Act I

Before the curtain rises, there is sung: —

Sing we the men who, once of old, When England's glory and her name Went down in blood and utter shame,

Rose for her, quick and bold.

Strong sons of strongest sires

Kindled again her flame, And sent again to heaven her altar fires. Ah! not on reeling deck or field of fame, With maddening music and a leader's cry. With hot blood beating and a world's applause Was this their glorious conflict; theirs to live and die

In lonely constancy; To meet a world's reviling; theirs to be Fruit of the rack and chains and shameful gallows' tree

So lived in shame and strife

And passed to Life.

Curtain rises.

"Riatwe..- 5^ tmtrt risk all if <)<nj nxmlb iptn a ctown.

Time — August 2nd, 1580.

Scene. — 7%« College at Rheims; the interior of a parlour near the Porter's Gate. Everard Hanse and John Ballard, discovered, with their books beside them, playing draughts. They play in silence for a moment or two. Everard Hanse looks about thirty years old; he moves and speaks itnpetuously.

Hanse. There is a crown for me! \He leans back contentedly.

Ballard.

And for me.

Hanse {after moving).

No; you are too soon; and too little bold. You must risk all if you would win a crown.

\As they continue playing, absorbed, steps are heard in cloister.

Porter (entering; with papers in his hand, and turning).

Come in, gentlemen, come in. God bless me! Whatever can we do with them all? {He comes forward to Hanse, who, with Ballard, has stood up.) I beg pardon, sir; here are the new gentlemen arrived from England. I can bestow them nowhere but here for the present.

[Hanse nods and makes a little gesture. He looks airiously at the arrivals.

Ballard {aside to Hanse).

Who are they? I had not heard of these.

[Hanse, as tluy enter, shakes his head and stands forward.

Enter Samuel Conyers, William Richmond, Edmund Catheracke, Gerard Clibborne, George GrimSTON, Vincent Warner, John Goughe, John PiBUSH, John Bost; all are in travelling dress, and carry bags in their hands.

Conyers {smiling). You must forgive us, gentlemen.

Porter {going out).

Set your bags down, gentlemen; I will tell Mr. President you are come. [Exii.

Hanse {smiling and bowing).

I am Everard Hanse, sir, at your service. You are just from England?

\The new arrivals look about them and talk together.

CONYERS.

All of us, sir; my name is Samuel Conyers, and this is Mr. Richmond.

\All put down their bags; and meanwhile Hanse shakes hands with them. When he comes to John Bost, Bost announces his name., and together these two stand at the front with Pibush, who also gives his name. The rest arrange themselves in groups, talking to Ballard.

Hanse.

I have heard your name, Mr. Bost. Are you not from Oxford?

Bost.

I am, sir. {He has a deep, pleasant voice; is stately and at his ease.) I was a Fellow of Queen's College till lately.

Hanse. And I from Cambridge; though I was no Fellow. And you, Mr. Pibush?

PicusH {smiling).

No, sir; I was baptized in the Faith as a child. I am from Thirsk.

Hanse {bows to him).

You have had a great grace, sir. And yet I have had one as great, for I was a minister till lately, till God had mercy on me.

BosT.

I remember, now, hearing your name, Mr. Hanse. You were reconciled by your own brother, were you not?

Hanse.

Yes, by my younger brother William, when I was at the point of death. We had many a controversy in old days.... And you have had a prosperous journey, gentlemen?

BoST.

We have prospered that we have arrived here safe and sound. And we had a fair wind to cross by.

Hanse. You had no trouble at the port?

No, sir; the Queen was very kind to us: she let us depart from her in peace.

Hanse.

You are luckier than some. The Queen's Majesty is most solicitous, they say, for all who come and go.

BosT.

She even holds some of them in chains, so much she fears that they will leave her.

Hanse.

Well, sir, and the rest of your journey was as prosperous?

We had no trouble at any point. Mr. Pibush here fears that the crown will be withheld from him after all!

[Smiling.

Hanse {to Pibush),

You need not fear, sir. There is time enough for us all. {To BosT:) And what other news do you bring from England?

Enter Porter, followed by a servant, both carrying refreskments and glasses.

rt

Porter.

Fall on, gentlemen. Mr. President will see you immediately.

\They set down the food, bottles, and glasses on the table where the draught-board is placed, and exeunt, leaving door always open. All the others, except Bost, Hanse, a«i/PiBUSH, crowd round the table. Ballard pours wine into the glasses; and they pledge one another. Hanse draws up three chairs, and the three seat themselves {L.), front.

Hanse.

