1st B. It be said, Henry cannot sleep o’ nights i’ his bed, for the making of this same Pope, Hildebrand, or Hellbrand, as some folks call him. But hast thou heard the greater news?
2nd B. Nay, what now? Nothing be new now. Nothing be new, along o’ fighting and preaching and lechering and damning in the Church and State. Nothing be new save drinking, and that be ever new. Ha! ha! What else be new?
1st B. ’Tis concerning this same scarce-baked Pope, this Hellbrand. ’Tis said he hath sworn by the mass and all the saints never to rest until he hath unwived all the priests i’ Europe. How like you that, good neighbor Burnard?
2nd B. Ho! ho! ’Tis a good joke. Unwive the priests! ’Tis a good joke. ’Twere well for me and thee did he swear a vow to unwive all the burghers i’ Milan. ’Twould gie one I know more peace i’ his bed o’ nights. ’Tis the priests ever have all the good fortune i’ Europe. Ah me, ah me! ’Tis ever so.
1st B. Yea, but there’s more news yet, good Neighbor, this same Hellbrand, which be a good name for him if he be Pope, hath sent out two wondrous preachers, endowed with uncommon powers of tongue and orders, to spread this same doctrine in all Italy and throughout Europe; an’ it be said they took fearsome oaths, on pain of eternal damnation, not to rest till they had done so; an’ further, ’tis said, they be here to-night to preach i’ the market.
2nd B. I’ Milan?
1st B. (Rising.) Yea i’ Milan, here, i’ the square.
2nd B. Well now! It do be passing strange, well now! It be a damn law, and he be a damn liar, who saith not. A most unnatural law, for our good pastor. Were it my case now, it were fitting, (1st goes out) who taketh a lecture every midnight near upon cock-crow, such as no Pope’s Bull could outwit in language an’ rhetoric. Say good Neighbor, what thinkest thou? Might I not be made a priest? What be qualifications? (Ha! he hath gone!) I could drink with an abbot, yea, an archbishop, yea, I’ll see this same Hellbrand about the matter: it shall be done, be done, ha! ha! it shall be done. (Reels out.)