Enter FRION.

K. Ja. An humble-minded man!-Now, what intelligence

Speaks master secretary Frion.
Fri. Henry

Of England hath in open field o'erthrown
The armies who opposed him in the right
Of this young prince.

K. Ja. His subsidies you mean.—

More, if you have it?

Fri. Howard, Earl of Surrey,

Back'd by twelve earls and barons of the north,
A hundred knights and gentlemen of name,
And twenty thousand soldiers, is at hand
To raise your siege. Brooke, with a goodly navy,
Is admiral at sea; and Dawbeney follows
With an unbroken army for a second.

War. 'Tis false! they come to side with us.
K. Ja. Retreat;

We shall not find them stones and walls to cope with.
Yet, duke of York (for such thou sayst thou art),
I'll try thy fortune to the height; to Surrey,
By Marchmont, I will send a brave defiance
For single combat. Once a king will venture
His person to an earl,' with condition

Of spilling lesser blood. Surrey is bold,
And James resolv'd.

War. Oh, rather, gracious sir,

Create me to this glory, since my cause
Doth interest this fair quarrel; valued least,
I am his equal.

K. Ja. I will be the man.

March softly off; where victory can reap

A harvest crown'd with triumph, toil is cheap. [Exeunt.

1 His person to an earl.] Here earl is used as a dissyllable. It is necessary to notice this, as Ford occasionally varies in the measure of this and similar words in the course of the same speech. For an example, see Marchmont the herald's speech, p. 289, where earl occurs both as a monosyllable and a dissyllable.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

The English Camp near Ayton, on the Borders.

Enter SURREY, DURHAM, Soldiers with drums and colours.

Sur. Are all our braving enemies shrunk back,
Hid in the fogs of their distemper'd climate,
Not daring to behold our colours wave
In spite of this infected air? Can they
Look on the strength of Cundrestine defaced?
The glory of Heydon-hall devasted? that
Of Edington cast down? the pile of Fulden
O'erthrown? and this, the strongest of their forts,
Old Ayton-Castle,' yielded and demolish'd,
And yet not peep abroad? The Scots are bold,
Hardy in battle; but it seems the cause
They undertake, considered, appears
Unjointed in the frame on 't.
Dur. Noble Surrey,

Our royal master's wisdom is at all times
His fortune's harbinger; for when he draws
His sword to threaten war, his providence
Settles on peace, the crowning of an empire.

[A trumpet without. Sur. Rank all in order: 't is a herald's sound; Some message from king James. Keep a fix'd station.

1

-and this, the strongest of their forts,

Old Ayton-Castle.] The castle of Ayton, Bacon' says, was then esteemed one of the strongest places between Berwick and Edinburgh. With the capture of this place the struggle terminated, little to the honour, and less to the advantage, of either side. The noble historian says nothing of the main business of this scene, which must, I believe, be placed entirely to the account of the poet; though it is in some measure justified by the chivalrous and romantic character of James IV.GIFFORD.

Enter MARCHMONT and another, in heralds' coats. March. From Scotland's awful majesty we come Unto the English general.

Sur. To me?

Say on.
March.

Thus, then; the waste and prodigal

Effusion of so much guiltless blood,

As in two potent armies, of necessity,

Must glut the earth's dry womb, his sweet compassion
Hath studied to prevent; for which to thee,
Great earl of Surrey, in a single fight,
He offers his own royal person: fairly
Proposing these conditions only,-that
If victory conclude our master's right,
The earl shall deliver for his ransom

The town of Berwick to him, with the Fishgarths;
If Surrey shall prevail, the king will pay

A thousand pounds down present for his freedom, And silence further arms: so speaks king James. Sur. So speaks king James! so like a king he speaks.

Heralds, the English general returns

A sensible devotion from his heart,
His very soul, to this unfellow'd grace:

For let the king know, gentle heralds, truly,
How his descent from his great throne, to honour
A stranger subject with so high a title

As his compeer in arms, hath conquer'd more
Than any sword could do; for which (my loyalty
Respected) I will serve his virtues ever
In all humility: but Berwick, say,

Is none of mine to part with. In affairs
Of princes, subjects cannot traffic rights
Inherent to the crown. My life is mine,
That I dare freely hazard; and (with pardon
To some unbribed vainglory) if his majesty
Shall taste a change of fate, his liberty
Shall meet no articles. If I fall, falling
VOL. I.--25

So bravely, I refer me to his pleasure
Without condition; and for this dear favour,
Say, if not countermanded, I will cease

Hostility, unless provoked.

March. This answer

We shall repeat impartially.
Dur. With favour,

Pray have a little patience.-[Apart to SURREY.-Sir, you find

By these gay flourishes, how wearied travail
Inclines to willing rest; here's but a prologue,
However confidently utter'd, meant

For some ensuing acts of peace: consider
The time of year, unseasonableness of weather,
Charge, barrenness of profit; and occasion
Presents itself for honourable treaty,

Which we may make good use of; I will back,
As sent from you, in point of noble gratitude
Unto king James, with these his heralds; you
Shall shortly hear from me, my lord, for order
Of breathing or proceeding; and king Henry,
Doubt not, will thank the service.

Sur. To your wisdom,

Lord bishop, I refer it.

Dur. Be it so then.

Sur. Heralds, accept this chain, and these few

crowns.

March. Our duty, noble general.
Dur. In part

Of retribution for such princely love,
My lord the general is pleased to show
The king your master his sincerest zeal,
By further treaty, by no common man;
I will myself return with you.

Sur. You oblige

My faithfullest affections to you, lord bishop!
March. All happiness attend your lordship!
Sur. Come, friends

And fellow-soldiers; we, I doubt, shall meet

No enemies but woods and hills, to fight with;
Then 't were as good to feed and sleep at home:
We may be free from danger, not secure.

SCENE II.

The Scottish Camp.

Enter WARBECK and FRION.

[Exeunt.

War. Frion, oh Frion, all my hopes of glory Are at a stand! the Scottish king grows dull, Frosty, and wayward, since this Spanish agent Hath mix'd discourses with him; they are private, I am not call'd to council now:-confusion On all his crafty shrugs! I feel the fabric Of my designs is tottering.

Fri. Henry's policies

Stir with too many engines.
War. Let his mines,

Shaped in the bowels of the earth, blow up
Works rais'd for my defence, yet can they never
Toss into air the freedom of my birth,
Or disavow my blood Plantagenet's!

I am my father's son still. But, oh Frion,
When I bring into count with my disasters,
My wife's compartnership, my Kate's, my life's,
Then, then my frailty feels an earthquake. Mischief
Damn Henry's plots! I will be England's king,
Or let my aunt of Burgundy report

My fall in the attempt deserv'd our ancestors!
Fri. You grow too wild in passion; if you will
Appear a prince indeed, confine your will
To moderation.

War. What a saucy rudeness

Prompts this distrust? If? If I will appear?
Appear a prince? death throttle such deceits
Even in their birth of utterance! cursed cozenage
Of trust! You make me mad; 't were best, it seems,