 | The Chronicle Historie of Perkin Warbeck |  |
Actus Secundus
Scæna prima.
Enter aboue: Countesse of Crawford, Katherine, Iane, with other Ladies.Coun.
Come Ladies, heeres a solemne preparation
For entertainment of this English Prince;
The King intends grace more then ordinarie,
Twere pittie now, if a' should proue a Counterfeit.
Kat:
Blesse the young man, our Nation would be laughd at
For honest soules through Christendome: my father
Hath a weake stomacke to the businesse (Madam)
But that the King must not be crost.
Coun:
A'brings
A goodly troope (they say) of gallants with him;
But very modest people, for they strive not
To fame their names too much; their god-fathers
May be beholding to them, but their fathers
Scarce owe them thankes: they are disguised Princes,
Brought vp it seemes to honest trades; no matter;
They will breake forth in season.
Iane.
Or breake out.
For most of em are broken by report;—The King,
Kat.
Let vs obserue 'em and be silent.
Flourish.
Enter King Iames, Huntley, Crawford, and Daliell.
K. I.
The right of Kings (my Lords) extends not onely
To the safe Conservation of their owne;
But also to the ayde of such Allies
As change of time, and state, hath often times
Hurld downe from carefull Crownes, to vndergoe
An exercise of sufferance in both fortunes:
So English Richard surnam'd Cor-de-lyon,
So Robert Bruce our royall Ancestor,
Forc'd by the tryall of the wrongs they felt,
Both sought, and found supplyes, from forraigne Kings
To repossesse their owne: then grudge not (Lords)
A much distressed Prince, King Charles of Fraunce,
And Maximilian of Bohemia both,
Shall wee then be distrustfull? No, Compassion
Is one rich Iewell that shines in our Crowne,
And we will haue it shine there.
Hunt.
Doe your will Sir.
K. I.
The young Duke is at hand, Daliell from vs
First greete him, and conduct him on; then Crawford
Shall meete him next, and Huntley last of all
Present him to our armes; sound sprightly Musique,
Whilst Majestie encounters Majestie.
Hoboyes.
Daliell goes out, brings in Perkin at the doore where Crawford entertaines him, and from Crawford, Huntley salutes him, and presents him to the King: they embrace, Perkin in state retires some few paces backe: During which Ceremony, the Noblemen slightly salute Fryon, Heron a Mercer, Sketon a Taylor, Astley a Scrivenor, with Iohn a Watring, all Perkins followers. Salutations ended: cease Musique.
War:
Most high, most mightie King! that now there stands
Before your eyes, in presence of your Peeres,
A subject of the rarest kinde of pittie
That hath in any age touchd noble hearts,
The vulgar storie of a Princes ruine,
Hath made it too apparent: Evrope knowes,
And all the Westerne World what persecution
Hath ragd in malice, against Vs, sole heire
To the great throne, of old Plantaginetts.
How from our Nursery, wee haue beene hurried
Vnto the Sanctuarie, from the Sanctuarie
Forc'd to the Prison, from the Prison hald
By cruell hands, to the tormentors furie;
Is registred alreadie in the Volume
Of all mens tongues, whose true relation drawes
Compassion, melted into weeping eyes,
And bleeding soules: but our misfortunes since,
Haue rang'd a larger progresse through strange Lands,
Protected in our Innocence by Heaven.
Edward the Fift our brother, in his Tragedie
Paid them their wages, of despaire and horrour;
The softnesse of my childe-hood smild vpon
The roughnesse of their taske, and rob'd them farther
Of hearts to dare, or hands to execute.
Great King they spard my life, the butchers spard it;
Returnd the tyrant, my vnnaturall Vncle,
A truth of my dispatch; I was conveyd
With secresie and speede to Tournay; fosterd
By obscure meanes, taught to vnlearne my selfe:
But as I grew in yeares, I grew in sence
Of feare, and of disdaine; feare, of the tyrant
Whose power swaide the throne then, when disdaine
Of living so vnknowne, in such a servile
And abject lownesse, prompted mee to thoughts
Of recollecting who I was; I shooke off
My bondage, and made hast to let my Aunt
Of Burgundie acknowledge mee her kinsman;
Heire to the Crowne of England, snatch'd by Henry
From Richards head; a thing scarce knowne ith world.
