 | The Island Queens : Or, The Death of Mary, Queen of Scotland |  |
40
ACTUS QUARTUS.
Scena Prima.
Cecil, Davison, severally.Cec.
Weep Davison, and drown thy Head in Tears,
Or let thy Tongue for Eloquence so fam'd,
Be mute for ever or like Schriech Owls howl,
If thou want'st Words to mitigate his Crime,
And Charm with Pity the offended Queen.
The gallant Duke, the Darling of the World,
The Scipio, the delight of Mankind's seiz'd.
You came from searching of his Papers, say,
What hopes have his sad Friends that he will clear
Himself?
Dav.
O none! The false accursed Morton
That fir'd the Duke's fond Passion to the Queen,
Then like a Villain to his Foes betray'd him;
This Serpent of Delusion has discover'd
What e're the brave and generous-hearted Man
Did in his harmless Mind intrust him with.
Cec.
What Circumstance or Sign of any Treason
Amongst his Letters found you?
Dav.
Very little,
Besides his aim to wed the Queen of Scotland;
Yet one thing paints some Colour of a Guilt.
It does appear he furnish'd her with Money
To aid her Friends in Scotland; who, you know
Do at this time invade our English Borders.
Here is the Paper, which, alas, was found
Under the Mat beneath poor Norfolk's Bed,
Plac'd there on purpose, as suppos'd by all,
By Hartford, a Domestick of the Duke's,
Who, apprehended, has accus'd his Master—
41
As Arundel, Southampton, and the rest,
All order'd to be taken.
Cec.
Cursed Chance!
What temper holds the Queen in this extream?
Dav.
Fiery and cool again in ev'ry Breath,
At once she sighs and pities the fall'n Man,
And the same moment rages and upbraids him.
Cec.
O she must worse be stung before to Morrow!
How will she bear her self when she shall know
The foul Conspiracy of Babington!
Place Gifford ready as the Queen comes forth,
'Tis dangerous to conceal it any longer.
Methinks I pity less Queen Mary's Fate,
Since it has cost the Ruine of the Duke—
See where 'a comes; wou'd Cecil had no eyes;
Yet he bears manly up, rears his stout Head
Like a brave Vessel in a Storm, and scatters
Bright Beams of Majesty through all his Clouds.
Enter the Duke Guarded. Guards cry, room for the Duke.
Norf.
Room for the Duke! Room for no Duke, no Lord;
The Emblem of expiring Greatness rather.
Man is the truest Dial of his Fate;
His Princes Favour and the Sun at Noon
Shews not a thing so beautiful and great;
Whilst he,
(As the proud Peacock that abhors his Feet)
Sees not his growing Shadow on the Ground.
Cecil, thou and false Leicester have undone me,
Brought by thy cruel caution in these Fetters,
And by the Villain Morton thus betray'd.
Cec.
These Tears be Witnesses I never meant it.
Norf.
My Lord, I do believe you; but you are
Too good a States-Man, and too nice a Friend.
What e're wise Cecil can have hopes to gain,
Perhaps to heap a Mass of Wealth and Fame;
Yet cruel Policy ne're prosper'd long,
And thou may'st once lye loath d as any Slave,
Condemn'd by all, and hated in the Grave.
42
By all that's just, you wrong the Love I bear you—
Behold the Queen—Ile gain your Life, Brave Duke!
Or venture mine.
Enter Queen Elizabeth, Lords, Davison, Women and Attendants.
Most merciful and mighty!
Behold your Cecil bends that ne're yet kneel'd
To you in vain—O spare the gallant Duke,
And I will promise, and himself shall swear
Henceforth to prove the faithfull'st of your Subjects,
And from this hour abjure the Queen of Scotland.
Norf.
Hold Burleigh, go no further for the Globe;
If the least Word, that I'le abjure the Queen,
'Scapes from thy Tongue, by yon bright Heav'n 'tis false.
That I'le ask pardon, tho' I never wrong'd you,
'Tis but a Word, and I will do it thus.
[Kneels.
For Kings are like Divinities on Earth,
Whom none can serve, but must sometimes offend.
(Rises
But to deny my Love, and to disclaim her!
O ye bright Powers! abjure my Alban Queen!
