let my pregnant Heart bring forth Those kindly Joys the Beams of Love have kindled Dutch 'T is nought but Fondness and Excess of Passion Like Misers Wealth which oft begets a Fear Without a Cause of losing what they covet Ia. Why in the Tower this Palace more befits A Coronation than a private Wedding Love rather wou'd have chosen some lonely Bower Or humble Cottage than this mighty Prison Alas why at this time why are we lodg'd In the Apartment of the King and here attended With more than usual State Dutch It is my Child By the Appointment of his Majesty Ia. By his Appointment say Then is he well Dutch I do not know Ia. Ha! then I fear 't is bad For every one I ask tells me the same Does his devouring Malady increase Then Bane to all our Marriage-Sweets for ever If he does languish why should we rejoyce Why should our Hymen's Torch so proudly blaze When he our brightest Sun is in Eclipse Why shou'd we laugh and drink deep Draughts of Joy When Edward Groans and all the Nation Weeps Dutch Disturb the quiet of thy Breast no more Thou shou'dst rejoyce to see thy Mother glad Her Floods of Sorrow and her Tides of Bliss Are Govern'd by the Stars of thy Success Wines of sweet Relish may be drunk too fast And what you are should not be told in haste Exit Dutch Ia. Ha! Gone Was I but yesterday so blest And now a Stranger to my Mother's Breast What is the cause just Heav'n she shuns my sight Has then a Wife so chang'd me in a Night What News is that too great for me to bear And yet I dread it is too bad to hear But see a' comes my Oracle of Love That will all Doubts from this dear Heart remove In whose sweet Tongue 's more Musick soft Desire Than in Apollo's Voice or Charming Lyre Enter Gilford Gilf. My Life My Soul My Angel and my Love Ia. Come to my Breast thou faithless Wanderer And listen to the Language of my Heart The Dove within my Bosom left alone Has pin'd and coo'd and made such piteous Moan And in its doleful Cage no rest cou'd get This long long hour and all for thee its Mate Gilf. Ye Powers that ever felt a Lover's Joy Why have ye made such Beauties to destroy For here are Arms to bind the Brave and Young Nets for the Wise and Fetters for the Strong Ia. O thou lov'd Man in whom are sweetly mixt Thy Father's Roughness and thy Mother's Softness Where hast thou been thou Darling dear of Love Where hast thou been thou Stragler Thy whole Sex Are like the little Robbers of the Hive Who having cull'd the Sweets of ev'ry Flower Rifl'd their Wealth and ravish'd all their Store Proud with their Conquest leave the Plunder'd Bower To every Storm and every Blast that blows Thus like the Violet and the fragrant Rose Women Enjoy'd you Banish and Expose Gilf. Atlas wou'd sink beneath this weight of Bliss I die I live and all with ev'ry kiss This Downy softness Snowy white excels The Beauty that in yonder Heaven dwells O shun me fly me banish me I fear These Raptures are too exquisite to bear Ia. I charm thee then by our past Scenes of Love By all those Sacred and Religious Rites Unravell'd to our languishing Delights By the disclosing of that Gordian Knot Which like the greedy Conqueror of the World Thou in the Temple of these Arms unfolded If there be any thing within this Breast Worth a kind thought O rid it then from Tortures And tell me why this place of Blood and Death Is chosen to be the Seat of tender Love Where dreadful Cannons drown soft Lutes and Songs And Bullets fly instead of Cupid's Darts But first by all those Tyes again I charge thee Inform me of the Welfare of the King If he be well no matter where we are Gilf. O then prepare to hear the Joyful Wonder Fit only for an Angel's Voice to tell And thou to hear King Edward by his Will Ia. What was 't you said his Will then is he dead Gilf. As Winters Clay he 's dead but that 's not all Ia. Not all Is not that more than all the Plagues at once On England Dead O Heav'ns recall that word And Trumpet with an Angel's Voice aloud To all his Subjects Ears that now are deaf With howlings that he lives Say does he live Gilf. In Heav'n a' does Ia. O Gilford can you say He 's dead and not relate it with a Tone So mournful that wou'd strike with sudden death The wretched hearers Gilf. Cease thou profuse and lavish Mourner cease Dudley will else grow jealous of his Shade And wish to die to be lamented so Tears are but wasted that are spent in Sorrow Hadst thou a Stock wou'd fill the Ocean up I bring such News wou'd drain 'em all with Joy Shake off those Clouds that shade thy Summer's Beams And O! put on put on with all thy Smiles Thy Spring of Beauty straight to welcome Glory Kneels Ia. What means my Lord Gilf. Start not for what th' Almighty is above And Edward was on Earth ev'n that you are Ia. Ha! quickly tell me what is that Gilf. My Princess and the Soveraign Queen of England Ia. Rise rise and flatter those that are Ambitious Gilf. I dare not for the Ocean 's not so wide Nor distance up from Earth to Heaven so great As this vast Space a Crown has made betwixt us Ia. Now I have hopes again thou art not serious That the King lives and this is acted all Rise to my Breast and take those fancy'd Crowns Were here the Empire of the World my Lord Should share it Gilf. Can you be so Heav'nly lavish Imagine then thy Beauty 's on a Throne High as the Star the Ruler of the Morn From whence thou may'st behold Joy spread its Wings o'er all the Ravish'd Island Augusta with her Bells and Trumpets sounding Iane Brittain's Empress and the Ocean's Queen Ia. Haste and in few and plainer words explain you Truly I bind you by that Sacred Truth above I die to be deliver'd of this doubt But fear the Knowledge will be worse than Death What am I Who are you And if the King Be dead as all the Pow'rs o'er Life forbid Who shou'd the Nation kneel to but his Sister Gilf. Your self Ia. My self Gilf. Ask me not whom the People But whom the Heav'ns have chosen whom the King On his Sick Bed by Patent and by Will Ordain'd And I must answer only you Ia. Ha! Me Me Heav'ns Yet yet recant my Guilford Say this is feign'd and pour not down at once More Plagues than Earth has left in store to curse us Condemn not with thy once melodious Tongue These Breasts to Banishment and further too Than Seas can part us or than Death can do Gilf. What says my Iane has she not one kind look To give the Messenger nor Gilford too Heark heark they come approaching with
