this your Answer was a free resign Col. Flatter'd with great opinion of her faith And my desert of her with thought that she Who seem'd to weep and chide my easie will To part with her could not be guilty of A treason or Apostacy so soon But rather meant this a device to make Me expedite the affairs of War I sent That paper which her wickedness not justice Applied what I meant tryall her divorce I lov'd her so I dare call heaven to witness I knew not whether I lov'd most while she With him whose crimson penitence I provok'd Conspir'd my everlasting infamy Examine but the circumstance Car. 'T is clear This Match was made at home before she sent That cunning writ in hope to take him off As knowing his impatient Soul would scorn To own a blessing came on crutches to him It was not well to raise his expectation Had you Sir no affront to ruine him With so much scandall and contempt K. We have Too plentifull a circumstance to accuse You Madam as the cause of your own sorrows But not without an accessary more Than young Alvarez Car. Any other instrument K. Yes I am guilty with her self and Don Columbo though our acts look'd severall waies That thought a lover might so soon be ransom'd And did exceed the office of a King To exercise dominion over hearts That owe to the prerogative of heaven Their choice or Separation you must therefore When you do kneel for Justice and Revenge Madam consider me a laterall agent In poor Alvarez Tragedy 1 Lo. It was your love to Don Columbo Sir Her So so the King is charm'd do you observe How to acquit Columbo he would draw Himself into the plot Heaven is this Justice Car. Your Judgment is divine in this K. And yet Columbo cannot be secure and we Just in his pardon that durst make so great And insolent a breach of Law and Duty 2 Lo. Ha Will he turn agen K. And should we leave This guilt of blood to Heaven which cries and strikes With loud appeals the palace of eternity Yet here is more to charge Columbo than Alvarez blood and bids me punish it Or be no King Her 'T is come about my Lords K. And If I should forgive His timeless death I cannot the offence That with such boldness struck at me Has my Indulgence to your merits which are great Made me so cheap your rage could meet no time Nor place for your revenge but where my eys Must be affrighted and affronted with The bloody execution This contempt Of Majesty transcends my power to pardon And you shall feel my anger Sir Her Thou shalt have one short prayer more for that Col. Have I i' th' progress of my life No actions to plead me up deserving Against this ceremony Car. Contain your self Col. I must be dumb then where is honour And gratitude of Kings when they forget Whose hand secur'd their greatness take my head off Examine then which of your silken Lords As I have done will throw himself on dangers Like to a floting Iland move in blood And where your great defence calls him to stand A Bullwark upon his hold brest to take In death that you may live but Souldiers are Your valiant fools whom when your own securities Are bleeding you can cherish but when once Your state and nerves are knit not thinking when To use their surgery again you cast Them off and let them hang in dusty armories Or make it death to ask for pay K. No more We thought to have put your victory and merits In ballance with Alvarez death which while Our mercy was to Iudge had been your safety But the affront to us made greater by This boldness to upbraid our royall bounty Shall tame or make you nothing Lor. Excellent Her The Cardinal is not pleas'd Car. Humble your self To th' King Col. And beg my life let cowards do 't That dare not dy I 'l rather have no head Than owe it to his Charity K. To th' Castle with him Madam I leave you to your grief and what The King can recompence to your tears or honor Of your dead Lord expect Dut. This shews like Iustice Exeunt ACT IV. Enter two Lords Hernando 1 Lord THis is the age of wonders 2 Lo. Wonderous mischiefs Her Among those guards which some call Tutelar Angels Whose office is to govern Provinces Is there not one will undertake Navarre Hath heaven forsook us quite 1 Columbo at large 2 And grac'd now more than ever 1 He was not pardon'd That word was prejudiciall to his fame Her But as the murder done had been a dream Vanish'd to memory he 's courted as Preserver of his Country with what chains Of Magick does this Cardinal hold the King 2 What will you say my Lord if they inchant The Dutchess now and by some impudent art Advance a Mariage to Columbo yet Her Say I 'l say no woman can be sav'd nor is 't Fit indeed any should pretend to Heaven After one such impiety in their sex And yet my faith has been so stager'd since The King restor'd Columbo I 'l be now Of no Religion 1 'T is not possible She can forgive