HONESTY. Is this your honest friend? the devil a is. [Aside]. My lord, this is he: if you doubt my word to be true, call in Clerk of the Assizes. Now shall your grace see, how Honesty can shake out a knave in this company.
Enter CLERK OF THE ASSIZE.
Sirrah, tell me who hath most poor men in suit at this Sizes?
CLERK.
That hath Walter Would-have-more:
He hath one poor man in suit for certain barley,
And another, for that his horse was taken in his corn.
HONESTY.
But what indictments are against him? read them.
CLERK. [Read the indictment. First, he hath conveyed corn out of the land to feed the enemy. Next, he hath turned poor Piers Plowman out of doors by his great raising of rents. Next, he is known to be a common disturber of men of their quiet, by serving writs on them, and bringing them to London, to their utter undoing. Also, he keeps corn in his barn, and suffers his brethren and neighbours to lie and want; and thereby makes the market so dear, that the poor can buy no corn.
KING.
Enough! Now, fie upon thee, thou monster of nature,
To seek the utter undoing of many, to enrich thyself.—
Honesty, take him, and use him as thou wilt.
HONESTY.
Come, sir, I think I found out your knavery.
Away, sir, and bear your fellow company.
[Exeunt omnes but the KING and DUNSTAN.
Enter ETHENWALD.