RIVERS

Then thus may it please your grace, I will show my opinion. First note the two houses of Lancaster and York, the league of friendship is yet but green betwixt them, and little cause of variance may cause it break, and thereby I think it not requisite to discharge the continued ̄ pany because of this. The Duke of Buckingham is up in the Marches of Wales with a great power, and with him is joined the Protector, for what cause I know not, therefore my Lords, I have spoken my mind boldly, but do as your honours shall think good. If it please your grace I am content, and humbly take my leave of you all. We will attend upon your Majesty. I sir Thomas Vaughan, and therefore a traitor, because he is Protector. We have the Prince, but they the authority. Yes, and yet we may misdoubt the Duke of Gloucester as a foe. Alas good Dukes for ought I know, I never did offend, Except unto my Prince unloyal I have be, Then show joust cause, why you exclaim so rashly in this sort, So falsely thus me to condemn, upon some false report: But am I here as prisoner kept, imprisoned here by you? Then know, I am as true to my Prince, as the proudest in thy crew. A brayed you me as traitor to your grace: No although a prisoner, I return defiance in thy face. The Chronicles I record, talk of my fidelity, & of my progeny, Where, as in a glass y u mayest behold, thy ancestors & their treachery. The wars in France, Irish continued ̄ flicts, & Scotland knows my trust, When thou hast kept thy skin vnscard, and let thine armour rust How thou unjustly here exclaimest, Yea far from love or kin, Was this the oath which at our princes death, With us thou didst combine? But time permits now, to tell thee all my mind: For well 'tis known that but for fear, you never would have clind. Let Commons now have it in hand, the matter is begun, Of whom I fear the lesser sort, upon thy partly will run. My Lords, I cannot breath it out in words Like to you: but this, My honour I will set to sale, let any command man come in, And say Earl Rivers faith unto his Prince did quail, Then will I loose my lands and life, but if none so can do, Then thou Protector iniur'st me, and thy copartner too: But since as Judges here you are, and taking no remorse, Spare me not, let me have law, in justice do your worst. And sendest thou me to common Jail? Nay then I know thy mind: God bless these young and tender babes, That I do leave behind. And God above protect them day and night, Those are the marks thou aimest at, to rid them from their right. Farewell sweet England and my country men, Earl Rivers leads the way: Yet would my life might rid you from this thrall, But for my stock & kindred to the Queen, I greatly fear the ̄ all. And thus disloyal Duke farewell, when ever this is known, The shame and infamy thereof, be sure will be thine own.