Hodgson Tarleton Bishop of Hereford and Chanecllour of England Mr. Lee. Serjeant Eitherside Mr. Nokes Turrington Mr. Bridges Nevill Mr. Freeman Sly Mr. Bright Secret Mr. Trafuse Earl of Leicester Mr. Bowman Earl of Exeter Mr. Sandford WOMEN Isabella Queen-Mother Mrs. Barry Maria Neice to Serjeant Mrs. Bracegirdle Eitherside in Love with Mrs. Bracegirdle Mountacute Mrs. Bracegirdle Lords Attendants Guards Lawyers SCENE Nottingham ACT I. SCENE I. Nottingham The Court of King Edward Enter Lord Mountacute Sir Tho. Delamore and Sir Robert Holland Lord Mount IT much disturbs me Delamore that thou Of all Mankind should'st think my temper frail What hast thou ever seen in Montacute Or read i' th' Annals of his Ancestors To fear him or suspect his Resolution Proclaim me Bastard if my bloud proves base I tell thee good old Friend I 'le banish sleep and Pleasure till I 've found A means to set my bleeding Country free And in the fury of this Noble heat Plunge through a Sea of blood for her deliverance Sr. T. Dela I Question not your Spirit But L Mont. What Sr. T. Dela Pray give me leave Nay I must chide you for you give the Reins To such a Passion may undo us all Are there not sharp observers plac't about us Who if'twere possible would search our Souls This eager Fire will quite forestall our purpose L. Mount Well! I am husht But pray propose some means may please my thoughts Since you 'l confine my tongue Sr. T. Dela Nay I 'me for urging of our wrongs but calmly There is a time When Heav'n will do us Right for all our Woes And if the Orphans crys or Widdows tears The Bloud of Innocents which stains the Land Can hasten Vengeance sure 't is drawing nigh L. Mount 'T is full three years since Mortimer began To Lord it o're us by the Queens vile favour He stalks as on a Mountain by himself Whilst we creep humbly in the Vale below And Eye and Curse what we 're afraid to reach at Sr. Rob. Holl. In this short space he and his Brother-Devil Have made undone new fram'd shuffled and tost The Antient Customes of our Native Soyl So very often that the Kingdom staggers Under the heavy Burthen of her change L. Mount What are our Princes what the Nobles now Are they not Vassals to this upstart's State No more the same of our Nobility Be call'd in mind who when Usurping Powers Did but attempt to Innovate our Laws With their keen Swords like Guardian Angells stood And kept the Harpy's from the Sacred Fruit. Sr. Rob. Holl. Is it not fatall to resist his Will Nay none must smile if Mortimer be sullen Curse on his Pride why should we brook it longer Why don't we boldly tell the King our thoughts And make him Great in spight of evill Counsell Sr. Tho. Dela There will be Mortimer in every State Some Favourite Villain to oppress the Subject Who fell to Knaves what honest Men should have Which loose their Right only for being poor The largest bribe is still his dearest Friend And values not the Credit of his Prince Therefore 't is just The King should know how much he is Ecclips't Who 't is that grasps the Scepter in his stead And how his Mother lavishly doth waste The best of his Revenue on this March L. Mount It rests not there she Prostitutes her self Pardon me for I will not giv 't no better name Is she not grown the Common tale of all One Pallace holds 'em both one Table feeds 'em Nay I will speak it Sir one Bed contains 'em The Brawny Minion's dieted on purpose To do the Drudgery of Royal Lewdness Sr. Rob. Holl. How are we manag'd by a pair of Knaves March rides the Priviledge of all the Peers For who in Parliament speaks not his thoughts Must never have a good look from the Court Whilst Hereford the Reverend Chancellour Persuades the Queen she may dispence with Laws And renders 'em according to her purpose Sr. Tho. Del. If as sometimes he meets a knotty point Which will not stretch to what his need requires He Summons the most Learned of the Robe Begging their kind Interpretation of it Telling how necessary nay how Loyal 't is When the Prerogative o' th' Crown is pinch'd Within the Clutches of the Griping Law To ease the Royal Power and give it freedom If they Comply not then his Greatness Culls From out the Scum o' th' Inns of Chancery A Set of Poor necessitated Rogues Who 've Run through all the Judgments of each Court And these he makes his Learned Expositors These as they steadily perform their task He puts into their Places who refus'd him Some have the fortune to ascend the Bench But then they 're such Profficients in their Art They'd bafflle truth tho' never so well back'd And dare the Devill in his own Profession Sr. Rob. Ho. Justice and Honesty have left the Robe For since the Prelate Hereford is chosen Under pretence that Piety best suits To adorn the Person of a Chancellour Because on Conscience Equity depends The Antient Practicers refuse to Plead Balkt with his over-ruling Clamorous tongue They tell you with a heavy heart and look That after many years of constant Practice They must to School again and learn the Law L. Mount Come come it never was a prosperous World Since Priests were Judges made of Temporal matters Why should we wonder People grow Prophane When Mitred-Heads lead 'em the way to Hell The Customes of their Ancestors they slight Have chang'd their Shirts of hair for Robes of Gold Thus Luxury and Interest Rules the Church Whilst Piety and Conscience dwells in Caves Let 's stem the Current of this furious tide Our Country is the Parent of us all And shall we talk away the precious hours Whilst these vile hangmen stretch her on the Rack Let 's force young Edwards safety by our Swords And cut off all the holds which bar his Glory Sr. Tho. Del. Blessings upon thee for this generous heat From hence my fears and Jealousies be gone Thou art the Soul of Honour new reviv'd Which for some years as once the Romans did Withdrew thy self into a willing Exile Action there will be fuell for thy Fire Great as thy Spirit Courts and worthy of thee The matters ready and the Engines fixt Many prepar'd and eager for the work But Place and time forbid the telling more The Darling Comes Enter Guards Gentlemen Turrington and Nevill followed by the Earl of March Waiters Make way there Guards Room for his Lordship L. Mount See how the Toad swells with his own applause Sr. Tho. Del. My Lord you do forget L. Mount I 'me silent Mortim. Turrington Turring Your pleasure Petitioners kneeling with Papers Mort. What are those Men which bend their knees to us They seem as Supplyants Turring So they are indeed from several Towns Cities and Burroughs they are come Humbly Imploring you would Intercede For their lost Charters to the Incens'd Queen Mortim.
