Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my Lord of

York,

To be the post, in hope of his reward.

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York. At your pleasure, my good lord. Who's

within there, ho!

Enter a Servingman.

Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick
To sup with me to-morrow night. Away!

[Exeunt.

ACT SECOND

SCENE I

Saint Alban's.

Enter the King, Queen, Gloucester, Cardinal, and Suffolk, with Falconers halloing.

Queen. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook, I saw not better sport these seven years' day: Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high; And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out. King. But what a point, my lord, your falcon

made,

And what a pitch she flew above the rest!
To see how God in all His creatures works!
Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.

Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty

My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; 10
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.

Glou. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind

That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. Car. I thought as much; he would be above the Glou. Aye, my lord cardinal? how think you by

that?

Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?

King. The treasury of everlasting joy.

Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and

thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; 20
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,

That smooth'st it so with king and common-
weal!

Glou. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown

peremptory?

Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ?

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice;

With such holiness can you do it? Suf. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.

Glou. As who, my lord?

Suf.

Why, as you, my lord,

30

An 't like your lordly lord-protectorship. Glou. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine inso

lence.

Queen. And thy ambition, Gloucester.

King. I prithee, peace, good queen,

And whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make,

Against this proud protector, with my sword! Glou. [Aside to Car.] Faith, holy uncle, would

'twere come to that!

Car. [Aside to Glou.] Marry, when thou darest. Glou. [Aside to Car.] Make up no factious num

bers for the matter;

40

In thine own person answer thy abuse. Car. [Aside to Glou.] Aye, where thou darest not

peep: an if thou darest,

This evening, on the east side of the grove.

King. How now, my lords!
Car.

Believe me, cousin Gloucester,

Had not your man put up the fowl so sud-
denly,

We had had more sport. [Aside to Glou.]
Come with thy two-hand sword.

Glou. True, uncle.

Car. [Aside to Glou.] Are you advised? the east

side of the grove? Glou. [Aside to Car.]. Cardinal, I am with you. King. Why, how now, uncle Gloucester! Glou. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my

lord.

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[Aside to Car.] Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this,

Or all my fence shall fail.

Car. [Aside to Glou.] Medice, teipsum

Protector, see to 't well, protect yourself. King. The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords,

How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

Enter a Townsman of Saint Alban's, crying 'A miracle!'

Glou. What means this noise?

Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim? 60 Towns. A miracle! a miracle! Suf. Come to the king and tell him what miracle. Towns. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's

shrine,

Within this half-hour, hath received his sight;
A man that ne'er saw in his life before.

King. Now, God be praised, that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his brethren, bearing Simpcox, between two in a chair, Simpcox's Wife following.

Car. Here comes the townsmen on procession,
To present your highness with the man.
King. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, 70