First let me grovel in the worst of Dungeons,
Flat like a Toad, and feed on Damps and Vapours,
A thousand years, if I could live so long.
What! for to save my Life! a hated Scull!
Had I as many Heads as I have Hairs
To be shear'd off me like a Field of Corn,
Yet, after that, not one shou'd be so base,
But ev'ry Head shou'd speak and sound her Name.
Qu. E.
You I find, bold Duke, this One has said too much,
And done more than a Thousand Heads can answer.
What, am I brav'd? by Miry's Champion threatend'd!
Carry him to th'Tower hence, and from the Peers
Chuse three and thirty Lords to be his Judges.
Ile have him try'd to morrow, and if guilty,
Beheaded strait, send his ambitious Head
To travel for that airy Crown it lookt for;
And tell me when 'tis off, if then it talks,
Or calls out for his Alban Queen to help him.
43
[Aside.
Or after him a Man that I can trust.
Norf.
You need not doubt it; for by Heav'n I will.
That dying Martyr who invokes her Name,
Calls for more aid than all the Saints above.
She is her self Salvation; but for her,
This Isle had been like flaming Ætna found,
Or, as the World was, with the Ocean drown'd.
Qu. E.
She's false, and thou a most ungrateful Traytor.
Here's Morton, Cecil, all the World can witness
Thou didst aspire to marry her and get my Crown,
With her Consent.
Norf.
By the Immortal Judge I am betray'd,
And she's abus'd by Villains.
Cecil will not, no honest Man dar's say it,
But Morton as the worst of Devils may.
O she's so good, so Innocent, and mild,
That Scotland, wert thou curst to this degree,
Shou'd all thy Seed there sow'd yield nought but Poysons,
And pregnant Women bring forth none but Mortons,
Thou hast atton'd for all such ills in breeding Her.
Qu. E.
Away with him, and let me never see
That Head again, but on a Pinacle.
Norf.
Bear Witness all you Powers, I bear it mildly,
And for my Fate I kneel again and bless you.
May you live ever, and for Norfolks Death
Ne're sleep a moment of your Life the worse,
But pass your soft Eternity away
With Angels Days, and Lovers blessed Nights—
But for the injur'd Queen I rise inspir'd;
And tho' a threaten'd Prophet, yet dare speak.
When e're She falls, which both the blest in Heav'n,
And damn'd in Hell forbid: If you believe
And punish not those Villains that betray'd her;
Loud Cherubins to Earth your Guilt shall sound,
Which worse than the Last Trumpet shall rebound;
Wake or asleep her Image shall appear,
And always hollow Mary in your Ear.
Cec.
Now, Davison's the Time.
[Exit Duke Guarded.
44
May't please your Majesty,
What shall be done with the offending Queen?
Qu. E.
Nothing, bold, saucy Pen-man, I say nothing.
Send Norfolk to the Tower; but on your Lives
I charge you, use no Violence on Her.
Make not such haste; too soon you'l break this Heart,
Then glut your selves with cutting off of Heads.
Dav.
Then so much for the Duke—Call Gifford in.
Enter Gifford.
If you are drown'd, steep'd in a Lethargy
Of Love and o'regrown Mercy to this Queen,
And will not op'n your Eyes to see your danger,
Then we that are your watchful Servants must—
Behold and hear; for 'tis so loud and plain,
That 'twill astonish ev'ry Sense within you.
This Man, this honest man, whose Statue ought
To be set up in gold in all your streets,
Inspir'd by Heav'n, discovers that himself,
With five bold Ruffians more were all set on
By Mary Queen of Scots to murther you.
Qu. E.
To murther me!
Cec.
Forbid it Heav'n and Stars,
To kill the Queen!
Dav.
With Sacraments they bound it.
More horrid than e're Catiline invented,
Who, to 'slave Rome, ty'd it with humane Blood.
First view the Monsters pictur'd to the Life,
Each with a several Instrument of Fate
[Produces the Tablets.
Wav'd in his Hand, with which to Hell they swore,
If either of them fail'd to cut you off.
Qu. E.
Preserve me Heaven!
[Queen takes the Tablets in her Hand.
Dav.
What, do's it make you start?
Do these odd Hieroglyphicks make you wonder?
