Dekker, Thomas, ca. 1572-1632 / Webster, John, 1580?-1625? : : Sir Thomas Wyat (1607)
compiled by
XSLT
Printed by E. A. for Thomas Archer [etc. ]
London
1607
XSLT translation from Chadwyck-Healey
Chadwyck-Healey transformed by xslt
1. 1607 Dekker, Thomas; Webster, John The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyatt Collapse
Reference Information
DEEP #: 498
GREG #: 256a
STC/WING #: 6537
RECORD TYPE: Single-Play Playbook
PLAY TYPE: Adult Professional
GENRE (ANNALS): History
BOOK EDITION: 1
PLAY EDITION: 1
FORMAT: Quarto
LEAVES: 28
DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: 1607
DATE OF FIRST PRODUCTION: 1602
COMPANY OF FIRST PRODUCTION: Queen Anne's Men
COMPANY ATTRIBUTION: Queen Anne's Men
TOTAL EDITIONS: 2 quartos
Title-Page Features
TITLE: THE FAMOVS History of Sir Thomas Wyat. With the Coronation of Queen Mary, and the coming in of King Philip.
AUTHOR: Written by Thomas Dickers, and Iobn Webster.
PERFORMANCE: As it was plaied by the Queens Maiesties Seruants.
IMPRINT: LONDON Printed by E. A. for Thomas Archer, and are to be solde in his shop in the Popes-head Pallace, nere the Royall Exchange. 1607.
Paratextual Material
None
Stationer Information
PRINTER: Allde, Edward
PUBLISHER: Archer, Thomas
IMPRINT LOCATION: O. 11 (Royal Exchange - Pope's Head Alley)
ENTRIES IN STATIONERS' REGISTER: None
Play details
Sir Thomas Wyat.
Genre: History.
Date first published: 1607.
Date first performed: 1602.
The characters are identified by IDREF pointing to information in
the following declarations.
Duke of Suffolk
Duke of Northumberland
Queen Mary
Duke of Norfolk
Sir Thomas Wyatt
Lord Arundel
Guilford
Sir Henry Beningfield
Lady Jane Grey
Winchester
Brett
Clown
Sherrif
Master Homes
Norry
Pembroke
Ambrose
Rodston
Isely
Lord Treasurer
Harper
Lieutenant
Master Roose
Omnes/Both
Lady
Headsman
Doctor
Preacher
Porter
Country Man
Soldier
Herald
Messenger
Clerk
UNK
The languages (other than English) which occur in the text are identified
by idREF which point to the following.

Enter Northumberland and Suffolke.
Suff:
How fares the King, my Lord? speaks he cheerily?
Nor:
Even as a dying man, whose life
Like to quick lighting, which is no sooner seen, but is extinct.
Suff:
Is the Kings will confirmed?
Nor:
Aye, that is, the point that we level at.
But O, the confirmation of that will,
it is all, it is all.
Suff:
That will confirm my Daughter Queen.
Nor.
Right, and my Son is married to your daughter.
My Lord, in an even plain way, I will
Derive the Crown unto your Daughters head.
What though the King hath left behind,
Two Sisters, lawful and immediate heirs,
To succeed him in his Throne Lies it not
In our powers to contradict it
Have we not the King and Counsels hands unto it?
Tut, we stand high in man's opinion,
And the worlds broad eye.
Enter Sir Thomas Wyat.
Suff.
Here comes Sir Thomas Wyat.
Nor:
Sir Thomas booted and spurred, whether away so fast?
Wiat.
It boots me not to stay,
When in this land rebellion bears such sway.
Gods will, a Court! It is changed
Since Noble Henries days.
You have set your hands unto a will.
A will you well may call it:
So wills Northumberland:
So wills great Suffolke,
Against Gods will, to wrong those Princely Maids.
Nor.
Will you not subscribe your hand with others of
the Lords?
Not with me, that in my hands,
Surprise the Sovereignty?
Exit Wyat.
Wyat.
I will damned my soul
for no man, no for no man,
who at dooms day must answer for my sin:
Not you, nor you my Lords,
Who named Queen Iane in noble Henries days,
Which of you all durst once displace his issue?
My Lords, my Lords, you whet your knives so sharp,
To carve your meat,
That they will cut your fingers.
The strength is weakness that you build upon,
The King is sick, God mend him, Aye, God mend him:
But were his soul from his pale body free,
Adieu my Lords, the Court no court for me.
North.
Farewell, I fear thee not.
The Fly is angry, but he wants a sting,
And all the Counsel: only this perverse
And peevish Lord, hath only denied his hand
To the investing of your princely Daughter.
He is idle, and wants power.
Our Ocean shall these petty brooks devour,
Here comes his Highness Doctor.
Enter Doctor.
Suff:
How fares his Highness?
Doct:
His body is past help.
We have left our practice to the Divines,
That they may cure his soul
Aru:
Past physics help, why then past hope of life,
Here comes his Highness Preacher:
Life reverent man.
Enter Preacher.
Pre.
Life, life, though death his body do dissever,
Our King lives with the King of heaven for ever.
Nor.
Dead! send for Heralds, call me Pursuivants,
Where is the King at arms?
in every market town
Proclaim Queen Iane.
Suff.
Best to take the opinion of the Counsel.
Nort.
You are too timorous. We in ourselves
Are power sufficient: the King being dead.
This hand shall place the crown
On Queen Ianes head.
Trumpets and Drums, with your notes resound,
Her royal name, that must in state be crowned
Exeunt Om
Enter Guilford and Iane.
Guil:
Our Cousin King is dead.
Ian:
Alas, how small an Urn contains a King?
He that ruled all, even with his princely breath,
Is forced to stoop now to the stroke of death.
Heard you not the proclamation?
Gui:
I hear of it, and I give credit to it
What great men fear to be,
Their fears grow greater.
Our Fathers grow ambitious
And would force us sail in mighty tempests,
And are not Lords of what they do possess.
Are not thy thoughts as great?
Ian.
I have no thoughts so rank, so grown to head,
As are our Fathers pride.
Troth I do enjoy a Kingdom having thee.
And so my pain be prosperous in that,
What care I though a Sheep-cote be my Palace
Or fairest roof of honour.
Gui.
See how thy blood keeps course with mine:
Thou must be a Queen, aye me! a Queen,
The flattering bells that shrilly sound
At the Kings funeral with hollow hearts,
Will cowardly call thee Sovereign:
For indeed thou wouldst prove but an Usurper.
Ian,
Who would wear fetters though they were all of gold?
Or to be sick, though his faint brows
For a wearing Night-cap, wore a Crown.
Thou must assume, a title that goes on many feet,
But it is an office, wherein the hearts of Scholars,
And of Soldiers will depend upon thy Hearse.
Were this rightly scanned,
We scarce should find a King in any Land.
Enter Arundell.
Arun.
Honour and happy reign
Attend the new Majesty of England.
Ian:
To whom my Lord bends this your ave.
Arun.
To your grace dread Sovereign,
You are by the Kings will, and the consent
Of all the Lords, chosen for our Queen.
Ian:
O God! methinks you sing my death,
In parts of musics loudness,
It is not my turn to rise.
Enter Northumberland, Suffolke with the Purse and the Mace, with others.
Nor:
The voice of the whole Land-speaks in my tongue
It is concluded your Majesty must ride,
From hence unto the Tower: there to stay
Until your Coronation.
Ian:
O God!
Suff.
Why sighs your Majesty?
Ian:
My Lord and Father, I pray tell me,
Was your Fathers Father ever a King?
Suff.
Never, if it like your grace.
Ian.
Would I might still continue of his line,
Not travel in the clouds.
It is often seen, the heated blood
That covets to be royal, leaves off ere it be noble,
My learned careful King, what must we go?
Gui.
We must.
Ian.
Then it must be so.
A dead march, and pass round the stage, and Guilford speaks.
Nor.
Set forward then.
The Tower will be a place of ample state,
Some lodgings in it, will like dead men's souls,
Remember us of frailty.
Gui.
We are led with pomp to prison,
O prophetic soul.
Lo we ascend into our chairs of State,
Like funeral Coffins, in some funeral
Pomp descending to their graves. But we must on.
How can we fare well, to keep our Court:
Where Prisoners keep their cave?
A flourish. Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Queen Mary with a Prayer Book in her hand, like a Nun.
Mary.
