1003Which Roger likewise had of his descent,

1004Edmund, Roger, Anne, and Elianor,

1005Two Daughters and two Sons, but of those, three

1006Di'd without issue: Anne, that did survive,

1007And now was left her Fathers onely Heir,

1008By fortune was to marry, Being too

1009By my Grandfather of King Edward's Line:

1010So of his Sir-name, I am cal'd you know.

1011Richard Plantaginet, my Father was,

1012Edward the Duke of York, and son and heir

1013To Edmund Langley, Edward the third's first son.

1014Scro. So that it seems your claim comes by your wife,

1015As lawfull heir to Roger Mortimer

1016The son of Edmund, which did marry Phillip

1017Daughter and heir to Lyonel Duke of Clarence.

1018Cam. True, for this Harry, and his father both

1019Harry the first, as plainly doth appear,

1020Are false intruders, and usurp the Crown.

1021For when young Richard was at Pomfret slain,

1022In him the Title of Prince Edward di'd,

1023That was the eldest of King Edward's sons:

1024William of Hatfield, and their second brother,

1025Death in his nonage had before bereft:

1026So that my wife deriv'd from Lionel

1027Third son unto King Edward, ought proceed

1028And take possession of the Diadem

1029Before this Harry, or his Father King,

1030Who fetch their Title but from Lancaster,

1031Forth of that royal line. And being thus,

1032What reason is't, but she should have her right?

1033Scro. I am resolv'd, our enterprize is just.

1034Gray. Harry shall die or else resigne his Crown.

1036Shall aid you Lords, not only with his men,

1037But send yor money to maintain your warrs:

1038Five hundred thousand Crowns he bad me proffer,

1039If you can stop but Harrie's voyage for France.

1040Scr. We never had a fitter time then now,

1041The Realme in such division as it is.

1042Cam. Besides you must perswade you, there is due

1043Vengeance for Richards murther, which although

1044It be deferr'd, yet will it fall at last,

1045And now as likely as another time.

1046Sin hath had many years to ripen in,

1047And now the harvest cannot be far off,

1048Wherein the weeds of usurpation

1049Are to be cropt, and cast into the fire.

1050Scr. No more, Earle Cambridge, here I plight my faith,

1051To set up thee, and thy renowned wife.

1052Gray. Gray will performe the same, as he is Knight.

1053Chart. And to assist ye, as I said before,

1054Chartres doth 'gage the honour of his King.

1055Scr.We lack but now Lord Cobham's fellowship,

1056And then our plot were absolute indeed.

1057Cam. Doubt not of him, my Lord, his life's pursu'd

1058By th'incensed Clergy, and of late

1059Brought in displeasure with the King, assures

1060He may be quickly won unto our faction.

1061Who hath the Articles were drawn at large

1062Of our whole purpose?

1063Gray. That have I, my Lord.

1064Cam. We should not now be far off from his house,

1065Our serious Conference hath beguild the way:

1066See where his Castle stands, give me the writing.

1067When we are come unto the speech of him,

1068Because we will not stand to make recount

1069Of that which hath been said, here he shall read

1070Our minds at large, and what we crave of him.

1072Scr. A ready way: here comes the man himself

1073Booted and spurr'd, it seems he hath been riding.

1074Cam. Well met, Lord Cobham.

1075Cob. My Lord of Cambridge?

1076Your Honour is most welcome into Kent,

1077And all the rest of this fair company.

1078I am new come from London, gentle Lords:

1079But will ye not take Cowling for your Host,

1080And see what entertainment it affords?

1081Cam. We were intended to have been your guests:

1082But now this lucky meeting shall suffice

1083To end our businesse, and deferre that kindesse.

1084Cob. Business my Lord? what business should

1085Let you to be merry? we have no delicates;

1086Yet this I'le promise you, a piece

of Venison,

1087A cup of wine, and so forth, hunters fare:

1088And if you please, we'll strike the stag our selves

1089Shall fill our dishes with his well-fed flesh.

1090Scro. That is indeed the thing we all desire.

1091Cob. My Lords, and you shall have your choice with me.

1092Cam. Nay but the Stag which we desire to strike,

1093Lives not in Cowling: if you will consent,

1094And go with us, we'll bring you to a Forrest,

1095Where runs a lusty heard: among the which

1096There is a Stag superiour to the rest;

1097A stately beast, that when his fellows run

1098He leads the race, and beats the sullen earth,

1099As though he scorn'd it with his trampling hoofs,

1100Aloft he bears his head, and with his brest

1101Like a huge bulwark counter-checks the wind:

1102And when he standeth still, he stretcheth forth

1103His proud ambitious neck, as if he meant

1104To wound the firmament with forked horns.

1105Cob. 'Tis pitty such a goodly beast should die.

1106Cam.Not so, Sir John, for he is tyranous,

1107And gores the other Deer, and will not keep

1108Within the limits are appointed him.

1109Of late he's broke into a several,

1110Which doth belong to me, and there he spoiles

1111Both corn and pasture, two of his wild race

1112Alike for stealth, and covetous incroaching,

1113Already are remov'd; if he were dead,

1114I should not only be secure from hurt,

1115But with his body make a royal feast.

1116Scro. How say you then, will you first hunt with us?

1117Cob. Faith Lords, I like the pastime, where's the place?

1118Cam. Peruse this writing, it will shew you all,

1120Cob. Call ye this hunting, my Lords? Is this the Stag

1121You fain would chase, Harry our dread King?

1122So we may make a banquet for the devil?

1123And in the stead of wholsome meat, prepare

1124A dish of poison to confound our selves.

1125Cam. Why so, Lord Cobham? See you not our claim?

1126And how imperiously he holds the Crown?

1127Scro. Besides, you know your self is in disgrace,

1128Held as a recreant, and pursu'd to death.

1129This will defend you from your enemies,

1130And stablish your Religion through the Land.

1132My secret thoughts to sound the depth of it.

1133My Lord of Cambridge, I do see your claim,

1134And what good may redound unto the Land,