slaughter not for fight Of this a signal proof now brought me hither For having notice there was drawn together A numerous body of the Borderers 'Twixt Cheshire and North-Wales urg'd by my fears Lest unsupprest at first this little Flame Grown wider might become too fierce to tame I strait did hasten to their Rendezvous And lest I should the fair advantage lose I did not for your Royal Order wait And Sir the issue was proportionate Both to my Zeal and Justice of your cause For now our Swords have left them to your Laws King My Lord this service to the full does shew How much a King may to his Subject owe For Richmond these and these had Richmond prop't Had not your Hand this budding Treason crop't And now my Lord I hope your Forces are Advancing hither For I ill can spare About my Person and within my call Such Troops as yours and such a General L. Stanly You are my Sov'raign Sir a double way Your Wisdom and your Power bear equal sway But Sir I fear th' effect if we should joyn And all our Strength within one Camp confine You know the Power by the Invader brought Compar'd to yours will scarce deserve your thought Much less your Fear He all his hopes does place Upon the Risings of the Populace And thinks his Snow-ball rowling to and fro Though slender yet to Bulk and Weight may grow If this be true judge how important then Divided Bodies are of chosen Men Who by their several motions may prevent Risings and Succours to the Rebels sent King So let it be I must confess my Lord Your reasons are convincing as your Sword Honour 's your Mistress and I clearly see You mean to rob me of the Victorie And make her wholly yours L. Stanly Sir I design The Glory to be yours the Hazard mine King Hazard and Glory are so linkt together That without both I can pretend to neither But how does your indulgent Lady bear This rash Invasion of her Son I fear That Treason countenanc'd by Nature may In a weak Mother's heart too strongly sway L. Stanly The secrets of her Mind she only knows I her but not her Passions did espouse King I dread her as a dang'rous Enemy Who in the arms of my best Friend does lye L. Stanly Her thoughts are free but by a trusty Guard From all disloyal Acts her Person 's bar'd Nature her self shall be divorc't from me When she rebels against my Loyaltie King My Lord your great Example may improve All my best Subjects in their Faith and Love And here you have a Son fit to inherit All that is yours So far his early Merit Into my Favour is advanc'd that I Am not at ease without his Company He shall remain though you are forc't from hence His stay must your departure recompence L. Strange apart His meaning is I must his Pris'ner be Love is the foulest Mask of Crueltie L Stanly I doubt your Favour 's too much antedate His Merit King Fear it not My Lord 't is late Whilst you stay here some of your time I know You must on Bus'ness and your Friends bestow Exit Ld. Stanly and Strange SCENA III. King Unhappy fate of Monarchs that we must Often depend on those we most distrust But of this Loyal Rhet'rick pray how much In your opinions will endure the touch Catesby Sir I believe 't is in his Power to be Your greatest Friend or your worst Enemie The softness of his words makes but that sound With which all hollow Bosoms most abound But his late Actions I confess have gain'd My Faith to think his honesty not feign'd The rising Borderers by him supprest That he is sound at heart give ample test King Methinks his great unwillingness to joyn Forces together argues some design And yet I must confess his reasons are Of weight and fitted to the Rules of War L. Lovell Sir my Lord Strange will for his Father be A good collateral securitie He sets such value on his young Son's Head That he 'll ne're pawn it to be forfeited King I know this bus'ness has a smiling face But Lovell watchful prudence cannot trace The subtle ways of a dissembling Heart I am well read in that mysterious Art And can discern where all my danger lyes Mines have destroy'd more Towns than Batteries Enter Sir William Stanly SCENA IV. Sir William Stanly Sir the rash Foe all your desires fulfills The Native Fortresses of Wales the Hills Which only could his certain Fate prolong He madly ha's forsaken and the Throng Have crost the Severn King Happy news at last Our little Caesar Rubicon ha's past Either he acts the part of a mad Lover Or hopes his Rashness may his Weakness cover Sir Will. Stanly Let him come on he what he seeks shall have Since English ground best likes him for a Grave King Sir William Stanly 't is beneath your Fame In War to fly at such ignoble Game These Vipers want their Teeth But I must ask Your powerful aid in a much harder task Sir Will. Stanly Nothing is hard to me when you command King Confirm me in that hope I understand You o're your Sister have no little power She waits upon the Saint whom I adore Procure her Mediation for my Love If she in the design successful prove You shall be less my Subject then my Friend My Gratitude shall all your Hopes transcend Sir Will. Stanly Reward did never yet my duty move And I am no good Advocate for Love But Sir my prompt Obedience shall fulfil All your Commands and help my want of skill King That Love from her which you obtain for me With double Int'rest shall rewarded be Exit King Lovel Catesby Ratclife Sir Wil. Stanly solus When Nature form'd this Monster she design'd No less then the destruction of Mankind His Enemies but poorly satisfie The Hunger of his Rage which seeks supply E'en from his nearest Blood and his own Bed His Wife was poyson'd and his Nephews bled To feed the Wolf His Friends are kept alive As Indians cramm'd for Sacrifice survive And now this Monster both in Crimes and Shape On fairest Innocence designs a Rape Enter the Princess crossing the Stage from her own lodgings to the Queen's Appartment In passing by Sir Will. Stanly speaks to his Sister waiting upon the Princess Sister a word Mrs. Stanly I instantly will come Mrs. Stanly leaves the Princess in the Queens Appartment and returns to her Brother SCENA V. Mrs. Stan. Now Brother what 's your will Sir W. Stan. I hope this Room Is private and secure Mrs. Stanly You need not fear An ambush no close Spies can harbour here But whence this Caution Sir Will. Stanly Wonder not I bring A strict Commission for you from the King You must his Mistress gain then happy we I shall a Prince and you a Princess be Mrs Stanly 'T is the great Art of Kings for their Intents To make right choice of proper Instruments But
