University of Virginia Library

ACTUS SECUNDUS

Scena prima.

Norfolk
Solus.
Rejoyce all living Creatures that have Breath,
Through this vast City let your Noises joyn,
And Eccho all ye Lands and Seas, she comes.
The distant Shouts and wasted sounds of Bells
Proclaim to Londons Walls Queen Mary's come.
Winds bear it into France to glad her Friends,
Winds wast it into Scotland to her Foes,
Till with the News they blast, with envy dye.

Enter Morton to him.
Mor.
My Lord, I came to find you.

Norf.
Pardon me,
The mighty joy that has since fill'd my breast,
And left no room for other thoughts, has made me
Forget that you and I were angry.

Mor.
And I.
My Lord, brave Spirits shou'd be stir'd to wrath
As seldom as the Center is with Earth quakes,
Not like the Sea, disturb'd by ev'ry Blast.
I came to speak with you, but as a Friend.
Last Night within my Bed, prepar'd for slumber
That gives soft Rest to all but sorrowful
And guilty Minds, a sudden Dread assail'd me,
Started by some Divinity that aw'd,
And stole soft entrance in my cruel Bosom.
The awful God within me shone like Day,
First made me view, then chac'd my Guilt away.
I felt my Breast began to 'bate it's Rage,
My barb'rous Zeal for a more barb'rous Cause
Began to slack, whilst true Remorse and Pity
Surpris'd my Soul, and held it for the Queen.

Norf.
O, may they ever keep possession there!

Mor.
They shall. All she's accus'd of, is no more,
But that she strove to cast her Fetters off.
The Lyon, when he's hunted in the Toil,
Spares not himself, nor Foes within his reach,
But wounds his brifly Hide, and tears the Ground,
And all for precious Liberty he roars,
Freedom which God and Nature gave to all,
But cruel Man and cursed Laws deny.

Norf.
Now thou art beautiful, no Devil now
Thou dost appear; for from thy Arms and Feet
Sprout Angels Wings where Vultures Talons grew,
And cloven Hoofs.

Mor.
The Vision further went;
(For 'twas a Heav'nly Vision sure that said it.)
What if some noble Man shou'd be pick't out,
A Subject of this Realm to wed our Queen?
For here are Subjects of Estates and Rank
May weigh their Coronets with Princes Crowns.

Norf.
Some such there are, if she wou'd think 'em worthy.

Mor.
She must and will, for sh'as no other hopes,
As she 'twixt Sylla and Charybdis sails.
Your Jealous Queen wou'd then be freed from fears
By such a Match, who all her Reign has dreaded
Her Marriage with some Prince of France or Spain,
So to convey her Title to the Crown
To the worst Enemy this Nation has.

Norf.
Name but the Man that dares a spire to be
Her kneeling Slave, much more her God like Husband!
Is it not Leicester?

Mor.
All the world beside
Your self, wou'd first have nam'd the Duke of Norfolk.

Norf.
Ha!

Mor.
Start not Sir, nor let your Modesty
Usurp the Priviledge to bar your Fortunes.

Norf.
I cannot be ambitions of a Crown;
But if I were, and lov'd, to thee I swear
I wou'd prefer that charming Queen to all,
To Crowns, to Empires, or ten thousand Lives—
Queen, did I say? that Name's too great, too distant,
It sounds too mighty in a Lovers Mouth.

Mor.
You are by Heav'n and Earth design'd her Husband.

Norf.
Were she so low, the farthest from a Crown,
Sate on a Bank for Scotland's gawdy Throne,
Under no Canopy, but some large Oak,
And for a Scepter, in her hand a Crook;
A Coronet of Flowers upon her Head,
Where round her all her fleecy Subjects feed,
Glad I wou'd be to dress me like a Swain,
Steal from her Eyes my Pleasure and my pain,
Smile when she smiles, or else out weep the Rain.
Sit by her side, freed from the Chains of Power,
And never think of Wealth or Honour more.

