oflatehe’sbrokeintoaseveral,Whichdothbelongtome,andtherehespoilsBothcornandpasture。Twoofhiswildrace,Alikeforstealthandcovetousencroaching,Alreadyareremoved;ifheweredead,Ishouldnotonlybesecurefromhurt,Butwithhisbodymakearoyalfeast。
  SCROOP。
  Howsayyou,then;willyoufirsthuntwithus?
  COBHAM。
  Faith,Lords,Ilikethepastime;where’stheplace>
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Perusethiswriting;itwillshewyouall,Andwhatoccasionwehaveforthesport。
  [Hereads。]
  COBHAM。
  Callyethishunting,mylords?IsthisthestagYoufainwouldchase——Harryourdreadking?
  Sowemaymakeabanquetforthedevil,Andinthesteadofwholesomemeat,prepareAdishofpoisontoconfoundourselves。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Whyso,lordCobham?Seeyounotourclaim?
  Andhowimperiouslyheholdsthecrown?
  SCROOP。
  Besides,youknowyourselfisindisgrace,Heldasarecreant,andpursuedtodeath。
  Thiswilldefendyoufromyourenemies,Andstablishyourreligionthroughtheland。
  COBHAM。
  Notorioustreason!yetIwillconceal[Aside。]
  Mysecretthoughts,tosoundthedepthofit。
  MylordofCambridge,Idoseeyourclaim,AndwhatgoodmayredounduntothelandByprosecutingofthisenterprise。
  Butwherearethemen?where’spowerandfurnitureToordersuchanaction?Weareweak;
  Harry,youknow’samightypotentate。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Tut,wearestrongenough:youarebeloved,Andmanywillbegladtofollowyou;
  Wearethelike,andsomewillfollowus。
  Besides,thereishopefromFrance:here’sanambassadorThatpromisethbothmenandmoneytoo。
  Thecommonslikewise(aswehear)pretendAsuddentumult;wewilljoinwiththem。
  COBHAM。
  Somelikelihood,Imustconfess,tospeed;
  ButhowshallIbelievethisisplaintruth?
  Youare,mylords,suchmenasliveinCourt,Andhighlyhavebeenfavouredoftheking,EspeciallylordScroop,whomoftentimesHemakethchoiceofforhisbedfellow;
  Andyou,lordGray,areofhisprivycounsel:
  Isnotthisatraintoentrapmylife?
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Thenperishmaymysoul!What,thinkyouso?
  SCROOP。
  We’llsweartoyou。
  GRAY。
  Ortakethesacrament。
  COBHAM。
  Nay,youarenoblemen,andIimagine,Asyouarehonorablebybirthandblood,Soyouwillbeinheart,inthought,inword。
  Icravenoothertestimonybutthis:
  Thatyouwouldallsubscribe,andsetyourhandsUntothiswritingwhichyougavetome。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Withallourhearts。Whohathanypenandink?
  SCROOP。
  Mypocketshouldhaveone:yea,hereitis。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Giveitme,lordScroop。——Thereismyname。
  SCROOP。
  Andthereismyname。
  GRAY。
  Andmine。
  COBHAM。
  Sir,letmecrave,Thatyouwouldlikewisewriteyournamewiththeirs,Forconfirmationofyourmaster’sword,ThekingofFrance。
  CHARTRES。
  ThatwillI,nobleLord。
  COBHAM。
  Sonowthisactioniswellknittogether,AndIamforyou。Where’sourmeeting,lords?
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Here,ifyouplease,thetenthofJulynext。
  COBHAM。
  InKent?agreed:nowletusintosupper。
  Ihopeyourhonorswillnotawaytonight。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Yes,presently;forIhavefartoride,Aboutsolicitingofotherfriends。
  SCROOP。
  Andwewouldnotbeabsentfromthecourt,Lesttherebygrowsuspicionintheking。
  COBHAM。
  Yettasteacupofwinebeforeyego。
  CAMBRIDGE。
  Notnow,mylord,wethankyou:sofarewell。
  [ExeuntallbutCobham。]
  COBHAM。
  Farewell,mynoblelords。——Mynoblelords?
  Mynoblevillains,baseconspirators。
  HowcantheylookhisHighnessintheface,Whomtheysocloselystudytobetray?
  ButI’llnotsleepuntilImakeitknown。
  Thisheadshallnotbeburdenedwithsuchthoughts,NorinthisheartwillIconcealadeedOfsuchimpietyagainstmyking。
  Madam,hownow?
  [EnterHarpooleandtherest。]
  LADYCOBHAM。
  Youarewelcomehome,myLord。
  Whyseemyesodisquietinyourlooks?
  Whathathbefallenyouthatdisquietsyourmind?
  LADYPOWIS。
  Badnews,Iamafraid,touchingmyhusband。
  COBHAM。
  Madam,notso:thereisyourhusband’spardon。
  Longmayyelive,eachjoyuntotheother。
  POWIS。
  SogreatakindnessasiknownothowTomakereply;mysenseisquiteconfounded。
  COBHAM。
  Letthatalone:andmadam,staymenot,ForImustbackuntothecourtagainWithallthespeedIcan。Harpoole,myhorse。
  LADYCOBHAM。
  Sosoon,myLord?what,willyourideallnight?
  COBHAM。
  Allnightorday;itmustbeso,sweetwife。
  Urgemenotwhyorwhatmybusinessis,Butgetyouin。LordPowis,bearwithme,Andmadam,thinkyourwelcomene’ertheworse:
  Myhouseisatyouruse。Harpoole,away。
  HARPOOLE。
  ShallIattendyourlordshiptothecourt?
