a Sledge Than in a gawdy Chariot to be Crown'd This say and tell the Queen I was the Traytor Pemb. Madam there 's nothing then remains But oh the hardest Task for me to do That ever Heart not made of Steel cou'd think Or ever Tongue relate which is your Sentence And which the Law provides for such Offences Ia. Look on me Gilford with those healing Eyes While w' are together we 'll devour our Woes And Miseries shall be the Banquet of Our parting Lives deck'd out with gaudy Love Pronounce it in the name of Heav'n my Lord. Pemb. Rise then with me O ghastly Audience hear Start up like Spirits in Shrouds or Statues mute Not the least Sence or Motion that you live Nor fatal sign of Pulse or Breath appear Nor Lips be curst to say Amen but mine But with that awful silence pale and fix'd As you wou'd hearken to the World 's great Doom Ia. My Lord you are too pitiful Pemb. And when you see me ready to pronounce Wish that this Breath were Poyson to infect you These weeping Eyes were threatning Comets rather These Tears a Deluge that would drown the World But oh I am condemn'd to speak and when Hereafter you 'd relate a Tale that 's sad Remember this unhappy Pair remember Poor Pembrook thus afflicted as he is Pronouncing their unwilling Sentence which Is this and this the Court awards Gilf. What is it quick pronounce see we are guarded Thus hand in hand while w' are intrench'd with Love Each gallant Courage is the others Armour Pemb. You both are to be carry'd from this Bar Unto the Prison or Place from whence you came From whence y' are to be drawn upon two Hurdles Unto the common place of Execution Where you my Lord must by the Neck be hang'd Cut down alive and in the sight of all Your Bowels pull'd out and burnt before your Face Your Head first to be sever'd from your Body And Body then divided into Quarters Which are to be dispos'd of by the Queen But Madam out of Reverence to your Sex And for distinctions sake and Modesty Your Body must be compass'd round with Faggots And there be fasten'd to a Stake and burnt And so kind Heav'n have Mercy on your Souls Scene draws Exeunt omnes preter Jane Gilford and Guards Ia. Come to the faithful Partner of thy Bed To all thy Wishes and thy Sorrows wed Thou Joy thou Pain thou Comfort and thou Grief Fear of my Heart and Pleasure of my Life How long shall we be tost by ev'ry Breath From Courts to Prisons and from Prisons to Death Gilf. Where must these Halberts lead us to the Tower Our Dungeon now that was our Nuptial Bower So fell the Angels that did so aspire As I am punish'd for so rash desire To think there so much happiness cou'd be On Earth to be possess'd of Crowns and Thee Ia. Sweet Harmony of Life just Musick flows From Souls and strings by stops that interpose Always intranc'd is never to be blest Hunger delights but Surfeits spoil the Taste Love were not Love nor wou'd you Heav'n be dear If ever we enjoy'd such Raptures here Gilf. Sure never Pair were born by Fate so soon To kiss the Sun then driv'n so quickly down Shot like a pond'rous Weight that from the Sky With greater force does to the Center fly Marry'd and Crown'd injoy'd the Nuptial Bed Convicted and to Execution led King Queen and nothing all before the Sun Had twenty of its daily Courses run Ia. Behold us here thus tost thus driv'n thus hurl'd Gilford and I be warnings to the World For popular Applause and false Renown Make but a barren Title to a Crown A rash Usurper with no Right but these Rides like a Ship unballast on the Seas Flatter'd with gentle Winds does proudly Sail But when the Billows rage and Storms prevail Her glorious Bulk too empty for its height The Sea and dreadful Ruin swallow straight Exeunt Omnes ACT V. SCENE I. Northumberland solus O Curst Ambition fatal to Mankind Banefull'st of all the Passions of the Mind Too big for the Foundation thou must fall And coveting too much dost hazard all Nameless and dead Posterity and thee The Branches perish'd with the fatal Tree No Age to come shall speak of Dudley's Name Recount his Glories or his Childrens Fame The Seeds that I had Sown to Heav'n to shoot Storm'd in a Night and shaken with the Root Yet the Queen 's pious to a Miracle Will spare thy Life to save a Soul from Hell Bend supple Conscience when Life 's to be gain'd That may be certain what 's hereafter feign'd We know not what 's on th' other side the Skreen Behind you dreadful Curtain to be seen Turn Prodigal and let the Husks alone Rome's an Indulgent Mother to her Son Enter Gardner Gard. I come my Lord tho' loth at your Request To see a Noble Man in Misery Northumberland that was so great in Chains Looks like Malitious Triumph in Revenge Of the ill Offices I had from him North. For which my Lord I kneel to be forgiv'n And bend with Sorrow lower than my Fortune The frailties of Mankind wise Angels hide Man is but Man and Heav'ns best Grace is Pardon None can accuse me nor defend me better My Lord of Winchester had rather be My Confessor than Witness to Arraign me Gard. Rise full of Pardon from above and me If there be ought within the Miters Power Or my small Management of State to grant you With Charity and Love profest and real With vilest Malice thrown behind my back And worst of Injuries forgot I 'll do 't North. I wou'd forsake this Step-Mother to Truth This wrong Religion of my own Adoption And fain wou'd turn to the true Womb that bore me The Natural Parent of my long lost Faith But want a Guide like you to shew the way Gard. What said you are you real Noble Duke The Vault of Heav'n shall ring with Hallalujahs And Rome for this Eternal Anthems sing That you my Lord forsake your fatal Error North. By all the Host of Angels that in Choirs Resound the Praise of one repenting Sinner I thirst I burn I kneel to be receiv'd Into the Bosom of Rome's Faith again Gard. By what strange Miracle wert thou my Son Snatch'd from that stubborn Anvile of Religion Which forg'd so many harden'd Hereticks Into the tender mouldings of the Church North. Tho' still convinc'd of Rome's Immortal Power Charm'd with the dazling hopes of being great Feigning what pleas'd the Headstrong Harry best I for so mean a price as Favour sold My dearest Faith deceiv'd young Edward too And knowing Iane in Luther's Heresie To be more strongly rooted than to change Ambitious to intail the Crown on Gilford Still own'd my self a zealous Protestant But since the Prime of Saints that 's now in Heav'n Did once like me deny his Lord on Earth May not I hope and you pronounce my Pardon Gard. My Lord
