Rowley, Samuel, d. 1633? : : When you see me, you know me (1605)
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Samuel Rowley, d. 1633? (d. 1624) When you see me, You know me.
Or the famous Chronicle Historie of king Henry the eight, with the birth and vertuous life of Edward Prince of Wales.
As it was playd by the high and mightie Prince of Wales his seruants.
By Samvell Rovvly
London
Imprinted for Nathaniell Butter [etc. ] 1605
XSLT translation from Chadwyck-Healey
Chadwyck-Healey transformed by xslt
DEEP #: 386
GREG #: 212a
STC/WING #: 21417
The characters are identified by IDREF pointing to information in
the following declarations.
Woolsie.
Boneuet.
Bishop of Paris.
King Henry VIII
Bonner
Queen Jane Seymour
Will Sommers
Lady Mary
Dudley/Lord Gray
Charles Brandon
Sir William Cumpton
Countess of Seymour
Lord Seymour
Bishop Gardner
Young Seymour
Patch
Prince Edward
Campeus/Legate
Queen Katherine
Black Will
Browne
Bishop Cranmer
Emperor
Both/Omnes
Constable
1 Watch
Cobbler
2 Watch
Dormouse
Porter
1 Prisoner
2 Prisoner
Rookesbie
Dr. Tye
Servant
Marquess
Guard
Page
1 Lady
2 Lady
2 Lady
1 Servant
2 Servant
The languages (other than English) which occur in the text are identified
by idREF which point to the following.
Latin
French
Spanish
Enter the Cardinall with the Embassadours of Fraunce, in all state
and royaltie, the Purse and Mace before him.
Woolsie.
Gentlemen give leave: you great ambassadors,
From Francis the most christian king of France:
My Lord of Paris, and Lord Boneuet,
Welcome to England: since the king your master
Entreats our furtherance to advance his peace;
Giving us titles of high dignity,
As next elect to Rome's Supremacy.
Tell him we have so wrought with English Henry
(Who, as his right hand loves the Cardinal)
That undelayed, you shall have audience:
And this day will the king in person sit
To hear your message, and to answer it.
Boneuet.
Your grace hath done us double courtesy:
For so much doth the king our master long,
To have an answer of this embassage.
As minutes are thought months till we return.
Paris.
And that is the cause his highness moves your grace,
To quick dispatch betwixt the king and him:
And for a quittance of your forwardness,
And hopeful kindness to the crown of France,
Twelve reverent Bishops are sent post to Rome,
Both from his highness and the Emperor,
To move Campeus and the Cardinals,
For your election to the papal throne,
That Woolsies head may wear the triple Crown.
Wool.
We thank his highness for remembering us.
And so salute my Lord the Emperor,
Both which (if Woolsie be made Pope of Rome)
Shall be made famous through all Christendom.
How now Bonner.
Enter Bonner.
Bon.
Sir William Cumpton from his highness comes,
To do a message to your excellence,
VVool.
Delay him a while, and tell him we are busy,
Mean time my Lords you shall with draw yourselves,
Our private conference must not be known,
Let all your gentlemen in their best array,
Attend you bravely to king Henries court,
Where we in person presently will meet you:
And doubt not we will prevail successfully.
Bone.
But hath your grace yet moved his highness sister,
For kind acceptance of our Sovereign's love.
Wool.
I have, and by the king's means finished it,
And yet it was a task, I tell ye Lords,
That might have been
imposed to Hercules,
To win a Lady of her spirit and years.
To see her first love crowned with silver hairs,
As old king Lewes is, that bedrid lies.
Unfit for love, or worldly vanities.
Bon.
But it is is countries peace the king respects.
Wol.
We think no less, and we have fully wrought it,
The Emperor's forces that were levied,
To invade the frontiers of lo Burgondy,
Are staid in Brabant by the king's command,
The Admiral Hayward that was lately sent,
With threescore sail of ships and pinnaces,
To Batter down the towns in Normandy,
Is by our care for him, called home again:
Then doubt not of a fair successful end,
Since Woolsie is esteemed your Sovereign's friend.
Par.
We thank your excellence, and take our leaves,
VVool.
Haste ye to court, I will meet ye presently.
Bone.
God morrow to your grace.
Exeunt.
Enter Bonner and Cumpton.
VVol.
God morrow Lords, go call Sir William Cumpton in,
We must have narrow eyes, and quick conceit,
To look into these dangerous stratagems,
I will effect for France, as they for me:
If Woolsie to the Popes high state attain,
The league is kept, or else he will break it again.
Now good Sir William.
Cum.
The king my Lord entreats your reverent grace,
There may be had some private conference,
Betwixt his highness and your excellence,
Before he hear the French Ambassadors,
And wills you hasten your repair to him.
Wool.
We will attend his highness presently,
Bonner, see all our train be set in readiness,
That in our state and pomp pontifical,
We may pass on to grace king Henries court.
Cump.
I have a message from the Queen my Lord,
Who much commends, and humbly thanks your grace,
For your exceeding love, and zealous prayers,
By your directions through all England sent:
To invocate for her sound prosperous help,
By heaven's fair hand in child-bed passions.
Wool.
We thank her highness that accepts our love,
In all Cathedral Churches through the land,
Are Masses, Dirges, and Processions sung:
With prayers to heaven to bless her Majesty,
And send her joy, and quick delivery:
And so Sir William do my duty to her,
Queen Iane was ever kind and courteous,
And always of her subjects honoured.
Cump.
I take my leave my Lord:
Exit.
Enter Boner.
Wol.
Adieu good knight we will follow presently,
Now Woolsie work thy wits like gates of steel,
And make them pliable to all impressions,
That King and Queen and all may honour thee:
So toiled not Caesar in the state of Rome,
As Woolsie labours in the affairs of Kings:
As Hanniball with oil did melt the Alpes:
To make a passage into Italy:
So must we bear our high pitched Eminence
To dig for glory in the hearts of men.
Till we have got the papal diadem:
And to this end have I composed this plot,
And made a League between the French and us:
And match their Aged King in holy Marriage,
With Lady Mary Royal Henries sister:
That he in peace complotting with the Emperor
May plead for us within the Courts of Rome
Wherefore was Alexanders fame so great,
But that he conquered and deposed Kings,
And where doth Woolsie fail to follow him,
That thus commandeth Kings and Emperors,
Great Englands Lord have I so won with words:
That under colour of advising him,
I overrule both Council, Court, and King:
Let him command, but we will execute.
Making our glory to out-shine his fame
Till we have purchased an eternal name.
Now Boner, are those proclamations sent
As we directed to the Sheriffs of London,
Of certain new devised Articles.
For ordering those brothels called the Stews?
Bon.
They are ready my Lord, and the Shrieve attends for them,
Wol.
Dispatch him quickly, and haste after me;
We must attend the King's high Majesty.
Sound Trumpets, Enter King Harry the Eight, Queene Iane bigge with Child, the Cardinall, Charles Brandon
Duke of Suffolke, Dudlie, Graye, Compton, the Ladie Marie, The Countesse of Salisburie attending on the Queene.
King.
Charles Brandon, Dudly, and my good Lord Gray,
Prepare yourselves, and be in readiness,
To entertain these French Ambassadors,
Meet them before our royal Palace Gate:
And so conduct them to our Majesty.
We mean this day to give them Audience.
Dud. , Gray.
We will my Lord.
Brand.
Let one attend without.
And bring us word when they are coming on:
King.
How now Queen Iane (Mother of God) my love
Thou wilt never be able to sit half this time:
Ladies, I fear she will wake ye, yer be long,
Methinks she bears her burthen very heavily,
And yet good sister and my honoured Lords,
If this fair hour exceed not her expect.
And pass the calendar of her accounts,
She will hear this Embassage, Iane wilt thou not.
Q. Iane.
Yes my dear Lord, I cannot leave your sight.
So long as life retains this Mantion?
In whose sweet looks bright sovereignties enthroned,
That make all Nations love and honour thee,
Within thy frame sits Awful Majesty,
Wreathed in the curled furrows of thy front:
Admired and feared even of thine enemies;
To be with thee, is my felicity.
Not to behold the state of all the world,
Could win thy Queen, thy sick unwieldy Queen,
To leave her Chamber, in this mothers state.
But sight of thee unequal potentate,
Kyng.
God a-mercie Iane, reach me thy princely hand.
Thou art now a right woman, goodly, chief of thy sex;
Methinks thou art a Queen superlative,
Mother-a-god this is a woman's glory,
Like good September Vines laden with fruit.
How ill did they define the name of women,
Adding so foul a preposition:
To call it woe to man, it is woe from man.
If woe it be, and then who does not know,
That women still from men receive their woe.
Yet, they love men for it, but what is their gain,
Poor souls no more but travail for their pain;
Come, love thou art sad, call Will Sommers in, to
Make her merry, where is the fool today
Dud.
He was met my Liege they say at London
Early this morning with Doctor Skelton,
Kyng.
He is never from him, go let a groom be sent,
And fetch him home, my good Lord Cardinal:
Who are the chief of these Ambassadors?
Wool.
Lord Boneuet the French high Admiral,
And Iohn de Mazo reverent Bishop of Paris.
King.
Let their welcome be thy care good Woolsie,
Wool.
It shall my Liege.
Enter Cumpton.
King.
Spare for no cost, Compton, what news?
Cump.
Ambassadors my Liege.
King.
Enough, go give them entertainment Lords,
Charles Brandon, hearst thou, give them courtesy
enough, and state enough, go conduct them.
Brand.
I go my Lord.
Enter Will sommers booted and spurred, blowing a horne.
King.
How now William, what? post, post, where
have you been riding.
Will.
Out of my way old Hary, I am all on the spur,
I can tell ye, I have tidings worth telling.
King.
Why, where hast thou been:
Wil.
Marry I rise early, and ride post to London, to
know what news was here at Court.
King.
Was that your nearest way William?
Will.
O Aye, the very foot path, but yet I rid the horse
way to here it, I warrant there is never a Cundhead keeper in
London, but knows what is done in all the Courts
in Christendom.
Wolsie.
And what is the best news there William?
VVill.
Good news for you my Lord Cardinal, for
one of the old women Waterbearers told me for certain,
that last Friday all the bells in Rome Rang backward,
there was a thousand Dirges sung, six hundred ave-marias
said, every man washed his face in holy water, the
people crossing and blessing themselves to send them a
new Pope, for the old is gon to purgatory.
VVolsie.
Ha, ha, ha,
Will.
Nay, my Lord you would laugh,
if it were so indeed, for
everybody
thinks if the Pope were dead, you gape for
a benefice, but this news my Lord is called too good to
be true.
King.
But this news came a pace Will, that came
from Rome to London since Friday last.
Will.
For, it was at Billings-gate by Saturday Morning,
it was a full Moon, and it came up in a spring tide.
Kin.
Then you hear of the Ambassadors that are come.
Willi.
Aye, aye, and that was the cause of my riding to know
what they came for, I was told it all at a Barbars.
King.
Ha, ha, what a fool is this, Iane, and what
do they say he comes for, Will:
William:
Marry they say he comes to crave thy aid against the
great Turk that vows
to overrun all France within this fortnight,
he is in a terrible rage belike,
and they say, the reason is, his, old god Mamet
that was buried in the top of his
Church at Meca, his Tomb fell
down, and killed a Sow and seven Pigs, whereupon they think
all swines flesh is new sanctified, and now it is thought the
Jews will
fall to eating of pork extremely after it.
king.
This is strange indeed, but is this all,
Will.
No there is other news that was told me, among the women
at a bakehouse, and that is this, they say, the great Bell in glassenberie.
Tor has told twice, and that king Arthur, and his Knights
of the round Table that were buried in Armour, are alive again, crying
Saint Gorge for England, and mean shortly to conquer Rome,
marry this is thought to be but a moral,
king.
The Ambassadors are coming, and hear William see that
you be silent, when you see them here.
William:
I will be wise and say little I warrant thee, and therefore till I
see them come, I will
go talk with the Queen; how dost thou lane, sirrah.
Harrie, she looks
very big upon me, but I care not, if she
bring thee a young Prince, Will sommers may haps be his fool, when
you two are both dead and rotten:
Kin:
Go to William, how now Iane what groaning,
Gods me thou hast an Angry soldier's frown:
William.
I think so Harrie, thou hast pressed her often:
I am sure this two years she has served under thy standard.
Q: Iane,
Good faith my Lord I must entreat your grace
That with your favour I may leave the presence:
I cannot stay to hear this Embassage,
king.
Gods holy mother, Ladies lead her to her chamber,
Go bid the Midwives, and the Nurses wait,
Make wholesome fires and take her from the Air,
Now Iane God bring me but a chopping boy,
Be but the Mother to a Prince of Wales
And a ninth Henrie to the English Crown,
And thou makest full my hopes, fair Queen adieu:
And may heaven's helping hand our joys renew:
Comp:
God make your Majesty a happy Mother,
Dud:
And help you in your weakest passions,
With zealous prayer we all will invocate:
The powers divine for your delivery:
Q: Iane,
We thank you all, and in fair interchange
We will pray for you: now on my humble knees,
I take my leave of your high Majesty,
God send your highness long and happy Reign,
And bless this kingdom, and your subiects' lives:
And to your gracious heart all joy restore,
I fear I shall never behold you more,
King,
do not think so fair Queen, go to thy bed,
Let not my love be so discomforted.
Wil,
No. no, I warrant thee Iane,
make haste and dispatch this
That thou mayst have another against next Christmas
King,
Ladies attend her, Countess of Salisbury, sister Mary
Who first brings word that Harrie hath a Son
Shall be rewarded well:
Will,
I, I will be his surety: but do
you hear wenches, she that
brings the first tidings howsoever it fall out, let her be sure to say the
Child is like the father or else she
shall have nothing.
Enter Lords and Embassadors
King.
Welcome Lord Bonneuet, welcome Bishop
What from our brother brings this Embassage.
Bonneuet.
Most fair commends great and renowned Hen.
We in the person of our Lord and King,
Here of your highness, do entreat a League
And to reedify the former peace:
Held betwixt the Realms of England and of France,
Of late disordered for some petty wrongs:
And pray your Majesty to stay your powers:
Already levied in low Burgandie,
Which to maintain our oaths, shall be engaged,
And to confirm it with more surety,
He craves your fair consent unto his love,
And give the Lady Marie for his Queen,
The second sister to your Royal self.
So may an heir springing from both your bloods.
Make both Realms happy by a lasting League,
King.
We kindly do receive your Master's love,
And yet our grant stands strong unto his suit,
If that no following censure feeble it:
For we herein must take our Counsels aid.
But howsoever our answer shall be swift,
Mean time we grant you fair access to woe,
And win her (if you can) to be his Queen.
Ourself will second you. Right welcome both,
Lord Cardinal, these Lords shall be your Guests,
But let our Treasure Waste to welcome them:
Banquet them, how they will, what cheer, what sport,
Let them see Harry keeps a kingly Court:
VVolsie:
I shall my Sovereign.
Ex. Wools:
Ki
Withdraw a while ourselves will follow ye.
Now Will are you not deceived in this Embassage,
You heard they came for aid against the Turk.
Will.
Well then; now I see there is loud lies told in London
But all is one for their
coming is to as much purpose as the other:
king:
And why I pray,
Wil.
Why dost thou think thy sister such a fool, to marry such
an old dies veneris, he get her with
Prince? Aye, when either I, or the
Cardinal prove Pope, and that will never be, I hope:
King.
How knowest thou him to be old, thou never sawest him?
VVill.
No, nor he me, but I saw his picture with never a tooth of the
head out, and all his beard as well favoured as a white frost, but it is
no matter, if he have her, he will dye shortly, and then she may help
to bury him,
Enter Ladyes.
1 Lad.
Run, Run, good Madam, call the Ladies in.
Call for more Women's help, the Queen is sick.
2 Lad.
For Gods love go back again, and warm more clothes,
O let the wine be well burned I charge ye.
VVill.
Aye, In any case, or I cannot drink it,
dost thou hear Harry,
what a coil they keep: I warrant, these women will drink thee up
more wine, with their gossipping, than was spent in all the Conduits
at thy Coronation.
Enter Lady Mary and the Countes of Salisbury.
King,
It is no matter Will, How now Ladies,
La: Mary,
I beseech your grace command the fool
forth of the presence,
k.
Away William you must be gone,
here is women's matters in hand
Willi,
Let them speak lo then, I will not out of the room, sure,
Count,
Come, come let us thrust him out,
he will not stir else:
Will:
Thrust me, nay and ye go to thrusting, I will thrust some of you
down I warrant ye:
King:
Nay, go good William:
VVill.
