第3章
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  CROAMER。

  Amerry,mad,conceitedknave,mylord。

  HARPOOLE。

  ThatknavewassimplyputupontheBishop。

  BISHOP。

  Well,GodforgivehimandIpardonhim。

  LethimattendhismasterintheTower,ForIincharitywishhissoulnohurt。

  COBHAM。

  Godblessmysoulfromsuchcoldcharity!

  BISHOP。

  Tooth’Towerwithhim,andwhenmyleisureserves,IwillexaminehimofArticles。

  Look,mylordWarden,asyouhaveincharge,TheShriveperformhisoffice。

  LORDWARDEN。

  Yes,mylord。

  [EntertheSumnerwithbooks。]

  BISHOP。

  Whatbringstthouthere?what,booksofheresy?

  SUMNER。

  Yea,mylord,here’snotalatinbook,no,notsomuchasourlady’sPsalter。Here’stheBible,thetestament,thePsalmsinmeter,thesickman’ssalve,thetreasureofgladness,andallinEnglish,notsomuchbuttheAlmanac’sEnglish。

  BISHOP。

  Awaywiththem,tothefirewiththem,Clun!

  Nowfieupontheseupstartheretics。

  AllEnglish!burnthem,burnthemquickly,Clun!

  HARPOOLE。

  Butdonot,Sumner,asyou’llanswerit,forIhavethereEnglishbooks,mylord,thatI’llnotpartwithforyourBishopric:BevisofHampton,Owlglass,theFriarandtheBoy,EleanorRumming,Robinhood,andothersuchgodlystories,whichifyeburn,bythisflesh,I’llmakeyedrinktheirashesinSaintMarget’sale。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTIV。SCENEIV。TheentranceoftheTower。

  [EnterBishopofRochesterwithhismeninliverycoats。]

  FIRSTSERVANT。

  Isityourhonor’spleasureweshallstay,Orcomebackintheafternoontofetchyou?

  BISHOP。

  NowyouhavebroughtmehereintotheTower,YoumaygobackuntothePortersLodge,Andsendfordrinkorsuchthingsasyouwant,WhereifIhaveoccasiontoemployyou,I’llsendsomeofficertocallyoutome。

  Intothecitygonot,Icommandyou:

  PerhapsImayhavepresentneedtouseyou。

  SECONDSERVANT。

  Wewillattendyourworshipherewithout。

  BISHOP。

  Doso,Iprayyou。

  THIRDSERVANT。

  Come,wemayhaveaquartofwineattheRoseatBarking,Iwarrantyou,andcomebackanhourbeforehebereadytogo。

  FIRSTSERVANT。

  Wemusthieusthen。

  THIRDSERVANT。

  Let’saway。

  [Exeunt。]

  BISHOP。

  Ho,MasterLieutenant。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Whocallsthere?

  BISHOP。

  Afriendofyours。

  LIEUTENANT。

  MylordofRochester!yourhonor’swelcome。

  BISHOP。

  Sir,here’smywarrantfromtheCounsel,ForconferencewithsirJohnOld—castle,Uponsomematterofgreatconsequence。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Ho,sirJohn!

  HARPOOLE。

  Whocallsthere?

  LIEUTENANT。

  Harpoole,tellSirJohn,thatmylordofRochesterComesfromthecounseltoconferwithhim。

  HARPOOLE。

  Iwill,sir。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Ithinkyoumayassafewithoutsuspicion,AsanymaninEngland,asIhear,Foritwasyoumostlaboredhiscommitment。

  BISHOP。

  Idid,sir,andnothingrepentit,Iassureyou。

  [EntersirJohnOld—castleandHarpoole。]

  MasterLeiftenant,Iprayyougiveusleave,ImustconferherewithsirJohnalittle。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Withallmyheart,mylord。

  HARPOOLE。

  [Aside。]Mylord,beruledbyme:takethisoccasionwhiletisoffered,andonmylifeyourlordshipshallescape。

  COBHAM。

  Nomore,Isay;peace,lestheshouldsuspectit。

  BISHOP。

  SirJohn,Iamcomeuntoyoufromthelordsofhishighness’mosthonorablecounsel,toknowifyetyoudorecantyourerrors,conformingyouuntotheholychurch。

  COBHAM。

  MylordofRochester,ongoodadvise,Iseemyerror,butyet,understandme,ImeannoterrorinthefaithIhold,Buterrorinsubmittingtoyourpleasure;

  Therefore,yourlordship,withoutmoretodo,Mustbeameanstohelpmetoescape。

  BISHOP。

  Whatmeans,thouheretic?

  Darstthoubutliftthyhandagainstmycalling?

  COBHAM。

  No,nottohurtyouforathousandpound。

  HARPOOLE。

  Nothingbuttoborrowyouruppergarmentsalittle;

  notawordmore,forifyoudo,youdie:peace,forwakingthechildren。There;putthemon;dispatch,mylord。Thewindowthatgoesoutintotheleadsissureenough,Itoldyouthatbefore:there,makeyouready;

  I’llconveyhimafter,andbindhimsurelyintheinnerroom。

  [CarriesthebishopintotheTower,andreturns。]

  COBHAM。

  Thisiswellbegun;Godsendushappyspeed,Hardshiftyouseemenmakeintimeofneed,Harpoole。

  [Putsonthebishop’scloak。]

  HARPOOLE。

  HeremyLord;come,comeaway。

  [Enterservingmenagain。]

