Chapter 7

_The QUEEN and +Lady+ CARLISLE._

_Queen._ It cannot be.

_Lady Carlisle._ It is so.

_Queen._ Why, the House Have hardly met.

_Lady Carlisle._ They met for that.

_Queen._ No, no! Meet to impeach Lord Strafford? 'Tis a jest.

_Lady 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.

_Lady 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, we know, Since the Scots beat him: why should he leave York?

_Lady Carlisle._ Because the King sent 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.

_Lady Carlisle._ The policy Escaped him, of first striking Parliaments To earth, then setting them upon their feet And giving them a sword: but this is idle. Did the King send for Strafford? He will come.

_Queen._ And what am I to do?

_Lady Carlisle._ What do? Fail, madam! Be ruined for his sake! what matters how, So it but stand on record that you made An effort, only one?

_Queen._ The King away At Theobald's!

_Lady Carlisle._ Send for him at once: he must Dissolve the House.

_Queen._ Wait till Vane finds the truth Of the report: then....

_Lady Carlisle._ --It will matter little What the King does. Strafford that lends his arm And breaks his heart for you!

_+Sir+ H. VANE enters._

_Vane._ The Commons, madam, Are sitting with closed doors. A huge debate, No lack of noise; but nothing, I should guess, Concerning Strafford: Pym has certainly Not spoken yet.

_Queen_ [_to +Lady+ CARLISLE_]. You hear?

_Lady Carlisle._ I do not hear That the King's sent for!

_Vane._ Savile will be able To tell you more.

_HOLLAND enters._

_Queen._ The last news, Holland?

_Holland._ Pym Is raging like a fire. The whole House means To follow him together to Whitehall And force the King to give up Strafford.

_Queen._ Strafford?

_Holland._ If they content themselves with Strafford! Laud Is talked of, Cottington and Windebank too. Pym has not left out one of them--I would You heard Pym raging!

_Queen._ Vane, go find the King! Tell the King, Vane, the People follow Pym To brave us at Whitehall!

_SAVILE enters._

_Savile._ Not to Whitehall-- 'Tis to the Lords they go: they seek redress On Strafford from his peers--the legal way, They call it.

_Queen._ (Wait, Vane!)

_Savile._ But the adage gives Long life to threatened men. Strafford can save Himself so readily: at York, remember, In his own country: what has he to fear? The Commons only mean to frighten him From leaving York. Surely, he will not come.

_Queen._ Lucy, he will not come!

_Lady Carlisle._ Once more, the King Has sent for Strafford. He will come.

_Vane._ Oh doubtless! And bring destruction with him: that's his way. What but his coming spoilt all Conway's plan? The King must take his counsel, choose his friends, Be wholly ruled by him! What's the result? The North that was to rise, Ireland to help,-- What came of it? In my poor mind, a fright Is no prodigious punishment.

_Lady Carlisle._ A fright? Pym will fail worse than Strafford if he thinks To frighten him. [_To the QUEEN._] You will not save him then?

_Savile._ When something like a charge is made, the King Will best know how to save him: and t'is clear, While Strafford suffers nothing by the matter, The King may reap advantage: this in question, No dinning you with ship-money complaints!

_Queen_ [_to +Lady+ CARLISLE_]. If we dissolve them, who will pay the army? Protect us from the insolent Scots?

_Lady Carlisle._ In truth, I know not, madam. Strafford's fate concerns Me little: you desired to learn what course Would save him: I obey you.

_Vane._ Notice, too, There can't be fairer ground for taking full Revenge--(Strafford's revengeful)--than he'll have Against his old friend Pym.

_Queen._ Why, he shall claim Vengeance on Pym!

_Vane._ And Strafford, who is he To 'scape unscathed amid the accidents That harass all beside? I, for my part, Should look for something of discomfiture Had the King trusted me so thoroughly And been so paid for it.

