of Old Rome The Innocent to suffer with the Guilty As there perhaps the Valiant with the Coward Pemb. Then my Lord For all these strong Exceptions of the Duke Since no Attainder was against the Peers His Brethren in Guilt they by our Laws Were held as equal Judges as the best Gard. They were I 'le wait on you my Lord. As they are going out Suffolk meets them and Jane and Gilford at at another Door as going to their Tryals Gard. My Lord of Suffolk wou'd you ought with us Ia. Alas my Father Pemb. What wou'd your Grace The Court does stay my Lord. Suff. If you want Woe to set the nicest touch And Master stroak of Sorrow on this Scene To make this sad Tribunal more compleat And solemn than the last partake of mine Pemb. Wou'd you have any thing that we can grant you Suff. I run to you for shelter from my Griefs But find I must despair to meet it here Such Storms of Misery have shook our House The Pillars of it crack beneath the weight And I am only left to tell the Story Ambitious Fires have sear'd us to the Bone Like Lightning pierc'd and made its fatal way Into the inmost Closets of the Mind Gard. My Lord Suff. The wretched Mother of that woful Daughter The Wife of this Inhumane Flinty Bosom Is grown Distracted by a furious Grief Her Sence dug up and rooted like a Mine Scourg'd by her Tyrant Sorrow from its Throne And like a Fury driven about its House Alas she 's mad Ia. What said my Lord What speaks my Father Suff. Mad as the raging Billows of the Sea The bated Panther or Nemaean Lyon Or as the Tyger in his search of Prey When cruel Appetite had whet his Fury Ia. Just Heav'n these are beginnings of the Treat That w' are invited to partake e're long Suff. O thou best Child of all thy tender Sex Thou Sanctuary of Innocence Let me adore thee It was not long since these Ambitious Arms Took thee by force fast bound thee to the Throne And put the Crown with Threatnings on thy Head For which my Lords lift up your awful hands And with your Sword of Justice cut 'em off These Knees the vile Examples to the Croud That taught 'em first to bow to my Ambition Let 'em do Pennance thus and kneel for ever Kneels Ia. What means my Lord I did not think to stain My haughty and couragious Innocence With the least drop but this alas has wrack'd me My Father's Woes and Mother's dreadful Story Has rung a Torrent from my bleding Eyes With fiercer pain than Vitals from my Heart O best of Fathers wou'd you bless me rise This is the worst of all Idolatries Gard. My Lord of Pembrook see the Court expects us Suff. Stay stay you eager Ministers of Fate In whose one hand is Life the other Death Pemb. My Lord what mean you Suff. Is it for nought dear Country Men you see A guilty Father kneeling to his Daughter Gard. You act against the Justice of our Place We dare nor hear nor suffer this my Lord You must remove from hence till Sentence given Ia. Rise O my Father Gilford lend thy hand This posture does infect our Innocent Blood And makes me guilty of the shame I suffer Pemb. My Lord we must desire you to depart Or else desist and leave us to our Duty Suff. First hear me Lords your Breath is as the Gods As is the voice of Heav'n pronouncing Justice Let not grim Statutes nor the Judges sway you Your Breasts are Oracles and your Decrees Inevitable Acts without Appeal Gard. This is so great a Fact against the Laws Such Boldness to obstruct the course of Justice We blush to hear therefore my Lord be gone Suff. What tho' the Law has stil'd her an Usurper Turn your Eyes inward probe 'em to your hearts Your Consciences from whom is no Appeal Know that your selves the Judges and the Lords Gave both your Votes your Threatnings and your Prayers To set this Innocent against her Will Upon the Throne for which she 's now Arraign'd And for your faults must suffer as a Martyr Pemb. My Lord Suff. Yet yet permit me Hold you that favour from a Duke which you Allow your common Prostitutes of Law A mouth stufft with the Frazes of his Client Suffer an Advocate to rail for Gain A Lawyer for his Fee and will not hear A wretched Father for his Daughter plead Gard. You Preach to Rocks and howl unto the Seas W' are deaf as they to what we dare not hear You must obey the Dictates of the Law And so farewell Exeunt Pemb. and Gard. Suff. Go then but take a Fathers Curse along A wretched Father blast of all his Issue May you like me despairing live like me See all your Children Slaughter'd in your sight And when you come to die consent to 't Heav'n If you to save your selves condemn this Saint May your black Souls on Blasphemy take Wings And meet your just Rewards like Fiends in Hell Ia. O Sir Suff. Weep not thou drooping Flower thou mourning Angel Bright as a Cherubim thou shalt descend Or like a Planet gayer than the Sun Sit with the awfull Judge of all the World At the last day Arraign 'em at the Bar Of Heav'n and plunge them into Fires for this Iane Ia. Sir O Father Suff. O Son O Daughter of my Bowels I bode these Eyes shall never see thee more Far as from Earth to the Immortal Dwelling This Moment parts thee from thy Wretched Father Stain not with Tears th' Injustice nor thy Wrongs But let the Task of Weeping all be mine Ia. This is a Tryal harder to be born Than that we go to meet with Suff. Hadst thou been set by Tygers in the Desart I cou'd have charm'd 'em sooner than thy Judges Or hadst been rack'd upon the milder Ocean I cou'd have swam and born thee o'er the Billows Immur'd with fires I cou'd have snatch'd thee thus And held thy Body in these Arms unscorch'd Pull'd thee from forth the Jaws of Plagues and Famine But from inexorable Laws and Judges I cannot Ia. Blame not the Laws nor mitigate my Crime But bless the Queen that sav'd my Father's life Speak Comfort to my Mother and be Loyal Farewell Suff. Be Loyal What a Parodox is that Can Suffolk Loyal be when thou art slain Preach Loyalty to Lucifer that fell To Tygers that are rob'd to Fiends in Hell But not to me my Child A long Farewell Ex. Suff. Scence draws and discovers Pembrook Gardner Iudges Officers and all Formalities of the Court Pemb. My Lord Chief Justice and my Lords the Judges I am not ignorant that this great Session Is the most prime Prerogative of the Crown The highest and most awful Seat of Justice And that the Queen presides in Person here Above all other Courts Gard. Room for the Lady make the Prisoners way Pemb. Most Virtuous Lady we intreat you sit Ia. My Lord you might have
