But we shall teach the lad another language: 'Tis good we have him fast. Daw. The hangman's physic Will purge this saucy humour. 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. 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 Dalyell, 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; May pluck the true stag down. Yet, yet, confess Thy parentage; for yet the king has mercy. Simn. You would be Dick the Fourth, very likely! Your pedigree is publish'd; you are known War. Baited to my death? The duke of Richmond's practice on my fortunes; Possession of a crown ne'er wanted heralds. Simn. You will not know who I am? Urs. Lambert Simnel, Your predecessor in a dangerous uproar: To grace, but by the king vouchsafed his service. ruffled Against my master, leap'd to catch the moon, 3 Your pedigree is publish'd, &c.] From Bacon." Thus it was. There was a townsman of Tournay, whose name was John Osbeck, a convert Jew, married to Catherine de Faro, whose business drew him to live, for a time, with his wife at London, in King Edward the IVth's days. During which time he had a son by her; and being known in court, the king did him the honour to stand godfather to his child, and named him Peter. But afterwards proving a dainty and effeminate youth, he was commonly called by the diminutive of his name, Peter-kin or Perkin." The term land-loper, applied to him by Simnel, is also from the historian. "He (Perkin) had been from his childhood such a wanderer, or, as the king called him, such a land-loper, as it was extreme hard to hunt out his nest." Vaunted my name Plantagenet, as you do; Forgave me all my villanies, reprieved And is not this, now, better than to buffet The hangman's clutches? or to brave the cordage Of injuries, in scorn, may bid defiance To this base man's foul language! Thou poor vermin, How dar'st thou creep so near me? thou an earl! |