University of Virginia Library

Scena 3.

Enter a company of Rustickes bearing the body of Gloster.
Cara.

How now, Sirs, what heauy spectacle affronts our
eyes?

Clowne.

Come, my masters, euery man his part, hee shall
be examined, ere we part with him.

Neighb.

Tis fit, neighbour, for he that has no more care
of himselfe, what will he haue of another fellow?

Cara.

Whose body is that, my friends?

Clown.

Tis not a body, Sir, tis but a carkase, sir, some
Gentleman it seemes; for if hee had beene a poore man, that
labours for his liuing, he would haue found somewhat else

to doe, and not to haue hangde himselfe.

Cara.

Alacke, alacke, a wretched case.

Clown.

Nay truly, neuer bestow pitty on him, that could
not pitty himselfe.

Bluso.

Tis Glosters body, noble Caradoc.

Cara.

A Traytors body, then heauens iustice showne,
That in contriuing mischiefe for his owne.

Mor.

If his head were taken from his shoulders, 'twere
very well, and poale his head on a high cragge.

Clown.

You may poale his head here, if it please you, but
truely it is not worth the labor, for it is a fleece of the lovvzest
haire that euer was hanged.

Morg.

You are a prattling Coxcombe, I would haue his
head mounted on a poale, for all false knaues to see and
behold.

Clow.

Why sir, you may see it now, and the rest shall see
it hereafter.

Mor.

The rest sir, mercy vpon vs, doe you reckon me a
false knaue? by S. Dauie, I will melt a stone of tallow from
your kidneyes.

Cara.

Nay, good Sir Morgan.

Morg.

Pray you Cousin, let me goe.

Clow.

Let your Cousin, let him come, you shall haue diggon
of Chymrade, I warrant you.

Morg.

Harke you, harke you Cousin, he speakes Brittish,
by shesu, I not strike him now, if he call mee three knaues
more. God plesse vs, if he do not speake as good Brittish,
as any is in Troy walles. Giue me both your right hands, I
pray you, let vs be friends for euer and euer.

Clown.

Sir, you shall be friends with a man of credit then:
for I haue a hundreth pound in blacke and white, simple as
I stand here: and simple as I stand here, I am one of the
Crowners quest at this time.

Omnes.

I, for, simple as we all stand here, wee are no lesse
at this time.

Clown.

And it may be, as simple as we are here, if we say,

he shall be buried, he shall, and if we say not, it may not be
neyther.

Morg.

But he is dead, whether you will or no.

Clo.

Not so, for he died with my good will, for I neuer
wept for him.

Morg.

And his body shall be dust, whether you wil, or no.

Clo.

It may be not neyther, as in our wisdomes we shall
conclude, perhaps weele burne him, then he shall be burned
to ashes.

Mor.

By S. Dauies, it is very true.

Cl.

For anter, not so neither, weele sell him to the Apothecaries
for mūmey. For anter not so neyther, it may be weele
hang him vp for the Crowes meats, and then he shalbe turned
to that that fals vpon their heads, that has no new
clothes at Whitsontide.

Morg.

Hold your tongue there, I beseech you.

Clo.

You must take it as it fals, and as the foolish Fates, and
so the quest decrees.

Car.

Leaue it to themselues, they cannot dispose too ill of
the remainder of so blacke a villaine. Our hidious worke is
done.

Exit Caradoc & Morgan. Manent Rusticks.
Clo.

My masters, and fellow questmen, this is the point,
we are to search out the course of law, whether this man
that has hangde himselfe, be accessary to his own death or
no.

1. Nei.

Tis a hard case burlady neighbors, to iudge truly.

2. Nei.

Sure, I do thinke he is guilty.

Clo.

Take heed, your conscience must be vmpler in the
case. I put this point to you, whether euery one that hangs
himselfe, be willing to die or no?

2. Neig.

I, I, sure he is willing.

Cl.

I say no, for the hangman hangs himselfe, and yet he
is not willing to die.

3. Neig.

How dos the hangman hang himselfe?

Cl.

I mary dos he, sir; for if he haue not a man to doe his

office for him, he must hang himselfe: ergo, euery man that
hangs himselfe is not willing to die.

1. Neigh.

He sayes very true indeed: but now sir, being
dead, who shall answere the King for his subiect?

Clo.

Mary sir, he that hangd his subiect.

2. Nei.

That was himselfe.

3. Neighb.

No sir, I doe thinke it was the halter that
hangde him.

Clo.

I, in a sort, but that was, se offendendo, for it may be,
he meant to haue broke the halter, and the halter held him
out of his owne defence.

1. Neigh.

But is not the Ropemaker in danger that made
it?

Clo.

No, for hee goes backeward, when tis made, and
therefore cannot see before, what will come after; neyther
is the halter in fault, for hee might vrge the halter,
nolens volens, (as the learned say) neyther is he in fault,
because his time was come that he should be hanged: and
therefore I doe conclude, that he was conscious and guiltlesse
of his owne death: Moreouer, he was a Lord, and a
Lord in his owne precinct has authority to hang and draw
himselfe.

2. Nei.

Then neighbour, he may be buried.

Cl.

Of great reason, alwayes he that is aliue must die, and
he that is dead must be buried.

2. Neigh.

Yet truly in my conscience, he dos not deserue to
be buried.

Cl.

Oh, you speake partiously neighbor Crabtree, not deserue
to be buried? I say, he deserues to bee buried aliue that
hangs himselfe.

3. Neig.

But for his clothes neighbour.

Cl.

His clothes are the Hangmans.

2. Neigh.

Why then he must haue them himselfe.

Cl.

This is a shrewd poynt of law, this might he do now,
because he would saue charges, and defeat the Hangman:
this must be well handled, did he make a Will?

3 Neigh.

No, he died detestable.

Cl.

Why then, they fall to his right heyre male, for a female
cannot inherite no breeches, vnlesse she weares them
in her husbands dayes.

1 Neigh.

But where shall we finde him?

Cl.

Tis true, well then for want of issue, they fall to the
chiefe mourner; I will be he to saue you all harmeles, I will
take his clothes vpon mine owne backe, I will begin with
his cloke, do you take euery man his quarter, and I will follow
with dole and lamentation.

2. Neigh.

Then thus the verdit is giuen vp.

Clow.

I, I.

3. Neigh.

Alas Neighbour, how mournfully you speake
already!

Clow.
It is the fashion so to doe.

Clown.
Beare vp the body of our hanged friend,
Silke was his life, a halter was his end:
The Hangman hangs too many (gracelesse else)
Then why should any man, thus hang himselfe?
If any aske, why I in teares thus swimme?
Know, I mourne for his clothes, and not for him.

Exeunt.