I will out of their company Harry,
they will scratch worse than
cats, if they catch me, therefore I will hence and leave them, God boy
Ladies do you hear Madam Mary, you had need to be wary,
my news is worth a white-cake, you must play at tennis with old
Saint Dennis, and your maiden-head must lie at the stake.
Exit.
King.
Ha, ha, the fool tells you true (my gentle sister)
But to our business, how fares my Queen?
How fares my Iane, has she a son for me?
To raise again our kingdom's sovereignty
Lady Mary,
That yet rests doubtful, O my princely Lord.
Your poor distressed Queen lies weak and sick,
And be it son or daughter, dear she buys it,
Even with her dearest life, for one must dye:
All Women's help is past. Then good my Liege,
Resolve it quickly, if the Queen shall live,
The Child must die, or if it life receives,
You must your hapless Queen of life bereave,
Ki.
You pierce me with your news, run, send for help.
Spend the revenues of my Crown for aid,
To save the life of my beloved Queen:
How hap it she is so ill attended on.
That we are put to this extremity,
To save the Mother or the child to dye.
Countesse.
I beseech your grace resolve immediately,
King.
Immediately (sayst thou) O, it is no quick resolve
Can give good verdict in so sad a choice:
To lose my Queen, that is my some of bliss,
More virtuous than a thousand Kingdoms be;
And should I lose my Son (if Son it be)
That all my subjects so desire to see.
I lose the hope of this great Monarchy.
What shall I do?
Lady Marie.
Remember the Queen my Lord:
Exit. La.
King.
I not forget her (Sister) O poor soul,
But I forget thy pain and misery,
Go, let the Child die; let the Mother live,
Heaven's powerful hand may more children give:
Away, and comfort her with our reply,
Harry will have his Queen though thousands die.
I know no issue of her princely womb:
Why then should I prefer it before her life.
Whose death ends all my hopeful joys on earth.
God's will be done, for sure it is his will,
For secret reasons to himself best known:
Perhaps he did mould forth a Son for me,
And seeing (that sees all) in his creation,
To be some impotent and coward spirit,
Unlike the figure of his Royal Father:
Has thus decreed, lest he should blur out fame,
As Whilom did the sixth king of my name
Lose all his Father (the first Henrie) won.
I will thank the Heavens for taking such a Son.
Who is within there?
Enter .
Compton
My Lord.
king.
Go Compton, bid Lord
Seimer come to me,
The honoured Father of my woeful Queen
Now now what news?
L. Marie.
We did deliver what your highness willed,
Which was no sooner by her grace received:
But with the sad report, she seemed as dead,
Which caused us stay, after recovery.
She sent us back to entreat your Majesty,
As ever you did take delight in her,
As you prefer the quiet of her soul,
That now is ready to forsake this life,
As you desire to have the life of one,
She doth entreat your grace that she may dye,
Lest both doth perish in this agony:
For to behold the infant suffer death,
Were endless tortures, made to stop her breath.
Then to my Lord (quoth she) thus gently say,
The child is fair, the mother earth and clay.
King.
Sad messenger of woe; O my poor Queen,
Canst thou so soon consent to leave this life,
So precious to our soul, so dear to all,
To yield the hopeful issue of thy loins,
To raise our second comfort, well, be it so:
Ill, be it so: stay, I revoke my word,
But that you say helps not, for she must dye:
Yet if ye can save both, I will give my crown:
Nay, all I have, and enter bonds for more,
Which with my conquering sword with fury bent,
I will purchase in the farthest continent,
Use all your chiefest skill, make haste away,
Whilst we for your success devoutly pray.
Enter Lord Seymer.
Seym.
All joy and happiness betide my Sovereign.
King.
Joy be it good Lord Seymer noble father,
Or joy, or grief, thou hast a part in it,
Thou comest to greet us in a doubtful hour,
Thy daughter and my Queen lies now in pain,
And if I lose, Seymer thou canst not gain.
Sey.
Yet comfort, good my Liege, this woman's woe,
Why? it is as certain to her as her death,
Both given her in her first creation:
It is a sour too sweet, given them at first,
By their first mother, then put sorrow hence:
Your grace, ere long shall see a gallant Prince.
King.
Be thou a Prophet Seymer in thy words,
Thy love some comfort to our hopes affords,
How now.
Enter two Ladies.
Count.
My gracious Lord, here I present to you,
A goodly son: see here your flesh, your bone,
Look here royal Lord, I warrant it is your own.
Seym.
See here my Liege, by the rood a gallant Prince,
Ha little cakebread, fore god a chopping boy.
King.
Even now I wept with sorrow, now with joy,
Take that for thy good news, how fares my Queen.
Enter Mary and one Lady.
Count.
O my good Lord, the woeful.
King.
Tell no more of woe, speak, doth she live?
What? weep ye all, nay, then my heart misgives,
Resolve me sister, is the news worth hearing.
L. Mary.
Nor worth the telling, royal Sovereign.
King.
Now, by my crown, thou dimmest my royalty,
And with thy cloudy looks eclipsed my joys,
Thy silent eye bewrays a ruthful sound,
Stopped in the organs of thy troubled spirit:
Say, is she dead.
La. Mary.
Without offence she is.
Kin.
Without offence, sayst thou, heaven take my soul,
What can be more offensive to my life:
Than sad remembrance of my fair Queen's death,
Thou woeful man, that camest to comfort me:
How shall I ease thy hearts calamity?
That cannot help thyself, how one sad minute
Hath raised a fount of sorrows in his eyes,
And bleared his aged cheeks, yet Seymer see,
She hath left part of herself, a son to me:
To thee a grand-child, unto the land a Prince,
The perfect substance of his royal mother,
In whom her memory shall ever live:
Phænix Iana obit nato Phænice,
Dolendum secula phænices nulla tulisse duas.
One Phoenix dying, gives another life,
Thus must we flatter our extremest grief.
What day is this.
Cump.
Saint Edwards even my Lord.
Kin.
Prepare for christening, Edward shall be his name,
Enter the Cardinall, Embassadors, Bonner and Gardner.
Wool.
My Lords of France you have had
small cheer with us,
But you must pardon us, the times are sad,
And sorts not now for mirth and banqueting:
Therefore I pray make your swift return,
Commend me to your king, and kindly tell him,
The English Cardinal will remain his friend,
The Lady Mary shall be forthwith sent,
And overtake ye ere you reach to Dover:
And for the business that concerns the league,
Urge it no more, but leave it to my care.
Bone.
We thank your grace, my good Lord Cardinal,
And so with thankfulness we take our leaves.
Wool.
Happily speed my honourable Lords,
My heart, I swear, still keeps you company,
Farewell to both, pray your king remember,
My suit betwixt him and the Emperor,
We shall be thankful, if they think on us.
Par.
We will be earnest in your cause my Lord,
So of your grace we once more take our leaves.
Wool.
Again farewell, Bonner conduct them forth,
Now Gardner, what thinkst thou of these times.
Gard.
Well, that the leagues confirmed, my gracious Lord,
Ill, that I fear the death of good Queen Iane,
Will cause new troubles in our state again.
VVool.
Why thinkst thou so?
Gard.
I fear false Luther: doctrines spread so far,
Lest that his highness now unmarried,
Should match amongst that sect of Lutherans,
You saw how soon his majesty was won,
To scorn the Pope, and Rome's religion,
When Queen Anne Bullen wore the diadem.
Wool.
Gardner it is
true, so was the rumour spread:
But Woolsie wrought such means she lost her head,
Tush fear not thou whilst Haries life doth stand,
He shall be king, but we will rule the land.
Bonner come hither, you are our trusty friend:
See that the treasure we have gathered,
The Copes, the Vestments, and the Chalices,
The smoke pence, and the tributary fees,
That English chimneys pay the Church of Rome:
Be barrelled close within the inner cellar,
We will send it over shortly to prepare,
Our swift advancement to Saint Peters chair,
Be trusty, and be sure of honours speedily,
The king hath promised at the next election,
Bonner shall have the Bishopric of London.
Bon.
I humbly thank your grace.
Wool.
And Gardner shall be Lord of Winchester:
Had we our hopes, what shall you not be then,
When we have got the Papal diadem.
Exeunt.
Enter Brandon, Dudley, Gray, Seymer, Compton.
Br.
How now Sir William Cumpton, where is the king.
Cum.
His grace is walking in the gallery,
As sad and passionate as ever he was.
Dud.
It were good your grace went in to comfort him.
Bran.
Not I Lord Dudley, by my George I swear,
Unless his Highness first had sent for me,
I will not put my head in such a hazard,
I know his anger, and his spleen too well.
Gray.
It is strange, this humour hath his highness held,
Ever since the death of good Queen Iane,
That none dares venture to confer with him.
Enter Cardinall, Sommers, and Patch.
Dud.
Here comes the Cardinal.
Bran.
Aye, and two fools after him, his Lordship is well attended still
Sem.
Let us win this prelate to salute the king,
It may perhaps work his disgrace with him.
Wool.
How now William, what? are you here too.
VVill.
Aye my Lord, all the fools follow you, I come to
bid my cousin Patch welcome to the court, and when I
come to York house, he will do as much for me,
will ye
not Patch?
Pat.
Yes cousin, hey, da, tere, dedell, dey, day.
sing.
Wool.
What, are you singing sirrah.
Will.
I will make him cry as fast anon I hold a penny.
Dud.
God morrow to your grace my good Lord Cardinal.
Wool.
We thank your honour.
Enter king within.
Kyng.
What Cumpton, Carew.
Call within.
Brand.
Hark, the king calls.
King.
Mother of God, how are we attended on: who waits without.
Brand.
Go in Sir William, and if you find his grace
In any milder temper than he was last night,
Let us have word, and we will visit him.
Cump.
I will my Lord.
Exit.
Wool.
What is the occasion, that the king is so moved.
Brand.
His grace hath taken such an inward grief,
With sad remembrance of the Queen that is dead:
That much his highness wrongs his state and person,
Besides in Ireland, do the Burkes rebel,
And stout Pearsie that disclosed the plot,
Was by the Earl of Kildare late put to death.
And Martin Luther out of Germany,
Has writ a book against his Majesty,
For taking part with proud Pope Iulius,
Which being spread by him through Christendom,
Hath thus incensed his royal majesty.
Wool.
Tush, I have news, my Lord, to salve that sore,
And make the king more feared through christendom,
Than ever was his famous ancestors:
Nor can base Luther with his heresies,
Backed by the proudest german potentate,
Heretically blur king Henries fame:
For honour that he did Pope Iulius,
Who in high favour of his Majesty,
Hath sent Campeus with a bull from Rome,
To add unto his title this high style:
That he and his fair posterity,
Proclaimed defenders of the faith shall be:
For which intent the holy Cardinals come,
As Legates from the Imperial court of Rome.
Gr.
This news, my Lord, may something ease his mind,
It were good your grace would go and visit him.
Wool.
I will, and doubt not but to please him well.
Seym.
So, I am glad he is in, and the king
be no better pleased than
he was at our last parting, he will
make him repent his sauciness.
Brand.
How now old William, how chance you go not to the king, and comfort him.
Will.
No birlady, my Lord, I was with him too lately already, his
fist is too heavy for a fool to stand under, I went to him last night,
after you had left him, seeing him chase so at Charles, here to make
him merry: and he gave me such a box on the ear, that stroke me
clean through three chambers, down four pair of stairs, fell
over five barrels, into the bottom of the cellar,
and if I had not well
liquored myself there, I had never lived after it.
Bran.
Faith Will, I will give thee a velvet coat, and thou canst but
make him merry.
Will.
Will ye my Lord, and I will venture another box on the ear but
I will do it.
Enter Cumpton.
Cum.
Clear the presence there, the king is coming,
Gods me, my Lords, what meant the Cardinal,
So unexpected thus to trouble him.
Gray.
Is the king moved at it.
Enter the king and VVolsie.
Cumpt.
Judge by his countenance, see he comes:
Bran.
I will not endure the storm.
Dud.
Nor I.
Wil.
Run fool your master will be felled else.
King.
Did we not charge that none should trouble us,
Presumptuous priest, proud prelate as thou art,
How comes it you are grown so saucy sir,
Thus to presume upon our patience,
And cross our royal thought disturbed and vexed,
By all your negligence in our estate,
Of us and of our countries happiness.
VVool.
My gracious Lord.
King.
Fawning beast stand back:
Or by my crown, I will foot thee to the earth,
Where is Brandon, Surrey, Seymer, Gray,
Where is your counsel now, O now ye crouch,
And stand like pictures at our presence door,
Call in our guard, and bear them to the Tower,
Mother of God, I will have the traitors heads,
Go hale them to the blocke, up, up, stand up,
I will make you know your duties to our state,
Am I a cipher, is my sight grown stale,
Am I not Hary, am I not Englands king, Ha.
Will.
So lady, now the watchwords given, nay if he
once cry ha, near a man in the court dare for his head
speak again, lie close cousin Patch.
Patch.
I will not come near him cousin, he has almost killed
me with his countenance.
King.
We have been too familiar, now I see,
And you may dally with our majesty:
Where are my pages there.
Page.
My Lord.
Enter pages.
Kin.
Truss sirrah, none to put my garter on,
Give me some wine, here stuff on the tother side,
Proud Cardinal who followed our affairs in Italy,
That we that honoured so Pope Iulius,
By dedicating books at thy request,
Against that upstart sect of Lutherans,
Should by that heretic be banded thus,
But by my George, I swear, if Henry live,
I will hunt base Luther through all Germany,
And pull those seven electors on their knees:
If they but back him against our dignities.
Base slave tie soft, thou hurtest my leg,
And now in Ireland the Burkes rebel,
And with his stubborn kerns makes hourly rodes,
To burn the borders of the English pale,
And which of all your counsels helps us now.
Enter Cumpton with wine.
Cumpt.
Here is wine, my Lord.
Kin.
Drink, and be damned, I cry thee mercy Cumpton,
What the devil meantest thou to come behind me so,
I did mistake, I will make thee amends for it,
By holy Paule, I am so crossed and vexed,
I knew not what I did, and here at home,
Such careful statesmen do attend us,
And looks so wisely to our common weal,
That we have ill May-days, and riots made:
For lawless rebels do disturb our state,
Twelve times this term, have we in person sate,
Both in the star chamber, and Chancery courts,
To hear our subject's suits determined:
Yet it is your office Woolsie, but all of you
May make a packhorse of king Henry now:
Well, what would ye say.
Wool.
Nothing that might displease your majesty,
I have a message from the Pope to you.
King.
Then keep it still, we will not hear it yet,
Get all of you away, avoid out presence
We cannot yet command our patience,
Reach me a chair.
Brand.
Now wil, or never, make the king but smile,
And with thy mirthful toys allay his spleen,
That we his council, may confer with him,
And by my Honour, I will reward thee well,
To him good Will.
Will.
Not too fast, I pray, lest
will Sommers never be
seen again, I know his qualities as well as the best
of ye: for ever when he is
angry, and nobody dare
speak to him, ye thrust me in by the head and shoulders,
and then we fall to buffets, but I know who has
the worst of it: but go, my Lord, stand aside, and stir
not till I call ye, let my cousin Patch and I alone, and
he go to boxing, we will
fall both upon him, that is certain:
but and the worst come, be sure the Cardinals
fool shall pay for it.
Bra.
Use your best skill, good william, I will not be seen,
Unless I see him smile.
wil.
Where art thou cousin, alas poor fool, he is crept
under the table, up cousin, fear nothing, the storm is
past, I warrant thee.
Patch.
Is the king gon, cousin?
wil.
No, no, yonder he sits, we are all friends now,
The Lords are gone to dinner, and thou and I must wait at the king's table.
Patch.
Not I birlady, I would not wait upon such a
Lord, for all the livings in the land, I thought he would
have killed my Lord Cardinal, he looked so terribly.
wil.
Foe, he did but jest with him, but I will tell thee cousin
the rarest trick to be revenged as it passes, and I will give
thee this fine silk point, if thou wilt do it.
Patch.
O brave, o brave, give me it cousin, and I will
do whatsoever it is.
wil.
I will stand behind the post here, and thou shalt go
softly stealing behind him, as he sits reading yonder,
and when thou comest close to him, cry boh, and we will
scar him so, he shall not tell where to rest him.
Patch.
But will he not be angry?
wil.
No, no, for then I will show
myself, and after he sees who it is, he will
laugh and be as merry as a magpie, and thou wilt be a made man
by it, for all the house shall see him hug thee in his arms, and
dandle thee up and down with hand and foot
as if thou wert a football,
Page.
O fine come cousin, give me the pint first, and I will roar so loud
that I will make him believe that the devils come.
