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Read Ebook: Sir John Oldcastle by Shakespeare Spurious And Doubtful Works
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Ebook has 912 lines and 21580 words, and 19 pages
SECOND JUDGE. What Bail? what sureties?
DAVY. Her coozin ap Ries, ap Evan, ap Morris, ap Morgan, ap Lluellyn, ap Madoc, ap Meredith, ap Griffen, ap Davy, ap Owen, ap Shinken Shones.
SECOND JUDGE. Two of the most sufficient are ynow.
SHERIFF. And 't please your Lordship, these are all but one.
FIRST JUDGE. To Jail with them, and the Lord Herbert's men; We'll talk with them, when the Assize is done.
Riotous, audacious, and unruly Grooms, Must we be forced to come from the Bench, To quiet brawls, which every Constable In other civil places can suppress?
SECOND JUDGE. What was the quarrel that caused all this stir?
FIRST JUDGE. This case concerns the King's prerogative, And's dangerous to the State and common wealth. Gentlemen, Justices, master Mayor, and master Shrieve, It doth behoove us all, and each of us In general and particular, to have care For suppressing of all mutinies, And all assemblies, except soldiers' musters For the King's preparation into France. We hear of secret conventicles made, And there is doubt of some conspiracies, Which may break out into rebellious arms When the King's gone, perchance before he go: Note as an instance, this one perilous fray; What factions might have grown on either part, To the destruction of the King and Realm. Yet, in my conscience, sir John Old-castle, Innocent of it, only his name was used. We, therefore, from his Highness give this charge: You, master Mayor, look to your citizens; You, master Sheriff, unto your shire; and you As Justices, in every one's precinct, There be no meetings. When the vulgar sort Sit on their Ale-bench, with their cups and cans, Matters of state be not their common talk, Nor pure religion by their lips profaned. Let us return unto the Bench again, And there examine further of this fray.
SHERIFF. Sirs, have ye taken the lord Powesse yet?
BAILIFF. No, nor heard of him.
SERVANT. No, he's gone far enough.
SECOND JUDGE. They that are left behind shall answer all.
SUFFOLK. Now, my lord Bishop, take free liberty To speak your mind: what is your suit to us?
BISHOP. My noble Lord, no more than what you know, And have been oftentimes invested with: Grievous complaints have past between the lips Of envious persons to upbraid the Clergy, Some carping at the livings which we have, And others spurning at the ceremonies That are of ancient custom in the church. Amongst the which, Lord Cobham is a chief: What inconvenience may proceed hereof, Both to the King and to the commonwealth, May easily be discerned, when like a frenzy This innovation shall possess their minds. These upstarts will have followers, to uphold Their damned opinion, more than Harry shall To undergo his quarrel gainst the French.
SUFFOLK. What proof is there against them to be had, That what you say the law may justify?
BISHOP. They give themselves the name of Protestants, And meet in fields and solitary groves.
SIR JOHN. Was ever heard, my Lord, the like til now? That thieves and rebels--sblood, heretics, Plain heretics, I'll stand tooth to their teeth-- Should have, to colour their vile practices, A title of such worth as Protestant?
SUFFOLK. O, but you must not swear; it ill becomes One of your coat to rap out bloody oaths.
BISHOP. Pardon him, good my Lord, it is his zeal; An honest country prelate, who laments To see such foul disorder in the church.
SIR JOHN. There's one--they call him Sir John Old-castle-- He has not his name for naught: for like a castle Doth he encompass them within his walls; But till that castle be subverted quite, We ne'er shall be at quiet in the realm.
BISHOP. That is not our suit, my Lord, that he be ta'en, And brought in question for his heresy. Beside, two letters brought me out of Wales, Wherein my Lord Hereford writes to me, What tumult and sedition was begun, About the Lord Cobham at the Sises there, , And that the valiant Herbert is there slain.
SUFFOLK. A fire that must be quenched. Well, say no more, The King anon goes to the counsel chamber, There to debate of matters touching France: As he doth pass by, I'll inform his grace Concerning your petition: Master Butler, If I forget, do you remember me.
BUTLER. I will, my Lord.
SUFFOLK. I thank them, my Lord Bishop, for their love, But will not take they money; if you please To give it to this gentleman, you may.
BISHOP. Sir, then we crave your furtherance herein.
BUTLER. The best I can, my Lord of Rochester.
BISHOP. Nay, pray ye take it; trust me but you shall.
SIR JOHN. --Were ye all thee upon New Market heath, You should not need strain curtsey who should ha't; Sir John would quickly rid ye of that care.
SUFFOLK. The King is coming. Fear ye not, my Lord; The very first thing I will break with him Shall be about your matter.
KING. My Lord of Suffolk, Was it not said the Clergy did refuse To lend us money toward our wars in France?
SUFFOLK. It was, my Lord, but very wrongfully.
KING. I know it was, for Huntington here tells me, They have been very bountiful of late.
SUFFOLK. And still they vow, my gracious Lord, to be so, Hoping your majesty will think of them As of your loving subjects, and suppress All such malicious errors as begin To spot their calling, and disturb the church.
KING. God else forbid: why, Suffolk, is there Any new rupture to disquiet them?
SUFFOLK. No new, my Lord; the old is great enough, And so increasing as, if not cut down, Will breed a scandal to your royal state, And set your Kingdom quickly in an uproar. The Kentish knight, Lord Cobham, in despite Of any law, or spiritual discipline, Maintains this upstart new religion still, And divers great assemblies by his means And private quarrels are commenced abroad, As by this letter more at large, my liege, Is made apparent.
KING. We do find it here: There was in Wales a certain fray of late, Between two noblemen, but what of this? Follows it straight, Lord Cobham must be he Did cause the same? I dare be sworn, good knight, He never dreamt of any such contention.
BISHOP. But in his name the quarrel did begin, About the opinion which he held, my liege.
KING. How if it did? was either he in place, To take part with them, or abet them in it? If brabling fellows, whose inkindled blood, Seethes in their fiery veins, will needs go fight, Making their quarrels of some words that past Either of you, or you, amongst their cups, Is the fault yours, or are they guilty of it?
SUFFOLK. With pardon of your Highness, my dread lord, Such little sparks, neglected, may in time Grow to a might flame: but that's not all; He doth, beside, maintain a strange religion, And will not be compelled to come to mass.
BISHOP. We do beseech you, therefore, gracious prince, Without offence unto your majesty, We may be bold to use authority.
KING. As how?
BISHOP. To summon him unto the Arches, Where such offences have their punishment.
KING. To answer personally? is that your meaning?
BISHOP. It is, my lord.
KING. How, if he appeal?
BISHOP. He cannot, my Lord, in such a case as this.
SUFFOLK. Not where Religion is the plea, my lord.
KING. I took it always, that our self stood out, As a sufficient refuge, unto whom Not any but might lawfully appeal. But we'll not argue now upon that point. For Sir John Old-castle, whom you accuse, Let me entreat you to dispence awhile With your high title of pre-eminence.
Report did never yet condemn him so, But he hath always been reputed loyal: And in my knowledge I can say thus much, That he is virtuous, wise, and honourable. If any way his conscience be seduced, To waver in his faith, I'll send for him, And school him privately; if that serve not, Then afterward you may proceed against him. Butler, be you the messenger for us, And will him presently repair to court.
SIR JOHN. How now, my lord, why stand you discontent? In sooth, me thinks the King hath well decreed.
BISHOP. Yea, yea, sir John, if he would keep his word; But I perceive he favours him so much, As this will be to small effect, I fear.
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