the ghastly horror Least I view that shou'd strike me into Madness Dow. To see your self is strait to banish Wo And make you happy for that Day I 'me sure It does your Servants when they look upon you You are so good so perfect and so fair Beauty and sorrow never were so nigh A Kin in any but in you Behold else Reaching her the Glass Qu. M. If fear will give my Sences leave And hands can do their Office without trembling I 'le lift it to my Eyes Ha! do you mock me Who is behind me who lookt in the Glass Dow. Here 's no body here 's none within the Room Besides your self and us upon the Floor Qu. M. Alas these cannot be thy Mistress Eyes Mine were dim Lamps that long ago expir'd And quite dissolv'd or quench'd themselves in tears These Cheeks are none of mine these Roses look not Like Tempest-beaten Lillies as mine shou'd This Forehead is not graven with the Darts Of eighteen years of sharpest Miseries Nor are these Lips like Sorrows blubber'd Twins Ne're smiling ever mourning and complaining False Glass that flatters and undoes the Fond. Throws down the Glass False Beauty May that Wretch that has thee curse thee And hold thee still detestable as mine Why tarry'st thou to give me yet more wo The Earth will mourn in Furrows at the Plow Birds Trees and Meadows when the Summers gone Put their worst Looks and sable Colours on The fullen Streams when any Tempest blows Their Christal smoothness in a moment loose But my curst Beauty this malicious Charm No time long Griefs nor blasts of Envy harm Enter to them Norfolk Norf. What do I see the Person or the Shadow Of the most bright Divinity of Scotland Is this her real Body on the Floor And these the faithful Mourners of her Fortune Bright as Diana with her starry Nymphs Descending to make fertile Land and Sea To bless the Waves and brood the World with Plenty O rise most charming of all Creatures rise Or Heav'n shall be no more where now it is But sink the Scale and mount the Globe above it Qu. M. Who sees the needy Traveller on foot When he approaches to his long'dfor Inn Welcom'd carress'd and shew'd the fairest Room And richest Bed to rest his weary Limbs Or who beholds the Beggar on his Straw Crying for Alms before the Rich Mans Door And bids him rise Go Duke and shun this Wretch Fly Maries Fate for such and worse is she Norf. Rise Heavenly Excellence or by your self The greatest Oath that I can take I 'le bear your precious Body in these Arms Forgive the Sacrilegious Violence And seat you in that proud Imperial Chair Beneath whose scornful Feet you meekly lye Nay I wou'd do' it were this She-Harry by Tho' she stood here and dar'd me with Revenge I ' de put you in that Place in spite of her Qu. M. Now all the Powers of Heav'n and Earth forbid Norf. Heav'ns Throne of Thrones Angels and Cherubins The Powers above and Mortals all below Wou'd praise me for the Deed Who can behold Englands bright Heiress Queen of France and Scotland Whose Veins run treasur'd with the sacred Blood Of Fergus and an hundred Alban Kings Lye thus neglected in a State thus mean Who can behold it and at once be Loyal Qu. M. O tept me not with thoughts of any State But this that I am in it was a Vision The World till now was but a Dream to me When I was great I always was in Danger Gâ—ddy and fearful when I lookt beneath But now with scorn I can see all above me Happy in this that I can fall no lower Norf. O say no more for pity of Mankind Least Heav'n descend in Battails Plagues and Fire To scourge the Earth for so prophane a sight And treating thus the Majesty of Kings Were I a God Nature shou'd wrack for this The frighted World shou'd at my Burthen groan Whilst thus I fell with my Immortal Weight Falls down flat Thus at your Feet and crusht it's Soul away But as I 'me Norfolk still the meanest Wretch I will entreat of thee a Grave and say As raving Aristotle to the Sea Since I can't conquer thee to swallow me Qu. M. Rise gallant Duke and shew me if you can Where shall the wretched fly to be at rest Queen rises For I am like the Dove banisht the Ark To perish by the Waters but yet at last She saw the Mountains rear their wisht for Tops And Trees their welcome Branches sprout above The Waves but my poor Feet find no kind ground My Soul no Pearch to rest its weary Wings on Norf. O cou'd I dare repeat it in your hearing Or claim the sacred Promise once you made Here you shou'd meet that calm repose you want In Norfolk's grateful Breast Qu. M. O name not Love Love always flies the wretched and deform'd And I am both Sorrow has plaid the Tyrant Plow'd up this lovely Field where Beauties grew And quite transform'd it to a naked Fallow That you had once my Word 't is true but 't was When I had hopes to be a Queen again I thought to give you with some Charms a Crown Which you deserve but now they all are gone I am not worth the taking cease the thought Norf. By Heav'n you are above all Queens to me Your glorious Head was shadow'd with a Crown And lovely Body seem'd but coursely clad With Robes of Majesty like Stars beclouded Those cast away the Cherubin appears Bright as the World was in its Infant years Eas'd of this Sumpter take your happy Flight The lighter by the Load of cursed Crowns You bear the badg of Heav'n where e're you go Bright Beauty and Divinity all o're Qu. M. Where shall I fly Norf. To Scythia Wilds of Beasts Or any where but this accursed Place To Scotland first where the repenting Morton Whom real pity of your matchless Sufferings Has turn'd a Saint has writ to all the States To meet receive you and approve your choice Qu. M. First let my Virtue with my Heart consult