Alarum: a charge: after a long skirmish, assault; flourish. Enter King Edward with his train and Baliol prisoner. Edward speaketh.

Longsh. Now, trothless King, what fruits have braving boasts?

What end hath treason but a sudden fall?
Such as have known thy life and bringing up
Have prais'd thee for thy learning and thy art:
How comes it then that thou forget'st thy books,
That school'd thee to forget ingratitude?
Unkind! this hand hath 'nointed thee a king;
This tongue pronounc'd the sentence of thy ruth:
If thou, in lieu of mine unfeigned love,
Hast levied arms for to attempt my crown,
Now see thy fruits: thy glories are dispers'd
And traitor-like 102 sith thou hast pass'd thy bounds
Thy sturdy neck must stoop to bear this yoke.

Baliol. I took this lesson, Edward, from my book, To keep a just equality of mind,

Content with every fortune as it comes :
So can'st thou threat no more than I expect.
Longsh. So sir: your moderation is enforc'd;

Your goodly glozes cannot make it good.

Baliol. Then I will keep in silence what I mean, Since Edward thinks my meaning is not good.

Edmund. Nay Baliol speak forth, if there yet remain

A little remnant of persuading art.

Baliol. If cunning have power to win the king, Let those employ it that can flatter him:

If honour'd deed may reconcile the king

It lies in me to give and him to take.

Longsh. Why, what remains for Baliol now to give? Baliol. Allegiance, as becomes a royal king.

Longsh. What league of faith, where league is broken once?

Baliol. The greater hope in them that once have fallen.

102 The old copies give it;

"And his for like sith thou hast pass'd the bounds,"

which is quite unintelligible.

VOL. XI.

G

Longsh. But foolish are those monarchs, that do yield

A conquer'd realm upon submissive vows.

Baliol. There, take my crown, and so redeem my life.

Longsh. I, sir; that was the choicest plea of both; For whoso quells the pomp of haughty minds, And breaks their staff whereon they build their trust, Is sure in wanting power they cannot harm 103. Baliol shall live; but still within such bounds That if his wings grow fleg 103*, they may be clipp'd. Enter the POTTER '04, and the POTTER'S WIFE, called the Potter's-hive, dwelling there, and JOHN her man. Potter's Wife. John, come away: you go as though you slept. A great knave and be afraid of a little thundering and lightning?

John. Call you this a little thundering? I am sure my breeches find it a great deal, for I am sure they are stuff'd with thunder.

Potter's Wife. They are stuffed with a fool, are they not? Will it please you carry the lanthorn a little handsomer, and not to carry it with your hands in your slops?

John. Slops quoth you. Would I had tarried at home by the fire and then I should not have need to put my hands in my pockets. But I'll lay my life, I know the reason of this foul weather.

Potter's Wife. Do you know the reason? I pray thee John tell me, and let me hear the reason.

John. I lay my life some of your gossips be crosslegg'd that we came from: but you are wise mistress, for you come away, and will not stay a gossipping in a dry house all night.

103" They carry not harm," is the old and doubtless mistaken reading of the quartos.

103* i. e. grow fledged."

104 The Potter here mentioned does not say a word, and it is evident that he has nothing to do with the scene. The whole of this stage direction is confused: it ought to run "Enter the Potter's Wife and John her mun, dwelling at a place called Potter's-hive."

Potter's Wife. Would it please you to walk and leave off your knavery? But stay John! what's that, riseth out of the ground? Jesus bless us, John! look how it riseth higher and higher!

John. By my troth, mistress, 'tis a woman. Good lord! do women grow? I never saw none grow before. Potter's Wife. Hold thy tongue, thou foolish knave: it is the spirit of some woman.

Q. Elinor. Ha! let me see where am I? On Charing Green? I, on Charing Green here, hard by Westminster where I was crowned, and Edward there made king. I, 'tis true-so it is: and therefore, Edward, kiss not me, unless you will straight perfume your lips, Edward.

Potter's Wife. Ora pro nobis. John, I pray fall to your prayers. For my life, it is the queen that chafes thus, who sunk this day on Charing Green, and now is risen up on Potter's Hive; and therefore truly, John, I'll go to her.

