I am the greatest above degree That is, or was, or ever shall be. The sun it dare not shine on me If I bid him go down. No rain to fall shall none be free Nor no Lord have that liberty That dare abide, and I bid flee, But I shall crack his crown. Nor far nor near that doth me (an)noy Who wrathes me, I shall destroy; For every freak I dare defie That nill me pay ne please. But you be bayne, I shall you beat, There is no man for you shall treat; [_Then aside_] All for wrath see how I sweat; My heart is not at ease. And to carry out his pretence that he is not frightened but quite cool, he throws his sword up in the air and dexterously catches it while he continues:-- For all men may witte and see, Both he and you all three, That I am King of Galilee Whatsoever he saith or does. What the devil should this be! A boy--a groom of low degree Should reign above my Royalty And make me but a goose! The Kings then answer:-- By prophecy well wotten we That a childe born should be To rule the people of Judye As was said many a year. Herod says:-- Other kings shall none here be . . . . . But seeing you speak of prophecy Whether ye speak sooth or lye My clarke soon shall see. He then bids his “chief of clergy” to look up the books of prophecy and tell him what they say. Then the doctor reads the scriptures, and amongst other prophecies says:-- DOCTOR. Daniel, fulfilled with heavenly grace, Prophesied also by divine inspiration, That when he was came, that all holy was, The most holiest in earth, to take his habitation In the womb of a virgin, and by his blessed incarnation Out of Satan’s band to deliver mankind, Whom sin original piteously did bind, Then both unctions, sacrifices and rites ceremonial Of the Old Testament with legal observation, Shall utterly cease and take their end final, Through Christ’s coming which for man’s salvation A New Testament shall ordain by divine operation Offering himself in Sacrifice for mankind’s offence, Which from Heaven was exiled through his great negligence. HEROD. Fie on that dream, reader! such dotards never shall Nor no sleeping sluggard make my right title cease But I shall knightly keep it, whatsoever befall, Against that young godling, and if he once do press This kingdom to claim, or put me to distress His head off shall I hew.... Yet look if thou find there Where this boy is born for whom these kings enquire. DOCTOR. Micheias, enflamed with ghostly inspiration, Prophesied that Bethlehem should a prince forth bring Ruler of God’s people and of the Jew’s nation Should he be born of Israel to be king. . . . . .