the murder I observ'd Her tears Her Why so did I my Lord And if they be not honest 't is to be Half damn'd to look upon a woman weeping When do you think the Cardinal said his prayers 2 I know not Her Heaven forgive my want of charity But if I were to kill him he should have No time to pray his life could be no sacrifice Unless his soul went too 1 That were too much Her When you mean to dispatch him you may give Time for Confession they have injur'd me After another rate 2 You are too passionate Cozen Enter Columbo Colonels Alfonso Courtiers they pass over the Stage Her How the gay men do flutter to congratulate His Goal delivery ther 's one honest man What pity 't is a gallant fellow should Depend on knaves for his preferment 1 Except this cruelty upon Alvarez Columbo has no mighty stain upon him But for his Uncle Her If I had a Son Of twelve years old that would not fight with him And stake his soul against his Cardinals Cap I would dis-inherit him Time has took a lease But for three lives I hope a fourth may see Honesty walk without a crutch 2 This is But Air and Wildness Her I 'l see the Dutchess You may do well to comfort her 1 We must attend the King Her your pleasures Exit Her Enter King and Cardinal 1 A Man of a brave soul 2 The less his safety The King and Cardinal in consult K. Commend us to the Dutchess and imploy What language you think fit and powerfull To reconcile her to some peace My Lords Car. Sir I possess all for your sacred uses Exeunt Severally Enter Secretary and Celinda Sec. Madam you are the welcom'st Lady living Cel. To whom Mr. Secretary Sec. If you have
fire and at Each look a Salamander leaping forth Not able to endure the Furnace Dut. Ha! thou dost Describe him with some horror Sec. Soon as he Had read again and understood your meaning His rage had shot me with a pistoll had not I us'd some soft and penitentiall language To charm the Bullet Dut. Wait at some more distance My soul doth bath it self in a cold dew Imagin I am opening of a Tomb Thus I throw off the Marble to discover What antick posture death presents in this Pale monument to fright me Reads Ha my heart that call'd my blood and spirits to Defend it from the invasion of my fears Must keep a guard about it still lest this Strange and too mighty joy crush it to nothing Antonio Sec. Madam Dut. Bid my Steward give thee Two thousand Ducates art sure I am awake Sec. I shall be able to resolve you Madam When he has paid the money Dut. Columbo now is noble Exit Dut. Sec. This is better than I expected if my Lady be Not mad and live to justifie her bounty Exit Enter King Alvarez Hernando Lords King The War is left to him but we must have You reconcil'd if that be all your difference His rage flows like a torrent when he meets With opposition leave to wrastle with him And his hot blood retreats into a calm And then he chides his passion you shall back With letters from us Her Your Commands are not To be disputed Kin. Alvarez 1 Lo. Lose not Your self by cool submission he will find His error and the want of such a Souldier 2 Lo. Have you seen the Cardinal Her Not yet 1 Lo. He wants no plot Her The King I must obey But let the purple Gownman place his engins I' th' dark that wounds me 2 Lo. Be assur'd Of what we can to friend you and the King Cannot forget your service Her I am sorry For that poor Gentleman Alvar. I must confess Sir The Dutchess has been pleas'd to think me worthy Her favours and in that degree of honour That has oblig'd my life to make the best Return of service which is not with bold Affiance in her love to interpose Against her happiness and your election I love so much her honour I have quitted All my desires yet would not shrink to bleed Out my warm stock of life so the last drop Might benefit her wishes Ki. I shall find A compensation for this act Alvarez I hath much pleased us Enter Dutchess with a Letter Gentleman-Vsher Dut. Sir you are the King And in that sacred title it were sin To doubt a justice all that does concern My essence in this world and a great part Of the other bliss lives in you breath Ki. What intends the Dutchess Dut. That will instruct you Sir Columbo has Upon some better choice or discontent Set my poor soul at freedom Ki. T is his character Reads Madam I easily discharge all my pretensions To your love and person I leave you to your Own choice and in what you have obliged Your self to me resume a power to cancell If you please Columbo This is strange Dut. Now do an act to make Your Chronicle belov'd and read for ever Ki. Express your self Dut. Since by Divine infusion For t is no art could force the Generall to This Change second this justice and bestow The heart you would have given from me by Your strict commands to love Columbo where 'T was meant by heaven