University of Virginia Library

Actus Quartus.

Scœna prima.

Countess of Nottingham, Rawleigh.
C. Nott.
Sir, did you ever see so strange a Scene
As Essex boldness? Nay, and which is more
To be admir'd, the Queens Prodigious Patience!

Raw.
So Strange, that naught but such a Miracle
Had Sav'd him from Death upon the Place.

C. Nott.
She's of a Nature wondrous in her Sex,
Not hasty to admire the Beauties, Wisdom,
Valour, and Parts in others though extream,
Because there's so much Excellence in her self,
And thinks that all Mankind shou'd be so too;
But when once entertain'd, none cherishes,
Exalts, or favours Virtue more than she,
Slow to be mov'd, and in her Rage discreet—
But then the Earl's like an ungovern'd Steed,
That yet has all the Shapes and other Beauties
That are commendable, or saught in one:
His Soul with sullen Beames shines in it self,
More Jealous of Mens Eyes, than is the Sun
That will not suffer to be look'd into;
And there's a Mine of Sulpher in his Breast,
Which when 'tis touch'd or heated, straight takes Fire,
And tears, and Blows up all his Virtues with it.

Raw.
Ambitious Minds feed dayly, upon Passion,
And ne're can be at Rest within themselves,
Because they never meet with Slaves enough
To tread upon, Mechannicks do adore 'em,
And Lords and States-men to have Cringes from;
Like some of those strange Seas that I've been on,
Whose Tydes are alwayes Violent and Ruff,
Where Winds are seldom blowing to molest 'em.
Sh'had done a Nobler Justice, if instead of
That School-boyes Punishment a Blow,
Sh'had snatch'd a Holbard from her nearest Guard,
And thrust it to his Heart; for less than that
Did the bold Macedonian Monarch kill
Clytus his Friend, and braver Souldier far.

C. Nott.
But worse had been th'Event of such a Deed,
For if th'afflicted King was hardly brought
From Clytus Body, she'd have dy'd o're his.
But how proceed the bold Rebellious Lords
In Essex House?

Raw.
Still they increase in number.
The Queen has sent Four of her Chiefest Lords,
And since I hear the Guards are gone. 'Tis said,
For his Excuse, that Blunt that Fiend of Hell,
And Brand of all his Master's wicked Councils,
Has spread abroad this most abhorr'd of Lyes,
That I and the Lord Gray shoud joyn to Murder him.

C. Nott.
Already then he's hunted to the Toyle,
Where let him Roar, and lash himself with Fury,
But never, never shall get out with strugling.
Oh it o'rejoy'd th'Affront within my Soul,
To see the Man by all the World ador'd,
That like a Comet shin'd above, and rul'd below,
To see him on a sudden from our Eyes
Drop like a Star, and Vanish in the Ground;
To see him how he bit the cursed Torture
That durst no further venture than his Lips,
When he past by the Guards to hear no Noyes,
No Room for Mighty Essex was Proclaim'd;
No Caps, no Knees, nor Welcomes to salute him,
Then how he Chaft, and started like a Deer
With the fierce Dart fast sticking in his side,
And finds his speedy death where e're he runs!

Raw.
Behold the Queen and the whole Court appear.

Enter the Queen, Burleigh, Countess of Nottingham, Lords, Attendants and Guards .
Queen.
Are the Rebellious Earles then apprehended?

Burl.
They are, thanks to the Almighty Powers,
And the Eternal Fortune of your Majesty.

Queen.
And how did you proceed with my Commands?
And how did the Rebels act?

Burl.
Most Audatiously:
The Four Lords, chiefest of your Private Council,
Sent thither by your Majesties Commission,
Came to the Rebel's House, but found the Gates
Guarded, and shut against them; yet at last
Telling they brought a Message from the Queen,
They were admitted, all besides, but him
That bore the Seal before the Chancellor
Deny'd: Entring they saw the outward Court
Fill'd with a number of promiscuous Persons,
The chief of which bold Traytors in the midst
Stood the Two Earles, of Essex and Southampton,
Of whom your Faithful Messengers with loud
And Loyal Voices did demand the Cause
Of their unjust Assembly, telling them
All real Grievances shou'd be redress'd;
But straight their words were choak'd by louder Cryes,
And by the Earles Command with Insolence
The People drove 'em to a strong Apartment
Belonging to the House, setting a Guard
Of Muskets at the Door, and threatning them
That they shou'd there be kept close Prisoners
Till the next Morning that the Earl return'd
From Visiting his Friends the Citizens.