Norf. Nay whil'st you think you 'l stumble on a Grave Or Prison ah you know not what the Queen And your curst Foes are now consulting of Qu. M. Aside To fly suspected is to make me guilty Yet she condemns and shuns me as a Monster Denies what to the meanest Criminal she grants Aside Now Fear and Passion strive Like Seas with bold contrary Winds opprest And rouze the quiet Ocean in my Breast Enter to them Davison with Guards Dav. The Queen my Mistress to her Royal Sister The wrong'd and beauteous Majesty of Scotland Sends by her Slave the dearest of all Loves Not â—ch as fickle wanton Lovers pay But such as Friends and Angels owe each other She lovingly intreats you wou'd accept Of this her Guard Norf. Ha! Dav. Not as a Restraint But to protect your Life against your Foes Which she still prizes dearer than her own Without are Officers
dreadful Prison from whence I came A thousand years of pain is not enough For this one moment of Seraphick joy That she is kind and thinks me innocent Sound Heav'n me innocent that one word's more Than Tongue can speak or all e're said before Qu. E. Ah Royal Mary urge no more my Guilt But blot it from thy Breast as I from mine Down on your Knees all that regard my Frowns To her Attendants Behold your Queens both Scotch and English hear Let my dread Voice far as the Winds be heard From Silver Thames to Golden Tweed proclaim With harmony of Drums and Trumpets sound Not her nor me alone not One but both Sound Mary and Elizabeth your Queens Qu. M. O be less kind least Heav'n shou'd snatch my Joys And hoard 'em up for Deities themselves For they 're too great for Mortal sence to bear Here I 'le not change my happy State to be Greater than Caesar Philips mad-brain'd Son Or sweating Atlas with the Globe upon him Qu. E. I do her wrong to keep her from new Joys Each moment shall beget each hour bring forth Fresh Pleasures and rich Welcomes to delight her Prepare her Table deck her Bed of State Let her Apartment shine with golden Arras Richer than e're was wrought in Persian Loom Strew Perfumes in her Way sweeter than Incense Rare as the Sun sucks ev'ry Morning up And sweet as is the Breath upon her Lips Soft Musick sound when e're she wakes or sleeps Musick as sweet harmonious and as still As does this soft and gentle Bosom fill Norf. See the Queen's Orders instantly obey'd Qu. E. Thus let us go with hand in hand combin'd The White Cross with the Red thus ever joyn'd England with Scotland shall no longer jar Nor Albany with Albion no more War But thus we 'l live and walk thus ev'ry day Till from the Verge of Life we drop away So have I seen two Streams with eager pace Hasten to meet and lovingly embrace Making one Current as we make one Soul Till Arm in Arm they in the Ocean roll Exeunt Omnes Finis Actus Tertii ACTUS QUARTUS Scena Prima Cecil Davison severally Cec. WEep Davison and drown thy Head in Tears Or let thy Tongue for Eloquence so fam'd Be mute for ever or like Schriech Owls howl If thou want'st Words to mitigate his Crime And Charm with Pity the offended Queen The gallant Duke the Darling of the World The Scipio the delight of Mankind's seiz'd You came from searching of his Papers say What hopes have his sad Friends that he will clear Himself Dav. O none The false accursed Morton That fir'd the Duke's fond Passion to the Queen Then like a Villain to his Foes betray'd him This Serpent of Delusion has discover'd What e're the brave and generous-hearted Man Did in his harmless Mind intrust him with Cec. What Circumstance or Sign of any Treason Amongst his Letters found you Dav. Very little Besides his aim to wed the Queen of Scotland Yet one thing paints some Colour of a Guilt It does appear he furnish'd her with Money To aid her Friends in Scotland who you know Do at this time invade our English Borders Here is the Paper which alas was found Under the Mat beneath poor Norfolk's Bed Plac'd there on purpose as suppos'd by all By Hickford a Domestick of the Duke's Who apprehended has accus'd his Master Read here a List of several Lords his Friends As Arundel Southampton and the rest All order'd to be taken Cec. Cursed Chance What temper holds the Queen in this extream Dav. Fiery and cool again in ev'ry Breath At once she sighs and pities the fall'n Man And the same moment rages and upbraids him Cec. O she must worse be stung before to Morrow How will she bear her self when she shall know The foul Conspiracy of Babington Place Gifford ready as the Queen comes forth 'T is dangerous to conceal it any longer Methinks I pity less Queen Mary's Fate Since it has cost the Ruine of the Duke See where 'a comes wou'd Cecil had no eyes Yet he bears manly up rears his stout Head Like a brave Vessel in a Storm and scatters Bright Beams of Majesty through all his Clouds Enter the Duke Guarded Guards cry room for the Duke Norf. Room for the Duke Room for no Duke no Lord The Emblem of expiring Greatness rather Man is the truest Dial of his Fate His Princes Favour and the Sun at Noon Shews not a thing so beautiful and great Whilst he As the proud Peacock that abhors his Feet Sees not his growing Shadow on the Ground Cecil thou and false Leicester have undone me Brought by thy cruel caution in these Fetters And by the Villain Morton thus betray'd Cec. These Tears be Witnesses I never meant it Norf. My Lord I do believe you but you are Too good a States-Man and too nice a Friend What e're wise Cecil can have hopes to gain Perhaps to heap a Mass of Wealth and Fame Yet cruel Policy ne're prosper'd long And thou may'st once lye loath'd as any Slave Condemn'd by all and hated in the Grave Cec. By