University of Virginia Library

SCENE I. Mountacute's House.

Enter Mountacute and Holland.
Mount.
All things move forward with a Prosperous Breeze
And we shall reach the Harbour of Success
Sooner then we believ'd, 'tis now in veiw,
Heav'n seems as if it took Peculiar Care,
Promising safety to the Royall Cause,
Inspires the King who steers the mighty Bark,
Keeping him steady in his Resolution:
This night but over we have gain'd the Bay,
Safely we Ride Contemning future Storms.

Sr. Rob. Holl.
'Tis Wonderfull indeed, it shews the hand
Of Providence is with us, never Prince
Was Grac'd with so much Knowledge as young Edward;
Considering his years 'tis wonderfull,
He weighs with all the Gravity and thought
Of an Experienc'd Statesman what's propos'd;
Still as he speaks, the Accent of each Word.
Keeps proper time, and points to his Revenge.

Lo. Mount.
Ay! there it Centers, nothing is more sweet,
It is the Choicest Dainty of the Gods,
With which they feast themselves on Solemn days;
And 'tis but Just their Representative
Sould Diet on the same when injur'd with 'em.
He Credits now the Baseness of his Mother
Her Rank familiarity with March:
Oh Murder'd Edward—Doubly Massacr'd,
Whose Honour suffer'd with thy Innocence,
While thy Adulterers thrive i'th Eye of Heav'n
They magnify their mischiefs by Success
And Cuckold every hour thy memory.

Sr. Rob. Holl.
Tax not the Powers above lest we'r forsaken,
They often suffer what they do not like:
Their Vengeance makes us think why we are punish'd,
Such visitations whets our Penitence:
Creates reflections on the inward Cause,
For Conscience is the mirror of our Souls,
Which represents the Errors of our Lives
In their full shape.

Lo. Mount.
But tell me friend, what message is return'd
From Exeter and Berkly, will they come,
Or choose they rather tamely to be nooz'd?

Sr. Ro. Holl.
Be not too rash for they are men of Worth,
Do not believe because they left the Court,
Retreating to their Quiet Rurall Seats
Where they might gorge the Vulture of their minds;
They are cold or stupid when their honour calls;
No Mountacute, believe me they have heard
That in the Roll of Fame there yet remains
One Chance, one Glorious Lot that's worthy hazzard
Whereby the Kingdoms fate may be retriev'd,
Rouz'd with the Summons they have wing'd their hast,
Vying who shall become the second Curtius.

Mount.
Why so 'twas with Salisbury when first
I told the Glorious Action now in hand,
He like some Lyon almost stiff with ease,
Lolling at length within his Antick Cave,
Takes the Alarum of the Huntsmans sound,
At which he stretches out his well-grown Limbs,
Brustles his horrid Main and furls his Tail,
Whetting his Crooked Talons on the Rock,
Staulks to the Field, and swells to meet the Foe.

Sr. Rob. Holl.
They meet this Night at Council, where they'l finde
Matter prepar'd sufficient to inspire 'em.

Mount.
All joyn the Nobles, Gentry and the Commons,
The Chain is Rivetted, the wresty People
Whose Rights and Priviledges are usurp'd
No longer free, but all in Vassalage
Are ripe for Mischief, ready for Rebellion;
They wait from us the Signal when to Dole
The Act of Justice; wou'd the cry were up
That I might see these Manglers of the Realm
Drove to the Shambles, and expos'd as Beasts.

Enter a Servant.
Serv.
My Lord a Gentlewoman waits to speak with you.

Sr. Rob. Holl.
I'le take my leave, at six we meet again.

[Exit.
Mount.
I shall not fail—Conduct her in.
Enter Maria.
Your bus'ness fair one;

Mar.
When I shall tell the Subject of my errand,
Possibly it may deserve attention;
But I must request your Privacy.

Mount.
You are obey'd, by Heav'n a charming Creature;
Mount. nods to the Servant, who exits.
Now, speak your pleasure, Madam;

Mar.
I come, my Lord, a Supplyant from a Maid,
Who for some years has ey'd your noble worth,
And tho' her Birth, nor Fortune can pretend,
To merrit that return she long has sigh'd for;
Yet so her Partiall Destiny has order'd,
She still admires your Person and your Virtues.

Mount.
Well, my fair suitress, whither does this tend?
Lovely deportment, and Inticing Innocence.

[aside.
Mar.
With silence hitherto she has conceal'd
The saucy flame oft strove to stifle it
While in its Infant-Growth; but 'twas in vain,
For dayly it encreas'd to such a strength,
As did o're-power the weakness of her Sex;
Maintain'd the Conquest spite of Resolution;
Yet rather then her folly should be known,
She let it Prey upon the Vital Parts,
Hoping at last 'twould end the uneasy days,
And her Ambitious Love dye unreveal'd.

Mount.
That was unkindly done, she could not doubt success
When she had one so fair to plead her Cause.

Mar.
The disproportion is so vast between ye,
That she must still despair and still Love on:
Fortune has plac'd her where you most abhorr
Diseases, Infamy, or Death it self:
You would not shun with more precipit hast
If I should name the Person, yet even there
'Midst of the Toyle and Anguish of her life,
A happy moment did present it self
To make her be the lucky Messenger
Of health to you, tho' she must linguer ever.

