and wish that I were once your Queen To give you what my heart has had so long in store Ess. Then has my Death more Charmes than Life can promise Since my Queen pitties me and you forgive me Nott. Hold good my Lord that is not all she sends To know if you can any thing propose To mittigate your Doom and stay your Death Which else can be no longer than this Day Next if y' are satisfy'd with ev'ry passage In your late Tryal if 't were fair and legal And if y 'ave those Exceptions that are real She 'll answer them Ess. Still is my Death more welcome And Life wou'd be a burthen to my Soul Since I can ne're requite such Royal Goodness Tell her then fair and charitable Messenger That Essex does acknowledge every Crime His Guilt unworthy of such wond'rous Mercy Thanks her bright Justice and the Lords his Judges For all was Gratious and Divine like her And I have now no Injustice to accuse Nor Enemy to blame that was the Cause Nor Innocence to save me but the Queen Nott. Ha is this true How he undoes my Hopes Aside And is that all have you not one Request To ask that you can think the Queen will grant you Ess. I have and humbly 't is that she wou'd please To spare my Life not that I fear to dye But in submission to her Heav'nly Justice I own my Life a forfeit to her Power And therefore ought to beg it of her Mercy Nott. If this be real my Revenge is lost Aside Is there naught else that you rely upon Only submitting to the Queens meer Mercy And barely asking her so great a Grace Have you no other Hopes Ess. Some Hopes I have Nott. What are they pray my Lord declare 'em boldly For to that only purpose I am sent Ess. Than I am happy happiest of mankind Blest in the rarest mercy of my Queen And such a Friend as you blest in you both The Extasie will let me hold no longer Behold this Ring the Pasport of my Life At last y 'ave pull'd the secret from my Heart This pretious token Amidst my former Triumphs in her favour She took from off her Finger and bestow'd On me Mark with the Promise of a Queen Of her bright self less failing than an Oracle That in what Exigence or State soe're My Life was in that time when I gave back Or shou'd return this Ring again to her She 'd then deny me nothing I cou'd ask Nott. O give it me my Lord and quickly let Me bear it to the Queen and ask your Life Ess. Hold generous Madam I receiv'd it on Kneels and gives Nottingham the Ring My Knees and on my Knees I will restore it Here take it but consider what you take 'T is the Life Blood and very Soul of Essex I 've heard that by a skillful Artist's Hand The Bowels of a Wretch were taken out And yet he liv'd you are that Gallant Artist O touch it as you wou'd the Seales of Life And give it to my Royal Mistress Hand As you wou'd pour my Blood back in its empty Channels That gape and thirst like Fishes on the Ouse When streams run dry and their own Element Forsakes 'em if this shou'd in the least miscarry My Life 's the purchase that the Queen will have for 't Nott. Doubt you my care my Lord I hope you do not Ess. I will no more suspect my Fate nor you Such Beauty and such Merits must prevail Enter a Gentleman Gent. Th' Earl of Southampton having Leave Desires to speak with you my Lord. Nott. Repose Your mind and take no thought but to be happy I 'll send you Tidings of a lasting Life Ess. A longer and much happier Life attend Both my good Queen and you Exit Essex Nott. Farewell my Lord Yes a much longer Life than thine I hope And if thou chance to dream of such strange things Let it be there where lying Poets feign Elisium is where Mirtles lovely spread Trees of delicious Fruit invite the Tast And sweet Arabian Plants delight the smell Where pleasant Gardens drest with curious Care By Lovers Ghosts shall recreate thy Fancy And there perhaps thou soon shalt meet again With amourous Rutland for she cannot choose But be Romantick now and follow thee Enter a Gentlewoman Wom. Madam the Queen Nott. Ha! that 's unlucky She come to the Tower Yet 't is no matter see him I am sure She will not or at worst will be perswaded Enter the Queen Queen How now dear Nottingham hast seen the Earl I left White-hall because I cou'd not rest For Crowds that hollow'd for their Executions And