_Vane._ Kept me? Fresh news from Scotland, sir! worse than the last, If that may be. All 's up with Strafford there: Nothing to bar the mad Scots marching hither Next Lord's-day morning. That detained me, sir! Well now, before they thrust you out,--go on,-- Their Speaker--did the fellow Lenthal say All we set down for him? _Holland._ Not a word missed. Ere he began, we entered, Savile, I And Bristol and some more, with hope to breed A wholesome awe in the new Parliament. But such a gang of graceless ruffians, Vane, As glared at us! _Vane._ So many? _Sav._ Not a bench Without its complement of burly knaves; Your hopeful son among them: Hampden leant Upon his shoulder--think of that! _Vane._ I 'd think On Lenthal's speech, if I could get at it. Urged he, I ask, how grateful they should prove For this unlooked-for summons from the King? _Holl._ Just as we drilled him. _Vane._ That the Scots will march On London? _Holl._ All, and made so much of it, A dozen subsidies at least seemed sure To follow, when ... _Vane._ Well? _Holl._ 'T is a strange thing now! I 've a vague memory of a sort of sound, A voice, a kind of vast unnatural voice-- Pym, sir, was speaking! Savile, help me out: What was it all? _Sav._ Something about "a matter"-- No,--"work for England." _Holl._ "England's great revenge" He talked of. _Sav._ How should I get used to Pym More than yourselves? _Holl._ However that may be, 'T was something with which we had naught to do, For we were "strangers," and 't was "England's work"-- (All this while looking us straight in the face) In other words, our presence might be spared. So, in the twinkling of an eye, before I settled to my mind what ugly brute Was likest Pym just then, they yelled us out, Locked the doors after us, and here are we. _Vane._ Eliot's old method ... _Sav._ Prithee, Vane, a truce To Eliot and his times, and the great Duke, And how to manage Parliaments! 'T was you Advised the Queen to summon this: why, Strafford (To do him justice) would not hear of it. _Vane._ Say rather, you have done the best of turns To Strafford: he 's at York, we all know why. I would you had not set the Scots on Strafford Till Strafford put down Pym for us, my lord! _Sav._ Was it I altered Stafford's plans? did I ... (_A_ Messenger _enters._) _Mes._ The Queen, my lords--she sends me: follow me At once; 't is very urgent! she requires Your counsel: something perilous and strange Occasions her command. _Sav._ We follow, friend! Now, Vane;--your Parliament will plague us all!