very often are design'd More by the Peoples Hate than any Crimes In those they wou'd accuse Queen Thou speak'st my sence But oh dear Rutland he has been to blame Lend me thy Breast to lean upon O'tis A heavy Yoke they wou'd impose on me Their Queen and I am weary of the Load And want a Friend like thee to lull my Sorrows C. Ess. Behold these tears sprung from fierce Pain and Joy To see your wond'rous Grief your wond'rous Pitty O that kind Heav'n wou'd but instruct my thoughts And teach my Tongue such soft'ning healing Words That it might charm your Soul and cure your Breast For ever Queen Thou art my better Angel then And sent to give me everlasting quiet Say is 't not pitty that so brave a Man And one that once was reckon'd as a God That he should be the Author of such Treason That he that was like Caesar and so great Has had the Power to make and unmake Kings Shou'd stoop to gain a petty Throne from me C. Ess. I can't believe 't is in his Soul to think Much less to act a Treason against you Your Majesty whom I have heard him so Commend that Angels words did never flow With so much Eloquence so rare so sweet That nothing but the Subject cou'd deserve Queen Hast thou then heard him talk of me C. Ess. I have And as of so much Excellence as if He meant to make a rare Encomium on The World the Stars or what is brighter Heaven She is said he the Goddess of her Sex So far beyond all Woman-kind beside That what in them is most ador'd and lov'd Their Beauties Parts and other Ornaments Are but in her the Foyls to greater Luster And all perfections else how rare soever Are in her Person but as lesser Gleams And infinite Beams that usher still the Sun But scarce are visible amidst her other Brightness And then she is so good it might be said That whilst she lives a Goddess reigns in England For all her Laws are register'd in Heaven And copy'd thence by her But then he cry'd With a deep sigh fetch'd from his loyal Heart Well may the World bewail that time at last When so much Goodness shall on Earth be mortal And wretched England break it's stubborn Heart Queen Did he say all this C. Ess. All this nay more A thousand times as much I never saw him But his discourse was still in praise of you Nothing but Raptures fell from Essex Tongue And all was still the same and all was you Queen Such words spoak Loyalty enough C. Ess. Then does Your Majesty believe that he can be A Traytor Queen No yet he has broak the Laws And I for shame no longer can Protect him Nay durst not see him C. Ess. What not see him say you By that bright Star of Mercy in your Soul And listening through your Eyes let me intreat 'T is good 't is God-like and like Englands Queen Like only her to pitty the Distress'd Will you not grant that he shall see you once Queen What he That did defie my absolute Commands And brings himself audaciously before me C. Ess. Impute it not to that but to his danger That hearing what proceedings here had past Against his Credit and his Life he comes Loyal tho unadvised to clear himself Queen Well I will see him then and see him straight Indeed my Rutland I would fain believe That he is honest still as he is brave C. Ess. O nourish that most kind belief 't is sprung From Justice in your Royal Soul Honest By your bright Majesty he 's faithful still The pure and Virgin Light is less unteinted The glorious Body of the Sun breeds Gnats And Insects that molest its curious Beams The Moon has spots upon her Christal Face But in his Soul are none And for his Valour The Christian World Records its wond'rous Story Baseness can never mingle with such Courage Remember what a Scourge he was to Rebels And made your Majesty ador'd in Spain More than their King that brib'd you with his Indies And made himself so dreadful to their Fears His very Name put Armies to the Rout It was enough to say here 's Essex come And Nurses still'd their Children with the Fright Queen Ha! she 's concern'd Transported I 'll try her further Then he has a Person C. Ess. I in his Person there you sum up all Ah Lovelyest Queen did you e're see the like The Limbs of Mars and awful Front of Jove With such a Harmony of Parts as put To blush the Beauties of his Daughter Venus A Pattern for the Gods to make a perfect Man by And Michael Angelo to frame a Statue To be ador'd through all the wond'ring World Queen I can indure no more Hold Rutland Thy Eyes are moist thy Senses in a hurry Thy words come crouding one upon another Is it a real Passion or extorted Is it for Essex sake or for thy Queens That makes this furious Transport in thy mind She loveshim Ah 't is so What have I done Conjur'd another Storm to Rack my Rest Thus is my Mind with quiet never blest But like a loaded Bark finds no repose When 't is becalm'd nor when the Weather blows Enter Burleigh Countess of Nottingham Rawleigh