THE Innocent Usurper OR THE DEATH OF THE Lady Jane Gray A TRAGEDY Written by I. B. LONDON Printed for R. Bentley at the Post-House in Russel-street in Covent-Garden 1694. 〈◊〉 MY FRIEND THE STATIONER Mr. Bentley I Know not how the Town will â—â—â—sure me for this Epistle of mine tho' I have herein follow in the steps of no mean Author who before me made you a Present of his best Comedy with this Encomium that you were a very good Patron You never were closesisted to a good Poet and your Generosity was always suitable to the Merit of the Author and his Book and he is freely welcome to your Table too if so you are a Mecaenas and such I will stile you But now give me leave to speak a word for my self This Product of mine having been foster'd and kindly receiv'd by the Actors almost to perfectness was by a Capricio and hard-heartedness of some of the Civil Powers of the Stage like an Infectious Offspring carry'd back to the Place of its Birth and now through the Incapacity of the Parent is laid at your Door As to the Reflections about â—t and as being prohibited the Acting you are an authentick Witness and can clear me as to that Point You know it was written Ten Tears since just as it is now without one little of Alteration and therefore I cou'd have no other design in making choice of this Subject but its being recommended to me by Friends for the best Story that ever was put into a Play But let me tell the Person that has done me that kinkness and that wou'd fain have it a Parallel that it is no more such than I am to Alexander the Great 't is true Alexander went on two feet and so do I. It is suppos'd the Lady Jane wore Petticotes and can any one be so foolish as to think her Majesty will for that Reason put them off But say they it has a scurvy Title Suppose I had call'd it the Innocent Adultress and I hope I might so without calling any Lady's History in question This Play then having been deny'd the common Iustice of a Malefactor I mean to speak for it self upon the Stage in Modesty I may be allow'd to say somewhat in its behalf It is no whit inferiour to what I have done before of this kind nay the Characters are much more perfect and without vanity or offence to my quondam Brothers of the Chime for now I own my self not one I make bold to say that when ever this unfortunate Lady shall have this Vail that she is Condemn'd to taken off and be permitted to shew her Features and Misfortunes in the Theatre I doubt not but she will draw Tears from the fair Sexes Eyes In it I have follow'd nicely the Truth and it cannot be judg'd in that Age when it was written that I have interwoven any thing with an intent to pattern with the Times unless I had been a Conjurer and that I am sure those that are Enemies to this Play will not allow me to be I will not hold you too long Mr. Bentley for I know you to be a Man of Business but will only conclude with a Character which an Author has given of the Lady Jane hoping it will make you have the better Opinion of your Bargain if I can repeat it rightly if not you will pardon me She had says he the Beauty of Youth the Solidity of Old Age the Learning of a Clerk the Life of a Saint and the Death of a Malefactor And so Mr. Bentley I am Your hearty Friend J. Banks Charles Street Octob 5th 1693. Actors Names  And were to be represented by Duke of Northumberland Mr. Williams Duke of Suffolk Mr. Bowman Earl of Pembrook Mr. Kynaston Lord Gilford Dudly Mr. Betterton Gardner Bishop of Winchester Mr. Sandford Lady Jane Mrs. Barry Dutchess of Suffolk Mrs. Betterton SCENE The Tower of LONDON THE WORKS OF Mr. Nathaniel Lee IN ONE VOLUME CONTAINING These Following TRAGEDIES 1. Sophonisba Or Hanibal's Overthrow 2. NERO. 3. Gloriana Or the Court of Augustus Coesar 4. Alexander the Great 5. Mythridates King of Pontus 6. Theodotius or The Force of Love 7. Coesar Borgia 8. Lucius Iunius Brutus 9. Constantine 10. Oedipus King of Thebes 11. The Duke of Guise 12. The Massacre of Paris 13. The Princess of Cleve LONDON Printed for R. Bently in Russel-street in Covent-Garden near the Piazzas 1694. THE Innocent Usurper ACT I. SCENE I. Enter Duke of Suffolk Attendant Suff. LET the Sun 's fruitful Rays abhor this Isle And smile no more on this unfaithful Land Haste and acquaint your Lady that I want her To a Gent. who goes out Why does she sleep when all the World should wake Do not the Groans of dying Edward reach her That from deep Quarries force condoling Thunder And Eccho to the Marble Vault of Heaven His Prayers Hear Angels Cherubims and Thrones And grant what Man has only power to wish him A thousand years Enter Dutchess of Suffolk Dutch What has alarm'd my Lord To be thus early up Is Edward dead Suff. Dead all the merciful in Heaven forbid Dutch Go to Are you a Man have you that Blood Yet left within you that your Birth created Or did it only boast hoping to mix With mine that you were Noble and Ambitious O Gods that