  FIRSTSERVANT。

  Imarvelthatmylordshouldstaysolong。

  SECONDSERVANT。

  Hehathsenttoseekus,Idarelaymylife。

  THIRDSERVANT。

  Wecomeingoodtime;see,whereheiscoming。

  HARPOOLE。

  Ibeseechyou,goodmylordofRochester,befavourabletomylordandmaster。

  COBHAM。

  Theinnerroomsbeveryhotandclose,IdonotlikethisairhereintheTower。

  HARPOOLE。

  Hiscaseishardmylord。——YoushallsafelygetoutoftheTower;butIwilldownuponthem,inwhichtimegetyouaway。

  COBHAM。

  Fellow,thoutroublestme。

  HARPOOLE。

  Hearme,myLord!——HardunderIslingtonwaityoumycoming;IwillbringmyLady,readywithhorsestoconveyyouhence。

  COBHAM。

  Fellow,gobackagainuntothyLordandcounselhim。

  HARPOOLE。

  Nay,mygoodlordofRochester,I’llbringyoutoSaintAlbansthroughthewoods,Iwarrantyou。

  COBHAM。

  Villain,away。

  HARPOOLE。

  Nay,sinceIampasttheTower’sliberty,thoupart’stnotso。

  [Hedraws。]

  COBHAM。

  Clubs,clubs,clubs!

  FIRSTSERVANT。

  Murther,murther,murther!

  SECONDSERVANT。

  Downwithhim!

  [Theyfight。]

  THIRDSERVANT。

  Avillaintraitor!

  HARPOOLE。

  Youcowardlyrogues!

  [SirJohnescapes。]

  [EnterLieutenantandhismen。]

  LIEUTENANT。

  Whoissoboldasdaretodrawasword,SonearuntotheentranceoftheTower?

  FIRSTSERVANT。

  Thisruffian,servanttosirJohnOld—castle,WasliketohaveslainmyLord。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Layholdonhim。

  HARPOOLE。

  Standoff,ifyouloveyourpuddings。

  [Rochestercallswithin。]

  BISHOP。

  Help,help,help!MasterLieutenant,help!

  LIEUTENANT。

  Who’sthatwithin?sometreasonintheTowerUponmylife。Lookin;who’sthatwhichcalls?

  [EnterRochesterbound。]

  LIEUTENANT。

  Withoutyourcloak,mylordofRochester?

  HARPOOLE。

  There,nowitworks,thenletmespeed,fornowIsthefittesttimeformetoscapeaway。

  [Exit。]

  LIEUTENANT。

  Whydoyoulooksoghastlyandaffrighted?

  BISHOP。

  Old—castle,thattraitor,andhisman,Whenyouhadleftmetoconferwithhim,Took,bound,andstriptme,asyousee,Andleftmelyinginhisinnerchamber,Andsodeparted,andI——

  LIEUTENANT。

  Andyou?ne’ersaythattheLordCobham’smanDidheresetuponyouliketomurtheryou。

  FIRSTSERVANT。

  Andsohedid。

  BISHOP。

  Itwasuponhismasterthenhedid,Thatinthebrawlthetraitormightescape。

  LIEUTENANT。

  WhereisthisHarpoole?

  SECONDSERVANT。

  Herehewasevennow。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Where?canyoutell?

  SECONDSERVANT。

  Theyarebothescaped。

  LIEUTENANT。

  Sinceitsohappensthatheisescaped,Iamgladyouareawitnessofthesame,Itmighthaveelsebeenlaiduntomycharge,ThatIhadbeenconsentingtothefact。

  BISHOP。

  Come,searchshallbemadeforhimwithexpedition,Thehavenslaidthatheshallnotescape,AndhueandcrycontinuethroughEngland,Tofindthisdamned,dangerousheretic。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEI。AroominlordCobham’shouseinKent。

  [EnterCambridge,Scroop,andGray,asinachamber,andsetdownatatable,consultingabouttheirtreason:KingHarryandSuffolklisteningatthedoor。]

  CAMBRIDGE。

  Inmineopinion,Scroophathwelladvised,Poisonwillbetheonlyaptestmean,Andfittestforourpurposetodispatchhim。

  GRAY。

  Butyettheremaybedoubtintheirdelivery。

  Harryiswise;therefore,EarlofCambridge,Ijudgethatwaynotsoconvenient。

  SCROOP。

  Whatthinkyethenofthis?Iamhisbedfellow,Andunsuspectednightlysleepwithhim。

  WhatifIventureinthosesilenthours,Whensleephathsealedupallmortaleyes,Tomurderhiminbed?howlikeyethat?

  CAMBRIDGE。

  Hereinconsistsnosafetyforyourself,And,youdisclosed,whatshallbecomeofus?

  Butthisday(asyeknow)hewillaboard——

  Thewindssofair——andsetawayforFrance。

  If,ashegoes,orenteringintheship,Itmightbedone,thenitwereexcellent。

  GRAY。

  Whyanyofthese,or,ifyouwill,I’llcauseApresentsittingoftheCounsel,whereinIwillpretendsomematterofsuchweightAsneedsmusthavehisroyalcompany,AndsodispatchhimintheCounselchamber。

  CAMBRIDGE。

  Tush,yetIhearnotanythingtopurpose。

  IwonderthatlordCobhamstayssolong;

  Hiscounselinthiscasewouldmuchavailus。

  [Theyrisefromthetable,andtheKingstepsintothem,withhisLords。]

  SCROOP。

  What,shallwerisethus,anddeterminenothing?