Mor.
You speak like that rare Lover as you are—
Come, come my Lord, you wrong your hopes to hide
This secret from the only man can serve you.
I know you love the afflicted Queen, confess,
And soon as she's arriv'd, I le wait on her,
Fall on my knees, nay prostrate on the Earth;
Implore my pardon of that injur'd Saint,
And make it my Request for all her Subjects,
To take you for her Husband and our King,
And for her Dower, her Crown and Liberty.

Norf.
By you bright truth in Heav'n, if this thou mean'st,
I swear to thee, O Morton, that I love her;
And if thou real art, and joyn'st our Hands,
I will reward thee with that Crown thou proffer'st,
Thou shalt Reign still for Infant James and us;
But if thou prov'st a Villain, and hast now
By subtil means stole this Confession from me;
Hear, mighty Vengeance, guard me when I find it,
Lend me thy surest Thunder thus to grasp,
Give me the strength, the Rage of Hercules,
That I may take this Monster with these hands,
And when he proves a Traytor, shake his Body
Into as many Atoms as 'twas form'd of.

Mor.
By that brave Spirit you have shewn, I'me real—
The Queen's approaching, one of us must part.
It is not fit we shou'd be seen together.
You will go wait upon the Queen of Scotland.

Norf.
O Morton! be thou faithful and be great.

Mor.
Farewel.
(Exit Norfolk.
Greatness I le owe unto my self, not thee.
Mary does like a lasting Fabrick stand,
Supported by proud Norfolk, like a Column;
Saw but this Pillar off, the Building fails.
This hot-brain'd, heedless Duke, to save the Queen,
Runs blind with Love, himself into the Gin.
Thus when the King of Beasts hears his lov'd Mate
Roar in the Toyl, with hopes to free her strait
Scours to her aid, and meets the self same Fate.

Enter Queen Elizabeth, Cecil, Lords, Attendants and Guards.
Qu. E.
My Lord, your Queen's already in our Walls,
And passing through the City to our Palace.

Mor.
Madam, I hope this meeting will be prosperous,
And prove as joyful to your Majesty,
As is our welcome Queen to all your Subjects.

Qu. E.
My Lord, what mean you, who has welcom'd her?

Mor.
I mean the Shouts, the joyful Ring of Bells,
Bonfires that turn'd the Night to shining Day,
Soon as your Orders were dispatch'd to bring her.

Qu. E.
Were they so much transported at the News?

Cec.
No doubt, to please your Majesty they did it.

Qu. E.
It does not please me. Why was I not told it?
I wou'd have added Water to ther Flames,
Dug up their Wharfs and Sluces at their Gates,
And let the Ocean in their lighted Streets
To quench ther sawcy Fires.

Cec.
'Twas Ignorance.

Qu. E.
'Twas Impudence; for me they scarcely thank'd,
Nay, when in Person I led forth their Armies,
Arm'd like an Amazon, an Helmet on,
Dwelt in the Camp long months of Hot and Cold,
Feeling more hardship than the meanest Souldier,
And brought bright Victory to their Thresholds home;
Yet me they never welcom'd with such joy.—
Ha! in my Ears, and at my Palace Doors!
(Shouts within.
Thus they wou'd dare me, had they Forts and Cannons.

Mor.
This sounds as if the Queen were near the Palace.

Enter Davison to them.
Qu. E.
Speak Davison, what mean these Shouts?

Dav.
The Queen of Scotland's come, these Acclamations
Proclaim your Peoples Joy where e're she passes.
It was your Royal Pleasure I should go
To meet this welcome Princess out of Town,
But cou'd not pass it for the Multitude,
So numerous, that had your Majesty beheld e'm,
You wou'd have wept as Xerxes o're his Army,
To think that in a hundred years or less,
Not one of all those goodly Creatures would be living.

Qu. E.
Thou art mistaken, had I seen the slaves,
If wishes cou'd have don't, they had not liv'd
A day; they shou'd have dy'd for Traitors all.

