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BISHOP。 Justice； dread Sovereign！ As thou art King； so grant I may
have justice。
KING。 What means this exclamation？ let us know。
BISHOP。 Ah； my good Lord； the state's abused； And our decrees most
shamefully profaned。
KING。 How？ or by whom？
BISHOP。 Even by this heretic； This Jew； this Traitor to your majesty。
COBHAM。 Prelate； thou liest； even in thy greasy maw； Or whosoever
twits me with the name Of either traitor； or of heretic。
KING。 Forbear； I say： and； Bishop； shew the cause 》From whence
this late abuse hath been derived。
BISHOP。 Thus； mighty King：By general consent； A messenger was
sent to cite this Lord； To make appearance in the consistory； And coming
to his house； a ruffian slave； One of his daily followers； met the man； Who；
knowing him to be a parroter； Assaults him first and after； in contempt Of
us and our proceedings； makes him cate The written process； parchment；
scale and all： Whereby his master neither was brought forth； Nor we but
scorned for our authority。
KING。 When was this done？
BISHOP。 At six a clock this morning。
KING。 And when came you to court？
COBHAM。 Last night； my Lord。
KING。 By this it seems； he is not guilty of it； And you have done him
wrong t'accuse him so。
BISHOP。 But it was done； my lord； by his appointment； Or else his
man durst ne'er have been so bold。
KING。 Or else you durst be bold to interrupt； And fill our ears with
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frivolous complaints。 Is this the duty you do bear to us？ Was't not
sufficient we did pass our word To send for him； but you； misdoubting it；
Orwhich is worseintending to forestall Our regal power； must likewise
summon him？ This savors of Ambition； not of zeal； And rather proves you
malice his estate； Than any way that he offends the law。 Go to； we like it
not； and he your officer； That was employed so much amiss herein； Had
his desert for being insolent。
＇Enter Huntington。＇
So； Cobham； when you please you may depart。
COBHAM。 I humbly bid farewell unto my liege。
＇Exit。＇
KING。 Farewell。What's the news by Huntington？
HUNTINGTON。 Sir Roger Acton and a crew； my Lord； Of bold
seditious rebels are in Arms； Intending reformation of Religion。 And with
their Army they intend to pitch In Ficket field； unless they be repulsed。
KING。 So near our presence？ Dare they be so bold？ And will proud
war； and eager thirst of blood； Whom we had thought to entertain far off；
Press forth upon us in our native bounds？ Must we be forced to hansell our
sharp blades In England here； which we prepared for France？ Well； a
God's name be it！ What's their number； say； Or who's the chief
commander of this rout？
HUNTINGTON。 Their number is not known； as yet； my Lord； But tis
reported Sir John Old…castle Is the chief man on whom they do depend。
KING。 How； the Lord Cobham？
HUNTINGTON。 Yes； my gracious Lord。
BISHOP。 I could have told your majesty as much Before he went； but
that I saw your Grace Was too much blinded by his flattery。
SUFFOLK。 Send post； my Lord； to fetch him back again。
BUTLER。 Traitor unto his country； how he smoothed； And seemed as
innocent as Truth it self！
KING。 I cannot think it yet he would be false； But if he be； no matter；
let him go。 We'll meet both him and them unto their woe。
＇Exeunt all but Bishop。＇
BISHOP。 This falls out well； and at the last I hope To see this heretic
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die in a rope。
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ACT III。
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SCENE I。 An avenue leading to lord Cobham's
house in Kent。
＇Enter Earl of Cambridge； Lord Scroop； Gray； and Chartres the French
factor。＇
SCROOP。 Once more； my Lord of Cambridge； make rehearsal； How
you do stand entitled to the Crown。 The deeper shall we print it in our
minds； And every man the better be resolved； When he perceives his
quarrel to be just。
CAMBRIDGE。 Then thus； Lord Scroop； sir Thomas Gray； & you；
Monsieur de Chartres； agent for the French： This Lionel； Duke of
Clarence； as I said； Third son of Edward （England's King） the third； Had
issue Phillip； his sole daughter and heir； Which Phillip afterward was
given in marriage To Edmund Mortimer； the Earl of March； And by him
had a son called Roger Mortimer； Which Roger； likewise； had of his
descent Edmund； Roger； Anne； and Eleanor Two daughters and two
sonsbut those three Died without issue。 Anne； that did survive； And
now was left her father's only heir； My fortune was to marry； being too By
my grandfather of Kind Edward's line： So of his sirname； I am called； you
know； Richard Plantagenet。 My father was Edward； the Duke of York；
and son and heir To Edmund Langley； Edward the third's fifth son。
SCROOP。 So that it seems your claim comes by your wife； As lawful
heir to Roger Mortimer； The son of Edmund； which did marry Phillip；
Daughter and heir to Lionel； Duke of Clarence。
CAMBRIDGE。 True； for this Harry and his father both； Harry the first；
as plainly doth appear； Are false intruders and usurp the Crown。 For when
young Richard was at Pomfret slain； In him the title of prince Edward died；
That was the eldest of king Edward's sons： William； of Hatfield； and their
second brother； Death in his nonage had before bereft： So that my wife；
derived from Lionel； Third son unto king Edward； ought proceed； And
take possession of the Diadem Before this Harry； or his father king； Who
fetched their title but from Lancaster； Forth of that royal line。 And being
thus； What reason ist but she should have her right？
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SCROOP。 I am resolved our enterprise is just。
GRAY。 Harry shall die； or else resign his crown。
CHARTRES。 Perform but that； and Charles； the king of France； Shall
aid you； lords； not only with his men； But send you money to maintain
your wars。 Five hundred thousand crowns he bade me profer； If you can
stop but Harry's voyage for France。
SCROOP。 We never had a fitter time than now； The realm in such
division as it is。
CAMBRIDGE。 Besides； you must persuade ye； there is due Vengeance
for Richard's murder； which； although It be deferred； yet will it fall at last；
And now as likely as another time。 Sin hath had many years to ripen in；
And now the harvest cannot be far off； Wherein the weeds of usurpation
Are to be cropped； and cast into the fire。
SCROOP。 No more； earl Cambridge； here I plight my faith； To set up
thee and thy renowned wife。
GRAY。 Gray will perform the same； as he is knight。
CHARTRES。 And to assist ye； as I said before； Charters doth gage the
honor of his king。
SCROOP。 We lack but now Lord Cobham's fellowship； And then our
plot were absolute indeed。
CAMBRIDGE。 Doubt not of him； my lord； his life's pursued By the
incensed Clergy； and of late； Brought in displeasure with the king； assures
He may be quickly won unto our faction。 Who hath the articles were
drawn at large Of our whole purpose？
GRAY。 That have I； my Lord。
CAMBRIDGE。 We should not now be far off from his house； Our
serious conference hath beguiled the way。 See where his castle stands。
Give me the writing。 When we are come unto the speech of him； Because
we will not stand to make recount； Of that which hath been said； here he
shall read
＇Enter Cobham。＇
Our minds at large； and what we crave of him。
SCROOP。 A ready way。 Here comes the man himself； Booted and
spurred； it seems he hath been riding。