a Crown Shouts within A Crown O Sacred and Immortal sound Does not the dazling Object fill thy Breast With such AEtherial Brightness strange Delight As Eden's Goddess when her Eyes were open'd And saw the World her Subjects all Obey her Ia. Indeed 't is not unlike but has this difference She dreaded not the Poyson she had swallow'd This is Damnation we too surely know A Sin will Edge the Flaming Sword of Justice To drive us from our Paradise of Love Where is the Princess Mary She 's not Dead Gilf. But Disinherited Ia. It cannot be 't is such a horrid Act That is not in the Power of Hell to do Gilf. The King who left it you Has cut off both his Sisters from the Throne Ia. He durst not cou'd not Oh! he was too good 'T was in his Sleep or else when cruel Pain Had stole his Sences that some Devil appear'd And if it be so guided his weak hand To give another's Right the Nation 's Choice And Heav'ns Prerogative away Far be the thoughts of such a Guilt from us Gilford I will not take the Crown Gilf. Ha! Ia. Pardon this one denial of thy Iane This only Disobedience of thy Wife And all the Meekness of a Tender Bride Is thine hereafter Gilf. What! not be a Queen Ia. Rouze rouze my Gilford from this deadly slumber Start from this Lethargy of vile Ambition A fatal Vision of deceitful Glory Lest it shou'd prove with thee like him who dreamt That he was mounted on a Precipice And finding it was real when he wak'd Did in a Frenzy to the bottom fall And dasht his Bones to pieces Gilf. O my Angel Ia. Come to these Arms far safer than a Crown Let us the noise of Courts and Courtiers shun And heavier load of interrupting State The little God will bend beneath the weight Gilf. O my Goddess Ia. Wou'd you this Empire leave to Reign with Guilt This Lambent Crown for one of drossy Gold Shall we this Heav'n forego and Heav'n hereafter To live and wear the hated Name of Tyrants And die the death of Traitors Gilf. Ha! Ia. Do you love me and do you prize my Love Gilf. O Heav'ns Why doubts my Soul Ia. Wou'd you indure to see this Body then Which Heav'n and Earth all Vote to be thy Right Torn from thy Embraces and before thy Face By these lov'd Tresses fasten'd to the Ground This Bosom threaten'd and these Beauties mangl'd Ravish'd and made the Lustful Victor's Prize Gilf. Mothers would see their Infants with less Moans Torn from their Breasts and dasht against the Flints Ia. O Gilford Thou 'st Condemn'd us both to snatch The Crown and Mary's Birth-Right from her Head Such Ravishers are we Gilf. Forgive thy Husband Ia. I know thou wou'dst not Had I my Sexes Appetite unbound Let loose the Raging Woman from her Temper And seiz'd the Crown thou wou'dst have child thy Iane Pull'd from my Head the Sacrilegious Plunder And streight restor'd the Royal Theft again Take Counsel of this Faithful Breast that loves thee Resolve no more to split upon a Throne Let 's wear our Innocence but not the Crown Enter Northumberland Duke and Dutchess of Suffolk Officers of State Lords Ladies Attendants and Guards All kneel North. Long live the Virtuous Happy and Ador'd Iane Queen of England France and Ireland Ia. Kneel not to me I charge you by those Powers That first taught Children Duty to their Parents Oh! here are some this posture not befits Were I the Queen of all the wealthy Globe If Angels shou'd descend and worship Men It would not be to me so strange a sight Rise or I 'll grow thus one with Earth for ever Why is all this to me North. Be pleas'd to wear th' Imperial Crown of England The Sacred Relicks of most Pious Edward At whose Commands and by consent of all We beg you wou'd Adorn and put 'em on Suff. And make the Widdow'd Nation happy Ia. My Lords whose Crown wou'd you invest me with North. Deceas'd King Edward's Ia. And tell me whose Estate d' you now enjoy North. My Father's Madam Ia. Cou'd then this most deplor'd the best of Kings Our Royal Master Owner of that Crown Suppose the Will have so much Power to be Unjust and take your own Inheritance By Law and Right of Nature only yours And give it to a Stranger North. I think not Ia. Yet you wou'd take his Crown his Sister 's Right And make a Gift of it to me these Kingdoms That are as justly now the Princess's Portion As are your Father's Lordships yours North. Ha! Gilford Ia. I see y' are fix'd with wonder at my words North. Madam Ia. Illustrious Parents Lords and Country Men Why mock you this Unroyal Head with Crowns This head that was not made for Rule But to Obey for here 's my Lord To serve is all the scope of my Ambition What me O Father Lords and Councellors And all good English Men forbid O be not Be not so rash as in the Fable once The Woods and Trees the Rebels of the Forrest That sought t'elect a Monarch of their own And basely chose the Bramble for their King Whilst the tall Princely Cedar stood neglected