  COBHAM。
  Yes,sir;yourgelding!mountyoupresently。
  [Exeunt。]
  LADYCOBHAM。
  Iprithee,Harpoole,lookuntothyLord。
  Idonotlikethissuddenpostingback。
  POWIS。
  Someearnestbusinessisafootbelike;
  Whate’eritbe,prayGodbehisgoodguide。
  LADYPOWIS。
  Amen!thathathsohighlyusbested。
  LADYCOBHAM。
  Come,madam,andmylord,we’llhopethebest;
  YoushallnotintoWalestillhereturn。
  POWIS。
  Thoughgreatoccasionbeweshoulddepart,YetmadamwillwestaytoberesolvedOfthisunlookedfor,doubtfulaccident。
  [Exeunt。]
  ACTIII。SCENEII。AroadnearHighgate。
  [EnterMurleyandhismen,preparedinsomefilthyorderforwar。]
  MURLEY。
  Come,myheartsofflint,modestly,decently,soberly,andhandsomely,nomanaforehisLeader;followyourmaster,yourCaptain,yourKnightthatshallbe,forthehonorofMeal—men,Millers,andMalt—men。Dunneisthemouse。Dickandtom,forthecreditofDunstable,dingdowntheenemytomorrow;yeshallnotcomeintothefieldlikebeggars。WherebeLeonardandLaurence,mytwoloaders?Lordhavemercyuponus,whataworldisthis?Iwouldgiveacoupleofshillingsforadozenofgoodfeathersforye,andfortypenceforasmanyscarfstosetyeoutwithal。Frostandsnow!amanhasnohearttofighttillhebebrave。
  DICK。
  Master,Ihopewebenobabes。Forourmanhood,ourbucklersandourtownfoot—ballscanbearwitness:andthislightparrelwehaveshalloff,andwe’llfightnakedaforewerunaway。
  TOM。
  Nay,IamofLaurencemindforthat,forhemeanstoleavehislifebehindhim;heandLeonard,yourtwoloaders,aremakingtheirwillsbecausetheyhavewives。
  NowweBachelorsbidourfriendsscrambleforourgoodsifwedie:but,master,prayye,letmerideuponCutte。
  MURLEY。
  Mealandsalt,wheatandmalt,fireandtow,frostandsnow!why,Tom,thoushalt。Letmesee:hereareyou,WilliamandGeorgearewithmycart,andRobinandHodgeholdingmyowntwohorses:propermen,handsomemen,tallmen,truemen。
  DICK。
  But,master,master,methinksyouareamadmantohazardyourownpersonandacartloadofmoneytoo。
  TOM。
  Yea,and,master,there’saworsematterin’t。IfitbeasI
  heardsay,wegotofightagainstallthelearnedBishops,thatshouldgiveustheirblessing;andiftheycurseus,weshallspeedne’erthebetter。
  DICK。
  Nay,birlady,somesaytheKingtakestheirpart;and,master,dareyoufightagainsttheKing?
  MURLEY。
  Fie,paltry,paltry!inandout,toandfro,uponoccasion;iftheKingbesounwisetocomethere,we’llfightwithhimtoo。
  TOM。
  What,ifyeshouldkilltheKing?
  MURLEY。
  Thenwe’llmakeanother。
  DICK。
  Isthatall?doyenotspeaktreason?
  MURLEY。
  Ifwedo,whodaretripus?wecometofightforourconscience,andforhonor。Littleknowyouwhatisinmybosom;lookhere,madknaves,apairofgiltspurs。
  TOM。
  Apairofgoldenspurs?Whydoyounotputthemonyourheels?Yourbosom’snoplaceforspurs。
  MURLEY。
  Be’tmoreorlessuponoccasion,Lordhavemercyuponus,Tom,th’artafool,andthouspeakesttreasontoknighthood。
  Dareanyweargoldenorsilverspurstillhebeaknight?No,Ishallbeknightedtomorrow,andthentheyshallon。Sirs,wasiteverreadinthechurchbookofDunstable,thatevermaltmanwasmadeknight?
  TOM。
  No,butyouaremore:youaremeal—man,maltman,miller,corn—masterandall。
  DICK。
  Yea,andhalfabrewertoo,andthedevilandallforwealth。
  Youbringmoremoneywithyou,thanalltherest。
  MURLEY。
  Themore’smyhonor。Ishallbeaknighttomorrow!Letmesposemymen:Tomuponcut,Dickuponhob,HodgeuponBall,RaphuponSorell,andRobinupontheforehorse。
  [EnterActon,Bourne,andBeverly。]
  TOM。
  Stand,whocomesthere?
  ACTON。
  Allfriends,goodfellow。
  MURLEY。
  Friendsandfellows,indeed,sirRoger。
  ACTON。
  Why,thusyoushewyourselfaGentleman,Tokeepyourday,andcomesowellprepared。
  Yourcartstandsyonder,guardedbyyourmen,Whotellmeitisloadenwithcoin。
  Whatsumisthere?
  MURLEY。
  Tenthousandpound,sirRoger:andmodestly,decently,soberly,andhandsomely,seewhatI
  havehereagainstIbeknighted。
  ACTON。
  Giltspurs?tiswell。
  MURLEY。
  Butwhere’syourarmy,sir?
  ACTON。
  Dispersedinsundryvillagesabout:
  SomeherewithusinHighgate,someatFinchley,Totnam,Enfield,Edmunton,Newington,Islington,Hogsdon,Pancredge,Kensington;
  SomenearerThames,Ratcliffe,BlackwallandBow;
  ButourchiefstrengthmustbetheLondoners,Which,eretheSuntomorrowshine,Willbenearfiftythousandinthefield。
  MURLEY。
  Mary,Goddildye,daintymydear!butuponoccasion,sirRogerActon,dothnottheKingknowofit,andgatherhispoweragainstus?
  ACTON。
  No,he’ssecureatEltham。
  MURLEY。
  WhatdotheClergy?
  ACTON。
  Fearextremely,yetpreparenoforce。
  MURLEY。
  Inandout,toandfro,Bullymyboikin,weshallcarrytheworldaforeus!Ivowbymyworship,whenIamknighted,we’lltaketheKingnapping,ifhestandontheirpart。
  ACTON。
  ThisnightwefewinHighgatewillrepose。
  Withthefirstcockwe’llriseandarmourselves,TobeinFicketfieldbybreakofday,AndthereexpectourGeneral。
  MURLEY。
  SirJohnOld—castle?whatifhecomenot?
  BOURNE。
  Yetouractionstands。
  SirRogerActonmaysupplyhisplace。
  MURLEY。
  True,MasterBourne,butwhoshallmakemeknight?