others that Petition'd for the Traytors Quick tell me hast thou done as I commanded Nott. Yes Madam I have seen and spoke with him Queen And what has he said to thee for himself Nott. At my first converse with him I did find him Not totally despairing nor complaining But yet a haughty melancholly Appear'd in all his Looks that shew'd him rather Like one that had more Care Of future Life than this Queen Well but what said he When thou awakest him with the Hopes of Pitty Nott. To my first Question put by your Command Which was to know if he were satisfied In the proceedings of his Lawful Tryal He answer'd with a careless Tone and Gesture That it was true and he must needs confess His Tryal lookt most fair to all the World But yet he too well knew The Law that made his Actions Treason Consulted but with Foes and Circumstances And never took from Heav'n or Essex Thoughts A President or Cause that might Condemn him For if they had the least been read in either They wou'd have quickly found his Innocence Queen Ha! Nott. That was but the Prologue mark what follows Queen What durst he be so bold to brand my Justice Nott. I pray'd that he wou'd urge that Sence no more But since he was Condemn'd and stood in need Of Mercy to implore it of your Majesty And beg his Life which you wou'd not deny For to that End I said that you were pleas'd To send me to him and then told him all Nay more than you commanded me to say Queen What said he then That alter'd him I hope Nott. No not at all but as I 've seen a Lyon That has been play'd withall with gentle stroaks Has at the last been jeasted into madness So on a sudden started into Passion The furious Earl his Eyes grew fiery red His words precipitate and speech disorder'd Let the Queen have my Blood said he 't is that She longs for pour it to my Foes to drink As Hunters when the Quarry is run down Throw to the Hounds his Intrails for Reward I have enough to spare but by the Heav'ns I swear were all my Veins like Rivers full And if my Body held a Sea of Blood I 'de loose it all to the last innocent drop Before I 'de like a Villain beg
Enemy Queen Yes your secret treating with Tyrone I mean And making Articles with Englands Rebels Ess. Is that alledg'd against me for a Fault Put in your Royal Breast by some that are My false Accusers for a Crime Just Heaven How easie 't is to make a Great Man Fall 'T is Wise 't is Turkish Policy in Courts For Treating Am I not yet your General and was I not so there by virtue of this Staff I thought your Majesty had giv'n me Power And my Commission had been absolute To Treat to Fight give Pardons or Disband So much and vast was my Authority That you were pleas'd to say as Mirth to others I was the first of English Kings that Reign'd In Ireland Queen O how soon wou'd I believe How willingly approve of such Excuses His Answers which to all the Croud are weak Aside That large Commission had in it no Power That gave you leave to Treat with Rebels Such as Tyrone and wanted not Authority To Fight 'em on the least Advantage Ess. The Reason why I lead not forth the Army to the North And fought not with Tyrone was that my Men Were half consum'd with Fluxes and Diseases And those that liv'd so weaken'd and unfit That they cou'd fearce defend them from the Vultures That took 'em for the Carrion of an Army Queen Oh I can hold no longer he 'll not hide his Guilt I fear he will undo himself and me Aside Name that no more for shame of Thee the Cause Nor hide thy Guilt by broaching of a worse Fain I wou'd tell but whisper it in thy Eare That none besides may hear nay not my self How vitious thou hast been Say was not Essex The Plague that first infected my poor Soldiers And kill'd 'em with Diseases Was 't not he That Loyter'd all the year without one Action Whilest all the Rebels in the North grew bold And Rally'd dayly to the Queens Dishonour Mean while thou stood'st and saw thy Army Rot In Fenny and unwholsome Camps Thou hast No doubt a Just Excuse for coming too In spite of all the Letters that I sent With my Commands to hinder thee Be silent If thou makest more such Impudent Excuses Thou l't raise an Anger will be fatal to thee Ess. Not speak Must I be Tortur'd on the Wrack And