University of Virginia Library

[Act: 3d:]

[OMITTED] sound a senett, Enter King Richard, Baggott, Busshy, Greene, & Scroope, [OMITTED] Very Richly Attyrd In newe fashions & Trissilian whispering wt h the King. [OMITTED] a guard of Archers after them/
King.
Com my Trissillian.
thus like an Emperour shall king Richard Raigne
and you so many kings attendant[o]on hime
or guard of Archers, keepe the doores I charge ye
[Blankes]
lett no man enter to dysturb or pleasures.
thou touldst me kynd Trissillian th'adst deuisd
blancke charters, to fill vpp or treasury
opening the cheasts of hoording cormorants
that laugh to see ther kingly soueraigne lacke
letts knowe the meanes we may applaud thy witt

Triss:
see heere my lord only wt h parchment Innocent sheepe skins.
ye see heeres no fraud. no clawse no deceite in the wrighting.

all:
why thers nothing writt

Triss:
thers the tricke ant
these blanke charters shalbe forth wt h sent
to euery shreeue through all the sheeres of england
wt h charge to call before them persently
all landed men freehoulders, farmars grashers
or any else that haue abillitye
then in yor highnes nam they shalbe chargd
to sett ther names, & forth wt h seale these blankes
that done, these shall returne to courte agen
but cart-loads of money, soone shall follow them

[all] Scroo:
excellent Trissillian

Bush:
noble lord cheife Iustice

Bagg:
wher should his grace gett such a counsellor.

Greē:
not if his beard were off, prethee Tressillian off wt h itt.
sfoote thou seest we haue not a beard amongst vs
[[OMITTED]growe]
thou sendst out barbars ther to poole the whole country
sfoote lett some Shaue thee

Bush:
twould be come thee better ifaith, & make thee looke more grim,
when thou sittst in Iudgment

Triss:
I tell ye gallants. I will not loose a haire of my lordshipp,
& king Richards fauor. for the popes Reuenewes,

Enter the queene
g:
be yor leaue ther. giue way to'the queene.

King:
now Ann a Beame. how cheeres my deerest queene
ist hollydaye my loue, beleeue me lords
tis strange to take hir from hir Semsterye
she & hir mayds are all for huswifry
shalt worke no more sweete nan. now Richards kinge
& peere & people all shall stoope to hime.
wele haue no more protecting vncles trust me
prethee looke smooth & bid these nobles wellcome

[OMITTED]queē:
whome my lord fauors must to me be wellcome

[OMITTED]King:
these are or counsellors I tell ye lady,
[OMITTED] & these shall better grace king Richards courte
[OMITTED] then all the doating heads that late contrould vs
[OMITTED] thou seest already we beginne to alter
[OMITTED] the vulgar fashions of or homespune kingdome
I tell thee nan. the states of Christendome
shall wonder at or English Royalltye
we held a counsell to deuise these suits—
Sr henry Greene. deuisd this fashione shooe
busshy this picke. Baggott & Scroope sett foorth
this kynd coherance, twixt the tooe & knee
to haue them chaynd to gether loueingly
& we as soueraigne did confirme them all
sute they not quaintly nan. sweete queene Resolue me

queen:
I see no fault, that I dare call a fault
but would yor grace consider wt h aduise
what you haue done vnto yor reuerent vncles
(my feares prouooke me to be bould my lord)
they are yor noble kinsmen. to revooke the sentance, weare

King:
an act of folly nan. kings words are lawes
If we in frindge or word. we breake or lawe
no more of them sweete queene

Triss:
maddam whats done, was wt h advise enough
the king is now at yeares & hath shooke off
the seruill yoake of meane protectorshipp

+ Bush:
his highnes can direct hime self sufficient
why should his pleasures then be curbd by any
as if he did not vnderstand his state

King:
they tell thee true sweete loue: com ryd wt h me
and see too day my hall at westminster
wc h we haue builded now to feast or ffreends

Greē:

doe doe good maddam: prethee sweete king, letts rid somwhether
& it be but to showe o
r selues sfoote or deuisses heere are like Iewells kept in casketts, or good faces in maskes, that grace not
the owners, because th'are obscurd. if o
r fashions be not publisht what glories in the weareing.