Dav.
Mistake me not, nor your kind Subjects Loves.
I hope they did not mean it as a fault.

Qu. E.
Proceed. Did they not strive to make thee way,
Not for my Sake, nor for thy Dignity and Place?

Dav.
Alas, 'twas past their Power! I might as well
Have put my Breast, against a gushing Torrent,
Or drive the Ocean from its deep abode,
As stem the Multitude—But mark what follow'd;
For this was but the Curtain to the Scene—
You look displeas'd; I doubt I've said too much,
And fear I've done e'm wrong.

Qu. E.
I'le hear—Go on.

Dav.
The Queen no sooner did appear, but strait
Th'obedient Crowd shrunk back at her Command,
Making a Lane to guard her on each side.
Not Israels Chief with his commanding Rod
Did the Red Sea so suddenly divide,
As she with her kind Looks the Rout disperst.

Qu. E.
Tis well, and what am I, ungrateful People?

Dav.
But till she spoke, they hung like cluster'd Grapes,
And cover'd all her Chariot like a Vine,
The loaded Wheels thick as the Dust did hide,
And swarm'd like Bees upon her Coaches side;
Matrons and Virgins in her Praises sung,
Whilst wanton Bells ingrateful Changes rung;
All harmony from discord seem'd to flow,
And Shouts from houses tops met Shouts below;
Mothers, when they with joy her Face had seen,
Wou'd point, and to their Infants shew the Queen,
Whilst they (ne're learnt to talk) for her wou'd try,
And the first word they spoke wou'd Mary cry.

Qu. E.
'Tis false—Thou wrong'st my Subjects.
They durst not do this, durst not did I say?
My People wou'd not—What is this I hear?
(More Shouts.
Are these the perjur'd Slaves that at my sight
Have left their Callings, all the Youth their Sports?
Old men their Crutches too wou'd fling away,
And run to see my Face—The Bridegroom at the Altar
That held his Bride by th'hand, at my approach,
Left the unfinish'd Rites to see me pass,
And made his eager hopes wait on his Queen.

Dav.
And there are yet a million so wou'd do.

Qu. E.
No, I'me forgot; a new thing has their hearts.
I am grown stale, as common to the sight,
As Sun by day, or Moon and Stars by night.
O curse of Crowns! O curse of Regal Power!
Learn you that wou'd such Pageantry adore.
Trust whining Saints, the cunning Harlots tears,
And listen when the perjur'd Lover swears;
Believe the Serpent that did Eve delude,
But never, never trust the Multitude;
There is more Innocence, more truth in those,
Than in false subjects Coronation Vows.—
(More Shouts.
Again! some Thunder-Bolt come strike me dead,
Or snatch away my Sence of hearing quite—
Discharge a Volly; quickly drown this Noise;
Sound a whole Clang of Trumpets in my Ears,
And beat a Regiment of Drums about me,
I can hear any thing but this.

Cec.
Run and proclaim the Queens Commands to all
On penalty of Death to cease this Shouting.

Qu. E.
No, let 'em stun me, kill me; yes, vile Traytors!
Ye shall have her ye long for in my Throne,
False Queen! you shall enjoy your Sisters Crown;
But it shall be of Serpents, Adders, Scorpions,
And a worse plague to thee than mine is now,
It shall be in the Tower, there do thou sing
Thy Syren's Song, and let them shout in answer, do—
I'le teach you how to flatter and betray—
Run, seize the Queen, like Lightning straight obey—
[Offers to go and returns again.
Where woud'st thou go? where wou'd thy fury drive thee?
What has my Sister, what has Mary done?
Must she be punisht for my Subjects Crimes?
Perhaps she's innocent of all this Joy,
And hears the Sound with greater pain than I.
Where shall I wander? in what place of rest?
Under what Canopy with Peace be blest?
The Shepheards Pallet made of Turf or Stone,
Is easier than a Princes Bed or Throne.
Hear Guard of King, revenge an injur'd Monarch.

