2556Goa. Bring forth the prisoners, see the Court prepar'd,

2557The Justices are coming to the Bench:

2559Cob. Oh give me patience to endure this scourge.

2560Thou that art fountain of that vertuous stream,

2561And though contempt of witness, and reproach

2562Hang on these iron gives, to presse my life

2563As low as earth, yet strengthen me with faith,

2564That I may mount in spirit above the clouds.

2566Here comes my Lady, sorrow 'tis for her.

2567Thy wound is grievous, else I scoffe at thee,

2568What and poor Harpool! art thou i'th'bryars too?

2569Har. Ifaith my Lord, I am in, get out how I can.

2570La. Say (gentle Lord) for now we are alone,

2571And may conferre, shall we confesse in brief,

2572Of whence, and what we are, and so prevent

2573The accusation is commenc'd against us?

2574Cob. What will that help us? Being known, sweet love,

2575We shall for heresie be put to death,

2576For so they term the Religion we professe.

2577No, if we dye, let this our comfort be,

2578That of the guilt impos'd our soules are free.

2579Har. I, I my Lord, Harpool is so resolv'd,

2580I wreak of death the lesse in that I dye,

2581Not by the sentence of that envious Priest.

2582La. Well, be it then according as heavens please.

2586Judg. Now Mr. Maior, what Gentleman is that

2587You bring with you before us to the bench?

2588May. The Lord Powis, if it like your honour,

2589And this his Lady travelling toward Wales;

2590Who, for they lodg'd last night within my house,

2591And my Lord Bishop did lay wait for such,

2592Were very willing to come on with me,

2593Lest for their sakes, suspition we might wrong.

2594Jud. We cry your honour mercy, good my Lord,

2595Wilt please you take your place. Madam, your Ladyship

2596May here, or where you will repose your self

2597Until this businesse now in hand be past.

2598La. Po. I will withdraw into some other room,

2599So that your Lordship and the rest be pleas'd.

2600Jud. With all our hearts: attend the Lady there.

2601Pow. Wife, I have ey'd yon pris'ners all this while,

2602And my conceit doth tell me, 'tis our friend

2603The Noble Cobham, and his virtuous Lady.

2605Po. What it means

2606I cannot tell, but we shall know anon:

2607Mean time as you pass by them, ask the question,

2608But do it secretly you be not seen,

2609And make some sign, that I may know your mind.

2611La. Po. My Lord Cobham? Madam?

2612Cob. No Cobham now, nor Madam, as you love us,

2613But Iohn of Lancashire, and Joan his wife.

2614La. Po. Oh tell, what is it that our love can do,

2615To pleasure you, for we are bound to you.

2616Cob. Nothing but this, that you conceal our names;

2617So, gentle Lady, passe for being spyed.

2619Jud. Call the Prisoners to the Bar: sir Richard Lee,

2620What evidence can you bring against these people,

2621To prove them guilty of the murther done?

2622Lee. This bloudy Towel, and these naked Knives,

2623Beside, we found them sitting by the place,

2624Where the dead body lay within a bush.

2625Iud. What answer you why Law should not proceed,

2626According to this evidence given in,

2627To tax ye with the penalty of death?

2628Cob. That we are free from murders very thought,

2629And know not how the Gentleman was slain.

26301. Iust. How came this linnen cloath so bloudy then?

2631L. Cob. My husband hot with travelling, my Lord,

2632His nose gusht out a bleeding, that was it.

26332. Iust. But how came your sharp edg'd knives un-

2634sheath'd?

2635L. Cob. To cut such simple victual as we had.

2636Jud. Say we admit this answer to those Articles,

2637What made you in so private a dark nook,

2638So far remote from any common path,

2639As was the thick where the dead corps was thrown?

2640Cob. Journying, my Lord, from London, from the Term,

2641Down into Lancashire, where we do dwell;

2642And what with age, and travel being faint,

2643We gladly sought a place where we might rest,

2644Free from resort of other passengers,

2645And so we stray'd into that secret corner.

2646Iud. These are but ambages to drive off time,

2647And linger justice from her purpos'd end.

2648But who are these?

2650Con. Stay judgement, and release those innocents,

2651For here is he whose hand hath done the deed,

2652For which they stand endited at the Bar:

2653This savage villain, this rude Irish slave,

2654His tongue already hath confest the fact,

2655And here is witnesse to confirm as much.

2656Pri. Yes, my good Lord, no sooner had he slain

2657His loving Master for the wealth he had,

2658But I upon the instant met with him:

2659And what he purchas'd with the losse of bloud,

2660With strokes I presently bereav'd him of,

2661Some of the which is spent, the rest remaining,

2662I willingly surrender to the hands

2663Of old Sir Richard Lee, as being his;

2664Beside, my Lord Judge, I greet your honour

2665With Letters from my Lord of Rochester.

2667Lee. Is this the Wolf, whose thirsty throat did drink

2668My dear Son's bloud? art thou the Snake

2669He cherisht, yet with envious piercing sting

2670Assaild'st him mortally? Were't not that the Law

2671Stands ready to revenge thy cruelty,

2672Traytor to God, thy Master, and to me,

2673These hands should be thy executioner.

2674Iud. Patience, sir Richard Lee, you shall have justice.

2675The fact is odious, therefore take him hence,

2676And being hang'd until the wretch be dead,

2677His body after shall be hang'd in chains,

2678Near to the place where he did act the murther.

2679Irish. Prythee, Lord Shudge, let me have mine own

2680cloathes, my strouces there, and let me be hang'd in a

2682Iud. Go to, away with him. And now, sir Iohn,

2683Although by you this murther came to light:

2684Yet upright Law will not hold you excus'd,

2685For you did rob the Irish-man, by which

2686You stand attainted here of Fellony:

2687Beside, you have been lewd, and many yeares

2688Led a lascivious, unbeseeming life.

2689Pri. O but, my Lord, sir Iohn repents, and he will mend.

2690Iud. In hope thereof, together with the favour

2691My Lord of Rochester intreats for you,

2692We are content you shall be proved.

2693Pri.I thank your good Lordship.

2694Iud. These falsly here accus'd, and brought

2695In peril wrongfully, we in like sort do set at liberty.

2696Lee. And for amends,

2697Touching the wrong unwittingly I have done,

2698I give these few Crowns.

2699Iud. Your kindnesse merits praise, sir Richard Lee,

2701Pow. But Powess still must stay,

2702There yet remains a part of that true love

2703He owes his noble Friend, unsatisfied

2704And unperform'd, which first of all doth bind me

2705To gratulate your Lordship's safe delivery:

2706And then intreat, that since unlookt for thus

2707We here are met, your honour would vouchsafe

2708To ride with me to Wales, where though my power,

2709(Though not to quittance those great benefits

2710I have receiv'd of you) yet both my house,

2711My purse, my servants, and what else I have

2712Are all at your command. Deny me not,

2713I know the Bishop's hate pursues ye so,

2714As there's no safety in abiding here.

2715Cob. 'Tis true my Lord, and God forgive him for it.

2716Pow. Then let us hence, you shall be straight provided

2717Of lusty geldings: and once entred Wales,

2718Well may the Bishop hunt, but spight his face,