SCENE II.

Presence Chamber.

The Queen discovered, sitting on her Throne. Raleigh, Lords, and Attendants.

Qu. Eliz. Without consulting me! presumptuous man! Who governs here?—What! am not I your queen? You dared not, were he present, take this step.

Ral. Dread sovereign, your ever faithful commons Have, in their gratitude and love for you, Preferred this salutary bill against him.

Enter Burleigh.

Qu. Eliz. You, my Lord Burleigh, must have known of this. The commons here impeach the Earl of Essex Of practising against the state and me. Methinks I might be trusted with the secret. Speak, for I know it well, 'twas thy contrivance. Ha! was it not? You dare not say it was not.

Bur. I own my judgment did concur with theirs. His crimes, I fear, will justify the charge, And vindicate their loyalty and mine.

Qu. Eliz. Ha! tell not me your smooth deceitful story! I know your projects, and your close cabals, You'd turn my favour into party feuds, And use my sceptre as the rod of faction: But Henry's daughter claims a nobler soul. I'll nurse no party, but will reign o'er all, And my sole rule shall be to bless my people: Who serves them best, has still my highest favour: This Essex ever did.

Enter Southampton.

Behold, Southampton, What a base portrait's here! The faithful Essex Here drawn at large, associating with rebels, To spoil his country, and dethrone his queen!

South. It is not like.—By Heaven, the hand of envy Drew these false lines, distorted far from truth And honour, and unlike my noble friend As light to shade, or hell to highest heaven. Then suffer not, thou best of queens, this lord, This valiant lord, to fall a sacrifice To treachery and base designs; who now Engages death in all his horrid shapes, Amidst a hardy race, inured to danger; But let him, face to face, this charge encounter, And every falsehood, like his foes, shall fly.

Qu. Eliz. To me you seem to recommend strict justice, In all her pomp of power. But are you sure No subtle vice conceal'd assumes her garb! Take heed, that malice does not wear the mask, Nor envy deck her in the borrow'd guise. Rancour has often darken'd reason's eye, And judgment winks, when passion holds the scale. Impeach the very man to whom I owe My brightest rays of glory! Look to it, lords; Take care, be cautious on what ground you tread; Let honest means alone secure your footing. Raleigh and you withdraw, and wait our leisure. [Exeunt Raleigh and Southampton. Lord Burleigh, stay; we must with you have farther Conference.—I see this base contrivance plain. Your jealousy and pride, your envy of His shining merit, brought this bill to light. But mark me, as you prize our high regard And favour, I command you to suppress it: Let not our name and power be embarrass'd In your perplexing schemes. 'Twas you began, And therefore you must end it.

Bur. I obey. Yet humbly would entreat you to consider How new, unpopular, this step must be, To stand between your parliament's enquiry And this offending lord.—We have such proofs—

Qu. Eliz. Reserve your proofs to a more proper season, And let them then appear. But once again We charge you, on your duty and allegiance, To stop this vile proceeding; and to wait Till Essex can defend himself in person. If then your accusations are of force, The laws, and my consent, no doubt, are open. He has my strict command, with menace mix'd, To end effectually this hated war, Ere he presume to quit the Irish coast.

Bur. Madam, my duty now compels me to—

Qu. Eliz. No more! see that my orders be obey'd. [Exit Burleigh. Essex a traitor!—it can never be— His grateful and his honest soul disdains it.— Can he prove false? so high advanced, so honour'd, So near my favour—and—I fear, so near My heart!—Impossible.—This Burleigh hates him, And, as his rival, therefore would destroy him; But he shall find his narrow schemes defeated. In vain their fraudful efforts shall combine To shake my settled soul, my firm design; Resolved to lift bright virtue's palm on high, Support her grandeur, and her foes defy. [Exit.