and take it Be suddain for there 's now no going back Like Caesar you have past the Rubicon Therefore resolve like him and take the Crown Dutch Say not th' art Conscious now of shedding Blood All we must perish if thou cease to guard us Already y' are proclaim'd through all the Kingdom And by a Claim lesser than Mary's think you Was not my Mother Harry's only Sister And every drop of Blood of thine as Royal As the best vein from whence her Title streams North. Ha! mute Gilford where is thy boasted Power Where 's now thy Empire o'er her bending Mind Thy soft thy obey'd thy quick Commands to win her Thou speechless too then we are all betray'd 'T is so Madam w' are sold basely and Cowardly Whilst Correspondence with the Candidate Is held in hopes that when my Life and all My wretched Sons are forfeited to Death They shall be Heirs and so of you my Lord Is it not so Gilf. O Iane Ia. Give me thy hand let 's fall thus low together O Father Mother far more priz'd than Life And Parent of my Lord as near my Heart By the Divine above and Just on Earth By this dear Pledge that you have given these Arms To bind me to your Love thus fast for ever Your Safety is the only Charm that binds me And Life the Sentence that Condemns me Guilty Dutch What 's to be done the Storm comes on apace And Mary like a Torrent from a Hill Will quickly drive us hence or pour upon us Suff. There 's now no hopes in any thing but Flight Let us secure our selves Dutch Inglorious Wretch Shame of thy Mother's Blood Suff. Say what do you intend to do my Lord North. Stay here like Titan and devour my Race To tear him her thee and then my hated self Yet I 'll be gone but whither that 's no matter Behold me O! thou that wert once my Son But now a Stranger to my Bowels Iove hurl'd Not Saturn from so proud a heighth as thou hast me I who this Moment in my hand had Crowns And Kingdoms with my Breath to give away Now am not worth this Spot this Earth I tread on Gilf. O cruel Iane O most Inhumane Virtue North. Yet I will live and feed this Breast with Curses There is this Comfort too I may run mad At worst but beg and starve out Life as lately A Noble Duke of the Lancastrian Line That us'd in Burgundy by Horsemens sides To run and crave an Alms and so farewel Gilf. My Father Lord you must not shall not stir Take not your self take not your Blessing from us Lo at your Feet the worst Delinquent falls Spurn this Hard-hearted and Rebellious Son Spurn me to Atoms hence you shall not go For thus I 'll hold 'em chain 'em with my Hands Wash 'em with Tears and glew 'em to my Lips Take me along your Son shall be your Shield I 'll plant my self like Marble round your Heart Save you from Want and guard you from your Foes North. Loose me Fond Nature will not let me hurt thee The Father 's in my Heart and Mother's in my Eyes Wilt thou not let me go to save my Life But see thy Father like a Traitor seiz'd Drawn on a Sledge and mounted on a Gibbet Then by the common Executioner Of Rogues and Thieves these Bowels to be ripp'd And this great Heart yet panting in his hand Thrown in the Flames and burnt before thy Face Gilf Now by the Heavenly Pity in her Soul She 'll not indure it See she 'll take the Crown And mount the Precipice of yonder Throne Were it as high or Mortal to ascend As Atlas Teneriff or burning AEtna I know my Iane wou'd Travel to the top At my Request one of these Tears shou'd force her Turn best of Fathers turn behold she will I see it in her Soul her Lips are pregnant Now now they open Heav'nly Angel say Let thy Tongue speak the Language of thy Eyes And save my Father's Life Ia. Heav'n knows my Gilford How dear's thy Love How Eloquent thy Tears And more how near thy Father's Danger wracks me Yet this I must not yield to All is none To Vultures here and Daggers in a Throne Gilf. Ha! Then I 'll search amongst the Stars or dive To th' bottom where this Merciless Virtue grows Farewel O most Belov'd And yet most Cruel Farewel to those false Dreams of Crowns by Day And Heav'n by Night Farewel to Love for ever Perhaps when I am Dead she 'll take the Crown Then of necessity this way 's the best To save a Father's Life and be at rest Offers to fall on his Sword Ia. Hold hold my Love Give me this fatal Weapon Where is this Throne Where is this Golden Wreath This Magick Circle to Inchant my Brow Load me with Crowns were it the Tripple Crown To save your Lives you shall then put it on North. Immortal Crowns reward your Soul for this Gilf. Shout shout aloud till Angels catch the sound And Joy in Heav'n that she on Earth is Crown'd Shouts Scene draws and discovers the Throne and Regalias Re-enter Lords Ia. Is this the fatal Glory of Mankind The dazling Object that so fires his Mind Curst as in Mines thou art dug up with pain With Labour got and Sorrow lost again Methinks when I ascend you dreadful height Putting on the Crown I am like one who when a Storm 's in sight Climbs up some dangerous Cliff that hits the Skies To view the Labouring Barks with weeping