SCENE I. _Opposite Westminster Hall.

Sir HENRY VANE, LORD SAVILE, LORD HOLLAND _and others of the Court._

_Sir H. 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 to bar the mad Scots marching hither Next Lord's-day morning. That detained me, sir! Well now, before they thrust you out,--go on,-- Their Speaker--did the fellow Lenthal say All we set down for him?

_Holland._ Not a word missed. Ere he began, we entered, Savile, I And Bristol and some more, with hope to breed A wholesome awe in the new Parliament. But such a gang of graceless ruffians, Vane, As glared at us!

_Vane._ So many?

_Sav._ Not a bench Without its complement of burly knaves; Your hopeful son among them: Hampden leant Upon his shoulder--think of that!

_Vane._ I 'd think On Lenthal's speech, if I could get at it. Urged he, I ask, how grateful they should prove For this unlooked-for summons from the King?

_Holl._ Just as we drilled him.

_Vane._ That the Scots will march On London?

_Holl._ All, and made so much of it, A dozen subsidies at least seemed sure To follow, when ...

_Vane._ Well?

_Holl._ 'T is 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?

_Sav._ Something about "a matter"-- No,--"work for England."

_Holl._ "England's great revenge" He talked of.

_Sav._ How should I get used to Pym More than yourselves?

_Holl._ However that may be, 'T was something with which we had naught to do, For we were "strangers," and 't was "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._ Eliot's old method ...

_Sav._ Prithee, Vane, a truce To Eliot and his times, and the great Duke, And how to manage Parliaments! 'T was 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 Strafford put down Pym for us, my lord!

_Sav._ Was it I altered Stafford's plans? did I ... (_A_ Messenger _enters._)

_Mes._ The Queen, my lords--she sends me: follow me At once; 't is very urgent! she requires Your counsel: something perilous and strange Occasions her command.

_Sav._ We follow, friend! Now, Vane;--your Parliament will plague us all!

_Vane._ No Strafford here beside!

_Sav._ If you dare hint I had a hand in his betrayal, sir ...

_Holl._ Nay, find a fitter time for quarrels--Pym Will overmatch the best of you; and, think, The Queen!

_Vane._ Come on, then: understand, I loathe Strafford as much as any--but his use! To keep off Pym, to screen a friend or two, I would we had reserved him yet awhile.