able to engage Patience it self into a bloody Rage But Madam you are safe I shall endure All your Distempers and attend their Cure Your Int'rest must at last your Passion sway Prin. My Int'rest shall my Honour still obey Which abhors him who does usurp my Crown King Madam by Title justly 't is your own Take it and wear it When I put it on I sav'd the Crown for you you for the Crown Prin. I fear your words contain lesse Truth then Art For seldom ha's your Tongue exprest your Heart King My Tongue speaks truth I only beg the grace To be your Subject in the foremost place That is your Husband Princess I expected this In these fair Flowers to hear the Serpent hiss King When common Persons marry Passion may Direct their Choice whilst Fancy bears the sway But with great Princes the wise Rules of State Must be as binding as the Laws of Fate Their Inclinations by those Rules must move The Publick Good 's the center of their Love Prin. For Publick Good what you usurp resign Make me not yours by Force but give me Mine King You say too much I see you 'l rather prove The Subject of my Justice then my Love Th' Invader Richmond is your lov'd Gallant Whose Treason does not your allowance want Prepare for marriage or a Funeral To be my Wife or not to be at all Madam you shall be crown'd Chuse and be wise Either for Empire or for Sacrifice Prin. Spoke like your self I knew the mask of Lover Would soon drop off which did the Tyrant cover Exit Prin. King Through Rocks of Opposition this alone Pointing to his sword Ha's hew'd my Passage to the craggy Throne These hands the sharpest scythe of time mow'd down All that grew up between me and the Crown I did my Greatness to a Height advance Above the Stormy Region of wild Chance And shall frail Woman Natures slightest thing Out-brave the Power of Death and such a King I am but able to destroy and kill She can do more for she enjoys her Will Contempt of Life does all Power overthrow 'T is Fear makes Gods above and Kings below Enter the Queen SCENA II. Queen Can it be true Sir that your Fatal breath Has cruelly pronounc'd my Daughters Death Can you so suddenly degenerate From Love's soft Passion to a mortal Hate King Madam more then my Life I still love Her But I the Kingdom 's weal to both prefer Complain not of the Hardship you endure Since your own hands contain a present Cure Queen When Love his message to a Virgin brings Slow Patience lends him Feet and clips his Wings King With Patience like Love's Martyr I have born Not only her Denials but her Scorn It is not Modesty which makes her Cold Her Heart instead of Love does malice hold A guilty Passion she does clearly show To him who is her King 's and Country's Foe Queen If she stood so inclin'd how can you doubt But that a Mother's Eye would find it out King Whether that ignorance which now you show Be Real or Affected you best know To me her words and Actions both declare Which way her Inclinations byass'd are The Traytour Richmond holds so large a Part Within her Bosom as excludes my Heart But in few hours I will Possession get And drive him thence or else destroy the Seat Queen O Sir pass not a Judgment so severe Till the suggested Crime does more appear If she refuse the Courtship of a Crown She cannot stoop a meaner Flame to owne And quit the Glory of a Queen to live The obscure Wife of a poor Fugitive King But this starv'd Snake warm'd by her special Grace Invades the Land and rises in my Face Madam your Daughter's Choice will quickly show Whether his Crimes belong to her and you To morrow's Sun shall light her to my Throne Or on her Treason see due Justice done Queen Be not so hasty to pronounce her Fate Can her not loving be a Crime of State King Madam we lose but time whilst you apply To the improper place your Remedy For the malignant part of this Disease Lyes only in your Daughter's Stubborness Cure that and she no longer will be seen Her King 's just Pris'ner but the Nation 's Queen Exit King Queen Which shall I call the Cruel or the Mild This bloody Tyrant or my Stubborn Child Both are alike resolv'd and act their Part To break and tear a tender Mothers Heart She no Concern for Life does seem to owne But Death accepts more gladly then the Crown I find the Charm which does this Spirit raise Richmond as Sovereign in her Bosom sways Enter Sir Will Stanly SCEN. III. Queen Sir William Stanly Sir W. Stanly Madam I come my Destiny to learn Which wholly now depends on your Concern The Danger of the Princess draws too near The Tyrant does all marks of Fury wear VVill you accept my Service Queen Sir I must Confess your faithful zeal deserves my Trust. Now I believe you are ordain'd to be The great