JOHN. This is not Skink; the hermit is not Skink. He is a learned, reverend, holy man; FAU. He is, he is a very godly man; I warrant ye, he's at his book at's prayers. We should have took you, by my halidom, Even for a very thief. GLO. Now God forfend Such noblemen as you should guess me so! I never gave such cause, for ought I know. JOHN. Yet thou did'st tell us Skink should do a robbery, Appointed us the place, and there we found him. FAU. And he felt us, for he hath robb'd us both. GLO. He's a lewd fellow; but he shall be taken. JOHN. I had rather hear of Gloster than of him. GLO. Gloster did cheat him of the same gold chain, That deceiv'd Sir Richard Fauconbridge. He got your sword, Prince John: 'twas he that sav'd The porter, and beguil'd the pursuivant. JOHN. A vengeance on him! GLO. Do not curse, good prince; He's bad enough, 'twere better pray for him. JOHN. I'll kill thee, and thou bid us pray for him, I'll fell [the] woods, and ring thee round with fire, Make thee an offering unto fierce revenge, If thou have but a thought to pray for him. GLO. I am bound to pray for[514] all men, chiefly Christians. JOHN. Ha, ha, for Christians? think'st thou he is one? For men? hast thou opinion he is a man? He that changes himself to sundry shapes, Is he a Christian? can he be a man? O irreligious thoughts! GLO. Why, worthy prince, I saw him christened, dipp'd into the font. JOHN. Then nine times, like the northern Laplanders, He backward circled the sacred font, And nine times backward said his orisons: As often curs'd the glorious host of heaven, As many times invok'd the fiends of hell, And so turn'd witch; for Gloster is a witch. GLO. Have patience, gentle prince; he shall appear Before your kingly father speedily. JOHN. Shall he indeed? sweet comfort, kiss thy cheek; Peace circle in thy aged honoured head. When he is taken, hermit, I protest I'll build thee up a chapel and a shrine: I'll have thee worshipp'd as a man divine, Assure [ye] he shall come, and Skink shall come. FAU.[515] Aye, that same Skink; I prythee, send that Skink. JOHN. Send both; and both, as prisoners criminate. Shall forfeit their lost[516] lives to England's state, Which way will Fauconbridge? FAU. Over the water, and So with all speed I may to Stepney. JOHN. I must to Stepney too, and revel, and be blithe, Old [Knight], wink at my mirth; 't may make amends, So thou and I, and our friends, may be friends. FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, Prince [John], Old Fauconbridge will wait upon your grace. Be good to Gloster, for my Marian's sake, And me and mine you shall your servants make. GLO. Of that anon: my pleasure being serv'd, Gloster shall have what Gloster hath deserv'd. FAU. Why, that's well said; adieu, good honest hermit. [_Exit_. JOHN. Hermit, farewell, if I had my desire, I'll make the world thy wondrous deeds admire. [_Exit_.