not be suffer'd to discharge a Groan Speak Yes I will were there a thousand Deaths Stood ready to devour me 't is too plain My Life 's Conspir'd my Glories all betray'd That Vulture Cecil there with hungry Nostrils Waits for my Blood and Rawleigh for my Charge Like Birds of Prey that seek out Fighting Fields And know when Battail's near nay and my Queen Has past her Vote I fear to my Destruction Queen Oh I 'me undone How he destroyes my Pitty Cou'd I bear this from any other Man He pulls and tears the Fury from my Heart With greater grief and pain than a fork'd Arrow Is drawn from forth the Bosom where 't was lodg'd Mild words are all in vain and lost upon him Aside Proud and ingrateful Wretch how durst thou say it Know Monster that thou hast no Friend but me And I have no pretence for it but one And that 's in Contradiction to the World That Curses and abhors thee for thy Crimes Stir me no more with Anger for thy Life Take heed how thou dost shake my wrongs too much Least they fall thick and Heavy on thy Head Yet thou shalt see what a rash Fool thou art Know then that I forgive thee from this Moment All that is past and this unequall'd Boldness Give thee that Life thou saidst I did Conspire against But for your Offices Ess. I throw 'em at your Feet Layes his Generals Staff down Now Banish him that Planted strength about you Cover'd this Island with my spreading Lawrels Whilest your safe Subjects slept beneath their shade Give 'em to Courtiers Sycophants and Cowards That sell the Land for Peace and Childrens Portions Whilest I retreat to Africk in some Desart Sleep in a Den and Heard with Valiant Brutes And serve the King of Beasts there 's more Reward More Justice there than in all Christian Courts The Lion spar'd the Man that freed him from The Toyl but Englands Queen abhors her Essex South My Lord C. Ess. Ah what will be th' Event of this Aside Queen Audacious Traytor Ess. Ha! South My Lord My Lord recall your Temper Ess. You said that I was bold but now who blames My Rage Had I been ruff as Stormes and Tempests Rash as Cethegus mad as Ajax was Yet this has ramm'd more Powder in my Breast And blown a Magazeen of Fury up A Traytor Yes for serving you so well For making England like the Roman Empire In Great Augustus's Time renoun'd in Peace At home and War abroad Enriching you With spoils both of the Wealthy Sea and Land More than your Thames does bring you in an Age And setting up your Fame to such a height That it appears the Column of the World For tumbling down the proud Rebellious Earles Northumberland and Westermland which caus'd The cutting both their Heads off with an Axe That sav'd the Crown on yours This Essex did And I 'll remove the Traytor from your sight Queen Stay Sir take your Reward along with you Offers to go the Queen comes up to him and gives him a Box on the Ear. Ess. Ha! Furies Death and Hell a Blow Has Essex had a Blow Hold stop my Arme Layes hand on his Sword Some God Who is 't has giv'n it me The Queen South What do you mean my Lord Queen Unhand the Villain Durst the vile Slave attempt to Murder me Ess. No Y' are my Queen that Charmes me but by all The subtilty and Woman in your Sex I Swear that had you been a Man you durst not Nay your bold Father Harry durst not this Have done Why say I him not all the Harry 's Nor Alexander's self were he alive Shou'd boast of such a Deed on Essex done Without Revenge Queen Raile on despair and Curse thy Foolish breath I 'll leave thee like thy Hopes at th' hour of Death Like the First Slayer wandering with a Mark Shuning the Light and wishing for the Dark In Torments worse than Hell when thou shalt see Thou hast by this Curst Chance lost Heav'n and me Exeunt Queen c. Manent Essex South South What have you done my Lord Your haughty Carriage Has ruin'd both your self and all your Friends Follow the Queen and humbly on your Knees Implore Her Mercy and confess your Fault Ess. Ha! And tell her that I 'll take a Blow Thou wou'dst not wish thy Friend were such a Slave By Heav'n my Cheek has set on Fire my Soul And the Disgrace sticks closer to my Heart Than did the Son of Old Antipater's Which cost the Life of his proud Master Stand off Beware you lay not hands upon my Ruine I have a Load would sink a Legion that Shou'd offer but