and let your breath return Whom you divorc'd Alvarez mine Lords This is but justice Sir Ki. It was decreed above And since Columbo has releas'd his interest Which we had wrought him not without some force Upon your will I give you your own wishes Receive your own Alvarez when you please To celebrate your Nuptial I invite My self your guest Dut. Eternall blessings Crown you Omnes And every joy your Mariage Exit King who meets the Cardinal they confer Alvar. I know not whether I shall wonder most Or joy to meet this happiness Dut. Now the King hath planted us Methinks we grow already and twist our loving souls Above the wrath of thunder to divide us Alv. Ha The Cardinal Has met the King I do not like this conference He looks with anger this way I expect A tempest Dut. Take no notice of his presence Leave me to meet and answer it if the King Be firm in 's Royall word I fear no lightning Expect me in the Garden Alv. I obey But fear a shipwrack on the coast Exit Card. Madam Dut. My Lord Car. The King speaks of a Letter that has brought A riddle in 't Dut. T is easy to interpret Car. From my Nephew may I deserve the favour Dut. He looks as though his eys would fire the paper They are a pair of Burning glasses and His envious blood doth give 'em flame Car. What lethargy could thus unspirit him I am all wonder do not believe Madam But that Columbo's love is yet more Sacred To honour and your self than thus to forfeit What I have heard him call the glorious wreath To all his merits given him by the King From whom he took you with more pride than ever He came from victory his kisses hang Yet panting on your lips and he but now Exchang'd religious farewell to return But with more triumph to be yours Dut. My Lord You do believe your Nephews hand was not Surpriz'd or strain'd to this Car. Strange arts and windings in the world most dark And subtill progresses who brought this Letter Dut. I enquir'd not his name I thought it not Considerable to take such narrow knowledge Car. Desert and honour urg'd it here nor can I blame you to be angry yet his person Oblig'd you should have given a nobler pause Before you made your faith and change so violent From his known worth into the arms of one How ever fashioned to your amorous wish Not equall to his cheapest fame with all The gloss of blood and merit Dut. This comparison My good Lord Cardinal I cannot think Flows from an even justice it betrayes You partiall where your blood runs Car. I fear Madam Your own takes two much licence and will soon Fall to the censure of unruly tongues Because Alvarez has a softer cheek Can like a woman trim his want on hair Spend half a day with looking in the glass To find a posture to present himself And bring more effeminacy than man Or honour to your bed must he supplant him Take heed the common murmur when it catches The sent of a lost Fame Dut. My Fame Lord Cardinal It stands upon an innocence as clear As the devotions you pay to heaven I shall not urge my Lord your soft indulgence At my next shrift Car. You are a fine Court Lady Dut. And you should be a reverend Churchman Car. One that if you have not thrown off modesty Would counsell you to leave Alvarez Dut. Cause you dare do worse Than Mariage must not I
be admitted what The Church and Law allowes me Car. Insolent then you dare marry him Dut. Dare Let your contracted flame and malice with Columbo's rage higher than that meet us When we approach the holy place clasp'd hand In hand wee 'l break through all your force and six Our sacred vows together there Car. I knew When with as chast a brow you promis'd fair To another you are no dissembling Lady Dut. Would all your actions had no falser lights About 'em Car. Ha Dut. The people would not talk and curse so loud Car. I 'l have you chid into a blush for this Dut. Begin at home great man ther 's cause enough You turn the wrong end of the perspective Upon your crimes to drive them to a far And lesser sight but let your eys look right What giants would your pride and surfeit seem How gross your avarice eating up whole families How vast are your corruptions and abuse Of the Kings ear at which you hang a pendent Not to adorn but ulcerate while the honest Nobility like pictures in the Arras Serve only for Court-Ornament if they speak 'T is when you set their tongues which you wind up Like clocks to strike at the just hour you please Leave leave my Lord these usurpations And be what you were meant a man to cure Not let in Agues to Religion Look on the Churches wounds Car. You dare presume In your rude spleen to me to abuse the Church Dut. Alas you give false aym my Lord 't is your Ambition and Scarlet Sins that tob Her Altar of the glory and leave wounds Upon her brow which fetches grief and paleness Into her cheeks Making her