ACT IV. Scœn. I.
Enter Poggio, Lollio, two Countrey-men with Eulalia.
Eul.Y’Are welcome Friends, your prayers and
Are comforts to me, yet without danger of the
Pog.Madam, the Court in all the Braverie
It boaſts and borrows, cannot ſo rejoyce
[F6]In
The Q U E E N
In the bright ſhining Beauty of their Queen,
As we in your enjoying in this plainneſs.
Their Bells, and Bonfires, Tilts and Tournaments,
Their Feaſts and Banquets, Muſicks and coſtly ſhews
(How ere unpaid for) ſhall not outpaſs our loves.
Eul.Be you as confident, I will not wrong
A man among you: therefore pray reſerve
What is your own, and warrant your own ſafety.
Pog.But how you’ll live, we know not: we are
In our old former Health: the Countrey’s cur’d,
Your Practice at an end: unleſs you had
The common gift of moſt Phyſitians,
To make as many ſick, as you make ſound,
You will not find a Patient in ſeven years.
Eul.But I have other Arts: ſufficient skill
In works of ſeveral kinds, the Needle, Loome,
The Wheel, the Frame, the Net-Pin: and choice of
Fingers works are moſt familiar with me.
Lol.And can you handle the Bobbins well, good
Make ſtatute-Lace? you ſhall have my Daughter.
Pog.And mine, to make Tape-Purles: can you
Eul.Yes, and teach all your children works to
The which, together with my own labour,
May bring ſufficient for my maintenance:
Without the idle help of Begging, Borrowing,
Or any way infringing the Kings Command.
Lol.You’l have a help beyond himſelf, but bor-
Eul.Something I have in Book, to help their know-
And by practiſe give them literature.
Then when theſe ſerious works and ſtudies toil us,
[F6v]For
and C O N C U B I N E.
For Recreation, yet with equal skil,
VVee’l practice divers Inſtruments, Songs and mea-
That ſhall invite the Powers above to ſmile
On the content of which we them beguile.
Pog.Well Miſtris, ours is the voice of the whole
All which, or what you pleaſe of it, is yours:
Take this Houſe: make your choice of ſervants.
Take our children: make your own Rates for their
Our Purſes and our lives are free to you:
Get what you can, that’s your own: will this pleaſe
Eul.Yes gentle Friends, and with aſmuch content
As ere I ſound in height of Government.
Pog.Take your poſſeſſion then: and let
Poſteritie record, that without grieving
A Royal Queen once Traded for her living.
Scœn. II.
Enter Curate.
Cur.Eho, oh, io, where is my learned ſiſter?
Eul.Why ſeem you ſo diſtracted?
Eul.Alas what is the matter?
Talis erat qualem nunquam vidi.
Andr.Sure, ſure, his Scholars have over-Ma-
ſter’d him, and whipt him out of his wits.
Cur.Corpus inane animæ, hold thy peace.
Eul.Pray ſpeak, what chance has happened?
Cur.Non eſt narrandi locus: Go forth and ſee. Th’
[F7]enraged
The Q U E E N
enraged Rurals are in an uproar lowd, each one an
Hercules furens, a
formidabilis formidandus Hoſtis:
and quite againſt the Law
Of
noſtrum eſt injuriam non inferre,
Are on the point of making themſelves merry,
In hanging thoſe ill deſtin’d men by th’ neck
That ſought ſo late to give your neck the check.
Eul.O let us flie to reſcue them.
Your haſt will bring you ſhort to cut the Rope.
Scœn. III.
Enter Lollio, Poggio, and guard, with Fabio and
Strozza.
Lol.Bring ’em away to preſent execution:
They have lien too long upon the Countreys charge.
We have given ’em bread and water a whole for-
Fab.You dare not do’t: what Law are we con-
Pog.Dare we not do’t? that word’s an hanging
Here in our Civil Government: dare not do’t Sir?
VVee’l do’t; and when ’tis done, wee’l argue Law
Stroz.When you have tane our lives, you’l lay the
Law to us: you cannot be ſo Barbarous.
Lol.Impudent Traytors! how dare you ſay we
cannot? yet becauſe we graciouſly are pleas’d to put
the Law out of our hands, and make you hang your
ſelves, Ile give you Reaſon: Silence on your lives.
Firſt, know, lewd, men, y’ are Traytors to the King,
In offering to be wiſer then his Judgement,
Which was but Baniſhment to the good
Eulalia:
[F7v]See-
and C O N C U B I N E.
Seeking moſt Trayterouſly to take the life
Of (I do not ſay the Queen, but) the Kings wife
You ſhall not catch us tripping Sir,
VVe are more than your match.
Lol.Good I do ſay ſhe is, and good again
I dare pronounce her, that by dayly pain
VVorks for her dayly bread: and for bare hire,
Teacheth our children ſo, that we admire:
The Infants who have underſtanding more
Then we their Parents have, or then
Our Fore-fathers before us had.
Pog.But brother
Lollio, make not your ſpeech ſo
long: what is’t to them? they’l carry none on’t to
th’ ’other world: let’s do what we came to do, e’en
hang ’em. Then, as I ſaid, wee’l argle it afterwards.
Loll.But brother
Poggio, better ’tis they live
A minute two or three, then ſuch a Speech
As I am now upon, be loſt.
Enter Lodovico, Pedro, Curate, Andrea, Eulalia.
Pog.See what y’have won by your delay! if ſhe
The good we meant her, I dare hang for ’m.
Cur.In tempore venimus with a Reprieve,
quod
Eul.Alas, what mean you neighbours? would you
For all my labours and my Prayers for you,
Blaſt me with curſes of expiring men?
What treſpaſs have I done you, that for me
You put theſe men to death againſt my will?
