University of Virginia Library

THE FIFTH ACT.

Enter King Edward and Lord Latymer.
King.
I have in short told you my cause of Grief,
Which is as Just as 'tis above Relief.
Ah! to forsake one in whose heart I Reign'd,
To Court another who my Flames disdain'd,
And such a Lovely Youth thus hid by her,
Are loads too heavy for my Soul to bear.

Lat.
Though, Sir, the Fair Plantagenet may be
Too justly blam'd for one Inconstancy,
Yet in all else her Vertue such hath been,
As to suspect it, Sir, would turn a Sin.

King.
Oh she, who could for Kent my Son forgo,
What is it after, which she might not do?
She must have given that Love for which she prest,
Were not her Heart by other Fires possest;
I'le not defame her since she bears my name,
But she for ever has supprest my Flame.

Enter Sevina hastily.
Sev.
If with your Love, Sir, for Alizia
You have not thrown your Pity too away,
Be pleas'd to see where She Despairing lies,
And with your Hand vouchsafe to close her Eyes.

King.
Madam, what is't which her Dispair does move.

Sev.
Oh ask not that when she has lost your Love;
She did a while that Misery suspect,
But when the certainty she did detect,
She had, but that our strength was her Relief,
By one dire blow ended her Life and Grief;
When from her Hand the Weapon we did wrest,
Such storms of Sighs did crow'd out of her Brest,
And from her Eyes such streams of Tears did flow,
As we repented that we stop'd the blow;
For sure the loss of Life is a less Ill
Then that Despair which does possess her still.
But though we did one sort of Death prevent,
Yet she on dying, Sir, is so intent,
As from Plantagenet I now am come,
Who dares not, Sir, one moment leave the room,
To tell you that th'Assurance of your Love
Can onely these resolves of Death remove;
Despair alas so pow'rful is in her,
'Twill be too late should you the Cure defer.

King.
Ah lead me then where my Alizia lies,
For in her Sorrow I so Sympathize,
As I alas without disguise may swear,
Her grief wounds Me much more than it does Her.

Exeunt.
Enter Delaware and Cleorin.
Cleo.
'Tis a strange Secret which you have reveal'd,
But why alas was it so long conceal'd?
Repair that Fatal Sin you did commit,
And fly to tell your Prince and Mistress it.

Dela.
As all those Sins which for a Crown are done
Heaven does absolve, when Heaven does put it on;
So all those Crimes which are perform'd in Love
Do lose that name when we successful prove.

Cleo.
But since of yours you cannot hope Relief,
Do not delay to cure your Prince's Grief.

Dela.
Ah my dear Sister, if my hopes were fled,
You soon should see your wretched Brother dead;
But who in Love does as a Lover strive,
Lives while he Hopes, and Hopes while he does Live.

Cleo.
Ah! to such empty Hopes impose an end,
By making Blest your Mistress, Prince and Friend;
So losing of your Hopes, you soon will see
A greater blessing then your Hopes can be:
Has Love the Pow'r to sink the Soul so low,
As to deny what Vertue bids you do?
What Nobler Fate can Love give to your pain,
Then to deserve that Love you cannot gain.

Dela.
Should I this Secret to them both confess,
'Twill rather raise then make their Troubles less,
While under their Delusion they remain,
Their just resentment robs them of their Pain;
But were that happy Fallacy remov'd,
She with such Passion by the King is lov'd,
As they can ne're possess what I shall lose,
And 'twill in them a lesser Grief infuse,
Never a hope of Union to admit,
Then be so near, and after miss of it:
Besides the Kingdom may be plung'd in War
When such a Son and Father Rivals are.

Cleo.
Ah! you should blush to talk at such a rate,
Make not your Crime an interest of State;
Better that War you dream'd of should ensue,
Then you should shun what Honour bids you do:
Oh 'tis in you too Guilty a Distrust,
When you fear ought more then to be Unjust;
Consider should the Prince or she e're know
That Secret you to me discover now.

Dela.
I fear not that 'tis, onely known to you.

Cleo.
Yes but it is.