Eyes How they against the raging Billows strive And wonders that the little Wretches live But still forgets what slippery place he 's on How safe they are how near he is to drown Exeunt Omnes ACT III. SCENE I. SCENE the Tower Gardner solus Gard. YOung Edward dead the Crown Intail'd on Iane All looks like dreadful Truth for late last night Suffolk's proud Dutchess and her Pageant Daughter Enter'd these Walls with a profuse Retinue Omnipotence what mean'st thou fatal Caesar Curst be the Winds that drove thee on our Shore A Storm brought thee to us and ever since The Storms of War has lodg'd within our Bowels And curst be the Foundation of these Walls When thou didst build this Castle to maintain Thy ill got Empire 't was first rear'd in Blood And since with Blood of Princes often stain'd A Cittadel for this Rebellious City The Scene of Murders Slaughter-House of Kings And Court of Hellish Plots Ha! yonder comes Northumberland like a Prodigious Meteor That threatens Desolation where it hovers Dudley the Great and Monarch of his Prince Enter Northumberland with Attendance seeing Gardner offers to pass over the Stage My Lord. North. What says my Lord of Winchester Y' are breathing in the freshness of the Morning Gard. The King 's poor Prisoners Sir are glad to take The Benefit of any little Air. I 've borrow'd of my Chains this precious Freedom To learn what News and if the King be
Execution straight All that have Names contain'd within this Pardon Her Foolish Father Proud Northumberland And his three other Sons Away with 'em When that is Acted as she likes the Shew Let they begin it Come my Lord. Exeunt Gard. and Pemb Ia. Come to me Gilford cleave thou to my Breast Till as one Soul we one lov'd Body grow And equal Pain and equal Death divide us Gilf. O Iane Ia. What dire thoughts possess my Love Gilf. Oh! Ia. Breathe thy Immortal Soul with mine at once And let us mount on Wings of Cherubims together Gilf. But e'er that comes there is a gloomy Vale A Darkness worse than Chaos to be pass'd How shall I wander how go through the Maze Without thy hand to guide Ia. Thou dearer far Than new born Babes are to their tender Mothers Fear not my Love I 'll trust thee from thy Iane No farther than the Nurse her tender Charge She fain wou'd teach to go watching its steps Beholds it trip but e'er it falls to Ground Catches it thus and hugs it in her Arms. Gilf. Wilt thou Ia. I 'll overtake thee in that dreadful Vale Hallow aloud and cry My Love where art thou But e'er my Voice can reach thee thou shalt spy The Nuptial Beams fresh kindl'd in my Eyes To bring me to thee stumbling as thou art And bear my Child away Gilf. Be not so tender if thou mean'st to part Thou give'st me Kisses and instead of dreining Dost pour more Oil into my dying Lamp Re-enter Pembrook and Gardner Ia. My Lords is my unhappy Father dead Pemb. He is no more I saw the Ax as Mortal as the Plague In one short space sweep Families away Northumberland dy'd sullen and reserv'd Made a short Speech and then as short a Prayer Beg'd Pardon of the Queen and said he dy'd A real Convert to the Church of Rome Ia. Heav'n spare his Faults and Crown his just Intent Gilf. Are they all dead Pemb. They are But oh how pitiful it was to see There lay the Duke with his three Sons surrounded Like a vast Oak its Branches spreading wide By some huge Storm laid flat upon the ground Thy Father's Death O Iane succeeded his Gilf. There wanted me to make the Pomp more awful Pemb. Permit me oh to end this dreadful Tale For sure my Tongue was doom'd to tell thee Horrors Thy Mother likewise in a Fit of Frenzie Resign'd her Spirit to that milder Region Where Souls refine like purest Gold from dross Ia. Enough enough Gilf. Break Heart of Adamant enough Ia. Then our turn 's next lead which way must we follow And where commerce the last Degree of Mortals Since like the first of all my Sinful Sex I wrought my dearest Husband to his Fall 'T is just I lead the way to Punishment Gilf. By that kind simpathizing Sun who to Avoid the dismal Object of thy Death Is now retir'd behind you Cloud to mourn I swear thou shalt not By our Loves I charm thee If e'er thou wert Obedient or had Virtue Let me die first Cruel Hard-hearted Iane If thou deny'st me this Ia. Thou art my Lord. Gilf. Come bring me to your Shambles Where 's my Death Gard. Draw then that Curtain Ia. O hear the tender voice of Pity cry Do not disclose that dreadful Scene of Horror But lead my Love some other way Pemb. Do so Gilf. O Iane That precious Purple nearest to my Heart In whose pure Stream the Soul imbalm'd does lie Is not so hugg'd within my Breast as thou Yet we must part For lo the Fight 's prepar'd And Honour calls me to begin the Charge Remember Iane Ia. Courage Heroick Gilford Face but this Tyrant of the World a Moment Then see thy Iane her self shall quickly come And bring thee Succors from the Camp of Love Shall chace grim Death and all its Fears away Farewell Gilf. O Dart there is no Armour against thee Darkness and Death attends it on a suddain O Star O Planet of my Life Farewell Ia. No more Farewell Gilf. When this tempestuous Blast I go to meet Has blown my glimmering Flame of Life quite out O haste thou Brightness to relume my Torch Ia. Our Loves bright Tapers ne'er shall be extinguish'd This parting 's but the Door that 's shut between us But when that 's o'er and Death has broke the Bars We 'll mingle and unite our Beams together Let endless silence now like Seas divide us Thy Lips end all their Charms in this last Kiss And lock thy Speech for ever in my Bosom Gilf. A Sigh or Groan cannot be call'd a Word Hands Eyes and Heart conclude my Mournful Song For thy Commands like Death have