University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The southern exterior of Whitehall Palace, forms the scene on the left of the spectators. At the back, right and left, is the Thames, with the Surry hills. The nearer part of the stage represents the garden of the palace, reaching to to the River.
King James, Buckingham, Nigel, Sir Geoffry, Jin. Vin. Margaret, in her proper dress, Bridget, Lords, and attendants, officers, and crowd.
James.
And this is she! were we not right, my lord, (to Buckingham)

When we opined that this most comely boy
Was in good truth a girl? Perhaps ye thought
That our's was not a hawk's eye for such gear;
But old as ye may deem us, yet we know
As much of sic-like toys, as may beseem
A decent gravity.

Sir Geoff.
With shame she owns,
And craves forgiveness of her vain disguise.

Marg.
(Archly)
Then vainest, when against that royal wit
Which none may hope to baffle.

James.
Deftly spoken:
Heriot has taught the wench betimes to flatter.
But here is darker matter to be dealt with;
Robb'ry alledged, and murder— (To Nigel)
Now, my lord,
You've heard the charge. Are you prepared to bring
The woman forward? or through other means
Wipe off the strange suspicions cast on you,
Both by her father's death, and by her absence?

Nigel.
My liege, I know not of her. When we landed,
I bore her comp'ny through the dangerous alleys
That wind about Paul's wharf; and having seen her
Into the open street, there left her,—going
She said, to some of her own kin, with whom
She could have shelter. Since that time the woman
Has not been seen by me.

Hild.
I fear, by none.

Nigel.
She said she should attend her father's inquest.

Hild.
But never came.

James.
You've read the depositions
Of our Whitefriars Cor'ner, and the boatman.

Nigel.
I have, and do allow them.

Buck.
Fortune send
Your Majesty may find those jewels safe
Wherewith you trusted him— (aside)
which, had I known it,
You should have scarcely done.

James.
Doubtless you've raised
The money on them, and redeem'd your lands
As we gave warrant.

Enter Dalgarno, Skourlie, and Peppercole.
Nigel.
So, my Liege, I should,
Save for this old man's murder; but the jewels
Having been lodged with him to find a lender.—

James.
Are gone! I see! Stol'n in this burglary!

Nigel.
I do beseech your Majesty—

James.
(To Nigel)
Young Lord,
You've tax'd our patience far! Our jewels gone,
The lustre of our crown: we would have lost
A colony rather!

Dalg.
He that slew the us'rer
No doubt bore off the jewels; but, that Nigel,
My valued friend here, needy as he was,
Should have committed—

Nigel.
Only the respect (looking towards Dalgarno)

I owe your majesty, reins in the rage
Of my o'ergoaded spirit, when I see
Each act and passage of my life thus foully
Wrung to my ruin! How this plot was hatch'd,
I cannot fathom; but by whom 'twas spawn'd,
That I can guess at, and may punish yet.

James.
Were there a plot, think you our scent so dull,
We should not have unearth'd it? We have guess'd
At things as deep, I ween. Minion, resolve us,
Where are the jewels? Silent!

Dalg.
(To Skourlie.)
Now's the time!

Skour.
If it might please your majesty, forgive
My innocent part herein, I have some knowledge
Touching this matter.

James.
By my soul, thou hast
Our favour: speak!

Skour.
I am, so please your grace,
A scrivener by my trade, and versed in gold
And precious stones, no less than in the drift
Of honest usance. Comes to me this morning
That noble gentleman (pointing to Nigel)
with jewels, which
He said had been his father's; offering them
Below their value, to discharge some debts
Which play had drawn upon him.

Nigel.
Villain! dar'st thou—

James.
Who interrupts our business? You shall have
Your timely season.

Skour.
I entreat protection
While I rehearse the truth: you know you said so,
This very day, at Greenwich. Well, unknowing
From what high source they came, I bought the jewels,
And should have shipp'd them—

Dalg.
(Interrupting Skourlie and addressing the king.)
Sir, they're yours.