  KING。

  Thatwereashameindeed;no,sitagain,Andyoushallhavemycounselinthiscase。

  IfyoucanfindnowaytokillthisKing,ThenyoushallseehowIcanfurtherye:

  Scroop’swayofpoisonwasindifferent,Butyet,beingbed—fellowuntotheKing,Andunsuspectedsleepinginhisbosom,Inmineopinion,that’sthelikelierway,Forsuchfalsefriendsareabletodomuch,AndsilentnightisTreason’sfittestfriend。

  Now,Cambridge,inhissettinghenceforFrance,Orbytheway,orashegoesabroad,Todothedeed,whatwasindifferenttoo,Yetsomewhatdoubtful,mightIspeakmymind。

  Formanyreasonsneedlessnowtourge。

  Mary,LordGraycamesomethingnearthepoint:

  TohavetheKingatcounsel,andtheremurderhim,AsCaesarwas,amongsthisdearestfriends:

  Noneliketothat,ifallwereofhismind。

  Tellme,ohtellme,you,brighthonor’sstains,Forwhichofallmykindnessestoyou,Areyebecomethustraitorstoyourking,AndFrancemusthavethespoilofharry’slife?

  ALL。

  Ohpardonus,dreadlord。

  [Allkneeling。]

  KING。

  How,pardonye?thatwereasinindeed。

  Dragthemtodeath,whichjustlytheydeserve,[Theyleadthemaway。]

  AndFranceshalldearlybuythisvillainy,Sosoonaswesetfootingonherbreast。

  Godhavethepraiseforourdeliverance;

  Andnext,ourthanks,LordCobham,istothee,Trueperfectmirrorofnobility。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEII。AhighroadnearSt。Albans。

  [EnterPriestandDoll。]

  SIRJOHN。

  Come,Doll,come;bemerry,wench。

  Farewell,Kent,wearenotfondforthee。

  Belusty,mylass,come,forLancashire,WemustniptheBoungforthesecrowns。

  DOLL。

  Why,isallthegoldspentalreadythatyouhadtheotherday?

  SIRJOHN。

  Gone,Doll,gone;flown,spent,vanished:thedevil,drinkandthedicehasdevouredall。

  DOLL。

  YoumighthaveleftmeinKent,thatyoumight,untilyouhadbeenbetterprovided,IcouldhavestayedatCobham。

  SIRJOHN。

  No,Doll,no,I’llnoneofthat;Kent’stoohot,Doll,Kent’stoohot。TheweathercockofWrothamwillcrownolonger:wehavepluckthim,hehaslosthisfeathers;Ihaveprunedhimbare,lefthimthrice;

  ismoulted,ismoulted,wench。

  DOLL。

  Faith,sirJohn,Imighthavegonetoserviceagain;

  oldmasterHarpooletoldmehewouldprovidemeamistress。

  SIRJOHN。

  Peace,Doll,peace。Come,madwench,I’llmaketheeanhonestwoman;we’llintoLancashiretoourfriends:

  thetrothis,I’llmarrythee。Wewantbutalittlemoneytobuyusahorse,andtospendbytheway;thenextsheepthatcomesshalllosehisfleece,we’llhavethesecrowns,wench,Iwarrantthee。

  [EntertheIrishmanwithhismasterslain。]

  Stay,whocomeshere?someIrishvillain,methinks,thathasslainaman,anddrawshimoutofthewaytoriflehim。Standclose,Doll,we’llseetheend。

  [TheIrishmanfallstoriflehismaster。]

  IRISHMAN。

  Alas,poemester,SirRishardLee,besaintPatrickisrobandcutthytrotefordeeshaine,anddymoney,anddeegoldringbemetruly:islovetheewell,butnowdowbekill,theebeeshittenkanave。

  SIRJOHN。

  Stand,sirra;whatartthou?

  IRISHMAN。

  BesaintPatrick,mester,isporeIrisman,isaleufter。

  SIRJOHN。

  Sirra,sirra,youareadamnedrogue;youhavekilledamanhere,andrifledhimofallthathehas。Sblood,yourogue,deliver,orI’llnotleaveyousomuchasanIrishhairaboveyourshoulders,youwhoresonIrishdog。

  Sirra,untrusspresently;come,offanddispatch,orbythiscrossI’llfetchyourheadoffascleanasabark。

  IRISHMAN。

  Wee’sme,saintPatrick!Isekillmemesterforchainandhisring,andnowsberobofall:mee’sundoo。

  [Priestrobshim。]

  SIRJOHN。

  Avant,yourascal!Go,sirra,bewalking。Come,Doll,thedevillaughs,whenonethiefrobsanother:come,madwench,we’lltosaintAlbans,andrevelinourbower;hey,mybravegirl。

  DOLL。

  OthouartoldsirJohnwhenall’sdone,yfaith。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEIII。St。Albans。Theentranceofacarrier’sinn。

  [EnterthehostoftheBellwiththeIrishman。]

  IRISHMAN。

  Bemetro,mester,isporeIrisman,iswantludging,ishavenomoney,isstarveandcold:goodmester,givehersomemeat;isfamiseandtie。

  HOST。

  Yfaith,myfellow,Ihavenolodging,butwhatIkeepformyguess,thatImaynotdisappoint:asformeatthoushalthavesuchasthereis,&ifthouwiltlieinthebarn,there’sfairstraw,androomenough。

  IRISHMAN。

  Isthankmymesterhartily,destrawisgoodbedforme。

  HOST。

  Ho,Robin!

  ROBIN。

  Whocalls?

  HOST。

  ShewthispoorIrishmanintothebarn;go,sirra。

  [Exeunt。]

  [EntercarrierandKate。]

  CLUB。

  Ho,who’swithinhere?wholookstothehorses?

  God’shat!here’sfinework:thehensinthemanger,andthehogsinthelitter。Abotsfoundyouall;here’sahousewelllookedto,yvaith。

  KATE。

  Mas,goffeClub,I’severycawd。

  CLUB。

  Getin,Kate,getintofireandwarmthee。Ho!JohnHostler。

  [EnterHostler。]

  HOSTLER。

  What,gafferClub?welcometosaintAlbans。HowdoesallourfriendsinLancashire?