[Here let the Potter's Wife go to the Queen. Q. Elinor. Welcome, good woman. What place is this? sea or land? I pray shew to me.

Potter's Wife. Your grace need not to fear: you are on firm ground. It is the Potter's Hive; and therefore cheer your majesty, for I will see you safe conducted to the court, if case your highness be therewithal pleased. [Make a noise, Westward Ho ! Q. Elinor. I, good woman, conduct me to the court, That there I may bewail my sinful life,

And call to God to save my wretched soul.
Woman, what noise is this I hear?

Potter's Wife. And like your grace, it is the waterman that calls for passengers to go westward now. Q. Elinor. That fits my turn, for I will straight with them

To King's-town to the court,

And there repose me till the king come home.

And therefore, sweet woman,conceal what thou hast seen, And lead me to those watermen, for here

Doth Elinor droop.

John. Come, come; here's a goodly leading of you, is there not? first, you must make us afear'd, and now I must be troubled in carrying of you. I would you were honestly laid in your bed, so that I were not troubled with you. [Exeunt. Enter two MESSENGERS; the one that David shall be hanged, the other 105 of the Queen's sinking.

1st Messenger. Honour and fortune wait upon the

crown

Of princely Edward, England's valiant king.

Longsh. Thanks, messenger; and if my God vouchsafe

That winged honour wait upon my throne,

I'll make her spread her plumes 106 upon their heads
Whose true allegiance doth confirm the crown.

What news in Wales? How wends our business there?

1st Messenger. The false disturber of that wasted soil,

With his adherents is surpriz'd, my king;

And in assurance he shall start no more,
Breathless he lies, and headless too, my lords.
The circumstance these lines shall here unfold.
Longsh. A harmful weed, by wisdom rooted out,
Can never hurt the true engrafted plant.
But what's the news Sir Thomas Spencer brings?
Spencer. Wonders, my lords, wrapp'd up in homely
words,

And letters to inform your majesty.

Longsh. Oh heavens! what may these miracles portend?

Nobles, my queen is sick; but what is more-
Read, brother Edmund, read a wond'rous chance.

[Edmund reads a line of the Queen's sinking. Edmund. And I not heard, nor read so strange a thing!

Longsh. Sweet queen, this sinking is a surfeit ta'en

105 This other messenger is subsequently called Sir Thomas Spencer.

106 Plumbs in the old copies.

Of pride, wherewith thy woman's heart did swell;
A dangerous malady in the heart to dwell.
Lords, march we towards London now in haste :
I will go see my lovely Elinor,

And comfort her after this strange affright.
And where she is importune to have talk

And secret conference with some friars of France,
Mun, thou with me, and I with thee will go,
And take the sweet confession of my Nell.
We will have French enough to parley with the queen.
Edmund. Might I advise your royal majesty,

I would not go for millions of gold.

What knows your grace, disguised if you wend,
What you may hear in secrecy reveal❜d,

That may appeal 107 and discontent your highness?
A goodly creature is your Elinor,

Brought up in niceness and in delicacy:
Then listen not to her confession, lord,

To wound thy heart with some unkind conceit.
But as for Lancaster, he may not go.

Longsh. Brother, I am resolv'd, and go I will,
If God give life, and cheer my dying_queen.
Why Mun, why man, whate'er king Edward hears,
It lies in God and him to pardon all.

I'll have no ghostly fathers out of France:
England hath learned clerks and confessors
To comfort and absolve, as men may do;
And I'll be ghostly father for this once.

Edmund. Edmund, thou may'st not go, although thou die;

And yet how may'st thou here thy king deny?
Edward is gracious, merciful, meek, and mild;
But furious when he finds he is beguil'd.

[Aside.

Longsh. Messenger, hie thee back to Shrewsbury: Bid Mortimer, thy master, speed him fast, And with his fortune welcome us to London. I long to see my beauteous lovely queen.

[Exeunt omnes.

107 Qy. Ought we not to read appal?