all that 's just you wrong the Love I bear you Behold the Queen I 'le gain your Life Brave Duke Or venture mine Enter Queen Elizabeth Lords Davison Women and Attendants Most merciful and mighty Behold your Cecil bends that ne're yet kneel'd To you in vain O spare the gallant Duke And I will promise and himself shall swear Henceforth to prove the faithfull'st of your Subjects And from this hour abjure the Queen of Scotland Norf. Hold Burleigh go no further for the Globe If the least Word that I 'le abjure the Queen 'Scapes from thy Tongue by yon bright Heav'n 't is false That I 'le ask pardon tho' I never wrong'd you 'T is but a Word and I will do it thus Kneels For Kings are like Divinities on Earth Whom none can serve but must sometimes offend Rises But to deny my Love and to disclaim her O ye bright Powers abjure my Alban Queen First let me grovel in the worst of Dungeons Flat like a Toad and feed on Damps and Vapours A thousand years if I could live so long What! for to save my Life a hated Scull Had I as many Heads as I have Hairs To be shear'd off me like a Field of Corn Yet after that not one shou'd be so base But ev'ry Head shou'd speak and sound her Name Qu. E. You 'l find bold Duke this One has said too much And done more than a Thousand Heads can answer What am I brav'd by Mary's Champion threaten'd Carry him to th' Tower hence and from the Peers Chuse three and thirty Lords to be his Judges I 'le have him try'd to morrow and if guilty Beheaded strait send his ambitious Head To travel for that airy Crown it lookt for And tell me when 't is off if then it talks Or calls out for his Alban Queen to help him O where my Soul is
needs their Aid Now when the madness of the Nation 's grown To such a height 't is to be fear'd Death walks In Masquerade in strange and many shapes The Court that was the Planet that shou'd guide us Is grown into Rebellion with it self Fears Jealousies and Factions crowd her Stage Two Queens the like was never seen before By different sides maintain each others Right Our Virgin Constellation shines but dim Whilst Mary Scotlands Queen that Northern Star Tho' in a Prison darts her Rival Light Dav. The Champions of her Faction are not few Men of great Birth and Titles plead her Cause And daily urge the Queen for her Release 'Mongst whom the gallant Duke of Norfolk's chief A Prince that has no equal in his Fame A Man of Power and int'rest to be fear'd For his own sake as well as for the Queen's For shou'd h'ingage himself too deep in this England might chance to loose the best of Men. Cec. The Queen 's peculiar safety be thy care Therefore the Secretaries Place is thine In which high State as from a Perspective Thou may'st discover all her forreign Foes And home Conspiracies how dark soever But most of all let Mary be thy fear And what thou learn'st inform me of I 'le act But in thy shape be thou my Proxy still Dav. Not Cromwell ever trod with so much care The subtle steps of his most famous Master As I the Dictates of the wiser Burleigh The Scottish Regent yesterday arriv'd With new discover'd Plots t' accuse his Queen And since to poise those heavy Articles The Duke of Norfolk is from Mary come And both are to have Audience straight Behold The Man I speak of Cec. Wait you on the Queen Exit Davison Enter Norfolk Your Grace is welcome from the Queen of Scotland How fares that sad and most illustrious Pattern Of all Misfortunes Norf. Dost thou pity her O let me fly and hold thee to my Bosom Closer and far more dear than ever Bride Was held by hasty Bride-Groom in his Arms Who says thou art not straighter than the Pine Thy Visage smoother than Diana's Cheeks Who says this little Globe upon thy Back Is not more beautiful than Natures World ◠Cec. My Lord you give what Nature never lent me Blushes Norf. Should the Hyenna thus bemoan And thus the neighbouring Rocks but eccho him My Queen I wou'd devour the precious Sound And thus embrace him from whose Lips it came Tho' wide and gaping as the Jaws of Hell My Lord I came to seek you I 've a Secret T' unfold which while I keep it weighs me down And when 't is out I fear it will destroy me Cec. Then keep it in your Breast let me not know What is not fit for you to speak nor me to hear Norf. O 't is o're charg'd and can no more be held Than Thunder when the Lightning has giv'n warning Now only now 's the time the Traytor Morton The false usurping Regent is return'd With all the Magazine of Hell about him The Queen my lovely Alban Queen 's in danger And if thou hear'st not to advise thy Norfolk There ne're will come a time for after-Counsel Cec. What is 't my Lord Norf. First wear the Looks of Mildness Such as forgiving Fathers do to Sons And hear and speak me gently for thy Soveraign Yet 't is no Treason unless Love be Treason Cec. Out with 't my Lord. Norf. I love the Queen of Scotland Cec. Ha! Love her How Norf. How should she be belov'd But as mild Saints do to their Altars bow And humble Patriarchs kiss the Copes of Angels Cec. Love her for what Norf. Not for a Crown I swear O hadst thou seen her in that Plight as I did And hadst been Alexander thou hadst kneel'd Thrown all thy Globes and Scepters at her feet And giv'n a Crown for every tear she shed Cec. I dare not hear you out Norf. By Heav'n 〈◊〉 shall Nor shall your Ears be deaf alone nice States man And see you Christal Pavement of the Heav'ns With Angels swarm'd more numerous than Stars Whose Voices louder than the breath of Thunder And swifter than the Winds proclaim to Earth Bright Mary's Wrongs and my eternal Love Cec. My Lord y 'ave said too much I dare not hear you