  CLUB。

  Well,Godhavemercy,John;howdoesTom;where’she?

  HOSTLER。

  O,Tomisgonefromhence;he’satthethreehorse—lovesatStony—stratford。HowdoesoldDickDunne?

  CLUB。

  God’shat,oldDunnehasbeenmoyerdinasloughinBrickhill—lane,aplaguefoundit;yonderissuchabominationweatherasneverwasseen。

  HOSTLER。

  God’shat,thief,haveonehalfpeckofpeasandoatsmoreforthat:asIamJohnOstler,hehasbeeneverasgoodajadeasevertravelled。

  CLUB。

  Faith,wellsaid,oldJack;thouarttheoldladstill。

  HOSTLER。

  Come,GafferClub,unload,unload,andgettosupper,andI’llrubdunthewhile。Come。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEIV。Thesame。Aroominthecarrier’sinn。

  [Enterthehost,sirJohnOld—castle,andHarpoole。]

  HOST。

  Sir,youarewelcometothishouse,tosuchashereiswithallmyheart,but,bythemass,Ifearyourlodgingwillbetheworst。Ihavebuttwobeds,andtheyarebothinachamber,andthecarrierandhisdaughterliesintheone,andyouandyourwifemustlieintheother。

  COBHAM。

  Infaith,sir,formyselfIdonotgreatlypass。

  Mywifeisweary,andwouldbeatrest,Forwehavetravelledveryfartoday;

  Wemustbecontentwithsuchasyouhave。

  HOST。

  ButIcannottellhowtodowithyourman。

  HARPOOLE。

  What,hastthouneveranemptyroominthyhouseforme?

  HOST。

  Notabed,bymytroth:therecameapoorIrishman,andIlodgedhiminthebarn,wherehehasfairstraw,thoughhehavenothingelse。

  HARPOOLE。

  Well,minehost,Ipraytheehelpmetoapairoffairsheets,andI’llgolodgewithhim。

  HOST。

  Bythemass,thatthoushalt;agoodpairofhempensheets,wereneverlainin:Come。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEV。Thesame。Astreet。

  [EnterConstable,Mayor,andWatch。]

  MAYOR。

  What?haveyousearchedthetown?

  CONSTABLE。

  Allthetown,sir;wehavenotleftahouseunsearchedthatusestolodge。

  MAYOR。

  Surely,mylordofRochesterwasthendeceived,OrillinformedofsirJohnOld—castle,Orifhecamethiswayhe’spastthetown。

  Hecouldnotelsehavescapedyouinthesearch。

  CONSTABLE。

  Theprivywatchhathbeenabroadallnight,AndnotastrangerlodgethinthetownButheisknown;onlyalustypriestWefoundinbedwithaprettywench,Thatsayssheishiswife——yonderatthesheeres;

  ButwehavechargedthehostwithhisforthcomingTomorrowmorning。

  MAYOR。

  Whatthinkyoubesttodo?

  CONSTABLE。

  Faith,mastermayor,here’safewstragglinghousesbeyondthebridge,andalittleInnwherecarriersusetolodge,thoughIthinksurehewouldne’erlodgethere:butwe’llgosearch,&therather,becausetherecamenoticetothetownthelastnightofanIrishman,thathaddoneamurder,whomwearetomakesearchfor。

  MAYOR。

  Come,Iprayyou,andbecircumspect。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEVI。Thesame。BeforetheCarrier’sInn。

  EnterWatch。

  FIRSTWATCH。

  Firstbesetthehouse,beforeyoubeginthesearch。

  SECONDWATCH。

  Content;everymantakeaseveralplace。

  [Hereisheardagreatnoisewithin。Keep,keep,strikehimdownthere,downwithhim]]

  [EnterConstablewiththeIrishmaninHarpoole’sapparel。]

  CONSTABLE。

  Come,youvillainousheretic,confesswhereyourmasteris。

  IRISHMAN。

  Vatmester?

  MAYOR。

  Vatmester,youcounterfeitrebel?thisshallnotserveyourturn。

  IRISHMAN。

  BesentPatrickIhanomester。

  CONSTABLE。

  Where’sthelordCobham,sirJohnOld—castle,thatlatelyisescapedoutoftheTower?

  IRISHMAN。

  VatlortCobham?

  MAYOR。

  Youcounterfeit,thisshallnotserveyou;we’lltortureyou,we’llmakeyoutoconfesswherethatarch—heretic,LordCobham,is:come,bindhimfast。

  IRISHMAN。

  Ahone,ahone,ahone,aCree!

  CONSTABLE。

  Ahone,youcraftyrascal!

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEVII。Thesame。TheyardoftheInn。

  [LordCobhamcomesoutinhisgownstealing。]

  COBHAM。

  Harpoole,Harpoole,Ihearamarvelousnoiseaboutthehouse:Godwarrantus,Ifearwearepursued:

  what,Harpoole。

  HARPOOLE。

  [Within。]Whocallsthere?

  COBHAM。

  TisI;dostthounothearanoiseaboutthehouse?

