thy Mistress woo And whilst I court thy danger court her too Strange Charm of Love Must I my Life employ For him who does my Happiness destroy I only am unjust Poor Strange to thee For all thy Danger should belong to me And yet a nobler Cause cannot engage Thy blooming Valour at thy tender Age. He is most happy who her Love obtains But he who dyes for her more Glory gains Exit Sir W. Stan. SCEN. II. The Scene is changed to the Princess Lodgings Enter Charlot Charlot If my great Rival dye why from her Grave May not my Love a Resurrection have No no! Him whom I love I so will serve That what I can't enjoy I may deserve For him none shall do more nor more endure I 'le lose my self my Rival to secure Enter Princess Charlot farewel my Guards now surly grow And nearer wait which Death's approch does show Charlot Madam you must not dye For yet we may The Tyrant's hasty Cruelties delay Let us exchange our habits In your room I 'le plant my self and intercept your Doom Princess Ah Boy how strange a Love dost thou express I 'le never ruine thee by my release Charlot Madam I charge you by the powerful Name Of your great Lover and your mutual Flame To take my Life's Oblation and allow What I to you and to your Richmond vow I am resolv'd though you my Suit deny Not to out-live the Minute when you dye And since I this have vow'd let me not spend My Life in vain which may your Life defend Undress you Madam and prepare to flye Princess Flye Your Example bids me stay and dye Charlot To ease the Ship in Storms what Freight is first Thrown over Board the choicest or the worst Princess This question puts a Period to our strife It bids me Honour save and lose my Life Charlot Madam you build on a mistaken ground Reason must Honour's darker Loves expound Subjects who for their Prince themselves undo In the most glorious way their Duty shew But Princes in whose Life the Publick lives Should save what Heaven for Publick safety gives Princess Who can the Brightness of thy Vertue doubt And when it shines so clear would put it out Charlot Less will my Danger be then yours when I Am seis'd for you For you when seis'd must dye But when the Murd'rers find a Stranger they Will pause awhile and for new Orders stay Then the Field gain'd may make us both secure Princess But Charlot in what place can I be sure Of safety when my Shape I change for yours Charlot The Neighb'ring Cloister will for some few hours I having newly gain'd the Abbess be Your Refuge till your Champion sets you free Princess Thy Kindness and thy Reasons conquer me And yet too much I hazard vent'ring thee Charlot Waste not your time in scruples Pray be gone Our work must end before the Fight 's begun Exeunt SCENA III. Enter L d Strange Mrs. Stanly Mrs. Stanly Nephew your hasty Courage I must chide L d Strange holds a letter open in his hand This letter now must all your Actions guide Strange Delays encrease the Hazard we would shun By swift Dispatch our Danger we out-run Mrs. Stanly Hasty Beginnings halt before they end Strange But does the Princess know what we intend Mrs. Stanly Should I this Enterprise to her disclose She might in Honour Scruples interpose Strange Must she be sav'd against her own Consent Lest knowing it she should the means prevent Mrs. Stanly But to conceal it is the safest way Think how her Person you may best convey Whilst I the Abbess speedily prepare To take the Kingdom 's Pledge into her Care And pray be watchful lest the searching Eye Of Catesby should our Enterprise descry The Captain whom my Brother sent you must With all the Conduct of this Bus'ness trust Strange With you the dull and slow are only Wise The Phlegme of so much Caution I despise Mrs. Stan. Your own distemper'd Heat does judge him Cold For you are more too Young then he too Old Enter Captain Cap. My Lord the Armies are engag'd and now You may your Ardour in your Actions shew Whilst Stanly's Name does in the Field afford Originals to lengthen Fames Record Your growing Valour here in narrower space May living Copies of their Glory trace Strange Captain you have restor'd my Libertie And now my Freedom shall the Princess free Mrs. Stanly May thy brave Courage with success be blest Whilst I prepare to lodge our Royal Guest Exeunt several ways SCEN. IV. Enter Catesby Forrest Lieutenant and Soldiers Catesby The