  BEVERLY。
  HethathathpowertobeourGeneral。
  ACTON。
  Talknotoftrifles;come,let’saway。
  OurfriendsofLondonlongtillitbeday。
  [Exeunt。]
  ACTIII。SCENEIII。AhighroadinKent。
  [EntersirJohnofWrothamandDoll。]
  DOLL。
  Bymytroth,thouartasjealousamanaslives。
  PRIEST。
  Canstthoublameme,Doll?thouartmylands,mygoods,myjewels,mywealth,mypurse。Nonewalkswithinxl。
  milesofLondon,butapliestheeastrulyastheparishdoesthepoorman’sbox。
  DOLL。
  Iamastruetotheeasthestoneisinthewall;andthouknowestwellenough,sirJohn,Iwasinasgooddoing,whenIcametothee,asanywenchneedtobe;andthereforethouhasttriedme,thatthouhast:byGod’sbody,IwillnotbekeptasIhavebeen,thatIwillnot。
  PRIEST。
  Doll,ifthisbladehold,there’snotapeddlarwalkswithapack,butthoushaltasboldlychooseofhiswares,aswiththyreadymoneyinaMerchant’sshop。We’llhaveasgoodsilverastheKingcoinsany。
  DOLL。
  What,isallthegoldspentyoutookthelastdayfromtheCourtier?
  PRIEST。
  Tisgone,Doll,tisflown;merelycome,merelygone:hecomesahorsebackthatmuchpayforall。We’llhaveasgoodmeatasmoneycanget,andasgoodgownsascanbeboughtforgold。Bemerry,wench,themalt—mancomesonMonday。
  DOLL。
  YoumighthaveleftmeatCobham,untilyouhadbeenbetterprovidedfor。
  PRIEST。
  No,sweetDoll,no:Idonotlikethat。Yondoldruffianisnotforthepriest:Idonotlikeanewclerkshouldcomeintheoldbelfry。
  DOLL。
  Ah,thouartamadpriest,yfaith。
  PRIEST。
  Come,Doll;I’llseetheesafeatsomealehousehereatCray,andthenextsheepthatcomesshallleavehisfleece。
  [Exeunt。]
  ACTIII。SCENEIV。Blackheath。
  [EntertheKing,SuffolkandButler。]
  KING。
  [Ingreathaste。]MylordofSuffolk,postawayforlife,Andletourforcesofsuchhorseandfoot,Ascanbegatheredupbyanymeans,MakespeedyrendezvousinTuttlefields。
  Itmustbedonethisevening,myLord;
  ThisnighttherebelsmeantodrawtoheadNearIslington,whichifyourspeedpreventnot,Ifoncetheyshouldunitetheirseveralforces,Theirpowerisalmostthoughtinvincible。
  Away,myLord;Iwillbewithyousoon。
  SUFFOLK。
  Igo,mySovereign,withallhappyspeed。
  [Exit。]
  KING。
  Makehaste,mylordofSuffolk,asyouloveus。
  Butler,postyoutoLondonwithallspeed;
  CommandtheMayorandshrieves,ontheirallegiance,ThecitygatesbepresentlyshutupAndguardedwithastrongsufficientwatch,AndnotamanbesufferedtopassWithoutaspecialwarrantfromourself。
  CommandthePosternbytheTowerbekept,Andproclamation,onthepainofdeath,Thatnotacitizenstirfromhisdoors,ExceptsuchastheMayorandShrievesshallchooseFortheirownguardandsafetyoftheirpersons。
  Butler,away;havecareuntomycharge。
  BUTLER。
  Igo,mySovereign。
  KING。
  Butler!
  BUTLER。
  MyLord。
  KING。
  GodownbyGreenwich,andcommandaboatAttheFriar’sbridgeattendmycomingdown。
  BUTLER。
  Iwill,myLord。
  [Exit。]
  KING。
  It’stime,Ithink,tolookuntorebellion,WhenActondothexpectuntohisaidNolessthanfiftythousandLondoners。
  Well,I’lltoWestminsterinthisdisguise,Tohearwhatnewsisstirringinthesebrawls。
  [EntersirJohnandDoll。]
  SIRJOHN。
  Stand,true—man!saysathief。
  KING。
  Stand,thief!saysatrueman。Howifathief?
  SIRJOHN。
  Stand,thief,too。
  KING。
  Then,thiefortrue—man,IseeImuststand。Isee,howsoevertheworldwags,thetradeofthievingyetwillneverdown。Whatartthou?
  SIRJOHN。
  Agoodfellow。
  KING。
  SoamItoo。Iseethoudostknowme。
  SIRJOHN。
  Ifthoubeagoodfellow,playthegoodfellow’spart:
  deliverthypursewithoutmoreado。
  KING。
  Ihavenomoney。
  SIRJOHN。
  Imustmakeyoufindsomebeforewepart。Ifyouhavenomoney,youshallhavewar:asmanysounddryblowsasyourskincancarry。
  KING。
  Isthattheplaintruth?
  SIRJOHN。
  Sirra,nomoreado;come,come,givemethemoneyyouhave。Dispatch,Icannotstandallday。
  KING。
  Well,ifthouwiltneedshaveit,theretis:justtheproverb,onethiefrobsanother。Wherethedevilareallmyoldthieves,thatwerewonttokeepthiswalk?Falstaff,thevillain,issofat,hecannotgeton’shorse,butmethinksPoinesandPetoshouldbestirringhereabout。
  SIRJOHN。
  Howmuchisthereon’t,ofthyword?
  KING。
  AhundredpoundinAngels,onmyword。
  ThetimehasbeenIwouldhavedoneasmuchForthee,ifthouhadstpastthisway,asIhavenow。
  SIRJOHN。
  Sirra,whatartthou?thouseem’stagentleman。
  KING。
  Iamnoless;yetapooronenow,forthouhastallmymoney。
  SIRJOHN。
  >Fromwhencecam’stthou?
  KING。
  >FromthecourtatEltham。
  SIRJOHN。
  ArtthouoneoftheKing’sservants?