Woman should so far excel Mankind in ev'ry thing yet be so curst To be born Slaves and live in loath'd Subjection Sure Woman was th' Almighty's first Essay And his creating hand did form her Mind Vying with all the Beauties of her Body With Courage Wit Invention more than Man But soon perceiving what he did was wrong Left off the charming and unfinish'd Wonder She else had nearest been to the Immortal And gave the Reins of Government to you Suff. Something of dread hangs heavy on my Soul Mistrust or Conscience name it what you please That bodes Despair to our uncertain hopes Frances I will no further tempt my Fate Let 's wash our hands of this disloyal Duke And quit Northumberland for he 's a Traytor Last night I saw the Spirit of Katherine Dutch Where in your dreams or in your shameless fears If you have lost the Courage of your Sex Behold and bless the Spirit of thy Wife Who holds it nobler to dispose of Crowns Like Godlike Roman Consuls than to wear The Globe it self therefore she takes that Scepter By Right and Merit hers and gives thy Daughter Has Cranmer witness'd to the Confirmation Suff. He and the Council all have sign'd at last But only Hales stands out with Resolution And that most Learn'd of Judges says 't is Treason Dutch The Prince in Power can only judge of that And turn the Treason on the Traytor 's head Here comes Northumberland the Instrument Is in his hand O glorious happy sight Neither The Silver Crescent nor the Golden Eagle Is half s' ador'd an Ensign as that Parchment Enter Northumberland No more mean Scruples of
and take it Be suddain for there 's now no going back Like Caesar you have past the Rubicon Therefore resolve like him and take the Crown Dutch Say not th' art Conscious now of shedding Blood All we must perish if thou cease to guard us Already y' are proclaim'd through all the Kingdom And by a Claim lesser than Mary's think you Was not my Mother Harry's only Sister And every drop of Blood of thine as Royal As the best vein from whence her Title streams North. Ha! mute Gilford where is thy boasted Power Where 's now thy Empire o'er her bending Mind Thy soft thy obey'd thy quick Commands to win her Thou speechless too then we are all betray'd 'T is so Madam w' are sold basely and Cowardly Whilst Correspondence with the Candidate Is held in hopes that when my Life and all My wretched Sons are forfeited to Death They shall be Heirs and so of you my Lord Is it not so Gilf. O Iane Ia. Give me thy hand let 's fall thus low together O Father Mother far more priz'd than Life And Parent of my Lord as near my Heart By the Divine above and Just on Earth By this dear Pledge that you have given these Arms To bind me to your Love thus fast for ever Your Safety is the only Charm that binds me And Life the Sentence that Condemns me Guilty Dutch What 's to be done the Storm comes on apace And Mary like a Torrent from a Hill Will quickly drive us hence or pour upon us Suff. There 's now no hopes in any thing but Flight Let us secure our selves Dutch Inglorious Wretch Shame of thy Mother's Blood Suff. Say what do you intend to do my Lord North. Stay here like Titan and devour my Race To tear him her thee and then my hated self Yet I 'll be gone but whither that 's no matter Behold me O! thou that wert once my Son But now a Stranger to my Bowels Iove hurl'd Not Saturn from so proud a heighth as thou hast me I who this Moment in my hand had Crowns And Kingdoms with my Breath to give away Now am not worth this Spot this Earth I tread on Gilf. O cruel Iane O most Inhumane Virtue North. Yet I will live and feed this Breast with Curses There is this Comfort too I may run mad At worst but beg and starve out Life as lately A Noble Duke of the Lancastrian Line That us'd in Burgundy by Horsemens sides To run and crave an Alms and so farewel Gilf. My Father Lord you must not shall not stir Take not your self take not your Blessing from us Lo at your Feet the worst Delinquent falls Spurn this Hard-hearted and Rebellious Son Spurn me to Atoms hence you shall not go For thus I 'll hold 'em chain 'em with my Hands Wash 'em with Tears and glew 'em to my Lips Take me along your Son shall be your Shield I 'll plant my self like Marble round your Heart Save you from Want and guard you from your Foes North. Loose me Fond Nature will not let me hurt thee The Father 's in my Heart and Mother's in my Eyes Wilt thou not let me go to save my Life But see thy Father like a Traitor seiz'd Drawn on a Sledge and mounted on a Gibbet Then by the common Executioner Of Rogues and Thieves these Bowels to be ripp'd And this great Heart yet panting in his hand Thrown in the Flames and burnt before thy Face Gilf Now by the Heavenly Pity in her Soul She 'll not indure it See she 'll take the Crown And mount the Precipice of yonder Throne Were it as high or Mortal to ascend As Atlas Teneriff or burning AEtna I know my Iane wou'd Travel to the top At my Request one of these Tears shou'd force her Turn best of Fathers turn behold she will I see it in her Soul her Lips are pregnant Now now they open Heav'nly Angel say Let thy Tongue speak the Language of thy Eyes And save my Father's Life Ia. Heav'n knows my Gilford How dear's thy Love How Eloquent thy Tears And more how near thy Father's Danger wracks me Yet this I must not yield to All is none To Vultures here and Daggers in a Throne Gilf. Ha! Then I 'll search amongst the Stars or dive To th' bottom where this Merciless Virtue grows Farewel O most Belov'd And yet most Cruel Farewel to those false Dreams of Crowns by Day And Heav'n by Night Farewel to Love for ever Perhaps when I am Dead she 'll take the Crown Then of necessity this way 's the best To save a Father's Life and be