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My fortune was to marry； being too
By my grandfather of Kind Edward's line：
So of his sirname； I am called； you know；
Richard Plantagenet。 My father was
Edward； the Duke of York； and son and heir
To Edmund Langley； Edward the third's fifth son。
SCROOP。
So that it seems your claim comes by your wife；
As lawful heir to Roger Mortimer；
The son of Edmund； which did marry Phillip；
Daughter and heir to Lionel； Duke of Clarence。
CAMBRIDGE。
True； for this Harry and his father both；
Harry the first； as plainly doth appear；
Are false intruders and usurp the Crown。
For when young Richard was at Pomfret slain；
In him the title of prince Edward died；
That was the eldest of king Edward's sons：
William； of Hatfield； and their second brother；
Death in his nonage had before bereft：
So that my wife； derived from Lionel；
Third son unto king Edward； ought proceed；
And take possession of the Diadem
Before this Harry； or his father king；
Who fetched their title but from Lancaster；
Forth of that royal line。 And being thus；
What reason ist but she should have her right？
SCROOP。
I am resolved our enterprise is just。
GRAY。
Harry shall die； or else resign his crown。
CHARTRES。
Perform but that； and Charles； the king of France；
Shall aid you； lords； not only with his men；
But send you money to maintain your wars。
Five hundred thousand crowns he bade me profer；
If you can stop but Harry's voyage for France。
SCROOP。
We never had a fitter time than now；
The realm in such division as it is。
CAMBRIDGE。
Besides； you must persuade ye； there is due
Vengeance for Richard's murder； which； although
It be deferred； yet will it fall at last；
And now as likely as another time。
Sin hath had many years to ripen in；
And now the harvest cannot be far off；
Wherein the weeds of usurpation
Are to be cropped； and cast into the fire。
SCROOP。
No more； earl Cambridge； here I plight my faith；
To set up thee and thy renowned wife。
GRAY。
Gray will perform the same； as he is knight。
CHARTRES。
And to assist ye； as I said before；
Charters doth gage the honor of his king。
SCROOP。
We lack but now Lord Cobham's fellowship；
And then our plot were absolute indeed。
CAMBRIDGE。
Doubt not of him； my lord； his life's pursued
By the incensed Clergy； and of late；
Brought in displeasure with the king； assures
He may be quickly won unto our faction。
Who hath the articles were drawn at large
Of our whole purpose？
GRAY。
That have I； my Lord。
CAMBRIDGE。
We should not now be far off from his house；
Our serious conference hath beguiled the way。
See where his castle stands。 Give me the writing。
When we are come unto the speech of him；
Because we will not stand to make recount；
Of that which hath been said； here he shall read
＇Enter Cobham。＇
Our minds at large； and what we crave of him。
SCROOP。
A ready way。 Here comes the man himself；
Booted and spurred； it seems he hath been riding。
CAMBRIDGE。
Well met； lord Cobham。
COBHAM。
My lord of Cambridge？
Your honor is most welcome into Kent；
And all the rest of this fair company。
I am new come from London； gentle Lords；
But will ye not take Cowling for your host；
And see what entertainment it affords？
CAMBRIDGE。
We were intended to have been your guests：
But now this lucky meeting shall suffice
To end our business； and defer that kindness。
COBHAM。
Business； my lord？ what business should you have
But to be merry？ We have no delicates；
But this I'll promise you： a piece of venison；
A cup of wine； and so forthhunters' fare；
And if you please； we'll strike the stag our selves
Shall fill our dishes with his well…fed flesh。
SCROOP。
That is； indeed； the thing we all desire。
COBHAM。
My lords and you shall have your choice with me。
CAMBRIDGE。
Nay； but the stag which we desire to strike
Lives not in Cowling； if you will consent；
And go with us； we'll bring you to a forest；
Where runs a lusty herd； amongst the which
There is a stag superior to the rest；
A stately beast that； when his fellows run；