as fatal as your Presence there Richmond Take me my Lord and rule me as you please You unsuspected yet may gain with ease Admission to the Tyrant's Court and I May pass helpt by the Night's Obscurity And a long Absence for your Officer Besides my Lord our Camps now joyn so neer That our Return may both prevent the Day And all Reports of being gone away L d Stanly Reason and Love when Danger they descry Did never yet make use of the same Eye For now this Hazard which your soaring Love Lessens to Nothing does my Horrour move But since it is my Duty to obey Let 's not encrease your Danger by Delay Richmond On you my Hopes and Happiness relye You are the Ruler of my Destiny The Scene is changed to Richmond's Quarters SCENA IV. Enter Earl of Oxford Lord Chandew Oxford Twice through our Quarters I have walk'd the Round And to my Wonder have not Richmond found Can he his Person in a Season hid When the next Day must Royalty decide The knowledge of his absence from the Camp Would all the Courage of our Army damp Chandew In Common Souldiers I did never see Minds so prepar'd for Fight and Victorie Oxford My Lord this Land does yield a sturdy breod Which when they are well fed will freely bleed You French have question'd if they eat or fight With greater appetite or more delight Chandew I must allow though yet a stranger here That your Clime only such a Race does bear French courage is to Noble Blood confin'd The rest are Slaves in Body and in Mind Enter Officer and delivers a Message Exit Oxford My Lord this message does encrease my Fear We nothing yet can of our Gen'ral hear Chandew Heaven give him safety and I only crave He may a Conquest find and I a Grave Oxford By sudden starts you shew a smother'd grief Unvented Sorrows seldom find relief Chandew I long have wisht to empty in your Breast A grief which may be pity'd not redrest A grief whose lenitive is such a Pain As strongest Nature hardly can sustain A Daughter's Death is all the Favour now That Heaven's Compassion can a Parent shew Oxford What most you love you hope and wish to lose What sadder Object can your Fears propose Chandew Here you the height of my affliction see I hope her Death I fear her Infamie Oxford Your Grief concludes too fast you cannot know But that she 's safe in Life and Honour too Chandew My Lord when I have told my Story out I shall too easily remove the doubt That Daughter who did once make all my Joy And all my Happiness does now destroy Did so forsake me in a Fatal Night That she twelve Moons has wasted out of sight And this with Horrour does my Grief renew For if by Force surpris'd she 's murther'd too If not I dread an uncompell'd Escape More then the mischief of a bloody Rape Oxford In this sad Story I confess there are Just grounds of Fear but not of your despair Those motives which induc'd her to withdraw Perhaps may do no wrong to Honour's Law For if she lives she does a Mind derive From you which cannot loss of Fame survive Chandew Your Friendship puts a favourable Gloss On actions which imply her Honour's loss But in this strait of Time I will forbear To make you longer a Joynt-sufferer Oxford The Night does waste and to the publick Eye 'T is fit our General 's absence we supply Exeunt SCEN V. The Scene is changed to the King's quarters Enter King L. Lovel Sir William Catesby Catesby Miles Forrest is his Name a fellow stout And yet so dull he never felt a doubt Nor questions deeds ill relisht by the Laws He weighs reward but measures not the Cause 'T was he Sir who out-went your swift commands When the two Brothers fell by his bold hands King I that 's a Friend Go Catesby call him in Exit Catesby My Justice on the Princess must begin Her favour'd Int'rest has a double sting For she can make and can unmake a King Enter Catesby and Forrest O fellow-Souldier welcome Nay come near What Office in our Army do you bear Forrest I am Lieutenant to Lord Lovel's Troop Catesby He does by more then common service hope That he already has your Favour won And merits to do more by what is done King Employment and Reward he shall not miss The first old Company that falls is his And that his present wants I may relieve Catesby let him two hundred Marks receive Forrest An 't please you I can't talk but I can do I can spur on through good and bad ways too King I like him he 's a blunt plain honest man Catesby Sir he 'l talk little but do all he can King Catesby I shall employ him in a deed Wherein he 'l shew he 's hearty by his speed Necessity of State will not allow Leisure for Scruples which from Conscience grow Who fellow Conscience often come too late Forrest Sir as to good or bad look you to that King Well spoken go and from our Catesby be Instructed your reward expect from me Exit Forrest Lovel Sir with your Person 's safety can no way Be found this Execution to delay Her bleeding