Will:
So do and fear nothing, for if
thou wert the devil himself,
he will conjure thee I warrant thee, I would not have such a conjuring
for twenty crowns: but when he has made way, I will make him merry
enough, I doubt it not, so so now cousin look to your Coxcomb:
Pag:
Boe.
King:
Mother of God what is that.
Page.
Boe.
King:
Out ass take that and tumble at my feet.
For thus I will spurn thee
up an down the house:
Pach:
Help cousin help:
Will:
No cousin now he is conjuring. I dare not come near him.
king.
Who set this natural near to trouble me.
En,
Comp:
Who is that stands laughing there, the fool, ha, ha,
Where is Compton.
Mother-a-God I have found his drift, it is the craftiest
old villain in christendom, mark good Sir William, because the
fool durst not come near himself, seeing our anger, sent this silly
Ass, that we might wreak our royal spleen on him: whilst he
stands laughing to behold the lest, by the blessed
Lady. (Compton) I will not leave
the fool, to gain a million, he contents me so, come hither Will,
Will.
I will know whether ye have done knocking first, my cousin
pach looks pitifully, ye had best be friends with us I can tell you,
we will scare ye out of your skin else
King:
Alas, poor pach hold sirrah there is an Angel to buy you points
Wil.
Law Cousin, did not I say he will; make much on ye,
Pach:
Aye cousin but has made such a singing in my head
I cannot see where I am.
Will.
All the better cousin and your head fall a singing,
your feet may fall a dancing and so save charges to the
piper:
King.
Wil Sommers, prithee tell me why didst thou send him first.
VVil.
Because I will have him
have the first fruits of thy fury. I know
how the matter stood with the next that disturbed thee, therefore I
kept in the rearward, that if the battle grew too hot, I might run presently
King.
But wherefore came ye.
Will.
To make thee leave thy melancholy and turn merry man again,
thou hast made all the Court in such a pitiful case as passes,
the Lords has attended here this four days, and none
dares speak to thee, but thou art ready to chop off
their heads for it: and now I seeing what a fretting fury
thou continuest in, and everyone said it would kill thee if
thou keepest it, pulled even up my heart, and vowed to
loose my head, but I will make thee leave it,
Ling.
Well William I am beholding to ye.
Ye shall have a new Coat and a cap for this.
Wil.
Nay then, I shall have two new coats and caps,
for Charles Brandon promised me one before, to perform
this enterprise:
King.
He shall keep his word will, go call him in,
Call in the Lords tell them our spleen is calmed:
Mother-a-God we must give way to wrath.
That chafes our Royal blood with anger thus:
And use some mirth I see to comfort us.
Draw near us Lords, Charles Brandon list to me:
Will Sommers here must have a Coat of you,
But Patch has earned it dearest where is the fool?
VVil.
He is even creeping as near the door as he can,
He will fain begone I see, if he could get out,
Wouldst thou not cousin?
Pach:
Yes cousin Wil. I would fain be walking, I am afraid,
I am not as I should be:
VVil.
Come, I will help thee out then, dost thou hear my
Lord Cardinal, your fool is in a pitiful taking, he
smells terribly.
Wools:
You are too crafty for him William,
King:
So is he Woolsey credit me.
Wil:
I think so my Lord, as long as will
live, the Cardinals
fool must give way to the King's fool:
K:
Well sir be quiet, and my reverent Lords,
I thank you for your patient suffering,
We were disturbed in our thoughts we swear,
We now entreat you speak and we will hear,
Wools.
Then may it please your sacred Majesty.
Campe.
Legate to his holiness,
Attends with letters from the Court of Rome.
King:
Let him draw near, we will give him Audience,
Dudley: and Gray Attend the Cardinal,
And bring Campeus to our presence here:
Dud. , Gray,
We go my Lord:
Enter Lords and Legats:
king:
Brandon and Seymer,
place yourselves by us,
To hear this message from his holiness,
You reverent princes pillars of the Church:
Legates, Apostolic, how fares the Pope,
Campeus,
In health great King and from his sacred lips:
I bring a blessing Apostolical:
To English Henrie and his subjects all:
And more to manifest his love to thee,
The prop and pillar of the Churches peace:
And gratify thy love made plain to him,
In learned books gainst Luthers heresy,
He sends me thus to greet thy Majesty:
With style and titles of high dignity,
Command the Heralds and the Trumpets forth:
Semer:
Gentlemen dispatch and call them in:
VVill:
Lord bless us, what is here to do now.
Campe,
Receive this Bull sent from his holiness.
For confirmation of his dignity
To thee, and to thy fair posterity.
VVill:
It is well the King is
a widower, if he had put
forth your Bull with his horns forward, I would have marred
your message. I can tell ye.
K:
Peace
Wil:
Heralds attend him:
Campe:
Trumpets prepare whilst we aloud pronounce
This sacred message from his Holiness,
And in his reverent name I here proclaim
Henrie the Eight by the grace of God,
King of England, France and Ireland
And to this title, from the Pope we give:
Defender of the faith, in peace to live:
Wools, Sound Trumpets, and God save the King.
K:
We thank his holiness for this princely favour,
Receiving it with thanks and reverence:
In which whilst we have life, his grace shall see,
Our sword defender of the faith shall be,
Go one of you salute the Mayor of London,
Bid him with Heralds and with Trumpets sound,
Proclaim our Titles through his government,
Go Gray, see it done, attend him fellows:
Gray.
I go my Lord, Trumpets follow me,
Exit:
King.
What more Lord Legate doth his holiness will?
Campe:
That Henry Joining with the Christian Kings
Of France and Spain, Denmark: and Portugal
would send an Army to assail the Turk,
That now invades with War the Isle of Rhodes,
Or send twelve thousand pound to be disposed,
As his holiness thinks best for their relief.
Wili:
I thought so, I knew it would be a money matter,
when all is done, now thou art defender of the faith, the Pope
will have thee defend everything himself and all.
kyng:
Take hence the fool.
vvil:
Aye, when can ye tell? dost thou think any of the Lords
will take the fool, none here, I warrant, except the
Cardinals.
kyng,
What a knavish fool is this, Lords you must bear
with him, come hither Wyll, what sayst thou to this
new titely given us by the Pope, speak, is it not
rare?
VVill:
I know not how rare it is, but I know how deer
it will be, for I perceive
it will cost thee twelve thousand
pounds, at least, besides the Cardinal's cost in coming.
kyng,
All that is nothing, the title of defender of
the faith is worth ye, twice as much, say, is it
not.
VVyll:
No by my troth, dost hear old Harie; I am sure,
the true faith is able to defend itself without thee, and
as for the Popes faith (good faith's) not worth a farthing,
and therefore give him not a penny.
K.
Go to sirrah meddle not you with the Popes
matters:
VV:
Let him not meddle with thy matters then, for,
if he meddle with thee, I will
middle with him that is certain
and so farewell, I will go and meet my little young
Master Prince Edward, they say he comes to Court
tonight, I will to horseback, Prithee
Harie send one to
hold my stirrup: shall I tell the Prince what the Pope
has done.
King.
Aye if thou wilt Will,
he shall be defender of the faith too, one day.
Will.
No, if he and I can defend ourselves, we care not,
For we are sure the faith can.
(Exit.
King.
Lord Legate, so we reverence Rome and you,
As nothing you demand, shall be denied:
The Turk will we expel from Christendom,
Sending stout soldiers to his holiness,
And money to relieve distressed Rhoades:
So if you please, pass in to banqueting,
Go Lords attend them, Brandon and Compton stay,
We have some business to confer upon.
Comp.
We take our leave.
Exit.
King.
Most hearty welcome to my reverent Lords.
So, now to our business, Brandon say,
Hear ye no tidings from our sister Mary,
Since her arrival in the Realm of France?
Bron.
Thus much we heard my Lord, at Cales met her
The youthful Dolphin, and the Peers of France:
And bravely brought her to the King at Towers,
Where he both married her, and crowned her Queen.
King.
It is well, but Brandon
and Compton list to me,
I must employ your aid and secrecy,
This night we mean in some disguised shape,
To visit London, and to walk the round,
Pass through their watches, and observe the care
And special diligence to keep our peace.
They say night-walkers, hourly pass the streets,
Committing theft, and hated sacrilege:
And slightly pass unstayed, or unpunished,
Go Compton, go, and get me some disguise,
This night we will see our Cities government:
Brandon, do you attend at Baynards-Castle,
Compton shall go disguised along with me,
Our swords and bucklers shall conduct us safe,
But if we catch a knock to quit our pain,
We will put it up,
and bye us home again.
Exit.
Enter the Constable and Watch, Prichall the Cobler, being one baring a Lant-horne.
Constable.
Come neighbours, we have a straight command,
Our watches be severely looked into:
Much theft and murder was committed lately,
There are two strangers, merchants of the Stillyard
Cruelly slain, found floating on the Temmes:
And greatly are Stews had in suspect,
As places fitting for no better use,
Therefore be careful and examine all,
Perhaps we may attach the murderer.
1 Watch.
Nay I assure ye master Constable, those stew-houses
are places of much slaughter and redemption, and many
cruel deeds of equity and wickedness are committed
there, for divers good men loose both their money and their
computation by them, I abjure ye; how say you neighbour
Prichall?
Cob.
Neighbour Capcase, I know you are a man of courage,
and for the merry cobbler of Limestreete, though I sit as low as
Saint Faithes, I can look as high as Paul's: I have in my
days walked to the stews as well as my neighbours, but if the
mad wenches fall to murdering once, and cast men into the
Thames, I have done
with them, there is no dealing, if they carry
fire in one hand, and water in the tother.
Exit Constable.
Con.
Well masters we are now placed about the King's business,
And I know ye all sufficient in the knowledge of it,
I need not to repeat your charge again:
Good neighbours, use your greatest care I pray,
And if unruly persons trouble ye,
Call and I will come: so sirs goodnight.
1 Wat.
God ye goodnight and twenty sir, I warrant ye, ye
need not reconcile to our charge, for some of us has discharged
the place this forty year I am sure. Neighbours what
think you best to be done?
Cob.
Every man according to his calling neighbour, if the
enemy come, here lies my town of Garrison, I set on him as
I set on a patch, if he tread on this side, I underlay him on this
side, or prick him through both sides, I yerk him, and trick
him, pare him and piece him, then hang him up by the heels
till Sunday.
1 Wat.
How say ye, by my faith neighbour
Prichall ye
speak to the purpose, for indeed neighbours, every sensible
watch-man is to seek the best reformation to his own destruction.
2 Wat.
But what think ye neighbours, if every man take
a nap now, in the fore hand in the night, and go to bed afterward.
Cob.
That were not amiss neither, but if you will take but
every man his pot first, you will
sleep like the man in the Moon yfaith.
2
Do ye think neighbour, there is a man in the Moon?
1 Wat.
I assure ye in a clear day, I have seen it at midnight.
2 Wat.
Of what occupation is he trow?
Cob.
Some thinks he is a shepherd, because of his dog, some
says he is a baker going to heat his oven with a bavin at his
back, but the plain truth is, I think he was a cobbler, for ye
know what the song says, I see a man in the Moon, fie man, fie,
I see a man in the Moon, clouting Saint Peters shoon, and so
by this reason, he should be a cobbler.
1 Wat.
By my fekins he saith true, alas, alas, goodman Dormouse
hath even given up
the ghost already, it is an honest quiet
soul I warrant ye.
Cob.
It behooves us all to be so how do
ye neighbour Dormouse?
Dor.
Godspeed ye, Godspeed ye, nay and ye go a-godsname,
I have nothing to say to ye.
2
Law ye, his mind is on his
business, though he be never so sleepy,
Cob.
Come let us all join with him and steal a nap, every
man masters to his several stall.
2
Agreed, Goodnight good neighbours.
Cob.
Nay, let us take no leave,
I will but wink a while, and see
you again.
Enter King, and Compton, with bids on his backe.
King.
Come sir William,
We may now stand upon our guard you see,
The watch has given us leave to arm ourselves,
They fear no danger, for they sleep secure:
Go carry those bills we took to Baynards Castle,
And bid Charles Brandon to disguise himself,
And meet me presently at Grace Church Corner,
We will attempt to pass through all the watches,
And so I take it it will be an easy task,
Therefore make haste.
Comp.
I will my Liege.
King.
The watch-word if I chance to send to ye,
Is the great Stag of Baydon, so my name shall be.
Comp.
Enough we will think on it.
Exit.
Kin.
So, now we will forward, soft yonder is light,
Aye and a watch, and all asleep burlady:
These are good peaceable subjects, here is none
Beckons to any, all may pass in peace: Ho sirrah.
Cob.
Stand, who goes there?
King.
A good fellow. Stands a heinous word in the King's
High way, you have been at Noddy, I see.
Cob.
Aye, and the first card comes to my hand is a Knave.
King.
I am a Coat card indeed.
Cob.
Then thou must needs be a Knave, for thou art neither
King nor Queen, (I am sure) But whether goest thou?
King.
About a little business that I have in hand.
Cob.
Then good night, prithee trouble me no longer.
King.
Why this is easy enough, here is passage at pleasure,
What wretch so wicked, would not give fair words
After the foulest fact of Villainy?
That may escape unseen so easily,
Or what should let him that is so resolved
To murder, rapine, theft, or sacrilege?
I see the City are the sleepy heads,
To do it, and pass thus unexamined.
Fond heedless men, what boots it for a King,
To toil himself in this high state affairs,
To summon Parliaments, and call together
The wisest heads of all his Provinces:
Making statutes for his subiects' peace,
That thus neglecting them, their woes increase.
Well, we will further on, soft here comes one,
I will stay and see, how he escapes the watch.
Enter Blacke VVill.
Black VVill.
So, now I am got within the City, I am as
safe as in a Sanctuary: it is a hard world, when Black Will, for
a venture of five pound, must commit such petty robberies
at Mile-ende, but the plain truth is, the Stews from whence
I had my quarterage is now grown too hot for me: there is
some suspicion of a murther lately done upon two Merchants
of the Stilliard, which indeed as far as some five or
six stabs comes too, I confess I had a hand in. But mumbudget,
all the Dogs in the town must not bark at it.
I must withdraw awhile till the heat be over, remove my
lodging, and live upon dark nights and misty mornings.
Now let me then see, the strongest watch in London intercept
my passage.
King.
Such a Fellow would I fain meet withal:
Well overtaken sir.
Blacke Will.
Sblood come before me sir:
What a Devil art thou?
King.
A man at least.
Black.
And art thou valiant?
King.
I carry a sword and a buckler ye see.
Black.
A sword and a buckler, and know not me,
Not Black Will?
King.
No trust me.
Blacke Will.
Slave, then thou art neither Traveller, nor
Purse-taker: for I tell thee, Black Will is known and feared
though the seventeen Provinces: there is not a sword
and Buckler man in England nor Europe, but has had a taste
of my manhood. I am toll-free in all Cities, and the Suburbs
about them: this is my Sconce, my Castle, my Citadel, and
but King Harry, God bless his Majesty, I fear not the
proudest.
King.
O yes, some of his guard.
Blacke VVil.
Let his guard eats beef and be thankful, give
me a man will cover himself with his buckler, and not budge
and the devil come.
King.
Methinks thou wert better live at Court as I do,
King Harry loves a man, I can tell ye.
Blacke Will.
Would thou if all the men he keeps were
hanged, and ye love not him then: but I will not change my
revenues for all his guard's wages.
King.
Hast thou such store of living?
Blacke will.
Art thou a good fellow?
May I speak freely, and wilt not tell the king of it?
King.
Keep thine own counsel, and fear not,
For of my faith the King shall know no more for me than
thou tellest him.
UUill.
And I tell him anything let him hang me: but for
thyself, I think if a fat purse come
in the way, thou wouldst
not refuse it. Therefore leave the Court and shark with me,
I tell thee, I am chief commander of all the Stews, there is
not a whore shifts a smock but by my privilege, nor opens
her shop before I have my weekly tribute: And to
assure thee my valour carries credit with it, do but walk
with me through the streets of London, and let me see the
proudest watch disturb us.
King.
I shall be glad of your conduct sir.
Black.
Follow me then, and I will tell thee more.
1. Watch.
Stand, who goes there?
Blac.
A good fellow: come close, regard them not.
2. Watch.
How shall we know thee to be a good fellow?
Blacke UUill.
My names Black Will.
1. Watch.
O, God give ye good night,
good Master Black William.
2. Watch.
God boye sir, God boye,
I am glad we are so well rid on him.
Will.
Law sir, you see here is egress enough,
Now follow me, and you shall see we will
we will have regress back again.
1. Watch.
Who comes there?
Cob.
Come afore the Constable.