  HARPOOLE。

  Yes,mary,doI:——zwounds,Icannotfindmyhose;

  thisIrishrascalthatwaslodgedwithmeallnighthathstolenmyapparel,andhasleftmenothingbutalowsymantle,andapairofbrogues。Getup,getup,andifthecarrierandhiswenchbeasleep,changeyouwiththemashehathdonewithme,andseeifwecanescape。

  [ExitlordCobham。]

  [Ahoiseagainheardaboutthehouse,aprettywhile;

  thenentertheConstable,meetingHarpooleintheIrishman’sapparel。]

  CONSTABLE。

  Standclose,herecomestheIrishmanthatdidthemurther;byalltokens,thisishe。

  MAYOR。

  Andperceivingthehousebeset,wouldgetaway。

  Stand,sirra。

  HARPOOLE。

  Whatarethouthatbidstmestand?

  CONSTABLE。

  IamtheOfficer,andamcometosearchforanIrishman,suchavillainasthyself,thathastmurtheredamanthislastnightbythehighway。

  HARPOOLE。

  Sblood,Constable,artthoumad?amIanIrishman?

  MAYOR。

  Sirra,we’llfindyouanIrishmanbeforewepart:layholduponhim。

  CONSTABLE。

  Makehimfast。Othoubloodyrogue!

  [EnterLordCobhamandhisladyinthecarrierandwenchesapparel。]

  COBHAM。

  What,willtheseOstlerssleepallday?

  Goodmorrow,goodmorrow。Come,wench,come。

  Saddle!saddle!NowaforeGodtoofairdays,ha?

  CONSTABLE。

  Whocomesthere?

  MAYOR。

  Oh,tisLancashirecarrier;lethimpass。

  COBHAM。

  What,willnobodyopenthegateshere?

  Come,let’sintstabletolooktoourcapons。

  [ExeuntCobhamandhisLady。]

  [Thecarriercalling。]

  CLUB。

  [Calling。]Host!whyostler!zwooks,here’ssuchabominationcompanyofboys。Apoxofthispigstyatthehouseend:itfillsallthehousefulloffleas。

  Ostler!ostler!

  [EnterOstler。]

  OSTLER。

  Whocallsthere?whatwouldyouhave?

  CLUB。

  Zwooks,doyourobyourguests?doyoulodgeroguesandslaves,andscoundrels,ha?theyhastolenourclotheshere:why,ostler!

  OSTLER。

  Amurreinchokeyou,whatabawlinyoukeep。

  [EnterHost。]

  HOST。

  Hownow,whatwouldthecarrierhave?lookupthere。

  OSTLER。

  Theysaythatthemanandwomanthatlaybythemhavestolentheirclothes。

  HOST。

  What,arethestrangefolksupyetthatcomeinyesternight?

  CONSTABLE。

  What,minehost,upsoearly?

  HOST。

  What,masterMayor,andmasterConstable!

  MAYOR。

  Wearecometoseekforsomesuspectedpersons,Andsuchasherewefound,haveapprehended。

  [EntertheCarrierandKateinlordCobhamandladiesapparel。]

  CONSTABLE。

  Whocomeshere?

  CLUB。

  Whocomeshere?aplaguefoundome!youbawl,quotha!

  odshat,I’llforzwearyourhouse:youlodgedafellowandhiswifebythatharunawaywithourparrel,andleftussuchgew—gawshere!——ComeKate,cometome,thowsedizeard,yfaith。

  MAYOR。

  Minehost,knowyouthisman?

  HOST。

  Yes,masterMayor,I’llgivemywordforhim。Why,neighborClub,howcomesthisgearabout?

  KATE。

  Now,afowlont,Icannotmakethisgew—gawstandonmyhead:nowtheladsandthelasseswonfloutmetootoo——

  CONSTABLE。

  Howcamethismanandwomanthusattired?

  HOST。

  Herecameamanandwomanhitherthislastnight,whichIdidtakeforsubstantialpeople,andlodgedallinonechamberbythesefolks,methinks,havebeensoboldtochangeapparel,andgoneawaythismorningeretheyrose。

  MAYOR。

  Thatwasthatvillaintraitor,Old—castle,thatthusescapedus:

  makeouthueandcryyetafterhim,keepfastthattraitorousrebel,hisservant,there:farewell,minehost。

  CARRIER。

  Come,KateOwdham,thouandIsetrimlydizard。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEVIII。AwoodnearSt。Albans。

  [EntersirJohnOld—castle,andhisLadydisguised。]

  COBHAM。

  Come,Madam,happilyescaped;hereletussit。

  Thisplaceisfarremotefromanypath,Andhereawhileourwearylimbsmayrest,Totakerefreshing,freefromthepursuitOfenviousRochester。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Butwhere,myLord,Shallwefindrestforourdisquietminds?

  Theredwelluntamedthoughtsthathardlystop,Tosuchabasementofdisdainedrags。

  Wewerenotwonttotravelthusbynight,Especiallyonfoot。

  COBHAM。

  Nomatter,love;

  Extremitiesadmitnobetterchoice,Andwereitnotforthee,sayfrowardtimeImposedagreatertask,IwouldesteemitAslightlyasthewindthatblowsuponus;

  ButinthysufferenceIamdoublytasked。

  Thouwastnotwonttohavetheearththystool,Northemoistdewygrassthypillow,norThychambertobethewidehorizon。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Howcanitseematrouble,havingyouApartnerwithmeintheworstIfeel?

  No,gentleLord,yourpresencewouldgiveeaseTodeathitself,shouldhenowseizeuponme。

  Beholdwhatmyforesighthathunderta’en[Here’sbreadandcheese&abottle。]

  Forfearwefaint;theyarebuthomelycates,Yetsaucedwithhunger,theymayseemassweetAsgreaterdaintieswewerewonttotaste。

  COBHAM。

  PraisebetohimwhoseplentysendsboththisAndallthingselseourmortalbodiesneed;

  Norscornwethispoorfeeding,northestateWenowarein,forwhatisitonearth,Nay,underheaven,continuesatastay?