at rest Offers to fall on his Sword Ia. Hold hold my Love Give me this fatal Weapon Where is this Throne Where is this Golden Wreath This Magick Circle to Inchant my Brow Load me with Crowns were it the Tripple Crown To save your Lives you shall then put it on North. Immortal Crowns reward your Soul for this Gilf. Shout shout aloud till Angels catch the sound And Joy in Heav'n that she on Earth is Crown'd Shouts Scene draws and discovers the Throne and Regalias Re-enter Lords Ia. Is this the fatal Glory of Mankind The dazling Object that so fires his Mind Curst as in Mines thou art dug up with pain With Labour got and Sorrow lost again Methinks when I ascend you dreadful height Putting on the Crown I am like one who when a Storm 's in sight Climbs up some dangerous Cliff that hits the Skies To view the Labouring Barks with weeping Eyes How they against the raging Billows strive And wonders that the little Wretches live But still forgets what slippery place he 's on How safe they are how near he is to drown Exeunt Omnes ACT III. SCENE I. SCENE the Tower Gardner solus Gard. YOung Edward dead the Crown Intail'd on Iane All looks like dreadful Truth for late last night Suffolk's proud Dutchess and her Pageant Daughter Enter'd these Walls with a profuse Retinue Omnipotence what mean'st thou fatal Caesar Curst be the Winds that drove thee on our Shore A Storm brought thee to us and ever since The Storms of War has lodg'd within our Bowels And curst be the Foundation of these Walls When thou didst build this Castle to maintain Thy ill got Empire 't was first rear'd in Blood And since with Blood of Princes often stain'd A Cittadel for this Rebellious City The Scene of Murders Slaughter-House of Kings And Court of Hellish Plots Ha! yonder comes Northumberland like a Prodigious Meteor That threatens Desolation where it hovers Dudley the Great and Monarch of his Prince Enter Northumberland with Attendance seeing Gardner offers to pass over the Stage My Lord. North. What says my Lord of Winchester Y' are breathing in the freshness of the Morning Gard. The King 's poor Prisoners Sir are glad to take The Benefit of any little Air. I 've borrow'd of my Chains this precious Freedom To learn what News and if the King be
Petitions to Record Yet all wou'd be in vain to Save thy Soul Hadst thou not brought this Saint into the World Dutch Alas I was not Born to be so Curst To pull down Vengeance or worse Death on her Nor Fate nor Malice too can be so Cruel To touch her Life Pemb. O Iane O pretious Light That thou shou'dst be the Off-spring of such Night Thus to our wonder Nature often shews The Thorniest Brake may bear the Sweetest Rose The rarest Graft does from the Crab-Tree shoot And loathsom'st Soil begets the Richest Fruit. Wise Providence no sooner did Create One Woman by mischance to be Man's Fate But did another make to Save us straight O Heav'n O Hell To Mankind all or nought O deadly Poison Pretious Antidote Like Vipers Good and Bad ye Virtues have To cure the deadly wounds your Fellows gave Dutch Insult not o're the Frailties of a Woman But for Poor Iane and for her Sister's sake That lies in the soft Bosom of thy Son Join all thy Power and Interest with the Queen And throw 'em with thy self beneath her Feet To beg for pitty ' midst this Fatal Crew Her Father's Life and Hers She cannot grant you less That snatcht the Crown from her Unlawful Head And put it on her own Pemb. Last Night the Queen Arriv'd at Greenwich but Declares by Vow She will not see the Town nor think of Mercy Till all are Sentenc'd which must be this Morning Soon as the Lords are form'd in t' a Tribunal Northumberland by Arrundel Attach'd His greatest Foe and Posted back to Town No sooner was Dismounted from his Horse But hurried to his Judges in the Hall Dutch The worst Severity on him can ne're Be thought too Cruel Pemb. See the Horrid Shew Lady Jane Gilford Northumberland with three of his other Sons the Marquess of Northampton and several other Prisoners of Quality pass over the Stage Guarded as to their Tryals in a Solmen Manner Behold and if thou hast nor Eyes nor Daggers To penetrate within thy Marble Heart View here a sight wou'd Mortifie the Friends These thy own Bowels which th' Inhumane hands Have torn from thence and hurl'd to Execution Thy Husband Daughter Son in Law poor Gilford The Marquess of Northampton with his Friends The Wretched Dudly too O pitious Object With four of his Unhappy Sons Attended In sad Procession dismal Order come Dutch Ha! Is that Heav'n and are not those her Followers A Golden Troop of Angels No they are not What does that Fiend Northumberland do with her Pemb. See how she takes her Gilford by the Hand Smiling upon him and does seem to say 'T is a more welcome Coronation Day O Blest and Happy Train In following her Your Crimes are all Atton'd for and Forgiven Thus led by her you needs must go to Heaven Dutch Ha! Pemb. Behold the Spoils of thy Luxurious Pride The Trophies of thy Female fierce Ambition O Woman Born to put the Sin in thought Which your first Mother and the Devil got Lest Heav'n in Mercy shou'd forget the Stain And call the Curse on Mankind back again Dutch Where are they gone Pemb. To Hell where shou'd Northumberland be gone To suffer for the Sin that thou hast taught 'em For thy Ambition to be scourg'd with Scepters With red hot Crowns their Temples to be sear'd And burning Globes be hurl'd about their Ears Like Tennis Balls to make the Devils sport Dutch Ha! Have I found thee Ante-Monarchy Go Preach Damnation to thy Cursed Tribe I 'le hear no more such Doctrine Pemb. How she stares How wild she talks Heav'ns I have done amiss This Sight and Apprehension of my words Have turn'd her Wits Dutch