Five nevv playes, viz. The English moor, or the mock-marriage. The love-sick court, or the ambitious politique: Covent Garden weeded. The nevv academy, or the nevv exchange. The queen and concubine. / By Richard Brome.

Scoen. IX.

Enter Alinda.

Alin.

Mount, mount, my thoughts, above the earthy Of Vassal minds, whilst strength of womans wit (pitch Props my Ambition up, and lifts my hope Above the flight of Envy. Let the base And abject mindes be pleas'd with servile Bondage▪ My Breast breeds not a thought that shall not flie The lofty height of towring Majesty. My power upon the weakness of the King (Whose raging Dotage to obtain my Love, Like a devouring flame, seeks to consume

All interposed Lets) hath laid a Ground-vvork So sure upon those Ruines, that the power Of Fate shall not controul, or stop my building Up to the top of Soveraignty, vvhere I'll stand And dare the VVorld to dis-commend my Act: It shall but say, when I the Crown have won, The vvork was harsh in doing, but well done.

Enter Flavello.

Flavello, welcom!

Flav.

Hail, my Soveraign Queen.

Alin.

'Tis a brave sound, and that vvhich my Soul thirsts for; But do not mock mine Ears.

Flav.

Believe it Madam, Joyn your attention but vvith one hours patience, And you shall hear the gen'ral Voice o'th' Kingdom Give you that stile, vvith large and loud allowance.

Alin.

Stile thy self happy then, in vvhat Reward A Subject can receive, or a Queen give. How moves our great proceedings?

Flav.

Fairly, thus: Eulalia, for now I must no more Give her the Title that belongs unto Your Execellence, of Queen.

Alin.

Advance that Harmonie.

Flav.

Eulalia is brought unto the Bar, accus'd, Convicted of that high offence, that instantlie Shall pull that Judgement on her, that shall crush Her into nothing.

Alin.

Appear the proofs manifest?

Flav.

That vvas my care, it behoov'd me to work the VVitnesses, vvho swore (in brief) most bravely, that they heard Lord Sforza, vvhom you also may forget now to call Father.

Alin.

That vvithout your instruction.

Flav.

They swore, I say, they heard that Sforza boast The knovvledge of the Queen in carnal Lust.

Alin.

VVas that enough?

Flav.

No, but it serv'd to put The question to her, Was it true or not? No, cries the Queen, nor can I think that Sforza Would lay that scandal on himself and me. Those Witnesses were two cashier'd Lieutenants That Sforza should have hang'd for Mutinies In the late war, but threw 'em by, it seems, To serve him in this Office: me they cost Five hundred Crowns apiece, and well they got it. But where I left: the Queen denies their Oath. And though it had been true that Sforza had Affirm'd as much, that had not found her guilty.

Alin.

What Witnesses were next?

Flav.

Two dainty devils Birds, a Doctor and a Midwife, who accus'd Themselves for Bawds i'th' Action, and depos'd I know not how many, how many, how many times, They saw 'em link'd in their unlawful pleasures. These were the Queens own people, and deserv'd A thousand Crowns apiece, and had it instantly, Afore-hand too.

Alin.

What could the Queen say then?

Flav.

She denied all, but in such a patient way, After her foolish fashion, that it gave strength To th' Evidence against her; then she wept For their iniquity, and gave them a God forgive ye. And so attends the censure of the Court, VVhich straightway will be given: they'l be set Before my coming.

Alin.

Hast, Flavello, hast, And let thy next news be to this a Crown, That she is not a Queen, and I am one.

Exit Flav.

This Father and this Queen I now could pity, For being hew'd out and squar'd thus to my use, But that they make those necessary steps By which I must ascend to my Ambition.

They that will rise unto a supream Head, Should not regard upon whose Necks they tread.