University of Virginia Library

ACT. III.

Scene I.

Enter Caldroon, followed by Angelo, and Medina thrusts him by and enters.
Med.
Stand by Sir, methinks your well pace't,
Greatness might move a little.

Cald.
For whom?

Med.
For me, thou ill-drest Puppet of Authority;
Thou Stalking Property, that walk'st on Screws,
Which but laid by, thy Honour is unjoynted,
And grows as bedrid as the Impotent.

Cald.
You shall be answer'd.

Med.
Thou must exhal'd from Dunghills,
Whose thick Breath poysons the purer ayre
It mingles with.

Cald.
You are very bold.

Med.
I will be bolder, and knock your Greatness,
Without you study quickly a set-form
To aske forgiveness in.

Cald.
My honour can defend it self
From worse opposers.

(Drawes.
Med.
Ile mince your Honour,
And send your Lowsie Family the shares
Of your divided Greatness.

(Drawes.
Enter Alcara and Bruchero.
Alca.
Hold, this place is not for Quarrels.

Med.
Nor for wrongs.

Alca.
How was't?

Med.
Let me speak, that dare tell truth.

Cald.
When I Relate the manner, it shall be
To those that have the Power to punish.

Med.
Let me goe.
There's nothing that has a Lawful birth,
That can endure this mongrel Greatness.

Enter the Duke of Lerma, leading Maria Veil'd, with Attendants.
Ler.
What Hurry's here?

Cald.
I know not, the Duke Medina thinks
His Greatness, Entitles him to Injure
Any one.

Ler.
Ile blow him and his storms quickly away.

Med.
Is your Breath so powerful, that it can
Puffe men off like tops of Thistles.

Ler.
I cannot now spare so much time
As to lose any on your Braules,
Caldroon, I have Employment for you.

Exeunt Lerma, Maria, and Caldroon.
Med.
And for that piece of
Nightworke too I take it.

Alca.
Pray peace my Lord.

Med.
Let me go, I will but ask him
A Civil Question.

Alca.
What is't?

Med.
Whether great men, and fathers too
Are not the best and closest Bawdes.

Alca.
Fye, fye, Consider who they are.

Med.
'Tis that consider'd doubles every wrong:
Had I been sindg'd with Lightning, I had stood
With all my wrongs husht as unwindy night;
But to be scorcht thus by a Candles Snuffe,
A thing that only Blazes in expiring,
And which must die in its own noisomness:
Makes my Impatience swell above the bankes
Of common temper.

Alca.
You must restrain this fury, whose effect
Turnes to your own destruction.

Enter the King, with a few.
Med.
What's this?

Alca.
The King.

Med.
I will speak.

Alca.
Take heed good my Lord.

King.
Which way went Lerma?

Med.
Headlong Sir, and 'twill be dangerous
To follow him.

King.
What's this?

Med.
I was your Souldier once Sir,
And had Commission to destroy your Enemies;
And I have done it with my Swords as boldly
As I will now attempt it with my Tongue:
And 'tis against a greater Enemy
Then ever fortune brought me to oppose
In all your Battels.

King.
VVhat enemy is this?

Med.
So great a one, that he is now become
More terror to your Souldiers, then those Armies
They alwayes met, with noble hopes of conquest.
Here victory is lost already: for Lerma
Has took you captive.

King.
'Tis boldness, and not duty, to question
Princes favours.

Med.
But not to beg 'em Sir, no more then 'tis
To pray, That Heav'n wou'd turne a vengeance from us,
Threatning in Lerma's power: Do not forget
Great Sir, the last desires your father made,
And force him to call louder from his grave.
Turne, mighty Sir, your lookes the other way,
And see your widdow'd People want their King,
Drooping like dayes unlook'd on by the Sun.
Your Councel wither'd more with care then Age,
Grown as much strangers to your great Affaires
As unto Lerma's pleasure.

Alca.
Excellent! 'tis nobly honest.

