University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

St. James's Park.
Enter Dalgarno shading his eyes with his hand.
Dalg.
Hither she comes!

Enter Buckingham.
Buck.
(Coming behind Dalgarno)
My lord!

Dalg.
(Not turning his head towards him.)
I'm busy, friend.

Buck.
Friend, yet not friendly!

Dalg.
(Turning round.)
Duke of Buckingham!
I pray your grace forgive me.

Buck.
Coming in
When others quit the ride?

Dalg.
There is a reason.

Buck.
A fair one?

Dalg.
Very.

Buck.
Well, I'll spoil no sport.

Dalg.
She's drawing to the snare! The thousand pieces
Shall wait upon your grace to-morrow.

Buck.
(Going.)
Ever
My excellent friend!
[Exit Buckingham.

At another entrance Skourlie comes on.
Dalg.
Now, is the captain ready?

Skour.
With his assistant bully. But I hope
You meditate no force?

Dalg.
Force! Oh, no more
Than woman thinks becoming. Now! dost quail,
Dost quake, poltroon, and doubt? Why do I pay thee!
For what base use retain thee?

Skour.
Good, my lord,
For fraud, not force,—to shuffle, forge, or do
Any safe villainy.

Dalg.
I shall so use thee.
Stop—she dismounts! (looking out)
Now whilst her blue coat holds
Margaret crosses at the back of the stage, attended by Jin. Vin. who wears thick close curls, and a flat 'prentice's cap, set obliquely on the head.
The nags, my foot-page, as in boyish sport,
Will cut the reins, and turn the steeds a-drift.
In the confusion of pursuit, our captain
Will place her on my roan, which is in waiting
Near, with a pillion. As for you, Sir Softly
Watch here, and on pretence to keep the peace,
Make such cross movements as may best impede
Her men, and give us time to clear our prize.

(Dalgarno puts on his mask, and retires to the back of the stage with Skourlie.)
Re-enter Margaret and Jin. Vin.
Jin.
Your voice, sweet mistress Marg'et, soft as 'tis,
More stirs my heart, than will St. Dunstan's clock,
When the last hour of my indenture strikes.

Marg.
This to your masters' niece! I pray young man
Know your place better: There now, Mister Jenkin,
While you prate thus, some other idle 'prentice
Has cut my palfrey's reins! Fine doings, sir,
To meet my uncle's ears! There,—there, the horses
Both racing off! (looking out).


Jin.
(Springing forward.)
But your one word can give me
A greyhound's speed, to shoot a-head, and turn them!

[Exit.
Marg.
[alone].
Who should have thought of such presumption? He,
A flat cap 'prentice! There! he'll never catch
[Whimpering.]
Those runaways—O, I am vex'd to weeping.

Enter Peppercole.
Pep.
My fellow, mistress has a horse at hand,
Will carry double,—at your service, mistress.

Marg.
Your pardon, sir;—my haste is not so urgent.

Pep.
You have no cause to fear. My steed has stood
The loud artill'ry,—borne me, madam, full
Against a grove of spears.—What, fellow! Ho!

Enter a Bully.
Marg.
[To Pep.]
Sir, I request your absence.

Pep.
I am more
Your friend, than to obey you. Take the maiden
Up on your pillion.

Marg.
Help! Why, Jenkin! George!

Re-enter Jin. Vin. with George.
Jin.
Curs, cow'rds, let go!

(Jin. Vin, with his Stick, attacks the assistant Bully, while George, with his, engages Peppercole, who immediately runs away. George then comes to the assistance of Jin. Vin, upon which Dalgarno steps forward).
Dalg.
Cow'rds, say you? two to one.
And call that one a coward!
(Dalgarno collars George, takes his stick from him, and drives him off; while Jin. Vin. and the assistant bully go out fighting, so as to leave Dalgarno alone with Margaret.)
Now fair mistress,
Let me conduct you.

Marg.
Sir, I pray you, quit
Your most discourteous hold. You should be one
Of better breeding.

Dalg.
Nay, you must forgive
This little violence: 'tis to preserve you
That I seem thus ungentle. (She struggles.)
By my soul,—

Enter Nigel.
Nigel.
What! talks Dalgarno of his soul? And that
In forcing a weak girl?

