her Confessor Who time from time has been my Tool my Engine Shall be the Instrument to Dole the Bane And we as standers by behold the Deed. Queen By Heav'n I 'll have the pleasure on 't my self From my own Hand she shall the Potion Drink For being my Rival 't will torment her more And I will Triumph o'r her sinking Soul Disturb her Dying with my Husbands Name Plague her with thinking she must leave him mine And lest the Poison too much haste should make I 'll Henry Sing to keep her Pains awake Ex. Queen Abb. And if her Vengeance from its purpose start Stars 't is your fault I 'm sure I 've done my part Ex. Abbot Enter King and Rosamond King Is 't possible that such a cruel Thought Could ever harbour with my Rosamond Did you not see constraint in every part The Agony that Nature suffer'd under Fearing the Jealousy of an Incensed Queen Rosa. Away King As one who views his Friend seiz'd for a Crime Which he himself was equal Partner in He cunningly insinuates to the Croud Sides with their Prejudice and Clamors loudest Till by degrees he moulds 'em to his purpose And as a Stranger pitying the Offence Flatters their surly Natures to dismiss him So I by seeming to abhor thy Guilt Shelter'd my own and skreen'd thee from her Rage Rosa. You sav'd me from the Rack to Dye by Fire Preserv'd me only from her Jealousy To suffer by your greater Perjury No I 'm convinc'd you never lov'd at all Or else so little you your self scarce knew it King By Heav'n I Love thee more than Love can speak My Soul 's uneasy with the vast excess It fain would throw its fondness in thy Bosom It languishes with pain to tell its Pleasure It swells with every touch as it would burst It longs to speak what it can ne'r express Desire is over-taken by Desire Like Waves they swallow up each other still And Wishes like the Sands are numberless Rosa. With Words like these you first over-power'd my Weakness Drew me to base compliance with your Falshood To loss of Honour Kindred Friends and Fame And yet methought I never should have miss'd ' em I found no want whilst I had Henry's Love But wanting that the World is Barren to me Love like a rough bred Warrior almost starv'd So full was bent on one reviving Meal It satiated with greediness not seeding And being in haste forgot its Benefactor King But Gratitude has met me in the way And sent me back to pay my Thanks to Love Oh! Pardon then those Errors fear Created And let the inward Friendship of my Soul Plead for the outward coldness of Behaviour Rosa. Oh Flattering Sex whose Tongues are at Command To Conquer still what e'r their Hearts desire Why why ye Powers did you on Man bestow Such an unbounded sence to win our fondness And yet so little Honour to Indulge it His Tongue has Charms equal to his Embraces And one is by the other still reliev'd That there 's no end of Pleasure where he is King Relentless Creature Is this Womans usage Can that Divinity hear so unmov'd Some cursed Fiend has stoln upon thy Sleep And chang'd the Nature of my Rosamond What is it you could think to ask of me But I 'd have granted it before 't was Nam'd Wilt thou not speak Must I begone for ever What! Not a look to tell me I may stay If thy proud Heart 's too stubborn to express it Give me a doubtful glance to keep me here All All are shut 'gainst my intreating Prayers Farewel then since there is no glimpse of Comfort Retires My Soul 's turn'd Woman I must ask again Yet Rosamond one Word She 's fix'd Oh that some Power would Rivet us for ever Within each others view That she like me might have no other Object Yet e'r I go for ever Rosamond Rosa. What is it you would have me speak King Why any thing that will excuse my staying Rosa. I cannot look upon you King Then turn away talk to thy self Let me but hear thee if I must not see thee Rosa. Why should you tempt me to believe agen Only to load me with a new affliction Could I be satisfied but 't is impossible So we must part there is no Remedy King 'T is a sad Truth indeed Part 't is resolv'd Alas I only came to take my leave But fain I would have parted Friends with thee Because I thought I had no Friend beside Rosa. And could you think parting would make us Friends King No but I thought our meeting might Rosa. Then why d' ye talk of parting King I know not what I talk of any thing let us but talk Rosa. Better be silent sure than talk of that King Why must we not then part Rosa. Oh never Henry I can hold no longer Be false or faithful I must love thee ever If we must part be 't all upon thy Head For thus I am resolv'd to live or dye Embraces King Then let thy Arms grow round me Into thy Soul press-mine Tye 'em so fast That one may never stir without the other Oh! now my Trial comes Heart bear this shock And nothing sure can hurt thee Aside Rosa. Why d' you tremble Your Blood is Summon'd from your Cheeks By some strange Call or have I press'd too hard And kiss'd it from ' em King It will not out Rosa. What will not King Fate has so order'd Rosa. How has Fate order'd Oh! my Soul boads Ruin King I 'll call it by a gentler Name than parting Rosa. Nothing that 's gentle is ally'd to it King We must separate Rosa. Not when my Arms grow round thee King My Stars have loos'd ' em Rosa. 'T is false they clasp thee still King My Son in whom I plac'd intire Repose Has cast off Duty and now Heads Rebellion The Factious Clergy all applaud the Act His Mother knows but softens the vile Treason And if the Current be'nt with speed turn'd off 'T will burst the Barriers of our Love for ever Rosa. Let me go with you King Impossible Thy tender Body cannot brook such usage As the Necessity of War throws on us Rosa. I 'll like a Page attend you where you go Run by your side and Watch your Sleeping hours And in the Fight I 'll always meet your Danger I 'll step before you as your Fate approaches That when the God of War beholds my daring And sees he must through me create his Conquest Honour shall find it self out-done by Love And blushingly reverse your Destiny King Oh wondrous Constancy Heav'n Art thou not asham'd to let us want each other But we must bear it Our present pain will make our future Joy And to shew much of Love is much to suffer Within this Bower which purposely I fram'd For thy security thou shalt remain The Labyrinths conveyance none does know But Vaughan He and thy Confessor are all shall wait thee Rosa. Alas I shall not