K. I.
My Lord, it stands not with your Counsaile now
To flie vpon invectiues, if you can
Make this apparent what you haue discourst
In every Circumstance, wee will not studie
An answer, but are ready in your Cause.
War:
You are a wise, and just King, by the powers
Aboue, reserv'd beyond all other aydes
To plant mee in mine owne inheritance:
To marrie these two Kingdomes in a loue
Never to be divor'd, while time is time.
As for the manner first of my escape,
Of my Conveyance, next, of my life since,
The meanes, and persons, who were instruments;
Great Sir, tis fit I over-passe in silence:
Reserving the relation, to the secrecy
Of your owne Princely eare, since it concernes
Some great Ones living yet, and others dead,
Royall magnificence to him that seekes it,
Wee vow hereafter, to demeane our selfe,
As if wee were your owne, and naturall brother:
Omitting no occasion in our person,
To expresse a gratitude, beyond example.
K. I.
Hee must bee more then subject, who can vtter
The language of a King, and such is thine.
Take this for answer, bee what ere thou art,
Thou never shalt repent that thou hast put
Thy cause, and person, into my protection.
Cosen of Yorke, thus once more Wee embrace thee;
Welcome to Iames of Scotland, for thy safetie,
Know such as loue thee not, shall never wrong thee.
Come, wee will taste a while our Court delights,
Dreame hence afflictions past, and then proceede
To high attempts of honor, on, leade on;
Both thou and thine are ours, and wee will guard yee.
Leade on.—
Exeunt, Manent Ladies aboue.
Coun:
I haue not seene a Gentleman
Of a more braue aspect, or goodlier carriage;
His fortunes moue not him—Madam, yare passionate.
Kat:
Beshrew mee, but his words haue touchd mee home,
As if his cause concernd mee; I should pittie him
If a' should proue another then hee seemes.
Enter Crawford.
Craw.
Ladies the King commands your presence instantly,
For entertainment of the Duke.
Kat.
The Duke
Must then be entertain'd, the King obayd:
It is our dutie.
Coun:
Wee will all waite on him.
Exeunt.
Flourish.
Enter King Henry: Oxford; Durham; Surrey.
K: H:
Haue yee condem'd my Chamberlaine?
Dur.
His treasons condem'd him (Sir,) which were as
Besides the guilt of his conspiracie prest him
So neerely, that it drew from him free
Confession without an importunitie.
K: H:
Oh Lord Bishop,
This argued shame, and sorrow for his follie;
And must not stand in evidence against
Our mercie, and the softnesse of our nature;
The rigor and extremitie of Law
Is sometimes too too bitter, but wee carry
A Chancerie of pittie in our bosome.
I hope wee may repreiue him from the sentence
Of death; I hope, we may.
Dur:
You may, you may;
And so perswade your Subjects, that the title
Of Yorke is better, nay, more just, and lawfull,
Then yours of Lancaster; so Stanlie houlds:
Which if it be not treason in the highest,
Then we are traytors all; perjurd and false,
Who haue tooke oath to Henry, and the justice
Of Henries title; Oxford, Surrey, Dawbney,
With all your other Peeres of State, and Church,
Forsworne, and Stanlie true alone to Heaven,
And Englands lawfull heire.
Ox:
By Veres old honors,
Ile cut his throate dares speake it.
Sur:
Tis a quarrell
To' ingage a soule in.
K: H:
What a coyle is here,
To keepe my gratitude sincere and perfect?
Stanlie was once my friend, and came in time
To saue my life; yet to say truth (my Lords,)
The man staid long enough t'indanger it:
But I could see no more into his heart,
Then what his outward actions did present;
And for 'em haue rewarded 'em so fullie,
As that there wanted nothing in our guift
To gratifie his merit, as I thought,
Vnlesse I should devide my Crowne with him,
And giue him halfe; tho now I well perceiue
Twould scarce haue seru'd his turne, without the whole.
