When the vulgar sort
Sit on their Ale-bench, with their cups and cans,
Matters of state be not their common talk,
Nor pure religion by their lips profaned.
Let us return unto the Bench again,
And there examine further of this fray.
[Enter a Bailiff and a Servant.]
SHERIFF.
Sirs, have ye taken the lord Powesse yet?
BAILIFF.
No, nor heard of him.
SERVANT.
No, he's gone far enough.
SECOND JUDGE.
They that are left behind shall answer all.
[Exeunt.]
ACT I. SCENE II. Eltham. An antechamber in the
palace.
[Enter Suffolk, Bishop of Rochester, Butler, parson of
Wrotham.]
SUFFOLK.
Now, my lord Bishop, take free liberty
To speak your mind: what is your suit to us?
BISHOP.
My noble Lord, no more than what you know,
And have been oftentimes invested with:
Grievous complaints have past between the lips
Of envious persons to upbraid the Clergy,
Some carping at the livings which we have,
And others spurning at the ceremonies
That are of ancient custom in the church.
Amongst the which, Lord Cobham is a chief:
What inconvenience may proceed hereof,
Both to the King and to the commonwealth,
May easily be discerned, when like a frenzy
This innovation shall possess their minds.
These upstarts will have followers, to uphold
Their damned opinion, more than Harry shall
To undergo his quarrel gainst the French.
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