Away be gone lead on avaunt Hipocrisy Exeunt turning to each and pushing Bertrard Scene opens Rosamond Reading Rosam How am I alter'd how estrang'd of late Virtue has ta'ne her flight and Innocence The bright the only Jewel of the Sex Flies this polluted place as from Infection Oh! Honour what a dreadful loss thou art And yet how hard to keep from what we Love How dismal 't is to think of what I 've done Should he prove false now change like other Men And only Triumph o're his Wretched Conquest How much more dreadful will my loss appear Oh! could Men guess the terror we endure What 'twixt our Honour and our Love we suffer They sure would prize each generous Maid much more And as their Souls indulge them to the last Aspatia Aspa. Madam Rosa. Sing me that Song I gave thee th' other day And if thou canst charm me into a slumber Enter Abbot and Queen Abbot Behold your Rival and survey her glory But not a word of Bertrard or of me Queen Be gone Abbot No I 'll behold the rancour of thy Malice Thy thirst of Blood and most insatiate Fury Now Rosamond thou diest or else Revenge Lags in its Course No run thy full career The master stroke of my designs lie here Rosa. What do I see or is 't an Apparition My Blood runs backward to my frightned Heart And something tells me that my Fate is near Queen Appear thou Fairy Queen and summon up Thy Host of Spirits to defend their Charge For I am come to snatch away thy Glories Dissolve thy Charms and hurl thee to destruction Rosa. Why Madam this to me What have I done To move those Frowns or urge these angry words Queen You to my Anger are it seems a stranger But with my Rights are very intimate What canst thou see defective in this Face That you dare vye for Place or hope for Conquest Rosa. You plunge me still in wonder and amazement I ever pay'd that awful Head such Duty As is expected by a Crown from Subjects But if some evil Tongue has blacken'd me To make me odious in your Royal looks I cannot help the baseness of my Foes But I shall still adore tho' I am scorn'd Queen Oh! that this wretch this indigested heap Of crouding Beauties which do each outvy For Place and Praise from the admiring World Should have a Soul so unworthy of its Frame How poorly dost thou strive to hide thy Faults And shake for what the better part o' th' Sex would boast of Last Night last Night canst thou deny the Blessing When in the Arms of my most Treacherous Lord You Laugh'd and Revell'd the short hours away Whil'st I in ignorance expecting lay Rosa. Oh I am lost Queen Thou art indeed But my Revenge is starv'd Thy Life 's too little to appease its hunger I would contrive some way if possible To be as long in torturing thy Soul As the Remembrance of thy Crimes will mine Rosa. Will you not hear me speak Queen What canst thou plead What urge in thy Defence thou guilty fair one Hast thou not Rob'd me of my Souls best thought For ever torn my interest from his Love Stript me of all my Wishes all my Joys Deafned his Ears to my complaining Soul And lock'd up every passage to his Heart Rosa. I shun'd him long was deaf to his desires Avoided him as an approaching Plague For well I saw the fatal consequence To an excess of Rudeness I abjur'd him Nay yet have only listned to his Love Queen By Hell 't is false thou hast enjoy'd it to Think'st thou to blunt my Rage by this denyal No I am too well convinc'd of what is past Therefore prepare thy self for what 's to come Draws a Dagger Rosa. Oh! Mercy Queen Mercy Canst thou desire to live and I in being Methinks thou should'st intreat me to dispatch Considering what a Plague I shall be to thee When first I heard the Name of Rosamond I thought to find an Amazonian Spirit One thar dar'd Cope with injur'd Majesty And stand the proof who best deserv'd a King But I have err'd for he has chosen one The Relict of some poor half starv'd Plebean Dress'd up with Pageant greatness to allure the Roving Appetite of a loose King Rosa. I held as Rich as Pure and Noble Blood As any of my Sex till this Curs'd change Sullied my Veins and stain'd my Family Queen The Sacrifice will be the Nobler for 't Prepare Holds the Dagger up Rosa. Must I then dye Is there no pity left Queen Banish the thought Mercy and I are Strangers Yet e're thou goest I charge thee to abjure his Name Quit all Pretensions to him Curse him before the Pangs of Death come on For hurrying thee to Hell before thy time Rosa. No I will bless him to my utmost gasp Groan forth his Name as he has sighd out mine Think on the Kneeling hours he has wept away The many charming words that mov'd my Heart The mighty changes that my Smiles and Frowns Have rais'd in his expecting doubtful Soul The Transports of his Trembling Fierce Embraces And hug him with such eagerness to Heav'n Queen Then Face thy Doom Moves forward Rosa. I do I have invok'd the Patron of my Love And now the weakness of my Sex has left me Since I must die for Love my Love shall arm me I know his hatred must pursue thee for it Nay I believe he will Revenge me too But since I know this Act will Curse thee from him Live and be wretched in his Scorn Queen So Arrogant Sink Tow'ring Sorceress Offers to Stab her Enter King and Sir Tho. Vaughan The King stops her King O hold it must not be Queen Why dost thou barr the stroke ungrateful Man Unless thou would'st employ the point on me Here strike I know thou hatest me Henry Rip up this Bosom mangle my fond Heart That bleeds for thy unkindness do it quickly And shew you have some sparks of pity left King Be calm my Queen hush up these jarring Passions Let not thy Jealousy exceed thy Reason Lest blab-tongu'd Fame should tell the envious World The frailties of us both Queen Would I were dead King Banish that wish for ever Oh Eleanor If I have Sally'd from great Hymen's Laws And surfeited on strange forbidden Fruit 'T is I must answer for the great offence Why should you seek to stain your purer hands In Violence and Blood Why so pollute Thy Innocence with Infamy and Shame Rosa. What is 't I hear Nay then would Death had reach'd me Aside Queen How can you flatter thus and she in hearing I know 't is only to delude my Rage 'T is Nobler killing me than thus to cheat me When I am gone without controul You and your Paramour in Sin may triumph While poor neglected I your slighted Queen Sleep quiet in the cold and silent Earth King Oh dreadful Tryal How can I comply with Justice here And not destroy what most I