The Rogue that fir'd the gawdy Fane at Ephesus,
Deserv'd to be a Saint to these; he strove
But for a little Memory after Death;
But these before, presumptuously defy
45
And tell Mankind they glory in the Deed.
Qu. E.
What's here? a Latin Verse, which he that is
The Chief, does seem to bellow from his Mouth;
These are Companions chos'n and fit for such a danger—
Here is thy Face makes one amongst the Villains.
Giff.
With horrour I confess it.
Qu. E.
Name the rest.
Giff.
I will; but wonder when you hear what Men
Of several Stations clubb'd to do this Mischief.
The Elements were not more aptly mixt
To make a perfect World, as they to do a Deed,
Wou'd startle Nature and unfix the Globe,
And hurl it from its Axel Tree and Hinges.
This first is Bibington, Rich, and of Birth,
[Pointing to the Tablets.
Might lift him to be rank'd amongst the Nobles;
Young, proud and daring, fiery and ambitious.
Qu. E.
I know the Gentleman of Derbyshire.
He came to me for leave to go to France.
Giff.
The same.
Qu. E.
O horrid! Who can read a Villain?
How subtly Nature paints, hides a false Heart,
And shroud's a Traitor in an Angels Garb!
The next.
Giff.
Tillny a Courtier.
Cec.
What, the Queen's own Servant?
Dav.
I know him too, his Father's only Hopes,
Heir to a great Estate. O Parricide!
Giff.
This, Barnwel, turbulent, and precipitate.
A bloody minded Wretch fit for the Deed;
Of Ireland.
Cec.
I believe each Word thou utter'st.
Without his Country it had been no Plot.
Giff.
Savage, a Ruffian of the worst degree,
And never to be painted as he is;
Stew'd in a Brothel house, and tann'd in Blood.
Qu. E.
O Queen! O Mary! where's thy Refuge now?
Giff.
The fifth is Chernock, Student of the Law.
Lastly, to make the Compound great, my Self.
46
I've heard too much.
If this be true, how shall I help thee now?
Boldly this Breast has stood the Shock, but now
Can hold no longer—hence, be dumb for ever.
O for the quiet that my Mind has lost,
My Crown I'de give, a Kingdom I'de bestow,
But for the sweet Repose my Soul last Night
Enjoy'd—Hear Heav'n, deny me not this Prayer;
Curse me with Madness, blast me with Diseases,
Melt this loath'd Crown away like scalding Lead,
Turn all my Hairs to Snakes upon my Head,
And in a Dungeon let me long lament;
All Ile endure, make her but innocent.
Cec.
'Tis fit you double all your Strength about you,
And let the Queen immediately be seiz'd.
Qu. E.
'Tis false, she is abus'd, and all is forg'd.
She is not, can't, nor shall she guilty be.
Confess it, do, and I'le forgive you all;
I now command you, nay, intreat you too,
Be merciful to your tormented Queen,
And O, restore my Sister's Innocence again.
See, Monster, Villain, Fury, Devil, Priest!
Be sure thou prov'st this Crime upon my Sister,
[To Gifford.
Be sure thou dost, without the smallest doubt,
Or I will have thee hang'd to touch the Sky,
For Sun to burn thee, and the Clouds to quench thee,
To shew to Heav'n, to shew to Earth below,
The Wretch so curst, and banisht both for ever.
Or I will have thee long, long years a dying,
Feed thee by Weight to starve, a Grain a day,
Whilst thy rack'd flesh whole Ages shall decay,
And Spirits by slow degrees distil away.
Yet, O! 'Tis all too little to recal
That wealthy Mass of quiet thou hast robb'd me off.
Cec.
'Tis the Request of all your faithful Subjects,
That you'd be pleas'd to seize the Queen of Scotland,
[Cecil and Davison kneel.
Least she shou'd act what is but yet design'd.
Dav.
Your sacred Life's in hazard ev'ry hour,
For Heav'ns sake, and for pity to your self,
For all your Nations Lives, think on the Danger.
47
Thus lower yet, we beg you wou'd consent,
[Fall prostrate.
Or your Court Gates will ne're be free from Throngs
Of your poor People, who with Groans and Cries,
Will force you to't in kindness to your self.
Qu. E.