_Holland._ He'll keep at York: All will blow over: he'll return no worse, Humbled a little, thankful for a place Under as good a man. Oh, we'll dispense With seeing Strafford for a month or two!

_STRAFFORD enters._

_Queen._ You here!

_Strafford._ The King sends for me, madam.

_Queen._ Sir, The King....

_Strafford._ An urgent matter that imports the King! [_To +Lady+ CARLISLE._] Why, Lucy, what's in agitation now, That all this muttering and shrugging, see, Begins at me? They do not speak!

_Lady Carlisle._ 'Tis welcome! For we are proud of you--happy and proud To have you with us, Strafford! You were staunch At Durham: you did well there! Had you not Been stayed, you might have ... we said, even now, Our hope's in you!

_Vane_ [_to +Lady+ CARLISLE_]. The Queen would speak with you.

_Strafford._ Will one of you, his servants here, vouchsafe To signify my presence to the King?

_Savile._ An urgent matter?

_Strafford._ None that touches you, Lord Savile! Say, it were some treacherous Sly pitiful intriguing with the Scots-- You would go free, at least! (They half divine My purpose!) Madam, shall I see the King? The service I would render, much concerns His welfare.

_Queen._ But his Majesty, my lord, May not be here, may....

_Strafford._ Its importance, then, Must plead excuse for this withdrawal, madam, And for the grief it gives Lord Savile here.

_Queen_ [_who has been conversing with VANE and HOLLAND_]. The King will see you, sir! [_To +Lady+ CARLISLE._] Mark me: Pym's worst Is done by now: he has impeached the Earl, Or found the Earl too strong for him, by now. Let us not seem instructed! We should work No good to Strafford, but deform ourselves With shame in the world's eye. [_To STRAFFORD._] His Majesty Has much to say with you.

_Strafford._ Time fleeting, too! [_To +Lady+ CARLISLE._] No means of getting them away? And She-- What does she whisper? Does she know my purpose? What does she think of it? Get them away!

_Queen_ [_to +Lady+ CARLISLE_]. He comes to baffle Pym--he thinks the danger Far off: tell him no word of it! a time For help will come; we'll not be wanting then. Keep him in play, Lucy--you, self-possessed And calm! [_To STRAFFORD._] To spare your lordship some delay I will myself acquaint the King. [_To +Lady+ CARLISLE._] Beware!

[_The QUEEN, VANE, HOLLAND, and SAVILE go out._

_Strafford._ She knows it?

_Lady Carlisle._ Tell me, Strafford!

_Strafford._ Afterward! This moment's the great moment of all time. She knows my purpose?

_Lady Carlisle._ Thoroughly: just now She bade me hide it from you.

_Strafford._ Quick, dear child, The whole o' the scheme?

_Lady Carlisle._ (Ah, he would learn if they Connive at Pym's procedure! Could they but Have once apprised the King! But there's no time For falsehood, now.) Strafford, the whole is known.

_Strafford._ Known and approved?

_Lady Carlisle._ Hardly discountenanced.

_Strafford._ And the King--say, the King consents as well?

_Lady Carlisle._ The King's not yet informed, but will not dare To interpose.

_Strafford._ What need to wait him, then? He'll sanction it! I stayed, child, tell him, long! It vexed me to the soul--this waiting here. You know him, there's no counting on the King. Tell him I waited long!

_Lady Carlisle._ (What can he mean? Rejoice at the King's hollowness?)

_Strafford._ I knew They would be glad of it,--all over once, I knew they would be glad: but he'd contrive, The Queen and he, to mar, by helping it, An angel's making.

_Lady Carlisle._ (Is he mad?) Dear Strafford, You were not wont to look so happy.

_Strafford._ Sweet, I tried obedience thoroughly. I took The King's wild plan: of course, ere I could reach My army, Conway ruined it. I drew The wrecks together, raised all heaven and earth, And would have fought the Scots: the King at once Made truce with them. Then, Lucy, then, dear child, God put it in my mind to love, serve, die For Charles, but never to obey him more! While he endured their insolence at Ripon I fell on them at Durham. But you'll tell The King I waited? All the anteroom Is filled with my adherents.