Lords Attendants and Guards Burl. May 't please your Majesty the Earl of Essex Return'd by your Command intreats to kneel Before you Queen Now hold out my Treacherous heart Guard well the breach that this proud Man has made Aside Rutland we must defer this Subject till Some other time Come hither Nottingham Enter the Earles of Essex and Southampton Attended Ess. Behold your Essex kneels to clear himself Before his Queen and now receive his Doom Queen I must divert my Fears I see he takes the way To bend the sturdy temper of my Heart Well my Lord I see you can Withstand my Anger as you lately boasted You did your Enemies Were they such Foes As bravely did resist or else the same You Parly'd with It was a mighty Courage Ess. Well well you cruel Fates well have you found The way to shock the Basis of a Temper That all your malice else cou'd ne're invent And you my Queen to break your Souldiers Heart Thunder and Earth-quakes Prodigies on Land I 've born Devouring Tempests on the Seas And all the horrid stroaks beside That Nature e're invented yet to me Your scorne is more Here take this Traytor Since you will have me so throw me to Dungeons Lash me with Iron Rods fast bound in Chains And like a Fiend in Darkness let me roar It is the nobler Justice of the Two Queen I see you want no cunning skill to talk And daub with words a Guilt you wou'd evade But yet my Lord if you wou'd have us think Your virtues wrong'd wash off the stain you carry And clear your self of Parlying with the Rebels Grant Heav'n he does but that and I am happy Aside Ess. My Parlying with the
into shape This Rockey dismal Form of thine that holds The most Seraphick Mind that ever was I 'le heal and Mould thee with a soft Embrace Thy Mountain Back shall yield beneath these Arms And thy pale wither'd Cheeks that never glow Shall then be deck'd with Roses of my own Invent some new strange Curse that 's far above Weak Womans Rage to Blast the Man I Love Burl. What means the fairest of the Court say what More cruel Darts are forming in those Eyes To make Adoring Cecil more unhappy If such a Wretched and declar'd hard Fate Attends the Man you Love what then Bright Star H 'as your Malignant Beauty yet in Store For him that is the Object of your Scorn Tell me that most unhappy happy Man Declare who is this most ungrateful Lover And to obey my lovely Nottingham I will prefer this dear Cabal and her To all the other Councils in the world Nay tho' the Queen and her two Nations call'd And sinking England stood this hour in need For this supporting Head they all shou'd sue Or Perish all for one kind look from you Not. There spoke the Genius and the Breath of England Thou Esculapius of the Christian World Methinks the Queen in all her Majesty Hemm'd with a Pomp of Rusty Swords and duller Brains When thou art absent is a Naked Monarch And fills an idle Throne till Cecil comes To head her Councils and inspire her Generalls Thy uncooth self that seems a Scourge to Nature For so malitiously deforming thee Is by the Heav'nly Pow'rs stamp'd with a Soul That like the Sun breaks through dark Mists when none Beholds the Cloud but Wonders at the Light Burl. O spare that Angells Voice till the last Day Such Heav'nly Praise is lost on such a Subject Not. Let none presume to say while Burleigh Lives A Woman wears the Crown Fourth Richard rather Heir to the Third in Magnanimity In Person Courage Wit and Bravery all But to his Vices none nor to his End I hope Burl. You Torture me with this Excess Were but my Flesh Cast in a purer Mould Then you might see me Blush but my hot Blood Burn't with continual thought does inward Glow Thought like the Sun still goes its daily Round And Scorches as in India to the Root But to the Wretched Cause of your disturbance Say shall I guess Is Essex not the Man Not. O! Name not Essex Hell and Tortures rather Poysons and Vultures to the Breast of Man Are not so Cruel as the Name of Essex Speak good my Lord nay never speak nor think Again unless you can asswage this worse Than Fury in my Breast Burl. Tell me the Cause Then Cease your Rage and Study to Revenge Not. My Rage It is the Wing by which I 'le Fly To be Reveng'd I 'l nere be Patient more Lift me my Rage nay Mount me to the Stars Where I may Hunt this Peacock tho he lies Close in the Lap of Iuno Elizabeth Tho' the Queen Circles him with Charms of Pow'r And hides her Minion like another Circe Burl. Still well instructed Rage but pray disclose The Reason of the Earls Misfortune Not. You are My Friend the Cabinet of all my Frailties From you as from Just Heav'n I hope for Absolution Yet pray tho' Anger makes me Red when I Discourse the Reason of my Rage be kind And say it is my Sexe's Modesty Know then This Base Imperious Man I Lov'd Lov'd so Till Lingering with the Pain of Fierce desire And Shame that strove