(More Shouts.
Dav.
The Queen is just on entrance.

Qu. E.
Does it please you?
Behold, she comes, meet and conduct her in.
Why stay you here? each do his Office straight,
And seat her in my Place, my Crown present her with,
And with your Hollows eccho all the Rabble.
The Deed is done, that Mary is your Queen;
But think not to be safe; for when I'me dead,
Swift on a Dragons Wings from Heav'n I'le fall,
And rain down Royal Vengeance on you all.

Cec.
Make hast and follow all that love their Queen.

Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Queen Mary, Young Douglas and Attendants.
Qu. M.
Come poor Remainder of my lost Estate,
Once I was serv'd in Pomp, had many Friends,
And then scarce felt a Blessing in the Cumber,
But now I'me more beholding to my Fate,
That after having plunder'd me of all,
Left me the Gleanings of so kind a few.
Friendship to Misery is dainty Fare,
Like Hunger to the Poor, it makes all rare.

Dow.
What will betide us now?

Qu. M.
Come near your Mistress.
Methinks your Queen, and her poor sorry Train,
Look like a crew of Shipwrack'd Passengers,
Shuddering and wet, thrown on some Land by night,
Without a Friend to chear, or Fire to warm 'em.

Dow.
Like them perhaps we'are cast upon a shore.
Where no kind Creature lives to pity us,
But Wolves, dread Basilisks and gaping Monsters.
Alas! what meant those Shouts of Joy? to mock us?
Is this the Court of fam'd Elizabeth?
And this the Throne where she was serv'd with Throngs?
Is this your Welcome? Where's her glittering Train?
Here are no Crowds, no face of either Sex.
But all abandon'd like the Place we came from.

Qu. M.
Sure it was all a Dream, was it not Dowglass?
Thou little Angel that preserv'dst thy Queen,
Appear'd like Mercy and unlock'd my Prison;
But I ungrateful, and my Fortunes worse,
Took thee, young Rose, from thine own fruitful Garden,
And planted thee within a cold dead Soil,
To nip thy Youth, and with my sorrows kill thee,
But shortly I'le release thee from thy Woes,
And leave thee to enjoy when I am dead,
What thou ne're found'st with me, Content.

Dow.
Surely the Queen will see you now y'are come,
Else we do walk inchanted, and this Place
Is not White-Hall, but Pawlets Prison still.

Qu. M.
Lend me your hands, for I am faint and weary,
My Legs too tremble, and methinks the Floor
Sinks under 'em, and now it fares with me
Like a poor Mariner that had been condemn'd
To a close Bark, a long and tedious Voyage,
Who, coming to the Shore, scarce feels the Ground,
And thinks the World does like the Ship go round.

Dow.
Here, sit you down a while.

Qu. M.
What? in her Chair?
Then she indeed may say I am ambitious,
Ambitious of her Crown, which Heav'n avows
I am not—
No, bring me another Chair,
And place it where I may give no offence,
And you upon the Floor incompass me—
[Queen sits down, and her Attendants upon the Floor round about her.
So, this is as it shou'd be; Is it not?
Thus have we oft beguil'd the time at Fotheringay—
Lend me a Glass Aurelia, and pray tell me,
And tell me faithfully, how do I look?
I dare not see my self, til I'me prepar'd
And made acquainted with the ghastly horror,
Least I view that shou'd strike me into Madness.

Dow.
To see your self, is strait to banish Wo,
And make you happy for that Day, I'me sure
It does your Servants when they look upon you,
You are so good, so perfect and so fair.
Beauty and sorrow never were so nigh
A Kin in any but in you—Behold else.

[Reaching her the Glass.
Qu. M.
If fear will give my Sences leave,
And hands can do their Office without trembling.
I'le lift it to my Eyes—Ha! do you mock me?
Who is behind me? who lookt in the Glass?

Dow.
Here's no body, here's none within the Room
Besides your self, and us upon the Floor.

