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 like a Deluge drown the Springs from whence They flow Man shall no more have kindly Birth But Viper like shall gnaw his Passage through the Womb E'er this shall be For such another crime Were the Rebellious Angels dash'd from Heav'n So banish me for ever from your Breast Damn'd with my Mother's Wrongs and Father's Curses If e'er I suffer this North. I bind you on my Blessing rise By Heaven's Decree by Edward's Testament And by these Letters Patents witness'd to By the whole Council Officers of State Sworn to by all in places of high Trust To see this deed perform'd he has intail'd The Crown upon his Cousin Iane for ever Gilf. What said you Sir North. See and defer your Wonder Shews him the Patent Gilf. What Harmony What Angel's Voice is this What Divine Prophet's reaching out a Cruise Like him who did the Royal Shepherd Crown I see I read I 'm wrapt and in a Trance O let me Sir be sure I am awake that you Are not my Father's Image this a Vision Tortures and Hell If this shou'd prove a Dream Mow my Tongue trembles Palsies shake my Limbs And my Joints quiver with the dread of waking O come no nearer for methinks my Body As are my hopes is made of brittle Glass And if you touch you break the Bubble North. Wrestle no more with doubts but haste my Son Swift as an Angel from th' Immortal Throne Holding a Beamy Garland in his hand To wreath the Temples of the dying just And be the first Salutes her with a Crown As both her Merit 's and her Beauty's due Gilf. O Sir bear with my Frailty but this once There is a load pulls back my mounting Wishes And stops the Tide of over-flowing Joy Heav'n is in Little Pictur'd in her Soul More Virtues than in all the Saints together Beauties and Graces shining in her Looks As are enough t' adorn all Woman-kind And Damn the Sex with Pride North. What then my Boy Gilf. If then this Angel or this Goddess shou'd Finding too little Charms in England's Crown And Gilford's Love escape from these loath'd Arms And claim her Seat amongst the Cherubims North. Run then and fetter her in thy Embraces Bind her with Crowns and Chain her with thy Love Whilst I in Council will declare your Marriage Gilf. Ha! think you I 'le be slow in search of Heaven To run with Lightning is the Lover's pace For my Desires have Wings enough to fly Far as the Sun does visit in a day But first Instruct me how I must approach her What Posture has most dread and most respect That let me chuse What distance I shall keep If I shall stand sit kneel or prostrate fall O Father teach me For she is now no longer Guilford's Wife But Queen Sound ye loud Choiristers above And join in Consort when I speak her Title With all the shouting World that She is Queen North. Fly lest some Rival Angel should grow Jealous And dare to peep between her Curtains drawn And tell the News before thee Gilf. Then in what sillables shall I accost her What shall I say what awful Hail pronounce As she 's my Soveraign Empress or yet higher Or in the Phrase of Love and soft Desire Sweeter than Hony dropping from the Comb And loftier than the Stile of Antient Rome To talk to her all Language is but poor I wou'd have words that ne're were said before The Voice of Cherubims welcome and kind As Prophets in their Heav'nly Visions find What the first Man in Paradise did sound When first he Lov'd and was with Beauty Crown'd With more than can be wish'd by greedy Life Made Lord of all the World and then a Wife Exeunt Omnes ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Northumberland and Dutchess of Suffolk severally Dutch THe spiteful Stars have Blasted our Designs And ballanc'd our proud Hopes with dire Success The Royal Game has scap'd the Hunter's Net For Mary in her speedy way to London On what Intelligence 't is yet unknown Has turn'd her course and fled to Framingham North. So let it be our Wishes then are Crown'd True Courages like Eagles soar on high And sink not at the Lure of small Misfortunes 'T is well she flies Caesar cou'd wish no more Then 't is the Victor's part and ours to follow Enter Duke of Suffolk hastily Suff. My Lord I bring ill News North. What is 't my Lord Tell it before thou Dyest He 's frighted Madam Speak without Trembling Is the Tower Besieg'd Did I suspect my Son had such a Heart I 'de rip his Bosome tear the Craven thence Then dig