QUEEN

Now (as I am a Queen) a goodly creature, Son how was she attended where you found her? Now before God, she would make a gallant Queen, But good son Dorset stand aside a while. God save your maiestiomy my Lady Shore, My Lady Shore said I? O blasphemy, To wrong your title with a Ladies name, Queen Shore, nay rather Empress Shore, God save your grace, your majesty, your highness Lord I want titles, you must pardon me: What? you kneel there, king Edwards bedfellow And I your subject fit? sie, sie for shame. Come take your place, & e kneel where you do, I may take your place, you have taken mine, Good Lord that you will so debase your self: I am sure you are our sister Queen at least. Nay that you are, then let us fit together. Son stand aloof, and do not trouble me, Alas poor soul, as much ado have I, To for bear tears to keep her company. Yet once more will I to my former humour. Why as I am, think that thou Wertenberg a Queen, And I as thou should wrong thy princely bed, And win the king thy husband, as thou mine: Would it not sting thy soul? Or if that I Being a Queen, while y didst love thy husband: Should but have done as thou hast done to me, Would it not grieve thee? yes I warrant thee. There's not the meanest woman that does live, But if she Like and love her husband well, She had rather feel his warm l mmes in her bed Then see him in the arms of any Queen, You are flesh and blood as we, and we as you, And all alike in our affections, Though maiestic makes us the more ambitious. What 'tis to fallen into so great a hand, Knowledge might teach Thee. There was once a king Henry the second, who did keep his leman, Cag'de up at Woodstock in a Labyrinth, His Queen yet God a trick to find her out, And how she used her, I am sure thou hast herd, Thou art not mewde up in some secret place, But kept in Court here underneath my nose, Now in the absence of my Lord the King, Have I not time most fitting for revenge? Fair Rosamond, she a pure virgin was, Until the King seduc'de her to his will. She wronged but one bed, only the angry Queens, But thou hast wronged two, mine & thy husbands, Be thine own Judge, and now in justice see, What endue revenge I ought to take on thee. Touch her not son, upon thy life I charge thee, But keep off still, if thou wilt have my love. I am glad to hear you are so well resolu'de, To bear the burden of my joust displeasure. Thus then I'll do, alas poor soul, Shall I weep with Thee? in says poor heart I will, Be of good comfort, thou shalt have no harm, But if that kisses have the power to kill Thee, Thus, thus, and thus, a thousand times isle stab Thee. Jane I forgive Thee: what fort is so strong, But with be sieging he will batter it? Weep not (sweet Jane ) alas I know thy sex, Touched with the selfsame weakness that thou art, And if my state had been as mean as thine, And such a beauty to allure his eye, (Though I may promise much to mine own strength) What might have happened to me, I cannot tell. Nay fear not, for I speak it with my heart, And in thy sorrow truly bear a partly. Nay then isle beg against her royal Edward, Love thy Jane still, nay more if more may be, And this is all the harm that at my hands She shall endure for it, O where my Edward loves, It ill beseems his Queen to grudge thereat. It is for Stranguidge and his men at sea, Edward needs must you pardon them. Good Jane entreat for them. Rise my sweet Jane, I say thou shalt not kneel, O God for bid, that Edwards Queen should hate Her, whom she knows he both so dearly love, My love to her, may purchase me his love. Jane, speak well unto the King of me and mine, Remember not my sons overhasty speech, Thou art my sister, and I love Thee so. I know thou mayest do much with my dear Lord, Speak well of us to him in any case, And I and mine will love and cherish thee.