King. Alas your too much care and loue of me35
Are heauy orisons gainst the poore wretch,[5468]
If litle faults proceeding on distemper should not bee winked at,
How should we stretch our eye, when capitall crimes,
Chewed, swallowed and disgested, appeare before vs:[5469]
Well yet enlarge the man, tho Cambridge and the rest40
In their deare loues, and tender preseruation of our state,
Would haue him punisht.
Now to our French causes.
Who are the late Commissioners?
Cam. Me one my Lord, your highnesse bad me aske for it to day. 45
Mash. So did you me my Soueraigne.
Gray. And me my Lord.
King. Then Richard Earle of Cambridge there is yours.
There is yours my Lord of Masham.
And sir Thomas Gray knight of Northumberland, this same is yours:50
Read them, and know we know your worthinesse.
Vnckle Exeter, I will aboord to night.
Why how now Gentlemen, why change you colour?
What see you in those papers
That hath so chased your blood out of apparance?55
Cam. I do confesse my fault, and do submit me
To your highnesse mercie.
Mash. To which we all appeale.
King. The mercy which was quit in us but late,
By your owne reasons is forestald and done:60
You must not dare for shame to aske for mercy,
For your owne conscience turne upon your bosomes,
As dogs upon their maisters worrying them.
See you my Princes, and my noble Peeres,
These English monsters:65
My Lord of Cambridge here,
You know how apt we were to grace him,
In all things belonging to his honour:
And this vilde man hath for a fewe light crownes,
Lightly conspired and sworne vnto the practices of France:70
To kill vs here in Hampton. To the which,
This knight no lesse in bountie bound to vs
Then Cambridge is, haah likewise sworne.[5470]
But oh what shall I say to thee false man,
Thou cruell ingratefull and inhumane creature,75
Thou that didst beare the key of all my counsell,
That knewst the very secrets of my heart,
That almost mightest a coyned me into gold,[5471]
Wouldest thou a practisde on me for thy vse:[5472]
Can it be possible that out of thee80
Should proceed one sparke that might annoy my finger?
Tis so strange, that tho the truth doth showe as grose
As black from white, mine eye wil scarcely see it.
Their faults are open, arrest them to the answer of the lawe,
And God acquit them of their practises.85
Exe. I arrest thee of high treason,
By the name of Richard, Earle of Cambridge.
I arest thee of high treason.
By the name of Henry, Lord of Masham.
I arest thee of high treason,90
By the name of Thomas Gray, knight of Northumberland.
Mash. Our purposes God iustly hath discouered,
And I repent my fault more then my death,
Which I beseech your maiestie forgiue,
Altho my body pay the price of it.95