Norf. Is pitying the distress'd and loving Her Whom none but Envy hates 〈◊〉 to hear Cec. What Reason has your Passion You 'd not marry her Norf. Not marry her Wou'd not a Saint choose Bliss A starving Creature rather eat than dye By Heav'n were she on Acheron's t'other side And charm'd me by my Love to overtake her I 'de swim the burning Lake to grasp her thus Embraces him Cec. For Pity recollect your banisht Reason Consider what y 'ave said it must undo you The Danger 's greater far than you can feign Do you not know that she 's accus'd of Treason That for the Royal Crown our Mistress wears She yet stands Candidate against all Force And hopes to snatch it from her rightful Head Norf. By the eternal Beams that bless the World 'T is false thou know'st false as the Sun is clear O Cecil tell me what thou truly think'st Thou hast a Soul with shining Wisdom crown'd Whose virtuous honest steps whoever tracks May challenge to be sav'd O tell me then Can Scotland's Queen be any but a Goddess Cec. I dare not utter every thought that pains me Nor can I longer with my Oath dispence An Oath that charges me for Life to hold No dang'rous Secret from the Queen Farewel Repent my Lord and urge this thing no more For 't will be fatal should our Mistress know it Norf. The Queen must know it you shall tell her too Therefore I came that thou shou'dst intercede You from whose Mouth the Queen takes nothing ill Cec. Not for the Crown she wears wou'd I acquaint her Norf. You must you shall Cec. Beware Ambition Sir The Queen has Jealousie to giv 't a Name Disloyalty Ambition is the least Norf. By Heav'n you wrong the faithful'st of her Subjects I 'de touch a Scorpion rather than her Scepter Her proud Regalias are but glittering Toys And the least Word or Look from Scotlands Queen Is worth whole Pyramids of Royal Lumber We only ask but Love and Liberty Give us but those we 'll quit her all the rest For where Love Reigns so absolute as here There is no room for any other thought Cec. My Lord consider what you 'd have me say I dare not speak not think of it Farewel Norf. Tell her or by my desperate Love I swear I 'le fly and do 't my self were she hemm'd in With Basilisks or were she Queen of Furies Love mighty Love should lead me and protect me Else by the Throne of Thrones that aws the World If she 'l not hear me I 'le proclaim aloud And hollow in her Ears the hated Sound Of Royal Mary's Wrongs And that it is because she has more Right And Title to her Crown
within my Bed prepar'd for slumber That gives soft Rest to all but sorrowful And guilty Minds a sudden Dread assail'd me Started some Divinity that aw'd And stole soft entrance in my cruel Bosom The awful God within me shone like Day First made me view then chac'd my Guilt away I felt my Breast began to ' bate it's Rage My barb'rous Zeal for a more barb'rous Cause Began to slack whilst true Remorse and Pity Surpris'd my Soul and held it for the Queen Norf. O may they ever keep possession there Mor. They shall All she 's accus'd of is no more But that she strove to cast her Fetters off The Lyon when he 's hunted in the Toil Spares not himself nor Foes within his reach But wounds his brisly Hide and tears the Ground And all for precious Liberty he roars Freedom which God and Nature gave to all But cruel Man and cursed Laws deny Norf. Now thou art beautiful no Devil now Thou dost appear for from thy Arms and Feet Sprout Angels Wings where Vultures Talons grew And cloven Hoofs Mor. The Vision further went For 't was a Heav'nly Vision sure that said it What if some noble Man shou'd be pick't out A Subject of this Realm to wed our Queen For here are Subjects of Estates and Rank May weigh their Coronets with Princes Crowns Norf. Some such there are if she wou'd think 'em worthy Mor. She must and will for sh 'as no other hopes As she 'twixt Sâ—lla and Charybdis sails Your Jealous Queen wou'd then be freed from fears By such a Match who all her Reign has dreaded Her Marriage with some Prince of France or Spain So to convey her Title to the Crown To the worst Enemy this Nation has Norf. Namâ—â—t the Man that dares aspire to be Her kneeling Slave much more her God like Husband Is it not Leicester Mor. All the world beside Your self wou'd first have nam'd the Duke of Norforlk Norf. Ha! Mor. Start not Sir nor let your Modesty Usurp the Priviledge to bar your Fortunes Norf. I cannot be ambitions of a Crown But if I were and lov'd to thee I swear I wou'd prefer that charming Queen to all To Crowns to Empires or ten thousand Lives Queen did I say that Name 's too great too distant It sounds too mighty in a Lovers Mouth Mor. You are by Heav'n and Earth design'd her Husband Norf. Were she so low the farthest from a Crown Sate on a Bank for Scotland's gawdy Throne Under no Canopy but some large Oak And for a Scepter in her hand a Crook A Coronet of Flowers upon her Head Where round her all her fleecy Subjects feed Glad I wou'd be to dress me like a Swain Steal from her Eyes my Pleasure and my pain Smile when she smiles or else out-weep the Rain Sit by her side freed from the Chains of Power And never think of Wealth or Honour more Mor. You speak like that rare Lover as you are Come come my Lord you wrong your hopes to hide This secret from the only man can serve you I know you love the afflicted Queen confess And soon as she 's arriv'd I 'le wait on her Fall on my knees nay prostrate on the Earth Implore my pardon of that injur'd Saint And make it my Request for all her Subjects To take you for her Husband and our King And for her Dower her Crown and Liberty Norf. By you bright truth in