down like him to worse than Hell Queen I think on that and like that Fiend roar still In Torments when thou may'st have been most happy There I out-did my strength and feel my Rage Recoyl upon me like a foolish Child Who firing of a Gun as much as he can lift Is blasted with the Fury of the Blow Aside Ess. Most blest of Queens her Doom her very Anger 's kind And I will suffer it as willingly As your loud wrongs instruct you to inflict I know my Death is nigh my Enemies Stand like a Guard of Furies ready by you To intercept each Sigh kind wish or Pitty Ere it can reach to Heav'n in my Defence And dash it with a Cloud of Accusations Queen Ha! I begin to dread the Danger nigh Like an unskillful Swimmer that has Waded Beyond his depth I 'm caught and almost drown'd In Pitty What! And no one neer to help me Aside Ess. My Father once too truly skill'd in Fate In my first blooming Age to rip'ning Glory Bid me beware my Six and Thirtieth year That year said he will fatal to thee prove Something like Death or worse than Death will seize thee Too well I find that Cruel Time 's at Hand For what can e're more Fatal to me prove Than my lost Fame and loosing of my Queen Queen 'T is so 't is true nor is it in my Power To help him Ha! Why is it not What hinders Who dares or thinks to contradict my Will Is it my Subjects or my Virtue stayes me No Virtue 's Patient and abhorres Revenge Nay sometimes weeps at Justice 'T is not Love Ah call it any thing but that t is Mercy Mercy that Pitties Foes when in distress Aside Mercy the Heav'ns Delights My Lord I fear your hot-spurr Violence Has brought you to the very brink of Fate And 't is not in my Power if I 'd the will To save you from the Sentence of the Law The Lords that are to be your equal Judges The House has chose already and to morrow So soon your Tryal is to be The People Cry loud for Justice therefore I 'll no more Repeat my wrongs but think you are the man That once was Loyal Ess. Once Queen Hold For that Reason I will not upbraid you To Triumph o're a miserable man Is base in any in a Queen far worse Speak now my Lord and think what 's in my Power That may not wrong your Queen and I will Grant you So I am sure in this I have not err'd Aside Ess. Blest be my Queen in Mercy rich as Heav'n Now now my Chaines are light Come welcome Death Come all you Spirits of Immortallity And waft my Soul unto his bright abode That gives my Queen this Goodness Let me then Most humbly and devoutly ask Two things The First is if I am Condemn'd That Execution may be done within The Tower Walls and so I may not suffer Upon a Publick Scaffold to the World Queen I Grant it O and wish I cou'd do more Aside Ess. Eternal Blessings Crown your Royal Head The next the extreamest Bliss my Soul can Covet And carry with it to the other World As a firm Pasport to the Powers incens'd Say you have Pardon'd me and have forgot The Rage the Guilt and folly of your Essex Queen Ha! What shall I do now Look to thy self and Guard thy Character Aside Go cure your Fame and make your self but what I wish you Then you shall find that I am still your Queen But that you may not see I 'm Covetous Of my Forgiveness take it from my Heart I freely Pardon now what e're y 'ave done Amiss to me and hope you will be quitted Nay I not only hope it but shall Pray for it My Prayers to Heav'n shall be that you may cleer Your self Ess. O most Renown'd and God-like Mercy O let me go your goodness is too bright For sinful Eyes like mine or like the Feind Of Hell when dasht from the Aetherial Light I shall shoot downwards with my weight of Curses Cleave and be Chain'd for ever to the Center Queen He is going I but whether To his Tryal To be Condemn'd perhaps and then to dye If so what Mercy hast thou shew'd in that Pitty and Pardon Poor Amends for Life If those be well a Crocodile is blameless That weeps for Pitty yet devours his Prey And dare not I do more for Essex I That am a Woman and in Woman-kind Pitty 's their Nature therefore I 'm resolv'd It shall be in 's own Power to Save his Life If I shall sin in this Witness just Heav'n 'T is Mercy like your selves that draws me to 't Aside And