KING Edward the Third WITH THE FALL OF MORTIMER EARL OF MARCH An Historicall Play As it is Acted at the THEATRE ROYALL By their Majesties Servants London Printed for I. Hindmarsh at the Golden-Ball against the Royal-Exchange R. Bently in Russell-street in Covent-Garden A. Reper in Fleet-street near Temple-Barr and Randall Taylor near Stationers-Hall in Ludgate-street 1691. To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord Viscount SYDNEY of Sheppey one of the Lords of their Majesties most Honourable Trivy-Council Principal Secretary of State in this Kingdom one of the Lords Iustices of Ireland and Lord Lieutenant of the County of Kent My Lord WEre not your goodness Equall with your Greatness I durst not presume to lay this humble offering before you But as in distress the Poorer the object the Nobler the Charity so in my Circumstances the meaner the Dedicator the more worthy and esteem'd will be the Condescending Patronage of your Lordship Nor ought I to doubt your Generous favours since your Predecessors were always great Encouragers of Poetry I must not omit the Renowned Sr. Philip Sidney whose Father was thrice Lord Deputy of Ireland which was not only an Admirable Writer besides his vast Accomplishments in other things But so Indulgent a Patron to the Sons of the Muses that the famous Spencer Dedicated his Works to him as the only Person Capable of Espousing ' em But this Illustrious Worthy was at last taken from us tho' to the Eternall honour of the English in that Glorious and never to be forgotten Action in the Low-Countries the battle of Zutphen in Gelderland But I go too far from my purpose My Lord I could not help my presumption in begging your Protection of this Play it being a Present to me and an English Story so fam'd for the Reign of its Monarch and the management of those few good Men about him who with great difficulty preserv'd this Prince from the evill Machinations of Mortimer and his Faction from the Potent Enemies of an Interested State and the unnatural Connivance of a Mother who design'd as much to usurp his Right as she really did destroy his Fathers and the delivering their Country from the Tyranny and Oppression it had been long afflicted with and which in all probability threatned the totall overthrow of the Establish'd Liberties of the Subject I say these weighty Motives induc'd me to Consecrate this Piece to your Lordship as a true bred Son of the Country and a Person who has always valued the freedom of his Native Brethren above the Temptations of a prejudic'd and designing Court If Preferment could have drawn you from your esteem to the Publick never bait was better manag'd then that which was offer'd to decoy your Lordship But you stood it out with the Resolution of Sr. Robert Holland went on with the sincerity and Prudence of Sr. Tho. Delamore and maintain'd it with the spirit of Lord Mountacute The World cannot be insensible of the unalterable esteem the Family of the Sydneys have constantly shewn both in their Endeavours and Sufferings for the benefit of the Common-Weal And sure if we are honest to our selves we must thrive since those who always oppos'd the Enemies of our Country have with much Patience and Diligence overcome their Industrious Mischiefs and have now the care of what they 've so hard tugg'd for We have a King who thinks his Life no longer usefull then when employed for the service of his People We have a Parliament stedfast and generous the Publick Employments in the hands of Men of Worth Fortunes and Honour not lyable to be brib'd from abroad The necessary part of the Nation satisfy'd and United with a Providence that has prov'd by its care of our Monarch both abroad and at home how our choice is esteem'd above That these blessings may not be withdrawn is surely the hearty Prayer of all the Well-Affected and that the Country may never want a Friend like your Lordship is the zealous wish of him who shall always begg the Honour of subscribing himself Your Lordships most Obedient Oblig'd and Dutifull Servant Will. Mountfort PROLOGUE Spoken by Mr. Powell I Can but think how many here are come Prepar'd to give the Insuing i lay i'ts Doom But like the Gordian-â—â— not this Play was made By one who Brought it us in Masquerade Plays were at first design'd to Lash the age By shewing all its Vices on the Stage As in a Glass there each might see his own And being Conscious blâ—sht at what he 'd done The Fool the Knave the Villain they expos'd And the Blood-thirsty Polititian nooz'd But Virtue tho' she suffer'd long at last Was Crown'd with a reward for what was past The honest-thinking Heathen shew'd the way And handed Down the Moral call'd a Play Old Ben. and Shakespear copied what they writ Then Downright Satyr was accounted wit The Fox and Alchymist expos'd the Times The Persons then was loaded with their Crimes But for the space of Twenty years and more You 've hiss'd this way of Writing out of door And kick and winch when we but touch the sore But as some Fashions long since useless grown Are now Reviv'd and all the Mode o' th' Town Why mayn't the Antient way of Writing please And in its turn meet with the same Success The Story 's true if you 'l believe Record Edward the Third has stampt it on his word Here English-Men with pleasure may behold How much their Liberties were priz d of old How hard this Prince for 's Countrys freedom strove And how both Prosper'd in each others Love EPILOGUE Spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle IT is the Custom of all City-Feasts By Printed Tickets to Invite the Guests The Price is known and who the Stewards are And nothing's Private but the Bill of Fare Which we expose the fall of Mortimer For Plays are Feasts and every Scene should be A Different Course still fresh variety But few obtain that Master-piece of Wit He 's a rare Cook that can all Pallats hit For Ways of Eating alter with the Age And such a Peuking stomach haunts the Stage Altho' the best of Artists strive to please 'T is very seldom that they meet succe'ss You set aside the most substantiall Food Beef's Gross and breeds the Scurvy in the Blood Nought but Ragoo's and Kickshaws now are good Broken Remains tosst by the Mounseirs hand Are grown the Darling Viand of the Land Therefore our friend lest you should think it strange To Iump from an Extream into a change With Satyr raises up his Mâ—sses high And Interlards his Tale with Comedy But should he fail we doubt not but to find You to the Waiters always will be Kinde And since The Author who did this Prepare Only expects your Liking for his share Do not Withdraw the Profit from the Player Dramatis Personae KIng Edward the Third Mr. Powell Mortimer Earl of March Mr. Williams Lord Mountacute Mr. Mountfort Sir Tho. Delamore Mr. Kynaston Sir Robert Holland Mr.
Mayoress Neice you were born under a happy Planet fortune throws her self into your Lap make use on 't while 't is offer'd a Lord oh lack a day I can't contain my extasy Chan. Have you consider'd little one of the offer you shall Command in Chief and be esteem'd as if my Sister No harm shall come to you Mar. I hope not Chan. Fear it not Mar. I trust in your honour your Robe's too worthy sure to harbour ill Ser. Neice you must not talk so Impertinently Incline your minde and body as his Chancellorship and holyness shall think fit Mar. Hold there good Uncle Chan. I am mightily o'rejoy'd it should fall out so pat that I can serve my old Friend 'T is an Angelical Jade and I grow very warm well Childe I will take care of you My Lord within two days your Patent shall be ready I would discourse a little with your Neice in Private I protest things fall out so lucky Ser. I 'le leave her with your Lordship Chan. Pray call me Brother-Lord we are both Judges now and Lords alike Ser. Then Brother-Lord oh pretty I 'le leave her with your Brother Lordship Chan. Do do Mar. How will you leave me alone with a man Uncle Serj. Peace baggage Uncle I 'm a Judge Chan. Why are you affraid of an old man Serj. I 'le make the Knaves that brought the extent against me smoak a Judge I 'le feague the Rogues Brother I am your Lordships most humble and eternally engaged servant and Judge Chan. Oh my Lord Judge your friend goes to the door with the Serjeant and Locks it Mar. Ha! What now I finde here will be sport But Mountacute I will not wrong my love to thee I have kept it Pure unsully'd hitherto And will spight of this mighty man And mightyer Villain Uncle Chan. My Dear Child I shall respect thy Uncle infinitely for thy sake thou hast the Inticing'st