1295 Mes. It is a world to see now I am flush,

1296How many friends I purchase euery where!

1297How many seekes to creepe into my fauour,

1298And kisse their hands, and bend their knees to me!

1299No more, here comes the Queene, now shall I know her mind,

1300And hope for to deriue more crownes from her. Enter Ragā.

1301Rag. My friend, I see thou mind'st thy promise well,

1302And art before me here, me thinks, to day.

1303Mes. I am a poore man, and it like your Grace;

1304But yet I alwayes loue to keepe my word.

1305Ra. Wel, keepe thy word with me, & thou shalt see,

1306That of a poore man I will make thee rich.

1307Mes. I long to heare it, it might haue bin dispatcht,

1308If you had told me of it yesternight.

1309Ra. It is a thing of right strange consequence,

1310And well I cannot vtter it in words.

1311Mes. It is more strange, that I am not by this

1312Beside my selfe, with longing for to heare it.

1313Were it to meet the Deuill in his denne,

1314And try a bout with him for a scratcht face,

1315Ide vndertake it, if you would but bid me.

1316Ra. Ah, good my friend, that I should haue thee do,

1317Is such a thing, as I do shame to speake;

1318Yet it must needs be done.

1319Mes. Ile speak it for thee, Queene: shall I kill thy father?

1320I know tis that, and if it be so, say. Rag. I.

1321Mes. Why, thats ynough.

1322Rag. And yet that is not all.

1323Mes. What else?

1324Rag. Thou must kill that old man that came with him.

E3 Mes. Here

1325Mes. Here are two hands, for eche of them is one.

1326Rag. And for eche hand here is a recompence.

1328Mes. Oh, that I had ten hands by myracle,

1329I could teare ten in pieces with my teeth,

1330So in my mouth yould put a purse of gold.

1331But in what maner must it be effected?

1332Rag. To morrow morning ere the breake of day,

1333I by a wyle will send them to the thicket,

1334That is about some two myles from the Court,

1335And promise them to meet them there my selfe,

1336Because I must haue priuate conference,

1337About some newes I haue receyu'd from Cornwall.

1338This is ynough, I know, they will not fayle,

1339And then be ready for to play thy part:

1340Which done, thou mayst right easily escape,

1341And no man once mistrust thee for the fact:

1342But yet, before thou prosecute the act,

1343Shew him the letter, which my sister sent,

1344There let him read his owne inditement first,

1345And then proceed to execution:

1346But see thou faynt not; for they will speake fayre.

1347Mes.Could he speak words as pleasing as the pipe

1348Of Mercury, which charm'd the hundred eyes

1349Of watchfull Argos, and inforc'd him sleepe:

1350Yet here are words so pleasing to my thoughts, To the purse.

1351As quite shall take away the sound of his. Exit.

1352Rag. About it then, and when thou hast dispatcht,

1353Ile find a meanes to send thee after him. Exit.