And what news from England, Mr. Bost? Have you any new martyrdoms to tell us of? We are all agog for such things here, as you may think. Our community mass every day is for the country's conversion.

Bost.

Matters seem quiet, sir. There has no man suffered for Religion for a long time past.

Hanse. Not since Sherwood? He was the last that we heard of.

THE COST OF A CROWN ii

Not since Sherwood, and that was two years ago, sir — a long time in these days!

Hanse.

He was from Douay. Douay has not given birth to one martyr since she came to Rheims.

Enter Porter.

Porter.

Mr. Catheracke, Mr. Clibborne. Mr. President will see you, gentlemen.

[^Exeunt Catheracke and Clibborne with Porter.

Hanse.

It is for their identity. There is need for caution in these days. Rheims is full of informers, it is said.

PiBUSH.

You had the Jesuits here, had you not, lately, Mr. Hanse?

Hanse.

Father Persons and Father Campion were here in June, with little brother Emerson. They are a gallant company, sir. I hear they are doing great things in England.

They prosper beyond all belief. Father Campion is like a fire wherever he goes. Did you speak with them here?

Hanse.

Alas! I came four days too late; they were gone before I came. But I heard they had trouble when they landed in England. And have you seen them, Mr. Bost?

BosT.

No, sir; unless I set eyes on them without knowing it. And that may well be; for, like the Spirit of God Himself, Who guides them, no man can tell where they come nor whither they go. It is said that the Queen's Majesty is in a sad taking about them, and that the hunt is always at their heels. Father Campion preaches every day, I hear; and all run to hear him.

Hanse. But Father Campion has been at Oxford, it is said?

Bost.

And that is true enough. He came there from London: but I did not hear of it, till he was gone again. I would I had! Ewbank told me of it.

Enter Porter. He calls out the names of Mr. Grimston, Mr. Warner, Mr. Goughe. Exeunt the three with Porter.

Hanse. I beg pardon, sir?

BosT.

My friend Henry Ewbank told me of it. He is one of those who are all mad for the Protestant reUgion; and cried out upon them as spies and traitors: and would give all he had to catch them, he said. We named him the Knave of Clubs at Oxford.

Hanse.

And who is this Knave of Clubs?

[Jle rises; fetches two glasses of wine, and bread; Presents them to Bost and Pibush.

BosT.

Henry was my room-mate at Oxford. He is to be made a minister immediately.

Hanse.

You must take care of him, Mr. Bost, when you go to England.

Bost {smiling).

Oh! I have no fear of Henry. He is my very good friend. He would not injure me.

Hanse. Did you know Mr. Matthews at Oxford?

Yes, very well. Who did not! He was of Christchurch. They say he will be a great man some day, if he is not that already.

PiBUSH.

He is a minister, too?

BosT.

Yes, he is a minister; and very active against us, I hear. It is the ministers who are hottest against us everywhere; and I do not wonder at it. Their sheep are leaving them every day.

Hanse.

But the shepherds get the wool off them first, it seems.

BosT.

Why, yes; first and last. They are always a-shearing. But they are welcome to the wool, if we have their hearts. I hear that some of the gentlemen can scarcely live, so heavy are the fines they pay for their religion. But let us hear something of Rheims, Mr. Hanse.

Hanse {spiking).

Rheims, or rather Douay, is doing very well, in exile. There are better than a hundred students in the house.

PiBUSH.

What! All to be priests?

Hanse.

Yes, all to be priests. You will see them presently at Vespers.

BosT.

The College has not suffered then by the removal?

Hanse.

Why, no, not at all, rather the contrary. We are as active as ever we were.

BosT. And the new version of the Scriptures?

Hanse.

That is near its ending. We are doing very well at all points. The English Universities are giving us new scholars continually; and God is giving us saints.

PiBUSH.

And the classes we shall attend?

Hanse.

That is a matter for Mr. President, Mr. Pibush. The younger students have the Classics and Philosophy and Hebrew; but the elder pass straight to Theology. You will know all that to-morrow, I have no doubt, and learn our customs.

BosT.

Are they so many then?

Hanse. Why, no. But there are half-a-dozen, I daresay, peculiar to us. There is Our Lady's Litany on Saturdays, and the two rosaries for our Benefactors. But you will have your three playdays first to learn all these.

Enter Porter. He comes forward to front; as bell begins to ring, Ballard springs up and runs out.

Porter. The President begs that you will entertain these gentle-men, sir, till he can send for them.

Hanse.

Very well. [Turns to Bost.] Then there will be no Vespers for us to-night, Mr. Bost. The President, no doubt, wishes to finish with your names and histories at once.

Porter {at door).

