Sher.
My lords, I charge ye, in his highness' name,
To keep the peace; you and your followers.

Her.
Good master sheriff, look unto yourself.

Pow.
Do so, for we have other business. [They attempt to fight again.

Sher.
Will ye disturb the judges, and the assize?
Hear the king's proclamation, ye were best.

Pow.
Hold then; let's hear it.

Her.
But be brief, ye were best.

Bail.
O—yes.

Davy.
Cossone, make shorter O, or shall mar your yes.

Bail.
O—yes.

Owen.
What, has hur nothing to say, but O yes?

Bail.
O—yes.

Davy.

O nay; py coss plut, down with hur, down with hur. A Powis, a Powis.

Gough.

A Herbert, a Herbert, and down with Powis.

Sher.
Hold in the king's name, hold.

Owen.
Down with a' knave's name, down. [The bailiff is knock'd down, and the sheriff runs away.

Her.
Powis, I think thy Welsh and thou do smart.

Pow.
Herbert, I think my sword came near thy heart.

Her.
Thy heart's best blood shall pay the loss of mine.

Gough.
A Herbert, a Herbert.

Davy.
A Powis, a Powis. As they are fighting, Enter the Mayor of Hereford, his officers and townsmen, with clubs.

May.
My lords, as you are liegemen to the crown,

True noblemen, and subjects to the king,
Attend his highness' proclamation,
Commanded by the judges of assize,
For keeping peace at this assembly.

Her.
Good master mayor of Hereford, be brief.

May.
Serjeant, without the ceremonies of O yes,
Pronounce aloud the proclamation.

Ser.

The king's justices, perceiving what publick mischief may ensue this private quarrel, in his majesty's name do straitly charge and command all persons, of what degree soever, to depart this city of Hereford, except such as are bound to give attendance at this assize, and that no man presume to wear any weapon, especially Welsh-hooks^{3 note}, and forest bills;—

Owen.

Haw! No pill, nor Wells hoog? ha?

May.

Peace, and hear the proclamation.

Ser.

And that the lord Powis do presently disperse and discharge his retinue, and depart the city in the king's peace, he and his followers, on pain of imprisonment.

Davy.

Haw? pud her lord Powis in prison? A Powis, a Powis. Cossoon, hur will live and tye with hur lord.

Gough.

A Herbert, a Herbert.

1 Judge.
Where's the lord Herbert? Is he hurt or slain?

Sher.
He's here, my lord.

2 Judge.
How fares his lordship, friends?

Gough.
Mortally wounded, speechless; he cannot live.

1 Judge.
Convey him hence, let not his wounds take air;
And get him dress'd with expedition. [Exeunt Lord Herbert and Gough.
Master mayor of Hereford, master sheriff o'the shire,
Commit lord Powis to safe custody,
To answer the disturbance of the peace,
Lord Herbert's peril, and his high contempt
Of us, and you the king's commissioners:
See it be done with care and diligence.

Sher.

Please it your lordship, my lord Powis is gone past all recovery.

2 Judge.
Yet let search be made,
To apprehend his followers that are left.

Sher.

There are some of them: Sirs, lay hold of them.

Owen.

Of us? and why? what has hur done, I pray you?

Sher.

Disarm them, bailiffs.

May.

Officers, assist.

Davy.

Hear you, lord shudge, what resson is for this?

Owen.

Cossoon, pe'puse for fighting for our lord?

1 Judge.

Away with them.

Davy.

Harg you, my lord.

Owen.

Gough, my lord Herbert's man, is a shitten knave.

Davy.

Ice live and tye in good quarrel.

Owen.

Pray you do shustice, let awl be prison.

Davy.

Prison! no; lord shudge, I wool give you pail, good surety.

2 Judge.

What bail? what sureties?

Davy.

Hur cozen ap Rice, ap Evan, ap Morice, ap Morgan, ap Lluellyn, ap Madoc, ap Meredith, ap Griffin, ap Davy, ap Owen, ap Skinken, ap Shones.

2 Judge.

Two of the most sufficient are enough.

Sher.

An it please your lordship, these are all but one.

1 Judge.
To gaol with them, and the lord Herbert's men:
We'll talk with them, when the assize is done. [Exeunt bailiffs, Owen, Davy, &c.
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?

2 Judge.
What was the quarrel that caus'd all this stir?

Sher.
About religion, as I heard, my lord.
Lord Powis detracted from the power of Rome,
Affirming Wickliff's doctrine to be true,
And Rome's erroneous: hot reply was made
By the lord Herbert; they were traitors all
That would maintain it. Powis answered,
They were as true, as noble, and as wise
As he; they would defend it with their lives;
He nam'd for instance sir John Oldcastle,
The lord Cobham: Herbert reply'd again,
He, thou, and all are traitors that so hold.
The lie was given, the several factions drawn,
And so enraged that we could not appease it.

1 Judge.
This case concerns the king's prerogative,
And 'tis dangerous to the state and commonwealth.
Gentlemen, justices, master mayor, and master sheriff,
It doth behove us all, and each of us,
In general and particular, to have care
For the 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 Oldcastle's
Innocent of it; only his name was us'd.
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 profan'd.
Let us return unto the bench again,
And there examine further of this fray. Enter a Bailiff and a Serjeant.

Sher.
Sirs, have ye taken the lord Powis yet?

Bail.
No, nor heard of him.

Ser.
No, he's gone far enough.

2 Judge.
They that are left behind, shall answer all. [Exeunt.

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