James.
(To Skourlie.)
Nay, speak—

Skour.
But that my Lord Dalgarno bought them of me,
To lay before your grace's feet.

Skourlie delivers the jewels to Dalgarno, who, kneeling, presents them to the king.
James.
True friend!
Avis rarissima, in courts, they say—
Of other princes,—Welcome, welcome, sparklers!
Ye bright and bonny boys, thrice welcome back!

Nigel.
Most gracious prince, this fellow's every word
Contains a perjury.—For his employer,
[Glancing towards Dalgarno.
Whose end in this suborning, is as plain
As the dev'l's mark can make it, all I ask
Is but to have my sland'rer stand before me
Within the strait, and stinted liberty
Of a fair ten-foot ring, my sword my own,
And five short minutes to decide our strife,
And if within that time and space, this hand
Pluck not the mystr'y forth—

James.
Have you no words
Fitter for royal ears, than such as breathe
Of lawless bloodshed?

Dalg.
I am silenced, sir,
Else, I could clamour in as high a strain,
And dare, and haply too, perform, as much
As this loud sir.

James.
(to Nigel)
Would you speak ought, my lord
In your defence, touching the usurer's death,
Or disappearance of his daughter?

Nigel.
Nothing.

James.
(to Hildebrod.)
Then bailiff, make your warrant of committal
Upon the charge of murder.

[Hildebrod writes: James counts the jewels.
Skour.
(aside to Margaret.)
Margaret!

Marg.
Wretch!

Skour.
I have kept my word thus far, and brought him
Close to the precipice: The power I had
To sink, I have to save him.

Marg.
Use this power,
And I will worship thee!

Skour.
You know the terms;—
Be mine, and Nigel lives.

Marg.
Horrible choice!

Skour.
You still refuse? then let the warrant go,
And Nigel perish.

Marg.
Oh, no more, no more!
Save him, at any price.

Skour.
The price I fix'd?

Marg.
(faintly.)
Ev'n so.

Skour.
(to James.)
A pardon, sir, has been proclaim'd
For any accessary, who shall bring
Conviction home, on those that did the murder;
Has that the sanction of your royal word?

James.
Aye, willingly.

Skour.
Come hither, Captain.

Pep.
Fear not;
I will stand to it.

Skour.
(To James)
Sir, I'm one, who long
Have trod in slipp'ry courses, gath'ring wealth,
Which fear forbade me to enjoy; but henceforth,
I mean to live more safely, and defy
The knaves that might betray me. Here is one.
(Taking Margaret by the hand.)
Who will sustain my good resolves: and straight,
For a reward she gives, I will impeach—

Dalg.
(aside to Skourlie, with much fierceness.)
Take care

Skour.
I shall! The real murd'rers—

Her.
(without)
Room!
Make room there!

Enter Heriot and Strappet, making way for Martha.
James.
What unsightly fair is this?

Nigel.
Kind heav'n, the old man's daughter!

Martha.
(arriving on the spot)
Do I come
In time?

Dalg.
Some new imposture, royal sir.
Dost thou affect to be the usurer's daughter?

Martha.
Dost thou affect to have forgotten me?
My memory, thou shalt find, is not so frail.

Hild.
Why, this is she, indeed.

James.
But wherefore cam'st not
Unto our inquest on thy father? How
Hast pass'd this day?

Martha.
As it was meet to pass
The first day of that life which Nigel saved,
In Nigel's service: in collecting means
To free (which with my kinsman's help's accomplish'd)
(Pointing to Strappet)
My benefactor's lands, pledged for a tithe
Of their true value. But the price to clear them
Could not be found 'twixt morning's dawn and six
This afternoon, ev'n by “the us'rer's daughter,”
Without some diligence,—and (seeing, too,
Whose politics th'attempt must clash withal,
My lord will apprehend)— (looking at Dalg.)
some secrecy.
For such cause only did I shroud myself
From observation, and avoid that inquest,
(Sighing.)
Where yet my heart was present.

