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
ignoble fears But joyn with us and meet this Tide of Glory Hail thou true Successor of Warwick's Fame North. Are we alone the Court has list'ning Ears And Knaves in ev'ry corner Suff. What 's the News Dutch Great Spirit of Man Is Edward now no more North. He lives nor cou'd he die till this was done This is his Passport now to Heav'n a' goes Suff. Alas North. What voice was that We are one mind Dutch Whom left you with the King North. Cranmer and Ridley Who has been praying by his Watch this hour And such another space will surely end him Dutch What will he live so long Suff. O cruel Panther North. He cannot breathe a quarter of that time The Woman that pretended to restore him Last night was turn'd away and the Physicians Again were call'd who finding him so desperate Stood mute and gaz'd like Wretches scap'd from Fire Viewing their Houses and Estates in Flames When past their Power to quench the Conflagration Dutch What must be done with Mary when he dies North. That has been long debated of in Council And wisely thought by all that Edward's death Should be kept secret for some time and Letters Sent to the Princess in her Brother's Name Inviting her to see him e'er he dies Whom when she comes we mean so to secure That she shall ne'er have hopes to Reign in England Dutch Whom send you with these Orders North. Valiant Sussex Who has Commission too to head some Forces And lead 'em with him speedily to Norfolk To keep those parts in awe where now she dwells Suff. Wisely intended but I doubt the Person North. No Brave Design was ever done alone And in Vast Numbers all are to be fear'd Therefore because we doubt must none be trusted Enter Pembrook My Lord left you the King Pemb. I came now from him But curst am I who am the first Informer The King has left you me and all the World Alas he 's dead Dutch Sweet Prince Pemb. Sweet Prince Sweet Saint Sweet Angel more nay Prince of Cherubims North. All Tongues be silent yet of his departure As is the Grave or mouth of Death it self Madam find out the Queen in her Apartment I call her so but yet she must not know it As likewise Edward's death the News is stunning A Banquet of such Joy should be prepar'd And wisely serv'd to furnish several Feasts Exit Dutch Pemb. You mist a sight wou'd fix your admiration For oh to see this Miracle depart Was such Instruction to Mankind that all The Volumes of Disciples Chronicles of Martyrs Cou'd never parallel He liv'd like Age Yet dy'd as if he ne'er had known the World Suff. It was an Object full of Dread and Pity Pemb. Tho' Flesh and Blood his Thoughts were still Divine No Vice cou'd ever make Impression there Have you not seen the Swan on Isis Stream To dive her Downy Neck beneath the Flood White as the Snow upon the tops of Cedars Then lifting up her Iv'ry Crest again The Crystal Drops despairing slide away Leaving no track nor watery stain behind Thus he in all his fiercest Blooming Youth Harder to Govern than a Raging Steed And Hunting Pleasures like the rushing Winds Yet then oh then did he hold fast the Reins And in the midst of Flames was never scorch'd North. The King my Lord dy'd in the same resolve Pemb. The last words that he spar'd from his Devotion Were that his Cousin Iane shou'd after him Be Queen North. May she Reign long and dye at last like him Pemb. If Spirits sent from Heaven were ever doom'd To suffer Penance here in Mortal Bodies Sure his was such For none but one acquainted with such Joys Cou'd part so willingly with Life and Empire And long to lay 'em both as Burthens down So dy'd this Prince beneath the stroak of Death As silent as the Lamb lies down to sleep As Blossoms when the Tree is shaken fall Or tender Grass before the Mower's hand North. My Lord I doubt not but the Cause has reach'd you Wherefore the King hath Disinherited His Sisters Mary and Elizabeth King Harry's Marriage with Prince Arthur's Widdow The Mother of the first was for that Reason By all the Laws of England disannull'd Then Anna Bullen in Attainder dead By Parliament her Issue was Excluded Whereto I think your Lordship gave your Vote Pemb. I well remember it 't was just when Age Had Priviledg'd me to sit among the Peers North. There was another Motive yet more urging The Princess Mary is a fierce Bigot 'T is to be fear'd if e're she wears the Crown This Reformation which King Harry planted And Edward all his Reign with care increas'd She 'll blast and turn to Ruine in a Day Then yours and mine and all our choicest Mannors Like Limbs hack'd off from the great See of Rome Will soon return to Animate that Monster Whilst like a great Coloss he sets his Foot And strides o're us as over half the World Pemb. These Accidents the young King wisely weigh'd North. There is a third the like to be avoided Lest Harry's Daughter shou'd some Monarch Wed Who having of his own a larger Kingdom Shou'd leave us to be Govern'd by some Proxy And make the Less depend upon the Greater Pemb. How can we be assur'd this Queen will not We have the like fear of Suffolk's Daughter North. There you are come to touch the String that will Soft Musick yield or jar in England's Ear. Now Pembrook hear and Sensure like a Friend Believe with all the pitying Powers above And purge this Act of an Ambitious stain For who 's not ignorant the mighty Dudly Whose Rank is next the foremost in three Kingdoms And Second to his Prince Fear'd and Ador'd By all can add more Glory to his Name Were it himself by Bedding of a Queen And be at best but Subject to a Wife The Queen has chos'n a Husband Pemb. Whom intends she North. She is already Marry'd Pemb. Ha! North. Last Night took a Companion in her Bosom Disclos'd the Beauties of her Mind and Person More worth than England's Crown she carries with ' em To my best Son my Lov'd my Darling Guilford Pemb. Heavens whither will this Man's Ambition hurl him Till he has rais'd the Ladder of Vain Hopes Aside To such prodigious height till it has nought But Airy Clouds to rest upon But hold 'T is now the times Necessity to flatter Sir you surprize me both with Joy and Wonder At your Son's strange Promotion to a Crown Thus I Congratulate your Hopes and think None but so Fortunate and Wise a Man As great Northumberland cou'd bring 't to pass North. Their Innocent Scenes of Love were acted first In our young Monarch's Life-time long before She was design'd by Edward to Succeed And as a lucky Crime without my Knowledge Were privately Contracted Judge then you That know this Miracle of Innocence Sooner an Angel wou'd Blaspheme in Heaven Than she to gain the Empire
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