Thus like a Nun, not like a Princess born,
Descended from the Royal Henries loins:
Live I environed in a house of stone,
My Brother Edward lives in pomp and state,
I in a mansion here all ruinate.
Their rich attire, delicious banqueting:
Their several pleasures, all their pride and honour,
I have forsaken for a rich prayer Book.
The Golden Mines of wealthy India,
Is all as dross compared to thy sweetness.
Thou art the joy, and comfort of the poor,
The everlasting bliss in thee we find.
This little volume enclosed in this hand,
Is richer than the Empire of this land.
Enter Sir Henry Beningfield.
Ben.
Pardon me Madam, that so boldly
I press into your Chamber. I salute your
Highness with the high style of Queen.
Mar.
Queen! may it be?
Or jest you at my lowering misery.
Ben:
Your Brother King is dead,
And you the catholic Queen must now succeed.
Mar.
I see my God, at length hath heard my prayer.
You Sir Harry, for your glad tidings,
Shall be held in honour and due regard.
Enter sir Thomas Wyat
Wiat.
Health to the Lady Mary.
Mar.
And why not Queen, Sir Thomas?
Wia:
Ask that of Suffolke duke, and great Northumberland.
Who in your steed hath Crowned another.
Mar:
another Queen, Sir Thomas we alive,
The true immediate heirs of our dread Father?
Wia:
Nothing more true than that:
Nothing more true than you are the true heir,
Come leave this Cloister and be seen abroad,
Your very sight will stir the peoples hearts,
and make them cheerily, for Queen Maries cry.
One comfort I can tell you: the tenants of the Dukes
Northumberland and Suffolke denied their aid,
In these unlawful arms: to all the Counsel
I denied my hand, and for King Henries Issue still will stand.
Mary:
Your Counsel, good sir Thomas, is so pithy
That I am won so like it.
Wia:
Come let us straight from hence,
From Framingham:
Cheer your spirits.
I will to the Dukes at Cambridge, and discharge them all:
Prosper me God in these affairs,
I loved the Father well, I loved the Son,
And for the Daughter I through death will run.
Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Northumberland, Suffolke, Bret and soldiers.
Nor.
where is Captain Bret?
Bre:
Here my Lord.
Suff:
Are all our numbers full?
Bre:
They are my Lord.
Suff:
See them arraigned, I will set forward straight.
Nor:
Honourable friends, and native peers,
That have chosen me to be the leader of these martial
troops, to march against the sister
Of our late dead Sovereign.
Bear witness of my much unwillingness,
In furthering these attempts,
I rather joy to think upon our ancient victories
Against the French and Spaniard,
Whose high pride we levelled with the waves of british shore
Dying the haven of Brit, with guilty blood,
Till all the Harbour seemed a sanguine poole:
Or we desire these arms, we are now to war
Against the perfidious northern enemy,
Who trembling at our first shock voice and sight,
Like cowards turned their backs with shameful flight
But those rich spoils are past: we are now to go,
Being native friends, against a native foe.
In your hands we leave the Queen elected,
She hath seizure of the Tower,
If you be confident as you have sworn
Yourselves true liege men to her highness
She no doubt, with royal favour will remunerate
The least of your deserts. Farewell
My tears into your bosoms fall,
With one embrace I do include you all.
Aru:
My Lord most loved with what a mourning heart
I take your farewell, let the after signs
Of my employment witness I protest.
Did not the sacred person of my Queen,
Whose weal I tender as my souls chief bliss,
Urge my abode, I would not think it shame
To trail a pike where you were general.
But wishes are in vain, I am bound to stay,
And urgent business calls your grace away.
See, on my knees I humbly take my leave,
And steep my words with tears.
Nor.
Kind Arundell, I bind thee to my love.
Once more farewell.
Arun.
Heavens give your grace success.
Commend us to the Queen and to your Son,
Within one week, I hope war will be done.
Bre.
Come my Lords, shall us march.
Exit. Northumb.
Nor:
Aye, aye, for Gods sake on.
It is more than
time my friends, that we were gone.
Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Treasurer and Porter.
Tre:
What ho Porter! open the gate.
Por.
I beseech your honour to pardon me,
The Counsel hath given strict command
Not any shall pass this way.
Tre.
Why you idle fellow, am I not sent upon the
Queens affairs, commanded by the Lords? and know
you not that I am Treasurer? come open the Gate, you
do you know not what.
Por.
Well my Lord, I do adventure on your word.
The Dukes displeasure: all the Counsel board
Besides, may be my heavy enemies,
But go in Gods name, I the worst will prove,
And if I die, I die for him I love.
Tre.
I thank thee, and will warrant thee from death.
Is my Horse ready?
Por:
It is my Lord
Exit Tre.
Tre:
Then will I fly this fearful Counsel board,
Por:
My heart misgives me, I have done amiss,
Yet being a Counsellor one of the number
Nothing can prove amiss.
Now shall I know the worst.
Here comes my Lord of Arundell.
Enter Arundell.
Arun:
Porter, Did the Lord Treasurer pass this way?
Por:
But now my gracious Lord.
Arun:
Ungracious Villain, follow,
Bring him back again,
If not, by fair means bring him back by force:
And hear you sirrah, as you go, will the Lord Mayor and
some Aldermen of his Brethren, and some especial
Citizens of note, to attend our further pleasures
presently. The Treasurer fled: the Duke is but newly arrested,
some purpose, on my life, to cross their plots:
we will set strong watches, see Gates and walls well
manned: it is ten to one but princely innocence,
Is these strange turmoils wisest violence.
Enter Winchester, Arundell, and other Lords: the Lord Treasurer kneeling at the Counsel Table.
Arun:
Though your attempt, Lord Treasurer be such,
That hath no colour in these troublous times,
But an apparent purpose of revolt,
From the deceased Kings will, and our degree,
Yet, for you are a Counsellor of note,
One of our number, and of high degree,
Before we any way presume to judge,
We give you leave to speak in your behalf.
Tre.
My Lord, the business of these troublous times,
Binding us all, still to respect the good of common weal:
Yet doth it not debar private regard of us and of our own
The general weal is treasured in your breast,
And all my ablest powers have been employed
To stir them there, yet have I borne a part,
Laying the commons troubles next my heart,
My oversight in parting without leave:
Was no contempt, but only for an hour.
To order home affairs, that none of mine,
In these nice times should unto faction clime.
Aru.
Nay my good Lord, be plain with us, I pray,
Are you not grieved that we have given consent
To Lady Ianes election?
Trea.
My Lords I am not,
Arun.
Speak like a Gentleman, upon your word
Are you not discontent?
Tre.
Troth to be plain, I am not pleased,
That two such princely Maids lineally descended,
From our royal King, and by his testimony,
Confirmed heir, if that their Brother dying Issueless,
And one that never dreamt it,
it never desired
The rule of Sovereignty,
But with virgins tears hath oft bewailed her misery,
Should politically by us be named a Queen.
Arun.
You have said nobly, sit and take your place.
Enter Porter.
Por.
My Lords, Sir Thomas Wyat craves access unto
your honours.
Arun.
Let him come near.
Enter Wyat.
Por.
Room for Sir Thomas Wyat.
Wiat.
A divine spirit teach your honours truth,
Open your eyes of judgment to behold
The true Legitimate, Mary your undoubted sovereign.
Arun.
Arise sir Thomas, sit and take your place.
Now to our former business:
The obligation wherein we all stood bound
To the deceased late Kings will and our decree,
His cousin Iane, and the two absent Dukes
Cannot be concealed without great reproach
To us and to our Issue.
We have sworn in presence of the sacred host of heaven
Unto our late young Lord, to both the Dukes,
That no impeachment should divert our hearts
From the impeachment of the Lady Iane.
To this end we have ceased her in the tower,
By public proclamation made her Queen:
To this end we have armed the Duke, with power
Given them commission under our own hands
To pass against the Lady. You perform in hostile manner
And no doubt, the spleen of the undaunted spirit
Of Northumbers Earl, will not be called
With writings of repeal.
Advice in this, I hold it better far
To keep the course we run than seeking change,
Hazard our lives, our heirs and the Realms.
Wiat.
In actions roving from the bent of truth,
We have no precedent thus to persist
But the bare name of worldly policy.
If others have ground from Justice, and the law,
As well divine as politic agreeing,
They are for no cause to be disinherited.
