Enter the Mayor of St Alban's, and his brethren, bearing Simpcox between two in a chair, Simpcox's wife following. Car. Here come the townfmen on proceffion, Before your Highness to prefent the man. K. Henry. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Though by his fight his fin be multiply'd. Glo. Stand by, my mafters, bring him near the King, His Highness' pleasure is to talk with him. K. Henry. Good fellow, tell us here the circumftance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, haft thou been long blind, and now restor❜d ! Simp. Born blind, an't please your Grace. Wife. Ay, indeed, was he. Suf. What woman is this? Wife. His wife, an't like your Worship. Glo. Had'st thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told. K. Henry. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your Grace. K. Henry. Poor foul! God's goodness hath been great to thee. Let never day or night unhallowed pafs, But fill remember what the Lord hath done. Queen. Tell me, good fellow, cam't thou here by Or of devotion, to this holy fhrine? [chance, Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times and oft'ner, in my fleep, By good Saint Alban; who faid, Simpcox, come; Wife. Moft true, forfooth; and many a time and oft Myfelf have heard a voice to call him fo. Car. What, art thou lame? Simp. Ay, God Almighty help me! Suf. How eam'ft thou fo? Simp. A fall off a tree. Wife. A plum-tree, Master. Glo. How long hast thou been blind? Simp. O, born fo, Mater. Glo What, and wouldft climb a tree? Simp. But once in all my life, when I was a youth. Wife. Too true, and bought his climbing very dear. Glo. Mafs, thou lov'dit plums well that wouldīt venture fo. Simp. Alas, good Sir, my wife desired some damfons, And made me climb with danger of my life. Glo A fubtle knave! but yet it fhall not ferve: Let's fee thine eyes; wink now, now open them; In my opinion, yet, thou feest not well. Simp. Yes, Mafter, clear as day; I thank God and Saint Alban. Glo. Say't thou me fo? what colour is this cloak of? Simp. 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't what colour jet is of? Suf. And yet I think jet did he never fee. Glo. But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many. Glo. Tell me, firrah, what's my name? Simp. I know not. Glo. Nor his? Simp. No, indeed, Mafter. Glo. What's thine own name? Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an' if it pleafe you, Mafter. Glo. Saunder, fit there, the lying'st knave in Chris ftendom. If thou had't been born blind, Thou might'ft as well know all our names, as thus Sight may diftinguish colours: But fuddenly to nominate them all, It is impoffible. My Lord, Saint Alban here both done a miracle: And things call'd whips? Mayor. Yes, My Lord, if it please your Grace. Mayor, Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither ftreight. [Exit Melenger. Glo. Now, fetch me a ftool hither. Now, firrah, if you mean to fave yourfelf from whipping, leap me over this ftool, and run away. Simp. Alas, Master, I am not able to stand 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 ftool. Bead. I will, my Lord. your doublet quickly. Come on, firrah, off with Simp. Alas, Mafter, what fhall I do? I am not able to ftand. [After the beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the K. Henry. O God, feeft thou this, and bear'ft fo long! came. Glo. Let them be whipp'd through every markettown, till they come to Berwick, from whence they [Exit Beadle with the woman. 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 1; You made in a day, my Lord, whole towns to fly. SCENE III. Enter Buckingham, K. Henry. What tidings with our coufin Buckingham? Have practis'd dangerously against your state; K Henry. O God what mifchiefs work the wicked Honour and virtue, and convers'd with fuch I banish her my bed and company, And give her as a prey to law and fhame, That hath dishonour'd Glo'fter's honeft name. K Henry. Well, for this night we will repofe us here; To-morrow toward London back again, To look into this business thoroughly, And call these foul offenders to their anfwers; Whole beam ftands fure, whofe rightful caufe prevails. [Flourish. Exeunt. VOL. V. C SCENE SCENE IV. Changes to the Duke of York's palace. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick. [wick, York. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and War- In craving your opinion of my title, Sal. My Lord, I long to hear it thus at full. York. Then thus: Edward the Third, my Lords, had feven fons: The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales; Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster; Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd King ; York. Which now they hold by force, and not by [right; Sa!. But William of Hatfield dy'd without an heir. York. The third fon, Duke of Clarence, from whose I claim the crown, had iffue Philippe, a daughter, [line Who married Edmond Mortimer, Earl of March. Edmond had iffue; Roger Earl of March: Rodger had iffue; Edmond, Anne, and Eleanor. |