  Ebbsnotthesea,whenithathoverflown?

  Followsnotdarknesswhenthedayisgone?

  AndseewenotsometimetheeyeofheavenDimmedwithoverflyingclouds:there’snotthatworkOfcarefulnature,orofcunningart,(Howstrong,howbeauteous,orhowrichitbe)

  Butfallsintimetoruin。Here,gentleMadame,InthisonedraughtIwashmysorrowdown。

  [Drinks。]

  LADYCOBHAM。

  AndI,encouragedwithyourcheerfulspeech,Willdothelike。

  COBHAM。

  PrayGodpoorHarpoolecome。

  IfheshouldfallintotheBishop’shands,Ornotrememberwherewebadehimmeetus,Itwerethethingofallthingselse,thatnowCouldbreedrevoltinthisnewpeaceofmind。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Fearnot,myLord,he’swittytodevise,Andstrongtoexecuteapresentshift。

  COBHAM。

  Thatpowerbestillhisguidehathguidedus!

  Mydrowsyeyeswaxheavy:earlyrising,Togetherwiththetravelwehavehad,MakemethatIcouldgladlytakeanap,WereIpersuadedwemightbesecure。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Letthatdependonme:whilstyoudosleep,I’llwatchthatnomisfortunehappenus。

  Laythenyourheaduponmylap,sweetLord,Andboldlytakeyourrest。

  COBHAM。

  Ishall,dearwife,Betoomuchtroubletothee。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Urgenotthat;

  Mydutybindsme,andyourlovecommands。

  IwouldIhadtheskillwithtunedvoiceTodrawonsleepwithsomesweetmelody,Butimperfection,andunaptnesstoo,Arebothrepugnant:fearinserttheone,Theothernaturehathdeniedmeuse。

  ButwhattalkIofmeanstopurchasethat,Isfreelyhappened?sleepwithgentlehandHathshuthiseye—lids。Ohvictoriouslabour,Howsoonthypowercancharmthebodiessense?

  Andnowthoulikewiseclimbstuntomybrain,Makingmyheavytemplesstooptothee。

  GreatGodofheavenfromdangerkeepusfree。

  [Bothsleep。]

  [EntersirRichardLee,andhismen。]

  LEE。

  Amurdercloselydone,andinmyground?

  Searchcarefully,ifanywhereitwere,Thisobscurethicketisthelikeliestplace。

  SERVANT。

  Sir,Ihavefoundthebodystiffwithcold,Andmangledcruellywithmanywounds。

  LEE。

  Lookifthouknowesthim,turnhisbodyup。——

  Alack,itismyson,mysonandheir,WhomtwoyearssinceIsenttoIreland,Topracticetherethedisciplineofwar,Andcominghome(forsohewrotetome)

  Somesavageheart,somebloodydevilishhand,Eitherinhate,orthirstingforhiscoin,Hathheresluicedouthisblood。Unhappyhour,Accursedplace,butmostinconstantfate,Thathadstreservedhimfromthebullet’sfire,Andsufferedhimtoscapethewood—karn’sfury,Didsthereordainthetreasureofhislife,(Evenherewithinthearmsoftenderpeace,Andwheresecuritygavegreatesthope)

  Tobeconsumedbytreason’swastefulhand!

  Andwhatismostafflictingtomysoul,ThatthishisdeathandmurthershouldbewroughtWithouttheknowledgebywhosemeanstwasdone。

  SECONDSERVANT。

  Notso,sir;Ihavefoundtheauthorsofit。

  Seewheretheysit,andintheirbloodyfists,Thefatalinstrumentsofdeathandsin。

  LEE。

  Justjudgementofthatpower,whosegraciouseye,Loathingthesightofsuchaheinousfact,Dazzledtheirsenseswithbenumbingsleep,Tilltheirunhallowedtreacherywereknown!

  Awake,yemonsters;murderers,awake;

  Trembleforhorror;blush,youcannotchoose,Beholdingthisinhumanedeedofyours。

  COBHAM。

  Whatmeanyou,sir,totroublewearysouls,Andinterruptusofourquietsleep?

  LEE。

  Ohdevilish!canyouboastuntoyourselvesOfquietsleep,havingwithinyourheartsTheguiltofmurderwaking,thatwithcriesDeafstheloudthunder,andsolicitsheavenWithmorethanMandrake’sshrieksforyouroffence?

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Whatmurder?youupbraiduswrongfully。

  LEE。

  Canyoudenythefact?seeyounothereThebodyofmysonbyyoumis—done?

  Lookonhiswounds,lookonhispurplehue:

  Dowenotfindyouwherethedeedwasdone?

  Werenotyourknivesfastclosedinyourhands?

  Isnotthisclothanargumentbeside,Thusstainedandspottedwithhisinnocentblood?

  Thesespeakingcharacters,werenothingelseTopleadagainstye,wouldconvictyouboth。

  Bringthemaway,bereaversofmyjoy。

  AtHartford,wheretheSizesnowarekept,Theirlivesshallanswerformyson’slostlife。

  COBHAM。

  Asweareinnocent,somaywespeed。

  LEE。

  AsIamwronged,somaythelawproceed。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEIX。St。Albans。

  [EnterbishopofRochester,constableofSt。Albans,withsirJohnofWrotham,Dollhiswench,andtheIrishmaninHarpoole’sapparel。]

  BISHOP。

  Whatintricateconfusionhavewehere?