charm'd my Tongue Pemb. How now my Lord Wants this the Virtue to extract your Pity My Eyes are too big loaded to be hid Were Bonner in thy place a' wou'd have wept Yet save his Life and thine To Jane Gard. Lead him away tho' stubborn as she is We will have Pity on his Youth my Lord. Some Reverend Prelate of the Faith be by Invoke the Saints say Mattins for his Soul And sprinkle him with Pardon Ia. Courage my Gilford shut thy Eyes and Ears Be Blind and Deaf to all their Tricks and Prayers Let not one Superstitious Drop remain But with thy Tears wash off the Brinish stain Whilst they their Picture-Gods invoke to hear Call thou on Luther Cranmer Latimer One Syllable of theirs shall aid thee more Than all the thousand Saints that they adore Gard. Away with him Gilf. O Iane Ia. Turn turn my Gilford one last look again Expand thy longing Arms 't is not in vain And take my Wishes though deny'd thy Iane. Exit Gilford to Execution Pemb. Unhappy Pair O Innocent Usurper Ia. Dry up those Tears and now with Joy prepare To do your last kind Office to your Mistress When I am dead and laid upon the Scasfold Protect I pray these bashful Limbs from Shame See not in Death their Innocence expos'd That when alive had awful Modesty To Guard 'em Here receive this Scarf It was my Maiden-Present to my Gilford In it I wrought the Tale of Iphegenia A Fatal Omen of this Fatal Day Doom'd by her Cruel Parent to be Slain In this when th' Ax has done its welcome Office Be sure you wrap my Husband's Head and with it This Head that 's to be Sacrific'd to Peace Now I am ready Scene draws and discovers Gilford and the rest lying upon it beheaded Is then this Pomp of Death this dreaded Horrour So talk'd on and so fear'd by all Mankind So quickly o'er Come bring me to the Test Where is my Lord Pemb. There Look not upon 't methinks it shou'd offend you Ia. Not at all What signifies this Clay that mangl'd Head The broken Casket now the Jewel 's fled Gilford I come this Moment sends me to thee Pemb. Yet save thy exquisite and precious Life Gard. Do not these dismal Objects stir thee No fright nor fear of Pain can make thee turn Yet hear Ia. Away with me were they alive again Shou'd Father Mother Kindred all Joyn'd with this fatal number with me fall And in the very Moment of their Deaths Shot Curses on me with their flying Breaths To save their gasping Lives I wou'd not chuse One hour of Immortality to lose Sou'd all your torterous Racks on me be try'd Broil me on Grid-Irons turn the other side Till-the Abortive Infant where it lay Shou'd from my flaming Intrails burst its way To my vow'd Faith I 'll be for ever true In spight of all your Roman Gods and you Curtain falls FINIS
of the World Wou'd break her Vow to Gilford tell me then Is there a Man who for Religions Cause To fix the Glory of his House for ever And join two Lovers Hearts made one before By mutual Vows but wou'd have done as I did Pemb. The Ministers above are on your side And pleas'd to make your great Attempt successful Heav'ns have you not a Bolt in all your store Left yet to ram this Traytor to the Center Nay me that knows all this to be the forging of Aside His Brain yet dare not tell him that he Lies North. Haste then my Lord you are our Hopes have you The suppos'd Letters of the King to Mary And Council's Order of dispatch Pemb. I have But mine e'er this I hope she has receiv'd To give her Caution Fare you well my Lord. North. Yet but a word If Edward's Death she chance To hear of and so miss to fall into our Snare By my Command unknown to all the Council Six of the tallest best appointed Ships Are Cruising now about the Coast of Yarmouth To intercept her Flight that way Pemb. 'T was Bravely done and Wisely How Villany betrays it self Farewell Success at home attend you doubt not mine Exit Pemb. North. Help now you Powers whether from Heaven or Hell Descend ascend bring but a Crown I care not That from this Moment may grow up my Basis Whilst thus having compleated all my Labours Like Hercules I fix my Pillars here And by this Foot of ground on which I tread Hold and take seizen now of all the rest Lighting my Torch at Tudor's short liv'd flame Till Dudly's Name shall blaze in England's Crown As long and fear'd as Proud Plantagenet's Let none admire that Thracian Maximin A Peasant once attain'd the Roman Empire Or that Ogothocles a Potter's Son With Armies Conquer'd the Cicilian State Since Whirl-winds Storms and Earthquakes root up Towns And watery Deluges have drown'd whole Countries But this to do without the noise of Thunder Alone and with the Fox's Tayl unarm'd The Fame of this is only due to Dudly Behold a' comes the Pledge of all my Wishes The Star of my Ambition for whose sake I 'de wrest the War out of the Gyants hand And undertake a second fight with Heaven Enter Gilford Gilf. What have I felt what Ravishing Delight What Mines of Pleasure hast thou found this Night What Mysteries of Love without a Name What quenching Cordials and what killing Flame Soft like a Babe she laid me in her Bosom Whilst all the night I revell'd in her Arms. In Dreams of Love I 've done the like before But always wak'd till now cheated and poor North. O Son of all my hopes my Darling Gilford For whom thy Father feels within his Breast What far exceeds the Love of Youth to Beauty Gilf. My Lord my Father The Parent of my Life and of my Joys The Shrine of all my Offerings Prayers and Thanks And God of my Obedience here on Earth O let me bend beneath your feet for ever And kiss the Sacred Ground your steps have blest North. Rise to my Arms my Son I do Command thee What means my Gilford Gilf. O Sir you Begot me North. I did my Boy so did my Father me And all Mankind