troubled bosome Pant with her groanes and shroud her holy blushes Within your reverend purples Car. Will you now take breath Dut. In hope my Lord you will behold your self In a true glass and see those injust acts That so deform you and by timely cure Prevent a shame before the short haird men Do croud and call for justice I take leave Exit Car. This woman has a spirit that may rise To tame the Devils ther 's no dealing with Her angry tongue 't is action and revenge Must calm her fury were Columbo here I could resolve but Letters shall be sent To th' Army which may wake him into sense Of his rash folly or direct his spirit Some way to snatch his honour from this flame All great men know The soul of life is same Exit ACT III Enter Valeria Celinda Valeria I Did not think Celinda when I prais'd Alvarez to the Dutchess that things thus Would come about what does your Ladiship Think of Columbo now it staggers all The Court he should forsake his Mistress I Am lost with wonder yet Celind. 'T is very strange Without a spel but ther 's a fate in love I like him ne'r the worse Enter two Lords 1 Lo. Nothing but mariages and triumph now Val. What new access of joy makes you my Lord So pleasant 1 Lo. Ther 's a Packet 〈…〉 Makes the King merry we are all concernd in 't Columbo hath given the enemy a great And glorious defeat and is already Preparing to march home Col. He thriv'd the better for my prayers 2 Lo. You have been his great admirer Madam 1 Lo. The King longs to see him Val. This news exalts the Cardinal Enter Cardinal 1 Lo. He 's here He appears with discontent the Mariage With Count D'Alvarez hath a bitter tast And not worn off his palat but let us leave him Ladies We 'l to the Dutchess Exeunt manet Car. Card. He has not woon so much upon the Arragon As he has lost at home and his neglect Of what my studies had contriv'd to adde More luster to our Family by the access Of the great Dutchess fortune cools his triumph And makes me wild Enter Hernando Her My good Lord Cardinal Car. You made complaint to th' King about your General Her Not a complaint my Lord I did but satisfie Some questions o' the Kings Car. You see he thrives Without your personal valour or advice Most grave and learned in the wars Her My Lord I Envy not his fortune Car. 'T is above Your Malice and your noise not worth his anger 'T is barking gainst the moon Her More temper would Become that habit Car. The Military thing would shew some spleen I 'l blow an Army of such Wasps about The world go look your sting you left i' th' Camp Sir Enter King and Lords Her The King Exit This may be one day counted for K. All things conspire my Lord to make you fortunate Your Nephews glory Car. 'T was your cause and justice Made him victorious had he been so valiant At home he had had another conquest to Invite and bid her welcome to new wars K. You must be reconcil'd to providence my Lord I heard you had a controvercy with The Dutchess I will have you friends Car. I am not Angry K. For my sake then you shall be pleas'd And with me grace the Mariage A Churchman must shew Charity and shine With first example she 's a woman Car. You shall prescribe in all things Sir you cannot Accuse my love if I still wish my Nephew Had been so happy to be constant to Your own and my election yet my brain Cannot reach how this comes about I know My Nephew lov'd her with a near affection Enter Hernando K. He 'l give you fair account at his return Colonel your Letters may be spar'd the General Has finish'd and is coming home Her I am glad on 't sir my good Lord Cardinal 'T is not impossible but some man provok'd May have a precious mind to cut your throat Car. You shall command me Noble Colonel I know you wo'not fail to be at th' wedding Her 'T is not Columbo that is maried Sir Car. Go teach the postures of the Pike and Musket Then dril your Mirmidons into a ditch Where sterve and stink in pickle you shall find Me reasonable you see the King expects me Her So does the Devill some desperate hand May help you on your journey Exeunt Enter Secretary and Servants Sec. Here this I this will fit your part you shall wear Slashes because you are a Souldier here 's for the blue mute 1 This doublet will never fit me Pox ont' are these Breeches good enough for a Prince too Pedro playes but a Lord and he has two laces more in a seam Sec. You must consider Pedro is a foolish Lord he may wear what lace he please 2 Does my beard fit my cloathes well Gentlemen Sec Pox o' your beard 3 That will fright away the hair 1 This fellow plays but a mute he is so troublesome and talks 3 Mr. Secretary might have let Iaques play the soldier He has a black patch already 2 By your favour Mr. Secretary I was ask'd who writ this play for us Sec. For us why art thou any more than a blew mute 2