Dela.
—to whom?

Cleo.
—You know it too.
Ah! little Honour in your Soul does shine,
Should not your Knowledge fright you more then mine;
To what low State Love does a Lover bring,
Is your own witness then so slight a thing?
Let Vertue and not Fear make you repent,
Guilt is a greater Ill than Punishment;
Have you not found what I have said is true?

[Studies a while.
Dela.
My Passion strives my Vertue to subdue,
Pity your Brother whom Love Masters so,
As he does fear what Honour bids him do;
Pity your self, for it is you alone
This hopeless guilty Passion must Dethrone.

Cleo.
To conquer Love there needs but little skill,
Since none can want the Pow'r who has the Will.

Dela.
There's none does want the Pow'r his Hopes to kill,
But to Destroy them who can have the Will?

Cleo.
Your Cure were finish'd were it but begun.

Dela.
Ah this is easier said then it is done:
Yet I from you this double good have got,
To know my Debt, and grieve I pay it not.

Cleo.
Who grieves he does not what he can and ought,
Is guilty of his Torment as his Fault.

Dela.
Ah! you did never yet the Torment prove,
Which springs from Honour that disputes with Love.

Cleo.
The Torment lies in the Dispute alone,
Let Honour Conquer, and the Torment's gone.

Dela.
But Love assumes o're me so strange a right,
As 'tis at once my Torment and Delight.

Cleo.
You'll find, if Vertues Dictates you pursue,
Greater Delights exempt from Torments too;
For though successless Love be no small pain,
Yet Guilt in Love wounds deeper than Disdain.

Dela.
Oh Cleorin! that which you now have said,
Has in my Soul such an Impression made,
As I perceive Love made me too long stray,
And Honour now would lead me in the way;
To that bright Guide I am inclin'd to Trust,
I'le rather be Unhappy then Unjust.

Cleo.
Such Charms in following Vertue you will find.

Dela.
Ah! should you press me more you'd be unkind.
Do not all th'Honour of my change ingross.
Leave me part of it to support my Loss.

Cleo.
'Tis not to Vertue that you now resort,
If it wants strength its own self to support;
'Tis onely Sin not suffering that it fears,
It grows the stronger the more weight it bears.

Dela.
I know in all it's own support 'twill prove,
Unless in quitting such a Charming Love;
Then think it is my Wisdom, not my Fault,
If I seek every help in this Assault.
Sister, Farewell, I will retire a while,
That I may Love and Vertue reconcile;
Consider well what such a Love must be,
As with your Vertue dares to disagree.

[Exeunt several wayes.
The Scene opens.
Alizia appears lying on a Couch, King Edward, Plantagenet, Latymer, Sevina, and Women Attendants standing about the Couch.
Aliz.
Ah, 'tis enough to Die, Sir, by your Hate!
Too much, your Triumph thus to Celebrate;
Yet I repine not, since you come to see
That your Contentment is so dear to me:
As when I found my Life oppos'd your Love,
I chose by Death that trouble to remove;
And I implore your Pardon since the debt
Is onely paying, and not pay'd you yet,
But, Sir, my Rival can declare for me,
'Tis not my Fault, though it my Trouble be;
For she, her Cruelty is grown so high,
Makes Death my wish, yet hinders me to die.

King.
Oh I am come to wait upon you now,
That I may be both Just to her and you;
I must confess that her Inchanting Eyes;
Did for a while my Guilty Heart Surprise;
But what I now shall tell you is as true,
Madam, 'twas I, not she, was false to you;
Her Friendship for you did the Conquest get,
I did Assault, but could not vanquish it.
Do not believe that what is spoke by me
Is onely to suppress your Jealousie,
That I thereby the safer Pow'r may win
To persevere in and repeat my Sin;
Oh no, that Love and Grief which you have shown
Has all the Magick of her Eyes o'rethrown:
On Fancies Wings I my past flight did take,
But 'tis on Tryals Wings that I fly back.

