SuagespEARrE, King Henry Vi—Act IV.

ude MeNnry.—“ So if a sen, that ig by his father sent about merchandise, do sinfully
mis-carry upon the sea, the imputation of his wickedness, by your rule,
should be imposed upon his father that sent him; or if a servant, under his
master's command, transporting a sum of money, be assailed hy robbers,
and die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the basiness of the
pagter the author of the servant's damnation. But this is nov so: the
king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the
father of his son, nor the master of his servant; for they purpose not their
leath, when they purpose their services. Besides, there is no king, be his
ause never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrement of swords, can try
t out with unspotted soldiers. Some, peradventure have in them the
guilt "of premeditated and contrived murder ; some of beguiling virgins
with the broken seals of perjury ; some, making the wars their bulwark,
that have before gored the genile bosom of peace with pillage and robsery.
 Now, if these men have defeated the laws, and out-run native
punishment, thongh they can outstrip men, they bave no wings to fly from
God; war is his beadle; war is his vengeance; so that here men ar:
punished, for before-breach of ihe king's laws, in now the King's quarrel ;
where they feared the death, they have borne life away, and where they
would be safe, they perished ; then, it’ they die unprovided, no more is toe
king guiliy of their damnation, than he was before guilty of those impieties
for which they are now visited. Every subject's duty is the king's; but
avery subject's soul 1s his own. Therefore, should every soldier in the
wars do as every sick man in his bed, wash every mote out of his conscience ;
and dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was
blessedly lost, wherein such preparation was gained; and in him that
escapes, it were not sin to think, that making God so free an offer, Ie let
1im ont-live that day to see His greatness. and to teach others how thes
:hould vrepare.”