my own out and with hands all Gore With Pythagorian Art and God-like Skill Plant there a Warlike Eagle's in its stead Suff. The Princess May's fled to Framingham Where Wharton Mordant Beddingfield and others Are with their Warlike Train of Friends resorted North. Relate th' ill News Suff. Six of the Royal Fleet Have steer'd themselves into the Port of Yarmouth And there Revolted to Sir Thomas Iarningham North. The Ships that were imploy'd to seize the Princess Aside And what 's all this to Souls resolv'd like ours Ambition is but base that dares not leap O're Mountains of Impossibilities High above these as Atlas to a Mole-hill Was not the World of justling Atoms fram'd No Musick can beget an Harmony Without some discord nor can Fate bestow A Crown without some hazard to the Conquerour The smoothest Cast at Bowls is seldom known Without a Rub to bring it to the mark Suff. I fear we have deferr'd the Publishing Of the King's Death too long till it be found A Cheat. North. Now is the time Where is the Queen Dutch She 's just now up and parted from her Bed-Chamber Behold she comes this way North. And Gilford with her Dutch No. North. Soon as he appears withdraw and leave ' em My Lord the Council waits to whom we 'll now Relate the hidden News of Edward's Death Then with the King at Arms our selves will haste And tho' the Furies gnash their Teeth and grin Through all the Ecchoing Streets Proclaim her Queen Ex. Dukes Enter Lady Jane Attended Ia. Saw you my Lord Mind listen for his steps So early up and yet so long returning My Mother many a Morning Blest as this To me and many a Night as was the last Adorn your Life Dutch All Blessings on my Daughter Why that Blush And why as tho' I chid my Dearest Child That suddain Paleness Do not mock thy Wishes Ha! why that Tear and why that Smile to hide it Thy Face is Checquer'd o're with Joy and Sadness Like Rain and Sunshine in an April Skye Ia. Sure never Virgin was so Blest as I And never Bridal Arms so Rich as these The Rose of Youth the Majesty of Kings Mildness of Babes and Fondness of a Lover Are all Angelically mixt in him To make your Daughter Happy yet there 's something I know not what hangs like a Clowd betwixt And will not
dead Pray of what Sickness dy'd he then my Lord You can inform me North. Why ask you that of me was I his Doctor Besides that bold Physician that had dar'd Consult with Gardner of his precious Health I 'd have him hang'd Gard. For giving good Advice Come come look back and turn your Eyes at home 'T is not for me my Lord my Sacred Function To arm this Breast with Rage to cope with yours My Innocence is the best Guard to fight With Wrongs and Ghostly Council all my Weapons Just Heav'n I fear too soon will make it known What sad Distemper has so long afflicted The King and Kingdoms and th' Aggressors too North. Priest fare you well if you begin to Preach Gard. My Lord I hear the Princess Mary's sent for Pray Heav'n you mean her kind North. And dare you question The King 's most Royal dealing with his Sister Gard. No did his Mercy rule without a Curb But where Northumberland does Reign I doubt it North. You are a Traitor Gard. Proud bad Man 't is false Were both our Breasts laid open to Mens view This place had then been yours and I no Traytor Remember that he had two Unkles once Oh wretched Land forgive that I 'm so cruel To rip thy Wounds up with my Tongue afresh In their Remembrance North. Let thy own Bosom now Judge betwixt thee and the Queen 's Godlike Mercy That thou the worst of Traytors should be spar'd To rail at Rebels Punishment Gard. Waving the Scarlet Train of all thy other Murders The least of which has Guilt enough to damn thee O think of Somerset that brave good Man The Faithful Guard and Patron of his Country As well as the Protector of his Prince That Cedar was too tall for thee proud Shrub And therefore Dudley held the Infant King That else had not the Will nor Strength enough To give the Blow and made him with his Left Cut off his Dear Right Arm. North. Thou ly'st proud Prelate Gard. Dispower'd himself by thy pernicious Council At once of more than all his bleeding Realms Have left of Somerset who while he liv'd Stood like the Bulwark of his Breast and Kingdoms When this was done 't was dreaded what would follow Alas 't was fear'd as now 't is come to pass The Sickness of the King and woful