Aliz.
Alas! if Words could cure a broken Heart,
Those you've now spoke would have that Pow'r or Art;
They come too late, they should have come before,
Life you can take away, but not restore:
But, Sir, the loss of mine my joy shall be,
If in my Death my matchless Love you see;
For, Sir, to you I me more concern'd to give
Proofs of such Love then I'me concern'd to Live,
Which justly you might doubt, if after I
Did know I lost your Love I should not die.

King.
Ah the best Proof you of your Love can give,
Is that you'l Pardon me, and that you'l Live;
Has my first Crime made me so black in Sin,
As my Repentance no Belief can win?
Do not believe I did the Sin commit,
Or else believe my Penitence for it.
Let not one Fault which is already past,
Have greater force then Love which still shall last;
Ah! sure you could not thus your Death pursue,
If you believ'd what I have Vow'd is true;
But all those Doubts intirely to o'rethrow,
My Lord I charge you instantly to go—
[Speaking to Latymer.
And let at once King John and my Son free
Who were the Pris'ners of my Jealousie.

Lat.
'Tis a Command I joyfully obey.

King.
I Charge you do it and without delay.
[Exit Latymer.
Madam that King, may safely court you now,
[To Plantagenet
For I before you and Alizia vow,
My flame for you shall ne're revive againe,
And my Alizia onely here shall Reign.

Plan.
In what, Sir, you have said and vow'd, I find,
To me you'r Iust, and to Alizia Kind.
Nor can your Solemn sacred Vow, Sir, be
More pleasing to my Friend, then 'tis to me.
I hope that name, Madam, I may resume,
And safely keep it for the time to come.

Aliz.
Heaven knows my Sorrows never were more high,
Then when I thought that you had layd it by;
And yet my Ioy that you forgive my Sin,
Is now as vast as e're my Griefs have been;
Twice now your Friendship you to me restore,
May you refuse it, if I need it more.

Plan.
No fear of loseing yours I can admit,
Since I will ne're do what may forfeit it.
Madam, 'tis fit I leave you with the King,
That he your Cure may to perfection bring.
(Exit Plantagenet.

King.

Aliz.
Sir, I forgave you when you saw your Fault,
And I repine not at my Lingring Death
Which lets me Seale it with my Dying Breath:
No Proof of Love could ever be more high,
Then to forgive th'offence which makes one Dye.

King.
If you forgive me, yet your Death pursue,
You will at once Forgive and Kill me too:
Loves Pow'r you wrong while at this rate you grieve,
For Love should heal worse Wounds, then it can give.

Aliz.
I can alas, Sir, but too truely say
Tis only Love which makes me disobey,
For I should not deserve the Love you give,
If after you recall'd it I could Live.

King.
And I of Life should too unworthy be,
If I could Live after you Dy'd for me.
Your Love for me by Living must be shown,
For you to save my Life must keep your own,
And if my Words you give no credit to,
What I have Vow'd my Grief will make me Doe.

Aliz.
Ah then all thoughts of Dying I'll decline,
Since you have vow'd your Life depends on mine,
But if again to her your Love you give,
My just Despair will be above Repreive.

King.
Oh Madam, you will wound my Soule again,
If such a fatal Doubt you entertain;
My Grief for the great Crime I did commit,
Will still preserve me from repeating it;
By all those Vows which bind me most I swear
I'l still love you and never more love her.

The Scene closes
The Scene is Plantagenets Chamber.
Plantagenet, the Prince, Cleorin and Delaware.
Plan.
Oh what has been reveal'd by Delaware
His Freindship showes, but heightens my Despair,
It makes me Guilty, Sir, to such Degree
As you'd be Guilty shou'd you pardon me,
The Knowledg of my Fault so wounds my Mind,
As only I in Death my Ease can find.

Prince.
Alas your Grief more cruel is to me,
Then, Madam, your suppos'd Inconstancy;
For to such Height my love for you is grown,
As your Greif wounds me more then does my owne,
You'le punish, by a Sorrow so Sublime,
My Innocence more then you did my Crime:
But though the Word of Innocence I nam'd,
Yet only I can be with Iustice blam'd,
For had I not that Fatal Letter writ—

Plan.
Oh, Sir, I cannot such Discourse admit,
For while requests I for your Pardon make,
Alas, my Guilt you on your self would take,
When all the Guilt to me alone is due,
Who did believe a Letter more then you.