to Torture me alike At last I past the Limits of our Sex And O Kind Cecil pitty and Forgive me Sent this opprobrious Man my Mind a Slave In a kind Letter Broke the silence of My Love which rather shou'd have Broke my Heart Burl. But pray what Answer did you get from him Not. Such as has made an Earth-Quake in my Soul Shook ev'ry Vital in these tender Limbs And rais'd me to the Storm you found me in At first he Charm'd me with a Thousand Hopes Else 't was my Love thought all his Actions so Just now from Ireland I receiv'd this Letter Which take and Read but now I think you shall not I 'll tear it in a thousand pieces first Tear it as I wou'd Essex with my Will To Bits to Morsells Hack the mangl'd Slave Till every Attome of his Cursed Body Tears the Letter in a Rage Sever'd and Flew like Dust before the Wind. Now do I Bless the Chance all else may blame Me for Revealing of my Foolish Passion Did I e're think these celebrated Charmes Which I so often have been Blest and Prais'd for Shou'd once be destin'd to so mean a Price As a Refusal Are there Friends above That Protect Innocence and injur'd Love Hear me and Curse me straight with Wrinkl'd Age With Leoprosie Derision all your Plagues On Earth and Hell hereafter if I 'm not Reveng'd Burl. Els say she is no Woman or no Widow Aside The Sacred Guardians of your slighted Beauties Have had more Pitty on their lovely Charge Then to behold you swallow'd in his Ruin The best and worst that Fortune cou'd propose To you in Essex Love was to have brought A helpless short-liv'd Traytor to your Arms. Not. Ha! Traytor say you Speak that Word again Yet do not 't is enough if Burleigh says it His Wit has Power to Damn the Man that thinks it And t'extract Treason from infected Thought The Nations safety like a Ship he Steers When Tempests Blow rais'd by designs of false And Ignorant States-men by his Wit alone They 'r all Disperst and by his Breath she Sayls His Prosperous Councils all her gentle Gales Enter a Gentleman Gent. My Lord the Queen expects you straight Burl. Madam Be Pleas'd to Attend her Majesty i th' Presence Where you shall hear such Misdemeanours offer'd Such Articles against the Earl of Essex As will both glad the Nation and your self Gent. My Lord I see the haughty Earl of Southampton Coming this way Burl. Madam retire Not. I goe With greater expectation of delight Than a young Bride-groom on his Marriage Night Exit Countess of Notting Burl. Southampton he 's the chief of Essex Faction His Friend and Sworn Brother and I fear Too much a Friend and Partner of his Revells To be a Stranger to the others Guilt 'T is not yet time to lop this haughty Bough Till I have shaken first the Tree that bears it Enter Southampton Sonth My Lord I hear unwelcome News 't is said Some Factious Members of the House Headed By you have voted an Address for leave T' impeach the Earl of Essex of strange Articles Of Treason Burl. Treason 't is most true is laid To Essex Charge but that I am the Cause They do me wrong th' Occasion is too publick For those dread Storms in Ireland rais'd by him Have Blown so rudely on our English Coasts That they have Ship-wrack'd quite the Nations Peace And wak'd it's very Statues to abhorring South Meer
by our ravenous Wishes seem to draw Delights so far beyond a Mortals reach And bring 'em home to our deluded Breasts 'T is not yet long since that Blest Day was past A Day I wisht that shou'd for ever last The Night once gone I did the Morning Chide Whose Beams betray'd me by my Essex side And whilst my Blushes and my Eyes he blest I strove to hide 'em in his panting Breast And my hot Cheeks close to his Bosom laid Listning to what the Guest within it said Where Fire to Fire the Noble Heart did burn Close like a Phoenix in her spicey Urn I sigh'd and wept for Joy a showre of Tears And felt a thousand sweet and pleasant fears Too rare for Sense too exquisite to say Pain we can count but Pleasure steals away But Business now and envyous Glory's Charms Have snatcht him from these ever Faithful Arms Ambition that 's the highest way to Woe Cruell Ambition Love's Eternal Foe Enter Southampton South Thou dearest Partner of my dearest Friend The brightest Plannet of thy shining Sex Forgive me for the unwelcome News I bring Essex is come the most deplor'd of Men C. Ess. Now by the sacred Joy that fills my Heart What fatal meaning can there be in that Is my Lord come say speak South Too sure he 's come But oh that Seas as wide as Waters flow Or burning Lakes as broad and deep as Hell Had rather parted you for ever So Essex had been safe on th' other side C. Ess. My Lord you much amaze me Pray what of ill has happen'd since this Morning That the Queen Guarded him with so much mercy And then refus'd to hear his false Impeachers South Too soon alass h 'as forfeited his Honours Places