Clif. I go, sir.

[Exit.

K. Hen. Die all our griefs with Stanley! Take'

this staff

Of office, Dawbeney; henceforth be our chamberlain.

Daw. I am your humblest servant.

K. Hen. We are follow'd

By enemies at home, that will not cease
To seek their own confusion: 't is most true,
The Cornish under Audley are march'd on
As far as Winchester:-but let them come,
Our forces are in readiness; we'll catch them
In their own toils.

Daw. Your army, being muster'd,

Consists in all, of horse and foot, at least
In number, six-and-twenty thousand; men
Daring and able, resolute to fight,

And loyal in their truths.

K. Hen. We know it, Dawbeney:

For them we order thus; Oxford in chief,
Assisted by bold Essex and the earl

Of Suffolk, shall lead on the first battalia;
Be that your charge.

Oxf. I humbly thank your majesty.

K. Hen. The next division we assign to Dawbeney:

These must be men of action, for on those

The fortune of our fortunes must rely.

The last and main ourself commands in person;

As ready to restore the fight at all times,

As to consummate an assured victory.
Daw. The king is still oraculous.

K. Hen. But, Surrey,

We have employment of more toil for thee:

1 Dawbeney.] "This person (Charles Lord D'Aubigny) was a person," Bace says, "of great sufficiency and valour, the more because he was gentle and modest." Yet he always appears on the side of violent counsels; and more forward with his flattery than any of the courtiers in the king's confidence.-GIFFORD.

For our intelligence comes swiftly to us,
That James of Scotland late hath entertain'd
Perkin the counterfeit, with more than common
Grace and respect; nay, courts him with rare favours.
The Scot is young and forward, we must look for
A sudden storm to England from the north;
Which to withstand, Durham shall post to Norham,
To fortify the castle, and secure

The frontiers against an invasion there.
Surrey shall follow soon, with such an army
As may relieve the bishop, and encounter
On all occasions the death-daring Scots.
You know your charges all; 't is now a time
To execute, not talk; Heaven is our guard still.
War must breed peace, such is the fate of kings.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Edinburgh.-An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter CRAWFORD and DALYELL.

Craw. "Tis more than strange; my reason cannot

answer

Such argument of fine imposture, couch'd
In witchcraft of persuasion, that it fashions
Impossibilities, as if appearance

Could cozen truth itself; this dukeling mushroom
Hath doubtless charm'd the king.

Dal. He courts the ladies,

As if his strength of language chain'd attention
By power of prerogative.

Craw. It madded

My very soul to hear our master's motion;
What surety both of amity and honour
Must of necessity ensue upon

A match betwixt some noble of our nation,
And this brave prince, forsooth!

Dal. "T will prove too fatal;

Wise Huntley fears the threat'ning. Bless the lady From such a ruin!

Craw. How the council privy

Of this young Phaeton do screw their faces
Into a gravity, their trades, good people,
Were never guilty of! the meanest of them
Dreams of at least an office in the state.

Dal. Sure not the hangman's, 't is bespoke already For service to their rogueships,-silence!

Enter King JAMES and HUNTLEY.

K. Ja. Do not

Argue against our will: we have descended
Somewhat (as we may term it) too familiarly
From justice of our birthright, to examine
The force of your allegiance,-sir, we have ;—
But find it short of duty!

Hunt. Break my heart,

Do, do, king! Have my services, my loyalty
(Heaven knows untainted ever) drawn upon me
Contempt now in mine age, when I but wanted
A minute of a peace not to be troubled,
My last, my long one? Let me be a dotard,
A bedlam, a poor sot, or what you please
To have me, so you will not stain your blood,
Your own blood, royal sir, though mix'd with mine,
By marriage of this girl' to a straggler!-

Take, take my head, sir; while my tongue can wag,
It cannot name him other.

K. Ja. Kings are counterfeits

In your repute, grave oracle, not presently
Set on their thrones, with sceptres in their fists!
But use your own detraction; 't is our pleasure
To give our cousin York for wife our kinswoman,
The lady Katherine. Instinct of sovereignty
Designs the honour, though her peevish father
Usurps our resolution.

1 By marriage of this girl.] This word, it has been already observed, is generally used as a dissyllable by our poet.

Hunt. Oh, 't is well,

Exceeding well!-none here

Dare speak one word of comfort?

Dal. Cruel misery!

Craw. The lady, gracious prince, maybe hath

settled

Affection on some former choice.

Dal. Enforcement

Would prove but tyranny.

Hunt. I thank thee heartily.

Let any yeoman of our nation challenge
An interest in the girl, then the king
May add a jointure of ascent in titles,
Worthy a free consent; now he pulls down
What old desert hath builded.

K. Ja. Cease persuasions.

I violate no pawns of faiths, intrude not
On private loves; that I have play'd the orator
For kingly York to virtuous Kate, her grant
Can justify, referring her contents

To our provision: the Welch Harry, henceforth,
Shall therefore know, and tremble to acknowledge,
That not the painted idol of his policy
Shall fright the lawful owner from a kingdom.-
We are resolv'd.

Hunt. Some of thy subjects' hearts,

King James, will bleed for this!

K. Ja. Then shall their bloods

Be nobly spent: no more disputes; he is not
Our friend who contradicts us.

Hunt. Farewell, daughter!

My care by one is lessen'd, thank the king for 't!
I and my griefs will dance now.-

Enter WARBECK, complimenting with Lady KATHE-
RINE; Countess of CRAWFORD, JANE DOUGLAS, FRION,
JOHN A-WATER, ASTLEY, HERON, and SKETON.

Look, lords, look;

Here's hand in hand already!

VOL. I.-23

K. Ja. Peace, old phrensy!

Plantagenet undoubted !

Hunt. [Aside.] Ho, brave!-Youth;
But no Plantagenet, by 'r lady, yet,
By red rose or by white.

War. A union this way

Settles possession in a monarchy

Establish'd rightly, as is my inheritance:

Acknowledge me but sovereign of this kingdom, Your heart, fair princess,-and the hand of Providence

Shall crown you queen of me, and my best fortunes. Kath. Where my obedience is, my lord, a duty, Love owes true service.

War. Shall I ?

K. Ja. Cousin, yes,

Enjoy her; from my hand accept your bride;

[He joins their hands.

And may they live at enmity with comfort,

Who grieve at such an equal pledge of troths!
You are the prince's wife now.

Kath. By your gift, sir.

War. Thus, I take seizure of mine own.
Kath. I miss yet

A father's blessing. Let me find it ;-humbly
Upon my knees I seek it.

Hunt. I am Huntley,

Old Alexander Gordon,1 a plain subject;

Nor more nor less: and, lady, if you wish for
A blessing, you must bend your knees to Heaven;
For Heaven did give me you. Alas, alas!

What would you have me say? may all the happi

ness

My prayers ever sued to fall upon you,

1 Hunt. I am Huntley,

Old Alexander Gordon.] This appears to be a mistake. The father of Katherine, as is said above, was George Gordon. His father, indeed, was named Alexander, and so was his son and successor; but the latter did not obtain the title till many years after this period.-GIFFORD.