Death North. Ha! Gard. Does it sting you Duke it is suspected You deal with Knaves and Sorcerers else why Were the Physicians taken from the Patient And an old Woman plac'd to give him Filters With wither'd Chaps and Eyes like Basilisks To fright the King that had she not been Witch Her looks had brib'd a Jury to Condemn her North. Tho' all that can be utter'd from the mouth Of such a Priest is neither Truth nor Scandal Yet thy vile Language I return upon thee And like Infection it shall seize thee first I 'll crush thee to a Pedant once again And in a Dungeon thou shalt howl for this Gard. Th' art base enough to do it yet I 'll urge thee Angels now waft the Spirit of the King And since he 's dead There lives a Princess will revenge this Wrong When Injur'd Norfolk Courtney and my self Shall live to see thy head upon a Pole As high as yonder Tower North. Where are the Guards Who gave this Traytor Freedom from his Chamber To the Guards Dumb Seize him straight and clap him fast in Bolts Shut him as close as in his Tomb alive Go Coffin him it is the Queen's Command That hour his head is seen without his Dungeon Your Villains lives shall pay for the Offence Enter Pembrook Pemb. How 's this my Lord what executing Rigour Now when the Nation is all over Gladness So near the Presence of that Royal Bride Whose Sight like Heav'n shou'd make this Prison Doors Fly from their Hinges and release their Charge Let go your Prisoner haste my Lord to Suffolk Where Mary does increase in Power and Strength Post-Horses wait to bring you there to Night Mean while the Queen shall be the Nation 's Charge North. Farewell my Lord commend me to our Mistress Tell her her Soldier shall return with Lawrels Why shout you not why say you not Amen Methinks y' are all struck dumb So when I left The Queen with Orders in my hand ye all stood mute Only the shapes of Men without a Voice Ye bow'd your heads indeed but not one cry'd God speed the Duke No matter Friends farewell In Omens spite Northumberland shall on And on this Sword bring Victory to the Town Exeunt North. and his Followers Pemb. My Lord pray read these Letters to the Council Gard. Ha! This is from the Queen Pray pardon me I mean our True and Lawful Princess Mary Pemb. What does she say Gard. She writes in the most gentile stile of Love And mild Perswasion to the Lords in Council If they 'll forsake this Idol and return To Her their True Undoubted Soveraign She does pronounce a Free and General Pardon With an Oblivion of all Crimes to All Northumberland and the Usurpers only Excepted Heav'n inspire the Altars of your Breasts And kindle there your long extinguish'd Duties Then wou'd I bless this hand of Providence And th' Angel that did guide it Pemb. As you wish So is it come to pass Gard. Are you in earnest Why did you let Northumberland depart To Head an Army Pemb. 'T is of no strength my Lord Besides uncertain for his chiefest hopes Are in the Succours we ingag'd to send him Which w' have Disbanded e're they cou'd be rais'd This Trayterous Duke e're since the Good King's Death Confin'd us Prisoners here as close as you None suffer'd to stir out by day at night The Keys by Order brought into the Chamber Of this Mock-Queen Gard. I scarce can guess his meaning Pemb. I have Insenc'd the Lords besides the Sin How hard it is to tug against the Stream Of Royal Right that e're these Letters came All soon resolving to forsake th' Usurper This Morning one by one releas'd themselves And fled to Baynard's Castle to Consult Where we have drawn the City to our Party Who for Attonement of their Fault intend Straight to Proclaim the Royal Heiress Gard. Most Noble Lord y 'ave done a double Right Restor'd the Kingdoms stench'd the Nation 's Blood And sate the Crown upon a Lawful Head Pemb. My Lord this day Creates your Liberty To Morrow's high and Blest Meridian Sun Sees not himself upon a Throne so Bright As you shall shine in Royal Mary's Favour Guide of the Realm and Plannet of the Church O Iane Th' art on the brink of Royalty Back to your Chains and I to set you free Behold she comes How unconcern'd she treads The narrow Plank that 's o're the boisterous Strand Crowns on her Head but Seas on either hand Exeunt Gard. and Pemb. Enter Jane Women and Attendants Ia. In vain alas are Tears to purge this stain When these I hold and still the
