A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 25

Take it, I pray thee, though it be more worth.

_Rush in_ SIR DONCASTER _with his crew_.

DON. Smite down! lay hold on outlaw'd Huntington!

LIT. JOHN. Soft, hot-spurr'd priest, 'tis not so quickly done.

DON. Now, out alas! the friar and the maid Have to false thieves Sir Doncaster betray'd.

[_Exeunt omnes_.[211]

ACT IV., SCENE 1.

_Enter_ JOHN _crowned_, QUEEN ELINOR, CHESTER, SALISBURY, LORD PRIOR. _Sit down all_. WARMAN _stands_.

JOHN. As G.o.d's vicegerent, John ascends this throne, His head impal'd with England's diadem,[212]

And in his hand the awful rod of rule, Giving the humble place of excellence, And to the low earth casting down the proud.

QUEEN. Such upright rule is in each realm allow'd.

JOHN. Chester, you once were Ely's open friend, And yet are doubtful whether he deserve A public trial for his private wrongs.

CHES. I still am doubtful whether it be fit To punish private faults with public shame In such a person as Lord Ely is.

PRIOR. Yes, honourable Chester, more it fits To make apparent sins of mighty men, And on their persons sharply to correct A little fault, a very small defect, Than on the poor to practise chastis.e.m.e.nt: For if a poor man die, or suffer shame, Only the poor and vile respect the same; But if the mighty fall, fear then besets The proud heart of the mighty ones, his mates: They think the world is garnished with nets, And traps ordained to entrap their states; Which fear in them begets a fear of ill, And makes them good, contrary to their will.

JOHN. Your lordship hath said right. Lord Salisbury, Is not your mind as ours concerning Ely?

SAL. I judge him worthy of reproof and shame.

JOHN. Warman, bring forth your prisoner, Ely, the chancellor; And with him bring the seal that he detains.

Warman, why goest thou not?

WAR. Be good to me, my lord.

JOHN. What hast thou done?

WAR. Speak for me, my Lord Prior: All my good lords entreat his grace for me.

Ely, my lord--

JOHN. Why, where is Ely, Warman?

WAR. Fled to-day: this misty morning he is fled away.

JOHN. O Judas! whom nor friend nor foe may trust, Think'st thou with tears and plaints to answer this?

Do I not know thy heart? do I not know That bribes have purchas'd Ely this escape?

Never make antic faces, never bend With feigned humblesse thy still crouching knee, But with fix'd eyes unto thy doom attend.

Villain! I'll plague thee for abusing me.

Go hence; and henceforth never set thy foot In house or field thou didst this day possess.

Mark what I say: advise thee to look to't, Or else, be sure, thou diest remediless.

Nor from those houses see that thou receive So much as shall sustain thee for an hour, But as thou art, go where thou canst; get friends, And he that feeds thee be mine enemy.

WAR. O my good lord!

JOHN. Thou thy good lord betrayedst, And all the world for money thou wilt sell.

WAR. What says the queen?

QUEEN. Why, thus I say: Betray thy master, thou wilt all betray.

WAR. My Lords of Chester and of Salisbury!

BOTH. Speak not to us: all traitors we defy.

WAR. Good my Lord Prior!

PRIOR. Alas! what can I do?

WAR. Then I defy the world! yet I desire Your grace would read this supplication.

[JOHN _reads_.

JOHN. I thought as much: but, Warman, dost thou think There is one moving line to mercy here?

I tell thee, no; therefore away, away!

A shameful death follows thy longer stay.

WAR. O poor, poor man!

Of miserable miserablest wretch I am. [_Exit_.

JOHN. Confusion be thy guide! a baser slave Earth cannot bear: plagues follow him, I crave.

Can any tell me if my Lord of York Be able to sit up?

QUEEN. The Archbishop's grace Was reasonable well even now, good son.

SAL. And he desir'd me that I should desire Your majesty to send unto his grace, If any matter did import his presence.

JOHN. We will ourselves step in and visit him.

Mother and my good lords, will you attend us?

PRIOR. I gladly will attend your majesty.

JOHN. Now, good lord, help us! When I said good lords, I meant not you, Lord Prior: lord I know you are, But good, G.o.d knows, you never mean to be.

[_Exeunt_ JOHN, QUEEN, CHESTER, SALISBURY.