Heav'n if this thou mean'st I swear to thee O Morton that I love her And if thou real art and joyn'st our Hands I will reward thee with that Crown thou proffer'st Thou shalt Reign still for Infant Iames and us But if thou prov'st a Villain and hast now By subtil means stole this Confession from me Hear mighty Vengeance guard me when I find it Lend me thy surest Thunder thus to grasp Give me the strength the Rage of Hercules That I may take this Monster with these hands And when he proves a Traytor shake his Body Into as many Atoms as 't was form'd of Mor. By that brave Spirit you have shew I 'me real The Queen 's approaching one of us must part It is not fit we shou'd be seen together You will go wait upon the Queen of Scotland Norf. O Morton be thou faithful and be great Mor. Farewel Exit Norfolk Greatness I 'le owe unto my self not thee Mary does like a lasting Fabrick stand Supported by proud Norfolk like a Column Saw but this Pillar off the Building fails This hot-brain'd heedless Duke to save the Queen Runs blind with Love himself into the Gin. Thus when the King of Beasts hears his lov'd Mate Roar in the Toyl with hopes to free her strait Scours to her aid and meets the self same Fate Enter Queen Elizabeth Cecil Lords Attendants and Guards Qu. E. My Lord your Queen 's already in our Walls And passing through the City to our Palace Mor. Madam I hope this meeting will be prosperous And prove as joyful to your Majesty As is our welcome Queen to all your Subjects Qu. E. My Lord what mean you who has welcom'd her Mor. I mean the Shouts the joyful Ring of Bells Bonfires that turn'd the Night to shining Day Soon as your Orders were dispatch'd to bring her Qu. E. Were they so much transported at the News Cec. No doubt to please your Majesty they did it Qu. E. It does not please me Why was I not told it I wou'd have â—â—ded Water to ther lames Dug up their â—â—arfs and Sluces at their Gates And let the Ocean in their lighted Streets To quench their sawcy Fires Cec. 'T was Ignorance Qu. E. 'T was Impudence for me they scarcely thank'd Nay when in Person I led forth their Armies Arm'd like an Amazon an Helmet on Dwelt in the Camp long months of Hot and Cold Feeling more hardship than the meanest Souldier And brought bright Victory to their Thresholds home Yet me they never welcom'd with such joy Ha! in my Ears and at my Palace Doors Shouts within Thus they wou'd dare me had they Forts and Cannons Mor. This sounds as if the Queen were near the Palace Enter Davison to them Qu. E. Speak Davison what mean these Shouts Dav. The Queen of Scotland's come these Acclamations Proclaim your Peoples Joy where e're she passes It was your Royal Pleasure I should go To meet this welcome Princess out of Town But cou'd not pass it for the Multitude So numerous that had your Majesty beheld e'm You wou'd have wept as Xerxes o're his Army To think that in a hundred years or less Not one of all those goodly Creatures would be living Qu. E. Thou art mistaken had I seen the slaves If wishes cou'd have don 't they had not liv'd A day they shou'd have dy'd for Traitors all Dav. Mistake me not nor your kind Subjects Loves I hope they did not mean it as a fault Qu. E. Proceed Did they not strive to make thee way Not for my Sake
there a Friend that 's just Or after him a Man that I can trust Aside Norf. You need not doubt it for by Heav'n I will That dying Martyr who invokes her Name Calls for more aid than all the Saints above She is her self Salvation but for her This Isle had been like flaming Aetna found Or as the World was with the Ocean drown'd Qe E. She 's false and thou a most ungrateful Traytor Here 's Morton Cecil all the World can witness Thou didst aspire to marry her and get my Crown With her Consent Norf. By the Immortal Judge I am betray'd And she 's abus'd by Villains Cecil will not no honest Man dar's say it But Morton as the worst of Devils may O she 's so good so Innocent and mild That Scotland wert thou curst to this degree Shou'd all thy Seed there sow'd yield nought but Poysons And pregnant Women bring forth none but Mortons Thou hast atton'd for all such ills in breeding Her Qu. E. Away with him and let me never see That Head again but on a Pinacle Norf. Bear Witness all you Powers I bear it mildly And for my Fate I kneel again and bless you May you live ever and for Norfolks Death Ne're sleep a moment of your Life the worse But pass your soft Eternity away With Angels Days and Lovers blessed Nights But for the injur'd Queen I rise inspir'd And tho' a threaten'd Prophet yet dare speak When e're She falls which both the blest in Heav'n And damn'd in Hell forbid If you believe And punish not those Villains that betray'd her Loud Cherubins to Earth your Guilt shall sound Which worse than the Last Trumpet shall rebound Wake or asleep her Image shall appear And always hollow Mary in your Ear. Cec. Now Davison's the Time Exit Duke Cuarded Dav. May 't please your Majesty What shall be done with the offending Queen Qu. E. Nothing bold saucy Pen-man I say nothing Send Norfolk to the Tower but on your Lives I charge you use no Violence on Her Make not such haste too soon you 'l break this Heart Then glut your selves with cutting off of Heads Dav. Then so much for the Duke Call Gifford in Enter Gifford If you are drown'd steep'd in a Lethargy Of Love and o'regrown Mercy to this Queen And will not op'n your Eyes to see your danger Then we that are your watchful Servants must Behold and hear for 't is so loud and plain That 't will astonish ev'ry Sense within you This Man this honest man whose Statue ought To be set