1678King. Bring in those Traitors, whose aspiring minds

1679Thought to have triumpht in our overthrow:

1680But now ye see, base villains, what successe

1681Attends ill actions wrongfully attempted.

1682Sir Roger Acton, thou retain'st the name

1683Of Knight, and should'st be more discreetly temper'd

1684Than joyn with pezants, Gentry is divine,

1685But thou hast made it more then popular.

1686Act. Pardon, my Lord, my conscience urg'd me to it

1687Kin. Thy conscience? then conscience is corrupt,

1688For in thy conscience thou art bound to us,

1689And in thy conscience thou should'st love thy Countrey,

1690Else what's the difference 'twixt a Christian,

1691And the uncivil manners of the Turk?

1692Bev. We meant no hurt unto your Majesty,

1693But reformation of Religion.

1694King.Reform Religion? was it that you sought?

1695I pray who gave you that authority?

1696Belike then we hold the Scepter up,

1697And sit within the Throne, but for a Cipher.

1698Time was, good Subjects would make known their grief,

1699And pray amendment, not enforce the same,

1700Unlesse their King were tyrant, which I hope

1701You cannot justly say that Harry is,

1702What is that other?

1703Suf. A Malt-man, my Lord,

1704And dwelling in Dunstable as he sayes.

1705King. Sirrha, what made you leave your Barley broth,

1706To come in armour thus against your King?

1707Mur. Fie, paltry, paltry, to and fro, in and out upon oc-

1708casion, what a world is this? Knighthood (my Liege)

1709'twas Knighthood brought me hither, they told me I had

1710wealth enough to make my Wife a Lady.

1711Kin. And so you brought those horses which we saw,

1712Trapt all in costly furniture, and meant

1713To wear these Spurres when you were Knighted once.

1714Mur. In and out upon occasion I did.

1715Kin. In and out upon occasion, therefore you shall be

1716hang'd, and in the stead of wearing these Spurres upon

1717your heeles, about your neck they shall bewray your fol-

1718ly to the world.

1719Pri. In and out upon occasion, that goes hard.

1720Mur. Fie, paltry, paltry, too and fro: good my Liege,

1721a pardon, I am sorry for my fault.

1722King. That comes too late: but tell me, went there

1723none beside Sir Roger Acton, upon whom

1724You did depend to be you Governour.

1725Mur. None, my Lord, but Sir John Oldcastle.

1727Kin. Beares he a part in this conspiracy.

1728Act. We lookt, my Lord, that he would meet us here.

1729King. But did he promise you that he would come.

1730Act. Such Letters we received forth of Kent,

1731Bish. Where is my Lord the King? health to your grace.

1732Examining, my Lord, some of these Rebels,

1733It is a generall voyce among them all,

1734That they had never come into this place,

1735But to have met their valiant Generall

1736The good Lord Cobham as they title him:

1737Whereby, my Lord, your Grace may now perceive,

1738His Treason is apparant, which before

1739He sought to colour by his flattery.

1740King. Now by my Royalty I would have sworn,

1741But for his conscience which I bear withall,

1742There had not liv'd a more true hearted Subject.

1743Bish. It is but counterfeit, my gracious Lord,

1744And therefore may it please your Majesty,

1745To set your hand unto this precept here,

1746By which we'll cause him forthwith to appear,

1747And answer this by order of the Law.

1748Kin. Not onely that, but take Commission

1749To search, attach, imprison, and condemn,

1750This most notorious traitor as you please.

1751Bish. It shall be done, my Lord, without delay:

1752So now I hold Lord Cobham in my hand,

1753That which shall finish thy disdained life.

1754King. I think the Iron age begins but now,

1755Which learned Poets have so often taught,

1756Wherein there is no credit to be given

1757To either words or looks, or solemn oaths:

1758For if he were, how often hath he sworn,

1759How gently tun'd the musick of his tongue,

1760And with what amiable face beheld he me,

1761When all, God knowes, was but hypocrisie.

1763Cob. Long life and prosperous reign unto my Lord.

1764Kin. Ah, villain, canst thou wish prosperity,

1765Whose heart includeth nought but treachery?

1766I do arrest thee here my self, false Knight,

1767Of treason capitall against the state.

1768Cob. Of treason, mighty Prince? your Grace mistakes,

1769I hope it is but in the way of mirth.

1770Kin. Thy neck shall feel it is in earnest shortly.

1771Dar'st thou intrude into our presence, knowing

1772How hainously thou hast offended us?

1773But this is thy accustomed deceit.

1774Now thou perceiv'st thy purpose is in vain,

1775With some excuse or other thou wilt come

1776To clear thy self of this Rebellion.

1777Cob. Rebellion, good my Lord, I know of none.

1778Kin. If you deny it, here is evidence,

1779See you these men; you never counselled,

1780Nor offered them assistance in their Warres.

1781Cob. Speak, sirs, not one but all, I crave no favour,

1782Have ever I been conversant with you?

1783Or written Letters to encourage you?

1784Or kindled but the least or smallest part

1785Of this your late unnaturall Rebellion?

1786Speak, for I dare the uttermost you can.

1787Mur. In and out upon occasion, I know you not.

1788King. No, didst thou not say, that Sir John Oldcastle

1789Was one with whom you purposed to have met?

1790Mur. True, I did say so, but in what respect,

1791Because I heard it was reported so.

1792King. Was there no other argument but that?

1793Act. I must confesse we have no other ground

1794But onely runour to accuse this Lord,

1795Which now I see was meerly fabulous.

1796Kin. The more pernitious you to taint him then,

1797Whom you know was not faulty, yea or no.

1798Cob. Let this, my Lord, which I present your Grace

1799Speak for my loyalty, read these Articles,

1800And then give sentence of my life or death.

1801Kin. Earl Cambridge, Scroop, and Gray corrupted

1802With bribes from Charles of France, either to win

1803My Crown from me, or secretly contrive

1804My death by Treason? Is't possible.

1805Cob. There is the platforme, and their hands, my Lord,

1806Each severally subscribed to the same.

1807Kin. Oh never heard of base ingratitude!

1808Even those I hug within my bosome most,

1809Are readiest evermore to sting my heart.

1810Pardon me, Cobham, I have done thee wrong,

1811Hereafter I will live to make amends.

1812Is then their time of meeting so near hand?

1813We'll meet with them, but little for their ease,

1814If God permit. Go take these Rebels hence,

1815Let them have martiall law: but as for thee,

1817Mur. Be it more or lesse, what a world is this?

1818Would I had continued still of the order of knaves,

1819And ne're sought Knight-hood, since it costs

1820So dear: Sir Roger, I may thank you for all.

1821Acton. Now 'tis too late to have it remedied,

1822I prethee, Murley, doe not urge me with it.

1823Hun. Will you away, and make no more to doe?

1824Mur. Fie paltry, paltry, too and fro, as occasion serves,

1825If you be so hasty, take my place.

1826Hun. No, good sir Knight, e'ne tak't your self.