Fab. Stroz.We do applaud your mercy, gracious
[F8]Pogg.
The Q U E E N
Pog.There now, there they deſerve hanging for
They call you Queen, againſt the Proclamation.
Dare you maintain ’em in’t, and now ſpeak for ’em?
Eul.No, I condemn their faults, and blame their
But have nor Power nor will to judge the men:
You have the will: but to aſſume the Power,
You take the Kings Right from him: you tranſgreſſe
As much his Laws in ſpilling of their blood,
As they had done in mine, had they prevail’d.
Andr.They do not intend to ſpill their blood,
Countrey woman, they would but ſtrangle them:
never pierce the skin, nor make ’m an hair worſe
men, is you conſider rightly what they are.
Lol.But to the point. This is the All and ſome:
We meant you a good turn, and for your ſake
t’ have hang’d ’em right or wrong. Now ſince you
will needs ſtand in your own highway of womens
wiſdom, which is wilfulneſs
Let ’em and pleaſe you come to the Gallows
another day for killing you out right: who can help
Cur.Oraculouſly ſpoken: which of the Sages could
Lol.’Tis not unknown to you, that I can ſpeak like
a Sage, and am one of the Sages of our Precinct
here for the Laytie, though your learning lie another
way among us. I am a Sage, and will be a Sage.
Pog.And ſo am I, and will be: and but that wiſe
woman, which is as much to ſay as a fool for her la-
Cur.Another elegant Figure.
ſhe has gain-ſaid it, we would; yet to ſhew our ſelves
Sages, hang ’em up for Scarcrowes, to fright all their
fellows for coming from Court to kill women in the
[F8v]Andr.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Andr.O how I love a Sage! how many Sages do
you allow in your Precinct?
Lol.Some three or four main Heads: we have
now only
Pedro, Poggio and my ſelf:
But we have many Powers under us:
Theſe now are Powers that execute our Commands.
There is as much difference between a Sage and a
As between a Judge and a Hangman.
Andr.But is not the learned Curate a Sage
Lol.No, as I ſaid before, their learning
lies another way: we allow not our Clergie any Tem-
poral Offices, for reaſons known unto our ſelves.
Andr.Pray let me have a Sages place amongſt
ye then: I long to be a Sage.
Lol.Brother
Andrea, you ſhall have my voice in
Andr.Sage brother
Lollio, I thank
Cur.But will ye now, if
miſericordially
This gracious Fœminine preſerve your lives
Ex ore lupi, from the Gallow Tree,
When they conſider the moſt dangerous ſin,
That threw them on their deſperate Attempt,
And their eſcape from merited Puniſhment,
They cannot be ſo graceleſs, not to turn
To a reformed life: Firſt know, yong men,
Your forner Act ’gainſt me an Innocent,
Was Perjurie by which I fell, yet flouriſh.
Conſider there how black and fowl your Sin
Is rendred by my Chryſtal innocence:
Your next Attempt againſt me, was blacker, Murder,
The very word ſounds horror.
Name it not then: but by your ſacred mercy,
Acquit us of the Doom which we ſo juſtly
Have drawn upon ourſelves: and we will ſpend
GOur
The Q U E E N
Our lives in rendring ſatisfaction
Fab.Or may the earth on which we kneel for
Forc’d by the weight of our deteſted Sins, open.
Lod.But now you muſt reveal
By whom you have been wrought to theſe fowl
Fab.All, wee’l diſcover all, though juſtly then we
Lod.Good neighbours,
Lollio, Poggio, and
Andrea,
conduct them to my Houſe.
Cur.My ſelf alſo will to be their ſecurer con-
For fear the Ruſticks may preſume again
To ſtretch theſe penitent necks with halter ſtrain.
Lod.You ſhall do well: I thank your Charity.
Lol.Well, ſince in theſe we are prevented thus,
Come more, wee’l hang ’em, or they ſhall hang us.
Andr.Make me but once a Sage, and then fear
Pog.Thou ſhalt be one next Seſſions, without all
Lod.When we have tane theſe mens confeſſions,
Ile write at large each paſſage to the King,
Againſt the good
Eulalia’s will or knowledge
Pedr.Ile be your faithful Meſſenger, my Lord.
Lod.Thanks my good
Pedro: but remember
So deep in thought good Madam?
Eul.Never enough in contemplation of my Hap-
Pedr.It is your Heavenly mind that ſweetens all
[G1v]Enter
and C O N C U B I N E.
Enter one of the Countreymen.
Pogg.VVhat’s the matter man?
Doubtleſs and without all peradventure, more
Pogg.The news, good neighbour.
Countr.O neighbours
Poggio and
Lollio, ſuch a news,
ſuch a Diſcoverie, ſuch a thing is come to paſs,
ſuch a buſineſs is come to light, as your hearts
never heard, your Tongues never thought, nor
your ears ever utter’d: you cannot hear it, but
it will drown you in a Sea of Admiration, never
to riſe again in your right wits.
Lol.Now am I mad till I hear it.
Pog.Thou ſhalt tell me firſt whether it be good
or bad, or Ile not hear it.
Countr.It is good or bad I aſſure you: and there-
Pog.I mean which is it? good or bad?
Countr.I ſay it is good and bad: and you may both
ſtay and be gone, hear it or hear it not, an’t
Pog.Nay thou art in thy Jibes now: how good or
I pray thee neighbour, I do pray thee how good or
Countr.Nay then it is neither good nor bad, but
both: the beſt and the worſt that ever you
heard in your life, and the worſt ſhall out firſt;
what do you think of the woman that we have
Pogg.Who, the holy woman? that we are all ſo
bound to pray for? I hope no ill’s betide her.
Countr.Come, ſhee’s a witch: flatly and plainly ſaid
G 2Pog.
