slaughter not for fight Of this a signal proof now brought me hither For having notice there was drawn together A numerous body of the Borderers 'Twixt Cheshire and North-Wales urg'd by my fears Lest unsupprest at first this little Flame Grown wider might become too fierce to tame I strait did hasten to their Rendezvous And lest I should the fair advantage lose I did not for your Royal Order wait And Sir the issue was proportionate Both to my Zeal and Justice of your cause For now our Swords have left them to your Laws King My Lord this service to the full does shew How much a King may to his Subject owe For Richmond these and these had Richmond prop't Had not your Hand this budding Treason crop't And now my Lord I hope your Forces are Advancing hither For I ill can spare About my Person and within my call Such Troops as yours and such a General L. Stanly You are my Sov'raign Sir a double way Your Wisdom and your Power bear equal sway But Sir I fear th' effect if we should joyn And all our Strength within one Camp confine You know the Power by the Invader brought Compar'd to yours will scarce deserve your thought Much less your Fear He all his hopes does place Upon the Risings of the Populace And thinks his Snow-ball rowling to and fro Though slender yet to Bulk and Weight may grow If this be true judge how important then Divided Bodies are of chosen Men Who by their several motions may prevent Risings and Succours to the Rebels sent King So let it be I must confess my Lord Your reasons are convincing as your Sword Honour 's your Mistress and I clearly see You mean to rob me of the Victorie And make her wholly yours L. Stanly Sir I design The Glory to be yours the Hazard mine King Hazard and Glory are so linkt together That without both I can pretend to neither But how does your indulgent Lady bear This rash Invasion of her Son I fear That Treason countenanc'd by Nature may In a weak Mother's heart too strongly sway L. Stanly The secrets of her Mind she only knows I her but not her Passions did espouse King I dread her as a dang'rous Enemy Who in the arms of my best Friend does lye L. Stanly Her thoughts are free but by a trusty Guard From all disloyal Acts her Person 's bar'd Nature her self shall be divorc't from me When she rebels against my Loyaltie King My Lord your great Example may improve All my best Subjects in their Faith and Love And here you have a Son fit to inherit All that is yours So far his early Merit Into my Favour is advanc'd that I Am not at ease without his Company He shall remain though you are forc't from hence His stay must your departure recompence L. Strange apart His meaning is I must his Pris'ner be Love is the foulest Mask of Crueltie L Stanly I doubt your Favour 's too much antedate His Merit King Fear it not My Lord 't is late Whilst you stay here some of your time I know You must on Bus'ness and your Friends bestow Exit Ld. Stanly and Strange SCENA III. King Unhappy fate of Monarchs that we must Often depend on those we most distrust But of this Loyal Rhet'rick pray how much In your opinions will endure the touch Catesby Sir I believe 't is in his Power to be Your greatest Friend or your worst Enemie The softness of his words makes but that sound With which all hollow Bosoms most abound But his late Actions I confess have gain'd My Faith to think his honesty not feign'd The rising Borderers by him supprest That he is sound at heart give ample test King Methinks his great unwillingness to joyn Forces together argues some design And yet I must confess his reasons are Of weight and fitted to the Rules of War L. Lovell Sir my Lord Strange will for his Father be A good collateral securitie He sets such value on his young Son's Head That he 'll ne're pawn it to be forfeited King I know this bus'ness has a smiling face But Lovell watchful prudence cannot trace The subtle ways of a dissembling Heart I am well read in that mysterious Art And can discern where all my danger lyes Mines have destroy'd more Towns than Batteries Enter Sir William Stanly SCENA IV. Sir William Stanly Sir the rash Foe all your desires fulfills The Native Fortresses of Wales the Hills Which only could his certain Fate prolong He madly ha's forsaken and the Throng Have crost the Severn King Happy news at last Our little Caesar Rubicon ha's past