If you not seven years since to that effect,
Swore to the Father to maintain his seed,
What dispensation hath acquitted you
From your first sacred vows?
You will say, the will extorted from a child.
O! let mine eyes in naming that sweet youth,
Observe their part,
Pouring down tears, sent from my swelling heart.
Gods mother, I term child? but I will go on,
Say that the will were his, forced by no trick,
But for religions love his simple act,
Yet note how much you err.
You were sworn before to a man's will,
and not a will alone,
But strengthened by an act of Parliament.
Besides this sacred proof. The Princely Maids,
Had they no will nor act to prove their right?
Have birthrights no privilege, being a plea so strong,
as cannot be refelled, but by plain wrong?
Now were you touched. The Lady in tower,
alas she is innocent of my claim.
Trust me, she would thinks it a most happy life,
To leave a Queens, and keep a Ladies name.
And for the Dukes your warrants sent them forth,
Let the same warrant call them back again.
If they refuse to come, the Realm, not they
Must be regarded. Be strong and bold:
We are the peoples factors. Save our Sons
From killing one another, be afraid,
To tempt both heaven and earth, so I have said.
Arun.
Why then give order that she shall be Queen,
Send for the Mayor, her errors we will forget,
Hoping she will forgive.
Wiat.
Never make doubt, setting her ceremonious order by.
She is pure within, and mildly chaste without.
Arun:
Give order to keep fast the Lady Iane,
Dissolve the the Counsel. Let us leave the Tower,
and in the City hold our audience.
Wyat.
You have advised well honourable Lords,
So will the Citizens be wholly ours,
and if the Dukes be cross, we will cross their powers.
Exeunt Omnes
Enter Bret, Clown & Soldiers.
Br:
Lance persado, quarter, quarter,
Clo:
What shall we quarter Captain?
Bre:
Why the Soldiers?
Clo.
Why they are not hanged nor drawn yet?
Bre.
Sir I mean quarter them, that the offended multitude,
may pass in safety.
Clo.
May we not take tools of the pies and the apple-women.
Bre.
Not in any sort; the Dukes pleasure will pass free.
Clo.
The Commons shall be used
with all common courtesy
That goes in rank like beans and cheese-cakes on their
heads in stead of Caps.
Bre.
Sir, this is a famous University, and those scholars,
those lofty buildings and goodly houses,
Founded by noble Patrons. But no more. Set
a strong watch. That be your choicest care.
Enter a Countryman and a Maide.
Man.
What is Soldiers?
Bre.
Fear not, good speech, those rude arms I bear,
Is it not to fight? Sweet, gentle Peace away,
But to succour your lives, pass peaceably away.
Clo:
Cry God save the Queen as you go, and God
send you a good market.
Man.
God save the Queen, what Queen? there lies the Sense
When we have none, it can be no offence.
Clo.
What tarry you there in your basket?
Man.
Eggs forsooth.
Clo.
Well, cry God save Queen Iane as you go, and
God send you a good Market.
Man.
Is the right Queen called Iane? a lack for woe,
at the first she was not christened so.
Exit.
Br.
Thus old and young, still descant on her name,
Nor lend no ear, when we her style proclaim.
I fear, I fear, Fear Bret, what shouldst thou fear?
Thou hast a breast composed of adamant.
Fall what ill betide, my anchor is cast,
and I in Harbour ride.
Enter Northumberland and Wyat.
Wia.
My Lord it is true, you sent unto the Counsel for
fresh supplies, what succour, what supplies? Happy is he
can draw his neck out of the collar, and make his peace
with Marie.
Nor.
How stands the Treasurer addicted to us?
Exit Wyat
Wia:
I had forgot: when we were at counsel,
He stole away, and went home to his house,
And by much entreaty was won to return,
In brief they all incline to Queen Mary
My Lord farewell, each hasty hour.
Will colder tidings tell.
Nor:
Come they in thunder, we will meet with them?
In the loudest language that their ordinance speaks,
Ours shall answer theirs.
Call me a Herald, and in the market place Proclaim
Queen Iane. The streets are full,
The town is populous, the people gape for novelty.
Trumpets speak to them,
That they may answer with an echoing cry,
God save Queen Iane, God save her Majesty.
A Trumpet sounds, and no answer. The Herald sounds a parlee, and none answers.
Nor:
Ha? a bare report of Trumpets!
Are the slaves horse, or want they art to speak?
O me! This Town consists on famous Colleges,
Such as know both how, and what, and when to speak,
Well, yet we will proceed,
and smother what close envy hath decreed.
Ambrose my Son, what news?
Enter Ambrose.
Amb.
O my thrice honoured Father.
Nor:
Boy, speak the worst,
That which sounds deadliest, let me hear that first.
Amb.
The Lords have all revolted from your faction
Nor.
We in ourselves are strong.
Am:
In Baynards Castle was a counsel held,
Whether the Mayor and Sheriffs did resort,
And it was concluded to proclaim Queen Mary.
Nor:
Then they revolt the allegiance from my Daughter,
and give it to another:
Am:
True my thrice honoured Father,
Besides, my brother Guilford and his wife
Where she was proclaimed Queen, are now
close Prisoners, namely in the Tower.
Nor:
God take them to his mercy, they had need,
Of grace and patience, for they both must bleed,
Poor Innocent souls, they both from guilt are free.
Am.
O my thrice honoured Father! might I advise
you, fly to your manner, there study for your safety.
Nor:
Boy, thou sayst well,
And since the Lords have all revolted from me,
Myself will now revolt against myself.
Call me a Herald to fill their empty ears,
Assist me Son, my good Lord Huntington,
Even in this market Town proclaim Queen Mary.
A trumpet sounds a parley, the Herald proclaims.
He.
Mary by the grace of God, Queen of England,
France and Ireland, defenders of the Faith. Amen.
Within a shout and a flourish.
Nor:
Amen, I bear a part,
I with my tongue, I do not with my heart,
Now they can cry, now they can bawl and yell,
Base minded slaves, sink may your souls to hell.
Enter Master Roose with Letters.
Roo.
My honoured Lord, the Counsel greets you with
these Letters.
He readeth the Letter.
Nor.
Stay Master Roose, ere you depart receive an answer
and reward.
In the Sovereign name of Mary our Queen
You shall upon the sight hereof,
Surcease your arms, discharge your Soldiers,
And presently repair unto the Court,
Or else to be held as an Arch-Traitor.
No.
It is short and sharp, Master Roose, we do obey your
warrant: but I pray tell me, how doth all our friends at
Court? is there not a great mortality amongst them?
Is there not a number of them dead of late since I came
thence?
Ro.
My gracious Lord not any.
Nor.
O master Roose, it cannot be, I will assure you
At my departure thence, I left living there at least
Five hundred friends, and now I have not one,
simply not one: friends! ha, ha, ha, Commission
Thou must be my friend.
And stand betwixt me and the stroke of death,
Were thy date out, my lives date were but short,
They are cold friends, that kills their friends in sport
Am.
Here comes your honoured friend the Earl of
Arundell.
Enter Arundell.
Nor.
My honoured friend!
Arun:
I am no friend to Traitors: in my most high and
Princely Sovereigns name,
I do arrest your honour of high Treason.
Nor:
A Traitor Arundell? have I not your hand in my
commission? let me peruse it: as I take it it is here,
and by your warrant have so strict proceeded.
Is the limits of my warrant broke? answer me.
Arun.
It may be that it hath pleased her Majesty
To pardon us, and for to punish you.
I know no other reason, this I must,
I am commanded, and the act is Just.
Nor:
And I obey you: when we parted last
My Lord of Arundel, our farewell was
Better than our greeting now.
Then you cried God speed,
Now you come on me ere you say take heed:
Then you did owe me your best bloods: nay grieved
You could not spend them in my service.
O then it was a double death to stay behind,
But I am overtook and you are kind,
I am, beshrew you else, but I submit,
My crime is great, and I must answer it.
Arun.
You must with your three Sons, be guarded safe
Unto the Tower: with you, those Lords and Knights
That in this faction did associate you,
For so I am enjoined.
Then peaceably, let us conduct you thither.
Nor.
O my Children! my soul weeps endless tears for you.
O at the general Sessions, when all souls
Stand at the bar of Justice,
And hold up their new immortalised hands,
O then let the remembrance of their tragic ends
Be racked out of the bedroll of my sins:
When ere the black book of my crime is unclasped.