  KING。
  Yes,thatIam,andoneofhischamber。
  SIRJOHN。
  Iamgladthouartnoworse;thoumayestthebettersparethymoney:&thinkstthouthoumightstgetapoorthiefhispardon,ifheshouldhaveneed。
  KING。
  Yes,thatIcan。
  SIRJOHN。
  Wiltthoudosomuchforme,whenIshallhaveoccasion?
  KING。
  Yes,faithwillI,soitbefornomurther。
  SIRJOHN。
  Nay,Iamapitifulthief;allthehurtIdoaman,Itakebuthispurse;I’llkillnoman。
  KING。
  Then,ofmyword,I’lldoit。
  SIRJOHN。
  Givemethyhandofthesame。
  KING。
  Theretis。
  SIRJOHN。
  MethinkstheKingshouldbegoodtothieves,becausehehasbeenathiefhimself,thoughIthinknowhebeturnedtrue—man。
  KING。
  Faith,Ihaveheardindeedhehashadanillnamethatwayinhisyouth;buthowcanstthoutellhehasbeenathief?
  SIRJOHN。
  How?BecauseheoncerobbedmebeforeIfelltothetrademyself;whenthatfoulvillainousguts,thatledhimtoallthatrogery,wasin’scompanythere,thatFalstaff。
  KING。
  [Aside。]Well,ifhedidrobtheethen,thouartbutevenwithhimnow,I’llbesworn。——Thouknowestnotthekingnow,I
  think,ifthousawesthim?
  SIRJOHN。
  NotI,yfaith。
  KING。
  [Aside。]Soitshouldseem。
  SIRJOHN。
  Well,ifoldKingHenryhadlived,thisKingthatisnowhadmadethievingthebesttradeinEngland。
  KING。
  Whyso?
  SIRJOHN。
  Becausehewasthechiefwardenofourcompany。It’spitythate’erheshouldhavebeenaKing;hewassobraveathief。But,sirra,wiltremembermypardonifneedbe?
  KING。
  Yes,faith,willI。
  SIRJOHN。
  Wiltthou?wellthen,becausethoushaltgosafe——forthoumayesthap(beingsoearly)bemetwithagainbeforethoucometoSouthwark——ifanyman,whenheshouldbidtheegoodmorrow,bidtheestand,saythoubutSirJohn,andhewilllettheepass。
  KING。
  Isthattheword?well,then,letmealone。
  SIRJOHN。
  Nay,sirra,becauseIthinkindeedIshallhavesomeoccasiontousethee,&asthoucomestoftthisway,Imaylightontheeanothertimenotknowingthee,here!I’llbreakthisAngel。
  Takethouhalfofit;thisisatokenbetwixttheeandme。
  KING。
  Godhavemercy;farewell。
  [Exit。]
  SIRJOHN。
  Omyfinegoldenslaves!here’sforthee,wench,yfaith。Now,Doll,wewillrevelinourbower!thisisatithepigofmyvicarage。Godhavemercy,neighbourShootershill;youpaidyourtithehonestly。Well,IhearthereisacompanyofrebelsupagainsttheKing,gottogetherinFicketfieldnearHolborne,andasitisthoughthereinKent,theKingwillbetheretonightin’sownperson;well,I’lltotheKing’scamp,anditshallgohard,but,iftherebeanydoings,I’llmakesomegoodbootamongstthem。
  [Exit。]
  ACTIV。SCENEI。AfieldnearLondon。KingHenry’scamp。
  [EnterKingHenry,Suffolk,Huntington,andtwowithlights。]
  KING。
  MylordsofSuffolkandofHuntington,Whoscoutsitnow?orwhostandsSentinels?
  Whatmenofworth?whatLordsdowalktheround?
  SUFFOLK。
  MayitpleaseyourHighness——
  KING。
  Peace,nomoreofthat。
  TheKing’sasleep;wakenothismajestyWithtermsnortitles;he’satrestinbed。
  Kingsdonotusetowatchthemselves;theysleep,AndletrebellionandconspiracyRevelandhavocinthecommonwealth。——
  IsLondonlookedunto?
  HUNTINGTON。
  Itis,myLord:
  YournobleUncleExeteristhere,YourbrotherGloucesterandmyLordofWarwick,Who,withthemayorandtheAldermen,Doguardthegates,andkeepgoodrulewithin;
  TheEarlofCambridgeandsirThomasGrayDowalktheRound;LordScroopandButlerscout。
  So,thoughitpleaseyourmajestytojest,Wereyouinbed,wellmightyoutakeyourrest。
  KING。
  Ithankye,Lords,butyoudoknowofold,ThatIhavebeenaperfectnight—walker。
  London,yousay,issafelylookedunto——
  Alas,poorrebels,thereyouraidmustfail——
  AndtheLordCobham,sirJohnOld—castle,He’squietinKent。Acton,yearedeceived;
  Reckonagain,youcountwithoutyourhost;
  Tomorrowyoushallgiveaccounttous。
  Tilwhen,myfriends,thislongcoldwinter’snightHowcanwespend?KingHarryisasleepAndallhisLords,thesegarmentstellusso;
  Allfriendsatfootball,fellowsallinfield,Harry,andDick,andGeorge。Bringusadrum;
  Giveussquaredice,we’llkeepthiscourtofguardForallgoodfellowscompaniesthatcome。
  Where’sthatmadpriestyetoldmewasinArms,Tofight,aswellaspray,ifneedrequired?
  SUFFOLK。
  He’sintheCamp,andifheknowofthis,Iundertakehewouldnotbelonghence。
  KING。
  Trip,Dick;trip,George。
  [Theytrip。]
  HUNTINGTON。
  Imusthavethedice。
  Whatdoweplayat?