Suff. O Child of Virtue Dutch Daughter North. Rebellious Boy Is this all real Ia. Are you so soon forgetful of the Wounds Whose Scars you carry fresh about you like So many gaping Witnesses against you When the Revengeful House of Lancaster And that of York did from your selves and Fathers By Usurpation drain a Sea of Blood When the white Rose Grew Crimson with the Vitals of the Red And the bold Red turn'd White with the vast Blood It lost That I shou'd be th' Agressor The hanging Meteor that shou'd bode your Ruines O take me rather quench me from this Orb This Basilisk and lay me deep in Earth Dutch Degenerate Girl North. Furies and Death Is this in earnest Madam Ia. O that these Drops were Tongues instead of Tears And every word a Seraphim to charm you With all the Virtues Graces Worth of her That is your Queen add too divinely born Daughter and Sister to your two late Kings Whom do the Savages in Desarts chuse To be their Head but of the Lyon's Race And whom the Feather'd Songsters of the Air But of the Royal Eagle's Brood Let not Birds and Brute Beasts instruct your Loyalty None but Mankind from smooth Succession strays But only Man nor God nor King obeys North. My Lords in low Submission to the Queen All this more shews her Noble Mind to Govern Than just Excuses to refuse the Crown You know how deep our hands are in how close Our Lives are with this Common Interest joyn'd Consult of this within and in a Moment Exeunt Officers of State I will expect your Resolutions Madam By all your precious hopes y' are lost and ruin'd Unless you mean to dally with the Crown As your uncertain Sex deal all with Love And the same Moment both refuse
of the World Wou'd break her Vow to Gilford tell me then Is there a Man who for Religions Cause To fix the Glory of his House for ever And join two Lovers Hearts made one before By mutual Vows but wou'd have done as I did Pemb. The Ministers above are on your side And pleas'd to make your great Attempt successful Heav'ns have you not a Bolt in all your store Left yet to ram this Traytor to the Center Nay me that knows all this to be the forging of Aside His Brain yet dare not tell him that he Lies North. Haste then my Lord you are our Hopes have you The suppos'd Letters of the King to Mary And Council's Order of dispatch Pemb. I have But mine e'er this I hope she has receiv'd To give her Caution Fare you well my Lord. North. Yet but a word If Edward's Death she chance To hear of and so miss to fall into our Snare By my Command unknown to all the Council Six of the tallest best appointed Ships Are Cruising now about the Coast of Yarmouth To intercept her Flight that way Pemb. 'T was Bravely done and Wisely How Villany betrays it self Farewell Success at home attend you doubt not mine Exit Pemb. North. Help now you Powers whether from Heaven or Hell Descend ascend bring but a Crown I care not That from this Moment may grow up my Basis Whilst thus having compleated all my Labours Like Hercules I fix my Pillars here And by this Foot of ground on which I tread Hold and take seizen now of all the rest Lighting my Torch at Tudor's short liv'd flame Till Dudly's Name shall blaze in England's Crown As long and fear'd as Proud Plantagenet's Let none admire that Thracian Maximin A Peasant once attain'd the Roman Empire Or that Ogothocles a Potter's Son With Armies Conquer'd the Cicilian State Since Whirl-winds Storms and Earthquakes root up Towns And watery Deluges have drown'd whole Countries But this to do without the noise of Thunder Alone and with the Fox's Tayl unarm'd The Fame of this is only due to Dudly Behold a' comes the Pledge of all my Wishes The Star of my Ambition for whose sake I 'de wrest the War out of the Gyants hand And undertake a second fight with Heaven Enter Gilford Gilf. What have I felt what Ravishing Delight What Mines of Pleasure hast thou found this Night What Mysteries of Love without a Name What quenching Cordials and what killing Flame Soft like a Babe she laid me in her Bosom Whilst all the night I revell'd in her Arms. In Dreams of Love I 've done the like before But always wak'd till now cheated and poor North. O Son of all my hopes my Darling Gilford For whom thy Father feels within his Breast What far exceeds the Love of Youth to Beauty Gilf. My Lord my Father The Parent of my Life and of my Joys The Shrine of all my Offerings Prayers and Thanks And God of my Obedience here on Earth O let me bend beneath your feet for ever And kiss the Sacred Ground your steps have blest North. Rise to my Arms my Son I do Command thee What means my Gilford Gilf. O Sir you Begot me North. I did my Boy so did my Father me And all Mankind came so into the World Is that so strange Gilf. O Yes when I have told What Stars of Blessings rul'd when I was Born What lavish Plannet Reign'd that Night you 'll say My Birth 's a Miracle my Life a wonder North. Thy Vertues shine indeed like Prodigies Gilf. Was ever Man before Conceiv'd like me O speak when first you won my Mother's Love Had you not then the fierce desires of Iove Who got Alcides with such vast Delight He mask'd three Suns to make a treble Night And join'd three bright December Moons in one To get so Lov'd to make so Blest a Son North. How fares thy Lovely Bride my Beauteous Daughter Gilf. O there you dive into the precious Stream That purls through ev'ry Vein about my Heart The String that when with the least Breath you touch A thrilling Musick runs through all my Blood And ev'ry Pulse leaps but to hear her Nam'd North. O tell me of her Health how fares thy Iane Gilf. To see her is the Blessing of the Eyes But to lie