Queen.
O horrid Insolence! Attempt my Council!
My nearest friends! Well Essex well,
(Aside...)
I thank thee for the Cure of my Disease;
Thou goest the readiest way to give me Ease— (...Aside.)

The City say'st! What did he in the City?

Burl.
There, as I learn't from many that confest,
He was inform'd the Citizens would rise,
Which to promote, he went disguis'd like one
Whom evil Fortune had bereav'd of Sence,
And almost seem'd as pittiful a Wretch
As Harpagus, that fled all o're dismember'd
To fond Astyages, to gain the Trust
Of all his Median Army to betray it.
His Head was bare, the Heat and Dust had made
His Manly Face compassionate to behold, which he
So well did use, that sometimes with a voice
That usher'd Tears both from himself and them,
And sometimes with a popular Rage he ran
With Fury through the Streets. To those that stood
Far off he bended and made taking Signes:
To those about him rais'd his voice aloud,
And humbly did beseech 'em for a Guard,
Told 'em he was attempted to be murder'd
By some the Chief of th'Court, then counted all his wounds,
Unstrip'd his Vest, and shew'd his naked Scars,
Telling them what great Wonders he had done,
And wou'd do more to serve 'em and their Children;
Begging still louder to the stinking Rabble,
And sweated too so many eager drops, as if
He had been pleading for Rome's Consulship.

Queen.
How came he taken?

Burl.
After he had us'd
Such subtile means to gain your Subjects Hearts,
(Your Citizens that ever were most Faithful,
And too well grounded in their Loyalties
To be seduc'd from such a Queen;) and finding
That none began to Arme in his behalf;
Fear and Confusion of his horrid Guilt
Possest him, and despairing of success,
Attempted straight to walk through Lud-gate Home,
But being resisted by some Companies
Of the Trayn'd Bands that stood there in Defence,
He soon retreated to the nearest Staires,
And so came back by Water at the Time.
When your most Valiant Souldiers with their Leader
Enter'd his House, and took Southampton and the Rest.
Th'affrighted Earl Defenceless both in mind
And body, without the Power to help himself;
And being full of Horrour in his Thoughts,
Was forc'd to run for shelter in the Room
Of a small Summer House upon the Thames,
Which when the Souldiers came to search, and found him;
Who then had Eyes, and did not melt for Pitty!
To see the High, the Gallant Essex there
Trembling and Panting like the frighted Quarry
Whom the fierce Hawk had in his eager Eye.

Queen.
Ha! By my Stars I think the mournful Tale
Has almost made thee weep—Can Essex miseries
Then force Compassion from thy Flinty Breast!
A weeps, the Crocodile weeps o're his Prey!
How wretched and how low then art thou faln,
That ev'n thy Barbarous Hunters can neglect
Their Rage, and turn their cruel sport to pitty!
What then must be my Lot? how many sighs,
How many Griefs, Repentances and Horrours
Must I Eternally indure for this!
Where is the Earl?

Burl.
Under sufficient Guard
In order to his sending to the Tower.

Queen.
Ha, In the Tower! How durst they send him there
Without my Order?

Burl.
Th'Earles are yet without
In the Lieutenants Custody, who waites
But to receive your Majesties Command
To carry 'em thither.

Queen.
(Aside...)
What shall I do now?
Wake me thou watchful Genius of thy Queen,
Rouze me, and Arme now against my Foe,
Pitty's my Enemy, and Love's my Foe,
And both have equally Conspir'd with Essex.
Ha! Shall I then refuse to punish him!
Condemn the Slave that disobey'd my Orders,
That brav'd me to my Face, and did attempt
To murder me, then went about to gain
My Subjects Hearts, and seize my Crown.
Now by my thousand wrongs 'a dyes, dyes quickly,
And I cou'd Stab this Heart, if I but thought
The Traytor in it to corrupt it (...Aside.)
—Away
And send him to the Tower with speed—Yet hold.

