Sur. Rank all in order: 'tis a herald's sound; Some message from king James. Keep a fix'd station.

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 vain-glory) if his majesty
Shall taste a change of fate, his liberty
Shall meet no articles. If I fall, falling
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 unpartially.

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 shew
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 'twere as good to feed and sleep at home:
We may be free from danger, not secure.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Scottish Camp.

Enter WARBECK and FRION.

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 are 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. Mis-
chief

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; 'twere best, it
seems,

That I should turn impostor to myself,

Be mine own counterfeit, belie the truth

Of
my dear mother's womb, the sacred bed
Of a prince murther'd, and a living baffled!
Fri. Nay, if you have no ears to hear, I have
No breath to spend in vain.

War. Sir, sir, take heed!

Gold, and the promise of promotion, rarely
Fail in temptation.

Fri. Why to me this?

War. Nothing.

Speak what

you will; we are not sunk so low But your advice may piece again the heart Which many cares have broken: you were wont In all extremities to talk of comfort;

Have you none left now? I'll not interrupt you.
Good, bear with my distractions! If king James
Deny us dwelling here, next, whither must I?
I prithee, be not angry.

Fri. Sir, I told you

Of letters come from Ireland; how the Cornish
Stomach their last defeat, and humbly sue
That with such forces, as you could partake,
You would in person land in Cornwall, where
Thousands will entertain your title gladly.