Preserver of my Familie Sir W. Stanly Madam your fair Esteem I will make good And seal my Promise with my dearest Blood But now that we may take a speedy Course By secret Practice or by open Force To disappoint the Tyrant and pursue The Bus'ness of your Safety I must sue For my Admission to the Princess Ear Some needful Orders I must have from her Of high Importance to our work in hand Queen Your Merit and our Danger Sir command Your speedy satisfaction But the King Must be at farther Distance e're I bring You two together His great Jealousie With highest Caution must attended be Let us retire and study how we may Make perfect your Design the safest Way Sir W. Stanly Madam you walk apace from your Distress Designs well modell'd seldom want success The Foolish Crowd who outsides only view Give that to Fortune which is Wisdom's Due Exeunt SCENA IV. Enter Mrs. Stanly and Charlot Char. He robs her both of Crown and Libertie Can he the Gaoler of his Mistris be To promise Love and thus to break his Vow Is all the Treason that a King can do Mrs. Stanly He like the worst of Thieves means farther ill For Tyrants after robbing always kill The Sacrilegious Monster will devour The Saint whom he so lately did adore Char. Avert it powerful Heaven such Cruelty Must not live long nor so much Vertue dye Her glorious Champion now draws neer and he Killing the Gaoler will the Pris'ner free And Madam to divert the painful thought Of her Restraint I have some musick brought Musick I know will not ungrateful be To her whose Soul is perfect Harmony Mrs. Stanly In this you will our Princess highly please And at this distance she can hear with Ease SONG I. TYrant thou seek'st in vain With her pure Blood thy guilty Sword to stain Heaven does that Sacred Blood design To be the Source of an Immortal Line Death will
Exit Strange Sir W. Stanly Sister pray tell the Queen by her Command That I wait here to kiss the Princess hand Mrs. Stanly If you reveal your madness you will lose The Glory of that Rescue you propose For such a daring Lover she 'l despise More then she hates her rudest Enemies Sir W. Stanly So far my sense with your advice accords That I 'le shew Deeds more daring then my Words Pray go O Coward Heart shall sudden fear Exit Mrs. Stanly Possess my Breast that was a Stranger there Must I now tremble at a Woman's sight Who was not born for Terrour but Delight Thus Natures Law is by Love's Power controll'd Which men disheartens and makes Women Bold Enter Princess SCEN. II. Princess Sir William Stanly Mrs. Stanly Madam I humbly beg that I may have Leave to expose my Life your Life to save My Zeal has long lain speechless though not weak And 't is your Danger now that makes it speak Prin. Sir by the Queen's Advertisement I learn How great a sense you have in my Concern You have a Brother too whose Constant Love By many secret Tryals I approve And though Court-Favours on his Person shine His Outside is the King 's his Inside mine Sir W. Stanly 'T is my Misfortune Madam that I must More then my own to others Merit trust And yet ere long I may deserve your Ear Without the help of an Interpreter I in your Favour should to none submit If more then all the World I merit it I hope if I relieve your present State You will my Love by my Performance rate Prin. Your Language too mysterious is more plain Expressions sooner will my Credit gain In your pretended Love you must not vye With those who wish me well by Natures tye Sir W. Stanly Madam There is a Love which does outgo All that of Sisters and of Mothers too Prin. Hold Sir These aiery Notions pray forbear For I am deaf to what I should not hear Give me no Cause to make a Foe of him Whose Friendship to my House I would esteem For I the Tyrant's Rage shall more approve Then the rude Boldness of a Subject's Love Sir W. Stanly So far from us below you are remov'd As makes you fit to be ador'd not lov'd Yet from such Love as does Heaven's Favour gain I need not Madam as from Sin abstain If Heavenly objects you resemble most Can Heaven be gain'd and you the same way lost Prin. Hold Sir This vain Discourse does ill become Her who is newly summon'd to her Tomb. Sir W. Stanly Madam those Summons ' you shall ne're obey I or the Tyrant first shall lead the Way Your Death design'd shall forfeit him his Crown The Grave he digs for you shall be his own Prin. What sure Foundation Sir can I descry Of this bold Promise which you raise so high Sir W. Stanly Foundations Madam are laid under Ground And mine though not expos'd to View are sound By painful Flattery and by long Address I to the Tyrant's Bosom have Access And Death by Steel or Poyson is his Due Who forms a