by her panting side and hear The beatings of her heart Love's softest Language To count the Balmy Sighs her Soul breathes out And sweeter Kisses dropping from her Lips Are sure the Pleasures that th' Immortals feel The Springs where Angels every thousand years Fledge their cast Wings to make them young again And now can you believe if ever Father Did make a Son so blest if ever Son Had so much cause as I to bless a Father North. True if thou knew'st the mighty things I 've done Prepare with awe and listen to thy Father If this small gust of Passion shakes thy Frame Son I have News will root thee up with Joy Wou'd not thy Iane look lovely with a Crown Gilf. A Crown where e'er she goes she is the Queen And makes her Presence still the Court of Love Cupids like Subjects waiting on her looks Crowns in her Eyes and Scepters in her Smiles She like the Golden World in Bed did lie Like Conquering Alexander I lay by And what in Ages he cou'd scarce inthrall Won in a Night and Crown'd me King of all North. Still have you no regard to my Request Curb your wild Joy and listen to my Story I lay it on you as my last Commands I ever must or dare from hence pronounce Gilf. Ha! you have shock'd me Sir with somewhat which I fear to know What is 't I 'm all Attention North. Young Edward's dead Gilf. Alas that Rose of Kings That Sacred Bud of Royalty e'er it Cou'd blossom into Man Say not he 's dead North. Gilford your pity spare and hear me out And now you have indur'd the bitter Rind Prepare to taste the luscious Fruit that follows Gilf. Methought I heard a Father's voice again Say if he 's dead who must restore our Joys Why mourns the Kingdom then without a head Whom must I kneel to whom must we obey North. There lives a Prince to undeceive you let This Posture then instruct you who he is Gilf. Why kneels my Father why d' you heap more wonders North. Why bends the Subject to his lawful King I 'm in the presence of my Soveraign Gilf. Ha! where if so then I must cleave to Earth What means my Father say I see no Prince No Person that I owe Obedience to But you Heav'n what do you intend by this D' you rain down Miracles to distract me quite Or do you this to let me know that all Those Joys I tasted but last night were mortal North. To rid your Soul of racking doubts for ever Know that I kneel to you Gilf. All Heav'n forbid Rivers no more shall pay the Ocean duty But rushing back shall mingle with their Source
let my pregnant Heart bring forth Those kindly Joys the Beams of Love have kindled Dutch 'T is nought but Fondness and Excess of Passion Like Misers Wealth which oft begets a Fear Without a Cause of losing what they covet Ia. Why in the Tower this Palace more befits A Coronation than a private Wedding Love rather wou'd have chosen some lonely Bower Or humble Cottage than this mighty Prison Alas why at this time why are we lodg'd In the Apartment of the King and here attended With more than usual State Dutch It is my Child By the Appointment of his Majesty Ia. By his Appointment say Then is he well Dutch I do not know Ia. Ha! then I fear 't is bad For every one I ask tells me the same Does his devouring Malady increase Then Bane to all our Marriage-Sweets for ever If he does languish why should we rejoyce Why should our Hymen's Torch so proudly blaze When he our brightest Sun is in Eclipse Why shou'd we laugh and drink deep Draughts of Joy When Edward Groans and all the Nation Weeps Dutch Disturb the quiet of thy Breast no more Thou shou'dst rejoyce to see thy Mother glad Her Floods of Sorrow and her Tides of Bliss Are Govern'd by the Stars of thy Success Wines of sweet Relish may be drunk too fast And what you are should not be told in haste Exit Dutch Ia. Ha! Gone Was I but yesterday so blest And now a Stranger to my Mother's Breast What is the cause just Heav'n she shuns my sight Has then a Wife so chang'd me in a Night What News is that too great for me to bear And yet I dread it is too bad to hear But see a' comes my Oracle of Love That will all Doubts from this dear Heart remove In whose sweet Tongue 's more Musick soft Desire Than in Apollo's Voice or Charming Lyre Enter Gilford Gilf. My Life My Soul My Angel and my Love Ia. Come to my Breast thou faithless Wanderer And listen to the Language of my Heart The Dove within my Bosom left alone Has pin'd and coo'd and made such piteous Moan And in its doleful Cage no rest cou'd get This long long hour and all for thee its Mate Gilf. Ye Powers that ever felt a Lover's Joy Why have ye made such Beauties to destroy For here are Arms to bind the Brave and Young Nets for the Wise and Fetters for the Strong Ia. O thou lov'd Man in whom are sweetly mixt Thy Father's Roughness and thy Mother's Softness Where hast thou been thou Darling dear of Love Where hast thou been thou Stragler Thy whole Sex Are like the little Robbers of the Hive Who having cull'd the Sweets of ev'ry Flower Rifl'd their Wealth and ravish'd all their Store Proud with their Conquest leave the Plunder'd Bower To every Storm and every Blast that blows Thus like the Violet and the fragrant Rose Women Enjoy'd you Banish and Expose Gilf. Atlas wou'd sink beneath this weight of Bliss I die I live and all with ev'ry kiss This Downy softness Snowy white excels The Beauty that in yonder Heaven dwells O shun me fly me banish me I fear These Raptures are too exquisite to bear Ia. I charm thee then by our past Scenes of Love By all those Sacred and Religious Rites Unravell'd to our languishing Delights By the disclosing of that Gordian Knot Which like the greedy Conqueror of the World Thou in the Temple of these Arms unfolded