up in gold in all your streets Inspir'd by Heav'n discovers that himself With five bold Ruffians more were all set on By Mary Queen of Scots to murther you Qu. E. To murther me Cec. Forbid it Heav'n and Stars To kill the Queen Dav. With Sacraments they bound it More horrid than e're Catiline invented Who to ' slave Rome ty'd it with humane Blood First view the Monsters pictur'd to the Life Each with a several Instrument of Fate Produces the Tablets Wav'd in his Hand with which to Hell they swore If either of them fail'd to cut you off Qu. E. Preserve me Heaven Queen takâ—s the Tablets in her Hand Dav. What do's it make you start Do these odd Hieroglyphicks make you wonder The Rogue that fir'd the gawdy Fane at Ephesus Deserv'd to be a Saint to these he strove But for a little Memory after Death But these before presumptuously defy Heav'n and the World t'anticipate the Blow And tell Mankind they glory in the Deed. Qu. E. What 's here a Latin Verse which he that is The Chief does seem to bellow from his Mouth These are Companions chos'n and fit for such a danger Here is thy Face makes one amongst the Villains Giff. With horrour I confess it Qu. E. Name the rest Giff. I will but wonder when you hear what Men Of several Stations clubb'd to do this Mischief The Elements were not more aptly mixt To make a perfect World as they to do a Deed Wou'd startle Nature and unfix the Globe And hurl it from its Axel Tree and Hinges This first is Babington Rich and of Birth Pointing to the Tablets Might lift him to be rank'd amongst the Nobles Young proud and daring fiery and ambitious Qu. E. I know the Gentleman of Derbyshire He came to me for leave to go to France Giff. The same Qu. E. O horrid Who can read a Villain How subtly Nature paints hides a false Heart And shroud's a Traitor in an Angels Garb The next Giff. Tillny a Courtier Cec. What the Queen 's own Servant Dav. I know him too his Father 's only Hopes Heir to a great Estate O Parricide Giff. This Barnâ—el turbulent and precipâ—â—te A bloody minded Wretch fit for the Deed Of Ireland Cec. I believe each Word thou utter'st Without his Country it had been no Plot. Giff. Savage a Ruffian of the worst degree And never to be painted as he is Stew'd in a Brothel house and tann'd in Blood Qu. E. O Queen O Mary where 's thy Refuge now Giff. The fifth is Châ—rnock Student of the Law Lastly to make the Compound great my Self Qu. E. I 've heard too much If this be true how shall I help thee now Boldly this Breast has stood the Shock but now Can hold no longer hence be dumb for ever O for the quiet that my Mind has lost My Crown I 'de give a Kingdom I 'de bestow But for the sweet Repose my Soul last Night Enjoy'd Hear Heav'n deny me not this Prayer Curse me with Madness blast me with Diseases Melt this loath'd Crown away like scalding Lead Turn all my Hairs to Snakes upon my Head And in a Dungeon let me long lament All I 'le endure make her but innocent Cec. 'T is fit you double all your Strength about you And let the Queen immediately be seiz'd Qu. E. 'T is false she is abus'd and all is forg'd She is not can't nor shall she guilty be Confess it do and I 'le forgive you all I now command you nay intreat you too Be merciful to your tormented Queen And O restore my Sister's Innocence again See Monster Villain Fury Devil Priest Be sure thou prov'st this Crime upon my Sister To Gifford Be sure thou dost without the smallest doubt Or I will have thee hang'd to touch the Sky For Sun to burn thee and the Clouds to quench thee To shew to Heav'n to shew to Earth below The Wretch so curst and banisht both for ever Or I will have thee long long years a dying Feed thee by Weight to starve a Grain a day Whilst thy rack'd flesh whole Ages shall decay And Spirits by slow degrees distil away Yet O! 'T is all too little to recal That wealthy Mass of quiet thou hast robb'd me off Cec. 'T is the Request of all your faithful Subjects That you 'd be pleas'd to seize the Queen of Scotland Cecil and Davison kneel Least she shou'd act what is but
tak'n into Protection Of Englands Laws and therefore but a Subject Mor. A quaint Distinction that and like your Lawyers But since it serves our Ends no matter how Dav. At last having deny'd with Constancy The legal Power of this Imperial Court And finding they were all resolv'd against her As a rare Swimmer shiprack'd on the Ocean A vast and dreadful distance from the Shore And hopeless grown with all his Art to gain it Gives himself o're contentedly to drown So she sate down and mildly then submitted Mor. Were her two Secretaries heard in Court Dav. No tho' she still did urge to have 'em brought Pleading that Navus was a Forreigner And might for fear of Tortures and the Wrack Be threatten'd to accuse her wrongfully Curl too she said a timorous byass'd Man Wou'd sign to any thing that Navus wrote Mor. But what was the most stabbing Proof against her Dav. Her Correspondence had with Babington So by the fatal Oaths of two false Servants Never seen Face to Face to be confronted But more to buy the safety of the Nation She was at last condemn'd and soon must dye Mor. But as the Prophet in the guiltless Ship Was thrown into the Sea t' appease the Tempest If she on Land has rais'd a Storm to wrack us 'T is fit She should be sacrific'd as he was Dav. Behold the Duke's just coming forth to dye The Queen is entring too 'T is as I fear'd Exeunt Morton and Davison Enter Queen Mary with Dowglas attended at one Door and Norfolk going to Execution at the other they meet Qu. M. Must the brave Duke receive his Death to day Dow. Alas see where he comes a Sight will