Rise, Cecil—
Let the Conspirators be apprehended,
Of whom this Gifford gives you information.
Cec.
And not the Queen?
Qu. E.
Spare my Sisters Life;
If nothing but a Queens Blood will content you,
Take mine, ye ravenous Wolves.
Cec.
Alas!—
Qu. E.
Be gone, why was this hid from me so long?
Yeave robb'd me of my rest, eternal rest.
If this be real, I had soon been dead,
And then ne're felt the Blow, 'cause unexpected;
But now ten thousand Deaths are not so painful,
As this curst Life, which thou dost strive to save;
My Soul is wrack'd, my Reputation, All
In this loath'd Act, that thou wou'dst have me do.
Cec.
Whose Soul, whose Reputation will be rack'd,
And censur'd with severest Plagues from Heaven,
If by your fond Neglect, you loose that Life,
Intrusted by the Powers to guard your Nations,
And leave your Laws and Liberties betray'd,
Your Subjects all a Prey to forreign Yoaks,
Dye and bequeath the Dagger in your heart,
To brood and get a hundred thousand more,
Perhaps as many as your Subjects Throats—
Nay, we must speak, think what you will, and weep,
Since not to tell you, is to be more cruel.
Qu. E.
O Cecil! rather, how shou'd I be blam'd,
To take this Guest so quickly from my Bosom,
And shut her in a Grate—Mark what I tell thee,
'Twas but last Night she had another Prison;
When she did throw her Arms about my Neck,
Her cheeks laid close to mine, methought I drew
Such Sweets as Eden's Flowers send up to Heav'n,
Whilst from her Lips flew warm Arabian Sighs,
And from her Eyes a Shower of Pearls ran down;
48
Now let me dye, she said, 'tis all I wish,
Since I have her within my Arms I love.
And she protests, and says, she loves me too.
Cec.
There's now no time for Answers nor Disputes,
Either resolve her Fate, or bear your own.
Qu. E.
Be gone, I charge you, tempt my Breast no more;
Our Sex is made of mildness, Love and Pity;
Take from me first the softness of a Woman.
Were I the hot revengeful Monster, Man,
A Man! a Beast, a fierce Hyrcanian Tiger;
Nay, were I Cecil, I'de not be so cruel.
Cec.
Then, since you'l shut your Ears to all safe Counsel,
To what kind Heav'n acquaints you with by us;
Bear Witness those Cælestial Powers, and you
My Queen, that Cecil has discharg'd his Duty,
And clears himself of the approaching Danger;
But e're that dreadful day of your Eclipse,
Come Davison, let thee and I go wander,
Far we'l remove, where such a horrid Deed
Shall never blast our Eyes, nor curse our Ears.
Here, take my Staff, I've serv'd you well and long;
[Lays down his Staff.
We'l not stay here to be good Counsels Martyr,
And to be torn in pieces by the Rabble,
When you are dead, which we forwarn'd you off.
Farewel—
Let us be ne're so cautious in our Aim,
A Kings Miscarriage is the States-mans Blame.
[Offer to be gone.
Qu. E.
Stay, I command you take it up again—
Arrest a Crown! impeach a Soveraign Queen!
The Majesty of Heav'n forbid the thought—
Nay, if I think I never shall consent.
Here, take my Crown, depose me first, or kill me,
Let Gifford's Dagger do its fatal Office,
Then like a Nest of Tyrants you may raign,
And under publick Laws do publick Wrongs,
But Royal Power can never be so cruel.
Cec.
Behold she comes, command we apprehend her.
Qu. E.
Who'd be that Monarch, who that wretched thing,
Whose Slaves make Laws, and People are the King?
49
Now Tyrants send me strait, where by your Power,
These cruel Eyes may never see her more.
Queen Elizabeth going off, Queen Mary enters at the other Door, and speaks to her, who returns.
Qu. M.
Turn, turn your Face, and give one long'd for Look,
My charming Queen! the Morning's past, and yet
I have not seen those Eyes that blest the Morn.
Shroud not those Looks where Beams of Mercy shine,
And Pity sits inthron'd with Majesty.
I hear the Duke of Norfolk's in displeasure;
Forgive the brave unhappy Man—
Why do you sigh? why hang you down your Head,
[Queen Elizabeth turns her Face.