Prin.
Alas, have you Design'd to let me see,
That every way you mean to ruine me?
For while you did suspect my Innocence,
You to my Rival did your love Dispence:
And Madam, now that Heaven has thought it fit,
To make it evident, you punish it;
For by these pretious Teares, which now you spill,
You make me wish, I were thought Guilty still.

Plan.
Oh Sir, what does your Innocency prove,
Makes me too Guilty to deserve your Love.

Prin.
Ah be not cruel to this strange degree,
Let not my Innocence my Ruin be.
No Reparation could be reckon'd more,
Then what the injur'd person does emplore;
But you will make, if this be your intent,
Your Reparation my worst Punishment,
A Punishment so cruel, and so high,
As it transcends the imagin'd Injury:
Yet if you think, that you amiss have done,
Let me then name the Reparation
'Tis Madam, that you'l never think so more,
But give me leave your Beauties to Adore.

Plan.
Heaven, Sir, does know, and so does Cleorin,
That while I thought you guilty of that Sin;
Which only my Misfortune made me do,
I Lov'd you Sir, and Lov'd none else but you.

Prin.
And Heaven does know and so does Delaware,
That while I thought you Guilty as you're Fair
I did not you but my ill Fortune blame,
And still preserv'd for you a deathless Flame.
To Delaware, My Lord, to her and me, this Iustice do,
As to oppose me, if I speak not true.

Dela.
Sir, you for her did still such Love express,
As Heaven knows too, I griev'd it was not less.

Prin.
Ah if you give belief, to what we say,
Doe not refuse the perfect Love I pay.

Plan.
Alas, a greater Sin I should commit,
Then that I mourn for, by accepting it,
But all the world will know that I repent,
When on my self I lay this Punishment,
Which, Sir, by Iustice dictates I have chose,
Since 'tis the higest which I can impose.
Your Glory, Sir, would wither if not dye,
Should you Love one so guilty, Sir, as I.
The penance I design'd let me pursue;
Tis what, Sir, on my knees I beg of you.

She offers to kneel but is hindred by the Prince.
Prin.
Ah doe not, doubly thus my Soul subdue,
By such denyals, and submission too;
But to my Suit be pleas'd to condescend,
Or else my Grief my tortur'd Life shall end.

Dela.
Such were the Arts us'd by the Earl of Kent,
As both seem'd Guilty, yet were Innocent.

Cleo.
Madam, while you such scrupulous Vertue show,
The Prince may of your Love suspitious grow;
That moveing sorrow, which he does express,
Invites your kindness now to make it cease.

Plan.
Sooner then you such Grief, Sir, shall admit,
I will obey, what ever you think fit;
I rather, Sir, will an Injustice doe
To my own self, then seem unkind to you.

Prin.
Ah Madam, in those happy words I find,
You are to me at once both Just, and Kind;
No Satisfaction e're was hop'd by me,
But that you might that Innocency see
Which Delaware's great Friendship made appear,
Who is thereby for ever setled here,
Where Madam next to you he still shall grow.

Dela.
Ah could a Prince ought to his Subject owe;
I might then think, to me you are in debt.

Prin.
To me your Friendship has bin always great,
Yet I must Tax it of a seeming wrong,
Since this blest Secret, you conceal'd so long.

Cleo.
What justly does this seeming wrong excuse,
Shall, Sir, present you with more welcome news;
While your great Father was in Love with her,
He as a Subject, Sir, had cause to fear
A Secret so important to declare,
As might perhaps have caus'd a Civill War.
But, Sir, now that the King has this blest day
Resum'd his Love for fair Alizia,
And has by Vowes, which oft he did repeat,
Renounc'd his Passion for Plantagenet,
Which from her sef, this very hour we know,
My Brother lost no time, to tell it you.

Prin.
These charming Words which now from you I hear,
His Justice shews, and ends my greatest Fear;
Nothing from Heaven was left me to implore,
But that my Father Rivall'd me no more.