  [Theyplayatdice。]
  SUFFOLK。
  Passage,ifyeplease。
  HUNTINGTON。
  Setroundthen;so,atall。
  KING。
  George,youareout。
  Givemethedice。Ipassfortwentypound。
  Here’stoourluckypassageintoFrance。
  HUNTINGTON。
  Harry,youpassindeed,foryousweepall。
  SUFFOLK。
  AsignkingHarryshallsweepallinFrance。
  [EnterSirJohn。]
  SIRJOHN。
  Edgeye,goodfellows;takeafreshgamesterin。
  KING。
  MasterParson?Weplaynothingbutgold。
  SIRJOHN。
  And,fellow,Itelltheethatthepriesthathgold。Gold?
  sblood,yearebutbeggarlysoldierstome。IthinkIhavemoregoldthanallyouthree。
  HUNTINGTON。
  Itmaybeso,butwebelieveitnot。
  KING。
  Set,priest,set。Ipassforallthatgold。
  SIRJOHN。
  Yepass,indeed。
  KING。
  Priest,hastthouanymore?
  SIRJOHN。
  Zounds,whataquestion’sthat?
  ItelltheeIhavemorethanallyouthree。
  AtthesetenAngels!
  KING。
  Iwonderhowthoucomestbyallthisgold;
  Howmanybeneficeshastthou,priest?
  SIRJOHN。
  Yfaith,butone。DostwonderhowIcomebygold?I
  wonderratherhowpoorsoldiersshouldhavegold;forI’lltellthee,goodfellow:wehaveeverydaytithes,offerings,christenings,weddings,burials;andyoupoorsnakescomeseldomtoabooty。I’llspeakaproudword:
  Ihavebutoneparsonage,Wrotham;tisbetterthantheBishopricofRochester。There’sne’erahill,heath,nordowninallKent,buttisinmyparish:Barhamdown,Chobhamdown,Gad’sHill,Wrothamhill,Blackheath,Cock’sheath,Birchenwood,allpaymetithe。Gold,quotha?yepassnotforthat。
  SUFFOLK。
  Harry,yeareout;now,parson,shakethedice。
  SIRJOHN。
  Set,set;I’llcoveryeatall。Aplagueon’t,Iamout:thedevil,anddice,andawench,whowilltrustthem?
  SUFFOLK。
  Sayestthouso,priest?Setfair;atallforonce。
  KING。
  Out,sir;payall。
  SIRJOHN。
  Sblood,paymeangelgold。
  I’llnoneofyourcrackedFrenchcrownsnorpistolets。
  Paymefairangelgold,asIpayyou。
  KING。
  NocrackedFrenchcrowns?IhopetoseemorecrackedFrenchcrownserelong。
  SIRJOHN。
  ThoumeanestofFrenchmen’scrowns,whentheKingisinFrance。
  HUNTINGTON。
  Setround,atall。
  SIRJOHN。
  Payall:thisissomeluck。
  KING。
  Givemethedice,tisImustshredthepriest:
  Atall,sirJohn。
  SIRJOHN。
  Thedevilandallisyours。Atthat!Sdeath,whatcastingisthis?
  SUFFOLK。
  Wellthrown,Harry,yfaith。
  KING。
  I’llcastbetteryet。
  SIRJOHN。
  ThenI’llbehanged。Sirra,hastthounotgiventhysoultothedevilforcasting?
  KING。
  Ipassforall。
  SIRJOHN。
  Thoupassestallthate’erIplayedwithal。
  Sirra,dostthounotcog,norfoist,norslur?
  KING。
  Set,parson,set;thedicedieinmyhand:
  Whenparson,when?what,canyefindnomore?
  Alreadydry?wastyoubraggedofyourstore?
  SIRJOHN。
  All’sgonebutthat。
  HUNTINGTON。
  What?halfabrokenangel?
  SIRJOHN。
  Whysir,tisgold。
  KING。
  Yea,andI’llcoverit。
  SIRJOHN。
  Thedevildoyegoodon’t,Iamblind,yehaveblownmeup。
  KING。
  Nay,tarry,priest;yeshallnotleaveusyet。
  Donotthesepiecesfiteachotherwell?
  SIRJOHN。
  Whatiftheydo?
  KING。
  Therebybeginsatale:
  Therewasathief,infacemuchlikeSirJohn——
  Buttwasnothe,thatthiefwasallingreen——
  MetmelastdayatBlackHeath,nearthepark,Withhimawoman。IwasallaloneAndweaponless,myboyhadallmytools,Andwasbeforeprovidingmeaboat。
  Shorttaletomake,sirJohn——thethief,Imean——
  Tookajusthundrethpoundingoldfromme。
  Istormedatit,andsworetoberevengedIfe’erwemet。He,likealustythief,BrakewithhisteeththisAngeljustintwoTobeatokenatourmeetingnext,ProvidedIshouldchargenoOfficerToapprehendhim,butatweapon’spointRecoverthatandwhathehadbeside。
  Wellmet,sirJohn;betakeyetoyourtoolsBytorchlight,for,masterparson,youareheThathadmygold。
  SIRJOHN。
  Zounds,Iwon’tinplay,infairsquareplay,ofthekeeperofElthampark;andthatIwillmaintainwiththispoorwhinyard,beyoutwohonestmentostandandlookupon’s,andlet’salone,andtakeneitherpart。
  KING。
  Agreed!Ichargeyedonotbudgetafoot。
  SirJohn,haveatye。
  SIRJOHN。
  Soldier,wareyoursconce。
  [Here,astheyarereadytostrike,enterButleranddrawshisweaponandstepsbetwixtthem。]
  BUTLER。
  Hold,villains,hold!myLords,whatdoyoumean,ToseeatraitordrawagainsttheKing?
  SIRJOHN。
  TheKing!God’swill,Iaminaproperpickle。
  KING。
  Butler,whatnews?whydostthoutroubleus?
  BUTLER。
  PleaseityourHighness,itisbreakofday,AndasIscoutedneartoIslington,ThegrayeyedmorninggavemeglimmeringOfarmedmencomingdownHighgatehill,Whobytheircoursearecoastinghitherward。
  KING。
  Letuswithdraw,myLords。PrepareourtroopsTochargetherebels,iftherebesuchcause。
  Forthislewdpriest,thisdevilishhypocrite,Thatisathief,agamester,andwhatnot,Lethimbehangedupforexamplesake。
  SIRJOHN。
  Notsomygracioussovereign。IconfessthatIamafrailman,fleshandbloodasotherare:but,setmyimperfectionsaside,bythislight,yehavenotatallerman,noratruersubjecttotheCrownandState,thanSirJohnofWrotham。
  KING。
  WillatruesubjectrobhisKing?