covet there Aside Rosa. He 's at a stand his Love has time to think Nay then I find he cools and I am lost Aside Queen I do but hinder you from your desires And tho' my Soul is put upon the wrack When I lose any share in your affection Yet since you covet it I will retire King Stay Eleanor and be convinc'd at last Thy Power is Absolute and yields to none That I have Lov'd her with a blush I own Nay doated to with vast excess of longing But sure it was some vile Enchantment rid me The Spell's dissolv'd by thy more powerful Charms And I 'm asham'd of my Infatuation Rosa. Oh faithless perjur'd and ungrateful Monster Queen Can this be real King By Heav'n the Tide of Love has run its highest And all Desire is Ebbing Queen But the next flood the torrent will return And Rosamond break down your Resolution King Impossible There is more pureness sweetness true delight In thee my Queen than e're I found In all the Wilds and Salleys of my Life Queen Oh blessed sound King The World has not thy worth for in thee All that thy Sex can boast of is intire Queen I do believe you tho' I know 't is feign'd Yet I will seem transported with the change And stab my Rival with the sight of it King Come let us hence and leave this hated place Queen I know this sight must make you envy me But I in kind return will pity thee Rosa. Oh King farwell As they are going Rosamond Swoons King turns back Sir Tho. O! help she Swoons King Ha! What is that Queen Only a trick to bring you back again A fit o' th' Sullens come my Lord away King What! leave her dying 't were unnatural Rosa. Oh cruel Man Queen The Syren now begins to tune her Magick And betray your Promise King Oh Rosamond Queen Is this well done my Lord King 'T was but the Blair of Love as it expir'd And now 't is gone for ever Heart keep thy bounds And do not shew my falshood at my Eyes This is the rigidst Task I ever met with I Torture all the Comfort of my Life To please the most vexatious thing a Wife Exeunt Sir Tho. Madam Madam won't you speak The King 's gone Ben't frigtned so 't was only to blind the Queen He Loves you still above all Rosa. Why have you call'd me back to misery To endless trouble and eternal sorrow Sir Tho. Nay I don't know what to think on 't I fear we 're undone Rosa. Curs'd be the chance that spar'd this hated Life Curs'd be the hour when first my Soul gave way And drank the Philtre of his baneful Tongue May Night for ever cloud me from the World May the vile wretched name of Rosamond Sink through the Leaves of Memory for ever Sir Tho. Be comforted good Madam Oh what will become of me Aside All may be well yet Rosa. Hence Bawd thou Pensioner of Hell Betrayer of all Innocence and Virtue Thy Soul must answer for the wrack mine suffers Oh Flattering King Oh Curs'd dissembling Sex That can for Months and Years lye at our Feet And Sigh and Swear Adore us and Intreat Promise whatever we 'll Impose Invent And look as what they said they really meant But when our frail and tender tempers move To Recompence with what their Souls most Love So quickly with the long'd for Feast they 're cloyd That always she that gave it was destroy'd Exit Sir Tho. So now have I time to repent before I 'm hang'd and that 's all Enter Abbot Abbot Confusion on this Reconcilement all 's undone Who 's that Sir Thomas Vaughan Oh I 'll work him How is 't Sir Thomas Sir Tho. Why preparing for the other World Father And you are come to give me a helping hand 'T is very hard we can neither live without you Nor die without you Abbot Oh I guess what you mean the Discov'ry Of Rosamond and the King being reconcil'd To the Queen makes you apprehend her Anger May be fatal but fear not I 'll make your Peace there Sir Tho. Why you might do a good thing for once in your life Abbot I will But do you think this Change i' th' King is real Sir Tho. I hope not Abbot I 'm sure not he 's gone into his Closet And has left the Queen abruptly follow him And I 'll attend the Queen we 'll meet an hour Hence and then confer Exit Sir Tho. With all my heart I 'm more glad to hear they 're parted already than the Queen could be at his leaving Rosamond Chear up Sweet-heart he 's thine still What a Pox be hang'd in the first year of my Pimping How should Favourites get Estates at that rate For all this I don't like this same Abbot I thought there was no good towards when I saw Him and the Queen coming to this place and therefore call'd the King to prevent the Mischief I fear'd This may be a Lye of his and only a design to send me to the King just now in his rage to dispatch me immediately No matter I 'll venture For if the King holds his honest Intention I 'll thank him to hang me for I 'm sure of no Pension Exit ACT. IV. SCENE I. Enter Abbot Abbot THus to be shipwreck'd in the sight of Harbor Just when I 'd perfected my great Design Throws up the Gall with that impetuous force I burn I rave I shall grow made with Anger Had she been murder'd what a Scene had follow'd What wild Distractions and ungovern'd Rage All would have been embroil'd Should now the King As possibly he may find out the drift Ruin Eternal Ruin were my Doom I was afraid of Bertrard but he 's firm Fix'd to my Cause and yielding to my Will Let me consider Ha! the King Enter King Verulam as from France Sussex Aumerle Guards c. King Are all his Vows of Duty Loyalty Obedience come to this Surely the Clime's Infected The Witchcraft of Rebellion taints the Air And all who breath it suck the foul pollution Abbo Sure there is mischief towards ha Verulam Nay then my Friends in France have match'd my wishes Veru The whole design was form'd long since in Hell It was so black the Instruments so many We scarce had Landed when the factious People Headed by their Officious Fauning Guides With Universal Acclamations welcom'd His safe Arrival Every one outvied Which should be foremost in his Adoration They look'd upon him as one sent from Heav'n To be their Patron their Deliverer King Go on Veru Still as we past through any Town or Village The Windows Tops of Houses swarm'd with people To gaze upon the entrance of their Deity King The usual method of the Giddy Rabble Veru When we had reach'd the City at the Gates A Train of sleek smooth beauteous Youths appear'd The Ganimedes and Hylasses o' th' Covents Array'd like Angels all in purest white These past a numerous Host of Lazy Singing-men