The Q U E E N
Pog.Did not I tell you ſhe was an unknown woman,
and therefore a good one, quoth you? but ſay I, doubt-
leſly; and without all peradventure, all that ſhe did
was but a kind of witchcraft.
Lol.It cannot, ſie, it cannot be: how is ſhe found
Countr.I do not ſay ſhee’s found a witch, but ſhe’s
Pog.By whom is ſhe accus’d?
Countr.By two brave men at Arms that came from
VVith purpoſe to have kill’d her for the ſame.
To be ſhort, They found her out, and naked ſwords
But as they thought to have thruſt her through and
They both dead Palſie-ſtruck fall to the ground.
Countr.And had no ſtrength but of their Tongues
Pog.Vertue can want no Foes,
Countr.VVith that they cryed ſhe was a witch, and
She alſo was that Queen which for a whore
(ſwore
The King had turn’d away.
Pog.This is indeed the beſt news thou couldſt bring.
Now doubtleſly and without all peradventure, ’tis
the Queen indeed: and if ſhe be not a witch, I am
ſorry I thought ſo, with all my heart: where be thoſe
men? VVee’l hang’m preſently.
Countr.No, the Queen, if ſhe be the Queen, will
not have them hurt more then they be: we were
about to execute ’em: but ſhe would not ſuffer it.
Pog.Nay without all peradventure, if there be
goodneſs above ground, I ſaid, and I ſay it again,
Countr.She would have cur’d ’em preſently her
ſelf: but could not do’t, becauſe the cruel Caitifs
[G2v]would
and C O N C U B I N E.
would not confeſſe their ſins, as ſhe made us, you
know, before her gift could cure us: by the ſame
token I ſuffered an hours torment that I might
have ſcap’d, becauſe I was ſo loath to bring out that
naughtie buſineſs betwixt me and the Millers wife.
Pog.’Twas well you confeſs’d at laſt.
Countr.I, and they will be glad to confeſs, before
they be able to ſtir hand or foot, I warrant: and ſo I
told’m when I lodg’d ’em both lovingly together
upon ſtraw in my Barn; too good for ’em; and ſo I
told ’em too, for being Traytors to her Holineſs.
Lol.But where’s our Holy woman?
Queen wee’l call her now, without all peradventure.
Lol.Coming this way to her Court-Cottage here,
but very ſlowly, though our two new neighbours
make the beſt way they can for her through the Peo-
ple that preſs upon her ſo with thanks and offerings
for their new Healths: but ſhe takes not ſo much for
curing a thouſand mortal People, as I have ſpent
in Turpentine and Tarre to keep my Flocklings
cleanly in a Spring time. Hark, ſhe comes: this is
the Muſick where ere ſhe goes.
[Shout within.]
All.Heaven bleſs our Holy woman.
Scœn. III.
Enter Lodovico, Eulalia, Andrea.
Lod.Depart good neighbours, good people all de-
part: ſhee’l come abroad again to morrow.
Within.Heaven bleſs our Holy woman.
Andr.She thanks you all good People, pray de-
To morrow you ſhall have the ſecond part:
She ſhall appear again unto you; pray depart,
The men in Peace, the Wives in quietneſs.
G 3And
The Q U E E N
And let your bigger children ſtill the leſs.
[All within.]Heaven bleſs our Holy woman.
Andr.So, now the Hubbub’s gone: I pray paſs on.
I ſhall be as weary of the Cottage, as of the Court,
If this noiſe hold: here’s thruſting and crowding
As much as there, onely here they have leſs Pride.
Eul.VVas ever comfort in the Court like this?
Lod.I never liv’d till now.
Enter three country-men more.
Andr.Here come more of our weather-headed
Pog.Heaven bleſs our Holy woman.
2.Nay then Heaven bleſs our Sacred Soveraign.
Eul.This Homage fits not me.
1.We had not liv’d but by your ſacred means;
And will no longer live then be your Subjects.
Eul.You go about to caſt away your lives:
In ſerving or in ſuccouring me, you fall
Into Rebellion againſt the King.
2.We have no King nor Queen but you.
Heaven bleſs your Majeſty.
Andr.That was pronounc’d bravely; O my brave
Andr.I, well ſaid, hold her to it.
Eul.How dare you call me ſo?
can prove it good and lawful.
This Province is engag’d unto you Madam,
The King made it your Joynture: and we find
No reaſon but you inſtantly poſſeſſe it.
Eul.VVhat, and the King alive?
[G3v]1. He’s
and C O N C U B I N E.
Lol.Yes, yes, he’s dead to you.
Andr.VVell ſaid again: that’s a ſound point, be-
Eul.I tremble but to hear you,
And will not live an hour amongſt you more
But with this freedom, To uſe my fair obedience to
2.You ſhall obey the King then, and we’ll obey
Eul.O let that Title die with my late Fortune:
Remember it no more, but let me be
As one of you; nay rather, an Inferior,
Or I from this abiding muſt remove:
Of which I firſt made choice in truth for love.
Eul.Take heed good neighbours,
Beware how you give Dignitie or Title; therein
2.No whit good Madam. Obſerve the Dialect of
And you ſhall find Madam given there in Courteſie,
To women of low Fortunes, unto whom
’Tis held a poore addition, though great Queens
Do grace and make it Royal.
The Perſon dignifies the Titles, not it the Perſon.
1.And in that, Madam, you are in your content
Above all Title’s proper to great Princes:
But ſetting this aſide, how thrive your Scholars?
Eul.We go fairly on.
[Enter I. Girl.] look you
Here’s one that knew no letter in the Book
(Sir,
Within theſe ten days, can read hitherto,
And waits for a new leſſon: proceed hither––––
And at your hour Ile hear you.
ſooth Miſtreſſe.