King:
wele rid through london only to be guazd at
faire Ann a Beame. you shall along wt h vs
at westmister shalt see my sumptious hall
my royall tables ritchly furnished
wher euery day I feast (10000) men
to furnish out wc h feast, I dayly spend
(30) fatt oxen. and (300) sheepe
wt h fish & fowle. in numbers numberless
not all or cronicles shall poynt a king
to match or bountye, state & Royalltye
or lett or successessors yett to come
striue to exceed me. & if they for bidd itt
lett records say, only king Richard did itt

queen:
oh but my lord twill tyre yor reuenewes
to keepe this feastiuall a yeare to gether

King:
as many dayes as I writt englands kinge
we will mayntaine that bounteous feastiuall
tressillian. looke to yor blancke charters spedely
send them abroad wt h trustye officers
& Baggott, see a messinger be sent
to call or vncle woodstocke home toth courte
not that we loue, his medling companey
but that the raged commons loues his playñes
& should growe mutenous about these blancks
wele haue him neere vs: wt h in his Arrowes length
we stand secure: we can restrayne his strength
sound
se it be done: com Anne to or great hall
wher Richard keepes his gorgious ffeastiuall—

Exeunt[OMITTED]
Manett Trisillian
Triss
wt hin ther hoe.

Enter Crosbye & Fleming
+ Crosby
yor lordships pleasure.

Triss:
what are those blanncks dispatcht

F:
th'are all trust vp my lord in seuerall packetts
Enter Nimble
whers nimble, whers that varlott

Nim:
as nimble as a Morisdancer now my bells are on,
how doe ye like the rattling of my chaynes my lord

Triss
oh villayne thou. wilt hang in chaynes for this
art thou crept into the court fashione knaue

Nim:

alas my lord. ye knowe I haue followd yo
r lordship wt hout ere a ragg sence ye roñ away from the corte once: & I pray
lett me followe the fashione a little to show my selfe a courtier/

Triss:
goe spread those seuerall blancks throughout the kingdome
and heeres comissione wt h the counsells hands
wt h charge to euery shreeue & officer,
t'assist and ayd you. & when th'are seald & signd
see ye note well, such mens abillitye
as sett ther hands to them. inquire what rents
what lands or what reuenys they spend bith yeare
& lett me straight receaue Intelligence
besids Ide haue you vse yor selues soe coningly
to marke who grudges or but speakes amiss
of good king Richard. (my selfe) or any of his newe counsellors
attach them all for priuey whisperers,
& send them vp, I haue a tricke in lawe
shall make king Richard sease into his hands
the forfiture of all ther goods & lands: nimble
take thou these blancks & see you take especiall note of them

Nim:

Ile take the dittye sir, but yo
u shall sett a note toot, for if any man shall speake but an ill word of any thing thats written heere:

Triss:

why ass thers nothinge

Nim:

& would ye haue them speake ill of nothinge. thats strange;
but I meane my lord, if they should but giue this paper an ill word,
as to say I will teare this paper, or worse, I will rend this pape
r or fowler words then that, as to say I will bumfidle yo
r paper

if ther be any such. I haue a blacke booke for them my lord
I warrant ye,

Triss:
be it yor greatest care to be seueare
Crossby & ffleming, pray be dilligent

Crosby:
we shall my lord.

Nim:

but how if we meete w
t h some Ignoramus fellowes my lord, that cannot wright ther mynds. what shall they doe.

Triss:

if they but sett to ther markes, tis good,

Nim:

we shall meddle w
t h no weomen in the blankes shall wee

Triss:

ritch widdowes none else; for a widdowe is as much as man & wife,

Nim:

then a widdowes a hermophrodite, boeth cutt & long tayle,
& if she cannot wright she shall sett hir marke to itt,

Triss:
what else Sir

Nim:
but if she haue a daughter, she shall sett hir mothers marke toot,

Triss:
medle wt h none but men & wyddowes sir, I charge ye

Nim:
well Sr I shall see a wydowes marke then, I nere saw none yett

Triss:
you haue yor lessons perfitt: now begone
be bould & swift in executione—
Exit Trissillian/

Nim:
god boy my lord, we will domineere over the vulgar, like
so many St Georges over the poore draggons, com sirs
we are like to haue a florishing com̄on wealth ifaith

