K. Henry. Now God be prais'd, that to believing Souls Gives Light in Darkness, Comfort in Despair. Enter the Mayor of St. Albans, and his Brethren, bearing Simpcox between two in a Chair, Simpcox's Wife following. Car. Here come the Townímen on proceffion, To prefent your Highnefs with the Man. K. Henry. Great is his comfort in this Earthly Vale, Although by his fight his Sin be multiplied. Glo. Stand by, my Mafters, bring him near the King, His Highness pleafure is to talk with him. K. Henry. Good-fellow, tell us here the Circumftance, That we for thee may glorifie the Lord. What, haft thou been long blind, and now reftor'd ? Suf. What Woman is this? Wife. His Wife, and't like your Worship. Glo. Hadft thou been his Mother, thou couldst have better told. K. Henry. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick in the North, and't like your Grace. K. Henry. Poor Soul, God's Goodness hath been great to thee: Let never Day nor Night unhallowed pafs, Cam ft thou here by Chance, or of Devotion, Simp. God knows of pure Devotion, Being call'd a hundred times, and oftner, In my fleep, by good Saint Alban: Who faid, Simon, come, come offer at my Shrine, And I will help thee. Wife. Moft true, forfooth; And many a time and oft my felf have heard a Voice, To call him fo. Card. What art thou lame? Simp. Ay. God Almighty help me. Suf. How cam'it thou fo? Simp. A fall off a Tree. Wife. A Plum-tree, Mafter. Glo. How long hast thou been blind? Glo. What, and would't climb a Tree? Simp. But that in all my Life, when I was a Youth, Wife. Too true, and bought his climbing very dear. Glo. Mafs, thou lov'ft Plums well, that wouldft venture fo. Simp. Alas, good Mafter, my Wife defired fome Damfons, and made me climb, with danger of my Life. Glo. A fubtle Knave, but yet it fhall not ferve: Simp. Yes, Mafter, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban. Glo. Say'ft thou me fo; what Colour is this Cloak of? Simps Red, Mafter, red as Blood. Glo. Why that's well faid: What Colour is my Gown of? Simp. Black, forfooth, coal-black, as Jet. K. Henry. Why then, thou know'ft what colour Jet is of? Glo. But Cloaks and Gowns, before this Day, a many. Glo. What's his Name? Simp. I know not. Glo. Nor his? Simp. No indeed, Mafter. Glo. What's thine own Name? Simp. Saunder Simpcox, and if it please you, Mafter. The lyingft Knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou might'ft as well have known all our Names, But fuddenly to nominate them all, It It is impoffible. My Lords, Saint Alban here hath done a Miracle: Glo. My Mafters of Saint Albans, Mayor. Yes, my Lord, if it please your Grace. Mayor. Sirrah, go fetch the Beadle hither straight. [Exit. Glo. Now fetch me a Stool hither by and by. Now Sirrah, if you mean to fave your felf from Whipping, leap me over this Stool, and run away, Simp. Alas Mafter, I am not able to ftand alone: You go about to torture me in vain. Enter a Beadle with Whips. Glo. Well Sir, we must have you find your Legs. Sirrah Beadle, whip him 'till he leap over that fame Stool. Bead. I will, my Lord, Come on Sirrah, off with your Doublet, quickly. Simp. Alas, Mafter, what shall I do? I am not able to ftand. [After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the Stool, and runs away; and they follow, and cry, A Miracle. K. Henry. O God, feeft thou this, and beareft fo long! Queen. It made me laugh to fee the Villain run. Glo. Follow the Knave, and take this Drab away. Wife. Alas, Sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let him be whipt through every Market Town, 'Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came. [Exit Beadle, Car. Duke Humphry has done a Miracle to day. Suf. True, made the Lame to leap, and fly away. Glo. But you have done more Miracles than I; You made in a Day, my Lord, whole Towns to fly. Enter Buckingham. K. Henry. What Tidings with our Coufin Buckingham ? Buck. Such as my Heart doth tremble to unfold: A fort of naughty Perfons, lewdly bent, Under Under the Countenance and Confederacy Car. And fo, my Lord Protector, by this means [Afide to Glo'fter. Or to the meaneft Groom. K. Henry. O God, what Mischiefs work the wicked Ones, Glo. Madam, for my self, to Heav'n I do appeal, Honour and Virtue, and convers'd with fuch, I banish her my Bed and Company, And give her as a Prey to Law and Shame, That hath difhonoured Glofter's honest Name. K. Henry. Well, for this Night we will repofe us here;. To morrow toward London, back again, To look into this Bufinefs thoroughly, And call these foul Offenders to their anfwers; Whole Beam ftands fure, whofe rightful caufe prevails. [Exeunt. Enter Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick. York. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our fimple Supper ended, give me leave, In this clofe Walk to fatisfie my felf, In craving your Opinion of my Title, Which is infallible to England's Crown. Salis. My Lord, I long to hear it thus at full. War. Sweet York begin; and if thy Claim be good, The Nevils are thy Subjects to command. York. Then thus: Edward the Third, my Lords, had seven Sons: York. Which now they hold by force, and not by right: For Richard, the firft Son's Heir, being dead, The Iffue of the next Son should have reign'd. From whofe Line I claim the Crown, Had iffue Philip, a Daughter, Who married Edmond Mortimer, Earl of March. Roger had Iffue, Edmond, Anne, and Eleanor, Sal. |