when in publick understood Will cause a Fever in the Peoples Blood King If I prevail I am above the harms Of sudden Tumults or intestine arms If I am lost Richmond my Throne may have But he shall find his Mistress in her Grave Lovel Your Strength so far transcends your Enemies That such precautions you may well despise Enter L. Stanly King My Lord I am transported with your sight L. Stanly Your Souldiers now want but the morning's light To charge the Enemy who past retreat Are opportunely lodg'd for a defeat I come led by my Duty and my Care For your last Orders in this great affair King Our Councel's call'd and suddenly will sit You shall receive your Orders when we meet L. Stanly Sir in these Quarters I am much surpris'd Hearing the Princess is so ill advis'd I had the honour once of her esteem And now would fain serve you and her redeem Be pleas'd to grant me free access to try How far I may induce her to comply King After so many tryals your Success I question but I yield to your address L d Stanly Sir though I lose my Pains I 'le lose no Time Exi t L d Stanly King Is not that Subject guilty of a Crime Deserving Death who makes his Prince affraid Catesby It is the worst high Treason to invade The chiefest Right belonging to the Throne All should a Monarch fear but he fear none King Catesby I must on your great Care relye That his young Son may not escape your Eye Catesby Sir he is strictly watch'd King When we decide The Field he in these Quarters must abide If with the Father we should trust the Son In open Battel we should Hazard run L d Lovel
give my Eyes the Joy to see My dearest Captive set at libertie Charlot I Madam who your pleasure thus obey Charlot unvails Am not your Daughter she 's convey'd away And you the means of her Escape may guess When you behold me in my borrow'd Dress As mine abus'd our Friends so her Disguise More happily deceiv'd our Enemies Queen Her absence does my former pain repeat Ah! bring me to the place of her retreat Charlot You 'l find her at the Cloister fix't in Prayer Heaven and Religion now her Guardians are Strange Charlot I little thought I could by thee In this bold Rescue so transcended be Madam as faithful Guards we shall attend To the Queen Your Person and the Princess Life defend Exeunt SCEN. VI. The Scene is changed to Bosworth-Field Enter King Lovel Ratclife and Souldiers Richmond's Standard taken by the King is carried in Triumph before him King Behold the Traitor's Standard here we see Heaven gives an earnest of full Victorie Lovel You the great Brandonâ—lew â—lew you this have gain'd We owe the day Sir to your single hand No Monarch's story boasts so high a deed As Kings all men surpass you Kings exceed Ratclife You all the glorious marks of Conquest wear And greater then your self this day appear I saw stout Cheyny fall by your strong hand That sturdy Oak could not your Thunder stand King Richmond was next I had him in my Eye But he was shelter'd by my Victory Such heaps of Bodies did obstruct my way That my own Conquest did my Conquest stay And Richmond for the safety of his Head Ow'd less unto the Living then the Dead A Charge is sounded Lovel Hark! a fresh Charge they sound these desp'rate men Rally their broken Force to break again Enter Souldier Treason Sir Treason Stanly's false Brigade Have left your Colours and our Men invade Richmond in person leads them on and all That have oppos'd them either flye or fall King Perfidious Slaves Ratclife without delay These Fatal Rings to Catesby's hands convey I 'le blast the Fruit of all their Victory Strange and the Princess shall together dye Come shew me Richmond for I 'le break through all To the Sould. His Guards and crush the Traytor with my fall Exit King c. Enter King and Sir W. Stan. habited like Richmond at several doors King Ha! is it he now Fortune thou art kind Sir W. Stanly Enjoy your wish For Richmond here you find Come Sir dispatch this work the shortest way Our single hands will best decide the day King Agree'd of all my Stars I ask no more Thou art the only Saint whom I implore kissing his Sword They fight Enter Rich. What Vision 's this which does abuse my eye with Souldiers Richmond interposeth Have I a Ghost that walks before I dye Who ere thou art bold Champion shew thy Face Thou dost usurp my Person and my place King The Dragon's Teeth are sown in Bosworth Field Which does a Harvest of arm'd Richmonds yield Sir William Stanly pulls up the Vizour of his Helmet Rich. Sir William Stanly King Traytor thy false heart Shall taste my vengeance Richmond Hold Sir let my part Be acted first you needs must know this Face The Shadow to the substance must give place Sir W. Stan. Great Sir the Law of Arms proclaims my right My Sword began it and must end the Fight Richmond Not a word more or I shall look on you As on the worst Usurper of the two King End your contention both employ'd shall be Rich. This Sword and Justice otherwise decree They fight How great thy Fame had bin hadst thou been good the King fals Pursue the flying but spare English Blood Ex. Sould. in pursuit King Fate art thou just what Crime is laid on me But the resemblace of thy Tyranny Since I must lose my Throne I only crave That nothing may be found beyond the Grave dyes Rich. Remove the Corps Heaven thou art just and good So Tyrants rise and so they fall in Blood My gallant likeness you must now reveal The cause of this extravagance of Zeal Sir W. Stan. Great Sir I took your shape because I knew The Tyrant's Rage did chiefly aim at you My Loyal care made me ambitious grow To rob you of your danger and your Foe Richmond My Person you in Fight so well became That what was like I wish had been