Look with thee I must peep in thy face and admire thy features nay be not bashfull I am thy friend thy Governour and thou art become my particular Care Mar. Nay fye my Lord Chan. By the Mass I have a greater kindness for thee then I can express why you little Cherubim what a pair of pretty swelling powting bubbies hast thou got they play in and out as they were at bo-peep I must initiate 'em into my favour Mar. Nay my Lord for Shame Chan. Sweeter then Iessamin or Honey-Suckles she has call'd my heart up to my Lips but I 'le make her draw it down to its place come child he pulls her Mar. Nay pray my Lord do no Violence Chan. Why you baggage if to look Babys in your eyes to play with those Lilly white snow-Balls and to smother thee with kisses be to use violence I cannot forbear it Mar. Does this become your Coat my Lord Chan. No matter for my Coat child it agrees with my body nay I must Plunder Mar. Help help within there Chan. Hush huswife here here 's Gold for thee thou shalt have more then thou can'st carry Mar. I never can deserve this bounty nor can I guess why 't is you bribe your Servant thus indeed you make me blush 〈◊〉 〈…〉 me again such another Glance and I am a dead 〈…〉 a bribe a paw-word Why I have given thee my heart al 〈…〉 nd going to put my body into thy Possession Mar. For Heaven's sake are you Pious Chan. I am not Pious nay hang not back for I will rifte thy sweets and bury my self in thy bosome I will I will Mar. Help Murder Uncle what shall I do Mortimer within Mort. My Lord Lord Chancellor ha are you at it Enter Sly Sly Sir Sir My Lord the Earl of March is coming Chan. Let him go to the Devill could he find no other time but now I never disturb'd him at his Recreations Sly What shall I say my Lord Chan. Say any thing and be damn'd Why you Rascal you a Lawyer and to seek for a Lye Mort. within When Priest when come you Mar. This is lucky Chan. I must to him the Devill fetch him go go into that Room I 'le be with you presently nay go all shall be well and I 'le be civill puts her off and locks her in You dog could you not deny me had you no sooner done the Office of bringing us together but you must break off the bargain before we had Sign'd and Seal'd Sly 'T is some earnest business in the Law he says Mort Why Chancellour Chan. Well well I 'm coming And when I have dispatch'd him I 'le withdraw And read another Lesson then the Law Exeunt The End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE I. The Castle Enter Turrington and Nevill Tur. AFFairs seem veering and the Fane of Edward Which hitherto has pointed to our wishes Is turn'd against us out of what corner Comes this blast of change 'T is sudden All are as hush as Murderers when escaping Privacy the waiting-womans Virtue is in use And the young Prince has left his darling Sports For closer Studies Nevill 'T is odd and we must arm against it just now I would have pass'd the Anti-Chamber And a Starch'd fellow grimly stop'd my Passage I ask'd the Knave by whose Authority He barr'd my Entrance he replied morosly 'T was by my betters and he would obey 'em Then I demanded if the Rascall knew me Tur. What said he then Nevil He answer'd better then I knew my self Bid me return there was no room for Scouts The ill-bred Dog had stood corrected Had not old Leicester Berkley Salisbury With buisy faces come into the Room To these he turn'd the Key said they were staid for Tur. These froward Peers Envy our Masters fortune Some of ' em have been faulty 'gainst the Queen For which they were forbid her Royall Presence And with a sulliness withdrew from Court What brings 'em hither now is worth enquiry Unsent for I am sure they did not come For March and they like jarring Elements Have Constant Enmity and must keep distance But see he comes with him the Chancellor He glows the Prelate made him wait And we shall hear how he resents his State Exit Enter Mortimer and Chancellor Mort. Must I attend your leisure wait your hour And herd among your slaves thou clod of earth Whom I have work't and moulded up to form And breath'd a Soul into Chan. Why my Lord my Lord Mort. Thou hast forgotten thy Originall When Pensive in a poor thatch'd homely Cell Lonely and Destitute as want could make thee No Wine nor Flesh to Nurse a loose desire Thy lust was more to food then woman then The Suns hot season scarce could taint thy bloud Or if it did thou crep'st to thy Turf-bed Which quickly damp'd the Carnall Exhalation Chan. What will become of me Mort. How wou'd'st thou bless the founder of a Loaf So needy thou would'st plunge the deep mired road To hold the Stirrup of a Passenger While with expecting eyes you watch'd
of Leicester with a party force the Guards of the Queens side Dela 'T is Prudently advis'd King Each to his Task then Mortimer we come This Night begins my Reign and Seals thy doom SCENE The Queens Apartment Enter Isabella and Mortimer Mort. Thus soft and secure we taste the Joys of Love Whilst buisy Polititians plot for Interest Whose akeing Brains Dances the Rounds of State And all to get the Title of a Knave The Soldier now lies hard for Gaudy honour Endures the raw rough blast of Winters Season With all the harsh necessities of Camps And for the name of Gallantry and Great After a long escape Provokes his Fate But Love Queen Ay that my Mortimer's above 'em all Who envys honour that is rich in Love Mercy which is the Attribute of Heav'n The first Creator of it sure was Love And pitty is the Instinct of its passion Love makes the Vulgar proud the Noble Gods The Gods themselves if Strangers to Love's Joys Their much admir'd Elizium is Imperfect Mort. Some Musick for my Charmer let us indulge And gratify our Souls Luxuriously Raptures unknown the harmony shall raise Our hearts shall beat the measures of the time And tender sighs eccho each artfull note Till our soft murmurs fall by soft degrees And dye like o're-charg'd Flutes with too much playing Queen I cannot answer as I ought but thus Embraces A Song After the Song Mountacute Delamore and Attendants come from under the Stage Mort. Now let 's to our Repose my softest Love This Night ends all our fears and I have those Whose â—ands before the Moon has gone her Race Will have our Enemies all in Possession Young 〈◊〉 Montacute that hot-bred boy With his old Councellor close Delamore shall Smart my Isabella A Clashing of Swords Ha! what means this noise my Guards what ho Death it grows lowder are they all engag'd Treason Treason Enter Turrington bloudy Why that dismall object Tur. Shift for your self Sir all 's betray'd and lost The King and Leicester have cut off your Guards The City 's at the Gates and shout him King Burn Mortimer fire the Queen I can no more But that I ever lov'd you let this witness dies Queen Oh Heav'ns what shall we do Here my best life there is a Vault That will convey thee Mount We will convey him Madam to a place As safe as he design'd us Mort. Horror and Hell Queen Oh spare my Mortimer my gentle Son Mount Madam you are deceiv'd he is not come yet Del. Well haughty E. of March what think you now Mort. That I shall dye thou 'st answer'd to thy mind Queen O ye malitious Powers Moun. Sir Tho. let 's withdraw No doubt these Lovers have a leave to take We will not separate 'em too abruptly Call when you 're teady Sir I shan't be out o' th way You Sirs secure the Vault Mort. I scorn thy Insolence And Mountacute I 'le fall so nobly Ex. Moun. Dela That thou shalt loose thy ends in my calm sufferance Queen Oh Mortimer Mort. Oh Isabella Queen I know not how to look or speak For I have brought this on thee My Love has tempted thee to taste Ambition And thou hast follow'd me in all thy actions Mort. Thus the first pair their miseries surveigh'd When from their blessed Eden they were driven Their eyes seem'd to accuse 'em of the fact But Love in each pittied the Crime in both She tempted him to make him bless'd like her And when he found her Ruine urg'd his own But oh much happyer was their Punishment Their both were curst but they were curst together And suffering both alike neither were wretched Queen I will not long out-live thee for I cannot Thou wert the prop on which my hopes did hang Like curious Buildings wrought by wond'rous Art Where the vast frame 's supported by one Pinn But that struck out I shatter all to ruine Mort. No live my Queen thou may'st be happy long 'T is only I must bleed my bloud 's the cure And 't is Impossible it can be spar'd But Isabella when thou shalt retire For oh I fear too much they will confine thee Think on thy March and pardon his