and Wealth but more his precious Life Condemn'd by the too cruel Nation 's Laws For leaving his Commission and returning When the Queens absolute Commands forbid him C. Ess. Fond hopes must then our meeting prove so fatal South Say Madam now what help will you propose Can the Queens pitty any more protect him Never it is no longer in her Power She must tho 'gainst her Will deliver him A Sacrifice to all his greedy Foes C. Ess. Where is my Lord South Blunt left him on the Way And came disguis'd in haste to give me notice C. Ess. Let him go back and give my Essex warning Conjuring him from us to stir no further But straight return to Ireland e're 't is known He left the place South Alas it is no secret Besides he left the Town almost as soon As Blunt and is expected every moment C. Ess. How cou'd it be reveal'd so suddenly South I know not that unless from Hell it came Where Cecil too is Privy Counsellor And knows as much as any Devil there I met the cunning Fiend and Rawleigh whispering And the fair treacherous Nottingham I saw bedeck'd with an ill-natur'd smile That shew'd Malicious Beauty to the height C. Ess. Hold hold my Lord my Fears begin to wrack me And Danger now in all it 's horryd Shapes Stalks in my way and mmakes my Blood run cold Worse than a thousand Glaring Spirits cou'd do Assist me straight thou Damon to my Essex Help me thou more than Friend in misery I 'le to the Queen and straight declare our Marriage She will have mercy on my helpless State Pitty these Tears and all my humble Postures If not for me nor for my Essex sake Yet for the Illustrious Offspring that I bear I 'll Go I 'll Run I 'll Hazard all this Moment Offers to be gone South Led by vain Hopes you fly to your Destruction There wants but that dread Secret to be known To tumble you for ever to Despair And leave you both Condemn'd without the Hopes Of the Queens Pitty or Remorse hereafter C. Ess. Curst be the Stars that flatter'd at our Births That shone so bright with such unusual Luster As Cheated the whole World into belief Our Lives alone were all their chiefest Care South Be Comforted rely on Essex Fate And the Queens Mercy Behold she comes our good or evil Fate In discontented Characters wrote on Her Brow Enter the Queen Burleigh Countess of Nottingham Rawleigh Attendant Guards Queen Is Essex then Arriv'd Burl. He is Queen Then he has lost me all the flattering hopes Aside I ever had to save him Come say you Who else came with him Burl. Some few Attendants Queen Durst the most vile of Traytors serve me thus Double my Strength about me draw out Men And set a Guard before the Palace Gates And bid my valliant Friends the Citizens Be ready straight I shall be murder'd else And faithful Cecil if thou lovest thy Queen See all this done For how can I be safe If Essex that I Favour'd seeks my Life Burl. Wil 't please your Majesty to see the Earl Queen No. Burl. Shall I publish straight your Royal Order That may forbid his coming to the Court Until your Majesty Command him Queen Neither How durst you seem t' interpret what 's my Pleasure No I will see him if 'a comes and then Leave me to act without your saucy Aid If I have any Royal Power C. Ess. Blest be the Queen blest be the pittying God That has inspir'd her Aside South Most admir'd of Queens Thus low unto the ground I bend my body And wish I cou'd sink lower through the Earth To suit a Posture to my humble Heart I tremble to excuse my gallant Friend In contradiction to your Heavenly will Who like a God knows all and 't is enough You think him innocent and he is so But yet your Majesty's most Royal Soul That soars so high above the humble malice Of base and sordid Wretches under you Perhaps is ignorant the valiant Earl Has Foes Foes that are only so because Your Majesty has crown'd him with your Favours And lifted him so far above their sights That 't is a pain to all their envious eyes To look so high above him and of these Some grow too neer your Royal Person As the ill Angels did at first in Heaven And daily seek to hurt this brave Mans Virtue Queen Help me thou infinite Ruler of all things That sees at once far as the Sun displays And searches every Soul of humane kind Quick and unfelt as Light infuses Beams Unites and makes all Contradictions centre And to the sence of Man which is more strange Governs innumerable distant Parts By one intire same Providence at once Teach me so far thy holy Art of Rule As in a mortal reason may distinguish Betwixt bold Subjects and a Monarchs Right Burl. May 't please your Majesty the Earl is come And waits your Pleasure Queen Let him be admitted Now now support thy Royalty And hold thy Greatness firm but oh how heavy A Load is State where the Free Mind 's disturb'd How happy a Maid is she that always lives Far from high Honour in a low Content Where neither Hills nor dreadful