Proceede in execution, whiles I mourne
The losse of one, whom I esteemd a friend.
Dur:
Sir, he is comming this way.
K: H:
If a'speake to me,
I could denie him nothing; to prevent it,
I must withdraw, pray (Lords) commend my favours
To his last peace, which I with him, will pray for:
That done, it doth concerne vs, to consult
Of other following troubles.
Exeunt.
Ox:
I am glad hee's gone, vpon my life he would
Haue pardon'd the Traytor, had a'seene him.
Sur:
'Tis a King composd of gentlenesse.
Dur:
Rare, and vnheard of;
But every man is neerest to himselfe,
And that the King obserues, tis fit a' should.
Enter Stanly; Executioner: Vrswick and Dawbney.
Stan:
May I not speake with Clifford ere I shake
This peice of Frailtie off?
Dawb:
You shall, hees sent for.
Stan:
I must not see the King?
Dur:
From him Sir William
These Lords and I am sent, hee bad vs say
That he commends his mercy to your thoughts;
Wishing the Lawes of England could remit
The forfeit of your life, as willingly
As he would in the sweetnesse of his nature,
Forget your trespasse; but how ere your body
Fall into dust, Hee vowes, the King himselfe
Doth vow, to keepe a requiem for your soule,
As for a friend, close treasur'd in his bosome.
Ox:
Without remembrance of your errors past,
I come to take my leaue, and wish you Heaven.
Sur:
And I, good Angells guard yee.
Stan:
Oh the King
Next to my soule, shall be the neerest subject
Of my last prayers; my graue Lord of Durham,
My Lords of Oxford, Surrey, Dawbney, all,
Accept from a poore dying man, a farewell.
Of many flourishing yeares, but fate, and time
Haue wheeld about, to turne mee into nothing.
Enter Clifford.
Daw:
Sir Robert Clifford comes, the man (Sir William)
You so desire to speake with.
Dur:
Marke their meeting.
Cliff:
Sir William Stanlie, I am glad your Conscience
Before your end, hath emptied every burthen
Which charg'd it, as that you can cleerely witnesse,
How farre I haue proceeded in a dutie
That both concern'd my truth, and the States safetie.
Stan:
Mercy, how deare is life to such as hugge it?
Come hether—by this token thinke on mee—
Makes a Crosse on Cliffords face with his finger.
Cliff:
This token? What? I am abusd?
Stan:
You are not.
I wett vpon your cheekes a holy Signe,
The Crosse, the Christians badge, the Traytors infamie:
Weare Clifford to thy graue this painted Emblem:
Water shall never wash it off, all eyes
That gaze vpon thy face, shall reade there written,
A State-Informers Character, more vglie
Stamp'd on a noble name, then on a base.
The Heavens forgiue thee; pray (my Lords) no change
Of words: this man and I haue vse too manie.
Cliff:
Shall I be disgrac'd without replie?
Dur.
Giue loosers
Leaue to talke; his losse is irrecoverable.
Stan:
Once more
To all a long farewell; the best of greatnesse
Preserue the King; my next suite is (my Lords)
To be remembred to my noble Brother,
Darby my much griev'd brother; Oh! perswade him,
That I shall stand no blemish to his house,
In Chronicles writ in another age.
My heart doth bleede for him; and for his sighes,
Tell him, hee must not thinke, the stile of Darby,
Nor being husband to King Henries Mother,
The league with Peeres, the smiles of Fortune, can
Secure his peace, aboue the state of man:
“Subjects deserue their deaths whose Kings are just.
Come Confessor, on with thy Axe (friend) on.
Exeunt.
Cliff:
Was I call'd hither by a Traytors breath
To be vpbraided? Lords, the King shall know it.
Enter King Henry with a white staffe.
