University of Virginia Library

SCEN. VI.

Earl of Richmond, Priour of Litchfield.
Richmond.
Excuse me, Father; for I think it rude
To call you to a Camp from Solitude.
I am inform'd, that you to private ears
Foretold Events, which cur'd my Partie's fears.
Your Power with Heaven is such, as may obtain,
What otherwise I should despair to gain.
This, Father, is the cause of my address.

Priour.
Then, Sir, thank Heaven; for you shall have success.

Richmond.
Now I believe, the publick Voice is true,
Which does ascribe Prophetick Force to you.

Priour.
That Light dwells not in Sinners: I should be
Charg'd with the worst of Crimes, Hypocrisie,
If I pretended to that holy Fire,
Which does the cleaner Hearts of Saints inspire
But 'mongst the Records of our Priory
Th'Authentick works of the wise Gildas lye;
Whose holy Life, and whose Prophetick Fire
The Ages past with rev'rence did admire.
In his large Volume I shall only trace
What does concern your Person, and your Race.

Richmond.
The Authours Value heighten'd by your Praise
Does expectation to assurance raise.

Priour.
First he runs o're the Conquests of this Land
By Saxons, Danes, and by a Norman hand:
Then mentions the two Roses; and in brief
Foretels th'Event of that Intestine Strife,
Which has the noblest Blood of England cost,
And the best Provinces of France has lost.
Our Authour next upon the present state
Of our own times more largely does dilate:
And says the fury of a Savage Boar
Shall his own Blood, and then this Land devour.
Then he describes the Man (and you are he)
Who must redeem this Realm from Tyrannie;
Who after Conquest shall by force of Love
More then by War, our happiness improve.
For peaceful England shall the Roses find
No more in battel, but in marriage joyn'd.

Richmond.
What can be more? shall I successful prove
In all my hopes of Empire, and of Love?

Priour.
Sir, much remains behind; your Race shall do
Things yet more worthy of themselves and you;
They shall an Union make of louder Fame,
And of two Kingdoms one great Empire frame.
But after this a Tempest does succeed,
Which Hell shall with contagious Vapours feed;
This Tempest will produce a deed so black,
That Murther then shall an example lack.
But from this dark Eclipse a Prince will rise,
Who shall all Vertues of your Race comprise.
Forreign, and Native Foes he shall o'recome,
With force abroad, with lenity at home.
Though in our sep'rate World, this happy Land
The center of his Power will fixed stand,
Yet here the wide Circumf'rence must not end,
But with the Ocean joyntly shall extend.
Let Envious, and ungrateful Nations joyn
His Birth-right to usurp, or to confine;
When they invade his Empire on the Main,
They will but act the Gyants War again:
And when his Sea-Dominion they dispute,
His Thunder shall those Sons of Earth confute.

Richmond.
These great and glorious things whilst you recite,
You fill my Soul with Wonder, and Delight.
Your Scouts, Sir, are return'd, and bring you word,
[Enter Soldier.
That the Usurper's men have past the Ford.

Richmond.
There's for thy News: I wish th'Allarum true.
Father, we now must part; yet we'l pursue
The same great End, though in a diff'rent way;
For I must go to fight, and you to pray.

[Exit Priour.
[Enter Oxford and Chandew.