came so into the World Is that so strange Gilf. O Yes when I have told What Stars of Blessings rul'd when I was Born What lavish Plannet Reign'd that Night you 'll say My Birth 's a Miracle my Life a wonder North. Thy Vertues shine indeed like Prodigies Gilf. Was ever Man before Conceiv'd like me O speak when first you won my Mother's Love Had you not then the fierce desires of Iove Who got Alcides with such vast Delight He mask'd three Suns to make a treble Night And join'd three bright December Moons in one To get so Lov'd to make so Blest a Son North. How fares thy Lovely Bride my Beauteous Daughter Gilf. O there you dive into the precious Stream That purls through ev'ry Vein about my Heart The String that when with the least Breath you touch A thrilling Musick runs through all my Blood And ev'ry Pulse leaps but to hear her Nam'd North. O tell me of her Health how fares thy Iane Gilf. To see her is the Blessing of the Eyes But to lie by her panting side and hear The beatings of her heart Love's softest Language To count the Balmy Sighs her Soul breathes out And sweeter Kisses dropping from her Lips Are sure the Pleasures that th' Immortals feel The Springs where Angels every thousand years Fledge their cast Wings to make them young again And now can you believe if ever Father Did make a Son so blest if ever Son Had so much cause as I to bless a Father North. True if thou knew'st the mighty things I 've done Prepare with awe and listen to thy Father If this small gust of Passion shakes thy Frame Son I have News will root thee up with Joy Wou'd not thy Iane look lovely with a Crown Gilf. A Crown where e'er she goes she is the Queen And makes her Presence still the Court of Love Cupids like Subjects waiting on her looks Crowns in her Eyes and Scepters in her Smiles She like the Golden World in Bed did lie Like Conquering Alexander I lay by And what in Ages he cou'd scarce inthrall Won in a Night and Crown'd me King of all North. Still have you no regard to my Request Curb your wild Joy and listen to my Story I lay it on you as my last Commands I ever must or dare from hence pronounce Gilf. Ha! you have shock'd me Sir with somewhat which I fear to know What is 't I 'm all Attention North. Young Edward's dead Gilf. Alas that Rose of Kings That Sacred Bud of Royalty e'er it Cou'd blossom into Man Say not he 's dead North. Gilford your pity spare and hear me out And now you have indur'd the bitter Rind Prepare to taste the luscious Fruit that follows Gilf. Methought I heard a Father's voice again Say if he 's dead who must restore our Joys Why mourns the Kingdom then without a head Whom must I kneel to whom must we obey North. There lives a Prince to undeceive you let This Posture then instruct you who he is Gilf. Why kneels my Father why d' you heap more wonders North. Why bends the Subject to his lawful King I 'm in the presence of my Soveraign Gilf. Ha! where if so then I must cleave to Earth What means my Father say I see no Prince No Person that I owe Obedience to But you Heav'n what do you intend by this D' you rain down Miracles to distract me quite Or do you this to let me know that all Those Joys I tasted but last night were mortal North. To rid your Soul of racking doubts for ever Know that I kneel to you Gilf. All Heav'n forbid Rivers no more shall pay the Ocean duty But rushing back shall mingle with their Source
And like a Deluge drown the Springs from whence They flow Man shall no more have kindly Birth But Viper like shall gnaw his Passage through the Womb E'er this shall be For such another crime Were the Rebellious Angels dash'd from Heav'n So banish me for ever from your Breast Damn'd with my Mother's Wrongs and Father's Curses If e'er I suffer this North. I bind you on my Blessing rise By Heaven's Decree by Edward's Testament And by these Letters Patents witness'd to By the whole Council Officers of State Sworn to by all in places of high Trust To see this deed perform'd he has intail'd The Crown upon his Cousin Iane for ever Gilf. What said you Sir North. See and defer your Wonder Shews him the Patent Gilf. What Harmony What Angel's Voice is this What Divine Prophet's reaching out a Cruise Like him who did the Royal Shepherd Crown I see I read I 'm wrapt and in a Trance O let me Sir be sure I am awake that you Are not my Father's Image this a Vision Tortures and Hell If this shou'd prove a Dream Mow my Tongue trembles Palsies shake my Limbs And my Joints quiver with the dread of waking O come no nearer for methinks my Body As are my hopes is made of brittle Glass And if you touch you break the Bubble North. Wrestle no more with doubts but haste my Son Swift as an Angel from th' Immortal Throne Holding a Beamy Garland in his hand To wreath the Temples of the dying just And be the first Salutes her with a Crown As both her Merit 's and her Beauty's due Gilf. O Sir bear with my Frailty but this once There is a load pulls back my mounting Wishes And stops the Tide of over-flowing Joy Heav'n is in Little Pictur'd in her Soul More Virtues than in all the Saints together Beauties and Graces shining in her Looks As are enough t' adorn all Woman-kind And Damn the Sex with Pride North. What then my Boy Gilf. If then this Angel or this Goddess shou'd Finding too little Charms in England's Crown And Gilford's Love escape from these loath'd Arms And claim her Seat amongst the Cherubims North. Run then and fetter her in thy Embraces Bind her with Crowns and Chain her with thy Love Whilst I in Council will declare your Marriage Gilf. Ha! think you I 'le be slow in search of Heaven To run with Lightning is the Lover's pace For my Desires have Wings enough to fly Far as the Sun