University of Virginia Library

SCENE. I.

Camp at St. Clou before Paris.
Enter King, Guessle, Revol, Larchant, Commanders, Guards.
King.
Here at St. Clou we'l streiten so the Town,
'Twill either famisht be, or yielded soon.
Our forces joyn'd, we will not wait the time,
But let our fury loose to meet their crime.

Rev.
Sir, I was much amaz'd, and well might be,
To hear their insolence and treachery.

Gues.
There's nothing can more stubbornness reveal
Than foul Rebellion, varnisht o'r with zeal.

Larch.
Who'd think that Paris should be thus suborn'd
By Traytors, with your Trophies so adorn'd?

Rev.
Perhaps they will obedient prove and wise,
And take the favour, Sir, of your advice.

King.
To hope a Remedy must needs be vain,
Whilst her ill humours are kept up by Mayn.
Seditions, like great Torrents, rise and fall
According to the Brooks, they're fed withal
Enter a Commander hastily.
What news with thee? What brings thee from thy Post?

1 Com.
We're beaten from it, Sir, and all is lost.
I kept the Guard against Saint Michel's gate,
The most suspitious place to sally at:
When soon Aumale made that suspition good,
And sally'd briskly which whilst we withstood,
Du Mayns whole Army fell into our Reer,
Routs us and now puts all the Camp in fear.

Rev.
We are betray'd! The Scouts else had not fail'd.

King.
Kings should assail, but never be assail'd.

[Draws his Sword.
All draw, as going out met with Officers.
2 Com.
Fresh Squadrons compass us, and we are lost

3 Com.
A chosen Troop comes to attack this Post.

Gues.
Then we are dead!

King.
But we will bravely dye.
O that I had an equal Enemy!
My Sword then would not blush in such base Stains,
But boast the Scarlet of a Duke of Mayns.

All marching out. Grillon meets 'em with Guards.
Gril.
All dangers past. The Enemy is beat:
Who into Paris tho made his retreat.

King.
Success attends thy Sword, and all must flye
When Grillon fights.

Gril.
Death, Sir, It was not I!
O'r pow'r'd by Numbers, which I scorn'd to shun,
I vainly strove, when by a hand unknown
They routed were, and Grillon quite outdone.
I would have sooner dy'd, nay rather fled,
Then once have seem'd, as tho I stood in need.

Enter Navar with Mayns Banner and Souldiers.
Nav.
This Signal of my Service, as my due
To Majesty, I here, Sir, offer you,

King.
Brave Conqu'rour! I embrace thee; Come more nigh.
[Imbraces,
I owe my Life to thee.

Gril.
And so do I.
I would not say't, but Grillon cannot lye.

King.
Put up thy Cask, and let thy self appear.
[Puts it up.
Blest fate! It is my Brother of Navar.
[Embraces him.
You and my joyes at once from me were torn,
As now with you, I hope, they will return.
When they first gain'd that mast'ry by their art,
They banisht you the Court, themselves my Heart.

Nav.
These gracious words, Sir, all my deeds outdo,
Altho I can perform as much as you.
For their own sakes, I wish they had been free
From those offences, they impos'd on me.

King.
You heard their Plots then?

Ples.
Sir, I all declar'd
Both what I had in charge, and what I heard.

Nav.
I heard it all, Sir, and in doubts am lost.
Which was your danger, or your patience most.
So long to stay, seem'd Heav'n to tempt, or dare;
And yet if you had sooner been severe,
That had seem'd cruelty, which was but care.
But tho the Guise's fall secure the State;
I yet regret their loss and mourn their fate.
For had they grateful been, as Heav'n was kind,
And not deprav'd th' indowments of the mind;
They had deserv'd whatever they desir'd,
Altho their haughty Souls to Crowns aspir'd.

King,
Sir, their Ambition, on a false pretence,
Deluded both their reason, and their sense.
As oft' we see Heav'n's self is pleas'd to blind
Their judgements, who to ruin are design'd.
Like Conjurers deceiv'd, they stood amaz'd,
And perisht by that storm themselves had rais'd.