Enter 2. Girl.
Eul.Good Girl, well ſaid: nay, nay, hold up your
head: ſo, ſo, ’tis very well: let’s ſee your Samplar:
G 4wha t
The Q U E E N
what an hearts eaſe is here!
Eul.Nay ſhee’l do well: now take
me out this Flower. Keep your work clean, and you
ſhall be a good Maid.
Enter 3. Girl. Now
where’s your writing book?
ſooth. Pray ſhall I have a Joyn-hand Copy next?
Eul.No child, you muſt not Joyn-hand yet: you
muſt your letters and your minums better firſt. Take
heed, you may Joyn-hand too ſoon, and ſo mar all:
ſtill youth deſires to be too forward. Go take your
Lute, and let me hear you ſing the laſt I taught you.
Enter 4. Girls.[Song]
Scœn. IV.
Enter Doctor and Midwife.
Lod.Whither do you preſs? who would you
Doctor.O Sir, for Charity ſake give us
acceſs unto the holy woman.
Doct.We are poor Pilgrims man and wife, that
are upon our way ſtruck with ſad pain and ſorrow.
Andr.Alas poor Pilgrims! here’s ſhe muſt do you
Eul.How divine Juſtice throwes my Enemies in-
to my hands? what are your griefes?
Doc.My wife is ſtruck with dumbneſs.
That’s the greateſt grief a woman can endure:
But trouble not thy ſelf to ſeek for cure.
Too many a man i’th’ world will change with thee
A wife that of her Language is too free,
Eul.Pray Sir be you ſilent.
[G4v]Which
and C O N C U B I N E.
Which I deſire to ſhew in ſome more privacie.
Eul.Becauſe your Blow cannot be ſafely given
O ſinful wretch! thou hadſt no pain till now;
Nor was ſhe dumb till divine Providence
Now at this inſtant ſtruck her. It is now
Juſt as thou ſaiſt: and juſtly are you puniſhed
For treacherous counterfeits.
Lodowick ſearch his
Lod.His hand is wither’d, and lets fall a Knife.
Andr.As ſharp to do a miſchief as ere was felt on.
Eul.Now take off his falſe Beard: ſee if you know
And let the woman be unmuffled.
Andr.O the laſt couple that came out of Hell!
Lod.Theſe are the other two that damn’d them-
In perjurie againſt you at your Tryal.
Andr.How do you maſter Doctor, and Miſtreſs
Is this the Pen your Doctorſhip preſcribes with?
This might ſoon write that might cure all diſeaſes:
And are theſe the Labours you go to, Miſtreſs Mid-
VVould you bring women to bed this way?
Omn.O damnable conſpirators!
Eul.Pray take ’m hence, their time’s not come
Andr.Come away Pilgrims: we’ll cure ’em for
If your own ſalves can cure you: O my ſweet Pil-
1.Fough, they ſtink of Treaſon damnably.
2.VVhat, ſhall we hang ’m? drown ’em? or burn
1.They ſhall taſte fortie deaths, then take their
[G5r]2. I
The Q U E E N
2.I, come away with ’em: they ſhall die fortie times
Eul.You ſhall loſe me, if you do any violence to
any of ’em: but let’m be lodg’d with thoſe we take
to day: Ile feed ’em all.
Andr.They’l be a jolly com-
Eul.Pray do as I intreat.
1.Ile make my Barn a ſpittle for your conſpira-
tors till it be top full, and then ſet fire on’t, and pleaſe
Eul.Do you no harm, and fear none: ſend your
2. Omn.Long live our Queen.
Queen? have you a mind to be hang’d?
School-Miſtreſs, we would ſay.
Eul.VVe live ſecure in ſpight of Foes: and ſee,
Where Heaven protects, in vain is Treacherie:
VVho ſays out State is low, or that I fell
When I was put from Court? I did not riſe
Till then, nor was advanc’d till now. I ſee
Heaven plants me ’bove the reach of Treachery.
Lod.O happie, happie Saint!
Ex. Ruſtici with Doct. and Midwife.
Scœn. V.
Enter Flavello, alias Alphonſo, with a Letter
to Eulalia, Poggio and Lollio following.
Lol.I would ſhe had a Councel: ſhe ſhall have a
And we will be the Heads thereof,
Though I be put to the pains to be Preſident my ſelf.
Pog.It is moſt requiſite for her ſafety: her danger
[G5v]A good
and C O N C U B I N E.
A good guard then in my opinion were more requi-
Lol.’Tis well conſider’d: ſhe ſhall have a Guard
too: and we will be the limbs there of, though I be
put to the trouble of Captain on’t my ſelf.
Pog.You will put on all Offices, yet count ’em pain
Lol.Yes, and perform ’em too in our Court of
Conſcience, for here’s no other profit to hinder the
Dutie: let them above do what they liſt; we will have
as much care of our School-Miſtreſs, as they of their
Semiramis: I ſpeak no Treaſon nor no trifles neither,
if you mark it. But ſhe muſt never know this care
of ours, ſhe’ll urge the Statute of Relief againſt it.
Pog.This is ſome Courtier ſure that’s with her; he
Lol.That made me dog him hither.
not have her out of ſight, that’s certain.
out of reach neither: a miſchief’s quickly done.
Eul.
No Superſcription, nor any names unto it. Moſt
Royal and moſt wronged Soveraign Miſtreſs:
(that muſt needs be me.) Be happily aſſured
your Reſtauration is at hand; And byno leſs means
then by her Death that uſurps your Dignitie:
(a plain conſpiracie againſt Alinda
in my be-
half.) All ſhall be determined at
Nicoſia, by
Eul.You know not the contents then, and are
bound by Oath you ſay not to reveal the ſenders of
Alph.It is moſt true: onely thus much I tell you,
they are your noble and beſt choſen Friends.
