University of Virginia Library

Scena I.

Enter Ronerigo, and Christofero; two bare-headed before them, Alvero, Cardinall alone, Zarack, and Baltazar bearing the Crown on a cushion, Eleazar next, Queen Mother after him other Lords after her, Alvero sad, meets them.
Card.
Alvero 'tis the pleasure of the King,
Of the Queen Mother, and these honoured States,
To ease you of Philip, there's a warrant
Sent to remove him to a stronger guard.

Alve.
I thank you, you shall rid me of much care.

Eleaz.
Sit down, and take your place!

Alve.
If I might have the place I like best, it should be my grave.

Sits down.
The Moors stand aside with the Crown, Eleazar rising, takes it!
Eleaz.
Stand in voice, reach, away!

Both Moors.
Wee are gon.

Exeunt.
Eleaz.
Princes of Spain if in this royall Court,
There sit a man, that having laid his hold,
So fast on such a jewel, and dare wear it,
In the contempt of envie as I dare,
Yet uncompell'd (as freely as poor pilgrims,
Bestow their praiers) would give such wealth away;
Let such a man step forth; what do none rise?
No, no, for Kings indeed are deities.
And who'd not (as the sun) in brightnesse shine?
To be the greatest, is to be divine:
Who among millions would not be the mightiest?
To sit in God-like state, to have all eyes,
Dazled with admiration, and all tongues
Showting lowd Praiers, to rob every heart
Of love, to have the strength of every arm.
A Soveraigns name, why 'tis a Soveraign charm.
This glory round about me hath thrown beams,
I have stood upon the top of fortunes wheel,
And backward turn'd the Iron screw of fate,
The destinies have spun a silken thread
about my lif, yet Noble Spaniards see?
Hoc tantum tacti, thus I cast aside
The shape of Majestie and on my knee,
Kneels: the Cardinall fetches the Crown and sets it on the chair.
To this Imperiall State lowly resigne,
This usurpation, wiping off your fears,
Which stuck so hard upon me, let a hand
A right, and royall hand take up this wreath,
And guard it, right is of it self most strong,
No kingdom got by cunning can stand long.

Car.
Proceed to new election of a King.

All.
Agreed.

Eleaz.
Stay Peers of Spain, if young Philippo,
Be Philips son, then is he Philips heir,
Then must his Royall name be set in gold,
Philip is then the Diamond to that ring;
But if he be a bastard, here's his seat,
For basenesse has no gall, till it grow great.
First therefore let him blood, if he must bleed,
Yet in what vein you strike him, best take heed:
The Portugall's his friend, you saw he came
At holding up a finger, arm'd; this peace
Rid hence his dangerous friendship, he's at home,
But when he hears, that Philip is ty'd up,
Yet hears not why, he'l catch occasions lock,
And on that narrow bridg make shift to lead
A scrambling army through the heart of Spain,
Look to't being in, he'l hardly out again.
Therefore first prove, and then proclaim him bastard.

Alve.
How shall we prove it?

Eleaz.
He that put him out to making,
I am sure can tell, if not,
Then she that shap'd him can, here's the Queen Mother
Being prick'd in conscience, and preferring Spain,
Before her own respect, will name the man,
If he be noble & a Spaniard born, hee'l hide,
The apparent scarrs of their infamies
With the white hand of marriage; that and time,
Will eat the blemish off, say? shall it?

All.
No.

Card.
Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall dye.

Hort.
Death is too easie for such villany.

Eleaz.
Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall dye.
I would he might, I know my self am clear
As is the new born Infant. Madam stand forth,
Behold to speak, shame in the grave wants sence:
Heaven with sins greatest forfeits can dispence.

Q. Mo.
Would I were covered with the vail of night,
You might not see red shame sit on my cheecke;
But being Spains common safety stands for truth,
Hiding my weeping eyes, I blush, and say;
Philippo's father sits here.

Roder.
Here! name him?

Q. Mo.
The Lord Mendoza did beget that son,
Oh! let not this dishonour further run?

Alve.
What Cardinall Mendoza?

Qu. Mo.
Yes, yes, even hee.

Eleaz.
Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

Car.
I Philips father?—

Coms down, the rest talk.
Q. M.
Nay! deny me not?
Now may a kingdom and my love be got.

Car.
Those eyes and tongue bewitch me, shame lie here;
That love has sweetest tast that is bought dear.