the same Enter Oxford Sir all the bus'ness of the War is done The Living and the Dead your Conquest own The yielding Foe makes useless all our Swords And for your Mercy only work affords Richmond My Lord when we are Dust our Race will know How much this Day I to your Conduct owe The Name of Vere to me and mine shall be As high in Honour as in Loyaltie Enter Lord Stanly O my dear Friend must I rejoyce or grieve In this great Triumph does the Princess live L d Stanly Sir she does live and her past dangers prove The glorious Marks and Trophies of her Love Her faithful Page has all our Zeal out-done And to redeem her Life expos'd his own My George his high Intentions did express But only Charlot's Courage had Success Richmond Heaven can my Joys no farther now improve Since I am blest in Conquest and in Love My faithful Stanly I shall need your care To prosecute the Bus'ness of the War For I my Lords no longer can forbear To see her free whose glorious Chains I wear Exeunt omnes The Scene is changed to the Cloister where the Princess was retired SCEN. VII Enter Lord Strange Charlot L d Strange Charlot such Faith and Courage joyn'd in you Deserv'd to finish what I aim'd to do Charlot My Lord th' Event of my Design should be Justly ascrib'd to Fortune not to me Strange Thy modesty does but encrease thy Glory And leaves to future Age an useful Story Charlot What I have done deserves no memory I little did because I did not dye And now my Lord it were my happiest Lot If I by all the World might be forgot Stran. What means these words Would you the world forsake When your brave Deed does it so Happy make Foul Crimes have made their Authours desperate But can the Good and Prosperous their Lives hate Your Life 's my Gift Dispose not of my Due For as you sav'd the Princess I sav'd you Charlot You did defeat me in my Souls chief Aim Of leaving Life with a reprochless Name Strange Some hidden Mystery lies folded here But hark the glorious Richmond does draw neer The Trumpets sound Charlot What shall I do my shame will open lye to himself To all the World and to a Parent 's Eye In these Extremes what can my Honour save Relieve me Heaven or hide me in a Grave SCEN. VIII Enter Earl of Richmond Oxford Chandew and Attendants Richmond To Strange George thou art now unpawn'd thy courage shewn In our Concern speaks thee a Stanly's Son My dearest Boy rise up thy Actions may To
ours ha's grosly fail'd in his own Trade Pray bid him chuse again Sir Will. Stanly You can perswade The Princess Mrs. Stanly No I love him not so well Nor her so little Sir Will. Stanly But have Gifts no Spell To charm your Heart and dazel your young Eyes Mrs. Stanly Him and his Gifts I equally despise Sir Will. Stanly You serve your Mistress making her a Queen Mrs. Stanly Brother you know her not But had you been In presence at her secret Vows to day You would not dare to think what now you say Her Honour and Revenge she values so That she for them will Crown and Life forgo Sir Will. Stanly You have her favour and at least may try If she will yield a little and comply Mrs. Stanly Such is her Horrour of him that no Age Did so much Beauty see with so much Rage This undertaking would too dearly cost For next the Tyrant she would hate me most Sir Will. Stanly Sister with equal Joy great proofs I find Both of your faithful and her generous Mind And now suppose that I a Champion show Who will and can destroy her powerful Foe May this bold undertaker hope to prove As in her cause successful in her Love Mrs. Stanly In common Justice she can do no less Then love the Authour of such happiness Sir Will. Stanly Will she that powerful Passion for him own Which mingles Souls and makes two Lovers one So high a work should be as highly paid Who kills the Dragon must enjoy the Maid Mrs. Stanly Now you come on too fast For he must wear Of Royalty the sacred Character Who without Sacriledge attempts to be At such a holy shrine Love's Votarie Sir Will. Stanly Sister you talk in a Romantick strain Pray spare your Metaphors and be more plain Mrs. Stanly Brother the Queen and Princess Enter the Queen and the Princess Sir Will. Stanly Let us go For I have much to say and you to do Princess Madam your pardon and your leave I pray To speak one word with her Queen Daughter you may The Princess talks in private with Mrs. Stanly and the Queen advanceth forwards upon the Stage Queen To what extremes am I reduc'd by fate I give to him whom mortally I hate Her whom my heart loves most It must be so To save a child I must oblige a Foe The unconcern'd may the World's Censure weigh I Nature and Necessity obey Let Honour's Laws be scan'd by Rules of Art None but poor Mothers know a Mothers Heart The Princess comes forwards to the Queen Exeunt Sir William Stanly and Mistris Stanly SCENA VI. Queen Well may our Patience Daughter be admir'd Which ha's the Tyrant and Heaven's Anger tir'd For in the King you now a Lover meet Who lays himself and Scepter at your feet My Heart with swelling Joy is larger grown To think my Blood shall repossess the Throne To see our wither'd Hopes spring forth a new Whilst all our Ruines are repair'd in you Prin. Madam your Joy more then my own I prize When from a lawful cause your Joy does rise But Madam yet I cannot find our Fate Of the old Rigour does the least abate Till Heaven's slow Justice shall ordain a way With his own Blood to make this Tyrant pay What he so barb'rously ha's spilt of ours In wonted Sorrows we must spend our Hours Of the least joy should we be guilty found We both our Honour and our Duty wound Queen Long have we mourn'd the Dead yet all our grief To them or to our selves brings no Relief To their cold