does visit in a day But first Instruct me how I must approach her What Posture has most dread and most respect That let me chuse What distance I shall keep If I shall stand sit kneel or prostrate fall O Father teach me For she is now no longer Guilford's Wife But Queen Sound ye loud Choiristers above And join in Consort when I speak her Title With all the shouting World that She is Queen North. Fly lest some Rival Angel should grow Jealous And dare to peep between her Curtains drawn And tell the News before thee Gilf. Then in what sillables shall I accost her What shall I say what awful Hail pronounce As she 's my Soveraign Empress or yet higher Or in the Phrase of Love and soft Desire Sweeter than Hony dropping from the Comb And loftier than the Stile of Antient Rome To talk to her all Language is but poor I wou'd have words that ne're were said before The Voice of Cherubims welcome and kind As Prophets in their Heav'nly Visions find What the first Man in Paradise did sound When first he Lov'd and was with Beauty Crown'd With more than can be wish'd by greedy Life Made Lord of all the World and then a Wife Exeunt Omnes ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Northumberland and Dutchess of Suffolk severally Dutch THe spiteful Stars have Blasted our Designs And ballanc'd our proud Hopes with dire Success The Royal Game has scap'd the Hunter's Net For Mary in her speedy way to London On what Intelligence 't is yet unknown Has turn'd her course and fled to Framingham North. So let it be our Wishes then are Crown'd True Courages like Eagles soar on high And sink not at the Lure of small Misfortunes 'T is well she flies Caesar cou'd wish no more Then 't is the Victor's part and ours to follow Enter Duke of Suffolk hastily Suff. My Lord I bring ill News North. What is 't my Lord Tell it before thou Dyest He 's frighted Madam Speak without Trembling Is the Tower Besieg'd Did I suspect my Son had such a Heart I 'de rip his Bosome tear the Craven thence Then dig my own out and with hands all Gore With Pythagorian Art and God-like Skill Plant there a Warlike Eagle's in its stead Suff. The Princess May's fled to Framingham Where Wharton Mordant Beddingfield and others Are with their Warlike Train of Friends resorted North. Relate th' ill News Suff. Six of the Royal Fleet Have steer'd themselves into the Port of Yarmouth And there Revolted to Sir Thomas Iarningham North. The Ships that were imploy'd to seize the Princess Aside And what 's all this to Souls resolv'd like ours Ambition is but base that dares not leap O're Mountains of Impossibilities High above these as Atlas to a Mole-hill Was not the World of justling Atoms fram'd No Musick can beget an Harmony Without some discord nor can Fate bestow A Crown without some hazard to the Conquerour The smoothest Cast at Bowls is seldom known Without a Rub to bring it to the mark Suff. I fear we have deferr'd the Publishing Of the King's Death too long till it be found A Cheat. North. Now is the time Where is the Queen Dutch She 's just now up and parted from her Bed-Chamber Behold she comes this way North. And Gilford with her Dutch No. North. Soon as he appears withdraw and leave ' em My Lord the Council waits to whom we 'll now Relate the hidden News of Edward's Death Then with the King at Arms our selves will haste And tho' the Furies gnash their Teeth and grin Through all the Ecchoing Streets Proclaim her Queen Ex. Dukes Enter Lady Jane Attended Ia. Saw you my Lord Mind listen for his steps So early up and yet so long returning My Mother many a Morning Blest as this To me and many a Night as was the last Adorn your Life Dutch All Blessings on my Daughter Why that Blush And why as tho' I chid my Dearest Child That suddain Paleness Do not mock thy Wishes Ha! why that Tear and why that Smile to hide it Thy Face is Checquer'd o're with Joy and Sadness Like Rain and Sunshine in an April Skye Ia. Sure never Virgin was so Blest as I And never Bridal Arms so Rich as these The Rose of Youth the Majesty of Kings Mildness of Babes and Fondness of a Lover Are all Angelically mixt in him To make your Daughter Happy yet there 's something I know not what hangs like a Clowd betwixt And will not
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
my welcome Son let me embrace you But are you griev'd for this Apostacy A real Catholick now and do believe There is no other Faith on Earth to save you And are resolv'd to die in that Opinion North. I am and by my Vows and Tears confirm it Gard. O then let me adopt thee North. Best of Fathers Mine gave me Birth and launch'd me to the World He lent this Frame but you an Arm to steer it O Pilate of the Soul blest Guide to Heav'n That with the softest and the mildest Function Brings Man to Glory through a Milky way Gard. Enough North. Cou'd I but win my Gilford too in death To Seal the Roman Faith with Dudley's Blood Then had I all that I can wish Gard. O Miracle That were a Triumph worthy of the Cause Mark me O gallant Duke Bring but young Gilford home to deck Rome's Lawrels And that proud Champion of their Worship Iane To make thee happy and reward thee greatly The Powers of either World shall be at strife I 'll give thee Heav'n the Queen shall grant thee Life North. Shall they have Mercy too Gard. Yes all shall live I 'll instantly about it to the Queen Who shall send Orders to conduct you to ' em Enter Dutchess of Suffolk Behold fall'n Man the Slaughter of Ambition Pride like a Vulture tears the lovely Quarry This Woman once an Angel in her Sphere Has now within her Breast a greater Hell Than those damn'd Spirits that for her vice so fell Why is this Fury let abroad Dutch I come to seek a