Ambition For nothing but my fondness has betray'd thee A vast excess of Love to make thee great To set thee out o' th' reach of thy Sons Power Lest he might slight thee as his Father did Queen Oh angry heav'ns you 've punish'd us severely The prospect of our greatness has undone us The Glitt'ring shew has drawn us out too far And we 're surpriz'd just as we thought to grasp it Like Voyagers seduc'd by a fair Sea A temperate Air the Sky Serene and clear Just as they have their wish'd for shore in view By sudden Storms the tatter'd Bark is toss'd And all within the sight of Land are lost Mort. He comes thy Son approaches Farewell to all that 's dear I leave a certain Heav'n to go I know not where Enter King Mountacute Delamore Holland Chancellour and Serjeant King Seize the vile Traytor hurry him down the dungeon There let him groan till day and then he dies Queen Oh spare him spare him banish us together But do not take his life thy Mother pleads King Thou Scandal of my blood remove the Queen Queen The Queen am I not thy Mother Oh hear me King I 'm deaf away Queen May heav'n forget thy Prayers when thou shalt plead And may thy Mothers Curse hang on thy head Exit King Now Chancellor for thee Thou shame of Church and Justice What can'st thou say Chan. Nothing but begg for Mercy for if your Majesty considers I have been but a Tool and am not the first Statesman that has been Compell'd to be a Knave by Court-Minions King No Hereford my Fathers blood requires thine Away with him unfurnish him of all those Robes And give him such as fit his wickedness The Nation must be satisfy'd and thou must dye Prepare for 't Prelateâ— Chan. This 't is to be too Eminent in State mischiefs Others that wish'd as well to the Cause as I Will scape for not acting so publickly Exit Serj. Ay! that Chancellor I 'm afraid will not dye alone I am Damnably afraid his Grace to make up his Equipage must have a Chief-Justice that we may Swing in Figure Mountacute brings in Maria. Mount Now Sir I claim your promise This Virgin is what we owe our Lives to Her birth you 've been acquainted with And by what means she was compell'd to live with the Chancellor And sure 't was Providence which plac'd her here for all our Benefits I beg her for my Wife King She 's Yours and to make her wellcome I Invest her with all the Chancellor's Estate And Viscount Mountacute be Earl of Salsbury Mount Thus let us thank your Majesty Kneels King Rise both Mari. No Royall Sir I have one boon to beg That old mans Life my Uncle tho' an ill one Nor has he Acted ought what e're was purpos'd And since my being has made me the Instrument Of what 's discover d I humbly would Entreat King Thou shalt not plead in vain he 's safe and if he can be honest we may in time take Care of him Serj. I humbly thank your Majesty and will study to deserve this Mercy I am not the first Knave that has turn'd honest man when he found his Roguery would do him no good King My Lord of Leicester Delamore Exeter and Holland and all shall share our favours May you continue as you have begun The Parliament's at hand If they Encourage me As I Expect they shall be satisfy'd how 〈◊〉 love ' em Del. Doubt not their Duty Sir King To Scotland first I will an Army Lead And Check the Growing Mischeifs which are spread That done to France I will in Person go The Flower D'Luce shall to the Lyon bow If my kind Commoners are just and Fâ—â—e I 'le loose my own or fix their 〈◊〉 Long have they suffer'd by their Foreign Foes And Evill Kings I fear has been the Cause Heav'n Guide my Steps that our Records may tell How Edward did the Insulting French Repell How English-men with Glory did Return Whilst Gallick Ruines did our Conquests Mourn Errata Page 2. line 31. for who read which line 32. for which read who Page 12. line 15. for which read who line 17. which read who Page 46. line 35. for Villany read Villain line 38 for should read would Page 48. line 34. for Pieth read Piety FINIS
That is the Chancellours bus'ness Turr. They know your Interest greater and entreat it The Judges have annul'd 'em and unless Your Goodness can prevail many a Town By their own faults Incurr'd will fall to ruine And be a Wilderness Thousand of Families Now in the way of Life must starve and Perish Mortim. Their Antient Chaâ—â—ers by the Law are forfeited But I will Study how to get 'em new ones Our time is spent in telling things aright This Kingdom wants it and I am its Friend L. Mount Was ever Pride or Arrogance like this Mortim. Nevill what would those People have Nevill May it please your Honour They are Inhabitants of the adjacent Corporations They all of 'em have voices at Elections And promise for the Parliaments to come They will choose none but what the Court shall like Mortim. 'T is well and we take notice of their Wisdom See that you give 'em welcome as becomes us Such Subjects must not want Encouragement And March be Living L. Mount Unheard of Impudence Dela My Lord we are observ'd see how he eyes us Nor are we safe whilst we stand trifling here L. Mount Why let him eye us till his balls grow stiff His looks may fright those have dependance on him I slight the worst and best of 'em Mortim. Ha! what said he Turr. Sir Mort. Lead on As he moves is met by Montácute who fronts him they stare at each other and jostle Ha Jostled Mount I finde the man is greater then the Room Sure else he might have strutted clear of me Mort. Thou art a froward Peer Mount Thou art a vain one Nay frown not March Thy terrour's lost on me Look big upon those bastard English-Men Who tamely yield their Rights and Charters up And swear to pick a Parliament Shall sell our Freedoms Persons and Estates To gain a short-liv'd smile They probably may dread thee Mort. Rash youth no more lest thou provoke my anger Till I forget the Pallace that Protects thee But th' Eagle seldome condescends I think To Combat with the Passion of a Wren L. Mount I tell thee Boaster that my veins do hold A Nobler Richer Purer blood then thine Mortim. Thy word 's are air which no Impression make So boys hurl stones in Water and so lost L. Mount So Men shun Provocations under Proverbs Mort. Shun thee poor Wretch I pitty thee L. Mount I scorn thy pitty and contemn thy hate Dela Nay Mountacute L. Mount Rot his proud Spirit oh that I had thee forth On some wide Plain to Hunt thy haughty Soul Distant from all Protection but thy Swords There thou shouldst finde Mort. A Pratler Thy Mother's folly dwells upon thy tongue Thou cam'st from School too early Fye Boy fye L. Mount Statesman Statesman thou Engineer of hell Mort. Rail on and spend thy Gall malitious thing Whose Nurses Milk still hangs upon thy Lips You should be scourg'd to manners L. Mount The King shall know thee Mort. Then he 'le know himself L. Mount Arrogance I shall meet thee Mort. Beware the Thunder Child 't is dangerous Mount If thou art so like Lightning I 'le fore-run thee And if thy self thou dar'st a Thunder Prove Follow me Mortimer and I 'le think thee Iove Exeunt Mount Dela and Holland Turring Had you not Patience as you have the Power Of an offended Deity this language sure had been his last I watch'd my Lord your eyes And ready for the Signall of dispatch Had laid his Reaking heart beneath your feet Nevill You are too mercifull too full of goodness Such high Indignities call for Resentments No less then Death Pardon my plainness Sir For here I Prophecy unless you break This Serpents Egg before the Monster 's hatch'd 'T will bring Destruction on your self and friends Mort. I thank ye and am happy in your service The Babler I despise he shall be punish'd The Envy that his Canker'd breast is big with By Preying on its self shall work his Ruine So Doggs behold the Lustre of the Moon And so run yelping backward into madness Nevill The Queen Mort. Retire meet me anon and we 'le consult what 's best Enter Queen Isabella All retire but Mortimer My Lovely Queen my charming Isabella The Empress of my Soul and balm of Life Ten thousand Cupids play within those Circles And dart the Rays of Love so quick and fast That all my Spirits leap to meet thy Glories Queen I find my Soul so near resemble thine That when you speak it hasts to catch thy words So when some Curious Artist strikes the Lute The Harmony excites the Astonish'd Sense And to the Face conveys the suddain Transport When thou dost offer up this Sacrifice Like Cynthia to her Lov'd Endymion I must descend and thus Caress my Charmer Mort. To you alone I own my Second being And can I pay my life to other use Then the adoring of my saving Goddess Well I