Mount.
I'le spare the trouble of your Blushes, Lady,
For I've a Soul so tender of the Sex,
(Skill'd in the little Niceties of Love)
As shall prevent the torture of Confession,
he takes her by the hand, she pulls it from him.
And do you Justice.

Mar.
You wrong your Judgment, and you censure ill,
I came not hither, Sir, on that Account,
No loose desires the Product of ill bloud
Can blast the Reputation of my Life;
My Honour guards me from that Infamy;
But I am hurryed hither by my Fate,
And bring a secret of that great Importance,
The service possibly may merrit pity;
Which if I meet with, I am well rewarded.

Mount.
I do believe it, and accept the offer;
Come, wave this womans method to allure us,
You're safe and secret here, none can disturb us;
And I will give you such returns of Love,
Such hearty Proofs thou shalt be soon convinc'd:
Tho' it be Infant-born it Rivalls thine.

Mar.
Away, How have I err'd? Are all Men thus,
Thus full of Guilt, my senses do recover,
And I begin to loath the Tempters charms:
Reade that
[gives a Paper.
For I must leave you,—oh my heart!
If thou would'st be my friend, beat faster on,
And force thy Passage through these feeble walls.

Mount.
Yet stay—What have I here Proscrib'd?
By all that's Sacred, Peremptory Orders
For my Destruction; March's hand is to't:
How came she by this? now I recollect,
She told me that her fate had fixt her where
I should detest the naming, if I knew it.
It must be so, well my Deliverer
I thank you—by my honour I'm sincere,
This Scrole which thou hast given speaks thy kindness,
And says, thou art all Goodness, tho' the Place
Of thy abode be with the worst of Men;
Nay, tho'it were the Chancellor himself;
Nor will I lag in making a return,
Offers a Purse of Gold. She puts it back.
Tho' at the present I am lost in thought.

Mar.
I am rewarded Sir, and have my end,
If you apply this Caution
To the right use, you may escape the snare,
But if you slight it, then I know the worst;
And tho' I am no suitable Companion
In Life, yet in the Grave, we undistinguish'd
May mingle ashes, tho' our souls are distant.

Mount.
You must not leave me, I have much to say;
The Injury I have done you by suspition,
When my rude thoughts led me into an error,
I must attone.

Mar.
Fye, 'tis too gross!
This Language does not suit my humble Character,
Nor is it Noble to despise my sufferings.

Mount.
By all my hopes of Credit I am reall,
There's something from my eyes have shot my Soul,
And I could gaze for ever on such Goodness;
Thy Tempers worthy, if thy Birth be not,
Distinction never had a Power o're Love;
Cause Nature plac'd me in the Womb of Honour
She has adorn'd thy humbler Clay with Graces,
Which seldom go with Greatness or with Wealth;
And 'tis but common Justice I repay,
A Love where love has merrited so far:

Mar.
It cannot be:
Your Dignity and Honour intervene
Which bar the Banes for ever.

Mount.
What, will not Gratitude with Love conjoyn'd
Remove? tell me no more of Honour, Dignity;
When charms like thine appear all must give place.

Mar.
My Lord, I had a Father and a noble one,
Whose memory yet lives tho' he is dead
Men spoke him Brave if Loyallty can plead In his behalf:
'Twas Collonell Stapleton:
The unhappy Brother of the Bishop of Exeter,
Who by the Cittizens was put to death
For favouring the Cause of Carnarvan, Edward.
But oh, when Royall Edmond
The Uncle and the Guardian of the King
Was taken off, under pretence of Treason,
Mine suffer'd with him, what he had of Honours
Or of Estate the Law has since made forfeit,
And me an Orphan, given into the hands
Of a time-serving Family.
Alass! I blame my self, Condemn my madness,
My ill-match'd passion, and I'le strive
To Curb it's Power. I only Crave your Pitty,
Nor dare I hope for more, and yet I swear,
Your Flattery, tho' known, is gratefull to me.

Mount.
Thou charm'st me still, why Loyallty's a Jem
Fit for a Princes Crown,
I knew thy Father, a Gallant and a worthy man he was,
His suffering was remarkable and noble,
And thou art Richer
Sprung from that, then had a Traytor
Bless'd with millions got thee:
Thou dost encrease the fire within my Breast,
Powring in Oyl instead of Quenching it,
Let me upon this Bosome print my vows,
And swear my self thy Beautys Votary.

Mar.
I know not where I am, the thrilling Joy
Creeps through each part and extacies my Soul:
If this be true, what Queen is half so happy?

Mount.
Give not Distrust to the Reins because you finde
The Change is suddain, The effects are true;
By Heav'n I have more Pleasure in this Chance,
Then e're I tasted since I first view'd Light.

Mar.
I know not what to say my joy's so great,
My sences are Confus'd, all Crow'd to meet you,
The wellcome Guest for whom so much they wish'd,
But little thought it was so near at hand.

Mount.
Believe me, oh thou Star, whose Influence
Has made me happy, that my vows are true:
I'le to the King, Acquaint him with thy goodness,
His safety is procur'd by this Precaution,
And sure he'le recompence thy Loyalty;
With his Consent we will for ever joyn:
Thy Virtues will in future Ages shine,
While untir'd Fame her matchless worth shall sing,
Who sav'd her Country, Lover, and her King.

[Exeunt.