Let not these scarlet Letters be found there:
Of all the rest, only that page be clear.
But come to my arraignment, then to death,
The Queen and you have long aimed at this head,
If to my Children, she sweet grace extend,
My soul hath peace, and I embrace my end.
Exeunt.
Enter the Duke of Suffolke.
Suff.
Three days are past Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday too
Yet my protesting servant is not come.
Himself conducted me to this hard lodging,
A simple Cabin, for so great a Prince,
And then he swore, but oaths you see are vain,
That he would hourly come and visit me:
I that was wont, to surfeit in estate,
Am now through hunger almost desolate.
Enter Homes sweating with bottell and Bag.
Hoom.
My Lord.
Suff:
Ned Homes, speak hast thou brought me meat?
Hom:
With much ado my Lord, meat, bread and wine,
While you refresh yourself, I will record
The cause of my long stay.
Suff.
I prithee do, need bids me eat,
Need bids me hear thee too.
Hom.
The night I left you in the hollow tree,
My house was searched.
Suff,
Go on, go on.
Hom:
And I no sooner entered but attached,
Threatened the Rack: and if I did not yield
Your gracious self into their graceless hands.
Suff:
And thou hast done it, thou hast betrayed me.
Hom.
Done it! o betray you? O no!
First would I see my loved wife and Children
Murdered, and tossed on spears, before I would
Deliver your grace unto their hands,
For they intend your death.
Suff:
Go on, go on.
Hom:
and offered a thousand Crowns to him that can
Bring news of your abode, it was offered in my hands.
Which I beseech may stop my Vital breath,
When I am feed with gold to work your death.
Enter Sheriffe and Officers.
Sher:
See yonder sits the Duke.
Suff:
I kiss thee in requital of this love.
Hom:
and in requital of so great a grace,
I kiss your hand that dares to kiss my face.
She:
So Iudas kissed his Master: seize the Duke.
Suff:
Ah me! Ned Homes we are undone,
Both thou and I betrayed.
She.
My Lord, late Duke of Suffolke, in her highness
name I do arrest you of high Treason.
Suff:
I do obey, and only crave this kindness,
You would be good unto my Servant Homes,
Where in relieving me, hath but performed
The duty of a servant to his Lord.
She.
You are deceived sir in your servant much,
He is the man that did betray you.
Here Master Homes, towards your thousand pounds,
Here is a hundred marks,
Come to the Exchequer, you shall have the rest.
Suff.
Hast thou betrayed me? yet with such a tongue,
so smoothly oiled, slight of my dangers fear,
O break my heart, this grief is too great to bear.
Ho:
Pardon me my Lord.
Suff:
God pardon thee, and lay not to thy soul
This grievous sin: Farewell.
And when thou spendest this ill got gold
Remember how thy Masters life was sold.
Thy Lord that gave thee Lordships, made thee great,
Yet thou betrayedst him as he sat at meat.
On to my grave, it is time that I were dead,
When he that held my heart betrays my head.
Hom.
O God, O God, that ever I was born,
This deed hath made me (slave) to abject scorn.
Enter the Clowne.
Enter Homes with a Halter about his neck.
Clo:
O poor shrimp, how art thou fallen away for
want of mouching? O Colen cries out most tyrannically,
the little gut hath no mercy, what is here victuals? O
rare! O good! Feed chops, drink throat, good victuals
makes good blood.
But stay, who is? more Sheriffs more searchers?
O no, this is Homes that betrayed his honest Master,
How, with a Halter about his neck? I hope he doth
not mean to hang himself? I will step a side.
Ho.
This is the place, where I betrayed my Lord,
This is the place where oft I have relieved:
and villain I, betrayed him to the Jaws of death,
But here before I further will proceed
Here will I bury this enticing gold,
Lie there damned fiend never serve human more,
Clo:
This is rare, now in this mood he would hang
himself it were excellent.
Ho:
Shall I ask mercy? no it is too late,
Heaven will not hear, and I am desperate.
He strangles himselfe.
Clo:
So, so, a very good ending, would all false Servants
might drink of the same sauce.
Gold, you are first mine, you must help
To shift myself into some counterfeit suite
Of apparel, and then to London:
If my old Master be hanged, why so:
If not, why rustic and lustick:
Yet before I go, I do not care if I throw this Dog in
a Ditch: come away dissembler: this cannot choose but be
a hundred pound it ways so heavy.
Enter Queen Mary, Winchester, Norfolke, Pembroke, Wiat, Arundell, Attendants.
Mary.
By Gods assistance, and the power of heaven,
after our Troubles we are safely set,
in our inheritance, for which we do subscribe
The praise and benefit to God, next thanks
To you my Lords. Now shall the sanctuary,
And the house of the most high be newly built.
The ancient honours due unto the Church,
Buried within the Ruin Monasteries,
Shall lift their stately heads, and rise again
To astonish the destroyers wandering eyes.
Zeal shall be decked in gold,
Religion not like a virgin robbed of all her pomp,
But briefly shining in her Gems of state,
Like a fair bride be offered to the Lord.
To build large houses, pull no churches down,
Rather enrich the Temple with our crown.
Better a poor Queen, than the Subjects poor.
Win.
May it please your grace to give release
Unto such ancient Bishops that have lost their
Honours in the church affairs.
Ma.
We have given order to the Duke of Norfolke to
release them.
Aru:
Your sacred Highness will no doubt be mind
full of the late Oath you took at Framingam
Ma.
O my Lord of Arundell, we remember that,
But shall a Subject force his Prince to swear
Contrary to her conscience and the Law?
We here release unto our faithful people,
one entire Subsidy,
Due unto the Crown in our dead Brothers days.
The Commonalty shall not be overburdened
In our reign, let them be liberal in Religion,
and we will spare their treasure to themselves:
Better a poor Prince than the Nation poor,
The Subjects Treasure, in the Sovereigns store.
Arun.
What is your Highness pleasure about the Rebels?
Mar.
The Queen like-Rebels,
Mean you not Queen Iane?
Arun:
Guilford and Iane, with great Northumberland,
and haughty Suffolkes Duke.
Ma:
The Duke of Suffolke is not yet apprehended,
Therefore my Lords,
Some of you most dear to us in love,
Be careful of that charge:
The rest we will leave for trial of the other prisoners.
Wia:
The Lady Iane most mighty Sovereign,
Allied to you in blood: for she is the
Daughter of your Fathers Sister.
Mary the Queen of France: Charles Brandons
Wife your Niece, your next of blood, except your sister,
Deserves some pity, so doth youthful Guilford.
Win.
Such pity as the law allows to Traitors.
Norf.
They were misled by their ambitious Fathers,
Win.
What Son to obey his Father proves a Traitor,
Must buy their disobedience with their death.
Wia.
My Lord of Winchester, still thirsts for blood.
Mar.
Wiat no more, the law shall be their Judge,
Mercy to mean offenders we will ostend,
Not unto such that dares usurp our Crown.
Arun.
Count Edmond the Ambassador from Spaine,
attends your highness answer, brought those
Letters sent from the Emperor
In his Sons behalf.
Mar:
In the behalf of lovely Princely Philip,
Whose person we
have shrined in our heart?
at the first sight of his delightful picture
That picture should have power to tingle
Love in Royal breasts: the Darts of love are words, pictures,
conceit, he will prevail by any,
Your counsel Lords about this foreign business.
Arun.
I say if it like your royal Majesty,
a royal treaty, and to be confirmed,
and I allow the match.
Win.
Allow it Lords, we have cause
To thank our God, that such a mighty Prince
as Phillip is, Son to the Emperor,
Here to wealthy Spaine, and many spacious
Kingdoms, will vouchsafe -
Wia.
Vouchsafe! my Lord of Winchester, pray
what?
Win.
To grace our mighty Sovereign with his
honourable Title.
Wia.
To marry with our Queen: mean you not
so?
Win.
I do, what then?
Wiat.
O God! is she a beggar, a forsaken Maid,
that she hath need of grace from foreign princes?
By Gods dear mother, O God pardon swear I,
Methinks she is a fair and lovely Prince,
Her only beauty (were she of mean birth)
Able to make the greatest Potentate,
Aye the great Emperor of the mighty Cham,
That hath more Nation, under his Command,
Than spanish Philip is like to inherit towns,
To come and lay his Sceptre at her feet,
And to entreat her to vouchsafe the grace
To take him and his Kingdom to her mercy.