VVil.
What have ye forgot me so soon? it is I.
2. VVatch.
O, it is Master. Black William,
God bless ye sir, God bless ye.
Black.
How likest thou now?
King.
Faith excellent: but prithee tell me, dost thou face
the world with thy man-hood, that thus they fear thee, or
art thou truly valiant?
Blacke VVill.
Sfoote, dost thou doubt of my man-hood?
Nay then defend yourself, I will give you a try all presently, betake
ye to your tools sir, I will
teach ye to stand upon Interrogatories.
King.
I am for ye, there is never
a man the King keeps shall
refuse ye: but tell me, wilt thou keep the King's Act for
fighting.
Blacke.
As ye please sir: yet because thou art his man, I will observe
it, and neither thrust nor strike beneath the knee.
King.
I am pleased, have at you sir.
They fight.
1. Watch.
Help neighbours, O take ye to your brown
Bills, call up the Constable, here is a piece of chance-meddle
ready to be committed: set on good-man Sprichall.
Cob.
I will firk them a both sides, lie close neighbour Dormouse,
keep the king's peace, I charge ye, help Master. Constable.
Enter the Constable.
Con.
Keep the peace, or strike them down.
Black.
Zounds, I am hurt, hold I say.
2. VVatch.
Let them not pass neighbours, here is bloodshed
drawn upon one of the King's Officers.
Con.
Take away their weapons, and since you are so hot,
I will set you where you shall be cool enough.
Blacke Wil.
Zounds the Moone is a waning harlot, with
the glimpse of her light I lost his point, and mistook my ward,
had never broached my blood else.
Con.
pray sir what are you?
King.
I am the King's man sir, and of his Guard.
Con.
More shame you should so much forget yourself,
For as I take it, it is parcel of your oath,
As well to keep his peace, as guard his person:
And if a Constable be not present by,
You may as well as he, his place supply:
And seeing ye so neglect your oath and duty,
Go bare them to the Counter presently,
There shall ye answer for these misdemeanours.
2 Wat.
Has broke my head sir, and furthermore it bleeds.
Con.
Away with them both, they shall pay thee well ere
they come forth, I warrant thee.
Will.
I beseech ye sir.
King.
Never entreat man, we shall have bail I doubt it not,
But master Constable, I hope you will do me this favour, to let
one of your watchmen go of an arrant for me, if I pay him?
Con.
With all my heart sir, here is one shall go.
King.
Hold thee good fellow, here is an angel for thee, go
thy way to Baynards Castle, and ask for one Brandon, he serves
the Duke of Suffolke, and tell him his bedfellow, or the great
stag of Baydon this night is clapped in the Counter, and bid him
come speak with me. Come Constable let us go, sirrah make
haste.
Exit.
Cob.
I warrant you sir, if this be all, I would have done it for
half the money: well, I must enquire for one Brandon, and tell
him the great stag of Baydon is in the Counter, burlady I doubt
they be both crafty knaues, and this is some watch-word between
them: by the mass I doubt he never come well by his
money, he is so liberal, well I will forward.
Enter Brandon, and Compton.
Bron.
Sir William, are you sure it was at Graces-Church
His Majesty appointed we should meet him?
We have been there
and missed him, what think ye sir?
Comp.
Good faith I know not.
His Highness is too venturous bold, my Lord:
I know he will forsake himself in this,
Opposing still against a world of odds.
Bran.
Good faith it is true: but soft here comes one,
How now good fellow, whether goest thou?
Cob.
It lies in my authority sir,
To ask you that question.
For I am one of the king's watch, I can tell ye.
Co.
Then perhaps thou canst tell us some tidings:
Didst thou not see a good lusty tall big set man, pass
through your watch tonight?
Cob.
Yes sir, there was such a man came to our watch to
tonight, but none that past through,
for he behaved himself
so, that he was laid hold on quickly, and now he is forth coming
in the Counter.
Brandon.
And whether art thou going?
Cob.
Faith sir, he has given me an Angel, to do an errand
for him at Baynards Castle, to one
Brandon, that serves the
Duke of Suffolke; he says he is his Bed-fellow, and I must tell
him, the great Stag of Baydon, is in the Counter.
Bran.
If thine errand be to Brandon, I can save thee a labour,
for I am the man thou lookest for, we have been seeking
him almost all this night: hold thee there is an Angel for
thy news, I will bail him I warrant thee.
Exit.
Cob.
I thank you sir: but he is not so soon bailed, as you
think for, there is two of the King's watch has their heads
broke, and that must be answered for, but
all is one to me,
let them shuffle as they will, the Angels has flown about tonight,
and two gulls are light into my hands, and these I will
keep, let him get out as he can.
Exit.
Enter the King in Prison.
King.
Ho Porter, who is without there?
Porter.
What is the matter now? will ye
not go to bed tonight?
King.
No trust me, it will be morning presently,
And I have hope I shall be bailed ere then:
I prithee if thou canst, entreat some of the prisoners to keep
me company a pair of hours, or so: and we will spend them:
in the rouse of healths, and all shall be my cost.
Say wilt thou pleasure me?
Port.
If that will pleasure ye sir, ye shall not want for company,
here is I now that can tend it, they have hunger and ease
enough at all times.
King.
There is a couple of Gentlemen in the next room, I
prithee let them come in, and there is
an Harry Sovereign for thee.
Port.
I thank you sir, I am as much beholding to you, as
to King Harry for it.
Exit.
Enter the prisoners.
King.
Aye, I assure thee thou art.
Well Master. Constable, you have made the Counter
This night, the royal Court of Englands King:
And by my crown I swear, I would not for
A thousand pound it were otherwise.
The Officers in Cities, now I see,
Are like an Orchard set with several Trees,
Where one must cherish one, rebuke the other:
And in this wretched Counters I perceive,
Money plays fast and loose, purchases favour,
And without that, nought but misery.
A poor Gentleman hath made complaint to me,
I am undone (quoth he) and kept in prison,
For one of your fellows that serves the King,
Being bound for him, and he neglecting me.
Hath brought me to this woe and misery.
Another Citizen there is, complains
Of one belonging to the Cardinal,
That in his Master's name hath taken up
Commodities, valued at a thousand pound:
The payment being deferred hath caused him break,
And so is quite undone. Thus kings and Lords I see,
Are oft abused by servant's treachery.
But whist a while, here comes my fellow prisoners.
1. Prisoner.
Wheres this bully Grig, this lad of life, that will
scour the counter with right rhenish tonight? O Sir you are
welcome.
King.
I thank ye sir, nay we will be as great as our word, I
assure ye. Here Porter, there is money, fetch wine I prithee:
Gentlemen you cannot be merry in this melancholy place;
but here is a Lad has his heart as light as his purse. Sirrah, thou
art some mad slave I think, a regular companion: one that
that uses to walk a nights, or so. Art thou not?
1. Pri.
Hark in thine ear, thou art a good fellow.
King.
I am right born I assure thee.
1. Pri.
King Harry loves a man, and thou a woman:
Shall I teach thee some wit?
And tell thee why I met thee here?
I went and set my limb-twigs, and I think
I got some hundred pound,
By a crooked measure at Coome Park:
And now seeing there was watch laid,
And much search for suspicious persons:
I got one as honest as myself to arrest me,
By a contrary name, and lay me in the counter,
And here I know they will never seek me,
And so when the heat is over, I am at liberty,
And mean to spend my crowns lustily:
How likest thou this my Bully?
King.
An excellent policy.
1. Pri.
But mum, no words: use it for yourself, or so.
King.
O sir, fear it not, be merry Gentlemen: Is not this
wine come yet? Gods me, forget our chief guest, where is my
sword and buckler-man? where is Black will? how now man,
melancholy? let not a little wipe make us enemies, clap hands,
and be friends.
Will.
My blood is up still.
King.
When it is at highest it will
fall again, come hands, hands.
Blacke Wil.
I will shake hands with thee, because thou carriest
a Sword and Buckler, yet thou art not right Cavalier, thou
knowest not how to use them, thou hast a heavy arm.
King.
Aye a good smart stroke.
VVili.
Thou cuttest my head indeed, but it was no play, thou
layest open enough, I could have entered at my pleasure.
King.
Nay I have stout guard I assure ye.
Wil.
Childish to a man of valour, when thou shouldst
have borne thy Buckler here, thou lettest it fall to thy knee,
thou gavest me a wipe, but it was mere chance: but had
we not been parted, I had taught ye a little School play I
warrant ye.
Brandon speakes within.
Brandon.
What ho, porter: who keeps the gates there?
Porter.
Who knocks so fast?
Enter Brandon and Compton hastily.
Compt:
Stand by sirrah.
Porter.
Keep back I say, whither will ye press amongst the prisoners?
Bran.
Sirrah to the Court, and we must in.
Port.
Why sir, the court is not kept at the Counter today.
Bran.
Yes when the king is there,
All happiness betide our Sovereign.
Will.
Zounds king Harry.
1. Pri.
Lord I beseech thee no.
All.
We all entreat your grace to pardon us.
King.
Stand up good men: beshrew ye
Brandon for discovering
us, we shall not spend our time so well this month:
but there is no remedy now, the worst is this,
The court good fellows must be removed the sooner,
Ye all are courtiers yet. Nay, nay, come forward,
Even now you know we were more familiar:
You see policies holds not always currant,
I am found out, and so I think will you be:
Go Porter let him be removed to Newgate,
This place I see is too secure for him:
We will send you further word for his bestowing.
1. Pri.
I beseech your Grace.
King.
There is no grace in thee, nor none for thee:
Go, away with him.
Exit Porter and Prisoner.
Will.
Zounds I shall to Tyburne presently.
King.
Gentlemen, you that have been wronged by my
servants and the Cardinals, shall give me nearer notes of it,
Both what they are, and how much debt they owe ye:
Send your petitions to the Court to me.
And doubt not but you shall have remedy:
There is forty Angels, drink to King Harries health,
And think withal, much wrong King's men may do:
The which their masters never consent unto.
2 Pris.
God bless your Majesty with happy life,
That thus respect; your woeful subject's grief,
King.
Where is Black Will, nay come nearer man,
I came nearer you, though ye misliked my play.
VVill.
by the Lord, your Maiesty is the best sword and buckler
man in Europe, ye lie as close to your wards, carry your point
as fair, that no Fencer comes near ye for gallant Fence-play.
King.
Nay now ye flatter me.
Will.
Fore god ye broke my head most gallantly.
King.
Aye But it was but by chance ye know, but now your heads
broke, you look for a plaster I am sure.
Will.
And your grace will give me leave, I will put it up and
go my ways presently.
King.
Nay soft sir, the Keeper will deny ye that privilege,
Come hither sirrah, because ye shall know King Harrie loves
a man, and I perceive there is some metal in thee, there is twenty
Angels for thee, marry it shall be to keep ye in prison still,
till we have further use for ye. If ye can break through watches
with egress and regress so valiantly, ye shall do it amongst
your countries enemies.
VVill.
The wars sweet King, it is my delight, my desire, my
chair of state, create me but a tattered Corporal, and give me
some pre-eminence over the vulgar hot-shots, and I beat them
not forward to as brave attempts, and march myself in the
Vanguard, as ever careered against a Castle wall, break my head
in two places more, and consume me with the mouth of a double
culvering, I will live and dye with thee sweet King.
King.
It will be your best course sir, go take him in,
When we have need of men, we will send for him.
VVill.
God bless your majesty, I will go drink to your health.
Exit.
King.
Begone sir, keeper I thank you for our lodging,
Nay indeed I do, I know had ye known
us, it had been better,
Pray tell the Constable that brought us hither,
We thank him, and commend his faithful service.
Gentlemen let us hear from you, and so God morrow,
Keeper, there iss for my fees, discharge the offices:
And give them charge that none discover us,
Till we are past the city: in this disguise we came,
We will keep us
still, and so depart again.
Once more God morrow, you may now report,
Your counter was one night King Henries court.
Away and leave us, Brandon what further news?
(Exit.
Bran.
The old king of France is dead my Liege,
And left your sister Mary a young widow.
King.
God forbid man, what not so soon I hope,
She has not yet been married forty days:
Is this news certain?
Bran.
Most true my Lord.
King.
Alas poor Mary, so soon a widow,
Before thy wedding robes be half worn out:
We must then prepare black funeral garments too,
Well, we will have her home, the league is broke:
And we will not trust her safety with the French.
Charles Brandon, you shall go to France for her,
See that your train be richly furnished,
And if the daring French, brave thee in attempts
Of honour, Barriers, Tilt, and Tournament:
So to retain her, bare thee like thyself,
An English man, dreadless of the proudest:
And highly scorning lowly hardiness.
Bran.
I shall my Sovereign, and in her honour,
I will cast a challenge through all the court:
And dare the proudest Peer in France for her.
King.
Commend me to the Lady Catherine Parry,
Give her this Ring, tell her on sunday next
She shall be Queen, and crowned at Westminster:
And Anne of Clean
shall be sent home again:
Come sirs, we will leave the city, and the counter now,
The day begins to break, let us hie to court,
And once a quarter we desire such sport.
Exit.
Enter the Cardinall reading a letter, Bonner in his Bishops Roabes.
VVol.
My reverent Lord of London,
Our trusty friend, the king of France is dead,
And in his death, our hopes are hindered:
The Emperor too, mislikes his praises,
But we shall cross him for it I doubt it not:
And tread upon his pomp imperial,
That thus hath wronged the English Cardinal.
Bon.
Your graces letters by Campeans sent,
I doubt not but shall work your full content.
Wol.
Ayethat must be our safest way to work,
Money will make us men, when men stand out:
The Bastard Fredericke to attain the place,
Hath made an offer to the Cardinals,
Of threescore thousand pound, which we will pay,
Three times thrice double, ere we lose the day.
Enter Will Sommers and Patch.
Patch.
Come cousin William, I will
bring ye to my Lord
Cardinal presently.
Will.
I thank ye cousin, and when you come to the court,
I will bring you to the King again,
ye know cousin, he gave
ye an angel.
Patch.
Aye but he gave me such a blow on the ear for it, as I care
not for coming in his sight again while I live.
Wol.
How now Patch, who have
you got there? what Will
Sommers welcome good William.
Will.
I thank your grace, I hard say your Lordship had
made two new Lords here, and so the two old fools are come
to wait on them.
Bon.
We thank ye William.
Patch.
Your Lordship will be well guarded, and we follow ye,
The King's fool, and the Cardinals, and we are no small
fools I assure ye.
VVill.
No indeed, my cousin Patch here is something too
square to be set on your shoe, marry if you will wear him
on your shoulder, the fool shall ride ye.
VVol.
A shrewd fool Bonner, come hither
William, I have a
quarrel to you since our last rhyming.
VVill.
About your fair Leman at Charlton my Lord, I remember.
Bon.
You speak plain William.
Will.
Ye never knew fool a flatterer I warrant ye.
Wol.
Well VVill, I will try your rhyming wits once more,
What say you to this?
The bells hang high, and loud they cry, what do they speak?
Will.
If you should dye, there is none would cry, though
your neck should break.
Wol.
You are something bitter William: But come on, once
more I am for ye. A rod in school, a whip for a fool, is always
in season.
Will.
A halter and a rope, for him that would be pope,
Against all right and reason.
Wol.
He is too hard for me still, I will
give him over, come
tell me Will, what is the news at Court?
Will.
Marry my Lord, they say the King must be married
this morning.
Wol.
Married Will, to whom I prithee?
Will.
Why to my Lady Catherin Parry, I was once by, when
he was wooing on her, and then I doubted they would go together
shortly.
Wol.
Holy Saint Peter shield his Majesty,
She is the hope of Luthers heresy:
If she be Queen, the Protestants will swell,
And Cranmer, Tutor to the Prince of Wales,
Will boldly speak against Rome's Religion,
But Bishops we will to Court immediately,
And plot the downfall of these Lutherans:
You two are Tutors to the Princes Mary,
Still ply her to the Popes obedience,
And make her hate the name of Protestant:
I do suspect that Latimer and Ridly,
Chief teachers of the fair Elizabeth,
Are not sound Catholics, nor friends to Rome,
If it be so, we will soon remove them all:
It is better they should dye, than thousands fall.
Come follow us. Manit, Wil, and Patch.
Exit omnes.
VVill.
Your Lord is mad, till he be at the wedding, it was marvel
the King stole it so secretly and never told him
of it, but all is
one, if he be married, let him play with his Queen tonight,
and then tomorrow he will call for me,
there is no fool to the wilful
still. What shall we do cousin?
Patch.
I will go get the key of the wine-cellar, and thou and
I will keep a passage there tonight.
Will.
