K. Hen. Sirrah, shift Your antick pageantry, and now appear In your own nature, or you'll taste the danger War. I expect No less, than what severity calls justice, And politicians safety; let such beg As feed on alms: but, if there can be mercy In a protested enemy, then may it Descend to these poor creatures, whose engagements, To th' bettering of their fortunes, have incurr'd Flow from some noble orator, in death, I owe the fee of thankfulness. K. Hen. So brave! What a bold knave is this! Which of these rebels Has been the mayor of Cork? Daw. This wise formality: Kneel to the king, ye rascals! K. Hen. Canst thou hope [They kneel. A pardon, where thy guilt is so apparent? J. a-Wat. Under your good favours, as men are men, they may err; for I confess, respectively, in taking great parts, the one side prevailing, the other side must go down: herein the point is clear, if the proverb hold, that hanging goes by destiny, that it is to little purpose to say, this thing, or that, shall be thus, or thus; for, as the fates will have it, so it must be; and who can help it? Daw. O blockhead! thou a privy-counsellor? Beg life, and cry aloud, Henry!" "Heaven save king J. a-Wat. Every man knows what is best, as it happens; for my own part, I believe it is true, if I be not deceived, that kings must be kings, and subjects subjects: but which is which, you shall pardon me for that;-whether we speak or hold our peace, all are mortal, no man knows his end. K. Hen. We trifle time with follies. All. Mercy, mercy! K. Hen. Urswick, command the dukeling and these fellows [They rise. Taunts, or abuse be suffer'd to their persons; Time may restore their wits, whom vain ambition War. Noble thoughts Meet freedom in captivity: the Tower? Our childhood's dreadful nursery. K. Hen. No more! Urs. Come, come, you shall have leisure to bethink you. [Exit URS. with PERKIN and his followers, guarded. K. Hen. Was ever so much impudence in forgery? The custom sure of being stiled a king, Hath fasten'd in his thought that he is such; But we shall teach the lad another language: 'Tis good we have him fast. Daw. The hangman's physic Will purge this saucy humour. K. Hen. Very likely: Yet we could temper mercy with extremity, Enter OXFORD, KATHERINE in her richest Attire, DALYELL, JANE, and Attendants. Orf. Great sir, be pleased, With your accustom'd grace, to entertain K. Hen. Oxford, herein We must beshrew thy knowledge of our nature. Half way in point of love. Excuse, fair cousin, As both are now befriended, sir; however, K. Hen. Our arms Shall circle them from malice-a sweet lady! Kath. Oh, sir, I have a husband. K. Hen. We'll prove your father, husband, friend, and servant, Prove what you wish to grant us. Lords, be careful A thousand pounds from our exchequer yearly, Kath. But my husband? K. Hen. By all descriptions, you are noble Dal yell, Whose generous truth hath famed a rare obser vance. We thank you; 'tis a goodness gives addition Dal. Worthier than your praises, Right princely sir, I need not glory in. K. Hen. Embrace him, lords. Whoever calls you mistress, Is lifted in our charge:-a goodlier beauty Mine eyes yet ne'er encounter'd. Kath. Cruel misery Of fate! what rests to hope for? K. Hen. Forward, lords, To London. Fair, ere long, I shall present you With a glad object, peace, and Huntley's blessing. [Exeunt. SCENE III. London.-The Tower-hill. Enter Constable and Officers, WARBECK, URSWICK, and LAMBERT SIMNEL as a Falconer, followed by the rabble. Const. Make room there! keep off, I require you; and none come within twelve foot of his majesty's new stocks, upon pain of displeasure. Bring forward the malefactors.-Friend, you must to this geer, no remedy.-Open the hole, and in with the legs, just in the middle hole; there, that hole. Keep off, or I'll commit you all! shall not a man in authority be obeyed? So, so, there; 'tis as it should be:-[WARBECK is put in the stocks.] put on the padlock, and give me the key. Off, I say, keep off. Urs. Yet, Warbeck, clear thy conscience; thou hast tasted King Henry's mercy liberally; the law Have doom'd thee to the gallows. Twice most wickedly, Most desperately hast thou escaped the Tower; |