SECOND SERVANT. We will attend your worship here without.
BISHOP. Do so, I pray you.
THIRD SERVANT. Come, we may have a quart of wine at the Rose at Barking, I warrant you, and come back an hour before he be ready to go.
FIRST SERVANT. We must hie us then.
THIRD SERVANT. Let's away.
[Exeunt.]
BISHOP. Ho, Master Lieutenant.
LIEUTENANT. Who calls there?
BISHOP. A friend of yours.
LIEUTENANT. My lord of Rochester! your honor's welcome.
BISHOP. Sir, here's my warrant from the Counsel, For conference with sir John Old-castle, Upon some matter of great consequence.
LIEUTENANT. Ho, sir John!
HARPOOLE. Who calls there?
LIEUTENANT. Harpoole, tell Sir John, that my lord of Rochester Comes from the counsel to confer with him.
HARPOOLE. I will, sir.
LIEUTENANT. I think you may as safe without suspicion, As any man in England, as I hear, For it was you most labored his commitment.
BISHOP. I did, sir, and nothing repent it, I assure you.
[Enter sir John Old-castle and Harpoole.]
Master Leiftenant, I pray you give us leave, I must confer here with sir John a little.
LIEUTENANT. With all my heart, my lord.
HARPOOLE. [Aside.] My lord, be ruled by me: take this occasion while tis offered, and on my life your lordship shall escape.
COBHAM. No more, I say; peace, lest he should suspect it.
BISHOP. Sir John, I am come unto you from the lords of his highness' most honorable counsel, to know if yet you do recant your errors, conforming you unto the holy church.
COBHAM. My lord of Rochester, on good advise, I see my error, but yet, understand me, I mean not error in the faith I hold, But error in submitting to your pleasure; Therefore, your lordship, without more to do, Must be a means to help me to escape.
BISHOP. What means, thou heretic? Darst thou but lift thy hand against my calling?
COBHAM. No, not to hurt you for a thousand pound.
HARPOOLE. Nothing but to borrow your upper garments a little; not a word more, for if you do, you die: peace, for waking the children. There; put them on; dispatch, my lord. The window that goes out into the leads is sure enough, I told you that before: there, make you ready; I'll convey him after, and bind him surely in the inner room.
[Carries the bishop into the Tower, and returns.]
COBHAM. This is well begun; God send us happy speed, Hard shift you see men make in time of need, Harpoole.
[Puts on the bishop's cloak.]
HARPOOLE. Here my Lord; come, come away.
[Enter serving men again.]
FIRST SERVANT. I marvel that my lord should stay so long.
SECOND SERVANT. He hath sent to seek us, I dare lay my life.
THIRD SERVANT. We come in good time; see, where he is coming.
HARPOOLE. I beseech you, good my lord of Rochester, be favourable to my lord and master.
COBHAM. The inner rooms be very hot and close, I do not like this air here in the Tower.
HARPOOLE. His case is hard my lord.--You shall safely get out of the Tower; but I will down upon them, in which time get you away.
COBHAM. Fellow, thou troublest me.
HARPOOLE. Hear me, my Lord!--Hard under Islington wait you my coming; I will bring my Lady, ready with horses to convey you hence.
COBHAM. Fellow, go back again unto thy Lord and counsel him.
HARPOOLE. Nay, my good lord of Rochester, I'll bring you to Saint Albans through the woods, I warrant you.
COBHAM. Villain, away.
HARPOOLE. Nay, since I am past the Tower's liberty, thou part'st not so.
[He draws.]
COBHAM. Clubs, clubs, clubs!
FIRST SERVANT. Murther, murther, murther!
SECOND SERVANT. Down with him!
[They fight.]
THIRD SERVANT. A villain traitor!
HARPOOLE. You cowardly rogues!
[Sir John escapes.]
[Enter Lieutenant and his men.]
LIEUTENANT. Who is so bold as dare to draw a sword, So near unto the entrance of the Tower?
FIRST SERVANT. This ruffian, servant to sir John Old-castle, Was like to have slain my Lord.
LIEUTENANT. Lay hold on him.
HARPOOLE. Stand off, if you love your puddings.