kill you Qu M. Quick drive me scourge me lash me from this Place Will the Queens Malice hunt me to the last Was there no Time but now no Way but this O lead me through some Passage under ground Some horrid Vault or Hell but to avoid him Norf. My Queen my lovely Alban Queen sure I 'me Already dead and this the happy Place Where Souls like hers receive their blest Rewards Qu. M. Turn wretched Duke or e're Death seals thy Eyes This moment tear 'em out as I wou'd mine Shun me as if thou coud'st thy horrid Fate Or a Goblin damn'd Norf. What says my Goddess Queen Qu. M. Is not your wrong'd and mighty Spirit shockt And Death a much more welcome Guest than I And worse to see me than to feel the Blow Norf. By all your Wrongs and mine Qu. M. O come not near me 'T is said a murther'd Body when 't is cold And all it's Veins froz'n and congeal'd by Death When he approaches near that did the Deed Warn'd by the mighty Power of just Revenge Pours a warm Flood and bleeds afresh again Why dart you not a Peal of Curses on me Your Eyes Promethean Fire to blast my Soul And why don 't ev'ry Hair upon thy Head Arm like the brissled Porcupine against me Norf. Lov 's Wounds may bleed afresh but no Grief else The Ax these Guards and this grim Pomp of Death Stir me no more than acted in a Play My Lov 's immortal and can fear no Fate Nor feel a Terrour but to part with you And cou'd I but redeem your precious Life I 'de fly to meet the Torments of the Damn'd A thousand years and dye thus ev'ry day Qu. M. Alas most pity'd Prince force not these drops Tears the kind Balm to ease all tortur'd Breasts But mine and mine finds no Relief Be gone oh no For you must ne're return Let me be gone Norf. For Death I am prepar'd but not to leave you Qu. M. The dearest Friends ne're make a stir at parting Before so small a Journey as we take 'T will not be long some two or three short days Or hou'rs perhaps and we shall meet again We both are in the Ballance weigh'd for Death You in the bottom Scale that 's next the Grave And I hang wavering in uncertain hopes Above but when y' are mounted up to Heav'n I then shall drop where you' ar now going to Earth Norf. By Heav'n the Queen the hungry Tigress durst not What! shed the Blood the sacred Blood of Kings 'T were Blasphemy in Angels to suspect it But if she dare I will my self descend And arm'd with Legions in the shades below Stand Century in the utmost Gap of Fate And drive your beauteous Spirit back to be Inshrin'd within this sacred Mould again Q. M. Ah Duke are you so cruel and unkind I had but two priz'd Friends within this Bosome The Queen and you and she forbids me Earth And you deny me Heav'n Hear me Friend To the Heads-man Thou with the Vizour if thou' rt Death be not Asham'd to shew thy Face for I can dare thee How long hast thou been practis'd in this Art And how many brave Heads hast thou cut off Why dost not speak Dow. He 's not the publick Heads-man But one whose horrid Zeal has brib'd his Hand The common Executioner who proffer'd A mighty Sum refus'd to do the Deed. Norf. Can there be Conscience found in such as He What Villain then art thou Qu. M. Thou art some Bungler and com'st To learn thy Trade on this brave wretched Man If thou shou'dst fail at once to take his Head Be sure you sever mine off at a Blow Norf. Away your Danger spurs me on my Race Swift as the Mind can think my Soul shall fly And make the Scaffold but one step to Heav'n Qu. M. And till I come your happiness to see Kneel and attone th' offended Powers for me Norf. Yes all the shining Hoast shall plead your Cause The nearest Saints to the Imperial Chair Shall still repeat it in th' Almighty's Ear Whil'st round the dazling Throne Queen Mary's Wrongs Shall be the Subject of the Angels Songs Whilst the great Deity for Revenge shall call All Heav'n shall shake the Universe be aw'd But Rebel England feel the angry God Qu. M. Farewel Our Souls a joyful Meeting soon shall feel Norf. But to our Bodies here a long Farewel Exeunt severally Queen Elizabeth alone Qu. E. A Midnight Silence sits upon the Morn The Eye of Day shuts as afraid already And seems the setting not the rising Sun Behold a Crown a Scepter and Regalia's Crown and Regalia's on a Table Without two Kingdoms full of flattering Subjects Watching my Looks and waiting on my Nod Yet where 's the Quiet where 's the Freedom here Enter Cecil and Davison with Commissioners from both Houses Dav. My Lord I fear we have transgress'd too far Upon the Queens most private Thoughts Cec. Thoughts or no thoughts I must and will awake her Yet hold do you with these retire a while And I 'le wait near till she is pleas'd to call Qu. E. Norfolk is dead His Body 's freed from Pain his mind from fear And feels like me no doleful Beatings here Curst be this Crown and this loath'd Scene of Power And
