The war, gives time to right their grievances—
To talk with Pym. I know the Faction, as
Laud styles it, tutors Scotland: all their plans
Suppose no Parliament: in calling one
You take them by surprise. Produce the proofs
Of Scotland's treason; then bid England help:
Even Pym will not refuse.

Charles.

With Ireland?

You would begin

Wentworth. Take no care for that: that 's sure

To prosper.

Charles.

You shall rule me. You were best

Now, do I trust you?

You 're an Earl: my Friend

Return at once: but take this ere you go!

Of Friends: yes, while . . . You hear me not!

Wentworth. Say it all o'er again—but once again :

The first was for the music: once again! ·

Charles. Strafford, my friend, there may have been reports,

Vain rumours.

Henceforth touching Strafford is

To touch the apple of my sight: why gaze

So earnestly?

Wentworth. I am grown young again,

And foolish. What was it we spoke of?

Charles.

The Parliament,

Wentworth.

-Now?

I may go when I will?

Charles. Are you tired so soon of us?
Wentworth.

But you will not so utterly abhor

A Parliament? I'd serve you any way.

Ireland,

My King!

Charles. You said just now this was the only way.

Wentworth. Sir, I will serve you.

We'll summon it, the English one-I 'll care

For everything. You shall not need them much.

Charles. If they prove restive
Wentworth.

Charles. Ere they assemble?
Wentworth.

Deposit this infirm humanity

I shall be with you.

I will come, or else

I' the dust. My whole heart stays with you, my King! [AS WENTWORTH goes out, the QUEEN enters.

At least we shall not hear eternally

Of service-services: he 's paid at least.

Charles. Not done with: he engages to surpass

All yet performed in Ireland.

Queen.

I had thought

Nothing beyond was ever to be done.

The war, Charles—will he raise supplies enough?

Charles. We've hit on an expedient; he . . . that is,

I have advised . . . we have decided on

The calling-in Ireland-of a Parliament.

Queen. O truly! You agree to that? Is that
The first fruit of his counsel? But I guessed
As much.

Charles. This is too idle, Henriette !

I should know best. He will strain every nerve,

And once a precedent established ..

Queen.

How sure he is of a long term of favour!

Notice

He'll see the next, and the next after that;
No end to Parliaments!

Charles.

Well, it is done.

He talks it smoothly, doubtless. If, indeed,

The Commons here . .

Queen.

Here! you will summon them

Here? Would I were in France again to see

Queen. Let Wentworth listen-you confide in him! Charles. I do not, love,-I do not so confide!

The Parliament shall never trouble us

. . .

Nay, hear me! I have schemes, such schemes:
we 'll buy

The leaders off: without that, Wentworth's counsel
Had ne'er prevailed on me. Perhaps I call it
To have excuse for breaking it for ever,

And whose will then the blame be? See you not?
Come, dearest !—look, the little fairy, now,

That cannot reach my shoulder! Dearest, come!

If that's the Parliament: twelve subsidies!

A stinging one! but, brother, where 's your word

For Strafford's other nest-egg, the Scots' war?

The Puritan. His fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. Fiennes. Shall be ? It chips the shell, man; peeps

abroad.

Twelve subsidies!-Why, how now, Vane?