Mr. Conyers and Mr. Richmond.

\Exeunt Conyers a«(f Richmond with Porter.

\The room begins to darken. Hanse rises and fetches the table with the refreshments and the draught-board. He sets it down before the three; they sip wine from time to time, and crumble the bread.

Hanse. Take plenty, gentlemen. This is all the supper you will get, I fear, on Our Lady's eves in Rheims; and you have come from a long journey. \He fills Pibush's glass. Bost motions bottle aside. He sets down dottle.] See, I had just gained a crown when you came! [Skozvs draught-board.

Bost.

Indeed a very good omen!

\He lifts his glass to him, smiling.

Hanse {also smiling).

I did not think of that. But it is a very good omen. God fulfil it! You must learn our game of " Cat " here, Mr. Bost, if you are not too grave a gentleman.

PiBUSH.

I hear they play at racking in Rome. Is that true, do you think?

Hanse.

Why, yes, I should think so: like St. Laurence jesting upon his gridiron. These young men are full of their games, eh, Mr. Bost?

Bost (smiling).

It will be enough for an older man to jest upon it when it comes.

PiBUSH (looking rather excitedly from one to the other).

But — but God will surely give us grace to bear it, if it comes upon us!

i8 THE COST OF A CROWN

Hanse. We must pray that it be so, Mr. Pibush.

[An organ is heard playing softly off,

Hanse. They will go by directly. You will be able to see them. Ah! they come!

_They all rise and turn towards the door. The cloister outside is now illuminated; and after a moment or two the students go past, two and two, twenty divines, headed by thurifer and acolytes followed by four copemen and priest. They pass from right to left and disappear. The three in the room remain watching; then a door is heard to close. The three sit dow?i again. Hanse rises, fetches a candle and lights it from a taper burning out of sight in the cloister, putting it upon the table.

Hanse. No, Mr. President was not with them. He will send for you presently.

\He sits. Vespers begins; heard through closed door, and continues throughout the rest of scene.

BosT. You have a great company here. It warms my heart to see them.

Hanse {softly).

And that company is but the sowing-time. What then of the harvest? Sanguis martyrum....

[PiBUSH rises, rather uneasily; passes to back of stage, and begins to walk up and down sloivly with his hands folded behind his back: he stops now and then, listening to music; then resumes walk.

BosT (with a little gesture).

Do not observe him, sir; he is a young man; but will be gallant in danger, I think. He bore himself very well at the ports.

Hanse {smiling).

Why, I thought nothing else of him, sir. He is gallant to have kept the faith, when you and I lost it!

BosT {playing with his glass).

My mother has always been faithful. It was her prayers, I think, that brought me to a better mind.

Hanse.

And me my brother reconciled. It is not with us, as with some, that a man's foes are those of his household. They have been to us the best friends that ever we had.

BosT {abruptly). Mr. Hanse, do you fear death?

Hanse. Why, we all fear it, I suppose. But I hope to meet it well, by God's grace.

They say it is easier when we grow old. But I do not find it so.... I know very well that I carry my life in my hand now... (breaks off). When do you go to England, sir?

Hanse.

Why, I am not yet a sub-deacon; but I hope to have all done by next year.

BosT.

And I too, perhaps. Dr. Allen sent me news that I should not have to wait long.

Hanse. It may be we shall go together.

BosT [looking at him). I wonder how far we shall go together.... Where will you go in England?

Hanse (shaking his head and smiling).

Who can tell that?

BosT.

I am for Yorkshire first, I hear. And my Lord Montague will shelter me, if I need it. There be many priests in livery!

Bost..-"yoT) shall be hateb of al TOcnV- - -

Hanse.

And they call us skulkers for it! Do they think we shall come in our habits?

BosT (dropping his hand heavily on the tabled

Mr. Hanse, it was that among other things that turned my mind to the Catholic Church. There is neither justice nor rights for Catholics in England. " You shall be hated of all men," said our Saviour. There is not one who has a good word for us; and it is we who built their colleges for them, and their churches; and they take all, and call us traitors for not being as they are. If we come openly as priests, then we are fools; and if privately, as servants or grooms, then are we knaves! And whichever way we come, or if we come not at all, then are we no true Englishmen! I tell you, sir, I have seen an old monk, out of his wits from privations, begging bread at doors which were once his own. There is Durham — I was born near Appleby, in Westmoreland — there is Durham, once a great house of religious. Now it hath a Dean and a few prebendaries, who reap what the monks sowed, and abuse them for sowing it! Why, sir, I am hot when I think on it! And yet I too once used the money of those men and forsook their religion.