King has made you his great Confident And now your Fortune may your Hopes prevent When you receive the Sign strike quick and sure Forrest Give but the Word and think the Deed secure The little Worm call'd Conscience wants a sting Hell may be feign'd I 'm certain of the King And since his mind is known what need we stay For tedious Orders Catesby Hold you must obey The Rules prescrib'd and watchfully attend Till I your Orders from the Army send Exit Catesby Leiutenant Good Master Captain teach your old Cam'rade The fine new knack to be a Captain made None by your Worship's leave could ever see Your bashful Valour face an Enemie Forrest My Courage by the King is known and try'd Lieutenant Kings may know more then all the World beside You can shew Bruises of your Tavern-Wars And turn the Ale-wifes Scratches into Scars Forrest Lieutenant you will halt in your Career When Neck and Heels shall feel your Officer Were it not for the bus'ness now in hand Lieutenant You would do much I should not idle stand Go go complain that I may be cashier'd I 'd rather starve then be thus Officer'd Forrest Stand. The Princess in Charlot's attire crosseth the Stage with her Handkercher before her Eyes as if she were weeping Lieutenant 'T is the Lady's Page Forrest Then let him pass Poor Rogue he shortly will be turn'd to Grass Lieutenant Must all the Princess Family disband Forrest When the Tree falls how can the Ivy stand A noise of Swords in the Princess Lodgings Swords in the Princess lodgings quickly go And see how matters pass Lieutenant You must come too When danger calls you send your Messenger A Pox on those that cannot hide their fear He thrusts Forrest in before him SCEN. V. Enter Queen Queen Heaven If my Child must not your mercy find Let me when she departs not stay behind I can endure no more The hand of Fate On tir'd-out Nature lays too great a Weight Enter Lord Strange leading Charlot in the Princess dress L. Strange Now Madam pray look up trust your own Eyes To Charlot suppos'd to be the Princess Your Servants guard you not your Enemies Madam you come in a most happy hour To the Queen To rule her Fears we need a Mothers Power Queen I wonder not that she 's amaz'd for I Mistrust my Sense in this Delivery Come Daughter
ours ha's grosly fail'd in his own Trade Pray bid him chuse again Sir Will. Stanly You can perswade The Princess Mrs. Stanly No I love him not so well Nor her so little Sir Will. Stanly But have Gifts no Spell To charm your Heart and dazel your young Eyes Mrs. Stanly Him and his Gifts I equally despise Sir Will. Stanly You serve your Mistress making her a Queen Mrs. Stanly Brother you know her not But had you been In presence at her secret Vows to day You would not dare to think what now you say Her Honour and Revenge she values so That she for them will Crown and Life forgo Sir Will. Stanly You have her favour and at least may try If she will yield a little and comply Mrs. Stanly Such is her Horrour of him that no Age Did so much Beauty see with so much Rage This undertaking would too dearly cost For next the Tyrant she would hate me most Sir Will. Stanly Sister with equal Joy great proofs I find Both of your faithful and her generous Mind And now suppose that I a Champion show Who will and can destroy her powerful Foe May this bold undertaker hope to prove As in her cause successful in her Love Mrs. Stanly In common Justice she can do no less Then love the Authour of such happiness Sir Will. Stanly Will she that powerful Passion for him own Which mingles Souls and makes two Lovers one So high a work should be as highly paid Who kills the Dragon must enjoy the Maid Mrs. Stanly Now you come on too fast For he must wear Of Royalty the sacred Character Who without Sacriledge attempts to be At such a holy shrine Love's Votarie Sir Will. Stanly Sister you talk in a Romantick strain Pray spare your Metaphors and be more plain Mrs. Stanly Brother the Queen and Princess Enter the Queen and the Princess Sir Will. Stanly Let us go For I have much to say and you to do Princess Madam your pardon and your leave I pray To speak one word with her Queen Daughter you may The Princess talks in private with Mrs. Stanly and the Queen advanceth forwards upon the Stage Queen To what extremes am I reduc'd by fate I give to him whom mortally I hate Her