Chapter 23

[Enter bishop of Rochester, constable of St. Albans, with sir John of Wrotham, Doll his wench, and the Irishman in Harpoole’s apparel.]

BISHOP. What intricate confusion have we here? Not two hours since we apprehended one, In habit Irish, but in speech not so: And now you bring another, that in speech Is altogether Irish, but in habit Seems to be English: yea and more than so, The servant of that heretic Lord Cobham.

IRISHMAN. Fait, me be no servant of the lord Cobham, Me be Mack Chane of Vister.

BISHOP. Otherwise called Harpoole of Kent; go to, sir, You cannot blind us with your broken Irish.

SIR JOHN. Trust me, my Lord Bishop, whether Irish, Or English, Harpoole or not Harpoole, that I leave to be decided by the trial: But sure I am this man by face and speech Is he that murdered young sir Richard Lee— I met him presently upon the fact— And that he slew his master for that gold; Those jewels, and that chain I took from him.

BISHOP. Well, our affairs do call us back to London, So that we cannot prosecute the cause, As we desire to do; therefore we leave The charge with you, to see they be conveyed To Hartford Sise: both this counterfeit And you, sir John of Wrotham, and your wench, For you are culpable as well as they, Though not for murder, yet for felony. But since you are the means to bring to light This graceless murder, you shall bear with you Our letters to the Judges of the bench, To be your friends in what they lawful may.

BISHOP. So, away with them.

[Exeunt.]