We have but a little wit between us already cousin,
and so we should have none at all.
Patch.
When our wits be gone, we will
sleep in the cellar, and
lie without our wits for one night.
Will.
Content, and then in the morning
we will but wet them
with another cup more, and they will shave like a razor all day
after. Come close good cuz, let nobody
go with us, lest
they be drunk before us, for fools are innocents, and must be
accessory to no man's overthrow.
Exit.
Sound Trumpets.
Enter King, Queene Katherine, Cardinall, Semer, Dudly, Gray.
Enter Compton, crying Hoboyes.
King.
Welcome Queen Katherine, seat thee by our side,
Thy sight fair Queen, by us thus dignified,
Earls, Barons, Knights, and Gentlemen,
Against ye all, we will be chief challenger,
To fight at Barriers, Tilt, and Tournament,
In honour of the fair Queen Katherine.
Queene.
We thank your highness, and beseech your grace,
Forbear such hazard of your royal person,
Without such honours is your handmaid pleased,
Obediently to yield all love and duty,
That may beseem your sacred Majesty.
King.
God a mercy, but where are our children?
Prince Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth,
The royal Issue of three famous Queens,
How haps we have not seen them here today?
Dud.
They all my Liege attend your majesty,
And your fair queen, so within the presence here.
Enter Cranmer.
King.
It is well, Dudlie call
Cranmer in,
He is chief Tutor to our Princely son,
For precepts that concern divinity.
And here he comes, Cranmer, you must ply the Prince,
Let his waste hours be spent in getting learning:
And let those linguists for choice languages,
Be careful for him in their best endeavours,
Bid Doctor Tye, ply him to Music hard,
He is apt to learn, therefore be diligent,
He may requite your love when we are gone.
Cran.
Our care and duty shall be had my Lord.
King.
We thank ye.
I tell thee Cranmer he is all our hopes,
That what our age shall leave unfinished,
In his fair reign shall be accomplished.
Go and attend him, how now Wil Sommers,
what is the news with you?
Enter Will Sommers.
VVil.
I come to bid thee and thy new Queen Good morrow.
Look to him Kate
lest he cozen thee, provide Seville Oranges
enough, or he will have a Lemon shortly.
Queene.
God-a-mercy Will, thou wilt tell me then, wilt thou not?
VVill.
Aye and watch him too, or let him never
trust me: but dost
hear Harry, because I would
have thee have the poors' prayers, I
have brought thee some petitions, the Fryers and Priests pray
too, but I think it is as children say grace, more for fashion
than devotion, therefore the poors' prayers ought to be soonest
heard, because they beg for God's sake, therefore I prithee dispatch them.
King.
Read them Semer.
Semer.
The humble petition of the Lady Seaton, for her
distressed son, that in his own defence, unhappily hath slain a man.
King.
The Lady Seaton, Gods holy mother,
Her son has had our pardon twice already,
For two stout subjects that his hand hath slain.
VVill.
If any had said so but thou Harry,
I would have told
him he lied, he never killed but one,
thou killdest the tother: for
if thou hadst hanged him for the first, the two last
had been alive still.
King.
The fool tells true, they wrong our Majesty
That seek our pardon for such cruelty:
Away with it.
VVill.
Give me it again, It shall never be seen more I assure
ye: if I had known it had come
for that purpose, It should never
have been brought for
Will I warrant ye.
Se.
This other comes from two poor prisoners in the counter.
King.
We know the inside then, come give them me,
Lord Cardinal, here is one is dedicated to you.
How! read it: who is there? Compton
enquire for Rookesbie a
Groom of the wardrobe, and bring him hither.
Comp.
I will.
King.
Cardinal, what find ye written there?
Wol.
Mine own discredit, and the undoing of an honest citizen,
by a false servant.
Will.
It is not your fool my Lord I warrant ye.
Wol.
No will?
Will.
I thought so, I knew it was one of your knaues, for
your fools are harmless.
Queen.
Well said Wil, thou lovest thy master's credit I know.
Will.
Aye Kate as well as any Courtier he keeps:
I had rather he should have
the poors' prayers, than the Popes.
Queene.
Faith I am of thy mind Will, I think so too.
King.
Take heed what ye say Kate, what a Lutheran?
Wol.
It is Heresy fair Queen, to think such thoughts.
Queene.
And much uncharity to wrong the poor?
Will.
Well, and when the Pope is at best, he is but Saint
Peters deputy, but the poor, present Christ, and therefore
should be something better regarded.
King.
Go to fool.
Wol.
Sirrah, you will be whipped for this.
Will.
Would the King would whip thee and all the Popes
whelps out of England once, for between ye,
ye have racked
and pulled it so, we shall be all poor shortly, you have had four
hundred threescore pound within this three year for smoke-pence,
you have smoked it yfaith: dost hear Harry, next time
they gather them, let them take the chimneys, and leave the
coin behind them, we have clay enough to make brick,
though we want silver mines to make money.
King.
Well William your tongue is privileged.
VVol.
But my good Liege, I fear there is shrewder heads
Although kept close, has set this fool a work,
Thus to extirp against his holiness.
VVill.
Do not you think so my Lord, nor stomach nobody
about it: ye know what the old Proverb says, therefore
be patient, great quarrellers small credit wins:
When fools set stools, and wise men break their shins:
therefore think not on it, for I will sit
down by thee Kate and
say nothing, for here comes one to be examined.
Enter Compton and Rookesbie.
King.
O sir, you are welcome, Is your name Kookesbie?
Rookes.
your poor servant is so called my Lord.
King.
Our servant we guess ye by the cloth ye wear, but
for Your poverty it is doubtful, your credit is so good. Let us see
what is the man's name, ha! Hopkins, do you know the man?
Rookesby,
Hopkins? No my Lord.
King.
Had you never no dealings with such a man?
Rookes.
No, if it like your Majesty.
King.
No, if it like our Majesty, saucy varlet:
It likes not our Majesty, thou shouldst say no:
It likes us not, thou liest, for that we know.
You know him not, but he too well knows you,
And lies imprisoned slave, for what is thy due.
Rookes.
Sure some envious man hath misinformed.
King.
Darest thou deny it still, out-facing knave,
Mother-a-God, I will hang thee presently.
Sirrah ye lie: and though ye wear the king's cloth,
Yet we dare tell ye so before the king:
Slave thou dost know him.
He here complains he is undone by thee,
And the king's man hath caused his misery.
Yet you will out-face it still, deny, forswear, and lie sir, ha?
Wil.
Not a word more, if thou lovest thy life, unless thou wilt
confess all, and speak fair.
Rookes.
I do beseech your Grace.
K.
Out perjured knave, what dost thou serve the King,
And darest thou thus abuse our Majesty:
And wrong my subjects by thy treachery?
Thinkst thou false thief, thou shalt be privileged
Because thou art my man, to hurt my people:
Villain, those that guard me, shall regard mine honour:
Put off that coat of proof, that strong security:
Under which ye march like a halberdier,
Passing through purgatory, and none dare strike:
A Sergeant's mace must not presume to touch
Your sacred shoulders with the king's own writ,
Gods dear Lady, does the cloth ye wear,
Such privilege and strong prevention bear.
Ha, is it Rookesby?
Rookes.
My royal Lord.
Enter a Messenger in haste.
King.
Take that, and know your time to tell your
Message: Sirrah, I am busy.
Will.
So, there is one served: I think you would take two
more with all your heart, so you were well rid on him.
Rookes.
Your pardon good my Liege.
King.
Ha, pardon, thee: I tell thee did it touch thy life in
aught, more than
mine own displeasure, not the world
should purchase it, vile Caitiff: hadst thou neglected this
thy duty to our persons danger: Hadst thou thyself against
me aught attempted, I might be sooner won to pardon
thee, then for a subject's hateful injury.
Queene.
Let me entreat your Grace to pardon him,
Exit.
King.
Away Kate, speak not for him,
Out of my lenity I let him live,
Discharge him from my cloth and countenance,
To the Counter to redeem his creditor,
Where he shall satisfy the utmost mite
Of any debt, default or hindrance:
I will keep no man to blur my credit so,
My cloth shall not pay what my servants owe.
Away with him.
Now my Lord Cardinal, speaks not your paper so?
Car.
Yes my good Lord, your Grace hath shown a pattern,
to draw forth mine by, I assure your Highness,
The punishment inflicted on your man,
Is meant for mine servants that bears such minds,
Their Masters thus but serves them in their kinds.
King.
Where is this fellow now that brings this news?
Will.
He is gone with a flea in his ear: But has left his Message
behind with my Lord Dudley, here.
King.
And what is the news?
Dudlye.
Duke Brandon my Liege.
King.
O he is returned from France:
And who comes with him?
Dudlye.
His royal wife, my Lord.
King.
Ha! royal wife: who is that?
Dud.
Your Highness sister, the late Queen. of France.
Kin.
Our sister Queen. his wife: who gave him her?
Gra.
It is said they were married at Dover, my liege.
King.
It were better he had never seen the Town.
Dares any Subject mix his blood with ours, without our leave?
Enter Brandon and Mary.
Dudly.
He comes himself my Liege, to answer it.
Bran.
Health to my Sovereign.
Kin.
And our brother king, your Message is before ye sir:
Off with his head.
Bran.
I beseech your Grace give me leave.
King.
Nay you have taken leave, away with him, bid the
Captain of our Guard, convey him to the Tower.
Bran.
Hear me my Lord.
Audacious Brandon, thinkst thou excuse shall serve.
Lady Mary.
Right gracious Lord.
King.
Go to, your prayers will scarce save yourself,
Durst ye contract yourself without our knowledge?
Hence with that hare brain, Duke to the Tower I say,
And bear our careless sister to the Fleete:
I know sir, you broke a Lance for her,
And bravely did unhorse the Challengers:
Yet was there no such prize set on her head,
That you without our leave should marry her.
Queen.
O my Lord, let me entreat for them.
King.
Tut Kate, though thus I seem
A while to threaten them,
I mean not to disgrace my sister so:
Away with them. What say ye Lords,
Is he not worthy death for his misdeed?
Bon. & Gar.
Unless your Grace shall please to pardon him.
King.
He deserves it then?
Bon & Gar.
He does my Liege.
King.
You are knaues and fools, and ye flatter me:
Gods holy Mother, I will not have him hurt, for all your heads:
Dear Brandon, I embrace thee in mine arms:
Kind sister, I love you both so well.
I cannot dart another angry frown
To game a kingdom: here take him Marie,
I hold thee happier in this English choice,
Than to be Queen. of France:
Charles, love her well.
And tell on Brandon, what is
the news in France.
Bran.
The league is broke betwixt the Emperor
And the young king of France: Forces are mustering
On either part my Lord, for horse and foot.
Hot variance is expected speedily,
The Emperor is marching now to Landersey,
There to invade the towns of Burgondie.
King.
God and Saint. George, we will meet his Majesty,
And strike a league of Christian amity.
Lord Cardinal, you shall to France with speed,
And in our name salute the Emperor,
We will give direction for your Embassage.
The next fair wind, shall make us France to greet,
Where Charles the Emperor, and king shall meet.
Exit Omnes.
Enter Cranmor, Doctor Tye: and young Browne, meets them with the Princes cloake and hat.
Cran.
How now young Brown, what have you there?
Brown.
The Princes cloak and hat, my Lord.
Cran.
Where is his Grace?
Browne.
At Tennis, with the Marquess Dorset.
Cran.
You and the Marquess, draw the Princes mind
To follow pleasure, and neglect his book:
For which the King blames us. But credit me,
You shall be soundly paid immediately.
Brow.
I pray ye good my Lord. I will go call the Prince away.
Cranmer
Nay, now ye shall not, who is within there ho?
Seruant.
My Lord.
Cran.
Go bear this youngster to the Chapel, straight
And bid the Master. of the Children whip him well:
The Prince will not learn sir, and you shall smart for it.
Bro.
O good my Lord. I will make him ply his book tomorrow.
Exit.
Cran.
That shall not serve your turn, away I say.
So sir, this policy was well devised: Since he was whipped thus
for the Princes faults,
His Grace hath got more knowledge in a month,
Than he attained in a year before,
For still the fearful boy to save his breech,
Doth hourly haunt him wheresoever he goes.
Tye.
It is true my Lord, and now the Prince perceives it,
As loath to see him punished for his faults,
Plays it of purpose to redeem the boy,
But pray my Lord, let us stand aside awhile,
And note the greeting betwixt the Prince and him,
Cra.
See where the boy comes and the King's Fool with him;
Let us not be seen, but list their conference.
Will.
Nay boy, and ye cry you will spoil your eye sight,
come, come truss up your hose, you must hold fast your
wind, both before and behind, and blow your nose.
Browne.
For what Fool?
Will.
Why for the mote in thine eye, is there not one in it,
wherefore dost thou cry else?
Br.
I prithee Will go call the Prince from the Tennis court.
Will.
Dost thou cry for that? nay then I smell a Rat, the
Prince has played the Truant today, and his Tutors has
drawn blood of thy buttocks for it: why boy it is honourable
to be whipped for a Prince.
Bro.
I would he would either leave the Tennis court and
ply his Book, or give me leave to be no Courtier.
Will.
Aye, for I will be sworn
thy breech lies in the Hazard about
it, but look little Ned, yonder he comes.
Enter the Prince, and the young Marquesse with their Rackets, diuers attending.
Marq.
Some Rubbers for the Prince.
Seruant.
Here my good Lord.
Prince.
One take our Rackets, and reach my Cloak,
By my faith Marquis, you are too hard for me.
Ma.
Your Grace will say so, though ye over-match me.
Pr.
Why how now Brown, what is the matter?
Bro.
Your Grace loiters, and will not ply your book,
and your Tutors has whipped me for it.
Pr.
Alas poor Ned, I am sorry for it, I will take the more
pains, and entreat my Tutors for thee: yet in troth, the
lectors they read me last night out of Virgil and Ovid, I am
perfect in: only I confess I am something behind in my
Greek Authors.
Wil.
And for that speech, they have declined it
upon his breech.
Prin.
And for my logic, thou shalt witness thyself I
am perfect: for now will I prove, that though thou wert
whipped for me, yet this whipping was good for thee.
Mar.
I will hardly believe you my Lord, though Ramus
himself should prove it: well, probe.
Pr.
Mark my Problem.
Bona virga facit bonum puerum:
Bonum est, te esse bonum puerum:
Ergo bona verga, res bona est: And that is this, Ned.
A good rod makes a good boy: it is good that thou
shouldst be a good boy: (ergo) therefore a good rod is good.
Wil.
Nay berladie, the better the rod is, it is the worse
for him, that is certain: but
dost hear me, boy; since he
can prove a rod to be so good, let him
take it himself next time.
Prin.
In truth, I pity thee, and inwardly I feel the
stripes thou barest, and for thy sake, Ned, I will ply my book
the faster; in the mean time, thou shalt not say, but the
Prince of Wales will honourably reward thy service: come,
Brown, kneel down.
Wil.
What, wilt thou knight him, Ned?
Pr.
I will; my father has knighted many a one, that
never shed drop of blood for him; but
he has often for me.
Wil.
O brave! he looks like the mirror of knighthood
already.
Enter
Crumpt.
Clear the presence, Gentlemen, the
King is coming.
Pr.
The King? gods me, reach me my book: call my
Tutors in: come grown,
I will confirm thy knighthood afore
the King.
Enter the King.
Mar.
Here be your Tutors, my Lord, and yonder the
King comes.
Pri.
Health to your Majesty.
King.
God a mercy Ned; aye, at your book so hard, it is
well, it is well; now Bishop Cranmar,
and good doctor Tye, I was going to the gallery, and thought to
have had your Scholar with me, but seeing you are
so busy, I will not trouble him, come on Wil, come, go you along
with me, what make you among the scholars here?
Wil.
I come to learn my quy que quod to keep me
from the rod: mar here is one was whipped in pudding time
for he has gotten a knighthood about it: look old Harry,
does he not look more furious than he was wont.
King.
Who Wil, young Brown, Gods Mary mother,
his father is a gallant Knight, as any these south parts of
England holds.
Wil.
He cannot compare with his son though, if he were
right donsal delphebus, or the very knight of the Sun himself,
yet this knight shall unhorse him.
King.
When was he made a knight Wil.
Wil.
Marry in the last action, I can assure you, there was hot
service, and some of them came so near him, they had like
to smelt of it: but when all was done, the poor gentleman
was pitifully wounded in the back parts, as may appear
by the scar, if his knightship would but untruss there.
King.
But who knighted him, William?
Wil.
That did Ned here: and he has earned it too, for I
am sure, this two year he has been lashed, for his learning.
King.
Ha, how, come hither Ned, is this true?
