 | King Henry the VII. Or The Popish Impostor |  |
SCENE V.
A Field near Norham Castle.Enter Huntley, and all the Scotch Nobility.
Hunt.
Nobles, Freemen, and Scots; I've transgress'd the Laws
Of our King and Council, and 'gainst their Sentence,
From Death, have borrow'd a few Hours to live
Amongst you. Then as my Time is short,
I cannot waste it in golden Speech or
Rounded Phrase; for if my Subject will not
Move you, my Eloquence cannot. Then to th'Purpose.
Many I see here whose Sires, and Grandsires,
Have fought with me for Liberty, in the
Very Field where now we stand. You Matthew Steward,
Earl of Lenox, Alexander Lord Forbes,
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To you I speak particularly—your
Fathers I well remember to've fought with.
And many more no doubt are here, which
My Eye cannot now take in. I have seen
Their free, their willing Swords plow thro' Tyranny,
And their smoaking Blood sluic'd to manure this Field.
From whence reviv'd the sweetest fairest Flower
That e're adorn'd Scotland's Soil.
Liberty, my Friends! Priest-stab'd Liberty!
This Flower,
Countrymen, your Fathers have transmitted
To your Care. Then take Heed on't, preserve it
As you wou'd Existence; set it in the Centre
Of your Hearts; that's it's native Soil, there,
Only there 'twill flourish,—Trust it to Rome,
Priests, or Priest-rid Monarchs, 'twill surely perish.
Lord.
My Lord, sorely
We feel our Country's Wrongs, and wish to cure them.
Hunt.
I've had secret Conference, in Norham Castle,
With his Grace of York; and have settled such
Terms as will, I hope, restore Peace and Freedom
To our harrass'd Land; and befit the Honour
Of our King to ratify.
O Countrymen, I have not Time nor Memory
To sum up our Evils; they are beyond
Arithmetic's enumerating Power:
'Tis your own feeling that can convey
The Number of your Stings, and your own Deeds
That must redress 'em.
So all those, who are in love
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Let them remain behind—those who love their King,
Scotland and Liberty, follow me.
Omnes.
Liberty, Liberty, Scotland, huzza!
[Exeunt.
| King Henry the VII. Or The Popish Impostor | |