C. Nott.
(Aside.)
The Queen's distracted how to save the Earl—
Her Study puts my hatred on the Wrack.

Queen.
(Aside.)
Who is it thou wou'dst kill with so much hast?
Is it not Essex? Him thou didst Create,
And Crown'd his Morning with full Rayes of Honours?
Whilst he return'd 'em with whole Springs of Lawrels,
Faught for thy Fame a Hundred Times in Blood,
And ventur'd twice as many Lives for thee;
And shall I then for one rash act of his
Of which I was the cruel Cause, Condemn him?

C. Not.
Her Rage Ebbs out, and Pity flows apace.

[Aside.
Queen.
(Aside...)
Do what you will my Stars, do as you please
Just Heav'n, and Sensure England's Queen for it,
Yet Essex I must see, and then who e're thou art
That when I'm dead shall call this tender Fault,
This only Action of my Life in Question,
Thou canst at worst but say that it was Love,
Love that does never cease to be Obey'd,
Love that has all my Power and strength betray'd,
Love that swayes wholly like the Cause of things.
Kings may Rule Subjects, but Love Reigns o're Kings,
Sets bounds to Heav'ns high Wrath when 'tis severe,
And is the greatest Bliss and Virtue there— (...Aside.)

Carry Southampton to the Tower straight,
But Essex I will see before he goes—
Now help me Art, check ev'ry Pulse within me,
And let me feign a Courage tho' I've none.—
Enter Essex with Guards.
(Aside...)
Behold 'a comes with such a Pomp of misery!
Greatness in all he shews, and nothing makes
Him less, but turns to be Majestick in him. (...Aside.)

All that are present for a while withdraw,
And leave the Prisoner here with me Unguarded.

Exeunt. Manent Queen & Essex.
Ess.
Thus, tho I am Condemn'd and hated by you,
A Traytor by your Royal will Proclaim'd;
[Essex kneels.]
Thus do I bless my Queen, and all those Powers
That have inspir'd her with such tender mercy,
As once to hear her dying Essex speak,
And now receive his Sentence from your Lips,
Which let it be my Life or Death, they'r both
Alike to me, from you my Royal Mistress:
And thus I will receive my Doom, and wish
My Knees might ever till my dying minute
Cleave to the Earth, as now they do in token of
The choicest, humblest begging of the Blessing.

Queen.
Pray rise my Lord. You see that I dare venture
To leave my self without a Guard between us.

Ess.
Fairest that e're was England's Queen, you need not—
The time has been that Essex has been thought
A Guard, and being near you, has been more
Than Crouds of Mercinary Slaves;
And is he not so now? O think me rather,
Think me a Traytor, if I can be so
Without a thought against your Pretious Life,
But wrong me not with that: For by yourself,
By your bright self that rules o're all my Wishes,
I Swear I would not touch that Life, to be
As Great as you, the Greatest Prince on Earth;
Lightning shou'd blast me first,
E're I wou'd touch the Person of my Queen,
Less gentle than the Breeze.

Queen.
Oh y'are become a wondrous Penitent
My Lord, the time has been you were not so:
Then you were haughty, and because you urg'd me,
Urg'd me beyond the suffering of a Saint,
To strike you, which a King wou'd have obey'd;
Then straight your Malice led you to the City,
Tempting my Loyal Subjects to Rebel,
Laying a Plot how to surprize the Court,
Then seize my Person with my chiefest Council
To Murder them, and I to beg your Mercy;
This, this the wond'rous Faithful Essex did,
Thou whom I rais'd from the vile Dust of man,
And plac'd thee as a Jewel in my Crown,
And bought thee dearly for my Favour, at the rate
Of all my Peoples Grievances and Curses,
Yet thou didst this, ingrateful Monster, this
And all, for which as surely thou shalt dye,
Dye like the foulest and the worst Ingrate;
But Fetters now have humbled you I see.