Christo.
What answers Lord Mendoza to the Queen?

Car.
I confesse guilty, Philip is my son,
Her Majestie hath nam'd the time and place.

Alv.
To you, but not to us, go forward Madam.

Q. Mo.
Within the circle of twice ten years since,
Your deceast King made warr in Barbarie,
Won Tunis, conquered Fesse, and hand to hand,
Slew great Abdela, King of Fesse, and father
To that Barbarian Prince.

Eleaz.
I was but young, but now methinks
I see my fathers wounds, poor Barbaria!
No more.

Q. Mo.
In absence of my Lord mourning his want,
To me alone, being in my private walk,
I think at Salamanca; I, 'twas there;
Enters Mendoza under shew of shrift,
Threatens my death if I deni'd his lust,
In fine by force he won me to his will,
I wept, and cri'd for help, but all in vain;
Mendoza there abus'd the bed of Spain.

Eleaz.
Spaniard or Moor, that saucy slave shall die.

Alve.
Why did not you complain of this vile act?

Q. Mo.
Alas! I was alone, young, full of fear;
Bashful, and doubtfull of my own defame;
Knowing King Philip rash and jealous,
I hid his sins, thinking to hide my shame.

Horten.
What says the Cardinall?

Car.
Such a time there was;
'Tis past, I'le make amends with marriage,
And satisfie with Trentalls, dirges, praiers,
The offended spirit of the wronged King.

Queen and they talk.
Eleaz.
Spaniard or Moor, that saucy slave shall die;
Oh! 'twould seem best, it should be thus Mendoza:
She to accuse, I urge, and both conclude,
Your marriage like a comick interlude.
Lords will you hear this hatefull sin confest?
And not impose upon the ravisher death,
The due punishment, oh! it must be so.

Alve.
What does the Queen desire?

Qu. Mo.
Justice, revenge,
On vile Mendoza for my ravishment:
I kiss the cold earth with my humbl'd knees,
From whence I will not rise, till some just hand,
Cast to the ground the Traitor Cardinall.

All.
Stand forth Mendoza.

Eleaz.
Swells your heart so high?
Down Lecher; if you wil not stand, then lie.

Car.
You have bretrai'd me, by my too much trust,
I never did this deed of Rape and Lust.

Roder.
Your tongue confest it.

Car.
True, I was intic'd.

Eleaz.
Intic'd? do you beleeve that?

Qu. Mo.
Justice Lords! sentence the Cardinall for
His hatefull sin.

Alve.
We will assemble all the States of Spain,
And as they Judge, so Justice shall be done.

Eleaz.
A guard! to prison with the Cardinall.

Car.
Dam'd slave my tongue shall go at liberty
Enter Zarack, Baltazar & others.
To curse thee, ban that strumpet; Doggs keep off.

Eleaz.
Hist, hist, on, on.

Qu. Mo.
I cannot brook his sight.

Alv.
You must to prison, and bee patient.

Card.
Weep'st thou Alvero? all struck dumb? my fears,
Are that those drops will change to bloody teares.
This woman, and this Serpent.

Qu. Mo.
Drag him hence.

Car.
Who dares lay hands upon me, Lords of Spain
Let your swords bail me, this false Queen did lye.

Eleaz.
Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

Card.
I'le fight with thee, damn'd hell-hound for my life.

Eleaz.
Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

Card.
I'le prove upon thy head.

Eleaz.
The slave shall die.

Card.
Lords stop this villains throat.

Eleaz.
Shal die, shall die.

Card.
Hear me but speak.

Eleaz.
Away.

Alve.
Words are ill spent,
Where wrong sits Judg, you'r arm'd if innocent.

Card.
Well, then I must to prison: Moor, no more:
Heavens thou art just, Prince Philip I betraid,
And now my self fall: Guile with guile is paid.

Exit.
Qu. Mo.
Philip being prov'd a bastard; who shall sit
Upon this empty throne?

Eleaz.
Strumpet, not you.

Qu. Mo.
Strumpet! and I not sit there! who then?

Eleaz.
Down;
Back, if she touch it shee'l bewitch the chair;
This throne belongs to Isabel the fair,
Bring forth the Princes drest in royal robes,
The true affecter of Alvero's son,
Virtuous Hortenzo. Lords, behold your Queen.