K: H:
The King doth know it Sir; the King hath heard
What he or you could say; Wee haue given credit
To every point of Cliffords information,
The onely evidence 'gainst Stanlies head.
A' dyes fort, are you pleasd?
Cliff:
I pleasd my Lord!
K: H:
No ecchoes: for your service, wee dismisse
Your more attendance on the Court; take ease
And liue at home; but as you loue your life,
Stirre not from London without leaue from vs.
Weele thinke on your reward, away.
Cliff:
I goe Sir.
Exit Clifford.
K: H:
Dye all our griefes with Stanlie; take this staffe
Of office Dawbney, henceforth be our Chamberlaine.
Dawb:
I am your humblest servant.
K: H:
Wee are followed
By enemies at home, that will not cease
To seeke their owne confusion; 'tis most true,
The Cornish vnder Awdley are marcht on
As farre as Winchester; but let them come,
Our forces are in readinesse, weele catch 'em
In their owne toyles.
Dawb:
Your Armie, being mustred,
Consist in all, of horse and foote, at least
In number six and twentie thousand; men
Daring, and able, resolute to fight,
And loyall in their truthes.
K: H:
Wee know it Dawbney:
For them, wee order thus, Oxford in chiefe
Assisted by bolde Essex, and the Earle
Of Suffolke, shall leade on the first Battalia:
Be that your charge.
I humbly thanke your Majestie.
K: H:
The next Devision wee assigne to Dawbney:
These must be men of action, for on those
The fortune of our fortunes, must relie.
The last and mayne, ourselfe commands in person,
As readie to restore the fight at all times,
As to consummate an assured victorie.
Dawb:
The King is still oraculous.
K: H:
But Surrey,
Wee haue imployment of more toyle for thee!
For our intelligence comes swiftly to vs,
That Iames of Scotland, late hath entertaind
Perkin the counterfeite, with more then common
Grace and respect; nay courts him with rare favours;
The Scot is young and forward, wee must looke for
A suddaine storme to England from the North:
Which to withstand, Durham shall post to Norham,
To fortifie the Castle, and secure
The frontiers, against an Invasion there.
Surrey shall follow soone, with such an Armie,
As may relieue the Bishop, and incounter
On all occasions, the death-daring Scotts.
You know your charges all, 'tis now a time
To execute, not talke, Heaven is our guard still.
Warre must breede peace, such is the fate of Kings.
Exeunt.
Enter Crawford and Daliell.
Crawf:
Tis more then strange, my reason cannot answere
Such argument of fine Imposture, coucht
In witch-craft of perswasion, that it fashions
Impossibilities, as if appearance
Could cozen truth it selfe; this Duk-ling Mushrome
Hath doubtlesse charm'd the King.
Daliell:
A' courts the Ladies,
As if his strength of language, chaynd attention
By power of prerogatiue.
Crawf:
It madded
My very soule, to heare our Maisters motion:
What suretie both of amitie, and honor,
A match betwixt some noble of our Nation,
And this braue Prince forsooth.
Dali:
Twill proue to fatall,
Wise Huntley feares the threatning. Blesse the Ladie
From such a ruine.
Cra:
How the Connsaile privie
Of this young Phueton, doe skrewe their faces
Into a gravitie, their trades (good people)
Were never guiltie of? the meanest of 'em
Dreames of at least an office in the State.
Dal:
Sure not the Hangmans, tis bespoke alreadie
For service to their rogueshippes—silence.
Enter King Iames and Huntley.
K: Iames,
Doe not—
Argue against our will; wee haue descended
Somewhat (as wee may tearme it) too familiarly
From Iustice of our birth-right, to examine
The force of your alleagence:—Sir, wee haue;
But finde it short of dutie!
Hunt:
Breake my heart,
Doe, doe, King; haue my services, my loyaltie,
(Heaven knowes vntainted ever) drawne vpon mee
Contempt now in mine age? when I but wanted
A minute of a peace not to be troubled?
My last, my long one? Let me be a Dotard,
A Bedlame, a poore sot, or what you please
To haue me, so you will not staine your bloud,
Your owne bloud (royall Sir) though mixt with mine,
By marriage of this girle to a straggler!