Exeunt
[OMITTED]Enter Woodstock: lancaster and yorke at Plashey
[OMITTED]Wood:
com my good brothers, heere at plasshy house
[OMITTED] Ile bid you wellcome wt h as true a «har»te
as Richard wt h a false, and mynd corrupt
disgrast or names and thrust vs from his courte,

lanc:
beshrowe hime that repins my lord for me
I liud wt h care at courte, I now am free,

yorke:
com come letts fynd some other talke, I thinke not on it
I nere slept soundly when I was amongst them
so lett them goe; this house of plasshy brother
stands in a sweete & plesant Ayre ifaith
tis neere the Theames, & circled round wt h trees
that in the summor serue for plesant fann's
to coole ye; & in winter strongly breake
the stormye windes that else would nipp ye too

Wood:
& in faith old yorke
we haue all need of some kynd winteringe
we are besett, heauen sheild wt h many stormes
& yett thes trees at length will proue to me
like Richard and his Royatous minions.
ther wanton heads so oft play wt h the wynds
throweing ther leaues so prodigally downe
theile leaue me coold at last; & soe will they
make england wretched, & eth end them selues,

lanc:
If westminster hall. deuoure as it has beguñe
twer better it were Rueind lime & stone

Wood:
a fore my god. I late was certifyd
that at one feast was serud (10000) dishes

york:
he daylye feasts they say (10000) men,
& euery man must haue his dish at least

Wood:
(30) fatt oxen and (300) sheepe serue but one dayes exspences,

lanc:
(a (100) scarcly can suffice his guard
a campe of Souldiers feeds not like those bowmen.

Wood:
but how will thes expences be mayntaynd

york:
oh they say ther are strange tricks com forth
to fetch in money. what they are I know not

Wood:
y'aue heard of the fantasticke Siuts they weare
neuer was english king soe habitted

lanc:
we could allowe his cloathing brother woodstocke
but we haue (4) kings more. are equalld wt h hime
thers Baggott Bushey, wanton Greene & Scroope
In state & fashione, wt hout difference

york:
indeed th'are more then kings. for they Rule hime

Wood:
com come or breathes reuerborate the wynd
we talke like good diuines, but cannot cure
the groosenes of the sinne, or shall we speake
like allcommanding wise astronimers
& flattly saye, such a day shalbe faire
& yett it raynes, whether he will or no
so may we talke, but thus will Richard doe

Enter Cheney wt h blankes
lanc:
how now Cheney, what driues thee on soe fast

Chey:
If I durst, I would say (my lord),
Trissillian dryues me) one halfe as ill
Ime still the purssiuant of vnhappie newes
heeres blancke charters my lord. I pray behould them
sent from kinge Richard & his counsellors.

Wood:
thou makst me blancke at very sight of them, what must these

lan:
they appere in shape of obligationes

Chey:
they are noless the countryes full of them.
commissons are com downe to euery shreeue
to force the ritchest subiects of the land
to sett ther hands & forthwt h seale thes blancks
& then the bound must afterwards be paid [OMITTED]
that shall confirme a due debt to the kinge
as much or little as they please to poynt itt/

lanc:
oh strange vnheard of vild taxatione

Wood
who ist can help my memorye a little
has not this ere bene held a principell
thers nothing spoke or duñe that has not bene

york:
it was a maxime ere I had a beard

Wood:
tis now found falce. an open heresye
this is a thing was neuer spooke nor done
blancke charters call ye them, if any age
keepe but a record of this pollysye
I phraise it too too well) flatt villaney
lett me be cronicld Appostata
rebellious to my god & country boeth

lanc:
how doe the people entertayne thes blancks

Chey:
wt h much dislike, yett some for feare haue signd them
others ther be refuse & murmor strangly

Wood:
[a fore my god.] I cannot blame them for it
he might as well haue sent deffiance to them
oh vultar england wilt thou eate thine owne
can they be rebells calld, that now turne head
I speake but what I feare: not what I wish
this fowle oppression will wt hdrawe all dutye
& in the com̄ons hartes, hott Ranckors breed
to make or countryes bossome, shortly bleed

lanc:
what shall we doe to seeke for remedye

york:
lett each man hye hime to his seuerall home
before the people rise in mutenye
& in the myldest parte of lenetye
seeke to restrayne them from rebellione
for what can else be lookt for: promise redress
that eloquence is best in this distress

lanc:
yorke counsells well. letts hast away
the tyme is sicke. we must not vse delay

york:
letts still conferr by letters.