Pr.
It is, my Lord, and I hope your highness will confirm
my deed.
King.
Confirm it, Gods holy mother, what shrewd
boys are these? Cranmar and Tye, do ye observe the
Prince, now by my Crown young Ned thou hast honoured
me.
I like thy kingly spirit that loves to see
Thy friends advanced to types of dignity.
Young Knight come hither, what the Prince hath done
We here confirm, be still Sir Edward Brown:
But hear ye Ned, now you have made him Knight,
You must give him some living, or else it is nothing.
Will.
Aye by my troth, he is now but a Knight
under Forma
papris, for a Knight without living is
no better than an ordinary Gallant.
King.
Well, what will ye give him Ned?
Prince.
When I have heard of something that may do
him good, I will entreat your Majesty for him, and in the
mean time from mine own allowance I will maintain
him.
King.
It is well said: but for your
sake Son Edward,
we will provide for him; Cranmar,
see presently a
Patent drawn, wherein we will confirm to him
from our Exchequer a Thousand Marks a year.
Browne.
I thank your Majesty.
And as I am true Knight, I will fight and die for ye.
Will.
Now if your Tutors come to whip ye, you may
choose whether you will untruss by the order of arms.
King.
Well Ned, see ye ply your learning, and let us
have no more Knights made in this Action, look to
him Brown, if he loiter, his Tutors will
have you up for it.
Browne.
I hope my Lord, they dare not whip me now.
King.
Berladie Sir, that is doubtful.
Will.
If they do, he shall make thee a Lord, and then
they dare not.
King.
Well Cranmar we will leave ye, when your pupil
has done his task ye set him now, let him come and visit
us: on Gentlemen into the Gallery.
Pr.
Heaven keep your Majesty.
Gentlemen draw near.
Exit.
Tye.
God morrow to your Grace.
Prince.
God morrow Tutors at noon, it is God evening, is it not?
Cran.
We saw not your Grace today.
Prince.
O ye quip me cunningly for my Truantship,
that I was not at my Book today,
but I have thought of
that ye read last night, I assure ye.
Cran.
We doubt it not fair Prince: Lords, Gentlemen
give leave.
Will.
All void the room, there is but Scholars and
Fools.
Cr.
I hope your excellence can answer me in that axiom
of Philosophy, I propound to ye.
Prince.
I promise ye Tutor, it is a Problem to me, for the
difference of your Authors opinions, makes me differ in
mine own: some say, Omne animal est, aut homo, aut bestia,
that every living creature is, or man, or beast.
Will.
Then a woman is a beast,
for she is no man.
Pr.
Peace William you will
be expulsed else: And again
some Authors affirm, that every beast is four-footed.
Will.
Then a Fool is no beast, for he has but two.
Prince.
Yet again Will.
Will.
Mum Ned, no words,
I will be as still as a small bag-pipe.
Cra.
Omne Animal est, aut homo, aut bestia: And thus it is
proved my Lord, Omne Animal, est rationalis, vel irrationalis,
homo est rationalis, Bestia irrationalis,
Ergo omne Animal homo est, vel Bestia:
Amongst all the creatures in this Universe,
Or on the earth, or flying in the air,
Man only reason hath, others only sense,
So what is only sensual, in not man, but beast:
For man both sense and reason hath:
So every creature, having one of these, is sure or man, or
best: and though all beasts are not four-footed.
Will.
That is certain a louse has six.
Cran.
I beseech your Grace.
Pr.
Away William.
Will.
Not a word more as I am William.
Cr.
For many beasts have wings serving in stead of feet,
and some have horns, of which we thus esteem, Animal
cornutum non habet dentes supremas, No horned beast hath
teeth above the roof.
Will.
That is a lie, a Cuckold has.
Pr.
Thrust the Fool out of the presence there.
Exit Will.
W.
Well, Cedant arma toge, The scholars shall
have the fool's place.
Pr.
Well Cranmar, you have made me able to prove a
man no beast, if he prove not himself
so, we will now leave
this: And now resolve me for Divinity. Cranmar I love
ye, and I love your Learning, speak and we will hear ye:
God give ye truth that you may give it me,
This Land ye know stands wavering in her Faith,
Betwixt the Papists and the Protestants,
You know we all must die, and this flesh
Part, with her part of immortality,
Tutor, I do believe both Heaven and Hell:
Do you know any third place for the soul's abode
Called Purgatory, as some would have me think,
For from my Sister Marie and her Tutors,
I have oft received Letters to that purpose:
I love ye Cranmar, and shall believe what ere ye speak,
Therefore I charge ye tell the truth.
Cran.
How thinks your Grace, is there a place of Purgatory or no?
P.
Truly I think none, yet must I urge to you what is laid
To me, this world you know hath been five Thousand years
Still increasing, still decreasing, still replenish it,
How long it will be, none knows but he that made it,
We all do call ourselves
Gods children, yet sure some are not,
But think ye Tutor that the compass of that heaven and hell,
Is able to contain those souls so numberless,
That ever breathed since the first breath was given,
Without a Tertium, or a third place.
Who puts these doubts within your Graces head
Are like their own belief, slight, and unregarded,
And is as easily answered and confuted:
Quod est infinitum, non habet finem,
Cælum est opus Dei, opus Dei est infinitum:
Ergo Cælum, est infinitum.
That which is infinite hath no end at all,
For that eternity, that everlasting essence,
That did concord heaven, earth, and hell to be
Is of himself all infinite, that heaven and hell are so,
His power, his works, and words do witness it,
For what is infinite, hath in itself no end,
Then must the heavens which is his glorious seat,
Be incomprehensible containing him,
Then what should need a third place to contain,
A world of Infinities so vast and main.
Pr.
I thank ye Cranmar, and do believe ye
What other proofs have been maintained to me
Or shall be, you shall know and aid me in them:
Enough for this time, who is
there? Doctor Tye
Our Music's Lecturer? pray draw near: Indeed I take much delight in ye
Tye.
In Music may your Grace ever delight,
Though not in me, Music is fit for Kings,
And not for those knows not the chime of strings.
Pr.
Truly I love it yet there are a sort
Seeming more pure than wise, that will upbraid at it,
Calling it idle, vain, and frivolous.
Tye.
Your Grace hath said, indeed they do upbraid
That term it so, and those that do are such
As in themselves no happy concords hold,
All Music jars with them, but sounds of good.
But would your Grace a while be patient,
In Music's praise, thus will I better it.
Music is heavenly, for in Heaven is Music,
For there the Seraphims do sing continually,
And when the best was born, that ever was man,
A Quire of Angels sang for joy of it,
What of Celestial was revealed to man,
Was much of Music, it is said the beasts did worship
And sang before the Deity supernal,
The kingly Prophet sang before the Ark,
And with his Music charmed the heart of Saul,
And if the Poet fail us not my Lord,
The dulcet tongue of Music made the stones
To move, irrational beast, and birds to dance
And last, the Trumpets Music shall awake the dead,
And clothe their naked bones in coats of flesh,
To appear in that high house of Parliament,
When those that gnash their Teeth at Music sound,
Shall make that place where Music never was found.
Pr.
Thou givest it perfect life, skilful Doctor
I thank thee for the honoured praise thou givest it,
I pray thee let us hear it too.
Tye.
It is ready for your Grace, give
breath to your loud tuned instruments.
Loude Musicke.
(Soft Musicke. )
Pr.
It is well, methinks
in this sound I prove a complete age,
As Music, so is man governed by stops,
Awed by dividing notes, sometimes aloft,
Sometime below, and when he hath attained,
His high and lofty pitch, breathed his sharpest and most
Shrillest air, yet at length it is gone,
And falls down flat to his conclusion,
Another sweetness, and harmonious sound,
A milder strain, another kind agreement,
Yet amongst these many strings, be one untuned
Or jarreth low, or higher than his course
Not keeping steady mean amongst the rest,
Corrupts them all, so doth bad men the best.
Tye.
Enough, let voices now delight his princely ear.
A Song.
Pr.
Doctor, I thank you and commend your cunning,
I oft have heard my Father merrily speak,
In your hie praise, and thus his Highness saith,
England, one God, one truth, one Doctor hath
For Music's Art, and that is Doctor Tye,
Admired for skill in Music's harmony.
Tye.
Your Grace doth honour me with kind acceptance,
Yet one thing more, I do beseech your Excellence
To deign, to Patronise this homely work,
Which I unto your Grace have dedicate.
Pr.
What is the Title?
Tye.
The Acts of the holy Apostles turned into verse,
Which I have set in several parts to sing,
Worthy Acts, and worthily in you remembered.
I will peruse them, and satisfy your pains,
And have them sung within my fathers Chapel:
I thank ye both. Now I will crave leave a while
To be a little idle: pray let our linguists,
French and Italians, tomorrow morn be ready,
I must confer with them, or I shall leese
My little practise, so God-den good Tutors.
Exit.
Cran.
Health to your Highness, God increase your days:
The hope of England, and of learnings praise.
Enter Bonner and Gardiner reading.
Bon.
What have ye here my Lord of Winchester?
Gard.
Heretical and damned heresies,
Precepts that Cranmers wisdom taught the Prince,
The Pope and we are held as heretics,
What thinkst thou Bonner of this wavering age?
Bon.
As Sea-men do of storms, yet hope for fair weather,
Berlady Gardiner we must look about,
The Protestants begin to gather head,
Luther hath sown well, and Englands ground
Is fat and fertile to increase his seed,
Here is lofty plants, what, bishops and Prelates,
Aye nobility temporal, but we shall temper all
At the return of our high Cardinal.
Gar.
Bonner it is true, but in mean time we must
Prevent this rancour that now swells so big,
That it must out or break, they have a dangerous head,
And much I fear.
Bon.
What not the King I hope?
Gard.
It is doubtful he will bend, but sure
Queen Katherens a strong
Lutheran, hard ye not
How in presence of the King and Cardinal,
She did extirp against his Holiness.
Bon.
But had our English Cardinal once attained,
The high possession of Saint Peters Chair,
He would bar some tongues that now have scope too much,
It is he must do it
Gardiner, it is a perilous thing,
Queen Katherin can do much with Englands King.
Gard.
Aye Bonner,
that is the sum of all,
There must be no Queen, or the Abbeys fall,
Bon.
See where she comes with the King's Sister,
And from the Princes lodging, let us salute her.
Gard.
God morrow to your Majesty.
Quee.
God morrow to my reverent Lords of London and
of Winchester, saw ye the King today?
Bon.
His Highness was not yet abroad this morning,
But here we will attend his excellence.
Quee.
Come sister we will go see his Majesty.
La. Ma
We will attend ye Madam.
Quee.
Gentlemen set forward, God morrow Lords.
Gard.
Ill morrow must it be to you or us,
Conspirators against men religious,
Bonner, these Lutherans do conspire I see,
And scoff the Pope and his supremacy.
Bon.
Let us strike in time then, and incense the King,
And suddenly their states to ruin bring:
The Trumpets sounds, it seems the Queen is coming,
We will watch and take advantage cunningly.
Enter the King, Queene, Lady Mary, Brandon, Semer, Gray, and Dudley.
King.
Where is Brandon?
Bran.
My Liege.
King.
Come hither Kate.
Bran.
Did your grace call?
Kin.
I will speak we anon, I will
speak we anon: Come Kate
let us walk a little,
who is there? my Lords of London and of
Winchester, welcome, welcome: by this your master the
Cardinal I trow, has parted with the Emperor, and set a league
between the French and him; Mother of God,
I would ourself in person had been there,
But Wolseys diligence we need not fear,
Ha, think ye he will not.
Gard.
No doubt he will my Lord.
King.
Aye Gardner
it will be his best policy,
Their friendship must advance his dignity.
If ever he get the Papal governance.
Dud.
And that will never be I hope.
Sem.
It were pity it should.
Gray.
He is proud enough already.
Kin.
Haw, what is that ye talk there.
Bran.
They say my Lord he is gone with such a train,
As if he should be elected presently.
King.
Fore-god it is a gallant Priest, come hither Charles
prithee let me lean on thy shoulder, by Saint George, Kate
grow stiff methinks.
Quee.
Wilt please your Highness sit and rest yourself?
King.
No, no Kate, I will walk still,
Brandon shall stay mine
arm, I am fat and pursy, and it will get me a stomach: Sawest the
Prince today Kate?
Quee.
Aye my good Lord.
King.
God bless him, and make him fortunate, I tell ye
Lords, the hope that England hath, is now in him, fore-god I
think old Harry must leave ye shortly; well, Gods will be
done, here will be be old shuffling then, ha will there not; well, you
say nothing, pray God there be not, I like not this difference
in religion I, Gods dear Lady, and I live but seven year
longer, we will take order thoroughly.
Bon.
We hear that Luther out of Germany
Hath writ a book unto your Majesty,
Wherein he much repents his former deeds,
Craving your Highness pardon, and withal,
Submits himself unto your Graces pleasure.
Kin.
Bonner it is true,
and we have answered it,
Blaming at first his haughty insolence,
And now his lightness and inconstancy,
That writ he knew not what so childishly.
Gard.
Much bloodshed there is now in Germany,
About this difference in religion,
With Lutherans, Arians, and Anabaptists,
As half the Province of Heluetia,
Is with their tumults almost quite destroyed.
Quee.
Methinks it were well my royal Sovereign,
Your Grace, the Emperor, and the Christian kings,
Would call a Council and peruse the books,
That Luther writ against the Catholics,
And superstitions of the Church of Rome:
And if they teach a truer way to heaven,
Agreeing with the Hebrew Testament,
Why should they not be red and followed?
Kin.
Thou sayst well Kate, so they agree with the scriptures,
I think it is lawful to peruse and read them, speak Bishops?
Gard.
Most unlawful my dear Sovereign,
Unless permitted by his Holiness.
Queen.
How prove ye that my Lord?
Kin.
Well said Kate,
to them again good wench, Lords
give us leave awhile, avoid the Presence
there, we will hear
the Bishops and my Queen dispute.
Queen.
I am a weak Scholar my Lord,
But on condition that your Highness, nor these reverent Lords,
Will take no exceptions at my woman's wit,
I am content to hold them Argument:
And first with reverence to his Majesty.
Pray tell me, why would ye make the King believe,
His Highness and the people under him,
Are tied so strictly to obey the Pope?
Bon.
Because fair Queen he is Gods Deputy.
Queen.
So are all Kings; and God himself commands
The King to rule, and people to obey,
And both to love and honour him:
But you that are sworn servants unto Rome,
How are ye faithful subjects to the King,
When first ye serve the Pope then after him?
Gard.
Madam these are that sects of Lutherans,
That makes your Highness so mistake the Scriptures,
Your slender arguments thus answered
Before the King, God must be worshipped.
Queen.
It is true, but pray ye answer this:
Suppose, the King by Proclamation,
Commanded you and every of his subjects,
On pain of death, and forfeit of his goods,
To spurn against the Popes authority:
Ye know the Scripture binds ye to obey him,
But this I think, if that his Grace did so,
Your slight obedience all the world should know.
King.
Gods-mother Kate, thou hast touched them there,
What say ye to that Bonner?
Bon.
Were it to any but her Majesty,
These questions were confuted easily.
Quee.
Pray tell the King then, what Scripture have ye,
To teach religion in an unknown language?
Instruct the ignorant to kneel to Saints,
By barefoot pilgrimage to visit shrines,
For money to release from Purgatory,
The vildest villain, thief, or murderer,
All this the people must believe you can,
Such is the dregs of Rome's religion.
Gard.
Aye, those are the speeches of those heretics,
Cranmor, Ridley, and blunt Lattimer,
That daily rail against his Holiness,
Filling the land with hateful heresies.
Quee.
Nay be not angry, nor mistake them Lords,
What they have said or done, was mildly followed,
As by their Articles are evident.
King.
Where are those Articles Kate?
Exit Quee.
Quee.
I will go and fetch them to your Majesty,
And pray your Highness view them graciously.
Kin.
Go fetch them Kate: a sirrah,
we have woman doctors,
Now I see, Mother-a-God, here is a fine world the whilst,
That betwist so many men's opinions,
The holy Scriptures must be banded thus.
Gard.
God grant it breed no farther detriment,
unto your crown and sacred dignity:
They that would alter thus Religion,
I fear they scarcely love your royal person.
Kin.
Ha! take heed what you say Gardiner.
Gard.
My love and duty to your Majesty,
Bids me be bold to speak my conscience,
Unless your safety and your life they hate,
Why should they daily thus disturb the state.
To smooth the face of false rebellion,
Proud traitors will pretend religion.