Take, take my head Sir, whilst my tongue can wagge
It cannot name him other.
K: Ia:
Kings are counterfeits
In your repute (graue Oracle) not presently
Set on their thrones, with Scepters in their fists:
But vse your owne detraction: tis our pleasure
To giue our Cosen Yorke for wife our kinswoman
The Ladie Katherine: Instinct of soveraigntie
Designes the honor, though her peevish Father
Vsurps our Resolution.
Hunt:
O tis well,
Of vsing Congeys to my Daughter Queene:
A Queene, perhaps a Queene?—Forgiue me Daliell
Thou honorable Gentleman, none here
Dare speake one word of Comfort?
Dal:
Cruell misery!
Craw:
The Lady gracious Prince, may be hath setled
Affection on some former choyce.
Dal:
Inforcement, would proue but tyrannie.
Hunt.
I thanke 'ee heartily.
Let any yeoman of our Nation challenge
An interest in the girle: then the King
May adde a Ioynture of ascent in titles,
Worthy a free consent; now a'pulls downe
What olde Desert hath builded.
K. Ia.
Cease perswasions,
I violate no pawnes of faythes, intrude not
On private loues; that I haue play'd the Orator
For Kingly Yorke to vertuous Kate, her grant
Can justifie, referring her contents
To our provision, the Welch Harrie, henceforth
Shall therefore know, and tremble to acknowledge,
That not the paynted Idoll of his pollicie,
Shall fright the lawfull owner from a Kingdome.
Wee are resolv'd.
Hunt.
Some of thy Subjects hearts
King Iames will bleede for this!
K. Ia.
Then shall their blouds
Be nobly spent; no more disputes, hee is not
Our friend who contradicts vs.
Hunt.
Farewell Daughter!
My care by one is lessened; thanke the King for't,
Enter.
I and my griefes will daunce now,—Looke Lords looke,
Heeres hand in hand alreadie?
K. Ia.
Peace olde phrensie.
Enter Warbeck leading Katherine, complementing; Countesse of Crawford, Iane, Frion, Major of Corke, Astley, Heron and Sketon.
How like a' King alookes? Lords, but obserue
The confidence of his aspect? Drosse cannot
Cleaue to so pure a mettall; royall youth!
Plantaginett vndoubted!
Hunt:
Ho braue Lady!
By red Rose or by white.
Warb.
An Vnion this way,
Settles possession in a Monarchie
Establisht rightly, as is my inheritance:
Acknowledge me but Soveraigne of this Kingdome,
Your heart (fayre Princes) and the hand of providence,
Shall crowne you Queene of me, and my best fortunes.
Kath.
Where my obedience is (my Lord) a dutie,
Loue owes true service.
Warb:
Shall I?—
K. Ia:
Cossen yes,
Enjoy her; from my hand accept your bride;
And may they liue at emnitie with comfort,
Who grieue at such an equall pledge of trothes.
Y'are the Princes wife now.
Kath:
By your gift Sir;
Warb:
Thus I take seisure of mine owne.
Kath:
I misse yet
A fathers blessing: Let me finde it;—humbly
Vpon my knees I seeke it.
Hunt:
I am Huntley
Olde Alexander Guerdon, a plaine subject,
Nor more, nor lesse; and Ladie, if you wish for
A blessing, you must bend your knees to Heaven;
For Heaven did giue me you; alas, alas,
What would you haue me say? may all the happinesse
My prayers ever sued to fall vpon you,
Preserue you in your vertues;—preethee Daliell
Come with me; for, I feele thy griefes as full
As mine, lets steale away, and cry together.
Dal:
My hopes are in their ruines.
Exeunt Huntley and Daliell.
K. Ia.
Good kinde Huntley
Is over-joy'd, a fit solemnitie,
Shall perfite these delights: Crawford attend
Our order for the preparation.
Exeunt, manent, Frion, Major, Astley, Heron, & Sketon.