Wood:
content content
soe freends may parley euen in banishment
farwell good brothers, Cheney conduckt them forth
Exeunt all but woodstock
adue good yorke & Gaunt farwell for euer
I haue a sad presage comes sodenly
that I shall neuer see these brothers more
[on earth I feare, we neuer more shall meete]
of Edward the thurds (7) sonns we (3) are left
to see or ffathers kingdome Ruinate,
I would my death might end the misserye
George
my feare presageth to my wretched country
the com̄ons will rebell wt hout all questione
& fore my god. I haue no eloquence
Enter. a seruant
to stay this vproore. I must tell them playne
we all are strocke. but must not stricke agayne
how now what newes

ser.
+ thers a horse man at the gate my lord,
he comes from the king he saies to see yor grace

Wood:
to see me saist thou, agodsname lett hime com,
he brings no blancke charters wt h hime
prethee bid hime light & enter

ser:
I thinke he dares not for fowleing on his feete my lord,
I would haue had hime light, but he sweares as hees a courtier
he will not off an's horse backe till the Inner gate be open,

Wod:
passione of me thats strange, I prethee giue hime
satisfaction, open the Inner gate, what might this fellow bee/

ser:
Some fyne foole, hees attyrd very fantastickly
[OMITTED] & talkes as foolishly —[OMITTED]

Wo:
goe lett him In: & when you haue done bid Che«n»y com & speake wt h me

ser:
I will my lord—
Enter a spruce courtier a horsebacke
com on sir ye may Rid into my lords seller now & ye will sr

Cour:
prethee fellowe stay, and take my horse

ser:
I haue busines for my lord Sr I cannot
Exit Seruant

Cour:
A rud swayne by heauene, but stay heere walkes another.
hearst ta. thou: fellowe, is this plasshy house

Wood:
ye should haue askt that questione before ye cam in Sr. but this is it

Cour:
the hynds are all most rude & groose: I prethee walke my horse

Wood:
I haue a little busines Sr.

Cour:
thou shalt not loose byt. Ile giue thee a testar for thy paines

Wood:
I shalbe glad to earne monye Sir

Cour:
prethee. doe, & knowe thy duetye. thy heads to sawsye

Wood:
cry ye marcye I did not vnderstand yor worshipps calling

Cour:
the duke of Gloster lyes heere does he not.

Wood:
mary does he Sir

Cour:
is he wt h in

Wood
hees not farr off Sr. he was heere euen now,

Cour:
ah, very good, walke my horse well I prethee, h'as traueld hard
& hees hott efaith, Ile in & speake wt h the duke & pay thee persently
Exit Courtier[OMITTED]

Wood:
I make no doubt Sr: oh strang metamorphises
ist possible that this fellow thats all made of ffashions
should be an englishman. no maruell if he knowe not me
being soe braue & I soe beggarly;
well I shall earne money to inritch me now
& tis the first I earnt bith rood this (40) yeare,
com on Sr. you haue sweat hard about this hast,
yett I thinke you knowe little of the busines: why so I say;
your a very indifferent beast, youle followe any man that will lead you;
now trulye Sr. you looke but ene leanely ant: you feed not
in westminster hall adays, wher so many sheepe & oxen are deuourd,
I'me a frayd theile eate you shortly, if you tarry amongst them;
yor prickt, more wt h the spurr, then the prouinder. I see that:
I thinke yor dwelling be at hackney when yare at home ist not;
you knowe not the duke neither, no more then yor mr.
& yett I thinke you haue as much witt as hee: faith say a man,
Enter Cheney, Courtier & seruants
should steale ye. & feed ye fatter, could ye rune away wt h hime luste[OMITTED]
ah, yor scilence argues a consent I see. bith mass,
Enter «C[OMITTED]»
heere comes company, we had bene both taken if we had I se

Chey:
saw ye not my lord at the gate say ye,
why I left hime ther but now.

