To present your Highness with the man. * K. Hen. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,

* Although by his sight his sin be multiply'd. *Glo. Stand by, my Masters, bring him near the King,

*His Highness' pleasure is to talk with him. * K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the cir

⚫cumstance,

*That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast 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 conld'st

have better told.

K. Hen. Where wert thou born?

Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your Grace.

K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been great to thee: Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done. Q. Mar. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou here by chance,

*Or of devotion, to this holy shine?

.

Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being
call'd

A hundred times, and oftner, in my sleep
By good saint Alban; who said, Simpcox,

come;

--

Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee. * Wife. Most true, forsooth; aud many time and oft

* Myself have heard a voice to call him so.

VOL. XI.

3

Car. What, art thou lame?
Simp. Ay, God Almighty help me!
Suf. How cam'st thou so?

Simp. A fall off of a tree.

Wife. A plum-tree,

Master.

Glo. How long hast thou been blind?
Simp. O, børn so, Master.

Glo. What, and would'st climb a tree?

Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a youth.

*Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.

* Glo. 'Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that would'st venture so.

Simp. Alas, good Master, my wife desir'd some damsons,

And made me climb, with danger of my life. * Glo. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not

open them:

In my opinion, yet thou see'st not well.
Simp. Yes, Master, clear as day; I thank
God, and saint Alban.

Glo. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?

Simp. Red, Master; red as blood.

Glo. Why, that's well said: what colour is my gown of?

Simp. Black, forsooth; coal-black, as jet. K. Hen. Why then, thou know'st what colour jet is of?

Suf. And yet, I think, jet did he never see. Gio. But cloaks, and gowns, before this day,

a many.

*Wife. Never, before this day, in all his life.

Glo. Tell me, sirrah, 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, master.

Glo. What's thine own name?

Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you,

master.

Glo. Then Saunder, sit thou there, the lying'st knave

In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou might'st as well have known our names, as thus

To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of coulours; but suddenly
To nominate them all, 's impossible.

My Lords, saint Albau here hath done a miracle ;
And would ye not think that cunning to be great,
That could restore this cripple to his legs again?
Simp. O, Master, that you could!

Glo. My Masters of Saint Albans, have you not beadles in your town, and things call'd whips? May. Yes, my Lord, if it please your Grace. Glo. Then send for one presently. May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exeunt an Attendant. Glo. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. [A stool brought out.] Now, sirrah, if mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me you over this stool, and run away.

Simp. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone: You go about to torture me in vain,

Re-enter Attendant, with the Beadle.

Glo. Well, Sir, we must have

you find your

legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over

that same stool.

-

Come on,

sirrab;

Bead. I will, my Lord. off with your doublet quickly.

Simp. Alas, Master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.

[After the Beadle hat hit him once, he leaps over the stool, and runs away; and the people follow, and cry, A Miracle!

* K. Hen. O God, see'st thou this, and bear'st so long?

* Q. Mar. It made me laugh to see the vil→ lain run.

* Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab

away.

Wife. Alas, Sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they came. [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. Car. Duke Humphrey 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.

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buck

ingham?

Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to
unfold.

A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
Under the countenance and confederacy
Of lady Eleanor, the Protector's wife,

The ringleader and head of all this rout,
Have practis'd dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers:
Whom we have apprehended in the fact;

Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
Demanding of King Henry's life and death,
And other of your Highness' privy council,
As more at large your Grace shall understand.
Car. And so my Lord Protector, by this means
Your Lady is forthcoming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's
edge;

'Tis like, my Lord, you will not keep your hour.
[Aside to GLOster.
Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to 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 grooin.

* K. Hen, O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones;

*Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! * Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest;

*And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best. Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,

How I have lov'd my King, and commonweal:
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands;
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:
Noble she is; but, if she have forgot
Honour, and virtue, and convers'd with such
As, like to pitch, defile nobility,

I banish ber, my bed, and company;

And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Gloster's honest name.