more proper than Wine but may be he thinks it fit she should be kept Maudlin till he return In with your Luggage Friends Bert. What before you Sir Tho. This is no place for Ceremony I take it therefore Troop or Ex. Bert. and Ruff. There must be something more than ordinary in this for he never mention'd a syllable to me yet now I think on 't Lovers are very apt to forget and the poor Gentleman was in a strange confusion at parting Well I 'll in and examine the whole Ha! who comes yonder the Queen Gods Life there 's Villany I 'll House presently and secure my Charge Re-enter Ruff. and Stab him Murder Murder Enter Queen and Abbot Abbot Drag him to yonder Thicket Now Madam all is safe and we may enter Ruff. Drags of Sir Tho. Ex. Queen and Abbot Enter King and Verulam Disguis'd King Pity me rather than condemn my frailty And spare the rigid censure I deserve I cannot rest some Devils haunt my Soul When late last Night I sunk to my repose A dreadful Vision entertain'd my slumber Poor Rosamond methought was all on fire And as I strove to quench the raging object The Queen threw Oyl on the expiring Flames And made 'em blaze a-fresh with fiercer fury Veru 'T is but the restless passion of your Love King I started from my Dream and call'd to thee Bad thee get Horse attend me instantly And thus unknown we 've posted from Southampton Methinks we have Rid upon the Wind ha Verulam I scarce could feel the speed my Spurs created And yet methoughts 't was a slow pace to Love Veru It is not fit that I dispute your will Tho' I could wish nay do with all my Soul This Ague fit of Love had never seis'd you For by it you may lose the bless'd occasion That time e're offer'd to surprize your Foes King Tell me no more of Foes while she 's in danger For oh my Soul is Wedded to the Fair Whose Power is boundless as her Beauties Charms When I would go there 's something holds me back Even while I talk my boding Heart with more Than usual fierceness beats its time As if that Life were on the hurry Why this cold Dew which flows from every Pore Why do I tremble thus Surely the Earth suffers the throws of Labour And some strange Birth starts forth to view the World Ver. Imagination gains upon you Sir King Ha! Is 't not Blood By Heav'n a mighty Tract Where is the source Search find it out I 'm on the Rack They search and drag in Sir Tho. Vaughan Am I to blame now Verulam Oh speak Where is my Soul my Love my Rosamond Sir Tho. I shall never recover King Say is she living Answer me quickly If thou'dst save the King Sir Tho. The Queen and Abbot King The Devil Sir Tho. Ay and his Dam too they have maul'd me King Force open the Doors Ver. Impossible the means are wanting King Would I have answer'd so to Verulam To thy Relief I would have added Wings Would I had Men not Walls to Combat with With my keen Sword I 'd hew a passage through Spight of all opposition force my way And from the Harpies Talons snatch the Prey Ex. K. and Veru Sir Tho. Gently gently good Gentlemen I shall reach my Journieâ— end soon enough If the King does force in and my Life keeps mâ— company so long I would fain see my self Reveng'd on this Damn'â— Abbot Gent. Will you not be dress'd Sir you may recover Sir Tho. No I 'm past the Cure of a Salve-dauber would I had the Grace to ask Pardon for my Sins But I have put off my Repentance as I us'd to do my Bus'ness till the last hour and now I 'm hurried to the Devil at a moments warning Softly good Sirs softly Ex SCENE the Bower Enter Rosamond and Bertrard Rosa. You have remov'd the Mist of my Offences Which like a Cloud ascended up to Heav'n And hinder'd all my Prayers from being heard How willingly could I relinquish Life Part with this wretched Being and for ever Within the Earth's cold Womb contented lye Bert. Have you a mind to destroy your self Go to you 're to blame by my Order you are What! spoil that pritty face with whimpering and crying for a little Absence Rosa. I am miserable Father A lost Creature For all the comfort of my Life is gone The Sun has left the Horizon and I Like those who live under the Frozen Pole Am now all Darkness Horror and Confusion Bert. He 'll return I warrant thee speedily he can't live without you You 're the Apple of his Eye the Joy of his Heart the Lamp of his Life and he 'll bring Oil to feed it I 'm certain If the Queen should bolt upon us while she 's in this humour 't wou'd scare her out of her Wits there 's no perswading her to Reason I 'll see what a Comfortable Dram will do Why Madam Madam you have forgot what the King sent he foresaw there would be occasion and like a prudent Man provided against a Rainy Season see how it sparkles 't is as bright as your Eyes Opens a Flask of Wine and fills As red as your Lips Now cannot I forbear His Majesties Health May he live for ever Drinks Rosa. Heav'n say Amen Bert. 'Thas an odd sort of a Farewel I can't imagine what growth this Grape is of 't is not Burgundy Gad shall save me it warms one strangely such a twang I have not met with I must cover His Majesties Health with your Ladiships Come bless both bless both Drinks Enter Queen and Abbot Queen What stately Rooms what glorious Apartments How Furnish'd how Adorn'd These shew a Grandeur Fit for the Empress of the Universe Abbot Love always serves his Minions at this Rate And 't is her turn to be ascendant now Queen Not and I live my most Officious Sir Rosa. The Queen Bert. Ha! how terrible she looks Queen An unexpected Visitorit seems Rosa. Where is my Guardian Where my Servants Abbot They 're gone before to Usher you the way Rosa. I am Betray'd Undone Queen Thou art indeed Thy Guilt arraigns thee and thy Conscience has Pronounc'd against thy self the fatal Sentence Here all thy Glories mingle with the Dnst. Bert. Oh Lord what will become of us she 's got into one of her mad Fits again I 'm ruin'd A lost Man Rosa. What means my Queen Queen No you mistake I am the Slave you are the Queen For all of Majesty of Power and Pomp Are Center'd by my Lord the King in you I servilely attend your leisure hours And humbly wait upon his idle pleasures Bert. Here will be Murder I 'm in a Sweat already Abbot Peace Fool. Bert. Peace Fool Where is 't here 's no likelihood of Peace here 's nothing but Fire and Tow and I burn already Rosa. Will you but hear me Queen No 't is in vain thy bounds of Life are set Thou dyest Usurper Rosa. Yet