Cleo.
What fitter time can Fortune give to you,
Then thus your Ends in Love still to pursue;
Lose not one Moment of it, for perhaps
Those Conquering Eyes may make him soon relaps.

Prin.
What you advise your care of me does show,
Forgive me, Madam, If I leave you now;
Since 'tis so vast a Blessing to implore,
As granted I shall never leave you more.

Plan.
That Grant the noblest Blessing, Sir, would be,
Could it make you as happy as 'twill me.

[The Prince offers to goe out.
Dela.
Stay Sir, I scorn your Goodness to abuse,
Or own your Pardon, to her Feign'd Excuse;
Fear made me not the Secret, Sir, conceal,
Nor the King's Change the Secret now reveal;
For those were Motives of such mean degree,
As, Sir, I blush that they were nam'd for me;
Those Reasons, Sir, of which shee did make use,
Obtain'd but did not Merit your Excuse;
My guilty Doubts, a while have kept me Dumb,
But Love and Honour have those doubts ore'come.

Plan.
My Cleorin, what will your Brother doe,

Cleo.
I am as ignorant of it as you.

Dela.
Now all the Truth shall be to you reveal'd,
For 'tis too Glorious, Sir, to be conceal'd.
Know, Sir, those Beauties which did conquer you,
Became, while Kent did live, my Conquerors too.
At Poitiers they did me to Glory bring,
And made me grace your Triumph with a King;
And though some Honour I acquir'd that day,
Yet, Sir, that prosperous Action I may say
Did on no score to me so welcome prove,
As making me more fit to Court her Love;
Rais'd by this thought for England, Sir, I came,
Where soon her Beauties did revive your Flame,
And Fortune against me was so much bent,
As you your Rival made your Confident;
And by a Cruelty unknown to you,
You in your Love my help Commanded too.

Prin.
I am amaz'd, my Lord, at what you say.

Dela.
Though that Command I wanted pow'r to Obey,
Yet Heaven my witness is how much I strove,
To make my Duty overcome my Love;
But when I found, by what I did endure,
That she alone, the Wounds she gave could cure;
I meant the Secret never to disclose;
And when your Father did your Flame oppose,
I try'd your Love by reason to subdue,
But that attempt, Sir, proveing fruitles too,
Inspir'd by Love or guided by Despair,
I to her self my Passion did declare.

Cleo.
Of this Discovery I Fear the event.

Plan.
It merits Wonder and not Punishment.

Dela.
But when I for her Favour, Sir, did sue,
Alas she said her Love was given to you,
So given as nothing could recall her Grant,
Since your forsakeing her that pow'r did want;
And in her Words and Accents made appear,
Her Flames for you did equall yours forher;
Convinc'd by this, that following my Design,
Would blast your joyes, but not procure me mine,
In which I was confirm'd by Cleorin,
The Noble Fatal Conquest I did win;
And forc'ed my self that Secret to declare,
Which builds your Blessings on my own Despair.

Cleor.
Yet Glory must on that Despair attend,
In which you serv'd your Mistress, Prince, and Friend.

Dela.
Though, Sir, twas much your Mistress to adore,
To help you, while your Rival, yet is more;
Now, Sir, my Story to an end is brought:
Or Praise my merit, or condemn my Fault.

Prin.
Oh you so nobly, have orecome your flame
As your Despair cannot transcend your Fame.
That Heightned Friendship which our Loves secures,
In our Contentment will present you yours;
Your Friendship yet on me such Debts does lay,
As I must too Despair, those Debts to pay;

Plan.
'Tis Nobler much, if you dare credit me,
To be th'Obliger than th'Obleig'd to be;
But in that Heart your Prince did first obtain
By Freindship plac'd, you shall for ever Reign.

Dela.
If ought could cure the Grief of loosing you,
What you both said, that Miracle would doe.