Ashes 't were a fond respect The safety of the Living to neglect Prin. If that safe way to Infamy shall lead I rather chuse the Paths of Death to tread Queen The name of Infamy can it deserve To follow Nature and our selves preserve Prin. Nature abho'rs that you should call him Son Who ha's your Children rob'd of Life and Throne Queen Do not those wounds of Fate to mind recall Because we much have lost must we lose all If we have suffer'd Ship-wrack and our best Vessels are sunk shall we not save the rest Prin. Alas are the rest sav'd when you commit Them to that Tempest which the others split Queen Repentance turns that Tempest to a Calm Prin. That Calm may soon relapse and grow the same Tempest again swelling the Purple Flood Both with the Brother's and the Sister's Blood A Calm and Tempest mingle in this Wooer The Calm betrays the Tempest does devour Queen Trust to a Mother's Judgment The sure test Of Princes meanings is their Interest That very Cause which mov'd his Crueltie Against my Sons inclines him now to be As kind to you his Passion must be true In courting you he courts his Safety too Prin. Shall then the Butcher of our Familie By me and by my love protected be Two Paricides did his foul hands imbrue When he his Soveraign in his Nephew slew Shall I be Instrumental to make good His Power cemented by my Brothers Blood No Madam If it be my Fate to prove The object of his Cruelty or Love It shall not be my choice to have a Room In his loath'd Bed but in my Brother 's Tomb. Queen 'T is true a Sister's Love in some degree May these transports of Passion justifie Yet in a Sister's Love you should not smother The duty which you owe a tender Mother My Sorrows as my losses are not less Then yours though I their angry noise suppress And though I suffer not with blind Despair A Mother's Grief to drown a Mother's care Daughter submit When I prescribe the way Of safety you in Duty must obey Prin. The way prescrib'd does not to safety carry This Tyrant's Bed makes a bad Sanctuary Queen Were you a private Person did you stand Secure out of the reach of his Command I should agree with you But 't is your Fate His Love to suffer or to feel his Hate No middle way can these Extreams avoid By him you must be marry'd or destroy'd Prin. Joyn'd with my Brothers in their silent Grave Losing my Life I shall my Honour save Queen When you abandon Reason's steddy ground Honour is nothing but an empty sound 'T is a false light at which fools gazing stand Till they themselves on their own shallows strand Enter a Servant Serv. Madam the King does in your Lodgings wait Queen Tell him I come Before it be too late Exit Servant Preserve yourself and me live and obey Throw not your Life Heavens chiefest gift away Exit Queen Prin. A Mother and a Tyrant joyn to force My plighted heart to an unjust Divorce But Richmond the Temptation of a Crown Shall not divert me nor a Tyrant's frown I 'le follow thee whom powerful Heaven does lead To save the living and revenge the Dead Exit Princess ACTUS II. SCENA PRIMA Enter Sir William Stanly and Mrs. Stanly Mrs. Stanly Run not so fast you tread on slippery Ice And on both
sides lyes a vast Precipice Sir Will. Stanly My Stars have led me on to hazard all And rather then turn back again I 'le fall Mrs. Stanly The Rash will perish and they fall unmourn'd And losing Life their memory is scorn'd Attempts upon the King must fatal prove Much more your Aims at the great Princess Love Against so Potent Foes what can you do The King great Richmond and the Princess too Sir Will. Stanly Those Rivals shortly may themselves destroy And then why may not I the Prize enjoy When on their Ruines I shall raised be It will be level ground 'twixt her and me Mrs. Stanly Do not your thoughts on these Chimeras spend Impossible both in their means and End Could you as speedily in fact subdue All those great Powers as now in thought you do Yet you might sooner scale high Heaven then gain That Love which wild ambition would obtain Sir Will. Stanly If to my courage she her lost Crown owe I may partake the Gift which I bestow Our Souls have equal Fineness you mistake Thinking our drossie Parts the Difference make Mrs. Stanly Have you the Tyrant's strength who are alone In Passion strong which we our Weakness owne Consult your Reason 'T is a dangerous thing Poor Subject to be Rival to thy King Sir Will. Stanly To Cowards talk of Danger Love and Fear In the same Heart Joint-Tenants never were Mrs. Stanly Dear Brother these sick Fancies pray remove Know this last secret She does Richmond love Sir Will. Stanly Too late you tell me this when in one Flood The Poyson runs about me with my Blood Mrs. Stanly Love and all madness Brother ever raign Much lesse about the Heart then in the Brain Lovers may blame their Stars or Cupid's Bow Here dwells the Heat whence their Distempers grow Points to her head Those who are most possest with this Disease By Sleep and cooling med'cines found their Ease Sir Will. Stanly This sharpness Sister ought to be forborn My Sufferings ask your Pity not your Scorn Enter the Princess and Charlot Mrs Stanly Here comes the Princess Brother pray retire I wish my Tears could quench your Raging Fire Exit Sir William Stanly SCENA II. Princess Mrs. Stanly Charlot Charlot Madam yield not to these transports of Grief Until the cause proves worthy your Belief My Judgment thinks him true Princess Thou art a Fool And of thine own plain Heart dost make a Rule To measure others by That sudden Joy Spred through the Court too clearly does destroy All promis'd Hopes from this perfidious Lord. Char. My tender years small Judgment can afford But grant this Lord were true yet he must