Suff.
Now, my lord bishop, take free liberty
To speak your mind: what is your suit to us?

Roch.
My noble lord, no more than what you know,
And have been oftentimes invested with.
Grievous complaints have pass'd 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 discern'd, when, like a frenzy,
This innovation shall possess their minds.
These upstarts will have followers to uphold
Their damn'd opinion, more than Henry shall,
To undergo his quarrel 'gainst the French.

Suf.
What proof is there against them to be had,
That what you say the law may justify?

Roch.
They give themselves the name of Protestants,
And meet in fields and solitary groves.

S. John.
Was ever heard, my lord, the like till now?
That thieves and rebels, s'blood, my lord, hereticks,
Plain hereticks, (I'll stand to't to their teeth)
Should have, to colour their vile practices,
A title of such worth, as Protestant? Enter a Messenger with a letter, which he gives to the duke of Suffolk.

Suf.
O, but you must not swear; it ill becomes
One of your coat to rap out bloody oaths.

Roch.
Pardon him, good my lord; it is his zeal.
An honest country prelate, who laments
To see such foul disorder in the church.

S. John.
There's one, they call him sir John Oldcastle;
He has not his name for nought; 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.

Roch.
That is 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 of Hereford^{4 note} writes to me,

What tumult and sedition was begun,
About the lord Cobham, at the 'sizes there,
(For they had much ado to calm the rage)
And that the valiant Herbert is there slain.

Suf.
A fire that must be quench'd. Well, say no more;
The king anon goes to the council 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^{5 note}.

But.
I will, my lord.

Roch.
Not as a recompence,
But as a token of our love to you,
By me, my lords, the clergy doth present
This purse, and in it full a thousand angels,
Praying your lordship to accept their gift. [Offers the duke a purse.

Suf.
I thank them, my lord bishop, for their love,
But will not take their money; if you please
To give it to this gentleman, you may.

Roch.
Sir, then we crave your furtherance herein.

But.
The best I can, my lord of Rochester.

Roch.
Nay, pray you take it, trust me sir, you shall.

S. John.
Were ye all three upon New-market heath,
You should not need strain curt'sy who should have it;
Sir John would quickly rid ye of that care. [Aside.

Suf.
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 the earl of Huntington.

K. Henry.
My lord of Suffolk,
Was it not said the clergy did refuse
To lend us money toward our wars in France?

Suf.
It was, my lord, but very wrongfully.

K. Henry.
I know it was: for Huntington here tells me
They have been very bountiful of late.

Suf.
And still they vow, my gracious lord, to be so,
Hoping your majesty will think on them
As of your loving subjects, and suppress
All such malicious errors as begin
To spot their calling, and disturb the church.

K. Henry.
God else forbid!—Why, Suffolk, is there
Any new rupture to disquiet them?

Suf.
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 commenc'd abroad,
As by this letter more at large, my liege,
Is made apparent.

K. Henry.
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 dream'd of any such contention.

Roch.
But in his name the quarrel did begin,
About the opinion which he held, my liege.

K. Henry.
What if it did? was either he in place
To take part with them, or abet them in it?
If brabbling fellows, whose enkindled blood
Seeths in their firy veins, will needs go fight,
Making their quarrels of some words that pass'd
Either of you, or you,9Q1350 amongst their cups,
Is the fault yours? or are they guilty of it?

Suf.
With pardon of your highness, my dread lord,

Such little sparks, neglected, may in time
Grow to a mighty flame. But that's not all;
He doth beside maintain a strange religion,
And will not be compell'd to come to mass.

Roch.
We do beseech you therefore, gracious prince,
Without offence unto your majesty,
We may be bold to use authority.

K. Henry.
As how?

Roch.
To summon him unto the arches^{6 note},
Where such offences have their punishment.

K. Henry.
To answer personally? is that your meaning?

Roch.
It is, my lord.

K. Henry.
How, if he appeal?

Roch.
My lord, he cannot in such a case as this.

Suf.
Not where religion is the plea, my lord.

K. Henry.
I took it always, that ourself stood on't9Q1351
As a sufficient refuge, unto whom
Not any but might lawfully appeal:
But we'll not argue now upon that point.
For sir John Oldcastle, whom you accuse,
Let me intreat you to dispense a while
With your high title of preheminence.
Report did never yet condemn him so,
But he hath always been reputed loyal:
And, in my knowledge, I can say thus much,
That he is virtuous, wise, and honourable.
If any way his conscience be seduc'd
To waver in his faith, I'll send for him,
And school him privately: if that serve not,
Then afterward you may proceed against him.
Butler, be you the messenger for us,
And will him presently repair to court. [Exeunt King Henry, Huntington, Suffolk, and Butler.

S. John.
How now, my lord? why stand you discontent?
Insooth, methinks the king hath well decreed.

Roch.
Ay, ay, sir John, if he would keep his word:
But I perceive he favours him so much
As this will be to small effect, I fear.

S. John.
Why then I'll tell you what you're best to do:
If you suspect the king will be but cold
In reprehending him, send you a process too,
To serve upon him; so you may be sure
To make him answer it, howsoe'er it fall.

Roch.
And well remember'd; I will have it so;
A sumner shall be sent^{7 note} about it straight. [Exit.

S. John.
Yea, do so. In the mean space this remains
For kind sir John of Wrotham, honest Jack.
Methinks the purse of gold the bishop gave
Made a good shew, it had a tempting look:
Beshrew me, but my fingers' ends do itch
To be upon those golden ruddocks^{8 note}. Well, 'tis thus;
I am not as the world doth take me for:
If ever wolf were cloathed in sheep's coat,
Then I am he; old huddle and twang i'faith:
A priest in shew, but, in plain terms, a thief.
Yet let me tell you too, an honest thief;
One that will take it where it may be spar'd,
And spend it freely in good fellowship.
I have as many shapes as Proteus had;
That still when any villainy is done,
There may be none suspect it was sir John.
Besides, to comfort me, (for what's this life,

Except the crabbed bitterness thereof
Be sweeten'd now and then with lechery?)
I have my Doll, my concubine as 'twere,
To frolick with; a lusty bouncing girl.
But whilst I loiter here, the gold may scape,
And that must not be so: it is mine own.
Therefore I'll meet him on his way to court,
And shrive him of it^{9 note}; there will be the sport. [Exit.

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