remember when Carnarvex Edward By Spencers Art lodg'd me within the Tower Where every minute boaded still my last ' Midst of despair 't was thou my better Genius Contriv'd the means to save thy Vassal's Life A sleepy mixture artfully convey'd Into the Wine the greedy Warders Drank While by a Friend that thou hadst made with Gold I past the Guards and fled the hated Place Queen Could I do less then that for him I lov'd He who in Steel had fought my Battles o're 'Gainst the false Spencers and worse Gavestone He who all danger in my â—â—use defy'd Was my best Friend against a Hoast of Foes Oh Mortimer how happy had I been If'stead of Edward thou hadst been my Lord Then Innocent and Pure as Vestall flames I had come unspotted to thy wishing Arms And left no stain upon my Memory Mort. Beauty like yours was ever absolute Crowns should not Awe nor should the Throne Command But he that 's bravest best deserves the blessing Was Edward fit to reap such joys as these Ungratefull Edward who receiv'd a Prize Heaven could not match in all its wondrous store And for return instead of Prayers and Incense Slighted the Giver and the glorious Present A Minion Spencer must supply the Place A Ganemede a Hylas senseless Prince The Gods Reprisall gave for the Contempt And for reward of all my Cares and Toyls Decreed this slighted Beauty should be mine Queen You Men are skillfull in the Trade of Love You found our Souls and Catch our Weaknesses Apting your words still to the Theam we 're fond of And we believe 'em to our own undoing Mort. Whilst thus I press I feel a kindly heat Glow in my heart urging to eager Bliss Sweets let me sip from these Immortal Springs Youth we 'le renew and humane nature change Making the Extacy a Paradice Queen Mayst thou for ever feel this Pleasing Fire May fears ne're cool it time or Age decay it Desire for ever wait upon our Joys And may the last be ever thought the best Mort. What Brainsick Priests do in their
Raptures tell Of the Elizium endless happiness Falls short of what each minute I enjoy But oh my Care our Paths of Love are strew'd With Briers which Thwart and Cross us in our Pleasures Young Mountacute with Delamore and Holland Those subtle Bellous which keep in his fire And raise and calm it as their Work requires Must be remov'd Their Interest is great Their Prudence strict Mountacutes Courage firm Their Fortunes able to maintain their measures Which strikes for thy Sons Greatness and our Ruine Queen The Boy is Plyable to all my wishes 'T is a half Soul bred in the Lag of Love And Spiritless as the Desire which got him We 'l think of them at Leisure Mort. No more then now Let us Retire to our Delights unutterable Joys Oh! why should Death for ever part such Lovers Fate when your pleasure comes that we must fall Let us together mount the Etheriall Region But oh I fear my Soul 's too poor for thine Qeens have peculiar stations sure above I tost and shatter'd must remain below Ever Imploring for my heav'n in view Queen No if the Powers despise my Mortimer Their Care of me alone 's not worth my Thanks Single a Paradice I could not bear Heav'n would be Hell were Mortimer not there Exeunt The End of the First Act. ACT II. SCENE I. The Scene Opens and Discovers King Edward on a Couch after some struggling Rises King WHere have I been or what is 't I have seen 'T is said the Soul while the Tyred body sleeps Her Mansion often leaves and Roves abroad Sometimes to Groves and Solitary Cells Sometimes to Courts to Cities and to Camps Mingling with Crouds then strangely left alone But mine has fall'n down dreadfull Precipices Walkt in the Charnell-Houses of the dead My Fathers Ghost stalk'd thus before my eyes Cryed out Revenge then shreik'd and disappear'd With so much hast as if it seem'd to dread The hand of Murder did pursue it still Yet as it fled it forc't the yielding Air To Eccho back beware of Mortimer Enter a Messenger Mes. Lord Mountacute Sir Robert Holland with Sir Thomas Delamore Wait for admittance to your Majesty King They 're wellcome bring 'em in Exit Messenger Then headless Kent my once beloved Uncle Led on a Train of miserable Shades Who seem'd bewailing their untimely deaths With uplift hands they begg'd as for releif And in sad postures told their several Fates Then Mortimer Led in my wicked Mother Who Snatch'd the Crown from me and gave it him At which the numerous Crowds of Ghosts look'd paler Their mangled Limbs broke out afresh with bloud And the Surprizing horrour shook off sleep What is it oh ye Powers that ye decree Am I design'd to fall a Sacrifice To the Ambitious Lust of this fell Monster If Dreams Presage Or Visions can forebode The Fate of Edward Edward must succeed If so you 've fix'd it yet I 'le face this storm Stand like a King 'gainst my Rellious Doom And Perish worthy of my Dignity Enter Lord Mountacute Sr. Thomas Delamore and Sr. Robert Holland All. Health to your Majesty King The like to all of You ye are good men My Worthy Uncle Edmond when alive Bad me select and value ye as Jewells When Dying as a Legacy Bequeath'd Your Faiths and Service I am too Young to know the Arts of Men But by my hopes I think ye mighty honest L. Moun. Our happiness Lyes only in that thought King Tell me my Friends and with that honest Plainness As suits the Character I have of you Why is it that with folded Arms of Late And heavy Eyes which speak distemper'd minds Ye measure out your steps Seeming like Statues more then Councellors As mourners wait upon the Dead remains Of some lov'd friend to his eternall home S. Tho. Del. Most Royall Prince my honour'd Leige and Master King Honour'd my Leige my Prince and Royall Master How Like this sounds to Mortimer I find he 's grown the President o' th Court The Star by which each Courtier guides his hopes S. Rob Holl Rather a Meteor or some Exhalation Rais'd by the Sulphurous vapours of the Earth Which borrowing of a Blaze from Reall Lights Attracts the eyes of Fools to Gaze on it King No more on your Allegiance to the Point L. Moun. You have touch'd us home Sir now and we obey The Secrets of our hearts shall be unlock'd Where you may read yours and the Nations doom It is the Man you 've named which rides our Spirits Oh my Lov'd Lord Why is this Viper harbour'd in your Bosome Which 〈◊〉 insensibly upon your honour Why pâ—â—pher'd with the Worship of mens Knees You are our King Roâ—se sleeping Majesty Awake and view the Souls which wait your rising To pay their Long kept Homage where 't is due S. Tho. Del. Where now is Right to whom shall we Appeal The Queen has plac'd her Power on Mortimer Whilest the Laws edge is Ground but on one side Nor that employ'd unless to Lop your Friends The man who dare reflect on his Proceedings Or pity but the Circumstances of Edward Is streight beset and sworn into some Plot His Life or Fortune 's seiz'd it may be both Jurys and Witnesses are kept in pay Which have agree'd his Ruine e're he 's heard S. Rob Holl. Thus your good Subjects dayly are Oppress'd Which Perish by Consent of Perjury S. Tho Del. Thus whilst these vile Possessors wrack the Land Your Worth decays and Glory runs to Ruine It can't last long they think so make the most on 't Assume your Right or we must all submit Our Country Like Estates held in dispute Fertile in Woods and Parks the Pride of Wealth If he that 's in possession thinks it short He Cuts down all the Pomp of 's Ancestors Which many years their Diligence Improv'd So Worthy men the prop of future hopes By this Usurper Mortimer are Lopp'd Their Fortunes torn by ' th' Roots form long Succession And scatter'd to maintain Voluptuousness King Is 't Possible I always thought him ill But you Decypher him a very Devill Filling my thoughts with horror of his Crime Sr Tho. Del. Each Magistrate which should administer Justice Impartiall why all are made by him Which Ruine others to preserve themselves The Clergy and the Law are both his Creatures The Bishop Chancellor takes Care of that Places of Trust and Profit are all Sold 'T is Practis'd from the Mitre'd holy head To 'th Needy Starving Verger of the Church You can't serve Heav'n on Cushions but you pay for 't Or Blister your Numb'd Knees upon the Marble Then from the Scarlet and the Purple Gown Down to the very Cryer of the Court Lo. Mount Well may the Nation Groan while such as these Sit at the helm and what expect but shipwrack King Now by my Honour I 'le no Longer bear The Ignominious hand of a Controul I find my self enlarg'd Each Artery Beats double time as if my Spirits strove To be in Action