What say'st thou Hypocrite Avant I find thee now thou art a Puritan A Pulpit Devil I know thee by thy Cant And thy Geneva Tone thy Cap and Night-Cap Pemb. Hell Dutch I 'le not to Hell Hell is a Commonwealth A Parliament of Rebels Pemb. Madam resume your Wise Couragious Temper I was to blame and meant not this in earnest By all my Hopes I 'me sorry for th' Attempt Your Daughter's Guardian Angel will Protect her Call back the Sentence of the Merciless Laws And stay the Ax from falling on her Head The Queen will Dutch Queen Did you talk of Queens and Axes ha Run Slaves fetch me my Rods and Axes straight Haste to the Forum usher in your Empress Lead to the Senate and Proclaim my Coming Do they deny me Entrance Down with the Gates Off with their Hinges Seize the Capital I 'le make 'em know that I am Caesar's Daughter Look how the fearful Rogues in Scarlet crouch Their trembling Joints and tottering Sconces shake Like Heads of Poppy on their quivering Stalks Give me the Crown Northumberland I 'le seize it Ha! Are you Mute And will not Vote me then Where are my Legions Pile your Faggots round Burn this Rebellious Swarm within their Hive And set the Gawdy Streets of Rome on Fire O! Nero was a Gallant Prince Exit Dutchess Enter Gardner with the Great Seal Attendants Gard. Most Noble Lord Commanded by the Queen I am Commission'd to make one amongst The Judges of her Crown the King's Bench Court An Honour I am Proud of under Pembroke Who is to set Chief Justice for the Day Pemb. My Lord of Winchester and Chancellor This Favour of our Sovereign is Divine Yet not too Great for her we must Arraign Why have you left the Court of Peers my Lords How is the Great Northumberland come off And the Bold Marquess of Northampton Gard. Both are Condemn'd but for the Duke of Suffolk The Queen has Pardon'd him before his Tryal Pemb. A Happy Omen may it be the Prologue To her more wisht for Mercy to his Daughter Gard. The Business of this Grand Consult was short The Haughty Duke who in Prosperity Towr'd like the King of Birds and vy'd the Sun Whilst lesser Flyers of the lower Region Flagg'd out of sight and panted to behold him Yet now in his Disgrace no humble Quarry Dasht from the Pounces of the frightful Hawk Did creep and tremble on the ground so vile Pemb. The Nature of an Upstart Base and Mean None more Imperious Lofty Proud in Office But when Degraded none more Cringing Poor and Fawning Gard. He offer'd but a weak Defence still Pleading That he did Act but by Authority And under the Impression of this Seal His main Exception was against the Lords Urging they could not be his Lawful Judges By whose Commands in Council he Proceeded And they with him Obey'd the Queen in Power Pemb. A stunning Question that Gard. 'T was soon Resolv'd this Seal was prov'd to be The Seal of an Usurper no more Lawful Than any Rebel's putting on a Crown Makes a True King Then for the Lords Wou'd you have all the Council Punish'd for The Treason of this foul Rebellious Duke That one Man's curst Ambition drew 'em to That were a Cruel Decimation worse Than the most Barbarous Justice
my welcome Son let me embrace you But are you griev'd for this Apostacy A real Catholick now and do believe There is no other Faith on Earth to save you And are resolv'd to die in that Opinion North. I am and by my Vows and Tears confirm it Gard. O then let me adopt thee North. Best of Fathers Mine gave me Birth and launch'd me to the World He lent this Frame but you an Arm to steer it O Pilate of the Soul blest Guide to Heav'n That with the softest and the mildest Function Brings Man to Glory through a Milky way Gard. Enough North. Cou'd I but win my Gilford too in death To Seal the Roman Faith with Dudley's Blood Then had I all that I can wish Gard. O Miracle That were a Triumph worthy of the Cause Mark me O gallant Duke Bring but young Gilford home to deck Rome's Lawrels And that proud Champion of their Worship Iane To make thee happy and reward thee greatly The Powers of either World shall be at strife I 'll give thee Heav'n the Queen shall grant thee Life North. Shall they have Mercy too Gard. Yes all shall live I 'll instantly about it to the Queen Who shall send Orders to conduct you to ' em Enter Dutchess of Suffolk Behold fall'n Man the Slaughter of Ambition Pride like a Vulture tears the lovely Quarry This Woman once an Angel in her Sphere Has now within her Breast a greater Hell Than those damn'd Spirits that for her vice so fell Why is this Fury let abroad Dutch I come to seek a Virtuous Priest like thee And that I may be sure I hunt by Night Grope in the Dark Gard. And why by Night Dutch O there 's a Reason for it For mind me Sirs by Day they are as thick As Whales in Forrests or as Stars at Noon So thick they cross the Scent Besides by Day we know not one from t'other They all look grave and wise like Thee and Godly But then at Midnight mark me if I find As 't is a chance and very rare my Lords One on his knees a Fasting and a Praying Then I let loose my Guard of Furies on him That worry him to Death I 'll have no Praying Amongst your Tribe at all but in the Pulpit Nor Fasting but at Meals Ha! what does ail me Gard. A little sick of Pride a Fit o' th' Mother Dutch Ha! am I troubled then with thy Disease I 'll turn Physician first and kill more Bodies Than thou hast made despair and murder'd Souls Say Reverend Hypocrites wilt thou teach me Gard. 