Mountains grow But in a Vale where Springs and Pleasures flow Where Sheep lye round instead of Subjects Throngs The Trees for Musick Birds instead of Songs Instead of Essex one poor faithful Hind He as a Servant She a Mistress kind Who with Garlands for her Coming crowns her Dore And all with Rushes strews her little floore Where at their mean Repast no Fears attend Of a false Enemy or falser Friend No care of Cepters nor ambitious Frights Disturb the quiet of their sleep at Nights He comes this proud Invader of my Rest A comes but I intend so to receive him Enter the Earl of Essex with Attendanrs Essex kneels The Queen turns to the Countess of Nottingham Essex Long live the mightiest most ador'd of Queens The brightest Power on Earth that Heav'n e're form'd Aw'd and amaz'd the trembling Essex kneels Essex that stood the dreadful voice of Cannons Hid in a darker Field of Smoak and Fire Than that where Cyclops blow the Forge and sweat Beneath the mighty Hill whilst Bullets round me Flew like the Bolts of Heav'n when shot with Thunder And lost their Fury on my Shield and Corslet And stood these Dangers unconcern'd and dauntless But you the most Majestick brightest Form That ever rul'd on Earth have caught my Soul Surpris'd its Virtues all with dread and wonder My humble Eyes durst scarcely look up to you Your dazling Miene and Sight so fill the Place And every Part Celestial Rays adorn Queen Ha! Aside Essex 'T is said I have been guilty I dare not rise but crawl thus on the earth 'Till I have leave to kiss your Sacred Robe And clear before the justest best of Queens My wrong'd and wounded Innocence Quee. What said'st thou Nottingham what said the Earl Aside Essex What not a Word a Look not one blest Look Turn turn your crul Brow and kill me with A Frown it is a quick and surer way To rid you of your Essex Than Banishment than Fetters Swords or Axes What not that neither Then I plainly see My Fate the malice of Enemies Triumphant in their joyful faces Burleigh With a glad Cowards smile that knows ' has got Advantage o're his valiant Foe and Rawleigh's proud To see his dreaded Essex kneel so long Essex that stood in his great Mistress Favour Like a huge Oak the loftiest of the Wood Whilst they no higher cou'd attain to be Then humble Succors nourisht by my Root And like the Ivy twin'd their flatt'ring Arms About my Waste and liv'd but by my Smiles Quee. I must be gone for if I stay I shall Here wrack my Conduct and my Fame for ever Thus the charm'd Pilot listning to the Syrens Le ts his rich Vessel split upon a Rock And looses both his Life and Wealth together Aside Essex Still am I shun'd as if I wore Destruction rises Here here my faithful and my valiant Friends Dearest Companions of the Fate of Essex Behold this Bosom studdied o're with Scars This marble Breast that has so often held Like a fierce Battlement against the Foes Of Englands Queen that made a hundred Breaches Here pierce it straight and through this Wild of wounds Be sure to reach my Heart this loyal Heart That sits consulting ' midst a thousand Spirits All at command all faithful to my Queen Queen If I had ever Courage Haughtiness Or Spirit help me but now and I am happy He melts it flows and drowns my heart with Pitty Aside If I stay longer I shall tell him so What is this Traytor in my sight All that have Loyalty and love their Queen Forsake this horrid Wretch and follow me Exeunt Queen and her Attendants manet Essex solus Ess. She 's gone and darted fury as she went Cruellest of Queens Not heard Not hear your Souldier speak one word Essex that once was all day list'ned to Essex that like a Cherub held thy Throne Whilst thou didst dress me with thy wealthy Favours Cheer'd me with Smiles and deck'd me round with Glories Nor was thy Crown scarce worship'd on thy head Without me by thy Side but now art deaf As Adders Winds or the remorseless Seas Deaf as thy cunning Sexes Ears to those That make unwelcome Love What news my Friend Enter Southampton South Such as I dare not tell but pardon me As an ill Bird that pearches on the side Of some tall Ship foretels a storm at hand I come to give you warning of the danger See Cecil with a Message from the Queen Ess. Then does my Wrack come rolling on a-pace That foul Leviathan nere yet appear'd Without a horrid Tempest from his Nostrils Enter to them Burleigh and Rawleigh Burl. Hear Robert Earl of Essex Hear what the Queen my Lord by us pronounces She now divests you of your Offices Your dignities of Governour of Ireland Earl Martial Master of her Horse General Of all her Forces both by Land and Sea And Lord Lieutenant of the several Counties Of Essex Hereford and Westmerland Ess. A vast and goodly summ all at one Cast By an unlucky hand thrown quite away Burl. Also her Pleasure is that in obedience To her