Qu. M.
Alass, these cannot be thy Mistress Eyes,
Mine were dim Lamps that long ago expir'd,
And quite dissolv'd, or quench'd themselves in tears.
These Cheeks are none of mine; these Roses look not
Like Tempest-beaten Lillies as mine shou'd.
This Forehead is not graven with the Darts
Of eighteen years of sharpest Miseries;
Nor are these Lips like Sorrows blubber'd Twins,
Ne're smiling, ever mourning and complaining.—
False Glass that flatters and undoes the Fond.
[Throws down the Glass.
False Beauty! May that Wretch that has thee, curse thee,
And hold thee still detestable as mine;
Why tarry'st thou to give me yet more wo?
The Earth will mourn in Furrows at the Plow;
Birds, Trees and Meadows, when the Summers gone,
Put their worst Looks and sable Colours on;
The sullen Streams, when any Tempest blows,
Their Christal smoothness in a moment loose;
But my curst Beauty, this malicious Charm
No time, long Griefs, nor blasts of Envy harm.

Enter to them Norfolk.
Norf.
What do I see! the Person or the Shadow
Of the most bright Divinity of Scotland?
Is this her real Body on the Floor?
And these the faithful Mourners of her Fortune?
Bright as Diana with her starry Nymphs
Descending to make fertile Land and Sea,
To bless the Waves, and brood the World with Plenty.
O rise, most charming of all Creatures rise!
Or Heav'n shall be no more where now it is,
But sink the Scale and mount the Globe above it.

Qu. M.
Who sees the needy Traveller on foot,
When he approaches to his long'd for Inn,
Welcom'd, carress'd and shew'd the fairest Room,
And richest Bed to rest his weary Limbs?
Or who beholds the Beggar on his Straw,
Crying for Alms before the Rich Mans Door,
And bids him rise?—Go Duke, and shun this Wretch,
Fly Maries Fate; for such, and worse is she.

Norf.
Rise Heavenly Excellence, or by your self,
The greatest Oath that I can take,
I'le bear your precious Body in these Arms,
(Forgive the Sacrilegious Violence)
And seat you in that proud Imperial Chair,
Beneath whose scornful Feet you meekly lye;
Nay I wou'd do'it, were this She-Harry by,
Tho' she stood here and dar'd me with Revenge,
I'de put you in that Place in spite of her.

Qu. M.
Now all the Powers of Heav'n and Earth forbid.

Norf.
Heav'ns Throne of Thrones, Angels and Cherubins,
The Powers above and Mortals all below
Wou'd praise me for the Deed—Who can behold
Englands bright Heiress, Queen of France and Scotland,
Whose Veins run treasur'd with the sacred Blood
Of Fergus, and an hundred Alban Kings,
Lye thus neglected, in a State thus mean?
Who can behold it, and at once be Loyal?

Qu. M.
O tempt me not with thoughts of any State
But this that I am in; it was a Vision,
The World till now was but a Dream to me.
When I was great, I always was in Danger,
Giddy and fearful when I lookt beneath;
But now with scorn I can see all above me,
Happy in this, that I can fall no lower.

Norf.
O say no more, for pity of Mankind,
Least Heav'n descend in Battails, Plagues and Fire,
To scourge the Earth for so prophane a sight,
And treating thus the Majesty of Kings.
Were I a God, Nature shou'd wrack for this,
The frighted World shou'd at my Burthen groan,
Whilst thus I fell with my Immortal Weight,
[Falls down flat.
Thus at your Feet, and crusht it's Soul away.
But as I'me Norfolk still, the meanest Wretch,
I will entreat of thee a Grave, and say
As raving Aristotle to the Sea,
Since I can't conquer thee, to swallow me.

Qu. M.
Rise gallant Duke, and shew me if you can,
Where shall the wretched fly to be at rest?
Queen riser.
For I am like the Dove banisht the Ark
To perish by the Waters; but yet at last
She saw the Mountains rear their wisht for Tops,
And Trees their welcome Branches sprout above
The Waves; but my poor Feet find no kind ground,
My Soul no Pearch to rest its weary Wings on.