King.
Must Princes favours then be limited,
Or Judg'd by common Breaths?
'Tis restless Envy, that urges Mutinies
Shelter'd under Duty.

(Exit.
Med.
So the lesson is learn't perfect.
Oh Impudence! to make the Majesty of Kings
The pawn of all their villanies.

Alca.
Brave Lord, though I grieve to see you prest
Thus into needless dangers; yet I must
Joy, that our Country can yet boast such worth.

Med.
O my Lord, so wretched are we growing,
I tremble to out-live our happiness:
Those that wou'd alwayes live among Diseases,
Venters for life more then I do for death.

Alca.
Nay, my brave Lord,
You shall see all your friends dare share
With equal Courage the worst fate;
For wisely to go back is now too late.
My Jellousies are just, lend me your aide,
And we may dive into the heart of all.

Med.
And into his that wrought these mischiefes too,
In greater privacy I'le utter more;
Let us be firme, and like a mighty weight,
Sinking our selves, press others to their fate.

(Exeunt.

Scene II.

Enter the King, and Maria, with two Papers.
King.
It is a thing of great concerne Maria,
And I should have the opinion of my Councel.

Mar.
Your Councel Sir? are you their Sovereigne,
Or wou'd you be a slave to their opinions?

King.
But if—

Mar.
If what?
Dull Majesty, is this the loudest tune
Of a Kings powerful breath? if's and but's;
The timerous Language of the meanest people,
That are to give Account of their low actions
Unto Authority: Princes Determinations
Shou'd be as free as they design their power;
Not shaken with the Aguish touch of doubts:
What tracts leaves the great Ocean? or, Who Questions
Why it is calme, or rages? who shall chide
The Sun that warmes one portion of the World
More then another? When you are absolute
In love, or power, then I'le beg again.

King.
Stay; I have Resign'd my Reason to
My Love, Give me the Warrants.—
—Now think Maria
(The King signes them.
VVhether you have not ask't too much
Of one you love so little.

Mar.
Have you done it Sir?

King.
You see I have.

Mar.
Do you not repent it Sir?
Nor hate me as an Instrument,
Of pressing you to Acts, unworthy of you.

King.
Oh Maria, 'tis as hard for me to hate,
As 'tis for you to love.

Mar.
But have I not amaz'd you Sir,
In pressing you so hastily unto an Act
Or such Importance?

King.
A little.

Mar.
Thus low I beg your pardon;
And by this measure see to what dangers
Princes expose themselves, and Crownes
By too much trust, and kindness.

King.
How's this?
Have you then Acted, what you thought amiss?

Mar.
I have Sir, by necessity, not choice;
My Fathers violence had took another way
More fatal, had I not gain'd from you
These Governments, as he designs to send
Away the Marquess of Alcara, and
Count Bruchero.

King.
Ha!

Mar.
Now have I set before you Sir a Mirrour,
That truely showes—
—How fatal 'tis for Princes,
To shine on any with contracted kindness.

King.
VVhither must all this tend?

Mar.
For he that does engross your beams
Robs others of your Light, and is a cloud
That hangs upon your brightness; breeding
Ill weather to all the World besides; while he seems
To make you practice power unlimitted;
Just then you have the least, obeying his.

King.
Excellent Woman!

Mar.
From henceforth Sir be every bodies King,
And then you are your Selfe: lend equal Eares
To what all say, and like a skilful Chymist
Draw the quick spirit off, from every Counsel,
And from your wise breast breath it as your own.

King.
Oh Maria, you set foundations for my
Love, upon my reason now.

Mar.
One thing more I have to beg,
And then (my Fathers Life only excepted)
It is the last I'le ask: these VVarrants Sir
I will deliver to my Father; but in the mean time
Those Lords shall have private directions,
A little to deferr their preparations;
If you dare trust me Sir, it is your safety
I study now: pardon my foolish feares,
Your danger only nam'd, calls forth my teares.

