GAGE

God grant her comfort, and release her pain, So good a Lady few on earth remain. My Lords, as you are honorably born, As you did love her father, or her brother, As you do owe alegeance to the Queen, In pity of her weakness, and low state, With best of favour, her commiserate. He that first gave you life, protect that life, From those that wish your death. Madam, that the Queen & Winchester best knows. Madam, we your poor humble servants, Made bold to press into your graces presence, To know how your cause goes. That shall be my charge my Lord. Exit Gage. Madam, you have stepped too short into the water. My Lords the Princess humbly intreats, That her own servants may bear up her diet, A company of base vntutord slaves, Whose hands did never serve a Princess board, Do take that privilege. Stay good my Lords for instance, see they come, If this be seemly, let your honours Judge. Untutored slave, I'll ease thee of this burden, Her highness scorns to touch the dish Her servants brings not up. I would to God you would, in any place Exit Constant: & soldiers. Where I might live from thought of her disgrace, Oh thou all-seeing heavens, with piteous eyes, Look on oppressions of their cruelty! Let not thy truth, by falsehood be oppressed, But let her virtues shine and give her rest, Confound the sleights, and practice of those men, Whose pride do kick against thy seat of heaven. O draw the courtaines from their filthy sin, And make them loath the hell which they live in. Prosper the Princess, and her life defend, A glorious comfort to her troubles send. If ever thou hadst pity, hear my prayer, And give releasement to a Princes care. Exit Gage. The Princess thus intreats you honoured Lord, She may but walk in the Lieutenants garden, Or else repose her self in the Queen's lodgings: My honoured Lord, grant this as you did love The famous Henry her deceased father. My Lord, they shall. If the Queen please, they shall. A noble and right reverent Counsellor, Promised to beg it of her Majesty: And if she say the word, my Lord she shall. Upon my life it stands not. The townsmen of the country gathered here, To greet your Grace, hearing you passed this way. The townsmen of this village, Hearing your highness pass this way, Salutes your coming with this peal of Bells'. They deeply conjured me out of their loves, To know how your case goes, which these poor people second. Thus did she bid me say tanquam Ovis, Farewell I must away. Exit Gage Out live this night, I pray Madam why. Oh Madam, you were born to better Fortune's, That God that made you, will protect you still From all your enemies that wish you ill. Oh my honoured Lord, As ever you were noble in your thoughts, Speak, shall my Lady out live this night, or no? For if we should imagine any plot, Pretending to the hurt of our deer mistress, I and my fellows though far unable are To stand against your power, will die together. Madame, impose the letter to my trust, Were I to bear it through a field of pikes, And in my way ten thousand armed men ambushed, Idem make my passage through the midst of them, And perforce bear it to the Queen your sister. Madame I fly, To give this leter to her majesty: Hoping when I return, To give you comfort that now sadly mourn. Exeunt omnes preter Been: And a pursuivant ready to post away with it, To see it done with speed, What flynty breast could brook to see her bleed? Good madam, blot such thoughts out of your mind, The Lords I know, are still about your suit, And make no doubt, but they will so prevail Both with the King and Queen, that you shall see Their haynos anger will be turned to love. Madam Clarentia, is my Lady stirring? Heaven shield my Mistress, and make her friends increase, Convert her foes, estate her in true peace. O most unhappy dream, my fear is now As great as yours, before it was but small, Come let's go comfort her, that joys us all. Madame I see from far a horseman coming, This way he bends his speed he comes so fast, That he is covered in a cloud of dust, And now I have lost his sighed, he appear's again, Making his way over Hill, Hedge, Ditch and Plain: One after him, they two strive As on the raze they had wagerd both their lives, Another after him. Strange and miraculous, the first being at the gate, His horse hath broke his neck, and cast his rider. Long live the Queen, long live your majesty, I Captain of your highness Pensioners. Good morrow Mistress, came you from the Princess? How fares her Grace. How now what's the matter. Heaven guard the Princess grant that all be well, This Drum I fear, will prove her passing-bell. Oh my honoured Lords, (May I with reverence presume to ask) What means these arms, why do you thus begirt, A poor weak Lady, near at point of death. You are denied that grace: Her Majesty will not admit you conference, Sir William Sentlo urging that motion, Was first committed, since sent to the Tower, Madam, in brief your foes are the Queens Friends, Your Friends her foes, Six of the counsel are this day appointed, To examine you of certain articles, My grieved Mistress humbly thus intreats, For to remove back to the Common stairs, And not to land where Traitors put to shore, Some difference she intreats your Honours make Betwixt Crystal Fountains, and fowl muddy Springs, Betwixt those that are condemned by the law, And those whom Treasons stain did never blemish: Thus she attends your answer, and sits still While her wet eyes, full many a tear did spill. My honoured Lord, why should you take delight To torture a poor Lady innocent? The Queen I know when she shall hear of this, Will greatly discommend your cruelty. You served her father, and he loved you well, You served her brother, and he held you deer, And can you hate the sister he best loved? You serve her sister, she esteems you hie, And you may live to serve her ere you die: And therefore good my Lord, let this prevail, Only the casements of her window open, Whereby she may receive fresh gladsome air. Wilt please your honour, let my Lady Exeunt omnes preter Constable & Gage. Walk in the lieutenants garden, Or may but see the lodgings of the Queen, Or open the casements to receive fresh air, Shall she my Lord: shall she this freedom use, She shall: for you can neither will nor choose, Or shall she have some servants of her own, To attend on her: I pray let it be so, And let your look no more poor prisoners daunt, I pray deny not what you needs must grant. Exit Gage.