As loth to grant?—Can mercy plead in vain?
Nay, then I'le hold you with these Chains of Love,
Lean my glad Cheek upon your God-like Cheek,
[Queen Mary offers to embrace her.
And sow fresh Kisses where my last are fled;
This Language charm'd you once, this greeting pleas'd you.
Qu. E.
Now Cecil, rescue me, or I am lost.
Dav.
Guards, execute your Orders on the Queen.
[Cecil and Davison get on each hand of Queen Elizabeth.
We beg your Majesty for love of Fame,
By your unbiass'd Rule, and Charms of Justice,
Resume your wonted Courage, and rouze up
An awful and offended Majesty.
Cec.
For now your Wisdom, Crown and Life's at Stake,
Nay more, the Lives of all your faithful Subjects,
[The Guards whisper Queen Mary.
For this one precious Moment of your Conduct.
Qu. M.
I will obey. Your Orders fright not me,
Nor move my Soul so lately us'd to Wrongs—
What is my Crime?—Yet wherefore do I ask?
For Chains look better far about these Wrists,
Than Diamonds, and Tears hang on my Neck
More beautiful than strings of Orient Pearl.
Qu. E.
Ah cruel Princess! we are both undone;
You've robb'd your Sisters Breast of all it's wealth,
Lost a dear Friend, and robb'd me of your Self.
Dav.
Mary, late Queen of Scotland, y'are impeach'd
By th'name of Mary Stewart of High Treason,
50
And hiring Babington to kill the Queen.
Qu. M.
Heav'ns, Thrones and Angels guard the Innocent,
The Gorgon is at last disclos'd to view.
What, kill my Sister! hurt your precious Life!
O Monster of Invention! cursed Lyar;
And oh damn'd Calumny begot in Hell!
Nay, then I see my Ruine is conspir'd,
The Duke must dye, and I must suffer too.
But cruel Foes, had you no way but this,
To blast me with eternal Infamy?
And oh bright Vengeance! is there none in store,
No Pity in the Heav'ns, no Thunder left!
Protect the wrong'd, and strike the Guilty dead,
Lest men suspect that you are great and good.
Will you that rain down Providence on all,
And ev'ry living Insect claims a share?
Will you, I say, shut fast your cruel Doors,
Now when a Queen, an injur'd Queen implores?
Qu. E.
Incroaching Pity, stop thy flowing Torrent,
[Aside.
And ebbing Nature sink to that extream,
As cruel Brutus that condemn'd his Son;
For this is now my Tryal.
Qu. M.
Say amongst you,
Where is that Man or Devil that dare accuse me?
Dav.
The Villain has confest his Guilt and yours,
With Letters that you sign'd to do the Deed.
Qu. M.
Hear, hear deaf Heav'n, and all you Guard of Princes!
You backward Thunder burst from forth your Prisons,
And strike the Offender, strike curst Mary dead,
If I'me that Wretch, O spare it not for me!
Heard you,
How they did slander Majesty so loud?
And can you bear it? Half these Veins are yours,
My Royal Title, tender Sex the same,
Doubly of Kin, in Royalty and Blood,
And can you hear your Sister, hear your Self so wrong'd?
Qu. E.
Alas, I am like one that sees far off,
Have all the wishes I can think to save you,
But gagg'd and bound, and cannot stir to help you.
51
This Babington, who ne're yet curst my sight,
Must be some Villain hir'd to do this Treason,
And lay it upon me; but bear me witness,
You high, imperial, and eternal Truth,
That of disjoynted Atoms form'd the Sun,
The shining Heav'ns, the Planets, and the World,
So wonderful and glorious as they are;
Who sees into the Soul and all its walks
Through this dark Mould transparent as a Glass?
O may these blubber'd Eyes worshipp'd like Stars,
Drop from this Visage once like Heav'n ador'd,
And leave this Face a Death's-head to be shunn'd;
Or may that cursed Hand, this Hand, or This
That once was fragrant with the Breath of Kings,
That kneel'd to kiss this wrong'd, this innocent hand;
May it rot from me like a wither'd Branch,
From this vile Stock, and never sprout again,
If e're I saw the Man, or sign'd such Letter.