Win.
Wyat you are too hot.
Wia:
And you too proud vouchsafe? O base!
I hope she will not vouchsafe to take the Emperors
son to her dear mercy.
Mar.
Proceed my Lord of Winchester I pray.
Win.
Then still I say, we have cause to thank our God,
That such a mighty Prince will look so low,
As to respect this Island and our Queen.
Wia:
Pardon me Madam, he respect your Island
more than your person? think of that.
Norf.
Wiat, you wrong the affection of the Prince,
For he desires no fortresses nor towns,
Nor to bear any office, rule or state,
Either by person or by Substitute.
Nor yet himself to be a Counsellor in our affairs.
Wiat.
What need he (Noble Lords) to ask the
fruit, when he demands the tree?
No Castle, fortresses, nor Towers of strength,
It boots not, when the chiefest Tower of all
The key that opens unto all the Land.
I mean our Gracious Sovereign must be his,
But he will bear no office in the land,
And yet will marry with the Queen of all.
Nor be of counsel in the Realms affairs,
And yet the Queen enclosed in his arms:
I do not like this strange marriage.
The Fox is subtle, and his head once in
The slender body easily will follow.
I grant, he offers you in name of dower,
The yearly sum of threescore thousand Ducats.
Besides, the seventeen famous Provinces,
And that the heir succeeding from your loins,
Shall have the Sovereign rule of both the Realms.
What, shall this move your Highness to the match?
Spaine is too far for England to inherit,
But England near enough for Spaine to woe.
Win.
Has not the Kings of England (good Sir Thomas)
Espoused the Daughters of our Neighbour Kings?
Wia.
I grant, your predecessors oft have sought
Their Queen from France,
And sometimes too from Spaine.
But never could I hear that England yet
Has been so base, to seek a King from either:
It is policy dear Queen, no love at all.
Win.
It is love great Queen, no policy at all.
Wiat.
Which of you all, dares justify this match,
And not be touched in conscience with an oath?
Remember, O remember I beseech you,
King Henries last will, and his act at Court,
I mean that royal Court of Parliament,
That does prohibit Spaniards from the Land,
That Will and Act, to which you all are sworn,
And do not dam your souls with perjury.
Mary.
But that we know the Wyat to be true
Unto the Crown of England and to us,
Thy over-boldness should be paid with death.
But cease, for fear your liberal tongue offend,
With one consent my Lords you like this match?
Omnes.
We do great Sovereign.
Enter Edmond.
Mary,
Call in Count Edmond Honourable Lords.
We have determined of your Embassy,
and thus I plight, our love to Philips heart,
Embark you straight, the wind blows wondrous fair:
Till he shall land in England, I am all care.
Exeunt all but Sir Thomas Wyat.
Exit Sir Thomas Wyat.
Wia.
And ere he land in England, I will offer
My loyal breast for him to tread upon.
O who so forward Wyat as thyself,
To raise this troublesome Queen in this her Throne?
Philip is a Spaniard, a proud Nation,
Whom naturally our Country men abhor.
Assist me gracious heavens, and you shall see
What hate I bear unto their Slavery.
I will into Kent, there muster up my friends,
To save this Country, and this Realm defend.
Enter Guilford, Dudley, Iane, and Liftenant.
Guil.
God morrow to the Patron of my woe.
Iane.
God morrow to my Lord, my lovely Dudley
Why do you look so sad my dearest Lord?
Guil.
Nay why doth Iane, thus with a heavy eye,
And a defected look, salute the day?
Sorrow doth ill become thy silver brow,
Sad grief lies dead, so long as thou lives fair,
In my Ianes joy, I do not care for care.
Iane.
My looks (my love) is sorted with my heart,
The Sun himself, doth scantily show his face.
Out of this firm grate, you may perceive the Tower-Hill
Thronged with store of people,
As if they gaped for some strange Novelty.
Guil.
Though sleep do seldom dwell in men of care,
Yet I did this night sleep, and this night dreamed,
My Princely father great (Northumberland)
Was married to a stately Bride:
And then methought, just on his Bridal day,
A poisoned draught did take his life away.
Iane.
Let not fond visions so appal my Love,
For dreams do oftentimes contrary prove.
Guil.
The nights are tedious, and the days are sad,
And see you how the people stand in heaps,
Each man sad, looking on his opposed object,
As if a general passion possessed them?
Their eyes do seem, as dropping as the Moon,
As if prepared for a Tragedy.
For never swarms of people there do tread,
But to rob life, and to enrich the dead
And show they wept.
Lef.
My Lord they did so, for I was there.
Gui.
I pray resolve us good Master Lieutenant
Who was it yonder, that tendered up his life
To natures death?
Lief.
Pardon me my Lord, it is felony to acquaint
you with death of any Prisoner, yet to resolve
your grace, it was your Father, great Northumberland,
that this day lost his head.
Guil.
Peace rest his soul, his sins be buried in his grave,
And not remembered in his Epitaph: but who comes here?
Iane.
My Father Prisoner!
Enter Suffolke garded forth.
Suff:
O Iane! now nought but fear thy Title and thy state,
Thou now must leave for a small grave.
Had I been contented to have been great, I had stood,
But now my rising, is pulled down with blood.
Farewell, point me my house of prayers.
Iane.
Is grief so short? it was wont to be full of words,
It is true, but now Deaths lesson, bids a cold adieu.
Farewell, thus friends on desperate journeys part,
Breaking of words with tears, that swells the heart.
Exit Suffolke.
Leef:
It is the pleasure of the Queen that you part lodgings.
Till your Arraignment, which must be tomorrow.
Iane.
Good Master Lieutenant let us pray together.
Lief.
Pardon me Madam I may not, they that owe you, sway me.
Guil.
Entreat not Iane, though she our bodies part,
Our souls shall meet. Farewell my love.
Iane.
My Dudley, my own heart.
Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Wyat with Souldiert.
UUiat:
Hold Drum, stand Gentlemen,
Give the word along: stand, stand:
Masters, friends, Soldiers, and therefore Gentlemen,
I know some of you wear warm purses
Lined with gold, to them I speak not,
But to such lean knaves that cannot put up
Crosses, thus I say, fight valiantly,
And by the mary God, you that have all
Your life time silver lacked,
Shall now get Crowns, marry they must be cracked.
Sol:
No matter, we will change them for white money.
Wiat:
But it must needs be so, dear Countrymen,
For Soldiers are the masters of wars mint,
Blows are the stamps, they set upon with bullets,
And broken pates are when the brains lies spilt:
These light crowns, that with blood are double guilt,
But that is not all, that your stout hearts shall earn,
Stick to this glorious quarrel, and your names
Shall stand in Chronicles ranked even with Kings
You free your Country from base spanish thrall,
From Ignominious slavery,
Who can digest a Spaniard, that is a true Englishman?
Sol.
Would he might choake that digests him.
Wiat.
He that loves freedom and his Country,
Cry a Wyat: he that will not, with my heart
Let him stand forth, shake hands,
And we will depart.
Sol.
A Wyat, a Wyat, a Wyat.
Enter Norry sounding a Trumpet.
Har:
Forbear, or with the breath thy Trumpet spends,
This shall let forth thy soul.
Nor:
I am a Herald, and challenge safety
By the law of arms.
Her:
So shalt thou when thou art lawfully employed
Wia:
What loved knave is that?
Nor:
No knave Sir Thomas, I am a true man
to my Queen, to whom thou art a Traitor.
Sol.
Knock him down.
VViat.
Knock him down, fie no,
We will handle him, he shall sound before he go.
Har.
He comes from Norfolke and those fawning
Lords in Maries name, weighing out life to them
that will with baseness bury it
Seize on him as a pernicious enemy.
Wia.
Sir George be ruled,
Since we profess the Art of War,
Let us not be hist at for our ignorance,
He shall pass and repass, juggle the best he can,
Lead him into the Craie. Norry set forth
Set forth thy brazen throat, and call all Rochester
About thee; do thy office, fill their.
Light heads with proclamations, do,
Catch Fools with Lime-twig, dipped with pardons.
But Sir George and good sir Harty Isley,
If this Gallant open his mouth too wide,
Powder the Varlet, pistol him, fire the Roofs that is over his mouth
He craves the law of Arms, and he shall have it,
Teach him our law, to cur's throat if he prate
If louder reach thy Proclamation,
The Lord have mercy upon thee.