Cour:
in sooth I saw no creature Sr. only an old groome
I gott to walke my horsse

Chey:

a groome say ye. sfoote tis my lord. the duke, [OMITTED]hat haue ye don [OMITTED]
this is somewhat to course yo
r grace should be an hostler to this f[OMITTED] [OMITTED] I doe beseech yo
r graces ∥don. the error was in the mistake [OMITTED] yo
r playnenes did deceaue me: please it yor grace to redeliuer[OMITTED]

Wood:
no by my faith. Ile haue my money first. promis is a[OMITTED]

Court:
I knowe yor graces[[illeg.]]goodnes, will refuse itt [OMITTED]

Wood:
thinke not so nicely of me: indeed I will not [OMITTED]

Cour:
if soe you please, ther is yor. testare[OMITTED]

Wood:
if soe you please, ther is yor horse Sr.
now pray you tell me is yor hast to me

Cour:
most swift & serious from his mat i e.

Wood:

what from king Richard. my deere lord & kinsman. goe sirra[OMITTED]
take yo
u his horse, lead hime to the stable, meate hime well [OMITTED] Ile duble his reward thers (12) pence for ye

ser:
I thanke yor grace—

Exitt seruant wt h the horse
Wood:
now Sr yor busines.

Cour:
his mat i e com̄ends hime to yor grace

Wood:
this sames arare fashione you haue gott at courte
of whose deuiseing wast I pray

Cour:
I assure yor grace ye king [Richards] his Counsell
satt (3) dayes about it

Wood:
by my faith ther wisdomes tooke great paines I assure ye[OMITTED]
the state was well imployd the wilse bith rood
then this at courte is all the fashione now,

Cour:
the king hime self doth weare it;
whose most gratious mat i e. sent me in hast

Wood:
this picke doth strangly well be com the foote

Cour:
this picke. the king doth likewise weare, being a polonian picke;
and me did his highnes picke from foorth the rest

Wood:
he could not haue pickt out such another I assure ye

Cour:
I thanke yor grace, that picks me out so well:
but as I sayd, his highnes, would request

Wood:
but this most fashionable chayne, that linkes as it were
the tooe & knee to gether

Cour:
In a most kynd Choherence, so it like yor grace:
for these (2) parts, being in opperatione & quallity different,
as for example: the tooe a disdayner, or spurñer,
the knee a duetyfull and most humble Orator.
this chayne, doth as it were, soe tooefy the knee,
+ & so kneefye the tooe that betweene boeth
it makes a most methodicall coherence or coherent methode,

Wood:
tis most excellent Sr, & full of Art; please ye walke In

Cour:
my message tenderd I will tend yor grace

Wood:
cry ye marcy haue you a message to me

Cour:
his mat i e. most affectionatly, & like a Royall kinsman
intreats yor graces ≼sence at the courte

Wood:
Is that yor message Sr. I must refuse it then
my english playnnes will not suite that place
the courts to fyne for me. my service heere
will stand in better stead, to quench the fire
those blanckes haue made, I would they were all burnt
or he were hangd that first deuisd them Sir
they stur the country so. I dare not come
& so excuse me Sr. if the king thinke it ill
he thinkes amiss. I am playne Thomas still
the rest Ile tell ye as ye sitt at meat
furnish a table Cheney. call for wyne
com Sr ye shall com̃mend me to the kinge
tell hime Ile keepe these parts in peace to hime
Exeunt omnes
[OMITTED] Enter Mr: Ignorance the Bayle of dunstable, Crossby Fleming & Nimble, [OMITTED] wt h blancks
dispatch good mr Bayle, the marketts almost done you see, tis Rumord,

Crosby:

+ that the blancks are come, & the ritch chuffes beginne to flocke out oth towne
already, yo
u haue seene the hye shreeues warrant, & the counsells comissione and ther fore I charge ye In the kings name, be ready to assist vs

Bayley:

+ nay looke ye S
r. be not too pestifferous I beseech ye, I haue begune [OMITTED] my self & seald one of yo
r blankes already, & by my example thers more [OMITTED] shall followe, I knowe my place & calling my name is Ignorance
[OMITTED] & I am bayle of dunstable, I cannot writ nor read I confess itt
[OMITTED] no more could my father, nor his father nor none of the Ignorants
[OMITTED] this (100) yeare I assure ye

[OMITTED] Nim:
yor name proclaymes noless Sr. & it has bene a most learned generation.