Virtuous Priest like thee And that I may be sure I hunt by Night Grope in the Dark Gard. And why by Night Dutch O there 's a Reason for it For mind me Sirs by Day they are as thick As Whales in Forrests or as Stars at Noon So thick they cross the Scent Besides by Day we know not one from t'other They all look grave and wise like Thee and Godly But then at Midnight mark me if I find As 't is a chance and very rare my Lords One on his knees a Fasting and a Praying Then I let loose my Guard of Furies on him That worry him to Death I 'll have no Praying Amongst your Tribe at all but in the Pulpit Nor Fasting but at Meals Ha! what does ail me Gard. A little sick of Pride a Fit o' th' Mother Dutch Ha! am I troubled then with thy Disease I 'll turn Physician first and kill more Bodies Than thou hast made despair and murder'd Souls Say Reverend Hypocrites wilt thou teach me Gard. 'T is like she 'd fall to Physick after eating Dutch Ha! now you talk of eating rarely thought Pray will your Lordship sup with me to Night Gard. Why Dutch I invite you to a Dish you love Gard. What is 't Dutch It is a fine plump Diocess Larded with six fat Parsonages at least Besides two Bishopricks of Hereticks Sticking like Gizards to it in Comendam Gard. Malice and Pride turns Witchcraft straight or Madness This sickness of the Mind ill bodes the Body You are not well Repent and think of dying Dutch I will not think of Death this twenty I am non fifty yet and find my self As gay and young as any of my Daughters Look I not killing fit to grace the Park Looks in her Pocket-Glass I 'll take the Air to Night My Charriot ready Hear me you Slaves be sure I have my Coach Which the Queen said was finer than her own I 'll have eight Horses too to draw me thither Six is a sneaking number Fy upon it My Chaplain's Wife that was my Chamber Maid Has six and has not dub'd her Husband yet a Bishop Gard. How her Brain soars and her Ambition praunces The Asp has stung like Tarrantala Dutch So is my Charriot come My Lords farewell Wou'd you have any Service where I 'm going Gard. Where 's that Dutch I 'll tell you in your Ear to Hell my Lord Resolve to go and bear me company My Flanders Mares are somewhat of the heaviest But if you please I 'll go your Lordships pace And lay fresh Horses to be there betimes Will you my Lord Come take me by the hand To North. Hang creeping in a Sledge 't is base and vile You that was such a high and towring Falcon And flew at nought but Crowns Dost see that Churchman The Devil and he are drawing Cuts to have thee I pity thy Estate Priest I defie thee Gard. How curst is Madness when it turns Prophane Dutch O what a gaudy Kingdom is this Hell Courts made of burning Brass and dropping Gold Gallants a riding in hot Emrold Coaches Shining like Meteors in the fiery Region With Horses that have Flames instead of Wings Ladies that scorching Planets have for eyes Freckl'd all o'er with Carbuncles and Rubies That glow like Stars and crackle with the heat There sumptuous Bagnio's carv'd of Rocky Ice Here Ponds of liquid Crystal made to bathe in That 's colder in degree than Hell is hot Who wou'd not be a Knave to be so tortur'd North. Alas my Lord she 's pitiful Dutch Ha! what a gallant smell of Roman French Italian Essences and rich Perfumes here are It overcomes me and corrects the steem Of Hell Ha! ha ha Gard. What does she see now Dutch My Lord Northumberland does your Grace see ' em North. See whom Dutch Empson and Dudley gaping wide as Famine And two stout Fiends with Buckets full of Ore Pouring the melted Mass into their Mouths Which they disgorge into a Leathern Sack That Richmond laughing out aloud does hold Betwixt 'em Ha! ha ha Exeunt Gilford and Jane lying on the Floor asleep A Basket of Flowers and a Garland Gilford wakes Gilf. Who calls Methought I heard 'em cry awake The Ax is ready and the Scaffold fix'd For an Immortal Diadem prepare The swarming Streets with gazing Crowds are fill'd Turrets and Windows like a Day of Triumph With Tissue hung and cruel Beauties throng'd To see us mount the dismal Throne of Death Arise my Soul 's couragious Guard my Iane Wake wake my Love thy fatal hour's at hand Ha! how she sleeps Such were her looks when in my Arms she slep't The happy Morning to our Marriage-Night Thus heav'd her panting Breasts and thus she smil'd The bubbling Joys born from our eager Kisses Like wanton Spirits dancing on her Lips O Virtue most Divine O form Angellick How rich a paint is Innocence to Beauty How calm they sleep whom Pious Thoughts have lull'd What charming Stories do they count in Dreams Whose Prayers like thine are Prologue to their Slumbers Ia. Where is my Love where think'st thou I have been Is this the World and this the Ground we rest on And are we yet the Gulf of Death to pass Gilf. Behold if thou canst form within thy mind That dismal Fall of Waters near to view How like two Arrows down the Stream it shoots us There we must plunge for loe they come to fetch
