We'll run as hot in resolution, gladly,
To make the earl our jailor.

Jane. Madam, madam,
They come, they come!

Enter OXFORD, with his followers.

Dal. Keep back, or he who dares Rudely to violate the law of honour, Runs on my sword.

Kath. Most noble sir, forbear!

What reason draws you hither, gentlemen?
Whom seek ye?

Orf. All stand off. With favour, lady, From Henry, England's king, I would present, Unto the beauteous princess, Katherine Gordon, The tender of a gracious entertainment.

Kath. We are that princess, whom your master

king

Pursues with reaching arms, to draw into

His power: let him use his tyranny,

We shall not be his subjects.

Orf. My commission

Extends no further, excellentest lady,

Than to a service; 'tis king Henry's pleasure,
That you,
and all that have relation to you,
Be guarded as becomes your birth and greatness:
For, rest assured, sweet princess, that not aught
Of what you do call yours, shall find disturbance,
Or any welcome, other than what suits

Your high condition.

Kath. By what title, sir,

May I acknowledge you?

Orf. Your servant, lady,

Descended from the line of Oxford's earls,
Inherits what his ancestors before him

Were owners of.

Kath. Your king is herein royal,

That by a peer so ancient in desert,

As well as blood, commands us to his presence. Oxf. Invites you, princess, not commands. Kath. Pray use

Your own phrase as you list; to your protection, Both I and mine submit.

A nobleman, whom fame hath bravely spoken.
To him the king my master bade me say
How willingly he courts his friendship; far
From an enforcement, more than what in terms
Of courtesy, so great a prince may hope for.
Dal. My name is Dalyell.

Oxf. 'Tis a name hath won

Both thanks and wonder, from report, my lord;
The court of England emulates your merit,
And covets to embrace you.

Dal. I must wait on

The princess in her fortunes.

Orf. Will you please,

Great lady, to set forward?

Kath. Being driven

By fate, it were in vain to strive with heaven.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Salisbury.

Enter King HENRY, SURREY, URSWICK, and a Guard of Soldiers.

K. Hen. The counterfeit king Perkin is escaped:

Escape! so let him; he is hedged too fast
Within the circuit of our English pale,

To steal out of our ports, or leap the walls
Which guard our land; the seas are rough, and

wider

Than his weak arms can tug with. Surrey, henceforth

Your king may reign in quiet; turmoils past,
Like some unquiet dream, have rather busied
Our fancy, than affrighted rest of state.-
But, Surrey, why, in articling a peace
With James of Scotland, was not restitution
Of losses which our subjects did sustain
By the Scotch inroads, question'd?
Sur. Both demanded

And urged, my lord; to which the king replied,

But, Surrey, why, &c.] Henry seems to have taken an odd time to question Surrey on this point. Perhaps the poet here, as in a former scene, intended to characterise the eager cupidity of the king, always alive to his pecuniary interests. The passage stands thus in Bacon. "The bishop (Fox) demanded restitution of the spoils taken by the Scotish, as damages for the same. But the Scotish commissioners answered, that that was but as water spilt upon the ground, which could not be gotten up again; and that the king's people were better able to bear the loss, than their master to repair it."

In modest merriment, but smiling earnest,
How that our master Henry was much abler
To bear the detriments, than he repay them.

K. Hen. The young man, I believe, spake honest truth;

He studies to be wise betimes. Has, Urswick, Sir Rice ap Thomas, and lord Brook, our steward, Return'd the Western gentlemen full thanks, From us, for their tried loyalties?

Urs. They have;

Which, as if life and health had reign'd amongst them,

With open hearts they joyfully received.

K. Hen. Young Buckingham is a fair-natured prince,

Lovely in hopes, and worthy of his father;
Attended by an hundred knights and squires
Of special name, he tender'd humble service,
Which we must ne'er forget; and Devonshire's
wounds,

Though slight, shall find sound cure in our respect.

Enter DAWBENEY, with a Guard, leading in WARBECK, HERON, JOHN A-WATER, ASTLEY, and SKETON, chained.

Daw. Life to the king, and safety fix his throne! I here present you, royal sir, a shadow Of majesty, but, in effect, a substance Of pity, a young man, in nothing grown To ripeness, but the ambition of your mercy : Perkin, the Christian world's strange wonder.

K. Hen. Dawbeney,

We observe no wonder; I behold, 'tis true,
An ornament of nature, fine and polish'd,

A handsome youth indeed, but not admire him. How came he to thy hands?

Daw. From sanctuary

At Bewley, near Southampton; register'd
With these few followers, for persons privileged.
K. Hen. I must not thank you, sir! you were
to blame

To infringe the liberty of houses sacred:
Dare we be irreligious?

Daw. Gracious lord,

They voluntarily resign'd themselves,
Without compulsion.

K. Hen. So? 'twas very well;

'Twas very, very well!-turn now thine eyes, Young man, upon thyself, and thy past actions. What revels in combustion through our kingdom, A frenzy of aspiring youth hath danced,

Till, wanting breath, thy feet of pride have slipt To break thy neck!

War. But not my heart; my heart

Will mount, till every drop of blood be frozen
By death's perpetual winter: if the sun
Of majesty be darken'd, let the sun

Of life be hid from me, in an eclipse

Lasting and universal! Sir, remember

There was a shooting in of light, when Richmond, Not aiming at a crown, retired, and gladly,

For comfort to the duke of Bretaine's court.