whom my heart loves most It must be so To save a child I must oblige a Foe The unconcern'd may the World's Censure weigh I Nature and Necessity obey Let Honour's Laws be scan'd by Rules of Art None but poor Mothers know a Mothers Heart The Princess comes forwards to the Queen Exeunt Sir William Stanly and Mistris Stanly SCENA VI. Queen Well may our Patience Daughter be admir'd Which ha's the Tyrant and Heaven's Anger tir'd For in the King you now a Lover meet Who lays himself and Scepter at your feet My Heart with swelling Joy is larger grown To think my Blood shall repossess the Throne To see our wither'd Hopes spring forth a new Whilst all our Ruines are repair'd in you Prin. Madam your Joy more then my own I prize When from a lawful cause your Joy does rise But Madam yet I cannot find our Fate Of the old Rigour does the least abate Till Heaven's slow Justice shall ordain a way With his own Blood to make this Tyrant pay What he so barb'rously ha's spilt of ours In wonted Sorrows we must spend our Hours Of the least joy should we be guilty found We both our Honour and our Duty wound Queen Long have we mourn'd the Dead yet all our grief To them or to our selves brings no Relief To their cold Ashes 't were a fond respect The safety of the Living to neglect Prin. If that safe way to Infamy shall lead I rather chuse the Paths of Death to tread Queen The name of Infamy can it deserve To follow Nature and our selves preserve Prin. Nature abho'rs that you should call him Son Who ha's your Children rob'd of Life and Throne Queen Do not those wounds of Fate to mind recall Because we much have lost must we lose all If we have suffer'd Ship-wrack and our best Vessels are sunk shall we not save the rest Prin. Alas are the rest sav'd when you commit Them to that Tempest which the others split Queen Repentance turns that Tempest to a Calm Prin. That Calm may soon relapse and grow the same Tempest again swelling the Purple Flood Both with the Brother's and the Sister's Blood A Calm and Tempest mingle in this Wooer The Calm betrays the Tempest does devour Queen Trust to a Mother's Judgment The sure test Of Princes meanings is their Interest That very Cause which mov'd his Crueltie Against my Sons inclines him now to be As kind to you his Passion must be true In courting you he courts his Safety too Prin. Shall then the Butcher of our Familie By me and by my love protected be Two Paricides did his foul hands imbrue When he his Soveraign in his Nephew slew Shall I be Instrumental to make good His Power cemented by my Brothers Blood No Madam If it be my Fate to prove The object of his Cruelty or Love It shall not be my choice to have a Room In his loath'd Bed but in my Brother 's Tomb. Queen 'T is true a Sister's Love in some degree May these transports of Passion justifie Yet in a Sister's Love you should not smother The duty which you owe a tender Mother My Sorrows as my losses are not less Then yours though I their angry noise suppress And though I suffer not with blind Despair A Mother's Grief to drown a Mother's care Daughter submit When I prescribe the way Of safety you in Duty must obey Prin. The way prescrib'd does not to safety carry This Tyrant's Bed makes a bad Sanctuary Queen Were you a private Person did you stand Secure out of the reach of his Command I should agree with you But 't is your Fate His Love to suffer or to feel his Hate No middle way can these Extreams avoid By him you must be marry'd or destroy'd Prin. Joyn'd with my Brothers in their silent Grave Losing my Life I shall my Honour save Queen When you abandon Reason's steddy ground Honour is nothing but an empty sound 'T is a false light at which fools gazing stand Till they themselves on their own shallows strand Enter a Servant Serv. Madam the King does in your Lodgings wait Queen Tell him I come Before it be too late Exit Servant Preserve yourself and me live and obey Throw not your Life Heavens chiefest gift away Exit Queen Prin. A Mother and a Tyrant joyn to force My plighted heart to an unjust Divorce But Richmond the Temptation of a Crown Shall not divert me nor a Tyrant's frown I 'le follow thee whom powerful Heaven does lead To save the living and revenge the Dead Exit Princess ACTUS II. SCENA PRIMA Enter Sir William Stanly and Mrs. Stanly Mrs. Stanly Run not so fast you tread on slippery Ice And on both