Rev.
Those Comets, tho they blaz'd away their flame,
Left Plagues t' infest the place from whence they came.

Gues.
Their Treason like Infection flyes about,
And where an object's fit, soon finds it out.

King.
Grillon is sad.

Gril.
And must be, till I give
A greater favour, than I did receive.
I have a Courage, that disdains to be
Conquer'd, altho it be with Courtesie.

Nav.
Dost thou my Duty and success disdain?

King.
Thy humour is ingrateful now, as vain.

Gril.
No greater joy can e're possess my mind,
Then to see you, Sir, and my Master joyn'd.
France now like ancient Rome may boast her fate,
Since Fabius and Marcellus guard her State.

King.
Slow are the English aids that we expect.

Nav.
Necessity's the cause, and not neglect.

Gues.
Th' invincible Armada makes 'em slow.

Nav.
Farewel the Navy, and the Title too.

King.
Speak what you heard.

Nav.
The very night before
I marcht, this Captain from the Governour
[Points to him,
of Calais, brought account of all was done.

King.
I long to hear't.

Nav.
Speak what to you is known.

[T'th' Captain.
Cap.
The Navy Neptunes shoulders did oppresse,
As much too bulky for those narrow Seas.
This monster vast (with hundred wings supply'd,
Whose stretcht-out Horns were more than two leagues wide.)
Sail'd to the English with a motion slow,
For its great weight opprest Old Æclus so,
He and his winds had scarcely breath to blow.
When th' English (valianter perchance than wise)
Bravely defi'd 'em scorning a surprise.
But a Defiance that their rage became;
Whose words were Bullets, and whose breath was flame.
Sev'n days thus bravely they the Spaniard dar'd;
Nothing but Lightning seen, and Thunder heard.
It seem'd the end o'th' World, for all was fire;
And in that faith the Spaniard did expire.

King.
The brav'ry of these English are so great,
It is no shame that us so oft they beat.
The Gallic brav'ry and Spanish pride
Being conquer'd, they may conquer all beside.

Nav.
That British Heroine, without controul,
Asserts the truth, no Sex in the soul.
Valiant and wise as Pallas does appear;
A Goddess arm'd with beauty and a Spear.

King.
Declare the last fate of the Spanish Fleet.

Cap.
Near to your Calais, Sir, it made retreat;
But 'scap'd not so, just in the dead of night
The Spaniards saw a strange and dreadful sight:
Eight moving Fires upon the sea did glide,
And came upon 'em both with wind and Tyde.
Some thought 'em Fire-Drakes, for one Drake they knew,
And by him guest what eight such Drakes might do.
Others suppos'd the Fates, t' attend their fall,
Had lighted Torches for their Funeral.
Tumult and fear in each ship did begin;
Great danger! Whilst the Tempest was within.
Each ship endeavouring not to stay behind,
Fled on the Wings of fear and of the Wind.
The shatter'd Fleet like moulting Eagles fled,
And lost some Feathers at each flight she made.
France, Scotland, Ireland, Flanders, Holland boasts
The sev'ral Ships surpriz'd upon their Coasts.
The Brittish Lyons glutted, took their rests,
Vouchsafing Offals to the lesser Beasts.

Nav.
Thus in a word th' effects of seven years cost,
By English valour in seven days were lost.

King.
The World shall never, nor has ever seen
A braver Nation, or a braver Queen.
Her Neighbours justly may receive her Law.
Since she rules those who keep the World in awe.
But let us leave the noise of these Alarms;
'Tis fit ev'n sometimes to repose from Arms.
Within the Walks we may releasements find.

Nav.
But where, O where, Sir, for a Captiv'd mind?

King.
If Beauty can avail, Il show you those
Shall do't.

Nav.
But they may prove more dang'rous foes.
Yet guided, Sir, by you; I Venus dare,
Tho in her threatning Beauties she appear,
Nay tho she bring along the God of War.

[Exeunt.