use These Arts and the misjudging world abuse His Loyal Purposes would not succeed Unlesse in this dark Method he proceed Mrs Stanly The Tyrant to that Height of Power is grown That open Force can never pull him down He 's to be conquer'd only by Surprise Those Arts must work his Fall which made him rise Who this Wild Bore adventures to destroy Must Toiles and Weapons both at once employ Prin. With raging Forces to destroy our Friends Is a strange method to effect our ends Mrs. Stanly Dark minds we must in Darkness overthrow To blind the King we must be blinded too Char. A Publick Errour must our Work secure Madam with Patience then you may endure Unpromising and false Appearances Which must be bad to gain a good Success Prin. Thy pretty Logick ha's a charming sound But the foundation wants a steady ground Can Stanly be for Richmond and invade The Friendly Succours rising to his aid The mystery I dread This treach'rous Lord Revolts from Honour and has broke his Word Private Concern within his narrow Soul Does all the Care of Publick good controul And his unworthy Fear for his young Son The Court 's great Pledge our bus'ness has undone Mrs. Stanly Ah Madam do not make this cruel haste With antedated Grief your Heart you waste He is my Brother and my Blood I 'm sure 'Gainst you no Taint of Treason will endure Prin. All hopes are past and we must ruin'd be Since the whole World takes part with Tyrannie Poor Richmond hastens to his Fatal End Lost by his Courage and a Treacherous Friend Enter L d Stanly Mrs. Stanly Behold my Brother It is he that must Make your Grief causless and your Fears unjust SCEN. III. L. Stanly Madam I hope you 'l pardon my delay In waiting on you this preposterous way Paying my first Debt last which your Concern Only can justify Princess By what I learn From the World's Voice I rather disallow Your hasty boldness to approch me now L. Stanly Humble Petitioners without Offence Though led by their own Wants approch their Prince I whom your Service brings may with lesse blame And better Title the like Freedom claim Prin. Place not on my Account what you have done I and the Tyrant are not yet all one L. Stanly You seem all one pray pardon what I say When with Reproch my Services you pay Prin. If other Payment you expect pray go To him for whom these Services you do L Stanly I never let to hire my Honesty I neither paid nor yet reproch't would be Prin. Are you so touch't in Honour my good Lord Who so apparently have broke your Word L. Stanly May I endure yours and your Vassals scorn When I infringe that Faith which I have sworn Princess These purging Imprecations let alone You have the Tyrant's thanks for what is done L Stanly I have deceiv'd the Tyrant and you too And I am thankt by him reprocht by you Yet this deceit of mine may him dethrone And Madam render you your Fathers Crown Thus blind all Censures are until we know Those hidden Roots whence outward Actions grow Princess Pray end these Mysteries Who did oppose Those Loyal Borderers that lately rose Against the King all Aids you did prevent By that unseas'nable discouragement L Stanly I did suppress them Madam But 't was I That rais'd them too Princess I cannot yet descry At what you aim L. Stanly Pray know that by my own Confed ' rates all that rising was begun Which I contriv'd only to be supprest This Art I us'd that in the Jealous breast Of our suspitious Tyrant I might gain Such Trust as will our purposes obtain And that you may reserve no Jealous thought Here my Credential Letters I have brought He delivers a Letter to the Princess who reads it out Madam The time draws neer in which I shall either restore you to the Inheritance of your Fathers Crown or dye a Martyr in your cause My Devotion to your Person and the Iustice of your Claim raise my hopes into an Assurance of Success In the mean time by the hands of my Lord Stanly your conceal'd and faithful Servant be pleased to accept this earnest of his Constancy who is Madam Your most devoted Servant Richmond Princess My Lord I know the hand and what to
you I did impute that Blame becomes my due Errours of Passion not of Will may find An easie Pardon in a generous Mind L. Stanly Madam your goodness now confounds me more Then your unkind reproaches did before But your concernments now require my haste And make the price of Time too great to waste Yet ere I part I must with Joy relate Of our improving Cause the prosp'rous state For your great Chief advances with a Power Resolv'd and Numerous growing every hour Which still receives by a supply'd access Of the Heroick Welch a fair encrease And Madam from this Camp you soon will see His Flying Colours brave the Enemie Princess His hasty Succours may advance too late L. Stan. Too late how can that be Prin. The Tyrant's hate By a most Fatal Metamorphosis Does in Love's Image his ill shape disguise Of which I dread the dismal consequence L. Stanly The thoughts of his own Danger and Defence Will soon allay the crafty Lover's Heats Princess Whilst I am in his Power no Fatal threats That aim at him can make my safety better For when his danger 's great mine must be greater His bloody Temper urg'd by Jealousie Will all his former cruelties outvie L. Stanly Madam can Heaven for such a Tyrant's sake Pervert their Justice and you Guilty make But is it true that now the Queen does prove A Mediatour for the Tyrant's Love Princess It is too true A Mothers tender heart Does for my safety take the Tyrant's part L. Stanly Ha's she forgot what Guardian he has been To her two Sons Ha's she not lately seen What Husband to his Wife he prov'd and can A Mother give a Daughter to this man Princess My Lord she is my Mother