  Nottwohourssinceweapprehendedone,InhabitIrish,butinspeechnotso:

  Andnowyoubringanother,thatinspeechIsaltogetherIrish,butinhabitSeemstobeEnglish:yeaandmorethanso,TheservantofthathereticLordCobham。

  IRISHMAN。

  Fait,mebenoservantofthelordCobham,MebeMackChaneofVister。

  BISHOP。

  OtherwisecalledHarpooleofKent;goto,sir,YoucannotblinduswithyourbrokenIrish。

  SIRJOHN。

  Trustme,myLordBishop,whetherIrish,OrEnglish,HarpooleornotHarpoole,thatIleavetobedecidedbythetrial:

  ButsureIamthismanbyfaceandspeechIshethatmurderedyoungsirRichardLee——

  Imethimpresentlyuponthefact——

  Andthatheslewhismasterforthatgold;

  Thosejewels,andthatchainItookfromhim。

  BISHOP。

  Well,ouraffairsdocallusbacktoLondon,Sothatwecannotprosecutethecause,Aswedesiretodo;thereforeweleaveThechargewithyou,toseetheybeconveyedToHartfordSise:boththiscounterfeitAndyou,sirJohnofWrotham,andyourwench,Foryouareculpableaswellasthey,Thoughnotformurder,yetforfelony。

  ButsinceyouarethemeanstobringtolightThisgracelessmurder,youshallbearwithyouOurletterstotheJudgesofthebench,Tobeyourfriendsinwhattheylawfulmay。

  BISHOP。

  So,awaywiththem。

  [Exeunt。]

  ACTV。SCENEX。Hertford。AHallofJustice。

  [EnterGaolerandhisman,bringingforthOld—castle。]

  GAOLER。

  Bringforththeprisoners,seethecourtprepared;

  TheJusticesarecomingtothebench。

  So,lethimstand;away,andfetchtherest。

  [Exeunt。]

  COBHAM。

  Oh,givemepatiencetoendurethisscourge,Thouthatartfountainofthatvirtuousstream,Andthoughcontempt,falsewitness,andreproachHangontheseirongyves,topressmylifeAslowasearth,yetstrengthenmewithfaith,ThatImaymountinspiritabovetheclouds。

  [EnterGaoler,bringinginLadyOld—castleandHarpoole。]

  Herecomesmylady:sorrow,tisforherThywoundisgrievous;elseIscoffatthee。

  What,andpoorHarpoole!artthouithbryarstoo?

  HARPOOLE。

  Ifaith,myLord,Iamin,getouthowIcan。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Say,gentleLord,fornowwearealone,Andmayconfer,shallweconfessinbrief,Ofwhence,andwhatweare,andsopreventTheaccusationiscommencedagainstus?

  COBHAM。

  Whatwillthathelpus?beingknown,sweetlove,Weshallforheresybeputtodeath,Forsotheytermthereligionweprofess。

  No,ifitbeordainedwemustdie,Andatthisinstant,thisourcomfortbe,Thatoftheguiltimposed,oursoulsarefree。

  HARPOOLE。

  Yea,yea,mylord,Harpooleissoresolved。

  Iwreakofdeaththeless,inthatIdieNotbythesentenceofthatenviouspriestTheBishopofRochester:oh,wereithe,OrbyhismeansthatIshouldsufferhere,Itwouldbedoubletormenttomysoul。

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Well,beitthenaccordingasheavenplease。

  [EnterlordJudge,twoJustices,MayorofSaintAlbans,lordPowesseandhislady,andoldsirRichardLee:theJudgeandJusticestaketheirplaces。]

  JUDGE。

  Now,MasterMayor,whatgentlemanisthat,Youbringwithyoubeforeusandthebench?

  MAYOR。

  TheLordPowis,ifitlikeyourhonor,AndthishisLady,travellingtowardWales,Who,fortheylodgedlastnightwithinmyhouse,AndmyLordBishopdidlaysearchforsuch,Wereverywillingtocomeonwithme,Lestfortheirsakessuspicionmemightwrong。

  JUDGE。

  Wecryyourhonormercy,goodmyLord,Wiltpleaseyetakeyourplace。Madame,yourladyshipMayhereorwhereyouwillreposeyourself,Untilthisbusinessnowinhandbepast。

  LADYPOWIS。

  Iwillwithdrawintosomeotherroom,SothatyourLordshipandtherestbepleased。

  JUDGE。

  Withallourhearts:attendtheLadythere。

  LORDPOWIS。

  Wife,Ihaveeyedyondprisonersallthiswhile,Andmyconceitdothtellme,tisourfriend,ThenobleCobham,andhisvirtuousLady。

  LADYPOWIS。

  Ithinknoless:aretheysuspected,trowye,Fordoingofthismurder?

  LORDPOWIS。

  WhatismeansIcannottell,butweshallknowanon。

  Meanspaceasyoupassbythem,askthequestion,Butdoitsecretly,youbenotseen,AndmakesomesignthatImayknowyourmind。

  LADYPOWIS。

  MyLordCobham?madam?

  [Asshepassethoverthestagebythem。]

  COBHAM。

  NoCobhamnow,normadam,asyouloveus,ButJohnofLancashire,andIonehiswife。

  LADYPOWIS。

  Ohtell,whatisitthatourlovecando,Topleasureyou?forweareboundtoyou。

  COBHAM。

  Nothingbutthis,thatyouconcealournames;

  So,gentlelady,passforbeingspied。

  LADYPOWIS。

  MyheartIleave,tobearpartofyourgrief。

  [Exit。]

  JUDGE。

  Calltheprisonerstothebar。SirRichardLee,Whatevidencecanyoubringagainstthesepeople,Toprovethemguiltyofthemurderdone?

