 | Anthony Babington |  |
Scene IV.
—Babington (under the name of Bellingham) and Colonel Willoughby waiting under a tree, surrounded by a swamp, with reeds, &c., having lost their way. Horses tied up near.Babington.
So now our hare-brained plan of riding seven miles
in the dark meets its proper reward—nay, we do not
even deserve this dry spot to rest upon, where I see
nothing for it but to wait till daylight; for we can
go neither backwards nor forwards in this damnable
slough, and we have wandered some way off the
road.
Willoughby.
Be of good courage, Mr. Bellingham. Methinks
anon I heard voices and the clank of horsemen.
We are not far off the beaten track.
Babington.
Oh, it is not my courage that fails me, I was but
laughing at our sorry plight! Confess now, colonel
though you be, that there are fires more enticing than
those of these will-o'-the-wisps, and more terrible even
than those of your Flanders campaign. Confess that
it was the same cause made fools and cowards of us
both?
(sternly).
How, sir, the same cause? And how cowards?
Most of all, how coward?
Babington.
Oh, do not “sir” me. I am honest and outspoken,
for a man may speak his mind in a morass.
Walls have ears, but your green duckweed and
black bulrush are safe listeners. It was Mistress
Alice drove us both out of house and home, and
lodged us here with such scant comfort. Confess,
colonel, you are as deep in love with her as our
bodies anon were plunged in this reeking quagmire!
Willoughby.
Every heart hath its own secrets, Mr. Bellingham;
and, without seeming squeamish to you, let me say
that the man who keeps these to himself is the
wisest. Who goes there?
[Hearing voices.
Babington
(cocking his pistols).
Who goes there?
[Masked figures advancing, armed; amongst them the traitor-servant of Babington.
Take him that called the other Bellingham!
2nd Stranger.
Nay, take the one that was called Bellingham by
the other.
3rd Stranger.
We are robbers of the queen's highway. There is
no escape. Deliver up your moneys and papers.
[Willoughby overpowered by numbers, his pockets and saddle-bags rifled.
4th Stranger
(having discovered the letter addressed to Babington on Willoughby).
This is our man, and now for a noble recompense.
2nd Stranger.
“God prosper the harvest!”
Babington
(recognising the voice of Peter Barton).
Traitor!
[Shoots him dead and escapes, leaving Willoughby with the supposed robbers.
| Anthony Babington | |