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 from his bed! Never has England been so grievously oppressed. And I have seen some evil times, for I am an old man! There are seventy new gibbets on Tyburn Hill; the pyres are always red-hot embers, never ashes; the headsman's axe is sharpened every morning and notched every night. Every day some great nobleman is struck down. Day before yesterday 'twas Blantyre, yesterday Northcurry, to-day South-Reppo, to-morrow Tyrconnel. Next week 'twill be you, Chandos, and next month 'twill be I. My lords, my lords, 'tis a crying, impious shame, that all these honourable English heads should fall thus for the pleasure of a wretched nameless adventurer, who is not even of this country! 'Tis a shocking and intolerable thought that a Neapolitan favourite can draw as many blocks as he will from beneath the bed of this Queen! They lead a merry life together, say you? By Heaven! 'tis infamous! Ah! they lead a merry life, these lovers, while the head-cutter at their door makes widows and orphans! Too often is their Italian guitar accompanied by the clank of fetters! My lady Queen! you import singers from the chapel of Avignon, you have every day, in your palace, theatres and galleries full of musicians. By God! my lady, less merry-making in your abode, may it please you, and less mourning in ours; fewer merry-andrews here and fewer headsmen yonder; fewer showmen's booths at Westminster, and fewer scaffolds at Tyburn!

Montagu.Beware. We are loyal subjects, my Lord Clinton. Put nought upon the Queen, all upon Fabiani.

Renard [laying his hand on  shoulder.]Patience.

Clinton.Patience! 'Tis easy for you to say,