black Design to murther you Prin. Those Southern Arts to stab or poyson Foes Become the Climates where such Poyson grows He that is born of a true English Race Never destroys a Foe but to his Face Sir W. Stanly But Madam can you give your Life away And to the Tyrant be a willing Prey Prin. To see him fairly kill'd I would resign All Right to what he holds and should be mine Sir W. Stanly Verst in the World but yet not knowing you Madam I ne're till now true Honour knew I am your Convert and so taught I may Ere long to perfect Glory find the way And Madam for a Tryal I this Vow Here solemnly declare to Heaven and you The Tyrant shall be slain and you releast Nobly by him whom Madam you love best In the Suns Eye and in the open Field Fierce Richard shall by Richmond's Sword be kill'd You Honour's Mistris when this Work is done Without Reproch your Proselite may owne Prin. I fear you take great pleasure to surprise My thoughts with Riddles and dark Prophecies I shall refer my Faith to their Event Now my last hours must otherwise be spent Exit Princess Sir W. Stanly As Chymists vex themselves and Nature too When her Elixir they in vain pursue And yet their toyl does other Secrets find Which improve Art and benefit Mankind So though a hidden Love I seek in vain Yet in the Pursuit I shall Glory gain Exit The Scene is changed to a Field adjoyning to Richmond's Quarters SCEN. III. Enter Earl of Richmond Lord Stanly Richmond Talk not of Victory Heaven can confer No Blessing on that Man who loseth Her L. Stanly I know the Tyrant when all hopes are past Reserves that bloody Stroke for the last Cast Surprise him with a Charge that may prevent The Execution of his dire Intent Richmond Could I destroy with the same ease and speed Him and his Camp as he can make her bleed Your Counsel then were good But else her Fate By my Attache I should accelerate The bloody Tyrant stung with Jealousie Will prest by Danger twice revenged be Including me in Her He cannot chuse But hastily destroy what he must lose L d Stanly It still has been the Care of Providence From sudden strokes to shelter Innocence Richmond I Providence adore But to expect A Miracle and so the means neglect When now the Danger of her Life is near Were to deserve the mischief which we fear L d Stanly No way but Conquest can prevent her Doom Richmond I 'le yield my self a Pris'ner in her Room L d Stanly Can the Restraint of her Preserver be The safest way to set the Pris'ner free Richmond 'T is all the way because the Tyrant's Fear Of Richmond makes his Cruelty to Her When I am in his gripe his Appetite Will in my Blood more then in hers delight L d Stanly Sir you mistake him both will please him best By drinking Blood the Thirst is still encreast Sir your important Life you freely may Lay out for her But throw it not away Richmond I am resolv'd that secretly to night You shall convey me to the Princess sight Stanly Shall I conduct you where you Death must meet Here let me rather perish at your Feet Richmond O friend my Love in this great Exigent Must Dangers seek which yours would fain prevent Nor can those Dangers be avoided here My Life and Safety are confin'd in Her Come guide me to the Princess that I may If not secure her Life her Death delay And be assur'd my Lord that her Commands With your Advice shall wholly guide my hands L d Stanly Sir I both yours and her Discretion know And on your Terms propos'd I yield to go But this great Enterprise you must disguise As well to your best Friends as Enemies For should it be divulg'd your Absence here May prove
not dare to touch that Heart Which Love ha's chosen for his Dart. Chorus Fair Innocence and Beauty are Of watchful Heaven the chiefest care But the devouring Monster shall A Sacrifice to Iustice fall II. Richmond does flye to your Redress Love's Messengers can do no less His Sword shall with one Blow Cut off your Fetters and the Tyrant too All Resistance vain will prove When Valour is inspir'd by Love Chorus Tyrants by Heaven and Earth are curst They swell with Blood until they burst But Lovers are wise Nature's eare What Iyrants ruine they repair Charlot This will the trouble of her thoughts allay 'T is time to give attendance let 's away Exeunt SCEN. V. The Scene changeth to the Earl of Richmond's Quarters Enter Earl of Richmond Earl of Oxford Lord Chandew and Officers c. Richmond My Lords the World must now be taught by you What a good Cause and a good Sword can do When Valour leagu'd with Justice goes to fight Both Heaven and Earth their Forces then unite Such Union can no more resisted be Then Men can save themselves from Destinie The odds of number on the Tyrant's side Are