DAVISON.
Into my charge, my liege!
ELIZABETH.
The people urged And baited me to sign it. I perforce Was driven to yield obedience to their will.
I did so; did so on extreme constraint, And in your hands deposited the paper.
To gain time was my purpose; you remember What then I told you. Now, the paper, sir!
SHREWSBURY.
Restore it, sir, affairs have changed since then, The inquiry must be set on foot anew.
DAVISON.
Anew! Eternal mercy!
ELIZABETH.
Why this pause, This hesitation? Where, sir, is the paper?
DAVISON.
I am undone! Undone! My fate is sealed!
ELIZABETH (interrupting him violently).
Let me not fancy, sir----
DAVISON.
Oh, I am lost!
I have it not.
ELIZABETH.
How? What?
SHREWSBURY.
Oh, G.o.d in heaven!
DAVISON.
It is in Burleigh"s hands--since yesterday.
ELIZABETH.
Wretch! Is it thus you have obeyed my orders?
Did I not lay my strict injunction on you To keep it carefully?
DAVISON.
No such injunction Was laid on me, my liege.
ELIZABETH.
Give me the lie?
Opprobrious wretch! When did I order you To give the paper into Burleigh"s hands?
DAVISON.
Never expressly in so many words.
ELIZABETH.
And, paltering villain I dare you then presume To construe, as you list, my words--and lay Your b.l.o.o.d.y meaning on them? Wo betide you, If evil come of this officious deed!
Your life shall answer the event to me.
Earl Shrewsbury, you see how my good name Has been abused!
SHREWSBURY.
I see! Oh, G.o.d in heaven!
ELIZABETH.
What say you?
SHREWSBURY.
If the knight has dared to act In this, upon his own authority, Without the knowledge of your majesty, He must be cited to the Court of Peers To answer there for subjecting thy name To the abhorrence of all after time.
SCENE XV.
Enter BURLEIGH.
BURLEIGH (bowing his knee before the QUEEN).
Long life and glory to my royal mistress, And may all enemies of her dominions End like this Stuart.
[SHREWSBURY hides his face. DAVIDSON wrings his hands in despair.
ELIZABETH.
Speak, my lord; did you From me receive the warrant?
BURLEIGH.
No, my queen; From Davison.
ELIZABETH.
And did he in my name Deliver it?
BURLEIGH.
No, that I cannot say.
ELIZABETH.
And dared you then to execute the writ Thus hastily, nor wait to know my pleasure?
Just was the sentence--we are free from blame Before the world; yet it behooved thee not To intercept our natural clemency.
For this, my lord, I banish you my presence; And as this forward will was yours alone Bear you alone the curse of the misdeed!
[To DAVISON.
For you, sir; who have traitorously o"erstepped The bounds of your commission, and betrayed A sacred pledge intrusted to your care, A more severe tribunal is prepared: Let him be straight conducted to the Tower, And capital arraignments filed against him.
My honest Talbot, you alone have proved, "Mongst all my counsellors, an upright man: You shall henceforward be my guide--my friend.
SHREWSBURY.
Oh! banish not the truest of your friends; Nor cast those into prison, who for you Have acted; who for you are silent now.