Exit Strange Sir W. Stanly Sister pray tell the Queen by her Command That I wait here to kiss the Princess hand Mrs. Stanly If you reveal your madness you will lose The Glory of that Rescue you propose For such a daring Lover she 'l despise More then she hates her rudest Enemies Sir W. Stanly So far my sense with your advice accords That I 'le shew Deeds more daring then my Words Pray go O Coward Heart shall sudden fear Exit Mrs. Stanly Possess my Breast that was a Stranger there Must I now tremble at a Woman's sight Who was not born for Terrour but Delight Thus Natures Law is by Love's Power controll'd Which men disheartens and makes Women Bold Enter Princess SCEN. II. Princess Sir William Stanly Mrs. Stanly Madam I humbly beg that I may have Leave to expose my Life your Life to save My Zeal has long lain speechless though not weak And 't is your Danger now that makes it speak Prin. Sir by the Queen's Advertisement I learn How great a sense you have in my Concern You have a Brother too whose Constant Love By many secret Tryals I approve And though Court-Favours on his Person shine His Outside is the King 's his Inside mine Sir W. Stanly 'T is my Misfortune Madam that I must More then my own to others Merit trust And yet ere long I may deserve your Ear Without the help of an Interpreter I in your Favour should to none submit If more then all the World I merit it I hope if I relieve your present State You will my Love by my Performance rate Prin. Your Language too mysterious is more plain Expressions sooner will my Credit gain In your pretended Love you must not vye With those who wish me well by Natures tye Sir W. Stanly Madam There is a Love which does outgo All that of Sisters and of Mothers too Prin. Hold Sir These aiery Notions pray forbear For I am deaf to what I should not hear Give me no Cause to make a Foe of him Whose Friendship to my House I would esteem For I the Tyrant's Rage shall more approve Then the rude Boldness of a Subject's Love Sir W. Stanly So far from us below you are remov'd As makes you fit to be ador'd not lov'd Yet from such Love as does Heaven's Favour gain I need not Madam as from Sin abstain If Heavenly objects you resemble most Can Heaven be gain'd and you the same way lost Prin. Hold Sir This vain Discourse does ill become Her who is newly summon'd to her Tomb. Sir W. Stanly Madam those Summons ' you shall ne're obey I or the Tyrant first shall lead the Way Your Death design'd shall forfeit him his Crown The Grave he digs for you shall be his own Prin. What sure Foundation Sir can I descry Of this bold Promise which you raise so high Sir W. Stanly Foundations Madam are laid under Ground And mine though not expos'd to View are sound By painful Flattery and by long Address I to the Tyrant's Bosom have Access And Death by Steel or Poyson is his Due Who forms a black Design to murther you Prin. Those Southern Arts to stab or poyson Foes Become the Climates where such Poyson grows He that is born of a true English Race Never destroys a Foe but to his Face Sir W. Stanly But Madam can you give your Life away And to the Tyrant be a willing Prey Prin. To see him fairly kill'd I would resign All Right to what he holds and should be mine Sir W. Stanly Verst in the World but yet not knowing you Madam I ne're till now true Honour knew I am your Convert and so taught I may Ere long to perfect Glory find the way And Madam for a Tryal I this Vow Here solemnly declare to Heaven and you The Tyrant shall be slain and you releast Nobly by him whom Madam you love best In the Suns Eye and in the open Field Fierce Richard shall by Richmond's Sword be kill'd You Honour's Mistris when this Work is done Without Reproch your Proselite may owne Prin. I fear you take great pleasure to surprise My thoughts with Riddles and dark Prophecies I shall refer my Faith to their Event Now my last hours must otherwise be spent Exit Princess Sir W. Stanly As Chymists vex themselves and Nature too When her Elixir they in vain pursue And yet their toyl does other Secrets find Which improve Art and benefit Mankind So though a hidden Love I seek in vain Yet in the Pursuit I shall Glory gain Exit The Scene is changed to a Field adjoyning to Richmond's Quarters SCEN. III. Enter Earl of Richmond Lord Stanly