but the Signs which shew his Fear and Pride They are the fairer Mark Usurpers must In multitude of Guards repose their trust But whilst with numbers they their Camp o'recharge They but our Fame and Booty more enlarge Oxford When we engage with such a guilty Foe Heaven's Justice adds more weight to every blow We only to their swift Destruction move Who are condemn'd already from above Chandew The Plains of Redmore seem to be the place Where our Just Valour must the Guilty face Where Conquest will a noble Harvest yield And turn to Groves of Laurel Bosworth Field Oxford 'T is true we deal with a destructive Foe The neerest of his Blood have found him so But his pernicious Hands more practis'd are In private Murther then in open War Chandew Each common Souldier makes the cause his own As if none were concern'd but he alone But 't is not strange to see the Souldier fir'd To such a Height when by your Flame inspir'd Richmond My Lords I to your courteous praise agree They may be high because you heighten'd me The Priour of Litchfield Sir is lighted here Enter Souldier And humbly craves the favour of your Ear. Oxford 'T is he you sent for Sir whose Name is high For Learning Pious Life and Prophecy Richmond Those Leaders most shall prosper who advise With Heaven e're they begin their Enterprise Exeunt Oxford and Chandew SCEN. VI. Earl of Richmond Priour of Litchfield Richmond Excuse me Father for I think it rude To call you to a Camp from Solitude I am inform'd that you to private ears Foretold Events which cur'd my Partie's fears Your Power with Heaven is such as may obtain What otherwise I should despair to gain This Father is the cause of my address Priour Then Sir thank Heaven for you shall have success Richmond Now I believe the publick Voice is true Which does ascribe Prophetick Force to you Priour That Light dwells not in Sinners I should be Charg'd with the worst of Crimes Hypocrisie If I pretended to that holy Fire Which does the cleaner Hearts of Saints inspire But ' mongst the Records of our Priory Th' Authentick works of the wise Gildas lye Whose holy Life and whose Prophetick Fire The Ages past with rev'rence did admire In his large Volume I shall only trace What does concern your Person and your Race Richmond The Authours Value heighten'd by your Praise Does expectation to assurance raise Priour First he runso're the Conquests of this Land By Saxons Danes and by a Norman hand Then mentions the two Roses and in brief Foretels th' Event of that Intestine Strife Which has the noblest Blood of England cost And the best Provinces of France has lost Our Authour next upon the present state Of our own times more largely does dilate And savs the sury of a Savage Boar Shall his own Blood and then this Land devour Then he describes the Man and you are he Who must redeem this Realm from Tyrannie Who after Conquest shall by force of Love More then by War our happiness improve For peaceful England shall the Roses find No more in battel but in marriage joyn'd Richmond What can be more shall I successful prove In all my hopes of Empire and of Love Priour Sir much remains behind your Race shall do Things yet more worthy of themselves and you They shall an Union make of louder Fame And of two Kingdoms one great Empire frame But after this a Tempest does succeed Which Hell shall with contagious Vapours feed This Tempest will produce a deed so black That Murther then shall an example lack But from this dark Eclipse a Prince will rise Who shall all Vertues of your Race comprise Forreign and Native Foes he shall o'recome With force abroad with lenity at home Though in our sep'rate World this happy Land The center of his Power will fixed stand Yet here the wide Circumf'rence must not end But with the Ocean joyntly shall extend Let Envious and ungrateful Nations joyn His Birth-right to usurp or to confine When they invade his Empire on the Main They will but act the Gyants War again And when his Sea-Dominion they dispute His Thunder shall those Sons of Earth confute Richmond These great and glorious things whilst you recite You fill my Soul with Wonder and Delight Your Sccuts Sir are return'd and bring you word Enter Soldier That the Usurper's men have past the Ford. Richmond There 's for thy News I wish th' Allarum true Father we now must part yet we 'l pursue The same great End though in a diff'rent way For I must go to fight and you to pray Exit Priour Enter Oxford and Chandew SCEN. VII Richmond Oxford Chandew Oxford We both have view'd the Foe within our ken And we are certain they are Stanly's men Their Number 's not five thousand And their Post Is not so fixt but that it may be lost Sir we