[Exeunt JOHN, QUEEN, CHESTER, SALISBURY.

PRIOR.  John is incens’d; and very much, I doubt,
That villain Warman hath accused me
About the ’scape of Ely.  Well, suppose he have,
What’s that to me?  I am a clergyman,
And all his power, if he all extend,
Cannot prevail against my holy order. 
But the Archbishop’s grace is now his friend,
And may, perchance, attempt to do me ill.

    Enter a SERVING-MAN.

What news with you, sir?

SERV.-MAN.  Even heavy news, my lord; for the lightning’s[213] fire,
Falling in manner of a firedrake[214]
Upon a barn of yours, hath burnt six barns,
And not a strike of corn reserv’d from dust. 
No hand could save it, yet ten thousand hands
Laboured their best, though none for love of you;
For every tongue with bitter cursing bann’d
Your lordship, as the viper of the land.

PRIOR.  What meant the villains?

SERV.-MAN.  Thus and thus they cried: 
Upon this churl, this hoarder-up of corn,
This spoiler of the Earl of Huntington,
This lust-defiled, merciless, false prior,
Heaven raineth vengeance down in shape of fire. 
Old wives, that scarce could with their crutches creep,
And little babes, that newly learn’d to speak,
Men masterless, that thorough want did weep,
All in one voice, with a confused cry,
In execrations bann’d you bitterly: 
Plague follow plague, they cry:  he hath undone
The good Lord Robert, Earl of Huntington. 
And then—­

PRIOR.[215] What then, thou villain?  Get thee from my sight! 
They that wish plagues, plagues will upon them light.

    Enter another SERVANT.

PRIOR.  What are your tidings?

SERV.  The convent of St Mary’s are agreed,
And have elected in your lordship’s place
Old father Jerome, who is stall’d Lord Prior
By the new Archbishop.

PRIOR.  Of York, thou mean’st? 
A vengeance on him! he is my hope’s foe.

    Enter a HERALD.

HER.  Gilbert de Hood, late Prior of Saint Mary’s,
Our sovereign John commandeth thee by me,
That presently thou leave this blessed land,
Defiled with the burthen of thy sin. 
All thy goods temporal and spiritual,
With free consent of Hubert Lord [of] York,
Primate of England and thy ordinary,
He hath suspended, and vowed by heaven
To hang thee up, if thou depart not hence
Without delaying or more question. 
And that he hath good reason for the same,
He sends this writing ’firm’d with Warman’s hand,
And comes himself; whose presence if thou stay,
I fear this sun will see thy dying day.

PRIOR.  O, Warman hath betray’d me! woe is me!

    Enter JOHN, QUEEN, CHESTER, SALISBURY.

JOHN.  Hence with that Prior! sirrah, do not speak: 
My eyes are full of wrath, my heart of wreak.[216]
Let Leicester come:  his haught heart, I am sure,
Will check the kingly course we undertake.