For under colour of reformation
The upstart followers of Wickcliffes doctrine,
In the fifth Henries days arise in arms:
And had not diligent care prevented them,
Their powers had suddenly surprised the King,
And good my Liege who knows their proud intent,
That thus rebel against your government.
Kin.
Shrewd proofs berlady and by saint Peter,
I swear we will not trust their gentleness,
Speak Gardner and resolve us speedily,
Who is the ring-leader of this lusty crew?
Bon.
Unless your highness please to pardon us,
We dare not speak nor urge your majesty.
Kin.
We pardon what ye speak, resolve us speedily.
Gard.
Then if your royal person will be safe,
Your life preserved and this fair Realm in peace.
And all these troubles smoothly pacified,
The Queen dear Lord must be removed from you.
Kin.
Haw, the Queen, bold Sir advise ye well,
Take heed ye do not wrong her loyalty.
Gard.
See here my liege are proofs too manifest,
Her highness with a sect of Lutherans:
have private meetings, secret conventicles,
To wrest the grounds of all religion:
Seeking by tumults to subvert the state,
The which with out your majesty's consent,
Is treason capital against the Crown.
Bon.
And seeing without the knowledge of your grace,
They dare attempt these dangerous stratagems,
It is to be feared, which heaven we pray prevent,
They do conspire against your sacred life.
Gard.
Why else, should all these private meetings be
without the knowledge of your majesty.
Kin.
Mother-a-god these proofs are probable,
And strong presumptions do confirm your words,
within there, ho?
Enter .
Compton
My Lord.
Kin.
Sir William Compton see the doors made fast,
Double our guard let none come near our person,
Summon the council to confer with us,
Bid them attend us in the privy chamber,
Comp.
Here is a letter for your majesty,
From Martin Luther out of Germany.
Exit Compt.
Kin.
Damned Schismatic still will he trouble us
with books and letters, leave it and be gone:
The villain thinks to smooth his treachery,
By fawning speeches to our majesty,
But by my George Lord Bishops if I live,
I will root his favourites from Englands bounds
What writes his worship?
Gard.
Now Bonner stir, the game is set a foot,
The king is now incensed, let us follow close
To have Queen Katherne shorter by a head,
These heresies will cease when she is dead.
Kin.
Holy saint Peter what a knave is this,
Ere while he writ submissively to us;
And now again repents his humbleness,
Bishops it seems being touched with our reply
He writes thus boldly to our majesty,
Gardner look here he was deceived he says
When he thought to find Iohn Baptist in the
Courts of princes, or resident with those that are
Clothed in purple, Mother-a-god, is it not a dangerous knave.
Gard.
False luther knaues he has great friends in England:
Else durst he not thus move your Majesty.
Kin.
We will cut his friends oft, ere they grow too strong
And sweep these vipers from our state ere long,
No marvel though Queen Katherne plead for him,
That is I see the greatest Lutheran,
How Is your counsels we proceed in these?
Bon.
it were best your grace did send her to the Tower.
Before they further do confer with her.
Kin.
Let it be so, go get a warrant drawn,
And with a strong guard bear her to the Tower.
Our hand shall sign your large commission,
Let Cranmer from the Prince be straight removed,
And come not near the Court on pain of death,
Mother-a-God, shall I be baffled thus,
By traitors, rebels and false heretics:
Get Articles for her arraignment ready,
If she of treason be convict, I swear,
Her head goes off, were she my kingdom's heir.
Sound. Exit.
Enter the Prince, Cranm: Tye, and the young Lords.
Prin.
Cranmer.
Cran.
My Lord.
Prin.
Where is Franciscoe our Italian Tutor?
Cran.
He does attend your Grace without my Lord.
Prin.
Tell him anon we will confer with him,
We will ply our learning
Brown lest you be beaten,
We will not have your Knighthood so disgraced.
Brow.
I thank ye good my Lord,
And your Grace would but a little ply your learning,
I warrant ye I will keep my Knighthood from breeching.
Prin.
Faith Ned I will: how now what
letter is that?
1. Ser.
From your Graces sister the Lady Mary.
Prin.
Come give it me, we guess at the contents.
Cranmer, my sister oft hath writ to me,
That you and Bishop Bonner might confer,
About these points of new Religion,
Tell me Tutor will ye dispute with him.
Cran.
With all my hart my Lord, and wish the king,
Would deign to hear our disputation.
Prin.
What hast thou there?
2. Ser.
A Letter from your royal sister, young Elizabeth.
Prin.
Another Letter ere we open this,
Well we will view them both immediately,
I pray ye attend us in the next Chamber,
And Tutors if I call ye not before,
Give me some notice, if the king my Father
Be walked abroad, I must go visit him.
Tye.
We will fair Prince.
Enter Cranmer.
Prin.
What says my sister Mary? she is eldest,
And by due course must first be answered,
The blessed Mother of thy redeemer, with all the Angels and
holy Saints be intermissers to preserve thee of Idolatry, to
invocate the Saints for help.
Alas good sister, still in this opinion,
These are thy blinded Tutors, Bonner, Gardner,
That wrong thy thoughts with foolish heresies,
I will read no farther:
to him will Edward pray
For preservation, that can himself preserve me,
Without the help of Saint or ceremony.
What writes Elizabeth, sweet sister thou hast my hart.
And of Prince Edwards love hast greatest part.
Sweet Prince I salute thee with a Sisters love,
Be steadfast in thy faith, and let thy prayers
Be dedicate to God only for it is he alone
Can strengthen thee, and confound thine enemies,
Give a settled assurance of thy hopes in heaven,
God strengthen thee in all temptations,
And give thee grace to shun Idolatry,
Heaven send thee life to inherit thy election,
To God I commend thee, who still I pray preserve thee.
Thy loving Sister Elizabeth.
Loving thou art, and of me best beloved.
Thy lines shall be my contemplations cures,
And in thy virtues will I meditate,
To Christ I will only pray for me and thee:
This I embrace, away Idolatry,
How now Cranmer, where is the King?
Cran.
Conferring with his council gracious Prince,
There is some earnest business troubles him:
The Guards are doubled, and commandment given,
That none be suffered to come near the presence,
God keep his Majesty from traitors hands.
Pri.
Amen good Cranmer, what should disturb him thus?
Is Cardinal Wolsey yet returned from France?
Tye.
Aye my good Lord, and this day comes to court.
Prin.
Perhaps this hasty business of the King,
Is touching Wolsey and his Embassage.
Cran.
Pray God it be no worse my Lord.
Ent. Compt.
Tye.
Here comes sir William Compton from his highness.
Comp.
Health to your excellency.
Prin.
What news sir William?
Comp.
The King expects your Graces company,
And wills your Highness come and speak with him,
And doctor Cranmer, from his Majesty,
I charge ye speedily to leave the Court,
And come not near the Prince on pain of death,
Without direction from the King and Peers.
Cran.
Sir I obey ye, God so deal with me,
As I have wished unto his Majesty.
Prin.
Cranmer banished the Court, for what I pray?
Comp.
I know not gracious Lord, pray pardon me,
It is the King's pleasure; and trust me I am sorry
It was my hap to bring this heavy message.
Exit Cranmer.
Cran.
Nay good sir William, your message moves not me,
My service to his royal Majesty
Was always true and just, so help me heaven:
Only I pray your Grace to move the King,
That I may come to trial speedily,
And if in aught I have deserved death,
Let me not draw another minutes breath.
Compt.
Will ye go my Lord.
Prin.
Not yet, we are not your prisoner, are we sir?
Compt.
No my dear Lord.
Enter Tye.
Prin.
Then go before, and we will follow ye,
Your worship will forget yourself I see,
My tutor thrust from court so suddenly, this is strange.
Tye.
The Queen my Lord is come to speak with you.
Enter Queene.
Prin.
Avoid the presence then, and conduct her in,
I will speak with her, and after see the King,
Quee.
Leave us alone I pray ye.
Prin.
Your grace is welcome, how fares your Majesty.
Quee.
Never so ill dear Prince, for now I fear,
Even as a wretched caitiff killed with care,
I am accused of treason, and the king
Is now in council to dispose of me,
I know his frown is death, and I shall dye.
Prin.
Who are your accusers.
Quee.
I know not.
Prin.
How know ye then his Grace is so incensed.
Quee.
One of my Gentlemen passing by the presence,
Took up this bill of accusations,
Wherein twelve Articles are drawn against me,
It seems my false accusers lost it there,
Here they accuse me of conspiracy,
That I with Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley,
Do seek to raise rebellion in the state,
Alter religion, and bring Luther in,
And to new government enforce the king,
Prin.
Then that the cause that Cranmer was removed,
But did your Highness ever confer with them?
As they have here accused ye to the king.
Quee.
Never nor ever had I one such thought,
As I have hope in him my soul hath bought.
Prin.
Then fear not gracious Madam, I will to the king,
And doubt not but I will make your peace with him.
Quee.
O plead for me, tell him my soul is clear,
Never did thought of treason harbour here,
As I intended to his sacred life,
So be it to my soul or joy or grief.
Exit Prince.
Prin.
Stay here till I return, I will move his majesty,
That you may answer your accusers presently.
Quee.
O I shall never come to speak with him,
The Lion in his rage is not so stern,
As Royal Henry in his wrathful spleen,
And they that have accused me to his grace,
Will work such means I never shall see his face,
Wretched Queen Katherin, would thou hadst been
Kate Parre still, and not great Englands Queen.
Ent. Comp.
Compt.
Health to your Majesty.
Quee.
Wish me good Compton woe and misery,
This giddy flattering world I hate and scoff,
Ere long I know Queen Katherins head must off.
Came ye from the King?
Comp.
I did fair Queen, and much sad tidings bring,
His grace in secret hath revealed to me
What is intended to your Majesty,
Which I in love and duty to your highness,
Am come to tell ye and to counsel ye
The best I can in this extremity.
Then on my knees I dare entreat your grace,
Not to revile what I shall say to you,
For then I am assured that deaths my due.
Que.
I will not on my faith, good Comptton speak,
That with thy sad reports my heart may break.
Comp.
Thus then at your fair feet my life I lay,
In hope to drive your highness cares away:
You are accused of high conspiracy
And treason gainst his royal majesty.
So much they have incensed his excellency,
That he hath granted firm commission
To attach your person and convey ye hence,
Close prisoner to the Tower, Articles are drawn,
And time appointed for arraignment there.
Good madam be advised, by this I know,
The officers are sent to arrest your person:
Prevent their malice, haste ye to the King.
I will use such means that you shall speak with him,
There plead your Innocency, I know his grace
Will hear ye mildly therefore delay not,
If you be taken ere you see the king,
I fear ye never more shall speak to him.
Que.
O Comptton
betwixt thy love and my sage fear,
I feel ten thousand sad vexations here,
Lead on I pray, I will be advised by thee,
The King is angry and the Queen must dye.
Exit
Enter Boner &
Gardner with the commission.
Gard.
Come Boner now strike sure the iron is hot.
Urge all thou canst, let nothing be forgot.
We have the King's hand here to warrant us,
It was well the Cardinal came and so luckily.
Who urged, the state would quite be ruined,
If that religion thus were altered.
Which made his highness with a fiery spleen,
Direct out warrants to attach the Queen.
Bon.
It was excellent, that Cedar once overthrown,
To crop the lower shrubs let us alone.
Gard.
Those Articles of accusations,
We framed against her being lost by you
Had like to overthrow our policy,
Had we not stoutly urged his majesty.
Bon.
Well well, what is now to be done.
Gard.
A guard must be provided speedily,
To bear her prisoner unto London Tower,
And watch convenient place to arrest her person.
Bon.
Tush any place shall serve, for who dare contradict
His highness hand, even from his side
we will hale her,
And bear her quickly, to her longest home,
Lest we and ours by her to ruin come.
Gard.
About it then, let them untimely dye,
that scorn the Pope and Rome's supremacy.
Exeunt.
Enter the King & Prince,
the Guarde before them.
King.
Guard, watch the doors and let none come near us,
But such as are attendant on our person
Mother-a-God it is time to stir, I see,
When traitors creeps so near our majesty:
Must English Harry walk with armed Guards,
Now in his old age, must I fear my life,
By hateful treason of my Queen and wife.
Prin.
I do beseech your royal majesty,
To hear her speak ere ye condemn her thus.
King.
Go to Ned,
I charge ye speak not for her,
she is a dangerous traitor how now,
who knocks so loud there.
Gard.
It is Cardinal Wolsye my Lord.
Kin.
If it be the Devil tell him he comes not here.
Bid him attend us till our better leisure:
Come hither Ned let me confer with you.
Didst ever hear the disputation
Betwixt Cranmer and the Queen about Religion.
Prin.
Never my Lord, I think they never yet,
At any time had speech concerning it.
knocks.
King.
O thou art deceived Ned, It is too certain,
Hoyday more knocking, knock irons an his heels,
And bear him hence what ere he be disturb us, who is it?
Gard.
Sir. William Compton my Liege.
Kin.
Is it he, well let him in, Gods holy mother, here is a stir
indeed, Compton ye knock too loud for entrance here.
You care not though the king be never so near, say ye sir
haw,
Comp.
I do beseech you pardon for my boldness.
King.
Well what is your business.
Comp.
The Queen my Lord entreats to speak with you,
Kin.
Body a me, is she not rested yet.
Why do they not convey her to the Tower,
We gave commission to attach her presently.
Where is she?
Comp.
At the door my Sovereign.
Kin.
So near our presence, keep her out I charge ye.
Bend all your Halberds' points against the door,
If she presume to enter strike her through,
Dare she presume again to look on us.
Pri.
Upon my knees, I do beseech your highness
to hear her speak.
Kin.
up Ned, stand
up I will not look on her,
Mother-a-god, stand close and guard it sure,
If she come in, I will hang ye all I swear.
Prin.
I do beseech your Grace.
Kin.
Sir boye no more, I will hear no more of her,
Proud slut, bold traitress, and forgetful beast,
Yet dare she further move our patience.
Prin.
I will pawn my princely word, right royal father,
She shall not speak a word to anger ye.
Enter Queene
Kin.
Will you pawn your word for her, mother-a-god
The Prince of Wales his word is warrant for a king,
And we will take it Ned, go call her in.
Sir William let the guard attend without,
Reach me a chair, all but the prince depart.
How now, what do you weep and kneel,
Does your black soul the guilt of conscience feel,
Out, out, your a traitor.
Que.
A traitor, O you all seeing powers,
Here witness to my Lord my loyalty
A traitor, O then you are too merciful,
If I have treason in me, why rip ye not
My ugly hart out with your weapons point,
O my good Lord, if it have traitor's blood,
It will be black, deformed, and tenebrous,
If not, from it will spring a scarlet fountain,
And spit defiance in their perjured throats
That have accused me to your majesty,
Making my state thus full of misery.
Kin.
Canst thou deny it.
Quee.
Else should I wrongfully accuse myself,
Of my dear Lord I do beseech your highness
To satisfy your wronged Queen in this,
Upon what ground grows this suspicion,
Or who thus wrongfully accuseth me.
Of cursed treason gainst your majesty.
Kin.
Some probable effects myself can witness,
Others our faithful subjects can testify:
have you not oft maintained arguments,
Even to our face against religion:
Which joined with other complots show itself,
As it is gathered by our loyal subjects,
For treason Capital against our person,
Gods holy mother you will remove us quickly,
And turn me out, old Harry must away,
Now in mine age, lame and half bed-rid,
Or else you will keep me fast enough in prison,
Haw, mistress, these are no hateful treasons these.
Queen.
Heaven on my fore-head write my worst intent,
And let your hate against my life be bent,
If ever thought of ill against your majesty,
Was harboured here refuse me gracious God,
To your face, my ledge, if to your face I speak it.
It manifests no complot, not no treason,
Nor are they loyal that so injure me;
What I did speak, was as my woman's wit,
To hold out Argument could compass it,
My puny scholarship is held too weak
To maintain proofs about religion,
Alas I did it but to waste the time,
Knowing as then your grace was weak and sickly,
So to expel part of your pain and grief:
And for my good intent they seek my life,
O God, how am I wronged.
Kin.
Ha, sayst thou so, was it no otherwise.
Que.
What should I say, that you might credit me,
If I am false, heaven strike me suddenly.
King.
Body a me, what everlasting knaues are these that
wrong thee thus, alas poor Kate, come
stand up, stand up,
wipe thine eyes, wipe thine eyes, fore god it was told me
that thou wert a traitor: I could hardly think it, but that
it was applied so hard to me, Godsmother Kate I fear my
life I tell ye, King Harry would be loath to die by treason
now, that has bid so many brunts unblemished, yet I confess
that now I grow stiff, my legs fail me first but they
stand furthest from my hart, and that is still sound, I thank my
God, give me thy hand, come kiss me Kate, so now I am
friends again, whoreson knaues, crafty varlets, make thee a traitor
to old Harries life, well, well,
I will meet with some of
them, Sfoute come sit on my knee Kate. Mother-a-god he that
says thou art false to me by Englands crown
I will hang him presently.