(Exeunt
Enter King Edward, King Iohn, Lord Latimer, Count Guesclin, and all the Men.
King. Ed.
What, as a Lover, could I less have Done,
Hearing what past betwixt you and my Son;
Strange are th'Effects which Jealousy produce,
But fully, Sir, to purchase your Excuse,
I come to visit you, and let you know,
That I no more a Rival am to you,
My Anger though 'twere great, yet it was Short.

K. John.
Sir, I admire no more at your Transport
O're hearing all we in the garden said;
But you have now full Reparation made.

Enter Delaware and Prince
Prin.
Sir I more Greive I did a Fault Commit,
Then I am Pleas'd that you have Pardon'd it,
But, Sir, I hope that Freedome you'd restore
Is but an Earnest that you grant me more;
My Great Request, Sir, is Renew'd by me,
Granting me that is more then Liberty;
Such Strange Discoveries I have made this day,
As all the favour for which now I pray
Is, that to let me court her you'll consent,
When you your self have judg'd her Innocent.

King. Ed.
But will you cease to court her when I prove,
You being judge, she Merits not your Love?

Prin.
This by my Duty, Sir, I promise you.

K. Ed.
Then what you beg'd of me I grant you too,

Prince.
Be pleas'd then, Sir, to order Delaware
Without Reserve his Knowledge to Declare,
And what he Sayes I hope you will Believe.

King. Ed.
To what he speaks I still will Credit give.

Dela.
I shou'd be too Unworthy of this Trust,
Should I abuse a King so Great and Just;
When to the Warts of Aquitaine I went,
I made a Friendship with the Earl of Kent,
Who in a Charge did such deep Wounds receive,
As, finding that he had not long to Live,
A Messenger in hast for me he sent,
As soon as e'r I came into his Tent,
He told me Something on his Heart did lye
Which griev'd him more then he was Griev'd to Dye,
Then in my Hand he did this Letter lay,
And in a Sigh his Soul did fly away.

Prin.
When you have heard it Read, it will Afford
Proof of her Vertue.

King. Ed.
Read it then my Lord.


The Earl of KENT to the Lord Delavvare.

My Death forces me to discover by what Arts I obtained,
from the Prince of Wales, the faire Plantagenet.
Before He ador'd her I did; and as soon as he
fell in Love, (not knowing mine) he made me his Confident;
but the King, being against the match, the Prince
the better to cloud his reall passion for Plantagenet, seem'd
to have one for the fair Aurelia; but still trusted me with
the Superscription, Cypher, and Seale, which he used when
he writ to my Plantagenet, and I had the fatal employment
of carrying all their Letters.

At length, the Glory the Prince wonn at Cressy, joyn'd with his grief for the King's denyal, conquer'd his Father;
and the Day was appointed for his marrying Plantagenet,
which, if not prevented, I found would be the Day of
my Death.

This I imparted to my Mother, who had no small ascendant over Plantagenet, and by my Mothers advice, I
got the Prince to write a Letter to Aurelia, (whom I
seem'd to be passionatly in Love with) wherein he beg'd
her pardon, for having counterfeited a Love to her, when

his was otherwise disposed of; but to repair it, he earnestly
recommended me to her affection, as most worthy of it.

This Letter I seal'd, and superscribed with the Cypher
the Prince alwayes made use of to Phantagenet, whom my
Mother had so warmly alarm'd, with the Prince's passion
for Aurelia, that this letter being delivered to Plantagenet,
in a fit time, all written with the Prince's own hand, sealed
and superscribed, as all his Letters to her were wont to be,
made her so abhor the Prince's inconstancie, that in the
dictates of those resentments, she gave her self to me,
whereunto my Mothers Friendship with her, did highly
contribute.

The Prince in despair, undertakes the war with France,
and, I, soon after, disguised to all but you, follow'd him, in
hope by some great action to wash off the Guilt my Love forced
me to contract; but here I met my Death. Tell them
all this; and that I hope their hatred to me, will be buried
in my Grave.

Dela.
This Letter till this day I have conceal'd,
For Causes, Sir, unfit to be Reveal'd.

Prin.
I hope you find in what he did relate
She was not Guilty but Unfortunate.