If there be any thing within this Breast Worth a kind thought O rid it then from Tortures And tell me why this place of Blood and Death Is chosen to be the Seat of tender Love Where dreadful Cannons drown soft Lutes and Songs And Bullets fly instead of Cupid's Darts But first by all those Tyes again I charge thee Inform me of the Welfare of the King If he be well no matter where we are Gilf. O then prepare to hear the Joyful Wonder Fit only for an Angel's Voice to tell And thou to hear King Edward by his Will Ia. What was 't you said his Will then is he dead Gilf. As Winters Clay he 's dead but that 's not all Ia. Not all Is not that more than all the Plagues at once On England Dead O Heav'ns recall that word And Trumpet with an Angel's Voice aloud To all his Subjects Ears that now are deaf With howlings that he lives Say does he live Gilf. In Heav'n a' does Ia. O Gilford can you say He 's dead and not relate it with a Tone So mournful that wou'd strike with sudden death The wretched hearers Gilf. Cease thou profuse and lavish Mourner cease Dudley will else grow jealous of his Shade And wish to die to be lamented so Tears are but wasted that are spent in Sorrow Hadst thou a Stock wou'd fill the Ocean up I bring such News wou'd drain 'em all with Joy Shake off those Clouds that shade thy Summer's Beams And O! put on put on with all thy Smiles Thy Spring of Beauty straight to welcome Glory Kneels Ia. What means my Lord Gilf. Start not for what th' Almighty is above And Edward was on Earth ev'n that you are Ia. Ha! quickly tell me what is that Gilf. My Princess and the Soveraign Queen of England Ia. Rise rise and flatter those that are Ambitious Gilf. I dare not for the Ocean 's not so wide Nor distance up from Earth to Heaven so great As this vast Space a Crown has made betwixt us Ia. Now I have hopes again thou art not serious That the King lives and this is acted all Rise to my Breast and take those fancy'd Crowns Were here the Empire of the World my Lord Should share it Gilf. Can you be so Heav'nly lavish Imagine then thy Beauty 's on a Throne High as the Star the Ruler of the Morn From whence thou may'st behold Joy spread its Wings o'er all the Ravish'd Island Augusta with her Bells and Trumpets sounding Iane Brittain's Empress and the Ocean's Queen Ia. Haste and in few and plainer words explain you Truly I bind you by that Sacred Truth above I die to be deliver'd of this doubt But fear the Knowledge will be worse than Death What am I Who are you And if the King Be dead as all the Pow'rs o'er Life forbid Who shou'd the Nation kneel to but his Sister Gilf. Your self Ia. My self Gilf. Ask me not whom the People But whom the Heav'ns have chosen whom the King On his Sick Bed by Patent and by Will Ordain'd And I must answer only you Ia. Ha! Me Me Heav'ns Yet yet recant my Guilford Say this is feign'd and pour not down at once More Plagues than Earth has left in store to curse us Condemn not with thy once melodious Tongue These Breasts to Banishment and further too Than Seas can part us or than Death can do Gilf. What says my Iane has she not one kind look To give the Messenger nor Gilford too Heark heark they come approaching with
and take it Be suddain for there 's now no going back Like Caesar you have past the Rubicon Therefore resolve like him and take the Crown Dutch Say not th' art Conscious now of shedding Blood All we must perish if thou cease to guard us Already y' are proclaim'd through all the Kingdom And by a Claim lesser than Mary's think you Was not my Mother Harry's only Sister And every drop of Blood of thine as Royal As the best vein from whence her Title streams North. Ha! mute Gilford where is thy boasted Power Where 's now thy Empire o'er her bending Mind Thy soft thy obey'd thy quick Commands to win her Thou speechless too then we are all betray'd 'T is so Madam w' are sold basely and Cowardly Whilst Correspondence with the Candidate Is held in hopes that when my Life and all My wretched Sons are forfeited to Death They shall be Heirs and so of you my Lord Is it not so Gilf. O Iane Ia. Give me thy hand let 's fall thus low together O Father Mother far more priz'd than Life And Parent of my Lord as near my Heart By the Divine above and Just on Earth By this dear Pledge that you have given these Arms To bind me to your Love thus fast for ever Your Safety is the only Charm that binds me And Life the Sentence that Condemns me Guilty Dutch What 's to be done the Storm comes on apace And Mary like a Torrent from a Hill Will quickly drive us hence or pour upon us Suff. There 's now no hopes in any thing but Flight Let us secure our selves Dutch Inglorious Wretch Shame of thy Mother's Blood Suff. Say what do you intend to do my Lord North. Stay here like Titan and devour my Race To tear him her thee and then my hated self Yet I 'll be gone but whither that 's no matter Behold me O! thou that wert once my Son But now a Stranger to my Bowels Iove hurl'd Not Saturn from so proud a heighth as thou hast me I who this Moment in my hand had Crowns And Kingdoms with my Breath to give away Now am not worth this Spot this Earth I tread on Gilf. O cruel Iane O most Inhumane Virtue North. Yet I will live and feed this Breast with Curses There is this Comfort too I may run mad At worst but beg and starve out Life as lately A Noble Duke of the Lancastrian Line That us'd in Burgundy by Horsemens sides To run and crave an Alms and so farewel Gilf. My Father Lord you must not shall not stir Take not your self take not your Blessing from us Lo at your Feet the worst Delinquent falls Spurn this Hard-hearted and