Richmond Talk not of Victory Heaven can confer No Blessing on that Man who loseth Her L. Stanly I know the Tyrant when all hopes are past Reserves that bloody Stroke for the last Cast Surprise him with a Charge that may prevent The Execution of his dire Intent Richmond Could I destroy with the same ease and speed Him and his Camp as he can make her bleed Your Counsel then were good But else her Fate By my Attache I should accelerate The bloody Tyrant stung with Jealousie Will prest by Danger twice revenged be Including me in Her He cannot chuse But hastily destroy what he must lose L d Stanly It still has been the Care of Providence From sudden strokes to shelter Innocence Richmond I Providence adore But to expect A Miracle and so the means neglect When now the Danger of her Life is near Were to deserve the mischief which we fear L d Stanly No way but Conquest can prevent her Doom Richmond I 'le yield my self a Pris'ner in her Room L d Stanly Can the Restraint of her Preserver be The safest way to set the Pris'ner free Richmond 'T is all the way because the Tyrant's Fear Of Richmond makes his Cruelty to Her When I am in his gripe his Appetite Will in my Blood more then in hers delight L d Stanly Sir you mistake him both will please him best By drinking Blood the Thirst is still encreast Sir your important Life you freely may Lay out for her But throw it not away Richmond I am resolv'd that secretly to night You shall convey me to the Princess sight Stanly Shall I conduct you where you Death must meet Here let me rather perish at your Feet Richmond O friend my Love in this great Exigent Must Dangers seek which yours would fain prevent Nor can those Dangers be avoided here My Life and Safety are confin'd in Her Come guide me to the Princess that I may If not secure her Life her Death delay And be assur'd my Lord that her Commands With your Advice shall wholly guide my hands L d Stanly Sir I both yours and her Discretion know And on your Terms propos'd I yield to go But this great Enterprise you must disguise As well to your best Friends as Enemies For should it be divulg'd your Absence here May prove
Charlot Dispute with mine the Glory of the Day 'T would make a Monarch Bankrupt to bestow That just Reward which to thy Faith I owe. Chandew To himself What do my Eyes behold It must be she And her Disguise reveals her Infamie Richmond To Charlot Why speak'st thou not when all the World 's become So loud in praising thee canst thou be dumb Chandew Must she needs chuse the most Conspicuous Place Of the whole Earth to blazon my Disgrace Richmond What sudden damp does on thy spirits seise Chandew To himself Death of my Honour and my Souls Disease Thou art a Blot upon my Name which I Will rase out with thy Life Oxford Sir I descry A strange transport in my Lord Chandew too Richmond What Mysteries are these my Lord are you Concern'd in that brave Youth Chandew Sir 't is a Stray From my Enclosures it has broke away Richmond My Lord be well advis'd if you would gain My Credit and our former Love maintain Reproch him not Chandew I cannot much delight To bring that Creatures shame to publick sight But Sir in equal Justice you will give To the right Owner's hands a Fugitive Richmond You must not your displeasure thus express If you expect I shall my Claim release Charlot kneeling to my L d Chandew Sir I am yours and have deserv'd your Hate O let my Death end this unkind debate Take me and take my Life for 't is your due First as your Gift and now by forfeit too Chandew Since thou hast murder'd thy whole Family Offering to kill Charlot In their best Life their Honour thou shalt dye Rich. Hold Chandew hold What means this furious Heat In which you both your self and me forget 'T is well your merit weighs my anger down Chandew Pardon my Passion thus unruly grown It did my strength of Reason quite subdue Rich. More then my Pardon does belong to you But I am wrackt with Doubts Rise Boy and free My tortur'd Thoughts from this Perplexitie Charlot O Sir if I must here my Sins confess This Posture most becomes my Guiltiness And I this low submission doubly owe In presence of my Prince and Father too Rich. My Lord are you his Father Chandew Sir that Name Turns my whole Life to Sorrow and to Shame Rich. Rather to Glory and to Happiness A better Son cannot a Parent