may force their Quarters And on these Begin the Number of your Victories Richmond No my dear Oxford Those whom now you see Must be unseen and need not conquer'd be For they are ours already But this must A Secret be for yours and Chandew's Trust. From their so neer advancing you may learn That the next Sun will end our great Concern My Lords we have but little time to spare Our Arms and men we must with speed prepare Oxford With Joy your Orders we shall all obey Our zeal to serve you suffers by Delay Exeunt The Scene is Changed to the Princess Lodging ACTUS QUARTUS SCEN. PRIMA Enter Sir Will. Stanly Mrs. Stanly L d Strange Sir W. Stanly Nephew pray leave us If the Guards should see Our close Converse we should suspected be L d Strange I am the Witty Tyrant's Cruel sport Fetter'd in Silk condemn'd to be at Court
Charlot Dispute with mine the Glory of the Day 'T would make a Monarch Bankrupt to bestow That just Reward which to thy Faith I owe. Chandew To himself What do my Eyes behold It must be she And her Disguise reveals her Infamie Richmond To Charlot Why speak'st thou not when all the World 's become So loud in praising thee canst thou be dumb Chandew Must she needs chuse the most Conspicuous Place Of the whole Earth to blazon my Disgrace Richmond What sudden damp does on thy spirits seise Chandew To himself Death of my Honour and my Souls Disease Thou art a Blot upon my Name which I Will rase out with thy Life Oxford Sir I descry A strange transport in my Lord Chandew too Richmond What Mysteries are these my Lord are you Concern'd in that brave Youth Chandew Sir 't is a Stray From my Enclosures it has broke away Richmond My Lord be well advis'd if you would gain My Credit and our former Love maintain Reproch him not Chandew I cannot much delight To bring that Creatures shame to publick sight But Sir in equal Justice you will give To the right Owner's hands a Fugitive Richmond You must not your displeasure thus express If you expect I shall my Claim release Charlot kneeling to my L d Chandew Sir I am yours and have deserv'd your Hate O let my Death end this unkind debate Take me and take my Life for 't is your due First as your Gift and now by forfeit too Chandew Since thou hast murder'd thy whole Family Offering to kill Charlot In their best Life their Honour thou shalt dye Rich. Hold Chandew hold What means this furious Heat In which you both your self and me forget 'T is well your merit weighs my anger down Chandew Pardon my Passion thus unruly grown It did my strength of Reason quite subdue Rich. More then my Pardon does belong to you But I am wrackt with Doubts Rise Boy and free My tortur'd Thoughts from this Perplexitie Charlot O Sir if I must here my Sins confess This Posture most becomes my Guiltiness And I this low submission doubly owe In presence of my Prince and Father too Rich. My Lord are you his Father Chandew Sir that Name Turns my whole Life to Sorrow and to Shame Rich. Rather to Glory and to Happiness A better Son cannot a Parent bless Oxford Sir I perceive where all our Errour lyes Charlot suppos'd his Son his Daughter is Rich. I am opprest with Wonder Charlot rise Whilst thy disputed Sex deludes our eyes Thou dost to me a Guardian Angel seem Which did the Princess sacred Life redeem SCEN. IX Enter Queen Princess and Attendants Rich. Madam at last Propitious Heaven affords Success to the Endeavour of our Swords We at your Royal Feet our Persons lay And all the mighty Trophies of the Day Princess Sir these Submissions must not come from you No Homage from a Conqu'rer can be due Your Laurel should in Justice be a Crown For all by double Conquest is your own Rich. How gloriously your Servants you reward Princess No Sir from that I am by Duty bar'd A Parent 's leave must first the Gift allow Ere I the merited Reward bestow Richmond To the Queen Sway'd by my Love to her whom you love best I have unduly my Respects addrest This Madam for her sake you 'l not reprove All Laws of Ceremony yield to Love Queen What you oblige me in needs no Excuse And Sir I were unjust should I refuse My vote to such a Publick Happiness May all the Powers above this Union bless Richmond to the Queen To the Prin. I must with humble adoration kiss The Hand which does confer so high a bliss Now Madam what say you Princess I must obey Rich. Succeeding Times shall magnify this Day Whose Fruitful Joys shall flow to distant Age And rescue Nations from Rebellious Rage But Madam in this Publick Jubilee Charlot's Concerns must not neglected be This Fav'rite to us both does newly find A Noble Father in my greatest Friend And what is yet more strange that Fathers Eye Does here a Daughter not a