Marg.
(To Nigel, as if imploring his interference.)
My lord!

(Dalgarno, holding Margaret's hand, and addressing Nigel, who is trying to disengage her.)
Dalg.
Let go!
This lady's in my hands; and were she not,
The king's park is no place for quarrelling,—
Except to those who wish to do it safely.
Put up, and seek some place where 'tis less penal
To draw, than in the precincts of the court.

Nigel.
The better—I shall rid them of a traitor.

Dalg.
Stand off, I say.

Nigel.
If it were at the foot
O'th'throne—

Dalg.
You do mistake your man.

Nigel.
Oh, no;
Spite of your mask, I know you for Dalgarno,
And know Dalgarno for—a villain. (Strikes him with his loose glove.)
Now
Is your sword ready?

Dalg.
Self-defence is now,
My warrant. (They fight.)


Marg.
Not for me, Lord Nigel!

(Margaret throws herself on a bank. Dalgarno, pressing upon Nigel, forces him to give ground, and follows him, fighting, off the stage. Skourlie comes forward as they are going off.)
Skour.
Sirs,
In the king's name keep peace! Lord Nigel! tilting
About a woman, in the very precincts
Of the king's court! (Looking at Margaret.)
What eyes! what lips! what ancles!
She has possess'd me wholly. Pretty mistress,
I'll see you safely lodged.

Marg.
More insult! (She rises.)


Re-enter Jin. Vin.
Jin.
Whither
Lead you that lady?

Skour.
Only to her friends.

Jin.
I am her friend; her humble friend and servant.

Marg.
He is, indeed, sir.

Skour.
O, I'm satisfied.
I seek no brawl—'tis not my trade to fight—
Only, next time I do a lady service,
I'll have, at least, her thanks.

Marg.
Sir, pardon me:
I knew not your kind purpose; but I'm thankful,
Trust me, and so will be my uncle Heriot:
He'll gladly see, and thank you.

Jin.
(Consequentially)
Sir, you're thank'd!

Skour.
(To Margaret)
Then, by your leave, I'll wait on you and him.
(Aside.)
Here's a brave introduction! To the lady
I could not have a better—And the uncle,—
Oh, trust my gold for courting uncles!

Jin.
(To Margaret)
Courage,
Mistress!

Re-enter Nigel.
Nigel.
A moment's breath!

Marg.
You are pursued!

Nigel.
Not by Dalgarno: him I had disarmed:
But the noise waked the yeomen of the guard,
And, being forced to fly, I have, by doubling,
Outrun the scent.

Marg.
Ah, me!

Skour.
Why know you not
'Tis a Star-chamber matter to be found
With a drawn weapon here? Much more to strike! (Nigel is going.)

Nay, if you'll fly, fly to the sanctuary,
Get to Whitefriars; halt at the Temple-gate,
I'll come anon, and find you out a refuge.

Nigel.
Good friend, much thanks. (To Margaret)
May I have leave to touch
This hand? (Raises Margaret's hand to his lips.)


Jin.
Hand off! the guard is after you—
A pretty time for kissing, faith!

Nigel.
I'm gone!

Marg.
Fly, fly, my lord, and may her blessing speed you,
Whom you have saved.

[Exit Nigel.
Jin.
(To Margaret)
There, you are mighty grateful!
For half those thanks, I would have done it thrice.

[Exeunt Margaret and Jin. Vin.
Skour.
(Alone)
So, for Whitefriars! It is the common sink
Of our gross London: and th'off-scourings run
Readily to it. Yes, I'll see your lordship
Housed in the Sanctu'ry: who hides, they say,
Knows best to find: and though the vulgar bailiff
Arrests not there, no priv'lege bars the visit
You shall be honour'd with from the Star-chamber.
Let me but have your scent for those staunch blood hounds,
And if you 'scape to-morrow, to redeem
Your mortgage from Dalgarno, or to cross
My chace of Marg'ret, then is Andrew Skourlie
A scriv'ner bred, and yet but half a knave!

[Exit.