bless Oxford Sir I perceive where all our Errour lyes Charlot suppos'd his Son his Daughter is Rich. I am opprest with Wonder Charlot rise Whilst thy disputed Sex deludes our eyes Thou dost to me a Guardian Angel seem Which did the Princess sacred Life redeem SCEN. IX Enter Queen Princess and Attendants Rich. Madam at last Propitious Heaven affords Success to the Endeavour of our Swords We at your Royal Feet our Persons lay And all the mighty Trophies of the Day Princess Sir these Submissions must not come from you No Homage from a Conqu'rer can be due Your Laurel should in Justice be a Crown For all by double Conquest is your own Rich. How gloriously your Servants you reward Princess No Sir from that I am by Duty bar'd A Parent 's leave must first the Gift allow Ere I the merited Reward bestow Richmond To the Queen Sway'd by my Love to her whom you love best I have unduly my Respects addrest This Madam for her sake you 'l not reprove All Laws of Ceremony yield to Love Queen What you oblige me in needs no Excuse And Sir I were unjust should I refuse My vote to such a Publick Happiness May all the Powers above this Union bless Richmond to the Queen To the Prin. I must with humble adoration kiss The Hand which does confer so high a bliss Now Madam what say you Princess I must obey Rich. Succeeding Times shall magnify this Day Whose Fruitful Joys shall flow to distant Age And rescue Nations from Rebellious Rage But Madam in this Publick Jubilee Charlot's Concerns must not neglected be This Fav'rite to us both does newly find A Noble Father in my greatest Friend And what is yet more strange that Fathers Eye Does here a Daughter not a Son descry Princess I 'm lost in wonder but what ere he be No Sex can equal his great Loyaltie Now Charlot ease my Mind which longs to know The secret Cause whence all these Wonders flow Charlot Can any thing but Love such Wonders do As have disguis'd the Soul and Body too Madam I drunk my Poyson when my Eye Did first his Image whom you love descry I was too young to weigh how far above The level of my Birth I rais'd my love My wounded Heart in Bretany first bled And when our Exile thence to Paris fled Leaving my Home my Parents and my Shape To follow him I made a bold Escape And to his Service I soon gain'd access Helpt by Industrious Love and this feign'd dress Princess Charlot no History shall ever show So brave a Rival and so kind a Foe Pity and Envy both attend thy Fate Thou art more Generous I more Fortunate Richmond Ah gentle Charlot in a high degree Thou hast at once oblig'd and punish'd me The Torment of great minds I undergo Paying so little where so much I owe. Strange Sir I want Merit but your Goodness may For Service yet to come advance my pay Grant me your Favour in my great design Of off ' ring my Devotions at this Shrine I long have known her and with envious Eyes Have seen above my own her Vertue rise But Madam now a double change we find To Charlot For your Sex alter'd has transform'd my Mind My Jealousie grows Love and what before With Envy I beheld I now adore Richmond Thy Passion makes me happy and I know Your Father's Judgement will this choice allow Her Fortune as her Birth shall equal you Who marries her marries our Favour too Chandew I hope that in this happy Bride Your scrup'lous Honour now is satisfi'd Chandew Not only satisfi'd but much encreast Where I unhappy was I now am blest Charlot How much must I to such Indulgence owe As on the Guilty does Reward bestow But Sir no Power can former Vows release Which bar me from this proffer'd happiness Ambitious Flames will ever upwards tend They may their Object lose but ne're descend Mine still shall rise and in a Cloister chuse The lasting Love of an Immortal Spouse Strange Ah! leave us not Heaven wants you less then we Princess Vertue will leave that Land which loseth thee Charlot All Vertue stays when you are left behind Madam in vain you urge my setled Mind SCEN. X. Enter L. Stanly L. Stanly The Field does want you Sir The Souldiers call With loud Impatience for their General In this days Booty they the Crown have found And all cry out that Richmond must be crown'd Richmond My Lord they should their duty better know For common Hands must not the Crown bestow L. Stanly High swelling Torrents you as soon may swage As stop the Current of