University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

—Opposite Westminster Hall.
Sir Henry Vane, Lord Savile, Lord Holland and others of the Court.
Sir H. Vane.
The Commons thrust you out?

Savile.
And what kept you
From sharing their civility?

Sir H. Vane.
Kept me?
Fresh news from Scotland, sir! worse than the last,
If that may be. All's up with Strafford there:
Nothing to bar the mad Scots marching hither
Next Lord's-day morning. That detained me, sir!
Well now, before they thrust you out,—go on,—
Their Speaker—did the fellow Lenthal say
All we set down for him?

Holland.
Not a word missed.
Ere he began, we entered, Savile, I
And Bristol and some more, with hope to breed
A wholesome awe in the new Parliament.
But such a gang of graceless ruffians, Vane,
As glared at us!

Vane.
So many?

Savile.
Not a bench
Without its complement of burly knaves;
Your hopeful son among them: Hampden leant
Upon his shoulder—think of that!

Vane.
I'd think
On Lenthal's speech, if I could get at it.
Urged he, I ask, how grateful they should prove
For this unlooked-for summons from the King?

Holland.
Just as we drilled him.

Vane.
That the Scots will march
On London?

Holland.
All, and made so much of it,
A dozen subsidies at least seemed sure
To follow, when . . .

Vane.
Well?

Holland.
'T is a strange thing, now!
I've a vague memory of a sort of sound,
A voice, a kind of vast unnatural voice—
Pym, sir, was speaking! Savile, help me out:
What was it all?

Savile.
Something about “a matter”—
No,—“work for England.”

Holland.
“England's great revenge”
He talked of.

Savile.
How should I get used to Pym
More than yourselves?

Holland.
However that be,
'T was something with which we had nought to do,
For we were “strangers” and't was “England's work”—
(All this while looking us straight in the face)
In other words, our presence might be spared.
So, in the twinkling of an eye, before
I settled to my mind what ugly brute
Was likest Pym just then, they yelled us out,
Locked the doors after us, and here are we.

Vane.
Eliot's old method . . .

Savile.
Prithee, Vane, a truce
To Eliot and his times, and the great Duke,
And how to manage Parliaments! 'T was you
Advised the Queen to summon this: why, Strafford
(To do him justice) would not hear of it.

Vane.
Say rather, you have done the best of turns
To Strafford: he's at York, we all know why.
I would you had not set the Scots on Strafford
Till Strafford put down Pym for us, my lord!

Savile.
Was it I altered Strafford's plans? did I . . .

A Messenger enters.
Messenger.
The Queen, my lords—she sends me: follow me
At once; 't is very urgent! she requires
Your counsel: something perilous and strange
Occasions her command.

Savile.
We follow, friend!
Now, Vane;—your Parliament will plague us all!

Vane.
No Strafford here beside!

Savile.
If you dare hint
I had a hand in his betrayal, sir . . .

Holland.
Nay, find a fitter time for quarrels—Pym
Will overmatch the best of you; and, think,
The Queen!

Vane.
Come on, then: understand, I loathe
Strafford as much as any—but his use!
To keep off Pym, to screen a friend or two,
I would we had reserved him yet awhile.