fresh ones Secret I am but a man yet am glad to do good in my Function when the Persons are truly sensible Secret 'T is a great goodness in you then Chan. Why there 's that old spawn of the Serpent Eitherside a fellow of rare parts eminent Practice I have known him undo twenty People and they never the wiser a very wicked fellow but then on the other hand his Repentance is always so hearty so Substantiall and feeling that my nature is overcome with his Penitence and I can no more chide him then I can refuse his Oblation Secret Such men are wanting to fill the Bench withall and I hope he may stand fair in your Lordships opinion in the next remove he 'd perform his part rarely he 's no Charitable Conscientious Timerous Fellow but a Thorough-pac'd Lawyer and mighty hearty in the Cause Chan. Say ' it thou so man and by my Troth it was well thought on if these Peuking velvet-hearted Wary Knaves that pretend to Scruples and seem averse to comply with the Queens desires hang an Arse any longer they shall make room for more deserving Persons I do admire they can have so little Grace as to receive a Plentifull Salary and make no return for it Secret I 'le pawn my Soul for him his temper may be moulded to what use occasion shall require besides his wants will prompt him to comply his Gains are not sufficient to maintain his family as his Wife would have it for she loves to go fine as most of 'em do and for a new gown would make him give away the Justest Cause in the world his Estate too is morgag'd past recovery to maintain her pride Chan. But his Neice Seeret his Neice Secret Oh she 's the Prettiest Creature my eyes e're look'd on such a Composition of flesh and bloud so Witty so Modest so Alluring Chan. And such a Servant I want for I am grown of late so melancholly I am not what I was we are all flesh and bloud Secret if she 's of a coming-nature she 's made for ever I grow aged this Turmoyling in the Government what with my affairs o' th State and bustling on the Bench bandying about Equity and one thing or other wearys me out strangely I want like the Heathen Monarchs my Saraglio to refresh me after the business of the day but I must keep that to my self and is she tractable Secret Easy as Innocence it self he 's gone to fetch her Chan. Sayst thou Secret He 's gone to fetch her Chan. Hither Secret Hither to your Lordship Chan. He shall be a Judge let him bring her instantly I am much refresh'd with the thoughts that I can serve the Nation and my self so Luckily go and bid the Serjeant prepare for his advancement Sly I shall my Lord Exit Sly Secret Will it please your Lordship to peruse these Papers Chan. No Sir I design to peruse something else I thank you I will not have my Imagination disturb'd nor my fancy pall'd tell me of Papers when I 'm to give my Judgment upon flesh and bloud what do you take me for nothing but hurry-durry all my life long thou thinkst my brains are taken up like thine who 's to be fined next no thou half-skin of Parchment I hate the Sin of being Covetous tho' I love Gold Extremly not altogether in regard as it is money but because Physitians have told me 't is a great Restorative you Varlet Secret I beg your Lordships pardon Chan. Pardon why you Jack-Call to the Law did'st think I was angry angry on a New-years day angry when Riches and Love is towards me no no but heark you Sirrah Secret What is your Pleasure Chan. That shall be nameless Sirrah was ever such a Question ask'd a man in my office why you Sawcy Impertinent Enter Sly Ha! is she coming rogue say you you little sucking Devill by the Mass I 'm strangely alter'd within this half hour Look you I am not angry Secret as I said before but is she such a pretty sweet dapper Peice of beauty I will make thee a great man shortly by the Mass. Sly My Lord she's whatsoever you can fancy nor can you stretch your thoughts into Imagination but she Exceeds it in substance her Uncle overjoy'd at the Good Office brings her himself Chan. He shall be a Judge shall he is already Sly See they are here my Lord. Enter Serjeant Eitherside and his Neice Maria. Chan. Leave us Exit Secret and Sly A glorious Woman how her eyes sparkle and how the bloud juts in and out upon her cheecks as if it hop'd some good were coming toward her come sweet one kisses Her lips are made of Velvet smooth soft and plyable I 'le lip her and eye her and every thing her Serjeant as I told you before I have a great kindness for you and hearing that you had a Neice of worthy Education whose merits spoke her praise oh you little baggage I can do no less having your Preferment in my eye then while I was doing good for you in some measure to advance your Neices fortune my House wants such a sober discreet young Woman to manage it and by the way I must call you my Lord. Ser. Oh Sir Chan. Indeed I must the Queen upon my Request doth conferr the office of Judge on you as you deserve that for ought I know you may be in a little time Chief Justice This I have done my friend to serve you But to the matter what say you Mr. Serjeant my Lord I beg your pardon are you willing to put your Neice under my care and Protection ha Ser. My Lord you so highly oblige me I am struck silent with the manner of it a Judge Chief-Justice I am confounded with the honour My Lord the Maid is whatever you please to make her Chan. Then I 'le make a Woman of her speedily What say you pretty Lady are you free to take the trouble upon you I am a weak man and have but few Relations If I do well I 'le make your fortunes If I dye you shall have no Cause to repent Mari. Would thou wert dead already must I then be the Sacrifice to my Uncles Ambition be steady Virtue and assist me Heav'n tho' poor I 'le not be base Oh Mountacute Chan. What say your fair one Mari. In any honest way I should be proud to serve your Lordship and obey my Uncle Chan. Pretty Innocence I am but twenty not so much I believe I know not what I am Ser. He may in time make her his Heir at least her fortunes made and I am freed of a Burthen My worthy Lord her mind and mine are all one she is the Creature of your Pleasure and will take any Impression your Lordship shall stamp on her a Judge Wife be of Comfort thy Chariot shall be turn'd into a Coach Thy Pew at Church be strip'd of Baise and lin'd with Velvet and thou shalt take place of my Lady
serve her my Lord Chan. Why no body else she has tryed the Judges already and they are wresty like so many tyred horses they will not budge a Jot Serj What is it my Lord what is it how does your Lordship like my Neice is she courteous Chan. Charmingly charmingly but to our business there are a Parcell of froward persons that stand upon their Priviledges because they 're Peers and between you and me brother are very unmannerly both to the Queen and the Earle now they were order'd to be prosecuted and the Knaves in Scarlet refus'd pretending they were above their Cognizance Serj. How above their Cognizance who are they let me know 'em and their Crimes and if I do not case 'em up uncase me but what will become of me if a Parliament should be Summon'd Chan. O fear it not the Queen will never call a Parliament lest they might question her as well as you therefore be stanch Serj. Twist a whip as your Lordship says I 'le go through-stich Chan. There 's that Prating fellow Mountacute and Whispers Mar. Ha! what said he oh how my fears comes thick on me Chan. But I 'le tell you as I go here my Charge take these Keys they 'l open the doors of my Cabinets there there feast thy eyes and take what thou wilt I 'le but speak a word with thy Uncle and come and settle some Jewells and precious Stones upon thee Enter Gentleman Gent. My Lord the Earl of March desires your speedy Presence at his Apartment Chan. The Devill boyl him again what shall I do Serj. My Lord I find you are uneasy at your being so open to business nor indeed can you be private here as Love requires what thinks your Lordship of my house there you may be secure Chan. A Pimp of a thousand you say worthyly nothing better go get you in and take what you finde on the Squab under the window and go home to your Uncles where I 'le come and sup as soon as I 've Dispatch'd this business I must talk with you as I go nay a Kiss a kiss at parting I 'm in Paradice Come come along brother or I shall oh 〈◊〉 along come Ex. Chan. and Serj â—ar They 're gone and left me wretched the darling of my soul my virgin Love my Dear-priz'd Mountacute they have in chase eager as blood-hounds when upon full scent could I but Interpose 'twixt him and fate I should be bless'd in Dying pitty'd by him ha what paper 's this takes 'em off the Ground my Curiosity was never sawcy yet Love makes it now Good heaven what have I found the very Scrole of Death Directions in what manner to proceed 'gainst Mountacute and others be but Propitious Starrs and I will make this Instrument of Villany the Guide by which I 'le steer this almost sinking bark through all the Rocks which threaten his Destruction 't will bring me to his sight bless'd accident And tho' my fortunes can't expect his Love My Generous care of him he must approve Ex. End of the 3d. Act. ACT IV. SCENE I. Mountacute's House Enter Mountacute and Holland Mount ALL things move forward with a Prosperous Breeze And we shall reach the Harbour of Success Sooner then we believ'd 't is now in veiw Heav'n seems as if it took Peculiar Care Promising safety to the Royall Cause Inspires the King who steers the mighty Bark Keeping him steady in his Resolution This night but over we have gain'd the Bay Safely we Ride Contemning future Storms Sr. Rob. Holl. 