curst this Head that e're the Magick wore The careless Shepheard now feels no such Sting More lov'd obey'd and happier than a King His Subjects do not one another hate For Malice nor for Jealousie of State But harmlesly the Ewe and crested Ram Walk Side by Side and guard the tender Lamb. This from some Bank beholds the Joyful Hind Tuning his Pipe harmonious as his Mind Views all around more blest than from a Throne Possessing all and yet does nothing own Who 's there wellcome kind Cecil to relieve me Welcome I hope to rid this Breast from pain What say the Houses to their Queens demand Shall my dear Sister live shall I be happy Cec. Here 's Davison commission'd from the Commons Re-enter Davison and Commissioners And I from all the Lords with both their Answers Qu. E. Thanks my dear People faithful Davison Speak for my soul now starts to meet the sound Dav. May 't please your Majesty your Loyal Commons To what you bid e'm think that Mercy shou'd Be shewn to one of Maries Dignity and Sex And near Relation that in Blood she 's to you They humbly offer that no Sex nor Title Nay were they sprung from the same Royal Father Ought to protect Offenders 'gainst their Soveraign And boldly tell you Mercy is a Crime When it is shewn to one that has no Mercy She wou'd have tak'n your Life which is not safe As long as Mary lives Whom if you save in hopes that Heav'n will spare you Is not to trust th' Almighty but provoke him Qu. E. Is this the Censure then of the most wise And Arbitrary Commons Dav. Mightiest Queen Do not miscall what is your Subjects Loves Their only Zeal is for your Royal Safety To whom one moment of your precious Welfare Is far more worth than all their Lives and Fortunes Qu. E. The Commons let e'm mean my Hurt or Fame They never want to give it a kind Name Dav. To that Objection of your Majesty That this may draw a War from France or Spain They all agree with one entire Consent If any such shou'd be to guard your Crown And Royal Person with their whole Estates and Lives But such fond Fears are held impossible For they can ne're hurt England but by Her And all such Dangers at her Death will vanish Qu. E. This then 's the Commons Resolution Dav. With which the Lords do with one Voice concur Qu. E. Is this their Answer to their Soveraigns Tears This all the kindness that two Queens can beg Dav. All fixt and firm as Fate they are resolv'd Like Rocks to stand the Tempest of vain Pity Since to deny you this is to be Loyal To your most sacred Majesties Request And to asswage the Tyrant Mercy in your Bosome No other Answer we cou'd get but this They bid us humbly offer to your thinking A Proverb no less true to be observ'd Than what was said of Conradine of Sicily And Charles of Anjou Rivals in a Crown Which is The Death of Mary is the Life Of Queen Elizabeth the Life of Mary The Death of Queen Elizabeth Qu. E. Hear you immortal and avenging Powers Are Kings Vicegerents of your Rule on Earth Breath's the rich Oyl yet fragrant on our Brows And are we thus obey'd There are but two Main Attributes which stamp us like your selves Mercy and sole Prerogative and those Daring and saucy Senates wou'd deny us Why Heav'n that gave my Ancestors a Crown Power uncontroll'd as any King cou'd wish Yet let e'm lavish out so vast a Stock Then Mortgage it and put it in the Hands Of such hard Usurers as these Cec. May 't please your Majesty Qu. E. I 'le hear no more Go tell your Masters that their Queen is coming Give me my Robes I 'le instantly dissolve e'm I 'le drive you from your Hives your Sanctuary To rail at judge and censure whom you please Asunder y' are such cringing fawning Wretches And tremble like the Fox before the Lion But let us touch but one amongst your Herd Tho' an Offender then you roar out all And Priviledge is the Word like a whole Kennel If one of all the Hounds but make a noise Hast and beware for I will Thunder bring Fell as a Woman awful as a King Exeunt Cecil Davison and the rest cringing What have I done with whom shall I advise Heav'n keeps at stately distance now and treats not With Kings as they with Monarchs did of old By Messengers of Angels or of Prophets Inspire my Thoughts Bid Davison come back And send 'em word that I 'le not come to day Why incens'd Powers have you decreed So large a Road of Bliss to all Mankind And mark'd me out a Destiny so narrow That on one side I must be sure to err Or take my Sister's Life or loose my own Re-enter Davison Dav. I come at your dread Majesties Command Qu. E. O Davison thou art a man on whom I 've showr'd rich Favours to adorn thy Person But thou hast Merits that outshine my Bounty Dav. O whither wou'd your Majesty Qu. E. Thou seest how thy poor Queen is tortur'd here 'T is vain to hide what thou hast Eyes to find How backward I am still to Cruelty How loth to drein the Blood ev'n of my Foes Is there no way to satisfie my People Nor jealous Pow'r but by my Sisters Death O speak and call my Favours to thy mind And that on Earth there 's none so curst as I. There 's none so wretched but may hope for Ease But thy poor Queen has none Now if thou hast One spark of Comfort in thy grateful Breast O put it into mine Dav. I wou'd advise But ah what Hopes can that Physician have Of Cure whose Patient throws away his Medicine And says that it is Poyson Lo I kneel To you the wisest Charming'st Queen on Earth The perfect'st Pattern of those Pow'rs above But oh the more y' are good in Mercy shine Heav'n seems more fixt to save such Excellence Which cannot be but by the Death of Mary Qu. E. Vultures and Ravens Schriech Owles Croaks of Toads Are jarring in that Voice Fly from my sight Run Monster Fiend and seek thy Habitation Where such loath'd Vermine build their fatal Nests Or sink thee into Hell just where thou kneel'st Rather than that shou'd be Rise and be gone Dav. This shall not fright your Slave from his lov'd Duty Nor from this humble Posture no unless You take this Weapon in your God-like Hand And thrust it in your Servants faithful Breast And let out all my Blood that 's Loyal yet When I am dead so well you are belov'd There 's none of all your faithful Parliament but wou'd Thus kneel implore and hug the Fate that I had Qu. E. Be gon quick Davison thou fatal Charmer Thou subtil Mouth of the Deluding Senate Dav. Alas what Ends can your kind Subjects have What private Benefit can they propose By this Queens Death but to preserve