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. "Twill prove too fatal;

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

Craw. How the counsel 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, 'tis 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 mixt with
mine,

8

By marriage of this girl to a straggler !—

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

In

K. Ja. Kings are counterfeits

your repute, grave oracle, not presently

Set on their thrones, with sceptres in their fists! But use your own detraction; 'tis our pleasure

8

By marriage of this girl.] See vol. i. p. 19. The circumstance is thus briefly noticed by Lord Bacon.- "To put it out of doubt that he took (Perkin) to be a great prince, and not a representation only, King James gave consent that this duke should take to wife the Lady Catherine Gordon, daughter of the Earl of Huntley, being a near kinswoman to the king himself, and a young virgin of excellent beauty and virtue."

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.

Hunt. Oh, 'tis well,

Exceeding well! I never was ambitious

Of using congées to my daughter queen

A queen! perhaps, a quean! Forgive me, Dalyell,

Thou honourable gentleman;-none here

Dare speak one word of comfort?

Dal. Cruel misery!

Craw. The lady, gracious prince, may be 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.

9 A queen! perhaps, a quean!] I cannot reconcile myself to this reading, though I have adopted it. The noble Huntley would scarcely use such language of his daughter, however lightly he might be disposed to treat the young pretender to royalty. The passage stands thus in the old copy:

"I never was ambitious

Of using congeys to my Daughter Queene:
A Queene, perhaps a Queene?"

If the last line be read

A queen, perhaps! a queen!

it may seem to express his affected surprize at her advancement; but let the reader decide.

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 Welsh 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 KATHERINE; Countess of CRAWFORD, JANE DOUGLAS, FRION, JOHN A-WATER, ASTLEY, HERON, and SKETON.

Look, lords, look;

Here's hand in hand already!

K. Ja. Peace, old frenzy.

How like a king he looks! Lords, but observe The confidence of his aspéct; dross cannot Cleave to so pure a metal-royal youth! Plantagenet undoubted!

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

War. An 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, a plain subject,

'Ho, brave!-Youth.] The old copy has lady. The earl evidently meant to repeat the king's last words; the mistake probably arose from the printer's eye having been caught by the word immediately below it.

2 Hunt. I am Huntley,

Old Alexander Gordon.] This appears to be a mistake. The