168Suf. Now, my Lord Bishop, take free liberty

169To speak your mind; What is your suit to us?

170Bish. My noble Lord, no more then what you know,

171And have been oftentimes invested with:

172Grievous complaints have past between the lips

173Of envious persons to upbraid the Clergy,

174Some carping at the livings which we have;

175And others spurning at the Ceremonies

176That are of ancient custome in the Church.

177Amongst the which, Lord Cobham is a chief:

178What inconvenience may proceed hereof,

179Both to the King, and to the Common-wealth,

180May easily be discern'd, when like a frensie

181This innovation shall possesse their minds.

182These upstarts will have followers to uphold

183Their damn'd opinion, more than Harry shall,

184To undergo his quarrel 'gainst the French.

185Suf.What proof is there against them to be had,

186That what you say the Law may justifie?

187Bish. They give themselves the names of Protestants,

188And meet in fields and solitary groves.

189S. Joh. Was ever heard (my Lord) the like till now?

190That thieves and rebels, sbloud hereticks,

191Plain hereticks, I'le stand to't to their teeth,

192Should have to colour their vile practises,

193A Title of such worth, as Protestant?

195Suf. O but you must not swear, it ill becomes

196One of your coat, to rap out bloudy oaths.

197Bish. Pardon him, good my Lord, it is his zeal,

198An honest country Prelate, who laments

199To see such foul disorder in the Church.

200S. Joh. There's one they call him Sir John Oldcastle,

201He has not his name for nought: for like a Castle

202Doth he encompasse them wilhin his walls,

203But till that castle be subverted quite,

204We ne're shall be at quiet in the Realme.

205Bish. This is our suit (my Lord) that he be tane

206And brought in question for his heresie:

207Beside, two Letters brought me out of Wales,

208Wherein my Lord Hertford writes to me,

209What tumult and sedition was begun,

210About the Lord Cobham, at the Sizes there,

211For they had much adoe to calme the rage,

212And that the valiant Herbert is there slain.

213Suf. A fire that must be quencht. Well, say no more,

214The King anon goes to the Council Chamber,

215There to debate of matters touching France,

216As he doth passe by, I'le informe his Grace

217Concerning your Petition. Master Butler,

218If I forget, do you remember me.

220Bish. Not as a Recompence,

221But as a Token of our love to you.

222By me (my Lords) the Clergy doth present

223This purse, and in it full a thousand Angels,

224Praying your Lordship to accept their gift.

225Suf. I thank them, my Lord Bishop, for their love,

226But will not take their money, if you please

227To give it to this Gentleman, you may.

228Bish. Sir, then we crave your futherance herein.

229But. The best I can, my Lord of Rochester.

230Bish. Nay, pray take it, trust me you shall.

231S. John. Were ye all three upon New-Market heath,

232You should not need strain curt'sie who should ha't,

233Sir John would quickly rid ye of that care.

234Suf. The King is coming: Fear yea not, my Lord,

235The very first thing I will break with him

236Shall be about your matter.

238Har. My Lord of Suffolk,

239Was it not said the Clergy did refuse

240To lend us Money toward our warrs in France?

241Suf. It was my Lord, but very wrognfully.

242Har. I know it was: for Hungtington here tells me

243They have been very bountifull of late.

244Suf. And still they vow, my gracious Lord, to be so,

245Hoping your Majesty will think on them

246As of your loving Subjects, and suppresse

247All such malicious errors as begin

248To spot their calling, and disturb the Church.

249Har. God else forbid: why,

Suffolk,

250Is there any new rupture to disquiet them?

251Suf. No new my Lord, the old is great enough,

252And so increasing, as if not cut down,

253Will breed a scandal to your Royal State,

254And set your Kingdome quickly in an uproar.

255The Kentish Knight, Lord Cobham in despight

256Of any Law, or spiritual discipline,

257Maintains this upstart new Religion still,

258And divers great assemblies by his means

259And private quarrels, are commenc'd abroad,

260As by this letter more at large my Liege, is made apparent.

261Har. We do find it here,

262There was in Wales a certain fray of late

263Between two Noblemen. But what of this?

264Follows it straight Lord Cobham must be he

265Did cause the same? I dare be sworn (good Knight)

266He never dreamt of any such contention.

267Bish. But in h s name the quarrel did begin,

268About the opinion which he held my Liege.

269Har. What if it did? was either he in place

270To take part with them? or abet them in it?

271If brabling fellows, whose enkindled bloud

272Seeths in their fiery veins, will needs go fight,

273Making their quarrels of some words that past

274Either if you, or you, amongst their cups,

275Is the fault yours? or are they guilty of it?

276Suf. With pardon of your Highnesse, my dread Lord,

277Such little sparks neglected, may in time

278Grow to a mighty flame. But that's not all,

279He doth beside maintain a strange Religion,

280And will not be compell'd to come to Mass.

281Bish. We do beseech you therefore, gracious Prince,

282Without offence unto your Majesty,

283We may be bold to use authority.

284Har. As how?

285Bish. To summon him unto the Arches,

286Where such offences have their punishment.

287Har.To answer personally, is that your meaning?

288Bish. It is, my Lord.

289Har. How if he appeal?

290Bish. My Lord, he cannot in such a case as this.

291Suf. Not where Religion is the plea, my Lord.

292Har. I took it alwayes, that our self stood on't

293As a sufficient refuge: unto whom

294Not any but might lawfully appeal.

295But we'll not argue now upon that point.

296For Sir John Oldcastle whom you accuse,

297Let me intreat you to dispence a while

299Report did never yet condemne him so,

300But he hath alwayes been reputed loyal:

301And in my knowledge I can say thus much,

302That he is vertuous, wise, and honorable.

303If any way his conscience be seduc'd

304To waver in his faith, I'le send for him

305And schoole him privately: If that serve not,

306Then afterward you may proceed against him.

307Butler, be you the Messenger for us,

309S. John. How now my Lord? why stand you discontent?

310Insooth (methinks) the King hath well decreed.

311Bish. I, I, Sir John, if he would keep his word:

312But I perceive he favours him so much

313As this will be to small effect, I fear.

314S. John. Why then I'le tell you what y'are best to do:

315If you suspect the King will be but cold

316In reprehending him, send you a Process too

317To serve upon him: so ye may be sure

318To make him answer't, howsoere it fall.

319Bish. And well remembred, I will have it so,

321S. John. Yea do so. In the mean space this remains

322For kind Sir John of Wrotham, honest Jack.

323Me thinks the purse of Gold the Bishop gave

324Made a good shew, it had a tempting look:

325Beshrew me, but my fingers ends do itch

326To be upon those golden ruddocks. Well, 'tis thus;

327I am not as the world doth take me for:

328If ever wolfe were cloathed in sheeps coat,

329Then I am he; old huddle and twang'ifaith:

330A Priest in shew, but (in plain termes) a Thief:

331Yet let me tell you too, an honest Thief;

332One that will take it where it may be spar'd,

333And spend it freely in good fellowship.

334I have as many shapes as Proteus had,

335That still when any villany is done,

336There may none suspect it was Sir John.

337Besides, to comfort me (for what's this life,

338Except the crabbed bitternesse thereof

339Be sweetned now and then with Letchery?)

340I have my Doll, my Concubine as 'twere,

341To frolick with, a lusty bouncing girle.

342But whil'st I loyter here, the Gold may scape,

343And that must not be so: It is mine own.

344Therefore I'le meet him on his way to Court,