ROCHESTER

My noble Lord, no more than what you know, And have been oftentimes invested with: Grievous complaints have passed between the lips Of envious persons to upbraid the Clergy, Some carping at the livings which we have, And others spurning at the ceremonies That are of ancient custom in the church. Amongst the which, Lord Cobham is a chief: What inconvenience may proceed hereof, Both to the King and to the common wealth, May easily be discerned, when Like a frenzy This innovation shall possess their minds. These upstarts will have followers to uphold Their damned opinion, more than Harry shall To undergo his quarrel gainst the French. They give themselves the name of Protestants, And meet in fields and solitary groves. To summon him unto the Arches, Where such offences have their punishment. It is, my lord. He cannot (my Lord) in such a case as this. Yea, yea, sir John, if he would keep his word, But I perceive he favours him so much, As this will be to small effect, I fear. And well remembered, I will have it so, A Sumner shall be sent about it strait Exit. Justice dread Sovereign. As thou art King, so grant I may have justice. I tell you Lady, its not possible But you should know where he conveys himself, And you have hid him in some secret place. Go to, go to you are and heretic, And will be forc'de by torture to confess, If fair means will not serve to make you tell. Your husband is a dangerous schismatic, Traitor to God, the King, and common wealth, And therefore master Croamer shrieve of Kenned, I charge you take her to your custody, And cease the goods of Sir John Oldcastle To the Kings use, let her go in no more, To fetch so much as her apparel out, There is your warrant from his majesty. No, turn her out of doors, L. Warden and Oldcastle whisper. Even as she is, and lead him to the Tower, With guard enough for fear of rescuing. What intricate confusion have we here? Not two hours since we apprehended one, In habit Irish, but in speech, not so: And now you bring another, that in speech Is altogether Irish, but in habit Seems to be English: yea and more than so, The servant of that heretic Lord Cobham. Otherwise called Harpoole of Kenned, go to fit, You cannot blind us with your broken Irish. Well, our affairs do call us back to London, So that we cannot prosecute the cause As we desire to do, therefore we leave The charge with you, to see they be conveyed To Hartford Size: both this counterfeit And you sir John of Wrotham, and your wench, For you are culpable as well as they, Though not for murder, yet for felony. But since you are the means to bring to light This graceless murder, you shall bear with you, Our letters to the Judges of the bench, To be your friends in what they lawful may. Pardon him good my Lord, it is his zeal, And honest country prelate, who laments To see such foul disorder in the church. That is our suit, my Lord, that he be taken, And brought in question for his heresy, Beside, two letters brought me out of Wales, Wherein my Lord Herford writes to me, What tumult and sedition was begun, About the Lord Cobham, at the Sises there, For they had much ado to calm the rage, And that the valiant Herbert is there slain. Not for a recompense, But as a token of our love to you, By me my Lords of the clergy do present This purse, and in it full a thousand Angels, Praying your Lordship to accept their gift. Sir, then we crave your furtherance herein. Nay, pray you take it, trust me but you shall, But in his name the quarrel did begin, About the opinion which he held (my hege.) We do beseech you therefore gracious prince, Without offence unto your majesty We may be bold to use authority. Ah my good Lord, the state's abused, And our decrees most shamefully prophande. Even by this heretic, This Jew, this Traitor to your majesty. Thus mighty King, by general consent, A messenger was sent to cite this Lord, To make appearance in the consis ory, And coming to his house, a ruffian slave, One of his daily followers, met the man, Who knowing him to be a parator, Assaults him first, and after in contempt Of us, and our proceedings, makes him eat The written process, parchment, seal and all: Whereby his master neither was brought forth, Nor we but scorned, for our authority. At six a clock this morning. But it was done my lord by his appointment, Or else his man durst never have been so bold. I could have told your majesty as much Before he went, but that I saw your Grace Was too much blinded by his flattery. This falls out well, and at the last I hope Exeunt To see this heretic die in a rope. Where is my Lord the King? health to your grace, Examining my Lord some of these caitiff rebels, It is a general voice amongst them all, That they had never come unto this place, But to have met their valiant general, The good Lord Cobham as they title him, Whereby, my Lord, your grace may now perceive, His treason is apparent, which before He sought to colour by his flattery. It is but counterfeit, my gracious lords, And therefore may it please your majesty, To set your hand unto this precept here, By which weel cause him forthwith to appear, And answer this by order of the law. It shall be done, my Lord, without delay: So now I hold Lord Cobham in my hand, That which shall finish thy disdained life. Then let her confess Where Oldcastle her husband is concealed. If my Lord Warden? nay then I charge you, That all the cinque Ports whereof you are chief Be laid forthwith, that he escape us not, Show him his highness warrant M. Shrieve. Peace, he comes here, now do your office. Yea of high treason, traitor, heretic. What thou art, the kings hand shall testify, Shewt him Lord Warden. We are not bound to do kind office For any traitor, schismatic, nor heretic, The kings hand is our warrant for our work, Who is departed on his way for France, And at Southampton does repose this night. What, to Southampton? Urge it no more, for if and Angel spoke, I swear by sweet saint Peters blessed keys, First goes he to the Tower, then to the stake. No hate of mine, but power of holy church, Foe bids all favour to false heretics. This old iniquity, this heretic? That in contempt of our church discipline, Compelled my Sumner to devour his processet Old Ruffian past-grace, up start schismatic, Had not the King prayed us to pardon you, You had fried for it, you grizild heretic. Well, God forgive him and I pardon him. Let him attend his master in the Tower, For I in charity wish his soul no hurt. Tooth Tower with him, and when my leisure serves, I will examine him of Articles, Look my lord Warden as you have in charge, The Shrive perform his office. What bringest thou there? what? books of heresy. Away with them, to'th fire with them Clun, Now fie upon these upstarted heretics, All English, burn them, burn them quickly Clun. Now you have brought me here into the Tower, You may go back unto the Porters Lodge, And send for drink or such things as you want, Where if I have occasion to employ you, I'll send some officer to call you to me. Into the city go not, I command you, Perhaps I may have present need to use you. Do so I pray you. Ho, M. Lieutenant. A friend of yours. Sir heres my warrant from the counsel, For conference with sir John Oldcastle, Upon some matter of great consequence. I did sir, and nothing repent it I assure you. M. Lieutenant I pray you give us leave, I must confer here with sir John a little. Sir John I am come unto you from the lords of his highness most honourable counsel, to know if yet you do re cant your errors, conforming you unto the holy church. What means? thou heretic? Darest thou but lift thy hand against my calling? Clubs clubs, clubs. So, away with them. exeunt. Oldcastle that traitor and his man, When you had left me to confer with him, Took, bound, and stripped me, as you see, And left me lying in his inner chamber, And so departed, and I It was upon his master then he did, That in the brawl the traitor might escape. Come, search shall be made for him with expedition, the havens laid that he shall not escape, and hue and cry conti nue through England, to find this damned dangerous here tike. exeunt. Help help, help, M. Lieutenant help.