University of Virginia Library

SCENA II.

King, Lord Stanly, Lord Lovel, Catesby, Ratclife, and Lord Strange, &c.
Catesby.
Sir, my Lord Stanly arriv'd.

King.
My best
Of Friends! O, let me lodge thee in my breast,
The Person of the World most coveted!
For my occasions want thy Hand, and Head,
Thy Councel, and thy Action.

L. Stanly.
Sir, to you
All, that I can, all, that I am, is due.

King.
You now may shew it, Stanly in defence
Of your best Friend; For Richmond with pretence
Of right as weak, as his starv'd Forces are,
Invades the Land; whom nothing but despair,
Or hunger could have thrust on this design,
Unless some Traitors here should with him joyn.

L. Stanly.
Poor Mushroom! His short date of Life is out,
Since all his hopes are in the fickle Rout;
Whose Favour is more various, then the Winds,
Whose Fortunes are more desp'rate, then their Minds.
But when your conqu'ring Army comes in sight,
You'l find them fit for slaughter, not for fight.
Of this a signal proof now brought me hither;
For having notice there was drawn together
A numerous body of the Borderers
'Twixt Cheshire, and North-Wales; urg'd by my fears,
Lest, unsupprest at first, this little Flame
Grown wider might become too fierce to tame,
I strait did hasten to their Rendezvous;
And, lest I should the fair advantage lose,
I did not for your Royal Order wait:
And, Sir, the issue was proportionate
Both to my Zeal, and Justice of your cause:
For now our Swords have left them to your Laws.

King.
My Lord, this service to the full does shew
How much a King may to his Subject owe:
For Richmond these, and these had Richmond prop't,
Had not your Hand this budding Treason crop't.
And now, my Lord, I hope, your Forces are
Advancing hither; For I ill can spare
About my Person, and within my call
Such Troops, as yours, and such a General.

L. Stanly.
You are my Sov'raign (Sir) a double way;
Your Wisdom, and your Power bear equal sway:
But, Sir, I fear th'effect, if we should joyn,
And all our Strength within one Camp confine.
You know, the Power by the Invader brought
(Compar'd to yours) will scarce deserve your thought,
Much less your Fear: He all his hopes does place
Upon the Risings of the Populace,
And thinks, his Snow-ball rowling to, and fro,
Though slender yet, to Bulk and Weight may grow:
If this be true, judge how important then
Divided Bodies are of chosen Men,
Who by their several motions may prevent
Risings, and Succours to the Rebels sent.

King.
So let it be: I must confess, my Lord,
Your reasons are convincing, as your Sword.
Honour's your Mistress; and I clearly see,
You mean to rob me of the Victorie,
And make her wholly yours.

L. Stanly.
Sir, I design
The Glory to be yours, the Hazard mine.

King.
Hazard, and Glory are so linkt together,
That without both I can pretend to neither.
But how does your indulgent Lady bear
This rash Invasion of her Son? I fear,
That Treason countenanc'd by Nature may
In a weak Mother's heart too strongly sway.

L. Stanly.
The secrets of her Mind she only knows;
I her, but not her Passions did espouse.

King.
I dread her, as a dang'rous Enemy,
Who in the arms of my best Friend does lye.

L. Stanly.
Her thoughts are free, but by a trusty Guard
From all disloyal Acts her Person's bar'd:
Nature her self shall be divorc't from me,
When she rebels against my Loyaltie.

King.
My Lord, your great Example may improve
All my best Subjects in their Faith, and Love.
And here you have a Son fit to inherit
All that is yours: So far his early Merit
Into my Favour is advanc'd, that I
Am not at ease without his Company;
He shall remain, though you are forc't from hence;
His stay must your departure recompence.

L. Strange.
apart.
His meaning is, I must his Pris'ner be:
Love is the foulest Mask of Crueltie!

L. Stanly.
I doubt, your Favour's too much antedate
His Merit.

King.
Fear it not. My Lord, 'tis late:
Whilst you stay here, some of your time I know,
You must on Bus'ness, and your Friends bestow.

Exit. Ld. Stanly and Strange.