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
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
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
of Old Rome The Innocent to suffer with the Guilty As there perhaps the Valiant with the Coward Pemb. Then my Lord For all these strong Exceptions of the Duke Since no Attainder was against the Peers His Brethren in Guilt they by our Laws Were held as equal Judges as the best Gard. They were I 'le wait on you my Lord. As they are going out Suffolk meets them and Jane and Gilford at at another Door as going to their Tryals Gard. My Lord of Suffolk wou'd you ought with us Ia. Alas my Father Pemb. What wou'd your Grace The Court does stay my Lord. Suff. If you want Woe to set the nicest touch And Master stroak of Sorrow on this Scene To make this sad Tribunal more compleat And solemn than the last partake of mine Pemb. Wou'd you have any thing that we can grant you Suff. I run to you for shelter from my Griefs But find I must despair to meet it here Such Storms of Misery have shook our House The Pillars of it crack beneath the weight And I am only left to tell the Story Ambitious Fires have sear'd us to the Bone Like Lightning pierc'd and made its fatal way Into the inmost Closets of the Mind Gard. My Lord Suff. The wretched Mother of that woful Daughter The Wife of this Inhumane Flinty Bosom Is grown Distracted by a furious Grief Her Sence dug up and rooted like a Mine Scourg'd by her Tyrant Sorrow from its Throne And like a Fury driven about its House Alas she 's mad Ia. What said my Lord What speaks my Father Suff. Mad as the raging Billows of the Sea The bated Panther or Nemaean Lyon Or as the Tyger in his search of Prey When cruel Appetite had whet his Fury Ia. Just Heav'n these are beginnings of the Treat That w' are invited to partake e're long Suff. O thou best Child of all thy tender Sex Thou Sanctuary of Innocence Let me adore thee It was not long since these Ambitious Arms Took thee by force fast bound thee to the Throne And put the Crown with Threatnings on thy Head For which my Lords lift up your awful hands And with your Sword of Justice cut 'em off These Knees the vile Examples to the Croud That taught 'em first to bow to my Ambition Let 'em do Pennance thus and kneel for ever Kneels Ia. What means my Lord I did not think to stain My haughty and couragious Innocence With the least drop but this alas has wrack'd me My Father's Woes and Mother's dreadful Story Has rung a Torrent from my bleding Eyes With fiercer pain than Vitals from my Heart O best of Fathers wou'd you bless me rise This is the worst of all Idolatries Gard. My Lord of Pembrook see the Court expects us Suff. Stay stay you eager Ministers of Fate In whose one hand is Life the other Death Pemb. My Lord what mean you Suff. Is it for nought dear Country Men you see A guilty Father kneeling to his Daughter Gard. You act against the Justice of our Place We dare nor hear nor suffer this my Lord You must remove from hence till Sentence given Ia. Rise O my Father Gilford lend thy hand This posture does infect our Innocent Blood And makes me guilty of the shame I suffer Pemb. My Lord we must desire you to depart Or else desist and leave us to our Duty Suff. First hear me Lords your Breath is as the Gods As is the voice of Heav'n pronouncing Justice Let not grim Statutes nor the Judges sway you Your Breasts are Oracles and your Decrees Inevitable Acts without Appeal Gard. This is so great a Fact against the Laws Such Boldness to obstruct the course of Justice We blush to hear therefore my Lord be gone Suff. What tho' the Law has stil'd her an Usurper Turn your Eyes inward probe 'em to your hearts Your Consciences from whom is no Appeal Know that your selves the Judges and the Lords Gave both your Votes your Threatnings and your Prayers To set this Innocent against her Will Upon the Throne for which she 's now Arraign'd And for your faults must suffer as a Martyr Pemb. My Lord Suff. Yet yet permit me Hold you that favour from a Duke which you Allow your common Prostitutes of Law A mouth stufft with the Frazes of his Client Suffer an Advocate to rail for Gain A Lawyer for his Fee and will not hear A wretched Father for his Daughter plead Gard. You Preach to Rocks and howl unto the Seas W' are deaf as they to what we dare not hear You must obey the Dictates of the Law And