1925That being near me, you may comfort me.

1926One solace find I setled in my soul,

1927That I am free from Treasons very thought,

1928Onely my conscience for the Gospels sake,

1929Is cause of all the troubles I sustain.

1930La. O, my dear Lord, what shall betide of us?

1931You to the Tower, and I turn'd out of doors,

1932Our substance seiz'd unto his Highnesse use,

1933Even to the garments longing to our backs.

1934Har. Patience, good Madam, things at worst will mend,

1935And if they do not, yet our lives may end.

1936Bish. Urge it no more, for if an Angel spake,

1937I swear by sweet S. Peter's blessed keyes,

1938First goes he to the Tower, then to the stake.

1939Crom. But by your leave, this warrant doth not stretch

1940To imprison her.

1941Bish. No, turn her out of doors,

1942Even as she is, and lead him to the Tower,

1943With guard enough, for fear of rescuing.

1944La. O God requite thee thou bloud-thirsty man.

1945Cob. May it not be, my Lord of Rochester?

1946Wherein have I incurr'd your hate so far,

1947That my appeal unto the King's deny'd.

1948Bish. No hate of mine, but power of holy Church,

1949Forbids all favour to false Hereticks.

1950Cob.Your private malice more then publick power,

1951Strikes most at me, but with my life it ends.

1952Har. aside. O that I had the Bishop in that fear

1953That once I had his Sumner by our selves.

1954Cro. My Lord, yet grant one suit unto us all,

1955That this same ancient servingman may wait

1956Upon my Lord his master in the Tower.

1957Bish. This old iniquity, this heretick?

1958That in contempt of our Church discipline,

1959Compel'd my Sumner to devour his Processe?

1960Old ruffian past-grace, upstart schismatick,

1961Had not the King pray'd us to pardon ye,

1962Ye had fryed for't, ye grizeled heretick.

1963Har. Sblood, my Lord Bishop, ye wrong me, I am

1964neither Heretick nor Puritan, but of the old Church, I'le

1965swear, drink ale, kiss a wench, go to mass, eat fish all

1966Lent, and fast Frydayes with cakes and wine, fruit and

1967spicery, shrive me of my old sinnes afore Easter, and be-

1968gin new before Whitsontide.

1969Cro. A merry mad conceited knave, my Lord.

1970Har. That knave was simply put upon the Bishop.

1971Bish. Well, God forgive him, and I pardon him:

1972Let him attend his master in the Tower,

1973For I in charity wish his soul no hurt.

1974Cob. God bless my soul from such cold charity.

1975Bish. To th'Tower with him, & when my leisure serves

1976I will examine him of Articles;

1977Look, my Lord Warden, as you have in charge

1978The Shrieve perform his office.

1979War. I, my Lord.

1980Bish. What bring'st thou there? what, books of heresie?

1981Sum. Yea, my Lord, here's not a Latine Book,

1982No not so much as our Ladies Psalter:

1983Here's the Bible, the Testament, the Psalmes in meeter,

1984The sick-man's salve, the Treasure of Gladness,

1985All English, no not so much but the Almanack's English.

1986Bish. Away with them, to th'fire with them, Clun,

1987Now fie upon these upstart Hereticks.

1988All English, burn them, burn them quickly, Clun.

1989Harp. But do not, Sumner, as you'll answer it, for I

1990have there English books, my Lord, that I'le not part

1991withall for your Bishoprick, Bevis of Hampton, Owle-

1992glasse, The Fryer and the Boy, Ellen of Rumming, Ro-

1993bin-hood, and other such godly stories, which if you burn,

1994by this flesh I'le make ye drink their ashes in S. Marget's

19971. Ser. Is it your honours we shall stay,

1998Or come back in the afternoon to fetch you.

1999Bish. Now have ye brought me here unto the Tower,

2000You may go back unto the Porter's lodge,

2001Where if I have occasion to employ you,

2002I'le send some officer to call you to me.

2003Into the City go not, I command you,

2004Perhaps I may have present need to use you.

20052. We will attend your honour here without.

20063. Come, we may have a quart of wine at the Rose at

2007Barking, and come back an hour before he'll go.

20081.We must hie us then.

2010Bish. Ho, Mr. Lievtenant.

2011Liev. Who calls there?

2012Bish. A friend of yours.

2013Liev. My Lord of Rochester? your honour's welcome.

2014Bish. Sir, here's my warrant from the counsel,

2015For conference with Sir John Oldcastle,

2016Upon some matter of great consequence.

2017Liev. Ho, Sir John.

2018Har. Who calls there?

2019Liev. Harpool, tell sir John, that my Lord of Rochester

2020Comes from the counsel to confer with him,

2021I think you may as safe without suspition.

2022As any man in England as I hear,

2023For it was you most labour'd his commitment.

2024Bish. I did, sir, and nothing repent it I assure you.

2026Mr. Lievtenant, I pray you give us leave,

2027I must confer here with sir John a little.

2028Liev. With all my heart, my Lord.

2029Har. aside. My Lord, be rul'd by me, take this occasion

2030while it is offered, & on my life your Lordship will escape.

2031Cob. No more I say, peace lest he should suspect it.

2032Bish. Sir John, I am come to you from the Lords of

2033the Counsel, to know if you do recant your errours.

2034Cob. My Lord of Rochester, on good advice.

2035I see my errour; but yet understand me,

2036I mean not errour in the Faith I hold,

2037But errour in submitting to your pleasure,

2038Therefore your Lordship without more to do,

2039Must be a means to help me to escape.

2040Bish. What means, thou heretick?

2041Dar'st thou but lift thy hand against my calling?

2042Cob. No, not to hurt you for a thousand pound.

2043Har. Nothing but to borrow your upper garment a

2044little, not a word more, peace for waking the children;

2045there, put on, dispatch, my Lord, the window that goes

2046out into the Leads is sure enough: as for you, I'le bind

2047you surely in the inner room.

2048Cob. This is well begun, God send us happy speed,

2049Hard shift you see men make in time of need.

20511. I marvel that my Lord should stay so long.

20522. He hath sent to seek us I dare lay my life.

20533. We come in good time, see where he is coming.

2054Har. I beseech you, good my Lord of Rochester, be

2055favourable to my Lord and master.