Q. E.
'Tis time for me to go, is't not my Jaylors?
I have seen more than any Panther cou'd—
Farewel.
Qu. M.
O stay and mingle kindness with your Justice!
I beg not for my self, but for my Fame,
To dy's no shame, but to dye branded is:
For tho'hereafter, when my Story's told,
Good men inspir'd with pity of my Wrongs,
May say my Innocence was basely stain'd,
Yet with the Bad 'tis ne're to be regain'd.
Qu. E.
Farewel, 'tis Cruelty in me to go,
But worse to stay.
Qu. M.
Yet I intreat you;
Give me a Weapon, I'le unrip this Bosome,
There you may see wrong'd Innocence inthron'd,
My Heart may be believ'd, tho' I am not,
Behold the naked Passions ebb and flow,
Ev'n as my Griefs swell or exhaust the Tide.
Qu. E.
Yet loose, for pity of us both let go,
The world has not so griev'd a wretch as I,
And thou lav'st hold upon so weak a Bough.
That the least pull will sink me quite with thee.
52
Hear me, thou deaf and cruel Queen!—ah no,
Thou mild as Babes, and merciful as Saints,
In whose soft Breast is all the Angels Pity,
Hear but this last, this Execration—
Neither—
Then to just Heaven I kneel, but not to thee,
And you compleat my Curses if I lie.
If e're I had a thought to hurt your Life,
A thought less mild than Virgins in their Prayers,
Here may my Knees take root, and Body grow
A Monster foul as ever Nilus bred,
May these quick drops that Innocence do shew
Poyson the Parts and Eyes through which they flow,
And from their Seeds thus sown upon the Earth,
May Serpents, Adders, Fiends and Devils take Birth,
And with their frightful Tallons seize me straight,
And drag me into Hell if you I hate.
Dav.
Tho' clear and spotless as the Sun you are,
Yet that must be examin'd by the Peers,
The Law must quit you.
Qu. M.
Must the Law then judge me?
Nay, then Ile rise with shame from this mean Posture.
And now I feel the Majesty of Kings
Dart from above to hear it self prophan'd,
Stretching my Soul and Limbs to such a vastness,
As the first Race of Mankind's e're the Flood,
When Gods, and God like Gyants rul'd the world.
Come, bring me straight to this accurst Tribunal,
Then all the Courage and Divinity,
Of my imperial Ancestors inspire
This Breast, from Fergus first to James my Son,
Last of his Race that sway'd the Scottish Globe
For fifteen hundred years, shine through my Face,
Print on my Forehead ev'ry awful Grace,
Defend your Royal Right, and for me plead,
Shoot from my Eyes, and strike my Judges dead.
Qu. E.
Grief ties my Speech, and Pity drowns my Eyes.
Qu. M.
Pity'd by you! I will not dye so meanly,
No, tho' in Chains, yet I'me more brave and free,
Scorn thy base Mercy, and do pity thee;
53
I'le leave a Race as numerous as the Stars,
Whilst thou shalt fall with Barrenness accurst,
And thy tormented Spirit with Envy burst,
To see thy Crown on Mary's Issue shine,
And England ever blest with Scotlands Line.
[Exit Queen Mary with Guards.
Qu. E.
Stay Sister, stay—Come back into my Arms.
Run and release her, quick.
Cec.
Your Majesty—
Qu. E.
O 'tis too late—Leave, leave me to my Rage.
You'd better hear the Dooms-day Trumpet sound,
Than wake my Fury with another Word.
She's gone, dragg'd from me by the cruel Laws,
Nor can I tear her from these Vultures Claws,
But oh, like the distracted Mother roar,
Whose Child a Wolf had from its Cradle bore,
Hast's to its Aid, and all the way in vain,
To Heav'n and to the Savage does complain,
Speaks the Beast kind, till hearing as 'a flies,
Betwixt his Teeth, her tender Infants Cries;
Then she adds wings, and in her Flight does rave,
With eager Hopes its precious Life to save;
But finds the Monster with her Bowels gor'd,
And in her sight, its panting Limbs devour'd.
[Exeunt Omnes.
Finis Actus Quarti.
| The Island Queens : Or, The Death of Mary, Queen of Scotland | |