Commands you send your Staff by us Then leave the Court and stirr no farther then Your House till order from the Queen and Council Ess. Thanks my Misfortunes for you fall with weight Upon me and Fate shoots her Arrows thick 'T is hard if they not find one mortal Place About me Burl. My Lord what shall we tell her Majesty What is your Answer for the Queen expects us Ess. Wilt thou then promise to be just and tell her Give her a Caution of her worst of Foes Thy greedy self the Lands infesting Giant Exacting Heads from her best Subjects daily Worse than the Phrygian Monster he was more Châ—aply compounded with and but devour'd Seav'n Virgins in a week and spar'd the rest South Hold my brave Friend waste not the noble breath Of Essex on so base and mean a Subject Thou Traytor to thy Sovereign and her Kingdomes More full of guilt than e're thou didst devise To lay on Essex whom thou fear'st and hatest And thou because thy sordid Soul and Person Ne're fitted thee For gallant Actions thinkest the World so too For he that looks through a foul Glass that 's stain'd Sees all things stain'd like the foul Perspective he uses 'T is Crime enough in any to be valiant To win a Battel or be fortunate Whilst thou standst by the Queen to intercept Or else determine Favours from her hands 'T is not who is too blame or who deserves Nor whom the Queen wou'd look on with a Grace But whom proud Cecil pleases to reward Or punish and the Valiant never scape thee Curst be the brave that fall into such hands For Cowards still are cruel and malitious Burl. This I dare tell and that Southampton said it South And put her too in mind of thy vain Glories Such Impudence and Ostentation in thee And so much horrid Pride and Costliness As wou'd
Heads Since the first Saxon King that Reign'd in England And lately in my Royal Fathers time Was not brave Buckingham for less Condemn'd And lost not Wolsey all his Church Revenues Nay and his Life too but that he was a Coward And durst not live to feel the stroak of Justice Thou know'st it too and this most vile of men That brave Northumberland and Westmerland For lesser Crimes than his were both Beheaded Nott. Most true Can Essex then be thought so guilty And not deserve to dy Quee. To dy to Wrack And as his Treasons are the worst of all Mens So I will have him plagu'd above the rest His Limbs cut off and plac'd to th' highest View Not on low Bridges Gates and Walls of Towns But on vast Pynacles that touch the Ske Where all that pass may in Derision say Lo there is Essex proud ingrateful Essex Essex that brav'd the Justice of his Queen Is not that well Why dost not speak And help thy Queen to rail against this Man Nott. Since you will give me leave I will be plain And tell your Majesty what all the World Says of that proud ingrateful Man Qu. Do so Prythee what says the World of him and me Nott. Of you they speak no worse than of dead Saints And Worship you no less than as their God Than Peace than Wealth or their Eternal hopes Yet do they often wish with kindest Tears Sprung from the purest Love that you 'd be pleas'd To heal their Grievances on Essex charg'd And not protect the Traytor by your Power But give him up to Justice and to Shame For a Revenge of all your wrongs and theirs Quee. What would they then prescribe me Rules to Govern Nott. No more but with submission as to Heavn But upon Essex they unload Reproaches And give him this bad Character They say he is a Person bateing his Treasons That in his Noblest best Array of parts He scarcely has enough to make him pass For a brave Man nor yet a Hypocrite And that he wears his Greatness and his Honours Foolish and Proud as Lacquies wear gay Liveries Valliant they will admit he is but then Like Beasts precipitately Rash and Bruitish Which is no more Commendable in him Than in a Bear a Leopard or a Wolfe He never yet had Courage over Fortune And which too shews his natural Pride the more He Roars and staggers under small Affronts And can no more endure the pain than Hell Then he 's as Covetous and more Ambitious Than that first Fiend that sow'd the Vice in Heav'n And therefore was Dethron'd and Tumbl'd thence And so they wish that Essex too may fall Quee. Enough th' ast rail'd thy self quite out of Breath I 'le hear no more Blisters upon her Tongue Asideâ— 'T is baseness tho in thee but to repeat What the rude World malitiously has said Nor dare the vilest of the Rabble think Much less prophanely speak such horrid Treasons Yet 't is not what they say but what you 'd have e'm Nott. Did not your Majesty Command me speak Quee. I did but then I saw thee on a suddain Settle thy Senses all in eager Postures Thy Lips thy Speech and Hands were all prepar'd A joyful Red painted thy envious Cheeks Malitious Flames flasht in a moment from Thy Eyes like Lightning from thy O'recharg'd