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All such malicious errors as begin To spot their calling； and disturb the
church。
KING。 God else forbid： why； Suffolk； is there Any new rupture to
disquiet them？
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SUFFOLK。 No new； my Lord； the old is great enough； And so
increasing as； if not cut down； Will breed a scandal to your royal state；
And set your Kingdom quickly in an uproar。 The Kentish knight； Lord
Cobham； in despite Of any law； or spiritual discipline； Maintains this
upstart new religion still； And divers great assemblies by his means And
private quarrels are commenced abroad； As by this letter more at large； my
liege； Is made apparent。
KING。 We do find it here： There was in Wales a certain fray of late；
Between two noblemen； but what of this？ Follows it straight； Lord
Cobham must be he Did cause the same？ I dare be sworn； good knight；
He never dreamt of any such contention。
BISHOP。 But in his name the quarrel did begin； About the opinion
which he held； my liege。
KING。 How if it did？ was either he in place； To take part with them； or
abet them in it？ If brabling fellows； whose inkindled blood； Seethes in
their fiery veins； will needs go fight； Making their quarrels of some words
that past Either of you； or you； amongst their cups； Is the fault yours； or
are they guilty of it？
SUFFOLK。 With pardon of your Highness； my dread lord； Such little
sparks； neglected； may in time Grow to a might flame： but that's not all；
He doth； beside； maintain a strange religion； And will not be compelled to
come to mass。
BISHOP。 We do beseech you； therefore； gracious prince； Without
offence unto your majesty； We may be bold to use authority。
KING。 As how？
BISHOP。 To summon him unto the Arches； Where such offences have
their punishment。
KING。 To answer personally？ is that your meaning？
BISHOP。 It is； my lord。
KING。 How； if he appeal？
BISHOP。 He cannot； my Lord； in such a case as this。
SUFFOLK。 Not where Religion is the plea； my lord。
KING。 I took it always； that our self stood out； As a sufficient refuge；
unto whom Not any but might lawfully appeal。 But we'll not argue now
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upon that point。 For Sir John Old…castle； whom you accuse； Let me entreat
you to dispence awhile With your high title of pre…eminence。
＇In scorn。＇
Report did never yet condemn him so； But he hath always been
reputed loyal： And in my knowledge I can say thus much； That he is
virtuous； wise； and honourable。 If any way his conscience be seduced； To
waver in his faith； I'll send for him； And school him privately； if that serve
not； Then afterward you may proceed against him。 Butler； be you the
messenger for us； And will him presently repair to court。
＇Exeunt。＇
SIR JOHN。 How now； my lord； why stand you discontent？ In sooth；
me thinks the King hath well decreed。
BISHOP。 Yea； yea； sir John； if he would keep his word； But I perceive
he favours him so much； As this will be to small effect； I fear。
SIR JOHN。 Why； then； I'll tell you what y'are bets to do： If you suspect
the King will be but cold In reprehending him； send you a process too To
serve upon him： so you may be sure To make him answer 't； howsoe'er it
fall。
BISHOP。 And well remembered！ I will have it so。 A Sumner shall
be sent about it straight。
＇Exit。＇
SIR JOHN。 Yea； do so。 In the mean space this remains For kind sir
John of Wrotham； honest Jack。 Me thinks the purse of gold the Bishop
gave Made a good show； it had a tempting look。 Beshrew me； but my
fingers' ends to itch To be upon those rudduks。 Well； tis thus： I am not as
the world does take me for； If ever wolf were clothed in sheep's coat； Then
I am he；old huddle and twang； yfaith； A priest in show； but in plain terms
a thief。 Yet； let me tell you too； an honest thief； One that will take it where
it may be spared； And spend it freely in good fellowship。 I have as many
shapes as Proteus had； That still； when any villainy is done； There may be
none suspect it was sir John。 Besides； to comfort me；for what's this life；
Except the crabbed bitterness thereof； Be sweetened now and then with
lechery？ I have my Doll； my concubine； as twere； To frolic with； a lusty
bouncing girl。 But whilst I loiter here； the gold may scape； And that must
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not be so。 It is mine own； Therefore； I'll meet him on his way to court；
And shrive him of it： there will be the sport。
＇Exit。＇
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SCENE III。 Kent。 An outer court before lord
Cobham's house。
＇Enter three or four poor people： some soldiers； some old men。＇
FIRST。 God help！ God help！ there's law for punishing； But there's no
law for our necessity： There be more stocks to set poor soldiers in； Than
there be houses to relieve them at。
OLD MAN。 Faith； housekeeping decays in every place； Even as Saint
Peter writ； still worse and worse。
FOURTH。 Master mayor of Rochester has given commandment； that
none shall go abroad out of the parish； and they have set an order down
forsooth； what every poor householder must give towards our relief：
where there be some ceased； I may say to you； had almost as much need to
beg as we。
FIRST。 It is a hard world the while。
OLD MAN。 If a poor man come to a door to ask for God's sake； they
ask him for a license； or a certificate from a Justice。
SECOND。 Faith we have none but what we bear upon our bodies； our
maimed limbs； God help us。
FOURTH。 And yet； as lame as I am； I'll with the king into France； if I
can crawl but a shipboard。 I had rather be slain in France； than starve in
England。
OLD MAN。 Ha； were I but as lusty as I was at the battle of Shrewbury；
I would not do as I do： but we are now come to the good lord
Cobham's； to the best m