He leads the race； and beats the sullen earth；
As though he scorned it； with his trampling hooves。
Aloft he bears his head； and with his breast；
Like a huge bulwark； counter…checks the wind：
And when he standeth still； he stretcheth forth
His proud ambitious neck； as if he meant
To wound the firmament with forked horns。
COBHAM。
Tis pity such a goodly beast should die。
CAMBRIDGE。
Not so； sir John； for he is tyrannous；
And gores the other deer； and will not keep
Within the limits are appointed him。
Of late he's broke into a several；
Which doth belong to me； and there he spoils
Both corn and pasture。 Two of his wild race；
Alike for stealth and covetous encroaching；
Already are removed； if he were dead；
I should not only be secure from hurt；
But with his body make a royal feast。
SCROOP。
How say you； then； will you first hunt with us？
COBHAM。
Faith； Lords； I like the pastime； where's the place》
CAMBRIDGE。
Peruse this writing； it will shew you all；
And what occasion we have for the sport。
＇He reads。＇
COBHAM。
Call ye this hunting； my lords？ Is this the stag
You fain would chaseHarry our dread king？
So we may make a banquet for the devil；
And in the stead of wholesome meat； prepare
A dish of poison to confound our selves。
CAMBRIDGE。
Why so； lord Cobham？ See you not our claim？
And how imperiously he holds the crown？
SCROOP。
Besides； you know your self is in disgrace；
Held as a recreant； and pursued to death。
This will defend you from your enemies；
And stablish your religion through the land。
COBHAM。
Notorious treason！ yet I will conceal ＇Aside。＇
My secret thoughts； to sound the depth of it。
My lord of Cambridge； I do see your claim；
And what good may redound unto the land
By prosecuting of this enterprise。
But where are the men？ where's power and furniture
To order such an action？ We are weak；
Harry； you know's a mighty potentate。
CAMBRIDGE。
Tut； we are strong enough： you are beloved；
And many will be glad to follow you；
We are the like； and some will follow us。
Besides； there is hope from France： here's an ambassador
That promiseth both men and money too。
The commons likewise （as we hear） pretend
A sudden tumult； we will join with them。
COBHAM。
Some likelihood； I must confess； to speed；
But how shall I believe this is plain truth？
You are； my lords； such men as live in Court；
And highly have been favoured of the king；
Especially lord Scroop； whom oftentimes
He maketh choice of for his bedfellow；
And you； lord Gray； are of his privy counsel：
Is not this a train to entrap my life？
CAMBRIDGE。
Then perish may my soul！ What； think you so？
SCROOP。
We'll swear to you。
GRAY。
Or take the sacrament。
COBHAM。
Nay； you are noble men； and I imagine；
As you are honorable by birth and blood；
So you will be in heart； in thought； in word。
I crave no other testimony but this：
That you would all subscribe； and set your hands
Unto this writing which you gave to me。
CAMBRIDGE。
With all our hearts。 Who hath any pen and ink？
SCROOP。
My pocket should have one： yea； here it is。
CAMBRIDGE。
Give it me； lord Scroop。There is my name。
SCROOP。
And there is my name。
GRAY。
And mine。
COBHAM。
Sir； let me crave；
That you would likewise write your name with theirs；
For confirmation of your master's word；
The king of France。
CHARTRES。
That will I； noble Lord。
COBHAM。
So now this action is well knit together；
And I am for you。 Where's our meeting； lords？
CAMBRIDGE。
Here； if you please； the tenth of July next。
COBHAM。
In Kent？ agreed： now let us in to supper。
I hope your honors will not away to night。
CAMBRIDGE。
Yes； presently； for I have far to ride；
About soliciting of other friends。
SCROOP。
And we would not be absent from the court；
Lest thereby grow suspicion in the king。
COBHAM。
Yet taste a cup of wine before ye go。
CAMBRIDGE。
Not now； my lord； we thank you： so farewell。
＇Exeunt all but Cobham。＇
COBHAM。
Farewell； my noble lords。My noble lords？
My noble villains； base conspirators。
How can they look his Highness in the face；
Whom they so closely study to betray？
But I'll not