Nor.
Sir Thomas, I must do my office.
Har:
Come, we will do ours too,
Exit. Harper, Isely, and Norry.
VVia.
Aye, aye, do, blow thyself hence
Whoreson proud Herald, because he can
give arms, he thinks to cut us off by the elbows.
Masters and fellow Soldiers, say, will you leave old Tom Wiat?
Omnes.
No, no, no.
Within cry arm.
Wia.
A March! it is Norfolkes Drum upon my life
I pray see what Drum it is.
The word is given, arm, arm flies through the camp
As loved, though not so full of dread as thunder:
For no man's cheeks look pale, but every face,
Is lifted up above his foreman's head,
And every Soldier does on tiptoes stand,
shaking a drawn sword in his threatening hand.
Wiat:
At whom, at whose Drum?
Rod:
At Norfolke, Norfolkes Drum:
With him comes Arundell, you may behold
The silken faces of their ensigns show,
Nothing but wrinkles straggling in the wind,
Norfolke rides formostly, his crest well known,
Proud, as if all our heads were now his own.
Wiat:
Soft, he shall pay more for them.
Sir Robert Rodston, bring our Musketeers,
To Hank our Pikes, les all our archery,
Fall off in wings of shot a both sides of the van,
To gall the first Horse of the enemy
That shall come fiercely on:
Our Cannoneers, bid them to charge, charge my hearts.
Omnes.
Charge, charge.
UUiat:
Saint George for England, Wiat for poor Kent,
Blood lost in Counties quarrel, is nobly spent.
Isely:
Base slave, hard hearted fugitive,
He that you sent with Norry, false sir George
Is fled to Norfolke.
Rod:
Sir George Harper fled?
Wiat.
I never thought better of a Counter seite,
His name was Harper, was it not? let him go,
Hence forth all Harpers for his sake shall stand,
But for plain nine pence, throughout all the land.
They come, no man give ground in these hot cases,
Be Englishmen and beard them to their faces.
Exeunt
Enter Norfolke, Arundell, Bret and Soldiers.
Norf.
Yonder the Traitor marcheth with a steel bow.
Bent on his Sovereign, and his kingdoms peace:
To wave him to us with a flag of truce,
And tender him soft mercy,
Were to call our right in question,
Therefore put in act, your resolute intendments,
If rebellion be suffered to take head,
She lives too long, treason doth swarm.
Therefore give signal to the fight,
Bre.
It is good, it is good, my Lord.
Norf.
Where is Captain Bret?
Br.
Here my Lord.
Norf:
To do honour to you and those five hundred
Londoners that march after your colours,
You shall charge the Traitor in the Vanguard
Whilst myself with noble Arundell
And stout Iarningam, second you in the maine.
God and Saint George, this day fight on our side.
While thus we tame a desperate Rebels pride.
Exit all but Bret and souldierr.
Br:
Countrymen and friends,
And you the most valiant sword and Buckler-Men
of London, the Duke of Norfolk in honour has
promoted you to the Vanguard, and why to the Vanguard?
but because he knows you to be eager men,
mortal men, men of good stomachs, very hot shots,
very actions for valour, such as scorns to shrink for
a wetting, who will bear off
anything with head and shoulders.
Om.
Well forwards, good commander forwards,
Br.
I am to lead you, and whether? to fight: and with
whom? with Wyat: and what is Wyat? a most famous
and arch-traitor, to nobody by this hand
that I know.
Omnes:
Nay, speak out good Captain.
Bre:
I say again, is worthy Norfolke gone?
Omnes:
Aye, aye, gon, gon.
Bre:
I say again, that Wyat for rising thus,
In arms with the Kentishmen dangling thus at his
tail, is worthy to be hanged like a Jewel in the Kingdoms
ear, say I well my Lads?
Omnes:
Forwards, forwards.
Bret:
And whosoever cuts off his head shall have for
his labour -
Clo:
What shall I have? I will do it.
Bre:
The pox, the plague, and all the diseases, the
Spittle-houses and Hospitals can throw upon
him.
Clo.
I will not do it, that is flat.
Bre:
And wherefore is Wyat up?
Clo:
Because he cannot keep his bed.
Bre:
No, Wyat is up to keep the Spaniards down,
to keep King Phillip out, whose coming in will
give the Land such a Phillip, it will make it reel again.
Clo:
A would it were come to that we would,
we would leave off Philips and fall to Hot-cockles.
Bre:
Philip is a Spaniard, and what is a Spaniard?
Clo:
A Spaniard is no Englishman that I know.
Bre:
Right, a Spaniard is a Camocho, a Callimanco,
nay which is worse, a Dondego, and what is a
Dondego?
Clo.
A Dondego is a kind of Spanish Stockfish,
or poor Iohn.
Bre.
No, a Dondego is a desperate Viliago, a very
Castilian, God bless us.
There came but one Dundego into England, and he
made all Paules stink again, what shall a whole army
of Dondegoes do my sweet Countrymen?
Clo:
Marry they will make us all smell abominably,
he comes not here that is flat.
Bre.
A Spaniard is called so, because he is a Spaniard
his yard is but a span.
Clo:
That is the reason our English women love
them not.
Bre:
Right, for he caries not the Englishman's yard about
him, if you deal with him look for hard measure:
if you give an inch he will take an ell till he give
an ell, he will take an inch. Therefore my fine, spruce,
dapper, finical, fellows, if you are now, as you
have always been, counted politic Londoners, to fly
to the stronger side, leave Arundell, leave Norfolke,
and love Bret.
Clo:
We will fling our flat Caps at them.
Bret.
Wear your own Neats leathers shoes!
Scorn Spanish Leather, cry a fig for the Spaniards:
(said I) well bollies?
Omnes.
Aye, aye, aye.
Bre:
Why then fiat, fiat, and every man die at his
foot, that cries not a Wyat, a Wyat.
Omnes.
A Wyat, Wyat, a Wyat.
Enter Wyat.
Wiat.
Sweet music, Gallant fellow-Londoners.
Clo.
I'faith we are the Mad caps, we are the lick-pennies.
Wiat.
You shall be all Lord Mayors at least,
Exeunt Wyat, Bret and Soldiers.
Alarum sounds, and enter Wyat, Bret, Rodston, Isely, and Soldiers againe.
Wiat.
Those eight brass pieces shall do service
now against their Masters Norfolke and Arundell,
They may thank their heels more than their hands
for saving of their lives,
When soldiers turn surveyors and measure Lands,
God help poor farmers.
Soldiers and friends, let us all play nimble blood
Hounds, and hunt them step by step,
We hear the Lawyers plead in Armour steed of
Gowns, if they fall out about the cases they Jar,
Then they may cuff each other from the Bar.
Soft, this is Ludgate, stand aloof, I will knock.
He knocks.
Enter Pembroke vpon the Walls.
Pem.
Who knocks?
Wiat.
A Wyat, a true friend,
Open your gates, you louring Citizens,
I bring you freedom, from a foreign Prince,
The Queen has heard your suite,
And it is her pleasure the Cutie gates,
Stand open to receive us.
Pem.
Avaunt thou Traitor, thinks thou by forgery
To enter London with rebellious arms?
Know that these gates are bard against thy entrance
And it shall cost the lives of twenty thousand true
subjects to the Queen before a Traitor enters.
Omnes:
Shoot him through.
Wia:
Stay, let us know him first.
Clo:
Kill him, then let us know him afterwards.
Pem:
Look on my face, and blushing, see with
shame thy treasons Charactered.
Bre:
It is the Lord Pembroke.
Wiat:
What have we
to do with the Lord Pembroke,
where is the Queens Lieutenant?
Pem:
I am Lieutenant of the City now.
Wiat:
Are you Lord Mayor?
Pem:
The greatest Lord that breathes enters not
here, without express command from my dear
Queen.
Wiat.
She commands hie us.
Pem:
I do command thee in her highness name,
To leave the City gates, or by my honour,
A piece of ordinance shall be straight discharged,
To be thy deaths man, and shoot thee to thy grave.
Wya.
Then here is no entrance.
Exit Pembroke.
Pemb:
No, none.
Bre:
What should we do
following Wyat any longer.
Wiat.
O London, London, thou perfidious Town,
Why hast thou broke, thy promise to thy friend?
That for thy sake, and for thy general sake,
Hath thrust myself into the mouth of danger?
