SALISBURY

Hence traitor hence, thy counsel is herein. Some in this place appointed by the King, Have thrown him from this lodging here above, And sure the murder hath been newly done, For yet the body is not fully cold. That we intend no other than good truth, All that are present of this holy league, For confirmation of our better trust, In presence of his Highness, swear with me, The sequel that my self shall utter here. I Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Salisbury, swear upon the Altar, and by the holy army of Saints, homage and all geance to the right Christian Prince Lewis of France, as true and rightful King to England, Cornwall, & Wales, and to their territories: in the defence whereof, I upon the holy Altar swear all forwardness. All the Eng. Lo. swear. As the noble Earl hath sworn, so swear we all. Now joy betide thy soul well-meaning man, How now my Lords, what cooling card is this? A greater grief grows now than erst hath been. What counsel give you, shall we stay and die? Or shall we home, and kneel unto the King. Nor did the oath your Highness there did take Agree with honour of the Prince of France. As Pembroke says, affirmeth Salisbury: Fair Lewis of France that spoused Lady Blanch, Hath title of and uncontrolled strength To England, and what longeth to the Crown: In right whereof, as we are true informed, The Prince is marching hitherward in arms. Our purpose, to conclude that with a word, Is to invest him as we may devise, King of our country, in the tyrants stead: And so the warrant on the Altar sworn, And so the intent for which we hither came. Welcome the balm that closeth up our wounds, The sovereign medicine for our quick recure, The anchor of our hope, the only prop, Whereon depends our lives, our lands, our weal, Without the which, as sheep without their heird, (Except a shepherd winking at the wolf) We stray, we pine, we run to thousand harms. No marvel then, though with unwonted joy, We welcome him that beats woes away. We humbly thank your royal Majesty, And vow to fight for England and her King: And in the sighed of John our sovereign Lord, In spite of Lews and the power of France, Who hitherward are marching in all haste, We crown young Henry in his father's stead. Bear hence the body of this wretched man, That made us wretched with his dying tale, And stand not wailing on our present harms, As women wont: but seek our harms redress. As for my self, I will in haste be gone: And kneel for pardon to our sovereign John. Oh ruthful spectacle! Oh damned deed! My sinews shake, my very heart does bleed. And Salisbury will not gainsay the same: But aid that course as far forth as he can. Philip, not so, Lord Lews is our King, And we will follow him unto the death. We leave your Hignesse to your good intent.