Eul.Heaven! can it be, that men in my reſpect
can plunge into ſuch danger?
[G6]Alph.
The Q U E E N
Alph.So Madam, this being all I had in charge,
I muſt crave leave (indeed I do not like this
Oportunitie, nor well the countenances of theſe
Eul.You are no meſſenger of ſuch ill Tidings
To part ſo ſlightly: indeed you ſhall not.
Alph.She’s honied with the newes: I have al-
Madam my Reward, and will no longer ſtay.
Eul.Then I muſt ſay, you ſhall ſtay: or Ile ſend
A cry as loud as Treaſon after you.
Alph.You’l wrong yourſelf and Friends then.
Omn. You wrong your ſelf Sir, and we charge
Alph.By the command of Peaſants?
Lol.How! you choplogical Raſcal, Peaſants!
Pog.Down with him into utter darkneſs.
Eul.No violence good Friends: but if you will
Till I give order for his libertie,
You do the State good ſervice.
Lol.May it do you Service?
cannot hold him faſter then.
Lol.Mad Aſſe, hold your prating till ſhe calls you:
Mean time you are faſt: ’twas time we were a Councel
or a Guard.
Exeunt with Alphonſo.
Eul.I thank thee Providence, I dreamed not of ſuch
I am ſtruck through with wonder at this Letter:
I could not at the firſt but think’t a Bayt
To catch my willingneſs to ſuch an Act;
Or Gullerie to mock my Hopes or wiſhes,
In caſe I had ſuch: therefore I deſired
The Meſſengers reſtraint from being my Relator:
But now a ſtrong Belief poſſeſſes me,
A noble Fury has ſtirr’d up ſome Friends
[G6v]To
and C O N C U B I N E.
To this high enterprize: whereby I gather
My cauſe is weigh’d above, whence I ſhall ſee
How well my patience over-rules my wrong,
And my Foes ruin’d with mine Honours ſaſety.
But let my better Judgement weigh thoſe thoughts.
I do not ſeek revenge, why ſhall I ſuffer it?
My cauſeleſs injuries have brought me Honour,
And ’tis her ſhame to hear of my mis-hap.
And is by Treachery ſhe ſall, the world
Will judge me acceſſarie, as I were indeed
In this foreknowledge of the ſoul intent,
Then here’s the trembling doubt which way to take:
Whether to riſe by her Deſtruction,
Or ſink my Friends, diſcovering their pretence.
Friends have no Priviledge to be treacherous:
She is my Soveraignes wiſe, his chief content;
Of which to rob him, were an act of horrour
Committed on himſelf. The queſtions then,
Whether it be more foul ingratitude
To unknown Friends, and for an act of Sin,
Then to be treacherous to the Prince I love?
It is reſolv’d: Ile once more ſee the Court.
Lollio, Poggio and Countreymen return.
O my good Patrons, I muſt now intreat
Means for my Journey to attend the King,
On a diſcoverie for the preſent ſaſetie
Of his fair Queen: ſhe will be murder’d elſe.
Pog.And let her go: we have ſhut up your news-
bringer ſafe enough, will keep you by your favour,
ſhort enough from hindring ſuch a work.
Friends, a ſmall matter will prevent this world of
Lol.Would you have us to become Traytors, to
Supply your wants againſt the Proclamation?
If you be well, remain ſo: your Iuduſtry
Can keep you here: but for a Journey, that
[G7]Re-
The Q U E E N
Requires Horſes and Attendants: money muſt he had,
Which we have not for ſuch an idle purpoſe.
Pog.Will you neglect your Houſe
and Trade to meddle any more with State-matters?
Lol.And bring our necks in danger to aſſiſt you?
Let your own counſell adviſe you to ſtay.
Scœn. VI.
Enter King, Petruccio
King.My Son, my Son? you urge the name of Son
To work remorſe within me, when I ask
How died that Baſtard boy; no Son of mine.
Petr.His laſt words that he ſpake to me, were theſe:
Go, tell the King my Father, that his frown
Hath pierc’d my heart: tell him, is all his Land
Be peopled with obedient hearts like mine,
He needs no lawes to ſecond his diſpleaſure,
To make a general Depopulation:
But that he may not loſe ſo much, I pray
That in my Death his miſſe-plac’d anger die,
And that his wrath have double force ’gainſt thoſe
That to his Perſon and his Laws are Foes.
Had onely been habitual in his ſoul,
He did implore Heaven’s goodneſs to come down,
Lifting him hence to ſhine upon your Crown.
King.This Boy yet might be mine, though
Sforza
might have wrong’d me by the By.
Petr.This done, he pray’d me leave the Roome. I
wept: In ſooth I could not chuſe.
[G7v]King.
and C O N C U B I N E.
King.Well, well, you wept, return’d, and found
him dead in’s Bed you ſay.
Petr.Yes, in ſo ſweet a Poſture, as no Statuarie
With beſt of skill on moſt immaculate Marble
Could faſhion him an Image purer, ſlighter.
Petr.I found his ſtretch’d-out fingers which ſo
Had clos’d his eyes, ſtill moiſtned with his tears;
And on his either cheek a tear undryed,
King.It ſeems he wept and died.
Prithee no more: I cannot though forget
My threatnings were too ſharp: I muſt forget it.
I charge you that you leavy up our Army
Againſt thoſe Rebels that we hear give ſuccour
Unto the wretched cauſe of all my miſchieſes.
That hated ill-liv’d woman.
Scœn. VII.
Enter Horatio.
King.The matter? ſpeaks; how does the Queen?
Hor.O the ſweet Queen! I ſear, I fear, I fear.
King.What fearſt thou? ſpeak the worſt I charge
Hor.I fear ſhe has a Moonflaw in her brains:
She chides and fights that none can look upon her.