_Lady Carlisle._ Strafford--Strafford, What daring act is this you hint?

_Strafford._ No, no! 'Tis here, not daring if you knew? all here!

[_Drawing papers from his breast._

Full proof, see, ample proof--does the Queen know I have such damning proof? Bedford and Essex, Brooke, Warwick, Savile (did you notice Savile? The simper that I spoilt?), Saye, Mandeville-- Sold to the Scots, body and soul, by Pym!

_Lady Carlisle._ Great heaven!

_Strafford._ From Savile and his lords, to Pym And his losels, crushed!--Pym shall not ward the blow Nor Savile creep aside from it! The Crew And the Cabal--I crush them!

_Lady Carlisle._ And you go-- Strafford,--and now you go?--

_Strafford._ --About no work In the background, I promise you! I go Straight to the House of Lords to claim these knaves. Mainwaring!

_Lady Carlisle._ Stay--stay, Strafford!

_Strafford._ She'll return, The Queen--some little project of her own! No time to lose: the King takes fright perhaps.

_Lady Carlisle._ Pym's strong, remember!

_Strafford._ Very strong, as fits The Faction's head--with no offence to Hampden, Vane, Rudyard and my loving Hollis: one And all they lodge within the Tower to-night In just equality. Bryan! Mainwaring!

[_Many of his +Adherents+ enter._

The Peers debate just now (a lucky chance) On the Scots' war; my visit's opportune. When all is over, Bryan, you proceed To Ireland: these dispatches, mark me, Bryan, Are for the Deputy, and these for Ormond: We want the army here--my army, raised At such a cost, that should have done such good, And was inactive all the time! no matter, We'll find a use for it. Willis ... or, no--you! You, friend, make haste to York: bear this, at once ... Or,--better stay for form's sake, see yourself The news you carry. You remain with me To execute the Parliament's command, Mainwaring! Help to seize these lesser knaves, Take care there's no escaping at backdoors: I'll not have one escape, mind me--not one! I seem revengeful, Lucy? Did you know What these men dare!

_Lady Carlisle._ It is so much they dare!

_Strafford._ I proved that long ago; my turn is now. Keep sharp watch, Goring, on the citizens! Observe who harbors any of the brood That scramble off: be sure they smart for it! Our coffers are but lean. And you, child, too, Shall have your task; deliver this to Laud. Laud will not be the slowest in thy praise: "Thorough" he'll cry!--Foolish, to be so glad! This life is gay and glowing, after all: 'Tis worth while, Lucy, having foes like mine Just for the bliss of crushing them. To-day Is worth the living for.

_Lady Carlisle._ That reddening brow! You seem....

_Strafford._ Well--do I not? I would be well-- I could not but be well on such a day! And, this day ended, 'tis of slight import How long the ravaged frame subjects the soul In Strafford.

_Lady Carlisle._ Noble Strafford!

_Strafford._ No farewell! I'll see you anon, to-morrow--the first thing. --If She should come to stay me!

_Lady Carlisle._ Go--'tis nothing-- Only my heart that swells: it has been thus Ere now: go, Strafford!

_Strafford._ To-night, then, let it be. I must see Him: you, the next after Him. I'll tell how Pym looked. Follow me, friends! You, gentlemen, shall see a sight this hour To talk of all your lives. Close after me! "My friend of friends!"

[_STRAFFORD and the rest go out._

_Lady Carlisle._ The King--ever the King! No thought of one beside, whose little word Unveils the King to him--one word from me, Which yet I do not breathe! Ah, have I spared Strafford a pang, and shall I seek reward Beyond that memory? Surely too, some way He is the better for my love. No, no-- He would not look so joyous--I'll believe His very eye would never sparkle thus, Had I not prayed for him this long, long while.