Exeunt.
Enter K[ing]. Edward, Gloster, Clarence, Lady Gray.
King. Brother of Gloster, at S[aint]. Albons field This Ladyes Husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slaine, His Land then seiz"d on by the Conqueror, Her suit is now, to repossesse those Lands, Which wee in Iustice cannot well deny, Because in Quarrell of the House of Yorke, The worthy Gentleman did lose his Life
Rich. Your Highnesse shall doe well to graunt her suit: It were dishonor to deny it her
King. It were no lesse, but yet Ile make a pawse
Rich. Yea, is it so: I see the Lady hath a thing to graunt, Before the King will graunt her humble suit
Clarence. Hee knowes the Game, how true hee keepes the winde?
Rich. Silence
King. Widow, we will consider of your suit, And come some other time to know our minde
Wid. Right gracious Lord, I cannot brooke delay: May it please your Highnesse to resolue me now, And what your pleasure is, shall satisfie me
Rich. I Widow? then Ile warrant you all your Lands, And if what pleases him, shall pleasure you: Fight closer, or good faith you"le catch a Blow
Clarence. I feare her not, vnlesse she chance to fall
Rich. G.o.d forbid that, for hee"le take vantages
King. How many Children hast thou, Widow? tell me
Clarence. I thinke he meanes to begge a Child of her
Rich. Nay then whip me: hee"le rather giue her two
Wid. Three, my most gracious Lord
Rich. You shall haue foure, if you"le be rul"d by him
King. "Twere pittie they should lose their Fathers Lands
Wid. Be pittifull, dread Lord, and graunt it then
King. Lords giue vs leaue, Ile trye this Widowes wit
Rich. I, good leaue haue you, for you will haue leaue, Till Youth take leaue, and leaue you to the Crutch
King. Now tell me, Madame, doe you loue your Children?
Wid. I, full as dearely as I loue my selfe
King. And would you not doe much to doe them good?
Wid. To doe them good, I would sustayne some harme
King. Then get your Husbands Lands, to doe them good
Wid. Therefore I came vnto your Maiestie
King. Ile tell you how these Lands are to be got
Wid. So shall you bind me to your Highnesse seruice
King. What seruice wilt thou doe me, if I giue them?
Wid. What you command, that rests in me to doe
King. But you will take exceptions to my Boone
Wid. No, gracious Lord, except I cannot doe it
King. I, but thou canst doe what I meane to aske
Wid. Why then I will doe what your Grace commands
Rich. Hee plyes her hard, and much Raine weares the Marble
Clar. As red as fire? nay then, her Wax must melt
Wid. Why stoppes my Lord? shall I not heare my Taske?
King. An easie Taske, "tis but to loue a King
Wid. That"s soone perform"d, because I am a Subiect
King. Why then, thy Husbands Lands I freely giue thee
Wid. I take my leaue with many thousand thankes
Rich. The Match is made, shee seales it with a Cursie
King. But stay thee, "tis the fruits of loue I meane
Wid. The fruits of Loue, I meane, my louing Liege
King. I, but I feare me in another sence.
What Loue, think"st thou, I sue so much to get?
Wid. My loue till death, my humble thanks, my prayers, That loue which Vertue begges, and Vertue graunts
King. No, by my troth, I did not meane such loue
Wid. Why then you meane not, as I thought you did
King. But now you partly may perceiue my minde
Wid. My minde will neuer graunt what I perceiue Your Highnesse aymes at, if I ayme aright
King. To tell thee plaine, I ayme to lye with thee