pray forbear L. Stanly I must not speak what you are loth to hear Princess I fear my Lord that our great bus'ness may Suffer some damage by your longer stay And yet one minute more you must attend Whilst I an answer to this Letter send L. Stanly Your sight with no mean Joy my heart does bless Mrs. Stanly Brother your kindness makes my happiness Exeunt Princess and Mrs. Stanly SCEN. IV. Lord Stanly Charlot L. Stanly Sir by the noble Richmond's strict commands I am to leave this Letter in your hands You are intirely happy in his grace I find you there possess an envyed place Charlot I may presume that for so poor a thing As Charlot Envy cannot find a sting L. Stanly Your Person I confess should alwaies prove The subject not of envy but of love Nature does court you and her Favourite Is for a Prince his kindness ever fit Charlot My Lord you quite mistake me I was worse Then nothing till my Essence from that Source Of goodness was deriv'd From him I own Being and Happiness So the kind Sun Smiles on a Clod of Earth after a showre And then prefers that Dirt into a Flower L. Stanly Your Person and your Gratitude both shew Your Patron just when he is kind to you I find the Royal Princess too does seem To give you the same place in her esteem Charlot She does her gracious countenance afford To a slight Toy sent to her from my Lord. L. Stanly But in this jealous Court what Industry Has thus preserv'd you from each watchful spy Charlot Their bus'ness is above I keep below Besides French Pages are the Fashion now But pray my noble Lord what numbers join Of French Nobless to favour our Design L. Stanly I durst not publick in their Camp appear But of a Breton Lord much Fame I hear Charlot starts He 's Chandew call'd What 's this something I find By your chang'd face has discompos'd your mind Charlot My Lord I hope you will not think it strange That in my troubled breast you see this change Impressions such as these are often wrought When absent Friends and Country fill our thought Such fits will quickly vanish But I fear That our attendance we too long forbear L. Stanly Charlot 't is well advis'd Pray shew the way Exeunt L. Stanly and Charlot Enter again Charlot reading the Letter My Charlot I beg the continuance of thy kindness in being the faithful Interpreter and Promoter of my Passion to our adored Princess Charlot shuts the Letter suddenly Charlot Dear Paper I to thee this Homage pay kisses the Letter Though I in thy contents already find A Warrant for my execution sign'd Which I must serve upon my self and be The instrument of my own Destinie Though I am thus condemn'd yet I not grudge To kiss the Sentence and adore the Judge I only pray my Punishment may be Kept secret and exempt from infamie Alas my hopes are vain for how can I Conceal a Daughter from a Fathers eye My Fault 's too great for Pardon I allow Yet I as great a Penance undergo Since I assist my Rival to possess That which possest destroys my Happiness Grant Heaven at least that I may part from hence As clear in Honour as in Innocence Exit Charlot SCEN. V. Enter King Queen L d Strange and Attendants King Well Madam will she yield Queen I did not spare My labour to reduce her nor my care Patience must this to happy issue bring King Patience is not the Virtue of a King It will concern you and your Daughter too Not to become too tedious Queen Sir you woo In a strange Language King I must change my course Queen Nothing does less consist with Love then Force King Call Stanly and his Sister The Idle may In lingring Courtship trifle out the Day Slow Treaties will to stormings him oblige Who leisure wants to take the Fort by Siege Princess In exigents of State or Rage of War Sudden dispatch and Force conducing are But Sir in love-concernments they destroy The chiefest Blessing that you would enjoy King Madam these tedious forms destructive grow The safety of my Crown they overthrow Like a bold Suitour Richmond marches on And by pretending Love to Strength is grown When Kingdoms such Convulsion-fits endure We must not complement about the Cure Enter Sir Will. Stanly Stanly have you perform'd what I enjoyn'd Sir W. Stan. I have obey'd you Sir King But do you find Good Symptoms of Success Mrs. Stanly What shall I say apart Sir W. Stan. Sir I have done my part King Then I must lay Madam the blame on you if my design To Mrs. Stanly Miscarry Mrs. Stanly Sir unless the Fault be mine Your Justice will not punish me with blame King I do not like this Prologue Does my Flame Yet warm her Breast Mrs. Stanly Sir she condemns your haste And says her time of mourning is not past For her two Brothers and she thinks that you Your Queen scarce cold should be a mourner too Then she concludes it would great Scandal move If two so deep in Sorrow should make Love King She thinks it is too soon for me to woo But does she think it so for Richmond too Madam you know