King.
Oh do not waste the treasure of your eyes,
For such a life that you so much despise,
While I more justly disobey in this,
To dare be careless of the thing you wish.

Mar.
Can you my heart for want of friendship blame,
That for your safety have expos'd my fame?
Love to your glories, shou'd his flames resign,
As fires their Light, when the bright Sun does shine.

King.
If thrones be seates for cares, in a Kings breast
Love has a Title sure among the rest:
My love, as a fair vertue, I proclaime,
When it growes foule, I will conceale my shame.

Mar.
Ah, 'tis some ease to love, to be confest;
But, 'tis a torment, when it is supprest.

King.
Do's cruelty, a sign of kindness, prove?

Mar.
It is the greatest to deny the Love.

King.
Both cannot suffer in one cruelty.

Mar.
I shou'd confess too much, shou'd I deny.

King.
Wou'd you more cruel then you are appear?

Mar.
Pray Sir be gone, I've said too much I fear.

King.
Maria—

Mar.
—If you have pity Sir be gone,
Leave me to blush a little while alone.

King.
Farewell, I'le love, though you shou'd still design
To hide your own, and ne're to pity mine.

(Exit.
Mar.
Among what Rocks I steer a dangerous course,
My duty to a King, and to a Father;
My Countries shaken honour, and my own,
Calling at once upon me to take heed:
There's something more then this yet shakes my heart,
But I will throw the Ague off, least I
That to direct others their way design,
Shou'd my self want a friend, to show me mine.

Enter Lerma.
Ler.
Have you prevail'd?

Mar.
Yes Sir—but—

Ler.
No matter for a Reason, or a Circumstance,
Give 'em me; and still maintain thy power,
That I may pay Alegeance to thy eyes;
So now retire, for the Court begins to fill.
Exit Maria.
Enter Alcara and Bruchero.
They come, she was dispatcht in happy time.

Bruc.
See the full Sail of Spain.

Alca.
Strike, and pass by.

Ler.
The King by me salutes you.

Alca.
This was a running Lottery,
Lerma throwes them the Warrants, and Exit.
Mines a good prize, the Vice-Roy Ship of Naples.

Bruc.
Mine, of Navarre—

Alca.
VVhy this great man drops Kingdomes
As a full-plum'd-Hawke mewes her loose Feathers,
And never cares who stoopes to take 'em up.

Bruc.
He has some other meaning in't.

Alca.
'Tis certain his bounty else had never
Showr'd on us.

Enter the Arch-bishop, and Caldroon.
Alca.
See these are of his Councel.

Bru.
And now come sweating with their fond complements.

Arch.
My Lords, you are much engag'd
Unto his Grace, the Duke of Lerma.

Bru.
We have the Bonds about us.

Cald.
Oh, such another friend as Lerma
The Earth holds not.

Alca.
'Tis believ'd.

Arch.
Had you but seen, how he implor'd the King,
Pleaded your worths, and your abilities;
I think you wou'd have thought, as now you may,
Nature had ty'd him to you in some bond.

Bru.
The Duke is, as he ever was,
Covetous to scatter favours, though unaskt.

Cal.
I, and so careful of the men he markes
To make election of in his great thoughts,
That when they sleep, he wakes to make 'em great.
As I dare sware you never thought of this.

Alca.
Not I, I vow to you.

Cald.
I hope, my Lord, it shall not be forgotten

Arch.
That were too foul Ingratitude.

Bru.
Oh never, my Lord, and to assure the Duke—

Arch.
Tis well, so may you prosper.

Alca.
What think you now?

Exit Arch. and Caldroon.
Bru.
'Tis Rank—you and I, my Lord,
Are busie, and stand too much in his way;
Our remove will give his Actions scope.

Alca.
H'as wove his curst inventions cunningly.
How he threw his guilty Favours to us;
And durst not stay to take our Thanks,
Here's more intelligence, see the Duke.
Enter Medina, leading Izabella veild.
He has got something too.