Rebellious Son Spurn me to Atoms hence you shall not go For thus I 'll hold 'em chain 'em with my Hands Wash 'em with Tears and glew 'em to my Lips Take me along your Son shall be your Shield I 'll plant my self like Marble round your Heart Save you from Want and guard you from your Foes North. Loose me Fond Nature will not let me hurt thee The Father 's in my Heart and Mother's in my Eyes Wilt thou not let me go to save my Life But see thy Father like a Traitor seiz'd Drawn on a Sledge and mounted on a Gibbet Then by the common Executioner Of Rogues and Thieves these Bowels to be ripp'd And this great Heart yet panting in his hand Thrown in the Flames and burnt before thy Face Gilf Now by the Heavenly Pity in her Soul She 'll not indure it See she 'll take the Crown And mount the Precipice of yonder Throne Were it as high or Mortal to ascend As Atlas Teneriff or burning AEtna I know my Iane wou'd Travel to the top At my Request one of these Tears shou'd force her Turn best of Fathers turn behold she will I see it in her Soul her Lips are pregnant Now now they open Heav'nly Angel say Let thy Tongue speak the Language of thy Eyes And save my Father's Life Ia. Heav'n knows my Gilford How dear's thy Love How Eloquent thy Tears And more how near thy Father's Danger wracks me Yet this I must not yield to All is none To Vultures here and Daggers in a Throne Gilf. Ha! Then I 'll search amongst the Stars or dive To th' bottom where this Merciless Virtue grows Farewel O most Belov'd And yet most Cruel Farewel to those false Dreams of Crowns by Day And Heav'n by Night Farewel to Love for ever Perhaps when I am Dead she 'll take the Crown Then of necessity this way 's the best To save a Father's Life and be at rest Offers to fall on his Sword Ia. Hold hold my Love Give me this fatal Weapon Where is this Throne Where is this Golden Wreath This Magick Circle to Inchant my Brow Load me with Crowns were it the Tripple Crown To save your Lives you shall then put it on North. Immortal Crowns reward your Soul for this Gilf. Shout shout aloud till Angels catch the sound And Joy in Heav'n that she on Earth is Crown'd Shouts Scene draws and discovers the Throne and Regalias Re-enter Lords Ia. Is this the fatal Glory of Mankind The dazling Object that so fires his Mind Curst as in Mines thou art dug up with pain With Labour got and Sorrow lost again Methinks when I ascend you dreadful height Putting on the Crown I am like one who when a Storm 's in sight Climbs up some dangerous Cliff that hits the Skies To view the Labouring Barks with weeping Eyes How they against the raging Billows strive And wonders that the little Wretches live But still forgets what slippery place he 's on How safe they are how near he is to drown Exeunt Omnes ACT III. SCENE I. SCENE the Tower Gardner solus Gard. YOung Edward dead the Crown Intail'd on Iane All looks like dreadful Truth for late last night Suffolk's proud Dutchess and her Pageant Daughter Enter'd these Walls with a profuse Retinue Omnipotence what mean'st thou fatal Caesar Curst be the Winds that drove thee on our Shore A Storm brought thee to us and ever since The Storms of War has lodg'd within our Bowels And curst be the Foundation of these Walls When thou didst build this Castle to maintain Thy ill got Empire 't was first rear'd in Blood And since with Blood of Princes often stain'd A Cittadel for this Rebellious City The Scene of Murders Slaughter-House of Kings And Court of Hellish Plots Ha! yonder comes Northumberland like a Prodigious Meteor That threatens Desolation where it hovers Dudley the Great and Monarch of his Prince Enter Northumberland with Attendance seeing Gardner offers to pass over the Stage My Lord. North. What says my Lord of Winchester Y' are breathing in the freshness of the Morning Gard. The King 's poor Prisoners Sir are glad to take The Benefit of any little Air. I 've borrow'd of my Chains this precious Freedom To learn what News and if the King be
a Sledge Than in a gawdy Chariot to be Crown'd This say and tell the Queen I was the Traytor Pemb. Madam there 's nothing then remains But oh the hardest Task for me to do That ever Heart not made of Steel cou'd think Or ever Tongue relate which is your Sentence And which the Law provides for such Offences Ia. Look on me Gilford with those healing Eyes While w' are together we 'll devour our Woes And Miseries shall be the Banquet of Our parting Lives deck'd out with gaudy Love Pronounce it in the name of Heav'n my Lord. Pemb. Rise then with me O ghastly Audience hear Start up like Spirits in Shrouds or Statues mute Not the least Sence or Motion that you live Nor fatal sign of Pulse or Breath appear Nor Lips be curst to say Amen but mine But with that awful silence pale and fix'd As you wou'd hearken to the World 's great Doom Ia. My Lord you are too pitiful Pemb. And when you see me ready to pronounce Wish that this Breath were Poyson to infect you These weeping Eyes were threatning Comets rather These Tears a Deluge that would drown the World But oh I am condemn'd to speak and when Hereafter you 'd relate a Tale that 's sad Remember this unhappy Pair remember Poor Pembrook thus afflicted as he is Pronouncing their unwilling Sentence which Is this and this the Court awards Gilf. What is it quick pronounce see we are guarded Thus hand in hand while w' are intrench'd with Love Each gallant Courage is the others Armour Pemb. You both are to be carry'd from this Bar Unto the Prison or Place from whence you came From whence y' are to be drawn upon two Hurdles Unto the common place of Execution Where you my Lord must by the Neck