'T is like she 'd fall to Physick after eating Dutch Ha! now you talk of eating rarely thought Pray will your Lordship sup with me to Night Gard. Why Dutch I invite you to a Dish you love Gard. What is 't Dutch It is a fine plump Diocess Larded with six fat Parsonages at least Besides two Bishopricks of Hereticks Sticking like Gizards to it in Comendam Gard. Malice and Pride turns Witchcraft straight or Madness This sickness of the Mind ill bodes the Body You are not well Repent and think of dying Dutch I will not think of Death this twenty I am non fifty yet and find my self As gay and young as any of my Daughters Look I not killing fit to grace the Park Looks in her Pocket-Glass I 'll take the Air to Night My Charriot ready Hear me you Slaves be sure I have my Coach Which the Queen said was finer than her own I 'll have eight Horses too to draw me thither Six is a sneaking number Fy upon it My Chaplain's Wife that was my Chamber Maid Has six and has not dub'd her Husband yet a Bishop Gard. How her Brain soars and her Ambition praunces The Asp has stung like Tarrantala Dutch So is my Charriot come My Lords farewell Wou'd you have any Service where I 'm going Gard. Where 's that Dutch I 'll tell you in your Ear to Hell my Lord Resolve to go and bear me company My Flanders Mares are somewhat of the heaviest But if you please I 'll go your Lordships pace And lay fresh Horses to be there betimes Will you my Lord Come take me by the hand To North. Hang creeping in a Sledge 't is base and vile You that was such a high and towring Falcon And flew at nought but Crowns Dost see that Churchman The Devil and he are drawing Cuts to have thee I pity thy Estate Priest I defie thee Gard. How curst is Madness when it turns Prophane Dutch O what a gaudy Kingdom is this Hell Courts made of burning Brass and dropping Gold Gallants a riding in hot Emrold Coaches Shining like Meteors in the fiery Region With Horses that have Flames instead of Wings Ladies that scorching Planets have for eyes Freckl'd all o'er with Carbuncles and Rubies That glow like Stars and crackle with the heat There sumptuous Bagnio's carv'd of Rocky Ice Here Ponds of liquid Crystal made to bathe in That 's colder in degree than Hell is hot Who wou'd not be a Knave to be so tortur'd North. Alas my Lord she 's pitiful Dutch Ha! what a gallant smell of Roman French Italian Essences and rich Perfumes here are It overcomes me and corrects the steem Of Hell Ha! ha ha Gard. What does she see now Dutch My Lord Northumberland does your Grace see ' em North. See whom Dutch Empson and Dudley gaping wide as Famine And two stout Fiends with Buckets full of Ore Pouring the melted Mass into their Mouths Which they disgorge into a Leathern Sack That Richmond laughing out aloud does hold Betwixt 'em Ha! ha ha Exeunt Gilford and Jane lying on the Floor asleep A Basket of Flowers and a Garland Gilford wakes Gilf. Who calls Methought I heard 'em cry awake The Ax is ready and the Scaffold fix'd For an Immortal Diadem prepare The swarming Streets with gazing Crowds are fill'd Turrets and Windows like a Day of Triumph With Tissue hung and cruel Beauties throng'd To see us mount the dismal Throne of Death Arise my Soul 's couragious Guard my Iane Wake wake my Love thy fatal hour's at hand Ha! how she sleeps Such were her looks when in my Arms she slep't The happy Morning to our Marriage-Night Thus heav'd her panting Breasts and thus she smil'd The bubbling Joys born from our eager Kisses Like wanton Spirits dancing on her Lips O Virtue most Divine O form Angellick How rich a paint is Innocence to Beauty How calm they sleep whom Pious Thoughts have lull'd What charming Stories do they count in Dreams Whose Prayers like thine are Prologue to their Slumbers Ia. Where is my Love where think'st thou I have been Is this the World and this the Ground we rest on And are we yet the Gulf of Death to pass Gilf. Behold if thou canst form within thy mind That dismal Fall of Waters near to view How like two Arrows down the Stream it shoots us There we must plunge for loe they come to fetch
us Where hast thou been what did thy Fancy shew thee Ia. Methought I softly stole from thee away As thou safe sleeping on my Bosom lay And glad that I had pass'd grim Death alone Mounted on Pinions that out-flew the Sun But on the Confines of that Heavenly Race A Warlike Angel stood to Guard the place The same whom Sacred Story says to be 'T was Raphael sure or one more great than he Who looking terrible with this Command A Beamy Garland put into my hand Return said he Crown him thou lov'st most dear Without thy Gilford there 's no entrance here At that last word I starting back did fâ—y Swift as a falling Meteor from the Skie And come to fetch thee on my Cherubs wings Where we will Raign more absolute than Kings Gilf. Cou'dst thou alas thou Darling of my Heart Alone to Heav'n without thy Gilford part Nay if thy Dreams can foster such a Crime No Sleep but Death shall part us from this time Like Turtles we have languish'd here in Love And will like loving Angels dwell above Ia. Let me adorn thy Temples and obey The Angels and the Deity 's Decree Behold this Wreath the Beauties of the Field The rarest Sweets the Bowers of England yield Now Spring and Paradise are on thy Brow Puts the Garland on his Head And richer Flowers in Eden never grew The spotless Ram thus Hymen's Victim dies To Love an Off'ring Death a Sacrifice Gilf. These lovely Blossoms of the fruitful Year Are proud that they thy Beauty's Livery wear I saw thy hands new mould 'em all the night And with thy Fingers turn the Lillies white Saw thee too lift the Garland to thy Head And with a kiss made every Rose so red Ia. Not Incense nor Arabian Spices smell So sweet as does the Breath as here does dwell Gilf. O Paradise O Virtue most Divine In whom all Graces with all Beauties shine Ia. Pity my case perhaps when I shall see This Head without the Body brought to me These Lips that were so red then ghastly pale Gasping for Life that now with Pleasures swell No