Que.
When I have thought of ill against your state,
Let me be made the vildest reprobate.
Kin.
That is my good Kate,
but byth mary God, Queen Katherne
you must thank prince Edward here.
For but for him thou hadst gone
to the tower I swear,
Que.
I shall be thankful to his highness.
And pray for him and for your majesty,
Ki.
Come Kate we will
walk a while in the garden here, who
keeps the door there?
Compt:
My Lord.
King.
Sir William Compton, here, take my ring,
Bid Doctor Cranmer haste to Court again,
Give him that token of king Henries love,
Discharge our guards, we fear no traitor's hand,
Our State, beloved of all doth firmly stand:
Go Compton.
Comp:
I go my Lord.
King.
Bid Wolsey haste him to our royal presence,
Great Charles the mighty Roman Emperor,
Our Nephew, and the hope of Christendom
Is landed in our fair Dominion,
To see his Uncle and the English Court;
We will entertain him with imperial port:
Come hither Ned.
Enter Bonner and Gardner with the guard.
Gar:
Follows, stay there, and when I call, come forward,
The service you pursue, is for the king;
Therefore I charge you to perform it boldly,
We have his hand and seal to warrant it.
Guard:
We will fellow you with resolution sir,
The Church is on our side, what should we fear?
Gard:
See yonder, she is talking with his Majesty,
Think you we may attempt to take her here?
Bon:
Why should we not, have we not firm commission
To attach her any where? be bold, and fear not:
Fellows come forward.
King.
How now, what is here to do?
Qu:
The Bishops it seems my Lord would speak with you.
King.
With bills and halberds, well, tarry there Kate,
I will go myself; Now wherefore come you?
Gard:
As loyal subjects to your state and person,
We come to apprehend that traitorous woman.
King.
Ye are a couple of drunken knaves and varlets,
Gods holy mother, she is more true and just,
than any Prelate that Suborns the Pope:
Thus to usurp upon our government?
Call you her traitor? ye are lying beasts and false conspirators.
Bon:
Your Majesty hath seen what proofs we had.
King.
Here you Bonner, you are a whoreson coxcomb,
What proofs had ye, but treasons of your own inventions?
Queene.
O my dear Lord, respect the reverend Bishops.
Bonner and Gardner loves your Majesty.
King.
Alas poor Kate, thou thinkst full little what they come for;
Thou hast small reason to commend their loves,
That falsely have accused thy harmless life.
Queene.
O God, are these mine enemies?
Gard:
We have your highness hand to warrant it.
King.
Let us see it then.
Gard:
It is here my Liege.
King.
So, now ye have both my hand to contradict
what one hand did: and now our word again shall serve
as warrant to bear you both as prisoners to the Fleete,
Where you shall answer this conspiracy.
You fellows that came to attach the Queen,
Lay hands on them, and bear them to the Fleete.
Queene.
O I beseech your highness on my knees,
Remit the doom of their imprisonment.
King.
Stand up good Kate, thou wrongest thy Majesty,
To plead for them that thus have injured thee
Queene.
I have forgotten it, and do still entreat
Their humble pardons at your gracious feet.
King.
Mother of God, what a foolish woman is this,
Well, for her sake we revoke our doom,
But come not near us as you love your lives:
Away and leave us, you are knaves and miscreants,
Whoreson Caitiffs, come to attach my Queen!
Queene.
Vex not my Lord, it will distemper you.
Enter Branden.
King.
Mother-a-God, I will temper some on then for it
How now Branden?
Bran:
The Emperor my Lord.
Enter Cardinall and Wil.
King.
Get a train ready there, Charles Branden, come.
We will meet the Monarch of imperial Rome:
Go Ned, prepare yourself to meet the Emperor,
We will send you further notice of our pleasure.
Attend the Prince there: Welcome Lord Cardinal,
Hath not our tedious journey into France,
Disturbed your Graces health and reverent person?
Wil:
No, no, never fear him
Harry, he has got
More by the journey, he will be Pope shortly.
King.
What, William, how chance I have not seen
you today? I thought you would not have been the hindmost
man to salute me.
Wil:
No more I am not Harry, for yonder is Patch
behind me, I could never get him before me, since thou
conjured him in the great chamber, all the
horse in the town
cannot haul him into thy presence I warrant thee.
King.
Will he not come in?
Wil:
Not for the world, he stands watching at the door,
He will not stir while the Cardinal come;
Then the fool will follow him every where.
Wool:
I thank you William, I am beholding to you still.
Wil:
Na my Lord, I am more beholding unto you,
I thank your fool for it, we have ransacked your wine-cellars
since you went into France: Do you blush my
Lord? na, that is nothing, you have wine there, is able to
set a colour in any man's face I warrant it.
King:
Why William, is the Cardinal's wine so good?
Wil:
Better than thine I will be
sworn, I will take but
two handfuls of his wine, and it shall fill four hogsheads
of thine (look here else)
Wool:
Mordieu.
Wil:
Mor devil, is it not? for without conjuring, you
could never do it: But I pray you my Lord call upon
mortdieu no longer, but speak plain English, you have
deceived the king in French and Latin long enough a
conscience.
King.
Is his wine turned into gold, Wil?
Wool:
The fool mistakes, my gracious Sovereign.
Wil.
Aye, aye my Lord, never set your wit to the fools,
Wil Summers will be secret now, and say nothing, if I
would be a blab of my tongue, I could tell the King
how many barrels full of gold and silver there was six
times filled with plate and jewels, twenty great trunks
with Crosses, Crosiers, Copes, Mitres, Maces, golden
Crucifixes, besides the four hundred and twelve thousand
pound that poor Chimneys paid for Peter pence.
But this is nothing, for when you are Pope, you may
pardon yourself for more
knavery than this comes to.
King.
Go to fool, you wrong the Cardinal,
But grieve not Woolsey, William will be bold:
I pray you set on to meet the Emperor,
The Mayor and Citizens are gone before,
The Prince of Wales shall follow presently,
And with our George and collar of estate,
Present him with the order of the Garter:
Great Maximilian his progenitor,
Upon his breast did wear the English Cross,
And underneath our Standard marched in arms,
Receiving pay for all his warlike host;
And Charles with knighthood shall be honoured:
Begin Lord Cardinal, greet his Majesty,
And we ourself will follow presently.
Wol:
I go my Sovereign.
Wil:
Fair weather after ye:
Well, if ever he come to be Pope,
I shall be plunged for this.
Queene.
William, you have angered the Cardinal I can tell you.
Sound.
King.
It is no matter Kate,
I will anger him worse ere long,
Though for a while I smooth it to his face:
I did suspect what here the fool hath found,
He keeps forsooth, a high Court Legantine,
Taxing our subjects, gathering sums of gold,
Which he belike hath hid to make him Pope;
In Gods name let him, that shall be our own.
But to our business, come Queen Katherin,
You shall with us to meet the Emperor,
Let all your Ladies be in readiness:
Go, let our guard attend the Prince of Wales,
Upon ourself, the Lords and Pensioners
Shall give attendance in their best array,
Let all estates be ready; come fair Kate,
The Emperor shall see our English state.
Sound.
Enter Emperour, Cardinall, Mayor, and Gentlemen.
Wool:
Your Majesty is welcome into England,
The king our Master, will rejoice to see
Great Charles the royal Emperor's Majesty.
Empe:
We thank your pains my good Lord. Cardinal.
And much our longing eyes desires to see
Our kingly uncle and his princely son,
And therefore, when you please I pray set on.
Wool:
On gentlemen, and meet the Prince of Wales.
That comes forerunner to his royal father,
To entertain the Christian Emperor:
Mean while, your Majesty may here behold
This warlike kingdom fair Metropolis,
The City London, and the river Thames,
And note the situation of the place.
Empe:
We do my Lord, and count it admirable:
But see Lord Admiral, the Prince is coming.
Sound.
Enter the Prince with a Herald before him, bearing the Coller and
garter, the guard and Lords attending.
Emp:
Well met young cousin.
Prin:
I kiss your highness hand.
And bid you welcome to my fathers land;
I shall not need infer comparisons,
Welcome beyond compare, for so your excellency
Hath honoured England, in containing you,
As with all princely pomp and state we can,
We will entertain great Charles the Austrian:
And first, in sign of honour to your grace,
I here present this collar of estate,
This golden garter of the knighthoods order,
An honour to renown the Emperor:
Thus as my father hath commanded me,
I entertain your royal Majesty.
Emp:
True honoured off-spring of a famous King
Thou dost amaze me, and dost make me wish
I were a second son to Englands Lord,
In interchange of my imperial seat;
To live with thee fair hope of Majesty,
So well our welcome we accept of thee,
And with such princely spirit pronounce the word,
Thy fathers state, can no more state afford.
Prince.
Yes my good Lord, in him there is Majesty,
In me there is love with tender infancy.
Sound trum.
Wool:
The trumpets sound my Lord, the King is coming.
Prince.
Go all of you attend his royal person,
Whilst we observe the Emperor's Majesty.
Sound.
Enter the Heralds first, then the Trumpets next the guard, then Mace-bearer
and swords, then the Cardinall, then Branden, then the King,
after him the Queene, Lady Mary, and Ladies attending.
King.
Hold, stand I say.
Bran:
Stand gentlemen.
Wool:
Cease those trumpets there.
King.
Is the Emperor yet come in sight of us?
Wool:
His Majesty is hard at hand my Lord.
King.
Then Branden, sheathe our Sword,
and bear our Maces down,
In honour of my Lord, the Emperor:
Forward again.
Bran:
On Gentlemen afore, sound trumpets and set forwards.
Prince.
Behold my father, gracious Emperor.
Empe:
We will meet him Cousin:
Uncle of England, King of
France and Ireland, defender
of the ancient Christian faith;
With greater joy I do embrace thy breast,
Than when the seven Electors crowned me,
Great Emperor of the Christian Monarchy.
Sound.
King.
Great Charles, the first Emperor of Almayne,
King of the Romans, Semper Augustus, warlike king of
Spain and Cicily, both Naples,
Navar and Arragon, king
of Creete and great Ierusalem, Arch-duke of Austria,
Duke of Millaine, Brabant, Burgundy, Tyrrell and Flanders,
with this great title I embrace thy breast,
And how thy sight doth please, suppose the rest,
Sound trumpets, while my fair Queen Katreine
Gives entertainment to the Emperor.
Welcome again to England princely Cousin,
We dwell here, but in an outward continent,
Where winters icicles hangs on our beards,
Bordering upon the frozen Orcades,
Our mother-point, compassed with the Arctic sea,
Where raging Boreas flies from winters mouth.
Yet are our bloods as hot, as where the Sun doth rise,
We have no golden mines to lead you to,
But hearts of proof, and what we speak, we will do.
Emp:
We thank you Uncle, and now must chide you;
If we be welcome to your Country,
Why is the ancient league now broke betwixt us?
Why have your Heralds in the French king's cause.
Breathed defiance gainst our dignity,
When face to face, we met at Landersey?
King.
My Heralds to defy your Majesty?
Your grace mistakes, we sent Ambassadors
To treat a peace between the French and you,
Not to defy you as an enemy.
Emp:
Yet Uncle in king Henries name he came,
And boldly to our face did give the same.
Card:
Hell stop that fatal boding Emperors throat,
That sings against us this dismal Ravens note.
King.
Mother of God, if this be true, we see,
There are more kings in England now than we:
Where is Cardinal Woolsey?
Heard you this news in France?
Wool:
I did my Liege, and by my means it was done,
I will not deny it; I had Commission
To join a league between the French and him,
Which he withstanding as an enemy
I did defy him from your Majesty.
King.
Durst thou presume so, base-born Cardinal,
Without our knowledge to abuse our name;
Presumptuous traitor, under what pretence
Didst thou attempt to brave the Emperor?
Belike thou meantest to level at a crown,
But thy ambitious crown shall hurl thee down.
Wool:
With reverence to your Majesty, I did no more
Than I can answer to the holy sea.
King.
Villain, thou canst not answer it to me,
Nor shadow thy insulting treachery:
How durst ye sirrah, in your embassage,
Unknown to us, stamp in our royal coin
The base impression of your Cardinal hat,
As if you were copartner in the Crown?
Ego et Rexmeus: you and your king must be
In equal state, and pomp, and Majesty:
Out of my presence hateful impudency.
Wool:
Remember my Liege, that I am Cardinal
And deputy unto his holiness.
King.
Be the devil's Deputy, I care not I,
I will not be baffled by your treachery;
You are false abusers of religion,
You can corrupt it and forbid the King,
Upon the penalty of the Popes black curse.
If he should pawn his Crown for soldiers' pay,
Not to suppress an old religious Abbey,
Yet you at pleasure have subverted four,
Seizing their lands, tunning up heaps of gold,
Secret conveyance of our royal Seal,
To raise Collections to enrich thy state,
For which sir, we command you leave the Court,
We here discharge you of your offices:
You that are Caiphas, or great Cardinal,
Haste ye with speed unto your Bishopric,
There keep you till you hear further from us:
Away and speak not.
Wool:
Yet will I proudly pass as Cardinal,
Although this day define my heavy fall.
Exit.
Emp:
I fear king Henry, and my royal Uncle,
The Cardinal will curse my progress hither.
Enter Will Summers.
King.
No matter cousin, beshrew his treacherous hart,
Has moved my blood to much impatience.
Where is Wil Summers?
come on wise William,
We must use your little wits, to chase this
Anger from our blood again:
What art thou doing?
Wil:
I am looking round about the Emperor, methinks it is
a strange sight, for though he have seen more
fools than I, yet I never saw no more Emperors but
him.
Emp:
Is this Wil Summers? I have heard of him in all
the Princes' Courts in Christendom.
Wil:
Law ye my lord, you have a famous fool of me,
I can tell ye,
Wil Summers is known far and near ye see.
King.
Aye, are you rhyming William,
na, then I am for ye,
I have not rhymed with ye a great while, and now I will
challenge ye, and the Emperor shall be judge
between us.
Wil:
Content my Lord, I am for ye all, come but one
at once and I care not.
King.
Say ye so sir, come Kate,
stand by me,
We will put you to an unplus presently.
Queene.
To him Wil.
Wil:
I warrant you Madam.
King.
Answer this sir,
The bud is spread the Rose is red, the leaf is green,
Wil:
A wench it is said, was found in you bed, besides the Queen.
Queene.
God mercy for that Will.
There is two angels for thee:
I faith my Lord I am glad I know it.
King.
Gods mother Kate, wilt thou believe the fool?
he lies, he lies, a sirrah William, I perceive
if it had been
so, you would have shamed me before the Emperor,
yet William have at you once more,
In yonder Tower, there is a flower, that hath my hart.
Wil:
Within this hour, she pissed full sour, and let a fart.
Emp:
He is too hard for you my Lord, I will try him
one venue myself, what say you to this William?
An Emperor is great, high is his seat, who is his foe?
Wil.
The worm that shall eat, his carcass for meat,
whether he will or no.
Emp:
Well answered Wil, yet once more I am for ye,
A ruddy lip, with a cherry tip, is fit for a King.
Wil:
Aye, so he may dip, about her
hip, in the tother thing.
Emp:
He has put me down my Lord.
Wil:
Who comes next then?
King.
The Queen William, look to yourself;
To his Kate.
Queene.
Come on William, answer to this,
What could I take, my head doth ache, what physic is good?
Wil:
Here is one will make, the cold to break, and warm your blood.
Queene.
I am not repulsed at first William, again sir,
Women and their wills, are dangerous ills, as some men suppose.
Wil:
She that puddings fills, when snow lies on the hills,
must keep clean her nose.
King.
enough good William,
You are too hard for all:
My Lord the Emperor, we delay too long,
Your promised welcome to the English Court,
The honourable order of the garter,
Your Majesty shall take immediately,
And sit installed therewith in Windsor Castle,
I tell ye there are lads girt with that order,
That will ungirt the proudest Champion:
Set forwards there regard the Emperor's state,
First in our Court we will banquet merrily,
Then mount on steeds, and girt in complete steel,
We will tug at Barriers, Tilt and tournament:
Then shall ye see the Yeomen of my guard
Wrestle, shoot, throw the sledge, or pitch the bar,
Or any other active exercise:
Those triumphs past, we will forthwith
haste to Windsor,
Sir. Gorges knight shall be the Christian Emperor.
Exeunt Omnes.