March back to Fleet-street, if that Wyat die,
London unjustly, buy thy treachery.
Bre:
Wold I could steal away from Wyat, it should
be the first thing that I would do,
Here they all
steal away from Wyat and leave him alone.
Exit Wyat.
Wia:
Where is all my Soldiers? what all gone,
And left my Drum and colours without guard?
O infelicity of careful men!
Yet will I sell my honoured blood as dear,
As ever did faithful subject to his Prince.
Enter Norfolke & Iseley.
Isl.
Pembroke revolts, and flies to Wyats side.
Norf:
He is damned in hell that speaks it.
Enter Harper.
Isl:
O my good Lord! it is spread,
That Pembroke, and Count Arundell both are fled.
Enter Pembroke and Arundell.
Pem:
'sfoot who said so? what devil dares stir my
patience? 'swounds I was talking with a crew of vagabonds
that lagged at Wiats tail, and am I thus paid
for my pains?
Norf.
And there being missed, some villain finding
you out of sight hath raised this slander on you, but
come my Lord.
Pem.
I will not fight.
Norf:
Nay sweet Earl.
Pem.
S'wounds fight, and hear my name dishonoured?
Arun.
Wiat is marched down Fleet street: after
him.
Pem.
Why do not you, and you, pursue him?
Norfol.
If I strike one blow may my hand fall
off.
Pem:
And if I do by this -
Norf.
Come leave your swearing,
Did not countries care urge me to this quarrel?
For my part I would not strike a blow.
Pem.
No more would I, I will eat no wrongs,
Let us all die, and I will die.
Enter Messenger.
Mes.
Stand on your Guard, for this way Wyat is
pursued a maine.
A great noise, follow.
Enter Wyat with his sword drawn being wounded.
Within.
Follow, follow.
Nor:
Stand Traitor stand, or thou shalt never stand
more.
Wia.
Lords I yield, an easy conquest it is to win the field,
After all is lost I am wounded, let me have a surgeon,
that I may go sound unto my grave.
It is not the name of Traitor paules me,
Nor plucks my weapon from my hand.
Use me how you can, though you say Traitor,
I am a Gentleman.
Your dreadful shaking me, which I defy,
Is a poor loss of life, I wish to die,
Death frights my spirit, no more than can my bed,
Nor will I change one hair, loosing this head.
Pem.
Come guard him, guard him.
Wiat.
No matter where,
I hope for nothing, therefore nothing fear.
Exit Omnes.
Enter Winchester, Norfolke, Arundell, Pembroke with other Lords.
Win.
My Lord of Norfolke, will it please you sit
By you the noble Lord of Arundell,
Since it hath pleased her sacred Majesty,
To nominate us here Commissioners:
Let us without all partiality be open eared,
To what they can allege: where is the Lieutenant of the Tower?
Enter Lieutenant of the Tower.
Lief.
Here my good Lord.
Win.
Fetch forth the prisoners,
Place them severally in chairs of state.
Clarke of the Crown proceed as law requires.
Enter Guilford and Iane.
Clark:
Guilford Dudley, hold up thy hand at the
bar.
Guil:
Here at the bar of death I hold it up,
And would to God, this hand heaved to the law,
Might have advanced itself in better place,
For Englands good, and for my Sovereigns weal.
Clark,
Iane Gray, Lady Iane Gray,
Hold up thy hand at the Bar.
Iane:
A hand as pure from Treasons Innocence,
At the white livery, worn by the Angels in their
makers fight.
Clarke:
You are here indicted by the names of
Guilford Dudly, Lord Dudley; Iane Gray, Lady
Iane Gray; of Capital and high Treason, against
our most Sovereign Lady the Queens
Majesty.
That is to say, that you Guilford Dudley, and
Lady Iane Gray, have by all possible means
sought to procure unto yourselves, the Royalty
of the Crown of England, to the disinheriting
of our new Sovereign Lady the Queens
Majesty, the true and lawful issue to that famous
King Henrie the eight, and have manifestly
adorned yourselves with the states Garland imperial,
and have granted Warrants, Commissions,
and such like, for levying of men and Soldiers
to be sent against the said majesty: what
answer you to this Indictment, guilty or not guilty?
Guil:
Our answer shall be several like ourselves:
Yet Noble Earl we confess the indictment,
May we not make some Apology unto the Court?
Norf:
It is against the order of the Law, therefore
directly plead unto the Indictment, and then you
shall be heard.
Guil.
Against the law?
Words uttered then, as good unspoken were,
For whatsoever you say, you know your form,
And you will follow it unto our deaths.
Norfo:
Speak, are you guilty of these crimes
or no?
Iane:
I will answer first I am, and I am not,
But should we stand unto the last unguilty?
You have large conscience Jurors to besmear
The fairest brow with style of Treachery.
Norfo:
The Barons of the Land shall be your
Jury.
Iane.
An honourable and worthy Trial.
And God forbid, so many Noblemen
Should be made guilty of our Timeless deaths.
Aru.
you will answer to the Indictment, will you
not?
Guil.
My Lord I will, I am
Norf.
What, are you guilty or no?
Guil.
I say unguilty still, yet I am guilty.
Iane:
Slander not thyself,
If there be any guilty it was I,
I was proclaimed Queen, I the Crown should wear.
Guil:
Because I was thy Husband I stand here.
Iane.
Our loves we sought
ourselves, but not our pride,
And shall our fathers faults our lives divide?
Guil.
It was my father that made thee distressed,
Iane.
O but for mine, my Guilford had been
blessed.
Guil.
My Iane had been as fortunate as fair.
Iane:
My Guilford free from this soul-grieving
care.
Guilf:
If we be guilty, it is no fault of ours,
And shall we die, for what is not in our powers?
We sought no Kingdom, we desired no Crown,
It was imposed upon us by constraint,
Like golden fruit hung on a barren Tree,
And will you count such forcement treachery?
Then make the silver Thames,
As black as Styx, because it was constrained to
bear the banks, whose battering ordinance
should have been employed
against the hinderers of our Royalty.
Win:
You talk of senseless things.
Guil:
Does Trees want sense, that by the power
of music? have been drawn to dance a pleasing measure,
well come then nearer unto living things, say
we usurp the English Royalty,
was it not by your consents?
I tell you Lords, I have your hands to show,
Subscribed to the Commission of my father,
By which, you did authorise him to wage arms,
If they were Rebellious against your Sovereign.
Who cried so loved as you, God save Queen Iane?
And come you now your Sovereign to arraign?
Come down, come
down, here at a Prisoners bar
Better do so, then judge yourselves amiss:
For look what sentence, on our heads you lay,
Upon your own, may light another day.
Win.
The Queen hath pardoned them:
Guil:
And we must die, for a less fault,
O partiality!
Iane:
Patience my Guilford, it was ever known,
They that find least, the punishment have borne.
Gui.
True, my fair Queen of sorrow truly speak.
Great men like great Flies,
Through laws Cobwebs break,
But the thinnest frame; the prison of the weak.
Norf:
Now trust me Arundell,
It doth grieve me much, to fit
In judgment of these harmless -
Aru:
I helped to attach the Father, but the son -
O through my blood, I feele compassion.
Run my Lords, we will
be humble suitors to the Queen
to save these innocent creatures from their deaths.
Norf.
Let us break up Court,
If Norfolke long should stay,
In tears and passion, I should melt away.
Win:
Sit still, what will you take compassion upon
such? they are Heretics.
Iane.
We are Christians,
Leave our conscience to ourselves:
We stand not here about Religious causes
But are accused of Capital Treason.
Win:
Then you confess the indictment.
Gui:
Even what you will,
Yet save my Iane, although my blood you spill.
Iane:
If I must die, save Princely Guilfords life.
Norf:
Who is not moved, to see this loving strife?
Arun:
Pray pardon me, do what you will today,
And I will approve it though it be my death.
Win:
Then hear the speedy sentence of your deaths,
You shall be carried to the place from whence you
came, from thence unto the place of Execution,
through London to be drawn on Hurdles,
Where thou Iane Gray shalt suffer death by fire.
Thou Guilforld Dudley hanged and quartered,
So Lord have mercy upon you.
Guil:
Why this is well, since we must die,
That we must die together.
VVin:
Stay and hear the mercy of the Queen,
Because you are of noble parentage,
Although the crime of your offence be great,
She is only pleased that you shall -
Both
Will she pardon us?