  SIRJOHN。
  Alas,twasignoranceandwant,mygraciousliege。
  KING。
  Twaswantofgrace。Why,youshouldbeassaltToseasonotherswithgooddocument,Yourlivesaslampstogivethepeoplelight,Asshepherds,notaswolvestospoiltheflock。
  Gohanghim,Butler。
  BUTLER。
  Didstthounotrobme?
  SIRJOHN。
  ImustconfessIsawsomeofyourgold。But,mydreadLord,Iaminnohumorfordeath;therefore,savemylife。
  Godwillthatsinnerslive;donotyoucausemedie。Onceintheirlivesthebestmaygoastray,andiftheworldsaytrue,yourself(myliege)havebeenathief。
  KING。
  IconfessIhave,ButIrepentandhavereclaimedmyself。
  SIRJOHN。
  SowillIdo,ifyouwillgivemetime。
  KING。
  Wiltthou?Mylords,willyoubehissureties?
  HUNTINGTON。
  Thatwhenherobsagain,heshallbehanged。
  SIRJOHN。
  Iasknomore。
  KING。
  Andwewillgranttheethat。
  Liveandrepent,andproveanhonestman,WhichwhenIhear,andsafereturnfromFrance,I’llgivetheeliving:tillthentakethygold;
  Butspenditbetterthanatcardsorwine,Forbettervirtuesfitthatcoatofthine。
  SIRJOHN。
  VivatRex&curatlex!Myliege,ifyehavecauseofbattle,yeshallseeSirJohnofWrothambestirhimselfinyourquarrel。
  [Exeunt。]
  ACTIV。SCENEII。AfieldofBattlenearLondon。
  [AfteranalarumenterHarry,Suffolk,Huntington,SirJohn,bringingforthActon,Beverley,andMurleyprisoners。]
  KING。
  Bringinthosetraitors,whoseaspiringmindsThoughttohavetriumphtinouroverthrow。
  Butnowyesee,basevillains,whatsuccessAttendsillactionswrongfullyattempted。
  SirRogerActon,thouretainstthenameOfknight,andshouldstbemorediscreetlytempered,Thanjoinwithpeasants:gentryisdivine,Butthouhastmadeitmorethanpopular。
  ACTON。
  Pardon,myLord;myconscienceurgedmetoit。
  KING。
  Thyconscience?thenthyconscienceiscorrupt,Forinthyconsciencethouartboundtous,Andinthyconsciencethoushouldstlovethycountry;
  Elsewhat’sthedifferencetwixtaChristianAndtheuncivilmannersoftheTurk?
  BEVERLEY。
  Wemeantnohurtuntoyourmajesty,ButreformationofReligion。
  KING。
  ReformReligion?wasitthatyesought?
  Ipraywhogaveyouthatauthority?
  Belike,then,wedoholdthescepterupAndsitwithinthethronebutforacipher。
  Timewas,goodsubjectswouldmakeknowntheirgriefAndprayamendment,notenforcethesame,UnlesstheirKingweretyrant,whichIhopeYoucannotjustlysaythatHarryis。
  Whatisthatother?
  SUFFOLK。
  Amalt—man,myLord,AnddwellinginDunstableashesays。
  KING。
  Sirra,whatmadeyouleaveyourbarleybroth,TocomeinarmourthusagainstyourKing?
  MURLEY。
  Fie,paltry,paltry;toandfro,inandoutuponoccasion;
  whataworld’sthis!Knight—hood(myliege)twasknight—hoodbroughtmehither。TheytoldmeIhadwealthenoughtomakemywifealady。
  KING。
  Andsoyoubroughtthosehorseswhichwesaw,Trappedallincostlyfurniture,andmeantTowearthesespurswhenyouwereknightedonce?
  MURLEY。
  Inandoutuponoccasion,Idid。
  KING。
  Inandoutuponoccasion,therefore,Youshallbehanded,andinthesteadofwearingThesespursuponyourheels,aboutyourneckTheyshallbewrayyourfollytotheworld。
  SIRJOHN。
  Inandoutuponoccasion,thatgoeshard。
  MURLEY。
  Fie,paltry,paltry,toandfro;goodmyliege,apardon。Iamsorryformyfault。
  KING。
  Thatcomestoolate:buttellme,wenttherenoneBesidesirRogerActon,uponwhomYoudiddependtobeyourgovernour?
  MURLEY。
  None,none,myLord,butsirJohnOld—castle。
  KING。
  Bearshepartinthisconspiracy?
  [EnterBishop。]
  ACTON。
  Welooked,myLord,thathewouldmeetushere。
  KING。
  Butdidhepromiseyouthathewouldcome?
  ACTON。
  SuchletterswereceivedforthofKent。
  BISHOP。
  WhereismyLordtheKing?——Healthtoyourgrace。
  Examining,myLord,someofthesecaitiverebels,Itisageneralvoiceamongstthemall,Thattheyhadnevercomeuntothisplace,Buttohavemettheirvaliantgeneral,ThegoodLordCobham,astheytitlehim:
  Whereby,myLord,yourgracemaynowperceive,Histreasonisapparent,whichbeforeHesoughttocolourbyhisflattery。
  KING。
  Now,bymyroyalty,IwouldhaveswornButforhisconscience,whichIbearwithal,Therehadnotlivedamoretrueheartedsubject。
  BISHOP。
  Itisbutcounterfeit,mygraciouslord,Andtherefore,mayitpleaseyourmajestyTosetyourhanduntothisprecepthere,Bywhichwe’llcausehimforthwithtoappear,Andanswerthisbyorderofthelaw。
  KING。
  Bishop,notonlythat,buttakecommissionTosearch,attach,imprison,andcondemnThismostnotorioustraitorasyouplease。
  BISHOP。
  Itshallbedone,myLord,withoutdelay。——
  SonowIhold,LordCobham,inmyhand,Thatwhichshallfinishthydisdainedlife。
  KING。
  Ithinktheironagebeginsbutnow,(Whichlearnedpoetshavesooftentaught)
  Whereinthereisnocredittobegiven,Toeitherwords,orlooks,orsolemnoaths。
  Foriftherewere,howoftenhathhesworn,Howgentlytunedthemusicofhistongue,Andwithwhatamiablefacebeheldheme,Whenall,Godknows,wasbuthypocricy。
  [EnterCobham。]
  COBHAM。
  Longlifeandprosperousreignuntomylord。
  KING。
  Ah,villain,canstthouwishprosperity,Whoseheartincludethnaughtbuttreachery?
