University of Virginia Library

Scene. 1.

Cardinal Granvil & Velasco.
Gra.
Now by my hopes the near Approach of Alva
Gives me new Life. Where did you leave the Duke?

Velas.
At Maestrick my good Lord.—

Gra.
He comes in time
The base revolting Flemings to chastise
And purge the State from these rebellious humours
Which we have nourish'd to our own destruction.
The Duke is of a high & daring Spirit
Fit to reform the time; but say, Velasco,
What is the strength & Number of his Army?

Velas.
Ten thousand veteran troupes the flower of Spain
And Italy—

Gra.
—He'll find we need them all:
Strong Remedies must combat strong Diseases,
The Government of Flanders is an Engine
Too mighty for a feeble Woman's Sway.

Velas.
True, & your Eminence was therefore chosen:
Your Wisdom & Experience it was hop'd
Would have supplied that necessary strength
Which female Softness wants.—

Gra.
—I have served the Princess,
As I would serve the Sister of my King;
But she has other Counsellors than Granvel.

Velas.
There came to Philip's court a Flemish Lord
Count Egmont, smooth & fluent in his Speech
And formed he was to soften & persuade.
In glowing Terms he urged his Country's Wrongs
Yet temper'd his Complaint with so much Art
With such devout professions of Allegiance,
The Flemish Faith has grown into Repute
And Brussels thought the Seat of Loyalty.

Gra.
The Seat it is of Faction & Misrule
And such will Alva find it; till he comes
We stand on tender Ground, & he, who bows not
His head to Egmont, shall not wear it long.

Velas.
I know Count Egmont's power, & know withal
He bears your Eminence no love—

Gra.
—Velasco
We must endure his Insults for a time,
This fond weak Woman cannot long defend him:
His day of Retribution is at hand,
Spain, whom his crafty Tongue had lulled to sleep,
Now shakes the dangerous Delusion off,
And views the Traytor with abhorrent Eyes.

Velas.
The Duke of Alva is possessed against him
With bitterest Indignation & imputes
This foul Defection of the States of Flanders
To his ignoble his insidious Counsells.

Gra.
And cause there is for Noble Alva's wrath
While this proud Fleming rules the Soul of Parma;
By lingering Treaties feeds Rebellion's hopes,
And keeps the Monarch of the World in Arms.

Velas.
I have heard, yet none can credit the Report,
That public Conference has been held at Antwerp,
And terms of Reconciliation offered
To the grand Revel William Prince of Orange.

Gra.
True; & the Man selected to that Office,
Raymond, is Egmont's dear & bosom Friend:
I know him well, & wear my Eye upon him,
A haughty Lord he is factious & proud bold,
Impatient of the Yoke, & at his heart
The Foe of Spain. I speak to thee Velasco
With confidence, for Alva bids me trust thee.

Velas.
He does me right, your thoughts are safely lodgd
In a Castilian's Bosom—

Gra.
—Tell me now
The Duke of Alva will he head his March
To Antwerp or to Brussels?—

Velas.
—It was thought
To Antwerp: which conjecture seems confirm'd
By his last movement from Namur to Maestrick.

Gra.
My Counsel is to speed his March for Brussels.
Now get thee in & taste of some Repose,
Your Toils demand it—I must hence to Court.

Exit Velasco.
Manet Granvel.
Gra.
I know not yet the Duke of Alva's powers;
If he's commission'd to displace the Princess,
And rule supreme in Brussels, I am His;
And Egmont then, nay Parma's self shall feel me,
For both alike I hate: But if his Arms
Are made the Scaffold to repair & strengthen
The tottering Fabrick of her Government,
Then must I suffer this Concealment longer,
And feed Revenge within my patient bosom
And smile on Egmont, till by smooth Approaches
I wind myself about his easy heart
And sting him to the Soul—