MORE Then to the east.

We go to sigh; that o’er, to sleep in rest.

Here More forsakes all mirth; good reason why:

The fool of flesh must with her frail life die.

No eye salute my trunk with a sad tear.

Our birth to heaven should be thus: void of fear.

Exit

SURREY

A very learnèd worthy gentleman

Seals error with his blood. Come, we’ll to court.

Let’s sadly hence to perfect unknown fates,

Whilst he tends progress to the state of states. [Exeunt]

[Original Text (Munday)]

APPENDIX A

The following passages in the Original Text are marked for deletion and replaced by the Additional Passages.

AI. Replaced by 4.1-76. In the Original Text there are missing leaves between AI and A2.

DOLL

Peace there, I say! Hear Captain Lincoln speak.

Keep silence till we know his mind at large.

ALL THE REST

Agreed, agreed. Speak then, brave Captain Lincoln.

LINCOLN

Come, gallant bloods, you whose free souls do scorn

To bear th’enforcèd wrongs of aliens.

Add rage to resolution. Fire the houses

Of these audacious strangers. This is St Martin’s,

And yonder dwells Meautis, a wealthy Piccard,

At the Green Gate;

De Barde, Peter van Hollak, Adrian Martin,

With many more outlandish fugitives.

Shall these enjoy more privilege than we

In our own country? Let’s then become their slaves.

Since justice keeps not them in greater awe,

We’ll be ourselves rough ministers at law.

ALL THE REST Fire the houses, fire the houses!

DOLL Ay, for we may as well make bonfires on May Day as at Midsummer. We’ll alter the day in the calendar, and set it down in flaming letters.

SHERWIN

Stay, that would much endanger the whole city,

Whereto I would not the least prejudice.

DOLL No, nor I neither: so may mine own house be burned for company. I’ll tell ye what: we’ll drag the strangers out into Moorfields, and there bumbaste them till they stink again.

GEORGE BETTS

Let some of us enter the strangers’ houses,

And, if we find them there, then bring them forth.

Exeunt some, and Sherwin

DOLL If ye bring them forth before ye find them, I’ll never allow of that.

WILLIAMSON

Now, lads, how shall we labour in our safety?

I hear the Mayor hath gathered men in arms,

And that Sheriff More an hour ago received

Some of the Privy Council in at Ludgate.

Force now must make our peace, or else we fall.

’will soon be known we are the principal.

DOLL And what of that? If thou beest afraid, husband, go home again and hide thy head, for, by the Lord, I’ll have a little sport now I am at it.

GEORGE BETTS

Let’s stand upon our guard, and if they come

Receive them as they were our enemies.

Enter Sherwin and the rest

LINCOLN

How now, have ye found any?

SHERWIN

Not one, they’re fled.

LINCOLN

Then fire the houses, that, the Mayor being busy

About the quenching of them, we may scape.

Burn down their kennels! Let us straight away,

Lest that this prove to us an ill May Day. Exeunt

Sc. 4a Enter three or four prentices of trades, famongst them Harry, Robin, and Kit,⌉ with a pair of cudgels

HARRY Come, lay down the cudgels.—Ha, Robin, you met us well at Bunhill, to have you with us a-Maying this morning!

ROBIN Faith, Harry, the head drawer at the Mitre by the Great Conduit called me up, and we went to breakfast into St Anne’s Lane. But come, who begins? In good faith, I am clean out of practice. When wast at Garrett’s school, Harry?

HARRY Not this great while; never since I brake his usher’s head when he played his scholar’s prize at the Star in Bread Street. I use all to George Philpot’s at Dowgate. He’s the best back-sword man in England.

KIT ‘Bate me an ace of that,’ quoth Bolton. 58

HARRY I’ll not bate ye a pin on‘t, sir, for, by this cudgel, ’tis true.

KIT I will cudgel that opinion out of ye. Did you break an usher’s head, sir?

HARRY Ay, marry, did I, sir.

KIT I am very glad on’t. You shall break mine too, an ye can.

HARRY Sirrah, I prithee what art thou?

KIT Why, I am a prentice, as thou art. Seest thou now? I’ll play with thee at blunt here in Cheapside; and when thou hast done, if thou beest angry, I’ll fight with thee at sharp in Moorfields. I have a sword to serve my turn in a favour. ( > come July, to serve < )

[Exeunt]

A2. Replaced approximately by 6.159-63.

MORE To persist in it is present death. But if you yield yourselves, no doubt what punishment you in simplicity have incurred, his highness in mercy will most graciously pardon.

A3. Continues after Sc. 7. Replaced by 8.22-46 and 128-159. In the Original Text there are missing leaves between A3 and A4. Revised Sc. 8 restructures and expands upon A3 and A4. Annotated probably by Hand B.

This must be new written.

Sc. 8 A table being covered with a green carpet, a state cushion on it, and the purse and mace lying thereon, enter Sir Thomas More, and his man Randall with him, attired like him

MORE Come on, sir, are you ready?

RANDALL Yes, my lord. I stand but upon a few points. I shall have done presently. Is it your honour’s pleasure that I should grow proud now?

MORE

Ay, I must have thee proud, or else thou‘lt ne’er

Be near allied to greatness. Observe me, sir.

The learnèd clerk Erasmus is arrived

Within our English court. This day, I hear,

He feasteth with an English honoured poet

The Earl of Surrey, and I know this night 10

The famous clerk of Rotterdam will visit

Sir Thomas More. Therefore, sir, act my part.

There, take my place furnished with purse and mace.

I’ll see if great Erasmus can distinguish

Merit and outward ceremony. Observe me, sirrah.

I’ll be thy glass. Dress thy behaviour

According to my carriage. But beware

Thou talk not overmuch, for ‘twill betray thee.