  Idoarresttheeheremyself,falseknight,Oftreasoncapitalagainstthestate。
  COBHAM。
  Oftreason,mightyprince?yourgracemistakes。
  Ihopeitisbutinthewayofmirth。
  KING。
  Thyneckshallfeelitisinearnestshortly。
  Darstthouintrudeintoourpresence,knowingHowheinouslythouhastoffendedus?
  Butthisisthyaccustomeddeceit;
  Nowthouperceivestthypurposeisinvain,Withsomeexcuseorotherthouwiltcome,Toclearthyselfofthisrebellion。
  COBHAM。
  Rebellion,goodmyLord?Iknowofnone。
  KING。
  Ifyoudenyit,hereisevidence。
  Seeyouthesemen?younevercounseled,Norofferedthemassistanceintheirwars?
  COBHAM。
  Speak,sirs。Notonebutall;Icravenofavour。
  HaveeverIbeenconversantwithyou,Orwrittenletterstoencourageyou,OrkindledbuttheleastorsmallestpartOfthisyourlateunnaturalrebellion?
  Speak,forIdaretheuttermostyoucan。
  MURLEY。
  Inandoutuponoccasion,Iknowyounot。
  KING。
  No?didstnotsaythatsirJohnOld—castleWasonewithwhomyoupurposedtohavemet?
  MURLEY。
  True,Ididsayso,butinwhatrespect?
  BecauseIhearditwasreportedso。
  KING。
  Wastherenootherargumentbutthat?
  ACTON。
  ToclearmyconscienceereIdie,mylord,Imustconfess,wehavenoothergroundButonlyRumor,toaccusethislord,WhichnowIseewasmerelyfabulous。
  KING。
  Themorepernitiousyoutotainthimthen,Whomyouknewnotwasfaulty,yeaorno。
  COBHAM。
  Letthis,myLord,whichIpresentyourgrace,Speakformyloyalty:readthesearticles,Andthengivesentenceofmylifeordeath。
  KING。
  EarlCambridge,Scroop,andGraycorruptedWithbribesfromCharlesofFrance,eithertowinMyCrownfromme,orsecretlycontriveMydeathbytreason?Isthispossible?
  COBHAM。
  Thereistheplatform,andtheirhands,mylord,Eachseverallysubscribedtothesame。
  KING。
  Ohneverheardof,baseingratitude!
  EventhoseIhugwithinmybosommostArereadiestevermoretostingmyheart。
  Pardonme,Cobham,Ihavedonetheewrong;
  HereafterIwilllivetomakeamends。
  Is,then,theirtimeofmeetingnonearhand?
  We’llmeetwiththem,butlittlefortheirease,IfGodpermit。Go,taketheserebelshence;
  Letthemhavemartiallaw:butasforthee,Friendtothykingandcountry,stillbefree。
  [Exeunt。]
  MURLEY。
  Beitmoreorless,whataworldisthis?
  WouldIhadcontinuedstilloftheorderofknaves,Andneversoughtknighthood,sinceitcostssodear。
  SirRoger,Imaythankyouforall。
  ACTON。
  Nowtistoolatetohaveitremedied,Iprithee,Murley,donoturgemewithit。
  HUNTINGTON。
  Willyouaway,andmakenomoretodo?
  MURLEY。
  Fie,paltry,paltry!toandfro,asoccasionserves;
  Ifyoubesohasty,takemyplace。
  HUNTINGTON。
  No,goodsirknight,youshallbegininyourhand。
  MURLEY。
  Icouldbegladtogivemybettersplace。
  [Exeunt。]
  ACTIV。SCENEIII。Kent。CourtbeforelordCobham’shouse。
  [EnterBishop,lordWarden,CromertheShrieve,LadyCob,andattendants。]
  BISHOP。
  Itellye,Lady,it’snotpossibleButyoushouldknowwhereheconveyshimself,Andyouhavehidhiminsomesecretplace。
  LADYCOBHAM。
  MyLord,believeme,asIhaveasoul,Iknownotwheremylordmyhusbandis。
  BISHOP。
  Goto,goto,yeareanheretic,Andwillbeforcedbytorturetoconfess,Iffairmeanswillnotservetomakeyetell。
  LADYCOBHAM。
  Myhusbandisanoblegentleman,AndneednothidehimselfforanyfactThatereIheardof;thereforewronghimnot。
  BISHOP。
  Yourhusbandisadangerousschismatic,TraitortoGod,theKing,andcommonwealth:
  Andtherefore,masterCroamer,shrieveofKent,Ichargeyoutakehertoyourcustody,AndseizethegoodsofSirJohnOld—castleTotheKing’suse。Lethergoinnomore,Tofetchsomuchasherapparelout。
  Thereisyourwarrantfromhismajesty。
  LORDWARDEN。
  GoodmyLordBishop,pacifyyourwrathAgainsttheLady。
  BISHOP。
  ThenletherconfessWhereOld—castleherhusbandisconcealed。
  LORDWARDEN。
  Idareengageminehonorandmylife,Poorgentlewoman,sheisignorantAndinnocentofallhispractises,Ifanyevilbyhimbepractised。
  BISHOP。
  If,myLordWarden?nay,thenIchargeyou,ThatallthecinquePorts,whereofyouarechief,Belaidforthwith,thatheescapeusnot。
  Shewhimhishighness’warrant,MasterShrieve。
  LORDWARDEN。
  Iamsorryforthenoblegentleman——
  [EnterOld—castleandHarpoole。]
  BISHOP。
  Peace,hecomeshere;nowdoyouroffice。
  COBHAM。
  Harpoole,whatbusinesshavewehereinhand?