so farewell Exeunt Pemb. and Gard. Suff. Go then but take a Fathers Curse along A wretched Father blast of all his Issue May you like me despairing live like me See all your Children Slaughter'd in your sight And when you come to die consent to 't Heav'n If you to save your selves condemn this Saint May your black Souls on Blasphemy take Wings And meet your just Rewards like Fiends in Hell Ia. O Sir Suff. Weep not thou drooping Flower thou mourning Angel Bright as a Cherubim thou shalt descend Or like a Planet gayer than the Sun Sit with the awfull Judge of all the World At the last day Arraign 'em at the Bar Of Heav'n and plunge them into Fires for this Iane Ia. Sir O Father Suff. O Son O Daughter of my Bowels I bode these Eyes shall never see thee more Far as from Earth to the Immortal Dwelling This Moment parts thee from thy Wretched Father Stain not with Tears th' Injustice nor thy Wrongs But let the Task of Weeping all be mine Ia. This is a Tryal harder to be born Than that we go to meet with Suff. Hadst thou been set by Tygers in the Desart I cou'd have charm'd 'em sooner than thy Judges Or hadst been rack'd upon the milder Ocean I cou'd have swam and born thee o'er the Billows Immur'd with fires I cou'd have snatch'd thee thus And held thy Body in these Arms unscorch'd Pull'd thee from forth the Jaws of Plagues and Famine But from inexorable Laws and Judges I cannot Ia. Blame not the Laws nor mitigate my Crime But bless the Queen that sav'd my Father's life Speak Comfort to my Mother and be Loyal Farewell Suff. Be Loyal What a Parodox is that Can Suffolk Loyal be when thou art slain Preach Loyalty to Lucifer that fell To Tygers that are rob'd to Fiends in Hell But not to me my Child A long Farewell Ex. Suff. Scence draws and discovers Pembrook Gardner Iudges Officers and all Formalities of the Court Pemb. My Lord Chief Justice and my Lords the Judges I am not ignorant that this great Session Is the most prime Prerogative of the Crown The highest and most awful Seat of Justice And that the Queen presides in Person here Above all other Courts Gard. Room for the Lady make the Prisoners way Pemb. Most Virtuous Lady we intreat you sit Ia. My Lord you might have
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
years of Life perhaps Some days may finish what we prize so dearly Would'st thou consent that I shou'd forfeit Heav'n My Spotless Innocent and Bosom Faith Forsake the Truth that was so lov'd by me And lose the Joys of Immortality Gilf. I know what I wou'd act were I my Iane Were Gilford's safety only in the Ballance O all you Saints that wear Immortal Crowns Spirits of Martyrs that bright Angels are Not Racks nor Tortures burning Pincers Fires Shou'd make me leave this Faith the most Divine Which adorns thee and thou hast made to shine Ia. O Young O Good O Youth belov'd of Heav'n Gilf. But when I see a Father's Agonies Sweating cold Drops with terrour to behold The Heads-man diving in thy Gilford's Bowels And in the Hearts of four unhappy Brothers But oh and which is more than all the Lives Of all the Sons and Daughters of Mankind Thy precious Life if that 's a Crime to save You Heavenly Powers if then 't is Sin to change The Fact it self wou'd from your doom appeal And quash Damnation with the very mention North. Ay there my Son do press her hold her there Ia. What is my Husband Traytor to my Soul Then I may say as Caesar did to Brutus Dost thou too Gilford stab me to the Heart North. Come prostrate fall with me Lo at your Feet The Sad and Miserable Dudley lies See on the Ground the Father and the Son Thy Husband too that shou'd Command thee all And reign the Conq'ring Rival of thy Soul O say the word thou Woman most Divine Quick e'er they come to fetch thee and my Children Like a dumb Drove with Pantings to the Shambles First they begin with him and in in thy sight Fasten his Manly Body to the Sledge Which ne'er was bound before but in thy Arms. Then see the Villain with a Butcher's Knife Ripping his Bowels open to the Throat And tearing thence the Heart he holds to view That Heart which did so oft in silent Language Whisper the Story of your Faithful Loves But now insenc'd leaps in the Ruffin's hand And cries more fierce the Cruelty of Iane. Then then it stabs and e'er I come to die Breaks his poor Father's Heart and all the Standers by Ia. What must be done