SCENE III.

Another Part of the same.

Enter King JAMES, DURHAM, and HIALAS.

Hial. France, Spain, and Germany combine a league

Of amity with England; nothing wants

For settling peace through Christendom, but love
Between the British monarchs, James, and Henry.
Dur. The English merchants, sir, have been re-
ceived

With general procession into Antwerp;
The emperor confirms the combination.

Hial. The king of Spain resolves a marriage For Katherine his daughter, with prince Arthur. Dur. France courts this holy contract.

Hial. What can hinder

A quietness in England?—

Dur. But your suffrage

To such a silly creature, mighty sir,

As is but in effect an apparition,

A shadow, a mere trifle?

Hial. To this union

The good of both the church and commonwealth

Invite you.

Dur. To this unity, a mystery

Of providence points out a greater blessing

For both these nations, than our human reason
Can search into. King Henry hath a daughter,
The princess Margaret; I need not urge,
What honour, what felicity can follow
On such affinity 'twixt two Christian kings,
Inleagued by ties of blood; but sure I am,
you, sir, ratify the peace proposed,

If

I dare both motion and effect this marriage
For weal of both the kingdom's.

K. Ja. Dar'st thou, lord bishop?

Dur. Put it to trial, royal James, by sending Some noble personage to the English court By way of embassy.

Hial. Part of the business

Shall suit my mediation.

K. Ja. Well; what Heaven

Hath pointed out to be, must be; you two
Are ministers, I hope, of blessed fate.
But herein only I will stand acquitted,
No blood of innocents shall buy my peace.
For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me,
Commended by the states of Christendom,
A prince, tho' in distress; his fair demeanour,
Lovely behaviour, unappalled spirit,

Spoke him not base in blood, however clouded. The brute beasts have their rocks and caves to fly to,

And men the altars of the church; to us

He came for refuge: Kings come near in na

ture

Unto the gods, in being touch'd with pity."

Yet, noble friends, his mixture with our blood,
Even with our own, shall no way interrupt
A general peace; only I will dismiss him
From my protection, throughout my dominions,
In safety; but not ever to return.

Hial. You are a just king.

Dur. Wise, and herein happy.

K. Ja. Nor will we dally in affairs of weight: Huntley, lord bishop, shall with you to England Ambassador from us; we will throw down Our weapons; peace on all sides! now, repair Unto our council; we will soon be with you. Hial. Delay shall question no dispatch; Heaven crown it!

[Exeunt DURHAM and HIALAS.
K. Ja. A league with Ferdinand! a marriage
With English Margaret! a free release
From restitution for the late affronts!
Cessation from hostility, and all

For Warbeck, not deliver'd, but dismiss'd!
We could not wish it better.-Dalyell!—

Dal. Here, sir.

Enter DALYEll.

K. Ja. Are Huntley and his daughter sent for? Dal. Sent for,

And come, my lord.

K. Ja. Say to the English prince,

We want his company.

Dal. He is at hand, sir.

Enter WARBECK, KATHERINE, JANE, FRION, HERON, SKETON, JOHN A-WATER, ASTLEY,

K. Ja. Cousin, our bounty, favours, gentleness, Our benefits, the hazard of our person, Our people's lives, our land, hath evidenced How much we have engag'd on your behalf: How trivial, and how dangerous our hopes Appear, how fruitless our attempts in war, How windy, rather smoky, your assurance Of party, shews, we might in vain repeat: But now, obedience to the mother church, A father's care upon his country's weal, The dignity of state directs our wisdom, To seal an oath of peace through Christendom; To which we are sworn already: it is you Must only seek new fortunes in the world, And find an harbour elsewhere. As I promis'd On your arrival, you have met no usage Deserves repentance in your being here; But yet I must live master of mine own: However, what is necessary for you At your departure, I am well content You be accommodated with; provided Delay prove not my enemy.

War. It shall not,

Most glorious prince. The fame of my designs
Soars higher, than report of ease and sloth
Can aim at; I acknowledge all your favours
Boundless and singular; am only wretched

In words as well as means, to thank the grace
That flow'd so liberally. Two empires firmly
You are lord of, Scotland and duke Richard's
heart:

My claim to mine inheritance shall sooner
Fail, than my life to serve you, best of kings;
And, witness Edward's blood in me! I am
More loath to part with such a great example
Of virtue, than all other mere respects.
But, sir, my last suit is, you will not force
From me, what you have given, this chaste lady,
Resolved on all extremes.

Kath. I am your wife,

No human power can or shall divorce

My faith from duty.

War. Such another treasure

The earth is bankrupt of.

K. Ja. I gave her, cousin,

And must avow the gift; will add withall
A furniture becoming her high birth,
And unsuspected constancy; provide

For your attendance: we will part good friends.

[Exit with DALYELL.

War. The Tudor hath been cunning in his plots; His Fox of Durham would not fail at last.

But what? our cause and courage are our own:
Be men, my friends, and let our cousin king
See how we follow fate as willingly

As malice follows us. You are all resolved
For the west parts of England?

All. Cornwall, Cornwall!