'T is Wonderfull indeed it shews the hand Of Providence is with us never Prince Was Grac'd with so much Knowledge as young Edward Considering his years 't is wonderfull He weighs with all the Gravity and thought Of an Experienc'd Statesman what 's propos'd Still as he speaks the Accent of each Word Keeps proper time and points to his Revenge Lo. Mount Ay! there it Centers nothing is more sweet It is the Choicest Dainty of the Gods With which they feast themselves on Solemn days And 't is but Just their Representative Sould Diet on the same when injur'd with ' em He Credits now the Baseness of his Mother Her Rank familiarity with March Oh Murder'd Edward Doubly Massacr'd Whose Honour suffer'd with thy Innocence While thy Adulterers thrive i' th Eye of Heav'n They magnify their mischiefs by Success And Cuckold every hour thy memory Sr. Rob. Holl Tax not the Powers above left we 'r forsaken They often suffer what they do not like Their Vengeance makes us think why we are punish'd Such visitations whets our Penitence Creates reflections on the inward Cause For Conscience is the mirror of our Souls Which represents the Errors of our Lives In their full shape Lo. Mount But tell me friend what message is return'd From Exeter and Berkly will they come Or choose they rather tamely to be nooz'd Sr. Ro. Holl. Be not too rash for they are men of Worth Do not believe because they left the Court Retreating to their Quiet Rurall Seats Where they might gorge the Vulture of their minds They are cold or stupid when their honour calls No Mountacute believe me they have heard That in the Roll of Fame there yet remains One Chance one Glorious Lot that 's worthy hazzard Whereby the Kingdoms fate may be retriev'd Rouz'd with the Summons they have wing'd their hast Vying who shall become the second Curtius Mount Why so 't was with Salisbury when first I told the Glorious Action now in hand He like some Lyon almost stiff with ease Loiling at length within his Antick Cave Takes the Alarum of the Huntsmans found At which he stretches out his well-grown Limbs Brustles his horrid Main and furls his Tail Whetting his Crooked Talons on the Rock Staulks to the Field and swells to meet the Foe Sr. Rob. Holl. They meet this Night at Council where they 'l finde Matter prepar'd sufficient to inspire ' em Mount All joyn the Nobles Gentry and the Commons The Chain is Rivetted the wresty People Whose Rights and Priviledges are usurp'd No longer free but all in Vassalage Are ripe for Mischief ready for Rebellion They wait from us the Signal when to Dole The Act of Justice wou'd the cry were up That I might see these Manglers of the Realm Drove to the Shambles and expos'd as Beasts Enter a Servant Serv. My Lord a Gentlewoman waits to speak with you Sr. Rob Holl. I'te take my leave at six we meet again Exit Mount I shall not fail Conduct her in Enter Maria. Your bus'ness fair one Mar. When I shall tell the Subject of my errand Possibly it may deserve attention But I must request your Privacy Mount You are obey'd by Heav'n a charming Creature Mount nods to the Servant who exits Now speak your pleasure Madam Mar. I come my Lord a Supplyant from a Maid Who for some years has ey'd your noble worth And tho' her birth nor Fortune can pretend To merrit that return she
Pangs and Throws I suffer'd at thy Birth this the reward Weeps For all my Sorrows Cares Anxieties Which through thy sickly Infancy possest me When many a weary night bereft of Rest I 've slumber'd o're thy Cradle and bemoan'd My own hard fate now it proves so indeed I 've nurst a Viper given an Adder warmth Which having grown to strength forgets its parent And Covets Preying on her Entrails oh monstrous Crime King Nay Mother mother Exe. Be not caught Sir these tears like those of Syrens Entice you but to Leap to sure Destruction Queen Must he alone have credit am I nothing Return e're 't is too late I do conjure thee By all the Comforts thou hast e're receiv'd By all thy Duty due which heav'n Commands Attend my Prayers and throw the Envenom'd Robe Off from thy Person ere the Poison fix Or else thou art lost for ever Sr. Tho. Del. Oh Sir be steady or you ruine all King I must retire or I shall melt to folly Madam I 'm Indispos'd and must withdraw Queen Come hither Child and rest upon my bosome I 'le hush thy Cares and quiet thy Disturbers As when I lull'd thee first Exe. Away Sir Queen My Son Sals. Be Deaf Sir Queen Edward my only Edward hear thy Mother King Force me away if you regard my Glory Mount That shan't be wanting They force him off Queen My Child my Comfort darling Ex. all but Queen Prop of my Life I shall grow mad I finde the fury seize me My Gall boyls up and I am all on fire Come then revenge thou Banquet of the Gods And let me Gorge my Ravenous Appetite Inspire me Nemisis thou subtlest fury Drive from my Soul the Weakness of my Sex And make me Masculine in my Attempts Some women have done Wonders in their Rage Why shou'd not I for I have cause Prodigious Nature for ever here I banish thee Remorse and Conscience Pitty all farewell Instruct me Malice and assist me Hell Exit The End of the Fourth Act. ACT V. SCENE I. Enter Mortimer Mor. MY Fears are Past the noble Treasons sign'd And Edward I will mount into thy Throne By Heav'n she was so eager in her Vengeance She never read the mischeif she has Granted Oh how she Rav'd Cursing her Son and Peers Resolving not to rest till she had Revenge Now Chancellor be Staunch in this main Cause And thou shalt thrive for thy dear wickedness Who waits Enter Turrington Wait on the Chancellor with this and let it Pass the Seal with his utmost Speed I 'le Instantly be with him too my self My Glories are in view Fate be my Friend In their behalf some kind assistance lend 'T were hard my hopes should fail so near their end Ex. Turr. Enter Queen Queen Have you dispatch'd the Paper which I sign'd Mort. I have and these couch'd Lyons who shrink their Claws Till they may Grasp our Lives with firm security Fall in our Toyl this night I have Intelligence your Son has Summon'd His Trusty Loyall Lords to Sup with him And when they 're careless in their Luxury We 'le bolt upon 'em with such sure Destruction Nor Edward nor the World shall rescue 'em Queen Sure when their busy Souls are sent abroad Their harmless bodies will let ours alone Mort. Hold but this noble Resolution you are secure The Rebell Lords have printed and dispers'd A formall Proclamation in your Sons name In which he does Convene a Parliament To meet the following month at Salisbury There to dabate on proper means and ways How to secure the Nations future peace Queen A Parliament oh Insolence He shall be whipt to manners foolish Boy His Learned Councell too shall be rewarded If Axes Gibbits Racks severest Tortures Can be produc'd sufficient for their number Mort. Ay now we 're right be firm and we 'le be great Else we must fall a publick spectacle To every vulgar villainy For Princes like the Sun when in Eclips Call up the eyes of many to behold 'em Who should have none in their full noon of Glory Shine out and you will be too bright for The low Crowd to gaze at Queen Thy pleasing Accent thrills into my breast Not the parch'd Earth when the hot Dog-Star reigns Sucks up refreshing showers With half the eagerness as I thy well-tun'd speech Oh hadst thou seen their Insolence my March To thy soft Queen thy tender Isabella I 'm sure thy Zeal had sent 'em from the world Tho' every heart thou hadst struck had been a Kings Mort. By all thy mercies and thy dearer favours So much I am a slave