King. Ed.
I must confess these Arts which Kent did use
Doe her forsaking you too much Excuse.

Prin.
Since this has wash'd off her imagin'd Stain,
Give me your leave to love her, Sir, again.

King Ed.
I would not have defam'd her, but I see
To cure his Love there's but that Remedy;
No, Prince, the Sin she did last night Commit
Makes her for ever for your Love unfit.

Prin.
Oh Heaven! must I endure a new Assault?
Tell me I beg you, Sir, this Fansied Fault,
For she is of such an unblemish'd Fame,
As I can give it well no better Name:
But, Sir, to try me this perhaps is done.

King. Ed.
I doe not use to trifle with my Son,
And I beleive you I credit what I said,
When I my self found hid within her Bed
A Lovely Youth, who since is dumb with Fear:
My Lord, bring instantly that Pris'ner here.

(to Latimer.
(Exit Latimer.
Prince.
Though I my self what you have said should see,
Yet I would think my Eyes were False not She.

King. Ed,
Since to your Witness I did credit give,
Methinks what I have said You should Believe.

Prin.
Forgive me if her Vertue and my Love
Forc'd me to speak what may your Anger move,
Fate never man to such a streight did bring,
I must offend my Mistress or my King,
Esteem her Guilty, or not Credit you,
That, Sir, I cannot, this I Dare not Doe.

Enter Latimer and Valeria's Brother
King. Jo.
Valeria's Brother! Love is just I see,
Since he Revenges my inconstancy,
And makes him punish his fair Sister's wrong.

King. Ed.
If still thy Fear has not ty'd up thy Tongue,
Discover to the King and to my Son,
How thou by Charmes Plantagenet hast won,
I found thee in her Bed, there's no Excuse,

Valer. Broth.
Sir, that's a place which few men would refuse.
Enter Plantagenet, Alizia, Cleorin, Sevina, and all the Women.
Shall (not one moment) stay thy Destiny.

Plan.
The Words and Anger of the King are High:
Alizia, Sir, and I but now did hear,
That with this Gentleman you Angry were,
We come to beg you to forgive his Crime.

King Ed.
Of all the World you should not plead for Him,
For you by it so Great a Guilt do show,
As I had rather but suspect then know.

Plan.
I know not what you mean by what you said.

King. Ed.
You know not too you hid him in your Bed.

Plan.
Who could to you that Secret, Sir, declare.

Kig Jo.
Oh Heaven! does she Confess then he was there?

Val. Bro:
That, Sir, I hope is no Offence to you.

King. Io.
False Youth, to me what worse Wrong could'st thou do?

Val: Bro.
I thought my Sister had your Heart possest.

King. Jo.
But did'st thou not from her to me protest,
She bid thee help me if I ere should be
In Love with any one more Fair then She?

Val. Bro.
And doe you, Sir, confess that you are so?

King Jo.
Those Charming Eyes must every Heart ore'throw.

Val. Bro.
This Guilt in you will cause her Death I fear.

King: Jo.
Thy Guilt to me is more then mine to her,
What do'st thou aile, thou tremblest and lookst pale?

Val.
Admire not, Grief does or my soul prevail,
When to Valeria's self such Words you said,
taking off her Disguise
As, Sir, does make her wish that she were Dead,
But though she's killd by your Inconstancy,
Yet in your Armes she begs your leave to Dye.

she faints.
Plantagenet holds her up.
Plan.
She faints;
Ah, Sir, that Guilty Change in you!

King, Jo.
Oh Madam, blame not what you made me doe.

Plan.
Sir; 'tis not Just to charge your Fault on me.

King. Ed.
Is it Valeria then?

King. Jo.
Yes Yes 'tis she,
Her Broth'rs face so much resembles hers,
As I, deluded by the clothes she wears,
Did to her self my Change in Love avow.

Prince.
The Clouds of my Despair do vanish now,
And Charming Hopes in me begin to Reign.

Plan.
Give her more Air for now she Breaths again.

Valeria is set in a Chair.
King. Ed.
Oh I the fair Plantagenet did wrong.