Hanse.

But you have made amends, Mr. Bost. For what can a man give more than his life? And you are ready to do that, by God's grace!

I would give a hundred, if I had them — by God's grace.

Hanse.

And I too had my living! Dear God! how it burns me to think of it! And I preached the new religion too, as solemn as an owl!

Enter Porter. Porter.

Mr. Pibush. The President will see you, sir.

\Exeunt Porter and Pibush.

Hanse. He is keeping you to the last, Mr. Bost.

Bost {sitting with his head on his hand heavily). Yet my life is God's in any event; and half of it I have squandered on myself.

Hanse. Our Saviour drank even vinegar upon the Cross.

Bost. Vinegar? What do you mean by that?

Hanse.

Why, the dregs of the wine; and He thanked those who gave even that, no doubt.

[BosT looks at hifn a moment; then he puts out his hand, and Hanse takes it. They hold hands a moment in silence.

BosT.

Then I give Him that with all my heart, Mr. Hanse. It is all that I can do. \Silence a moment.

Hanse. Have you ever seen Dr. Allen?

BosT. No, but I have had a letter or two from him.

Hanse.

It is he, as you know, who, under God, is doing the most for England — he at least and St. Ignatius. Mr. Bost, you will be astonished at the zeal of the young men here. Dr. Allen says he is like a huntsman with hounds in leash pulling him off his legs, so eager are they to be at Satan his throat.

Bost.

And what when they are torn by Satan?

Hanse.

Blood seems to madden them the more. When Sher-wood suffered, there was near a rebellion here, so eager were they all to take his place. The President told them to have patience, and that their time would come, but even so he could hardly restrain them. Mr. Bost, it is wonderful to see how these young men seem to desire perils and death as others desire offices and honours.

Bost.

I had heard so in England. Men say there that never was there such madness since the days of the Apostles.

Hanse. Yes, sir. These men too are full of new wine.

Bost. God give me a long draught of it!

Hanse. You need not fear for that.

Bost (after a pause, in ivhich the last psalm of the first Vespers of Our Lady is heard in process of being sung).

It is we older men who need that wine of fervour more than the young, who have never ceased to drink it.

Hanse. Yes, sir, and we need it for other reasons, too.

What do you mean by that?

Hanse.

Why, it is we who are the marked men in England. They know us; but these young sparks, as they think them, have more chance to go scathless.

BoST.

That is true enough.... What Vespers are they singing?

Hanse.

They are the first Vespers of Our Lady's feast. It is Sancta Maria ad nives to-morrow.

BosT.

And that, too, is a good omen for me; for she caused her white grace to fall even in my own barren heart.

" Ave Maris Stella " begins to be sung, and the two listen in silence.

BoST (as the third verse begins).

Solve vincla reis; Profer lumen caecis. That is what we need in England, Mr. Hanse.... Mala nostra pellet May she do so for us all!

Enter Porter.

Porter.

Mr. Best, Mr. President will see you.

\He gathers up the luggage from the floor. Hanse and BosT rise, and go towards the door. Exit Porter, who stands waiting outside.

BosT. I shall see you again?

Hanse.

I will come to you presently, Mr. Bost.

_Exit BosT. Hanse bows to him, and stands listening to the close of the hymn.

A« tnaria stdU, pei CDaiet abna,

^iouc scKipcT ViTdcy.iVclpc codi porta-.

(SIX MONTHS LATER, MARCH 4TH, 1381)

Ordination (j/^John Bost as Priest at Clialons-sur-AIartie. John Bost is receiving the instruments from Bishop; EvERARD Hanse, just ordairud Deacon. Dr. Allen, as Assistant Priest, presenting the ordinands. Deacons, subdeacons, acolytes, eye. Ballard and Richmond are among the newly ordained Priests; Conyers, Catheracke, ClibBORNE, Grimston, Warner, and Goughe are visible. Choir during Tableau sing the folloiving: —

O priest of God! lift up thy head To take the hands that offer thee The crown of priesthood that shall be

In very truth, as saints have said, A thorny crown of Calvary.

O priest of God! gird on to thee The garb of Jesu's Passion-dress, And let thy very robes confess

The glories of His Purity,

His Strength, His Love, His Righteousness. 28

O priest of God! thine hand stretch up, And take the mystic bread and wine, The Paten and the Host Divine,

The chalice that shall be a Cup

To hold thy Saviour's Blood — and thine.

O priest of God! make haste and go!

Pilate and Judas wait for thee.

The garden of Gethsemane; And Jesus, in His Church below,

Makes haste Himself to Calvary.

'"' vcnttit?