Con. Stay judgment, and release those innocents;
For here is he whose hand hath done the deed
For which they stand indicted at the bar; 40
This savage villain, this rude Irish slave:
His tongue already hath confess'd the fact,
And here is witness to confirm as much.

Sir John. Yes, my good lord; no sooner had he slain
His loving master for the wealth he had, 95-
But I upon the instant met with him:

And what he purchased with the loss of blood,
With strokes I presently bereaved him of:
Some of the which is spent; the rest remaining
I willingly surrender to the hands 100
Of old Sir Richard Lee, as being his :
Beside, my lord judge, I do greet your honour
With letters from my lord of Rochester.

[Delivers a letter.

Sir Rich. Is this the wolf whose thirsty throat did drink

My dear son's blood? art thou the cursed snake 15

He cherish'd, yet with envious piercing sting

Assail'dst him mortally? Wer't not that the law
Stands ready to revenge thy cruelty,

Traitor to God, thy master, and to me,

These hands should be thy executioner. 110

Judge. Patience, Sir Richard Lee, you shall have justice.

The fact is odious; therefore take him hence,

And being hang'd until the wretch be dead,

His body after shall be hang'd in chains,

Near to the place where he did act the murder. S

Irishm. Prethee lord shudge, let me have mine own clothes, my strouces✶ there; and let me be hang'd in a wyth† after my country, the Irish fashion.

Judge. Go to; away with him. And now, Sir John,

[Exeunt GAOLER and IRISHMAN.

Although by you this murder came to light, 120

Yet upright law will not hold you excused,
For you did rob the Irishman; by which
You stand attainted here of felony :

Beside, you have been lewd, and many years

Led a lascivious, unbeseeming life.

125

Sir John. O but, my lord, Sir John repents, and he will mend. Judge. In hope thereof, together with the favour

My lord of Rochester entreats for you,

We are contented that you shall be proved.

Sir John. I thank your lordship. 130

Judge. These other, falsely here

Accused, and brought in peril wrongfully,
We in like sort do set at liberty,

Sir Rich. And for amends,

Touching the wrong unwittingly I have done, 135

I give these few crowns.

* Trowsers.

+ A band made of twigs.

I. e. remain in a state of probation.

164

FIRST PART OF SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE.

[ACT V.

Judge. Your kindness merits praise, Sir Richard Lee:
So let us hence.
[Exeunt all except Powis and COBHAM.
Pow. But Powis still must stay.

140 There yet remains a part of that true love
He owes his noble friend, unsatisfied

And unperform'd; which first of all doth bind me
To gratulate your lordship's safe delivery;

And then entreat, that since unlook'd-for thus
143 We here are met, your honour would vouchsafe
To ride with me to Wales, where, to my power,
Though not to quittance those great benefits
I have received of you, yet both my house,
My purse, my servants, and what else I have,
15-0 Are all at your command. Deny me not:
I know the bishop's hate pursues you so,
As there's no safety in abiding here.

-

Cob. 'Tis true, my lord, and God forgive him for it.
Pow. Then let us hence. You shall be straight provided

155 Of lusty geldings: and once enter'd Wales,

Well may the bishop hunt; but, spite his face,

He never more shall have the game in chase.

[Exeunt.

THE

LIFE AND DEATH

OF

THOMAS LORD CROMWELL.

LORD CROMWELL.

"A BOOKE called The Lyfe and Death of the Lord Cromwell, as yt was lately acted by the Lord Chamberleyn his Servantes," was entered on the Stationers' books by William Cotton, August 11, 1602; and the play was printed in that year. I have met with no earlier edition than that published in 1613, in the title of which it is said to be written by W. S. I believe these letters were not the initials of the real author's name, but added merely with a view to deceive the public, and to induce them to suppose this piece the composition of Shakspeare. The fraud was, I imagine, suggested by the appearance of our author's King Henry VIII., to which the printer probably entertained a hope that this play would be considered as a sequel or second part. Dr. Farmer attributes the authorship to Heywood.

SCENE, partly in London, and the adjoining district; partly in Antwerp and Bononia.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Putney. The entrance of a Smith's Shop.

Enter HODGE, WILL, and TOM.

Hodge. Come, masters, I think it be past five o'clock; is it not time we were at work? my old master he'll be stirring anon.

Will. I cannot tell whether my old master will be stirring or no; but I am sure I can hardly take my afternoon's nap, for my young Master Thomas. He keeps such a coil in his study, with