  LEE。

  Thisbloodytowelandthesenakedknives,Besidewefoundthemsittingbytheplace,Wherethedeadbodylay,withinabush。

  JUDGE。

  Whatansweryouwhylawshouldnotproceed,Accordingtotheevidencegivenin,Totaxyewiththepenaltyofdeath?

  COBHAM。

  Thatwearefreefrommurder’sverythoughts,Andknownothowthegentlemanwasslain。

  FIRSTJUSTICE。

  Howcamethislinenclothsobloodythen?

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Myhusbandhotwithtravelling,mylord,Hisnosegushedoutableeding,thatwasit。

  SECONDJUSTICE。

  Butwhereforewereyoursharpedgedknivesunsheathed?

  LADYCOBHAM。

  Tocutsuchsimplevictualaswehad。

  JUDGE。

  Sayweadmitthisanswertothosearticles,Whatmadeyeinsoprivateadarknook,Sofarremotefromanycommonpath,Aswasthethickwherethedeadcorpsewasthrown?

  COBHAM。

  Journeying,mylord,fromLondonfromtheterm,DownintoLancashirewherewedodwell,Andwhatwithageandtravelbeingfaint,Wegladlysoughtaplacewherewemightrest,Freefromresortofotherpassengers,Andsowestrayedintothatsecretcorner。

  JUDGE。

  Thesearebutambagestodriveoftime,AndlingerJusticefromherpurposedend。

  Butwhoarethese?

  [EntertheConstable,bringingintheIrishman,sirJohnofWrotham,andDoll。]

  CONSTABLE。

  StayJudgement,andreleasethoseinnocents,Forhereishe,whosehandhathdonethedeed,Forwhichtheystandindictedatthebar,——

  Thissavagevillain,thisrudeIrishslave。

  Histonguealreadyhathconfessedthefact,Andhereiswitnesstoconfirmasmuch。

  SIRJOHN。

  Yes,mygoodLords,nosoonerhadheslainHislovingmasterforthewealthhehad,ButIupontheinstantmetwithhim,Andwhathepurchasedwiththelossofblood:

  WithstrokesIpresentlybereavedhimof;

  Someofthewhichisspent,therestremainingIwillinglysurrendertothehandsOfoldsirRichardLee,asbeinghis。

  Beside,myLordJudge,IgreetyourhonorWithlettersfrommyLordofRochester。

  [Deliversaletter。]

  LEE。

  IsthisthewolfwhosethirstythroatdiddrinkMydearson’sblood?artthouthesnakeHecherished,yetwithenviouspiercingstingAssailedhimmortally?foulstigmatic,Thouvenomofthecountrywherethoulivedst,Andpestilenceofthis:wereitnotthatlawStandsreadytorevengethycruelty,TraitortoGod,thymaster,andtome,Thesehandsshouldbethyexecutioner。

  JUDGE。

  Patience,sirRichardLee,youshallhavejustice,Andhetheguerdonofhisbasedesert。

  Thefactisodious;therefore,takehimhence,Andbeinghangeduntilthewretchbedead,HisbodyaftershallbehandedinchainsNeartotheplacewherehedidactthemurder。

  IRISHMAN。

  Prethee,Lordshudge,letmehavemineownclothes,mystroucesthere,andletmebehangedinawithaftermycuntry——theIrish——fashion。

  [Exit。]

  JUDGE。

  Goto;awaywithhim。Andnow,sirJohn,Althoughbyyouthismurthercametolight,Andthereinyouhavewelldeserved,yetuprightlaw,Sowillnothaveyoubeexcusedandquit,ForyoudidrobtheIrishman,bywhichYoustandattaintedhereoffelony。

  Beside,youhavebeenlewd,andmanyyearsLedalascivious,unbeseeminglife。

  SIRJOHN。

  Ohbut,myLord,herepents,sirJohnrepents,andhewillmend。

  JUDGE。

  Inhopethereof,togetherwiththefavour,MyLordofRochesterentreatsforyou,Wearecontentyoushallbeproved。

  SIRJOHN。

  IthankyougoodLordship。

  JUDGE。

  Theseotherfalselyhereaccused,andbroughtInperilwrongfully,weinlikesortDosetatliberty,payingtheirfees。

  LORDPOWIS。

  Thatoffice,ifitpleaseye,Iwilldo,Forcountriessake,becauseIknowthemwell。

  Theyaremyneighbours,thereforeofmycostTheirchargesshallbepaid。

  LEE。

  Andforamends,TouchingthewrongunwittinglyIhavedone,Thereareafewcrownsmoreforthemtodrink。

  [Givesthemapurse。]

  JUDGE。

  Yourkindnessmeritspraise,sirRichardLee:

  Soletushence。

  [ExeuntallbutLordPowisandOld—castle。]

  LORDPOWIS。

  ButPowisstillmuststay。

  ThereyetremainsapartofthattrueloveHeoweshisnoblefriendunsatisfied,Andunperformed,whichfirstofalldothbindmeTogratulateyourlordship’ssafedelivery,Andthenentreat,thatsinceunlookedforthusWeherearemet,yourhonorwouldvouchsafe,ToridewithmetoWales,wheretomypower,(Thoughnottoquittancethosegreatbenefits,Ihavereceivedofyou)yetbothmyhouse,Mypurse,myservants,andwhatelseIhave,Areallatyourcommand。Denymenot;

  IknowtheBishop’shatepursuesyeso,Asthere’snosafetyinabidinghere。

  COBHAM。

  Tistrue,myLord,andGodforgivehimforit。

  LORDPOWIS。

  Then,letushence:youshallbestraightprovidedOflustygeldings,andonceenteredWales,WellmaytheBishophunt,but,spitehisface,Henevermoreshallhavethegameinchase。

  [Exeunt。]

  FINIS。

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