Prince.
The Proofs that she is Guiltless are so strong,
As I now beg you will no more deferr
To give me leave to make my Court to her.

Alizia.
Sir, in the Princes Suit I also Joyne,

King Ed.
Her Vertue now does with such Lustre Shine,
As to Repair my having Injur'd it,
I his Addresses to her doe permit.

Prince.
In this more then a Father you appear,
Tis less to Give me Life then Grant me Her;
But, Sir, before this Blessing I pursue,
I must do Justice to my Rivall too,
Sir, I did promise you on her to wait,
(speaks to K. Iohn.
And from her Sentence to receive my Fate,
This Promise I am ready to Performe.

King Jo.
No Heart did ere endure so Fierce a Storm,
Who can support those burthens which I bear,
My Vowes confine me here, my Passion there;
By leaving her my Noblest Hopes I end,
And by not leaving her I Wrong my Friend,
Some Sacred Pow'r teach me what I should doe.

Plan.
Your Honour bindes you, Sir, to keep your Vow;
She told me, Sir, that Sacred Oath you Swore
That you no other Beauty would Adore,
And though you often for her Love did press,
Yet till Misfortune brought to you Distress;
She never could, though she did often strive,
Perswade herself his Passion to receive;
But then all Danger, Sir, She did Despise,
And came to Visit you in this Disguise;
But oh what Horror did her Soule invade,
When she o're heard what you to Guesclin said,
Of that unhappy Love you had for me;
She for that wound no better Cure could see.
Then to make me her freind and Confident.

King Jo.
Ah what for me could Fortune worse invent?
Love she deny'd when t'would have made me Joy,
And onely gives it now 'tis to Destroy.

Plan.
This, Sir, by Vow she ty'd me to conceal,
Till you to me your Passion should reveal,
Beleiving that would be the fittest time
To tell you, and Convince you of your Crime,
In which I promis'd my Assistance too:
All I have told you hapned, Sir, when you
(to King Ed.
Did (unexpected) visit me last night,
Which put us both into so great a fright,
I, least Ill Thoughts in you it might create,
Finding a man (suppos'd) with me so late,
And she to be dicover'd did so dread,
As, Sir, I did conceal her in my Bed,
Where I forgot her in my Freinds Despair.

King. Jo.
Madam, we wait till you your Doom Declare.

Plan.
Oh let not, Sir, my Sentence make you Doe
What Love and Honour now doe call you to;
She Merits you, so Bright her Love does Shine,
And, Sir, the Prince of Wales possesses mine;
Behold the fair Valeria does revive,
If you'l Aske Pardon she'll a Pardon Give;
She your past Fault but for a Dream will take,
If, Sir, she finds you True when she does wake.

King Jo.
I can no more (your Pow'r so high does rise)
Resist your Sentence then I could your Eyes,
And those Commands which now on me you say
I beg you will Assist me to Obey.

Plan.
You have your King so wounded with your Grief,
To Valeria.
That he, as much as you, does need Releif.

King Jo.
With an Afflicted Soul I waite on you,
To own my Fault and beg your Pardon too;
Madam, I hope a Love which ne're shall Dye
Will expiate one short Inconstancy.

Valeria.
Ah! though I ne're more Reparation sought
Then, Sir, that you should see and owne your Fault,
Yet you my Heart so wounded by your Crime,
As to recover it requires some Time.

King Jo.
Though I this Penance, Madam, must deplore,
Yet I must grant my Fault does merit more.

Prince.
Now, Sir, to raise our Joys above Increase,
To this great King give Liberty and Peace.

King Ed.
Those Offers which I always did Decline,
To Gratify you both, I now will Signe.

King. Jo.
While in this way my Freedome you Restore,
You and the Prince make me your Pris'ner more:
Your former Conquest, Sir, to this must Yield,
This wins my Friendship that but won the Feild.

King. Ed.
This is a Conquest we delight to owne,
'Tis more to gain your Friendship, then your Throne.
Now all th'Alarm's of Love and War shall cease,
And yeild their roomes to the soft Joyes of Peace.

The Curtaine falls.