Either he acts the part of a mad Lover Or hopes his Rashness may his Weakness cover Sir Will. Stanly Let him come on he what he seeks shall have Since English ground best likes him for a Grave King Sir William Stanly 't is beneath your Fame In War to fly at such ignoble Game These Vipers want their Teeth But I must ask Your powerful aid in a much harder task Sir Will. Stanly Nothing is hard to me when you command King Confirm me in that hope I understand You o're your Sister have no little power She waits upon the Saint whom I adore Procure her Mediation for my Love If she in the design successful prove You shall be less my Subject then my Friend My Gratitude shall all your Hopes transcend Sir Will. Stanly Reward did never yet my duty move And I am no good Advocate for Love But Sir my prompt Obedience shall fulfil All your Commands and help my want of skill King That Love from her which you obtain for me With double Int'rest shall rewarded be Exit King Lovel Catesby Ratclife Sir Wil. Stanly solus When Nature form'd this Monster she design'd No less then the destruction of Mankind His Enemies but poorly satisfie The Hunger of his Rage which seeks supply E'en from his nearest Blood and his own Bed His Wife was poyson'd and his Nephews bled To feed the Wolf His Friends are kept alive As Indians cramm'd for Sacrifice survive And now this Monster both in Crimes and Shape On fairest Innocence designs a Rape Enter the Princess crossing the Stage from her own lodgings to the Queen's Appartment In passing by Sir Will. Stanly speaks to his Sister waiting upon the Princess Sister a word Mrs. Stanly I instantly will come Mrs. Stanly leaves the Princess in the Queens Appartment and returns to her Brother SCENA V. Mrs. Stan. Now Brother what 's your will Sir W. Stan. I hope this Room Is private and secure Mrs. Stanly You need not fear An ambush no close Spies can harbour here But whence this Caution Sir Will. Stanly Wonder not I bring A strict Commission for you from the King You must his Mistress gain then happy we I shall a Prince and you a Princess be Mrs Stanly 'T is the great Art of Kings for their Intents To make right choice of proper Instruments But
as fatal as your Presence there Richmond Take me my Lord and rule me as you please You unsuspected yet may gain with ease Admission to the Tyrant's Court and I May pass helpt by the Night's Obscurity And a long Absence for your Officer Besides my Lord our Camps now joyn so neer That our Return may both prevent the Day And all Reports of being gone away L d Stanly Reason and Love when Danger they descry Did never yet make use of the same Eye For now this Hazard which your soaring Love Lessens to Nothing does my Horrour move But since it is my Duty to obey Let 's not encrease your Danger by Delay Richmond On you my Hopes and Happiness relye You are the Ruler of my Destiny The Scene is changed to Richmond's Quarters SCENA IV. Enter Earl of Oxford Lord Chandew Oxford Twice through our Quarters I have walk'd the Round And to my Wonder have not Richmond found Can he his Person in a Season hid When the next Day must Royalty decide The knowledge of his absence from the Camp Would all the Courage of our Army damp Chandew In Common Souldiers I did never see Minds so prepar'd for Fight and Victorie Oxford My Lord this Land does yield a sturdy breod Which when they are well fed will freely bleed You French have question'd if they eat or fight With greater appetite or more delight Chandew I must allow though yet a stranger here That your Clime only such a Race does bear French courage is to Noble Blood confin'd The rest are Slaves in Body and in Mind Enter Officer and delivers a Message Exit Oxford My Lord this message does encrease my Fear We nothing yet can of our Gen'ral hear Chandew Heaven give him safety and I only crave He may a Conquest find and I a Grave Oxford By sudden starts you shew a smother'd grief Unvented Sorrows seldom find relief Chandew I long have wisht to empty in your Breast A grief which may be pity'd not redrest A grief whose lenitive is such a Pain As strongest Nature hardly can sustain A Daughter's Death is all the Favour now That Heaven's Compassion can a Parent shew Oxford What most you love you hope and wish to lose What sadder Object can your Fears propose Chandew Here you the height of my