  WhatmakestheBishopandtheSheriffhere?
  Ifearmycominghomeisdangerous,IwouldIhadnotmadesuchhastetoCobham。
  HARPOOLE。
  Beofgoodcheer,myLord:iftheybefoes,we’llscrambleshrewdlywiththem:iftheybefriends,theyarewelcome。Oneofthem(myLordWarden)
  isyourfriend;butmethinksmyladyweeps;Ilikenotthat。
  CROAMER。
  SirJohnOld—castle,LordCobham,intheKing’smajesty’sname,Iarrestyeofhightreason。
  COBHAM。
  Treason,MasterCroamer?
  HARPOOLE。
  Treason,MasterShrieve?sblood,whattreason?
  COBHAM。
  Harpoole,Ichargethee,stirnot,butbequietstill。
  Doyearrestme,MasterShrieve,fortreason?
  BISHOP。
  Yea,ofhightreason,traitor,heretic。
  COBHAM。
  Defianceinhisfacethatcallsmeso。
  IamastruealoyalgentlemanUntohishighnessasmyproudestenemy。
  TheKingshallwitnessmylatefaithfulservice,Forsafetyofhissacredmajesty。
  BISHOP。
  Whatthouarttheking’shandshalltestify:
  Shewthim,LordWarden。
  COBHAM。
  Jesudefendme!
  Is’tpossibleyourcunningcouldsotemperTheprincelydispositionofhismind,Tosignthedamageofaloyalsubject?
  Well,thebestis,itbearsanantedate,Procuredbymyabsence,andyourmalice,ButI,sincethat,haveshewdmyselfastrueAsanychurchmanthatdarechallengeme。
  Letmebebroughtbeforehismajesty;
  Ifheacquitmenot,thendoyourworst。
  BISHOP。
  WearenotboundtodokingofficesForanytraitor,schismatic,norheretic。
  Theking’shandisourwarrantforourwork,WhoisdepartedonhiswayforFrance,AndatSouthhamptondothreposethisnight。
  HARPOOLE。
  OthatitweretheblessedwillofGod,thatthouandIwerewithintwentymileofit,onSalisburyplan!Iwouldlosemyheadifeverthoubroughtstthyheadhitheragain。
  [Aside。]
  COBHAM。
  MyLordWardeno’thecinquePorts,&myLordofRochester,yearejointCommissioners:favormesomuch,Onmyexpencetobringmetotheking。
  BISHOP。
  What,toSouthhampton?
  COBHAM。
  Thither,mygoodLord,Andifhedonotclearmeofallguilt,Andallsuspicionofconspiracy,Pawninghisprincelywarrantformytruth:
  Iasknofavour,butextremesttorture。
  Bringme,orsendmetohim,goodmyLord:
  GoodmyLordWarden,MasterShrieve,entreat。
  [HeretheLordWarden,andCroameruncovertheBishop,andsecretlywhisperswithhim。]
  Comehither,lady——nay,sweetwife,forbearToheaponesorrowonanother’sneck:
  Tisgriefenoughfalselytobeaccused,Andnotpermittedtoacquitmyself;
  Donotthouwiththykindrespectivetears,Tormentthyhusband’sheartthatbleedsforthee,Butbeofcomfort。GodhathhelpinstoreForthosethatputassuredtrustinhim。
  Dearwife,iftheycommitmetotheTower,ComeuptoLondontoyoursister’shouse:
  Thatbeingnearme,youmaycomfortme。
  OnesolacefindIsettledinmysoul,ThatIamfreefromtreason’sverythought:
  OnlymyconsciencefortheGospel’ssakeIscauseofallthetroublesIsustain。
  LADYCOBHAM。
  OmydearLord,whatshallbetideofus?
  YoutotheTower,andIturnedoutofdoors,Oursubstanceseizeduntohishighness’use,Eventothegarmentslongingtoourbacks。
  HARPOOLE。
  Patience,goodmadame,thingsatworstwillmend,Andiftheydonot,yetourlivesmayend。
  BISHOP。
  Urgeitnomore,forifanAngelspake,IswearbysweetsaintPeter’sblessedkeys,FirstgoeshetotheTower,thentothestake。
  CROAMER。
  Butbyyourleave,thiswarrantdothnotstretchToimprisonher。
  BISHOP。
  No,turnheroutofdoors,[LordWardenandOld—castlewhisper。]
  Evenassheis,andleadhimtotheTower,Withguardenoughforfearofrescuing。
  LADYCOBHAM。
  O,Godrequitethee,thoublood—thirstyman。
  COBHAM。
  Mayitnotbe,myLordofRochester?
  WhereinhaveIincurredyourhatesofar,ThatmyappealuntotheKing’sdenied?
  BISHOP。
  Nohateofmine,butpowerofholychurch,Forbidsallfavortofalseheretics。
  COBHAM。
  Yourprivatemalice,morethanpublicpower,Strikesmostatme,butwithmylifeitends。
  HARPOOLE。
  OthatIhadtheBishopinthatfear,[Aside。]
  ThatonceIhadhisSumnerbyourselves!
  CROAMER。
  MyLord,yetgrantonesuituntousall,ThatthissameancientservingmanmaywaitUponmylordhismasterintheTower。
  BISHOP。
  Thisoldiniquity,thisheretic?
  That,incontemptofourchurchdiscipline,CompelledmySumnertodevourhisprocess!
  OldRuffianpast—grace,upstartschismatic,HadnottheKingprayedustopardonye,Yehadfriedforit,yegrizzledheretic。
  HARPOOLE。
  Sblood,mylordBishop,yedomewrong。Iamneitherhereticnorpuritan,butoftheoldchurch:
  I’llswear,drinkale,kissawench,gotomass,eatfishallLent,andfastFridayswithcakesandwine,fruitandspicery,shrivemeofmyoldsinsaforeEaster,andbeginnewaforewhitsontide。