1158Mes. Now happily I am arriued here,

1159Before the stately Palace of the Cambrian King:

1160If Leir be here safe-seated, and in rest,

1161To rowse him from it I will do my best. Enter Ragan.

1162Now bags of gold, your vertue is (no doubt)

1163To make me in my message bold and stout.

1164The King of heauen preserue your Maiesty.

1165And send your Highnesse euerlasting raigne.

1166Ra. Thanks, good my friend; but what imports thy message?

1167Mes.Kind greetings from the Cornwall Queene:

1168The residue these letters will declare.

1170Rag. How fares our royall sister?

1171Mes. I did leaue her at my parting, in good health.

E See

1173See how her colour comes and goes agayne,

1174Now red as scarlet, now as pale as ash:

1175See how she knits her brow, and bytes her lips,

1176And stamps, and makes a dumbe shew of disdayne,

1177Mixt with reuenge, and violent extreames.

1178Here will be more worke and more crownes for me.

1179 Rag. Alas, poore soule, and hath he vsde her thus?

1180And is he now come hither, with intent

1181To set diuorce betwixt my Lord and me?

1182Doth he giue out, that he doth heare report,

1183That I do rule my husband as I list,

1184And therefore meanes to alter so the case,

1185That I shall know my Lord to be my head?

1186Well, it were best for him to take good heed,

1187Or I will make him hop without a head,

1188For his presumption, dottard that he is.

1189In Cornwall he hath made such mutinies,

1190First, setting of the King against the Queene;

1191Then stirring vp the Commons 'gainst the King;

1192That had he there continued any longer,

1193He had bin call'd in question for his fact.

1194So vpon that occasion thence he fled,

1195And comes thus slily stealing vnto vs:

1196And now already since his coming hither,

1197My Lord and he are growne in such a league,

1198That I can haue no conference with his Grace:

1199I feare, he doth already intimate

1200Some forged cauillations 'gainst my state:

1201Tis therefore best to cut him off in time,

1202Lest slaunderous rumours once abroad disperst,

1203It is too late for them to be reuerst.

1204Friend, as the tennour of these letters shewes,

1205My sister puts great confidence in thee.

1206Mes. She neuer yet committed trust to me,

1207But that (I hope) she found me alwayes faythfull:

1208So will I be to any friend of hers,

1209That hath occasion to imploy my helpe

1210Rag. Hast thou the heart to act a stratagem,

1211And giue a stabbe or two, if need require?

1212Mes. I haue a heart compact of Adamant,

1213Which neuer knew what melting pitty meant.

1214I weigh no more the murdring of a man,

1215Then I respect the cracking of a Flea,

1216When I doe catch her byting on my skin.

1217If you will haue your husband or your father,

1218Or both of them sent to another world.

1219Do but commaund me doo't, it shall be done.

1220Rag. It is ynough, we make no doubt of thee:

1221Meet vs to morrow here, at nyne a clock:

1222Meane while, farewell, and drink that for my sake. Exit.

1223Mes. I, this is it will make me do the deed:

1224Oh, had I euery day such customers,

1225This were the gainefulst trade in Christendome!

1226A purse of gold giu'n for a paltry stabbe!

1227Why, heres a wench that longs to haue a stabbe.

1228Wel, I could giue it her, and ne're hurt her neither.