[OMITTED]Bayley:
though I cannot wright I haue sett my marke. ecce signum,
read it I beseech ye

Nim:
the marke of Symon Ignorance, the bayle of dunstable
being a sheephooke wt h a tarbox at end ant

Bayley:
very right. it was my marke euer sence I was an Innocent,
& therfore as I say, I haue begune & will assist ye; for heere be
rich horesones eth towne I can tell ye that will giue ye the slipp
[OMITTED] & ye looke not to it

[OMITTED]Flem̄:

we ther fore persently will deuid o
r selues you (2) shall stay heere [OMITTED] whilse we m
r Ignorance wt h some of yor bretheren the men of dunstable

walke through the towne, noteing the cariage of the people,
they say ther are strange songs & lybills cast about the markett place [OMITTED]
against my lord Trissillian & the rest of the kings young counsello
rs [OMITTED] if such ther bee: wele haue some ayd & attache them spedely

Bayl:

ye shall doe well S
r. & for yor better ayding if you can but fynd out my brother, m
r Ignoramus, he wilbe most pestifferous vnto ye I assure ye

Crosby:

I'me afrayd he will not be found S
r. but wele Inquire, com fellow flem̄ing: & nimble looke to the whispere
rs I charge ye

Exit Crosby & Fleming
Nim:

I warrant ye: com m
r bayle, lett yor billmen retire till we call them. & yo
u & I will heere shadowe or selues & writ downe ther speches

Bayl:

nay yo
u shall writ & I will marke Sr.

Enter a Farmar. a Buther & a Graysher. very hastely
Bayl:

+ & see see. heere comes some already, all ritch chubs by the mass
I knowe them all Sir

Far:

tarry, tarry, good neighbours. take a knaue w
t h ye, what a murren, Is ther a beare broake loose eth town that ye make such hast from the markett

Gras:

a beare, no nor a lyon bayted neither. I tell ye neighbou
r I am more afrayd of the bee. then the beare. therswax to be vsd to day, & I haue no seale
a bout me, I may tell yo
u in secrett, heeres a dangerous world towards, neighbour, yo
r a farmar, & I hope heeres non but god & good companey, we liue in such a state, I am en almost weary of all I assure ye,
heeres my other neighbour the butcher, that dwells at hockley,
has heard his landlord tell strange tydings, we shalbe all hoysted
& we tarry heere I can tell ye.

Nim:
they beginne to murmor. Ile putt them downe all for whisperers,
mr Bayle whats he that talkes soe

Bayl:
his name is cowetayle a ritch grasier, & dwells heere hard by
at Layton bussard

Nim:
cow tayle a gratier, dwelling at layton:—bussard mr Bayle

Bayl:
right Sr. listen agen Sir

Far:
ah sirra, & what sayd the good knight yor landlord neighbour.

Butch:

mary he sayd, but Ile not stand to anything, I tell ye that a fore hand
he sed that king Richards new counsello
rs. (god amend them), had crept in to honester mens places then them selues were; & that the kings
vncles & the old lords, were all banisht the courte, & he sed flatly

we should neuer haue a merry world as long as it was soe

Nim:

butcher yo
u & yor landlord will be both hangd forte

Butch:

& then he sed, that thers one Trissillian a lawyer. that has crept[OMITTED]
in amongst them & is now a lord forsooth, & he has sent downe [OMITTED]
into euery country of england a sorte of blacke Chapters

Far:

blacke chapters a godsname neighbou
r, out of what blacke booke were they tak«en[OMITTED]»

Gras:

com com. they are blanke charters neighbou
rs. I heard of them a fore, & therfore I mayd such hast away, th'are sent downe to the
hye shreeue w
t h speciall charge that euery man that is of any «c[OMITTED]» or worshipp ith country, must sett ther hands & seale to them
for what intent I knowe not, I say no more. I smell so«me»th«in»g

Far:

[well well my masters. letts be wise, we are not all one mans «s[OMITTED]»]
they say ther are whispering knaues abroad, letts hye vs home
[for I assure ye,] twas tould me wher I brooke my fast this after[OMITTED]
that ther were a boue (3) score gentlemen in o
r sheere that hadd sett ther hands & seales to those blancke Charters already

Grays:
now god amend them for it, they haue giuen an ill example
we shalbe forst to followe

Butch:
I would my wife & children, were at Ierusalem wt h all the wealth
Ide make shift for one I warrant them, com neighbors letts begone

Nim:
stepp forward wt h yor bills mr bayle, not to fast Sirs,
I charge ye ith kings name to stand till we haue done wt h ye

omnes:
Sainte benydissete, what must we doe now tro

Bayl:
be not so pestifferous my good ffreends & neighbours:
you are men of wealth & Creditt in the country
& therfore as I my self & others haue begune, I charge ye in his
highnes name persently to sett yor hands & seales to thes blanke charters

Gray:
Iesu receaue my soule, Ime departed.

