BUTLER. Didst thou not rob me?
SIR JOHN. I must confess I saw some of your gold. But, my dread Lord, I am in no humor for death; therefore, save my life. God will that sinners live; do not you cause me die. Once in their lives the best may go astray, and if the world say true, your self (my liege) have been a thief.
KING. I confess I have, But I repent and have reclaimed my self.
SIR JOHN. So will I do, if you will give me time.
KING. Wilt thou? My lords, will you be his sureties?
HUNTINGTON. That when he robs again, he shall be hanged.
SIR JOHN. I ask no more.
KING. And we will grant thee that. Live and repent, and prove an honest man, Which when I hear, and safe return from France, I'll give thee living: till then take thy gold; But spend it better than at cards or wine, For better virtues fit that coat of thine.
SIR JOHN. Vivat Rex & curat lex! My liege, if ye have cause of battle, ye shall see Sir John of Wrotham bestir himself in your quarrel.
[Exeunt.]
ACT IV. SCENE II. A field of Battle near London.
[After an alarum enter Harry, Suffolk, Huntington, Sir John, bringing forth Acton, Beverley, and Murley prisoners.]
KING. Bring in those traitors, whose aspiring minds Thought to have triumpht in our overthrow. But now ye see, base villains, what success Attends ill actions wrongfully attempted. Sir Roger Acton, thou retainst the name Of knight, and shouldst be more discreetly tempered, Than join with peasants: gentry is divine, But thou hast made it more than popular.
ACTON. Pardon, my Lord; my conscience urged me to it.
KING. Thy conscience? then thy conscience is corrupt, For in thy conscience thou art bound to us, And in thy conscience thou shouldst love thy country; Else what's the difference twixt a Christian And the uncivil manners of the Turk?
BEVERLEY. We meant no hurt unto your majesty, But reformation of Religion.
KING. Reform Religion? was it that ye sought? I pray who gave you that authority? Belike, then, we do hold the scepter up And sit within the throne but for a cipher. Time was, good subjects would make known their grief And pray amendment, not enforce the same, Unless their King were tyrant, which I hope You cannot justly say that Harry is. What is that other?
SUFFOLK. A malt-man, my Lord, And dwelling in Dunstable as he says.
KING. Sirra, what made you leave your barley broth, To come in armour thus against your King?
MURLEY. Fie, paltry, paltry; to and fro, in and out upon occasion; what a world's this! Knight-hood (my liege) twas knight-hood brought me hither. They told me I had wealth enough to make my wife a lady.
KING. And so you brought those horses which we saw, Trapped all in costly furniture, and meant To wear these spurs when you were knighted once?
MURLEY. In and out upon occasion, I did.
KING. In and out upon occasion, therefore, You shall be handed, and in the stead of wearing These spurs upon your heels, about your neck They shall bewray your folly to the world.
SIR JOHN. In and out upon occasion, that goes hard.
MURLEY. Fie, paltry, paltry, to and fro; good my liege, a pardon. I am sorry for my fault.
KING. That comes too late: but tell me, went there none Beside sir Roger Acton, upon whom You did depend to be your governour?
MURLEY. None, none, my Lord, but sir John Old-castle.
KING. Bears he part in this conspiracy?
[Enter Bishop.]
ACTON. We looked, my Lord, that he would meet us here.
KING. But did he promise you that he would come?
ACTON. Such letters we received forth of Kent.
BISHOP. Where is my Lord the King?--Health to your grace. Examining, my Lord, some of these caitive rebels, It is a general voice amongst them all, That they had never come unto this place, But to have met their valiant general, The good Lord Cobham, as they title him: Whereby, my Lord, your grace may now perceive, His treason is apparent, which before He sought to colour by his flattery.
KING. Now, by my royalty, I would have sworn But for his conscience, which I bear withal, There had not lived a more true hearted subject.