Son descry Princess I 'm lost in wonder but what ere he be No Sex can equal his great Loyaltie Now Charlot ease my Mind which longs to know The secret Cause whence all these Wonders flow Charlot Can any thing but Love such Wonders do As have disguis'd the Soul and Body too Madam I drunk my Poyson when my Eye Did first his Image whom you love descry I was too young to weigh how far above The level of my Birth I rais'd my love My wounded Heart in Bretany first bled And when our Exile thence to Paris fled Leaving my Home my Parents and my Shape To follow him I made a bold Escape And to his Service I soon gain'd access Helpt by Industrious Love and this feign'd dress Princess Charlot no History shall ever show So brave a Rival and so kind a Foe Pity and Envy both attend thy Fate Thou art more Generous I more Fortunate Richmond Ah gentle Charlot in a high degree Thou hast at once oblig'd and punish'd me The Torment of great minds I undergo Paying so little where so much I owe. Strange Sir I want Merit but your Goodness may For Service yet to come advance my pay Grant me your Favour in my great design Of off ' ring my Devotions at this Shrine I long have known her and with envious Eyes Have seen above my own her Vertue rise But Madam now a double change we find To Charlot For your Sex alter'd has transform'd my Mind My Jealousie grows Love and what before With Envy I beheld I now adore Richmond Thy Passion makes me happy and I know Your Father's Judgement will this choice allow Her Fortune as her Birth shall equal you Who marries her marries our Favour too Chandew I hope that in this happy Bride Your scrup'lous Honour now is satisfi'd Chandew Not only satisfi'd but much encreast Where I unhappy was I now am blest Charlot How much must I to such Indulgence owe As on the Guilty does Reward bestow But Sir no Power can former Vows release Which bar me from this proffer'd happiness Ambitious Flames will ever upwards tend They may their Object lose but ne're descend Mine still shall rise and in a Cloister chuse The lasting Love of an Immortal Spouse Strange Ah! leave us not Heaven wants you less then we Princess Vertue will leave that Land which loseth thee Charlot All Vertue stays when you are left behind Madam in vain you urge my setled Mind SCEN. X. Enter L. Stanly L. Stanly The Field does want you Sir The Souldiers call With loud Impatience for their General In this days Booty they the Crown have found And all cry out that Richmond must be crown'd Richmond My Lord they should their duty better know For common Hands must not the Crown bestow L. Stanly High swelling Torrents you as soon may swage As stop the Current of
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
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
thy Mistress woo And whilst I court thy danger court her too Strange Charm of Love Must I my Life employ For him who does my Happiness destroy I only am unjust Poor Strange to thee For all thy Danger should belong to me And yet a nobler Cause cannot engage Thy blooming Valour at thy tender Age. He is most happy who her Love obtains But he who dyes for her more Glory gains Exit Sir W. Stan. SCEN. II. The Scene is changed to the Princess Lodgings Enter Charlot Charlot If my great Rival dye why from her Grave May not my Love a Resurrection have No no! Him whom I love I so will serve That what I can't enjoy I may deserve For him none shall do more nor more endure I 'le lose my self my Rival to secure Enter Princess Charlot farewel my Guards now surly grow And nearer wait which Death's approch does show Charlot Madam you must not dye For yet we may The Tyrant's hasty Cruelties delay Let us exchange our habits In your room I 'le plant my self and intercept your Doom Princess Ah Boy how strange a Love dost thou express I 'le never ruine thee by my release Charlot Madam I charge you by the powerful Name Of your great Lover and your mutual Flame To take my Life's Oblation and allow What I to you and to your Richmond vow I am resolv'd though you my Suit deny Not to out-live the Minute when you dye And since I this have vow'd let me not spend My Life in vain which may your Life defend Undress you Madam and prepare to flye Princess Flye Your Example bids me stay and dye Charlot To ease the Ship in Storms what Freight is first Thrown over Board the choicest or the worst Princess This question puts a Period to our strife It bids me Honour save and lose my Life Charlot Madam you build on a mistaken ground Reason must Honour's darker Loves expound Subjects who for their Prince themselves undo In the most glorious way their Duty shew But Princes in whose Life the Publick lives Should