Her Fathers Ghoſt is in her I think: here ſhe comes.
Alin.Where’s this King? this King of Clouts,
Petr.Fearful effect of Pride!
Alin.This ſhadow of a King, that ſtands ſet up
As in a Preſs among the Raggs and Vizors
[G8]That
The Q U E E N
That repreſent his deceas’d Anceſtors.
Alin.Your love? where is your love?
Where is the preparation that you promis’d
Of ſtrength to tear in pieces that vile Witch
That lives my ſouls vexation? your love?
You are a load of torment: your delays
To my deſires are Helliſh cruelties.
Are theſe your promiſes?
[Horatio holds up his hands.]
King.I have given order with all ſpeed I could.
Alin.You could cut off an old man in a Priſon,
That could make no reſiſtance, and you could
Vex a poor Boy to death, that could but cry
In his deſence; that you could do; but this
That has ſo much ſhew of ſear or hardneſs,
As a ſew Peaſants to maintain a Strumpet
Againſt your Dignitie, is too much to do
Has the Devil puff’d up this Bladder with!
King.I fear her wits are craz’d indeed.
Alinda,
Hor.As I am true to the Crown, I know not what
to ſay to this: ſhe’s falling mad ſure.
Alin.No, no, you dare not do’t: your Army may
Perhaps i’th’ dangerous Action break a ſhin,
Or get a bloody noſe: it now appears
My Father (as ’twas voyc’d) was all your valour.
Y’ have never a
Mars or Cuckold-making General
Now leſt: and for your ſelf, you’r paſt it.
Hor.His ’tother wife would not have uſed him
Quiet Cuckoldrie is better then ſcolding chaſtitie
King.I ſee diſtraction in her face.
[G8v]Alni.
The Q U E E N
Alin.Did all your brave Commanders die in
Petr.By the Kings favour Madam (not to ſtir
The duſt of your dead Father) he has Souldiers
That know to lead and execute no leſs
Then did victorious
Sforza.
Alin.Sirrah! you have ſtirr’d more then his duſt;
you have moved his blood in me, unto a Juſtice that
claims they trayterous head.
Petr.My head? and Trayterous? I do appeal un-
Hor.And ſhe the ſpider in’t I fear.
My Loyaltie knowes not how to look upon her.
Alin.If thou beeſt King, thou yet art but that
That owes me love and life, and ſo my ſubject.
Life by inheritance: for my valiant Father
Whoſe life thou tookſt, gave thine, and ſo ’tis mine.
And for your love, you dare not wreſt it from me;
Therefore deny not now my juſt demand,
In that proud Traytors head.
King.Examine his offence, my dear
Alinda.
Alin.Is’t not enough
Alinda doth command it?
Are theſe the Articles you gave me grant of?
Is this the nothing that you would deny me?
King.Sweet, weigh but his offence.
Alin.His Head is my offence: and give me that
Now, without pauſe, or by the ſtrength of Hercules
Ile take thee by the Horns, and writhe thine own off.
King.Go from her ſight
Petruccio; levie up our
And let the Boy
Gonzago be embowell’d,
And ſent as a forerunner of our Furie
HUnto
The Q U E E N
Unto that Witch, contriver of theſe woes.
Petr.’Tis done, my liege.
[Exit Petruccio.]
Alin.Was ever woman barr’d her will, as I am?
Hor.Here’s a fine woman ſpoil’d now, by humo-
ring her at firſt, and cheriſhing her Pride.
Alin.Sure you have but mock’d me all this while:
I am no wiſe, no Queen, but ſilly Subject.
King.’Tis a diſeaſe in her that muſt be ſooth’d:
Sweet, thou ſhalt have his Head.
King.Go in, it ſhalt be brought thee.
Alin.Mark what I ſay to bind you to your word:
Do it, or Ile not love you: I can change
Love into hate, hate into love moſt ſweetly:
Let that man live to morrow, Ile love him,
And do fine feats with him, ſuch as your tother wife
And
Sforza did; but make much better ſport on’t.
They were an old dry couple.
Alin.I leave all to your Kingly conſideration:
You know your charge: look to’t, and ſo I leave you.
Exit.
King.What wild Affections do in women raign!
But this a Paſſion paſt all Preſident.
O ’tis meer Madneſs, mix’d with Divelliſh cunning,
To hurl me upon more and endleſs miſchiefes:
It has awak’d me to the ſight of thoſe
My ſury (ſprung from Dotage) hath already
Laid in my Path, grim Spectacles of horror,
The blood of
Sforza, and that tender Boy:
O let me think no further, yet ſtay there:
To plunge at firſt into too deep a Senſe
Of ſoul-afflicting terrours, drowns the Reaſon,
And ſtupifies the Conſcience, which delivers
Us over to an inſenſibilitie
Of our miſdeeds, and of our ſelves: juſt Heaven!
Afford me light to ſee I am miſled:
But let it not as lightning blaſt mine eyes,
[H1v]Con-
and C O N C U B I N E.
Confound my Senſes, make me further ſtray,
For ever coming back to know my way.
Hor.How fares your Majeſty?
ſhee’s loſt, ſhee’s loſt,
Horatio.
Hor.I would my wife were with her then:
And ſo would any good Subject ſay, I think.
King.What doſt thou think?
Hor.Marry I think (and ſo would any good Sub-
ject think, I think) as your Majeſtie thinks.
King.What doſt thou think of Loyaltie now?
Hor.Truly I think there’s now not any warrant-
able Loyaltie leſt but in
Petruccio and my ſelf.
The Queen is now out of my Catalogue, and my
Scœn. VIII.
[A ſhout within] crying, Kill him, kill him: for
Sforza, Sforza: kill him for the blood of Sforza,
Sforza, &c.