Henry the Second King of ENGLAND WITH THE Death of Rosamond A TRAGEDY Acted at the THEATRE-ROYAL BY Their Majesties Servants LONDON Printed for Iacob Tonson at the Iudges Head in Chancery-lane near Fleetstreet M DC XCIII To the Truly Worthy Sir THOMAS COOKE Kt. Alderman and Sheriff of the Most Famous City of LONDON SIR THough a Stranger to your Person 't is impossible to be so to your Virtues for General Fame that is so often call'd a Lyar and seldom takes pains to Blazon Good Deeds but on the cóntrary is most industrious to expose the Bad has taken an unusual and peculiar Care to Justify your Reputation And the united consent of all Mankind concur that in your Character she has spoke Truth and what is as commendable no more than the Truth Your Generous Charity in many considerable Extremities has sufficiently demonstrated not only the Ancient Spirit of an English Man but the more glorious Principle of a Christian. Charity the eldest Favourite of God the first in Honour and the last in Love seems to be declared the Heir of all your Fortunes It is your Private Pleasure your Secret Ambition the Care of your Endeavours and I cannot help saying the Blessing that attends ' em Your Noble Commiseration on the Deplorable Condition of many a wretched Soul in the Hard Frost must be remembred when Corn and Goals were above their reach and indeed so dear that it would have been counted Impudence in the greatest necessity to have begg'd 'em You like a second Ioseph in the Famine reliev'd their wants and gave 'em Fire to warm the Hearts you fed Your most Commendable Bounty to the distressed Irish Protestants must be remembred for you were their greatest Benefactor and the First Such Publick Benevolence ought not to be conceal'd tho' 't is your desire for you would be as well pleas'd to have it not known as you are satisfied when you bestow it But I say again it ought to be Publish'd out of the hopes that the knowledge of such Goodness may rouze the sleeping hospitality of our Land that it may take place of Board Wages which has scandalously shut up those Doors our Grandfathers always kept open for the Poor It is not to be expected that my Pen should set forth your Praise as the merit of it deserves but as the famous Sir Godfrey Kneller in a Choice Picture will strike the Eye of the Beholder tho' a Stranger to the Original and tell him some where or other he has seen that Face tho' he cannot immediately recollect the Person So I will endeavour by the bold touches of Truth to let the World know they have heard of the Man tho' they cannot at the instant apply the Character to his Name So Famous a Citizen has not in many Ages fill'd the Walls of London your Generosity is the Honour of it your Conduct and Affability the Credit of it And you are one of the chiefest Members in the support of its Trade 'T is probable that the World may admire at a Dedication of this Nature to Sir Thomas Cooke since the Custom of Poets has been to Address their Plays to the Nobility either by the way of Thanks for Patronizing their Works before they were made publick or else in a Panegyrick on their Families But I declare neither of these are the occasion of this Epistle but that it proceeds from a real respect I have to your great Character and a desire of being the first that should Publish it to the World The Romans whose Courage and Country once excell'd all others were ever proudest of their Citizens and not without good Reason for indeed they are the support of all Governments And as they are the first to be Tryed so they are the longest to be Esteem'd the most to be Encouraged and the last to be Injured Anthony reckon'd he had as good as Conquer'd Brutus when his Oration had overthrown his Interest with the Citizens That ours may always Flourish and never want such Virtues as yours to advance their Prosperity shall be the constant and fervant wish Of Your Most Obedient Servant WILL. MOUNTFORT PROLOGUE IN this grave Age improv'd by States-mens Art Who e'er can think you 'll like a Misses Part Time was when Rosamond might shine at Court These are no days for Ladies of that sort How strangely Time does Human Things decay Four Cent'ries past as ancient Writers say She that we represent bore mighty sway Her Beauty wondred at her Wit extoll'd Her yellow Locks were call'd too Threads of Gold But now should that Complexion use the Trade Each puny Fop the Town has newly made Would cry Confound the Carrot-pated Jade Misses in times of War and Ieopardy Like Armourers in days of Peace must be His Swords and Helmets rust and so will She. What sort of Criticks then must I endear To favour this abandon'd Character The French fatigue too much to mind Amour Th' Italian's Bigotted The Spaniard Poor The Clumsie Lover with his Northern Sense Would have the Yo-Frows but would spare the Pence Rav'nous of Beauty But when Purse should open Myn Heer is either deaf or Drunk-aslopen Thus all o'er Europe as the Scenes are laid War and Religion have quite spoil'd Love's Trade Since then from Courts her Part must hope no pity I 'll try ths English Lovers of the City Kind Souls who many a Night o'er Toast and Ale Have wept at reading Rosamond's fam'd Tale And will we hope for Beauties sake to day Confront the Wits and save a harmless Play So may you thrive your Wagers all be won So may your Wise Stock-jobbing Crimp go on So may your Ships return from the Canaries And stoln French Cargoes in your Johns and Maries Stand Buff once for a Mistress Think what Lives Some of you daily lead with scolding Wives And though she fell by Iealous Cruelty For Venial Sin 't was pity she should die Ah! should your Wives and Daughters so be try'd And with her Dose their Failings purify'd Lord What a Massacre wou'd mawl Cheapside EPILOGUE Written by Mr. Dryden Spoke by Mrs. Bracegirdle THus you the sad Catastrophe have seen Occasion'd by a Mistress and a Queen Queen Eleanor the Proud was French they say But English Manufacture got the Day Jane Clifford was her Name as Books aver Fair Rosamond was but her Nom de Guerre Now tell me Gallants wou'd you lead your Life With such a Mistress or with such a Wife If One must be your Choice which d' ye approve The Curtain-Lecture or the Curtain-Love Wou'd ye be Godly with perpetual Strife Still drudging on with homely Joan your Wife Or take your Pleasure in a wicked way Like honest Whoring Harry in the Play I guess your minds The Mistress wou'd be taking And nauseous Matrimony sent a packing The Devil 's in ye all Mankind's a Rogue You love the Bride but you detest the Clog After a Year poor Spouse is left i' th' lurch And you like