Ess.
O hear me speak most injur'd Majesty,
Brightest of Queens, Goddess of Mercy too,
Oh think not that the Fear of Death or Prisons
Can e're disturb a Heart like mine, or make it
More Guilty, or more sensible of Guilt.
All that y'are pleas'd to say, I now confess,
Confess my Misery, my Crime, my shame;
Yet neither Death nor Hell shou'd make me own it,
But true Remorce and duty to your self,
And Love—I dare stand Candidate with Heav'n,
Who loves you most and purest.

Queen.
Now he awakes me,
And all my Faculties begin to listen,
(Aside...)
Steal to my Eyes, and tread soft paces to
My Ears as loth to be discover'd, yet
As loth to loose the Syrens Charming Song.
Help me a little now my cautious Angel.— (...Aside.)

I must confess I formerly believ'd so,
And I acknowledg'd it by my Rewards.

Ess.
You have, but oh what has my Rashness done!
And what has not my Guilt Condemn'd me to!
Seated I was in Heav'n, where once that Angel,
That haughty Spirit Reign'd that Tempted me,
But now thrown down, like him, to worse than Hell.

Queen.
I, think on that, and like that Fiend roar still
In Torments, when thou may'st have been most happy—
(Aside...)
There I out-did my strength, and feel my Rage
Recoyl upon me, like a foolish Child
Who firing of a Gun as much as he can lift,
Is blasted with the Fury of the Blow. (...Aside.)


Ess.
Most blest of Queens! her Doom, her very Anger's kind,
And I will suffer it as willingly
As your loud wrongs instruct you to inflict.
I know my Death is nigh, my Enemies
Stand like a Guard of Furies ready by you
To intercept each Sigh, kind wish, or Pitty,
Ere it can reach to Heav'n in my Defence,
And dash it with a Cloud of Accusations.

Queen.
(Aside)
Ha! I begin to dread the Danger nigh,
Like an unskillful Swimmer that has Waded
Beyond his depth, I'm caught, and almost drown'd,
In Pitty—What! And no one neer to help me!

Ess.
My Father once too truly skill'd in Fate,
In my first blooming Age to rip'ning Glory,
Bid me beware my Six and Thirtieth year,
That year said he will fatal to thee prove,
Something like Death, or worse than Death will seize thee.
Too well I find that Cruel Time's at Hand,
For what can e're more Fatal to me prove,
Than my lost Fame, and loosing of my Queen.

Queen.
(Aside...)
'Tis so, 'tis true, nor is it in my Power
To help him—Ha! Why is it not? What hinders!
Who dares, or thinks to contradict my Will!
Is it my Subjects or my Virtue stayes me?
No, Virtue's Patient and abhorres Revenge,
Nay, sometimes weeps at Justice—'Tis not Love—
Ah call it any thing but that; 'tis Mercy,
Mercy that Pitties Foes when in distress,
Mercy the Heav'ns Delights— (...Aside.)

My Lord I fear your hot-spurr Violence
Has brought you to the very brink of Fate,
And 'tis not in my Power if I'd the will,
To save you from the Sentence of the Law.
The Lords that are to be your equal Judges,
The House has chose already, and to morrow,
So soon your Tryal is to be. The People
Cry loud for Justice; therefore I'll no more
Repeat my wrongs, but think you are the man
That once was Loyal.

Ess.
Once!—

Queen.
Hold—For that Reason I will not upbraid you;
To Triumph o're a miserable man
Is base in any, in a Queen far worse—
Speak now my Lord, and think what's in my Power
That may not wrong your Queen, and I will Grant you—
So—I am sure in this I have not err'd.

[Aside.
Ess.
Blest be my Queen in Mercy rich as Heav'n—
Now, now my Chaines are light—Come welcome Death,
Come all you Spirits of Immortallity,
And waft my Soul unto his bright abode,
That gives my Queen this Goodness: Let me then
Most humbly and devoutly ask Two things,
The First is, if I am Condemn'd,
That Execution may be done within
The Tower Walls, and so I may not suffer
Upon a Publick Scaffold to the World.

Queen.
I Grant it—O, and wish I cou'd do more.