to thy Desires I should not spare a Saint that wrong'd my Love Stars let me but enjoy this heav'n on earth Keep yours above for Creatures lesser bless'd Isab. Thou art the Utmost limits of my Wishes And oh how dull would seem the Pomp of Crowns If mightyer Love make not Ambition easy So hear my Soul so rooted in my heart That were my Son and Mortimer Condemn'd And I should have the choice of saving one I know not where my Nature would plead stronger Mort. Most condescending Brightness how thou charm'st me Why was not I a match for such a prize Oh Partiall heav'n unjust distributer That giv'st us Monarchs Souls so poorly cloath'd Why hast thou made distinction in the blood And none at all i' th mind Isab. It is enough that we concur in Soul I think thee worthy to partake my Love And thou mayst think thy self a King in that Mort. Thus Bless'd then I am one and envy none And to remove all fears that Curb my Joys I 'le instantly dispatch thy Sons Instructers Then when our enemies to Love are hush'd We 'le pay our thanks to Love in Love Thou shalt the Alter of the offring be And I the Sacrifice which here shall dye Exeunt Enter Chancellour and Maria. Chan. Ay my Charmer these Cloaths become thee Now thou look'st like what thou art but what thou Shalt be the Event must tell Mar. I know what you design me my Reverend Equity but I think I shall be arm'd against it Chan. This night but over child we 'le Revell without Measure no interrupting business shall torment us the authors of that Plague shall be remov'd and then my little armfull of comfort Mar. What then Sir Chan. Nay wouldst thou have me tell thee what then child no guess Love guess and tickle thy self with the thoughts on 't such things I will do for thee thou shalt be the Darling of the Nation all hands shall honour thee and all eyes admire thee Mar. Shall I be this Sir Chan. More child more whoever has ought to beg of Tarleton shall come to thee thou shalt prefer take down do as thou wilt have a greater Court then the Queen and be more throng'd then a Country Church when a Bishop preaches In short I will set thee against the Proudest Minx that 's kept either by Lord Spirituall or Temporall Mar. But Sir Chan. Not a
a wise man and will be carefull of your honour in regard of his own and to my knowledge 't is safer Trusting your virtue in his hands then money in a Bankers true he is a little waggish or so alas child that 's nothing Learned men are of opinion that warming the bloud by being now and then Facetious is very conducing to health possibly he follows the Maxim aside Gads my Life he 's here now Neice if you have any respect for your self and me play the part of an understanding Woman and make use of the time I 'le step aside and watch your behaviour have a care Exit Enter Chancellor reading Mar. He 's gone and left me What shall I choose to save my honour There is no scaping hea'ven Inspire me best Chan. I am strangely discompos'd I shall hardly be settled these two â—ours what a damnable fright has this termagant Lord put me in he 's â—s faucy with me now he has got me in his net as a servant-maid to her Master when she has lain with him A Disappointment on both sides with a vengeance had I but enjoy'd the little rogue I should not have matter'd but not only miss the opportunity but also loose the Person I must send for the Pimp her Uncle a Pox of these papers flings 'em down would they were burning in the Guts of him that drew 'em I was too hasty I was too Rash we old men are so seldom visited with the effects of Love we make too much of the Guest because we know it 's short Ha! What do I see Discovers Maria. Mar. I am discover'd now fortune stand my friend Dissimulation help me and all the Cunning of my Sex attend me Chan. What my little wandring Jew are you here you had like to have made fine work 't is well you came back as you did you had lost a lover else my heart was just breaking I was sending in hast for a Master in Chancery to make my Will I design'd to have given all I had in the World to a certain Person that shall be nameless but one so very like thee that a man might safely swear you were twins Mar. I should be sorry if I should any way discompose your Lordship in my leaving you so Abruptly for which I beg your Pardon Chan. Sayst thou so ' gad child and I am very good-natur'd and heartily forgive thee but you shall give bond to perform Covenant for the future you shall kisses her What a notable twang she has I protest my dainty peice of Marmalete I have a strange Inclination for thee and I cannot but think thou hast of the quality of the Loadstone about thee turn thee which way thou wilt I have such a grudging after thee Sympathy I'faith meer Sympathy thou art my Compass and whilst thou art in being the needle will be always pointing to the North and I shall never be well but in thy Arms. Mar. It can be only your opinion Sir I know no quality I am endow'd with unless your favour Chan. You cogg you cogg what not know where your Magick Circle lyes no Quality why thou hast beauty enough to merrit an Empire I am thy vassall I who command this Nation am Commanded by thee Come hither and answer me a question wilt thou my Damsell ha Mar. To any thing as may become your Servant Chan. Good very good dost thou love me child answer me quickly I am under an Agony of suspition and must be resolv'd or I 'm a dead man Mar. My ready Services shall always demonstrate the high respect I have for you Chan. Respect Twist a Whip tell not me of respect I hate the expression 't is like giving the Cheek instead of the Lip upon a Salute torture me not with Delay but give me a cordiall of thy kindness or I sink I perish I 'm no man Mar. My Lord indeed I honour you indeed respect you and I have often heard it said respects the younger brother sure to love Chan. I desire none of his company if the elder be present come near me I must look on my Care my Jewell how those eyes sparkle why they out-lustre this let me see place it before those white little Panting pouting swelling throbbing heaving ah Rogue Puts a Iewell on her Bosome Mar. My Lord you throw your favours so very fast upon me I sink under the Consideration of my Gratitude Chan. A good childe a very good childe why they 're trifles to what I design thee thou shalt be cover'd all over with Gold and Jewells such things I have bespoke for thee thou shalt out-shine an Indian Queen say can'st thou love me speak my honey suckle and make me happy and thy self Illustrious speak my blossome of a Colly-flower my cherry-colour'd-bean with a black eye Mar. However furious my Gallants Inclinations are I finde my beauty awes him I am Master of his heart and may be of all he has oh Mountacute should thou do thus I fear my Chastity however I 'le seemingly comply but nothing more Chan. What another eye shot She looks languishingly on him and puts her fan to her face come out with it Lamb never mince the matter my doom my doom Mar. Good Sir spare the trouble and let my blushes speak my heart Chan. What! must I then be forc'd to bribe my Judge e're she will give her opinion here here 's Gold for thee nay nay take it she has nick't me 'faith my way exactly the method I use to follow to a tittle my Sentence Mar. I am not as I was yet cannot tell my ailing since I have seen you Sir my heart doth throb and beat as if it 't would have liberty Chan. Caught by St. Winifred she s in Mar. And when you speak of Love your words peirce through me I finde a pleasing shivering seize on me yet covet still to hear you and when you catch me in your arms I am like one half waking from a sleep I know not how to term it a pleasant fleeting transport comes upon me my eyes are doz'd and I grow giddy with the unusuall joy Chan. In Love the Experience of 30 could not have demonstrated better come childe I will repay it with double interest I have a thousand fine Curiosities within my closet which thou shalt be Lady of Immediately Mar. Oh Heav'ns what have I done I have fool'd my self into the spare Enter Serjeant Either-side Blessed deliverance my Uncle Ser. My most Illustrious prop of preferment Chan. A Plague of this Rascally Serjeant I perceive the fellow has forgot all manners since I have made him a Judge but I 'le send him packing oh brother Judge you are Wellcome never more wellcome rare news rare news The Queen and the Earl of March have by me put an opportunity into your hands of being suddainly a great man Serj. How does her Majesty think upon her lowest of her Subjects I shall never be able to repay the Goodness can I