University of Virginia Library

SCENE. III.

Discovers the King, Leicester, Mountacute, Berkly, Sir Tho. Delamore, Holland, and Exeter, as at Council.
King.
What will ye further? This Scrole of Mountacutes,
Fully expresses the dire Fiends designs:

Sals.
Time must suit the Rest—
Nor may we trifle Dangerous Distempers,
If they not meet a suddain opposition,
O're power the applycation when too late,
Rendring Art useless:

Exe.
'Tis thoroughly advis'd, pursue it Sir.

Sir Tho. Dell.
Your Father whom we oft admonish'd,
Nay told him plainly what hath since ensu'd,
Laught at our Cautions; Sir, you must be carefull,
Or all is lost beyond recovery.

Exe.
If you Persist in what you seem to like,
Safety and Glory you will finde attend it;
But if your Mother change you, farewell Power:
Let Mortimer the place of Edward fill,
We are content to fall if you are so.

King.
I will observe Directions, weigh each word,
Not vary from a tittle; my safety
Is with yours as yours with mine;
Sure, never Prince was sav'd from greater hazzards:
What must I call you, friends, that name's too poor,
But yet a friend will venture wonderous things,
When what he Loves is compass'd round with danger;
Let me embrace ye all, and tell the world,
No Prince can match the Councell I am bless'd with:
Within.
I must acquaint the Prince e're I admit your Majesty.

Queen.
Traytor:

Enter a Waiter Driven in by the Queen.
King.
What means this noise?

[They all rise, she walks round 'em comes to the front and speaks.
Queen.
The Rumour then is true, I finde it now,
But I much wonder ye Audacious men,
That ye Assemble here without my leave;
You who had fell and Justly for your crimes,
Had not my Clemency excus'd your Lives,
Has mercy harden'd your Presumptious hearts,
Or are ye past reproof?

Sr Tho. Dell.
Madam, what we have done—

Queen.
There is a better man to answer me
Then Delamore thou Usher to these Schoolmen,
Which in their absence sets my Son such lessons.

Mount.
Then since your Majesty—

Queen.
Boys I could never listen to,
Go Prattle with my Pages.

Leice.
If I may speak—

Queen.
Thou Driblest on thy beard, Age is a Changeling,
And Languishes for Hospitals: You Sirs, I speak
To Salisbury and Exeter, who draw together
In the Team of Politicks, Who sent for you?
Be brief and answer Justly, as you love your Lives.

Sals.
That we esteem our Lives is very plain,
Our Care o'th' King's confirms it:
It is by his Command we here are met,
To Argue his Proposalls, solve his Questions,
And to the utmost of our thoughts and Duty
Preserve the King in Grandeur, Peace, and Safety.

Queen.
The King.

Exe.
The King, your Majesty can be no stranger
Being so near related.

Queen.
Unheard of Insolence, Why who am I?

Exe.
His Mother:

Queen.
Traytor, there is another name and title due to me.

Exet.
None that we know of.

Queen.

Thou lyest, and I will stamp the falshood down thy Throat—
Unthankfull Boy, how can'st thou suffer this, and hear thy Mother talkt
so to by Slaves?

King.
Madam, your passion makes their duty stagger,
You use 'em not like Noblemen but Pedants;
Tho' Subjects, they have no dependance on us,
And Majesty's adorn'd and serv'd by them,
Much more then is at all times fit to own;
'Tis true they are not safe, but under Kings,
Nor Kings can't flourish but by such assistance.

Queen.
Indeed Sir, are you grown a Disputant,
And Jabber Politicks so Learnedly?
Thou Tool, thou Instrument of self destruction,
Dost think these State worms mean thee further good
Then what may serve to Introduce their own?
I tell thee, Councellors are all alike,
And Princes know no more then they think fitting;
So whilst his Glory does not injure theirs,
They are content, they may grow great together.

Sals.
Madam, this Doctrine may be Prov'd elsewhere
Where Powers unjustly us'd by sad Permission:
We have no Ends nor Aim but the Kings safety,
'Tis true so far our own depends upon't;
The King's our Shepheard, born to protect his People,
And as the Lamb flys from the Wolf to him
That Guards the Flock, so we seek refuge here:
Life's all we hope for; indeed Life's all in all;
And 'tis so sweet that all are fond to save it.

King.
Mother, in short, I am of Age to Govern,
And here assume the Right my Father left me:
These I have chose to be my Worthy Guides,
I have resolv'd this and will make it good.

Queen.
Have I no place? am I a Cipher grown?
Will none afford a place for Dignity?

King.
Accept of mine:

Queen.
No, this may serve your Mother,
Sits down at the end of the Table by Leic.
I will sit here with this good mans allowance:
Come I'e be Govern'd too—Pray be my friends
As well as his for once.

Exe.
Nay Madam, this we must not suffer neither:

Queen.
What am I left alone?
[They all retire from the Table
Am I infectious? dare none sit near the Plague?
Ungracious Boy is this thy filiall Love?
This the return for all the Pangs and Throws
I suffer'd at thy Birth? this the reward
[Weeps
For all my Sorrows, Cares, Anxieties,
Which through thy sickly Infancy possest me,
When many a weary night bereft of Rest,
I've slumber'd o're thy Cradle, and bemoan'd
My own hard fate? now it proves so indeed:
I've nurst a Viper, given an Adder warmth;
Which, having grown to strength forgets its parent,
And Covets Preying on her Entrails; oh! monstrous Crime.

King.
Nay Mother, mother—

Exe.
Be not caught Sir, these tears like those of Syrens
Entice you but to Leap to sure Destruction.

Queen.
Must he alone have credit? am I nothing?
Return e're 'tis too late, I do conjure thee,
By all the Comforts thou hast e're receiv'd,
By all thy Duty due, which heav'n Commands,
Attend my Prayers, and throw the Envenom'd Robe
Off from thy Person ere the Poison fix,
Or else thou art lost for ever:

Sr. Tho. Dell.
Oh Sir, be steady, or you ruine all:

King.
I must retire or I shall melt to folly, Madam,
I'm Indispos'd and must withdraw:

Queen.
Come hither Child, and rest upon my bosome,
I'le hush thy Cares and quiet thy Disturbers,
As when I lull'd thee first:

Exe.
Away Sir,

Queen.
My Son,

Sals.
Be Deaf Sir,

Queen.
Edward my only Edward hear thy Mother:

King.
Force me away if you regard my Glory.

Mount.
That shan't be wanting:

[They force him off
Queen.
My Child, my Comfort, darling,
[Ex. all but Queen.
Prop of my Life,
I shall grow mad, I finde the fury seize me;
My Gall boyls up, and I am all on fire,
Come then, revenge, thou Banquet of the Gods,
And let me Gorge my Ravenous Appetite;
Inspire me Nemisis thou subtlest fury,
Drive from my Soul the Weakness of my Sex,
And make me Masculine in my Attempts:
Some women have done Wonders in their Rage,
Why shou'd not I, for I have cause Prodigious?
Nature for ever here I banish thee:
Remorse and Conscience, Pitty, all farewell,
Instruct me Malice, and assist me Hell.

[Exit.