[Aside.
Ess.
Eternal Blessings Crown your Royal Head,
The next, the extreamest Bliss my Soul can Covet
And carry with it to the other World,
As a firm Pasport to the Powers incens'd,
Say you have Pardon'd me, and have forgot
The Rage, the Guilt, and folly of your Essex.

Queen.
(Aside...)
Ha! What shall I do now!
Look to thy self, and Guard thy Character— (...Aside.)

Go cure your Fame, and make your self but what I wish you,
Then you shall find that I am still your Queen—
But that you may not see I'm Covetous
Of my Forgiveness, take it from my Heart;
I freely Pardon now what e're y'ave done
Amiss to me, and hope you will be quitted;
Nay I not only hope it, but shall Pray for it,
My Prayers to Heav'n shall be that you may cleer
Your self.

Ess.
O most Renown'd and God-like Mercy!
O let me go, your goodness is too bright
For sinful Eyes like mine, or like the Feind
Of Hell, when dasht from the Aetherial Light,
I shall shoot downwards with my weight of Curses,
Cleave and be Chain'd for ever to the Center.—

Queen.
(Aside...)
He is going, I, but whether? To his Tryal,
To be Condemn'd perhaps, and then to dye;
If so, what Mercy hast thou shew'd in that!
Pitty and Pardon! Poor Amends for Life!
If those be well, a Crocodile is blameless
That weeps for Pitty, yet devours his Prey.
And dare not I do more for Essex, I
That am a Woman, and in Woman-kind
Pitty's their Nature; therefore I'm resolv'd
It shall be in's own Power to Save his Life.
If I shall sin in this, Witness just Heav'n
'Tis Mercy like your selves that draws me to't,
And youl forgive me, tho the World may not— (...Aside.)

My Lord, perhaps we ne're may meet again,
And you in Person may not have the Power
T'implore what I too freely Grant you, therefore
That you may see you have not barely forc'd
An empty Pitty from me, Here's a Pledge,
I give it from my Finger with this Promise,
That whensoever you return this Ring,
[Gives him a Ring.
To Grant in lieu of it what e're you ask.

Ess.
Thus I receive it with far greater Joy
[Receives it on his knees.
Than the poor Remnant of Mankind that saw
The Rain-bow Token in the Heav'ns, when straight
The Floods abated, and the Hills appear'd,
And a new smiling World the Waves brought forth.

Queen.
No more, begon, fly with thy safety hence,
Least horrid, dread Repentance seize my Soul,
And I recall this strange misdeed—Here take
[Enter the rest with the Guards.]
Your Prisoner, there he is, to be Condemn'd
Or quited by the Law—Away with him.
[Exeunt Guard with the Earl.]
Now Nottingam, thy Queen is now at rest,
And Essex Fate is now my least of Troubles.

Enter Countess of Essex running and Weeping, then kneels before the Queen and holds her by her Robe.
C. Ess.
Where is my Queen? Where is my Royal Mistress?—
I throw my self for mercy here.

Queen.
What meanst thou!

C. Ess.
Here I will kneel, here with my humble Body
Fast rooted to the Earth as I'm to sorrow,
No moisture but my tears to nourish me,
Nor Aire but sighs, till I shall grow at last
Like a poor shrivell'd Trunk blasted with Age
And Grief, and never think to rise again
Till I've obtain'd the Mercy I implore.

Queen.
Thou dost amaze me.

C. Ess.
Here let me grow the Abject'st thing on Earth,
A despis'd Plant beneath the mighty Cedar;
Yet if you will not pitty me I swear
These Armes shall never cease, but grasping still
Your Royal Robe, shall hold you thus for ever.

Queen.
Prythee be quick and tell me what thou'dst have.

C. Ess.
I dare not, yet I must—My silence will
Be Death, my Punishment can be no more.
Prepare to hear, but learn to pitty first,
For 'tis a Story that will start your Patience.—
O save the Earl of Essex, save his Life,
My Lord whom you've condemn'd to Prisons straight,
And save my Life, who am no longer Rutland,
But Essex Faithful Wife—He is my Husband.

Queen.
Thy Husband!

