Mod. May it prove so.
Enter Bredero, Vandort, Officers.
Bre. Good day, my Lord.
Vand. Good Mounseiur Advocate, You are an early stirrer.
Bar. 'Tis my dutie To wayte your Lordships pleasure: please you to walke.
Bre. The Prince is wanting, and this meeting being Touching the oath he is to take, 'twere fitt That we attend him.
Bar. That he may set downe
What he will sweare, prescribing lymitts to us!
We need not add this wind by our observaunce
To sailes too full alredy. Oh, my Lords,
What will you doe? Have we with so much blood
Maintaind our liberties, left the allegeaunce
(How justly now it is no time to argue)
To Spaine, to offer up our slavish necks
To one that only is what we have made him?
For, be but you yourselves, this Prince of Orange
Is but as Barnavelt, a Servant to
Your Lordships and the State; like me maintaind;
The pomp he keepes, at your charge: will you then
Wayt his prowd pleasure, and in that confes,
By daring to doe nothing, that he knowes not—
You have no absolute powre?
Van. I never sawe The Advocate so mov'd.
Bar. Now to be patient
Were to be treacherous: trust once his counsaile
That never yet hath faild you. Make him know
That any limb of this our reverend Senate
In powre is not beneath him. As we sitt
Ile yeild you further reasons; i'the meane time
Commaund him by the Officers of the Court
Not to presse in untill your Lordships pleasure
Be made knowne to him.
Vand. 'Tis most requisite.