Far:
I'me ene stroke to at harte too

Butch:
alas Sr. we are poore men what should or hands doe

Bayl:
ther is no harme I warrant ye, what need you feare, when ye see
bayle Ignorance has seald before ye

Gray:
I pray ye letts see them Sir

Nim:
heere ye bacoñ fead puuding eaters, are ye affrayd of a sheepeskinne

Gray:
mass tis somewhat darkly written

Far:
I I 'twas don eth night sure

Gray:
mass neighbours. heeres nothing that I see.

Butch:
& can it be any harme thinke ye, to sott yor hands to nothinge
thes blanke charters are but little peeces of parchment,
letts sett or markes to them, & be rid of a knaues companey

Far:
as good at first as last, we can be but vndone

Gray·
I & or owne hands vndoes vs thats the worst ant: lends yor pen Sr.

Butch:
we must all venture neighbours thers no remedy

Nim:
they grumble as they doe it I must putt them downe
for whisperers & grumblers: com haue you don yett,

Gray:
I sir, would you & they were sodden for my swyne

Nim:

heeres wax then. Ile seale them for ye, & yo
u shall seuerally take them off

[3: B]

& then deliuer them as yo
r deeds;—

seale them

com yo
u borese greace, take of this seale heere; so: this is yor deed

Far:
faith sir in some respect it is & it is not

Nim:
& this is yor s

Gray:
I Sir. against my will I sweare

Nim:
oxiawe take off this seale, youle deliuer yor deed wt h a good conscience

Butch:
ther tis Sr, against my conscience gods my wittnes,
I hope ye haue done wt h vs now Sr.

Nim:

no ye catterpillers, we haue worse matters against ye yett,
sirra yo
u knowe what yor landlord tould ye, conserneing my lord Tressillian, & king Richards new fauoritts, & more then that, yo
u know yor owne speches, & therfore m
r Bayle, lett some of yor billmen away wt h them to the hye shreeues persently, either to put in bayle or be sent vp toth courte
for priuey whisperers.

Bayl:

ther offences are most pestifferous. away w
t h them

omnes:

now out alas we shall all to hanging Sure

Exeunt officers wt h them (3) men
Nim:

hanging, nay thats the least ant, ye shall tell me
that a tweluemonth hence. else; stand close m
r Bayle; we shall catch more of these trayto
rs persently

Bayl:

yo
u shall fynd me most pestifferous to assist ye; & so I pray ye com̄end my service to yo
r good lord & mr, com sir stand close; I see h[OMITTED]

Enter a schoole master & a serueing man
[ser:]

+ nay sweete m
r schoole mr. letts heart agen I beseech ye.

School:

patientia. yo
r a serueing man, I'me a scholler, I haue showne Art & learneing in these verses I assure ye, & yett if they were well sercht
tha're little better then lybills, but the cariage of a thing is all sir,
I haue couerd them rarely

ser:
sfoote the countryes so full of Intelligencers that (2) men
can scarce walke to gether but th'ar attacht for whisperers

schoolmr

this paper shall wipe ther nosses, & they shall not boe to a goose fort;
for Ile haue these verses sunge to ther faces, by one of my
schooleboyes, wherin Ile tickell them all ifaith, shalt heere else, but first
letts looke ther be no pitchers w
t h eares, nor nedles wt h eyes a bout vs

ser:

com com alls safe I warrant ye

schoolmr:

marke then. heere I com over them for ther blanke charters
shat heere else;

[ist not rare]

Nim:

oh rascalls, thare dambd (300) fadome deepe already

school. mr:

nay looke ye S
r. ther can be no exceptions taken, for this last lyne helps all, wher in w
t h a kynd of equiuocatione I say, god bless my lord Tressillian doe ye marke Sir: now heere in the next verse I rune ore all the
fflatterers eth courte by name. ye shall see else.