C. Ess.
Yes, too true it is I fear,
By th'awful darting Fury in your Eyes,
The threatning Prologue of our utter Ruines.
Marry'd we were in secret e're my Lord
Was sent by you t'his fatal Government
In Ireland.

Queen.
Then thou art Wedded to thy Grave—
Dost think by this, in multiplying Treasons,
And boldly braveing me with them before
My Face, to save thy wicked Husband's Life?
What will my restless Fate do with me now!
[Aside.
Why dost thou hold me so? take off thy hands.

C. Ess.
Alas, I ask not mine; if that will please you
I'll glut you with my torments; act what e're
Your Fury can invent; but 'tis for him,
My Lord, my Love, the Soul of my Desires.
My Love's not like the common Rate of Womens,
It is a Phœnix, there's not one such more:
How gladly would I burn like that rare Bird,
So that the Ashes of my Heart cou'd purchase
Poor Essex Life and Favour of my Princess.

Queen.
(Aside...)
Would I were loose 'mong Wilds, or any where
In any Hell but this—Why say I Hell?
Can there be melting Lead, or Sulpher yet
To add more Pain to what my Breast indures! (...Aside.)

Why dost thou hang on me, and tempt me still?

C. Ess.
O throw me not away—Wou'd you but please
To feel my throbbing Breast, you might perceive,
At ev'ry name, and very thought of Essex,
How my Blood starts, and Pulses beat for fear,
And shake and tear my Body like an Earth-quake,
And ah, which cannot choose but stir your heart
The more to pitty me, th'unhappy frighted Infant,
The tender Off-spring of our guilty Joyes,
Pleads for its Father in the very Womb,
As now its wretched Mother does.

Queen.
Quickly
Unloose her Hands, and take her from my sight.

C. Ess.
O you will not—you'l hear me first, and grant me,
Grant me poor Essex Life—Shall Essex live?
Say, but you'l Pardon him before I go?—

Queen.
Help me—Will no one ease me of this Burthen?

C. Ess.
Oh I'm too weak for these inhumane Creatures,
[The Women take off behold.
My strength's decay'd, my Joynts and Fingers num'd,
And can no longer hold, but fall I must.
Thus like a miserable Wretch that thinks
H'as scap'd from drowning, holding on a Rock
With fear and Paine, and his own weight opprest,
And dasht by ev'ry Wave that shrinks his hold,
[She falls down with faintness.]
At length lets go, and drops into the Sea,
And cryes for help, but all in vain like me.

Queen.
Begon, and be deliver'd of thy shame,
Let the vile Insect live, and grow to be
A Monster baser, hotter, worser far
Than the ingrateful Parents that begot it.

C. Ess.
Ah cruel most remorceless Princess hold,
What has It done to draw such Curses from you!

Queen.
Go, let her be close Prisoner in her Chamber.

C. Ess.
Since I must go, and from my Essex part,
Despair and Death at once come seize my Heart;
Shut me from Light, from Day, ne're to be seen,
By humane kind, nor my more cruel Queen;
Yet bless her Heav'n, and hear my Loyal Prayer,
May you ne're Love like me, nor ne'r despair,
Ne're see the Man at his departing Breath
Whom you so Love, and fain wou'd save from Death;
Least Heav'n be Deaf as you are to my Cry,
And you run mad, and be as curst as I.

[Exit C. Essez, carried away by Women.
Queen.
She's gone, but at her parting shot a truth
Into my Breast, has pierc't my Soul.—
Why was I Queen? And why was I not Rutland?
Then had my Princess, as my self did now,
Giv'n Essex such a Ring, and the Reward
Had then been mine as now the Torment is—
O wretched State of Monarchs! theirs is still
The Business of the World, and all the Pains,
Whilst happy Subjects sleep beneath their Gains;
The meanest Hind rules in his humble House,
And nothing but the Day sees what he does,
But Princes, like the Queen of Night so high,
Their spots are seen by ev'ry Vulgar Eye;
And as the Sun, the Plannets glorious King,
Gives life and growth to ev'ry Mortal thing,
And by his Motion all the World is blest,
Whilst he himself can never be at Rest;
So if there are such Blessings in a Throne,
Kings Raign 'em down, while they themselves have none.

Exeunt Omnes.