King.What terrible, what hideous noiſe is this?
[Within.]Kill him for
Sforza, Sforza; kill him, kill
Hor.My Loyaltie defend me! I know not what
to make on’t.
[Enter a Captain diſtractedly, Sforza Diſguiſed.]
King.What art thou? ſpeak: hadſt thou the voice
Denouncing all the Furies in’t, I dare yet hear thee;
Capt.O mighty Sir,
Petruccio.
Capt.O
Petruccio! I tremble but to ſpeak him.
King.Shall I then with the Prophetique Spirit of
Speaks of
Petruccio? he is turn’d Traytor,
H 2And
The Q U E E N
And animates the Souldiers againſt me,
Upon the diſcontent
Alinda gave him
Now in her Fury: is’t not ſo?
Hor.’Tis ſo,’tis ſo: ne’er ask him for the matter:
I thought ſo, juſt, juſt as your Majeſtie thought it;
And find withall, that now you have not leſt
A Loyal heart but in
Horatio’s boſome,
Now that
Petruccio fails: I fear’d ’twould come
To that: nay knew’t: O hang him, hang him,
Falſe hearted villain! he was never right,
And ſo I always told your Majeſty.
[Shout.]
King.The cry comes neerer ſtill: what does he
To bring my Army on to Maſſacre
Capt.Dread Sir, vouchſafe atten-
Petruccio is Loyal:’tis his Loyaltie,
And moſt ſincere obedience to your will,
That brings him to the ruine of his life,
Unleſs your aweſul Preſence make prevention.
King.Is then his Loyaltie become his danger?
Capt.As thus great Sir, in the late Execution
Of Death-doom’d
Sforza, which the Souldier
(Not looking on your Juſtice, but the Feud
That was betwixt
Petruccio and him)
Reſents as if it were
Petruccio’s Act,
Not yours, that cut him off: and ſtill, as madly
Bewitch’d with
Sforza’s love, as ignorant
Of the deſert of brave
Petruccio,
They all turn head upon him: and as if
’Twere in his power to new create him to them,
They cry to him for
Sforza, Sforza; or if not,
Petruccio’s life muſt anſwer
Sforza’s blood.
King.Leſt you him in that diſtreſs?
With much entreatie, by ſome private reaſons,
Upon their fury for an hours reſpite:
[H2v]In
and C O N C U B I N E.
In which dear time ’tis onely you may ſave
Guiltleſs
Petruccio from a timeleſs Grave.
King.Thou art a Souldier, art not?
Capt.And have commanded in your Highneſſe
King.Me thinks I ſhould remember, but Ile truſt
Hor.I hope you’ll be advis’d, though, how you run
Into this wild-fire of Rebellion.
King.My Fortune is more deſperate then his:
I am beſet and circled in with miſchiefes.
Way-laid with heaps of dangers every where:
Yet I will on: Kings were not made to fear.
Ile fetch him off, and the more readily,
For my miſpriſion of his Loyaltie.
Could I think that man falſe?
By all meanes fetch him off: that Loyal General
Is tenfold worth the whole Rebellious Army:
Save him, and hang them all.
Enter Petruccio with a Rabble of Souldiers, and
two Captains, crying, Come, come, away
with him, away with him.
Petr.Have you no Faith, nor due obedience
Unto the King? this outrage is ’gainſt him,
1. Capt.We obey the King,
And ’tis his Juſtice that we cut your throat,
For doing ſuch outrage in the death of our brave
That had you lives more then falſe drops of blood,
They were not all ſufficient ſatiſaction for his loſſe.
2. Capt.Your limited hour draws on apace:
Petr.He’s come within that hour, that ſhall relieve
H 3He’s
The Q U E E N
He’s fled and gone: no ſuch man to be found.
Petr.Then Faith is fled from man: is
Sforza fled?
Why ſhould I wiſh to live, now Honour’s dead?
Now take your bloody courſe, and in my fall,
Martyr the man that ſav’d your General.
1. Capt.Sav’d him? how ſav’d?
All.How’s that? How’s that? that, that again.
Petr.As I now live, I ſet him free from Priſon,
Truſting unto his Honour to ſecure me,
In which I did abuſe the Kings Authoritie
To th’forfeit of my life.
1. Capt.But does this ſound well from a Souldiers
2. Capt.He is not now worthy of death, before
He be well whipt for lying.
[Within]The King, the King, the King!
1. Capt.He could never come in a better time, to
ſee how bravely we will do juſtice for him.
King.How comes this Fury rais’d amongſt ye
Have you forgot my Laws and Perſon too?
1. Capt.We honour both thus low: now gives us
To look like men, and give your Highneſs welcome
To ſee a General of your Election
Die with a lie in’s mouth: your Souldier here,
None of the good Queens old ones.
King.Dare you both judge and execute this man?
2. Capt.We dare to kill the Hangman of our
And think it fits our Office beſt: though you
Have Law enough to wave our care and pain,
And hang him up your ſelf: for he affirms
That he let
Sforza live ’gainſt your command;
And that’s the lie we treat of.
[H3v]King.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Kin.Ile give you all your Pardons, and him Honour,
Sfor.Your Kingly word is taken.
[Diſcovers himſelf.]
Noble
Petruccio, thou art diſengag’d:
And if the temper of the King’s high Anger
Blow ſtill above his Juſtice, let it cruſh
This cloud that holds a ſhower of innocent blood.
Willing to fall and calm his violent fury.
All.Our General lives:
a Sforza, Sforza.
Petr.You have outdone me in
King.I am all wonder: now this man appears
The Manſion and habitual Seat of Honour;
Of which he ſeems ſo full, there cannot be
An Angle in his breaſt to lodge ſo baſe
An Inmate as diſloyaltie: if ſo,
How was
Eulalia falſe? or how
Gonzago,
That tender Boy, the fruit of lawleſs luſt?
