As they are fighting, Enter the Mayor of Hereford, his Officers and Townsmen, with Clubs. May. My lords, as you are liegemen to the

crown,

True noblemen, and subjects to the king,
Attend his highness' proclamation,
Commanded by the judges of assize,
For keeping peace at this assembly.

Her. Good master mayor of Hereford, be brief.

May. Serjeant, without the ceremonies of O yes,

Pronounce aloud the proclamation.

Ser. The king's justices, perceiving what public mischief may ensue this private quarrel, in his majesty's name do straitly charge and command all persons, of what degree soever, to depart this city of Hereford, except such as are bound to give attendance at this assize, and that no man presume to wear any weapon, especially Welshhooks, and forest bills;

Owen. Haw! No pill, nor Wells hoog? ha?
May. Peace, and hear the proclamation.

Ser. And that the lord Powis do presently disperse and discharge his retinue, and depart the city in the king's peace, he and his followers, on pain of imprisonment.

Davy. Haw? pud her lord Powis in prison? A Powis! a Powis! Cossoon, hur will live and tye with hur lord.

Gough. A Herbert! a Herbert!

[They fight. Lord HERBERT is wounded, and falls to the ground. The Mayor and his Attendants interpose. Lord Powis runs away.

Enter two Judges, the Sheriff and his Bailiffs before them.

1 Judge. Where's the lord Herbert? Is he hurt or slain?

Sher. He's here, my lord

2 Judge. How fares his lordship, friends? Gough. Mortally wounded, speechless; he cannot live.

1 Judge. Convey him hence, let not his wounds take air;

And get him dressed with expedition.

[Exeunt Lord HERBERT and GOUGH. Master mayor of Hereford, master sheriff o'the shire,

Commit lord Powis to safe custody,
To answer the disturbance of the peace,
Lord Herbert's peril, and his high contempt
Of us, and you the king's commissioners:
See it be done with care and diligence.

lord?

1 Judge. Away with them.

Davy. Harg you, my lord.

Owen. Gough, my lord Herbert's man, is a shitten knave.

Davy. Ice live and tye in good quarrel.
Owen. Pray you do shustice, let awl be prison.
Davy. Prison! no; lord shudge, I wool give
you pail, good surety.

2 Judge. What bail? what sureties?

Davy. Hur cozen ap Rice, ap Evan, ap Morice, ap Morgan, ap Lluellyn, ap Madoc, ap Meredith, ap Griffin, ap Davy, ap Owen, ap Skinken, ap Shones.

2 Judge. Two of the most sufficient are enough. Sher. An it please your lordship, these are all but one.

1 Judge. To gaol with them, and the lord Herbert's men:

We'll talk with them, when the assize is done.
[Exeunt Bailiffs, OWEN, DAVY, &c.
Riotous, audacious, and unruly grooms!
Must we be forced to come from the bench
To quiet brawls, which every constable,
In other civil places, can suppress?

2 Judge. What was the quarrel that caused all
this stir?

Sher. About religion, as I heard, my lord. Lord Powis detracted from the power of Rome, Affirming Wickliff's doctrine to be true, And Rome's erroneous: hot reply was made By the lord Herbert; they were traitors all That would maintain it. Powis answered, They were as true, as noble, and as wise As he; they would defend it with their lives; He named, for instance, sir John Oldcastle, The lord Cobham: Herbert replied again, He, thou, and all are traitors that so hold. The lie was given, the several factions drawn, And so enraged, that we could not appease it.

1 Judge. This case concerns the king's prero gative,

And 'tis dangerous to the state and commonwealth.

Gentlemen, justices, master mayor, and master sheriff,

It doth behove us all, and each of us,

gone past all recovery.

2 Judge. Yet let search be made,

To apprehend his followers that are left.

For the suppressing of all mutinies,
And all assemblies, except soldiers' musters,
For the king's preparation into France.

We hear of secret conventicles made,
And there is doubt of some conspiracies,
Which may break out into rebellious arms,
When the king's gone, perchance before he go.
Note as an instance, this one perilous fray:
What factions might have grown on either part,
To the destruction of the king and realm?
Yet, in my conscience, sir John Oldcastle's
Innocent of it; only his name was used.
We therefore from his highuess give this charge:
You, master mayor, look to your citizens;
You, master sheriff, unto your shire; and you
As justices, in every one's precinct
There be no meetings: when the vulgar sort
Sit on their alc-bench, with their cups and cans,
Matters of state be not their common talk,
Nor pure religion by their lips profaned.
Let us return unto the bench again,
And there examine further of this fray.

Enter a Bailiff and a Serjeant.

Sher. Sirs, have ye taken the lord Powis yet?
Bail. No, nor heard of him.
Ser. No, he's gone far enough.

2 Judge. They that are left behind, shall answer all. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Eltham. An Anti-chamber in the Palace.