to it Rid hard and exercis'd Must feel the Bit and Curb to let 'em know They 're under Government King Why thou hast spoke it and shall see it done For from this moment do I constitute Thee equal sharer with me in my Sceptre Prince My Royal Father King I have said the Word Hence be Convinc'd A Parents Love can bear forget forgive And wait the gentle Season when Penitence Shall spring and showr a Blessing That may encourage Virtue as it grows Prince My thanks to Heav'n and you Oh! you have made New-moulded up this Mass and breath'd a Soul That longs for Action and the toil of War If I not strive to merit this great Blessing If I not Honourably discharge the Trust Endeavour Nobly may I sink with shame As great as my worst Foes would wish Best Friends lament For France my Father Where I will season this my Infant Sword To Dedicate to you who taught it Glory King This sounds well Harry as it should be Boy And I foresee Englands good Genius Dancing In thy Spirit and pleas'd with the young Mars It has begot My Lord of Verulam Veru Your Majesty King Here as a Pledge of Love Accept this Man I give him As a Guardian Angel to thee His Courage shall assist and strengthen thine His Judgment in the Field shall guide thy boldness And if Fate should approach thee clap between ye His Care shall lessen thy Fatigue in War In Peace his Diligence shall give thee Pleasure Prince Sir you are mine your Character is great And I will shew how I esteem its worth In choosing your Opinion Enter Queen Abbot Fryers Attendants Queen Oh Barbarous King was there no other way To reach my heart but thus to snatch him from me Look on him well Are these young tender Limbs Fit to endure the hardships of a Camp The Cares of War and Dangers that attend it It shall not must not be and I alive Oh Harry hang upon thy Mothers Love And shun thy Father's Cruelty King Well Madam have you done Are you at ease Has the fierce Whirlwind of your Passion vent If not Enlarge after your wonted method Queen Ingrateful King Do you upbraid my fondness Think'st thou this Breast is hardned like thy own I bore him bred him felt the rack of Nature Many long Winter Nights have watcht his slumbers When the sad hand of Sickness was upon him While you encompass'd round with all your Friends Forgot my Care and the poor Infant 's danger He minds me not Oh wretched Majesty See Reverend Fathers Is this humane usage Prince Let me beseech you Madam calm this Passion The King designs my Greatness Queen Deluded Fool away Fly fly betimes To Sanctuary where these good Mens assistance May break the Philtre and dissolve the Magick Which blinds thy sense and sets thee mad for Glory Behold this Holy Man thy careful Tutor Whose studious diligence first taught thee Knowledge With Art and Patience clear'd thy erring Soul And made it Master of Imperial Wisdom Take his Advice Be deaf to the harsh King 's Which would destroy thee by removing thee King Contemn her fondness and consult thy Honour This Passion flows from an unruly Will I tell thee Harry all the Sex are thus And Contradiction's their Original Sin For Woman was the first in Disobedience When they were molded first into a Form And the Almighty lik'd the great Design Pleas'd with the Work withdrew and in th'Interval The Fall'n Angel crept unseen and view'd it Saw that Man's Happiness would be complete And from his Gall a drop of Spleen dash'd in Which sowr'd the whole Creation 'T is that affects her now give it but scope And when she sees it moves us not 't will down Prince If to my Mother's Will I should submit Glory will shun me Honour flie me And all Brave Men contemn me Abbot Most Gracious Majesty vouchsafe attention To the humble Speech of your poor Beadsman I am bound in duty to offer my assistance And to mediate where persons of such near Affinity Have different Passions which o'ercloud the Soul Soyling Perfection See your Royal Partner o'erwhelm'd with Tears From the harsh words you 've utter'd That Noble Graft bury'd in deep amazement Oh! Let this Discord end in Harmony Lull the harsh Note and raise her up to Life King Who asks Advice from you my Rev'rend Sir Who sent for you to make up Royal Breaches Because you are th'Examiner of her Sins Must you pretend Dominion o'er my Actions Go to We know ye Preach to those who do not And let their Ignorance support your Cunning Thou Pandor of the Court Abbot Your trusty Knight there Points to Sir T. Vau. Becomes the Title better King Ha! what said you Abbot This Accusation does not suit my Function Nor well become the Mouth of Dignity If We the Pillars of the Holy Church Are thus calumniated 't is easie guessing what Will follow You set an ill Example King You seldom shew us good ones Come come I know you better than your selves Your proud ambitious haughty daring Tempers The God you Idolize is Int'rest Which to obtain you 'd bridle all Mankind And ride 'em to the Devil Queen Oh Blasphemy Abbot Alas poor Queen how must he use your Goodness If he reviles the Church thus Atheists would blush at this King Is there no way to Heav'n without these Fellows Try me and judge me Oh thou awful Pow'r If I not reverence and adore thy Laws But why through such hard hands are they deliver'd How is 't you make us Kings whil'st these prescribe us Our Actions must be govern'd by their Consciences Our own has no Pre-eminence nor Judgment Abbot Reason is weak where Passion is so strong Your Arbitrary Power would tire the World Did not Heav'n bless you with our Guiding Virtues King Yet with your leaves Kings may indulge themselves Violate Laws Disfranchize all their Subjects Provided that your Government 's untouch'd But should we look A-squint upon the Failures of the Church The holy Rooks and Daws betake to wing And fill the Air with Clamor Hence Be gone on forfeit of your Lives Abbot He shall pay dear for this Come Brothers let 's to Councel Exit Abbot Priests Sir Tho. Vaugh. That 's to Mischief Now will the Church fall in a Fever And want his Blood for a Cordial King Now Eleanor to you Beware these Men Thou' rt but a Tool to them to fashion me And work my Actions suitable to theirs Shock not thy Husband's Pow'r to strengthen them For credit me I know their inward Cunning They call'd my Father in to serve their Int'rest And when he had nobly ventur'd Life and Pow'r Remov'd th' Oppressions under which they groan'd They grew so weary of Security They wou'd have chang'd again Observe this Boy Seem with the Church to joyn Hearken and weigh whatever they design But never let their Knowledge fathom thine Queen But why must he to th' War Oh! Can