Med.
Your way's now cleer: there's one
Will bring you to your Attendance—
Remember to bring Maria to the Garden
At the appointed time.

Izab.
I will not fail on my part.

Exit.
Alca.
You have got a fair charge, my Lord.

Med.
When you know all, you'l say so.

Bru.
VVe two, my Lord, are banisht.

Med.
Banisht?

Alca.
But to Honourable employments.

Med.
VVe have trifl'd then too long;
And suffer'd this black Cloud to grow too big
VVhose breaking will drown us all.

Bru.
See here the sentence of our banishments.

Enter a Woman veild, puts a Letter into Alcara's hand, and Exit.
Bru.
VVhat's this, that vanisht?

Alcara Reads, and seems amaz'd.
Med.
Some secret Invitation.

Bru.
How now man, what not impart
It to your friends?

Alca.
Bruchero reads.

To the Marquis of Alcara.

You and your friend Count Bruchero, will receive two Patents
fer your Honourable banishment, 'twill not be unpleasant
to the King, if you pretend sickness or business to deferr going to
you imployments; This advice admire not at, but follow.

Bru.
This is strange.

Med.
The Advice is good, no matter who sent it.
Nor could it come from any common hand,
The business is too young to be acquainted
With any thing but one that knew its birth.

Alca.
'Tis true, and we must put it off.

Bru.
And yet it may prove dangerous.

Med.
The dangers only in accepting it.
If we disperse our selves, he'l catch us up,
Like a flowen Covey; besides, the Letter says
The King will not be displeas'd: there is some Mole
That heaves for us unseen; Count Bruchero
You shall pretend, that to prevent all Rumours
You'l perfect your Accounts before you go.
You, my Lord, must pretend sickness
And seem to keep your chamber;
Prescribing to your Doctors a Receipt,
To make them say as you do, and in hard words
Set forth a dangerous distemper,

Alca.
Good; but what success attends on this?

Med.
That we must wait for; honest designes
Justly resemble our Devotions,
Which we must pay, and wait for the Reward:
Yet this I'le add, to strengthen your Resolves
I have some designs, I think can't fail me
Shall shake the great foundation, Lerma laid;
We search deep Mines, and if the veins but hold,
VVe purchase all the VVealth we wish to have,
And if it fails, we dig a Noble grave.

Exeunt.

Scene III.

Enter Caldroon, with Letters.
Cald.
Mischiefs, with Plagues, Engender every where
And beget new diseases; the Queens Murder
Is more then whisper'd now; and the Dukes Daughter
Is Indian talk, the 'tother World is full on't,
And, which is more then all, the Messenger
That brought that fatal Letter to the Queen
In which her death was seal'd; is by Medina
Sent for in private: whom we thought asleep,
But wak't too soon, before our careful friend
Cou'd stop him in his close attempt.
The Storm has overtook our greatest speed.
Nor can the Duke himself find out a shelter:
I'le instantly entomb my new got wealth
In a disguis'd Chappel which I've consecrated
To my dead Ancestors; that may save me yet;
'Tis pity to take ill pains to rake up wealth,
Which at the last can purchase us no more
Then a mean life, which we enjoy'd before.
Enter Lerma and the Arch-Bishop.
The Duke, and trouble in his face,
I'le step aside a little.

Exit.
Ler.
Said he, he would not go?

Arch.
Till his Accounts were level'd.

Ler.
And Alcara is sick?

Arch.
'Tis so given out.

Ler.
They have me in the wind,
There is some secret trick in this, or else
They durst not slight me thus; it must be so,
My violent motion grows already slow:
Ill weather falls about me, every way
I try to take, proves heavy travelling.

Arch.
The peoples cries grow loud.

Ler.
The gaul'd Raskals wince at my oppressions,
They are like swarms of Bees, when up and buzzing
They light on any thing; Alcara, and Bruchero
That dare dispute their Sovereigns Command,
Gives language to their murmers, I have striv'd
In Hunters toils like a fierce Lybian Lion
And am grown weaker by my strugling.

