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maintained the same； Was traitor both to God and to his country。 Being
moved at his peremptory speech； I told him some maintained those
opinions； Men； and truer subjects than lord Herbert was： And he replying
in comparisons； Your name was urged； my lord； gainst his challenge； To be
a perfect favourer of the truth。 And to be short； from words we fell to
blows； Our servants and our tenants taking parts Many on both sides
hurtand for an hour The broil by no means could be pacified； Until the
Judges； rising from the bench； Were in their persons forced to part the fray。
COBHAM。 I hope no man was violently slain。
POWIS。 Faith； none； I trust； but the lord Herbert's self； Who is in truth
so dangerously hurt； As it is doubted he can hardly scape。
COBHAM。 I am sorry； my good lord； of these ill news。
POWIS。 This is the cause that drives me into Kent； To shroud my self
with you； so good a friend； Until I hear how things do speed at home。
COBHAM。 Your lordship is most welcome unto Cobham； But I am
very sorry； my good lord； My name was brought in question in this matter；
Considering I have many enemies； That threaten malice； and do lie in wait
To take advantage of the smallest thing。 But you are welcome： and
repose your lordship； And keep your self here secret in my house； Until we
hear how the lord Herbert speeds。 Here comes my man。
＇Enter Harpoole。＇
Sirra； what news？
HARPOOLE。 Yonder's one master Butler of the privy chamber； is
sent unto you from the King。
POWIS。 I pray God the lord Herbert be not dead； And the King；
hearing whither I am gone； Hath sent for me。
COBHAM。 Comfort your self my lord； I warrant you。
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HARPOOLE。 Fellow； what ails thee？ doost thou quake？ dost thou
shake？ dost thou tremble？ ha？
COBHAM。 Peace； you old fool！ Sirra； convey this gentleman in the
back way； and bring the other into the walk。
HARPOOLE。 Come； sir； you are welcome； if you love my lord。
POWIS。 God have mercy； gentle friend。
＇Exeunt。＇
COBHAM。 I thought as much： that it would not be long； Before I
heard of something from the King About this matter。
＇Enter Harpoole with Master Butler。＇
HARPOOLE。 Sir； yonder my lord walks； you see him； I'll have your
men into the Cellar the while。
COBHAM。 Welcome； good master Butler。
BUTLER。 Thanks； my good lord： his Majesty doth commend His
love unto your lordship； And wills you to repair unto the court。
COBHAM。 God bless his Highness； and confound his enemies！ I hope
his Majesty is well。
BUTLER。 In health； my lord。
COBHAM。 God long continue it！ Me thinks you look As though you
were not well： what ails you； sir？
BUTLER。 Faith； I have had a foolish odd mischance； That angers me：
coming over Shooters hill； There came a fellow to me like a Sailor； And
asked me money； and whilst I stayed my horse To draw my purse； he takes
th' advantage of A little bank and leaps behind me； whips My purse away；
and with a sudden jerk； I know not how； threw me at least three yards Out
of my saddle。 I never was so robbed In all my life。
COBHAM。 I am very sorry； sir； for your mischance。 We will send
our warrant forth； to stay such suspicious persons as shall be found。
Then； master Butler； we will attend you。
BUTLER。 I humbly thank your lordship； I will attend you。
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ACT II。
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SCENE I。 The same。
＇Enter the Sumner。＇
SUMNER。 I have the law to warrant what I do； and though the Lord
Cobham be a noble man； that dispenses not with law： I dare serve
process were a five noble men。 Though we Sumners make sometimes a
mad slip in a corner with a pretty wench； a Sumner must not go always
by seeing： a man may be content to hide his eyes； where he may feel his
profit。 Well； this is my Lord Cobham's house if I can devise to speak
with him； if not； I'll clap my citation upon's door： so my lord of
Rochester bid me。 But me thinks here comes one of his men。
＇Enter Harpoole。＇
HARPOOLE。 Welcome； good fellow； welcome； who wouldst thou
speak with？
SUMNER。 With my lord Cobham I would speak； if thou be one of his
men。
HARPOOLE。 Yes； I am one of his men； but thou canst not speak with
my lord。
SUMNER。 May I send to him then？
HARPOOLE。 I'll tell thee that； when I know thy errand。
SUMNER。 I will not tell my errand to thee。
HARPOOLE。 Then keep it to thy self； and walk like a knave as thou
camest。
SUMNER。 I tell thee； my lord keeps no knaves； sirra。
HARPOOLE。 Then thou servest him not； I believe： what lord is thy
master？
SUMNER My lord of Rochester。
HARPOOLE。 In good time！ And what wouldst thou have with my
lord Cobham？
SUMNER。 I come； by virtue of a process； to ascite him to appear
before my lord in the court at Rochester。
HARPOOLE。 ＇Aside。＇ Well； God grant me patience！ I could eat
this conger。 My lord is not at home； therefore it were good； Sumner； you
carried your process back。
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SUMNER。 Why； if he will not be spoken withal； then will I leave it
here； and see you that he take knowledge of it。
HARPOOLE。 Swounds； you slave； do you set up your bills here！ go to；
take it down again。 Doest thou know what thou dost？ Dost thou know on
whom thou servest process？
SUMNER。 Yes； marry； do I； Sir John Old…castle； Lord Cobham。
HARPOOLE。 I am glad thou knowest him yet： and； sirra； dost not
thou know； that the lord Cobham is a brave lord； that keeps good beef and
beer in his house； and every day feeds a hundred poor people at's gate； and
keeps a hundred tall fellows？
SUMNER。 What's that to my process？
HARPOOLE。 Marry； this； sir！ is this process parchment？
SUMNER。 Yes； marry。
HARPOOLE。 And this seal wax？
SUMNER。 It is so。
HARPOOLE。 If this be parchment； & this wax； eat you this parchment
and this wax； or I will make parchment of your skin； and beat your brains
into wax： Sirra Sumner； dispatch； devour； sirra； devour。
SUMNER。 I am my lord of Rochester's Sumner； I came to do my
office； and thou shalt answer it。
HARPOOLE。 Sirra； no railing； but betake you to your teeth。 Thou
shalt eat no worse than thou bringst with thee： thou bringst it for my lord；
and wilt thou bring my lord worse than thou wilt eat thy self？
SUMNER。 Sirra； I brought it not my lord to eat。
HARPOOLE。 O； do you sir me now？ all's one for that： but I'll make
you eat it； for bringing it。
SUMNER。 I cannot eat it。
HARPOOLE。 Can you not？ sblood I'll beat you until you have a
stomach。
＇He beats him。＇
SUMNER。 O hold； hold； good master serving…man！ I will eat it。
HARPOOLE。 Be champing； be chawing； sir； or I'll chaw you； you
rogue！ the purest of the honey！ Tough wax is the purest of the honey。
SUMNER。 O Lord； sir！ oh！ oh！
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＇He eats。＇
HARPOOLE。 Feed； feed！ wholesome； rogue； wholesome！ Cannot
you； like an honest Sumner； walk with the devil your brother； to fetch in
your Bailiffs' rents； but you must come to a noble man's house with
process？ Sblood！ if thy seal were as broad as the lead that covers
Rochester church； thou shouldst eat it。
SUMNER。 O； I am almost choked！ I am almost choked！
HARPOOLE。 Who's within there？ will you shame my Lord？ is there
no beer in