English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Con_. You know that best, but every one doe know
You and your brother murthered Maister _Beech_,
And his poore boy that dwelt at _Lambert hill_.
_Rach_. I murthered? my brother knowes that I,
Did not consent to either of their deathes.
_Con_. That must be tride; where doth your brother lye?
_Rach_. Here in his bed; me thinks he's not a sleepe.
_Con_. Now, Maister _Merry_, are you in a sweate?
[_Throwes his night cap away_.
_Merry sigh_. No verily, I am not in a sweate.
_Con_. Some sodaine feare affrights you; whats the cause?
_Mer_. Nothing but that you wak'd me unawares.
_Con_. In the Queenes name I doe commaund you rise,
And presently to goe along with us.
[_Riseth up_.
_Mer_. With all my hart; what, doe you know the cause?
_Con_. We partly doe; when saw you maister _Beech_?
_Mer_. I doe not well remember who you meane.
_Con_. Not _Beech_, the Chaundler upon _Lambert hill_?
_Mer_. I know the man, but saw him not this fortnight.
_Con_. I would you had not, for your sisters sake,
For yours, for his, and for his harmlesse boy.
Be not obdurate in your wickednesse;
Confession drawes repentance after it.
_Mer_. Well, maister Constable, I doe confesse,
I was the man that did them both to death:
As for my sister and my harmlesse man,
I doe protest they both are innocent.
_Con_. Your man is fast in hold, and hath confest
The manner how, and where, the deede was done;
Therefore twere vaine to colour anything.
Bring them away.
_Rach_. Ah brother, woe is me!
_Mer_. I comfortlesse will helpe to comfort thee.
[_Exeunt_.
_Enter Trueth_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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