that will revenge thee Dart from thy Saints bright Rays a Providence That may encircle and protect our Actions If Souls which from the Worlds rich Arms are forc'd Torn from their Right in Nature by Oppression And sent unjustly unprepar'd away To give an Answer at a moments warning To a long Scrowl of all their ill-spent Lives Ben't a Barbarity abhorr'd by Christians Morality good night Conscience and Equity be ever Banish'd And Arbitrary Strength officiate Justice No Becket thou shalt have full revenge If Blood can give it measure I 've trac'd his Lust Where he supinely does indulge himself Found out his Paramour and the Queen shall Know it Thus my Revenge I 'll back with Jealousy A Rival is a plague that tortures Woman Worse than her being cross'd in her Ambition And Oh what a charming mischief must that prove That 's Got by a Church Hate and Nurs'd by Injur'd Love Exit SCENE II. Enter Sir Tho Vaughan and Rosamonds Women Sir Tho. Was there ever so perverse a Baggage Hast thou neither respect to my Age nor my Person Who am I what am I Tell me quickly or I shall grow very furious I shall Wom. Sir I neither regard your Age nor your Person And your Anger would do better to be shewn among them that fear you than here where you 're so little welcome Sir Tho. Why Huzzy I 'm a Gentleman Wom. 'T is a very improper employment this if you are so Sir Tho. Look you my Lady's Gentlewoman I will not be popp'd off with the flap of a Fox Tail I come with a Message from the King do you mark I must have an Answer from your betters e're I return Wom. I think you have had Answers enough to have put any Man out of Countenance that had a grain of Modesty in him Sir Tho. Tell the Wind where it shall blow Child I 'm a thorow-pac'd Courtier us'd to denyals but that never disheartens me he that sits down contented with a Lady's answering Nay twice or thrice will be Curst by the Woman and Laught at by the World Importunity and Impudence are the Supporters of our Coat of Arms indeed our Argent is somewhat scandalous but our Rampant is very ancient It came in with Infidelity and always had the upper hand of Honesty in this World Wom. I don't understand your Heraldry Sir Sir Tho. I am an unlucky Dog never eloquent but among the vulgar and there it 's always thrown away Come Rogue I must needs see your Lady Wom. Her positive Orders were to see none and I will not infringe 'em to merit your thanks and her displeasure Sir Tho. To see none If she means of the Common sort she 's much in the right on 't I commend her Judgment But I come from the King Child Wom. There 's the more danger But I tell you she makes no distinction Sir Tho. Why 't is impossible a Pox on thee thou hast mistook her Orders if she is resolv'd to see no body let her come and tell me so her self What does she think she was made for no other use than our Shrines are to be shewn upon Holidays only Wom. I am the Servant of her pleasure Sir Sir Tho. So am I of my Masters prithee let them put their pleasures together and come to a right understanding A young Woman a handsome Woman a brisk Woman of a yielding Complexion a sappy Constitution a languishing Nature turn Recluse Why the Devil would as soon turn Tayler and be bound to Thread his Needle in the dark always Why she 's good enough for Nuns-flesh Thirty years hence when she 's weary of the World satiated with Flesh and sit for no other thing but a Fryar to mumble his Mattins o're Wom. What d' ye mean Sir Sir Tho. Why Child I know 't is against the Grain of any Woman in the World to be lock'd up even in Spain it self Love But see Rogue see what the King has sent thee all Yellow prevailing Yellow undeniable Yellow this will dye Honour or Conscience Chastity Friendship of any Colour whatsoever and make Adultery look as Beautiful as the Snow-driven Sheets of a Virgin Sacrifice in Wedlock Besides he has provided for thee a Husband a huge feeding Fellow and as tuff as Whalebone Wom. You have such pleasant humours but I dare not take it my Lady is so Sir Tho. If thy Lady 's such a Fool to stand in her own light must the Maid follow the example Be wiser Child for let me tell thee a Stale Waiting-woman is a scurvy Commodity refuse but the Market and 't will hang on thy hands long enough Wom. If I must take it But I can do nothing for 't Sir Tho. Pshaw pshaw say what thou wilt but do as thou think'st fit Wom. But she has sworn never to see the King Sir Tho. What! not see the King O Lord O Lord she 's in the state of Damnation I 'll get a Father presently but now I think on 't there 's none can Absolve her better than himself he 'l take pains to Convert her Wom. She comes Enter Rosamond Sir Tho. Vaugh. Let me alone with her How does my sweet Lady Nature's Pride Pleasure of all our Senses the Day 's Comfort the Night's Enlightner Rosa. Away thou venerable Bawd thōu shame To Age and Sanctity Sir Tho. A very hopeful beginning Rosa. The Badge of Years which should be Honourable In thee appears a Mark of Infamy Leave me Be gone Thy sight does strike a Horror Such as if Hell should yawn the Tempter up To second thy Delusion Sir Tho. She 'll make me believe I 'm a Fury anon Enter King Oh! 't is well your Majesty has relieved me I 'm school'd to a fright and give like a Tomb-stone against rainy Weather Dew all over Come Charge come 't is not for you and I to listen to State-affairs he 's a going to swear her of his Cabinet-Council Exeunt Sir Tho. Wom. Rosamond sees the King and is going out King Why dost thou shun my Love thou Charming Maid Why turn away thy Eyes now they 've undone me Thou shouldst have hid their killing Fires before Too well thy conscious Soul their Lustre knew Foresaw the Adoration they 'd beget Thou shouldst have ever kept 'em from Mankind Or mingl'd Pity with their barb'rous Pow'r Rosam Why will you thus perplex your self and me How often have I begg'd you to desist Methinks the many times I have deny'd Might satisfie you your Attempts are vain King Judge rightly of the Patience of my Love With what a meek untir'd Zeal 't has waited Born all the cold Rebukes of rigid Virtue The harsh Denials of a vigorous Honour Still creeping up to what I knew would crush me Like the weak Reed against the blust'ring North That nods and crouches to each angry Blast Sinks down o'er-press'd by the insulting Storm Yet still it swells and slowly strives to rise To be blown down again Rosam Oh! why do you pursue