must then be done this Moment The time is suddain but the Gate of Heav'n Is easie to be lock'd yet hard to open It has a Spring without a Key which when We shut too rashly we no more can enter I am resolv'd North. Of what Ia. Not to be chang'd till I am dead For all the Blood that 's threaten'd to be shed Nor for the Crown took lately trom this head North. Hell Scalding Lead and Sulphures said'st thou ha O Iane think think of the Pains of Death remember Thy tortur'd Father and the Womb that bore thee Who brought thee not into this Cursed World With half the Pangs that thou and they must suffer Ia. No more I have inevitably said North. Fly Gilford fly let 's vanish from her Presence Damnation came from Woman first and still The mischief reigns in her and all the Sex O Woman Woman false as are thy Beauties Thou art a Tempting Fair Deceitful Way Leading by smooth Degrees to narrow Fastness Through which most Mortal Men do slide to Ruine But out of Ruine none Gilf. Stay stay my Lord. North. Not were the Ax a falling on my Head And she shou'd cry aloud I turn I turn Were there but one Religion in the World I 'd sooner die an Atheist and be Damn'd Than be of one Belief with her Gilf. Alas North. Since first the Serpent tempted Womankind The Snake lies lurking in the Sex's mind False Subtile Vain to keep your Faith 's secure There need a thousand Bolts to bar the Door Without like gilded Sepulchers you shine But open'd full of Rottenness and Sin At best who hopes to find a Goddess there Is cheated with a Bubble fraught with Air. Therefore the safe retreat of Human Life Is far from all the Sex but most a Wife Gilford why should we fear worse pains to feel The Marry'd Wretch has sure no other Hell Exit North. Enter Pembrook Gardner attended Gard. I met the Duke your Victim led to Death Not as we wish'd with Roman Laurels Crown'd Nor with the Visage of a Conqueror When 't is in your sole Power Ia. My Lord Rome's Markets ne'er were counted cheap Which makes me fear the Purchase being so great The price is more than my Estate can pay Gard. O thou whose wond'rous Mind and Body 's blest With all the parts and Beauties of thy Sex And Excellence of Man I come not here To wean an Infant turn a spleenful Woman To her resolv'd and fix'd Chymera wed But to a Judge who though a Child in Years Is fit to teach Philosophy a Rule And tell the Schools they erre Ia. Alas my Lord This Flattery bespeaks you more a Courtier Than an Embassador from the Court of Heav'n Gard. Yet Madam let it not be thought that you To cruel Niceness should have such regard That Iane out of a sullen Piety Ia. My Lord You will confess that one Divinity One Center moves the Catholick Faith and yours That wise Religious are like Skilful Pilots May with contrary winds the same way steer And meet together in one Port at last Gard. There you come close be wise and oh come nearer Then since not our Beliefs but Forms do vary This difference only seems 'twixt us and you Ours is a nearer Cut but o'er a River And yours a new invented Way through Desarts who 'd then refuse to pass the narrow Water And go vast Leagues about for fear of drowning Ia. My Lord I am a Wretch condemn'd to die And now am almost at my Journey 's end Is this a time to tempt me to draw back And tell me I have left a nearer way Gard. Yet save your Life and all their Lives Consider Say but the word and this shall hold the Ax. Ia. Witness you Powers so woven is my Belief So one with me that as my Nurses Milk Infus'd its Nourishment into my Blood Heav'n did distil this Balm into my Soul Yet had not the Almighty taught me this The Truth to me another Godhead is A Faith that no Apostacy endures Nor envy I that constancy in yours Far be my hopes but you in Heav'n may shine Live you in yours and let me die in mine Gard. Then since no President from Time can win you No Arguments Divine nor Human Wisdom Nor yet those Wretches Lives your Marble Heart Can turn you drive the Law to take its course Ia. Go on I dare the utmost of your Malice Till with your Cruelty my Death become What was your Justice Noble Martyrdom I see your Plots contriv'd in dark Cabals Your Leopard Consciences and freckl'd Souls All your feign'd Zeal that your great Lord may Raign Tyrant of Souls and Landlord of their Gain Gard. Haste lead 'em all to
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