Moore.
Come on Sir, are you readie?

Ran.
yes my Lord, I stand but vppon a fewe pointes, I shall haue doone presently,
Is it your honors pleasure that I should [be] growe ^note proude now?

Moore.
I, I must haue thee proude, or else thou'lt nere
be neere allyed to greatnesse: ^note obserue me Sir.
The learned Clarke Erasmus is arriu'de
within our Englishe Courte, this day I heare,
he feasteth with an Englishe honourd ^note Poett
the Earle of Surrey, and I knowe this night
the famous Clarke of Roterdame will visite
Sir Thomas Moore, therfore Sir, act my ^note parte,
there, take my place furnishte ^note with pursse and Mace.
Ile see if great Erasmus can distinguishe
merit and outward ceremonie: obserue me Sirra,
Ile be thy glasse, dresse thy behauiour
according to my cariage, but beware
thou talke not ouermuch, for twill betray thee.
who prates not oft, seemes wise, his witt fewe scan,
whilste the tongue blabs tales of th'imperfect man.

Ran.

I conceiue your Lordship ^note, and haue learnde your shift so well, that I must needes be apprehensiue ^note[ ].

Moore.
This Musique telles vs, that the Earle is come
with learnde Erasmus. Now my Lord Chauncellour,
^note15Q0006Act like a formall Player our graue parte.

Ran
I pray ye my Lord, let me c&obar;maund ye to leaue me, if I doo it not in kew, let
your Lordship bannishe me from the wearing of a golde chaine for euer.

Moore.
They come now, set thy countenaunce, act thy parte
with a firme boldnesse, and thou winnest my hart. —exit Musique, enter Surrey, Erasmus and attendants.

Sur.
Now great Erasmus, you approche the presence,
of a moste learned woorthie Gentleman.
This little Ile holdes not a truer freend

vnto the Artes: nor dooth his greatnesse add
a feigned florishe to his woorthie meritt.
Hees great in studie, thats the statists ^note grace,
that gaines more reuerence then the outward place.

Eras.
Reporte my Lord hath crost the narrow Seas,
and to the seuerall partes of Christendome
hath borne the fame of your Lord Chauncellour.
I longd to see him, whom with loouing thoughts
I in my studie oft haue visited.
Is yond Sir Thomas?

Sur.
It is Erasmus.
Now doo you viewe the honorablest Scholler,
the moste religious Politician,
the woorthiest Councellour that tends our state.
That Studie is the generall watche of England,
In it, the Princes safetie, and the peace,
that shines vppon our c&obar;mon weale, [is] are ^note forgde.
vppon the golden Anuile of his braine.
who cures the Realme, such care attends the great,
that minde and bodie must together sweate.

Eras.
His Lordship hath some weightie busines sure,
for see, as yet he takes no notice of vs.
I thinke ^note twere best I doo my dutie to him
in ^note a short Latine speeche.

Sur.
It will doo well,
hees the best linguist that we haue in England.
^noteCum tua virtus, (amplissim
doctissime que vir)
^note

^{note note note}Methinkes this straunge and Ruffinlike disguise, Fol. 14^a

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