_Vane._ No Strafford here beside! _Sav._ If you dare hint I had a hand in his betrayal, sir ... _Holl._ Nay, find a fitter time for quarrels--Pym Will overmatch the best of you; and, think, The Queen! _Vane._ Come on, then: understand, I loathe Strafford as much as any--but his use! To keep off Pym, to screen a friend or two, I would we had reserved him yet awhile. SCENE II. _Whitehall._ _The_ QUEEN _and_ Lady CARLISLE. _Queen._ It cannot be. _Lady Car._ It is so. _Queen._ Why, the House Have hardly met. _Lady Car._ They met for that. _Queen._ No, no! Meet to impeach Lord Strafford? 'T is a jest. _Lady Car._ A bitter one. _Queen._ Consider! 'T is the House We summoned so reluctantly, which nothing But the disastrous issue of the war Persuaded us to summon. They 'll wreak all Their spite on us, no doubt; but the old way Is to begin by talk of grievances: They have their grievances to busy them. _Lady Car._ Pym has begun his speech. _Queen._ Where 's Vane?--That is, Pym will impeach Lord Strafford if he leaves His Presidency; he 's at York, we know, Since the Scots beat him: why should he leave York? _Lady Car._ Because the King sent for him. _Queen._ Ah--but if The King did send for him, he let him know We had been forced to call a Parliament-- A step which Strafford, now I come to think, Was vehement against. _Lady Car._ The policy Escaped him, of first striking Parliaments To earth, then setting them upon their feet And giving them a sword: but this is idle. Did the King send for Strafford? He will come. _Queen._ And what am I to do? _Lady Car._ What do? Fail, madam! Be ruined for his sake! what matters how, So it but stand on record that you made An effort, only one? _Queen._ The King away At Theobald's! _Lady Car._ Send for him at once: he must Dissolve the House. _Queen._ Wait till Vane finds the truth Of the report: then ... _Lady Car._ --It will matter little What the King does. Strafford that lends his arm And breaks his heart for you! (Sir H. VANE _enters._) _Vane._ The Commons, madam, Are sitting with closed doors. A huge debate, No lack of noise; but nothing, I should guess, Concerning Strafford: Pym has certainly Not spoken yet. _Queen._ [_To_ Lady CARLISLE.] You hear? _Lady Car._ I do not hear That the King 's sent for! _Vane._ Savile will be able To tell you more. (HOLLAND _enters._) _Queen._ The last news, Holland?