Within this half hour hath receiv'd his fight, A man, that ne'er faw in his life before. K. Henry. Now God be prais'd, that to believing fouls 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 townsmen on proceffion, Before your Highnefs 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 circumstance, That we, for thee, may glorify the Lord. What haft thou been long blind, and now reftor'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'ft thou been his mother, thou couldft have better told. K. Henry. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your Grace. K. Henry. Poor Soul! God's goodness hath been great to thee. Let never day or night unhallowed pass, But ftill remember what the Lord hath done. Queen. Tell me, good fellow, cam'ft thou here by chance, Or of devotion, to this holy fhrine? Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times and oftner, in my fleep, By 66 By good St. Alban; who faid, " Simpcox, come; Car. What, art thou lame? Simp. A fall off of a tree. Glo. How long haft thou been blind? 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'dft plums well, that wouldft venture fo. Simp. Alas, good Sir, my wife defir'd 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 themIn my opinion, yet, thou fee'ft, not well. Simp. Yes, mafter, clear as day; I thank God and Saint Alban. Glo. Say'st 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'ft 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. The former Copies : who faid, Simon, come ; Come offer at my Shrine, and I will help thee. Why, Simon? The Chronicles, that Take Notice of Glefler's detect ing this pretended Miracle, tell us, that the Impoftor, who afferted himself to be cur'd of Blindnefs, was called Saunder Simpcox.-Simen was therefore a Corruption. THEOBALD. Wife. Never before this day, in all his life. 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, an if it please you, master. Glo. Saunder, fit there, the lying'ft knave in Chrif tendom. If thou hadft 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 Lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle, Glo. My mafters of Saint Albans, Have you not beadles in your town, Mayor. Yes, my Lord, if it please your Grace. Mayor. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exit Meflenger. Glo. Now fetch me a ftool hither. Now, Sirrah, if you mean to fave yourself from whipping, leap me over this ftool, 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 the fame ftool. Bead. Bead. I will, my Lord. Come on, Sirrah. Off with your doublet quickly. Simp. Alas, mafter, what' fhall I do? I am not able to ftand.. [After the beadle bath hit him once, he leaps over the Stool and runs away; and they follow and cry, A miracle! K. Henry. O God, fee'ft thou this, and bear'ft 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 them be whipt through every market town, till they come to Berwick, from whence they came. [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 I; You made in a day, my Lord, whole towns to fly. SCENE III, Enter Buckingham. K. Henry. What tidings with our coufin Buckingham? Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. As As more at large your Grace fhall understand. Car. And fo, my Lord Protector, by this means "Your Lady is forth-coming yet at London. This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge. 'Tis like, my Lord; you will not keep your hour. [Afide to Glo'fter. Glo. Ambitious Church-man! leave t'afflict my heart! Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers; And vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee, Or to the meanest groom. K. Henry. O God, what mifchiefs work the wicked ones, Heaping confufion on their own heads thereby ! Queen. Glofter, fee here the tainture of thy neft, Gla. Madam, for myself, to heav'n I do appeal, I banish her my bed and company, And give her as a prey to law and fhame,' That hath difhonour'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 ; Whofe beam ftands fure, whofe rightful caufe prevails. Your Lady is forth-coming.] That is, your Lady is in cultody. And poife the Caufe in juftice equal feales, Whofe beam ftands fure, whofe rightful caufe prevails.] The VOL. V. [Flourish. Exeunt. fenfe will, I think, be mended if we read in the optative mood, -Justice' equal fcale, Whofe beam ftand jure, whofe rightful caufe prevail. |