Part 2 (1/2)

O, kind and gentle master, the Queen's Officers Are here in force to take you to the Tower.

CRANMER. Ay, gentle friend, admit them. I will go.

I thank my G.o.d it is too late to fly.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE III.--ST. PAUL'S CROSS.

FATHER BOURNE _in the pulpit_. A CROWD. MARCHIONESS OF EXETER, COURTENAY. _The_ SIEUR DE NOAILLES _and his man_ ROGER _in front of the stage. Hubbub_.

NOAILLES. Hast thou let fall those papers in the palace?

ROGER. Ay, sir.

NOAILLES. 'There will be no peace for Mary till Elizabeth lose her head.'

ROGER. Ay, sir.

NOAILLES. And the other, 'Long live Elizabeth the Queen!'

ROGER. Ay, sir; she needs must tread upon them.

NOAILLES. Well.

These beastly swine make such a grunting here, I cannot catch what Father Bourne is saying.

ROGER. Quiet a moment, my masters; hear what the shaveling has to say for himself.

CROWD. Hush--hear!

BOURNE.--and so this unhappy land, long divided in itself, and sever'd from the faith, will return into the one true fold, seeing that our gracious Virgin Queen hath----

CROWD. No pope! no pope!

ROGER (_to those about him, mimicking_ BOURNE).--hath sent for the holy legate of the holy father the Pope, Cardinal Pole, to give us all that holy absolution which----

FIRST CITIZEN. Old Bourne to the life!

SECOND CITIZEN. Holy absolution! holy Inquisition!

THIRD CITIZEN. Down with the Papist!

[_Hubbub_.

BOURNE.--and now that your good bishop, Bonner, who hath lain so long under bonds for the faith-- [_Hubbub_.

NOAILLES. Friend Roger, steal thou in among the crowd, And get the swine to shout Elizabeth.

Yon gray old Gospeller, sour as midwinter, Begin with him.

ROGER (_goes_). By the ma.s.s, old friend, we'll have no pope here while the Lady Elizabeth lives.

GOSPELLER. Art thou of the true faith, fellow, that swearest by the ma.s.s?