Enter the Mayor of St. Alban's, and his brethren, bearing Simpcox between two in a chair, Simpsox's wife following. Car. Here come the townfinen 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, teil 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 ftill remember what the Lord hath done. Queen. Tell me, good fellow, cam'ft 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. Most true, forfooth; and many a time and oft Myfelf have heard a voice to call him fo. Gar. What, art thou lame? Simp. Ay, God Almighty help me? Suf. How cam'ft thou fo? Simp. A fall off a tree. Wife. A plum-tree, mafter. Glo. How long haft thou been blind? Simp. O born fo, Master. Glo. What, and wouldft climb a tree? Simp. But once in all my life, when I was a youth. 2 Wife. Wife. Too true, and bought his climbing very dear. Glo. Mafs, thou lov'dit 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 them; In my opinion, yet, thou feeft 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'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. Wife. Never before this day in all his life. Glo. Tell me, firrah, what's my name? Simp. Alas, Master, I know not. 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't knave in Chriftendom. If thou hadft been born blind, Thou might'ft as well know all our names, as thus To name the feveral colours we do wear. Sight may diftinguish colours: But fuddenly to nominate them all, It is impoffible. My Lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle? Simp. O mafter, that you could! Glo. My mafters of St. Albans, Have you not beadles in your town, VOL. V. C And And things call'd whips? Mayor. Yes, my Lord, if it pleafe your Grace. Mayor. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither ftraight. [Exit Mefenger. Glo. Now fetch me a tool hither. Now, firrah, if you mean to fave yourself from whipping, leap me over this fool, 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. Gb. 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. Come on, firrah, 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 ftool, and runs away; and they follow, and cry, A miracle! K. Henry. O God, feeft 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. 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. Saf. 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.: A fort of naughty perfons, lewdly bent, Under the countenance and confederacy Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector's wife, (The ring-leader and head of all this rout), Have practis'd dangerously against your state; Or to the meanest groom. K. Henry. O God, what mifchiefs work the wicked Heaping confufion on their own heads thereby! [ones, Queen. Glo'fter, fee here the tainture of thy neft, And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best. Glo. Madam, for myself.to Heav'n I do appeal, I banifh her my bed and company, And give her as a prey to law and shame, 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 bufinefs thoroughly. And call these foul offenders to their anfwers; Whofe beam ftands fure, whofe rightful caufe prevails. [Flourish. Excunt. SCENE IV. Changes to the Duke of York's palace. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick. York. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and War- In craving your opinion of my title, Ewick, Sal. My Lord I long to hear it thus at full. War. Sweet York begin; and if thy claim be good, The Nevils are thy fubjects to command. Tork. Then, thus: Edward the Third, my Lords, had feven fons: Sal. But William of Hatfield dy'd without an heir. Sal |