affliction see I hope her Death I fear her Infamie Oxford Your Grief concludes too fast you cannot know But that she 's safe in Life and Honour too Chandew My Lord when I have told my Story out I shall too easily remove the doubt That Daughter who did once make all my Joy And all my Happiness does now destroy Did so forsake me in a Fatal Night That she twelve Moons has wasted out of sight And this with Horrour does my Grief renew For if by Force surpris'd she 's murther'd too If not I dread an uncompell'd Escape More then the mischief of a bloody Rape Oxford In this sad Story I confess there are Just grounds of Fear but not of your despair Those motives which induc'd her to withdraw Perhaps may do no wrong to Honour's Law For if she lives she does a Mind derive From you which cannot loss of Fame survive Chandew Your Friendship puts a favourable Gloss On actions which imply her Honour's loss But in this strait of Time I will forbear To make you longer a Joynt-sufferer Oxford The Night does waste and to the publick Eye 'T is fit our General 's absence we supply Exeunt SCEN V. The Scene is changed to the King's quarters Enter King L. Lovel Sir William Catesby Catesby Miles Forrest is his Name a fellow stout And yet so dull he never felt a doubt Nor questions deeds ill relisht by the Laws He weighs reward but measures not the Cause 'T was he Sir who out-went your swift commands When the two Brothers fell by his bold hands King I that 's a Friend Go Catesby call him in Exit Catesby My Justice on the Princess must begin Her favour'd Int'rest has a double sting For she can make and can unmake a King Enter Catesby and Forrest O fellow-Souldier welcome Nay come near What Office in our Army do you bear Forrest I am Lieutenant to Lord Lovel's Troop Catesby He does by more then common service hope That he already has your Favour won And merits to do more by what is done King Employment and Reward he shall not miss The first old Company that falls is his And that his present wants I may relieve Catesby let him two hundred Marks receive Forrest An 't please you I can't talk but I can do I can spur on through good and bad ways too King I like him he 's a blunt plain honest man Catesby Sir he 'l talk little but do all he can King Catesby I shall employ him in a deed Wherein he 'l shew he 's hearty by his speed Necessity of State will not allow Leisure for Scruples which from Conscience grow Who fellow Conscience often come too late Forrest Sir as to good or bad look you to that King Well spoken go and from our Catesby be Instructed your reward expect from me Exit Forrest Lovel Sir with your Person 's safety can no way Be found this Execution to delay Her bleeding when in publick understood Will cause a Fever in the Peoples Blood King If I prevail I am above the harms Of sudden Tumults or intestine arms If I am lost Richmond my Throne may have But he shall find his Mistress in her Grave Lovel Your Strength so far transcends your Enemies That such precautions you may well despise Enter L. Stanly King My Lord I am transported with your sight L. Stanly Your Souldiers now want but the morning's light To charge the Enemy who past retreat Are opportunely lodg'd for a defeat I come led by my Duty and my Care For your last Orders in this great affair King Our Councel's call'd and suddenly will sit You shall receive your Orders when we meet L. Stanly Sir in these Quarters I am much surpris'd Hearing the Princess is so ill advis'd I had the honour once of her esteem And now would fain serve you and her redeem Be pleas'd to grant me free access to try How far I may induce her to comply King After so many tryals your Success I question but I yield to your address L d Stanly Sir though I lose my Pains I 'le lose no Time Exi t L d Stanly King Is not that Subject guilty of a Crime Deserving Death who makes his Prince affraid Catesby It is the worst high Treason to invade The chiefest Right belonging to the Throne All should a Monarch fear but he fear none King Catesby I must on your great Care relye That his young Son may not escape your Eye Catesby Sir he is strictly watch'd King When we decide The Field he in these Quarters must abide If with the Father we should trust the Son In open Battel we should Hazard run L d Lovel
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