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spurred； it seems he hath been riding。
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John Oldcastle
CAMBRIDGE。 Well met； lord Cobham。
COBHAM。 My lord of Cambridge？ Your honor is most welcome into
Kent； And all the rest of this fair company。 I am new come from London；
gentle Lords； But will ye not take Cowling for your host； And see what
entertainment it affords？
CAMBRIDGE。 We were intended to have been your guests： But now
this lucky meeting shall suffice To end our business； and defer that
kindness。
COBHAM。 Business； my lord？ what business should you have But to
be merry？ We have no delicates； But this I'll promise you： a piece of
venison； A cup of wine； and so forthhunters' fare； And if you please；
we'll strike the stag our selves Shall fill our dishes with his well…fed flesh。
SCROOP。 That is； indeed； the thing we all desire。
COBHAM。 My lords and you shall have your choice with me。
CAMBRIDGE。 Nay； but the stag which we desire to strike Lives not
in Cowling； if you will consent； And go with us； we'll bring you to a forest；
Where runs a lusty herd； amongst the which There is a stag superior to the
rest； A stately beast that； when his fellows run； He leads the race； and beats
the sullen earth； As though he scorned it； with his trampling hooves。 Aloft
he bears his head； and with his breast； Like a huge bulwark； counter…
checks the wind： And when he standeth still； he stretcheth forth His proud
ambitious neck； as if he meant To wound the firmament with forked horns。
COBHAM。 Tis pity such a goodly beast should die。
CAMBRIDGE。 Not so； sir John； for he is tyrannous； And gores the
other deer； and will not keep Within the limits are appointed him。 Of late
he's broke into a several； Which doth belong to me； and there he spoils
Both corn and pasture。 Two of his wild race； Alike for stealth and
covetous encroaching； Already are removed； if he were dead； I should not
only be secure from hurt； But with his body make a royal feast。
SCROOP。 How say you； then； will you first hunt with us？
COBHAM。 Faith； Lords； I like the pastime； where's the place》
CAMBRIDGE。 Peruse this writing； it will shew you all； And what
occasion we have for the sport。
＇He reads。＇
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COBHAM。 Call ye this hunting； my lords？ Is this the stag You fain
would chaseHarry our dread king？ So we may make a banquet for the
devil； And in the stead of wholesome meat； prepare A dish of poison to
confound our selves。
CAMBRIDGE。 Why so； lord Cobham？ See you not our claim？ And
how imperiously he holds the crown？
SCROOP。 Besides； you know your self is in disgrace； Held as a
recreant； and pursued to death。 This will defend you from your enemies；
And stablish your religion through the land。
COBHAM。 Notorious treason！ yet I will conceal ＇Aside。＇ My secret
thoughts； to sound the depth of it。 My lord of Cambridge； I do see your
claim； And what good may redound unto the land By prosecuting of this
enterprise。 But where are the men？ where's power and furniture To order
such an action？ We are weak； Harry； you know's a mighty potentate。
CAMBRIDGE。 Tut； we are strong enough： you are beloved； And
many will be glad to follow you； We are the like； and some will follow us。
Besides； there is hope from France： here's an ambassador That promiseth
both men and money too。 The commons likewise （as we hear） pretend A
sudden tumult； we will join with them。
COBHAM。 Some likelihood； I must confess； to speed； But how shall I
believe this is plain truth？ You are； my lords； such men as live in Court；
And highly have been favoured of the king； Especially lord Scroop； whom
oftentimes He maketh choice of for his bedfellow； And you； lord Gray；
are of his privy counsel： Is not this a train to entrap my life？
CAMBRIDGE。 Then perish may my soul！ What； think you so？
SCROOP。 We'll swear to you。
GRAY。 Or take the sacrament。
COBHAM。 Nay； you are noble men； and I imagine； As you are
honorable by birth and blood； So you will be in heart； in thought； in word。
I crave no other testimony but this： That you would all subscribe； and set
your hands Unto this writing which you gave to me。
CAMBRIDGE。 With all our hearts。 Who hath any pen and ink？
SCROOP。 My pocket should have one： yea； here it is。
CAMBRIDGE。 Give it me； lord Scroop。There is my name。
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SCROOP。 And there is my name。
GRAY。 And mine。
COBHAM。 Sir； let me crave； That you would likewise write your
name with theirs； For confirmation of your master's word； The king of
France。
CHARTRES。 That will I； noble Lord。
COBHAM。 So now this action is well knit together； And I am for you。
Where's our meeting； lords？
CAMBRIDGE。 Here； if you please； the tenth of July next。
COBHAM。 In Kent？ agreed： now let us in to supper。 I hope your
honors will not away to night。
CAMBRIDGE。 Yes； presently； for I have far to ride； About soliciting
of other friends。
SCROOP。 And we would not be absent from the court； Lest thereby
grow suspicion in the king。
COBHAM。 Yet taste a cup of wine before ye go。
CAMBRIDGE。 Not now； my lord； we thank you： so farewell。
＇Exeunt all but Cobham。＇
COBHAM。 Farewell； my noble lords。My noble lords？ My noble
villains； base conspirators。 How can they look his Highness in the face；
Whom they so closely study to betray？ But I'll not sleep until I make it
known。 This head shall not be burdened with such thoughts； Nor in this
heart will I conceal a deed Of such impiety against my king。 Madam； how
now？
＇Enter Harpoole and the rest。＇
LADY COBHAM。 You are welcome home； my Lord。 Why seem ye so
disquiet in your looks？ What hath befallen you that disquiets your mind？
LADY POWIS。 Bad news； I am afraid； touching my husband。
COBHAM。 Madam； not so： there is your husband's pardon。 Long
may ye live； each joy unto the other。
POWIS。 So great a kindness as i know not how To make reply； my
sense is quite confounded。
COBHAM。 Let that alone： and madam； stay me not； For I must back
unto the court again With all the speed I can。 Harpoole； my horse。
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LADY COBHAM。 So soon； my Lord？ what； will you ride all night？
COBHAM。 All night or day； it must be so； sweet wife。 Urge me not
why or what my business is； But get you in。 Lord Powis； bear with me；
And madam； think your welcome ne'er the worse： My house is at your use。
Harpoole； away。
HARPOOLE。 Shall I attend your lordship to the court？
COBHAM。 Yes； sir； your gelding！ mount you presently。
＇Exeunt。＇
LADY COBHAM。 I prithee； Harpoole； look unto thy Lord。 I do not
like this sudden posting back。
POWIS。 Some earnest business is a foot belike； What e'er it be； pray
God be his good guide。
LADY POWIS。 Amen！ that hath so highly us bested。
LADY COBHAM。 Come； madam； and my lord； we'll hope the best；
You shall not into Wales till he return。
POWIS。 Though great occasion be we should depart； Yet madam will
we stay to be resolved Of this unlooked for； doubtful accident。
＇Exeunt。＇
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John Oldcastle
SCENE II。 A road near Highgate。
＇Enter Murley and his men； prepared in some filthy order for war。＇
MURLEY。 Come； my hearts of flint； modestly； decently； soberly； and
handsomely； no man afore his Leader； follow your master； your Captain；
your Knight that shall be； for the honor of Meal…men； Millers； and Malt…
men。 Dunne is the mouse。 Dick and tom； for the credit of Dunstable；
ding down the enemy to morrow； ye shall not come into the field like
be