Scene I
OPPOSITE WESTMINSTER HALL.
SIR HENRY VANE, LORD SAVILE, LORD HOLLAND, and others of the Court.
VANE.
The Commons thrust you out?
SAVILE.
And what kept you
From sharing their civility?
VANE.
Kept me? Fresh news from Scotland, sir! worse than the last If that may be! all's up with Strafford there! Nothing's to bar the mad Scots marching hither The next fine morning! That detained me, sir! Well now, before they thrust you out, go on, Their speaker . . . did the fellow Lenthall say All we set down for him?
HOLLAND.
Not a word missed! Ere he began, we entered, Savile, I And Bristol and some more, in hopes to breed A wholesome awe in the new Parliament—— But such a gang of graceless ruffians, Vane! They glared at us. . . .
VANE.
So many?
SAVILE.
Not a bench
Without its complement of burley knaves—
Your son, there, Vane, among them—Hampden leant
Upon his shoulder—think of that!
VANE.
I'd think
On Lenthall's speech, if I could get at it . . . He said, I hope, how grateful they should be For this unlooked-for summons from the King?
HOLLAND.
Just as we drilled him . . .
VANE.
That the Scots will march
On London?
HOLLAND.
All, and made so much of it
A dozen subsidies at least seemed sure
To follow, when . . .
VANE.
Well?
HOLLAND.
'Tis a strange thing now! I've a vague memory of a sort of sound— A voice—a kind of vast, unnatural voice— Pym, Sir, was speaking! Savile, help me out,— What was it all?
SAVILE.
Something about "a matter" . . . No . . "a work for England."
BRISTOL.
"England's great revenge" He talked of.
SAVILE.
How should I be used to Pym
More than yourselves?
HOLLAND.
However that may be, 'Twas something with which we had nought to do, For we were "strangers" and 'twas "England's work"— (All this while looking us straight in the face) In other words, our presence might be spared: So, in the twinkling of an eye, before I settled to my mind what ugly brute Was likest Pym just then, they yelled us out, Locked the doors after us, and here are we!
VANE.
Old Eliot's method . . .
SAVILE.
Ah, now, Vane, a truce
To Eliot and his times, and the great Duke, And how to manage Parliaments! 'Twas you Advised the Queen to summon this—why Strafford To do him justice would not hear of it!
VANE.
Say, rather, you have done the best of turns
To Strafford—he's at York—we all know why! I would you had not set the Scots on Strafford Till he had put down Pym for us, my lord!
SAVILE.
I? did I alter Strafford's plans? did I . . .
(Enter a MESSENGER.)
MESSENGER.
The Queen, my lords . . she sends me . . follow me
At once . . 'tis very urgent . . she would have
Your counsel . . something perilous and strange
Occasions her command.
SAVILE.
We follow, friend! Now Vane . . your Parliament will plague us all!
VANE.
No Strafford here beside!
SAVILE.
If you dare hint
I had a hand in his betrayal, Sir . . .
HOLLAND.
Nay find a fitter time for quarrels—Pym
Will overmatch the best of you; and, think, The Queen!
VANE.
Come on then (as they go out.) . . . understand, I loathe
Strafford as much as any—but he serves
So well to keep off Pym—to screen us all! I would we had reserved him yet awhile! (Exeunt.)
Scene II
WHITEHALL.
The QUEEN and CARLISLE.
QUEEN.
It cannot be!
CARLISLE.
It is so.
QUEEN.
Why the House
Have hardly met!
CARLISLE.
They met for that.
QUEEN.
No—no—
Meet to impeach Lord Strafford! 'Tis a jest!
CARLISLE.
A bitter one.
QUEEN.
Consider! 'Tis the House
We summoned so reluctantly—which nothing
But the disastrous issue of the war
Persuaded us to summon; they'll wreak all
Their spite on us, no doubt; but the old way
Is to begin by talk of grievances! They have their grievances to busy them!
CARLISLE.
Pym has begun his speech.
QUEEN.
Where's Vane? . . That is
Pym will impeach Lord Strafford if he leaves
His Presidency—he's at York, you know, Since the Scots beat him—why should he leave York?
CARLISLE.
Because the King sends for him.
QUEEN.
Ah . . . but if
The King did send for him, he let him know
We had been forced to call a Parliament—
A step which Strafford, now I come to think, Was vehement against . . .