how like ye this Sir

ser:
most excellent I faith Sir

Nim:
oh traytors, mr Bayle. doe yor Authoritye

Bayl:
too most pestifferous traytors. lay hould of them I charge ye

ser:
what meane ye Sir

Nim:
nay talke not for if ye had a (100) liues they were all hangd.
ye haue spooken treasone in the ninth degree.

schoolmr:
treason. patientia good Sr. we spoke not a word

Bayle:

be not so pestifferous, myne eares haue heard yo
r examinations wher in yo
u vtterd, most shamefull treason, for ye sayd god bless my lord Tressillia«n»

school: mr:

I hope thers no treasone in that Sir

Nim:

that shalbe tryd, com m
r Bayle. ther hands shalbe bound vnder a horsses belly, & sent vp to hime persently, theile both be hangd
I warrant them.

ser:

well sir if we be: wele speake more ere we be hangd in spite of y[OMITTED]

Nim:

I I when yare hangd speake what yo
u will we care not + away w
t h them. ye se mr bayle what knaues are abroad Exeunt [OMITTED] The schoole[OMITTED] & serui[OMITTED]
now yo
u are heere. tis tyme to looke about, ye see.

Bay:

I see ther are knaues abroad indeed sir: I peake for myne owne ≼[OMITTED]
I will doe my best to reforme the pistifferousnes of the tyme[OMITTED]
Enter one Awhisling
+ & as for example I haue sett my marke to the charters, [OMITTED]
so will I sett myne eyes to obserue these dangerous casses. [OMITTED]

Nim:

close agen, m
r bayle, here comes another whisperer I se by som[OMITTED] oh villayne he whissells treason Ile lay hould of hime my self

whis:

out alas what doe ye meane Sir

Nim:

a rancke trayto
r mr Bayle. lay hould on hime, for he has most eroniously & rebelliously whisled treasone

whis:

whisselld treasone, alas S
r how can that be

Bayl:

very easly S
r. thers a peece of treason that flyes vp & downe the country in the liknes of a ballad, & this being the very tune of itt tho
u hast whis[OMITTED] trea[OMITTED]

whis:

alas Sir ye knowe I spake not a word.

Nim:

thats all one if any man whissells treason tis as Ill as speakeing «it[OMITTED]»
marke me m
r bayle. the bird whissels that cannot speake, & «yett» ther be birds in a manner that can speake too: your Rauen will call ye[OMITTED]
yo
r crow will call ye knaue mr Bayle ergoe he that can whisse[OMITTED] can speake, & therfore this fellowe hath both spooke & whissled treaso[OMITTED]
how say yo
u bayley Ignorance

Bayl:

ye haue argued well S
r but ye shall heere me sift hime neere«r» for I doe not thinke, but ther are greater heads in this ma«tt»

& therfore my good fellowe, be not pestifferous, but say & tell the truth,
who did sett yo
u a worke. or who was the cause of yor whisslinge, or did any man say to yo
u, goe whissell

whis:

not any man, woman or child truely S
r.

Bayl:

no, how durst yo
u whissell then: or what cause had ye to doe soe

whis:

+ the truth is Sir. I had lost (2) calues out of my paster,
& being in serch for them, from the topp of the hill I might spye
yo
u (2) eth bottome heere, & tooke ye for my caues sir; & that made me com whisling downe for Ioy in hop I had found them

Nim:
more treasone yett, he take a courtier & a bayle for (2) calues
to limbo wt h hime, he shalbe quarterd & then hangd

whis:
good mr Bayle be pittifull

Bay:
why law ye Sr. he makes a pittifull fellow of a Bayle too
Enter Crossby & Flem̄ing
away wt h hime, yett stay awhile, here comes yor fellows Sr.
now mr Bayle. are yor blankes seald yett

Bay:

they are Sir. & we haue done this day most strange & pestifferous
servise I assure ye Sir

Flem:

yo
r care shalbe rewarded. com fellow nimble, we must to courte about other Imployments, ther are already (13000) blancks signd
& returnd to the shreeues & (700) sent vp t[h]'oth courte for whisperers,
out of all w
c h my lord will fetch a Round some I doubt it not com letts away

Nim:

I. I. wele followe, com ye sheepbiter, heeres a trayto
r of all traytors that not only speakes, but has whisled treason, com com Sir,
Ile spoyle yo
r whissell I warrant ye

Exeunt omnes