you l forgive me tho the World may not My Lord perhaps we ne're may meet again And you in Person may not have the Power T' implore what I too freely Grant you therefore That you may see you have not barely forc'd An empty Pitty from me Here 's a Pledge I give it from my Finger with this Promise That whensoever you return this Ring Gives him a Ring To Grant in lieu of it what e're you ask Ess. Thus I receive it with far greater Joy Receives it on his knees Than the poor Remnant of Mankind that saw The Rain-bow Token in the Heav'ns when straight The Floods abated and the Hills appear'd And a new smiling World the Waves brought forth Queen No more begon fly with thy safety hence Least horrid dread Repentance seize my Soul And I recall this strange misdeed Here take Enter the rest with the Guards Your Prisoner there he is to be Condemn'd Or quited by the Law Away with him Exeunt Guard with the Earl Now Nottingam thy Queen is now at rest And Essex Fate is now my least of Troubles Enter Countess of Essex running and Weeping then kneels before the Queen and holds her by her Robe C. Ess. Where is my Queen Where is my Royal Mistress I throw my self for mercy here Queen What meanst thou C. Ess. Here I will kneel here with my humble Body Fast rooted to the Earth as I 'm to sorrow No moisture but my tears to nourish me Nor Aire but sighs till I shall grow at last Like a poor shrivell'd Trunk blasted with Age And Grief and never think to rise again Till I 've obtain'd the Mercy I implore Queen Thou dost amaze me C. Ess. Here let me grow the Abject'st thing on Earth A despis'd Plant beneath the mighty Cedar Yet if you will not pitty me I swear These Armes shall never cease but grasping still Your Royal Robe shall hold you thus for ever Queen Prythee be quick and tell me what thou 'dst have C. Ess. I dare not yet I must My silence will Be Death my Punishment can be no more Prepare to hear but learn to pitty first For 't is a Story that will start your Patience O save the Earl of Essex save his Life My Lord whom you 've condemn'd to Prisons straight And save my
Life who am no longer Rutland But Essex Faithful Wife He is my Husband Queen Thy Husband C. Ess. Yes too true it is I fear By th' awful darting Fury in your Eyes The threatning Prologue of our utter Ruines Marry'd we were in secret e're my Lord Was sent by you t' his fatal Government in Ireland Queen Then thou art Wedded to thy Grave Dost think by this in multiplying Treasons And boldly braveing me with them before My Face to save thy wicked Husband's Life What will my restless Fate do with me now Aside Why dost thou hold me so take off thy hands C. Ess. Alas I ask not mine if that will please you I 'll glut you with my torments act what e're Your Fury caninvent but 't is for him My Lord my Love the Soul of my Desires My Love 's not like the common Rate of Womens It is a Phoenix there 's not one such more How gladly would I burn like that rare Bird So that the Ashes of my Heart cou'd purchase Poor Essex Life and Favour of my Princess Queen Woud I were loose 'mong Wilds or any where In any Hell but this Why say I Hell Can there be melting Lead or Sulpher yet To add more Pain to what my Breast indures Aside Why dost thou hang on me and tempt me still C. Ess. O throw me not away Wou'd you but please To feel my throbbing Breast you might perceive At ev'ry name and very thought of Essex How my Blood starts and Pulses beat for fear And shake and tear my Body like an Earth-quake And ah which cannot choose but stir your heart The more to pitty me th' unhappy frighted Infant The tender Off-spring of our guilty Joyes Pleads for its Father in the very Womb As now its wretched Mother does Queen Quickly Unloose her Hands and take her from my sight C. Ess. O you will not you 'l hear me first and grant me Grant me poor Essex Life Shall Essex live Say but you 'l Pardon him before I go Queen Help me Will no one ease me of this Burthen C. Ess. Oh I 'm too weak for these inhumane Creatures The Women take off her hold My strength 's decay'd my Joynts and Fingers num'd And can no longer hold but fall I must Thus like a miserable Wretch that thinks H 'as scap'd from drowning holding on a Rock With fear and