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Prepare against we come。Lights there； I say！
Thus fools oft times do help to mar the play。
＇Exeunt all but players。＇
WIT。
Fie； fellow Luggins； you serve us handsomely； do ye not； think ye？
LUGGINS。
Why； Oagle was not within； and his wife would not let me have the
beard； and； by my troth； I ran so fast that I sweat again。
INCLINATION。
Do ye hear； fellows？ would not my lord make a rare player？ oh； he
would uphold a company beyond all hope； better than Mason
among the king's players！ Did ye mark how extemprically he fell
to the matter； and spake Lugginses part almost as it is in the very
book set down？
WIT。
Peace； do ye know what ye say？ my lord a player！ let us not
meddle with any such matters： yet I may be a little proud that my
lord hath answered me in my part。 But come； let us go； and be
ready to begin the play again。
LUGGINS。
I； that's the best； for now we lack nothing。
＇Enter a Servingman。＇
MAN。
Where be these players？
ALL。
Here； sir。
MAN。
My lord is sent for to the court；
And all the guests do after supper part；
And； for he will not trouble you again；
By me for your reward a sends 8 angels；
With many thanks。 But sup before you go：
It is his will you should be fairly entreated：
Follow； I pray ye。
WIT。
This； Luggins； is your negligence；
Wanting Wit's beard brought things into dislike；
For otherwise the play had been all seen；
Where now some curious citizen disgraced it；
And discommending it； all is dismissed。
VICE。
Fore God； a says true。 But hear ye； sirs： 8 angels； ha！ my lord
would never give 8 angels more or less for 12d； other it should be
3l； 5l； or ten li。； there's 20s wanting； sure。
WIT。
Twenty to one； tis so。 I have a trick： my lord comes； stand aside。
＇Enter More； with Attendants with Purse and Mace。＇
MORE。
In haste to counsel！ what's the business now；
That all so late his highness sends for me？
What seekst thou； fellow？
WIT。
Nay； nothing： your lordship sent 8 angels by your man； and I have
lost two of them in the rishes。
MORE。
Wit； look to that：8 angels！ I did send them ten。Who gave it
them？
MAN。
I； my lord； I had no more about me；
But by and by they shall rescue the rest。
MORE。
Well； Wit； twas wisely done； thou playest Wit well indeed；
Not to be thus deceived of thy right。
Am I a man； by office truly ordained
Equally to decide true right his own；
And shall I have deceivers in my house？
Then what avails my bounty； when such servants
Deceive the poor of what the Master gives？
Go on； and pull his coat over his ears：
There are too many such。Give them their right。
Wit； let thy fellows thank thee： twas well done；
Thou now deservest to match with Lady Wisdom。
＇Exit More with Attendants。＇
VICE。
God a mercy； Wit！Sir； you had a master Sir Thomas More more；
but now we shall have more。
LUGGINS。
God bless him！ I would there were more of his mind！ a loves our
quality； and yet he's a learned man； and knows what the world is。
CLOWN。
Well； a kind man； and more loving than many other： but I think
we ha' met with the first。。。。
LUGGINS。
First served his man that had our angels； and he may chance dine
with Duke Humphrey tomorrow； being turned away today。 Come；
let's go。
CLOWN。
And many such rewards would make us all ride； and horse us with
the best nags in Smithfield。
＇Exeunt。＇
SCENE II。 Whitehall。 The Council chamber。
＇Enter the Earls of Shrewsbury； Surrey； Bishop of Rochester； and
other Lords； severally； doing courtesy to each other； Clerk of the
Council waiting bareheaded。＇
SURREY。
Good morrow to my Lord of Shrewsbury。
SHREWSBURY。
The like unto the honoured Earl of Surrey。
Yond comes my Lord of Rochester。
ROCHESTER。
Good morrow； my good lords。
SURREY。
Clerk of the Council； what time is't of day？
CLERK。
Past eight of clock； my lord。
SHREWSBURY。
I wonder that my good Lord Chancellor
Doth stay so long； considering there's matters
Of high importance to be scanned upon。
SURREY。
Clerk of the Council； certify his lordship
The lords expect him here。
ROCHESTER。
It shall not need；
Yond comes his lordship。
＇Enter Sir Thomas More； with Purse and Mace borne before him。＇
MORE。
Good morrow to this fair assembly。
Come； my good lords； let's sit。 Oh serious square！
＇They sit。＇
Upon this little board is daily scanned
The health and preservation of the land；
We the physicians that effect this good；
Now by choice diet； anon by letting blood；
Our toil and careful watching brings the king
In league with slumbers； to which peace doth sing。
Avoid the room there！
What business； lords； today？
SHREWSBURY。
This； my good lord；
About the entertainment of the emperor
Gainst the perfidious French into our pay。
SURREY。
My lords； as tis the custom in this place
The youngest should speak first； so； if I chance
In this case to speak youngly； pardon me。
I will agree； France now hath her full strength；
As having new recovered the pale blood
Which war sluiced forth； and I consent to this；
That the conjunction of our English forces
With arms of Germany may soon bring
This prize of conquest in。 But； then； my lords；
As in the moral hunting twixt the lion
And other beasts； force joined with greed
Frighted the weaker sharers from their parts；
So； if the empire's sovereign chance to put
His plea of partnership into war's court；
Swords should decide the difference； and our blood
In private tears lament his entertainment。
SHREWSBURY。
To doubt the worst is still the wise man's shield；
That arms him safely： but the world knows this；
The emperor is a man of royal faith；
His love unto our sovereign brings him down
From his imperial seat； to march in pay
Under our English flag； and wear the cross；
Like some high order； on his manly breast；
Thus serving； he's not master of himself；
But； like a colonel commanding other；
Is by the general over…awed himself。
ROCHESTER。
Yet； my good lord
SHREWSBURY。
Let me conclude my speech。
As subjects share no portion in the conquest
Of their true sovereign； other than the merit
That from the sovereign guerdons the true subject；
So the good emperor； in a friendly league
Of amity with England； will not soil
His honor with the theft of English spoil。
MORE。
There is no question but this entertainment
Will be most honorable； most commodious。
I have oft heard good captains wish to have
Rich soldiers to attend them； such as would fight
Both for their lives and livings； such a one
Is the good emperor： I would to God；
We had ten thousand of such able men！
Hah； then there would appear no court； no city；
But； where the wars were； they would pay themselves。
Then； to prevent in French wars England's loss；
Let German flags wave with our English cross。
＇Enter Sir Thomas Palmer。＇
PALMER。
My lords； his majesty hath sent by me
These articles enclosed； first to be viewed；
And then to be subscribed to： I tender them
In that due reverence which befits this place。
＇With great reverence。＇
MORE。
Subscribe these articles！ stay； let us pause；
Our conscience first shall parley with our laws。
My Lord of Rochester； view you the paper。
ROCHESTER。
Subscribe to these！ now；