be hang'd Cut down alive and in the sight of all Your Bowels pull'd out and burnt before your Face Your Head first to be sever'd from your Body And Body then divided into Quarters Which are to be dispos'd of by the Queen But Madam out of Reverence to your Sex And for distinctions sake and Modesty Your Body must be compass'd round with Faggots And there be fasten'd to a Stake and burnt And so kind Heav'n have Mercy on your Souls Scene draws Exeunt omnes preter Jane Gilford and Guards Ia. Come to the faithful Partner of thy Bed To all thy Wishes and thy Sorrows wed Thou Joy thou Pain thou Comfort and thou Grief Fear of my Heart and Pleasure of my Life How long shall we be tost by ev'ry Breath From Courts to Prisons and from Prisons to Death Gilf. Where must these Halberts lead us to the Tower Our Dungeon now that was our Nuptial Bower So fell the Angels that did so aspire As I am punish'd for so rash desire To think there so much happiness cou'd be On Earth to be possess'd of Crowns and Thee Ia. Sweet Harmony of Life just Musick flows From Souls and strings by stops that interpose Always intranc'd is never to be blest Hunger delights but Surfeits spoil the Taste Love were not Love nor wou'd you Heav'n be dear If ever we enjoy'd such Raptures here Gilf. Sure never Pair were born by Fate so soon To kiss the Sun then driv'n so quickly down Shot like a pond'rous Weight that from the Sky With greater force does to the Center fly Marry'd and Crown'd injoy'd the Nuptial Bed Convicted and to Execution led King Queen and nothing all before the Sun Had twenty of its daily Courses run Ia. Behold us here thus tost thus driv'n thus hurl'd Gilford and I be warnings to the World For popular Applause and false Renown Make but a barren Title to a Crown A rash Usurper with no Right but these Rides like a Ship unballast on the Seas Flatter'd with gentle Winds does proudly Sail But when the Billows rage and Storms prevail Her glorious Bulk too empty for its height The Sea and dreadful Ruin swallow straight Exeunt Omnes ACT V. SCENE I. Northumberland solus O Curst Ambition fatal to Mankind Banefull'st of all the Passions of the Mind Too big for the Foundation thou must fall And coveting too much dost hazard all Nameless and dead Posterity and thee The Branches perish'd with the fatal Tree No Age to come shall speak of Dudley's Name Recount his Glories or his Childrens Fame The Seeds that I had Sown to Heav'n to shoot Storm'd in a Night and shaken with the Root Yet the Queen 's pious to a Miracle Will spare thy Life to save a Soul from Hell Bend supple Conscience when Life 's to be gain'd That may be certain what 's hereafter feign'd We know not what 's on th' other side the Skreen Behind you dreadful Curtain to be seen Turn Prodigal and let the Husks alone Rome's an Indulgent Mother to her Son Enter Gardner Gard. I come my Lord tho' loth at your Request To see a Noble Man in Misery Northumberland that was so great in Chains Looks like Malitious Triumph in Revenge Of the ill Offices I had from him North. For which my Lord I kneel to be forgiv'n And bend with Sorrow lower than my Fortune The frailties of Mankind wise Angels hide Man is but Man and Heav'ns best Grace is Pardon None can accuse me nor defend me better My Lord of Winchester had rather be My Confessor than Witness to Arraign me Gard. Rise full of Pardon from above and me If there be ought within the Miters Power Or my small Management of State to grant you With Charity and Love profest and real With vilest Malice thrown behind my back And worst of Injuries forgot I 'll do 't North. I wou'd forsake this Step-Mother to Truth This wrong Religion of my own Adoption And fain wou'd turn to the true Womb that bore me The Natural Parent of my long lost Faith But want a Guide like you to shew the way Gard. What said you are you real Noble Duke The Vault of Heav'n shall ring with Hallalujahs And Rome for this Eternal Anthems sing That you my Lord forsake your fatal Error North. By all the Host of Angels that in Choirs Resound the Praise of one repenting Sinner I thirst I burn I kneel to be receiv'd Into the Bosom of Rome's Faith again Gard. By what strange Miracle wert thou my Son Snatch'd from that stubborn Anvile of Religion Which forg'd so many harden'd Hereticks Into the tender mouldings of the Church North. Tho' still convinc'd of Rome's Immortal Power Charm'd with the dazling hopes of being great Feigning what pleas'd the Headstrong Harry best I for so mean a price as Favour sold My dearest Faith deceiv'd young Edward too And knowing Iane in Luther's Heresie To be more strongly rooted than to change Ambitious to intail the Crown on Gilford Still own'd my self a zealous Protestant But since the Prime of Saints that 's now in Heav'n Did once like me deny his Lord on Earth May not I hope and you pronounce my Pardon Gard. My Lord