Should have, to colour their vile practices,
A title of such worth, as Protestant?
Enter a Messenger with a Letter, which he gives
to the Duke of Suffolk.

Suf. O, but you must not swear; it ill becomes One of your coat to rap out bloody oaths.

Roch. Pardon him, good my lord; it is his zeal. An honest country prelate, who laments To see such foul disorder in the church.

S. John. There's one, they call him sir John
Oldcastle;

He has not his name for nought; for, like a castle,
Doth he encompass them within his walls:
But till that castle be subverted quite,

We ne'er shall be at quiet in the realm.

Roch. That is our suit, my lord; that he be
ta'en,

And brought in question for his heresy.
Beside, two letters brought me out of Wales,
Wherein my lord of Hereford writes to me,
What tumult and sedition was begun,
About the lord Cobham, at the 'sizes there,
(For they had much ado to calm the rage)
And that the valiant Herbert is there slain.
Suf. A fire that must be quenched. Well, say

no more;

The king anon goes to the council chamber, There to debate of matters touching France.

TER, Butler, and Sir JOHN of Wrotham.

Suf. Now, my lord bishop, take free liberty, To speak your mind: what is your suit to us? Roch. My noble lord, no more than what you know,

Concerning your petition. Master Butler,
If I forget, do you remember me.
But. I will, my lord.

And have been oftentimes invested with.

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 commonwealth,
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 Henry shall,
To undergo his quarrel 'gainst the French.

Suf. What proof is there against them to be
had,

That what you say the law may justify?
Roch. They give themselves the name of Pro-

testants,

And meet in fields and solitary groves.

S. John. Was ever heard, my lord, the like till now?

That thieves and rebels, 'sblood, my lord, heretics,

Plain heretics, (I'll stand to't to their teeth)

VOL. I.

[Offers the Duke u Purse. Suf. I thank them, my lord bishop, for their

love,

Was it not sail the clergy did refuse
To lend us money towards our wars in France?
Suf. It was, my lord, but very wrongfully.
K. Henry. I know it was; for Huntington here
tells me

They have been very bountiful of late.

Suf. And still they vow, my gracious lord, to be so,

Hoping your majesty will think on them
As of your loving subjects, and suppress
All such malicious errors as begin

To spot their calling, and disturb the church.
K. Henry. God else forbid !-Why, Suffolk, is
there

Any new rupture to disquiet them?

Šuf. No new, my lord; the old is great enough; And so increasing, as, if not cut down, Will breed a scandal to your royal state, And set your kingdom quickly in an uproar. The Kentish knight, lord Cobham, in despite Of any law, or spiritual discipline, Maintains this upstart new religion still; And divers great assemblies, by his means, And private quarrels, are commenced abroad, As by this letter more at large, my liege, Is made apparent.

K. Henry. We do find it here, There was in Wales a certain fray of late Between two noblemen. But what of this? Follows it straight, lord Cobham must be he Did cause the same? I dare be sworn, good knight,

He never dreamed of any such contention.

Roch. But in his name the quarrel did begin,
About the opinion which he held, my liege.
K. Henry. What if it did? was either he in
place

To take part with them, or abet them in it?
If brabbling fellows, whose enkindled blood
Seeths in their fiery veins, will needs go fight,
Making their quarrels of some words that passed
Either of you, or you, amongst their cups,
Is the fault yours? or are they guilty of it?

Suf. With pardon of your highness, my dread lord,

Such little sparks, neglected, may in time
Grow to a mighty flame. But that's not all;
He doth beside maintain a strange religion,
And will not be compelled to come to mass.
Roch. We do beseech you therefore, gracious
prince,

Without offence unto your majesty,
We may be bold to use authority.
K. Henry. As how?

Roch. To summon him unto the arches,3 Where such offences have their punishment. K. Henry. To answer personally? is that your meaning?

Roch. It is, my lord.

K. Henry. How, if he appeal?

Roch. My lord, he cannot in such a case as this.

Suf. Not where religion is the plea, my lord.
K. Henry. I took it always, that ourself stood
on't

As a sufficient refuge, unto whom
Not any but might lawfully appeal :
But we'll not argue now upon that point.
For sir John Oldcastle, whom you accuse,
Let me entreat you to dispense a while
With your high title of preheminence.
Report did never yet condemn him so,
But he hath always been reputed loyal:
And, in my knowledge, I can say thus much,
That he is virtuous, wise, and honourable.
If any way his conscience be seduced
To waver in his faith, I'll send for him,
And school bim privately: if that serve not,
Then afterward you may proceed against him.
Butler, be you the messenger for us,
And will him presently repair to court.

[Exeunt King HENRY, HUNTINGTON,
SUFFOLK, and Butler.

S. John. How now, my lord? why stand you discontent?

Insooth, methinks the king hath well decreed. Roch. Ay, ay, 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.