There I am loſt again: Great Power, that knoweſt
The ſubtletie of hearts, ſhew me ſome light
Through theſe Cymmerian miſts of doubts and fears,
In which I am perplex’d even to diſtraction:
Shew me, ſhew me yet the face of glorious Truth;
If I have err’d, which way I was miſled.
Hor. Enters. O my dread Lord!
Hor.O my ſweet Soveraign!
Hor.No Sir: The Queen, the Queen, the Queen’s
And I am like to be, and you, and any man
That loves the King, unleſs ſome Conjurer
Be found to lay the Devil: I mean
Sforza.
Sforza.Sir (would you think?) that monſtruous
Sforza walks in the Court without a Head;
H 4Ap-
The Q U E E N
Appear’d unto the Queen: I found her talking with
Kneeling and praying him to give her Pardon;
Told him indeed ’twas ſhe that ſought his Head,
And that ſhe thought, that being now a Queen,
She might by her Prerogative take Heads,
Whoſe and as many as ſhe liſted: but
She promis’d ſhe would ſend it him again,
Or elſe
Petruccio’s firſt: or if he would forgive her
This time, ſhee’ld do ſo no more.
He ſeem’d he would not hear her: then ſhe beat
Her ſelf againſt the walls and floor, and flies
To free her ſelf by th’ windows: calls for Poiſon,
Knife, Rope, or any thing, whereby to follow
Her moſt abuſed Father. What to make on’t,
As I am true to th’ Crown, I muſt refer
Onely unto your Majeſtie.
Petr.My Lord, you ſaw not th’ Apparition, did
Hor.Not I: I ſaw him not: nor has the Devil
Power in a Traytors ſhadow to appear
Unto a Loyal Subject. Hah! my Loyaltie
And Truth unto the Crown defend me!
See the very foreſaid Devil at my Elbowe,
Head and all now: avoid, attempt me not, Satan,
I do conjure thee by all the vertues of a Loyal
Sfor.They are all too weak to charm a Devil Sir;
But me they may, your Friend.
Hor.I defie thee Bubſebel.
Hor.Look there, the Apparition, there it is;
As like the Traytor
Sforza when he liv’d,
As Devil can be like a Devil----oh!
Petr.Fear not: he lives, and Loyal to the King.
Hor.Does the King ſay ſo?
[H4v]Sfor.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Sfor.Give me your hand my Lord,
The king will ſay ſo, is this be fleſh and blood.
Hor.I, if thou beeſt fleſh and blood: but how to
believe that I know not, when my touch makes me
ſweat out a whole ſhowre of pure Loyaltie.
King.No more,
Horatio: I find that my credulitie
Has been wrought on unto my much abuſe,
And
Sforza now appears an honeſt man.
Hor.Whoever thought otherwiſe? or how
Could he in nature appear leſs then Loyal?
O my right noble Lord, I weep thy welcome.
King.Back Souldiers, to your dutie: learn of me
Hereaſter how to judge with equitie.
Sould.Long live the King.
Exeunt Capt. and Souldiers.
King.Now in the midſt of my ſoul-frighting ob-
I cannot but applaud your mutual Friendſhip.
Hor.Yes, and how equally I affect them both.
King.O that miſchance propitiouſly might be
A light to reconcile my thoughts and me.
Sfor.May you be pleas’d Sir then to let the cauſe
In which your injur’d Queen, your Son and I,
And truth itſelf have ſuffered, be review’d?
The miſchievous creature that was drunk, now’s mad
With brain-conſounding ſtrong Ambition:
She whom your ill-plac’d love Grac’d as a wiſe,
Whom now I am not fond of to call Daughter,
It ſeems is paſt Examination.
Hor.Mad, mad, moſt irrecoverably mad.
Sfor.But let thoſe Hell-bred witneſſes be call’d,
Hor.They are not to be found.
King.No? where is
Flavello?
Petr.Not ſeen in Court theſe ten dayes.
Hor.Let me out-ſqueeze that Court-Sponge.
[H5]If
The Q U E E N
If I do not fetch out the poiſonous corruption
Of all this Practice, let me yet be guiltie.
Scœn. IX.
Poſt-Horn. Enter Pedro. Letters.
King.From whence art thou.
Thus low ſubmits in dutie to your Highneſs,
The Service and the lives of whoſe Inhabitants
So truely are ſubjected to your Power,
That needleſs is the Preparation
Which with much grief we hear you make againſt us,
By hoſtile Force to root up a Rebellion
Bred meerly out of Rumour.
I find the Province Loyal.
Ile undertake to find more Toads in Ireland,
Then Rebels in
Palermo, were the Queen
(Queen did I call her?) that diſloyal woman
And that ſlie Traytor
Lodovico out on’t.
King.See
Sforza, ſee
Petruccio, what
Lodovico
That truſtie and true-hearted Lord has wrote me:
He has ended all my doubts, good man.
Hor.Ah, ah! does not your grace come to me
I thought I would put your Highneſs to’t for once,
To try what you would ſay: when
Lodovico
Does not prove truſtie, then let me be truſs’d.
Petr.’Tis a moſt happy Information.
King.I, do you note the Paſſages?
Sfor.’Tis indeed worthy a Kings regard: you ſee
King.Yes, yes, I know now what to do,
And mean to put it preſently in Act.
[H5v]Hor.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Hor.This I foreſaw would prove an hour of com-
The Stars themſelves ne’er ſaw events more plainly.
King.How full of April-changes is our life?
Now a fit ſhowre of ſad diſtilling Rain,
And by and by the Sun breaks forth again,
Exeunt Omnes.