Soul And fir'd thy Breast which like a hard ramm'd Piece Discharg'd unmannerly upon my face Nott. Pardon bright Queen most Royal and belov'd The manner of expressing of my Duty But you your self began and taught me first Queen I am his Queen and therefore may have leave May not my self have priviledge to mould The Thing I made and use it as I please Besides he has committed monstrous Crimes Against my Person and has urg'd me far Beyond the power of Mortal suffering Me he has wrong'd but thee he never wrong'd What has poor Essex done to thee Thou hast No Crown that he cou'd hope to gain No Laws to break no Subjects to molest Nor Throne that he cou'd be ambitious of What pleasure cou'dst thou take to see A drowning man knock'd on the head and yet Not wish to save the miserable Wretch Nott. I was too blame Qu. No more Thou seest thy Queen the World and Destiny It self against this one bad Man and him Thou canst not pity nor excuse Nott. Madam Queen Begone I do forgive thee and bid Rutland Exit Nottingham Come to me straight ha what have I disclos'd Why have I chid my Woman for a fault Which I wrung from her and committed first Why stands my jealous and tormented Soul A Spie to listen and divulge the Treasons Spoke against Essex O you mighty Powers Protectors of the Fame of Englands Queen Let me not know it for a thousand Worlds 'T is dangerous But yet it will discover And I feel something whispering to my Reason That says it is O blotted be the Name For ever from my Thoughts If it be so And I am stung with thy Almighty Dart I ll die but I will tear thee from my Heart Shake off this hidious Vapour from my Soul This haughty Earl the Prince of my Controul Banish this Traytor to his Queens repose And blast him with the malice of his Foes Were there no other way his guilt to prove 'T is Treason to insect the Throne with Love Enter Countess of Essex How now my Rutland I did send for you I have observ'd you have been sad of late Why wearest thou black so long and why that Cloud That mourning Cloud about thy lovely Eyes Come I will find a noble Husband for thee C. Ess. Ah mighty Princess most ador'd of Queens Your Royal Goodness ought to blush when it Descends to care for such a Wretch as I am Queen Why sayst thou so I love thee well indeed I do and thou shalt find by this 't is truth Injurious Nottingham and I had some Dispute and 't was about my Lord of Essex C. Ess. Ha! Aside Queen So much that she displeas'd me strangely And I did send her from my sight in anger C. Ess. O that dear Name o th' sudden how it starts me Makes ev'ry Vein within me leave its Channel To run and to protect my feeble Heart And now my Blood as soon retreats again To croud with blushes full my guilty Cheeks Alas I fear Aside Queen Thou blushest at my Story C. Ess. Not I my Gracious Mistress but my Eyes And Cheeks fir'd and amaz'd with joy turn'd red At such a Grace that you were pleas'd to shew me Queen I 'll tell thee then and ask thee thy Advice There is no doubt dear Rutland but thou hear'st The daily Clamours that my People vent Against the most unhappy Earl of Essex The Treasons that they wou'd impeach him of And which is worse this day he is arriv'd Against my strict Commands and left Affairs In Ireland desp'rate headless and undone C. Ess. Might I presume to tell my humble mind Such Clamours
and wish that I were once your Queen To give you what my heart has had so long in store Ess. Then has my Death more Charmes than Life can promise Since my Queen pitties me and you forgive me Nott. Hold good my Lord that is not all she sends To know if you can any thing propose To mittigate your Doom and stay your Death Which else can be no longer than this Day Next if y' are satisfy'd with ev'ry passage In your late Tryal if 't were fair and legal And if y 'ave those Exceptions that are real She 'll answer them Ess. Still is my Death more welcome And Life wou'd be a burthen to my Soul Since I can ne're requite such Royal Goodness Tell her then fair and charitable Messenger That Essex does acknowledge every Crime His Guilt unworthy of such wond'rous Mercy Thanks her bright Justice and the Lords his Judges For all was Gratious and Divine like her And I have now no Injustice to accuse Nor Enemy to blame that was the Cause Nor Innocence to save me but the Queen Nott. Ha is this true How he undoes my Hopes Aside And is that all have you not one Request To ask that you can think the Queen will grant you Ess. I have and humbly 't is that she wou'd please To spare my Life not that I fear to dye But in submission to her Heav'nly Justice I own my Life a forfeit to her Power And therefore ought to beg it of her Mercy Nott. If this be real my Revenge is lost Aside Is there naught else that you rely upon Only submitting to the Queens meer Mercy And barely asking her so great a