按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
True； I did say so； but in what respect？
Because I heard it was reported so。
KING。
Was there no other argument but that？
ACTON。
To clear my conscience ere I die； my lord；
I must confess； we have no other ground
But only Rumor； to accuse this lord；
Which now I see was merely fabulous。
KING。
The more pernitious you to taint him then；
Whom you knew not was faulty； yea or no。
COBHAM。
Let this； my Lord； which I present your grace；
Speak for my loyalty： read these articles；
And then give sentence of my life or death。
KING。
Earl Cambridge； Scroop； and Gray corrupted
With bribes from Charles of France； either to win
My Crown from me； or secretly contrive
My death by treason？ Is this possible？
COBHAM。
There is the platform； and their hands； my lord；
Each severally subscribed to the same。
KING。
Oh never heard of； base ingratitude！
Even those I hug within my bosom most
Are readiest evermore to sting my heart。
Pardon me； Cobham； I have done thee wrong；
Hereafter I will live to make amends。
Is； then； their time of meeting no near hand？
We'll meet with them； but little for their ease；
If God permit。 Go； take these rebels hence；
Let them have martial law： but as for thee；
Friend to thy king and country； still be free。
＇Exeunt。＇
MURLEY。
Be it more or less； what a world is this？
Would I had continued still of the order of knaves；
And never sought knighthood； since it costs so dear。
Sir Roger； I may thank you for all。
ACTON。
Now tis too late to have it remedied；
I prithee； Murley； do not urge me with it。
HUNTINGTON。
Will you away； and make no more to do？
MURLEY。
Fie； paltry； paltry！ to and fro； as occasion serves；
If you be so hasty； take my place。
HUNTINGTON。
No； good sir knight； you shall begin in your hand。
MURLEY。
I could be glad to give my betters place。
＇Exeunt。＇
ACT IV。 SCENE III。 Kent。 Court before lord
Cobham's house。
＇Enter Bishop； lord Warden； Cromer the Shrieve；
Lady Cob； and attendants。＇
BISHOP。
I tell ye； Lady； it's not possible
But you should know where he conveys himself；
And you have hid him in some secret place。
LADY COBHAM。
My Lord； believe me； as I have a soul；
I know not where my lord my husband is。
BISHOP。
Go to； go to； ye are an heretic；
And will be forced by torture to confess；
If fair means will not serve to make ye tell。
LADY COBHAM。
My husband is a noble gentleman；
And need not hide himself for any fact
That ere I heard of； therefore wrong him not。
BISHOP。
Your husband is a dangerous schismatic；
Traitor to God； the King； and common wealth：
And therefore； master Croamer； shrieve of Kent；
I charge you take her to your custody；
And seize the goods of Sir John Old…castle
To the King's use。 Let her go in no more；
To fetch so much as her apparel out。
There is your warrant from his majesty。
LORD WARDEN。
Good my Lord Bishop； pacify your wrath
Against the Lady。
BISHOP。
Then let her confess
Where Old…castle her husband is concealed。
LORD WARDEN。
I dare engage mine honor and my life；
Poor gentlewoman； she is ignorant
And innocent of all his practises；
If any evil by him be practised。
BISHOP。
If； my Lord Warden？ nay； then I charge you；
That all the cinque Ports； whereof you are chief；
Be laid forthwith； that he escape us not。
Shew him his highness' warrant； Master Shrieve。
LORD WARDEN。
I am sorry for the noble gentleman
＇Enter Old…castle and Harpoole。＇
BISHOP。
Peace； he comes here； now do your office。
COBHAM。
Harpoole； what business have we here in hand？
What makes the Bishop and the Sheriff here？
I fear my coming home is dangerous；
I would I had not made such haste to Cobham。
HARPOOLE。
Be of good cheer； my Lord： if they be foes； we'll
scramble shrewdly with them： if they be friends；
they are welcome。 One of them （my Lord Warden）
is your friend； but me thinks my lady weeps； I like
not that。
CROAMER。
Sir John Old…castle； Lord Cobham； in the King's
majesty's name； I arrest ye of high treason。
COBHAM。
Treason； Master Croamer？
HARPOOLE。
Treason； Master Shrieve？ sblood； what treason？
COBHAM。
Harpoole； I charge thee； stir not； but be quiet still。
Do ye arrest me； Master Shrieve； for treason？
BISHOP。
Yea； of high treason； traitor； heretic。
COBHAM。
Defiance in his face that calls me so。
I am as true a loyal gentleman
Unto his highness as my proudest enemy。
The King shall witness my late faithful service；
For safety of his sacred majesty。
BISHOP。
What thou art the king's hand shall testify：
Shewt him； Lord Warden。
COBHAM。
Jesu defend me！
Is't possible your cunning could so temper
The princely disposition of his mind；
To sign the damage of a loyal subject？
Well； the best is； it bears an antedate；
Procured by my absence； and your malice；
But I； since that； have shewd my self as true
As any churchman that dare challenge me。
Let me be brought before his majesty；
If he acquit me not； then do your worst。
BISHOP。
We are not bound to do king offices
For any traitor； schismatic； nor heretic。
The king's hand is our warrant for our work；
Who is departed on his way for France；
And at Southhampton doth repose this night。
HARPOOLE。
O that it were the blessed will of God； that thou
and I were within twenty mile of it； on Salisbury
plan！ I would lose my head if ever thou broughtst
thy head hither again。
＇Aside。＇
COBHAM。
My Lord Warden o' the cinque Ports； & my Lord of
Rochester； ye are joint Commissioners： favor me so much；
On my expence to bring me to the king。
BISHOP。
What； to Southhampton？
COBHAM。
Thither； my good Lord；
And if he do not clear me of all guilt；
And all suspicion of conspiracy；
Pawning his princely warrant for my truth：
I ask no favour； but extremest torture。
Bring me； or send me to him； good my Lord：
Good my Lord Warden； Master Shrieve； entreat。
＇Here the Lord Warden； and Croamer uncover
the Bishop； and secretly whispers with him。＇
Come hither； ladynay； sweet wife； forbear
To heap one sorrow on another's neck：
Tis grief enough falsely to be accused；
And not permitted to acquit my self；
Do not thou with thy kind respective tears；
Torment thy husband's heart that bleeds for thee；
But be of comfort。 God hath help in store
For those that put assured trust in him。
Dear wife； if they commit me to the Tower；
Come up to London to your sister's house：
That being near me； you may comfort me。
One solace find I settled in my soul；
That I am free from treason's very thought：
Only my conscience for the Gospel's sake
Is cause of all the troubles I sustain。
LADY COBHAM。
O my dear Lord； what shall betide of us？
You to the Tower； and I turned out of doors；
Our substance seized unto his highness' use；
Even to the garments longing to our backs。
HARPOOLE。
Patience； good madame； things at worst will mend；
And if they do not； yet our lives may end。
BISHOP。
Urge it no more； for if an Angel spake；
I swear by sweet saint Peter's blessed keys；
First goes he to the Tower； then to the stake。
CROAMER。
But by your leave； this warrant doth not stretch
To imprison her。
BISHOP。
No； turn her out of doors；
＇Lord Warden and Old…castle whisper。＇
Ev