Act 5 — SCENE V.
Reading edition
Enter TIPSTAVES, LIBERALITY, SHERIFF, CLERKS, CRIER, PRODIGALITY, [to whom] the JUDGE.
TIP. Room, my masters, give place, stand by: Sir Equity hath sent me to let you understand, That hither he will resort out of hand, To sit upon the arraignment of Prodigality.
LIB. In good time.
TIP. Behold, he comes.
LIB. Now, Equity, how falls the matter out?
EQ. That Prodigality is guilty of the fact, no doubt. And therefore for furtherance of justice effectually, My lord the judge comes to sit upon him presently: Wherein we crave your assistance.
LIB. I'll wait upon you.
TIP. Room, my masters, room for my lord: stand by.
The JUDGE placed, and the CLERKS under him.
JUDGE. Call for the prisoner.
CLERK. Make an oyes, Crier.
CRIER. Oyes, oyes, oyes!
CLERK. Sheriff of Middlesex.
CRIER. Sheriff of Middlesex.
CLERK. Bring forth the prisoner.
CRIER. Bring forth the prisoner.
CLERK. Prodigality.
CRIER. Prodigality.
CLERK. Pain of the peril shall fall thereon.
CRIER. Pain of the peril shall fall thereon.
SHER. Here, sir.
CLERK. Prodigality, hold up thy hand. [He holds it up. Thou art indicted here by the name of Prodigality, For that thou, the fourth day of February, In the three and forty year of the prosperous reign Of Elizabeth, our dread sovereign, By the grace of God, of England, France, and Ireland queen, Defender of the faith, &c., Together with the other malefactors yet unknown, At Highgate,[417] in the county of Middlesex, aforesaid, Didst feloniously take from one Tenacity, Of the parish of Pancridge,[418] yeoman, in the said county, One thousand pounds of gold and silver sterling. And also, how thyself, the said Prodigality, With a sword, price twenty shillings, then and there cruelly Didst give the said Tenacity upon the head One mortal wound, whereof he is now dead, Contrary to the queen's peace, her crown, and dignity.
JUDGE. How say'st thou, Prodigality, to this robbery, Felony, and murther? art thou guilty Or not guilty?
PROD. My lord, I beseech you Grant me counsel to plead my cause.
JUDGE. That may not be; it standeth not with our laws.
PROD. Then, good my lord, let me some respite take.
JUDGE. Neither may that be; thus doth the indictment lie, Thou art accus'd of murther and of robbery, To which thou must now answer presently, Whether thou be thereof guilty or not guilty.
PROD. Well, since there is no other remedy, And that my fact falls out so apparently, I will confess that indeed I am guilty, Most humbly appealing to the prince's mercy.
JUDGE. Then what canst thou say for thyself, Prodigality, That according to the law thou shouldst not die?
PROD. Nothing, my lord; but still appeal to the prince's mercy.
JUDGE. Then hearken to thy judgment: thou, Prodigality, by that name hast been Indicted and arraigned here of a robbery, Murther, and felony, against the laws committed By thee: the indictment whereof being read unto thee Here, thou confessest thyself to be guilty therein: Whereupon I judge thee to be had from hence To the place thou cam'st fro, and from thence to The place of execution, there to be hanged, Till thou be dead. God have mercy on thee!
PROD. My lord, I most humbly beseech you to hear me.
JUDGE. Say on.
PROD. I confess I have run a wanton wicked race, Which now hath brought me to this woful wretched case: I am heartily sorry, and with tears do lament My former lewd and vile misgovernment. I find the brittle stay of trustless Fortune's state. My heart now thirsteth after Virtue all too late: Yet, good my lord, of pity condescend To be a mean for him that meaneth to amend. The prince is merciful, of whose great mercy Full many have largely tasted already; Which makes me appeal thereto more boldly.
JUDGE. Prodigality, I not mislike your wailful disposition; And therefore for you to the prince there shall be made petition, That though your punishment be not fully remitted, Yet in some part it may be qualified.
PROD. God save your life!
VIRTUE, EQUITY, LIBERALITY, JUDGE, and all come down before the QUEEN, and, after reverence made, VIRTUE speaketh
THE EPILOGUE.
Most mighty queen, yonder I sat in place, Presenting show of chiefest dignity; Here prostrate, lo, before your princely grace I show myself, such as I ought to be, Your humble vassal, subject to your will, With fear and love your grace to reverence still.