Nigel.
There will come
A time for thanks.

James.
'Tis well you're living, woman;
But, the old man,—can you say aught that touches
Your father's murd'rer?

Martha.
(Pointing to Dalgarno.)
I impeach him, there.

Dalg.
She raves. This fearful issue has diseased
Her brain.

Martha.
My liege, if there be not a wound
On his left arm, like that Lord Nigel's fire
Dealt to th'assassin from whose grasp he saved me,
Then is my brain diseased, and I have wrong'd
A guiltless nobleman.

James.
(To Dalg.)
My lord! how say you
To this? Nay, strip your sleeve.

Dalg.
Some groom has told her
Of a late fall in hunting, where my wrist
Was grazed.

Martha.
(To Hildebrod.)
Speak, bailiff, do you know this scarf?

Hild.
The same, I fancy, which the murd'rer left
About your father's throat.

Martha.
Thou say'st it.

Dalg.
Haply
Left by the ill starr'd Nigel, in his haste
To quit the chamber.

Martha.
Left by Nigel? pray you,
How came Dalgarno's scarf to Nigel's hands?

James.
Dalgarno's scarf!

Martha.
My liege, I say the scarf
Of Lord Dalgarno: and a web, indeed,
Of no mean value; for, if I mistake not,
It was the gift of majesty.

James.
Indeed!

Dalg.
Where is the light'ning's bolt, that should strike dumb
This most audacious slander?

Martha.
May it please
Your grace inspect the piece; the letters shew
“Given to Dalgarno by the king.”

James.
(Putting the torn pieces together)
It is—
By our right royal word, it is the truth!

Marg.
(Breaking from Skourlie)
Stand off, detested man! the King has said it,
Nigel is innocent, and I am free!

Jin.
Then, at his choice, Jin. Vin. may hang or drown.

Bridg.
(Taking Strappet's arm:—archly to Jin. Vin.)
What, fly to death, because you're saved from marriage?

Skour.
(savagely)
Am I forestall'd, then, in discovery? and robb'd
Of this my prize?

Pep.
(much frightened, to the King)
Your grace will not recall
The pardon?

James.
We shall judge how far 'tis earn'd.

Skour.
I will tell all—spare but my life and money,
There's not a friend I have but I will give
Into the hand o'th'law. O, mercy, mercy!

[Exeunt Skourlie and Peppercole, guarded.
Dalg.
My Lord of Buckingham!

Buck.
Nay, not through me.

James.
(turning up the stage)
What can they hope, but that just punishment
Follow the guilty?

Dalg.
Punishment and justice!
Who'll give the word? Your grace— (To Buckingham.)
there may be secrets
Best left untold; nay, if, as men presume,
You have your master's ear, you may most humbly
Whisper the question, how his royal justice
Has follow'd Overbury's murd'rers? Aye,
Bid the sage prince beware: for I may raise (turning to James.)

A flame which, being kindled, will burn on,
Ev'n though the hearts' blood of his inmost minions
Should spout to quench it!

[Exit.
Buck.
Follow, and arrest him!

James.
'Twas well we took the hearing of your cause.
No mystery baffles us.

Nigel.
I know not where
I owe most gratitude: or to your grace,
Or to this gen'rous woman (looking at Martha)
—or to her (taking Margaret's hand.)

Whom nothing, less than all my life, can show
How much I love!

James.
Why, then, take all thy life
To show it: and for you, young mistress, (to Margaret)
—mind
When you put on the wife, leave off the breeches.
Now for your masque: I doubt though if 'twill yield us
A plot more pregnant than your fortunes, Nigel;
Themselves, perhaps, no unmeet argument
To ground a play hereafter. May it find
All favour and applause: provided always
Our royal part therein be bodied forth
With fitting rev'rence.—Come, the masque! the masque!