her Bosom pray be free Is she not warm to him and cold to me Mrs. Stanly Sir you mistake the Temper of her Heart Where grief holds all Love can pretend no part King If she be free from Love her Duty may With less reluctancy her King obey I wish I had more cause to thank your care In my concerns Madam your Brothers are My greatest Friends methinks you should inherit With their high Blood some of their loyal merit Madam be kind and let me not despair That Heaven ha's made you good as well as fair Madam I will attend your Daughter strait To the Queen To learn of her mine and the Kingdoms Fate Exit King L. Strange Uncle farewel would I might stay with you Sir W. Stan. You must obey your King and Father too Exit Strange SCENA VI. Queen Sir Will. Stanly Mrs. Stanly Queen Did you not mark how his contracted brow Did curle like Waves which to a Tempest grow Sir W. Stan. Madam this gath'ring Storm if not withstood Will end in a Prodigious Rain of Blood Queen Too well I know the Ills these Signs presage This Storm on me and mine will shortly rage How often cruel man must I be stain In every Child and yet not end my Pain Ere thou didst tear away each tender shoot Would thou hadst laid thy Hatchet to the Root Sir Will. Stanly Madam he wants the Bowels of a Man Who sees your Grief and does not all he can In your Redress When you my Sword command 'Twixt him and yours I will a Bulwark stand Queen Sir were your offer more then complement I should such kindness to its worth resent But by his favours you are prepossest And wear the Tyrant's Chains though not opprest Sir Will. Stan. Those seeming favours which he does impart Are no true marks of kindness but of Art When he propitious to my Vows appears He does but sacrifice to his own Fears Queen Alas I am not worth a new design Of farther ruine You need not combine By subtle ways to draw me to my woe I am past falling now Ily so low Sir Will. Stanly Let all in Heaven and Earth who sacred be The great and good be Witnesses for me That I to you and yours will loyal prove Queen Such ardent Zeal and such a sudden Love From him who seem'd a Foe must well be scan'd Ere they by Force of Words my Faith command Mrs. Stanly I know my brother's Int'rest and his Heart His Passion wears no false disguise of Art Queen If his deep Vows and those confirm'd by you Should move my willing heart to think them true What means has he from threatning Storms to free The small remainder of my Familie Sir William Stanly None can be sav'd unless they first believe Madam the great deceiver I 'le deceive You cannot see the depths of my design But you shall hear it when I spring the Mine Queen These mighty Promises advanc'd by you Ask time for thanks and for acceptance too Exit Queen SCENA VII Sir William Stanly Mrs. Stanly Mrs. Stanly Brother what 's your Design I fear you move In these Attempts provok't by your rash Love Sir Will. Stan. Though Love be the great Cause yet I should do The same by Honour mov'd and Justice too Mrs. Stanly To save true Princes from a Tyrant's doom Is that which may a Stanly well become But with unlawful Passion to invade What mutual Vows and Heaven have sacred made Will all the Glory of your Life deface And tarnish all the Lustre of our Race Do you not see the great Design of Fate That peacefully would quench the fierce Debate In which this harrass'd Land too long ha's bled By planting these two Roses in one Bed Sir Will. Stanly The truth of what you say I know too well But Love against my Reason does rebel The Enterprise less difficult will prove To vanquish Richard then to conquer Love Mrs. Stanly Such hopeless Love no longer entertain The Saint whom you adore you but prophane It will both mortal and unglorious be To touch the Fruit of this Forbidden Tree Sir Will. Stanly Though between me and my Pretentions lyes A Chaos void of Possibilities Yet I must on Those things I mean to do Shall make you say I did not rashly wooe If Love's Religion Merit will allow He may find Grace who ha's perform'd his Vow Exeunt ACTUS TERTIUS SCEN. I. Enter King Princess L d Strange Guards and Attendants L d Strange apart The Tyrant now will our poor Princess bait With Kindness far more Cruel then his Hate King Madam be pleas'd to let your Guards withdraw Prin. My Guards And must their Pris'ner give them Law King Madam your are their Queen Both these and I And with us all the Nation prostrate lye Begging the Honour of your Government Prin. What you in pleasant Rallery present Your serious Conscience knows is all my Due This with the rest I must endure from you And to the will of Heaven I can resign What you have ravish'd both from me and mine But though you tye my Person as your Slave Yet let my Thoughts the common Freedom have The Thoughts of Pris'ners cannot be confin'd No fetter'd Slave can love against his mind King Though I confess that for the Publick Good And safety of the Realm I have drawn blood Heaven knows against my will yet Madam you Are grown the greater Tyrant of us two The Realm's inflam'd and wounded you may quench This Inflamation and the Bleeding stench Though I am much unworthy of your Love Yet England's Safety should your Pity move Madam your love vouchsaf'd to me ha's Charms Which can dissolve all Enmities and Arms All our Divisions close the War is done When Right and Power consent to joyn in one Prin. Sir could your cruel Rhet'rick rudely chuse No Subject but Compassion to abuse Is Pity that which you pretend to teach O Sir that you had practis'd what you preach Then had you not the Royal Plants cut down To clear your Passage to the sacred Crown The Blood you spilt provokes Heaven's striking Flame Whose long Forbearance takes but surer aim King Madam I need not fear a Punishment Out of the Clouds Heaven spares the Innocent The Thunder which I dread does only lye In your contracted Brow or angry Eye Repeal that Censure which misjudging Grief Lays on the Guiltless and gives small Relief To your great Losses making those my Crimes Which were effects of the distracted times I mourn'd as much as you the hasty Fate Of that lamented Pair whose lives short Date I rather would have lengthen'd with my own To be their Subject then to wear their Crown Prin. You robb'd me of my Blood and Regal Due Would you deprive me of my Sense too My Reason is reverst with me alas Richard the third for a mild Prince must passe King Did you believe me Cruel at that rate Which you pretend you would not tempt your Fate By Provocations