my welcome Son let me embrace you But are you griev'd for this Apostacy A real Catholick now and do believe There is no other Faith on Earth to save you And are resolv'd to die in that Opinion North. I am and by my Vows and Tears confirm it Gard. O then let me adopt thee North. Best of Fathers Mine gave me Birth and launch'd me to the World He lent this Frame but you an Arm to steer it O Pilate of the Soul blest Guide to Heav'n That with the softest and the mildest Function Brings Man to Glory through a Milky way Gard. Enough North. Cou'd I but win my Gilford too in death To Seal the Roman Faith with Dudley's Blood Then had I all that I can wish Gard. O Miracle That were a Triumph worthy of the Cause Mark me O gallant Duke Bring but young Gilford home to deck Rome's Lawrels And that proud Champion of their Worship Iane To make thee happy and reward thee greatly The Powers of either World shall be at strife I 'll give thee Heav'n the Queen shall grant thee Life North. Shall they have Mercy too Gard. Yes all shall live I 'll instantly about it to the Queen Who shall send Orders to conduct you to ' em Enter Dutchess of Suffolk Behold fall'n Man the Slaughter of Ambition Pride like a Vulture tears the lovely Quarry This Woman once an Angel in her Sphere Has now within her Breast a greater Hell Than those damn'd Spirits that for her vice so fell Why is this Fury let abroad Dutch I come to seek a Virtuous Priest like thee And that I may be sure I hunt by Night Grope in the Dark Gard. And why by Night Dutch O there 's a Reason for it For mind me Sirs by Day they are as thick As Whales in Forrests or as Stars at Noon So thick they cross the Scent Besides by Day we know not one from t'other They all look grave and wise like Thee and Godly But then at Midnight mark me if I find As 't is a chance and very rare my Lords One on his knees a Fasting and a Praying Then I let loose my Guard of Furies on him That worry him to Death I 'll have no Praying Amongst your Tribe at all but in the Pulpit Nor Fasting but at Meals Ha! what does ail me Gard. A little sick of Pride a Fit o' th' Mother Dutch Ha! am I troubled then with thy Disease I 'll turn Physician first and kill more Bodies Than thou hast made despair and murder'd Souls Say Reverend Hypocrites wilt thou teach me Gard. 'T is like she 'd fall to Physick after eating Dutch Ha! now you talk of eating rarely thought Pray will your Lordship sup with me to Night Gard. Why Dutch I invite you to a Dish you love Gard. What is 't Dutch It is a fine plump Diocess Larded with six fat Parsonages at least Besides two Bishopricks of Hereticks Sticking like Gizards to it in Comendam Gard. Malice and Pride turns Witchcraft straight or Madness This sickness of the Mind ill bodes the Body You are not well Repent and think of dying Dutch I will not think of Death this twenty I am non fifty yet and find my self As gay and young as any of my Daughters Look I not killing fit to grace the Park Looks in her Pocket-Glass I 'll take the Air to Night My Charriot ready Hear me you Slaves be sure I have my Coach Which the Queen said was finer than her own I 'll have eight Horses too to draw me thither Six is a sneaking number Fy upon it My Chaplain's Wife that was my Chamber Maid Has six and has not dub'd her Husband yet a Bishop Gard. How her Brain soars and her Ambition praunces The Asp has stung like Tarrantala Dutch So is my Charriot come My Lords farewell Wou'd you have any Service where I 'm going Gard. Where 's that Dutch I 'll tell you in your Ear to Hell my Lord Resolve to go and bear me company My Flanders Mares are somewhat of the heaviest But if you please I 'll go your Lordships pace And lay fresh Horses to be there betimes Will you my Lord Come take me by the hand To North. Hang creeping in a Sledge 't is base and vile You that was such a high and towring Falcon And flew at nought but Crowns Dost see that Churchman The Devil and he are drawing Cuts to have thee I pity thy Estate Priest I defie thee Gard. How curst is Madness when it turns Prophane Dutch O what a gaudy Kingdom is this Hell Courts made of burning Brass and dropping Gold Gallants a riding in hot Emrold Coaches Shining like Meteors in the fiery Region With Horses that have Flames instead of Wings Ladies that scorching Planets have for eyes Freckl'd all o'er with Carbuncles and Rubies That glow like Stars and crackle with the heat There sumptuous Bagnio's carv'd of Rocky Ice Here Ponds of liquid Crystal made to bathe in That 's colder in degree than Hell is hot Who wou'd not be a Knave to be so tortur'd North. Alas my Lord she 's pitiful Dutch Ha! what a gallant smell of Roman French Italian Essences and rich Perfumes here are It overcomes me and corrects the steem Of Hell Ha! ha ha Gard. What does she see now Dutch My Lord Northumberland does your Grace see ' em North. See whom Dutch Empson and Dudley gaping wide as Famine And two stout Fiends with Buckets full of Ore Pouring the melted Mass into their Mouths Which they disgorge into a Leathern Sack That Richmond laughing out aloud does hold Betwixt 'em Ha! ha ha Exeunt Gilford and Jane lying on the Floor asleep A Basket of Flowers and a Garland Gilford wakes Gilf. Who calls Methought I heard 'em cry awake The Ax is ready and the Scaffold fix'd For an Immortal Diadem prepare The swarming Streets with gazing Crowds are fill'd Turrets and Windows like a Day of Triumph With Tissue hung and cruel Beauties throng'd To see us mount the dismal Throne of Death Arise my Soul 's couragious Guard my Iane Wake wake my Love thy fatal hour's at hand Ha! how she sleeps Such were her looks when in my Arms she slep't The happy Morning to our Marriage-Night Thus heav'd her panting Breasts and thus she smil'd The bubbling Joys born from our eager Kisses Like wanton Spirits dancing on her Lips O Virtue most Divine O form Angellick How rich a paint is Innocence to Beauty How calm they sleep whom Pious Thoughts have lull'd What charming Stories do they count in Dreams Whose Prayers like thine are Prologue to their Slumbers Ia. Where is my Love where think'st thou I have been Is this the World and this the Ground we rest on And are we yet the Gulf of Death to pass Gilf. Behold if thou canst form within thy mind That dismal Fall of Waters near to view How like two Arrows down the Stream it shoots us There we must plunge for loe they come to fetch