save what Heaven for Publick safety gives Princess Who can the Brightness of thy Vertue doubt And when it shines so clear would put it out Charlot Less will my Danger be then yours when I Am seis'd for you For you when seis'd must dye But when the Murd'rers find a Stranger they Will pause awhile and for new Orders stay Then the Field gain'd may make us both secure Princess But Charlot in what place can I be sure Of safety when my Shape I change for yours Charlot The Neighb'ring Cloister will for some few hours I having newly gain'd the Abbess be Your Refuge till your Champion sets you free Princess Thy Kindness and thy Reasons conquer me And yet too much I hazard vent'ring thee Charlot Waste not your time in scruples Pray be gone Our work must end before the Fight 's begun Exeunt SCENA III. Enter L d Strange Mrs. Stanly Mrs. Stanly Nephew your hasty Courage I must chide L d Strange holds a letter open in his hand This letter now must all your Actions guide Strange Delays encrease the Hazard we would shun By swift Dispatch our Danger we out-run Mrs. Stanly Hasty Beginnings halt before they end Strange But does the Princess know what we intend Mrs. Stanly Should I this Enterprise to her disclose She might in Honour Scruples interpose Strange Must she be sav'd against her own Consent Lest knowing it she should the means prevent Mrs. Stanly But to conceal it is the safest way Think how her Person you may best convey Whilst I the Abbess speedily prepare To take the Kingdom 's Pledge into her Care And pray be watchful lest the searching Eye Of Catesby should our Enterprise descry The Captain whom my Brother sent you must With all the Conduct of this Bus'ness trust Strange With you the dull and slow are only Wise The Phlegme of so much Caution I despise Mrs. Stan. Your own distemper'd Heat does judge him Cold For you are more too Young then he too Old Enter Captain Cap. My Lord the Armies are engag'd and now You may your Ardour in your Actions shew Whilst Stanly's Name does in the Field afford Originals to lengthen Fames Record Your growing Valour here in narrower space May living Copies of their Glory trace Strange Captain you have restor'd my Libertie And now my Freedom shall the Princess free Mrs. Stanly May thy brave Courage with success be blest Whilst I prepare to lodge our Royal Guest Exeunt several ways SCEN. IV. Enter Catesby Forrest Lieutenant and Soldiers Catesby The King has made you his great Confident And now your Fortune may your Hopes prevent When you receive the Sign strike quick and sure Forrest Give but the Word and think the Deed secure The little Worm call'd Conscience wants a sting Hell may be feign'd I 'm certain of the King And since his mind is known what need we stay For tedious Orders Catesby Hold you must obey The Rules prescrib'd and watchfully attend Till I your Orders from the Army send Exit Catesby Leiutenant Good Master Captain teach your old Cam'rade The fine new knack to be a Captain made None by your Worship's leave could ever see Your bashful Valour face an Enemie Forrest My Courage by the King is known and try'd Lieutenant Kings may know more then all the World beside You can shew Bruises of your Tavern-Wars And turn the Ale-wifes Scratches into Scars Forrest Lieutenant you will halt in your Career When Neck and Heels shall feel your Officer Were it not for the bus'ness now in hand Lieutenant You would do much I should not idle stand Go go complain that I may be cashier'd I 'd rather starve then be thus Officer'd Forrest Stand. The Princess in Charlot's attire crosseth the Stage with her Handkercher before her Eyes as if she were weeping Lieutenant 'T is the Lady's Page Forrest Then let him pass Poor Rogue he shortly will be turn'd to Grass Lieutenant Must all the Princess Family disband Forrest When the Tree falls how can the Ivy stand A noise of Swords in the Princess Lodgings Swords in the Princess lodgings quickly go And see how matters pass Lieutenant You must come too When danger calls you send your Messenger A Pox on those that cannot hide their fear He thrusts Forrest in before him SCEN. V. Enter Queen Queen Heaven If my Child must not your mercy find Let me when she departs not stay behind I can endure no more The hand of Fate On tir'd-out Nature lays too great a Weight Enter Lord Strange leading Charlot in the Princess dress L. Strange Now Madam pray look up trust your own Eyes To Charlot suppos'd to be the Princess Your Servants guard you not your Enemies Madam you come in a most happy hour To the Queen To rule her Fears we need a Mothers Power Queen I wonder not that she 's amaz'd for I Mistrust my Sense in this Delivery Come Daughter