Norf.
O cou'd I dare repeat it in your hearing,
Or claim the sacred Promise once you made,
Here you shou'd meet that calm repose you want,
In Norfolk's grateful Breast.

Qu. M.
O name not Love!
Love always flies the wretched and deform'd,
And I am both—Sorrow has plaid the Tyrant,
Plow'd up this lovely Field where Beauties grew,
And quite transform'd it to a naked Fallow.
That you had once my Word, 'tis true; but 'twas
When I had hopes to be a Queen again;
I thought to give you with some Charms a Crown,
Which you deserve; but now they all are gone,
I am not worth the taking—cease the thought.

Norf.
By Heav'n! you are above all Queens to me;
Your glorious Head was shadow'd with a Crown,
And lovely Body seem'd but coursely clad
With Robes of Majesty, like Stars beclouded;
Those cast away, the Cherubin appears
Bright as the World was in its Infant years.
Easd of this Sumpter, take your happy Flight,
The lighter by the Load of cursed Crowns.
You bear the badg of Heav'n where e're you go,
Bright Beauty and Divinity all o're.

Qu. M.
Where shall I fly?

Norf.
To Scythia, Wilds of Beasts,
Or any where but this accursed Place.
To Scotland first, where the repenting Morton,
(Whom real pity of your matchless Sufferings
Has turn'd a Saint) has writ to all the States
To meet receive you, and approve your choice.

Qu. M.
First let my Virtue with my Heart consult.

Norf.
Nay, whil'st you think you'l stumble on a Grave,
Or Prison—ah you know not what the Queen,
And your curst Foes are now consulting of.

Qu. M.
To fly suspected, is to make me guilty;
Yet she condemns and shuns me as a Monster.
[Aside.
Denies what to the meanest Criminal she grants—
Now Fear and Passion strive.
Aside.
Like Seas with bold contrary Winds opprest,
And rouze the quiet Ocean in my Breast.

Enter to them Davison with Guards.
Dav.
The Queen my Mistress to her Royal Sister,
The wrong'd and beauteous Majesty of Scotland,
Sends by her Slave the dearest of all Loves,
Not such as fickle, wanton Lovers pay,
But such as Friends and Angels owe each other.
She lovingly intreats you wou'd accept
Of this her Guard—

Norf.
Ha!

Dav.
Not as a Restraint,
But to protect your Life against your Foes,
Which she still prizes dearer than her own.
Without are Officers prepar'd to wait you
To an Apartment nearest to her own.
My Lord, It is her Majesties Command
[To Norfolk.
You leave the Queen, and instantly attend her.

Norf.
Immortal Powers! a Guard!

[Exit Davison.
Qu. M.
Haste noble Duke, prevent her threatning Rage;
Plead for your self—Behold I am not worse,
Than when you saw me first at Fotheringay.

Norf.
Ah rigid Caution! Virtue too severe!
Y'ave done a cruel Justice on your self,
And quite undone my hopes.

Qu. M.
Give me your Hand.
I will be yours, or ne're will be Anothers:
That as my Heart, but oh most gallant Norfolk!
Some time allow to weigh the nice Regards
Of Jealous Honour in a Prince's Breast.
Cruel Example, cruel Greatness aws
Our Sex and Monarchs with the hardest Laws—
Farewel.

Norf.
Curst be those Laws, more curst be Greatness still;
Man till forbidden, knew not what was ill,
And till Ambition sow'd the deadly strife,
Adam was blest, and Eve a happy Wife.
Virtue once hop'd, and then was so renown'd,
Valour made Kings, and Beauty oft was crown'd;
Merit did then o're Friends and Interest plead,
The happy Pair but lik'd, and soon agreed;
But now Love's bought, and Marriage grown a Trade,
Estate and Dower are in the Ballance weigh'd;
Love still was free till Pride broke in by stealth,
And ne're a Slave till undermin'd with Wealth.

[Exeunt Omnes.