SIR RAPH. Sir Arthur, Sir Arthur, care go with those days, Let 'am even go together, let 'am go! Tis time, yfaith, that we were in our graves, When Children leave obedience to their parents, When there's no fear of God, no care, no duty. Well, well, nay, nay, it shall not do, it shall not; No, Mountchensey, thou'st hear on't, thou shalt, Thou shalt, yfaith! I'll hang thy Son, if there be law in England. A man's Child ravisht from a Nunry! This is rare! Well, well, there's one gone for Friar Hildersam.

SIR ARTHUR. Nay, gentle Knight, do not vex thus, It will but hurt your health. You cannot grieve more then I do, but to what end? But hark you, Sir Raph, I was about to say something--it makes no matter. But heark you in your ear: the Friar's a knave; but God forgive me, a man cannot tell neither; s'foot, I am so out of patience, I know not what to say.

SIR RAPH. There's one went for the Friar an hour ago. Comes he not yet? s'foot, if I do find knavery unders cowl, I'll tickle him, I'll firk him. Here, here, he's here, he's here. Good morrow, Friar; good morrow, gentle Friar.

[Enter Hildersham.]

SIR ARHTUR. Good morrow, father Hildersham, good morrow.

HILDERSHAM. Good morrow, reverend Knights, unto you both.

SIR ARTHUR. Father, how now? you hear how matters go; I am undone, my child is cast away. You did your best, at least I think the best; But we are all crost; flatly, all is dasht.

HILDERSHAM. Alas, good knights, how might the matter be? Let me understand your grief for Charity.

SIR ARTHUR. Who does not understand my griefs? Alas, alas! And yet ye do not! Will the Church permit A nun in approbation of her habit To be ravished?

HILDERSHAM. A holy woman, benedicite! Now God forfend that any should presume To touch the sister of a holy house.

SIR ARTHUR. Jesus deliver me!

SIR RAPH. Why, Millisent, the daughter of this Knight Is out of Chesson taken the last night.

HILDERSHAM. Was that fair maiden late become a nun?

SIR RAPH. Was she, quotha? Knavery, knavery, knavery; I smell it, I smell it, yfaith; is the wind in that door? is it even so? doost thou ask me that now?

HILDERSHAM. It is the first time that I ere heard of it.

SIR ARTHUR. That's very strange.

SIR RAPH. Why, tell me, Friar, tell me; thou art counted a holy man; do not play the hypocrite with me, nor bear with me. I cannot dissemble: did I ought but by thy own consent? by thy allowance? nay, further, by thy warrant?

HILDERSHAM. Why, Reverend knight--

SIR RAPH. Unreverend Friar--

HILDERSHAM. Nay, then give me leave, sir, to depart in quiet; I had hoped you had sent for me to some other end.

SIR ARTHUR. Nay, stay, good Friar; if any thing hath hapd About this matter in thy love to u, That thy strickt order cannot justify, Admit it be so, we will cover it. Take no care, man: Disclaim me yet thy counsell and advise, The wisest man that is may be o'erreacht.

HILDERSHAM. Sir Arthur, by my order and my faith, I know not what you mean.

SIR RAPH. By your order and your faith? This is most strange of all: Why, tell me, Friar, Are not you Confessor to my Son Francke?

HILDERSHAM. Yes, that I am.

SIR RAPH. And did not this good knight here and my self Confess with you, being his ghostly Father, To deal with him about th' unbanded marriage Betwixt him and that fair young Millisent?

HILDERSHAM. I never heard of any match intended.

SIR ARTHUR. Did not we break our minds that very time, That our device of making her a Nun Was but a colour and a very plot To put by young Mountchensey? Ist not true?

HILDERSHAM. The more I strive to know what you should mean, The less I understand you.

SIR RAPH. Did not you tell us still how Peter Fabell At length would cross us, if we took not heed?

HILDERSHAM. I have heard of one that is a great magician, But he's about the University.

SIR RAPH. Did not you send your novice Benedic To persuade the girl to leave Mountchensey's love, To cross that Peter Fabell in his art, And to that purpose made him visitor?

HILDERSHAM. I never sent my novice from the house, Nor have we made our visitation yet.

William Shakespeare
Classic Literature Library

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