Sket. My brother Heron hath right wisely deliver'd his opinion; for he that threads his needle with the sharp eyes of industry, shall in time go thorough-stitch with the new suit of preferment.

Ast. Spoken to the purpose, my fine witted brother Sketon; for as no indenture but has its counterpane; no noverint but his condition or defeisance; so no right but may have claim, no claim but

may have possession, any act of parliament to the contrary notwithstanding.

Fri. You are all read in mysteries of state, And quick of apprehension, deep in judgment, Active in resolution; and 'tis pity Such counsel should lie buried in obscurity. But why, in such a time and cause of triumph, Stands the judicious mayor of Cork so silent ? Believe it, sir, as English Richard prospers, You must not miss employment of high nature.

J. a-Wat. If men may be credited in their mortality, which I dare not peremptorily aver but they may, or not be; presumptions by this marriage are then, in sooth, of fruitful expectation. Or else I must not justify other men's belief, more than other should rely on mine. Fri. Pith of experience! those that have borne

office, Weigh every word before it can drop from them. But, noble counsellors, since now the present Requires, in point of honour, (pray mistake not,) Some service to our lord; 'tis fit the Scots

Should not engross all glory to themselves,
At this so grand and eminent solemnity.

Sket. The Scots ? the motion is defied: I had rather, for my part, without trial of my country, , suffer persecution under the pressing-iron of reproach; or let my skin be punch'd full of oyletholes with the bodkin of derision.

Ast. I will sooner lose both my ears on the pillory of forgery

Her. Let me first live a bankrupt, and die, in the lousy hole, of hunger, without compounding for sixpence in the pound.

J. a-Wat. If men fail not in their expectations, there may be spirits also that digest no rude affronts, master secretary Frion, or I am cozen'd; which is possible, I grant. Fri. Resolv'd like men of knowledge! at this

feast, then, In honour of the bride, the Scots, I know, Will in some shew, some masque, or some device, Prefer their duties: now, it were uncomely, That we be found less forward for our prince, Than they are for their lady; and by how much We outshine them in persons of account, By so much more will our endeavours meet with A livelier applause. Great emperors Have, for their recreations, undertook Such kind of pastimes; as for the conceit, Refer it to my study; the performance You all shall share a thanks in : 'twill be grateful.

4

Her. The motion is allow'd; I have stole to a dancing-school when I was a prentice.

Ast. There have been Irish-hubbubs, when I have made one too.

Sket. For fashioning of shapes, and cutting a cross-caper, turn me off to my trade again.

J. a-Wat. Surely, there is, if I be not deceived, a kind of gravity in merriment; as there is, or perhaps ought to be, respect of persons in the quality of carriage, which is, as it is construed, either so,

or so,

Fri. Still you come home to me; upon occa

sion,

I find you relish courtship with discretion;
And such are fit for statesmen of your merits.
Pray ye wait the prince, and in his ear acquaint him
With this design; I'll follow and direct you.
Oh the toil

[Exeunt all but Frion.
Of humouring this abject scum of mankind !
Muddy-brain'd peasants ! princes feel a misery
Beyond impartial sufferance, whose extremes
Must yield to such abettors :-yet our tides
Runs smoothly without adverse winds; run on!
Flow to a full sea! time alone debates
Quarrels forewritten in the book of fates.

[Exit,

4 Irish-hubbubs.] Tumultuous merry-meetings at wakes and fairs, The speakers, it should be observed, are all from Ireland. Astley, as has been said, was a petty-fogger ; his presence at these hubbubs therefore is natural enough. s Yet our tide, &c.] i.e. hitherto, thus far, &c. as in p. 62.

p

ACT III. SCENE I.

Westminster. --The Palace.

Enter King HENRY, with his Gorget on, his Sword,

Plume of Feathers, and leading-staff, (truncheon )
followed by URSWICK.
K. Hen. How runs the time of day?
Urs. Past ten, my lord.

K. Hen. A bloody hour will it prove to some,
Whose disobedience, like the sons o'th' earth,
Throws a defiance 'gainst the face of heaven.
Oxford, with Essex, and stout De la Poole,
Have quieted the Londoners, I hope,
And set them safe from fear.

Urs. They are all silent.
K. Hen. From their own battlements, they may

behold
Saint George's fields o'erspread with armed men;
Amongst whom our own royal standard threatens
Confusion to opposers: we must learn
To practise war again in time of peace, ,
Or lay our crown before our subjects' feet;
Ha, Urswick, must we not?

Urs. The powers, who seated
King Henry on his lawful throne, will ever
Rise
up

in his defence.
K. Hen. Rage shall not fright
The bosom of our confidence; in Kent
Our Cornish rebels, cozen'd of their hopes.
Met brave resistance by that country's earl,

George Abergeny, Cobham, Poynings, Guilford,
And other loyal hearts; now, if Blackheath
Must be resery'd the fatal tomb to swallow
Such stiff-neck'd abjects, as with weary marches
Have travell’d from their homes, their wives, and

children,
To
pay,

instead of subsidies, their lives, We may continue sovereign! Yet, Urswick, We'll not abate one penny, what in parliament Hath freely been contributed; we must not; Money gives soul to action. Our competitor, The Flemish counterfeit, with James of Scotland, Will

prove what courage need and want can nou

rish,

Without the food of fit supplies :—but, Urswick,
I have a charm in secret, that shall loose
The witchcraft, wherewith young King James is

bound, And free it at my pleasure without bloodshed. Urs. Your majesty's a wise king, sent from

heaven, Protector of the just.

K. Hen. Let dinner cheerfully Be serv'd in ; this day of the week is ours, Our day of providence; for Saturday Yet never fail'd, in all my undertakings, To yield me rest at night.'—[A Flourish.]—What

means this warning ? Good fate, speak peace to Henry!