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And so enraged； that we could not appease it。
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。
＇Enter a Bailiff and a Servant。＇
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。
＇Exeunt。＇
ACT I。 SCENE II。 Eltham。 An antechamber in the
palace。
＇Enter Suffolk； Bishop of Rochester； Butler； parson of
Wrotham。＇
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 rebelssblood； heretics；
Plain heretics； I'll stand tooth to their teeth
Should have； to colour their vile practices；
A title of such worth as Protestant？
＇Enter one with a letter。＇
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 onethey 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；
（For they had much ado the calm the rage）；
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。
＇Offer him a purse。＇
BISHOP。
Not for a recompence；
But as a token of our love to you；
By me my Lords of the clergy do present
This purse； and in it full a thousand Angels；
Praying your Lordship to accept their gift。
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。
＇Enter King Henry and Huntington in talk。＇
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