Breath to give thy Harmonious Voice a Tone Nor Tongue to tell thy Iane its pitious Moan These Eyes that now my shining Planets are Extended and like angry Meteors glare These Locks my Fingers did so often twine With Sweets of Amber strew and Jessamine Powder'd with Dirt and matted all with Gore Horrid to view shall shine like Gold no more Gilf. The jealous Queen cannot so cruel be But let one Ax one Moment set us free Whilst taking thus our last Farewells like this The Blow shall but divide a parting Kiss Then as the Steel does to the Loadstone cleave We 'll meet again and end the Kiss we leave Enter Northumberland Guarded North. All Blessings reign on Suffolk's happy Daughter New Springs of Love adorn your Faithful Garland Health and long Life the Queen by Dudly sends Gilf. Are you my Father's Spirit or kinder Genius From the Immortal Region come to chide Your Gilford's and your Daughter 's long delay What e'er thou art thus shou'd our knees adore thee Or Deity or Angel or as fear'd my Father North. Rise Gilford rise I am that Earthly Mould From whence my Son receiv'd this Manly Form I once begot thee on a Beauteous Mother But now like Heaven without a Female Aid Have Power to make thee with my Godlike Breath And give thee Life as in the Womb again Ia. Blest Prophet's voice to a despairing Sinner Let me again the charming sound devour Say shall thy Gilford Shall my Husband live Speak quickly with a Parent 's Zeal and tell The welcom'st News that Heav'n can send to Iane. North. Come sit we down I know thou dy'st to hear But this transcends ev'n all thy Womans Longings 'T is Business of Import I have to say What cou'dst thou do for this dear pretious Youth This tender Shoot that longs to grow a Cedar This Darling of my Blood and Joy of thine Whose Soul is wov'n by Fate with both our Souls And in each others Breast makes two but one That I may challenge Pardon of Heav'n and say I ne'er did greatly ill but for his sake What wou'dst thou do to save his life and mine Ia. What wou'd I do propose the speedy way Were I to swim the Sea with these weak Arms Kind Heav'n shou'd lend me Strength to stem the Waves And make the Ocean but a narrow Brook Gilf. Quick quick my Lord trembling I ask the means What is the Task that she must do for this I fear her life must be for mine the Ransom If so be dumb as threatning Meteors rather And never word drop from My Father's Tongue Of any sound tho' 't were to give his Blessing Hear him not pri'thee Iane. North. Have hopes my Boy Yet is th' Adventure hard I know 't will shock you Ia. Quickly disclose it By my hopes you wrack me This Wonder for I am in pain to know What I can grant and will not fly to do North. 'T is meet you know how many Lives depend On the least Sentence of your precious Breath And what a Train of Happinesses spring Or die with this mean Syllable of Ay Or No. Ia. What must I do the Day runs on a-pace The murmurings of the Crowd alas I hear And Ratlings of the Sledge approach my Ear. North. Come Gilford lean thy Head upon her Breast And listen to the pantings of her Heart And tell me how she bears it This it is The Queen requires you but to set your Name Nay for the Ransom of our Lives conjures you To sign this Paper and to charm you to 't Know 't was Indicted by a Man so just Whose Life stands Candidate with all the Saints For Holiness 't is but to own thy self Ia. Is it to own the Blackness of my Crime Profess that I am Guilty and deserve The Death that I am doom'd to suffer Give 't me And I 'll subscribe my self I Iane to be The vilest Traitress Heav'n did ever punish North. Peruse it Ia. I have seen a Bassalisk H 'as shot his pointed Venom through my Eyes And numm'd my Body to a Senceless Clay O Gllford 't is not in my Power to save Thy Life nor mine from Tortures Gilf. Ha! what say'st thou Ia. Judge with thy Eyes if thou canst bear the Monster North. O Iane the lowest Ebb of time is now Mercy is Heaven's Prerogative and thine And this must be dispenc'd alas this Moment Nay I have more to tell thee Gilford hear thou The Duke thy tender Father so belov'd Falling into Conspiracy with Wyatt Is doom'd to suffer with the Fatal Crew Thy Life thy Father's Life if not thy Gilford's Be those the Planets that should bear the Blame Ia. Ha! Gilf. The tempting Fiend goes cunningly to work The damning Fruit to our first Parent was Thus Minister'd by her whom most he lov'd As this is by a Father Ia. Ay my Love Would'st thou for some few
Execution straight All that have Names contain'd within this Pardon Her Foolish Father Proud Northumberland And his three other Sons Away with 'em When that is Acted as she likes the Shew Let they begin it Come my Lord. Exeunt Gard. and Pemb Ia. Come to me Gilford cleave thou to my Breast Till as one Soul we one lov'd Body grow And equal Pain and equal Death divide us Gilf. O Iane Ia. What dire thoughts possess my Love Gilf. Oh! Ia. Breathe thy Immortal Soul with mine at once And let us mount on Wings of Cherubims together Gilf. But e'er that comes there is a gloomy Vale A Darkness worse than Chaos to be pass'd How shall I wander how go through the Maze Without thy hand to guide Ia. Thou dearer far Than new born Babes are to their tender Mothers Fear not my Love I 'll trust thee from thy Iane No farther than the Nurse her tender Charge She fain wou'd teach to go watching its steps Beholds it trip but e'er it falls to Ground Catches it thus and hugs it in her Arms. Gilf. Wilt thou Ia. I 'll overtake thee in that dreadful Vale Hallow aloud and cry My Love where art thou But e'er my Voice can reach thee thou shalt spy The Nuptial Beams fresh kindl'd in my Eyes To bring me to thee stumbling as thou art And bear my Child away Gilf. Be not