University of Virginia Library

SCEN V.

[The Scene is changed to the King's quarters.]
Enter King, L. Lovel, Sir William Catesby.
Catesby.
Miles Forrest is his Name; a fellow stout,
And yet so dull, he never felt a doubt;
Nor questions deeds ill relisht by the Laws:
He weighs reward, but measures not the Cause.
'Twas he, Sir, who out-went your swift commands,
When the two Brothers fell by his bold hands.

King.
I, that's a Friend. Go, Catesby, call him in.
[Exit Catesby.
My Justice on the Princess must begin:
Her favour'd Int'rest has a double sting;
For she can make, and can unmake a King.
[Enter Catesby, and Forrest.
O fellow-Souldier, welcome! Nay, come near:
What Office in our Army do you bear?

Forrest.
I am Lieutenant to Lord Lovel's Troop.

Catesby.
He does by more, then common service, hope,
That he already has your Favour won,
And merits to do more by what is done.

King.
Employment, and Reward he shall not miss;
The first old Company, that falls, is his.
And that his present wants I may relieve,
Catesby, let him two hundred Marks receive.

Forrest.
An't please you, I can't talk, but I can do;
I can spur on through good, and bad ways too.

King.
I like him; he's a blunt, plain, honest man.

Catesby.
Sir, he'l talk little, but do all he can.

King.
Catesby, I shall employ him in a deed,
Wherein he'l shew, he's hearty by his speed.
Necessity of State will not allow
Leisure for Scruples, which from Conscience grow:
Who follow Conscience, often come too late.

Forrest.
Sir, as to good, or bad look you to that.

King.
Well spoken: go, and from our Catesby be
Instructed; your reward expect from me.

[Exit Forrest.
Lovel.
Sir, with your Person's safety can no way
Be found, this Execution to delay?
Her bleeding, when in publick understood,
Will cause a Fever in the Peoples Blood.

King.
If I prevail, I am above the harms
Of sudden Tumults, or intestine arms.
If I am lost; Richmond my Throne may have;
But he shall find his Mistress in her Grave.

Lovel.
Your Strength so far transcends your Enemies,
That such precautions you may well despise.

[Enter L. Stanly.
King.
My Lord, I am transported with your sight.

L. Stanly.
Your Souldiers now want but the morning's light,
To charge the Enemy, who, past retreat,
Are opportunely lodg'd for a defeat.
I come, led by my Duty, and my Care,
For your last Orders in this great affair.

King.
Our Councel's call'd, and suddenly will sit;
You shall receive your Orders, when we meet.

L. Stanly.
Sir, in these Quarters I am much surpris'd,
Hearing, the Princess is so ill advis'd:
I had the honour once of her esteem;
And now would fain serve you, and her redeem.
Be pleas'd to grant me free access, to try
How far I may induce her to comply.

King.
After so many tryals, your Success
I question; but I yield to your address.

Ld Stanly.
Sir, though I lose my Pains, I'le lose no Time.
[Exit Ld Stanly.]

King.
Is not that Subject guilty of a Crime
Deserving Death, who makes his Prince affraid?

Catesby.
It is the worst high Treason to invade
The chiefest Right belonging to the Throne:
All should a Monarch fear, but he fear none.

King.
Catesby, I must on your great Care relye,
That his young Son may not escape your Eye.

Catesby.
Sir, he is strictly watch'd.

King.
When we decide
The Field, he in these Quarters must abide:
If with the Father we should trust the Son
In open Battel, we should Hazard run.

Ld Lovel.
You make your Creatures useless, when your Care
Acts all the painful Bus'nes of the War.

King.
Mark these: the stubborn Princess, when I send
[To Catesby.
The King shews two Rings to Catesby.
This Ruby, must her Life's short story end,
And this when you receive, young Strange must dye.

Catesby.
When you command, my Duty must comply.

King.
I came not lazily to wear the Crown,
But 'twas with watchful labour made my own;
And so I'le keep it. Princes are not wise,
Who sleep themselves, and trust their Servants Eyes.
But, if at last I must my Power resign,
It shall be Fortunes Errour, and not mine.

Ld Lovel.
Where so much strength, and Conduct joyn in one,
Fortune is but an idle looker on.

The Scene is changed to the Princess Lodging.