Paine and his own weight opprest And dasht by ev'ry Wave that shrinks his hold She falls down with faintness At length le ts go and drops into the Sea And cryes for help but all in vain like me Queen Begon and be deliver'd of thy shame Let the vile Insect live and grow to be A Monster baser hotter worser far Than the ingrateful Parents that begot it C. Ess. Ah cruel most remorceless Princess hold What has It done to draw such Curses from you Queen Go let her be close Prisoner in her Chamber C. Ess. Since I must go and from my Essex part Despair and Death at once come seize my Heart Shut me from Light from Day ne're to be seen By humane kind nor my more cruel Queen Yet bless her Heav'n and hear my Loyal Prayer May you ne're Love like me nor ne'r despair Ne're see the Man at his departing Breath Whom you so Love and fain wou'd save from Death Least Heav'n be Deaf as you are to my Cry And you run mad and be as curst as I. Exit C. Essez carried away by Women Queen She 's gone but at her parting shot a truth Into my Breast has pierc't my Soul Why was I Queen And why was I not Rutland Then had my Princess as my self did now Giv'n Essex such a Ring and the Reward Had then been mine as now the Torment is O wretched State of Monarchs theirs is still The Business of the World and all the Pains Whilst happy Subjects sleep beneath their Gains The meanest Hind rules in his humble House And nothing but the Day fees what he does But Princes like the Queen of Night so high Their spots are seen by ev'ry Vulgar Eye And as the Sun the Plannets glorious King Gives life and growth to ev'ry Mortal thing And by his Motion all the World is blest Whilst he himself can never be at Rest So if there are such Blessings in a Throne Kings Raign 'em down while they themselves have none Exeunt Omnes Finis Act us Quarti Actus Quintus Scoena prima Sir Walter Rawleigh with the Queens Guards The Lieutenant of the Tower Raw. MR. Lieutenant here expires my Charge I receiv'd Orders from Her Majesty And the Lord Steward to return the Prisoners Safe in your Custody and with you I leave 'em With charge to have 'em in a readiness For Execution will be very speedy Lieut. I shall Sir Enter the Countess of Nottingham Raw. Ha! the Lady Nottingham What makes her here Nott. Where is my Lord of Essex I am commanded straight to speak with him And bring a Message from Her Majesty Raw. Madam What News can this strange visit bring How faires the Queen Are her Resolves yet stedfast Nott. No when she heard that Essex was Condemn'd She started and look'd pale then blushing red And said that Execution shou'd be straight Then stopt and said she 'd hear first from the Earl So she retir'd and past an hour in Thought None daring t' interrupt her till in hast She sent for me Commanding me to go And tell my Lord from her she cou'd resist No longer her Subjects loud demands for Justice And therefore wisht if he had any Reasons That were of weight to stay his Execution That he wou'd send 'em straight by me then blush'd Again and sigh'd and press'd my hand And pray'd me to be secret and deliver What Essex shou'd return in answer to her Raw. I know not what she means but doubt th' Event You can tell best the cause of her disturbance I will to Burleigh and then both of us Will make Attempts to recollect the Queen Exit Rawleigh and Guards Nott. Pray bring me to my Lord. Lieut. Madam I will acquaint him that y' are here Exit Lieut. Nott. Now Dragons Blood distill through all my veins And Gaul instead of Milk swell up my Breasts That nothing of the Woman may appear But horrid Cruelty and fierce Revenge Enter Essex He comes with such a Gallantry and Port As if his Miseries were Harbingers And Death the State to set his Person out Wrongs less than mine though in a Tyger's Breast Might now be reconcil'd to such an Object But slighted Love my Sex can ne're forget Ess. Madam this is a Miracle of Favour A double goodness in my Royal Mistress T imploy the fair the Injur'd Nottingham And 't is no less in you to condescend To see a wretch like me that has deserv'd No favour at your hands Nott. No more my Lord the Queen The Gratious Queen commends her Pitty to you Pitty by me that owe a great deal more You know