so tender if thou mean'st to part Thou give'st me Kisses and instead of dreining Dost pour more Oil into my dying Lamp Re-enter Pembrook and Gardner Ia. My Lords is my unhappy Father dead Pemb. He is no more I saw the Ax as Mortal as the Plague In one short space sweep Families away Northumberland dy'd sullen and reserv'd Made a short Speech and then as short a Prayer Beg'd Pardon of the Queen and said he dy'd A real Convert to the Church of Rome Ia. Heav'n spare his Faults and Crown his just Intent Gilf. Are they all dead Pemb. They are But oh how pitiful it was to see There lay the Duke with his three Sons surrounded Like a vast Oak its Branches spreading wide By some huge Storm laid flat upon the ground Thy Father's Death O Iane succeeded his Gilf. There wanted me to make the Pomp more awful Pemb. Permit me oh to end this dreadful Tale For sure my Tongue was doom'd to tell thee Horrors Thy Mother likewise in a Fit of Frenzie Resign'd her Spirit to that milder Region Where Souls refine like purest Gold from dross Ia. Enough enough Gilf. Break Heart of Adamant enough Ia. Then our turn 's next lead which way must we follow And where commerce the last Degree of Mortals Since like the first of all my Sinful Sex I wrought my dearest Husband to his Fall 'T is just I lead the way to Punishment Gilf. By that kind simpathizing Sun who to Avoid the dismal Object of thy Death Is now retir'd behind you Cloud to mourn I swear thou shalt not By our Loves I charm thee If e'er thou wert Obedient or had Virtue Let me die first Cruel Hard-hearted Iane If thou deny'st me this Ia. Thou art my Lord. Gilf. Come bring me to your Shambles Where 's my Death Gard. Draw then that Curtain Ia. O hear the tender voice of Pity cry Do not disclose that dreadful Scene of Horror But lead my Love some other way Pemb. Do so Gilf. O Iane That precious Purple nearest to my Heart In whose pure Stream the Soul imbalm'd does lie Is not so hugg'd within my Breast as thou Yet we must part For lo the Fight 's prepar'd And Honour calls me to begin the Charge Remember Iane Ia. Courage Heroick Gilford Face but this Tyrant of the World a Moment Then see thy Iane her self shall quickly come And bring thee Succors from the Camp of Love Shall chace grim Death and all its Fears away Farewell Gilf. O Dart there is no Armour against thee Darkness and Death attends it on a suddain O Star O Planet of my Life Farewell Ia. No more Farewell Gilf. When this tempestuous Blast I go to meet Has blown my glimmering Flame of Life quite out O haste thou Brightness to relume my Torch Ia. Our Loves bright Tapers ne'er shall be extinguish'd This parting 's but the Door that 's shut between us But when that 's o'er and Death has broke the Bars We 'll mingle and unite our Beams together Let endless silence now like Seas divide us Thy Lips end all their Charms in this last Kiss And lock thy Speech for ever in my Bosom Gilf. A Sigh or Groan cannot be call'd a Word Hands Eyes and Heart conclude my Mournful Song For thy Commands like Death have charm'd my Tongue Pemb. How now my Lord Wants this the Virtue to extract your Pity My Eyes are too big loaded to be hid Were Bonner in thy place a' wou'd have wept Yet save his Life and thine To Jane Gard. Lead him away tho' stubborn as she is We will have Pity on his Youth my Lord. Some Reverend Prelate of the Faith be by Invoke the Saints say Mattins for his Soul And sprinkle him with Pardon Ia. Courage my Gilford shut thy Eyes and Ears Be Blind and Deaf to all their Tricks and Prayers Let not one Superstitious Drop remain But with thy Tears wash off the Brinish stain Whilst they their Picture-Gods invoke to hear Call thou on Luther Cranmer Latimer One Syllable of theirs shall aid thee more Than all the thousand Saints that they adore Gard. Away with him Gilf. O Iane Ia. Turn turn my Gilford one last look again Expand thy longing Arms 't is not in vain And take my Wishes though deny'd thy Iane. Exit Gilford to Execution Pemb. Unhappy Pair O Innocent Usurper Ia. Dry up those Tears and now with Joy prepare To do your last kind Office to your Mistress When I am dead and laid upon the Scasfold Protect I pray these bashful Limbs from Shame See not in Death their Innocence expos'd That when alive had awful Modesty To Guard 'em Here receive this Scarf It was my Maiden-Present to my Gilford In it I wrought the Tale of Iphegenia A Fatal Omen of this Fatal Day Doom'd by her Cruel Parent to be Slain In this when th' Ax has done its welcome Office Be sure you wrap my Husband's Head and with it This Head that 's to be Sacrific'd to Peace Now I am ready Scene draws and discovers Gilford and the rest lying upon it beheaded Is then this Pomp of Death this dreaded Horrour So talk'd on and so fear'd by all Mankind So quickly o'er Come bring me to the Test Where is my Lord Pemb. There Look not upon 't methinks it shou'd offend you Ia. Not at all What signifies this Clay that mangl'd Head The broken Casket now the Jewel 's fled Gilford I come this Moment sends me to thee Pemb. Yet save thy exquisite and precious Life Gard. Do not these dismal Objects stir thee No fright nor fear of Pain can make thee turn Yet hear Ia. Away with me were they alive again Shou'd Father Mother Kindred all Joyn'd with this fatal number with me fall And in the very Moment of their Deaths Shot Curses on me with their flying Breaths To save their gasping Lives I wou'd not chuse One hour of Immortality to lose Sou'd all your torterous Racks on me be try'd Broil me on Grid-Irons turn the other side Till-the Abortive Infant where it lay Shou'd from my flaming Intrails burst its way To my vow'd Faith I 'll be for ever true In spight of all your Roman Gods and you Curtain falls FINIS