_Judge._ Well, sirrah, I must be short, and therefore say on.
_Alc._ Master Judge, I borrowed of this man thirty shillings, for which I left him in pawn my good cow; the bargain was, he should have eighteen-pence a week, and the cow's milk for usury: now, sir, as soon as I had gotten the money, I brought it him, and broke but a day, and for that he refused his money, and keeps my cow, sir.
_Judge._ Why, thou hast given sentence against thyself, for in breaking thy day thou hast lost thy cow.
_Alc._ Master Lawyer, now for my ten shillings.
_Lawyer._ Faith, poor man, thy case is so bad, I shall but speak against thee.
_Alc._ 'Twere good, then, I should have my ten shillings again.
_Lawyer._ 'Tis my fee, fellow, for coming: wouldst thou have me come for nothing?
_Alc._ Why, then, am I like to go home, not only with no cow, but no gown: this gear goes hard.
_Judge._ Well, you have heard what favour I can show you: I must do justice.--Come, Master Mizaldo,--and you, sir, go home with me to dinner.
_Alc._ Why, but, Master Judge, no cow!--and, Master Lawyer, no gown! Then must I clean run out of the town. [_Exeunt_ Judge, Lawyer, Usurer, _and_ Attendants. How cheer you, gentleman? you cry "no lands" too; the Judge hath made you a knight for a gentleman, hath dubbed you Sir John Lack-land.
_Thras._ O miserable time, wherein gold is above God!
_Alc._ Fear not, man; I have yet a fetch to get thy lands and my cow again, for I have a son in the court, that is either a king or a king's fellow, and to him will I go and complain on the Judge and the Usurer both.
_Thras._ And I will go with thee, and entreat him for my case.
_Alc._ But how shall I go home to my wife, when I shall have nothing to say unto her but "no cow"? alas, sir, my wife's faults will fall upon me!
_Thras._ Fear not; let's go; I'll quiet her, shalt see. [_Exeunt._
_Oseas._ Fly, judges, fly corruption in your court; The judge of truth hath made your judgment short. Look so to judge that at the latter day Ye be not judg'd with those that wend astray. Who passeth judgment for his private gain, He well may judge he is adjudg'd to pain.
SCENE III.--_A Street near the_ King's _Palace._
_Enter_ ADAM _and his crew of_ Ruffians _drunk._