Fri:
Now worthy Gentlemen, haue I not followed
My vndertakings with successe? Heeres entrance
Into a certaintie aboue a hope.
Heron.
Hopes are but hopes, I was ever confident, when I traded
but in remnants, that my starres had reserv'd me to the title of
a Viscount at least, honor is honor though cut out of any stuffes.
My brother Heron, hath right wisely delivered his opinion:
for he that threeds his needle with the sharpe eyes of industrie,
shall in time goe through-stitch, with the new suite of
preferment.
Astley.
Spoken to the purpose my fine witted brother Sketon,
for as no Indenture, but has its counterpawne; no Noverint but
his Condition, or Defeysance; so no right, but may haue claime,
no claime but may haue possession, any act of Parlament to the
Contrary notwithstanding.
Frion.
You are all read in mysteries of State,
And quicke of apprehension, deepe in judgement,
Actiue in resolution; and tis pittie
Such counsaile should lye buryed in obscuritie.
But why in such a time and cause of triumph,
Stands the judicious Major of Corke so silent?
Beleeue it Sir, as English Richard prospers,
You must not misse imployment of high nature.
Major.
If men may be credited in their mortalitie, which I
dare not peremptorily averre, but they may, or not be; presumptions
by this marriage are then (in sooth) of fruitfull expectation.
Or else I must not justifie other mens beliefe, more then other
should relie on mine.
Frion.
Pith of experience, those that haue borne office,
Weigh every word before it can drop from them;
But noble Counsellers, since now the present,
Requires in poynt of honor (pray mistake not)
Some service to our Lord; 'tis fit the Scotts
Should not ingrosse all glory to themselues,
At this so grand, and eminent solemnitie.
Sket:
The Scotts? the motion is defied: I had rather, for my
part, without tryall of my Countrie, suffer persecution vnder the
pressing Iron of reproach: or let my skinne be pincht full of oylett
holes, with the Bodkin of Derision.
Ast:
I will sooner loose both my eares on the Pillorie of Forgerie.
Heron.
Let me first liue a Banckrout, and die in the lowsee hole
of hunger, without compounding for six pence in the pound.
If men faile not in their expectations, there may be
spirits also that disgest no rude affronts (Master Secretarie Frion)
or I am cozen'd: which is possible I graunt.
Frion.
Resolv'd like men of knowledge; at this feast then
In honor of the Bride, the Scotts I know,
Will in some shew, some maske, or some Devise,
Preferre their duties: now it were vncomely,
That wee be found lesse forward for our Prince,
Then they are for their Ladie; and by how much
Wee out-shine them in persons of account,
By so much more will our indeavours meete with
A liuelier applause. Great Emperours,
Haue for their recreations vndertooke
Such kinde of pastimes; as for the Conceite,
Referre it to my studie; the performance
You all shall share a thankes in, twill be gratefull.
Heron.
The motion is allowed, I haue stole to a dauncing
Schoole when I was a Prentice.
Astl:
There haue beene Irish-Hubbubs, when I haue made
one too.
Sket:
For fashioning of shapes, and cutting a crosse-caper,
turne me off to my trade againe.
Major.
Surely, there is, if I be not deceived, a kinde of gravitie
in merriment: as, there is, or perhaps ought to be, respect of
persons in the qualitie of carriage, which is, as it is construed,
either so, or so.
Frion.
Still you come home to me; vpon occasion
I finde you rellish Courtship with discretion:
And such are fit for Statesmen of your merits.
Pray'e waite the Prince, and in his eare acquaint him
With this Designe, Ile follow and direct ee'.
O the toyle
(Exeunt, mane Frion.
Of humoring this abject scumme of mankinde?
Muddie-braynd peasants? Princes feele a miserie
Beyond impartiall sufferance, whose extreames
Must yeelde to such abettors; yet our tyde
Runnes smoothly without adverse windes; runne on!
Quarrells forewritten in the Booke of fates.
Exit.
| The Chronicle Historie of Perkin Warbeck | |