Arch.
The King hears nothing of all this.

Ler.
No, Maria's charms hang yet about his Sences;
But all this weight will stretch Loves bonds; whose tyes
Are weakly twisted between Gazing eyes.
A little distance or some new Object
May set his heart free and unravel all.

Arch.
'Tis dangerous.

Ler.
Extreamly; besides, I fancy, she grows
Dark to my business, and has starts
As if she wou'd loose me before her Honour.

Arch.
What's to be done?

Ler.
No way but what we last resolv'd on,
And that out-does the soul of all invention.

Arch.
I'm ready for the Journey.

Ler.
Your safety is included in my peace
Which with like care, all my designs propose.

Arch.
The way for my departure's made already.
And the feign'd Letters from his Holiness;
Show'd and allow'd by the Kings great Council.

Ler.
'Tis well, this Pacquet then determines
All the rest, and now, my Lord, cut through
The tardy time, and let your expedition kill my doubts
While I at home will fann away these fears,
Till this hot weather changes; so farewell.

Arch.
Farewell, keep the storm off till then,
With the advantage of the Sun, you hold,
And my return shall be swift as your thought.

Exit.
Ler.
Farewell, and prosper.
Enter Caldroon with Letters.
Ha! thy face is full of Newes.

Cald.
Such as I wish I had not:
Is the Arch-bishop gon—
I dare not show my Letters—

Ler.
But now dispatcht.

Cald.
But now?—Humh!

Ler.
Thou fright'st me with thy Accents,
Why that Humh?

Cald.
Nothing my Lord.

Ler.
Thou Lyest?

Cald.
My Lord.

Ler.
Ha! dost thou swell, that art my creature?
Thy breath is nurtur'd from my bounty;
Why art thou then a Traitor to my trust.

Cald.
My Lord, you do amaze me.

Ler.
Why dost thou hide such necessary truths,
And ruine all my plots for want of knowledge?

Cald.
I love your peace so well, I dare not utter it.

Ler.
Why Caldroon?
What craven temper hast thou found in me?
What chill cold standing blood without a tide?
That thou shou'dst think I know what 'tis to fear:
Thou'st seen me fight against a destiny,
Which I have turn'd, by wise and bold designes;
Thou'st seen me poorer then the cheekes of Famine,
Less lov'd and follow'd then infected Townes:
Could'st thou then witness once, in all these hazards,
That fate could triumph in one sigh of mine.

Cald.
Alass, my Lord.

Ler.
Pitty me, if thou seest me tremble at it;
Come, I will know it all: and, tell it me,
In the most horridst Language thou canst study;
For I am skilful, and can tune all terrors.

Cald.
My Lord, this packet first is a sad witness of too much danger.

Ler.
So.

(He reades.
Cald.
His colour changes.

Ler.
Keep in false fear, he must not see thee:

(Aside.
Cald.
His blood flies up and down, the storm has tost it.

(Aside.
Ler.
Ha, ha, ha, does this trouble thee?
Let 'em all like creeping Snakes hiss at me,
I have a charme yet left shall dead their stings;
Yet it was fit I should know all this:
What more is there?

Cald.
Much, my Lord—for—

Ler.
Let it alone; Attend me in my Closet,
There I'le satisfie thee better.

Cald.
I'le attend your Grace—

(Exit.
Ler.
Now heart, I give thee leave to sigh, and swell,
My thoughts must not be judg'd by these base slaves
Who hang upon my Fortune, not on me;
Such Instruments, like flatter'd Princes,
Must never hear but of prosperity;
Vertue can singly stand on its own trust,
But passions must depend on truth of others.
Our hopes of victory on mean Mens vallors,
Ambition upon base and wretched Instruments,
On Women Love, more treacherous then all;
Yet in despight of my curst Enemies,
I'le find a conquest in a safe retreate,
And though they rise, I'le sink to be as great.

(Exit.