VVin:
Only I say that you shall loose your heads
Upon the Tower-Hill, so convey them hence Lieutenant
strictly look unto your charge.
Guil.
Our dooms are known,
Our lives have played their part,
Farewell my Iane.
Iane:
My Dudley, mine own heart.
Guil:
Fain would I take a ceremonious leave,
But that is to die a hundred thousand deaths:
Ian:
I cannot speak for tears.
Lif.
My Lord, come:
Guil.
Great griefs speak louder
When the least are dumbed.
Exeunt.
Enter Sir Thomas Wyat in the Tower.
Wyat:
The sad aspect, this prison doth afford,
Jumps with the measure that my heart doth keep
And this enclosure here, of nought but stone,
Yields far more comfort than the stony hearts
Of them that wronged their country, and their friend
Here is no perjured Counsellors to swear
A sacred oath, and then forswear the same,
No innovators here, doth harbour keep,
A steadfast silence, doth possess the place,
In this the Tower is noble being base.
Enter Lords to Wyat.
Norf.
Sir Thomas Wyat.
Wyat.
That is my name indeed.
Win:
You should say Traitor.
Wiat.
Traitor and Wyats name,
Differ as far as Winchester and honour.
Win:
I am a Pillar of the Mother Church.
Wiat:
And what am I?
Win:
One that subverts the state.
Wiat:
Insult not too much, over the unfortunate,
I have no Bishop's Rochet to declare my innocency,
This is my cross, that causeless
I must suffer my heads loss.
When that hour comes, wherein my blood is spilt,
My cross will look as bright as yours twice guilt.
Norf.
Here is for that purpose.
Wiat:
Is your grace so short?
Belike you come to make my death a sport.
Win:
We come to bring you to your execution,
You must be hanged and quartered instantly:
At the park Corner, is a gallows set,
Whether make haste to tender natures debt.
Wiat:
Then here is the end of Wyats rising up,
I to keep Spaniards from the Land was sworn,
Right willingly I yield myself to death,
But sorry such, should have my place of birth.
Had London kept his word, Wyat had flood,
But now King Phillip enters through my blood.
UUin:
Where is the Lieutenant of the Tower?
Exit Officers with Wyat.
Enter Lieutenant.
Lie:
Here my Lord.
VVin:
Fetch forth your other Prisoners.
Lief.
My Lord I will, here lies young Guilford,
here the Lady Iane.
Norfol.
Conduct them forth.
Enter Young Guilford and the Lady Iane.
Guil:
Good morrow once more to my lovely
Iane.
Iane:
The last good morrow my sweet love to
thee.
Guil:
What were you reading?
Iane:
On a prayer book.
Guil:
Trust me so was I, we had need to pray,
For see, the Ministers of death draw near.
Iane:
To a prepared mind death is a pleasure,
I long in soul, till I have spent my breath.
Guil:
My Lord High Chancellor, you are welcome
hither,
What come you to behold our execution?
And my Lord Arundell thrice welcome.
You helped to attach our Father, come you now,
To see the black conclusion of our Tragedy?
Win:
We come to do our office.
Guil:
So do we.
Our office is to die, yours to look on:
We are beholding unto such beholders,
The time was Lords, when you did flock amain,
To see her crowned, but now to kill my Iane,
The world like to a sickle, bends itself,
Men run their course of lives as in a maze,
Our office is to die, yours but to gaze.
Iane.
Patience my Guilford.
Guil.
Patience my lovely Iane:
Patience has blanched thy soul, as white as snow,
But who shall answer for thy death? this know,
An innocent to die, what is it less,
But to add Angels to heavens happiness.
The guilty dying, do applaud the law,
But when the innocent creature stoops his neck
to an unjust doom; upon the Judge they check.
Lives are like souls, required of their neglectors,
Then ours of you, that should be our protectors:
Win:
Rail not against the law.
Guilfor:
No, God forbid, my Lord of Winchester,
It is made of law, and should I raise against it
It were against you, if I forget not,
You rejoiced to see the fall of Cromwel,
Joy you now at me?
Oft dying men are filled with prophesies,
But I will not be a prophet of your ill.
Yet know my Lords, they that behold us now,
May to the axe of Justice one day bow,
And in that plot of ground where we must die,
Sprinkle their bloods,
Though I know no cause why.
Norf:
Speak you to me Lord Guilford?
Gui:
Norfolke no, I speak to -
Norf:
To whom?
Gui:
Alas I do not know which of us two
dies first.
Win:
The better part.
Gui:
O rather kill the worst.
Iane:
It is I sweet love, that first must kiss the
block.
Guilf.
I am a man, men better brooke the
shock of threatening death,
Your sex are ever weak.
The thoughts of death, a woman's heart will
break.
Iane.
But I am armed to die.
Guilf:
Likelier to live:
Death to the unwilling doth his presence give?
He dares not look the bold man in the face,
But on the fearful lays his killing Mace.
Winc.
It is the pleasure of the Queen, that the
Lady Iane must first suffer death.
Iane.
I thank her Highness,
That I shall first depart this hapless world,
and not Survive to see my dear love dead.
Guilfo:
She dying first, I three times loose my
head.
Enter the Headsman.
Headsm.
Forgive me Lady I pray your death.
Guilf:
Ha? hast thou the heart to kill a face so
fair.
Win:
It is her Headsman.
Guil:
And demands a pardon,
Only of her, for taking off her head?
Iane:
aye gentle Guilford, and I pardon him.
Guil:
But I will not pardon him, thou art my wife.
And he shall ask me pardon for thy life,
Hed:
Pardon me my Lord.
Gui:
Rise, do not kneel.
Though thou submitest, thou hast a lowering steel
Whose fatal declination brings our death:
Good man of earth, make haste to make us earth.
Heds.
Pleaseth the Lady Iane, I will help her off
with her nightgown.
Iane:
Thanks gentle friend,
But I have other waiting women to attend me.
Good Mistress Ellin lend me a helping hand,
To strip me of this worldly ornaments
Off with these robes, O tear them from my side,
Such silken covers are the guilt of pride.
Instead of gowns, my coverture be earth,
My worldly death or new Celestial breath.
What is it off?
Lad:
Madam almost.
Iane:
Not yet, O God! how hardly can we
shake off this worlds Pomp,
That cleaves unto us
like our bodies skinny
Yet thus O God shake off thy servants sin.
Lady:
Here is a scarce to blind your eyes.
Iane:
From all the world, but from my Guilfords sight:
Before I fasten this beneath my brow,
Let me behold him with a constant look.
Gui:
O do not kill me with that piteous eye:
Iane:
It is my last farewell, take it patiently,
My dearest Guilford let us kiss and part.
Now blind mine eyes, never to see the sky,
Blind fold thus lead me to the block to die
Guil:
O!
He falles in a trance.
Norf:
How fares my Lord?
Arun:
He is fallen into a trance.
Norf:
Wake him not, until he wake himself,
O happy Guilford if thou die in this.
Thy soul will be the first in heavenly bliss
Enter the Heades-men with Ianes head.
Win:
Here comes the Heads-man, with the
head of Iane:
Guil:
Who spake of Iane? who named my
lovely Iane?
Win.
Behold her head.
Gui.
O I shall faint again!
Yet let me bear this fight unto my grave
My sweet Ianes head:
Look Norfolke, Arundell, Winchester,
Do malefactors, look:
Thus when they die, a ruddy lip,
A clear reflecting eye,
Cheeks purer than the Maiden orient pearl,
That sprinkles bashfulness through the clouds
Her innocence, has given her this look:
The like for me to show so well being dead,
How willingly, would Guilford loose his head.
Win.
My Lord, the time runs on.
Exit Guilford to Death.
Guil.
So does our death.
Here is one has run so
fast she is out of breath,
But the time goes on,
And my fair Ianes white soul, will be
In heaven before me
If I do stay: stay gentle wife,
Thy Guilford follows thee,
Though on the earth we part, by adverse fate,
Our souls shall knock together at heavens gate,
The sky is calm, our deaths have a fair day,
And we shall pass the smoother on our way.
My Lords farewell, I once farewell to all,
The Fathers pride has caused the Children's fall.
Nor.
Thus have we seen her Highness will
performed,
And now their heads and bodies shall be joined
and buried in one grave, as fits their loves.
Thus much I will say in their behalves now dead,
Their Fathers pride their lives have severed.