Enter DAVISON.
ELIZABETH.
The sentence, sir, which I but late intrusted
Unto your keeping; where is it?
DAVISON (in the utmost astonishment).
The sentence!
ELIZABETH (more urgent).
Which yesterday I gave into your charge.
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, God 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 bloody 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, God 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.
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