S. John. Why then I'll tell you what you're best to do:

If you suspect the king will be but cold
In reprehending him, send you a process too,
To serve upon him; so you may be sure
To make him answer it, howsoe'er it fall.
Roch. Aud well remembered; 1 will have it
so;

A sumner shall be sent S. John. Yea, do so. remains

about it straight. [Erit. In the mean space this

For kind sir John of Wrotham, honest Jack.
Methinks the purse of gold the bishop gave
Made a good shew, it had a tempting look:
Beshrew me, but my fingers' ends do itch
To be upon those golden ruddocks. Well, 'tis
thus;

I am not as the world doth take me for:

If ever wolf were clothed in sheep's coat,
Then I am he; old huddle and twang i'faith:
A priest in shew, but, in plain terms, a thief.
Yet, let me tell you too, an honest thief;
One that will take it where it may be spared,
And spend it freely in good fellowship.
I have as many shapes as Proteus had;
That still, when any villany is done,
There may be none suspect it was sir John.
Besides, to comfort me, (for what's this life,
Except the crabbed bitterness thereof
Be sweetened now and then with lechery?)
I have my Doll, my concubine as 'twere,
To frolic with; a lusty bouncing girl.

But whilst I loiter here, the gold may 'scape,
And that must not be so: it is mine own.
Therefore I'll meet him on his way to court,
And shrive him of it; there will be the sport.

SCENE III.-Kent.

[Exit.

An outer Court before Lord Cobham's house. A public road leading to it; and an Alehouse appearing at a little distance.

Enter two old Men and two Soldiers.

1 Sold. God help, God help! there's law for
punishing,

But there's no law for our necessity:
There be more stocks to set poor soldiers in,
Than there be houses to relieve them at.

1 Old M. Ay, house-keeping decays in every
place,

Even as Saint Peter writ, still worse and worse. 2 Old M. Master mayor of Rochester has given command, that none shall go abroad out of the parish; and has set down an order forsooth, what every poor householder must give for our relief; where there be some 'sessed, I may say to you, had almost as much need to beg as we.

1 Old M. It is a hard world the while.

2 Old M. If a poor man ask at door for God's sake, they ask him for a licence, or a certificate from a justice.

1 Sold. Faith we have none, but what we bear upon our bodies, our maim'd limbs, God help us.

2 Sold. And yet as lame as I am, I'll with the king into France, if I can but crawl a ship-board. I had rather be slain in France, than starve in England.

1 Old M. Ha, were I but as lusty as I was at Shrewsbury battle, I would not do as I do :-but we are now come to the good lord Cobham's, the best man to the poor in all Kent.

2 Old M. God bless him! there be but few such.

Enter Lord COBHAM and HARPOOL.

Cob. Thou peevish froward man, what wouldst thou have?

Har. This pride, this pride, brings all to beg

Shew me such two men now: no, no; your backs, Your backs, the devil and pride, has cut the throat Of all good house-keeping; they were the best Yeomens' masters that ever were in England.

Cob. Yea, except thou have a crew of filthy knaves

And sturdy rogues, still feeding at my gate,
There is no hospitality with thee.

Har. They may sit at the gate well enough, but the devil of any thing you give them, except they'll eat stones.

Cob. 'Tis 'long then of such hungry knaves as

Cob. Now, sir, here be your alms-knights: now are you

As safe as the emperor.

Har. My alms-knights? Nay, they're yours: it is a shame for you, and I'll stand to't; your foolish alms maintains more vagabonds than all the noblemen in Kent beside.-Out, you rogues, you knaves, work for your livings. Alas, poor men, they may beg their hearts out; there's no more charity among men than among so many mastiff dogs. [Aside.] What make you here, you needy knaves? Away, away, you villains.

2 Sold. I beseech you, sir, be good to us.
Cob. Nay, nay, they know thee well enough; I
think

That all the beggars in this land are thy
Acquaintance: go bestow your alms, none will
Controul you, sir.

Har. What should I give them? you are grown so beggarly, that you can scarce give a bit of bread at your door. You talk of your religion so long, that you have banished charity from you. A man may make a flax-shop in your kitchen chimnies, for any fire there is stirring.

Cob. If thou wilt give them nothing, send them hence;

Let them not stand here starving in the cold.

Har. Who! I drive them hence? If I drive poor men from the door, I'll be hang'd; I know not what I may come to myself. God help ye, poor knaves, ye see the world. Well, you had a mother; O God be with thee, good lady, thy soul's at rest: She gave more in shirts and smocks to poor children, than you spend in your house; and yet you live a beggar too.

[To Lord COBHAM. Cob. Even the worst deed that e'er my mother did,

Was in relieving such a fool as thou.

Har. Ay, I am a fool still: with all your wit you'll die a beggar; go to.

Cob. Go, you old fool, give the poor people something.