University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

BURLEIGH.
(Alone.)
Some dark intelligence, this morning sent
By Walsingham, alarms my fears: he says,
I shall know more hereafter. Ha! who's there?

Enter a SERVANT.
SERVANT.
A man, my lord, he seems of holy function,
With melancholy aspect, presses much
To have some conference with you.

BURLEIGH.
Let him enter.
Enter GIFFORD.
Well, whence com'st thou?

GIFFORD.
From Rheims, my lord; my name is
Gifford.

BURLEIGH.
Look on me: thy face and garb
Are not unknown: I have observed thee oft
Watching my steps, and lurking round the court,
As if some secret labour'd in thy breast,
And press'd for utterance.

GIFFORD.
So, perhaps, it did.

BURLEIGH.
Say what thou art.

GIFFORD.
A murtherer and a priest,
The minister of heaven and slave of hell.

BURLEIGH.
That characters like those should e'er unite
Is horrible to nature: if thou art
Indeed a priest, thou know'st thy danger here.
What ho! who waits within?

GIFFORD.
But one word more
Of threats or anger, and I close these lips
In everlasting silence.—Dost thou love
Elizabeth, thy queen?

BURLEIGH.
My royal mistress?
Dear as my life.—But what art thou to her?

GIFFORD.
I am her guardian angel; sent by heaven
To save her from destruction.

BURLEIGH.
Then, thou'rt mine;
Go on, and tell me all:—what is thy errand?
Who sent thee hither?

GIFFORD.
Horror and remorse,
That would not let me rest. I came to tell thee
Thy sov'reign's life hangs on a silken thread
Which I suspend:—for know, her doom is fix'd.
A band of desperate villains, I am one,
Have bound themselves by every solemn oath
To murther her.

BURLEIGH.
Thou chill'st my blood! and what
Could urge thee to a deed so vile?

GIFFORD.
Religion,—
That raises virtue to its noblest height,
Or sinks the weak and vicious soul in foul
Corruption. Know'st thou not, our holy pontiffs
Deem it an act of meritorious grace
To spill the blood of heretics; and such
Is England's queen.

BURLEIGH.
Why, what a faith is thine,
That marks its way with death, and would persuade us
It is a pious duty to destroy
Our fellow creatures.—Execrable doctrine!

GIFFORD.
But I was warn'd of heaven, and do repent
My rash resolve.

BURLEIGH.
Then thou wilt tell me who
And what they are, that urged thee to a deed
So foul as this.

GIFFORD.
This paper will unfold
The dreadful tale. There thou wilt find the names
Of all the actors in this bloody scene:
Determin'd spirits, resolute and bold,
Men that were fit to set the world on fire,
And leap into the flame. Read that, and tremble.

BURLEIGH.
Give me the horrid scroll:
(reads).
Ha! Tilney here,
And Babington! of Dethrick is he not?

GIFFORD.
The same, my lord.

BURLEIGH.
I know him: that a youth
Of ample fortune and fair character
Should league with ruffians in a cause so vile
Is strange indeed: but bigotry will stoop
To all that's mean, and all that's infamous.
Did Mary give consent to this dark business?

GIFFORD.
Letters have past 'twixt her and Babington.

BURLEIGH.
Touching the murther of Elizabeth?

GIFFORD.
'Tis so reported.

BURLEIGH.
Make me sure of that;
Swear it, good priest.

GIFFORD.
If it be true, I will;
If not, a kingdom should not bribe me to it.

BURLEIGH.
Thou art a noble traitor.

GIFFORD.
I have been
A villain, but am honest: was once
Thy foe, but thou shalt find me now thy friend.
Give me the means, and not a slave amongst them
Shall live to say, “That's Gifford who betray'd us.”

BURLEIGH.
How shall I thank thee? say, what wilt thou have
Which Burleigh's ample power can give thee?

GIFFORD.
Nothing;
I ask no meed: confession of our crimes,
Like every virtue, is its own reward.
Think'st thou, the man who sacrificed his friends
To serve thee can be purchas'd? No, my lord;
I have a nobler aim: ambition acts
As strongly in a cloister as a court.
The priest of Rheims would wish to be remembered
In future times, and rival thee hereafter.
It may be said, perchance, that Cecil lov'd,
But Gifford saved, Elizabeth.—Farewell.
[Exit Gifford.

BURLEIGH.
(Alone.)
How much to thee, all gracious Providence,
Doth England stand indebted: thy kind hand
Averts each threatening ill, and from her fall
She rises still unconquered by misfortune.
This fellow is sincere, and has a spirit
That soars above his humble sphere; he may
Be useful to us. Ha! my Walsingham.

Enter WALSINGHAM.
WALSINGHAM.
I give you joy, my friend, the work is done.

BURLEIGH.
Thou comest in happy hour, to save thy queen,
Thy country, and thyself; for know, a band
Of vile conspirators—

WALSINGHAM.
I know it all.
Thou'st seen the priest of Rheims;—I sent him to thee,
And flew on wings of loyalty and love,
To warn our sovereign of her danger.

BURLEIGH.
How
Bore she the news?

WALSINGHAM.
With more than Roman firmness
And manly courage: “Thanks to Heaven,” she said,
“Then England will be safe.” And when I urged her
To guard her person well, she smiled and cried,
“My people will defend me.”

BURLEIGH.
There she shines
Unrivall'd. Passion ofttimes will betray her
To female weakness; but, when public danger
And great events call forth her faculties,
She rises into dignity and grace.

WALSINGHAM.
When I informed her Mary had conspired
Against her life, her eyes indignant flash'd,
As if transported with unusual gladness.

BURLEIGH.
I doubt it not; and we too may rejoice.
Could we but fix the letters there, my friend,
It would confirm her guilt.

WALSINGHAM.
Know then, 'tis done:
Navus and Curl, her faithful ministers,
Whom I have taken special care to list
Into our service, have acknowledged it;
And, if her secretaries say 'tis so,
We'll not dispute their kind authority.

BURLEIGH.
Then we may rest secure. The net of death
Is wreath'd around her, and she can't escape.
Knows she that Gifford hath betray'd her?

WALSINGHAM.
No;
For she is closely watch'd. She little thinks
What fatal change a few short hours have wrought;
But soon we shall inform her; for this morn,
Sir Walter Mildmay, Barker, and myself,
With Paulet, were commission'd by the queen
Instant to see the fair conspirator,
And bid her make, with all convenient speed,
The best defence her cunning can supply.
I hope, my lord, you will attend to grace
Our embassy.

BURLEIGH.
If Cecil can do ought
To serve his country and his queen, depend
On his assistance.

WALSINGHAM.
Whilst Elizabeth
Is warm in her resentment, let us keep
The glorious flame alive, 'till it consume
The guilty victim.

BURLEIGH.
Come, my friend, lead on;
'Tis the last blow, and we must strike it home.

[Exit.