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KING。
Let us withdraw； my Lords。 Prepare our troops
To charge the rebels； if there be such cause。
For this lewd priest； this devilish hypocrite；
That is a thief； a gamester； and what not；
Let him be hanged up for example sake。
SIR JOHN。
Not so my gracious sovereign。 I confess that I am
a frail man； flesh and blood as other are： but； set my
imperfections aside； by this light； ye have not a taller
man； nor a truer subject to the Crown and State； than
Sir John of Wrotham。
KING。
Will a true subject rob his King？
SIR JOHN。
Alas； twas ignorance and want； my gracious liege。
KING。
Twas want of grace。 Why； you should be as salt
To season others with good document；
Your lives as lamps to give the people light；
As shepherds； not as wolves to spoil the flock。
Go hang him； Butler。
BUTLER。
Didst thou not rob me？
SIR JOHN。
I must confess I saw some of your gold。 But； my dread
Lord； I am in no humor for death； therefore； save my life。
God will that sinners live； do not you cause me die。 Once
in their lives the best may go astray； and if the world say
true； your self （my liege） have been a thief。
KING。
I confess I have；
But I repent and have reclaimed my self。
SIR JOHN。
So will I do； if you will give me time。
KING。
Wilt thou？ My lords； will you be his sureties？
HUNTINGTON。
That when he robs again； he shall be hanged。
SIR JOHN。
I ask no more。
KING。
And we will grant thee that。
Live and repent； and prove an honest man；
Which when I hear； and safe return from France；
I'll give thee living： till then take thy gold；
But spend it better than at cards or wine；
For better virtues fit that coat of thine。
SIR JOHN。
Vivat Rex & curat lex！ My liege； if ye have cause
of battle； ye shall see Sir John of Wrotham bestir
himself in your quarrel。
＇Exeunt。＇
ACT IV。 SCENE II。 A field of Battle near London。
＇After an alarum enter Harry； Suffolk； Huntington；
Sir John； bringing forth Acton； Beverley； and Murley
prisoners。＇
KING。
Bring in those traitors； whose aspiring minds
Thought to have triumpht in our overthrow。
But now ye see； base villains； what success
Attends ill actions wrongfully attempted。
Sir Roger Acton； thou retainst the name
Of knight； and shouldst be more discreetly tempered；
Than join with peasants： gentry is divine；
But thou hast made it more than popular。
ACTON。
Pardon； my Lord； my conscience urged me to it。
KING。
Thy conscience？ then thy conscience is corrupt；
For in thy conscience thou art bound to us；
And in thy conscience thou shouldst love thy country；
Else what's the difference twixt a Christian
And the uncivil manners of the Turk？
BEVERLEY。
We meant no hurt unto your majesty；
But reformation of Religion。
KING。
Reform Religion？ was it that ye sought？
I pray who gave you that authority？
Belike； then； we do hold the scepter up
And sit within the throne but for a cipher。
Time was； good subjects would make known their grief
And pray amendment； not enforce the same；
Unless their King were tyrant； which I hope
You cannot justly say that Harry is。
What is that other？
SUFFOLK。
A malt…man； my Lord；
And dwelling in Dunstable as he says。
KING。
Sirra； what made you leave your barley broth；
To come in armour thus against your King？
MURLEY。
Fie； paltry； paltry； to and fro； in and out upon occasion；
what a world's this！ Knight…hood （my liege） twas
knight…hood brought me hither。 They told me I had
wealth enough to make my wife a lady。
KING。
And so you brought those horses which we saw；
Trapped all in costly furniture； and meant
To wear these spurs when you were knighted once？
MURLEY。
In and out upon occasion； I did。
KING。
In and out upon occasion； therefore；
You shall be handed； and in the stead of wearing
These spurs upon your heels； about your neck
They shall bewray your folly to the world。
SIR JOHN。
In and out upon occasion； that goes hard。
MURLEY。
Fie； paltry； paltry； to and fro； good my liege； a
pardon。 I am sorry for my fault。
KING。
That comes too late： but tell me； went there none
Beside sir Roger Acton； upon whom
You did depend to be your governour？
MURLEY。
None； none； my Lord； but sir John Old…castle。
KING。
Bears he part in this conspiracy？
＇Enter Bishop。＇
ACTON。
We looked； my Lord； that he would meet us here。
KING。
But did he promise you that he would come？
ACTON。
Such letters we received forth of Kent。
BISHOP。
Where is my Lord the King？Health to your grace。
Examining； my Lord； some of these caitive rebels；
It is a general voice amongst them all；
That they had never come unto this place；
But to have met their valiant general；
The good Lord Cobham； as they title him：
Whereby； my Lord； your grace may now perceive；
His treason is apparent； which before
He sought to colour by his flattery。
KING。
Now； by my royalty； I would have sworn
But for his conscience； which I bear withal；
There had not lived a more true hearted subject。
BISHOP。
It is but counterfeit； my gracious lord；
And therefore； may it please your majesty
To set your hand unto this precept here；
By which we'll cause him forthwith to appear；
And answer this by order of the law。
KING。
Bishop； not only that； but take commission
To search； attach； imprison； and condemn
This most notorious traitor as you please。
BISHOP。
It shall be done； my Lord； without delay。
So now I hold； Lord Cobham； in my hand；
That which shall finish thy disdained life。
KING。
I think the iron age begins but now；
（Which learned poets have so often taught）
Wherein there is no credit to be given；
To either words； or looks； or solemn oaths。
For if there were； how often hath he sworn；
How gently tuned the music of his tongue；
And with what amiable face beheld he me；
When all； God knows； was but hypocricy。
＇Enter Cobham。＇
COBHAM。
Long life and prosperous reign unto my lord。
KING。
Ah； villain； canst thou wish prosperity；
Whose heart includeth naught but treachery？
I do arrest thee here my self； false knight；
Of treason capital against the state。
COBHAM。
Of treason； mighty prince？ your grace mistakes。
I hope it is but in the way of mirth。
KING。
Thy neck shall feel it is in earnest shortly。
Darst thou intrude into our presence； knowing
How heinously thou hast offended us？
But this is thy accustomed deceit；
Now thou perceivest thy purpose is in vain；
With some excuse or other thou wilt come；
To clear thy self of this rebellion。
COBHAM。
Rebellion； good my Lord？ I know of none。
KING。
If you deny it； here is evidence。
See you these men？ you never counseled；
Nor offered them assistance in their wars？
COBHAM。
Speak； sirs。 Not one but all； I crave no favour。
Have ever I been conversant with you；
Or written letters to encourage you；
Or kindled but the least or smallest part
Of this your late unnatural rebellion？
Speak； for I dare the uttermost you can。
MURLEY。
In and out upon occasion； I know you not。
KING。
No？ didst not say that sir John Old…castle
Was one with whom you purposed to have met？
MURLEY。
True； I did say so； but in what respect？
Because I heard it was reported so。
KING。
Was there no other argumen