us Where hast thou been what did thy Fancy shew thee Ia. Methought I softly stole from thee away As thou safe sleeping on my Bosom lay And glad that I had pass'd grim Death alone Mounted on Pinions that out-flew the Sun But on the Confines of that Heavenly Race A Warlike Angel stood to Guard the place The same whom Sacred Story says to be 'T was Raphael sure or one more great than he Who looking terrible with this Command A Beamy Garland put into my hand Return said he Crown him thou lov'st most dear Without thy Gilford there 's no entrance here At that last word I starting back did fâ—y Swift as a falling Meteor from the Skie And come to fetch thee on my Cherubs wings Where we will Raign more absolute than Kings Gilf. Cou'dst thou alas thou Darling of my Heart Alone to Heav'n without thy Gilford part Nay if thy Dreams can foster such a Crime No Sleep but Death shall part us from this time Like Turtles we have languish'd here in Love And will like loving Angels dwell above Ia. Let me adorn thy Temples and obey The Angels and the Deity 's Decree Behold this Wreath the Beauties of the Field The rarest Sweets the Bowers of England yield Now Spring and Paradise are on thy Brow Puts the Garland on his Head And richer Flowers in Eden never grew The spotless Ram thus Hymen's Victim dies To Love an Off'ring Death a Sacrifice Gilf. These lovely Blossoms of the fruitful Year Are proud that they thy Beauty's Livery wear I saw thy hands new mould 'em all the night And with thy Fingers turn the Lillies white Saw thee too lift the Garland to thy Head And with a kiss made every Rose so red Ia. Not Incense nor Arabian Spices smell So sweet as does the Breath as here does dwell Gilf. O Paradise O Virtue most Divine In whom all Graces with all Beauties shine Ia. Pity my case perhaps when I shall see This Head without the Body brought to me These Lips that were so red then ghastly pale Gasping for Life that now with Pleasures swell No Breath to give thy Harmonious Voice a Tone Nor Tongue to tell thy Iane its pitious Moan These Eyes that now my shining Planets are Extended and like angry Meteors glare These Locks my Fingers did so often twine With Sweets of Amber strew and Jessamine Powder'd with Dirt and matted all with Gore Horrid to view shall shine like Gold no more Gilf. The jealous Queen cannot so cruel be But let one Ax one Moment set us free Whilst taking thus our last Farewells like this The Blow shall but divide a parting Kiss Then as the Steel does to the Loadstone cleave We 'll meet again and end the Kiss we leave Enter Northumberland Guarded North. All Blessings reign on Suffolk's happy Daughter New Springs of Love adorn your Faithful Garland Health and long Life the Queen by Dudly sends Gilf. Are you my Father's Spirit or kinder Genius From the Immortal Region come to chide Your Gilford's and your Daughter 's long delay What e'er thou art thus shou'd our knees adore thee Or Deity or Angel or as fear'd my Father North. Rise Gilford rise I am that Earthly Mould From whence my Son receiv'd this Manly Form I once begot thee on a Beauteous Mother But now like Heaven without a Female Aid Have Power to make thee with my Godlike Breath And give thee Life as in the Womb again Ia. Blest Prophet's voice to a despairing Sinner Let me again the charming sound devour Say shall thy Gilford Shall my Husband live Speak quickly with a Parent 's Zeal and tell The welcom'st News that Heav'n can send to Iane. North. Come sit we down I know thou dy'st to hear But this transcends ev'n all thy Womans Longings 'T is Business of Import I have to say What cou'dst thou do for this dear pretious Youth This tender Shoot that longs to grow a Cedar This Darling of my Blood and Joy of thine Whose Soul is wov'n by Fate with both our Souls And in each others Breast makes two but one That I may challenge Pardon of Heav'n and say I ne'er did greatly ill but for his sake What wou'dst thou do to save his life and mine Ia. What wou'd I do propose the speedy way Were I to swim the Sea with these weak Arms Kind Heav'n shou'd lend me Strength to stem the Waves And make the Ocean but a narrow Brook Gilf. Quick quick my Lord trembling I ask the means What is the Task that she must do for this I fear her life must be for mine the Ransom If so be dumb as threatning Meteors rather And never word drop from My Father's Tongue Of any sound tho' 't were to give his Blessing Hear him not pri'thee Iane. North. Have hopes my Boy Yet is th' Adventure hard I know 't will shock you Ia. Quickly disclose it By my hopes you wrack me This Wonder for I am in pain to know What I can grant and will not fly to do North. 'T is meet you know how many Lives depend On the least Sentence of your precious Breath And what a Train of Happinesses spring Or die with this mean Syllable of Ay Or No. Ia. What must I do the Day runs on a-pace The murmurings of the Crowd alas I hear And Ratlings of the Sledge approach my Ear. North. Come Gilford lean thy Head upon her Breast And listen to the pantings of her Heart And tell me how she bears it This it is The Queen requires you but to set your Name Nay for the Ransom of our Lives conjures you To sign this Paper and to charm you to 't Know 't was Indicted by a Man so just Whose Life stands Candidate with all the Saints For Holiness 't is but to own thy self Ia. Is it to own the Blackness of my Crime Profess that I am Guilty and deserve The Death that I am doom'd to suffer Give 't me And I 'll subscribe my self I Iane to be The vilest Traitress Heav'n did ever punish North. Peruse it Ia. I have seen a Bassalisk H 'as shot his pointed Venom through my Eyes And numm'd my Body to a Senceless Clay O Gllford 't is not in my Power to save Thy Life nor mine from Tortures Gilf. Ha! what say'st thou Ia. Judge with thy Eyes if thou canst bear the Monster North. O Iane the lowest Ebb of time is now Mercy is Heaven's Prerogative and thine And this must be dispenc'd alas this Moment Nay I have more to tell thee Gilford hear thou The Duke thy tender Father so belov'd Falling into Conspiracy with Wyatt Is doom'd to suffer with the Fatal Crew Thy Life thy Father's Life if not thy Gilford's Be those the Planets that should bear the Blame Ia. Ha! Gilf. The tempting Fiend goes cunningly to work The damning Fruit to our first Parent was Thus Minister'd by her whom most he lov'd As this is by a Father Ia. Ay my Love Would'st thou for some few