Chanted out Io Peans in his praise Behind in Ranks the Jolly well-fed Brothers O' th' several Orders in their Sacred Vestments The Banners of their Founders still display'd Trudg'd heavily along each lolling on his Fellow With Reverend Waddle blowing as they stalk'd Puff'd out his Name and bless'd the good young Prince King Ten thousand Devils tear 'em for 't Abbot Ten thousand Angels hug 'em for 't Veru Thus it continued till we gain'd the Palace Where a new Scene begins The Crouds of Gentry That waited there to offer Fealty Wou'd poze Arithmetick to sum 'em up These offer'd him the Crown King How now Abbot Why now 't is as it should be Veru He thankfully accepted the kind offer Embrac'd 'em spoke 'em fair and promis'd fairer Nay at their parting servilely attended 'em Even to the outward Gate of the throng'd Court Abbot Bless'd be the Priests that taught him so much breeding Veru The Ceremonious day now being ended And he withdrawn to rest I thought it time To speak my Soul and let him know his Error King How did he bear it from you Veru Knitting his Brows with a Majestick Frown He told me I was Sawcy Malepert And border'd upon Treason He was of Age Nor did he want a Tutor Bad me be gone On forfeit of my Life Then laying his hand Upon his Sword he let these words escape Think'st thou I will refuse the gift of Heav'n And what the People court me to possess No I 'll assert my Right against the World And here shake off all curbing tyes of Blood King No more He shall be whip'd into his Duty Verulam What! dare me to the Combat Insolent Boy He shall not find I am enervated Let all the Ports immediately be stop'd To Sussex Set up the Royal Standard Summon all into the Field 'T is I your King Command it To Aumerle I 'll face this Rebel meet this young Usurper Scourge from the Earth this Pest of Human kind And be a Terror to the Universe But haste see all things got in readiness I will set forth to morrow Verul I fly my Lord. Exeunt all but the King and Abbot King Oh Rosamond The Wrongs that I have done thee cry aloud The horrid Vows and fearful Imprecations By which I won thy Virtue to compliance Have made Appeal to a more righteous Judge And fall in Showrs of Vengeance on my Head Abbot This is above my Wishes Up Dissimulation Sweet Flattery with all thy Pomp attend my words That I may gain belief Seems to weep King How can he weep are Miracles not ceas'd Abbot Who can forbear that shall behold you thus Loaded with Grief o'er-press'd with Miseries The most invet'rate Heathen to our Faith The Stranger to Humanity or Pity Would grow a Statue turn a Niobe If he but knew how much the King was injur'd King Oh wondrous Conversion Abbot I came to gratulate the Victory O'er your unlawful Love And thought to find you bright serene and gay Shining with Lustre crown'd with a Reward Not all the Noble Virtues of your Soul Hurry'd into a Storm Oh dismal sight King Am I so alter'd then from what I was Look view me well I find no alteration My Pulse keeps time my Vigor is the same And I am now as much the King as ever Abbot Your looks are still August your Person Sacred Yet when the Sun is mantled up in Clouds And day shuts in before the wonted Hour People are struck with Wonder and Amazement With Fear observe and doubt the dreadful Change King You would infer it seems I am ecclips'd But as that Sun you mention'd does regain From dismal Darkness a more splendid Light Ev'n so will I spight o' th' United Power Of Hell and Earth conspir'd against my Crown Though my rash Son heads their Rebellious Rage Abbot What says my Lord Sure the sweet Prince is innocent King Thou seem'st a Stranger to 't Abbot I heard that Mutiny was on the Wing And Treason Lacquey'd it on ev'ry side But that your Son Him whom you made so Great Should side with 'em is most Unnatural King He is proclaim'd their King and I a Tyrant Abbot Indeed Is 't possible O piercing Sound My trembling Knees give way they shake with Horror King If this bare Tale can pierce thy flinty Breast Call up Remorse and pity to those Eyes If thou should'st know the Burden of my Life 'T would sink thee quick into eternal Darkness Abbot Alas I pity you Indeed I do Heav'n knows how much I grieve for your Afflictions King Do I not stand accurs'd at Rome for Murther Though all good Men do know my Innocence My Son Rebels and an unnat'ral War is at the door While wild Distraction reigns within my Palace But these I could endure But Oh! the loss of Rosamond that 's Mortal Abbot Indeed my Lord it is a mighty Trial Thus to cast off the lovely beauteous Creature Whose Soul was fraught with Dotage on your Person Whose all of Study was your Royal Pleasure King Has Beauties Power then influenc'd thy Breast Abbot I would not soil that Beauty with Detraction Nay I must pity though I dare not help her Could almost wish I were of Temporal Kind To shew how I would strive to serve you both King Oh charitable Father now thou work'st me Preach on this Subject I will ever listen My Soul as to an Oracle shall trust And with implicit Faith I 'll ever serve thee Abbot As I 'm a Man I must confess I do admire the Sex though I 'm deny'd 'em Pity the tender Fair when in distress And fancy if I had ever Lov'd 'T would have destroy'd me to have lost the Charmer But Rosamond indeed she is a wonder The Single Fondling of the Universe Her Sexes envy and the Pride of Heav'n King Wonder on wonder still Abbot I said the Fondling of the Universe The senceless Babe when in its Nurses Arms He sees her pass springs forward towards the fair one Leaves the lov'd Breast to gaze upon her Face Nay even the wither'd Antiquated Sire Half dead with Age and hanging on his Crutch If he beholds her feels new Sap shoot up His shrivell'd Veins inlarge and Strength comes on Forgets his Props and Limps to worship her King Art thou my Rival ha Abbot Who I my Lord King None but a Lover could describe her thus And yet thy praise falls short of her perfection Thou yet hast only touch'd her outward Charms But Oh! the inward beauties of the Mind The temper of her Soul sure none can match So mild a Nature and so soft a Frame So sweet a Spirit so secure from Anger That even Oppression scarce can taint her calmness One would believe Patience and Courtesy Had left the rest o' th' World and center'd there Abbot Yet after all these Graces which you 've nam'd To leave her 't is a matchless Virtue sure King Ha! Leave her said'st thou Is 't possible Speak Father and be merciful a little