Grace Have you no other Hopes Ess. Some Hopes I have Nott. What are they pray my Lord declare 'em boldly For to that only purpose I am sent Ess. Than I am happy happiest of mankind Blest in the rarest mercy of my Queen And such a Friend as you blest in you both The Extasie will let me hold no longer Behold this Ring the Pasport of my Life At last y 'ave pull'd the secret from my Heart This pretious token Amidst my former Triumphs in her favour She took from off her Finger and bestow'd On me Mark with the Promise of a Queen Of her bright self less failing than an Oracle That in what Exigence or State soe're My Life was in that time when I gave back Or shou'd return this Ring again to her She 'd then deny me nothing I cou'd ask Nott. O give it me my Lord and quickly let Me bear it to the Queen and ask your Life Ess. Hold generous Madam I receiv'd it on Kneels and gives Nottingham the Ring My Knees and on my Knees I will restore it Here take it but consider what you take 'T is the Life Blood and very Soul of Essex I 've heard that by a skillful Artist's Hand The Bowels of a Wretch were taken out And yet he liv'd you are that Gallant Artist O touch it as you wou'd the Seales of Life And give it to my Royal Mistress Hand As you wou'd pour my Blood back in its empty Channels That gape and thirst like Fishes on the Ouse When streams run dry and their own Element Forsakes 'em if this shou'd in the least miscarry My Life 's the purchase that the Queen will have for 't Nott. Doubt you my care my Lord I hope you do not Ess. I will no more suspect my Fate nor you Such Beauty and such Merits must prevail Enter a Gentleman Gent. Th' Earl of Southampton having Leave Desires to speak with you my Lord. Nott. Repose Your mind and take no thought but to be happy I 'll send you Tidings of a lasting Life Ess. A longer and much happier Life attend Both my good Queen and you Exit Essex Nott. Farewell my Lord Yes a much longer Life than thine I hope And if thou chance to dream of such strange things Let it be there where lying Poets feign Elisium is where Mirtles lovely spread Trees of delicious Fruit invite the Tast And sweet Arabian Plants delight the smell Where pleasant Gardens drest with curious Care By Lovers Ghosts shall recreate thy Fancy And there perhaps thou soon shalt meet again With amourous Rutland for she cannot choose But be Romantick now and follow thee Enter a Gentlewoman Wom. Madam the Queen Nott. Ha! that 's unlucky She come to the Tower Yet 't is no matter see him I am sure She will not or at worst will be perswaded Enter the Queen Queen How now dear Nottingham hast seen the Earl I left White-hall because I cou'd not rest For Crowds that hollow'd for their Executions And others that Petition'd for the Traytors Quick tell me hast thou done as I commanded Nott. Yes Madam I have seen and spoke with him Queen And what has he said to thee for himself Nott. At my first converse with him I did find him Not totally despairing nor complaining But yet a haughty melancholly Appear'd in all his Looks that shew'd him rather Like one that had more Care Of future Life than this Queen Well but what said he When thou awakest him with the Hopes of Pitty Nott. To my first Question put by your Command Which was to know if he were satisfied In the proceedings of his Lawful Tryal He answer'd with a careless Tone and Gesture That it was true and he must needs confess His Tryal lookt most fair to all the World But yet he too well knew The Law that made his Actions Treason Consulted but with Foes and Circumstances And never took from Heav'n or Essex Thoughts A President or Cause that might Condemn him For if they had the least been read in either They wou'd have quickly found his Innocence Queen Ha! Nott. That was but the Prologue mark what follows Queen What durst he be so bold to brand my Justice Nott. I pray'd that he wou'd urge that Sence no more But since he was Condemn'd and stood in need Of Mercy to implore it of your Majesty And beg his Life which you wou'd not deny For to that End I said that you were pleas'd To send me to him and then told him all Nay more than you commanded me to say Queen What said he then That alter'd him I hope Nott. No not at all but as I 've seen a Lyon That has been play'd withall with gentle stroaks Has at the last been jeasted into madness So on a sudden started into Passion The furious Earl his Eyes grew fiery red His words precipitate and speech disorder'd Let the Queen have my Blood said he 't is that She longs for pour it to my Foes to drink As Hunters when the Quarry is run down Throw to the Hounds his Intrails for Reward I have enough to spare but by the Heav'ns I swear were all my Veins like Rivers full And if my Body held a Sea of Blood I 'de loose it all to the last innocent drop Before I 'de like a Villain beg